Chapter 9: Silencing the Beast

As Doumeki, Himawari, the Pipe Fox and the recently freed Watanuki raced down the hallways, sounds of more guards were heard approaching fast.

"Which way is the exit?" Doumeki asked glancing to Watanuki.

"How should I know? I've been either unconscious the whole time, pulled through walls or dragged around against my will!" Watanuki snapped at his rescuer. "Shouldn't you know the way out of here?"

"Guys, I think they're getting closer!" Himawari alerted looking quickly over her shoulder. Sure enough, looking behind them, shadows of a group of griffon guards were growing closer. Picking up the pace, they sprinted faster all the while having the Pipe Fox cover the rear to take care of any spirits that closed in on them. Turning another corner, they came across a single yet immense door (similar to the one Watanuki was first brought to before) that was apparently the only way for them to proceed any further.

"Is this the exit?" Himawari asked.

"Dunno," Doumeki answered grasping his bow and waited briefly expecting Watanuki to shout something along the lines of: "If you don't know then just keep your mouth shut!" but instead heard nothing. Turning his head, he saw Watanuki who gazed upon the door with a look of anxiety or foreboding.

"What's wrong?" the archer asked eyeing his comrade in concern.

"I…We shouldn't go through this door," Watanuki said feeling a dark miasma emanating from behind the door. "I've got a really bad feeling about it." Before anyone could say anything, the horde of guards was heard getting dangerously closer.

"We don't have much choice," Doumeki reasoned. Watanuki hesitated visibly showing his discomfort. Himawari placed her hand gingerly on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. Heat rose to Watanuki's cheeks when he saw Himawari's smile and nodded unsurely. With the guards breathing down their neck, the archer and protective spirit pushed the door open with great effort and the group entered quickly closing the door behind them.

They waited several moments for the commotion of the guards in suit to pass until it finally grew quiet. Letting out a collective and relieved sigh the group relaxed slightly knowing they were one step closer to safety. Watanuki turned his back to the door and leaned against it feeling the exhaustion of these past two days finally taking its toll on his body and stamina.

"Please tell me we're almost at the exit," Watanuki said panting and wiping his face of sweat. Doumeki also turned but instead checked their surroundings, revealing a dimly lit and rather large/spacious room the size of a football field with shelves filled with strange and different objects (of course Watanuki knew they were more rarities of Kamisori's collection and his face darkened at the thought). Unlike the stone or marble walls that the castle was built with, iron pillars were also located in the room. Finding it strange but unimportant at the moment, Doumeki put it out of mind and saw another door at the other end of the room. It was smaller and less suspicious than any of the other doors they've come across.

"I think that might be it," Doumeki replied motioning towards said door. Watanuki straightened up and peered in the direction Doumeki pointed and his expression brightened considerably.

"Thank god, let's get out of here!" He insisted eagerly trotting towards the door. The two teens and Pipe Fox followed but didn't get far as suddenly a sharp chill ran through the air and Watanuki collapsed, falling to his hands and knees as his strength seeped out of his body.

"Watanuki-kun!" Himawari cried out surprised and concerned as she and the equally concerned Pipe Fox and Doumeki ran to his side. However, they stopped dead in their tracks as a dark and powerful pressure pulsated through the air. The Pipe Fox began snarling and growing anxious as its fur stood on end and puffed up in agitation. Shaken, but not nearly as affected as Watanuki and the Pipe Fox were, the other two teens looked around aimlessly for the source but found nothing. Suddenly, the air stagnated even more.

"What's going on?" Himawari asked as even she began to feel the heaviness in the air. Doumeki clutched his bow tightly as he drew closer to Watanuki protectively anticipating the worst. Without warning, a sphere of dark matter came out of nowhere, striking the archer and sending him flying, skidding across the floor and eventually colliding into the far wall.

"DOUMEKI!" Watanuki and Himawari shouted in horror at the archer whose crumpled form fell to the floor. The air thickened slightly more as this time it seemed to shift to another target. The Pipe Fox managed to lock onto whatever was attacking them as another, larger, sphere of dark matter launched itself at the spirit. Dispelling it with ease with a fireball of its own, it found the first attack to be a decoy as the enemy's attack was followed by a large and rather disturbing clawed hand also made of dark energy. With no time to react, the Pipe Fox took the full force of the attack. The sharp claws struck its target causing the Pipe Fox to let out a shrill yelp as it was thrown back and sent crashing into a pillar close to the archer, denting it due to the force of the impact.

"KUDAKITSUNE!" Watanuki shouted having never seen the clingy spirit take a hit that badly before.

"KYAAAA!" Another shrill and familiar voice screamed. Watanuki quickly turned his gaze to find Himawari being harassed by little shadowy, gremlin-like demons.

"HIMAWARI-CHAN!" Unable to take the sight any longer, Watanuki gathered all the strength he could muster to try and aid his fallen friends. He managed to get to his feet but before he could even take three steps, something firmly grabbed his ankle. Stumbling but quickly regaining his balance, Watanuki looked down to find that, to his horror, his own shadow had come to life and was now tightly clutching his ankle! Panic filled him as he tried to pull his leg free but the oppressive shadow only clutched his ankle tighter. His shadow (that was clearly being controlled by the same force that attacked his friends) began dragging him off to the far wall (opposite of the fallen archer) as its lanky form crept up the wall. Having fallen on his behind as he was dragged, Watanuki could only try kicking his own shadow's hand that grasped him to get it to release him, but the grip held fast as he was dragged within ten feet to the foot of the wall stopping within the boundaries of some kind of seal. The shadow's hand loosened on him briefly causing Watanuki to take the opening to his advantage and get free, rise to his feet and run. However, his entire shadow lunged, splitting and morphing into two vine-like masses that slithered over his body and wrapped around him tightly, tethering him to the ground within the seal and constricting him as well as his movements. Groaning under the strain, Watanuki tried to twist and squirm out of the tight grasp but ceased as he sound an unnerving chuckle and familiar clacking of heels filled the air.

"It seems I was careless in my castle's security despite the precautions I taken with the barrier I set up." Watanuki gasped and swiveled his head around to see Kamisori stepping out of the shadows with a gentle, but at the same time, disturbing smile.

"You!" Watanuki could only utter in anger and unease.

"Now dear Watanuki, there's no need to be rude. Haven't I done my best to treat you with the utmost care?" Kamisori said almost hurt. However Watanuki didn't buy it.

"Funny, I wouldn't exactly think keeping someone locked up against their will would count as 'treating someone with the utmost care'," Watanuki spoke sharply. Ignoring the spiteful comment, Kamisori approached the seer, strange cane in hand.

"Although I must say I'm surprised. Who would have known you had such daring comrades? And some rather special ones at that. Then again I suppose it's to be expected for someone of your caliber." Kamisori remarked now face to face with the seer, much to Watanuki's discomfort. Suddenly, a familiar arrow flew through the air embedding itself into the place in the floor where Kamisori had once stood had he not avoided it.

"Get away from him!" Doumeki said in a low and threatening tone. He stood shakily on his feet, clearly feeling much pain but refused to show it on his face, bow poised to take another shot at the gentle-demon who had gained some distance from the seer. The Pipe Fox and Himawari (who had been saved by the gremlin demons by the protective spirit and archer) stood by his side as the Pipe Fox, who was also feeling but ignoring twinges of pain, growled in preparing an attack. Said demon merely stared down the strange rescue team until he began laughing softly.

"Truly special comrades indeed." He stopped laughing and stared at the three that opposed him. "Unfortunately for you, your friend will not be returning home with you ever again," it noted aloud casting a quick glance to Watanuki.

"Please, please let Watanuki-kun go!" Himawari pleaded with tears threatening to overflow. Surprisingly, Kamisori looked at the girl with a rather concerned and compassionate look. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a handkerchief handing it (with difficulty on account of Doumeki's wariness at any tricks) to the girl.

"Now, now dear girl. Please don't cry, I can't stand causing any form of harm to a young lady such yourself. It is far too ungentlemanly you know. As a collector, an opportunity to possess a rarity such as your friend is a once in a lifetime opportunity." The teens were sickened by the demon's logic even if he was genuinely sorry.

"Then…what if I offer something just as good in Watanuki-kun's place? Would you free him then?" Himawari suggested. Kamisori raised a brow showing a spark of interest.

"Something just as good?" Kamisori repeated intrigued. "A rarity such as young Watanuki is not something easily found. What could you possibly have that could replace him in my collection?" Himawari thought for a moment before facing him with a solemn but determined expression.

"What if I offer myself in his place?" Himawari asked boldly, much to everyone's, especially Watanuki's, shock.

"Himawari-chan, NO!" Watanuki began but was cut off by Kamisori who willed a shadow vine to cover his mouth and prevent him from speaking out or interfering. Shouting muffled cries of protest and panic, Watanuki's struggling picked up once more but was ignored (much to his frustration).

"A young lady such as yourself with a rather dark miasma of bad luck…not even high-class demons can obtain an ability such as that. Regretfully, it would be it would be far too troublesome to have something as dangerous as that in my collection." Himawari hung her head but quickly raised it again.

"Well, what about something else?" Himawari bribed only to have Kamisori shake his head.

"I'm afraid nothing you could offer would be worthwhile for my collection. An exorcist in training as well as a young priest with an amazing aura…you would be a nice addition to my collection. However there are many exorcists and priests in the human world so it's far too common despite that incredibly pure aura." Doumeki frowned deeply as his gaze shifted to the Pipe Fox. "A Pipe Fox spirit, now that's definitely a rare sight. Not many of its kind exist, especially outside a place as pure as the Zashiki's domain. Unfortunately, you're still a young pup that hasn't mastered its full potential. Not to mention you're rather unruly." The Pipe Fox snarled at the demon. Kamisori only sighed after giving his explanation.

"I understand how you feel and that you have come a long way for nothing. But I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do. Now if you would be so kind as to leave so I can begin-"

"There's plenty you could do," Doumeki broke in flatly. "You could easily release him." Kamisori glared at him before replying.

"It's quite rude to interrupt someone when they are speaking. And I'm afraid that is something I cannot do." The demon's voice became lower as he spoke with more venom in his voice. "Do you know how long it took me to collect the amount of rarities that I have? Over three hundred lifetimes, at least! Do you really think I would have worked so hard, for so long to give up what is rightfully mine? Just because I was confronted by some lowly humans!" Kamisori spoke all the while his vanity and greed began to take over and his demonic nature began to make itself known.

"As a gentleman, I'll give you one last opportunity to leave willingly. If you go now, I will look the other way about your unsightly storming of my castle and you can keep your lives. And let's be perfectly honest," Kamisori paused casting a look to Watanuki who struggled and muffled a growl from under the shadow vine. "Even if I were to release you, what would you have to go back to?" Watanuki stopped and only stared at his captor wondering what he was getting at. "Think about it, what ever happened to you in your life: chased by spirits, treated as an outcast by humans too blind to the spirits that inhabit the human world, living a lonely life in that rundown apartment you call a home, and being ordered around by an ungrateful, slave driving employer. Is that really the kind of life you want to go back to?" Watanuki looked down, deflated upon hearing this. He couldn't help but think the demon was sort of right in a way. Kamisori smiled a disturbingly creepy and toothy smile before turning back to the two teens and Pipe Fox. Doumeki's anger reached its breaking point as he clutched his bow so tight he though it was going to snap.

"It would seem that young Watanuki understands this matter. It would simply be best if you just leave now, dignity intact. What do you say?" Before he could receive an answer, another arrow whizzed by this time leaving a long scratch and even drawing blood from the demon's scaly cheek. Doumeki clutched his bow, which string vibrated indicated it had just been used, still poised in his archer stance and fuming mad (but hid it). Kamisori stumbled back and hissed in pain as the cleansing power of the arrow seared his skin down to its core.

"I believe that speaks for itself. Now. Let. Him. Go!" Doumeki ordered slowly and rather louder and with more anger than anyone had ever heard him say (though still with his monotonous tone). Even the Pipe Fox and Himawari, who were equally shocked, strongly nodded and stood by his side. Watanuki watched wide-eyed at the archer's sudden attitude change and moved by the strong sense of devotion they all showed him. Kamisori stood there in utter disbelief that soon stopped as the atmosphere suddenly took a change for the worst.

"You…How. DARE. YOU!" Kamisori erupted in rage as he lost his cool, calm manner, gentleman-like demeanor completely and his eyes changed to that of a reptile's. The air began to thicken and grow heavy with a dark miasma to encircle and envelop the once gentle-demon and also cause Watanuki's strength to leave his body once more and grow ill as the dark energy hit him like a ton of bricks, swallowing up his senses. Groaning he began to droop and lose consciousness against the shadowy mass that restrained him. Seeing this, the trio were immediately perturbed.

"Watanuki-kun!" Himawari shouted as the Pipe Fox and the archer acted on instinct and immediately forget about the situation they were currently in and run to his side.

"OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Kamisori roared as the shadowy mass that surrounded him formed a thick arm that struck the two running to Watanuki and forcefully sending them backwards. Himawari watched in horror as the duo slammed hard into the floor.

"I GROW TIRED OF THIS!" With a tap of reptilian shadow demon's cane, the seal that surrounded Watanuki began to glow and a small but strong looking barrier cut off the seer from his friends.

"What did you do?" Doumeki demanded after recovering from the blow and being helped to his feet by Himawari.

"I HAVE STARTED THE RITUAL TO SEAL HIS BEING INTO MY COLLECTION!"

"You can't!" Himawari protested but was silenced with a roar.

"BE SILENT!" shouted Kamisori as the dark energy began to get absorbed into the reptilian demon causing him to grow and transform into something much larger than his original size. When the dark miasma dissipated, a giant dragon-like demon stood in Kamisori's place. It was clad in red and black, razor-sharp scales and had spikes that ran down its spine to its tail which was now axe-shaped and just as lethal. His cane was also gone but instead a strange crystal with a strong essence appeared to be embedded into the monster's forehead.

"THIS BOY'S EXISTANCE BELONGS TO ME! IF YOU STAND IN MY WAY, THEN YOU SHALL DIE!" The dragon Kamisori roared before it charged, barring its teeth and swiping its claws at his opposing obstacles. Doumeki shoved Himawari out of the way and the Pipe Fox and he also lunged to the side barely avoiding the claws. Tucking and rolling a few feet away, Doumeki straightened up and gathered a large concentration of energy into his bow before releasing the string and unleashing a flurry of spirit arrows. However, the arrows despite their strength bounced off of Kamisori's armored scales. Doumeki clenched his teeth and frowned at the failed attempt. Kamisori took the chance to make a counter attack and raised its axe-like tail and brought it down to impale the duo. Again the two dodged the attack, barely avoiding getting hit. This time it was the Pipe Fox's turn to attack. It released a storm of fireballs at the dragon but Kamisori thought fast.

"FEEBLE ATTEMPT!" Kamisori only said with a smirk. The crystal embedded into its forehead flashed and somehow, to everyone's shock, the fireballs stopped in mid-attack before being transformed into a mass of dark matter and suddenly dematerialized. The demon then inhaled deeply and exhaled a breath of fire, burning with the same fire and intensity of the Pipe Fox's attack but engulfed in dark energy. The Pipe Fox elegantly jumped out of the way as the pillar behind the Pipe Fox took the brunt of the attack severely weakening it down to the base but still stood strong. As Doumeki watched the confrontation between the two forces, he frowned thinking that's something was rather fishy about how the demon was so easily able to snuff out the Pipe Fox's attack. However before he could think any further, Himawari shouted out to him bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Doumeki-kun, watch out!" Kamisori turned to Doumeki and unleashed the same fire breath attack it used on the Pipe Fox. Fortunately, thanks to Himawari's warning, Doumeki leapt out of the way in time but the demon turned dragon followed up with a swipe of its tail (not the bladed part) sending him into the far wall. Himawari gasped seeing the archer get slammed into the wall for the umpteenth time now as her eyes fell onto the large demon. A faint glimmer of light drew her attention to the crystal on the beast's forehead.

"What was that?" Himawari thought. She continued to stare until the light eventually faded. "Why on earth would that strange crystal glow like that for no reason? Wait didn't it also glow when…that's it!" Himawari cried inwardly. Doumeki got to his feet and shot another arrow at the beast aiming for its chest trying to find some sort of weakness. However, it was another useless attempt as the arrow bounced off the armored plates. Letting out a deep laugh Kamisori raised its clawed hand and swiped at the archer cutting his archery uniform and leaving a nasty 3-fingered gash across his front and sending him flying and landing close to the young female teenager. She ran over to him worriedly and inspected the wound. Fortunately it wasn't as deep as they had feared and because of the purity of Doumeki's aura, the dark energy of the attack didn't create any long-term repercussions or major loss of blood (though he still bled quite a bit).

"Will you be alright Doumeki-kun?" Himawari asked as he feebly got to his feet.

"Un," Doumeki grunted shaking off the rubble and mentally pushing away the stinging and searing pain of the cuts and bruises he had acquired.

"Doumeki-kun, I think I figured out its weakness." Doumeki gave her a shocked and curious look. "It's the crystal on its forehead, I saw it glow when it stopped and absorbed Kudakitsune's attack." The demon began to approach them fast, saliva dripping from its maw, before the Pipe Fox intercepted it and attacked it. Doumeki looked back to the girl, nodding indicating he understood and gave a quick word of thanks before joining the Pipe Fox in battle. He skidded beside the spirit and unleashed a spirit arrow aiming for its forehead. Reacting quickly, the demon jerked its head to the left as the arrow flew by.

"I SEE, SO YOU'VE FIGURED OUT MY WEAK SPOT HAVE YOU?" Kamisori growled rather amused. "FOOLS, MY POWER IS FAR BEYOND YOURS! AND NOW THAT I HAVE FIGURED OUT YOUR LITTLE GAME, THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO DEFEAT ME!" Before the pair could react, Kamisori charged and rammed his head into them causing them to crash into the wall and knocking them half-conscious. A deep and sinister chuckle came from the creature as it extended its claws and charged once more, ready to cut them to ribbons before they recovered.

"Doumeki-kun! Kudakitsune!" Himawari shouted and made her way to the fallen pair. However, as she ran she tripped over a fallen chunk of debris that caused her to stumble and fall into the path of Kamisori's assault. Realizing her grave mistake, she squeaked in fear and braced herself for the same fate that would befall her friends. Kamisori saw the young female "throw herself" into the way of his attack and his reptilian eyes widened as he quickly corrected his attack's path, striking the wall not even a foot away from the fallen duo and shivering girl. Hearing the impact but feeling no pain, Himawari opened an eye to find the demon struggling to pull its hand out of the wall.

"CURSE MY ALTER EGO'S SOFTNESS FOR THE WELFARE OF HUMAN FEMALES!" the demon grumbled/growled.

"Welfare?" Himawari repeated confused overhearing the comment. She then remembered the comment Kamisori had made before when she tried to bargain Watanuki's freedom: "I can't stand causing any form of harm to a young lady such yourself."

"That must be it!" Himawari whispered as her two allies started to come around. Kamisori of course noticed this.

"BLAST! PESKY INTERFERENCES!" The beast then looked to Watanuki who was still unconscious against his restraints but now seemingly more transparent (as in see through). "TSK, THIS IS TAKING TOO LONG. I WILL JUST HAVE TO SPEED THINGS UP." Kamisori activated the jewel in its forehead. It glowed and activated that seal that surrounded Watanuki reacted and slowly, starting from his feet, he began to disappear.

"No! Watanuki-kun!" Himawari cried out. Instinctively, she ran over to him and tried to throw herself onto him protectively. However, because of the barrier that surrounded him, she could only throw herself onto the barrier/seal wrapping her arms around it and slowly began to disappear along with the bespectacled seer. Seeing this, the evil and mighty beast stopped the radiating of the crystal immediately and Himawari slowly began to solidify once more although Watanuki still continued to disappear (though not as fast).

"I knew it," Himawari muttered as she came back into being completely just as the two fighters regained consciousness and saw the teen girl standing in between the spastic teen and monstrous dragon. Seeing this, they quickly getting to their feet and rushed over defensively.

"Kunogi, are you hurt?" Doumeki asked now in his archer stance as the Pipe Fox growled protectively over his unconscious master/owner.

"I'm alright Doumeki-kun. More importantly, I figured something else out!" Doumeki cast her a curious glance as Kamisori stiffened considerably. She stared straight at the demon and pointed a finger at it. "It said it couldn't hurt human females, in other words me! As long as I put myself in harm's way, there won't be anything he can do!" Doumeki didn't approve of her logic but based on the darkened scowl on Kamisori's face, he figured that she must hit the nail on the head.

"CURSE MY BLASTED ALTER EGO AND HIS DAMN MORALS!" Kamisori roared in frustration at having his biggest hindrance exposed. It gave one last grunt of anger before the demon suddenly realized something. Chuckling it recollected itself and just looked to the trio with a menacing grin they did not like. "VERY WELL, IF I CANNOT HARM YOU, THEN I WILL SIMPLY HAVE TO REMOVE YOU FROM OUR LITTLE GAME PEACEFULLY!" Kamisori said before the crystal on its forehead began to glow once more. The ground began to rumble beneath the two humans and Pipe Fox spirit's feet when suddenly a gigantic stone hand erupted from the ground beneath Himawari, causing her to let put a short scream, and raised her high into the air.

"Kunogi!" Doumeki shouted as the hand then surrounded her and transformed into a large and menacing steel birdcage. She clutched the bars as she looked down at those below her.

"DO NOT WORRY, YOUR FRIEND IS FINE. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HARM HER BUT I CAN IMPRISON HER IN A COMFORTABLE LITTLE CAGE THAT WILL KEEP HER OUT OF MY HAIR UNTIL I'VE DISPOSED OF YOU." Kamisori explained with a vicious sneer. Doumeki returned the sneer with a glare before he and the Pipe Fox both rushed the demon. However, it merely sidestepped the two and swung its tail into their backs and knocking them into another pillar. Doumeki's strength was almost completely gone as his body struggled to cooperate in him even sitting up. Once he did, he saw the lumbering behemoth take its time to approach the two.

"IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU ARE AT YOUR LIMIT," It said tauntingly. Doumeki growled as he tried to use the pillar behind him as support to climb to his feet but his body did not comply. The monster chuckled in amusement and drew closer. Himawari watched on from her prison in concern, as she knew there was nothing she could do. Doumeki glanced around trying to figure out something that could turn the battle around but all he could see were those stupid shelves filled with his so called rarities.

"Why couldn't that woman have given me something useful than just an indecipherable message?" He couldn't help but think. Suddenly something hit him: the message, maybe that was it! "In the heat of the moment, strike the iron while it is hot, hopefully while your opponent shows his tender belly." But what could that mean? The "heat of the moment" that Yuuko spoke of could very well be referring to this moment but what does it mean by "striking the iron while it is hot?" And what about that comment about "his opponent showing its tender belly?" Kamisori was now within a yard of the two just as the Pipe Fox started to come around.

"YOU HAVE BEEN A THORN IN MY SIDE FOR TOO LONG! SO NOW IT ENDS HERE!" Kamisori declared as he rose on his hind legs and welled up fire in its mouth preparing for one last fire breath attack that would burn them alive. Doumeki's gaze fell from the beast's smirking face to the surprisingly soft, scale-less belly. Realization then hit Doumeki like a ton of bricks.

"Of course," Doumeki thought mentally slapping himself for not seeing it sooner. "The message was speaking literally, not figuratively. Then that means…" Doumeki stopped thinking and glanced around the room until his eyes came across the iron pillar that was burned and badly damaged from Kamisori's attack. He could still see the heat radiate off the melted down base as its embers glowed a deep orange. "There!" Moving quick Doumeki stood and quickly took his archer stance and formed a spirit arrow. Kamisori watched in amusement as it continued to build the flames in its maw.

"YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP ME? YOUR PUNY SPIRIT ARROWS ARE USELESS AGAINST ME!" Kamisori mocked. Doumeki only gave the demon a grin of his own.

"Whoever said I was aiming for you?" He launched the spirit arrow pointing to the right of the dragon and struck the narrow and flimsy base of the pillar. Unable to take the blow, the iron pillar finally groaned and began to topple over heading straight for one of the collection shelves against the wall. Kamisori ceased generating flames and could only turn around to watch the strange chain reaction in confusion. The iron pillar finally crashed into the shelf sending many crashing and smashing to the ground. However one article, a golden jewel encrusted spear, flew through the cloud of smoke, sent flying by the debris that fell on top of it. They all watched as the spear was hurled, spinning through the air like a wheel, down into the flabbergasted demon's soft stomach (as it was still standing on two feet). It roared in pain as a few lose flames escaped its mouth until it could spout flames no longer.

"GAHHHH! YOU BLASTED HUMAN!" Kamisori roared in fury as it wretched the spear out of his stomach, which had pierced its flame sac, mortally wounding him. "DO NOT THINK…THAT I WILL…BE DEFEATED BY SUCH A MERE TRICK!" Trying once more and this time succeeding, Doumeki got to his feet along with the Pipe Fox with renewed vigor.

"I don't intend for that to be the end of it!" Doumeki retorted. The archer and Pipe Fox exchanged glances and nodded. Doumeki took his archer stance, gathering all his strength into one last powerful spirit arrow as the Pipe Fox summoned a final burst of intense flames. Simultaneously, they unleashed their attacks. Doumeki's spirit arrow merged with the Pipe Fox's powerful stream of foxfire and struck Kamisori square in the crystal on its forehead. The dragon let out a deafening roar of pain as it writhed around. Doumeki eased the grip on his bow as he saw through the radiation of light that the purifying power of both attacks had slowly begun to destroy the crystal and the source of all his powers. The cage imprisoning Himawari disappeared and she plummeted down to earth but was caught by the Pipe Fox by landing on its back. The barrier surrounding Watanuki also began to crack and dissipate and the shadowy mass surrounding Watanuki contorted back into his normal shadow. Before Watanuki's body hit the ground Doumeki rushed to his side and grabbed him, holding him upright in his arms. Himawari and the Pipe Fox approached as well to check on the seer to find that to everyone's relief they had stopped the ritual before it had completed and color and solidity return to Watanuki's form. The archer felt all weights lift off his shoulders as he let out a relieved sigh until a dying but still booming voice caught his attention.

"GAAAH! DO NOT THINK THIS IS OVER! YOU MAY HAVE DEFEATED ME BUT WHO'S TO SAY ANOTHER DEMON WON'T MANAGE TO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS AND ATTAIN YOUR PRECIOUS WARD?" Doumeki stiffened at the dying demon's words. "YOU FAILED ONCE TO PROTECT HIM AND IT WILL BE BOUND TO HAPPEN AGAIN! AND WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, I ONLY HOPE YOU GET SENT TO HELL SO I CAN PERSONALLY MAKE TO SUFFER!" With that last note, the demon gave one last roar before wasting away completely. Doumeki remained uncomfortably silent thinking about the demon's words until he heard a groan come from the lips of the teen leaning against him. The three turned their heads to find the seer completely solid once more and slowly stir and open his eyes.

"D-Doumeki?" He asked confused until he realized he was too close to the archer to his own liking. He pushed the archer away and brushed himself off mumbling insults under his breath such as: "idiot," and "personal space." Doumeki rolled his eyes but smirking as well knowing that the other boy was all right. Before anyone could say anything more, the ground beneath them began to quake as the walls and ceiling began to crumble.

"Now what's happening?" Watanuki shouted.

"It looks like this whole place is going to come down!" Doumeki responded.

"Then let's get the hell out of here!" The three teens and spirit sprinted to the exit as fast as their legs could carry them (fighting off the injuries and tiredness everyone had acquired all the while). However, to their horror, they discovered that a fallen pillar blocked off the door. Overcoming a brief spark of panic, Watanuki turned to the Pipe Fox.

"Kudakitsune, can't you try to burn down the pillar so we can escape?" The Pipe Fox looked to Watanuki and let out a regretful whine. Watanuki began to feel panic once again as he knew what that most likely meant.

"He can't. Probably used up most of not all his energy trying to save you," Doumeki stated bluntly.

"Can't we look for another way out?" Himawari inquired. Doumeki only shook his head no.

"There won't be enough time before this whole place collapses to even get out of this room."

"Then what the hell do we do now?" Watanuki asked. No one answered and they all feared for the worst. Sure enough, the ceiling above them gave way and plummeted down threatening to squash them as they braced themselves for the abrupt end. Suddenly, a strange seal of light erupted from beneath them. They gaped as the seal's light engulfed them and sunk into the ground transporting them all out safely just before the collapsing castle completely caved into a large cloud of dust and rubble.

Author's Note: Apologies once more on the longer wait for this chapter (hopefully the length of this chapter made up for it). Last week had been a busy one and with Father's Day yesterday, I figured it would be best to wait one more day so I could do something special my my dad. Anyway, the biggest threat is finally gone and Watanuki is safe. All is well and good but there is one last chapter left until the end. It should be up sometime within a week since it should be a shorter chapter than this one but I make no promises.