Her yellow eyes brightened, a smile spreading across her face that spelt nothing but sick satisfaction at the idea of carving Takabi open again. Despite her expression, at the moment her mind was split between cold, calm and calculating and sick psychopath.
"That form," She said to herself. "The true form of Fallen Angels. Delectable."
Slowly, the wind began to blow back from Takabi and the Hunter. Nana shielded her eyes as the sharp breeze grew heavier. Her hair blew wildly, the immense pressure of Takabi's ever growing mana leaving her muscles stiff with tension.
Takabi grit his teeth, the violet tattoos that littered his body glowing in contrast to his pitch black skin, pain roaring through him. The sheer anger at Nana's condition choked it and repressed any other emotion within his mind.
"How DARE you hurt her!"
His fist came up fast, striking the Hunter in its chin.
The demon stumbled back, a second shockwave triggering a quake under their feet.
Nana struggled to keep her balance, eyes wide as earth began to rip apart.
Roaring loudly, violet flames leaving his throat, he threw rapid fists, striking against, above and under the Hunter's attempts to block. His fists came heavy and hot, violet fire and lightning surged around him and fangs elongating more, darkness clouding his eyes and mind. With each strike came a sudden jump in his movements. His speed completely unreadable for short bursts.
The Huntress took a step back, her excitement fading, being replaced with a thin layer of fear.
This boy was different. More wild, more blood thirsty.
It showed when Takabi opened one of his fists, bringing his fingers up and slicing through the Hunter's arm, severing it completely. Dark blood splashed through the air as he flipped over the creature, landing and sliding with his back turned to the Huntress. She took that moment to grab a few needles and throw them, each one piercing his back and exploding on contact.
He slowed, turning back to her, his eyes pure violet.
He looked like a genuine demon.
The Hunter charged him, and with its remaining arm, raised its fist in an attempted to strike.
Takabi gripped the creature's knuckles, tearing the second arm clean from its socket. Blood splashed on his face as he tossed the arm away, legs bending in a crouching position.
Takabi leapt at the Hunter, forcing it to the ground and tearing into it with his teeth. Blood rained on his body, but he didn't care. Takabi couldn't grasp what he was doing.
All he wanted was the taste of blood on his tongue, to bathe in it, to be surrounded by it. He tore into the throat, grabbing the lyrix with his teeth and ripping it free, spitting it away and looking at the Huntress. Stepping off the convulsing Hunter, his fingers twitched and the creature burst into violet fire.
One step forward.
One step back.
Fear sat in her eyes, more prominent, more powerful. Fear of the creature she was hunting. Fear that it would not just kill her, but worse.
Torture. Twist and mangle her limbs, rip out her insides, feast on her heart, and when satisfied, then kill her. Visions of her death, not swiftly, but agonizingly slow and painful beamed into her mind.
She dropped to her knees, limbs shaking. "I… I…"
No words formed, even as she looked up and spotted him standing over her. His head craned to the side, wings stretching out wide.
He wanted to kill her. He was itching for her blood on his hands.
"Takabi, enough!"
The voice. That voice that kept him anchored.
"Stop it, please!"
Why did it plead with him? Stopping? Why stop?
Arms wrapped around him tightly. Warm liquid touched his back, as well as two round mounds of flesh. The grip was weak, but enough for him to turn his attention away from the Huntress. She looked up, quickly turning on her heel and rushing away into the darkness of the trees, whimpering as a frightened pup would.
Nana looked up at him, the tears in her eyes refusing to stop, even as his body began to regress. The violet markings faded away, black skin returning to its coco color, and long hair shortening to its shoulder length. His darkened eyes blinked, a gentle light touching them.
His body spun around, and he caught Nana just before she passed out. "Nana! Nana, wake up!"
The flames died as the Hunter's body turned to ash.
Kairas pulled himself from the tree branch, landing on his feet as his own Gem markings faded, and his stomach wound healed itself shut in a swirl. The twins looked at each other, then turned back to the Resort and Takabi let out a sigh.
"Let's head back. She needs medical attention."
-------------------------------------
The three sat in silence around the bed. Takabi frantically tapped his finger against the chair, watching as Nana's parents moved their palms over her body.
She was bandaged up, and they managed to close the wound in her shoulder. Her pulse was stable, but weak. They couldn't hide the worried expressions on their faces, but it had eased greatly since they came in and began working.
Takabi and Jewel managed to diffuse the worry downstairs with the faculty for the school and other students, but they would have to give a full report of the events of what happened, as a statement for the police to investigate.
Takabi, since he was the only one with the full details, figured he would lie and send them on a wild goose chase. Better than risking innocent lives going after a Huntress.
"She's going to be okay," Mary finally said after lowering her arms. "Some broken bones, but nothing severe. They'll heal up in a few hours." She stood from her seat by the bed, walking around and taking Takabi's hands. "Don't worry. She'll live."
"Thank you, Mary," He said, voice croaking. He stood up and walked to her side, looking down at Nana and touching her face softly. "She saved our asses… When she wakes up, I owe her so much."
"Consider yourself lucky that she loves you so much." Michael huffed and stood next. "Normally, if you were anyone else, I'd have kicked your ass across the world and back. You've done just as much to help her as she helped you though, plus I can't make her mad." He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Take good care of her, okay?" His eyes flicked back to Kairas. "Both of you." He said, before taking Mary's hand and leaving the room.
Silence gripped them again, Jewel unsure of what she could say. If only she were there, maybe she could've helped. Judging by the twins' expression, something in her told her it wouldn't have mattered in the end either way.
"You gonna be alright," Kairas asked suddenly. Takabi nodded.
"Yeah. You guys can go rest. I'll watch her."
Kairas nodded and stood from his chair. Jewel followed him out the room, but not before giving a glance back at her friends before shutting the door.
"They finally gone," Nana asked, opening her eyes slowly. "Thought they'd never leave.." She tried sitting up, but Takabi placed a hand on her chest and kept her down.
"No, yo need rest."
She didn't argue with him. She lacked the strength to. Takabi could see something in her eyes though. Lingering frustration. Something was bugging her. "Wanna talk?"
At first, she said nothing, gripping the sheets with her fingers weakly. Moments passed until she finally spoke, but when she did, her voice broke, once again giving way to a few tears. "I… can't do anything for you."
"You're still hung up from earlier," He asked. "Look, they were just too much. That's all."
"I gave it my best, and it didn't matter." She looked him in the eye. "Why do I bother at all? I'm weak. I tried to fight and got royally fucked up as a result. I tried so hard to..." She paused, sniffling painfully and taking a deep breath. "T-...To be like you. Be strong.. Somehow make it out and I couldn't do shit."
"Nana. I told you." He brushed his thumb against her lips. "You're amazing. You think any of these other girls would've held out as long as you did? I don't care if you're strong or not, either way you saved my ass."
"But I ended up lying in this bed, looking like a hot, fucking mess." She bit her lip.
He kissed her forehead gently, eyeing her down and smiling. "No. You're still beautiful, day in, day out. Strength isn't everything either. You had the will to save us, that means more to me than anything."
"But how can I protect you if I end up like this!"
"I don't need you to protect me." He tangled their fingers together, placing a kiss on the back of her hand. "I just need you at my side. That's all. Beautiful, smart, and caring Nana. The girl I fell for as a kid, and will keep falling for no matter what."
She watched him. Her stomach twisted in knots, and she felt the butterflies bubble up and melt away her worries. His gentle eyes, caring words, made her forget for a moment.
Or was it the possible brain damage?
She didn't care either way. "Do you mean that… Truly? Or are you just bullshitting me?"
"Okay, where did all the swearing come from?" He asked, laughing.
She smirked. "Maybe from you, when I sucked it out." He went silent, face developing a red hue. Nana averted her gaze for a moment, the smile fading from her face when she said, "Just… Don't ever lose sight of yourself again. Please.. I can't stand seeing you turn into that… That form."
He thought back. He remembered it all, and the taste of blood still lingered on his taste buds. He knew he'd have nightmares for a while. "I won't." He said, touching his side. "I'm going to start training tomorrow, to control the Gems. At least so I can keep my mind and retain myself with its power."
She nodded, pulling on his shirt to sit up and kissed him lovingly. Breaking away, her head rested on his chest, listening to his heart, drinking it in to make sure he was still alive.
He was.
And it calmed her.
"... Hey.. Baby."
"Hm," He replied.
"Can you do me a favor," She asked.
He looked down at her, and said, "Anything."
"Can you take me away from this? For a little while?" She asked. At first he didn't know what she meant, but when they locked eyes and she tugged his shirt again, he said, "Ohhhhh.. Maybe after you're feeling better, okay?"
"I am!" She exclaimed, then winced and rubbed her throat. "Sort of…"
"Yeah, calm down, you little horn dog."
"Says the horn dog." She barked back, rolling over on her side and shutting her eyes. He watched her, touching his side and exhaling.
This Gem is becoming a real problem, Takabi thought. He needed to take care of it, and soon, otherwise he may not be able to save her next time.