Hello readers! Got the third chapter out finally. The future updates may not be as quick as this one, but I'll still try. I gotta say, I've been getting some pretty good feedback from you guys. Remember, if you have any questions, they are likely to be answered sooner or later.
For those of you wondering if this is going to be another Harem story, I still haven't decided. I plan on at least two girls going after Tatsumi, but that is all I can definitely confirm as of right now. If you want to know more or have any suggestions, PM me.
[Line Break]
When it comes to the topic of the Underworld, very few creatures outside of the devil race know for sure what it looks like. Most imagine a burning inferno where souls are tortured for all eternity by demons and monsters alike. Others picture a purgatory in which souls wander without purpose for years on end with no hope of finding peace. While both of these are popular and semi-correct, neither are 100% factual.
"Tatsumi nya~" *Poke*
Although there is a section of the Underworld specifically dedicated to the torment of sinners, it's small in comparison to the big picture. The Underworld is actually very similar to the world humans call home. It has sprawling urban cities, snowcapped mountains, swamps, forests, plains, and just about everything in between. Only a few details really set it apart from the human realm.
"Taaatsuuumiiiii nya~" *poke**poke*
The first and main difference was the sky. True, it did have the same blue tint during the day and darkness at night, but it was all manufactured. The sun and moon were created by the four current Maou to imitate that of the human world. It was a big change from the never-ending purple that used to persist 24/7, but it did make the overall environment more hospitable.
"Taaaaatsssssuuuuumiiiiiii nyyyyyaaaaaa~"*poke**poke**poke*
It was in said sky that we would find our favorite hero. A silver western dragon flew among the clouds, gracefully navigating the air currents with massive wings. Measuring about twenty feet from tail to nose and twelve feet tall, he truly was a sight to behold. So powerful. So majestic. So-
*KICK* "Tatsumi! Pay attention to me nya~!
-utterly annoyed.
[Flashback (Eight Years Ago)]
Night in the Familiar forest was always a magnificent balance of beauty and dread, especially under the full moon. Nocturnal creatures of all shapes and sizes crawled out of their homes to hunt and gather food, bathed in the artificial lunar light. The gnarled trees that were docile in the day turned sinister as their shadows cast haunting shapes upon the undergrowth. Both friendly and vicious familiars could be found prowling in the darkness, each one searching for something to fill their stomachs.
Strolling beneath the swaying branches, almost oblivious to the creepy atmosphere that permeated the area, was a small boy. His messy brown hair reflected the few moonbeams that reached him, as did his lightly tanned skin. He wore a simple white shirt and black cargo pants, forgoing any form of covering for his feet as the carelessly stepped on rocks, twigs, and roots. Everything about the youth seemed normal, out of place in the scenery of the magical forest, except for one. Instead of normal human eyes, his were a bloody crimson and contained cross-slit pupils that formed a plus sign within each iris.
This was Tatsumi, now eight years old and allowed free roam of the vast forest he called home. Every creature that inhabited this domain knew of him. Even if they had only seen one of his two faces, the impression he left would make all manner of beasts bow in respect. Predators avoided him, herbivorous familiars would play with him, and only those foolish enough to attack a mighty dragon would challenge his unofficial title as Alpha of the Forest.
It was shortly after returning to their cave the previous year that Tiamat revealed the present she meant to give him for his birthday: lessons in shape shifting. Following a demonstration in which she displayed her own human form (which frankly embarrassed him since she was naked afterwards), the dragon king coached her adoptive son in the art of aura manipulation. The simplest explanation for a dragon's transformation into a human was that it involved compressing their aura down to the correct size and shaping it into the appropriate form. It was easier for Tatsumi than most, seeing as he already had experience being part of the bipedal race. Still, it took two whole months from him to master the transitions between the two forms.
One thing that helped him with his dilemma was the manifestation of the sword that currently rested on his back. It was silver with a red gem set into the hilt, and it bore a strong resemblance to the key used to summon Incursio. The blade not only served as an easy medium for shifting into his full and half-dragon forms, but also doubled as a useful weapon when only the minimum of his draconic power was required.
Staying in his human form was a habit the young dragon couldn't kick. It just felt so right. He did shift back to his reptilian body when the need arose, but the feeling of smooth skin interacting with the world instead of rough scales after so long was euphoric. His time as a dragon did affect his choice of clothing, though. The loose-fitting pants and shirt were so much better than any tight fabrics that would make him feel trapped and restrained. Shoes had become outright unbearable.
The only aspect of his appearance that refused to conform to his will was his eyes. The eyes of the Tyrant remained with him no matter what shape he took. Even Tiamat was stumped on how it was possible, but Tatsumi learned to ignore it. Those eyes were an important part of who and what he was.
On this particular night, the young dragon found himself unable to sleep. His Instinct, which hadn't shown itself since his encounter with the Phenexes, wouldn't allow him to rest at all and urged him to take a walk. The [Evolutionary Workshop] had also remained dormant in that span of time, no matter how hard the former assassin tried to access it. He assumed it was related to its purpose of being available in times of need. Life was pretty simple and easy for the brunette, so no need for adaptation had arisen.
Tatsumi remained deep in thought as he subconsciously navigated through the woods. His train of thought was brought to the daily lessons he received from his mom on controlling other aspects of his aura. After being given a rundown of how he could produce elements opposite to those he was attacked with and nothing else, Tiamat decided to train him in the use and control of his holy water. He shivered at the horrors he experienced those first few weeks.
He sighed. By his eighth birthday two months ago, she leveled out his training regiment, telling him he learned all she could teach and needed to experiment on his own. He was only req1uired to practice for a single hour each day, but would often extend it to three or four. Without survival to worry about, friends to hang out with, or enemies to execute, Tatsumi's life had become so routine that he found himself bored more often than not.
"I wish something exciting would happen," he grumbled as he kicked a rock in his way. "I don't care what or how, I just need some action."
There are many clichéd phrases that could easily sum up the series of events that would follow that simple sentence and set him down an interesting path for years to come; however, only one is needed. It is a fact of life which has brought many great men and women to their knees, and caused even the most iron-willed of individuals to regret their actions.
"Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it."
It was mere seconds after he made his wish to no one in particular that the universe, God, or whatever other cosmic being that decided to write out Tatsumi's fate and post it on this website, chose to give him exactly what he asked for. The shape said divine intervention took was a random body that dashed out of the foliage and collided with him. With the force of a train, the young dragon was launched off his feet and sent crashing into the dirt.
His eyes spun as he attempted to make heads or tails of what the hell just happened to him. He hadn't even heard a rustle of leaves, smelled another predator in the area, or sensed the energy of any beings besides the normal residents of the forest. So, how he ended up sprawled on his back with something soft yet rigid on top of him was deemed impossible to solve by his logical mind without more information.
Once his vision cleared, his view was flooded with a sea of black hair. 'This answers nothing!' He shouted in his head. He attempted to push whoever or whatever it was off him so he could see. His hands felt some sort of fabric as he shifted the body to the side, receiving a feminine groan in return. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes, he turned to examine the person who tackled him.
She was young, looking only a year older than his physical body, and could easily be described as cute. A black kimono with a yellow obi served as her only clothes, though they did cover her slender frame fairly well. Her mane of black hair flowed down to her waist as she sat up, rubbing a bump on her forehead in pain. What really drew the silver dragon's attention were the black cat ears that twitched atop her head and the long furry tail slipping from the bottom of her kimono.
"Nekomata," he whispered, remembering Tiamat's lessons on the varied species in the world. The cat-like features also brought back memories of Leone and her Teigu, Lionel. He hadn't thought of her specifically in years, his memories of his past life usually focusing on Night Raid as a whole. He idly wondered if she survived the final battle in the end.
"Owwwwe." Tatsumi's musings were broken by the girl's voice as she slowly stood. "Why do I feel like I ran into a brick wall nya~"
He followed her example, dusting off his clothes and giving her an amused look. She may have been older than him, but they were equal in height at around 4'9. "I'm no genius, but I'd say it's because you ran into me while running at mach-speed," he replied sarcastically.
The instant he spoke, her golden eyes snapped open and she jumped backward five feet. She adopted a defensive dance, her body glowing with a power he couldn't identify. He was familiar with the ethereal signatures of both magic and aura manipulation, but the energy this cat girl was exuding felt…foreboding. His Instinct practically screamed at him to avoid even touching whatever it was. In order to prevent a negative confrontation, he maintained a casual posture,
The girl was also assessing the situation as quickly as humanly (neko-ly?) possible. After hours of running without so much as a water break, she'd taken a quick glance behind her to check if her pursuers were still on her tail. Fortune decided to spit on her at that moment as she slammed into something and was sent crashing into the ground. Now that she'd regained her footing and coated her body in touki, she took in the sight that was the boy staring at her.
His eyes were the first to draw her attention. No creature she'd ever encountered, be it devil, angel, yokai, or mythical beast, had such strange eyes. Despite his humanoid body, the cross-slits with red irises were a dead giveaway that he was anything but human. He looked younger than her, but that was only on the surface. There was no way in hell that a child his age would be strolling through the Familiar Forest in the middle of the night without some sort of supervision.
Knowing that her five senses could fool her with this boy's potential poly-morphing abilities, she reached out with the sixth sense provided by her senjutsu to discern his true identity. Her eyes widened and her blood ran cold. It was impossible. His ki had no origin whatsoever, as if it existed in the rawest state found in nature. The only bit of information she could glean from the writhing mass of natural energy was an element of dominance. If her assumptions were correct, this kid was an alpha predator.
In the end, she decided to go with her usual playful approach to the situation. If things went south, she could always run and hope for the best. "And who would you be nya~?" she questioned, not dripping her stance.
Tatsumi raised an eyebrow. "Is that the first thing you ask everyone whose home you barge into and attack?"
"Home nya~?"
"Yeah. I live in this forest."
"Why would you want to live here nya~?"
He gave her a look of mock offense. "What are you implying?! Is the magnificent Familiar Forest not up to the standards of an obviously-cultured lady such as yourself? OH, the horror! Mother is certain to punish me for displeasing a visitor so much!" He completed the act by dropping to his kneed and covering his face in shame.
The ploy to break the tension worked. The girl dropped her guard in favor of laughing at the over-dramatic display put on by the young boy. It was so ridiculous that most, if not all, of her caution faded away. It didn't take a genius to see that he wasn't hostile, though there was always a chance. By the time her fit had devolved into chuckles, he was back on his feet and smiling at her.
"Now that the award for 'Best Actor' has been secured for my future," he began "We can focus back on the matter at hand."
She visibly tensed as he approached her. "A-and what would th-that be nya~?"
"I'm glad you asked! First order of business," he said, stopping a foot away. "I want an apology."
"…what?"
"You knocked me down. Say you're sorry."
I'm sorry nya~?"
"Thank you. Next: why are you in my forest?'
This would be difficult for her to answer. "I was…running nya~?" she said hopefully.
Seeing the hesitation and fear in her eyes, Tatsumi dropped the subject. "Alright, fair enough. Third and final question: what's your name?"
[Flashback End]
"No, Kuroka," the dragon replied, already tired of his companion's antics.
The companion in question was the same girl he met in the Familiar Forest eight years ago. She was currently lying on the wide, scaly surface that was Tatsumi's back, lazily allowing him to fly her around. Her figure had noticeably filled out over the years, with her large breasts pressing against his scales, her round butt swaying alongside her two waving tails, and those long legs that drove men insane. Her wardrobe hadn't changed much with the addition of large golden beads to her obi and a pair of sandals to cover her feet, though she did wear the yukata a little more loosely to show off her generous amount of cleavage. The majority of the male population would call her sexy. Tatsumi called her a pain in the ass.
"But I have a question nya~!" Kuroka whined, rolling around in a fit of childish rage. Sometimes it was hard to believe she was the older one.
"*Sigh* Fine," he relented. "But if it's a dumb question, I swear I'm gonna drop you."
The nekoshou ceased her mini-tantrum and smiled. "Oh, don't worry about that nya~! I just wanted to clarify whether or not our current geographic position matched the destination you decided upon prior to the commencement of our ongoing excursion nya~."
Though it filled him with dread, he had to ask. "What?"
"Are we there yet nya~?" she questioned sweetly.
His left eye twitched. "Well, Kuroka, it was nice knowing you but it looks like it's time for us to go our separate ways. Goodbye." He didn't give her any further warning or time to ask what he meant before tucking in his wings and performing a barrel roll. In the span of a second, the weight on his back disappeared, replaced by the increasingly distant scream of the passenger he just abandoned.
Releasing a sigh of relief, the silver dragon once again extended his wings and continued to fly away as if nothing happened. Pease and quiet enveloped him as he soared, losing himself in the wondrous sensation of flight. The wind in his face, the artificial sun at his back, the-
"Tatsumi nya~!"
-half cat, half devil girl catching up to him. He tilted his head to see Kuroka rapidly closing in on him, her bat-like wings accelerating her faster and faster. She was pouting adorably, as if he took away her favorite toy instead of sending her into a freefall from thousands of feet in the air. Upon reaching him, she grabbed his tail and proceeded to climb back up to her previous position, although this time she made sure to keep a tight grip on the ridges of his scales.
"I can't believe you dropped me nya~!" she half-whined as she lightly punched his massive shoulder.
"I can't believe you didn't expect it after the last seven times," he shot back sarcastically. "It's your fault for being so lazy and annoying."
"Hey! I am not lazy!" the nekoshou shouted indignantly, not even denying the latter comment. "I'm smart! Why fly for miles at a time and exhaust myself when I have a big, strong dragon who's perfectly willing to carry me nya~?"
Tatsumi grumbled. "Yeah, 'willing.' Keep telling yourself that Ms. It's-My-Birthday-Should-Get Whatever-I-Want."
This time she hit him hard enough to crack one of his scales. "Is that any way to talk to the birthday girl nya~?" she asked with a mixture of playfulness and anger.
He winced. "Is that any way to treat the guy taking you out for said birthday?"
"Hmm," she hummed, bringing a finger up to her chin. "I guess not. Where are we going anyway nya~?"
"That's a surprise."
The neko girl pouted again, but resigned herself to stay quiet. She'd traveled with him long enough to know he could be extremely tight-lipped when he wanted to be. After eight years, he still kept silent about his life before meeting her, or why he randomly stared off into space with a pained grimace. Sometimes he was an open book who smiled, laughed, and teased her; while others he was dark and serious, the kind boy replaced by an emotionless killing machine. This was especially apparent during the "side jobs" they'd taken over the years.
Kuroka sighted and smiled. She wouldn't want him any other way. Sure, his dark side was tarrying as hell to witness, even when she wasn't on the receiving end, but his sweet side erased all fear of the ticking time bomb that was his bloodlust. He cared for her, treated her like family, and even stepped up to defend her when her past had come calling for her.
[Flashback: 7 1/2 years ago]
It had been six months since Kuroka met the dragon boy named Tatsumi. In that time, he'd welcomed her into his home with no questions asked and proceeded to do everything in his power to make her stay as pleasant as dragonly possible. Convincing his mother to allow her into the mountain hill had been an uphill batt that included swears, flashes of claws and teeth, and the use of elemental powers that left the cat girl fearing for her safety, but he eventually swayed the dragoness' favor.
What unnerved the girl the most throughout her stay was the way both dragons looked at her. It was as if they weren't seeing the flirty, funny girl she portrayed 23/7, but something inside of her. She tried to convince herself that it was just a dragon thing, but her instincts told her they knew more than they were letting on. They could see her secrets, and she refused to let her guard down for a single second.
On a sunny summer day, she found herself walking through the woods with Tatsumi. She had to admit, teasing him was fun as they talked about nothing of particular importance. He seemed to find topics in everything around them, from the clouds, to the trees, to the random familiars that crossed their path. It was peaceful, and the girl found herself wondering if anything could ruin this beautiful day.
"Hold it right there, SS Class stray devil Kuroka!"
In a single sentence, the happiness the dark haired girl had been building up over the last few months shattered. It stopped both her and Tatsumi dead in their tracks, for different reasons obviously. She silently cursed her bad luck. It was only a matter of time before they would find her here. Not an "if," but a "when." She slowly turned around to look at the voice's source.
Before her stood twenty devils in traditional medieval armor. Helmets, chest plates, gauntlets, boots; it was all fairly generic, other than the fact that they were painted gold and glowing with red magic energy. The one who spoke was pointing a sword at her and gave off an aura that was more powerful than the others. This one was taller, stronger, and his helmet was shaped like the head of a lion.
"For your crime of killing the heir to the Honest Clan, you have been sentenced to death," the leader announced as he took a stop forward. "If you come quietly I guarantee no harm will come to your little friend."
'Bullshit!' Kuroka thought with disdain. She knew who these men were: the personal army of Lord Honest. They were rotten to the core, just like their master; more than likely planning to kill the boy just for the hell of it. If she surrendered they'd just execute him the moment she was incapacitated to see how much it would hurt her. 'Filthy scum.'
"Go to hell, Ogre," she growled at the man.
The now identified Ogre removed his helmet, revealing a scarred face with short black hair. "I thought a dumb bitch like you would understand by now that we are in hell. Unfortunately for you, this is the last you'll see of our lovely Underworld." He rested his blade on his shoulder and smirked. "Lord Honest said he wanted you alive, but he never said anything against having some fun in the process."
Kuroka shuddered as the golden army encircled her and Tatsumi, trapping them. Killing her master had been easy since he was cocky and didn't expect her to assassinate him, but twenty of the clan's strongest fighters, headed by Captain Ogre himself, would be a one-sided battle. No doubt it would end with her being captured and Tatsumi dying.
Just as she was about to make another retort to distract the overconfident devil, a different voice interrupted their conversation.
"Ogre." The single word was said with so much malice that it sent a chill down her spine. "It's been a long time."
Tatsumi stepped in front of Kuroka, shocking her. Killing intent like none she'd ever felt rolled off of him in waves. It saturated the area to the point where it was almost visible. Each golden warrior, with the exception of their captain, started shaking. Their breaths became shorted as fear gripped them. Fear of this child who looked no older than eight.
"Tatsumi?" Kuroka whispered, not believing that the boy in front of her was the same that had smiled so cheerfully just ten minutes ago.
"Ogre was the only one unaffected by the boy. "What was that, brat? Am I supposed to know you from somewhere?"
"No," the brunette shook his head, reaching for the sword on his back. "But I am quite familiar with you."
"Oh really? Sorry kid, but I don't make it a point to remember every piece of garbage I see on the street. Let me guess: you want revenge, right? Did I kill your father? No? Maybe raped a sister or cousin of yours? Man, I've done a lot of that, but none of the whores I've screwed had the same fucked up eyes as you, so that's out. Come on, throw me a bone!'
Throughout the entire rant, Tatsumi never said a sword. His fingers wrapped around the pommel of his sword, and Kuroka noticed something odd about it. The gem in the center began to glow, emitting a red light with two black slits crossed through it. It stared at her from its position on the young boy's back, as if it was trying to gaze into her soul.
"Not quite," the dragon frowned.
In a flash, Ogre's eyes widened. He barely had enough time to raise his blade in defense when the boy suddenly appeared in front of him. Demonic metal blocked draconic steel, halting the sharp edge of Tatsumi's sword before it could sever the captain's head. The boy in question was suspended in the air at eye level with his opponent, the perfect height for the mountain of the man to see the murder in his crimson orbs.
"I just never forget the face of a victim," Tatsumi whispered so only Ogre could hear, but Kuroka managed to as well.
With a growl, the dragon disappeared again. Ogre sense strong malice coming from his left and quickly reacted, once again saving himself from a fatal wound. In the deadlock, he lashed out with his leg, seeing as he needed both hands to hold of the child's monstrous strength. The blow connected and sent him flying into a tree that splintered upon impact.
"Whatever drugs you're on, kid, I suggest you stop takin' 'em," the man laughed at his perceived victory. "A runt like you could never kill someone of my skill."
Despite all logic that would argue that Tatsumi should be out like a light, and probably have sustained numerous broken bones, the former assassin had other plans. He exploded from the wreckage of bark and leaves with unparalleled speed, sword poised to cut Ogre's head off again. The man anticipated this and readied his own blade to parry, but was caught off guard when Tatsumi suddenly dropped low and slashed his stomach open through the armor.
The captain coughed up blood, but was given no respite. His smaller opponent reared his fist back and sent it straight into Ogre's face. It was the man's turn to be sent flying toward the tree line. Unfortunately for him, Tatsumi reached his destination for. With a sneer, the young dragon axe-kicked the soldier into the ground, creating a small crater from the sheer force.
He walked around the side of the captain, glaring at his downed form. "Pathetic," he growled, sending a kick into the man's ribs. "Even in this life, you're just a worthless mutt who can only attack the weak." He then turned away, making his way back to a stunned Kuroka.
Ogre, however, refused to be humiliated like this. Channeling all of his demonic power into his body, he forced it to stand. "Don't…you dare," he said between labored breaths, more than a few of his ribs broken by his caved-in breastplate. "LOOK DOWN-"
His words died as pain shot through his abdomen. He looked down, shocked to find a hand buried up to the wrist in the hole in his stomach. Crimson eyes bore into his own, holding only a single promise for the once-proud captain.
Death.
"You know, I was content to let you bleed to death this time, but you just keep flapping your gums. It's a wonder you aren't thirsty by now. No need to worry, though. I have exactly what you need." He leaned in closer to his victim and whispered two words that brought terror to Ogre's eyes.
"[Tyrant's Baptism.]"
If Kuroka hadn't been there to witness it herself, she wouldn't have believed it. Captain Ogre, the second most feared man in the Honest clan's personal army, screamed. It was a noise so saturated in agony that it drew various predatory familiars to the area, looking for a snack. Blood poured from the man's eyes, ears, mouth, and nose so fast that it dyed his armor red in seconds. His skin ruptured in random places, adding to the flow. It didn't take a genius to realize that whatever Tatsumi was doing, it was tearing the soldier apart from the inside out.
As suddenly as it began, the screaming ended. Tatsumi removed his hand from the fresh corpse of the revered Captain Ogre, allowing it to gracelessly crumple to the dirt. To everyone's shock, there wasn't a single drop of blood on the boy's skin. It was as if an unseen force had washed the red stains away. All that remained was a glistening layer of…water?
With a sudden jerk, he faced the remaining twenty soldiers, of which most were paralyzed with fear. "Those who willingly follow a man such as this scum are guilty by association," he declared, lifting his hands as their fingers dripped. "[Holy Swarm]"
The clear liquid that coated the child's arms suddenly surged, pouring off his fingertips in ten individual streams. No source could be identified, but that was the least of the golden warriors' worries. The water never reached the ground, instead separating from the small waterfalls into fist-sized levitating orbs. They increased in number from ten, to twenty, thirty, and so on until the flow ceased. One hundred floating balls of water surrounded Tatsumi, but he wasn't nearly finished.
A snap of his fingers sent ripples through each individual sphere. Every one began to morph, sprouting limbs and features that were all too familiar to the former Night Raider. Wings, claws, and fangs all formed in sync, until Tatsumi had an army of his own. A hundred clear dragons stared at the twenty devils, eager for the signal to attack. Their master was happy to oblige.
With only a mental command to spur them, the swarm rushed the terrified soldiers. Half of them seemed to regain their wits as they turned to flee, but it was useless. The first dragon to draw blood bit straight through the armor protecting its prey's shoulder like butter, tearing both the metal and a chunk of flesh off before digging in again. Its brothers followed suit, descending upon the men and women without mercy. One devil was wined by a dragon on each limb as another tore a hole in his chest. Three of the would-be escapees were taken down and viciously ripped apart. Blood coated the grass when an unlucky soldier fell victim to a suicide explosion that sent his organs flying. Bones splintered, steel cracked, muscles were shredded and dissolved in some cases, and the air was thick with the cries of the damned warriors.
Only one person was spared from the carnage. Kuroka stood in awe of the destructive force brought forth by her young companion. She watched as wounds created by the liquid constructs sizzled and broke down as if pure acid were eating away at their skin. She found the dragons themselves to be cute, but the liquid comprising them made every single devil instinct inside her scream to run away.
"Holy water," she muttered in shock.
All too soon, the decimation of the squad came to a close. The last survivor choked on his own blood as he passed away, leaving a defiled corpse behind. The scenery now looked like something out of a horror movie. Entrails hanged from branches, chunks of meat lay scattered about, and the green foliage was now dyed a dark shade of red. It took all of the Nekoshou's willpower to turn and look at her savior.
Tatsumi was staring at her with an unreadable expression as he approached. She half expected the dragon boy to lash out and murder her just as he'd done to those other devils. Cling her eyes, she waited for the icy fingers of death to claim her.
"What was his name?"
Taken by surprise, Kuroka opened her eyes again. "Huh?"
"The man you killed. Your former master," he elaborated, still stone-faced. "What was his name?"
She gulped, knowing her next words would decide her fate. "S-S-Syura Honest."
A spark of recognition crossed his eyes. "Why?"
Her reply came out as a whisper. "Shirone." Then she looked at him defiantly. "He was going to experiment on my sister! He told me he'd drug her up and put her through so much pain that she'd beg to die, all for his selfish quest for power! I couldn't let it happen! I had to kill him before…before…"
Just as she was on the brink of tears, a pair of strong arms enveloped her. Tatsumi pulled her close, allowing her to cry into his shoulder as he stroked her hair. A kind smile made itself known on his face as he spoke to her.
"I understand. Death is a concept most children shouldn't have to deal with, but you experienced the horror of taking a life. I speak from experience when I say the asshole deserved it, though it must be weighing heavily on your soul. Instead of punishment for your sins, I offer you a reward for your struggles. That is, if you will allow it?"
All she could manage was a nod.
"Then let it be known by all who threaten you: I, the Evolving Dragon Tyrant, vow to protect you from any and all harm from now until the end of time. With this draconic oath, my claws will be your weapons, my scales will be your shield, and my aura shall serve as the warmth that comforts you. With my pride as a Dragon, this I swear."
It wouldn't be until they returned to the cave that Kuroka would learn the significance of that promise, and how terrifying Tiamat could be when punishing Tatsumi for doing something she deemed "Stupid and irresponsible."
[Flashback End]
Kuroka giggled as she recalled the beating her friend received that day. Gone was the monster that slaughtered a squad of trained soldiers; in his place a terrified child dodging all manner of elemental attacks thrown by his mother. His screams that day were more than enough to cheer her up to the point of laughing at him. They'd come so far since then.
"-ka. Hey Kuroka!"
A violent shift in her surroundings jerked her out of her daze. "What Tatsumi nya~?"
"We're here," he replied as he lowered his left wing.
Indeed, they were no longer airborne, instead having landed in a cave. A cave that both knew quite well, in fact. Just ahead rested a mountain of riches that most mortals would kill for, arranged in such a way that they looked like an impromptu bed for a giant.
After making sure Kuroka had safely slid off his winging and had her footing, Tatsumi closed his eyes. He concentrated on his aura, seizing control of it as he'd done countless times before. He focused on compressing it and changing its shape. The dragon emitted a white light and started shrinking, losing many of the features that defined a dragon. Scales gave way to lightly tanned skin. Sharp claws and gangs became dexterous fingers and straight teeth. Clothing manifested to cover the new form's naked body, as did an all-too-familiar weapon.
The sixteen-year-old boy stretched his arms as he once again adjusted to his human form. His appearance was that of his previous human life with slightly more defined muscles. A plain grey shirt and black cargo pants acted as his wardrobe. He still preferred to go barefoot, adjusting the toughness of his feet to weather any terrain. It was just more comfortable. As always, the silver blade that was Incursio rested in the sheath on his back, waiting to be unleashed upon his enemies.
"Mom! We're here!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.
The clicking of heels against the stone floor announced the approach of another person. From around the side of the pile of treasures came a woman of unparalleled beauty. Long flowing blue hair that reached her waist, an amazing bust that begged to be released from her pale blue dress, and hips that seemed to sway without her even trying. Intelligent grey eyes locked onto the pair who entered her home and her lips formed a dazzling smile.
"Tatsumi! Kuroka! So glad you could drop by," she said warmly as she wrapped her arms around her son, then moved on to the nekoshou. "Before we get to the other pleasantries, happy birthday, Kuroka."
Kuroka returned her affection happily, though her face was shoved into the older woman's cleavage. Of the three present, she was the shortest standing at 5'4. Tiamat was an intimating 6'2 and Tatsumi was 5'10. The cat girl didn't exactly mind, but she always felt jealous of the dragon king's measurements in her human from, which were only emphasized every time they hugged.
"Thank you very much, Tia nya~," she replied with the necessary respect. "If I'd known we'd be visiting you today I would've worn something nicer nya~."
Tiamat shook her head. "It's your seventeenth birthday, Kuroka. Pleasing my random bouts of stuck-up regality should be saved form more formal events. Today is about you, and I hope my little treasure has been treating you like a princess."
A mischievous grin made itself known on the nekoshou's face as she hugged Tatsumi's torso. "He absolutely has! It's been a never-ending series of surprises! Breakfast in bed, a trip to Disney World in the United States, a specialized tuna salad lunch with chocolate cake for dessert, dropping me from three thousand feet in the air and leaving me behind on the way here, a heavenly back massage-"
"Wait wait wait," Tiamat halted her as a deadly chill ran down Tatsumi's spine. "What was that last one?'
"The massage? Oh, you wouldn't believe how good he is with his fingers. My muscles haven't felt this good in months nya~!" the birthday girl feigned ignorance.
"No, before that?"
"Tuna salad and chocolate cake?"
"After that."
"Dropping me at three thousand feet in the air?"
"Bingo." The dragoness leveled a frigid glare at her son. "Care to explain before I know you through a wall?"
Tatsumi gulped, knowing his explanation would decide his fate. "She wouldn't stop pestering me and asking 'are we there yet?' I got tired of it after an hour straight, so I gave her incentive to be quiet and enjoy the ride."
BAM! "I raised you better than that!" she scolded, slapping the back of his head so hard he was sent face-first into the ground. "Today in her special day to do anything she wants and you have no right to spoil her fun!"
"But-"
"No buts! Apologize!"
He glared at the giggling cat girl. "I'm so sorry I gave you your just desserts, Kuroka."
She responded by crouching beside him and patting his head. "All is forgiving nya~."
Tatsumi picked himself back up slowly, grumbling about the two women making his life more difficult. After dusting off his clothes and shooting one last dirty look at his mother, he sighed. "Now that the senseless abuse is out of the way, it's time to do what we came here for."
Hi black haired companion tilted her head curiously. "That reminds me nya~. You never did tell me why we're here nya~."
He smiled. "That's because it was a surprise. Since we're here and all of the pieces are in place, there's no use hiding it anymore."
Tiamat nodded. "Tatsumi wanted this birthday to be special, so I convinced him to bring you here so I could deliver my gifts in person instead of sending them via teleportation."
"That, and the fact that my final present for you requires her assistance," he added. "But, before we get to any of that we should rest. My back is killing me."
Kuroka pouted, but agreed nonetheless. One thing both dragons and nekomatas had in common was a healthy appreciation for naps and leisure time. It wasn't uncommon to find the teenage boy and girl lying down, sitting, or leaning on random walls between their "jobs" rather than making the full effort to sand straight for more than thirty seconds. The fact that they remained upright for this long spoke volumes to how much they respected the dragon king.
The dragoness agreed as well and led them over to her treasure stash. It may not look like it, but if you shifted the coins and gems in just the right way the golden mass could be as comfortable as any bed. It was on the far side that they found a slightly raised plateau of riches that acted perfectly as a sitting area. The three mythical creatures got themselves comfortable, with Tatsumi resting against the larger mass of the mountain, Kuroka laying on her stomach a few feet to his left, and Tiamat sitting with her dress pooling around her, completing the triangle.
'Before we begin, I must ask you Kuroka," Tiamat said to the devil cat. "What has Tatsumi told you about dragons?"
Kuroka gained a thoughtful expression. "Not much, to be honest nya~. For the most part we both just avoid topics involving our species unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Humor me."
"Alrighty nya~. From what I can remember, dragons are immune to all but the most powerful types of magic. Instead of using conventional magic, they manipulate their aura, but I'm still not quite certain what that is. He also said something about there being two ways for a dragon to be born, but that's a little fuzzy."
Tiamat nodded in approval. "Good. The less the world knows about us, the better. It isn't by coincidence that he's been tight-lipped on our kind. We've spent millennia ensuring the greater populace of all factions are unaware of our nature, to the extent that we've destroyed entire civilizations and killed powerful rulers. If you choose to accept, I'm willing to now reveal to you information that many faction leaders would sell their greedy souls for. You will be the first outsider to learn the truth of the dragons in centuries."
Sensing the change in atmosphere, Kuroka adjusted her posture and took on a more serious tone. "Why me, though? I'm just a stray devil."
"No, you are not. You are a person my son trusts with his life, and vice versa. If anyone is worthy of this information, it's you," the dragoness smiled fondly.
"Just say yes," Tatsumi interjected, drawing the devil's attention. "It's one their of your present, after all. The sooner you learn, the quicker you get to the gift."
She sighed and smiled at the mother dragon. "Okay. I accept."
"Very well," Tiamat began. "the first thing you must know is what a dragon is. Every faction and pantheon has theories of our origins, nature, and so on, but none even scratch the surface. There is a reason why our kind has so many variations, from eastern to western, some having no wings and others no front legs. The simple explanation is that dragons are forces of nature and reality given form and life. We embody the primal fundamentals that make up all of the worlds as they are.
"Two ways exist for a pure-blooded dragon to come into existence. The most obvious is the conception of an egg though the mating of two adult dragons, but another is still possible. The greatest dragons to ever walk the planes of reality, including Great Red, Ophis, Ddraig, and Albion, were birthed by the universe itself. Massive concentrations of energy, when charged with an affinity of some sort, give life to dragons of unparalleled power. But, the question still remains: where do we draw our power from?"
After a short pause, she continued. The answer is Aura. No matter the species, every living being has an aura. It is the energy that defines who you are, what you are, and what your purpose in life is. Unlike ki, which you can control with your senjustsu and youjustsu, the aura you produce cannot be touched. If you were to attempt it, your soul would lose meaning and all that would be left of you would be a lifeless husk. Dragons, on the other hand, produce so much aura that it can be used freely as a form of offense and defense. As entities of energy, lesser energies such as mundane magic are both ineffective against and inaccessible to us.
"The final lesson that is necessary for you to learn is Auric Affiliation. As I stated previously, an aura is the "who," "what," and "why" of a being. It's that "why" that determines a dragon's power. Our Auric Affiliation is our purpose in life and the force of nature an individual embodies. Be it fire, dreams, infinity, lightning, or domination, our magic reflects our very existence. There are two categories of aura in the draconic race: Elemental and Conceptual.
"Elemental Affinities are the most common and best understood. Anything form water, to earth, to ice and magma can be embodied by a dragon. These dragons live in and control their respective elements, immersing themselves in the knowledge that nobody knows their element better than them, for that is what they are. Among them, fire dragons are more numerous and play a great role and mythology. Although powerful in their own rights, elemental dragons pale in comparison to their counterparts.
"Those of us with Conceptual Affinities are normally shaped by reality itself instead of being born into families. We're fueled by incorporeal forces, molding the worlds in which we reside with our magic. I myself am the concepts of Chaos and Karma given life, and thus these concepts define my essence. The elements my aura takes on are so random that even I don't know what will come out of it, but I do know that it will never hurt an innocent. The damage my magic inflicts is proportionate to the darkness in my victim's soul. The mightiest of the conceptual dragons are Ophis the Ouroborous dragon, and Great Red the Apocalypse dragon. They represent "Infinity and Nothingness," and "Dreams and Illusions" respectively. This, my child, is the true nature of dragons."
To say that Kuroka was awed by the lecture would be a gross understatement. She was absolutely floored by the well of information she just received. To think that just moments ago she thought of them as nothing more than powerful flying lizards was embarrassing, to say the least. She turned to look at Tatsumi, her eyes wide as saucers.
"I know it's a lot to take in," he chuckled at her speechlessness. "But this is just the tip of the iceberg."
Shaking herself out of her daze, she asked the one question that was most obvious at the time. "What do you mean?"
"Well, the one thing Mom intentionally left out of her history lesson was that there is a third way to create a dragon," he grinned. "Thousands of years ago, the first dragons discovered way to bring other species into their family, or Flight. Through a sacred ritual, creatures of many races were reborn as dragons, albeit not completely. They maintained traits of their original clans, but became immensely powerful as full-fledged dragons."
"Wait a minute. This sounds exactly like…" Kuroka trailed off.
"Yes, the devils' system of reincarnation. Where do you think they got the idea?" Tiamat question irritably. "After killing off most of our kind alongside the other Christian factions for refusing to take sides in their war, they copied our rituals and defiled them. With their chess pieces, rating games, and blatant enslavement of other races to increase their military might, I'm impressed the other pantheons haven't eradicated them yet."
The brunette nodded in agreement. "No kidding. Their nobility is undoubtedly corrupted, with very few exceptions. I swear, if another devil tries to force me into his peerage, I won't stop at killing him and his family."
Kuroka let out a giggle. "Oh, that brings back so many good memories."
"Back on topic," Tatsumi stated, making eye contact with the nekoshou. "The point of all of this is that I want to make you an offer, Kuroka. After all these years, I've finally found a safe way to remove the evil pieces from your soul, freeing you from being a stray devil. As you've probably guessed, tearing out a piece of your soul would almost definitely kill you. But, if I were to turn you into a dragon…"
"…the missing fragment could be replaced," she finished for him.
"It's all up to you. You'd still have your nekoshou blood, senjustsu, and youjustsu, and it wouldn't take away your free will. This is just my gift to you for being by my side all these years. If anyone deserves a spot in my Flight, it's you."
She had, once again, been rendered speechless by the dragons. She'd given up on finding a way to rid herself of her devil half so long ago that it hadn't even crossed her mind in years. I was a fruitless dream that ended in death for all who made the attempt, after all. Now, though, her closest friend was not only offering her a way out, but also the chance to be so much more than just a devil. With the strength and power of a dragon, she'd finally be able to protect her precious little Shirone from the bastards that took her own free will.
Her answer was obvious as she sprang at Tatsumi, capturing him in a bone crushing hug and burying her face in his shirt. "Yes! All of the yes in the world! I'll do anything! Please save me!"
This was one of the few times Kuroka shoed any sort of weakness. The silver dragon boy smiled warmly, petting the girl's head as she broke down into sobs. Sometimes it was hard for him to remember that beneath all of the flirting and mischief, she was still just a girl who'd been forced to grow up too soon. If you chipped away the layers she surrounded herself with, all that remained was a frightened child begging for help.
He glanced at the dragon king who looked at them with affection. "You heard her. Is there anywhere specific we need to do this?"
"Here is fine," she replied. "Just lay her down and we can start."
After a bit of coaxing, the brunette was able to get his best friend to release her iron grip. The pleading in her eyes hadn't faded, but was now accompanied by hope. He carefully lowered her onto the bed of gold and silver. Coins clinked and shifted as she folded her arms over her stomach and straightened her legs. Her eyes never left Tatsumi.
"I'm warning you now, Kuroka, that the first step will be incredibly painful. Are you sure you want to do this?"
She nodded.
"Before you begin, Tatsumi," Tiamat said, setting her hand on the cat girl. "I need to be sure you know the stakes. Once you remove the [Evil Pieces], I will only be able to give you a small window to complete the ritual. Sixty second is the longest I can stabilize her soul before it becomes lost. Do you remember the steps?"
"Of course. I've been repeating them in my head for days. Now, let's get this over with while we're still young."
Phase one was going to be the most difficult to accomplish. In his quest to understand the nature of the [Evil Pieces] developed by Ajuka Beelzebub, the dragon found only one way to extract them. The magical artifacts were only responsive to desire, as were all devil in existence; be it the desire of their [King] to control his or her peerage, or that of the devil they inhabited to get stronger, they were only swayed by selfishness, greed, and ambition. If he wanted to get rid of them, he first needed to subjugate them.
He began by placing both hands on her, his left on her forehead and his right on her chest over her heart. Considering how serious the situation was, Kuroka avoided teasing him for copping a feel of her large breasts without a hint of embarrassment. He needed access points of spiritual importance to get to her soul. Namely, the heart and mind. With a swift clench of his digits, all ten of his nails dug into her skin, eliciting a small yelp. It would only get worse from here.
Concentrating his aura into his fingertips, Tatsumi gradually let it seep through into her body. This was the least damaging way to locate her soul. Luckily, she subconsciously allowed it, minimizing the short-term agony of having her body invaded. Finding the soul was easy. Locating the foreign objects that honestly should've stood out the most, not so much. You'd think finding two chess pieces the size of an finger would be simple when the object they were imbedded in had no physical density. It took seven and a half minutes for the brunette to find the [Bishops] deep within her.
Now came the hardest part. Retracting most of his aura and shaping what was left into a hair-thin thread, he cautiously wrapped it around the [Evil Pieces]. Once they'd been fully coated, he exerted his will onto them. He forced every ounce of desire he had into the artifacts, from his deep ambition to become the apex predator of this reality to the selfish need for Kuroka to remain by his side. The sheer eight of his will was more than enough to take control of the [Evil Pieces]. The instant he was sure he had control, he violently pulled.
Kuroka let loose a scream as every atom in her body writhed. It felt as though her organs were ripped out and her soul was tearing itself apart. Even her mastery of ki couldn't save her from the intense agony. If her mind hadn't been fogged by the unimaginable torture, she would've noticed Tatsumi drawing his hands back, two chess pieces dripping with blood resting in his palms.
"Hurry up!" Tiamat exclaimed as she immobilized the shrieking girl. "I can't hold her forever."
Nodding, Tatsumi tossed the useless relics to the side and focused on his back. A pair of silver wings slipped through the slits in the back of his shirt. Though not as large as they were in his full dragon form, they spanned an impressive eight feet from tip to tip. He curled the left one in, quickly grabbing a loose scale before returning the wing to its original position. He set the sliver scale in the center of her collar bone and allowed his aura to coat it as he held it in place.
The final step was the "contract." Every dragon had a different speech for the reincarnation of a new flight member, as the words came from the heart. Just as Tiamat had said, his own words flowed naturally as he completed the ritual.
"Lost child of the Realm of Man, hear my call! I, Tyrant the Evolving Dragon, welcome you with open arms into my Flight. By my scales, you shall be reborn. Become my kin, so we may protect each other's treasures and slay each other's foes. I give you wings so you may know true freedom, claws so you may fight battles to the bitter end, and the gift of Aura so you may see your true purpose in life. I return, I only ask you help me achieve mine. Rise Kuroka, victim of misfortune, and adorn the mantle of the dragon you were born to be!"
Light enveloped the now-silent nekoshou, making it impossible for either dragon to see her transformation. All Tatsumi knew was the rough scale was no longer separating his palm from her skin. A gasp could be heard from Kuroka as a burst of energy filled the cave. When the light finally dimmed, Tiamat and her son gazed upon the results of the ritual.
At first glance, not much seemed to have changed. She still had the furry ears and tail, her kimono was in perfect shape, and her hair was only slightly messy. If one were to look closer, though, they'd see patches of purple scales spread randomly across her pale skin. Her eyes were still a golden amber, but now the pupils were crossed slits just like Tatsumi's. A similarly shaped symbol could be found where the scale entered her body, etched into her skin in silver. This was his mark, claiming her as part of his Flight.
It wasn't long before the newly reincarnated dragon passed out. The strain of having her soul ripped apart and put back together had taken its toll and exhausted her, both physically and mentally. In her last moments of consciousness, she reached out and grabbed her best friend's hand, her eyes conveying all the thanks she couldn't say.
"Interesting," Tiamat mumbled, drawing Tatsumi's attention.
"What?"
"Well, seeing as this was your first ritual, I thought it best to take a glimpse at her aura to make sure nothing went wrong. In all honesty, I'm amazed."
"Why? Did I screw up?" he inquired worriedly.
"No, nothing like that. It's just, in all my years I've never seen a reincarnated dragon like her. Plenty of natural-born ones, sure, but never a new blood. Unless my aura reading skills have gotten rusty in my old age, I can say with confidence that our dear Kuroka has become a Guardian Dragon."
"No way," he whispered, looking back at the sleeping girl in shock. Guardian Dragons were some of the most powerful dragons in existence, just below the five Dragon Kings. Their Auric Affiliation was the concept of "Protection," Giving them a whole arsenal of uses for their aura. It could conceivably take on any elemental property, conjure weapons, and create the strongest barriers in existence. With enough training, a single Guardian Dragon could bring an entire pantheon to its knees.
The dragon king rose to her full height and smiled warmly. "Don't forget, it's your responsibility to help her get accustomed to her new identity. Train her well, for the road ahead of you will be rough."
"I promise I will, Mom," he replied softly.
A clap of her hands caused him to turn his full attention to her. "Now that that's out of the way, it's time for me to reveal my own surprise!"
"But she's asleep," the brunette said, confused.
"You can tell her when she wakes up," she waved off his concern. "This is as much a gift to you as it is to her, after all. You see, I know you two are independent and travel purely for the sake of freedom, but I can't help but worry that you're missing out on valuable experience when it comes to socializing."
"Hey!" he shouted. "I socialize plenty!'
"Running your sword through a guilty person's throat while wishing them eternal torment in the next life does not count as socialization."
"Touché."
"So, I decided to give you and Kuroka the opportunity to be normal teenagers. With this, you can make friends, try out new things, and get an education other than the life lessons you've learned so far."
Dread gripped Tatsumi's heart as his eyes filled with horror. "No…please tell me you didn't-"
"Yep! I signed you up for high school!"
[Line Break]
A/N
9913 words without the A/N.
I don't know why, but Kuroka just seemed the perfect companion to snap Tatsumi out of his slumps when he remembers the war.
PM me if you have any spelling errors you'd like to see me correct. GAMBLER OUT!
