Call of the Moon

Chapter 6 – Scent of Blood

"Regular sparring rules? Use weapons for pressure only, no danmaku, and physical attacks are the only ones allowed to hit," Nue spoke.

Everyone agreed.

Mamizou initiated the fight by transforming one of her paper shikigami into a copy of herself. The two Mamizous made a dash for Okami. One Mamizou swung her tail at Okami, who backflipped out of the way. She attempted to counter with a swing of her blade, which Mamizou easily dodged. This was the real one. Okami could tell because of her scent. The clone Mamizou dashed behind her and aimed a punch at her head. Okami gasped and ducked.

In the meantime, Nue had flown into the air and flew back down in a dive bomb, her trident aimed at Okami.

"Where's Nue?" Okami muttered to herself.

"Well," Real Mamizou said.

"…She might just be…" Clone Mamizou added right after.

"Right above your head!" Nue finished the sentence and plunged her trident towards Okami, who barely dodged it with a swift back step.

While Okami regained her balance, she got smacked in the head by Real Mamizou's tail attack. "Ouch!" she shouted and was sent reeling.

Nue swung her trident at the disoriented Okami, who lifted her sword fast enough to block the attack. Okami held her head with her free hand, as the head ache was returning.

"Stay focused, kiddo!" Nue warned, swinging her trident again.

Okami blocked the blow again. She kicked Nue in the shin while their weapons were locked and Nue stumbled backwards. Okami countered with a right hook to the jaw, which Nue ducked from. Suddenly, Okami felt arms around her waist. She felt herself lifted into the air and brought down onto the ground once more, this time on her head.

Mamizou had performed a suplex on Okami. The young youkai fell on her side. She slowly got to her feet, groaning in pain. Somehow she still had her sword in her hand. She looked up and Nue was dashing towards her. She swung her trident towards Okami once again.

Okami lifted her blade to block the blow, but Nue's trident hit the edge and continued onward to pierce Okami's shoulder.

"ARGH!" Okami howled in pain.

Nue's eyes widened and she pulled out her trident immediately. Okami's free hand flew to her shoulder and she gritted her teeth. She looked at her hand to see bloodstains. Her head was suddenly racked with immense pain and the wound felt like nothing.

"Sorry, Okami," Nue apologized. "I didn't mean… it."

Okami didn't hear her. She fell to her knees, gripping her head. Okami's vision blurred and she panted heavily.

'Kill her…'

There was that voice again. Okami could hear it louder compared to last time.

'Kill her!' it commanded.

Okami let out a groan of pain and shook her head. "No… I… refuse!" she growled through gritted teeth.

'You weakling… if you couldn't kill her, then why did you reach out to me?' it asked, its voice dripping with venom.

"Who… are you?" Okami asked, gripping her head tighter.

'Me? How could you not know? You've been with me all this time, haven't you?' the voice sneered.

"You're… my sword?"

'Finally, you show some brain cells! Yes, I'm your sword, you fool! I thought we were getting to know each other rather well.'

"What do you want…?"

'I want you to kill her. This "Nue" who stabbed you. Get revenge, you weakling!' the voice growled.

"I can't do that… no… I won't! She… she's my friend…" Okami spoke through gritted teeth.

'…fine. If you can't kill her… then I will,' the voice spat.

Okami's head hurt immensely once again, and she let out a howl of pain, falling to the ground and holding her head.

Nue and Mamizou watched helplessly as Okami writhed on the ground in pain. After a while, the wolf youkai stopped convulsing and slowly got to her feet, still gripping her sword. Okami looked up and stared Nue in the eyes.

Nue stepped back in horror. Okami's eyes were glowing a blood red hue.

"Kill you… kill you… destroy, destroy… DIE!" Okami roared and dashed towards Mamizou and Nue.

"What the hell?! Okami, what's wrong with you?" Nue yelled as she blocked Okami's sword swing with her trident.

"What's going on with her?" Mamizou asked as she pulled out several paper shikigami.

"I'LL DESTROY ALL OF YOU!" Okami roared again, louder this time.

"That's not Okami. Okami's eyes are gold. This person's eyes are far too soulless," Nue remarked, shoving Okami away.

Okami slid back a few feet, and stared at the two of them with bloodthirsty eyes.

"We have to snap her out of it…" Mamizou spoke quietly.

"But… how…?" Nue said worriedly.