The Lightning Knight of the Hero's Village

by domgk115

Arata Tojo has always been in his brother Basara's shadow. Despite loving his brother he always craved recognition, but didn't get it, even when he drew the legendary sword Takemikazuchi. Now years later after being forced away from the village Arata has new stepsisters who are strangely perverted.. but he'll need to show all his power to protect them(M for sexual content)

4. A Demonic Demon

OC Voice Actors that appear in this chapter:

Arata Tojo: English VA: Brandon Winkler: Eugeo (Sword Art Online)

Japanese VA: Nobunaga Shimazaki: Eugeo (Sword Art Online) Shido Itsuka (Date A Live) Ritsuka Fujimaru (Fate Grand Order)

Kaneda Aoi: English VA: Matt Shipman: Hiro (Darling in the Franxx)

Japanese VA: Natsuki Hanae: Tanjiro (Demon Slayer) Sieg (Fate Apocrypha)

Miyamoto Tanka: English VA: Lizzie Freeman: Kizuna Kizayama (The Rising of Shield Hero) Cardinal (Sword Art Online) Chizuru Mizuhara (Rent a Girlfriend) Chisato Nishigiki (Lycoris Recoil) Ritsuka (Gudako) Fujimaru (Fate Grand Carnival) Yanfei (Genshin Impact)

Japanese VA: Ayane Sakura: Miyamoto Musashi (Fate Grand Order) Yotsuba Nakano (The Quintessential Quintuplets) Kureha (Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet) Ochaco Uraraka (My Hero Academia)

Tamamo no Mae: English VA: Abby Trott: Nezuko (Demon Slayer) Anette (Fire Emblem Three Houses) Tae Takemi (Persona 5)

Japanese VA: Chiwa Saito: Tamamo no Mae (Fate CCC, Fate Extella, Fate Grand Order)

Mio

A loud *CRASH* of thunder, a strike of lightning and the rain didn't wash away Basara's blood as it covered my school uniform. He didn't move despite the bright lightning that exploded along the night sky.

"H…hey… Basara… Basara come on!" I urged, trying to shake him open, but then, I heard laughter through the thunder.

"HAHAHAHAHA! Oh man, seriously, this is the great Basara Tojo?" The demon with the armor laughed, and I looked up to see him holding his face he was laughing so hard. "Seriously, what a letdown-. WOAH NOW!"

"UNFORGIVEABLE!" It was Yuki, she'd burst forward and the demon would have been cut if the masked man hadn't blocked him. "I won't forgive you for this!"

"Oh, now you're strong," The one in the mask said teasing as Yuki jumped back next to Arata who still hadn't moved. "You're getting sloppy Akune."

"I know, I know! "Jeez, I hate the rain," The devil in armor sighed, looking down at them again, over at Arata in particular. "So, you can cause storms when you're angry huh? You may wanna worry more about getting your brother some help there."

"He's right," The masked one said, as Basara still hadn't moved. "If you don't treat him soon, it will be far too late. You've made your choice Mio Naruse. We'll be waiting if… oh?"

Through the rain, I craned my head to the right and my voice was hoarse. "A…Arata?"

Arata knelt down next to his brother, his blue eyes as bright as lightning. He touched Basara's neck for a moment and sighed as if he were annoyed as he stood up.

And then he slapped the back of his unconscious brother's head with a roll of his eyes.

My voice exploded. "ARATA?! What the hell did you do that for?!"

Yuki was at a loss. "Arata what… what are you-."

"He's fine, get him back to the house," He said, before I heard another loud *CRASH* of thunder as Arata turned around, his brown hair sticking up as small bolts shot off him. "Get him to the house, and when he wakes up tell him I said to quit being a drama queen, and if he is really hurt by an attack as pathetic as that I'll give him a beating that will really hurt."

The devil in samurai laughed again. "Hahaha, cold as ever! You seem confident, you know your brother would be fine if not for Mio Naruse over there. Come on, Arata you know taking them in was a mistake, you know it deep down in your heart."

"Shut your mouth," Arata yelled, hand going to his sword as lightning shot from it. "Or say your final words because you won't last much longer."

That… that demon doesn't look like he's afraid at all! Did… did I really cause all of this? Mio thought, looking at Basara in her lap.

"Ha, you certainly are as cocky as we expected, think of what we said tonight, Mio Naruse," The masked demon said, turning his back and waving his hand to his partner. "Akune, handle the rabble."

The demon samurai nodded, rain slipping off his sword and armor. "With pleasure."

"You think I'm just going to let you get away!" Arata yelled, and another *BOOM* of thunder accompanied the rainstorm. "Thunderclap and flash…."

Arata moved as if he were the lightning itself, he left an indent and smoke behind him on the roof as he shot up swinging his sword towards the masked demon.

It never got there.

*CLANG*

"ARATA!" "ARATA!" Yuki and I both yelled at once.

The samurai demon smirked as he stood there, his massive, curved sword locked with Arata's above us, as the masked demon disappeared into a portal. Behind that facemask, the demon laughed as with lightning shooting off his armor and sword Arata pressed against him with wide eyes.

"Ha… you didn't think it would be that easy would you?" The demon Akune said, smirking as I could feel myself starting to sweat. Akune smirked as smoke billowed around him, and even despite the rain, flames shot up his sword. "Come… Otakemaru."

Arata's eyes went wide and with another clash of sword he skidded back, as the fire from the long sword that Akune carried started swirling as he reared back the blade. Arata's wild eyes looked down at Yuki and Me.

"Yuki Mio leave! NOW!" He yelled, before turning back around and holding out his sword. "SECOND CONFIGURATION! COME NOW MY WAR GOD, SHOW YOUR LIGHT AND GRANT ME VICTORY IN THIS FIGHT!"

"DEMON OF SUZUKA, CRASH AND BURN MY ENEMIES WITH YOUR ETERNAL FLAME!"

"GANRYU-JIMA!"

"ETERNAL FIRE OF THE ONI KING!"

"ARATAAAAAAAA!"

Fire shot from the massive sword Akune had as he swung it down through the air, and missiles of fire shot towards Arata ignoring the wind around them. Arata's sword exploded with lightning as he shot forward. Spinning and cutting his sword through the air and knocking the fireballs away, and when he reached Akune both of them brought their swords down. Lightning and fire exploded at the top of the school, and Mio saw Akune smirk as the fire on his sword grew.

"Now this is what I've been waiting for!" He laughed, as he and Arata's swords exploded with power. "Show me what a little brother can do!"

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

*BOOOOOOOM*

A massive crack of thunder exploded as did the two of them. My heart exploded, as with the explosion both of Arata and Akune the demon were blasted off the roof of the school and got sent flying through the air towards the entrance to the school through the night air.

"ARATA!" Yuki yelled, rushing to the side of roof and turning back to me with her eyes wide. "Arata is right, get Basara back to your house. If you treat him now he'll be fine!"

She didn't say anything else, as she leapt off the roof with her sword in hand and ran after Arata.

This… this really is all… all my fault…I thought, my hands shaking as Basara shallowly breathed in my lap.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Arata

"DAMMIT QUIT RUNNING!" I yelled after the demon, leaping up to the next tree.

What the hell is this guy doing?! Challenging me, knocking us off the roof and then running away like this?! I thought as we went up a winding set of roads.

What I had been even more concerned about was the level of power I could feel from him. His sword was a demon sword, the spirit of a yokai, and not just any yokai was inside of it. I had read up on most of the demon swords back home, and I recognized the one he had. If really did unleash its full power, he could seriously cause a lot of damage. After having landed, the guy only laughed and started running, and I wasn't going to let a demon with that kind of power run loose in city.

Lightning bounced off my armor, but the storm had stopped now. Takemikazuchi was one of the most powerful weapons in the village for a reason. He was the god of lightning, war and swordsmanship, so naturally if he became angry, it would storm, the same was true for Arata who wielded his sword now. However, he knew he needed to keep his cool, especially against an opponent like this. It hadn't been since he used to spar and fight Miya that he fought anyone even close to the power level he could feel coming from that demon now.

That armor… the sword, I can't mess around, I thought as he came to a clearing in the park as finally I looked and saw the demon in samurai armor waiting with his odachi katana on his shoulder. The best way I could describe the guy was a demonic samurai, I couldn't see behind the face plate, but I was sure he was smirking. His horns glew in the night and seeming almost impatient he tapped his katana on his shoulder and shook his head.

"Jeez, thought you'd move a little faster then that!" He yelled to me. "Can't believe I-."

"What the hell was that little chase you just led me on!" I said, holding out my sword which had returned to the first configuration. "You were so eager to fight now you're running away?"

The blood red steel from my sword reflected a full moon. My blood started running cold, I could feel the pure demonic presence from the guy-Akune he had been called-and it really was on a different level. My sense for magic had dulled a bit over the years, but I still had enough to tell when someone was bad news, and all I could do was keep my eyes on that bone-colored katana. My mind right away went to countermeasures.

It's an odachi, it has long reach, so I'll use Niten Ichi-ryu and get closer, he thought as Akune just shrugged and smirked over at him.

"I didn't feel like having a bunch of humans get caught in the crossfire," He said, smirking as he dug the tip of his sword into the dirt. "We wanna fight to our hearts content right? I even set up a few precautions to we don't have to worry about outside interference."

"Considerate for a demon," I scoffed, as I switched my sword to its third configuration. The second smaller sword dropping into my other hand. I dropped into the stance and narrowed my eyes to the demons sword. "Especially with a sword like that… Otakemaru."

"Ah, so you've heard of it?" Akune said, smirking as he fell into a stance as well, and we circled each other in the park. "My faithful companion for many years."

"Otakemaru, an Oni from the Heian Period of Japan, it roamed the Suzuka Mountains," I recounted, stopping and feeling power surge through my arms to my sword. "Along with Tamamo No Mae and Shuten Doji, he's one of the Great Three Yokai of Japan."

"Spot on, but I expected nothing less from the hero clan," Akune said, as smoke and black magic started to rise from his body. The quiet park lit only by the moon and some stray lamps, was lit up with lightning and fire as the demon smirked still. "And you have Takemikazuchi, one of the great swords of the hero clan… let's see if it, and you live up to your reputation Son of the War God!"

"You'll regret it!"

*CLANG* The sound of our swords clashing almost made my ears bleed. I was a lightning user, but the minute Akune's sword smashed against mine, a shock went up my arms that was so bad, I almost dropped it. Fire erupted from his blade and singed off a part of my hair. I could sense he was powerful, but I hadn't been expecting an attack anywhere near as powerful from the start. I slid back and he pressed his attack relentlessly. Fire spun from his longer sword, and even with two in my own hands the lightning they produced and that shot up both swords now was nothing compared to what he was producing.

I skidded back and parried with all I could, it took every ounce of my focus and strength to keep him at bay, follow his sword and dodge when I had too. He knocked my longer katana away, and when I tried to raise my other one up to block he ducked down and spun. His leg swept mine out from under me and the minute I was parrel to the ground I tried to land back on my feet, but I saw his sword coming again, and despite my armor it would have cut me in half.

"SECOND CONFIGURATION!" I screamed at the last second, as lightning shot from my swords, and the odachi was in my hands. I held it up, and it was enough to save me. His fiery sword smashed into mine and sent me flying back. I coughed and saw blood as my stomach erupted in pain as I felt his demon sword clash against mine and while my own sword saved me, it still cut down into an unarmored part of my side. I felt it rip at my flesh as I smacked against a tree back first and crumpled to the ground.

"Oh come on Arata!" Akune's voice said, as I coughed and at first shakily got to my feet. I grabbed the sword and looked up to see the demon samurai lurking towards me, it was raining now, and the tip of his bone-colored sword drug against the ground. "Don't tell me that's all you got now. Seriously, I would hate to have gotten all excited for nothing."

I coughed up more blood onto the grass and spit dirt that had gotten in my moth out as well. My armor was bouncing with lightning, and in front of me I saw the odachi. On instinct I went and picked it up, and pushed myself up to my knee, looking forward at the demon that had overpowered me in minutes. His sword was as long as mine, and while I couldn't see behind his faceplate, I could tell his disappointment was genuine.

As was the shaking of my knees. Despite the rain coming down harder, Akune's sword still burned with white hot fire.

He… he's on another level! A level higher then anything I've ever seen, higher then that masked demon on the roof, higher then any of those strays, I thought, groaning as I pushed myself up and felt the rain falling off my nose as the storm got louder. My eyes fell on the demon samurai before me, and I felt my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach. Even… even if I was as strong as I was back then, if it hadn't been years since I really fought anyone, he'd still be-.

"Strength is a state of mind kouhai! A hero's strength comes from their ability to adapt, improvise, and not fold in the face of adversity. What kind of hero will you be I wonder? The one who runs to regroup at the first sign of trouble, or shows his strength by thinking on the fly?"

"Seriously, if you don't wanna keep fighting I get it," The demon said as I pushed the tip of my sword into the ground, the lightning striking the park we were in. "I don't wanna kill you, don't have any interest in it. Just stand aside while we grab Mio Naruse, we'll let you and your brother live."

My eyes widened, and I even chuckled wiping the blood off my cheek. "You have to be a special kind of stupid to think this is over."

Lightning flashed again, followed by a boom of thunder. My heart's beat steadied, as across from me the demon truly looked like the great oni his sword had the spirit of. Otakemaru was defeated by a hero before, and he would be this time too. The cold from the rain left me, and now my insides felt as hot as the fire coming from Akune's sword.

He sighed and shook his head. "Honestly, I was holding back, you some kind glutton for punishment, it a kink of yours?"

"I don't know, why don't you try hitting me harder next time and we'll see," I said, smirking as I leveled my sword, one foot in front of the other, my armor still crackling with lightning.

He actually chuckled. "Ha… now this is more like it. I won't get my hopes up though, I'll give you one more chance, let us have Mio and you can walk away alive. Come on, I know you can't really care about her all that much, she's just another helpless damsel clinging to your big brother for protection, and she'll drag you both down with her. Take my advice, get out now. There's no shame in running away from an enemy you can't defeat."

"I hope you're not talking about yourself," I said, closing my eyes for a moment and focusing my breathing. I opened my eyes and shook my head. "Seriously, if I ran away from someone as pathetic as you, my mentor would never let me live it down! Ha… yeah, don't worry senpai, I won't let this guy get the better of me."

Akune digested what he heard from me, and then started laughing. I was thankful for it, because it gave me time to examine his sword, get the approximate length, the amount of curve it had, and remember back to his first flurry of attacks. He was a speed fighter like I was, speed fighters genuinely were neutral against other speed fighters so we'd be evenly matched in terms of strength. He'd be able to dodge most attacks unless I found a way to slow him down.

And that fire… it seems to operate similar to my lightning, okay… I have a plan!

"AHAHAHA! You're swearing to your senpai in the middle of the fight?!" He laughed, shaking his head and wiping his tears. "Oh man, I see now! It's not punishment that's your kink, you got a senpai fetish that's it! I will admit that's a lot more understandable then-."

"Shut up, I do not!" I yelled back, realizing that I'd started blushing in the middle of a battle. "Are you going to keep talking or are we gonna fight?!

"Ha… must be some senpai," He said, kicking up the blade of his flaming sword as he leveled the odachi at me. "But sure, if you're so eager to die I'll indulge you…" his voice went deep. "Kagutsuchi!"

"Dance of Raijin!"

The clash happened and just as I had expected underneath that storm of rain Akune's fire still burned bright. Our skills were almost the same, I burst forward with a sword dance, swinging it around me and as I did a massive trail of lightning formed with my sword. It all happened in the blink of an eye, but I saw a massive swirl of fire shot from Akune's sword and when our two blades smashed into one another, an explosion sent up a plume of smoke. The smell of sulfur and ash burned into my nose, but I kept my eye on Akune's sword as the flames around his blade kept them visible.

It came for my neck, but I ducked back and swung my odachi upwards. I heard a loud yell as I knew my sword struck flesh. I flipped backwards and landed gracefully on my feet, holding my sword out with two hands, before switching it back to the third configuration. The second smaller wakizashi fell into my hand and I felt into the stance that Miya had drilled into my head for months on end.

"Ha…hahahaha! Now that's what I'm talking about!" Akune said, walking out of the smoke with his flaming sword, lightning lighting the scorched earth between us. He held up a bleeding hand, his blood dripped to the ground and he held up his sword. "Okay, looks like I may need to get a little serious!"

His sword shrunk, forming into a one-handed blade. My eyes went wide as I realized that his sword was like mine. It could switch the way it looked which made it difficult to keep one strategy, I looked down at both my swords, if special abilities weren't going to work since our swords were practically the same, it was going to come down to raw skill and power. His demon blood, versus my hero blood.

He crashed back into me again with even more vigor but I was ready this time. Our armor looked almost the same, it was like a scene from an anime. One warrior dressed like a demon samurai straight from the tails of Oni all Japanese children heard, and the other warrior shining with bright light as he beat him back. Although, I hardly felt like a hero as his sword cut my hand, and I used the opportunity to take my wakizashi my small sword and cut across his side. Our blood fell to the ground, mixing in with the dirt and rain below us. He didn't stop and came back around, this time instead of a sword he had his fist. It smashed into my cheek one of his knuckles hitting my eye. I felt it started bleeding right away, but I'd bene punched plenty of times, so I took the chance with his arm so close to strike upwards with both of the swords.

He went to move his arm away, but at the last second I feinted and stabbed my wakizashi across his torso and spun away as he yelled, more blood falling to the ground. His hand went to the wound, but he just laughed as his own blood coated his hand and spun back around. As I expected, his sword burst into flames, and a smaller one dropped into his free left hand. Now with two swords in his hand, fire shooting up them both he stood across from me.

His body started radiating with dark black magic. "Ha, now this is what I'm talking about! Come on Son of the War God! AGNI KAI!"

My eyes went wide as he slashed down both of his swords. The rain did nothing against the two massive slashes of fire that erupted from his swords and came towards me. As they got closer, I saw them shift and grow bigger, I cursed and leapt back and held out my hands. My sword shifted configurations again, and now with only one sword in my hand I landed on my feet and held up my sword, and like his black demon magic had shot from his body, I saw the bright blue magic of my hero blood shoot out around me with the lightning.

"BANISHING SHIFT!" I yelled, swinging my sword upwards.

Light erupted as a split in space and time itself opened. Banishing shift was something I knew that Basara tried never to use, the skill was something my Dad always said would come in need when we needed it most. Now was that time, it swallowed the fire from Akune's attack whole, and I watched as it disappeared with a large explosion of light.

I barely had time for my feet to this the ground, I saw the attack too late.

"GAHHHHHH!" I screamed, feeling a blade cut up near my arm pit. I fell backwards so my arm didn't come off, but it hurt like hell and I looked to see Akune in front of me. Before I had a chance to counterattack he stopped, spun around, and raised up his leg.

It smashed into me and sent me flying again. I yelled as I smashed into the tree, my blood red katana dropped down next to me, the lightning was still there but not nearly as fierce as it was before.

"Ha… oh man what a rush! This is the most fun I've had in ages!" Akune yelled, as he stalked towards me, and I could see he too was grabbing at a wound on his torso, apparently I had hit him worse then I thought. "I knew I liked you!"

He… he still has so much strength, I got no choice.

"T…third configuration!" I groaned out, as I got up shakily to my feet and both swords dropped into my hands.

I stumbled, but managed to remember the technique, and at first slid both swords into the sash on my armor. Akune still laughed, but was clearly laboring as well, he sucked in a breath and while I couldn't see his face, could tell by his voice he was genuinely amused.

"Thanks a lot for… for the fight Arata!" He said, holding up his swords as it erupted in flames again and went back to the form of an Odachi. "You know, I feel I know you a lot better now! I gotta say, thanks for the fun!"

I scoffed as I held out my hand and hovered it over the ground. "That's… the first thing we've agreed on."

He smiled, and I did, before both our eyes narrowed. I could sense that he really meant it, and so had I.

Before anything, I was a warrior, and fighting someone as powerful as Akune was pretty damn fun. Of course, he was after Mio so I'd kill him if I had too, he was an enemy, but that didn't mean I wouldn't have a fun time fighting him.

He's about to unleash something big… I have to do the same.

"Namu, Tenman, Daijzai Tenjin! Nioh Kurikara, shotenshou!" I yelled, feeling the power grow in my hand, lightning erupted from my hand and I reached down to the swords that were at my waist.

"Great Oni of Suzuka, your flames create my body, my body brings back your power," Akune yelled, as flames shot from the sword, up his arm, down his legs and consumed his body.

Lightning did the same to my arm, as I shot my head up and pulled the sword from my waist. I felt my power erupt, I knew I'd be risking a lot using this skill now, but I knew I had no choice. Light erupted upwards from my sword and into the sky, it was a bright white light with lightning erupting down it to my sword as I remembered the final words I learned long ago.

"Open the gates, the paths to his power. With the power of my god I'll cut a path to righteousness! I'll sever your essence, my sword is my soul, my path to that void!"

"I release you great King, your fire will burn the world, your vengeance will be wrought across the land. My sword is your sword, your path to returning your great power!"

Akune's sword erupted upwards as well. The flames and the lightning were so hot I was coaxed in sweat, Akune's demon power turned the flames black, and when he smirked like a madman I knew it was time.

I unleashed the attack with all my soul, and so did Akune.

"RAGING FIRE OF SUZUKA!"

"ISHANA DAITENSHOU!"

The two massive attacks slammed into each other. A crater erupted right between the both of us, lightning and fire exploded above us.

I got sent flying back, and that was all I could remember.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"ARATA! ARATA WAKE UP!"

"ARGHHHH! GAH UGH GROSS!"

Something so disgusting hit my tongue it shocked me awake, and even more surprisingly it made me feel like I'd just downed six cups worth of coffee in one gulp. My brain bounced around my skull as if it was hollow, my eyes instinctively looked for Akune, but the demon samurai was nowhere to be found, the air was back to being that off a cool evening. I blinked, thinking I was crazy, because I smelled no sulfur from the lightning, or smoke from the fire, the park was completely back to normal as if nothing had even happened.

"Wh…what?" I said, my body screaming as I winched and grabbed at my arm, which was still bloody, but it was then I realized that my armor was gone. My school uniform was back now, but my hands and chest were still bloody. "How… what… UGHHH!"

Something ached and I realized it was my arm, my head, everything was in pain. I knew that I'd regret using Ishana Daitenshou, but I also knew I'd had no choice. Akune was too strong, I needed to give him my best attack.

"ARATA!"

"ARGH!" I yelled, feeling myself tackled, and I looked up to see bright blue. I felt my face heat up as her chest pressed against mine with her hugging me. "Y… Yuki?! When did you get here?"

"Just now! You were passed out, are you okay?" She asked, pulling back, as I realized her armor and sword weren't active either, she was in her school uniform still, panting from the run.

"Y…yeah," I told her, as she still had her hands on my chest. I looked around and grabbed my face as my head pounded. "What… what did you give me? I should be near out cold."

"An old remedy from the village," She said, holding up a small half empty pouch of medicine. "It's effects are going to be instant on you since your body hasn't had it in a while."

I hacked a cough as I looked at the pouch. "Ugh, gross I hated that stuff, explains the bad taste in my mouth."

Yuki giggled, letting out a sigh of relief as she wiped a tear from her eyes that never left me. "You did always complain about it… I'm so glad you're okay."

I stammered as my chest felt ready to explode, my whole body got warmer as if Akune's fire was lit again.

"Yeah, thanks…" I told her, before the shock of seeing her left me and I looked back at the park again. I shot up to my feet and my hand went to my waist. "Akune! Where's the demon?! Did he… what? What the hell…?"

Yuki's hand went to her waist too as she shot up. She looked over at me stunned. "Demon?! Arata, what are you talking about, I found you here by yourself."

"The demon from the roof of the school! We just fought!" I told her, looking around the park, my eyes widening as I did. "We… we just… what the hell?! This place should be destroyed!"

It looked completely untouched, what is saw when I woke up hadn't been a delusion. There were no scorch marks from our attacks, none of the trees were knocked down. Even where we both had unleashed our strongest attacks, where I knew a crater had been formed, there was nothing. The smooth ground was still intact, the park was as peaceful as it could be, and I realized then too it was nighttime properly now, it had to be near midnight.

I even looked over and saw a fox near one of the trees. It stood there for several minutes, just staring at me with wide golden eyes before it simply ran away.

A chill ran through my body, what… what the hell was that?

"I rushed after you off the roof, Mio took Basara back to your house," Yuki said, coming up next to me, her voice on edge. "I followed you for a while, but when I got to the park I couldn't find you and I got worried."

I turned slowly back to her. "Couldn't find me? You didn't see me fighting a demon with a sword on fire in the middle of a rainstorm?!"

She looked at me confused. "Arata… it didn't rain at all."

"Wh…what?!"

She nodded. "Yeah, I tried to run back, thinking you'd made your way into the city, but then I felt a surge of magic. I ran back here, and saw you fall in your armor! It disappeared and you were unconscious."

"And there was no one else around me?!" I asked, my eyes bulging as a surge of anger rushed up my throat.

She slowly nodded. "Nobody that looked like a demon. It was dark and I couldn't see them. I saw someone standing a bit that way, they looked like they were injured. They… they laughed, and walked away, I tried to chase them but they just disappeared, they were bleeding."

My chest exploded, I turned back to where I knew Akune had been standing and saw the dry blood Yuki had been talking about.

Something he said came back to me then.

"I didn't feel like having a bunch of humans get caught in the crossfire. We wanna fight to our hearts content right? I even set up a few precautions to we don't have to worry about outside interference."

The answer came to me and I turned to Yuki.

"He… set up a barrier. I was running so fast he must have let me in and I didn't notice," I said, turning back to the park. "He said he didn't want any humans interfering."

Yuki's eyes went wide. "That makes sense! It was why you appeared out of nowhere and thought you still fought in the park because you did. But… why would a demon go through so much trouble?"

I scoffed, and looked down at my right hand, it tingled with the gods instinct.

My chest exploded again.

"I guess he's just considerate… dammit that asshole!" I yelled my hand balling into a fist.

I hate the fact I kind like him! I thought before I let out a shaky breath and another realization came to me.

"And… and that bastard he… he…" I said, practically growling as I felt my anger growing as all the wounds across my body aching. "He… beat me."

Yuki stepped up next to me. "Arata, that's not important right now! You're in really rough shape, I'll help you get to-."

"He's nowhere near the strongest demon that'll come for Mio, and he still kicked my ass!" I yelled, reaching to the ground. "Dammit… dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!"

I had grabbed a rock and threw it with all the pent-up anger it had. Lighting shot up my hand too, and the rock flew from me and hit the trunk of a tree, taking out a good chunk of it to the point where I was surprised it didn't fall.

"ARGH! SHIT!" I yelled, realizing that I'd picked it up with my bad arm. I coughed and blood came out onto the ground. I tried to stop myself from falling but when my arm hit the ground it gave out and I fell face first into the dirt.

I made him bleed pretty damn good but… but he got up and walked away on his own, I thought on the ground as I pushed myself up with my other arm. That means he won, he's going to come after Mio again and I… I… DAMMIT!

"Arata! You need to take it easy," Yuki said, helping me to my feet. She stepped in front of me and held me up. "Here, I can help you get back too-."

"No… no, Yuki, it's fine," I said, her hands falling off me as I walked past her. "I… I'll just… huh?!"

Her arms hugged around my waist. I felt her chest, her head pressed against my back as she did, and despite the pain… it felt good.

"Please… not after what I just saw happen to Basara, not you too," She said, and I knew she was crying, she hugged onto me tight. "I… I don't want to tell Miya and… and Kurumi that… that you… please, just give this up, don't let yourselves be hurt anymore for this!"

My chest was a swirl of blood and pain. I reached down and gingerly took her hands off me and turned around to her. I saw she was crying, and it killed me. I knew what she was trying to say, but I already knew my answer.

"Yuki… you know we won't do that, I'm sorry," I told her, before turning and taking a step away from her. "I… finished the letter I wanna send Kurumi, come pick it up tomorrow, okay?"

"A…Arata!" She said, not moving. "Arata please, please don't!"

I'm still not good enough, not strong enough! Basara would have killed that demon, he would have found a way, Miya would have killed him, Dad would have killed him, I'm still nothing compared to them!

"Dammit…. Dammit!" I cursed, as I stuffed my hands in my pockets and limped out of the park.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Mio

One of them almost died… and the other's still… still…. I though, hugging my knees against my chest. All I could see was Basara's blood on my shirt, and Arata being thrown off the roof. Maria was upstairs still, Basara hadn't woken up but she promised the worst had passed and he was fine. Arata had been right, his Hero Clan training was a major reason his wounds were healing so fast, in addition to Maria's magic being a huge help. Of course, I still didn't think Arata had to be that harsh on the roof. In the last few weeks, I'd seen him get angry, I'd seen him snap, but… how he was on the roof? That was more then I'd ever seen.

A part of me had even been afraid. I was the reason his brother had just got stabbed, the reason he was probably fighting a powerful demon. I had no idea what was happening to him right now, he could be just as injured as Basara was. The idea made my blood run cold, and I could feel myself starting to cry as I hugged my knees on the couch downstairs, a teapot on the coffee table in front of me.

My fault… my fault… my fault, I always knew that from the beginning but… but I fooled myself, I thought, wiping the tears as I looked up and saw the clock ticking later and later. I wanted to turn off the lights in the living room, crawl up and die there on the couch… I wanted to go and turn myself in, to finally end this suffering for two kind brothers who'd done so much for me already.

But first I needed to wait.

"Arata… please…" I whispered as my head fell on my knees again, the blanket over my shoulders. I shook from head to toe. "Not you too… not you and Basara. I… I-."

The door clicked, and my head shot around, the blanket fell off me as I shot to my feet. My knees were knocking, but I held out my hand ready to use magic. Arata had warned me if any demons were at school they knew where I lived now and could come at any second. Now we knew that much more powerful demons were after me.

"Who…who's there?!" I yelled to the door, shakily stepping towards it with my finger out. "I'll blow that door away! I swear, I'll kill you a hundred-."

"Damn… lock!" The voice said, before I heard a groan. "Stupid… DOOR!"

The door shot open and I fell backwards. I hit the ground as it swung open, and when I saw him my heart jumped out of my chest and I scrambled to my feet.

"ARATA!"

"Honey I'm home…" He groaned, holding onto his shoulder as he took another step forward. "I… I… ugh…."

"Arata!" I yelled again, rushing to him as he fell forward. I caught him before he faceplanted and when I felt how hot his body was I nearly dropped him again.

I looked at his drenched school uniform and noticed the blood on the shoulder. His face was right next to mine, I felt his shallow breathing, and watched him blink to try and keep his eyes open. My heart nearly beat out of my chest, as I groaned under his weight and got him to his feet. Everything else was gone from mind except what I could do for him. He looked almost in an even worse state then Basara. He didn't have as big a wound, but he was as pale as a ghost, and I only panicked more when his breathing got shallower.

"It's okay! I… I got you… Arata!" I said, my voice cracking as I got him on the couch. His butt hit the couch and he almost slumped right away. I panicked and sat him up. "No! Arata you… you gotta stay awake! I… I'll get Maria and… huh?!"

I went to leave, but I felt him reach out and grab my wrist. I turned around, his head leaned back over the couch. He slowly looked over at me, and when he spoke it was barely above a whisper, but all I could hear was one thing.

"M…Mi…o…"

My eyes went wide, and I'll even admit I blushed. I looked at his hand grabbing my wrist and got hot, but I just nodded and knelt in front of him.

"Y…yeah, Arata?" I asked him, my voice quivering.

He blinked and his blue eyes looked at me. "K…kitchen, under… the… the sink, furthest back, un…unmarked bottle… b…blue… get it and…and…me and…Basara…"

His words were so faint I thought he'd pass out again. I wasn't a medical expert, but I knew him going unconscious was probably bad. So, I just nodded, and with shaky knees rushed away from him and back to the kitchen. I fell to my knees again and nearly pulled everything out to find the bottle Arata had been talking about. It looked like a normal bottle for a sports drink with bright blue almost glowing liquid in it. I grabbed it, and nearly pulled the drawer out looking for a spoon since I knew I couldn't get him to drink.

"Arata!" I said as I got back to the couch. "I found the… Arata!"

He had slumped over again. I dropped the bottle on the couch and sat, moved his shoulders upright again, he tried to help me, but I could tell how weak he was. The blood on his shoulder was getting darker, and just before I could panic more I dropped down next to him. I was smart enough to guess he wanted to drink whatever was in the bottle, so with shaky hands I grabbed it and the spoon.

"O…okay, you want this right?" I asked him, unscrewing the top, it smelled horrible, but I held firm and lifted it up with the spoon. "I… I'll just… um… Arata!"

He had slumped again, but this time, his head had landed on my shoulder. His I could feel his breath on my neck and I nearly fell apart but quickly yelled at myself for being so flustered.

Do something for him! I have to! I thought, as I filled the spoon with whatever medicine it was and turned to him.

"Don't… don't let me spit… spit it back up…" He whispered, as under his own power he lifted up his head, his tired, handsome blue eyes looked over at me.

I stammered but nodded, his face inches from mine. "Okay… now… um… say 'ah'?"

He silently opened his mouth, and with shaking hands I held the spoon up to his mouth and tilted it, the entire spoonful went down his throat and for a minute I was proud of myself.

And then he started coughing.

"Arata! Arata what's wrong?!" I told him, quickly setting the medicine down and grabbing him. I went wide eyed when I realized he looked like he was going to be sick. "You… you said you needed to keep it down, come on, come on Arata!"

I instinctively clamped my hand over his mouth as he convulsed. He clamped his hand over mine as well, and fell forward on the couch, over my legs. His stomach went over my legs and I froze, quickly pushing my thighs together as my other hand went to his back. He coughed for a bit longer, but I just held him there panic still setting in.

Until finally, he stopped, and with a soft groan turned around.

His head in my lap.

"A…Ara…ta?" I said, my voice high, as I kept my legs held firmly together. I saw his messy and dirty brown hair over his eyes, his color was slowly returning as his chest slowly rose and fell.

He… wow… he really… really is… I slowly thought, reaching my hand over and moving the hair from in front of his eyes.

And the minute I touched him he blinked, and his eyes slowly opened.

"A…Arata!" I said, not moving my legs but moving my hands away. "Are you okay?!"

He blinked and groaned rubbing his eyes, and finally he met mine. "Jeez, I thought I told you that flustered little girl routine won't work on me… but, thanks, sorry I fell in your lap."

"I…I am not flustered!" I said to him, as he groaned while sitting up.

My mind was a jumble, if only he knew that well… this isn't really an act.

"Aha, of course you're not…" He said, sighing as he reached over and grabbed the bottle of blue medicine and shuddered. "Ugh… always hated this stuff."

"What is it? I can sense magic from it," I asked him, my hands right away going to my lap.

"Old remedy from the village, Yuki cooked it up for us," He said with a sigh as he set it back down. "It helps restore heroes it's specially made. Tastes like hell going down, but it'll get us up and going for a little bit. Yuki gave me one in the park, it was enough to get me back here. Make sure to give some to Basara, I'm guessing he's alright?"

My heart started racing and I nodded. "Yes, Maria's with him treating his wounds. He's… okay she says, it'll just take a bit for him to get up again."

"That's what I thought… dammit, both of us are so stupid," He said, leaning his elbows on his knees as he groaned and grabbed at his shoulder again. "Help me take this off."

He started unbuttoning his shirt with one hand, and my mind went crazy.

"Wh…what?!" I squealed.

He stopped and looked over at me with a confused look. "Are you deaf? I said help me get my shirt off, I got slashed across the arm with a demon sword covered in fire and it kinda fucking hurts."

"Oh! R…right!" I yelled, reaching over and gingerly going to the buttons of his uniform.

I hesitated for another minute, but sensing his urgency, I helped slowly undue the buttons. I noticed that his clothes were sopping wet. They stuck to his skin like they were full of glue, and each time I reached out to grab a button, I felt myself touching his chest. Each time I did, I had to bite my lip, he didn't say anything, just helping as much as he could with his one hand, as if this was a perfectly normal thing.

Over the last few weeks, I liked to think we'd gotten closer… but Arata still locked his door every night, and never stayed up later with Basara, Maria and I. We made tea together every night, and sometimes stayed up to chat on the porch. I had come to really cherish those moments, but still felt as if… as if there was something missing between us. A part of me could guess what it was, but I always quieted it, because I knew Arata didn't want that kind of relationship with me.

Not to mention Basara and me… I thought, as I got to his last button and undid it, helping him pull off his shirt.

"Okay… now… Arata what happened," I asked as he shakily sighed and rolled his arms. "Yuki said she was going after you and… oh my god, Arata you… you're still bleeding!"

"Huh? Oh yeah, looks like I am," He said, looking at his shoulder and wincing as he gingerly poked the black and blue burn and sword mark. "Ow… that certainly isn't very good."

"No, no it's not!" I yelled, my hands shaking in front of his chest. "What… what can I do? I should go and get Maria she-."

"No, I'm fine believe me, senpai used to hit twice as hard training me," He said, shakily sighing and hugging his arms. "That damn demon…."

"Yeah well I bet your senpai never actually gave you a wound like that!" I yelled at him.

He chuckled. "No, but her and Dad taught me how to conserve energy to survive something like this…" his voice grew low. "But… still, she'd be disappointed, so would Dad…"

"A…Arata…" I said, my voice low, as I could see his shift in mood. "Let me get Maria-."

"No, let her keep healing Basara," He said, crossing his arms and looking over at me as I moved up onto the couch next to him. "Did anything happen after I chased Akune off the roof?"

I stammered; I could feel his intense gaze. His blue eyes were shining so bright it looked as if lightning was bouncing inside them. It was so handsome, beautiful, but also intimidating, sometimes I had a hard time believing he and Basara were related. Still, I knew I had to tell him all I knew, which wasn't much… but I had to be useful somehow.

"Yuki she… told me to get Basara back here, and she went after you," I told him, my eyes going to my lap, my hands shaking. "Maria showed up not long after and we got Basara back here. I… I've been waiting for you. Arata, what happened to you?"

He sharply inhaled, his eyes going to the floor. He gripped so tight to his arms his fingers were white, and I thought lightning was about to strike the house when I smelled a sulfuric smell. Arata was busy looking angry, and that was when I heard a small tick sound.

I turned around and looked at the screen door and saw… a small animal.

A… fox? I thought oddly. What's it doing here-.

"I fought that demon at the park, but he… put up a barrier so nothing was destroyed," He said slowly, wringing his fists together now and speaking through clenched teeth. "He… he beat me."

My eyes went wide, and my heart fell down to my stomach.

"He… he beat you?" I said, my mouth dry.

Arata nodded rigidly. "Yup… kicked my ass out the gate, I wasn't ready at first but, when I was? He still overpowered me. I… I lost. I fucking lost again!"

My hands shook. "A…again?"

"First back at the village and now here, I fucking lost," He hissed, and it was clear to me now he wasn't even talking to me. He got up and kicked his leg forward. "DAMMIT!"

"Arata!" I yelled as I got up and the coffee table flipped over.

"Every damn time! Every fucking time that I think I'm finally good enough I fucking lose," He yelled, stepping in front of me. "Basara would have beaten that guy, I know he could have. Everyone always told me how strong I was, my Dad, Basara, Kurumi, Yuki, MIYA!"

I stood there, shaking in place as I watched tears fall from his eyes as he stood there with clenched fist.

"Dammit why did you waste your time on me?! WHY?!" He yelled, looking at his hand, as if he was yelling at his sword. "And why did you choose a loser like me?! Why didn't you just fucking go to Miya or Ritsu like you were supposed to god dammit! And senpai, Miya, why the hell did you waste all that time training me?! You're the smartest person I know, you should have seen how weak I was, I know you could've seen it!"

"A…Arata…" I said, trying to stop him, but he just kept going.

"I wasn't able to protect the village then, even with this damn sword! With all this damn training this is all I'll ever be isn't it?!" He said, his voice low now. "And now… I can't do anything now I-. What are you doing?!"

"Please! Please, Arata stop!" I said, my arms going around his waist from the back.

He went stiff and turned around to look down at me. The wound on his arm was still bleeding but he looked down at me with blue eyes full of rage, annoyance, and sadness… I could see it.

"Let go of me Mio," He said, trying to move my arms. After I didn't move he shook his head. "I'm being serious, let go of-."

"It's my fault! I know it is!" I said, feeling myself start to cry as I looked up at him. "If… if I hadn't been here, if not for me, you and Basara wouldn't have to fight! You wouldn't be in danger, if… if you hadn't met me, you wouldn't be hurting right now, physically, or emotionally. I… I know you'd prefer it if I was gone but-."

I stopped when he put his hands over mine. My tears welled up and I looked up at him, and I didn't see the eyes I found so handsome anymore.

Instead, he looked even more angry. "This again…? Seriously? You think I want you gone?"

"I… I just… it seems as if I… I only ever cause you trouble," I told him.

He sucked in a breath and took a step away from me. He didn't look at me for a moment, and the temperature only got colder in the house when he turned around, his lightning eyes full of anger.

"What you did today was stupid. I'm not going to coddle you like Basara and Maria do. What you did, following Yuki at school when you know what you do about her? That was stupid," He said, his voice low and level now as he went on. "If you had just gotten over your petty little jealousy we would've been able to come back home, meet up with Maria and set up a defense, those demons wouldn't have even attacked, they did because they saw an opportunity."

My heart fell even lower, as did my head. "I… I know…"

"And you're still on this idea I don't want you around? If I didn't want you around, I wouldn't have bothered coming to save you that first night," He said, scoffing as he met my eyes. "But do you really think I went to fight that demon just because I have a mission to protect you? Do you think I'm fighting so hard just because of that?!"

The bit of my heart that was left shattered, as my head fell and I could barely move my lips to speak. "N…no…"

"No, I'm fighting so hard despite knowing how worthless I am… because it's my way to atone," He said, turning his back to me. "Because I wasn't able to save all those people at the village, I wasn't able to save my brother from becoming an outcast, I wasn't able to face Kurumi when I left, every time I've been called on to protect something that I love, I have failed and had to have Basara, Dad, senpai, anyone else come and help… and this is my chance to make up for that, you're my chance to make up for that Mio… and in my first challenge, I failed again, I fucking lost."

"I… I… I'm…" I said, trying to find words through my tears.

How could I have doubted this? How could I ever have doubted his words spoken by a boy like this? I managed to look him in the eye, and when I saw his narrowed bright eyes, my chest imploded. I felt a pain come on that I never felt before, the pain of making someone I truly cared for hurt even worse then they already were.

It all really was my fault.

"If you think I want you gone, after all of this… then you really are an idiot," He said, slowly limping and grabbing his wet shirt and the medicine from the couch and walking to the couch. "Quit throwing yourself a pity party and look at what's in front of you. Basara and I chose this, you should learn what making a choice means."

And he walked up the steps, leaving me behind. I sobbed when he was gone, and hugged myself, wishing that it was anyone else instead. Outside the patio door, I still saw the little fox watching what was going on, it's gold eyes almost judging.

Choices… you're right Arata, I need to learn to make them… and this will be one of them.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Arata

"Please… no pervy magic," I whispered, opening Basara's door and walking in. I got in there and saw a clothed Maria which was a relief. "Oh thank god you got clothes on."

She jumped, the magic in her hands disappearing. Basara was beneath her in his bed while she hovered her hand over him on the side of it. It was tame for Maria who I half expected to be straddling him. Her eyes went wide, and she rushed right over as I came in.

"Arata! We were worried are you okay?!" She said, even throwing her arms around my waist and hugging me. "Mio said something about you chasing a demon and… oh my god, Arata I need to wrap that, oh god please tell me you're okay-."

"I'm fine, just relax," I said, patting her head I handed her over the medicine in the bottle. "Give him only a spoonful of this, it'll help him, I already took some."

"H…huh?! Arata what about your arm?!" She urged, holding up the bottle. "And what is this?"

"Remedy from the village, Yuki's been making it for me," I told her. "I already had some, but it'll help him get his strength back for a bit. Since you've already been treating him this will probably help him wake up soon."

"O…okay," She said, taking it but quickly setting it on Basara's desk. "But you're what I'm worried about now, come on, sit!"

I stammered, going stiff for a minute I shook my head. "I said I'm fine, d…don't worry. I'll just go to my room and-."

"What about your arm?! It had to be wrapped and treated!"

"I can do it myself," I told her, turning around. "I'll just sleep a bit and- YAH!"

"No! I refuse to let you!" She said, and with surprising strength pulled me back and I fell into Basara's chair. She stood with her hands on her hips and glared at me. "I'm wrapping that for you, and then I'm going to use my magic to help you get your strength back, no questions asked!"

"Maria, I told you that I-."

"Not a chance!" She said, pulling a roll of gauze from a medical kit and moving towards me, going for my arm right away, standing in front of the chair she raised it. "You won't intimidate me out of this you annoying little tsundere!"

I stammered, and even blushed, but it was quickly dashed by groaning in pain. Maria worked quickly, wrapping the gauze around my arm with expert precision.

"O…okay then…" I said, feeling fatigue take over. "I… I guess you… you can…."

I was finally asleep, finally.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The Hero Clan Village, five years ago…

"Alright kouhais!" Miya said, smiling she pumped her fist in the air. "Who's ready for today's lesson?! Let me hear it!"

"YES SENAPI! IT'S VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU TODAY!" Kurumi yelled, clapping her hands together and bowing.

I quickly bowed, even though we were sitting down. "I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU TODAY SENPAI! I'M READY FOR MY LESSON!"

"Hahaha, that's what I like to hear, first question kouhais!" Miya said, clapping her hands together before leaning forward to us both. "Who can name me the three most important Kami born from Izanagi!"

Before I could get a chance to answer, Kurumi's hand shot into the air.

"Oh I know senpai!" She yelled; her golden eyes excited as she nodded. "They were Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo!"

"Excellent kouhai! I am thoroughly impressed," Miya cooed, smiling as she reached forward and patted Kurumi's head. "Yes, good job Kurumi."

Kurumi's smile widened, and her face even got red, I could hear her whisper as she pushed her head up against Miya's hand. "I'm in the land of eternal bliss!"

"Haha, now, other kouhai!" She said, as she pulled her hand back and pointed to me now. "Name me the Three Great Oni!"

"Y…yes Senpai!" I yelled at attention, as the answer came to me. "They're Shuten Douji, Tamamo no Mae, and Otakemaru!"

Miya's smile widened as she nodded. "Yes, very good as well! A headpat for you as well Arata!"

She reached out her hand, and I was not passing up this opportunity. I could have melted into her hand right then and there. She finished patting my head and looked over to see Kurumi seemed even a bit jealous. I loved Kurumi, more than I loved anyone, and I hoped at least it was the same for me, but if there was one person we loved more then we loved each other, it was Miya.

A part of me thought Kurumi was even in love with Miya as well as me, it was something I thought about often. We always came to listen to her with baited breath, we held onto every word, she did everything she could to teach us. If the adults were going to focus more on Basara, Yuki and the older kids, at least we'd have someone who recognized the both of us. It was more then I could ask for, and I knew that I'd never leave my Senpai, not for anything.

She smiled at us both and stood, gesturing for us to do the same. "Alright! Today's lesson kouhais is another in Niten-Ichi ryu! Kurumi!"

"Yes senpai!" Kurumi yelled, standing up straight.

"Name me the five gates!"

"Earth, water, fire, wind and void!"

"Excellent!" She said, turning and smiling back at me now. "Arata!"

"Yes senpai!" I yelled back as well.

"Mhm…" She said, smiling fondly. "Recite the first part of the chant for Ishana Daitenshou."

I froze, Miya blinked and then I realized Kurumi was looking at me too. I believed Kurumi was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen in my life, but my senpai was not far off. She was fifteen, five years older then me, and it was hard to believe she could grow any prettier then she was. Her almost white, blonde hair was tied up behind her head with a red and white bow that spread outwards like the rising sun. She was wearing a blue and red kimono, two katanas slid into her waist, a long one for slashing and a shorter one. She hadn't bonded with a god or powerful spirit yet, but it was only a matter of time.

I'd taken the sword she was expected to bond too, she told me she never planned on bonding to Takemikazuchi, but I really believed she only said that so I didn't feel bad. I had fostered with her family the Tanaka's when I was younger, and even now after I'd gone back to my Dad and Basara, she still trained me. She never gave up on me, despite how obviously inferior I was to Basara.

"Um… yes senpai! Uh… Namu… Tenman, Daijzai Tenjin… N…Ni… um…" I said, trailing off as the words illuded me. Finally I gulped and shook my head. "I… I'm sorry senpai… I don't remember."

"Namu, Tenman, Daijzai Tenjin! Nioh Kurikara, shotenshou!" Miya said, not a single trace of disappointment in her voice. Her shadow came over me as I looked at the ground, she bent over and looked at me with her face tilted. "Huh? What's wrong kouhai? You're not upset you couldn't remember are you?"

"Yeah, it's okay Arata! You have a lot of things you need to remember!" Kurumi said, coming up next to me and smiling too. "It's okay if you forget one thing! Right senpai?"

"Kurumi's right kouhai," She said, her eyes staying locked with mine, her face turned inquisitive and when I started shaking she shook her head. "Hey, don't beat yourself up! You wouldn't be one of my two adorable little kouhais if I didn't think you could handle it!"

I hated blushing when I was upset. I couldn't look back up at her, and just shook my head. "I… I know… it's just I… I'm sorry senpai."

"Huh? Sorry for what?"

"For… well… you know, not being as good as Basara is," I said, unable to meet her bright blue eyes. "And… and for… for taking your-."

"Oh no, we aren't going to go over this again kouhai," She said, smiling as she rubbed my head, sighing as she turned back around to look down over the hill. "What am I going to do with the two huh? If I wanted to teach Basara and Yuki, I would have them here now instead of you both!"

Kurumi next to me looked ashamed too. I knew she always had the same fear, that secretly deep down, Miya wished she could teach Yuki and Basara.

The wind blew gently, it was a beautiful day. The three of us were in our usual spot, beneath a massive oak tree on a hill overlooking the river where the other kids were training one way, and the village the other way. From where we were, we could see the adults all watching over the kids training. The truth was, that Kurumi and I should have been down there with them, and some days we did, but for the most part, we stayed and trained with her. Her father, Mr. Tanaka was one of the most respected warriors in the village, they said he was almost as good as my Dad, so when his daughter offered to my Dad and the Nonaka's to train Kurumi and me both, the village agreed.

And for years, this was how it went. Even before I had pulled Takemikazuchi from its spot safely kept in the Tanaka house, me, Kurumi, and Miya always came to this same spot.

I always loved this spot.

A loud clang of wood on wood rang out, and I looked down to see where it came from, coming up to Miya with Kurumi to look over the edge.

"Okay, time out!" I heard the instructor yell. "Basara, that's enough!"

I gulped, as I watched Basara had just knocked over one of his opponents. As usual, Basara smiled and helped the kid back to his feet. After he did, I saw Kurumi stiffen, as Yuki did the same not far away, they were both so good that all the other kids could only watch on. That had been the case for years, Basara and Yuki were leagues above everyone else in the village, nobody could beat Basara and Yuki wasn't far behind. Of course, I loved them both… but seeing them crowded by the rest of the kids, it made me realize just how inferior to my brother I was.

"Incredible, I can't believe it still," I could hear one of the adults saying. "Basara's far and above the rest!"

"Well, he is Jin's son after all, his heir," Another said. "He'll lead the next generation to greatness! Between him and Miyamoto, the village will be in good hands."

"Oh yeah, and how's Jin's other son?" One more asked. "Minato?"

I stiffened… Jin's other son, I hated that. Miyamoto of course was Miya's full name, she hated it being used. I shook, until I felt a hand grab mine. Kurumi came up next to me, holding my hand and leaning against my side as we stood, her own look of disappointment coming to her face.

Minato was Miya's father; Mr. Tanaka I always called him. He was a tall intimidating man on the outside, with massive, muscled arms, wispy near white, blonde hair tied up above his head.

"Arata is progressing well, Miya will teach him all he needs to know," Mr. Tanaka said, a dark pitch-black katana at his waist. "I have confidence he'll surpass all expectations."

I felt Kurumi squeeze my arm reassuringly as we looked over the elders just below us. On the outside, Mr. Tanaka was very scary. His sword was Tsukuyomi the sword of the moon god, one of the villages most legendary swords. He had never inherited Takemikazuchi despite it being in his families possession, nobody had gotten it until I had. Mr. Tanaka had never complained and accepted it when I pulled it right away.

Another person who believed in me.

One of the elders scoffed. "Yes, he may have a powerful sword, but I don't even think we'll need him to be that strong! Not with Basara growing at the rate he is, it would be a waste to keep wasting Miyamoto's time training his younger brother. Let the boy just fall in with the rest."

"I must concur," Another laughed. "To be quite honest, I forgot Jin had a second son until you all mentioned it."

It went quiet as all laughed except for Mr. Tanaka, who just watched the trainees for a few more moments. Without saying another word, he turned, and walked deeper into the forest. They didn't question him, nobody ever questions Mr. Tanaka. He was my fathers oldest friend, and someone Dad said I could always trust with my life.

And someone else I'd let down.

"Arata…" Kurumi said softly, as I felt my heart sink.

"It… it's okay!" I said, trying to laugh it off, as I looked at her and then back to Miya. "I never really had that great a destiny to begin with! We can't always choose our lot in life, right senpai? Um… senpai?"

"Senpai?" Kurumi asked, as Miya hadn't stopped glaring down at the laughing elders.

"Those pigs…" She said, before turning and looking at me and Kurumi, she was tall for her age, we only made it up to her chest. She knelt, and one hand each went to me and Kurumi's shoulders. "I want you both to listen to me, okay kouhais?"

"Y…yes senpai!" Kurumi said dutifully.

My chest shook. "Y…yes, yes senpai!"

"Good…. Never for one moment think that all the hard work you've put in was worthless," She said, her blue eyes darting between us both. "You have both dedicated yourself to becoming heroes and upholding the ideals you both believe in, and that, will never be worthless."

"Y…yes senpai!" Kurumi and I both said at the same time.

"There's going to be times, that you fall, that you fail, that you lose, that you have doubts of your own abilities, but never let that stop you," She said, before she pulled us both closer to her, and hugged the both of us. "Always remember, you don't have to fight alone. Future is never set in stone, you both just like everyone have the capacity to do great things. Destiny isn't some set goal, it's whatever you decide it is, it's a goal you strive for and give your all for. So please… promise me you'll never give into despair, never doubt yourselves or the training I've given you, and… always give your all."

"I promise! I promise senpai! I… I love you!" Kurumi said quickly, hugging her back, as Miya laughed.

I wiped my face and met my mentors eyes. "Y…yes! I promise too senpai!"

"Huh? No 'I love you senpai' from you Arata? You're going to make me cry!" She said, pouting as she did.

I blushed and stammered. "I… I love you senpai!"

"Ha, now that's better," She said, pulling me closer too. "If you ever have any doubts, if it helps you to remember, always think how your senpai believes in you! I know you-."

She stopped, and her arms left us both. She shot up straight and took a step away from us, she face the village, the wind gently blowing back her hair. Her hands balled into fists at her side, and worried right away, I rushed up next to her to see her eyes narrowing towards the distant houses.

Kurumi joined me. "Senpai? What's wrong?"

"Yeah, is everything okay?" I asked after her.

She didn't answer for a moment, and a look I never saw appear on my senpai's face came that day.

Fear, fear, and anger.

"Arata… Kurumi," She said, not looking back down at us, her hand going to the hilt of her long katana. "I want you both to go join the others, find Basara and Yuki, and get as far away from here as possible!"

Panic set in, as I shook my head. "Wh…what?! Why, what's wrong?!"

"You're scaring me senpai!" Kurumi said next. "What are you-."

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

A building exploded in the distance. Kurumi yelled, throwing herself and clinging onto me. Screaming, dying could be heard, a giant plume of black smoke rose up, and I could feel my skin starting to crawl. A large spiral of magic shot up from the houses, I reached back and grabbed hold of Kurumi, holding her behind me despite how scared I was myself.

Villagers came screaming from that direction.

"It's an attack! The demon sword Brynhildr's been unleashed!"

My eyes went wide, fear coursed up my throat and I looked up to see Miya's eyes set wide as she didn't look away from the blast zone. Her eyes darted to the forest, presumably looking for her father, before she cursed under her breath, her hand still on her long katana.

"A…Arata," Kurumi said shakily. "Senpai!"

"Senpai, what do we do?!" I yelled, looking up at her. "Should… should we-."

"Do what I said, the both of you!" She ordered; her voice unwavering. "I'm going to go and-."

"What, senpai no you can't!" Kurumi yelled.

"Yeah, Kurumi's right!" I tried to reason with her, shaking as I looked at her. "If you go and try to fight a demon sword you could-."

"Arata, Kurumi listen to me!" She snapped, turning back to both of us. "Go now, do what I say! Believe me, your senpai won't be killed by the likes of this!"

"SENPAI!" Kurumi yelled, trying to rush out from behind me as Miya took off towards the village. She moved so fast you could barely see her as she leapt and sped forward.

"Kurumi!" I yelled, grabbing her and pulling her back. I turned her towards me and shook my head. "We… we have to do what she says!"

"GO! PROTECT THE CHILDREN!" One of the elders yelled.

Kurumi looked back to where Miya had run, before turning to me and slowly nodding. Grabbing her hand, and blinking away tears, I turned and ran with her. I almost tripped down the hill, especially with more people from the village running past us. The wind suddenly grew even colder, sweat fell down my neck, my hand got sweaty and a few times Kurumi almost slipped from my grasp, but she kept hold and eventually we reached the bottom with the cluster of elders who were grouping up in front of the children who had been practicing.

"Why did this have to happen when Jin was away?!" One elder yelled.

"Where the hell did Minato go?!" Another yelled next.

I pushed through the crowd with Kurumi close behind. I had no idea where my dad was, but I wished he was there too.

I would never be able to do anything, I was lucky Miya was there, everyone I loved could have been in danger. Of course, Miya was in danger now… but I had to trust her like she said. Some of the kids yelled me and Kurumi's names, and it wasn't until they all yelled and started running, that I saw my brother.

"Basara!"

I saw him turn around and rush back towards us, Yuki behind him. "Arata, you're okay!"

I wanted to yell at him to get off me as he grabbed onto me.

"Kurumi!" Yuki yelled, grabbing onto her sister.

They hugged, and I looked at Basara who hadn't let go of me yet.

"I'm so glad you're okay, I was worried!" He said, shaking his head. "Where's Miya-."

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

I turned and my eyes widened. "BASARA GO!"

"GYAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The explosion of magic energy didn't happen far away. I was thrown away from Basara, we'd lingered too long and whoever had grabbed the demon sword had arrived. I tumbled next to my brother, I had no idea where Kurumi or Yuki had landed, but when I blinked away the dirt and got to me knees, I could see the adults that had tried to stand up to the man with Brynhildr. I could see him now as Basara groaned next to me, he was taller than anyone I'd ever seen, and while I'd heard about the powers of the demon sword before, nothing could have prepared me for the chills I felt then.

Tall, a tower of black magic shot from him, he didn't even seem human anymore as he held up the larger sword. No sword had ever looked that big to me before. My hands only shook, they froze. A small part of my brain was screaming 'pull out your sword Arata!' Takemikazuchi was the villages legendary sword for a reason, it had to have been able to do something!

But unfortunately, it had gone to someone like me.

"ARATA!" Basara yelled, as I saw him step in front of me, as the man laughed. It echoed and after his magic exploded and knocked away another adult, he turned on me and my brother.

Basara's eyes were wide, as he held his arm out over me. My whole life I'd worked to get out of his shadow, to prove I didn't need him… but here I was now, being protected by my big brother.

Laughter came again, as Brynhildrs magic went haywire, black magic shot from all directions, but the minute he stepped forward with a strike that would have killed my brother and me, something flashed in the sky. Both of our eyes went up as green magic erupted in the sky, and it took the attention of the monster of a man before us too, because he spun around, and he just barely managed to raise up Brynhildr as the comet of magic came shooting down towards him.

A loud *CLANG* rang as sword hit sword and he got sent flying back, and dust shot up as in front of us, my mentor slid back on her feet, both swords in her hands.

"Miyamoto Tanaka," She yelled, knees bent ready to burst forward again, her body radiating green magic like a fallen star. "Of the ancient Clan Tanaka, descendants of the great Minamoto, daughter of the Moon Knight. I pass judgement on you here today, die for your crime!"

Her eyes exploded with light, as did both her swords as the man recovered. She shook her head and held out both of her blades. "And stay the hell away… from my kouhais!"

"SENPAI!" I yelled from behind Basara and I could finally hear Kurumi from not far away either.

Miya was a pure speed fighter like I was, but not even I was anywhere near as fast as she was. I blinked, and as the black magic from Brynhildr shot towards her, she moved from left to right, swinging both her swords and knocking the magic away. Her power clashed with the demon swords power and came out on top as she the tendrils of magic away and gracefully leapt away from them never breaking her stride once.

I saw her magic explode and heard her voice. "Sokudo no Kami!"

Her magic shot around her and then out, and she moved so fast that it seemed like there were eight of my senpai charging at the man. He screamed and swung Brynhildr down, more of the black magic shot from him, but the eight copies of Miya all moved and knocked the magic away, and when she finally got to him, all eight had surrounded him and leapt at once.

The clash almost made my ears bleed. I knew that Miya's family was responsible for creating and master the style of fighting with two swords, but seeing them move against Brynhildr, seeing eight copies of her cut forward, her swords moving like they had a mind of their own, never missing their mark made me again realize just how inferior of a fighter I was compared to her. One of her clones came for from above behind the man, but he turned and cut it away, it exploded with a puff of green magic, but she then launched forward with both her blades and cut them across the mans stomach and he yelled, black magic leaking from him and the demon sword.

If this had been a normal fight, Miya would have destroyed him. But it wasn't. And when he yelled, he exploded with more power as Brynhildr only grew in size.

"ARGH!" Miya yelled, as the magic shot her back.

"SENPAI!" "MIYA!" Me and Basara yelled.

Miya skidded across the ground, not dropping her swords but she had to groan as she struggled to get back to her feet, for the magic from Brynhildr was holding her down.

The man laughed and sprinted towards her with the sword leveled.

Miya's eyes widened for just a moment before she sucked in a breath and her magic seemed to be sucked into her.

"Oh great creator of our land of gods, I beseech thee, open your power to this mortal body of mine" She chanted, as she groaned and escaped the magic, before she picked up her sword and ducked under Brynhildr and came back up in the middle of the clearing. "The genesis of this land, the genesis of man, I humbly beseech you, oh great creator to see the truth of my heart."

The scream and magic from Brynhildr went haywire as he swung the sword towards her but Miya leapt up above him into the air, her sword exploding with green light.

"Great creator! I call upon you, Izanagi no Mikoto! By the MYRIAD TRUTHS-. GYAHHHHH!"

"SENPAAIIIIIII!"

Before the most powerful attack of the Tanaka clan could unleash, the magic smashed her out of the air.

He laughed and stalked towards my mentor as she hit a tree, nearly shattering it and making it fall backwards. The magic encroached on her, and for a moment I was still frozen.

However, when I saw someone else rush for her, my chest exploded.

"KURUMI!"

"ARATA WAIT!" Basara yelled, rushing after me.

I got across the field, trying my best to avoid the gaze of the man laughing and stalking towards Miya with Brynhildr. Kurumi had ran towards her, and Yuki hadn't been far behind her sister. She dropped down next to Miya who was struggling to get up as black magic ate at her body.

"Senpai! S…senpai!" Kurumi said to her.

Miya's eyes blinked and she shook her head at Kurumi. "What… what are you, Kurumi you need to get-."

A scream cut her off as just when I got there the man raised Brynhildr again.

"SENPAI! KURUMI!" I yelled, stopping in front of them, shaking as I held up my hand. "T…Tak…Take… Takemi…"

My hand shook too much… I couldn't summon my sword. All I did that day, was yell and turn to wrap my arms around Kurumi and Yuki.

"ARATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

And just like he always did, like I always knew he would, my brother was right there.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

I felt something on top of me in the chair, and I didn't like it.

"Wh…what?" I said, blinking, and when I did I saw a head of white hair, and faint green light. "I… huh? Ma… Maria?"

My body was like complete jelly at the moment. Fatigue was washing over me, but one thing I didn't feel was pain. I blinked again and looked at the arm Akune had almost cut off me. I still had another scar, but there were already so many on me that I didn't give it a second thought. Still, it was healed, it still looked fresh, but it wasn't bleeding. Bandages were wrapped around my torso and my arm, but at the moment, Maria wasn't wrapping anything around me.

No, she was pressing her chest against mine, magic was gently humming around her and I was able to put together what she was doing.

At least she has clothes on, I thought, almost laughing at myself.

She blinked, seeing I was awake and almost fell out of my lap. "A…Arata! Oh, I'm sorry! I know you don't like it when I do this sort of thing, but it's my magic helping me-."

"You know… I'm way too tired to complain or bonk you on the head," I said, reaching up and instead of bonking her I just patted her head. "Thanks Maria."

She seemed perplexed by my response and a part of that hurt. The two of them really did just expect me to be an ass all the time didn't they? I supposed that was my fault, but either way, Maria just smiled and nodded, leaning forward as her magic radiated from her again. I leaned my head back and realized I was still in Basara's chair in his room. I could have fallen asleep again there with no problem.

"How long was I asleep?" I asked her.

"Not long, only about a half hour," She informed me, as her magic disappeared and her smile got twisted when she looked up. "I'm so happy you let me do this! With enough rest you'll be all better! And maybe next time we do this, it won't have to be after a battle-."

"Yeah, don't push your luck," I said firmly.

She pouted, and someone laughed.

"Ha, looks like even a near death experience won't change your attitude."

Maria hopped off me, and I looked over. I would be lying if I said a massive wave of relief didn't wash over me. Basara looked just as bad as I did, but good for someone who just got stabbed through the gut. He had his torso wrapped too and was shirtless at the moment, but sat on the side of his bed, his hair a mess as usual with his normal panty dropping smile on his face.

"Oh look how lucky I am!" Maria cooed between us in the room. "A little new stepsister like me stuck in a room with her hunky shirtless stepbrothers! It's like something out a doujinshi! I need to get a camera and-."

"Absolutely not," I said.

"Yeah, gotta agree with Arata on this one," Basara added.

Maria giggled, and surprisingly looked down at the ground upset. "I'm only joking around… I'm sorry, both of you. If I had just gotten there sooner than… then maybe…"

"No, don't say that, it's not your fault," Basara said, rubbing his wound. "We have no way of knowing how things would have turned out."

"Now, it's my turn, to agree with Basara," I told her, my own head falling down to my sword hand, where I felt it tingling. I shuddered and didn't look back up. "Yeah… it's not your fault."

For a moment it was silent. I saw it was pitch black outside, and knew I needed to rest. Miya had always taught me that simply knowing when to sleep was critical for a hero.

And despite the fact I'm really not a very good one… I did promise her, and Kurumi, I thought, remembering the dream I just had. She really was the smartest person I knew. Miya had told me and Kurumi both that there would be times we would fail, times we would lose fights and think it was all worthless. But, as her kouhai, I'd promised to never give into despair, or doubt the training that I'd put it. If I were to doubt her reasons for training me now like I had done downstairs with Mio, I'd be breaking that promise to her, and my word was one of the few things I had left.

I should probably go and apologize to Mio later too, I was a bit harsh, I thought, as Maria smiled forlornly at the both of us and nodded.

"Okay… why don't the both of you get some rest," She said, walking towards the door. "I'm going to go and check on Mio."

She closed the door and right away I groaned, feeling a bit of pain come back in my shoulder. I leaned back in my chair and saw that Basara seemed to be feeling the exact same way that I was. He leaned back on his bed, his head hitting the wall, his legs up on the bed now. For a moment, we both just sat and tried to digest what had just happened. From Mio and Yuki fighting to two powerful demons, our entire situation had just suddenly gotten very, very real.

All I could see was Akune's mask, his flaming sword, feel the bite of it against my arm, remember how he had a counter for everything that I through at him. I also couldn't help but wonder if he was as wounded as I was now. I wondered if he realized that he really won that encounter, since he'd been able to walk off under his own power. A part of me still couldn't believe that he'd put a barrier up, but I was glad that he did. An attack like what I had unleashed, and the one he had, could have shook the entire city at the least.

And I still had lost. That was the biggest concern. It wouldn't be hard to figure out, whatever demon faction was after Mio would probably send someone even stronger, although I couldn't imagine anyone stronger then the demon I just fought.

Basara finally broke our silence. "We weren't ready, were we?"

"No, not at all," I answered, looking at the ceiling.

We were silent for another minute or so, and then he broke the silence.

"Arata…" He said slowly. "You lost… didn't you."

"Yeah… I did," I groaned, getting up from the chair and falling on his bed next to him. My eyes stayed up on the ceiling. "How'd you guess?"

He sighed and did the same. "You're my little brother, I know you as well as you know yourself. Besides, you always get this same scrunched up nose look when you've lost. I know nothing pisses you off more."

"Yeah, that's because I've been losing to you my whole life," I said, my arms spread out. I was quiet for another minute, before I said what I was thinking. "You would have beat him."

He scoffed. "As if, I got taken down in seconds."

"Yeah, it was pathetic, seriously have your sense dulled that bad?" I told him.

He chuckled. "Ha… maybe, but that doesn't make you right."

"I am, you would have found a way to win," I said, holding my sword hand up in front of my face. "That demon… he was on another level."

"I could sense his power, he was even stronger then the masked one," He said, shaking his head. "Although that's not to say the masked one didn't seem powerful either. I really would have been dead if you and Yuki weren't there."

"No, you'd be alive, you always find a way," I sighed. "I hate it… I actually kind of liked the bastard, he didn't seem that bad, even offered to let me and you back away if we gave them Mio."

"Oh yeah?" Basara said, sighing himself. "Well, tell me what happened after I stabbed."

So, I told him. From the moment I slapped his unconscious head, to chasing down Akune, and the fight we had. I even told him how the demon had set up a barrier, and the conversations we had, his offers to let us leave, all the way up until the final attack.

Basara whistled. "Ishana Daitenshou, you never had to use that before have you?"

"No… and a lot of good it did me," I lamented, sighing as I looked back on it. "A demon with control of the power of one of the Three Great Oni… that's not good, not at all."

"Well, it's a good thing you fought him then," Basara said, looking down at me. "I can't control all of Brynhildrs power. From what you said, it seems like you really were pretty evenly matched."

That only annoyed me more. "If we fought a hundred times, I may win fifty of them… but I lost this time. And not to mention, he put up a barrier, offered to let us live… why would a demon do that?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," My brother said. "But… I'm sure we're going to see him again, and the masked one. We'll need to be ready next time."

"Yeah… yeah… we will," I said, blinking rapidly as my eyes stayed up at the ceiling.

That fire would quite literally be burned into my mind for the rest of my life. Basara was right, it was going to be far from the last I saw of Akune, tonight wasn't going to be the only time that we fought. Despite the fact that I had enjoyed fighting him, enjoyed being pushed to my limits… I had realized how low my limits actually were.

But like Miya would always say, when you're at your lowest, there's nowhere to go but up… but how far up can I actually go?

"What's wrong?" Basara asked, his voice soft as he looked at me with a smile. "Don't lie, I can tell you're thinking about something."

I sighed; he really could read me like a book.

"Basara… why do you think it was me?" I said, wanting to hear an explanation from anyone. "Why do you think it was me that got Takemikazuchi. Ritsu is Mr. Tanaka's daughter, she was always as good as me, and Miya… well you know how powerful she is. There were plenty of stronger kids in the village… so why did it chose me?"

For a minute again, it was quiet. After I didn't hear anything, I turned my head over to see he didn't even look at me, he was just looking at the ceiling with that annoying panty dropping smile still plastered all over his face.

And then, he laughed at me.

My chest sunk. "Yeah, go ahead laugh… asshole-."

"Hahahahaha, oh man, I'm sorry," He said, wiping his eyes as he sucked in a breath between his chuckles before he looked down at me. "It's just, that's such a stupid question!"

"Yeah, stupid of me to ask you," I said, turning my back to him as I still didn't get up. "Jerk…"

"Hahaha, oh jeez, come on don't get all pouty," He said, grabbing a pillow from his side of the bed and throwing it at my head. "It's a stupid question because… well, it doesn't matter why."

My chest heat up and I shot up to a sitting position to glare at him. "It doesn't matter? How the hell could you say that of course it matters!"

"Tell me why then genius."

"Just because it is!" I yelled, careful not to let my bandages become unwrapped. "I… well, I need to know because I need to know if I'm worthy of it or not-."

"Oh god, here we go again," He said, still smiling as he turned that smile to me. "Ever since we were little, you've always wondered if you were 'worthy', as if it matters. You have Takemikazuchi now Arata, so it doesn't matter how or why you got it, all that matters if you have it now."

I stammered, my chest beating fast. I wanted to say something but couldn't say anything, so my brother went on.

"A part of it is my fault… and I'm sorry. I'm not stupid, I heard what the elders always said, I saw how they put me ahead of you," He said, shaking his head. "But it's like I said, I honestly always looked up to you more. Everyone in the village says they want to be 'Heroes of Justice', but you? You always actually knew what the meant Arata. You and Miya were the ones who always knew. Hero's don't do what's right for recognition, they do what's right because it's right, you always taught me that."

"I… well… yeah…" I said, my face getting hot. "That's what Miya and Mr. Tanka always told me, Dad too."

"Yeah, and nobody embodied that better then you. You worked so hard, just for the chance to help people, that's why I never doubted your commitment to our mission now," He told me, before shaking his head. "But that's why now… you need to stop worrying about why things happened, and focus on what's happening. Arata, you don't need to prove anything to anyone, least of all me."

Least of all me…

"I know you blame yourself for what happened in the village, and then I blame myself too," He said, getting up and standing in front of me. "But we need to forget about it. Protecting our little sisters is what's important now, not what happened then. And you don't need to do everything by yourself."

"Yeah… would be nice if you did some fucking work," I muttered, making him laugh again.

"Ha, and I will, we're in this together after all, Dad entrusted us both with this," He said, stepping forward and punching my shoulder. "So, next time those demons show up, we do what I said, we kick their ass together, how's that sound?"

I stammered again and looked up at him smiling. My chest started beating hard, and when I looked and saw how wide he was smiling, my mask broke for a moment. I felt like a kid in a shoujo manga who had just been told the meaning of life by their big brother. Of course, our circumstances were a bit different… but I couldn't remember the last time Basara and I had talked like this.

Or when I smiled back at him like I did then. The minute I smiled though, he got that goofy smirk on his face and I scoffed.

"Jeez, I'm not some high school girl, get that panty dropping smirk off your face," I said, grabbing his hand as he pulled me off the bed. "But yeah… I guess we can kick their-."

"BASARA, ARATA!"

The door was flung open.

"God, dammit Maria!" I yelled; my chest ready to burst.

Basara was ready before I was. "Maria, what's wrong?! Where's-."

"It's Mio, she's gone!"

My chest sank again. "Gone what the hell do you mean gone?!"

"She's not in her room, or the kitchen, or the living room, she's just… gone!" Maria said, clearly, just as panicked as us. "We have to find her, please, Arata, Basara we-."

"Calm down, Maria, of course we'll find her," Basara said, trying to keep her calm. He looked over to me with narrowed eyes. "Arata, what do you… Arata?"

I had frozen, my sword arm, the gods instinct made it feel like it was about to fall off. All I could do was hear what she said to me in the back of my head.

"I… I just… it seems as if I… I only ever cause you trouble."

And then the last thing I'd said to her.

"Basara and I chose this, you should learn what making a choice means."

"No… no, no, you idiot!"

"Arata wait!" Maria yelled after me, and it wasn't long before I heard them following after me.

I knew where she was, and that she'd gone to make a choice herself.

And sorry Mio, but that's one choice you're not allowed to make!

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Mio

"Ah, so it looks like the reports are true. You don't have control of your power yet, I will admit, it's quite beautiful," The masked demon said, looking from me on the ground to his left. "Of course, this is no thanks to you Akune."

"Jeez, I said I was sorry alright!" The masked samurai demon said, coming up next to his masked companion. "You had it under control, besides I'm still recovering."

"You really let that younger brat do a number on you eh?" The masked one said in a teasing voice.

Akune scoffed. "I wouldn't take him lightly, he sure as hell did. I collapsed the minute I came out of the barrier, the blue one would've finished me off if she got there a second sooner."

"Well, I hope you had your funwith him at least," The masked one said.

Akune nodded. "I'd say I did. But I do hope he shows up again, I'll be disappointed if he doesn't. Fighting him sure was a rush!"

"Yes, I'm sure it was, but don't forget we have a mission," The masked one said, turning to Mio. "One given to us directly from your brother after all."

"Don't remind me," Akune said, sounding a bit annoyed. Next, he looked down at me. "Alright princess, you put up a good fight, got my respect for that, truly. Still, we gotta take you in, Lars and I won't be rough, we'll keep you safe, just need you to comply."

I breathed heavy, never having felt so drained in my life. Despite how powerful I kept being told that my magic was all powerful, that my real fathers power was the reason I had been chased, that it was the reason Basara, Arata and Maria were in so much danger… but despite all that I was still too weak to control it.

At… at least I made my choice… I'm sorry, Basara… Arata….

I gingerly got up to my feet, and when I looked at the two demons in front of me I just bit my lip.

"Good… very good," The masked one-Lars-said, looking to his partner. "Akune."

"Like I said, I'll be gentle, just a precaution though," Akune said, sounding surprisingly genuine as he walked over towards me. "We'll keep our side too, Ari and-."

"AKUNE!"

Akune leapt back just in time. He shot out his hand and in a burst of flames his long katana sword formed in his hands, just one as he landed next to the Lars who had always jumped back. My heart nearly burst as I saw blue magic shoot past me, before a flash appeared in front of me.

"Y…Yuki!" I yelled, unable to believe what I was seeing.

"Dammit, you again?" Lars said, sounding annoyed.

Akune chuckled and leveled his sword. "Good to see you again Nonaka, now this should fun! Damn… he really did do a number on me, can't move nearly as well."

I saw him favoring one side and holding tight to his one side.

Yuki didn't care, she looked angry.

"You… how dare you! How dare you do that to Basara!" She yelled, before her eyes narrowed over at Akune. "And you… you're the one who put Arata in that state!"

Akune chuckled. "Ha, he did just as much damage to me!"

"It doesn't matter, I'll kill you for that!" Yuki yelled, her armor shining in the moonlight with her golden eyes, her blue hair blew back in the cold wind. She shook her head, her cheeks wet. "That day… Arata and Basara, they saved us all, me, my sister! And now… now they're still fighting! So if they can, then I will too! SAKUYA!"

I could tell Yuki was good, she moved her sword as if it were the wind itself. Akune groaned and leapt back as Yuki's sword smashed into his. They exchanged blows, and for a moment I thought that Yuki could get the upper hand. She moved as if blinking from one spot the next, her sword never missed its mark, but unfortunately for her, Akune's sword never failed to block her. They locked swords and Yuki kicked forward, and the demon samurai groaned, nearly falling over and Yuki jumped back with an elegant flip and magic erupted from her sword.

"Wind Blade!" She yelled, swinging her sword in a downwards slash.

Wind erupted from it, it sent a dozen flying blades of wind towards Akune. He growled and leapt back, his sword grew to a longer katana and erupted in flames.

"Rising scorching sun!" He yelled, before the night sky was lit up by fire as he cut his sword upwards in a massive arc of flames. It cut away some of Yuki's wind before he cut the rest away, but one cut across his cheek and his horn. He yelled, sounding more annoyed then anything as he leapt back, but the minute he landed Yuki was on him again.

"Ugh, dammit!" He yelled, pushing Yuki's sword up and bringing his knee up into her gut. Yuki lurched as she got hit. "You're all idiots! LARS, get off your ass!"

Yuki got sent skidding back after Akune kicked her before I saw giant blasts of magic come from above. Lars had perched himself atop some old stone ruins, and from magic balls, blasts of magic smashed into Yuki and sent her back.

"Yuki!" I yelled, still unable to move to help her.

"G…gah…." She groaned, pushing herself up, and holding onto her arm as she raised up her sword, her armor singed.

"You made a bad choice here tonight Nonaka," Lars yelled down from the ruins, his mask fell down to Akune. "Akune, let's finish this."

"Pain in my ass…" Akune said, his sword still lit with flames as he stalked towards Yuki, black demon magic starting to radiate from him as he got closer. "Why'd you have to play the hero huh Yuki? Now I need to go and… huh?"

*BOOOOOOOOOM*

He was interrupted by a crash of lightning striking in the park. The rain came as if by the flick of a switch. I was drenched in seconds and the entire sky was lit up by one bolt of lightning, and what came next was like a falling star, green magic erupted as another bolt of lightning knocked down a nearby.

"GYAHHHHHHH!"

Akune spun around wide eyed. "LARS! MOVE NOW-."

A loud *CRASH* sounded as the arch that Lars was standing on collapsed, and before Akune could shouted anything a bolt of lightning crashed into him, at least that was what I thought it was. The clang of swords was so loud my ears felt like they were going to bleed. When Arata appeared his eyes were exploding with blue lightning and green magic. He landed and crashed two swords against Akune's long katana still aflame and the demon samurai who had been completely caught off guard buckled.

Arata took advantage and after knocking away his sword planted his foot on the ground and swung his other leg back around. It smashed into Akune and sent him flying backwards, where he smashed into the crumbling rock arch that Lars had fallen from after Arata crumbled it.

"Arata!" Yuki yelled, recovering as she came up behind him with her armor.

Arata turned, his eyes wide, lightning shot from the corners of his eye sockets, and he looked panicked for a moment. He looked at Yuki, and then when he looked at me, my chest exploded.

"A…Arata… you… you came," I croaked out, the rain starting to let up but still coming down.

A look of relief crossed his face, before he turned back to the demons, his knees bent, both swords in a stance as they were pointed at Akune, who was rising up from the rubble.

"Arata Toujou," He said, as the rain came to a stop, but lightning still radiated from Arata's sleek samurai hero armor. He narrowed his eyes towards Akune. "Of the Toujou Clan, son of… The War God! I'm passing on your judgement today, die for your crime!"

Akune's eyes were wide for a moment, but then he burst out laughing. "Aha…AHAHA! And what crime would that be?"

"You're trying to kidnap my sister," Arata yelled back to him, his eyes narrowing. "And that's just… unforgiveable!"

My face was hot despite how drenched I was now. The night air blew back Arata's cape, and when he blasted forward, it was like a bolt of lightning itself.

However, Akune was just as fast. Fire erupted from his sword and the two clashed with a massive explosion shooting upwards. They locked swords, pressing down on each other's blades, as Arata slide his second shorter sword down the blade of Akune's longer katana and thrusted forward. Akune was ready for it and bounced backwards. They exchanged blows that were so quick I could barely even see where the swords were aiming or going. Arata ducked down under one blow and came up to strike his swords hilt hard across Akune's cheek.

The demon groaned and recoiled back before slicing his flaming katana down at Arata, but Arata was ready and stepped to the side while throwing up his sword. Akune's katana cut down one of Arata's blades and Arata skillfully spun to the side and got around to Akune's back. Akune spun and just barely got his sword up in time, and when they clashed, Arata got sent skidding back in front of Yuki and me.

"Ha…hahahahaha! Looks like I didn't do you in nearly as bad as I thought!" Akune yelled, his flaming sword leveled.

Arata scoffed. "Oh, you did believe me."

"Hahaha, I try my best," Akune yelled back, narrowing his dark eyes. "You did a pretty good number on me too… so, I won't entertain you myself tonight!"

I saw the magic, and so did Yuki.

"ARATA!" "ARATA!"

Arata didn't move as the masked demon emerged from a portal towards the left, he looked worse for ware, but he thrusted his hand forward and the magic ball he had erupted into dozens of them. They reared back to fire their magic, and I wanted to try and do something but I was still drained of power.

And Arata still didn't move, but he didn't need too.

"DIE TOUJOU!" He erupted, before the magic fired.

Arata only kept his eyes on Akune, and just when I thought he was crazy, I felt the wind next to me blow. Yuki watched on with wide eyes too, as the massive attack that had been heading Arata's way didn't hit Arata. Another sword erupted with green magic, and after the smoke finally cleared, Arata scoffed.

"Jeez, do you always need to be so dramatic?" He said.

Basara looked at him incredulously. "After the entrance you had you wanna call me dramatic?!"

"Basara!" Yuki yelled from behind them both. "You… you're okay!"

Basara turned with his smile intact and nodded to Yuki before taking his place next to Arata. "Thanks for protecting her Yuki, but Arata and I will take it from here."

"B…Basara, Arata, you… you don't…" I started, but then Basara looked back at me.

"Don't worry, Arata and I got this under control," He said, turning back around. "Right Arata?"

"Yeah…" Arata said, holding up both swords.

Across from them, Lars and Akune both seemed annoyed. Lars materialized next to him, and I could feel the tension between the heroes and the demons. I assumed that many such battles like this had been fought over the years. Lightning, magic, swords, it all probably was a very familiar scene.

Akune scoffed first. "Ha… hahahaha! Now this is the fight I wanted! The sons of the War God, time to get down to it!"

"More importantly, if they wish to die, then they can die…" Lars said, as he floated up into the air, the magic balls multiplying around him. "Come on then, Arata, and Basara Toujou!"

Akune's sword exploded into flames, and magic shot forward from Lars.

I felt my legs start to move. "Basara, Arata! Come on, Yuki, we should… huh?! What are you doing Yuki?"

"No, don't get involved it's not what they'd want," Yuki told me, holding an arm out to stop me from running forward. Her golden eyes glued to both the brothers as she shook her head. "Besides… we'd only get in their way."

I looked out, and right away understood why Yuki had said that.

The magic hit nothing but the ground, Arata and Basara were far too fast. Both their swords out as they rushed they practically disappeared and reappeared they were moving so fast. They moved in and out of each other's way, they dodged every blast of magic that came their way, and when Akune finally leapt forward with his flaming sword Arata and Basara both converged on him with perfect precision and timing. Akune swung at Arata who ducked under the swing and came around his back for an attack with both his swords, and when the demon samurai turned to try and block, Basara came in.

"ARGH!" Akune yelled, as Basara's sword cut across his shoulder, and just as it did Arata came down with his strike.

Akune barely parried it, he knocked one of Arata's swords away and kicked at his second. Arata stumbled back and Akune kicked forward again. Arata got hit in the stomach, but the minute he was, Basara was back on Akune. He swung for his waist and the demon samurai didn't get the chance to press his advantage against Arata because of the flurry of attacks he had to block from Basara. Akune was put on the back foot, clearly laboring from his previous wounds, but through it all despite having a mask I got the feeling he was enjoying himself.

I realized I was seeing it then, the true power that Arata and Basara had. Separate they were powerful, but together…? They seemed to be nearly unstoppable. They knew what the other was doing at all times, Basara's sword never accidentally hit Arata, Arata's attacks moved perfectly off his brother, they protected each other's backs, one attacked while one defended, and it seemed impenetrable.

"Oh man, you certainly live up to the hype!" Akune yelled, knocking away Basara's strikes and leaping upwards. He landed atop the ruins again and Basara followed. "The mighty Basara Toujou, you do seem pretty insufferably perfect!"

"Thanks for the compliment!" Basara yelled, landing and striking at Akune. Without even looking up as he locked swords with the demon he yelled. "ARATA!"

"It's useless!" Lar's voice came as he reappeared above them, and magic shot down from the magic balls that covered the sky.

"Thunderclap and Flash!"

A bolt of lightning shot up into the air, but it turned out to be Arata. He knocked out one blast from the sky and landed on the top of the stone arch before dashing and knocking out every single blast the Lars sent his way. The entire time, Akune started gaining ground on Basara just as Arata knocked the last blast out of the air and Lars reappeared down next to him.

He came down with the magic ball, but Arata spun around and swung up his sword. It crashed into the ball and shattered it, but another took its place as Lars rushed forward with a relentless series of attacks.

"You can't defeat Akune by yourself," Lars yelled, as Arata knocked away the attacks, coming closer and closer to Basara and Akune. "So, since you can't you go running to your big brother to help you?'

"Sounds about right!" Arata yelled, knocking up Lars ball and leaping back with his sword erupting in lightning and green magic. "Basara!"

"GYAH!" Basara yelled behind him.

Basara was cut across his sword arm, and just like Lars had beat back.

Akune laughed, as both he and Lars closed in on them both. "Haha, I guess I shouldn't have expected so much!"

Basara's back pressed up against Arata's, but neither looked worried, Basara even smirked as the two demons came closer to them both. Akune tried to strike first with his flaming sword. It erupted with greater flames as he dashed forward, and soon Lars did the same.

But, then the two of them jumped and leapt backwards off the archway at the same time.

"MARIA!" It was Basara who yelled on their way down.

My eyes went wide, as behind them, the top of the stone ruins erupted. The began to crumble, and both demons turned back around and I saw her. Maria had jumped out from the shadows, and I saw now what Arata and Basara were trying to do, they were trying to bunch Akune and Lars together for this very attack!

"The succubus?!" Lars yelled, as Maria screamed and threw the massive stone slab down towards the demons.

It words, as with the massive sound of crumble debris it smashed down towards them. I could see Akune's sword swing up and some of the rock was cut away, but the giant stone arch fell and crumbled them to the ground. Maria flew and landed down next to Basara, and then he looked over to Arata, who had stuffed both swords into his belt for some reason, but it seemed they had a plan.

"Arata… lets finish them!" Basara yelled.

"You think it'll be that easy?!" Lars voice yelled, as from above both he and Akune both emerged from a portal above them and came down.

Arata, Maria and Basara all jumped, but I saw it was Akune who got to Arata. His armor chipped and damaged now his sword smashed down and Arata leapt out of the way, as Basara knocked the magic ball Lars had thrown towards him, but they were both sloppy.

Arata's arms exploded, as he knelt, his hands going to both the swords now in his belt.

Akune was completely aflame, but only smirked though he looked to be in pain. "This… this is certainly fun… still enjoying yourself?"

Arata nodded. "Yeah… thanks for the fight, Akune," magic exploded from his arms, he spoke in a low voice, but I heard what he said. "Heavenly Eye…"

Akune's leveled his long katana and spoke as well. "Flame of retribution."

And both of them blasted forward. Both of their swords erupting in their element and their magic. They both stood for a moment after the clash.

Not far from me, Akune coughed, and fell to his knee. Blood started spurting from his right arm, it had been the exact same spot that Arata's arm had been injured earlier.

"Ha… ha…haha… poetic as hell aren't you," He coughed out, as Arata walked back towards him, his armor was singed, and as he got to Akune it disappeared in a flash, and Arata was wearing his damp school uniform.

"Yeah, I try," Arata said, stepping in front of me, and looking down at him. "I meant it, thanks for the fight."

"And it looks like you've won," Akune said, coughing again as he gripped his bleeding arm. "A shame that this will be it."

Arata scoffed. "Don't lie, I know this isn't enough to kill you. I got a feeling I'll be seeing you again very soon."

Akune smirked and shook his head. "You're too smart for your own good… ha… catch you later, Ari."

Akune disappeared in black magic. Arata didn't take time to admire his work, as he rushed over towards Basara and Maria, still in his uniform as I tried to digest what I had just seen.

"Heavenly Eye… he really mastered it," Yuki's voice said, and I looked over at her, as her eyes were glued to Arata. "I can't believe it."

"Heavenly… Eye?" I asked her, my voice quivering.

Yuki nodded, as Basara closed in on Lars. "Heavenly Eye, it's powerful magic, a state only the best swordsman can unlock. It's putting everything into one strike, one goal. A swordsman puts their entire will and being into projecting one goal. I've only ever seen it myself a few times."

"But… but what did he do?! Did his sword give him that power?" I asked, wanting to know how what I just saw happened.

Yuki shook her head, still mystified. "It's something any hero can learn. And… he made his goal a reality. In this case, Arata wanted to cut that demons arm, and avoid his attack. Arata projected his attack and made it a reality, Heavenly Eye makes that goal a reality."

"That sounds impossible…" I said, looking as Arata came up behind Basara as Basara lunged with one more strike.

Yuki smiled next to me; she shook her head. "It does, it requires a swordsman to reach the void, the highest level of swordsmanship. Only Mr. Tanaka and Miya have pulled it off. Arata… you really did grow up, you and… and Basara too."

The explosion made me and Yuki both turn around.

And just like that, it was over. When I turned back around, Lars was gone and exploded into a puff of smoke, Basara not far away just as Arata had gotten back to him. After his sword disappeared, he turned to Arata who just stood in his still bloody school uniform with his arms crossed. He looked away from Basara as he smiled, but I could see him struggling to keep a smile off his face. Basara seemed to know, and just held out his fist.

Arata finally sighed, before smirking and fist bumping his brother.

Then, Basara turned around.

"Yuki… thanks for all your help," He said, as the two brothers came over to us, Basara smiling, and Arata with his hands in his pockets, trying to look tough like he always did.

"Basara… you're welcome," She said, hugging him before the blue-haired girl walked over to Arata and looked up at him. "Arata, you pulled off Heavenly Eye, I can't believe it!"

"Yeah, neither can I, I wish had I seen it!" Basara said, looking back at his brother. "Why didn't you use it earlier if you could pull it off?"

Arata blushed and looked away from them. "It… was nothing really. I… didn't use it earlier because well I… I didn't know if I could. That was the first time I-. GYAH!"

"Good job Arata," Yuki said, her armor and sword gone, as she went and squeezed around his waist. "Miya will be proud… and Kurumi too."

Arata's face was redder then my hair, he stammered. "I… I said it wasn't that big a deal! And well… I hope, if she doesn't try to kill me first-."

"MIOOOOOOOOOOO!" A voice cut her off, and I suddenly had Maria latched onto me. She was crying as she looked up and hugged. "I was so worried about you please tell me you're alright! I was so scared Miooooooo!"

I chuckled, completely exhausted, and hugged her back. "I'm okay… thanks Maria. I…"

Basara and now Arata finally came up to me, and I tried not to collapse from exhaustion. Basara smiled at me, before he came up closer and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Mio, are you sure you're alright?" He asked. "You had us worried."

Guilt at my brain. "Y…yeah, I'm alright. I'm sorry for worrying you."

"It's alright, it's our job to protect you after all," He said, as my body tingled from his touch. He then turned to Arata and elbowed him in the shoulder. "You should thank Arata though, he ran after you before Maria and I even had time to digest what was going on."

"Shut up…" Arata mumbled as he smacked away his brothers hand.

My body trembled, as I looked over at him, his face a bit pale, but still… it was Arata.

"A…Arata," I told him, unable to look at him now. "I'm sorry I- YEOW!"

He stepped forward and chopped a hand down on my head. He kept it there on my head, and I eventually looked up, my heart was racing as I saw his blue eyes looking down at me, red in his cheeks.

"Don't do something stupid like this again, got it?" He said, moving his hand and stuffing them in his pockets, turning his head. "I… I was worried."

The words sounded foreign, and then I remembered back to something he had said in the fight.

"You're trying to kidnap my sister, and that's unforgiveable!"

That… that's the first time. The first time he's done it.

It was the first time he acknowledged out loud to another person that I was his sister.

I kept blushing and looked at him with a nod. I tried to keep myself from smiling. "I promise… I promise I'll try."

"No you won't try, you will not do anything stupid like this again, got it?" He said, trying to act tough despite blushing a deep red. "And what the hell are you smirking about huh?! Quit it!"

I giggled, and I noticed Basara smirking at him. "Ha… okay, I promise, little brother."

The look of annoyance, embarrassment and blush on his face made us all laugh.

"Shut up! All of you!" Arata yelled, looking at everyone, even Yuki who was laughing at him. "God, why the hell do I even-."

"Oh, is the big tough tsundere finally thawing out?" Maria cooed, clinging over to his arm as we laughed. "You are just the cutest when you try to act all tough! Seriously, I bet it drove all the girl crazy- OW!"

"Don't touch me you damn loli succubus!" Arata yelled back at her, before he glared at his brother laughing next to him. "And you shut your damn mouth Basara I'll cut you in half!"

Basara chuckled and held his hands up. "Haha, alright, whatever you say. So, why don't we all head home huh? We could make dinner and-."

I thought I saw it first, but before I could even scream, Arata moved.

The squelch of the sword going through his stomach and out his back was something I'd hear in my nightmares for years to come. Basara fell to the ground after Arata pushed him and could only look up as the demon appeared from smoke, his sword now stuck in Arata's stomach, poking out his back.

And then he screamed.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

But it wasn't a scream of pain. Arata's sword in a flash of lightning up his arm appeared, and he decapitated the demon with one swing.

It all happened so fast, me, Yuki, Basara, Maria, none of us had time to scream.

Arata stumbled at first, all of us silent, his blood fell from the wound in his stomach.

He made it one step before he fell to the ground face first.

I was the first one to scream.

"ARATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Arata

"Arata! Arata come on!" The muffled voice said. "ARATA!"

"GAHHHHHHHH!" I coughed, seeing blood and right away grabbing my stomach as I sat up.

I blinked and saw gold eyes.

"Arata!" Another voice said, and it I realized it was Maria on one side, Yuki on the other. Maria held onto my arm. "Are you okay?!"

"There's a… hole in my stomach, I've felt better," I groaned, and when I blinked I finally saw what was going on and my stomach. "What… what the hell's happening?!"

The park was in absolute shambles, and a massive cloud of red spiraling magic. I leaned up, Yuki's hand was on my back and despite the ache in my stomach I was able to get to my feet with her help. Like Basara, an attack like that was going to hurt yeah, but it would take a lot more to kill a member of the Hero Clan, a lot more. I had fully intended on making fun of Basara for a week at least for almost getting taken down by that rouge demon that stabbed me, but now it seemed there was a much more pressing matter.

"It's Mio!" Yuki said, looking over at Maria. "This is it, isn't it?"

"It is… the old Demon Lords power!" Maria said as my hair blew back and I nearly fell myself. "Basara's trying to-."

A large gust knocked her aside, and Yuki stumbled as well. I managed to keep my foot, before I blinked and in the tempest saw my brother.

"MIO! It's okay we're fine!" Basara yelled as he struggled to stay up. "Arata's going to be okay, I was fine wasn't I?!"

This… this is more power then I've ever seen in my entire life! Even Miya didn't have a magical output like this, I thought, grinding my teeth as I took steps forward towards Basara.

"MIO!" I yelled up, and Basara's eyes went wide when he turned back around.

It was a massive vortex. I was realizing now that I had never seen true demon power before. I had read and studied the villages entire history; I heard stories from Mr. Tanaka even dragged stories out of my Dad about their battles in the Demon Realm, against some of the most power demons they had told me they had power I couldn't even dream of. I had thought most of the time they were exaggerating when they spoke of the massive storms of magic.

But now, one was in front of me, and in the middle of it was Mio. The look she had, the look of pain, anguish, and most of all the fear in her eyes shook me even more then the powerful magic around her. If the previous demon lord was this powerful, and this was the power Mio had locked away, it was no wonder that demons had been sending people after her. If this was the power they desired, then they could destroy the Hero Clan, and lay waste to almost anything in this world.

And in the middle of it all was Mio, who had never asked for it, all she had wanted was a normal life, and she'd had that until they decided to come after her. The fact that they had, that they wanted to eliminate this girl, take her life away from her because they wanted that power. I had lectured her about making choices for yourself, and she had done that tonight. She had decided to come and turn herself in, so that Basara and I didn't have to fight anymore, she wanted me to have back a simple life as much as I did myself.

And this whole time, I was doing nothing but complaining… I'm sorry Mio, I thought, coming up next to Basara and seeing her look down at me as she held back this magic. I won't have doubts anymore, I promise this all changes after tonight, I'll be your family, I'll protect you like a brother should.

If she was willing to give her life up for me tonight, I'd be willing to do the same now.

And now just because I had made a vow, because I wanted too.

"MIO! QUIT MESSING AROUND!" I yelled up at her. "YOU'RE ALWAYS SO DRAMATIC! I'm fine see?! I'm not a pushover like Basara is!"

Basara quickly nodded. "He's fine Mio see?! It's alright!"

I'll get you back home, I promise, I thought as she looked down at me and still looked terrified.

"A…ARATA!" She yelled, her eyes wide she looked between us. "ARATA! BASARA! I… I CAN'T KEEP HOLDING THIS POWER BACK! IT… IT'S GOING TO CONSUME EVERYTHING! IT'LL DESTROY THE WORLD!"

I growled. "DAMMIT WE CAN SEE THAT!"

Basara shook his head and looked over at me, yelling over the wind. "WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!"

Before I could give the solution I had already come up with, Mio yelled again.

"THE… THE ONLY WAY'S TO KILL ME!" She shouted, and while she was saying one thing, I saw her eyes saying another thing. "PLEASE! COME ON STOP IT!"

"NOT A CHANCE!"

Basara looked over at me, and despite the situation I saw him smirk.

"ARATA'S RIGHT, WE REFUSE!" He yelled, as Brynhildr appeared in his hand. "Our job is to protect you, that's what brothers do after all isn't it?!"

"Besides," I yelled as Takemikazuchi appeared in my hands as well. "Do you really think I'd have wasted all that time showing you to make tea and cook just to kill you? Seriously, you're as much of a drama queen as my brother."

Mio's eyes went wide, as the magic continued going haywire. "BUT… BUT BASARA, ARATA-."

"JUST HOLD ON!" I yelled back up to her, struggling to keep my footing I looked over at my brother and nodded. "If we pull of a complete Banishing Shift, that's the only way."

"I was thinking the same thing…" He said, letting out a breath. "I… I haven't done it since that day! And… and you-."

"And I've never pulled off a complete one," I admitted, turning back to Mio and sucking in a breath as my hand shook. "But, if we both pool our power into one, we should be able to handle it no problem."

Basara hesitated, but then he nodded. "Yeah… yeah, it will!"

I nodded and held both hands to the hilt of Takemikazuchi. The blade was as red as Mio's hair, her magic. Next to me, Brynhildr, the sword that had destroyed my village, the one that caused my brother so much pain was shining as Basara and I both readied the ability we'd been born with. When he looked over at me and nodded, I saw complete trust.

He's right… I never needed to prove anything to him.

"Lets go home… all of us," I whispered, before at the same time in perfect synch my brother and I both lifted up our swords.

I saw the trees shaking, bushes were uprooted, park benches flew, the lights shook. I even saw another fox, sitting, watching us with golden eyes, before it darted away when Basara and I screamed.

"BANISHING SHIFT!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

A short distance away, on a hill overlooking the park.

"Ahhhhh a full Banishing Shift! Great work boys I'm so proud!" I said, unable not to smile as I pulled away the binoculars, the magic around the park subsiding. "Basara you're finally moving on, good job. And Heavenly Eye… I'm so proud of you kouhai!"

In addition to becoming even more of a looker then I had already knew he was, I was proud to see that my kouhai had finally begun to reach the pinnacle. Of course, the reason I had been here was to finally get him there, if what the kitsune, Jin and Papa said was true, then Arata would need to be able to fully reach the void, fully master Takemikazuchi. Basara and he both would have to master the power inside of them if we were really going to be able to fight what was coming. I couldn't do it alone, and the serpent was already stirring, its minions were already beginning to manifest and soon it would be a problem even the Clan couldn't ignore.

That was why I was here after all, this was my mission, the first Papa had given me. I wasn't going to let him down, or my kouhais.

No after I failed you both and wasn't strong enough all those years ago… this time it'll be different, I promise, Kurumi… and you, Arata, I thought, smiling as I put the binoculars back up to my eyes to watch the aftermath unfold. The binoculars were specially enhanced, and the nearby winding road gave me the perfect vantage point to see not just the Banishing Shift, but the entire fight since Mio Naruse had arrived.

Mio Naruse's magic disappeared, like I had expected when watching everything begin Basara and Arata had been able to pull of the complete Banishing Shift together. If things had really gotten out of hand I would have intervened but I had never had any doubts Basara and Arata couldn't pull it off, they were Jin's boys after all, and one of them was my kouhai so I knew they were going to be fine. I had been tracking both the masked demon and the one with the Otakemaru sword, but if Basara and my kouhai had them under control I didn't need to worry, it was as I expected, they worked for the new demon lord.

After collecting Mio onto Basara's back, I saw Yuki rush over to help Arata who seemed to finally start to feel the effects of the stab wound in his stomach more. I smiled seeing the two of them together, Kurumi would always insist early on that Arata had a crush on Yuki as well, which I knew of course wasn't true, but Kurumi was surprisingly territorial when it came to Arata and I couldn't blame her. I knew she loved him, I loved him too, and I loved her.

I wish you'd have agreed to come with my too kouhai… I thought, thinking of how it went when I asked Kurumi back at the village. I knew deep down she didn't believe the drivel the elders spoke about Basara being a traitor, and Arata being complicate along with Jin.

No, Kurumi's heart was still shattered, shattered that Arata hadn't even gone to see her before he left. I remember trying to get him to go before Jin had taken him and Basara away, but he had just been too ashamed to face her after what he thought was a failure on his end.

Little did he realize, I blamed myself more than all of them. A part of me was glad I failed that day, it had led me to training to get the strength I had now, and after watching Arata, and knowing how much Kurumi had grown… maybe it had been a good thing in the long run.

Yuki helped Arata walk, but as my kouhai tended to do he seemed determined to act tough, like nothing was wrong at all, arguing with Yuki to let him walk. However, Yuki was persistent, I knew that and eventually got his arm back around her shoulder. Basara carried Mio Naruse while the succubus went on ahead seemingly to make sure the coast was clear. I'd make sure they got back to the house before I let them be.

As much as I wanted to go and see them all, I still had one small pit stop to make before I did.

"I'll need to double check the outskirts for anymore serpents first," I said, putting the binoculars away again, and despite the lingering threats I couldn't have been more excited. "Gahhh I'm so excited to see you again kouhai! I'll wait a few days before-."

"I'm so excited to! Ohhhhh that adorable kouhai of yours is perfect husband material!"

"GAHHHHH!"

The voice came from a fox, and then when I fell back I saw a flash of magic.

A woman stood over me now, orange fox ears with tuffs of white fur were pointed up above a head of dark pink hair which flowed out to long down her back in two strands, the rest tied intricately around her head. She was one of the most beautiful women that I had personally ever seen and I was sure that was the same for every man and woman who had seen her. Yes, I was sure every peasant, samurai and emperor that had seen her thought the exact same thing.

"Dammit!" I yelled at her, shooting back to my feet. "I told you not to do that! And keep your eyes off my kouhai you ditzy fox!"

"But he's so cute! That whole I'm so tough and manly I don't care about feelings act is so adorable!" She said, her large bushy orange tail wagging. Her dark amber eyes went wide. "I bet actually though he's super sweet and sensitive! Gyah he was just so passionate and dashing tonight, I think I'm in love!"

I groaned and scratched the side of my head. "That's actually a pretty fair description of him… but I told you to just keep an eye on him, not dissect his character arc and fall in love!"

"I can't help it! I just have such a thing for strong passionate cute men like him, the perfect husband for me to be a wife too!" She cooed again, stepping forward and now looking up at me with pleading eyes. "You'll introduce me won't you?! I promise I'll take good care of him and- YEOW!"

"You know I have to introduce anyway; we have to focus!" I scolded her after chopping the top of her head before I felt my chest tingling. "And enough of that husband talk! And keep your paws of my kouhai!"

She pouted like a child. It was hard to believe she was one of the Three Great Oni, that had brought Japan to its knees hundreds of years ago. She had charmed Emperors and peasants, and from what she had told me when we first met, may or not have the power of a god inside her. No, you wouldn't believe any of that looking at the pouting fox woman in front of me.

Tamamo-no-Mae, my very unlikely ally.

"Mhm, as if you never thought those things too!" She said moving away from me to pout. Her head turned back to me, her blue kimono flowing in the wind. "I know how much you love your little kouhai!"

My face went red and I shook my head. "That doesn't matter right now! What does, is what we just saw… so, what do you make of Mio Naruse's power?"

I'd learned that the fox was indeed as mischievous as was said in her legends at times, however, she was still nothing like I'd expected. I expected a scheming, conniving fox, someone that when I agreed to the partnership I'd have to constantly watch my back around. I thought for sure at first she'd stab me in the back the minute we found Arata and Basara, trying to take their power for herself.

However, my assumptions couldn't be further from the truth. The fox was like a lovestruck girl, who liked to gossip about cute boys, and talk about what a good wife she'd be one day. After she had explained more of her new situation to me I understood why she was like this. She was a shrine maiden now, and I really believed she did want to just be a good wife. She'd turned into a reliable ally.

And I even dared call her a friend.

"The poor girl clearly doesn't have the aptitude yet to control such power," The fox said, crossing her arms under her large chest. She shook her head. "It's unstable but powerful you saw it, it's no wonder the new Demon Lord is clamoring to get her. Believe it or not, that Master Servant Pact your kouhais brother formed with her could be her saving grace."

I bit my lip and sighed. "Do you think you could show her how to control it?"

She wore a blue kimono which was rather revealing. It showed her shoulders and had no straps, her large chest held up just by the kimono. A large bow held her hair together, as well as a black and gold obi sash across her waist.

"I could try… but it would take months for her to achieve complete control even with my aid," She told me, sighing as she leaned on a tree. "And as you know, we may not have that type of time. The serpent won't wait, and neither will the Demon Realm nobility. And… if what you tell me is true, the Hero Clan is moving for her as well."

My stomach churned; I twirled the hair from the ponytail down my shoulder. To continue my kouhais training hadn't been the only reason I had gone on this mission.

"You're right, they're coming and soon," I said, sighing as I looked and met the fox's eyes. "I hate to ask you this when you've done so much, but… will you still continue to help me? Will you help me train my kouhai, Basara, and Mio Naruse? That Demon Lords power, Basara and Arata's power, it could be our only hope."

I knew what her answer would be. In the last few months that I'd gotten to know her, the two of us constantly being attached to one another, I liked to think she truly was ready to be better, to make up for all the trouble she caused that gained her the reputation that she had.

She giggled and grabbed both my hands before winking at me. "Of course I will Miya! We are partners after all right?"

I felt giddy myself. "That's right!"

"And after how I saw poor Otakemaru was turned just into a sword? I'm much more comfortable in a body like this!" She said, smirking as she stepped back and glew with a golden light. "And I get to meet your handsome little kouhai too?! Sign me up!"

After the light disappeared, her ears and tail were gone along with her shrine maiden outfit. She only appeared as if she was a girl my age, only twenty, and even in the school uniform she insisted on using as a disguise she was still beautiful. My jeans, orange crop topped shirt and hat were nothing compared to my armor or normal blue and red kimono, but we needed to blend in after all.

My eye twitched a bit, but I squashed the jealousy and nodded. "Okay, let's get moving then! We'll go see them in a few days, for now we should get back to the outskirts of town."

"Yes ma'am!" Tamamo said, latching onto my arm as we started walking down the hill. "Now, tell me what kind of sweets your little kouhai like?! Should I make him chocolate?"

"He actually doesn't like chocolate," I said without thinking. "He's more of a sour candy kind of… wait no we're not talking about this! I said stay-."

I was cut off my phone ringing, we both stopped and I pulled it out.

"Unknown number? Probably a telemarketer," Tamamo said, hugging her arms around my neck from behind as she leaned on my back. "Come on let's go!"

I ignored her and answered the call.

"Hello…?" I said hesitantly, and when I heard the voice on the other side I went wide eyes and smiled. "Oh, Jin! It's good to hear from you… yeah, I'm in town now, they're okay. Yes, it's like we thought… no worries, I'll be sure to keep an eye on them you can count on me! Okay… I'll see you."

I heard the line go dead and let out a relaxing sigh before I smiled.

"Huh? Jin? The War God? What did he want?" Tamamo asked, the blue bow in her head twitching where her ears were supposed to be.

My smile grew, and I looked at the picture on my phone. It was an old picture, one with me, my younger sister Ritsu, and then of course my kouhais. The three people I never stopped thinking about.

I turned and looked towards where I knew the Toujou house was. "Arata… I'll see you soon kouhai!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Arata

"GAH! Quite poking me asshole!" I hissed at Basara as he poked at my cheek.

"Ahahaha, I'm sorry it's just irresistible!" He laughed as he did it again. "You get stabbed through the gut and you're fine, but you need a Band-Aid after you cut yourself shaving?!"

"I'm gonna kill you…." I muttered, my annoyance almost breaking through my skull.

My asshole brother chuckled again. "Ha, at least wait until after this is done… you ready?"

I looked at the door to the roof and let out a sigh. "Yeah… come on lets get it over with."

The previous night had been extremely uneventful considering how tired each of us were. Basara had managed to get Mio to her bed, and then after Maria had helped seal up the hole in my stomach I'd fallen into bed not soon after. I'd almost overslept, Basara had to come knock on my door to wake me up. The last thing I had wanted to do was go to school that day, and I really didn't think it would be a problem, all of us skipping a day or two considering what we'd been through.

But Basara and I both knew we needed to come today, something needed to be done.

Despite knowing that as we both came out onto the roof, all I could think of was one thing.

Heavenly Eye… I really reached the void, the pinnacle, even if it was just for a few seconds. Senpai I did it! I really, really did it, I thought, looking down at my trembling sword hand.

That was one thing that only a few people could do. I didn't know if I could do it again, or if pulling it off last night had been just pure luck, but it had happened. Not Basara, not Ritsu-Miya's younger sister- not Yuki, not Kurumi, none of them had ever pulled it off. My Dad had, Mr. Tanaka had, and Miya had… and it had always been one of my goals.

Miya had always told me that entering the void of swordsmanship was dangerous. If you could maintain your focus, if you stayed in that state of trying to make your reality happen for too long you risked your mind being trapped, and if you were fighting someone else who could enter the void and use Heavenly Eye? You were better off not even trying, since at that point, it came down to a battle of willpower.

And I caught him off guard last time, if he can't use Heavenly Eye now, I'm sure he'll be able too by the next time we fight, I thought, looking out over the roof with eyes narrowed, yeah… you may be a demon, but I bet you're just like me, you hate losing.

"Oh hey Basachi, Arata!" Yahiro said, elbowing Kaneda in the side. "Thank god you're both here, I was getting tired of listening to Kaneda's whining alone."

Kaneda groaned before he yawned. "I'm not whining! I'm serious, school on a Saturday should be illegal! I hear in America they have off two days a week on Saturday and Sunday! Come on, back me up on this Ari you agree don't you, this is way too early!"

My body ached, so I definitely saw his point.

I nodded. "You're still lazy as hell, but I can agree on that. How are you both feeling?"

"Yeah, last night was a bit odd wasn't it?" Basara said, as we both walked towards them.

They know, they have too, I thought, as we stopped right in front of them.

The tension grew, the sun was bright but a cool breeze kept us from sweating. I didn't move, I crossed my arms and tried to ignore the tingling in my arm. I told Basara I'd let him do most of the talking, that was another thing he was better at then me.

Yahiro nodded, a calm smile on his face. "Oh yeah, what was that all about?"

"Yeah what the hell man!" Kaneda said, looking at me. "The lights go out and you both start acting crazy! Is Mio at least alright?"

"Yeah, gotta agree with him for once," Yahiro said, looking between us both. "It was scary her going unconscious like that. How's she feeling?"

"She's fine don't worry about her right now," I snapped, sticking my hands in my pocket.

Kaneda eyed me, an insufferable smirk on his face. He sheepishly held up his hands. "Ha, someone's a bit testy today huh?"

"Haha, you got that right," Yahiro said, looking at Basara. "We're just asking how she's feeling Basachi, what's the harm-."

"I bet you would like to know, wouldn't you?" Basara said, a smirk coming to his face. "Arata and I are more concerned with you two. How are you both feeling? We did cut you both up pretty bad last night."

The tension mounted, and the silence that followed could be cut with a knife. My eyes went to Kaneda, who at first looked at Basara, but then, they came over to me. The corners of his lips curled ever so slight, and I cursed at myself, because despite it all I hadn't lied the previous night. I really was thankful to him; It had been years since anyone had pushed me as far as he had. And in the end, fighting him had finally gotten me to master Heavenly Eye.

When I was across from him, Mio not far away, knowing that he was going to take her? I had been able to reach the void if only for a few seconds, and it had been enough to defeat him in the end. That night, we split the fights, he won the first, I won the second.

But we'd both won I liked to think. We were swordsmen, and one thing Miya, my Dad, Mr. Tanaka, all of them had taught me, was that great swordsman loved fighting other great swordsmen.

"Ha, what are you talking about?" Yahiro said, trying to play dumb.

Kaneda didn't stop looking at me, his smile on growing. I didn't stop looking back.

"I think you know, you can quit acting dumb," Basara said, looking over at me, and when I saw him nod out of the corner of his eye I moved my hand.

Basara's fist punched forward, but my hand glowed.

*CLANG*

"Ha…hahaha, I should have known," Kaneda laughed, his own blade, pure white in color held up just above his head to block my blood red sword from cutting through his shoulder. "Gotta know, how'd I give it away?"

"You called me Ari last night you idiot," I told him, narrowing my eyes through our crossed swords. I shook my head. "Not very good if you were trying to keep yourself hidden."

Kaneda laughed, our swords unmoving from their locked position. "Ha, oh man, well I guess I was just having too much damn fun in our fight I completely forgot!"

"I had fun too," I told him honestly. "And I mean that."

"So do I," He said, even cheekily winking at me. "A shame it had to end."

"He's right, you are an idiot," Yahiro's voice said with a sigh.

I turned and saw that the other demon had teleported behind us. The minute I turned my head around I felt my sword cut through the air. Takemikazuchi stayed in my bare hand, and when I looked back at Yahiro again Kaneda was next to him, his white katana the same length as mine now. If I blinked I could see it, the darker skinned, horned demon samurai that I had fought with for hours last night and his masked demon companion.

"Ha, sorry! It's like I said, I just got caught up in the fun," Kaneda said, sighing as he looked from me over to Basara. "Oh, not to say it wasn't fun fighting you too Basara! But I gotta admit, your little brother's got a bit more flare that I like."

"I can agree on that," Basara said, looking at me then over to Kaneda. "And that sword, it's Otakemaru, how'd a demon get his hands on it?"

Kaneda laughed and looked at his blade. "A demon wielding a sword with the spirit of one of the Three Great Oni is confusing to you?"

"No, but why you set up a barrier is," I shouted across to him. "What the hell were you playing at?"

"I was honest! I didn't want no humans getting in our way that's all," He said, smirking more as he leveled his sword out to me. "As a true swordsman, I'm sure you understand Ari that when I fight an opponent I know if powerful, I owe it to give them all my attention."

I grinded my teeth, god dammit stop making me like you!

Yahiro groaned. "You and your damn swords, it almost cost us our mission. What about you Basachi, how'd you sleuth it out?"

"Ha, it's simple really, how did you know Mio had fallen unconscious? Wouldn't you just assume she was a bit sick?" He said, pointing his thumb at me. "And besides, Arata's sword tingles in his arm when trouble is nearby or when it sense powerful magic. You were the ones to summon the demons to the school weren't you?"

Yahiro looked to Kaneda, before chuckling himself. "Ha… well it looks like we both screwed up. Alright, you figured it out Basachi, Arata… as I guess you heard my real name's Lars. And as you also probably guessed this idiot isn't really my cousin."

"We guessed," I said, looking over at my opponent. "So, who are you?"

Kaneda scoffed before his sword disappeared and he mock bowed. "My names Akune, the younger brother of Lord Leoheart, your new Demon Lord!"

I almost choked on my spit, Basara did the same next to me. However, Basara recovered before I did, and tried to regain his composure.

I shook my head. "You're kidding right?! You?! The insufferably older brother you complain about to me all the time is the demon lord?"

"Surprised? I'm surprised we're related most of the time too," Kaneda sighed, looking over and throwing an arm around Yahiro. "And since I'm his darling little brother, he sends me on important errands with Lars here!"

"I wouldn't call it an errand, but a mission," Yahiro said, smirking over at Basara now. "So, Basachi, you know our secret now. Our mission here is to observe and eventually take Mio Naruse back to the Demon Realm. What are you gonna do?"

"Are we gonna throw down right here again Ari?" Kaneda said, sounding almost excited. "I wouldn't mind, but I will say you really did do a number on me last night."

I bit my lip, and a part of me did want to fight, but I fought back the urge.

"I'll pass for now," I told him, meeting his eyes as my own sword disappeared. "But… we will fight again, you know it, I know it. That wasn't nearly all I was capable of last night."

Kaneda looked surprised, but he eventually smirked at me again. "Ha, funny you say that, because that wasn't nearly all I was capable of either…. I'll be ready for Heavenly Eye next time, by the way, I gotta ask… why didn't you kill me with it?"

I nearly blushed, I wasn't going to openly admit that the reason I didn't kill him was because I couldn't enter the void long enough to turn a decisive strike into reality.

"Well, I guessed you would have had something to counter it," I said quickly, crossing my arms and looking away. "What does it matter?! I'm gonna kick your ass again next time."

It was quite again for a moment until Kaneda laughed.

"Hahaha, oh I knew I liked you Ari," Kaneda said, shaking his head. "My mentor is the only one I know who can enter the void and use Heavenly Eye… I'll master it by the next time we fight."

I gulped; a bead of sweat went down my neck… but I also smiled.

If he comes after Mio… I'll fight him again. I'll put all you taught me to use, Miya.

"Oh, so that's how it's gonna be?" Yahiro said, looking at my brother. "You're just gonna leave us be Basachi?"

I looked over to Basara, and despite the tingling in my swords arm, my itch to get it over with, we'd both agreed to this plan the night before. Mio and Maria had gone to bed, Yuki had gone home, it had just been the two of us. We both realized the hard way that night that we were going to need a lot more training and practice if we were going to stop every demon that came after Mio. If Yahiro and Kaneda had nearly taken us both down, there was surely gonna be even more powerful demons coming.

And I also knew for a fact, that Kaneda wasn't lying. If he really was the Demon Lords younger brother, then he had to be a lot stronger then he showed last night. He was stronger then Yahiro, despite the fact that Yahiro seemed to be the one in charge between the two of them. I had no idea why he seemed to be holding back, but all I needed to know was he had tried to kidnap Mio. For that reason, despite the fact he really didn't seem like a bad guy, I had to grow stronger, I had to reach the void completely, I had to be even stronger then I had been in the village, the same with Basara.

I would have given anything to simply talk to my senpai then, Miya would have known exactly what to do. However, at the moment that wasn't possible, so I needed to just take what her and Dad had taught me and move on.

Basara nodded at me, then smirked back at the two demons. "Yup, that's exactly what we're gonna do, absolutely nothing."

"So long as you don't make a move for Mio that is," I added, glaring at them both. "Try to go after her again and we'll kill you both."

Kaneda chuckled. "Oh man, you're really certain you could've killed me last night huh?"

"If I wanted too, yes, I could have," I told him.

"Funny, because if I wanted to kill you then I could have!" He shot back with that insufferable smirk.

I growled and Basara put a hand in front of me to stop me from moving.

Yahiro chuckled. "Ha… you expect us to believe that? You just wanna do nothing?"

"Believe us or not, but I just don't think Kaneda's big brother the Demon Lord will be very happy if he hears you failed last night," Basara told them. "It's simple really, you stay out of your way, we stay out of yours."

"Hahaha, gotta admit you are right, I see who's the brains of the operation now," Kaneda said, his hands behind his head. "That's the best deal we're gonna get Yahiro. Best not to trouble Leo with this."

Yahiro sighed, but smiled and nodded. "I think you're right. So, we stay out of your way you stay out of ours, we don't go after Mio and you don't go to the Demon Lord right?"

"Congrats, you can remember things we said two minutes ago," I said with an eye roll.

Yahiro nodded and held up his hands. "What choice do we have but to accept? Come on Kaneda, I think we should be getting home soon don't you think?"

Kaneda smirked and turned his back. "Seems we should… hey Ari, do me one favor alright?"

I glared at his back. "Yeah, and what's that?"

He turned back and smirked at me. "Don't slack off, be sure to train. Make the next fight we have just as fun as last night?"

I stammered as he smirked at me, and I found myself wanting to knock his head off. I wanted to hate him, really I did… but what he had told me when we first met was ringing true.

We really were similar.

I scoffed and shook my head. "I should be asking you that. Just be ready because next time, I won't hold anything back you can be sure of that."

"And I won't either, look at the four of us being friends huh?!" He said, before turning back to the door down into the school. "Oh afternoon princess! Glad to see you up and kickin!"

"Mio!" Yahiro said, smirking as well, before the two looked back at us one last time and disappeared down the steps.

A large sigh of relief left me as I leaned back against the wall. I finally let myself breath after holding my breath almost the entire conversation. I looked back out over the schools roof and could see the park that we'd just fought in the night before. I realized that like always I hated to admit it, but Basara in the end had been right. I had gone after Akune myself, and I very easily could have died. I still thought that I could have beat him, but in that moment, I risked my life.

I had been so upset with losing, and a part of me still was, it took me a while to see the truth.

I don't have to fight alone, I don't have to do this mission alone, I thought, even managing to smile as cool breeze blew my hair back. Yeah… heroes always do normally act in pairs, or teams, right Senpai… right Kurumi?

I had given it to Yuki earlier, the letter I finally finished for her. I just hoped I was able to put my feelings into somewhat adequate words. That was all I wanted, just for her to know what she had always made me feel.

"Soon… I'll get to you again soon… promise," I whispered to myself as I heard footsteps.

And you can either kiss me or punch me… I'll take either one.

"Is this really where you two were?! You were goofing off with Yahiro and Kaneda?!" Mio said, annoyed as she came over to both of us.

Basara stammered. "Wh…what no! Not at all! We were just chatting about something important, right Arata?"

I turned my head and saw Mio glaring with her fiery red eyes. To my annoyance, I couldn't help but smile, she really was beautiful, I would never deny that.

And even though she still annoyed the hell outta me sometimes… she was my sister now.

And I won't let you down.

"Yeah, just a chat. You didn't have to come looking for us," I told her, crossing my arms and turning my head. "Honestly, it was stupid of you to even come back so soon after what hap… woah! Why are you so close?"

She'd taken a step past Basara and over to me. She was inches away from me now, and looked up not with an annoyed glare, but a smile.

"Arata…" She said, smiling even wider. "Thank you, for everything."

I stammered as I my face got red and looked away from her again. "Yeah, well it was nothing. Seriously, just don't go doing anything stu…pid…."

I saw Basara doing his absolute best not to laugh.

The kiss on the cheek was the last thing I'd been expecting, and the hug she gave me was the second to last thing I'd been expecting. I just stood there dumbfounded with my arms out as she hugged around my waist her head on my chest for the moment. I looked up at Basara, and he just smirked like an idiot and it made me wanna punch his lights out.

My body started tingling as her massive chest pressed against mine, and I did my best to not bit through my lip. Finally, I sighed, and just looked down and hugged her back.

"Just… don't do anything stupid again," I said as she slowly pulled away from me and looked up at me with a goofy smile. "I mean it! We could have avoided that whole situation if you just listened for once in your stubborn life!"

She giggled. "I promise, thanks… little brother."

I groaned and now Basara laughed.

Here we go again… well, at least she's okay, I thought as she turned to Basara.

"And Basara… thank you too," She said, looking significantly more blushed as she stood in front of Basara.

I rolled my eyes, and here we go…. I'm gonna puke.

"Y…yeah, of course," He said, his smile returning. "I'll always be here."

"Basara…" She said, only inches away from him now, her face slowly moving upwards.

I nearly gagged, jeez she has no shame! Well, go on Basara, just… oh god, that's not good.

Basara really looked like he was going to kiss her, but before he could a flash of blue hair yanked him back. I hadn't even seen Yuki come up the steps but she suddenly appeared as if out of thin air, that was hero clan training for you.

"No!" She said sternly pulling my brother back. "Quit trying to seduce him I won't let you!"

"Yuki?!" Basara yelled, nearly fainting. "She… she's not-."

"I am no seducing him! Basara and I were having a moment, it doesn't involve you Yuki!" Mio said, grabbing onto his other arm.

Yuki pouted for a moment, but when she saw me her face softened.

"One second!" She demanded from Mio and Basara, before coming back over to me. "Arata, do you have it?"

I swallowed hard as Basara and Mio looked at me now. Sighing, I pulled the letter out of my pocket in a seal envelope and handed it over to Yuki.

"Yeah… here it is," I said as she took it, my face still red now. "Thanks again Yuki. Tell… tell her that I… I… oh hell, don't tell her I said anything, just let her read it."

Yuki nodded, putting the letter in her skirt pocket. "Okay, I'll send it to her…. Oh, and Arata, I wanted to say one more thing."

"What is it?" I asked her, looking down at her. "You know… a part of me hopes that…. Yuki?! Gah!"

"GAH?! What are you doing Yuki?!" Mio yelled from Basara's side.

Yuki clung to me and glared over at Mio. "Arata's been my little brother for way longer then he's been yours! Jealously doesn't look good on you Mio."

"Jealousy?! What's that supposed to mean?" Mio yelled back, before Yuki let the hug she gave me go and go cling herself back to Basara.

That second kiss on the cheek I really hadn't been expecting. My right cheek lingered and I touched where Yuki had kissed it. I'd known Yuki since I was born, and why I knew for a fact I was in love with Kurumi, that didn't mean that I didn't think my whole life how beautiful her older sister was.

I stood there stammering, barely hearing Yuki and Mio argue with Basara between them. That stammer eventually turned into a smile.

Basara looked back to me with pleading eyes, practically saying, please help me here.

But I just smirked at him and turned to look back over the roof again. I heard Maria barge onto the roof and more arguing ensued. I dared to look back and saw the absolute chaos that was ensuing, Maria feeling up Mio, telling Yuki about all the things Mio and Basara have done, Yuki being angry and clinging onto my brothers arm, my brother helplessly sitting there unable to do anything.

Ha… man, this is really what I've gotten myself into huh? I said, but instead of an annoyed sigh, I found myself smiling as I looked down at my sword hand. Well… I guess it could be worse.

Next Time, Episode 5: A Fox & Samurai: With the battle against Lars and Akune concluded for the moment, Basara and Arata enter an uneasy truce with the two demons. Meanwhile, Maria notices a festival is going on nearby! Wanting to take part in the fun, everyone gets Arata to reluctantly agree to go. But, his mood is flipped when Miyamoto Tanaka, his old senpai shows up! However, she's with a strange new friend, and Mio is right away on guard as her jealousy flares up at Arata's senpai!

A/N: What's up everyone! We're here with another update to the story of Arata Toujou. Haha, I find myself updating this story a bit more than the others because Testament of Sister New Devil only has 22 episodes total and one OVA, as opposed to some of my other stories which will require a few seasons. So, I thought it would be cool to get this a bit further along and I'm having an insane amount of fun writing this story!

So, as for this chapter itself, it's gonna be the last really long one for a bit, it was longer since I had so much more I wanted to add in. What I love about Sister New Devil is that it really has a lot of room for some additions that I think will really make this story more excited! Of course, it's mainly about the romance and ecchi (believe me that's coming lol) but I also really love the action and lore as well!

As you who read my stories know I love adding in new characters and plots for my OCs, and here we get a really big chunk of backstory for Arata and even get introduced to two important characters going forward! Miyamoto Tanaka Arata's old Senpai, and Tamamo no Mae, a new kitsune ally! They'll be showing up next chapter, so I hope you're excited to see more, I'm excited to write more!

Also, as some of you who are Fate fans like me will probably see, Miyamoto Tanaka and Tamamo no Mae are based off of course Miyamoto Musashi and Tamamo no Mae from the Fate series! I want to say now you do NOT HAVE TO READ/WATCH FATE to understand these characters. There will also be no spoilers for anything Fate related either.

Those who read my stories a lot know I love Fate, and if you've seen my profile you'll see I have an eventually Fate crossover planned for all my OCs. In a bunch of my stories there are characters which are based on characters from Fate, (Miya and Tamamo here, Scathach and Cu Chulainn in Cian, Akira is an actual Fate Fan in SAO lol). These characters are characters for the purpose of that story of course, but they're also there so when the crossover happens and my OCs see the Fate version of these characters there can be some cool interactions!

BUT, Fate aside, I really hope that you're all enjoying this, I really am having a great time writing for Sister New Devil, I love this whole series and story, I pride myself in all stories of keeping the main plot there while also making my created ones feel natural, I hope you all feel the same!

So, that's it! I'll see you all for the next update of one of my seven heroes and I hope you're all excited! Leave a review with what you thought and I'll see you all next time!