Their scene changed again as they watch Kazumi being whipped again.
"Since I heard you've protected some slayers instead of killing them, I'll give you a thousand whips today shall we." Hibiki said in a cold tone as he look down at Kazumi.
She remained unresponsive as she kept her head down as her wrists are chained up as always. Blood kept on splattering out from her body.
"What the.... a thousand?!" Kanae exclaimed as she cover her mouth as her eyes become teary again.
They watched as Hibiki really gave her a thousand whip. She remained still and silent.
'I.... can't feel it at all.... it's just like a small ant bit me.'
"You won't get any food for three days and nights." Hibiki said before he left her in the cell as the servant there freed her from the chains.
Her ragged clothes behind her were torn up because of all those whips. As she stopped the bleeding with her breathing, she walked away as if nothing happened. She moved as if she wasn't whipped at all. As she pass by some slaves on her way to her room, they all gasped at the sight of her but she ignored them all.
"Kazumi!" Asano exclaimed as he saw Kazumi enter the room.
They saw how her ragged clothes were torn apart at the back and her wounds. Her back was badly wounded as the whole skin on her back was almost ripped off.
"Let's.... clean your wounds." Fu said as he accompanied her inside the bathroom.
Take couldn't do anything but to follow them with his eyes. Shocked at how Kazumi look like coming back. She looked even worst than how she usually comes back from being whipped.
"She knew she'll be punished like this but.... she still chose to keep on protecting the slayers." Fuji said looking at the bathroom door.
"Everytime Hibiki finds this out, he'll whip her but there's another punishment." Kai added with such sadness wrapping his every word.
They all couldn't help theirselves but to overthink about what other punishment was there. As the scene changed again, they were inside Aiko's room as she is now looking at Kazumi's body covered with bandages.
"I'm sorry.... I.... didn't know he'll go this far." Aiko apologized as she gently touch her back.
"Don't apologize.... it's not your fault.... I could've let them die if I wanted to.... so.... it's my decision." Kazumi replied turning around wiping Aiko's tears.
"Don't cry, I'm the one who got punished not you."
"But still...." Aiko muttered out.
The children then let out some baby noises as they lift their hands up trying to reach for them although they were far from their reach.
"What we have to do now is to keep our eyes open and ourselves alert. I'm sure Hibiki will send out more assassins to do the work." Fu said as he walk closer.
"Right. We're not only dealing with our own 'comrades' but also demons on the way." Asano added sounding sarcastic with the word comrades.
"Sorry if I have to rely on you guys." Aiko apologized again.
"Well.... we know Hibiki's a bad person. And killing those slayers who wanted to protect humans against demons is a bad idea of his." Fu said sighing as he cross his arms.
"For sure.... if he wanted the slayers dead, that means the one he's helping is definitely a demon." Asano said looking serious.
"To be honest.... I could smell a faint scent of a demon from him.... whenever I meet him." Kazumi informed them tilting her head.
"If only I could be free from here. I'll take you three with me." Aiko said as she pat Kazumi's head.
"Don't worry Aiko-san! We promised something to each other!" Asano exclaimed coming back to his old self.
"What is it?"
"We all promised that, by the time we're free from here, all three of us will take the final selection to become official slayers!" Asano answered lifting his right fist up in the air.
"That's right. If we become one, we'll be able to keep on slaying demons together. The three of us." Fu agreed as he raise his chin up, a bit proud.
"Such a wonderful promise. I'm sure you three will reach that soon." Aiko said as she wave her hand as a sign for the three of them to come closer.
They all did as she engulf them all in a hug. They all smiled as they hug her back.
"Once we're all free here, I'll take you three to my place and meet my sisters formally!" Aiko said.
The words she just said made the Pillars saddened. Her words that never came true at all.
Now they're outside again, daytime. Fu and Asano are now looking at Kazumi who has her hair fixed in a braided bun fastened with a violet colored butterfly hairpin, and carrying Take.
"You look amazing! That hairpin suits you very well!" Asano praised as he look at Kazumi's hair and the hairpin.
"Although.... your front hair still covers your eyes." Fu sweatdropped.
"She said my hair might get in the way or stuck on some branches so she fixed it." Kazumi replied.
"Awww~, how I wish her hair wasn't cut." Kanae said putting a hand on her cheek.
Just as they watch, they saw how the three watch Take as he fly up in the air. He's getting a bit faster than the last time he took off.
"If he got trained well I bet he'll be even faster." Fu said while watching Take.
"I guess.... but let's not pressure him. His wound takes a lot of time to heal." Kazumi replied.
As they come back, they went into Aiko's room and there they saw Hikaru.
"Hikaru-san?" Asano tilted his head.
"Oh.... so you three are back." Hikaru said as she face them carrying one of the triplets.
"Why are you here? Are you taking the children as experiments too?" Fu asked with a frown.
"Of course not idiot!" Hikaru answered as he smack Fu on the head.
"I'm here cause I've got something important to say!"
"We know each other and.... I also know the experiments she does to Kazumi-chan." Aiko said as she look away.
"Now listen here everyone, I've got no time for arguments. Hibiki has a new plan for Kazumi." Hikaru said as she hand the child back to Aiko.
"What is it?" Asano asked.
"He's planning to use demon blood on Kazumi. Obviously, to turn her into a demon." Hikaru answered crossing her arms.
They all gasped at this as their expressions turned into serious ones.
"Hikaru-san, is the—"
"I already expected this plan of his." Hikaru said cutting off Aiko.
"That's why, all the poisons I've been injecting on Kazumi, ever since she became a lab rat after her fist injection, I've mixed wisteria to all of them."
"How's that gonna help?" Fu asked.
"As what Aiko had told you guys, wisteria is a poison lethal to demons and the only poison that kills them. So, wisteria can possibly counter demon blood since it could burn the demon cells as it enter the body. But...." Hikaru explained.
"But?" Asano asked.
".... if a large amount of demon blood enters the body or if the person is flooded with it, even if the person have wisteria inside their body, it's either they turn into one or die on the spot." Hikaru continued.
"The there's a possibility Kazumi would die?! What do we do?!" Asano freaked out as he hug Kazumi from behind.
"Let's just hope that the poison in her body would help. I know what I've done is wrong but, if she were to take advantage of the poison circulating in her body in the future, she could have the advantage." Hikaru answered as she crouch down to look at Kazumi.
"But.... we can't deny that there's a chance it might take a toll on you one day."
Kazumi remained still not even surprised at what she just heard. She just looked at her and nod.
"Then, I'll take that demon blood thing."
Their scene changed again as they are now inside the same laboratory. Kazumi strapped down the bed the same way, as Hibiki and Hikaru talk to each other.
"Are you really sure? What if she dies?" Hikaru asked holding the tube Hibiki gave her that contains demon blood.
"I've thought this through for so many days Hikaru, if she dies we can find another one." Hibiki answered.
"There's no other children like Kazumi who managed to stand all those poison. If she dies, it'll be hard to find another one again."
"It's just a little blood so just give it to her. Report to me later." Hibiki walked out.
Hikaru stood there as her grip on the tube tighten.
"So.... does that mean she's a demon and human at the same time?" Shinobu asked.
"Just watch." Fuji answered.
Hikaru then walked closer to Kazumi holding a syringe with demon blood in it.
"Are you really going to take it?" Hikaru asked.
"If I won't.... I'm afraid it's not only you who's going to die but also Asano and Fu." Kazumi answered.
With a single inhale and exhale, Hikaru injected the demon blood in her. And just seconds, Kazumi gasped for air as her body stiffened and black veins appeared and disappeared. She held onto the bed tightly as her nails started to grow and her body twitching..
"Use your breathing and control your blood flow! Don't let yourself turn into one!" Hikaru instructed as she dropped the syringe and hold her down.
Kazumi took in a deep breath as she close her eyes and control her breathing. Gritting her teeth, she focused as she control her very own blood circulation. She used the poison in her body to burn some as she puke out the rest. She then throw out some blood. The slayers watching gasped at this, seeing her throw up blood. Hikaru instantly took off her straps and help her sit up.
"There! Spit out some more!" Hikaru gently patted her back as Kazumi threw up some more blood before coughing.
The Pillars sighed. Although disgusted, they were thankful she didn't turn into one.
Hikaru then examined her nails after wiping off the blood from her mouth and body. She sighed in relief as she saw Kazumi's nails were back to normal. She checked on her body and there's no trace of demon blood anymore.
"Thank goodness.... Kazumi."
"Is he gonna come back for more?" Kazumi asked.
"I don't know.... but there's a possibility he might do so."