Chapter 87

"S-s-stop right there!" called out the guard as Kline and Shuzo marched towards him. Feebly he held up his blade as predictably the two continued to walk towards him.

"I would suggest standing aside," said Kline.

"W-why did you attack this village? What have we done?"

"I don't answer to people like you," replied Kline as the guard charged at him. Shuzo took a step forwards, concerned but Kline stood unmoving. His expression never changed, even as the blade plunged into his forearm. The guard let go and took a step back, surprised and scared by the lack of reaction.

"That was a mistake," said Kline, pulling the blade and stabbing it into the guard's throat with a single movement. Neither he nor Shuzo could be bothered to finish off the guard, merely walking away as the man gargled on blood with terrified wide eyes.

"If you had just stepped back I could have prevented that," said Shuzo in a muted tone.

"At this point a little spilt blood does not mean much to me at all Shuzo," replied Kline.

"Auuu Tomo, don't you realize the situation you're in?" asked the demon.

"Not really…," replied Tomo. "I still don't understand…well any of this."

"I am not certain of what is in store for you…us…but whatever it is can't be good. Whatever happens I suspect I should be fine, but you might not be so lucky. I strongly believe you don't want to die…am I correct?"

"Die? Well no I don't really wanna die," replied Tomo. "That'd kind of suck."

"Dying generally isn't something nice," replied the demon. "Or so I've heard auuu~"

"Why are you asking anyway?" asked Tomo. "Are you…are you interested in dying?"

"Why would I be interested in that?"

Tomo shrugged.

"Tomo I have been a part of you for several years now. Beyond just years, our relationship can be described using decades now. You need me to survive- you have used me to survive. I don't particularly need you to survive, but after all this time you…interest me. And I've been a pawn to these people for too long now. I am willing to help you."

"Help me?" asked Tomo.

"All these times you have called upon me to survive, all of the times I have taken over- every time has weakened the seal containing me, making it easier for me to appear. To survive this battle you will need all of my help. Yet I fear that could be just as bad for you."

"Huh? Why?" asked Tomo.

"I am just a small part…a mere fragment of the demon within you. Just my presence could help you heal from almost any wound that wasn't instantly fatal. Twice my power could make you fiercer then most opponents. Thrice my power has been the most you have ever experienced in battle. I could offer you even more in battle."

"Well that would be pretty cool!"

"Well it would be, if there wasn't a risk the power could rip your human body apart. Too much power unleashed and you become a bloody mess-,"

"That's bad."

"-but the seal placed upon you prevented such a thing ever occurring. Prevented me fully taking over. But the seal has been weakened now. Of course such a thing could have happened before, had such a powerful seal not been placed upon you. Some people place far too much faith in the seals they attempt to use. Unfortunately for me- and luckily for you- this faith wasn't misplaced."

"That's…good?"

"Tomo, when the time comes I will offer you my strength. And this time you will be able to control yourself."

"That's-,"

"Good, yes. At the very least, having been with you since near birth, you have much more of an advantage then others. Your body has had years to adjust to me before anywhere near the power of a demon could be released."

"Cool."

"I have seen the results of someone who tried to seal away one of my fellow tailed demons. It was too weak to contain him, and too much power was released from the offset. There was a lot of blood."

"Oh I see," said Tomo, who rubbed her head.

"Something wrong?"

"Just…feeling a bit woozy."

"Who are you to offer the power of a demon?" roared a voice from the nothingness.

Tomo snapped out of her dizziness to turn to face the small demon who looked startled.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Another part of the demon."

"Please keep up with me," said the guard as he led Takino and the cloaked Kagesaki along the corridor.

"Where are we heading?" asked Kagesaki trying to feign a sense of interest.

"We have to get you to a safe place," replied the guard. "We don't know why we're under attack, but as an important guest we have to keep you safe. And you too," said the guard to Kagesaki. Kagesaki smirked.

"It's getting a bit dark outside," said Kagesaki. "What time would you say it is?"

"I would say it's time," said Takino with a resigned nod.

It was over in a matter of seconds, the guard not even realizing what was happening until Kagesaki grasped the man's head and promptly crushed his skill with a crack that made Takino shudder slightly.

"You could have just knocked him out," said Takino pointing towards Kagesaki's new arm.

"I didn't want to take any risks," said Kagesaki, his smirk hidden under the cloak.

Takino said no more, instead leading the way as the duo made their way outside. It had been several years since he had last marched down this hallway, yet he still knew the way, finding it had changed very little. Finally they reached the main doors and stepped outside freely, the attack having drawn the guards away.

They were greeted by the sight of Sen standing in the middle of the pathway, an icy block containing a slightly headstrong girl beside him. With one bandaged hand he waved slightly.

"So, shall we be leaving now?" asked Sen. Takino nodded.

"Just a moment please," said Kagesaki as he removed his cloak, revealing his scarred face to the fading light again. "I've wanted to get rid of that bloody thing for ages."

"Well let us start this," said Takino. "Kline and Shuzo should be meeting us there shortly."

"What fun," replied Kagesaki.

"Hey, what are you doing there?"

Kline turned and couldn't help but grit his teeth as a group of five more guards approached him and Shuzo. He wasn't worried, more annoyed by the interruptions they were running into. He rubbed his arm, now free of blood and any trace of a wound. He turned to Shuzo. Shuzo returned the look.

"Stop there!" said the leader of the group as they started to step towards the duo. Shuzo formed a sword of ice as they stepped forwards.

"Flashy or quick?" asked Shuzo.

"Whatever you feel like doing," replied Kline.

Shuzo smiled and slammed the tip of the ice blade down into the ground. He kept a tight grip of the sword, his hand unaffected by the cold. His eyes started to change to an icy blue colour as his grip tightened. Kline took a few steps backwards and folded his arms.

Two steps later from the guards and Shuzo let go of the blade. There was the faintest rumble from below. One of the men looked down in confusion. Screams filled the air as sharp blades of ice shot up from beneath the ground, piercing and tearing through the men. Some of the men were held in place by the ice blades, while pieces of the other men fell to the ground.

Shuzo tapped once on the original blade and it vanished along with the tint of his eyes and the rest of the ice blades. What remained of the men fell to the ground with a splat.

"I guess I'm a bit rusty," stated Shuzo. "Before I bet all of them would have been in far smaller pieces."

The two men continued on their journey across the village, leaving behind the scene of gory carnage. To anyone stumbling upon the scene it would have looked as though some of the men had simply exploded, while others had been torn limb from limb by a wild creature.