Write For You [Bonding Quest]

The dead grass crunched under the oni's shoe as he stepped across the cleared out field. Such a thing usually meant it had been destroyed by fire, or a similar like, knowing the source of it though. Within Shou's grasp, he held the blade of Mabushiiken, while his crimson orbs narrowed in the direction of a short ridge that held two demons on its edge. The one that was closer, sitting atop the landmark as his dark eyes casted over in Shou's direction chuckled lightly. "Good to see you still alive and well.. you've grown stronger, it seems." The dark fire demon known as Inferne stated out loud, but Shou's eyes went to the other form. Another dark haired man, he was the brother of the demon that spoke out, dressed in a black yukata with a sash that held several sheaths along it. His arms were crossed out before him as he surveyed the approaching fire demon as well. "So this is the by product of that night.. heh."
Both challengers were here, the one of the blades and the one of the flames, demons who specialized in what he himself did but dwarfed his own abilities. Swiping his blade forward, Shou directed the tip in the demon's, who had taken his mortal life, direction. "Whats got you two about and out of hell?" The oni asked, for while he might have seen Inferne on several occassions, he hadn't seen his brother since his first becoming a demon. He truly wanted to strike out there, but there was still a long way to go before he even thought to take the two of them on at once. Their presence alone here made him question whether his safety was in danger, for if they decided to cut him down he doubted he could fend them both away. "This forest here has taken in a resident, one of our own from Onitoshi.. we're only seeing to employ his services, is all. He's got quite the techhnique." Inferne stated, tilting his head some to the side. "I didn't expect to see you here, though, Shou.. I couldn't bring myself to not say hello."
Shou's glare didn't relent off the man in the yukata though, harboring the rarely used emotion of hatred for that one. It incited a grin on the man's face. "Grudges, eh? You were strong as a human.. how strong have you become as a demon?" The man asked, his hand lowering to one of the hilts hung about his sash, before thinking better. "Heh.. we'll be taking our leave this time, though. Seek me out in hell if revenge is really what you're after. The Dark Apprentice awaits our company." The oni suddenly felt reckless, deciding he'd have his vengeance there as he began forward. The two forms of the demons wisped away into the air then and he gritted his teeth emitting a growl.
He was left alone on the spot, the only clue to finding the two of them either through the gates of hell or finding the one called the Dark Apprentice, who apparently took residence within the very woods.

The oni slipped Mabushiiken back into its sheath, emitting a sigh as he glanced down towards the ground. It was difficult to lose himself into a chaos when the fight would have held more meaning to it than simple joy. Those two were deserving of a swift and powerful vengeance.. perhaps fire against sword, and sword against fire. He certainly couldn't match them in their own prowesses as it was.
He huffed out a sigh, removing his gaze from the ground and swiped it out across the forests' trees. He figured he at least had a lead, and that was by the name of the Dark Apprentice. Apparently he had a technique that the other demons were interested in, and indeed the title struck him as familiar, himself being an oni of the Western Forest. There was no definitive location to find this man, but Shou was intent on tracking him down regardless, kicking off the ground as he took flight into the air atop a disc of flame.

He had started his ascent and flight through the air when he heard a call from behind him, barely able to discern what the creature was saying. Still it was a familiar voice, one that hardly belonged in the forest, as he glanced over his shoulder in that direction. Narrowing his eyes, it was hard to make out any figures through the cover of the trees' leaves, he noticed, especially if that woman had been in her rodent form.. he'd never come to see her from this angle.
Dropping down from the sky, his form rushed passed some trees, though avoided the branches before his shoes came to touch down on the forest floor. He stood upright as he began to move. "Atilla?" The oni asked out loud, his eyes gazing and scanning as he walked forward in search of the angel he was sure had called out his name. The oni then wondered if he'd been foolish enough to follow on what might have been his imagination. "Heh, I must miss her.."

So she was out here after all. That was surprising, especially since usually she had seemed terrified of the place were he not by her side. The oni chuckled lightly as she came into view, a grin on his face. "Practicing, huh? Fighting oni on your own all ready?" He regarded the blade with a little interest, but spoke nothing of it as he neared her and wrapped an arm around the woman's waist, his other hand coming under her chin to tilt her head back up to him as he embraced into the woman with a deep kiss. As he pulled back, he smirked to her. "You can't be shy around me, anymore. As cute as your red cheeks are, I'd rather see your smile on that face. Heh." Shou released her from his comfort, taking a step back as he averted his gaze to the side, slightly inclined towards the sky. "There's something I'm trying to find in this forest.." Taking a glance to her from the corner of his eye, he asked her with a snicker. "You feel like tagging along?"

Shou was glad to hear that he would have the woman's company. Especially if he did come across the two demons he was hunting, her help would be neccessary.. and with that aid, he was sure he could crush the both of them where they stood. "Not a thing, but a person. A demon like myself, I hear." The oni replied, taking his hand into her own as his gaze returned outwardly into the forest. "He's known as the Dark Apprentice.. I'm not sure what it is that he does, but he has some information that I wouldn't mind knowing." He began to ascend from the ground once more, atop the disc of flame that had appeared under their feet, bringing Atilla with him out over the treetops. "This could be a long search.. up here, at least, we don't have to worry about too many fights along the way." At least he had hoped not. He might have enjoyed a fight, but he moved with purpose now.

"Heh. But clear skies, for the meantime." Shou stated, oblivious to the memories and thoughts of the woman as his gaze remained forward, scanning the tree tops for any signs or clues that might have led him to the Dark Apprentice's whereabouts. The oni wasn't worried about bird demons since there didn't seem to be any about at the moment, and knowing full well that minor spirits like that wouldn't hinder him any. He sighed then, realizing he really had no idea what he was looking for.. some type of house, perhaps? This was a blind search, and the forests were very vast. "Bah.. maybe we should ask around for this place."

"Heh.. I've all ready turned my back on my kind. Hell, I might even have a reputation myself around here." The oni stated, before his eyes went down towards the forest. Finding some information would be vital if he didn't want to spend the entire day searching, certain that he couldn't scan the entire wood in a tenday. He would eventually drop from the sky and find an oni in question, one that was relatively easy to deal with since it had been in its humanoid form.
The crack of an arm greeted the fyre demon's ears, his foot planted against the back of the woman's neck, forcing her face first into the dirt as he brought her limb around in an angle that was threatening to break at the bone. A grin was set in place as he leaned forward some, "Now that I got you here, we can talk.. so start." He demanded as the female oni lifted her head off, grimacing as she tossed aside some of the blonde strands of her hair from her face. "Bastard.." As he angled her arm backward, she yelped out before grunting out a sigh of defeat. "Fine! Fine.. I know of the Dark Apprentice. But even should you find him, you're not gonna like what you come across." She seemed to chuckle some after that, and Shou snickered. "You know something interesting, then.. tell me." With that he suddenly jerked her arm to the side, bringing about the snap of the bone as her scream echoed throughout the forest, his hand snatching up her other as soon as he was done and putting her in the same position.

Shou chuckled lightly, seeming to enjoy it and not minding the volume of the woman's screams at all. The woman seethed, glaring Atilla's way as the woman seemed to ask the impossible of her. "You're not having your arms broken, are you, you little bitch?!" The woman shouted and yelped again as her other arm began to twist back around. "Ara ara.. you really don't have time to be spouting that. Tell me what you know." She winced and finally relented. "A guardian.. a strong one protects the Dark Apprentice. You'll never make it passed that.." The male chuckled, not so convinced, removing his foot from the back of her neck and hoisting the woman back up onto her feet, still holding her arm. "There ain't a damn thing in this world that can match up to me.. now, we'll have you guide us there. I didn't break your legs, so that shouldn't be a problem, eh?"

Both the demons looked to Atilla a little incredulously, before Shou simply chuckled, knowing Atilla all too well himself, and kicked the demoness ahead of the pair so that she might lead on. Were she to try and escape, Shou didn't doubt that he could bring the woman down once more.. and from the display earlier, nor did she. "You don't have to apologize to scum like this, Atilla." The oni informed her, beginning to walk behind the demoness who started down the forest, seeming sure of where she was headed. "If she was strong enough, she'd have both our heads for sure.. don't forget that demons are chaotic creatures, still, and you being an angel.. heh, you know how the oni around this forest react to that." A kami would have been a great prize to kill for any of the demons here, though Shou had set that prize into different terms.

Inner light? The oni questioned whether something inside of him existed. "Heh.. you really give me too much credit there.." Shou mumbled lightly, before glancing towards Atilla as she looked outward into the forest. He knew the difference between he and the common demon though, knew it for that key trait was before him even then. A smirk came across his expression as he looked forward once more. "The difference is you, Atilla. Thats all." After all, she kept him at bay from his chaotic impulses, reminded him of what it was like to be human once more, reminded him of that long forgotten emotion of love. The trees around them began to lessen and clear, steadily and gradually, while the landscape began to incline as they made their way up a small hill.

"Don't worry about things like that." Shou stated, his gaze now remaining forward as it seemed the scenery around them was changing with the decrease in trees. His eyes narrowed as they neared the top of the hill and the woman turned and halted her leading. "Over this hilltop.. in a small hut is where the Dark Apprentice lives. I can't go any further than this, though.." Shou rose an eyebrow, wondering if it was some trick on her part to escape from them. "Show me." He would demand, untrusting of the oni and knowing their nature. She seemed taken aback, but gritted her teeth and resigned, "Fine." She turned once more and headed to the top of the hill, the fyre demon following behind her before they reached the top. Looking down at the other side, a hut rested there sure enough at the bottom, only surrounded by a few trees. She had mentioned a guardian, but from what he could see the place almost seemed abandoned without care.
"I see.. you've cooperated well." The oni would remark, before Mabushiiken flashed forth from its sheath and thrusted into the woman demon's chest. A stunned expression overcame her, hardly registering the movements that followed as Shou brought his blade back from her and kicked her in the stomach down the hill to tumble and roll down. His movements remained on the flailing body as it continued its descent before it came to a stop. His suspiscions held true as the earth seemed to part and a claw came forth, the body of a large beast crawling forth from it. It made its way towards the body and sniffed it a few times before recognizing it as all ready being dead. Its red glowing eyes then glanced up the hill and spotted the pair, roaring aloud in their direction though not making any movements of advance.
"That'll be the guardian then." He stated, his blade still in hand at his side as he looked down towards the thing, obviously a chimera as it possessed the qualities of several animals blended into one. Its tail was slender and ended into the head of a snake that curled up to look to them as well, issuing a light hiss. The head was that of a lion, a trait that struck the pride of Shou with some anger. From its back were two large dragonic wings, and its spine seemed to be plated and external, running along down its back to the snake. Shou snickered, "Looks tough."

"Heheh.." The oni lightly chuckled, feeling the enhancements of power that Atilla placed over him. "This oughta be fun!" Shou shouted before suddenly starting down the hill in a dash, surpassing his normal speeds. While Mabushiiken remained at his side, fire seemed to flare around his form suddenly, taking on the shape of scimitars that moved with him. They then shot outwards towards the chimera and the creature roared once more, a blast of fire emitting from its gaping mouth. It shot forth and consumed the blades in their progress, but was extinguished afterwards as the two attacks came to cancel eachother out. Shou was there then, grinning as he kicked off the ground and passed the chimera by, his blade flashing as he scored a hit on the thing's neck. It was a muscled creature, though, a large one at that, and the attack didn't effect it so much. Even as he passed through the air to the side, the snake's head seemed to whip out towards him, blasting a ball of dark energy his way. The oni grunted, bringing his arms and sword out in front of him to block the attack, but he was pushed back and away from the creature, his feet coming to skid lightly across the grass and dirt. As the chimera turned in his direction once more, Shou huffed out a sigh as his movements came to a stop, grinning. "Just as I expected.. tough."

"Its a big creature.. and it seems intent on guarding that hut there." The crimson orbs went to move to the small building, before noting the opening of the chimera's mouth. "Tch!" Shou leapt from his spot, allowing a flame disc to put some distance from the location as it was engulfed in the beast's fire. Landing back down on the ground, he wondered if his own magic would be enough to down the chimera, as the blasts it emitted seemed enough to match his own. Her words didn't make too much sense to him since he didn't see how he could bring about a cold over the creature.. his magic only focused on burning. "In any case.. it looks like this isn't something I can hold back against. I'll have to go all out." The oni replied, grinning as flames began to whirl around his entire form, starting from his feet and encircling him on their way up. They consumed his being from outsiders' views, as the transformation took place within.
Coming out of the fire, his strengths boosted considerably, while his appearance was more beast like in nature. "Heh! I'll show you a true lion's power!" The demon shouted to the face of the chimera, challenging the lion within that unnatural bonding.

The oni snickered as she came into her human form, before following her gaze towards the hut that housed the Dark Apprentice. "Well.. didn't come all this way for nothing." Shou stated, slipping Mabushiiken back into his sheath before turning towards the home. He made his way towards it, coming to the door and thinking to knock. There had been an awful lot of noise out here as he and the chimera had done battle.. that might have been knock enough. Instead, his hand went to the door and pushed it open, stepping into the place. A fireplace greeted his eyes at first, giving the room its light for it seemed there wasn't any electricity present to the place. There were several weapons that lined the walls, and Shou came to remember the reputation of the Dark Apprentice being the student of the Dark Smith. Of course, it was a little disappointing to see that there was no Inferne or the other demon present, but he still hoped to find some clue.
Upon a chair in front of the fireplace was where the demon sat, the oni's eyes drifting towards his lap as he saw a pet-sized version of the chimera he had just defeated outside. "What the..?" He started, confused as he saw a cut across the thing's head, also noting the light singes at its paws. Was it the same creature he had just assumed he killed?
"You certainly did a number on him.. I don't think he's ever had wounds this bad before." The man on the chair stated out loud, glancing over his shoulder to the pair. "I suppose you'll be wanting my services, then?"

The man regarded the angel with a respectful nod, before his attention was on the demon. "Dark Apprentice." The oni stated, looking to the man in the chair that had regarded him. The demon smith stood up from his seat and stood to his full height as he turned towards them. He was most certainly a smith who must have gotten quite a deal of practice, proof of his chorded muscles that lined gigantic arms. Though they had defeated the chimera, Shou wondered whether the demon before them posed an even bigger threat to him. "I'm searching for demons.. two of them." He stated, deciding to state his business up front rather than ponder on what it was this man specialized in. "Dark-haired brothers, one named Inferne who has fire magic. The other wears a yukata with several blades.. have you seen them?"
The man didn't need any moment to think on it, having recalled the duo just earlier that day as he gave a nod. "They too fought the chimera.. it hadn't even had the chance to fully recover before the two of you took it on. I won't demerit your success in beating it, though, but its a little odd to be askin' about my customers, wouldn't you say?" Shou simply shook his head, as if it didn't matter, pressing more questions. "What was it that they came here for? Do you know where they were headed from here? Are you allied with them in any way?"
The Dark Apprentice simply held a hand up to stop the fyre demon, before he lowered it. "They were customers. Nothing more. I have the ability to imbue weapons into a host's body." Though Shou had been seeking information concerning the brothers, he blinked at the man's claim. "Eh..?"
The smith chuckled, seeing he would need to demonstrate as he had several times before. He extended his arm out, displaying a line of symbols that ran down the bulges of his arm. His other hand went to it, holding his palm over the tattooed design before it began to glow. Suddenly a warhammer phased through the flesh and into his grasp, lowering it down to his side. "As I said." The smith stated, as it were answer enough.

The oni glanced in the direction of the angel, surprised that she seemed to have witnessed this type of magic before. "Would you two be interested then? Its something of a reward to those strong enough to defeat Tiny." Shou's jaw dropped after hearing the name of such a beast, "T-tiny..? Eh.." He shook his head and the thought away, then nodded. "It seems like a fine ability.. I wouldn't mind having a weapon on me at all times, then." The oni snickered, drawing forth Mabushiiken from his sheath as he held it out in front of him. "All right, Dark Apprentice. I choose this weapon here." He decided, thinking it as simple as that.
"I'll need payment of course." The fyre demon's left eye twitched following that statement. Some reward..