I know the updates for this story are really slow...I've been quite busy since the beginning of the year bur I'll still try to update once in a while, so that this story doesnt looked abandoned.

Kazama POV

Within seconds, Kanari's was overwhelmed by a purple light. She was coming. He had already had a good sense of how the Kage-hime's aura was like, and he knew she was coming.

"Nice to see you again, my precious one." The Kage-hime said.

"Since when did I even become your precious one?" I replied.

"Well…how about I answer that question after we clean the annoyances around us? Besides, I'm getting bored of fighting these people again and again."

"It's her!" one of the men shouted.

"Ryuuji-sama told us that if we spot the Kage-hime, we must capture her at once!" another shouted.

"It seems like these idiots just can't give up, can they? Chikage, stand back."

Before I knew it, I was pushed back by her, and the men clothed in white started saying an incantation. However, the Kage-hime was much faster than them, and unleashed her magic on them, wiping all of them out.

"You really have an interesting power, Kage-hime."

"It's nothing surprising. After all, I am the famous Kage-hime. But I gave you my real name already, why aren't you using it? I only give my real name to people who I'm interested in, and you're one of them. Use it, Chikage."

"I don't see any reason why I have to call you by your real name when I have no interest in you at all."

"That's too bad then. Well, I still of a lot of time that I can stay in this form for a while, but I can't let anyone know my identity. I'll return for a while, and you can bring me back as well."

Without even me giving my consent, the Kage-hime had returned inside of Kanari and her body fell. I caught her before she landed on the ground.

"Why the hell am I even following her orders anyway."

I carried Kanari in my arms, and teleported back to the Shiranui mansion. Ryo-san and that idiot should already be back there, since Ryo-san teleported him back while we were fighting.

I arrived at the mansion, and was greeted by Ryo-san. Amagiri was still out, and he was probably unaware that they were attacked.

"What happened to Kanari?" Ryo-san asked.

"She was putting up a good fight, when she became drowsy and collapsed." I had to lie, since I needed to hide the secret of the Kage-hime.

"We better let her rest inside a room."

I carried her to one of rooms inside the mansion, and put her on a futon. Ryo-san then tled me out to ask what happened.

"I heard some of the men saying that they were looking for Tsukikage…are they referring to Kanari?"

"Yes. She was sent to Kyoto on a 'mission' for the Bakufu, but they were just trying to get rid of her before returning the power to the emperor, so that her family wouldn't pose a threat to them."

"That's horrible. Have they located the Shiranui mansion yet?"

"I don't think so. But who knows when they would attack."

"Chikage, tomorrow, you and Amagiri take Kanari to another part of Kyoto, before they find us."

"Yes, I understand."

After nodding, Ryo-san left me to my own devices, saying that she'll inform Amagiri when he came back. I headed to the room where Kanari was resting in. The Kage-hime was waiting there.

"You're late, Chikage." She said, "So, were you able to find any information to refresh my clouded memories?"

I sorted out my thoughts, and decided to explain certain contradictions that she had said compared to the book which I found.

"Seal…myself?" she asked.

"Yes. That was what I found out from certain information books."

The Kage-hime stayed silent for a while, and said, "It was something…like that…I think."

I tried to tell her more, but she didn't want to reply at all, and said, "It's okay if you can't find anything. As long I have you blood…"

The Kage-hime drew in closer, and bit my neck again. Drinking my blood heartily, she grinned, and went back to rest.

"I'm not your food." I muttered under my breath, while touching the wound on my shoulder.

I had went to rest, and ended up getting up early when I heard noises of someone approaching the mansion. It was Amagiri. He had returned with news.

"The Satsuma wants us to join in the battle that is going to happen at Toba-Fushimi soon, but I declined what they wanted us to do. However, we will be acting as a messenger for the secret messages that would be passed around during the battle."

"Fine. Amagiri, we're immediately setting off, since it's becoming too dangerous to stay here anymore. Kazanari got attacked again yesterday."

Amagiri had looked at me in shock, and said, "I'll get everything ready for our departure, and we'll leave in an hour.

Amagiri had left me to my own devices before I could tell him about what to do with Kanari. I decided to head to room to check on her, and she was still resting there. Suddenly, I felt a pang of drowsiness hit me, and I felt my consciousness slowly fading away.

Opening my eyes, I found myself in a dark space, as if I was being overwhelmed by darkness. I picked myself up, and looked around me. There was nothing but darkness. Soon, a voiced called out to me.

"Chikage~" the Kage-hime said.

"For what reason did you decide to call me in here?" I asked.

"I was hoping you could come inside the place where I rest in. I'm sure Kanari won't mind anyway."

I smirked. "You call this a resting spot? Don't make me laugh."

"Well, Kanari takes up most of the space in her mind, so I take what I get. Besides, the amount of power that girl has in her is shown over there."

The Kage-hime has pointed towards a separate cloud of darkness, which was larger than where I currently was. Kanari's power was indeed a lot.

"Also, I was hoping to discuss a few things in private with you, as well."

"What would that be?" I asked.

"I feel so much nostalgia from you…" she muttered.

"Nostalgia? What do you mean?"

Something had to be up. I didn't have any bloodlines similar to the Kouki. In fact, we were two different families. Come to think of it, I had to research more on the Kouki family as well. Unless…it was that person…

"Chikage? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just thinking."

"As I was saying, after tasting your blood…, I realized…you tasted too familiar. I still remember this scent somewhere…but I don't know."

However, before I could say anything, I was knocked back into reality. Waking up, I found myself with a hand mark on my face, with an angry Kanari beside me.

"You finally woke up, hentai."

"So you're going to call me a pervert now? I was just checking on you."

"Then why would you be lying down beside me?!"

I couldn't possibly tell her my meeting with the Kage-hime, and my head was still heavy from being forcefully sent into her mind like that, I decided to make an excuse.

"I was just tired." I said with a smirk, while grabbing Kanari into my arms.

"Let go!" she squealed.

"I don't want to, since I'm tired."

Kanari had continued to struggle in my tight grip. Even though she was a pureblood oni, the males were still stronger than the females anyway.

"Idiot Kazama!" she squealed while kicking me, while blushing.

"That wasn't really painful, Kanari."

"That's why, let me go! Why are you even doing this?!"

"I'm tired. Unless…you want me to do more things to you? Huh?"

Kanari stopped struggling, and soon enough, I let her go after sensing Amagiri's presence. Amagiri had come in telling us that all preparations were complete, and we were ready to set off.

We soon left after thanking Ryo-san, and we moved towards the hideout of the Satsuma. Kanari wasn't really pleased that we had to go there, but we had no choice but to go.