Journey Evermore - Zeon: Chapter 4 & 5

Zeon slows his pace, seeing the village coming into view until he comes to a complete stop before the entrance. He walks in at a normal pace taking in all that he could see before and around him. The numerous buildings around him give off an oriental feel to each of them, ranging from normal housing for families, to business stands and shops. Various taller buildings towered overhead in the distance and close to him as he moves further into the village.

With each step he takes he smiles widely seeing the various structures and numerous human and monsters moving about the streets near him. Everything surrounding him give a different feel to his being as the people move out of his way as he advances deeper into the village. Quietly, Annabelle and Meili come to his side with Meili focusing her gaze on Zeon’s face and Annabelle taking everything in with a curious look in her eyes.

“This place sure is busy. It’s just like back on the main continent.” He smiles happily as Annabelle takes notice of a vendor selling various ocean based foods. Quietly, she leaves from Zeon’s right side without him or Meili noticing. “This town is Zanbu Jiyuu. This village has been a symbol of monsters and humans living as one. Here, all are equal.” Meili spoke proudly keeping her gaze on Zeon’s face as he shifts his gaze to hers.

“I never knew that.” He looks around once more, the smile on his face remaining as he takes everything in again. “So there are places where monsters can live in peace with humans. I’m glad to hear that.” His smile grows a bit as his expression warms up as well as he continues to walk forward. Some red forms on Meili’s cheeks as she slithers closer to Zeon, but jumps away from him a bit stunned seeing him quickly turn around from his advance. He runs from her side towards the vendor they had passed before at a normal human dash.

She smiles calmly at his action and follows suit, while Zeon moves quickly to the vendor’s booth. He stands in a pair of brown oriental pants meant for fishermen and an open oriental like shirt of the same color. He had a strong build, light skin, and no hair atop his head with a serious expression on his face as he looks down at Annabelle with great anger in his brown eyes. Holding a small fisherman’s dagger in his right hand with a white cloth tied around his forehead he stands in front of his stand keeping his attention on the Werecat before him.

Annabelle stands defensively before the man with a tuna like fish in her mouth. Her hair standing on end as some of the passing public take notice of Annabelle’s actions. She growls at him while keeping the fish tight in her lips. Her eyes showing a great amount of defiance and anger as Zeon approaches the two; looking as if he hadn’t ran at all. Meili keeps her distance from the three; watching the scene before her calmly.

“Annabelle! What are you doing with that?!” Zeon calls to her as she and the vendor turn their attention to him. The vendor looks at Zeon with the same look of anger he had shown Annabelle; pointing his dagger at Zeon’s face. “You boy! Does this girl belong to you?” Zeon shakes his head at the vendor’s question as he lets out a small sigh. “She followed me from the central land and came with me ever since. I can pay for the fish she took from you.”

The man nods to Zeon’s words and approaches him; keeping his dagger tight in his grip. Towering over Zeon, the vendor holds out his left hand in wait as the crowd around them continues to watch. Zeon pulls the sack from within his gi with his right hand, but stops hearing the vendor say, “Twenty gold pieces…” Quickly, Zeon counts out the amount and places it all in the vendor’s large hand.

Counting the amount only with his eyes, the vendor nods to Zeon saying, “This covers it. Enjoy the fish and see that she doesn’t steal again.” The vendor moves to the back of his stand as Zeon bows with his eyes closed to the vendor as he walks away. The crowd calmly walks away from the three while Annabelle looks away slowly from Zeon’s presence with a look of regret in her eyes. Slowly, Meili slithers behind Annabelle with her arms crossed as she leans down slightly behind her right.

“See what trouble you cause him? What makes you think you should be with him?” Meili whispers leaning close to Annabelle’s right ear. The Shirohebi's words cause Annabelle to hiss back at her with anger in her tone. Dropping the fish from her lips, Annabelle quickly turns towards Meili’s face shouting, “Be quiet! You don’t know anything!” Meili looks at her with a blank expression and her eyelids slightly lowered as she gazes down at Annabelle.

Standing up right, Zeon turns to them both as he kneels before Annabelle with a kind smile on his face. Gently, he pats her right shoulder as she turns her attention from Meili to Zeon as he sighs looking at her. “I know you followed me, but don’t cause any trouble for us all. This place is new to both of us and I don’t want anyone getting in trouble alright?” He spoke calmly to her without a drop of anger or disappointment in his tone as he stands up on his feet.

Annabelle follows his movements with her ears slowly falling on top of her head. Zeon moves about the streets once more as Meili quickly slithers after him. She grins back at Annabelle until she turns her attention to the advancing Zeon. Annabelle watches the two for a moment then turns her attention to the fish laying on the ground between her paws. With a sad sigh she thought, “I don’t want it anymore…”

After a few moments of sitting still, staring at the fish between her paws, she sniffs the air gently for Zeon’s scent. Slowly, she follows it; avoiding anyone who walks before her with her gaze locked onto the ground and her ears still resting atop her head. Lifting her gaze upward slightly, she sees Zeon standing with Meili before a large brown and slightly off yellow colored building. She stops in place, watching the two as Zeon and Meili took in the building before them.

It stood two stories before them both with many small windows among the structure as the two saw various people and monsters dining on different foods. The columns before the front door had two uniquely carved dragon statues made of pure gold; wrapping themselves around the columns. Their heads aimed at the ground with their tails pointing upwards towards the large sign above the door that read: “The Twin Golden Dragon.”

“The Twin Golden Dragon…I wonder if they have something good to eat in here.” Zeon spoke reading the sign with a light laugh as he finishes speaking. “They should. A lot of restaurants in this village are well known for their meals and using the freshest ingredients.” Meili answers, keeping her attention on Zeon as he approaches the large double door. Before reaching to push the door open, Zeon pauses in his advance turning his attention to his right.

In the distance he sees Annabelle sitting on the ground with her tail lying straight out behind her with her gaze averted to her left. “It’s not like you really had to buy the stupid fish. I would have put it back if that guy really wanted it back.” She calls out for all to hear while Zeon laughs from her tone and words. Meili however watches with annoyance in her gaze; keeping her focus on Annabelle rather then Zeon.

“No harm done right? Come on. We can get something to eat in here.” He spoke like his normal self with a smile on his face as he turns his attention back to the door. Pushing it open swiftly, he walks in as Annabelle smirks calmly, approaching the restaurant’s front doors. Meili quickly slithers before Annabelle, halting her advance as she looks down at the Werecat with a cold warning stare as she keeps her long white tail behind her raised as if to strike.

Zeon steps fully into the restaurant taking in its décor as it gave a uniquely made oriental feel. Many of the customers were dining from various tables. Some tables were closer to the well polished wooden floor and the diners sat on soft cushions of various colors. While others sit at tables that stand higher up from the lower ones with wooden stools or chairs. Everyone was using chopsticks or forks and knives with the air filled with unique smells.

Zeon smiles overjoyed until his eyes widen hearing someone behind him shout, “Welcome to the Twin Golden Dragon!” A large male with a plump but slightly round build appears behind Zeon as the door to the restaurant slams shut. Donning a white chef’s apron with a white bandanna over his forehead, he leans down with his large arms and pulls Zeon in for a large bear hug. He holds the young man tightly in his grasp, wearing a sleeveless white shirt, jade colored pants, and light brown sandals on his feet as he gave of various scents from his body. His eyes seem barely open as if squinting while his face was free of any hair or blemish.

“Father! Must you hug every customer when they enter?!” A young girl calls out in a more serious, but feminine voice advancing towards the two. She stood about the same height as Zeon, wearing a purple kimono top with a pair of white shorts that stopped above her knees. They cling to her frame a bit showing off her features. Her slightly off brown hair was styled in odangos atop her head as she keeps her gaze on the two with a warm smile that mirrored her larger father’s.

“I’m sorry about my father. He loves to greet every customer who comes in himself whenever he can. And as you can see we have a lot today.” She spoke moving towards her father’s left getting a better look of the two. Zeon looks at her with a wide grin as he laughs a little bit. “Don’t worry. I don’t mind!” Zeon’s outburst and wide grin causes the man to laugh in a hardy manner, rocking Zeon back and forth in his arms happier. The girl places her hands on her hips and laughs a little herself watching the two.

Outside of the restaurant, Meili continues to stare coldly towards Annabelle as the two monster’s gazes meet one another. Crossing her arms over her chest, Meili spoke in a soft, but firm tone, “I don’t know what game you’re playing with him, but know that I won’t let you have your way with Zeon.” Annabelle grins in a slightly smug manner from Meili’s words only to lick the top of her right paw as if her words were nothing.

“What I do with him isn’t any of your business. Besides, you don’t know anything about him.” “Neither do you, Annabelle, but I plan to change that as soon as he and I are man and wife.” She counters, blushing a dark shade of red from her words. Her cold demeanor turns into a warm loving one as she smiles in a dreamy manner while moving her hands to her cheeks; quickly cupping them from her thoughts.

“You won’t get near him! You have no claim to him! Let alone the right to be with him!” Annabelle snarls to Meili, taking a defensive step towards the blushing Shirohebi; keeping her hate filled gaze directed at her. Meili takes notice of Annabelle’s advance and smirks to her proudly. Composing herself, she shifts her body towards the front doors to enter while keeping her gaze on Annabelle saying, “Funny. That would be you. From what I’ve seen, you’ve given him nothing but grief. But I will give him everything without pain.”

Annabelle growls loudly with some of the onlookers noticing the clear disdain the two monsters had for one another. As Meili makes a single motion towards the door, they fling open on their own with Zeon standing in the doorway with various traces of seasonings on his lips. “Hey! How long do you two plan to just stand out here? Hiroshi has some really great food in here!” He exclaims happily looking at the both of them until he turns around; running back to his sitting table further in the middle of the large restaurant.

The crowd stood stunned by Zeon’s outburst, but Meili smiles calmly, slithering into the restaurant only to be quickly cut off by Annabelle, who dashes before her trying to enter first. Meili looks slightly annoyed as she slithers faster past Annabelle only for the Werecat to shove against the Shirohebi's right side. The two monsters start shoving against one another while picking up speed towards the table Zeon was dinning at, giving each other cold hateful gazes.

Both quickly halt their advance in surprise as the girl who greeted Zeon stands before them both with her arms forward and her hands in a stopping position. “Sorry, but you can’t run or shove one another in here.” She spoke keeping a sharp eye on the two. While Meili looks embarrassed, Annabelle looks up at her with a cold expression, moving her tail to swipe at a part of Meili’s body. “It’s ok Anka; both of them are with me.” Zeon calls from his table; holding a pair of wooden chopsticks in his right fingers with an empty plate before him.

Anka sighs in defeat, then steps to her left saying with her eyes shut, “Enjoy…” Both monsters advance to Zeon’s table at a slower pace while Anka opens her eyes slightly watching the two. As they got closer to Zeon’s table, they notice the various smells and dishes lining the top of it. With two other wooden chairs under the table, Zeon sits happily taking a piece of freshly made korokke from a nearby plate then dipping it into a small bowl filled with soy sauce.

From the three bowls of miso soup to small platters of well prepared sushi pieces, there was much to offer though a few of the plates and bowls were already empty. “My, you must have ordered the entire menu.” Meili jokes slithering to the chair to Zeon’s right as he laughs a little. “Naw. I got what I thought both of you would like with me. Eating alone is nice, but I want us to enjoy the food here together.” He spoke, then ate the korokke piece whole. While chewing it, he reaches for a plate filled with steamed beef dumplings. Taking one in his chopsticks, he bites into it even with the korokke still in his mouth.

He swallows all he had then laughs happily from the taste. Quickly, he picks up another dumpling, but devours it whole. He savors the taste happily then proclaims, “I love how these things taste!” He takes another off the plate and devours it like the others, while Annabelle cautiously sniffs the food before her; sitting in the chair to Zeon’s left like a cat perched on a fence. Meili sits gently in her seat with her tail coiled around the bottom gently. Placing her hands together, she shut her eyes saying, “Thank you for the food.” She takes the chopsticks before her and splits them apart looking at her options.

Annabelle watches Meili for the moment, seeing her take a single sushi roll with her chopsticks in her right hands. In an elegant manner, she lifts it to her lips and takes a single bite from it; savoring its taste as a few men take notice of her. Annabelle quickly turns to a plate with a whole tempura fish on it to Zeon’s left, drags it to her quickly then takes a bite out of the top of it. Sitting up, she smiles happily from the taste in her mouth as her tail moves about in a happier manner. “This does taste great!” She exclaims happily taking another large bite into the fish in a manner similar to Zeon’s fast picking of items.

Meili shifts her gaze from the sushi plate to Annabelle as she watches the Werecat dine. Her gaze slightly narrows as she finishes the sushi piece in her chopsticks. As she reaches for another piece, her expression became warmer as she watches Zeon devour another dumpling. “Annabelle, you have to try these! They’re really good!” Zeon spoke sliding another plate of dumplings beside her half eaten tempura.

In return, she slides an uneaten tempura fish before him with her left paw saying, “You eat this first and then I’ll eat those weird looking things.” “Ok.” He chuckles a little, taking a little of the fish’s breading from the top with his chopsticks. She watches then looks down at the dumplings a little concerned, but took one in her right paw without a second thought. Both ate their respective items while Meili watches the two with a slightly cold look in her gaze.

Both devour their food items and quickly smile happily from the taste in their mouths. “I never had something this good! It’s like fish!” Annabelle exclaims overjoyed with a smile to match as she looks directly at Zeon. He grins in return to her saying, “Told ya! And the tempura is really good too!” He turns back to his plate, but reaches for another piece of the tempura he had as Annabelle watches happily then reaches down taking another dumpling in her left paw.

Meili looks at Annabelle in an icy manner, but calms down quickly turning her attention to Zeon. Turning her attention to the table’s spread; she takes a small piece of fried tofu block in her chopsticks, and then blows on it gently. Some of the men keep their attention on the Shirohebi's actions, giving enticed expressions now as Meili leans towards Zeon saying sweetly, “Zeon…” He turns to her as he finishes the last of the tempura in his mouth, seeing her leaning extremely close to his frame.

With her left hand under the tofu, she gazes into his eyes loving as she slowly opens her mouth saying, “Ahhh…” He giggles a little sheepishly and opens his mouth in return with his eyes shut. She gently drops the tofu along his tongue then pulls back a little as she watches him chew on the block in pure delight. She smiles happily then leans closer to his chest saying in a sweeter tone, “Wasn’t that delicious?” Annabelle watches Meili’s actions with ice in her eyes, growling slightly under her breath.

“Oh no… That young man is with a Shirohebi…” A male in a deep brown kimono spoke sitting slightly right of Zeon’s table. His short black hair tied in a formal top-knot as he kept his slightly dark brown eyes on the three in worry. “I know darling. Once they fall in love they never let that love out of their sight. But why is that cat monster with them?” The man’s wife spoke to his right looking of average looks. She sat in a cyan kimono with her hair hanging loose and her hands place gently along the top of her lap. She watches the three as well with her light green eyes with the same amount of worry her husband had.

“I’ve been wondering that myself. She doesn’t look like any Nekomata I’ve seen. But she could be from the other lands. Perhaps she’s their pet.” The man spoke until the couple take notice of Zeon looking towards the main entrance hearing noise coming from outside. “Oh no…Chieko’s back…” One of the customers close to the windows spoke looking out at the scene in the streets. Zeon turns towards the customer then the main entrance as he gets up.

He moves swiftly to the doors as Annabelle blinks confused watching him. Meili watches him as well but with more concern in her gaze as he stands outside the front doors, looking at the passing public and a single female with a tired, pleading, and sorrowful look on her face. Her hair was a deep shade of red that rests tamely along the middle of her back above her light pink obi. Her skin was fair and would show her beauty if not for the expression on her face. She stands in a white kimono with sakura petals scattered along the bottom mimigoro and okumi as well as few among the obi. She wore a pair of worn down woolen sandals as she moves frantically back and forth among the quick moving people.

“Please anyone! Please help me save my husband!” She calls out in a pleading pained tone with her arms open. She approaches a burly fisherman passing by the people and monsters, who wore a pair of white shorts, an open ocean blue shirt like garment and a white headband on his bald head. He looks at her with his light brown eyes and shakes his head to her. “Sorry ma’am, but I, nor any of my men could risk helping you. You should give up on helping him and move on…” He spoke as the woman falls on her knees in defeat with tears in her eyes as the fisherman and others move away from her with sorrowful or fearful looks on their faces.

Slowly, Zeon approaches her from behind until he stands over her. Looking down at her with a neutral expression he asks, “Miss…Chieko right?” She sits up stunned from his words as she shuts her eyes nodding in pain. Zeon moves to her front as he kneels on his left knee before her calmly as she quickly grasps his upper arm with more tears in her eyes shouting, “Please, you have to help my husband! I know he won’t last much longer with that monster!” She shakes him a bit in a panic despite her lack of strength.

Zeon watches her calmly as his expression changes to concern as he nods to her slightly. “Alright, but what monster was it?” “An Ushi-Oni…” Her tears begin to fall from her eyes as she releases Zeon; dropping her arms to the ground. The people that remain quickly move away from the two, showing pure expressions of fear while others avert their gazes or cover their mouths from Chieko speaking.

At the restaurant’s entrance, Annabelle watches the scene playing out before her, but blinks confused at the woman’s words. She turns her attention to Meili, seeing the pure look of terror on the Shirohebi's face as she slightly trembles. “What’s an Ushi-Oni?” She questions, as Meili snaps out of her fear enough to look at Annabelle. Slowly, she leans down to Annabelle’s left ear and whispers, “One of the most feared monsters in all of Zipangu! No one dares go near them unless they want to lose their human form or worse…never be heard from again!”

Annabelle’s eyes widen in disbelief from Meili’s words, but could tell the truth in them from the fear in her tone as she looks back at Zeon and Chieko with greater concern. “Please! I need my husband back…But not just for my sake…But for our daughter’s! I’ll pay anything just please…help me…” She begs, falling onto her hands as her cries increase. Her tears fall to the ground with her sobbing.

Zeon quietly leans down and helps her up to her feet by her hands alone as he stands before her. Gently, he brushes off the dirt along her kimono with his left hand, and then wipes any tears he saw on her cheeks and under eyes with his right. She looks at his face, but sees him grinning from ear to ear in an excited way with his eyes shut. “Don’t cry. I’ll go and get him back.” He spoke proudly as Chieko smiles with a little hope, but the surrounding crowd gasp in shock and horror with Annabelle and Meili doing the same.

“But that’s insane! Not only are they nearly impossible to defeat, they live high in the mountains among this part of Zipangu! It would take nearly three days to get there by horse!” One of the other fishermen calls out keeping his eyes on Zeon. Zeon turns towards the man seeing him in the same clothing as the one who passed Chieko before. He looks off into the distance beyond the village at a large mountains standing before all as if piercing the sky.

He turns back to Chieko and asked, “Is that the mountain she took him to?” She nods to him slowly as he walks past her left towards the Twin Dragon’s entrance. Passing between a stunned Meili and Annabelle, he calls out, “How much for a canteen?!” Everyone looks at him in shock, stun, or in pure disbelief from his words, but Hiroshi looks towards Zeon with a strong expression standing near a large table with a large black box and throws him a large metal canteen. Zeon catches it in his right hand then looks towards Hiroshi; seeing the strong look in his eyes.

“Zeon… I don’t think this is wise. Not only do the Ushi-Onis live there, but red and Blue Onis as well… Also, you will have to cross a vast desert to reach the mountains where she took him…” He exclaims with his arms now crossed as Anka looks towards her father in disbelief. “He’s right…” Zeon thought to himself shaking the canteen slightly hearing the water in it. He smiles happy but strongly to himself as he moves towards the table where he, Annabelle, and Meili dinned.

All eyes were on him as he pulled the sack from his gi and emptied the last of his gold on to the table top. Many look on in amazement at the amount he placed, as he sits the sack down and claps his hands together before him taking a deep breath. Quickly, he takes different foods and shoves them into his mouth, making sure not to choke, but it seems like everything he ate vanishes before everyone’s stunned eyes. Anka watches in disbelief while her father watches in a strong manner as Zeon finishes what he wanted; wiping his lips with a napkin he saw on the table.

Looking over what remains, he quickly places the canteen on the bottom of the sack with a few steamed buns, bread, and uncooked tofu he didn’t eat on top. Tying the sack in a gentle knot, he places it back into his gi carefully as he approaches the front table before Hiroshi and Anka. “Take what you need for the meal from that pile of gold. It was delicious by the way.” Zeon spoke as he bows to them both in respect. Anka looks at him still stunned and in disbelief while Hiroshi nods in an understanding manner.

Zeon moves toward the front entrance passing between the stunned Meili and Annabelle but stops the moment he reaches the middle of the street before Chieko. “You two wait here. I’ll be back in a day.” He spoke without facing them as someone in the crowd shouted, “A day?!” “Well it would be sooner if I didn’t have to sleep or find somewhere to pee.” Zeon interrupts with a smile as some of the crowd groans from his words while some children giggled.

Quickly, he begins to stretch out his right leg with his foot pointing towards the sky. His right hand on his thigh as he repeats the same process with his left leg. A smile of excitement and determination comes to his face as the crowd looks at him in complete shock. Many of them begin to speak among themselves about Zeon’s actions, but as he stands on both his feet, Annabelle and Meili quickly move to his side.

“Zeon! You don’t have to do this!” Annabelle shouts in pure fear and concern looking directly at his face from his right. “She’s right! Please Zeon, think this through!” Meili exclaims with the same amount of concern in her tone as she slithers quickly before him. He looks at Annabelle first then Meili as he calmly moves from them taking a few steps among the street. “Like I said, wait here. I’ll be back soon.” He finishes with a proud smile as he quickly dashes from their positions, leaving a trail of dust in his dash.

Quickly, he moves through the people and other stands he saw before him, making sure not to hit anyone as he runs about the streets at a nimble quicker speed then he normally used. The public watches in disbelief at what he was doing and as the dust calms, Chieko watches the trail further within the village saying to herself with more hope in her tone, “Please be safe…Brave young man…” Annabelle and Meili however watch Zeon leave in complete horror and worry.

Further down the street the fish vendor from before watches the entire ordeal with a look of arrogance in his face. “He’s a fool…” He thought, tossing the fish Annabelle left behind in a trash bucket. Zeon however makes his way out of Zanbu Jiyuu and into the vast grassy fields of Zipangu, making his way towards the mountains with a look of focus, but excitement mixed in..
Speeding over the vast terrain of Zipangu; Zeon’s eyes remain focused on his goal while traversing pass numerous trees, small flowing streams, and other plains that he comes across. His mind replays Chieko’s words over and over again, with the sight of her tears flowing from her eyes to her pleas for help. The thoughts give his expression a stronger form of determination as he moves faster along the area; his arms spread outward far from his body.

Far behind him, Annabelle runs behind the trail of dust he left. Her expression of concern evident all over not just on her face, but her body as well as she increases her speed as much as she could to catch up to him. Not too far behind her, Meili slithers along the path, trying to keep up with the speeding Werecat Despite the pants she gives with each slither she does to keep up, her face and body showing the same amount of great concern as Annabelle’s.

Coming to a complete stop, Zeon finds himself at a larger stream then the others; looking at it with a small smile, panting in minor breaths. Getting onto his knees, he duck his entire head into the water and drinks his fill; keeping himself braced by the water’s edge. Coming up for air, he lets out a happier breath with a smile to match only to blink confused as he hears the water splashing too rapidly to his right.

Shifting his gaze to the source, he sees Annabelle rapidly lapping up water with her tongue; leaning close to the stream with a stronger brace with her paws then Zeon’s hands. He blinks still confused at seeing the tired look on her face as the water along his head drips onto his frame. “Annabelle? What are you doing out here? And…” He shifts his gaze further past the Werecat continuing, “Why is Meili with you?”

Annabelle quickly looks to her right, seeing Meili drinking from her cupped hands in an elegant manner; dripping a small amount of sweat down her pale skin. Finishing, her gaze meets Annabelle’s as both turn to Zeon, looking at him in a more cross manner. Quickly, they move before his face as he remains still looking at them both. “What do you think!?” Annabelle exclaims, pressing her paws firmly against his chest while gazing at his face.

“Zeon! Don’t you understand what you’re getting yourself into? This is an Ushi-Oni! They are infamous for keeping men until they die or remain changed forever!” Meili exclaims in a more worried tone; grasping the front of his right arm. “Please we’re begging you! Don’t go to its lair!” She shouts with a pleading look in her eyes and Annabelle nodding in agreement, showing the same cross look as before.

Sighing lightly, Zeon pulls himself from them gently, standing before them as they look up at him. “Sorry, but I can’t. And I won’t.” “But why?! It’s a foolish and stupid thing! And worse, you could end up that things lover!” Annabelle exclaims sharply from his words with Meili nodding in agreement placing her hands along her scaly lap. Zeon smiles a bit turning his gaze towards the clear sky, watching the passing clouds.

“I’ll be fine.” He turns his attention back to them smiling more, but his expression changes to concern, seeing the expressions on both of their faces. “But you two look like you’ve been through the worse.” Finishing, he smiles again reaching into his gi with his right hand. Sitting on his knees, he pulls out the sack and opens it as it was still fairly large. He pulls out four steamed buns with both hands; offering them to the monsters as they watch slightly surprised. “You should eat.”

Annabelle quickly looks to her right at the stream scornfully shouting, “I’m not hungry!” “Oh Zeon…” Meili speaks enchanted, slithering close to him as she places her hands under his gently. “Even during this ordeal, you still think of me. I couldn’t ask for a more caring man.” She smiles lovingly to him with Zeon smiling sheepishly to her. Annabelle watches with disgust, snatching one bun from Zeon’s left hand.

Sitting down, she gnaws on the bun quickly while mumbling to herself in an angry manner. Meili takes one herself and gently nibbles on the top of it as Zeon places the remaining two back in the sack and reties it. “Aren’t you going to eat?” Meili questions, looking towards him as she sits between him and Annabelle. “Not hungry.” He answers with a smile looking into the stream before them. Annabelle pouts a bit finishing off her bun with Meili dining on hers gently.

As Meili finishes her bun, Zeon turns his gaze towards the sky; watching the sun slightly. “The sun’s going down. I guess I should rest for now, but first I should get some firewood.” Standing on his feet, he looks down at them both. “You two rest here. I’ll be back.” Turning away from them, Zeon takes a single step forward, but stops seeing Annabelle moving before him; gazing up at his face. “You won’t run off?” She asks with a pleading look as Zeon blinks from her expression then looks behind him, seeing the same expression on Meili’s face.

He nods to them both with his normal smile, “I promise.” They both sigh in relief as he walks along the stream; looking about carefully with each step he takes. Once Zeon was out of sight, Annabelle approaches the stream; gazing at the flowing water. “You think he’ll be alright?” “He will. I have faith he’ll come back. I won’t let anyone take him from me…not even you Annabelle.” Meili smiles happily turning her gaze to the setting sun.

Looking towards her slightly with a hate filled gaze, Annabelle lays herself down on the soft grass with her tail resting against her back. “You know he doesn’t want a snake lady like you.” She spoke placing her head on top of her arms; shutting her eyes while relaxing to the sounds of flowing water. “And what makes you believe he would want a woman who scorns him over and over again?” Meili counters, placing her hands on her lap again while keeping her cold stare on Annabelle.

“At least I thank him for his kindness and his heart. What have you done? Treat him as if he’s nothing and speak harshly to him.” Annabelle shifts her head to her right, looking at Meili with her eyes slightly open, but showing annoyance in them. “Once I can convince Zeon to return to Zanbu Jiyuu, I’ll show him how worthy I am of his love and body.” Meili blushes darkly from her words showing a loving expression as she gently held her cheeks.

Annabelle shakes her head from side to side then shuts her eyes with her tail swaying back and forth against her body. “Like I said, he doesn’t want a snake lady like you.” “Oh? Well, at least I’ve felt his body and warmth…what of his have you felt?” Meili counters again with a grin looking down at the Werecat, but Annabelle gives no answers. Opening her eyes slightly, she watches the water flowing until she shifts her gaze to her left hearing footsteps.

“I see you two are getting along.” Zeon approaches them with a smile; holding a great deal of wood pieces and branches along his right shoulder. Keeping them still with his right arm and left hand, he walks behind them and gets down on his left knee. “I saw some Kappas playing in the bigger parts down stream, but they didn’t see me.” He continues, removing as much grass as he could then sets the wood pieces to make a fire while leaving the branches to his right.

The two monsters watch as Zeon grabs a few of the surrounding rocks near him, placing them around the wood in a spanned out circle. Taking two larger rocks in his hands, he strikes them back and forth against one another near the wood until a spark leaps from the rocks and lands on the wood before him. A flame slowly forms on the wood as Zeon leans close to the fire and gently blows on it. The flame begins to engulf the wood by the second as Zeon sits up looking towards it with a look of wonder.

“I can help with that.” Meili slithers to his left side, but once she was a bit close to him, she sees him sit down on the grass with a quiet smile. He gazes at the fire as it continues to rise on the wood by the second. Meili notices this as a more seductive smile emerges on her lips watching Zeon’s reaction. She slithers closer to his frame in a seductive manner, but as she gets closer, Annabelle quickly moves to Zeon’s right and lays her head on top of his lap.

Both watch this stunned as Annabelle purrs softly in Zeon’s lap. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Meili spoke sternly looking directly at Annabelle, but she simply cuddles closer to Zeon’s body; ignoring Meili. Zeon looks confused at Annabelle then gently grasps her shoulders; helping her up before him as he looks at her face. “Are you ok? You didn’t find some catnip out here?” “I wanted to lay on your lap. I can do what I want!” She proclaims after him loudly while Zeon laughs a little.

“I know that, but I want to rest and eat too. You both got to, so I do too right?” He turns his attention to his chest, reaching into his gi with his left hand; pulling out the sack. Sitting it before him, he opens it again and pulls out a single bun and three pieces of tofu. With his free right hand, he takes a branch that lies near the stones then places the food items on it carefully. Leaning it close to the flames, he embeds the branch in the ground then calmly watches the food cook over the now complete flame. Annabelle looks slightly saddened by Zeon’s actions with her ears laying on her head, but quickly sneers, hearing Meili snickering lightly at her.

As night falls and the moon shines in the night sky, Zeon has drifted off to sleep, lying close to the fire on his back, but not close enough to burn or overheat. His face peaceful and innocent as he sleeps with Annabelle and Meili watching him from opposite sides of the flames. Annabelle sits close to the flowing stream with her gaze fixated on Zeon as she lay her paws before her. Meili coils her tail around her person, keeping a much more loving, but concerned gaze on him.

Slowly, Annabelle advances towards him with her ears resting gently atop her head. “What are you doing?” Meili spoke softly shifting her attention towards the advancing Annabelle. She stops in her advance then gave Meili a cold glance. “I see… You only show your affection to him when he can’t speak back to you. I truly feel sorry for Zeon even more.” Annabelle ignores Meili’s words as she advances closer to Zeon.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Meili exclaims again, sitting up from within her coiled tail watching as Annabelle approaches his right side with great sadness in her eyes. “…Don’t go…” She whispers softly to him; gazing at his face with her tail laying straight on the ground a bit away from the flame. Meili calms down quickly, watching her as her gazes shifts to the ground before her; showing the same amount of sadness.

Trembling slightly, Annabelle lowers her head with her paws digging a bit more into the ground. “I don’t want you to be taken away from me Zeon…” Was all Annabelle could say before she leaps over his frame; landing softly near his left side. Looking back at him with a pleading gaze over her right shoulder, she lays close to his body on her left side; purring softly while gazing at his face. Reaching for his gi, she gently holds it with her right paw, lightly clenching on the material.

Silently, Meili slithers near them both; looking down at Zeon then to Annabelle as the Werecat looks up at her. She move herself to Zeon’s right and lays herself beside him; gazing at his face in a pleading manner, she wraps her tail gently along her frame while resting a small amount of the bottom and tip against his right calf. “I understand Annabelle…Just for tonight…Let’s try to keep him safe…” Her tone was far softer to her as her gaze meets Annabelle’s.

The Werecat nods in agreement, shutting her eyes as she presses herself slightly closer to Zeon’s body. Meili looks towards his face; looking at it in a more loving manner as she inches herself closer to his body. Taking his right arm, she holds onto his hand gently between her palms with a small smile forms on her lips. Shutting her eyes, she drifts to sleep with Annabelle doing the same at the exact same time.

As the sun shines down on the area, Annabelle and Meili both open their eyes slowly in a slight daze. But their eyes widen quickly in horror only seeing each other before them. “Whe… Where did he go!?” Meili yells in a panic, quickly sitting up on her tail. Looking about frantically, her expression changes to complete horror as she slithers about the surrounding area quickly. Annabelle reacts in the same manner; looking around frantically until she stops near the destroyed fire.

The stones had fully covered the flame with few pieces of charred wood underneath, smothering it completely. Shutting her eyes, she breathes in the scents around them carefully moving about slightly to every spot before her until her eyes widen as she stops her advancing southwest of the flame. She looks into the distance then towards the sky seeing the mountain closer in view then before. Quickly, she runs through the grass away from Meili as the Shirohebi takes notice of Annabelle’s departure only to quickly slither after her. She glances to her right seeing the destroyed fire, then picks up her pace with greater horror and worry on her face.

Zeon quickly runs about the desert feeling the slight heat that the sun gives off with each step he takes. His look of focus had returned as he runs with his arms spread outward again until he skids along the sands coming to a halt before a large mountain. Looking up at it, he sees the mountain nearly piercing the sky as he feels a warm breeze against his frame. Examining the area closely, he sees one visible path to walk along, but higher above, he sees a few openings in the mountain’s features.

Looking to his left he notices a few more mountains then to his right. Quickly, he runs along the path as fast as he could; circling around the mountain until he comes to a halt, no longer seeing a visible walking path. He looks down from where he was, seeing the sand far below him as he turns back to the mountain fixtures. Popping his knuckles, he moves close to the closest climbable feature he could see and begins his ascent.

Taking his time and being cautious of anything, he advances further up the mountain side; grasping any rock fixture he could see with ease. His smile turns to an excited grin as he climbs up further and further from where he started. Along the mountain to Zeon’s right a few Red Onis ascend along a mountain path, each carrying large gray gourds with the kanji for sake on the fronts. Each Oni's skin was a warm red with each having light grayish blue hair of different lengths and styles. Around their waist were various short yellow and brown striped pieces of clothing. Some wore make shift skirts with others wearing straps tied around their waist. Long pointed dark yellow horns protrude from atop their head. Some carry large spiked clubs along with their gourds while others hold two gourds instead.

Two in the back of the group look behind at the sky, but take notice of Zeon’s advance up the mountain side as the one with a slightly skinned head called out, “Hey ladies! Some guy is climbing up the mountain side!” The others quickly turn to the sight, seeing Zeon as the one furthest to a cave entrance take notice as she moves some of her hair from her face with her free right hand along her horns.

“I wonder what that human boy is doing?” The one closest to the skin headed Oni takes a step closer; examining the mountain with her yellow and brown eyes. “Seems like he’s heading to the den of that Ushi-Oni who brought back that screaming fellow a few days ago.” Some shake their heads at her words as the one closest to the cave calls out, “Think we should wake up big sis?” “Naw. Besides I doubt it would matter anyway.” The skin headed Oni spoke as they turn to enter their dwellings.

After a few moments, Zeon has made his way halfway up the mountain side with his grin never fading. Below him, he hears grunting as he blinks confused then looks down from his left. His eyes widen a little seeing Annabelle climbing a bit below him as best as she was able with a stern slightly determined look. His attention shifts past her, seeing Meili climbing up as well, but with a look of fear on her face, slightly lower then Annabelle.

“What are you two doing here?! You shouldn’t be here!” Zeon calls to them as Annabelle gazes at him with a look of pure anger in her eyes. “We came to…” Before Meili could finish, the fixture she holds with her right hand breaks as did the left. Meili screams at the top of her lungs falling from the mountain side looking up at the two above her. Her tail tries to grasp the nearest rock fixture of ledge, but she was unable to coil around any.

Annabelle’s eyes widen in shock and horror at the falling Meili as Zeon quickly leaps from where he was into the air. Diving down from the mountain with his arms at his side, he falls after the falling Meili as Annabelle’s eyes widen further from him passing before her. “No!” She thought in horror seeing Zeon diving faster towards the falling Meili. Extending his arms as if to catch her, he kept his eyes focused on her entire frame; falling at a faster rate.

By the second he dives closer and closer to Meili as she stares at him with a “please save me look” on her face; extending her arms outward to grasp him. Once close, he pulls her close in his arms as she wraps her arms tightly around his neck; whimpering greatly in his arms. “Wrap around me tight!” He screams looking at her face as she looks at his and nods quickly. Quickly, she coils all of her tail around his waist and upper legs, but presses her chest tightly against his with her eyes shut as more of her tail begins to coil around both of their chest. “This is it…” She thought in fear shaking greatly against his body.

Grunting a little from the tight coil around his entire being, he turns his entire body over so that his feet aim towards the path below. Annabelle continues to watch in horror, gripping the rock fixtures in her paws as two of the Red Onis watch from the entrance of the cave, waiting to see what would happen. As the two descend faster towards the mountain path, Zeon keeps a focus look on his face while Meili holds him as tightly as she can.

As the very bottom of his left foot makes contact with the path under him, he quickly presses against the ground, propelling himself back into the air at a rapid speed. The Onis’ eyes widen in surprise as Zeon grits his teeth, leaping faster up the mountain side. “Annabelle!” He shouts getting closer to her spot as she looks back at him in shock. “Jump to me!” He yells out as she shakes for a moment then nods in fear.

Quickly, she leaps from the mountain as Zeon draws closer to her location. Pulling his right arm from under Meili’s tail, he catches Annabelle in his arm while clenching onto Meili with his left. She looks at his face in shock until he yells, “Hold on tight!” Both monsters quickly hold him as tightly as they could with the Onis stepping closer from the cave to get a better view. Their eyes widen in shock and disbelief at his display.

Going past the spot where he had leapt from, Zeon sees the mountain side coming close to their bodies. Maneuvering his legs enough to move from Meili’s tail, he reaches out with his hands; grasping the mountain side the moment he was close enough. Holding the fixtures as tightly as he could, he pulls his lower body towards the mountain; slamming his feet into the mountain. Panting slightly, he looks down at his feet, seeing them embedded into the rock while he keeps them all up.

“I don’t believe what I just saw…” The skin headed Oni spoke stunned. Her eyes wide as she gazes up at Zeon. “Me…Either…” The other spoke Oni spoke with her hair tied back in a small pony tail. She holds her gourd in her right hand, but had dropped her large club from her left from what she had witnessed. Her expression of stun mirrors her ally as they both turn and run into the cave saying at the same time, “Now we have to tell big sis!”

Zeon smiles happily looking back and forth at the two monsters on his body saying, “You two ok? I didn’t want either of you to get hurt.” As his gaze shifts back and forth from their faces, each look back at him wide eyed with looks of pure amazement and desire. “He…He rescued me…He saved my life…He’s my angel! No! The husband I’ve been wanting all this time!” She thought looking only at Zeon’s face. “I don’t believe it…after all the things I’ve said to him…after all the trouble I’ve put him through…He still thinks about me first…Zeon…You’re all I’ve ever wanted!” Annabelle thought gazing at his face just like Meili.

Seeing both of their faces, Zeon turns to the mountain side, pulling his feet out of the rock with ease. Using both his feet and hands, he climbs further up the mountain side. “Zeon! What are you doing?!” Annabelle exclaims loudly, holding onto him tightly with Meili coiling around him carefully; holding his neck tight enough so she could hold on without choking him. “I’m going to save Chieko’s husband…and beat the Ushi-Oni!” He proclaims proudly to Annabelle with a grin to match.

He continues his advance up the mountain side as Meili giggles a little keeping close to Zeon. Annabelle smirks a little doing the same as both look up towards the upper parts of the mountain, both showing proud expressions knowing they couldn’t stop Zeon for any reason. Zeon continues his advance until they each notice a small piece of sky blue fabric dangling further up. Zeon looks at it determined as he quickens his pace.

Slamming his right hand along a smooth stone surface, he looks towards Annabelle as she quickly leaps from his frame and onto the surface seeing a cave beyond her. Her eyes widen, but she turns back to the others, hearing Zeon grunting as he lifts the coiled Meili upward. Annabelle leans down and grasps Meili’s waist; pulling her onto the surface with her. Both pant then quickly try to reach for Zeon, but see him pulling himself up with ease.

The monsters smile to him slightly, seeing him standing before them, but notice him staring at the fabric dangling against a broken stalagmite to his right. Their attentions shift to the cave opening, hearing a mixture of low begging moans and loud primal like ones. Zeon walks inside slowly with Annabelle and Meili following behind him at a slower pace. A bit from the entrance, the two monsters look around the cave cautiously seeing the inner walls smoothed out and the cave itself a bit large from where they entered.

They both stop quickly seeing Zeon lifting both his arms up before them. His gaze locks onto the figures to his right as the sources of the moans appear before them. The smell of thick lust and funk fills the air and Annabelle covers her nose with her right paw while Meili shakes her head in disbelief at what she was seeing. Before them was a large spider woman facing the wall before her with a skinnier fair skinned male under her.

The spider’s lower body was covered in black hairs with her pointed spider feet planted firmly in the floor of the cave. Her skin was a dark green with a grayish tint to it with various pieces of black hair lining her mid section and arms. The hairs along her arms got thicker towards her hands as they seem more like animal claws with four claws extending from the fur. Some of the hairs covered the front of her breasts with her black nipples erect. Above her large shapely breasts were various black lines that swirl about her collar bone and shoulders. Along her spider backside and the ends of her feet where the hairs covered, similar lines were along her body. Her long wild raven black hair rests along the middle of her back with some of it covering her right eye. Protruding from her hair were two slightly black ears that look animal like while her bright yellow eyes lock onto the prey pressed firmly between her two front spider legs. A pair of curved horns appears over each ear as a strand of black hair seems to flow from her spinneret.

Rapidly, she rams herself back and forth against the skinnier male as he yells out from the rapid thrusts. He trembles in place with his short black hair dirtied and his entire body covered in sweat. He looks down at his legs in fear seeing his penis engulfed deep within the Ushi-Oni's tight dripping pussy. Despite the hairs surrounding it, he could see his cock filling her insides with his seed. He begins to whimper until the Ushi-Oni grasps his shoulders firmly and slams him against the smooth wall he was pressed against.

“More! I want more! I want to feel more of what you keep giving me!” She screams getting close to his face. Her fangs were exposed to his gaze as she looks deep into his light hazel eyes while licking her lips from top to bottom with her long red tongue. Trembling in fear, he watches her as she thrusts her body against his once more causing him to moan against his will while she smiles in delight. His moan was far weaker then the earlier ones as he feels her thrusting faster against his body; keeping him still under her.

Looking to his left he notices the three near the cave entrance as he begs weakly, “Please…help…me…” He tries to extend his left arm, but can't as Meili looks towards them in disbelief. “Oh god, she is ugly!” Annabelle yells in disgust showing a look of fear in her gaze as Meili nods in agreement covering her mouth swiftly. Zeon keeps a calmer look on his face as he takes two steps forward towards the Ushi-Oni calling out loudly, “Let him go now!”

He stops completely as his expression change to a more confident one with a smile to follow it up. The Ushi-Oni continues her thrusting against Chieko’s husband; picking up her pace by the second while keeping him firmly against the wall. Zeon pops both his knuckles then runs towards her quickly leaving a smaller amount of dust behind his advance. “ZEON! STOP!” Both Annabelle and Meili shout wide eyed, seeing him advance closer to the spider.

As his advance quickens, Zeon balls up his right fist as it begins to glow orange. The glow quickly travels up his arm stopping at his elbow as he pulls his entire arm back then swings his arm forward stopping his advance shouting, “MILLENNIUM FIST!” As he swings his arm, a large orange tightly balled up fist and arm shoots from his knuckled fist towards the Ushi-Oni's right side. The attack strikes her hard in the side and legs, causing her to scream loudly from the impact.

The force of the attack and the wind that follows it pushes her off the male; sending her further into the cave behind them. The male falls from the wall, but Zeon quickly leaps to him in a blink of an eye; catching him in his arms then leaps back in front of Meili and Annabelle. Both monsters watch this feat in complete shock as Zeon lays the man gently before them. “Keep him safe!” Zeon yells to them both; breaking them out of their trance as they move quickly to his side.

Reaching into his gi with his left hand, Zeon pulls out the sack and places it in Meili’s hands. “There’s food and water in there. Take as much as you need.” He spoke strongly looking down at the male as he looks up at Zeon weakly. Quickly, Meili unknots the sack, but her eyes widen in fear at hearing rapid movement. The male and Annabelle look back in the cave in fear as Zeon looks over his left shoulder slightly.

The Ushi-Oni grins from ear to ear as she charges towards them all as if she was never harmed, her gaze focused on the group before her with each step she takes. Standing up before them, Zeon grins saying, “I knew it wouldn’t be that easy…” He runs towards her with the others watching in shock as he leaps towards her; slamming his feet into the ground. Grinning wider as his knees bent, he quickly leaps from where he landed; spinning in the air rapidly shouting, “TEMPEST!”

As his spinning increases, the air begins to cycle around him. Pulling his arms close to his chest, the air forms into a tornado around his body from where he leaps to the top of his head as he charges towards the Ushi-Oni's midsection. The Ushi-Oni stops in her tracks, lifting her arms in the air with a fierce grin. Slamming her arms down quickly to try and grab the tornado, she misses and grabs only air, but her eyes widen in pain feeling Zeon slam his head against her stomach hard.

The Ushi-Oni was slightly pushed back wide eyed as Zeon grins proudly landing on his feet away from her slightly. He laughs slightly looking at her face as he stands completely stance-less before her. “I…I don’t believe…what I’m seeing…” Meili spoke in complete disbelief and amazement watching what was happening before her with Annabelle and the male doing the same each with wide eyes at what they were watching.

Regaining her composure, the Ushi-Oni yells loudly slamming her large hands at Zeon’s position. Quickly, he leaps into the air above her, seeing her destroy part of the ground where she had slammed. “Missed me!” He cries a bit childish from how he was before as he pulls his left leg back as it glows the same way his fist did before. “Try this! MILLENNIUM STRIKE!” Kicking his leg in the air, a large foot and leg of orange color rapidly falls towards the Ushi-Oni's position as she looks towards it in shock.

Quickly, she grits her teeth and leaps away as the attack slams into the ground before her. The impact sends a large amount of wind into the cave; pushing her far in the air away from where she would have landed. Landing hard on the ground, she looks back at Zeon as he lands before the spot where his attack hit, still grinning to her. “I…don’t know…who he is…but I…thank him…” The male spoke in a weak tone watching them both with trembling eyes. Annabelle snaps out of trance then turns to the man yelling sharply, “Will you just eat! You need your strength!” Quickly she turns to a stunned Meili shouting, “Don’t just watch! We need to feed him!” Meili quickly shakes out of her trance reaching into the sack for everything he could eat.

At the same time, the Ushi-Oni charges towards Zeon with a wider grin, her eyes locked onto his body, “I wanted that man…But you seem far better then he was!” She yells as she spins around quickly grinning slyly. She fires streams of white webbing in the form of single strands from her spinneret towards Zeon, but he quickly leaps to the cave wall to his left; avoiding the oncoming web. The Ushi-Oni aims at him once more then fires another stream at his position.

Leaping against the wall, he lunges over the web yelling a loud battle cry as his eyes remain locked on the opponent before him. Within his thoughts however, he recalls the words of his master.

Sitting within the dojo, he and his fellow students looked towards Master Hilderic, patiently waiting as he sat before them all in a meditative manner. His hands rested comfortably in his lap as he looked towards them all with a strong expression.

“My dear students, today I am going to tell you about one of the battles I had during my journey to seek mastery of our discipline.” Shutting his eyes, he slightly lowered his head to them. “Long ago, I fought one of the monsters of Zipangu. However, to this day, the people of that land have never seen this monster as friendly. They are known as the Ushi-Oni” Standing on his feet before them, they each watched in anticipation of his tale while he looked at them all one by one, seeing them sitting in the same meditative style he had.

They all nodded as one male asked, “What are they like master?” “They are extremely strong and they still retain the form of a true monster despite their upper bodies looking female. They are driven by their instincts and desire for lust and a male’s touch. Men who are caught by them are never seen again.” The dojo remained silent from his words until one female called out, “But you defeated one master?”

He nodded to her question. “Yes, but I had to use many tactics to defeat her. For if I had been captured or made one mistake I would have never been seen again. Remember: they do not feel pain as easily as other living creatures, monster or human. You must fight them with all of your might and strength. Never hold back.” He spoke in a serious tone as Zeon watched his master closely. “Also: you must never use bladed weapons or attacks. For if the blood of an Ushi-Oni were spilled, it would only spell disaster for you.”

He looked about the room seeing that he still had everyone’s undivided attention. “For a male, he will become an Incubus without fail, driven mad with lust for anyone or anything. You may even take the Ushi-Oni itself on the spot. A woman however would become an Ushi-Oni herself. Driven by thoughts of rape and pleasure, she will seek out a male for herself immediately. Should you ever face one for any reason remember: do not hold back my students!” “Yes master!” They all yelled in union.

“I won’t hold back master! I remember what you told me and I will defeat her and save Chieko’s husband!” He thought determinedly pulling his left arm back. Once close, he thrusts his fist towards her face, but the Ushi-Oni lifts her left arm up quickly; blocking the oncoming punch with her bare claw. Both struggle for a moment, but Zeon pushes her far from where she stood as she skids along the ground; gritting her teeth from the impact.

She comes to a stop a few feet from him as he lands along the ground once again. She looks back at him calmly as he tries to advance, but was unable as he looks down at his feet. He stands in a great amount of web as his eyes widen. “When did she do this!?” He yells trying to pull his legs free, but his attention shifts towards the Ushi-Oni who was charging towards him. As he tries to pull his right leg up, she pounces onto his frame the moment she was close.

Pushing him down onto the ground, he falls into more webbing as he looks up at her with a disbelieving look in his eyes. She gazes at his face with desire and want as her lower legs begin to pull down his pants quickly. Trying to struggle against the threads, Zeon rocks himself back and forth, but the Ushi-Oni quickly slams her claws on his shoulders to keep him still; grinning from ear to ear. “Just like me…He’ll…never escape…” The male spoke finishing a piece of tofu, watching what transpired before them with a sad expression.

Annabelle and Meili watch in disbelief and despair, but Zeon just laughs, catching everyone, but the Ushi-Oni, off guard. As he stops laughing, he looks towards the Ushi-Oni's lustful face with a more intense one that stops her legs for a moment. “Sorry, but I’m not giving you my virginity!” He yells causing Annabelle and Meili’s eyes to widen from his words as both thought simultaneously, “He’s a virgin!?”

The Ushi-Oni grins in delight from his words and leans closer to his face, but Zeon quickly pulls his legs from the threads with a great deal of strength then thrusts the bottoms of his feet against the Ushi-Oni's under body. The thrust pushes the Ushi-Oni off his body as her eyes widen in disbelief being flung into the air over him. The others look on with the same disbelief as Zeon quickly pulls himself up from the thread; ripping it off from his body as he stands up in a spot a little bit from the thread along the ground.

Quickly, he pulls up his pants then reties his belt along his waist tightly. As the Ushi-Oni begins to fall to the ground, Zeon leaps into the air and spin with his arms out shouting, “TEMPEST!” His spinning increases by the second as another tornado forms, but along the outer parts of his palms as he rapidly rises before the Ushi-Oni's front. The top of the tornado strikes under the Ushi-Oni's chin sending, her back from the tornado; screaming in pain.

Her head bounces against some of the hanging stalagmites as she falls to the ground. Landing on the ground, she quickly shakes her head with her eyes closed as Zeon flips in the air, planting his feet firmly against one of the hanging stalagmites. Thrusting against it hard, he lunges himself towards the Ushi-Oni; landing right in front of her. The others follow as best as they can as he leaps before the Ushi-Oni's midsection.

Opening her eyes from hearing him in front of her, she looks towards him, but her eyes widen seeing him with a wide grin. “1000 FIST!” He shouts balling up both his fists. Rapidly, he punches along her stomach, waist, and lower chest over and over with both fists, not giving the Ushi-Oni a chance to counter or react. She begins to vibrate from the rapid punches to her body as her eyes widen from the sheer speed of each blow, unable to follow or count them.

Striking with his right fist, the last of the thousand strike along her stomach; sending her skidding along the ground with a loud yell. Leaping after her, he pulls his right fist back shouting, “MILLENNIUM FIST!” Throwing his arm before his body, a large fist and arm went charging towards the Ushi-Oni's front. As the attack hits her entire front, she screams from the impact and falls further back into the cave until she hits the back wall of the cave with a large thud.

Falling to the ground, she groans with her eyes shut as the left side of her head hits a sharp piece of stalagmite; causing her to fall unconscious. Some of the hanging stalagmites fall onto her body; breaking apart on her horns and head, but do not cut her and she was soon buried in the falling rock. The moment the rocks completely stop falling, her body was completely covered. Chieko’s husband, Annabelle, and Meili watch all this is total disbelief as Zeon lands on the ground slightly.

Standing up right, he lets out a low sigh with his arms at his side. Then, he begins to tremble in joy with his arms pulled close to his chest. Smiling widely, he yells loudly, “YES! I defeated an Ushi-Oni! I defeated one just like master!” He hops around the ground quickly with his arms high above his head; laughing in triumph with his eyes shut. The three at the cave’s entrance watch him hopping around and only think the same thing, “Unbelievable…”