I lied. We're back in the Underworld.

I ended up changing the order I was to do some thinks in at the last second. Well, you guys probably wanted some more action with Chika, right? So, here it is.

Enjoy.

"So, Kane-chan," Chika let her katana point towards the ground, letting out a breath. "The others have been gone for a while now. Feel like talking about yourself now?" The ground around them had seen the terror of their short battle, Chika having no reservation in decimating the landscape around them. Kane's smirk spoke volumes, but he just shrugged. "Come on. I know you're not a demon. So just tell me. It's boring to have to think about these things while fighting."

"Oh? What makes you think that?"

"For one, I can see you. I entertained the idea of Hanayo-chan unconsciously putting up a barrier that allows me to do so, but I think that's unlikely, I don't sense anything. And with how far away she is now and her being in pain, if there was one it likely would have fallen by now." Chika shrugged as if that part should be obvious. "And second, you have a Demonbrand. If all it took to use a Demonbrand was being a high rank demon, we demon slayers would have a lot harder time. I think we would have plenty of documented cases. But I've never heard of such. Which leads me to believe that only Demon Lords are capable of manifesting Demonbrands. Which would mean, you're either a Demon Lord, which I doubt, or…"

"Ahaha! You really are a sharp one, Sun. You're right. I'm not a demon. And I'm definitely no Demon Lord. But come on, it's boring if I just tell you, right? Surely that brain of yours can work overtime to figure it out."

Chika started pacing a slow circle around the boy and laughed herself, bringing her katana up to rest on her shoulder. "I think I've already figured out more than you would like me to know, Kane-chan. Are you really sure you want me guessing more?" Kane narrowed his eyes which just elicited more laughing from Chika. "That's good! That look! It looks like we've flipped positions, huh? You thought you were stringing us all along. Your lord thought he had everything figured out. But… if that's the case, why did he want to kill me?"

"Sun, you…"

Chika stopped and gave the boy her best smirk. "Tell me, Kane-chan, vassal of the First Demon Lord. How's your lord doing?"

That seemed to do it. Kane was rushing her with his blade as soon as the words left her mouth. "Rain style, 6th blade." "Ahaha! So that's your answer, Kane-chan? Sun style, 8th blade." Kane closed the distance between them quickly, bringing his katana in close before striking in from a low angle. Chika had encountered blades like this before and she felt multiple strikes closing in on her, shifting in strange ways, just enough that she couldn't quite get an accurate idea of where each strike was coming from. "Monsoon." "Supernova." Chika slammed her blade into the ground, destroying all of the ground around her and sending what survived flying in every direction. The force was enough to stop Kane who took a step back, shielding his face from the rocks and dirt.

"Sunburst." Kane had no time to react as his stomach burst, blood, red blood, flying in every direction as his body was sent flying back. Or it should have, but Chika was in front of him in an instant, holding his coat with one hand, her other pointing her Demonbrand at his neck.

"You're really not a demon, haha! Maybe the others were too panicked to notice, but I knew my eyes didn't deceive me. Red blood, huh? But you're definitely not a human either." Chika shrugged. "Well, it doesn't really matter, I guess. How did it feel for me to get a little serious, Kane-chan? If you keep putting up a struggle, I might just have to try harder, you know."

With a flash of steel, Kane knocked that sword away from his neck and managed to pull himself free, backing up a safe distance. Chika stood there calmly, a confident smile on her face. She held in a laugh as she watched his stomach slowly close up.

"Red blood… and you wield a Demonbrand…" Chika nodded to herself. "Hehe. Everything's really falling into place. I was sure about my assumption of your lord, but now I'm sure about your identity too. Tell me, Kane-chan. You've been alive for a long time, so you have to know quite a bit of history, right? Then you should know. Though it's considered top secret in this day, it was common knowledge when it happened. There was only one instance of demon slayers being ordered to kill another demon slayer. Hundreds of years ago. Ring a bell?"

"I can't say I'm familiar, Sun." Kane said through gritted teeth.

"Oh? You know, I don't really like liars, Kane-chan. But I guess I could let you off this one time since you're making this so easy for me. The Master of Stars. A man who bathed his Demonbrand in demon blood every day for fifty years. Or so it's said. I'm sure the true method was lost with him. At least they let his heir live, right? Haha! Anyways, do you know what happened? His Demonbrand came to life! It gained the ability to take the form of a human! Can you believe it? There's no way, right? A Demonbrand taking on the form of a human…" Chika turned her ever so overconfident smirk his way. "There's just no way, right?"

"Tch. I can really see now why my lord wants me to kill you. You're too clever for your own good, Sun." He shook his head but matched that confident smirk. "I believe I've bought enough time though. Killing you was to be my goal. However, my lord knew it was unlikely that I would be able to quickly do away with you. So, stalling is good enough." Kane pretended to check a watch that didn't exist. "My lord should be greeting them any second now."

Chika's smirk dropped. "Oh. Is that so?" She looked away, off into the distance and let out a loud and exaggerated sigh. "Honestly, I kind of wanted to drag this on some more, fighting you is a lot of fun, Kane-chan. But it looks like I'll have to put that to an end. What were you saying about getting serious or something? I guess you really want to see the true light of the Sun, huh?" Chika's voice dropped and she let her katana touch the rock under them, cracking it. "Let's have a real fight."

"Sun style, 7th blade, Sunburst." Chika struck out and Kane moved his sword to block it, but the sheer force of the blow sent his Demonbrand clear from his hand along with reducing his right hand to nothing but a large splash of blood. And Chika was over him before he could regenerate or resummon his katana. "Sun style, 6th blade, Sun pillar." A flash of light. Burning flames. The ground below the girl was destroyed, leaving a deep almost perfectly circular hole that went down who knows how deep. Chika completed her jump by landing on just the edge of the pit. She slammed her sword into the side of the pit, crushing enough of the inner part for it to cave in, leaving a small crater with a pile of rocks in the centre.

Chika stood still and stared at the rocks for a bit before letting out an impatient sigh. "Get up already." A red liquid, blood, Chika thought, started to rise through the cracks in the rocks, coming together until it finally took the shape of a person and Kane's body solidified back to its original form.

"You're definitely something, Sun." Kane held up his arms, showing clear cuts through the coat and into his arms that hadn't healed. "Some of these injuries aren't even healing. I guess I did underestimate you a bit. I guess I should come in equally as hard. Seeing as my identity has already been discovered, there's no point in hindering myself by only using this sword."

"Oh, finally being cooperative, huh? I appreciate that. It'll make this whole thing be at least somewhat entertaining for me." Chika pretended to stretch her arms. "Well, if you're going to be cooperative, why not tell something before I kill you then? I'm sure I'll find out anyways, but it would be easier this way." She paused and stared straight into the boy's eyes. "Who is your real lord? I assume it's still a Demon Lord. But that would only leave Second and Third. So? Who is it?"

"… Ahhh, you really are the ever-observant one aren't you, Sun? I suppose I don't mind telling you. It's not like I was ordered to keep it a secret anymore. And it won't matter at this point anyways. But first, tell me. How did you know? I'm curious how that mind of yours works, Sun."

"It was obvious. Maybe your lord was unaware, but my Master was one of the few demon slayers alive to meet First in person. She told me about it a while back, the one time she came to the Underworld. 'I could have killed him right then and there, so easily,' she would always say. And, well, she probably could have. My Master is no pushover. But when she met him, he threw his hands up, laughed and said, 'I surrender. Don't kill me, Sun, and I'll tell you whatever you want.'" Chika shook her head in disbelief. "Can you believe it? My Master spared the life of the First Demon Lord for information he offered. Crazy, isn't it? Regardless, that's why I knew."

"Eh? That's…"

"You said your lord ordered you to kill me. First was aware of how powerful my Master was and decided not to fight her. If he knew that then he surely now knows how powerful I am. I can believe that he wanted you to stall me, but when you started out with telling me he wants you to kill me…" She crossed her arms and shook her head again. "First would never give an order like that to a lowly insect like you. If he wanted any chance of defeating me, he would come face me himself."

"… Haha! True! That would definitely be true! Ah, I guess it's our bad for not doing enough research then. My lord never mentioned anything about the Master of the Sun meeting First. Maybe he wasn't even aware that it happened."

"So? Hurry it up. I'd like to get on with things."

"Ever the impatient one, Sun. Well, I'll keep my word." Kane gave an exaggerated bow. "My name is Kane, Demonbrand of the Second Demon Lord. My true orders were simply to stall you. A little lie never hurt anyone, did it? My lord wishes to meet with Four Seasons and… ah, I guess I don't have an obligation to tell you that part. But, hm… I guess I could tell you about Void…"

Chika shrugged again. "If that's all you're offering, then I already know."

"You know and yet you side with her?"

"Who said I'm on the same team as Void-chan? In fact… If your lord is already with them, I suppose it's time for me to act." Chika smirked and stuck out her tongue. Kane had to squint but he could make out a black circle on her tongue.

"That's… quite a modern-looking spell. No, not a spell. A rune that links the user with somebody, is it?"

"Mm. But that link… I just wonder what it does…" Chika laughed and bit her tongue, sticking it out again. A bit of blood dripped over the circle and it immediately vanished. "Ow, ow. Well, that takes care of Void-chan."

"Takes care…? Sate my curiosity, Sun."

"Hm?" Chika shrugged. "I just took care of her. That's all you need to know. I didn't kill her or anything if that's what you think. After all, Void is a good girl. It's the Void itself that's rotten to the core. I won't punish Void-chan too hard for something she's forced to do."

"You believe that Void is betraying you because she was forced to?"

Chika nodded and titled her head as if it was obvious. "Of course. Void would never betray us if she had the choice. But, well… I just gave her a little something to think about. Ah, but this isn't really important. I should be meeting them soon. So, let's get this on with, huh? Sunburst." This time Kane dodged it but he smiled at the sudden attack.

"You certainly jump right into things, huh, Sun? No wasting time with you. Well, you were the one who wanted this to be fun, right, Sun? I'll oblige. Your first mistake was coming to the Underworld. This is our territory! The light of the sun never shines here!" Kane pointed his sword towards the ginger. "My name is Kane, Demonbrand of the Second Demon Lord. I release my constraints and curse the heir to the Sun." He grabbed the blade of his sword with his free hand and with little effort snapped the blade.

Chika watched the boy with some curiosity, staying on alert for an attack but nothing seemed to be coming from him. "Kane-chan, come on. I don't― ugh!" Chika recoiled as a sharp pain went through her left leg and she immediately jumped back, saving her leg from being cut straight through. A blade had risen from the ground and got a nasty cut on her leg. She observed the blood now flowing down her leg. "Looks worse than it is. Not too deep. Alright, Kane-chan. I see how you want to play it. It's my bad, really. I should have been more on guard. Now, though… Sun style, 8th blade." Chika took a step forward but opened her eyes in shock as her left leg refused to move and she collapsed to one knee. "What…?"

"Are you deaf, Sun?" Her head snapped back towards the boy, growing frustration obvious on it. "The true nature of myself, a Demonbrand given life. Bathing a Demonbrand in demon blood is not quite enough. There was something else the Master of Stars did, something that no other master of his time could." Kane stopped a few meters from her and crouched down to eye level. "He put a curse on his Demonbrand."

Chika's eyes widened but her anger turned to a smile and she even laughed. "Of course. It was my fault for not thinking of that possibility. A curse. Who would have guessed a modern demon would be capable of such a thing? You really pulled one over on me, Kane-chan." She looked down at her left leg and tried moving it again, but it was no use. It was out for the count.

"I guess I'm sorry. I'll end it all soon so don't―"

Chika pushed off the ground with one hand, sending herself flying away. "Sun style, 7th blade, Sunburst." Kane moved to dodge, but his left arm from below his elbow was torn off. "Sun style." She planted her right foot down and pushed off, this time towards the boy. Kane smirked and Chika heard the ground burst open under her, a dozen of the blades striking up all around her. But she barely paid them any attention and Kane's confident smirk fell away as the blades melted. As they got within just an inch of the ginger, each one melted, falling back to the ground in a puddle of molten steel. And that distraction was enough. Chika passed by him and he heard the quiet whisper. "Sunlight."

"Urgh!" A burning sensation traveled up the remainder of his arm but when he looked the arm was no longer there. But no blood poured from his shoulder. It looked like the wound had been burned shut, the flesh dark and tough.

Chika landed into a roll and got back up on her one working leg.

"Haha. A limb for a limb, Kane-chan."

Kane turned his glare on her. "That… That wasn't a blade, was it?"

"Hm? Of course not. Those cuts you commented on earlier about not healing? I was letting a little too much of the Sun's light leak out. This time I bathed your arm in the light of the Sun. It will never regenerate." She smirked at his anger. "You took out my leg so it's only fair, right? It was originally developed for demons, but it seems like it works on you as well. That's great, right?"

"You really are full of tricks aren't you, Sun? It looks like I really will have to put an end to you. Let's see how long you can run with that leg of yours!"

Kane held his hand out wide and Chika knew what was coming. She pushed herself off the ground again as blades burst out under her. But this time they elongated, bending and chasing after her. As soon as she would land, she pushed herself off again but the blades were too fast. "Sun style, 9th blade, Superflare." She blew the blades away but more just took their place. "Tch. If it's come to this… Sun style, 1st blade. Sol Invictus." She thrust out with her sword, blowing everything in front of her away, the ground, the blades, everything. She finally landed on her good foot but realized her mistake too late. Another searing pain shot through her, but this time her right leg and it immediately gave out.

"Ahaha! Look at you! On the ground where you belong!" Kane approached her again, the smirk on his face doing little to improve the girl's mood. "Look at what the Sun had been reduced to! Crawling on the ground like an insect! It's hilarious! Your instincts are good, Sun, but they're not enough here in the Underworld. I told you, this is our domain. Ah, but if I knew it would this easy, maybe I would have let it drag out some. I'm kinda disappointed honestly."

He rambled on but Chika wasn't listening. She just stared at the ground in front of her, her thoughts racing through thousands of scenarios. She scanned every last bit of information in her brain. She had screwed up but it wasn't over. It couldn't be over, could it? She was the Sun. There was no extinguishing the Sun. It would be around long after she died and passed the Sun to her heir. There would be no end until the Sun accomplished its job. And right now, that job is…

Kane stopped mid-sentence as he watched the girl. "You…"

The ground around Chika was melting. The molten rock glowed all around her, spreading out slowly save for the ground directly under herself. There were no tears from the girl, no signs of resignation. And when she looked up, the blank look on her face sent chills down Kane's spine.

"Stop resisting, Sun!" Blades rose from the ground and shot towards the girl but they melted long before reaching her, falling into the molten rock.

"Honestly… I never thought someone would piss me off this much. To think I would need to release the Sun's constraints to defeat you. It really was my bad. I should have killed you early on." Chika's face remained stoic, her voice pooled out in a monotone puddle. "My first mistake was coming to the Underworld? Far from it, Kane. My only mistake was not letting the Sun kill you."

"You…! If you believe in the Sun so much, die with it!" His katana appeared in his remaining hand, all in one piece again. "Rain style―" But as he started, half of the blade was already melted, pooling into molten steel at his feet. "Sun, you…!"

"Sunlight."

Darkness. A terrible pain, a pain beyond anything a human could dream of feeling. Kane grabbed at his eyes and screamed into the emptiness of the Underworld. "AHHHH! Sun! you! What the fuck!?" There was only darkness. Darkness and an intense burning in his eyes. They felt like they were boiling and, for all he knew, they might be. He desperately covered them, tried to regenerate but it was no use. He stumbled backwards, falling to the ground but he was in too much pain to care. "Sun! What is this!? You'll pay for this!"

"No." Kane froze. The voice came from right in front of him but there was no way the girl could have moved to him. "This was necessary."

"Necessary!? I'll kill you, Sun!" Even in the darkness, he knew his blades would find her. But he kept summoning more and more but none reached the girl. He could hear the dripping as they melted and the molten steel fell to the ground. "Sun, you goddamn monster! I swear! I swear upon my lord. I'll―"

"You'll do naught but die here, Kane. Perhaps you think it rude of me to do this, but it was necessary, like I said. After all…" He heard the sound of metal sliding, the sound of Chika drawing her katana from its sheath. "You're not worthy to lay eyes upon this blade. I thought, just maybe, that I would use it in front of you, that this blade would be the last thing you saw before you died… but you proved yourself unworthy. So…"

"No! Sun! No! You! I'll kill you! That curse will never be lifted if I die! You'll crawl for the rest of your life!" There was a pause and he smiled. "You see? You know you don't want it to be like that! We can help each other here."

"Help? I believe you have the wrong idea. I'm not seeking your help. After I kill you and handle Second, I'll worry about this curse."

"Worry about it!? Don't you get it, Sun!? Without me, you'll never lift it! You'll spend the rest of your life crawling like a pathetic insect! You need me alive to remove it! You―"

"Quiet. I'm tired of that voice. I'm tired of this place. The sooner I get out, the better. And to that, only two need to die. You and Second. This is the end."

"No! Sun! Didn't you hear me!? You'll never―"

"Sun style, 11th blade."

"SUUUUUUN!"

"Farewell, Kane. Blackhole."

And then nothing.

I hope you guys enjoyed it.

I've been a little busy with university, sorry about my posting suddenly getting weird. I was also experimenting with some other writing. Not the other story I posted, something else. I was just curious how something else would turn out so I've been dabbling in it a bit.

Anyways. If you guys haven't listened to any works by At the Garret, you should. I listened to 石の花. Really good stuff.

I hope you all have a great day.

Till next time. Be seeing you.