Disclaimer: I do not own Owari no Seraph (Seraph of the End) I write this for your enjoyment only. This story is an alternate version of the Shibuya/Shinjuku arc with differences from the original; please refer to the footnotes at the end. Once again, I would like to thank my beta reader, ResidentialPsycho, for her help in making this fic possible. Enjoy and please review!

Chapter 7: What Lies Beneath

October 30, 2020

Shibuya, Japanese Imperial Demon Army Headquarters

Absolutely boring…

Was what Guren Ichinose always thought of the mandatory meetings with his own higher-ups, the Hiragis, who ran the Japanese Imperial Demon Army as well the country itself. Ironically, after the apocalypse, Japan's western-style democratic government had collapsed, leaving only the military to keep order in the nation, reverting Japan to a government similar to the Shogunate *1* of centuries past.

Not that there was much of a nation left to govern. But that was beside the point.

While wishing for the meeting to be over as soon as possible, Guren suddenly felt someone nudging him in the ribs in order to catch his attention. Opening his eyes, Guren saw Shinya, who was sitting right next to him, give him a look of sight annoyance, making it quite obvious that this wasn't the first time he had to wake his best friend up when their meetings rocked him to sleep.

"Hmm? What is it, Shinya? Is the meeting over yet?" Guren yawned as he stretched his arms high above his head in a display of blatant disregard (and disrespect) for his superiors.

"Oh? What's with that attitude? As a member of the Ichinose clan, you should show more respect to your betters, lieutenant colonel," a heavy-set, middle-aged man with half his face covered in a patch, growled.

While everyone else in the room nodded in agreement with the speaker, General Tenri Hiragi, Guren merely smirked at him.

"Forgive me, my lord. It's just sooo hard for me to keep my eyes open when I get bored to tears," he sneered.

Although he attempted to feign politeness, Guren wasn't anywhere near as good as his young ward and Shinya had to stifle a laugh at his best friend's pathetic attempt to imitate Yuichiro's suave and subtle insults. Which were not very convincing. Especially since the contempt in Guren's voice was still quite obvious to everyone in the room.

General Hiragi himself was certainly not impressed. As the patriarch of the esteemed Hiragi family as well as the most powerful figure in Japan, he was respected and feared by all. And few things irked him as much as someone who did not know their place. Were Guren Ichinose not so useful to his army, Tenri would have had him stripped of his rank or even executed a long time ago for his insolence.

"Don't get so full of yourself," the general said in a subtle, but threatening tone. "I'm sure that if I look hard enough, I can still replace you…"

Before Guren could make a sharp retort and provoke Tenri further, Shinya turned to his adoptive father, who was more like his master since the general treated his own children more like servants than sons or daughters, and attempted to change the subject.

"Now, now, I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it. In any case, I believe we have more important things to discuss such as the disruptions perpetuated by the vampires in the Kansai area…"

Uninterested and unimpressed by his best friend's efforts to cover his ass, Guren rose from his seat and asked: "May I take my leave? I'm sure the almighty Hiragis don't need the opinions of a lowly Ichinose clan member like myself anyway. Please send me a report on the meeting later."

Without waiting for the general's permission to leave, Guren turned and made his way for the door. Although Shinya knew him long enough to expect such behavior from his best friend, he still wished Guren would show him at least some appreciation for covering his back whenever he said or did anything to rile his superiors.

Especially the top brass himself.

"You know, Guren, it's hard for me to back you up when you act like such a jerk…" Shinya said in light-hearted tone.

"Heh, I don't ever recall asking you to do that, old friend. It's not like the Hiragis really need me anyway. Like the general says, I am replaceable. If he looks hard enough," Guren said with a shrug of his shoulders, his hand on the doorknob as he prepared to take his leave.

Before Shinya could reply, they heard a snort coming from another young man with dark hair styled in a mohawk and narrow brown eyes.

"Well, at least you know your place, Ichinose. Go on, then, dead-weight. We can get things done just fine without you as we always have," Seishiro sneered.

"Seishiro, Guren is not the only one here who needs to mind his manners…" Kureto, the eldest son of the general, warned as he made his own attempt to smooth over the officers' meeting. If there was one thing Kureto had in common with his father (and Guren), it was contempt for his younger half-brother.

Ignoring Kureto, Guren gave Seishiro a dirty look but said nothing as he opened the door and left the meeting room. As much as the general of the Demon Army may despise him, Guren knew that Tenri tolerated his rude behavior because of his usefulness. Even so, the lieutenant colonel still knew there was a line he shouldn't cross since anyone in the army was replaceable, including the general's own children.

Such idiocy… he thought as he walked down the hallway and opened the exit door of the JIDA Headquarters and went outside. The world is practically ruined and those corrupt bastards are still wasting time on political and factional disputes instead of what really matters…

Although glad to be away from the Hiragis, another reason Guren wanted to leave the meeting was to check up on his young ward whom he had not seen in over a week.

"I thought I might find you here, Guren. But aren't your meetings with the top brass usually a bit longer than this?" a female voice called.

Guren smirked as he turned his head towards the owner of the voice.

Well, speak of the devil… he thought.

"And what's it to you, Yuichiro?" he asked in the sweetest tone he could muster.

"Let me guess, you were kicked out of the officers' meeting because you said or did something to tick off General Hiragi as usual?" Yuichiro asked coolly as she approached her guardian with her hands folded behind her back.

After only three years of dressing like a girl, the ravenette had learned to move and even fight with a feminine grace that never failed to charm him. Him and countless other young men and boys whose eyes (and fancy) she caught but never noticed.

And any who dared to approach her did not continue their advances for long after Shinoa reported them to Guren. The purple-haired girl dutifully obeyed his orders to keep hormone-crazed school boys away from Yuichiro but any who were persistent enough to bypass Shinoa were intimidated into giving up by Guren himself.

Judging from the fact that Yuichiro was clad in her school uniform with her long raven hair neatly braided over her shoulder, Guren surmised that she must have come to headquarters before school to search for him.

"Like I said, what's it to you?" he repeated.

"Oh, nothing. Just that I find it a bit hypocritical how you're always telling me to respect my superiors while you fall short of it yourself" the younger girl teased. "Not only that, you've been a bit less than courteous to your own subordinates as well. If I may ask, where did you disappear off to for over a week?"

"Oh? And why do you wanna know, brat? Did you miss me that much?" Guren teased with a grin, trying to hide his annoyance at Yuichiro for boldly pointing out his faults. Faults that she wouldn't know if not for Shinya giving her the dirt on him.

"Hmph! Don't flatter yourself, sir. You know what I'm really after…" the younger girl retorted with a mischievous grin of her own, her green eyes glittering dangerously before she suddenly lifted her right leg, pivoted on her left, and attempted to deliver a swift roundhouse kick to her guardian's ribs.

"Haha! I knew it, there's no beating around the bush with you, girl!" Guren laughed as he easily caught Yuichiro by the ankle.

What impeccable timing! Just the kind of fun I needed after all that boring talk of politics! He thought gleefully.

While most people might have fallen over after such an interception, Yuichiro skillfully managed to maintain her balance on her left leg while her right ankle was in Guren's firm grip.

"It looks like Mito has taught you well," he praised. "I'm glad. Unfortunately for you, I'm also familiar with her little underhanded tricks; you're both so predictable."

Yuichiro blinked as if wondering what he meant. Unknown to the younger girl, her attack reminded Guren of the time Mito attempted to ambush him outside their old high school gymnasium and wondered if his scarlet-haired friend gave her the idea.

"Maybe. But I'm not here to entertain you, sir," Yuichiro shot back as he released her ankle and allowed her to pull back her leg and stand properly again. Though she had indeed sought Guren out to remind him of his promise to her, Yuichiro had to admit, at least to herself, that she did miss him as well.

"Yes, I know. You want to hurry up and take the demon aptitude test, so you can get your own cursed weapon to fight the vamps. What's the rush, Yuu? Are you really in such a hurry to die?"

Yuichiro laughed. "Ha! Who said anything about dying? I was just getting bored with classes and field training! Don't you think I'm ready to see real battle now? Otherwise, what's the point of it all?"

Guren frowned at the younger girl's remark. Even now, Yuichiro still hadn't given up her desire to exterminate the vampires and avenge her orphanage brothers and sisters. So far, he had successfully protected Yuu by keeping her off the battlefield as well as shielding her from the prying eyes of the Hiragi clan.

But with Yuichiro's growing impatience as well as her remarkable feats being noticed by the other students and teachers at her school, Guren knew it would only be a matter of time before she caught the Hiragis' attention as well.

I can't let the Hiragis find out about her… not now… he thought.

Sighing, Guren finally gave in and yielded to his ward's desire.

"Very well, would you like me to have you form a contract with a demon today and send you to the battlefront tomorrow even though you haven't completed your training yet? Do you think you're ready, Yuu?"

Yuichiro's eyes brightened. "Are you serious, sir? Or is this another one of your jests?"

"Of course not. Who am I to argue if you insist on getting killed? If you do, it'll be your own fault, Yuichiro."

The younger girl threw her head back before placing her ebony braid over her shoulder again.

"I have no intention of dying, Guren."

Guren smiled. His ward's displays of confidence, even when she was really nervous or frightened inside, never ceased to amuse him. After having to listen to his superiors' boring disputes for the last two hours, Yuichiro was just what he needed to lighten his sour mood.

"Good to hear…" he said. "Meet me at the MDC training course with the other cadets after school. Bring Yoichi and Kimizuki too. I'll have Shinoa join us as well."

"Of course, sir" Yuichiro said as she turned and prepared to leave.

"Oh, and one more thing, Yuu…"

Curious, Yuichiro turned her head in Guren's direction.

"Yes, what is it?"

In answer, Guren suddenly slapped the younger girl in the rear. Hard.

"THAT is for trying to kick a superior officer!" he said in a crass, but playful tone accompanied by a shit-eating grin.

Yuichiro yelped as she felt the heat rush to her cheeks before giving the older man a glare. His action brought back embarrassing memories of their little spat back at the waterfall grounds where Guren spanked her as punishment for putting him through the trouble of saving her from drowning after she fell into the lake below. Something that wouldn't have happened had she not played a prank on him with the flat of her sword in the first place.

"Ugh! Don't you think I'm a little old for spanking now, sir?" Yuu demanded as she rubbed her sore bottom and looked around, hoping that no one saw what her guardian just did.

Guren chuckled. "Well, Yuu, if you want to be treated as an adult, I suggest you try acting like one."

Not knowing what else to say, Yuichiro turned away from Guren and marched off, her head held high with her pert little nose in the air as she secretly tried to nurse her wounded pride.

"Never mind that, I've got to find Yoichi and Kimizuki now," she said, trying her best to change the subject.

"Make sure you get to class on time; we still need to talk about your punctuality issues too!" Guren called in a sing-song tone, adding insult to injury.

Yuichiro clenched her fists as she looked over her shoulder and shouted to the arrogant bastard whose slap still smarted on her rear.

"Screw you, Guren!"

SSSSSS

"Hey, Yuu, are you ok? Is the seat not comfortable for you?" Yoichi asked in concern when he noticed Yuichiro shifting uncomfortably in her desk seat after they had gathered with the other MDC candidates in the classroom Guren assigned them to.

Being in a classroom full of students, the girl tried to avoid rubbing her sore bottom. Yuichiro also declined to shower after PE because she knew she might have a bit of difficulty making up a cover story should the other girls ask why she had a large swelling hand-print on her rear, especially Shinoa.

Because, should the purple-haired brat find out just who gave Yuichiro that playful swat, she would never let her live it down and they both knew it. In order to avoid offending her teachers and classmates with any unpleasant body odor she might have accumulated during her PE class, Yuichiro used her lunch break to return to her dorm and shower as well as pick up a small towel she was using to pad her seat with now.

Even so, her bottom still smarted.

"I-I'm fine!" Yuichiro stammered. "Really, it's nothing for you to worry about, Yoi."

Sayuri, who just happened to be walking down the desk rows passing the completed exams back to her students when she heard Yuichiro's embarrassed stammering, had to stifle a laugh. She knew both her superior and his ward long enough to guess what happened and when Sayuri finally stopped by Yuichiro's desk, she leaned over and whispered into the younger girl's ear.

"You know, I can get you an ice-pack from the nurse's office while the other students are going over their tests if you want, Yuichiro."

Blushing fiercely, Yuichiro shook her head even though she wasn't really surprised that Sayuri was able to deduce what happened to her; they did live in the same house with the same man for three years, after all.

"Thanks, but that won't be necessary, Sayuri. I'll live."

"Hmm, ok, if you say so…" the older woman said with a wink and a shrug of her shoulders before turning to the rest of the class and clearing her throat to catch their attention.

"Attention, everyone! I will now be passing back the evaluated papers from the written exams you all took yesterday! Your score will determine the rank of demon weapon you will be assigned. So capitalize on it for your next exam."

As soon as Sayuri handed Yuichiro her exam, Shinoa, who stood up from her desk behind Yoichi, walked over to her two friends and asked:

"So what did you get, Miss Hyakuya?"

Yuichiro smirked as she spread her exam, which spanned three sheets of paper, proudly across her desk for everyone to see.

"See for yourself."

Shinoa whistled as her eyes swept across her friend's exams.

"Wow, you aced every one of them. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Your history teacher was stumped that you also aced the exam you provoked him into giving you early too."

"That's amazing, Yuu!" Yoichi exclaimed as he ran his eyes up and down Yuichiro's answers.

"And why do you think that is?" she asked. "Anyone can do well if they study hard enough."

"Well, that's not what I meant. I meant it's amazing how you are still fluent in English, Latin, AND Japanese considering that you missed four years of schooling while living in the vampire city." *2*

"Actually, I missed four and a half years of schooling", Yuichiro corrected. "When he found out I was a girl, my guardian pulled me out of school for six months to wait for my hair to grow out because he wasn't keen on the idea of me suddenly showing up for my classes in a girl's uniform. Especially when everyone thought I was a boy for so long. It probably would have been shocking for them to see me come to school dressed as a boy one day and a girl the very next. Especially with my hair as short as it was."

"Oh, I see… that makes your scores even more impressive."

"Not, really, Yoichi," Shinoa said. "For as long as I've known her, Yuichiro has always put a great deal of effort into her studies. She also reads a lot of books; her room is full of them."

"Yeah… Back in Sanguinem, the vamps saw no reason to teach livestock kids how to read and write. I guess they probably thought it was better for us to remain ignorant and uneducated so that we couldn't think of ways to escape or plot rebellion. But Mika knew how much I loved to read and he would bring me books from the city library. Ironically, though the vamps wouldn't teach us how to read and write, they didn't block our access to books either since they assumed most of the kids couldn't read anyway; they thought we just wanted to look at the pictures." *3*

"Is that right?" Kimizuki asked as he approached Yoichi, Shinoa, and Yuichiro who remained sitting. After glancing at Yuu's exams, he raised a brow. "Looks like the lieutenant colonel was right about you."

Yuichiro smiled at the pink-haired boy.

"And what about you, Kimizuki-kun? How did your exam go?"

In answer, Kimizuki placed his own exam on top of Yuichiro's.

"Same as yours," he said. "Still, I have to admit that I didn't have the same disadvantage you did with all the missed schooling while you were a prisoner of the vamps."

Yuichiro shook her head. "That should never stop anyone from excelling. Mika once told me that there is no knowledge that is not power. He was always the smartest of us all. If it weren't for my brother's daring escape plan, I wouldn't be here now."

Curious, Kimizuki and Yoichi was about to ask Yuichiro if she could elaborate when they saw Shinoa shake her head and make a silent gesture with her hand to let them know that it was better not to pry into such a sensitive matter for their raven-haired friend.

Taking the hint, the two boys remained silent and was about to return to their desks when they heard the sound of a door being opened and turned to see none other than Guren himself enter the classroom casually as if were something he did every day instead of when he felt like it.

As soon as the lieutenant colonel was inside, Sayuri greeted him.

"Good afternoon, sir. You're just in time; I've passed back the written exams to the students. It looks like they all did pretty well."

In answer, Guren merely raised a brow and said: "'Pretty well' isn't going to be good enough. You know that, Sayuri. That's why I've come to give the kids an additional test. The one that will really count."

Before the younger woman could ask what Guren meant, Kimizuki cleared his throat to catch their attention as he turned to face the pair.

"With all due respect, Lieutenant Colonel Ichinose, could you please explain why you neglected the class and disappeared for almost ten days? I believe we're ready to form a contract with a demon and now is a good time as any."

Guren smirked at the pink-haired boy's audacity in asking him to explain himself.

"You think you're strong enough to form a contract with a demon now?"

Kimizuki scoffed. "Of course we are! At least, I am. "

Satoshi, Daisuke, and Takeshi, who had been listening in silence the whole time, found themselves impressed at Kimizuki's boldness.

"It looks like Yuichiro isn't the only one with enough guts to question the lieutenant colonel's decisions," Daisuke chuckled as he leaned back in his chair.

"I don't know if I would consider his move bold or stupid," Takeshi admitted. "Kimizuki isn't Yuichiro. There's no reason Lieutenant Colonel Ichinose would tolerate him the same way as he does with her."

"Probably," Satoshi agreed. "I'm sure Kimizuki must have his reasons for wanting to join the MDC so badly that he would dare to demand the lieutenant colonel explain himself and in front of the class to boot."

As everyone watched, Guren turned to Sayuri and asked in a low voice.

"So what do you think, Sayuri? I've read the report but do you really believe they're capable of resisting demonic temptation?"

The honey-colored haired woman placed a finger on her cheek as she thought over her superior's question. Even though Guren didn't have to ask her thoughts on anything, she appreciated him valuing her opinion all the same and did her best to answer.

"Well, at the very least I can tell you that Kimizuki and Yuichiro are stronger than I was at their age."

"And what about the others?"

"You'd be surprised but I've discovered that Yoichi Saotome is the one most capable of resisting demons psychologically despite his frail appearance."

"Oh? How interesting," Guren said as his lips twitched up in a smug grin. "Shall I put them all to the test, then?" he asked as he slowly started to pull his sword from its sheath.

Alarmed, Sayuri protested. "Sir, you can't be serious!"

"And why not? After all, this is the quickest way to find out who can withstand the demons' energy. If anyone here cannot, then it's their own fault for not training hard enough!"

Before Sayuri could protest further, Guren withdrew his sword completely, exposing the dark blade within and pierced the classroom floor in front of the students, flooding the room with a demonic aura.

Out of instinct, Sayuri pulled out her warding spells but even with them, she still shuddered from the overwhelming energy.

Surprisingly, the seemingly frail Yoichi and Shinoa were unaffected while the rest of the class struggled not to collapse.

"Shit, what's this horrible feeling?" Yuichiro gasped as she wrapped her arms around herself, closed her eyes, and tried to focus on staying upright.

Kimizuki clutched the front of his uniform with his hand as he found himself panting like a dog.

"It feels like my whole body's being compressed!" he growled.

Satoshi, Daisuke, and Takeshi would have voiced their agreement with Yuu and Kimizuki if the demonic energy had not rendered them unable to speak. Even so, they still manage to remain standing while the other students started to collapse and lose consciousness one by one.

After what felt like an eternity, Guren finally lifted the point of his sword from the floor and slid it back into its sheath.

"Enough," he said as he turned to the students who managed to stay awake. While Yuu, Shinoa, Kimizuki, and Yoichi were able to stay on their feet, Satoshi, Daisuke, and Takeshi fell to their knees but remained conscious.

"Those who are still standing may test for their demon weapons right away with me. Those on their knees will test with Major General Shinya Hiragi in three days. As for those who are neither standing nor kneeling, well, keep training and maybe one day you'll contract with a demon weapon."

In response, everyone who didn't lose consciousness stared at Guren incredulously for his pointless comment towards the comatose students who couldn't hear him anyway.

Ignoring their stares, Guren continued. "Anyway, Yuichiro, Yoichi, and Kimizuki, come with me. As for Satoshi, Daisuke, and Takeshi, you'll have to wait a bit longer for your own demon weapons but use the time to train harder before Major General Hiragi tests you."

Shinoa, had who expected Guren to say something like that, merely brought her hand to her mouth and giggled.

Annoyed, he shot the purple-haired girl a looked that said he wished she had collapsed with the rest of the class.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised you would be unfazed by the demon's aura. But I supposed that is to be expected of a scion of the noble Hiragi family."

Shinoa laughed. "Or maybe I'm just too cute to be affected."

Guren rolled his eyes but said nothing as he turned to Sayuri.

"Well, shall we get going now?"

The younger woman looked at him nervously.

"Sir, are you sure it's a good idea to let Yoichi test for a demon weapon right now? Especially one of the black demon series? He may be mentally strong but physically frail."

At hearing his subordinate's protest, Guren raised frowned.

"What? Don't you trust my judgment, Sayuri?"

"Of course I do, sir! I'm just worried that Yoichi won't be strong enough to form a contract with a demon."

Guren shrugged his shoulders.

"So what? If he's not strong enough, he'll die, it's that simple. The world is a harsh place where only the strong survive. You aren't doing the kid any favors by mothering him like that."

"But demons hate those who are weak in mind or body or both. Yoichi might end up being possessed…" Shinoa, who was also concerned for Yoichi, pointed out.

"Enough, Shinoa," Guren said sharply before turning to Yoichi. "Anyway, you want to join the MDC to avenge your sister who was killed by a vampire, am I correct?"

The brunet boy nodded shyly.

"Yes…"

"So are you willing to risk your life for it? Die for it?" the lieutenant colonel pressed.

Yoichi twiddled this thumbs nervously as he hesitated to answer.

"My life?"

"If you are unsure, it's not too late to turn back while you still can."

Although he did not express it like Sayuri and Shinoa, Yoichi thought he saw concern in Guren's eyes for him as well.

"I…"

Before Yoichi could answer, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and turned to see Yuichiro giving him a look of concern not unlike her guardian's.

"Yoichi, I think it's best for you not to go through with this."

"She's right" Kimizuki agreed. "No matter how I look at you, you are simply too gentle for the harsh life of a soldier."

Yoichi was silent for a moment as his thoughts wandered back to that horrible night, the night the virus struck and his hometown was being invaded by vampires. He and his older sister, Tomoe, were alone at home after finding their parents dead from the virus in the living room. Completely unconcerned for herself, Tomoe shoved her then seven-year old little brother under the bed in his room.

Yoichi, don't come out from under the bed for any reason… she said as she smiled sadly and gently caressed his cheek with her hand before standing up. His sister did not attempt to join him because she knew there wouldn't be enough room under his bed for the both of them.

That was the last time Yoichi would ever see her smile. The last time he would ever see his sister alive before a vampire broke into the room and sucked her dry, dropping her lifeless body to the ground like a rag-doll after he was satisfied.

Fighting back tears as if the memory was too painful for him to recall, Yoichi shook his head fiercely before looking Guren in the eyes.

"No, I want to do this. So that I'll never lose anyone I care about again!"

Yuichiro frowned when she heard the younger boy's response.

Damn, he's really no different than I am… she thought.

Guren smiled as if he expected Yoichi's answer.

"Fine then. If that's your decision, so be it."

Turning back to Satoshi who was helping Daisuke and Takeshi to stand, Guren said:

"You three, go to the cafeteria and get some water so that the others will have something to drink when they wake up. And remember what I said: Major General Hiragi will test you in three days. Use the time wisely and train as hard as you can."

Satoshi, who was the first one to finally find his voice, answered.

"Thank you, sir. We will." Turning to Yuichiro, Kimizuki, and Yoichi, he said: "Good luck, you three. Hopefully, Daisuke, Takeshi, and I will be able to join you in the Moon Demon Company soon."

Yuichiro nodded as she finally managed to catch her own breath and relax.

"I look forward to it. Good luck to you too, Sato. Same goes for Daisuke and Takeshi."

Before Satoshi could say anything else, everyone heard Guren clear his throat to catch their attention before turning his head towards the door.

Taking his cue, Sayuri, Shinoa, Yuichiro, Kimizuki, and Yoichi followed Guren out of the classroom, allowing him to lead them to another part of the school and through a secret door that led to an underground room that looked very similar to the one where Yuichiro rescued the possessed Yuji at Yamanaka's request.

Except that this room was considerably larger with a more menacing aura. Up to six different weapons rested on alters that were set in circles with unusual patterns drawn into the ground.

Looking around, Yuichiro asked the question that was also on Yoichi and Kimizuki's minds. Sayuri and Shinoa, she surmised, must have been here before since they already have their own demon weapons.

"What is this place?" Yuu asked her guardian.

Turning around to face her and the others, Guren answered.

"Why, this room houses the weapons you all covet, the weapons that are vessels to the most powerful demons like my own sword."

"So with these, we can finally fight the vamps?"

"Well, that depends on how strong you are. And if the demons will accept you as their masters."

"I see. Well then, there's no time to waste. What do we do?"

"Simple. Look around and choose the weapon you find most appealing and step inside the ritual circle. Once you touch the weapon, the ceremony will begin. If you can conquer the demon, its power will be yours."

You always make everything sound so easy… Yuichiro thought as Guren's words reminded her of the time he took her to the waterfall grounds to train in order to teach her to fight in more difficult and unfavorable conditions.

"And if we fail?" she asked.

"If you fail, you will either be destroyed or possessed by the demon. Should the latter happen, I will have no choice but to dispose of you myself. Either way, you die. In other words, failure is not an option if you want to obtain the power you desire. And live."

Although he tried to sound uncaring, Sayuri and Shinoa could tell that it would greatly pain their superior if he was forced to take his own ward's life. But they also knew that it couldn't be helped. If Yuichiro, Kimizuk,i and Yoichi wanted power to fight the vampires, it was risk they were just going to have to take.

Not turning around to see Kimizuki or Yoichi's reaction to Guren's seemingly cold words, Yuichiro simply said: "I understand" before choosing the weapon that she desired most, an elegant katana similar to Guren's own, and stepping into the ritual circle.

When she finally put her hand on the handle of the sword she coveted, Yuichiro thought she heard her guardian whispering behind her back before she found herself engulfed in a bright green light.

"Good luck, Yuichiro…"

Footnotes:

1. The Shogunate was Japanese rule by a sequence of hereditary military dictators paying only nominal allegiance to the emperor from 1192 to 1867, ending with the rule of the Tokugawa Family before the Meiji Restoration. Modern day Japan is ruled by a prime minister and parliament with the emperor as a figurehead, similar to Great Britain. In the OnS universe, Tenri Hiragi would be considered like a shogun since he is the head of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army as well as the country as a whole.

2. Male!Yuu is partly illiterate and only able to write in Hiragana because of the schooling he missed during the time he was a prisoner of the vampires. Even after being rescued by Guren, male!Yuu's literacy does not improve much because he was not motivated to study. Fem!Yuu, however, feels that the more she knows, the better so she works hard to excel at her studies.

3. In Sanguinem, the common vampires actually have no interest in what the livestock children do as long as they donate blood. I just assume the vampires think the kids would be less troublesome if they were ignorant and illiterate.