The path to a chained heart (EDITING)

A Pleading Voice - 7

Asahi could see that Himari was successfully inflicting damage on the beast, and he decided to carry out the same plan as her: they would attack, avoiding the heads and making sure Homare didn't do anything stupid. He had cast a spell which gave him resistance to the intense heat, summoning a large and nicely decorated battle-axe, sharp and shiny. It then devoured his right arm in flames, but no damage was inflicted on him. He was going to go straight for the snake's neck.

Remember when I said making sure Homare didn't do anything stupid? It's just a shame that these characters are so stupid at the moment. Well, that was exactly what nearly happened when he saw Asahi aim for the head too. Homare had also charged towards the head, a large staff materialising in his hands, readying to stab the snake's throat. Due to his overconfident and blinded mood, he hadn't properly aimed and, in mid-air the writhing snake rapidly brought its fangs up to Homare, preparing to bite and melt the boy's flesh. Asahi was about to attack when he saw that happen, pushing Homare away from danger, without realising he'd put his own self in a deathly situation.

"Homare get out of the way!" Asahi had pushed him into the side of the wall, stopping Homare from getting killed, but he was bitten by the dangerous snake instead. He had taken the fall for his friend, selflessly and valiantly, injuring and wounding himself in the process.

"ASAHI! HANG IN THERE!" Himari's eyes widened when she screamed, hoping Asahi wouldn't be lost to death, and her anger fuelled her strength to finish the beast off once and for all, before it could get the chance to kill any of her family. She no longer cared whether she lived or died. Whether she managed to kill the beast or not. All she wanted was to make sure her precious nakama survived. She couldn't bear to see any one else gone, of couse, she hadn't given up hope that Mizuki would come back, it was the undeniable pain and heartache when she saw them pass by like a fleeting moment.

A sudden bright flash of light and a heavy gale of wind arose from her. Even the chimaera could feel it, and cowered away, noticeably. Her eyes flashed a thunderous blue, angry and filled with resolve. Her teeth were gritted and her hands clenched around a dark-blue trident. Snake-like waves rose around her body, swiftly and dangerously fast, probably powerful enough to destroy a wall without any effort at all. Yay that rhymes. Oops sorry I'll make myself disappear. There was a powerful light, painfully bright and a luminous aura from the trident. As if her strong emotions were enough to fuel the razor-like weapon. Its three jagged prongs looked like they were more than enough to tear any creature into a miserable sack of flesh with a flick of the wrist.

"YAAAHHH!" With a loud war-cry, Himari plunged the trident deep into the monster's flesh, puncturing few of its vital organs. Out of bloodthirst, she stabbed the weapon once more, but into the lion's head, signalling her victory. Her hands were covered in the chimaera's blood, and she casually wiped it off on her black robe, staining it a crimson red, hopping off the carcass with an eerily peaceful look. Her eyes were no longer that scary blue, full of anger and hate, but peaceful and complete, like she had finished something - in this case, the beast that had tried to kill her family. Homare stared at her in utter shock misbelief... and panic.

The axe Asahi was holding onto dropped with a clang and faded from sight. Himari-san sure can be terrifying he thought, his body lazily sliding down the stone walls.

"Come on, you guys, next time don't be so reckless," she smiled, pulling Homare up and examining Asahi, "don't be so reckless, idiots, YOU HEAR!"

"Yes ma'am!" Homare squeaked in fear, while Asahi grunted in pain. Himari bent down to look at his left arm, holding a gasp to herself.

"Asahi, with that injury I'm not gonna be able to heal it properly - it'll leave a huge scar and won't heal as fast as I'd like." Himari suddenly changed her angry nature to a calm one once more.

"Gees, it seems Mizuki has rubbed off on you, Himari!" Asahi chuckled to himself, and Homare snickered.

"What's so funny?" Himari inquired, and the two boys insisted it was nothing. She eyed them curiously.

As she had always struggled with her healing abilities, she wasn't able to heal Asahi properly, and she was only able to get rid of the poison and slow down some of the bleeding. Some. To stop the flow, she ripped off the sleeve of her already torn robe, wrapping the fabric around the wound like bandages would.

"Thanks Himari!" Asahi grinned in happiness, but winced slightly.

"You should thank me. Anyway, you won't be able to use that arm for a few months or so." She had stated.

"Are you kidding me?!"

"No." Himari had replied in the most monotonous voice possible.

Asahi groaned, standing up again, only to stagger slightly and regain balance. He prodded the fabric bandage a little, and it was impossible to not admire the handiwork and Himari's talent in the medical arts. They were about to begin walking forward, when they heard a pleading voice.

"Please... Himari, Asahi and Homare, I know your there. I don't... want to forget you guys... help!" The dry and sore voice sounded through their heads, and it took them a few moments to realise who it was.

"Mizuki! Mizuki!" Himari yelled.

"Sis... are you there?"

"She isn't responding - it's most likely her consciousness - we have no time to waste!" Himari spoke.

"Yeah, and it sounds like big sis is still hanging in there!" Asahi grinned again and Homare gave a small smile too.

Along the way, they had begun a conversation about Himari's frightening skills, and it seemed she pretty much didn't have a clue what was going on either. Asahi chuckled nervously, wondering what would happen if she went spiralling out of control and gulped just thinking about it.

Everyone seemed to have returned back to their cheerful state. It didn't seem like anyone had questioned Homare, and he took it as they had forgiven him, promising to himself that he wouldn't do something that stupid again.

All was well, everyone forgiven, and everyone merry after defeating their first great foe.

Though it seemed that their victory was false... the greater enemy at hand had hordes of those beasts at their disposal... defeating one of many was a feat of it's own.

Defeating hordes of them would take much more, far more effort than they already possessed.

AN: You may have realised a quote at the bottom of each chapter, but I don't know how to use its original format as it was from my quotev account. Just ignore it if you find it annoying.

"It's impossible to save everyone, otherwise you'll risk losing them all." ~ Asahi Katsumoto