Hey guys! Here's the next update! Since my exams are over (finally), I'll be able to update more often! Reviews and comments are appreciated. Also, on a completely unrelated note, I LOVE HAIKYUU. FEEL THE GAY-NESS AND WATCH IT.

"You want to play? Fine. Then let us dance." As if from a distance, I heard myself speaking and the steel, the sheer confidence in my voice astonished me.

I drew my rapier, and it flashed a bright white-silver, catching and reflecting the rays of the fading sun off its blade.

"I'm surprised that a prissy princess such as yourself would know how to fight." Gozumaru's thin smile stretched out into a smirk.

"Yes, well, then again, I have never really fit the bill as 'princess'," I replied dryly, tightening my grip on my rapier.

"No, don't! Run away!" Yuki-Onna yelled, struggling to her feet; Gozumaru knocked her down again, and this time she lay still.

This is bad… I won't be able to fight and protect her at the same time…

"Then I'll try this!" I decided, reaching into one of the pouches and drawing out a handful of shikigami.

"Keikain Style: 5-Point Barrier!" At my command, the shikigami floated into place, surrounding Yuki-Onna with an invisible shield.

"That is better," I smiled approvingly at my work, and turned to face Gozumaru, who was looking on curiously.

"What the hell is that thing supposed to do?" He demanded.

I smiled sweetly. "It is meant to keep you out, of course."

Gozumaru snarled, and charged.

The guy was fast. He slashed and sliced, and I could barely dodge the strikes, but my mind went into a different mode – analysing patterns and learning his style, which was all offence, no defence.

Neatly, I sidestepped, blocking his strike with the hilt of my rapier. Gozumaru seemed surprised – and annoyed – to find me still alive.

"What is that style?" He growled.

"Fencing," I replied, putting all my strength into shoving the deadly blade away from my face. "But I doubt that a plebeian such as yourself would know what it is."

Though apparently uneducated, Gozumaru knew an insult when he heard one, and, roaring with anger, struck again. I managed to parry away his strike, my blade whistling past his face.

"This shouldn't be possible!" Gozumaru got out through gritted teeth. "You shouldn't be able to fight like this!"

"News flash," I snapped, spinning on one heel and smacking Gozumaru in the chest with the butt of my rapier. "I learnt this in order to survive."

Gozumaru flew into a tree, sending wooden splinters flying everywhere. He got to his feet panting, eyes glittering maliciously.

My stomach twisted, and instinct told me that this guy was not done yet.

I took a deep breath and charged.

Big mistake: I should have smelt a rat when Gozumaru just stood there, stock-still. Instead, I went in for the easy kill, planning a simple strike to the heart.

He grinned triumphantly.

A huge razored tail, glittering with poison, ripped its way free from his clothes, dealing me a vicious blow that lifted me off my feet, sending me spinning through the air.

No… I can't bleed… Not here…

I acted on instinct, fumbling around in my pouch for a defensive shikigami…

Please, let me make it in time…!

"One-Point barrier!" I shrieked, my voice tight with fear.

The shield was weak, and I knew that it could only last for a few seconds: Two at worst, around ten at best. But that was enough.

Using the recoil from the collision to propel myself forward, I landed lightly on Gozumaru's back. The force of the jump knocked him backward; he staggered as I clung to his back. I seized my rapier, and brought it down, again and again, into his back, his shoulders running with blood.

"GET OFF ME!"

There was the familiar sound of ripping fabric, and I screamed as more claws appeared, barely managing to leap out of the way in time. As it was, hot pain shot up my arm when I moved.

I sat up gingerly. The skin over my left elbow was split and bleeding. Gozumaru's claw must have grazed it. Blood stained the front of my dress, covering my arm from the elbow down to the wrist like a glove.

This is bad.

I watched in trepidation as his expression grew wilder, more feral. With a sharp cry, Gozumaru tackled me, swift as a striking snake, striking me squarely and knocking me back into the dirt.

"Stop it!" I screamed, but he didn't seem to hear.

He was beyond reasoning, his expression unrecognizable as he loomed up over me, his lips curling back, teeth gleaming in the moonlight like needles.

Please, I implored my shikigami, please, it has to happen now.

The explosion was hotter than fire, blistering my skin, blinding me with ash and smoke, choking me as I tried to breathe. The force knocked Gozumaru off me, sending him flying as if he weighed no more than a pebble.

When I finally regained my focus, Gozumaru was lying a short distance away, and was curled, twitching, on the ground.

"Impossible… When did she…?" I heard him mutter to himself as I approached, and I guessed that the explosion had knocked some sense into him.

"When I was on your back," I replied coldly, picking up my rapier and dusting the grime off its surface. "I slapped some exploding shikigami there. You were too busy trying to buck me off, and did not notice."

He laughed weakly, blood bubbling up in his mouth and trickling down his chin. "I-Impossible… To… Lose to a mere… Human…"

I lowered the rapier so that the tip kissed his throat.

"You hurt my friend," I stated, my voice trembling with rage. "Who are you after? What are you trying to do?"

He grinned, showing blood-stained teeth. "Lord Gyuki's goal is the… Third Heir."

"The-"

My heart contracted painfully at the name. Was it…? No, it couldn't be him…? But his subordinates had addressed him as such…

"I will not let you." My voice sounded cold, as sharp as crystal, even to my own ears. "Try it and I swear, I will kill you."

With a sharp flick of my wrist, I brought the sword level, but before I could deal the final blow –

"Drop the sword," Came a soft voice.

My hands shook. I swallowed. "I-"

"Yohime."

The voice spoke again, a low baritone that I would have recognized anywhere. Hesitantly, I let myself finally become aware of my surroundings, let myself focus on the features of the Ayakashi standing before me. His eyes were unexpectedly worried as he looked down on me.

"It's okay," He said gently. "Everything's going to be okay, I promise."

My hands shook even harder as I fought to hold on to the hilt. "I cannot." The words hurt coming out. "H-He said s-someone wanted to kill-"

Though I couldn't finish my sentence, he got the gist of it, and reached over to ruffle my hair.

"That expression on your face is really scary, Hime-chan." His tone was light, teasing. "You look prettier when you smile."

My rapier slipped through my frozen fingers and clattered to the ground. I followed, collapsing on all fours, wanting to cry, but still unable to.

"I… I…I'm…" The words hurt coming out.

The Ayakashi wrapped his arms around me.

"Yeah. You did a good job." He murmured soothingly, pressing his face into my hair as I clung to him."You did good."