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)

3. A Decision

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)

Basara

"An elemental master… wow," Arata said next to me, holding Yuki's phone like it was a priceless artifact. "She was never really one for swords anyway. She's… wow… Kurumi…."

I had known that this was all that had occupied Arata's thoughts from the moment he saw Yuki, and I was happy for him. For years, I had felt guilty, guilty that he had to leave the village and what he had with Kurumi behind after what had happened. He always told me it wasn't a big deal, but I knew my brother better then that. It was a big deal, a very big deal. Everyone in the village knew that the two were going to be together growing up, and I knew Arata still deep down hoped for that to this day. How would it happen? I had no idea. With us taking care of Mio now, and of course having left the village, I had no idea before today if we'd ever see Kurumi or Yuki again.

But now, all of that was flipped on its head. Arata I could see was thinking the same thing. If Yuki was here, even as an observer for Mio, it meant there was the possibility Kurumi could be sent here as well. Of course, Arata I knew believed if Kurumi saw him, she was more likely to try and kill him then kiss him. That was what I knew Arata's biggest regret was, leaving the village without going to see her. I'd never forget that day of course, the day everything had changed. I couldn't have envisioned how things would turn out now.

We both sat across from Yuki in the café, Mio and Maria were both home, at least I hoped. Arata had done most of the chatting, but I could see Yuki looking at me, waiting for me to say something. I didn't think she'd have any secret plans; I really did believe she just wanted to see us again. I wanted to be more excited, as excited as Arata was, I had loved Yuki back then like he loved Kurumi, but of course it had been years, and things were different now. However, Arata seemed ready to pick right back up where things had left off, which worried me, because there was much more to worry about now.

However… I couldn't help but smile as he looked at the picture of Kurumi on Yuki's phone. Even I would admit, Kurumi had grown even prettier then she'd been back then. She had the same gold eyes as Yuki, with her purple hair tied up in a usual ponytail. The picture Yuki showed her was one I assume they'd taken during one of the villages celebrations so they were both in yukata's, and the look I saw in my brothers eye when he looked at Kurumi in hers? It was a look I hadn't seen in years.

And then, I watched as he smiled. He handed back the phone to Yuki and let out a sigh.

Yuki smiled at him. "She specializes in using water spirits, but she's mastered a bunch, wind, lightning, fire. The longest its ever taken her is a few days. It's even impressed the elders."

"That sounds like her, when she puts her mind to something, she doesn't stop," Arata said, leaning back as he sipped at his iced tea, before chuckling as he leaned on his elbow. "She could probably even wipe the floor with me how I am now."

Yuki chuckled too. "Haha, I wouldn't go that far. I can sense your aura and magic energy still, the both of you are as strong as ever."

"I… I wouldn't say that" Arata said, even blushing. "I still can't believe it's you Yuki! I'm sorry if it looks like I was just excited about seeing pictures of Kurumi, I'm excited to see you again too."

Yuki shook her head. "Don't worry, I understand. I can't believe how tall you've gotten, you're finally taller then me, almost as tall as Basara."

"I gotta keep something over him now," I said, nudging him with my elbow, unable to not tease him.

Arata rolled his eyes, but still… he smiled.

"Yeah, I'll catch him eventually," He said, his smile growing, his eyes softening as he looked down into his drink, the sun melting the ice, water dripping down the side. "And… maybe… I'll be able to see Kurumi's elemental magic up close… I hope."

Yuki hesitated for a minute, and then she looked at me. I knew exactly what she was thinking, and both of us looked at Arata.

"Arata… I'm sorry to bring down the mood but… well…" She started, before meeting his eyes finally. "Kurumi she… isn't very…"

"Very happy with me huh? I didn't think she would be, and I can't blame her, I was a coward, not going to see her before we left," He said, crossing his arms and nodding, before finally settling his eyes back on Yuki and nodding, determined. "But still… Yuki, if I write her a letter, will you give it to her for me? Even if I don't see her again there's… things I need to say to her."

I couldn't help but smile, that was all Arata had wanted for years. Dad had asked me to help make Arata smile again like he used too… I hoped I was doing a good job so far.

Yuki smiled and nodded. "I will, just tell me when you're ready to send it."

"I will, thanks Yuki," He said, smiling before he turned to me. "Oh yeah, fuck you by the way."

I choked on my drink as Yuki laughed. "Huh?! Fuck me? Why what did I do?!"

"For not telling me earlier you'd run into Yuki! You could've just texted me that!" He yelled at me, before sighing and shaking his head. "Not to mention I got dirty looks all day because someone decided to draw attention to themselves when I specifically told them not to! Seriously, if I get asked again if my older brother 'bagged princess Yuki, and Mio', I'm gonna split them in half!"

I sighed, yeah Arata's back now, at least he wasn't annoyed for a couple minutes.

"I didn't mean for it to happen!" I argued with him, looking at Yuki and feeling my chest thump loud and hard. "I… just got caught off guard seeing you Yuki, and then well, Mio got a little upset when we were hugging."

Yuki's eyes fell for a moment. "Yeah well… you used to hug me back when I hugged you. You'd always try to grab my butt when you did."

Arata scoffed. "Understatement."

"Shut up!" I yelled, elbowing him under the table. My face heated up. "Uh… yeah, sorry about that."

"I never minded…" Yuki said slowly, before sighing and narrowing her eyes at them both. "But there's a reason I asked you both here besides just catching up."

I chewed at the inside of my lip; I had known this was coming. I instinctively went and looked at Arata, but to my surprise and slight annoyance he seemed completely unphased. Did he really not understand what Yuki was there for, or was he just putting on an act? I couldn't tell, for a split second the thought ran through my head… what if Arata really would side with Yuki? Would my little brother really turn his back on his vow to protect Mio and Maria, if it meant being part of the village again, seeing Kurumi, Yuki and the rest?

No… that's ridiculous, you know Arata better than anyone, I told myself as Yuki shook her head. I steeled my resolve, he may find them annoying, he may love Kurumi… but he won't go back on his word.

"It's true isn't it, you're both living with Mio Naruse?" Yuki said, knowing the answer.

My head went down. "Yeah, it's true."

Arata scoffed. "Oh it's true, Dad found them and brought them in."

"Them?" Yuki said, before nodding. "Oh, you mean the succubus as well, Maria correct?"

"Yup that's the one, a pain in my ass she is."

"Arata! What are you doing?" I snapped, glaring at him, a bit of anger rising in my chest.

He rolled his eyes and twirled his drink. "What? She's gonna know everything anyway, and besides it's Yuki, what's the point in being coy?"

I grinded my teeth, he had a point, but he still didn't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. Yuki shook her head across from us.

"He's right Basara, I already know everything about Mio Naruse anyway," She said, looking genuinely upset. "The both of you, I won't lie, I'm upset you're both living with her now."

"Nobody's more upset then me, you can believe that," Arata said, groaning as he leaned on his elbow. "Seriously, both of them are high maintenance, confusing, and Maria? What a perv, the other day she left an eroge-. OW! What the hell?!"

"Shut your mouth!" I stopped him by stepping hard on his foot under the table. "Seriously, you need to get over that stuff," I turned to Yuki. "It was a surprise to us too… but they're family now."

"Family huh…?" Yuki said, still sounding upset as she looked at Basara. "And I'm guessing since you moved in together, you've had to use your sword, right Basara?"

I stammered and felt my arm start to tingle. My sword didn't do what Arata's did, telling me when danger was nearby, my sword it felt was always yearning to come out… but I knew the destruction that it could bring if it did. Not to mention the physical and mental toll it took whenever it came out.

I saw it every time it came out… how I almost killed my little brother that day, before destroying everything we'd ever known.

"I have… demons have attacked," I said, looking over at Arata. "Thankfully I've had Arata."

"You'd be fine by yourself," Arata said, one arm on the back of the chair, the other on the table as he met Yuki's gaze. "There were a lot that night, and I'm sure there's gonna be more."

"There will be… that's part of the reason I need to tell you this," She said, gripping her drink. "You both need to stay away from her… get away now, please, I'm begging you both."

My heart sank, because I knew that by telling us this, Yuki did have the best of intentions. I could see it in her eyes. She cared about me, loved me, and the same could be said for Arata. Yuki, Kurumi, Arata, me… we'd all grown up thinking one day we'd be one massive family. So, calling Mio my family, I could tell how hurt Yuki was now. I grinded my teeth again, I wanted things to work out with Yuki, and I hoped they would… but I had already made a promise.

To my right, Arata had leaned forward, deep in thought. He laced his fingers together, just over his mouth, his eyes fixed downwards on the table. They grew dark, and my heart went up to my throat, I for the first time had no idea what he was thinking.

I have to trust him… I have too, I thought before looking back to Yuki's pleading eyes.

"Yuki… I'm sorry, but we can't do that," I told her.

Yuki shook her head. "You have no obligation to them, neither of you," she said, turning to Arata now and meeting his eyes. "Arata, you don't sound as if you're happy with this arrangement, what do you think?"

I looked at my brother, as he finally looked up… and for a second again, I thought that he was going to agree with her.

"I'm sorry Yuki… but he's right," He said, but not looking happy about it. "They're a pain in my ass, and you're right we don't have an obligation to them… but I made a vow on my sword, on my honor as a hero. I swore I'd protect them, so that's what I'll do. If I turned my back on them? I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I smiled at him, that's my little brother, he tries to act tough… but I know he's a big softie.

Yuki's eyes fell, but she sighed. "I had a feeling you'd both say that… I'm guessing you both know why I'm here then?"

"You were sent to observe her, weren't you?" I said, already knowing the answer. "I bet she's at least a mid-S-rank observation target? Our Dad told us."

"Yes… but she's the demon lords daughter," Yuki said, looking between them. "If demons keep fighting to try and get her, well…"

"They'll mark her for elimination," Arata finished, crossing his arms. "But all the elders need to sign off. Most of them are scum, but I know Mr. Tanaka wouldn't order the elimination of a young girl, even if she's the demon lords daughter."

I hadn't thought about the Tanaka's for some time. Arata knew them well, as Takemikazuchi was the family sword of their clan. It had only ever been wielded by their members before Arata had been chosen by the sword. Arata already had spent some time when he was younger fostering with the main family of the clan, and while he still trained with Dad and me, after acquiring Takemikazuchi, the head of the clan, Minato Tanaka, had agreed to train Arata in the swords techniques.

That was when Miya had taken up teaching him again. She was the oldest daughter of the clan, a year older than me but doubly skilled, she hadn't blinked before she took Arata under her wing. I knew Arata missed his old mentor as well, it was another reason he hated having to leave the village. I couldn't help but wonder what she was doing now.

Yuki shook her head. "Arata… Mr. Tanaka has been sick for some time; they don't think he'll last long. So, the elders voted without him."

Arata shot up from his chair. "Mr… Mr. Tanaka?! No way, they can't do that! Miya won't let it happen, she's the heir to the clan!"

"Miya is always away on missions now; she hasn't had the time. Besides, she's too young, they wouldn't listen to her," Yuki explained. "She's even more powerful now, some people even think she's nearing the level of Jin."

"As strong as Dad huh…?" I said letting out a shudder. "Scary thought honestly."

"But if anyone could do it, it's Miya," Arata said, sitting back down. He looked at Yuki. "You really think they're gonna mark her for elimination… don't you?"

"I do…which is why I'll ask again… please… please, stop involving yourselves with her," Yuki said, reaching out and squeezing both our hands. "I… don't want either of you hurt because of this."

I couldn't say anything. Yuki was right, normally I would have been ecstatic feeling her squeeze my hand like that. I would have blushed, like I knew Arata was doing. Instead, I only nodded, as she stood up and gathered her things and slid out of the booth we sat in.

She looked back at me first. "Basara… I missed you."

"I missed you too," I told her, and I really meant it.

That made her smile, before looking at Arata. "Arata, let me know when you're ready and I'll send Kurumi a letter for you."

"Thanks…I love you Yuki," He said, smiling at her. "I'm really happy that you're here."

She smiled and ruffled his hair, and for a minute, I felt like I was back in the village with them again. One thing Arata was never afraid of, was saying I love you, in a platonic or romantic way, when he loved someone, he let them know. And I knew he loved Yuki; he loved her like the older sister she acted as to him.

"I love you too… Arata," He said, before smiling sadly at me and walking towards the exit.

And I felt my chest tingling… she had wanted to hear me say it too.

After she was gone, it was a minute before either of us talked. The silence hung over us like a blanket before I finally sighed and looked at Arata sipping the last of his iced tea.

"So… what do you think?" I asked him.

"What do I think?" He said as set the drink down and sighed. "I think I'm starving, let's get stuff to make for dinner on the way home."

I smiled grimly, that was his way of saying we'd talk about it later. It had been some years since we really did something together, so it made me happy we still had this connection, that we could understand each other like this.

"Yeah, you're right, I'll call Mio and ask what her and Maria want," I told him.

He rolled his eyes. "Why don't you go ask them? You know they followed us here right; they've been listening to this whole time."

I scoffed and sighed. "Yeah… I sensed them halfway through this chat."

"Well, guess you'll be in the doghouse with both girls soon!" Arata said, gathering his things and standing up. "Good luck with that big brother."

"Huh? What do you… Arata wait!" I said, grabbing my things and going after him. "What do you… oh man, yeah… I guess you're right."

It was going to be a heck of a time explaining all of this to Mio and Maria, especially Mio.

The Lightning Knight of the Hero's Village

Episode 3: A Decision

Arata

"Thunderclap and Flash, Ganryujima, Lightning Gods Sword…" I said quietly to myself, flipping the page of the old manual. "Star Splash… and Paralyzing Strike, Miya's favorite… I need to get these down again."

I had made some really good stir fry for dinner, and after that I'd locked myself up in my room. Basara and had been talking to Mio and Maria about something I couldn't remember, but it seemed important. I didn't really care though since I had more important things to do.

I hadn't brought much with me from the village when me, Dad and Basara left, but Miya thankfully had sent me away with plenty of old manuals from the Tanaka clan. I'd combed through them dozens of times when I was younger, but there was no harm in reading them again now, especially considering how wiped I was after that fight last night. I knew more demons were coming, Basara and I had seen Yuki kill one just outside the café before we left, before she warned us again about Mio. It was really something, I recognized Yuki's sword as Sakuya, a powerful weapon and perfect for her… but then I thought about Kurumi, the new elemental master.

That didn't help me focus on my reading. I decided to just close the massive old book in front of me and look at the piece of paper I'd been trying to write before I decided to study. It just said, 'Kurumi', at the top. I hadn't been able to figure out what to write, and that annoyed me. However, it was hard, I'd acknowledge that. I'd thought for years about what I'd say to Kurumi if I ever got a chance to see her again, I thought I was prepared.

All the preparation went out the door the minute Yuki showed me her picture, and I wrote her name on the letter I knew she'd read.

"Oh man… what are we gonna do," I sighed, getting up from my desk and going to the safe in the corner of my room.

I locked my old training manuals in that safe, it was next to my bookshelf with my manga collection. Dozens of volumes of absolutely amazing manga, along with my figure collection littered the shelves, and I was considering picking out a volume and finishing off the night with some tea before I went to bed, but I was waiting for the shower, and too many things were going through my mind to focus on reading manga at the moment, so I just sighed and fell onto my neatly made bed. Basara's was always a mess, but between Kurumi and Miya, I never left mine unmade.

Groaning, I was still feeling pain from unleashing the skills with my sword I had a few nights prior.

I'm not gonna get any better reading the books… I need more real combat again, I thought as I grabbed the picture from the windowsill near my bed.

That was the one thing I was missing, Basara and I were both plenty strong, but we hadn't been in a real fight in years. And I wasn't going to let Basara draw his sword if I could help it… so it fell to me.

I found myself looking at Kurumi in the picture from when we were kids, and thinking about how she looked in the picture Yuki had shown me. She had grown a lot. Her hair was the same, but she'd gotten taller, her body had slimmed out, and I couldn't ignore the fact she was a lot more developed in the chest then most girls her age in the village were. It was something I knew when I was younger too. She was gorgeous, and the more I thought about her, the more I felt my body start to tingle.

"Calm down you…" I muttered, looking down near my crotch and sitting up. "Still… what I wouldn't give to see you again, even if you tried to kill me."

It had happened for a split second when we were talking to Yuki, and I was ashamed of it. For that split second, I wanted to do it. I wanted to say screw it, and leave Mio be, see if Yuki could get me and Basara back to the village. I could see Kurumi, Miya, Mr. Tanaka all again, be a part of what I had always wanted to do growing up, be a hero.

But that split second made me ashamed… because I made a vow, and heroes never broke their vows. Protect those who cannot protect themselves… that applied to Mio now. I also knew that the elders back at the village would never let Basara back, or Dad. And no matter how much I loved Kurumi, my first loyalty would always be to my brother.

But what will we do if the village does mark Mio for elimination? What if more demons come for her? I'll need to be ready…

Especially if I wanted to make sure Basara didn't need to bring out his sword, didn't have to relive that pain.

"Maybe if I go out… I'll find some targets prowling, like that one earlier…" I told myself, turning off my bed and pulling off my shirt, my pants, and then going for a towel. "Jeez, that the hell's taking them so long in the shower?"

I knew Mio had been in there not long ago, as well as Maria. Basara I told him he could go after them, but I knew he should be done by now. I needed three things to sleep, a shower, tea and a book, and so far I'd had none of them, and after the day I had I needed them badly.

In just my boxers, I slung a towel over my shoulder. I had gotten over the fear of Mio or Maria seeing me without a shirt on, after what Mio and Basara had done the other night, I decided that it was probably inevitable. Although Maria had been giving me odd looks since we got home, I knew she and Mio had talked to Basara after I went upstairs after dinner, and whenever the three of them were alone I shuddered to think what they were talking about.

"How is this my life…" I sighed, laying out my pajamas for the night. "A succubus and the heir to the demon realm, just my fucking luck-."

"Oh Arataaaaaaaaa!" Maria said, making me jump as she knocked on my door. "The bathrooms all yours!"

"Jesus will you not knock so loud?!" I yelled, recovering from the mini heart attack.

I heard her pouting behind the door. "Mhm, so when I come in unannounced you get all tsundere-y, and when I knock you do the same?! Which is it?"

"Don't be a smartass…" I said back to her, cursing as I realized she was right. "I'm going now."

"Okaaaaaay see you soon!" She said, before I heard her footsteps receding down the hall.

I stopped right away, my brain churning. "That… was suspicious."

Normally she'd stay to tease me more, or worse offer to get in the shower with me. I decided to not be cynical and just shrugged as I opened the door.

Maybe she's changing? Yeah… that'll make all this easier, I told myself, even smiling as I turned the corner and neared the bathroom. Mio is bashful if a bit weird, and Maria may be a perv but… if they can just respect my boundaries that'll make all of this easier!

"Maybe things are looking up," I told myself, smiling as I opened the bathroom door, steam flowing out as I did.

"Huh? Arata?" I heard Basara say.

"Arata?!" Mio's voice next. "Maria!"

"Haha, it seems we're all present now!" Maria said lastly.

"Yeah… I was wrong to ever have any hope," I said, feeling my stomach drop.

In the bathroom now, was a naked Mio, with nothing but a very wet towel around her chest which was inches from falling off. Maria was in a similar way, and when I looked over at my brother, he was genuinely shocked for a moment… but of course, all I could focus on was the fact I could almost see his dick the towel around his waist was so wet.

Now, I just like any other boy my age wouldn't have minded walking in on two pretty girls in the bathroom near naked for a shower… but doing that with my brother in the same room? Yeah, that was going to be a hard pass.

"M…Maria!" Mio said, looking over at the succubus who had a wicked smile on her face. "I thought I told you I didn't wanna involve Arata! I know this kinda stuff makes him uncomfortable!"

"Not uncomfortable, just extremely annoyed…" I muttered, putting my hand over my eyes.

"Oh please, Arata needs this just like we all do! Right Arata?" She said, popping up with her towel on and coming over to me. "And look at you! You're just as muscly as Basara is! They do say the tsunderes' are often the most- OW!"

I flicked her forehead when she went to poke my stomach.

"Don't touch me," I told her, before looking to my brother. "Do I even want to hear the answer to what the hell it is you're doing in here?"

My brother stammered. "W…well, after you went upstairs after dinner-."

"Rudely I might add! We needed to talk!" Maria said, rubbing her forehead.

"I went upstairs to study my old training manuals so I can better protect the three pains in my asses that are hogging the bathroom," I told her with an eye roll.

"Either way it was important!" She said, pointing at me. "After that little incident today with Yuki Nonaka, I believed it was important for us all to better get to know each other!"

My jaw went slack. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me! You and Basara seem really cozy with her, you especially! She's a member of the hero clan, she could come after Mio. You could be scheming behind our backs for all we know!" Maria said, seeming very confident in herself. "So, I thought that tonight, to solidify and deepen our bonds, we could have some quality time together! Mio agrees, with me, right Mio?!"

I looked over at Mio who's face went completely red. I tapped my foot, my arms crossed, trying to contain the anger that was bubbling up in my throat. In the last few days I'd come to expect Mio to be the more rational one between the two.

She stammered, and finally nodded. "Y…yeah! She's right, we… we just wanted to like she said, help you out and… stuff."

"Exactly! You, me, Basara, Mio! Especially since Basara and Mio have their pact now, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity!" Maria said confidently. "And what better way to do that then a nice relaxing shower together! We can all-."

"I can think of a lot of better ways honestly…" I cut her off, my head shooting over to my brother. "You agreed to this?!"

He chuckled nervously and slowly nodded. "I… thought why not? If it helps put them at ease, I don't see any reason why we-."

"God you're such a fucking horny bastard Basara," I snapped, narrowing my eyes. "You're the worst kind of horny bastard, because you're a horny bastard who insists he's not a horny bastard when in reality you're the horniest bastard there is!"

I threw my towel at him.

"A…Arata!" Maria said, seeming to realize her plan was falling apart. "Come on! We just wanted to-."

"No, I know exactly what's going on," I said, staring between her and Mio. "You don't trust me and Basara because we were talking with Yuki, a member of the hero clan today… let me ask, if we were really going to turn you into the village, then why the hell wouldn't we have done it already?! Better yet, why wouldn't we have killed you the first night you were here?!"

Basara got up from his stool. "Arata, just relax-."

"No… no, it's not Basara you don't trust. You think he's a good person, don't you?" I said, feeling my chest thump. Seething, I looked back to Maria and Mio again. "It's me you don't trust isn't it?! I'm the one you don't think is a good person, what because I refuse to do your little pervy rituals!"

"What no! Arata that's not it at all!" Mio said, getting up, suddenly able to talk. "I… I do trust you! I just… Maria said-."

"Quit acting innocent, you've been having doubts this whole time, I told you yesterday that I'd protect you didn't I? My word will have to be enough," I said, turning to Maria. "And you, I get that you're a succubus, and I don't give a damn what Basara agrees to, but I'll tell you this one more time. If you keep trying to get me to do anymore pervy shit like this I'm kicking you out! Honestly, what did you think would happen?! You or Mio would rub your tits on my back and everything would be fine?!"

"Whaaaat?!" Maria said, taking a step back as she chuckled nervously. "No! No I… I didn't think that at all!"

"Yeah, sure, well I can shower by myself, not that I want to anymore," I said, turning my back to all of them. "I don't care what you guys think of me, if you trust me or not. For the last fucking time, I promised I'd fight to protect you, it's my vow as a hero… it's a contract, nothing in that contract says we gotta pretend to be one big happy family."

"A…Arata I… I just…" Mio said, and I heard her voice quivering.

"Arata!" Basara said again, and I heard him take a step. "Come on, I thought we talked, why are you being like this?!"

That sent me over the edge.

"Why…? Why am I being like this?!" I said, turning and found myself nose to nose with my brother, he was only an inch or two taller then me. "Why are you being like this Basara?!"

"What are you talking about?!" He said, raising his voice now, I could tell he was angry.

I scoffed. "Like this! Like a horny bastard! I've been reading training manuals for hours! I scoped out that entire school for monster or demon threats today, I even almost broke a guys wrist who got pissed at you for being with Princess Mio and tried to take it out on me!"

He stammered. "I… I didn't know-."

"Of course you didn't, you haven't grasped the situation we're in, none of you have!" I shouted at them, shaking my head. "Even when we were on our way back, I was checking alleys, parks, looking for traces of demons. The demon realm, the village, monsters, they're all going to be after us now!"

"I get that…" Basara said slowly. "But Arata, that's no reason to act so cruel-."

"Cruel?! I'm acting cruel?! HA, sorry I'm not all smiles and sunshine with the lingering threat of demon attacks over us!" I said, feeling myself finally snap. "The last time I wasn't ready for a battle, you almost died, Yuki almost died, Kurumi almost died, the village was almost fucking destroyed Basara!"

That made him go quiet. I felt my own heart thumping in my chest. My fists were clenched, the steam in the bathroom had made me sweat, and behind Basara I saw Maria and Mio both silently looking between us. I looked up at my brother, as a guilty look appeared on his face.

We never argued like this… and here we are, doing it twice in just a few days, I thought, a sinking feeling in my gut. Maybe… maybe this was a bad idea.

"Arata… I'm sorry," Basara said, meeting my eyes. "I never meant to-."

"Save it, it's whatever," I said, turning and walking towards the exit to the bathroom. "Enjoy groping each other, or whatever it is you guys are gonna do."

"Wait! Arata, where are you going?!" Mio asked, sounding worried.

"Anywhere but here, I need some air," I said, shaking my head. "I'll be back."

I slammed the bathroom door shut behind me and let out a shaky sigh. My stomach was in knots, and I ran a hand through my messy, still dirty brown hair.

"What the hell is wrong with me…" I muttered to myself, looking down at my calloused hands. "Is… this really who I am now-."

I stopped when my right arm, my sword arm started tingling.

I took a settling breath. "Okay… let's see what you're trying to tell me."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The demons went down without much of a fight, but still, I could feel my strength beginning to come back. I could smell the sulphuric smell from all the lightning that still smoked the ground of the park that just a few nights ago I had brought out my sword to protect Mio, the night I'd decided to make my vow to protect her and Maria, to make that my first mission as a hero.

"That's one hell of a view…" I said, leaning over the railing as the full moon casted a light over the city. It was late now, near 11 at night, and I knew I'd regret staying up so late the next morning.

Maybe Ms. Hasegawa was right, I am lacking sleep, I thought, leaning on my hand over the railing.

The weird and extremely attractive nurse was the least of my worries. I couldn't help but wonder what happened in that bathroom after I had left… well, I had a pretty good idea, not that I liked to picture it. Was that what it really was? Was I jealous that Mio and Maria were both fawning over Basara? Was I really that shallow? At times, I wished it was that simple, but I realized that it had been this way our entire lives, it had started when we were little. Being so close in age, Basara and I always got compared, despite the fact I was only a year younger, I always felt I was miles behind him.

It didn't help that for the first few years of my life, I was basically an adopted member of the Tanaka family in the village. Minato, the families only male child was the same age as me, and we'd gotten on well enough, until he stopped speaking to me after I pulled Takemikazuchi. Miya, the families oldest child was a year older then Basara, and she had treated me like family, I missed my old senpai almost as much as I missed Kurumi, considering all that she showed me. For years, despite living with Basara and my Dad, learning from them, I was always welcome at the Tanaka residence, as well as the Nonaka's.

So many people back in the village, so many things could have happened if we had stayed, and every day I thought about them, especially lately. When Yuki told me Mr. Tanaka was on his death bed, and that Miya was considered the strongest fighter in the village now… it only made me wish to see them even more. I could still see Kurumi in my head too. The Tanaka's, Kurumi, were the only ones that had ever made me feel like I was my own person.

Everywhere else, I was always just Basara's little brother.

"And I'll never catch up to him… I never minded, really," I whispered to myself, looking down at my sword hand. "But… that didn't mean it didn't bother me sometimes… just a bit-."

I felt the presence late and spun around just as they launched their attack. A blast of purple magic which melted the railing that I'd been leaning on. I rolled to my left, my hand going to my waist as I smelt the rotting stench of poison and saw the slobbering demon a few meters away from me in the park. It was so black that I wouldn't have been able to see it if not for me focusing my vision, my blue eyes glowed and combined with the park lights, I saw its black form slithering towards me, I realized that instead of a snake like I was expecting, it screeched and seemed to be a sort of salamander like lizard, four trunk like legs and a long neck with hissing tongue, dripping what I assumed was poison.

My mind went blank for a moment, that… doesn't look like the shadow demons I've been fighting, could it be some kind of kami?

A beast from the age of gods? A creature normally the village would go to fight? I had no idea, but I didn't have time to think, my battle instinct took over as my arms glew.

"Takemikazuchi! First configuration!" I yelled, as the blood red katana and gauntlets of my armor showed up in my hand and up my arms.

I slung the sword forward, small bolts of lightning radiating off it. It screeched stung my ears, and it started stomping forward and I made to dash to the side ready to aim for its long neck, but that chance never came.

"Sakuya!"

A blur shot out from the woods. The creature screeched as its head fell from its shoulders, and a few inches away from me another figure clad in armor sheathed her sword as the head fell, and poison spewed from the creatures wounds, before it screeched one last time and disappeared into black smoke.

I let out a relieved sigh, my sword disappearing from hand. "Yuki, what are you doing here? Not that I'm not glad to see you."

Yuki stood up, still wearing her school uniform, she smiled as her sword disappeared. Her golden eyes were glowing in the night, she really was beautiful, and I wasn't afraid to admit to the crush I used to have on her when I was younger. She let out a sigh, but still smiled as she came over and squeezed around my waist.

"I was walking by your place, I usually try and observe Mio at least once a night," She explained as she let go of me, looking up to my eyes with a worried look. "I saw you leave, you seemed angry, so I followed you here. I didn't want to get in the way of you fighting, so I waited, I moved when I saw that salamander took you by surprise."

Relief washed over me. "Good you did… that thing… it was a demon was it? You recognize it?"

Yuki shook her head and we both turned to watch the corpse disappear into black smoke. "No, but I can tell it is some kind of demon. It doesn't look like the beasts and lesser demons that have been after Mio."

"Great… just what I need right now, a new kind of monster," I sighed, as I fell into a nearby park bench, my face going into my hands. "It's just one thing after another."

Yuki silently sat down next to me, and I felt her hand on my back. "What happened? If you wanna tell me."

A part of me knew I shouldn't give personal details of the house to Yuki. She was Mio's observer, and if the village did mark her for elimination, they'd expect Yuki to become the eliminator, in addition to sending probably more warriors to us. I knew that was what Basara had been thinking this morning, and that was why he hadn't wanted me to see Yuki before he talked to me about it.

He really does still think I'm stupid… I thought, wondering what in the world he was thinking.

No matter what happened, this was Yuki we were talking about. I knew she'd never do anything to hurt us, even if the village ordered her too. I trusted her with my life, even now after all these years. Besides, I wasn't just going to abandon the connection and trust I had in Yuki, just because we lived with Mio now.

"Well… Basara and I got into a little fight," I told her honestly.

And there, under the full moon and the stars, I told Yuki every little detail. I didn't fail to notice her annoyance at the idea of Basara in the bathroom with Mio, but for my sake I could see she was just listening now, letting me rant about everything.

I certainly needed it.

"And it just pisses me off how calm he's being, how he thinks this is some kind of joke," I told her, shaking my head, looking out at the lit city over the now melted railing from the bench. "And those two? Honestly, it's just like always they're just gonna cling to Basara while I work and look like the bad guy for being the practical one, it's like back-."

"Back at the village…" Yuki finished for me, nodding, before she looked at me again. "You know that wasn't true for everyone Arata. Me, Kurumi, Miya, even Basara and your Dad. We all acknowledged how skilled you were."

I shook my head. "It's not that, I never cared if I got noticed or praised. I just… well-."

"You're lying, in a way," She said, a small smile coming to her face. "You wanted to be praised by a few people now didn't you?"

I bit at my lip… she was right in the end of course.

"Yeah… I guess you're right," I said, looking down between my legs as I sighed. "You know… my Dad told me he was proud of me before he left to go wherever it is he went too."

"You always loved hearing that, I remember how giddy you'd look when he said it," Yuki noted, her voice as soft and reassuring as always.

I scoffed and managed to smile. "Yeah… still do. Miya would always give me 'kouhai points' whenever I did well. And Kurumi well, she was always with me whenever I did well."

"You two really were an unstoppable team at times," Yuki said, letting out a breath as she looked over at me, and grabbed my hand. "Arata… I want you to come back to the village, you and Basara both."

My heart leapt to my throat. I turned with my eyes wide, thinking I'd heard her wrong, but I could tell she wasn't lying.

"Yuki… we both know that's impossible, the elders wouldn't allow it," I said, shaking my head. "It's a pipe dream. We're 'traitors', according to them, and now that we're hosting the heir to the demon realm? That'll only make it worse."

"No! Arata, they don't know you're sheltering Mio yet," She said, grabbing my one hand with both of hers. "I've been discussing it with Miya, she's the villages best now, she's starting to hold a lot of sway with the elders. If… if we tried, we both think she could convince them to let you all back!"

"Miya's too young, no matter how powerful she is, they wouldn't listen," I said, refusing to let myself get my hopes up. "Even if she's getting as powerful as our Dad, it'll still-."

"She has Kusanagi," Yuki said, and my heart erupted. She saw my disbelief and nodded. "She was chosen by Kusanagi, and she's already mastered it. She has the villages most powerful weapon, they'll listen to her if she makes a compelling enough argument, and with my voice, I think it could work."

"Kusanagi no Tsurugi, the sword of the god Susanoo…" I said in complete disbelief, remembering Miya's smiling and mischievous face. "Senpai…"

Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, was thought to be one of the three imperial regalia of Japan. In ancient times, it was said Susanoo the god of storms and younger brother of the chief goddess Amaterasu, battled an ancient evil eight-headed dragon which was ready to swallow the world known as the Yamato-no-Orochi. After tricking and killed the beast, Susanoo pulled a sword from the beast, that sword was Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, which he gave as a gift to his older sister Amaterasu, who gifted it later Yamato Takeru through her shrine maiden. It would eventually go on to become one of the three imperial regalia to signify the Emperor's rule over Japan.

Of course, the sword thought to be Kusanagi was a fake, in the village legends, a fake was given to the Emperor, while the ancient village of heroes took the real sword, which held the power of the god Susanoo and Amaterasu. Along with Takemikazuchi, and Brynhildr, Kusanagi was the most powerful weapon in the village with the power of gods running through it. It had abilities similar to my sword, and like Takemikazuchi very few had been able to bond with the sword over the centuries.

It was poetic that Miya got it, when I took the sword traditionally used by her clan. However, her having a sword that powerful, combined with how naturally skilled she was… what Yuki said made sense. The council would have to seriously consider what Miya had to say, especially if she was as powerful as I knew she was.

Yuki nodded again. "Yes… Miya and I think we can pull it off. I'll explain things to Kurumi, you and Basara can come back, even Jin if you can get him to agree. I know you wouldn't leave without them. Arata… it can be just like it was when we were little again."

She sounded so excited, like the idea was just as glorious to her as it was to me. I thought about all the times I had wished over the years to just return to the village. Dad always said we wouldn't be welcomed back, and I always just assumed it was because of what happened the day Basara drew Brynhildr. I didn't know if there were more reasons behind it, if there were, then Dad didn't tell me.

So many nights I'd laid awake, wishing that I could have kept my promise to Kurumi, for the both of us to be together and go on missions. To be the heroes we always dreamed about being. I wanted to save people in every corner of Japan, I wanted to be like the legendary heroes that I read about. It may have sounded like delusions of grandeur, but I didn't care, it was my dream then, and still was now, despite living as a normal human for the last few years. The sword I drew, I knew I had to have drawn it for a reason, so many great heroes had come before me with that sword, I wanted to cherish its legacy as a thank you to Miya for training me, Mr. Tanaka for taking me in.

And most importantly… to be praised by my brother and my Dad, the only two people I ever wanted to hear praise from.

But, despite nearly every part of me yearning to say yes… there was a part of my brain that kept me from saying that word.

"That… sounds really nice," I told her, smiling as she did at me, before my eyes fell down between my legs again. "But Yuki… you know I can't do that."

A silence hung over us, and I knew how upset she was, genuinely upset. I knew that her offer was genuine, she really did want the best for me and Basara, she didn't make this offer out of malice or jealousy, she loved us, like I loved her and I knew Basara loved her.

"The both of you… Arata, I know what you think you're doing is noble, and it is, I won't deny it," She said softly, as we both looked out at the city again. "But… you don't have any obligation to Mio Naruse? What have they done, except make you fight, and Basara have to draw his sword and hurt himself like he did that day? Can you and Basara really defeat all the demons that are coming for her?"

"It's not that simple Yuki."

"But it is, it is Arata. Because of them, you and Basara are in pain, you two never fought like you described. You know how much pain Basara's in when he uses his sword," She said, sounding more desperate now. "You know that I just want you two to be happy."

"I know you do, and thank you for that," I told her, my hands shaking as I gripped my knees while we sat there. "But it's like I told you earlier. I made a vow on my sword; I swore I would protect those girls. I don't have much left… but my word as a hero? I do have that, and I won't go back on it."

"Even if they continue to do things like they did today in the bathroom?" Yuki said.

"Yes, no matter how annoying they are," I said, looking up at the sky full of stars above me, my mind screaming at me how much of an idiot I was being. "You have no idea how much I want to say yes to what you just suggested Yuki, really I do."

"Then… why don't you?" She asked, sounding as if she were going to cry.

I didn't want that, so I looked over at her and smiled.

"Because… that's just not who I am. I'm a hero, despite not being part of the village anymore," I told her as I nodded. "And something my senpai always said, the warriors who chase after their idea of justice, stand by their ideals, and never falter in them? Well, they're the only ones we call heroes, and I don't need the village for that."

Thanks for teaching me that so long ago senpai… Miya.

Yuki was silent for a moment, her mouth slightly agape, before she slowly nodded.

"And… Kurumi?"

My heart sank. "I… love her, still, I do, I will even if she tries to kill me the next time we see each other, if we ever do."

Yuki nodded. "Arata… you really hurt her by leaving without seeing her."

"I know, and I regret it every day."

"But even for her? If it meant setting things right? You still wouldn't go back?"

I stammered… because I didn't know the answer.

"I…" I started, shaking my head. "I don't-."

"They'll send her Arata, and Minato, or even Miya or… or they'll order me to…" She started, unable to finish as she shakily sighed and clutched at her chest. "If they order Mio's elimination… would you fight us? Would you swing your sword at Kurumi if she came to try and kill Mio Naruse?"

My mind almost shut down… I didn't want to answer that question.

It looked like Yuki knew I didn't because she frowned. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have asked you that, please… forgive me."

She meant it, I could tell she did.

I froze next when I felt her kiss my cheek. I blushed of course too, as I saw her stand up in front of me and look down at me as I sat one the bench. The moon cast a beautiful glow over her, her golden eyes were sad, I saw the forming of tears in them as she shook her head.

"We can still do it Arata… but you and Basara need to stop being involved with her now. I swear, I can make it happen with Miya," She said, fixing a strand of her blue hair that shone in the moonlight too as she shook her head. "Please, just promise me you'll think about it, okay?"

"I promise," I told her.

She smiled and nodded. "Okay… I'll see you, Arata."

And just like that, she was gone. She walked away, and I couldn't even watch her go, because her question had been falling down to the pit of my stomach.

I realized now why Basara had really been trying to talk to me before I got to Yuki. He had known since we talked to her this morning but he hadn't said anything, probably thinking I'd react like I was now. I realized it now, that just like always, my brother had been trying to ease the pain of what decision I had to make soon. If I had never seen Yuki, if he had talked to me first, I could have been prepared for what Yuki had just asked me.

I wasn't an idiot, I knew of course them sending Kurumi was a possibility, in my own delusion however I had refused to think about it… but now, hearing it from Yuki I knew it was true. Basara knew, Yuki knew, and I knew as well. It wasn't a matter of whether or not the village would mark Mio for elimination, it was a matter of when.

And when they did, they would know Basara and I would be here, and the leaders knew what they were doing, they'd send Kurumi, and order Yuki to join the kill squad because they knew it would cause Basara and I the most pain, vengeance for the traitors, payback for harboring the Demon Lords daughter. As much as I didn't want too, I needed to answer Yuki's question.

The thing was, I knew the answer. It was no.

I'd never swing my sword at Kurumi, or at Yuki. They were two people I loved, and a hero never harmed the ones he loved, he did everything he could to protect them, that was part of my justice, my ideals, it was the type of hero I wanted to be. I didn't care if I made enemies of the most powerful beings in the world, I wanted to protect the ones I loved, and the ones who couldn't protect themselves.

"So what will happen now…" I asked myself in the cold night. "When ones I love are both sides? When… when my ideals crash? What do I do…senpai… dad?"

I leaned back and let out a breath, the cold air sniping at my lungs.

I didn't know.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"I can't believe I forgot my tea…" I said, unlocking the door, the lights in the living room were off, only the light of the moon illuminating inside. "And I'm not gonna get any sleep either."

Tea, manga, and a shower, I'd had none of those. Ms. Hasegawa was sure to have a field day with my at school when she saw me I was sure.

The house was pretty quiet, I saw the lights upstairs still on, so I assumed Basara was awake… and I felt my stomach churn. Normally, I would have went upstairs to see him and tell him what Yuki had said, but then…? I didn't see a point, because I knew what he would say.

Not to mention… I was a pretty big ass to him, despite what I said being right, I thought as I reached the living room. Sighing I realized I was being stupid, who am I kidding, I have to tell him… but can I? What's he gonna think when I… huh?

I went to fall onto the couch for a minute, but stopped when I realized I almost fell onto someone. Seeing who it was, I sighed and reached down to shake her.

"Mio… hey, Mio wake up," I said, shaking the sleeping redhead. "Come on get up."

Mio was only wearing a pair of pink pajamas. When she stirred and tried to sit up, I blushed and realized that her tits were almost hanging out and she wasn't wearing a bra. Only one button stopped her from being fully exposed in front of me, so feeling my face get hot and my skin tingle, I turned away from her as she yawned and seemed to realize it was me in front of her.

"A…Arata?" She said, not seeming to care I'd almost seen her tits, she just buttoned her shirt and yawned again as she looked up at me. After a moment her eyes widened slightly, the sleep finally not clouding her mind. "Arata…! You… you're back, we were worried!"

"You didn't have to be I said I'd be back," I sighed, grabbing the blanket behind her, and draping it back over the back of the couch. "What are you sleeping down here and not in your room? It's not comfy sleeping all night on a couch you know."

She stammered as she shook her head. "I… I just fell asleep not long ago! I was waiting down here for…. well…"

"For…what?" I said, not in the mood for guessing games.

"For… for you," She said sheepishly, as she pulled her legs around the couch. "I wanted to make sure you were back before I went to bed. I felt guilty you couldn't get a shower because of me…"

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Yeah, alright, very likely. It's fine I-."

"No! I really was waiting for you, look!" She said, a bit more attitude now, as she got up and walked over to the kitchen. A few seconds later, she came back with a tray that had a teapot and one of my mugs on it.

My mouth went numb, for a moment I couldn't talk as she set it down on the coffee table and sat back on the couch.

"You… made tea?" I asked her. "I didn't know you drank tea."

"I don't but… but Basara told me you drink it before bed every night," She said sheepishly, and I could see her blushing before she looked up at me. "So I made some for you and waited for you to get back. I wanted to say I was sorry for… well, what happened in the bathroom."

I wanted to not think about what happened in the bathroom, but I could see it in her eyes, she really was sorry. Her red eyes spoke for her as well as her voice, she really was beautiful, seriously gorgeous, I could see why Basara was fawning over her, he always did have a soft spot for the pretty girls in the village, and they all naturally loved him back. Me? Well, people told me I was as handsome as him, that we looked alike, but between Miya being my senpai, and Kurumi? I didn't exactly have girls lining up to tell me how cute I was with them too always near me.

Mio looked nervous as she looked up at me from the couch. The tea was still hot, she'd done a good job of keeping it that way, she must have made it recently. I bit my lip, I didn't want to be near her right now, not with the thoughts that were going through my head, the questions I was trying to answer. If I looked at her, it would be too hard to think the right way and figure out what I was going to do.

But… she didn't have to do this; she went out of her way… I told myself, sighing and sitting down next to her.

"You don't gotta apologize for anything honestly," I told her, grabbing the pot, and my cup. "Have you ever made tea before?"

"No, but Basara explained the basics of it, and I think I did it right!" She said, her voice actually sounding eager now. She watched with wide intense eyes as I poured and lifted the cup up. "So?! How is it, did I do it right?"

I coughed and felt my mouth go numb.

"Ugh, oh my god, it's so bitter it taste like I'm licking a tea leaf!" I said, coughing as I lifted up and smelled the tea in the pot. "Did you not put any sugar in here? Or milk? And is this… did you make matcha tea at midnight?"

The look of hope on her face slowly faded away. I could see the disappointment on her pretty face as nodded.

"Y…yeah, that's what the box said, was I… not supposed to?" She asked timidly.

I coughed again and set my mug down, getting up and grabbing the tray. "If you wanna be up for another few hours yeah. Sorry, but I can't drink this so late, I'm gonna make another one."

I walked to the kitchen, the entire downstairs silent as I poured out the pot of tea. My tastebuds still hadn't recovered, when I heard Mio shuffling in the living room. I looked up and saw her in front of me, bashful, she bowed and I could hear the disappointment in her voice.

"I… I'm sorry again… guess I can't do anything right huh…? Just always causing problems…" She said quietly, the last part under her breath, expecting me not to hear it. She gave a fake smile, but I could see through it from how her eyes looked. "I… suppose I'll leave you to it, goodnight… Arata."

I looked at her turn, and as she started making her way towards the steps, my chest caved in.

Is this… really the kind of person I am? The kind of person I want to be?

"Remember kouhai, one thing you always have power over no matter what is your words and actions. You decide the kind person you'll grow to be, not anyone else, not any outside circumstance, only you."

"You need to add sugar or sweetener to counteract the naturally bitter taste tea has. You need to add milk or creamer for the heat, but some people like my Dad don't like it that way because it gets rid of the actual tea flavor. Me? I like mine with a tiny bit of milk but a lot of sugar."

Mio stopped at the base of the steps. She turned around, her eyes wondering, in true disbelief as she slowly nodded, not smiling yet, seemingly unable to tell what I was trying to say.

"That's… good to know, I'll remember it for next time," She said, her voice hesitant again.

I shrugged. "No time like the present. You just took a nap so you may have a hard time falling back asleep and me? I can't sleep without tea. Do you… want me to show you now?"

Her mouth fell slightly open, her red eyes met mine.

I saw genuine happiness and eagerness in them.

"Yeah! That sounds great!" She said, excitedly shuffling towards me in the kitchen. "This way, I can make it for us in the morning before we leave for school!"

I chuckled. "The morning is more a coffee kind of time, but I can show you how to make that too, it's a different process."

"I thought tea and coffee were basically the same?"

"Oh no, completely different, I'll show you," I told her, turning on the kitchen light and turning to finally see her next to me, an eager look in her eyes. "Okay, wash your hands first and let's get started."

"Yes sir teacher!" She said, sounding even more excited now.

My chest which had caved in, suddenly erupted back to life. It tingled, and I couldn't help but smile… and not a fake one.

"Pay attention kouhai, and I'll teach you to make the best cup of tea imaginable just like my senpai taught me," I said, feeling a bit smug.

She turned back to me with her hands in the sink, a bit of smugness to her smile as well.

"Wait, since I'm older then you…" She said, wiping her hands, "would that technically make me your senpai?"

I blushed, stiffening like a board, to which Mio laughed, which only made me blush more.

I can't believe I just said something so embarrassing, I thought, as I watched her giggle at me.

But still, as embarrassing as it was… I still smiled.

"Sorry, but I already have a senpai and she made it very clear she's going to be my only senpai forever so you'll have to get in line," I said, getting the tea from the cabinet. "Besides, since I'm the expert here and you're the learner, that makes me your sensei, let's settle on that how about it?"

Mio giggled again and mock saluted me. "Whatever you say sensei, I'm ready to learn!"

And I was ready to teach her… but as I started, a horrible realization dawned on me.

This is bad… I'm making this even harder on myself, this decision. But… but could I really leave her? Could I really abandon her? Does it have to lead to me fighting people I love?

It was at times like this, I wished for my own senpai back.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Wow… this is so good! And so relaxing, I feel sleepier already," Mio said, eagerly sipping from her tea mug as we stood out on the patio just outside, the full moon casting its glow over us. "It's so much better than that stuff I made! Seriously, when I was trying earlier, I felt like I could stay up for hours after drinking some!"

"That's because this is chamomile tea, it's to help put you to sleep, it calms you before bed," I explained to her, fixing the blanket over our shoulders. "You made matcha tea, that's used for focusing, it helps you stay awake."

She shuddered and adjusted her side of the blanket. "Yeah, that makes sense why I got my homework done so quick then after drinking it. Even though it was so bitter."

I nodded. "You see, matcha was originally used by Buddhist monks as a way to help them stay focused to meditate for hours on end. Putting sugar and milk dampens the effects a bit, but for something like homework, it's really nice to use."

She smiled at me. "Wow, that's actually really interesting! You really know you're tea huh? I didn't know it had such a history."

I shrugged but couldn't resist giving a satisfied smile. "Back in the village, history is one of the most important subjects we learn when we're young. I was always a bit of a book worm."

She smiled again, and I did the same, it felt good. After boiling the water and showing Mio the right way to make a pot of tea, we decided to drink it outside. Of course, we didn't have any chairs on the patio yet, so initially we'd just stood there, before Mio had went inside for the blanket that was over our shoulders now. The moon was full, the air wasn't too cold, it felt nice, and calming, it was the most calm I'd felt in some time.

It almost made me completely unaware of the fact Mio was practically shoulder to shoulder with me. Almost, because I was very well aware, her shampoo smelled fantastic, and her pretty red eyes were practically glowing. And while she'd buttoned her pajama shirt back up, I was still taller then her, so standing so close and looking down I saw a lot more then she probably intended me too, so I made a note to not be a perv and kept my eyes up.

But she drew my attention back down to her when she spoke again.

"You… said you had a senpai who taught you to make tea, right? A she?" She asked.

I stiffened for a moment, of course Basara knew who Miya was, and I didn't mind talking about her, but I realized then how long it had been since I shared anything about myself with anyone. Miya was basically my second sibling, my beloved senpai and I was in her words 'her precious adorable little kouhai', which always embarrassed me to no end. I missed her, I really did.

So, it felt nice to talk about her.

"Yeah… her name was Miya, my senpai… my teacher," I said, feeling a rush of nostalgia as I smiled. "She taught me a lot, from how to make tea the best way, to combat and how to be a better hero. She was basically another older sibling."

"She sounds really great, I should thank her one day for this cup of tea then!" She said excitedly.

"Ha, you really should, she'd be ecstatic to know I've kept up her techniques," I said, sighing as I thought about waking up to Miya's tea. "Yeah, I remember she made match every day in the morning and chamomile before bed."

"Oh, so she lived with you, Basara and Jin in the village?"

"Not exactly, you see Miya, or Miyamoto Tanaka is her full name, she's a part of the Tanaka clan, one of the villages oldest," I explained, remembering the days spent at that house. "Mr. Tanaka the head of the clan is good friends with my Dad. I don't know why, but my Dad thought it'd be a good idea for me to get to know other people in the village, so for a few years I lived with the Tanaka clan."

Mio's eyes widened. "You were separated from Basara?!"

"Haha, not really, I still saw him almost every day, trained with him and my dad," I told her, sipping more of my tea. "But I lived with and learned from Mr. Tanaka and his family, his daughter is Miya, she's a year older than Basara. She was even better then me and Basara were, and from the moment I arrived she adopted me as her kouhai and insisted she was my senpai, and for years even after I went to live with Dad and Basara again… it stayed that way."

The more I thought about it, the more I missed her. She'd know what to do in my situation now.

"Wow… it sounds like you were both really close," Mio commented. "And you're really strong, she must have taught you a lot too, she's probably really powerful."

"The strongest in the village now, according to Yuki," I told her, a bit worried to bring up Yuki's name at this point, but Mio didn't react. I just nodded. "Yeah… she did teach me a lot, I miss her… and… Kurumi."

Mio froze and I cursed myself. I had no idea why I brought up Kurumi to her, the words had just come out. I was so calm then, I just felt as if I could talk about it.

But that wasn't fair to talk about her to Mio, not when I was having the thoughts I was, when I had to give Yuki her answer.

"Kurumi… she's the one isn't she? The one you said you loved, but lost?" She said, as she turned and looked up, inches from me. "Is… is she well…"

I sighed, I brought it up, I can't not tell her now besides… I feel so calm here with her. Maybe I was being dramatic like Basara said.

"Dead? No, she's alive, back at the village," I sighed, not wanting to tell her the next part, but knowing that I had too. "Mio… I want you to know, the reason I got so excited seeing Yuki today it's… because she's Kurumi's older sister."

Mio's eyes widened, her mouth floundered. "So… so you're saying, that Basara and you both-."

"Yup, Basara and Yuki were always attached at the hip, they were the best of the kids our age in the village. Seriously, everyone loved them, praised them," I said, looking back at the moon, my tea surely cold by now. "But me and Kurumi? We were really an afterthought, that's why we got along so well, before I knew it we were attached at the hip too… I really love her, still."

Mio's hand went over her mouth. I waited for her to get all moody, jealous that I revealed Basara and Yuki's old relationship to her. She reacted jealously enough earlier when Basara brought it up to her, and for a minute I thought that stupid pact was going to flare up she was so angry.

But she didn't, she just looked down, an ashamed look on her face.

"Then… that's why you were so excited to see Yuki, because it meant you could maybe talk to and see her sister again… isn't it?" She said, wiping her eyes with her free hand. "Arata I… I'm sorry I reacted like I did, I didn't mean to doubt you I… I just got worried and well I… I…"

I didn't know what to say, I was never good when people were crying in front of me. I figured out long ago I was horrible at consoling people. Miya had been good at it, but that was something she never taught me.

However, I found words a bit easier then. I took the edge of the blanket and wiped one of her cheeks.

"Jeez, will you quite crying I'm no good at consoling people," I told her, as she jumped at first, but let me wipe her cheek. I sighed and met her watery eyes. "It's no big deal, really."

"But… but it is! I'm sorry for what happened in the bathroom, for letting Maria try to trick you into that!" She said frantically, both hands on her mug. "I… I just thought that-."

"You thought giving me a bath while I was naked in the same room as my brother would fix all our problems?" I said, unable to stop myself. "Yeah, I know Maria's a succubus, sex magic is her thing, but I'm sorry, did you really want to rub your tits on my back and bathe me?"

She went red again and shifted from one foot to another, unable to meet my eyes. "I… I mean, if… if it helped us become closer then well…"

I stammered, blushing myself, unable to believe what I had just heard.

"I don't get it… you would've been fine with that," I said, looking at her finally, "and this morning at school? You were annoyed I didn't wanna make that master servant pact with you, why?"

The upset look returned to her face, she couldn't meet my eye.

"Arata… you almost died protecting me, Basara almost died, my last family they… they…" She said, the tears coming again.

My heart stung, with all that happened, I almost forgot, Dad told me what happened.

"They're gone… Basara says that we're family now, you said it that first night," She said slowly, wiping her tears again. "But so far I've just… been nothing but a nuisance. Basara he… he's been really reassuring, kind and I well… I-."

"Trust me I know, he has that effect on people," I told her with a roll of my eyes.

She stammered, and looked like she was gonna say something but decided against it.

Instead, she met my eyes. "But with you I… I've felt like maybe… your life would be easier if I was gone. That, if I left you be, things could go well for you, especially with meeting Yuki again."

The hair on my neck stood up, my mouth fell slightly open. She had no idea what her words were doing to me then.

"But I… I know it's selfish, but I don't want to leave! I want this to work between us all, because I'm so thankful to you," She said, stepping even closer a desperate look to her eyes. "So I… I thought maybe if… if I was too annoying for you maybe… maybe you'd like-."

"You thought I'd like your body…." I said, a feeling of complete and utter shame washing over me, as I realized what I'd done. "That… that's really the vibe I give off huh?"

"What?! No! I don't think you're some sexual deviant or a pervert I just-."

"No, that's not what I meant," I said, looking at her and shaking my head. "I've been so much of an ass; you think you need to let me grab your tits to make me quit being one."

Mio quickly shook her head again. "No, that's… that's not what I meant I… I… dammit! I didn't mean for it to come out that way I-."

I stopped her with a shake of my head and sighed. "Mio… you're absolutely beautiful."

That made her stop mid-sentence.

"Wh…what?" She said, seeming to question if her ears were deceiving her. "You… mean it?"

"Of course I do, I'm a horrible liar. I'm being serious," I told her, managing a smile as we looked at each other under the moon that night. "You're honestly, one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen, even being this close to you? I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I'm trying not to blush."

She stammered again, blushing herself now. "Th…thank you, Arata but… but why are you telling me this now?"

"Because, I don't want you to think I said no to the back or showering with you because I think there's anything wrong with you," I told her, even managed to chuckle. "To be honest, I said not to bathroom because the idea of getting a naked bath with a pretty girl next to my equally naked brother was pretty embarrassing."

She stayed red faced. "I… yeah, I see what you mean. I told Maria it was a bad idea!"

I nodded. "And as for the pact well, I'm sorry Mio, but there's really only one person that I'd ever consider doing something like that with and… you aren't her, I'm sorry."

I waited for her to slap me, that was how she'd reacted earlier when I said I wasn't interested in that pact with her… but then I cursed at myself for even thinking that. After what she had said, I felt as if I should be the one continuing to apologize to her.

Instead of a slap, I only got a smile instead.

"I understand… thank you Arata, for telling me," She said, taking a step back, the blanket going with her. She smiled under the light of the full moon and bowed towards me. "And I'm sorry, for being such a… pain in your ass."

I scoffed and quickly draped the blanket back over her shoulders. "Yeah… I did call you that didn't I?"

"You did yeah."

"Well it is partly true, that tea was horrible," I joked, getting a giggle out of her. "And today at school? God, I nearly broke that guys hand for talking about you and Basara, you couldn't go four hours without drawing attention to yourselves?"

She went red and suddenly wasn't smiling. "Hey that was your brother and Yuki's fault okay?! They shouldn't have been acting like that in front of the class!"

"Well, whatever happened if any demons were in disguise at school they know where you live now," I said with my arms crossed, it was serious topic, but I managed to smile. "But so long as your sensei is here, I'll beat them back. Seriously, I need the practice anyway, they won't get you."

She calmed down, and her cute smile came back. "Yeah… between you Basara, and even me and Maria, we'll stop them!"

I felt my chest tighten. "Yeah… about that. Mio, I want you to leave the fighting to me."

"What?!" She said, her eyes wide. "I can fight too! I mean it, I'm not helpless I-."

"I meant between me and Basara. If you're ever in trouble… try calling me first," I informed her, a hundred thoughts running through my head. "It's not me ignoring Basara's power, it's just… for the best if he doesn't. Sometimes when Basara fights, or gets into situations where he's… excited, he-."

"Like what happened in the bathroom…" Mio suddenly said, realization dawning on her.

My chest exploded. "What?! Okay, Mio, I'm gonna regret this I know but… tell me what happened in the bathroom after I left."

Mio blushed deeper then she had before but nodded. She told me what had happened, and with each word I felt a dread setting in. By the time she was done, I had to let suck in a deep breath to calm my nerves.

"Okay… it wasn't bad this time, thank god," I said, relief setting in, but I leaned forward and gently held onto Mio's shoulders meeting her gaze. "Mio, if that ever happens again you need to tell me okay?"

She slowly nodded. "O…okay, but… what happened? What made him go crazy like that?"

I sighed, not wanting to remember. "It's… complicated. It has to do with his sword it… well it has a history. A bad one, it's the reason that we had to leave the village."

Her eyes went wide. "Before you left you said to Basara something about the village almost being destroyed, was… was that-."

"Look, it's a long story. I'm not, not telling you because I don't trust you it's just… not a story I like telling especially at almost 1am," I told her, noticing her sagging eyes. "Besides, you need to get some sleep anyway, bet that tea's got you tired."

I hoped that she didn't ask any further questions and I got my wish, I was lucky it was so late or else she may have probed further. I hadn't lied to her, if we really were going to protect her, she'd have to know the story eventually, but now just wasn't the time.

She slowly nodded, and her smile came back. "Okay, I'll trust you, thank you Arata. For more then just the tea, I… feel a bit better now after talking to you…well, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mio," I told her, as I watched her walk back into the house with a smile on her face.

When I looked into the house and saw she had gone up the stairs, I walked inside with the blanket, and fell onto the couch. The minute I did I was overcome with fatigue, as if I had just ran a marathon. I wiped sweat from my forehead and looked at my sword hand. I hadn't fought many more demons when I had just gone out, and there was the problem of that weird creature that Yuki had killed, but that wasn't what was on my mind now.

"Mio…" I said, my head falling back onto the couch as I looked up at the ceiling. "Why'd our first little heart to heart have to be now?"

If I had just let her walk upstairs… if I just hadn't seen her tonight… would I have done it? Would I have agreed to Yuki's plan?

I wouldn't have to do anything, I wouldn't have to harm Mio or Maria, all I'd have to do is walk away, Basara and I. If I did that, I'd get to see Kurumi again, Miya, would it really be just like it used to be?

I smiled through my torment. "Jeez Dad… you really are a jerk, leaving us with this-."

"Arata?"

I nearly fell off the couch and turned around to see Basara and Maria at the bottom of the steps.

"For gods sake I'm gonna have a heart attack before I'm twenty," I complained, getting up from the couch as my brother came with the succubus behind him. "What the hell are you both doing up, and why are you dressed?"

Basara wasn't in pajamas, he looked like he was getting ready to head out shopping, while Maria wore her normal dress. I still wore the brown jacket, white t-shirt, and jeans I'd gone out in. If somebody walked in you may think we were going to a party.

Basara came up in front of me, and I suddenly remembered the fight we'd had just before I left. I hated fighting with him because it was normally over something stupid. This time it wasn't, but still, it felt weird to hold a grudge against my brother over an argument even if he was an idiot.

Still, one thing I was always bad at doing was admitting I was wrong.

"So… look, Basara," I told him as he stopped in front of me. "I'm sor-."

"No, don't apologize, it's okay," He told me, smiling that annoyingly perfect Basara smile at me. "Besides, you were right. I haven't been taking this seriously have I?"

"Oh thank god you admit it," I said with an eye roll. "Mio told me about the bathroom after I left, have you managed to go one day without fondling her since she moved in?"

"Shut up!" He tried to defend himself. "That was… well, we-."

"Were 'deepening your bonds', honestly I was right, you are a horny bastard," I told him.

He rolled his eyes. "As if you're any better. Anyway, somebody wanted to apologize."

"OW!" Maria complained rubbing the back of her head where Basara flicked her. "I was getting there okay! Arata… I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't listen to Mio or Basara, I'm sorry for trying to force something on you that you didn't want, I should have known too."

I wanted to tell her how annoying the entire situation was… but I stopped myself.

I decide the type of person I'm gonna be… like you said senpai.

"Yeah well, it's whatever, I shouldn't have gotten so mad, you are a succubus after all," I said, as I reached out and patted her head. "Just… stay outta my room, and quite trying to get me to do pervy things with my brother in the same room okay?"

Her eyes widened, an excited look on her face. "So… all I have to do is separate you and Basara?! Yes! Seriously, you need a succubus more then anyone! I'll find the perfect opportunity to-."

"Maria…" I warned her, the annoyance coming back.

"Hehe… sorry," She said sheepishly, before her looked turned serious. "But it's good we found you, Basara and I wanted to ask you something."

"Huh?" I said, looking at my brother, what is it?" I asked him.

Basara smiled, and for some reason it made me worry.

"You were right Arata, we do need to be more proactive if we're going to protect Mio," He said, crossing his arms, as his smile turned to a smirk. "So… I was wondering, what do you say to going to swing your sword at some demons?"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

A few days later, after school

"Man… if I keep this up, all the teachers are gonna think I'm some delinquent," I muttered, yawning as I turned the hallway. "I hope I don't run into Ms. Hasegawa; I just told her yesterday I wasn't really sleep deprived."

"'I hope I don't run into Ms. Hasegawa', I think you're the first person I've ever heard say that Ari," Kaneda joked as he walked next to me. "But seriously, you look awful."

"Thanks, so this is what it's like having friends huh?" I mumbled with another yawn.

Kaneda smirked. "Aha! We're here to give you the hard truths you're too blind to see!"

"Well, this isn't a hard truth then, because I know I look awful," I said with an eye rolled.

Kaneda was twirling a piece of his black hair as we walked. "That's an understatement, what the hell's had you staying up so late the last few night? Late nights with Princess Mio in your pjs-."

"Kaneda…" I said, my tone dangerous.

He chuckled and held his hands up. "Yeah right sorry, forgot, not talking about your extremely stacked stepsister and… yeah, I'll shut up now sorry."

At least I know he only does that to annoy me, I thought with an eye roll. I'd hate to have to put him in the infirmary like I'd done with a few people already.

Naturally Basara's reputation had only worsened amongst the guys in school the last few days when it was evident that both Yuki and Mio were all over him. It of course led to a bunch of idiots trying to take their anger out on me like the one had the guy the first day of class. Each time I'd been able to avoid punishment because for some reason, the kids never reported me, however, as weird as she was I felt bad sending so many kids Ms. Hasegawa's way. I still hadn't gotten used to how flimsy regular humans were.

"Good… now where the hell is my idiot brother," I said, flipping open my phone and seeing no text from him or Maria. "And Maria… she should still be clearing out the one-."

"Huh? Clearing out what?" Kaneda asked, and I cursed at myself.

"Nothing," I said quickly, as we approached Basara's class. "You know speaking of brothers, you've met mine, I still haven't met yours yet."

Kaneda chuckled. "Ha, trust me Ari if you saw him you may immediately drop your pants, he's got that effect on guys and girls."

"Can't say mines any different," I said with an eye roll as we walked into the class, and when we did I clapped. "Ah and speaking of my panty dropping brother there he is! Did you have a nice day of wooing maidens big brother?"

I purposely noticed Mio sitting near him still and knew it would get her riled up and possibly hit him, which could have been a great way to amuse myself. Unfortunately, while Mio did glare at Basara, it didn't seem to be because of my joke. Basara himself barely even heard it, he was with Yahiro-Kaneda's cousin- still asleep drooling on his desk.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Yuki, and almost froze up on the spot. As much as I hated to admit it, I'd been trying to avoid her in the last few days. I had ended up telling Basara about what she'd said to me, her and Miya's plan. Naturally, Basara had wanted to stay put and look after Mio… and I agreed with him, I wanted to protect her too.

"She's innocent in all of this… and if the demon realm won't protect her, if the hero clan won't protect her, then Arata… I want to do it! But I can't do it without you, you know I'm not as powerful as I used to be, please, I need you."

That had been the first time Basara admitted to needing my help and sounded sincere in years… and seeing how passionate he was? In addition to wanting to keep the vow I made, I had agreed… but told him the honest truth.

I still wanted to go along with Yuki's plan somehow. Seeing Kurumi again, Miya and everyone else, if it was really possible, I wanted to do it. Basara annoyingly already knew that was what I wanted to do, it bothered me how he could practically read my mind.

And to my surprise, that night after my talk with Mio, Basara had an idea. One that wasn't exactly good, it was hard, very, very hard, but it was the only one we had, and could work if me, him and Maria all put in the effort. I hated him having to use his sword, which was why I was so exhausted, I'd gone out every night with either him or Maria the last week until crazy hours of the morning. It was exhausting wiping away the low-level demons Mio attracted, but it was something I needed to do, I needed to get back to my old level of power, and even surpass it if this plan was going to work.

It was also because I knew something was coming, something or someone strong, and I needed to be ready if Basara wasn't at full strength.

It was a hard plan, but relatively simple. Basara argued that if me, him and Maria could keep wiping out all the demons that were coming after Mio, then maybe the hero clan would see she wasn't a threat. If Mio wasn't a threat, they wouldn't mark her for elimination, if they saw that me and Basara were enough to protect her and the people around us from demons, they'd leave her be. And then… maybe with Miya and Yuki's help, I could get back to the village, maybe not to stay there, but I'd at least be able to see Mr. Tanaka in his final days, Miya, and most importantly Kurumi.

Of course, it was probably a pipe dream, but it was the only plan we had. We had been putting everything we had into it, which was why I wasn't surprised to see Basara snoring on his desk.

"Well, well, looks like your perfect big brother got so tired from his quest to conquer young maidens hearts he's fallen asleep!" Kaneda said, smiling at Yahiro. "What's up cuz, waiting for Basachi?"

"I was trying," Yahiro said with a shrug and smirk as he looked at me. "Gotta wake him up, does his little brother wanna do the honors."

I practically salivated. "Oh yes, yes I do. Hey Mio, how long has he been asleep?"

Mio cutely pouted. "All period! Seriously, doesn't he have any idea how that makes me look too?! How dare he!"

"Oh how dare he indeed, don't worry gentleman, fair lady, I'll handle this," I said, dramatically stepping up behind my brother who was still drooling on his desk. I cracked my knuckles, and I saw Yahiro, Kaneda, Yuki and Mio all watched as I cupped my hands. "OHHHHH BASARAAAAAA WAKE UP YOU HORNY BASTARD!"

A loud *SLAP* rang throughout the classroom.

"ARGHHHHHHHHH!" Basara yelled, as he flew off his chair and into the shelf of book at the side of the room. He smashed into it and groaned as he landed.

Yahiro and Kaneda laughed, Mio and Yuki did not.

"BASARA!" BASARA!" They both yelled at once, before glaring at each other.

"BAHAHAHA! Oh man, that's hilarious!" Kaneda laughed, wiping his eyes he laughed so hard. "Don't you think you overdid it a little."

I shrugged a small, satisfied smile on my face. "Don't worry we do it to each other all the time! It's just some lighthearted brotherly roughhousing, right Basa- OOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAFFFFF!"

"ASSHOLEEEEEEEEEE!"

Basara's punch surely would have shattered every single one of a normal humans ribs, because it certainly almost did mine. My chest nearly caved in I got sent flying through the desks to the other side of the room, my bag flew off my arm, I knocked over half a dozen desks before smacking back first against the shelf on the opposite side of the room.

"ARATA!" "ARATA!" Mio and Yuki yelled.

"BAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Yahiro and Kaneda laughed.

They're both… weird for a couple humans, I thought, as I blinked away the surefire concussion and took a few labored breaths, dragging myself to my feet and dusting off my uniform.

"Okay, I may have deserved that," I admitted after I stood up.

"You're damn right you did you little brat!" Basara seethed his hand still in a fist. "What the hell is your problem?!"

"My dear big brother seemed tired after a long day of panty dropping," I said, as I cracked my neck, arm and knuckles again and walked over to him. "You got a little drool on your chin by the way, here let me help you-."

"Don't touch me," Basara said, smacking my hand away.

Yahiro finished laughing and wiped his tears of laughter. "Oh man, you two are certainly a trip that's for sure. He's right though, I was trying to wake you Basachi. The teacher wants you."

"Ooooooo someone's in trouublleeeeeeeeeee- OW!"

"You're just full of jokes today aren't you?" Basara muttered after slapping me in the back of the head much softer then he'd hit me. He turned to Yahiro. "Me? Really, what for?"

"She wants you to help organize the staff room," Yahiro explained, turning around. "Oh, and she wanted you too Yuki."

I could practically feel Mio tensing up behind me, but I didn't wanna embarrass her. I looked over to Yuki, who was as calm as always. For a moment, she met my eyes, and as she'd been doing for the last few days, she seemed to be pleading with me just from that look.

Please… just give us a little longer Yuki, I thought, turning my gaze from her and walking back to Mio leaving Kaneda, Yahiro, Yuki and Basara.

"Man, and that was with him holding back," I whispered as I leaned back on her desk rubbing my chest. "And he tells me he's not as strong as before…"

Mio looked away from Basara and Yuki for a moment and up to me. "Are you okay? That really looked like it hurt."

"It's not the worst Basara's ever clobbered me, trust me on that," I sighed, looking down at her. I followed her gaze as she looked over to Basara quickly chatting with Yuki. "And you? You alright?"

"I'm fine! He can talk to whoever he wants!" She said indignantly, her gaze still fixed on the two.

I rolled my eyes. "You know, the Greek monster Medusa and the god Gorgon had an ability called mystic eyes. It's said they could turn people to stone with a single glare."

"Huh? You know I like history lessons, but why are you telling me this now?" She said, still looking at them.

I smirked and leaned down near her ear. "Because you're not Medusa, no matter how much you stare at her, Yuki's not gonna turn to stone."

"That… that… that's not what I was doing!" Mio said quietly yet with finality.

"Aha, of course it's not."

She glared up at me now, that cute pout back on her face. "You know, sometimes I wish you'd stayed an ass."

"I still am," I shrugged. "I just got a convenient switch for it now; I'll show you sometime."

She blushed, but before she could say anything, Basara turned back to us.

"Well, looks like I gotta stay here for a little bit, Arata," He said, looking at me. "Have you talked to Maria?"

I nodded, still leaning on Mio's desk. "Yeah, she's at the arcade still, she's obsessed with that new game."

Basara nodded, I knew he really understood what I was trying to tell him.

"Okay, well, you guys don't have to wait," He said, smiling at Mio. "Mio, why don't you walk home with Arata? He'll get something from the supermarket to make for dinner."

"I will?" I said, wondering where he planned on me getting the money for it.

Mio shook her head. "Oh, that's alright, I'll wait for you it's no big deal."

"Well I'm not waiting for you, I need a nap," I said, getting off her desk. "Have fun with your chores."

I knew it wasn't a big deal. Basara and I had agreed that at all times, at least one of us should be within a close distance of Mio to be there in case anything happened. Mio had powerful magic, but it was still way too unstable, and neither of us had any way to teach her.

Kurumi I bet could teach her… I thought, thinking about her and the still un-started letter to her on my nightstand.

"I'll walk home with you Ari," Kaneda said, coming up next to me and looking at my brother and then over at Yuki. "Catch you later Basachi, enjoy your private chore time with our princess here."

I stiffened, I knew Kaneda didn't mean anything by it, he was making a joke. However, right away, I could hear Mio's breathing quicken. That had certainly annoyed her. It wasn't long after that, that I felt my sword hand start to tingle, and I could smell magic.

My sword arm only tingled when enemies were nearby, when something big was about to happen, or when magic was nearby.

"U…ugh…"

I spun back around with Basara.

"Mio!" My brother said, as I rushed over next to her with him.

Basara held her shoulders, whispering as everyone looked at us. "What's wrong, Mio are you alright?"

"I feel magic," I whispered even lower I said, grabbing her wrist discreetly and feeling her pulse. "If you're suddenly sick you could be having a magic overload. Or-."

It was neither, around her neck I saw a purple mark appear and groaned.

Basara knew it too, he whispered again. "Oh no, don't tell me, is it the curse?"

I rolled my eyes. "I knew that thing was a stupid idea."

Mio blinked a few times and shook her head. "No… no I… I just…"

"MIO!" Basara yelled, as she finally fell over.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"For the last time will you please, not touch me!" I begged the nurse from the examination bed, pushing her hand off my forehead, my face red from my ears to my nose. "I told you I'm fine will you just stop doing- GAH COLD!"

"Leave this on the back of your neck for a few minutes," Ms. Hasegawa said in her soothing voice as she pressed the cold compress down on the back of my neck. "Mhm, you're temperatures been rising the last few days Arata, didn't you promise me you'd come if you were in distress?"

"I. Am. Not. In. Distress!"

Basara snickered from Mio's bedside. "He's lying, I see him at home he's barely sleeping, sounds like distress to me."

"BASARA I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Please, no blood in the infirmary if we can avoid it," Ms. Hasegawa said, coming back around the front of me, leaning down her beautiful face inches from mine. "Arata, how's our relationship going to proceed if you aren't honest with me?"

My entire body sprang into overdrive.

"What kind of relationship do you think we have lady?!"

"One of a nurse very concerned for the health of a young student," She said, tilted her head as she reached out her hand to my forehead. "I also thought we were friends considering that I haven't reported the fact you've sent four other boys here to my infirmary this last week."

"You're the reason I haven't gotten reported?!" I said incredulously.

She nodded and kept her hand on my forehead. "Of course, I convince the students to not say anything, then tell the teachers it was self-defense."

"And they just believe you?!" I asked, unable to believe I'd really been so stupid as to think it was my luck that kept me from getting reported.

The nurse nodded. "Yes, I'm very persuasive I guess you could say I have a silver tongue."

"Now… that I can believe," I said with a sigh, before I realized she was still touch me and quickly moved her hand, my voice desperate now. "Will you, please stop touching me now?!"

She sighed and stood up. "Fine, if you insist, so long as you keep that ice pack on your neck. You can get up and move around if you want."

I almost did, before I came to a very shocking realization.

"I… think I'll just stay here for a bit," I said, pulling more of the covers from the exam bed back over my crotch.

I do not dare move from this bed until that woman is out of the room, I told myself, trying to stop myself from blushing, and keeping my hands over myself under the covers with the ice pack on my neck. I almost moved it to my crotch to help my other problem bit decided against it, as Ms. Hasegawa moved over to Mio's bed as she snoozed away.

Basara looked up. "So, how is she Ms. Hasegawa?"

"She's okay, just a bit of anemia, let her rest for a bit," The nurse said, looking at my brother with a curious look. "You know my name already?"

"Of course, Arata's mentioned he's been in to see you the last few days," Basara explained with a smile.

"More like she tracked me down herself…" I muttered, realizing that in the back of my mind maybe I really didn't mind visiting the nurse like all the other guys did.

She smiled and nodded. "Well, it's nice to be appreciated then. And you must be Basara, I've heard a bit about you not just from Arata. Tell me, how's it feel, for both of you to be public enemy number one amongst the boys in your first week?"

I shuddered. "You've seen how I handled it."

Basara laughed nervously. "Ha… so even the teachers know what's going on huh?"

"We hear things, so yes we do," Ms. Hasegawa said, smiling as she looked between the both of us. "It must be hard, having so many enemies, the both of you. But at least you have each other huh?"

"You could say that yeah," Basara said, looking over at me with a smile.

I rolled my eyes but nodded. "Yeah… it is nice, but still… a bit overwhelming at times."

"Arata…" Basara said, seeming to understand the deeper meaning behind my words.

I meant more then just petty guys at school as enemies. Basara and I both, we were completely exhausted.

Ms. Hasegawa only nodded, crossing her arms under her chest. I bit the inside of my lip, stop looking at her boobs Arata you pervert.

"Mhm, I see. Yes, having that many enemies can be very overwhelming even when you have each other," She said, looking between us. "Can I give you both a bit of advice?"

"Of course," Basara said.

"You would even if we said no," Arata said.

"If you have a great number of enemies, you should gain a great number of allies," She told us, her large eyes sparkling. "At this point, it's the quantity of allies that's more important as opposed to the quality, Basara and Arata Tojo, don't be afraid to look to allies for help."

My mouth felt dry as I looked over at the nurse. I looked over at Basara, who had the same mystified look as I did.

My brother tried to respond. "I… don't think it's that simple ma'am."

"The most complicated problems often have the simplest solutions boys. I recommend you stop overthinking your problems and look at what's in front of you that you can use to tackle it, as opposed to trying to think multiple steps ahead," She said, sticking her hand in her long white coat. "And if you ever have need of more advice, you can-."

"Ms. Hasegawa, please report to the staff room. Ms. Hasegawa please report to the staff room."

The loudspeaker went off, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that I didn't like Ms. Hasegawa, it was the opposite, despite how odd she was, I found it really calming visiting her the last few days. However, I was anxious for her to leave in that very moment.

"Oh drat, it seems our time is cut short. It was nice meeting you Basara, oh and Arata," She said, looking at me from the doorway. "Please, come for another check up again after class tomorrow, I want to be sure to check on your recovery."

"I'd be happy too, if I was actually recovering from something," I started, as I shook my head. "I think I'll just… okay, fine I'll come."

She gave me a look which wasn't scary, but one that just calmed me to a point where I figured I should just agree.

"Good, I look forward to getting to know the both of you much better this year," She said, taking a key out of her pocket and tossing it to me. "Lock up for me will you? You can return the key tomorrow."

My entire body was hot again, and I cursed at myself. "Y…Yes, Ms. Hasegawa."

She smiled one last time and closed the door. When she did, the room felt about a hundred degrees colder and I let out a breath I felt like I'd been holding for days. I fell back onto the bed and pocketed the key.

"'You're such a horny bastard Basara'" Basara yelled, mocking me with a very horrible impression of my voice. "'You're a horny bastard who pretends your not a horny bastard!'"

"Fuck. You." I said, hissing as I sat back up and glared at him. "You ever talk about this again I'll cut off all your hair in your sleep."

"Mhm, yeah sure you will," He said, smirking as he leaned back in his chair. "And… the reason you still haven't moved those blankets yet?"

"I SAID FUCK OFF!" I yelled, throwing the pillow from the bed at his head.

He laughed as it hit him and he almost fell off the chair.

"H…huh? Basara? Arata?" Mio's voice said as I looked over and saw her opening her eyes.

"Mio! Are you alright?" Basara said, sliding his chair closer to her bed.

Mio rubbed her eyes and nodded. "Yeah… I'm alright, just…tired. Huh, Arata, why are you in a bed, are you sick too?"

"Oh no he's not sick," Basara said quickly, as my eyes widened and he smirked while he went on. "He's got another condition."

"Condition?" Mio said wonderingly.

"Mhm, a very serious one," Basara said teasingly. "It's called erectile dysfunct-."

"SHUT UP ASS FACE!"

Mio looked confused but Basara just continued to laugh.

He shrugged mockingly. "Oh, don't worry Arata. I'm sure Ms. Hasegawa will be more then happy to give you a full body examination of- UGH!"

"Basara!" Mio yelled, as Basara was hit in the chest with one of the nearby medical textbooks I grabbed off a shelf.

"Dick…" I muttered, finally feeling my body calm down as I got off the bed with thankfully nothing protruding. I made my way over and stood over Mio's bed. "You sure you're okay?"

She slowly nodded, looking between me and Basara who was rubbing his chest. "Yeah… I'm fine, you two… you fight like this often don't you?"

"Only when Basara's being a dick."

"You're really going to make a dick joke to me right now?" He said, still with the nerve to smirk at me.

I growled; my fists clenched. "I'm going to get you for this, when you least expect it."

"I live in fear."

Mio giggled from her bed, the blanket pulled over her chin. "I'm… really glad that you're both here."

I stammered, but just nodded. "Yeah well, you'll have to make it up to me. It's time for you to make tea tonight without my help, hope you've been paying attention."

She smiled and mock saluted. "Yes sensei I'm ready."

I hated that I blushed, and that stupid smirk Basara gave me.

My brother looked at Mio now. "But Mio I don't get it. The curse, isn't only supposed to activate when you're mad at me? Did I… do something to make you mad?"

"N…no!" Mio said, pulling the blanket higher to cover her blush as she turned away from my brother. "It… it's not that. I just… well… I got worried."

I glared at my brother; you really don't know idiot?

Basara smiled though. "Okay then… I'm sorry for worrying you. It seems like you're fine now. Why don't I go and call-."

"No!" Mio said, reaching and grabbing my brothers wrist, her face incredibly cute as she blushed and looked over at him. "I… I want you to stay here with me."

Basara blushed, but like normal he regained his composure and just smiled, letting her keep hold of his hand. "Okay then, if that's what you want, sure."

I rolled my eyes. Of course I could see what was going on, anyone with eyes could see it. I'd known it was going on for weeks, and I really was pretty happy for them both, although I got the sinking suspicion Mio wouldn't be the last one, I thought she'd be the main one for my brother.

But just because I was happy, didn't mean I liked watching them.

"Ugh, you're both gross," I muttered with a hand wave. "Basara, call Yahiro and Kaneda, let them know we're alright. I'm going to get a drink, I'll call Maria."

Mio blushed and stammered, but Basara just smirked and waved to me. "Alright, I got it you go ahead."

I nodded and stuffed my hands in my pockets heading for the exit.

But I heard something that made me stop when I got to the door.

"Yeah, he got a hard-on when the nurse started feeling his forehead," My brothers voice tried to whisper, but he seemed to forget I-like him-had been trained from a young age to have a super advanced sense of hearing. I heard Mio giggle and Basara go on. "My little brothers not as calm, cool and innocent as he seems, you should have seem him with- OW!"

"Sleep with one eye open asshole," I yelled from the door, as Basara rubbed his forehead where the stapler from Ms. Hasegawa's desk had hit him.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"So, that's the situation," I told Maria as the drinks fell from the machine. "How's it going on your end, run into any trouble?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle, but there were quite a few, sorry I took so long," She said through the phone, sounding exhausted.

I furrowed my brow as I grabbed the two lemonades. "Are you okay? You're not hurt right?"

As expected she giggled. "Aw, Arata, are you worried about little old me? I told you I'd eventually win you over didn't I?"

"Yeah, don't think so much into it," I said, putting my phone between my shoulder and ear before popping open one of the lemonades.

She laughed again. "Hehe, okay I won't don't worry. But I'm alright don't worry. I'm just glad that Mio is. I guess I'll come and pick you guys up. Hang tight."

"Got it, see you soon," I said before hanging up and letting out a breath, the lemonade refreshing. "There goes my plan of a nap before later tonight…."

Between homework, cooking, cleaning, studying the old manuals from the village, and trying to finally write my letter to Kurumi I barely had time for sleep. Each night I'd get a few hours before waking up at around 3am, going to find demons with either Maria or Basara. After a few hours of fighting, I'd come back and sleep for another hour before getting up to make breakfast with Maria.

She was getting a lot better at respecting my boundaries. I'd only woke up to her laying on top of me in bed two times in the last few days. The first time I dragged her out into the hallway. The second time I literally dropped her out the window. She was a succubus so of course she wasn't hurt, but I liked to think she got the point. It was my relationship with Mio that had… improved, at least to a point where I wanted to make sure she was protected.

A lot of nights she'd make tea with me, we liked to drink it together out on the patio and chat it was becoming a sort of tradition in the morning and night for us. I liked it, it was a calming time between everything we had to do. Of course, we hadn't told Mio we were fighting, Basara and I both knew she'd start blaming herself, and in addition to not wanting her upset, if she did get too upset there was no telling if her magic would go haywire.

I leaned against the vending machine and let out a breath, sipping lemonade and looking at my sword hand. "One day I haven't swung my sword in years… next thing I know I'm doing it every night… funny how fast things change."

"You can say that again," Basara's voice came, and I turned to see him coming to the vending machines with me. "Wanted to check on you."

"You can check on me, but that doesn't involve fondling me right?"

"Huh? Why would it involve that?" My brother said as I tossed a lemonade at him.

I shrugged. "Well, you check in on Mio all the time, and normally it involves you grabbing her tits. Sorry, mine aren't as big-."

"Shut up you little twerp," He complained leaning against the machine with me and sipping from the can. "I called Yahiro, him and Kaneda had to do the work me and Yuki were supposed to."

That peaked my interest. "Huh? Kaneda? He'd never do a lick of extra work voluntarily. What happened to Yuki?"

"I was gonna ask you that, I haven't seen her, neither has Yahiro or Kaneda," Basara said, meeting my eyes. "Have you seen her since Mio fainted?"

I shook my head. "No, that's weird, it's not like Yuki to miss something like that."

"Yeah… but she is different now," He told me, the both of us looking at the ground and letting the gravity of our situation sink in.

I nodded. "You can say that again…"

It was quiet for a moment, before Basara looked up at me. "Hey Arata, it's about Ms. Hasegawa, do you-."

"No I don't, shut your mouth right now before I break your skull," I snapped right back.

"No, I wasn't going to ask anything like that," He told me, sounding serious, and when I looked over at him he shook his head. "When you're with her do you… ever get the feeling that well… she…"

"Somehow knows absolutely everything despite zero ways of that being possible?" I finished for him, nodding slowly. "Oh yeah, every time I talk to her I feel like she has me figured out."

My brother shuddered. "You think its possible she could be well, some kind of demon?"

"I thought so at first too, but I can't sense any power from her," I told him, getting myself another drink. "I think she's just a bit weird."

"I'll take your word for it, still she seems nice," Basara said as I came up with larger bottle of lemonade this time. "It's nice to have-."

"Yo, Basachi!" "Ari!"

I spun back around, my heart jumping out of my chest. Basara did the same, I almost reached for my sword, but thankfully it was only Yahiro and Kaneda. It was starting to get dark outside, but they were still here, which I was thankful for. It was nice to have a friend I could rely on here, it'd been years since I could say that.

"Oh, Yahiro, Kaneda," Basara smiled.

Kaneda yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Aw man, I'm exhausted, you owe me after this one Ari."

Yahiro punched his shoulder. "Quit your whining! No harm in doing a favor for our friends!"

"But I'm starving now!" Kaneda said, looking at me and bowing to beg as he clapped his hands together. "You'll buy me some ramen on the way home right Ari?!"

I scoffed. "Ha, oh yeah no worries I will. I know doing any extra work at all really tires out slackers like you."

Kaneda laughed. "Haha, you know me so well already!"

Everyone laughed, and eventually Yahiro looked to Basara.

"So how's Mio doing she alright?" He asked.

Kaneda nodded. "Yeah, it was pretty scary her just fainting like that."

Basara smiled and grabbed the lemonade from my hand. "Yeah, she's feeling alright now. Thanks for taking over my work, we owe you guys."

"Yeah, jokes aside, let us know when we can pay you back," I told them as Yahiro caught the drink.

Yahiro looked surprised but shook his head. "No worries, after I dragged this little runt there it was no problem."

"Yeah, literally dragged," Kaneda complained. "Seriously, why the hell did you have too…"

I didn't hear anything else Kaneda said, my hearing tuned him out when I felt a large tingle run up my arm. I vaguely heard Kaneda complaining to Yahiro about extra work, when I looked down at my sword hand, and saw the tips of my fingers tingling. I moved them, and I could practically see the small bolts of lightning started to sprout from them. The feeling traveled up my arm, and then eventually I could smell it, it was a mix of a sulfuric smell, and another I'd been becoming very familiar with.

My arm tingling like that only meant one thing.

"Basara," I whispered, yanking on his arm discreetly. "Something's wrong."

Yahiro and Kaneda had started arguing.

Basara looked over at me. "Your hand? But how-."

He was cut off by the sound of a breaker being shut off. The vending machine, all the lights from the school around us shut off. I nearly jumped and pulled out my sword there, but I stopped myself as I quickly scanned my surroundings on the balls of my feet ready to move at a moments notice.

"Woah, a power outage, horrible timing," Yahiro said with a sigh.

Kaneda groaned. "Great, now we're gonna have too… huh, what the hell is that?"

Kaneda turned and froze, so did Yahiro, and that was when I saw them. Instinctively, I ran and moved in front of the two regular humans, Basara doing the same. My eyes drifted to their features, their hands were claws, with long bayonet like blades coming from their wrists, they had wolf heads and the unmistakable smell of demons.

But these… these are still weaker ones, but a lot stronger then what we've been fighting, I thought, looking and seeing Basara clearly had the same thought. Besides, I scoped out the place before and after school, I would've sensed them… someone definitely summoned these.

"W…woah, what the hell?! Is this some kind of creepy cosplay club?!" Kaneda said, his voice shaking from behind me.

It was completely silent except for the growl of the demons ahead. My blood ran cold, my arms tingled, we couldn't do anything with Yahiro and Kaneda around. The reality of the situation set in, and like Basara I realized the worst part of this. We had been sloppy.

We left Mio alone, and now there was clearly a more powerful being here.

Basara and I nodded to each other quietly.

"Yeah what the hell is going on…?" Yahiro said, looking over at Basara. "Basachi do you know what- UGH!"

"UGH!" Kaneda huffed at the same time as Yahiro, my elbow hitting his stomach. Basara did the same to Yahiro and they both fell to the ground unconscious.

Sorry about that Kaneda… I thought, biting my lip and turning to the demons who still were slowly moving towards us, my mind started whirring. Wait… why wouldn't they have attacked-.

"How the hell did they get into the school? You did a sweep and checked before going to the infirmary didn't you?" Basara asked from next to me.

"I did, and there was nothing," I said holding out my hand. "Takemikazuchi!"

Magic and lightning shot up my arms and with a swipe through the air the gauntlets of my hero clan armor along with the blood red sheath holding the katana that was my sword. I held the sheath at my waist, hand on the hilt, ready to burst forward and strike as I drew it.

I narrowed my eyes at the blades along the demons arms. "And these aren't the regular ones we've been fighting; they have to have been summoned…."

"It doesn't matter let's take them out," Basara said, stepping next to me and holding out his arm. "They won't-."

"No, Basara, get out of here make sure Mio's safe!" I told him, not taking my eyes off the demons which picked up speed. "I'll handle them and head around the perimeter, go!"

He looked incredulously at me. "Arata, I won't leave you-."

"If you think these things are going to give me any trouble, I'm honestly pretty offended," I told him, grinding my teeth. "Now go you moron!"

He hesitated, but I heard him start moving. "Alright, be careful!"

It was when Basara ran the demon in the middle finally snarled and moved forward at a run. They all snarled, but my eyes fell to the one in the front, I even managed to smile.

"Alright, out of my way," I said, before lightning started sprouting from my arms, the lightning from my feet blackening the ground as I shifted them and my head went down. I let out a breath, sparks shooting from my eyes as I flicked the sword out of its sheath ever so slightly.

My eyes shot up shining with sparking lightning. "Thunderclap and flash!"

I shot forward leaving skid marks on the ground. Lightning bursts open the front of the vending machines, windows shattered as I was at the end of the hallway in an instant re-sheathing my sword. I spun back around still radiating lightning from my eyes and arms to see the first demon at first seem fine, before the top half of its body exploded with black oozy blood and it slid off, before disappearing into dust.

I smirked and held my sheath up. "Takemikazuchi! Third configuration!"

It morphed and I held out my hands. One regular sized katana fell into my right, a smaller wakizashi in my left. Thunderclap and flash was a great ability for a speed type fighter like me, it let me move and strike faster then pretty much any human eyes could comprehend. A trained hero of the clan, a demon or stronger being would more then likely be able to see it, but still, it was one of my better strikes with the swords first configuration.

Now however, with two swords in hand as the two demons rushed towards me, I fell into wind form, which was one of the five forms of fighting with two swords that Miya had shown me when I was younger. The third configuration, dual wielding was thought to be the most powerful of Takemikazuchi, so Miya made sure I knew Niten Ichi-ryu, the style of fighting with two swords that her family had practice for centuries. The style involved five different forms, earth, water, fire, wind and void, and Miya had drilled them all into me.

Lightning shot from my eyes as I smirked and burst forward. "Heavenly blade steps!"

I moved quickly again, side to side and avoided all four of the blades from the demons arms and when I had passed them one tried to swing again but his arm was severed at the elbow. Black blood spilled as it cried and fell to its knees, the second had a wound across its chest burst open that one fell and died while I turned to the last one and stabbed it through the chest.

Heavenly blade steps was a technique that involved attacking while dodging, meant for a swift surprise attack.

I smirked, satisfied when they died. After letting out a breath I was happy to realize I still had plenty of energy left, if I had tried two consecutive techniques like I had that first night Mio and Maria showed up now I would be able to do it no problem. That first night I'd been exhausted for a week.

My hands glew, and while small bolts of lightning still radiated off my bare arms, the sword and gauntlets disappeared.

I let out a sigh. "Jeez, even that was too easy. I should find-."

My phone rang, and when I saw it was Basara I answered.

"I'm clear," I told him right away. "I think I'll-."

"Arata Mio's gone!" He shouted, clearly panicking.

My heart fell to my stomach, anger replacing its spot in my chest. "What the hell do you mean she's gone how did you lose her?!"

"I didn't lose her! I showed up in the infirmary and she's not here!" He yelled into the phone.

I bit my lip… and realized in that moment just how worried I really was that she was missing.

Jeez… Basara's right, I really am just a big softie huh?

"Alright don't panic, you go look in the school, I'll get to the roof to get a better vantage go!" I told him, and he didn't say anything else before hanging up.

I let out a shaky breath, before an idea hit me. Someone else had been missing, someone who always checked in with us and waited for us to leave school.

My mouth went numb. "She… she wouldn't, would she?"

I hoped not, as I ran for a tree in the courtyard, to try and make it to the roof.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Mio

"So, what is it that you want Yuki?" I asked her, trying to portray some kind of confidence.

However, that was hard when my legs were still shaking, and it was chilly out that night.

"I'm going to get right to the point Mio," She said, her hair blowing in the wind, she turned with narrowed gold eyes and shook her head. "I want you to stay away from Basara and Arata. Now."

I had expected this, I had been waiting days for Yuki to finally come say something to me. However, it had seemed somehow every day the last week or so that one of Basara or Arata were always with me, and the other was with Yuki. They seemed to think I didn't realize but I did, the two had been trying to make sure Yuki and I didn't interact. Why? I didn't really know, but standing there across from her, and hearing words from her that I had been waiting to hear her say to me, I remembered something Arata had told me a few days ago.

We had been out on the patio with our blanket and tea. He looked at me with that serious look Arata always got when I knew that I needed to listen.

"Mio listen to me. I want you to not pick any fights with the hero clan okay? You said you trust me and Basara, right? Well, trust me now, please don't get into any fights with them."

The two hadn't been sure I anyone else from the hero clan was going to come and join Yuki in observing me, so they wanted me to try and not stick out. I'd been doing my best, I had promised them after all… not to mention, I finally was beginning to feel like we were actually a family. Even Maria and Arata hadn't been fighting much the last few days. I spent time during the day and at school with Basara and Arata both, Arata had been showing me how to make tea, and I looked forward every night to sipping it out on the patio with him.

And Basara… well, the more time I spent with him, the more I felt the bond we share grow, something I was glad for. I finally had what I wanted again… I wasn't going to give it up.

I narrowed my eyes over to Yuki. "I refuse, and you have no right to order me around."

Yuki just shook her head. "I thought as much, but I at least thought you'd realize how much you're hurting both of them, Basara and Arata both! I'll give you one more chance, stay away from them!"

She sounded a lot more aggressive now. It surprised even me the normally soft-spoken Yuki raising her voice like that. I took a step back and felt my chest starting to constrict. I was angry as well; how could she just go around accusing me of something like that.

"And again I refuse!" I yelled back over to her, shaking my head. "I'm ready to face anything that comes our way with Arata and Basara both. We'll all fight together, like a family should!"

Yuki scoffed; her eyes grew dark. "Family… you dare call the both of them that?! Arata lost everything, he's in so much more pain then you realize! And Basara… Basara… you have no idea how much it pains him to have to swing his sword!"

Her arms flashed in a similar way to how Arata's did when he summoned his sword. Across both her arms armor formed, before a katana appeared in her hands, and I was sent stumbling back as the wind picked up the minute she placed her hand on it. I could feel the magic radiating as she unsheathed the blade and pointed it my way.

On the inside I panicked but let out a settling breath and faced down the girl who was trying to ruin what I had just found again.

"Oh, so now you're going to resort to violence?!" I yelled at her.

"If it means saving Basara from his grief… if it means… making it so Arata and… and Kurumi… making them smile again?" She said, twisting the blade and leveling it towards me. "Yes, if it means all of that? Yes I will!"

I hesitated for a moment, Basara's… grief? And Kurumi… that name, that's Yuki's younger sister, she's… the one that Arata loves. Am I…really causing them grief like this? No! No, you can't back down now.

I held out my hand and felt magic rush towards my fingers. "Alright, if that's how you're going to play it then I won't hold anything back either!"

Magic shot forward, I felt power start to shoot through my body and a massive gale of wind shot towards Yuki. I had expected it to at least stumble on her to give me a chance to move, but I saw it hit her and her sword raise up into the air. A green light radiated from it, and she sliced through the magic like it was nothing. Angrier now I felt magic shot from my arms and I shot my hand forward again as magic circles started forming above us.

"I won't let you continue to hurt the two of them!" Yuki yelled, cutting through the magic again as she moved to avoid the blasts of red lightning coming from my magic circles above her.

She moved expertly with the sword and cut away anything that came near her, and that only made me angrier. I knew Basara and Arata had wanted me to keep my cool, but I couldn't contain myself here, especially when she was accusing me of such things. She had no idea how much the two of them had come to mean to me.

"You're the one in the wrong for forcing your ideas on them and not letting them make their own choices!" I yelled back, rushing away from a blast of magic sent my way and firing my own back towards her. "I'm choosing to fight with them, to believe them when they say that this is the path they chose of their own volition!"

"You're clueless, you still have no idea the pain you're causing them!" She yelled, cutting through my magic, and rushing forward. I leapt back and blasted magic on the roof, that gave me the chance to leap back and land away from her sword as she grew angrier and continued yelling. "Both of them are in pain because of this, but they're too good to admit it! Basara… you have no idea the pain it causes him to use his sword and Arata?! Do you have any idea what he lost?! What he's throwing away the chance of to protect you?!"

"Arata told me about his relationship with your sister!" I yelled back, shaking my head. "He told me that he'll protect me still, and Basara… I have no idea what you're talking about, but I don't care, because I trust them both."

"You have no idea… no idea about anything. You don't know what happened that day, what happened to Arata and Basara both," She yelled, coming to a stop with her sword up. "If you did, you'd leave! You wouldn't get in the way of them being happy again!"

I finally froze, my arms shook as I held them up ready to fire more magic… but I couldn't. Of course, it had been in the back of my mind, but hearing her say it? Was I really the reason that both Basara and Arata couldn't really be happy? Were the two of them faking the smiles they put on? Arata didn't smile much period, but I had liked to think the few times he did with me they were real. And Basara… I refused to believe that smile he gave me was fake.

But, what if they were and I was just living a delusion?

"No… I don't have any idea what you're talking about," I told her, not letting my guard down as I narrowed my eyes at her. "But what I do have an idea about? Is how I know for a fact Basara and Arata's smiles are real. They asked me to trust them and I do, Basara's told me we're a family. And Arata… I finally got him to open up, I feel I know him better now, like I said he told me about his relationship with your sister, I understand-."

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING! ESPECIALLY ABOUT ARATA AND MY SISTER!" She screamed, angrier then I'd ever seen her as her gold eyes were wild. "Him and Basara, we owe them our lives! Basara… he us but… to do that he killed dozens of his comrades, and Arata? He blames himself for not being able to do anything to save him from having to do it. The village, they branded them traitors and his sword, Basara's sword… all it ever does is remind him of the pain of what happened that day, and here you are, making him draw it!"

What Arata and Basara argued about in the bathroom last week came back to me… if Yuki who was also in the hero clan was confirming it now, I realized it had to be true. The two of them had been at each other's throats that night.

"I… I didn't know that…" I admitted, shaking my head. "But even if it's true, Basara and Arata-."

"And Arata… you don't really know him at all. You have no idea what he went through when he was younger in the village how that day scared him," Yuki yelled shaking her head. "And Kurumi… if bringing Arata back to the village is what I have to do to make her happy again, then I'll do whatever I can!"

"Back to the village?!" I yelled, feeling panic start to rise. "What are you talking about?"

"I can do it, with Miya's help I know I can…" She said, but more so to herself before she narrowed her eyes up at me. "If you're out of the way, the village can be convinced to let them back and then maybe… maybe Kurumi will… no, I'll won't get ahead of myself. Arata will see, especially after I told him."

My mouth fell open, and it felt as if my chest collapsed in on itself.

"Arata… knew? You offered to help him go back to the village and.. and he didn't…" I thought, my mind becoming muddled.

He never told me… did that mean he was considering it? And if Arata would go back to the village, does that mean Basara would too?

"Of course you didn't know, you didn't know the pain you were causing them. They don't even see it either," Yuki said shaking her head, the moon casting a scary glow off her sword as she leveled it towards me again. She shot off one leg and came for me. "But if you're not willing to back down then neither am I-."

I waited for the sword to reach me, but it never did.

*BOOOM* *CLANG*

A massive explosion of bright lightning lit up the sky, and then I heard the clashing of blades. I would have never been able to get out of the way of Yuki's attack, but another sword saved my life. I felt my hair start to stand up from the static, and a sulfuric smell attacked my nose.

"Stand down Yuki," Arata said from in front of me, holding back Yuki's sword. "You know you won't beat me."

"Arata!" Yuki yelled, leaping back with her sword still in hand.

Arata's messy brown hair blew back in the wind. Like Yuki, only the gauntlets of his hero clan armor was showing as he had the long blood red katana in his hand. The moon glew off the red steel, and when I took a step forward, I saw his eyes narrowed forward towards Yuki.

He wasn't happy.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Yuki?" He yelled across the roof. "Attacking someone out of the blue like that for no reason?!"

Yuki shook her head. "It isn't for no reason Arata, you know that."

"That's a lie!" I yelled from behind Arata. "You just attacked me-."

"And you, what the hell did me and Basara tell you?!" Arata yelled, and my heart sank when I realized he was talking to me. "We said don't start any fight with the hero clan. You know Yuki's with them, we told you that, why would you just go along with her?!"

I felt my heart sinking as I looked up at his angry glare and stammered. "I… I just… she said she needed to talk and-."

"If it's just because of your petty little jealousy over Yuki, then I'm disappointed," He said, turning back and looking towards Yuki. "Same goes for you Yuki, besides she's not an elimination target yet, you're going against your orders!"

"Because I have too, you have to see what's happening Arata!" Yuki yelled back at him, gripping her sword even tighter as she shook her head. "I'm guessing that this is it? You're giving me your answer now?"

For the slightest moment, I looked and saw Arata hesitate. However, it was over in a second and his hard look returned. He slammed his free fist against his chest.

"You knew from the start this would be my answer Yuki. I mad a vow, swore on the ideals," He said, holding his fist against his chest. "It's a heroes honor and obligation to see his vows through."

"And what about Kurumi Arata?!" Yuki yelled, sounding angry herself now. "Does she not matter anymore?!"

"She always matters, she always did and always will," Arata said, but I could hear the pain in his voice as he shook his head. "Miya told Kurumi and I once, that a hero who follows his ideals and sense of justice no matter what? They're the only ones who truly get to be called heroes, and Kurumi and I tried to live by that. I think she'd be even more angry then she already is if I went against my vow now."

Initially after hearing his words, I smiled, but then a new realization set in. I looked at Arata's steely determined eyes, and realized they didn't have any love for me in them. All they had were his determination to fulfill the vow he made. He'd told me one night while we were drinking tear together, how that was all he had wanted, to be a hero, like the heroes from the stories he learned about when he was young, a true hero.

He… could he only be protecting me for that reason? If I really am causing him and Basara so much pain, Basara with his sword, and Arata… he should spend his strength protecting someone he truly cares for.

But it couldn't be a lie, it just couldn't.

Yuki seemed to have tears in her eyes, as she shook her head. "You say she's all that matter… but you'd throw away this chance to be with her again."

"I'm not throwing it away. I was faced with an impossible choice between two options, neither of which sounded appealing to me, so I'm finding a third," Arata said, falling into a sword stance as he leveled out the red blade towards Yuki. "Now, are you going to back down?"

Yuki tightened her grip on her sword. "You swore you'd never swing your sword at someone you loved."

"That's right, and I do love you Yuki, I do," He said, lightning shooting off his armored arms. "But what you did tonight? It was wrong, I'll let it go, but you need to back down."

"And what about Basara Arata?!" Yuki yelled back. "Your brother's pain, him having to use his sword, you know what it does to him!"

"Basara's a big boy, he can make his own decisions. Do I agree with all of them? Of course not," Arata said shaking his head. "But that doesn't mean I can force his hand-."

"You're right Arata," A deep voice said. "I make my own decisions, and I stand by this one… Yuki, what the hell are you doing?!"

I spun back around, my eyes widened, Yuki's did as well, Arata just scoffed, lowering his sword.

"Took you long enough," The younger Tojo muttered. "You couldn't find your way out of a paper bag."

"Basara!" Basara!" Yuki and I both yelled.

Basara walked up next to Arata and the both of them stood between Yuki and me. He looked at his younger brother first, and I could see the annoyance on Arata's face, as Basara turned to Yuki now.

"You would just attack her Yuki?! She's not an elimination target yet!" He said, as Yuki's stunned face made him turn to me. "And Mio… you said you wouldn't make enemies of the hero clan!"

"I already told her," Arata told him, looking between the two of us. "We're going to need to do something about this you know."

Basara nodded. "You're right…" he turned to Yuki. "What were you even talking with her about Yuki? Or did you really just come to attack-."

"MIO!"

I felt the magic before Basara did, but Arata saw it even before me. I felt hands grab me and throw be backwards. It was Arata, he flashed in front of me with his sword.

"BANISHING SHIFT!"

His sword swung up in the air and I felt sweat drip down my forehead. I fell backwards onto the roof and saw a torrent of fire exploding down towards us. A blast of green magic cut through the air, and what could only be described as a ripple in the air opened and the fire was sucked into it before smoke filtered from around us, and Arata's body started to glow. Before I knew it, he was wearing that same armor he wore that very first night he came to help Basara saved it. Arata had explained to me, it was the same armor famous samurai wore back in the Hein period, back when strong powerful warriors would hunt down dangerous Oni and Yokai terrorizing the country.

Arata's armor was black with blood red accents, his eyes were narrowed as a dark red headband was tied around his head, and a red cape blew back behind him. Basara recovered from the shock and moved next to him, Yuki as well readying her sword.

Arata held up his sword, it was pointed towards the tower above them. "I don't know who the hell you are, but I'm going to kill you. So you may as well come out and make it quick on yourself."

For a moment it was quiet. I got back up and stepped behind Basara, trying to find the attacker myself, but nothing stirred on the roof.

Until someone started laughing.

"Ha…HA… HAHAHAHA!" It came, before footsteps rang through the night. "Oh man, I knew I liked you! Seriously, actually mean that don't you?! You think you're going to kill me?!"

"I don't think, I know," Arata said into the night back to the voice, as its figure came around the tower.

"Well, if you're so confident," The voice said, as he stopped and leveled a large sword onto his shoulder and looked down at all of us, "why don't you put your money where your mouth is, Arata Tojo?"

"You forget yourself Akune, we don't want to interrupt their lovely chat now do we?" Another voice said, as a second figure emerged from the shadows to look down at us. "It seems it was awfully important, go on, Nonaka tell us more about the past of Basara and Arata Tojo."

"Awww come on man!" The first one said again, the bottom half of his face, his mouth and jaw were covered with a mask. "I couldn't not take that shot if she's gonna be an idiot and just stand there!"

"But she's learning an important lesson," The second one said, and now, his white mask with no eyes turned down to me. "Mio Naruse is learning about all the destruction she's causing!"

"Wh…what?" I stammered, unable to take my eyes off them.

The second one was wearing a suit, and a white mask with no slots for his eyes, but I had the feeling he was still very dangerous. He radiated powerful magic but was normal compared to the one who had apparently just tried to kill me.

His armor looked like a demonic form of Arata's. It was pure black as if it was made from obsidian itself. His skin was light brown, with dark paint over his eyes, and two long horns sticking upwards from the side of his head. I could feel demonic power radiating from him, and the amount scared me, he was a powerful demon, more powerful then any that I'd seen so far. On the lower half of his face, stuck upwards two tusks, and I had seen the type of mask before. It was supposed to resemble and Oni, a demon of old Japan.

The sword, however, was what made my blood run cold. It was pure white, the color of bone along the black, with a black hilt. It was longer then Arata's, and like Arata's it glowed under the light of the moon. He had been the one to try and kill me… but before he could do anything else, Basara stepped forward.

"Who the hell are you guys?!" He demanded, his hand near his waist.

"Ha, fiery for a guy who can't pull out his sword without almost puking," The armored one said, leaning back against the water tower. "I think I like you too."

"I'm flattered, but you're going to give us an answer," Basara said, his arms glowing as his sword took form and he held it out. "Or else Arata and I are going to kill the both of you here!"

"Aw, what a lovely sibling bond," The masked one said, turning to me again. "It's a shame you're the reason they stand no chance at winning this battle."

"He's right!" The armored one-Akune he had been called- shouted down tsking as he shook his head in my direction. "Seriously, making them do all that fighting, risk their lives every night. I bet they can't even stay awake in class because of you-."

"Shut your damn mouth, you don't know anything," Arata yelled back up towards them. "Now are you two going to keep talking like cowards or are you gonna fight-."

"A…ARGH!"

"Basara" I yelled with Yuki as Basara fell to one knee.

Arata's eyes widened, for the first time since I'd known him, I saw him look worried.

"Get up!" Arata yelled, kneeling down next to his brother. "Basara, what the hell's wrong with-."

He spun back around and swung his sword through the air. A sharp barb shot back near me and embedded itself into the ground, it was sharp enough to stick into the ground.

Arata scoffed and looked at the armored one. "When my back's turned huh? You got no pride as a warrior, Akune was it?"

Akune laughed from his gut. "Hahahaha! There you go again with stuff like that, seriously, does it ever get exhausting? Worrying about pride gets you killed, honor gets you killed. What matters is completing your mission for your comrades, guess you can call those my heroic ideals."

"Fancy talk for a demon," Arata yelled, as he squeezed his sword harder and lightning started shooting off his arms, I even saw it come off his eyes. "To bad you won't live long enough to tell me more."

"As feisty as ever, I like it," Akune shrugged looking to his friend. "What do you say?"

"I say yes, if Basara Tojo can stand," The masked man said, looking to me again. "This is because of you, Naruse."

"I… I don't know what… what…" I stammered, looking over to Basara as he struggled to his feet.

"Don't listen Mio!" Basara yelled, as he tried to reach for his sword again.

The masked man laughed again. "Ha, he can barely stand! Do you know why Naruse? It's because he's been fighting non-stop, him, his brother and that succubus! They'd been hunting down the stray demons attracted to your power."

"And they thought they could beat them all, cocky aren't you?" Akune said, surely smirking down at Basara and Arata from behind his faceplate. "And all that so there was a chance the hero clan would mark her as a safe target. Wanted to get back to your girl that bad, huh Arata?"

"I'll kill you…" Arata growled, shifting his feet as I heard a boom of lightning in the distance.

I saw it all now, the bags under their eyes, the sleeping in class… and even…

"So… so Maria not being here… that… that means…" I started, putting the pieces together.

Basara slowly got up and turned to me with Arata. "M…Mio… Mio listen, this isn't your fault, we chose this-."

"No, they're wrong! This is your fault Mio Naruse!" The masked one yelled down towards me again. "It's because of you, they won't even have the strength to protect themselves, let alone you!"

"MIO!"

I heard it coming behind me too late, and again I was thrown out of the way.

Only this time, it was Basara.

The minute I turned around, I saw red blood splattered all over my clothes.

That was when I felt the first drop of rain, and a rattle of thunder that shook my body to the floor.

"You're dead…dead," Arata's voice said, followed by rain started to fall harder, and another clap of thunder.

"Ohohoho, finally! I've been craving some action!" Akune said, finally lifting his sword off his shoulder. "Let's see what you're made of Son of the War God!"

"BASARA!" Yuki yelled from the other side of the roof.

"B…Basara…Basara?" I muttered, having already fallen back. The hole in his back was large and wouldn't stop bleeding. "BASARA!"

Next Time, Episode 4: A Demonic Demon: After Basara is critically injured on the rooftop, it's up to Arata to hold off the white masked demon, and Akune, the demon warrior dressed like a samurai. However, he ends up being much more then Arata expected. Mio reflects on her journey so far, and Yuki makes a critical decision.

A/N: Yoooo everybody I feel like I haven't updated any stories in forever, and it's true xD I took a long vacation which was very refreshing, but it's summer now and I'm all finished with school! So, I have more time now, so I really hope I can get some updates done, and I really am happy with how this chapter of whats slowly becoming one of my fav stories turned out!

Now, I wanna first say I know this chapters long, I prob could've ended it before the rooftop confrontation, tell me what you all think. I wanna keep the future chapters shorter than this, but I feel like this was necessary for all the moments in this chapter.

Also, I DO realize I may be taking some liberties with the lore of Shinmai, but as I've said before I am an anime only for this. I'm going to try and get to reading the LNs soon (All people who offered to help me get them thank you I'll get back to you soon!) but as of now I'm an anime only. One of the things I liked about Shinmai (Besides the waifus and Ecchi obviously) was the concept of the heroes using different weapons linked to gods and heroes, the whole hero clan is so cool lmao.

So, we learn a LOT about Arata here. If anyones wondering 'well why isn't Basara getting focus' well its because its an OC story, Arata's the main character lol We learn about his relationship with Yuki, and his past in the clan, which I hope has you at least a little interested!

If anyone reads my stories often, you all know how much I love the Fate series, all my characters normally have some Fate references, and in this if any of my Fate fans are thinking 'Man this Miya Arata's talking about sounds familiar', you're right xD Miya Tanaka is based of Miyamoto Musashi from Fate, which I think is pretty cool haha

We are without a doubt going to see Miya, and pretty soon so be ready!

In addition we also get some scenes with Mio and Arata, and Yuki and Arata. Now, before anyone asks, no, Yuki and Mio are still going to Basara, but that doesn't mean Arata won't have deep connections with them both. Also, we get more Hasegawa which is ALWAYS welcome.

So, if you guys got any questions feel free to either review or message me to ask! I think this should be updated soon again so stay tuned! However, I think next up is Cian, or maybe Ken, I don't know xD

Review if you got time and let me know what ya'll think thanks so much!