Chapter 9 – Lust or I Kissed my Demon Ex-girlfriend

The Second Circle

Down the great ancient chains of Judecca they went, for how long they did not know. Eventually the sky lightened to a pale grey with a purple dawn on the horizon. The further they traveled the stronger the wind became. What began as a mild breeze at first steadily built into a howling gale strong enough to cause the massive metal chains to sway. Jumping down the last few feet they found themselves upon a rocky shore of serrated obsidian and shale. Spray hit their faces from waves crashing ashore. White water crested and clashed with the land while batting the winds for supremacy in a torrential orchestra of sound. To the north jagged cliffs rose high above an inland sea, like bony fingers attempting to encompass them. Rain fell ceaselessly as Ichigo and Moka followed Daikurai along the path of steep cliffs to the lowland opening to the sea.

"What is this place?" yelled Ichigo. His voice nearly lost in the gale.

"This is the second circle, the realm of lust. What you see before you is the great inland Sea of Tears where the river Acheron drains into as it travels to the lower circles."

They were steadily getting soaked from the waves and buffered by rain that came down like bullets. Even with the blue flames shielding them from the brunt they could barely move forward, and seeing beyond the shore was impossible. Moka felt it worse with the rain soaking her completely through, sparks jumping occasional along her figure. So much for being waterproof she thought miserably. At least she felt no loss in strength that normally happened when wet.

Following their guide the three began to walk through the beach covered in countless sharp rocks and spires of stone all with a razors edge honed by eons of wind. Many cuts and scrapes later they reached the plateau on the far side of the beach that jutted out into the sea, creating an artificial bay. Out on the plateau conditions had grown worse, to the point of being inaccessible. Sky and sea clashed with such violent intensity that only the creation of the first continents could compare to the scene before them.

"I know it looks bad, but it is less dangerous then it looks" said Daikurai. Then the heavens lit up as some fifty lightning bolts struck the pass, carving chunks from the rock five meters into the air and pummeling into the swirling foam. Moka and Ichigo looked back at their guide with disdain.

"Okay, it is as bad as it looks."

"Why don't we just go by air?" Ichigo indicated to the sky. Just then, a winged demon battled its way to the open water, and immediately was struck by five lightning bolts. The charcoal corpse fell into the greedy sea leaving no trace.

"Only the succubus can freely fly through this storm, all others are torn apart by the elements as part of the punishment for this circle."

The trio stood stoic before the pass, trying to find some way across. Moka was the one with the sharpest hearing was the first to pick up the faint cry through the howling weather.

"Do you hear that? On the wind?" she asked. Ichigo couldn't hear a thing, but he did sense the presence of souls fluttering in the erratic patterns of the gale.

"I can hear it; it is the sound of the carnal dammed. These are the ones who allowed lust to rule their actions regardless of the consequences," said Daikurai.

"But this voice sounds familiar," Moka insisted. And as if on que a figure in a tattered yokai academy uniform blew past them. The figure could only get out a scream before the updraft drew her away into the darkness.

"That was Kurumu! She's headed for the tower." Moka charged headlong into the squall. She moved so suddenly that neither of the guys had time to react. They could only race after her through the thick sheets of rain. They didn't get far down the bridge before catching up. Moka had been stalled by a powerful gale that lifted her from the ground. She crashed into Ichigo knocking both to the black stone as the full might of the storm enveloped them. Each drop of water sliced like a knife and every wind surge a shield battering. Even so they pushed onward, Ichigo taking the lead with Daikurai covering their backs. After some five hundred yards the first attacks began. From out of the dark the new threat struck fast, using the slipstream with lethal efficiency. Moka was just able to dodge while Ichigo and Daikurai were a mass of cuts from sharp talons.

"What are they?" Moka yelled as she rolled to avoid another swipe.

"It's the damn succubi!" Daikurai yelled feeling his hat get knocked off by an attack. Moka shot a burst of blue fire toward where she saw movement and at the same time Ichigo fired off a slice attack at the same point. The two attacks exploded in a midair collision. The resulting force blasted the storm apart, creating an eye of calm. Now they could see their enemy: three succubi with bat wings, wild hair, and eyes glowing with sadistic humor.

"Impressive, they can drive back the lust storm" said the one with the figure of an olympic athlete.

"It appears that we will finally have some fun for once."

"Yeah, it's about time our queen delivered" spoke the second succubus smiling sweetly, revealing pointy teeth and eyeing Ichigo as if he were a snack. The smallest demon had a petite form with long red hair. She was fascinated with Moka sensing familiar power. That when she noticed the black robed guide.

"Well, look who it is sisters. It's Daikurai; he's come back to us."

"Why she's right. The mistress will be so pleased to know he's returned to us" said Naanah.

Moka risked a glace back at Daikurai. Did he look a little paler than usual?

She had to ask, "Do you know these monsters?"

"Yeah,…we go back a bit."

"A bit!?" Eisheth Zenunim exclaimed. "You were the mistresses' favorite toy for a good twenty years."

"Toy?" asked Ichigo also glancing back. Did they mean what he thought? Could they really…

"Watch out!" Moka yelled at him as she kicked out at Naanah as she swiped with razor talons. The other two made a synchronize attack at Daikurai, one with a scythe and the other with a spiked hammer. Rolling with the attack he felt the hum of a blade whip pass his right ear as he stood at a crouch to block the hammer with both hands. The force of the strike caused the ground to crack and outward as he sunk a meter.

"No time to explain. I can deal with these three. Get to the tower!" he yelled as he made a rapid swipe with his left leg to pin Eisheth's scythe.

"Ohh, he can handle me all day long if he wants to," cooed Argrat Bat Mahlat. If Daikurai became any paler he would be transparent.

"They are real seducers," commented Ichgio.

"Please, just go" said Daikurai in a defeated tone. Both the vampire and soul reaper raced down the bridge back into the storm. Just before crossing over Moka glanced back as she felt a huge burst of energy that felt much like her own. She saw all three succubi charge, claws outreached, each with a look of triumph, and then a flash of blue light. The clouds enveloped her as the rain blocked what happened next. Even so, she swore she could make out a faint outline of some horned creature. Ichigo's cry of warning brought her head forward as another winged pest demon raced by, its mandibles missing her hand by inches. Ur-chan, he'll be okay. Right now we need to focus on saving Kurumu. Once again her other half kept her focused. Until this turn of events she had always considered her outer personality weaker than herself, yet now she was the voice of reason.

"Funny how our roles have reversed," she noted while kicking at another shadow of a demon, sending it cartwheeling into the clouds.

Though closer to the tower moving remained difficult. Imagine being trapped in a F4 tornado with wind, rain, demons, and endless debris coming from all directions. The only way to ensure that you are not blown away is tying rocks to your feet, but now you have to walk with the extra weight. It was slow going to say the least; even working together they made little progress. Lightning would strike and blast chunks of the bridge dangerously close more than once and only Ichigo's sword was able to save them from electrocution. After what took minutes but felt like hours they finally reached the entrance to the tower of lust. The steep walls of the tower rose from beneath the churning sea into the clouds beyond sight. It stood as a pinnacle at the exact center of the storm, or was it the source? Moka thought she could make out cloud formations spiraling out where she assumed the top was. As for accessing the tower only cold black steel and stone stared back at them.

"Okay then, now how do we get in?" asked Moka brushing her fingers along the smooth obsidian. Energy crackled beneath her hand giving the sense of great seals present.

"I could get us up there," Moka looked up at Ichigo who had started floating up. He made thirty feet before the first lightning bolt. It struck a centimeter from his face. Another bolt impacted the tower wall, close enough to singe his robes. The strikes continued in rapid succession until Ichigo made it back to the ground. That lightning struck as if someone was controlling it. His clothes were smoking and his frown deeper than usual.

"Well that didn't work." He put away his blade.

"Thank you for the obvious," grumbled Moka as she returned to moving her hands along the wall.

"I hope you have an answer, because our time is up." Ichigo indicated toward the bridge where the sound of combat had been growing in intensity abruptly ceased.

Placing her face inches from the wall of obsidian, Moka reached for the source of power. I know the entrance is here. I don't know how, but I'm certain. Is it because the power here feels much like my own? Possibly, so if I pour a little power into it… She released some yokai energy, the same way she readied for an attack. The wall receded in an inch around her hand. Surprised she jumped back and the area the size of a grown man slide away, revealing stairs into darkness.

"Okay its open, let's go," Moka said to the soul reaper. Not waiting to see if he followed she raced up. The walls glowed with faint indigo light, pulsing to an unnamed emotion. Climbing five flights of stairs she reached a landing with a grey steel gate. As she approached it rose upwards, opening to a large circular chamber. The stone walls were rough and crudely carved like in an underground cavern. The floor in contrast was smooth and polished to where it glowed faintly in the dark. Upon its surface were detailed carvings depicting scenes of lustful incest. Helen running away with Paris of Troy, the queen of Assyria and all her laws condoning madness, Lancelot and Queen Guinevere's banishment from Camelot, and many more.

They formed a spiral of carnal damnation that ended in the center of the room, and sitting their surrounded by a group of scandously clad women was Ichigo. Moka could only stand in the passage and stare at the scene before her. The women were pulling at his robes, desperate to get at his chest. "Come with us great one, we'll guide you to your every desire" they whispered to him. Moka felt something twisted and hot rise up from her gut and made her eyes glow red. What is he thinking? Is he that easily manipulated? She stomped across the room, an intense need for feminine violence building with each step. Before she could reach him several seducers grabbed hold of and started fawning over her.

"Come my dear, why don't you join us," the one with blonde hair worked at the buttons on her jacket. "We know you want him, how could you not? You're a vampire, a creature with strong passions who takes what they want."

"Yes, he'll be better than that pathetic pet you keep," said another woman already pulling her toga from her shoulders.

Moka remained still as a statue, reacting to nothing. A skinny brunette reached for the hem of Moka's skirt, and then sudden had her wrist caught in a steel grip. "I've heard enough," Moka quietly spoke as she pulled the seducer to eye level. She kicked the demon in the face so hard she impacted into the far wall, unmoving.

"I will not allow anyone to insult Tsukune in front of me!" she yelled as the demons were thrown off with each word. Several recovered and were joined with the others that had surrounded Ichigo.

"Well if you won't have us we shall have you." One demoness suddenly leaned backwards, moaning as if in ecstasy as her body split in two from her chest to navel. What came out could only be described as a giant spear of flesh. It struck fast, giving Moka only a second to dodge, impacting into the stone wall by a foot. Before the demon could pull it out of the stone blue fire smashed into her skull. Moka's kick left the seducer unmoving as she fell limp. Wails and moans equal parts rage and ecstasy followed the other seducers as they closed the gap. Sadly for them they weren't even a challenge. Moka kicked and punched her way through the horde in under a minute, leaving them impacted into walls or mangled heaps on the floor. With that problem resolved she hurried over to Ichigo who hadn't moved since she arrived.

"Hey, soul reaper. What were you doing?" No response.

"Ichigo, are you there?" she asked again looking into his eyes.

"Yes, I am," he said softly, life coming back into his blue eyes. Wait Ur-chan, he didn't have blue eyes!

Her response came too late as Ichigo rose up and with sudden force pinned Moka down on the cold stone. She had been so shocked by his sudden force she didn't have time to react.

"What! How dare you!" she yelled as she tried to kick him, but he simply sat on her skirt.

"I will have you, my vampire." His eyes were glowing with an evil gleam as his hands went for her shirt. Before he touched her however, he paused. Something wasn't right. He looked down and saw a huge sword sticking out of his chest. Moka watched with growing shock as Ichigo was killed by . . . Ichigo? A very red-faced Ichigo with a deeper frown then usual on his face as he removed his sword from her attacker. The imposter slumped to the floor in a pool of its own blood, its features changed as the air around him shimmered, revealing a grey-skinned fiend with solid black eyes and orange hair.

"It's another demon" Ichigo said with disgust, probably a rare male seducer called an incubus. He looked back to Moka who was still on the floor with a stunned look on her face.

"What? Did you honestly think that was me? Like I would attack a friend!" He looked her right in the eye. "Or, could it be that you forgot I was behind you?" The accusation snapped her back to her senses.

"Hmph," she simply replied as she quickly stood up and button her shirt back up. "Like I would be fooled by something only an idiot would fall for. I chose to let it get close so I could finish it off" she said throwing her hair back. Her outer-self sounded less convinced. Umm…you did seem fooled by its appearance. Did you actually want to-

"No! No way would I be interested in that blockhead!" Moka yelled aloud to what appeared to Ichigo as no one.

"Are you ok? That demon didn't make you crazy did it? And who's a blockhead?" he asked. Moka spun on her heel to face him, turning redder with each staggered step. Rapidly stammering her denial with panicked gestures she failed to notice the slight indentation in the floor. Her foot pushed down and invisible gears started turning with a loud creak. The floor of the chamber first started to shake and grate against the walls at it begun to rise up into the ceiling. Ichigo instinctively swung his sword, smashing rock and mortar. The platform rose out of the dust into an open tower exposed to the swirling storm. Loose rocks constant fell from the aging structure as duo rode higher with increasing speed.

More of the walls broke away, revealing purple clouds with lightning and winged demons. These monsters looking like grubs with bat wings, but the size of a bull. They rained balls of molten stone from their tails. Surviving corrupted souls leapt from above and swarmed the platform in moments. Moka took on the seducers with rapid kicks that sent them into the walls or directly into the storm where bolts of lightning finished them off. Ichigo focused on slicing through the airborne attacks. Their combined assault overwhelmed the enemy forces, but they continued to keep coming.

A sudden deafening boom higher up shook the whole tower. Moments later, a chunk of rock the size of a bus smashed into the lift, decimating their opponents and almost hitting Moka. She jumped clear and when she looked back a third of the platform was gone. The reduction in weight accelerated their ascent, the wind whistling by as they left the remaining demons behind. Ichigo landed next to Moka and tried to move closer but found the increasing speed hold him in place.

"I wonder how far the top is." Ichigo asked even as the wind snatched away his words. He forced himself to a kneeling position a looked up, only to see nothing but darkness. The amount of distance they had traveled must have brought them level with Limbo, yet it seemed there was no end in sight.

"Shouldn't we have reached it by now?" asked Moka. Before the soul reaper could retort a feminine figure appeared on the far side of the lift. The blue light revealed Naanah as she sauntered over towards them and brushing her hair back, emphasizing that she immune to gravity pushing down on them.

"I'm afraid that your journey ends here." She studied her hand as immaculate nails changed to long razor claws. "You will remain in the inferno forever as the mistresses new playthings." She eyed Moka with a mixture of malicious glee and carnal desire as if eying a new prized animal. "I'm sure that Lucifer could always use another bride, if not, Lilith may make you her next vassal. Of course, this will be after we dismantle the Shinigami," she spat out the last word disgust while staring down at Ichigo. She reached out and grapped his chin so to stare into his eyes. "Your kind have always been a pain, maybe your destruction will finally get the message across."

Ichigo simply stared right back, and quietly spoke one word: "Bankai."

The sudden blast of energy forced the succubus back with a shriek, countering the pressure on his body long enough for him to stand as the light dissipated and revealed his new look. Naanah lowered her arm and freaked as her eyes adjusted to the young man before her. His clothes had changed from the tradition black robes of the Shinigami to a slimmer look. He now wore a form-fitting coat that was in lined with red and flared out into a tattered cloak around his legs. The pants were still baggy but tighter than before, along with the same sandals he had been wearing before. The biggest change was to his sword. The seven-foot behemoth was gone and instead a regular size katana, completely jet-black with a thin hilt guard and short chain attached to the hilt. When he shifted she could hear the chain jingle over the wind and grinding stone.

She blinked in surprise at the sudden wardrobe change, and was almost cut in two. She only escaped because of instincts that had been honed since ancient times, and still saw some of her locks go flying. How? How can he move so fast? I didn't even see him move, and the pressure shouldn't immobilized him! Most soul reapers she had faced were barely able to put up a fight, and that was without G-force winds trapping them.

"How are you moving!" she yelled as she unfurled her wings and charged Ichigo with rapid slashes. Steel clashed against steel, Ichigo countering every strike smoothly. "Shinigami are powerless in this realm, you should be as immobile as the vampire!" She lifted off, but was yanked down by her ankle. Ichigo pinned the demoness with a foot, sword at her throat.

"I'm use to fighting enemies with high spirit pressure, that and my bankai applies high pressure on my body normally." He stared directly into her eyes with intensity she hadn't noticed before. "Now, you're going to tell us how to get to the top."

Naanah simply smirked. "You can't leave the tower, once you enter only the mistress can let you out. It amuses her to keep you trapped." She continued to smile maliciously while focusing on the girl behind Ichigo. Before she could even move to strike she saw to her growing shock Moka dragging herself to her knees, then after a pause, to her feet. The vampire braced her herself for the coming clash even as it took everything in her to stand. It didn't help that the two other succubus from before landing mere feet away.

Naanah's smile returned, "Good works sisters, now kill her!"

She charged Ichigo fast enough to grab his sword by the blade to block his attempt to attack. Pointed teeth showed through her grin as she watched Agrat Bat Mahlat and Eisheth Zenunim rip the little yokai apart. Only. . . they just stood side-by-side, looking a Moka.

"What are you waiting for?" yelled Naanah unable to keep the confusion out of her voice.

Moka, being closer, could see their eyes were glazed over as if they were unconscious. Then they both promptly fell to the floor in a heap as in the same moment the lift ground to a sudden halt. With the pressure gone Moka turned around to see Daikurai standing up from where he had been holding the two demons upright. He was scratched up pretty bad like someone had gone after him with a knife rather than claws, but seemed otherwise unhurt. He smiled sweetly at the stunned face of Naanah. "Your sisters were good, but they just couldn't keep up."

Rage blinded the succubus as she swung her hand to gouge out Ichigo eyes, forgetting her other hand still gripped his sword. With the gravity gone he moved the sword so fast she didn't realize her hand was cut until after she went flying. Hitting the wall hard she only glimpsed Moka's upraised leg burning with blue fire before the force of the impact smashed through the ancient stone and metal, and sending her into the storm beyond. Her last thought as blue fire consumed her body and lightning zeroed in was how poorly they had underestimated them.

A moment of silence within the tower remained until the lift rumbled loose and renewed its accent. "Strange how the lift stopped. Wonder what caused it?" Moka asked catching Daikurai returning his sword to his back.

"I'm more curious as to what took you so long?" demanded Ichigo looking at their guide (who at least had the curtesy to look nervous). Before he could reply the lift stopped with a low grinding noise. An opening to the side revealed stairs up. All questions were put to the side as they raced up the stairs and in seconds were finally at the top of the tower. It was surprisingly simple, or perhaps suspiciously empty as there was nothing, not even carvings on the surface. Just a flat stage open to the elements.

"This is it?! Where is she! Why is their nothing?" Moka yelled out angrily to the wind though Ichigo and Daikurai couldn't help but notice the worry in her voice. Moka continued her rant to the sky while Ichigo looked over the edge. The dizzying height wasn't what forced him back but the sensation of stretching distance the longer he stared. It was then while shaking his head that he realized that there was no sound. The tower was enshrouded in a massive lightning storm of swirling clouds, yet not a single rumble could be heard, no thunderclaps, no resonating boom, nothing.

Noting his concern, Daikurai pointed up. "Up there." Both of them looked at the strangest sight they had seen yet. Five feet off the surface of the tower floated, almost innocently, a sphere of glass. Its circumference was the same as the tower and within was the heart of the lust storm, rolling and swirling with more volatile energy than clouds outside.

"They're inside that?" asked Moka as she walked towards the orb. How is the storm being contained? Can they really control the weather like this? Inner Moka asked observing the pink and purple clouds.

"Yes, it appears the first Queen of Hell has prepared for our arrival." Daikurai commented with a frown on his face. "It's been a while since she's used this skill."

"What exactly is it?" asked Ichigo as he reached out to the glass, strangely compelled to it.

"It is the Lust Storm, the heart and true power of Lilith, Ruler of the Second Circle. Normally she lets her power flow and encompass her realm, fueling both her servants and the storm used to torture souls." Daikurai's uneasiness was growing. He knew with the storm retracted she had no way of knowing their exact moves, which could only mean she believed them trapped. Ichigo was also following this line of thought even as he asked about the orb while looking toward the ledge.

"Can we enter it?" Moka watched Ichigo ask even as he instinctively reached behind him to make contact with the sphere. His hand felt no resistance and smoothly went right through. When he tried to pull it back found some force gripped his forearm. "What is this?" his anger grew the more he pulled, feeling the sensation of something similar to sharp glass slicing his hand.

"I was afraid of this" Daikurai let out a groan, "It's a one-way seal: things can pass through but not back out. She telling us that we have to come to her if we want your friend back." He continued to look out at the tower than the orb, knowing there was more than one trap here. Lilith always enjoyed multi-layered traps, better chance to fool her prey into false safety only really fail after feeling hopeful.

Before Ichigo could figure out what this meant getting free Moka ran hard and with a quick leap dove into the sphere. Two things happened instantaneously; first the outer layer around the sphere became static and harden, trapping Ichigo's arm. The other was a rapid rise in demonic energy build around them, which was followed by an army of thousands of damned and servants of Lilith. So many poured out of the stairwell and climbed over the tower ledge from all directions that Daikurai realized that the whole might of the Second Circle was coming at them. That explains why we had so little trouble going up: she had everyone wait until we got through the tower. With our numbers reduced they have a better chance. He drew his sword while glancing at the imprisoned Shinigami who remained leaning on the orb. Well Ichigo, ready to give up? I could get you out of this mess, just let me out. Call to your anger, that's all you need. Shirosaki whispered in Ichigo's head, louder than he had been while on the first circle. He's getting stronger. Ichigo tightened his grip on the black sword in his remaining hand, lifting his head to the hoard charging toward them. Looking to Daikurai he saw that his blade was now two as he chopped down one enemy after another. The first demons to reached Ichigo were introduced to his blade so quickly the ones behind them thought they hadn't been hit. Then the giant blast of black blew away a third of the enemy. The attack cut right through the stone, removing the top layer of stone from the tower. The remaining demons could only stare stupidly at the carnage, such attacks were reserved for greater demons.

Daikurai simply showed a small smile to Ichigo as their three blades sliced endlessly with the body count rising equally fast. "I hope Moka knows what she's doing." Ichigo said through gripped teeth as he released another Genshi Tencho. Daikurai only stared forward as the next wave of attacks came to replace their fallen. She better. Lilith may be the weakest of the Archdevils but makes up for it with incredible skill of manipulating her enemies. She's never failed to enslave a target, regardless of gender or strength. He rapidly sliced another seducer in half and stabbed another in the head with other blade. Because she knows that if one is not taken by lust or greed their friends and loyalty will break them just as easily. With those hopeless thoughts he continued to strike, even as more climbed over the fallen, all yelling "For the Queen of the Damned!"

To Be Continued . . .

Well after a very long hiatus I have finally returned with a new chapter. Over the last three years I've been working one my first scientific article and promised myself not the work on this until it was done. It has been in review hell for about a year and a half now so while waiting on my co-authors I decided to finish this chapter. Only to realize that I need to break it into two chapters again. So, I beg for your indulgence as I continue to write when I can. I hope it was worth the wait, do please review.