Everything around me was dark. Night had fallen early in Demon World and everyone was in bed. That was, except me. I couldn't sleep, so I'd taken to pacing my room. It was exactly twelve paces, by twenty.
"Damn it." I sighed, stopping for a moment.
Why can't I just get this out of my head? I'll never be able to fight Denique Nex without sleep. I have to figure this out now.
Plopping down on the bed, I reclined against some pillows. The canopy above was white with red flowers sewn into it.
I have to push Hajime away; it's the only way I can reach Kitsune Majin.
The flowers were arranged in a circle pattern around the canopy.
If I don't, then the same thing will happen. My love will prevent me from reaching that level.
The circle extended onto the drapes around the bed.
Denique Nex won't be defeated unless I get to that level. Kitsune Majin will come back, but then again, I'm really no one else.
They surrounded me, wrapping me in a sea of red.
I never have been, and I never will be. I'll always be the Kitsune Majin.
The red felt so familiar.
"I never meant to turn you into this."
I sat bolt upright. It had sounded like he'd just said that in my ear.
"Souzou?"
There was no answer. A gust of wind made me jump. Curtains were billowing, but I couldn't remember opening that window. I stood up to go over to shut it.
"I'm so sorry Izumi."
There it was again! It couldn't have been my imagination, it was too clear.
"What the hell is going on?" I whispered to myself.
"I love you."
"I have to get out of here." I gasped, racing towards the door.
My footsteps echoed through the halls as I ran. Everything looked the same. Finally I came to balcony overlooking the forest. It was quiet, as if no other creature was awake. The wind blew again, making me shiver.
What the hell is going on? I swear, I just heard Souzou, but that' s impossible. He's dead. I saw it happen. Damn, I must be going crazy.
A sudden drowsiness overcame me. It felt like I was going to fall asleep where I stood. Leaning against the wall, I tried to fight it, but my knees were slowly giving way. Sliding down, I felt my eyelids close. It was a losing battle.
"Izumi!"
I was jolted awake.
"Izumi!" It was Ohkami's voice.
There was the sound of someone running. The doors to the balcony opened with a crack. She stood there panting, her face bright red.
"What is it?" I scrambled to my feet.
"They're gone."
"Who?"
"All the men?"
"What?"
"They've disappeared."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, they're only women here. Saitou, Sano, Lord Toshi, all of them, gone."
"No." I gasped.
I took off towards the men's rooms. They couldn't be gone, they couldn't. My feet pounded, and I heard Ohkami behind me. We came to a screeching halt at the door.
Sano's room looked like he'd just gotten up and gone to the bathroom. The bed was slept in; half of the covers were on the bed, and the other half on the floor. I was half expecting him to just walk out of the bathroom. He would laugh at us for worrying, but he didn't come out.
Next door it was the same case. Hajime's bed was rumpled, but not nearly as Sano's. His jacket was draped over a chair in the back. Then I noticed something; the door to the balcony was open. Both of the drapes were blowing in the wind. On the balcony, there was mud on the railing. It looked like someone had jumped.
"Look." Ohkami pointed to something on the ground.
"Footprints."
"Where could they have gone to?"
"Where is a good place." A voice echoed throughout the room.
"Who are you?" Ohkami growled.
"Denique Nex. Now Princess, be quiet, I want to talk to Kitsune Majin."
"What did you do to them?" I demanded.
"They are safe, for now. Actually, their safety depends on you."
"I won't join you."
"Come now, I know you want to kill. If you join me you can kill whenever you want."
"Where are they?"
"First you have to find me Kitsune Majin. And then maybe I will be able to convince you."
"I doubt that highly. You've kidnapped my friends-"
"Who you were trying to push away, come one, you can't be regretting that?"
"I regret a lot of things. Now tell me where you are!"
"Wolves' Point. I look forward to seeing you two."
The voice faded and Ohkami looked at me.
"That's where the Orb of Death was."
"Yeah."
"Do you think it's safe?"
"It doesn't matter, we have to go."
"You're right. When do we leave?"
"Hey Izumi."
"Yeah?"
We climbed over a couple of boulders.
"Why did that guy said you pushed Sano and Saitou away?"
"I didn't want them to get hurt."
"You're going to try and be Kitsune Majin again, aren't you?"
"It's the only way I can defeat Denique Nex."
"What about me? Am I chop suey?"
"No, there is still going to be Asesino. You need to fight that battle. He killed your great-grandfather."
"You're right."
We kept walking.
"Be careful Izumi."
"What are you talking about?"
"I remember what happened back when we faced Nagakura. You were ready to kill him. That's not the Izumi I know."
"I'm sorry Ohkami, but that's the Izumi whose fighting Denique Nex."
"But-"
"I won't be able to defeat him otherwise."
"How do you know he's that powerful?"
"He has that portal to the Human World, remember? Anyone who can do that has to be powerful."
"Just let me fight him."
"No, I'm not going to let the one who hates doctors get hurt." She laughed at that. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
She smiled a bit, but I could tell that she didn't believe me. Nevertheless, she dropped it. I was thankful.
I'm so sorry Ohkami, but I can't let you get involved. This guy wants to fight me because of who I am and what I did. He must be strong, and I'm the only one who has a chance to defeat him.
"Izumi, you're not Kitsune Majin."
That voice again!
"I wish I had never made you into this."
Leave me alone!
"You can stop it."
No!
"You alright Izumi?" Ohkami's voice broke my train of thought.
"Yeah, just thinking." I smiled.
It was getting dark and we needed to set up camp. After several minutes of Ohkami nearly burning the forest down, I made the campfire. We sat around it for several hours in silence. Suddenly, I heard a snoring noise and looked over. Ohkami had fallen asleep. I couldn't help but smile.
"You don't have to do this Izumi. You're stronger than the Kitsune Majin."
No, I'm not.
I sighed, pulling my jacket tighter. It was cold out. Despite that, my eyelids were heavy. Slowly, they closed, and I fell asleep.
A/N: And there is Chapter 16. Hopeeveryone enjoyed.