Ghost 物語

Part 4.

Chapter 1.

The black egg cracked as Hana and Sahara stared in anticipation. Then suddenly an explosion rocked the catacomb. The dim place was now shining brightly as the sun beamed inside. There was a massive hole above the two imprisoned comrades. Standing next to the hole was a familiar teenaged boy in a gi. Kiba jumped into the hole landing inside the catacombs. "Kiba!" Hana and Sahara shouted in unison.

The black robes witches surrounded the Kiba who chuckled and said, "Inferno!"

Flames shot up in a vortex around Kiba igniting the black-clad subordinates. They screeched in pain as they burned into ash.

Kiba smirked and looked over to his friends, "Sorry, I overcooked them, guys!"

Hana couldn't help but laugh with relief. "Careful Kiba there is a named demon by the name of Impaler somewhere!"

Just as he said this a metal rod struck Kiba's face. Kiba stood strong as a cut appeared on his face.

"Purify!" Kiba held his hand up and a gold light shot out dissolved the fiend's arm. Impaler screamed, "you fucking bastard! Die!!!"

He swung a rod his good arm at Kiba who parried it with his tang handle blade.

The Demon was repeatedly swinging the rod without thinking, it reminded Kiba of the demon that killed his mother when suddenly he remembered. Kiba pulled out the skull pendant that was flashing in a mysterious way. Impaler was acting even more erratic as the flashing light caused it to scream and back away.

"You are annoying," Kiba said coldly.

"Purify!"

The same spell Kiba used earlier to take out the demon's arm now evaporated the demons head. This caused the entire body to split into tiny shadows and disappear.

Sensing no other threats Kiba ran over and freed Hana and Sahara from their Vis draining chains.

Hana hugged Kiba then kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you for saving us!"

Sahara patted Hana, "Run as far away as you can!"

Hana looked at him with concern. Sahara's face showed no joy, but intense dread as he saw the egg shell start to break apart.

Hana nodded.

"Summon undead knights," she said as two zombified knights cracked through the ground. Once they were out one carried Hana like a child out of the Catacomb as the other acted as a bodyguard.

"Ready?" Sahara smiled at his student.

"Ready!" Kiba said with a fire in his eyes.

Chapter 2

The egg split open as shadows shot out and darkened the sunlit catacomb. There was a heavy pressure and the passage began to quake.

Sahara activated the Gurodesu demon transformation. The pressure Kiba's Sensei gave off was intense but not to be outdone Kiba activated the skill "Holy Warrior."His body was wrapped in a shroud of light that was a light blue and white surged around him. On his chest, a golden sun was displayed boldly. His hair turned a light gold color and grew so long it reached his thighs. His enchanted sword transformed into a naginata. Kiba's body became more muscular and rigid. From his back, a set of golden wings made of light spread about three meters. On his head, an enchanted white helmet with a visor protected his cranium. However, it was probably more for aesthetic purposes rather than actual physical protection.

"So we both have active forms that are resistant to demon magic and skills. You actually have an advantage because demons are weak to divine magic." Sahara said as he looked at the cracking and shaking egg. After a moment or two, the entire area blacked out. Since Sahara and Kiba had skills that allowed them to see in the dark this did not phase them. In fact, they could see much better than when it was a mixture of sunlight and darkness.

Kiba and Sahara were fixated on the figure emerging from the egg. It was a thin pale female with silver hair and a blank expression on her face. Her sclera was black and her irises were mismatched. One eye had a green iris and the other eye had an amber colored iris. Thick black lines ran down her face starting at her bottom eyelids. On her pale forehead was a large red jewel that looked expertly cut into a briolette set between two horns. She had two black bands wrapped around the middle of her upper arm that looked like tattoos. She was nude but her private parts were covered in a smoke-like cloud.

"Did you summon me?" The soft voice spoke. "I would like some clothes.."

Sahara and Kiba looked at each other. This was the opposite demeanor they expected from the Princess of Demons.

"Gurodesu?" The princess looked at Sahara with a puzzled look.

Sahara glanced at Kiba…. "Um yes?"

"Hmm," the Princess looked at him emotionless.

"What are you doing here?"

"I felt your presence and rushed over!" Sahara pretended.

"Oh, so you didn't summon me? Super weird…" the princess said blankly but with a cute head tilt.

"So was it you Angel?" She pointed at Kiba.

"N-no," Kiba said waving his hands

"I see, that would also be super weird," the girl said as she put her finger to her cheek.

Kiba and Sahara were silent gazing at the Princess who looked at them.

"Say Gurodesu, why are you with an angel? And why have you not returned to the Demon Realm?"

"Ah well, we both showed up at the same time! I have yet to return because I am currently trying to subvert the human race," Sahara continued to pretend.

"I see so do you need help defeating the angel or are you just gonna let him mock me?" The princess inquired with a vacant expression

"Ah, I was waiting for you and was curious about why you were here. I thought he might have answers."

"See this is all so very strange." The witch said.

"What if you were summoned accidentally will you return to the demon realm?" Sahara asked.

"Probably but I have this shell so I will probably corrupt the hearts and minds of this land's people first," she replied as if that were obvious.

"But Princess I am doing that, if you were to get involved you would surely show up any work I have put in." Sahara was realizing that he would probably not avoid a fight.

"Hmmm I suppose you are right," the princess said shocking Sahara, "but Gurodesu… if I am not mistaken, which of course I don't make mistakes, were you not killed by the Demon Cleaner Sahara?"

Sahara broke out in a cold sweat as the Evil Princess stared deeply into Sahara's eye.

"I guess I've been seen through," muttered Sahara

"Of course," the princess gave a cute smile as she snapped her fingers.

Suddenly a black gown appeared contorting to her figure. On top of her head sat a tiara made of beautiful gems that complemented the demon orb on her forehead.

In one hand she held a curvy serpentine dagger and in the other a staff made of pit black and crooked wood. On the top between a web of crooked wood sat a purple orb. Two large bat-like wings shot out from her back. Her emotionless face was the same except for the red line patterns coming from the red gemstone and a pair of vampire fangs. Kiba was wondering why she appeared more like a vampire than a witch but it seemed that most high-level undead and demons had fangs.

"Mantra," the Princess said spoke as the staff emitted a vibration. This vibration built up until Kiba felt like his head would rattle off his shoulders. He launched himself with the naginata toward her chest but she vanished. Kiba felt the wind behind him suddenly shift which caused him to reflexively turn, but the Princess was just staring at him blankly.

"Crimson blast!" A shout came from the left of Kiba. It was his Sensei who was shooting a wall of dark red flames at the Princess. The princess yawned and disappeared. The blast shot through the ceiling causing the opening to grow even wider.

"Get to the surface we are at a huge disadvantage here!" Sahara shouted.

As he did a blade was suddenly thrusters into his lower back.

"Gotcha," Princess said with a quirk as she pulled the dagger out.

"Gaaaah," Sahara groaned as he fled above ground where Kiba was already.

"Sensei are you ok?" Kiba called out.

"Yea just a scratch," Sahara said grunting but his wound was regenerating slower than normal.

The Princess floated above the hole in the ground that leads to the catacomb.

"Absolution!" Kiba shouted as a ball of blue Vis swirled at the end of his Naginata. The ball was then sent hurtling at the Princess at incredible speeds. The Princess's eyes narrowed and carried a tinge of malice.

She struck the ball of Vis with her staff knock it far into the sky. Kiba gritted his teeth but noticed the staff the Princess was holding was breaking apart and smoking.

The first emotion that the Princess gave was anger.

"Grrr, you angel you destroyed my favorite staff I got it from one of my slaves! I bet you feel like a real jerk now!" The devil witch pouted like a little kid.

"W-what?" Kiba was puzzled so he decided to try that attack again.

As he did she shouted, "Now I'll take something of yours!"

A red beam shot out from the orb on her forehead at the speed of light blasting into the shoulder of Sahara who had just recovered. Sahara's arm fell to the ground quickly followed by the unconscious owner.

"Sensei!" Shouted Kiba as he clasped both hands together. "Healing rain!"

The familiar green cloud formed and covered the area causing a mass healing of the living creatures in the area. The Princess hissed as the divine magic seared her.

"Enough fooling around!" She yelled

"Total Darkness!"

Chapter 3

Hana who was being carried by the undead knights out of the passage and into the courtyard of the mayoral home was demanding to be put down. "I may be pregnant but that doesn't mean I need to be carried!" She shouted at the monster who looked at her with a decayed face.

"Ahhh nevermind!" She said as she turned a walked toward the manor. Suddenly an explosion shot out of the ground behind her about a kilometer away. It was the area where she had just come from. She saw Kiba fly up out of the ground with an unfamiliar glow and long hair. A few moments later she saw the major flying out as well in his Demon form. He was holding his side and panting.

That's when she saw the devil witch for the first time. A shiver ran down her back as she picked up on the very intense evil aura that the girl spewed.

She watched Kiba point a spear at the monster girl and a divine spell of sorts rocketed out.

The ball of energy was deflected and then there was a pause in the fighting. It was hard to tell but to Hana, it looked like the Devil Witch yelled something. Hana squinted as an extremely bright red laser shot out of the forehead of the girl.

"Koyo!" She shouted as she saw Sahara take a hit which severed his arm. "No… why?" She fell to her knees as she saw him fall.

She looked down defeated trying to figure out how to save her beloved. That's when a green cloud floated down around her. "Am I being healed?" She looked up and noticed a large green rain cloud. "Is this Kiba's healing spell?"

Blackness…

"W-what's going on? I cannot see!"

Chapter 4

It blacker than black, darker the dark the world around Kiba was void of any light. There was a sharp chill in the air with caused Kiba to tense up. Fortunately for him, he had an unreasonable amount of resources. "Gamma Eyes," Kiba whispered. The normal night vision was not useful in this intense darkness. Gamma Eyes is a special ability that allows Kiba's eyes to focus using extremely small non-invasive Gamma rays. He could see anything that had mass in any condition. He looked around and saw the white outline of his Sensei. He could see his insides working so he was still alive. Kiba's healing magic worked.

The way Kiba's Gamma eyes work is interesting. It is similar to viewing something in the negative but radically different. Instead of seeing black he sees extremely detailed images in shades of grey. He can see the geometric shapes of the cells that make up organic and the molecular structures of the inorganics. This means that even though he can see clearly there are still many completely black lines all around him that have no mass but take up space.

Kiba looked all around when suddenly a black shadow appeared before him. A blade came shooting out aiming for his eyes. Kiba dived out of the way swinging his Naginata at the shadow. He heard a shriek as he felt the slight resistance of a blade cutting through flesh.

The shriek turned to laughter, "ho ho you can see in this darkness?"

Kiba tried to strike again but his naginata was caught middle thrust by a shadow that looked like an arm. Eventually, as he tried to free the weapon he could see the shadow taking the shape of the Princess.

Kiba blinked and let go of the naginata allowing himself to dive to the ground. A red light flashed where he had been a few moments earlier.

"That damn orb magic," Kiba cursed.

"I'll have to use it…"

Kiba cleared his mind as he locked on to his opponent who was moving toward him. Kiba's body shifted and was in a completely different place as the devil witch struck out with her dagger. A swirling vortex began to expand outward into a sphere in absolute silence.

"Crystal Vanishing!"

Normal light flooded Kiba's Gamma eyes which he turned off. The Total Darkness Spell had broken and a large crater stood before Kiba. On the very edge of the crater, there was a form lying on the ground.

Chapter 5

Kiba fell to his knees panting due to Vis depletion. He was no longer in his Holy Warrior form but was just in his gi pants. He got to his feet and struggled over to check the body of the devil witch. He staggered over falling to his knees every few meters until he got to the mangled corpse of the witch. One whole side of her body had been evaporated and all that was left was the nude right half of her upper torso and head. The strange eyes were vacant and black blood poured out of her mouth and nose.

A realization dawned on Kiba, "where is Sensei ?" He thought in a panic.

He looked around flustered when he saw him about thirty meters away from the original hole that opened up to the catacomb. Kiba struggled but got to where his teacher was lying on the ground unconscious. His breathing was normal and his wounds had closed but his forearm did not reconnect to his upper arm. Kiba was relieved though. Just as Kiba knelt down to rest a monstrous black figure appeared behind him.

Chapter 6

Hana could see again she had been stumbling around in the darkness for several minutes when all of a sudden all the light came flooding back in. She was braced up against the wall with the two undead knights standing guard. Looking around everything seemed eerily calm to Hana.

"Smash!"

One of the undead knights was sent flying into the wall right in front of her. This caused an explosion of brick and mortar to blow out of the mayoral home. Hana covered herself as light debris struck her. When the dust settles Hana saw Kiba lying unconscious in a pile of rubble.

"Kiba!" Hana shouted as she raced over to help him out.

Chapter 7

Kiba's could not remember what was happening other than he was in a battle for survival. A battle the fate of thousands rested on. A battle the world rested on.

Kiba floated in the darkness as a word repeated in his head. Kiba did not recognize the word but it still repeated in his head. Suddenly a girl with ashen skin and emerald eyes appeared she had tears running down her cheeks. "Rubarow?" Thought Kiba as she watched say something.

"Kiba!" Was the only thing he could make out because he couldn't hear her over the sound of that word repeating in his head.

He stared closely and made out the words "no" and "don't."

"What is she talking about?" Kiba thought

She tried to grab him when…

Chapter 8

Kiba's eyes shot open as he felt the weight of a foot pressing through his abs and into his spine. Unable to breathe his straining eyes made out a shadowy demon with a large red jewel orb on the forehead and sharp teeth.

"You thought you could beat me so easily!" The monster screamed effeminately. "I am the heir to the throne of evil! The Princess of Demons! The Devil King's daughter! I am the Royal Princess Devil Witch Lemuria. Kiba looked vacantly at the now grotesque entity before him as blood ran out of his mouth he managed to say that word that repeated in his head.

"Martyr!"

Chapter 9

An outline of some divine figure appeared before Kiba. It stared down on him with compassion. "How can I tell when it has no face?"

It held a glowing javelin made of pure Vis. The deity plunged the tool straight into Kiba's heart. With a gasp, Kiba breathed in one last time. His vision blurred as he heard the Princess screaming in fear and denial.

The pendent shattered and everything went black.

Chapter 10

Hana sunk down to the ground as she watched an angel come down from the sky and stab Kiba through his chest. She stared in awe as the unstoppable demon witch was crying in fear as the angel produced a Metatron Cube. It hurt Hana's eyes so she averted her gaze.

"Nooooaaaooooaaaaoooo!" She heard as a pulsing light vacuumed Princess Lemuria into the cube.

As quickly as it started it was over. The angel was gone. Hana watched as the souls the witches stole to create that monster was freed. Hana looked up as she realized her clothes were wet in the nether regions. "Oh, no is it time already?!?!" She calmed down realizing she had just lost control due to panic.

"Kiba!" She rushed over to the already cold body.

Realizing that Kiba was no more Hana fell into denial.

"No, come on Kiba! Wake up!" She shook his body but nothing happened.

"Why is my face wet?" thought Hana wiping away her tears. "He isn't dead he is just sleeping! Yes, he used up his vis! I'll heal his wounds that will help!"

Hana was healing the wound crying because there was a hole where Kiba's heart was supposed to be.

"T-this is fine. Big sister can help!" Hana laughed nervously. "C'mon Kiba… wake up, you have some trick up your sleeve!" She stared at the lifeless body in disbelief.

"That fucking witch!" She screamed clutching her head. "I- I can't see…" she rubbed her overflowing eyes.

"Why? Isn't there something I can do?" Hana said her voice quivering.

A hand rested on her shoulder. She immediately recognized the touch, but she didn't look up.

"You can do something, can't you? Major? You can save Kiba right?"

"No," the man voice was rasp and slightly emotional.

"Don't lie I won't forgive you! This is your fault….. this is all your fault I lost another brother!" Hana jerked away and falling back staring at the Major who had tears in his eyes.

"Yes, it's all my fault…"

Chapter 11

Kiba Yūrei sat in the living area of a rustic manor hidden away in the mountains. He was peering through a closed glass door. The door leads to a beautifully carved balcony that presented a luscious view of the snow-capped peaks. Kiba's face was pressed against the glass watching a furry creature bound around collecting nuts. A youthful-looking woman in her mid to late thirties came into the room and watched the boy. She wore a white robe.

"Hello son, I am so proud of you!" She said as she held her hands.

Kiba looked up with tears in his eyes, "M-mother?"

"Yes, it's me Honoka, your mother. I have been watching you. I didn't realize had had such a brave….."

Before she could finish Honoka was wrapped in a tight embrace by Kiba.

She wrapped her arms around him and rubbed the back of his head.

"Ahhh you have gotten so much bigger!"

She was crying as was Kiba who buried himself into her soft shoulder.

Kiba heard a commotion from another room…. it was two infants playing one had elfin features and the other had wolfman features. "Who are they?" Kiba asked confused. Honoka smiled and said, "they are a couple of infants that got lost, and I decided to take care of during my stay here."

"Wow, mother you are just as considerate as ever. You know those babies remind me of my friends!"

Suddenly another commotion came from the kitchen…. it was Kiba's father!

"Father, what are you doing here?"

"Hey, I lived here!" The man in a white robe joked at his son.

"B-but you are alive! Is this not the afterlife?" Kiba asked puzzled.

"It is!" The father said with a joyful expression. "I died a month after I left you guys. It's fairly disappointing compared to your death so I didn't want to disrupt your training."

"What?" Kiba was confused. "How did you die?"

"It turns out I am allergic to bees, and I accidentally knocked a hive down when I started my mission to defeat Lemuria."

Kiba's father rubbed his head embarrassed.

Kiba sighed, "It doesn't matter you are my dad. Even if you die an embarrassing death for a Hero. I'll still respect you!"

Kiba watched as his father wiped the tears from his eyes.

"My Honoka this boy is too good for us!" He cried out.

"Speak for yourself!" Kiba's mother joked as she put her hand on her hips triumphant that Kiba was her natural offspring.

Kiba felt really happy but he felt like he was forgetting something.

"Hey, Kiba I almost forgot. Come with me!" Kiba's father was grinning from ear to ear.

Chapter 12

Kiba walked with his father to the front door. "Someone has been trying to get in touch with you!" Kiba's father said as he opened the door.

There in front of Kiba was a beautiful girl about his age wearing a familiar white robe. She had brown hair that was extremely long and smiled as she saw Kiba. There were tears filling her emerald green eyes.

"Rubarow!"

"Kiba!"

They both shouted at the same time. The father smiled as he went back inside the house. "I'll leave them be."

Chapter 13

"You idiot! Why did you use that spell?"

Kiba was surprised by the emotional Rubarow who was hammering his chest with her fists and sobbing.

Kiba hugged Rubarow as tight as he could.

"I am sorry,"

"Stupid!" She whispered as she felt Kiba press her into his chest.

Kiba laughed, "I really am, I didn't know what Martyr meant."

Rubarow sniffed and pulled away, "why are you not upset? You know your dead now."

"I don't know if dying to save Sensei and Hana is what happened then it was worth it. I suppose." Kiba grinned and held on to Rubarow's left hand. He clasped it and brought it close to his heart. "Also I got to see mother and father again." Rubarow's moist eyes glistened. "Plus if dying means I can still protect you then…"

Kiba's words were cut short because a pair of lips pressed tightly against own. Kiba's eyes went wide as he watched the once forever alone girl kiss him with closed eyes.

Kiba closed his eyes and accepted his first kiss.

Epilogue

Kiba and Rubarow were walking hand in hand as they passed through a familiar divine barrier. The large Yami tree stood tall and imposing. There was a sign that said, "Sahara Residence" under the "Edelweiss" sign. Kiba and Rubarow were ghosts that had moved onto the next plane, so they could go anywhere they pleased without obstructions. This is because they can no longer interact with the living plane. Rubarow held Kiba's hand to her chest as she saw Sahara and Hana resting on a couch. Hana was leaning on the sleeping Sensei who was missing one of his forearms. The nub was resting on Hana swollen breast. Hana wasn't bothered because her attention was focused on the creature in her arms. A baby was all wrapped up a blanket his face had an expression of joy and the mother was making funny faces. She stopped suddenly and looked around the room as if someone was watching her.

Kiba had tears running down his cheeks as he heard his big sister speak, "Kiba if you are out there, this little one was named after the person who saved us all."

She stood up as held the baby up toward the vacant area where Kiba and Rubarow were standing. "Kiba Yūrei Sahara, say hello to my brother!"