Ch 13
Queen Akasha set the defensive positions. Five of the witch covens, she had form a giant pentagram around the barrier with the sixth to the east to watch all of them. The barrier was ringed with iron golems to take the first wave of whatever came out, if Kurumu was right. Sirens guarded each of the Witch covens to shatter anything coming at them with their powerful sonic screams. In between the Witch Covens, and close by to either side were troops of vampires with Minotaurs near them. Whatever got out, wasn't going very far.
On the outside chance that something did get past them, part of the yokai army went to the south, west, east, and Tsukune's army took the north side to prevent a breakout from escaping in any direction.
Looking at what had attacked them before, it seemed like plenty to destroy whatever emerged.
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Kurumu would not go to bed to sleep. Their mansion had a picture window in the lounge that looked south. Parking a couch to face the window was where Kurumu stayed. She took her meals there, she slept there. If it wasn't for having to go clean up and using the bathroom, she'd never leave that spot. She'd done this for five days straight.
Once again, Tsukune went over and sat beside her. "Nothing yet?" he asked.
She smiled and him and held his hand. "Not yet, my love."
"So it might be a long time then?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said with a shrug.
"Not very talkative, are you?" he asked.
Kurumu grew a tinyl smile and said, "Sorry. Tsukune, I can't miss it when it happens."
"Can you tell me what is going to happen?" he prodded.
Kurumu leaned over and put her head on his shoulder, the first sign of affection she'd showed since she had returned. "Queen Akasha is right. If we talk about it, the wrong person might hear of it. I really hate this. I can't tell you anything, I can't have sex, and worst of all is … what I have to do."
"You're afraid of being scried on," Tsukune said.
"I can't afford to let the wrong people find out. Not after I learned … what I learned." she said and sniffled.
Tsukune could tell she was deeply upset. "I wish I knew what that was," he told her gently.
"You'll see. Tsukune? Please do something for me."
"Anything you want," he said sincerely.
"Forgive Apollo for anything and everything he's done."
Tsukune sat up and stared at her. She met his quizzical look with a soft one. "Please?" she asked.
"What does Apollo have to do with this?" he asked automatically.
In a hollow tone, Kurumu said, "Apollo no longer exists. Please, forgive him," she said. Her lip quivered as she added, "Just make it a prayer, be sincere, I'm sure he'll hear you."
Tsukune turned towards her. "Kurumu, what happened to him?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted. "Remember the time he slapped me good and hard and you had him banned?"
"That's kind of hard to forget," Tsukune said with a wince.
Kumuru took a deep breath and said, "He did that because he was afraid for me. He did it badly, but it was the fear his daughter might be hurt that he tried to force me to return. Just like when he attacked Witch Hill, his fear for his family overcame any sense he had."
It took a few seconds for what she said to sink in. Tsukune's jaw dropped. "Are you saying Apollo …" It was so outlandish, he couldn't say it aloud.
"He was my father," Kurumu stated. "So, please, for me, forgive him."
Furrowing his eyebrows, Tsukune asked, "How do you know that?"
"I know. That's all that matters," Kurumu replied.
Tsukune's mind reeled. Apollo was Kurumu's father? "Why didn't Ageha ever say anything?" he asked. "I mean, she must have known."
"I will explain everything once this is all over," Kurumu said gently. "Can you please find it in yourself to forgive him?"
What Kurumu just told him put everything in a new light. Apollo had seen wives and children die over his long life. Kurumu was right, his methods were questionable, but he had acted for the right reasons. In his own way, he had tried to protect his family. He still had questions, but felt now was not the time to ask. Kurumu was asking him to forgive.
Holding Kurumu's hand, Tsukune closed his eyes and said, "I have no idea if you'll hear me, Apollo, but knowing what I know now, with you doing your best to protect your family … please forgive me for not understanding you. I should know by now, no one's perfect. All anyone can do, is their best. I thank you for doing everything you could, and again, ask forgiveness for not understanding."
Kurumu then hugged him tight. "Thank you, my husband," she said with a sob.
Tsukune held his wife as she quietly cried. After Kurumu got this out of her system he ws going to hunt down Ageha and demand why Kurumu was never allowed to know who her father was.
"Tsukune, I love you so much!" Kurumu said in a sob.
"And I love you, Kurumu," Tsukune said gently.
In the distance, a bright red light flashed. After the light, the ground rolled like an ocean wave, headed this way. The light turned deep red and a concussion hit the building, making it shudder. Tsukune looked up to see a dragon float on the air. He wasn't flying, just hanging in mid air. Behind the ground wave, rock and dirt floated in the air. In the distance he also saw yokai floating with the debris. The wave approached and hit the mansion, which came apart as screaming sounded out from everywhere.
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The barrier was surrounded by the red column of light, then the giant globe lifted off the ground and came apart as it rose skyward. The iron golems all fell, or rather floated in place, the magic in them drained away.. All the magical preparations were negated.
Everyone near the now dark red energy lifted off their feet, including all the witches. Beyond the witches, the loosening ground came apart more to reveal winged demons flying up out of the ground.
Out of the red light, more winged demons poured out to race at the helpless defenders, breathing long tongues of fire at the people floating in the air. Sirens wailed out their screams as they were incinerated. Some demons succumbed to the screams. More Sirens were burned alive, their screams dying with them. Vampires and minotaurs were helpless to stop the incineration. Thousands of demons poured out to burn yokai, then rip apart the charred remains.
The feeling of fear was heavy in the air, but a few witches managed to teleport themselves away before they were burned alive.
In the matter of minutes, Akasha's carefully planned first lines of defense had been utterly destroyed.
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In the deep hole where the Devil stood in the material world, He cast he second combined spell. Obscure, Haste, Bind. This made his minions hard to see, faster and bound all his minions to the realm he was in, preventing them from returning to the abyss. The flow out of the gate became a solid explosion of demons racing up and out. His last spell he cast on the demons flying past him. Regenerate, Resurrect.
The Devil then lifted himself up to ground level to watch the fun.
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As soon as Kurumu saw the red flash and the column of red light shoot skyward, she was on her feet. She watched the barrier globe rise in the air and come apart. The hill within it broke apart into dust that formed a dark cloud over the area.
"Tsukune, it has started. Take Moka and go, please!" she begged.
Feeling the building breaking apart, Tsukune grabbed Kurumu and ran through the window to get them out and away from the crumbling building. His jump out the window didn't land them outside on the ground, he kept floating in the air.
"Tsukune, I need my wings!" Kurumu cried. She shifted around to get a hold on Tsukune as she got him to let go. Bringing out her wings, she caught air and flew him away to the north, over the floating remains of the destroyed palace. Seeing Moka and Akasha holding hands in the air, Kurumu flew close to them and yelled, "Tsukune, grab them!"
Tsukune did. Kurumu pumped her wings and flew them north as confused yokai below swam in the air, trying to get back to the ground.
"What did this?" Moka asked in a stressed tone.
"The Devil is here! Tsukune, keep Moka and her mother safe!" Kurumu replied. Ahead, Kurumu saw where some yokai were on the ground and rocks weren't floating in the air. She flew they past the line and landed. The instant She was free of Tsukune, she vaulted into the air again and flew back the way she came. Tsukune and Moka called to her, but Kurumu ignored them.
To the south, Tsukune sat the black, overcast sky was reflecting what looked like a hundred tongues of flame shooting out from flying things. Feeling helpless, he watched Kurumu fly back into what looked like Hell.
A bright spot, nearly sun-bright came into being over them. Looking up, Tsukune saw a white glowing being with feathered wings raise a trumpet to his lips.
The long blast from the trumpet was deafening. Tsukune swore he saw a pressure wave with the tremendous noise. The wave of noise hit the ground and all the floating things and people dropped back to the ground as the trumpet blast hit them. He also noted what he first thought was a bright white cloud over him. It wasn't a cloud, but what looked like thousands upon thousands of white winged creatures. Angels, an uncountable amount of them flew down at the black hoarde of demons flying up at them.
When the Devil stepped onto the Earth, he broke the ultimate law. While both good and evil could influence, neither good nor evil angels were allowed onto the material plane. The Devil making this audacious move allowed Gabriel to call forth the Heavenly Host to battle against him. With a blow of his horn, he called forth the Angles from Heaven. Michael had been waiting for the call, and flew straight for his goal.
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Kurumu had her nails out and was working her way south. Demons that charged her, she dispatched with a slash that made them scream and burn. Seeing a pack of vampires being overwhelmed and fighting for their lives, she dove down and slashed apart their attackers. Even demons that attacked her wailed in pain when their hands, claws or teeth caught fire upon touching her. In short order, the demons were cleared away for the moment. She saw a ragged looking Kokoa, clothes ripped to the point of indecency, staring at her.
"Find another group and stay together," Kurumu told her and flew at another large pack of demons coming at them. She met their claws and teeth, slashing away as fast as she could, cutting through heads, arms and wings. The demon's own attacks left them howling in pain as whatever they touched her with, burst into flame. Cutting through the demons, Kurumu banked hard and came at the now much smaller pack. One breathed fire on her. The flame washed around her impotently. She sliced his head off, then chased another who decided to flee. She got part of his tail, he turned to try a swipe at her.
Kurumu drove her nails through his chest and ripped down. The demon's black blood sprayed out to turn into a dark flame. The air around her had the rotten-egg stink of sulphur, but she flew on.
Over her, Kurumu sensed Michael, who was battering his way through the Devil's black minions. She shot up in the air, fighting her way to him.
"Kurumu, there is no need for you to fight, just be here!" Michael barked, then smashed into another black dragon, sending it's pieces flying.
"You hid from me my whole life!" Kurumu replied in a yell, then slashed a smaller demon in half. "Now that I know, I will NOT let you fight alone. I will not be denied our remaining time together, even if it is battle!" Turning over, she ripped open a demon trying to come at them from above.
"Then let it be so. Help me clear a path to that evil thing. We will prevail!" Michael announced.
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The Devil stood in shock. All his prepared spells he'd cast, were now broken, or very weak. He knew that horn blast. Gabriel was here. How did he know so fast? Right after the trumpet blew, the Devil felt the mass of Angels coming. Gravity was back to normal, and the yokai were now fighting back. Even reduced in numbers, they were not to be taken lightly.
"Damn them," he snapped, hating the Angel's interference. He directed more demons to battle the Angels. He had to keep them busy until he could perform the magic to make the material join the ethereal. Joining planes would drive the Angels out and make all the rebel yokai his, as they should be. The flow of demons was still a thick column pouring out of the gate. Cruella and her demons, he sent right at Michael who was fighting a b-line straight towards him.
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Although Kurumu was moving as fast as she could, twisting and slashing her way through a seemingly endless mass of demons, she wasn't tiring. She had to help her father get to his goal.
Right in front of her, a dark gray Succubus appeared. Kurumu slashed down hard, cutting through a shoulder, wing and leg. The demon's swipe hit Kurumu on her shoulder and the nails broke apart into a black dust. That one fell away from her.
"It's the little Twit!" a voice to her side spat. Kurumu looked to see Aliana, the one she'd fought before. A quick barrel roll put her above where Aliana had been. She wasn't there. Kurumu then felt her right over top of her. Rolling on her back, Kurumu swiped out. Aliana bounced up, avoiding the swipe, then came down hard, driving into Kurumu.
Kurumu grabbed Aliana. Aliana screamed as the tumbled, Aliana's flesh acting like boiling water, bubbling and pouring off in black smoke where she was touching Kurumu. Seeing she was falling behind Michael, Kurumu slashed off Aliana's wings and kicked her away to fly after her Father. Aliana hit the ground with half her body gone. The mass that only had half her head lay moaning in agony.
Another rush of demons flew at Michael. From behind them, a white beam of light shown briefly to evaporate those demons as if they were only shadows. A crimson river of fire washed over Michael from ahead. They flew past demons trying to intercept them. Kurumu got one who was closing on Michael.
Suddenly, The mass in front of them cleared and Kurumu saw what looked like a large minotaur with a mostly human face, straight ahead.
"Kurumu, remember!" Michael yelled, then charged straight at the Devil and rammed into him. Hugging the Devil tight, they tumbled back into the large hole in the ground.
Kurumu landed to dig the amulet out and smash it. She got rammed from behind. The screaming dark gray Succubus that hit her tumbled over her, howling as tendrils of black smoke poured off her. Kurumu grabbed the amulet and ripped it off it's chain. She dropped to her knees. The ground under her rumbled as Michael fought the Devil.
"You cannot beat ME!" The Devil roared.
"And you cannot beat me!" Michael roared back. "Get ready for a VERY long fight!"
Kurumu looked over the edge, Michael had the Devil by a horn and was punching him repeatedly.
The devil was returning the punishment, pounding Michael with both fists.
"Kurumu, NOW!" Michael roared.
The Devil looked up briefly. Suddenly, Michael's foolish direct attack made perfect sense. Michael was not just here in front of him, he was also inside that girl. "You don't DARE!" he roared.
"I do!" Michael barked and pulled the Devil close, wrapping him in a bear hug. "Kurumu!"
Kurumu stabbed the amulet with a nail, driving her nail through it. The amulet disappeared into golden dust.
From the crater, There was a bright flash of light then a sucking noise sounded. The devil opened his mouth and wailed out a cry of anger, then he and Michael were drawn down into nothing.
A wind grew from the hole, increasing in force. Demons flew backwards into the hole. Kuurmu was pushed by the wind towards the hole. She dropped flat and jammed both her hands as deep into the ground as possible and laid flat, wings tucked in to keep from being sucked down into the hole now drawing demons into it, faster and faster.
The mass of bodies flying above her was so thick, Kurumu didn't dare to even lift her head for a look. A shoe pulled off her. Her shirt was ripped it's length down her back. Scared she was going to be sucked in, she dug her hands into the ground and pressed herself down.
Kurumu really wished she'd taken the time to kiss Tsukune goodbye. By the force of the pull, she was sure she would be sucked down into the Abyss.
Suddenly, all was quiet. The wind stopped, there were no more bodies flying over her.
Her hair a tangled mess, Kurumu peeked up. She was lying on the ground, her fingers buried in the soil. The sun was out and shining down on her. Bodies were everywhere. Kurumu pulled her fingers out of the ground and rose to her feet. For as far as she could see, there was not one living soul.
Standing up, Kurumu found the only thing holding her shirt on was her shoulders. Her entire back was exposed. She was also missing a shoe. 'How did that happen?' she thought. Turning, she looked at the crater in the ground. Now, it looked like a meteor crater. The bottom was nothing but more ground. No gate, not even a discoloration of the rock.
All the demons were gone. Her father was gone. "Not fair," she said weakly. She dropped to her knees and stared at the last place she'd seen him.
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Tsukune ran back to the ruins od what was once a grand palace, but was now rubble. He, Moka and Akasha searched and pulled people out of the debris as fast as they could while a grand battle over them threw fire and lightning through the sky as demons and Angels formed a massive furball overhead that stretched as far as the eye could see. Tsukune help looking south now and then, he wasn't able to see Kurumu anywhere. After pulling a bloody and battered Issa out from under a large stone block, he ran towards the battle that was now pulling back to the south rapidly.
The column of dark forms that had been spewing out of the ground, reversed and they were now flowing back in. Moaning demons on the ground were crumbling to dust. As fast as they had come, they were all being pulled back down through what had to be the gate. Over him Angels were rising and disappearing. By the time he got to where the crater was, the darkness had dissipated. Bodies lay scattered everywhere, there was only one living that was at the rim of the crater, sitting on her feet.
"Kurumu!" Tsukune cried and raced over to her. He knelt down beside her, "Kurumu?" he asked, seeing her staring down at the crater bottom. Tears were running down her cheeks as she whispered her song.
"I won't back down, no I, won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell and I , won't back down..."
Tsukune hugged her gently and drew her head onto his chest. Kurumu felt limp. She kept quietly singing as he petted her tangled up hair. He was sure she didn't even know he was there. Her mind was off someplace else. All he could do was hold her and hoped she came back.
Kurumu's mind was seeing they people she knew that were gone now. Ruby would never again watch over Witch Hill, her pride and joy. Yukari would never again trade teases about breast size or get into tussles, Father Tappan would no longer give his sermons, tell everyone about town news or congratulate people who had made their accomplishments. He would never again take walks with Nana and their children. Apollo was gone. So much agony he had, so many conflicts he did badly at, but for the right reasons. He wasn't even able to rest in peace. He'd gone to hell to battle the devil. Forever.
Feeling someone holding her, she knew it was Tsukune. At lest he lived. She hoped Moka did too. Thinking about what Apollo had to endure, she burst out in a wailing cry, hoping somehow, her father would hear her and know at least one person was going to miss him.
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The mood was somber as Akasha and Moka gathered the remains of their forces. Fang-Fang gathered his forces, about half of what he'd brought, and went home. Issa and the other three surviving vampire lords did the same. The council of High Sorcery left with their four surviving members.
Moka too stock of what they had left. As she looked over the ragged survivors, she asked, "Where's Lord Aono?"
Mariko closed her eyes then pointed. "There," she said, pointing behind Moka.
Tsukune topped the rise and walked towards her, carrying Kurumu who was limp, her head on his shoulder.
"She cried herself to sleep," Tsukune explained as he came over to Moka. "I found her right in the edge of that pit. The gate's gone."
"We won?" Liz asked.
"Looks like it," Tsukune said in a huff. He looked at the two dozen survivors. A couple dozen out of the thousand plus he'd brought. They had paid a very heavy price, but it needed to be done. "This is it?" he asked.
"It is," Moka stated.
"Let's go home."
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Nana had put the children to bed. Once they were tucked in, she went out to the alter to pray again for Chris. Although she had this bad feeling that he wasn't coming home, she still prayed for him every day.
Tonight, she went out fo find an almost invisible man standing by the alter. Nana could see through him. Stepping closer, she recognized him. "Chris?" she asked as she approached.
A whisper of a voice replied. "Pure, sweet Nana. I am so sorry I can't come back to you. I was allowed a visit before I go. Nana, you and the girls are safe. We did beat the devil, he cannot come back."
Nana cast him a loving gaze. "I am going to is you so much," she said with a hitch in her breath.
Chris nodded sadly. "I hear your prayers, Nana. I am so sorry for you that we must be apart now. Take heart my love, it will not be forever. One day, you will join me. Until then, you have to keep up the church for our people, they will be needing you. Just know that I will always love you. Goodbye, Nana."
Tears forming in her eyes, Nana said, "Goodbye, my love."
Chris faded from view. Nana sat down ad cried her eyes out.
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Tsukune talked to Mariko about making a memorial. They decided to ring the base of Ruby's statue with a wall engraved with every name of the fallen from Witch Hill and the Sotoba valley. The wall was granite, the names filled with gold so the memorial would last for a very long time. Once it was done, Mariko used a protection spell to ensure nothing could harm the stature or the wall around it.
Nana Tappan who was now the Church leader, was wearing a white robe, as she lead the prayers for the dead. Again, there was a massive crowd there for the service. Once Nana finished her prayers, she called Tsukune up to the makeshift platform.
Tsukune took his place and looked out over the crowd. "My wife, Kuurmu, sings a song. 'I won't back down'. Despite facing overwhelming numbers of things from the abyss, including the devil himself, we didn't back down. We stood up and fought battles that were literally straight from hell. We stood at the gates and didn't back down. Every name on this wall are ones who died, sacrificing their lives in perhaps the greatest struggle we will ever see. Every one of them are heros. They all followed Ruby's example of doing everything they could to keep not only Witch Hill safe, but the entire world. We've all lost loved ones. They died so we, and future generations can live. Take their sacrifice to heart and never forget them. Those few of us that did come back, know how tough it was. All I can say about why we made it and they didn't, is luck. Lucy Kikumura watched her daughter Kanae fight demons until she was dragged down by them. She fought on. All the witches who left with us did their best until the demons got them, including my wife Yukari.
I could go on and on about the people who gave everything they had before they succumbed to the hordes we faced. Just know that not a single one showed any sign of wanted to flee what had to be certain death. They are all heros. As Nana said, let us hold the memory of them in our hearts and pray they all have a good afterlife. Thank you."
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In the fields of burning sulphur and souls moaning in agony under the blood red sky, Michael's left hand was fused to the devil's right, making them inseparable. Michael punched the devil repeatedly, making his head snap back every time. The pummeling went on until the devils finally managed to grab his fist.
"You fool, look what you did to us!" the devil roared.
"Yes, and I must say it is satisfying," Michael replied with a grin. He kicked the devil hard, the devil lost his grip and the rain of punches continued.
Again, the devil managed to grab his arm. "You are insane!" the devil spat. "Don't you realize that YOU are in hell too?"
"I do, and I have thousands of years of pain and frustration to let out on you!" Michael growled. A couple kicks and he pummeled the devil again with fast punches, trying desperately to smash his face in. In a roar, he added, "AND I CAN KEEP THIS UP FOR A VERY LONG TIME!"
The End