"Kitsune!" "Kitsune!" "Ohashi!"
Dusk was only moments away soon the area would be engulfed in darkness. The search party was getting more desperate as they matched through the forest with little result to show. It was as though she had vanished from the face of the earth.
"She said she was going to take a look at what the locals were hyped up about," said Akira, Kitsune's best friend.
"In that case, some of you will double back, and the rest will follow me to check out the area where she is suspected to be," said Mr. Hayato.
The search party split into two each group taking either of the two paths.
Cain Philip Joseph looked around the cave noting the unnatural appearance. His eyes were fixated on the glowing crystals of the stalactites, they were no stranger to his sight. They were not supposed to be in that location.
"Bite hard," he advised.
He moved and pressed the wet, torn, shirt that was once kitsune's on her forehead. The salty water stung but was effective. He wiped her wound with great dexterity all the while fascinated by the texture of the cloth. It was cotton but better processed making it softer and more comfortable. He compared it to silk.
Her smooth and delicate skin was what accentuated his gaze. He could not help but ponder over the fragility and delicacy. Not that he did not appreciate it but he could not help but wonder whether this was a weakness as a result of human evolution. Or rather devolution.
Kitsune was fidgeting as her shirt had been transformed into a bandage.
"Use this to cover yourself, my lady," he said handing her a long dark trench coat. It was the only cloth that was folded neatly in the coffin.
"Thank you, but please call me Tsune."
"Ok, Tsune. I think you are secure to be moved."
Without warning he lifted her in his thin bony arms carrying her. She was about to protest but he would not have it.
He simply said to her, "Allow me to carry you, you have broken bones and it would be detrimental should your bones pierce your inner organs."
His bare feet dug into the sand as he walked toward the opening used as the entry point. The water was waist-high for him. The distance up was very high, and the cave walls were too steep to climb up.
"The water here is salty," he said.
"Is that a problem?"
"No. It means we are at sea level. If I am not mistaken, this Island emerged recently right?"
"Not too long ago, twenty years have passed,"
"I see,"
His voice was inscrutable. It sounded as if he was showing disinterest in everything he said making him nearly impossible to figure out. She cast the thoughts aside and remained grateful he was helping.
"Do you have a plan to get out of here?"
"I do,"
"Crackle!" "Crackle!" The sound of bones breaking reached Kitsune's ears. She at him apprehensively but was taken aback by his nonchalant appearance.
Just then from his back, a pair of large crow-like black wings emerged. They spread and stretched, and she was dazed by their appearance. She could feel the wind shift as they stretched. Some worn-out feathers escaped him. They were beautiful as it was her first seeing that sight.
He jumped sending a pulse of a shockwave through the water. The water surrounding them scattered forming a small whirlpool. It was instantaneous, but she was back in the dark cave where it all started.
Before long, they were out of the cave. It was dark, the sun had just set. Cain set Kitsune down as she inhaled a lung full of air. She was out and alive.
"Finally," she said ecstatically.
She took a moment before her nerves settled and then turned to Cain. His eyes were fixated on the sky as it seemed they were witnessing them for the first time. She could not tell his thoughts, but it seemed that he was happy.
"(Philip Sama) Mr. Philip," she called out to him, " what are you planning to do now? Do you have a place to go?"
"(Tsune Chan)-Tsune, you do not have to worry about me, I will be ok."
"I wanted to thank you properly for helping me,"
"That is not necessary, like I said, it is part of the master and servant pact."
As he spoke, she realized her initial premonition about him had been misguided. He was not a monster or the devil as she thought him to be. Or if he was she concluded he was a kind Devil.
"Not to be blunt, but may I ask are you a vampire?"
"Like, the bats?"
"I mean, do you suck people's blood and turn them into ghouls?"
"Hmm! I see. I do not turn people into ghouls."
She was skeptical since he did not say whether he was a vampire or not. She went quiet because he seemed not to like the topic of discussion.
"I hear people approaching. They seem to be calling your name repeatedly." he broke the silence.
"It seems there is a rescue party looking for me, I will be fine once they find me."
"In that case, I will leave you in their care,"
"Philip Sama . . . "
"Please, call me Cain Kun (Simply Cain)."
"Alright Cain, I am in your debt. Thank you once again,"
Cain's pair of wings emerged then he jumped. A breeze swept the area as he went up into the clouds. In the distance, he could hear the rescue party making contact with his master.
In an estate in the United Kingdom, several maids and other workers stood side by side in two files facing each other. At the door of the estate, the head maid a young lady about twenty years stared into the sky.
Cain landed and in unison they all greeted him.
"Master! We are glad for your continued good health."
None dared to make eye contact as he walked. He was covered by a trench coat before he was face to face with the head maid. She curtsied as he stood in front of her.
"Lord Cain, this is the first you have gone this long without notifying me somehow. I am afraid I feared for the worst."
"Look up, Gabriel. Our reunion will have to wait. Now I have someone I want to kill."
"If you may, who is the unfortunate fool that has earned your wrath My Lord?"
"I am after the head of the Second Son of Jacob. Levi Jericoh."
A gasp was heard from her, and she looked at him with a puzzled expression. His face, however, was dead serious. He walked past her into the manor.
"My Lord are you sure?" she inquired, "It's just that I am afraid you may have picked the wrong opponent this time."
"Is that so? Your input has been noted."
In an abandoned church, dimly lit with a handful of candles, there was a girl. She stood at the altar reading a book filled with runes and symbols. She then sensed a presence, but as soon as the presence was felt, it vanished.
"Master," a young man called out to her.
"Yes, Adam."
"Did you feel that?"
"I did,"
She looked out through the broken window and had a premonition.
"For a brief moment, the gates of hell were opened, and someone got out. I have a feeling that this person will be the usher of the end."
All over the world, his arrival was heard, like the trumpets and drums of war.