Everything is JNaegi terrific because this chapter was finally edited and of course the person who edited it was JNaegi. I'm going to have another chapter after this. I bet none of you can guess what the final chapter is going to be like. Please read and review.
Lucifer's lair
In the extravagant looking lair of the fallen angel, Lucifer and his cohorts were observing the small party in the labyrinth.
Looking at the holographic screen (made by magic) Lucifer didn't hide the amusement smirk on his face, which unnerved some.
"They got here sooner than I expected? Do they want to die that quickly before their time?" Lucifer murmured.
A boy, who looked around 8 years of age with white hair, also appeared intrigued by the party especially with. "So that's the half-breed you were telling me about? He doesn't like an emo raven" he stated with awe.
"That's the one who rides on a skateboard. The one I mean has the black hair." Lucifer corrected the boy.
Another one, who was a lean figure that appeared male with a wooden hat on his head and spoke with an air of sophistication (which almost sounded British) said, "Who cares, forget about them. Our primary threat is that damn priestess! What is she even doing here? Wasn't there some absurd rule that she could only get out once a month or something? I thought that it passed?!"
Not glancing at his colleague Lucifer answered him. "She probably found a loophole but that doesn't matter." He keenly observed said girl. "She is dangerous but she is only one person and a battle isn't determined by a single individual. We just need a distraction to get her out of our hair.
The small demon boy jumped at the chance! "Ooooo let me! I'll send my red spirits to take care of her! They just love the touch of female flesh!" A conniving, twisted expression decorated his face showing he wasn't just some innocent child.
Lucifer thought for a moment. "How many red spirits do you have?"
"Five!" the child stated with excitement
He scoffed. "Nothing but air to that psychic; I will accompany them!"
The wooden hat man shot a look to Lucifer. "Are you sure that's a wise action? You're supposed to stay here and help drain the latent powers from those two teenagers to summon the god?"
The maniacal fallen angel leered at him as a dark aura surrounded his frame. "Don't you know that demons always return to their home? Now be silent, I will return shortly!"
With that his body faded out with said red spirts following him.
###
Labyrinth
The small team had traversed through only 2 floors filled with minor traps and already Gero griped about it along with Rina.
Daisuke soon stopped them as they approached a tile floor. "Watch your step everyone; you have to step in the same places I do or you might trigger a trap." He instructed as he went first. Akagi, Motoko and Kaede observed carefully the route he took. The swordswomen went first with ease as Rina tried to remember where they stepped.
"Don't tell me you were daydreaming?" Akagi asked the blonde girl who took offense to that.
"I wasn't! I saw exactly what spot they want on! Just watch!" Rina exclaimed at the maid of Kou.
Sweat fell off her forehead as she wiped it away fiercely and hopped to one tile. "See, I did it!"
Akagi applauded. "Congrats, now you have 7 more to figure out."
This made the teenage girl freeze! "Awww crap!"
Gero turned to Akagi. "Don't do that Akagi, you'll make her nervous."
She glanced away. "I don't know what you mean."
A sigh escaped in exasperation from Gero.
Chazona, the ever calm woman she was directed Rina with precision and soon she was across.
"See I told you I could do it; in your face maid from hell!" Rina yelled triumphant.
Akagi didn't say anything and soon went across the tiles with accuracy and arrived there in under a minute. In a mocking tone the maid flipped her pigtails arrogantly. "My and it took me no time and without help."
Rina hated that annoying maid.
Next it was Gero's turn and he too forgot which tiles he was supposed to go to but with Akagi's help he made it across.
"I'm glad you are safe Gero," Akagi smiled which he returned.
"Offered him help pretty fast?" Rina sniped at the maid.
The maid didn't even turn in her direction. "Of course I did, he follows directions unlike an uncouth girl who smells of game!"
Kaede and Gero face faulted; no one ever made fun of Rina.
Before the blonde could say anything, Chazona made her away across in half the time. "Enough chatter, let's us commence."
They agreed not before Rina shot Akagi a dirty look which the maid ignored.
Gero soon asked Daisuke a question. "Hey Daisuke, how many more floors do we have to go through?"
"Twenty-one more floors." Was the answer.
"And so far we haven't seen a single demon in site?"
"That's because no demon ever appears in the lower grounds since the labyrinth is try's tricking you to making you feel at ease so you can walk further up the floors. Then in floor it can easily take your life away. I'd say a large scythe slicing you is one."
This made Gero shiver.
"Not to worry, as head to the Shinmei-ryu school, no harm will come to any of you children!" Motoko spoke as she was ahead of the party.
Kaede also nodded. "Yeah, mom is really good at spotting traps. Or it's accurately to say at defusing them."
As the party continued in Chazona's eyes narrowed. "Two demons are coming this way!" She alerted them.
"So much for 'demons don't come to lower levels!' theory!" Rina screeched.
"How do you know that?" Gero asked her.
Daisuke answered in her stead. "Easy, she keeps the world in balance. Chazona practically sees demons coming a million miles away!"
The group braced themselves as one demon, which was red with horns and needle like teeth screeched and charged at Rina about to bite into the poor girl!
Holding up a hand Chazona used one of her abilities and instantly the demon exploded to ash! Rina smiled at the save. "Way to go, Chazona. You blew that demon up!"
The next one beeline towards Gero until Motoko sliced off its head with her blade and sheathed it. "Return to darkness!"
"Mom you are so cool!" Kaede stated!
Chazona maintained her glare towards the distance. "Don't celebrate yet; there's still four more coming this way and something much stronger flying in the middle of them!"
The others braced themselves. "What type of demon is it?"
The black haired priestess couldn't answer as she felt the approaching darkness. "It's…it's…!"
Soon Lucifer appeared as he unfolded his wings from his body with the red spirts/demon's surrounding him.
He gave a toothy grin. "It's been a long time, but I'm happy to see you."
"Lucifer!" Gero cried with disdain as memories flooded his head of what happened last time.
The twin tailed maid turned her attention to her love interest. "Gero, you know this demon?"
"Yeah, he's the smirking demon I keep telling you about!" He replied.
Akagi raised an eyebrow. "I honestly thought he was just something you made up to cover up the loss of your friend?"
Before Gero could reply Lucifer answered with mock surprise. "Oh I'm real alright and I'll be taking that annoying priestess from you!"
Holding out a hand the five red spirits with four demons attacked the group! Lucifer observed what they were going to do.
Akagi pulled out her twin knives from her maid dress and dissected a demon's wings from its back! Sprinting at it she impaled the demon in the chest! Another demon was about to attack Rina and Gero until she threw her dagger which impaled the demon's cranium ending its life.
Kaede took care of the other two as she unsheathed two of her swords to bisect one through the stomach and utilized her ki and used Zankusen (Air-Cutting Flash!) to obliterate her targets in one slash!
Daisuke dodged the two red spirts as he appeared floating. Holding out his hands he gathered his demonic energy and unleashed a blast to eradicate the annoying spirits.
Motoko was last to take care of the last two red spirts as she closed her eyes and gathered her internal energy or ki for one strike.
"Zanmaken!" (Evil-Cutting Sword) she cried and the spirts dissolved into nothingness.
Lucifer whistled impressed at the battle. He sent two more demons and directed them at Gero and Rina since they appeared to not have any fighting experience.
As the medium –sized winged demons came close Gero grabbed something from behind his back and a moment later…
BASH! BOP!
The demons had two large welts appear on their foreheads and soon knocked unconscious, to the team's astonishment! Even Lucifer sweat dropped at what happen.
"…Please tell that didn't happen?!" Lucifer muttered with distaste.
Motoko and Kaede quickly sliced off the two fallen demons heads destroying them.
"My…even I didn't see that coming!" Chazona whispered.
Akagi and Daisuke only blinked.
Gero scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "Yeah I'm glad I got Taichi to reinforce the skate board with good metal…"
"You used Kou money to reinforce a board; when were you going to tell me, Gero?!" Akagi finally snapped which made Gero panic.
"I'm sorry but ya know it worked right?"
Akagi just sighed. "You know doesn't matter now. You proved your point!"
After that episode Lucifer finally clapped.
'And hear I was dismissing that boy…I might have to take him seriously!' Lucifer thought as he directed his speech to the group.
"Congrats for dealing with the weaklings but I'm afraid this little party will have to end!" He spread his wings and vanished!
Motoko stood guard along with Kaede and Akagi as they barricaded Rina, Gero, Daisuke & Chazona.
Soon Lucifer appeared behind the trio and without blinking sent an unseen force to blow the three away from the group! He soon turned as Gero brought up a punch and Rina, who was no slouch herself in the self-defense, brought a foot to kick the arrogant demon but he blocked their strikes with ease.
He soon tossed the duo aside! Lucifer floated in the air and shot a glance at Chazona.
"Your luck has finally ended you damn priestess! Die!" Lucifer shouted as his nails sharped to claws on his fingernails and speared his way to end her life!
That is until Daisuke threw a simple onion at his face!
Not expecting such a ploy Lucifer screamed as he wiped his eyes as they watered. "It burns! God damn you!"
Daisuke gave an ironic smile. "You of all beings should not be saying that phrase Lucifer!"
Lucifer glided away from him as he got his bearings and noted something. "This isn't an ordinary onion; this is a demon repelling fruit? Where did you get it?"
"Where else, the interne; the guy I bought it from thought I was being foolish but it makes the perfect weapon against any random demon who likes interfering!"
Glaring with hate Lucifer appeared indignant. "You think this will help you beat me on the twenty-fifth floor? My room will make all holy weapons you concocted feel like a raindrop against me!" his body started disappearing as his voice still could be heard. "Gloat while you can because I will have the pleasure of killing you all!"
As Daisuke and Chazona checked on the others Akagi spoke nonplussed. "I expected a demon to be a little more frightening, not give us that stereotypical fleeing speech?"
Rina shook her head. "And hear I thought you were clueless when it came to stuff like that from what I heard Gero say about you…"
Akagi didn't let the obnoxious teen get the last word in as she chuckled. "I have a good teacher for exposing me to such things."
Gero blushed as Rina growled that her snipe didn't work.
Daisuke ignored Rina's exclamation as he answered Akagi's question. "That's because Lucifer isn't a demon; he's a half-demon like me. As it was said in the legends Lucifer was good human who turned into an angel but lost his chance to be in heaven when he killed a man who almost went after his wife."
This made the maid pause and turned her question to Gero. "Does he always sound like he knows everything?"
"That's nothing." Gero replied. "Wait until you play chess with him."
The group continued their trek.
###
Lucifer's chamber
Upon returning, Lucifer heard the laughter of the demonic little white-haired boy. He floated while laughing his ass off.
"Hahahaha! You failed, you failed!" He laughed as Lucifer tried slapping him aside which the child dodged with ease.
"Shut up you vile little imp! That half-breed did not get the best of me!" Lucifer cried.
The one wearing the wooden hat scoffed at him. "He made you flee like a dog! We made a deal with you and as far as I'm concerned you haven't done anything to keep up your end of the bargain." He tossed his head aside and continued. "How are you supposed to help us if you can't even handle an onion?"
He stopped speaking upon seeing Lucifer smiling which made him raise an eyebrow (which couldn't be seen under said hat).
"Why are you smiling?"
"Hmmm, I have him. I have my greatest enemy under my very control, fool!" Lucifer declared with triumph.
This was news to him. He did see Lucifer get outmaneuvered a few minutes ago. "Have you gone insane? What do you have?"
"I have something that will make Daisuke my puppet and make him our possession just like his cousin, Ian!"
With that declaration Ian walked in the chamber. The teenager (and first protagonist) didn't have that spark of life but more subdued. Blonde-hair appeared unkempt.
The floating demon boy examined Ian with a confused expression evident on his face.
"It's strange. I sense brain activity in there but no voice off his inner consciousness?"
Lucifer crossed his arms. "That's because he doesn't remember how to use his brain. That's what makes him the perfect pawn in my game!"
As the trio of bad guys talked a voice cried out!
"What did you do to Ian?!" Ichigo yelled as he was chained to the other end of the wall.
Turning around with a grimace, the demon boy's only reply was, "Tch, the big mouth is awake."
"Not like I got nothing better to do!" Ichigo yelled at the child.
Ignoring the womanizer's rambling Lucifer simply waved a hand and Ichigo started feeling sleepy. Next to him Taichi was still unconscious so he didn't need to do anything to him.
"Huh, he the annoying fool stopped talking?" the boy's head tilted to the left.
Lucifer didn't even turn to the fallen form. "Hmph, the fool's asleep. I didn't want those pesky powers of his acting at this time due to being riled up. Besides I'll be able to work in silence without any noise."
A cackle came from the boy. "I see so you are about to go about the ritual?"
"Yes," Lucifer stated.
An hour later he finished his preparations as Lucifer turned to the duo that were still sleeping. Having a sadistic thought Lucifer clapped his hands and the duo started waking up, to the shock of the tall and small figures.
"Why would you wake them up?" The British-sounding demon asked with a scoff.
"So they can witness the arrival of a god!" Lucifer stated.
Taichi was the first to wake up as he groaned a little and got his bearings. "Huh…where am I?" He looked around and soon saw the ones who kept him prisoner. "Right, I got kidnapped? And now I'm bound up!" He struggled with the handcuffs on his wrist as he casted a frightend look at Lucifer.
"Akagi and Gero are on their way to rescue me you know? They are going to stop this plan from activating!" Taichi declared.
"Yeah, I got strong friends too!" Ichigo rallied with the one next to him. "If you have such a god complex, why don't you marry it and leave us alone!"
A scoff from the wooden hat demon. "They are getting loud again."
"Can't we just kill them?" the boy stated.
"No, leave them be, I want to see their hope turn to despair when their friends arrive too late!" Lucifer said.
Taichi soon turned to Ichigo and gave a polite smile. "Oh, you must be Ichigo? Gero has told me so much about you!"
Ichigo gave him a grin. "He explained how awesome I am?"
A blink was the answer. "Well…he told me you keep things interesting!"
"…cool!" Ichigo said as the trio rolled their eyes at the happy atmosphere.
Lucifer didn't pay them heed as he glanced at the image of the small party and growled. They have apparently made some head way through it thanks to Chazona's psychic powers, Daisuke's wit, the Aoyoma clan's swordsmanship, Akagi's cunning and Rina and Gero's tenacity. Seeing it was time to step up the game he soon would call forth another demon to deal with the group.
"Those miscreants have been pushing through for too long, time to separate them." Lucifer said.
A lean figure wearing a male-styled haori with Japanese baggy pants and had a long katana sheathed on his back. He appeared to be around his mid-thirties and black styed hair. "This is has some history with two of the people down there along with a powerful weapon!" He thrust a hand out. "Now go, Yo!"
As he was leaving Taichi directed a question to him. "Wait, you are human. Why would you work for a demon like him?"
Yō turned and gave a blunt response. "My world is shaped by demons and bloodshed!"
With that he vanished leaving Taichi and Ichigo to worry about the welfare of their friends.
Back to the group they have traveled up more floors.
"Let's keep going guys, we only have ten more floors to go." Daisuke lead the group as they were on the 15th floor. Everyone was getting tired but knew they had to continue in order to save their captive friends.
As they near the next doorway Motoko, Kaede, Daisuke and Chozana felt another presence near them as they stopped the trek and saw a male figure approach them.
Akagi stood in front of Rina and Gero as she glared. "Who are you?"
The swordsman appeared indifferent to the question as he answered. "I am Yō ,' he said.
Gero and Rina noted how Motoko looked uneasy as she stood in front of everyone.
"Motoko-san?" Daisuke said as she ignored him and didn't take her eyes off him.
"I face waited a long time to face you again, Motoko." Yo spoke as he pulled out his blade and aimed a slash with it! Before anyone could blink she parried the blow to make sure it didn't cut anyone!
Grunting at the strain she turned to the others. "I need you all to go!" She instructed them. "This is my fight and will take care of this! Daisuke take Kaede and the rest with you!"
Daisuke didn't hesitate as he motioned for the others to go through the doorway to the next floor! As Gero was the last to go he noted that Kaeda didn't go as he and Daisuke turned towards her.
"I'm not leaving my mom to deal with this guy," She said as she firmed her resolve.
"But your mom said to get going!" Gero told her. "She'd be worried if you got hurt!"
Kaeda gave a smile to Gero. "I am my mother's child, this is the fate that's been placed in front of me and I won't run from this challenge just as you have to save our friends. Now go!"
Gero hesitated but Daisuke soon moved him along as the half-demon gave her a final warning. "Don't take him lightly!"
She only nodded as he soon went through the doorway. With no one there Kaeda soon unsheathed her swords and sprinted to help her mother, who was still struggling to hold off the blade. The Shinmei master appeared shocked that her daughter was there.
"Kaede?" Motoko muttered.
Kaeda gave a smile to her mother. "Come on mom, let's do this together!"
With that mother and daughter pushed back the blade as Motoko unsheathed her sword, Shisui, while Kaeda unsheathed her two swords and got in position.
Yo maintained his glare on the duo. "This is where I will kill you, Shinmei-ryu master!"
Motoko narrowed her eyes. "I believe you said that once before however my skills proved superior. I will put an end to this once and for all!"
'Mom seems rather tense, does she know this guy?' Kaeda thought until the swords battle went underway.
Yo began things as he swung his nodachi to decapitate them which made Motoko and Kaeda dodge swiftly. The attack broke about half of the wall as rocks started falling down. Kaeda sprinted at the guy and utilized Shunpo to get in close as she brought down her twin swords and struck against his weapon causing a flash of light! Motoko waited for her chance but couldn't be any prouder of her daughter; she had stepped up her sword play considerably.
Kaeda was quick on her feet as she brought out her swords to parry Yo's blow! As she did Kaeda brought out her left hand to strike against Yo but he too was swift and dodged the slash attack! Flipping to get distance the long-haired beauty brought her swords together and channeled her innate ki as a spiritual ball formed and launched at him!
Yo pointed at the attack as a barrier surrounded and destroyed it. Kaeda gave a fierce yell as she went for an all-out assault as her strikes were fast but Yo countered all her blows with ease which aggravated the girl. As she did another slash she spun her body around and aimed for his solar plexus to end this battle but Yo caught on to what she wanted to do and leapt aside.
Kaeda soon linked the butt of her swords together and a string attached to the blade, as if it were a bow. Pulling the string an arrow of light formed as she released it! The arrow almost pierced Yo's head but he dodged to the left and sent a shockwave through his sword at her! Unlinking her swords she was tossed back by the force! Breathing heavily Kaeda wouldn't give in this fight!
Ki surrounding her frame Kaeda's blades soon took the appearance of a lightsaber, to Motko's astonishment, and the girl soon went for the offensive as she was now using her ki to enhance her body! Each blow she did was now staggering Yo as his muscles felt like led. He didn't think the girl would be this strong but this power-up wouldn't last and he had to wait some mere moments before it settled.
Kaeda was able to get a blow to the side of his stomach and about to finish it until her aura died and Yo blocked her would be strike! She lamented that she should have ended this battle when she had the chance but Yo had more experience than her. Yo soon had an opening and got in twenty clean strikes which sent her sailing across the ground.
As he was about to stab her Motoko sent a wind-slash like projectile which he dodged. The woman checked on her daughter and said, "You have done enough my daughter. Leave it to mommy to deal with this monster."
Kaeda gave her a smile. "I know you will mom. I'll patch myself up!"
Motoko smiled as she soon flicked out and slammed her sword against Yo's as light and darkness cascaded around the area.
"I'll hand it to you; you did not go easy on my daughter and didn't underestimate her abilities. For that I am grateful, as women we need to be challenged and not pitied but at the same time you hurt my only, precious child! And for that there will be no forgiveness Yo!" Motoko shouted as she soon used Shunpo to enhance her speed and got in some blows to his body!
Yo countered her attacks by using his nodachi and the two went at it! The slashes were fast and both took scratches and blows to the face, arms, and legs, anything that could be seen! Motoko wouldn't lose this battle; too much was riding on the line for her. In her heart she should have ended this man's life long ago. If she did that than maybe some things could have been different for her and Kaeda.
As Yo brought out his sword slice Motoko, the cunning woman flicked out once again and soon appeared in the sky. Channeling her own innate powers to her blade, it took the form of a large sword of light, which amazed her daughter.
With a single swing Motoko sent a burst of light towards Yo blinding him and soon stabbed him in his stomach! Screaming in pain Yo's blade snapped in two as he collapsed to the ground.
Motoko's blade returned to normal as she gave a cold glare to Yo as her daughter hugged her.
"Mom you did it!" Kaeda said.
Motoko nodded as she soon appeared surprised that Yo still breathed as his body started healing but with strained effort.
"It seems our battle is at an end…didn't think it would end like this?" You said gravely as he knew he couldn't avoid this. "Since you defeated me, I must tell you something, the truth about the circumstances with your husband."
This surprised Kaeda. "What but I thought mom did?"
Motoko shook her head. "It was not I; I merely told you that since even I didn't know but now the truth will be revealed." She shot a look to the fallen demon/man. "Now talk."
"The one who started this was me; as you know Motoko, I have lost too you far too many times and grew angry that I couldn't be on par with you. So one day I made a pact with Lucifer. He was the one to kill the love of your life all due to my jealousy. I soon became swept up in blood and turmoil, finding ways to get stronger but you two pushed me to my limits and now I think I reached my limit." Yo explained as his foot started turning to dust.
Motoko didn't take her eyes off him. "Your regenerative powers are taxed out. That last blow did wonders too you."
"Are you going to kill me?" Yo asked.
"Not my call," Motoko said as Kaeda glared hatefully at the man who killed her father.
"You did this! I became estranged to my own mother for all these years because you killed my dad! You are the one to bring my life such turmoil!" She grabbed one of her swords and placed the tip at his throat. "I will kill you bastard!"
Motoko wanted to stop her but this was something she must deal with.
As she was about to press her sword to end this she soon thought of her life in the Hinata apartments with Ian,Rina and the rest; her life wasn't all that bad or full of darkness. She had ones that accepted her being. It brought her comfort when she wasn't with her mother along with she wasn't going to spoil that by killing someone.
"I won't become a monster like you!" Kaeda muttered as she sobbed in her mother's arms.
Yo soon saw this and felt pangs of guilt at what he did and soon the decomposition of his body finished he was gone.
"Mom, I did do the right thing, didn't I?" Kaeda sobbed.
Motoko continued comforting her daughter. "Who is to say but I think forgiveness is the hardest thing to do; I support your choice of choosing that to vengeance. Your father would be proud of you, my darling daughter." She too started crying that their personal battle was officially over.
They would catch up with the others soon but for now, they needed to be with each other to mourn the loss of a father and dear husband.
XXXX
Who'd have thought the feels would be strong this time around? With that battle ended, Gero and the others continue heading through the labyrinth! What will await them next and what will be of Taichi, Ichigo and even Ian? Find out next time!