Just as it s body was out of the shadows into the light I could notice yet another girl, with dog ears on her head. Another inumimi, talk about rare occasion I though, but today I wasn t going to let someone attack me and my cooperators and live to tell the tale.
She just growled at me and attacked me with all her might, fortunately to me she was visibly an amateur, and she didn t have any fight tactics or dagger fight skills; the fight was really intense for both Akira and Dawn, as no signs of any of us 2 slowing down.
The fight ended when, using a quick swing of my blade, she tried to parry it, but with all my momentum she was thrown to the ground, with the tip of my blade one inch from her forehead, right in the middle of her eyes, her face was sweating and she was breathing heavily, but her gaze at me didn t show me any fear, it was more like daring me; she was facing certain death and wasn t even afraid of it! And my surprise turned to astonishment when she began shouting:
- GO AHEAD AND KILL ME SILVA SCUM! AT LEAST I WON T LIVE TO SEE YOU DEFILE DE DIGNITY OF MY SISTER!
- Wait a moment there I replied while keeping my guard Why Silva scum? I do not belong to the Silva s family, as my name is Richard Montecchio!
- STOP SAYING NONSENSE IDIOTIC FREAK! I SAW WHEN THE SILVA S REPRESENTATIVE BOUGHT DAWN! AND YOU ARE WITH HER! SO YOUR ARE THAT SILVA LOLI ABUSER!
- Well, I am sorry, you might have mistaken me for some other guy, but I am not going to stand here and hear your nonsense I said while preparing my last blow I am going to finish you right
I stopped my sentence right there, wait a little moment did she just said Dawn? No it couldn t be possible that this girl be dusk! The family that got her sure isn t as strict as Silva s, but they weren t also as open and trusting to their slaves like ours and knowing the Silva s reputation there was no way she could be out alone like she was now!
My line of though was suddenly stopped when Dawn jumped in front of my sword blade and with a serious, yet pleading face, asked me:
- This is my little sister Dusk, Richard. I know attacking a noble is a serious offense but if one must pay, be it me!
- No Dawn! Did This Scum sweet words already corrupt your soul?!?! shouted Dusk back at her.
- No sis Dawn replied while turning around and facing Dusk he did nothing of the sort to me, you see he actually saved my life!
- What the - Dusk seemed really confused.
Dawn, then proceed to explain the whole situation to her sis, how she was found almost dead on my house front yard, how I treated her wounds, how I respected her, how I gave her an opportunity to work and be happy, even Montecchio s family fame was actually true.
Dusk seemed really insecure on what she was hearing, she couldn t believe how lucky Dawn was, Dusk s tail would wag whenever Dawn seemed happy, and Dusk didn t look like Dawn at all! Maybe they were what they call fraternal twins? This probably was one of these cases!
Dusk was similar to Dawn in terms of weight and height, but her fur was black! She seemed much more reserved than her sister and after about a good 1 hour chatting, Dawn came to me and introduced Dusk:
- Richard, this is Dusk; she is my twin sister I spoke of!
- I I am sorry Richard-sama - began saying Dusk I though you were that detestable Silva! And you know the rumors about them and Dawn was chosen by them and I thought
Dusk broke down crying, her tears seemed real sincere to me; from what I could tell Dusk loved her big sis quite a lot and the separation of the 2 really broke her heart; there was still one thing bothering me though, how did she manage to be freed? Judging from her last action I was really hoping she hasn t done anything stupid like killing her master
- Dusk I asked her I have some stuff to ask you if you don t mind going with us to our home?
Dusk stiffened at the question, for a moment it was clear she was afraid to be falling into a trap and that I would turn her in to the authorities. But she also believed Dawn as if she was an angel, and judging by Dawn happiness and the rumors on the Montecchio family just helped easing her doubts and after a couple of moments of pondering she decided to tag along with us, much to Dawn complete and utter happiness.
Akira was the one most excited about the new friend, she would jump around Dusk, yell in enjoyment at every little reaction she managed to extract from Dusk, and she would laugh and smile at the newcomer and even ask intimate things!
Arriving home, I updated Stephan on what was going on and why we were so late, he was relieved nothing serious happened and then handed me a letter that arrived right before, it had Dusk s family insignia! A sweat broke on my brow, and I feared this time I might have gotten in trouble.
I summoned Dusk, Dawn and Akira to my personal room and there proceed to read the letter and update them in real time as what the heck was going on and what would happen:
- Dusk I began this letter arrived today with the insignia of your master I need to read it now so we can discuss on what to do ok?
Dusk nodded and I began reading the letter out loud to them:
To the head of Montecchio family, Richard
The Montecchio family has been a great friend and ally of the Capuleto s for generations now, and so we have a long history of sharing and friendship, but I am afraid I bring bitter news.
Yesterday a tragedy of never seen proportions has befallen on our humble household. The son s head of the family has passed away, causing great grief to his father; that also succumbed to a heart attack.
So, with great grief in my heart and now as the head of the Capuleto family, I invite you to their funeral tomorrow morning.
Yours truly.
Margareth Capuleto
That was quite a surprise to me actually; as I had studied on the same school as Leandro Capuleto, I had feared I had been discovered already, but from what I saw, Dusk s luck had just turned to a completely new direction!
- Dusk, the situation is as follows. You master died, but you still belong to that family. I took a short air break to look for the right words you know I can t simply take you under my wing on the risk of causing a family war.
- But, then why were you able to get Dawn? she replied with a frown on her face.
- Because as you already know, she was found almost dead on MY property. This classifies as throwing it away, so I could clam Dawn to be mine but I have an idea regarding you. Do you want to stay at Dawn s side?
- YES! she nodded and almost shouted I would do almost anything to stay at my big sis side!
- Good, that is what I wanted to hear. The Capuleto s had some unfinished deals with us, you know customary credit between nobles now that he is dead, I could charge them to pay my debt but I am thinking into exchanging the WHOLE debit for you.
- Wouldn t that make you have an outrageous debt?
- Nope, actually it isn t a big debt actually. More like a favor I am sure they will understand should I carry on with our plan?
- Richard mind if I ask why you helping a complete stranger?
- Look a Dawn s smiling face; that is why! Our family we see everyone that is with us as part of a big family, not mere slaves! I care about al you guys! Having you by Dawn s side will make her very happy, so I don t see why not.
- Yes then, you convinced me, go ahead as you wish Richard-sama!
- Ok, my first order for you is to drop the sama stuff, I am equal to you guys and I treat you as part of my own, tomorrow after I am back from the funeral we will discuss things further ok?
Having said that I dismissed both Dawn and Dusk, I told Akira to go and have some free time and went to my bedroom to reflect a bit on the things that happened today.
After an hour dinner was ready, and we all ate to our hearts content; after my meal I dismissed everyone and asked Akira to follow me, as it was shower time. Akira became really happy, shower time was natural to her by now, she loved bathing me and being bathed by me.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened and after a while we were ready to go to bed, Akira s bed was right beside mine, as if something is needed during the night, she is near and ready to attend it.
I fell asleep quite quickly and I don t recall having any dreams, what I do recall though, was waking up with little sniffs and sobbing. I woke up and looked around, it was too dark to see anything though so, pressing a button I turned the lights on just to find Akira sobbing and whimpering on her bed.
I stood up and went to her bed to check what was going on, I sat next to her in the bed and gently touched her cat ears, in a way that was sure fire to relax her a bit; she indeed seemed more at ease but didn t put an end to her crying, so I gently asked her:
- Akira-chan what is bothering you? Are you hurting? Are you sad?
- So Sorry Richard it s it s just that sometimes I miss mommy they did some horrible things to her.
I realized I still hadn t found out Akira s info, and seeing that as an excellent opportunity to get to know Akira more, I asked:
- Akira-chan, if it makes you feel better, share your pain with me I will gladly listen to you.
- Won t I bother you Richard?
- Not at all! Go ahead, I am all ears!
- Ok then Richard I still can t recall it all but I will tell what I remember!
- It all started Akira began saying one day, when mommy was late for bringing me food