The Cursed Iris

Sprout 23: Stare Into the Abyss and the Abyss Will Stare Back

Shang-Lao's body was gravely wounded by Hokusai's attacks, "To think my strongest followers all betrayed me? Well, besides Layla of course but that couldn't be helped. That woman was truly a force to keep around, shame she had to die," Hokusai said with a chuckle.

His voice resonated with the area around them as if he had fused with the forest around them. "Surprised aren't we Shang-Lao? I'm sure you were expecting an easy battle because you are a chi user, but sadly you couldn't even touch me boy."

Shang-Lao breathing became labored, "Damn this man. I knew he was strong, but this is insane," he strained. He knew that he was in over his head for facing a man that even the gods feared.

Well, I guess this is what fear is isn't it? Shang-Lao thought nervously.

Hokusai began walking towards him, and he felt wave of terror wash over him.

"Tsubaki Hoshinomiya and Katsumi Nakajima both are the only ones who could possibly beat me; now look where they are, dead. There's virtually no one who can stop me, especially now that I have both a god slayer's wind and a dragon slayer's fire," Hokusai stated as his hands became enveloped fire and wind.

Shang-Lao's expression brought joy to Hokusai's face, "Yes! That look is what I've been wanting. You now know what true fear is, you've stared into the abyss. Nothing you do will work against me boy, so give up and accept your fate," he mocked.

Hokusai was about to go in for the kill, but someone stopped him by kicking him further away from Shang-Lao, "Who?" Shang-Lao asked as he saw black feathers land in front of him.

"I don't know who you are, but that man cannot live anymore. He has caused my people and the ones I care for great pain. I can tell you are trying to stop this man, so I will assist you," Kira said.

Hokusai stopped himself from going any further, and he began laughing. His laughter sent a chill down both of their spines, "I see, so the soulless being has come to fight with his last leg? So boy are you willing to stare into the abyss as well?" he asked.

Shang-Lao stood up. "Okay tengu boy, I need to be sure that this monster dies. So will you help me achieve that?"

Kira's heart felt like it was about to burst through his ribcage, "Yes, I will," he replied shakingly.

*****

"So he still hasn't found Hokusai?" Katsumi asked Susanoo.

Susanoo sighed as his frustration began to increase, "I'm afraid not, which is a good thing to be honest," he replied. "Katsumi I'm sure you know more about your demon half than anyone, but once he finds Hokusai I'm afraid both you and I will be in danger."

Katsumi knew that, but he didn't know how to stop himself. Even when he was possessed by the Dragonaut he couldn't bring himself to stop. The taste of someone's blood, the feeling of hearing someone's life being snuffed out, the joy of having the power of life and death. Katsumi couldn't help himself at that time, but he didn't want to feel that ever again.

"I know," he replied. "That time was like staring into an abyss, and it felt like it was staring right back at me. I personally never want to go through that again. I don't want Ayame to see me like that, I couldn't bear to see what she would think of me," he mumbled.

His tone and demeanor worried Susanoo, "I'm concerned about that of course, but something else worries me more," he stated in a serious tone.

"How in the hell can I stop myself?" he asked as he began to remember the time he was captured. "It's all my fault. If I had stopped myself, then maybe all of that could've been avoided, and maybe my mother would've been spared," he said as his expression became somber. His tone also changed as well; Katsumi knew that everything was his fault. That's why he couldn't accept his demon half and that's why he shut off his god half.