"Rin!!" everyone panicked when we saw Rin fall from the grasp of the demon who had snatched her before. I chase her by hopping from walls to walls around, trying to catch her. But then...

Yamato approached immediately clashed his sword with mine. We settled on a tilted building filled with vines, while Rin kept falling in the background.

"Trying to save the day again, huh?" Yamato boasted, "when will you give up? This is your undoing anyway, why stubbornly acting as a hero?"

I didn't want to focus on his ramblings, but his words took me off the rails, forcing my attention off of the falling girl. "I... want to fix all of this, one way or another," I answered the man with darkness on his hand.

Yamato laughed, then summoned other demons to halt our way in saving Rin. She then fell not far from the area, only protected by her auric.

"Why are you so opposed to us?! What is your goal?!" I asked him while clenching on my sword.

"I'll give you a hint, it is to reset history," Yamato raised his sword, then pointed it towards me.

The demons surrounded us and began fighting with Kentaro and others, while I kept my distance with Yamato and duel him once again. He strikes first, shooting energy balls from his left hand, some of them I managed to dodge, while some deflected by my blade.

I tried to approach him from the side, aiming for his head, but he managed to clash his blade with mine, protecting himself. As the sparks flew into the air, we traded sharp stares, and bounced to different positions. I learned his moves from the previous encounter, and understand his fighting style better.

Once in a while I saw the veins in his dark hand glow and pulsate, in one move, he enhanced his Capricorn sword, imbuing it with darkness. Yamato then stepped forward, and tried to stab me.

I dodged to the side while deflecting his attack, crouched, and tried to slash his back. Although as fast as my move was, Yamato spawned a thick trunk of wood from the ground and protected himself once again. The blade of my sword stuck on it, but without wasting too much time, I pulled it with full strength and took a step back to a safe distance.

"Nice touch, you've improved since the last time we met," he commented, while looking at the flock of demons fighting my team. I could see sadness somewhere in the corner of his eyes.

Then suddenly Yamato flinched, dodging a very quick strike with lightning reflexes. It was Karito, attacking him from behind with a dagger. He bounced with his right foot next to me and struck back, aiming for Yamato's head, but he successfully read Karito's moves, and defended himself with his sword.

"So this is why I feel something's fishy from behind, it was you again," Yamato seemed to have the ability to sense his enemy's presence without much effort. "Why are you here, party crasher?"

"To stop your bullshit of course," Karito answered shortly. He then hopped to my side, "Kyuuto, I see you still alive and well. You're stronger than I thought," he sheathed his dagger.

I asked where he's been, Karito said that he was hunting Yamato the whole time, only to always fail due to Yamato's ability to sense his presence whenever he planned an ambush. He then goes on to explain that Yamato was indeed joined the dark side, helping Yamisuke to advance his plans to control the country and the curse.

"He's also the one who made your friend transform," that last sentence from Karito pumped adrenaline into my blood. I look at the enemy in front of us with heated anger.

"So it's you..." without actually controlling it, my sword glowed blue light, the ice element spawned a cold wind surrounding us, I felt a massive surge of the elements running through its blade.

Then, after concentrating on my right foot, I launch forward with blinding speed just like Karito and Yamato. He wasn't ready for my attack, I still remember his surprised face when my blade nearly slashed his neck.

He wouldn't be alive much longer, if it wasn't for the fact that he was protected by Kotetsu.

As soon as my blade and his talons met, I canceled my rush and went back to my position beside Karito.

Yamato laughed as Kotetsu flapped his wings to secure his landing. It was unbelievable seeing my comrade on the same side as the devil we were fighting against. "What do you care about him anyway? You don't know anything about him, do you?" Yamato teased me again.

"What's the point of calling your teammates 'families' if you don't understand their feelings? And he never tells you anyway, right? You know what? Because he doesn't feel the same!"

Yamato's words pierced my soul. He was right... I never actually fully understand what my teammates are feeling... I don't even--

"Yes, weep all you want. It was quite a great feast today, if it wasn't interrupted by this freak," Yamato pointed to Karito with his sword, "Bye now, until we meet again," he then vanished with Kotetsu, soon followed by other demons withdrawn.