Team Adventure

Chapter 05

We travelled through the portal for some time until finally, everything became so bright and blinding that I had to keep my hands over my eyes to avoid damaging them.

I felt a thud, and slowly opened my eyes. As I gradually managed to get accustomed to the light, I noticed that everything around us looked so much different. For one thing, everything was nothing but a hellish fiery red colour. I looked around in astonishment. Where are we?! Why's everything so red?... this almost looks like..... like we're in hell...! I then remembered Ryuu-san saying something about going to the demon realm, so does this mean that we really were in hell?!
"No... it can't be!.... I can't be dead yet righ-!"

My train of thoughts was stopped for I felt myself fall onto the hard rocky ground as Akato carelessly dropped me without a second thought. That bastard! He's gonna get it from me someday!....even though he's a demon.... I then felt a little weight get off me, that's when I noticed Chester and Timmy-who'd been clinging on to me the whole time-getting down onto the unfamiliar rocky ground with bewildered expressions. For a second there I thought that we were in a different world.... or wait.... were we? I was lost and confused. I decided to confide in Ryuu-san and turned around to look for him. As I turned around, I noticed Ryuu-san and that Bakato (baka+Akato (baka=stupid in Japanese)) whispering something to each other. I had no idea what they were talking about and was becoming more anxious by the second, so I interrupted them without thinking.

"Hey! You two! Mind telling me exactly where we are? You couldn't have actually brought me to... to...hell...right....?" I asked unsure.

The two glanced at me. Ryuu-san then walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"You're right Haruka-sama, as of right now, you've entered us demon's homeland, the demon realm" said Ryuu-san in a calm voice.

"EHHHHH???!!! YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!!!" I screamed out from the shock of actually being in hell. "Th-then d-does that m-mean that I'm.... I'm.... dea-" I was stopped halfway.

"Rest assured Haruka-sama, you're not dead, you're just paying a visit here, that's all" said Ryuu-san calmly.
"Paying a visit he says!" I thought to myself. He talks as if it's normal for living humans to visit hell!

"For now, you'll follow us. We will  lead you to meet our lord, the demon king." Said Ryuu-san, now with a serious expression.

Ehhhh...??!!!! No way! I'm seriously going to meet a demon king... no wait... THE demon king?! Have I somehow done something incredibly unforgivable or something?! But I don't ever remember doing anything of the sort!...gha! I'm gonna have to clear things up somehow...! But... me against the demon king.... d-do I even have a chance?! .... but then again... this IS kinda interesting- WHAT ON EARTH AM EVEN THINKING AT A TIME LIKE THIS?! ..... or more like what the HELL am I thinking..... gha! Whatever! I just have to-

My trail of thoughts was cut short yet again by that redheaded idiot.

"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and get a move on it!" Said an annoyed Akato.

I just puffed my face like a fish and gave him an infuriated look. I really don't think we'd get along... not that I plan on getting along with any demons or anything.

I then followed Akato and Ryuu-san into a very dark and creepy looking tunnel. We walked through it for some time until finally we reached the other side. We were greeted by yet another blinding light. I covered my eyes with my hand until I got used to it. Once I opened my eyes, I saw an old looking, wooden bridge in front of us. I saw some steam coming from underneath it, and so, out of curiosity, I went to see what it was. I looked down to see whether there could be a hot spring or something underneath-not like they'd have any in hell though, but still I  thought is was worth seeing. But I was wrong, it was the complete opposite of a hot spring...well not as much. As I peeked down from the rocky ground, all I saw was a humongous stream of... lava! That's when I also noticed that the atmosphere there was unbearably hot. It was probably because of the lava. I then noticed Ryuu-san and that Bakato signalling me to follow them, but I had no intention of going any further, for they were headed for right across that bridge! That old and rusty bridge that looks like it'll fall apart any second! No way am I gonna go on that! And especially since...well....nevermind.... it's better if I just keep it to myself... The demon pair noticed that I wasn't listening to them so, with that infuriating look on his face, Akato came towards me in hopes of dragging me there if he had to.

(Akato's POV)

We arrived at the bridge. I turned back to see whether that stupid girl was still following us. I noticed that she was staring down at the larva in surprise, well it's obvious that she'd be, I'd be more surprised if she weren't. Me and Ryuu then signalled for her to keep up with us. She noticed us, but refused to come after following us for so long... I wonder why...

We waited for a moment and she still wasn't moving. Those two ridiculous looking furry creatures had glued themselves to her. They weren't moving unless she did... are they some sort of servants they have in the human world..? Heh, weird humans. Always full of surprises. Anyway, we're not gonna get anywhere if she stays like that, so I'll just have to drag her by force if I have to!

I walked up to her, I hadn't noticed it myself, but my expression had changed into an annoyed looking one, with my brows furrowed and all. Guess it instinctively happens when I'm around humans...

I walked up to her and looked down at her. She too was staring daggers at me. What's her problem?!

"Hey, what's wrong, hurry up and get going" I said with a hint of annoyance.

"No way in hell!" She screamed.

"Geez! What's your problem?! This is why I hate humans! So stubborn and selfish! They only think about themselves." I said without thinking.

I then noticed that her expression suddenly changed. She looked at me with a mix of emotions. Confusion with a hint of concern in her eyes. She then looked down and whispered something bearly audible for me to hear.

"I...can't go any further than this..." she said with her head down.

"Heh, it's too late to be getting cold feet at this point"

"N-no... it's not that... I'm scared or anything.... just that...." she trailed off.

At this point I was getting a little impatient.

"Ah geez! Just spit it out will ya!" I said in a rude manner.

"I-I c-can't.... I just can't...!" she stammered out. She looked really worried and restless.

Woah! Was this really the girl I was arguing with just a little while ago...? What happened to that daring girl?  That boldness....?

"Haruka-sama..." I heard Ryuu's voice.

"... this is just a hunch, but are you by any chance, afraid of heights?" Asked Ryuu.

I looked down to see her reaction, and what do you know, Ryuu was spot on! Haruka was sweating buckets, she had gone pale and was shivering like mad. How did I not notice this before Ryuu...? Ryuu then walked towards Haruka and patted her shoulder.

"Don't worry, it may not look it, but that's a very sturdy bridge over there. You'll be fine!" He said reassuringly.

"No no no no no no no no no no! I'm definitely not crossing that bridge!" She screamed out loud.

Ryuu gave a disappointed look.  At that point I couldn't take it anymore, so I swiftly walked towards Haruka, lifter her and her furry creatures with her and placed them on her lap as I carried her princess style. I had no choice! This was the only solution I could think of. While she was squirming and shouting at me, telling me to stop, I ignored her rambling and continued towards the bridge. Once I kept my first step on the bridge, I noticed  that Haruka, as if she had accepted her fate of having to cross the bridge, had stopped struggling and instead was tightly holding on to her two furry creatures with her eyes shut tight. I could feel her shivering in my arms, but what did it matter to me, it's the same reaction any human would give.... though I can't deny that I found her... just the slightest bit.... cute. Gosh! What's gotten into me! Snap out of it! She's just one of those stupid and selfish humans!... just a little special cause of that, but other than that she's nothing to me!

I continued on to the bridge. Each time it shaked a bit I would hear a little squeak from her. Man, are heights that scary...?

In the end, we all made it to the other side, safe and sound. I let Haruka down, a little gently this time. As she placed her feet on the ground, she turned to me, and without making any eye contact at all, whispered a slightly audible "thank you" to me. I just stared at her wide eyed. This was the first time a human had actually thanked me, a demon non the less. She then turned around and started to follow Ryuu who had asked us to proceed. I just proceeded behind them, but my mind was in another world. I was lost in thought. My mind was replaying that moment I just shared with Haruka, over and over again. I just couldn't seem to get it out of my head for some reason.