Zakuro blinked in confusion.

"Huh?" She said.

Zui Gao gripped her hands tighter.

"Marry me, Zakuro." Zui Gao repeated, looking up into Zakuro's eyes.

-X-X-

Suzahara shouted a war cry as he charged at Tamahome. Suzahara's movements were fluid but Tamahome adeptly dodged his attacks.

Suzahara was seeing clearly now. He knew how to defeat this demon.

"You read books written by humans." Suzahara said, as he tried to pierce Tamahome's arm.

Tamahome smiled in response.

"We're all sentient beings after all." Tamahome replied, clawing the air. "I've read all the books written in hell. It's fairly interesting reading books from this world."

"Tu." Chichiri murmured and rocks bore down upon Tamahome.

Tamahome blasted energy from his hand and pulverized the rocks into dust. Chichiri joined the fray and attacked Tamahome simultaneously.

"What is it that you seek?" Chichiri asked, as he physically tried to injure Tamahome. "Even with your strength, you'll only be a servant to the tengu. If hell wins, you'll still remain a servant."

Tamahome's eyes flashed.

"My family has served..." Tamahome started.

"But do you?" Suzahara continued. "Do you think your master is worth serving?"

-X-X-

Zakuro could feel the heat rise to her face. She hastily withdrew her hands.

"W-w-what?" She stammered, embarrassed.

"I love you." Zui Gao said, moving closer to Zakuro.

Zakuro scrambled back and fell off the bed. Zui Gao tried to help her back up. Zakuro ignored his hand and stood up.

"You just met me today!" Zakuro exclaimed.

"I know it seems sudden." Zui Gao said, sighing in relief. "But don't you think sometimes you just know. We spent the last couple of hours talking as though we have known each other for eons. It might seem ludicrous but I know it's right. I've never felt this way my entire existence."

-X-X-

Nuriko charged at the door. But the door stood strong.

"Insolence." Tamahome said, angrily.

They seemed to have hit a sore spot.

"You humans cannot even begin to understand the bonds of nobility." Tamahome said, as he blasted energy towards Chichiri, hitting him on the chest.

Chichiri slumped to the ground and was knocked out cold. Nuriko paused for a moment looking at Chichiri. But she got back to the task at hand and tried to break open the door.

"Seems more like slavery to me." Suzahara said, as he dodged low and managed to give Tamahome a flesh wound. "You see, we humans are never bound. We serve who we like. We fight for who we like. So forced bonds are slavery."

"Free will." Tamahome murmured.

He flexed is claws and charged towards Suzahara.

Suzahara stood calmly at the spot.

"Reaped souls." He murmured. "Light the way."

-X-X-

Zakuro stood quietly for a while. Zui Gao expression of hope faded.

She thought back to the time all those centuries ago when Toya had dismissed her feelings. She remembered how much that hurt. But she wondered if an outright rejection would have hurt any less.

"Zui Gao." Zakuro started, convincing herself that atleast with her honesty, Zui Gao will be able to move on. "Your feelings... Being in love is a precious thing... But... I'm sorry. I don't feel the same way about you. But you must know that I think you're an exceptional person and I respect you a lot."

Zakuro ended lamely. Zakuro looked at the broken expression on Zui Gao's face. She tried to look away, atleast to let him keep his dignity. But she stood frozen to the spot, her eyes fixed on Zui Gao.

-X-X-

Suzahara caught Tamahome's punch with his hand. He could feel the power coursing through him.

Tamahome blinked in confusion and jumped back.

All the souls that Suzahara had saved... that Zakuro had saved were resonating with Suzahara's will to save Zakuro. The veins on Suzahara's hand jutted out as he flew towards Tamahome and landed a punch on the crow's nose, sending Tamahome crashing on the wall behind him.

-X-X-

A book fell from the rack, bringing Zui Gao back to attention. He slowly walked towards the book and placed it back in its spot.

"Zui Gao..." Zakuro mumbled.

"My orders were clear." Zui Gao murmured in a low voice, out of Zakuro's earshot.

-X-X-

"Yes, Master." Tamahome answered outside.

He dodged Suzahara's next attack and kicked him to the ground. Suzahara recovered quickly and flew back towards Tamahome.

"What drives you?" Tamahome said, as Suzahara and he were locked in combat. "Do you love that girl? Is it that emotion that drives you?"

Suzahara smiled.

"A being like you will never be able to understand free will." Suzahara replied, landing a kick on Tamahome's abdomen. "Even if I had just met her today, I would risk my all to save her."

Tamahome tried to understand the meaning behind those words. It added to his anger when he was unable to understand.

And in his anger, he fell.

Suzahara stabbed Tamahome through the neck, blood splashing on the walls of the cave.

-X-X-

Zui Gao felt his General fall.

Idiot! Zui Gao thought, without a hint of remorse. That idiot had only one order. This stupid girl is so difficult.

"I apologize for being so forward." Zui Gao said, smiling as he turned to face Zakuro. "I really do appreciate your honest feelings. If anything, it makes me lo..."

Zui Gao caught himself at the last moment and looked away.

"It's almost time." He mumbled a while later.

Zakuro nodded.

"It would still be great if you would bust out with me." Zakuro said, hesitantly. "You don't have to travel with us. But this place really isn't good for you."

She expected Zui Gao to shout at her. How could she even suggest something like that to a guy she just rejected? But she did feel genuinely sorry for him.

"You're so very kind." Zui Gao said, as he walked towards the door. "But I'm bound to this place."

Zui Gao reached for the door knob and hesitated. Zakuro stood at the same spot, unable to think of words to comfort him.

Suddenly, Zui Gao turned around and walked briskly towards Zakuro. Zakuro instinctively took a step back.

Zui Gao caught Zakuro's hand and pulled her into an embrace.

"Please." Zui Gao pleaded. "Won't you reconsider?"

The words pierced through Zakuro. She looked at the ceiling. How the hell was she supposed to respond to that?

"I'm sorry." Zakuro replied, after a while, trying to pull away.

But Zui Gao held on tighter.

And tighter.

And tighter.

"Ow." Zakuro protested weakly. "Zui Gao, you're hurting me."

She heard Zui Gao chuckle near her neck.

"I'm hurting you?" Zui Gao said, his voice sounding oddly hollow.

For a moment, Zakuro was frightened. Did she just piss off a demon?

"It usually works in less than 4 hours." Zui Gao said, still holding onto Zakuro. "All the girls fall for the tortured prince."

Zakuro frowned, now definitely scared. She looked at the sword lying a few feet from her. She tried to wriggle from Zui Gao's grip but in vain. His dark wings became more pronounced.

"Do you have any idea how rare you are?" Zui Gao said, gently pushing Zakuro away and holding onto her arm.

Zui Gao's eyes glinted malevolently. All the hints of eagerness and innocence from moments ago were lost.

"There is literally nobody else in this world like you." Zui Gao said, twirling a strand of Zakuro's hair on his finger. "I put my best moves on you, too. Had a servant of mine force himself on you. Did the whole heroic rescue. Acted as though I was blessed by the Gods. Shared my tormented life. Listened to you rant about your boring world. And yet, you didn't fall madly in love with the demon prince like all the other girls. Tell me, Zakuro. Do you think I'm unattractive?"

Zakuro struggled, trying to get closer to the sword.

Zui Gao chuckled.

"That's impossible!" Zui Gao said, studying his reflection in Zakuro's eyes. "Everybody loves the demon prince."

He bent down, getting closer to Zakuro's lips.

"Get away from me!" Zakuro growled, turning her head away.

She felt like an idiot. Demons were spawns of hell. How could she ever think that they were anything but evil?

-X-X-

Tamahome felt the life from him slowly draining. Suzahara knelt next to him.

"I don't need your pity." Tamahome said. "Once I die, the door opens. Though I doubt the girl would still be alive."

"You shouldn't underestimate her." Suzahara said, a hint of worry in his voice.

He took out a few bandages from his bag and began dressing Tamahome. Tamahome looked at him surprised.

"Is this kindness?" Tamahome asked, holding Suzahara's hand. "Is this pity? You do realize that I will maul you if I survive."

"And I will defeat you." Suzahara said, calmly.

He could feel the spirits calming down and the flow of power reducing.

"You taught me a very valuable lesson." Suzahara said, as he continued bandaging Tamahome.

His hands worked fast.

"SUZAHARA!" Nuriko shouted, as she banged on the door. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"

"You didn't try to hurt the one person who was physically trying to break the door." Suzahara mused. "You didn't break the barrier that kept the other tengu out. It was because your orders were absolute. But that didn't necessarily mean you agreed with them."

Suzahara rose to his feet.

"You're a noble demon." Suzahara said. "You fought honorably."

Suzahara turned heel and charged towards the door. He could feel one single spirit supporting him.

"WATCH OUT!" Nuriko shouted, as she pushed Suzahara out of the way.

A blast of energy whizzed past Suzahara's ears. Tamahome was on his feet, panting.

"My orders are absolute." Tamahome said, ripping off his blood soaked shirt, revealing a black feather tattoo on his shoulder. "By this mark, I will serve the noble..."

Suzahara stabbed Tamahome through the mark.

"And now you're no longer bound." Suzahara said, a hint of urgency in his voice.

-X-X-

"I said get away from me!" Zakuro shouted, trying to push Zui Gao away.

"Father always said I had a bad habit of playing with my food." Zui Gao said, as he tried to pull Zakuro towards him. "But food tastes so much better when they want you as much as you want it. Girls getting all hot and wanting me to kiss them, wanting me to love them."

Zui Gao licked his lips. Zakuro shuddered.

"You're disgusting." Zakuro said.

Zui Gao pushed her to bed.

"I do like the sensation of this dress." Zui Gao purred. "Tamahome chose well. Now I wonder how it feels underneath."

"LET ME GO!" Zakuro shouted.

Behind them the door exploded. Zui Gao clicked his tongue and looked up.

"No way." Zui Gao said.

Zakuro scrambled towards the opposite corner of the room, tears streaming from her eyes.

"I told you a million times." Zakuro heard a voice as smooth as silk say. "I don't like you using my books for things as asinine as these."

"What the fuck has gotten into you, Tamahome?" Zui Gao said, sitting cross legged on the bed.

The demon that Zui Gao had "rescued" Zakuro from walked into the room.

Even Zakuro could feel the cold hatred radiating from him.

I've had it with these bloody demons! Zakuro thought as she tried to rearrange her clothes.

She looked at Tamahome look at her from the corner of his eyes.

"Disgusting." Tamahome said, his voice angry. "These are the exact things that are the unbecoming of a demon. Humans are our food. And yet, you rape them before consuming them. That's bestiality!"

Zakuro blinked.

"Ew." She murmured.

"Damn right, Ojou-chan!" Tamahome said.

"We've to move quietly." Suzahara said, from next to Zakuro.

"Suzahara!" Zakuro exclaimed, wondering when he got there.

But the expression of fury on Suzahara's face scared her.

"Did those bastards hurt you?" Suzahara said, his hands shaking in rage.

Zakuro gulped before speaking.

"T-t-that doesn't matter." Zakuro said. "We've to get out of here."

Zakuro looked at Tamahome and Zui Gao in a cold stand-off. She could tell things were about to get bad.

Suzahara nodded. He held tightly onto Zakuro's hand and slid past the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Zui Gao said, cocking his head.

"It wouldn't do you well to ignore me, Zui Gao." Tamahome said, flexing his claws.

"What did you just call me?" Zui Gao growled. "How dare you? Don't forget your place!"

Tamahome showed his shoulder to Zui Gao. Zui Gao frowned at the disfigured tattoo.

"That's just fucking symbolism." Zui Gao said, angrily. "You cannot exist without me."

Tamahome's lips curled into a smile.

"I was only symbolically bound to you." Tamahome said.

That was the last thing Zakuro heard before Suzahara and she left the room. Nuriko was trying to revive Chichiri. The shock waves from the room behind them rumbled through the cave. Nuriko pulled Zakuro into a quick one-armed hug.

"We have to fight our way out." Nuriko mumbled, lifting Chichiri over her shoulder.

Zakuro nodded. Few tengu were charging towards Zakuro and the others. Suzahara slashed his way through the demons, a firm grip on Zakuro's hand. Zakuro looked at him in wonderment. Something seemed different.

Most of the tengu flew towards the fight between Tamahome and Zui Gao, letting Suzahara and the others pass. Suzahara kept running until they were far away from the cave.

"Suzahara..." Zakuro said, panting. "I think we're far enough. Stop..."

Suzahara turned around and watched Zakuro and Nuriko clutch their knees. Nuriko carefully put Chichiri on the ground and sat down with a small thud. Zakuro clutched her knees.

"Are you OK?" Suzahara demanded.

"Yes." Zakuro said, clutching the stitch on her side.

Suzahara tightened his grip on Zakuro's hand.

"Are you sure?" Suzahara asked, his voice softer.

"I'm fine." Zakuro said, looking up at Suzahara, smiling.

Suzahara sighed in relief.

"Thank god!" Suzahara mumbled.

Suzahara stood alert when they heard rustling nearby. Tamahome emerged into the clearing, his hands dripping in blood.

"That felt good!" Tamahome said, stretching his arms.

Suzahara pulled out his sword. Tamahome threw Zakuro's uniform at her. Nuriko watched Tamahome's claws slowly dissipating into the air.

"What's happening to you?" Nuriko asked.

Tamahome shrugged.

"Something about an eternal bond." Tamahome said nonchalantly. "I cannot exist without a master."

Realization flashed across Nuriko's face. She glared at Suzahara. Suzahara and Zakuro were looking at Tamahome, their lips pursed.

Did he know? Nuriko thought, clenching her fists.

"Are you going to spend the last few moments of your life fighting?" Suzahara said, his sword firmly in place.

"Hells no." Tamahome said, grinning. "I'm here to strike a deal with you, God Candidate. You see, I'm not ready to die yet."

"A deal?" Suzahara said, confused.

Is he pretending? Nuriko thought. Back at the cave, he wanted to fix this demon up before rescuing Zakuro.

"I offer you my servitude in exchange for a place in your court when you ascend." Tamahome said, smiling.

Tamahome looked at Zakuro and winked.

"I overheard you suggesting it to Zui Gao." Tamahome said.

Zakuro looked coldly at him.

"I don't..." Zakuro started.

"I accept." Suzahara said, before Zakuro could finish.

Tamahome got to his knees.

"Master." Tamahome said, a new mark appearing on his shoulder.

It looked vaguely like a bird. Suzahara nodded.

A familiar light surrounded Tamahome and Suzahara.

"What?" Zakuro said, confused.

She took a step back from the gust.

Did he just want to complete a God Quest? Zakuro thought, as the light enveloped Suzahara.

The dismembered voices spoke.

You've completed four quests in the God Challenge, one of the three mortals who have managed to do so. We, the kidnapped spirits, shall be your guide. We commend your effort and would support you in future quests.

Once the light faded, Suzahara looked at Zakuro.

"I know how this must..." Suzahara started.

"Awesome!" Zakuro said, tightening her grip on her uniform and smiling. "You did great Suzahara. I'm really glad. I think I will get changed out of these clothes."

Zakuro ran into the forest. Suzahara started to chase her but Nuriko blocked his path. She punched him and he fell to the ground.

"All you cared about was the God Quest!" Nuriko said angrily. "You wasted time fixing this demon up when Zakuro was in danger."

Tamahome appeared between Nuriko and Suzahara.

"That's not it, Nuriko-san." Tamahome said, smiling. "You see, it would have taken a long time for me to die. Suzahara knew that the door was enchanted when I didn't really bother snapping your neck."

"He could have broken it down." Nuriko said, unconvinced.

"That was a slim chance." Tamahome said, as he felt the new mark on his shoulder. "I was a better one."

"It's not an excuse." Suzahara said, rising to his feet. "I took a chance. We were in a bad situation and I had to take a chance. Now, can I please go talk to Zakuro?"

-X-X-

"Stupid Suzahara." Zakuro cursed as she changed her clothes.

Why was she feeling so let down? She looked at the broken buttons of her shirt and sighed.

I should just give up on this uniform. Zakuro thought. It's more holes than cloth now.

"Kinomoto Zakuro?" Zakuro heard a voice call out to her from the shadows.

Zakuro whirled around.

Great! Zakuro thought angrily. Just great! I'm gonna get fucking kidnapped again. I've had it with this world.

Zakuro started slowly backing up towards her friends.

A tall man dressed in orange and red robes emerged from the trees. He appraised Zakuro with golden eyes. His long brown hair fluttered in the air. Zakuro felt a calm take over her. Flowers rose on the spot where the man's feet touched.

"Kinomoto Zakuro?" He repeated, smiling. "I've been looking for you."

-X-X-

Chichiri stirred.

"Taiitsukun-sama!" He mumbled.

"Let them know that I have borrowed Zakuro for a while." Chichiri heard Taiitsukun's voice in his head.

Chichiri slowly got to his feet.

"No." He mumbled. "Please, don't."

But there was no response. Nuriko supported Chichiri.

"They have her." Chichiri said, wheezing. "The Gods have Zakuro."

AN:

LunaLupus16- Yup. They are in a cavern, though not underground. To be perfectly honest, I wanted Zui Gao to be Tamahome. It would fit the scenario perfectly if I let him remain a gentle demon. But I'm a sucker for bad boys! I'm glad you liked the chapter.

-X-X-

So, the original Tamahome is literally a demon. No creativity points for me there. But the others seishi's name translate into Willow (Nuriko), Well (Chichiri), et al. Tamahome translates to demon which is odd for a celestial being (according to me). So I'm hoping to make Tamahome into a sort of anti-hero character. That's a huge undertaking and I hope I can do it convincingly!

And Taiitsukun is in the house! I chose the form he took at the end of the FY series and not the old lady nor young boy (Genbu Kaidan) versions.

As always, keep reading!