AN: Yeah, okay, shoulda expected the responses tbh. That was my fault. I went into this with the assumption that most people know what Taimanin is and would at least give me the grace of doubt to toy with some stranger ideas. But that was me being me, and that's just not how the world works. Sorry for all that, folks.

That aside, don't worry, Hanami won't be romancing Kuroi anytime soon. They'll flirt (a lot), but that's the extent. Moreover, I do have some stuff planned about his character and backstory that'll probably be a tad...odd. Wait for the next chap for that though.

CW: Referenced Mindbreak, Minor Mind Control.

Lilith's Grace - 4

They were too late.

Akiyama Rinko had been fully corrupted by Kuroi. Her body was loosened, transformed into the perfect sex slave. Her mind was warped, and what independent thought she could have was dulled to silence. Her soul was chained by the Lust Crest, and she'd become fully subservient to the orders of men.

It didn't matter what Hanami did. She'd freed her from the Lust Crest, purified the taint in her mind, and she'd even helped to stop the poor girl from orgasming from walking alone. But that wouldn't bring back the girl Rinko had once been. She was, at best, a shell of who she once was, and it'd take decades of therapy to slowly heal her back.

Yukikaze had fully broken down at that, and Rinko made no moves as the smaller girl sobbed into her shoulder. Hanami had watched it all in silence.

She currently waited at the edge of Tokyo Kingdom City, sitting on one of the few sand beaches that still remained. It was quiet here, with nothing but the occasional crashing waves to fill the silence, and Hanami let herself sigh.

Three days had gone by since she'd met the Incubus King. Yukikaze had brought Rinko back to the Taimanin Academy a day after their attack, both to inform her superiors of her presence and find some way to bring her friend back. The smaller girl had invited her to follow, but Hanami had declined.

Not that she wasn't curious about what an actual school of ninja looked like; she was, but she couldn't be bothered. Doing so would bring upon her the eyes of the Taimanin, and though she didn't know what sort of image they had about her, she could infer enough from the barely hidden awe Yukikaze had every time she turned to her.

So her choice was either to stay in Tokyo and have the Incubus King search for her or go to the Taimanin Academy and have the eyes of the Taimanin on her.

She chose the former. It was easier that way.

And at least thinking about Kuroi made her horny.

Hanami shook her head. There it was again; that niggling, whispering voice that sent pleasant tingles up her spine. She'd initially thought that her system had lied and that the [Devil's Kiss] or whatever had actually struck her, but she couldn't find any trace of curses remaining in her body. Which meant that it was just her mind being horny, and that was enough for the lingering karmic rule to get under her skin.

That, and there was something interesting about her new mission.

Attain victory over Kuroi [x]

There was only one condition she needed to fulfill to complete the mission. Attain 'Victory' over Kuroi. It wasn't 'Kill' or 'Incapacitate' or whatever, but 'Win'. It probably meant that she didn't actually need to kill Kuroi, just win over him, not that she was sure how she'd actually go about doing that.

And, though she was reluctant to admit, she did enjoy what short time she had with him. Not because he was handsome and could probably make her climax from rubbing her chin but because there was something…familiar about him. She didn't know who he was and what powers he had, but even from a glance she could tell that he was otherworldly, as if his existence alone clashed with the foundation of this world, as if he'd come from another world entirely.

Like she did.

She wanted to see who he actually was, see if what she'd felt was true, and compare.

…

Well, it'd been three days, hadn't it? The Incubus King had probably done all he could to stabilize what damage she and Yukikaze had dealt. Might as well give him a visit.

The prostitute under his foot squirmed, moaning as her tongue caressed his toes. Kuroi gave the woman a stare, trying to remember whether this was one of those men Hanami had so graciously turned into a whore, before he shrugged. It didn't matter, he supposed. Whether this man was once a powerful politician didn't matter. This woman under him was a whore, and that was all that mattered.

He turned out the windows of his suite, and he let himself bask in the warmth of the slowly rising sun. This city looked awfully dull without the neon lights that awoke when the sun slept. A mere jungle of concrete filled with throngs of whores that paraded around with nary a thought but the desire to fill their sex.

How dull.

"Got a new girl already, huh?" A beautiful voice came into his ears, and Kuroi had to fight the urge to immediately turn to the opening elevator. "Or guy, I guess. Turned him into a girl when I wrecked this place."

He laughed. The whore beneath him whined as he moved away, and he let a smirk grace his lips as he turned to Hanami. She returned a smirk of her as she leaned against the wall, arms crossed invitingly under her breasts. He could feel his member getting hard from the simple sight, and he could see the subtle way her eyes turned down to it.

She licked her lips, almost unconsciously, and his smirk grew.

"I'm a fickle man, I'm afraid." He stepped towards her, and her to him. "I find myself terribly bored without something to pull my attention." They stopped inches before one another, and he gently held her cheek. "But it seems I've found myself quite the wonderful candy to feast my eyes upon."

Her breaths came slowly, warm against his arm. "Mm. Flirt." She placed her hand over his, and the touch felt electric. "Are you always horny?"

He sighed, both tired and amused. "That's what it means to be an incubus, I'm afraid. This insatiable lust is one I must deal with for all eternity."

Her smirk fell, turning into a forlorn smile. "That I understand." She sighed as she leaned into his touch, almost as if to find some comfort. "I really do."

His lips thinned. "What do you mean, milady?" He leaned close, and he couldn't help the concern that showed in his eyes. "Is there some outside force that drives you as well?"

She nodded. "I am not a goddess-" She pursed her lips. "Not yet. My ascension has yet to end. But that doesn't matter." She frowned. "I am burdened with cosmic knowledge of the universe. If I allowed myself to, I could learn every and all things that had existed and did and would exist. Nothing would be a secret. I would know everything."

"But, with knowledge comes apathy." She sighed. "The more I know, the less I feel about it. It's…a struggle to feel, at times." She smiled, tired and weary. "So yes, I do understand."

And the moment she said so, something within him clicked. This was why he'd been so enraptured by her. This was why she took his everything when she stood before him. This was why he found himself replaying that seemingly simple kiss they shared, of the heat and lightning they shared for that brief moment in time.

They were both similar. Different in origin, and different endings, but their existence were two faces of the same coin.

Ah, how he wanted her. He wanted her so, so much. He wanted to press his lips against hers, to tear away her clothes and ravish her, to plunge his cock into her pussy, to hear her moans as he claimed her as his.

His. His. His.

"Say, milady," He began, and he barely kept the needy growl from escaping from his lips as he pulled her closer. "Do you want to play a game?"

Hanami gasped, almost in ecstasy, almost in revelation, and he could feel himself smirk. "What game are we playing?" She asked then, her hands roaming his bare chest.

"There stands a battle tournament, held in the underworld once every fifty years." He began, his hands trailing down her waist. "Demons would have their slaves battle against other slaves, and the winner of it all can demand a prize." He inched closer, and he could distinctly smell that wonderful floral smell of her mana. "What say you, milady?"

"Mm." She hummed, and he restrained another growl as her leg brushed against his cock. "What would you demand if you win?"

"You." He growled out, desire and frustration mixing as one. Hanami moaned at that, and that wonderful floral scent grew.

"H-Hmm. Then, if I win," She smiled. "Would it be too heavy a price to take away one of your retainers?"

Ah, she must be speaking of Shiranui. He wasn't surprised she knew of her. That girl she'd come with three days before was her daughter. It wouldn't be surprising if the girl spoke to Hanami over her problems. Still, to make use of this chance to bring closure to another instead of indulging herself?

Wonderful. How wonderful.

"Certainly acceptable." He whispered out, arms snaking around her back. "Then may this promise be sealed." He leaned in, smirking. "Through blood and ashes, until the hourglass tears us apart."

"Fanciful." She said, smiling, her hand unconsciously hovering over his thighs. "A poet you are."

They were going to do more. He could feel it. He knew it. She knew it as well. He could feel his hands inching towards her chin, and he could feel her hands closing in on his member. The heat in the air was palpable, and he cared not whether it was natural or artificially induced by his demonic nature.

And then the world came knocking in when the alarm placed over the elevator rang about an upcoming meeting he needed to attend.

They separated, and Kuroi couldn't quite stop the frustrated growl from escaping. He grit his teeth and reigned in his mana before it could shatter all the glass around him. He could see Hanami heavily breathing before him, cheeks flush and green eyes slowly regaining their light. Her breaths came sharp and quick, and he could see her restraining herself from playing with her breasts.

"Hell forsaken. I hate deadlines."

"I think that's something everyone shares." Hanami said simply, a wry smile on her face. "Time waits for no one, I'm afraid."

He smiled. "Then I shall take my leave, milady." He reached forward and kissed the back of her palm. "May we meet again."

She giggled. "We shall."

Just as he was about to leave, Hanami asked him one last question.

"Were you the one to change all the men into women?"

He stared at her, frowning at the odd light in her eyes. "No." He said, remembering those long buried days, of hushed whispers and loud arguing. "My ancestors did."

"Ancestors?" She blinked. "Wait, how old are you?"

He smirked. "Does my age matter?"

"No, but it'd be nice to know." She smiled back. "You're much like fine wine, I'd say."

He laughed.

Hanami hummed.

It'd been a couple hours since her impromptu visit, and she had several new things to consider.

One, this arousal permeating in the air wasn't intentional. Or, at least, not completely. Kuroi's standing as an Incubus meant that he would bring arousal to himself and any around him, and that effect was heightened by his incredible well of mana.

Did that make his actions any better? No. Of course not. But she could at least make some leaps in logic to understand why he did what he did.

Two, the karmic rules placed in [Sakura Dungeon] hadn't completely changed her. There was a lack of males in that world, and so it was natural for the world to push all women to like women. She'd been wondering if she could even be attracted to men after that. And now she knew.

Did it mean her attraction was natural? Who knew. She wasn't sure if these hazes they experienced were brought on by his nature as an incubus or not. Not that it mattered. Gender was, after all, just a concept.

Three, Kuroi wasn't the one to change most of the populace into women. She'd suspected so; Yukikaze had told her that the shift happened more than a century before, and she could tell that Kuroi was too young for that. His response had been genuine.

Four, since Kuroi wasn't the one to initiate the change meant someone else did. And she'd wager her entire stock of Mana Shards that the one who'd turned most of the people of Tokyo into girls was still out there.

It meant she needed to find the culprit, stop any and all future attempts of doing something similar, and only then could she begin reversing the order. That, of course, meant she needed to find some way to take down the karmic rules hanging over the city, and then find a way to stop the men from returning to their old ways and taking advantage of the girls, and also find some way to stop the girls from abusing the recently turned men for what they'd done, and-

Ugh, problems beget problems.

She'll do her best to figure out how to bring down the karmic rules first. That was the most pressing concern at the moment.

Hah…

Five, Kuroi was handsome, and she would love to go back and strip him bare and plunge her pussy on his cock and-

Hanami grimaced at the intruding thought. She shook her head, sighing as she pulled her fingers away from her thighs. Her body was really, really horny, and staying in the city wasn't helping. She needed to though. Yukikaze had begged her to help with saving her mother, and they'd promised to meet on the roof of that same building they'd first met at.

But her pussy was burning with need, and she knew masturbating wouldn't do anything. She'd tried it just minutes before, and it did nothing. She wasn't sure why, but she suspected it was one of the many karmic rules placed over the city. Maybe it stopped girls from being able to cum on their own? Or maybe it made them seek out men by making girls unable to cum? Maybe it just made masturbating unrelieving?

Hmm. That was strange on its own. She was able to climax, and she felt some relief, just not enough. Maybe the karmic rule just wasn't taking its full effect?

Thoughts to consider when she wasn't edging herself on her seat.

She should probably stop that as well.

…

Six, she had a tournament to compete in. Unfortunately, it wasn't one she was able to compete in directly. Fortunately, it was a tournament and not some gladiator battle to the death or whatnot. Those she brought down for the battle would remain alive even if they lost.

And if some upstart wanted her or her people dead, then-, well, she had a number of curses at the ready.

This was, also, a way for her to attain victory over Kuroi without actually killing him, and she had to once again wonder how the hell the A.I.M. system managed to so accurately predict her upcoming trials. Did it read into her future and use the gathered information as her mission's description? Or did it, somehow, twist the future to better fit in with the mission it provided?

Both were equally viable options for this cosmic entity she was now strapped with.

Seven, she needed people to fight for her. People who could resist the allure of demons and brave the leash of karmic rules.

Thankfully, she had two people in mind.

"A tournament, held in the underworld, against slaves of demonkind?" Oscar repeated, eyebrows slightly raised. "And I am to participate?" He frowned. "I'm not much of a fighter, I'm afraid, and I-"

"I'll bless you with [Botany]-"

"Say no more."

"A tournament in the underworld to save your mothe-"

"I'm in!"

Hanami blinked, before she sighed. "At least let me finish." She whispered. "And you sure? You're a Taimanin and all, but you're going up against demons this time. There's no telling what magic they can use against us, and if you fall in their control for even a second, you're done." She frowned. "You still in?"

Yukikaze stepped back, a flash of hesitation and fear in her eyes, before she grit her teeth. "That offer you made three days ago."

"Hmm?"

The girl looked into her eyes, her fists clenched tight. "That thing about making me stronger." She began. "Y-You said you'll be able to make me stronger if I work under you. I-Is that still a thing?" She asked, sounding as if she was making a deal with the devil.

Hanami frowned silently, before she gave a slow nod.

"Then do it."

"It's not like I'm going to control your every action, y'know?" Hanami drawled back, a wan smile on her face. "It's more of a contract. You work under me, and I'll present you the opportunity to grow."

Actually, she wasn't sure if that was true. The A.I.M. system didn't explain what being a -Servant- actually meant, just that it gave them some limited access into the system's workings. Like, there surely was a reason why it's called Servants and not Party or Friends or whatnot. Did she have control of all her -Servants-? Maybe. Not that she could actually want to see if that was true.

"So, you ready?"

Yukikaze took a deep breath. "Do it."

User: Mizuki Yukikaze (18)

Race: Human

Master: Tsunaka Hanami

Constitution: 200/200

Mana: 200/200

Deep within the planet, hidden under dirt and stone, surrounded by canals of flowing lava, the sounds of clanking chains echoed out through a small cavern, bouncing and reaching out towards the unknown.

Then, silence.

And a pair of violet eyes opened.