Apat - Underneath The Fear

 Riku looked at Sato, before they could do anything several lightning strikes slammed into the ground. Sato and Riku look over where the lightning struck, so far away from where they currently are. “What is your brother doing?” Sato asked. “Maybe that isn’t him.” Riku said. Riku looked at Sato who gave him an annoyed look. “Ok, it might be Yusuke.” Riku said. “Might?” Sato asked. “He definitely is letting his feelings come up. You know, venting.” Riku said. “Ok, kind of like screaming out loud to feel good.” Sato said. “Yeah.” Riku said. “Riku, I’m still going to kill you.” Sato said. “Of course you are.” Riku said. Sato swung her Katana at Riku. Riku dodged, grabbed Sato’ hand, and neck, and threw her over the rails.

Nakijin and Warabina sat atop a building, Warabina laid on Nakijin resting. Nakijin saw as Hiroko interrupted the fight between Yusuke and the Beast. “You wanna do it?” Nakijin asked. “Do what?” Warabina asked. “Go help it. It’s strong enough to take down the curse, but I doubt it can take on a woman who has been blessed.” Nakijin said. “What?” Warabina asked, sitting up looking at Hiroko. “You wanna break in the new body?” Nakijin asked. “Yeah, that’s the girl whose body I was expelled from. I even stabbed her eye and everything. I’ll kill her.” Warabina said, hopping onto her feet.

Sato made her way back onto the building roof, and walked to Riku. “Don’t do that again.” Sato said. “You tried to kill me.” Riku said. “You threw me off a building.” Sato said. “You tried to stab me.” Riku said. “Cut. I tried to cut you.” Sato said. “Still, I don’t want to fight you.” Riku said. “Fine, then don’t fight, and accept dea-.” Sato started. Riku quickly punched her in the face, cutting off her sentence, and hit her on her back. “You aren’t playing fair.” Sato said. “It’s not a game. This is life or death you psychopath.” Riku said. “So stop playing around and kill me already.” Sato said.

“Sure. After we beat this thing. Where are you thinking of going?” Yusuke asked, walking to Hiroko. “Somewhere nice. Also I don’t think we can beat it to death.” Hiroko said. “Why?” Yusuke asked. “Well, he is kind of strong even with both of us. Also I don’t think Ramon would like it if we killed him. He would, but I wouldn’t want to kill a friend.” Hiroko said. “That thing is Ramon?” Yusuke asked. “Yeah, did you not look into his eyes?” Hiroko asked. “Nope. But fine, let’s kick the crap out of Ramon and save him.” Yusuke said.

Sato stood up, and charged at Riku. “Fujin’s Blade Of Winds.” Riku said, creating a Tsurugi made of wind. Riku parried Sato, and cut through her chest. “You know you can’t kill me.” Sato said, swinging again. Her wound heals. Riku ducked the attack, and thrust the Tsurugi into Sato’s chest. Sato swung her sword at Riku, who grabbed her hand, stopping her attack. “You can’t beat me, you never could.” Sato said, desperate. “I know, I couldn’t win the bet, but things have changed.” Riku said, letting go of his Tsurugi, grabbing Sato’s cheek, and pulling her in kissing her. Sato leaned into the kiss, dropping her Katana, everything fading for a moment, until reality came crashing in. She punched Riku off of her. “What do you think you are doing?!” she asked flustered. “Winning a fight.” Riku said, lunging at her, tackling her to the ground. “Get off of me.” Sato said, embarrassed.

“Ramon, do you hear me?” Hiroko asked the Beast. It stopped moving and looked at her. Warabina landed next to Ramon. “Don’t listen to her, just relent onto this unfair world.” Warabina said. “Don’t listen to her!” Yusuke yelled out. “Hello girl, it’s been a while. Annoying that I couldn’t keep my eye, but I guess I did take yours.” Warabina said. “You are the one who possessed me?” Hiroko asked. “Yeah. Speaking of, who helped you? Who is helping now?” Warabina asked. “I refuse to answer.” Hiroko said, creating a Jian made of pure white Mabui. “Such discipline, and control. It must be someone powerful. Guessing from your Chūgoku blood, Pangu, Nuwa? Is it a Bodhisattva?” Warabina asked. “There is more than one Bodhisattva?” Hiroko asked. “Yes.” Warabina said. “How did I not know that?” Hiroko asked herself. “I’m tired of talking Akuma, I have a date to make.” Yusuke said. “Then please try me.” Warabina said.

Hiroko swung the Jian upwards, creating a slash of pure Mabui charging at Warbina. Ramon jumped in the way, losing his arm. Warabina caught the arm, and looked at it. Beast Ramon regrew his arm, and charged at Hiroko, Yusuke appeared surrounded in lightning, using both feet to kick Ramon in the face, knocking him back. Hiroko appeared before Ramon and swung the Jian through his chest. Warabina watched Ramon heal the attack. Yusuke threw a lightning at Warbina. The lightning bolt hit an invisible wall, which then shot at Yusuke. Yusuke dodged, before getting grabbed by Ramon and slammed into the ground. Yusuke cut off Ramon’s arm and got away. Ramon’s hand healed.

Warabina sighed, before she bit into Ramon’s arm, and ate the skin from it, before it quickly decayed. Warabina stumbled back, she felt something off in her body. She grabbed at her hands, noticing a difference with it. Warabina started to get chills down her back, and everything became slow, as Yusuke appeared behind Warabina, slashing through Warbina’s neck. Warabina healed from the attack. Yusuke went to attack again, but she disappeared.

Nakijin watched over the fight, noticing the scuffle between Sato and Riku. “I made a mistake, I ate a part of the Aswang.” Warabina said. “Why?” Nakijin asked. “I wanted to test something, but it only made me feel weird.” Warabina said. “Go back to the Spirit World, and wait. If the Beast fails we need a backup, try to break through the puppet’s memories.” Nakijin said. “Alright. But will you be fine?” Warabina asked. “Our friend is coming. He understands the importance of the mission.” Nakijin said. “Good. Now go my love.” Warabina said.

Riku remained over Sato. “Will you get off me now?” Sato asked. “Kill me.” Riku said. “Fine.” Sato said, but she didn’t move. “Do it!” Riku yelled at her. She looked away. “I will, just let me-.” Sato said, rambling, looking for any out. Sato noticed Nakijin, who smiled at Sato. “Riku, do you see that?” Sato asked. “I’m not falling for that.” Riku said. Sato slapped him. “Look you idiot!” Sato yelled at him. Riku looked, noticing Nakijin. “Akuma. Still going to kill me?” Riku asked, getting off Sato, and standing up. “Yes.” Sato said, standing as well. “I don’t believe you. Sato.” Noboru said. His voice came from behind them. Riku and Sato looked to face Noboru.

“Now that they are distracted. I wonder if the Beast can actually take them down.” Nakijin said, turning his attention to Ramon, Hiroko, and Yusuke. Nakijin smiled, as if he won.