[color=gray][right][i]Reunited at last.
And it feels oh-so-good.[/i][/right]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lNnPcGc.png?1[/img][/center][hr]
[indent][indent]
For the amount of time it had taken Ryoshi to speed past Raiko and embrace the human girl, Kaito, it had taken just as much time for the loving, if not uncomfortable (for Raiko), moment to dissolve and devolve into a dire situation. It was only due to the Priestess, Ren, suddenly pointing her staff at Ryoshi, declaring something that hit Raiko like a ton of bricks coming down from the sky and hitting their mark. Everything she said from the village she was from to how Ryoshi had taken her best friend from her. At first, Raiko was confused. What did she mean? Was there some other person she knew that was from Seiki who Ryoshi and the others might’ve taken without Raiko’s knowledge?

And then she said it. Well, not it. She said [i]his[/i] name. He never gave her his name. The only time it was ever uttered was when Aoi said it out of habit. So how did she know it and why did it seem like she knew him? Better yet, why was Raiko overcome with such strong emotions about her and about her actions towards Ryoshi and the others? 

[color=b5484b]“I don’t--”[/color] 

Raiko’s head started to pound and pound, his vision pulsating, flashing between the present and the past. As each flash got increasingly quicker, the vividness of the same image as before: the sight of a cherry blossom tree in the center of some village and the sight of what was once a blurry, young girl, sitting high up on a branch; except this time around, she wasn’t blurry. As clear as the cherry blossoms around her were, Raiko saw her. She was, at that age, pretty and regal. Her dark hair tied up in a traditional bun and her smile pure and innocent. And as he looked up, the lips the smile was created from said a single word. And at that same moment, Raiko heard the same word being uttered as if he his consciousness was in both past [i]and[/i] present.

[color=pink]”Raiko!”[/color]

This one word changed everything for Raiko. He gripped his head so tight that he let out a screeching yell, his demonic energy bursting around him. The bright, deep red aura from before had returned, but this time it was organized and precise. It fed off of Raiko’s emotions, which were now focused on Ryoshi, taking the demon by surprise as a burst of energy took the shape of a dragon claw, forcing Ryoshi back about three feet, effectively removing his grip upon Ren’s neck.

[b][color=#00BFFF]"[/color][color=#00A9E2]M[/color][color=#0094C6]a[/color][color=#007FA9]s[/color][color=#006A8D]t[/color][color=#005471]e[/color][color=#003F54]r[/color][color=#002A38]![/color][color=#00151C]"[/color][/b] Kage and Aoi said in unison, rushing to his side, though the surprised looks on their faces were more about who did it. 

[color=00bfff]“Raiko..why?”[/color]

When their eyes met Raiko’s, he had Ren in his arms, resting her staff in her own arms. [color=b5484b]“Because I finally remembered who this woman is. I just hate that it took so long,”[/color] Raiko said to Ren, looking into her eyes. [color=b5484b]“I am sorry, Ren. I couldn’t go to the village because I was protecting you from them, but that is no longer necessary.”[/color] 

Raiko had directed his full attention on Ryoshi and the others. From what he saw, he knew they were still in a state of shock, though Ryoshi seemed more amused than anything else. [color=6699cc]“Here I was beginning to wonder when you’d finally grow that pair you were so full of when we took you from that village.”[/color] Ryoshi stood up, dusting himself off, looking over to Kaito. [color=6699cc]“They needn’t worry from me, my darling. As far as I am concerned, they do not matter to me anymore."[/color]

[color=00bfff]“They aren’t?”[/color] Aoi looked surprised as he glanced towards Ryoshi’s way.

[color=6699cc]“Did I stutter?”[/color]

[color=00bfff]“N-no, master. But what about the priestess and how she was going to banish you?”[/color]

Ryoshi knew that Aoi had more than those words for him, but when the demon looked at Aoi, the blue-scaled demon saw the look of fear in Ryoshi’s eyes. The amount of pressure exerted from him was enough to make even the strongest demons submit to his will.

[color=00bfff]“i-I’m sorry for questioning you, Master.”[/color]

Ryoshi decided to ignore Aoi and Kage, choosing to only focus on the smoke from the distance. [color=6699cc]“You better hurry or you might not be able to save that village of yours.”[/color]

Confused, Raiko was wondering what he meant. Only when he turned around and saw what Ryoshi was looking at did Raiko see what he meant. The smoke in the distance and sight of flying demons from the Desert Wastelands opposite of where Serpent Mountain was were hovering over Seiki. What was even worse, fires raged throughout the village. 

[color=b5484b]“What’s happening over there?”[/color]

[color=6699cc]“What indeed. You better go, Raiko. And remember. This is where our partnership ends. Come this way again and you will have no mercy.”[/color]

Though he was livid at Ryoshi, Raiko had more pressing concerns than just what Ryoshi just said. He had to leave with Ren, though he would stop himself for a minute. [color=b5484b]“Kaito, you better stay here. I imagine Ryoshi won’t hurt you,”[/color] Raiko at Ryoshi, [color=b5484b]“right?”[/color]

[color=6699cc]“My beloved is safe with me. And as soon as she wishes it, we will send her home with Aoi here. Now, go, Raiko! Go save your village.”[/color]

There was a sense of acceptance and even some respect between the two. Raiko knew he would have to return to the mountain at some point. He didn’t know when or if it would be wise of him to do so, but something Raiko knew was that, if he did return, it would be a fight nobody would ever forget.

And so he left. With Ren in his arms, they went down the mountain.

Meanwhile, when they left and Kaito was sent with Kage to get her fed, Aoi stood next to Ryoshi. They watched Raiko travel down the mountain like proud fathers of their son. [color=00bfff]“Hard to believe he’s all grown up.”[/color]

[color=6699cc]“That he is.”[/color]

[color=00bfff]“Are you sure it was not to tell him who is really behind all of this?”[/color] Aoi asked Ryoshi.

[color=6699cc]“He wasn’t ready to know the truth, Aoi. I’m sure he’ll figure it out sooner or later.”[/color] Ryoshi was confident of this.

Aoi wasn't so sure about that. [color=00bfff]“How do you know?”[/color]

[color=6699cc]“When he finds out the truth about his father, he’ll have questions that only we can answer. After all, that’s the least I can do for my younger brother.”[/color]
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