Pinch

"Ahhh!" Hachiro shouted as the flames engulfed the whole room. The webs flicker in the bizarre scenery of naught and despair. Sparkling like fireworks, Spiders shriek as they dress in flame and debris falls everywhere like a rampage. The floor shook and the walls started to crumble.

Hachiro, in exhaustion, fell to his knees. He can hardly inhale in the dust that has formed; his vision is cloudy, his lips are sore, and his mouth is dry.

"Ha-chan!!" Shichiro screamed, bumping a falling branch that was about to hit Hachiro's head. He stood in front of him, helping him to stand. "Are you alright?" he said in concern.

"Uh-wooa" the poor guy vomits blood, looking pale and cold.

"Ha-chan!" Shichiro cried. "Hang in there!!!"

"Where's Michiyo?" he coughed, trying to have a sight.

"Don't try to talk!" Shichiro replied. "You're too hurt to even move..."

"Ne, Shi—"

"I saw her on that side...let's get to her in an instant and don't talk for a moment. This palace will collapse anytime soon and we need to get out fast..." Shichiro transformed into a grizzly bear and carried his master on that side he mentioned.

There they saw, among the different-sized and human-sized bags, a ripped area showing a girl's pale hand. Hachiro tried to lift his head to see the girl and when he saw her fine sleeping face, his spirits were lifted.

"Michiyo.." he whispered.

The girl noticed the voice and opened her eyes. She saw the worn face of her savior carried by a bear. "I knew you'd come..." she whispered back with a smile, more of a smirk. "You've grown quite big, Shichiro-kun."

"Don't mention it..." Shichiro sighed.

Hachiro stood on his own feet and his wolf turned into a bear and ripped the rest of the bag. Michiyo got out and held firm on the guy's arm as she felt nauseous from what she enjoyed inside the spider's bag.

"You were about to get eaten, you know.." Hachiro said, trying to start a light conversation.

"I knew you'd come in the first place..."

"You were quite imposing a while ago.."

"Sorry, but.." Michiyo smiled. "I know you'll be back. Thank you..."

"But I haven't saved the others.."

"You promised to save them after all the ruckus, right?" Michiyo replied. "We still have a chance to turn everything to normal, including your life."

The ground shook even more and half of the ceiling fell in front of them.

"Guys, we need to get outta here now!" Shichiro screamed and went to his master's side. "Let's go Ha-chan!"

"Wait, where's the key?" Michiyo noticed. "We've come this far. We should not leave empty-handed."

"The key?" Hachiro's eyes widen "You're right! I haven't gotten it.." he replied. "Have you seen it Shi---"

"Are you looking for this?" the spider showed the key tied to her neck with a spider web, wiggling it like enticing a puppy with a bone.

"Damn you! You're still alive..." Hachiro said.

"Not a mere fire can defeat me, kid!" the spider replied. "It's you who will meet his death!" the spider laughed and started to charge.

"Can you stand?" he whispered to Michiyo, holding her hand.

"I guess I can---" she fell, and her right leg was bleeding.

"I thought you can't. You didn't even notice your wound." Hachiro replied.

"What are you planning to do?" Michiyo asked.

"Get the key of course." Hachiro stood firm, ready to receive a blow. "That's why we're here."

"That's impossible Hachiro. You can't fight in your condition anymore!" Michiyo begged. "Are you planning to die?"

"It has come to this point. To do it or die trying."

"But!"

Hachiro ripped his shirt, tied her wound, and made her sit on the tree root behind them. "I'll be back." He forced a smile.

"I know you will." Michiyo replied knowing she couldn't argue with him in that situation, though she saw the freight in his eyes. From the short time she had been with him, she realized a few things about the guy who was hated by the world. She could help but worry about him.

"Let's go Shi-chan!" Hachiro cried and went off.

She watched his back getting far from her as he rushed towards the mad spider. The first time she saw that back, she was in a pinch. They were brought to an edge and that silhouette saved their asses. Now, that thing's happening again. She can't keep feeling ashamed of herself. She hated the wrong guy and realized that the world also did. She didn't know the whole story but she jumped to conclusions without knowing his side of the story.

"He's not a bad guy." She thought and hope slowly showed on her face.

She saw Hachiro battle the spider and managed to snatch the key from its neck. Though faint, she saw her running back toward her, exhausted. He desperately tried to carry her on top of his bear.

"What are you doing?" she cried.

"Giving you a ride," Hachiro replied. "Let's get out of here, Shi-chan!" they ran to the broken wall and jumped from the height they were from.

"Ahh!" Michiyo shouted. "What are you doing, idiot!"

"I'm sorry..." Hachiro laughed. "that's the fastest way we can get out of the crumbling castle."

"But, the ground! The ground!"

"I know....but..." Hachiro activated his Nike shoes and they hovered onto the nearest vertical wall. He ran fast, keeping their weight with debris following their backs.

Sounds of utter destruction rose around the area but a weird shriek gave Michiyo a cold sweat.

"What was that?" she asked.

In an instant, the spider threw itself out from the same wall they got out. It strikes them with its broken leg, bearing needles that are shot at them.

Hachiro dodged its attack but not completely and it grazed him somehow but they managed to avoid it like a thin thread. Shichiro burst out from anger and turned its tail into a blade. He spun fast and aimed at the spider's neck, and its' head went flying. Black blood rained at them as they fell to the ground. He got Hachiro and helped him land carefully with Michiyo.

"Are you alright?" Shichiro asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. How about you, Michiyo?"

"It's nothing..." she showed them her arm. "We finally did it.."

"Yeah...quite a night though...Ja, let's head back to the camp."

"Ahh...thanks for everything."

"..." Hachiro didn't say a word. He ran fast and left the crumbling palace with their victory.