The air was thick with dust, clearing slowly after the violent collision between the two combatants. Kazuo stood in a firm stance, sword at the ready, and looking with purpose toward the demon, who started to laugh hysterically.
"My my, this just keeps getting more complicated doesn't it?" it said, glancing back and forth between the old man and Takeshi. "Maybe I'll allow you to die at my hand old man, you've got some fight in you in your old age."
Kazuo furrowed his brow, clenching the hilt of his sword tight.
"There is no doubt in what you are, and what fate you will meet," Kazuo said, his voice steady but powerful. "But if you are who I think you are, then let this be the last thing I can do for you, Kuramoto."
Takeshi couldn't believe his ears, did Takahashi just call this monstrosity by his brother's name? I thought he died, to a demon no less. He thought. How could such a violent creature be related to Master Takahashi at all? For a split second, Takeshi saw the demon's face soften, which was quickly broken by a grotesque sneer.
"You must be losing your grip ancient one," the demon said, staring at the old master. "Your fear must be getting to you, I'm afraid you're mistaken. I am Okazaki, member of the twelve kizuki, devourer of 14 Hashira, and soon-to-be victor over you and your pathetic pet." The demon scraped his arms together, now resembling large blades instead of hands, and sparks lit up the dark forest.
"I'm afraid I couldn't mistake that undying confidence if I tried," Kazuo responded, "This isn't you, my dear brother, let me put you to rest."
"For the love of god BE SILENT!" Okazaki yelled, charging forward with immeasurable speed.
Flame Breathing... Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!
The slash of the demon's blades was met with a wall of flames, deflecting the attack but not deterring Okazaki. The demon slashed again, and Kazuo was forced to duck low, his platinum hair losing a few inches as he nearly missed the blade. The next strike was met with his sword, Kazuo following his block with a pirouette as he moved his blade behind his back to parry another attack. The two lunged forward at the same time, meeting in a clash.
"Let the flames purge you! Take this opportunity to be reborn, this is not what you're meant to be Kuramoto!" Kazuo said, gritting his teeth and stepping in.
"Your rambling is starting to bother me, old man, I'm starting to envy your dead brother," the demon said, baring his fangs and throwing the clash aside, knocking the swordsman off balance.
Okazaki seized the opportunity to begin a lethal slash to Kazuo's neck, the blade now inches from the skin. Once again the attack was parried, but it was a charred and mangled blade that now stood in the demon's way. Takeshi had found his footing, knowing that he needed to summon his strength to help his master and repay the favor. Okazaki rolled his eyes, delivering a kick to Takeshi's chest so quickly that the boy couldn't even blink before he was thrown through the air. Calming his panic, Takeshi was able to maneuver himself to land horizontally on a tree trunk, launching himself back at the demon with quicker velocity. He reached back and tightened his muscles.
Flame Breathing... Third Form: Blazing Universe!
Takeshi's sword was engulfed in orange flames as he soared toward the demon, a disgusted look on Okazaki's face.
"A snail's pace, your attacks are nothing more than a nuisance to me," he said, lifting an arm and extending his blade to counterattack.
Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!
Kazuo's strike cut through the air from behind Okazaki, surprising the demon with his coordination. Impressive, now I have no choice but to get hit by one of the attacks, I must say that was well played. The demon thought to himself. It's too bad I'll heal this wound before they can regroup again. Okazaki deflected Takeshi with ease, simultaneously being hit from behind by Kazuo's relentless attack, cutting his body in half just below the hips. As Takeshi landed from his miss, he turned back to see a pair of legs sprinting towards him, he lifted his blade instinctively. He deflected a hard kick from the legs, confused as to how they seemed to be fighting on their own. Kazuo stared down at the demon, reaching behind him to his belt where he produced a glass bottle full of a purple liquid.
"Take a good look both of you, this is the last time you see me as a man of the living," Okazaki said, the humor draining from his voice. "This was fun for a while, but now you've overstayed your welcome, I'm afraid you don't regenerate quite as quickly as I do."
About that... Kazuo thought to himself, smashing the bottle on the ground next to the demon while simultaneously jumping away. The ground was suddenly engulfed in purple flame, covering the demon and the leaves around him.
"Fire, that's your last resort? You're going to burn me to death?" Okazaki said, resisting the urge to burst into laughter. "You humans never cease to amaze me."
Okazaki then froze, something felt off about the situation. I haven't regenerated, my body feels numb. What did that old bastard do to me?! Okazaki thought, rage building in him.
"You'd think you would have more knowledge of your weaknesses," Kazuo said, saving Takeshi from the overzealous pair of legs with a swift strike. "I hope you enjoy that Wisteria, my brother, and do know that though I must flee now, I would stay to finish this if it were just myself and your lonesome. I will cleanse you, it is the last thing I can do for you."
Okazaki could not contain his frustration and let out a bone-chilling shout, Takeshi felt a chill go down his spine.
"You cannot fathom the torture you will endure once I find you, I will let you bleed for days until your heart cannot keep pace with the flow of your blood. You will watch as I take all that is dear from you and turn it into ash, do you hear me?! You coward! Finish this!" Okazaki swiped furiously at the air with his arms, sparks flying all over as the orange glow clashed with the furious purple flames. Kazuo grabbed Takeshi by the arm firmly and looked into his blue eyes.
"You must follow me and stay alert young one, do not look back, he will not be contained long and we cannot beat him in our state," Takahashi said quickly, a look of urgency in his eyes. "Keep pace and you will stay alive, hurry now!"
The two tore off into the night, Takeshi doing his best to keep pace even though his legs felt as though they could collapse at any moment. He was able to dilate his eyes to help dodge some of the hazards, and eventually, he saw the purple glow fade deeper and deeper into the forest as they flew through the darkness. As the sense of danger began to wane, Takeshi's heart started to weigh heavy, the gravity of the situation crashing down. Takahashi had miraculously saved him, his parents were gone, and he had made an enemy of a powerful demon, he couldn't process this all at once. For now, his body tried to react as it knew best, to sob furiously. Takeshi suppressed it, knowing that he needed to focus on staying alive, it would be disrespectful to throw away this second chance that Kazuo had gifted him. He gritted his teeth and sped up, weaving through the treeline and vowing once again to get justice for those he loved, even if it meant that he would have to cross paths with that horrific demon once again. The two swordsmen ran ragged until they saw it, the faint purple glow of wisteria lanterns, they were almost safe, miraculously, they were alive.