Sorry for the long delay, i got so much to do and also an event to participate on!

Thanks for all the waiting and understanding. Also... thanks to crimson for working so hard to edit these all.


"Maki!" someone shouted my name. Her voice is gentle and mature…

"Maki! Wake up!" she shouted my name again…

"E…Eli?" I carefully open my eyes. I can see her holding me—her fox ears telling me that she is in a mellow mood.

"Wake up …" she said. Something is definitely wrong with her right now… but I can't really tell…. It's like her eyes are displaying grave fear.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"You need to tell me, what are you going to pay me with…."

W-What?!

Wait?!

Wh-When is this?!

"Wait a minute, tell me when is this…!" I said clearly.

She smiled sadly,

"I have no idea why you are asking me that…. but… you just stole the red box… and now you're the one that owns me…." she said.

W-what?! I definitely don't remember this!

Even—I have no idea why I'm here! With Hakamas… and…. a box of first aid next to me. and at a place that is unknown… well…this looks like an old classical fortress… whose fortress is this?

"Maki! Please tell me what you are going to pay me with!" She asked again, her fear becoming more evident.

"Music?" I replied.

"Then—hurry up and play me a song…."

How?! I don't even have my piano!

"I..I need my piano!" I said.

She seems to be more agitated as I said that…

W-what's going on, I wonder?!

Uh, well.. maybe making one wish wouldn't hurt? This is for her after all…

"I—I wish for a piano! here and now!" I said…

but…

For some reason…

Eli is only giving me a sad look…. Her shoulder dropped slightly before she fell on her knees…

Dark fogs started to surround her and her eyes lost their shine…

What's happening now?!

"I wish for a lot of money on hold this household….." I heard an unknown man's voice coming from the dark fogs.

"I wish you give us a lot of children….." a female voice said—once again , I don't know this voice.

"I wish you never ask me to pay again…." the same man's voice said again…

"I wish you find another wish maker that I can give to my first daughter…." Said the same man again…

"I wish you to take care of my family…." And again…

"I wish you to give our allies wish makers…." Then again…

"I wish you stay here to fulfill more wishes…"

More and more wishes are being said—there are too many of them until it all started to sound like a big crowd of people talking at the same time...and lastly….

"I—I wish for a piano! here and now!" my voice is heard from the dark fog…

Then everything just mixed into one and started to be absorbed into Eli's fallen body.

This looks bad… I'm curious… is she ok?

I decided to approach her, when I noticed she didn't make any movement…

Though when I was about to poke her, she suddenly got up quickly and attempted to slit my neck with her claws— which I somehow was able to dodge…

What the heck is happening here?

"E-Eli?! What the hell?!" I complained.

She only responded to me with a chuckle…

"Snap out of it, Eli! What's happening to you?!"

"I'm sorry…. did you ask something?" She smiled creepily, her eyes full of malice.

Something is wrong…. really wrong…

"I'm running out of power, will you be my power?" she said.

"Are you ok!?" I asked

I couldn't even finish when Eli dashed up to me, about to rip my body apart with her claws,

"Eli!" I called her again, trying to snap her out of her trance.

"It's ok… you just need to stop moving… and let me take your soul… I promise… I'll give you what you wished for after I take your soul…" She smiled widely.

"That's how it's always been… right?" she continued again.

She is definitely out of control. I'm glad I was given with an ability to fight… Else I would've never been able to dodge the first two attacks.

"Maki!" I heard a shout from somewhere behind me—I don't plan to look away from Eli for now, good thing for me that I recognize the voice… it should be Umi… Sonoda Umi…

"Maki-chan!" two people follow up— this should be Kotori and… Honoka?

"Sorry we're late, are you alright?" Umi asked.

"I'm fine, what's exactly happening here?" I asked.

They all remain quiet for a moment as their eyes set on Eli who is still glaring at us with her fierce eyes and creepy smile,

"We lost her… let's just forget about this and plan for a solution…" Umi said.

"Honoka-chan… please make that wish already!" Kotori said.

Honoka nodded,

"I wish Kotori-chan is a wish maker too!" she said.

Umi nodded and that's how I witness Kotori gracefully growing a a pair of black wings. I see, so they were friends with each other….huh? Well, to be honest, I actually didn't expect that, but…. now I know something about them as well. But what turns Honoka into a merchant? Also…. back then… I think I saw Umi with black feathers too… is she a—….

No…wait…

She was a dragon….

But what was with the black feather that she said to be hers?

I guess it's not the right time to think about that while our enemy is clearly right in front of us, waiting for us to make a wrong move….

It's honestly kind of scary to see her standing and doing nothing. We really don't know what to do first—considering that this is Eli that we're facing.

"Alright, now, Honoka-chan, what's your first order?" Kotori asked,

"Let's fight her…" Honoka said,

"Are you crazy?!" I complained.

"W-what?"

"This is Eli we're facing… we might be injured!" I said clearly.

"Don't worry, there are four of us, we can do this…" Umi said.

"I doubt that, we can't just face her like this! We need Nozomi!" I said.

"We don't even know how to contact Niko without entering the Yazawa-clan fortress! You know that we're currently in a bad relationship since Kousaka took the red box first before you!" Umi said,

"Then I'll go! Please lend me one of your power!" I said.

They are all quiet except for Eli who just chuckled at us…

"The bad thing about being the protagonist is that you don't even know that your enemy might be a lot more dangerous than what you think…" she said.

"What do you mean, Eli?!" Umi asked,

"You want to go to Yazawa-clan…right? Then… I can go wipe them out before you get them…. and then… kill that little Niko-Niko…so I can take back my Nozomi…" she giggled menacingly.

Damn it…we shouldn't have discussed it in front of her.

"…..You're not going to touch her!" I said clearly to her.

She let out a maniac laugh as a response before she disappeared.

"Damn, we need to hurry now…" Umi said.

"I know, let's do this…" I said.

"Then, Kotori, Honoka, can you two hold the ground?" Umi asked.

"Got it…." Honoka replied.

"Becareful. Umi-chan!" Kotori said.

Then before I know it, Umi held my hand and she channeled her magic to both of us.


We reached the Yazawa-clan fortress,

It looked huge and promising…

What may be inside of it, I wonder?

I mean… I know, peoples might be inside, but what kind of people are they, exactly?

When Umi reached the gate, I see a few men looking at us with their dirtiest look.

"What are you doing here—you dirty policewoman…" said one of them

"I need to meet with Yazawa Niko…" Umi said.

"Over my dead body!" said the other one before he stepped up to bash his fist at Umi—which she quickly dodged and countered.

A few more men started to show up and for some reason, they started to attack me as well, but luckily i was able to dodge and counter too.

They're not that skillful, but they are persistent and always trying hard to get things done. They don't even have good teamwork to be honest.

One by one, the men fell to the floor as they attempted to kill us— I don't even know what exactly I'm doing, but… either way, I'm beating them down with my bare fists while Umi…

Well..

Umi…

I think she doesn't have much mercy left within her. She has been hurting them with her katana. But… anyhow… when people called her… a Policewoman….

Is she really?

If she is… then why does she kill people so mercilessly?

Do they not worth anything to her?

More importantly though…

I feel like… this area is one that belongs to me…even though I can't remember whats exactly happening here….

What starts all of these things and why?

Why do I have to fight these people, who are said to be from the Yazawa-clan?

I mean… They are Niko's clan, right?

Why do they hate Umi and I?

Perhaps, do they actually think we're enemies? What if I drop her name?

"H-Hey! All of you!" I said loudly as I keep dodging and parrying the attacks coming my way.

"I—I'm Nishikino Maki! Niko's friend!" I said clearly.

No one seems to care or believe me. Nonetheless they keep attacking me as well.

"Let me meet her!" I shouted again.

And they're still attacking me.

Are they deaf or something?!

"Please Listen to—…."

"Maki! Watch out!" Umi shouted before she pushed me down to the floor.


I could hear the sound of the wind passing through,

The sound of leaves brushing against each other, followed by a song of the river flowing close to me.

Where…am I?

I tried to look around— to find myself surrounded by bamboo trees and bushes.

I could see Umi sitting next to the bamboo tree—tending her own arm which seems to be wounded pretty badly.

"Ah, Maki… You're awake…" she smiled at me.

"Umi…. Are you ok?" I asked.

"This is nothing, don't worry…" She replied,

"Ah…."

"Sorry, I guess I pushed you a bit too hard…." She said.

"um…what happened?" I asked.

"They had some trap set. I was trying to prevent you from getting chopped by the quick iron thread…"

"I…I see…"

"You're very important to us…." She continued.

"Why?" I asked.

She seemed to be slightly disturbed by it.

"That's strange of you to ask why, but it's clearly because you hold the red box. Also because you might be the only person who is able to give infinite payment…."

"To give…infinite payment…?" I tilted my head slightly,

"…you mean about my talent in music?" I asked to make sure,

"Yes… people like you—someone who has a great talent will be able to make infinite payments… just like Honoka…."

"H-Honoka….?" I asked again to make sure,

"Yes…Honoka and her spirit… as long as she has her positive attitude, we will never run out of payment…"

"I…I see…." I nodded,

"Niko is also one who has great potential, because being around her can make you feel somewhat entertained. If only she realized that, she could've just paid with how much happiness that she shares with people around her…" Umi said as she warped her arm with bandages, that she apparently took out of nowhere.

"….It's sad that we have to lose Eli, but I really don't think we can do anything about her…."

"Why?" I asked.

"We don't even know how to pay now, I'd rather lose her than to lose someone important to me…"

"We just left Kotori and Honoka there…"

"They should be here soon…" Umi said,

We waited quietly and awkwardly for a moment,

Though no one seems to come yet…

So I decided to try and break the silence with my curiosity again…

"Hey. Do you mind telling me about what exactly is happening?" I asked.

"I suppose you want to know about what happened between those criminal organizations, right?"

"Yes…."

"They were partners in crime until they discovered a magical bamboo that could capture one's soul and turn them into a slave…"

"A…slave?" I asked,

"Yes.. that's what wish makers are to put it simply…." Umi gloomed,

"…they're forced to be reborn as a tool to satisfy one's dreams…a product of black magic—so of course it will cost something that worths more than it..." she continued.

Cost something that worths more than it?

"What do you mean by, cost more than 'it'…?" I asked

"Their existence seem to be happiness for some who owns them. But at the same time, it will also cause the others to be jealous. They want to own one to serve—even though they don't even know what they will have to pay with. Many thought that every soul are worth the same for each individual—but that is not true. People only value those, who have a meaning for their life, it's a lie if someone says that they value everyone equally—even if it comes from the mouth of a peacemaker wanna-be…like that leader of the Yazawa-clan…"

I tilted my head slightly,

"Ah—maybe you don't know, but, Yazawa-clan's leader is a peacemaker-wanna-be… he wanted everyone to smile under his wings— though he was never actually able to care about each person's problem… instead, he created some kind of fear that made every person force a smile when he was around…."

Strange…

"So, you were saying that this Yazawa leader makes people smile as they suffer?" I asked.

"He forces people to smile while suffering…"

That's a downward cruel thing to do…

"That's not how peace is…" I said.

"That's why I said he is just a wanna-be, he didn't make it right…"

I see now… so he probably is one of the villain? But…He is still Niko's father…right? I wonder what she will say about him?

Ah—wait….!

"Did you find Niko?" I asked.

"Sadly, I was just able to get you to a safe place when you fell unconscious…I couldn't go any further…" she replied.

Eh—that was my bad eh? I should've been more careful… I didn't expect myself to be unconscious right after she tried to save me from another danger…

"Can you explain to me for what's exactly happening between these people? Why did they get furious toward us?" I asked.

"They're criminals… of course they're furious, they're trying to protect themselves from the law…"

"Is that all that happened? I mean.. why do they work together to crush you? Have they done something wrong other than what the leader did?"

"Being part of it is already wrong of them, even though they may have not done anything yet…. If you haven't caught up with the recent events, Maki… these criminals are up to crushing each other and they've become a great nuisance… more than a thousand innocent souls were sacrificed for their desire to conquer the red box you're currently carrying…"

"Over this red box, huh? So they're after owning Eli?" I asked.

"Yes… I know it was also Honoka's fault for offering it to people. Humans have no limit to their actions especially when they're growing greed in their hearts… they wanted to make their wishes come true, they wanted to be superior to one another…"

"What if everyone's wishes were granted, would that do anything?" I asked.

Umi remained quiet as she might be still thinking about it.

"Maybe— I can try to pay Eli with my music, though I may need a piano to do that…"

"hmm… thing is, at this state, what we actually need is to give her what she wants, not what we value most… because there are too many debts kept from many people's greed…and she is now unable to control what's within herself…"

To give her what she wants, huh? This is kind of weird… but… what is it that she actually wants?

"And the only way to know what she wants is to know what makes her soul wander in this world... something that caused her to become a wish maker…"

"Is there a way to do that?" I asked,

"Yes…meeting Nozomi is a start, maybe she knows what happened back then…"

"I see—but, what about you, why did you become a Wish maker?" I asked.

"I wanted to fight for my honor until the end of time…." She replied.

Wait a minute…

Do I know that from somewhere before?

"Then… was Kotori the girl who wanted to make that wish come true?" I asked,

"You saw it yourself, she was asking to become a wish maker…" she replied.

Right….

"Then Honoka… she is the girl who wants to change the world…?" I asked again,

Umi remained quiet.

"Honoka hasn't even wished that, but… maybe..that will be what she wants…. Something that will make her owe more than she could pay back…"

"Wait… so that means, to become a wish maker, you need to owe more than you ever could? To make the greatest wish?" I tried to confirm.

"Yes…"

I see now…

"Do you remember the one who turned you into a wish maker?" I asked again.

"Sadly, I can't remember… the time when I woke up, I was already a wish maker for Honoka…"

Sigh…

"then I suppose we really just have to go there and find Nozomi…or Niko since she might be the one, holding onto her…" I replied.

"Yes… be ready— because this time, I will give no mercy!" Umi said.

What?

She already did not give it before… right?


The time when we once again entered the Yazawa clan fortress,

It was a lot more intense since this time, I'm sneaking in while Umi took their attention. I think she is more capable of doing that than sneaking. Not that I'm any skilled at it though, I'm just trying my best to not make any sound—and being not visible…

The place is very neatly arranged and it seems that they're pretty loose on keeping guard. I can't see anyone or hear anyone nearby, so reading the main room was no problem at all…

I carefully put my ear close to the door— it was then I could hear a man talking loudly…

"…Niko! I'm going to ask you once again— Where is your red box?"

I didn't hear any response.

"Don't tell me you don't have it!" the man said loudly again. It seems like he's angry.

"Papa, listen, Niko-chan may not have it— I mean, look! The Kousaka or Hoshizora may have stolen it too! They broke into our house, remember?!" said a mature female voice.

"What?! Now how do you think we can survive, huh!?"

"How do you think we survived, before you picked that thing up from the woods?!" the female replied.

"Quiet! You old hag! You understand nothing!" shouted the man.

"Papa! What the heck are you saying to mama?!" suddenly, I hear Niko speak up.

"You too! Don't call me papa if you can't find the red box that I gave you!"

"Why are you so worked up about a red box, huh!? Our lives don't depend on that! We can live on our own!" Niko shouted again.

This sounds really bad…

"What do you know, you little brat!" I could hear a really loud slap echo inside the room.

"Papa! Why did you that to Niko-chan?!" the mature woman said in a mellow tone… then I could hear a few children starting to cry.

"That's fine….mama… that's fine…. now I know why he shouldn't live…" Niko said.

"W-what?! Niko-chan! What are you saying?!" The woman panicked.

"Now I know why he is supposed to be dead!" Niko shouted.

This is not something that I'd like to hear…

"You imbecile!" the man shouted— and this time, I hear a loud thump,

Maybe I should step in… this is getting worse.

"This is not the papa that I knew so well! I don't know of any greedy papa like you!"

"What did you say?!"

I quickly opened the door and shouted,

"Stop!"

My eyes fell on the man who was standing and holding his fist. He turned to me with raging eyes. I saw the older woman sitting on her knees, with bruises all over her face. While Niko, from the effect of someone knocking her down, was propped up on the floor with her elbows. Looking at her closely, she had some bruises around her face as well. Shifting my gaze slightly i noticed her siblings looking at me with their swollen eyes…

Taking in a deep breath, "I have what you need!" I shouted as I reveal my red box to him.

"M-Maki!? W-what the hell?!" Niko seems to be very surprised with my appearance.

"You! You're the one who stole my red box, huh!?"

"Yes—that's me! If you want it back, take it! I don't want this cursed box!" I said as I threw the red box at him.

"O-Oi! Maki! W-What the hell are you doing?!" Niko complained,

This man—who must be Niko's father, was silent until he smiled at me,

"Good decision…" he said, before walking to the door and rudely shove me away,

"…I'll make you pay later— but Kousaka and Hoshizora need to pay theirs first!" he continued before he steps away from the door and closed it ever-so roughly..

We may not be able to see him directly now, though we can see his shadow from behind the white transparent paper of the door.

We all could see him doing something, though we're not quite sure about it. For some reason though, I feel something really bad incoming.

"Ayase Eli! Heed my call!" said the man.

Then we all could see blue light shine in front of him.

"At your service, Yazawa-san…" A gentle female voice replied.

Strange….

How could she be that calm?

"Nice to see you back, now, I want you to take me to the Kousaka and we will slaughter them together!"

"Understood…." She replied.

"but…." she continued again.

"Hm…What is it?" the man responds,

"There's a little change in our contract…" Eli said, her voice sounding a little mischievous to me.

"W-What?" The man started to walk back,

I couldn't hear anything else but a chuckle—an evil chuckle…

"Your wish just now…. will cost one soul…" Eli said.

Oh No… This is bad….really bad…

"Everyone, please cover your eyes!" I whispered.

"What?!" Niko asked— her voice pretty loud…and… Eli seemed to notice it from outside, looking at how her head turned to where we were.

Well…

Crap…

Thanks Niko…

Sigh…

"What are you saying, I can't hear?" Niko asked again.

"Shut the hell up…retard!" I said.

And in that second, I could see the man attempting to escape, but Eli quickly grabs him and—brutally thrusts her other hand through his body—blood splattering on the door, the white instantly turning red. Niko's mother could only cover Niko's sibling's eyes as she cringed at it while Niko… she seemed to be deeply hurt by this.

Which one is she hurt form though? The fact that her father just attempted to escape or the fact that he was killed?

Either way…this is not the time to contemplate this, we all need to save ourselves.

"Quick! Hide!" I said. Niko's mother nodded and quickly opened her dresser, pushing her daughters inside before she went in to hide. She was also inviting me in, though I shook my head and told them to just hide there. By the looks of it Niko looked troubled by all this, she didn't even look at me.

When they managed to hide, I turned my sight to the door— just as what I expect, Eli opened the door carefully.

Her face seemed to be very gentle and calm as she held her red box in her bloody hand.

She tilted her head slightly and smiled at me,

"Ah…Maki… you're here…. I've been looking for you, you know….?" she said as she approached me carefully.

"Stay back, I don't trust you…" I said.

"Hmm? It's not like I want to be trusted, I'm just here to greet you…." she replied.

"—and take your soul!" her face suddenly changed into a psychopath's along with her rough voice.

The time when she dashes at me— I somehow manage to dodge it and quickly run towards the door.

Eli turned her eyes to me— looking extremely hungry for my soul…

Though when I thought she will catch up to me, I see her sniffing something in the air.

"Nozomi….?" she said as she turned to the dresser.

Damn…this is bad…

Why did she even say Nozomi? I don't think—….

Wait…

Does that mean, Niko still has Nozomi with her?

Eli quickly headed to the dresser an opened it immediately,

I was really worried for a second, but when Eli displayed the contents of the dresser, it was thankfully— empty…

Where Did they go?

"Hmm… they escaped…" Eli said disappointingly.

"It's too bad… we could've played our love…" she continued,

You're insane.. you're totally not going to do that in front of children…

"To smell your scent already gets me all aroused, you know?" Eli chuckles while rubbing her crotch— I couldn't see any bump…

Didn't the one that came from my reality have a todger? Where is it?

I mean… if she is aroused, shouldn't that todger erect?

Anyway, this is not a good time to be standing here, I should start hiding before she care about me again.


This time,

I'm not quite sure of what people actually did. I could see a lot of men slaughtering each other while taking items and carrying them away. But then I could also see Umi, who fortunately survived. Taking a closer look at her, I could see some strange scale marks around her neck.

"Umi!" I called up to her,

She turned to me with her eyes glowing yellow.

"Maki…" her voice trembling. She darted at me and when I thought she was about to stop— she passed through me and slashed something behind me. I quickly turned around, realizing that Eli has been following me without my knowledge. She didn't make any noise!

When Umi swings her katana, Eli dodged it smoothly while countering the attack with her claws. It didn't harm Umi, but it dent her Katana.

"You're not going harm to her!" Umi warned, her voice trembling,

"Ohh? But… I'm her wish maker, I have the right to stay around her…" Eli said,

When she said that, I realized that I've been holding a red box—a bloody red box.

"Die you sly fox!" Umi once again attempted to attack—yet once again Eli slashes her claws quickly, having enough force to break Umi's Katana.

"There's no law or justice from killing, Ms. Dragon, only despair and ego. That's why I'd rather be straight forward than be a liar like you…"

"I'm not a liar!" within seconds, Umi suddenly turned into a dragon while Eli— smiled mischievously before she crouched and started to turn into a giant fox.

I don't understand this at all, how could they turn into animals like this?

Either way!

"O-oi! Umi! We can't waste our time here! Remember our mission!" I said.

"Go ahead, I'll stall this bastard…!" Umi said.

"Try…" Eli replied before the two began to fight.

I wouldn't know what exactly I have to do now, if I run now— I probably will just be followed by Eli who seems to smart enough to choose her priority.

If I hide, I could be stuck with her instead, if she ends up sneaking behind me while Umi might not be able to find her…

And…this red box… what is it exactly for? .. What if I just destroy it?

That surely might be something that I may want to find out… or perhaps, it's better to find it out with this,

"Eli!" I shouted, Eli glanced to me as she kept dodging Umi's attacks,

I lifted up her red box—posing like I'm about to destroy it.

I can see her become agitated, yet I also find Umi making the same face.

"D-Don't!" Eli said. Is that worry that i see on her face?

"Maki! No!" Umi said,

So it is a big deal, huh?

When I was about to pull my hand down— for some reason, I feel something holding me. It's like an unknown invisible magic froze me.

I swear, when I look into Eli's eyes, there's something that made me feel like she is mocking me. And before I knew it, she already moved right in front of me—which made Umi panic. Umi opened her big jaws— attempting to bite Eli away from me. But Eli was fast, she jumps behind me and pushes me forward instead.

I swear— I saw the huge dragon teeth so close to crushing me, yet there was something that was holding them both.

Luckily, Umi realized sooner—she was then trying to not harm anything that held her jaws. When I look back at Eli, she seems to look astonished,

I turned around and…

There's another Eli behind me— and this time I totally can see the bump around her groin.

I guess she just can't hide that thing.

"Maki… sorry I was a little lost for a while until your emergency signal came on…" Eli —the one with the todger said.

"E..Eli?" I tried to confirm.

"We were failed to merge…" she continued.

"M-merge?"

"Yes… Your reality and this reality were merged by Honoka's wish, every soul are supposed to be merged as well, though mine failed because we have different bodies…"

Then I suppose that accident has its purpose, huh?

"The bad side of this merging is that, her power has probably multiplied by as much as this time line repeated… while mine is originally only coming from myself…"

"That's why you choose to show up with them instead of seeing me face-to-face?" the other Eli—the one without the todger said.

"I'll face you, but not until I can find Nozomi…" Eli—the one with the todger said.

"Is Nozomi duplicated as well?" I asked.

"No… thank god, no she is not…but she should've gotten her real power by now…"

That's good, huh?

"You and I are going to fight to win her over, how about it, Ayase Eli?" The other Eli—one without the todger said as she gave out a mocking face.

"I'm not even going to care about you anymore— if power is all you want, you can throw yourself in the pit of death and eat those things that you collected…" Eli, the one with todger replied bravely.

Huh? Pit of death?

Either way, I can see the two frown at each other,

"Scared aren't you? Because the pit could go dark and you might be stuck in it if someone holds you back?" Eli, the one with todger continued.

"Why don't you just be the one to do that?" Eli—the one without the todger replied.

Eh, I feel so weird to keep calling them the one with todger and the one without… I honestly have no idea how to call them otherwise.

"We will see…."

A huge explosion blared through the air as I flew on top of Umi's head.

She carried me away to the sky as I look down to where Eli and the other Eli fought.

"Is it really ok to leave them? I feel like it was all planned by that Eli without the todger…" I said.

"Eli… without the todger? What do you mean?" Umi asked.

"Huh? Didn't you know Eli has that thing between her legs?"

"Thing between her legs….?" Umi seems flustered.

"Todger…" I said again.

"What is… todger?" Umi asked,

"Manhood…" I said.

"W-What?!"

"The other Eli has manhood between her legs…and that's the one we are allied with…" I said again.

"T-T-That's obscene! We have to cut it down!" Umi said as she was about to return to where they are.

"W-Wait! Umi! We need to find Niko and Nozomi again!" I said as I pull her head,

"But— that manhood on Eli! Very obscene! I'm not going to allow it to exist on her body!"

"W-Why would you care about that anyway, huh?!"

"I respected Eli more than anything in this world! I cannot allow that to degrade her honor!"

"d-degrade her honor! She didn't even show it!"

"But, by having it—….."

"It wasn't even her fault to turn out like that! You can't blame her! Sheesh! Just…forget about it and let's look for Nozomi and Niko!" I shouted.

Umi stopped her flight, then nodded and started to fly towards a different direction.

We tried to look for her,

Umi said, that she has no idea where they might have gone to, but… maybe she can find them with her senses as a dragon. When I tried to ask her, what the senses of a dragon were, she said that it's a sense of detecting one's soul— if Nozomi is the same Nozomi that she always knew, she can find her somehow…

But, the thing that I wonder about is….

"Umi, another question… do you happen to be able to work your sense in the forest? Like… you always know where to go and where to find something?"

"As a samurai who wanders a lot, of course I'll know my way around the forest… but if it is senses that you are talking about, then no… I'm not that good… I have to learn my way first…"

"You have to learn your way, huh?"

"Exactly, but… since I knew Kotori, I don't really have to learn my way as I travel with her, she is the one who is an expert when it comes to traveling in the forest…"

Strange… something is a bit off here…

There's a part of my memory that contradicts with this…

… the fact that Umi is a dragon may have contradicted with something else in my memory too.

The other thing that I'm curious about is, her voice, her dragon form, and the color of her scale seems very familiar to me…

But even if what I think is true…

What's the exact reason?

Why does it made to be that complicated…?

As we flew around the area, I noticed that the whole city colored in red— with massive amount of dead bodies littered around the area, some even placed on top of a roof. It's sickening…and it's not a very nice sight to see.

I also noticed that Umi seemed to detect something somewhere nearby, though she remained quiet about it.

"What's wrong, Umi?" I asked.

"Hmm…I sense Rin nearby, though I'm not quite sure what to do with her…"

"How about Hanayo?" I asked.

Her gaze changed slightly as if she started to realize something.

"She is not around…" she replied,

Then her eyes became focused and she turned the flight to another direction.

I noticed Rin trying to hide from something as she held a bottle and sat on top of a tree.

Umi turned back to her human form as we landed a little further from where Rin is— to prevent her from getting panicked. We decided to approach her and see what exactly she is up to…

"hey…" I said to call her,

"W-wah—Maki-chan!" she seems to be surprised,

"What are you doing there?" I asked,

"Hnn…. Hiding…nya…." She replied hesitantly.

"This is not quite a place for hiding, you know. We can see you…" Umi said.

Rin smiled faintly,

"Come down, talk to us…will you?" I asked.

Rin nodded and she decided to climb down immediately,

"Hehe… what do you want to talk about, Maki-chan?" she asked cheerfully.

For some reason, it's strange to see her cheerful in these conditions.

"What are you hiding from?" I asked.

"Eh—well…" she scratched her head,

"….it's nothing…." She continued with a sad smile.

"Just tell me…." I crossed my arm,

She seems a bit hesitant, though she looked like she decided to agree,

"Actually, Rin and Kayo-chin had to split up because a lot of people suddenly knew that we have each other. Kayo-chin went to the other side of the field while I'm here to stay out of the public… They were hunting us down like there are no laws in this place-nya…."

That sounds bad…

"Ah…I know criminals are piling up on the streets, people kill each other and… those who wants peace are escaping…or becoming the victim of the beloved one's greed… it's sad that we may have to kill them all to stop this madness…" Umi said.

"Killing will not do any better, you know…" I said.

"But…Maki-chan, I will have to agree this time. No one can talk to them… they're all so thirsty for wish makers-nya…."

"Thirsty for….Wish makers…just like how they wanted to get a hold of this red box?" I showed Rin the red box that I still held in my hands.

"Yep! That's the one…except, just a while ago… I wished that everyone can have their own wish makers somehow… I thought that if people have their own, they will stop looking… but…." her eyes slightly fill with dread,

"I was wrong…once they had it, they started to act to have their wish makers fed with other's souls, though truth be told, the other's souls are valueless to them and they can't pay with it. No one reminded them and they ended up being devoured themselves by their own wish makers… down to Earth…just like my parents…" she replied.

Down to Earth, just like her parents..?

"What do you mean with down to Earth like your parents?" Umi asked.

"Just about three or four days ago… my parents were devoured by their own wish makers and they just…sank into the earth…. I don't even know how to help them….or to find them…." she replied with sad eyes,

"…..i couldn't even explain it to everyone, but…when that happened, my clan just blamed Honoka-chan's clan and accused them for making a trap for us… so that's why… this war started…" she replied.

Wow…what?

"So that's what started this war…." Umi said.

Rin remained quiet, she seems to feel very guilty about it.

"Hey, it's not entirely wrong, you're just trying to do your best…" I said.

"Really?" She lifted her glance at me,

Well..her mood escalated quickly…

"Y-yeah… besides… I think it might be just one of the reasons, there might be some more reasons behind all this…." I said.

"W-whaa! Maki-chan! Thank you so much! You made me feel better!" she said before she hugged me tightly,

"O-Oi!" I tried to retort.

It's still somewhat embarrassing to have someone hug me. Though I suppose it's not that bad to get this kind of thing once in a while… plus, the fact that I haven't done that to anyone…

I mean…

It's not like I want to do that to anyone…

A..Actually…maybe I did, but…. G-Gh… forget it…

It's nice to be hugged and snuggled once in a while.

But…why do I have a conflicted feeling about this…

I mean…. I feel something…but I can't really tell what kind of feeling it is.

When Rin released me, I stare into her eyes as she gives me a cute innocent smile.

It's adorable…

I..I mean…

W-What am I thinking…. Sheesh….

Shouldn't I just stick with someone that I aim for?

Who am I aiming for though….?

Why is it hard for me to be able to spend my time with her….?

I know it might just be because I didn't reach her enough and we've always been occupied with our own things… our own business… and…

S…Sheesh…. I'm thinking too much.

"So, Maki-chan, let's go find Kayo-chin and help her out if she is in a pinch-nya! I want to talk some more with Maki-chan!"

"…A…Alright?"

As we walk together to find Hanayo,

Rin told me about a lot of things that we may have missed. Firstly it was about how her clan was also breaking up into groups and some joined the Yazawa or Kousaka clans. Second, she told me about how she pays Hanayo with rice, giving her the opportunity to make endless wishes. She did ask about making the farm grow rice endlessly, which also caused her family to become rich and capable of holding everyone's economy—until the day the war started at least.

Third, she talked about how she and Honoka discussed about what they should wish for. Apparently, they agreed to make some sort of agreement to rebuild the clan together once this is over— but another problem is that Honoka's parents are nowhere to be found as they may have died or perhaps hiding somewhere just like what Honoka told them to do.

Honoka said, she doesn't even know where they hid, but something that's clear is that they are no longer in the fortress.

"….and then-and then, we also tell them that if they survived, they should wait at least three years before they return. The war should be over by then-nya…"

"…do you think you two can survive, huh?" I asked.

"Hehe..unless there's a super powerful enemy that somehow surpasses the power of a kung-fu master, then I don't know how else I will pass away-nya!" she said cheerfully.

Well.. what kind of creature is stronger than a—…..

Wait….

Umi might be stronger than them…she is an expert samurai after all…

But gladly she is not our enemy—for now at least…

What other enemy that could match her….? Eli….?

Hmm…

Will that Eli harm her?

For the same reason why she wants to harm me?

"….anyway, Maki-chan! That's where Hanayo is-nya!" Rin said as she pointed to a huge rice farm.

As we pass, we noticed that a few dead bodies are very slowly buried into the earth… Did Hanayo do that?

"..please ignore those-nya… they're just too persistent-nya…" Rin said a little sadly.

I remain quiet as I give her a nod as a reply.

We went through the rice field, following the stone path until it ended near a small well.

Hanayo sat near the small hut beside it, looking very troubled.

"Kayo-chiiinn!" Rin shouted loudly.

"A-Ah! R-Rin-chan!" Hanayo expression changed drastically in her surprise.

"Hehehe—Kayo-chin! Kayo-chin! There's Maki-chan here-nya!" Rin said cheerfully.

Hanayo seemed to be flustered, though she only followed with a sweet smile,

"It's nice to see you still here, Maki-chan…" she said.

"O-oh…heh— nice to be here too…" I said…

W-wait…

'still' here?

She said it like I wasn't supposed to be here.

"Umi-chan too.. it's nice to see you here…" Hanayo said.

"T-thanks…"

"What about me-nya? Do you think it's nice for me to be here?" Rin asked,

"Hehe—I can't describe how happy I am to see you here, Rin-chan…I thought I'll never see you again…" Hanayo said.

"Sheesh! Kayo-chin! We're just staying across each other….it's not like I will be harmed by anything-nya! Kayo-chin already gave me an ability to fight like a kung-fu-master-nya!"

Hanayo only giggled sweetly before she gently pat Rin's head.

"The time changed, I will no longer have to see it like how it always been…"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Yeah! What do you mean, Kayo-chin?" Rin asked too.

"Hehe—it's nothing! Let's get going to meet up with Nozomi-chan, Honoka-chan and Niko-chan…."

What a coincidence… she knows where they are?

"You know where they are?" Umi asked.

"Hehe— it's just a guess, because I don't know what may have come to them by now…"

"Can you please tell me more about what's exactly happening here? I still don't get it…" I asked.

Hanayo remain quiet for a moment, then she seemed to be in deep thought as she looked into me.

"Maki-chan, I'm going to ask you a question…before I answer yours…" she said.

I tilted my head slightly.

"What will you do when you know that you have been repeating an endless set of act?"

"Endless set of act? Are you refereeing to a song? A refrain part?" I asked.

"Maybe something like that…." she replied.

"Every song could end, ideally, one would end a play of music with a finishing line which can often be similar to a refrained melody—slowly fading or raising up to the peak on its end… though if one decides to not be different all the time, then it could be what you may call as an endless song…"

She smiled at me,

"Hehe, then, it's nice to know that you know how you can end one endless act… I'm getting really tired of it…" Hanayo said.

I still don't get it…

"If you're really the one who will become the last one standing in the end of the line, Maki-chan…. please, remember that you are the one that will decide about how it should end…"

What?!

I don't get it! Is someone going to die or something?!

"D-Don't say it like that! No one is going to die!" I said loudly.

Hanayo seemed to be not that surprised from my reaction.

"..it's already written in our fates… and it's a part of your music…Maki-chan…"

"You can't be serious!" I said clearly.

"I'm sorry… but can we just proceed to the next act?" Hanayo said.

"You're ridiculous! What's exactly going on?!"


I'm going to post till the end!