10 - Demons Within

NOWHERE

Zukafu, his feet still chained down below where heavy fog lingers, wakes up to the sound of the metallic beings hum. He stood up and faced the being as it stared at him with immense focus.

"Enjoy your nap, great storm?" Asked the metallic being.

Zukafu responded, "You and I both know that I am unable to sleep in this place!"

"That is correct..." said the metallic being. "Then do you know why I have taken the time to bother you?"

"By all means, tell me." Said Zukafu.

The metallic being lifted their left arm and hovered it atop Zukafu. A bright light then appeared from underneath the arm where it beamed on Zukafu which then extended by itself to the atmosphere around him.

The metallic being explained, "Due to the exile of your soul from the body, it is only important that you prepare yourself... and with the limited elements that exist within, you must be prepared to find the remaining three..."

The ground beneath Zukafu began to increase in numbers as there were more rocks that formed onto the floor, allowing Zukafu more space to move freely on.

"Are you prepared?" Asked the metallic being as it threw Zukafu's sword in front of him.

Zukafu looked at the blade before placing his hand on the blades handle. He hesistated before detaching it from the ground which it landed on. He then nodded to the metallic being and with a sound of the horn, training began as Zukafu was met with an army of monsters that appeared like the ink monsters but were made from dust.

Zukafu wasted no time and began attacking the dust-made monsters with some having their heads off but this proved fruitless as when they fell, the dust reunited with the broken component and reformed the monster.

The metallic being watched with enjoyement while Zukafu took on the battle intense seriousness.

MEANWHILE AT JIN'S HOSPITAL

Yu had just finished explaining the story of the Takehaya that Mary, Luna and Naoya were with was something that was using the shell of Takehaya.

Mary asked, "And what do you want me to do?"

Yu bluntly answered, "Nothing." Surprising Mary as she didn't understand why Yu or Jin even told her the story in the first place but it was here that Yu revealed, "To be frank with you Mary... I wasn't just telling the story to just you... As this task does not need to involve you but..."

Yu then turned to the entrance where he pressed a button and upon the door opening, Luna and Naoya were standing there and instead of trying to cover up their action or make an excuse, they instead stood up and entered inside.

Luna asked, still in shock, "So its true... Our brother... isn't our brother-"

Naoya then slapped her in the face, upset by his sister as he says "Do not dare say that!"

Yu then stated, "I understand this is all to take and I had my reasons of not opening this up to your sooner but-"

Naoya asked "But what?!"

Yu lied his head down before he took a deep sigh and lifted his head back up, answering "I wanted to see if there was any chance of what Zukafu had become that- he'd be to harness the powers of the Storm and Sea but I also wanted him to be happy and-"

"And you wanted to see that by using Mary." Said Luna, putting the pieces together.

This revelation shook Mary deeply as like how she used Zukafu for what she wanted, Yu did the same to her.

Yu sighed deeply and confirmed it saying, "Yes... I valued you and your brothers as my greatest pride and like any father, I wanted to see you be happy... But it seemed that I had failed due to my selfish reasons."

Mary then stood up and slapped Yu on the face, shocking the Kami siblings while not surprising Jin as he appeared remorseful himself, deeply upsetted by Yu Kami. She inhaled and exhaled deeply as her raged was bottling up. Yu didn't speak and could only bow at Mary, pleading for forgiveness.

Mary slowly calmed down and sat back down, appearing distressed. Yu brought his head up and turned his attention to Luna and Naoya as he explained to them, "There is a way that we can bring Zukafu back but... It is extremely reckless and worse... Neither of you may succeed."

Luna curious, asked, "What is it?"

Yu answered, "We are to go to the source of where Zukafu's soul lies within... Yomi"

"The land of the dead?" Asked Naoya, referring to the mythological place, known for containing the souls of the dead.

"I'm afraid not Naoya." Said Yu as he showed Mary, Naoya and Luna a manuscript of such, showing the island but underneath there were many layers down below with the one being close to the centre of the Earth being Yomi.

Yu explained, "Unlike the Land of the Dead, this Yomi holds the one responsible for Takehaya's death... Katsura!"

YOMI

Meanwhile, Zukafu was continously training from the now revealed place known as 'Yomi' where Katsura continued to watch over him as he trained.

Zukafu, already tired and sweating, managed to kill the last training dummy before the metallic being, now revealed as Katsura said, "And time... Not bad, Zukafu! You have shown immense improvement from the last battle..."

Noticing that Zukafu was breathing heavily, Katsura handed him a clear substance that Zukafu consumed. He remarked, "Let this be a lesson to you child! Never take an extended long break from your training. Your body may need time to train but doing it over a long period may cost you your life!"

Zukafu said to Katsura, "I... Understand!"

"Good..." said Katsura, "Let us wait before continuing."

BACK AT THE HOSPITAL

Yu had gone through what they needed to do to reach Yomi but as he was about to hand Luna and Naoya the scroll that will take them to Yomi, Mary grabbed Yu's arm and said, "I'm going!"