April the 9th, naval time 7:25PM, Maki's perspective.

      It had been an hour since Maki had left her village. The condition of the young man in her hand seemed to have improved. The man had regained consciousness earlier but had refused to speak with her. Some of his things had been lost when she had grabbed them earlier. His little suit had become hard stained and ripped from her juices. His gun, whatever that was, had gone missing. She had searched her bottoms for the small trinket, but assumed it lost. She really did feel sorry for his suit and even offered to try and make him a new one. Still he completely ignored her.

      Earlier he had drunken the water, and eaten the food she provided. So he was no longer in any medical danger for the trip. Still he had persisted to be carried out in the open as they traveled to Otohimes. It had been one of the last things he had said to her before giving her the silent treatment. He was very angry and yet Maki could not, or would not apologize to this arrogant little man. How long would they both remain angry was any ones guess.

      April the 9th, naval time 7:30PM, Sakuya's perspective.

      With her group of warriors, Sakuya had continued north to where she had first seen the demons. She was glad that she lived in this part of the Ryujin sea where the water was only waist deep. Traveling far distances swimming was not particularly fun. Some parts of the sea where so deep she couldn't reach the bottom as hard as she tried.

      She had continued to worry about the young man from the past village. As she trudged along she couldn't help but think back to his helpless cute figure. It pissed her off further that the young man had been allowed to be escorted by a clumsy looking large chested woman. Otohime was going to have a fit when she reached the Ryujin palace. Further that woman could nearly have killed him! Otohime would hear the story from the male in question, assuming he made it safely, but that was only if he made it there safely. This put her mind at ease slightly, but all the girls in her group shared her feelings.

      April the 9th, naval time 9:20PM, Nobu's perspective.

      Nobu was a middle aged man. Standing at about 6 feet tall, he had spent his life creating poems and lyrics to songs. Unlike his father he did not care so much for vanity, but he cared much for his voice and song. It had been almost five years since he had his first son, Nobuto. His wife that it was cute he used part of his own name to name him. His wife was much older and she had been a warrior. She was not one for very good conversation, but she did love to listen to him sing.

      For his sons fifth birthday in a week, he had planned to sing a ballade for him before he left to form a new village now that he was of age enough to leave the village. It was not uncommon for a son to stay until he was closer to twenty, but with full growth being acquired, such as the ability to reproduce at five, it was also not uncommon to seek dowry early. In the end it had been his wife's decision.

      It was all he could do for his son now, sending him off with a tune to stay strong in his absence. As he practiced the ballade he began to smell smoke. The smoke was much different than the usual smell of cooked Wani. As he stopped his own song, he listened, and eventually heard what sounded like panic. More smoke started to billow into the room as his wife entered the room. In this state Nobu worried for his son.

      Emi burst through the door heading for her husband. "Nobu we need to escape the village now!" She started opening his cage.

      "Why!? What of our son? What's happening!?" Nobu demanded to his wife.

      "Our son is safe with one of his sisters, but we have to get out of her now husband! The whole village may collapse, it's the tree burning men!" She said as she grabbed him from his palace.

      Nobu was too shocked for words. His wife set him in her mouth to keep him safe as she started climbing down the tree through the smoke. He started singing easing both his and his wife's anxiety.

      April the 9th, naval time 9:25PM, Nobuto's perspective.

      Everything had erupted into chaos. The entire tree was billowing with black smoke. Nobuto's sister was holding him dearly as she was forced to jump off the tree above the fire. Landing into the water Nobuto saw a clear view of what was happening. The base of his father's village was burning, four giants stood around its base. They easily stood over 200 feet tall. With blue eyes, blonde hair, and two devil like horns they stood in the water using their giant Kanabo mace to knock down his young sisters. His older sisters, and aunts tried to fight them using spear, but had only managed to kill one of them. It was a losing battle. His sister was only about twelve years old, and so was only about able to stay above the water in a swim.

      As she tried to move away to get her brother to safety one of the tree burning men surprised her sapping her in the head with his club. Released into the water Nobuto was quite far off from the village. But his sister was adding to an already bloodied water, as Nobuto swam from the giant men his sister was hoisted on the man's back.

      Dropping into the water from the tree with her husband under her tongue, Emi watched in horror as her sons protector was clobbered by one of the tree burning men. The giant man started to reach and grab up the small Ryujin girl over his shoulder. "You fucking animal!" Seeing this Emi raced towards the tree burning man with her spear. She would not let her son perish.

      Running the spear into the chest of the giant demon, Emi had not even noticed the demon behind her. Starteled Emi attempted to dodge as the giant swung down at her. The demon in front of her snapped her spear, but by that time her corpse was already falling into the bloodied waters. Her head had been fractured by the giant behind her. The last thing she could do was spit her husband down into the water to safety.

      Some of the fleeing woman had seen her fall, but dared not go to her aide. The tree burning man were parasites to the Ryujin, often placing their eggs inside them until they hatched. The tree burning men's offspring would then consume their host from the inside. For the girls who survived the attack, this would most likely be their fate. It was said that it was better to die fighting then to live to be a host.

      Splashing hard into the water, Nobu had to swim abruptly to avoid his falling wife's corpse. "Emi!" He yelled as he looked up at his wife's executioner. "Nooo," he yelled as the large hand of the demon grasped him along with the water as he desperately tried to swim away.

      The tree burning man looked down in his hand with a twisted smile before sending the contents of his hand into his mouth.

      Nobu panicked as he was placed in a  dark cavern similar to his wife's mouth. As the giant man swished the water in his mouth Nobu started singing a prayer which was originally made for his son. "Don't forget we love you, just because we are not there. If you miss me, just pray to the stars.."

      Gulp...

      "Father!" Nobuto yelled in fear, anger, and sadness. He could no longer move, everything he loved was gone, even his sisters. He was a powerless man in the Ryujin society, it pissed him off so much! He could nothing for this massacre. He just wanted to be with his father, and her him sing one more time at this point. He just didn't care anymore, life was too painful.

      April the 9th, naval time 9:30PM, Explorative fleet perspective.

      General alarm was sounded aboard the three destroyers. The ringing of the bells clanged in everyone ears. The four giants before them in the horizon sat above a red blood tainted sea. The smell of iron, burning tar, and smoke filled the nostrils of everybody aboard.

      Rear Admiral Komura was in command of the explorative fleet, and took up the wireless. "To Vice Admiral Ito of Yamato, we have possible hostiles confirmed."

      "This is Yamato, what's the strength of the enemy?"

      "We believe it's four demons armed with clubs standing over an estimated two hundred feet tall."

      The Rear Admiral stayed on the wireless as he started relaying orders to the fleet. The ships slowed as they got closer to the scene. All the crews were on edge, as the fight between the female and male giants started to come to an end in the distance.

      Kenta had been wanting some excitement, but four huge giants was not what he bargained for. They were going to be in the thick of it soon if the orders weren't given to retreat. The nature of the giants had not been determined. If they ran and were unable to injure the demons, then they could endanger the rest of the fleet. It was already apparent that they had been spotted.

      As Kenta held unto his 25mm Anti Aircraft Gun  he looked out into the bloody water. Giant corpses floated fifty meters off the side making Kenta want to throw up.

      The captain of the Asashimo swallowed as he looked out from the bridge of his ship. The sight was incredible, unbelievable and terrifying all in one. I'd rather face an American any day, than this. He thought. Taking up his radio he made an announcement. "To all hands, we shall have the honor of leading the attack!"

      Kenta did not like the news, but as he was on the flagship of the explorative fleet, it was expected. As he sighed he couldn't help but notice as a bunch of his fellow comrades started yelling off the side of the ship.

      "Man overboard!"

      Throwing a rope down as the ship started to sail by, Kenta and his comrades hoisted the scared silent naked young man aboard.

      He looked shocked, scared even. The man was wearing nearly nothing and wouldn't utter a word. He did seem in awe though. Some sailors bombarded him with questions, but it seemed he was too shocked to answer.

      Kenta just wandered who this mysterious stranger was. He looked Japanese but that made no sense as there had been no sailors lost in this sea.

      April the 9th, naval time 9:40PM, Nobuto's perspective.

      He was in awe and shock, pulled aboard this hard fish he was greeted by lots of brothers. Nobuto couldn't fathom where he was or who these brothers where. He was simply too shocked to speak other than a single word. "Run."

      April the 9th, naval time 9:40PM, Sakuya's perspective.

      Sakuya and her sisters had started to run when they saw the smoke rising from the tree village in the distance. Despite her instincts to flee Sakuya couldn't abandon a village if it was under attack. Running through the water her eyesight started to pick up the shadows of four figures. Any thoughts of Shouta leaving her head, instead focusing on her task.

      "Let's hurry sisters!" She yelled. "We might still ....."

      She fell face first into the water amongst her sisters as three successive loud bangs erupted from ahead of them. It was so loud it came close to shattering their eardrums, temporarily causing them all to fall down.

      April the 9th, naval time 9:45PM, Nobuto's perspective.

      Nobuto had been sitting on the hard ground when a man yelled at him to cover his ears. He did so reluctantly, unable to understand why.

      Similarly Kenta covered his ears knowing full well what was about to happen as a whistle blew. The Asashimo opened fire with a broadside from three of its five inch guns towards the oncoming demons As the Captain yelled, "Fire!"

To be continued.