The Seal’s Final Moment

Kazumi’s voice cut through the darkness.

“Don’t fall for it. Itsuki… he’s the Sekgetsu leader!”

A heavy silence followed.

Itsuki lowered his eyes, avoiding Rei’s gaze. His shoulders tensed, quiet. Then, slowly, he lifted his head.

A small, crooked smile appeared.

“You’re right!”

“Guess I don’t have to hide it anymore.”

Akira froze.

“No way…” His voice barely carried.

“First Rei, now Itsuki… how could I was so blind?“

Right, even more blind than Daichi.

Behind Itsuki, shadows shifted.

The demons emerged: the smoker user, the oni, and the kitsune, their eyes sharp, silent, and ready.

Akira stepped forward, panic flashing in his eyes.

“Rei!”

Itsuki’s knife glinted in the faint light, pressed against Rei’s throat.

“Don’t move, or I kill him.”

Before anyone could react, threads of blood shot out from Itsuki’s hand, wrapping around Rei like living ropes.

The boy was bound, and in a blink, they vanished into the shadows, swallowed by the darkness.

They walked side by side, Rei quiet and Itsuki’s hands in his pockets.

His eyes flicked anywhere but Rei. He tried to look calm, but his posture betrayed a strange heaviness, almost… sadness.

“Don’t worry,” Itsuki whispered. “I won’t hurt you.”

Rei tilted his head, a small smirk playing on his lips.

“I’m not.”

Itsuki blinked, surprised.

“You’re not? You understood I was the Red Mask that attacked you in the park, right?”

“I know.” Rei’s voice was soft but certain.

Itsuki’s frown deepened.

“Then… why aren’t you angry?”

Rei shrugged, tilting his head.

“Why would I? I saw it coming.”

Itsuki froze. Words failed him.

“W-what? You knew? That’s impossible. How? When? How?”

His calm, always steady, now shattered. He stumbled over his own voice.

Rei chuckled, a quiet laugh that floated in the air. He almost found it cute, seeing Itsuki so off balance.

“Well… you made it pretty obvious.”

Rei’s mind raced.

So many signs : Itsuki needed blood to use the card. He hated exorcists but he felt for yokais. And he didn’t seem to care about winning the tournament.

Itsuki’s eyes widened.

“If that’s true, why did you stay with me?”

Rei shrugged, glancing sideways.

“You looked so lonely and sad, the first time we met. I wanted to know you.”

And also, if he really was the leader, Rei thought, better to keep an eye on him. After all, as we say: keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

But he’d keep that to himself.

Itsuki stayed silent, too shocked to speak. Rei could read the confusion in his tense jaw, the slight tremble in his hands.

Everything was loud in silence.

Rei grinned, scratching the corner of his mouth, a small sparkle at the edge of his eyes.

“And… to be honest, I hoped I could change your mind.”

Itsuki’s expression hardened.

“No one can. Not even you.”

His gaze lifted, steady now, looking ahead.

“Alright… we’re here.”

The demon chief stepped forward, the crystal pulsing under his fingers.

In an instant, the world blurred.

They landed in a dark cavern, walls dripping with moisture, the air thick and cold. In the center, a black crystal rose like a dark heartbeat, humming with power.

Itsuki’s lips curved.

“This is it… the last crystal.”

Rei froze, eyes wide. His chest tightened.

“Itsuki, please stop. If the Demon King is released so many will die.”

A shadow of a smile crossed Itsuki’s face.

“Exactly. That’s what I want.”

Rei’s stomach dropped.

“Why? Why would you want this? What they did to you, it can’t justify…”

Itsuki’s eyes burned, red-hot with rage.

“They killed my parents.”

The cavern seemed to fall silent.

Every drop of water echoed like a drum. Rei’s mind screamed, but no words came out. He didn’t know enough about the exorcists. He couldn’t argue. Not yet.

Itsuki’s voice cut the silence.

“And you want to know why?”

“Why?” Rei barely breathed.

“Because my dad fell in love with a yokai.”

“That… that can’t be the only reason. Maybe if—”

“Shut up!” Itsuki snapped, his tone cold steel. “One more word, and I will really hurt you.”

Rei’s mouth stayed shut.

Fear settled in his chest for the first time. He didn’t move. He couldn’t.

His mind raced, frantic.

Quick… find something. I can’t let him break the seal.

He edged closer to the crystal, scanning, thinking, heart hammering.

Think… think…

Nothing.

His mind went blank for the first time.

I can’t find anything.

No wonder, after all what could he do alone against four yokai?

But he wasn’t alone.

Just as Itsuki approached the crystal, the shadows shifted. Akira and the others appeared in the cavern, light flashing, breaking the tension instantly.

Relief washed over Rei.

“Everyone… you’re here!”

Akira stepped forward, voice steady.

“Itsuki… stop. You still have a chance to be forgiven.”

Itsuki’s glare cut through him, deadly and sharp.

“Don’t make me laugh. Even if I stopped… you’d kill me anyway.”

Sarutobi’s voice rose, calm but firm.

“We’re not evil. We don’t kill people.”

“Liars!” Itsuki spat, veins tight with rage.

“You killed my parents. I saw it with my own eyes. You all deserved to die!”

He raised his hand, crimson threads snaking like snakes.

“Kill them.”

The demons lunged. Shadows and claws, the air filled with the sound of tearing and growls.

The cavern became chaos.

Powers clashed. Sparks of light and dark. Smoke, sparks, the metallic tang of blood. Every corner became dangerous, every step a risk.

Rei almost cried, voice shaking.

“Itsuki, no. This isn’t you.”

Itsuki’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tight.

“Shut up. You don’t know me. This… this is my true face. This is what yokai are.”

Rei stepped forward, hands clenched. His eyes locked on Itsuki’s.

“I don’t believe that. I’ve seen the real you. The one without hate. The one you could be if you let go of revenge.”

“Bullshit.” Itsuki quickly replied voice rough.

“Really?” Rei’s voice was steady.

“So you think yokai are all evil? That’s not true. Denryuu is half yokai, but he is good. The fairies help us too. If you want to kill, fine. But don’t hide behind your nature. It’s a choice. Take responsibility.”

Itsuki froze.

The words hit like ice and we could see confusion flickered in his eyes.

“T-That’s… tch… just shut up, or I’ll cut your throat.” He extended a hand, blood forming jagged spikes.

Seems like the young magician left him speechless.

Rei stayed calm, hands in his pockets. Eyes closed, he whispered under his breath.

“It’s dead, I can’t change is mind.”

Light and smoke formed, small spheres floating around them. Distracted, Itsuki loosened his grip and his rope blood fell like rain.

Finally free, Rei ran forward, arms wide, standing right between Itsuki and the black crystal like a wall.

“If you want to break it, you’ll have to go through me.”

Itsuki’s glare sharpened, blood bullets forming and spinning around his fingers.

“You think I won’t? Move!”

Rei’s face was serious, unflinching.

“I’m not sure. But I know, I can’t watch you break the seal without trying, even if I die.”

Itsuki’s teeth clenched.

“Don’t push your luck. I will pierce you.”

He pulled his hand back, ready to launch.

Rei’s smile was small, calm.

“It’s okay, do it. You save me… you can kill me”

Itsuki blinked, shocked, almost… sad.

He threw the blood projectiles.

“Rei no!” Akira shouted.

Smoke, chaos, and the smell of iron filled the cavern.