"I did not mean any harm, Sanemi." Iguro lowered his sword, his gaze carefully on the other slayer who eyed him with his intense gaze before withdrawing his own sword.
"Nor does she. She's trying to save him." He murmured, his gaze now fully focused on the cloaked figure who continued to murmur over the unconscious figure.
Mitsuri appeared by Iguro, her head slightly tilted as she felt the familiar aura of this figure.
"Sanemi-kun, is that…" Her voice trailed off in disbelief as Iguro's normally narrow eyed widened in realization at the same time.
Sanemi folded his arms together, a ghost of a pained smile on his face. "Yes, it is her. Shinobu will be surprised."
The figure stopped murmuring and stood up to face the slayers. She removed her hood, revealing a familiar elegant face common in the Kocho household.
"I am Kanae. Sanemi tells me that my past life was part of this world." She called out, her calming voice an exact replica of Shinobu's. Even her purple gaze was calm and bewitching. Where her long dark hair used to be styled with twin set of butterfly clips, it was simply braided down her back.
But it was definitely her. The strength and sweetness, the confident but warm gaze.
Mitsuri understood Sanemi's expression. She reached out and held Iguro's hand, who squeezed back in answer.
"Do you…remember us?" She hesitantly asked.
Kanae paused, her eyes flickering to Sanemi who remained quiet.
"No, I don't. I am sorry."
MItsuri glanced sorrowfully at her. "There was another like you, and she regained her memories." She found herself desperately pleading, her eyes filling with unshed tears. "Maybe, if you talk to her, she can help you…". Her voice trailed off to see the resolution in that gaze.
Kanae shook her head gently. "Whatever my life was, this is my path now. There are others I must protect." She looked to Sanemi who returned her gaze, despite the unreadable emotions in his face.
"You will take me to Micah?" She asked.
Mitsuri looked down, nodding at her choice respectfully.
"You have surviving family. Will you not at least consider coming with us and meeting them?" Iguro asked.
Kanao hesitated but firmly shook her head. "I cannot stay long. The ones I promised to protect are still in danger."
When Mitsuri wanted to discuss further, her expression one of sadness, there was a rustle in the nearby bushes closest to Enmu.
The group tensed, ready to fight more devolved demons, only to find an unconscious figure thrown unceremoniously beside Enmu.
Sanemi's eyes widened at the sight of the unconscious male God he had spotted earlier. He was speechless as Hyakkimaru stepped calmly out of the bushes and glanced directly at Kanao.
"I will take you to Micah-san." He looked to Sanemi and the others. "Watch over him to ensure he doesn't wake and cause more chaos. I have to head back and check on the others."
Sanemi moved to block his path even as Kanao nodded in agreement.
"Who are you to say what we should do. I will take her."
There was a tense silence before Iguro shrugged and walked towards the unconscious figures. "Suit yourselves. Mitsuri and I will keep watch over these two."
Hyakkimaru eyed the tall slayer, even as Iguro and Mitsuri moved to securely tie the unconscious figures on the ground.
"Let's be quick." He relented, already heading into the underbrush.
Micah was speechless as Mika glanced up at him with a familiar look in her eyes. Her warm hand was still on the side of his face.
Before he could respond, her eyes suddenly closed and the hand that had held him fell back to her side.
He checked her pulse to find that she was only unconscious. With a sigh of relief, he used his cloak as a makeshift pillow under her head before he moved on to check on the others.
Mio looked at him in a daze, but she was sitting up beside Rengoku, who looked like he had been through hell and fire, with one eye closed shut from dried blood, ribs broken and one numb arm. Yet he smiled grimly at Micah who approached them, kneeling down to assess their wounds.
"If you can wait a moment, I can ease some of the pain before we patch you further." Mio promised the both of them, already digging through her kit.
Micah nodded encouragingly and moved to the upper demon Akaza. He was still unconscious, but Micah could feel a faint pulse. He noted steady breathing and after opening his eyes to observe that they were back to normal.
History is rewritten.
He thought to himself with relief, glancing back at Mika who lay close by.
He slowly stood up and began walking back towards his staff, where it lay near Artemis who was also still unconscious. Just as he was about to pick up the staff, her eyes flew open and launched an attack, swiping at his legs with her own.
He landed roughly on the ground with a grunt but immediately stood up, using the staff to lean heavily on.
"Let us try this again." She spoke over her shoulder, a quick blur and heading towards Micah.
Mio looked up at the startled cry from her master to find Artemis already by Mika's side. Rengoku stood up shakily, protecting Mio behind him as he faced Artemis with a grim expression.
Slinging Mika over her shoulder, Artemis grinned at Mio before shooting a blast of power towards Rengoku.
Mio gasped as Rengoku kneeled down and was smothered in a similar silver flash of light to Akaza.
"Let us see the strength of a slayer." She exclaimed, already dismissing Akaza who was beginning to slowly wake but not fast enough.
Rengoku forced the flames of his power to overtake the other foreign power threatening to consume him. Silver flames mixed with the red and orange hues of his own flames as he struggled to assert control.
Artemis laughed derisively at the effort before beginning to walk away.
"Stop, Artemis! You don't know what you are doing." Micah shouted, running after her.
Artemis flashed a triumphant smile, but her victory was short lived as a blur of movement caught her eye and the girl was suddenly taken from her grasp.
Hyakkimaru carefully placed Mika back beside Mio, and with an eye to Rengoku, he faced the Goddess.
"I have defeated your brother. You will be next." He simply prepared the sword, its own dark fire blazing to life.