She knew something he did not – she had her friends around, and at least two of them were following her all the time while they were walking away from the tavern. But before they would engage in battle, she needed to make sure to distract this creature as much as she could.
They began their fight, swirling in a deadly dance – the creature fast and bloodthirsty, and Kara – with a clear purpose in mind. She tried her best not to let him near and slashed at his flesh, sometimes even feeling her swords cut deep. But whatever she did – it seemed that the creature didn’t mind the wounds and recovered from them very quickly.
As Itsuki jumped into their fight, the creature darted to the side and suddenly – at Kara, grabbing her right arm.
Something hissed, and Kara felt her arm burning. Clenching her jaws, she kicked the creature in one of the joints, but it didn’t let go. Ayame appeared in time, cutting of its hand. Kara stumbled back from the fight, desperately trying to get the creatures hand off her arm. The pain burst again and again – in overwhelming waves, and Kara started growling, bending the clenched fingers from her arm, and once that didn’t help – began hitting the limb higher with her sword.
It took her a few moments and, finally, the stump fell to the ground, freeing her from its grasp.
Not being able to hold her katana with the right arm anymore, she sheathed her weapons one by one and saw the bottle under her feet. It was a long shot, but she looked at the creature, which seemed quite unbothered about the loss of a limb, and decided to give it a try. She tore a piece of her sleeve off and wet it with the wine, then quickly set out a spark with her sword and it flamed up.
«Strong wine!» Kara sighed with ease and ran towards the fight, looking for an opportunity to set the creature aflame.
As Itsuki and Ayame stepped aside to each take a swing at their opponent, Kara threw the bottle, aiming straight at the creature’s face.
The clay bottle broke and spilled the burning contents onto the creature, blinding it and burning through its skin.
Having such a great moment, Itsuki brought his sword down across the creature’s head, cutting it in half and sending it to the ground – lifeless and twitching.
Kara walked up, watching the body burn, and sighed – it seemed that the creature was now, finally, dead.
«Are you alright?» Ayame asked, glancing at Kara.
The young woman shook her head instead of replying. She pulled up her sleeve to see how extensive the burn was, but was surprised to see what the creature had done. The burn was located over her tattoo – the very rune she had made a long time ago. And it was shaped just like it!
Shocked to see this, Kara stepped back from the shinobi.
«No… this can’t be!» she looked at the burning body.
She turned away and started walking back to the tavern, unable to process something she thought to be impossible. How could it be possible at all if the rune was made in a completely different world?
Hurt and in shock, she stepped down the hill, ignoring her friends, until Itsuki ran up and stopped her, grabbing her shoulders and making her look at him.
For a few long moments Kara continued mumbling about the rune and demons and a blood sacrifice. But then Isuki shook her, trying to get her attention.
«What are you talking about?» he asked, freaked by her state.
«He marked me!» Kara whispered. «That bastard marked me as a blood sacrifice!»
She showed him the burn that now covered the rune – exactly how the rune was done, but now it was a real burnt rune, instead of a tattoo on her skin.
Ayame ran up, looking very concerned for Kara:
«I’ve ordered the men to burn the body and whatever we cut from it. They will report when everything is done.» She said, and looked at Kara. «What did that thing do?»
Kara showed her the burn and Ayame took her arm and examined it with a very puzzled look on her face.
«Is it possible that demon knew you?» she asked finally.
Kara shrugged her shoulders, not knowing the answer to that question.
«I don’t know…» she said. «I don’t think so.»
«Demons have a dark need to play on people’s fears and belief.» Itsuki said firmly. «My guess is that demon could have been in your world and seen you. That’s why he was so interested in you from the start. And that is why he marked you… with the rune you put on your skin years ago – because he had already seen it.»
A little lost, and still in shock, Kara let Ayame put some kind of herb onto the burn and bandage it. Itsuki – however worried he was – asked her to take Kara back to the tavern and stay with her until he will return.
Kara didn’t mind – she let Ayame walk her back and even agreed to lie down in the room that Kaito provided in the first place. As she closed her eyes, succumbing to the dizziness, Ayame sat next to her – a silent guard and caretaker for the moment.
«Rest for now, Nakano…» Ayame whispered, holding Kara’s hand. «Don’t let this bother your sleep.»
«I don’t want to be a sacrifice…» Kara replied, feeling sleep take over.
* * *
She was running – barefooted, on sharp rocks and twigs on the forest floor. The night was silent, cold and intimidating. There wasn’t a breeze of the wind, there were no animal cries and calls that usually filled the air – there was nothing. But someone was chasing Kara. It was something big, vicious, bloodthirsty and extremely fast.
The woman knew she didn’t stand a chance against the hunter that pursued her. She understood this because she saw that the hunter wasn’t alone. Everywhere she looked – there were eyes in the dark – glowing, hateful eyes of demons that were after her.
Whatever she tried – they were there to cut off any way of escaping them and their master, who was always behind Kara, but never stopping.
She was getting tired, breathless, but she felt that if she would stop – he would get her and then…
Tripping over a rock, Kara fell down onto the moist, fragrant earth. Her hands desperately grasped at everything they could find. She needed to get up – her life depended on it!
Suddenly she clenched a large branch and turned to hit her attacker, feeling the burning sensation in her rune that was burnt into her right arm. Through the black mist in her eyes, she could barely see who it was – right in front of her – leaning in and…
«Nakano!» his voice finally got to her, and she recognised Itsuki – eyes wide in fear and holding the blade of her katana with his bare left hand. «It’s me!»
Kara realised how tense her body is, and looked at her palm – she was holding Kurayami. Confused and shocked, she released the hilt and crawled back, understanding what she had done.
«I’m sorry!» she whispered, feeling tears bursting from her eyes. «I’m sorry!»
Itsuki put her katana aside and moved closer to her. Before she could move away, he embraced her gently and pressed to himself, trying to calm her down.
«It’s alright, calm down. It’s me. It’s Itsuki…» he whispered to her ear, slightly rocking her to give her a sense of movement and warmth in his arms.
«I’m sorry…» Kara sobbed very quietly.
«I know. You didn’t mean to. You just had a nightmare, that’s all.» He caressed her hair, making her feel less and less fragile. «You’re safe. I’m here and I won’t let anyone hurt you.»
«Why am I so weak?»
«You