Hello again everyone! Well, not too much going on this week. Heh, I've been helping my dad in the hayfields, which has been fun. I took off half of Tuesday to help him out, which is lucky because we finished a half an hour before it rained. We finally got half done thankfully, although I wish we were further along. Normally by the 4th of July, we're done with our hay, but not so this year. It's done nothing but rain almost all of June, thus not giving us a break to get our hay up, but oh well, I suppose… At any rate, not much else is going on in life. Me and my mate are still waiting on our new bedroom suit to come in. Eh, other than that, life is not bad.
Writing wise, things are still moving along nicely. I finished a lot on my other story, Minutes to Midnight. As for this story, I'm constantly picking away at it, although I'm starting to think I should shift my focus back on to it. There are so many things on this story that have yet to be done, so I need to get back to it.
Alright, moving along, time for reviews!
Kattana: Wow, you've been logging in most recently, which is cool. I'm not complaining, just mentioning it, lol. But yes, I could never imagine having to kill my lover. I know I couldn't do it, even if she begged for it. Ichigo didn't wish to do it either, but Rukia wished to die before Kenshin tried to take her, so I can't blame her too badly. So true, I'd have died with the person I loved if I had to kill them, and I'm sure that's why Ichigo is the way that he is, although he's trying to honor Rukia's last wish for him to live on. Yeah, Sango and Miroku marked one another and thus if one dies, the other dies, which is pretty much how each has expressed they feel. Really, either group of mates could have held off the marking of one another till after the mages were killed, but both loved their respected mates and wished to take them as lifetime mates, so it happened, lol. Thanks about the chapter, and for the great review that you gave me!
Mitsukai – Lady of Gryffindor: LOL! I suppose Kenshin should die a long and hard death, but we'll see. It all depends on if they can make it to the mage and can kill him. Thanks for the review!
Thank you both for those wonderful reviews. I really appreciated them. Both of you are such wonderful reviewers. I always get something helpful from each of you almost always, which I truly appreciate, so I'd just like to once more thank you each. I really do appreciate it.
At any rate, I'm done for today. I hope you all like this chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 36
"Zangetsu and I from then on trained. For five years straight, I trained with Zangetsu while tracking the mages." Ichigo commented. "I had very little luck in finding them, depending on leads from different demons and humans, although few leads were helpful."
Smirking, he added "Then one day, luck was on my side when I ran into Iya about twenty years ago."
--
Standing on the outskirts of a village that had just been decimated, Ichigo caught the scent of a half dog demon walking towards him through the village. Seeing the half dog demon appearing closer, he hid himself and his scent. Getting a better look at the half demon as he came closer, Ichigo saw that he had black hair that reached his butt, tied back in a ponytail, wearing a black kimono top and pants with a red hexagon pattern on the top. On his side was a sword in a black sheath. A top the half demon's head was a pair of black dog ears that were swiveling constantly.
Arriving out the outskirts where Ichigo was, the half demon stopped in mid-step and turned towards Ichigo, who glared at him.
"Who the hell are you, and what did you do to that village?" Ichigo asked gruffly.
Taking offense to this, the young man politely replied "I'm sorry, but it's common courtesy to introduce one's self first before asking who a person is."
Growling out at the fact the half demon had turned the question back on him, Ichigo yelled out "Are you working for The Thirteen!?"
Chuckling at first, the young half demon finally burst into laughter. Calming down, the half demon calmly said "No, I do not work for them, but the question is, do you?"
"What was that!?" Ichigo snarled with angry rising.
Drawing Zangetsu from it's sheath, Ichigo turned the sword towards the half demon, saying "Fess up now! Are you working with the mages!?"
Not backing down, the half demon drew his sword, calmly replying "I take exception to your accusations that I work for the mages. I have never, and will never."
"I don't believe you!" Ichigo declared.
Sighing, the half demon calmly said "Then I will make you believe me."
Raising his sword, the sword suddenly flared to life with demonic energy. The blade instantly transformed, turning the sword into a halberd with a black fur guard.
Not intimidated, Ichigo rushed forward. The two swords clashed together, sending sparks flying from the force. Again and again, the two swords clashed with one another, the sound of metal hitting metal filling the air.
For nearly twenty minutes, the pair fought till finally Ichigo backed away a bit. Seeing this, the half demon asked "Finished already?"
"Hardly!" Ichigo roared back. Gripping the hilt of Zangetsu tightly, he called forth it's Shikai transformation. The sword instantly glowed with a light blue demonic aura, transforming into it's cleaver like shape.
Glaring at the half demon, Ichigo charged forward, the two blades once more sending out a series of sparks. Again and again, the pair engaged in exchanges of blows, with neither side harming the other.
After an hour, both finally leapt backwards, leaving some room between the two. Staring one another down, the half demon lightly chuckled and reversed his sword's transformation and sheathed it.
"I see, you're that determined to find out what I know." the half demon commented. A small smile graced his face while he calmly said "I suppose I should introduce myself at long last. My name is Iya Taisho."
Thinking for a few moments, Ichigo finally replied "My name is Ichigo Kurosaki."
"Why don't we end this fight and talk?" Iya asked kindly.
Feeling he could trust Iya, Ichigo decided to listen and reversed the transformation of his sword, allowing him to sheath it once more. Taking a seat beside of Iya, who was sitting on some rocks, the pair began talking and sharing information.
--
"It wasn't long after that that me and Iya began traveling together." Ichigo calmly explained. "We felt the same way about the mages, so we began tracking them together."
Pausing for a moment, he added "Ever since then, me and Iya have been a team. Nothing has separated us."
"He's become your best friend, hasn't he?" Orihime asked softly.
Smiling, Ichigo quietly replied "I suppose so. I never thought I'd make new friends after losing Rukia, but Iya has become my closest friend. Before I lost Renji, we were best friends, but now, with Iya, it's different. It's like we're closer, somehow."
"Probably because Iya has been through a lot with you." Orihime calmly said. "He's been with you for the last twenty years, so it's only natural that the two of you would become rather close."
Nodding in reply, Ichigo quieted. Silence enveloped the two, but neither was uncomfortable by it.
"Orihime." Ichigo spoke up, breaking the quiet. Seeing he had her attention, he whispered "Thank you for listening."
Warmly smiling, she replied "Ichigo, I'm always here if you need someone to talk to. I feel closer to you than the others I guess due that you're part bobcat."
"And because I care about you." she whispered in her mind.
Getting up from his spot, he offered his hand to her, making her eyes widen a fraction in surprise. Accepting it after a moment, Ichigo helped Orihime stand.
Brown orbs met grey ones, with each seemingly looking into the depths of one another's souls. Quickly breaking contact, Ichigo let go of her hand and ran his fingers through his hair for a moment.
"I guess we should be getting back, eh?" he asked.
Finding her voice once more, Orihime nodded and leapt from the tree. She soon hit the ground, but gracefully landed on the balls of her feet. Ichigo landed next to her just as gracefully, but with more of a thud.
"Let's go." he commented while taking the lead back towards camp.
Smiling softly, Orihime nodded and caught up with him soon enough so that she was by his side. He caught this action and inwardly smiled.
"Maybe, just maybe I will be able to rebuild my life Rukia. I know you would approve, but don't worry. Before I even begin to try and find love once more, I'll rid this world of Kenshin."
--
Arriving back at camp, the two bobcat demons found the others were gathered around the fire, with Inuyasha holding Kagome in his arms, who was half asleep, while leaning against a tree, and Iya sitting with Lilly not too far away. Two rabbits hung on the outskirts of the fire, looking already cooked and ready to eat.
Taking a seat on the ground on the opposite side of the fire, both Ichigo and Orihime plopped down onto the ground. An uncomfortable silence was in the air, with none of the group speaking up.
Finally breaking the silence, Iya calmly said "Ichigo, Orihime, those two rabbits are for you two."
"Thanks." Ichigo mumbled while grabbing his own and Orihime's. He handed her the cooked rabbit, which she smiled at him and thanked him.
Finishing up with their dinner, the pair threw the remains into the fire. Silence was once again filling the group, till Iya spoke up once more.
"We shouldn't be too many more days away."
Perking up a bit, Inuyasha asked "Have you fought these two mages before?"
Tapping his chin for a moment, Iya replied "I've had a few skirmishes with the pair, but nothing to amount to anything. Heh, really, the only battles I've had with them that really lasted was probably when they attacked your group."
Quieting for a moment, Iya added "If they're anything like the other mages, they'll be tough. All of the mages I've fought have been tough fighters."
"You fought and killed the first three alone, didn't you?" Lilly asked, getting most of the group, except Ichigo, to look at Iya.
Softly chuckling, Iya nodded, replying "Yes, I fought the first three alone. Actually, I fought the first one alone, then the second time I fought the mages, there were two."
"What were they like?" Kagome asked, surprising Inuyasha that she hadn't fully fallen asleep in his embrace.
"Definitely different, I'll give them that much." Iya commented. "Ichigo helped me beat three more, but even they were different."
Pausing for a moment, he added "The first fight though, it took so long to get engaged into it."
"What do you mean?" Orihime questioned with a frown.
Sighing slightly while looking at the fire, Iya slowly said "When I began chasing the mages two-hundred-fifty years ago, I never engaged any of them in battle till after a hundred years of chasing them."
The group all, but Ichigo, somewhat gasped in shock, with Inuyasha quickly saying "You mean you never fought them till hundred-fifty years ago!?"
"That's correct." Iya informed. "I had chased them all that time, but not once did they turn and fight. Each time I would get within sight of them, I was prepared to fight, but the lead mage, Byakuya, would tell the group I wasn't worth their time, for I was only a half demon, thus unworthy of their attention."
Frowning slightly, he soon added "But after a hundred years of chasing, one finally had stopped running, and we had it out."
--
Sniffing the air, Iya frowned at the two scents he caught while running along. "Why do I smell one of the mages and their slave seemingly waiting on me?" he pondered.
Pushing the question to the back of his mind, he ran out into a small clearing where a large man stood with a smaller woman beside of him, who had her head in a bowing stance.
Leaving a distance of twenty feet between himself and the pair, Iya eyed the two before him. The first was a large, tall man that had black spiky hair with bells attached to the ends of the spikes, a large scar that ran downwards past his eye, tanned skin, and rather muscular. He wore an eye patch over his right eye, while his other eye was uncovered, which was black as coal, a black choker collar, and a set of black robes. Sticking out of his robes was a sword's hilt that was covered in white cloth.
Beside of the tall man was a petit woman, whose skin was bronzed, with long purple hair pulled back in a ponytail, golden eyes, and had a kind face. She wore a formal orange kimono with flower patterns embroidered into it.
"About time you showed up." the man spoke up with a gruff tone. "I was beginning to think you'd never make it."
Swiveling his ears, Iya listened closely to make sure no one else was in the area. Taking a sniff of the air, he detected no other demons nearby. Using his senses to look for other demonic presences, Iya was finally convinced that only the half demon and the demon mage were the only ones present besides him.
"Satisfied?" the man questioned. "I didn't have any of the others stay with me. They're long gone by now, more than likely miles away. You only have to deal with me, and me alone, which is just how I prefer it."
Eyeing the woman behind him, Iya calmly said "Keep her out of this fight."
"Heh, you think I'd bother to let her in on my own fight? You are pathetic if you think I can't handle a half breed alone." the man irritably replied. Glancing over his shoulder at the woman, he said "Yoruichi, stay out of this fight."
Bowing lightly, Yoruichi humbly replied "Yes Master Kenpachi."
Stepping forward towards Iya, the man undid the cords to his robes and shrugged them off, revealing a white tattered vest first that reached his knees in length and had diamond like shapes on it's bottom hems, and a black kimono top with a pair of black pants. His feet were covered in white socks while he wore simple sandals.
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time." the man eagerly said with a smirk.
Looking the man in the eye, Iya coolly replied "So have I. Every time I've caught up with you mages, you run away."
"Run away!?" the man bellowed in disgust. "You are sure of yourself! The only reason we leave is due to the orders of our leader. He says you are a weak half breed, thus we shouldn't have to waste our time on such a small annoyance. I wanted to get rid of you one hundred years ago, but he refused to let me, saying it wasn't worth our time. My persistence over the last hundred years has paid off though, for I finally was allowed to strike out and fight you at long last. Once I kill you, we'll have no more interruptions in our affairs."
Softly chuckling, Iya flatly replied "If you kill me, that is."
"Confident for such a runt, aren't you?" the man bantered.
In his calm voice, Iya curtly responded with "I have no reason not to be. My father believed I could handle this task, therefore I'm not worried."
"Your father was a fool!" the man sharply remarked. "He would have been a wonderful and refreshing challenge, but instead he sent his runt to fight us. Well I got news for you pup, daddy isn't here to hold your hand through this fight."
"Nor do I need him to be." Iya calmly replied. "I have been capable of fighting on my own for many years. And now that I have one of you finally to fight, I'll start picking you mages off, one by one."
"Big talk for such a pup." the man remarked with a smirk. "Maybe you'll get lucky, but doubtful. After all, you're fighting Kenpachi Zaraki!"
Softly chuckling, Iya simply said "I know of you. You're said to be the most brutal of the mages."
"Ah, so my reputation precedes me. I'm glad to hear it hasn't fallen into ruin after all these years." Kenpachi smugly remarked.
"I also heard that of the mages, you have the least amount of knowledge of spells and can only cast a few at that." Iya smartly commented.
Shrugging, Kenpachi quipped back with "It maybe true that I don't know many spells, but I don't need many to get by. After all, what I already knew was more than enough to enter The Thirteen."
"That might be, but after today, that group will need a new name since I'm about to cut their number down to twelve." Iya remarked.
Sneering, Kenpachi reached up and pulled his black kimono open, revealing his well toned chest. "Why don't you come show me what you're made of then, little pup. I'll give you the first attack for free."
Frowning, Iya calmly asked "You intend to let me attack you first?"
"That's right, I'm giving you a free shot. Come on, prove how strong you are by burying that sword of yours into me." Kenpachi declared. "Maybe you'll get lucky and cut off an arm or leg, or maybe even kill me on your first attack. Who knows, but I want to see what you can do."
Gripping Ketsaiga's hilt, Iya drew his sword, sparking the sword's transformation into it's halberd state. Bringing the sword before him, Iya looked Kenpachi over.
"Come on, don't tell me you can't attack me. I want to see what you've got!" Kenpachi declared boastfully.
Rushing forward with his sword raised, Iya swung his sword downwards at Kenpachi's chest. The sound of blood splashing the ground filled the air, but none of it came from the mage.
Looking at Kenpachi with a wide eyed expression, Iya leapt backwards to a safe distance of ten feet and glanced at his hands. Looking at them, he saw blood dripping from them onto the ground in small spatters.
Slamming the tip of the blade into the ground, Iya left Ketsaiga beside himself while examining his hands. Both were bleeding lightly, each with imprints of where his sword's hilt had cut into his hands.
Glancing up to look at the smug Kenpachi, Iya slowly processed the memory of what had just happened. "When I swung my sword at him, just as I made contact, I saw a faint shimmer. I think he raised a barrier just as I hit him, thus that's why Ketsaiga didn't cut into his body and my hands bled due that I put so much force into my swing. Still, for him to raise a barrier that close to his body, that was surprising. It's like it curves with his body, and is barely visible. Even now, I can't sense it."
"I see now." Iya slowly started. "You raised a barrier just as I attacked you, thus keeping me from harming you and making me harm myself due to the amount of force I put into my swing."
Smirking triumphantly, Kenpachi smugly replied "I'll give you this, you are rather observant. You figured out what I did rather quickly, I'm impressed."
"Still, I don't understand how you managed to raise a barrier that covers your body at such a close range. Barriers usually need a much wider perimeter from what I've always understood." Iya commented.
Chuckling darkly, Kenpachi calmly responded with "Well, normally I'd say you're right, but my barrier is one of a kind. You see, my barrier uses my own demonic aura as a it's power source. It stays closer to my body and is barely visible. It's strength stems from my own demonic aura. Anyone with an aura weaker than my own will only bounce off of the barrier. Only someone with an aura stronger than my own can cut through it."
Brow furrowing, Iya stared at the mage before him. "My own aura isn't strong enough alone, that is for sure. True, I have great strength, but I can sense his aura. Mine is within range, but even if I use my full power, I won't be able to penetrate his barrier."
In his mind, Iya smirked with a new plan in mind. Taking hold of Ketsaiga once more, he pulled it back in front of his body and closed his eyes. Remaining quiet for a few moments, he finally snapped his eyes open and charged forward towards Kenpachi.
Kenpachi only smugly stood his ground and stuck his chest out. Iya didn't hesitate at all and swung his sword downwards at the large man's shoulder. With no fear, Kenpachi stood his ground, only to gasp in shock when Iya's blade slashed into his shoulder, drawing a small spray of blood.
Not finished with his assault, Iya drew Ketsaiga back once more and slashed the large man across the chest, earning yet another gasp of shock from his opponent as blood quickly spurted out.
Quickly, Kenpachi backed away and examined the two wounds. Glaring at Iya, he bellowed "How did you cut me!? Your demonic aura is not strong enough to overpower my own, so how did you cut me!?"
"It's rather simple." Iya smoothly began. "My own demonic aura isn't strong enough, that much was for certain, so I used that to my advantage. You see, I focused my power and channeled it into Ketsaiga. Ketsaiga itself has a powerful demonic aura also, so I combined the two auras and pushed it to the tip of the blade. Together, my sword's aura and my aura were powerful enough to cut through you barrier, so you're wasting your time using it."
Sneering, Kenpachi shot back "I see, so you figured out how to cut through my barrier. Well then, there is no point for me to keep it up. I think you've earned that much of my respect."
Making a few simple hand signs before his body, Kenpachi calmly declared "Release!"
Instantly, a blue glow surrounded his body. Suddenly, the glow evaporated into the air in what looked like steam. With the glow gone, Kenpachi grabbed hold of his white bandaged cloth covered hilt. Slowly, he drew his sword, revealing it to be rather long, but was obviously very worn out, for small chunks of metal were missing from the blade itself. The blade looked more like a saw than a sword due to the numerous teeth cut into the blade.
"You've got me interested in fighting you now Iya." Kenpachi remarked with a smirk. "I want to see if you're truly as good as you claim you are. Watch out, for here I come."
Rushing forward at a quick pace, Kenpachi swung his sword in a side slash at Iya, who managed to parry his attack easily with Ketsaiga, but was pushed backwards from the force of the blow. Clutching Ketsaiga tightly, Iya finally managed to hold his ground and slashed back, only to be parried by Kenpachi one handed.
--
For nearly an hour, Iya and Kenpachi continued fighting. Their swords clashed together again and again, till at long last, Iya leapt twenty feet away, panting lightly with Ketsaiga before him.
Staring at Kenpachi, Iya saw that the man was standing perfectly still and not panting at all, but simply smirking while blood poured from numerous wounds. His white vest was already soaked in red, along with different parts of his black pants and top.
Still panting, Iya's brow furrowed. "What the hell is he!? I've cut him from head to toe, and yet he seems to be just as fresh as the beginning of this fight. Meanwhile, I'm getting tired. I have a few wounds of my own, but nothing to worry about. He's barely managed to hurt me, while I've carved him up. Still, he just seems to keep going, as if nothing is harming him, like he feels no pain at all!"
Chuckling darkly, Kenpachi called out "Are you already worn out there pup?"
"No!" Iya fiercely responded.
Smiling evilly, Kenpachi excitedly replied "That's the way! Never say die! I must say, I'm surprised you've lasted this long. I figured you'd falter by now, but to see you still having the will and energy to fight, it's rather refreshing."
Pausing for a moment, he added "You know what, I'm going to share a little secret with you since you've lasted this long. First though, answer me this question: do you know what kind of demon I am?"
Thinking for a moment, Iya finally calmed his breathing and replied "I have no idea. All the information I had on you was just your name and how brutal you were. No other information was available."
"That figures, seeing how I never left many witnesses." Kenpachi dryly remarked with a small smirk. "Well then, I guess this should be informative to you."
"The type of demon I am is a very old race, one which barely lives anymore. I am what is known as a battle demon." Kenpachi began. "The race I belong to is nearly dead. There are only a few of us left, if that. I am one of those few, and Yoruichi is a half battle demon. Of course, she's only half due that I made her that way, but she's been with me for quite a while. There are only a handful of us left, most likely only four or five of us pure battle demons, and Yoruichi is the only half battle demon that I know of."
Processing the information Kenpachi had told him, Iya finally spoke up and said "I've never heard of battle demons before."
"I figure not, young pup." Kenpachi smugly retorted. "Our breed is nearly dead. What makes our race very special is our thirst for battle, and the unique abilities that our bodies contain. I'm sure you're curious to why I haven't slowed any, or seemingly felt any pain from the numerous slashes that you gave me. Well, the reason is a simple one. Battle demons can barely feel pain, and our bodies are rather resilient. Not to mention, we have extremely high endurance, much more so than other demons."
Smirking, Kenpachi added "That's why you won't win against me. Your endurance is obviously not on par with my own, thus you will falter long before I become tired. Just surrender to death."
"Never!" Iya sharply remarked. "I swore to my father that I'd bring you mages down, and I will not go against my word! That is my way, and I shall never break it!"
"I find it admirable that you honor your word." Kenpachi commented while reaching up towards his eye patch. Taking hold of it, he ripped it off, declaring "For it, I shall slay you quickly!"
Instantly, Iya felt Kenpachi's demonic aura increase, making him gasp in shock. "What is this!? His demonic aura was powerful before, but now it just shot through the roof! How the hell is he doing that!?"
"I am now fighting at one hundred percent power." Kenpachi declared, snapping Iya out of his thoughts. "If you can beat me at my full power, then you will most definitely have proven to me that you are truly capable of fighting the others, but I doubt you'll survive the first few minutes of my assault at this level."
Clutching Ketsaiga tightly in his hand, Iya dryly remarked "We'll see."
Smirking, Kenpachi raced forward, sword in his right hand. He quickly slammed his sword into Ketsaiga, sending Iya flying backwards while skidding his feet.
Finally coming to rest, Iya stared at the hulking man who was smirking at his results. "He has tremendous strength. This is getting dangers. I'll have to finish him off with a single attack, but hitting him will be the problem I think. I just have to time it right."
Hearing Kenpachi charging again, Iya snapped out of his thoughts as their swords clanged together again. Sparks flew from the force of the strike that Kenpachi hit Ketsaiga. Iya once more sent skidding backwards on the ground, but quickly recovered and rushed forward, swinging Ketsaiga at Kenpachi.
Kenpachi simply parried the attack with one hand, surprising Iya. Again, Kenpachi flung Iya backwards with his sword easily, making Iya come to a skidding stop.
Sweat formed on Iya's brow quickly, plus he began to pant while staring at the massive battle demon. "He's so much stronger than before. Even his speed has increased. I don't know if I can compete with that..."
Quickly shaking his head, he growled deeply in reply in his mind "No! I will win this fight and kill off my first mage! Father entrusted me with this task, and I will defeat all thirteen of them!"
Breaking from his thoughts, he quickly dodged to the side just as Kenpachi slammed his sword into the spot where Iya had been a moment before. Spinning around, Iya swung Ketsaiga with all his strength at Kenpachi, only to have the giant battle demon parry once more.
"Haven't I gotten it through your thick skull yet that you can't compete with my true power? What a nuisance…" Kenpachi grumbled while pushing Iya away with his sword alone.
Skidding to a stop, Iya glared at the battle demon. "I'll never give up Kenpachi!" Iya firmly declared. "You'll have to kill me before I quit this battle!"
"Suit yourself. I offered you a reasonable death, but if you want to be torn to shreds, then it doesn't matter to me." Kenpachi grunted out.
Charging forward, Kenpachi brought his sword down at Iya in a slashing motion, but Iya quickly side stepped the attack. Quickly swinging at Kenpachi, Iya landed a gash into the hulking battle demon's arm.
Turning a glare at Iya, Kenpachi spun towards Iya, trying to slash him, only to hit thin air. Iya had simply vanished, making the battle demon glance around. Finally spotting Iya a few feet away, Kenpachi struck out at him, only to again miss.
Reappearing behind Kenpachi, Iya calmly asked "What's the matter? Am I moving too fast for you?"
Gnashing his teeth, Kenpachi swung around with his sword out in a side slash at nearly blinding speed, only to have Iya's sword parry his own. Iya let out a loud grunt while holding the attacking sword back, using all his strength to not be pushed backwards.
Gasping slightly at Iya able to hold his ground, Kenpachi smirked and said "Now you're starting to get me interested in this fight once more. Here I thought you'd just roll over and die, but instead, you're getting me more excited due that you can fight back!"
Separating their blades, Iya swung his sword hard at Kenpachi in a side slash, only to clash with the battle demon's sword. Panting lightly, Iya leapt backwards about ten feet, giving him some distance.
"Maybe I spoke up too soon." Kenpachi flatly stated. "You look exhausted. Perhaps I was wrong about you, thinking you'd be a challenge."
"I'm not finished with you yet." Iya panted out. Slowing his breathing, Iya gripped Ketsaiga tightly and rushed forward at blinding speed.
Sneering at the oncoming attack Iya was presenting, Kenpachi cried out "That's it, give me all you have!"
Preparing to parry, Kenpachi raised his sword, only to widen his eyes in shock when Iya vanished in a flash before him. Reappearing beside of him, Iya called out "Over here."
Swinging hard at Iya, Kenpachi missed, leaving himself wide open to Iya. Sliding backwards a few feet, he slammed his sword into the ground, screaming out "WIND SLASH!"
A burst of white demonic energy instantly went racing forward, slamming into Kenpachi's body. He immediately screamed out in pain while the blade of energy split him right through the middle. Two bloody halves of his body fell to the ground simultaneously, leaving a panting Iya standing before the remains of the once powerful mage.
Panting heavily, Iya glanced over at the woman that had been with Kenpachi. Tears filled her eyes, as she whispered "Master Kenpachi…"
Sighing, Iya calmed his breathing and sheathed Ketsaiga. Walking over to the woman, he sadly smiled and softly said "You're free from him now, Yoruichi."
"Master Kenpachi…" Yoruichi whispered once more. Without warning, her body suddenly pulsated, alerting Iya that something was amiss.
Rushing to Yoruichi's side, Iya reached out to take hold of her, but was punched in the face, sending him flying away from her. Rubbing his cheek, he glanced up again to see her body was once more pulsating wildly while a red aura leaked out from her body.
Gasping in shock, Iya watched while Yoruichi's purple hair burst out of it's binding and proceeded to flow down her back. Her clawed lengthened while her fangs began to protrude out of her mouth. Glaring right at him was a pair of red raging eyes that were filled with murder. Twin black stripes ran down her cheeks.
"You transformed?" Iya questioned.
Not replying, Yoruichi instead raced forward at nearly blinding speed and slashed at Iya with her newly sharpened claws. At the last moment, Iya had dodged, but his kimono was still slashed by her claws.
Glancing at the claw marks on his kimono, Iya calmly put his hands up and said "Yoruichi, I have no desire to fight you. Please, calm down so we can talk this over. I killed Kenpachi, but you shouldn't have to fight because of that."
Again, Yoruichi didn't respond and instead charged Iya. She quickly struck out with her claws, with Iya again narrowly avoiding her. Putting a small distance between himself and Yoruichi, Iya studied the young woman's face.
"What happened? It's like whenever Kenpachi died, she decided to transform? Are the mages and their slaves connected to some kind of extent that if the mage loses a fight, their slave transforms into their demon state?"
Before he could complete his thought process, Yoruichi leapt forward and slashed out at Iya again. This time she scored a hit, slashing her claws over his right shoulder, making him hiss out in pain while blood sprayed into the air.
Leaping far away enough to examine the wound, Iya clenched his jaw at the feeling of the pain shooting up and down his arm. Glancing up again, he saw Yoruichi's blurring form racing towards him once more with her claws extended.
"She has no control at all. If I keep this up, I'll die. I'm far too weak from my fight with Kenpachi to save her. I'll just have to kill her, unfortunately."
Making his decision, Iya scrambled to move out of the way and did at the last second. In a new position, he quickly drew Ketsaiga and brought it before his body. Watching Yoruichi come racing towards him, he raised the sword.
"I'm so sorry Yoruichi. I didn't want to kill you, but you're leaving me no choice."
With not much distance between himself and the transformed half demon, Iya slammed his sword into the ground, screaming out "Wind Slash!"
Yoruichi had no time to react just as the blinding white beam of light slammed into her body, destroying her completely while she let out a primeval roar of pain. The light soon cleared, revealing a few remains of the once living half demon.
Slamming Ketsaiga's tip hard into the ground, Iya fell to one knee while panting heavily. Taking a glance at the remains of Kenpachi and Yoruichi, he forced himself to look away while hot tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Why, why did I have to kill her!? I should have tried harder to save her! My whole mission isn't to just kill the mages, but to save their slaves! So why couldn't I save her in the end..."