Devil & Devil: And Again - Deja-Vu
The wind whistled as Sword’s body pierced it at high velocity. The rock cracked with a sound as sharp as a gunshot when Sword’s body impacted with it.
Vision: Seeing what is in front of your eyes, clear and sharp. Except that it wasn’t. Things were fainter, darker, fuzzy around the edges. Then it was clear. Then it wasn’t. Then it...
A devil came into the picture between the fades. Standing tall and upright, with purple eyes in a dark face intent and focused on Sword.
Sword made an effort to move, but his fingers didn’t even twitch. The dark was edging around his vision again. Death, in the form of a devil, was approaching.
Ios... The thought floated through his mind, a longing and an expectation. Sword's eyes widened as he realized what he was thinking, and he cursed himself. Death had approached Sword often enough that he faced it realistically. He had slipped by and survived, time after time, but he couldn’t ever rely on anything saving him. Or anybody. Not himself; certainly not somebody with white feathers. "Fuck you, Ios," he muttered, taking his frustrations out on the absent angel that he wouldn't get to fight again.
Taloned feet stopped in front of him. The claws dug into the ground. “Ios?”
There was a pause and Sword managed to get his vision straightened out enough to glare.
The devil was staring at him with its serrated eyebrows drawn into an expression that looked like speculation. “Gorgeous blonde angel with a nasty right hook and switches hands on weapons? Fights as if he’s playing? Sparkling white wings?”
What angel didn’t have white wings? Sword glowered. It was a stupid statement, and it was stupid of the devil to stop in the middle of battle to speculate on angels, but it was also giving him a break to recover and he would kill this stupid devil. Fucking idiot. Bound in a temple stone for who knows how many years and the first thing he did when free was pick a fight with Sword. Never mind it was the proximity of the DevilSpawn on Sword's hand that loosened the bonds in the first place. And that every other devil in the area was trying to get the thing as well. Sword had killed all the others, absorbing them into the DevilSpawn in their turn, and this devil would follow. It was a stupid devil that challenged Sword indeed. And Ios' right hook wasn't any nastier than Sword's, so that was stupid too.
Resting his devil-sword on the ground, the other devil smirked at Sword. “Huh. You recognize the description all right. And Ios is still alive...” Purple eyes looked unfocused into the distance over Sword’s head as the devil ran his tongue over his lower lip. “Ios... I haven’t seen him in three hundred years.” His mouth split into a huge grin. “I will enjoy fighting with Ios again.”
A growl burst from his throat, as Sword hauled himself up with an effort of will alone. He had thought he had no reserves left, but somewhere, he found some. ^You will not fight Ios!^ Devil power streamed from his fist as he attacked. His blow rocked the other devil back, tearing a strip of dirt in the grass.
The devil grinned as he wiped the blood from his lip, “I seem to have struck a nerve.” He backed off and eyed Sword speculatively. “Humm... Three hundred years. I can’t imagine Ios pining for that long, so you must be his latest.”
Latest? Ios had always fought other devils. Sword rolled his eyes at the drama. “Fucker.” He was getting stronger every moment. And Ios wouldn’t move on to another devil. But like hell he was going to mention that. He tested his power in the Devil-Spawn. Low, but there was enough to kill this fucker.
Purple eyes were back to studying him. “Wish I could see what you were as a full devil. As this puny human-thing, I can’t imagine you being anything near a challenge for Ios.” The devil’s eyes literally gleamed. “Now I, on the other hand, was a fine match...” The devil licked his lips, saliva dropping from his tongue as he did so. “Ah, Ios, what a fun challenge you were. Over and over again. 52 challenges before I left the battlefields. The longest you ever fought with any devil.”
Sword snorted in dismissal of the number and attacked.
The devil fought him off easily, more interested in talking than killing Sword... which struck a chill down Sword’s bones as he realized now why their styles were so similar. The latest... This devil truly *has* fought with Ios. I know those moves, now. And here he was in this stupid, stupid human body... But only 52 fights was nowhere near Sword's record, and he had killed Ios once. He would kill this devil too.
“Ah, so you’ve beaten my number, have you? Your responses are so easy to read, for one who has fought Ios.” The devil grinned easily, “Your real body must be different indeed, to be matched to Ios." The grin changed to a leer, "I bet it's handsome, too. Ios always was one for the pretty ones... Are your ears pointed? Do you have a tail? I bet you have markings... but probably still fairly human-ish. Tall; you'd have to be at least as tall as Ios."
Not a single blow of Sword's was getting through. He was getting frustrated as hell. The stupid devil went from describing what he thought Sword might look like, to describing what Ios looked like in a fight. It was eerily accurate, and was making Sword madder by the moment. Ios fought devils all the time -- after all, it was what angels did. And Ios was known for taking challenges. Not all of them, but when he chose a devil to fight with, the Battlegrounds knew it. When Sword first challenged Ios, the angel had three other devils he was fighting. One even lasted a year through their own challenges. The other two had been killed quickly. And in their six years of fighting, Ios had accepted challenges from numerous other devils as well. They were all gone now. Sword was the only devil to have lasted over 60 challenges.
Yet, here was this asshole who claimed to have fought 52 battles with the angel. Sword couldn't see what Ios might have seen in this devil, to have fought him that long. This devil was an arrogant prick, playing where he should be fighting, drawing the fight out when any true devil would have not bothered to ask about a stupid angel. Human-ish in form, but less so than Sword's body, with the purple eyes, tail, talons, horns... It wasn't anywhere near as handsome as Sword's body. Ios would never have looked twice at this brainless devil. Sword attacked fiercely, determined to wipe the egotistical devil from the earth.
The devil sighed, absently fending Sword off. "It would be *so* nice to fight with Ios again. To win, to fuck him into submission, to break that angel and hear him plead in that golden voice of his. But damn it, I won’t be able to fight him unless I get back into Hell and why the hell would I want to do that?” The split-tooth grin was scary; particularly as his long tongue licked blood off the teeth. Sword's blood. “Earth is fun.”
He doesn't know... Sword paused, wavering in the dust, blood dripping off his face, his arms, his chest... He thinks Ios is still in the Battlegrounds. Ios is safe... And why the hell would he care about *that*!!?! Sword collapsed, his strength giving out despite his determination.
Talons that dripped his blood grabbed Sword and raised him up. "Now what was *that* look all about?"
Sword dangled in the air, helpless, raging inside, unable to do a thing. Ios... This fucker was *not* going to win. He would kill that 52nd fought devil and show Ios how the fuck to kill a devil!
"That look couldn't possibly mean that he's here?" The devil raised Sword to eye-level and stared in amazement, "Ios, Heaven's Strategist, is here on Earth???" He dropped the devil, ignoring him completely. "That's grand!" He danced several feet off, doing a small jig. "I can track him down and fight him again. A 53rd battle! And I've learned a lot in the time I've been gone – Ios won't know any of that. The death of humans gives much power, their blood and their souls so yummy and nourishing. I'm more than I was, and that angel won't be able to stand against me."
He went on, and on, describing in great detail his plans to beat Ios with the sword, but not killing him, not yet... first he would... and then he would... The rape was described in loving detail, with heated breaths anticipating the enjoyment. Or maybe instead, he would rape him in *this* manner... or that one.
Curled up on the dirt, unable to move, Sword listened and his rage grew ever stronger. Those were *his* dreams, damn it! His expectations. The day he defeated Ios, he had been planning on doing all of that. Or at least part of it. The angel wouldn't have lived to do all of it. But here was this devil, talking about *his* angel in that way. He wouldn't let him. This damn devil could *not* have his angel, and particularly not with *his* dreams!
^Use me.^
Sword stilled, unsure of what had just happened.
^He'll kill Kanna... I have strength, use mine.^
It was that puny human inside of him. He'd learned some tricks after being in Hell, though the two of them still couldn't usually talk as he was now. What a weird offer—what did a human think he could do that Sword couldn't? But still, Souma *did* know the special technique he picked up in Hell. And he was stubborn, though scared. He really meant what he'd said. So...
With a roar, Sword channeled every bit of every particle of power he and Souma both had through the DevilSpawn. Inside of him, he could feel Souma fading out as the human 'fainted' from the power drain. But it was enough to...
"What the FUCK!" The devil raged, sputtering through the blast and shaking his head.
The blast had barely been enough to get the other devil mad. What the hell WAS this devil? Some sort of super demon? That had been enough power to take down a Hell Lord. Sword took another look at the devil. The horns budding out from his head, forking tail, long talons... and the dark aura swirling around him, clinging to the demon like a blood-sucking lichen, but feeding him instead of draining. Well, hell. It *was* a Hell Lord. Or at least the start of one. Its time on earth, drinking in human blood and souls must have advanced the devil rapidly. No wonder devils in Hell actually wanted to get called to Earth sometimes, if this was the other part of the odds.
It didn't matter, though, because the devil was still going down. Sword would be damned if he'd let this damned devil win. The other devil was attacking again, mad at the blast, and Sword fended off blows with devil power sparking from their every contact, his energies drained but partially restored by the human. He wouldn't be defeated. And at least now the devil's attention was focused on Sword and not the absent Ios.
The devil eyed him again as he fought. Studying him anew as Sword had just re-evaluated him. "I'm starting to see what Ios liked in you. Tenacious little beast, aren't you?" During the next exchange of blows, he leaned in to whisper in Sword's ear, "Did he make a pet out of you, oh Hell Hound?"
Sword drew blood across the devil's cheek as the other devil withdrew a little too slowly from being too close.
Fangs gleamed in amusement, "Oh, I like this. And I really, really bet Ios did too. I think I should give his pet back to him... What would be best to present to Ios? A flayed devil, with only the human skin to show what was there? A defeated devil, humiliated and beaten; broken and unworthy?"
"Like a fucking angel would care what happens to a devil," Sword grunted, leveraging himself up off the ground again. "Concentrate on the fight, stupid devil." Except that Ios *would* care. Stupid angel. Sword wouldn't lose, because Sword didn't lose fights. And he wouldn't let the devil have *any* sort of satisfaction out of him...
"Broken," decided the devil. "Show the angel what he's in store for."
"*You'll* be the one broken, fucker!"
The fighting went on. But not too much longer.
Sword's vision was blacking out again. Dirt was in his mouth and he couldn't raise himself up. Taloned hands lifted him, sliding a little on the blood-slicked skin and then digging deep into his torn flesh, holding him up. He felt himself dangling limply in the air, held by the claws and nothing more. He tried to raise his head... to look... at blackness. His vision was so dim now... Internally, Sword raged, but he'd already used his reserves, Souma’s reserves, and borrowed beyond. There was nothing left, and he was fading fast. The other devil wouldn't have to do anything more but wait to have his goal. If Sword could only... no, this time he couldn't fool himself. There were other devils out there stronger than him, and this was one of them. He was dying. Ios wouldn't be presented with his broken self, because he'd be dead before the devil would have the chance to try to break him. Not that the devil would have been able to do that. So it would be the flayed skin for him after all. And not even his own body. He wanted his body back so badly... He wanted to fight Ios. To fly. To stretch out his leathered wings and see across from him white feathers spread out in kind, with blue eyes sparkling and a grin over the angel's face. He wanted... Sword swallowed the blood in his mouth, barely able to do that much. He couldn't have what he wanted. Blackness was all he could see, he couldn't hear anything, except the sounds of crackling flames were somewhere nearby. So, this, then, was death.
And then the sound of flames diminished. Blackness was still there... but Sword also felt an unmistakable presence. Something golden. Strong. Carrying brightness in its wake and raising hope. No reserves left... and yet, there was new strength that let Sword raise his head, blinking past the dark, seeing...
“Ios.”
The thought was Sword’s, but the voice was the other devil.
Ios’ blow sent the devil flying and Sword falling to the ground as the grip holding him released.
Lying on the ground, Sword turned his head enough to see the action. After the first hit, Ios had stepped between him and the devil, close to Sword. Sword could see the angel standing firm and protective, heaven-sword in his hand, held ready. The proximity of the angel was driving off the darkness around him. Ios wasn't doing anything angel-y that Sword could tell, but death wasn't nearly so close now. There was a brief worried mental touch from Ios to check on Sword, but the angel didn't waste time on conversation.
Sword, however, did. "Ios, be careful..." He could feel the angel's astonishment that he had spoken so, and saw a new wariness in his stance as he took it seriously. Sword didn't elaborate – Ios would find out soon, and the other devil was talking now.
“Ah, the remembrance of Heaven’s power. The Golden Angel; the Beacon in Heaven; perfection of angels, ---”
Sword gagged. What a load of...
“Brandishon.” Ios identified the other devil. Sword was pleased to note that Ios’ stance didn’t change; he was still prepared to fight and hadn’t relaxed on knowing the devil. He wasn't so pleased that Ios had so quickly recognized the devil. The claims that the devil had made... were suddenly more than just claims. The latest...
“You disappeared from the Bbattlegrounds over 300 years ago.” Ios’ voice was reserved, formal, giving absolutely nothing away. It wasn’t welcoming, nor was it condemning.
“I was summoned to Earth,” the devil grinned, and his eyes flashed with demon light. “A stupid human who wanted a rival destroyed, but didn’t know how to close a circle.”
“You killed him.” Ios’ voice flattened even further.
The devil snorted, "Like I'm that stupid." The fangs dripped saliva. “First I killed her rival, then I came back, and while she was celebrating, I killed her husband, her children, and her dog. Then I waited. When she knew what she had done to all she loved, she suicided and left me free to stay.” The devil grinned, “And that just bugs you to hell, doesn’t it?”
“It tells me I should have followed my instincts and killed you on our 52nd fight.” Ios’ voice was still devoid of any emotion. Sword was sure the angel was upset –certainly angry– but even he who knew the angel so well could get no indication from the tone; only the words.
“Like you could have,” scoffed the devil. “I was the best in Hell, and I am even better now."
“But you, Ios,” the devil paused to look him over, and then the pause changed direction with a disappointment that could be felt even by Sword, who couldn't see the devil. “Damnmit. You’re also in one of those puny human bodies!” The devil’s voice wasn’t hiding anything--it was dripping with frustration. “Here I thought I’d get the first real fight I’d had in 300 years... and there you are in that stupid shell. Your light shines through and almost makes it look like you, but there is a dullness and a weakness that was never a part of you.”
Fuck it. That was too close to thoughts Sword had had himself, and words he’d spoken to Ios before. He struggled up and managed to raise his head, his vision mostly back. I am *not* just another devil! I am *not* his ‘latest’! And this fucking devil will *not* supplant me!
Ios didn’t turn around, but he made a flattening gesture at Sword. “Stay out of this, Sword.” He glanced to the side, “All of you; stay out of this.” His gaze returned to the devil, “This is unfinished business, and what I should have done 300 years ago, I will do now." Ios drew a breath, "Brandishon, I formally challenge you to the death. Neither of us shall stand down until one of us is dead.”
“For the 53th time,” the devil grinned.
“For the last time,” Ios corrected.
“But Ios-san...” That last voice wasn't either the devil nor the angel, though it was *an* angel... In fact, it was a very familiar angel's voice... Sword turned his head and realized for the first time that all the rest of the gang had come too. That was who Ios had been talking to, to stay out of it. Mizuno, Ranfuu, Garvera, Shekil... even Nanami was there, and what the bloody blazes was she *thinking*, coming out to a battle? The battle between Sword and the other devil, Brandishon, had destroyed most of this temple's landscaping and the surrounding area. The small knot of their companions were wisely not standing as close to them as Ios, but were out on the wooden deck that informally marked the edge of their battleground. They weren't coming any closer, though obviously they wanted to. Ios was verbally commanding an unhappy Shekil – and backing it up with a mental push, and none of the others were pleased at all. Nanami was trying to get out to him – Sword was glad to see Garvera holding her back. If she got any closer, the blast effects of the battle could easily hurt that very normal human.
Starting to look back at Ios and the new battle, Sword's gaze passed over the roof of the temple... and he blinked. And looked again. There were other angels there. None of the companions, even Shekil, seemed to notice them, but they were there. Waiting, hovering on the roof and also further out in the field, swords in some of their hands, others empty, but they were there. Apparently, if this devil defeated Sword and Ios, the angels of Earth were ready to intercede after them. Somehow, the thought was reassuring. And that scared Sword even more than the Hell Lord did.
Ios was stepping forward to fight, moving from near to Sword to a clear area for battle. Sword struggled up to his knees, but then stopped there. Ios was right. It was his fight, as it had always been. Ios fought devils. And killed them. He took challenges, learned about devils to incorporate into his strategies for the great battles, and then those devils died. Every one of them for two thousand years. Sword had fought Ios for over a hundred battles... but he was sure that even Ios didn't even know what number of challenger he was. Probably some huge, uncountable number. Ios would kill this one. Not because he had a new devil in Sword, but because this devil had killed humans. Ios always had been protective of his humans...
Splatter across his face roused him from his stupor, making him realize he'd collapsed back to the ground again. Shakily he wiped his face and blinked as he saw the red blood across it. Red blood. Not green. And that meant... Sword looked up and saw the devil's talons dripping red blood, not Sword's. Ios was still upright, his heaven-sword blocking blows and returning them... but there was red all over Ios as well. His face was grim, his movements... not as fluid as they should have been. Golden light surrounded him, but it was dim and growing dimmer.
What the fuck? Ios should have finished off that devil ages back. Even if he couldn't do it through honest battle, Ios was a fucking angel – he had other ways. If he really was going to kill the devil, he should just kill him. A fair fight wasn't the point anymore. Sword generally didn't approve of a kill other than a fight... but in this case he was willing to make an exception. That's what the stupid angel power was for – was to defeat and kill more powerful devils when it was 'God's Will' – no matter how stupid an excuse he thought that was. Ios hadn't killed the devil yet. Which, by fighting alone, the angel couldn't. If Sword in human-form couldn't kill this devil Hell Lord, then Ios in human-form certainly couldn't. But that didn't matter if Ios had meant what he said. Sword had thought Ios really had meant to kill. He'd *sounded* like it... What the hell was Ios doing dancing around? And then he thought of a reason... Oh... A sharp deep pain exploded in Sword's chest as he realized that even now, the angel didn’t want to kill this other devil he'd fought with for 52 fights...
^NO!!!!!^
Angel rage sparked out of Ios' body, golden sparks showering everywhere, making the Hell Lord he faced wince and draw back. Ios turned his head briefly to meet Sword's gaze, the angel looking angry and frustrated and worried... He'd heard Sword's thoughts. Sword hadn't realized he'd been projecting. But if Ios wanted to kill the devil, then why... "What the fuck are you fucking around for?"
Despair entered the mix of emotions in Ios' gaze before he had to turn back to meet the next attack by the devil.
Sword hauled himself up to his knees, astonished beyond belief. Ios can't use Heaven's Might? But that's a divine power, not something that he could have lost. Then Sword remembered their 103rd battle, with Ios coughing out blood as he called power... and how in fights here on Earth, the angel tried to avoid direct use of what power he did use, choosing to channel it through objects. How even healing hurt the angel... and healing was not a power but a divine gift. We trained the human bodies to be able to withstand general power... but nothing can protect Kanna's soul from the fire of an angel channeling God directly. Ios using Healing hurt Kanna... Using the Might would probably destroy him. Heaven's Might was the most powerful force in the battlegrounds. It wasn't a power every angel could use – it was a concentrated power straight from God through the angel in divine retribution, blasting a devil dead... Ios was the most powerful wielder of Heaven's Might on the Battlegrounds, but he rarely used it. None of the angels gifted with it used it often. It was... it was devastating. And devils everywhere near the blast died. If Ios in his current form channeled Might to destroy the devil, then the unsaved, unblessed, human soul tangled with his would be lost forever, destroyed in a moment. Something the Archangel Michael would have had no problems with... but Ios would never choose that step.
And so, Ios would die at the hand of a devil he'd fought 52 times. For Ios was losing this fight. Losing it as badly as Sword had been. Currently fighting only because the devil was playing. But Sword could tell the devil was disappointed. Fighting the human Ios was not nearly as satisfying or fun as fighting the angel. And it would not last much longer.
Sword staggered to his feet, looking to their little band of allies ranged on the outskirts of the battle. Frustration, fear, anger... they were constrained by Ios' command. And by each other – Nanami was being held back by Gavera still, and Ranfuu was arguing with Mizuno. Sword had trained them all too well to stay out of fights if somebody said no. For the first time, he hated himself for being so stubborn, to insist on doing everything his own way. For if he had not always insisted, then they would not be watching Ios now, they would be in there... Shekil met his eyes, his frustration more evident and yet also more restrained than the others, a certain wry irony in his gaze. And Sword knew it wasn't just him. Ios had always gone out to meet his challenges alone. Leaving his angelic friends behind. Leaving those who would fight with him behind to worry and fret, not ever knowing if this time would be the time. Two thousand years of an angel's lifetime didn't make them invulnerable. And Sword had inflicted enough wounds on Ios himself... that Shekil would have seen, and worried over, and still been forced to stay behind again the next time Ios went out.
From Shekil, Sword's gaze went to the other angels. They flickered in his sight, not fully there, and not visible to the others. Holding ready. But waiting. Waiting because it was Ios' battle.
Sword turned towards the battle. And he saw his friend take a blow across the chest that sent him flying back without wings, to hit hard against a stray tree in the battlefield. And Sword stepped out between the devil and the angel.
"Sword, no." Ios' voice was faint behind him.
"You dare interfere," the Hell Lord rumbled in disbelief and anger.
"It was my fight first," Sword raised his fists, pulling on energy from somewhere though he knew not where. "I don't fucking care about 300 years ago. Today, this was my fight first. If anybody's interfering, it's Ios."
There was a pause, and then laughter from before and behind him. The devil and the angel both acknowledging and amused at Sword's reasoning. Ios' laughter died out quickly, and he moved to stand beside Sword.
"It's my fight too."
Sword only nodded. They were each less than what they were, in these stupid human bodies, but together, they might be as one.
The first blow came towards Sword. Ios blocked it, showing a new determination on his face. Sword thrust under Ios' block, getting in a glancing blow. Then both he and the angel were hurtled backwards by a blast of devil's power. As they got up, another blast was headed straight for them... Ios raised a shield to protect them. Sword stood behind it, feeling the golden power of Blessing trickle over him... and realized he'd forgotten something that could be important. Heh... I wonder if Rafael really meant what he'd said that time...
"Ios. Use your fucking Heaven's Might." Sword moved next to the golden angel, eyeing the pure white feathers of his wings. Absolutely pure and the most powerful wielder of Might...
^I can't.^
^You can.^ Sword glanced out to the angels, and wondered if he saw a glint of red out there... Hell, what was he about, trusting an angel? And not even one he knew. It was stupid. But Ios loved that bastard, and Rafael had promised...
"Sword---"
^Trust me.^
Ios' head whipped around to look at him, eyes wide and astonished.
"I'll protect Kanna." I hope I will. ^Souma, you idiot, get out here.^ The human soul moved closer to his self, creating the odd feeling of merging that he usually only felt when the girl was in danger or crying. But a threat to his brother was apparently also enough for the human to be able to take action through Sword, it seemed. Sword took a firm grip on Ios' shoulder with one hand, moving slightly behind the angel, and, greatly daring, closing his hand on a wing-tip with the other. He was half-enveloped in the wing, in this position, something he'd never experienced before. Who would let a devil stand that close, in that compromising of a position? Ios was totally exposed to Sword... but it was Brandishon that the angel turned to. God, I hope this works. Sword closed his eyes and tried not to project his worry.
Heaven's Might blasted out of Ios in a concentrated stream, pouring into the Hell Lord who had a moment to scream and no more. The wave of power washed over the land, devastating anything near that wasn't divine.
Sword and Souma held as tightly as they could to Kanna's soul, surrounding him, protecting him... Heaven's Might washed over them... and left them still there. Divine retribution would not destroy their souls that day.
On the temple ground, Sword saw Shekil lowering the shield he'd put up around the others... and was glad of it. They had probably been far enough away not to kill, but it would have burned, and of them, Mizuno was probably the only one who could have stood there safely.
Ios lowered his hands, and his wings faded away. Sword's grip slipped on nothingness and he stumbled slightly. Ios turned to catch him... and the blue eyes widened as they took in the sight of the devil unharmed. Better than before, actually. Sword couldn't feel the injuries he'd taken in the earlier battle.
"How?" Ios whispered, his hands tracing over Sword's shoulders, his chest, touching his face...
Sword shivered under the gentle assault. "Heaven's Might cannot harm Heaven's Blessing," he repeated a certain angel's words, and then glanced out again to see Rafael lift a hand in acknowledgement. Then he and the other angelic spectators disappeared.
"What?" The golden-haired angel that was left was still looking wonderingly at Sword, his hands in constant movement to reassure himself of Sword's survival. Though the touch was stirring other inclinations in Sword's libido.
"Sword! Ios-san!" The others rushed towards them. The stupid human girl threw herself at him, her arms flung about Sword's chest, getting blood all over her clothes.
As she moved in, Ios moved back and out of the way, letting Nanami take precedence. Fuck it! Sword really, really didn't *want* her there! But his arms were coming up and around and there was this feeling in him... Damn the stupid human in his body. This just irritated the hell out of him. With a sigh, he looked around to distract himself... ^Uh, Ios...^
Ios turned around. "Ranfuu! Don't touch that!"
The angel strode quickly over to where the human was reaching curiously down. At Ios' cry, he straightened up without touching the blocky black lump of something like coal the size of a fist. Sword shuddered briefly, and then maneuvered himself out of Nanami's arms and over to join them. Which naturally brought the rest of the gang along.
"What is that, Ios?" Mizuno asked, more direct than the others.
Ios stepped on the lump, crushing it down. "Nothing. Nothing at all." When he removed his foot, there really wasn't anything there.
Without a word, Sword turned and left the field, heading back to Souma's home. Sword was the latest in a long string of devils, and while this fight was over, it meant nothing. Sword refused to turn back or to wait for anybody, particularly nobody. For he was the latest, and that meant nothing at all. Everything was the same.
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