Chapter seven: Leave Aurs, Shiro

"Sendak, next it's your arm. I'll eradicate your left arm off!" Shiro Shouted

"Shiro, no!" Keith yelled. "Don't get involved! Remember, Sendak's totally ruthless, too! Take Lance and the others and run away!"

"Forget it!" Shiro shouted, his eyes trained on Sendak's arm. "There's no way I'm leaving you behind!"

"Yeah, but!" Keith said, "But what he said Left-arm?!" he thought, looks at Sendak.

"I can see it… The piece of the  Quintessence crystal!" Shiro thought, "if l attack now, he'll drop his weapon and Keith will have the advantage!"

Shiro launches himself at the enemy, but to his shock, Sendak anticipated this and easily sidestepped out of the way.

"Meddling bastard," Sendak muttered.

"Darn!" Shiro cried as he prepared another slash...but before he even realized it, Sendak was already upon him! "Aah!"

"Die!" Sendak hissed as he raised his right hand, preparing to swipe his  Medal Claws into Shiro, but then, a red blur fired on him and slashed him, forcing him to stumble back as Keith stood in front of Shiro, cracking the junctions in his fingers of his dagger

"No, you don't!" Keith barked. "Leave him out of this, I'm the one you want!"

A pause falls upon Sendak as he noticed a small cut appear on his right cheek.

"You got him!" Shiro exclaimed.

Keith scoffed. "Just barely."

"Hmph!" Sendak scoffed. "Just like the rest of your kind, you're quick to defend people that are weaker than you."

A deep growl rumbled in Keith's throat while Shiro blinked up at him in concern.

"If this is your idea of a joke, Sendak," Keith began, "Because I ain't laughin'!" He then looked down at Shiro. "Shiro, you've done enough. I'll take it from here, okay? Get to safety!"

"But Keith" Shiro started. "There's a  Quintessence crystal piece in his left arm! If I aim for that…"

"I said 'I got this'! Sendak's not one to be easily beaten. You take care of Lance and the others, you know Adam best" Keith interjected. "Now go!"

"Okay," Shiro nodded before he stood up and ran. "Be careful, Keith!"

"Shiro!" Keith said.

"Yeah!"

"Thanks for your help, with your help,  You figured it out Sendak's weakness, now I can defeat him!" Keith told him.

"Keith thanked me…?" Shiro thought. "A sign of weakness?"

"I figured it out, Sendak," Keith said as he glanced at Sendak's left arm. "That robotic arm of yours is powered up by quintessence crystal piece, That's why a full daemon like you can hold your own ground!"

Sendak only glared at Keith, who cracked his knuckles.

"Just try it...little brat," Sendak smirked as he advanced, as well. He managed to dodge a swipe from Keith before he swung his right hand, causing the half-daemon to cried out in pain as he felt a sensation on his cheek. Keith stumbled and fell back against the rocks, and when he stood up, he had one steaming cut mark on his face.

"You cutting my face," Sendak began, "so it's only appropriate that I do the same to you, wouldn't you say, Keith?"

Keith groaned as he touched the mark on his cheek.

"He's not using his gauntlet...the power from Shiro's sword must still be working! I gotta hurry and take Sendak down before it Roses up again!"

Meanwhile, Lance, Hunk, and Pidge were still busy investigating Adam, or rather Adam was investigated them.

"I'm going to ask you again!" Lance shouted as he was trying to get a hit on Adam who moved quickly to one side to avoid being hit by Lance's staff. "Who was the one who gave you that nest of poisonous insects?!"

"I'm not telling you who it is!" Adam cried. "And even if I did you probably die on the spot!"

Lance growl in annoyance.

"is it just me or is he trying to Bait us!" Pidge said. 

Adam cackled, "Even if I did know, better?! You've been pumped with so much poison, you won't live to see daylight!" He gestures at the Saimyōshō.

At that moment, Lance tensed up as he felt great pain on the back of his left shoulder and his body began to waver.

"Oh, no!" Hunk cried. "Lance!"

"Ugggh!" Lance groaned. "What do you do to me!"

"Like I told you before!" Adam said. "The Saimyōshō had been busy using their stingers to poison you!" 

"Are you in pain, Lance?!" Hunk asked, worriedly.

"The only pain I feel...is hate for Adam," Lance answered. "I'm not surprised...he is the worst human man, after all."

"Hahahaha!" Adam laughed. "Serves you right!"

"Damm!" Lance said as his best effort is being drained from him.

"Lance!" Hunk cried. "I can't believe this is happening again?!"

"I...I just need to lie down a minute, that's all," Lance answered.

"Damn...it's getting a bit harder for me to inhale...!"

"Guys!" Shiro called as he ran to Lance's side, carrying his backpack.

"Shiro!" Pidge cried as the young man soon kneeled beside a weakling Lance.

"Pidge did something awful has happened to Lance?!" Shiro asked as he reached inside his backpack and pulled out the first-aid kit.

"He's getting pale," Hunk began, "and his eyes are listless! And his skin is becoming hot to the touch!"

"How?" Shiro said.

"He got stung by the bugs!" Hunk told him. "The same ones that stung my brother-in-law, they call Saimyōshō and they are hazardous poisonous bugs!  One drop of their poison could kill you in seconds"

"Hmm...I see" Shiro searched inside his first-aid kit and pulled out a syringe. "Here. This should be able to help." he then took Lance's wrist, pricked the skin with the needle, and pushed on the plunger, injecting the medicine into Lance's system.

"Ugh...S...Shiro...?" Lance asked.

"Hey, Lance," Shiro said. "How are you feeling!"

"Feeling better I guess!" Lance said. "That stuff packs a wallop!"

"Looks like that the anti-venom is working!" Hunk said. "I don't want to the same thing happening to him, the last time this happened it was with my brother-in-law, we were called to exterminate a nest but unfortunately he got stung by the Saimyōshō but luckily he managed to survive!"

"That's a nice story," Adam sighed, unimpressed.

Shiro drew a deep breath and said firmly, "Adam! You're going to pay for what you did!"

Adam began to realize that he had crossed a line. "Well, what else was I supposed to do! Let you guys win!" he protested, feeling trapped.

But Shiro had lost his patience. "Yeah, you keep telling yourself that!" And with that, Adam resigned from his own personal target, Escaping From Shiro's zone!

Shiro didn't know how he could make Adam understand that's joining the galra empire much worse than the end of the world. But didn't matter right now, Keith was still fighting with Sendak which still isn't good, they no match for him! it Keith doesn't hurry and find a way to beat him, they might not even be able to get away alive!

With Keith, he was trying to swipe at Sendak, who just kept jumping out of the way from his swings.

"All you're doing is running away, Sendak!" Keith yelled.

"Yes, I am," Sendak began, "because I'm bored to tears." He then struck Keith with his Claws, causing him to cry out in pain from the searing pain of his claws slashing his flesh. However, Sendak suddenly heard the strike of a sword, causing him to look up, only to back away from another strike...but this time, it managed to shatter his armor!

"You got him!" Pidge exclaimed.

"Stats!" Stats exclaimed.

"No, I only got his armor," said Shiro. "I was trying to get his arm!"

"Shiro! I told you to run!" Inuyasha yelled.

"That cursed man!" Sendak cursed...before he leaped toward Shiro, who gasped and backed away as he raised his right hand. "I've had just about enough of your meddling!"

"No, Sendak!" Keith shouted. "Leave him alone!"

Too late, without a single warning...the back of Sendak's hand struck Shiro's face, knocking him over the hill!

"No, Shiro!" Keith screamed.

"Shiro!" Keith cried as he ran to the young man's aid. He found him at the bottom of the hill, limp and motionless against the soil. He gasped silently as he ran up to his, gently taking him into his arms, just as Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Stats, and Kiaion came running up.

"Shiro!" Lance cried.

"Stats?!" Stats asked, worriedly.

"Shiro?" Keith called. "Shiro, can you hear me?" He gingerly put his hand against his cheek. "Shiro?!"

"Ugh!" Shiro groaned softly, causing the half-daemon to sigh in relief.

"He's alive" he whispered.

"He is okay?!" Pidge asked, just as relieved as Keith. "Oh, thank goodness!"

"Hmph" Sendak scoffed. "So the  Samurai still lives. Adam's right, he's not as weak as I thought." He then held up his giant arm. "No matter, I'll just kill you all in one swing, it has been good to be rid of all of you."

"That bastard!" Lance hissed. "How dare he strikes someone who has subsisted not to fight him?!"

"Tell me about it! We will make sure He Pays!" Hunk said.

"Hunk, Lance!"

Lance and Hunk both gasped silently as they looked to Keith...whose eyes were hidden under his bangs.

"Take Shiro and Stats and run for it," the half-daemon said.

"But what about you?!" Pidge asked.

"Stats!" Stats asked.

"Just go!" Keith barked. "Just make sure that Shiro stays safe."

"We understood," Hunk nodded before he picked up Shiro and lifted him over his shoulder. "Come on, Guys."

"Stats," Stats answered before he and the others ran away, taking Shiro with them, and meanwhile, Keith glared at Sendak, his eyes flashing red.

"Sendak," he hissed. "You're gonna pay for that!"

"My, that's a scary face," Sendak mused. "You must really love that human, don't you?" He then glared. "It's the same weakness for your kind to have, No matter you're not connected to the same species!" He then lifts his Gauntlet to the ground. "You and your human companions will die!" He then swung his arm, but Keith lunged for him with hands outstretched!

"I Don't Think So!" he roared as he drew closer. There was a loud explosion, followed by rocks tumbling off the hillside, forcing Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Kiaion, and Stats to take cover while being sure not to Shiro take any damage.

As the dust cleared, the group gasped upon seeing Keith forcing Sendak's Gauntlet arm back with his own two hands while biting Sendak's shoulder and it looked like it was actually causing the Galra daemon a great deal of pain!

"He...he's holding the arm back?!" Lance questioned.

"Whoa...Keith's amazing!" Pidge exclaimed.

"Rrrrgh...!" Keith growled as he kept biting on Sendak, then glanced back to the others. "What are you waiting for?! Run for it!"

"Right!" Lance answered as he and the others prepared to run away.

"You persistent little bug!" Sendak growled as he raised his right hand.

"Rrrgh...you're gonna pay for striking down Shiro!" Keith growled as he continued to bite, but then, he let out a gasp as he felt something piercing through his back and out his stomach and as he looked down, he saw that it was Sendak's right hand, stained red with his blood.

"Keith!" Lance and the others cried in horror, causing Shiro's eyes to flutter open before he looked up, as well, only to gasp.

"Oh, no...!" he whispered. "Keith!"

"Rrrgh...GUH!" Keith coughed up a large amount of blood.

"You should know better than to turn your back on an opponent," Sendak said.

"Put me down!" Shiro cried as he struggled to get out of Hunk's hold. "Put me down, I said! Keith needs help!"

"But Keith told us to get you to safety!" Hunk answered.

"Screw my safety!" Shiro yelled as he dropped unceremoniously to the ground, but quickly picked himself up and ran to Keith's aid.

"You really are just Zarkon said to be," Sendak said. "The affinity for these humans has made you weak, boy."

"That's what You think," Keith smirked before he grabbed Sesshomaru's left wrist and ripped it right off. Take the  Crystal piece with him.

"What?!" Sendak questioned.

"I'm taking back this crystal piece!" Keith yelled as the robotic arm soon deactivates.

"Holy Moly!" Adam cried, having watched everything from nearby. "that kid took away his only weapon. I can see why you have unusual faith in him, Takashi!"

Despite his earlier shock, Sendak only glared at his now useless limb.

"that limb was my only power source! But No matter I'll still defeat him!" Sendak thought.

"He did it, a little bit reckless! But he did it" Shiro exclaimed.

"All right!" Hunk added. "Now Sendak's gonna get it! Go on, Keith! Give him what-for!"

"Gladly," Keith replied as he raised his sword...but just as he was about to do just that, he suddenly tensed up and coughed up more blood.

"Oh, no!" Lance cried.

"Stats" Stats cried out.

"Keith!" Shiro shouted. "Are you okay?!"

"Dammit..." Keith thought as everything began to blur around him. "Everything around me is spinning uncontrollably!"

He dropped down to one knee, and yet he still held in attack mode, poised.

"Huh?" Adam muttered as he approached. "What's this? The kid just passed out on his knees!"

"Don't get too close, Adam," Sendak warned.

"Hmm?" Adam hummed. "But why, the kid is-"

As if to answer that question, Keith suddenly swung his blade down at him, who shrieked as he backed away.

"W-what just happened?!" Adam questioned. "I thought he was unconscious!"

"He is," Sendak began, "but even now, his only instinct is to keep on attacking if I get too close. What do I expect from a wild beast such as him?  

He then turned and walked away. "Adam, let us go. So long as I don't hold any weapon, there's no point in being here, anymore."

"I understand!" Adam mumbled before pushing another button on his remote, which summons a speeder for them to ride on!

"They're gone," Hunk said.

"It looks like it's over...for now," Pidge said.

"Yeah," Shiro agreed, "but I have a feeling Adam will be back before we know it."

"Urrrgh..." Keith groaned...as he finally collapsed on the ground, his blood pooling beneath him.

"Keith!" Shiro cried as he ran up to him. "Keith, can you hear me?!"

"S...hir...o..." he whispered.

"Keith, hang on!" Shiro urged... His voice echoing inside Keith's head as the world slowly faded to black. "Keith?! Keithhhh"

As Sendak and Adam drifted through the Land, Adam glanced back and noticed that the daemon wasps were following after them and they had been doing so for quite some time, now, too. 

"Well, that plan went to a bust!" Adam said. "How long do you think these wasps will follow us?" He didn't like it, especially the way they stared at him and Sendak with those piercing red eyes of theirs.

"They're waiting for me to abandon the  Crystal piece embedded in this arm," Sendak replied as he looks down his armor...revealing the robotic arm starting to grow veins as it tried to wrap around his shoulder.

"AAH!" Adam shrieked. "The...the arm! It's snaking around your flesh, Sendak!"

"Not for long," Sendak replied before he quickly ripped the robotic arm off his stump and tossed it to the ground. However, one of the wasps soon picked it up and carried it into the forest and dropped it in Haggar's hands.

"So, Adam, Sendak," Haggar began, "you both failed, it seems."

"So it would seem," said Adam as he stood behind Haggar, who quickly turned around and jumped back.

"Well...if it isn't our new recruit, himself," Haggar said, mockingly.

"Whatever" Adam shouted. "You gave us an option to handle the samurai you didn't tell us that he had his friends with him?!"

"Don't be a fool, boy" said Haggar as she pulled out the quintessence crystal piece from the discarded robotic limb. " You knew he was he wasn't alone, I only added a precautionary measure that would enable to give you the power to destroy him."

"So you've thought of every possible contingency, haven't you?" asked Sendak.

"Of course I did!" Haggar said. "But it does seem to be that the samurai's  allies have weakened by our efforts!"

"you're right, they have, Witch," Sendak said.

"Hmph," Adam snorted. "What does that mean!"

"Meaning that we can unleash this!" Haggar said, Pointing over the distance to a mysterious figure into the darkness!

"Eh?" Adam questioned before he picked up the meaning on they say...and realized that the mysterious figure might have something to accomplish.

"Oh, I see now!" Adam replied. "But later, I see another means to kill Keith  Person...I will do it, myself." He then turned and walked away. "Now we know what we have to do."

Meanwhile, as dawn approached, Shiro, Keith, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Stats, and Kiaion were all riding on an Altea Skiff, pilot by Romelle who was taken the group back to Aurs.

"Lance, how are you feeling?" asked Shiro. "Do you feel better?"

"Yes, much better," Lance answered. "The medicine you used worked! How's Keith?"

"He's unconscious," Shiro began, "but he's breathing." he then looked back to Keith, who was lying behind him. "Keith, can you hear me? We're almost back at Aurs. Just try and hang in there a little longer, okay?"

"...Uh-huh..." Keith groaned.

"If Keith insisted on going back to the village...his injuries must be worse than we thought," Shiro thought as he looked at the half-daemon, worriedly.

Soon, the group arrived at Aurs, Needless to say, Coran was shocked to see Keith in such a state and promptly got to work on healing him as best he could. Even though Keith was capable of fast-healing, having Sendak impale him through the stomach would take more than just a day. He also noticed that Shiro had developed a large bump on his head from when he fell after Sendak struck him. Despite Romelle and Coran wanting to help, Shiro insisted that them to tend to Keith first and foremost and even asked if he could help in his treatment.

Outside the hospital Room inside the shrine, Shiro was with Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Romelle, Stats, and Kiaion talking about what had happened while Keith slept in one of the Beds in the room.

That was scary," Hunk said. "You think Keith's gonna be okay?"

"Keith will be fine...hopefully," Shiro replied. "Still...I didn't expect Adam or Sendak to appear like that." he then grunted as he put his hand on his head. "And man, Sendak hits hard. Even with the herbs from Aurs, I can still feel it a little bit."

"Me too, I can still feel the Sting from the bugs!" Lance said as he put his hand on his shoulder. "But still, that was a big risk you took, Shiro."

"Yeah, you're lucky you only got away with a bump on the head. Sendak could have killed you!" Pidge said.

"I know," Shiro began, "but he was about to kill Keith and the rest of us, too! I couldn't just stand by and let anyone else get hurt! I guess I still have a lot to learn!" He reaches out for his sword!

"Even so," Lance started, "Keith was really worried about you."

"And so were we!" Hunk added. "I almost thought you were a goner!"

"Stats", Stats resume "Stats, Stats, Stats, Stats!"

"I'm fine, boy, You don't have to worry about me" Shiro reassured. "Really!"

"'Fine', my foot..."

Shiro gasped before he turned to see Keith, who let out short breaths as he approached.

"I-Keith!" Shiro cried as he stood up. "You shouldn't be up and about! You need to rest!"

"Shut up!" Keith bit back. "I'm just fine, man...I just needed a little sleep, that's all." He looked to the group. "Hey...I'm gonna tear Shiro away from you guys for a little bit, okay?"

"Sure, okay!" Lance said.

"By all means," Pidge replied.

"Okay," Romelle nodded.

"Come on, Shiro," Keith said as he headed into the direction of the outside. "Come with me."

"O-okay," Shiro answered as he followed after him. The walk was rather quiet and awkward, neither one of them saying a word to each other. As they walk in a forest. Shiro suddenly stops and looks at a bush and said.

"Huh?!" As he picks up a leaf. "Romelle taught me that this herb is the best antidote for poison. I'll brew some tea with it later. And this one here is a good antiseptic. It works, but it also stings something awful".

"Shiro…" Keith smiles and said. "You've become strong".

Shiro stands up, proudly, and puts his hands on his hip. "I know! After all, I spend each day running away from daemons. I'm much stronger now than your average garrison man. But I still need to practice for my sword fighting, too".

When they reached the mist wall, the one that separates Aurs from the outside world. And hidden inside of Shiro was the quintessence crystal which the daemons, including the Galra all, sought. That's how Shiro met Keith and all their friends…And that moment Keith finally sat down and sighed.

"Are you all right, Keith?" Shiro asked as he sat down beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder in concern. "Are you still in pain?"

"...Shiro," Keith said. "You're always asking about how I feel...but you got hurt, too."

"Huh?" Shiro asked as he put her hand to his head. "Oh...that was just a little bump. It's practically gone, now. I'm sorry, Keith. I know you told me to stay away from Sendak but I ended up getting in your way. If I hadn't been moving around close by, you wouldn't have gotten hurt so seriously".

"Nah… Actually, your sword saved me. I'm grateful, Shiro". Keith said, "but still I...I put you in danger."

Shiro blinked in surprise before he put his hand to the half-daemon's forehead.

"Keith, you're not running a fever, are you?" he asked.

"Will you stop that?!" Keith asked as he pushed his hand away. "I ain't delirious!"

Not too far away, Romelle and the others happened to be nearby, having followed the pair since they left.

"Man, those two are getting on!" Hunk said.

"Stats!" Stats nodded.

"Yeah! What's Keith up to, dragging Shiro way out here in the forest?" Pidge asked, softly.

"Shh...!" Lance shushed. "I can't hear...!"

"You did hear what Adam said, earlier, didn't you?" asked Keith. "About the Empire  Did he tell you about Haggar!"

"No, he didn't!" Shiro said, "In a matter of back, he did want to toy with me!"

"I see!" He then looked at Shiro. "From here on out...things are gonna be even more dangerous, now".

"Yeah," Shiro realized. "I guess you're right, huh?"

"Doesn't that scare you?!" Keith asked. "You could've been killed!"

"yeah! but, it's the risk I have to take!" Shiro admitted. "I got off easy! You have a gaping hole in your stomach and-"

Without warning... Keith grabbed Shiro by the wrist and pulled him into a tight hug.

"...I...Keith...?" Shiro asked.

"...I thought I was gonna lose you," Shiro replied. "I...I was terrified!"

"Stats!" Stats cried as he could not believe his eyes.

"Oh, that is he wanted to drag him into the forest!" Lance said.

"I knew there was something between them all along!" Pidge added.

"Everyone I ever cared for," Keith whispered. "Takashi...Allura...they both died because I dragged them into some mess."

"Keith," Shiro started, "you shouldn't blame yourself."

"And now...you got hurt because of me," Inuyasha said, sadly.

"But I'm okay, now," Shiro reassured. "Really. Whatever happens, now and in the future, we'll get through it!  together."

"I can't take that risk," Keith said.

"W-what are you talking about-" Kagome started, only for Shiro to kiss him on the lips, causing him to let out a surprised squeak as his face turned red. At first, he was frozen...but as he was about to lean in, Keith pulled away, and that's when he noticed something: he was holding his piece of the quintessence Crystal!

"I'll be holding onto this," he said.

"W-wait!" Shiro cried. "Keith, what are you-"

"Goodbye forever," Keith replied...before he shoved Shiro into the Skiff that Romelle parking.

"Wait, what?" Shiro asked, confused.

But Keith wasn't done. Next, with his strength, he pushes the Skiff right next to the mist wall, and once Shiro was seated, Keith hits the motor to send him racing towards the wall.

"AAAAAAAAAAH!" he shrieked as he plummeted into the unknown. "Keith!"

"Shiro!" Lance and the others cried as they ran up to the well and peered inside...but he was nowhere to be found. Just gone!

"Oh, no! he's gone!" Lance cried.

"What did you do, Keith?!" Romelle questioned. "Where's Shiro?!"

"Shut up!" Keith yelled as he walked away. "I sent him away!"

"To where?" Romelle repeated. "I don't understand."

"It doesn't matter,"  Keith said before he turned to face them, "because he's never coming back!"