Possession 6: Tenshi's Gift

                The Hell Hounds paced the street in the darkening light, circling in anticipation. Black tongues eagerly licked black muzzles. Every so often, a Hound would stop and unleash an unearthly howl. They tasted death, and they were hungry to spread it.

                The door to Tenshi’s house opened. He stepped out onto the stoop, one hand clenched around the bokuto, the last traces of vapor vanishing as it was inhaled. His eyes moved uncertainly for moment, than a grim determination focused them on the spiritual beasts out in the street.

                Be careful in the Third Realm, Tenshi, Rei mentally whispered. There was no response. With a heavy sigh, she stepped outside. “Alright you dirty mongrels, let’s end this quickly. I doubt your master will let me send him away without dispatching you first.”

                With a snarl, one of the Hell Hounds charged forward. It leapt and opened its jaws wide, eyes burning with hunger.

                Rei’s free hand snatched a piece of cut, rectangular paper from a stack tucked behind Tenshi’s belt. She flipped up the side bearing writing and flicked it into the air. “Fireball!” She yelled, raising her bokuto and bringing the blade down onto the floating spell.

                The was a flash of light as the talisman was consumed by flame before arching out and striking the Hell Hound squarely on the forehead. The blaze blinded the beast, and when its vision cleared, Rei had already severed its head from its neck. The beast dissolved.

                Rei grunted. “It should have destroyed you right away, but I only had computer paper and markers. I suppose it’ll have to do.”

                The other two Hell Hounds spread out to cover Rei’s left and right side. They snarled and roared, attempting to force her into submission. She showed neither fear nor nervousness.

                “Well? Will you let your dog of a brother die in vain? Attack me, you stupid beasts!”

                One of the monsters bounded forward, although it stayed on the ground rather than leaping into the air. When Rei turned to meet him, the other lunged forward, howling in delight. Rei crouched then leapt into the air, flipping to land on the forehead of the first beast before springing forward and landing behind it. She spun around as the second bore down on her but flipped out of the way.

                She landed with a huff. Tenshi’s body isn’t cut out for this… I almost fell on my face! If these beasts weren’t so stupid, I might actually be concerned for Tenshi’s life…

                The first Hound had recovered and rounded on her, rearing up on its hind legs to swipe at her with its massive forepaws. Rei stumbled backwards, but the second beast charged her, clamping its jaws on Rei’s left arm, which currently held her bokuto.

                “GYAH!” She screamed with Tenshi’s voice. With astonishing quickness, she pulled out another talisman and planted it between the creature’s eyes. “BURN!” The spell caught fire. At the same time, she had switched her bokuto to her right hand and used it to slice off the front leg of the other Hound. She then spun the bokuto and drove it into the skull of the beast gripping her arm. It dissolved.

                Both wounded, Rei and the remaining Hell Hound fell back. The demon dog moved awkwardly with only three legs, lacking even the stump the very first Hell Hound that tracked Rei had. The priestess, on the other hand, was cradling Tenshi’s wounded arm. Luckily the beast that had bitten it hadn’t torn off any flesh; otherwise it would have been much worse. Still, it was covered in blood and was almost useless. She would still be able to use it for her spells, though. Tenshi will be very upset with me… I am only lucky that it was not severed entirely…

                The Hell Hound began to stalk forward, snarling as it bared its teeth. Rei regarded it with concern.  I can’t let it fool me… Even with three legs, it is still deadly…

                With a roar, the enormous dog reared, moving forward on its hind legs. Its leg swiped at Rei, missing her by inches. She ducked and leapt forward to attack, but the beast turned its swipe into a back hand and sent her hurtling through the chain-link fence around the neighbor’s yard.

                Rei stood in time to see the Hell Hound bearing down on her. She flicked another talisman into the air with her wounded hand and slammed the blade of her bokuto down onto it. “Fireball!” As before, the paper was consumed by flame which then arched forward to strike at the approaching beast.

                The monster leapt to avoid the blast. When it landed, Rei was already in the air. She flipped, bringing the blade down through the beast’s skull and embedding the tip of it in the soft ground. It dissolved.

                Rei stood with a huff. “There… I defeated all your minions, now why don’t you show yourself?”

                “Very impressive, priestess. I hadn’t expected you to create talismans.”

                Ukyo moved out of the shadows to stand in the light of the streetlamp. Wrapped around his enormous, dark forearms were chains. The ends were held by his hands. The dog skull on his chest was bathed in a red glow. His eyes seemed alight anticipation and a broad smile was spread across his face.

                Rei growled. “Worthless demon, possessing a human! Leave his body at once and I may decide to end your existence quickly.”

                “You joke as well as you fight, priestess. Poorly. Were it not for your spells, my Hounds would have devoured your soul, so conveniently placed inside that boy’s body.” Ukyo began to make his way over to Rei. “In fact, you seem much like me. After all, we are both fighting through others.”

                “Don’t ever compare myself to your filth!” Rei lunged forward to meet him, raising her bokuto high.

                Ukyo laughed and swept his arms out. He suddenly brought them together, unleashing a chain from each arm. They acted as whips, one wrapping around the wooden sword and the other around Rei’s injured arm. He snapped one arm and the bokuto was ripped from the Tenshi’s hand. “So sloppy.” Ukyo yanked on the other, pulling Rei toward him. As she cried out in pain, his other hand swept forward, catching her in the stomach.

                “UGH!” Rei’s eyes went wide as she was sent flying through the air. When she reached the end of the chain’s length, she was jerked short and fell to the ground hard.

                Ukyo laughed. “How disappointing. And to think, Master was afraid of you. You!” He rumbled a laugh.

                Rei gritted her teeth and managed to get to her knees. Damn! Tenshi’s body is too weak! He has little endurance and even less strength… How can I fight this beast off?

                Ukyo grinned and yanked on the chain. “Playtime isn’t over yet!”

                Tenshi laughed. He and Kai sat on his living room couch, playing video games.

                That was a good one, Kai. I never thought she would have done that! Tenshi laughed again, even though he couldn’t remember the joke. He looked into Kai’s face and couldn’t even remembering hearing his friend say anything. Are you hungry? Mom’s making some snacks.

                Kai yawned and closed his eyes, grinning.

                I’ll take that as a yes! Tenshi smiled and turned back to the game. If you don’t start playing, I’m gonna beat your high score! He focused on the blank screen, narrowing his eyes in concentration.

                Hey dad, when will your next day off be? He glanced over to look at his father, sitting where Kai had been a moment before. You know me and mom miss you.

                Tenshi blinked. Suddenly the man beside him was dressed in robes and wasn’t his father. Well… he didn’t look like him, but he still felt like him. Tenshi looked back at the TV, only it wasn’t a TV anymore, but a roaring fire.

                One day, when I get strong enough, I’m going after Tenma. I’ll make him pay for what he did! He looked back over to his smiling father. He then looked to the left, at the window a few feet away from his couch. Right mom?

                His mother smiled then pointed out the window. Tenshi got up and moved over, pushing the curtain aside. What is it mom? What’s out there?

                Hey, what’s Ukyo doing out there with Rei? Tenshi wondered. He watched the oversized bully using Rei as a yo-yo, pulling her to him just to punch her and send her away. That looks like it hurts…

                Tenshi turned around. The house was gone, only an empty blackness remained. He looked back to the window, then to his mom. She’s fighting for me, isn’t she? She doesn’t want me to die… isn’t that right?

                His mother smiled. Help her, Tenshi.

                Tenshi’s eyes went wide. The Hell Hounds! He…He must be the one controlling them! He turned back to the window and pounded on the glass. Rei! Rei! I can help you! Rei!

                “This is getting boring, priestess. Is this all you really have?” Ukyo yanked Rei forward and slammed his fist into her gut, sending her flying away only to be pulled short and sent crashing to the ground.

                Rei let out a gasp. My arm! The bastard pulled it out of the socket! She looked futilely at her bokuto, so far away. Tears of pain and frustration rolled down her cheeks. Damn it all! Tenshi… I’m so sorry… I…I couldn’t save you… She closed her eyes.

                Rei! Rei! I can help you! Rei!

                The thoughts echoed in her mind. She managed to open her eyes and could have sworn she saw Tenshi crouched over her. A delusion, nothing more. She closed her eyes again.

                Rei! What do you need? Tell me, Rei!

                My… body… I could fight him off… but not… like this… An exhausted sigh escaped Tenshi’s lips. Rei knew what would come next. It’s over…

                Rei!

                Rei’s eyes snapped open. An odd glow infused her body, a pale blue light. She blinked a few times and managed to get to her knees. Before her eyes, her wounds and fatigue was washed away. What the Hell…?

                Suddenly, Rei gasped and arched Tenshi’s back. The light pressed in on her, and all feeling was leeched away. She felt stripped and naked before this light. Then she felt the changes begin. Her body shrank. Not too much, but she was no longer Tenshi’s height. Her waist tapered and her shoulders narrowed. Her hair swept out, long strands of chestnut replacing Tenshi’s short dark brown. She felt her legs change as well as her chest grow outwards. She gasped, and suddenly, she was aware of her surroundings.

She was standing now. The first thing she noticed was how baggy Tenshi’s clothes were. Next, she noticed her breasts. By the gods…what just happened?

Ukyo stared, then laughed. “That’s your big trick? That’s it? Turning Tenshi’s body into your own? HA! Any demon can do that!”

Rei stared at herself. Yeah… but no human can… the Kagebatsu knew such tricks, but…

Ukyo gripped his chain. “Ah well. Too bad. Time to end this!” He yanked Rei off her feet and towards him. When she was close enough, he heaved his other fist around.

Rei narrowed her eyes and grabbed his fist with both hands, using it as leverage to flip over Ukyo’s back. She landed behind him and grabbed hold of the chain, pulling down on it and reversing all of Ukyo’s power back onto him. The chain pulled him backwards and flipped him over Rei to land in the street, flat on his face. The pavement cracked beneath him.

“Would you shut up already? I’m trying to think!” Rei growled. She then paused, realizing her arm was small enough to slide free of the chains. “Oh!” She quickly freed herself then leapt for the bokuto.

Ukyo climbed to his feet with a grunt. “Ugh… that actually hurt!” With a snarl, he sent another chain after Rei. “Get back here, girly!”

Rei rolled and grabbed her weapon, springing to her feet. She spun around to face the incoming chain with angered eyes. “What did you call me?” With a shout of defiance, Rei leapt as the chain embedded itself into the sidewalk where she had just stood. Landing gently on the chain, she suddenly took off at Ukyo.

The startled man raised his free arm to fend her off. Rei slashed with her bokuto and leapt into the air, landing behind Ukyo. The chains around the arm she had just slashed at fell to the ground in a dozen pieces. Wasting no time, she pulled another talisman free and slammed it onto Ukyo’s back. “BURN!”

Rei jumped away as the spell burst into flames. “ARGH!” Ukyo cried out in alarm, dropping to the ground and actually rolling to put out the flames. Rei crouched and held her sword at the ready.

What happened? How am I able to fight with my own body? The Kagebatsu used to become hosts for their departed warriors and could alter their forms by concentrating on the body of their partner… but how could Tenshi ever learn this skill?

Rei’s thoughts were interrupted as the enormous Ukyo rose to his feet. “That… hurt… a lot,” he growled. “No one… NO ONE! EVER! Hurts me! You’re going to PAY for this, PRIESTESS!” He turned, face changing as his teeth grew longer, nose shrank, and eyes began to glow a fiery red.”

The priestess gulped. …This doesn’t look good…