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«She killed a child!» shouted another.
«Demon!» a woman shouted and the others agreed with her.
Kara looked around, realising that the villagers saw how she cut down the little kitsune. They didn’t know that the child was a demon – they thought she had killed an innocent girl!
Panicked and threatened by the surrounding people, Kara darted away, running off towards the woods. She whistled loudly to call upon her stallion, and as soon as he galloped up – she jumped into the saddle and rode off, pursued by the villagers until she managed to get away, hidden from them in the dense forest.
She didn’t know what to do – she couldn’t return to the village, and the evening was quickly turning into night. Having no way to contact Itsuki or the others, she hid in the woods and watched the village from afar, letting the other shinobi do their job. Perhaps, they will be able to convince people that she killed a kitsune, and not a human child.
She settled near the village, but stayed vigilant for any sign of trouble or one of her comrades.
The night, however, brought her only more surprises.
As the moon rose, she noticed shadows in the thicket. At first she thought that the shinobi found her, but that thought dissolved under the growing pain she started feeling in her burn.
There was no mistake anymore – the brand signalled each time something dark was near.
She forced herself to unsheathe both her katana, ready to take a stand right there and then. She might have felt vulnerable and weak, but there was nothing else to do, but to face the fight and try her best to come out of it alive and victorious.
Before engaging the first shadow, she kissed Kage and then Kurayami, as if asking them to be faithful to her.
All alone, relying on her own strength and wit, she had only one mission – to survive.
And when the first creatures approached, she took the fight – fierce, and relentless, she did not doubt herself. Itsuki’s words kept sounding in her mind, helping her find the strength and will to fight, as more and more of the creatures appeared around her.
Akuma fought by her side – kicking and biting anyone, who came close enough. But they were only two warriors against a small horde of creatures.
Weak as they were, they truly were a horde, and with each creature and ghost Kara cut down with her katana or Akuma crashed with his hooves – two more appeared, leaving them both surrounded.
Kara knew exactly what had happened and why this was happening – the brand on her arm called to these dark entities, making her a target for their insatiable thirst for her blood.
It was maddening, tiring, but she fought nonetheless, aided by her stallion, who seemed to grow more and more furious that someone was trying to hurt his first – and only – friend. Covered in scrapes and bruises, fighting for their lives… Kara and Akuma stood through the whole night until the first rays of the rising sun had chased the creatures away.
«Nakano!» Kara heard, before falling to the grass, too tired to stand on her own. The battle took all her strength and now all she wanted was to be left alone and have a little time to recuperate.
Akuma lay down next to her – tired, bruised and hurt almost as severely as she was. But he too was happy that they managed to stay alive through the night. He reached out his head to her and she caressed his cheek, happy that the stallion didn’t leave her that night.
Trying to catch her breath, Kara saw one of the shinobi and smiled at him.
«Tell master Inei I am fine.» She whispered. «But let me rest a bit right here… I’ve had a very rough night.»
She noticed how the shinobi signalled to someone, and gestured that everything is fine.
It took some time for Itsuki and Ayame to arrive, but when they did – Kara was already a bit rested and capable to tell them about everything that transpired during the night. Though they listened attentively, she could see the doubt in their eyes.
«I don’t want to put anyone in harm’s way… but you can see for yourself, if this repeats at night again.» She said, finally.
Both Spy Masters decided not to rush into conclusions, and left this matter open – for the next night to clear everything.
But for the time being, they needed to meet Lord Ryuu and his army and give their full report. One of the first things Itsuki did after they greeted Lord Ryuu and his few regiments, was ask for a couple of mystics to take a look at Kara and her burn that she received during their encounter with Kaito.
As the mystics surrounded her and started chanting some kind of a prayer, Kara felt a little irritated and wanted to leave. But she knew that she needed to stay in order for the mystics to find out what the brand was and how it could influence her in the future.
Although she already had her suspicions, the mystics came to the very same conclusions.
«It burns with demonic magic.» Said one.
«And it seems to be drawing in any type of darkness around.» Said the other. «You said you were attacked at night?»
«Yes. Multiple creatures came at me as I was hiding in the woods at night.» Kara replied. «They weren’t as strong as the creature that branded me, but there were a whole lot of them…»
«I am afraid this is the first time we see anything like this.»
«But we will do our best to try and find a way to get this off you, Nakano.» The other one said confidently.
«So for now I will have to stay clear of civilians and fight each night. Got it!» Kara replied with a smirk.
Though trying to joke, she understood the severe implications of this brand that was now on her skin. And she feared that nothing can be done about it.
She also gave the mystics the runes she had cut down from the trees when she was following the kitsune, and they recognised some of them as those that appeared sometimes when gates opened near villages.
Lord Ryuu assigned Ayame and Itsuki to remain by Kara’s side each night to aid, if the need arises. She was grateful and reluctant at the same time – she did not want her new found friends and a loved one to get hurt because she wasn’t able to keep one of the demons away from putting a Sacrifice brand onto her.
But she dared not to refuse – she feared Lord Ryuu might take it as a personal offence if she did. Having had the villagers see her murdering what they thought to be a child, she couldn’t return to the village, so she stayed back by the forest to keep an eye out for any more suspicious creatures that could still surround the land. Itsuki and Ayame offered to circle around the village with her and Kara agreed.
Akuma still needed some rest, but he didn’t want to leave her side and walked behind her, as they walked on the road that curled around the village. They didn’t notice any more problems, but that didn’t keep Kara from being tense and ready.
By the time the sun was at its highest, she felt her strength leaving her and asked to have an hour or two of rest to have at least some sleep. Ayame and Itsuki agreed and they went off the road – into the woods, there Ayame showed Kara a little meadow near a rocky hillside, where a small waterfall crashed against the stones and flowed out of the tiny pond as a spring.
Kara was grateful for this opportunity to clean up and wash all the blood and dirt off herself. So as soon as she got into the water, she felt relieved from all the pain that her body was experiencing. She hesitated putting her burn under the cool waters, though.
She did take off the bandages, feeling how badly they needed to be changed. But when she noticed the burn being dark and smeared by blood, she realised that she might have to deal with this for the rest of her life – as long as she will be capable of fighting whatever creatures will hunt her every night.
Taking a very deep breath, she lowered her right arm into the water and immediately winced from the pain. It took her a couple of moments to try and gently wash the blood and dirt from the burn.
When she raised her aching arm from the water, she felt Itsuki behind her. He knelt down and gently grasped her wrist to take a look.
«Does it still hurt?» he asked.
«Not really. It burned like hell last night, though.» Kara shrugged her shoulders and felt her shoulder blade ache. «Right now everything else hurts way worse…»
Itsuki let go of her arm and carefully made her lean a bit forward. She heard him sigh with anger.
«I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.» He said, running his fingers down a bad bruise on her back.
«Is it that bad?» she asked.
«It’ll heal…» he replied.
«Don’t beat yourself over this, Inei.» Kara sighed. «That kitsune girl tricked us all.»
«I’m going to have to learn to trust your intuition more, Nakano.»
«Have you always felt the demons near?» Ayame sat down next to them.
«I don’t know. I mean… even back in my home world I usually felt a chill run down my spine whenever there was one near – even before I could see them…» Kara replied. «But I’m not sure if it’s an intuition or just my heightened sense of self-preservation.»
«Have the mystics said anything about that?»
«No, they only spoke about the brand… why?»
«Well, perhaps you have their powers – at least, to some extent?»
«I’m not sure that’s the case, Ayame.»
«Whatever the case – we are glad you survived the night.» Itsuki stepped away for a moment and returned with some herbs and new bandages.
«I couldn’t let you down, Inei. Your words kept sounding inside my head and not letting me put my weapons down.» Kara smirked, allowing him to apply the healing herbs onto her burn and bandage the arm again.
When he finished, he gently squeezed her arm.
«I’m happy that my words found their way to you, Nakano.» He said with a smile.
He leaned down and kissed her in the temple, making Ayame giggle.
«I was wondering when you two would make it official.» She laughed.
«I wasn’t sure something like this is allowed at all.» Kara answered.
«Don’t worry. We are not prudent people.» Ayame bumped her slightly. «Only the royal family and the top aristocrats are needed to uphold some sort of secrecy in their love life. People like us are left to live freely.»
«That’s actually…» Kara leaned back, feeling her muscles ache less and less with each minute spent in the water. «A great thing to hear.»
«I told you not to worry about it.» Itsuki sat down behind her.
Kara let her eyes close and relaxed. But very soon she dozed off – she was extremely tired and needed the rest. Her friends let her stay like that for a little while, before waking her up.
«We’ve made camp.» Itsuki said. «Eat something and you can sleep a little before we continue.»
Kara got out of the water, feeling very refreshed, and dressed up. After a hot meal, she sat with her back against the rocky side of the hill and dozed off again.
By the time she woke up – the sun was already going down. Ayame and Itsuki seemed to grab a bit of sleep, with one of them always watching out for anyone out in the forest. But their rest was calm, and Kara felt much better after having this stop.
«Lord Ryuu asked me to bring you back before the night sets in. I think he wants to make sure that brand does what the mystics said.» Itsuki said to Kara, offering her some herbal tea.
Kara took a few sips before answering:
«Sure. I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.»
«Lord Ryuu’s warriors are very capable.»
«Don’t worry, the meeting point is ways away from the village, so none of the civilians will be in harm’s way.» Ayame added.
After finishing the tea, they packed up the camp and left to the rendezvous point. Akuma recovered his strength and was now eager to run again with Kara on his back – he kept nudging her with his nose all the time while she was preparing the saddle and checking the bridle.
As soon as they rode off, Kara felt how great of a horse Akuma really was – he was very strong, faithful and so amazing at listening to her every move, that she was glad to have found him.
When they reached the field – Lord Ryuu and a regiment of his soldiers were already waiting for them. Five mystics were standing at the ready, chanting something around Lord Ryuu.
«The sun is setting, Nakano. Are you ready to see if our suspicions are true?» the commander said.
«Always, Lord Ryuu.» Kara jumped from Akuma. «I’d take the horses to a safe place, though…»
Lord Ryuu shouted a short command, but when a samurai stepped up to Akuma, the stallion snorted angrily at the man.
Kara caught the horse’s head and pressed her forehead against his nose.
«Akuma, please. I don’t want you to get hurt. Let this man take you somewhere safe. And I will see you in the morning, I promise.»
The stallion snorted again, hitting his front hoof on the ground, but stepped to the man, allowing him to grab the reins and nervously lead him away.
«Can I offer you some tea, while we wait?» Lord Ryuu proposed, and the Spy Masters agreed by slightly bowing to him. Kara did the same, finding it better to have some kind of a distraction before the possible battle.
They sat down in the middle of the field, surrounded by nearly a hundred men that stood some distance away. Two servants served them tea and once they were left alone, Lord Ryuu looked at Kara with a stern expression.
«The villagers told me you killed a child.» He said.
«It was not a child, my lord. It was a kitsune. A shapeshifter. It tricked the people into believing it was a small girl.» Kara replied.
«So my mystics said.» The commander nodded. «They also found a couple of stones on the girl, marked by demon runes.»
«I believe the creature Kaito, who we killed and the kitsune girl were working together and were trying to open the gates that you were warned about.» Itsuki said, glancing at Ayame.
«The girl did know that Kaito was dead, before any of the villagers even realised the man who they knew as Kaito went missing.» Ayame added.
«Have you, or your men seen any more creatures around?» Lord Ryuu asked, sipping his tea.
«No. We believe there were only two of them…»
«At least, if we are not taking into account the smaller demons that attacked Nakano last night.» Itsuki nodded.
«We will hope that tonight will be calm and the danger has passed.»
Kara suddenly felt her arm warm up where the brand was located. She glanced around, tense and vigilant for any signs of creatures that might appear. It was still dusk, but even though many of Lord Ryuu’s men lit torches, the field was quickly turning dark.
Before anyone noticed this change in Kara’s stance, a sudden chill running down her spine made her jump to her feet. As she looked around, noticing a faint bit of shadows appearing behind Lord Ryuu’s men, Itsuki, Ayame and Lord Ryuu rose as well.
«They’re coming…» Kara whispered, unsheathing her katana.
In a matter of seconds the men began shouting and getting their weapons ready.
But the shadows that flew from the surrounding forest ignored them and headed straight at Kara.
«I think that if you don’t engage – they will ignore you!» Kara jumped away from Lord Ryuu and her friends, and then ran off to face the first few ghostly figures, that were screeching and howling from anticipation.
The creatures surrounded her, trying to pass her blades, but she was already swirling in her deadly dance, slicing their ethereal bodies and killing them as they approached.
She remembered the previous night, when she was alone and fighting for her life. She used less force this time, and she saw that all of the men around her were engaging the fight as well – first it was Lord Ryuu, Itsuki and Ayame, then the others joined in, getting to some of the passing creatures.
Very soon the whole field was engaged in battle – moaning and groaning ghosts, shadow-like slithering creatures and smaller demons that flew from the skies were fighting the people in a fierce battle for their lives.
Kara noticed how some of the men suddenly froze and turned to their comrades, stepping to hit those who were fighting alongside them. Then she saw how one of the ghostly creatures entered a man and took over him, making him its vessel.
«Don’t let them get inside you!» she screamed, fearing that the creatures that will find themselves human vessels can do much more damage than those without.
Her brand ached and pulsated with each wave of enemies she took upon, but she started to ignore the pain, channelling it towards anger and the will to cut, slice and kill anyone who approached her with ill intent.
At some moment she found herself standing back to back with Itsuki – he cleared his way to help her and as they battled the creatures, they seemed to feel each other’s moves, turning into a tandem of two warriors, eager to take on anything that comes up.
Unlike the previous night, this time the angry screams of the demonic creatures summoned more and more enemies, as Kara was not alone. But no matter how many there were – they couldn’t get to her.
As the first light scattered the remaining creatures from the field – the people left there emerged victorious.
«That was a great fight, Nakano!» Lord Ryuu walked up and slapped her on the shoulder, as she was catching her breath.
Even though the fight seemed over, Kara glanced around, trying to feel out if anyone among the men could still have the ghostly entities inside. For the moment everyone seemed fine.
«I can’t put you in harm’s way, Lord Ryuu.» Kara said, looking at Itsuki and Ayame. «These creatures are weak, but at some point the brand will call upon someone much stronger.»
«And we will face it together!» he replied, smiling. «Gather the men! We’re returning!»
Kara dared not to argue.
* * *
Though Lord Ryuu offered her his help in battling the demonic creatures every night, Kara decided not to keep the people in the castle in harm’s way.
On the third night she sneaked out beyond the walls and hid in the forest, battling the creatures on her own. And after that – she continued disappearing from the castle, not letting anyone know where she was – she was too scared for everyone else.
It was her burden – and hers alone. No one else needed to be hurt because of it.
Itsuki knew that she was running from the castle each night, but she managed to avoid him every time – and the other shinobi as well. Fortunately, she already knew a lot about their methods and how they could pursue her, and that gave her advantage.
Ayame was worried that Kara was doing this, but she respected her friend, and though she was always ready to help – she did not push and force Kara to accept it.
Kara, on the other hand, felt more in control, when she didn’t have to watch others around her. It made her fights easier and less stressful.
It became something of a habit – changing her timing and ways to leave, so Kara became quite confident whenever she left the castle. As she did on the nights before, she escaped from her friends and swiftly got over one of the walls – unseen by a single guard. She disappeared in the dusk before the night even started darkening the shadows among the trees. Kara went to her favourite place – a big meadow where she had enough space to fight and see the approaching danger.
She got ready as soon as her brand started burning with pain. But this time it was different. She felt the pain rise from its usual waves to a much higher level – at some point Kara felt shivers running down her spine, as the pain increased and made it extremely difficult to handle the katana.
Clenching her jaws together, Kara noticed two Greater demons come out into the meadow – the smaller creatures darted away, fearful to get in their way, leaving Kara face-to-face with the two disgusting demons that approached.
Kara jumped to the first one, not even giving the snake-like creature the time to curl up for a strike. The first few hits that Kara landed on its body were the last – the demon tripped and fell to the grass, already gasping for the last breath with a throat cut from the chin down to the sternum.
But the second one was much faster.
«You are mine!» Kara heard a deep, rumbling voice and a heavy blow sent her flying for a few seconds and tumbling on the ground.
She must have passed out for a couple of moments, because when she came to her senses, she was half-naked, and caught in a hot, lustful embrace. Through the mist in her eyes she saw Itsuki. He lay on top of her – caressing and kissing her body. But something felt different. He was too forceful, harsh and impatient.
Kara tried to move, but he pinned her to the ground.
«No!» he growled in a very low manner.
She suddenly realized that her right arm was burning with pain and screamed out in anger and realization. This man on top of her – it wasn’t Itsuki!
«Get off me!» she screamed, arching her back and trying to throw the man off, but he was too strong and too heavy. It felt like he was supposed to be at least three times as heavy as Itsuki!
«You are mine!» the demon growled, leaning in to force a kiss on her lips.
Kara didn’t let him come close – instead she hit him in the nose with her head and bit down on his neck, feeling his flesh give in under her teeth. The demon roared loudly, darting away from her, and throwing her to the side.
The young woman spit out a piece of flesh of the beast and jumped to her feet.
«You whore!» screamed the demon, changing from his human form into his own.
Seeing the giant Greater Demon and realising that she was unarmed, Kara frantically glanced around in search of her weapons. She noticed one of her katana by the demon’s feet, but the second one was nowhere to be seen.
«I will kill you!» the demon roared. «But not before I rape you bloody!»
Kara saw the black oily blood pouring down from his neck, where she tore off a piece of his flesh, and grinned:
«I will tear you bit by bit with my bare hands and teeth before you do that!»
Suddenly a shadow flew out of the nearby trees from behind the demon and landed on its back. The demon screamed out in pain and anger, and started thrashing around, trying to throw off his attacker.
Kara realised that it was Inei, who shoved his katana deep into the demon’s back, using his opportunity while the demon was concentrated at Kara. For her it meant that she could dart towards the fight and try and retrieve her katana – having at least one weapon, she could help Itsuki – the real Itsuki! – to take down the demon.
Inei seemed furious – he cut and hit the demon, while it was thrashing. Again and again the shinobi was landing more and more blows on the beast. Even before Kara jumped in to help and began slicing the demon’s legs and arms, Inei managed to cause a great deal of damage, growling louder and louder with each hit he landed onto the beast.
Finally, Kara managed to come close enough to cut across the demon’s belly, letting out his hot, steaming entrails onto the ground. It took a few moments for the beast to realise its demise, before it twitched for the last time and fell to the ground lifeless.
Kara, shaking and shocked, stepped back, trying to cover her half-naked body with whatever clothes she had left. By the time she covered herself up a bit, she saw Itsuki walking up to her. His eyes burned with anger, but he stepped up to her and embraced her – gently and lovingly.
«Did he…?» the man asked.
«No. I didn’t let him.» Kara replied, still feeling the salty, oily aftertaste of the demon’s blood on her lips.
«My deadly flower bites.» Itsuki kissed her forehead, and Kara relaxed from his warm touch.
«Help me find my katana, please.» Kara sighed, realizing that she was still missing one of her weapons.
Together they searched the field and managed to find the katana in no time. For a couple of moments Kara got distracted by the sunrise that turned the skies to a beautiful set of colours from bright orange to pale violet. She stood there, watching the sun rising and thought about how badly things could have turned, if she wouldn’t have fought back.
«Who did he look like?» Itsuki asked, taking her hand to show that he was close.
Kara took a moment to reply, wiping the demon’s blood off her face:
«You. He took your form, Itsuki… He thought I wouldn’t notice the difference.»
He embraced her once more with a heavy sigh.
«Don’t dare say that you’re sorry you weren’t here!» Kara whispered. «Because you were! You came just in time!»