One of Gabby's worst fears was confirmed that day... A hellish experience with one of the most ruthless yokais around.
The Aka Manto, who had earned his name by the countless victims of his tricks and almost unescapable question.
The yokai looked at her with furious eyes, as he cannot kill her unless she chooses one of the colors he put as an option.
It was one of the unbreakable rules that is designed for his very existence.
The frustrated Gabby didn't reply and begged him to let her go. But the yokai didn't, and persisted to persuade her to pick a color.
AKA MANTO: RED OR BLUE?!
Gabby's eyes watered as she realized how deep of a trouble she had put herself in.
She uttered prayers and concern as the entity kept asking and asking her loudly.
She kept crying, and out of desperation tried to run away from him.
He lets her go.
And she finds herself completely lost in the darkness.
She wanted to shout his name.
But shouting it would be a fatal move.
It's obvious that the yokai wanted to kill her.
And she shouldn't, at any cost fall to his trap.
She should buy some time for Red and the others to rescue her, or doom would fall...and she'll never be seen again.
After picking up the remaining of her courage, she stands up from the dark ground, and started to look for a way out. But everything was the same. She's getting nowhere.
Suddenly, the yokai appeared before her. His mask half covering his face.
He looks surprisingly... quite youthful and young.
Gabby angrily pushes him away, which amazed the yokai.
AKA MANTO: How dare you resist me?
GABBY: HOW DARE YOU FREAKING KIDNAP ME?! WHAT WRONG HAVE I EVER DONE TO YOU?!
AKA MANTO: I need you...to answer me, then...I'll get what I wanted.
GABBY: What is it that you wanted?!
AKA MANTO: For this...
He removes his mask completely, exposing his burned face and a wrecked smile.
AKA MANTO: ...to disappear..
Gabby felt even more scared, she screamed for help.
But try as she may...she seemed alone.
...
Red's anger cannot be described. He had lost her yet again. Why can't he protect her?
It seems like she had always been a target.
But why?
Why does a yokai want her for?
Then his thoughts came back to Jinko.
He hasn't yet been banished.
Although he couldn't fathom how he could have bribed him to capture her, he's going to do anything he can to have her back.
No one...
would hurt her and live to be unpunished.
Perhaps a year of staying with her and the continous growing urge to always protect her made him stronger than he was the last time.
After all...
No one stays the same.
His aura was so strong that nearby plants wilted in his foot's pressings.
He left the party saying that Gabby went sick and was on a taxi. The newlyweds approved although clearly sad.
When he left, that is when they noticed a path of wilted flowers, that somehow looks...burned?
They never discovered the truth of the unusual event after that.
...
Humility's face was in utter disappointment after recieving Red's summon.
Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to help him, he had been summoned as well to help Nhairon with his attempt to seal a strong demon, Alistair, back to hell.
HUMILITY: If you don't want mankind to perish, you'll understand. Although I wanted to save Gabby too. But I can't just leave this.
Humility communicates by telepathy.
Red huffed. Without Humility on his side, defeating the more than thousand year old yokai would be a very big deal.
Although strong enough to hold high level entities, old spirits would always be trouble. Red is old too, but only a 160 years old. Not even enough to finish the yokai even after 500 years has passed.
To save Gabby, he needs someone who is also old enough to handle it.
Tara!
Red teleports to the spirit realm in a quick motion. He was fidgeting, and his words were almost impossible to understand because of his speed.
Tara then calmed him down, saying he'll help him. But they need to be blessed by the Divine Empress first.
The spirit of divine light, gave them a powerful bow of light. Each arrow, can only be produced by a demon's blood, and 3000 years of storage in the Empress' chamber.
They only have 3 arrows.
The Empress said that she can't give the remaining 12 arrows because it will endanger them if ever a big threat will occur and they will be left empty handed.
The Empress wished them luck, and Red thanks her generosity, even if Gabby was just a human girl.
ALICE(DIVINE EMPRESS): I am fond of her the same as I am fond of you. Now go find her and make sure she gets home safely.
The two bowed in great courtesy and respect, then quickly headed out to save Gabby.
They only fear that by the way they arrived, it will all be too late...
Gabby may have been a pulp of a bloody mess.
And Red won't be able to do what he promised.
For her not to feel any hurt again...