The sun peeked over the horizon, its glow washing over the mountain and the forest below, coloring everything shades of rose and gold. Yukio stood on the peak, shivering, her shadow stretching behind her - the black silhouette a stark contrast against the gentle hues of the dawn. The shrine was still shrouded in shadow, waiting for the sun's warm touch to awaken it.

"It's time to begin," Iha-naga said, her grating voice ruining the otherwise beautiful scene.

"I'm not going to sacrifice anyone, Iha-naga. I'll die first."

The goddess was standing just behind Yukio, the cold breeze causing her veil to brush against Yukio's cheek. On a sudden angry impulse, Yukio grabbed the cloth and yanked it away, tossing it into the wind. The goddess howled and clutched her face, turning away from Yukio.

"You insolent dog!"

Yukio didn't know where her sword was, but she didn't need a weapon to take someone down. Maybe, if she could get that heart fragment away from her, the goddess would lose her power...

She didn't hesitate - if Iha-naga figured out what she was doing she would vanish, or just pin Yukio to the ground with her telepathic powers. The assassin priestess flipped onto Iha-naga's shoulders, putting her in a tight choke hold, then swung around - a move that would have broken the neck of any mortal. She swiped a hand towards the goddess' kimono, reaching towards where she had seen the heart fragment...

Too late. She felt the goddess' power yank her off and throw her to the ground, probably breaking a rib or two in the process. Yukio remained still, catching her breath, while the goddess sneered down at her.

Without her veil, Yukio could see Iha-naga's face, which was like something carved from a rock and never quite finished. Her features were harsh and crooked, full of broad lines and sharp angles that didn't quite fit together correctly. And currently, her crude eyes were filled with anger.

"You may be the last priestess of this mountain, girl, but do not get the idea that you are something special. You are nothing but a tool - you always have been, and you -"

There was the sound of a gunshot, and a bullet spun into Iha-naga's temple, showering Yukio with dust. They both jerked their heads around, looking for the shooter.

"Were you sayin' something? Sorry to interrupt."

Yukio smiled in relief to see Logan standing on a ledge a few meters away, along with the exorcist from before - Yukio Okumura. His coat was flapping behind him, smoke still trailing from his firearm. Logan was holding something too - at first she thought the glinting metal was just his claws, but he shifted slightly and she realized he had found her sword.

Seeing her eyes on the weapon, he held it up, "Found this lying by the shrine. You should be more careful with your junk."

For a moment she was tempted to laugh - but Iha-naga's foot on her throat quickly crushed her brief moment of joviality.

"Get your filthy feet off her," Logan growled, stepping forward. Okumura gave him a warning glance and he stayed put, though he was still seething. Yukio had to struggle for breath, but she wasn't choking to death - she was glad Logan had come, but she still didn't see a way out of this. She would have been happier to die alone then watch him get killed for her.

"I see you managed to escape from my prison - no doubt my sister had something to do with that. And you, exorcist, are far more capable than I imagined. Still, you are no match for your brother - are you?"

"Where's Rin?" Yukio demanded, ignoring her comments.

"Here you are, still pretending to be concerned, when we both know how you really feel."

"Tell me where Rin is!" he shouted, stepping forward, fury in his eyes.

"If you want to see him so bad, then fine. Rin! We have guests!"

There was a faint crackling, and that was all the warning they got. Okumura rolled out of the way and Logan jumped back just as the blue fireball blasted into the dirt where they had just been standing. Yukio winced, feeling the heat roll across her face and spray dirt into her teeth and hair.

Rin jumped in front of his brother, eyes careless and shoulders slumped.

"Rin!"

He swung his sword, unleashing another blast of fire. Okumura managed to dodge once again, but cried out as a stray flame licked his shoulder, burning through the cloth and biting into his skin. At the sound of his brother's cry of pain, Rin seemed to hesitate for a moment, eyes gleaming a little.

Iha-naga stepped away from Yukio, shouting commands at Rin. In that moment Logan raced past, swooping Yukio up and sprinting away before the goddess even turned around.

"Now!" he roared towards the shrine, hoping Masaki and the others were listening.

There was a brief rumble in the earth beneath their feet, like a two second earthquake, but in the next instant it was gone. Iha-naga spun around, clenching her fists, then frowned.

"What have you done?"

"Just a summoning spell - you can't vanish on us now," Masaki said, appearing from the direction of the shrine. The exwires stood with him, warily eyeing the goddess, who simply smiled.

"Oh, I see. But now you've just trapped yourself on this mountain with me. A summoning spell binds my location, but not my powers, fools!"

"No, your powers are intact. But a god can't harm those who summoned her unless she fulfills a contract. Your powers are useless against us!"

She clenched her fists, eyes narrowed, then reached inside her kimono and took out the heart shard, its darkness leaking out from between her fingers like smoke. Immediately everyone paled and wilted. Yukio clutched to Logan, coughing, feeling sick to her stomach.

"I may not be able to lay a finger on you without violating the rules of the summoning, but these demons don't have such concern. Rin!"

Rin raised his sword, blue flames flaring so bright they drowned out the rosy light spilling across the ground. Around them, more demonic shadows were rising up from the ground, clawing their way towards their pitiful little group.

"Logan...you need to go...she's too powerful..."

"Sorry, that's not really my style," he lowered her to the ground, "Besides - we've got a plan."

Yukio slumped to her knees, clutching the sword that Logan pressed into her hands. He stood tall, striding towards Iha-naga like she was a simple school-yard bully.

Logan tried to act brave, but in reality this was a shit plan, and he knew it. In fact, you couldn't really call it a plan. Masaki had revealed if they performed a summoning spell, Iha-naga wouldn't be able to leave the shrine area, or disappear into the ground like she always did. It forced her to stay visible, to stay tangible, and to stay within striking range. It also protected them from her direct attacks, but did nothing about the demons she controlled, including Rin.

Right now, everyone was just trying not to throw up. Okumura was still on his feet, but even he was looking queasy. Rin was standing beside Iha-naga, waiting for orders - orders which would probably be something along the lines of 'destroy Logan.' He just hoped his healing powers guaranteed recovery from Satanic flames. And that Iha-naga would be distracted long enough for him to get close.

Behind him Yukio rose to her feet, brandishing her sword at the approaching demons. Okumura fired his gun, and the exwires began reciting some sort of mantra. But Logan had only one goal in mind - the darkness in Iha-naga's hand. He was the only one who could get close enough to snatch it.

"Rin, destroy the mutant."

Logan sighed. He hated it when he was right.