Nyoko's Halloween Story

The group walks into a real town.  Something they haven't seen in over a month if one didn't count the small villages they run into about every few days.  Raiden suggested this town actually since Nyoko has been complaining about running low on equipment.

Stepping foot into this town, they all quickly pick up the strange behavior of this town.  Banners hang from every pole, the streets are decorated with orange and black.  People are going door to door asking for donations for the festivities as well as children dressed up as ghosts, goblins and other creatures of the night.  And directly in the middle is a large bonfire not yet lit but people are surrounding it in a festive manner.

"What the hell…?"  Raiden begins but Riri cuts him off with a childish giggle.

"Oh yeah, I forgot."  Everyone turns their attention to the short woman and she continues, "It's a human festival.  All-Hallows-Eve.  It's the one night a year that ghosts can enter our realm and speak to the dead.  Or terrorize."

Nyoko scuffs as she looks straight, "Pathetic humans are so superstitious over everything they possibly hear."

Raiden nods his head slowly, "Agreed.  Like the dead can rise."

"…Raiden, I'm right here" Riri pouts her cheeks to which the raven hair wolf sheepishly apologizes and pats her head.

The gang enters the village and go virtually invisible.  No one hollers about demons or tries to challenge any of them.  Entering the inn, they book themselves two rooms with two beds in each one.  Finally, they'd all get to sleep in their own beds.

Heading upstairs with their keys, Raiden is the first to laugh openly, "Seems it wasn't such a bad idea to help that creepy old guy at the river, huh?"

Nyoko turns her head but Raiden stares at her as he continues, "Creepy or not, he paid us enough to finally get our own room!  No offense Syaoran but I get tired of sharing a bed with you every time we get to a town."

The bi-colored hair man hums something short of a reply but they reach the top of the stairs and enter their own rooms.  In the girl's room Nyoko claims the left bed and Riri jumps on the right one.  The blue hair kitsumatta giggling the entire time until she jumps off in a summersault and lands on the ground with her arms held out.

"Nyoko, did you see that?  I had a perfect landing."

"You stumbled" Nyoko points out though she had her eyes closed the entire time.

Riri puffs her cheeks and sits down, "Well anyways!  Um Nyoko, will you guys be okay tonight?"  Now the pink hair demoness turns to stare at the other, "I forgot about this holiday but actually it's a very busy night for Messangers.  I'm sure I'll be getting orders soon about how I'm behind on souls or something.  You'll see me around the town but in Messenger mode."

Nyoko sits up, "What are you going on about now?"

"My job.  Soul duties, remember?  Tehehe, you're so silly Nyo!"  Riri jumps over and gives her fellow companion a hug.

To which, the hugged girl nearly claws Riri's throat but luckily the demon jumps back in the nick of time and giggles again.  Instead of chasing the girl though, Nyoko lays back down and gets comfortable.

"I don't care.  We leave tomorrow morning."

Nodding, "Hmm, okay!  I'll be back before dawn."

~*~*~

"Why are we out here again?" Raiden complains.

October weather is anything but warm, the air is chilly and the cloudy sky covers whatever moonlight there is.  Nyoko and Raiden are currently outside, passing by the countless humans wearing every disguise possible to man.  Much to her dismay, they're given ghoul masks to blend in which Raiden wears proudly while Nyoko holds it in her hand.

Glaring at her male companion, "Shut up."

Making a face behind the mask, "I think the Bubbles will be just fine.  She eats souls right?  She's probably just pigging out.  She does that…a lot."

Glaring even more now, "I said shut up."

"Everyone!  Come to the fire!  I can see the ghosts crossing the bridge!  Hurry!"  Someone shouts loudly and everyone hurries to the center.  The large bonfire is just lit and the fire cracking sounds eerily calming.  As if the air is suddenly clear though neither demons noticed that the air had felt different.

Sounds of ghoulish cries peirce the night and everyone huddles around the fire protectively, chanting something now.  Meanwhile, Nyoko and Raiden look to the bridge to see exactly what everyone is so afraid of.

Ghosts.

All surrounding the darkness, wherever the light from the fire didn't touch did a ghost make that spot its own.  The demoness scrounges her nose at the repulsiveness of some of the creatures, especially the ones that look as if they recently rose from the grave.

"I think these bastards need to learn to not show their ugly faces here" Nyoko growls and cracks her hand.

"Scelestus vox obsido in mihi..." Riri suddenly falls from the sky and swipes at the souls with her scythe and lands on all three with the scythe in her free hand.

Her appearance is different though.  The recognizable cheerful face is gone with a grim one in its replacement.  On her back are four pairs of white feathery wings as well as her childish demeanor is now feral.

Raiden raises his hand and flicks his wrist, "Yo."

Turning her head a fraction and shooting him practically a Nyoko glare her eyes flicker behind her to spot the black remains of the dead ghouls start moving.  Nyoko's eyes mimics hers but before the remains can completely merge Syaoran jumps from nowhere.  Impaling the creature with his kusarigamas.

Syaoran walks up beside Riri and raises his hand with a flick of his wrist, "Yo."

Suddenly the joyful reunion is torn apart by a villager's murderous scream and the bonfire's light goes out with an unimaginable strong wind.  The wind is follow by a loud howl causing the villagers to scurry to their safety of the church.

Just over the hill rises a massive shadow emerges letting rip a new howl before it slams its massive claw on the earth and pulling himself over the forest.  The gang looks at it with mild interest but it's Raiden who steps towards it first.

"Alright, seems like we got some work to do!  Nyo can go for it's big nasty jaw.  Sy, me and you got the arms!  Bubbles, you can-hey wait!"

Riri is already air borne, flying to the creature with amazing speed.  Nyoko is right underneath her running fast enough to leave a small dust pool behind.

Syaoran walks behind his friend and pats his shoulder with a chuckle, "We'll go on ghoul duty, come on."  He jerks his thumb towards a fresh mob of ghouls that are roaming the streets.

~*~*~

The Messanger and demoness swipe at the large shadow.  Even as big as it is, it's body shifts to avoid either attack.  Riri flies high above the creature until her silhouette is seen in front of moon.  Nyoko crouches low and begins running around the shadow's feet, hiding the beam of light from her hands with her body.

Roaring loudly, the shadow tries to take a swipe at the pink hair demon only to completely loose her.  Then to find her only when her blade digs itself into the back of his neck before she jumps off him with a back flip.  A malicious grin is present on her face as she stares up at the demon, eyes glowing practically and her fur standing on edge.

Reaching over, the shadow tries to remove the blade only to get himself electrocuted to where his claw is steaming.

Nyoko lets out a hollow laughter, "Pathetic."

Running towards the shadow, she goes for the body only to jump through a newly made hole in the shadow's stomach before he dashes off.  With Nyoko on his tail.  The shadow easily moves through the forest surrounding the village but it's apparent that the goal is the village itself.  Nyoko catches up to the shadow easily only to have it gain more speed.

They play this game of 'cat and mouse' for some time.  Until the shadow makes a bold move and decides to end the game.  Turning itself around by backing up into a tree, it's massive mouth opens wide enough to see fangs.  Nyoko doesn't stop, running up to the shadow she flexes her claws and plans to take one swing to remove the shadow's head.  Ending the night once and for all.

Black slime projects from the shadow's mouth and onto Nyoko's slim body, engulfing her rapidly with no means of escape.  The demon hacks at the mysterious substance with her claws only for it to grow bigger and darker.  Until the demon is unseeable and the substance takes a harden form.

The shadow lets a chuckle roll from his throat, "Foolish demon.  You're no match for me!"

He turns around and makes a leap for the village.  Only to hear the one time flap of wings before feeling something ice cold slicing him.  He quickly makes a landing and feels the gash on his back.  Looking up, he growls angrily and turns his body.

Riri lands slowly on the ground, her wings retract themselves to her back as she steps forward to stare at the creature.  "You're not allowed in this realm."

"Stinking Messengers!  Do you dare try to command me!?  The great Shadow Lord?  Your power has no hold on me.  Tonight is All Hollow's Eve!"

Taking a stance, "Then you are to be eliminated."

"What can you do?  You're not even a full fledge Messenger."  Running towards the blue hair demon the Shadow Lord lets out a loud roar.  Eyes glowing red he opens his mouth and readies to shoot another ball of slime.

Riri's eyes stare at the creature as it comes.  Staying perfectly still until the very last second which she executes with a single move that is untraceable by the naked eye.

~*~*~

The bonfire suddenly is burning brightly again and all the ghouls from the area screech before fleeing out of the village and back into the forest.  The church doors open as the villagers exit to see what is going on.  Syaoran is standing by the bridge with his arms cross while Nyoko is just before the fire letting the warmth burn off the thin black slime left on her body.  Raiden is crouching by the bonfire, a dark fire in his hand with red and blue fighting for dominance.

He waves over to the people and they slowly resume the festivities.  The humans are dancing in the fire's light.  Others are playing the games set up around the village, some are lighting lanterns to ward any ghosts off while others are simply pigging into the food.  Everyone seems to forget about the attack.  The gang begins to divulge themselves in their own ways and join in the festivities.

Nyoko now having a better understand of All Hollow's Eve.

~*~*~

Nyoko and the boys head out at the crack of dawn.  Raiden looks half asleep while  eating some bread and Syaoran is eating an apple.  They make it up the hill where the Shadow Lord was rising from.

"Did Riri say when she'd get here?" Syaoran asks quietly.

Raiden shrugs and Nyoko doesn't bother responding.  They walk in silence until they get down the hill.  Farms surround this part of the area, hay patches surround the land and the random chicken walking by.

Nyoko smirks and Raiden shakes his head, "You're not eating them.  Come on, the villagers gave us tons of food.  Lets not get chased by them."

"They said we can come back next year" the bi-colored hair wolf says.

Shrugging her shoulders, "You can do whatever you want."

Throwing his arm over her shoulder, "Come on now.  Don't be like that.  That's why Riri left us!  Got tired of your cranky attitude."

Growling, Raiden quickly backs off and offers a sheepish grin but Nyoko ignores him and continues walking.  The three walk in silence, finishing whatever they were eating and setting out on their next long journey to find Deaigo.

Half way through the farm lands did they run into a certain blue hair demon girl fast asleep in the middle of the road with a bed made out of hay.  Syaoran kneels beside her and pets her back, waking her slowly.

Her usual eyes appear as she sits up slowly with a cute yawn.  She rubs her eyes childishly while Syaoran lifts her up.  "Morning."

"Told you we leave by dawn" Nyoko says in an emotionless tone.

Riri nods slowly, "I'm here aren't I?"

Nyoko continues walking while Raiden and Syaoran help Riri get her stuff and resume their walking.  Heading to the next village to hopefully find more information.