This is the 23rd chapter. I don't own the series of Maken-Ki.
Kamigari HQ
When the Yamato siblings have arrived at the entrance to the throne room, Otohime wanted to see Akaya and his inquiry, but Miyabi won't allow them to enter which Otohime was enraged about it since the secretary told her that both Ouken and Akaya wanted to have a talk in private.
"What Do You Mean I Can't Go Inside!?" Otohime questions with anger.
"It's a direct order from Lord Ouken." Miyabi informed her. "It doesn't matter who it is, I shall not allow anyone inside, understood?"
"This Isn't Fair!" Otohime exclaimed with a shout, kicking the miniature table. "I Was Looking Forward To Seeing Akaya's Frightening Face!"
"Sometimes Lord Ouken becomes completely different person who is calm and collected, so that's why..." Miyabi explains to her, adjusting her glasses. "Otohime...You know that Akaya failed in bringing the girl here, right? It doesn't matter what personality Ouken has right now..."
"The result will be the same." The assailant said, leaving them shocked as they turned to the assailant.
Meanwhile, Akaya was in the bind, looking at Ouken. However, Ouken was grown weakened when he rubbed his head, starting to grow wary and weak which his time was almost up.
"What's the matter?" Akaya questions with a smirk. "It isn't like you to lose composure like that just from a headache. I'm glad you told everyone to leave the two of us alone, but I didn't expect you to hold an inquisition for me just because I failed to bring Kodama Himegami here."
"You are nothing but trouble..." Ouken exclaimed with a shout, leaving Akaya scowl. "You...Minori and that group of hers...She's just like her father...Minoru Rokujou was also nothing but trouble..."
"What's this all of a sudden? It's not like you." Akaya said with a smirk, leaving Ouken laugh weakly.
"It's not like me, huh?" Ouken questioned as he held his head with a sigh. "I guess you're right. But...I don't have enough time to explain everything to you. So I need you to tell this to Minori for me...In the room where she often played tricks on me is this...The 'Ouken' before he changed?"
That got Akaya surprised with shocked expression as he spoke.
"It can't be...Are you 'Ouken' from...10 years ago?" Akaya questions.
"You could say that." Ouken admits.
"Wha...What's going on here!?"Akaya exclaimed.
"I told you I don't have much time left, so consider this my last request, Akaya." Ouken told him. "You have to stop 'him'...I...know...you can...do it...forgive me...for being so foolish...I want you...to tell everyone...even...'him'..."
When Ouken draws out his last breath, he passed away and died, caused him to shout his name. Until, the dark aura was surrounding the corpse of Ouken, leaving Akaya confused and shocked.
"What just happened..." Akaya said with confusion when he heard that sinister laugh that was coming from 'Ouken', leaving Akaya frightened as 'Ouken' stands up.
"10 years...It took longer than I expected." 'Ouken' said. "No matter...I'll get all back the lost time back quickly...because now Ouken is dead...and I'm alive!"
"Dead...?" Akaya said with fright expression as 'Ouken' head down the stairs, approaches Akaya.
"Akaya Kodai...You're a pitiful man who just couldn't understand my ideals." 'Ouken' told him with a sneer. "But everyone is different...I expected there would be some who would rebel against me...But that's enough of my Grand Entrance. I'm going to force my will into this feeble old man, and then I'm going to destroy your mind with my 'Soul Collector'.
'Ouken' then use his dark element on his hand as he slowly approaches Akaya.
"...Who the hell are you...!?" Akaya questioned as 'Ouken' gripped his mouth with his hand as he looked at Akaya.
"There's no need for you to think." 'Ouken' said with sinister look. "Just surrender yourself to me and obey my every word. Surrendering yourself to me is the only way for you ability users to be saved..."
Akaya couldn't help but yell out of his lungs as 'Ouken' used his Soul Collector to force his will to obey.
Okino Island
The next day in White Mirror Waterfall, Takeru have already finished his lap run which Minori and Aki have increased some weights on his wristbands and ankle-bands when he collapsed as Aki used her Magatama to heal Takeru and restore his Element. Both Zane and Jin finished sparring each other with their Maken, but Zane was still honing his skills and his Element was heightened quite a bit. However, he still need to work on his Anti-Element ability. Minori was standing at the top of the stone pillar, wearing a plaid bikini.
"Okay! Let's get started!" Minori shouts with a smile, getting Aki's attention.
"Wha!? But Takeru have just finished running a whole lap around the island! Let him rest!" Aki told her with concern as Takeru stands up while walking.
"It's okay...Thank you for healing me." Takeru thanked her, but Aki couldn't help but worry.
Jin and Zane knew that Takeru would try something reckless whenever Minori was training him.
"Good! Your next lesson is Combat Training! Now Attack Me!" Minori told her student, leaving Takeru shocked.
"C-Combat Training?" Takeru questioned.
"You can take off those power wristbands if you want." Minori told him.
"No...It's just that..." Takeru said nervously, trying to find the right words as Zane cuts in.
"Takeru, grow a backbone, will ya?" Zane said with annoyance. "All of this 'I don't hit women' crap is really getting on my nerves."
Takeru was shocked when Zane was annoyed of his antics.
"Listen Takeru, if you don't fight against your opponents, especially women, then you would become weak for the rest of your life." Jin pointed out with serious expression. "Also, you need to be more serious about this situation and you need to have confidence in yourself, since you and the male students have given Tenbi a bad name due to your perversion."
Minori couldn't help but nod with an agreement as she spoke.
"So? You're not gonna try and give us that crap about 'I don't hit women', are you?" Minori questions with serious expression. "You're the one who asked me to get you stronger remember? If you want to stay the weakling that you are then that's fine with me. But if you're serious about becoming stronger then I want you to show me. I'm not worried one bit! After all, a weakling like you will never be able to lay a finger on me."
That got Takeru angry from Minori which she does have a point about him being weak as he released his wristbands and his ankle-bands.
"Fine...I'll show you...how serious I am!" Takeru exclaimed as he charge after Minori with his immense speed, leaving her surprised as he was about to punch the Principal, but Minori manage to dodge. Takeru recovered quickly as he charge after her with his flurry of punches.
"Not bad...You're pretty quick." Minori praised her student as she leaped up while landed on the cliff with her feet. "But! Your approach is still sloppy...You're hesitating too much."
With that, Takeru went after her as he leap up.
"Very well, I guess I'll offer some special service to help motivate you." Minori said with a smirk as she placed her hand on her breasts. "If you hit me even once, I'll let you fondle my breasts."
Takeru was uninterested while Minori dodged which it wasn't even a punch as she grew angry, leaving Jin shocked as both he and Zane left the 'White Mirror Waterfall' to avoid Minori's wrath.
"FINE THEN! I'LL EVEN LET YOU FONDLE AKI'S BREASTS TOO!" Minori yelled with angry expression and a tick mark on her head as she points Aki, leaving her shocked and Takeru motivated.
"Wait...You Never Said Anything About This!" Aki shouts as Takeru began to throw a punch at Minori, but she dodged which the Principal is now really mad as her veins popped out of her head.
"I see you're finally taking this seriously...My size is around the same as Aki's you know." Minori said with a menacing smile and an angry expression as she leaped up and descend down towards Takeru. "What makes her so different!?"
Takeru tried to make an excuse, but it was too late. Minroi body slammed towards Takeru as they landed pretty hard on the waterfall, leaving the water rises up high in the air and Aki screamed.
Meanwhile at the beach, Azuki, Inaho, and Syria looked at the water that was rising pretty high with a surprised expression while Jin and Zane manage to get away from Minori's wrath.
"Zane!" Azuki called her brother, getting his attention. "What the hell is going on? We saw that giant water spout."
"You don't want to go in there, trust me." Zane warned his sister, leaving them confused.
"Wasn't Takeru doing his special training in there?" Inaho asked with a sweat drop, leaving Syria shocked.
"I'll go see if Takeru's okay!" Syria exclaimed as she was about rush over that direction, but Zane and Jin grabbed her shoulders, slamming her in the sand.
"What'd you do that for?" Syria asked with a shout.
"Trust me, you won't last a minute if you want to face Minori's wrath." Zane told her, earned their attention.
"Takeru made Minori pretty mad because she was trying to motivate him by fondling her breasts which he doesn't seem interested." Jin explains.
"That's Takeru alright...a big pervert and a dumbass." Azuki sighed with disappointment. "Let me guess, he wanted to fondle Miss Nijou instead right?"
Both Jin and Zane nodded.
"Which that got Minori blow a fuse and beat the living crap out of Takeru. She's got quite a foul temper." Jin said with serious expression.
Suddenly, the locals saw the members of Maken-Ki and Syria when they questioned about them which they already knew that they were here on the island as Kengo saw them.
"Who are they?" Kengo asked with annoyance.
"Locals from this island, maybe?" Azuki answered.
"I thought the locals didn't know about us being here though." Kengo said with confusion.
"Actually, they knew about the ability users which they don't want us around here on this island." Jin told him, leaving Kengo angry.
"So They Got A Problem With Me!?" Kengo exclaimed.
"Calm down, Kengo." Zane assured.
"What? I'm going to talk to them." Kengo said with angry expression.
"Just by looking at your face, I don't believe you for one second." Azuki pointed out.
"But they...Just because we can use a Maken, they're treating us like we're dangerous." Kengo stated with serious expression. "We can't help it that we have to carry our Maken around with us."
"But we've always been treated like this so you should be used to it already." Azuki told him, as both Jin and Zane walk towards them.
"That happens to the both of us since we left Tenbi." Jin explains. "We've been treated like that during our travels and during training which they don't understand our abilities and our Maken. Zane has been ostracized for a long time which he stood up for himself and not letting his anger get the best of him."
Kengo couldn't help but sigh with defeat, he could win the argument with anyone, not even Zane.
"Sorry, but I don't have...much experience in being treated this way." Kengo apologized, rubbing the back of his head.
"Everyone!" Yuuka called out, getting their attention while waving her hand. "We have something planned for tonight, so make sure to be back early, okay!"
That night, the members of Maken-Ki have arrived outside of cabin as Yuuka inform them about the Test of Courage Event.
"A test of courage?" Zane questioned.
"Yup! I heard there's all sorts of demons that haunt this island!" Yuuka explains with her usual smile. "The most famous one is the 'Seko'! I heard some look like kids with one giant eye and some only have one leg! I heard they look so cute you just want to pinch them! And I heard they don't like sardines. The locals believe that this forest is full of them so they're too afraid to come near it. So that's why we'll go in groups! Everyone...have fun demon hunting!"
With that, the members of Maken-Ki began to straws so they can work as a group and find demons, but Zane didn't believe any rumors only because he doesn't like to fall for any of that garbage which he decides to play along as he draw a straw. Haruko was pairing up with Inaho while Kengo was pairing up with Himegami, much to his excitement, but Himegami was pretty scared. Uruchi was teaming up with Azuki, much to Uruchi's dismay which she would rather pair with Haruko. Chacha was pairing up with Kimi which they were pretty excited about the demon hunting.
"But if it's a demon you see, then there's one right over there." Chacha pointed out with a grin as she points at Takeru which he was pretty battered and bruised up on his face. Himegami screamed, but noticed that it was Takeru the whole time.
"Damn You Takeru! Don't Scare Me Like That!" Himegami yelled as she slapped Takeru, causing him to wince with pain.
'That's what's you get for making Principal Minori pissed off.' Zane mentally thought with a sigh.
'Dammit...In the end, I didn't get to fondle Miss Nijou's breasts. But still...I got to be on the same group as Haru and Inaho...which means...' Takeru mentally thought with disappointment as he began to daydream about both Haruko and Inaho grab hold of his arms with a fright expression, pressing their breasts on his arms while Takeru began to nosebleed. He snapped of his thoughts as he spoke with a cheesy lines with a smirk.
"There's absolutely nothing to be afraid of, you two! I'll chase away any demon that appears!" Takeru exclaimed as he raised his arms. "But if you'd like, you can onto my arms!"
However, both Haruko and Inaho weren't paying attention to Takeru which they were pretty excited for finding the demons, leaving Takeru in teary eyes.
"Let's get going! Leave all the main fighting to me!" Inaho exclaimed with excitement.
"I'm really excited!" Haruko said with excitement as she turned to Takeru. "What's wrong, Take?"
"Nothing...I'm crying because I'm excited too." Takeru answered with disappointment.
'Yeah right.' Zane thought with annoyance which he has no choice but to pair up with Takeru.
"But I'm worried since it's you, Yuuka." Azuki said with worry, rubbing the back of her head. "You're not planning any surprises, are you?"
"Geeze. I can't hide anything from you." Yuuka said with her usual smile, clapping her hands.
"Well don't keep us in suspense, what's really going on?" Zane questioned, raising his eyebrow.
"The truth is that there's a lot of people who went into the forest and have gone missing." Yuuka explains. "A local ask me if we can investigate the forest and find out what could have happened."
"A local? So you mean a normal person asked you?" Kengo asked with serious expression, getting a nod from her. "Then you can count me out...I'm not soft-hearted enough to put myself in danger for someone who hates me because of what I am."
"Kengo." Minori called out his name with serious expression. "Maken-Ki's purpose is to-"
"Kengo, I understand how you feel." Furan interrupts, adjusting her glasses. "But the Maken-Ki club was founded in order to protect the lives of everyone! It doesn't matter where and doesn't matter who, we will always abide by our words and honor them! Even if it means saving a person who hates us, WE WILL NOT ABANDON THEM! AS THE PRESIDENT, I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN BEING PART OF THIS AMAZING GROUP KNOWN AS 'MAKEN-KI'!"
"I'm proud to be part of it too!" Minori exclaimed as she began to shed tears. Kengo couldn't help but sigh with defeat which he can't this argument with Furan.
"Alright already. If you're gonna say all of that then I really don't have a choice." Kengo said.
"You are so cool, President." Inaho said with a smile.
"I'm so moved by your words." Kimi added, leaving Furan shocked.
"Hah!? I just...I was in the moment so..." Furan said with a blush.
The members of Maken-Ki began to split up and find the locals in the forest which it was pretty dark out since Zane was with Takeru, Haruko, and Inaho as they began to search.
"Geeze, this forest really does feel like it has demons in it." Takeru complains, leaving Zane sighed with annoyance.
"Oh? Would you like to hold on to my arm them?" Haruko offered, leaving Takeru freaked out.
"No thanks! It's just...can you hear that weird noise?" Takeru questioned nervously with a sweat drop.
"Takeru, will you grow a backbone. You're just hearing things." Zane told him with annoyance.
"You're probably just hearing the ocean hit the rocks." Inaho said with a smile. "I heard there's a lot of caverns under the island. You're probably hearing the water flowing through it."
"Really?" Takeru questioned as look down toward the ground.
"Wow, you know a lot huh, Inaho." Haruko said with impressed look.
"No, I just heard from Yuuka." Inaho shook her head.
"So there's nothing to be afraid of right!?" Takeru exclaimed with nervous expression which he was scared. "Not that I was scared or anything..."
Suddenly, they heard a rustle that was coming from the bushes as they turned that direction.
"Wait...did you hear that?" Haruko asked seriously as Takeru looked at the image of the figure which he was really scared.
"Is that...It can't be..." Takeru said with a fright expression which the image happens to be a demon as he screamed. "IT'S A SEKOOOO!"
However, Zane has had enough as he bonked Takeru's head, leaving a massive bump on his head.
"Jeez, are you really that stupid to believe that garbage!?" Zane exclaimed with annoyance. "There's no such thing as a 'Seko'. I'll go take a look."
With that, Zane headed towards the bushes when he noticed it was the little girl from the inn, crying.
"Hey you're the innkeeper's daughter." Zane said with surprised expression. "What are you doing here?"
Haruko, Inaho, and Takeru were surprised to hear that it was the little girl as he approaches with a nervous expression on his face.
"Geeze, it was just that kid from before." Takeru said with a chuckle. "Don't scare me like-THAAGH!?"
With that, the little girl Takeru in the nose.
'Ouch! That's gotta hurt!' Zane thought with his one eye closed.
"Don't call me a kid! Ugly Face!" The little girl shouted with anger.
"Ugly Face?" Takeru questioned, rubbing his face as he grab hold of her.
"L-Let me go! How can you be so rude to a lady!?" The little girl exclaimed, struggling to get out.
"It's the first time we've met and you punched me in the nose. So I don't consider you a lady. " Takeru said with annoyance as he turned to Haruko. "Anyway, let's take her back to that inn."
"Yeah, her parents are probably worried about her." Haruko nods with agreement.
Until, Zane and Takeru noticed something was wrong as the plant-like roots comes after them as Takeru pushed Haruko out of the way.
"What is this thing?" Takeru asked with serious expression. "Haru, take care of her."
Haruko nods as Inaho joins with Takeru and Zane as they looked at the plant-like monster.
"This thing was the reason why the locals have gone missing." Zane said with a scowl. "But this one was a tree monster."
"Are you ready, Inaho?" Takeru questioned, getting a nod from Inaho as they unleash their Maken.
"Maken: Overblow" Takeru unleashed his Maken with his fist.
"Maken Knuckle: Kabuto" Inaho unleashed her gauntlet.
"Maken Gunblade: Revolver" Zane unleashed his gunblade as they charge after the tree monster.
The three cuts down the roots while Zane began to channel his element with fire as he leap after it.
"Renzokuken Firefang" Zane began using his slashing combo as the tree monster screamed with pain as it felt the burn.
"Renzokuken Flame" Zane finished it off with his fire slash, leaving the tree monster burnt to crisp and turn into ashes.
The little girl was frightened when Haruko embraced her with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry, those three will be fine." Haruko assured her. Takeru then began to use his Element to sense where the dark element was at while both Zane and Inaho was buying some time by slicing those roots.
'If this thing is the same as the giant octopus...Then that dark element should be somewhere in it's body...I just need to find it and hit it with my 'Overblow'.' Takeru mentally thought as he concentrate. 'Concentrate...I need to look carefully...I'll find it...'
However, both Zane and Inaho were trying to hold them off which there were too many roots.
"There's so many. How many branches does it have?" Inaho questioned while complains.
"Takeru, what's the hold up!?" Zane shouted.
"Nothing." Takeru answered, leaving them shocked. "I can't find it's element!"
"It's probably inside of the cavern!" Zane said, figured it out. "If that source of the dark element was in the cavern, we might need to find it and-"
Suddenly, the root was coming after both Haruko and the little girl which Haruko was still haven't recovered from the attack she have used a while back I Tenbi Academy.
Zane was about to go after the root, but Inaho beats him to it as she charged up while going after it.
"Hiten Hitotsuka" Inaho slammed her gauntlet towards the ground, caused some shockwave and cracks from the grounds.
"Thanks, Inaho." Haruko thanked her while holding the little girl which her face was paled.
"No problem! That was easy." Inaho said with a smile, but they've heard those cracks were added on the ground.
"Shit! The ground was about to collapse! MOVE!" Zane yelled with serious expression.
But it was too late, the ground collapsed, leaving Zane, Takeru, Haruko, Inaho, and the little fall down towards the big hold on the ground that Inaho have created. When they scream for life since they're about to fall somewhere, Takeru grab hold of Haruko while Zane grab hold of Inaho as they felt a big splash. Few minutes later, Haruko came out of water, gasping for air.
"Are you okay?" Haruko asked, panted lightly as she pat the little girl's face. "Uh...I forgot to ask her name. I hope Inaho, Zane, and Take are alright."
With that, both Zane and Inaho came out of the water, gasping for air as they turned to Haruko.
"Inaho! Zane!" Haruko called them.
"Haruko, are you alright?" Inaho asked.
"I'm fine." Haruko nods as she turned to Zane. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." Zane nods as Haruko look up.
"Where is this place?" Haruko asked curiously.
"It looks like we're inside of the limestone cave." Inaho answered. "There's the opening that we fell from, but let's get out of the water first."
"Then we can find the source of that monster." Zane added seriously as they swam towards the surface. "Because neither of us could sense that element on the surface which it can only mean that the tree monster was on the cavern."
"You mean that monster was inside of the cavern and caused the locals to disappear?" Haruko questions.
"If it was in there, yes." Zane nods when they reach towards the surface.
"Where's Take?" Haruko ask with worry while Inaho catch up with them. "I hope he's okay."
Suddenly, something grabbed Haruko's skirt as it pulled down, leaving her blushed with embarrassment as Takeru came out of the water, gasping for air.
"Thank goodness you two are al-right?" Takeru said as he blush, noticed Haruko's butt was exposed as she turned to anger.
"Uh...Oh...Umm...Uhh...Haruko...That was clearly an accident and not on purpose so...are you listening, Haruko?" Takeru said with an embarrassment look, nose-bleeding as Haruko kicked him in the chin, sent him flying. It took a few minutes to clear up the misunderstanding as both Zane and Takeru explain this situation when they fall from the ground a few minutes ago.
"So what you're saying is, you two grab hold of me and Haruko to prevent us from the fall?" Inaho asks, getting a nod from them.
"Is that true?" Haruko questions.
"Next time, I won't be so considerate for you two." Takeru groaned, leaving Zane bonked his head.
"We should find a way out of here." Inaho said, looking up the ceiling. "It'll be dangerous if the ceiling collapses while we're still here."
Zane gave her a nod with an agreement, but something hit Inaho which she realized what she just did.
"Ah! I just realized this is all my fault so I'm really sorry!" Inaho apologized with teary eyes.
"Calm down, Inaho." Zane assured. "We were lucky that we're still alive and this is more likely a blessing in disguise. Like I said, we might be able to find that monster here in the cavern."
Both Haruko and Inaho were surprised that Zane have told them where that monster was at which he was right about that as Takeru spoke.
"I'll go explore the cavern." Takeru told them seriously, getting their attention. "You four should wait here for me."
"You can't be serious!?" Zane exclaimed with a glare.
"I am, while we were fighting that monster, I couldn't find it's Element. Even if we go up to the surface, it'll be waiting for us." Takeru explains. "It'll be better if we defeat it first before running, I can sense that it's Element is somewhere deep inside these caverns."
Takeru point that cavern where the entrance was at and where that monster was in.
"Can you sense it Element?" Haruko asked.
"No." Inaho shook her head.
"What about you Zane? Can you sense it?" Haruko asked him.
"Yeah, there's no doubt about it. That's where the monster was at." Zane answered.
"You and the brat will stay here, Haru." Takeru told her. "Inaho and Zane will stay here to protect..."
"YOU...!" The little girl shouts, kicking Takeru, causing him to scream in pain. "I'm coming along with you, Ugly Face!"
"It's too dangerous." Takeru told her, winced. "Wait, who the hell are you anyways!? What were you doing outside by yourself!?"
"My name is Kuuna Suginoki, a 3rd grader from Okino Elementary School." Kuuna introduced herself. "I'm the one who asked Maken-Ki to investigate the forest. I was trying to find you guys to make sure you were doing your job."
"Wait, so that was you? You sent us a request?" Zane asked with a shock.
"Yes, I was here with my friends before...but they've already been missing for a week!" Kuuna explains with teary eyes. "I knew it was dangerous for normal people to come into the forest, but I heard that people with abilities will be alright...That's why I asked! But I didn't know if I could trust you so I...!"
Zane petted Kuuna's head with a warm smile.
"Don't worry, we'll find your friends." Zane assured. "We're gonna be moving quickly, so try to keep up."
Kuuna blushed when she look at Zane as she spoke.
"T-Thank you." Kuuna thanked him, earned a nod from him. Inaho grab hold of their clothes as she began to wring them out.
"Then allow me to wring the clothes dry before we get going." Inaho said with a giggle as she wring out those clothes, but those clothes were ripped, leaving them shocked and upset.
Meanwhile, up on the surface, some members of Maken-Ki were having trouble fighting against those roots that was coming from the tree monsters, but Syria have manage to destroy one of them since she's still looking for Takeru. However, Minori and Jin destroyed those roots as she walk towards Aki.
"Damn it! We don't have time for this." Minori said with serious expression. "Are those kids alright?"
"Yes, the element sensor is picking up all their signatures." Aki answered as she began to explain. "I found that it was injected with a high amount of element that had a strange property. But I'm still worried...after I studied that octopus that we fought earlier, that tree monster was likely carried that same way."
"Which that means, that both the octopus and the tree monster were being experimented by Kamigari." Jin said with serious expression. "The information I've got from the anonymous tip was that Kamigari was illegally experimented on living animals which most of them have failed, but the octopus have manage became a success. For some reason, that tree monster was also became a success."
That got both Aki and Minori surprised when Jin have learned about Kamigari and there illegal activities. However, Minori and Jin began to fight off those roots since they need to find the members of Maken-Ki.
Meanwhile at the cavern, Zane, Takeru, Haruko, Inaho, and Kuuna made their ways towards the cavern, but stopped when they noticed a fork on the road. Haruko used her bokken to prevent Takeru from looking at her breasts, causing him to blush only because their clothes were completely ripped.
"Why don't we divide into pairs and search both of them?" Inaho suggests which Zane nodded with an agreement.
"Okay Takeru, you and Haruko will take that route on the right. Inaho, you and me will take the left route." Zane suggests.
"Then let's meet back here in 30 minutes, okay?" Takeru told them.
"No problem, see you then." Zane nods as he placed Kuuna on his shoulders, leaving her shocked with a blush.
With that, they form a pair as they split up and to their routes.
"Wow, it's so dark in here." Kuuna said, looking at the cave, getting a nod from Zane.
"It's only going to get darker the further in we go." Inaho told her as she warned. "Oh, duck down would you? There's a rock there."
With that, Kuuna ducks down, avoiding the rock which she didn't notice since the cave was getting darker.
"But I don't see anything." Kuuna said confusingly.
"That's because your eyes haven't adapted in the dark!" Inaho said with a smile.
"What?" Kuuna asked surprisingly.
"Maken users are able to adapt to all environments." Zane explains.
"So you two were...ability user?" Kuuna questions, leaving Inaho and Zane shocked from that question which they were pretty much an ability user as Inaho spoke.
"You don't like people who can use Makens?" Inaho asked, leaving Kuuna caught off-guard from that question.
"No...it's just that everyone on the island says that 'People with abilities are dangerous'...that's all they ever say." Kuuna told her. Zane understood what she means, but in his opinion, they just don't understand about ability users which they were pretty much scared of ability users.
"That makes sense." Inaho giggled. "Who wouldn't be afraid of a girl who can split the ground in two, right?"
"Well...not me." Kuuna muttered with a smile.
"Did you say something?" Zane asked.
"No, it was nothing." Kuuna answered as she spoke. "Hey, I didn't get your name, mister."
Zane couldn't help but chuckle as he spoke.
"It's Zane Shinatsu." Zane told her. "Also, the girl on my left was Inaho Kushiya."
Kuuna nods as she spoke.
"Inaho, can I ask you something?" Kuuna asked with a devious smirk.
"What is it?" Inaho questions curiously.
"So what part about that 'Ugly Face' do you like the most?" Kuuna asked, leaving Inaho surprised.
"How did you know!?" Inaho exclaimed with a blush, leaving Kuuna giggle a bit.
"It's so obvious!" Kuuna answered, leaving Zane chuckle a bit.
Meanwhile, both Haruko and Takeru were heading that direction which she was staying close to her childhood friend.
"Watch it...There's a boulder in front of you." Takeru warned her as she moved her away from the boulder.
"Oh...Thanks." Haruko thanked him as she sighed with a sad expression. "...I'm...sorry..."
"About what?" Takeru questions with a goofy grin, blushing and getting a nosebleed. "I've already gotten used to you punching and kicking me whenever I'm in that situation! You hit me really hard!"
"I'm not talking about that!" Haruko said with a blush. "I can't use my power right now...So I feel like I'm being a burden on you."
That got Takeru off-guard with shock expression as he look at Haruko, but she blushed with embarrassment.
"I thought I told you not to turn around!" Haruko scolds as she twist his neck, causing Takeru to grunt with pain.
"You think you're a burden?" Takeru ask with a smile, rubbing his neck. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I'm much more of a burden than you'll ever be."
"Really?" Haruko asked surprisingly.
"Yeah...if anything, I'm actually grateful towards you." Takeru answered. "If it wasn't for you, Haru."
Takeru remembered back in Tenbi a few months ago when he witnessed the fight in between Haruko and Zane since that fight ended with a draw. He noticed that Haruko and Zane were trying to kill each other which it was pretty intense, but he witnessed Haruko's Maken which it was powerful and very proficient with her swordsmanship while Zane was battle-experienced and a seasoned veteran since he worked as a mercenary at the age of five.
Haruko grabbed Takeru's arm, pressing her breasts, leaving Takeru shocked with a blush as he looked at his left.
"Haru!? Is...Is...Is something wrong, Ha-Ha-Haru!?" Takeru questioned nervously with a few shades of red.
"No I just...I just felt like doing this, that's all..." Haruko answered. "I want to stay like this...at least until we re-group with the others..."
"I...I didn't know...You were so afraid of the dark..." Takeru said nervously.
Suddenly, they saw the light of the entrance as they headed towards that direction, covering their eyes as both Inaho and Zane arrived on the other side.
"Haruko! Takeru!" Inaho called them, waving her hand, leaving both Takeru and Haruko blushed as she quickly let go of his arm while covering her breasts.
"The paths...led to the same place." Takeru said.
"Looks like it." Zane nods.
Until, they noticed that there's a tree monster from the cavern, rooted with pods.
"What...is that?" Haruko questioned with a shock.
"There's some kind of fruit hanging from the roots." Takeru answered as he noticed the people on the inside of the pods. "Is that...a person in there!?"
"Yeah, and from the look of it, that monster was the one behind from the locals disappearance." Zane nods with a scowl.
"There's an animal on that one!?" Takeru exclaimed when he noticed the cat on the pod, leaving Kuuna shocked.
"Mori!" Kuuna called out as she rushed to get the cat. "The one that's trapped inside there is my friend, Mori!"
Suddenly, they saw the roots were coming after Kuuna with hostility as Takeru, Zane, and Inaho charge after the roots as they began to cut off the roots with their Makens.
"Takeru." Inaho said surprisingly.
"We have to attack it's real body!" Takeru told them, getting a nod from Inaho and Zane. "This thing's going to keep regenerating itself if we destroy it! We need to find the Black Element and destroy that!"
"Black Element?" Inaho asked with confusion.
"That octopus we fought have the same Black Element inside it!" Zane explains. "It returned to normal after Takeru hit the Element with his Overblow!"
"The tree monster's Black Element is at the center of it's trunk! Zane was right that it wasn't on the surface, but underground!" Takeru added.
"Okay! I'll help you get to it!" Inaho said as they rushed after the tree monster.
"It'll be easier to win with your help, but your attacks might cause a cave in!" Takeru told Inaho. "Just let me handle this!"
Inaho and Zane nodded when they stopped, seeing that the roots were taking the form of a monster as it goes Inaho. She used her gauntlet as it bite her arm, leaving Takeru react with shock.
"Inaho!" Takeru called her when she winced with pain.
"I'll be the bait!" Inaho exclaimed. "That's what I planned to be from the beginning!"
With that, she began to use her Maken to rotate and channel her Element.
"You can't eat my Maken...It might look like candy...But it's not sweet!" Inaho exclaimed as she unleashed her ability. "Gouken Sanbai: Mitsuka Sen"
Inaho unleashed her Maken to burn the root monster while both Zane and Takeru rushed as he grabbed hold of the root, looking at Inaho with amazement while Zane holds them off with his gunblade.
"Amazing! She's using the friction from rotating her fist to light it on fire." Takeru said with awe. But Inaho was dizzy from that attack she have used.
"But after I use 'Mitsuka' I...Why wasn't my training paid off yet...?" Inaho questions, still dizzy as the roots were going after her, but Kuuna manage to push her out of the way while Haruko used her bokken to block the roots.
"Haruko...Kuuna..." Inaho called them with smile, exhausted.
"Get Going! I'll Take Care Of Her!" Haruko yelled, earned a nod from him as he rushed towards the core to catch up with Zane.
"Fated Force" Zane began to channel his Element to surround himself with flames as he sliced off those roots, causing it to burn. However, the roots were coming from her left side when she was about to fend them off, but the roots stopped as it explodes.
"It...It exploded!?" Haruko exclaimed with confusion.
"But...That wasn't me..." Inaho said with confusion.
Both Zane and Takeru noticed that there's a core from the top of the ceiling as they rushed towards it.
"There...! That's the monster's core!" Takeru said as he was about to used his Maken, but Zane pushed him out of the way as the roots was starting to impale him.
"Blasting Zone" Zane then slammed his gunblade at the root, causing the pillar of energy to rise as the roots were destroyed.
Zane began to realize what Jin have meant about the Anti-Element ability of his which now he knows as he began to unleash his powerful attack.
"Takeru! I know what to do!" Zane shouted as he began to channel his element with fire, combining with his Anti-Element ability.
"Fire Cross" Zane unleashed his fire cross projectile attack as it shatter the dark core.
"GO TO HELL!" Zane yelled as the tree monster and the dark core was destroyed, causing it to disappear along with the pods.
"Mori!" Kuuna shouts as she went after the cat, caught it while shed in tears. "Mori! Mori! Is it still alive! I promise I'll take you to a doctor so please hold on!"
Both Haruko and Inaho couldn't help but smile at that sight.
"Now that the roots disappeared, the ceiling is starting to collapse." Haruko said with serious expression, looking up the ceiling.
"We should hurry and get out of here." Inaho agrees.
The girls that both Zane and Takeru grab hold of the locals on their shoulders.
"The tree monster is gone...So now we have a direct route to the surface!" Takeru said with a smile as he turned to Zane. "Hey Zane, thanks for saving me."
Zane chuckled as he gave him a nod.
"Will have to get the locals out of here first since we have to get everyone up toward the surface." Zane said with a smile.
With that, they were working together by getting the locals at the top of the surface. Few minutes later, Taker manage to get the last one up on the surface.
"...Finally. I think that's everyone." Takeru said with exhaustion.
"Alright. You should hurry up and get out of here." Zane told him as they noticed Kuuna was playing with her cat.
"That tickles!" Kuuna laughed when the cat licked her fingers.
"He looks like he'll be okay." Inaho chimed with a smile.
"Yeah! We can play together again!" Kuuna nods with a smile.
"...Kuuna...thanks for saving me back there." Inaho thanked her.
"Not just me! It was me and Mori that saved you!" Kuuna exclaimed as she smiled. "Inaho...can you stick out your right hand?"
"My...right hand?" Inaho said with confusion as she sticks out her Kabuto. "L-Like this?"
Kuuna used her hand on Inaho's Maken.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore." Kuuna said. "Monji's already grown so fond of you. So there's no way you're such a scary person. Inaho...your right hand...I finally understand that it's something special that you use to protect the people you treasure."
"Thank you!" Inaho chimed with a giggle.
"Thank you too, Haruko." Kuuna thanked her, leaving Haruko smiled as she turned to Zane, causing her to blush.
"T-Thank you, Zane." Kuuna thanked him, leaving Zane nodded as she turned to Takeru.
"And thank you, Ugly Face." Kuuna thanked him, causing Takeru flinched.
"Hey, my name is not Ugly Face. It's Takeru Ooyama." Takeru corrected her, ruined the moment.
With that, they began to argue as Inaho grabs hold of Takeru while Zane grabs hold of Kuuna, leaving her blushed when she looked at her. Suddenly, they heard a rustle from the bushes which it happen to be Himegami, Minori, and Jin as they approached them.
"Hey, kiddo!" Jin called his pupil. "So, I guess that the monster was gone."
Zane gave him a nod as they began to explain about the locals disappearance and the tree monster.
That's it for the 23rd chapter.