Chapter 6

The cloaks work better than they had anticipated. They were so good they couldn't even see each other. Approaching the cell they see what looks like a giant iron furnace.

"Is Rin inside of that?" Shiemi asks.

The furnace answers her. "I am locked from the inside but not from without. Fight me and see why I am so strong."

Everyone takes a fighting stance except for Shiemi who was not a fighter. All frozen in place unable to move or speak. Shiemi looks around and realizes that she is the only one that can help Rin now. She goes in to the prison and then moments later Rin busts the two of them out using his flames. By doing so he breaks the spell that the other exwires are under.

Rin looks at all his teammates standing outside the prison. "You all came to bust me out?"

Suguro shoves the Kurikara in Rin's hands. "You'll need this if we are going to have a fighting chance. I lost my head earlier when I was talking to my dad. Thanks for straightening me out."

"I'm sorry about punching you."

Suguro starts to walk away.

"Believe in me Suguro. I won't use my flames to hurt people."

Suguro stops and nods his head. "I know you are not going to hurt us Okumara. Let's go we need to find my father and help with the Impure King."

Luna runs to catch up with Suguro and bumps her arm purposely against his. "You didn't tell us that Okumara punched you."

Suguro looks at Luna, "I'll talk to you about it, if you go on a run with me tomorrow."

Luna nods her head. "I would love to run with you tomorrow."

Suguro smiles looking her face up and down. "Good."

Suguro leads them up the mountain to find Tatsuma (his father).

They find him in a small clearing near death. The only thing keeping him alive is his familiar Karura (the bird also known as the phoenix). Karura is grudgingly transferred from Tatsuma to Ryuji to banish the Impure King. Red flames encompass his hands and make the blonde streak in his hair look like it is on fire as Ryuji's new familiar rests on the top of his head.

Luna covers her mouth as she stares in disbelief. "Suguro!?"

"Come Ryuji. I will teach you the strongest barrier that only the high priest can perform." His father starts to chant a sutra.

As Luna listens she feels herself being drawn to them and she understands why Suguro loves his home so much.

As the last words were spoken by Suguro's father he loses his strength and falls to the ground.

Luna dives to him from the opposite side of Suguro.

Suguro looks up at her anxiously. "Luna! Will you stay with my father and take care of him."

Luna nods her head. "Yes Ryuji, as if he were my own."

Suguro touches her face mouthing thank you and then helps her set Tatsuma's head on her lap. "Moryama, Kamiki, will you stay with Luna and my father?"

They both nod their heads. Konekomaru and Shima go to let Ms. Kirigakure and the others know of what has happened, as Suguro and Rin go to confront the Impure King.

"Ryuji!" Tatsuma says weakly. "Forgive your worthless father."

Luna runs her hand over his forehead wiping away sweat from his brow. "Sh, don't talk like that." She whispers.

Suguro stops in his tracks and talks over his shoulder to his father. "You know, I always loved sitting and listening to you chant the sutras. So don't go dying on me."

Luna smiles up at Suguro and then looks back down to Tatsuma. He is staring at her. "What's wrong?" Luna touches the side of his face with one of her hands.

Tatsuma reaches his hand up to hers and holds it giving it a squeeze. "My son seems to like you." He then closes his eyes and his hand drops.

"Mr. Suguro! Mr. Suguro! Tatsuma!" She shakes him. "Shiemi!" She looks up to Shiemi urgently.

Shiemi hurries over checking his pulse. "It's okay he's just passed out."

"Oh thank God." Luna bows her head to pray for Tatsuma and all those fighting the Impure King. Still deep in prayer she hears Kamiki and Shiemi gasp. Luna looks up as she sees Karuar soar into the sky creating a large barrier encasing the Impure King. "That's it Ryuji." Luna leans down to Tatsuma's ear. "Mr. Suguro, I don't know if you can hear me but Ryuji just created the barrier with Karuar." She bows her head to pray again. She has no idea how much time has gone by but she hears the crackle of fire and her eyes fly open. 'Blue flames?' She lays her body over Tatsuma shielding his face and as much of his body as she can with her own. "I promise Ryuji… I will keep your father safe!" She shouts, scared that these would be her final words. As the flames kiss her skin she feels only a light tickle of warmth.

"It's warm! These are Rin's flames!" Shiemi shouts.

Luna looks up at Shiemi and slowly starts to sit up uncovering Tatsuma.

The three of them watch as the Impure King is the only thing being burned by the flames.

"They did it!" Kamiki shouts pumping her fist into the air.

Soon after the medical team comes and gets Tatsuma. Luna stays with him in the hospital all night long.