Parcival led the way the city center wasn't much farther now. The citizens moved out of the way as they neared the building. The fire blazed higher an angry demon that reached outward setting alight the hanging sign of a two-story home, the flames darted and jumped setting aflame the edge of the roof. Groups of citizens ran to the river near the edge of the city they formed a bucket brigade, passing bamboo baskets filled with water to another and splashed the water at the flames eating the tall buildings. Realistically, it didn't do much. The man in the front of the line staggered into a willow, the buckets splashing as he stumbled over to the building.

"Arubasu! Stop hiding behind that column and grab a bucket!" Said a bald man. A lanky boy peeked from behind it and ran over to him. "Yes, otou-chan." The father and son moved over as they neared.

The fire roared into a burst of hungry flames shooting through the shoji sliding panel, gobbling it all. A wave of scorching heat almost burnt his face, he moved away.

The citizens screamed, throwing themselves to the ground while others fell back.

The oppressive smoke stung his eyes and it curled past his nose, obstructing the area.

"Han?"

A cough nearby.

More hot smoke ran over Parcival's face searing his skin and blasted his forearms where the hairs curled upturned to ash and blew off. He tilted his head back. "Eternal Goddess, extend this spell!" Help me, Goddess. Help us. This is madness. He waved both hands together in a fan then slowly pulled them apart, a sigh formed between sending forth a cold wind cooling everyone near.

He ran over and pulled away the people still close to the building. Now, where did Han go? At the entryway a loose part of the door frame swung and crashed, he jumped back from the flaming mess. Further in the inferno a ceiling beam partially blocked the way to the staircase. He squeezed through stepping over it before bounding up the stairs.

He coughed. The thick hot smoke obscured nearly everything, heat slammed on every side. This wasn't good, almost impossible to breathe. He held his breath. Pulling out the last potion almost uncorked it before tucking it away. No, not yet. Where to go? The fire ate away at the left inner panel. Jumping back he almost tripped over Han's limp body that was slumped on a burning low table. Fire danced on the fur he slapped it away. "So unlike you." The bubble wavered for a moment. "Spirits be damned. Wake up!"

Cast a wind spell? No, the fire is far too hot now. What was the use—now isn't the time. Don't panic. With quick motions he transferred him to his shoulder, then raced up the winding stairway. Hot embers bounced off his cheeks and neck. He hissed and leaped over the last three steps. Small beads of sweat formed on his forehead trickling down his nose and cheeks. The room blurred and spun.

A shadow moved in the blaze of a room ahead.

Backing off he watched for a couple of heartbeats blinking to clear the smoke before jumping in the room. A thump shook the floor. It was close. He blinked and strained trying to spot it again.

A rush of heat then rustle of flame curled up the edges of the cape and combusted, he undid the fastenings tossing it away. Dear gods! A heat wave slammed into his chest and ripped away any traces of breath. Can't stay in here much longer. He wobbled. Han fell to his knees coughing, clutching his neck.

Parcival pulled in short rapid breaths, he yanked the potion out uncorking it. He poured a fourth or so into Han's mouth before taking a good swig and put it away. A blessed chill spread into his mouth, nose and chest the smoke breathed like air. Blessed mint, helped with more then just taste. Have to hurry this won't last long. It was just a simple healing potion, it would have to be enough, not like a air potion would. The creature...

The shadow moved again. Standing took effort, but he stomped and wobbled over. "Beekaa?"

It moved closer.

The shadow became wider and taller where eyes would be, two sunken dents. It faced him its overarching ram horns cutting through the smoke.

He spun around while gripping the hot sword in his hands before shifting into a fighting stance. As the smoke cleared away its face— if it could be called that—showed for a moment before it pulled away hiding behind the smoke. Don't run. Find him. For some reason the handle kept smacking against hip as if taunting him. Must be in here, near. Waiting.

Behind something breathed heavy wet breaths on his neck. Clackclak-clack-clack of teeth, then a thick wet tongue sloped-slapped gunk there. An electric numbing began in his arms as the hairs stood on end.

Someone ahead coughed.

He burst forward willing stiff legs to move. "Stay where you are, there's something in here."

A soft furry hand touched his shoulder.

Before he could sing the sword and advance the paw dragged him down. Han pushed his face next to his.

"Don't." Han held his tail over his nose. "what's the situation?"

Good, he's not panicking. "There's a spirit or a demon, I can't tell which is hunting us." Ordinarily would just start slashing, but Beekaa and the girl were in here. "You squalid demon how you cower away unseen!" He stomped forward. They had to be this way. It hurt to breathe, but he pushed harder and continued.

"Somewhat effective human. But not good enough. Breathe in deep it'll be your last."

He shivered. The floor rumbled caving in underfoot creating a hole, the flames jumped through. He ran ahead. Han scampered around. The paw transfourmed into a clawed hand as it snaked through the smoke. Han ducked.

It spread forward arms outstretched and landed a punch on Parcivals stomach. He buckled over and wheezed. That hurt! Damn this thing.

A flash of fire reflected off it's claws, a baneful linear line aimed straight at him.

Parcival drew the sword and cut in one motion, he hit nothing but air.

In a blink it lunged toward his head, ts claws far too close to his face.

He spun deflecting it's claws. Dam, it's getting faster.

There off ahead a vague outlines of bodies.

It howled.

"Get out of my way!" He charged at it and slashed any darker shadow. the heat pressed down pulling his breath away. Refuse to die here! "Han get them out of here!" He pointed with the sword off ahead.

Han ran to the end of the room and dragged them to a broken shoji screen, he pushed a figure through and then soon after pulled second through.

I hope that was them. A clawed hand racked into his shoulder. He forced back a scream, his muscles tensed. Just a few more mins, got to give them time.

The creature's long shadow neared Han.

Hans outline faded away.

Scrape.

A moment later a dull reverberating creek, like that of the very walls, were crying out in pain. His heart pulsed with each step over. This must be a trick, there are no...

"I'm still hungry. You'll have to do."

Damn it. He backed away.

It counter moved, and slashed with each step, the Goddess's mercy hid most of its face behind the smoke.

Do something. He lept backward then forward again cutting though the smoke. Normal attacks were one thing but trying to hit a hidden and moving target was another. If only it would make a mistake.

The potion was wearing off. Sharp jabs filled his chest as the heat and smoke filled his lungs. He coughed. Out of time.

The claws grew longer, it scraped them across the back of the sword, leaving several thin groves and a chip. "I just bought this, you pigeon brained jerk!"

Parcival ground his teeth. "Don't ever touch my katana!"

The creature lashed out knocking his sword away, it spun though the far right screen. Damn all hells. Its claws grew thick and sharp, in a blur it stabbed right through his shoulder. The shoji with the hole wasn't to far away timing would have to be right.

He screamed them fell to his side clutching the wound.

The creature grinned as it knelt and pulled off its face.

No wait, it was a mask a very well made one. Though it would have been better if the figure before him had stayed a demon. "So, you found us."

Outside a familiar slow fizzy gurgling with that Olenus awful screech.

"You have an annoying ability for being able to thwart my plans." the dragon claw staff came though the broken screen, hovering beside him. "I doubt you'll tell me where where she is. With a little coaxing you might." Maxwell coughed. "First lets leave here, shall we?"

Staff in hand he pointed it and almost touched the end of Parcivals nose.

Maxwell jiggled the staff.

Not again! He shot up clenching his teeth as a wave of sering fire went up and down his sholder. Ignore it, just get out. Have to get to Merryn, now! He crashed though a pannel. He tumbled on nothing seconds ticked by, the people below motionless. Then wind rushed by with people screaming as he struck the ground.