It was about 8 years ago during a cool winter night. It wasn't too cold out, so I was able to enjoy the silence outside while watching the moon.
This was a rare day when dad was home. He decided to stay longer after the incident.
It was a couple of days ago, a man had taken me hostage to get Dad's attention. There was a fight and he was winning.
It was the first time I had used my magecraft. It hurt. It felt like I was burning alive.
My fist clenched, it still felt like the blade was there. It felt heavy in my hands. I couldn't describe the feeling. I was shaking from just remembering it.
"Yuto?" I tilted my head and saw Dad standing by the door. "...Are you thinking about it?"
I nodded wordlessly, he walked out, and sat next to me.
We sat there in silence, enjoying each other's company.
"You made the right choice. Even though I regret that it had to be you who made it." He interrupted the silence.
"I don't regret what happened. Though if another way was available I would have taken it." I clenched my fist again. The feeling was still present.
He would usually reassure any worries I have. I was interested in dad's travels, and he was good at talking about his adventures. He would always come back with a souvenir for me, an apology gift of sorts. As amazing as the gifts were, I never saw them as necessary. Though I guess that was him trying to make up for lost time. This time was different.
"Have you ever saved someone like that?" I asked suddenly.
"There were a few." He smiled as he reminisced about his many adventures.
"Why help others who don't deserve it?" It was usually like this when he was here, but not once had he given me a proper answer. If only a little, I think I finally understand.
"There is nothing wrong with helping people. Even if they don't say "thank you", or even if they scorn me. Do you not agree with that?" He asked in an amused tone. I think he already knew the answer.
I hummed. "I think aimlessly seeking it will lead to your own destruction." He nodded. "But I think simply helping others is good." There was a smile on his face as he stared up at the moon.
"I don't think I could help people like you could though."
"I would prefer you didn't." He ruffled my hair. "You are smart. So I'm sure you will decide for yourself one day. All it takes is one person to change your life."
I couldn't understand him, but I could read his emotions, which he always wore on his sleeve. An open book, that is an apt description of him. He always did his best when around, teaching me new things, new cultures, how to help people. He taught me a lot of fun things that I used.
At the very end, if only a little, I think I understood him.
Though, even with the abilities I have, I still couldn't do anything. "If I was faster." "If I was stronger." There weren't any more excuses. That fault goes to me and me alone.
Still, it was fun. I managed to protect at least one person. That was enough for me...
When I opened my eyes, I woke up in an unfamiliar room.
"What…? Where am I?" As soon as I said that, I felt terribly sick. It felt like there was a dagger in my chest.
"Ugh...It tastes bad." I could taste blood in my mouth.
I feel sick, my body was aching. I want to wash my face in the bathroom.
This looked like a hospital room. There should be a bathroom by the door.
"Wait...why am I...alive…?" The sharp pain in my chest was gone. My body was restored. There were some bandages, which made me question whether that was true. I didn't know anything about them, so I let them be.
Actually, everything felt off. The air felt different too. I could worry about that later, I wanted to get out of bed.
"...All right." I stood up and immediately felt sick. I grabbed onto the edge of the bed to stop myself from falling over. The nausea increases when I move. Actually, it's more pain than nausea. My whole body was aching and sore.
It feels like I got into a serious fight and lost. ...Actually that may be what happened knowing my luck. I was drawing a blank on what happened, outside I know I should be dead.
Well, I'd rather avoid thinking about it, it only made my headache worse.
'What happened?' Just as I asked myself that-
Click
The door slid open.
Wearing a traditional shrine maiden outfit, a young woman with golden hair and matching colored eyes walks in. An air of nobility followed her as she walked in.
Not Human
She was dangerous, that was what my mind was screaming. There was a flash of an outline, only a small flicker, there and gone, but I certainly saw it. That only worried me more.
She wasn't human. She was something that looked human.
"Is there something wrong?" She spoke in an amused tone.
"N-no."
She raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason to be so nervous? I don't believe we have met before." Sorry. Even if you say that, I can't help but be wary of someone I just met. The feeling you gave off didn't help either.
"We haven't." I stated. "I am just confused about everything happening."
"I suppose that makes sense. You were at death's door when one of my subordinates found you. You must have had quite the night." She listed off the numerous injuries I had. Cuts all over my body, fractured bones, torn muscles, and a deep gouge in my chest that nearly went right through.
I remember it now, the fight. Just thinking about the Golden prick made me want to punch him. Though, that didn't explain how I got to a hospital.
"The only anomaly that couldn't be explained was the gouge in your chest. It's a miracle you lasted as long as you did. Luckily the doctors here were my people, so you got the best possible treatment." She explained with a comforting smile. She wasn't lying.
I had an idea how I got here now, Caster. I was injured and Caster must have taken me to a hospital, so she must be around here too. Though it was a miracle I was alive, maybe she convinced this woman to help me.
Though my heart skipped a beat when I remembered what I did. Using a command seal like that, she was going to be pissed.
"Is there anyone we could call to tell them of your whereabouts?" She asked reluctantly, as if she didn't even know what she was saying.
"...There are a couple people, I can call them as soon as I get my hands on a phone."
"Would you like me to contact them?"
I shook my head. My Aunt avoided phones as if they were the plague, even when I was the one calling her. "They are superstitious. If they don't recognize the one calling, they hang up immediately." I technically wasn't lying, but I still felt a little bad not telling the full truth.
"Very well." She said with a sigh, though her smile quickly returned. "Are there any questions you might have?"
I racked my thoughts. With what happened, there was really only one question I could ask.
"Was there anyone with me when you found me?" The last few moments were blurry, and hard to remember, yet she was there. She is going to be extremely angry with me. But I still had to ask.
There was a pause, and my breath caught in my throat.
"There was." She confirmed, making me release a breath of relief. So she really is here then.
"She should be around here somewhere. I am sure she is rushing here now."
The moment she said that.
SLAM
The door was practically yanked off its hinges by a woman with pink hair and hazel eyes. The moment her eyes saw me standing, she ran towards me and tackled me with a hug.
...Ow.
"Cas- Tamamo?" Almost by habit, I called her by her class. It took some time before she finally revealed her name to me.
"I am so glad you woke up." She whispered in my ear. I must have really worried her. She then pushed herself up and glared at me. "Master, you are such a jerk." She pouted at me.
"H-huh?"
"Not only did you leave me behind to fight the final boss on your own, but you nearly died doing it. You were out for days, leaving your loyal wife worried sick for longer. I almost resorted to eating hospital food. Do you have any idea how disgusting that is?" And she's back.
"Probably, It couldn't compare to your cooking anyway." She beamed at my sentence. Hopefully she wouldn't scold me as much for my actions, keyword 'hopefully.'
"Your words make me so happy, master." I could see her tail despite the illusion she had set up on herself. Maybe it was because She was my servant for a time. Then suddenly, her tail stiffened. "Though I can tell you're honest, don't think complimenting me is enough to get away. You owe me a massive apology." Whelp, so much for that.
Then her angry eyes turned to the woman.
"And you tried to keep me from getting to him, to think you would be desperate enough to have your guards slow me down." She had a dangerous look on her face. The room's temperature heated up. This is new. She always had an aura of power, but it felt more potent now.
"Well, that isn't untrue. But I would appreciate you keeping your curious fantasies to yourself." She shot back with a smile. Tamamo glared at her while she just smiled back.
Shivers ran up my spine. Hah~ I feel like I'm in danger. "Um…I don't believe I ever got your name." I'd rather not get caught between these two.
"It is a bit rude to ask for a name without giving yours first." She chirped back, officially ignoring Tamamo. Actually, she hasn't stopped smiling since she walked in. Though it was more of an easygoing smile rather than one that conveyed actual joy.
"Um...My name is Yuto, Emiya Yuto. I am in your care." Hopefully giving my name wouldn't blow up in my face. She didn't have any meaningful reaction, only a nod. Has she not heard of my dad? He did mention that some people had a grudge against Grandfather, and it passed down to him.
"My name Is Yasaka." She gained a mischievous smile as the outline appeared again. Only now it took visible shape and color. Nine fluffy golden tails appeared behind her, matched with two golden fox ears on top of her head. "I am a Kyubi and the current Queen of the Yokai. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Emiya Yuto."
"...Eh?"
The next day could only be described as stressful. Tamamo explained that we weren't in our world anymore. "The age of gods has not yet ended," was what Tamamo told me. I was hesitant to believe her, like anyone should be, but there was no reason for her to lie to me, so it must be true.
The moment I got my hands on a phone, a local one, lent to me by Yasaka-sama, I tried calling the number of my Aunt Rin. Only to find out that it wasn't active, even Aunt Taiga's number wasn't active.
With a racing heart, I looked up Fuyuki city.
It didn't exist either. In its place was a town called Kuoh, the shock was enough to make me fall to my knees. My home was gone.
"Then...would you like to stay here?" After my small breakdown, Yasaka-sama asked me that. Not like I had anywhere else to go. I still greatly appreciated the offer.
It was strange. Most stories I have read paint Kitsune and Kyuubi as tricksters. Though Tamamo was a good one, as much as she messes with me, so maybe Yasaka was similar. Though she hasn't teased me...yet.
She has been surprisingly open about most things, like the fact she has a guard nearby.
I didn't know why she was so wary of me, it was a question I wanted to ask. She has only visited one other time since I woke up, and hasn't pried too much, so I will ask at a better time.
Though I wish I could do something other than wait in my hospital bed.
"A job? While I am proud of your responsibility, I feel as though you are forgetting something important." Tamamo said, taking a bite of the meal she made for us.
"Neither of us have any money to our names. And Didn't Yasaka lend you that outfit?" I tapped the pen against the empty journal in my lap. It was my secret magecraft journal that doubled as my travel guide. Though I couldn't perform magecraft without harming myself, so I couldn't test any of them.
At least, that's how it was. Even if my core was gone, I still wouldn't know how to perform any spell I could remember. At least, almost any spell. There was one, which spurred Aunt Rin into having this journal made in the first place.
It was probably a good thing I didn't activate my circuits when I woke up. Using magecraft, especially with what little understanding I have, wouldn't help. Yasaka seemed on edge as is.
Maybe that's why she left someone outside. They haven't talked to us at all. Hah~I really wanted to see what kind of yokai they were too~.
"I don't get what her problem is. What was wrong with my Shrine clothes?" Turns out Yasaka had her wear a traditional outfit. I didn't have any problems with it, but if I had to guess...
"Nothing for me. But to her, it probably doesn't leave a lot to the imagination." I said easily.
"Don't be so mean, Master! My clothing is perfect, mind you. It's not like it actually flashes anyone."
"I seem to remember a few times when you did." I blushed as I remembered some of those moments. It was on purpose, she never tried to hide that fact.
"Hoh?" A sly smile spread across her face. "So you were looking."
"Maybe." I looked back at my journal, trying to remember specific locations. All I had so far were a couple cities, with none of the info. Luckily I had a contingency if the first was ever lost or destroyed. If only I had a computer.
"What's this?" She was looking over my shoulder curiously.
"A planner of sorts. I needed something to keep my mind busy." She remained oddly quiet at my remark.
As I was skimming through the pages, she stopped on one of them. "Something up?"
"Kyoto, Japan." She had a fond smile on her face as she looked over the page. "You did mention you would have liked to visit it one day."
"And you encouraged that. Maybe we can go walk around when I am released." Just thinking about seeing the city made me ansty.
Tamamo smiled knowingly. "Or maybe we can go right now. Yasaka said your injuries were healed, it's just paperwork now. I'll ask." She reached into a bag she had on her and pulled out some clothes.
Tamamo smiled knowingly. "Or maybe we can go right now. Yasaka said you're really healthy now. I'll ask." She reached into a bag she had on her and pulled out some clothes.
...Wait a second, I thought we didn't have any money.
"Now I think you are forgetting something important?" I was fidgeting in place as the thought crossed my mind. I want to go, but I didn't want to inconvenience anyone. I was pretty much fully healed, though...
"It's not like we have to sneak out, as much as I would like to just annoy her. Besides, you want to walk around. A moonlit walk sounds nice, no?" She knows how to get to my weak spots. Putting that thought in my head. I nodded and grabbed the clothes. She, in turn, walked out to talk to the guard. At least not before trying to watch me change. I had to push her out the door.
Her antics, while fun, were hard to keep up with sometimes. Maybe she was just as excited as I was. She was really happy when I woke up, so this must be fun for her.
I'll worry about that later. I would get to see the city, that was what pushed reason out for a bit.
It took some convincing, but the guard relented after I annoyed him for a bit. He looked surprisingly human, so I was a little disappointed. He was rude too.
Though I quickly forgot the rude guard once I got outside. Everything was so pretty at night.
I felt really energized despite being bedridden for a week. Maybe it was the treatment Yasaka-sama had given me. Maybe it was a magecraft I haven't seen before. That would be cool!
There would be a lot of new magecraft in this world. I wonder if I could learn some of it. I shook with excitement. There would be so many cool things I get to see!
Just thinking about it made me excited.
"Wow..." I was breathless. Old fashioned buildings lined the streets. Assorted scents and noises assaulted my nose and ears. It didn't look like a lot, but it still looked cool to me! I was ready to visit every store that caught my eye. I then remembered that I had no money.
"It is very pretty here. Though, that may be because I like the old fashioned look, it mixes quite well with the modern setting." Tamamo walked forward so she was directly in front of me. "Let's go master. We can explore for a bit, and maybe you can find a nice gift for me in the future." I was right, she really was excited. I nodded and she walked me along the streets.
I noticed some people send glances my way. I had an idea why. Most of my looks come from my mom, outside my heterochromia and whitening hair anyway, so I looked more European than japanese. Though I would be lying if I said I didn't care, it made me a little uncomfortable.
Tamamo and I continued to walk around and look at some shops. There were times her face brightened up. It made me happy.
I couldn't help but think, her presence was far more powerful than when she was my servant. Maybe it was because we were in the age of gods now. She did mention she had a physical body now. Hah~ this world is filled with so many mysteries~!
Well, even still, that didn't change anything, Tamamo is still Tamamo.
It's only been a week since I woke up, And I spent it lazying about too much. Taking away the fun things, that leaves "Why am I still alive?" at the top of the list. It's pretty depressing, so better not to think about it. Hmm, I know! I wonder how Aunt Taiga is?
...I miss them.
"Everything Okay, Master?" Tamamo stopped walking and looked back at me.
"Yeah. Just a little hungry is all." I said, ignoring her doubtful look. "I didn't eat much at the hospital since we left in a bit of a rush." Her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh. I was in a little rush to get you out of there, so you didn't finish my food." She paused and scanned the area. "Oh! There is good enough!" Oh. There was a park close by. We could go there next.
She pulled out the bento boxes from her tail. She's done it in the past before, maybe it was a spell she uses.
"Do you store stuff in your tail?" I asked, curious, and her tail stiffened.
"Don't ask pointless questions. Anyway, what do you think of this world so far?" She dodged the question and brought up something more important.
"I can't really say yet. My first impression is numbed since I have been in the hospital for the last week, and unconscious for another week. Yasaka seemed nice at least." I have been getting way too ansty. I couldn't put my finger on it, but the air here felt...off. That was the best I could describe it.
"That's fair. Yasaka has been bearable enough I suppose. Say "Ah"." She held some sushi in front of me. I played along and let her feed me. "Though, tell me master, how do your circuits feel? The shift to this world must be hard for you. I commend your tolerance, but speaking up would be good too. If you want, I can suck out the excess mana."
"I don't feel anything actually. Maybe I have some resistance because of the nature of my circuits. Probably better I don't test it for a while though." I would like to avoid risking my life again. She nodded and fed me another piece.
"Tolerance isn't immunity. It would be wise to learn soon. I have zero clue as to what this world holds, even as a goddess."
Yasaka was a Kyubi, a nine tailed fox. She would be classified as a phantasmal beast back in our world, something that should only exist in the age of gods. There are going to be a lot of powerful creatures with the age of gods still ongoing.
"Maybe Yasaka can offer up a nice house for us. Something nice and cozy, preferably. It could be our new home." There were some stars in her eyes as she thought about it.
"...Maybe." I looked around to see where we could go next. The park was the best option. Hmm...
I stood up stretched. "I'm going to walk around for a bit."
"But you haven't finished your food." Tamamo whined.
"Don't worry. I want to see where we could go next." She smiled hesitantly and nodded.
"I'm okay with that. On the condition I get to do the same." She held up a finger. "We meet back here in twenty minutes. Whoever has the better spot wins." We both laughed and walked off.
She will probably pick a place with a nice view. I think a nice nature walk will be good. Maybe there is a pond there.
I was already pretty far from the eating area. While I walked toward the park, I thought back to what she said earlier.
...Home, huh? ...I miss them.
I was getting close to the park when I noticed it. My thoughts came to a halt.
There was something close to the edge of the park. It was a bounded field. It was incredibly weak, almost unnoticeable. It must not affect the inside too much if it was this weak.
What should I do? What if someone was in there? I stood there longer than I would have liked.
I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. I should check it out, on the off chance there was someone in there.
It would be better not to tell Tamamo. She would want to avoid this. Still...there was a tree nearby, that would do.
Hah~ She's gonna scold me again.
With that solved, I walked inside.
Normally, when I walk through parks or a forest, I stop to listen to the bugs and birds and other animals. Their chirping made a nice natural melody that always calmed my nerves.
Not this time. There wasn't a single noise from the animals and insects here. The air here was weird. It felt like everything was scared. This didn't help my own anxiety. I didn't want Tamamo to get hurt, so I would solve this on my own before she finds out. I hope, anyway.
Hm. It was near. I could see buildings outside the park I was now standing in. It was stronger now, the sense of bloodlust emanating from the area. That's why the animals here were scared of whatever was here. I couldn't blame them, I was feeling a bit scared too.
I could see it now, there was someone laying down next to some trees. They had dog ears on top of their head and a tail motionless behind them.
"Hey! Are you okay?!" I ran over to them and rolled them over.
-! My breath caught in my throat. There was a hole in his chest where his heart should have been, as well as his stomach and some of his arms and legs. He was mauled to death.
"..." I couldn't say anything. I took off my jacket and covered his body. He was still warm. "I'm sorry." I muttered.
If I had noticed sooner… I could have… I…
I grabbed at my chest. I could feel my heart racing. I was frozen in place. I couldn't stop shaking.
People died here. He wasn't the only one. There was hardly any blood. It's done this before.
It was in this area. It was here, and all I could do was shake just a foot in.
...What am I doing? I took a deep breath to calm myself. It was still in the park. If I got into a fight, it would probably win. It knew the terrain better and I wasn't accustomed to using magecraft.
The last thing I want is for trouble to find me.
"You!" Only for trouble to appear right in front of me.
Wearing a shrine outfit, a girl a couple years younger than me glared at me. Her features were similar to Yasaka's, if not a little younger, and like Yasaka, I could see the outline of tails and ears. Huh, it was easier to see through her illusion this time.
"What are you doing here? This place reeks of blood, leave immediately."
"If that's the case then a kid like you shouldn't be here either." She cut me off with a glare.
She looked down to the body next to me. "And what are you doing with that body?" Her eyes narrowed. Before I could try to explain myself, her eyes widened. "I can smell blood on you. I see, so you were the cause."
"H-huh?" She raised one of her arms at me and blue fire ignited in her palm.
"I can't sense any demonic energy on you, so are you perhaps a stray magician? Using humans as lab rats, how disgusting."
"Don't compare me to them." I sighed. "I was given permission to leave the hospital for some fresh air. I noticed some magecraft near the park so I investigated." She looked skeptical, but her eyes traveled to my wrist.
She closed her eyes in thought before looking at me. "A boy with blonde hair with a white patch, and one green and ochre eye. So you were the one mother talked about." Mother? Ah, she is talking about Yasaka. I guess I really did cause trouble for her, I'll have to apologize when I see her again.
"So you decided to visit an area that is clearly dangerous when you were about to be discharged from the hospital. You must be incredibly asinine to visit an obviously dangerous area." She said in a stern tone.
"So then what are you doing here? If I shouldn't be here then you, a kid, shouldn't be here either."
"I must have sensed what you did and investigated like you. The creature here is experienced if it can hide its presence from me." She scolds me for following the bounded field but did the same thing herself. Little hypocrite.
The girl started to walk away, at least, not before turning to me. "I suppose we should leave. We have been dilly dallying for too long. Mother must have found me out by now, so I must return. SInce my night was cut short, and this place is dangerous, you shall be my escort." She said it in a way like I had no room for argument. She then turned around and kept walking.
"Huh?" How cruel of this princess. She was putting me in danger also.
"Was my earlier assumption correct? You will be escorting me back to the hospital, I will tell mother that I have found the creature's hunting spot." With that, she turned around and started walking away again.
'Shouldn't we investigate?' Is what I wanted to say. However, I wanted to avoid a fight right now. I had zero clue of what was in this forest. There was Tamamo, who is far more capable than me, but I didn't want to put her in danger. I am not calling her weak, far from it. But even she would struggle against an opponent there was no information on. We had to fight too many battles like that. It was a miracle we managed to win looking back.
But now there was this girl to escort I guess. Reluctantly, I started to follow her.
The girl continued to walk without looking back at me. Was she expecting me to follow? Even if I didn't have many options, shouldn't she be more concerned?
"I never got your name." I blurted out.
"It is rude to ask for a name without giving yours first." She said without looking back.
I scratched the back of my head. "Sorry. It's Yuto. Emiya Yuto."
"I suppose that will suffice. I am Kunou, princess of the wes-'' Her words stopped suddenly as she turned to me with wide eyes.
I felt it. Bloodlust. Coming from right behind us.
I picked up Kunou by her waist and took off, ignoring her complaints. There was a gust of wind from behind and a screech. I was already a few feet away, and just kept running. I acted without thinking, and took off opposite from the exit to the park. It was too late to think about it, so I just kept running without looking back.
The silence was incredibly unnerving. All That could hear was the rustling of the grass he stepped on and the panting of his own breath.
How is this human so fast? Kunou couldn't help but wonder. There were a few humans that served her mother, none of them were as agile as he was.
Her complaints were silenced once he got her out of danger, again. He was the one running, so it would be up to her to guide him. "There's an exit nearby." She whispered so that only he could hear.
He didn't have any meaningful reaction, but followed the instructions regardless. He was complacent when she first found him covering the body, and now he would have to listen to get out of this park. She saw enough of the body to know it had experience cleaning up its messes. It has been doing this for a while.
"Huff. Huff." It seemed like he was already reaching his limit. His gasps for air were quickly turning into wheezing. He ran faster than she thought was possible, it was possible that he went full sprint from the start.
"It's close...There!" She pointed at a stone bridge with a river underneath.
He looked to where she was pointing...and there was nothing there. No point in arguing. He picked up the pace.
The moment they got near the river, a magic circle appeared directly under where Yuto stepped. It was unfamiliar, like everything else in this world, even still, the purpose was obvious to them as mana collected and surged dangerously.
A bright light grew underneath them. Yuto spun his body around and hugged Kunou close to him as the light blinded them.
BOOM
An intense heat assaulted Yuto's back along with a powerful wind that sent them flying. He skid across the ground, making sure Kunou didn't get hurt.
"Ow… It was supposed to be a nice walk." There were burns and cuts all across his back which left some red stains on the grass he skidded on. Just wonderful. Left fully recovered only to get injured again. Far from his worst injury, but that doesn't make it any more bearable.
"You okay, Ojou-sama?" He asked, to which she nodded wordlessly. That was probably a good thing. The explosion left his ears ringing.
Speaking of, he looked over to the source of the situation. All that was left was a massive crater! This thing was being sneaky and left a damn explosive near an exit! There wasn't even any trace of it!
He shook his head to rid himself of the ringing. Once subsided, he tried to stand back up using the tree behind him as support. He needed to get out of the park as quickly as possible.
"You're quite tough." An unknown voice from next to him!
He was sent flying as a foot slammed into his ribs. He slammed into another tree, coughing up some blood, leaving a dent. Kunou landed on her feet only a couple of feet away from Yuto. Because he wasn't prepared, she slipped out of his grip the moment he was kicked.
Yuto looked up at the prick who kicked him, balancing himself on the tree that caught him.
"Still holding on, and with such fierce eyes? Impressive." The unknown figure walked into the moonlight, revealing a man wearing a black trenchcoat
Not Human. Danger!
"What do you want?" Yuto asked through uneven breaths. With his mind screaming at him and he couldn't focus on what to do next.
"Why, the little Fox you are carrying. You happen to be a bonus." It stated in a matter of fact tone with a feral smile.
Yuto grit his teeth and looked around. The bridge wasn't that far behind it. If he reinforced his legs and made a dead sprint, he would make it in only a couple of seconds. He just needed a distraction.
Hm? Kunou straightened her back and dusted off her clothes. "What is your business with me, stray?" She spat out the last word with extreme venom. Like she was angry at herself too.
...This is not the distraction I meant...
Stray? Did she mean stray Youkai? I've read stories with some creatures like that. Was this creature like that?
No, it was something else. Yasaka didn't give off the feeling this thing was, or even Kunou. This thing… was something else entirely.
The creature smiled at Kunou. "Nothing much. I just followed a rumor that the little princess sneaks out at night. I'd imagine your fur would sell for quite a fancy amount."
"Were you the one who killed the inugami I saw earlier?"
"I'm hurt!" It feigned ignorance. "How could you think a mere stray devil like me would kill a lowly youkai." It smiled, an actual ear to ear smile. Shivers ran down Yuto's back. A devil? That would certainly explain the feeling he got from the creature before him.
Her eyes widened and blue fire enveloped her hand. "Fox Fire!" She threw the blue fireball at the creature, who swatted it away effortlessly.
"That's It? I've seen one tails with stronger fire than that."
Surprisingly, instead of panicking, she stood protectively in front of Yuto and glanced back at him. "If you can move, then leave. You will only distract me."
She was either really brave or just overconfident. Yuto only got a glimpse of her eyes, but he knew it was neither. She was scared, and was just really adept at hiding it. She knew she was outclassed but chose to protect Yuto.
He may not know anything about this new moonlit world, but he knew that she was no match for this thing. She was a bit bratty, in his opinion, but she didn't deserve to die.
There was no way he was going to let her fight this thing.
He didn't get to voice his thoughts as the creature rushed forward. In his disorientated state, he could hardly keep up with it.
The sound of hammer hitting steel rang in his head as green lines appeared on his legs and disappeared just as quickly. He jumped forward, cracking the ground beneath his feet, and picked Kunou up and dashed for the bridge again. Running far faster than both the non-humans thought he could.
The creature roared as Yuto stepped into the river and stomped it's foot, a magic circle starting to form.
He could see it now that he was closer, or rather sense it. Under the bridge was a bounded field of some sort. At least that's what it felt like. It was an irrelevant matter right now, so Yuto pushed his curiosity down and kept running.
He got only a couple feet away when the circle finished, and the feeling from the bridge was starting to weaken. He didn't need to think. He knew they wouldn't make it, even with reinforcement.
He took a deep breath. "Sorry." He said to the princess in his arms.
She looked up at him to see a small smile.
That was the last thing she saw as she felt a gust of wind, her vision turning slightly.
"Yu-" She didn't get to finish as she disappeared, the portal disappearing soon after. The look she had, she looked betrayed.
Geez princess, better get used to that.
After the portal closed, what he just did finally caught up to him and he fell to his knees. The nerves in his legs gave out temporarily. The inexperience of using his circuits finally caught up to him.
...Pain...excruciating pain…
The mana in the air was denser in the Age of Gods, but this was excessive! His inexperience with magecraft only added to the fact. "Fill in the gaps" Was the basis of the reinforcement spell, and was not what he did.
The water hissed under his knees, it was loud enough that it hid his pained gasps. Luckily the steam hid his pained expression.
So this is the age of gods… He was too lost in thought to notice the creature walking up.
"You…" The creature that has been the bane of his night, growled. It stepped onto the edge of the riverbank and looked down at the injured blonde. "You cost me the next month's worth of meals."
Yuto grit his teeth, pushing the pain out of the way, and forced himself up with a grunt. His legs shook and he stumbled more, before eventually standing straight. The water on his legs turning to steam from the heat of his circuits.
He looked back at the creature with a blank expression, not letting his pain show.
"Next month? How stupid of you, assuming you will leave this place alive."
The creature swung its clawed hand in a fury. The nails sharper than daggers grew.
Yuto's eyes widened and he raised his arm as the claws reached him, gritting his teeth as it cut through his forearm.
Fast! But it has its weaknesses.
Green circuits flared on the blonde's hand as the creature freed its claws and jumped back. It growled and disappeared from its spot, leaving a small dust trail.
He let out pained breaths and got into a basic stance with his hands open, as if he was holding something.
I don't like your style Dad, but it will have to do. Focus…
The feeling he got from this thing. If he could find it, he could counter it.
...From behind!
A fire formed into his hand. His hands grabbed onto it as it turned into a basic European Longsword.
He turned his body, releasing one of his hands, and swung up in an arc. The feeling of steel cutting through skin, something he had become familiar with. As well as the feeling of claws slicing through his calf.
The creature roared in pain as it's arm was cut clean off, even some of its shoulder was sliced off as well. It tumbled from the lack of balance a couple of feet away from where it lost its arm.
"You were able to keep up with me! A knight!" It roared in outrage. It grabbed where its shoulder was and stood up. The veins on its body bulged out as its body started to change.
He needed to kill it. Yuto dug his feet into the ground and rushed forward.
It couldn't react in time as Yuto killed his momentum by stomping his foot in the ground. Before the creature could regain its bearings, it was caught with a shoulder check.
Not missing the opportunity, Yuto swung his blade once more. Cutting through the monster without much resistance. Though, not enough to finish it.
It knew where Yuto would swing and backed up just enough to avoid a fatal wound. He missed.
He grit his teeth and jumped forward once again. As soon as he did, all the pain and stress finally caught up to him as a surge of pain shot through his entire body.
It felt like he was burning alive. His circuits were burning him from the inside out as the mana overloaded them. The sword in his hand was starting to disappear. He willed the mana in it to remain. One more shot would do.
The monster in front of him growled.
"How dare you...!" It roared as Its body started to morph. First its chest, growing as its muscles got ridiculously big, followed by its arms and legs becoming massive claws. The creature resembles a wolf if it was far more monstrous.
Before it could slash him to pieces, something strange happened.
Their eyes met only briefly, yet the creature froze. A deep fear rose from it's subconscious. Right then, it was not a human that was looking up at it. It knew. No matter what it did, it would not survive. The only thought that went through his head was to cower in fear.
It wouldn't live. It was going to die.
It needed to kill the thing in front of it before It killed him. It took a step forward and-
SLASH
All it could see was the blade after it had already cut through its torso. Blood seeped from its wound as it tumbled back in fear and pain. Despite its injuries, It still stood. There was a faint shadow covering its wound.
The sword in Yuto's hand disappeared in red particles. His mind was starting to drift, his comfort coming in the form of a familiar warmth that covered the area. Only for it to quickly turn to scorching heat. A massive fireball appeared, one that incinerated the creature on the spot. Leaving not even ashes.
...Ah...at least Kunou is safe… That was the last thought he had before his eyes grew heavy and he fell over, unconscious.
