Chapter 16
'Did they really catch Mamushi?' A voice outside asked, 'Yeah Juzo brought her back.' Another responded as Ryuji got up and ran out the door. 'Bon where are you going?' Koneko questioned as we all followed after him. We all ended up in a room filled with people, a girl with long white hair and snake like eyes was in the center of the room with Juzo. Her right eye had been removed and she had bubbling cists all over her face. 'I am the traitor but please listen to what I have to say. Saburota Todo and I used the right and left eyes to reawaken the Impure King!' She cried out as everyone faced her in shock, quickly breaking out into commotion. 'Silence!' Juzo yelled trying to gain order back. 'Right now the head priest Tatsuma Suguro is fighting him all alone!' She continued to yell as Ryuji and the others froze. His father… 'Please send reinforcements to defeat the Impure King.' She begged as she got down on her knees. Everyone broke out into arguments again as Ryuji stepped forward. 'Mamushi!' He called out as he ran up to her. 'Ryu…Ryuji,' She spoke as she turned to face him. 'Your right eye…' Ryuji spoke as he looked at her with concern. 'I'm sorry… help Ossama!' She cried as Juzo walked over to help Mamushi up. 'Bon, I'll take her to the infirmary.' Juzo stated. We all then left the room to meet up with Shura, 'Rin has been given a death sentence for using his flames.' She spoke as I collapsed to the floor, feeling as though someone just stabbed me through the heart. 'The Vatican's orders cannot be overturned.' She added as tears streamed down my face. 'Rin!' I cried out as Shura handed Rin's Sword to Ryuji. 'Suguro I'm giving this to you! And here is a letter your father wrote to Rin; it says we need Rin's power to defeat the Impure King. Rin want's to help so will you help break him out?' Shura smirked, after some arguing Ryuji was the one who made the first move. 'Solitary confinement is this way!' Ryuji called out as he charged ahead, I followed after him. 'Thank you…' I spoke as Ryuji patted me on the head.
With the invisible cloaks we received from Shura we were able to sneak past the guards till we found an unusual gate. It started to talk, clearly it was some type of demon, it started blabbering on as Ryuji decoded it with a simple answer. 'So we have to fight it!' The demon cried out and everyone froze in their tracks. Only Shiemi and I were able to move. 'How come we can move?' I questioned, 'I don't see you two as a threat.' The demon replied as I smirked. I bit my right thumb and drew the symbol in blood on my left hand, drawing out the demon sword, which resided in my left hand. Quickly I broke the lock letting Shiemi and myself inside. 'Rin!' Both Shiemi and I yelled as we ran to him. 'Stay back, I'm not sure I can use my flame anymore, I've been getting by on enthusiasm so far… but that's not enough. Maybe I'd be better off dead.' Rin replied as Shiemi and I both froze. 'How could you say that?' Shiemi questioned, 'I'm a monster… I mean just look at me.' Rin's eyes filled with tears as he let his flames surround him. 'Idiot!' Shiemi and I both cried out as we ran to him wrapping our arms around his shivering body. 'Look we're not burned at all.' Shiemi smiled, 'you idiot, you know how much we all care about you. Nothings changed for them!' I cried as Rin held me in his arms. 'Let's get out of here,' Shiemi smiled as Rin and I got to our feet. When we arrived outside the gate everyone was waiting for us. 'You all came to help?' Rin questioned in shock, 'I wouldn't like it if you died, I know you're not dangerous so let's be friends.' Koneko blushed, 'Konekomaru…' Rin replied as tears returned to his eyes. 'Just so you know I'm only following Ms. Kirigakure's orders.' Renzou stated, 'I didn't want to come so be thankful I did…' Izumo added. 'Thanks guys…' Rin cried as he suddenly got knocked to the floor. Ryuji's punch had sent him flying. 'Suguro…' Rin spoke with fear, as he knew Ryuji was pissed. 'I lost my head earlier, you were right but only about my dad. You need this if you are going to fight, so here.' Ryuji stated as he returned Rin's sword to him. 'I'll take you to kongoshinzan then you can do whatever you want, I will fight on my own.' Ryuji stated trying to keep up the tough guy act. 'Suguro you gotta trust me, I can't help that I'm Satan's child but I'll use my flames for us. So please trust me!' Rin cried out in desperate attempt to convince his friend and rival. 'Who cares about that… what I can't forgive is how you take on everything by yourself. You're the one who pushed us away so why should I trust a guy like that? Am I the only one who thought we were friends?' Ryuji yelled as Rin's face turned to complete shock. 'I knew it… Mr. big softie,' I laughed as I held on to Ryuji's arm as he charged out of the room. That idiot, why can't he just be honest with himself. I smiled as Ryuji faced me with his usual blush; I had to admit I liked him that way though.
We all headed outside to see a gross bubbling blob forming in the distance, and it was huge at least the size of a large temple. 'So that's the Impure King?' Koneko questioned, 'it's like a fortress,' Ryuji stated as I pulled him closer to me. 'Forget about that thing for now we need to find your father.' I argued as he nodded in reply. We all rushed through the forest when Izumo shouted out, 'hey isn't that your dad?' She questioned as we all saw Ryuji's father lying unconscious covered in blood. 'Father!' Ryuji cried out as he ran to him, collapsing at his side. Just then a flame surrounded his father and shot out in the form of a bird. 'I am Karura servant of Myo-o-Dharani head priests,' the flaming demon spoke. 'Karura… Dad's familiar?' Ryuji questioned, 'I was but the secret was reveled and the agreement broken. Now I am bound to him by a personal agreement.' suddenly Ryuji's father coughed up some blood as Ryuji cried out. 'Ryuji… what are you doing here?' The old man said weakly, 'We came to help!' Ryuji stated, 'so reckless… Rin,' he spoke as he sat up with the help of his son. 'You read my letter?' he questioned as Rin nodded, 'I read it too, everyone here understands the basic situation.' Ryuji stated as his father turned to him in shock. 'Now tell me everything!' Ryuji demanded as his father sighed in defeat, 'all right I will tell you how to defeat the Impure King.
'According to the true way of the Impure King, known only to Myodha's head priest, the Impure King will grown until he is the size of a castle. Then a giant spore sac will form in the center, if it matures and ruptures… spores carrying a potent poison will spread in gaseous form. 150 years ago those spores killed 40,000 people, casualties in modern day Kyoto would be much worse. We must prevent that,' the old man stated as his words confirmed the seriousness of the mater. 'So we have to defeat it before the spore sac bursts?' Ryuji questioned, 'it's not that simple. The Impure King's only weak spot is its heart, which is inside that sac. When Fukaku fought the Impure King 150 years ago, he had no choice but to split the heart into two and seal the pieces.' He continued to explain, 'in other words those are the left and right eyes…' Izumo added. 'We can't hit the heart without breaking the sac?' Koneko questioned, 'that's right, fifteen years ago I made a deal with Karura to use the Aeon Wave Flame. It converts one's lifespan into flames, one great flame to release at the end of my life. I planned on using it to completely destroy the Impure King, however I was only able to use it to hold him in place. There isn't much left, with the remaining flame I will stop the gas from spreading when the sac ruptures. Rin I want you to use the Koma sword to destroy the heart of the Impure King.' The old man stated as Rin's face turned to shock. 'I'm sorry but…' Rin spoke with a look of disappointment; 'I know, you could die but-' the old man was cut off by Rin. 'Huh? No I mean I can't draw the sword.' We all turned to face him in shock, 'I've been trying but I can't pull it out.' Rin explained as he attempted once again to pull the sword from its sheath. 'Why the hell not?' Ryuji yelled, 'I dunno it's some mental hang up.' Rin replied, 'you have got to be kidding me?' Ryuji sighed, 'I see that is a problem, but I can at least put up the barrier.' The old man responded, 'you must not Tatsuma; you have lost too much blood as it is. I healed your wounds but if you attempt a barrier spell now you will surely die.' The flaming demon stated as Ryuji's eyes widened, 'it doesn't have to last long, this is more important then my life.' The old mad replied as he coughed up more blood. 'Dad is there anything we can do?' Ryuji cried out, 'oh you are Tatsuma's son? That is perfect, I can transfer the Aeon Wave Flame to you who share the same blood.' Karura replied.
No you can't! He's still a child do not involve him, these fetters end with me. I swore upon my life anything but that!' Ryuji's father cried out, I was sure in that moment that Ryuji realized all that his father did, the distance he kept was only to protect his son whom he loved with all his heart. 'You've carried that burden all alone until now, I won't let you! I will bear it too, and I won't let you say otherwise!' Ryuji cried out as his father sighed, 'Tatsuma your son is wiser then you.' Karura stated as the old man let out a faded chuckle, 'that's why I didn't want to get him involved.' 'I will now transfer the flame to you, if you are indeed the child of Tatsuma Suguro then prove your blood.' The flaming bird stated as Ryuji bit the tip of his thumb revealing his blood. The flame surrounded him, 'you are indeed the son of Tatsuma, Ryuji Suguro you now possess the Aeon Wave Flame.' The demon stated as Ryuji was surrounded in a red flame. 'Ryuji, I will teach you the strongest barrier spell, known only to the head priest, now come here.' Tatsuma stated as Ryuji walked over and sat beside his father. I watched as Ryuji tried to memorize the signs, good thing that he was incredible when it came to memorization. I felt it though, the tight feeling in my chest that something bad was going to happen. No matter what I will protect Ryuji, if he is going into battle I will stand by his side. We all then watched as the old man collapsed after teaching Ryuji the last step. 'Dad!' Ryuji called out as he ran to his side, 'Moriyama, Kamiki will you stay here and look after him?' Ryuji asked as they both agreed, 'Shima, Konekomaru, I want you both to return to the temple and tell Ms. Kirigakure and the others what we just learned.' Ryuji ordered his closest friends. 'What about you?' Koneko asked with a look of concern, 'I'm going to put up the barrier. It'll spread around so I have to get close to the spore sac.' Ryuji replied as his best friends turned to face him in shock.
You're going to get close to that? No way!' Koneko cried out, 'Bon, I've always kept quiet because of your parents but I've got to say something. You're going to die do you know that?' Renzou yelled, 'Don't worry, I'll protect him.' Rin stated as he stood in front of Ryuji. 'Same here, I don't care what happens I won't let anything happen to him. It will be okay Renzou.' I smiled as Ryuji turned to us in shock, 'will you trust me with him Konekomaru?' Rin asked as Koneko nodded and ran the other way as Renzou followed after him. 'My dad is in your hands,' Ryuji stated as he turned to Shiemi and Izumo. 'You can count on us…' Shiemi replied in her normal bashful tone. 'Let's go!' Ryuji stated as he took off, 'you got it!' Both Rin and I replied. 'Be careful… I truly am sorry… Ryuji forgive your worthless father.' The old man spoke as he watched his son walk away, 'Dad I always liked the way you chanted the sutras… so you better not die on me.' Ryuji replied as he continued on forward. Rin and I looked at each other and smiled, it looked as if the two of them had made up.