Akira was so happy for having me back to her! She would smile to me every time she had an opportunity, what would make Dusk, Kikuri and Enmie follow suit, Yumi on the other hand would keep a more serious face when that happened, that did not go unnoticed by Enmie, between the hugs of the little nekomimi, to Yumi.
-Richard whispered Enmie I need to talk to you later ok?
-Ok, no problems- I replied.
We arrived at the city about 9 PM; I was exhausted as the slopes were really big around these parts. We looked for an inn and were lucky, several rooms were vacant as it was the slow season for traveling and this city was really off the map.
The place was very simple, a room with a simple bed, although comfortable; a small bedside wooden piece where a table lamp stayed, its light was weak and the bucolic smell of humble houses. Stephan went to the village leader house to announce I would like to have a meeting with them on the following day.
We had a problem though; there were only five rooms on the inn as rarely there were so many visitors at the same time. That meant that at least two people would need to share their room with someone, I had that worry on my mind, as I knew what was going about to happen that wouldn t end well:
-Girls, we have a small problem I said they only have five rooms available, so it means at least someone will need to share their room with another they will give us sleeping mats I will stay with Akira of course, as she is my personal caretaker; does anyone else volunteer to share their room or should I choose one?
When Kikuri raised her hand I felt my blood freeze; I trusted her judgment, but she was so in love and maybe her feelings could cloud her common sense; and even though we didn t have an official relationship yet, she might want more intimacy with me but I noticed that the trust I put on her was very well placed as soon as she said this:
-Richard, we spent four days together, I would like to share my room with Enmie, would you let me stay with her?
-Of course Kikuri I replied happily, thanking her consideration sleep together and have fun! As soon as Stephan comes back we can go rest.
Fifteen minutes later Stephan was back and informed us that the village council would have a reunion with us the following day at ten in the morning on the following day; that would give us a good amount of time to recover from the weariness from the previous days; Enmie and Kikuri headed to their room, under the observant watch of Yumi, and I went to mine followed by Akira.
Arriving there she made a hand signal asking me to lower myself, which was promptly granted by my part, then she hugged me tighter than the usual, with her small face glued to mine I could feel when tears began rolling down; taken by surprise I asked:
-Akira-chan, what is the problem I said while removing a tears with my finger are you feeling sad?
-I-It is not that Richard - she said while drying her tears with her small paws I am actually very happy I thought I was never going to see you again I was so lonely Dawn was so nice with me staying with me in that big room but I was afraid that life had taken away something I like a lot like it did to my mama
I felt like I had swallowed a tennis ball, the words disappeared from my mouth and the ones that were left were stuck on my throat, why this little slave named Akira had this much influence over me? We had minors before but neither of them managed to have this influence over me; in a spontaneous movement I hugged her with all my tenderness and said the only thing I managed to, trying hard not to break down:
-Akira-chan, as long as there is life in these bones, I shall come back for you even if I need to walk from one side of the world to another I promise you that
I began crying, with her still nested on my chest, I could feel her purring, I felt all the tension that we felt the past four days draining and we began relaxing; knowing that no matter what happened, we would be there for each other!
After our bath turn, I told Akira to lie on the bed so I would stay on the sleeping mat; what was promptly refused by the small nekomimi. She said that if someone was to sleep on the mat, it would be her; I didn t want to let her sleep on something that uncomfortable. As we were facing a stalemate, we decided to share the bed, as it was big enough for an adult and a small girl.
It was too hot, so all Akira was wearing was her panties, as no one on the group imagined that we were going straight to the city, they brought no extra clothing; she asked me to be the same so we would be in equal clothing conditions but her little tail touching me, the heat of her small body near mine, all that added with the mental images I had from our last encounter made me have a growing problem, and that problem began poking Akira s butt cheeks, that was not promptly noticed by her.
I was very eager to touch her, I was afraid of hurting her though, as I didn t have a drunkenness state any longer to lessen my sins; but my will was weak at that time and slowly my hand approached her fragile shoulders when I felt her soft and delicate skin on my fingers, I heard something that sounded like purring and snoring I noticed then that the exhausted Akira was already sleeping; respecting her I had fun all by myself, sleeping afterwards.
On the following day I woke up with the morning usual noise; the sound of oxcarts going to the plantations way, with their regular melodious squeaks, maker of a so regional music, that for some bizarre motive, it sounded as something pleasant.
We left the bed and went to have breakfast; Enmie was standing beside the table waiting for us together with Kikuri, Stephan was already out making the final preparations for the meeting; Dusk arrived wagging her tail happily , happy for having slept well Yumi came with her hair totally messed as a cat that just woke up.
We ate peacefully, the food wasn t half bad for a place so far away from civilization; but something really made me clearly uncomfortable; it was a silence that bothered me, Kikuri was together with that person, together on the same table was the same as explosives and fire sharing the same meal I was deeply afraid that Kikuri would make a mishap, but thanks God, it didn t happen.
An hour later we were heading to the town hall meeting room, which was smaller than my own living room. We entered through a very humble wooden door; that even being simple, was very well worked in classic rural style, the level of skill on that door really drew my attention; I would like to meet him later.
When people saw me entering, together with my fellow followers, they were thunderstruck. Wasn t it really true that the noble HIMSELF had come? They couldn t be mistaken as the official family coat of arms was on my coat. As soon as I walked in the elder came to greet me, followed by saying this:
-Welcome Richard Montecchio, I am glad your accident wasn t life threatening and to notice your intentions are the best possible.
-Yes I said I hope I can show you I only want
I was interrupted midway by the sound of glass shattering, looking at the noise direction, I saw a blond man seemingly young standing where the pieces of glass were spread; using sunglasses made it impossible to notice the color of his eyes that skull hanging on the glasses impossible! Was him the legendary professional murder Yokumbi?!?!? Doubtless it was him; the one that never accepted work from nobles passed a few moments he said:
-You are Richard Montecchio right? He asked while pointing towards me a dark blade.
-Yes I replied keeping my cool.
-I came to challenge you, I want to kill you for trying to take away our land!
-Stop Yokumbi! Ordered the elder Richard gave us the honor of coming here to arrange this peacefully! Lower your sword!
-No way in hell! I do not accept nobles abusing their own power doing anything they want! Come on Richard, draw your sword and fight like a man!
-I accept your challenge I said while I took out my cape and drew my sword but as I was the one challenged I want to know. You being the famous Yokumbi, you could have killed me before I could say ouch, why didn t you do it right from the start?
-Because I heard lots of stuff about the Montecchio family and most of them were told as how good willed and honorable you were, I really doubt that but I hate thinking that I didn t give a good person a chance to prove themselves I hoped I was not mistaken!
-I understand Yokumbi, I hope not to disappoint you I replied entering guard position.
As soon as I placed myself on guard Yokumbi charged at my direction wielding a short sword; I needed to take care, as his weapon as light and mine was heavy, that would give him the speed advantage; the first strike came as a descending blow from his blade, countered by an ascending on my part.
-Very well Richard, as expected from you he said while smiling but block this!
While our swords faced each other, I felt a hit on my stomach made by his kick, I was thrown far away, sliding through the ground stopping under a table; I had only time to recover my breath as his attack came right at me, which I had only time to roll sideways, using a laid low kick to put him down.
With a jump I stood up, as well as the blond guy and sparks flew when our swords hit each other, the fight kept going on ferocious with the sound of steel clashing; the sweat on our body demonstrated how tired we were; I decided to end this fight using a special attack, which even though was risky; he wouldn t have a way to block it and even if he tried to, he would be thrown to the ground.
I rushed at him with my sword above my head, pretending to attack brutally from there, but I twisted the blade clockwise and attacked him from his right side and the speed of the attack threw him away when he desperately tried to block it. Seeing I was nearing him while he was down, he turned around and tried to attack THAT person! Oh no! I needed to act fast!
I threw myself on his direction and managed to stop the attack for moments that seemed like decades, our blades faced themselves as Titans fighting for some dream kingdom; but soon later the fairy tale was over and my sword flew to the air; digging on the ground a few feet away. Yokumbi smiled maliciously and said:
-It is over Richard, I won he said while standing up and walking towards me wish me to kill you without pain?
-Who said I intend to die? I replied sweating.
-And what you intend to do on a situation like this? You don t even have a weapon! He mocked me.
-Come and watch I said, preparing myself to use something I vowed not to ever use.
I prepared my guard; I separated my legs and flexed my knees; I raised my left hand up to forehead level, and left it some inches away; Yokumbi surprise was growing by the minute that he stopped; the pinky and the finger beside it shrunken, the other three separated and arched in the shape of claws; the right hand doing the same, but on the right side of the body, waist level.
Doing that made some nekomimi watching all this go OHHHHH! Impossible! That guard and position! I cannot believe it! Enmie and Dusk were lost with that reaction, but both Akira and Kikuri were stunned, with their tails hard from surprise, decided to find out what was going on they asked:
-What is going on? Asked Enmie and Dusk.
-That is explained Yumi, showing up from nowhere a secret from the nekomimi tribe; only a few outside our race know it, using that Richard still have some chance.
-And what would be that secret? Enmie and Dusk continued?
-The legendary fighting style known as Cat-fu !