"Problematic Affair" (017)

- Hawai'i, Wednesday 3:20 pm -

Chifumi remained motionless, making decisions.

"Allow her to leave. Your exorcism has nothing to do with her. She's just another 'Spiritual Duelist,' free of any Demons, so either you let her go or you'll pay the price!" Chifumi immediately raised her hand and thrust the sword forward.

"Do you honestly believe I'll let her go after I've completely armed you with a blade? I'm not going to let you exorcise me unless you leave the girl alone. So, choose! Either she dies or she leaves me alone. Only then will I allow the girl to flee."

Chifumi remained motionless, unable to act. "Damn... Fine, I'll leave you alone. Let go of the girl now." Chifumi raised both arms and made the blade vanish. "I'm disarmed, now let her go."

"Oh? And you expect me to put my faith in you so quickly? I'm sure as soon as I let her go, you'll bring out the sword and wield it against me, exorcising me."

"I'm not a liar. Now that I've set my intentions, I'll let her go."

"Tsch... Fine," Tessai eventually let go of Ayuka and pushed her forward, right in front of Chifumi, who was hardly containing her rage and irritation.

However, Tessai was taken off guard when a yellow bolt flashed to the side of his left cheek. Elliot's sole smashed into Tessai's face and pounded him to the side, knocking him over and even disarming him by force.

"Finish the exorcism as soon as possible!" Chifumi reacted quickly, disappearing from the scene with lightning and appearing just over Tessai, summoning six cards that began to float over him.

"No! I believed every single word you said! You will be held accountable!" Tessai lunged for the blade, but Chifumi slipped her right arm into the middle of the six-card sign, causing a blue symbol to appear beneath Tessai, who stood up and swung his blade.

"I'm going to hell!" However, the blue symbol flashed brightly with disappointment, and the area around him quickly turned black, with Chifumi's blue eyes gleaming in the darkness.

"Damn it!" Soon after, the symbol issued blue trails and absorbed Tessai's body, when a black face of shadow appeared, screaming and exploding into darkness, leaving Tessai's body laying on the floor, as if dead.

The sign and the cards vanished like a flash, and Chifumi appeared in front of the dead body.

"Has it been completed?" Ayuka wondered as she stood up, cradling her neck.

"I'm hoping..." When Chifumi inhaled and then exhaled, Elliot added, holding his right hip. "Yes, it has been completed. The 'Evil Spirits' should not possess him." Chifumi shifted her gaze to Ayuka and Elliot, quickly becoming uneasy.

"It took you a long time to become involved, Elliot!" While his eyes flinched, Ayuka put the straw back in his mouth and continued to drink the lemonade without comment.

Ayuka walked over to Tim and placed her hand on his brow, kneeling on one leg and resting her arm on the bent leg.

As a result of viewing this, Chifumi took a step to the side, one arm on her hip. "He'll be all right... He's just dozing off."

"Since you appear to know a lot about this, how long will he stay like that?" Ayuka inquired, exchanging glances with Chifumi. "As long as I handle his weapon."

"So. Now that no one is interfering, I'm free to do what I want. Chifumi, what are your thoughts? Do you want to go out?" Elliot smiled boldly as he leaned against her left shoulder.

"Are you aware that I am, technically Tim himself? It would be the same as going out with him." Elliot gradually let go as a result of those statements. "Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not so sure. I believe I will decline." Embarrassed, he shifted to the side.

"So, uh, Chifumi? Do you believe you can wake up Tim by returning to the blade?" Elliot, who was standing still with his arms crossed to the side, interrogating Chifumi.

However, just silence remained. "Hello! Earth to Chifumi? Could you please return to his blade?" Elliot, questioned again, irritated, as he turned to face her.

"..."

"Yo! Don't ignore me! I'm sure you can hear me, so don't be a jerk and respond!"

"..."

"I see what you're saying... Okay, let's see what we've got here. Please, Chifumi, return to that ugly-ass sword and wake up Tim."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Okay! I'd had it with this quiet nonsense! I swear if you don't speak up right now, I'll contact the cops to report you for illegal activities!"

"What exactly is that unlawful activity?" She inquired.

"So you want to chat now? I'm referring to you putting Tim to sleep! Now, get that stupid blade back into your hands!"

Chifumi took a step back and declined. "No..."

"Haaa? What exactly do you mean by 'no'?! I'm ordering you to get in that blasted sword again! If you tamper with me, things are going to become nasty! Who knows, I might wind up literally killing you." Elliot exclaimed, obliviously screaming behind Chifumi.

"Tim will die as well if you do that. And don't expect me to comply with a pervert's desires, so back off." Chifumi gracefully ignored Elliot and walked away with solemnity, only to be halted by Ayuka.

"Chifumi, please. I'm sure you have a good reason for not wanting to do it. However, it would be courteous of you to do so." Ayuka spoke up and sighed as she finished her sentence.

"True, I have justifications. But I'm not returning to that strange dimension. As I previously stated, many people die after obtaining that blade, and I had hoped that your friend would be an exception, but it appears that he was just another useless doll to employ. I'm going my own way, so he can sleep."

"Ugh! You're a thorn in my side! Due to his emotional state, you most likely broke through his mentality! Return in the blade, or at the very least do something else to jolt him awake!" Elliot screamed, pointing directly at Chifumi.

"There's no way out of this but for me to return in that blade. Of course, I'm not going to do that."

"I rescued your fat ass and helped you in sealing that damn Devil, whatever it was! You could repay the courtesy by carrying out your responsibilities!"

"My ass has nothing to do with you, so get out of the way before things get out of hand." Despite the threat, Elliot did not take a step to the side.

"Let's make a bargain, shall we? Let's duel, and if I win, you're going to have to put your ass back into that sword, got it?" Elliot yelled, still bossing her around. "I'm not a toy or a pet in any way. Get your own 'Spiritual Exorcist' if you wish to command someone."

"Wait. Hah! Now I know what your secret is! You just said I should have my own 'Spiritual Exorcist'! That is to say, the commands from Tim will compel you to return in that blade! Am I correct, or am I correct?"

When Chifumi responded, Elliot began to act clever and tough. "And how do you intend to get your wonderful companion to speak in such a state?" Elliot's face flushed with embarrassment as his gaze feasted on Tim's crumpled body.

"Prick..." Elliot said, glancing away before Chifumi spoke. "Perhaps study grammar and the meaning of THAT word."

"I'll get going now if we're done here," Elliot yelled out as Chifumi walked past him. "Hey! You chose to ignore my challenge! Yo! Wait a minute, don't run away, you jackass!"

When Elliot tried to run after Chifumi, she ignored everyone else, but luckily, Ayuka stopped him.

And then, out of nowhere, someone appeared in front of Chifumi, staring them down.

"Another stranger attempting to re-enact my re-engagement. So, what's next?" Chifumi interrogated, one arm resting on her hip.

"I've had my fill of it. I believe it is time for you to reclaim your blade. You're messing about, and one of my buddies is among them, so here's a smaller caution." The female in front of Chifumi put her right hand on her hip.

"If you don't return in that sword, you'll have to cope with the implications of possible injuries." The girl was well-known, and the others immediately figured out who she was.

"Man! Kylin, you arrived just in time; we're delighted we found you!" With a wave, Ayuka chuckled.

"It sounds like I was being chased, or rather, looked for. Anyway, I arrived here the minute I heard several high 'Spiritual Symbolisms' pulses and sensations. To be honest, you were the last people I expected to see." Kylin spoke out, her face a little different than normal.

"I get what you mean. You're the woman they've been looking for. He appears to be your older brother. But don't worry, I exorcised the Evil Spirits from him." Chifumi asserted her ambition.

"That is, without a doubt, my brother. And I'm grateful for the gratitude as well as the cleansing of the Evil Spirit from him. Though it's hard for me to realize that another member of my family has lived all these years. Anyway, I wish I could see him right now, but you're messing with my pals, and that's the top priority right now."

"Isn't it true that family comes first? So, what's the big deal? Why would you rather take advantage of your emotions than prioritize your friends?" Chifumi was perplexed, unable to comprehend.

"My younger brother. I wish I cared about him and had strong feelings for him. But there's no denying it after what he'd done. He is no longer a top focus here. Besides, the tradition that I was expected to carry on had fallen by the wayside. Let's get down to business."

"I WANT you, to back yourself into the blade; I'm not here for jokes and fun; I'm not here until you put your lazy bum to work and do what I say."

Kylin raised her sword and pointed the hilt squarely in front of Chifumi's neck the second he said so. "I imagine you don't know about the curse that exists between a 'Spiritual Exorcist' like myself and a 'Spiritual Duelist' like Tim, murdering me is the worst option you could choose."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to murder you. Isn't that, however, a terrific technique to keep someone still? A single action could endanger you, and I'm sure you don't want that to happen. Tim, I'm sure, wouldn't be too concerned about small injuries." But then another person appeared behind Kylin and pressed another hilt against her back, exchanging glances.

"You should stay away from her with that blade. It's a complete blunder." A girl in a blue and white jacket and a black short skirt, with short silver hair, appeared to be trying to keep the situation afloat.

"..."

"..."

"And who are you?" Kylin inquired, leaning her left pupil back to see who it was.

"That isn't one of your businesses right now. Let go of the weapon."

A pair came racing up behind everyone else at the same time.

"What the hell is going on around here?" Iva and Codey appeared, both staring at the situation.

Ayuka was holding Elliot back, Tim was sleeping on the floor, Tessai was unconscious, Kylin appeared to have her hilt frozen in front of Chifumi's neck, and another female appeared to be holding the scene together.

"Look at this. Another group of people flaunted their asses. Let me assume, these people's other buddies, they're dull." The mysterious girl claimed to have Demon Blood, but Codey soon sensed it.

"Another Half-Demon! Demons were not something I expected to see in this location." When the girl stared at him, Codey stated.

"I'd say the same thing about you. What the Hell brought you here, anyway? I was meant to be the only Half-Demon alive in this period. Don't tell me it was because of that crazy flare." She wondered.

"Yes, that was; now, may we finally end this dreadful situation? Everyone is come to assassinate each other!" Codey screamed angrily.

"It's not because of me. This started with your pals, who kept me occupied." Chifumi added, staring Kylin in the eyes.

"So, maybe explain why Tim and that man are on the floor; I'd really appreciate it if you could offer me numerous explanations."

Kylin took a step forward, but the mysterious girl's sword closed in on her as soon as she did.

"Isn't it obvious that you shouldn't move?" Kylin, on the other hand, sighed as soon as she came to a halt.

"Come on! Stop being such knuckleheads! Is there any way we can put an end to this fight? We're not making any progress! Isn't it true that no one here is intended to be evil?! Iva pondered, her eyes squiggly on them.

"All I'm trying to do is keep this issue under control. If you don't like it, don't make it any worse." The short-haired girl asserted herself.

"But she is correct! All of this trouble is unnecessary! There are only a few minimal criteria; all we need is a discourse." Ayuka grabbed Elliot and pushed him to the side.

"I'm just going about my business," Chifumi added, sighing.

"Isn't it your responsibility to empower Tim's blade or anything along those lines? All of this occurred as a result of your saltiness and complaints!" Elliot screamed as he was repeatedly halted.

"I don't get it at all. Everyone is in the most uncomfortable positions; we have to find a method to reverse this or we'll be stuck here for days!" Codey sighed and scratched the top of his head.

"Everything would be over if this girl would only return to the blade, but no. She's staying out and exacerbating the problem." Kylin added, her eyes tensing.

"We're not making any progress... Ugh!" Iva grabbed her brow and said,

"All right, that's enough." Two men took a step to the side, shocking almost everyone.

"Shin?! What the hell is going on?! You were also caught in the Flare?!" Looking at him, Codey gulped.

"Yes, it is right; prior to this incident, I was working on extra projects at the workplace."

"Mr. Arthur? The hell's going on? Why are you hanging around with that guy?" Standing still, I questioned the girl.

"Now, now, now. Put the blade down, Alpha; I understand there is no class today, but there is no need to cause a ruckus; besides, I am astonished you were able to sneak out via the portal."

Alpha was irritated but sighed and eventually shifted her weapon aside.

"Arthur? I'm not sure what you're talking about." Codey stated as he looked at him. "Arthur is a high school teacher at 'Talent Maestro High School.' I contacted him shortly after the flare occurred, and he briefed me on everything I needed to know." Shin spoke with his arms crossed and a frigid expression on his face.

"And, from today, you will be a part of this school, so let's get started. Drop the weapon and follow us, Kylin." Kylin lowered the blade and stepped to the side as Shin commanded with zeal.

"And Chifumi, if you can come with us, it would be great."

"What do you mean?" Codey and everyone else in his universe appeared to be thrust into an extremely unusual predicament, and they lacked understanding.

To be continued...