An Empty Shell

Chapter 20: Captured

Shuichi was already asleep when suddenly, a strong presence woke him up. His eyes wide opened and without a second thought he got up and rushed to Hayami's room.
"HAYAMI!" he kicked the door open that brought a loud slam.
A huge yokai, dark as night with glowing red eyes, long razor sharp claws and teeth with long, forked tongue, crawled on the ceiling just above Hayami's bed. It already have Hayami in its claws ready to eat her alive but was interrupted when Shuichi barged in.
"Who dared to disturb my midnight snack?" the demon growled with a loathing voice. Then it looked to where the door slammed, there it found Shuichi, who was glaring with cold eyes of gold. His face seething with rage. From a crimson hair down to silvery white, ears perked up and bushy tail swishing indicating high alert, his fingers curled up with strong-sharp claws . His expression and stance signaled for a hunt, ready for a kill.
"Wait, I know you! You are the Youko Kurama!" it took a few seconds before the creature knew the kitsune standing in front. Soon the demon realized he was about to face his end. Hayami was still in his claws, already unconscious.
"What are you doing here? Is she also your prey? If she is then, we can always share. Besides we're both demons." the yokai tried to please Shuichi, rather, Youko Kurama, knowing where it now stood as a low class demon to the kitsune who belongs in the highest class.
"Funny now that you realized who you are facing with, you reek a stench like you just pissed from your own extreme fear, I could definitely smell." Youko Kurama scorned at the demon, sniggering with a devilish smile.
"Come on, who could not tremble against the Youko, you're one of the most fiercest and strongest demon I know!" the demon tried to sway him in an attempt to escape but little does it know, Youko Kurama already knew what it was trying to do.
Suddenly, it hurled Hayami towards him as a diversion to escape in the shadows. But with his lightning reflexes, he caught Hayami in his one arm at the same time slashed the escaping demon with his rose whip multiple times in a blink of an eye. The demon was sliced into pieces. Some of his parts disappeared like smoke in the air.
"Now I understand why you turned your back on us, you became one of them (human). Both of you will soon face your own demise for your treachery, especially that little human girl you are holding. Every demon will come after her and as long as she doesn't have your mark she's every demons possession." The demon's head that was only left of it, growled his abhorred words while blood gushed out of its mouth. Youko's eyes narrowed and furrowed his brow from hearing those words.
"They will feast on her flesh and bones and even her soul will be sucked up. Nothing will be left of her, just like a clean platter after a delicious meal! Hahaha! You can never put your mark on her for she is not one of us. She will never submit to you! Hahaha!" It continued to scoff with a baleful laugh. Until Youko Kurama's fury hit the roof and finished the demon with a single blow that its remains dissipated in the air.

Youko Kurama, now returned to his form as Shuichi, carried Hayami back in bed.
"Hayami, wake up.." he gently tap her cheeks to wake her from fainting. She slowly opened her eyes and instantly registered to her what just happened.
"Shuichi!" She jumped on him in a tight hug as soon as she realized that terrifying moment she was almost devoured by that yokai, and she quavered as she cried in extreme terror.
"It's over, Hayami. You're safe now, I promise." Shuichi held her in his arms and caressed her hair to calm her down. Then he held her cheeks and wiped her tears. She stayed in his arms for a little longer until she calmed down. Shuichi then gently pushed her back to check up on her.
"Are you hurt?" he worriedly asked and Hayami just shook her head.
"That's good. Now, you can go back to sleep... you need to rest.." Shuichi tucked her in and kissed her forehead. But as soon as he turned away, Hayami suddenly tugged his shirt from behind.
"P-please... s-stay beside me t-tonight." She was still trembling and shedding some tears. He looked at her and he was tormented to see how Hayami begged him to stay.
"Alright.." he simply complied.
As he laid down beside her, Hayami curled up in his arms as she dug her face in his chest, while he was caressing her back again and his face on her hair.
"Thank you Shuichi..." she whispered as she let out a deep sob of relief.
"You're always welcome... I'm here now, go to sleep.." He lovingly whispered back and kissed her hair.
The night was only short for them. But their hearts were filled with solace and contentment just holding each other and it was the warmest night they ever had for the first time.