The Darkloids had all gathered to view this next part of the plan, which was to begin merging the net with the real world. And while Nomde was net yet at full power, he felt that he couldn't afford to put it off any longer. Not only were the Darkloids getting restless, he had felt something else he couldn't quite identify approaching the city, and he didn't like not knowing what that power was. The Darkloids he could deal with if they chose to try and rise up against him. At his weakest he was stronger than all of them combined, but this new approaching power bothered him. Perhaps he would contact that human thief again and have her look into it, as well take care of a few other things, like that Seer. Or perhaps he would do that himself, and have the thief capture the two brats for him. That seemed like the better plan, and the more fun of the two for him.
"We're all waiting, demon," Shademan hissed as Nomde slowly began to draw the stolen energy into his body.
"Don't worry, my dear Shademan. I have no intention of making you wait any longer. The time has come to begin merging this world with the human world, and to unleash our terror upon the worthless humans!"
Allowing himself to smile in a way that caused his fangs to flash in the dim light, the demon navi began to release the now tainted energy in the form of a dark cloud that spread slowly, swallowing up everything that it touched....
Kichi yawned and stretched for a moment before sitting up on the couch. She had taken a short nap, and while she didn't feel very rested, some sleep was better than no sleep. She had patrolled the city late into the night, and now it was morning. While it wasn't sunny, the sky was lighter than it had been for the past few days without breaking cloud-cover. The temperature had stopped dropping, but unfortunately it wasn't rising at all. The snow had momentarily ceased to fall, but looking out the window showed that during her nap the white poweder had piled up quite a bit. Deep enough that her truck was half-way burried, and wouldn't be taking her anywhere.
Which is why you packed your snow gear before you fell asleep S-chan said, looking up from her food dish. You look horrible.
"I feel horrible, but that's not going to change any time soon. Not until we find and destroy that demon."
You were tossing in your sleep again. I felt your dreams, and they were dark again. The demon is taunting you.
"All the more reason to destroy him," Kichi replied, putting on her coat and snow shoes. "I'm going to check in with Neko. You coming, or staying here?"
Staying here. To cold for going outside.
"Suit yourself. Stay out of trouble./i
Kichi grabbed her two packs and her knives from the kitchen table and headed out the door. The moment she stepped outside she was hit by the bitterly cold wind. Shivering, she pulled the collar of her coat up over her nose and began trudging through the snow towards Neko's lair. The snow was deep, and the going was slow, even for Kichi, who was used to moving in deep snow.
She was about half way to Neko's lair when she felt a familiar tingling in the back of her mind. A moment later she heard the faint but unmistakable voice of Tainn, which surprised her greatly.
((Kichi?))
The deep voice echoed through Kichi's mind, as powerful as ever despite the fact that it was strained with distance. The fact that she could hear him though meant that he had to be within the city somewhere, which startled Kichi a great deal, since the wolves had never left the mountains in all the time that she had known them, and all of the time Mycah had known them.
((Kichi, can you hear me?))
(I hear you Tainn. What are you doing here? Where are you?)
((I am where the river meets the sea, on the steps of the light tower. The Pack is with me. You must come to us immediately, for we have brought you something of immense importance.))
(I understand. I'm on my way.)
Look's like Neko will have to wait, Kichi thought silently, changing her direction and heading towards the bay where the light house was. That would be an even longer walk, but there was no helping it. Tainn and the Pack wouldn't have left the mountains if it hadn't been extremely urgent to bring whatever it was they had brought with them to give to her.
It felt like ages before Kichi reached the lighthouse, and by that time she was quite numb. The wind found every gap in her clothing and stabbed her with its biting cold. She had been tired when she had left the apartment and felt even worse after pushing herself through the deep snow. If Netto had seen her he would have been scolding her for pushing herself as she was. He had little room to talk, since he did the same thing from time to time, but Kichi should have known better. Still, Tainn was indeed waiting on the steps of the lighthouse, a white sillouette against a white background, noticeable only by his blue eyes and the dark leather pouch hanging from his neck. She couldn't see any of the other wolves, but she felt their presence nearby.
((Welcome Little Sister. I bring a gift from the Spirits.))
The white wolf rose to his feet and nodded to the leather pouch that hung around his neck. This was the reason they had come down from the mountains. Kichi nodded and took the pouch from the wolf and pulled it open, pouring its contents into her hand. Out of the pouch fell a small crystal shaped like a ten-pointed star that looked as if it had been carved out of the night sky. Around it Kichi could sense a faint but powerful aura.
"What is it?" Kichi asked.
((The Spirits say it is a weapon to seal away the demon. However, They do not know how to trigger it. Even They do not know everything.))
"I see. But any weapon is better than no weapon. I'm sure we'll be able to figure it out-"
The words stopped suddenly as all of the breath rushed out of Kichi's body. She fell to her knees, barely away of the wolve's fearful howls as the world around her spun and blurred together! Suddenly she was not in her body, but high above the city, flying in the form of a kestrel.
What a horrible time for an out-of-body-vision! Kichi cursed as she circled in the cold air. This was a dangerous thing in such cold weather, and if she didn't get back to her body soon she could very well die.... Tainn! Tainn! Call my spirit back! Kichi cried to the wolf. But he didn't answer.
"Whatever is the matter, Seer?" A dark voice hissed somewhere around Kichi, though she could not see its source around her. All she could see were dark clouds. "What's wrong? Can't get back to your body?"
The demon. It was the demon that was causing this. It was the demon that had forced her into the Spirit Realm.
Come out and show yourself! Kichi screeched in challenge!
"Oh, but if I did that you would attack me, and that would break the spell. And I am enjoying this far to much. Tell me, is it getting colder? How long do you think it will take before your body dies and you become trapped here forever?"
Foul demon! Evil beast! Kichi spat. This is pointless!
"Quite the contrary," replied the demon. "Pain, fear, confusion and suffering only make me stronger, and you are giving off all of those things right now. And very soon, I shall have your cousin and his lover in the same position...Only their death is going to be much more painful."
NO!
Enraged, Kichi struck out at the air, but her claws hit nothing. Only laughter greeted her vain attempts.
"Farewell, Seer. Enjoy your new form, since nothing those powerless furballs you call wolves will be able to save you. I'll make sure to tell Netto that you send your love."
Come back demon! Fight me!
But there was no reply. If falcons could cry Kichi could have, but all she could do was cirlce on the bitter winds as the thin thread that held her to her body grew weaker and weaker...
