Chapter 44: Demon Blood

Takabi let out a loud yell as his fist slammed against the Shadow sword.

Jade slid back against the impact, using the blade to maneuver himself out of the way. He spun, driving the dark metal upwards through Takabi's abs, blood pouring out. The boy snapped his arm back and struck Jade's cheek, forcing him to stumble back and remove the blade. Takabi landed on all fours, leaping back at the Dragon.

With each fist he threw, Jade dodged and slashed. The wounds would heal, but the pain would linger. The veins that bulge on his body grew more prominent, Takabi encasing himself in a thick skin of violet mana, slamming his fist into the floor and ripping it apart upon impact.

Jade hopped back, using the airborne debris to dash higher above, Takabi giving chase. His eyes snapped back, and a smile touched his face. The katana bent and wrapped itself around Jade's arm, then he spun around and looked down at Takabi. Darkness shot up from his feet, and he stretched his arms out at both sides.

Takabi narrowed his eyes, locking his gaze on Jade's. As he did, black circles of magic began appearing on each airborne stone, whirring audibly.

"Shadow Seal: Conceal Dance." The magic circles erupt into clouds of darkness, clouding Takabi's vision enough so Jade could strike with a hard kick. Hitting the floor hard enough to send another cloud of dust into the air, Takabi slowly picked his head up, then flipped to the side as Jade slammed down into the floor. He slid aside, watching the Dragon rise and look at him with a stern gaze, which cracked with a smile shortly after.

Takabi tightened his fist, flames igniting on the left side of his body. He dashed forward, wings bursting out from his back. Jade crouched, before the two slammed foreheads and palms together, pressing harder and harder against one another.

The space around them began to shake at the pressure of their powers, air all but erupting in flames and shadow. In a flash, they were throwing rapid fists at each other, Takabi using his eyes to predict and dodge as many of Jade's attacks as he could. The mirror image of the Dragon drew his sword, so when he began reaching for it, Takabi leapt into the air to evade the swing, bringing his foot down to strike the back of his head.

Jade let his own magic burst and blow Takabi back, the boy tumbling before hitting the railing on the side of the rooftop.

"Is that all," Jade questioned.

Takabi picked himself up, using the railing for support. Not from damage did he stumble, but the overwhelming rage and heat in his mind.

Jade opened his palm, a ball of shadow forming within his grasp, before he tossed it forward. It stuck to Takabi's shirt, then expanded into a bubble around him. Jade's fingers curled, before blackness ripped the back of the boy's body. Blood oozed from the spikes running through his chest, but he ignored the wound.

The injury wasn't lethal, he could tough it out.

The rage in his mind, however, would not cease. The fires burning in his stomach would not quell under his command. His eyes constantly flashed between white and violet. The sense of purity and natural holiness from his father's blood clashed against the tainted hatred and bloodlust of his mother's side.

He wondered why now of all times, he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.

Evolving, a voice spoke to him in the back of his mind. Your body is evolving, cultivating the hatred and rage growing inside you.

Takabi didn't recognize the voice, but he could tell it wasn't his own.

"Break out," Jade taunted. "Let's continue please."

Takabi clenched his jaw and flexed his muscles. Mana built up within his body, erupting in a casing of lightning around his outline. The ball of shadow cracked, light exposing itself from inside. The darkness shattered like glass, a pillar of violet rising into the air, breaking through the clouds above.

Takabi screamed a warrior's battle cry, voice deeper than normal. He charged forward, faster than Jade expected, driving his fist into the Dragon's core.

Instead of a howl of pain, he let out a laugh, skillfully blocking Takabi's next punch and kick.

"That demon blood of yours is doing nicely! It's just as she-."

Takabi brought his knuckles into Jade's nose, snapping it. His left fist came around, striking once more and knocking him down into the floor without mercy. Fire and lightning surged around him as he reached out and grabbed Jade's ankle. With strength alone, he twirled the Dragon around and slammed him down hard. The cry of pain sent a satisfying chill through Takabi, enough that he turned around and slammed Jade into the space behind him face first.

This continued without rest, without mercy, until he spun and tossed him away like a paper ball. Jade slid across the rooftop, standing up quickly once Takabi got close.

The boy leapt and drove his knee into Jade's face, flipping over him with a grip on his shirt and throwing him into the air. Takabi slammed his wrists together, bringing the palms of his hands down by his waist. Nova built within his grasp, white sphere encasing a violet flame that danced wildly. He thrust forward, watching the Nova: Wave dance through the air, washing over the Dragon.

Jade brought his arms close to his chest, mana casing his body in protection.

Takabi grit his fangs, increasing the size of the beam and the magic flowing within it.

Jade's coat began to blacken and fade away in ash. Part of his pants leg singed and his shoes exploded on his feet. Struggling, he bit his lip hard and whistled loudly.

A roar echoed in the distance, large wings ripping out from a hotel miles down the way. Takabi looked, watching the red eyed black dragon make her way towards the two, seething with concern.

"Lillac," Takabi muttered, stopping the beam.

Jade fell a bit before his own wings burst from his back. He dashed towards Lillac and landed on her head, ripping his shirt off and exposing his chest to the hot night air.

"That's him! He's the one who took Father, Lillac!"

Her red eyes narrowed on Takabi. Mana gathered in her throat, and she released a roar of shadows. Takabi leapt and soared through the air, watching the Dragon's roar rip the Station apart in a concentrated beam. Those on the street nearby were blown away, soon swallowed by the cloud of debris and magic residue.

"Guys!"

Lillac's hand slapped Takabi into the building across the street. He crashed through five different cubicles, body landing on a marble desk in the office furthest back. Picking up his head, he ran a hand through his hair to map out where it stung most, then hopped to his feet and held his rib. His wounds steamed up and closed themselves, violet eyes locked on the Dragon's nozzle outside.

"Lillac, stop it!"

The Dragon roared, ripping the roof off the building. Moonlight rained down on him, Jade's twisted smile visible.

"Jade's lying to you! He's the one that killed Garuga!"

Lillac responded with another roar, raising her scaled palm and bringing it down. Takabi leapt back, watching the floor he was on crumble into nothing. His wings stretched out, feathers falling as he began to float.

"You've got to believe me!"

"Never," Lillac's deep voice roared. Her wings sprout out wide, muscles clenching as mana erupt through her blood. "I could never believe the words of a murderer! My Father was everything to me!"

"He was to me too," He muttered.

It was why he couldn't bring himself to hurt Lillac. Jade twisted this situation, and it was because of him that Garuga was gone.

I need to show her the truth, He thought.

His eyes snapped at Lillac's body charging towards him. His wings flapped, shooting him above her. Spotting Jade on her back, he altered his direction and flew towards the Dragon. Jade raised his arm, taking the full force of Takabi's fist before the boy landed on Lillac's back. 

She roared, barrel rolling in the air. Mana gathered under his feet, keeping him locked firmly onto her scales. The air was razor sharp, and freezing cold against his spine. Jade's gaze of intrigue caught his eye, as well as his constant smirk.

With a yell, Takabi released the White Gem's power, stomping against her scales at a blinding speed. Lillac groaned in pain at his feet, each step leaving a footprint of white fire.

Jade cocked his head to the side, avoiding the first punch. Takabi brought his right fist up sharply, grazing Jade's chin before he hopped back.

"Tell me why!"

Takabi leapt forward, bringing his leg around in a sharp kick. The force cut the air, as well as the buildings in the distance in half. Spinning, he flipped and brought his foot down, striking Lilliac's back hard. Jade stepped back, shoulders slumped in relaxation.

"What the hell is your aim!"

He ran at Jade again as Lillac shot upwards. Takabi felt as if he was free falling, winds sending chills through his body. His flames erupt, fingers jamming into one of Lillac's scales. The Dragon howled loudly into the night air, blood pouring from her sudden wound. Flames gathered around both his arms and he reached out, fire shooting out in large arms and gripping both her wings. With a powerful jerk of his arms, Lillac's wings tore.

Her eyes went wide as pain filled her mind, blood spilling in gallons into the air. Jade's eyes went wide at the act, stunned at the brutality. "What have you done, Yamishito!?"

"Let's all talk on the ground," He replied, steam pouring out from Lillac.

The Dragon ceased, and the girl resumed her human-like state, dropping head first towards the lake below. Takabi fell after her, wings stretching at both his sides. Once the gap between the two closed, he adjusted the direction of the descent, and landed in the dirt by the lake, dust flying high into the air. His wings retracted into his back, and he placed Lillac down against a nearby tree.

The White Gem went dormant, and his eyes scanned her features.

Long black hair that reached her waist. Creamy skin and developed arms and legs. Her abs were visible from the tear of her black dress, and she was barefoot.

Coming to, her red eyes met Takabi's, and she immediately sprung up to attack him.

Her first punch struck his cheek, pushing him back towards the water. Pain shook his jaw, but he chose to ignore it.

"Hey, easy!"

"Screw you," She replied hatefully, throwing another punch.

Takabi blocked with his arms, then reached under hers and flipped her over his shoulder, slamming her on her back into the muddy soil. Air escaped her lungs, leaving her wheezing as he circled around her.

"Listen to me," He started. "I didn't kill your father."

"Bullshit," She spat weakly, rolling on her side.

Jade watched from above, mana flowing around him and keeping him afloat.

"My brother told me everything…"

Takabi watched for a moment, sitting down next to her. He directed his vision towards Jade, then back to Lillac. White once more coated his skin in tattoos, and with a gentle touch, mana began to flow within Lillac, her wounds closing slowly. She was confused, slowly looking at him once he had finished.

"What did you do," She asked.

"Heal you."

"But…" She paused. "Why? What for?"

"Because I'm telling you the truth. I didn't kill your father." He stood up, brushing his pants of dirt and using flames to dry the wetness. "Garuga was… No, he is someone important to me. He taught me so much, helped shape me into who I am today."

Jade sped downward, landing softly a few feet away from them.

Takabi held a look of disgust, balling his hands into tight fists. "Then this asshole came along."

Jade opened his mouth to speak, his tone chilling and manipulative. "Lillac, you're not going to actually believe him, are you? You know more than anyone I did everything I could to live up to Grandmother and Father's name. To stain it by taking his life is blasphemous."

"Yeah," Takabi muttered, "And what about the last entry in your mother's diary?"

His jawn went stiff. "A fake you created, obviously."

Takabi reached into his back pocket. Producing a photograph, he handed it to Lillac, watching her eyes go wide and snap at Jade.

"What is this," She asked him.

"Nothing but lies," He said. "Whatever that photo is, I would do no such thing."

"Willing to bet my life on that," Takabi retorted.

Jade narrowed his eyes and made the first move, his feet stomping in the mud as he rushed for Takabi's throat.

"It'll be the first time I used this spell willingly."

Violet rushed up his left side. Jade reached for the pair, eyes burning with a sudden hatred. Takabi slipped between him and Lillac, grabbing her hand and his, stopping his movement cold. He willed, deeply, strongly, into Jade's mind, searching for the truth, for his memories of the past.

"What-WHAT are you doing!?"

"Searching, you fucking asshole!" Takabi's eyes went wide.

The burning sensation rushed through his brain, then Lillac's, the three erupting in a bright light before dropping to the ground, consciousness lost deep into the memories of Jade's actions.