Don't Play With Fire

Chapter Ten: Mask of Deception

The first thing that met Sayo's gaze was fire.

She stood still, uncertain of moving at all, as her eyes darted around to take a look at the place they had transported themselves into. There was no mistaking that it was the lair of the devil, all right, for just the sight of the fiery domain caused a shiver to run down her spine. Shouzo, who was behind her, did not dare move as well. The warning bell at the back of his mind had begun to ring, and he knew that trouble was just around the corner.

"Hey, you two," Kibo interrupted, floating in front of them with a goofy grin on his face. He did not seem to be a bit bothered by the heat that engulfed the entire area and caused much discomfort. "Relax. There's nothing for you to be afraid of. After all, I'm here to keep watch over you."

That's what I'm afraid of, Shouzo thought bitterly, the feeling of dread still lingering inside of him. He didn't care if Sayo would let her guard down, but he definitely wouldn't. He knew that there was something just very wrong with the picture, something very wrong with what was going on.

At the child's assurance, the young Christian woman relaxed, exhaling to release all the tension. She lifted her foot to take a step forward, but found herself hesitating for a few moments --- until she felt Shouzo squeeze her shoulder, a sign of faith and confidence. Taking a deep breath, she took the step, expecting the worst. But to her relief, as well as that of her companion, nothing happened.

She looked around, her emerald eyes reflecting the fire that was blazing all over the place. "Now," she began softly, "where can we find Sanosuke Sagara and his captor?"

Kibo flew ahead of them, in search for the Christians' friends, but only spotted the wall of hard rock lined with flame. "He should be somewhere behind that barrier," the little boy pointed out, making Sayo and Shouzo hurry to his side. "Maybe in some sort of prison cell or cage. We gotta find a way to break this wall first, though."

"Out of the way," the older man instructed, pulling back the sleeve of his garment in preparation for his attack. There was no other way for them to get through it but for him to punch the rock wall to smithereens, and he was the only one capable of doing that among the three of them. "I'm going to take this down."

The child who claimed that God sent him, however, stepped in front of Shouzo in interruption, his arms held out. "No!" he exclaimed, before a smile spread through his pale face. "I've got a better idea. You see, if we destroy this, it might cause a cave-in, and we're going to be in trouble as well as Sanosuke and all the other prisoners. Perhaps we should find Satan first and compromise on the matter at hand. What do you say?"

The young woman's viridian eyes were distant as she considered the matter thoroughly, examining the pros and cons to the suggestion Kibo gave out. "I suppose that could be done," she said, nodding her head in agreement. "Although I doubt that it will be easy to make such a vile individual cooperate with us. Do you know where we can possibly find him?"

"Remember when I told you that he can take any form he wishes? He can take the form of anyone"

The flame that surrounded them burned brighter, fiercer than ever, making the area hotter than it already was. The walls of rock that enclosed the spot in which they were standing on gave way, crumbling down into the sea of conflagration that boiled from underneath them. The humans could only stare at the transformation that was taking place, awed and horrified at the same time.

The booming voice returned --- the voice of Kibo, the child who claimed to have been sent by the Most High to help the suffering souls, especially the one who was held captive by the ruler of the underworld. " even that of a little boy," he finished in a low, teasing tone, and at that, the youngster's body disappeared with a crackling blaze. A hideous-looking figure then replaced it, that of the promoter of vicious acts and the king of all evil.

He landed in front of the two Christians, his feet on a carpet of flame that expressed that he was the being in control of everything that his realm encompassed. "Welcome," he began slowly with what sounded like a growl, "Sayo Amakusa and Shouzo Rorenzo. I'm so glad that you decided to drop by and visit me in my humble abode. I feel so loved, don't you know that?"

Shouzo was about to rush blindly towards their adversary, when Sayo held her hand out to stop him. The young man resorted to glaring at the other instead. "You scum---"

"Scum?" the Devil asked, before he let out a hearty laugh, the flames burning stronger than ever. After what seemed to be a laughing fit, he stopped, resting his gaze on the two unfortunate souls he managed to capture. "You two are so easy to deceive. And I thought you were told not to trust people so easily? Tsk, tsk. I'm wondering if you're learning anything at all from the teachings of your prophets and scribes!"

"What do you want with us?"

"Oh no, I don't want you," the demon replied, waving his hand casually as if shooing someone away, his gleaming red eyes locked onto Shouzo's raven ones. "I want her. The woman who stands in the way of the completion of my plans with Sanosuke Sagara." He spread out his arms, calling all his minions to show themselves and prepare for whatever he would order them to do. "And so, I'm going stand by and watch while my friends take you apart. And when that will be all over, I'll do my part and kill someone's little beloved."

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Author's Note:

I'm planning to finish this fic before the end of this month, I just hope I'll be inspired enough to write the remaining chapters. All destroy Writer's Block! *pumps fist* Anyway, thanks for the reviews! I'm glad that you're actually enjoying, despite of the short chapters and slow updates. =P