Chapter 12- Union
Shura let her katana come to rest on her shoulder. She admired the clean cut that had taken off the horned ayakashi's head. Her tongue slipped out and cleaned off the blood clinging to her lips.
The eyes of the demon's head flared an ominous blue. And his mouth still moved.
"You've defeated me." he said, "You…a miserable tiny human. To fall at your hands is a disgrace. I won't accept it! I swear I'll have my revenge."
"Your words mean nothing." said his killer. "Ayakashi, you were a fine opponent… but today, you were devoured by an even bigger monster."
"Enough!" The demon's head let out a tremendous roar. The light of his eyes blinded Shura. And then, he went silent and the light faded once again.
Shura walked over to the lifeless head. She began to carve away the flesh from its skull. After ten minutes, she had salvaged the skull. It was still quite bloody and wet, but sufficient for her needs. She untied the white band around her upper arm. Next, she took the skull and ran the fabric through its eye sockets. Now was the simple matter of retying it. For a moment, she admired the trophy that now protected her left shoulder. She knew it needed a wash, but already it pleased her.
"Farewell." she said.
She returned her blade to its sheath. With a sigh, she turned her back on her foes' corpse and went her way.
A voice said, "You would do well to fear an Ayakashi's reproach."
Shura's eyes widened. An indescribable cold took her. A phantom of blue fire, with luminescent eyes and fangs, was hovering over her. It looked down at her with a sickening smile.
"Don't worry my dear," he said, "I have no intention of taking this body for my own. In this bodiless form, I could still crush you."
Shura pulled her blades up to the spirit's throat.
"Such ordinary blades will not save you. I'm afraid there are some things even you are helpless against. Don't you feel it?"
"Enough of your foolishness. I have nothing to fear from you."
"Yes. You don't fear me, so why is the life leaving your veins?"
Shura's eyes widened.
"Oh, so you're finally catching on? I already said I don't intend to take over your body. But I've already possessed you. You see I need a host. I desire a rematch and for that, I need a body powerful enough to kill you. So for now, we should try to get along. Just bear with it until I find the perfect body. Deal?"
"There will be no bargaining! Get out!"
The spirit said, "How does it feel? To have so much power and to be powerless against me?"
"Shut up!"
"Just go around doing what you always do. But don't get comfortable. Once I find the warrior I can name stronger than you, you're finished."
Shura stopped resisting and shut her eyes. With a small smile, she said, "How convenient for both of us. What you seek is exactly what I'm after."
"I had a feeling."
"The name's Shura. What's yours demon?"
"It's meaningless for you to know."
"Have it your way then."
The eye sockets of her new spaulder filled with life. Faint blue eyes now hid inside.
Her new companion said, "You are an interesting one… Shura. I've never met a human like you before. As we are one, the very state of your soul touches me. You have so much darkness in you, so much hatred. Tell me, what is it that you hate?"
Shura looked down at her spaulder. For the longest time, she simply stared at him in thought.
What do I hate?
I hate it all. This rotten empty world. These worthless souls I share it with. I hate them all.
Her eyes shifted away from him. Rather than voice her answer to him, she began heading to the exit of his lair. A demon who wouldn't even share his name didn't need to know the meaning of her soul.
Author's Note: Maybe you noticed that her arm band was described as white? This is because at this time, Shura wore a different outfit. She wore her alternate costume from Soul Calibur IV. This outfit is a light purple with slightly dirty white wrappings. Hey, even a manslayer needs to replace their outfit every once a while right?