The group ran along the streets, getting glances from people as they passed by. They must not be aware of what was happening, though most of them probably didn't have a temptaint so there was practically no way of them knowing. There was no way they'd see the giant gray mass growing on the mountain.

The group soon left the town behind and entered the forest, slowing down their pace as they started to go upwards through the darkness. All of them kept their eyes and ears open. Just before they had left, Bon had gotten a call from Shura telling them they needed to look for Master Tatsuma, Bon's dad, who had gone up the mountain a while ago and hadn't come back yet.

As they walked, Kiara could feel the fear radiating off of Bon. She sped up her pace so she was walking just behind him. "Ryuji." She said, her voice just barely loud enough to get his attention, "We're going to find your dad. You don't need to worry so much."

Bon's shoulders slacked ever so slightly, and he nodded. The fear radiating off of him went down slightly as he turned and looked ahead of them. Kiara smiled softly and continued to keep an eye out for Master Tatsuma.

Suddenly Kiara stopped, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw something between the trunks of the trees. It was faint, and if she hadn't been looking where she had been she could of totally missed it, but in the distance she could see the form of her father.

"Hey, Kiara, you good?" Shima asked.

Kiara glanced back at Shima, and when she glanced back at where the figure was he had vanished. "Yeah. I'm good. I just thought I saw something." Best not to mention anything right now. Everyone's already so on edge that it's almost suffocating. She flashed Shima a smile, "Let's keep going."

They had kept walking for what felt like half an hour and Kiara hadn't seen any trace of her father since then.

There was a sudden gasp and Kiara turned to see Izumo pointing at something, or someone. "Look, guys, over there!"

Bon looked to where she was pointing and his eyes widened as his fear spiked. "Dad!" He shouted out, running to the figure laying down not too far away from them.

When Kiara got to him, she was shocked to see the state he was in. His clothes were bloody, there was blood dribbling out of his mouth, and his breaths were labored and shaky.

Bon knelt down beside him, "Dad, I'm right here."

"I'm gonna call Miss Kirigakure and let her know we found him." Konekomaru said, his voice faltering when a light started to emit from Tatsuma's chest— no it wasn't just a light, it was a flame.

Kiara watched as a demon rose from the flames, and she could sense that whatever demon this was it was powerful.

"I go by the name Karura, and i serve the high priest of the Myoo Dharani." The demon said.

"Karura...? Are you dad's familiar?" Bon asked.

"I was, but the pact I had with him was broken after my secret was revealed. Currently I am bound to Tatsuma Suguro by a personal pact."

Tatsuma started coughing, getting the attention onto him. "Oh that hurts." He said.

"Dad." Bon said, relief evident in his voice.

Tatsuma looked over at Bon, his eyes widening. "Ryuji. What are you doing here?"

"I came to get you."

Tatsuma sat up, a look of pain crossing his face as he moved, "Well, that was dumb."

Kiara smirked, holding back a few chuckles from Tatsuma's response.

"I have healed your wounds, Tatsuma, but you must not move yet." Karura said, flying down to be eye level with the master.

"Karura, I've never seen you so tiny. Can't believe we're both still alive after that."

"Yes, well I am also known as the Phoenix. I can always be reborn. As for you, I will not let you die. Our pact for the Holy Fire is still in effect."

Tatsuma looked up, obviously seeming to ignore what Karura had said. "Rin, you're here! Does that mean you read my letter?"

Rin nodded.

"I read it too, dad." Bon said.

"What!?" His fear spiked up and Kiara covered her mouth as she let out a snort of laughter.

"No more secrets. Everyone here understands the basic situation. But you need to tell us everything, now."

Tatsuma was quiet for a second or two before he hung his head and closed his eyes. "Alright, son. I'll tell you how to kill the Impure King."

Now we're getting somewhere. Kiara thought.

Tatsuma then continued to explain to them how the Impure King could be defeated. In short, the curly q thing that was in the middle of the gray mass was called a spurangium and once it matures it was going to pop and let out a thick cloud of toxic miasma. In order to defeat the demon they have to get to the heart which was inside the spurangium— apparently the 'heart' was just the right an left eyes. Unfortunately they'd have to break open the spurangium first, which would release the toxic miasma.

Tatsuma then explained to them that fifteen years ago he had made a pact with Karura to borrow something called 'Holy Fire'. A spell that converts the user's life span into a powerful flame. A flame that burns everything if it's used at the end of him life. Apparently he had used the Holy Flame early, and now didn't have much fire left in him.

"Even if it's not a lot, I'll use it to create a barrier. So even if the sack pops and the miasma gets out, it won't make it off the mountain. But Rin, I still need you to get in there somehow and destroy the Impure King's heart with the Koma sword."

Rin's fear spiked, causing Kiara to become lightheaded. she shifted her feet to make sure she didn't fall.

"I'm sorry. I can't." Rin said.

"No... it's okay. I'm asking you to risk your life after all."

"Nah, that ain't why. I can't draw the sword."

"Huh?" The group asked collectively.

Rin grabbed the hilt of the sword and he tried to pull it out of the scabbard, struggling with the obvious effort he was using. "I'm trying but I can't get the damn thing out!"

"Pull harder ya weenie!" Bon shouted.

"Leave me alone, I've got one of those mental blocks goin' on or something!"

"You need a brain for that!"

"Holy shit Rin, your fear right now couldn't be any more nauseating." Kiara said, placing a hand on the bridge of her nose. "did you really forget what I told you in that prison, wasteland place?"

"K-Kiara." Rin muttered.

"If I remember correctly I said something like 'You're not a monster unless you let yourself become one, you're in control of yourself' I meant it when I said that back there. So get over that mental block and beat the shit out of the Impure King!"

Rin looked at her, his eyes widening before he frowned, "I can't help it I'm all worried and stressed. Sorry guys. I suck."

"No, it's okay." Tatsuma said, "Oh well, I can't just sit here." He started to stand up, his face scrunched up in pain. "I'd better go an get that barrier up."

"You musn't Tatsuma, you have lost far too much blood." Karura said.

"Even so-" he cut off as he keeled over, Bon and Konekomaru moving to support him.

"I healed your wounds, however you nearly bled to death. If you try to cast a barrier spell in your current state, you will surely die."

"It will only take a second. Besides, containing it's more important than my life."

Kiara looked over at Bon. His fear was so strong right now it was starting to make her head spin— it didn't help that everyone around her was scared as well.

"Dad! There's gotta be something else we can do!" Bon exclaimed.

"Oh. So you are Tatsuma's son, then? Perfect. If you share the same bloodline, I can transfer the Holy Fire."

This time Tatsuma's fear rose. He reached up and grabbed onto Bon's sleeve. "No, you can't! I won't let you! He's just a kid no way are you gonna drag Ryuji into this! I swore this damn curse would end with me! There's no way I'm goin a let my boy bear this too! I'd rather die." He hung his head.

Bon looked at his father, realization dawning in his eyes. "You've been carrying this load all on your own, to protect me."

Tatsuma laughed. "No, I just did it, because I wanted to." He said. A lie.

"I can help you, so let me help!" Bon shouted. "You're in no shape to handle this alone anymore!"

"Your son is wiser than you, Tatsuma." Karura said.

"And he's stronger than you think." Kiara interjected. She took a step forwards and placed a hand on the older man's shoulder.

Tatsuma's eyes widened before he hung his head, "I know he is. That's why I didn't want him getting involved in this." His voice was low, and Kiara had just barely been able to hear him.

Bon stood up and Karura turned to face him. "I shall now transfer the Holy Fire. First, you must prove your kin to Suguro Tatsuma with your blood."

Man, this would be really awkward if Tatsuma wasn't actually Bon's dad. Kiara thought to herself.

Bon bit his thumb and raised it up towards Karura, the blood that had dripped out of the injury bursting into flame, a second later flames rose from both of his hands, before it turned to a shade of brilliant red.

"You are of the same bloodline as Suguro Tatsuma. Suguro Ryuji, the power of Holy Fire is yours now."

"It's a red flame!" Konekomaru exclaimed.

No, really? I thought that was purple. Kaira thought. This was dramatic and all but she wanted to get to fighting. She looked around as Tatsuma started to teach Bon how to activate the Holy Fire, and create a barrier. Once he finished, he fell to the ground.

"Dad!" Bon exclaimed. He turned to looked towards Izumo, and Sheimi. "Hey guys, I need your help here, could you stay with my dad and keep an eye on him?"

"Yeah, sure!" Sheimi exclaimed.

"You got it." Izumo said.

"Shima, Konekomaru, Kiara, tell miss Shigakura and the others what my dad told us, I'm headed up the mountain!"

"Wait what?" Konekomaru asked.

"I gotta go an put that barrier up. I spreads out from the spot where my finger touches the ground, so I have to get as close as possible to the spore sack." Bon said.

"Are you crazy!? We're not letting you near that thing!" Konekomaru shouted.

"Bon. I've always been down with whatever you said, cuz' as far as my family's concerned you're the boss. This time, I'm not gonna keep my mouth shut." Shima said. "You do this, you're gonna die."

"Not necessarily." Kiara said. "I'm not going to let him." She said, looking at him with a grin.

Bon looked at her for a second before he realized what she was saying. "Kiara, you are not coming up with me."

"And why not?" Kiara asked as she crossed her arms. "I'm no messenger pigeon."

"Kiara-"

"Besides, who was the one to follow after me during the summer training camp? I'm going with you whether you like it or not, Ryuji." She said, feeling the shocked stares from her classmates as she addressed the taller boy by his first name. "And don't try to tell me you're trying to protect me by telling me not to go. You and I both know that's not gonna work."

"Hey! Don't think you're leaving me behind! I'll be there to protect both of you as well!" Rin said.

"Pfft!" Kiara laughed. She covered her mouth as she bust out into laughter.

"Chill guys. I can't draw my sword but I can sorta use my flames. Besides, I'm super strong."

Kiara stopped laughing and wiped at her eyes. "See, Koneko, Pinkie, we're going to be fine!"

"We good?" Rin asked.

Konekomaru nodded, though there was still a strong feeling of fear radiating off of him.

"Well, I say no-" he cut himself off as Konekomaru started running away. "Koneko! Everyone's nuts tonight! Don't say I didn't want you when everything goes to shit!" He shouted as he chased after the smaller boy.

Bon turned and started walking towards the lumpy gray mass of the Impure King. "Let's roll. We have no time to waste."

"Uh, yeah!" Rin exclaimed, following after Bon.

"Be careful." Tatsuma called out, his voice breathy. "I never wanted this, Ryuji. I'm so sorry. Try and forgive me."

"You know, I always loved listening to you chant. So don't you go dying on me." Bon said, then he started running, Rin following close behind.

Kiara looked behind her, looking at Tatsuma. "Your son's going to be okay, I've got him covered. All you should concern yourself with is staying alive." With that she took off, following after the two boys.

***

Tatsuma laid on the ground, his arm on his forehead. He listened as the three pairs of footsteps got further and further away. You've found some good friends, and a good girl, Ryuji. I'm proud.