1. Tartaros Fairy: spell casting-Takeshiro
2. Desirée Cavalry: physical endurance-Shugo
3. Pheasant Peak: hand-to-hand combat-Ryouichi
4. Titania Devil: potion creation-Ryouichi
5. Snowblood: song-Ushizumo
Also! If anyone was curious, here is the link for the "Kanaji" fantasy language. I do not own this website, I just thought it was really cool and suited my little demon people! I deeived "Kanaji" from "Kanji," the term for Japanese writing. I was an anime/manga obsessed kid, so I just stuck with it! /FakeMythicalLanguageTranslator
Scratch the back of my eyes
Release me
- ML
Chapter 15: Batter Up, Biznatch! Miratona VS Reiji
Day 11
The cleaning around the apartment was finally coming to its conclusion. Reiji instructed Ryouichi to clean from the ceilings to the floors, in a summary.
First, dust was wiped from the ceilings and then the ceiling fans. Air conditioner vents were removed from the ceilings, washed by hand, dried wuth a clean towel, then reinstalled in that order.
While Ryo begrudgingly scrubbed the little vent covers, Reiji replaced the two air filters in her bedroom and boiler closet. She placed the old one in a bag to be taken out later.
After that, she cleaned every surface—windows, mirrors, countertops, dressers, et cetera—in every room. By the time Ryouichi finished with the vents, he was immediately directed to clean the entire bathroom. The Beast Soul demon gladly accepted the chore; Reiji knew he preferred scrubbing a bathtub over scrubbing thr tiny vent crevices or dishes.
"Dies it still smell like you-know-what?" Reiji called from the living room. By then, Ryouichi should have been cleaning the mirror, counter, and sink. The Beast Soul demon poked his head out of the bathroom.
"Know what? You mean sex, you prude!" he snickered. Reiji rolled her eyes.
"Does it smell?"
"All I can smell is myself, so yeah!"
"Alright, I'll open the windows," the green haired female suggested. Ryouichi returned to his bathroom cleaning.
Next was the dining space, living room, laundry, and kitchen. Every dirty dish was rinsed in preparation for the dishwasher. Reiji pulled out her carpet cleaning supplies: scented powder, diluted carpet shampoo, and an electric carpet cleaning device. This was the second time in under 30 days that the carpets would be washed thoroughly, thanks to Reiji's one-night-stand with Michelle Imitatia.
As expected, the bathroom was spotless in less than twenty minutes. Ryouichi climbed on the quilted couch to avoid the wet carpet. She dismissed his scent tracking over the furniture, as it was unlikely that his scent would completely leave her apartment this easily.
Mating season patterns varued by demon race, especially those who specialized in Takeover Magic. Ryouichi's pheromonal patterns aligned with the fall and winter seasons, when the weather was most fair. His scent was very strong at that time. Anywhere a heated creature visited, that pheromone aroma lingered. Reiji and her friends did not care, so long as he at least sometimes medicated fo alleviate the odor.
In between seemingly endless cleaning, laundry was washed in the laundry room downstairs. Of course Ryouichi was made to take the basket up and down the stairs all morning. She knew laundry was also his least favorite chore. Reiji also disliked laundry. She preferred to disinfect her apartment instead. And because this secret of theirs was his idea, laundry was his responsibility today.
As he took his third trip down with every used blanket, sheet, and pillow case, Reiji opened all of her windows to air out the vinegar and lemon scented carpet wash as well as the sex.
Meanwhile, the male demon actually enjoyed his half-hourly trips to the laundry unit. On the first floor, Ryo had to pass through a hall with four apartments on either side, a small courtyard by the leasing office, and then go up a small flight of steps to the laundry unit. A volunteering resident was always inside either tending to the machines, cleaning, or guarding other resident's' property.
Today, he met one of Reiji's coworkers, Ezra. She is a slim, beautiful, and tall drink of water, dark as a black cat and eyes just as yellow and inquisitive.
"Reiji is really putting work on you today. Did you piss her off again?" Ezra asked with a slight chuckle.
"Ha! When do I not?" he replied as he stuffed the bedding and towels into two large washers. "She's just mad that my amazing curse of fertility comes with the natural odor. Nothing more!" Ezra's cheshire grin widened.
"Did you two do it?" the jet black demon blurted out. Ryouichi went blank, shaking his head quickly. Ezra's smirk did not falter. "You did hook up! That straight face told me—"
Suddenly, Ryouichi snarled aggressively as the head of a lizard Feral burst from his neck. Ezra shrieked like a frightened cat, jumping back. Even her equally dark tail popped out, fluffing twice its size.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Don't eat me!"
"That's what I thought," the blue haired male growled through jagged teeth. He shrank back to his humanoid self, whistling nonchalantly as another resident came in with their own laundry. Other than that small incident, he still looked forward to flirting with his eyes each time he went back down.
.
After nearly five hours of hard work, the apartment looked even better than Reiji's last cleaning job. The air smelled like lemon zest in the end. Ryouichi was finally allowed to relax on the floor. At that point, she remembered her own lack of energy.
I need an energizing potion at some point, she thought, yawning widely.
The green haired female completed her cleaning session with a medium sauce pot placed on the bottom right stove burner. The pot contained cinnamon sticks, dried lemon slices, lavender herb, and a mint leaves, filled with water. She set the temperature to a simmer. If history was correct, the water would eventually vaporize, the home would smell lovely, and then the burning smell would immediately alert the Beast Soul.
He dislikes the smell of things burning, but he is not afraid of fire itself, Reiji mused. He also hates the quiet, but cleaned without too much noise. He must have been very tired.
Reiji took a very brief shower for only ten minutes or so, then changed into fresh, breathable clothing with a dark blue sports bra this time, her favorite color. Whatever endurance training Shugo had planned for today definitely required light layers.
Reiji grabbed her shoulder bag from the foot of her bed. Inside it was a small assortment of items: miniature first aid kit, a notebook, change of socks, her glasses...
If you're ever feeling insecure, unwanted, ugly even, wear your glasses where I can see them.
The green gaired female blushed lightly. Ryouichi was so thoughtful, but also greedy. Reiji was also a bit greedy at times. Ryo probably liked sexual activity as much as the next adult. The green haired demon slapped her cheeks three times. No glasses!
She pushed the thought to the back of her mind, adding a few more items to the bag: an unused pocket knife, extra ointment for cutes and scrapes, a pen, and four bottles of almond water. Her hair twisted and braided itself into a bun, then a final lock fastened itself until the end of the lock tucked itself in. Even her usual bangs were pulled back.
Another day, another bun.
She quietly stepped over Ryouichi on her path toward the door. She smelled the air, enjoying the scent if her simmering pot. She then went into the kitchen, turning the burner off.
I'll just let him sleep peacefully. No need to smoke out my home right now.
With her combat boots and bag, she set off. The sun was at its peak in the red sky. Reiji kept her eyes forward, walking just a little bit faster through the foot traffic. It was certain a peaceful afternoon with less villagers that usual out and about. Reiji still felt unseen eyes burning holes in her tanned skin.
Breathe in... breath out...
She inhaled through her nose, and exhaled slowly through her mouth. Her heart thumped as always in social settings. She halted at the end of Sunset Valley, just as a group of cyclists passed. Her heart pounded with fright, having almost walked right into a disaster. She sighed in relief once she was allowed to cross.
Reiji sniffed the air, lifting her head towards the sky. Her eyes flew open. Shugo was nearby! But where?
"RAAA!"
"AAH!" Reiji nearly fell to the ground in terror as Ushizumo roared at her. The ginger giggled at Reiji's reddening face. Zumi wore a pink onesie with bear faces and honey jars as the soft pattern.
"Don't scare me like that, Zumi!" the green haired demon shouted. Ushizumo grabbed Reiji's arm as the green haired demon stood. But the ginger female squealed with joy as her six-foot-three friend easily lifted the five-three female. Zumi laughed as Reiji gently swung her. For a moment, the nerves about walking in the crowds did not matter.
But Reiji nearly fell to the right as Shugo grabbed her other arm, weighing her down. He too wore a pink onesie, but with little lizard patterns instead.
"Whoa, Shugo!" she scolded.
"Come on, carry us!" the older ginger sibling smirked. A small, minuscule part of Reiji wanted to drag him across the road by his ankles wrapped in her hair. Sighing in defeat, she flexed both her arms up, walking with Zumi on her left arm and Shugo on the right.
"Question! What do you know about Etherius demons?" Zumi asked. Reiji raised a brow in confusion. Was Ushizumo quizzing her?
"Uh, that is a word for our "true" forms as demonic creatures, right?" Reiji replied.
"Wrong!" the Jade Dragon Slayer barked. Reiji lowered her arms, which ached from the weight of her friends. To her shock, the siblings still refused to let go.
"You guys, I'm tired!" Reiji groaned.
"We're almost halfway through October, Rei! From here on, you're carrying us to training everyday until you dont even notice," Shugo declared. Reiji's arms burned from the weights. She looked up to see Mina's Cafe, buzzing with life as always. Mikayla with her mother Bisca sat outside this time, sharing a small cake. Bisca chuckled when she spotted Reiji.
"The troublesome pair and my favorite blue maiden! How are you today, Miss Reiji?"
"W-wonderful," Reiji grunted, her face turning red. The embarrassment mixed poorly with the heat. Ushizumo waved at the little girl. Her mouth was smudged with vanilla cream frosting.
"Eats lots of sweets for me, little trooper!" Zumi beamed.
"Okay, Zumi!" Mikayla replied gleefully. Shugo lightly kicked his sister's leg from behind Reiji's back.
"Don't encourage her!"
As Reiji continued her walk around town, she noticed her anxiety still had not returned. Normally, she would feel so small and humiliated in her current state. But she was more focused on her aching muscles and the sweat from the workout. Reiji eventually spotted Natsui with his questionable group of friends: Kojou, Renee, and two other creatures Reiji did not recognize.
"N-Natsui, hello!" Reiji smiled. Distraction! Distraction! Kojou and his girlfriend snickered at Reiji.
"She's redder than a sweaty bear," Kojou taunted with his girlfriend. Shugo flipped them off.
"I'll kick your ass again!" the ginger male shouted. Upon spotting his old crush, Natsui blushed lightly. He whispered something to his cackling friends. They shut up right after, glaring at him. Reiji could see the tension in Kojou's posture. Natsui's face turned red as one of the unfamiliar folks responded just as quietly.
"Uh, g-good luck on your training, Reiji!" he replied. Reiji smiled shyly, walking briskly away. The walk, or rather, the begrudging trek, felt like an eternity before Reiji finally collapsed at one if the trails near Walkers Pass. Her heart pounded with exhaustion, head spinning. Shugo pat her sweat dampened back with a prideful grin.
"You did it, a three-mile hike while carrying almost 250 pounds, all without stopping!"
"Y-you... w-why'd we t-talk... about E-Etherius..." Reiji gave up trying to speak, catching her breath instead.
"Oh, I forgot!" Zumi chirped. "Tartaros Fairy, TF for short, are Etherius demons. Uh, Shugo! What does it do again?"
"It eithers makes you way stronger or way crazier," the ginger male answered. "And only TF are Etherius."
"T-that's cool... why did you ask?" Reiji asked. She subconsciously pushed up her glasses.
"Well, the other creature is kind of like that, right?" Shugo asked. Reiji shook her head in disagreement.
"I-it is not me, so it couldn't be the same," she answered, touching the ridge if her nose again.
"You don't have your glasses, silly!" Zumi giggled. Reiji pouted, standing up. Her arms felt like jelly. At least it wasn't ask bad as the first time Riki emerged. Reiji froze up at a familiar scent in the trees. Miratona emerged, surprisingly in a more human form. She wore one of her many shawls over a halter strapped top, black pants, and her usual spectacle, boots.
"I'm so glad you all could make it," Miratona said with a smile. Reiji looked down. Her heart was pounding again. Why am I so nervous?
"Ah, Miss Miratona!" Shugo smiled. She shot him a cold look.
"The remaining balance on your suit is due in three days."
"R-right," the ginger wilted.
"M-Miss Miratona, what brings you here today?" Reiji asked, keeping her eyes down. The Beast Soul demon smiled again.
"Oh, Shugo did not tell you? I am helping you train today, with permission from the chief."
"Y-you're... helping," she murmured. Shugo marched onward to the walking trail. Zumi skipped after him with Miratona in the rear. Reiji followed, the pit in her stomach growing deeper as time passed.
As the group set out beyond the forcefield, Reiji was tasked with carrying Shugo again, this time on her back. It was much easier than using one arm, for sure.
Nearly 15 minutes of their hike passed, and her legs burned instead of her arms. Reiji downed one of her bottles once her body was finally relieved of Shugo's however-many-pounds of muscle. Miratona appeared to be deep in thought as the group paused their walk. Reiji was tempted to ask the mission secretary what was on her mind, but she knew the Halfas Beast Soul demon probably would not give an honest answer.
"Onward, people," she said suddenly, walking off again. Ushizumo had just sat on the ground, then groaned as she got up again. This time, Reiji had to run. The green haired female gave Shugo a dumbfounded look as an unidentified flying Feral flew overhead.
"D-did you just say I have to run in the wilderness? That is unsafe!" Reiji exclaimed at the ginger male. Shugo shrugged, tightening his lips into a line.
"Eh, a little danger won't kill you, remember?"
The green haired demon hung her head. Then, she recalled a spell Ryouichi told her about, one that could increase her stamina just enough to survive one marathon.
"And no spells!" Shugo barked over her train of thought. Reiji whined in defeat. Of course he would notice!
And so, Reiji took off on a slow jog.
"A little faster, Rei! I wanna see dust flying!" Shugo ordered as he began to run after her. Reiji ran faster, panting heavily. Thank goodness she wore the proper undergarments. Suddenly, a rush of hot wind followed closely behind. The green haired demon glanced back, then shrieked as the emerald green flames of a Jade Dragon nearly burned her boots. The hot flashes flared up abruptly as Reiji broke into a sprint. Every alarm of the entity screamed in the back of her mind, but Reiji could not humiliate herself by letting go so soon.
"DON'T BURN ME!" Reiji pleaded with her friend. Shugo cackled at her show of terror.
"You better out run me then!" JADE DRAGON'S ROOOAAAAR!"
Miratona and Ushizumo continued to walk peacefully. The bursts of green flames and the panicked running gradually shrank ahead of them.
"I knew your brother was eager to lead her endurance training, but I did not expect him to actually bring heat," Miratona commented with a humored look.
"Yeah, I had no clue too," Zumi replied. She busied herself with a palm sized lollipop pulled from her pocket.
.
Barren Scarlet Desert surrounded Shugo, Ushizumo, Reiji, and Miratona on all sides. The village was close enough to look like a tiny snow globe in one's palm from afar. The crimson sun still hung in the sky, warming up the surface even more with the lack of a forcefield absorbing some of its rays. Reiji felt like melting in that awful sun, having sprinted for dear life for an ungodly amount of time. It was harsh enough carrying the weight of that cursed entity on her shoulders...
Shugo stretched his arms, twisting his waist to pop his back as well.
"Good work, Shugo Semantic. After you recharge, Reiji, we will get started with your next warm-up," Miratona said, untying her shawl.
Reiji was too drained to reply. She would rather turn into sand in that moment. Once the green haired female finally caught her breath, she began to drift off. Damn... t-that energy... boost... Ushizumo nudged Reiji's right calf with her foot.
"No sleeping, Rei!" she pouted. Shugo scratched the back of his head.
"Uh, did I do that?" he mumbled. Miratona sighed, relaxing her shoulders. The mission secretary got down on her knees beside the sleeping Reiji, then placed her palms on her soft belly. Reiji grumbled weakly in response. The mission secretary's hands glowed for a moment. Suddenly, Reiji jolted away, inhaling sharply out of her dream.
"How long was I out?!" she blurted, jumping up to her feet. Oh no, oh crap! I can't believe I slept!
Zumi and Shugo snickered at her paranoid expression.
"Relax, it was barely a minute," Shugo said.
"You nearly set me on fire!" Reiji glared. "I don't suppose you plan to crush me next?"
"Of course not, I'm way too light!" the Jade Dragon Slayer laughed, Zumi punched his arm, then he straightened his expression. He still did not appear nearly as serious as Miratona. Reiji leaned to one side, stretching the opposite leg. She leaned to the other side, repeating the stretch. She stood with her toes together, reaching down. He face was slightly muffled in her bosom, then she stood.
"I somehow feel great," the green haired demon mused. Riki?...
"I gave you a boost of my own," Miratona smiled. "As I said earlier, we will begin our own warm-up after you properly recharge. Now that you have recharged, we are ready."
Miratona stepped back from the trio. Her physical form turned white with a glaring light as a magic circle appeared beneath her feet. Shugo and Ushizumo's jaws dropped in shock. Reiji looked back and forth between the two, confused. Her body felt so very cold, but also burned in the autumn heat.
She squinted her eyes as the light from Miratona's body brightened, then darkened to a purplish black. The reptilian tail was back, but then the Beast Soul female's entire body matched. Her blue and black spotted pale skin had become a strong layer of scaly armor, black talons for fingers and toes, and sharp, jutted teeth in her grimacing smile. Beneath her eyes were little marks that resembled three-pointed crowns upside down. Her once straight white hair was dark blue and wild.
"Beast Soul: Algalenah," the Beast Soul female murmured. Reiji stepped back, shaken up. This was also Beast Soul? It was nothing like Ryouichi! The amount of raw power emanating from Miratona only worsened the hot and cold flashes.
No, no, no! Riki, stay away!
Miratona held a hand out, motioning for Reiji to come forward. The green haired female shakily stepped forward, just close enough to keep distance between the duo. Reiji looked back at Shugo and Ushizumo. Zumi held her thumbs up with an encouraging smile. Shugo shook his head, motioning with one hand to 'GET OUT NOW.' Reiji looked back at Miratona, taking another step forward. Miratona smiled brightly.
"Algalenah Forcefield."
Following Miratona's chant, walls of illegible black runes rose up around her and Reiji. The green haired demon looked around in a panic. Her legs finally returned to her control as she made a run for one side of the forcefield where Shugo and Ushizumo stood. But as she got closer, the forcefield expanded, pushing the ginger siblings with it. Reiji was trapped.
Her deep breaths felt caught in her throat as the impending doom set in. The pit in her stomach dropped once more. She was too afraid to face the mission secretary. She cowered on the ground, creating a cocoon of her hair.
Reiji.
NO!
"Come on out, Sagara!" Miratona shouted at the ball of dark green hair. Reiji covered her ears, shutting her eyes tightly. No! I'm scared!
SHUT UP!
Lratth dre ban fier eipar ioal...
"You can't hide from me, Sagara," the Beast Soul female taunted, approaching the frightened Reiji. Reiji sat on her knees, her breaths becoming more ragged and difficult to swallow. Her chest felt like it pounded in her vision. Her skin was in stuck in between a frozen and fiery Hell. Her whole body trembled in fear. The green haired demon could physically feel the scratching in her mind demanding release against the "danger."
Reluse eipa!
Dark purple light blew Reiji's hairy dome to loose strands burning away. The force of the unforeseen attack sent Reiji sliding across the red sand and dirt just a few feet. She wiped dust from her teary golden eyes. Miratona walked toward her menacingly, the heels of her armor clicking with each step. The ground felt hot with the heat of Miratona's Beast Soul magic as Reiji climbed to her feet. Her palms nearly burned just touching the sand.
"Don't worry, you will not die" Mira chuckled darkly. Her voice deepened as she continued. "And I'm not just calling to you, Sagara."
"W-what d-do you mean?" the green haired female stammered. The hot flashes went cold. Her vision gradually became fuzzy. Miratona might have responded, but the green haired demon heard none of it.
No, please...
I'm... we fight.
"My reports have described to me the... unique nature of your curse," Miratona said. A blackish purple orb spiraled in the Beast Soul female's right palm. Reiji covered her chest with crossed arms, shaking. Her trembling skin buzzed like her fuzzy vision. Miratona sighed as the orb vanished. Her dark eyes softened back to dark blue. Even her Algalenah form became more humanoid. Reiji watched in confusion. The feeling of imminent danger still sent shivers.
"Why are you scared?" Miratona frowned slightly. Reiji looked down, tearing up. Her burned hair was easily recovered, wrapping itself back into the neat bun.
How humiliating, crying over a little but of dark magic. I'm so weak!
"I-I-I'm... I'm afraid," Reiji whimpered. Miratona placed her hands on her hips.
"You have to work on that. You accepted the invitation to be assessed, therefore you have to be brave for me," the mission secretary said. Her form changed back. This time, the clothes she wore disappeared, replaced with the beastly naked form of Algalenah.
Release me. Release. Me. Re. Lease.
Reiji stared into Miratona's empty black eyes. She matched her breathing to her pulse. Miratona watched Reiji's left eye swirl into crimson red. The rosary gleamed in thr crimson sunlight. The Beast Soul demon smiled brightly, showing all her freakish teeth.
"Excellent choice, Reiji."
In Miratona's palm, the blackish purple orb took shape again, expanding to the size of a kicking ball. Reiji took deep breaths, trembling.
"Are you still scared?" the mission secretary asked, taking a step toward the green haired female. She shook her head. Her green locks darkened to black, subtly floating.
B-be not afraid, Reiji told herself, clenching her shaking fists. I'm n-not scared of this. I'm not scared!
"Dodge my attack, or I might just lose my job," Miratona warned her, taking a throwing stance. Reiji's imson eyes shot open. She stared Miratona dowm with determination.
"I'm ready!"
.
"This isn't training, it's madness!" Shugo snapped, punching the forcefield. The runes did not falter under the force of his furious strikes. Ushizumo grabbed his arm.
"It's not that bad, this is all for Rei-tara!" the ginger female insisted. "M-maybe Mira put up the shield so they won't hurt us on accident!"
"Like hell I am just gonna sit back!" Shugo roared. Suddenly, a purplish black orb expanded in the forcefield. Shugo and Ushizumo held each other as the ground tremored until they lost balance.
"REI-TARA!" Ushizumo shrieked. This time, Shugo held his younger sister back when dust, dirt and sand flew out of the disintegrating rune field. The force of the mysterious spell casted sent them nearly sliding backwards. Ushizumo spat sand and coughed with disgust.
"Ugh, my mouth!" she cringed, spitting more sand out.
"Zumi, look!" Shugo exclaimed.
Ahead if the siblings stood Miratona and Reiji. However, a visible aura if reddish light surrounded the now black haired, striped demon. Reiji's crossed forearms protected her head instead of her chest, steaming from the heat of whatever attack had hit her just moments before.
Based on the exotic stripes decorating Reiji's arms, legs, and neck, Shugo realized it was not his best friend. The entity taken over. Ushizumo climbed to her feet, brushing sand off her dirty onesie.
"No, my onesie!" she complained, stamping her foot. Miratona and Reiji looked at the ginger siblings. Shugo stood up, banging his fists on the forefield once more.
"I don't care how strong you are, I'll fight you myself if you hurt Rei!" he snarl, his pupils thin with fury.
"She is doing fine! Gave faith in her," Miratona called back. The Beast Soul formed another orb in her palm, pointing at Reiji with the other hand.
"You there! I've looked forward to this—"
The entity immediately rushed Miratona with full speed, ramming her head into Miratona's chest. The Beast Soul female grunted in pain.
"Take her down, Rei!" Shugo shouted. Miratona kicked Riki back, sending her flying across the protected field. She rolled a few feet, then slid to a halt on hand and feet. The entity rushed again, extending her arms behind her. This time, an object hovered in one arm, glowing white and expanding into a seven-foot pole. Riki spun the glowing staff in that one hand as it took on the shape of the battle axe with its six sharp ends and wide spear tip. She whipped the weapon out, flashing it in the sun. The crimson red eye and its ten black marks shaped the center of the weapon.
"Whoa! Is that the curse?!" Ushizumo marveled. She pressed her face and palms on the forcefield, stars twinkling her eyes. "That's so cooool!!"
The entity in Reiji's body swung, just missing Miratona's waist. The Beast Soul jumped back to create distance between the duo. The black orb in Miratona's palm continued to gather dark energy from the air. Riki stood stanced up, staring blankly at Miratona.
"What are you doing?! Don't let that thing grow! Block! Deflect! Do SOMETHING!" Shugo barked at the entity. Zumi couldn't help but giggle at her brother. He yelled at them as if they were in a wrestling ring.
"I must warn you, this orb is drawn to strong magic energy. You must destroy it before it harms someone else." Miratona's black eyes glanced towards the ginger siblings for a split second. Reiji followed her eyes, gasping in shock. The Beast Soul launched the enlarged purple-black sphere. The entity raced forward, readying to swing her axe like a bat. Suddenly, the orb swerved around her, aiming straight for Shugo and Ushizumo.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" Shugo screamed, grabbing Zumi to sprint out of its path. And he was fast, thanks to his genetics. Shugo couldn't risk slowing down by looking back, but he knew the entity was chasing the orb as well. Zumi cried as she panicked, squeezing her brother with her arms and legs.
"I got you, Zumi! Dont let go!"
.
RIKI, LET ME HELP THEM! Reiji pleaded with the entity, to no avail. She could somewhat see the catastrophe outside her head despite her poor vision. Shugo ran for his life, carrying the crying petite sack of pink potato over his shoulder (Zumi?). The large blackish purple orb ever so slightly inched closer to them. Miratona watched the scene intently. What was she waiting for?
I have to help them! Please... Reiji's eyes watered on the outside. Slowly but surely, the ground crashed beneath her boots. The wind was loud in her long ears. Her wide, red eyes burned from the dark flares of the orb hitting her face. Her muscles ached worse than the pounding in her head. Reiji would've loved to sleep instead of this.
Time seemed to slow down as Reiji raised the heavy axe, silently straining under the weight of the weapon. Every sound within a certain radius came clear as day. Her blurry vision cleared out of the storm clouds, reeling in full clarity once more. Somehow, she knew exactly what to do.
In one rapid swing, the flat side of her axe made contact with the orb. The force of the impact sent the running Shugo and his sister flying in one direction. Shugo turned so his body hit the griund instead of hers. Their terror struck eyes watched Reiji caught with her upper body twisted to one side to swing like a pitcher out of Hell.
A single black eye split open on Miratona's orb. The blackish sphere gained a red hue. Miratona's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh my, I did not expect that," she growled through her deep Feral voice.
"Midnight Shriek."
The whisper of a spell was all it took as the orb fired off the flat side of Reiji's swinging axe. Riki-Reiji spun on her dominant foot, throwing the battle axe and herself to the ground on accident. A literal shriek like a firework tore through the silence from the reddish black sphere. Miratona's slack jawed expression was the last thing Shugo or Reiji saw—Zumi fearfully covered her eye by then—before Midnight Shriek burst into a beam of devastation on the mission secretary. Due to the dark energy Miratona gathered in the orb, the spell exploded, shaking the ground violently. Reddish black flares tore through the clouds, soon weakening and fading away. Shugo held his sister tightly, shutting his own eyes as sand and dirt blew in every direction away from the blast.
Reiji sat up on her hands, then looked on in awe at the damage done. The dropped the axe vanished in thin air. It returned to the shape of her rosary, glossing over for a moment. Shugo eventually looked up as well, then gasped. He shook his sister's shoulder.
"Look, Zumi!"
"Are we dead?!"
"No, just look!"
When Zumi finally opened her uncovered eye, she too gasped in surprise. The once flat ground dipped down into a crater about four feet deep. Miratona stood right in the center, her scaly arms covering her head. Runes of a much smaller shield covered her head. Her whole body steamed from the heat of the Midnight Shriek. She took deep breaths, transforming back to her humanoid form. Her clothes were unscathed, but her hair was a frazzled mess. Miratona chuckled halfheartedly, swaying on her feet a little.
"That, was impressive," she praised, loud enough for the others to hear.
"That was crazy, Rei!" Shugo exclaimed as he got up to go to her. Zumi looked defeated at the dirt and grime staining her precious onesie. This would take a while to wash out fully, if it ever would. Shugo got down on a knee and wrapped his arm around Reiji's neck, praising her strength and resilience against a councilman of all creatures.
The green haired demon did not listen to a single word of his encouraging speech, even if she heard it. Reiji sighed in relief, grateful that the Beast Soul demon withstood her attack spell.
Wait, my attack spell? That was me?!
"I-I'm so sorry, Miss Miratona!" she stammered. She tried to climb to her feet, but her whole body crashed at once. The green haired demon collapsed against Shugo, groaning weakly with exhaustion. Between the sudden burst of power and the lack of sleep, the training had to be over.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Mira?!" Shugo spat at the mission secretary. She climbed up the crater, easily getting dirt on her clothes. The Beast Soul finally climbed out, standing over the trio.
"You could've hurt Reiji," Shugo glared at her. Miratona smiled a little.
"Did you kill Otto, Mars, and Kiki?" the mission secretary asked. The trio went silent. Ushizumo stared at the ground nervously. Shugo's expression became that of suppressed emotion. Reiji's half closed eyes blinked slowly
"N-no, it was..."
"The creature defending you," Miratona finished. "You are not a killer, but it is. It could have killed me, but it let me live."
"If anything, you could've killed all of us!" Shugo shot back.
"B-but I, I hurt you, didn't I?" Reiji questioned. She blinked sleep from her eyes, sitting up from Shugo's shoulder. "I'm not... innocent. I... I could've been s-stronger."
"You are strong, Rei," Shugo reassured her. Ushizumo hugged the green haired demon's other arm, glaring at Miratona.
"I agree wholeheartedly. You used my own power against me," Mira chuckled lightly.
"N-not really, it was mostly Riki. I'm nothing without her," Reiji frowned. Miratona placed her hands on her hips, giving a stern look.
"But without you, Riki is nothing more than crystal jewelry," she replied. "Please carry her, Shugo. The poor thing is exhausted."
"But, my training—"
"You can barely stand on your own. We cannot train a ragdoll," Miratona interrupted Reiji sternly. The Beast Soul was right. Reiji's arms were even more exhausted from the heavy weapon. The air was hotter tgan before, thanks to the ear splitting spell. Shugo easily picked her up bridal style, walking after the mission secretary. They decided to keave the crater for now.
"We can start back up after you rest properly," Shugo said with a smile. "But you're still carrying me and Zumi everyday, got it?"
"Mhmm," Reiji mumbled, closing her eyes. Ushizumo shook a fist at Miratona's back, growling angrily. "We will also continue training your curse tomorrow, Reiji Sagara," Miratona said without looking back.
"Uugh," the green haired demon grumbled in response, drifting off to sleep in the Jade Dragon Slayer's arms.
Ushizumo dug into Reiji's bag, searching for her house keys. To her surprise, they were missing. Shugo looked ready to drop his friend on the spot, impatiently waiting for his suster to open the apartment door.
"She left her keys. Maybe it's open," Zumi said, turning the knob. Of course it opened. Shugo hurried inside, kicking his shows off, then nearly chucked Reiji's limp body on her couch.
"Oh, thank god! My arms can rest," he exhaled, falling to the floor. Ushizumo giggled. She noticed a pair of Ryouichi's shoes left in the shoe rack. She narrowed her eye suspiciously. Ryo never left barefoot that she knew of. Shugo turned onto his back, yawning. He sniffed the air. Although the windows were open, he instantly recognized Reiji's pot of aromatic ingredients. Normally he or Ryouichi would turn the stove off when smoke began to waft from the open windows. But the pot should have been cold by then. Well, Reiji was barely gone two hours; Ryo must've stopped by already.
"What time is it?" Shugo asked
"Uhhh, three o'clock or something?"
"Huh, that was fast."
"I need to wash my onesie. Let's go home," Zumi pouted.
"I'm up, I'm up!" Shugo grunted as he got back up. He noticed Reiji's keys on the kitchen counter. That was strange, she never left without them.
"Come in, bro!" Zumi ushered him toward the door.
In a few seconds, the ginger siblings were gone, but not without Zumi's shoes tracking a light trail of scarlet red sand and dirt.
Ryouichi cracked the bedroom door open, checking of the coast was clear. He carefully tiptoed out. The floor creaked every so often, which was fine because Reiji was still out cold. Ryo peered down at Reiji. He sat next to her on the floors, his grey eyes softening. He had to fight the urge to fondle her massive—er, disturb her slumber.
It's not gonna happen, idiot, he cursed himself, standing back up.
"... Ryo." The Beast Soul froze up, turning back to the green haired demon. Redness looked back at him through half shut eyelids. "Tonight."
Ryouichi's flipped with joy as his eyes widened. He gave a silent nod, then left the apartment as well. And for the next twelve or so hours, Reiji did not move from her spot or stir from her peaceful rest.
Hobby Dump Insta: lequi_writes.crap
I did not lie when I said I was drawing characters. I just took a while haha. That account is private because I don't want it tied to my main account. Thanks for reading if you got this far!
- ML