The Soul-Eating Fire

Both Ryou and Kushu could only stare blankly as a sword pierced right through Kirihime’s chest. The next thing they knew, Kirihime’s body was engulfed in dark fire.
“Kirihime!!!!”
Kushu quickly caught her limp body and prepared himself to be burned as well, but the fire didn’t spread. He didn’t even feel the heat. Ryou forced himself to stand and look around in blind rage.
Then Ryou’s eyes saw Maou’s hand fell lifelessly after throwing the sword with all he had. He was about to lunge at him when a cold hand seized his arm.
“Don’t...” Kirihime whispered weakly.
“But he just...!”
“He’s already dead. Ryou, take over Kirihime. I’ll go get Hanzoku.” Kushu ordered as calm as he could.
Ryou plopped on the floor and took Kirihime from Kushu. As the boy ran toward Hanzoku, Ryou looked at Kirihime on his arms. The fire which had burned so lively like a bonfire now had subsided to small fire, centered around the wound.
“You’re going to be okay. You’re going to be okay. Hanzoku will help you. You’re not going to die.” Ryou kept repeated as he felt Kirihime’s body getting colder.
“I’m sorry...Ryou...” Kirihime lifted her hand and touched Ryou’s cheek. “I’m always...making...trouble...”
“No!!! Don’t say such thing! You’re going to be okay!” Ryou shook his head frantically when he felt Kirihime’s hand as cold as ice.
“I really...thought...we...could be...together...” Kirihime continued even though her breath getting heavier. “But...after all...it’s just...my dream...”
“No! You said you love me, right?! I love you too!! We’ll be together, so don’t you dare leave me behind now!!” Ryou shouted.
Then Kushu came with Hanzoku. With just one glance, Hanzoku paled.
Kirihime saw his face and smiled bitterly. “It’s...okay...”
“It’s not okay!!! It’s definitely not okay!!! You’re not going to die!!” Ryou stubbornly refused.
“This way...I could...be free...” Kirihime slowly caressed Ryou’s cheek.
“You can’t go just yet!!” Kushu interjected. “You...You haven’t returned my favor!! And I...haven’t apologized to you properly!! That’s why...!”
“Thank you...Kushu...Hanzoku...” Kirihime tried her hardest to look at them, even though her vision was getting blurry. “Please...take care...of Ryou...”
“...yes, Kirihime-sama.” Hanzoku nodded gravely.
“Ryou...” Kirihime called out, knowing that her time was near. “Thank...you for...every...”
Without finishing her sentence, Kirihime’s hand fell from Ryou’s face.
“No!!! Kirihime!! Open your eyes!! Kirihime!!!” Ryou shouted until his voice was hoarse, but she never opened her eyes again.
“Ryou...that was the [soul-eating fire]. She can’t be healed nor brought back in any way. Her soul...was literally...gone.” Hanzoku said softly, but Ryou didn’t hear him.
Hanzoku touched Kushu’s shoulder gently, pulling him away to give Ryou some time alone.
“...what is power? What is magic? Why do they exist if they can’t even save the most precious person to me??!!” Ryou gritted his teeth in frustration. “Please... just wake me up...from this nightmare known as reality...someone...help...”
But of course, this wasn’t any nightmare. This was the worst nightmare named reality.
“Why...? Why did she have to die...? Right when she was finally free from Maou...right when she could be just a normal girl...” Ryou furiously rubbed his tears away. “God...I don’t know whether you could hear me or not, but please save Kirihime!! You can take my power or my soul, but please save her...!”
“How rude. Did you think I’m a demon or something?”
Ryou quickly lifted his face in surprise. He saw a gentleman walking toward him. He looked like he was around twenty-years-old, wearing business suit that looked so out of place in this half-ruined shrine. With golden eyes and blonde hair, he could be a very attractive salesperson, though Ryou had no interest in such thoughts.
“Who...Who are you...?” Ryou looked around warily.
Then he noticed the eerie silence that enveloped everything, as if every living being in this world had stopped moving. Ryou narrowed his eyes and looked closely before finally understood.
Time had stopped.
“Me?” The young man stopped before Ryou, who still hugged Kirihime’s lifeless body. “I’m just a spectator who liked to watch from the shadow.”
“H-Huh?” Ryou frowned in confusion.
“You said you want to save this girl, correct?” The man asked.
“Y-Yeah...but...how did you...?”
“Do you want to save her or do you want to ask questions?” The man cut his sentence.
Ryou quickly collected himself. “...I want to save her.”
“Then it’s a good thing I lent you my power.” The man said casually.
“Y-Your power...? You mean my power as artificial Mazoku?” Ryou tilted his head.
“No, no, that’s your own power. I mean...” The man reached out his hand and suddenly a flower appeared on his palm. “...this power.”
“Uh...sorry...I still don’t...” Ryou shook his head.
The man sighed. “You’re not so bright, are you?”
“D-Don’t agree with Kirihime!!” Ryou defended himself.
“Then, I mean this power.” The man’s hand suddenly covered in jade-green light and Ryou widened his eyes.
“A-A-Aether??!!” Ryou was shocked.
“Duh, it’s the power of the creation. Of course it belongs to me.” The man reprimanded him.
“S-S-So y-you’re the...the god?!” Ryou paled.
“No, no, like I’ve told you, I’m a mere spectator.” The man smiled. “Then, Satomi Ryou, if you wished to save this young girl who had lost her soul, you must use Aether and recreate her soul.”
“Re—what?!” Ryou shook his head. “That’s impossible for me...!”
“True, it’s impossible for you. You cannot control Aether nor manipulate it. And so...” The man opened his palm. “...give it back to me.”
“But then I won’t be able to save Kirihime!” Ryou argued.
“Yes, because I will save her.” The man answered calmly.
Ryou eyed him suspiciously. “Can I really trust you...?”
“I’m a god.” The man rolled his eyes. “It’s easy for me to recreate her soul. But as the payment, I’ll take back my power. How does that sound?”
“J-Just your power...? You won’t take anything else...?” Ryou sounded doubtful.
“Well, when the time comes, I’ll take everything, of course.” The man grinned and Ryou paled. “No, no, I mean when you died.”
“Oh...then, please save Kirihime!” Ryou grabbed his hand and felt a great deal of power being taken from him.
The next second, Ryou slumped to the floor and couldn’t move anymore. He watched as the man pulled the sword out of Kirihime’s body before he touched her forehead. Kirihime’s body was enveloped in warm light for a split second before the light disappeared.
“Done.” The man gently lay Kirihime down again. “Oh, and Ryou?”
“Y-Yes?” Ryou looked at him.
“Keep this a secret, okay?” The man winked before vanishing into thin air and the time started moving again.
“R...you...?”
That sole voice was enough to make Ryou forgot everything as he embraced the girl who once again opened her eyes.