Chapter 20: Unwelcome In Ishidamu

            Kosuke drank a bottle of water, he then mindlessly stared out the window of the train, his expression unusually grim. Yuzuru came up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. “You can feel it too. We all can. That is one evil presence.” Yuzuru spoke what everyone was thinking.

“We need to stop whoever has that presence and make them pay.” Kosuke growled.

Kanako stood up from her seat. “Hey, everyone.” She murmured as she rubbed her arm anxiously. “I’m scared. I think that they know we’re coming, this might not be a good time for us to attack, maybe we should come back later. Whatever is waiting for us… is strong.”

“We can’t go back now. Sooner or later, we will have to fight some tough opponents, might as well be today.” Kosuke stated, still staring out the window.

“Kosuke’s right. It’s now or never!” Shingo agreed.

“Ugh, fine.” Kanako reluctantly agreed as well. “With Emiko-chan and Dad being in that city, we should stand a chance.”

“Your dad?” Kosuke and Shingo both asked in shock.

“Yeah, Dad was on a business trip. Just in the next city over, but it was still a business trip. I sure hope he is alive, oh what am I talking about, of course he is!” Kanako reassured herself.

“And, um, what does your dad do for work?” Shingo pried.

Kanako shrugged. “I don’t know, he said it was a secret, all I know is he said that he has to keep in shape for his job.”

“Yakuza…” Shingo whispered to himself. Kanako only narrowed her eyes at him in annoyance.

“Hey!” Hisakawa called out from the front of the train. “Get ready! We are approaching the city!”

Kosuke stood up and stretched, “Let’s do this. Shingo, you got the address of the place we need to go kick the door down of?”

“Yep.” Shingo answered while patting the outside of one of his pants’ pocket.

“Holy shit!” Hisakawa screamed from the front of the train. Everyone ran up to the front with her. Every street was filled with demons and robots, ready for a battle or a slaughter. Only one street was clear, just enough room for the train to land. “They… were expecting us…” Hisakawa uttered. Suddenly, the train shook as something hit the roof. “I have no choice, we have to land there.” The train was forced down onto the street.

“I-I recognized that presence now.” Minami stuttered. “It’s Barminius. He has come to stop us himself.”

“So, I finally get to meet him face to face.” Hisakawa growled as she headed for the door.

As soon as the door opened, demons were there, with their weapons drawn. Shingo pointed at them. “Parley!” He demanded.

The demons exchanged scowls and backed away from the door to let the saints out. The saints were led away from the train to a raised platform in the middle of an intersection.

Baminius sat conformably on a makeshift throne in the center of the platform. “Hisakawa Hibiki, slayer of house Fuzen-bocho, I shouldn’t have let you live. I had intended on capturing you the day of the invasion so I could gloat, but when I came to your apartment, it was vacant, not a cripple in sight. Next thing I know, hunters were dropping like flies in Morisumo. I always knew you were resourceful, but violent, now that surprised me. Frankly, I should have suspected this from a swordsmith. Your little, blessed elemental resistance ends today.” His eyes drifted to Minami. “You, a traitor, you have fully embraced your human side, how foolish, Yasahii-chan, and that is the most respect you will ever get in your life, acknowledgement from me.” Barminius snapped his fingers and swilling red spirals vaguely wrapped around Minami and Hisakawa, not even truly touching them, still their arms snapped to their sides as they yelped. “Don’t worry, you two won’t be dying just yet, I want to watch you suffer, as for the children you have taken in… they should be pretty tasty.”

“Gross…” Kotone muttered to herself.

“Let them go!” Kosuke demanded. As the climbed up onto the platform, his hand on the hilt of his katana.

Barminius laughed, “Haha! Who are you to command me?”

“I am Matsuoka Kosuke, and I shall be the emperor of Earth. I’m going to make a deal with you.” He declared, his voice unwavering.

“Oh, really? What could you offer me?” Barminius was amused by Kosuke.

“We will duel, you and me, one on one, if I lose, the saints and I will surrender peacefully, and you can have my soul, I’ll be your loyal servant for eternity. If I win, you become my servant and I gain command over your legions, all the land you control, both on Earth and in Hell, all you have will be mine.” Kosuke made his offer.

“Doesn’t sound like I get as much compared to you.” Barminius stated, then he smiled. “Although, the rewards for winning seem to match the difficulty, alright then.” He stood up and approached Kosuke. He extended his hand to shake. “You have yourself a deal.” Kosuke shook Barminius’ hand.

“Kosuke-kun!” Yuzuru called out. “If he doesn’t kill you if you lose, I will.”

“And if he doesn’t, I will!” Kanako added.

Barminius snapped his fingers again, his throne disappeared, a barrier about a meter high appeared on the rim of the platform. “You shouldn’t bet with lives that aren’t yours, boy. You have three minutes to prepare.” Barminius then walked over to the other side of the platform and watched the crowd of demons that waited with great anticipation.

“Kosuke!” Shingo waved to him. “What are you doing?! You can’t beat him on your own, this is crazy!”

“I can do this. I just need you to believe in me, I have a plan. When I wave my hand like this behind my back, call out my name, all of you, let all your hopes and dreams project with your voice, okay?” Kosuke told his friends.

Kotone shook her head in disbelief, “Kosuke-kun, this is the most delusional thing you have ever done by far, and now you’ve put all of us at risk. Ugh, if you fail, then we are breaking up.” She began to cry.

“I’m not going to lose.” Kosuke reassured her.

“Good luck.” Shingo wished for him.

Barminius voice then echoed around the street. “Are you ready yet?” He impatiently asked.

“Yes!” Kosuke called out, he turned to face his opponent as he drew his sword. He stood at the ready. Waiting for Barminius to make the first move.

“Haha! You ‘re so cocky, boy. I’ll put you in your place!” Barminius laughed. Kosuke didn’t even see him turn around, one moment his back was to him, the next, the demon lord’s face was only a few centimetres away from his own.

Kosuke thrust his blade forward, Barminius casually stepped back to evade. Kosuke repositioned his blade, he held it up, parallel to his ear, and engulfed it in blessed fire. He waited, his eyes filled with rightful fury, locked in a staring contest with Barminius’ playful expression. The demon lord made his move first, running at the young teen, his claws unsheathed. Kosuke leapt into the air to avoid the attack, with a mighty swing of his blade, he sent the fire that encased his blade flying towards Barminius, who didn’t bother to dodge.

Barminius let himself catch on fire, grinning at Kosuke. After a few seconds, his smile wavered. “Ow.” He muttered so only himself could hear. Barminius’ eyes narrowed. “Play time is over, boy. If you want a fight, you shall have it!” He waved his hand to the sky, dozens of yellow orbs appeared and immediately launched at Kosuke.

Kosuke flailed his sword about, slicing each orb in half to neutralize them. Barminius then appeared beside him, no longer on fire and holding a sword of his own. The demon lord slashed, causing the fourteen-year-old to go flying across the arena. Kosuke pushed himself onto his hands and knees. Everything stung. Kosuke touched the massive gash on his face. The boy stared at his blood-soaked hand. He stood up, took off his torn jacket, wiped his face, then traded the bloody jacket for his sword. Kosuke lit his katana and hair on fire and marched towards the demon lord.