Chapter 9
Kyo was lying down on his bed. It had been a few days since the incident at the village and Kyo was still quite. Mahiro, Kat and Leo were outside the room. "I'm worried, guys. I've never seen Kyo act like this. I've seen him disappointed in himself but I've never seen him this quite before. I know he blames himself, but…" said Mahiro.
"He's depressed and I understand he needs time to himself," Kat commented, "But THIS is taking it way too far. He's making himself miserable like this."
"I suggest we stage an intervention," Leo suggested. "We should call Yuusuke-san, Futaba-san, Midori-san and Sanae-chan to help."
"And what about the 'Trio'?" Mahiro asked. Leo quirked an eyebrow.
"Knowing them, they'd never understand and make Kyo feel even worse," Kat said with crossed arms. "So, I'll call the girls, Leo can call Yuusuke and Muramasa, and Mahiro, you keep Kyo occupied."
Mahiro nodded, "I'll do my best, Kat," before she opened the door and entered the room. "Kyo," she began. He didn't respond. She frowned sadly. "Kyo, we're all worried about you."
"Just leave me alone," Kyo grumbled. Mahiro sighed. Well, at least she could make sure he wouldn't go anywhere until the impromptu intervention that would be held to get Kyo out of his slump.
"Kyo, I know you've been through this before but…"
"But nothing!" yelled Kyo. Mahiro jumped back. Kyo got up and advanced on Mahiro, she moved back. "I've spent the past five years like this Mahiro! The weight never gets lighter, it just grows!" Mahiro was now outside the door. "Now just leave me the hell alone!!!" he slammed the door shut.
"Kyo…" said Mahiro, sadly. She began to cry.
He lay back against the door and slid to the floor, listening to her crying. 'Sorry Mahiro-chan, but you're just too innocent to understand the pain I'm going through…'
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Leo was back from talking to Muramasa and Yuusuke. Muramasa and Mika would be arriving soon. Leo was in the kitchen and Kat was with him. "Um, otouto-chan, what are you doing?" asked Kat.
"Preparing food for Kyo-san's intervention," replied Leo.
"Exactly, an intervention, NOT a party. This looks like you're cooking for a party."
"Technically, it is. It might take a while for us to help Kyo-san, so a bit of food wouldn't hurt. They might get hungry."
"Fine...I'll make the drinks."
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"Muramasa-sama, do you think Kyo-san will be okay?" asked Mika as they walked toward the school.
"Kyo was always stubborn as a child, but he never liked to see people get hurt." 'Completely unlike his ancestor…' thought Muramasa. "I believe that after some time he'll be back to normal, well normal for him anyways." Muramasa laughed slightly.
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Yuusuke, Sanae, Midori, and Futaba were walking towards Kyo and Leo's room. Kat and Leo had just told them that Kyo was depressed and needed help. "Do you think Kyo-kun will be okay?" asked Midori. Though she didn't know him that well, she knew that he was a good friend of Yuusuke's and worried for him.
"Kyo never acted like this before," said Yuusuke.
"Leo-kun said that he was very depressed. He told me it had something to do with what happened at the village," said Sanae.
"What do you mean? What village?" asked Futaba. Sanae explained to them what happened, and how he almost killed Genjiro. They all seemed shocked.
Soon they were outside of Kyo's room and Mahiro was still crying. "Mahiro-chan! What's wrong?!" asked Midori.
"It's nothing," sniffed Mahiro as she wiped away a tear. Muramasa and Mika walked up.
"Daijoubu desu ka, my dear?" asked Muramasa.
"Hai, Muramasa-sama, I'm fine…" said Mahiro, though you could tell she wasn't. Leo and Kat walked up, carrying drinks and food.
"Looks like everyone is here," said Kat, "Should we start?"
"Hai," said Leo as he opened the door and they entered.
"Go away…" Kyo moaned from under his covers. "Just leave me alone…"
"Sorry, Red Eyes, but THAT is NOT an option," Kat said firmly before shouting, "GRAB HIM!"
Kyo jumped out of his covers when Yuusuke, Leo, Kat, Midori and Futaba went and ran towards him. He jumped out of bed and drew Tenro. "Stay the hell back!"
"Kyo-san, this is for your own good!" Leo explained.
"That's right," Yuusuke added in agreement.
"Kyo-kun, let us help!" Midori pleaded.
"This is your intervention and you're going to get help whether you like it or not," Kat threatened. "NOW!"
Leo sent a burst of wind that forced Tenro out of Kyo's hand and into Muramasa's. Now, Kyo was unarmed. Midori attempted to tackle him but he jumped out of the way. He landed, but slipped on a sheet of ice and slid across it towards a large sack that Mahiro, Muramasa and Sanae were holding open. He fell in and they closed it, tying the opening tightly shut. Kyo screamed as he struggled, "LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT YOU DAMN PSYCHOS!"
"Should I freeze him?" Kat asked. Leo stepped up.
"Okaasan said this; there is always more than one solution to a problem," he pouted before placing his hand on the sack and sent a small jolt through it. Kyo stopped struggling.
"You knocked him out," Sanae said in awe.
"Is he going to be okay?" Mahiro asked in concern.
"Him? What about us?" Yuusuke asked fearfully. He may be Kyo's friend but that won't stop the red eyed samurai from using him as a practice dummy later.
"That is why we'll use these and tie him to a chair," Kat said as she held up a length of chains. Everyone stared at her.
"Where did you get that?" Futaba asked suspiciously.
"That…is a secret," Kat winked. "Come on; let's get him out of here so we can continue…"
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Kyo's eyes fluttered open. He had a massive headache and was stiff. He then realized he couldn't move and then realized again that he was in a dark room with a single light above him to reveal that he was indeed tied to a chair with chains.
"Okay, this is not funny!" Kyo yelled out as he struggled. His legs had been tied up too. "Turn on the lights!"
The light turned on and Kyo found himself surrounded by his friends (with the exception of the Baka Trio). Yukimura and Mizuki had also come. "Hi, Kyo-kun!" said Yukimura, waving.
He glared at Yukimura and then looked at the others, "Why did you invite the drunk?! He needs an intervention more than I do!"
"They're here to help, Kyo. We're worried about you," said Muramasa.
"I already told you! Don't worry about me! I have failed people before and I will fail people again! The weight I carry will continue to grow and I will continue to move forward! None of you understand this weight I carry with me! So stop worrying and leave me alone damn it!" Kat walked up to Kyo and punched him in the face, knocking over the chair.
"You think we don't understand!!!" yelled Kat. "My otouto-chan promised to save Mika's dad, but he failed!" Mika looked down at the mention of her father. "But you don't see him all depressed!"
"Leo isn't to blame for his death!" retorted Kyo. "I am! If I had killed Genjiro when I had the chance, none of this would be happening! Mika would be living a peaceful life with her father and their people! None of you carry the weight of a single soul on your shoulders; I have to carry the weight of over a thousand people!" Kyo looked away from his friends. "And I can't take it anymore… I have carried too much weight for too long." He looked at his tied up hands. "My hands are drenched in their blood…"
"Kyo-san, if you continue to wallow in self pity, you would be dishonoring their memory," Leo began. "Yes, I was deeply upset for not being able to save Mika-chan's father and there is nothing I can do to change that…but, if I gave up then even more people would end up dead if I didn't try to save them."
"Well, that works for you, but not me," Kyo muttered.
"Kyo!" Mahiro cried. "Please, you must not be like this! What happened to the strong and passionate warrior I fell in love with?"
"He caused the deaths of many," he retorted. Kat slapped herself in the forehead.
"Oh for Kami's sake!" Kat cried in frustration, "Are you even listening to yourself? I mean, why did you decide to give up now? I mean, you said it yourself that thousands of lives were lost in your life but why do you start pitying yourself now?"
"Who said I started now?" replied Kyo. "Do you know why I severed ties from what remained of my family? Because I knew I couldn't save them! I couldn't protect them! I abandoned them so that they could live happy lives! My whole family is gone! Why shouldn't I feel pity?! I haven't had a good night sleep in five years because I keep on thinking of everyone I've failed!" He looked at Leo. "If I gave up, Leo… then more people would live. I didn't tell you guys this, but a few weeks ago two members of the Mibu clan showed up here…"
"Those nurses?" asked Leo.
"Hai. They said that if I gave myself up to the Mibu no one else would have to die. I have another week left to decide. I decided to surrender."
Mahiro slapped him. "Don't you dare… don't you dare give up!" yelled Mahiro. "Did you think about how we would be affected by this?! What about Mayumi! What about me?!" Tears were now rolling down her face. She clenched her fists, "What about Mizuki and Yukimura and the others…" She hugged him, "What about us…?"
"Mahiro-chan…" said Kyo. "I was thinking about you! I want to protect you! I want to protect my friends! And this is the only way to make sure none of you get hurt! There is no other way! I'm not strong enough to protect you or Mayumi! I wasn't strong enough to protect Ayame! Or my parents!!!" Everyone just looked at Kyo as tears formed in his eyes. "I'm just some worthless kid, swinging a sword and vowing to protect people that I know I can't…"
Kat simply stated, "Baka."
"Nani?" asked Leo.
"Kyo, stop being a damned idiot!" yelled Kat.
"People will always get hurt whether you're there to save them or not. If you surrender to the Mibu then they will just use you to hurt more people" said Muramasa.
Yukimura pulled out a sake bottle. "How about a little drink to lighten the mood?" asked Yukimura, his words slurred. Mizuki punched him in the face. Kyo smiled.
"Worthless drunk…" mused Kyo. 'And the girl who loves him…" He looked at all his friends. They all worried for him, just as he worried for them. "You're right, I'm sorry. Okay, I'm out of my slump now." Kyo smiled. "How about you untie me?"
"I don't think…" said Kat.
"Okay!" said Midori, happily, as she unlocked Kyo's restraints. An evil smile spread across his face. He leapt into the air.
"Now you're all gonna pay!!!"
They all screamed, "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
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A few days later…
It was Friday afternoon. Everyone had just finished a test. They were all excited because tonight they were having a "Test of Courage". Kyo and the others were still in the classroom. "I want to thank you guys again. Sorry I acted like that."
"At least your back to normal now, Red Eyes," said Kat.
Mahiro hugged him, "And I couldn't be happier about it."
"So, what do you guys think of this 'Test of Courage'?" asked Yuusuke.
"It's going to be so much fun!" said Midori. She wrapped her arms around Yuusuke's arm. "Especially if I get Yuusuke-kun as my partner!"
"Midori!" Yuusuke exclaimed. Futaba saw this and turned away with a frown.
"Sanae-chan, you're shaking," Leo said to his girlfriend. "What's wrong?"
"Leo-kun, please, I don't want to do this," Sanae said. Leo placed his hands on her shoulders.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, Sanae-chan. I would never let anything hurt you."
"Really?"
"But if you don't want to go, I won't force you and I won't go either."
"No, you shouldn't have to do that. You're brave and I trust you…"
"Really, Sanae-chan?" he asked.
"Really, Leo-kun," she nodded
They both embrace. Kat stuck out her tongue, "Okay, can you two get anymore mushy?"
The two teens blush red in embarrassment at their display. Everyone laughed. "You guys should see Yukimura and Mizuki when they both get drunk!" laughed Kyo.
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It was night and everyone was outside. Dr. Chigusa stood in front of everyone. She was wearing a light green yukata robe. Next to her were Yuusuke and Midori. She began to tell a story in her scariest voice, "Long, long ago… during the age of civil wars a big battle took place around this area. The battle was extremely fierce, and in this very forest many soldiers died. Despite the people's efforts of erecting temples and shrines and praying for those fallen warriors, many mysterious phenomenons are reported to this day. In other words, their resentment for this world has yet to be alleviated." She smiled, "And so, I'm going to have you go to one of those shrines!" Everyone groaned. "Now, now, don't complain. On nights like this a test of courage is a must."
Leo was dressed in a blue Chinese shirt that was left open like a jacket and a white t-shirt with the Japanese character for wind on it. He still carried his trusty bokken, not to mention his Advent Buckle and Category Ace in his pocket. Kat, his twin sister, was in a black tank top with a red firebird design, jeans and black combat boots. She braided her hair for tonight. Like her brother, her buckle and card were in her pocket. She rolled her eyes at the story.
"Ghosts? Yeah right!" Kat was a skeptic but…
"Onee-chan, you don't believe in ghosts?" Leo asked.
"I only believe in what I see, otouto-chan," she said. She wouldn't have believed in the existence of magic or the Beast Spirits if she hadn't seen them with her own two eyes.
Sanae cringed in fear of the story but when she saw Leo smiling at her, her fear lessened. 'He won't let anything happen to me,' Sanae thought. 'I know he won't.' Leo was like a Knight in Shining Armor. Well, he was one, literally, but also in his own heart and Sanae loved him for that.
Kyo wore a long sleeved black shirt and khaki pants, his sword attached to his side. Mahiro stood next to him, still wearing her uniform. She wasn't really scared because Kyo was here with her. Now that he was out of his slump he seemed more determined than ever. She knew that nothing could happen to her as long as Kyo was with her.
Meanwhile, the Baka Trio were plotting.
Yuusuke and Midori walked around with boxes. Inside the boxes were folded pieces of paper. "Please take only one," said Dr. Chigusa. One box was for the boys and another was for the girls. The students all drew the pieces of paper one by one until…
"And finally, Reika-chan," said Midori, but only one piece of paper was left in her box. "But there's only one piece left… oh, I know. Since I'm on the committee I don't need paper, I'll just team up with Yuusuke-kun!"
"No, I already have one," said Yuusuke.
"Don't worry, because I'm taking on the role of scaring people," said Reika 'I'll use this chance to make sure Yuusuke gets with someone else…'
"Okay, the moment of truth has come! Everyone open your papers!"
Leo and Kat unfolded theirs like the others. Leo saw a star in his, "Huh?" he said in confusion.
Dr. Chigusa explained, "On each piece of paper is a symbol and your partner is the one holding the same symbol. Just look around to see who has a matching paper. When you reach the cave, you must get a token from the shrine to show that you made it."
"I got a watermelon!" Ichiban-Boshi announced. Kat groaned.
"What's wrong, onee-chan?" Leo asked and Kat showed him her paper, which depicted a watermelon. "Oh."
"What about you?" Kat asked.
"I got a star," he said. Sanae heard this and smiled. She also had a star! What a stoke of good fortune. Kyo looked at his paper. On it was a picture of a crudely drawn picture of a sword.
"What the hell is this supposed to be?" Kyo asked himself, scratching the back of his head. He looked at Mahiro's paper and smiled, "Looks like we're teamed up, Mahiro-chan!"
Yuusuke looked at his piece of paper, he had a strawberry. Midori had a peach. "Oh, I don't get to go with Yuusuke-kun…" said Midori. Futaba looked at hers, she too had a strawberry.
"Looks like I'm with Kutsuki," said Yuusuke.
"And just what does that mean?" asked Futaba.
"Nothing, nothing…" defended Yuusuke.
"Now begin!" said Dr. Chigusa, sending everyone into the forest.
Leo was with Sanae as he held out his bokken with one hand and held Sanae's hand protectively with the other. He would not separate from her or let her out of her sight.
Kat, on the other hand was quickly getting annoyed with Ichiban-Boshi's attempt at 'flirting' with her. "If you don't stop it I'm going to have to hurt you…" threatened Kat.
Sanae and Leo were the first to reach the cave. "I'm scared, Leo-kun" said Sanae, grasping onto Leo's arm.
"Don't worry, Sanae-chan. I'll be sure to protect you," said Leo. They entered the cave, unaware of the hissing coming from inside.
Kyo and Mahiro were close behind. "This is creepy, Kyo" said Mahiro.
"We'll be fine…" They stopped in front of the cave. "Looks like this is the place." They heard Sanae scream. "What was that!?" yelled Kyo.
"Ikuzo, Kyo!" said Mahiro as they ran into the cave. They saw a large humanoid cobra fighting against Draco, clad in his armor. Draco slashed at the creature that retaliated with its claws. Draco blocked with his Seiryu Blade and kicked the creature in the chest. He then drew a card from his sword and slashed it through.
"STAB!"
The image of the 2 of Clubs: Stab Bee appeared above him and was absorbed into the sword. Draco then charged and jabbed his sword at the Beast Spirit. It leapt over him and swung around to hit Draco in the side and into a wall with a crash. The force of the impact forced Draco's Category Ace out of his belt and undid the transformation. The Cobra Beast Spirit then made its way towards Sanae and lunged at her with its jaws wide open. Sanae screamed in fear as it lunged to kill her…
Her eyes were shut close but she didn't feel a thing. However, when she opened her eyes, the sights she beheld was anything but pleasant. Leo was standing over her, shielding her from the Cobra Beast Spirit with his back turned towards it. Its jaw was clamped down on his shoulder and he was bleeding from it. Leo growled.
"Stay. Away. From. SANAE-CHAN!" Leo let out an electrical burst of power that electrocuted the Beast Spirit and sent it flying and crashing into the wall of the cave. Leo fell as his wound began to bleed even more.
"Leo-kun! LEO-KUN!" Sanae cried.
"Sanae… get Leo out of here!" said a voice behind her. Sanae turned to see Kyo and Mahiro. Kyo's blood red eyes glowed in the cave's darkness. The Beast Spirit jumped up and lunged at them. Kyo pulled one of his hands out of his pockets and stopped the Beast Spirit. He then threw it back. "Mahiro, help her." Mahiro nodded as she and Sanae pulled Leo out of the cave.
"Kyo-san…" said Leo, breathing and bleeding heavily.
"Don't worry about a thing…" said Kyo. The Beast Spirit stood up and charged Kyo. Kyo turned around and stopped it with one hand, gripping hard on its upper jaw. He pulled out his other hand and grasped its lower jaw. With all his strength he snapped its jaws. The creature staggered back. "No one hurts my friends…" Something transparent appeared behind Kyo. It was a large crimson demon with long hair. The Beast Spirit, creatures who are supposed to feel no fear, staggered back, afraid for its life. "No one…" Kyo drew his blade. The creature fixed its jaw and charged at Kyo. He simply blocked with his blade. "I don't care if you're a Beast Spirit or what… I will destroy you!" He flipped into the air and brought his foot down into the Beast Spirit's head, slamming it to the ground. Kyo grabbed the scales on its back and threw it at the wall.
Sanae and Mahiro had gotten Leo out of the cave, just in time to see Kat. Kat had purposely left Ichiban-Boshi behind, annoyed by the boy to the point of strangling him to shut him up. Her anger turned to fear when her eyes were set upon her wounded brother. She rushed forward and asked them, "What happened?"
"It was…a Beast Spirit," Sanae explained. "Leo-kun fought it and got hurt protecting me! I'm so sorry!"
"It's not your fault, Sanae," Kat said to the girl. Looking down at her brother, her eyes narrowed.
Mahiro told Kat, "Kyo is in there fighting it."
"I'm going to beat that thing!" Kat said as she activated her Advent Buckle. "Henshin!"
"CHANGE SUZAKU!"
"Onee…chan…" Mimic heard her brother whisper as he held up his cards, "Use…these…Help…Kyo-san." Mimic took the cards.
"I will," Mimic nodded and then said to the girls, "Treat him, quickly, okay?" The girls nodded as Mimic ran into the cave, summoning her Suzaku Arrow.
The Cobra Beast Spirit cringed in fear of Kyo. Kyo was emanating an aura that felt quick dangerous and evil and it overwhelmed it. Then it got a few arrows in the chest and Kyo looked to see Mimic had joined him.
"Kat?" Kyo asked.
Mimic replied, gripping the Suzaku Arrow, "This thing is going down! You with me, Red Eyes?"
Kyo nodded and both warriors charged at the reptilian Beast Spirit.
Meanwhile, outside the cave, Leo lay shirtless as Mahiro and Sanae stopped the bleeding by tearing up Leo's shirt to make a tourniquet and wrapping it around the wound. However, Leo was just getting worse. His skin was pale and he was breathing hard and sweating a lot too. His body temperature was increasing like he had a fever and he was panting too.
"It's poison!" Mahiro concluded. Damn, that thing's bite must've been venomous.
"Leo-kun, don't give up!" Sanae pleaded. She said to Mahiro, "We have to get him to a doctor!"
"Right, come on!" Mahiro and Sanae helped Leo up and Mahiro grunted, "Damn, he's heavy!"
As they made their way away from the cave, the sound of fighting could be heard from inside the cave.
Inside the cave, the Cobra Beast Spirit swiped at the Knight of Suzaku and the Red Eyed Samurai with its claws and snapped at them with its razor sharp teeth. Kyo slashed with his sword and Mimic did the same, slashing it in the arm and chest. It staggered back and then escaped into the darkness of the cave.
"Come on, let's follow it!" Kyo shouted but then Mimic froze. "Kat?"
"I…Can't…" Mimic gulped. Kyo could see that she was shaking and then realized it.
"You're afraid…aren't you?" Kyo asked.
"No!" she snapped, but there was no fooling him, "Okay, yes, I am scared of going in deeper. This is as far as I can go since it's near the entrance."
"Then you should wait outside," Kyo said. "I'll try to drive the thing out."
"Be careful, okay?" Mimic pleaded and Kyo nodded.
"Just check on your brother, alright?" Mimic nodded and ran out the cave.
For some reason, Sanae and Mahiro found it increasingly difficult to lift Leo up. He had gotten heavier and less cooperative. They then had no choice but to lay Leo down.
"Struggling with him will only make the poison travel faster," Mahiro said in defeat.
"Oi!" Mimic shouted. Sanae and Mahiro turned to the entrance to see the Knight of Suzaku running towards them.
"Kat!" both girls cried out.
"Where's Kyo?" Mahiro asked.
"He's in there trying to drive the thing out," Mimic explained.
"And why aren't you in there helping him?" Mahiro demanded, "Well?"
"I hate caves…" Mimic answered slowly, breathing hard. Mahiro blinked.
"You're claustrophobic," she concluded. Mimic nodded.
"If I went in any deeper I'd freeze in fear and be of no help." She then asked, "How's Leo?"
"He's getting worse," Sanae said, tears in her eyes.
They heard an animalistic yell coming from the cave. They turned to see a figure shoot from the cave and crash into a tree. "Kyo!" shouted Mahiro, sure it was her boyfriend.
"What?" asked a voice from the cave. They turned to see Kyo, one of the Beast Spirit's fangs embedded in his shoulder.
"What happened?!" yelled Mahiro.
"Damned thing tried to bite me," said Kyo. He ripped the fang from his shoulder, showing no pain. The wound healed almost instantly. "Now I'm gonna have to rip off its other tooth…"
The Cobra Beast Spirit hissed as it got up from the ground and bared its fang. Mimic smirked and gripped her Suzaku Arrow. "Let me finish this…"
She then fired ice arrows at the Beast Spirit. It dodged and lunged at her but she swung her weapon and slashed it quickly in the chest, repeatedly before she slammed her palm into it, sending it staggering back. She slashed a card through.
"SLASH!"
She charged and then slashed down with her weapon, causing even more damage. She then whirled around and got it in the face with a kick before firing at it in point blank. She decided, this time, to finish it off.
"TACKLE! RUSH! TORNADO! STORM SLAM!" her card reader announced as she slashed all three cards through. She then charged and struck at the Beast Spirit as hard as she could. It was sent flying into a tree on impact and did not move any longer. She threw a Blank Seal card and the creature was soon imprisoned within it before it flew back into her hand.
She went over to her brother, who was talking to Sanae, "Sanae-chan…I don't think I can make it…I want to tell you…Aishiteru…"
"No… Leo-kun, please don't die" pleaded Sanae. Midori, Yuusuke and Futaba ran up to them.
"What happened!?" said Futaba.
"Leo-kun was attacked by a Beast Spirit!" cried Sanae.
Midori grasped onto Leo's hand and said, "Leo-kun, you can't leave Sanae-chan…" Midori's hands began to glow.
"Nani?" questioned Kat, now out of her armor.
Leo began to stir. He blinked his eyes in confusion then sat up. "What happened? Where's the Beast Spirit?"
"I sealed him," said Kat, holding up the card. It was the 5 of Clubs: Bite Cobra. "Thanks for the cards, otouto-chan," she said, handing him his cards back.
"You're welcome, onee-chan."
"Leo-kun!" Sanae cried as she embraced the young Knight of Seiryu.
"Sanae-chan?"
"I love you too! Don't ever leave me!"
"I won't, I promise," he told her before kissing her tenderly, ignoring the others as Midori swooned.
Kyo rubbed his shoulder, "I'm really starting to hate these Beast Spirits." They could hear a loud buzzing as well as trees rustling.
A large swarm of Dark Roaches and Mibu troops appeared from the forest. "Great and I was hoping we could just relax," said Kat.
"I still have a lot of anger left… these guys should make a good punching bag." He drew his blade. He positioned his hand over it and said, "I invoke the secrets of the Mumyo Jinpu… I call forth Byakko!" Kyo slashed his blade in a downward strike and from it came a large tiger. The beast slashed its claws into the Roaches and troops. Soon they were all dead.
"Wow, and in one blow too," Kat whistled, impressed.
"Sugoi," Leo said, wowed. Kyo fell to the ground exhausted. Mahiro ran over to him.
"Those attacks always take a lot out of me," explained Kyo. He sheathed Tenro and used it to help keep his balance. "Glad you're okay, Leo."
Sanae smiled and hugged Leo. "So am I," said Sanae.
"Let's get back to campus. We already got everyone to safety," said Yuusuke.
Kyo stopped when he saw Muramasa walking toward the cave. "I'll catch up later guys!" said Kyo. "Muramasa-sensei, what are you doing here?"
"I always come here to pay respect for the fallen warriors" replied Muramasa. "Your Byakko was quite good. I see that you haven't been slacking off on your training."
"Hai, Muramasa-sensei. Tell me, how is Mika-san doing?"
"She is fine, a little depressed but she enjoys living with me."
"That's good. I better get back to school. Sayonara, Muramasa-sensei," said Kyo as he turned to leave.
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Later, Sanae was in Leo's room, fussing over him.
"Sanae-chan, I'm fine!" Leo whined.
"You just rest, okay, Leo-kun," she smiled.
"Hai, Sanae-chan," Leo said as he lay down in bed for Sanae to tuck him in. Sanae tucked him in and left, but not before blowing him a kiss.
"You two are worse then Mahiro and I," said Kyo with a laugh.
"Kyo-san, what kind of attack was that earlier?" asked Leo.
"It was one of the four divine attacks of the Mumyo Jinpu style," explained Kyo. He lay back on his bed. 'What was that rush of power I felt against the Beast Spirit?'
'I will soon be released, boy. My power is growing stronger and stronger. You cannot hope to keep me locked up forever…'
Kyo shot up. "What's wrong, Kyo-san?" asked Leo.
"It was nothing…" 'At least I hope it was nothing…'
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Kat was in her room and Futaba's, admiring the Bite Cobra card. "Now this is the coolest thing I've ever seen."
"Why are you looking at that card anyway?" Futaba asked.
"Oh, well, just wondering what would happen if I use it. Might be fun to use it on those Mibu jerks," Kat said with an evil grin. 'Or possibly the Baka Trio…' "Hey, Futaba?"
"Yeah, Kat?"
"How did Midori do what she did?"
"I don't know, but she saved Leo-san so let's just leave it at that."
"Okay," Kat nodded.
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The next day…
Leo and Sanae walked hand in hand. Sanae still fussed over him, despite him telling her he was fine. She just nodded and smiled before kissing his cheek and walking to her classroom as he entered his.
Tenjin was glaring daggers at Leo the whole time and despite ignoring the angry glares, he could still feel the other boy's jealousy and rage at him. Why couldn't he just accept that Sanae and Leo were an item now? Well, humans could be stubborn creatures as his okaasan had told him.
A dark coated and hooded figure watched the happy couple in a hidden spot and spoke, "Soon…very soon…" before it vanished like he was never there in the first place.