RYUKEN: W- what's going on?

MIE: ... there's a Demon.

RYUKEN: A- a Demon?! How did you-

MIE: The ringing.

RYUKEN: The- the ringing?

MIE: It wasn't strong, but I have a feeling it's close.

RYUKEN: Shou- should we call the others?

MIE: Kenzaki-kun and the rest are at Central right now, and phones are useless there. So...

Mie takes a moment to think of what to do.

RYUKEN: ...

MIE: I- I think I could handle it.

RYUKEN: Huh?

MIE: It- it's probably just a couple of lost Level 1's. I'll get rid of them as soon as I spot them.

RYUKEN: Are- are you sure?

MIE: (smiles nervously) N- no worries! I'm an Exorcist after all. Time to do what I gotta do!

Mie cracks a bright, comforting smile at Ryuken, hoping not to worry him.

MIE: You- you should probably go back to your uncle.

RYUKEN: Ah, r- right...

MIE: ... alright.

Mie slowly and anxiously marches away to the-

RYUKEN: Sawai-san!

MIE: Ah! Yes?

RYUKEN: ... be careful.

MIE: Ah... r- right. You too, Ishinara-san.

Ryuken nods and walks away to find Yuugi.

Mie, with a little faith in herself, dashes towards the exit with a steady yet doubtful look across her face.

MIE: (sweats) ... maybe more than just a couple.

Ryuken arrives at the magazines' section but Yuugi is nowhere to be found.

RYUKEN: ... Uncle Yuugi?

No answer.

RYUKEN: Uncle Yuugi!

...

Mie quickly runs out of the book store to the crowded outdoor plaza.

She frantically shuffles through the walking crowd, trying to catch any odd sightings.

As she goes further and further into the middle of the plaza, Sora and Aki step out of the book store looking flustered.

SORA: Wh- where-

Sora wildly looks all around her for any sight of Mie.

SORA: Where did she go?!

AKI: W- was it that way, or-

SORA: Why did she run out?!

AKI: M- maybe she-

SORA: I can't find her!

AKI: She- she can't be that far-

Sora's eyes suddenly fizzes with anger.

SORA: What did that boy say to her...

Aki sweats nervously, scared of seeing Sora mad for the first time.

AKI: M- m- maybe she just went to the toilet? We- we- we should just wait here and-

Sora clenches her fist and speaks in a deep, dark tone.

SORA: I'll make sure he pays for what he did...

AKI: (sweats) Uh... m- m- maybe it's that time of the month, don't- don't you think?

...

Carelessly walking among the noisy crowd, Mie struggles to find any leads with nothing but her five senses.

MIE: (sweats) Hmm... if only Kenzaki-kun was he-

kikikiki-

MIE: Ah!

She turns to where the sharp squeak was before it faded away.

MIE: ... was that-

kikikikikiki-

She turns to the sound again but still couldn't catch up before it disappears.

She tries to find the squeaky noise again, but in Senko Street-

MIE: ... hmm...

-everywhere is noise.

The sound of feet walking.

The voices of people talking.

The music from the speakers playing.

Mie feels overwhelmed trying to find a tiny squeak under the loud noises.

MIE: Gah! Just focus. Focus!

She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and quietly stands still as she tries to concentrate on what she needs to find.

MIE: ...

... don't mind the footsteps...

MIE: ...

... don't mind the chattering...

MIE: ...

... don't mind the catchy tunes...

MIE: ...

Only listen... for what you seek.

MIE: ...

KII!

Mie quickly turns to the sound and sees a green scaly Demon, scurrying on the ground under the walking shoppers.

MIE: Gotcha!

She hurriedly catches after it before it leaves her sight.

...

RYUKEN: ... where is he?

Ryuken is walking aimlessly on his own in the middle of the plaza.

RYUKEN: (sighs) Where could he be at this ti-

Kikikikiki-

RYUKEN: Wha?

He heard an odd sound passing by.

RYUKEN: ... what was tha-

Kikikikikikikiki-

He turns around but couldn't catch it.

Kikikikikikikiki-

RYUKEN: Wha- where is that coming from?

He hears the high-pitched squeaky sound-

Kikikikikikikiki-

-constantly circling around him.

RYUKEN: (sweats) Uh...

Kikikikikikikiki-

RYUKEN: ... I don't like this.

Kikikikikikikiki-

RYUKEN: What...

Kikikikikikikiki-

RYUKEN: What's going o-

The sound suddenly disappeared.

RYUKEN: Wha- where?

Alarmed, Ryuken looks around in confusion.

RYUKEN: ... where did it-

IMP LIZARD: ...

RYUKEN: Ah?!

Ryuken froze as he sees a green creature in the corner of his eye.

Ryuken slowly and hesitantly turns to it-

RYUKEN: (sweats)

-and sees a small, scaly lizard critter with yellow eyes, pointy ears, and an edged snout.

Armed with sharp teeth and black claws, it quietly stares at Ryuken with a filthy sneer.

IMP LIZARD: ...

RYUKEN: ... what the-

IMP LIZARD: KII!!!

...

Mie runs through the crowd as she chases after the lone Imp Lizard.

MIE: (pants)

As it quickly scurried into a bleak, quiet alleyway, Mie hurries and enters into it but the Demon is no longer in sight.

As she slowly walks in deeper, looking around her way-

MIE: ...

-a pair of yellow eyes glow behind her.

The lone Imp Lizard creepily crawls on the wall and viciously jumps at her from above.

IMP LIZARD: KII!

She turns around-

MIE: Gah!

-and quickly ducks before it attacked her.

The Imp Lizard lands on the ground and turns to Mie, eerily growling at her.

IMP LIZARD: Kii...

Mie presses her palms as she prepares to make her move.

MIE: (sweats)

As she takes a deep breath-

IMP LIZARD: KII!

-the Imp Lizard runs at her again for another strike.

Mie sharply stares into the wild Imp Lizard-

IMP LIZARD: KII!

-and fires bubbles out of her mouth.

IMP LIZARD: Kii?!

A cloud of bubbles flies at the Imp Lizard, stunning it as the bubbles enwraps the helpless Demon.

IMP LIZARD: Kii!

As the soapy bubbles pop away, the Imp Lizard is now trapped inside a bubble of its size.

Its screams are muffled as it tries to escape.

IMP LIZARD: kii!

The bubble floats near Mie's face and she carefully inspects the Demon.

MIE: ...

IMP LIZARD: kii! kii!

MIE: An Imp Lizard?

IMP LIZARD: kii! kii! kii!

MIE: Where's the rest of your pack?

GYAAHHH!!!

A frightful scream cries out from a distance.

Mie turns to it, knowing who it's from.

MIE: Ishinara-san!

She takes out her metal button and swiftly transforms into her grey uniform.

She folds both her sleeves and places her white cotton strips on her arms as they rapidly extend, coiling around her arm into a tight wrapping.

She hurriedly dashes to where Ryuken is, leaving the bubbled Imp Lizard floating away.

IMP LIZARD: kii!

...

RYUKEN: Gah! Get off me!

The Imp Lizard latches itself onto Ryuken's leg, shrieking at him.

IMP LIZARD: KII! KII!

RYUKEN: Ah! Stop that!

He tries to shake it off but realizes the commotion he made as some people flock around, watching him screaming at himself.

RYUKEN: (sweats) Ah...

An elderly gentleman approaches him.

MAN: Boy, are you okay?

RYUKEN: Ah, no, I'm- I'm fine! I'm just-

IMP LIZARD: KII!!!

RYUKEN: Wha?

IMP LIZARD: Ki kii! Ki kii! Ki kii!

RYUKEN: Wh- what are you-

Dashing from the crowd, four more Imp Lizards runs at Ryuken and latches on to him.

RYUKEN: GYAAHHH!!!

The Imp Lizards push him down to the ground as Ryuken struggles to fight them off.

RYUKEN: AH!!!

IMP LIZARDS: KII!

RYUKEN: NO! STOP!

MAN: Boy...

IMP LIZARDS: KII!

RYUKEN: GAH! GET OFF ME!

MAN: Do you need help?

One of the Imp Lizards crawls onto his face-

RYUKEN: Ah?!

-and shrieks at him.

IMP LIZARD: KII!!!

RYUKEN: AAAAHHHHH!

Several cotton strips suddenly wrap around the Imp Lizards-

IMP LIZARDS: Kii?

MIE: HA!

-and are forcibly pulled into the air.

FWOOP!

IMP LIZARDS: KIIIIII...!

Mie arrives at the scene and quickly goes to Ryuken's aid.

MIE: Ishinara-san! Are you alright?

RYUKEN: Ah?! Sawai-san?!

MIE: Are you hurt?

RYUKEN: But- but they-

Ryuken looks around to see the small crowd staring at them.

RYUKEN: -th- they saw you!

MIE: They can't see me.

RYUKEN: Th- they can't?

IMP LIZARDS: KII!!!

Mie looks back to see the Imp Lizards running back at them.

MIE: Ishinara-san, you have to go somewhere safe.

RYUKEN: Ah, I-

MIE: Just go!

RYUKEN: Ah... okay!

Mie runs off to face them as Ryuken stands up on his feet.

MAN: Boy.

RYUKEN: Ah?

MAN: Are you sure you're okay?

RYUKEN: Ah, I'm sorry, I- I gotta go.

Ryuken bolts from the scene, leaving the small crowd even more confused.

As Mie reaches to the Imp Lizards-

IMP LIZARDS: KII!!!

-she forms a cotton whip from her arm and directly whips at them.

SNAP! CRACK!

IMP LIZARDS: Kii!

MIE: ... you mad?

IMP LIZARDS: KII!

MIE: Then come get me!

She sprints away from the crowded plaza with the Imp Lizards chasing after her.

...

Ryuken keeps on running through the crowd, further and further from where he was-

RYUKEN: (pants)

-but he abruptly stops by an alleyway to rest his tired body.

Drenched in sweat, he rests his hands on his knees and exhaustedly catches his breath.

RYUKEN: (pants heavily) I'm... still... not... built... for this...

He notices some of the shoppers glancing at his feeble self as they pass by.

Fearing of being judged by their silent stares, he turns to the alleyway next to him and decides to go inside.

Surrounded by stinky, cockroach-infested garbage and chewed-up cardboard boxes, Ryuken endures the stench and leans on a wall behind a shop lot to rest alone.

RYUKEN: (pants) ... why today of all days?

...

With the wild Imp Lizards still on Mie's tail, she leaps to the top of a store building and safely lands on its roof.

She looks back and sees the Imp Lizards speedily scale up the building wall.

IMP LIZARD: Kii!

She jumps from the roof to the back alley and anxiously waits for them.

From below, she sees the Imp Lizards creepily crawling down the walls while snarling at her with a wicked growl.

As they reach the ground and crawl to her, she forms her double whips and strikes a warning whip.

SNAP!

MIE: St- stay back!

Unfazed by her, they keep on moving forward.

MIE: I- I mean it!

She whips at them again-

CRACK!

IMP LIZARD: Kii!

-and hits one of them.

MIE: I- I told you, didn't I?

The whipped Imp Lizard brushes it off and keeps on moving with the rest.

MIE: (sweats) Ah... what is with you guys?

As they approach her, closer and closer-

MIE: Er...

-they suddenly stop, stands on their feet and quietly stare into her.

MIE: Ah?!

IMP LIZARDS: ...

MIE: ... you- you done?

IMP LIZARDS: ...

MIE: You- you wanna stop? I'm- I'm okay with that. I- I really prefer that, actually.

The Imp Lizards still won't break their gaze on Mie, unsettling her deeply.

MIE: (sweats) ... ah...

IMP LIZARDS: ...

MIE: I don't know... what's going on right no-

IMP LIZARDS: KI KII!

MIE: Wha?!

The Imp Lizards loudly shrieks into the sky.

IMP LIZARDS: KI KII! KI KII!

MIE: Wh- what are you-

IMP LIZARDS: KI KII! KI KII! KI KII!

MIE: Can- can you stop?

IMP LIZARDS: KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII!

She threateningly raises her whip at them.

MIE: I- I mean it this time! I really do!

IMP LIZARDS: KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII! KI KII!

MIE: (sweats) You- you're probably confused cause... you don't know where you are and... how you got here, but I'll stop fighting back, if- if you all just leave. D- does that sound gre-

rrrrrr...

A rumbling sound echoes from a distance.

MIE: ... wha-

rrrrrrrrr...

Mie froze in fear as the sound gets louder and louder.

rrrrrrrrRRRR...

She hesitantly looks behind her to where the rumble came.

RRRRR...

From afar but ominously getting nearer, a big wave of green sludge floods the back alley.

MIE: ... uh...

RRRRRRR...

And as the sludge gets closer and closer-

RRRRRRRRRRR...

-Mie's eyes widen in absolute shock, realizing that what she's seeing is not sludge.

MIE: W- wha-

Furiously accelerating after their young prey with a vile, piercing shriek, are a hundred Imp Lizards, running collectively as one, giant swarm.

IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MIE: ... uh-oh.

CRASH!

MIE: AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

The Imp Lizards forcibly sweeps her up from her feet and lays her down on them as they keep moving forward.

MIE: GAH! GET ME OFF! GET ME OFF!

Mie struggles to get up but the Imp Lizards traps her arms and legs inside the swarm, preventing her escape.

MIE: AHHH!!!

With Mie in their clutches, the Imp Lizards keep on moving forward with no signs of stopping.

IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...

Ryuken is still at the back alley, resting by himself.

RYUKEN: (pants)

IMP LIZARD: KI KII!

RYUKEN: AH?!

A lone Imp Lizard appears out of nowhere, shrieking loudly at him.

IMP LIZARD: KI KII!

RYUKEN: ... wha-

IMP LIZARD: KI KII!

RYUKEN: ... where did you-

rrrrrrr...

The sound of rumbling came from the end of the alley, getting louder and louder.

rrrrrrRRRRRR...

Fearing of what's to come, Ryuken cautiously turns to the sound-

RRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

-and from a distance but dangerously getting closer, sees the wave of Imp Lizards, rampantly rushing after him.

IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RYUKEN: ... oh no.

CRASH!

RYUKEN: GYAAAAHHHH!

The Imp Lizards sweep him away and steadily runs forward.

RYUKEN: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!

MIE: ISHINARA-SAN!

Ryuken sees Mie laying on the swarm next to him.

RYUKEN: SA- SAWAI-SAN?!

MIE: Gr- grab my hand!

RYUKEN: WHAT?!

MIE: GRAB MY HAND! I'll get... both of us out!

Ryuken struggles to lift his hand up, but it's stuck in the swarm.

RYUKEN: I... I can't!

MIE: Yes, you can!

RYUKEN: I... I can't move!

MIE: Reach out to my hand!

Mie struggles but manages to lift her right hand and reaches out to Ryuken.

MIE: You- you can do it!

Ryuken tries to break his hand out of the swarm.

RYUKEN: Errr...

He pulls his hand out as hard as he can.

RYUKEN: ... ahhh...

He reaches out to Mie-

RYUKEN: AHHHH!!!

-and grabs her hand.

RYUKEN: SAWAI-SAN!

MIE: I GOT YOU!

Mie struggles to pull her left hand free.

MIE: I... hope this works...

She lifts her left hand as high as she could and fires multiple cotton strips from her arm to as many pipes, bars and railings she could aim at.

MIE: ISHINARA-SAN!

RYUKEN: AHH?!

MIE: Don't... DON'T LET GO!

RYUKEN: I... I WON'T!

She tightens up her strips and with a hard tug-

MIE: AHHHH!!!

-pulls herself and Ryuken out of the swarm.

RYUKEN & MIE: AHH!!!

They're both finally free from the scaly masses-

IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-but the Imp Lizards quickly grabs Ryuken's leg and pulls him back into the swarm.

RYUKEN: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

His hand slips from Mie's as she springs away on her own.

MIE: ISHINARA!!!

The Imp Lizards traps Ryuken deeper into the swarm, making sure he won't come out-

RYUKEN: Errgg... mmfff...

-and keep on moving forward.

But from above, Mie dashes on the roof of the shop lots, jumping from building to building to chase after them.

MIE: (pants)

As she tries to keep up with the swarm, she sees a fiery portal suddenly appearing from afar, getting bigger and bigger.

The green swarm starts gaining speed and races to the portal.

MIE: NO!

Desperate to save Ryuken before they reach their end, she leaps out from the building and using her feet-

FWOOSH!

-kicks the air itself, launching herself forward.

Leaping on air with every step, Mie rapidly propels herself further and further over the rushing Imp Lizards below.

IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MIE: (pants heavily)

As she finally overtakes them from above, she keeps on leaping forwards-

FWOOSH!

-and lands between the portal just behind her and the Imp Lizards facing her from afar.

rrr-

She takes a deep breath, calming herself down as she prepares to face the danger before her.

rrrrr-

In the moments before clashing against the relentless demonic critters-

rrrrrrrr-

-Mie presses her palms together and closes her eyes to concentrate.

rrrrrrrrrrrr-

Her heart beats in fear, her mind's filled with doubt, but she can't dwell in it any longer-

rrrrrrRRR-

-because she knows she needs to focus on what lies before her-

RRRRR-

-right here, right now.

RRRRRRRR-

She finally opens her eyes as they glow brightly with the courage she needs.

RRRRRRRRRRR-

The courage to face the Imp Lizards.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRR-

The courage to fight on her own.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-

The courage to save Ryuken.

IMP LIZARDS: KKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Harnessing the Spiritual Force within her-

MIE: (breathes in)

-she strongly presses her palms with all her might-

MIE: (breathes out)

-and summons hundreds of white cotton strips from her arms, spreading them out as far as possible-

MIE: (stares vigilantly)

-conjuring up every power in herself to break through the unstoppable swarm.

MIE: ... Cloth Snake.

The hundreds of white cotton strips begin to twist and intertwine with one another, forming hordes of thin cylindrical bodies.

From their lower half's to the middle and finally to their heads, their final form begins to take shape.

Protectively surrounding their magic caster-

... sss...

-armed with sharp, bladelike fangs-

... hiiisss...

-glaring intensely with blood-red eyes-

Hiiisss...!

-they sharply hiss at their incoming foes-

HISS!

-ready to fight.

MIE: Myriad... Mamba.

...

High above the plaza, the bubbled Imp Lizard hopelessly floats in the air, unable to escape.

IMP LIZARD: ... kii...

End of Chapter 19