"When we fight, we fight like lions

But then we love and tell the truth

We lose our minds in a city of roses

We won't abide by any rules"

'Fire on Fire' by Sam Smith

Back with another chapter, let's see if these few lines from the referred song will provide any clues to what's going to happen down the road in this story. Apologies in advance for any grammar errors I've missed.

Please enjoy and review, would love to hear your thoughts.

Chapter 11: The Goddess and the Demon

Grandmaster and granddaughter sat opposite each other. Momoyo was a little on edge seeing how her grandfather does not call for her like this often, and she could feel the coldness in the dojo.

"What is it gramps?" Momoyo asked.

"Yamato is in a bad spot in his mind." Tesshin explained, "I attempted the meditation training with him earlier. It went steady for the first half, his ki was fine." Tesshin cleared his throat, "Then it went south."

Momoyo had a look of confusion, their whole dojo had an unsettling feeling around it.

Tesshin continued, "He went out like a bomb. His ki is very different from anything I've felt before."

"Wait. What are you saying? Yamato has…" Momoyo's eyes widened in realisation. "He's got powers like me?!" She just could not help herself, her enthusiasm and excitement for battles got the better of her. "Yamato and I should have a battle then." Momoyo said.

"Momoyo, listen to me." Tesshin stood up to get her attention. "Yamato needs our help, ok? He needs to keep his mind busy, to train." He then pointed right at Momoyo, "But a battle is absolutely out of the question."

"Eh?" Momoyo blinked, "Why?"

"Because I said so," Tesshin answered, "Here's what happened earlier, when I tried to talk to him while he was in a meditative state, he was ok. That is, until I mentioned you. Then he almost went berserk."

Momoyo's head made a little recoil. "Me?"

"Did something happen between you two?" Tesshin gave her a raised brow. Momoyo fell silent, running her mind through anything in the past few days, but nothing came up. Tesshin leaned forward, "Hmm?" He got no answer from her and the grandmaster sighed.

"Whatever it is Momoyo, fix it." He said to her face.

"Eh?"

"Fix it." He said it more sternly and exited the dojo.

In the house, Yamato sat himself down on the couch in the living and stared up at the ceiling. Yamato slowed down his breathing and took one last deep inhale and exhale. His eyes laid on something in the cabinet shelf next to the television. He got up and shuffled his feet over, he picked it up and gazed at it. A framed photograph of Kawakami Tesshin, Kazuko, and Momoyo. Standing together at the Main Temple's front and smiling like a happy family. A Kawakami family photograph.

There was another family photograph by the side, he set the first photo down and picked up the second one. An eleven-year-old Momoyo was in it, her hair was shorter and she wore a pink dress. She had a glee on her face standing between two adults in kimono, her parents. Her mother was beautiful like Momoyo if she was fifteen years older, her father was proud and tall, and he also had a mustache. Their smiling faces showed just how much pride they have in their daughter.

Yamato sighed in discontent, the only family photograph he had was back in his father's office, and he could not even remember when that photograph was taken. He could not remember much anymore, and he had no other items for a memory of his parents. His hermit crabs, as much as he did not want it so, kept on reminding him of his mother dead on the highway.

Yamato let out a snarl, a fist by his side clenched up. His own voice from the depths called to him, his voice was deep and absolute. (Revenge…)

He heard footsteps coming towards the front and he quickly put the framed photo back in place. He snuck back to the door of his room just in time. "Yamato?" Kazuko called as she entered the house, Yamato hid in his room away from them all and laid down the floor.

"Yamato?" Kazuko knocked on his door, "I'm coming in."

(Goddammit.) Yamato's brows knitted.

Kazuko entered his room, and she tilted her head, "Eh? Yamato? What are you doing on the floor?"

"Resting Wanko." Yamato said, he had an arm shielding his eyes from the light.

"Um…" Kazuko had a finger on her lip as she thought of something, "Oh Yamato, would you like to train?"

"Train?" Yamato uncovered his eyes to look at her standing at the door.

"Mm-hmm." Kazuko nodded, "We can try the punching bag. I used to train on it when I was younger. It is behind the dojo." Kazuko went to grab Yamato's sleeve, "Come on let's go."

Yamato quickly found himself at the back, standing in front of a black punching bag attached to a chain from the dojo's roof. Kazuko was having a smile on her face. She dug into her bag and pulled out two white bandages.

"Wear these Yamato," Kazuko passed the bandages to Yamato, "And start punching."

Yamato, however, gave an apprehensive look towards her. "I don't really want to Wanko."

"Come on, it's just training." Kazuko pushed.

Yamato frowned but finally relented, remembering he had to hone on his abilities. If it meant getting closer to what he wanted, he will relent. Yamato sighed and started wrapping the bandage firmly around his hands. He spaced his legs evenly, bent his knees, and raised his fists up.

He started throwing his left fist into the bag, and then his right. His punches increased in their speed and the punching bag jiggled about.

(You know what you are.) His own voice said to him.

Yamato started to grit his teeth as his punches got stronger. A dangerous aura was exuding around him.

(I'm sorry.) Momoyo's voice came into his mind and there was a subtle hue in dark red inside Yamato's fists. He started throwing his legs, kicking the punching bag along with his knee and elbow strikes.

(Yamato! Don't let me die!) He heard his mother screaming in his head. His eyes were darkening in red, the punching bag was really thrashing all over from every hit Yamato was throwing. Yamato was jabbing punches and launching kicks with each impact making thunderclaps. His strikes had no elegance or finesse. They were crude, but brutal and powerful. Like a hardened street fighter.

(I want revenge!) Yamato growled, he swung one final massive punch, his fist collided into the punching bag, releasing a small pulse of dark red. The chain on the punching bag broke and both the bag and chain were careened onto the floor. Yamato continued glaring at the punching bag.

He sensed Kazuko behind him, he turned to her, and she had a surprised look on her face. "Yamato?"

Yamato blinked a couple of times before realizing he had just damaged Kazuko's property. He went and picked up the punching bag. "Sorry about that."

"When did you get so strong?" Kazuko zipped over to him, not bothered about her punching bag.

"I…I don't know." He muttered and he set the punching bag against the dojo wall. Yamato heard someone else approaching them, Momoyo sensed the punching earlier and made her over to see Yamato, Kazuko, and a battered punching bag.

"Yamato? You did that?" Momoyo pointed with widened eyes. He stood there in a reserved way, not answering her.

"Onee-sama," Kazuko answered with a bounce on her legs, "Yamato was really strong earlier. He took down the punching bag no trouble." Yamato did not share the enthusiasm, he brought his hands up to his sight and clenched his fists hard. He felt his power emanating in him.

"Oh, you're doing some training Yamato?" Momoyo asked, then she took the chance, "How about a little spar Yamato?"

Yamato's face went impassive and pensive, he shook his head at her and turned away. "I'm done for the day." Yamato said and headed for the house. Momoyo could only stand there and watch him walk away.

(Just what is up with you Yamato? Can't you just talk to me?) Momoyo thought with a frown, her brows lowered and pulled closer together.

Later on, Yamato was back in his room, away from any prying eyes to check on what he was doing. He sat down and starting to focus on the energy in him. Kuki Ageha did tell him to train on his powers, but the one true incentive in him was to attain the truth behind the one who had taken his world away from him, to attain his revenge. An aura of dark red glowed around his hands, and his eyes turned red. A growl escaped his throat. (This is my power…)

He started shadow boxing in his room, the dark red in his hands and eyes became more prominent, Yamato was starting to get the hang of how to keep the red up. There was a knock on his door and the dark redness in him disappeared.

"Yamato?" It was Kazuko. "You want to eat with us? It's dinner time."

A few minutes later he stood before a well-set table, four bowls of rice, four bowls of miso soup, and two large plates of pork cutlets and stir-fry vegetables. Grandmaster Tesshin and Lu Yi were already seated.

"Ah Yamato," Lu Yin said.

"Evening," Yamato greeted them both.

"Take a seat Yamato. The monk cook has prepared this dinner for us." Tesshin said.

"Come on Yamato, Onee-sama is coming in soon." Kazuko pulled his sleeve and ushered Yamato to sit. The dining table had six seats, Tesshin and Lu sat on one side while Yamato and Kazuko sat on the opposite. Leaving one seat empty on Yamato's left.

Momoyo soon appeared from her room, sporting her usual purple t-shirt and jeans.

"Ah Momoyo come sit." Tesshin gestured over at the seat beside Yamato.

"Itadakimasu." Everyone got right into their food. Kazuko was munching on the pork cutlet with a little smile. Yamato, however, was completely silent. He had his eyes fixed on the food, never glancing at anyone. His own way of keeping to himself in between the Kawakami Sisters. The only sounds that filled the dining table were the chopsticks in their hands.

Momoyo could feel someone eyeing her, she finally noticed her own grandfather looking at her. He was giving her a look to prompt her into communicating with Yamato. Momoyo glanced at the boy sitting next to her, he was only focused on his food. This invisible wall was starting to grate on Momoyo and she wanted to break it down.

"Onee-sama. That battle you had in the morning with Je Seok was so cool." Kazuko spontaneously burst the silence while she chewed on her food. "I am looking forward to the time where I get my own challengers too like you Onee-sama."

"Kazuko, don't eat with your mouth full." Lu Yin said to her, she gave a little sheepish smile. Both Momoyo and Tesshin cringed inside while Yamato continued to silently eat his dinner. The chance to talk to Yamato was completely blown. They would have to try again another time.

On the next day at school, Yamato trudged through the hallway. He caught a glance of two first-year girls whispering.

"Eh it's Naoe-senpai." One girl softly said.

The other girl then said, "Yeah, it's him."

"Scary." The girls shivered. Yamato turned his head to give a quick glare at them and the girls looked away from him. Naoe Yamato's reputation had tanked downwards after the stunt he pulled in class 2-S, his savage battles against Hideo and Ishida, his new demeanor, and the fact that he has been wearing that black hoodie of his as his new regular outfit. But he did not care about any of that. His social high school life was the least of his problems, it had been replaced with a drive in him. Yamato carried on his way across the hallway and got back into his seat in class 2-F.

Grey clouds were brewing from the horizon, a stormy rain was looming. The final period of the day's lessons was about to end, Yamato started packing his bag when the intercom came to life. "Attention, this is your principal speaking." Grandmaster Kawakami Tesshin said over the com, "Naoe Yamato of class 2-F, and Kawakami Momoyo of class 3-F, please come to the Principal's office."

In their respective classes, both Yamato and Momoyo had gotten scrutinizing eyes from their classmates. Momoyo had a confused expression on her face wondering what was going on, while Yamato's expression was a tired one. They both got up from their seats and started their approach. Both of them got to the office at the same time standing on opposite sides of the door.

"Yamato." Momoyo said.

"Nee-san." Yamato said.

The office door opened and Tesshin stepped forward. "Good, you two are here. Come inside." Yamato and Momoyo took their seats while Tesshin took his.

"What's this about gramps?" Momoyo asked.

"I will get right to it." Tesshin said then pointed at the boy, "Yamato."

"Me?" Yamato straightened up.

"Let's go over what happened on your training yesterday." Tesshin said.

Yamato got apprehensive making a quick glance at Momoyo, he asked, "It has to be here? Now?"

"Yes, now." Tesshin said, "Why did it end the way it ended? Especially when I mentioned Momoyo here."

Momoyo turned to Yamato, "Now we're here, I also want to ask. What is wrong with you recently?"

"Hmm," The grandmaster stroked his beard, "Good question from Momoyo, since it relates to what happened in your training." Both of them looked at Yamato.

"Nothing." Yamato sighed.

"It's not nothing ok?" Momoyo sounded annoyed.

"I'm telling you it's nothing."

"Guys stop." Tesshin intervened. Yamato and Momoyo held their tongues and looked back at the principal. "Let's try this. Turn your chairs to face each other."

"What?" Yamato's voice deepened.

"Do it."

Momoyo was already shifting her chair, Yamato reluctantly complied and rotated his own chair too. The two were facing each other now with Tesshin still behind the desk. The grandmaster said, "Alright look at each other."

Momoyo was already putting her gaze on him, Yamato was glancing in her direction but not looking at her properly. Tesshin said, "Come on both of you, in each other's eyes." Finally, something inside Yamato stirred, he lifted his gaze up to Momoyo and the two were staring at each other in the eyes.

Their eyes were locked, both of their gazes pushing into each other. Like an unstoppable force and an immovable object. The tension in the room was incredibly thick and Tesshin could sense it, the tension between a Goddess and a Demon.

"Ok," Tesshin broke the silence, "Momoyo seems to have things to talk to Yamato about, and it seems that Yamato will have something in return with what Momoyo wants to address. We'll have one say something followed by the other." Tesshin leaned back on his chair and let them talk.

"Why have you been avoiding me Yamato?" Momoyo asked.

Yamato had a twitch in his eye. "I'm not."

"Yes you are." Momoyo's voice raised a little higher. "You didn't reply to my messages or answer my calls. You've not been talking to me or the rest of our friends."

Now Yamato was getting a little peeved, "I had a really busy week ok? In case you've forgotten."

"That's not the only thing Yamato. I'm not buying that." Momoyo clutched onto the handles of her chair.

"Why are you making such a big deal over whatever the hell this is?" Yamato crossed his arms.

"You're not acting right Yamato." Momoyo leaned forward. "You're acting aloof all the time. You got into a battle with Kuki Hideo and Saburou Ishida, you brutalized them and made yourself look like a savage. The school's been badmouthing you. And now this, talking to people, to me, like this. You've never been like this before. You're not acting like my lil' bro."

Yamato made a groaning sigh, "What do you want from me then? Huh? Both of you?" he said to Momoyo and Tesshin. Momoyo blinked and her lips froze for a moment.

"You want me to fake a smile all the time? Do you want me to have that suave, nice guy tone again? That what you want from your 'lil' bro'?" Yamato said with gritted teeth, "You want me to forget? Is that it?"

Silence came back into the room, Tesshin dipped his head down, "Yamato. Again, you have my condolences about your parents."

Momoyo then cut in, "I'm sorry about your parents, but you need to get back up, push forward. You cannot just stay down."

"Momoyo!" Tesshin chastised her.

Yamato's eyes narrowed and gave out a harsh exhale through his nose. Momoyo caught herself after what she said but sensed to glare Yamato was giving her. "Yam-"

"It's very easy for you to run your mouth huh? So convenient to be right all the time huh?" Yamato said to her in a low tone. "Especially when your world's been given to you on a silver platter."

"Excuse me?" Momoyo's brows knitted.

"You're giving me crap for winning my own fight twice? You are the one who's always beating challengers into the ground." Yamato called her out.

"What?" Momoyo was taken aback.

"Enough you two!" Tesshin's voice intervened the two, "You both are squabbling like cats and are not getting anywhere." He rubbed his temple, "You're supposed to talk things out but this is hitting a dead end."

Yamato tore his gaze away from Momoyo, leaning onto the left of his seat. He hated this, but being pushed like this was really getting him aggravated. Momoyo too looked away from him. His words had called her out, her mind had been rattled. She, however, had another plan.

Momoyo stood up from her seat and she pulled out her school badge from her pocket. "Then let's battle, Yamato."

Yamato did not answer, but Tesshin quickly objected, "Momoyo I told you already."

"Gramps, if this is the only way we can get our messages across, then we have to do this. To understand each other. And if this will provide training for both of us then all the better. Gramps, you told me to fix this, I'm fixing it this way." Momoyo stubbornly said, like she had forgotten what Kuki Ageha had told her.

"Yamato, let's do this." Momoyo turned to Yamato. "If I win, you stop with your nonsense. You be my Lil' Bro and you belong to me."

Yamato did not say anything, something in him had a glow in dark red. He slowly got up and matched her height, both of their eyes locked on each other. He did not bother in telling his own condition should he win. He took out his own school badge, accepting her battle.

"The Kawakami Temple." Momoyo said, Yamato nodded.

Tesshin sighed, he had to relent. "So be it."

Yamato and Momoyo got to the door, only to discover who was behind the door. The Kazama Family, they had been listening in.

"Onee-sama!" Kazuko zipped to her sister, "You're going to fight Yamato?"

"I have to Wanko." Momoyo said. The other girls were exchanging unsure glances.

"Yo Yamato," Gakuto said to Yamato, "Are you serious?! You're going to fight Momo-senpai?!"

"Yeah you sure this is a good idea?" Takuya added.

Yamato did not answer, he carried on the path with Momoyo. The two exited the school, the evening sky had been blanketed by dark clouds. The rest of the Kazama Family and Tesshin followed. Momoyo and Yamato got ahead, both keeping pace as they headed over to the Kawakami Temple for their battle.

Day vs Night

Goddess Vs Demon

Kawakami Momoyo vs Naoe Yamato

Yes folks there's going to be a battle between these two. Something I would like to try on these upcoming fights and the following plot points. From what I can remember from the anime, manga, and visual novels, there were very few emotional fights.

I want to try and make the conflict between Yamato and Momoyo be that, an emotional one. It's not going to be the most grand and epic on a massive scale, but I want to try and make the conflict between the two be the most emotionally charged in the Majikoi storylines.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, hope to see you in the next one.