Sana continued to stroke Kaye's wings. "Are there more out in the world like you?"
Kaye was still trying to recover from the pain. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I. Don't. Know."
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," Sana responded as she grabbed a handful of feathers and ripped them from Kaye's wings. "Aww, my bad."
Kaye winced as she bit back her scream of pain.
"Stop torturing her!" Mr. Rei Faun shouted at Sana. He winced when one of the assassins elbowed him in the stomach.
Kento saw what happened from the corner of his eye. He spun around and launched at him.
The assassin said a quick chant and froze Kento in mid-attack. "I don't think Lady Sana wants you to participate yet." He guided Kento to where he could see what's going on above.
Kento growled low in his throat. He remembered Ammon telling him they had powers, but he neglected to tell him what they could do. He felt his kanji on his forehead starting to pulsate. Kento smirked a bit.
The assassin caught his smirk, "What's so funny?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Kento shot back.
"Oh? From what I can see, you're not in the best position to threaten me."
"It isn't a threat. It's a promise. You and your two buddies are going to pay for what you've done. So will Sana." Kento replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
Sana studied Kaye, "I see, you are one of those stubborn types. It doesn't matter to me if you know there are more like you or not. I can always find out another way. But, in the meantime, I think getting rid of one will satisfy me for the moment." Sana pulled her sword back and put every ounce of her strength and magic into her swing. She raised it over her head and swung it down and through Kaye's wings.
Kaye's eyes went wide. She paled when she felt the blade slash through the area between her shoulder blades and the base of her wings. Pain radiated throughout her entire body from the violent separation. Her scream ripped from her throat, which made it raw. Tears flowed like a broken damn when she watched her wings tumble down to the ground as her blood trailed after them.
Mr. and Mrs. Rei Faun were beyond horrified as they squeezed their eyes shut and looked away.
Kento was in complete shock. But as soon as her wings hit the ground, he became enraged. Kento's rage helped him to break free of the assassin's spell. He willed his sub armor and then into his full armor.
"Oops, I broke the Nephilim. Oh, well." Sana said in a bored tone. She waved her hand, and the chains and shackles vanished, which sent Kaye plummeting to the ground.
Kento saw Kaye as she was falling. He jumped up and caught her in mid-air. He then landed and held Kaye close to him while trying to be careful. "Kaye... Answer me, please."
"Kento..." She barely replied as her tears continued to fall. Kaye was in so much pain she could hardly breathe.
Kento looked at her with extreme concern in his eyes. He gently moved some of her hair from her face. He could see a pool of blood forming under her. "Hang on. The others are coming. Stay with me."
Sana laughed as she floated down and landed on top of Kaye's detached wings. Her feet started to tear the feathers clear off as she danced on them.
Kento looked up and saw Sana destroying Kaye's wings. Feathers flew everywhere. "Stop it!"
Sana looked over at Kento and grinned, "Make me."
Kento glowered at Sana with a dangerous expression in his eyes. He gently laid Kaye on her side. Kento made sure she was secure enough, so she wouldn't lay on her back. He rose to his feet. Before Sana knew what happened, he disarmed her. Then he shoved her sword deep through her stomach and then yanked it out.
Sana clutched her stomach as she stumbled back. She lifted her head in time to see her sword pierce her heart. Sana coughed up blood and dropped to her knees. "So, you do have the thirst of blood after all." She fell over on her side the rest of the way to the ground.
The three assassins, in shock from watching their leader being killed right in front of them. Released the holds on Kento's parents as they stared at Lady Sana's corpse.
"Mr. and Mrs. Rei Faun! Get out of the way!" Ryo called out to them as he and the others arrived.
As soon as Rowen saw they were clear, he launched three arrows, one right after the other, into the center of the chests of the three assassins.
They clutched their chests and gasped for air as they stumbled to the ground.
Ryo raced over to Kento's parents. "Are you two all right?"
"Physically, we are fine. But don't worry about us right now. Kaye needs help." Mr. Rei Faun replied as he comforted his wife.
Ryo glanced around the room. He saw Kaye on the ground bleeding profusely. "Sage!"
The blonde Ronin heard him and noticed the same scenario when he scanned the room. He rushed over and knelt next to her. "We're here, Kaye." Sage closed his eyes and sent his healing powers to her wounded back.
Cye was about to race to his sister's side but stopped by Ryo. "Let go!"
Ryo kept a firm hold on him, "Let Sage help her first. Then you can go and see her."
Cye nodded as he tried to get back under control. He got out of Ryo's hold and looked over towards Kento. His heart went out to his best friend. He knew this was incredibly hard for him too.
Rowen watched the three he struck down. He wanted to make sure they weren't going to get up, ever. Once Rowen knew, The blue-haired Ronin went to join the others. He stood on the other side of Cye. "She'll pull through."
Cye nodded as he kept watching in anticipation.
Kento, still holding onto Sana's sword, walked over to his parents. He could see they were fine physically. But emotionally, and psychologically he believes they are all in the same place. "Ma, Pa."
His parents looked at him. Concern and sorrow were evident in their eyes. "Kento. Are you going to be all right?"
Kento gave a tiny smile. His parents were more worried about him than themselves. "I'll be fine. What about the two of you?"
"We'll be better when we're home." Mrs. Rei Faun replied, "What about Sana? Is she..."
Kento nodded, "Yeah, Sana is dead. I made sure of it."
Kento's parents glanced at one another as their concern for their son grew. It was a side of Kento they never saw before. The mystical armor they could accept once they hear the entire story. But for Kento to take a life, the idea scared them a little. They then turned their attention towards him, "What about Kaye?"
"Sage is doing what he can to heal her. I'll explain everything later." Kento replied as he guided them over to where the others stood waiting. Kento nudged Ryo and presented him with the sword. "Take it from me. I can't deal with it right now."
Ryo nodded as he took Sana's sword and sheathed it behind his.
"Sage?" Cye questioned when he saw him stop glowing.
The green Ronin sat back as he tried to collect himself. "I managed to stop the rest of the bleeding. She's vulnerable but is still breathing. Kaye's unconscious, but I'm positive she'll wake on her own."
"We know you did your best. Right now, we need to leave." Kento said as he walked to Kaye. He knelt and gently lifted her from the ground. Kento did a glance around the room. "Where's Ammon?"
"He's securing an exit for us from this crazy place," Rowen replied as he headed to the open doorway.
Ryo helped Sage to his feet. He made sure Sage was able to walk himself.
"I'm fine, Ryo. A little tired, but nothing I can't handle. I don't know about you. I'm more than ready to leave."
Ryo released Sage as they followed Rowen.
Cye waited for Kento and his parents.
"Hey, Cye, I'm sorry, I couldn't stop Sana before she... But I got revenge." Kento replied as the four of them walked out of the room.
Cye didn't know how to feel about Kento telling him he got revenge. Sure, he was relieved his sister was still alive. But to take a life? Was Kento exposed to Sana and the Jade Thorns for too long? He glanced at him, "It's, alright Kento. You don't need to apologize. It wasn't your fault. I'm relieved the whole thing finished, and we can go home."
They continued down the corridor and saw Ammon waving at them. He was about to approach but stopped when he saw the situation. He could see by their somber expressions no one wanted to talk. Ammon leads them outside and then abruptly stopped. The remaining assassins surrounded them from all sides.
Kento turned to Cye and passed Kaye over to him.
Cye made sure his sister was secure in his arms. He looked at his friend with a frown. "Kento?"
Kento didn't even look at him. "I have something I need to do." He walked to the nearest boulder and climbed it. He glared over the crowd, which had them surrounded. "Sana is dead, and by your rules. I am the new leader of the Jade Thorns!" Kento announced as he motioned for Ryo to toss him Sana's sword. He caught it and held it high, so they could see.
The assassins whispered to one another and then bowed to Kento.
The orange Ronin looked over them. "Listen close, because I'm going to say this once! Leave Japan! Go back to China and destroy everything related to the clan! Command centers, armories, all of it! Then when completed. Dissolve the Jade Thorns forever! The Jade Thorns are no more from this day forward! My last orders never, ever come back to Japan! If any of you return, I'll bury you! Watch close, and remember how I was the one who took down Sana's mansion!" Kento waited until every assassin had their attention to the building. He tossed the sword back to Ryo. Kento returned his focus to his target. He closed his eyes and felt his power surge within him. Kento's eyes opened. He willed almost all of his power and shot it into the center of the building. It crumbled into rubble and then into a tower of nothing but sand.
Kento turned his attention to the assassins. He kept it together with the best he could. Kento was not going to show any weakness from using too much of his power. "Now, get the hell out!" He watched as they scrambled in different directions. Once they were all gone, Kento slid down the boulder and leaned against it. His breathing a bit shallow.
"Wow, looks like you got your point across," Ammon said in amazement.
"Heh, yeah. But I think I pushed myself harder than I thought," Kento replied with a small smile. "Time to go home."
Ammon reached over and grabbed Kento's hand. He pulled him forward. Once he saw Kento was steady, he let go. "Ah, I don't have a home, Kento. You leveled it into the world's largest sand trap."
The orange Ronin rubbed the back of his head, "Heh, gomen. I guess I did get a bit carried away."
Ammon raised a brow, "A bit? I hate to find out what happens when you cut loose all the way."
Kento nodded as he lowered his hand, "Um, yeah. You don't want to see me go all out."
"You're kidding me? You didn't go all out?"
"Um, no."
Ammon blinked in surprise. Kento has way more power than even his mother dreamed possible. She did say Kento had power, but he didn't believe she knew how much.
"Hey! I thought we were going home. Unless, of course, you want to hang around here all day?" Sage asked as he looked over towards them. "Besides, Kento, we need to get your parents home."
Kento walked over to his parents. "Ma, Pa, I..."
The two older Rei Fauns shook their head. "Kento, you don't need to explain anything right now. But, soon. We are more than ready to go home and rest for a while. Then when things start to calm, you can come home and talk with us about everything."
Kento looked at his parents with remorse, "I'm so sorry you went through what you did. I know I didn't make it any easier by acting like a major jerk."
"Kento, you had no choice. The words we said to one another were out of anger. At the time, we got caught up in our emotions. We lost sight of what was important. Your mother was the one who reminded me of the lesson. Considering she kicked my ass after we got home from the fight you and I had at the restaurant."
Kento looked at his mother in shock. He recovered with a smile as he saw her blush a bit. Kento chuckled, "Looks like we have a lot of apologizing to do for a while."
"Damn straight you do," Mrs. Rei Faun stated as she gave the two of them a warning glance.
"Ma!" Kento exclaimed, "You two get on me about language."
"What did you say young man?" Mrs. Rei Faun asked as she hit Kento on top of his head.
"Ouch! Ma!" Kento grumbled while he rubbed his sore spot.
Laughter erupted from behind them as the others listened in on their conversation.