The Demon Within

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Mei and Kazuma exited the capital's ruins, Takashi and Kalik walking silently behind them. Mei knew they were not happy with her and for some reason she didn't let it bother her. She needed to return to her home, away from the humans. Mei walked to the east of the capital, towards the base of the mountains. Mei knew the portal that allowed Osamu entrance into their world was there, and that's where she would find the temple Soushi spoke of. She had a gut feeling it was in that direction; the crest on her neck started glowing brighter with every step. The journey was completely silent, no one having the courage to start a conversation. Mei looked up in the sky, admiring the brilliant blue and the white puffy clouds. What does my world look like? Mei wondered. Is it anything like this world? Or is it completely different? Mei closed her eyes, feeling her feet carrying her onwards. Her body felt heavy with sadness, deep inside her heart was breaking. A part of her told her to stay, not wanting to leave the world she grew up in and made precious memories with. But Mei knew it would be better for everyone if Kazuma and her left, knowing this world would return to peace. I also have my own home to rebuild, Mei thought as she remembered Osamu slaughtered the demons there too. Mei was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't even hear the small conversation going on between Kalik and Kazuma. She looked over her shoulder and she saw a huge grin on Kazuma's face, and Kalik had an annoyed expression on his.

"Am I missing something?" Mei asked curiously.

"I wouldn't even ask," Takashi said as he walked with his hands behind his head. "Unless you want your ears to be full of shit, then go ahead and listen. I wish I would've brought earplugs or something."

"It's personal business," Kazuma said with a devilish smirk.

"Personal business? With Kalik? You're kidding me," Mei said raising her eyebrow. "I know you two never got along."

"Things can easily change," Kazuma said nonchalantly as he winked at Kalik.

"For you, maybe," Kalik said with a smirk. "You lucky bastard." Mei had a look of confusion cross her face as Takashi started to laugh at her. Rolling her eyes, Mei turned her attention to the path before her. The trees around them started to get thicker, and the sky was disappearing due to the thickness of the forest. The longer they walked, the darker the forest came to be.

"I can see why this would be a portal for demons," Takashi said as he looked all around him. "It's creepy as hell." Kalik couldn't help but laugh while Mei ignored them as her crest glowed brighter, lighting up her face. She turned around and all three of the guys stopped whispering immediately with smirks on their faces. Mei couldn't help but smile, because they all looked like children caught in the act of a crime.

"What are you doing?" Mei asked with a laugh.

"I was placing a bet," Kazuma said as he cracked his knuckles. "Which one of them complains first to have us warp there." Mei smiled with arrogance as she turned back around.

"Then I'll place mine on Takashi."

"That's not even fair and you know it," Takashi growled as he looked off to the side. Mei's smile got bigger and she was about to reply to their continuous rambling when a soft sound caught her ears. She froze, straining her ears to hear the sound. Frustrated over the fact she couldn't hear it with the boys rambling, she turned around sharply and hissed at them, causing them to immediately shut up. Mei could tell they could hear it, because their faces were now covered with shock. It's a lullaby, Mei thought. She walked in one direction and found the smooth sound fading, so she turned and started walking the other way. The sound echoed louder, so Mei began to walk down the path with the guys falling in right behind her. They broke into a run and finally came into a clearing where the lullaby stopped. Mei's eyes widened as she saw a broken, wooden building, with wildflowers and weeds growing inside of it. Small animals ran to and from it, their little squeaks echoing throughout the forest. Mei walked forward; the sight of the rundown building completely overrun with nature was an amazing sight.