And here i am updating this because i have nothing better to do at the present moment.

I apologize for making the fight seem a little rushed as it ends, but that's just how it turned up and i couldn't think of any other way to write it unless i wanted to mess it all up... >. So this is the result. And, no, it's not the end of the story xD It's just ze chapter's name...

Wow, i really do hate this chapter. I'm quite sure there's at least a lil' OOCness within Brago here, but then again, i DID warn about that the previous chapter.

Eh. Read on, people, read on...

Disclaimer: I do not own this. However, Hiebie and her bookkeeper are mine.


Erased

Chapter 21

Disturbing End

So the fight continued on, both of the teams were powerful. Despite the fact I knew I was strong, I was somewhat amazed that I was able to keep up with this other team, considering Sherry's condition. If she were back to normal, I knew that we could have finished this battle a long time ago. But now, things were different. We had an obstacle in our way while the other team was merely taking their sweet time.

Nonetheless, we had to win this fight, no matter what the cost! The skate park was getting rather destroyed now, due to my gravity attacks and Hiebie's ice. Sherry and I had to be careful not to slip on any of the slick material, otherwise that would give the other team a great advantage in our small down time. I was surprised no idiotic humans came around and asked us why we were fighting like this, or would have maybe run off saying there were 'aliens' running amok.

But what got me curious was Hiebie's bookkeeper. I couldn't tell whether she was controlled or not, she seemed so… spaced out while she fought. It was unbelievable. Sherry could space out at times, yes, but to this degree, no.

"Gigano Korudo."

Sherry and I quickly dodged yet another ice attack sent by the other team; this time it was a larger version of her Korudo spell. It was almost like my Aian Gurabirei in a way, how it covered a great deal more of space than other attacks. Sherry and I countered this assault with that said spell.

The gravity crushed the ice, sending little fragments everywhere. This we also had to dodge in order to prevent ourselves from being cut by the sharp edges, which we had already done quite a few times before. Hiebie seemed to have an advantage on that case, she knew her attacks like the back of her hand and she could easily avoid the ice shards. Of course, this was to be expected, as every demon should know their own abilities. If they didn't, well, then I had to consider them the most pathetic creatures to ever exist.

"Reisu!"

I sent my gravity ball hurtling in the other direction towards the other team. Hiebie jumped out of the way while her bookkeeper merely stepped to the side as if it were nothing, I growled.

"Crap… Sherry, a spell!"

Again, the repeated lines shot through the air, ringing in my ears.

"Reisu!"

I charged forward, this time heading towards the other team's human. The book owner of the pale blue book just stared at me while Hiebie shouted something incoherent. I glared when I heard the spell's name and saw its effect.

"Korushi."

The ice shield that was summoned barricaded the human from my attack, which, like many other previous times, didn't even create a crack. I heard in the distance the other demon shouting something to her bookkeeper.

"You idiot! Try to avoid the attack next time, that's my book we're talking about!"

I turned around to face Hiebie. "I thought you didn't care about this battle."

She sneered at me before running up with a flying fist that I dodged quickly before running backwards in order to avoid the rally of punches she was throwing. "I have nothing better to do than to fight in this battle. The Makai is so boring, I won't be sent back!"

And with that, she kicked me again, but I blocked it with my wrist and punched her in the face. "That's your problem," I snarled while Sherry called out my Reisu spell once more, which I hurled in the other's face. She shrieked and fell backwards before jumping up again and sending a spell at me that I had yet to hear.

"Teika Korudosen."

The other scowled before she sent a rally of frozen ice balls from her hand at both Sherry and I at high speed. I quickly ordered my bookkeeper to run and that she did; she sprinted across the field while I punched away the ice balls, only to leave my knuckles numb and in pain, there was even blood trickling down them but that I could ignore. I growled and turned around to face Hiebie up close. She gave me a look of disdain and quickly kicked me down. I turned around to punch her again but she dodged my attack.

"Sherry," I began to order, "Try to take her book!"

With a nod of her head, the blonde began to run towards the other team's book holder. "Come here!" said Sherry as she jumped up, aiming to snatch the pale blue book from the other's grasp. However, that plan was futile. The other human merely stared at her blankly while Hiebie jumped up and kicked Sherry away, sending her screaming as she flew backwards.

"SHERRY!" I roared and ran towards the other three. Hiebie was about to kick her again when I pushed her out of the way. She ran around the opposite direction immediately after regaining her balance and snarled at me before turning to her bookkeeper to yell at.

Sherry sniveled a little before looking up at me with shaking eyes. "Brago," she murmured and I bent down to her side.

"You alright?" I questioned, glancing to the side before helping her up. The woman nodded her head slightly and I then noticed that she was bleeding on the side of her face. Great. But I too had a similar wound, along with one on my shoulder near my back where Hiebie had scraped my arm while her hands were frozen instead.

I looked down at her and couldn't help but hold onto her for a quick second as I turned around to face the other team. What had just come over me to do that, I had no idea. Sherry seemed to enjoy it, but she was still shaking when we both locked eyes with the other team.

"Oh, this is rich, just real pathetic!" said Hiebie in annoyance upon seeing Sherry and I like this. "Have your soft moments another day before I puke," She turned around to face her bookkeeper again. "Human, next spell!"

Both Sherry and I stared at her in anticipation as the bookkeeper gazed at us blankly, just staring at us with an illegible. I growled but was slightly shocked to see Hiebie smack the woman in the face, hard. She was sent to the ground with a light thud but didn't bother to make any sounds or indications of pain. Instead, she merely looked up at her demon partner with the same, blank, monotone look. I could barely see a hint of blood running down her lip.

"Idiot!" shrieked the ice-wielding demon. "Stop stalling and do as I say!"

"Hai…" murmured the human as she stood up, pale blue book still in her hands. She glanced at us before I sensed a small hesitation again, this time she mumbled out the next spell instead of words of acknowledgement. "Korudo."

My eyes widened and I jumped up out of the way, still holding onto Sherry as I landed upon a small section of a wall that was surprisingly still intact. Quickly, while I had a chance, I murmured something to the blonde and she nodded her head. I quickly let go of her as another ice attack was sent our way. I jumped to the right while Sherry leaped to the left, the next spell barely missed us but Hiebie was back on her feet again, running towards the two of us with an angry expression.

"Bastard!" she screamed as she jumped towards where I stood, aiming to strike me down with another attack. I smirked when Sherry jumped to the side with my book held up high and she called out my Gurabirei spell, which I used to pummel the other down onto the ground with a great force.

As soon as the spell ended, I jumped backwards so I was right next to Sherry and smirked again. I had told her to cast that spell when Hiebie charged towards me again, I knew she would do that, so if we were prepared and caught her off guard, we would surely hit her again.

Hiebie grumbled and staggered up to her knees and glared at me with her pale blue eyes. I glared at her as well and stepped backwards and grabbed Sherry's arm before telling her to use my fourth spell.

She blinked, "The fourth?"

I nodded my head, "Yes." I stepped back again and held out my right hand, I could see Hiebie's frown growing and I scowled as well. "What's the matter? You can always just find your own form of entertainment back in our world, there's already a bunch of weaklings there. It shouldn't be too boring if you do that."

"Oh, you don't understand," said the ice-wielding demon as she stood up strait. "It's not just other contestants or demons in general that I enjoy seeing suffer, I like to see the humans go down as well. The thrill of seeing those weaker beings suffer at your own will is just so wonderful, can't you understand?" Hiebie began to walk towards Sherry and I as she said that, I scowled and motioned towards Sherry to do something.

"Aian Gurabirei!" shrieked the blonde as a great force of gravity shot out from my hand, the ice demon jumped back, ordering her bookkeeper to cast the shield.

"Human, cast a spell!" she yelled, but I quickly noticed a slight pause. Her partner was staring at us again with that illegible look, just standing there… "Human, NOW!"

She blinked. "Koru—"

Too late.

My spell had immediately hit the other demon before the human could call out the spell, Hiebie shrieked as she was caught under the force of my attack. I could hear her yelling out at her bookkeeper in pure anger.

"Damn you, human! Why did you stall?" The attack wore off and she lay there on the ground, staring up angrily at her partner. I watched as she stood up, coughing up a little bit of blood, and glared with all her might and thrust her fist in the other's face once more. "Idiot! This is why I hate you humans, you all deserve to die!" she spat and grabbed the other by the scruff of her shirt near the white scarf she wore. "You're supposed to cast my spells for me, why didn't you do that, WHY?"

Sherry and I both stared at the two blankly, not fully believing what we were seeing. Hiebie's bookkeeper merely stared back at her blankly, not even wiping the blood that was trickling down her mouth away. It was strange how she somehow was able to handle the blue haired demon's remarks.

"Brago," I turned to look at the blonde when she called out my name, Hiebie seemed completely oblivious to our actions. Sherry had a saddened look on her face and she said, "Why do they have to fight like that…? That's… that's so cruel of her…"

I said nothing but merely turned around. The other human's arms were dropped to her side but she was still holding onto the pale blue book, I decided that this could be a good time. "Sherry," I murmured and she turned around to look at me. "Cast Reisu for me."

She nodded her head and opened the book; "Reisu!" and I sent the spell hurtling towards the other team. Hiebie blinked, turning around, only realizing within seconds what I had done.

"NO!" she shouted and jumped forward, striking my spell with her fist in order to keep it from hitting her book. The human merely staggered backwards after being pushed away, still staring at everyone blankly. Their book was saved, for now. Hiebie turned around with a look of pure disgust and shouted, "Cast a spell!"

The bookkeeper merely stared at Sherry and I once more, just standing there, completely ignoring her demon partner's words. I hadn't noticed it, but Sherry had walked up right behind me and had rested her hand on my shoulder. What was this other human's problem, though? Every time she saw us together or whatever, she…

"Human, what the hell are you doing?" shouted Hiebie and she turned around again. I blinked; this was another good chance!

"Sherry, another spell!" I ordered quietly but loud enough for her to get the message, the woman nodded her head and called out my first spell. I sent the ball of gravity flying towards the other team, and when Hiebie turned around to face us, it was by far too late.

The blast flew over towards the other team and hit their book, causing a blue flame to take hold of it and start eating away at the hard cover. Hiebie screeched in fury while her partner continued to grasp onto the book, even with the fire taking hold of it. Did pain even bother this human?

"Human, you failed! You miserable, lowly creature, you failed!" shrieked Hiebie as she turned around and punched the other's face once more, over and over again… Behind me, there was a small wincing sound and I turned around only to see Sherry with her brows furrowed down into a frown.

"Brago, that's not right," she murmured. "How can… how can she do that to her?" Still, I said nothing but turned around to face the other duo as well. Hiebie was already disappearing back to the other world, and before anyone knew it, she was gone.

I didn't really know what it was, but something wasn't right about that battle. It seemed to end too quickly, too awkwardly… What was it? Was it merely the looks given off by her bookkeeper? I had no idea, but before I knew it, Sherry was rushing over to the other, whom was still just standing there. I walked up and accompanied Sherry.

When we reached the other human, I took a good look at her hands. They were burned from touching the magical flame that had taken hold of the book and slightly stained with gray ash; I could see blood marks on her wrists from where her skin had been burned. I looked up to see her face and saw she had a few bruises forming on her cheeks with a small bloody lip. Other than that, she didn't seem that harmed…

"Are you alright?" questioned Sherry as she looked at the other silver haired woman. She still said nothing, but merely blinked at the two of us.

The monotone human then turned her head up and stared up at the night sky, I hadn't realized it had gotten this late, how long had we been fighting? She sighed lightly and then finally said, "Am I free…?" Both Sherry and I were silent. I then noticed that this human's skin was turning very pale… Something was uncanny about her, but what?

"If you're asking if that demon is gone," began the blonde after a small moment of silence, "…Then yes, she is."

There was a small pause and the other human turned to look at us again. It was hard to notice, but I saw her lips somewhat curve into a gentle smile, it was eerie. She blinked and I noticed liquid pour down from her eyes, she was quietly crying. But then something caught my eye… those weren't ordinary tears…

It was blood…

Sherry gasped and dropped my book to the ground; it landed with a small thump and she covered her shocked expression with her hand. "Oh, my…" she murmured breathlessly and was about to shake the other's shoulder, but her hands stopped about a foot away from the other. "She's so hurt…! Brago, what's wrong with her?"

I stared too. I hadn't seen anything like this before… Something this… odd… Not even among demons… Not that I cared, but was this human so abused by her counterpart, that this was the result?

"She's gone… I can leave…" murmured the human quietly. Sherry and I both continued to stare at her in bewilderment. The small smile adorned on her lips then faded slightly and she glanced at the two of us again. "I wish I could be together with someone too…." she whispered, I wondered what she meant by this. Her eyes slowly started to close with more blood tears trickling down her cheek. My bookkeeper gasped again.

"No, wait, stop! You don't have to go, you can be free without her!" shrieked Sherry as she tried to jump forward, but the other human merely began to raise her hand in a weak attempt to do something but then fell backwards onto the ground. Her facial expression was blank as her head hit the tattered cement. An odd silence filled the air afterwards and both Sherry and I stared at what we had just witnessed.

"That human…" I started quietly while Sherry sunk to her knees, sobbing. "I don't think she was controlled…" Perhaps the reason why this battle ended so quickly was because… this human wanted it to. She… really wanted to die?

Glancing down to my own bookkeeper, I saw how the hot tears began to pour down her face as she cried. Blood trickled down her face as well and I noticed how beat up the both of us really were. Our clothes were tattered and stained with the thick, crimson liquid and there were scratches all over our arms and faces. Sherry's hair was a mess, with it being in strings all over her face and damp from her tears. But it wasn't just us that were a mess; the whole area was rather destroyed, too. Not that it mattered, however…

I then glanced down to the dead human before us and couldn't help but give some form of pity to her. Though there was something eerie about her and how she left, I was almost curious as to why she had acted so silent and emotionless, almost lifeless, to know what happened in her life to cause that attitude. Usually things like this wouldn't affect me, but strangely enough, I felt a little uncomfortable myself now too. Maybe it was just because Sherry was so upset that I had to feel this way as well. Was it that? As of recently, I had noticed that I could somewhat feel a few of the emotions that the woman felt. How much were we truly linking with one another?

"She didn't have to die!" sobbed Sherry as she put her face in her hands. "She didn't have to, she could have lived without that foul creature! Why is it this way, why, Brago, why?"

I continued to stare at the blonde for a moment and felt a heavy heave in my chest and I closed my eyes as the unusual feeling settled. It was then and there that I had the strangest and most powerful desire to tell her that everything was all right. To be with her, to give her comfort…

Letting myself fall to my knees as well, I wrapped an arm around the woman's shoulder and said, "We should probably get back to the hotel now." Sherry continued crying, even as she picked up my fallen book and allowed herself to be helped up. I kept my arm around her the entire time we walked back to the hotel again, leaving the dead, nameless human at the park. I could imagine hearing those other humans talking about the discovery tomorrow… I wondered how no one could have heard the commotion going back here, not that it truly mattered…

But as I led the woman back to the hotel, I could sense something wasn't right, or at least that something wasn't about to be. I could feel the greatest urge to do something that I did not want.

My wall that I had built up to protect myself was being torn down. With Sherry there, in my arms, crying and completely vulnerable, I couldn't help but feel the greatest desire to do something…

I feared I was giving in at last.