Blood for the Demon King

Smoke twisted and curled in the air, choking the cave. Everyone rushed forward, fists and powers ready, but it was too late.

Through the haze, Rei stood.

Spikes of blood-covered shards jutted from his body, each one glinting like tiny porcupine quills.

He grinned, crooked and tired.

“Still… not dead,” he rasped.

Relief mixed with fear rolled over the group even Itsuki had his jaw tightened and his hands trembling slightly.

His friends tried to step closer, but the demons blocked their path, low growls rumbling.

Rei’s eyes locked on Itsuki. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“See… I knew you were good.”

Itsuki blinked, confusion clouding his face. His voice trembled, breaking at the edges.

“What… what are you talking about? I just… I just tore you up like cheese!”

Rei coughed, blood spraying the floor, but his grin never wavered.

“And I should be dead. But you… you missed all the vital organs. That proves you didn’t really want to kill me. That makes you… a good guy.”

Itsuki stepped forward, hands reaching for his card, panic flaring, but it wasn’t there.

Rei sagged to the ground, chest heavy, yet calm.

“Don’t bother. I stole it.”

Itsuki’s eyes widened.

“W-What? When? Not important… where is it?”

“Don’t worry. It’s safe. I know it matters to you,” Rei murmured, lips curling.

“Yes… it’s from my dad,” Itsuki’s voice cracked. “But… if you don’t give it back, you’ll die. I can’t heal you without it.”

Rei’s vision wavered.

“It’s okay… I was ready to die anyway,” he whispered, sinking further.

Itsuki barked a sharp command.

“Let the healer pass.”

The oni growled. “You’re serious? Heal an enemy?”

The fox hissed, “You’ve lost your mind.”

Amaya slid forward, hands glowing with warmth, weaving a gentle thread of light around Rei.

Slowly, the quills of blood receded.

Rei groaned, shivering but alive.

The rest of the demons lunged at Akira and the others. Claws clashed, sparks flew. The battle raged, but Rei’s eyes were fixed on Itsuki.

A soft, bloody laugh escaped him.

“See… another proof you aren’t that bad.”

Itsuki’s lips twitched.

“Shut… up,” he muttered, but a faint, reluctant smile curved the corner of his mouth.

The healing glow around Rei flickered, fading into the shadows.

A sudden pulse of dark energy shot from Amaya’s hand.

Then, Itsuki’s chest split with a sharp pain, and he stumbled back, crimson spilling from the wound.

“No… no!” Rei’s voice cracked as he lunged forward, hands pressing desperately on the bleeding wound.

“Don’t die… please!”

Itsuki coughed, blood dripping from his lips.

Rei’s eyes snapped to Amaya, burning with a mix of anger and disbelief.

“Why… why did you do that?”

Amaya tilted her head, innocent as a cat.

“Huh? He’s the leader of demons. Stopping him was the point, wasn’t it?”

She wasn’t wrong… but he wanted another ending. A better ending. One without blood and death.

Rei’s hands shook as he pressed harder.

“Itsuki… hold on. Everything will be fine.”

Itsuki’s lips curled into a tired, almost ironic smile.

“You’re… too naive. That’s how battle works. People… die… cough… I just… I couldn’t avenge my parents.”

Rei’s chest tightened. His fingers trembled as he fumbled for Itsuki’s card.

“Please… don’t die. Here… your card. You can heal you… right?”

Amaya’s eyes flashed, a sharp hand reaching for the card.

“Are you crazy? I know he’s your friend… but if you heal him, he’ll kill us all!”

Itsuki coughed again, weak but defiant.

“See… exorcists… are shitty people.”

Rei’s jaw set.

He placed the card in Itsuki’s hands, pressing it to his chest.

Itsuki’s fingers closed around it, but his energy was gone. His eyes softened, a faint light dimming in them.

“I… wished I could meet you sooner. Maybe… my life… would’ve been different,” he whispered, voice breaking, then went still.

Rei froze, chest heaving, tears blurring his vision.

“No… no, Itsuki… please!”

The air was thick with dust, blood, and silence.

Around them, the battle’s chaos dimmed.

Exorcists had neutralized the remaining demons while Rei’s hand stayed on Itsuki’s chest, trying in vain to stop the bleeding, to bring him back.

Sarutobi’s hand landed lightly on Rei’s shoulder, grounding him.

“Rei… stop. He’s dead. I’m sorry.”

Amaya’s voice was calm, almost clinical.

“I’m sorry too. But I had no choice.”

Rei’s glare was cold, sharp enough to cut steel.

“You had a choice. You just took the easy way.”

He whispered under his breath,

Maybe… Itsuki was right. Maybe the exorcists… we’re the bad guys.

Silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Amaya finally broke it, voice casual.

“At least… the Demon King won’t awaken, right? We’re safe now?”

Sarutobi nodded.

“Yes… let’s go to the arena.”

Rei shook his head, gaze fixed on the floor.

The blood from Itsuki’s body moved, slow and viscous, creeping toward the massive black crystal at the center of the chamber.

“No… look! His blood… it’s moving toward the crystal… he’s alive,”

Rei whispered, voice trembling.

Sarutobi’s expression darkened.

“Quick… we have to separate him from the crystal. If it touches, the seal will break.”

Sarutobi lunged forward, ready to grab Rei and Itsuki, but a sharp flick of Amaya’s hand sent a wave of energy slamming into him.

He froze mid-step, stiff as a statue, paralysis locking his limbs.

Rei’s eyes widened, a chill crawling up his spine.

“What… what are you doing?” His voice cracked.

Then his gaze fell on her, sharp and cold.

“You… you’re a demon, aren’t you?”

Amaya’s lips curled into a slow, cruel smile.

“Indeed. I thought you were smart… but not that much,” she said, her laugh light, cutting through the tension like glass.

Sarutobi’s face went pale.

“You came with us… just to check if everything went as planned?”

Amaya’s eyes glittered, a hint of amusement.

“Correct. But that idiot Itsuki… he ruined everything.”

She moved toward him, kicking sharply, but Rei leaped over Itsuki, taking the hits himself.

“Tch. Your little friendship… it makes me want to vomit,” Amaya spat, striking Rei repeatedly.

Rei’s body shook under the blows, but he stayed above Itsuki, shielding him as best he could.

She grabbed Rei by the hair, dragging him forward, her face inches from his.

“This is all your fault.

We made him believe the exorcists killed his parents. He was ready for revenge… but then you appeared. Made him soft.”

Rei glared at her, voice tight.

“You… you killed his parents? Why? What were you planning with him?”

Amaya tapped a finger to her lips, thinking. Then she laughed, sharp and bright.

“Since you’re about to die anyway, I can tell you.

He’s one of the descendants of the Demon Kings. Same power. Perfect host.

Of course, he had no idea that he needed to died.”

Her gaze swept the room, stopping at the dark crystal in the center.

Her smile widened.

“Your friend is dead. And now… it’s feeding the Demon King. His blood, drawing him back.”

Panic erupted around them.

Akira shouted,

“We have to stop it! Now!”

But it was too late.

The ground trembled violently.

Cracks spider-webbed across the floor, the black crystal splitting open. A wave of malevolent energy pulsed outward, dense and suffocating.

The air thickened, so thick that breathing became a struggle.

Rei’s heart pounded in his chest, his hands clenched around Itsuki’s empty form.

Everything went still for a moment, then the shadows began to writhe, and a deep, unnatural roar rolled from the fractured crystal.

The Demon King’s resurrection was no longer a threat.

It was imminent.