Well it has certainly been a while hasn't it? After the last chapter I experienced a severe case of Writer's Block which as of Monday, January 14th was broken and I quickly came up this chapter which in my opinion couldn't have turned out any better.

Anyway onto the important notices:

From now on my profile will be showing updates such as if I am experiencing writer's block, or if a chapter is being written, reviewed, typed, or what ever else could happen.

Due to my computer's faulty auto correction program I will be going back to fix mistakes so a chapter might disappear for a couple of hours. I will be checking everything so please bear with me.

Enjoy this latest chapter within The Tales of the Dusk!

Chapter 9

Unexpected Delays

Sayako Inn – Lobby

September 21st – 22:21

Tatsu and I stared at Aria and Shirayuki as they argued over who would get to share a room with Kinji. Meanwhile, Kinji was standing in a corner with his head down in misery, wondering if his night would either be filled unbearable doting or a long night filled with pain.

The room arrangement was supposed to be the girls in one room and the guys in the other, but then Shirayuki started complaining about not being close to her 'beloved Kin-chan.' Now it seemed that Kinji would be sharing a room with both Aria and Shirayuki… which would leave me alone with Tatsu.

"Then it's decided!" I slid out of my reverie hoping that they hadn't planned this from the beginning, just so that they could get Tatsu and me to share a room. "Aria and I will be sharing a room with Kinji while Tatsu and Reki share a room."

I knew it… they both looked at me with devilish grins…

"Finally! Why didn't you decide this earlier?" Tatsu said this as he walked towards the very confused innkeeper.

"Girls are selfish. Each one wants their own way and will very rarely accept an alternative." I saw Aria reach towards her gun holsters, shaking with anger, ready too shoot Kinji at any second.

"Not all girls are selfish. Some are demanding, some are kind, and some are just timid, but every girl has something that makes them important… You just got the short end of the stick." I tried not to laugh as Aria's face turned a deep crimson as she tried in vain to calm herself. This was one of those moments when Tatsu says something so incredibly stupid that you can't help but want to shoot him, but your trying so hard not to laugh that you don't.

Suddenly Shirayuki rushed over to Aria and whispered something in her ear. The next moment they both had the same devilish grins as before. I had a terrible feeling as they hurried off in the direction of the rooms we had just gotten. Kinji just silently walked after them shaking his head. I silently vowed to thoroughly search the room for cameras and the like as soon as I could.

I turned to look at Tatsu and saw, to my utter amazement, what seemed to be a staring contest between him and Haimaki. As they both stared unblinkingly at each other I saw Haimaki's back legs brace themselves. I was about to warn Tatsu when Haimaki leaped at him.

Tatsu fell back as Haimaki crashed into him and it actually seemed like Haimaki was happy. I tried in vain too suppress my laughter as Haimaki licked Tatsu's face as he tried to get up.

"Help!" He pleaded for me to get Haimaki off of him.

I wordlessly looked at Haimaki intently. He whimpered and reluctantly got off of Tatsu. I pulled one of the many bones I'd brought out of my duffel bag and tossed it to Haimaki. He happily took it and ran off into the deeper parts of the inn. I hoped no other guests would call animal control on him.

As I helped Tatsu up he said, "You know you didn't have to laugh…" I didn't respond, simply because either way it was still funny to see. He sighed and said, "So how come you only talk when no one else is around?"

"…I don't like to talk that much." I absolutely couldn't tell him that I only felt comfortable talking to him. It would be too embarrassing.

He looked me in the eyes and I fought down the irresistible urge to blush. Suddenly he smiled and said, "Well we might as well head towards the rooms now."

"…Yeah…"

Sayako Inn – Room 13

September 21st – 23:07

Aria stood up straight and tall (Or at least as tall as her small stature would allow) as she announced, "Tomorrow we hunt the bear and pump it full of holes!"

"Actually it might be better if we caught the bear, rather than kill it. That way we could at least cover the price for those peach buns you bought."

Aria's face turned a deep red to match her hair as she heard Kinji. Shirayuki and Tatsu both started to laugh as Aria stood there shaking in embarrassment and anger.

Tatsu suddenly stopped laughing and said, "I would rather kill it though."

I understood exactly what he meant. These Shadow Demons are evil creatures. Besides, who knows what would happen to the unfortunate scientists who wanted to experiment on it.

"Hey, Shirayuki. You agree, right?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Well you are a shrine maiden right? Doesn't this thing look kinda demonic to you?"

"Well now that you mention it, it does look rather evil doesn't it… In fact this has got to be against the very laws of nature. It must be purified from this world."

"Exactly why I think we should exterminate this thing, rather than capture it for a couple of wack job scientists."

The old clock in the corner of the room suddenly began to chime and, in unison, we all turned to see that it was now well past midnight.

Sayako Inn – Room 13

September 22nd – 01:24

I refused to sleep. I was searching every last corner of the room for any hidden microphones and cameras that Aria and Shirayuki had to have hidden. Also (Probably Shirayuki's idea) there was only one futon in the room. Tatsu of course had fallen asleep lying on a small chair in the back of the room, and every once in a while I saw his arms let out a couple of sparks.

I shook myself, I had to stay focused. So far I had found seven microphones and three cameras. There was no telling how many were in the room.

As I looked around, I saw a glint of metal from behind Tatsu's bag. I reached for it expecting another camera, but instead it was a scabbard. On it was the now-familiar eight-pointed star. The glint itself came from the star but the rest of the scabbard seemed to be made from painted wood. It was a dark forest green with beautiful white lines running all around it.

In the scabbard was beautifully crafted sword. The hilt was a strange black metal. There was a light green ribbon tied around the handle for gripping. The cross guard was shaped like the star. But the blade is what really caught my attention; it was a pure snow white color. I felt a strange power flowing through the blade. I felt like it was singing to me. I quietly put the sword back into its sheath and back where I had found it.

I stood up, and looked around the room and sighed. Where ever Aria and Shirayuki had hidden the other cameras, I doubted that I would find them anytime soon.

It was now well past two A.M. As I laid on the futon, I thought about tomorrow. The demon could be anywhere in the woods, why did Tatsu think we would find it quickly?

Just as I closed my eyes, an ear piercing scream sounded throughout the night…

Unknown Area

?:?

"How interesting… I thought that you were dead."

"In my long life, I have 'died' four times. Once by that aggravating Baskerville team, another by a pesky Butei swordswomen and now by that damn Takata kid!"

"And the fourth time?"

"Some stupid priest a few centuries ago."

"So are you still going to be my servant or do you have some other reason for coming to see me?"

"I want revenge. I already ended that priest's bloodline. But I want to make these people suffer. I want them to beg for death! And only you can get me the power I need to do this."

"Alright… What do you have in mind for your killers?"

"The death of a tortured soul for the little swordswomen. Death for the falsely accused for the leader of the Baskervilles. And finally the death of a certain sniper for the renegade."

"I see that you've given this a lot of thought… Very well you'll have more firepower. Just so long as you make Tatsu suffer, but be careful he is a lot stronger than he lets on."

"Thank you, my lord." I won't be in your shadow for much longer Gainen. Soon I shall be as powerful as a god!

Such is the dramatic conclusion to chapter 9!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!