Alone, I cry for you- (Part 4)
Ko made his way up the mountain; the thin air choked his lungs, and the rough terrain made it hard to keep his balance. "Hah...Hah..." he panted, "Almost there..."
As he struggled, he felt a sense of worry in the pit of his stomach; he had found Senshi, but the both of them had been gone for hours before he had either.
------
As the sun set Ko sat on the porch of their genkan; a room they had procured for the night. He noticed both Senshi and Tamari step out of the door as they began to walk down the street.
"Huh? Where you guys goin'?" he asked.
Neither of them turned to him when they spoke, "We're going out for a bit." replied Senshi.
Ko stood up, "Can I come with?" he asked.
She turned slowly to face him. "No."
Senshi's eyes were a milky white, as if she wasn't fully conscious.
He stepped back, "..." with a concerned look on his face.
"Will be back later." Added Tamari as he passed Ko.
"Oh- um..." He cocked his head, taking notice of a thin silver thread hanging from the back of their necks. "Hey- there's a..." but he stopped, as a voice gently crept into his ear.
"Don't follow them..." it said, with an all too familiar voice.
He turned to look but no one was there; "What..." and by the time he turned back they were gone.
------
He finally came to a clearing in the forest; it was utterly decimated. Trees had been toppled over, shattered rock had been thrown about, and the smell of ash filled the air.
/Cough- cough/ He covered his mouth scanning the area for Tamari; however, it didn't take him too long to notice...
"What in God's name..."
He beheld a massive sphere; it loomed over him as it encompassed the mountain's peak. It was pitch black, with red miasma gravitating around its center. Many different large kanji covered the sphere, they glowed with an ominous purple light.
He reached out to touch the sphere, but upon contact he immediately pulled his hand back, as it radiated an immense heat.
"Ngh..." he stepped back, clutching his hand. "Tamari... he's gotta be in there."
———
A burning house lie within the middle of a snow-covered forest. A crimson moon looking down upon them.
Tamari's dismembered arms poured blood from their stumps; his body failing him.
In a final act of retaliation, he instinctively focused his yinko into his arms. The red mist circulating around his body began to flow into him.
Out from the wounds on his shoulders sprouted malformed limbs made of thick blood.
Nise ignored him, solemnly staring into the fire as its reflection danced within her eyes.
"This place... it brings back such horrible memories I can't help but feel sorrowful..."
She ran her hands along her arms and up her body; "However, that is not the only emotion I feel tonight..."
Her eyes contained a savagery that Tamari had never seen before; one of chaotic madness and bloodlust. "Haaaah..."
She licked her lips, "As much as I wish to hide it, I can't help but give into my nature~!"
Hundreds of Kowai emerged from the sky as if they spawned from the very air itself. They raised their hands creating thousands of blades that floated in the air.
"Come now, little Tamari..." She smiled, "Entertain me..."
The blades shot at Tamari with tremendous speed; he guarded, but several pierced his body.
"Argh..." Tamari grunted, swinging his appendages like whips, he carved open the earth. Causing a massive eruption of stone and rock.
Kowai shielded herself but was soon met with a tremendous assault. Wiping out many of the Kowai in mere moments. "Yes, more~ More~!"
Tamari set his sights on her, aiming his attacks at her once again.
She elegantly dodged the flurry of attacks. Tamari appeared behind her, winding up to attack when she met him with her ten tails, transformed into blades.
She spun around, severely wounding him; "Gah!"
"Hah~! I haven't felt like this in a long time~" Raising her hand, she created a ball of white flame.
"Kitsune-kami no kaga-"
But before she could finish, he latched onto the trees behind her, launching himself with extreme speed.
Mid-flight he tightened his fists; Hell Dance: Chi Fukkatsu * (Blood Resurrection) *
Hardening the blood, he formed new arms, jagged like blades; he shot through Kowai's abdomen.
He held her up as he skewered her. "...Ack-"
She smiled, "Finally caught me, haven't you...?" coughing up blood onto his face.
Tamari almost sneered a sinister grin; however, Kowai placed her hands on his face, bringing him in.
"Psych~!" She snickered.
Her body began to unravel as she transformed into large metal chains, pinning Tamari in place.
He roared as large spikes were formed, piercing his limbs, anchoring him to the earth.
"Surprised?" Said a voice; Tamari scanned the area.
Out from the burning home stepped Kowai unscratched. "Think of this world as the innermost sanctum of my soul..."
She stepped around the scattered debris; "For in this space, mere illusions can become reality. Including "this" body…"
"That hideous spider had "attempted" to achieve such a power..." She said disgusted. "But, as this place is my greatest strength, it is also my greatest weakness..."
She pulled aside her Tomesode, showing a part of her stomach had started to disappear. "My life is represented by the home you see before you."
She pointed, "Should the house fall, by the flame that consumes it, so will I..."
Tamari roared and trashed but it was no use; she had ensnared him completely.
She sighed, touching her stomach; "That damn Monk's schemes were almost fulfilled it seems..."
"However, I have plans for you as well..." She calmly stepped up to him. "I will give you a choice..."
"Forsake everything and end it all here..." she placed her hand on his cheek.
"Or live on and suffer, to die a worse fate than this..."
Her crimson and gold eyes sparkled in the moonlight, "Either choice, you'll no longer be human- not to those you hold dear, not even yourself..."
Tamari looked into her eyes, his monstrous appearance reflecting back at him.
"How far are you willing to go…" she asked. "...for your penance?"
"..."
His head sank; a single tear ran down his cheek.
Kowai grinned, licking up the tear; "Keh..." she spun around laughing.
Smiling a big toothy grin, she flashed her fanged teeth like a child; "I thought you'd say so~"
She snapped her fingers, lighting Tamari in a white flame.
He cried in anguish as he was engulfed in an inferno; Kowai only laughing louder as his screams grew; echoing into the night.