Chapter 10: The Gemini Twins
Yuki had agreed to go with Moroha and her friends but he still didn't understand them. They had left just the Kindo estate a few hours ago and now they were arguing about where they were going to sleep. Normally Rain or himself would have planned out a designated rest time and location. Rain had always taught Yuki that a true leader should always have absolute say and that any insubordination should be dealt with swiftly but that wasn't the case with the four of them.
They decided against staying in the nearby town because Rain might have people staying there undercover and ready to strike back should they let their guard down so the group had now walked over three hours north since leaving the Kindo estate and the sun had set so Hisui suggested that they set up camp for the night. The suggestion to set up was what started it all.
The group had passed by a cave about 10 minutes prior to Hisui's suggestion and he suggested that they sleep there in the shelter of the cave for the night while Towa and Moroha complained that they wanted to sleep under the stars.
"You two don't feel how cold it is at night, caves are less windy and they're sheltered from the rain. Wasn't it you two who were just complaining about sleeping outside not too long ago?" Hisui complained.
"That was then and this is now, the one cave that we slept in before has ruined all cave's for me. I don't want to sleep in a cave unless I absolutely have to." Moroha protested.
"I didn't mind sleeping in the cave. The ground's a little stiff but they're quiet." Setsuna said.
"Surprise, surprise you two agree on this." Towa rolled her eyes but then she remembered that Yuki was here now.
He had been keeping his distance behind them. The group had silently agreed to let him have his space after everything that happened but he was still listening patiently to their conversation as they walked and he now stood right next to Moroha as the teens came to a stop to discuss what to do next.
Towa's eyes lit up as she spoke.
"Let's put it to a vote. We have a fifth person now so we won't get stuck in ties anymore." She smiled, turning to Yuki who looked at them neutrally. He didn't seem to have a preference on where they would sleep so each side thought that he would easily side with them.
"Fine." Hisui huffed. "Yuki seems like he considers practicalities and sleeping out in the open and at the mercy of Mother Nature is not practical."
Towa laughed. "You don't give a rat about practically when it comes to having your way." She called him out.
"Let's get on with this so that we can set up camp already." Setsuna said, intervening before either of them could get too fired up.
Yuki watched Moroha as Setsuna asked the question. "All in favor of sleeping outside?" Moroha and Towa immediately raised their hands followed by Yuki a moment later after seeing Moroha's answer. The two girls then smirked and cheered in excitement.
"No more ties, no more ties."Towa teased Hisui and Setsuna.
"Yuki, why do you want to sleep outside? What exactly is your reason?" Hisui asked.
"Who cares? A vote is a vote." Towa interrupted. "Why does Setsuna want to sleep in a cave when the cold doesn't bother us much? Just snuggle closer or whatever. You can even use one of my blankets. I'm alway too hot at night anyway." Towa said and Hisui sighed fine before the group began to set up camp.
The stars even seemed to light up the sky brighter tonight. All of the teens couldn't help but enjoy the sight after such a long day.
"See we told you that sleeping out here would be better." Moroha said and Hisui sighed as they were all eating dinner around the fire.
"I suppose it's not too cold tonight." Hisui said and Towa smirked annoyingly at him.
"I'm only quarter demon and I'm perfectly warm with this fire. Stop being so dramatic, Hisui." Moroha said.
"I am not dramatic." Hisui said.
"So how are we going to initiate Yuki into our group? Should we exchange our best ghost stories?" Towa asked, changing the subject quickly.
"Do you like Ghost stories?" Hisui asked Yuki.
"No."
"I see." Moroha said. "You're scared aren't you?" She teased.
"What! I-I am not. They're just nonsense. I don't like to pay stories like that any mind." He said.
"But, you do like storytelling." Moroha said as she recalled the look on Yuki's face when he was telling stories to her brothers back home. "Tell us your favorite story." Moroha smiled at him and his eyes moved to the flames in the middle of their camp.
"Fine, have you all heard of the legendary hero of Indigo island?" Yuki asked before he told them the story of a strong warrior who fights demons and saves priestesses before tragically dying in the end in order to save his friends.
"That was really good!" Moroha exclaimed. "Did you just make that up?"
"Yes."
"How did you know the things about the culture and customs of the people on the island?" Hisui asked.
"I've been there before. The whole island is breathtaking. Not many people reside there anymore but from what I saw of the people who migrated there that was how they lived." Yuki said.
"Let's go there someday." Moroha exclaimed. "I want to see everything you talked about in the story."
"You don't need me to venture to Indigo island. Besides I'm no hero, they'd probably remember the hell that Rain and I gave them and chase us all off if we went there together."
"You can shape shift so just don't hurt anyone this time and you'll be fine." Moroha said and Yuki's eyes returned to the flames in the middle of their camp.
"Hey Yuki I was curious, what do you want us to call you? Since your true name is Onigumo." Towa asked.
"Yuki." He said now looking at Towa as he spoke with sincerity. "Onigumo is the name of a dead man. Rain only liked calling me that when he wanted to manipulate me. So I prefer the name that feels like it's my own." He said.
"Then Yuki it is." Hisui said respecting his friend's choice.
"Okay, Yuki told us a great story so now I'll make one even better." Moroha said.
"I doubt it will be half as good. Probably just heavy on the dramatic like always." Setsuna said and Moroha reacted.
"Then you'll be telling the next story after me you're highness." Moroha said and Setsuna only glared at her silently.
"You're highness?" Yuki asked.
"That's what we call my sister when she's being snooty." Towa smiled and now Setsuna glared at Towa too.
"Calm down your highness, we only call you as such because you're like a goddess sent from the stars." Hisui said as he took hold of Setsuna's hand and she failed to glare at him with the same intensity that she had with both Moroha and Towa.
"Gross, we are not on a honeymoon trip. Moroha start your story before I lose my meal." Towa whined making Moroha laugh and even Yuki cracked a smile at her as Moroha started her story and after Setsuna's turn they all continued talking and laughing around the fire.
The group did their best to try and make Yuki feel welcome and included in their conversations. Even Setsuna, who Yuki could tell was keeping her distance from him, didn't seem like she completely hated him. He understood that she must have been keeping her distance in case he became dangerous after all he had betrayed them in the past. If the situation had been reversed and he was still with Rain someone who betrayed him wouldn't have been allowed to live.
Setsuna was being smart and Yuki didn't blame her for being skeptical of him. After everything that he did he had no right to ask any of them to trust him again. Perhaps he should try not to get so close to them.
Things might be fine right now, but he knew that they would eventually leave him behind once Rain was taken care of and when that happened it would be better for him if he wasn't particularly fond of any of them whenever they would decide to cut ties with him.
As it got later both Moroha and Setsuna were the first to start yawning in their conversations and the group soon decided to go to sleep. Setsuna snuggled close to Hisui just like Yuki had seen them the night before when he had been spying on them.
Yuki laid down farther away from the group so that they would feel safer sleeping in his presence. They hadn't even been together a full day yet so he was sure that they would appreciate him keeping his distance, he had thought but not even 10 seconds later Moroha had plopped down in the space next to him on his right side and Towa plopped down on to his left. They kept a friendly distance from him but they were still unexpectedly closer to him than before and he looked at them surprised.
"Why are you sleeping so far away from the fire? You'll get cold." Towa said and Moroha tossed him an extra blanket.
"My grandmother gave me that." She smiled before laying down and closing her eyes.
"What are you—" He started asking but Moroha cut him off.
"Yuki were your friends. We're not afraid to sleep next to you." She said and he looked at her. She didn't even open her eyes when she said that, she was completely at ease and so was Towa.
Yuki stared at Moroha for a long time after she said that. She drifted off into sleep almost immediately as his thoughts swirled around in his head. He finally laid back on his back after a few more moments and looked up at the stars. Yuki really didn't understand them at all but that didn't mean that he didn't want to.
XXXX
The next morning Yuki woke up first. Their camp fire had burnt out and everyone was still sleeping soundly. Setsuna and Hisui never moved an inch as they slept soundly together while both Moroha and Towa were sprawled about having slept more wildly. A smile tugged at Yuki's lips that he quickly caught before it could form.
Why did he still feel like he had to catch his smiles and feel guilty for enjoying being around them? He asked himself. They said that he was their friend and Rain had truly betrayed him. Everyone here had tried so hard just to meet up with him again so why shouldn't he be allowed to have this one thing that made him happy in the aftermath of all of this.
It had barely been one day and so much had changed. If he did his best then maybe they wouldn't come to resent his existence the way that Rain had and then just maybe he could really have real friends for the first time in his life even if they might change their minds later, he would always have right now. He thought as he looked over them one last time and this time he didn't catch himself as he smiled.
After relaxing in the silence of the early morning for a few minutes, Yuki decided to go to the stream that was near to get some fresh water. He thought it best to be useful if he could, rather than laze around until one of them woke up and went to do things that he easily could have taken care of.
Yuki picked up the water container that held most of the water that they had drunk the night before and went on his way.
It was warmer than it had been the night before and the sun felt good on his skin as he walked through the forest casually to the stream to fill the water jug. Once he got to the stream he filled the container, leaning down close to the riverbed and filling the bottle with cool water.
His body stiffened slightly when he heard footsteps coming fast as he finished filling the jug. He noticed though how the footsteps that were nearing weren't moving with the swiftness of an attacker.
No, these steps were hurried and uncertain. This person was fleeing from something.
Yuki moved his head slightly to catch a glimpse of a young boy running his way as he closed the lid tight on the water bottle. The kid wasn't paying attention as he ran fast towards the stream while looking over his shoulder and Yuki caught him by the back of his shirt before he could touch the water and tossed him to the ground saving the kid from falling into the stream.
Yuki turned to the boy now and the kid looked at him with a fear-stricken expression.
"You shouldn't run so carelessly." Was all that Yuki nonchalantly said to the boy. He didn't look that much older than Moroha's younger sister and Yuki noticed right away how the boy looked bruised and bloody.
The boy's chest heaved as he caught his breath and he clenched his fists as his mind caught up to his current situation. The boy looked distraught as his eyes finally met Yuki's neutral gaze and he flinched as Yuki walked past him.
Of course the boy would notice Yuki's silver hair and red eyes as the traits of a demon. So Yuki simply ignored him as they had no business with each other despite Yuki saving him in that moment.
"Wait!" The boy said hesitantly. "I wouldn't go that way, there are demons… You'll die if you don't get out of here soon they're coming." The boy stood up.
Yuki stayed silent. He didn't need to worry about that and if he ran across any demons he'd just take care of them.
"There are demons chasing me, three big demons that the Gemini brothers sent to kill me and they'll kill you too if they find you!" The boy yelled and Yuki stopped and turned to look at him.
"I don't run from anyone. I just needed water and now I've got that so I hope that those demons don't inconvenience me by getting in my way this morning." Yuki said.
"Getting in your way?" Yuki heard a third voice ask and He sighed heavily in response. He couldn't even go to get water without demons bothering him. What a way to start his first full day with the group.
The kid immediately ran away and Yuki tried ignoring the three beast demons who were now in his path. He attempted to go in the direction of his friends but was immediately attacked by one of the demon's petty attacks.
Yuki effortlessly moved out of the way, while drawing one of his blades and in one swift movement of his sword he killed all three of those demons before starting his way back to camp. Ready to get back to his peaceful morning.
"You, you killed those three demons!" The kid exclaimed in surprise almost immediately after Yuki had started his way back. The kid probably saw the whole thing. He had to have been hiding while Yuki fought.
"My bad, did you want to do the honors? Since they were chasing you." Yuki asked.
"Are you crazy?! I couldn't kill those demons. I'm just a human, but you're a demon like them. How do I know that I can trust you?" The kid asked skeptically.
"Trust me?" Yuki scoffed in response. "When did I ask you to do any of that?"
"Please Mr. Demon, I'll do anything." The kid was now bowing to Yuki. "I'll do anything if you help me save my sister." He asked determinedly.
"Save your sister?" Yuki repeated and the kid looked at him with pleading eyes.
"I prefer not to metal in the affairs of humans." Yuki said as he continued to make his way back to camp.
"My sister was taken by a demon. I can't save her. I need help, only another demon can help me." The kid spoke quickly as Yuki kept walking.
"Have you tried asking a priest or a priesteses? They'd be more suitable to help you? Maybe there are some demon slayers near here that might help." Yuki suggested.
"The demons killed all of our priests and any demon slayers that have tried fighting the Gemini twins in the past have all died. My whole village is under the control of their cruelty and now one of the demons wants to make my sister his bride. I need your help please, I'll give you my life in exchange for saving hers." The kid desperately pleaded again.
"I don't want your life. If a demon is setting up like that in a human village they're probably not too strong on thier on if they're relying on humans. You could easily just sneak up on him and cut his head off. I know a human who kills demons all the time. Weak demons are no problem." Yuki said.
The kid looked at Yuki again with a haunted expression. "I can't kill the demon. I tried and there's two of them. Please, please help me save my sister. She's all that I have. Don't demons have families that they want to protect too no matter what? What if this was your sister or brother and you needed someone's help wouldn't you want someone to help you?" The kid asked with tears falling down his face now and Yuki sighed in annoyance before agreeing to the kid's request.
When Yuki returned to camp Hisui and Setsuna were both awake and talking when he appeared from the forest with a kid following him.
"You're up early, Yuki. Who's the kid?" Hisui asked.
"I'm not sure I didn't ask his name."
"I'm Tai." Was all that the kid said.
"Where did you go off to? so early in the morning?" Setsuna asked.
"I went to fill up our water jug when this kid ran into me leading demon's my way. I agreed to help him save his sister so I'll be gone for a couple of hours."
"Save his sister?" Hisui asked. "What happened to his sister?"
"Apparently some demons are terrorizing his village. I'm going to go sort that out and help him get his sister back." Yuki said nonchalantly.
"Well why didn't you just start by saying that, of course we'll help you." Hisui said.
"What?" Yuki asked, surprised. "But what about Rain?"
"It's not like he's going to reveal himself anytime soon. He'll still be waiting for us just like now when we're finished helping Tai, so let's just worry about doing this today." Hisui said and Yuki regained his neutrality.
"I won't stop you if you really want to come with me, I just didn't think that you all would be interested in something that doesn't have to do with our goals." Yuki said just as Moroha sat up stretching her arms out with a yawn.
"What exactly are we planning in place of going after Rain?" Moroha asked sleepily, having only caught bits and pieces of what they were talking about while she was sleeping.
Yuki filled her in on what she missed while Hisui and Setsuna prepared a quick morning meal for the group to eat and Towa woke up in the middle of Yuki's explanation to which she simply asked him if he could start over yet again for the third time. Which made him shoot an annoyed look her way to which she only smiled in return.
"Wow our first fight, now you know that we're really friends since we can have disagreements." Towa said.
"This was hardly a fight, you all are just bad listeners." Yuki said.
"Bad listeners?" Moroha questioned. "You're the one who started talking when Towa and I were sleeping, of course we wouldn't catch everything."
"Whatever." Yuki huffed. "This is the last time that I'm explaining everything, for real this time so you better listen." Yuki said before telling the girls what happened in the woods for the third time.
"You asked Yuki for help?" Towa asked the kid. "Wouldn't it make more sense to ask the strongest person in our group? I wouldn't have even given you a hard time." She said while sending a teasing look, Yuki's way.
"Towa, how was the kid supposed to know that I was sleeping over here?" Moroha countered.
"You two sure are humble." Hisui rolled his eyes and Setsuna offered the kid some food to which he gratefully accepted.
"How long has it been since you've last eaten?" Setsuna asked the kid.
"Probably about 2 days." The kid said. "I've eaten a few plants here and there but I was afraid that if I tried to find food to really eat that those demons would find me." He said wearily.
"Did the person who took your sister send these demons after you?" Moroha asked, concerned and the boy nodded as he continued to eat.
"The Gemini twins have terrorized my village for as long as I've been alive." Tai said. "They're powerful demons who can control fire. Every year both of the twins choose a new bride from my village and all of the women that marry the Gemini twins end up dead before the next year. This time the Green eyed twin, Titan took my sister. Yara and I don't have any parents so we look after each other. I went to try and save her two nights ago but one of the demons under the twins saw me and ordered that I be eaten alive by those beast demons that were chasing me." Tai recalled looking terrified as he did so and Moroha put her hand on his shoulder.
"You don't have to be afraid of them anymore, now that we're here we'll slay those demons and rescue your sister." Moroha said confidently.
"Those demons are like gods to some of the villagers back home. The Gemini twins say that it's an honor to be picked by them and everyone who has ever tried to stand up to them has gotten burned alive. Everyone who doesn't worship them is too afraid to stand up to them and other demon slayers have been killed by them in the past. So you don't need to fight them." Tai said warily. "Just help me get to my sister so that we can run away. Can you all promise me that you won't have a change of heart once you see how strong the Gemini twins are?" Tai asked skeptically.
Moroha smiled and spoke before anyone else could say anything to reassure the boy. "Of course we can promise that, we're demon slayers after all. The strongest in the world. Slaying them will be no problem for us so don't you worry about anything Tai. I'd never be afraid of some weak fire demons."
"You all really don't have to do this." Yuki said. " I'm sure that I can more than do this on my own. I got myself into this by agreeing to help him."
"What part of team are you having trouble with understanding Yuki?" Towa said.
"Yeah, Yuki we're a team and that means if you're going then so are we." Moroha smiled.
"Do you remember where the demons are staying with your sister?" Hisui asked Tai and he nodded.
"Good because we'll need you to show us the way after I treat your wounds." Moroha said. Tai's appearance had been the first thing that she had noticed. The young boy with black hair and brown weary eyes not only looked skinnier than he should but he was also covered in bruises and dried blood.
He could have more severe wounds than Moroha could see from one look alone. After Moroha took the time to treat Tai's wounds they began making their way in the direction of the twins' estate that was located on the outskirts of the village. To the teen's surprise they were still headed towards the direction that Yuki thought Rain might be headed to next so they would still be on track when it came to following Rain.
The Gemini manor was located outside of the village on the edge of a tall waterfall. The manor had been built into the edge of a cliff overlooking the waterfall 150 years ago. The manor was even built into the cliff with the whole backside of the home overlooking the height of the waterfall.
The Gemini manor used to be the home of the village lord before the Twins took over. The unique architecture of the home made it hard for the woman that the Gemini twins kidnapped to escape and even harder for normal people to attack since they could only enter from one side of the building.
Tai described the Gemini manor as a large four-story building that looked lavish with plants and decor outside of the regal looking building that only had one entrance towards the front and had a large balcony on the top floor that overlooked the front of the building.
Tai also let the group know that the brothers kept a few humans around their mansion to deal with the upkeep of the manor so they may run into other humans besides his sister and the other girl who was taken by the Gemini twins.
It would take an entire day to get there from where they were and along the way Tai told the slayers everything that he knew about the twins. The one with the green eyes named Titan had taken his sister and was the less dominant twin. While the twin with the purple eyes, Mars makes most of the decisions. Other than that when it came to appearance the Gemini twins were both identical save for the color of their eyes and they were both just as powerful as the other.
When the villagers did things to anger the twins they would often burn down houses and farms during the winter months and then punish anyone who dared to help villages that they have condemned. The twins have erased entire families from Tai's village. They were cold blooded and ruthless. They despised anyone who went against them. Tai reiterated.
"I didn't see my sister the night that I tried to save her but I'm afraid that if she thinks that I'm dead she'll try to kill Titan and then he'll kill her." Tai said seriously.
"It sounds like the brothers keep you all under control by making sure that you fear them. It wouldn't be wise for them to tell your sister that they've killed you. If they really wanted to make sure to keep control of her they'd just leverage your safety in exchange for her continued compliance." Yuki said and Tai looked completely freaked out by his statement like he had never even thought that he would be the reason why his sister couldn't run away.
"Don't sound so cold. This is his sister we're talking about." Moroha scolded Yuki.
"Well, do you want me to lie to him? Isn't it better to be honest so he's not so surprised in the end?"Yuki said.
"You just need to have a little more tact." Hisui told Yuki. Just as Tai passed out unexpectedly, gaining everyone's attention in that moment.
"Damn, Yuki you must have freaked him out so bad that he passed out." Towa said seriously as Setsuna got close to Tai who was passed out and cradled his body.
"I don't think that a few strong statements did this to him." Setsuna looked up into the trees around them and Towa took a heavy whiff of the air around her and immediately regretted it as her eyes got heavy.
"It's this air—" Towa stammered off as she fell too and realization hit Setsuna hard. They were being affected by dust from the same demon moths that she uses. The dust has no scent so they would never have noticed normally.
"Quick put your mask on!" Setsun dropped Tai and stood up turning to Hisui but it was already too late as he was now out cold too. She quickly put her mask on just as she saw Yuki catch Moroha before she could fall, from the corner of her eye and now Setsuna was starting to feel dizzy.
She had reached for her mask too late and her vision was getting fuzzy as she watched Yuki who was the only one standing now. He didn't say anything and neither did she as she fought hard to keep her eyes open but to no avail as she lost her footing and fell to her knees. The two of them made eye contact as she did so.
She knew that she was going to pass out so she did the only thing that she could think of. Just barely managing to reach into her pocket and pull out what they would need and she clenched her fist tight around it as she lost consciousness.
Yuki still had Moroha in his arms when he and Setsuna exchanged an intense stare. Whatever happened now it was going to be up to him to deal with whoever was the cause of this.
Someone had laid a trap for them. He thought as he squinted his eyes Tai had fallen fist so this can't have been his doing. Was this Rain? No it couldn't be, Rain would have known that he wouldn't be affected by this. Rain would have never used a method that wouldn't affect all of them. This had to be the doing of someone else.
Yuki thought quick after Setsuna was out, making the split second decision to play dead too as he slowly let go of Moroha so that she wouldn't fall hard as he acted like he had succumbed to the same fate as the others.
Yuki laid there quietly for a few long minutes before he finally heard footsteps. Springing into action once the steps got close enough and catching a woman with bright red hair standing above Tai. Yuki's blade was at the enemy's neck in less than a second.
"How is this possible?" The woman gasped. "No one has ever withstood the sleeping powder of my moths before."
"Stuff like poison and sleeping ales have no effect on me." Yuki stated simply and the woman's body burst into flames causing Yuki to have to hastily move back from her as he grabbed Tai so that he was out of the way of the fire.
So this woman is a demon. He thought.
"You can't be poisoned but you can be burnt. Can't you." The woman smirked eerily. "I'm only here for the boy, let me take him quietly and I'll spare your life." She said matter of factly like she was offering him a good deal to which Yuki only smirked in return which caught her off guard.
"I'm not used to being the one on this side of the bargaining." Yuki laughed. "Even with your flames. You'll soon realize just how outclassed you really are." Yuki said as he took out his swords and the woman was quick to take out her own sword as well. As Yuki charged at her, drawing their fight away from his unconscious friends.
Yuki struck fast and the demon was easily pushed back. So she jumped up high to conceal herself within the trees to which Yuki followed her and she rained fire balls down onto him from a distance.
The blast was intense and he would definitely be burned to ashes in an instant if any of her flames managed to touch him. One close call was enough for him to quickly summon his barrier around himself.
Though the demon's strong flames did make him sweat on the other side of his barrier nothing touched him as the forest around him began to burn rapidly and the woman looked at him terrified that he had survived what he had assumed was her strongest attack.
The demon woman looked at him with fear stricken eyes and he smiled. This was the part where he was supposed to strike her down and kill her swiftly but that was Rain's way. Now he didn't have to kill anyone if he didn't want to anymore and since no one was injured and this woman wasn't his target. Moroha and the others probably would want him to spare her if he could. He thought.
"Look." Yuki said as he put his blade away. "I won't kill you if you leave right now. My business is with Mars and Titan, not you so you can run along as long as you don't cause us any more trouble." Yuki said.
"Mars and Titan?" The demon girl gasped as she clenched her fist. "I can't let you do that!" The girl said with new found resolve.
She swung her blade again attacking Yuki with another powerful flame attack that he easily warded off with his barrier but when the smoke cleared this time he was the one at a disadvantage as the girl now held Moroha up with her blade to her neck. "You're too cocky. Strength isn't the only way to win in a fight." She smirked.
"If you kill her, even the most horrible death that you can imagine would be too kind compared to what I would do." Yuki stated darkly and a shiver ran up the woman's spine.
"Who said anything about killing her? That's not what I want. Only if you push me to do so. Just let me take the kid quietly and I'll let the girl live but of course all that depends on if you give chase or not after I leave with the both of them." The woman said.
"You are not taking her anywhere." Yuki said cold and the girl pressed her blade deeper into Moroha's neck, drawing blood now and Yuki's blood ran cold in his veins.
"This is all up to you. Take it or leave it!" The girl said seriously and Yuki clenched his fist.
This was all because of his inexperience. He had never had to look out for other people before if anyone else had been left awake this wouldn't have happened. Yuki took a deep breath as he paused in his thoughts. Thinking like that won't help him right now.
The scowl never left his face as he answered the girl and she could see the murderous look in his eyes. She knew that he wouldn't spare her the second time if he caught her after this.
"How do I know that you won't kill her as soon as I can no longer see you?"
"Like I said, I have no reason to kill any of you. I only wanted the boy but you got in my way. She's just insurance that you won't chase after me until the day's gone and I'm out of the woods. After sunset come to the Gemini manor and my brothers Mars and Titan will negotiate with you for her safe return but I can't promise that it won't cost you." She said.
"Tch, you want me to let you abduct my friend just so that you can maybe sell her back to me later? What the hell kind of deal is that?" Yuki spat.
"It's the best you've got since you've now gotten on my bad side. So what's it going to be?" She asked in desperation and Yuki's nails cut into the skin on the palms of his hands as he balled his fist and begrudgingly agreed to her terms.
Had she threatened Tai maybe he would have been more risky and tried attacking her again before she could react once her guard was down but because it was Moroha he was more reluctant to put her into harm's way, so all he could do was watch as the demon threw Moroha over her shoulder and grabbed Tai before leaping into the trees and out of his sight.
He wouldn't be able to find them now not easily. Yuki had no idea where the Gemini manor was nor Tai's village and he couldn't sniff Moroha out like Towa and Setsuna could. So even if he wanted to go after them now he couldn't until either Towa or Setsuna woke up.
Setsuna had stared heavily at him as she passed out. He recalled sometime later after the demon woman had been gone for a while.
Was Setsuna trying to tell him something? He thought. She didn't say a word once everyone was out. She probably already knew that they were most likely being watched and she decided to reach into her pocket while staring strong at him before passing out. Yuki recalled as he got closer to Setsuna and unclenchd her fingers from around the jar of black salts that she was holding.
Yuki held the little glass jar up to his face. "Smelling salts!" He said.
Setsuna had saved him from having to wait the hours that it would have no doubtably taken for the three of them to wake up on their own.
Yuki quickly unfastened the straps on Setsuna's mask and opened the glass jar before holding it to her nose. Setsuna almost immediately gasped for air as she coughed several times after smelling the salts before sitting up.
"I'm relieved that you were able to follow such subtle hits." Setsuna said once she caught her breath. Her eyes scanned the area immediately taking in the areas of devastation in the forest. "What happened?"
"A demon girl tried taking Tai and we fought until she managed to get close enough to threaten to kill Moroha if I didn't let her leave with the both of them. They continued up the way we were headed but I couldn't follow them or she'd kill Moroha."
"I see." Was all that Setsuna said.
The thought that this could possibly be Yuki's doing did cross her mind but she let that thought go for now as even when they were enemies he didn't want to see Moroha dead. So Setsuna let go of her suspicions for now by deciding to not press Yuki farther on the matter. She went to wake up Towa and Hisui as well as Kilala who had been passed out on Hisui's shoulder already so they hadn't noticed when the powder had affected her.
"I hate the way that smells." Towa said. "Next time you carry me until I naturally wake up."
"Don't be so dramatic." Setsuna said. "Tai and Moroha are missing, we have to go after them."
"I'm sorry you three, You all trusted me to be a part of your group and I let Moroha and Tai get kidnapped." Yuki said somberly.
"Hey it's okay. Moroha's strong, she won't give up that easily. This could have happened to any of us and at least now we know that we need to look out for a third demon. By the time Moroha wakes up she might even surprise us by getting rid of those demons before we get there." Hisui said.
"That moth dust has cleared from the air too so I can catch Moroha's scent without passing out." Towa smiled. "You really shouldn't beat yourself up about this. We'll get her back in no time."
"Two of us should go on Kilala. It will be faster." Setsuna suggested.
"Yeah, Yuki and I will go on foot while You and Hisui can get there early and—"
"Actually, I would like to get there first. This all happened on my watch and I'd like to make it right." Yuki said.
"Alright then Yuki and I will—" Towa started but was cut off again.
"Yuki and I will take Kilala then." Setsuna said. "Yuki and I will get there first and then you two can assist as our trump card if we're not done by the time that you get there." Setsuna said and neither Towa nor Hisui protested as both Setsuna and Yuki claimed onto Kilala's back and went to go and save Moroha and Tai.
Once they were above ground Setsuna cleared the air with Yuki.
"Yuki, just so we're clear I don't think that you had anything to do with what happened today but I still don't trust you completely after everything that's happened. I don't want you to be our enemy but if you ever betray us again, I won't hesitate to take you down before you have the chance to hurt anyone and that's a promise." Setsuna said.
"We'll then." Yuki stated seriously. "I'll make sure to keep my lines clear as to never cross you Setsuna. I have no reason to want to harm any of you anymore. Rain betrayed me so this is the only place that I have for now, until you all no longer wish to have me around and when that day comes I'll disappear from your lives on my own. So if you want me gone you can just tell me and I won't fight back I'll simply just leave." Yuki said.
"You don't have to leave, I just want you to be aware that not all of us would hesitate if you ever decided to become a threat to us again but since you say that you have no intention of turning on us this time. You should just focus on saving Moroha." Setsuna said and the two of them didn't say another word to each other as they flew towards the large building that Setsuna could now see in the distance.
XXXX
Moroha had woken up with her hands tied together and in an unfamiliar environment. She noticed that she was laying on hardwood flooring and the wood felt hollow as she sat up slowly. She noticed that Tai was her too as she did so. He had already woken up.
He looked terrified as they sat on the wooden floor in this empty room and Moroha still felt a hint of grogginess as all of her senses hadn't fully woken up yet.
The only thing that she could smell was the scent of fresh water like she was close to a large mass of it. That and some kind of fragrancency smell like bath soaps or perfumes. She noticed that her weapons were gone as well and that Tai's hands were bound just like hers were.
"You're awake!" Tai exclaimed quietly. "Thank goodness. I haven't said a word since I woke up." He whispered. "We're inside the Gemini manor the demons are here somewhere." Tai said just as they heard voices on the other side of the door making them both pause in their conversation.
"Eris, I told you to bring just the boy and you're telling me that you brought back a girl along as well why? Mars and I just picked our brides last week and a half demon like you has no eye for picking out anything particularly useful." Titan said.
"I'm sorry." Eris bowed her head. " I might have been killed had I not used her as leverage."
"Tch, then you should have died if you couldn't handle the likes of one demon by yourself. You really are useless. If the girl you brought back is ugly then I'm going to beat you until you pass out." Titan said just as the door flung open and Moroha was now able to see who was speaking. Titan, the green eyed Gemini twin. The demon who took Tai's sister.
To Moroha's surprise he was handsome. He had long dark red hair that he kept in a ponytail and he wore clothes that a noble would. It wouldn't have been hard for either brother to naturally attract a partner if they really wanted to. So why were they forcing themselves onto human women from this village? Moroha had wondered as she looked at the two demons who entered the room.
The other demon Eris had red hair that was brighter than Titan's and she was dressed just as lavishly as he was. Eris had the same dark green eyes as him and Moroha could see the family resemblance. Though when she looked at Eris the woman didn't seem sure while Titan's eyes held a dark light when he looked at Moroha and she stood up immediately.
"Relax, I would never harm a beautiful lady." Titan now smiled at her, making her skin crawl. "Eris it would seem that I'll let this go this time but in the future I won't be so merciful. Had it been Mars you know that this would have gone completely different even if he was pleased in the end."
"I'm sorry brother." Was all that Eris said.
"Eris, take the boy to his sister and cut off his foot in front of her. Tell her that next time he'll lose a leg if she tries to run away from me again. Make sure that the boy doesn't die from his injuries after." Titan said and Tai looked at him horrified as he found himself at a loss for words in front of the demons.
"You're not going to do anything to Tai." Moroha said with a fierce look on her face.
"You poor thing, you must be scared." Titan said, focusing his attention back on Moroha now and getting closer to her. "I'm sorry about my harsh words, this boy and his sister have caused me a lot of grief over the last two days. I would never treat you that way. Might I ask your name as it seems that today is the day that you will become my bride." Titan smiled as he touched her face and Moroha hit him hard with her head. Slamming into his nose, hard enough to make his nose bleed and she pulled her wrist apart instantly breaking free of her ropes.
"I'd rather eat dirt than become your bride. The two of you have made the mistake of your lives bringing me here. I bet you my friends will arrive here within minutes but I'll be done with you long before then." Moroha said fiercely as she took on a fighting stance without her weapons standing between Tai and the two demons.
"Your friends?" Eris scoffed. "They should be waking up just now. Only one of them was conscious when I left and he has no idea where we're at so if backup is what you're hoping for it won't be coming. Not soon enough to be of any assistance to you right now." Eris smirked.
"You were nearly killed and you didn't eliminate all of the outsiders that you came across?" Titan asked through gritted teeth.
"I couldn't, there was no way that he would have let me— " Titan punched Eris and Moroha and Tai's eyes became wide as she fell down.
"What the hell is wrong with you? If you don't kill rebels right away they're almost always certain to come back. If only you weren't born a half demon then maybe you'd be half as smart as Mars and I." Titan said coldly and in their squabble Moroha had quickly snuck out of that room with Tai.
The halls of the manor were massive and at the very center of the mansion was an open space that she could see ran straight up the mansion from the bottom floor up.
They were up several stories high. It wouldn't be wise to try and risk jumping from this high up. Moroha ripped the ropes around Tai's wrist so that he could move his hands and move more freely. She needed her sword, or her bow, anything. She could use her claws but they weren't going to cut it in prolonged combat and she had Tai that she needed to protect. She could smell that other humans were here now too, but with so many strong scents in the air it was still hard for her nose to not be overwhelmed. A fight in this place might put the other humans in danger if they were too close.
"As soon as there's an opportunity you need to get out of here." Moroha told Tai as they turned the corner in search of Moroha's weapons or stairs to escape the top floor of the manor.
"But we haven't found my sister yet, I'm not leaving here without her!" Tai said.
"I'll find your sister as soon as you get out of here. You're nothing but a liability to me right now kid. I can't fight the way that I need to if you're with me." Moroha told him just as she smelt the faintest change in the wind and quickly took Tai in her arms pushing into the nearest room just barely dodging flames that Titan had sent her way with his weapon that was the same type of blade that Setsuna fought with.
His attack had left the nearing walls to the room that she had pushed into almost completely destroyed.
"Are you okay Tai?" Moroha asked. Tai nodded and she saw her weapons in the corner next to them.
What good luck. She thought as she released a sigh.
"You're not a regular human are you? You move with too much certainty and you react too quickly." Titan said and Moroha turned to him with a harsh look on her face now as she shot a sacred arrow that landed right in his chest and Titan flew back far down the long hallway as her arrow pierced him.
"Right on the mark." Moroha smirked as she ran into the hall and aimed to shoot Titan again but Eris attacked her and Moroha had to dodge her attacks.
"I won't let you harm Titan!" She screamed shooting fire at Moroha who quickly took cover to protect Tai.
"Why are you helping him! He can't stand you so why are you protecting him?" Moroha asked.
"Mars and Titan are my family, it's not my fault that I was born a worthless half demon. My human father was the one who caused our mother's death. She loved him with all she had and he betrayed her for power. Mars and Titan deserve to take revenge on father's village by forcing the people here to worship them like gods." Eris said and she sounded like she actually believed that. Eris held her sword up high confidently.
Moroha ran from her cover and pulled out her sword as she ran farther down the open hall and got close to Eris, their blades met. Their demonic enemies clashing in the process.
"What happened back then was between your parents. None of that is your fault. No one is born worthless and you don't deserve to be treated like this!" Moroha yelled.
"What could you possibly know about any of my hardships, priestess?" Eris spat. "I'm sure that you were born into a loving family free from any demon influence." Eris scoffed as they both were propelled back from their clash and Eris ran at Moroha now swinging her sword heavy at her. While Moroha only looked at her with sincerity as their blades met this time.
"My father is a half demon and he's the strongest in the world so I can't stand to see you sit here and take shit from this guy when you don't have to. Being a half demon does not make you weak and just because Titan is your brother doesn't mean that he loves you." Moroha said and Eris wavered some in her motions. Just as Titan was able to painfully pull Moroha's arrow out of his chest.
Titan stood up quickly. Witnessing Eris waver in her fight which enraged him more as he made his way to Eris and shoved her through the wall next to them as he knocked her out of his way and took her place in the fight.
"So you're one of those worthless half breeds too. Almost makes me want to take back my proposal." Titan scoffed.
"I don't see what's stopping you." Moroha said as Titan raised his blade. Using a flame pillar attack that Moroha countered with her crimson dragon wave.
Titan tried to rush her with heavy attacks after but she was still too quick for him and she fought with skill and focus as she never allowed him to close his gap with his longer weapon.
Moroha dodged his strikes while doing her best to stay aware and alert to where all of her enemies were. She hadn't seen his twin yet but she knew that he could appear at any moment and if it came to it, that fight though she hated to admit it. She knew that she wouldn't be able to win a fight against both Titan and Mars together. Her chances would be even less if Eris jumped in again with the two of them.
She needed to end this as fast as possible and then find Tai's sister. One minute was all that she would really need if she used the red pearl. Titan couldn't get any stronger than he was now but she could. Her only concern was leaving Tai alone once she was out. If he came across the other brother alone things could get bad. Moroha thought as she countered more of Titans attacks.
As their fight went on. Titan soon recognized the pattern of her movements and was able to grab Moroha as she jumped in the air doing what she thought would be her final strike but Titan's eyes changed and he grabbed her head. His whole hand covered her face as he did so and he threw her clear across the building. Moroha crashed through a wall and landed on the outside on the large balcony and she was seeing stars now as she looked up at the deep orange sunset sky.
"I told you that I didn't want to hurt you." Came Titans voice as Moroha tried to get up but she was still reeling from being thrown. She definitely had to have broken bones, she could feel it as she slowly pulled herself up.
"You looked much prettier before you made me hurt you." Titan said just as purple energy came his way and Titan used his weapon to protect him from the blast.
Moroha's head snapped behind her in the direction the familiar attack came from and her face lit up immediately when she saw Yuki jump onto the balcony next to her while Setsuna stayed on Kilala.
"Are you okay?" Yuki asked at Moroha's side in an instant and she smiled.
"You're just in time." She said just as a pillar of flames shot up from the ground at Setsuna and Kilala and they both fell from the sky. Yuki's barrier went around them not even a moment later protecting them from Titans attack and Yuki glared at him. Titan wasn't in the best shape after fighting with Moroha for so long but he definitely had gained the upper hand in the last moment of her fight with him.
"The other brother must have attacked Setsuna." Moroha said as the flame's cleared and Titan eyes met Titan's, who was enraged now.
"You must be one of the Gemini twins. I'm going to need you to let Tai's sister go or I'll have to kill you today." Yuki said.
"You think that you can kill me in my own home? Have at it! Try what you can!" Titan said menacingly.
XXXX
Setsuna had fallen off of Kilala but managed to land on her feet before she hit the ground and there he stood, the second Gemini twin Mars watched Setsuna fall as she gracefully landed and took a fighting stance.
Mars stared at her with dream filled eyes to which she only started back at him with no clear emotion visible on her face.
"Are you one of the Gemini twins?" She asked without hesitation and he smirked.
"And who might you be?" He smiled but that had no effect on Setsuna.
"You've abducted my cousin and terrorized this village for years. Perhaps if you let everyone go I might feel inclined to spare your life." Setsuna said seriously but Mars was too dazed by her at first sight to take anything that she said seriously.
"I like a woman who knows what she wants. Might I know your name?" Mars asked and Setsuna stayed quiet.
"Cool and shy? I think that I like you." Mars said and Setsuna attacked him using her scourge of swallows attack which he chased away with flames from his weapon, the same kind of weapon that she fought with. She only looked at him even more cold in response to him neutralizing her attack.
"What's the matter, aren't you impressed that I can keep up so easily with you? What woman wouldn't want a strong husband." He said and now Setsuna laughed at him.
"I think that I much prefer to stay with my human lover if you're all that being with a demon has to offer." She said confidently and Mars looked as though she had insulted him in the worst way possible.
"A human lover?!" The demon spat with Venom."Now I'm not going to hold back in our fight and once we're done, I'll kill that human lover of yours right before your eyes. How's that for strength." He said furiously and she still didn't react emotionally which made him even more mad.
"How are you going to kill him if you can't even beat me?" Setsuna said and the fight between her and Mars continued. All she had to do was stay in close and control his range. This worked because they had the same type of weapon so neither of them had an advantage when it came to the length of their blade but she knew how to gain control and restrict his moves and it didn't seem like Mars was used to anyone fighting in close to him like she was. She'd have beaten him easily and fast if she didn't have to worry about his flame attacks. They were almost unavoidable. Whenever Setsuna was about to win, Mars would use his fire attacks and completely reset the match and she'd have to gain the advantage again.
Soon Towa and Hisui arrived and Mars almost paused completely in the middle of their fight when he saw Towa for the first time while she looked at him like he was an idiot.
"What the hell is that guy staring at?" Towa asked.
"My bet is that he has a crush on Hisui." Setsuna said.
"Come on Setsuna." Hisui rolled his eyes and the demon's gaze met Towa's again.
"Setsuna fights with beauty and grace but you seem to have more elegance when it comes to your charms." Mars said and now they all looked at him dumbfounded before Towa cut the silence with laughter.
"He can't be serious. Don't tell me that this is one of those Gemini twins? I'm surprised that you didn't have him taken care of by now. " Towa laughed.
"I see my reputation precedes me. Since you're well aware of who I am, you should feel honored that I have decided to make you my bride." Mars said and all three of the teens looked at him confused while Towa pointed her index finger at herself just for confirmation as all three of the teens realized at the same time that Mars definitely did have a death wish.
"I've never seen a woman with features like yours. Your hair is like moonlight and your eyes burn like flames. So you will be mine." Mars said and Towa smirked as she ran her hand over her forehead pushing her bangs out of her face the edge of her plan stayed on her forehead as she spoke in disbelief.
"Do you really think that I would ever marry someone weaker than me? How about you ask me that again if you're able to escape today with your life." Towa threatened with a dangerous look on her face as she took out her broken blade.
"You intend to fight me with a broken blade?" Mars scoffed. "I see that any kind of battle intelligence is beyond you."
"What can't I say? I don't have much experience in combat." Towa bluffed. "Setsuna, you and Hisui should go and Find Moroha and make sure that she's okay. I've got this."
"No one's going in unless I allow it." Mars said.
"Be careful Towa, he's not too strong of an opponent but his flames give him an edge." Setsuna said, warning Towa about Mars's flame powers.
Ever since they were younger her sister had been afraid of large flames because of an experience that they had before moving to the village when they were 4. If Towa wanted, Setsuna would have no problem staying here and finishing Mars off.
"I see thanks sis if that's the case I'll just have to over power him completely." Towa said matter of factly. Reassuring her sister that she would be okay.
"Neither of you are listening to me!" Mars said as he sent his flame pillar attack their way and Towa's energy blade lit as she cut right through the flame pillar. Completely shocking Mars and she smirked at him as she charged in ready to attack.
With a long weapon like his she knew that she wouldn't be able to get as close with the normal length of her blade and she was sure that Mars knew that too. He also thought that he was stronger than he actually was so she charged straight for him with her energy blade drawn and the very moment that her blade met his she extended the energy that she was controlling through the broken blade farther out and it pierced his chest.
Mars quickly moved back but Towa followed through even quicker with another attack of her own, not allowing Mars to fully reset and drawing more of his blood.
Mars' body burst into flames in an instant before she could do much more which made her palms sweat as she had to give him space and her brows drew down.
"I'm not used to fighting the woman that I aim to marry, if you keep this up I can't guarantee that you'll remain un scared." Mars stated annoyed and angry while Towa only smirked.
"How unfortunate that I won't be extending those same concerns to your well being." Towa said as she charged him again and he was ready to counter but she jumped over him this time before slashing down.
Her blue energy hit him, cutting his face this time and sending him into a rage as he then turned and attacked her relentlessly before sending a massive fire attack her way the made her palms sweat again but Towa knew that she was stronger so she kept calm and countered with her own attack.
The dragon strike and the blue wave clashed against Mars' demonic flames until Towa's attack completely overtook Mars canceling out his strongest attack and leaving no trace of Mars behind.
XXXX
Moroha had left the fight with Titan to Yuki while she went with Tai to find his sister. Yuki didn't protest as she left and was more than willing to take on Titan. Titan came at Yuki with heavy strikes and burning blows but Yuki countered each one with his own and was able to cut Titan multiple times during their fight.
It was obvious to Yuki that Titan didn't have much skill when it came to combat. Titan was just naturally strong and in a village full of humans no one was there to challenge him. Not until today.
"Don't let a few paper cuts make you think that you've got the upper hand. You couldn't even beat Eris in the woods." Titan spat.
Yuki smirked in response. "You're scared shitless aren't you? You've never gone up against any real challenge before and now you don't know what to do. You're pathetic." Yuki said just as he dodged another one of Titans blows.
"You and everyone here are going to burn! Do you hear me! I am a god amongst those villages and I deserve to be treated as such. They all burn but I don't, gods won't burn! " Titan screamed now as he attacked Yuki more relentlessly, his attacks getting closer and closer as he got desperate in their fight before putting everything that he had into one last burning attack to which Yuki summoned his barrier to protect him from Titan's flames.
Titan then jumped through his flames while Yuki was focused on maintaining his barrier and slashed his weapon down hard on to Yuki's cover, which shattered Titan's own weapon in the process and made him fall to his knees. Yuki took down his defense in response and held his blade above Titans neck.
"Do you have any last words?" Yuki asked Titan with no emotion whatsoever as the man side eyed him with a glare. Yuki raised his sword but Eris jumped between them.
"Stop! We'll let the girls go just please spare Titan's life!" She pleaded with Yuki and Titan got mad.
"If taking the life of this half demon will satisfy you then you should do so. In exchange for the insult that I've caused you today. After you kill her in exchange for my life my brothers. My brother and I will agree to ally ourselves with you." Titan offered.
"Brother, how could you?" Eris asked in disbelief as her world came crashing down.
"I am not your brother." Titan spat.
"Eris." Moroha's voice cut through the air and all three of them looked to her. She was alone now so Yuki assumed that she must have gotten Tai and his sister somewhere safe.
"Both Titan and Mars don't see you as their family much less an equal. You don't have to be loyal to them just because of your blood. They aren't loyal to you and they're crimes don't have to be yours. You don't have to die for them." Moroha said.
"I… I." Eris stammered she didn't know what to stay. She didn't know what to do. If she didn't stay by Mars and Titan then what good was she and where would she go? Titan had just offered her life and he felt no remorse no matter how hard she tried she would never be a family with her half brothers.
"Shut up girl in this world only strength matters and if you're weak you shall perish. This village is our right to rule over. I have a right to have anything that I want including you because no one is stronger than the Gemini brothers." Titan said.
"Fix what you just said there, no one is stronger except for me who is also half demon." Yuki said. "You can't even beat a bastard half demon like me so why the hell would I want to ally myself with your weak asses? From where I'm standing you're the one looking worthless." Yuki said before speaking to Eris while never once taking his eyes off of Titan. "Eris get out of the way or I'll kill you too." Yuki said Titan started laughing uncontrollably and uncomfortably at the situation.
"Fine!" Titan said before hurling a huge ball of Fire at Moroha and she instantly caught on fire as she wasn't able to avoid such a fast attack.
"Moroha!" Yuki immediately tried to go to her but Titans body burst into flames before he swiftly hit Eris hard enough that she crashed through the wall opposite to them. Next Titan blocked Yuki's path so that he couldn't get past him to Moroha.
"As if I would even need to ally myself with the likes of you. I was only stalling until Mars and I could kill you together but now that I know that you are one of those lowly half breeds. I just know that You have to be using some kind of tricks to cheat me out of victory." Titan said.
Yuki looked passed Titan as he tried to spot Moroha behind him. He couldn't find her. She still hadn't emerged from the raging fire that was now burning behind them and was starting to burn the rest of the building now. He couldn't even hear if she was screaming or not. She had already been injured before Yuki had arrived and he knew that the chance of surviving being burned by his demon fire for this long was slim to none.
Yuki's eyes shot back to Titan ominously. "I'm going to kill you so brutally that you'll forget your own name to the pain I'm going to cause you." Yuki said as he attacked Titan in a rage and their demon energies clashed. His purple waves meeting Titans flames and destroying everything around them Yuki was injuring Titan badly but he was also taking damage and breathing in more and more smoke as this fight went on and neither of them had a clear opening on the other.
Titan's flame's also made it particularly hard to get close enough to him to inflict any fatal wounds as well. They were in their final stand off now as Titan sent flames hotter than ever before at Yuki and he was pushing through as sweat stuck to his skin along with his own dried blood and then Titans flames stopped all of the sudden.
Yuki stopped inhaling so much smoke as the flames gradually died down and as soon as his sights were clear he saw that an arrow had pierced Titans chest right through his heart and there Moroha was on the other side.
"Those flames should have killed you." Titan said as he spat up blood.
Moroha smirked down at Titan. She was seemingly fine only sporting the injuries that she had gained during her previous fight against Titan. She had no signs of any burns whatsoever.
"Too bad for you that I can't burn." She said, and Titan spat some more blood before Yuki cut off his head and rushed to Moroha with a stern look on his face.
"What a face to give to the person that just saved your life." Moroha scolded Yuki but he didn't waver as he got closer to her. Her brown eyes looked at him with soft concern and he stared at her for an extended moment before he sighed in relief like he had just realized something.
"It really is you." He smiled. "How did you manage to survive the flames? I couldn't even get close to him when his body was engulfed in fire like that but you were burned alive." Yuki asked in disbelief.
"It's my cloak, it's made from the hair of the fire rat so I won't be dying from accidents involving a few small flames. Sorry to have worried you Yuki." She smiled.
"I wasn't worried." He said but she saw right through him and she laughed before grabbing his hand and giving it a firm squeeze. "Thanks for coming to save me."
"It was only natural. You were taken on my watch." Yuki said hiding all of his emotions now and Moroha rolled her eyes at his aloofness before letting go of his hand.
"I'm sure it was unavoidable." She said and she walked over to Eris who was in pretty bad shape. Moroha lifted Eris over her shoulder and began to take her along with them.
"Come on, let's go meet up with the others. Towa has probably finished her fight with Mars by now and Setsuna and Hisui are with Tai and his sister outside of the manor so we have no more business here." Moroha said. She had run into Setsuna and Hisui and left Tai with them before she came back to help Yuki.
"You're going to take the Gemini twin's sister with us?" Yuki asked skeptically.
"She's in bad shape, so I'm just going to treat her wounds."
"What if she wakes up and wants revenge?" Yuki asked.
"No, she won't do that after what happened." Moroha said sadly and Yuki released a heavy sigh before taking Eris off of Moroha's shoulder and carrying her himself.
"You dealt the finishing blow back there plus you're injured yourself so don't worry about carrying her. I've got it." Yuki said and Moroha thanked him before they made their way out of what remained of the burnt Gemini manor.
A.N:
I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading. Update next weekend.