When Sato and co. went into the cave Ai immediately grabbed Sato''s arm. "I''m scared."


    Sato comforted her, "Don''t worry. We''ll be out soon." Sato looked around the dark cave trying not to jump out of his skin. He sure wished he had someone to comfort him. But he refused to show his fear and give Sakura another reason to make fun of him.


    Ai didn''t look so sure, "Okay."


    Sato started walking carefully, "Anyone have a flashlight?"


    Sakura and Ai both shook their heads. Sato sighed, "Well then, I guess as usual it''s up to me."


    Sakura sneered, "Okay, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Sato."


    No matter what he did Sakura still managed to find some way. If making fun of him was a business, Sakura would be the CEO. Sato grunted, "Just shut up and come on." He pulled out his lighter and lit up a stick to use as a torch.


    Sakura was looking around when she noticed a light other than Sato''s coming from the right side of the cave. "Hey, Sato. Look over there."


    "What is it Sakura?" Sato turned to see the light emitting from the other side of the cave. "Come on. Let''s go check it out. Stay behind me okay?"


    Sakura responded, "Sure. So just asking in advance but would you like me or Ai to clean up your blood?"


    Sato sighed, "Just come on." Sato led everyone further into the cave where the light was coming from and bumped into something. "Hey, what was that?"


    "So then. You''re the human I''ve been smelling." A young boy about fifteen was standing in front of Sato. His sapphire blue eyes burned with rage.


    "Who are you and how can you smell humans?" Sato tried to ask calmly to avoid blowing his cover.


    The teenager snickered, "My name is Arashi and I''m a Fire-Bat Bakemono. So that''s how I can smell you," he replied grabbing his red jacket proudly.


    Sato noticed his bat wings and flaming claw-like hands. "Oh, I see."


    Sakura looked uneasy, "But how is that possible? The Fire-Bat Bakemono are all supposed to be dead."


    Sato turned to Sakura, "How come?"


    "You don''t need to know, human! "Cause you''re about to die yourself! Arashi shouted extending his arms back. He dashed towards Sato, his bare feet clapping on the ground. The distance quickly decreased between them. "Die!" Arashi brought his flaming claws forward slashing at Sato''s neck.


    "He''s fast!" Sato thought as he barely managed to roll out of the way. "Crap. This dude isn''t playing around." Sato rose his arm, pictured a gleaming silver sword with a deadly sharp blade and shouted, "Illustrate!" It appeared firmly in his hand. He inhaled calmly swinging it to his side. "I think I''m getting used to this."


    Arashi snickered, "Good. Cause it''s the last time, you''ll ever be using it in this life!" Arashi swung his flaming claws. Sato struggling to dodge his attacks got injured after every blow.


    Sakura was starting to get worried, "Sato needs my help! Watch our backs, okay Ai?"


    Ai pounded her chest, "You got it!"


    Sakura nodded, "Good." She sprinted towards Arashi from behind. She extended her leg swinging it at Arashi.


    Arashi ducked countering with a blazing kick of his own. "You''re strong alright. A Strength Bakemono, I believe? But you''re not fast enough to take me on. You can''t rely on pure Strength alone to win your fights!"


    Sato ran towards Arashi swinging his sword at Arashi''s legs. Arashi grabbed onto the sword lifting himself into the air, "Well, it would''ve been a good plan. If your opponent couldn''t fly," Arashi laughed.


    "Damn it! How could I have forgotten something so simple?! I''m losing it."


    "Now prepare to die, human!"


    Arashi crossed his arms in front of him in an x-shape and soared down at Sato preparing to slice him in half.


    Sakura desperately tried to run to Sato''s aid but it was clear that she won''t get there in time. As soon as Arashi made contact he realized it wasn''t with Sato but with a pure white barrier shield.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Sato opened his eyes and noticed he was inside a familiar shield and looked over to Ai. "Don''t you worry, I''ll protect you, big brother. You just keep on fighting!"


    "Damn shield! That girl has to go." Arashi charged for Ai with his burning claws. Sato and Sakura desperately tried to catch up. Arashi was already right behind Ai.


    Sato and Sakura both shouted in unison, "Ai, no!" Suddenly rocks tumbled down from the top of the cave like dominoes.


    "Hey, if you survive this, meet me on the outside of this cave. We''ll finish our fight there." Arashi flew off swiftly avoiding the avalanche until he slammed into a giant Rock Bakemono. His wings went limp as he fell to the ground.


    Sato looked up at the huge Bakemono man entirely constructed of rocks. "Come on! We have to find another way out and quick!"


    Ai looked over at an unconscious Arashi, "What about him?"


    "What about him?" Sato answered with a question.


    "Aren''t we gonna help him?"


    Sato looks at Ai perplexed. "But he tried to kill you, me, and Sakura." He didn''t understand why Ai would want to help that jerk. He knew she was a kid and all. But he thought even Ai would understand helping the guy who just tried to kill them moments ago was a bad idea.


    Ai shook her head, "He didn''t mean it."


    Sato arched his eyebrows, "How can you tell?"


    "I''m a Magic Bakemono, remember? I can read people''s true thoughts and feelings. Not entirely as good as my parents can but right when I put up the shield I could tell his attack was too weak to kill you. He never wanted to kill any of us. He does despise humans but he never would''ve actually killed you, Sato. He couldn''t bring himself to."


    Sato looked over at Arashi, "Fine. I''ll go get him."


    Sato started walking when Sakura grabbed his arm, "How are you going to get him without getting caught by the Rock Bakemono?"


    "Oh right. I forgot." Sato laughed scratching the back of his head. "I know!" He pulled out his rope and managed to loop it around Arashi and pull him back. "Now let''s get out of here."


    Once everyone reached safety Arashi started to wake up, "Where am I?"


    Sakura answered, "You''re still in the cave. You were about to leave when you got knocked out by crashing into that Rock Bakemono, remember?"


    Arashi rubbed his parted orange-haired head, "Oh yeah." He immediately stood up, "So why are you guys helping me?!"


    "Geez, ever hear of thank you? Just shut up and be grateful we didn''t leave your ass in the avalanche." Sato crossed his arms. He knew something like this was going to happen.


    "What did you say to me?" Arashi asked irritably.


    "I said you should be thanking us for not letting you die in this cave where you belong!" Sato yelled.


    "I knew I should''ve killed you when I had the chance!"


    "Likewise!"


    Sakura stepped in, "Guys calm down. We don''t have time to be fighting each other right now. We have to take down the Rock Bakemono and get out of this place in one peace. If you waste time fighting like this Sato. We''ll never find Niji."


    "Hold on. Did you just say you''re looking for Niji? As in the Warrior Bakemono Niji?"


    Sato responded for Sakura, "Yeah, what of it?"


    "Do you know where he is?"


    Sato smirked, "Yes I do, actually. But I''m not telling you."


    "You asshole tell me where he is right now!" Arashi yelled furiously as he choked Sato by his shirt.


    Sakura answered Arashi, "We don''t know exactly but he''s somewhere in Silverwald Country. Queen Hikari told us that he changes where in Silverwald Country every day."


    Arashi dropped Sato carelessly on the ground, "Silverwald Country, huh?"


    Sato got up rubbing his butt, "What''s the big deal, anyway? Why do you wanna find Niji so bad?"


    "That''s none of your business human!"


    "Okay! First of all, would you stop calling me human! My name is Sato! And second of all, it was a just question; you don''t have to get all pushy about it!"


    "Please, Arashi," Sakura said endearingly. "Since we have the same goal in mind. We would like to know your reason for pursuing him. And if we do it will help us become closer as we travel together."


    "What?! Sato interrupted, "Who said he could come with us?!"


    "We did obviously. We had a unanimous vote on it." Sakura answered.


    "I don''t remember any vote."


    "Well, you shouldn''t," Sakura said simply. You weren''t included. Only me and Ai voted."


    "Say what?!"


    Sakura laughed, "So, come on Arashi. Please tell us why you''re pursuing Niji."


    Arashi sighed, "Don''t I get a say in this? Fine. Well as I''m sure you and the little one know, the Fire-Bat Bakemono have all been wiped out about nine years ago. However, I am the sole survivor. No one knows the mysterious Bakemono who wiped out all of them. No one except me. The Warrior Bakemono Niji killed my family and so now I''m gonna kill him. And after Niji, you''re next, human."


    Sato scoffed, "Yeah, right."


    "Do you wanna be burned to a crisp, punk?!" Arashi yelled as his claws started burning again.


    Sakura asked Arashi another question, "So then, why do you hate humans so much?"


    Arashi raised an eyebrow, "Don''t you two? You are also a Bakemono after all."


    Sakura shook her head, "No, I was outcasted for looking like a human. And I think Ai is too young to know about the war."


    Arashi nodded, "I see. Well, I actually don''t hate humans because of the war. I hate them because the last Illustrator killed my father."


    The Rock Bakemono came running in blindly smashing the ground. Everyone jumped out of the way. Sato picked up his sword which surprisingly hasn''t disappeared yet. He ran at full force ready to cut off one of the Rock Bakemono''s legs.


    Arashi dashed forward with his flaming claws, "I got it." He jumped up into mid-air flapping his bat wings, slashing away at the Rock Bakemono in pure fury, "Embarrass me by knocking me out while I was distracted, will you! Prepare to die!"


    Arashi brought his leg upward igniting it with flames, "Say your prayers!" Arashi shouted slamming his blazing leg onto the Rock Bakemono''s head. It collapsed into dust. Arashi landed flawlessly on his feet. "And that''s how it''s done, human."


    "If you call me human one more time, I swear…"


    Arashi ignored Sato, "So Sakura, right? Where are we headed to next?"


    "We''re going to a small village just beyond this cave. Oh, look an exit!"


    "So then, we''re almost there." Arashi looked over at Sato and grinned, "Hurry up or you''re gonna slow us down. Human."


    Sato articulated the words, "I…hate…you."