A Demon's Tale

It was the same vision as always…

She could see the full length of the person’s hair now, but it had remained the same overall…

However…

Over the last few weeks that she had been at this place…

There was now a new feeling to this vision…

It was odd…

Why would a feeling occur all of a sudden when nothing truly significant had happened recently?

It was a nice feeling…

A feeling of warmth…

Though she had once feared this vision, now…it was different…

She felt happy to see it…

Though she could not explain why…

There was no real answer to it…but she enjoyed this…

There was one more feeling however…

Something else…not far from this person…there was something familiar…

It was not something visible nor audible…

But she had certainly recognised it…

From where exactly…

…she was not sure

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A few weeks had passed since the training at the school had begun, and the first section of the school course had ended.

The amount that passed and failed were quite close in terms of percentages. It had been a near fifty fifty split from both sides, with the failing side having only a few extra people to its amount.

However, the written section of the course was the least difficult area.

By many, the hardest one to overcome would be the divine chi implementation, where your body would be truly tested to see if it could handle such a difficult power.

It hadn’t been anything that would cause a risk to someone’s health, but it wasn’t something so easy that it could simply be slipped into the body for everyone to use.

It was rare after all, so even the amount of those who could take it had been rare as well.

This step, however, did not matter…

…to the two girls, who had already possessed such a power, and had passed their written section of the course as well.

Those two girls were now sitting in their dorm, enjoying the few days of free time that they had, asking one another questions much like they did while studying.

Kōkatsu: [Alright, my turn my turn! Ok so, when ya have kids, what are ya gonna name ‘em?]

Shiro: [Ooooo! Well….hmmm…nah that’s too embarrassing…I think I’ll go with all sorts of different names. Simple ones, weird ones, all kinds of names you know?]

Kōkatsu: [Hey…I saw hesitation there! What were ya gonna saaaaaay?]

Shiro: [Haaaah. Ok I might have been thinking about, and don’t laugh at me here, but I was thinking I could give them some band inspired names. I like listening to music a lot, so I figured, hey, why not show that love in a way with the name of a child.]

Kōkatsu: [Oh?]

Shiro: [Yeah see? It’s weird.]

Kōkatsu: [Nah, 's not weird at all. If anythin’, 's cool as fuck!]

Shiro: [You really think so?]

Kōkatsu: [Yeah! Shit, if I could name some kids as well, then I'd do that too! I’d probably choose some shit like Diggy, or Roid.]

Shiro: [Hm. I guess I might consider it then. Alright, now I get to go! Have you ever been to the Babylon District?]

Kōkatsu: [Babylon, huh? I’ve traveled a decent bit as a kid, but I can’t say I’ve ever been there. Is it nice?]

Shiro: [Super nice! I was born and raised there! Technically speaking, I still kinda live there, but I guess at the moment I live here more than there. I should bring you there at some point though! It’s a really peaceful place in the day, and a fun party kinda place at night!]

Kōkatsu: [Ohoho, now ya grabbed my attention with both of those day n' night descriptions!]

Shiro: [Hehe!]

Kōkatsu: [Alright, now I personally want a history lesson for my next question. So both kitsunes n' demons have all sorts of folklore, history, all that shit. But I’m curious, do yer people got any closer to reality kinda folklore? The type that people can’t determine if 's real or fake? Our people have some, but I’m curious if demons do as well.]

Shiro: [Close to reality folklore…hmmmmmm…It’s hard to think of many, but there is something that my mom told me about before that seems to fit that scenario.]

Kōkatsu: [Go on…}

Shiro: [There’s this thing that supposedly all higher ranking demons are capable of. From what I was told, it can’t occur by any normal means. It has to be out of pure rage or sadness.]

Kōkatsu: [Oioi. This is startin' to sound like some big action manga transformation here.]

Shiro: [You’re not entirely wrong, but this is kinda different to that. In those books, they usually power up and that’s about it. They’re just stronger from there in some way. Here though, it’s not so kind. My mom described it to me as a beast taking over your body. Sure, you become stronger, but at the same time, you lose all control. Whatever your “desire” is at that moment, it’s taken to the highest degree. However, this “desire” is usually one of two things for our race…]

Kōkatsu: [I can imagine what the first is, which I gotta say, if yer gonna go out, doin’ it like that is probably the best! Yahah-sorry.]

Kōkatsu had begun to laugh at the thought that now occurred in her head, but seeing the gloomy look on Shiro’s face had grinded that laugh to a quick halt.

Kōkatsu: [So, the second is…?]

Shiro: [The urge to fight.]

Kōkatsu: [I see. If I had to guess, that one’s probably more common with oni.]

Shiro: [From what I was told, yes. Either way however, these two “desires” lead to one greater “desire” at the end of it all. The urge to kill.]

Kōkatsu: [Damn, 's kinda some scary shit. Hope 's not real or else I gotta make sure to never get on yer bad side. So, does that thing have a name? Or a specific kinda look to it?]

Shiro: [My mother told me it’s called Rashomon. It surrounds your body in a black ooze like matōki. Nothing can truly be seen, other than the person’s figure, their bright white dot like eyes and glowing white smile, and their hair, which grows to an….immensely….long…..length.]

Kōkatsu: [Huh? Hey, Shiro! What’s wrong?! What happened?!]

As Shiro finished her statement, she had pondered on the words now coming out of her mouth, to a horrifying realization. Her eyes had widened slowly as she realized this, and she stared directly at the floor in horror.

Kōkatsu had moved over to her, making sure she was alright and snapping her back to reality.

Shiro: [Huh?! Oh…sorry Kō. I was just thinking about something and…I wasn’t very fond of the thought. It couldn’t be true either, that form has white dot eyes, not red proper living being kinda eyes.]

Kōkatsu: [I’m not sure what any of that means but I’m glad yer okay. Ya scared me for a sec! Also, Kō? I got a nickname now?]

Shiro: [Huh? Oh yeah, I was thinking about it the past few weeks but didn’t know if I should call you it. I guess I kinda just did it in the moment there. Do you like it?]

Kōkatsu: [Heh. 'S not bad. Though I can’t really give ya a proper nickname. I feel like if I shorten it to the first three, 's some bad omen type shit, n' 's not like Shir is a good nickname nor does it serve its purpose well.]

Shiro: [Haha! True. But yeah, that’s how that whole Rashomon thing works.]

Kōkatsu: [I see. Yer mom really is a smart lady. She knows all this shit n' she herself is super nice from what ya’ve told me.]

Shiro: [You better not start drinking and crying again.]

Kōkatsu: [I won’t! I swear on it!]

Shiro: [And while I’m sleeping too, right?]

Kōkatsu: [....So anyways, yer mom seems pretty cool!]

Shiro: [Just gonna try to dodge the question, huh?]

Despite their conversation many weeks ago, Kōkatsu was still always troubled by the thought of a family. It had gotten better since that point, however she still often felt quite sad thinking about it. Shiro had grown used to it, and both tried to cheer her up as well as attempt to make the situation better for her as time went on.

Shiro: [Yeah, my mom is pretty nice. I’m not sure I agree with her all the time, but she always has my best interest in mind, and I know that. Plus she’s strong too. Like super strong. Like if I make a not so great comment I'll likely regret it shortly after strong.]

Kōkatsu: [Hah! Scary to think ya’d have a scenario like that playin’ out! Yahahaha!]

Shiro: [Right? Hahahaha!]

Kōkatsu: [I mean, who is she?! Airi the Hero or some shit?! Yahahaha!]

Shiro: [Hahaha! Yeah! She is! Hahahaha!]

The two of them had gotten into a laughing fit, but in the midst of it, something had slipped.

Shiro had said something she was trying to avoid this entire time she was here.

Both her face, and Kōkatsu’s had started to widen in expression after realizing what was said. The laughter came to an abrupt halt for a few moments.

Until…

Kōkatsu: [YER MOM IS AIRI?!]

Kōkatsu immediately grabbed Shiro by the collar of her shirt, yelling at her face. Shiro had begun to wave her hands around in a fit of panic.

Shiro: [NO! NO! UHHHHHH…I MEANT SHE’S LIKE AIRI! SHE’S NOT AIRI, SHE’S JUST KINDA LIKE HER, YOU KNOW? IF HER AND AIRI MET THEY’D GET ALONG GREAT WITH HOW STRONG THEY ARE!]

Kōkatsu: [I HEARD THE WORDS FROM YER MOUTH LOUD N’ CLEAR! YA SAID SHE IS AIRI! NOT SOMEONE ELSE, THE WOMAN HERSELF!]

Shiro: [IT WAS A MISTAKE I SWEAR! DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE MY MOM IS AIRI?!]

A moment of silence filled the air as Kōkatsu had begun to think.

Kōkatsu: [Ya know what? Fair. I failed to consider that. My bad. Forgot Airi is gone n' all that.]

Kōkatsu had then released her grip on Shiro’s shirt.

Shiro: [Yeah. See. I don’t know the woman at all. There’s not a single ounce of proof that I do.]

Kōkatsu: [Little bit suspicious to say that, but yeah, yer right. ’S on me for gettin’ ahead of myself.]

Shiro: [I’m glad that’s resolved. I don’t know anything about that hero lady. Not even her new last name.]

Another few moments of silence had then occurred, followed by, once again, both of their expressions widening.

Kōkatsu: [NEW LAST NAME?!]

Shiro: [SHIT!]

Kōkatsu: [WHAT’S THAT ‘BOUT A NEW LAST NAME, HUH?! YER TELLIN’ ME SHE’S ALIVE?! N’ NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THAT PROVES WHAT I THOUGHT! SHE’S YER MOM?!]

Shiro: [NO THAT’S….I STILL KNOW NOTHING!]

Kōkatsu: [THE HELL YA DO! YA’VE GIVEN ME MORE THAN ENOUGH REASON TO BELIEVE SHE’S YER MOM!]

Shiro: [I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT AIRI, NOT A SINGLE THING! I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT HER WHEN I WAS A KID!]

Kōkatsu had then loosened her grip before asking a new question.

Kōkatsu: [Oh really? What’s she look like?]

Shiro: [Oh well, she’s blond, like pale blond I’d say. Kinda short, like five two short. She’s blind-EEP!]

Shiro had once again slipped for a third time, and covered her mouth with her hands shortly after.

Kōkatsu: [BLIND?!]

Shiro: [UHHHHHH……UHHHHHHHHH……..UHHHHHHHHHH……..]

Kōkatsu: [FIRST YA TELL ME SHE’S YER MOM, N’ NOW YER TELLIN’ ME SHE WENT BLIND AT SOME POINT?!]

Shiro: [I……I………I………I SWEAR I CAN EXPLAIN MYSELF!]

Kōkatsu: [I DON’T THINK YA CAN!]

The room had turned into a state of constant yelling and chaos. To anybody close by, they’d likely try to run along as to not upset the residents living in that dorm, otherwise who knows what might happen after the loud shouting that was already occurring

Luckily for Shiro, no words had been audible to anyone else.

However, she was also unlucky, as once the room had calmed down, she had finally admitted to Airi being her mother.

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Kōkatsu: [Jeez. I should have known. There was no way the strongest livin’ bein’ on the planet was jus' gonna die all of a sudden. I’m curious ‘bout the whole blind thing, but I’m not sure if 's a sensitive topic, so i’ll avoid it for now. So she’s Airi Fuloreen now, huh? Makes sense on how she got out of her whole hero situation. All she had to do was jus' disappear, marry someone, n' go from there.]

While Kōkatsu was saying this, Shiro sat beside silently, looking at the floor in a nervous state.

Kōkatsu: [Heh. N' that explains ya as well.]

Shiro: [Huh?]

Shiro turned to face Kōkatsu, who was now smiling at her.

Kōkatsu: [I know people don’t always take the same traits as their parents. Sometimes some are born weaker, or even stronger. Hell, I fall into the second one, n' I don’t even know how that happened. But from the moment I met ya, I knew ya had somethin’ strong there. I don’t jus' mean the whole high rankin’ succubus thing, I mean I felt somethin’ extra there!]

Shiro: [You…did…?]

Kōkatsu: [Heh, yep. I knew somethin’ was up…]

Kōkatsu then started to smile. Her fox-like fangs now visible for Shiro to see.

Kōkatsu: [...N' now, I’m curious. Real curious.]

Shiro: [Huh? Curious about what?]

Kōkatsu: [Startin’ a few days from now is our next stage. The trials. I kinda wanna get myself ready for that whole thing durin' our free time. 'S funny really, to think I’d get myself ready for school related shit. Heh.]

Kōkatsu stood up, gripping her right shoulder with her left hand, while moving her right arm in a circular motion. Her back turned to Shiro as she spoke.

Shiro: [Wait, I’m confused. What does this have to do with you being curious?]

Kōkatsu then looked over her shoulder to face Shiro. Her wide smile still visible.

Kōkatsu: [Ya don’t get it? Our first trial involves strength, the next is speed, the next after that is a planned out situation, n' then we go on our own journey for the fourth one. All of these involve some proper physical n' mental testin’. On top of that, we gotta make sure all fields of our matōki are good.]

Kōkatsu then fully turned around to face Shiro.

Kōkatsu: [Before that happens though, I wanna get myself ready. I gotta get some good practice in if I wanna win.]

She then pointed towards Shiro.

Kōkatsu: [So until then…I wanna practice fightin’ with someone strong, n' who better than the child of the world’s strongest, the Illusion Girl herself?]

Shiro: [Eh…?]

Shiro had fully realized what Kōkatsu was asking.

Shiro: [EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!]

Preparing for the next trials ahead, Kōkatsu had made a declaration to Shiro.

A great sparring match between two close friends was about to begin.

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