Chapter 12

The sun began to set thus ending Corrin's beach day with Gyobu and three of his kin. This caused her to look down at the three little tanuks who were currently sleeping on top of a towel that the four were currently sitting on. Seeing this prompted the princess to smile while she commented, "Awe, their adorable even when their sleeping." She then looked up at Gyobu and added, "And thank you for coming here today with me. I had a lot of fun."

After she had uttered these words though the young woman was surprised when she heard the large tanuki let out a chuckle before he smiled at her and replied, "You are very welcome. Although in actuality it is I who should be thanking you, Corrin. Because I don't think I've ever seen the little ones enjoy themselves as much as they had done so today."

"Well in that case you're welcome." Corrin told him as the two stood up onto their feet. She then looked down at the three sleeping tanukis and went on with, "But will you be able to carry all three of them back to your home without any trouble. Because if you need it, I'd be then happy to help you and carry one of them for you."

"That's very kind of you, Corrin. But I assure you this isn't a problem." The brown, white and black furred anthro reassured her, while he bent down and easily lifted all three smaller tanukis into both of his arms. She then saw him walk up to her until he was a few inches away form her before he added, "So I believe I best be on my way then." Once he had told her this though Corrin was taken aback when she felt the large tanuki gently press his lips against her right cheek and kiss it. He then started to pull away while he kept on going with, "Safe travels to you on your way back home."

"Y-Yes, you too." The young woman stuttered out, as a light blush spread across her face. She then proceeded to place a hand onto her right cheek once he had completely moved his face away from hers. And while she watched him walk away she mentally added, "I-I can't believe he kissed the side of my face like that. It was quite surprising, but if I'm being honest with myself, I thought it was...nice."

Azura looked out of her bedroom window and up at the never changing night sky of Nohr as she commented out loud to herself, "I honestly don't know how much longer Father is going to be willing to wait for Princess Corrin to be brought here to Nohr. Although that brings up the real question of where her true location is."

"Oh! So you're looking for Princess Corrin huh? Well, I can help you with that sweetheart." A voice remarked, which caused the princess to sharply turn around and let out a loud gasp of surprise.

Once she had done this Azura's golden eyes widen when she an anthromorphic hyena with black fur who had a light blue colored hair that was styled in a way she had not seen before. Along with this she also saw that his clothes were like a commoners although she could tell they were very different if compared to a commoner in Nohr. Putting these observations to the side for now the light blue haired young woman cleared her throat before she said, "Forgive me for gasping like that. You just caught me by surprise."

"No problem, babe." The creature reassured her, as he started to walk towards her.

After he had taken a few steps forward however, the door to her main room was swung open to reveal Gunter with a Silver Lance in hand. And before the noblewoman knew it her attendant had run up and stood in front of her while he warned, "Who are you creature? And how did you get into Lady Azura's fortress without any of the other soldiers noticing you?"

"Creature? Well, I think that's the first time I've ever been called that before. But since you asked who I am I'll tell you." The beastman remarked, before he did a low bow. And upon so he continued with, "We are called Nyarlathotep. But if you'd like you may call us Nyarl."

"Very well then, Nyarl. I am Princess Azura." The singer stated, to which she saw him look up at her with a tooth filled grin. Once he done this though she begna to walk out from behind the elderly knight when she added, "And this is my attendant Gunter."

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you both." The anthro hyena commented, while the princess saw his tail sway form the side to side.

Upon a closer look Azura not only noticed that it had quite a few different colors on it. But the ends of it appeared to be shaped in the form of human hands. However, the princess did her best not to become distract while she asked, "So now that the introductions are out of the way I believe you said something about knowing the location of Princess Corrin, is that correct?"

"You got that right, babe." Nyarl answered back, to which right afterwards she saw him wink at her with one of his light blue colored eyes.

However, he was not able to say anything beyond that as Gunter protested, "Have you no manners?! Do not address the princess with such a vulgar term such as that!"

"It's fine, Gunter. And forgive me, but may I ask you to leave the room. Because as of now I want to be the only one who knows of Princess Corrin's whereabouts. Especially if this is nothing more then a trick." Azura explained, which she saw had caught the knight off guard for a moment.

But after a little bit of time had passed she saw the older man let out a tired sigh followed by, "Very well Lady Azura. But if you need me then I assure you I won't be that far away."

"Of course." The princess replied, before her attendant had walked out fo the room and closed the door behind him. After he had done this the young woman brought her attention back to the hyena and continued, "Now please tell me where the missing Princess of Hoshido is."

"Very well, princess." Nyarl said, before he walked up to her. And once he was right in front of her Azura saw him lean his face down until his lips were close to her left ear. She then felt his warm breathe against it when he went on with, "She is currently living in a place called Tokyo."

"I see. And how pray tell does one get to place called this Tokyo?" Azura asked, while she took a step back away from him.

Upon asking this however, the golden eyed singer was greeted by a loud cackle before the beastman replied, "I'm sorry sweetheart, but there's no way you can get there from here. That is of course without my help."

Hearing this prompted her to let out a sigh as she replied back, "Of course that would be the case. Very well then. But if I agree to have you help me go there then what is in this for you besides whatever amount of gold I give you upon returning back home?"

"What's in it for me you ask? Why I get to see the look on Corrin's face when she sees a princess from her enemies homeland has finally found her. Oh, I bet the look of fear on her face will be simply lovely." Nyarl said, to which Azura saw him stick out his tongue while she also saw an odd gleam in his eyes. This only lasted for a little while before he gave her a normal look and added on, "However, if you don't want her to know that you're looking for her at the party we'd best think of a way to get you into the social gathering without any issues." After saying this a tooth fillled reformed on his face as he continued, "Wait, I know what we can do. You can come as my date! Not only that, but I'll even let you perform in front of the audience too."

"Perform you say? Would this include singing perhaps?" Azura asked, while she began to mentally form a plan in her head of how to draw out Princess Corrin.

"Of course it does, sweetheart. But why do you ask? Do you sing or have a song in mind already?" Nyarl questioned, with both excitement and surprise in his voice.

"Yes, I do sing. And I believe I know the perfect song to sing at this social gathering. So if you'll allow it let me get a change of clothes. Once I do that I must ask that you allow me to go back with you to Tokyo tonight. This way you and I can go over more of the details about the song I wish to sing without any issues..." Azura stated, before trailing off as to not mention anything about the curse that she had to endure.

To her surprise she saw Nyarl nod his head in understanding before he did another slow bow while he told her, "As you wish, Lady Azura. Just make sure that whatever you wear is both lovely and able to hide some of your face."

"Don't worry, I know of just the dress to wear." The princess reassured him, before she walked away to retrieve said attire.