Hey everybody, good afternoon and welcome to the next chapter of Demon Battle Rises and the first chapter to contain a bit of Xenolith's work, which of course will bring back some old nostalgia to those of you who were fans of the first time this story was posted on the interwebs. This chapter had a few things I needed to change, like the names of the spellbook duo, but other than that here we have a fun little chapter that among other things finally brings in the character that I'd probably call my favorite out of the main cast.

Other than that, enjoy the next chapter and finally getting to read a proper demon battle.

xKiha

"There we go!"

Kimiko felt herself giggle as she finished the chemistry problem on the board, turning and showing the work to Mister Kincad with nothing but pure joy plastered on her face. She felt no doubts when she was in this class, not with this teacher here to help her out and protect her from the ridicule of her fellow peers. With this teacher Kimiko was safe, in this class she could relax and pay attention without ever having to fear what was happening or what her peers were going to think about every little movement she made.

"Good job, Isahowa, that would be the correct formula." Mister Kincad fiddling with his hair for only a moment before looking around his classroom full of freshmen students. "Now then, who can tell me what would happen if I switched these two numbers around?" Motioning to said numbers quickly.

Kimiko filled with joy, returning to her desk and looking up at the formula for a moment. She knew the answer and she barely even had to think about it, here she was smart and here was where she belonged.

"Yes, Kenja?"

A pale boy with shoulder length blond hair stood up, his body looking frail as he coughed. His cheeks were a pale color Kimiko didn't want to think much about, his eyes a beautiful azure full of exhaustion and from what she could make out; pain. His voice almost too soft to understand as he looked at Mister Kincad. "You would end up with a solution bound to explode, the number of the X solution would be too much for the rest to handle." The teenager beginning to cough rather loudly in a gasping tone, eyes forcefully closed.

"That would be correct, good job."

Even Kimiko hadn't known that, staring at the problem and then back at Kenja. Never before had she really noticed him but she wasn't sure how long he had been around for, he didn't look very well so the reason he was at school was beyond her. Then again, she had looked over this class multiple times and yet when she did, his face was never amongst their peers. Who exactly was this?

His coughing barely got any better, the boy obviously embarrassed of what he was doing and how it was attracting attention. He looked aware of all the whispers and his cheeks began to fill with a bit of color from his deep embarrassment.

"Kenja, if you need to step out or go to the nurse it's alright." Mister Kincad looking at the sick boy with a frown, obviously knowing something that the rest of his students were in the dark about. "It would be better than you getting worse just to remain in class."

For a moment the blond hesitated, trying to shake his head but as he gasped for breath suddenly it was made well known that something was much more wrong than the class had thought. Kenja silently picking up his backpack and standing up, taking that walk of shame through the rows of students watching him with wide eyes. For a moment his pained azure eyes met Kimiko, the girl sucking in a breath as they looked at one another. However, it was when he lifted his bag that he had forgotten to close the top up that the brunette realized something she didn't want to know.

Sitting comfortably inside his backpack was none other than an orange spell book, the markings on the cover matching the ones on Tsumi's purple book. There was no doubt in Kimiko's mind that this meant Kenja was also a book reader.

That he was her enemy.

She had to be careful of him, because with once false swoop they could go from complete strangers to destroying one another in another one of these demon battles.

'I can only hope he hasn't noticed my book.' The brunette's hand falling down to her satchel where the purple spellbook hid, her finger tips slowly rubbing the spot as if to promise it would stay there. 'Who knows how strong he and his partner could already be.'

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"Kimiko's out of school soon!"

Tsumi was more than thrilled to meet his book reader after school, leaving Mrs. Juri and Taiki before rushing down the streets. He had permanently been accepted into the family and was more than content living there with his book reader, finally coming to terms with his status and that his bookreader wasn't going to just let him leave anytime soon. And honestly, now that he had time to think about it, he wouldn't have it any other way.

Now he was looking forward to meeting her once she left that building and could spend time with him, passing people around him with a youthful glow filling his purple eyes as they darted around in an attempt to see everything. The smile on his face exclaiming his joy, continuing on the path he knew would bring him to Seki.

The moment he got to the front gates the child hopped up onto the thick brick supports that held the opposite sides of the gate apart. He then sat down, watching the school and kicking his legs back and forth with a bit of joy.

Just the reality of this made him happy, he had a good bond with his bookreader and waiting for her with joy made him even more excited.

The bell sounded, resonating in his ears as he sat there patiently with his small smile growing much wider. Kimiko would be out any minute and then they could spend time together!

However, a rather familiar feeling then struck him, turning around and beginning to search for a pair of silver eyes that made his heart pound with horror. "If you're hiding, come out!" He had been nightmares about those eyes lately, the feeling of those claws digging into his skin ripping him out of these horrifying dreams every time they crossed his mind.

Nothing happened, no creature moved to prove that whoever had attacked him a few nights before was there again. Tsumi tried to relax but found himself nervously grabbing his arm where he had first been scratched, looking around nervously but still not finding anything at all. He really felt it, he wasn't crazy. And yet nothing really was there to prove him right.

"Ready to get going?"

Tsumi jolted, almost tripping right over his two feet and off the support when he heard Kimiko's voice break through his fear. After balancing himself though he turned to his book reader, laughing nervously as he rubbed the back of his head. "Sure, let's go."

The demon child then lept off where he stood, landing on his feet and smiling to his book reader. However, this didn't mean Kimiko didn't look at him a bit funny. "Is something bothering you?" Looking to the little guy with a frown, obviously talking about how jumpy he was right then.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?"

The brunette blinked, frowning to him before folding her arms across her chest in a maternal and somewhat annoyed fashion. "Now then, don't lie to me, Tsumi. You almost had a heart attack when I spoke to you."

Tsumi was at a loss for words all of a sudden, looking at his shoes nervously. "Remember how I was beaten when I came back to you?"

"Yeah, how could I forget something like that?"

"I thought," The demon child hesitating for a moment before looking back up in the direction where he had thought he had felt those silver eyes on him. "I thought I had seen that person who almost took me out watching me, but I couldn't find them around. I was frightened they showed up again."

Kimiko frowned; figuring now was probably not the best time to tell him that one of the boys in her class happened to be another spellbook reader. Bending down and ruffling Tsumi's deep purple hair, forcing herself to smile to him warmly. "Don't worry, nobody is going to come after you. You are going to be fine, I promise this. After all, we're a team and we can always fight back."

Tsumi smiled to his bookreader, nodding to her before giving her a gentle thumbs up to show that he'd be okay.

Then the brunette stood up straight, smiling to the little boy. "Now, how about we go for a walk to clear our minds?"

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Tsumi wasn't sure why, but he found himself liking this walk, just being able to think about whatever he wanted to and feel safe was delightful after a long time of nothing but stress and worry.

Kimiko was enjoying it as well, walking beside him without saying anything and just lavishing in their quiet time. However, this wonderful peace wasn't going to last very long.

"Janduro!"

That sound was all too familiar and at once both book reader and demon found themselves in sync. Nobody would shout random nonsense like that so loudly and that word, well it was all too familiar.

Kimiko turned to lock eyes with the boy with silver irises, frowning to herself as she realized one of those metal balls was headed right towards them. Without thinking much about it she shoved Tsumi to the ground, landing on top of him as the huge item splashed into the river below the bridge the two were standing on right then. Water flying through the air as Kimiko got up, looking down at the dazed Tsumi and offering him her hand. "You okay?"

"Yes, thank you." The little boy taking her hand and standing up, both then turning to face the enemies they had narrowly taken out a few days before with rage.

"What are you doing!" Kimiko screamed, voice sharp and cold as she looked to the both of them. "Why are you so desperate to fight us!"

The silver eyed boy didn't say anything, just looking at her with a neutral expression plastered on his face. He soon held out his hand again, his young demon not even reacting as their spell book began to glow. "Janduro!"

The brunette had no idea why this was happening and why out of the blue somebody would be attacking them both, but something was clearly wrong and she would have to get down to the bottom of it. Her hands ripping into her satchel and removing the purple book, the pages flying open almost as if they recognized the severity of this situation. "Rachido!"

At once Tsumi directed his attention to the metal ball, the acidic spell streaming from his mouth and taking no time to eat right through the metal object flying towards them. They had done this before, but that time hadn't felt so wrong.

Something was different and neither could put their finger on what it was.

"Okay, now explain yourself!" Kimiko's voice getting louder as she became more agitated and no longer alright with dealing with this. "You know we can destroy your first spell so there's no use in fight with us!"

The teenager said nothing, he didn't even move from his place or even react when his spell was destroyed by the acid. He just stood there, watching them both with his demon beside him doing the exact same thing. Their eyes, Kimiko gasping as she looked into them. They were completely empty, there was no life, no emotion, nothing in them. It was almost like somebody had taken their souls away, like they were trapped somewhere deep inside their own bodies.

"They're under some kind of trance."

Tsumi turned to his book reader when this came out of her mouth, looking back to them and frowning ever so slightly. "How do you know?"

The brunette looked from her partner to the two boys, biting into her lip. "Nobody can be that emotionless and that look in their eyes, they aren't aware of what they're doing."

It was true, no emotion at all was buried within the eyes of the teenager or his partner. Their pupils blankly dilated and wide without emotions. The more he thought about it, Tsumi wasn't even sure if he had seen either of them blink once.

"What should we do?" Tsumi's voice soft and nervous while he looked from one to the other.

Kimiko hesitated, what should they do? They were in a trance which meant they were dead to the world for now, but the only thing she could think of felt rash and stupid. "We, we're going to burn the book. Maybe if we do that, they'll come back."

The demon's eyes got wide, looking at the girl in awe. "You want me to burn it?"

"There's no other option, we have to."

Tsumi wasn't sure if he could do that without regretting, whimpering before glancing at the silver eyed duo and studying them. How could either be happy if they were dead to this world? He had to do this; otherwise they would end up suffering like this for longer. "Alright."

"Rachido!"

Tsumi lunged forward, the acidic gas streaming from his mouth and right at the demon who barely moved, burning his arm in the process and yet barely reacting as his skin began to bubble with the heat of the acid.

"He didn't move." The conscious demon in awe as he watched the demon just blankly watch him, a bit of blood dribbling down his tiny arm thanks to the burn of the acid. He didn't want to hurt the kid, not when he was fighting blindly!

However, the book that the silver eyed teen held soon began to glow brightly, the entranced boy looking down as if he was trying to process just what was happening. "Jitsuru!"

The silver eyed demon put his hands out in front of his body, his palms shooting a thick metal spear out at the two. The poison demon had barely any time to react, gasping in horror when he saw it coming.

Tsumi felt the solid spike shoot into his chest, flying back and crying out in pain. He hit the ground, the spear vanishing after doing his job, leaving the child with blood beginning to soak his chest.

"Tsumi!" His bookreader shouted in horror, moving to rush over to his side only for him to motion for her to stay completely still.

"I-I'm find." The demon child forced himself back up, supporting his weight against his hands for a moment before finally getting onto his feet. His skin was burning a bit while he balanced himself, his voice a bit rough. "They have two spells."

Kimiko nodded, staring at her book with rage. 'How did they beat us to the next spell?' Nothing seemed to happen, closing her eyes and trying to make the next spell appear to no avail.

"Janduro!"

The brunette didn't pay attention, gasping when she noticed the ball being shot at her. Tsumi taking the time to lunge at the girl, knocking her to the ground before it could hit either of them.

Kimiko blinked, looking up as she sat on her knees and looked over to the boy. "Thank you."

"W-What are partners for?" The demon smiling to her with relieved joy. "Just like you said, we're together for a reason."

With that the book began to glow a deep violet, both of them turning to see this happening and blinking in pure awe. No way this was happening, the pages in Kimiko's hands beginning to emit a beautiful purple. That was when a rather large portion of the violet letters changed colors and became a deep purple.

"I can read it." Kimiko breathing in, her hazel eyes growing wide with glee as she turned and looked back to her partner. "We have a second spell."

Tsumi beamed, standing up and rubbing at his hurting chest, trying to ignore the fresh bloodstains that were beginning to ruin his cloak. "Then read it. Let's do this together!"

The school girl nodded to him, her demon standing before her and holding his hands out before him. Neither knew what was going to happen when she spoke this next spell, but they would never be able to find out if they didn't try it right here and now.

"Jitsuru!" The silver eyed boy, having no idea what was really happening before him only called out his second spell once more, his demon barely reacting as he shot out the spear with force.

Kimiko bit into her lip, trying to calm herself down as she looked at the passage right on her book. This was it, drawing in a deep breath while the book began to glow with an aura she hadn't been aware she could generate. "The second spell, Rerano!"

The girl squeezed her eyes shut, biting into her lip before opening her eyes just to see what was happening. 'No way.'

Tsumi's body radiated with the energy he had gotten from his bookreader, eyes glowing a violet color for only a moment before a small beam was shot from his mouth. That beam formed itself into a circle, becoming solid and being surrounded by golden accents similar to that of an old medieval shield you'd see in the movies.

'A shield!" Kimiko gasping as she covered her mouth in awe. 'We have a shield!'

However, it didn't stop there, the new defensive spell beginning to spin around the two of them. Soon enough that spear rammed into their new shield, but ended up being propelled the other way with much more ferocity and even radiating a bit of a purple aura.

Kimiko and Tsumi didn't know the aftermath until the shield vanished into thin air, both rushing over to the other side as a bit of smoke vanished from where the silver eyed duo had stood. There they found the demon child lying on the ground, his eyes wide while their book sat on the dirt close to the bookreader, green flames eating at the cover.

"We did it. We really did it." Kimiko smiling to her partner in a moment of blissful relief before rushing over to the silver eyed bookreader to see if he was okay.

The moment she put her hand on his shoulder the boy shivered, turning to her as all of a sudden he blinked, his pupils beginning to return to normal. The moment Kimiko came into his focus his voice came out. "Who...Why are you here? W-Where is Io!"

"J-Jayden." The silver eyed teen turning to see his partner lying on the ground, gasping when he noticed his book burning, voice holding uncomfortable emotions. "Io! W-What's happening to you!"

"I have to go back now, my book's almost gone." The demon faking a smile while he put his small hand on Jayden's knee, gentle tears in his eyes. "I'm so happy we got to be partners."

"Don't go! Please!"

Kimiko and Tsumi could only watch the demon vanish from thin air, seeing the silver eyed teenager cry and mourn the loss of his partner. They felt horrible, but they had no choice.

From now on, things were going to be much more serious.

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"I feel, evil."

Kimiko turned to her demon partner, frowning. "It's okay; we only did what we are going to have to do if we want to make it through this game."

"Did, did it bother you though?"

"Yeah, it did."

The both of them continued on their way, walking back to the house with a dirty feeling welled into their chest. They didn't feel proud of themselves, they did get their second spell and it was a wonderful step forward for them both, but they would be separating people. It would have been an easier split if they had been fighting a team that was willingly fighting back. These two were somewhere else, they were gone from this world until their book had been burned.

Not only that, but why were those two in a trance? Who did that to them?

They turned the corner, Kimiko digging into her pockets to find her house keys when Tsumi suddenly froze, biting into his lip. "K-Kimiko."

The school girl looked up, gasping as they got to the front of her home and almost dropping her keys. Standing before the door was the girl with scars on her face from Kimiko's class. The girl holding out a white spellbook before her. "Hello there, would you let me in? I think we need to discuss something very important."