Encounter

Sparing no effort Kien rushed in only to lock his blades with the Parazpel who only laughed as a mask slowly crept over her face filling him with disgust as he was buffeted away by a newfound aura. Turning to Nashi and the others her robes fell only to show her true form as a Parazpel, corrupt and distorted with raw power her coarse body instilling fear in them as she raced towards them.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Die!"

Sparing no time, Nashi immediately brushed Kaki and the others aside as he parried the first blow with his greatsword. However, this success was short-lived as he soon felt a burning pain welling in his stomach as he peered down to see her empowered fist buried inside.

"Geh..."

"Too slow!"

WHOOSH!

"Agh!"

Buffeted back by the blow, Nashi grunted struggling to rise as the woman gave her fist a light kiss then turning to Kaki and the others who stood frozen in fear she simply brushed his cheek with a smile whilst Ringo bit her lip. However, Iris was not fazed by this whatsoever which was made clear by her eyes soon meeting the Parazpel's to which the woman brushed Kaki and Ringo aside approaching her.

"Oh? You have seen much worse, haven't you? Family perhaps? Or maybe a lover?"

"..."

Immediately kicking Kaki, Ringo soon found herself grasped by the throat and struggling to breathe as a result. Iris flinched at this as she slowly placed a hand on her blade as the Parazpel simply laughed then palming Ringo's neck as her breath grew raspy.

"Oh, how friendship binds us to our emotions."

Turning her head, she then noticed Ringo was gone to which her gaze soon turned to her bare feet which had a drop of blood stained upon it.

"W-What?"

PLOP...

With disgust in her face, she turned to see Kien tossing aside what looked to be an arm, her arm from Ringo whom he laid on the ground as she gasped for air then turning to her blades drawn.

"YOU BASTARD! MY ARM!"

As she prepared herself to fight him suddenly, she saw a glimmer of light in front of her. It was a pair of blades catching the moonlight the caught her eye as she turned her head to see two young girls, their eyes filled with hatred towards her.

"Ah, yet friendship gives you such power..."

"You're a monster, you should be put down." Iris spoke slowly pushed the blade in further.

Coughing blood, she clutched the blades as she felt the life drain from her as both girls then stood back as a light soon started glowing from her back.

"What is that?!"

"Both of you run!"

Kien immediately slit his hand as he coated his blades with blood as the purple aura soon turned red as he rushed towards his target interlocking with the other blades which soon disintegrated as the woman's eyes were void of life then looked at Kien as she soon screeched in his face which only gave him cause to bury his blades further in her.

"Kien!"

"Kaki! Get everyone out of here now!"

Kiizu immediately tried reaching for him as Iris quickly held her back as the illuminating light soon grew with each passing second.

"I won't leave you!"

"I'm not dead yet idiot! GO!"

Exiting the building, the team took a moment to rest and recover. Kaki was sorely tending to Nashi and Ringo while Kiizu buried herself in her knees as Iris sat next to her.

"You alright?"

"Do you ever feel helpless when stuff like this happens?"

Crossing her arms, Iris pondered the question as Kiizu sobbed then planting a fist on the ground.

"All the time."

"?!"

Looking at Iris, Kiizu saw a familiar look that told her enough. Raising her fist, she looked at it before clenching it then shedding a tear. Shortly after, a pair of footsteps were heard as everyone turned to see Kien briskly walking towards them from the shadows.

"KIEN!"

"Let's move, we can speak later."

Looking at the group, he sighed as he approached Kaki.

"I trust you can take care of him?"

"Y-Yes."

Reaching down and lifting Nashi up with Kaki he nodded then they leapt into the night sky as the girls raced after them. Kiizu clutched her chest with a sigh of relief as she took a moment to look at Kien, her eyes widened as she noticed a faint but clear wound on his side.

'He's hurt, but he's not flinching at all!'

Ellenore City, Forest, Nighttime

Approaching the forest area, the group took a moment to rest.

"Set up a fire, we'll rest here for a couple hours. I'll take watch."

Kaki and Ringo were tending to Nashi while Iris simply rested against the tree as Kiizu looked towards Kien who was already moving towards the forest.

"Where are you going?"

"To secure the area."

"Let me come with you."

"No need."

Attempting to walk faster Kien increased the distance as Kiizu then sharply ran in front of him giving him a look.

"Look, I know you're hurt. Let me patch it for you."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Brushing past her, Kien continued walking though he soon stumbled on his knee as he grimaced with the pain. Kneeling beside him, Kiizu lifted him up as they walked to a secluded area.

"I know you're trying to look strong, but at least take some help."

"Just shut up..."

Attempting to push her away she slapped him which startled him in response.

"Now, you're going to listen to me. Or else."

"Whatever..."

As the pain got to him, he groaned as Kiizu then began to strip him of his coat. His toned body became more and more visible then blushing at the sight of it. However, this spark of joy turned to worry upon seeing the red-stained part of it where his blood was seeping out from.

'This is bad...but we can at least put pressure on the wound.'

Using his garment, she made a makeshift bandage then using her hands she put pressure on it as Kien groaned clasping his hand against hers.

"K-Kien?"

"You're not putting enough pressure, just let me do it."

"Hmph!"

Brushing his hand aside, Kiizu placed more pressure leaning into his lap as his eyes closed with a sigh. He soon found himself looking at her as she busied herself with his wound.

'Why is she so insistent in doing this...'

Surprisingly, he found himself drawn to her twitching ears as he found his hand brushing against them as they perked up in surprise. He soon found himself looking at her face, they were red as her tail softly swayed behind her.

"...you"

"What?"

"Thank you..."

Simply smiling at this, Kiizu happily accepted the headpat as she continued putting pressure on the wound as the moonlight illuminated the area.