The Oni Slayers: Chapter 20

“We can’t leave him here alone,” announced Saiyou. “He’s going to break out of those Fetters of Shadow sooner or later.” Still bound by the shadows, Ryuu shot threatening glares at his captors. “I still vote that we should keep him under watch,” said Saiyou. “You’re better off killing me,” Ryuu said spitefully. “Who knows what can happen once I run loose.” Takuya spoke up. “Shouldn’t we heal him?” He pointed at Ryuu’s wounds. “They look like they need tending.” “Human, you are the weakest out of all of them. Shouldn’t you worry more about yourself? I’m surprised you rather assist me,” chided Ryuu. “ Out of all, you are most afraid.” It was as if the green haired oni had seen through Takuya. “Yes. I am afraid,” admitted Takuya. “But I cannot always run. I am tired of running.” “Is that why did you join them?” scoffed Ryuu. “You are dangling your pitiful life on a delicate strand of thread.” “I joined because Digger killed someone I loved. I wanted to help other people who suffer from oni. Unlike you, I don’t serve a master who treats me like crap,” Takuya retorted bravely.

For the first time, Takuya heard Ryuu chuckle. Bitterly the oni continued. “What do you understand about Lord Digger? About honor.” “What is honor to you, Ryuu? Is it to kill everyone because someone told you so? That sounds like being a mindless machine,” Takuya contended. “To be able to amass so many under his rule, enough to establish the rule over the eastern empire, is that not a terribly great feat? The amount of raw fear Lord Digger to instill in all of us, the honor to be able to serve under such a powerful lord ...” said Ryuu proudly. “A powerful lord? He is weak. He could not conquer the hearts of all the oni. He merely instilled fear,” Takuya argued. “He put strong oni like you to protect him for the fear that those below him will revolt. He is the true coward.” Ryuu leapt at these words. “You do not insult my lord. You are lucky these chains bind me,” said Ryuu through clenched teeth.

Saiyou shook his head hopelessly at Ryuu. Tsuku marched forward to talk only to feel a tug at his shirt. He turned to see that Shimura had motioned him to refrain from butting in. “I don’t even know how I should break it to you,” said Takuya now exasperated. “Your master is dead. Killed by my friend. I would expect you to fear us for a change.” “You trust your friends so well even as much as to invite that traitor to join you,” sneered Ryuu. “I was confused earlier, but now I see why your friend is so strong. It’s because he’s half demon.” Takuya was amazed at Ryuu’s deduction. “Which makes me wonder even more. You are afraid of oni, yet you are willing to work with a half-breed. One day his blood will betray all of you,” he warned. “You are the pitiful one,” said Takuya. “We have trust in each other. Even Tsuku, the one you call traitor, still holds to the bond you both once had.” He could tell Ryuu was getting tired of this conversation. It was getting them nowhere. “Digger only wanted to be surrounded power. If you hadn’t died sooner, he would have been glad one less opponent existed.”

Takuya turned to join his friends. He was drained from trying to make a convincing argument with a stubborn demon. “I’m beat,” complained Takuya. “I thought positive thoughts could infect people.” “At least you tried,” complimented Shimura. “I was rooting for you, buddy.” “I think I’ll change mind and kill that fucker instead,” added Saiyou. “No offense Tsuku since he’s your friend and all that, but we have some bad blood.” “No offense taken,” said Tsuku calmly. “I was ready to lop off his head if I had to.” Saiyou walked to Ryuu for a final talk.

“Since you revere your master so much, you can join him in hell, but by popular vote, they want to keep you alive so I’ll strike you a deal. You can continue his so called legacy by killing demons, the only thing you excel at apparently,” mocked Saiyou. “And your restricting catch?” Ryuu taunted back. “You get to kill who we want to kill. Simple as that,” answered Saiyou. “You’re using me,” Ryuu said flatly. “Well I can’t have you killing human beings,” said Saiyou. “I’m not giving you more time to think this over.” “Let me speak with the boy.” “Really? Out of all people you pick him?”

Saiyou motioned for Takuya to come. Startled by the request, Takuya pointed at himself. His mentor made a rapid hand sign calling him to join them. “He wants to talk to you.” The dubious young man strutted forward to the captive. “You said you wanted to talk to me.” “You mentioned about someone you loved,” said Ryuu. “Someone who died because of my lord.” “Saiyou told me Digger was involved. Right?” Takuya confirmed with Saiyou. “That’s right. He was involved, but we don’t know how,” said the mentor. “About five months ago, our lord planned to enter the human world. By a contract that was made, a portal was prepared, but things went awry on that day. The portal was rejecting passage and distorted the energy between the two worlds. The humans near the summoning ring that day died and anyone who came near also perished. It was then that we realized that the human world had a strong barrier designed to separate us,” elucidated the oni. “Any high level oni would be unable to pass through portal unless the summoners provided powerful enough spells. Only the weaker lot were able to escape through the net.”

Takuya recollected to the day at Yamamoto Square. The loud banging of multiple explosions filled his brain. He could feel the quaking ground once more and his quivering heart that narrowly escaped the attack. Three months ago on a New Year’s day felt like yesterday. All these five months’ worth of oni attacks finally clicked together, Tsukino’s death, the appearance of stronger oni as time passed, the myriad of butchered human corpses, and the existence of a man named Kurogami Makoto. Ryuu watched the range of emotions unfold on Takuya’s face knowing that he finally unraveled the mystery. “You have gotten your revenge. What are you going to do now?” asked Ryuu. “I am going to continue my work just as you want to continue you yours. I stand by the human race while you stand by yours,” answered Takuya with tenacity. Ryuu could see that his eyes were no longer clouded by fear. “I accept the offer with certain conditions.”

Everyone’s ears perked at the sound of Ryuu’s approval. The headstrong demon had finally yielded to Team Human. “I can assist you, but I am not bound to you,” Ryuu said emphatically. “You do know that you are our prisoner,” stressed Saiyou. “I keep my word by not laying a single hand on the humans. I can terminate any demon you wish with no exception. But you must uphold your end of the bargain,” said the oni. The party held their breath awaiting his response. “First, I am not bound to you. I am merely honoring the contract between us. Second, bring me to the human world. I want to see for myself what kind of alluring things drew the demons into frenzy.

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