Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Muma Oni - The Succubus Demon ❯ A Bad Adventure ( Chapter 2 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Levante01 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Comedy / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.07.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 244 | Status: Completed
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Comedy / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.07.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 244 | Status: Completed
Teshimachi was usually a quiet town, looked down upon by the mountain range north of Tokyo. In the center of the town was a collapsed cavern, blocked from the public by rope laced with talismans and charms. Even without the ropes blocking the cave, the people of Teshimachi still stay clear of it, because of the legend surrounding it. Almost everyone, anyway.
“Sato Kannin, get away from there!”
Sato Kannin was a sixteen-year-old boy, living in the quiet town of Teshimachi. He had dark brown hair and dark green eyes. He wore a gi with his shrine’s symbol on the back. It was the Japanese kanji for hero.
Sato turned around, surprised to see his grandfather staring down at him. “Er, Grandpa, what’re you doing here?” Sato asked.
Grandpa Kannin stood a foot taller than Sato. His hair was lightly fading from dark black to gray. He wore the same gi as Sato, but it wasn’t the white with black trim that Sato wore; it was black with a red trim, the sign of him being the master of the shrine.
“I’m here, Sato,” Grandpa said, “to keep a certain apprentice from upsetting the delicate balance of this cave.”
“Grandpa,” Sato sighed, scratching the back of his head, “I’m not a kid anymore. I’m not so curious that I have to get in and see what’s really there.”
“Then,” said Grandpa, smiling slightly as he put his hands behind his back, “why are you here?”
Sato took a glance back at the cave. “I was,” he started. He began twiddling his forefingers together, racking his brain for a good excuse. He smiled as one came to him. “Right, I was waiting for Hirashi to come, that’s it! She told me to meet her here after school.”
“I know you too well, Sato,” said Grandpa. “Now come on, you have your chores to do still. I would like to see them done before you go to bed.”
“Yes sir,” Sato said, defeated.
***
The Kannin shrine was located on the north end of town. It had once been the Higuro shrine, the household shrine of the great Teshi Higuro of legend. The ownership changed several generations before Sato’s time when the male heir was born under the name of Kannin.
Sato was on the steps of the shrine, sweeping with a whicker broom. He stopped and leaned onto the broom. He looked up to the sky and sighed. “And another day goes by,” he said. “I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to find out what’s really in that cave.”
“Hey, Kannin,” came a girl’s voice.
Sato looked around and saw his friend Ina Hirashi standing at the bottom of the steps. She had light brown hair, a short pigtail tickling at the back of her neck. She was wearing a short hemmed shirt that clearly revealed her belly and shorts that hugged tightly around her small hips.
“Hirashi, hey,” Sato said. “What brings you out to Kannin shrine this late?”
Ina looked around at the setting sun. “Well, I was wondering if you were up for a little adventure.”
Sato knew they were about to get into some kind of trouble. Ina never mentioned anything about “adventure” without there being some kind of catch. “What do you have planned this time?” he asked.
“Well, I was thinking,” said Ina. “You’ve been curious of that cave since you were a kid, right? Well, how about we go and check it out? Come on, let’s go explore the cave!”
“Not interested,” Sato said as he began to sweep again.
“You’re no fun! Why not?”
“Grandpa would lay golden brick if he found out I went into the cave. Besides, it’s completely collapsed. There’s no way we’d ever get in to see what’s really there.”
“Is that what you think? Well,” Ina said with a conspicuous grin, “I did a little exploring myself last night. I found a small entrance that’s not real noticeable. Come on, let’s go check it out!”
Sato stopped again. “Hirashi, you’re really set on this, aren’t you?”
“Of course!” Ina said, stomping her foot. “Come on, go get a couple flashlights from your storage shed and let’s go!”
“We’ll be in major trouble if we’re caught,” said Sato, setting his broom at the top of the steps.
“Never stopped us before.”
Sato nodded and smirked. “Time for some midnight exploration.”
***
Sato shined his flashlight on the small hole that led into the cave. “That’s it, huh?” he said to Ina who was right behind him.
“That’s it,” replied Ina.
“Looks small,” Sato said. “I’m sure you can fit, but I don’t know about me.”
“Just come on,” Ina said as she entered under the rope.
Sato followed her, keeping an eye out for any passersby. He turned off his light as they reached the hole. It was agreed that Ina would go first while Sato kept lookout. Once she was completely in, Sato followed, getting caught at his shoulders by the mouth of the hole. He twisted and fell through, dropping several feet before clashing hard onto the cold surface below.
He felt a bright light on him and opened his eyes, instantly blinded by the flashlight Ina held. “Watch it, that’s bright,” he said as he sat up. He got to his feet and turned on his light, pointing it down the only path that was there.
“This cave goes deep under the ground,” Ina observed. “I wonder how deep it really goes.”
Sato glanced at Ina. He saw something on her leg and shined a light to it. “Hirashi, your leg, it’s bleeding.”
“I’m fine, not biggie,” Ina said. “Come on, let’s go.”
Sato hesitated, worried about her leg, but nodded and followed.
The path circled down into the Earth’s crust. Sato stayed close to Ina, constantly shining his flashlight behind them to make sure nothing followed.
“This is kind of weird,” Ina said. “Look at this tunnel.” She waved her light around at the walls and ceiling. “There aren’t any webs or decay on these walls, like they’re constantly used, or were just recently made.”
“What are you implying?” Sato asked.
“Maybe we’re not the first to journey down here. Or maybe––” She turned back to Sato, holding the light up under her chin. “Maybe the demon of this cave still walks around.”
Sato took a step back. “Don’t be so ridiculous, Hirashi. That demon’s been locked up down here for hundreds of years. There’s no way––”
“Oh! What was that?” said Ina suddenly, pointing her flashlight back down the trail. “I thought I heard something.” She stepped back behind Sato and nestled her chin on his shoulder. “Be a dear and go ahead of me, will ya?”
“Why do I have to go first?”
“You expect a young woman like me should be the first in danger? Now go!” She shoved Sato forward. He gave a heavy sigh and began walking forward.
“I doubt you heard anything, Hirashi,” Sato said. “You must have been imagining it.”
“Kannin, help!” Ina cried suddenly.
Sato spun around, waving his flashlight. Ina had disappeared. “Hirashi, where’d you go?”
He heard fast footsteps running behind him, further into the cave. They were getting fainter. He heard Ina call again, “Kannin, help me!”
“Hirashi!” Sato cried, racing down the tunnel. “Hirashi, can you hear me? What’s going on?”
“The demon has––” Ina’s voice went dead silent through the cave.
“Hirashi!” Sato cried. He came into a large opening at the end of the tunnel. He searched around for his friend. She had vanished without a trace. “Hirashi!” he called again.
He felt a hand grip his shoulder suddenly. He let out a loud scream and tore the hand from his shoulder. He raced forward away from it, but clumsily tripped over his feet and slid across the cave floor, coming to a quick halt.
“Ouch,” he said, turning onto his back and sitting up. A light passed over his face. He looked up and saw Ina standing over him. “Hey, you’re okay.”
Ina began laughing loud, her laughter echoing off the cave walls. “I got you good, didn’t I? You were so scared!”
“Aw, you’re unbelievable,” Sato said angrily. “Why’d you have to go and scare me for?”
“Kannin, don’t you study martial arts with your grandpa? You should be braver than that.”
Sato got to his feet and picked up his flashlight. “Well, no more of that, all right? Now come on, let’s look around a little.”
Ina nodded. “Okay.”
Sato shone his flashlight toward the back of the cave room. “Doesn’t seem to be much here. Maybe the legend isn’t true?”
“Looks that way,” said Ina. She stopped suddenly as she found herself standing over a pool of water. “Kannin, what’s this?”
“What?” Sato asked, coming up next to her. He put his light on the water and gasped. Lying in the water was a young, beautiful girl. She was naked; her bare skin a delicate white. Six inches of her hair from the roots were a dark brown. The rest faded into a light pink, stretching to past her hips, floating carelessly in the water.
“What do you think a young girl is doing here?” Hirashi asked.
Sato pulled off his socks and shoes then began to roll up his pant legs. “Not sure,” he answered, “but I’m gonna pull her out.” He removed his gi and undershirt, then slowly stepped into the water. Ina kept her light on him so he could see.
Sato put a hand under the girl’s body and lifted her from the water, and slowly brought her onto the dry cave floor. Sato put his gi around her to cover her breasts and keep her warm.
“Is she breathing?” asked Ina.
Sato shrugged and put his ear to the girl’s mouth. “Yeah, she’s still breathing a little.” He stood and snatched up his undershirt and flashlight. “Some find, huh? No demon but a little girl. I guess this proves that tunnel had been used recently.”
Ina nodded. “But why would anyone be crazy enough to come down here and sleep?”
Sato scratched his head. “It does seem weird.”
“Look!” Ina said, pointing her flashlight at the girl. “She’s waking up.”
Sato looked down at the girl. Her eyes were slightly open. They were a light blue. She lifted her head and looked around at Ina and Sato.
“Hey there,” Sato said, kneeling next to her. “What were you doing down here all alone?”
The girl sat up and began to rub her eyes. She looked up at the two around her again. Her eyes were large as they adjusted against the flashlights. Suddenly they became slits and she stood up.
“Take it easy,” Sato said, “you must have been soaking in that water for a while.” He raised a hand to the girl. She caught him suddenly and gripped hard. “Hey, what’re you doing?”
“Kannin, watch out!” Ina cried.
The girl struck Sato hard, throwing him backwards across the cave floor. His flashlight hit the floor and shattered. He sat up, putting a hand on his cheek. “What the hell was that for?”
“Um, Kannin?” said Ina.
They were both watching the girl. A bright wave of aura was rising from the pool, illuminating the entire room. Electricity ran through the girl’s body, making her hair spike out. “How dare you,” she said in a harsh tone. “What brings you to my cave to disturb my sleep?”
“Your cave?” said Sato as he stood. “So you mean you’re––?”
“I’m Muma Oni, the succubus,” the girl said. “You have trespassed on my resting grounds. For that, you must die!”
“Hirashi, run!” Sato cried as he raced at the demon. He attempted to tackle her and hold her while Ina made her escape, but that plan was out the window in seconds. Sato was struck across the face again and sent into the pool of water.
Muma turned as Ina made for the tunnel leading out. With a snap of her fingers, Muma sealed the exit with an invisible wall that Ina smashed into. Ina fell over backwards onto the floor. Muma grinned and returned her sights to Sato.
“Now,” she said, “you two will be my prey for disturbing me. I think I’ll start with the cutie over here.”
She walked into the pull and grabbed Sato by the neck of his shirt, lifting him up. “Dah! Put me down!” Sato pleaded. “If you let us go, we’ll never come back, I swear!”
Muma smiled. “That smell … I know it from anywhere.” She brought Sato close to her and sniffed him more. “Yes, it may have been centuries, but that smell is unmistakable. You’re a descendent of Teshi Higuro, aren’t you?”
“So what if I am?” Sato said.
“You must die!” the demon girl cried, bringing up her claws.
Sato acted fast. He punched Muma in the stomach, dropping her to her knees. Sato ran from her side to Ina’s, helping her to her feet. “We have to go,” Sato said.
“But the exit is sealed,” said Ina. “What’re we gonna do?”
Sato looked back at Muma who was now getting to her feet. “I think,” said Sato, “we should’ve listened to Grandpa and stayed away. Now we’re done for sure.”
Muma looked around at Ina and Sato. “That wasn’t very nice, you know. Now you’re going to have to pay for that.”
Sato took a step back, keeping Ina behind him. “It’s me, you want, right?” Sato said. “Because I’m the descendent of the great hero Teshi?”
“That’s right,” Muma said, licking her claws.
“Fine then!” said Sato, approaching the succubus. “You can do what you want to me, just let Ina leave. Don’t harm her.”
Muma sneered. “A valiant gesture, that is. But how do you plan on stopping me once you’re out of the way?”
Sato raised his fists. “I’ll fight you until you allow her to leave.”
Muma cackled loudly, her voice booming through the room. “You’re going to attempt to fight me?” she said hysterically. “Well, if you insist, then come on.”
Sato gulped as he moved forward from Ina. Ina made a quick reach for him but he shrugged her off. Sato kept his hands raised, still approaching Muma.
Muma raised a hand in front of her. “You’re no threat to me,” she said. “Go ahead, charge at me.”
Sato planted a foot into the cave floor, and then shot at Muma. He let out a loud cry as he got close and raised a fist. He swung with a powerful punch, but found his target had moved. He tumbled to the floor and turned to see where the demon had gone. She was standing at the edge of the pool, looking at something floating above it. It was a large sundial. It was showing just past midnight.
“You’re in luck today, Higuro,” Muma said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “I have preparations to make now. You two are free to go.”
“You’re just gonna let us leave like that?” Sato asked as he stood.
Muma gave him a sideways glance. “Yes, I am. What of it.”
“Come on,” Ina called to Sato. “Don’t go begging for her to kill you now! Let’s go!”
Sato nodded and raced for Ina. The force blocking their exit disappeared. Ina grabbed Sato at his elbow and pulled him, but he hesitated as he turned back to Muma. “It’s Kannin,” he said.
Muma turned her head to him. “Hm?” she asked.
“My name is Kannin,” Sato said, “not Higuro.”
“Come on!” Ina said, pulling Sato harder and they raced back up the tunnel.
Muma smiled to herself as she looked at the sundial. “Kannin, huh?” she said, scratching her chin. “I’m thinking that this century’s going to be pretty fun. Time to get prepared for the occasion.”
***
“That was sure scary,” Ina said as she and Sato walked away from the cave and ducked under the rope. “We got lucky.”
“Real lucky,” Sato said, wiping the set from his eyes. “That was too close for comfort.”
“So, no more exploring any sealed off caves, right?”
Sato nodded. He stopped suddenly, realizing something. “Oh no! She was still wearing my gi!”
“Oh well,” said Ina. “I’m not going back in there. You have plenty, right?”
“I suppose so,” Sato said, looking back at the cave. “Well, let’s go home. We have school tomorrow.”
***
“What a night, huh?” said Ina, sitting on Sato’s desk. It was lunchtime at school. Ina had once again brought lunch for the both of them and were eating together.
“Yeah,” Sato said. “I don’t think my legs have ever moved so fast. They still kind of hurt. By the way, how’s your leg?”
“It’s fine,” Ina said, showing Sato her bandaged leg. “Was just a scrape. Soon as I got home I cleaned it up and bandaged it.”
“That’s good,” Sato said.
“Class,” said their teacher at the front of the room, “we have a new student joining us today.”
Ina and Sato looked at each other, then to the front of the room.
Muma Oni entered and stood before everyone. She was as cute as she was when Sato and Ina first discovered her. She was wearing the female school uniform; a green blazer and a long, green skirt that just passed her knees. She wore a dark green tie as well.
“I’d like you all to welcome Muma Higuro,” said the teacher.
“Just our luck,” said Sato as he sighed. “I bet her preparations last night was to join our class today.”
“But why?” said Ina.
“Not sure,” Sato said, watching Muma smile sweetly at him, “but I have a feeling we’re in for a long year with her around.”
“Sato Kannin, get away from there!”
Sato Kannin was a sixteen-year-old boy, living in the quiet town of Teshimachi. He had dark brown hair and dark green eyes. He wore a gi with his shrine’s symbol on the back. It was the Japanese kanji for hero.
Sato turned around, surprised to see his grandfather staring down at him. “Er, Grandpa, what’re you doing here?” Sato asked.
Grandpa Kannin stood a foot taller than Sato. His hair was lightly fading from dark black to gray. He wore the same gi as Sato, but it wasn’t the white with black trim that Sato wore; it was black with a red trim, the sign of him being the master of the shrine.
“I’m here, Sato,” Grandpa said, “to keep a certain apprentice from upsetting the delicate balance of this cave.”
“Grandpa,” Sato sighed, scratching the back of his head, “I’m not a kid anymore. I’m not so curious that I have to get in and see what’s really there.”
“Then,” said Grandpa, smiling slightly as he put his hands behind his back, “why are you here?”
Sato took a glance back at the cave. “I was,” he started. He began twiddling his forefingers together, racking his brain for a good excuse. He smiled as one came to him. “Right, I was waiting for Hirashi to come, that’s it! She told me to meet her here after school.”
“I know you too well, Sato,” said Grandpa. “Now come on, you have your chores to do still. I would like to see them done before you go to bed.”
“Yes sir,” Sato said, defeated.
***
The Kannin shrine was located on the north end of town. It had once been the Higuro shrine, the household shrine of the great Teshi Higuro of legend. The ownership changed several generations before Sato’s time when the male heir was born under the name of Kannin.
Sato was on the steps of the shrine, sweeping with a whicker broom. He stopped and leaned onto the broom. He looked up to the sky and sighed. “And another day goes by,” he said. “I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to find out what’s really in that cave.”
“Hey, Kannin,” came a girl’s voice.
Sato looked around and saw his friend Ina Hirashi standing at the bottom of the steps. She had light brown hair, a short pigtail tickling at the back of her neck. She was wearing a short hemmed shirt that clearly revealed her belly and shorts that hugged tightly around her small hips.
“Hirashi, hey,” Sato said. “What brings you out to Kannin shrine this late?”
Ina looked around at the setting sun. “Well, I was wondering if you were up for a little adventure.”
Sato knew they were about to get into some kind of trouble. Ina never mentioned anything about “adventure” without there being some kind of catch. “What do you have planned this time?” he asked.
“Well, I was thinking,” said Ina. “You’ve been curious of that cave since you were a kid, right? Well, how about we go and check it out? Come on, let’s go explore the cave!”
“Not interested,” Sato said as he began to sweep again.
“You’re no fun! Why not?”
“Grandpa would lay golden brick if he found out I went into the cave. Besides, it’s completely collapsed. There’s no way we’d ever get in to see what’s really there.”
“Is that what you think? Well,” Ina said with a conspicuous grin, “I did a little exploring myself last night. I found a small entrance that’s not real noticeable. Come on, let’s go check it out!”
Sato stopped again. “Hirashi, you’re really set on this, aren’t you?”
“Of course!” Ina said, stomping her foot. “Come on, go get a couple flashlights from your storage shed and let’s go!”
“We’ll be in major trouble if we’re caught,” said Sato, setting his broom at the top of the steps.
“Never stopped us before.”
Sato nodded and smirked. “Time for some midnight exploration.”
***
Sato shined his flashlight on the small hole that led into the cave. “That’s it, huh?” he said to Ina who was right behind him.
“That’s it,” replied Ina.
“Looks small,” Sato said. “I’m sure you can fit, but I don’t know about me.”
“Just come on,” Ina said as she entered under the rope.
Sato followed her, keeping an eye out for any passersby. He turned off his light as they reached the hole. It was agreed that Ina would go first while Sato kept lookout. Once she was completely in, Sato followed, getting caught at his shoulders by the mouth of the hole. He twisted and fell through, dropping several feet before clashing hard onto the cold surface below.
He felt a bright light on him and opened his eyes, instantly blinded by the flashlight Ina held. “Watch it, that’s bright,” he said as he sat up. He got to his feet and turned on his light, pointing it down the only path that was there.
“This cave goes deep under the ground,” Ina observed. “I wonder how deep it really goes.”
Sato glanced at Ina. He saw something on her leg and shined a light to it. “Hirashi, your leg, it’s bleeding.”
“I’m fine, not biggie,” Ina said. “Come on, let’s go.”
Sato hesitated, worried about her leg, but nodded and followed.
The path circled down into the Earth’s crust. Sato stayed close to Ina, constantly shining his flashlight behind them to make sure nothing followed.
“This is kind of weird,” Ina said. “Look at this tunnel.” She waved her light around at the walls and ceiling. “There aren’t any webs or decay on these walls, like they’re constantly used, or were just recently made.”
“What are you implying?” Sato asked.
“Maybe we’re not the first to journey down here. Or maybe––” She turned back to Sato, holding the light up under her chin. “Maybe the demon of this cave still walks around.”
Sato took a step back. “Don’t be so ridiculous, Hirashi. That demon’s been locked up down here for hundreds of years. There’s no way––”
“Oh! What was that?” said Ina suddenly, pointing her flashlight back down the trail. “I thought I heard something.” She stepped back behind Sato and nestled her chin on his shoulder. “Be a dear and go ahead of me, will ya?”
“Why do I have to go first?”
“You expect a young woman like me should be the first in danger? Now go!” She shoved Sato forward. He gave a heavy sigh and began walking forward.
“I doubt you heard anything, Hirashi,” Sato said. “You must have been imagining it.”
“Kannin, help!” Ina cried suddenly.
Sato spun around, waving his flashlight. Ina had disappeared. “Hirashi, where’d you go?”
He heard fast footsteps running behind him, further into the cave. They were getting fainter. He heard Ina call again, “Kannin, help me!”
“Hirashi!” Sato cried, racing down the tunnel. “Hirashi, can you hear me? What’s going on?”
“The demon has––” Ina’s voice went dead silent through the cave.
“Hirashi!” Sato cried. He came into a large opening at the end of the tunnel. He searched around for his friend. She had vanished without a trace. “Hirashi!” he called again.
He felt a hand grip his shoulder suddenly. He let out a loud scream and tore the hand from his shoulder. He raced forward away from it, but clumsily tripped over his feet and slid across the cave floor, coming to a quick halt.
“Ouch,” he said, turning onto his back and sitting up. A light passed over his face. He looked up and saw Ina standing over him. “Hey, you’re okay.”
Ina began laughing loud, her laughter echoing off the cave walls. “I got you good, didn’t I? You were so scared!”
“Aw, you’re unbelievable,” Sato said angrily. “Why’d you have to go and scare me for?”
“Kannin, don’t you study martial arts with your grandpa? You should be braver than that.”
Sato got to his feet and picked up his flashlight. “Well, no more of that, all right? Now come on, let’s look around a little.”
Ina nodded. “Okay.”
Sato shone his flashlight toward the back of the cave room. “Doesn’t seem to be much here. Maybe the legend isn’t true?”
“Looks that way,” said Ina. She stopped suddenly as she found herself standing over a pool of water. “Kannin, what’s this?”
“What?” Sato asked, coming up next to her. He put his light on the water and gasped. Lying in the water was a young, beautiful girl. She was naked; her bare skin a delicate white. Six inches of her hair from the roots were a dark brown. The rest faded into a light pink, stretching to past her hips, floating carelessly in the water.
“What do you think a young girl is doing here?” Hirashi asked.
Sato pulled off his socks and shoes then began to roll up his pant legs. “Not sure,” he answered, “but I’m gonna pull her out.” He removed his gi and undershirt, then slowly stepped into the water. Ina kept her light on him so he could see.
Sato put a hand under the girl’s body and lifted her from the water, and slowly brought her onto the dry cave floor. Sato put his gi around her to cover her breasts and keep her warm.
“Is she breathing?” asked Ina.
Sato shrugged and put his ear to the girl’s mouth. “Yeah, she’s still breathing a little.” He stood and snatched up his undershirt and flashlight. “Some find, huh? No demon but a little girl. I guess this proves that tunnel had been used recently.”
Ina nodded. “But why would anyone be crazy enough to come down here and sleep?”
Sato scratched his head. “It does seem weird.”
“Look!” Ina said, pointing her flashlight at the girl. “She’s waking up.”
Sato looked down at the girl. Her eyes were slightly open. They were a light blue. She lifted her head and looked around at Ina and Sato.
“Hey there,” Sato said, kneeling next to her. “What were you doing down here all alone?”
The girl sat up and began to rub her eyes. She looked up at the two around her again. Her eyes were large as they adjusted against the flashlights. Suddenly they became slits and she stood up.
“Take it easy,” Sato said, “you must have been soaking in that water for a while.” He raised a hand to the girl. She caught him suddenly and gripped hard. “Hey, what’re you doing?”
“Kannin, watch out!” Ina cried.
The girl struck Sato hard, throwing him backwards across the cave floor. His flashlight hit the floor and shattered. He sat up, putting a hand on his cheek. “What the hell was that for?”
“Um, Kannin?” said Ina.
They were both watching the girl. A bright wave of aura was rising from the pool, illuminating the entire room. Electricity ran through the girl’s body, making her hair spike out. “How dare you,” she said in a harsh tone. “What brings you to my cave to disturb my sleep?”
“Your cave?” said Sato as he stood. “So you mean you’re––?”
“I’m Muma Oni, the succubus,” the girl said. “You have trespassed on my resting grounds. For that, you must die!”
“Hirashi, run!” Sato cried as he raced at the demon. He attempted to tackle her and hold her while Ina made her escape, but that plan was out the window in seconds. Sato was struck across the face again and sent into the pool of water.
Muma turned as Ina made for the tunnel leading out. With a snap of her fingers, Muma sealed the exit with an invisible wall that Ina smashed into. Ina fell over backwards onto the floor. Muma grinned and returned her sights to Sato.
“Now,” she said, “you two will be my prey for disturbing me. I think I’ll start with the cutie over here.”
She walked into the pull and grabbed Sato by the neck of his shirt, lifting him up. “Dah! Put me down!” Sato pleaded. “If you let us go, we’ll never come back, I swear!”
Muma smiled. “That smell … I know it from anywhere.” She brought Sato close to her and sniffed him more. “Yes, it may have been centuries, but that smell is unmistakable. You’re a descendent of Teshi Higuro, aren’t you?”
“So what if I am?” Sato said.
“You must die!” the demon girl cried, bringing up her claws.
Sato acted fast. He punched Muma in the stomach, dropping her to her knees. Sato ran from her side to Ina’s, helping her to her feet. “We have to go,” Sato said.
“But the exit is sealed,” said Ina. “What’re we gonna do?”
Sato looked back at Muma who was now getting to her feet. “I think,” said Sato, “we should’ve listened to Grandpa and stayed away. Now we’re done for sure.”
Muma looked around at Ina and Sato. “That wasn’t very nice, you know. Now you’re going to have to pay for that.”
Sato took a step back, keeping Ina behind him. “It’s me, you want, right?” Sato said. “Because I’m the descendent of the great hero Teshi?”
“That’s right,” Muma said, licking her claws.
“Fine then!” said Sato, approaching the succubus. “You can do what you want to me, just let Ina leave. Don’t harm her.”
Muma sneered. “A valiant gesture, that is. But how do you plan on stopping me once you’re out of the way?”
Sato raised his fists. “I’ll fight you until you allow her to leave.”
Muma cackled loudly, her voice booming through the room. “You’re going to attempt to fight me?” she said hysterically. “Well, if you insist, then come on.”
Sato gulped as he moved forward from Ina. Ina made a quick reach for him but he shrugged her off. Sato kept his hands raised, still approaching Muma.
Muma raised a hand in front of her. “You’re no threat to me,” she said. “Go ahead, charge at me.”
Sato planted a foot into the cave floor, and then shot at Muma. He let out a loud cry as he got close and raised a fist. He swung with a powerful punch, but found his target had moved. He tumbled to the floor and turned to see where the demon had gone. She was standing at the edge of the pool, looking at something floating above it. It was a large sundial. It was showing just past midnight.
“You’re in luck today, Higuro,” Muma said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “I have preparations to make now. You two are free to go.”
“You’re just gonna let us leave like that?” Sato asked as he stood.
Muma gave him a sideways glance. “Yes, I am. What of it.”
“Come on,” Ina called to Sato. “Don’t go begging for her to kill you now! Let’s go!”
Sato nodded and raced for Ina. The force blocking their exit disappeared. Ina grabbed Sato at his elbow and pulled him, but he hesitated as he turned back to Muma. “It’s Kannin,” he said.
Muma turned her head to him. “Hm?” she asked.
“My name is Kannin,” Sato said, “not Higuro.”
“Come on!” Ina said, pulling Sato harder and they raced back up the tunnel.
Muma smiled to herself as she looked at the sundial. “Kannin, huh?” she said, scratching her chin. “I’m thinking that this century’s going to be pretty fun. Time to get prepared for the occasion.”
***
“That was sure scary,” Ina said as she and Sato walked away from the cave and ducked under the rope. “We got lucky.”
“Real lucky,” Sato said, wiping the set from his eyes. “That was too close for comfort.”
“So, no more exploring any sealed off caves, right?”
Sato nodded. He stopped suddenly, realizing something. “Oh no! She was still wearing my gi!”
“Oh well,” said Ina. “I’m not going back in there. You have plenty, right?”
“I suppose so,” Sato said, looking back at the cave. “Well, let’s go home. We have school tomorrow.”
***
“What a night, huh?” said Ina, sitting on Sato’s desk. It was lunchtime at school. Ina had once again brought lunch for the both of them and were eating together.
“Yeah,” Sato said. “I don’t think my legs have ever moved so fast. They still kind of hurt. By the way, how’s your leg?”
“It’s fine,” Ina said, showing Sato her bandaged leg. “Was just a scrape. Soon as I got home I cleaned it up and bandaged it.”
“That’s good,” Sato said.
“Class,” said their teacher at the front of the room, “we have a new student joining us today.”
Ina and Sato looked at each other, then to the front of the room.
Muma Oni entered and stood before everyone. She was as cute as she was when Sato and Ina first discovered her. She was wearing the female school uniform; a green blazer and a long, green skirt that just passed her knees. She wore a dark green tie as well.
“I’d like you all to welcome Muma Higuro,” said the teacher.
“Just our luck,” said Sato as he sighed. “I bet her preparations last night was to join our class today.”
“But why?” said Ina.
“Not sure,” Sato said, watching Muma smile sweetly at him, “but I have a feeling we’re in for a long year with her around.”