Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 45
Deep inside the Victoria estate, Ai smirked to herself in amusement. The entire underground complex creaked under the vibrations from the battle above. She looked over Kalego in amusement as he started to black out again from the overwhelming agony she had just put him through.
"Isn't that sweet? Your precious students came for you", she taunted. "Damn it", he grumbled, gritting his teeth. What were those fools doing? Surely Shichiro wasn't dumb enough to - … Then it dawned on him. Those damned brats really were stubborn. He smirked faintly knowing not even Lord Sullivan could stop a group of headstrong teenagers once they had made up their minds.
Dropping her grin, Ai glared upward toward the invading forces. She had a choice to make. Kill him now or risk him slipping through her fingers. She stared at him in thought, admiring the horrors she'd inflicted upon him as her plaything.
Several curses decorated his body, trails of dried blood ran from every orifice upon his face, and she had expertly carved out his ribs, leaving a perfectly fist sized hole over his heart. She had left a flap of skin for the sake of preserving moisture, but everything else separating the vital organ from the outside world had been removed.
Watching it beat as she lifted the loose skin away, her mouth watered at the thought of finally eating him. Leaning close, she eagerly licked the pulsing organ, a sadistic blush across her face. He made a faint noise in response to the strange sensation. She truly was sick.
His defiant grin was grating her nerves. "Don't bother asking me to go easy on them", she teased. He looked at her as if to say she was in for more than she bargained for. Annoyed, she stepped close once more.
"Don't look so smug. Your class will fall just like you did. I'll have lots of new toys...Tell me, my sweet, do you think they'll last as long as you when I drag them down here?", she asked, an evil smile on her face. "I'll let you dream about that for a while", she winked and reached back into his chest. A controlled squeeze of his heart was all it took to finally knock him out.
Licking his blood off her fingers, she took a step back as she debated her choices. Glancing at the tray off bloodied torture implements and discarded flesh beside him, she came up with a vile new idea. Picking up one of Kalego's butchered ribs, she happily sucked out the marrow from within. His flavor was divine. If she seasoned him further with just a bit more despair, he'd be perfect.
Behind her, Kiriwo grinned at the thought of finally facing Iruma. He knew he was close now; He could feel it. "Amy-kun, go play with your kouhai. Feel free to do whatever you like with Iruma, but leave the prospects in one piece. Your aniki will cross if we break all of his toys."
The young demon headed out without argument. He knew exactly which misfits were deemed off limits by Baal's orders. A few of them had some real potential to return to origin. It would be a shame to waste it.
As Kiriwo left, Ai waited until the heavy door sealed behind him. She grinned evilly as she kissed her precious Naberius. Stroking his face, she was pleased with herself. "You haven't eaten since you got here, Kalego-kun. You must be starving...I think I'll serve you a nice steak when you wake up again… It'll be so fun once you've had your fill. I can't wait to see what face you'll make when you find out your meal was one of your precious students."
Stabbing a large knife into the wall beside his sleeping face, she eagerly looked forward to truly breaking him once and for all. Then she would finally consume his heart.
Above ground, the battle picked up quickly, but thankfully everyone seemed to be holding their own for the time being. Keeping Clara close, Iruma picked off a few enemies that got too close while Lied searched various demons' vision for a safe route in. His arrows were proving invaluable.
"Iruma-kun, that girl we're looking for is moving underground. I'm betting that's where sensei is, too", reported Lied. Iruma nodded, impressed he had been so quick to locate Sage. Lied had taken his role as recon very seriously. He knew they had lives to save. "No sign of Victoria yet. I'll keep looking", he added.
Iruma's earpiece drew his attention. "Team leader, I'm in. Lied-kun, borrow my eyes and get everyone inside. I'll circle back to show you the way", said Purson over their radios. Iruma grinned at his friend's skills. "Roger that. Good work, team", he beamed proudly. "Soisoi, stay where you are. We're on our way", said Lied, ready to retrace his steps.
A large explosion nearly knocked the teens off of their feet from nearby. Teams Asmodeus and Sabnock were throwing everything they had at the enemy. Iruma stared in mild shock as a demon screamed, rolling around the ground on fire in sheer agony. He paled at the sight. Feeling someone clutch his sleeve tightly, he glanced back.
"Irumachi, stay grounded", said Clara. She was holding his gaze intensely. She didn't want to see him lose his resolve. Lied promptly agreed. "Clarin's right. We knew this was going to happen. Stay focused or the next demon to fall might be one of us", he stated. Swallowing his anxiety, Iruma nodded, glad for their support.
They were right. All of this havoc was to be expected, but he was unaccustomed to the horrors of a real war, even if it was just the first battle. The sounds of painful screams, the sight of spilling blood, and the smell of burning flesh were almost overwhelming.
Iruma froze as a large enemy collapsed behind him. Turning to look, they had an unmistakable arrow sticking straight out of their lung, through their back. "Get it together, idiot! Prove you're worthy to be their king!", shouted Bachiko from her perch nearby. She stared at him with intense eyes, reminding him of one of his first lessons. An archer that hesitated was already dead.
"Right!", he called back. Silently thanking her, he led his team onward with Lied's directions, leaving the chaos behind them. Undoubtedly the inside of the estate would have all sorts of dangers to face and they would have limited room to handle them. He had to stay focused if he was going to protect or save anyone.
In the main onslaught, several demons shouted in surprise as the ground opened up and swallowed them whole. Those that narrowly avoided falling in were swiftly knocked into the gaping hole with a blast of concentrated wind. As expected, Gaap and Agares were working well together.
Ameri defended her team leader's blind spot as he focused on the bulk of their enemies. A moment later, she instinctively turned to fend off a new threat. Barely stopping her leg in mid attack, half an inch from Jazz's chest, she glared at him in irritation. She'd nearly flattened an ally. "Don't sneak up on me like that and don't be so careless! ", she chided, lowering her stance. Jazz grinned apologetically.
She stared as he proudly held up several sets of keys. "When did - ?", she uttered. Fighting off a small laugh as he smirked, he said, "I thought your dad might find these useful", as he tossed them forward. Ameri hid a grateful grin as she caught them. When did first years get so reliable?
Taking a moment to contact Henri, she temporarily dropped her guard. Thankfully, Jazz had her back. A woman with a curse mark in her right eye stared in disbelief beside them. Where had all of her knives gone? She just had them!
"Looking for these?", grinned Jazz, holding them up between his fingers smugly. "You!", spat the woman angrily. Ameri quickly took her down before she could make her escape. "Don't you know it's rude to interrupt someone?", she glared. She sent a coy look to her savior. "My father is on his way. Thank you." He nodded in response, knowing she was embarrassed to have been so careless.
Several yards away, Sabro had just created an impressive axe, eager to wipe out an approaching trio of enemies. To his surprise, Elizabetta held out her hand in front of him and calmly stepped forward.
The three men stared at the enticing young lady. "And just what are you gonna do?", smirked their apparent leader. She smiled pleasantly as she leaned toward them in an alluring pose. "You gentlemen wouldn't hurt my friends, would you? I'd be so upset", she flirted. As her scent took them over, they smiled like drunken idiots with pink faces.
"Of course not!" "We wouldn't want to make you sad!" "Yeah, we just wanted to talk. Right, boys?"
She grinned innocently as the trio was frozen solid in a huge spike of ice. "Disgusting", huffed Kerori. The two attack teams had blended together seamlessly. Several creatures attacked in the name of their queen close by.
"Thanks", uttered Sabro, a little surprised. Seeing a larger group coming from behind them, he took his place between the enemy and the girls. "My turn", he smirked. Elizabetta watched the ensuing thrashing without argument. She was just glad to help.
Not too far off, Allocer pet his fire hawk familiar in thanks as he reported the current situation to Azz. Having eyes in the sky was rather helpful indeed. The appointed general grinned at the multiple small victories. They were slowly making a dent in the enemy forces. "Camui, there's a group to the northeast. Take them out", he ordered. The avian demon nodded, calling his beasts and taking to the air.
Glancing across the battlefield, Azz was both relieved and concerned to see Iruma's team missing. Fully trusting in his soul mate, he knew that meant they had already infiltrated, and they weren't the only ones.
A huge foe came crashing down from a third floor window, landing right in front of him. He looked up in mild shock. Opera looked to be having fun as they took on several other fighters at once. Upon closer inspection, vines had overtaken much of the second floor. Undoubtedly, Balam was also making quick work of Ai's flunkies.
Now inside the mansion, team Iruma finally caught up to Purson. He took them to a hidden entrance that led to the basement levels. "I saw several enemies flee from here", he stated. Lied grinned wide as he threw his arm around his friend's shoulders. "I bet they never saw you, though", he beamed. Purson grinned with subdued pride. "Of course not", he stated.
"Amazing!", said Iruma. He then radioed Persephone to update her. She arrived quickly. Impressed with their work, she gave them an honest smile.
"You're doing great, but don't let your guard down. I'll go in first to clear a path. Don't forget - finding and rescuing that girl is your top priority. If you happen to come across Valiant or Kalego, contact me immediately; They'll need healing... And don't forget about your pinions. Clara, can I count on you for first aid until I arrive? Your sensei won't be in good shape when we find him. Can you handle it?", she inquired.
Clara's eyes quivered at the thought of just how badly wounded Kalego most likely was. She remembered how much blood she had seen when Iruma's arm exploded. It made her shiver, but she knew she had a job to do. "Yes, master!", she said resolutely. She was ready to summon all of the bandages in the netherworld if needed.
Persephone patted her head with an encouraging grin. "Good... Iruma, hold this entrance until backup arrives. If I haven't contacted you in ten minutes, call Opera, understood?" He nodded, but he wasn't eager to just wait around. "Yes, ma'am", he affirmed, knowing how important the mission was.
As promised, his team held out for the next five minutes. They had trounced several lower level demons trying to escape, but strangely no one was trying to descend to the basement.
Where were Balam-sensei and Opera-san? They were nowhere in sight. Balam had responsibilities topside, but Opera was part of the retrieval team, right? Where could they be?
On the third floor, Opera huffed, mildly out breath. Dozens of defeated demons littered the area. A few had put up a good fight, but the one currently smirking at them was trouble. She smiled innocently in Clara's form, even speaking with her voice. "Irumachi called for your help. Aren't you going to go save Eggy-sensei?", she asked.
Opera narrowed their gaze in annoyance. "Can't hit this face? How about this one?", she taunted, transforming into Sullivan. Again using a stolen voice, she said, "Opera, are you really going to let Kalego-kun die? I'm so disappointed."
Taking a defensive stance, Opera twitched their tail in irritation. "Enough of your tricks. Bring it on", they said calmly. The demon in Sullivan's form smirked in approval.
"I can see into your mind, kitty. You're willing to fight this facade, but I see one you can't", she stated in her own voice for a change. She grinned as her outline started to morph again.
Opera froze as her body shifted to a child's. A girl, around nine, with red hair looked at him sadly. "Where did you go? You left me behind... I've been so lonely. What kind of sibling just lets their big sister die? Didn't you love me at all, Opera?" That face; That voice...It couldn't be.
"Aria…", they uttered in breathless shock. The girl sniffled sadly, crocodile tears filling her amber eyes as her opponent faltered. Lowering their fists, Opera stared tensely into the floor. "That's low, even for someone like you...Victoria isn't pulling any punches, is she?", they uttered.
The previously crying child laughed darkly. "Victoria-sama knew you would be trouble. That's why she appointed me to deal with you. Isn't it wonderful that I can read your memories so clearly? And look, you haven't seen this face in years! You should be happy", she beamed, twirling proudly in her stolen shape.
Opera grit their teeth as they resumed a fighting position. They wouldn't be so easily defeated. "Oh ho? Going to beat me up, are you? Was letting me starve to death not enough for you, little brother? Or is it little sister? Even looking into your head, I can't quite tell", she taunted.
Opera stared into her eyes coldly. "Does it really matter? I'm going to beat you either way. You can wear that face and mock her voice if you want... I know she's happy that I survived. She starved herself so that I had food to eat. She wanted me to thrive at any cost...She was an amazing elder sister. She did everything she could for me, even when I started getting into trouble… After she died, I learned how to fend for myself. What choice did I have?... A few years later, Lord Sullivan and Lady Nene took me in, off the streets. I was lucky, but I've never once forgotten her sacrifices... I won't let you tarnish her memory further."
Their stolen sister's face smiled mockingly as her form shifted again. This time, it was still Aria, but all grown up. "Look, Opera. This is what I could have become if it weren't for you. You were so innocent and naive. I told you I had already eaten my share when I came home all scruffed up with barely a handful of food and you believed me like a fool. Why would I lie, right?", she taunted. She had returned to her natural voice, but that face and those words cut deep.
"Stop it!", demanded Opera, near livid. They were almost trembling with rage. They had sealed away such painful memories and feelings long ago. Only Sullivan and Nene knew the truth. Even Kalego and the others were ignorant of their origins.
"Show me who you really are", they said, ready to take her down. Despite their damaged psyche, they would not falter. They hadn't shed a single tear since Aria's death as a child, only coming close the day Nene left. If this crazed demon thought she could make them break down into tears, she was sorely mistaken.
"Why should I? Can't bear to hit this face?", she smirked. Opera met her gaze evenly. It didn't matter now. They were faster than she remembered as they launched their counterattack. The head games were over. Now it was up to skill and strength.
Their aura grew dark as they channeled their suppressed aggression into raw power. It was how they had learned to survive in the world. First for Aria when she fell ill, then for themself all alone after she died, then for Sullivan and Nene, and finally for Iruma. They had carefully honed their physical prowess for those who they desired to protect. Now it was time to lend that strength to Kalego and the others.
Still, their opponent was particularly annoying. She had read all of their memories, including their fight moves. She was hard to hit, seemingly anticipating everything. Realizing instinct and reflexes weren't going to be enough, it was time to get serious. Aria's face or not, she had to go down.
The woman went sprawling backward in shock as contact was finally made. Spitting out a tooth, she glared at the feline demon, twitching her tail in vexation. "Pushed you too hard, did I?", she sneered. Opera smirked at her irritation and beckoned her forward. Payback was a bitch.
Back on the second floor, Balam carefully surveyed his surroundings. He had the uneasy feeling that someone had somehow gotten past him. It didn't really matter. Surely his senpai would take care of them.
A shrill cry from outside drew his attention. It sounded like one of his students. Kerori? No, it was Elizabetta. The quickest way down was through the window. His vines easily lowered him safely, but he was unprepared for what he saw.
Allocer was on the ground, bloody, panting, and clearly in pain, but alive. Elizabetta was doing her best to tend his wounds as Sabnock defended them from further attack. Unfortunately, both Sabro and his attacker had been skewered on each other's weapons. The two opponents smirked smugly at one another as their blood dripped to the ground. Who would fall first?
Balam stood close, watching them carefully. He was honorbound as a warrior not to interfere unless absolutely necessary. He'd trained his protégés with the same rules, but this battle was between adults and students. If it were equal footing, he would keep his distance, but this was no training battle. Someone was going to die.
"Sabro-kun, are you alright?", he asked carefully. Sabnock grinned, glad his master was respecting him by not treating him like a mere child and swooping in with an immediate rescue.
"I don't think he hit anything vital", he stated, staring his rival in the eye. Balam relaxed faintly, relieved for that. Nene's potions would easily stop the bleeding if it was just a flesh wound. However, the sight of a spear piercing through the lad's body left plenty of room for doubt.
The smug demon facing him had also been skewered. He didn't seem so confident about his wounds as he coughed blood. "You little shit. You really think I'm gonna let some kid take me down so easily?", he sneered. "I'm taking you to Hell with me, brat", he stated.
With a swift move, he twisted the shaft of his spear. A mechanical noise clinked as several smaller blades pierced outward from the main weapon. Sabnock shuddered in pain and shock as blood filled his now punctured lungs. "Urk… Bastard", he managed. Then they each collapsed at the same time.
Both Balam and Elizabetta rushed forward as Allocer helplessly watched, keeping pressure on his own wounds. The fallen enemy laughed as they fussed over their ally. His smug revenge was short lived as his entire head was suddenly engulfed in flames. Coming into view, Asmodeus glared at the man, keeping up an intense heat, until he stopped twitching.
Kerori ran out from behind him and quickly sealed Allocer's minor wounds with ice as everyone worriedly watched Balam tend to Sabro. He carefully twisted the weapon back to a single shaft before removing it. Normally, such an action would hasten the boy's death by hemorrhage, but they were prepared for this.
"Azz-kun, the pinion", ordered Balam, holding out his hand. The other kept pressure over the abdominal puncture. He stared into Sabnock's grateful face the entire time.
"Did I do good, master?", he asked meekly with a grin. Several of his vital organs had been lacerated by the strange weapon. He knew he was bleeding to death. If he managed to survive, he'd have to remember the plans for such a tool. Its design was dastardly underhanded, but effective.
Azz handed over the precious feather. He swallowed hard as he stared. All of Sabro's teammates did. Balam hurriedly filled the pinion with ample mana. He wasn't willing to risk the miracle by undercharging it. It glowed brightly as he held it carefully.
"You were great. You protected your friends just like we knew you would", said Balam, trying to keep his emotions in check. He had to time this procedure perfectly for it to work.
The others cautiously came closer, surrounding them with worried faces. "We knew we could count on you", said Elizabetta, smiling despite her tears. Leaning heavily on Kerori, Allocer said, "You're very dependable just like the future demon king should be."
Sabnock smiled at their words. A small laugh of amusement turned into a nasty cough. "You should see your faces. You all look like someone's gonna die", he teased weakly. Everyone held their silence, awaiting his pending demise and, hopefully, revival. They each had complete faith in Balam-sensei to bring him back.
Azz knelt beside them with a meek grin. "Don't be stupid. No one's going to die today", he assured. Sabro grinned at his words, but it was getting harder to focus his vision. Everything was getting numb. He'd lost a lot of blood.
"Master...if this doesn't work, please let Silvia take my place as your student...You haven't met her yet...but she looks up to you…", said Sabnock, his voice growing weaker with each breath.
Balam calmly shook his head as their eyes met. "Just bring her with you next time. We'll see if she's ready to become a warrior yet together", he replied.
Sabro slowly relaxed into the ground with a faint grin on his face. He trusted his master to save him, but he couldn't stop crying. Was it because he was thinking of his beloved little sister? Would he ever see her again?
Azz carefully grasped Balam's blood soaked hand. It was time to let go of the wound. Keeping the pressure on was only prolonging Sabro's suffering. All of that was silently communicated as their gazes met. Turning back to Sabro, Balam grinned softly behind his mask, fighting the moisture from his eyes.
"Sabro-kun, you're going to take a little nap now, but we'll all be here when you wake up, okay?", he uttered. Sabnock grinned in confidence. He trusted Balam with his life. There was no way his master would forsake him. The last thing he saw as everything went black was that glowing pinion being raised into the air.
The gathered young demons all winced as their sensei forcefully plunged the revival tool deep into their friend's heart. The girls shied their faces while the boys watched with bated breath. Was this really going to work?
"Come on, you big idiot. Don't keep us waiting", thought Azz. His entire body was stiff with anxiety. As he stared, Balam's mana rushed down the feather and into Sabnock's body. A piercing shaft of light shot out in return as a strong pulse of magic shook the very air around them.
A moment later, Sabro suddenly opened his eyes with a loud gasp for air. All of his friends let out a deep breath of relief as the color came back to his face. Slowly sitting up, he looked down at the feather sticking out from his chest.
"Whoa", was all he could manage. Balam quickly grabbed his wrist as he reached for it in wonder. "Don't pull it out. Your heart will bleed", he warned. Sabro's fingers twitched as he thought about that. "Right", he conceded. A moment later, the pinion collapsed in on itself, leaving nothing but a small scar in its wake.
"How do you feel?", asked Azz carefully. As their eyes met, Sabnock grinned at his sparring partner, assuring he would be alright. "Are you really okay?", ventured Kerori, dropping to her knees from her spent nerves.
Sabro touched his new scar in thought. "Lamya-sensei is really something", he stated. Smiling gratefully at his master, it was clear that sentiment extended to Balam, as well. Seeing that, Shichiro finally relaxed, glad his precious students were safe. "Thank goodness", he uttered tearfully.
"Great job, sensei. Thank you", said Allocer with genuine appreciation. The others quickly echoed the sentiment. They weren't sure they could have performed the revival so easily.
That moment of recognition was all it took for Balam to grab all of them for a giant group hug. Allocer twinged in mild pain, but the others relaxed into it, enjoying the affection.
As he let go, Balam stared grimly ahead, his radio going off in his ear. "Sabro-kun, stay put and rest. Kerori, Elizabetta, can I count on you to guard him?", he ventured. They both resolutely nodded.
"Azzkun, you're with me. The defense team needs us... Schneider, use one of the recovery tonics to get back on your feet. Once you're mobile, send one of the medics after us. We may need them", he instructed.
As he stood to his full height, Sabro called out to him. "Master." Balam glanced down in question. They really didn't have time for another touching moment if the defense situation was as bad as it sounded. "Here, take my pinion. I used Azz's. It's only fair. Someone out there might need it", he said offering up the rare feather he carried.
Balam accepted it without argument. "Stay together. I'll come back to move you somewhere safer as soon as I can", he stated. With a brief stare of understanding, he and Asmodeus took off toward a loud bang. Something was very wrong on the other side of the estate.
Back underground, Iruma was growing concerned. He'd called Opera at the ten minute mark as instructed, yet another five minutes had now passed with no response. Fifteen full minutes of radio silence had lapsed. "Are we going in?", asked Soi. He was getting antsy. The entire team stared at their leader, awaiting an answer.
Finally, brief static on Iruma's earpiece cleared into a familiar voice. "Iruma-sama, please forgive my delay. I had my hands full. Is your team unharmed?"
Iruma grinned wide in relief. "Opera-san, where were you?! I was so worried!", he cried. His friends smiled in relief. "I'm sorry, but I can't make it there right now... I'm giving you permission to proceed with caution. Find Sage and link up with Persephone if you can. I'll join you once I catch my breath", they said, panting.
Sitting against a wall upstairs, Opera really was out of breath. They held their side in mild annoyance. The wound was deeper than expected and their blood was slowly soaking their clothes, but they had won their fight. Beside them, an unconscious woman laid on the floor. She had reverted to her natural appearance. Thankfully Aria's innocent amber eyes were no longer mocking them.
Iruma was worried. He wasn't used to hearing Opera so winded. Just what had they been through? "Don't worry. I took one of Nene-sama's potions; I'll reinvigorate soon. Watch out for each other until I catch up. I'll call you again when I'm close", they said.
Iruma glanced at Lied. He was stealing someone's sight again. Noting the grimace on his face, whatever he saw wasn't good. "Promise me you're going to be okay alone. We can come to you if you need us", ventured Iruma.
Opera grinned as their vision was returned. They knew exactly what Shax was up to. "It's a promise." Then they disconnected the call.
Near the basement, Iruma called out in concern, "Opera? Opera-san!" It was no use; The radio had gone silent. Clara looked worried, but Lied offered a supportive smile. "Don't worry. They'll be fine. A minor injury like that won't stop them for long", he assured. Clara lit up with hope. Adding to it, she fervently said, "Opera-san is unstoppable!".
Iruma grinned at her enthusiasm. It was a much needed boost to the team morale. He knew Opera was hurt, but he trusted they would recover as promised. Thus, he shifted his focus to the task at hand.
"All right, team. We have clearance to head in. We're to rescue Sage-chan no matter what", he said. Purson pushed open the door and squinted into the corridor awaiting them. "I'll scout ahead. They'll never see me", he offered.
"Make sure they don't. We're not losing anyone today, right?", said Iruma, holding out his hand in invitation. His three teammates eagerly added their own. "Right!", they said in unison. The hunt for the rescue targets was on.
to be continued...