Fearless

Chapter 36

The group ran along the streets, getting glances from people as they passed by. They must not be aware of what was happening, though most of them probably didn't have a temptaint so there was practically no way of them knowing. There was no way they'd see the giant gray mass growing on the mountain.

The group soon left the town behind and entered the forest, slowing down their pace as they started to go upwards through the darkness. All of them kept their eyes and ears open. Just before they had left, Bon had gotten a call from Shura telling them they needed to look for Master Tatsuma, Bon's dad, who had gone up the mountain a while ago and hadn't come back yet.

As they walked, Kiara could feel the fear radiating off of Bon. She sped up her pace so she was walking just behind him. "Ryuji." She said, her voice just barely loud enough to get his attention, "We're going to find your dad. You don't need to worry so much."

Bon's shoulders slacked ever so slightly, and he nodded. The fear radiating off of him went down slightly as he turned and looked ahead of them. Kiara smiled softly and continued to keep an eye out for Master Tatsuma.

Suddenly Kiara stopped, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw something between the trunks of the trees. It was faint, and if she hadn't been looking where she had been she could of totally missed it, but in the distance she could see the form of her father.

"Hey, Kiara, you good?" Shima asked.

Kiara glanced back at Shima, and when she glanced back at where the figure was he had vanished. "Yeah. I'm good. I just thought I saw something." Best not to mention anything right now. Everyone's already so on edge that it's almost suffocating. She flashed Shima a smile, "Let's keep going."

They had kept walking for what felt like half an hour and Kiara hadn't seen any trace of her father since then.

There was a sudden gasp and Kiara turned to see Izumo pointing at something, or someone. "Look, guys, over there!"

Bon looked to where she was pointing and his eyes widened as his fear spiked. "Dad!" He shouted out, running to the figure laying down not too far away from them.

When Kiara got to him, she was shocked to see the state he was in. His clothes were bloody, there was blood dribbling out of his mouth, and his breaths were labored and shaky.

Bon knelt down beside him, "Dad, I'm right here."

"I'm gonna call Miss Kirigakure and let her know we found him." Konekomaru said, his voice faltering when a light started to emit from Tatsuma's chest— no it wasn't just a light, it was a flame.

Kiara watched as a demon rose from the flames, and she could sense that whatever demon this was it was powerful.

"I go by the name Karura, and i serve the high priest of the Myoo Dharani." The demon said.

"Karura...? Are you dad's familiar?" Bon asked.

"I was, but the pact I had with him was broken after my secret was revealed. Currently I am bound to Tatsuma Suguro by a personal pact."

Tatsuma started coughing, getting the attention onto him. "Oh that hurts." He said.

"Dad." Bon said, relief evident in his voice.

Tatsuma looked over at Bon, his eyes widening. "Ryuji. What are you doing here?"

"I came to get you."

Tatsuma sat up, a look of pain crossing his face as he moved, "Well, that was dumb."

Kiara smirked, holding back a few chuckles from Tatsuma's response.