Good night, here reporting me XD Thanks for reading my story. Enjoy it, see you in the next update.

Special thanks to Parazor, who was responsible for the translation. She deserves that I write a poem in French XD Maybe she want to rest this weekend.

Chapter 3

Unchain

"Abuto told me you were awake." Now, the man sitting on the edge of the bed was that ex-captain of hers.

"You have a very cozy house. Did you decorate it yourself?" She was more than used to see him with that deceitful smile on his lips. "Don't you feel like you're suffocating in such a small place? ", he asked with a frightening honesty.

"Not really", she answered calmly. It wasn't like she couldn't fall for his provocations, it was just that there was nothing to argue about right then. "I'm used to this kind of places, Kamui. But it's understandable if someone like you doesn't get it."

"You're certainly right about that", he replied, staring right at her with those blue eyes "But I see that after all you still have the same mentality."

"Well, that's the way I decided to live", she said holding his gaze.

"But I wonder what would have happened if, in that moment, it had been you whose life was taken away and not that dumb doctor's? Life is full of weird twists and turns, don't you think?" For those who didn't know him, it looked like that man did nothing but exude a friendly and comforting aura.

"I don't know, I'm no fortune teller… You might be in some other planet, killing everything that gets in your way… or dead because of that strange disease that's taken hold of your body." He just chuckled and shot her a pensive look.

"You still got that black sense of humor, like always, Oshin."

"I don't see you've changed much since the last time we saw each other", she refuted. "But it's fine like this, don't you think?"

"Abuto didn't mention it, but it seems that you are kind of interested in our adversaries", the young man said, amused.

"Hey, I hope you guys are not forgetting about my fees." It was better to make everything clear. "And it's not that I'm interested, I've been dragged into all this." She knew that wasn't all true, but she didn't care about lying.

"You've always been good at lying, but this time your acting wasn't so good." The black-haired woman just pursed her lips in frustration. "Just as Abuto you've got a bad habit. And it could cost both of your lives."

"I appreciate the worry for your subordinate and mine's safety, but we'll be fine", she told him sarcastically. "You should think on how you'll face an enemy who knows how to beat the power of the Yato; and do it with the little power you have left." She directed her steps towards him. "You can be as strong as you want, but you still don't have fangs as sharp as to tear everything apart.

"Oh, you don't need to worry about me", he pointed out, looking at her with great amusement. "I'm strong enough to come out alive from all this."

"I wouldn't bet all my money on that", the girl stated venomously. How can he be that presumptuous after what happened here or what happened with his father months ago? Is it because he's an idiot and can't even distinguish when he's in danger or when everything's against him? Or does he only act like this because he's a damned addict to battles?

"Uhm, by the way… You think you could take these shackles off?", he asked as if he was a little kid.

"So, you can try to murder all of us? Absolutely not." She wasn't taking that risk again. "You better get used to them. Because I'm not taking them off until we're sure you won't try to cut our heads off."

"Tsh… It'll be uncomfortable to eat this way." This was Kamui, and the second thing that could satisfy his body and soul was food.

"Ah, that's true, you haven't eaten in days."

Abuto, who had gone to check on the rest of their squad, had also used that moment to eat and get some fresh air. However, he had responsibilities to take care of, so he had to get back to his captain and pray he didn't try something crazy like escaping.

So, without another thought he went down to the basement and was rendered speechless as soon as his eyes saw what many people would consider an impossible event who could trigger the next cataclysm.

"Mmm…What is going on here?", he smirked, amused, as if he was enjoying the scene; although he was clearly enjoying it. "What did I miss, huh? I leave the room for half an hour and this is what I come back to", the man said, as if he was reciting a monologue. "If you think about it, it's pretty funny… But now you're even eating calmly both of you, like close, old acquaintances."

"Just shut the hell up, Abuto", groaned the crimson-eyed woman. As if that wasn't enough she threw that wooden bucket at him, which until a few seconds ago had been full of rice.

"The stubborn and temperamental Oshin feeding our stupid and sadistic captain… But what a wonderful scene." Thanks to his skill he had managed to dodge both the first heavy object she threw at him and the other two that followed.

"This idiot wanted me to take the shackles off him and I can't do that."

"So, you opted for feeding him yourself?" Someone was enjoying the whole situation. "It's so touching what you're doing, Oshin."

"He's like a vacuum. All I have to do is bend the plate and he takes care of the rest."

"Like a pet", said the brunet.

"I'd never have such a dangerous animal as a pet." On one hand, she was complaining and on the other she continued pushing those fried shrimps to Kamui's mouth without mercy. Surprisingly, he didn't choke and kept scarfing it all down.

"And it seems he's got an even worse appetite than usual." On the floor one could see the whole lot of piled up plates. That man was like a bottomless pit.

"You're one to talk, when you're the same as him."

"Hey, don't compare me to this caveman! At least I have table manners."

"I say it and I say it again, the food here on Earth is the best", the young man told his captor. "Thank you for the food." He was more than satisfied. "Did you make it all yourself, Oshin?"

"I'm sure she did it with all her hea-…" Abuto shut up abruptly. And could it have been differently? The black-haired woman had finally hit her target; in other words, his face.

"It was you who confined me to a kitchen." She was obviously not amused by it. "Being that much time there without learning how to cook would've been a crime."

"I'll be eagerly waiting for dinner~"

"Ah…!? But what… are you saying!? It's only six o'clock." That man's voracious appetite always scared her.

"Abuto, now that you're awake, I want you to start looking around", he requested the older man. "If they led us to Earth, that means the person behind our hunt is right here, or, in any case, they'll soon arrive to this planet to make sure they've gotten rid of us. And probably, what they're doing isn't the only thing they want to accomplish."

"You speak like a real captain occasionally." As the second in command there was nothing left but to get to work. "They've already tried once, we won't let them do whatever they want with us."

"Make sure you're discreet. I don't think it would be a good idea to put on a show here", the young woman recommended.

"You've been living here, right? You know better than us how to move yourself in this county." He was looking at her out of the corner of his eye with a gentle smile on his lips. She immediately knew about his intentions.

"The only thing I want to know is if you've got enough money in your hands. None of this will be cheap."

The sky was totally clear until a few hours ago, so why now that they were out of the comfort of her house, had started such a downpour? And above all things, why did everyone look so stunned to see two persons sharing an umbrella, when everything around them wasn't more than courtesan meeting places? The morality in that district was too messed up.

"This wasn't what I meant with 'being discreet´, Abuto", she stated, looking forward.

"I let the rest of us look around. I told them to be careful."

"Them moving around between dark alleys makes them nothing more than dangerous suspects. People will start fearing you guys." She supposed that none of those men knew very well the definition of sneaking in and watching in silence. "Well, I want to believe that nobody here remembers your face."

"This place has changed a lot since the King of the Night fell." Yoshiwara wasn't just a toy box deprived of the sun and its freedom anymore. Even know, in the rain, the moon shone proud and majestic over them. "Now that the Harusame has dissolved there's no one now that holds such a presumptuous title."

"But that doesn't mean another Harusame won't be born in the coming years, wishing to take over all vital force from this planet", she pointed out.

"You're certainly right."

"Well, where should we start looking?" They had stopped in the middle of the busy street, trying to plan their next move. However, it was like they were doomed to be recognized. "Seita, why are you looking at me with that face full of fear?"

The kid had approached them because he recognized Oshin and wanted to greet her. But he wasn't expecting her to be with such an individual. Yes, the boy recognized him immediately; that trauma wouldn't abandon him so easily.

"Shi-san, get away from that monster, he's dangerous!", screamed the brunet as loud as he could, scaring every person passing by. "He…he…!"

"What the hell did you do to him? Look how you left him. He's all traumatized", she told the other man quietly.

"Uhm… I'm not here looking for trouble or anything like that. So, stop making a scene for nothing, kid."

"Then… what are you looking for? Are you holding her hostage?" He could be small and powerless, but he wouldn't abandon a friend in danger.

"Seita, that is something easy to explain", she answered, looking at the boy. "As my fiancé, he's come to see me. And now that he's here, we wanted to have a nice walk." The kid wasn't the only one speechless; the veteran was the same, both were looking at her in utter astonishment. "I know he had an unforgivable behavior a long time ago but we all make mistakes, don't you think? And I would like you to think of him as a man who won't ever put his hands on Yoshiwara or another district in Edo."

"…!?" The green-eyed boy moved his surprised gaze from her to the Yato. That kind of 'news' would cause great damage to his heart. "WHAT!? He's too old for you, besides, he's a killer! He could be your father!" The boy grabbed his head like it had a life of its own and wanted to escape his body.

"Sometimes, things like this just happen", she said, nodding a few times. "When you grow up you'll realize age doesn't matter when you find the right person." She had to hold Abuto's arm to make the whole scene more believable. "So don't be scared."

"Well, if Shi-san is happy… then I guess it's fine." He was a little better after the shock. And now he was just smiling with some relief at them.

"Are you sure about telling such a lie to him?", questioned the brunet after Seita took off and left them alone. "That's not precisely the best way to keep quiet. Moreover, it will become louder"

"If you ask me, it's better this way." She played the whole thing down. "Besides, it's not my fault he recognized you.

"At this rate, you should be awarded for your good acting", he inquired, looking at her. "First what happened with that fool and now this."

"You better walk faster or I'll leave you behind." The scoundrel had picked up the pace so she wouldn't have to put up with the man's teasing. The faster we finish this matter, the easier it'll be to get my old life back.

He had gone to that kingdom not only with a goal to achieve but also with the solid promise that he'd find an adversary worthy of his abilities and strength. However, the only thing he came across was that irascible beast, whose only thing to offer him was its succulent meat, which he found himself cooking at that moment.

Maybe he had gotten too excited Maybe he should've known not to get his hopes up so much. After all, he was the greatest alien hunter in the entire galaxy.

"At least the meat tastes good." Another day, another piece of meat. At least he should feel happy to be able to pay the bills.

"I'm truly sorry that the hunting was that boring, Umibouzu-sama", addressed him the man next to him, the same one whose face resembled that of a sly fox. "Our species distinguish itself for possessing great knowledge about the whole universe not for being powerful creatures like you, the Yato."

"It's like the waters have calmed suddenly."

"It might be due to the universe being in a state of chaos after what happened in your home planet, Umibouzu-sama", he assured. "But darkness is never late to appear once again in the horizon."

"I've heard rumors about your species", spoke up the man after having finished eating. "That they can see the future."

"Sir, you wouldn't believe in that kind of lies, would you?" The man smiled briefly.

"You can simply deny it and that's it."

"Because it's you, sir, I'll make an exception", he mentioned calmly. "Our vast knowledge about the universe, about the stars and all that surrounds us, allows us to establish premises. Possible scenarios that may occur to somebody or a whole planet."

"That's why you've been feared by many Amanto. Although that same reason has lead you to be protected by other species."

"We're nothing more than simple tools for the rest that are not like us." The Yato couldn't relate more to him. "Stupid people believe we can change their futures only because we're capable of seeing it. And for reasons as trivial as those, many of my people have been murdered or taken hostage."

"You were the ones who declared the extinction of my race."

"Well, I don't need to be a foreseer to be able to predict something like that", he gave him a cheeky smile. "The Yato Clan are really unfortunate creatures. You could even say their existence in itself is miserable… The blood that runs through their veins blinds their hearts, turns them to wild beasts that can only know pleasure in fighting and death. They're so weak that they don't know how to live with their own people, and too foolish to understand that the bonds they build with others can be transformed to an even bigger strength than what they already have."

"You're damn right." A brief smile settled on Umibouzu's face, like a reminder that he had a daughter who thought so differently from the rest of their species that little girl who wanted to use her strength to protect people and not to hurt them.

"Umibouzu-san, do you think you could agree to another job before going back home?"

"What's it about this time?"

"We need you to help us get an old ship of ours back."

"Come again?" It was the first time he'd been asked something like that. He was a hunter not someone who parked interstellar vehicles.

"It's a commercial ship who took off from her a few weeks ago. But it hasn't come back and we haven't gotten any answer from them", he informed the other man. "We think it might have been taken by some space pirate."

"Why don't you just use your crystal ball and find out where it is?"

"Our divination arts only work on human beings, Umibouzu-sama", he noted. "So, do you accept our request?"

"I think my dear Kagura-chan will have to wait a little more before seeing his Papi again." Adventure just never stopped flowing through his veins.

Outer space was nothing more than an endless plain of constellations, stars in infinite cycles of death and rebirth, of planets who had been quickly visited by human beings, and of unbelievable mysteries that had not even been revealed to even the Amanto themselves. Yes, that world which could be seen past the thick windows, despite how well-known it was, it continued being wild and extremely dangerous.

But for men who had entirely devoted to sail in such treacherous confines, it wasn't more than a repetitive scenery that didn't mean much to them. To that point, what they really cared about was to successfully take the valuable shipment they had acquired a few days ago.

"Captain, we'll soon arrive to our destination." The subordinate addressed the tall and robust man of greenish skin and black hair.

"Is the merchandise in a good condition? If something were to happen to those precious objects, our heads will roll. You understand that, right?"

"Everything is in perfect order, captain", he assured, offering him his respects.

"Perfect. I'll leave now, it's time to take my power nap." His resting time had to be suspended unless he wanted his ship to sink completely because of the attacks it was receiving. "But who is attacking us!? Didn't you choose the safest route!?", yelled the captain at the poor man who didn't know how to answer.

"Sir, we didn't know the enemy was there in the first place", said one of the man in charge of navigating the huge ship. "Their ship had camouflage. And for that reason, our radars weren't able to locate them."

"Besides, it looks like they had been waiting for us, captain." He wasn't lying. Whatever the big monitor in front of them was showing confirmed his hypothesis.

There were no more enemies than those who stood before their eyes. And that was probably more than enough. Who wouldn't be intimidated by a gigantic space galleon, in which just one of its cannons was as big as the ship they sailed with across the universe?

"A red… vessel… And that black flag with three golden stars… This has to be a joke… ", muttered the captain, the color leaving his face.

"Sir, why do you have that look on your face? Why don't you give us any orders?"

"You're crazy, they'll destroy us right here and we'll be nothing more than cosmic trash!" Was this the same man they had been following all these years?

"Calm down, captain", one of the men said. "You'll find a way to defeat them."

"Are you an idiot or what!? Don't you recognize them!? They're mercenaries and planet looters since more than ten years… It was believed that they had been exterminated by the Harusame five years ago, but nothing was ever confirmed. So now they're nothing more than a ghost many talk about and that no one has ever seen again for a long time… I'm talking about the Hokusei, about the crew that's been able to gather the most powerful races from the universe to have fun around the galaxy!"

"It seems there's still people who know about us, Tentei-san." That unknown voice managed to startle every person that was still engrossed watching that vermillion ship. "All we want is your merchandise. So, if you don't put up a fight, we won't wipe you all off from this world." His voice classified him immediately as a man. But after that, there was nothing else that allowed them to identify him in the future.

The red oni mask greeted them and kept his face entirely hidden from view, matching surprisingly well with that cone-shaped straw hat. And the next thing that stopped them from keeping a clear image from the assailant was his black cape and boots the same color.

"When did you get in here and through where!?"

"You shouldn't let your guard down in front of your enemy", the man let them know. "And where did I entered through? It's pretty clear, from up there." Just when all of them raised their gazes towards the ceiling of their ship, did they realize there was a nice hole in it.

"That's reinforced steel…You couldn't have broken it that easily!"

"Hand over the merchandise", he repeated. He wouldn't beat around the bush.

"We refuse!" The courage had returned to their captain in the most crucial time. And the rest of his subordinates wouldn't just let his decision go to waste.

"You can't say I didn't try to negotiate with you all."

The weapons were fired. The atmosphere filled with gunpowder and bullet casings while the rest of the crew arrived at the machine room, ready to take the intruder's life. But would it be so easy to do that? That question arose the moment in which they realized that the man commanding them had fallen loudly to the floor, while the intruder they had relentlessly shot at stood there, with their captain's head in the palm of his hand.

"Too easy." Nobody was shooting anymore, they were all completely stunned and being quickly consumed by fear. "If you have such a weak captain, one can't expect the subordinates to even put up a fight." He let his temporary trophy fall to the floor and turned his attention towards those who were trying to escape. "At least try to fight for your lives."

He couldn't see the expression on his face at that moment, but he knew perfectly that the look he was sending them only showed how thirsty he felt for coloring the whole place with their blood.

And that mundane whim soon became a reality.

"Is it really necessary that you turn all your battles into bloodbaths, Raiko?"

"They didn't want to negotiate, Moka." He didn't even need to turn around to look, since he knew perfectly who had just arrived to lecture him.

"The captain's going to reprimand you for what you've done." Her clothes weren't much different from the young man's, except for the mask, which was a dark blue.

"I'm sorry to burst your bubble but you're not important enough for him to listen to your words." There was no point in standing still, so he started walking, followed closely by the girl.

"At least it's not my species that it's in danger of extinction", she replied.

"I couldn't care less." For the doors that required a password to open, there was always brute force to take care of them.

"You could use your head once in a while to get out of trouble."

"Stop wasting time and secure the merchandise", he ordered passively.

"You're not my captain!"

"Shut up and use your mouth to make them cooperate. Or do you prefer my methods?" She didn't have much of a choice and agreed to his request.

"I'm doing this for our captain, not for you." They had arrived to where the merchandise was hidden. However, it wasn't just a pile of boxes with unknown content, but more like a bunch of Amanto who were confined to cages which barely left them space to move. "You can feel at ease, now, you won't be sold as slaves to some planet anymore."

"Who are you…!?"

"What is gonna happen to all of us?" The raising of a wave of murmuring was inevitable. Especially for how suspicious they both looked.

"What you heard. Simple as that", Raiko spoke up. "The only thing we need you to do is to carry out a simple task and you can be back in your beloved planet."

"You're no different from the men who caught us", one of the Amanto complained.

"With your ability, you should know better than anyone what'll happen if you don't listen to our words." He was close to those cages now, holding one of the bars only to crush it with a single grasp. "I'm sorry to say this but my captain needs your services and has told me to resort to any method to make you obey his orders… Do you want us to do this the hard way?"