Chapter 36: Satan Laughing With Delight
Dean was wrapped in a think wooden blanket and placed so near the fire that he could have set himself ablaze once again with any false movement, but the curse's chill and the soaking from the plunge was relentless as he shivered through the heat and Kachi tried to help him clean his wounds. Akio stayed closed by as the Thunder Birds moved to flank Sam in his spell work to once and for all summon the warrior who's spirit was tired to their lineage.
"All right, get ready. Kachi you're going to have to read this out for me," Sam said and presented an ancient text to the Garuda.
The summoning for the demon was common enough language as their conversation with Crowley had provided them with names and calling cards for the specific beast but the summoning for the warrior was in an ancient dialect closely tired to the Japanese but completely foreign to the Winchesters.
As Kachi read the text Sam worked quickly and the ancient sacred fire danced and died away and then flared up once more until the flames danced among the clouds. Then, like a bolt of lightning, the warrior materialized in the clearing before them.
Crying out in anger and pain the ghost of the warrior rushed at Sam in attack, knocking the alter and the Garuda away from the summoner.
"You are the reason I'm dead!" the warrior cried as he struck at Sam.
"I didn't know," Sam responded as he ducked and rolled away from the attacking ghost.
"You are the curse on my soul."
"I got you the demon that cursed Koharu," Sam said as the beastly satanic creature chuckled and laughed and stomped at the ground as the ghost rallied and attached Sam again.
"That's enough!" Dean yelled and fired two salt rounds at the warrior.
Unlike most ghosts they'd dealt with the shots did not cause the warrior to dematerialize but rather it was forced back by the blasts. Shocked by the modern weaponry Akiniko hesitated but readied himself to strike again.
"Listen to me," Dean demanded as he reloaded. "We're sorry. We didn't have any say in what happened to you but we are descendants of your family, I guess. And we have brought you here for a reunion and peace." As he spoke the warrior hesitated even further looking around at all the strangers and Dean fired again before he could strike out. "Hokaru, show yourself," Dean demanded and all at once the woman appeared between Dean, Sam and Akiniko.
"You are dead?" Akiniko asked at the sight of his beloved.
"Cursed," She answered. "By that beast, just there. I've been trying to find you for centuries and these men have finally help me."
"How do you break the curse?" Akiniko asked in anger.
"I do not know," Hokaru answered and turned in anger toward Sam and Dean. "How do you break it?" She demanded as the winds began to whip around her. "Have you tricked me as well?"
"Kill the demon. Break the hell bond! Then we'll summon a reaper to take you away," Akio said as he jumped into action.
"How do you kill a demon?" Akiniko asked.
"With this," Sam said and held out their demon knife. "Take it and free her from her captivity."
The ghost of the warrior reached out and took the knife as if he were flesh before them and then without hesitation he attached. The snarling laughter of the hell beast subsided to screeching whimpers and then a great burst of flames melted the creature to dust. All in an instant the snow stopped but the thunder continued to roll in the heavens and Hokaru stood in a form unlike her previous ghostly appearance but whole and lovely.
"Is it done?" Akiniko asked as the two Garuda changed forms and flew up into the heavens.
"Come to me," Hokaru called to him and, dropping the knife, Akiniko rushed to her and embraced her.
"Love, even in death," Dean said and shivered.
"Go back to the fire Dean Winchester and rest," Agaashinyi ordered as the clouds above were parted and the stars of the heavens were seen.
The Garudas returned from their flight and a monk dressed in traditional clothing appeared before the warrior and his bride.
"It is time Akiniko, Hokaru, for you to join the ancestors on the celestial plane," the monk said, reached out his hands and without hesitation the two ghosts took them and dematerialized into light fragments that rose into the sky.
"It is done," Giizis said to his brother and together they took to the sky once more. The cold wind changed its course and a warm hot rain poured down on them.
"Great, more rain. Just what I need right now," Dean grumbled and clenched his sides in pain.
"Take him back to the temple and rest. Dress his wounds and pray for healing. We will clean this up for you," Kachi vowed and Akio nodded. "You deserve some of your own peace tonight."