4 The Trial that Faced Us

The four exited the lair, Sakon aiding his brother's gait. They waded through the pond, their eyes widening as they drew closer to the bank. The wind sent blossoms around in a violent dance.

"Didn't you say you had left Pride's body here?" Tojiro asked.

Namikasha strained as he spoke, "We did." Pride was nowhere in sight.

"There."

The four men were now standing on the bank. Like a mighty fortress, it stood. The light of the midday sun shooting off its damaged armor. Within one grip its blade, the other held the spear used to inflict its own mortal wound. From within its helmet the bright purple of its eyes gleamed with ferocity. The dragon's mouth opening, a mist of steam pouring out. The demon of pride stood tall and strong. Its presence ominous.

"Enough of this!" Saito shouted, drawing his blade quickly. Tojiro drew the blade of wrath as he and Saito charged Pride. Pride lowered into a strong stance, holding both weapons at the ready. Saito dashed forward, meeting Pride's blade with his own. Tojiro skidded to a halt beside Saito, holding up his blade as Okita's spear whipped towards him. Tojiro felt the concussion of the blow throughout his body as his back was forced against Saito. The two swordsmen glanced back at one another, they couldn't move.

"Sakon!" Namikasha shouted. His brother immediately dropping him to his knees, dashing to the aid of their allies. A swift cry rose up as Darkness cut through the air. Sakon dashed toward Pride, the demon disengaged the two swordsman as it dashed backwards.

Sakon flew past his comrades, he appeared before Pride as the demon planted its feet. Sakon watched the spear swing high towards his face. Pride's blade looping towards his feet. Sakon tapped his feet off the ground, flipping sideways. Turning his head along with his torso as he dodged the attacks. His momentum transferring to Darkness, the blade swinging down in a vicious strike.

The blow struck down along Pride's chest. Sakon brought his blade up as he defended a counter attack. He backed away on light feet. He and the demon squared off. Saito and Tojiro ran to Sakon's side, the two taking stances as they anticipated what would happen next.

Namikasha watched in earnest, his hand resting atop Eclipse. He had cut clean through the monster's neck, and yet there it stood. A pit formed in his stomach, something was wrong.

His eyes widened as he sensed an immense spirit from within Pride's hollow shell. "Sakon!" Namikasha shouted as he struggled to his feet.

Sakon glanced back as his brother began to run towards him. "You idiot, what are you doing?!" Sakon shouted as he turned to face his brother. Namikasha coughed blood as he drew Eclipse.

"Get away from Pride!" Namikasha screamed. But it was too late.

Pride raised its head as its jaws opened wide, it released an extraneous cry. The ground shook as the men felt their ears rupture. Sakon turned to look at Pride as his eyes widened, he finally felt terror. The demon dashed forward like a rocket, an explosion sounding as it went. The ground caving in its wake.

Pride appeared before Saito, who stared at it with widened eyes. Saito clenched his teeth as he brought his blade into a guard. The demon swiped its blade upwards as Saito was thrown into the air.

Tojiro faced Pride as it exploded towards him. The young man dodged a strike from the spear as Sakon dashed towards them. Tojiro threw himself backwards away from the demon. Sakon held Darkness high within both his hands, glaring down at Pride. The demon brought its blade back towards Sakon, who stared down with widened eyes. "Sakon!" Namikasha shouted as he pushed off the ground, feeling his wound tear open as blood flowed from his mouth.

The Demon pivoted on its heels, bringing its blade into a vicious stab. The blade tore through skin and bones, sending blood spraying over Sakon's face. He sat on the ground as he stared at Namikasha. The older kishin had thrown his brother out of the way. The Demon's blade was embedded in his chest, protruding out his back. He held Eclipse out as far he could, the blades tip just barely reaching Pride's face. Eyes glaring spitefully at his foe.

Namikasha coughed a large pool of blood. He grabbed the demon's blade with a firm grip. "Now! Slay the beast!" The kishin shouted as he felt every muscle in his body straining. Namikasha glanced over at his brother, approaching with eyes of rage.

Namikasha tossed Eclipse to his brother. Upon receiving the blade Sakon moved forward with the ferocity of a lightning dragon. Pride released its grip on its blade as Namikasha fell to the ground. The demon brought its spear around wide, dashing to meet Sakon. Sakon brought both blades forward in a cross as he dashed off the ground, flying towards Pride with the speed of a hawk in flight. His helmet shot off his head as he did so.

Pride jabbed with his spear. Sakon turned his hips as he twirled both blades downwards, slicing the spear into pieces. Pivoting his body, Sakon brought both blades carving into Pride's chest. Before the demon could react, Sakon had spun around twice. Bringing his blades in a fury of slashes, sending Pride's arms soaring towards the sky as they were severed. Sakon spun around the demon as it fell forward. "On your knees!" He shouted, stabbing a blade into each of the demon's legs.

Pride turned to look up at Sakon, who glared back towards him. Sakon looked back at his brother, Saito and Tojiro were knelt before him. As Sakon passed the demon he struck it across the face with the back of his hand, Pride crashed to the ground.

Sakon knelt before his brother. Saito and Tojiro gave them space, each swordsman watching the brothers. The grey of Sakon's eyes reflected from within the blue of Namikasha's. The two seemed to read one another's thoughts as Namikasha's life slowly faded. In unison they reached their right arms out, placing it on the other's shoulder. "Slaying a group of demons, a fitting way for a kishin to meet his end." Sakon stated, a tear running from his eye.

"That's right." Namikasha replied. The two stayed in silent lament as they stared at one another, reminiscing the cruel life they had faced together. "Live on." Namikasha commanded, placing a hand on his brother's cheek as he shook it. "Live well." He finished as he felt his lifeforce slip.

"Yes, brother." Sakon replied softly. His eyes shut, his hand atop Namikasha's. Namikasha's head slumped back gently, his hand went limp. Sakon gripped Pride's blade with his free hand, withdrawing it from his brother's corpse. He set the blade aside, folding his brothers hands over his chest.

Glancing back he saw the demon, wriggling on the ground. Sakon took Pride's blade into both hands as he and his two comrades moved forward. The three men's faces stark with anger and fury before the being that had taken so much from each. Sakon kicked Pride's face, bringing the demon up onto its knees. He placed a foot onto its shoulder heavily as he drew near its face. "I want you to know that it doesn't end here, I will completely destroy your kind." Sakon growled as he drew back, stabbing Pride in its chest. The demon's jaws opened, letting out a painful scream.

"Good! Know the terror of death you had dealt so carelessly!" Sakon shouted as he stepped back and turned his waist. His eyes wide and furious as he brought Pride's blade around wide, cleaving the demon's body in half. The light in Pride's helmet finally died, its armor turning to ash slowly afterwards.

Sakon looked at his comrades. Saito stared at the ground, his gaze distant. Tojiro stepped beside Sakon. "With this we are the last of our lines." Tojiro stated.

"Yes, this old man will be the last Teskanda." Saito added, his voice near a whisper.

"No." Sakon started. The two looked at him. "Tojiro, we may not be brothers through blood, yet now I consider you a Setaki." Sakon said. "Take the name as your own and wear it as a proud symbol." He continued, as the two men placed their hands on one another's shoulders. "Our quest is not yet done, we have to honor our fallen brothers and the innocent souls." Sakon spoke, he then turned to Saito. "Come with us." Sakon said as he and the silver swordsman locked eyes. Saito could see something from within Sakon, for some reason he felt that he could follow this young man.

"I am with you, kishin." Saito replied.

"Now we are all kishin. Come." Sakon spoke as the three walked back towards the cavern across the pond…

Sakon's eyes narrowed as he and his comrades assessed the interior of Pride's lair. The Setaki's eyes fell upon Pride's sigil, he felt an otherworldly presence from it, quite different from the other two banners. Sakon moved forward, kicking the blade stand aside. He gripped the edge of the enormous banner as he tugged it down.

As it fluttered to the ground, the three men looked upon a large gate way. Its border the crimson of blood. The center a swirling dark void. "Where does this lead?" Saito questioned.

Sakon looked at each companion. "Wherever it does, the demons came from there. We will find their master within." He stated with fury, the two men nodded in reply.

"Let me take the lead." Tojiro offered, immediately starting forward. His comrades followed closely as they entered the gate.

As they exited they stood upon a barren field, expanding infinitely towards an unseen horizon. The sky was a bloody red. Crows circled above head, gawking and taunting the three outsiders. The presence around them was dark and terrifying. They heard the ring of a small bell.

Turning the three men were met by a large pile of skeletons. Atop it sat a cloaked figure, seeming to gaze lazily at the men from within its dark hood. "Who are you?" Sakon asked, the three men gripping their blades.

"Who am I? I am Death." The figure replied…