Chapter 29 - Dark City

An ambulance came around the corner, kicking up a cloud of dust as it's tires screeched on the pavement. Its siren wailing its distress call even though it was the only vehicle on the road in this part of the city. The Hospital was right next to the condemned part of Tokyo, but it was too vital to shut down. As the ambulance turned in it was immediately faced with stiff competition for one of the hospitals drive up emergency bays. Other Ambulances were crowded around, all idling as EMTs rushed about to unload them. Inside the building the chaos was no different. Understandably the hospital was busy after a major quake. With people packed into waiting rooms and stretchers lining both sides of the hall ways.

Riku had to weave her way through the packed hall ways, dodging frantic nurses and frightened relatives of the numerous patients there. Pulling her trench coat around her petite form she kept her eyes ahead as she skirted passed a bloodied man being rushed through in a wheel chair by medical staff. A few moments later she had to stop herself from overhearing a terrified woman talking of monsters devouring her husband. When she laid her eyes on the hospital doors it took all of her discipline to stop herself from rushing through them like a bat out of hell! Narrowing her eyes she counted her steps to keep herself calm, when the automatic doors finally swung open she finally released the breath she had unknowingly been holding.

Stepping outside she took a moment to breathe in the cold night air. Closing her eyes as she slowly released all her tension in one controlled breath. Before reaching into her pocket and digging about. Plucking out a cell phone as she continued to walk away from the hospital, finding some much needed quiet and privacy behind the corner of the building. Raising the little device to one ear while her finger plugged the other one. Quietly waiting for someone to pick up on the other line.

A small old looking cell phone lit up a second before it began ringing. It's little jingle paired with a vibration that sent it dancing over the polished desktop that it was sitting on. A hand darting out to catch it before it had a chance to take a swan dive onto the floor again! Sentei whispered a curse under his breath as he hit a button to stop the phones shaking before lifting it to an ear. "Moshi Moshi…"

"Moshi Moshi! Hey Boss it's me, I just got out of the hospital."

Riku's voice had a tired tone to it that made the Taijiya leader feel a little guilty. But he kept that to himself. Instead he absently smoothed his mustache as he commented. "Glad you made it, how is Sakagami doing?"

Riku gave a little but very audible sigh. "Well he is alive, but the doctor had to take him to surgery right away to close his wounds. He came around in his room for a little while but was barely awake and couldn't answer any of the questions I asked. However he did say something kinda interesting; he said the word 'Furui' several times. As if he were calling to someone. But that's it sadly. Sorry boss. "

The Taijiya leader's brows furrowed a little at the word. Furui, in other words 'Ancient one'. Rubbing his mustache down in a thoughtful manner Sentei pondered over the implications of that name. With a bad feeling welling in his gut he turned his attention back to the phone. "Well then there is nothing more you can do there until he wakes up. Why not head back here for a little rest before we change shifts."

"Sure thing boss!" The sound of relief in her tone was undeniable and brought a little smile to Sentei's face. "Oh! By the way boss? You know if you keep doing that you're whiskers are going to fall out right?"

That smile cracked a little as his brow twitched, one finger still hovering over his mustache. With out another word he hit a button and disconnected the call! Flashing the device an irritable look before tossing it back down on the desk. The older Taijiya took a moment to reflect on his situation before he sunk his face into his hands. An ancient, what in all the hells did Sakagami bring back with him? Spreading his fingers just enough to peek through them he gazed around his office. Tucked into a small room the office was file cabinets and shelves that lined the walls. Here and there were artifacts related to many of the mysterious creatures the Demon Hunters dealt with. Most of which were buried among mountains of paper work.

Lately he had been digging through all of the Taijiya's records looking for anything that matched the creature he had faced hours ago. A slow and frustrating process, not to mention dangerous for the more fragile documents that have been in the organizations possession for hundreds of years. Lowering both his hands onto the desk he gave a mighty push that sent his office chair rolling on it's wheels. The momentum carrying him into the door way where he slowed down and cried out. "Chousan! Have you found anything yet?"

Across the Taijiya leaders office something clattered loudly before an answer echoed back. " Leeeet me check ONEMORETIME!"

The tone was dripping in sarcasm in such a way that Sentei had to pinch the bridge of his nose to stop himself from scolding right back. Reluctantly rising from his chair the Taijiya made his way across the hall and into the door way of the Demon Hunters command center. A room filled with monitors and televisions lining the walls, displaying everything from maps to street cameras. At its heart was a large console that was little more than a collection of keyboards carefully arranged on a desk along with one large monitor.

Behind this desk sat the half slouched form of a young man, he was quite thin for his height and dressed in a teenagers outfit of jeans and layered shirts. His hair was a tousled mess that hung over his ears and his glasses that shone lightly as he gazed over to Sentai. Chousan's face a mask of boredom as he regarded his leader. " Oh look…I found nothing..for the hundredth time."

Sentei calmly clasped his hands behind his back and returned his wards look with a patient one of his own. "You've found nothing matching the description I gave you?"

Calmly the young man pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose as he straightened himself in his seat. "A guy with long black hair and blue eyes, looks around seven feet tall and is perhaps in his early to mid thirties. Unfortunately Boss that description matches thousands of men in this city. I did run a scan for the swords and powers that you explained and I haven't had a hit on those. Whatever this guy is, there isn't any documentation on him." Chousan added with a shake of his head and a shrug.

"Sakagami woke for a little while according to Riku, but all he kept saying was 'Ancient one…Ancient one…' Riku thinks he was calling for that demon." Sentei subconsciously began to smooth his mustache in thought as he leaned on the door frame.

Chousan smirked a little and began to 'smooth' his upper lip in the same manner. "Sakagami went to China didn't he? Course he was secretive about that, we needed to pull his passport record to find out. " He flashed Sentei a smile and rubbed his chin when the leader looked his way. Only to resume mimicking him when the old man looked away again.

"We've known him for a long time and he's never hidden anything from us. Now he goes off promising that he will find help, only to send word that he was unsuccessful. Yet he brings something back with him and we have no idea what!" Sentei lamented as he began to pace around the parameter of the room, his gaze wandering over the many camera views from different parts of the city.

"If he is talking about an ancient then it's an undocumented one. I could go into the vault and search the treasure archives for an ancient demon that matches that description. I could also check our copy of the Chinese book of demons the 'Shan Hai Jing' and see if something like him is listed. " Chousan stopped there when he noticed that his boss was not listening, instead his eyes were drawn to the monitors on the walls. One by one each was showing a sudden wave of humanity spilling into the streets.

Reaching over to a keyboard to the far left, Chousan quickly tapped away at the keys, the monitor before him flickering to a camera view of the check point into the No-Mans-Land part of the city. His eyes widening behind his glasses.

The train station entrance stood in pieces above ground, it's roof partially caved in and the sign above it dangling by a corner. All around it yellow ribbons of caution tape fluttered in the breeze, a mute warning against anyone entering. However that didn't stop a couple of people from leaving. A large chunk of concrete shifted, sliding out and to the side to prop up the toppled in roof. A few moments of scuffling followed before the half crushed door was kicked the rest of the way off it's with a protesting screech of metal. Slowly a head poked out from under the overhanging debris, pink eyes gazing around a moment to gauge the area before disappearing back under. "Looks clear."

The roof slowly began to rise above her, sending dirt and small bits of concrete raining down as it lifted. Relieving the youkai beneath pushing the whole mess up and holding it there as Ryosei slipped past him, flashing him a little wink. It took great effort to not roll his eyes at the little gesture. If only because he'd been doing it so much in the short time he'd been with her that he feared his eyeballs would fall out. In the time it took for them to travel through the underground station to the surface the demon had found himself the unwilling recipient of more female attention than he'd ever received in the last two hundred years. Ryosei was an inquisitive demoness who apparently had not conversed with another of her kind in a long time.

She bombarded him with questions almost from the very moment he agreed to escort her. At first they were innocent questions meant to break the ice between them, giving both an opportunity to learn a little of each other. In all truth he found some amusement in her inquisitiveness. At least until the questions became more personal and sometimes bordering on flirtatious! From what kinds of wine he enjoyed to what he liked to do on a Saturday night. None of which he felt was really appropriate at the moment considering their situation, or really any time.

He'd been around females enough to know where this was going and he was simply not interested. Thus he skirted questions and changed subjects in an effort to de-rail her plans, but she was very perceptive and insistent. Causing him to work a little harder at finding that damned subway exit! It was obvious that it may have been a little too long since Ryosei had seen a male of her kind. In a way he could understand why she was so excited. The only other male dog demon he knew of in Tokyo was his eldest son and Sesshoumaru was by no means a conversationalist last he knew. At that moment she was successfully witling down his patience. The fact that he could feel her eyes constantly going over him was also becoming a little tiring.

More than once he contemplated turning around and ordering her to hold that tongue, even considered abandoning her around the debris. That would be quite cold and cruel though and he was a gentleman after all, so he took the discomfort in stride as best he could. Silently reminding himself that she did save Sakagami back on the surface. Ultimately freeing the Daiyoukai up to work on the issue at hand and for that he was grateful enough to put up with her prying. Patience was a virtue though and more than once his lip twitched a little as he bit back a rude response that threatened to roll off his tongue. When they finally found the exit from the subway, he felt it was a gods send!

Carefully he picked his way through the rubble while balancing the broken roof above his head, until he was finally able to slip out safely with a little exhale of relief. At long last they were out from the underground, brushing off his hands he realized it had become very quiet and gazed over to Ryosei. Instantly noticing the paled look of shock on her face as she stared up. His gaze quickly following hers, his blood running cold at what he saw.

This part of the city was particularly hard hit by the quake, leaving the area looking like a post apocalyptic scene. But it was what they saw at that scene...or should he say, crawling over that scene, that worried him. Black Goo had over run the city. Entire buildings were swallowed up, it flowed through streets like putrid rivers and all around it were necromatic monsters. All shapes and sizes of them roamed the streets in packs and crawled over the broken buildings searching for warm blood. For the first time he witnessed new additions to this gruesome army as bird like monsters soared through the skies above on huge black wings. Their heads dangling down like a vultures as they searched for prey.

Knowing that they were exposed where they stood he grabbed Ryosei by the arm and quickly ushered them towards a nearby alley. "The Dark Queen has launched the first large scale attack."

Ryosei recovered from her initial shock and hardened her expression as she peered back out of the alley way. "I wonder how much of the city she has overtaken already like this? How are we going to fight all those monsters?"

"Ideally I would rather not, it's a useless endeavor." The fear that this poisonous liquid had reached beyond the condemned part of the city gnawed at him. If these Necromatic monsters attacked the population outside, the blood shed would be terrible and the added numbers to the Dark Queens force frightening! Pausing at the other end of the alley, he looked about to see if the coast was clear. "We must reach the source of this dark magic, the Dark Queen herself. That is the only way to stop this hell from spreading through the rest of the city."

"Reaching the Dark Queen is not going to be easy you know." Ryosei whispered softly as she slipped around the youkai and gazed out of the alleyway. "She surrounds herself in darkness and monsters according to the Taijiya." She paused a moment as she caught his skeptical look from the corner of her eye. Casting him a side long glance she added quickly. "From what intel I have stolen from the Taijiya."

That sounded about right, granted it was well known that the Demon Hunters did work with demons, he somehow had the feeling that this talkative pink haired demoness was not one of them. Their eyes briefly met as he suppressed the urge to smile. "I am quite aware, she introduced herself a short while ago as I am sure you have seen."

With cheeks burning a little she turned away from him, making a little snorting sound. "I actually didn't see that part, the black oil was coating everything so I could not come close enough." Folding her arms over her chest she turned back to him, her dusty pink eyes flashed him a look through her darker pink colored bangs. "I honestly thought you were devoured . I was somewhat curious to see what kind of monster you'd have become."

Much to her dismay though he wasn't even paying attention to her at the moment, his gaze was locked on a group of monstrous birds as they flew over head. Seeing a path opening for them he motioned her to follow as he slipped out of the alley way. Her expression soured, she did follow closely behind him remaining silent as she took in the destruction around them. In the distance a car was violently flipped as a the massive rotted form that looked like a cat pounced on top of it. It's claws shredding the flimsy metal before plunging it's snapping jaws into the wreckage. A moment later terrified screams rose from the car as the beast pulled the helpless human out. Ryosei watched in morbid fascination as the monster thrashed it's head from side to side. Silencing the screams, before discarding the crumpled body onto the ground where it was quickly claimed by the black goo.

"That shall be the fate of every living thing in this city if we do not find the Queen and end her spell." The youkai mused as he hovered over Ryosei's shoulder to watch the scene. The Demoness nearly jumping out of her skin when her focus was interrupted.

"Shukun-chan you're as silent as a wraith! Don't do that!" She hissed between deep breaths, needing a moment to regain her composure. Eying him curiously. "So you know what she is using to create these things?"

"Tis Necromancy." His eyes locked on the goo as it began to boil around the corpse, "This type is an ancient one beyond even my knowledge," the humans flesh began to darken to a sickly color before beginning to swell, "I've never seen anything like it and unfortunately I know not of any way to reverse it."

"Well we're no good out here then, lets get out of here and form a plan." Grabbing his sleeve she tugged at him, tearing him away from the wicked scene. Her eyes roaming the sides of the road as they walked out in the open, much to her companion's growing anxiousness. They were exposed out here and easy prey for the vultures above to swoop down on. He was about to open his mouth and protest when Ryosei abruptly picked up a large rock, tossing it up once to test it's weight. Without another word she walked up to a small white car packed on the side of the roar and used it to smash the window. Reaching in to pop open the door. "Get in!"

The barked order irked him a little almost as much as the idea of vandalizing the vehicle, though he pushed that aside as another question came to mind. "I am not to familiar with these things, however I though you needed a key to start a car up?"

Completely ignoring him for the moment Ryosei hopped into the drivers seat and unlocked the passengers doors with a single button. Reaching over she tore the cover out from behind the steering wheel and worked quickly. Yanking out the ignition switch and prying a wire free, tapping two of them lightly together with a spark. The engine roaring to life as she rolled her eyes and canted her head over to the youkai. Flashing him a crooked little smile. "Not always."

Had this been another time he would have been perhaps a little impressed, though he would have still shaken his head at her, maybe even scolded her. They were stealing after all, but at the moment they had little choice as one of those monsters had spotted them already. It's roar echoing up the street as it came charging for them. He quickly vaulted over the hood of the car as Ryosei slammed her door shut. The youkai barely half way in the passengers seat when she sped away from the curb with tires squealing! His swords got in the way, the seat itself was too far forward, honestly the car itself was a bit too small for his large frame. But somehow he squirmed into place and managed to shut the door just as the car began swerving.

"Hang on there, this ride is going to be rough!" Ryosei cried with a smile that unnerved him a bit. Clutching the only hand hold on his side he watched with widened eyes as the car sped around rubble and dodged pools of bubbling goo. The view behind them was no better, with more monsters joining in on the chase. Including one of the vultures that came swooping down for them. It's large talons missing the little car by a few inches as Ryosei jerked the wheel hard to the left, sending the little car skidding into an alley way where it was impossible for the bird to reach them. Although it unseated the poor youkai and sent him slamming into the dash of the car with that maneuver.

Hissing a curse under his breath he pushed himself back into his seat and dared a look ahead, to his horror there a huge pool of black goo waiting for them. That horror turned into a sinking feeling as he gazed over to the driver. The determined look on the female demon's face told him exactly what she was about to do. Bracing a hand against the dash he grit his teeth and watched anxiously as the car flew out of the alley and hit the pool. It may have well been an oil slick as the car immediately began sliding wildly, its tires finding no grip!

Ryosei tried desperately to keep the it under control but in the end was unable to stop the car from spinning out violently before it slammed up against a wall, reducing the trunk to a twisted accordion shape. Leaving the two occupants within dazed for a moment. The youkai shook his head to rid him of the stars dancing before his eyes as he quickly turned to his companion. Reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder as he looked over her worriedly. Ryosei's head was bent over the steering wheel where she made a frustrated sound. Much to his relief she began to move and beyond a cut to her forehead he could see no other injury.

The car though seemed to be dead, it's engine having gone silent. Recovering enough from the crash, Ryosei reached down to the ignition wires once more. A frown growing on her face as the starter gave a sickly sounding whine as it failed to start the engine. Leaving her to fight with the car the old youkai carefully knocked out what little remained of his broken window and looked out over the river of black goo they were currently stranded in. Worriedly he gazed at the bottom of the door, the mental image of that evil fluid seeping through a frightening one. Thankfully the inside was still quite goo-free. Then he looked outside of the door.

The thick and viscous liquid seemed to be flowing towards them, building up around them at an alarming rate. Black tendrils slowly creeping up the sides of the car much in the same way as he'd witnessed in the tunnels. Keeping his tone even he cautiously advised Ryosei who was still fighting with the ignition. "If we do not move out of here quickly, we'll be engulfed."

"WHAT? You're kidding right?!" Jerking her head up she stared at the older youkai before quickly sticking her head out the window. "You're not kidding." Holding back a curse she quickly returned her attention to the wires. Hands shaking as she touched them together. The starter giving another pathetic sounding whine.

"Be calm, if you panic you will lessen our chances of escape." Looking down though as the goo crept farther up the door he found himself beginning to panic as well.

"Hard to be calm when you're going to be eaten alive!" She hissed and tapped the wires together again.

"I believe we would be rotted to death?" The goo was half way up the door and had just started creeping up over the hood.

"Even better! We'll become Demon Zombies! Is that even possible?" Gritting her teeth she slammed her fist into the dash in frustration. "Start damn you!"

"I've never seen such a thing, so I cannot say." It was not something he was interested in finding out either. Though they may have no choice here as the goo was nearly to the top of the door. Sticking his own head out of the window he looked up at the building as a possible way out. Only to see more goo crawling up the wall as well.

Ryosei drew a deep breath and paused for a moment, closing her eyes as she whispered softly. "We are stuck in a carnivorous swimming pool. This is not the way I envisioned myself going. In fact, I'm not ready to go. Damn this stupid queen to hell but she is NOT taking me today! SO START YOU PIECE OF JUNK!" Her zen like calm was shattered with a scream as she lurched forward and grabbed those wires! Touching them together as the starter began to whine once more.

The sudden shriek made him briefly consider that she'd lost her mind, a sweat drop rolling down his brow as he stared at her sudden ferocity. That seemed to work as the engine suddenly sputtered to life! Much to his relief and her sudden cry of joy! As short lived as it was, he looked passed her as he noticed the first tendril of goo creeping over the door. "We must move now!"

Recovering from the moment she gripped the wheel and hit the gas, sending the car fish tailing as it tore its way through the of the puddle of goo. The remaining liquid draining away the moment the car hit the pavement and sped away. It needed to build up to cover something, a small curiosity for the youkai as he turned in his seat to look out the broken rear window. The dark pool retaining the shape of the car for only a moment before sinking back down. Very curious. The little car darted through another alley way when the shadow of another Necromatic bird was cast over them. The look of determination still locked on Ryosei's face as they emerged once more onto the main road. It was a hair raising cat and mouse chase and one he'd love to see ended soon.

Unfortunately his wish came true a few minutes later as Ryosei drove around a corner only to hit the breaks hard. Right up ahead of them were several of the grotesque monsters. More than he cared to take the time to count, all stalking towards them with maws open. Roaring in their hunger for warm flesh and the anticipation of pouncing on cornered prey. Slowly his blue eyes rolled to the female, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as her face twisted into a look of fear. She was terrified, that much he could tell and unless they did something quickly they would be killed here.

Without a word he opened the car door and immediately climbed onto the roof, Ryosei giving a little gasping start as she watched him. "Wait! What the hell are you doing!?"

"You must drive, I will cut the path for us!" Shutting the door he positioned himself in a three point crouch.

"You're going to fight them from up there on a moving car." She had to stop herself from gaping. "Did the smell of that goo effect your head?"

A little smile drew over his face as his eyes locked on the monsters ahead with such intensity that he nearly jumped as a clawed hand burst through the top of the car right beside his knee. A second later the end of a seat belt was threaded through.

"Here! Take this and tie yourself in!" Feeding the rest of the seat belt through she gave the other end a hard tug to make sure it was secure before she turned to grip the steering wheel and rev the engine.

Staring at the belt he opened his mouth to protest needing it, but there was simply no time to argue. Taking the seat belt and tying it to his own belt he grumbled to himself over how it severely limited his movement. That gripe was instantly forgotten the moment the car took off again with such a momentum that the only thing stopping him from being left behind was the seat belt! Well, this wasn't how these things were designed to be used but none the less it worked! That smile returned once more, bigger than before as he drew both his blades and prepared for the onslaught.

The was still a bit of a challenge with keeping his balance on the small cars roof and he needed a few moments to spread his feet out enough to keep him stable. He was thankful for Ryosei's quick thinking on using the seat belt as a life line. Far more grateful when a sudden swerve nearly sent him tumbling over! Crouching low he held the twin blades out and ready, blue eyes narrowing on the incoming mob of monsters.

Inside the vehicle Ryosei began to break out in a cold sweat, her eyes glued on the monsters legs. Seeing no way to go around them, it left her with no choice but to navigate through them! The little cars engine roared as she floored the gas, plunging them right into the thick of the mess. Swerving to the left as a huge clawed hand came for them, hitting the breaks and skidding just past a hind leg. In the blink of an eye they vanished in a flash of bright light, bright enough to force her to squint hers. Only to give a scream as severed limbs rained down over the hood and splattered gore over wind shield! Hurriedly switching on the wipers she gave another startled cry as she jerked the wheel to the left, barely missing an overturned car in the road.

All around her the monsters snarls of hunger turned to shrieks of pain, a chance look in the side mirror showed a monster that was gaining ground on them. It's maw opening wide to show off rows of rotted but still hellishly sharp teeth, filling the mirror and the female demons heart with terror! Before a bright light returned and split down the center of the gaping maw, unleashing a wild splatter of black blood as the beast stumbled and fell away.

Releasing the breath she was subconsciously holding, Ryosei looked right back to the road ahead. Seeing with relief the check point station on the boarder of no-mans land. The same check point station that was surrounded in a sea of black goo! The result was a string of curses that made even the Daiyoukai look down at his companion's very unladylike behavior. Until he too noticed what they were up against and found himself biting back the same curses! The pool looked deep and he feared that the little car was not going to make it. Looking over the side of the roof he called out to the driver. "Do you think we'll make it?"

"I'm kind of afraid to drive through that, it could swallow the whole car up!" She frowned as the car slowed to a stop, taking a moment to stick her head out of the window. "We'll have to fly out of here the rest of the way."

"Not an option for me unfortunately. You should take that route and save yourself I will find another way around." A life time ago he could cast his youki out and float through the air, but now his demonic power was so weak that he could barely lift himself an inch off the ground.

"What do you mean 'not an option', are you afraid of heights?" She shot back without thinking, watching him sheath his blades.

"I cannot fly woman! If I could fly do you think I would have when we were stuck back there?" It was an irritable snap, he knew it was rude but he was a few seconds too late to have stopped it. With a sigh he began to untie himself. "My apologies, but there is little choice."

"Well then you're just going to have to catch a ride." Ryosei said with a sour grump before her annoyed look was replaced by a smirk. Seconds before her own demonic power flared in a pink light.

At first he thought she was going to take off with the car and on reflex grabbed the seat belt! Then he sensed the sudden wave of youki and saw the glow of pink light steaming from the drivers door. Realizing that moment what she was about to do. Quickly he stood himself up on the roof of the car and whirled around to bring himself face to snout with the Inu youkai.

In her true form Ryosei was actually quite small for one of her kind. From his vantage point the guessed she was maybe fourteen feet high at the shoulder. Her coat was a dusty pink color and very thin, accenting her elegant form. Every bit of her was long and elegant from her slender legs to her neck. A little fur feathered above her paws and along her curled tail. Her face was perfectly proportioned to her body, with a graceful look to her muzzle and her long thin ears. The first thing that came to his mind was 'speed', she was built like a greyhound and looked capable of leaving anyone foolish enough to try and chase her in the dust.

It was a beauty that caught him off guard for a few seconds, she also seemed familiar to him, though quickly he regained himself and cast a glare at those large red eyes. "I know what you are thinking and I will not have it. Leave me with my dignity intact here Ryosei! Now go on and escape this I will find a way across myself." A clawed finger pointed towards the check point as he narrowed his eyes on the demoness.

The large dog snuffed a little and flattened her ears back, flashing him a pout full look. Slowly she turned and began towards the city much to his relief. Taking a moment to rub his face he breathed a soft sigh, only to feel jaws clasping at the back of his armor gently before yanking him up and off his feet! Gritting his teeth he was unable to stop the snarl that rose from his throat! This damned woman! It wasn't unusual that other dog demons disobeyed him but she found the most embarrassing ways to do it! Had this been another life time he'd have transformed and scolded her! Then again had be been able to transform to his full glory…he'd not be dangling like a puppy from her jaws right now.

Lucky for him dogs couldn't laugh or else she'd betray her amusement at his predicament. It couldn't stop the doggy smile though as she took off at a quick sprint before bounding into the air. Demonic power gathering around in soft clouds to carry her up into the skies. Taking them both over the check point and into the city. Where all the humor and indignity was forgotten within a few minutes. Down below them was a full scale invasion, more of that black goo was flowing through the streets like a river. Around it were scores of dark shapes, more monsters, making their way through the cities. Yet eerily it seemed like Tokyo was empty, as if the people were gone.

"Evacuated, they must have all been evacuated." How sad how he'd quickly forgotten that others were also keeping an eye on this disaster. Someone must have signaled the humans to flee the city. But what of the ones who could not? Looking up from where he danged the youkai called out. "You must find my friend Sakagami! He is too injured to escape and will need help!"

The demonesses head bobbed a little as a growl rumbled from her throat. Causing the youkai to flash her a look even though he was aware she could not see it. "I must stay and try to figure a way to slow the invasion down. Put me down someplace clear and find my friend, Please!"

Now she shook her head which also managed to swing the poor youkai around in her jaws. Cringing a little as he heard fabric tearing he grit his teeth and shot back. "I do not have time for this woman! Put me down this instant! Please find my friend and make sure he is brought to safety! Even the Taijiya's care wont be enough against this!"

Something akin to a sigh escaped the large dog above him and without any warning she dove down from the sky. Forcing him to shield his face against the whipping winds with raised arms. Until at last she came down to earth, landing lightly on her small paws as her demonic power trailed from her elegant form. With a bowed head she deposited the Daiyoukai roughly onto the ground before her. Flashing him an unhappy look with her narrowed crimson eyes.

An undignified way to end an undignified experience, he landed on his rear when she finally released him. Which did his already broken tailbone no favors, gritting his teeth he let his eyes roll to the female dog demon. "Don't look at me like that, it is better this way. I have faced these monsters before but I cannot face them and find my friend at the same time. I ask you this favor m'lady, please tend to him and I will owe you a favor in return. Fair enough?"

There was something in the way her expression changed that unnerved him a little. Something in the way she canted her head and managed to flash him a crooked smile that left him feeling like he'd just made a big mistake. Although it was too late to take it back, not that she gave him the opportunity to do so as she turned from him and gracefully trotted away. The youkai turning his back to her as she sprung to the air to fly off. Now was not the time to dwell on that, before him was a large score of necrotic monsters of every shape and size.

Only one against an army. Not unlike old times even when he commanded youkai into the fight. Demons were chaotic creatures that were difficult to organize, yet not impossible. As long as you understood the Youkai you were dealing with. Usually they were his scouts, his eyes and ears that were everywhere. Teeth and fangs that would take on lesser targets, small opponents. The ones who were wise enough to stay in his good graces gave him support in heat of battle. But he was the one who always stood on the front lines. One against an army.

The old memories brought a little smile to his face as he walked towards the Dark City flooded with monsters like the stuff of nightmares. Just like the olden days, however he was truly alone here, there would be no other support. A smile spread over his face as he drew his blades from his belt, holding Seishi out to point at the incoming mass of monsters. All snarling for his blood and hungering for his death as they raced one another to reach this prey. The smile on his face spread as he allowed his youki to engulf the blade, sending a soft vibration through the wicked black metal. Slowly he rose the sword above his head and readied to launch his attack.

"KAZE NO KIZU!"

Several lines of destructive power raged through the streets, tearing up earth, asphalt and everything else in it's path. It ravaged through the swarm of monsters in a violent wave of death, tearing the beasts asunder as the bright light of power crackled through the air from the demonic powers intensity. It was a terribly beautiful sight that brought with it so much destruction, yet when used correctly it was the greatest offensive attack he'd ever seen. Not to mention so effective, the street may have not been rendered impassable but the number of bodies torn to pieces was well worth the price for the Kaze no Kizu.

There was only one small problem.

…He had not launched this Kaze no Kizu!

Seishi was still poised above his head, though it's power had fizzled out when his concentration was broken. The words still on the tip of his tongue as he stood frozen in place, wide blue eyes locked on the chaos unfolding before him. From the dust of the Kaze no Kizu's aftermath a form landed right in the center of the battle field. Sinking into a three point crouch the figure held out the only other weapon in this world that could launch such an attack.

Tetsusaiga gleamed as it's white blade caught the sunlight, clutched tightly in the hand of a figure clad in red robes and wearing long silvery white hair. A triangular dog ear flicked in his direction before the figure rose and turned to face him.

At that moment, amber eyes met his.