Chapter 8: When Day Turns to Night
Finding a good clothing store wasn't too difficult once I asked around. Some of the residents of this city stammered and struggled with talking to me in English and I just let them attempt and stumble in my own form of "sick satisfaction in seeing the little people struggle," or so I heard from one of those little people. It go to the point that Mutsu had to step in and ask for me in fluent Japanese of this time. I learned quickly that my version of Japanese is severely bastardized at best because of the many sources it happens to stem from. On top of that I don't fit in compared to where I originated from. I'm a stranger in these lands and it's not difficult to see. I came the realization that the people I've spoken to already are 'intelligent' and so can translate what I say. It brings me back of when Natsuo remarked on my multiple dialects. I need to find a teacher or maybe a scholar so I may "borrow" the appropriate version of this language so I can speak to the 'common' men and women in this city.
When Mutsu spoke to them they began to relax a bit more. They even pointed him in the right direction. One man decided to insult me for my ignorance of the Japanese language until I replied in what Japanese I knew as fluently as I could if he decided to speak ill of me again he'd best be ready to defend his opinion. The man quickly bowed with a series of apologies then walked away sweating a couple buckets and not just because of me. The man insulting me earned a death stare from Mutsu which was a bit impressive. Even more so than the look I can give if it made me reach for the blade on my back.
I've forgo Love and Hate for now since I couldn't eat that the table with them, and I didn't bother with collecting them before I left. I don't feel I'll need to be willingly armed today. I'm just going out to get some clothes and destroy the set I have on now. My coat will stay though. I went through too much, killed too many, and sacrificed more than I could afford at the time to get this. It can restore itself and has deep pockets, it can hide me away from view with obscure distortion, and it's worth a King's ransom. I never leave a safe space without it.
After getting proper clothes for myself out of the way I can travel west and meet up with Karasuba. I can tell her my answer and pray to a god she decides to follow my lead without resulting to violence. I'm really not in the mood for that today. I'm not fully certain whether or not she'll try to kill me once I confess but I'm willing to take anything she's willing to give me. I made the decision to wing another sekirei despite having a woman like Karasuba as my bond mate and I must accept responsibility for my actions. I blame the effect Uzume has had on me for this. I don't wish to conflict with anything today but I know that's an impossibility.
Note for the Codex (once I obtain one): Sekirei can distort your disposition implementing their own temperament upon you during times of fragility.
"Are you sure here, Mutsu?"
The clothing shop that he took me too was a bit out of the way. It's not a store that anyone he talked to told him to try, and we past many of the ones those people pointed out too. This one happened to be in an alleyway without signs or posters indicating that there's anything back here. It wasn't until we reach the shop that I could see inside to ensure this was in fact a clothing shop. I could see racks of trousers or jeans and blouses and shirts hung up inside. It was decent and clean but still nothing major like many of the big named stores we pass by to get here.
"Yes. The woman inside will help you."
"Hm," I hummed before sparing the man a glance. He knows the woman within it seems. "You have an attraction towards this woman?" Mutsu just looked at me. "Don't try to lie either, because you know we can't lie to each other." The bond between us is the strongest that I have so far. Why? I can't even begin guess but it is. Karasuba's tether to me is quite transparent. Uzume's is a bit more… compact than that symbolizing just how weak my bond to them actually is. Mutsu's bond with me is solid compared to theirs and I feel this is right. A connection between two men like us is too difficult to figure out. We are kindred spirits and more alike than either of us will admit.
I felt something through the bond I let slip through and it's apprehension. I narrowed my eyes at the man when I saw a lie swimming in his. He sighed and nodded then said, "She took me in for a time." And before I came into play. He was attracted to this women and then he felt me and we linked together. I'm curious now. I want to meet this woman that drew him in. Mustu continued once and said, "I stayed with her before I felt my first."
"Your first?" I questioned.
Mutsu still persists to give me more questions than I have answers. While this irritates me this forces me to figure it out on my own and might instill a sense of accomplishment once I piece it all together. He left this woman's shop to search for his first. Oddly enough I feel that his "first" isn't me so that make me wonder what or who his "first" really is. Maybe I'm overthinking this but I still placed this question in the back of my mind for now. Currently, it's not relevant to this case so I continued on with the previous topic.
"If you wish to continue your relationships before you met me you can. I'm not here to collar you."
He felt honestly grateful for my words and bowed his head respectfully towards me. "Thank you."
"Anything," I replied and earned a smile from him from it.
Mutsu waved his hand towards the door before opening it for me to enter. And so I did. I walked into the store with high expectations since it's Mutsu who recommends it. I hope this isn't a waste of my time. The inside carried the scent of shame and disappointment, but I couldn't guess why. In the very back behind a counter I noticed a woman with shoulder length black hair cut into a bob, black makeup around her eyes, and purple lipstick on her lips. I noticed a black spiked choker around her neck as well as chain spike bracelets around her wrists. If what I'm witnessing and what I've read means anything she's dressed in that punk girl style that Himeko was in. If the persona that Himeko equipped means anything then that also means this woman is the sort that takes pleasure out of taking advantage of foolish men with strange tastes. She uses a stoic, nearly cynical, set of expressions and a dull tone to either push you away or make you snake fascinated.
After getting a more spiritual look at this woman I've become curious about this woman who caught Mutsu's attention. Even though she dresses in black, with many unnecessary accessories, what I feel from her isn't necessarily dark or demented. It's quite neutral if that's possible. Humans are not neutral. They are good or evil. This is one of the world's absolutes and nothing can break this. There is no grey area. And yet this woman is grey. Not even Mutsu or myself are grey and she is.
The woman looked up from her leaned over position with her chin resting on her hand with her elbow resting on top of the counter when she noticed me. "Ah, a customer," she said dryly before leaning up and acting just like I've read in the maanga thing. "How may I help you Mr. Assassin's Creed Revelations." She insulted me I believe. I think this because I know that twinkle in her eye anywhere. Her expression has remained stoic but those eyes don't lie. I'm beginning to see what Mutsu saw in this woman and found myself finding her presence tolerable despite the fact she just insulted me in the few words I've heard before our introduction. That's not good manners.
This Assassin's Creed thing she brought up has me confused as well. What was this because I'm sure this isn't the first time I've heard it mentioned? What is Assassin's Creed and why is it brought up like this? It sounds like a bad English play since assassins do not have a creed. I would know being one. What we do have are standards in place of faulty emotions that force us to make mistakes. Maybe it has something to do with my appearance since I deceptively guise myself like an 18th century assassin, or sometime during that period.
Instead of wallowing in silence I responded, "I need clothes to help me blend in with modern society. Can you help me ma'am?"
"Please don't call me ma'am. My name is Shion sir."
"Please don't call me sir. You may call me Jäger."
"Hunter in German huh? You see yourself as superhuman predator so something?"
"Death in Japanese huh? Do you see the coming irony within your own name?"
The woman named Shion smiled but it wasn't a bright and fair one. It felt almost evil and sinister in intent even though I still didn't feel any change in her alignment. Her aura is still grey and incredibly well balanced. She's amused that much I can see but not much else. She leaned up from her position until her elbow left the countertop. A small smirk blessed her lips and her eyes pieced through the shadow of my hood into my eyes. I like her eyes. It's almost as is she's void touched if that's possible. Then again it would explain her current alignment. I reached for my hood and pulled it off and met her own blacked eyes with my darkened brown ones for a clearer look. I like this woman and look forward to our coming business.
"So if I may "call' you Jäger then that means that what you told me happens to Not be your name huh," she deduced so easily. It's not like that I'm hiding such information. Any name associated with me will die with me. Someone's also a clever little fox or maybe a shrewd opportunist. Not many people would ask me personal questions like that unless they wanted to be placed higher on my list everyone is on. A woman like this I would definitely avoid outside of professional necessity.
"It makes me a bit curious of what your real name is…"
"Curiosity kills more than cats Shion," I said in an empty tone but not threatening in any way. I was simply stating a fact. I specifically remember one little girl that tried to question me without knowing her place and paid for it and luckily not with her life.
The woman stared at me critically. It seems my response made her defensive and reluctant to divulge any further. That's good, I don't have the time or the desire to indulge her curiosity. Playing a game of words with me can be harrowing for my opposition. The most predominant reason I haven't resulted to my typical means during business is the fact that Mutsu appears to have a relationship with this woman seeing that he believes she will help me. While I don't disapprove it doesn't give her headway to question me. Her insinuation as well don't amuse me.
"I see," she muttered before placing her fist over her lips and clearing her throat. "Help you blend in huh? I can help you with that Hunter." The woman turned around to step off but not before stopping to give me a sideways glance. "I pity whomever in this city is your prey, Hunter." She said before walking around the counter to walk up to me with her already crossed over her chest.
That's an interesting note to go off on I have to admit. She will pity my prey? I suppose someone has too though I don't see the reason why she'd waste the energy. It will end up dead anyway. She's translated my name and sized up just how much of a threat I am on top of this. She knows to hold back on questions now and that I care little for her life outside of what Mutsu would want.
This woman is interesting.
Now that I can see her from top to bottom the woman stands close to my height, stopping at my eyes, but that's only because of a set of black footwear that pushed her heels up five or so inches. That places her at five feet and four inches I believe while I stand eight above her. The entire time her eyes focused on mine and I gazed equally into hers. I can see how Mutsu grew to like this woman.
"What do you hunt other than people that ask too many questions," she asked in a condescending tone.
"Humans who decided that being condescending towards an unknown stranger is smart," I responded the same way asked me her previous question.
The woman bite her lip and turned towards me with a heated glare. One that I can understand for I did indirectly threaten her twice within her own establishment but not without reason. I decided to disregard her gaze and continue with my response. "I also hunt monsters wearing the face of men and men wearing the face of monsters," I said firmly as if I've rehearsed this line a thousand times. Monsters come in all shapes and sizes and they aren't always inhuman. Most monsters I've hunted are human and capable of feats that put monsters to shame. I suppose it all depends.
"That's an interesting set of answers," the woman chortled a bit before turning back away from me. "But can you blame someone so shrouded in mystery to raise questions." I shook my head but left it at that. The woman noticed this and sighed, "What can I do for you?"
"A decent amount of favors I'm sure," I said before letting my arms fall back down to my sides from my chest and faced her seriously. "I need to blend in with modern society. Can you help me?"
"That depends on how you found my small town establishment in the first place." I pointed behind me towards the man standing in my shadow out of view. The woman leaned to the right to see and her eyes widened a bit. "Mutsu?" She said before leaning back up and walking around me so have a clear view of him.
"Good afternoon Shion," Mutsu greeted to the woman with a respectful bow of his head and she rolled her eyes. She looked back at me for a moment then to Mutsu who nodded as if confirming something said between the both of them.
"You're the one he needed to find?" she asked me.
"I suppose so. Mutsu has told me that you can help me and I'd appreciate it. I can pay without problem as well as any debt that Mutsu allotted during his time with you."
Shion rose an eyebrow and crossed her arms again. "Really? You'll pay for the food he ate, clothes he ruined, damages from that cooking fire he caused, and my car he totaled?"
I looked back to Mutsu and he refused to return the gesture. Is he really so clumsy with "normal" activities outside of fighting, sleeping, and loitering that he caused this woman that much trouble to that extent? I can believe it because I'd probably end up doing the same except with the cooking fire or the clothing. I'd do much worse like attract a gang or debt collectors that will burn this place to the ground or lure a troll in here. There would be nothing left that's for sure.
I shook my head and looked back towards the woman and nodded. "I can, yes. Mutsu is my responsibility and any grievances that has befallen upon you are also mine. Tell me how much you are owed and I'll pay for anything he and I owe you and hope to continue a healthy professional business relationship in the near future." This led me to one important bit of information that Takami told me before I left the tower. She told me that all sekirei have this thing called a "Black Card" with near unlimited funds. She even offered one to me but I turned it down but Mutsu should have one. Either he doesn't have one or maybe he refuses to use it. This is something I'll have to question him on later.
"Nice words but sadly that's all they are. I would like to see results," she sighed. "Though I won't say no to more business."
I reached into my coat pocket for that stack of paperbacks Karasuba slipped into my coat and held it in front of the woman. She reached without hesitation and picked it out of my hands and rolled through it. It's a decently sized stack so I hope this is good enough to appease her. If not I have more than where that comes from.
"This is about half of what I'm owed."
Now I'm truly astonished. That stack is over 150,000 yen! What did Mutsu do?
I turned back around and he couldn't look away this time because I gripped his shoulder and turned him back towards me. He's not hiding from this and I have to know where he falls short anyway. I can't have him breaking other people's effects and not paying for them. I knew I should have noticed this when I was forced to open doors for him as well as keep him from destroying the door in the hotel where I acquired my Angel. I had a feeling something was amiss but thought little of it. I've half a mind to sell him to her until he pays back his debt if not for the fact I need him with me to guide me through the city and offer further insight on the sekirei.
Mutsu finally looked into my eyes and I saw a bit of shame and mortification within them. "I'm... unsound at menial tasks," he said guiltily which I can accept. If you have a problem or issue you face it not run away to you ashikabi. That's something I'd expect Uzume to do over him. I pat the man on the shoulder and allowed a smile to curse my lips. Though fake it's meant to show he has some support from me in hope that he improves.
"I'll pay the rest," I declared and let my hand fall and faced the woman once more. "For now, can you help me?"
"I can, yes. I'll just add the clothes your partner ruined to the bill." With that she turned her head and gestured for me to follow. The woman took the aged old disaster that was my clothes and dressed me in some more modern day clothes. She gave me dark blue jeans. I believe she called them denim or something like that. She snagged my boots and tossed them away as well. I was about to protest until she out a pair of black boots in front of my face. The laces are dark brown and fit so well on my feet I thought I was walking on pillows. The woman, Shion, has a bit of everything and it showed. She gave me a black leather belt as well as a black and white horizontally striped shirt with a white undershirt. The clothes are loose fitted at places but tight at other places. I could move without much restriction so these could do for now. She wished for me to wear accessories like a gold necklace or dog tags, but I rejected this. Unnecessary gear is redundant.
I put my arms through my coat sleeves and buttoned it closed. I pat down my coat and faced the woman. "How much do I owe you?" The woman pushed a pad in front of me with numbers written on top of it but the pad was strange. It has buttons and the numbers don't look as if human hands written them. She pushed a few and the number appeared. Fascinating, it's like one of this mechanical calculator machines I've seen tax collectors use in the past. Before I could get to caught up into this thing Shion is using I reached into my pocket and pulled out the exact amount she wanted in paper back and handed it to her. I have a fair amount of cash on me thanks to Uzume. She said if I can pay with cash do so instead of my card thing I still don't know how to use.
Shion held a shine within her eyes and quickly counted it before nodding in approval. "You're a strange one, Hunter."
"Strange times bore strange people, Shion."
I felt that our interactions ended there and it showed when the woman bowed to me. I bowed as low as this grey being and turned to walk out. I like that woman. She doesn't waste time and isn't afraid to state her wishes or speak her mind. While dangerous I can appreciate that. Mutsu said his parting words and followed behind me out the store back into the city streets. I rose my hood up and walked through the crowd with a large building in the center of the city as my aim.
As we drew closer I began feel her and able to seek her out with ease now. Karasuba can sense me as well I'm sure and what I felt though the bond made my spine shiver. I doubt once I tell her the truth she'd still be this eager to see my face yet again. Mutsu is nervous and hesitant to meet her but might as well get this out of the way before anything conflicting can arise.
"You like that woman Mutsu," I worded bluntly.
"I don't mind her," he answered which was a yes if I've ever heard one. "Ashikabi-sama, if I may ask, why do you wish to tell me about yourself and not Uzume? Isn't this something the both of us should know and understand?" I'm not sure what "this" is or whatever he's talking about but I have an idea. I find the fact he's avoiding the Shion topic droll on top of this.
"It's because the less your sister Sekirei knows about me the better. I've taken note that because of any change or extreme interactions between myself and Uzume she actually began to "touch" my soul and an innocent good individual like her is better left in the darkness of ignorance than touched by mine."
"But I'm fine to be inflicted by this darkness you speak of?" He asked unsure on how to feel about my admission.
"Mutsu, I need you for you, not to make me comfortable. You're not with me so you can whisper gentle words in my ear like your sister seems to enjoy doing. I need you because you're not innocent like your sister. I need you because you have slain hundreds and accepted the fact that you have. I need you to be my partner, the left to my right, so any and all secrets that I hold you will be one of the first to find out about it them, because I trust you more than anyone else in the entire world. Even more than your sister who is hurt from a simple "no" to sleep with her."
Mutsu nearly tripped but caught himself quickly. "I-I see," he coughed and cleared his throat. "I appreciate this Otieno-sama."
I shook my head at the man. "You shouldn't be because once I tell you everything you will be urged to either run away or end my life," that is if he was a Jäger. I'd end me if I met myself outside this body or someone like me. "But for now I'll leave the history lesson for tonight when I begin exploring. For now I need to give Karasuba my answer."
"I'm still unsure on why," Mutsu said and sent his confusion my way through the bond.
"Karasuba is my first Sekirei and you my second. Despite this being linked to me what I found out from her and her sister sekirei had me leaning towards annulling your race. I decided not to and bare witness to your kind and the affects you have on humans like me and normal ones. I will be acquiring a test subject and begin comparing them to myself and other ashikabi as soon as I find a good subject to begin my experiment. As time goes by I will be studying your race closely. I find your race to be fascinating and interesting." Nearing God like with the potential I see within them. Mutsu with the power of a demon behind it could possibly crack a country down the center. That's a demon and not a god. A god would be much worse.
"But why Karasuba?"
"She's compatible with a side of me like you are which most can't see outside of when I equip that mask. Because of this and my own curiosity I let instinct take over. It wasn't until I felt her on a much… higher… level that began to understand how lost she is." Then again I'm quite lost as well. A different time. A different era. So many wonders are around me and yet so many old prey still linger. I'm not sure what to do here other than my own investigation or preparing for the next apocalypse to come.
"You think you can help her find her way," he stated and I couldn't dismiss his words at all. It's true. While I was an assassin for a time I was also anointed as a punisher of all things evil and heretical. I used to be a savor of those who lost their way. Becoming a cleric of the holy church did have an effect on me when it came to purifying a spirit. It developed a sense of humility and justice within me and this sense of Justice crossed over to Karasuba. Kazehana is lost as well but she has a torch and a map. Karasuba is stuck in a dark pit wallowing in self-loathing and disgust for her surroundings whilst in excruciating silence and darkness. I want to save her from herself and while I may fail I have to try. The code demands it.
"If I can't then I die and she dies with me," I declared. This is what will happen I'm sure of it for I've seen it. If I can't save her then I will die, Mutsu will die, Uzume will die, and many others along with her in my vision from last night when I slept. I can remember it vividly with her and me striking each other down as the last ones standing. Everyone else were dead. We finished it in a field with the bodies of my sekirei surrounding me. I recognized Uzume and Mutsu but the few others were shadowed over figures. Regardless of how indefinite this future is I don't wish to accept this fate. I didn't survive the shadowlands for so long just to die because of some inhuman females and their life bonds. I'm going to save her and I feel that Uzume and Mutsu will play a part in this, and maybe more if I fall back on what Kazenhana told me. If feel that I can't I might have to kill her but will I is the question.
"If you die we die with you. You understand this correct?" How could I not? It was explained to me that a sekirei whose ashikabi ceases to breath will fall into a coma and die in time thus following their life mate into the beyond but I'm not worried. I've seen it on top of this. I'm not going to die any time soon until I gain as many as I saw in that vision. I'm not sure what the number is neither do I care but I do know that I have time. That's what I thing is most important.
"For now don't worry about that. Once I meet up with her then we can continue." I glanced back to my second. "There's no need to be nervous."
"I'm not nervous," he denied but I know a falsehood when I hear one. He's good but not good enough. On top of that I can see his aura and it's the color of a man unsure of his station. Why he feels the need to lie to me I'm not sure but it's on him whether or not he wishes to discuss it. Mutsu must have noticed my glance and it bothered him enough to sigh and uncrossed his arms. "I have history with Karasuba," he admitted.
"What sort of history?" I questioned.
"After our leader walked away a successor had to be chosen to lead the charge against our remaining enemy." Enemy? I know that the discipline squad is meant to enforce the rules and regulations of the Sekirei game but that's the current generation now that I think of it. There's the other generations that came before it as well that I know close to nothing about other than one crucial detail; Karasuba wasn't the leader for either one and that woman is very keen on imposing her will upon others. That means she wasn't leader for a set number of times which really emboldened her inferiority complex I'm sure. Mutsu somehow fits into this.
"I'm going to assume once your first leader walked away, as you said, the mantle for leader was bestowed to you," I deduced. "Karasuba probably didn't like that and that led to tension among ranks."
Mutsu nodded. "For the most part that's how it went." And that's why Kazehana called him general for some reason. So it's true that even though Mutsu is ranked as number five his prowess places him above the other three; two of which are exceptionally powerful in their own right. I can't imagine Mutsu as the frontal lines sort though. The vibe I get from him is an even mixture between a Samurai and a shinobi. What exactly was he in charge of when he was leader?
"I was only the "General" for a couple weeks though to fight our new enemy." Such a short time. I waited for a Mutsu to continue but he said nothing to follow on which was fine. I heard more than enough for one session to get a clearer picture of both my sekirei to understand them better. Mutsu specializes in something. Some ability that allowed him to hold the mantle of Leader of the Discipline Squad but only for a short time. During that short time he played his part and then he left.
"Did Minaka want more from you that you weren't willing to pay?" I asked.
"Yes," he answered immediately to my question. This time he was telling the truth. This left a few questions but I feel they are for a later time.
"If Karasuba tries anything, like exciting a fight, I'll handle her." I'm the only one in this city that probably can and I really don't think this is a good thing. Is it a blessing or a curse that the devil desires only your soul out of millions? One for the many. The role of any Jäger. I wonder now are there anymore in this world to stop them? I could create more, I have the means to, but who would subjugate themselves to my fate?
I shook my head of these thoughts and continued on. We arrived at the building just as I cleared my mind and walked up the stairs. I heard the lack of that click from Mutsu's footwear and looked back. He didn't even climb the first step. His eyes asking me if I'm sure about this so I beckoned him on. "It will be fine," I reassured the man. Mutsu took a breath and started up the stairs.
As well entered the building I saw the man at the front desk and he saw me. "Ah, sir?" He called and rose his hand to wave me down. "I'm sorry but are you here for…"
I faced him and walked up to the desk. The man quickly shut his mouth when I placed my hands on the countertop and tilted my head a bit. The man stared at me as I swayed my body left and right, never breaking eye contact with him. "You. Saw. Nothing," I commanded as I pushed a sip of Od through my hands into the air. "You. Saw. Noone." I spoke these words though not in Japanese. I spoke in a language I'm sure neither one of the men in this lobby could understand. "Do you understand me?" I looked into his eyes and noticed them widen before going blank. I stopped my snake fascinated swaying and leaned forward.
"I-I s-saw… nothing," the man whispers serenely in his language as he fell into his own little world.
I pushed off the counter and walked away to the elevator ignoring the looks I received from Mutsu. I pushed the button for Karasuba's floor and crossed my arms as we rose up floor by floor. I was forced to use spirit sight to find her in her room and count the floors up because I don't remember the buttons she pushed. I'm surprised she's living here right now with Natsuo still. I don't mind because I know he won't try anything but still it's a bit strange. I know in the maanga I read that women that have a man don't appreciate when another woman is living with them. It makes them competitive and one the off chance, severely violent. The same goes for men who have women that live with other men. It spells trouble in the end. I don't believe that this knowledge is lost on her and yet she persists. Why do I express concern anyway? What a mystery.
"How did you that?" He suddenly asked in the midst of me listening to the chimes this room elevator thing was playing. It's strange but oddly catchy.
"I hypnotized him," I said simply but earned a stare from him. I would have assumed it was obvious but still I could feel it on the back of my neck. I guess I can't just use a simple answer to pacify him. A demonstration it is.
"It's more seamless on men with weak willpower." I took a breath and forced out my Od and took contact with Mutsu's. The man tensed and grunted as if stuck in the stomach but recovered and took his original spot once more though with a pressured expression on his face. "Men or women with stronger will can fight against influence like this one but with a level of stress on their bodies depending on how much of my soul I impose upon you. I don't normally do this or impart suggestions in the minds of normal humans but I didn't want him tipping off Karasuba."
I took another breath and Mutsu sighed as well as the pressure ceased. To be honest I'm a bit surprise he stood up to pressure of that magnitude from me. Most B-class monsters would nearly drop on all fours if I did that to them. That just goes to show that Sekirei truly are superior beings if Mutsu could stand up to my soul without backing down. Mutsu can kill me same with Karasuba. Uzume could kill me as well with how close she's getting whether I wish it or not. If you can stand up to my Od then you have a higher chance than most.
"Any more questions Mutsu?"
"You must be human to be capable of being an ashikabi and you have abilities outside that of a normal human. How is that possible if you're not a legacy?" There he goes again with the Legacy bit again. The only legacy that I know about is the sort that I am. I'm human but altered to better suit the hunt because of the bloodline I stem from. One of which that's better left unsaid and unknown by humans. Mutsu was truly lucky yesterday when he wore that expression full of confusion. I might have killed him if not.
"Who knows? If I'm a legacy then it bears no weight on who I am and was brought up to do."
"It does though," Mutsu spoke out instead of his usual mumbles and whispers. "That would explain why you can…"
The door to the elevator opened and we reached our floor. Mutsu paused as I stepped out and waved for him to follow. "It doesn't matter Mutsu." It did before but it doesn't now. I played my role and escaped my prison and finally free. The gods above have no weight in my choices for they are now my own.
"…Project your tama…Willpower with such vigor," Mutsu continued on despite my words from before. "As for it not mattering, do you truly believe that, if you don't mind humoring my inquisitiveness?"
"I don't mind, and no," I exhaled out. "It matters for as long as I exist in this world. Until the day my body and soul fade into the blackness it will matter."
"The blackness?"
"The void. The abyss. The shadow lands. It has many names but until I can enter and never return it will always matter."
"You sound as if you wish to die," he pointed out. "I'd prefer if you didn't if only for the health of me and any brother or sister you might wing on top of us."
I scoffed and shook my head. "What makes you assume I'll acquire anymore?"
"You will," I felt something on my shoulder. I glanced back and noticed Mutsu's sword hand on my shoulder. It slid down my back and stopped right over my heart which happened to be on the right side today. I rose my hand and touched my heart over my own chest and took a breath. "You attracted Karasuba enough that she choose not to kill you. You drew in Uzume even before you met me. We are exceptionally powerful sekirei drawn to you despite having reacted to earlier ashikabi. It speaks volumes of your power, and the power you have yet to unlock."
I shrugged his hand off and shook my head. "You don't understand what you're talking about. I have no other power waiting to be revealed…" I closed my eyes and saw Her face. That sinister smile and lustful but savage stare. I saw Her face and so many more. I don't have anymore "power" I can unlock.
On another note, it's interesting that Mutsu just contradicted Kazehana by saying "power" is what drew them in to me and away from the ashikabi that they reacted to previously. Mutsu is almost implying he was reacting before I arrived here to the city. Karasuba was supposed to be winged by Natsuo, whom of which was assigned to her by Minaka. Then there's Uzume who loudly admitted to me that she reacted to and loved Chiho and yet still followed her instincts to join with me. Maybe there's more to this "compatibility" than I first thought. Instead of it originating from a compatibility on just a biological level it's coupled with something else. Maybe it's everything. I'm now desiring a sekirei with a cognizance base accomplished enough to figure out a proper algorithm instead of me making up baseless hypothesis…
My, what was that?
I shook my head of this.
"Something wrong?" Mutsu questioned.
"I'm not sure."
"I see." Mutsu left it at that instead of questioning me. He must have read me well enough to know that any questions he wishes to ask on this note will be vague at best and useless at the least.
"What can you tell me about Minaka," I changed the subject away from me to another.
"Not as much as I'd like. I made myself scarce when it came to social interaction pertaining to him" He paused for a moment. "I made sure to stay ignorant enough."
That's smart on his part. When a tool become an entity the wielder will begin to fear it. Fear turns into action in which and the wielder attempts to destroy the tool. I can understand why he decided to stay in the dark because secrets can get you killed. Especially if you know the right ones that can break another. History is full of commanders keeping their "True Intent" hidden away from their troops because if discovered everything falls apart one block at a time.
"What is your impression of the man?"
"My impression," I repeated and pondered on the answer. "At first I wanted to punch him." Mutsu hummed in response and asked me why. "Because he was irritating. Then he helped me leave the clock tower, allowed me roam without inhibiting my movements, and turned out to be quite the mastermind from what I've gathered so far." I remembered the many comments I picked up from Takami and all the others whenever I hinted about him. "You all seem to fear him and I'm sure for good reason. Even when you all bad mouth him you all fear."
"It is for a good reason."
I didn't ask why for right now, because we reached and door with Karasuba behind it. I rose my hand up and then knocked three customary times. I heard the sound of papers or books slapping a surface and then light methodical foot steps towards the door. The door opened and what met my sight was miss beautiful herself in a simple gown hanging open with it covering half of her breasts. My eyes traced down a bit and noticed she has underwear on where it counts but still who opens a door in this state of modesty in the first place? My thoughts when to Uzume and I found my answer.
Karasuba blinked a couple times before her left eye opened a bit more and she grinned. "Well, look at who we have here." She rose up her hand and cupped my cheek before scrapping her nails against my skin.
"Morning," I greeted to my first and her grin turned into a tired smile. She looks terrible to be honest. Almost like she just got out of bed but it's close to noon right now and I sincerely doubt she's the type that lounges around the house or becomes a lazy bed loiterer any day of the week. Maybe today is just a slow day for her. "May we come in?" I asked before I got too sidetracked. I'm not really in the mood having fulfilled a bit of my craving this morning though I'm not ignorant of her state of dress right now. The only difference between Karasuba right now and Uzume this morning when I knocked on their doors is the gown. Even then it's almost see through allowing me the sight of her slightly darken nipples because of said purple.
Karasuba must have noticed the fact that I was eyeing a certain area and pressed her nails into my skin forcing my attention back up. What I see from her slightly flushed cheeks and what emotion I'm experiencing from her is… provocation maybe. It's close to what I felt from Uzume this morning but not as playful or innocent. This is much darker like she wishes me both harm and pleasure, hints the fact I can feel her trying to pierce my skin with her nails to inflict some pain upon me. For now it's just discomfort not pain.
"Maybe you can if you're lucky," she smirked at me. "But you should know it's not nice to eye up a lady despite her current state of modesty before you," Karasuba warned in deathly cold whisper. Word so cold it's as if they're coming from the mouth of a reaper for Death. "But since you're this lucky I'm feeling generous."
What's that mean? If I'm lucky Mutsu and I may both enter? Does that mean she has set requirements that must be met before we can enter? That's a bit different. While I thought this through I noticed that Karasuba stood up on her toes and drew in closer to me but stopped just an inch away.
"We?" she questioned. Karasuba leaned over my side and spotted Mutsu standing firmly behind with his back against the wall. Her eyes opened only to narrow once more and her smile fading away into one akin to the tired smile from before when we first met. The intent behind it is malicious in nature which isn't a good sign. "Why isn't Mutsu, the Samurai General," Karasuba sneered before pushing me out of the way to stand up before the man on the wall. "Sword please," she said my way and I sighed and pulled the blade from my back up and out of its sheath.
Mutsu looked at me like I was the biggest traitor in the world which I would be if that blade was awake right now. It would never bring physical harm to another being when asleep and it went to sleep when I went into the shadow world. It has yet to wake up, so he has no need to worry. Although he doesn't really know this and I don't plan to tell him any time soon. That would ruin the surprise.
"Thank you." Karasuba took the large sword from my hands and pointed the tip at Mutsu's chest. "This is a nice blade," she admired The Black Blade adoringly. Its black sheen and slick edge appears almost perfect for her to world by its two handed grip in the style of a Japanese katana making it comfortable to grasp. "What can do you for General, because if memory serves I said I'd cut you to ribbons next time I saw you?"
Whatever happened between them was that severe? Just what happened between the two of them for this much animosity to come into fruition?
"So tell me general… Why are you here?" Karasuba reiterated to the man as his eyes shifted from me, the man who gave death its scythe holding his life on the line, and Karasuba standing as the half-naked angel of death ready to lay her retribution upon him.
"I'm not a general anymore Karasuba. I played my part during that incident just like you and the others. And just like her," Mutsu said bring up a very emphasize "her" that unsettled the black sekirei.
Karasuba pressed the edge of The Black Blade against his neck and got closer. The scent of blood and apple cinnamon filled my nostrils and I'm sure if I saw Karasuba's eyes they'd be gaining its aggressive red outer coloration. "Best you don't speak about Her if you wish to keep your head Mutsu," she said in the lights but dullest tone possible. It didn't sound like a threat by her tone but the aura coming off of her was enough to make a normal man shiver. It was enough to make the light above us flicker and made my instincts flair screaming at me to get back. I noticed a man was watching on at the corner where the elevator is shaking in his boots on the floor just from Karasuba's unrelenting ire.
Mutsu placed his hand up and pushed The Black Blade away from his neck by the edge. He hummed when he noticed the he didn't get cut and passed me a glance. I nodded to him and smiled a bit. It seems he took a gamble just a moment ago or maybe trusted that I wouldn't give Karasuba an actual weapon that can be used against him.
He placed the tips of his fingers along The Black Blade's edge and pushed it back against Karasuba's strength with some strain. I noticed the wall behind him beginning to crack under the pressure of the clash of power between these two super powers. It's was… beautiful. I watched as their aura swirled and bashed against each other like a hurricane facing off against maybe a cyclone of the same size… No, the sizes are different and the maneuvering of the winds are as well. Karasuba's is larger but I don't believe that she has the upper hand in this clash. Mutsu's power moves and sways foiling every attempt the larger storm makes to oppress it. Mutsu is using lesser energy but with a much greater effect than Karasuba. I can feel that Karasuba is unsettled while Mutsu is feathered. It's becoming apparent to me who between the two would win in a battle of the mind and possibly the body if they were to clash. Maybe this is why Mutsu was chosen and not Karasuba.
Mutsu's energy is slowly but surely moving its way under the battering winds of Karasuba's hurricane. While Karasuba is aiming to overwhelm him Mutsu is aiming for the critical vulnerability within her force, the eye of the storm. In one fell swoop Mutsu pierced though the defense she lacked and filled the eye. Karasuba's energy become erratic and little by little it began to fail. Mutsu countered the flow of her winds and any attempt to push him out Mutsu simply moved out of the way and allowed Karasuba to hit herself. It was checkmate with a clear winner.
"Still the impatient one I see," Mutsu mused with a faint smile on his lips as he pushed the sword completely away from his body at arm's length. Restraint and control, something that Karasuba lacks but what Mutsu and I excel at is maybe another factor into why Karasuba wasn't chosen until now. I'll have to look into this more.
Karasuba stepped back while panting softly from their unseen battle between one another. Unseen by any normal man but not by me. "Answer to your question from before as well, I'm here with my ashikabi," Mutsu said modestly. "I remember your words well and held no wish to visit you but my ashikabi insisted," Mutsu spoke evenly and calmly.
"Where?" Karasuba sneered. "Where is this ashikabi because there's you, me, and MY ashikabi," she stressed smoothly without once changing her tone. She asked this but I feel she's already came to realize just what Mutsu meant but is denying it with all her power.
Mutsu his hand up and pointed at me, the final nail in the coffin. "There. OUR ashikabi."
Karasuba looked over her shoulder at me. "It's true." I walked around her and pulled the sleeping sword down to her side completely and stepped between the two of them. "He became my sekirei yesterday as well as another Karasuba. That other one being sekirei Number 10, Uzume." I decided just to get everything out into the light now before any major problems arise, and Karasuba seemed to be indifferent to this new bit of information. While I don't think this is ominous it's certainly not reassuring that she's calmed down. I can't feel anything from her right now but the coldness of the void so that makes her unpredictable. Despite this I continued on. "I also found…" Before I could finish my back was against the wall and the air in my neck restricted.
"Gah!" I choked as the pressure on my neck increased.
Karasuba had her hand on my neck and squeezed to the point I thought she might break my wind pipe. Does she aim to kill me? This will not work but it makes me curious to see another side of her. She's furious. It shows only as a fierce soft smile and sly narrow her eyes but the intimidation factor is there. I've never seen her angry or felt fury of this level before. I've witnessed it within my prey once or twice but I caused this because it made them easier to kill. This wasn't one of those times.
"Karasuba!"
"Stay. The hell. Back! Or I'll break his neck." I believed that she would as well. I feel she doesn't care that she will follow me to the void if she does this.
"If he dies we die Karasuba. Think about what you're doing," Mutsu said with all the urgency he could muster.
"Oh but I am," she increased the pressure and I choked further. I could feel my lungs screaming. By the gods this doesn't feel good. Karasuba ignored my struggling and forced me down to her level and glared directly into my eyes. "You decided to wing me. You stoked my interest. You made me swell when you told me that you wanted me. Then you said wanted to kill everything alongside me. Instead of fulfilling my expectations you decided to wing Mutsu and that white cladded cow," she growled. "Interesting." The cold calmness of her voice could have frozen a man solid. "I should have killed you when I had the chance," she chuckled menacingly. "Oh wait, I do have that chance."
"Karasuba," Mutsu said evenly. "I…"
I reached up and grabbed Karasuba by the wrists and slammed my elbows down upon hers forcing them to give allowing my feet to touch the ground. I pulled her in and before bringing my leg around hers. I pushed and swept her leg out from under her forcing her back in a stumble to the opposite wall. Karasuba was upon me like a rabid dog in under a second. I focused and parried a grab and forced her to the side. I grabbed her wrist and brought it down and twirled down and then up. Karasuba rolled around and landed on her rear after that throw. Before she could recover fully I pushed my hand down on her shoulder and forced her down on the ground. She tried to stand but I pushed her arm up threatening to break it. I brought my leg around and placed my foot near her neck and dropped down placing my knee at her neck. She struggled and resisted but I had her pinned and she knew that.
"I'm not getting up until you calm down Karasuba," I spoke with a hoarse voice. She really did some damage to my neck. I can feel the beginning pain of a bruise but it will fade away in a couple minutes at the most.
"I'm going to kill you," she promised.
"Many have tried," I sighed as I leaned back and waited for her to stop moving. Eventually she realized that I wasn't lying and attempted a ploy to get me to stand. She stopped moving and calmed her breathing to show she was calm. "I can feel your agitation Karasuba. That's not going to work." She clicked her tongue and tried to move again.
"Are you okay," Mutsu squat down and examined my neck by tilting my head. I rose my hand and pushed his away lightly.
"I'm fine Mutsu."
He sighed and stood back up to his feet and looked down upon Karasuba's humbled form. I felt her temperament still so I slowly stood up to my feet and released her arm from my grasp. I leaned over myself and hoisted her up this time to her feet with some ease. In my basic form she's not too heavy so picking her up wasn't a chore. Karasuba refused the look at me but the moment I did see the shock I saw in her eyes made the darkness in me shiver.
I leaned over in front of her and took the Black Blade in hand and replaced it to its sheath. I rubbed my neck and coughed a bit before breathing hard. "That wasn't necessary."
I walked in front of my first and looked over her shoulder. When I reached for her she leaned her shoulder back away from me. She stepped back with her hand on her shoulder and tested it herself. I suppose a powerful figure like her would never expect to be overcome by a human like me, or worried for. Then again most of her energy went to Mutsu instead of me so it works out well enough.
"And I don't appreciate being choked Karasuba." She glared at me with her fists clenched as if ready to spring again. She moved so fast before that I could barely catch wind of her. She got right under my senses but then she had to start talking and give me ample time retaliate. "Karasuba, we can talk. That's what I want at the moment… and maybe something more after." The woman blinked and stomped up to me. Her eyes met mine and her hand rose up and took my shoulder then my neck once more.
"Ashikabi-sama!"
I rose my hand to halt Mutsu. If Karasuba truly wished to kill me I'd react in kind. I'm designed to. She wants a vent, not a life to take. Well, not my life.
"May we come in?" I asked for the second time today. "And can you get a bit more decent?" During our little "Conflict" her gown fell down past her shoulders to her elbows. I reached down and pulled it up for her and smiled suggestively.
Karasuba grit her teeth as if contemplating on how to approach this. In the end she said "Whatever," with a scoff before walking into her apartment followed by "Ruin my morning."
I smirked and waved for Mutsu to follow me until I felt pain spread throughout my body originating from my core. I coughed and felt my legs give for a moment only for me to step back and hit the wall as my only source of support. I looked up while hugging my stomach and saw an extended fist in the previous place as my stomach was. Karasuba snort and walked into her apartment as if nothing happened.
"Otieno-sama," Mutsu said worried for my health from that surprise attack. I waved my hand at him to show that I was fine. I've been hit much hard than that and it's to be expected. I've seen how harems can work and how they collapse upon each other with the male losing something being a hand or his life as consequence. I didn't expect Karasuba to be accepting of this change because I know I wouldn't be if she found another man other than me. Even more so if it was a woman mostly out of principle. I still have my life and both hands so I'm blessed a punch to the stomach and a broken set of ribs is the extent of her retribution upon me. That blow would have killed a normal man but she and I both know I'm anything but normal.
I suddenly felt my body lean back up and grunted when a hand rubbed against my torso and then my sides. "One, two, and four… Four?" he finished counting off and stopped at the fourth and last rib Karasuba cracked with that punch. "She broke four of your ribs," Mutsu growled darkly. He leaned up and looked into the apartment. I caught him by the shoulder before he could try anything and he looked back. I came to the realization that even though he's not happy I was wounded in such a way he's not foolish enough to charge in there to get revenge. He's not happy but more worried for me. "We need to get you to a hospital or else this will get worse."
"I'm fine Mutsu. I've suffered worse and with who we are dealing with I should count myself lucky. She could have killed me and wouldn't have bat an eye."
I pressed my hand to my ribs and took a breath. I regulated my breathing in and out and felt the ki build within my core. With one last breath my body began to straighten out my bones and force them into place. Chi from my center flooded the effected area. A couple cracks resounded out while my bones melded back together which made Mutsu wince. I rose my hand to keep him at a distance just encase he tried to "help" me like he did for Shion.
I rubbed my ribs with my left hand focusing Od from the circuits through my matrix and healed the injury the rest of way until all pain ceased. In combat I wouldn't have bothered with using Od but that would have left my bones brittle and 30% easier to break. This way I'm fully healed with plenty of life energy to spare.
"See for yourself." I rose my arms up inviting him to so his own diagnosis like before. Mutsu took my invitation without hesitation and let his hand wander my stomach and sides. I grew exceptionally amused when his blank expression turned into one of discomposure.
"How did you do this?" He awed almost.
"I'm not normal," I said and brushed his hand from my body.
"As you can see I can handle myself in more ways than one." Mutsu nodded as he comprehend what he just witnessed. The only indicator that I healed myself was the cracking of my ribs in place and slight panting from the strain. This pain is nothing to me but still annoying to have inflicted upon me. I deeply despise pain and rather die than feel it. That's how I believe most others feel too being another reason I kill them. I only let the special ones linger.
"I have never seen anyone, much less a human, incapacitate Karasuba in such a fashion. How did you move as fast as she did?" I didn't even realize I was moving that fast to begin with. I could see her every move and planned accordingly to evade and counter her. There's much I kept hidden with my basic form without augments and it's best my basic becomes my only. I rose my hand and noticed that my matrix was beginning to manifest. I tapped into Od by accident to augment my strength and move to slightly grander than normal human levels. My control is leaving me… This doesn't bode well.
"You somehow healed yourself as well. You restored four broken ribs in the matter of two minutes. How?"
I shook my head and placed my hand in his shoulder. "I'll explain later. For now let's enter since we've been invited in." Mutsu took a breath but remained silent as he followed me into the apartment or suite. I sat down on the couch in the living room and Mutsu remained standing above me behind the couch. I'm not sure if I'm just imagining things but before she left us in the hallway I think Karasuba was pouting. It's more a look of immediate and blood thirsty murder but it's not the normal kind because it was focused primary on me and not the general masses. While I call this an improvement I'd rather not die today.
Mutsu scanned the room much like I did and appeared to be pondering something. I'm curious of what but left him to his own thoughts for now. I'm sure him and I are thinking close to the same thing. Karasuba is exceedingly neat to the point that it seems almost unhealthy but strangely enough I noticed a stack of magazines and books scattered across the table and couch. Unlike in her room at the clock tower these books aren't neat, covered, aligned, and stacked from largest to smallest.
I reached for one and looked at that title on the cover. "The Key of Solomon?" I read off the Latin on the cover of the book.
Just what is she doing with this?
I placed the book down and grabbed another. "A Black Bible?" I held up the tome of ancient black magic. One of seven volumes all of which originate from the darkest recesses of the Hebrew Hell. One that when you gather all seven tomes they fuse together to create a book so powerful that a single fool with a pathetic knowledge of latin and enough curiosity could damn a country with ease. My right arm shivered and began to ache as I held it up. The pain grew when I opened the small book for myself.
"A Black Bible. What do you mean? There's more than one kind of bible?" Mutsu asked.
"There are three forms of the Bible. One made by God of the Hebrew faith which rests in Heaven containing the True word of God. One from Hell which was fashioned by Sataniel after it fell from the grace of god. It was then broken into seven volumes for humans to use to corrupt and destroy one another damning more souls to Hell after exposure to the darkness within these tomes. The seven deadly sins personified. One was created by man as a pale reflection of both books to work as a door way to both realms." Strange though for me to find another of the Black Bibles here of all places. Why does Karasuba have books of black magic in the first place?
"You seem to know a bit about this sort of… topic?" Mutsu muttered and I simply tilted my head a bit and back.
"You could say that," I murmured as I opened the bible to the middle of its pages. Right off the bat I could hear screams of carnage, whispers of promised power, and witnessed visions of myself standing at the top of the world with millions bowing before me. The typical demonic influences from the curses placed upon these things. I've had to deal with much more powerful curses than this many times over. I have one upon my soul branded upon my right arm in fact. The Bible of Wrath was much more potent than this one labeled Greed.
I rose the book up to show Mutsu so he could see it. "I can't read that," Mutsu admitted from over my shoulder.
I looked at one of the spells and almost snorted. Of course he can't read this. I know for a fact no one here can read this. It's in enochian and that language is only known by beings of old or anyone tied to them. Sadly I can read this same with the spell on this page. I closed the book and stacked it on top of the Key of Solomon.
"So those are books of magic?" Mutsu asked.
"Yes," I answered.
"Why is she researching it to such an extent as well as "The Way of Chakra'?"
"Because of me," I answered once more. "I was forced to use certain "talents' to escape her, fight against her, and teach her an important lesson. Maybe she's researching on how to counteract me. Though I'm not sure how or where she acquired these books, especially this one." I picked up another book that I recognized well enough. Last I saw it this book was buried under a collapsed castle outside of Paris caused by canon fire. I suppose not everything is lost in time. I know I wasn't.
I placed the book down and leaned back in my seat and Mutsu leaned back up like before with his arms crossed. Karasuba came back in a little over three minutes. She drew her eyes from me to Mutsu and back before sitting down on the chair across from myself and Mutsu.
"Why him?" she asked me with her arms crossed over her chest. "You gave wings to a man. Doesn't that seem wrong to you?" I expected this response and from visual experience these instances never end favorably for the catalyst, being me.
"Initially? Yes," I confessed with a little strain in my voice. "I didn't wish to wing a male sekirei but Mutsu is powerful and experienced and so worth it."
"And the other one?" Karasuba seemed equally irate about Mutsu as she is Uzume and I'm not surprised. She's thinking, "Mutsu I can understand but why Uzume," which can be counted as another one of those troublesome cases Mutsu hinted about before. "Why her or all people? Actually, don't answer that," she let out an agitated chuckle. "I should've known it would've happened," she sighed tirelessly. "So who's next on your list? Glasses or the drunk?"
I don't know who this "Glasses" person is but I know only one person who can be categorized as a drunk. "By drunk I assume you mean Kazehana?" I wasn't even aware I had a list either. If I did she's not on it unless I'm impressed and not ominously laid off like I was.
"You know her by name? Are you gonna wing her as well?" Karasuba asked dangerously.
I shook my head. "She and I are not compatible and her power doesn't interest me enough to take note of her in such a way. Do you feel insecure Karasuba because I…" I paused and rose my hand up to catch a book thrown at me and sat it down next to me. It seems she doesn't like it when I read her thoughts and emotions and state them verbally. I'll add this note to the codex later once I get a journal.
"I could kill all of them on a whim," she said coldly and I believed her. Karasuba could kill Uzume and Kazehana if she so wished it though something in the back of my mind forced a sensation of nausea upon me. I felt dizzy but why. 'Because I must… protect...' I crushed that thought immediately and traced it down. I followed the path to the deep recesses of my being and found the source. I let Her have it for now giving me blissful silence.
"I know but you're still troubled by something. Why is that?" I waited for an answer and I knew it would be truthful. She can't lie to me much like at the moment I can't lie to her. I noticed that after the emergence a part of me transferred to her like with the other two. Each took a part of me, not just energy to complete their emergence, but an actual piece of my being. An act of which that is life threatening to begin with and carry consequences. Each of them took something from me though I don't feel too different from it. This emergence will have after or residual effects later I just know it.
I fought the bastard smirk at the bit of discomfort that came to her face. Karasuba was my first and I let her have as much as she wanted in the beginning. A part of me that she took will keep her honest with me whether she wishes it or not. "I don't… I…" she stopped and paused as my curse began to truly take root. I've left the bond between me and her open for a reason. I need to change her and if being in constant connection with me will keep her from turning into a blood starved beast then this is how it will be. For Uzume she can no longer feel me and but I can feel her. I felt her distress when I began to close her off and it made me feel uncomfortable. Mutsu felt it when I made that Aura Pulse to banish his and her influence as well as pressure him. I don't wish for them to feel anything from me, I'll just end up corrupting them, but I need to understand them. Keeping the channel open one way, especially when it comes to the soul, is simple for any Jäger worth half his/her grain of salt. The struggle I see in her expression brings back memories.
"I came here today to tell you that I decided a "Wait and See" approach with your kind." I decided to relieve her of her inner struggle for now which I felt her both confused about the cause but thankful for the distraction. "I spread out and after speaking and conflicting with a number if your kind I came to the realization that you deserve life like any other lifeform in the world despite whatever opinion you might hold over my or your kind." Karasuba remained silent as I spoke. "I know this disappoints and… oddly relieves you but after speaking with your brother and sister sekirei this is what I've chosen… I think I know who "She' is as well."
Karasuba rose her brow at this and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well," she chuckled and leaned forward. "Who is she?"
"She owns an inn sheltering one of those who got away."
"And," Karasuba's interest peaked as she leaned further in. "How was she?"
"I wanted to kill her or leave and never see her again," I admitted and Karasuba's chuckled a bit but covered her lips to hide her smile. I looked back towards Mutsu and continued, "Mutsu agreed with my suggestion to leave which left me with a few questions."
"Being?"
"What is she? She's not like the rest of you?"
"Ask her yourself." Karasuba gave me pretty much the same answer when pertaining to the Innkeeper. So no one will speak of her to me even if they are my Sekirei. She must be exceptionally powerful to warrant such respect from both Karasuba and Mutsu. I wonder if I can kill her in single combat or would I have to result to my more potent means. Karasuba forced me to us some of my talents, but I feel the Innkeeper will push me much further than that. I might have to result to letting the barrier go to defeat her alone.
"I'll try asking the Innkeeper later." Karasuba snort and smiled lightly. Her eyes closed to the point I almost thought they were closed and she relaxed in her seat. "And if that doesn't yield results I'll ask elsewhere if I can."
A thought came to mind pertaining to a ripple I felt not too long ago. "How is Haihane," I felt I needed to ask. I felt something before coming her. Karasuba just continued to smile as if nothing was said which made me narrow my eyes a bit. "What did you do?" I can't "sense" her anymore. Before I could feel something, a connection, a weak tether between her and me. I have my answer finally and I can give it to her but now I'm not sure if I can. Karasuba is the cause of this I'm sure of that.
"I did nothing," she said slyly before standing up. Suddenly she seized my collar and lifted me up from my seat. Her lips touched mine and pillars of light burst out behind her. Pillars that morphed into wings breaking free and waving before me. Thoughts assaulted my mind and emotions my soul.
'You are mine… You are mine… You are mine…' This mantra played in the back of my head again and again. These thoughts belong to her.
Karasuba pushed me away forcing me back down to the couch. "You are mine," she declared with resolution. "Ensure that they know this and think no different. The same goes to you, Mutsu."
"Of… course?" Mutsu went along with Karasuba's determined declaration.
She smiled sweetly and made the both of us shiver.
Scene Change
In the end I left the building without answers except for a promise that Karasuba and I will meet once more in the next couple of days. I'm not sure if whatever happened worked out for the best because I'm just as lost as was before I arrived at her door. Perhaps even more so.
We talked for a bit after her highly possessive declaration. I found out that she persuaded Haihane to keep with the structural integrity of the original plan for the Discipline Squad and so accept Natsuo as her ashikabi. Haihane was smart enough to ignore her instincts as a sekirei and accepted the suggestion in stride.
I wasn't sure how to react to this knowledge but I suppose it is what it is. If I had given her wings back when she asked this could have been avoided but maybe it's meant to be. Natsuo needs to heal and Haihane will play a part in this on top of Benitsubasa. Though Haihane isn't compatible with the man in the first place he needs certain tropes assigned to him or else he'll collapse upon himself. I've seen it happen before.
This was good information though. The true ashikabi isn't required to cause a sekirei to emerge. Any ashikabi can possibly force a sekirei to emerge if they trade genetic information and make the bond. That means if I so wished to I could hunt down every single sekirei in the world and wing them. I will not do this and earn the wrath of the three with me already but it's an observation.
I might need to go and talk to Minaka one of these days. If anyone knows the sekirei inside and out it would be him. He's the head of the serpent. Karasuba did pass my way that Minaka wishes to speak to me about something and has labeled me "Player One" or something like that. I'm not sure what that means but I can imagine.
I lifted up a black card that Karasuba slipped into my coat when she grabbed me and examined it intently. This is the second time she reverse pickpocketed me without me noticing. She has a knack for it I guess to slip anything on me like hat.
The card is strange. It has an energy to it. I channeled a bit of Od into it and found that it's emitting a signal of some sort. It's ot harming me so I let it be. The card is pitch black with my photo on top along with my alleged signature on the back. I don't remember giving my signature to anyone or writing in general since my appearing here. It must be along with the name I gave, someone's date of birth, and a nationality that certainly isn't my own. This United States sounds weird and doomed to fail. States can unite but eventually fall apart. Still I ponder on why she gave this to me, whatever this is.
"It's a MBI Executive Membership Identification card given only to those of Importance," Mutsu answered my unspoken question right on queue. "Only four exist in this world giving the owner status most families dream and would pay billions for. And yet he gave one to you. You must have his attention if he's willing to give that to you."
"What do I use this for?"
"I'm not sure but it's meant to tie you to MBI, bestow indefinite power in all MBI branches, and means that he has plans for you. Maybe something against your will is my assumption."
"So this is like a collar then?"
"I'm not sure what it means. I don't understand anything that goes through his mind so I recommend you ask him directly when you have the time." I thought on doing just that. The man said I could come and talk if I wished to and I don't believe he means to threaten me. If he wished to he would have a long time ago so maybe he wishes to employ my services. It's very possible he knows what I am after all I have kept all of my actions secret and with these camura things at every corner it's very possible he's seen me perform a very interesting act. I don't believe I did anything that impressive but we all have our opinions on what is and isn't.
I flicked the card up and caught it before pocketing it in my pants. "By the way, that paper that Karasuba had me look at, can you explain to me what it was about?"
"It's a contract to enlist your services I believe as a handler." I rose an eyebrow so Mutsu continued. "Karasuba is the leader of the current Generation of Discipline Squad meaning her Ashikabi will have to be enlisted as this Squads Handler, or ashikabi."
"Natsuo was supposed to be assigned to Karasuba and he has two of the current members so why can't Karasuba just follow his lead? I can't be a handler."
"Then it was best not to give the Black Dog her wings but you have and so that makes you a key piece left in the wind without proper control or contingencies to implement that control. The current members can easily be replaced as you can see," Mutsu pointed to himself but not physically. I found his logic sound and allowed him to continue. "Karasuba is the head and you her ashikabi. One of which that… interests her beyond her previous notions of murder. You are changing her that much is obvious. If I can see them then so can Minaka. That means you are her handler whether or not you wish to because you've already taken up the role well enough to appease her. You are still alive after all."
That was a fair point. I am still alive even though I should be dead right now. Karasuba has changed a bit in a short time to fight her blood lust and submit herself to the madness that plagues us both. I could feel it. That insanity that would taste so sweet that it's worth committing suicide over just for a couple sips. I know that feeling and yet she fought it and let me live. I let my guard down and that won't happen again.
"But how can this Discipline Squad exist if only she is within it?"
Mutsu shrugged. "This is a delicate matter only you, Karasuba, and Minaka can really manage but if I know how you are you will refuse to be controlled and will not take a threat lying down despite what Minika might say."
"You believe that even if your lives are endangered I won't heel to his demands?"
"Would you?"
"No, I wouldn't." My life comes before any other and if I have to sacrifice my sekirei to survive I will. It might tear the part of me they are connected to into pieces but I'll live and lives will be paid in response. You don't take from me unless ready to lose something of equal value. I've lost enough to know that if gained it can be taken but that doesn't mean you can't get retribution.
"Then that makes you even more dangerous and unpredictable. I'm not surprised that's your choice after all you've questioned on whether or not you should exterminate me and my kind. After seeing what I have now… I believe you could if you wished to."
"I've only shown a sip of what I'm capable of doing Mutsu but don't overestimate me. I'm human as the next but just more difficult to kill, because I have no wish to die… You know Mutsu this is the most I've heard you talk in one day." Then again I only just met him yesterday but it was more of a game then just to feel each other out. My throat is even beginning to feel a little dry from all the talking I've today and most of it wasn't truly necessary. I could have conveyed my thoughts and wishes in other ways but choose not to. Maybe we've reached a hidden understanding without realizing it. Maybe this is just another change imposed on me without noticing.
I really need a codex since I've misplaced my other one. Or at least a journal.
"Indeed. Maybe we just need to get this out of the way before it's too late" Mutsu made a valid point. We should talk while we can. We won't always have this opportunity especially since night is beginning to fall. Unlike Mutsu who might become fatigued from missing sleep I don't necessarily need it like he or a normal human does. I do fall asleep yes and then enter the cold void being why I'd rather be awake it. I once stayed awake for two months before I felt I had to sleep but only because of someone spying on me and figuring out I wasn't normal.
"Tell me Mutsu, do you know what an orc is?" I felt this question surface out of nowhere. I hadn't planned to be this direct this quickly but impulse got the better of me.
Mutsu rose his eyebrow. He's wondering why I'm asking him a random question like this and is formulating a valid enough response so not to sound too put off by it. "I've seen a couple yes." I glanced back at him and he quickly moved to follow on with his statement. "They are large, taller than you and I with ease, and impervious to gunfire."
I blinked once more. I didn't expect him to actually answer my question and seriously I might add. He's seen them as well? They showed themselves to the sekirei? I suppose that I should be surprised because if I can see just how bright a sekirei is a monster will as well. Monsters are always out to procreate with powerful figures being why powerful warriors and hunters are targeted in kind. Men like Heracles and Perseus fell to monsters and their desire for powerful descendants. I, like my old brothers and sisters, have been tempted many times by the very thing we hunted. We've been preyed upon for experimentation by them just like we do them. I can only imagine what might happen if a vampire and sekirei eloped. I'll have to place that in the same spectrum as a union between monster and Hunter. Chaos and death.
As for what Mutsu explained to me about the orc, that sounds about right. Orcs have muscle so dense that it can stop a ball cold in its tracks from a musket. I'm not sure how advanced the weaponry of this era truly is but I doubt it's anymore effective than in the past. I have to make sure if he's just going along with me on this or not. Before I could ask Mutsu opened his mouth to speak and I let him.
"They sometimes have horns or tusks they use to brutalize their foe. I've seen it."
"Where?" I quickly questioned him.
"Brazil."
I frowned. I've never heard of that country before. Is it in the same region as the Americas? I know the lands to the fair west were still being colonized and I've never once been there. I traveled mainly from England to here in Japan but never the Americas. "It's part of South America."
"South America?"
That means there's a North America then. I need to look at a map one of these days and study it. It's been a couple centuries so of course the world has been fully exploded and marked. I probably won't be too surprised if I hear that man has built a city underwater. Its own version of Atlantis but like that empire it will become lost in the sea. The only proof I have that it existed is a gold pendant from the natives. It would look good on Uzume, I believe.
"So why did you go to this South America then?"
"Because of… a new enemy," he repeated that constant reference to a "new enemy" that left me confused.
"And this enemy?"
Mutsu stopped in his tracks and focused his eyes on me. This glare was so heated I could feel it piercing through me with ease. I turned around and faced him only to see him point at me. I rose an eyebrow at this. "You remind me of them in a way. "Monsters with the face of men' I believe is how you worded it."
"That's interesting because there're none like me in this world Mutsu, I can insure you." It's impossible for them to fighting against any hunters like myself. I killed every last one of my kind after the Betrayal so more than likely it's a group acting out as Hunters. That or maybe it's a group of monsters that decided to get too curious. If Mutsu and his company killed them all then I owe him a favor for this favor.
"They were monsters that acted human," he made clear. So he did fight a couple monsters then. That might mean that Mutsu is experienced in monster hunting if he fought monsters with the face of humans. That's impressive for a virgin to monster kind.
"You think I'm a monster with a human face?" I asked but Mutsu shook his head from left to right.
"You are human because you are an ashikabi but the way you act isn't. You make me wonder which side you're on," because the line between good and evil is a little blurry when I look up on you. I heard the last portion from within instead of word of mouth. I don't think I've done anything that constitutes as evil. I'm a bit cynical yes and indifferent of the general masses but I'm allowed some freedom to move how I wish. I may intermingle with Karasuba well enough but for someone like that a bit of evil is needed to reign her in. "To be honest I think you might become worse than Karasuba. She's predictable and straight forward with her emotions."
"I'm unpredictable and keep my motives hidden," I finished for Mutsu which led to me chuckling a bit. This man has no idea what I'm capable of and if he's fortunate he never will. My "evil" would destroy Karasuba in an instant and take the city with it. It's best for everyone I stay the way I am. I'm not human or monster, I'm just a hunter and I need good prey to keep me satiated.
I might have found something to do this fine evening. Our time walking and wandering has given me a good amount of time to track down signifiers in the city. They all led me south so it left me to wonder just what is going on down there for such a large group of them to gather. Mutsu recommended her take either a bus again or a taxi. In the end we went with the bus.
A Couple Hours Later
This city was a never ending pain to navigate. Too many carts things…cars and such, too much noise, too close together, and the smell as well makes my nose twitch. There's a reason I cover my nose when I enter a city and it's not just to keep my identity. I swear that Mutsu and I tower over most of the surrounding population and we are also severely out of place as well. Mutsu and I dress in ways most of the population do not like I hide my face behind my hood and have a sword hilt poking out of my back. Mutsu is in like a suit, hakama, choeosong mixture that makes little since to me, wears a scarf in the middle of spring, and a carries his sword in hand instead of tying it down to his hip or back like me. The eyes that shift our way are annoying me to no end.
"Where are we going Ashikabi-sama?"
"It's a walk to help me get use to this… place."
Mutsu sighed lightly. "I walk huh? That's it?"
"I have nothing better to do right now so getting to know the layout to this city will be useful."
"And we are walking around aimlessly to do this?"
It was true that once we walked off the bus Mutsu followed me without questioning me. He followed me though a few amount of dark alleys and through a few shops. I turned back and sighed, "Yes." I felt amusement pouring out of my sekirei from my answer. Mutsu chuckled to himself. Damn Mutsu. I have my own way of memorizing my playground and walking around it until I can tell if anything changes in my surroundings is one. I can look at a map or a street and make an image of it. If anything changes I can spot it quickly.
I planned to go alone and walk around the city for a couple weeks. Mainly it's to get away from the women in that Inn for a time. I can feel something within me changing just from being around Uzume for a couple hours and it's affecting my inner calm. I'm become unbalanced and that's dangerous being another reason I visited Karasuba today. She helped even the scales today and now I plane to keep a distance. I also wish to get away from the Innkeeper as well. That smiling monster wearing the face of a beautiful housewife. I don't care how pretty a woman is if you a beast for the sake of peace it's I will steer clear until I can adapt. I don't have any time to be messing with troublesome women.
I had planned to go alone seeing that I work better when I am by myself but "Guardian" Mutsu here would give me his opinion on how it would be a bad idea for me to be out and about alone. I planned to tell him to return to the inn but know he would disobey and follow me regardless. Now here I am in the middle of the city of loud noise and short people with this Sekirei plan stuff looming over my head. Mutsu told me in a span of a couple months the sekirei will be released to find an ashikabi in this city. A few have been released being Uzume and one or two others outside the Discipline Squad but not too many others. During the time of the first phase I could probably find the strongest of the sekirei and become a super power in the city but physical power isn't an interest. This thought is cemented by the fact I have two of the original Discipline Squad with me and more to follow me in time. I'd rather mind my own business and let things go out as planned.
I could probably end this game before it could begin but then again what fun would that be? I would like to see just what these Sekirei can do and how they do it. I wonder just what Uzume, Kagari, Kazehana, and Miya can do. I can't wait to witness the power these godly beings possess. Maybe since we're out and about right now I could get a real test on a single digit sekirei that isn't Karasuba. I remember passing a good area for a spar that was empty we could use. I looked back to Mutsu and caught his eyes on the back of my head like a hawk. I hummed slightly at the dry and focused look he had one me and turned back. Or maybe not right now. I don't have my sword with me and this is for a journey through town and not much else.
"Otieno,"
I cleared my throat, "yes."
"How long is this walk going to be?" I looked around and noticed quickly that we walked all the way to the harbor and the sun was going down. To think time flies when you're walking around.
"I planned on this being a journey of sorts to discover the hidden spots of the town as well as find a suitable back up house just in case."
Mutsu was quiet for the longest time until I heard a sigh. "So we are going to walk through town until you have a "feel" for it and for a backup residence?" Mutsu rubbed his head, "Well I suppose that is smart to get a feel for things with the plan and all." I half expect Mutsu to be against this action but I guess rational thinking is how he does things. "Lead then and I will follow, but are you not worried what Uzume might think?"
I stopped in my tracks. Christ he's right. I forgot to tell her and I have no way of contacting her because I don't remember how to get to the inn. Mutsu could tell me but I have no wish to look at the Innkeep again today. It took every ounce of will in my body not to strike her down with the blade on my back. I need time to accept her as anything other than a main threat. "No, it will be fine," I hope that is. I don't know Uzume at all except she likes to tease me with sexual innuendos and outfits, she has a broad personality and is loyal (but to what point I am not sure), and she likes play as well. I can still feel her presence and it makes me shiver. Uzume is a woman I have known for less than a day and yet I've let her get close. That is abnormal for me. Mutsu is easier to deal with and more predictable than any woman in that house.
I took a moment to look around in the small strip of food stands we found our way too and recognized none of it. I may be a little lost right now with no idea where the hell I am. The only one thing I can do is move forward.
"I hope your right, my sister is not the most understanding of these sorts of things." I perked an ear at the sister part and stored it for later. I haven't heard him call her sister in such a way before. Before it was like he was speaking about just another sekirei but this time it carried just a bit of endearment.
"I'll cross that bridge later," I glanced over my shoulder to our tail. "But for now it looks like we have company."
Mutsu looked back and forth at the end of the alleyway and to the opening to the street. "Foolish vermin."
"That's my line Mutsu." Though I'd use the word "trash" over vermin. Trash is lower than vermin because vermin is alive. It may be a pest but it's alive and has a soul that can be worth persevering. Men like this are trash. One group that will never go out of style are highwaymen preying on innocent travelers.
"Well boys look at what we got here?" I rose and eyebrow and crossed my arms as one punk in a green hoody with the hood up like mind approached us. Around twelve of these idiots surrounded us all with a common look of long jackets or hoodies, blue jeans, tattoos, and sneers. "A fag and his dark bitch."
I rose an eyebrow at this. Did that boy insult me by calling me a bitch? Well, this impudent behavior will not go unpunished. They are unlucky I don't have my sword Hate with me. If I had my sword I'd warn them by cutting through their little knives and maybe cutting off their shirts or clothing. Without my sword that leaves me with my bare hands (my claws) and I was known to become a little excessive with the force when I use my hands. That makes it personal
I coughed for a second to clear my throat and faced the green hair boy. "Listen, we don't want any trouble."
"Ah the bitch speaks." I looked back to the boy from before and growled. "Oh that's okay we ain't gonna hurt ya," One put his hand on my shoulder. I tensed my hand and took a breath. "We just want ahhh!" I looked back and noticed Mutsu's hand wrapped around the punk's wrist squeezing tightly.
"Un-hand-him." Mutsu's eyes had a sort of cold anger I never thought possible. Mutsu squeezed when he didn't get an answer. The punk screamed and fell to the ground and them Mutsu released him.
"Bastard! My fucking hand!" Mutsu huffed and looked around to the punks surrounding us and frowned. "Your fucked dead bitch. No one fucks with the Skulls."
"And you," I glared at the punk from before, "don't fuck with your betters." I moved and kicked the punk in the stomach into the wall. The punk bounced off and fell to the ground in a heap. The other punks saw this and took out some form of blade in their hands though they're small and pathetic.
"You fuckers I'll kill…"
I kicked the man to my right in the face and silenced him. "Two down, ten to go." The countdown has started. The punks are now hesitate to attack me now. I glared at the boys trying to act like men and found some of them returning it. I could see what he was thinking easily.
'They're outnumbered this shouldn't be a problem.'
'What the fuck was that counting shit?'
'Who the fuck are these two?'
I smiled and waved of each one to come at me. "I will take care of this." Mutsu nodded and leaned on the wall with his eyes on me and the rest of the punks.
"Cocky fuck." One yelled.
"Let's kill that guy."
"No one messes with the Sculls."
"Get em!"
I stepped back and elbowed one in the face flipping him over into the stone below.
"Three down."
I kick one right into the wall and like the first landed on the ground.
"Four down."
I punched one in the front of me in the throat and kicked him in the chest away from me. I leaned back away from a thrust of a knife from my left and countered with a throw when I took the wrist of the man holding that knife. Before the punk could stand I dropped my foot on top his chest and forced him into the stone below.
"Six down."
I rose my foot and kicked on man in front of me in the stomach forcing him to step back stunned. I walked up to him and punched him in the chin on one side and came back on the other side while whirling around. I rose my leg for a round kick back connecting with one man that tried attack me from the rear. That was a mistake on his part when my foot impact his side. I felt something give and grinned when I realized I just broke a rib with my kick. The boy's scream was loud but a punch to the chin fixed that.
"Eight down."
Two came in to get me from both sides, one with a knife and the other with a black rod of sort. I moved back at the right time to evade one and left the other slip past me. I gripped their shoulders at the edge of my reach then slammed both into each other with a pleasant crunch. I rose my hands up and gripped hoodie from one and hair in the other and brought what they should have been using together in an audible thud.
"Ten down."
I looked up to the green haired one and waved for him to come. He is the last one standing and untouched. The punk backed up looking around to his downed comrades then back to me. "Just what the hell are you?" I looking into this things Soul and saw the very monster I gave my existence to destroy. I looked into his soul and saw the monster within. This physical body soon followed and what I saw made the blood shift. The boy's eyes widened as I saw it for the monster it truly is and projected my intent upon him. "No!" The boy stepped back out of fear. I'm sure stories of my kind have become legends like the great Hunter Burgien, also known as the boogeyman. That hunter was a legend that decapitates without remorse or regret. A Jäger we all strived to become. Legends of just what a monster sees when we want to be seen is because of that hunter. "You're a…!"
I moved fast, too fast for the boy, and took his neck in hand. I slammed him into the wall making both crack and let him fall. "All enemies eliminated." That took 1 minute and 13 seconds in all. I sighed and walked over the bodies of the broken yet still very much alive human punks.
"Nice work for a human," Mutsu praised me. I think he was being a bit sarcastic though. He probably doesn't realized that I just killed this monster.
I rolled my eyes this time and said "Let's go."
Mutsu nodded, "Very well." After that little set back I explored the south part of town and noticed that crime here is high along with monster activity. I saw a couple men in suits and sun glasses throwing a man in the trunk of his car. It was funny to be honest especially when the driver told me good evening. I saw a couple prostitutes, I mean escorts, as well that were doing their thing in those buildings and such. Some of them are not human as well. The red light district was the most annoying place ever to be in at a time like this. I shook my head to the many things I saw. I can't wait to see the west, east, and central parts of town next.
So far what I picked up during my "tour" of the southern part of the city is that it's controlled by something called the Yazuka or something like that. I've never heard of them before but apparently the rotten underground as well as the luxurious top echelon of the towns families are controlled by this Yakuza thing.
I've walked through many of their little sections and beat up a few humans here or there for attacking me but nothing too huge. Mutsu has done well in leading me around and watching my back. Normally I'd be out alone trying to figure out where or rather when I am. I'm seeing things that have me baffled still. Large screens with moving drawing of people that move on buildings that reach the heavens. These "car" things are quite impressive as well. I can run as fast as a horse can gallop and yet these "car" things can run as fast as a cheetah apparently. It's all quite amazing and yet I feel as though man has built all these things to improve life they inversely made themselves soft and worse off than it was before.
Before there was never a need for such large buildings that are obviously built to store people inside of them. Man can no longer build out so they build up instead. In the past we still tried to populate the new world and most of the population was controlled by constant bouts and battles. Some of which I participated in and ended a fair amount of lives. What I'm saying is that we didn't need this many people that they're forced to pollute the heavens with our presence. We stayed on the ground from which we came and the ground in which we returned to after death. Is the population that stifling that they scar the earth and heavens in such a way to help hold it? It's a shame really to see the planet crying. The same crying I hear every time I close my eyes to rest.
Humans of now made methods to communicate without use of wires or letters which I find quite reclusive. Connecting every man, woman, and child in the world to the 'network' may give them the choice to speak together but never be together. Face to face and up close and personal is what's right not pressing a couple buttons or touching a flat surface. Humans have never been so well connected and yet so far apart from each other.
I noticed the lack of anyone that carries a weapon other than a small knife or dagger as well. Some of them have single handed guns as well. One man pull it on me which caused me to break his wrist and kick him into a dumpster. While I'm not armed like in the past I doubt there's anything that can stop me from being ready for anything, or to make you pay for crossing me.
I noticed that this town is full of inhuman monsters and creatures. Most of the gang members I've executed have been different races of monster. One was a lamia until I placed my spear hand between his ribs without piercing the skin to pin him to a wall and then placed my hand on top his heart and stopped it. Lightning palms make silencing a target simple and clean. No needless bloodshed or proof of death by anything other than natural causes. I'd like to say I'm shocked by the fact that monsters still exist even a few centuries into the future but I really shouldn't be. If they survived three crusades and a lifetime of bigotry they can make it another few hundred years on top of this.
If only I wasn't forced through my ordeal I might still have ended the threat of monsters for the rest of time but what's done is done. The fight for the human race continues and it looks like humans are unaware that these inhuman monsters live amongst us in today's world. This is more than likely the work of an abyssal level beast. A smart and cunning monster, they have to be not only powerful physically but mentally as well. Regardless of the kind of monster they are at the top. It more than likely took control of the top of humanities social and government structure to make it seem like something you'd read in a history book.
I believed after stopping Her and entering the beyond that all monster kind would have ceased eventually. At lease I took care of my fellow Hunters before The end. Even though she is within my body and even now she tries to take influence over my mind and body it will never happen. I have a role to play still but she tries. Even now in the pit of my core I can feel her clawing away at the walls.
"Why do you express excessive force for some of these people?" Mutsu asked me while looking down to a man who has seven shattered ribs and both arms broken as well as a shattered jaw. The man is an troll in human skin so such wounds are nothing. They don't feel good and probably hurt a great deal but it will heal from those wounds in due time. Maybe a week. It was his fault for approaching me not the other way around.
"Because I'm a Jäger."
"What is a Jäger? I know that's German for hunter and I know about the military organization with the same name but I feel that you mean something completely different."
"I'm a Jäger. A hunter. I can see the truth and use that truth against the many evil monsters in the world whether they're human or not. I've killed many humans as well as not." I turned towards Mutsu. "Does that answer your question?"
"T-these monsters… what are they like?"
"They come in every shape and size imaginable. Some are more concrete than others but the one I just broke isn't." I looked down to the beast and frowned. Under intense stress normally the façade fades away. I rose my hand and waved it across my sight of it. The body suddenly began to shift and change. Mutsu stared at the monster as the human face faded away replacing it with a grey muscular one with tusks. "This is a troll." I placed my hand on Mutsu's shoulder and led him away from the body. His eyes were wide but instead of the shock of horror I'm more used to his was one of realization.
"They're real?" He shivered a bit and took a breath. I pat his shoulder and his eyes turned towards mine. He's fought monsters before and I'm thinking it's during his time as leader of this squad. "I thought I was seeing things but… How is this possible Ashikabi-sama?"
"Come," I beckoned him to follow me. "I'll show you instead." Night is coming and I feel it will be a long one.
A/N: Alright I'm diving into the supernatural portion of the story. Truth be told I made this story with many other sources in the mind mainly of a supernatural genre. I love monster stories but I'm sure it shows if some of my other stories I've written mean anything. Also I started a Familiar of Zero fic so check it out and tell me your thoughts. Thanks for read and please review.
