The next day found Yomi walking the class through the trees towards the camping grounds that they'd picked out earlier. Yomi inspected the mark again. Only half a line was left. By the time the sun set, if not sooner, the magic energy was faded and Kuro would be in serious danger. As the group neared the campsite, Yomi felt the mark of his arm burn. Looking down at it, he nearly fainted when he saw that he could actually see the last mark getting smaller and smaller. Like the fuse to a bomb, that little mark was the countdown to when the magic energy would fade. Now they only had a few hours at the very most before Kuro became exposed. The sound of Kuro's scream made Yomi whip around to see the kid being held up by his hair by a burley adult.
"Hey! Let him go! Just what do you think you're doing?!" The teacher demanded striding up to them.
You stupid old man! He's a Dragon Hunter! He'll kill you for the fun of it!
Yomi felt a bead of cold sweat run down the side of his face.
"You shut up old man! Don't make me shoot you." The man said darkly.
Yomi felt his skin crawl. This man had been the soul survivor of Lord Hades' rage. It was obvious that he still wanted the reward for his head, and he'd use any means necessary to get it.
"Put Kuro down." Yomi growled.
The man growled at him.
"You going to make me? I'm using this kid for whatever I want! I'm a Dragon Hunter so I-!"
A tremendous roar ripped through the air sending the birds in the trees scattering and causing the kids to scream. Yomi gulped. His mistress had told him about Lord Hades, but he'd never met him. Switching his gaze to Kuro, Yomi's eyes widened when he saw a small red stream of blood running down his face from his hair. Lord Hades had smelled the scent Kuro's blood, the one scent that the magic energy couldn't disguise as human.
"Kids! Everyone run back to town as fast as you can! Go!" Yomi shouted.
The teacher and the kids bolted away and Yomi was alone with the man holding Kuro captive. Yomi gritted his teeth as the loud thumping of footsteps grew closer. The man threw Kuro to the ground and pulled a pistol from his pocket.
"Even if he's covered in scales, an adamant bullet'll rip right through him." The man chuckled as he loaded the gun.
Yomi darted over to Kuro and picked him up in his arms. He had to get him away from the hell that was about to break loose. Hurrying behind a rock, Yomi gently set Kuro down and winced as the final bits of the mark burned away. He swore when he saw it. Kuro's time was up, and so was his. Yomi felt his flesh ripple as his human form faded away. A creature with dark scaly skin, purple claws, red eyes with slitted pupils, and a long tail stood in his place. Yomi ran his long tongue over his fangs, slightly enjoying the fact that he was free of that human form. Now he turned his attention to Kuro, who lay on the ground with his eyes closed.
"Kuro, open your eyes." Yomi ordered gently.Kuro's eyes opened slowly but then they flew open when they saw him.
"Don't you dare scream, Kuro. It's me, Yomi." He said throwing his clawed hand over Kuro's mouth.
After a few seconds Kuro calmed down and Yomi removed his hand. The click of a gun made them both freeze. The man was pointing the pistol straight at Kuro's head.
"I'll get a bigger reward if I bring a baby dragon along with me!" He said evilly.
Yomi snarled and whipped the gun away using his tail.
"Kuro, I can't stay for very long. Your mother asked me to watch over you until the day her magic wore off. That day is today. I can't answer any question's you have, but I'm sure you'll get them answered soon enough. Your father'll be here any second now." Yomi said as he gently rubbed the top of Kuro head.
