Out of Time

Kymin looked at Felix for a long moment after the other male spoke, finally giving a small smile. "And I'll always love you. No matter what," he promised, taking a step back to turn and go into the bedroom to get his stuff. He stopped after only a step, his whole body freezing up when he heard a scream outside somewhere. It wasn't the scream that made him freeze up though, it was a feeling of familiarity with whatever it was that had caused the scream. "Shit," he whispered. "Felix, I-I, s-stay here, please," he pleaded, running out of the house without another word. Please don't let it be him, please don't let it be him...

Felix had moved before Kymin. The sound of the scream had drawn him away from his problems and alerted him to a new one. He knew who was out there the moment Kymin told him to stay back. The shinobi suddenly felt uneasy, but that didn't stop him from moving. He quickly moved towards the door despite Kymin's plea. What he saw outside brought fear into his heart. His blue eyes widened and he stepped back. That was Batsu?

After leaving Serenity the red eyed creature had found it's way to the Crested. He'd broken through the gate alerting everyone in the village with his presence and to make himself even more known, he set the first few buildings in his presence on fire and then found a building high enough for everyone to view him on. His wings spread, he stood steady with his wings spread out to their full lengths. "I'm looking for a shinobi. One with silver hair. I have been informed that his name is Felix Kuriyama. Find him and bring him here, if you do not comply, I will kill each and every one of you in the slowest way possible, starting with your children." His red eyes glowed with malice as he gave them all a nice toothy smile. "Your time starts now." As if to let them all know, he set the very building he stood on aflame.

The very moment Kymin saw Batsu, he seemed to freeze up. The words the black winged creature spoke didn't ease his fear. And Felix had even come outside with him. It was Felix or the village, and Kymin would not have either one destroyed. He couldn't. The black haired ninja turned his gaze to Felix. "Go back inside, o-or help villagers escape, I don't care, but whatever you do, stay out of sight," he ordered quickly, his green eyes wide with obvious fear. Despite the fact that his whole body was trembling in fear, he took off towards the tower Batsu was on. He didn't know how, but he was going to lead Batsu away from here.

That thing was looking for him? Felix wasn't sure he'd ever met something as terrifying as Batsu, and the scary part was, he hadn't even seen the thing up close. He glanced at Kymin as his lover spoke. "The hell if you think I'm going to hide," he snapped defiantly. "This is my home and I'll be damned if I let that thing destroy it." The silver haired shinobi narrowed his eyes as Kymin ran off. "Where the hell does he think he's going?"

Batsu dropped down from the tower as he picked up the familiar scent of the Onihana. "I thought I'd at least kill your friend first," he said as he started towards Kymin. "I thought you shinobi were supposed to be more than cowards, but I suppose not." The creature with black wings flashed his canines at Kymin as he spread his wings. "I'll just kill you all at the same time."

Kymin hated that at this most crucial time, Felix wouldn't listen to him. He didn't understand what Batsu was capable of. He hadn't seen the thing pulling mass amounts of souls into his body. He stopped running when Batsu landed in front of him. In fact, he stopped altogether. He had to keep thinking that this was his master's soul, and if he could get Batsu to remember that, maybe he'd have a better chance. "L-leave him alone," he said hoarsely. "I-it's me you're after anyways, isn't it?" He took a step back once Batsu spread his wings out. "W-wait, please...I know who you were before you became this, a-and I-I want to help you," he stuttered. God damn it, his body was freezing up again and he could barely even get his words out. He kept thinking of the last time he'd encountered this being, and it wasn't helping at all.

Batsu smiled when Kymin told him to leave Felix alone. "Yes, you are the one I wish to kill, but I want to tear apart everything that matters to you first." Batsu's smile widened. "Just like that girl with the brown hair." Batsu didn't care for who he used to be, all he knew was that he existed now and that was enough. "You can't help me," he spoke coldly. He raised his hand to remove the heart of the man before him, but a kunai came from no where, causing him to draw his hand back. Batsu glanced to where it had come from and found a line of shinobi standing on a building. In the lead was Midori and beside her was Kade. Batsu huffed. "Pointless." As if to eliminate the villages defense, his wings covered him. He was preparing for another devastating attack. It was similar to the supernova in the Sunlight, but much more direct. However, just as Batsu prepared to release the attack, a flash of silver swept past, dragging Kymin out of the crossfire. The explosion took out the face of the closet buildings, but it didn't reach the shinobi or Kymin.

Felix glared at Kymin. "What the hell do you think you're doing," he snapped. "You do not freeze in front of the enemy. That thing is not your friend!" Felix glanced over his shoulder and then stood up straight. "You stay here." Felix pulled a kunai and then started towards Batsu. Already Midori and her group were reappearing, ready to protect their home.

Kymin was pulled out of his state of fear when he found himself being dragged off, followed by an explosion. But even with Felix yelling at him like that, the black haired ninja still found himself frozen, but for a different reason this time. Batsu had gotten to Kana? Oh god, Batsu had gotten to Kana. Kymin looked to Felix when the guy told him to stay there, then ran off. "No...no! Felix!" He couldn't let them both die. He couldn't lose them both. Immediately after Felix left, Kymin ran out. He didn't know how he would beat Batsu, or lead him away, because he was neither faster or stronger than the red haired monster, and he had very few jutsu to help him change that. For now he just had to make sure Batsu didn't kill Felix. Because if that happened, it would be all to hell with trying to help the thing.

An all out battle was breaking out between the God of Chaos and the shinobi of the Crested. Neither was willing to give in, but it didn't matter, Batsu had the upper hand. It was apparent and all the ninja not fighting were trying to get the villagers out. However there was no stopping the wrath of the monster that had invaded their village. Each shinobi fell to his or her demise the moment they where close enough to be in Batsu's gasp. No jutsu was powerful enough to bring down the red eyed beast. Both Midori and Kade had stayed back and preformed their most powerful jutsu, but Batsu was hellbent. He left his spot on the ground and went straight for the two of them.

Felix however was not going to sit back and watch everyone he knew be slaughtered. Without a second's hesitation he pulled his scroll and sent it flying in Batsu's direction. It exploded in a ball of smoke and out came the Executioner. The yellow furred creature went to snap down on Batsu, but the winged creature turned and ripped the summoning in half. Felix wasn't sure if he'd seen correctly. How could it be so fast? He didn't have much time to think. Before he realized it, Batsu was on him. Felix nearly froze, but instinct told him to keep fighting. The shinobi grabbed his kunai and aimed it right for Batsu's side only to be stopped without a struggle.

"I promised someone I wouldn't harm you, but I think I've changed my mind," Batsu growled.

Kymin couldn't do much for long ranged battle, since he had no weapons on him, but the second he saw Batsu on Felix, his body moved without his say-so. He ended up tackling the black winged being off Felix and pinning him to the ground as best as he could. All in the same movement, a bright silver glow in the shape of a katana was in his hand and he was aiming to bring it straight down into Batsu's wing towards the part closest to where it connected to the creature's back. His mind was barely working as he did this, because he knew that bringing out Ira Vangloria so close to Batsu was a bad idea. He didn't care. He was going to protect Felix no matter what it took!

Batsu wanted to tear out the heart of this man before him, but before he could he was tackled to the ground. Batsu saw a flash of silver, similar to the last time he'd met the man with black hair. Batsu glared at Kymin and tugged on the soul of the shinobi. As he did this, he used his other wing as a shield to protect the one Kymin had been aiming for. All in the same moment his hand glowed red and he made an attempt to grasp Kymin's throat. He'd just rip it out.

Felix could feel his heart beating heavily in his chest. Fear and adrenaline was making him feel this way. Getting up he looked to Kymin who had pulled a silver blade. Felix was sure it was the same color as his soul. Struggling to his feat, the silver haired male moved towards Kymin and Batsu, a bit of uncertainty crossing his face when he saw Batsu use his wing as protection. Something was not right at all. He could feel it in his very being that something was about to go terribly wrong.

As soon as Kymin realized his blade wasn't going to hit its mark, he "sheathed" it and aimed a punch as hard as he could to Batsu's chest. The goal was to make it harder for the creature to move, to that even if he couldn't convince Batsu, it would be a little easier for the others to take him out. He felt that pulling sensation from last time at the same time he saw Batsu's hand move towards his throat. A small gasp escaped the green eyed man at the feel and he put his hand to his side. "You're the one who taught me, so you sho-uldn't expect me to give up so easily," he managed to say, drawing out Ira Vangloria once more in an attempt to completely slice off the arm that had a hold on his neck. He didn't care anymore. It was all or nothing now. If he couldn't help Batsu, then one way or the other, he was going to make sure the creature was taken down, whether it was by his hand or the village's. Though...Kymin had noticed that the silver light Ira Vangloria shown with had grown a bit dimmer, like it was fading, or as if it was being consumed. He was feeling weaker because of it, but he wasn't going to give up.

Batsu was at a slight disadvantage. Kymin was willing to fight back which was not part of what Batsu had wanted. His eyes narrowed as he felt Kymin punch him and a moment later he heaved Kymin off of him to avoid the loss of his arm. Batsu wasn't going to lose his life like this. He'd worked to hard to survive. The steely eyed creature aimed his wing at Kymin's chest. He wasn't going to die here, no, he was going to live.

Kymin was starting to realize something he should have realized a long time ago. Whether this thing had the same soul as Master Yukari or not, it was not him. It couldn't ever be him, and it was Kymin's fault that this soul had ended up like this. He hadn't been strong enough back then to prevent that clan from trying to use his master's soul for their own gain. But he was strong enough now to right that wrong. He was strong enough now to put this soul to rest once and for all. As he was heaved off, he fell backwards, rolling to the side to avoid being struck by the wing. Kymin quickly got to his feet and aimed Ira Vangloria right at the wing that had just tried to impale him. He could see silver mist coming off his blade, almost like it was bleeding. "Somebody get me a real sword!" he called back without looking, a bit of panic seeping into his voice. It was hard enough keeping the soulsword out for long periods of time even without it being pulled on. If he didn't get a real sword soon, he'd start losing his balance and becoming disoriented. In a fight against a creature like this, that was the last thing he needed.

Batsu was clearly not happy about the blade piercing his wing. Instead of faultering and retreating he reach out to the sword to take it in his grip. "I'm going to destroy your soul," he said as he shifted his free wing. That same wing caught aflame and Batsu grinned. "You're afraid to not exist. I must be your greatest nightmare." The red haired demon's entire body caught on fire, including the wing that was impaled. He was going to create a miniture supernova and Kymin was right in the line of fire. Before he could finish what he was starting, a tiny voice traveled across the clearing.

"KYMIN!!!" The tiny voice belonged to Christian who had been following the other orphans that were being evacuated. He'd stopped when he'd seen that creature attacking Kymin. He was terrified, but he was hoping Kymin would hear him and fight back. "Don't give up!" he shouted. Batsu took full advantage of the moment. He released the supernova without warning. Both Christian and Kymin were in range. Batsu would kill them all.

Felix didn't very often find himself in such a perdicament. His blue eyes widened as he saw Kymin and Batsu going at it and Christian nearby. Then that bastard creature released an explosion. Felix had to choose between his lover and the orphan he basically called their own. Felix felt at a loss, but he moved for Christian. At the same time he allowed the water spirit to take over, sending a stream of water around Kymin to protect him, but with his fiance being at such close range, Felix wasn't sure.

Kymin tried to step back once Batsu took a grip on Ira Vangloria, his eyes widening when the monster's wing set alight. To say he wasn't terrified would be an obvious lie, but when he heard Christian's voice calling to him, his head turned his that direction, and the fear he felt doubled. "C-Christian," he whispered. Christian was too close, and Batsu was setting himself on fire. He didn't know what Batsu was going to do, but he knew it wasn't going to be anything good. And then he saw Felix move for the small boy, and he knew what was about to happen. And he was too close to Batsu to get away in time. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to try. Since he couldn't sheathe Ira Vangloria anywhere but at his side, Kymin yanked it downwards, half hoping to slice Batsu's hand in the motion and half hoping to get it sheathed in time.

When the explosion hit Kymin found that he'd flown backwards and hit what remained of the wall of a building. Ira Vangloria had disappeared and the black haired ninja felt himself drained in more ways than one. Even with the protection from the water shield, his chest had gotten burnt badly and his shirt was slowly burning away. He didn't know if Christian and Felix were safe, and that was what hurt him most. Kymin sat for only a few moments with his head bowed before he slowly and unsteadily pushed himself to his feet. He felt dizzy, and the world was a blur of motion around him. But he was aware of his shirt burning around his skin, so he slipped it off as he tried to figure out what was going on around him.

Lain had seen what was going on outside, and she'd heard Kymin call for a sword. She didn't know what was up with that glowing sword he had, but he'd sounded desperate. After apologizing to Mori, she'd quickly ran off to where she remembered that weapon store being. There was no one in it and the door was open, so she went inside and looked around for a sword that looked like the one Kymin had, only the one she found had a black sheath and gold edges. She had to climb on the counter to get it, because of how short she was, but when she had it, she jumped off the counter and ran outside just in time to see the explosion. Her eyes widened and her ears laid back in fear, for her hat had fallen off earlier when she'd been running. Taking a shaky breath, the brown haired neko girl ran towards where she'd last seen Kymin, only to see him against a building, slowly getting up. He looked really hurt, and that scared Lain even more. She glanced towards the monster doing this before looking back to Kymin. "Kymin! Catch!" She was beyond glad that when she threw the sword, Kymin caught it and looked at her with a nod as if to say 'thanks'. Glancing back to the black winged creature, Lain took off running back to where Mori and the orphans were.

Batsu should have crushed Kymin's soul, but no one had ever told him not to play with his food. He growled and pulled his hand away as the blade sliced through both his hand and wing. Black feather's littered the ground, but it didn't matter because the explosion still happened regardless. He then stood and looked around at the damage he'd done before his eyes rested on the man with silver hair and the black haired boy. Batsu moved for them both, but was only able to get hold of the older male. He then turned to Kymin, his canines bared. "I will rip his very soul out if you make a single move," he threatened. As he spoke a barrier surrounded the village. "I will make every person here suffer. I will take their souls and eat the hearts. I am the curse your Clan brought upon this world." Batsu tightened his grip which happened to be on Felix's throat. "I am your punishment. I shall bring judgement upon you all."

Felix's jacket was waterproof, not fireproof. Because he wasn't as close to Kymin and Batsu, he didn't end up with as much damage. It didn't change the fact that the burns he'd received were unpleasant though. Felix got up and looked down at Christian. "What were you thinking?" The blue eyed child was speechless, but it didn't make Felix's anger ease up. Turning to survey just what the hell was going on, he founf Batsu coming for them. "Damn it." The jonin acted on pure adrenaline. Pushing Christian away, he moved in front of the smaller child. The grip on his neck made him think twice about what he'd just done. Felix couldn't breath. He grabbed Batsu's wrist, but it was pointless, the thing was too strong. Then he saw Kymin with a new blade and his lover was injured. Damn it Kymin, don't do it. He's trying to lure you in. It's you that he wants. Felix tried to get free again, but Batsu's grip only got tighter, leaving the silver haired male fighting for oxygen.  He was sure Batsu was going to crush his windpipe.

Kymin had only just unsheathed the new sword when his vision focused enough for him to see that Batsu was holding Felix. The silver souled male froze in place. He'd almost gotten so caught up in the fight that he'd forgotten what he'd been fighting to protect to begin with. Kymin slowly resheathed the sword, swallowing as he did so. Batsu was getting desperate, he could see it. If they hadn't been around so many people, he would have had a chance to win, and that red haired creature knew it. After a moment, Kymin dropped the blade he'd only just acquired. "Put him down. These people have nothing to do with the Onihana," he said. He was very aware that his breathing was way heavier than it should have been. His soul was still struggling against Batsu's pull. It had been out of it's vessel too long and he felt as if it was becoming unstable.

Batsu shook his head. "I don't think so. I need souls to survive and I need this one especially." He started to pull on the souls of everyone around him. "The Onihana created me and I will destroy everything that has significance to them. Including those significant to you." Batsu seemed to get more and more upset as he spoke about the Onihana. "You could have prevented this all," he snarled. "Now you've failed."

Some days Felix was thankful for being an immortal, but some days he could do without. He felt the tug on his soul and it was frightening to know he couldn't do anything against it, but that wasn't what made him panic. It was the grip Batsu had on his throat. When the creature finished speaking, Felix felt his windpipe snap. Batsu had him lifted a few feet off the ground and there was honestly no way he could get free. Felix gave up fighting, gave up on everything. His entire body was in shock, so he barely felt it when Batsu slammed him into the earth. His lungs screamed for air, but he couldn't get any. The silver haired shinobi was close to blacking out. Fuck...

Kymin knew he was running out of time. Not only for this village, but for himself. And for Felix. He wanted to save Felix, he had to save Felix. His eyes widened and he took a step forward when Batsu slammed his silver haired lover down to the ground. "No..!" He stopped in place when he remembered Batsu's words. His green eyes shot to the red haired demon. "I'm not like them! I tried keeping them from your soul! I'm not-I'm not one of them..! Ah, I-I never wanted this to happen, I want to fix what they've done to you!" He knew he'd failed. Every time he'd thought about his Master, no matter which life it had been in, it was the only thing he could think. But now he didn't know what to do to fix it. Didn't know how to redeem himself. Didn't know what to do when all he could see were souls flowing towards Batsu. How had his kind, gentle master become this? More importantly, how could he save these people from what his master had become due to his failure?

Kymin's words fell on deaf ears. Batsu was hellbent on destroying this village. He simply didn't care to listen. As the souls swarmed around him he picked Felix back off the ground and slammed him down once more. The shinobi let out a small whimper and continued to struggle for oxygen. Between the beating he was taking and the tug on his soul, he was beginning lose the will to fight. The third time Batsu slammed him to the ground he was able to get some air into his lungs, but not enough. "This is the result of your failure," Batsu told Kymin. "You brought this upon yourself." He punched Felix in the side followed by another and another and another. "This is the result of your weakness." Cruelty was what made Batsu and it was all he knew. He had no reason to be kind. "You, Kymin Onihana are the cause of this villages downfall. You can run from me, but I will always find you." He lifted Felix off the ground and started to drag him away. "I hope you remember this day Onihana, remember the day I stole everything from you."

Kymin knew, the moment Batsu picked Felix back up, that he was done trying to negotiate. He didn't care if negotiations were still possible, he wasn't going to allow Batsu to do that to Felix. And he wasn't going to run from him anymore, either. Fuck that, he was going to hunt this monster down and destroy him. He didn't care what it took. With each word Batsu spoke and each hit placed on Felix, Kymin felt himself losing it. It would only be a matter of moments before he caved and snapped. That moment came when Batsu turned to drag Felix away. He snatched the black and gold lined sword from the ground, tossing the sheath away as he ran towards the black winged creature. His mark, at first, was to be Batsu's side. As soon as he was close enough to do so, however, he switched it up and aimed to stab right through the creature's heart. He wasn't going to stop there, though. Whether it hit or not didn't matter to Kymin, and neither did whatever pain Batsu chose to inflict on him. In the next moment the black haired ninja had Ira Vangloria out in his right hand, while keeping the black sword in his left. He aimed the silver soulsword to slice right across the red haired demon's throat. Yeah, he still remembered what it was to be a merciless samurai.

Batsu half expected Kymin to just stand there, but when the male moved to attack, the winged creature went to defense. He prepared for the attack on his side, but at the same moment found himself with a blade near his heart. The shock of it all caused him to drop a limp Felix to the ground. He then backed away as he saw Kymin's soulsword aimed at his throat. "Your effort to save these souls is a waste of time." He flapped his wings and pulled away from the blade lodged in his chest.

On the ground Felix was struggling to keep conscious. He was so tired that he just couldn't stay away. His entire body hurt and his head was spinning. He was sure this was the end. It felt like immortality couldn't save him. Felix closed his eyes. He didn't want it to end this way, but fighting it felt like a losing battle.

When Batsu flapped his wings to back up from the blade, Kymin didn't give him much time before he ripped the blade out himself. He was done talking. The quicker he killed Batsu, the more of the villagers souls he could save. Of course, that wasn't his main concern right now. His main concern was the fact that he was now the only person in the village still alive aside from his dying fiance, and he didn't know medical ninjutsu. The black haired ninja didn't respond to Batsu's taunt, and he didn't back off. Instead, he went forward again with one sword aimed to cut across Batsu's chest. In the next movement, Kymin's leg was aimed full force at the red haired being's side. He wasn't going to give this creature even a moment to breathe before he dealt his next strike.

Batsu didn't do much fighting. Most villagers ran off after seeing how he killed their friends. Batsu found Kymin's will to live surprising, too bad it was worthless. Batsu's will was much stronger. He would exist forever! Was that not what the Onihana had wanted? Not quick enough to dodge any of Kymin's next attacks, Batsu crumpled to the ground. The colorless soul glanced up at Kymin with a look of malice in it's eyes. "Killing me won't save anyone."

As soon as Batsu was on the ground, Kymin used the two swords to pin the two large black wings to the ground by stabbing them straight through. If Batsu was lucky, the silver glowing sword wouldn't start burning the area around the wound when Kymin removed his hand from it. He was already beginning to feel the effects of having the sword out so long, but he was going to finish this one way or the other. Kymin knelt down over Batsu, one knee digging into the creature's rib care to assure he wouldn't move, while his other foot rested next to Batsu. Kymin took the red haired being's throat in one hand and put pressure, his green eyes shining with anger. He ignored Batsu's statement completely. "You can either tell me what it is that will appease your tormented soul and allow me to help you find a reasonable peace, or I will rip out your soul right here and take it to the Onihana to be destroyed," he growled. "This is your choice. There is no third option."