A Journey

It had been months since her last fight, and boy what a failure it was. She was sure that she could have handled her attacker with ease. Then there was all the bull sorcery. Spawning in minions that were tougher than normal and those skulls. She shivered at the memory.

Shaking her head, she forced the memories away and returned her attention back to reality. Around her the forest was shambles, trunks were missing slivers of bark, branches devoid of leaves, shrubs and other underbrush trampled by great winds. All damage done was part of her ‘training,’ but was angry management.

At the center of the carnage was her, Chika Usagi, better known as ‘The Ruby Rose’ or even Subject 569. Oh, how she hated that label, Subject 569, a number, an experiment. Just the thought of it infuriated her. She was her being; she had her mind and personality. She wasn’t a specimen on a petri dish with a number label.

Just a thought of her old life made Ruby angry flare. Jumping of her perch, of a tree she fell, she needed to go for a walk. In the end it had helped, although any tree that was in striking range of her scythe was quickly cut down. Logically she knew where her angry was coming from. Fear, she was afraid since she had come close to being taken back. Although it would have included a large amount of kicking and screaming, which gave her a small amount of pleasure. Although this was a small pleasure that was dwarfed by the fear. She needed to get stronger and faster, the better.

Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on something other then the thoughts plaguing her. She felt a cold black darkness around her something that only happen when she see just with her spiritual senses. Around here the world felt far away as she tried to focus on something. It was a sensation nagging at her for a while now. Something on the edge of her perception, and she only caught glimpses of it. Every time she was close; it disappeared. The red outline of a beast eluded her every time she turned around. This annoyed her to no end. Today she was not going to give up. She wanted to know what has been plaguing her. She was tried of the unbearable image of some monster right behind her, overshadowing her ever existence. She needed to know the identity of the demon that stalked day and night.

At least see knew that it was only something in her mind, and not reality. After all if it was a demon she would have used her scythe on it already.

Chika, new she needed to get to the bottom of this and fast. She kept seeing these shadows around her, and knew that they weren’t real. Just because something didn’t exist in the world, doesn’t mean it not real. Some things could exist, hidden deep within the mind. The only why to such a place is through a process that Chika feels would be harder than trying to count the stars in the galaxy, both past and present, meditation.

Oh, how she loathed the mere thought of the word. It was not that she could not meditate, although her mind was not suited to such slow tasks. Others could easily just sit still and try to listen to whatever is trying to talk to them. Chika’s mind however could not focus on one thing alone; her evolution powers wouldn’t allow it. Her mind processes information at such a high speed that trying to focus on nothing is difficult. She has tried to clear her mind and keep it blank although that only lasted for about minute. Then there is the fact that because of this processing everything around her moves to slow. Chika has consider that staying in place doing nothing for close to a minute is too long.

With a sigh, Chika resigned herself that she needs mediation to get whatever was on her mind out. Looking around the forest, she tried to find an area that might be comfortable to sit for hours on end. After fifteen minutes of searching, Chika found a stump of a large tree that could fit an entire picnic party. It was also flat and smooth, meaning it would be slightly more comfortable than sitting on the cold hard ground. Sitting in the center of the stump, she faced a large pond with an island in the center of it, and on that island was an old willow tree that swayed in the wind. On the pond, sunlight shined down through the trees creating a reflection of the sky upon it. In Chika’s eyes, it was stunning.

Maybe she could meditate here since this place naturally relaxed here. Sitting with her legs crossed, and her hand on her knees; Chika closed her eyes and tried to empty her mind. All she thought about was nothing. One of the most difficult things she had ever to do. Ask her to come up with plans to make doom laser, easier than mediation. She was not accustomed to sitting still and not doing anything. Her body itched to move; her mind wanted to process plans, and analyze data, the only thing that was still was her soul. In Chika’s mind, it felt like seconds turned into hours, and minutes into days. Chika tried to keep her eyes closed and her mind blank, but she couldn’t take it anymore.

“GAAAHHHHH!!!” Chika Scream out as she opened her eyes and pulled her hair in frustration. Letting herself fall backwards Chika laid out against the smooth grain of the wood. Fishing out her phone from one of her many hidden pockets she needed to see how long it has been.

…
…
…

“Only five minutes have passed!” She cried out in despair. She didn’t care anymore about meditation. After all, it was impossible for her to do. Although since she was she, decided that she would stay and watch the leaves of the trees dance in the wind. She knew she wouldn’t be there for long, but she need to do some to claim her mind. As she watched the leaves, she was slowly falling into a trance by the dance they spun. Slowly her silver eyes lost it shine as they turned to a grey from the trance. After an hour in this state Chika’s eyes finally closed.

Next thing she knew, everything was black around her.

The world had turned black that was the easiest thing to describe what has happened. However, Chika could still see, for some unknown reason everything had a red outline. She was lying down on the stump where she was trying to meditate. However, it seemed much large then it did before. Sitting up Chika looked around trying to understand what was going. She would have started to panic if she didn’t realize that she was asleep, and in a dream.

“Although this is not a dream.” A rough voice said behind Chika, which startled her. Jumping away from the noise Chika ready herself from anything. Across from her stood a massive wolf, that stood six feet in height, from ear to paw. Its paw were massive and looked like they could snap bones just by stepping on them. Its large looked like it could pass for a small car if need be. It’s black fur shined with an unknown source of red light. The only other thing that stood out to Chika was it’s blue eyes.

“Although it took you long enough to find your way here.” The wolf said with a sigh has it flopped onto the ground. Chika, on the other hand, stared at the best not sure what to make of it, or even how it could speak.

“Surprised that I need not move my jaw to speak?” The wolf again replied to Chika’s thoughts. “For such a smart girl, you lack the subtlety to hide your thoughts. In other words, your thoughts are visible on your face.”


Chika felt her face turn to a pout at the wolf lying on the ground in front of her. It knew the answer she would ask before she even had a chance to ask them. The lazy looking wolf studies her from one open eye, as if it was waiting for the next question.

“Who or, what are you?” Chika asks a little heist of the beast.

“Ah, finally asking some interesting questions now.” The wolf almost looked like it grinned even though it didn’t bother to lift its head. “For starters you may call me Cavoth, and as for what I am I give you this riddle: I bare Crimson eyes and stalk fields of brimstone. Comrades in arms we left our realm seeking a new lands. We fell across the upon white shores with fangs bared, with us all fall to shadows.”

Cavoth let Chika allow the riddle before speaking again. “As for the next question you are sure to have, we are in your soul, such an interesting place is it not?”

“My soul? Then that would make you a part of me, like a Zanpakutô spirit?” Chika asks even though her mind was trying to unravel Cavoth’s riddle.

“Ha, ha.” Cavoth gave a barking laugh. “So close to the truth in one guess. I can see why you view me such; a wolf is a good personification of your powers is it not? However, while I am tied to your powers, I am not of them. Since you are already working on one riddle, I just skip to the answer. I am a foreign spirit, which makes you a Zaimichi. However, the answer to what kind of spirit I am is in the riddle I gave you.”

Upon finishing his words, Cavity laid his head down once more and studied her with his one eye. He waited for her to finishes the riddle before speaking.

Chika, on the other hand, asked him what he meant she was a Zaimichi, but Cavoth was ignoring her. That left her with only solving the riddle before he would speak to her again. The first thing that stuck out to her was that of Crimson eyes and brimstone. In any fairy tale that Chika read, crimson eyes and brimstone meant something evil was nearby. Thier realm, could me a bunch of different stuff. However, Chika thought e living. It meant not form the realm of the living. Although she was trying to figure out the last part still confused her. White shores, and the fall of shadows had nothing to do with the rest. White shores could mean anything while it felt like fall of shadows was put in there to mess with her head. In away, it felt like t would be something Shadow Fall would do. Then it hit her, Shadow Fall, which was one part of what the message meant. Then she started to think and push all the little pieces, and trying to understand what them meant.

It didn’t take long before Chika, had her anwer.

“You’re a Demon…”

A demon spirit was in her soul. The sudden revelation made Chika feel disgusted that one of the beings she hated the most was now in her soul. Jumping back, she placed herself into a defensive posting. Pulling out a red rectangle from her back, she made it transform into her familiar scythe, the silver edge blade glow like blood from the red light. Across from Chika, Cavoth sat on his hind legs and gave another barking laugh.

“So, the little master wishes to fight?” Cavoth felt another wave of laughter come upon him. Once it ended Cavoth flopped back to the ground and watched Chika with both eyes. “As much as I enjoy fighting little master, the time of our battle for control has already come and past. After all if I wanted to fight I would have dragged you here, not tried to have you follow me here. Although I must add you took your sweet time getting here.”

“What do you me the fight for control has already come and gone?” Chika demanded keeping her weapon leveled at the lazy wolf.

“It is simple, when I first came into your being I tried to do, ‘the great demon thing to do,’ and take control of your body. Although your soul was weak, so I fought you in the mind, and you won. Sure I could always challenge you again, but I rather not.” The apparent laziness in his voice started to grate on Chika’s nerves.

“That doesn’t answer what I just asked!” Chika shouted at the lazy wolf. She was starting to get the feeling that the demon in front of her would be harder to deal with than the average demon.

“Your right, ha-ha!” Cavoth said lifting his head with a barking laugh. “How about I tell you a story on how you and I are tied together? It the easiest way for you to understand what our connection is.” Without waiting for Chika approval, Cavoth launched into his story.

Our origin started when a young Chika Usagi was out playing the streets, fearing nothing in a town deep within the Shadow Fall Empire. One part of the town was destroyed in a fight between to powerful demons. Our young heroine was exploring that section of the town. Looking through the abandon buildings, Chika happened upon a ruined market square. No one had returned since the fighting had just happened yesterday. Most people were at the hospital or, working on more important parts of the town.

It was late in the afternoon when Chika stumbled on a food stall. She didn’t notice the dried pattern of blood on the wall. All she saw was a delicious looking apple. She was getting hungry at the time and wanted a snack to eat. The apple she grabbed had the brightest red she had every seen. It shined in the light and seemed cleaner than the other apples like it was recently washed. Chika bites into it and found that it tasted like a normal apple. It had disappointed her a little since she hoped it would be the greatest apple she would have every tasted. It tasted good enough, so she continued to eat it. One big thing Chika had missed was that the bloodstain on the wall and floor moved in a pattern that would include the box that had the apples.

A few days later, Chika would fall under a terrible sickness because of the apple that had been washed in demon blood. It was at this time that Chika’s soul went under a transformation. At this time, it was the beginning of her soul developing her Soul Evolution. It was also when a Zaimichi spirit formed inside her soul. At this time, the demon was impatient and wanted the body of its host. He felt a hunger for battle, but he could not battle in her soul, because it was transforming, and fight there would most likely kill both him and the host. That was when he deiced to challenge Chika inside her mind. However, he underestimated her since he thought she would be afraid of him. She was not, and because it was her mind she simply thought of something and it happened.

Beaten and humiliated the demon retreated to rest. As he slept Chika’s soul bound his power to her. This turned Chika’s power to be based demonic in nature. Like many who undergo soul evolution, their power can mimic another spiritual beings. Like the Chad and Orihime, the first human to undergone soul evolution, Chad’s power was like a hollow'ss in nature. So Chika’s become demonic in nature. Since the demon was bound to Chika, he gained the ability to see what she saw and felt what she felt. This also allowed him to feel the rush of any battle without having to fight himself. He found that he could sleep all he wanted, and awaken during a battle. This suited him fine, so he decided to let Chika keep control as he did the things he preferred.

“You see, little master,” Cavoth said to Chika once he was done with the story. “I have found it much easier to simply let you be in control. I was even content in not letting you know that I was here. However, since you were almost captured, I have a deal for you.”

Cavoth stood to his hull height and approached Chika. As stopped, a wolfish smile was upon his lips.

“You can use my powers, and in return, you don’t get captured by the Facility.”

”Just like that? You are offering me power just like that?” Chika asked. Her suspicion was already high, but this just took the cake. “Aren’t inner demons meant to haunt and try to take control of their host. Then it a completely different story if a host wants the power for themselves. Normally it likes a big fight and if the host loses the demon eat their soul or something like that. And yet you are willing giving me your power… What’s the catch?”

After Chika’s words, Cavoth fell to his side letting loose a fury of barking laughs. “Ha, ha, silly little master, your mistrust in demons is well placed.” However, Cavoth stopped laughing as she stood back up on all fours. “Although I can be trusted, since my fate is tied to you.”

In a single motion, Cavoth bit at empty air as if he was trying to grab something. From the air formed a large chain, the same crimson as Chika’s flower petals. The chain seemed to go from Cavoth to Chika, but it faded back into obscurity once it near her. On Cavoth end, it did not. The chain was in the center of a large wolf’s chest, and that chain he now held in is fangs. Unlike most soul chains that were attached natural, this chain looked like it embedded itself into him, and then grew for a firm hold.

“Now do you see?” Asked Cavoth as he let the chain go. “I am connected to you, if you die, I die. If the facility captures you and they try to turn you into a hollow, what do you think will happen to me? I would rather not find out. Therefore, I will let you use my powers. I am lazy, and like living, so the best way for me to maintain my average life is to let you use my power.”

“Fine, I’ll use your powers, but don’t aspect me to trust,” Chika said as she turned her back on Cavoth. Cavoth is finally getting what he wanted, so he clasped back on the ground. Rolling to his side a giant wolf tried to get comfortable again.

“Now I suggest you wake up now. After all only an hour has passed, and it will be getting dark within two hours.” Cavoth knew the reason getting Chika to leave was weak sauces, but he wanted to go back to sleep.

“Whatever,” Chika commented before trying to figure out how to leave. After all, it wasn’t going to be as easy as just thinking leave. However, as soon as she thought that, the world faded into light.

Waking up, Chika found herself laying down on the stump. In the sky, the sun had moved towards the horizon line. Two hours had passed since Chika closed her eyes, although it was at least another hour before it started to get dark out. Sitting up with a sigh, Chika wondered if all that was a dream. If it were then, everything would be grand if it weren't, then she would have to figure out a way to deal with it.

“Too bad for you it wasn’t a dream.” The familiar voice of Cavoth rang in her head. “I always wondered if this would work, and now it seems that I can communicate with you.”

Chika sat up looking for the speaker before falling back with a groan. She knew that the voice she heard was that of her tenant. Before she hadn’t even known that he was there, but now she did. Heck she didn’t even know if she gained any abilities since he was there.

“Then why don’t you find out?” The sarcastic voice of Cavoth echoed in her head. “You know how to find me, but try grabbing hold of my power and bring it to the surfaces. It should be innate for you, just close your eyes and summon my power.”

Little did Cavoth know that Chika took his words a little too seriously. Closing her eyes, Chika focused on Cavoth hidden in her soul. In her mind, she felt as if she garbed hold of the chain. Around her, a foreign power surrounded her. It was like nothing she ever felt, like swirling rapids, the power rushed around her. She felt that she could grab hold of this power and use it, but she knew that there was something more. Lifting up her hand Chika focused causing words to slip from her mind.

“Come forth the Shadow that haunts my mind.”
“May you fangs turn to a blade,”
“May you paws be clasped in steel.”
“Come forth and answer thy mistress call.”
“Warrior of the Abyss”

In her mind, Chika felt the chain give slack before tightening in her hold. In front of her, a portal appeared with black mist spewing from it. From the portal came a blur of metal and landed on the ground with a thud. For a moment Chika though she a chain connecting her to the giant. Kneeling on the ground with a great sword planted in front of the figure. Standing to it full height the figure towered over Chika by three feet. Standing the giant removed the massive greatsword and rested it over his shoulder.

Turning to Chika, the giant spoke in a familiar voice. “Well, I didn’t think this would happen. It seems that little master is full of surprises.” The blank face of shadows of the giant looked down on Chika.

Chika immediately knew what the giant was in front of her. She also could feel the sarcastic smirk forming on Cavoth’s lips.

“Great I can bring forth a lazy wolf into the real world. Great ability you gave me, you lazy wolf.” Chika said with a sigh, but she could tell that Cavoth was extremely strong.

“And I with a little master who knows nothing of her power.” Cavoth said as he sat down. “Thus brings me to the matter of you little master. You need to learn what you can do. I suggest that you go to Yaguu or whatever they are called for help. You may call on me, but if you are not fighting I am useless to you. Speaking of no fight, I am leaving.”

With his peace said Cavoth seemed to fade away. Particles of mist formed where he was before they were absorbed by Chika.

Once Cavoth had disappeared Chika became furious at the lazy wolf. He came and left quickly before Chika could understand what she just did. She felt confused right now, and more than a little mad. She had a demon inside of her. She decided that she would go to the Yayjuu and see if they could help her understand her inner spirit.

Looking back towards the city, she decided that she would need to eat and sleep on what she had learned. Tomorrow was a new day and with it an answer to her problems.