DEVIL HUNTER: YOHKO by Bill Smith AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story is based on the Devil Hunter: Yohko series, and takes place after the sixth episode (which is how far it's gotten in USA at the time of this writing). Here's a list of people who will probably nitpick at this story for some inaccuracy or another: DH Yohko experts, paranormal experts, occult experts, Satanists, vampire experts, and Japanese. Episode summaries up to this point: 1 - Yohko discovers that she is a Devil Hunter after being attacked by a demon in her school swimming pool. After the demon attacks, she is hypnotized by a demon-possessed boy from the school, and then rescued by her grandmother. Her grandmother explains the whole Devil Hunter bit (kill demons; save the world) and, of course, they have to stop the evil demons from destroying Earth. Blah blah, in the end, Yohko is pitted against the Black Queen, Reiko (another girl from school), and Yohko defeats her, saving the world. 2 - Azusa is introduced and becomes Yohko's pupil--she runs around in an apron all the time, acting like a maid. After Azusa meets up with Yohko, [and Chi, who has just played the constant friend in all of this; not really anything pivotal] the Devil Hunter-in-training wanders into a forest and a demon attacks her. Yohko kills the demon and its pal, then is attacked by a demon king. Azusa transforms as well, and they both kill the demon. 3 - Yohko is transported off to another dimension, where she instantly falls in love with this gorgeous hunk who just so happens to be trapped in a crystal ball. In order to free him, she has to kill a demon. So she kills the demon, and a crystal pops out, but it's a girl and not her hunk. An old lady, she met earlier, guides her to a second demon, which she kills. Azusa then drops in (having tracked her using her Devil Hunter's Kit), and distracts everyone just long enough for the demon to resurrect itself. Then Yohko kills it, and the hunk is set free. Unfortunately, he is in love with the girl from the first crystal. 4 - A blob of music videos. 5 - Yohko becomes infatuated with another guy, but Tokima (the super evil demon who brought all demons to Earth) takes over his body. Tokima has to break the seal in order to become really free, and the seal is in Yohko's basement. He lures her there, and attempts to take the seal, but Madoka set talismans out to stop him. Tokima turns into his natural form and fighting ensues. Azusa and Madoka arrive, but Tokima posseses Azusa and she takes the seal. Later, they all end up at some big clock (you know, like big ben or something) to break the seal. Azusa fights Yohko, and Tokima kills Yohko. Oh dear. Yohko's body is somehow transported back in time to after the battle when Haruka fought Tokima. Haruka brings Yohko back to life, and they return to the present and kill Tokima. Wahoo. 6 - Yohko discovers she has a twin when her grandmother's sister's granddaughter (2nd cousin?) starts stealing her wanna-be-boyfriends. Ayoko (that's her...relative's name) turns out to be almost identical to Yohko, except that her weapon is a whip, instead of a soulsword. Azusa is on vacation to visit her parents during this whole episode. Ayoko and Azusa 2 (Ayoko's pupil; also an exact twin) challenge Yohko, wanting to take her place. They don't really duke it out until the end, when they all come upon a demon (that Ayoko resurrected) and have to work together to kill it. Ayoko leaves, saying that she'll come back someday to challenge Yohko again. (They part on friendly terms though.) Side Notes: - Chiachi is Madoka's sister. Chiachi is a bitch. - Osamu was the possessed boy in the first episode. - When any of the Devil Hunter clan transforms, they do so by having their clothes ripped off (this is in the animation) and then gathering their power with a bunch of special effects. Then their gi (karate uniform thing) forms around them. Yohko's weapon is her SoulSword, Azusa's is the Spear of Fuma, Ayoko's is the Whip of Distraction. Mmm...I hope I'm not leaving anything out. - Tetsuo is a character of my own creation that I've thrown in as one of the main characters. You'll meet him. - Keep in mind that Haruka only BANISHED Tokima. She didn't kill him. - Mr. Sano was Yohko's substitute teacher infatuation in episode 6. Ayoko inadvertantly (I think) killed him. Disclaimers: What? Did somebody say Constitutional Rights? Character List: Tetsuo Hamada - Paranormal Expert Yohko Mano - Devil Hunter Azusa Kanzaki - Devil Hunter-in-training Chigako Ogawa - Best Friend Madoka Mano - Grandmother Sayoko Mano - Mother *** PART ONE {episode 7}: SOUL STEALER Yohko sighed as she walked home. Grandma and great aunt were still arguing in the clutches of that huge hand. Ayoko and Azusa 2 had just left. When she arrived at the house, it was empty. Her mother was probably out on a date. Again. Then she realized that Mr. Sano was dead! Yohko stopped dead in her tracks before her house, the realization suddenly hitting her. But wait! Tateno was now open, since Ayoko was gone. Yohko grinned as she flopped onto her bed, not even pausing to remove her gi. She fell into a blissful sleep, filled with sweaty basketball players and smiling faces. *** The next morning, Yohko woke late again. "Grandma!" she yelled. "Why didn't you wake me!?" Yohko yanked off her gi and began pulling on her school uniform. Although it happened every day, she shouldn't really be surprised. Yohko stumbled down the stairs, pulling her jacket on. "Grandma! Mother! You should wake me!" She skidded to a stop by the kitchen table and began chugging the milk from the carton. As she ran for the door, her mother called, "Yohko! Your lunch!" Yohko caught it as her grandmother leaned out of the kitchen, throwing it at her. "Have a good day!" grandma called after her. "Bye!" she waved. Once out the door, she ran full speed toward the school. It was only a few blocks away. She could make it, right? *** "Yohko!" Chi called. She waved. Yohko returned the wave, then looked back into the basketball court, where Tateno was playing again. She would watch for a flying basketball this time. "Yohko!" Chi panted as she came up. "Not now, Chi!" "Yohko!" Chi pulled her around. "What is it?" Yohko stamped her foot. "Someone wants to see you!" Since Tateno was the only person she'd really want to see, and he was playing basketball behind her, it couldn't be him. Thus, her heart didn't jump with the news. "Who?" "I don't know, but it sounds important. He really wants to see you." Yohko glared at her. "It better be important. This is making me miss my P.E. break!" Chi led her out to behind the gym, to the Alley, where people often met for mysterious purposes. Drugs, money, and alcohol would exchange hands here. "Why here?" Yohko whispered. Chi pointed, and Yohko walked over towards her contact. He was slightly shorter than Yohko, had brown hair, green eyes. He reminded her somewhat of Osamu. The boy had on the typical school uniform, which was dark blue jacket, dark blue slacks, and a white long-sleeve shirt. "Yohko?" he said when she drew near. Yohko nodded. "Uh-huh." He stuck his hand out. "My name is Tetsuo Hamada." She shook it hesitantly. If the circumstances hadn't been as such, she might have been attracted to him. "Yohko Mano." "I know. I know who you are. And I need your help." "What? What are you talking about?" Tetsuo looked impatient, glanced over at Chi, and said, "You're the Devil Hunter, and I need your help!" Yohko gasped. "How did you know?" "That's not really important. I'd like you to meet me after school today, so we can talk. And...I'd prefer Chi not come, if possible. I don't want any information to get out." Yohko nodded mutely. *** They met in a secluded corner of the library, which was open till about four, though no one stayed after school let out. When she sat down, Tetsuo flashed her a smile. "One of my pastimes is researching the paranormal, and I've discovered that there is a demon among us." Yohko furrowed her brow. "I would know if-" "No. The demon I'm referring to is a SoulStealer. It works its magic on humans and steals their souls. The demon disguises itself as a human, so no one knows, until it's taken their soul." "How do you know all this?" Tetsuo handed her a folder. "In here's all my evidence. Like I said, one of my pastimes is researching the paranormal, demons, and the like. I heard of this case here in Tokyo, so I decided to come take a look. So far, the SoulStealer has at least 5 people's souls, and they will be trapped in its body, until we can kill it." "But...how did you find out about me?" Tetsuo grinned. "It's not too hard. I had a little chat with your pal Osamu, listened in on a few of your conversations, and put two and two together." Yohko swallowed, making a mental note to keep better secrets. "Okay. How am I supposed to help?" "The SoulStealer has now taken the form of Ms. Sayama, the principal." "Again?" "What?" "I mean, the last principal was a demon." "Oh, that, yeah, I know. Anyway, the SoulStealer may be trying to work its way to you, so be careful. Now that I think about it, you should protect Chi, if possible." "How?" Tetsuo thought for a moment. "Keep her at your house. Get Azusa to keep a watch on her, and give her this." Tetsuo handed Yohko a small pendant. "It's a charm that'll help disguise her presence from the demon. Just don't tell anyone where she is." Yohko nodded mutely, wondering how he knew all this. "But Azusa's at her parents." "She came back today, shortly after you left for school." "Oh." "Now, hurry. We don't have much time to lose. Tonight, you can meet me at this address, and we can discuss how to defeat the demon. Good bye, Yohko," he said. Tetsuo stood and left. *** At her house, she, Azusa, and Chi pored over the information Tetsuo had given her. It contained photographs, articles, notes, and sketches of info on the SoulStealer. This Tetsuo had been at this a long time, it seemed. The oldest dated paper was two years ago. "Wow Yohko," Chi said, flipping through a booklet of Japanese legends. She was wearing the pendant under her sweatshirt. "This guy's really serious." "Or crazy." "Oh come on! You don't think he's making this up, do you?" "He might be! Who knows what some people might do?" "Don't talk like that! Besides, you're supposed to meet him tonight, aren't you? Be sure to tell me everything!" Chi grinned. "I want all the details." "Come on, Chi! I'm faithful to Tateno!" Yohko said. "Don't tell Mr. Sano that," Azusa said. "Hmph. You stay here and watch Chi while I go to Tetsuo's." *** Yohko knocked on the door to the house. She only saw two lights on when she approached, the front porch light, and a den light. Tetsuo opened it after a few moments. "Yohko. Glad you could come. Please come in." He ushered her in and closed the door. Inside, Yohko was confronted with hundreds of odd objects, symbols, writings, spells, candles, incense, paintings, and other strangities. "What is all this?" Yohko asked, gaping. "This is my personal collection of demon...stuff. Much of it is meaningless, and just looks cool, but some of it has uses. This paper, for example." He held out an old parchment, written in a brownish ink, in Arabic, or some other language. "It was written in 55 A.D. by a dying Druid priest, who had discovered a chant to repell demons. Unfortunately, he was lost in the forest, so he had to write it in his blood." "Ew." "Yeah, well, you know." Tetsuo set it aside. "There are other charms, and helpful items. If it really came down to it, no demon but Lucifer himself could enter this house. Even then he'd be really pissed off. Come in here with me." Yohko followed him to his dining room, where the table was covered in scattered papers and documents. "We need to formulate a plan on how to catch the SoulStealer." "Wait," Yohko said. "How do I know to believe you?" "Didn't you look at the portfolio I gave you?" "Yeah, but that's a lot of mumbo-jumbo I don't understand. How are we supposed to know what any of that means?" Tetsuo sighed. "You may need proof. I'll show you a video tape." The boy cut off the lights and clicked on a small TV in the corner of the room. On the screen was a plush office, with furniture all around, bookshelves, and nice things. "Have a seat," Tetsuo said, pulling out a chair for her. He sat opposite, and fast-forwarded the VCR. "This is a surveillance tape of the School Administration for downtown Tokyo. The school usually doesn't have surveillance tapes, but this was from the police investigation that the School Administration was dodging taxes." "How did you get this?" Tetsuo shrugged. "I stole it. Now, what you see here," he slowed it down, "is a person visiting the chairman. It's very late at night, so the SoulStealer doesn't expect anyone to see his work. The chairman and the SoulStealer talk for a few moments, until the demon gets bored and decides to take his soul..." he paused, and the visitor leaped over the desk, attacking the chairman. The visitor overpowered the chairman and tied him down. "Now, the SoulStealer changes into his natural form, which is blurred on the camera, because, although advanced, camcorders can't record absolutely everything that the human eye can see. Most people think it can. Now, the SoulStealer clears off the floor, and..." Tetsuo forwarded the tape more. "He begins to draw himself a pentagram in the center of the floor, using the man's blood. Once that's done, he positions the man in the pentagram, somehow rendering him unconscious, and lights a candle at each point of the star. Now, the demon cuts down the front of the man's chest, drinking the blood. After about ten minutes, this is done. This means that the demon has completed his little transfer, and the man's soul is now the demon's." Tetsuo sped up the tape. "As we watch this part, the man's body is absorbed into the demon's, and he cleans up the mess, repositions everything, and, by morning, becomes the chairman." Tetsuo stopped the tape. Yohko was gaping. "But how...?" "What?" Tetsuo asked. He ejected the tape and filed it into a cabinet, that was filled with other tapes. Yohko shook her head. "And we're supposed to kill this?" Tetsuo stood up. "That thing, the blur, that you saw, will be the easy part. The hard part will be killing the people's souls. Although the people are really dead, they seem to be alive." Yohko sighed. "Okay. So we need to go kill it. Where is it now?" "I would suspect that it's either at the house, sleeping, or out searching for you." "Why me?" Tetsuo raised an eyebrow. "I would think that's obvious. You're the local devil hunter. You're the SoulStealer's logical enemy." Yohko sighed. "You're right." "Have you eaten dinner yet?" Yohko smiled and shook her head. "I'll microwave us some pizzas or something, if you like." *** As Yohko arrived back at the house, grandma pounced on her. "So!? Tell me! Where were you? Give me all the details!" "Grandma!" Yohko whined. "I'm tired! And I have school tommorrow! Leave me alone!" "Was it that Osamu boy?" "Grandma!" Back in her room, Azusa and Chi pounced on her. "So? What happened? What'd you do? Was he good?" "Chi! Nothing happened. We just talked. That's all." "All?" Azusa raised an eyebrow. "Well, we had dinner, but-" "Dinner! That's a whole different story! What happened?" Yohko scowled. "I still love Tateno." Chi nodded, and Azusa said, "Right." "Listen," Yohko said. "I have to tell you guys something." They paused, and Yohko told the entire story of this SoulStealer to them. By the end of the oration, they were all silent. "I always knew that this school was cursed with a demon principal!" Chi finally said. The girls laughed. *** The next day, Chi and Yohko went to school, and Azusa said she'd meet them afterwards at Yohko's house. During lunch, as Yohko and Chi sat down next to the pool. Almost as soon as they sat down, Tetsuo plopped down in a seat next to them. "So? Have any ideas?" he asked. "Why don't we just go in there and confront her?" Yohko asked. Tetsuo hesitated as he unpacked his lunch. "I don't know if that's such a good idea. Just, out and out battle?" He finished emptying his lunch bag. "See, the SoulStealer has as many lives as souls he's stolen. For example, if the demon has stolen 20 people's souls, you'd have to kill him 20 times before you uncovered the real SoulStealer. That was the blur that we saw on tape." "Well what would you recommend?" Chi asked. Tetsuo looked at Chi, then shrugged. "I was hoping to wait until it attempted its next victim, when we could catch it in its natural form. Once there, we'll be able to kill it easily." "Wait," Yohko said. "What would happen to the next victim?" "We'd kill the demon before it could finish the ritual." "But..." "I don't want to risk losing you to the demon in its full power!" flared Tetsuo suddenly. Both girls looked at him. "Well," he said, scowling. "How easy would it be for you to kill 20 people, all of whom are innocent?" "Where'd you get the number 20?" "It was an example." "Oh." "Well, Yohko, why don't you meet me in the library after school again. Chi and Azusa can meet us at your house." *** In the library, Tetsuo was wearing a jean jacket, black jeans, and a black undershirt. "Why did you change clothes?" Tetsuo shrugged. "No reason. Don't like the school uniform, really." "Can I ask you a question?" Yohko said, sitting down. "Sure." "How old are you?" "15." "You look awfully young." "Can be an advantage." "I suppose so. What's that mark on your hand?" "It's a ward against the SoulStealer. I found it in the Latin version of the Book of Ash. This way, when he absorbs me, and whoever manages to kill my soul, I don't die, I just come back out." "Oh." "Here's some more info I found on the principal." *** "Hello?" Chi picked up the phone. "Chi? It's Yohko. Tetsuo wants you two to meet us at the North Tokyo Park near the waterfall, where Ayoko and Mr. Sano were found." "Oh. Okay! We'll leave right away!" They did. When they arrived at the park, Yohko and Tetsuo hadn't arrived yet, so they sat down. Azusa looked around suspiciously. "Are you sure she said to meet us now?" "Relax Azusa, Yohko's always-" Chi broke off with a scream, as a monstrous black shape stepped out of the trees. Azusa yelped and leaped into the air, changing swiftly. Her dress and blouse tore from her young body quickly, shedding her bra and panties as well. She spread her arms and accepted her uniform as it formed around her body, the short miniskirt flaring as she touched the ground again. The spear in her hand flashed in warning to the demon. "Devil Hunter in training Azusa is here!" she cried at it. The SoulStealer moved swiftly, its arm lancing out and attacking Azusa. *** As soon as they entered the clearing, Tetsuo swore. "He's been here. He's taken both of them." "What?" Yohko said, panic entering her voice. "What's going on?" Tetsuo was striding around the clearing, examining the ground. "The SoulStealer's taken Azusa and Chi." "What!?" "Here!" Tetsuo bent over quickly, grabbing a piece of cloth. "Hold on, we don't have much time!" "What are you doing?" "I'm going to try to find them." Tetsuo knelt beside the stream, and pulled out a small vial, dipping it into the moving water. He poured the vial into the water, in a circular shape. It hit the water and created a burning fire, that didn't move with the water. He carved the circle into four pieces and set the cloth on the water, which was still running beneath the circle. For an agonizing minute Tetsuo worked over the circle, then he stood up, letting the circle and cloth submerge beneath the surface. "Let's go. They're at the school." Both of them ran to their bikes, and sped down the hill at top speed. Ten minutes later, both of them skidded to a stop in the main parking lot, panting heavily. "There!" Tetsuo pointed to the single lighted room in the school. It was the principal's office. They dropped their bikes and ran into the school, Yohko exploding the doors inward. The principal's office was locked, but Tetsuo threw a chair through the window and unlocked it from the inside. Past the secretary's office, they found the actual office itself, which was covered in carpet and plush furniture. All of this furniture was pushed up against the wall to make room for the SoulStealer's ritual. Chi was splayed on the ground, her limbs angled to the points of a pentagram drawn in blood on the ground. Her blouse was tattered and torn to shreds, and her brassiere was as well. Chi's skirt and panties were also shredded, laying in the pentagram around her. Azusa was bound by her hands in the corner of the room, held up to the ceiling by a rope around her wrists. There was a huge slash across the torso of her gi, and she had lacerations all over her legs. Her right boot was missing, and blood was running down that leg. The SoulStealer appeared suddenly, and leaped at Tetsuo, a huge clawed hand flashing. He ducked, backpedaling into a bookshelf and pulling something out of his backpack. "NO!" Yohko cried. She grabbed the front of her school uniform and ripped it open, her breasts coming free. The rest of the uniform fell away, and energy crackled around her, forming her battle gi. "Yohko Mano, the 108th generation Devil Hunter, is here!" she cried, pointing her sword at the creature. The SoulStealer stopped, and she got a good look at it. It had horns protruding from its head, gnarled and black. The wings were massive, at least a span of 20 feet. Its body was huge and muscular, unusually smooth. "You, Yohko, will die," it growled deeply. Yohko roared a battle cry and attacked. As they battled, Tetsuo ran over to Azusa and grabbed her waist. He cut her free with a knife, then eased her into a chair and untied her bonds. She looked up at him gratefully, then fluttered into unconsciousness. Tetsuo crawled to Chi and broke the seal, blowing out all the candles and smudging the pentagram. He pulled Chi free and laid her behind the desk, covering her form with a curtain. When Tetsuo looked up, the SoulStealer was standing right in front of the desk, laughing. "Can you defeat..." the creature changed. "...me?" It took the form of an innocent looking young boy. Yohko stopped, panting and holding the sword down a little. "No!" Tetsuo cried. He leaped over the desk and the demon turned. That boy's face lived with Tetsuo for the rest of his life. He slammed the blade of his blood knife into the boy's eye, and blood spurted. The boy's body fell away from the next soul, which was an older man, who attacked Tetsuo. Tetsuo was instructor level ninja, so he had little trouble killing the man. Right after he killed the man, the SoulStealer's natural form appeared, and Tetsuo stood uncertainly. It grabbed him around the neck and leaped out the window. Yohko screamed and followed. Tetsuo slashed the arm with his blood knife, leaving trails of fire, but the SoulStealer hung on. Yohko flew out of the window right after, and prepared to cut the demon open. Just moments too soon, the SoulStealer thrust Tetsuo in front of her blade, and she stopped it, landing ungracefully on her rear. The SoulStealer tossed Tetsuo aside and leaped on Yohko. Her sword clattered a few feet away, and the creature grabbed her wrists, holding her up by them. "You are mine, Yohko," it growled. Yohko kicked at it, but it was too far away. There was nearly a second's warning, but it was not enough. Azusa flashed out of the sky, her spear flashing down. It caught the demon right in its staring face, then went straight into its body. The SoulStealer roared as Azusa flipped back and Yohko dropped free. Six more souls dropped out of the demon, each solidifying into a dead body. Tetsuo stood on shaky legs and wobbled over. He smiled at the girls, who were looking at the dead demon, appalled. Moments passed, and all the bodies burned into the atmosphere. "Come on," Yohko said a few moments later. "Let's go home." She turned back into the building to get Chi. ****** PART TWO {episode 8}: ARAKADO Tetsuo slipped his small camera out of his gi and snapped three shots, then put it back in. He was crouching in a tree above a clearing. The scene below him was horrifying. In the clearing, a huge tentacled demon was holding down a man, who was centered in a fiery pentagram. The fires burned him, but he did not die. Eventually, a black smoke began to fill the protective circle, obscuring the man from Tetsuo's vision. The smoke eventually hardened to a black stone-like material, then began cracking. Tetsuo pulled out his camera and snapped more shots. The rock-smoke shattered, then, revealing a huge demon. This demon was eight or ten feet tall, with no wings, no horns, but was definitely a demon. It had blood red glowing eyes and held a black sword in its right hand. The body was hugely muscular, and it had claw-tipped fingernails. "Thank you, my son," the demon said. "I have not walked the face of this earth in millenia, and now I can rule once again. You will be repayed. Now, I will return to Kachiado and begin summoning my hordes. I detect a presence in Tokyo, that is a threat to my existence. It will be eliminated." The huge demon leaped up and vanished. Tetsuo cursed silently and began sketching runes into the tree with his blood knife, attempting to trace the teleport, but there was no need. About four miles northeast there was a huge disturbance in astral space. Tetsuo ran for it, leaping through the trees at first, then running on the ground. About an hour later, Tetsuo arrived at Kachiado. The castle was huge, more western style than eastern. It had massive spires that rose into the sky and huge towers, battlements, walls, and buildings. It was terrible to behold. Then it vanished. Tetsuo gasped, then closed his eyes. He looked into astral space. It was still there. He had to tell the others, quickly. *** "Yohko! Wake up, Yohko!" Azusa was shaking her roughly. "We have to go to school today!" Yohko mumbled and sat up. "Are your bandages finally gone?" Azusa nodded. "Yep. Let's go, c'mon!" Yohko agreed sleepily and got dressed, ready to leave. *** During lunch, she and Chi were talking, and Tetsuo sat down again. "Hello girls," he said. "Hi Tetsuo," Yohko said. "Hey," Chi nodded. "Are you doing any better?" Tetsuo asked Chi. She shrugged. "It's happened before." "Have you seen Tateno today?" Yohko asked. "I haven't seen him anywhere." Tetsuo stopped the sandwich halfway to his mouth. "What is it?" I knew I recognized that man, he thought. "Tetsuo!" Yohko punched him in the arm. "Uh, nothing. Just thinking. Listen, I'm gonna go now, I've got work to do." "You'll miss 5th and 6th period!" Yohko said. "I know. It'll be worth it, trust me. I have to see your grandmother." Yohko gaped. "Grandmother? What for?" Tetsuo stuffed his things in his lunch bag. "I just do. I'll tell you later." *** When Yohko and Chi arrived back at the house, later than usual, Tetsuo was at the table, drinking tea. "Tetsuo!" Yohko gaped. "What are you doing here?" Tetsuo grinned. "Getting a little insurance." He pointed to his back, then winced. All across his torso were bandages, wrapping around his chest and stomach. "What's that for?" "I'll tell you later." Yohko and Chi sat down. "I was in the forest last night," Tetsuo began, "following Tateno." He ignored their gasps. "Tateno was acting strangely all day, and I decided to find out why. I looked into astral space around him and something had attached itself to his mind. So..." Tetsuo leaned back against the chair, but winced again as his bandages touched them. "So I followed him into the forest for several miles, until he stopped in a clearing. A huge tentacled demon grabbed him and held him down. It drew a pentagram of fire around Tateno and leaving him there for about ten minutes." At Yohko's response, he said, "Tateno wasn't himself. He was possessed, and won't...wouldn't remember any of it. Don't worry about that. Anyway, Tateno's body was used to ressurrect a long dead demon. If my suspicions are correct, it is Arakado. He was the king of demons at one time. He ruled the earth then, and intends to rule it now." Yohko gaped at him. "How do you know all this??" "I told you before, I'm an expert in this." "How do we beat it?" "Um, probably we'll have to invade its castle sometime soon. I'd like to wait a couple days, though. Until my back heals, at least." "What's on your back?" "I'll show you tommorrow. Meanwhile, can I stay for dinner? I'm out of frozen pizzas." "Can't you cook anything else?" "No." *** The next day, there was a new student in Yohko's class. He introduced himself as Kenji. Yohko was smitten immediately, seeing as how Tateno was dead, never to return. Chi met her in the hall after class. "Yohko! Can't you stay on one guy for at least a week?" "Chi! That's none of your concern! Besides, I have to move on! Kenji will be..." she stopped when she heard footsteps. "Yohko?" it was Kenji. She stared at him, mouth open, cheeks reddening. He was georgeous. His hair was blond, cut short and looking excellent. His eyes were blue, skin was smooth and tan. "Yes?" she managed. "Would you like to eat lunch with me?" he asked, smiling. Chi had to elbow Yohko in the ribs before she managed a squeaky, "Yes." Kenji led her off down the hall to the lunch room. Chi stared after, amazed that Yohko had finally found someone who knew she existed. As she turned around, she came face to face with Tetsuo. Chi yelped, staggering back. "Don't do that!" "Sorry. Where's Yohko?" The hall was beginning to fill with students moving all around them. Tetsuo ushered her to a window. "She's eating lunch with a new student. Kenji's his name," Chi told him. Tetsuo scowled. "I'd like to see him." "Why?" "He...I just would." "Now, will you show us what happened to your back?" "Yeah, sure. After school. Well, listen, I gotta run. Next time you see Yohko, tell her to be careful. Arakado is moving already." Chi nodded. *** Tetsuo met Chi and Azusa at Yohko's after school. "Where's Yohko?" he asked. Chi shrugged. "Beats me. I haven't seen her since she went with Kenji." Tetsuo swore and started towards the door. It opened, and Yohko walked in. "Hi everybody!" she called. "What happened with you and Kenji?" Chi asked. "Nothing! Will you guys quit that? You always ask me that! Even when I went over to..." Yohko stopped, looking at Tetsuo. Tetsuo had a slightly raised eyebrow. "Well, what did you talk about?" "Why would you want to know?" Yohko asked. "Because...I just would." "Well, I'm meeting him for dinner tonight at his apartment!" Yohko grinned. Tetsuo's face darkened, but nobody noticed. *** That night, Tetsuo was outside the window to Kenji's apartment, and he watched as Yohko went inside with the new student. Naturally, Tetsuo saw that he was a demon. They ate dinner, Kenji completely ignoring Yohko's brainless infatuation. After they ate, Kenji brought out a bottle and poured them both drinks. After Yohko had finished her first glass, Kenji leaned across the table and kissed her. Yohko's eyes closed, and opened blankly. This was the second time this had happened to her. Kenji kissed her fully on the mouth, then stood her up, his arm under hers. Kenji began unbuttoning her blouse, not waiting to get to the bedroom. Then Tetsuo crashed through the glass, his blood knife flashing. "Get out!" he yelled at the demon. Yohko's senses returned. "Tetsuo!? What are you doing?" Tetsuo held his knife forward. "Kenji is no human, Yohko. He's one of Arakado's followers. He's a demon." Kenji scowled. "Stand back, Yohko. I'll handle this." He leaped forward with insane speed, and Tetsuo dodged the first couple attacks, until Kenji grabbed Tetsuo's wrist. Instantly there was smoke, and Kenji screamed. Tetsuo's left hand shot out, his face set grimly. His hand clamped around Kenji's neck, and he uttered a series of power words; Kenji shuddered, toppling forward. A demon staggered from the boy's body, and Tetsuo plunged his knife into its chest. The demon screamed, grabbing Tetsuo's head, but its hands burst into flames. The demon screamed and evaporated. Tetsuo stood straight, working his wrist. Yohko was gaping, her hands to her mouth. "How...how did you know?" "I suspected as much when you just romped off with some new kid. Of course, once I saw him I knew right away." "But...how come I couldn't see?" Tetsuo checked Kenji's pulse and stood up. "I'll show you. Let's get back to your house first." Tetsuo led her out the door. *** Back in Yohko's bedroom, Tetsuo pulled his upper gi and black shirt off. On his bare back was a huge tattoo, stretching from the base of his neck to the small of his back. The tattoo was composed of hundreds of intertwining lines and ancient letters. It was dizzying just to look at, and would often seem to form some kind of recognizable pattern, but then would fade into the jumble. It was an excellent work. "Wow!" Azusa said. "Who did that?" "One of my friends." Tetsuo pulled his shirt back on. "He specializes in this kind of thing." "What's it do?" Chi asked. "A variety of things. I can almost always see demons for what they truly are, lesser demons can't touch me without burning, it acts as a repellant, etc. I've been meaning to get it done, but tattoos hurt like hell, so I waited. Glad I didn't wait too long." Yohko was gaping. "But..." Tetsuo looked at her. "What?" "Well...will you give one of those to me?" Tetsuo seemed startled. "Uh, yeah, sure. You do know it'll never come off, right?" She nodded. Tetsuo shrugged, "Yeah. I can go get my stuff now if you like." Twenty minutes later, Tetsuo returned with a backpack full of materials for tattoo-drawing. "Now," he said. "Turn around and sit backwards in this chair." Chi and Azusa watched, fascinated. Yohko sat down. She was wearing cutoff jean shorts and her rolled up T-shirt. "Now, take off the shirt." Yohko hesitated, but then pulled it over her head. She was wearing no brassiere. Tetsuo handed her a towel. "Drape this around your front and hand me two corners...yeah." He clipped the two ends together with a clothespin and took out a washcloth and bowl of water. He began scrubbing her back with soap and water, then dried it with another towel. "Okay. Now I'm gonna rub some of this salve-" he held it in front of her face "-on your back. It'll lessen the pain somewhat." "Did you use that?" Yohko asked. "No." "Why?" "We didn't have any on hand. Doesn't make a difference either way. Do you have a small table anywhere? I'm gonna need a lot of room, and this'll take a while." Azusa brought over a table while Tetsuo rubbed the salve over Yohko's back. "As with all anesthetics," he said, beginning to drone like a doctor, "don't scratch, pinch, rub, etc. your back, 'cause you won't feel the effects of it. I could cut off the skin of your back and you wouldn't know until the salve wore off." "When will it wear off?" "By tomorrow morning." Tetsuo set out his materials, vials, bowls, and many different liquids across the table. Luckily for Yohko, she also couldn't see the assortment of tools he was going to use on her. "How long will this take?" Yohko asked. "A few hours." Tetsuo filled his tattoo gun with the first liquid and began drawing. *** Three and a half hours later, Tetsuo sat up, cracking his back and groaning. "Now, do you have that blowdryer? Thanks Azusa." Tetsuo began blowing it over Yohko's back for a few moments, then handed it back to the Devil Hunter-in-training. "It's all finished. Does it hurt any?" Yohko nodded. "A little." "Well, it'll hurt more tomorrow." He unclipped the towel and folded it up. "Here," he handed a roll of bandages to Chi. "I've washed off all the blood for now, but it'll come back in a few minutes, so you guys can wrap her up while I get all this packed up." "Wait!" Azusa said. "I want one too!" Tetsuo gaped and looked at his watch. 10:36. "Uh, you guys got any coffee?" *** At 2:01 he finished Azusa's tattoo. "There," he groaned, wiping his forehead. "I'll teach you guys how to use them later. It's a bit early now. I'll pack up now." Yohko and Chi were against each other on the bed. Yohko was just wearing the bandages, and had fallen asleep about 2 hours ago. "Thanks, Tetsuo," Azusa said, working her shoulders. Tetsuo began wiping her back with the washcloth, getting rid of all the blood. He then blowdried it. "I'll wake up Chi. She can bandage you up again." "No, that's okay. You shouldn't wake her up," Azusa said. "But you need bandages for it to heal faster." "You can do it." Azusa looked back at him. "But..." Tetsuo blinked, trying to stay awake. "Okay. Stand up." Azusa moved the chair away and stood up, holding her arms in the air. Tetsuo took medical tape and taped one end to her back, just below where the tattoo began. He didn't move to her front as he wrapped, just reaching in front, careful where he touched. When he finished, he said. "Does that look okay?" Azusa nodded. "Thanks!" Tetsuo nodded. "Yeah. No problem. I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow. Bye." He packed up his stuff and walked home. *** The next day, after school, on the way home, Yohko, Chi, Azusa, and Tetsuo met with a group of demons. Suddenly, the street in front of them darkened by a cloud, and five demons leaped at them. Yohko pushed Chi back and leaped up, her school uniform falling away and her battle gi forming around her instantly. Azusa leaped straight up, pulling her dress off, letting her gi flash onto her body as well. Tetsuo managed to kill one of them as it tried to drop a car on him, but Yohko and Azusa slaughtered the rest. When they stopped to rest, Tetsuo said, "It's not going to get any easier. Tomorrow we should go to his castle and kill Arakado. He's just going to sit back and throw more of his demons at us." Yohko nodded. "Let's go!" Azusa said. "No! Not now. At night is when his power is greatest, and by the time we arrived it would be dusk. We can leave tomorrow at dawn. This way the battle will be during the day, and his power will weaken." The others agreed. "I'll go to my house now to prepare. Tomorrow morning I'll meet you at your house," Tetsuo said, walking off towards his neighborhood. He waved and began jogging. *** When Yohko opened the door to her house, she immediately sensed something was wrong. The tattoo on her back began to heat up, and she walked through the house. "Mother? Where are you? Grandma?" Suddenly she sensed a presence behind her. It was a hundred times more intense than any of the demons she had ever encountered in her short life, and it wanted her. Yohko screamed, but it was cut off shortly as darkness overwhelmed her. She fell into unconsciousness. *** Azusa came out of the convenience store with the groceries and walked the short distance back to the house. The door was hanging open and the house was dark. She went inside, and saw Yohko's backpack on the ground. "Yohko!" she called. "Yohko! Where are y-" she screamed as a shape flew out of the darkness and struck her head. *** Chi opened the door to her house and looked around. The house was empty. Hm. Maybe her mother was at the grocery store. Oh well. As she skipped up the stairs to her room, she saw that her door was closed. She never left her door closed. *** As soon as Tetsuo was in his house, he felt something wrong. No demon was here, that was nearly impossible, but something was wrong. He went to the phone and called Yohko's. No answer. Yes, something was wrong. Definitely wrong. He grabbed his ninja gi and a few items of importance, then rode his bike over to Yohko's house. There, it was empty. In the foyer, he found a bag of groceries and backpack. Azusa and Yohko. Arakado must have taken them. Yes, he could feel the distinct presence lingering here. He had to go. Now. Tetsuo turned on his heel and grabbed his bike, began pedaling to Kachiado. *** Yohko awoke in a massive room. It was dark, lit only by two torches on the wall. She was tied spread eagle to a huge wooden X. Her battle gi was still intact, but she couldn't see her sword anywhere. Surprisingly, her senses remained at full. She wasn't bleary or tired. Yohko looked toward the front of the hall and noticed a huge figure walking towards her. The tattoo on her back began to burn and she realized it was Arakado. He had defeated her! But to what purpose? Why didn't he just kill her? As Arakado came forward, she noticed his muscular body and black horns. "Hello, Yohko." The voice was thunderous, booming around the room deeply. "You are to become the mother of my child." *** Azusa was laying on the ground, blinking. Her vision was slightly blurry, but she focused momentarily. When she stood up, she saw a huge tentacled demon in front of her. It was tall, and had a figure, but the lack of light obscured it. Azusa then realized that her spear was missing. "Yohko!" she cried. a bellowing voice slammed into her skull. "No! Yohko will come to defeat you!" the demon boomed into her mind. Azusa then turned to run, but the tentacles grabbed her limbs and pulled her back. *** Chi awoke in a dungeon, naked. She was manacled to the wall, her feet and arms spread-eagle, resting on two-pronged forks that were coming from the floor. Her hands were tied to the wall and her feet to the floor. The girl looked around, panicked, but there didn't seem to be any immediate danger. Maybe the others were in nearby cells. "Yohko!" she called. "Azusa! Tetsuo? Where are you?" Movement caught her eye. On the floor were little bugs crawling toward her. She saw more coming out of the wall. *** Tetsuo leaped up, barely avoiding the flying fist. The arm struck a tree, which splintered and crashed to the ground. "Tetsuo," a voice grated. "I have come to stop you." The demon moved into the light, and Tetsuo gaped, horrified. It was ten feet tall, at least, and had a large number of tentacles protruding from its body. The demon was colored dark brown, and had a large black head. The eyes were like a cat's, but these were red with black slits. "You are mine," it grated, lashing out a tentacle. Tetsuo jumped up and cried out an ancient spell. A shaft of light leaped forward from his hands, but the demon blocked it with a shield of darkness. The demon's tentacle intercepted him and slammed him into the ground. *** Yohko watched, horrified, as the demon grabbed the front of her gi and tore. The gi came off, and he tossed it aside casually. "What are you doing?" she cried. "I have found my wife," it rumbled. "No!" The demon pulled off her panties as well, tossing them into the air, where they burned to a crisp. Yohko gasped as she saw Arakado's huge member spring forth. It was massive, and would surely tear her apart. The erect cock he held in front of her would destroy her insides. Yohko looked up to the sky as Arakado grabbed her waist. She silently called out for Tetsuo when she felt the head of the cock pressed against her slit. When Arakado pushed his erect dick into Yohko's cunt, she screamed. Pain lanced up her insides like a knife was gutting her from the inside out. Along with this pain came an evil sense of pleasure. She gasped and sobbed as Arakado began thrusting his huge erection into her body. It wasn't tearing her apart, although it felt like it. The massive erection pumped in and out of her body, stretching Yohko to her limits. She cried as he jacked in and out, but she also felt pleasure building up. Slowly, it seemed an eternity, she built to an orgasm. The climax welled in her young womanhood until it was released. The pleasure was incredible. It was almost unbearable. It seemed as though a freight train of ecstasy was roaring between her thighs. Her body spasmed immensely, and she convulsed wildly, bucking into the demon with all her strength. She screamed in pain and pleasure, as did Arakado. The huge demon thrust out, roaring a deafening orgasm into the night. His huge cock unloaded gallons, it seemed, of semen into Yohko. She felt it filling her up, entering her vagina and moving through her womb and tubes. The semen came down her thighs as well, burning hotly. Yohko shivered as Arakado pulled free, his cock losing very little of its former size. She whimpered, her strength exhausted. Between her hips, she could feel life beginning to form. *** The tentacles wrapped around Azusa and held her tightly against the body of the demon. it boomed through her brain. She screamed as the demon ripped off her battle gi and panties. They fell to the ground and she screamed again as it spread her legs and arms wide, suspending her in the air. Azusa struggled helplessly, her small breasts jiggling as the Devil Hunter-in-training strained to get free. Azusa screamed again, and a large green tentacle moved up between her legs. "What are you doing?" she screamed at it. The demon pushed its tentacle forward, up into Azusa's vagina. The young girl screamed in pain, and the tentacle began thrusting in and out, filling her up incredibly. It fit more into her than she could have imagined, and Azusa tried to squeeze her legs closed, but it held her in the open position as it fucked her. Azusa's pleasure was building as well as the demon's. It pushed farther into her with each thrust, and Azusa felt herself getting larger, though it was probably just psychological. Finally, she screamed in pleasure, her orgasm rocking her body. Azusa's small body thrashed in climax. Sweat rolled down her skin as her body convulsed in incredible ecstasy. The demon came right after, prolonging her orgasm as she just rode the waves of pleasure. Its tentacle fired off load after load of seed into her young body, and she accepted it unwillingly, though still in bliss. The white energy filled her womb, furthering her climax. Right after that, the tentacle pulled itself from her vagina and she sighed with relief, only to cry out again when another replaced it. As soon as that one entered her vagina, a second pushed itself into her mouth. She breathed through her nose, panicked. Finally, a third tentacle pushed against her asshole, and forced its way into her. She screamed in pain again. All three tentacles began fucking her simultaneously, the one in her mouth nearly going down her throat. The one in her anus pushed far into her, pushing nearly into her intestines. And again the tentacle in her cunt fucked ruthlessly, slamming out its head into her young vagina. Azusa came within seconds this time; the sensation of all three tentacles fucking her was too much. All the holes of her body were filled, and she thrashed in pleasure, shuddering as wave after wave of pure ecstasy overwhelmed her. The demon's tentacles all ejaculated simultaneously a half minute later, while Azusa was still having her orgasm. The first tentacle spasmed in her vagina, pouring out more loads of hot seed into her womb. The second tentacle tensed, ejaculating down her throat. Azusa had no choice but to swallow it, and she did. The burning liquid ran down her young throat and into her belly, warming her insides--even though she was burning with heat as it was. The final tentacle ejaculated into her anus, throwing out its seed into her rectum and intestines. She was filled up with that almost instantly. Momentarily, all three tentacles pulled away, leaving white cream leaking from her buttocks, cunt, and mouth. Azusa coughed, spitting the ejaculate on the ground, barely enough energy left in her to stay awake. Then three more tentacles entered her. *** The ground was soon covered in the bugs, which Chi soon realized were not bugs at all, but little animals. They were fleshy, dark creatures with four legs. Chi hated to admit it, but they all looked like walking penises. Their bodies ended in small tails, and their heads were shaped exactly like a penis. These creatures had mouths and legs and a body, but that was it. Chi saw them coming towards her and she screamed. It didn't do any good. They probably didn't have ears anyway. Her butt and slit were presented openly to anyone who entered the room, including these bugs. They were actually about as big as rats, she realized. Chi screamed again as the first one touched her. It crawled up to between her legs and sniffed her cunt and asshole. Then it pushed in. The first creature crawled up and into her vagina, pushing itself in. Chi cried out, but felt a certain pleasure as it entered her. By then, ten more were around her, and a few were crawling toward her mouth. Two of them licked her asshole with their small mouths, and then pressed in, despite her clenching down hard. More were moving in as well. About five pushed into her vagina and began thrusting themselves back and forth inside. One crawled up her chin and went into her screaming mouth. It was too large for her to bite down, and it began thrusting back and forth in her mouth. Chi whimpered through her nose as these creatures fucked her. There had to be at least eight or nine in her now, all of them jacking in and out. Soon, she felt the first one come inside her vagina, then wriggle back out, spent. Right after, the rest of them ejaculated into her pussy, hot seed spewing from their little heads. A couple came in her ass just as more replaced those in her cunt. The one in her mouth came as well, filling up her mouth and forcing her to swallow the ejaculate. White semen dripped down the side of her mouth and out of her asshole and cunt. Soon, the sensation of all of these little dicks fucking her was too much, and Chi had an orgasm, shuddering and crying out against the bonds that held her. More were now sucking on her breasts, and this just caused her to climax harder, screaming out in pleasure. Her orgasm lasted for nearly thirty seconds, and her pleasure did not die down after that, for these little creatures were still coming at full speed. *** Yohko's scream was muffled as Arakado's mouth covered hers. Two tentacles came from his back and lifted her legs up, so his erection could access her asshole. Arakado pushed forward, his huge erection moving up into Yohko's small opening. She screamed into his mouth, where his tongue, huge and smooth, very undemonlike, was probing her mouth. Arakado began rocking his hips up and down, bobbing the young Devil Hunter up and down on his huge cock. She whimpered as the pleasure built again. Yohko was not struggling any more. Arakado's will had broken hers, and the only thing on her mind was the massive erection pumping in and out of her asshole. Yohko whimpered again and then screamed as she came. Arakado ejaculated at the same time. Huge amounts of burning seed rocketed into her young body, filling her rectum and intestines. Yohko convulsed, her young body shivering with the impact of the demon's seed. Pleasure and ecstasy consumed her mind and she thought of nothing but the continuing orgasm. When it finally died down, Yohko was again tied to the large X. Arakado was tipping it forward so she was face-down. Yohko looked around, and when she looked forward, she saw his huge dick in front of her face. As soon as she realized what he was going to do, Arakado opened her mouth and pushed his cock in. Yohko could barely breathe as the huge demon thrust his massive cock in and out of her beaten young body. Arakado thrust in and out for several minutes, until he came again, with all the intensity of before. His huge cock tensed and poured more burning seed into the young Devil Hunter's belly. Yohko, as usual, had her orgasm simultaneously with Arakado. She shook, her body trembling as pleasure washed over her, her mind completely taken in by bliss as her body swallowed the burning liquid. Yohko's senses returned a few minutes later, when she realized she was alone in the room. She was completely worn out, unable to take any more abuse. Hot seed was running out of her mouth, buttocks, and vagina, a tribute to the demon king's load. *** As the tentacle lifted him into the air, Tetsuo talked faster than he ever had in his life. Astral space shuddered under the conflict of forces when his spell was released. Tetsuo's tattoo flared a bright white-blue and electricity ran over his body and contacted with the demon's tentacles. The demon withdrew its tendrils from his body with a hiss, and Tetsuo dropped to the ground, toppling sideways. He continued his chant, maintaining a blue nimbus around his body. Quickly, the young ninja gathered up his belongings and darted away into the forest. Thirty minutes later, Tetsuo was next to a major highway. He waited for a gap in the traffic, then ran across the road. Eventually, he came to a residential area, and started searching for an empty house. Within a few minutes, Tetsuo found one. He broke in through a window and grabbed the telephone. From there, he called a taxi. *** Yohko struggled against her bonds, whimpering. In front of her, a pillar of smoke formed into Arakado. The demon grinned down at her evilly. "Tommorrow, we will continue this. I have prepared a place for you now." The Devil Hunter opened her mouth, but she was rendered unconscious before she could speak. Later, Yohko awoke in a small cell. The cell walls, ceiling, and floor were composed of constantly writhing tentacles. There was no exit. In one corner, there was a plate of old food. *** Azusa was startled out of her semiconsciousness by the demon's booming voice. Groggily, she watched as the tentacles lifted her to the demon's chest, then folded her within the darkness. *** Finally, all the little beings had exhausted themselves, and they all slept on the floor in a mass of rolling, twisting, and wriggling bodies. Chi was allowed to sleep now, and she did so only out of exhaustion. *** Tetsuo kneeled before the altar, muttering a chant off the chart in front of him. Minutes passed, and the low drone of the latin chant drifted across the grass, and then a breeze blew, fluttering the candles Tetsuo had set up. He continued the chant, until a strong wind blew out all the candles, and Masakado stood before him. the ancient spirit demanded. "Arakado, a king of demons, has returned, and he has captured the 108th generation Devil Hunter. I request your assistance." "We cannot defeat him alone! Yohko is not powerful enough! I..." "But-" The wind blew again, and the spirit was gone. Tetsuo cursed and stood. He went back to his house, and placed several phone calls. *** Madoka, Chiachi, Ayoko, and Azusa 2 arrived at Tetsuo's house within minutes of each other. Ayoko and Azusa 2 had to keep the two grandmothers from killing each other before Tetsuo could explain. "Yohko, Azusa, and Chi have all been captured," Tetsuo explained. "Arakado was an ancient demon king that ruled the world several millenia ago, but he was imprisoned within a huge stone, beneath the earth. Arakado had a child demon, but it vanished shortly after Arakado was defeated. A few nights ago, I witnessed the resurrection of Arakado by his child demon, and talked with Yohko about defeating it, but they were captured before we could confront it. I followed, but am not powerful enough to defeat any of his demons alone. I went and spoke to Masakado, but he refused my request for aid, and said that she is powerful enough to defeat it. So I need your help." They all agreed to help, wholeheartedly. *** Yohko gritted her teeth as she stood in the center of the room. She wouldn't just sit here and be a victim of this demon! Yohko concentrated, removing the past few hours from her memory. The young girl sat down on the writhing coils, reaching deep into her mind for the part of her soul that lay untouched. Yohko sat on the floor, concentrating, and then she found it. Jumping to her feet, Yohko yelled at the top of her lungs, her battle gi and soul sword forming in her hands. *** Azusa awoke, blinking. She was lying on the ground. The wet grass and soft soil were pressing into her face. The girl tried to get to her feet, but someone's hand held her down. "Don't move," a voice said. Azusa looked up, startled. She was looking in a mirror! It took her several seconds to register that she was looking at Azusa 2. In the background, there was a great deal of noise and fighting going on. Asuza 2 covered the first in a blanket. "Just stay here," she said. Azusa 2 leapt away and joined the attack on the demon. *** Chi's eyes popped open. There was noise coming from down the cooridor. She looked up, then realized that she was still wearing her glasses. Chi struggled weakly in her bonds, and the door to her cell slammed open with a flash. Yohko stood there with her whip in hand. "Yohko!" Chi mumbled. "Ayoko," Ayoko said. The twin Devil Hunter knelt down and freed Chi from her bonds, then placed a blanket over her. "Stay here." *** The door to the throne room slammed open, and Arakado looked up, his eyes blazing, and his mouth grinning. The demons around him attacked. Ayoko, Azusa 2, Madoka, Chiachi, and Tetsuo responded. For the next few minutes, the huge room was a roaring battlefield. As soon as it died down, Madoka stepped forward. "Arakado, you had your place in this world, and you ruled the earth. It was not your place then, and it is not your place now. I demand that you return to your rest, or we will destroy you, sending you back to the hell that has spawned you." Arakado laughed, his voice reverberating in the room and shaking the castle foundations. "You hold no power over me," his voice boomed. "I own the 108th generation of the Devil Hunter. She is mine, and you cannot stop me from ruling the world." "NOW!!" Chiachi screeched in her familiar screeching voice, and they attacked. The battle raged for the better part of an hour, and Arakado showed little signs of weakness. He released an expanding shield of energy, scattering the group across the hall. "ENOUGH!!" he boomed. "I will destroy you all, now!" Arakado raised his hands and began gathering energy. Then the ground exploded in front of the demon. A pillar of white energy solidified into Yohko Mano, 108th generation Devil Hunter. Arakado stopped. "Yohko!" it faltered. "Arakado! You are one of the greatest horrors this earth has ever seen, but not so great that I cannot defeat you. This is the end, Arakado." Arakado opened his mouth, but he never said it. Yohko's soul sword flashed out, creating an arch of pure energy into the demon king's chest. Arakado screamed, and everyone was blinded for several minutes, except for the demon king and Yohko. Inside the protective shell of energy, Arakado's departing spirit stopped before her. "You have defeated me, Yohko," said Arakado. "But I will live on. You will remember tonight as our one night of passion, whether you admit it or not. I will be alive, when you give birth to our son." "No. I will kill him." Arakado grinned. "You cannot. That is not possible for you. Goodbye, Yohko." Then he departed. The light faded, and everyone slowly stood and reoriented themselves. "Are you okay, Yohko?" Madoka asked. Yohko's shoulders were sagging slightly, and then she stood straight and nodded. No one saw the single tear in her eye. ****** PART THREE {episode 9}: VACATION "During spring break, let's go to the north." "Huh?" Yohko looked up. "Yeah!" Azusa said. "We can take a vacation to the northern mountains! They've probably got snow up there!" "We can all stay at a ski lodge," Chi chimed in. "They've got empty ski lodges up there, and we can just go up there for a while!" Yohko raised an eyebrow. "But..." Azusa and Chi looked at her. After about twenty seconds, "But what?" "But...ah...oh, all right. Let's go!" "Let's invite Tetsuo, he did save us, after all." No argument. *** "So nobody's got a driver's license?" Tetsuo asked incredulously. "How do we expect to get up there?" "We'll take a bus," Azusa said. Chi took out a map and a wad of folded papers. "Look, here's the map of the route we're gonna take." Tetsuo scanned it. "But...look. I've uncovered another sleeping demon that is interesting. It..." "Forget it," Chi said. "We're all going, and that's that." Tetsuo shrugged. "Yes ma'am." *** The bus was travelling north. There were only about ten people on the bus, and it was a huge bus. The Devil Hunter Club sat in the back, playing shogi. Outside the bus, it was raining heavily, thundering in the distance. "Okay," Tetsuo was saying. "Here's my thought on it." He moved a pawn. "If you have to sacrifice a person to kill a demon, then do it. There's likely no other way, and it just makes it easier." "No!" Yohko scowled. "That's killing an innocent person!" "Besides," Azusa said. "You can always put a demon to sleep. That happens a lot." "Yes," Tetsuo said, suddenly vehement. "And what happens when you do that? They wake up! And, in case you don't remember, kill more innocents. It's not something you can help!" Chi moved her rook. "By killing an innocent person, you become as evil as the demons!" Yohko replied. "When you kill someone, that makes you evil. If the demon kills a person, they're still evil, and you aren't at fault." "That's avoiding the blame! If you don't kill an innocent, they will, and that could mean many more dead than one!" "But when you, a human, commits murder, you are the criminal, not the demon." Tetsuo scowled, taking Chi's rook. "By doing this, you're saving more lives than you've killed. It always works out better that way." "That can't be right!" Azusa said. "There's no excuse for killing anybody who's innocent!" "In case you haven't been listening," Tetsuo said, "I'm providing an excuse." "Give me an example of when you'd have to kill an innocent," Yohko said. "I've never come across that." "Kenji," Tetsuo said. "That was a close call. If that demon had been more powerful, I might have had to kill the demon by killing Kenji." "You could have exorcized it." "Most demons, you can, yes. Not without a hell of a lot of trouble, though. In the process of exorcism, the demon might have killed him," Tetsuo said. "Aha!" Azusa said, holding open her Devil Hunter's Starter Kit tome. "Look at this!" Tetsuo took the book. "Hm. Interesting," he said after he'd finished the passage. "However, if you'll notice, this section only refers to the possessor demons, of the lesser class. If we got into the elder possessors or just the greater Hellspawn, it would be a lot harder to exorcize." Azusa scowled, flipping through the book again. "Check mate," Chi said. Tetsuo frowned at the board. "Play again?" Chi shrugged and began resetting the board. "How did you become involved in demons, Tetsuo?" Yohko asked, removing her hair clasps and brushing it out. Azusa hopped onto a seat behind her and began combing her mentor's hair. Tetsuo smiled ruefully, staring off into space. "On my eighth birthday, my mother and I were visited by a demon. It stole my father away. I've been searching ever since. And in the mean time, I've picked up a lot of information and habits. I've kinda stopped searching for my father, but if I see him, I'll get him back." "Oh. Why did you fall in with us?" Tetsuo looked surprised. "Why not? You are Devil Hunters, and I might as well. If I ever need help for anything, like, say, killing a demon king, I'll just give you a call." Yohko looked down, inadvertantly touching her stomach. There was an oppresive silence, until Chi said, "Your move." *** "You sure you kids will be all right?" the bus driver asked. "Yes," Chi replied cheerily. "It's just a small hike up to the ski area, and then we can go to the lodge from there." *** Two hours later. "This is what you call a small hike?" Yohko panted, blinking away frost that had congealed on her eyelashes. "H-hey," Chi chattered. "Y-you biked longer than this after Mr. Sano." "Y-y-yeah, but that was in broad daylight, on a bike." "Quiet, you two," Tetsuo said. "Here's the chairlift." Azusa exclaimed. "It's empty!" "What?" Yohko demanded. Azusa ran over to the door and wiped away the ice. Inside, it was cold and dark. "Nobody's in there!" "Forget it," Tetsuo said. "We're going in whether or not anyone else is in there." "But..." Yohko said. "But what? Shall we freeze to death?" Tetsuo didn't wait for a response. He kicked the door in, and they entered. It was a small shack, two story cold building, with a single cold room on each floor. "How do we start up this chair lift?" No response for a few moments. Chi closed the door, and everything was silent. "Spread out, and we can look for the controls," Azusa said. About thirty seconds later, Chi said. "Here! I found them!" The group gathered around, and Chi began flipping switches. "Do you know what you're doing?" Tetsuo said. Chi shrugged. "I'll guess." The lights in the building flickered on, and there was an electronic humming sound. "Well, now to get the chairlift functioning." Chi randomly picked a lever and pulled, hard. When she finished, there was a huge grinding, and a pillar at the other end of the room began turning. Outside, they saw the chairlift moving. "Awesome!" Azusa cried, clasping her hands in front of her face. "Now, we'd better get moving before we freeze to death," Yohko said. They traveled up to the second floor, and took the chairlift up. Yohko and Tetsuo sat together. "Where's the lodge?" Tetsuo asked, his teeth chattering again. "It's another hike from the top of the chairlift." "How long?" Yohko tried to shrug, but was shivering so much it barely came across. Tetsuo reached into his back pack and pulled out a huge blanket. "Here, this is my favorite blanket." He wrapped a massive black blanket around Yohko's huddling form, then pulled his own hood around his face. *** An hour later, they were staring at the lodge. "Awesome!" Azusa said. "L-l-let's go!" Chi chattered. She began trudging up to the huge house. The lodge was three huge stories high, with a triangular front. There was a balcony on the first floor, and the third floor was where the bedrooms were. The bottom floor was just a basement, with skis, snow mobiles, and various other things. Inside, the living room was huge, and the fireplace was also large. There were two sofas, a couple reclinders, coffee tables, and the middle of the floor was completely open, with a rug in the center. "Wow," Yohko said when they entered, snow blowing across the floor. "Cool!" Azusa said. "Yeah it is, close the door." Tetsuo pulled the sliding glass door shut. They stood for a few moments, absorbing the view. Then Tetsuo began dumping firewood into the fireplace. "Let's get this place alive," Azusa said. The next few minutes, the group was turning on lights, heaters, fireplaces, and fans. It took about an hour before the lodge was completely homely. Outside, snow was still blowing ruthlessly, sliding along the glass. "What about food?" Chi asked. "I thought you were on a diet," Yohko said. "I am on a diet, but I don't starve myself." Azusa wrapped her customary apron about her. "I'll get it! Don't worry!" She ran off into the kitchen, and they could hear pots and pans banging around. A couple moments later, sound blasted through the room, shaking the walls and various china figures, pictures, etc. Chi, Yohko, and Tetsuo peeked up from behind the couch when it stopped. "Sumimasen!" Azusa called, poking her head from behind the kitchen door. "I found the stereo!" Some American singer began playing guitar and singing through the speakers. It was still loud, but not as earth-shaking as before. They looked at other for a few moments, then Chi shrugged and picked up her bags. She looked at Yohko and Tetsuo for a moment, who stared back. Then Chi said, "I got first choice of room!" They exploded towards the stairs in a quick race, stumbling over furniture and each other. Up the stairs in a short burst of clattering feet, at the top, Chi barrelled down the hall, then into a room, laughing. Yohko ran after her. "Hey!" Tetsuo walked to one of the end rooms, where there was a room overlooking the main floor. His room had a small fireplace, and a huge futon as the bed. The boy looked around the room. "Hey Yohko!" he called. He heard her arguing with Chi. "Yohko!" "Ah!" she acknowledged. "What?" "How long are we staying here?" "A couple weeks! Why?...Chi! No!" There was a bang and a thud. Tetsuo nodded to himself, and jumped from the mezzanine to the couch below. He heard Azusa yelp in surprise. "Where did you come from?" Tetsuo grinned at her and pointed. He began picking up his bags. "When's dinner gonna be ready?" he asked. Azusa shrugged. "It should be a couple hours." Tetsuo gaped. "You try cooking every once in a while!" "I can make us some dinner in ten minutes!" Azusa guestured. "I'd like to see that." They went into the kitchen and Tetsuo began rifling through the cabinets, his bags still on his shoulders. "They don't have any food here!" Azusa gaped. "Of course they do! What's all this!" "Ingredients. There's a difference, you know." Azusa pushed him out of the kitchen. "I can handle this. You'll live." Tetsuo paused before Chi's room, and saw Yohko and Chi wrestling across the floor, grunting loudly. He dumped his bags in his room and began unpacking. In about fifteen minutes, he'd unpacked dozens of assorted charms, repellants, pendants, and other objects. Tetsuo began humming along with the music. He pulled out his "Ritual" Tome, as he called it, and searched through the 1500+ page book, turning to one of his marked pages. He read through it and then leaned over the mezzanine. "Hey Azusa!" he called. "You got any opium down there?" "Opium?" "Yeah." "What would I have any opium for?" "I don't know. Do you?" "Yeah, here's some. Its not incense." "Fine." Azusa appeared below him and tossed him up a bottle of leaves. "Thanks," he said. "What the hell is opium doing here?" he wondered aloud. Tetsuo opened the bottle and set it aside. He pulled out his blood knife and set it aside as well. Several more ingredients came out of his bag: blood plasma from a white owl, moonlight-soaked mineral water, watered kelp, and a big blank piece of leaf paper. Yohko moved into her room and began unpacking. Tetsuo sat in the hall, spreading his ingredients about him. He crossed his legs and began marking designs on the paper. After the first pentagram and nonegram, Tetsuo pushed the paper against where the door would be, if it was closed, and it stopped. The boy pushed it half into astral space and began marking more designs and ancient kanji on the paper. He rubbed the mineral water over its surface, and it faded completely into astral space momentarily. "What's that for?" Yohko said in his ear, startling him. Tetsuo yelped and toppled forward, his body tingling as he passed through the barrier. "Not much. It lets me know who's in the room, who's coming in the room, and it should stun demons." "Hm," Yohko said, coming in. "I..." she stopped as soon as she'd passed through the door. Yohko groaned, dropping to her knees and clutching her stomach. Tetsuo dropped next to her. "What is it?" Yohko shook her head. "I...don't know. I'll talk to you about it later. Jeez, you sure don't change your surroundings much, do you? Anyway, I was just going to ask if I could talk to you later tonight?" Tetsuo nodded. "Yeah, sure. You don't have to come before then. Just come on in." He helped her back through the door, and she just flinched slightly this time. Tetsuo went back into his room and began drawing runes and signs all over his room. He'd just finished when Azusa yelled out, "DINNER!" They sat around the table, and began eating. "When are you planning on making Azusa a full Devil Hunter?" Tetsuo asked, pushing a wad of noodles into his mouth. Yohko stopped, as did Azusa. Chi stuffed her face. Immediately, Tetsuo knew that Yohko and Azusa were going to try to dance around this subject. "I...uh...haven't thought about it." "Whenever I'm ready," Azusa said. "You did kill that SoulStealer." "But I-" "Yes," Yohko said. "You did kill that." Azusa shrugged. "I was lucky." "Maybe you should let Azusa take on the next demon," Chi said through her noodles. Everyone looked at Chi, who was reading a small manga book. She stopped. "What?" No response. "What's wrong with that?" Nothing. "Come on! Quit looking at me!" "Well," Tetsuo said. "Yohko, who owns this lodge?" "I do." "You?" "Well, sorta. Mom does, really. She said I could do whatever I wanted with it, though. It belonged to an ex of hers, and he died, left it to her. Then we've just never done anything with it." "Does anybody ever stay here?" "Nah. The ex's personal trainer comes up every once in a while, and he just keeps it full of food and in repair." "His personal trainer?" "Yeah," Yohko said, biting a chunk of meat. "The guy's only like 24, but he's a professional trainer." "This is good food, Azusa," Tetsuo complimented. She blushed, shrugging. "Okay," Tetsuo said, an idea coming to him. "What about people?" Yohko looked at him. "Huh?" "Would you kill a person who's evil? Like a demon raiser or just a plain old psycho?" Yohko shrugged. "I doubt it. I've never had to deal with any demon raisers before, so I don't really think about it." "I would!" Azusa said fiercely. "You'd kill them?" Yohko looked surprised. "Yeah! Anybody who raises demons should be killed. They probably would never stop, and the demon raisers are our bane, any way." "Our bane? We kill demons, not people." "But demon raisers bring demons into this world. One could bring in ten, twenty, thirty, hundreds! How do we know how many demons a person could afflict us with?" "But, all we do is put them in a psycho ward!" Chi said, looking up from her book. "No," Tetsuo said. "Most of them will kill themselves before then. Many demon raisers are just possessed, or pure evil. They're better off dead anyway." Yohko frowned, noodles sticking out of her mouth. "They are! The only way to really be sure a demon raiser is stopped is if you kill him. I've dealt with them before, and there is no trace of sanity." "That's no reason to kill a person." Yohko paused with her hand halfway to the plate. "You place far too low a value on life." Tetsuo gaped, then flushed. "That's completely wrong! I place as high a value on life as you, but I just believe not everyone has a right to live out their lives." "Like innocents?" "No, they have a right. It's very rare for them to come out of that alive, though." Yohko sighed, digging back into her food. "Jeez, I'm tired," Azusa said after a few minutes. "Me too," Chi agreed. "At least we're out of that snow." Tetsuo looked out into the night. Snow was swarming past viciously, smacking against the glass and sliding down. "Doesn't look like it's going to let up any time soon." *** It was 9:38, and they were laying around the living room. Yohko was sitting on the couch, and Azusa had her head on her mentor's lap. Chi was playing Tetsuo a game of Shogi on the floor. In the background, the TV was playing an animation. The lamp in the living room was turned low, and there was only a single light shining from the kitchen. Yohko stroked Azusa's hair absently. "I wonder what's going to happen in the future," she sighed dreamily. "What do you mean?" Azusa asked. "Well, will there be any more Devil Hunters? How many will there be? Will technology take over?" "Mysticism, magic, witchcraft, and demonology does seem to be losing its popularity," commented Tetsuo, still looking at the board. "Here, but not in America. I hear they never used to have pagans or demons, but now...well, I don't know." Tetsuo moved his bishop. "Yes. America has become more pagan in its views. Some of it, anyway. The majority is still Christian. Which is fine. Too many people messing with the wrong powers can be disastrous." "I don't think technology will rule. Sure, it is advancing at an extremely high rate now, but since the demons are here, we will need Devil Hunters." Chi paused to move her pawn. "Look at the Devils that arise now, there are barely enough to keep Yohko from falling asleep in a fight." "Uh?" Yohko looked up from her combing Azusa's hair. "What about Arakado?" "Well..." "What about the rest of the world?" Azusa asked. "What about other countries than Japan?" "They don't have demons," Yohko said. "Of course they do!" Tetsuo exclaimed. "The vampire was originated in Europe. The classical possessor demon was originated in Israel. Old ghost stories and such were originated in England. Plenty of demons existed outside of Japan." "What demons originated here then?" "The huge monster demons. Several others. Demon kings, greater possessors, etc. Hundreds of different demons." Yohko sighed. "Azusa?" No response. "Azusa-chan?" Tetsuo looked over at the pair, and smiled. Yohko had her hair in a pony tail, and Azusa was sleeping, her mouth open as she breathed softly. The younger girl's hair was spread out over Yohko's sweatpants, and the Devil Hunter was combing it out with her fingers. "I'm gonna hit the sack," Tetsuo said when he realized he was checkmated again. "See you guys tomorrow." "Night." "Seeya." *** Tetsuo laid in his bed, arms behind his head, staring out the window at the snow. Boy, what a crazy world. What is love? he thought. Tetsuo pondered his feelings and growing friendship for the girls. What would the future hold? He suddenly feared for them, realizing the danger he'd put them in. Sure, Yohko and Azusa were Devil Hunters, but the demons he consorted with were far beyond that. His demons were full of malevolence and great power. He was sure that nothing good could come of this. There was a knock on his door. "Come in." His door opened and Yohko entered. He felt a tremor as she passed through the barrier, and she winced slightly. Why was the barrier affecting her? She wasn't a demon. Then it dawned on Tetsuo. She wasn't, but... "Tetsuo?" she asked, sitting cross-legged on the floor next to the bed. "I need to talk to you." "Sure." Tetsuo swung off the futon and sat on the floor, leaning against the nightstand. "What is it?" Yohko touched her stomach. "I...I..." Her eyes filled with tears, and she began sobbing. Tetsuo leaned forward, and she began to cry on his shoulder, the tears flowing freely. He reached back and turned on his portable radio to mask her crying from Chi or Azusa. A few minutes later, she stopped, and Tetsuo turned the radio down. "I...I don't know what to do!" "About what?" Tetsuo was treading very carefully. Unfortunately, he wasn't very socially talented, and might say the wrong thing at the wrong time. "What do you think?" she asked. "This-" Yohko poked her belly "-this...thing. What will it become?" Tetsuo stopped. He had thought about this often, but feared to bring up the subject of abortion for fear that she would reject it. Yohko could be obstinate about saving lives. "I don't know yet. It will be...different, at least." "How? Will it be human?" "I can't tell by just knowing...I am assuming that Arakado did this to you?" She nodded. Tetsuo sighed. "I..." "Before his spirit departed, Arakado said that he would return. He said he would be alive when I gave birth to my son." Tetsuo looked down at her stomach. "I may be able to help." He pulled out another of his books; it had no title, but was full of spells and blessings and curses and so on. The book was designed for protection and magick spells. "He said 'son' right?" Yohko nodded. Tetsuo looked through the spell book for several minutes, marking off pages, and said, "I'll have to construct a new spell for what I'm going to try. It may take a while." "I'll wait." Tetsuo nodded and set the open grimoire on a desk, next to the mezzanine. "I'll be at this for a while." "Want some cocoa?" The boy smiled. "Sure." Yohko stood and left, sending another tremor through Tetsuo as she left. Several minutes later, another tremor signaled her return. She set the steaming cup on the desk next to him. "What will it involve?" "Well, first, I need to learn more about what's in your womb. If you..." Tetsuo stood up and went to the door. He reached out, closing his eyes. Moments passed, and his hand grasped the invisible paper placed there earlier that night. "Go get on a halter or tank top or something. I just need your bare abdomen." Yohko nodded and went to her room. Tetsuo set up the spellcasting circle, and she returned in a pair of tight black shorts and rolled up T-shirt. "That's fine." After closing the door, Tetsuo set out nine candles in the large circle, and invited her to lay down in the center. She did, and Tetsuo closed the door, then cast the circle, blue-white energy rising up from the floor in a shield. Yohko's eyes were closed, and her stomach was waiting for him. Tetsuo hesitated, then pushed the rim of her shorts down an inch or so, then rolled up her shirt once. He took out his blood knife, saying, "Keep still. This may prick." Tetsuo pressed down with his hand to her stomach, feeling for the child. After locating the demon-child, Tetsuo cut a small opening below her belly button, a drop of blood forming. Yohko showed no sign of acknowledgement. The boy took the knife and cut another small cut in his forehead, letting the drop fall into Yohko's navel. He mixed his blood drop with hers, and then dabbed both his fingers into the blood. Tilting his head back, Tetsuo touched both fingers to his eyes, and the blood filled it. By blinking, he didn't clear the blood away, but clarified his vision. His physical sight gone, Tetsuo felt out and found Yohko's stomach and her navel. He touched his forehead to the gash below it and Tetsuo saw. The demon in her womb was utterly evil. It was human only in appearance and intelligence, but otherwise, it was totally evil. Coupled with Yohko's Devil Hunter powers, it would be even more powerful than Arakado. Unless it was Arakado. Demons had been known to couple with humans in order to procreate themselves as more powerful creatures. Minutes later, Tetsuo sat up, casting away the circle. "It's done," he said. Rustling told him that Yohko was sitting up. Tetsuo picked up a vial of moon water he'd set in the circle. Tetsuo leaned back and dropped the water into his eyes, clearing away the blood. "Well?" Yohko asked, fearfully. Tetsuo looked at her, and said, "It is evil. That demon is worse than Arakado, and may be more malevolent than its father. I saw no sign of human life in it, other than appearance." Yohko gasped. "So its not human at all?" "No," he shook his head. "What do I do?" Tetsuo hesitated. "I would abort it." "But...that...would kill it." "Right. It. It's only half-human. The creature's mind is completely demon in nature. If you give birth to it, it will be more powerful than Arakado ever would have been. There would be no stopping it." Yohko clutched her stomach, noticing the blood. "Oh, here." Tetsuo handed her a band aid. She took it and taped it over the gash. There was a silence as they waited. Yohko was debating in her mind. "Abortions are not fool proof. What if I can't have any children? There would be no more Devil Hunters!" Tetsuo hesitated. "I can't abort it! We should just kill it as soon as it comes out." "If giving birth doesn't kill you." Yohko stared at him, then at the ground. Tetsuo sighed. "Listen, you sit here, and I'll see what I can find." He sat at the desk, looking through the spell book and drinking from the cocoa. For forty-five minutes, Tetsuo searched through the book, finally coming to his answer at a compromise of spells. "I'll have to compose my own spell," he said. "This may take a while." "That's what you said earlier." Tetsuo shrugged. "You never know." He pulled out his leaf paper and a pen, and began writing. Yohko was bouncing a ball off the wall when he finished, at 12:43 AM. "I have a solution." She sat up excitedly, but he put his hand up. "You may not like it. I don't really like it either." "What?" she asked. With a sigh, Tetsuo began. "The spell I've made was based on a spell created by a Druid Mage before the first century BC. He was petitioned by a husband, who had discovered his wife was pregnant. The Druid Mage created the spell that would change the baby to the husband's child, and it did just that. The baby that was born was actually the husband's own kid." "So?" Another sigh. "Mine is the same, but I've inserted a lot of demon protections, alterations, and changed the sex of the child from male to female." "Why?" "Because, there have never been any male Devil Hunters in your line." Yohko looked inward, trying to think of one, but couldn't. "Okay," she said. "But the other thing is, we'd have to find someone else to act as the father, instead of Arakado." "What do you mean?" "I have to find another participant for the spell, and they will volunteer their genes to pair with yours, instead of Arakado's." Yohko stopped, then looked up. "Will you do it?" Tetsuo looked slightly surprised. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, I will." "What's wrong then?" Tetsuo squirmed in the chair, making several attempts to talk, failing each time. "What is it?" she asked. Tetsuo said, "We have to have sex." *** Tetsuo had cast the circle, and they were encased in the shield of blue energy. The energy continually floated up from the floor, like an upside down flow of water. He'd made the circle extra-large this time. Who knew how much room they'd need. The circle covered most of the open floor, and Tetsuo had several bottles and vials within the circle, plus a few sticks of laced incense. Hopefully, the incense would drug them both enough so that inhibitions wouldn't get in the way. Neither of them were virgins, if you consider getting fucked by a demon de-virgining. Tetsuo was wearing his ninja pants, and his chest was bare. The tattoo was glowing very slightly, the same color as the circle. Tetsuo took four sticks of the incense, setting one per corner of the circle, and he lit them with his lighter. After the smoke was rising, Tetsuo poured some lemon concentrate into a small earthen bowl, stirring a ground opium leaf, and some of his own blood. He stirred with the end of his blood knife, and pointed to Yohko's stomach. "If you could remove that bandaid please," he said quietly. Yohko peeled it off and tossed it out of the circle. Tetsuo's heart skipped a beat. There was barely a ripple in the shield. He refrained from berating her, and knelt next to Yohko, pushing the sharp edge against the cut. Blood came out and settled into a large drop on the blade. He stirred that in the mixture. "What's that for?" she asked. "It makes the spell work on both of us." "What's the blood for?" "The blood of each person who's taking part has to be in the mixture, so the spell can recognize each of us." "What about the opium?" "It's to add power. Changing a human is easier than a demon-child." "What about the lemon juice?" "That's for taste." Yohko giggled. Luckily, the incense was working. Tetsuo had to shake his head a couple times to keep his mind on target, even though he was clear as a bell. After stirring the potion a little more, he set it aside, and opened up another crystal bottle. It held undersea sand from all the oceans, water from Antarctica, a crystal caught in a lightning bolt, and blood from a sacrificed virgin at Stonehenge, several thousand years ago. He called it the "black potion," since it was extremely rare. Tetsuo could swear that he'd used all of it, but the potion hadn't run out yet. "What's that?" "A potion a Yogi gave me when I visited Tibet." That was true. He'd won it on a bet about how Desert Storm would turn out. If he'd lost, Tetsuo would be used as a Seer for the Yogi, which was somewhat unpleasant. Fortunately, Tetsuo was glad the Yogi didn't keep up with the events of the world. Tetsuo poured the black potion into another bowl, halfway up, and took the liquid, which was as black as night, dipping a stone stick into it. He rubbed lines of the liquid on his stomach in a complicated design, then gestured to Yohko. She lay on her back, and Tetsuo traced the same design on her. In a few minutes, the designs had dried, but by then, Tetsuo had traced dozens of runes into the wall of the casting circle. Outside the circle was nearly invisible. Inside was a completely different world. He set the bowl in a corner, along with all the other materials. Taking up the lemon mixture, Tetsuo handed Yohko the bowl. "Here, drink some of this." Yohko took the bowl and tipped it up slightly, the brownish liquid draining into her delicate lips. While she was drinking, Tetsuo was distracted by her bare stomach and tight shorts. Was she wearing a bra? He'd find out soon enough. When Yohko finished, Tetsuo took the bowl and drank the rest. "Now what?" Yohko asked nervously. "It's time," Tetsuo said. Yohko didn't make a move, so Tetsuo moved forward, having set the empty bowl with the others. He touched her naked stomach lightly, then moved his hand to the rolled up shirt. She shivered as Tetsuo pulled it over her head. Yohko was beautiful. Her bare breasts were perfectly formed and shaped. She shivered when Tetsuo touched her, and his mouth covered one of her breasts. The Devil Hunter gasped as his mouth covered her naked skin, and Tetsuo reached to her shorts. His finger went beneath them, and he pushed between her legs to her panties. Yohko was breathing heavily, as was the demon expert. Nearly fifteen, he was experiencing sex with a woman for the first time. Tetsuo's pants came off, and his erect cock was pressing against Yohko's thigh. She moaned, and spread her legs at Tetsuo's touch. Tetsuo pulled her shorts and panties down around her ankles. "Oh God..." she moaned, turning her head to the side. Tetsuo positioned himself between her legs, and looked between her legs. She was wet. Tetsuo pushed in, and both sighed as its length entered Yohko fully. Yohko's ankles clasped above Tetsuo's lean buttocks, and he began thrusting in, rocking his hips in and out. His mouth was covering Yohko's breasts, and she moaned as they fucked. Thrusting in and out, Tetsuo's hands were on the Devil Hunter's breasts, then on the side of her face as he frenched her, then back to her breasts. And so on. Yohko kissed him back, and she rode his hips like a horse. To her, even though she had felt the monstrosity of Arakado, Tetsuo felt like a stallion. Perhaps it was the incense, but the ironic thought of fucking a stallion came to her then. Maybe it was too crazy. Maybe not. Yohko had her orgasm first, and she cried out in pleasure, clenching Tetsuo to her tightly, bucking her hips into his, waves of pleasure washing up from her genitals. Tetsuo came moments later, shouting out and slamming his spewing member into the Devil Hunter. She accepted it in bliss, her orgasm still overwhelming. Tetsuo shot out several loads into the young Devil Hunter, then pulled out and sat down, trying to stay conscious. *** Chi didn't hear, since the circle was sound-proof. She was sitting in the middle of her room with an open box sitting a few feet away. Chi was sweating heavily, leaning against the bed, with her nightgown pulled up above her waist. Between her legs, an erect cock critter was fucking her. It was just as big as a normal cock, only it had legs and a tail and a mouth. It fucked her viciously. Her mouth was open as well, and another one was fucking her face. Chi whimpered in pleasure. It was too much for her. Chi's back arched, and she screamed through her nose at the same time as the cock in her mouth came. It spewed out load after load of hot, thick, semen down her throat. Chi swallowed it, still whimpering. Her orgasm was still shaking her body, and the dick between her legs was starting to spew. It shot off a load of cum into her vagina, and Chi screamed through her nose as her shattering climax overwhelmed her. *** Azusa was sitting in her bed, reading, but she set the book aside, sighing. She picked up her stuffed bunny, aptly named "Bunny," and cuddled it close. Although Azusa was a young teen, she had grown up with Bunny and could never see him go. She felt the bunny pressing against her small breast, and scolded it. "Bad bunny! Don't do that to Azusa!" Azusa set the bunny on her lap, and remembered the night she had been violated by the demon. Almost uncosciously, Bunny traveled between her legs, touching her panties. "Bunny!" she gasped. "What are you doing?" Azusa's panties loosened and came around her ankles. "Bunny!" Azusa gasped again as it touched her bare mound. "Bad bunny! Don't touch...unh...Azusa there! Bunny!" Azusa clutched the side of the bed with her left hand and Bunny with her right. The stuffed animal was rubbing up against her very hard. *** "Can we be sure if your sperm will...you know?" Tetsuo shook his head, grinning. "We'd better make sure." Yohko was on top, this time, her hands holding down Tetsuo's. She rocked into him rapidly, and Tetsuo nipped at her breasts, licking them when he could. They progressed rapidly to an orgasm, and Tetsuo yelled out his orgasm, firing off loads of hot seed into her willing body. The Devil Hunter screamed as well, her slim body shuddering with pleasure. *** Chi put the cock critters back. She had taken seven from the dungeon, after Ayoko had left. Chi felt slightly guilty, but couldn't help it. *** "Skiing?" Yohko asked, incredulous. "Sure!" Chi said. "But...but...it's still snowing!" Chi shrugged. "So?" Azusa carried in breakfast, setting it on the table, and people began piling on their pancakes. Tetsuo would suggest that Azusa stop doing all the cooking, but Chi and Yohko would probably suggest he'd do it. Oh well. "I don't think that skiing in snow would be such a good idea," Tetsuo said. "I mean, the snow would be...like...it would be hard to see, and getting lost would be simple. I don't recommend it." "Yeah," Yohko said. Chi rolled her eyes and picked up a pancake, stuffing it into her mouth. "How come we don't use guns?" Azusa asked. "Not that I want to or anything, I'm just curious." Tetsuo responded first. "I tried to get my hands on some conventional weaponry, but it's pretty hard. Getting illegal weapons in Japan isn't easy, especially when you're looking for some demon killing weapons. I've got a .44 at the house and two clips, but never carry it anywhere. Besides, I can make practically any other demon hunting weapon, but nothing conventional." "I suspect bestowing them with power is harder," Yohko added, looking at Tetsuo, who was stuffing his face. "Maybe. Haven't tried." "Look! The snow's stopped! Let's ski!" "Still too dangerous. The snow isn't packed enough. We could take a hike or something." They cleared the table and dressed in their snow clothes. *** When they arrived back at the house, it was blizzarding outside again. "We're gonna take a bath, Tetsuo," said Yohko. "You can wait out here and..." "You mean I can't come in?" he said sarcastically. "No," Chi said. "You'll get your chance later." Tetsuo flopped onto the couch and stared outside at the snow for a while, then watched TV for an hour before the three wet girls came out in kimonos. "Hey now," Chi said to Yohko. "You'd better watch it." "So she does-" Azusa was cut off by Chi threatening her with a raised hair brush. Azusa laughed, running back up the stairs. Chi ran after. Yohko sat down next to Tetsuo on the couch. "So," Yohko said. "When do we know if it worked?" "Tonight," Tetsuo said. "I'll perform another seeing ritual and check if I can look inside you again." "Why couldn't you?" Tetsuo shrugged. "That spell I cast could have various effects, one of them blocking my sight. I doubt it, though." "Hey Yohko!" Azusa called. "C'mere!" Tetsuo and Yohko followed Azusa's voice up into the attic, where piles of old dusty boxes and chests were laying around. "Wierd," Yohko mumbled. "I didn't think we had an attic." Tetsuo looked around uneasily. "Well, this was great, let's go." "No!" Azusa said emphatically. "Look at all this stuff!" She blew a box, and dust clouded around her for a moment. She appeared out of the dust cloud with an old photo album. "Cool, huh?" "Photos?" Tetsuo asked. "What good are they?" "You wouldn't understand." "Look at this!" Chi called from another section of the attic, behind piles of boxes. They went over to Chi, and found a huge stone coffin. "Cool. What's this doing here?" Azusa asked. Chi shrugged. "Actually I meant this," she held up a fist-sized diamond. "Where did you get that?" Yohko asked. The hair on Tetsuo's neck raised. "It was in the coffin. There's a place for it there," she pointed. Tetsuo blew off the dust on the coffin, and noticed many lines leading up to the hole. "You know," he said, "these almost look Latin..." Then he blanched. "Put it back." "What?" Chi said. "The diamond," Yohko said. "Put it back, now." "What for, I just-" The lines on the coffin flared bright red, shooting off spires of light at the ceiling. Momentarily, the spires had died down, and the lines were burning red. "Put it back!" yelled Tetsuo. Chi ran towards the coffin, but the lid flew up into the air, landing somewhere else in the attic. There was a general cry of alarm as a huge figure stood up. The figure was about seven feet tall, white skin, and blood red eyes. "Hello, ladies," it said in a grating voice. There was a half-second silence, and Tetsuo stepped forward. "Who are-" A bolt of red energy cracked into his chest, and the boy flew into a pile of boxes, landing somewhere on the other side. Azusa and Yohko flew into the air, changing instantly, and Chi screamed, running away. Yohko's kimono ripped away, and her gi formed around her body. Azusa's kimono fell away as well, and her uniform formed around her body. The spear materialized in her hand, and she attacked. The battle was raging when Tetsuo woke, and the Devil Hunters were winning. He could see that, but he could also see what the demon wanted. It was a sickly creature, that probably didn't deserve to go to hell...well, yeah it did, but he didn't want to send it there. Tetsuo clambered over to Chi and grabbed the diamond. "Here!" he said. "This is what it wants!" Tetsuo stood up, holding the diamond. "HERE STUPID DEMON!" he yelled. The fight stopped for a moment, and the demon flew at him. Of course, Tetsuo had a change of heart. He tossed the diamond backwards, and, as the demon passed, Tetsuo arced his blood knife out, striking the demon in the face. It screamed in agony, fire pouring from the wound. Tetsuo leaped out of Yohko's way. Yohko threw her sword into its chest. It died. "Wow," Azusa said. *** Tetsuo pulled his forehead up from Yohko's stomach. He leaned back and dripped the moon water into his eyes. Blinking the blood from his eyes, Tetsuo looked at her. She was wearing the tight black shorts and a black sports bra. Then he grinned. "It's a girl." "Unh?" Yohko blinked. "It is?" "And it's human. Most of it anyway." "What do you mean, 'most' of it?" Yohko scowled. "It probably won't be a problem. I just bet she'll have more powers." "My daughter will be a demon and she'll have more powers?" Yohko was scowling more fiercely. Tetsuo fidgeted. "She'll be human...as far as I can tell." "As far as you can tell?" Tetsuo sighed. "Listen, I can't tell what's going to happen to her when she's older, but she'll start out fairly normal." "Can't you get more specific?" He shook his head. "No. We'll have to wait and see." Yohko sat back on her heels with a sigh. "Okay." Tetsuo stood and broke down the casting circle. Yohko looked around the room at all his charms and runes and demon defenses. "Jeez," she said, standing. "What?" "Oh, nevermind. Are you going to bed any time soon?" "Maybe," Tetsuo shrugged. "I might. Why? You?" Yohko moved closer to him. "I wasn't planning on it." "Uh, maybe we could stay up, and talk, or do something." "Let's do something." Yohko pulled her sports bra over her head. She pushed her mouth against Tetsuo's, her tongue thrusting into the younger boy's mouth. Yohko's right hand pushed into Tetsuo's pants, grabbing his hardening penis. Tetsuo gasped and pushed his own hand into Yohko's panties, pushing between her legs. "I'm glad we met," Tetsuo mumbled into her mouth. ****** PART FOUR {episode 10}: THE POSSESSED Chi gaped. God, he was beautiful. Well, God was beautiful too, but so was this guy. He had black hair to his shoulders, tied behind his head in a pony tail. His eyes were sapphire blue, and his skin was perfectly shaded. Not too tan, not too light. The boy was slightly taller than Chi, and had a muscular body (not overly so). She was in love. Chi sighed, and Yohko looked back at her. "Chi, you sound like me. Who is it?" Chi stared, oblivious to Yohko. Yohko looked, and fell in love. They both stared. *** After class, Yohko was at her locker, when he came up to her. His dark, almost red, hair was curly, falling to the nape of his neck. It would look good in a pony tail. "You're Yohko, right?" he said. Yohko lost herself in his green eyes. "My name is Takashi. Nice to meet you." He shook her limp hand. "Well, I was wondering if you could help me with my homework after school today. I can't seem to understand the Ichidan and Yodan verbs." "Sure," Yohko managed after a few moments. "Great. I'll meet you here." *** Chi and Yohko were coming out of the girl's bathroom when he came up. The boy's jet black hair gleamed slightly as he smiled at Chi. The pony tail hung to below his shoulders, touching between his shoulder blades. "Chi," he said. "My name is Taro. I was wondering if you'd like to meet me after school, tonight perhaps. I can't seem to understand the relationship between the verb bases and the endings." Chi nearly leaped for joy, then remembered he was still there. "I can." "Great, we can meet at the library about six. Bye!" *** As soon as he was around the corner, Kato smiled evilly, a red glimmer barely flickering over his irises. *** Yohko waited at her locker after school, nervously looking around for Takashi. The first boy she ever loved and knew she was existed would meet her here! In a few minutes! Yohko sighed dreamily, leaning against the locker. Moments later, Takashi was there, in all his glory. "Where would you like to study?" he asked. "The school library? Your house? My house? A restaurant?" Yohko didn't answer, managing to shrug instead. "We can work at the school library, I guess," Takashi smiled. "Come on." The library was empty, all the History Day freaks abandoning it for better places. History Day was over, and the world was happy once more. Takashi dropped his books on a table and sat down. Yohko sat down as well, nervously removing her pack. After about twenty minutes, Yohko loosened up enough to talk freely, and things were good. At ten to six, Tetsuo came in with a folder, and both of them looked up. "I'd better be going," Takashi said, piling his books into his bag. He looked at his watch. "Shit! I'm gonna be late." Yohko blinked. "But..." "I'm very sorry," he said quickly. "But I have to be somewhere. I'll talk to you tommorrow! Bye!" Takashi walked off towards the back exit, and a few moments later, Tetsuo sat down in the vacated chair. "Who was that?" he asked. "Takashi," she sighed. "He's new in the class. Or, at least, I haven't noticed him before." "Huh. Well, he noticed you," Tetsuo observed. "Really? How do you know?" Tetsuo scowled. "Duh. He wanted to study with you. Anyway, I've found another demon." Yohko sighed again, looking at the papers on the table. "What is it this time?" "Not getting bored of your work already, are you?" "No, I just wish...nevermind." "Azusa can take your place." "I like being the Devil Hunter!" "Maybe if Azusa and me work together, we could fill your shoes." "It's fine, Tetsuo!" "I wonder if Chi's any good..." "Tetsuo!" "Okay. Here. This demon is probably a vampire, or something. Here's what I've got: there were several bodies found over the past two weeks, completely drained of blood. A couple others have dissappeared, and another has his head opened, brain missing. That's probably the work of a psycho, or different demon. The clues I've found lead to western Senkai, but that's all. Nothing more. You remember any demons from around there?" Yohko shook her head. "I doubt it. Chi keeps a record of these things, you might ask her. But she's meeting somebody at the library now, so you probably should wait a while." Tetsuo shrugged. "Here's some police reports that I haven't looked at yet, dealing with the murders. We could order a pizza and look at them." Tetsuo pulled out his cel phone and gave Azusa a ring, ordering her to get a pizza and bring it over there. Thirty minutes later, Azusa arrived to see a table full of scattered papers. Forty minutes after that, they were all laughing. "How can you 'accidentally' lose a finger?" Yohko asked. "Maybe he picks his nose too much!" They laughed, then even harder when Yohko's cheese fell from her pizza onto a police photograph. *** As Tetsuo approached the library, he noticed Takashi boarding a bus. Huh. Inside, Chi was seated at a table, her hands under her chin. "Hey, Chi," he said. "I was wondering if you could help me locate a demon." Chi sighed. "Sure." *** The next several weeks, they found several clues pointing to a certain mansion on Senkai hill, but Yohko wanted to wait for something solid. The mansion in question belonged to a town council member. Yohko dated Takashi, becoming much more intimate with him. Chi dated Taro, arriving at the same conclusion. Oddly enough, Taro and Takashi never were around at the same time. Tetsuo became involved with a different out-of-town project while they waited on the vampire to kill somebody else, and said he'd probably return in a few days. Azusa visited her parents and returned, happy as ever. *** "Yohko," Takashi smiled, meeting her in the hall, his hands on either side of her head. He kissed her, and she responded, kissing passionately. When they broke, he said, "I'm not busy between third and fourth, can we meet?" Yohko nodded, and pulled a book out of her locker. "Seeya then." He grinned, mock-bowing as he left. *** A few minutes later, Taro came up behind Chi, his right hand traveling around her stomach and pulling her against him. "Can we meet later?" he asked. "When?" Chi grinned as he kissed her. "After second period." "How bout after third?" "I can't, have to get a signature for one of my reports then. It's too far, anyway." Chi nodded, and kissed him again. *** Taro's arm slid around Chi's shoulders. "Come with me," he said. "What?" Chi asked. "You'll see." Taro led her down an unused hall to a bathroom. He opened the door and they went in. "This is a men's bathroom," Chi said, "what-mph!" Taro's mouth covered Chi's, and she grunted as Taro pushed her against the tiled wall. Chi moaned out loud when Taro's hand found her panties and he pulled them about her calves. Chi's fingers fumbled with the boy's zipper, and she finally undid it, bringing out his erect cock. The girl gasped when it pressed against her naked slit, and whimpered when it pressed in. Taro's full length slid into her, and Chi moaned, scooting up the wall. Taro began rocking his hips up and down, thrusting his fully erect cock into the seventeen year-old. Chi's legs locked around Taro's hips, and she began grinding him into her, bobbing up and down the wall. Taro's hands moved up under her over coat, grabbing Chi's generous breasts through her blouse. The two rocked up and down happily, completely lost in the feeling of it. Soon, Taro had his orgasm. He shouted out loudly, slamming his hips into Chi's, thrusting her against the wall. She screamed, her orgasm flooding her body. Chi thrashed against Taro, pumping into him as he shot load after load into her. As soon as they finished, Taro grinned at Chi, pulling out of her. He stuffed his penis into his pants, and zipped his zipper up again. Chi pulled up her panties, leaning against Taro as he escorted her out. *** Takashi led Yohko into the boiler room after third period. "What are we doing in here?" Yohko asked, looking at the dark surroundings. When he didn't answer, Yohko turned around. Takashi's mouth pressed against hers, and his body pushed hers against the stone wall. Yohko moaned, and Takashi's hand traveled between her legs and up to her panties. She moaned again as the boy's fingers traced along her girlish slit, pressing her mound. Pleasure emanated from Yohko's girlhood, and she moaned as Takashi slipped his hand into her panties. She was reminded of the time when Osamu had taken her to the hotel room. Even though she was barely conscious, she had wanted him. She had wanted Osamu. Yohko's tongue shot out into Takashi's as his own plundered her mouth. Takashi pulled Yohko's panties about her ankles, and she whimpered loudly as the boy's erection sprung from his opened pants. The girl gasped when Takashi speared her on its length. Takashi began fucking her rapidly, slamming his naked hips into Yohko's open legs. Thrusting rapidly, time after time, it took Yohko very little time to reach her peak. The feel of her partner's long, thick shaft penetrating deep into her belly was too much. Yohko spasmed, crying out and bucking her hips into Takashi's. He continued to grunt as his hot cock was jamming farther into the young girl. Yohko's orgasm subsided, but when she felt cool air on her breasts, and Takashi's hands ripping open her bra, the build started once more. Yohko leaned her head back against the wall, looking up with eyes closed. Her breasts were now bared, the blouse open and bra ripped apart in the front. Takashi's hands were pressing her breasts, massaging them, hardening the nipples. Soon, Yohko came again. She screamed out, her legs clenching Takashi's pumping organ farther into her. Bliss overwhelmed the Devil Hunter, and pleasure consumed her mind. As she climaxed, Yohko felt Takashi climax. Fire erupted from his erection, searing Yohko inside. She gasped as fire filled her. Several moments later, the pleasure subsided, and Yohko became aware of the world around her. She blinked away her watery eyes, and began straightening up. Takashi smiled, zipping up his pants. He helped Yohko straighten her blouse and take off her bra. "This is ruined, we might as well get rid of it," he noted, wadding it up and throwing it into a trash can. Yohko smiled at Takashi as he led her up to the school. *** Tetsuo looked up as the door opened. "Yohko?" he said when she came in. "Yes?" "Where have you been?" he asked. "Out with Takashi." Chi came downstairs. "Well, I'm off. I've got to go meet Taro for dinner. Bye!" Yohko scowled as she left. "That Taro gets on my nerves. He always manages to schedule his appointments before or after I meet with Takashi. I never get to see Chi any more." Tetsuo pondered this, then stopped, looking at Yohko. "Something's different about you," he said. "What?" Tetsuo stood up and went to Yohko, walking around her and looking her up and down. "I can't tell, exactly," he murmured. "Something's happened." "What are you talking about?" Yohko asked, getting slightly suspicious. She dropped her pack and began walking up stairs. Tetsuo followed her. "Did anything strange happen to you today?" "Like what?" Yohko asked, blushing at the memory of Takashi. "I don't know. Anything. What happened to you today?" Yohko went into her room, doffing her jacket. She hung it up in her closet, and pulled on some grey sweatpants. Yohko turned around, and began unbuttoning her shirt. After her experiences with Tetsuo, she was somewhat less modest around him when they were alone. Tetsuo sat down, staring into space. "Something's different about you." "You keep saying that, what are you talking about?" Yohko asked, dropping the blouse and reaching for a sweatshirt. "Stop!" Tetsuo said. "What is it?" Yohko asked, her head turned to Tetsuo. Tetsuo bounded over to the girl, looking at her tattoo. He traced several of the lines quickly, mumbling to himself. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Why aren't you wearing your bra?" he asked, standing up straight. Yohko blushed again, and pulled the sweatshirt on. "I didn't feel like it." "You always wear your bra." Yohko scowled at him. "How would you know?" "I can tell." "Nothing happened today." "How come you're blushing?" "I'm not!" she blushed. Tetsuo went around to the other side of Yohko, for she had turned her head further. "Dammit! Just tell me what happened! Did you fight a demon? Did you cast a spell? Did Takashi do something to you?" Tetsuo stopped, and Yohko was blushing more now. "You...you had sex with him, didn't you?" Tetsuo asked, shocked. Yohko glared. "So what? It's not like that concerns you! It's none of your business what we do." Tetsuo thought. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry. You can do whatever you want." Yohko softened, realizing she shouldn't have yelled at him. "Uh, do you want to stay over for dinner? Chi is out with Taro, so she won't be coming." Tetsuo shook his head. "Naw, sorry. I can't. I'm gonna hack into the US FBI computers. They might have some info on a new case I'm investigating." "Oh. Okay." There was a pause. "Well," Tetsuo sighed. "I'll be going now." "Okay. Seeya." "Bye." *** Tetsuo sat at his computer, wearing only a pair of sweatpants, wearing his reading glasses. He was connecting through ten different addresses until he came to this FBI terminal. The boy was logged in as a secretary, and he had very little access, but was working on more. After about ninety minutes of work, Tetsuo managed to get in as a high-ranked agent, and he began downloading his files from the backup computer. After two hours of downloading this crap, he logged off and returned back home through the routes he had taken. Tetsuo stretched, looking at the clock. Twenty to twelve. Boy, it was late. He was tired. Tetsuo dropped his reading glasses on his computer table and went back to his room, rubbing his eyes. As he entered his room, he felt the familiar shimmer of energy as it passed through his body, testing for any demon energies. Tetsuo flopped onto his futon. His room was normal-sized, he had a TV and portable CD boombox. The entire left wall was made into a shelf, and his dresser was surfaced with a bunch of symbols and wards. Etched all over his walls were runes and symbols, many of which he had just for reference. As Tetsuo lay in bed, he slightly regretted that he and Yohko weren't seeing each other any more. It would probably turn out better that it was just a passing fancy. If he had fallen fully in love with the Devil Hunter, emotions could stand to get in the way. *** Yohko looked in the mirror, rubbing her stomach with her right hand. She was wearing her panties only, looking for a bulge in her stomach. Nothing. So far, there had been no sign she was pregnant. Surely they would have seen something by now. Oh well. *** Chi and Taro were at the restaurant, earlier that night. It was about 8:23, and Chi's face was red as a beet. The two were seated at a booth, and she had her hands on the table, clenched nervously. "Stop it!" she hissed at Taro, glancing out into the restaurant. "What?" Taro murmured, his socked foot pushing slowly in and out of her thighs. Chi was wearing a black miniskirt, white blouse, and black jacket. It was similar to the school uniform, but much better looking. Chi was glancing nervously as his toe pressed against her slit. "We shouldn't do this here," she said. "Why?" "People might see!" Chi gasped as her panties were pushed slightly into her nether lips. "Yes," Taro said, rubbing his foot up and down Chi's slit. "They might." Taro pulled his foot out and put it into his shoe just as the waiter returned. *** The next day, at lunch, Tetsuo saw Yohko following Takashi out of the lunch room. Finally, he thought. Either she or Chi were never at lunch simultaneously, since they'd met their new boyfriends. He followed them to the boiler room, and pushed in as they were sitting down. "Tetsuo!" Yohko exclaimed as he entered. She was half sitting, and Tetsuo blanched, as did Takashi. "Oh! You two haven't met. Takashi, this is Tetsuo. Tetsuo, this is..." "Get away from him," Tetsuo said, staring at Takashi. He swore to himself for not bringing his blood knife. "What?" Yohko asked. Takashi stood up, taking Yohko's shoulder in his hand. "Yohko, dear, please stand over here. I think your friend is going to attack me." "What are you doing?" she said to Tetsuo, alarmed. "This guy's a demon," Tetsuo said circling to the left. "No he's not," Yohko scowled. "I'd know. That tattoo would tell me." Tetsuo continued to look at Takashi, when the second attacked. Takashi's fist flashed out, hurling a ball of flame at Tetsuo, who ducked and barrelled into the larger boy. They both tumbled across the ground in a heap of arms and legs. "Stop it!" Yohko screamed as Takashi smashed his hand into Tetsuo's face. Blood splattered on the ground. Tetsuo yelled an ancient word of power his body flashing blue for a moment. Takashi was thrown against the wall, and Tetsuo slammed his fist into the boy's stomach. Takashi doubled over to meet Tetsuo's knee smash, and the older boy toppled to the ground. "Tetsuo!" Yohko screamed, grabbing him and throwing him into the boiler. "Yohko!" Tetsuo cried. "You can't tell he's a demon because of your baby!" "What?" Takashi and Yohko said. "The baby is emanating a constant demon presence, which you've gotten used to. You can't hear Takashi because he's quieter than the baby." Yohko shot a glance at her new boyfriend. "What are you talking about?" Takashi yelled, arching a stream of fire at Tetsuo. Tetsuo crossed his arms across his chest, and the fire exploded around him. Seconds later, the fire died down to small patches on the boiler and floor. Tetsuo was in a protected circle, untouched by the flame. Takashi ran at Tetsuo, who leaped up and grabbed a ceiling pipe. He hoisted up above the demon's strike, then stomped down, his heel cracking on Takashi's head. Tetsuo kicked again, and Takashi reeled to the side, stumbling over a bench. Tetsuo dropped to the ground, in a fighting stance. Takashi snarled, blood running down all over his face. Yohko broke from her stupor. "Stop it you two! Takashi, tell him you're not a demon!" "You're pregnant?" Takashi demanded of her, his eyes still on Tetsuo. Yohko nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "I am." Takashi spat. "I thought she was untouched ground. I was mistaken. Someone has found her first. Who is it?" Yohko looked at Tetsuo, "His." "Mine and Arakado's," Tetsuo said, slowly tracing a rune in the air. "Arakado?" a note of fear entered Takashi's voice. "I cannot. He is asleep! I did not know!" Takashi whirled and vanished in a vortex of energy. Tetsuo swore as his rune was completed, surrounding the spot with a ring of blue energy. Yohko was in shock. "What's going on?" Tetsuo sighed. "I'll explain. We have to tell Chi as well." ****** PART FIVE {episode 11}: BIRTHRIGHT The past seven months had been hard. It was about to get harder. Grandmother Madoka died in a catyclismic battle with a demon lord, a huge vortex sucking them up. Yohko was having an awful time with the child, whom they were going to name Yumiko. Sayoko, Yohko's mother, was dead. She was possessed by a greater demon and, contrary to Tetsuo's beliefs and morals, he used his best efforts to keep her alive. The demon's last act was to kill Sayoko. Yohko vowed vengeance, and should the demon ever return, she would condemn it to eternal torment. The four were now taking care of themselves most of the time. *** Chi looked up when she heard the door open, and saw Tetsuo step through, shaking the snow off his clothes. "Here," he said. Tetsuo dropped a wad of blankets on the floor. Azusa went over to the blankets, her usual cheerful manner absent. "Anything happen while I was gone?" Tetsuo asked nervously. "Yohko had Yumiko," Chi replied, putting down her book and joining Azusa at the books. "I don't know if these'll be effective," Tetsuo said when the last blanket came away. It revealed four double-barrelled, combat shot guns, and three .44s. "The ammo is in this bag," Tetsuo said. "I got it from an American dealer, who may or may not be reliable. I don't know." The snow began to slow its descent. Azusa picked up one of the pistols and put it in an apron pocket. Chi tucked hers into her jeans, and Tetsuo set the other aside. Each picked a shotgun, which Azusa discarded. "I can't use that thing. It's too big." Tetsuo shrugged. "Okay. The kick would probably knock you off your feet anyway." Azusa nodded and began preparing the dinner. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to see the baby," Tetsuo said. Chi nodded, sitting back down at the couch. Both she and Yohko were now 17, and Azusa was 14. Tetsuo would be 16 in three weeks. *** Yohko scooted back, giving herself some back support. "Tetsuo?" she mumbled. "Yeah?" he whispered back, looking at the baby. It had a human soul. She smiled. "Did you see her? Isn't she beautiful?" Tetsuo nodded. "Yes. She is." A worried expression crossed the Devil Hunter's face. "What if something happens to my...our baby?" she asked. Tetsuo sat down on the bed next to her. "Nothing will. I will protect her, as we all will. Nothing can harm us now." "What do we do now?" Tetsuo sighed. "We have enough money to live for the rest of all our lives, tenfold if need be, so I'm not sure. I'll continue my work, you know I love it. There's nothing else for me but demon researching. I might look for Atlantis someday soon, I may not. I don't know." Yohko smiled gently, hugging him. "You're sweet, Tetsuo." "I know." When they broke apart, Tetsuo looked at the bed covers. "Listen, Yohko. I'm, uh, considering traveling for a while." "What?" "Well, the demon activity has slowed down here for a while, and I'm going to go some other places to search, possibly America." "Huh?" "Yohko, in a few months, I'm leaving." "Forever?" "Of course not. I'll return in time." "How long?" "A few months, a year, two. Who knows? I'm just not accustomed to staying in one place for very long." Tears welled up in Yohko's eyes, and she hugged him again. "I don't want you to go." "I know. I have to." "What about your child?" "I can't be a father. I can't raise a child." "How will you protect her?" Tetsuo broke away, and pulled his blood knife from his belt. "Whenever she needs my help, I'll know. And I'll come." Tetsuo placed the knife on Yumiko's stomach, and it began to glow. "You have nothing to fear, my dear Yohko." "It'll be okay," he whispered into Yohko's ear, hugging her once more. "Oh Tetsuo!" Yohko whimpered. She cried into his shoulder for a while, then blinked away the tears, looking him in the eye. Tetsuo looked back, and Yohko kissed him, her mouth covering his. Tetsuo's eyelids fell, and her tongue pushed into his mouth. He returned the kiss, and they entwined in one another's arms. *** Azusa watched through the cracked door, then moved down the hall, a rueful smile on the corner of her lips. Then her smile drooped. When would she meet someone? Anyone? ****** PART SIX {episode 12}: FINALE Tetsuo scowled at the vampire. It stopped halfway in the act of jumping away, then turned towards him. "Oops," Tetsuo said. The vampire spun towards the demon hunter and charged. Tetsuo sprung up into the air, scrabbling for his blood knife. It was gone. Dammit. He would never get used to that. He unslung the crossbow from his shoulder, and aimed it at the spot where he expected the vampire to appear. It didn't. After a few moments of uncertainty, he suddenly sensed a presence behind him. Tetsuo dove to the side, and the vampire clawed through the air. It skidded to a stop, and launched at Tetsuo again. The small demon hunter swore, rolling back to his feet and swinging the crossbow around in a tight arc. It broke across the vampire's face, and the undead stumbled to the side, spurting blood from the mouth. Without pausing, Tetsuo dropped the broken crossbow and drew his silver lined katana. When the vampire looked up, he was staring into eyes almost as demonic as his own. Snarling, the undead swept out a claw. Tetsuo ducked under it neatly, chopping off the vampire's head in one smooth motion. He pushed its body to the ground with his foot, and turned it onto its back. The boy took on an almost casual expression as he pulled out a small bottle of holy water and poured it onto the heart area. The clothes and flesh burnt away down to the heart, which blackened and smoked. Tetsuo placed a small wooden cross on the heart; seconds later, the body began to smoke and burn in flames. He stood up and gasped as a hand grabbed the back of his gi and spun him around. A knee thrust into his groin. The boy dropped to his knees, coughing and sputtering. He looked at the feet. They were dressed in women's Nike's. A female vampire. Great. He'd just killed a female vampire's boyfriend/husband/mate. Any of those were sufficient. Great. Just great. "You know," said the voice. "If I had actually loved him, then I take this situation for granted. As it is, I'm just kinda happy I've got some human blood on me." a voice screamed in his mind. His eyes popped open. Shit. Not now. The woman's hands lifted him to his feet, and she grabbed his chin, viewing him from different angles. "Hm. Nice looking boy," she mumbled. "If I didn't already have so many minions, I would suggest that you become one." It was Azusa's voice. What the hell was she doing talking to him? They must really be in trouble if Azusa was calling. "Listen," he coughed. "I really have to go." "No no no," scolded the vampiress, ripping his gi across his shoulder, clearing his neck for biting. "That'll have to wait." "It...can't..." he grated, emanating a thundery explosion. Both were tossed to the ground. The vampiress stood up, annoyed. "Don't piss me off," she said. "I might decide to torture you." "Some other time lady," he said, staggering to his feet. Tetsuo spoke a few words of power, and tossed an invisible ball of energy into the air behind him. It expanded into a vortex, and the vampiress gaped. "Till next time." *** Azusa looked up to see Tetsuo stumble out of a portal. "What is it?" he asked her, surveying the situation. "Thank goodness you came!" she cried. "I didn't think you would be here so quickly." "I do my best." Then Azusa's tattoo burned brightly. She slammed into Tetsuo, pushing him aside as a shape careened into the young apprentice Devil Hunter. The figure grabbed Azusa's waist, throwing her to the ground painfully. As the vampiress reached her claw up to slash down, she noticed that Azusa wasn't Tetsuo. "What the...?" "Over here you undead bitch," Tetsuo said, standing up unsteadily. The vampiress hissed, but only had time to open her eyes wide as her legs were tripped and she fell on her back. Tetsuo's blood knife slammed between her breasts, and blue fire exploded forcefully from the blade into the creature's body and along the skin. The stab and fire hollowed out the vampire instantly, and she turned to dust without a sound. Azusa blinked at its effect, looking at the blade in her hand with newfound respect. "Pretty cool, huh?" Tetsuo said, offering his hand to the young Devil Hunter. She blushed, taking it. "Now, what did you call for?" "Yumiko was kidnapped by a demon, and Yohko chased after. But Yohko was injured badly in the last fight with the demon, and there's no way she can win. You have to go help. Please. I couldn't even help enough. I'm not even sure that you can kill this demon," she added quietly. "Don't bet on it," Tetsuo said, grinning. Azusa smiled. "Here's your knife; I used it to talk to you. That's the only way I knew how." Tetsuo nodded. "Come on. I can sense her. I know which way she went." *** Yohko's face was a mask of pure anger. The demon's laughter was filled with malice. "You cannot win, Yohko. I will use the body of your daughter as a sacrifice, and I will raise Cthulu from his grave. I will force you to watch," he added as an after-thought. The Devil Hunter stood straight. Her blade was clean. The demon closed down on itself, its arms folding across its chest. Yohko dashed forward, her Soulsword arched to strike. The demon's eyes flared, and it opened up. Dozens of tentacles lashed out suddenly, wrapping around Yohko's limbs and yanking away the Soulsword. The tentacles held her out in front of the big cruise ship, where she could see the ocean below. Laughing maniacally, the demon floated past her, now disconnected from the tentacles. He held Yumiko cradled in his arms, a gesture almost blasphemous in and of itself. *** "Shit, how'd she get out there?" Tetsuo asked. "Where?" asked Azusa. Tetsuo swore again. "I'm gonna have to teleport us there," he said, drawing his blood knife. Slowly and carefully, Tetsuo probed out with the blade, parting the distance between the shore and Yohko's boat. It was far out in the Pacific. Several miles. He twisted slowly, and the air distorted in front of them. The air began to shimmer, and they saw an image of Yohko held up by dozens of disembodied tentacles. Beyond her was a floating demon. It held Yumiko. "Yohko!" Azusa cried, starting forward. "Not yet," Tetsuo said, his hand on her shoulder. He solidified the portal, and the air stopped shimmering. "Now." *** Suddenly Yohko was falling. The tentacles lost their grip and went slack. She cried out, grabbing one of them and holding on. The tentacle swung her toward the front of the ship, which she hit with her feet, and began pulling herself up. "What!?" the demon demanded, suddenly realizing that he had visitors. Yohko topped the front of the boat to see Tetsuo and Azusa. Tetsuo's eyes were like fire. He was looking past her at the demon. "Hand over the child or die," he said, his voice cold as ice. The knife in his hand was burning with a white flame. The demon laughed. "Never! You will all watch as the child is sacrificed to Cthulu and he is raised to rule!" Tetsuo's upper lip curled back, and he looked much like a demon himself. "Don't touch that child." The demon levitated Yumiko up to its chest level, and set a claw on one side of the baby's neck. "NO!" Tetsuo roared, leaping at the demon. White energy leapt from his hand at the demon, but the demon deflected it. Yohko and Azusa flanked him, their weapons flashing. The demon concentrated all of its power and threw out a blast that knocked all three attackers to the deck of the boat. With an evil grin, the demon drew its claw across Yumiko's neck. Blood gushed from the wound, falling to the water below. Fire burnt on the waves where the blood entered. Yohko and Azusa screamed, and Tetsuo's blind rage solidified into a cold hatred. He straightened his arm at the demon, and a bolt of white energy opened the demon's head and chest. The demon fell to the waves, its spirit laughing. "It is too late," it cackled. "Yohko!" Tetsuo cried, grabbing her shoulders and spinning her to him. Yumiko was still floating and dripping blood into the water. Her eyes were wild, and Tetsuo surged his will to hers, forcing some control. She blinked. "Yohko, we have to leave." The rest of the world vanished and time seemed to stand till as he spoke directly into her mind. "We have to save Yumiko." "How?" she asked. "We have to leave. We have to return." "Where?" "To the beginning. To fight Tokima." "What?" "It's the only way. We have to return to the beginning and fight with Haruka against Tokima." Yohko blinked, then realized that it must be done. "I understand. We'll do it." Tetsuo turned around and looked at Azusa. "You'll be the official Devil Hunter now, understand?" "What? What are you talking about?" "We're going to battle Tokima with Haruka. When it all started. At the very beginning. If we can destroy him, he'll have never brought demons into the world in the first place." Azusa gaped. "Take care of everyone," Yohko said, a tear spilling down her right cheek. She removed her dragon ring and pressed it into Azusa's numb hand. "I hope you find a boyfriend," she said, smiling. Behind them, Tetsuo grunted as he plunged the blood knife out, piercing the barrier between space and time. A hole opened in front of him, spreading out until it was twice his height. On the other side was a small grassy hill. "Come on, Yohko. We still have a few hours to prepare," he said. Yohko hugged Azusa, who sobbed into her shoulder briefly, then gathered herself and waved goodbye. "Tell Chi goodbye for me," Yohko said. Yohko stepped through the portal. Tetsuo handed Azusa the blood knife. "This is yours now," he said. "I won't be needing it, after we get rid of Tokima. Have a good life," he said, kissing her wet cheek. Azusa watched as Tetsuo stepped back into the portal. The portal closed, and waves of distortion passed over the area before everything returned to normal. *** As Azusa turned back to look at the dying Yumiko, she found herself staring at a sign post. A drop of rain hit her on her head. Another two splashed on her shoulder and arm. Streetlights flickered to life as it began to rain down. Azusa looked in her arms. She was holding Yumiko. On top of Yumiko's blankets was the dragon ring and blood knife. Azusa sniffled. They were gone. Forever. Right? They hadn't really been friends for very long. They were gone now. Never to return. Yumiko's eyes opened when a teardrop splashed on her forehead. *** Azusa opened the door to the Mano house, cold and dark in the rain. She moved very slowly, as if she carried a great burden. She bore much more than she should have, for any age. As the young girl began peeling off her wet clothes, she stopped as headlights flashed through the bedroom window. A car stopped in the driveway, and three people jumped out of the car and ran to the front door. Azusa's eyes popped open as she recognized Yohko. She ran to the stairs, and then stopped when she heard an almost unfamiliar voice. It was Sayoko. But Sayoko was dead. Tears came to Azusa's eyes when she heard Madoka's voice. She was also dead. Or was she? Both were alive now! Azusa smiled, but decided not to go downstairs. Things had changed. Too many things. Azusa figured she'd have to get out of the house, since they might not recognize her. As she cradled Yumiko against her chest tightly, jogging down towards Tetsuo's house, her mind raced. How could Yohko still be alive? How? She had gone back to defeat Tokima, and if she defeated Tokima, along with Tetsuo and Haruka, then the demons would never have come to the planet! That's why Yohko was alive! Yohko never had to become a Devil Hunter, did she? Because of that, Yohko never ended up going into the past. She never met Tetsuo, who probably never became a demon expert in the first place! Or not, she thought as she stopped in front of Tetsuo's house. The familiar wards and symbols still covered the door and she still sensed the magic surrounding it. Azusa wondered if it was safe to take Yumiko inside the house, since Yumiko had demon blood in her, and the house was bristling with anti-demon magic. Well, it had to be safer than standing out in this rain the whole time. Azusa jogged up the walkway to the front porch, and stopped when Tetsuo came out of the door. He locked it and then saw her. "Uh, can I help you?" he asked. Azusa gaped. "T-Tetsuo?" Even though she should have been expecting it, seeing Tetsuo was just as shocking as seeing Yohko. "Yes? Do I know you?" "N-no. Maybe. Can I come in?" "I was just about to go out. This isn't a very good night to be running at night," he said. "Especially with a baby," Tetsuo noted when Yumiko began wailing. "Please can I come in?" Azusa asked. Tetsuo looked at the rain, then at Azusa, and gestured her towards the door. "Yeah, hurry up." *** Azusa had doffed her Devil Hunter gi, and was wearing one of Tetsuo's sweatshirts and a pair of his boxer shorts. She had showered and dried her hair, which was now frizzed out in various directions. Hopefully this would all sort out in her mind later. The girl's eyes stared blankly into the empty coffee mug as she sat at the table, her legs curled under her. "More?" Tetsuo said. She blinked, nodding. "Thanks," she mumbled. Tetsuo sat down across from her. "Now what were you doing out at this time of the night?" Azusa swallowed a mouthful of cocoa and considered her approach. Should she lie? "I was going for a walk," she lied. "No you weren't," Tetsuo replied cheerfully. "In that?" he pointed his head at her gi. Azusa drank more coffee, telling herself she'd have to learn to lie better. "Actually..." she said. Tetsuo waited. "I was looking for you." "Really?" he asked. "Have we met?" "Y...no." "Why were you looking for me?" "Well...you are a..." Azusa closed her eyes in frustration. "What's all this crap around your house?" Tetsuo looked, then nearly blushed. "It's just a bunch of stuff I have. Good luck charms, that sort of thing." Azusa smiled. "No they're not. This is demon-warding stuff, isn't it?" "What?" Tetsuo scowled. "I know what it is," she said. "Some of it, anyway. I came to seek you as an ally." "Ally?" "Against the demons." Tetsuo's brow furrowed. "I...uh..." "Wait," Azusa said. "Do you know anybody named Yohko?" "Yohko? No. Should I? Wait a sec. Who are you?" The young girl stuck her hand across the table. "My name is Azusa. Devil Hunter Azusa." *** "Yeah, Chi? This is Yohko. Hi. You're not going to believe this...I just got a call from the strangest girl...She said her name was Azusa...Uh-huh...She wants me to meet her this Saturday to see if I would train under her as some kind of Devil Hunter. Weird or what?" THE END ***************************** Copyright 1996, Bill Smith