The Witch Hunter Part Nineteen

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

“Maru, get ready” Nino said quickly, Maru sighed and then gave a nod, putting a hand to his mouth and suddenly the halls were exploding with noise it echoed around them causing even the earth to tremble. The halls appeared to explode with life, and hunters and demons took up their positions around the walls.

“Just think you’ll be having the happiest birthday ever when we beat them and you get Kame back” Nino patted his arm, Maru grinned touching his nose lightly

“I guess so” The trickster grinned; Nino laughed and then went to find Matsu. He found the hunter with Yamapi/Toma on top of the halls, looking out over the walls. Nino sent up lightning bolts, lighting up the enemy, sighing when he saw clearly how unfavourable odds actually were. The enemy was impressive, and Akanishi was sitting proudly at the head. Nino felt his demon side burn in his chest as he saw him, the pain of seeing Ohno ripped from his body flooding into his soul. His heart raced against his ribs as he tried to stop the Unholy King from completely taking him over. Another flash of lightning went up and they could see Akanishi looking at them smugly.

“We’re out numbered” Yamapi/Toma sighed, Nino nodded but gave a shrug forcing his heart to calm down

“We outnumbered the enemy last time, and we lost so maybe this time it will work in our favour” He said trying to be reassuring, the third king nodded, while Nino gave a small smile. No matter what they had to win too many people were relaying on the outcome of this battle even if they didn’t know it yet.

“Using my power would be too draining on Toma, and as much as you say it’s okay it isn’t” Yamapi/Toma snapped at himself, causing Matsu to wonder if they knew they acted like the worlds strangest married couple. The hunter looked away to find Nino looking at him with more sadness in his eyes than he had ever seen before, but the demon soon pushed it away forcing a bright smile on his face.

“We will win this pretty hunter” He said “You will win this”

“I know” Matsu nodded. With that action, the hunters and demons on both side started sending out spells. What seemed like hours later the halls were echoing loudly with screams and explosions, the wall shook as spells after spell hit the ancient stone walls. Multi coloured fires flickered into the night and various spells were being cast all around them. Nino clung to the pendent tightly trying to keep his focus as he sent out a trio of lightning strikes, over a group of demons, sending them shrieking backwards. The air became colder and feelings of emptiness washed over him, he turned without realising he had been caught by a banshee

“Poor unholy king... Not long until you die... Before you would have been okay with leaving... Now so much to live for... Who will look after your pretty hunter when you’ve gone?” The banshee laughed and then let out a scream as it was hit by several spells and then bound by a group of hunters.

 “Thanks” He gasped staring at her thankfully as he shook away the last of the effects of the banshee. The hunter nodded

“I’m Jun Midshadow, I serve the first” She said “Sorry we’re were late, we were held up by a witch”

“How did you get in?” Nino said looking at the group of hunters in surprise; he hadn’t seen any of them in the halls before.

“There is a passage that runs from the village temple to the halls” Female Jun told him, Nino frowned

“When was that put in?” Nino frowned, he knew every passage in and out of this place and had them all boarded over

“Elder Luke had it put in...” The female hunter told him “Only a few of the hunters know about it though”

“So how did you know about them?” Yamapi/Toma asked coming up to them blood smeared on his cheek

“Elder Luke tried to get me to join him... I serve the first; I will always serve my kings”

“Well said” Yamapi/Toma said beaming at her as they reflected a lightning bolt, female Jun gave a polite bow

“Can you show me this passage?” Nino asked quickly as Yamapi/Toma ran off again, his stone shield wrapped around his body, drawing the attention of two witches.

“Yes sir” she said with a quick nod, they moved quickly dodging and weaving their way through the battle until the they stopped in front of an old book case “Here, sir”

“The passage comes out here?” Nino frowned, the female hunter nodded and pressed a dark blue book, “How cliché” Nino sighed “Thank you for your help”

“You’re welcome, sir” She gave a nod and then went back to join the fight. Nino looked at the passage, with a frown, about to step forwards he let out a hiss of pain, and he realised that all around the entrance was protection seals. He hadn’t expected that, with a sigh he wished he hadn’t let the hunter go, looking around he was relieved when he saw another one stumble slightly into the room, breathing deeply.

“You... Could you come here a minute?” He asked, the hunter frowned but nodded making her way over to him, “Would you look and tell me what protection seals it is please...Um...”

“Keiko Artemis” The hunter grinned “I serve the first...”

“Hmm... Female hunters are rare, so it’s strange that so many serve Oh-chan” Nino sighed “Maybe there is something in that...”

“I wondered myself sometimes” Keiko admitted as she looked at the engravings on the wall “Sir... Is it true that you knew the first?”

“Yes”

“What was he like?”

“A good person... He would have been pleased that so many stayed loyal, even though it would have been easier to quit...”

Keiko beamed happily “They say you’re going to bring him back them all back...”

“Jun will...” Nino whispered “Have you figured them out?”

“No... They’re not like any of the ones I’ve seen... They look like the ones in the books of the royal guard... I’m sorry”

“Its fine, in fact you’ve helped a lot, thank you... Stay safe, Keiko” Nino smiled closing the passage again, the hunter nodded

“You too sir” She said watching Nino leaving before murmuring a protection fire and going to join in the fight again. Nino ran through the halls dodging attacks trying to find Yamapi/Toma, he sent out a lightning bolt, saving one of the second’s hunters

“Have you seen Yamapi...? I mean Toma?” He asked helping her to her feet; the hunter shook her head,

“Yabu! Oi, Yabu Khei... Have you seen Toma?” She shouted to another hunter over a loud band that shook the hall. Another hunter covered with a thick layer of dust came over to them

“Relocks! You’re meant to be guarding the south side!” She hissed as she sent out a wind spell,

“Sorry, Yabu” Relocks said relighting her fire, and enchanting a piece of the wall to knock over a witch

“It was my fault” Nino said quickly as he helped attack the witch “Have you seen Toma?”

“He was over there the last time I saw him” The hunter addressed as Yabu Khei said pointing her head in the direction of the stairs sending out more wind, and then shouted a binding spell

“Thank-you ladies, I hope you stay safe...”

“Thank-you” They shouted before they both said the rite of the three burning the witch. Nino went in the direction he was pointed and ran up the stones stairs, relieved when he saw Yamapi/Toma fighting two witches and a demon

“Are you just going to stand there?” Yamapi/Toma shouted and Nino gave a small chuckle before joining him in the fight. It didn’t last long and Yamapi/Toma stared at Nino “It’s nearly your time, isn’t it?”

“This isn’t the time for worrying about me... The royal guard... There is a new passage made by Elder Luke and it is covered with the symbols of the royal guard...”

“You think they’re serving Akanishi?”

“Yes... But he’s over played himself... I don’t think Elder Luke ever mentioned Toma to Akanishi... The royal guard will be able to tell just as easily as I could that...”

“I’m in here” Yamapi/Toma smiled with a nod “Okay I’ll take care of it”

“Thanks...”

“I always thought Ohno was crazy for loving the unholy king... I owe you an apology”

“Save it, just make sure everything happens properly and tell Kame to fuck Maru... At least once he’s worth it” His laughter stopped as he let out a low groan as pain flooded into his body, his neck was bleeding now his blood burning through the clothes around the wound. He heart ached painfully as he realised he couldn’t hold on much longer, Yamapi/Toma put a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged him away “Go and do it... The passage is behind a bookshelf in the west library press the dark blue book... It was nice knowing you both” Yamapi/Toma nodded and ran off while Nino fell to his knees clawing at his neck now, the chain had sliced into his skin his blood dripping slowly down his skin. ‘I... Need just a little... Longer’ he silently pleaded with himself, willing his body to stay focused he hugged himself tightly steadying his heart beat

“Your majesty? Are you okay?” He looked up and saw another demon looking at him with a raised eyebrow

“Natha Pen, right?” He managed he voice coming out as a low growl, the demon nodded coming to knell beside him, concern in her eyes, Nino took the pendent from around his neck “Find Jun and give this to him... Please...”

“Your majesty?”

“Please, I don’t have much time” He pleaded; Natha nodded quickly taking the pendent, hissing as it made contact with her skin. Nino watched her leave his neck feeling strangely empty, he tried to stand but his legs wouldn’t support his weight so he crawled to a wall and rested against it. He could hear the battle raging around him and could feel the one in his body. He prayed that the demon would make it in time, he wanted to see, his pretty hunter and son again while he still knew he loved them. But he couldn’t be sure, his eyes closed as another wave of pain filled his body. Matsu was fighting with Aiba when the breathless demon came running to his side holding the pendent, her fingers smoking, Natha stared at him and then Aiba, her eyes wide

“Master, his majesty told me I was to give this to you... The unholy king, there is something wrong...” she said handing him the pendent, Matsu took it his fingers trembling slightly,

“Where is he?” He said “Take us to him” Natha nodded and led the way quickly back to Nino. Aiba let out a cry as he saw his father slumped against the wall his breathing laboured. Nino opened his eyes and looked up at them trying to flash a lazy smile,

“N-Nino?” Aiba breathed his voice cracking tearfully, Nino reached out to him and Aiba sank to his knees

“Hey, Ma-chan...” He murmured wiping the tears that had already started to fall down his sons “Wow just like your mum, she was a cry baby too... The first time you cut your leg, she cried more than you did... She would hate me for bringing you into this...”

 “Nino?” Aiba whispered as he watched him remove the bracelet from his wrist, Nino flashed him a smile and grabbed his hand

“This... It was your mums... Take it...”

“No...” He realising what it meant “Not yet...”

“I’m sorry, Masa’... I have to go... I can’t hold on... If I try any more, it will be too late, and I could end up hurting everyone here...” Nino told him softly, “I wanted to hold on as long as possible...”

“I love you, Dad” Aiba told him in another broken whisper and he hugged his father tightly

“You haven’t called me dad, for a very long time, I love you too, Masaki... Monk you better look after him” Nino said looking up at Sakurai who nodded quickly, Aiba gave another sob his grip tightening around his smaller father before he let him go. Matsu came and knelt beside him, hating the pain that had filled his demons eyes. Nino stroked the pendent that was around Matsu’s neck “Remember your promise, whatever happens now...”

“You’ll always be my Nino” Matsu promised, his eyes shining with unshed tears, Nino smiled and then kissed him lightly “I love you...”

“I love you, Jun” The demon mumbled against his chest “I’m sorry I dragged you into this”

“I’m glad you did... I’m going to miss you” Matsu whispered his voice shaking as he let his tears fall

“Wow you and Ma-chan are such cry babies” Nino sighed but tears were rolling down his own cheeks as he pulled away “When the time comes Maru will tell you what you have to do”

“Nino”

“I love you so much my pretty hunter...” Nino managed as he felt his skin being ripped open, his wings flying out, he looked at the demons “Whatever happens... Follow your master...” He snapped his eyes changing to blood red, as his mind went almost blank his only thought was the pretender.

Comments

[denyclamp.livejournal.com]

Finnally i manage to come back to this one. Aiba made me teary, so cute calling him dad <3 i just wish for a really miracle happy ending TwT