Sato sat on his bed staring out the window. "What can I do? I barely survived my last fight with Niji when I did have my powers and King Akio at my side. If I go fight him now, I''m gonna die."


    "And why do you think the other two went?" Bunka was leaning against Sato''s open door.


    Sato looked up, "Bunka."


    "Do you think they thought they could defeat Niji?" Bunka went on. "Do you think they knew they wouldn''t die?" Sato was about to say yes when Bunka stopped him. "Because if you did, you would be wrong!"


    "Well then, why would they go if they knew they couldn''t win?" Sato wondered.


    "Because Niji kidnapped Ai! They went to go save her. You do care about here too, don''t you?" Bunka sighed, "Honestly. Are you the same Sato I know? Because right now you don''t seem like it."


    "Of course I am!" Sato argued.


    "No, you''re not!" Bunka retorted. "What I see in front of me right now...Is nothing but an insecure self-doubting typical teenager. But here''s a piece of advice, the lighter is the key." Bunka walked out of the room.


    Sato sighed as he emptied his pockets. His rope and lighter fell to the ground. Sato stared at them both. He remembered the time he fought the Eagle Bakemono and Miharu and the Pig Bakemono. He picked up the lighter and rope and ran out the door. "The lighter is the key, huh?"


    Back where Arashi''s and Yoshi''s fight was taking place, Arashi was keeping his distance from Yoshi''s powerful attacks. "Damn it all," Arashi cursed. "I can''t win this way."


    "Please!" Yoshi laughed. You can''t win at all!" The brown-haired villain released a massive blast of black wind surging straight at Arashi. It knocked Arashi back, his back crashing into the ground.


    Yoshi repeated the action as Arashi struggled to get up, breathing harder than before. "I know..." Arashi uttered. "How...to beat you."


    "Go ahead and try!" Yoshi tested him.


    "With pleasure!" Arashi rushed towards Yoshi. He took a deep breath before he charged through the Dark Wind.


    Yoshi smirked, "What a fool. I can''t believe he would actually run through the wind. You miss your friend that much, huh?" Yoshi gasped as Arashi came through the wind on the other side and swung his flaming blue claws at Yoshi. "Impossible!" Yoshi leaped back.


    "Anything''s possible. When you fight for the right reasons!" Arashi lectured him.


    Yoshi scowled, "What are the right reasons? There are no right reasons to fight! They''re all just excuses! Arashi, you and I are a lot alike. We''re both survivors. We''re both doomed to be alone forever. My entire village was destroyed by humans during the war. You and I, we''re the same."


    "No, we''re not," Arashi started. "In fact Yoshi, I feel sorry for you. We may have been alike the last time we fought. But now, there is one difference between us. I''ve learned to let go of the past and move on! And I''m not alone, I''ve made many friends over these six months without even realizing it. So don''t you for one second dare assume, that I''m anything like you!" Blazing blue flames began to frame around Arashi''s figure.


    Arashi brought out his leg delivering a powerful flaring kick to Yoshi''s mid-section. Yoshi sent out another blast of black wind towards Arashi who proceeded to hold his breath and dashed through it again. He struck his flaming claws through Yoshi''s chest. Arashi pulled back his claw, leaving a bloody wound in the area where had struck. Yoshi fell flat on his face, blood coming out of his mouth. Arashi breathed heavily as he plopped down next to Sakura.


    Sato quickly ran up to the scene where the fight had taken place, "Arashi! What happened to Sakura?"


    Arashi''s expression tightened, "She might be dead. But we might still have some time left. Sato, I''m all out of energy now, so I can''t help you. But you have to go rescue Ai. I''ll watch over Sakura until you get back."


    Sato nodded, "Right. Don''t let me down."


    "Same goes for you, pal."


    The two bumped fists and Sato ran off following Niji''s trail of black aura. He stopped when he saw the aura slope up a mountain. "You''ve gotta be kidding me," Sato threw his rope onto the first ledge of the mountain. He began climbing up the rope.


    Meanwhile, at the top of the mountain, the sun was beginning to set. Ai was chained up to a rock, "You better let me go, you big meanie! My big brother is gonna come save me!"


    Niji stared down the mountain, "I''m not too worried about Yamagata anymore. He is no longer needed. At first, I planned to extract his powers while he was in the Forbidden Book. But now that he no longer has those powers, he is useless to me." Niji turned to face Ai, "So you''ll just have to suffice. After all, your mana should be more than enough considering what you are. Plus I already got some extra when I killed the King."


    Ai grunted, "Just wait, my big brother''s gonna beat you up!"


    Niji laughed, ''How frightening. It''s almost time." Niji pulled out a strange-looking device that looked like a dagger but it had an electrical charge around it. "Pretty neat, huh? I got this back in Greydale Town. Nice shop they have there," He readied the dagger prepared to stab Ai when Sato jumped between them. Blood began to drip from his forehead where the dagger made contact, "Don''t you dare lay a finger on her. Or I''ll kill you!"


    Sato glared at Niji as his purple eyes turned to pitch black. He wasn''t going to let this monster hurt Ai, even if it killed him. He was going to tear him to shreds. He was going to make him suffer.


    Niji laughed evilly, "You? Kill me? Go ahead, I dare you to try, human!"


    Sato immediately swung his fist at Niji who caught his punch in the palm of his hand. Sato grabbed the dagger in between his fingers and pulled his fist away from Niji.


    "What? No snarky remarks?" Niji questioned.


    Sato let silence be his answer as he pointed the dagger towards Niji. Niji leaped back, "Very well then." Black aura began to shape around Niji''s body, "Come at me."


    Sato ran across the mountain terrain, decreasing the distance between the two while deflecting the black aura spikes with the dagger he was wielding. He shifted his feet to stab Niji in his blind spot. Niji''s blood dripped onto the floor.


    "Damn you, Yamagata Satoshi!" Niji yelled enraged at the fact he''s been wounded. "Die!" Niji shot out black aura spikes in all directions endangering both himself and Sato.


    Sato maintained a calm composure as he dodged the spikes by ducking and rolling out of the way. The spikes impaled into the ground leaving nothing but dark bottomless pits.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Niji unsheathed his black sword and rushed for Sato. He thrust the blade for Sato''s chest. Sato grabbed onto the sides of the weapon slightly wounding his hands and jumped over Niji. "I learned that one from Arashi."


    Niji furiously swung his blade at Sato. Sato moved from left to right barely managing the dodge the assault. The purple-haired teen stabbed Niji''s leg with his dagger.


    Niji backed away, "Damn you, Yamagata!" Niji gripped his sword tightly as it began to glow black. The Warrior Bakemono extended out the blade and a blast of black aura knocked Sato off his feet. "I admit, you had me going there for a while boy. But now that I''m all relaxed again. You don''t stand a chance."


    Sato just lied motionless on the ground. Blood seeped out from under him. His eyes slowly began to close, "Is this really it?'' Sato thought to himself. "Sakura, Arashi, and Ai. All of you were counting on me. And I failed."


    King Akio appeared in Sato''s mind, "Sato, please don''t tell me you''re giving up already? I didn''t leave my hopes of bringing humans and Bakemono together with you for no reason, you know."


    "Well, why did you?" Sato wondered.


    "Because...you''re the only one who can do it." Akio smiled. "And another thing Sato. I know I asked you to protect Ai for me. But answer me honestly. Are you still protecting her solely because of that promise?


    Sato shook his head, "No. Truthfully, I forgot all about that promise. I only protect Ai now. Because she''s my friend."


    King Akio nodded, "I thought so. Well then, prove it. It''s fine to put your life on the line for somebody you care about, but I can tell you can still go on. You can''t join me here just yet. Now get up and fight!"


    Sato''s eyes shot open as they reverted to their normal purple color. Just as Niji was about to stab Ai with the mechanical dagger, Sato grabbed the blade bloodying his hands. He threw it off the mountain. "I told you...if you even lay a finger on her. I''ll kill the crap out of you!" Sato punched Niji, knocking him back a few feet.


    Niji scowled, "Damn you. You should be dead by now." Niji thrust his black sword at Sato.


    "Not a chance," Sato grabbed the weapon and snatched it out of Niji''s hands.


    "My sword! No matter," Niji began to shoot out black aura spikes again.


    Sato deflected them with the sword. Niji backed away nervously. Sato swung the sword at Niji who continued to back away until he fell into one of the bottomless pits previously made by the black aura spikes. Sato took out his lighter, "Dad, thank you for lending me this lighter. I really wish I could''ve known you. I''m sorry for what I''m about to do." Sato chucked the lighter into the pit. A huge explosion emerged from the pit.


    "Big brother, you did it!" Ai cheered.


    Sato walked over to Ai and cut off the chains bounding her to the rock.


    A little while later Sato and Ai meet back with Arashi and Sakura. "Oh no! What happened to Sakura?" Ai asked worriedly.


    "Yoshi got her with a sneak attack," Arashi answered. "Can you try to heal her?"


    Ai nodded, "I''ll do more than try. I''ll use all of my energy!" Ai''s hands began to glow pure white as she placed them over Sakura wounds.


    Sakura''s eyes slowly begin to open, "Guys. What happened?" Everyone hugged Sakura.


    "We thought you were dead," Ai whimpered.


    "We''re glad you''re okay, Sakura," Sato sniveled.


    When they all returned to Sato''s house, they were immediately greeted by a surprise from a horde of Bakemono. "What the hell is going on here?" Sato asked confused.


    "It''s a party to honor the Heroic Four," Hibiki stated.


    "The Heroic Four?" Sakura inquired.


    Hibiki nodded, "You four. You are the ones who unsealed the Forbidden Book and freed all of us after all."


    Sato pointed to himself, "Even me?"


    "Especially you," Hibiki assured him. "You''re the one who defeated Niji. Sato, even if you are a human, not only have you earned our trust. But you have also taught us that we shouldn''t be so quick to judge humans."


    Bunka stepped in, "Okay, enough Hibiki. Stop talking. It''s time to party!" A slow song started playing. "Aw man."


    Arashi immediately went over to the wall. Mizuki walked up to him and smiled, "Hello Arashi. It''s been a while."


    Arashi smiled back, "Hi, Princess Mizuki."


    Mizuki took his hand, "Come on, let''s dance!"


    "But I can''t dance!" Arashi responded as he was dragged to the dance floor.


    "Well, now''s the perfect time to learn," Mizuki took his hands as she began leading him into the waltz.


    Ren tapped Ai''s shoulder from behind. Ai turned around, "Ren, it''s you!"


    Ren smiled and waved, "How ya been, Ai?"


    Ai smiled brightly back, "Good. How''s your mom doing?"


    "Oh, she''s out of the hospital now. The surgery was a success." Ren informed her.


    Ai clapped, "Yay! I''m so happy for you guys!"


    Sakura was on the couch with Sato''s mom. Both of them were flipping through a picture book. "And here''s Sato at his fifth birthday party opening his fire truck," Sato''s mom showed Sakura.


    Sakura chuckled, "Cute."


    Sato ran over to them and slammed the book shut, "Mom! What are you doing?! Don''t show her those!"


    "Why not? She''s your friend isn''t she?" His Mom said as he set the picture book down.


    "It doesn''t matter! She still doesn''t need to see my baby pictures!" Sato retorted.


    Sakura laughed, "Fine then. Let''s dance instead."


    "You mean, you and me?" Sato questioned.


    "Well duh! Who else?"


    Sato beamed, "Okay. Sakura would you like to dance?"


    Sakura spun around, "Of course I would."


    Sato wrapped his arms around Sakura''s waist as she grabbed onto his shoulders. The two began dancing moving from left to right. "Sato, I''m impressed. You''ve gotten a lot stronger and more courageous since when I first met you," Sakura said as they continued to dance. ''I don''t think the Sato I used to know would even come close to beating Niji."


    Sato smiled, "Well I owe it all to you and everyone else. Originally I planned to get out of the Forbidden Book all on my own. But now I realize it would''ve never been possible without all of the help I had." He was truly glad he had all his friends. If he hadn''t have met them not only would he have had a much harder time but it wouldn''t have been nearly as fun. He loved them all so much. He hoped he never would have to say goodbye to them all.


    When the party came to an end, Sato immediately asked Hibiki a question he had on his mind. "So what now? Are you guys gonna live on Earth or what?"


    Hibiki shook his head, "Sadly no. You see even though us Bakemono have learned to accept you, humans. It seems many of the humans here don''t feel the same way." Hibiki stared out into the starry night sky, "Ai! Aunt Hikari! I need your help. We need to make a planet for us to live on. But I''ll need both of your mana to do so."


    Hikari nodded, "Very well, Hibiki." Hikari held onto Hibiki''s hands transferring her mana to Hibiki.


    "Okey dokey!" Ai repeated Hikari''s actions.


    Hibiki extended his arms he began to radiate a green veil of mana. An azure oval-shaped planet formed in space barely visible from Earth. "There it is everyone. Our new home, Bakemonia. But before we leave, I''m afraid we''ll have to erase the humans'' memories of this. Even yours, Sato."


    "But why?!" Sato and all of his friends shouted in unison.


    Hibiki frowned, "I''m sorry but it''s for the best. If you were the only one to remember, no one would believe you and you''d most likely end up in a Mental Institute. I know my uncle wanted you to carry out his dreams. But rest assured, one day you will. And we will never forget your deeds for us, Sato."


    Sato nodded, "I understand. Just let me have some time alone with my friends please."


    "Never give in to the demon," Hibiki said remembering King Akio''s words. Sato didn''t know what he was talking about or how to respond so he just nodded. Hibiki and all of the other Bakemono walked away leaving Sato, Sakura, Ai, and Arashi alone.


    "Well, Sato," Arashi started. "It''s been fun," Arashi handed Sato a red handkerchief, "It''s a parting gift."


    "Arashi," Sato said lowly. "Good luck restoring the Fire-Bat Bakemono!"


    "Big brother!" Ai cried holding onto his waist. "Do we have to leave? I wanna stay here..." She sobbed


    Sato pet her head, "Yeah, sorry kiddo. I wish we could all stick together too. But we''ll see each other again one day, I promise."


    Ai held out her pinky, "Pinky promise?"


    Sato hooked his pinky around her small one, "Pinky promise."


    Ai held out her hands, revealing an orange yo-yo, "I want you to have it."


    Sato took the yo-yo as Sakura walked up to him. "Don''t forget me okay?" She gave him a pink pocket mirror.


    Sato grinned, "Come on now. How could I ever forget you, Ms. Skittles?"


    Sakura blinked back her tears and smiled, "You''re a jerk, Sato."


    He laughed, "Right back at you, Sakura. All of you, thank you for everything." The purple-haired hero said trying not to cry.


    Hibiki stepped in, "Okay, its'' time to go now you three."


    Sakura, Ai, and Arashi waved goodbye as they walked up to where the rest of the Bakemono were and Sato waved back. Hibiki warned Sato he was about to erase his memories with a countdown in the sky. The number ten floated up. Sato stared at his mirror, yoyo, and handkerchief. He took out a pen and wrote down his friends'' names on their respective items. When he finished the number five appeared in the sky. "I don''t care what Hibiki says. Sakura, Ai, Arashi. I''ll never forget you guys," As soon as he finished his sentence, zero appeared in the air, a green wave of magical energy consumed the Earth as Hibiki teleported all of the Bakemono to Bakemonia.


    Sato blinked, "What am I doing outside?" He looked down at the three items and tears began to stream down his face, "Why...am I crying?"