Shattered Chains, Burning Bonds

“I told you, you’re friend his dead”

The demon king smiled.

Then his claws were inside Rei’s chest. Fingers buried between ribs and flesh. Blood ran down his arm, warm, sticky, dripping onto the cracked ground.

But just before crushing his heart, a single tear slid down Itsuki’s right eye.

And for a brief second, the Demon King stilled.

That was all Sarutobi needed. He moved like lightning. One instant Rei was about to die, the next he was ripped away, his body thrown backward through the air.

Rei crashed hard against the ground, coughing blood.

Enshin was already there.

Blue flames burned, precise and controlled, sealing the holes in his chest. The pain was sharp, but fading.

“That’s enough,” Enshin said firmly. “You’ve done more than enough. Rest.”

Rei grabbed his sleeve.

“Wait. I think… I think Itsuki is still there.”

Enshin froze.

For a moment, his expression softened. Not hope. Pity.

“Rei…”

Rei shook his head violently.

“I know you think he’s dead. I know. But listen to me.”

His voice trembled, but his eyes didn’t.

“I saw a tear. His hand stopped. He didn’t crush my heart. He’s alive. And we can use that to win.”

Silence.

Around them, the battlefield screamed.

Shouts. Explosions. The ground shaking again and again. Time was running out.

Enshin stared at Rei. Really stared at him.

The fear was there. But something else too. Conviction. He frowned, jaw tight, thinking fast.

“…Alright,” Enshin said at last. “What’s your plan?”

Rei didn’t hesitate.

He leaned closer, speaking fast, breath uneven. Words spilled out in a rush. Ideas, timing, risks. While Battles raged in the background.

Daichi’s eyes widened.

“…I see what you’re trying to do,” he said. “And I think I can help.”

A moment later

Enshin exhaled slowly.

“That’s risky,” he admitted. Then he smiled. Just a little. “But let’s try.”

They had no other choice anyway.

Honestly, they couldn’t beat the Demon King with brute force but target the possession? Maybe that could work.”

Rei forced himself to stand.

“Ok, Let’s go.”

Blood soaked his clothes. His legs shook. But he didn’t look away.

“Itsuki!” he shouted.

“I know you’re still there. Fight!”

For a second, nothing happened. Then the Demon King snarled, irritation flashing across his face.

“When will you understand? Calling your friend, it’s useless,”

Suddenly, he vanished.

In the next instant, he was right in front of Rei, moving too fast to follow, his arm rising, claws ready to end it all.

But once again his hand stopped. Mid-air. Inches from the young magician’s face.

“I knew it,” Rei whispered.

He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Itsuki’s body, holding him tight, as if trying to shield him from the darkness itself.

“It’s okay,” he murmured. “Hold on. We’re going to save you.”

All at once, shadows moved.

Dark energy flowed from Daichi’s hands, thick and heavy, wrapping around Rei and Itsuki, forming a trembling link between them.

The world twisted. Sounds faded.

And then Rei was gone.

He opened his eyes to silence.

An endless space of darkness stretched around him, quiet and cold, like a place forgotten by time itself.

And in the distance, he saw him.

“Itsuki!” Rei ran toward him. “I’m here!”

No response.

Rei grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

Itsuki blinked, confused, eyes unfocused. His gaze drifted, struggling to focus, as if reality itself refused to settle.

“Rei…? Is this a dream? Why are you here?”

Rei smiled, breathing hard as the air felt heavy. Thick.

“Not a dream,” Rei said a smiled on his lips.

“Daichi linked us. But we don’t have much time. You have to fight the demon king”

Itsuki looked away , his shoulders sank.

“I can’t, He’s too strong.” he murmured

The darkness stirred. Then a low chuckle rippled through the void.

“Right,” the Demon King’s voice echoed, smooth and amused. “There’s no point in trying.”

Rei clenched his fists, his fingers curled into fists, nails digging into his palms.

“No,” he snapped. “If he’s saying that, it’s because he’s scared.”

Then he stepped .

“You’re stronger than you think, Itsuki.”

Itsuki tried to move.

Nothing.

His legs shook and his arms trembled, heavy as stone.

“I can’t…”

His voice broke.

“I’m sorry, Rei.”

Itsuki tried to move.

His body trembled.

“I can’t… I’m sorry, Rei.”

Rei closed the distance between them. Then he reached out, steady hands on Itsuki’s shoulders. Firm. Real.

“Hey,” he said softly. “Everyone out there is fighting right now.”

A breath.

“They’re fighting to save you.”

Itsuki froze.

“Save… me?”

His eyes widened.

“You mean… kill me?”

“No,” Rei said immediately. “Focus on your body. You won’t feel pain”

Itsuki hesitated. Then slowly, he closed his eyes.

At first nothing.

Then…

Warmth.

It spread through his chest, faint but real. Soft, Gentle, like sunlight filtering through closed eyelids.

His eyes snapped open.

“What… is this?” he whispered.

“Why are they helping me?”

Confusion twisted his expression.

“They’re exorcists. I’m a half‑yokai.”

“They’re not as horrible as you think,” Rei said quietly.

“And demons killed your parents. Not them.”

Itsuki’s hands shook.

“I know … but I still freed the Demon King.”

His voice dropped. “You should leave me.”

Rei answered without hesitation.

“Never.”

“If you can’t fight,” he continued, “then I’ll fight for you.”

Then he leaned in.

“So don’t give up. Not now. Okay?”

Itsuki’s breath hitched.

“Why…?”

Tears welled, clinging to his lashes. “Why do you care so much?”

A whisper. “I don’t deserve this.”

Rei smiled.

Not wide. Not bright. Just honest.

“Because you’re my friend.”

Something shifted in the heart of Itsuki.

A small light appeared.

A tiny crack in the darkness, like a star breaking through a night sky.

Rei noticed it, so he kept going. His voice steadied.

“To be honest, you’re my first real friend.”

The light widened.

A short laugh. Bitter.

“Everyone avoided me. They laughed at me.”

A pause.

“All because I believed in magic.”

The crack widened.

“When I first saw you,” Rei continued, “I felt calm.”

He searched for the words.

“Like we were connected. Like we were the same.”

Itsuki lowered his head.

“But we’re not. I’ve done so many bad things.”

Rei shook his head.

“That wasn’t the real you. And you proved it.”

A beat.

“You saved my life. More than once.”

Light burst outward. Another fracture. Then another.

“You were manipulated,” Rei went on. “You never had a choice.”

His voice hardened. “I promise I’ll speak for you.”

A breath.

“But first, you have to fight him.”

The darkness was breaking now, cracks spreading everywhere.

“Do you really think , they’ll forgive me?” Itsuki whispered, his voice shook.

Rei met his eyes.

“I won’t lie, I don’t know. “

A step closer.

“But we can’t win without you. That has to count for something “

A pause.

“And I promise, no matter what, I will never abandon you.”

Itsuki closed his eyes.

“I believe you.”

The darkness shattered like a glass sphere exploding into nothing.

Reality crashed back in.

The shadows were ripped out of Itsuki’s body, screaming as exorcists attacked with everything they had, fire, light, electricity, fairies dancing through the air like living sparks.

Without a host, the Demon King struggled, his form unstable.

“This isn’t over,” his voice echoed.

Black veins spread across the ground as he fled, sinking into the earth like dark water, disappearing beneath the battlefield.

Rei dropped to his knees.

“…It’s finished?” he whispered. “We… we win?”

Enshin placed a hand on his head.

“Yes, kid, It’s finished. You did well.” he said softly.

Rei exhaled, relief washing over him, and collapsed backward, still holding Itsuki, careful even as consciousness slipped away.

Enshin caught Rei while Sarutobi took Itsuki.

And for the first time since the Demon King attacked, the darkness lifted.

Exorcists collapsed where they stood, knees giving out, weapons clattering. Some wept, others gasped. Relief washed over them all…

The nightmare was over.