This is a Summary of Vivid episode 107.

OP: The Gospel of nobody's shadow

ED: Renai Rider

Kenage and his Bro---

Okay, sorry, force of habit. Let's try this again.

Kenage and his cousin Sotarou Ishida stagger through the inky darkness that is Seiryuu the Ice Dragon's demon-zombie-summoning techinque Dead End. Although stagger really wouldn't be the word for what they're doing. No no. It'd be more like 'Cutting a path through the undead so fast that they're having trouble remembering if they're zombified or just defeated.' The two work in tandem, their swords slishing through defeated demon flesh, not even giving them time to bleed out and fall over. If a Demon's taking too long to collapse, they just kick 'em down. Rinse, lather, repeat. It's not that the Ishidas are jerks or anything like that, it's just...they're sort of short on time right now, and the main event is lurking somewhere ahead.

Sotarou's got his head on straight, and every once in a while glances at his cousin, wondering if he's really up to the task at hand. Kenage finally gets tired of getting the once over (well at least he thinks he is, since it is rather dark.) And asks Sotarou to put any ill will he has towards his cousin out in the open so that they can handle it before the fight of their lives begins. Stopping, the older swordsman regards his partner for a moment too long, and asks bluntly if he's going to be able to handle cutting down his own Grandmother.

Rewind time. A long long time ago, Ishida Yuji (AKA Sotaro and Kenage's grandpappy), had a love affair with a fellow esper named Inazuka Sayaka. This was before his marriage to the mother of Sotarou and Taeko's Dad, and therefore was seen as just a fling. However, as many flings go, this one produced a child. This child is in fact Kenage's true father, who had died not too long before he had been born. The story goes that his mother had brought him to the Ishidas so that they could take care of him, and Yuji feeling an obligation did just that, all without telling the Samurai that the man he calls 'father' is actually his uncle. 

Kenage takes a deep breath and reminds his cousin that he doesn't really have a choice in the matter. If he doesn't slay her, then she'll kill their family. Sotarou walks over to his cousin and stands eye to eye with him. He quietly tells Kenage that he doesn't want to deal with any reminicant feelings, so if Kenage is thinking for a minute that they can 'save' her, he should 'save it' and go home. Kenage pushes him out of the way and mutters that he can handle himself. Grandfather had already given him the same lecture, and he'll be damned if he has to hear it twice. Even if he can act like a totally cold shell, the fact remains that he's still going to have to kill the only family member he actually knows about. Any guy who could do that without blinking (and doesn't answer to the name 'Shinya Toshio'), should check to see if they're still human.

Sotarou stands behind his cousin and grits his teeth. It takes a lot of restraint to keep from tying him down and leaving, especially since it's obvious that he's still conflicted on the matter of paternal pursuit. Although even if you don't have the sharp instincts of an esper samurai, one could tell that Kenage isn't playing at his 'A' game right now.

Before the two had left for Tokyo, Ishida Yuji sits with his Grandson in their Kyouto Doujo. He reminds Kenage what has to be done, and subtly begs for his forgivness. He wouldn't have kept this from him, but there was no easy way to bring up this touchy subject. Kenage seems unresponsive, only staring down at his knees as his Grandfather talks. After apologizing, Yuji glances over at his son's son, and sighs deeply; he had always been hard on the boy, but at least he had made an impression that he is a man to be trusted, now with the revelation that Rei had unwittingly released upon him, his body, mind and soul are in disaray. It might have been stable enough for him to stand upon, but Kenage's life was (and still is) a jenga tower. Now someone had taken one block too many, and he was tumbling down into the jaws of uncertainty, who swims in a moat that no one ordered, but is there anyway. Yuji put his hand on the young man's sholders, and tells him that his enemy will take advantage of his anxiety in their fight, so if he wants to win, he'll have to steel his resolve. Otherwise not only would he die, but so would Sotarou who had volunteered to go with him, and eventually the rest of his family when Rei got free and came looking for revenge.  This is enough to at least get Kenage to look at him, but what rests in his eyes is a slowly encroaching sense of apathy. If left alone, it could turn into full on distrust, and after that...hatred. Yuji asks if Kenage is truly ready for this upcoming battle, and he nods that he is. He has to settle things with his Grandmother, or he'll never be at peace.

Another Zombie makes a dash at Kenage, who without sparing a glance cuts him down in mid air. Two more 'sliish' and 'thud' sound effects later, and three more demonic zombies are at his feet. Kenage sheaths his sword as quickly as he had drawn it, and turns to his left. Sotarou finishes his own fight and joins Kenage's glance, noting that for the most part, the demons seem to be coming from their left. Two things instantly jump into the espers minds. Either the Zombies are just as blind as they are, or Seiryuu is nearby. As much as it would comfort them to believe that it's the former and not the latter, the sword slingers know all too well that Murphy's law is in effect here. The plan however, is to let Gen handle the big bad dragon until they can help her.....

The sound of heels grab at their ears suddenly, and the two turn gripping their swords. Rei walks towards them with a smile of unbridaled malice. Even in the dark, the two can sense just how close she is just by feeling the demonic pressure coming from her body. She stops just a few feet before them, and takes a swing in the air with her sword. The darkness runs scared from this guesture, and the two swordsmen can see each other, along with their enemy.

Rei's probably five feet five at most, her skin deathly pale, in contrast with her vibrant red hair that is tied up in a neat bun. She's wearing what seems to be a funeral dress from Southern warring states period in the US, and her sword is a black blade attached to a brown hilt. The black is not from fighting however; as it is more an extention of her pure hatred towards the Ishida clan. She smiles warmly at her Grandson, purposly ignoring Sotarou who's closer to her.

Bowing, she greets Kenage with a warm voice, befitting a young Grandmother. She asks how he's been since the last time they met, since he seemed so out of sorts when she left him. Kenage regards her for a moment before gripping his blade and holding it outright in a battle stance. He whispers that he would be better if he hadn't met her, and that he will end this meaningless battle now. Rei smirks and then asks him if he has talked to 'that man' about what happened. Kenage scarely nods that he has, and then asks in a hushed whisper how that matters to their situation right now. Rei doesn't hide her anger as she snarls that it changes EVERYTHING. To suggest that he will end a 'meaningless' battle means that he feels that he and his family are not at fault for what happened to her. That her suffering by extention is 'meaningless'. Sotarou reminds her that it was her idea to play elimation-Ishida style, and that they're only protecting their family. Rei laughs, the sound both endearing and a whole breakfast sized serving of unnerving. Protecting their family? Who? Him? Who gives a damn about him? Kenage is her Grandson anyway, so he has no stake in the Ishida's household. Kenage remarks that he is still half Ishida, and Rei asks him in turn if there's a way to split blood. Kenage is silent, unable to muster up a response to her question, and instead edges near her, ready for an attack. Rei glares, her eyes a deathray to anyone foolish enough to stare into them for too long. She asks quietly if he's siding with them over his own Grandmother, and if he understands what she'll have to do if he is.

The answer is a clang of cold metals meeting each other.

Sotarou and Rei's swords meet and they clang against each other as the two swing and miss, sometimes connecting, the clanging of swords echoing through the darkness of Dead End. Kenage blinks a few times; sure Sotarou had been closer to Rei than he was, but still...that speed of his is ungodly fast. Even as he and Rei grapple against each other, he can note that he's got a speed advantage. Rei knows this as well, and adjusts her swings so that she can lob off his legs. Sotarou is able to parry each one of her attacks, and returns with a few of his own. Rei's sword style was inherited by Yuji when he developed the entirty of the Ishida art style, so she already knows about half of their moves. Sotarou coincidentally had been learning a new sword style during his travels called the 'Ishuukan ryu' Or 'Moment Style.' All of his training had been on making quicker and more decisive blows. All he needs is an opening, just one moment....and then the enemy would become mincemeat. Kenage rushes at the two fighters with his sword drawn, hoping that overwhelming the demonic Rei with numbers will bring a quicker end to the bout.

Rei sees him coming, and with a surge of strength hits Sotarou with the blunt end of her sword and sends him flying into his Cousin. The two react quickly and manage to avoid being slashed into ribbons, as Rei shows that she's no turtle by running alongside Sotarou as he flies into Kenage. The cousins separate and regroup behind her, but Rei is able to hold both blades at bay, whirling around behind them and swinging in a large arc. The Demonic energy coursing through Dead End is giving her a huge boost in power. Unfortunately neither one of the heroes are demon (or part demon) so their strength stays the same, and it also becomes apparent that they do not have the energy reserves to keep fighting a long battle. Rei becomes faster, stronger and more lethal, while the Ishidas are begining to get tired, and sluggish.

Sotarou blocks a swing from Rei, and tries to put his weight into her, so that she'll fall over. Physically, her body is still of a young woman, and he is an adult male. She however doesn't budge, and the momentary surprise is enough time for her to stab Sotarou in the toroso. He yells out in pain, which pumps adrenaline into Kenage's legs and gives him the strength to charge at her. The two swing their swords, the clanging noises providing an OST to their furious battle. Rei ducks under his swing, and slices upward only to clear some more air. Kenage falls backward to avoid being sliced, and then swings ferociously at her. Rei doesn't appear to be phased enough to move out of the way, instead taking a finger and stopping the sword in mid flight. Kenage tries to step back, but she's already one step ahead of him, and grabs his arm, throwing him to the side, immediatly ducking under a sneak attack that Sotarou launched from behind. She trips him up, and then tries to strike downward, but he rolls out of the way and gathers himself  before running in for another swing. The two attack at once, and she parries the both of them and slashes both cousins in the chest. Sotarou hits the ground first, clutching his chest injury and gritting his teeth through the pain. Kenage however stays on his feet, and stares at his Grandmother, unable to believe that she is this strong. Then it dawns on him....she shouldn't be THIS strong.

Kenage glances at Rei, and swallows hard at what he sees. The Demonic energy within Dead End is swirling around her, and seeping into her body. The changes are slight at first, but become alarmingly obvious. Her eyes become yellow and cat like, her arms and legs begin to ripple as if something is underneath, and her hair flows free like a crimson river starting from her head. Sotarou barely manages to choke out that he knew this would happen.

A human is not a demon. Yes yes, this is very obvious, but not for the reasons one would think. Think of it as a cup of water and a 32 oz Slurpee. One holds more than the other obviously yeah? So what do you think happens when one tries to fill that cup with all the contents of the Slurpee? Overflow time baby. Just replace that Pepsi with Demonic Pressure, and you've got what's happening to Rei. Her body had been getting used to Demonic Pressure because of her time in the Demon world, but to be exposed to a huge quantity of it at once via Seiryuu's Dead End is changing her physically. Think of it as the Slurpee's contents trying to mutate the cup and enlarge it so everything will fit. Rei's changing to suit her environment, all the while becoming stronger, and stronger. The reason why Sotarou wanted to end the fight quickly is because of this. The espers are all protected by their Kekkei Genkai, and general positive energy that comes from purified life forces, but Rei does not have such a natural protection.

She lets out a gutteral growl and charges at Kenage, who dives out of the way with all of the finesse of a bull fighter. She turns and charges again, and Kenage prepares to dodge...until she fakes right on him and slams the esper with tackle. He coughs up blood and flies a few feet, rolling away from the battle. Sotarou tries to get to his feet again, but the pain in his chest and Torso keeps him down. Rei strolls over to Kenage, and grabs him by his neck lifting him into the air like a bag of grocieries. Her grip is absolute, and he is unable to even struggle. Rei's voice is the same, but different...further away, yet sweeter, an oasis to a weary traveler. She asks Kenage if he would like to rest, to finally put aside this messy family history, to be by her side. Sotarou's eyes widen as he sees Kenage's grip on his sword begin to relax, and he yells at his cousin that the monster before him has no interest in his best intrest. She's not even techinically Rei any more, just emotion illuminated by the pressure in the dome. Kenage either doesn't hear or ignores him however, as he doesn't grip his sword. Rei laughs at Sotarou, and taking her sword purrs to her Grandson that it'll all be over in a moment. With her other hand, she takes her sword and in one movement skewers her Grandson, his blood splattering on the floor before her.

Last Vivid: Those who can, have done. Those who haven't will die.