After saying that everything happened as a blur; I saw Enma hugging Enmie and jumping as farther as it was possible, Kitagawa looked at Niwatori and threw themselves to the ground seeing that they were relatively away from me, Akira stopped as soon as she noticed the dynamite and shouted "DEAR WATCH OUT!" and when I thought that that was the end of the line for me, I felt a tackle right in the middle of my belly as if someone had thrown themselves against me and grabbing my waist, instants later there was a huge and deafening explosion and we were thrown very far, probably against the brick wall that separated parts of the propriety, as soon as there was the impact I lost conscience, however it didn't take long and I heard someone calling me:
R… Richard… is… everything alright with you man? – that was when I recognized the voice as being Yokumbi's.
Y… Yes… - I replied without opening my eyes yet, seeing I was still dizzy with the hit against the wall – I believe I... might be…
That… is really… good … - Yokumbi's voice seemed to be getting weaker and softer, that was when I noticed something warm wetting my belly and legs.
W… What is happening Yokumbi? W… Why are you talking like that? – it was at that instant that I opened the eyes and noticed that he was unharmed just from waist up, the rest was a mass of deformed meat, minced because of the explosion – My Saint Meow Yokumbi! Why did you go this far?
Because when you hired me to protect and help you on the mission Richard… - slowly his eyes were losing their strength due to blood loss – if I allowed… something happen… with you… I would… have failed… in my… miss… ion… - closing them in sequence and letting his head fall on my chest.
Yokumbi! YOKUMBI! – I shouted calling him, touching his neck and noticing that he had just died – DAMNATION! – I howled, in sequence I heard another shout, that I judged being Akira's, then I looked around and noticed that Reinold had just grabbed her arm – help me dear! Reinold wants to take me away!
Akira-chan! – I shouted while I was standing up ready to run towards her, stopping in that intend midway as soon as I saw a dagger on her neck, as well on Enmie's, Enma's, Kitagawa's and Niwatori's, that had been rendered by their attackers.
Hey, calm down there Richard, you won't want that her or your little friends there hurt themselves, correct? – he then took a small bottle from his trousers pocket and a rag, spreading its contents on it and shoving it into Akira's face, that protested and tried to shout – now let's calm this little girl down, right? We don't want to have to hurt her while the transportation takes place.
To where do you intend into taking her, you scum? – I asked exasperated, my head was frying in the vain attempt of wondering how we would wiggle ourselves out of this one – leave her alone! She has nothing to do with this! – Akira was still trying to shout and break free, however her movements quickly became slower and her shouts lower until a point that, moments later, her body became limp and she fainted on Reinold's arms.
Well, to somewhere very far from here! We need her to continue with our plan on the nekomimi supremacy! – he then pointed to the henchmen that were with Enma and Enmie, then to the ones that had Kitagawa and Niwatori – eliminate them, then get the noble, we don't want witness of what happened here! – he then placed the unconscious Akira on his shoulders and turned around to leave.
Damn you! Stop this right… - at that exact instant to pained moans were heard, I looked at the direction where Enma and Enmie were and saw two attackers falling with a bolt stuck inside their heads – elite shooters! – I exclaimed – just in time! – that was when the other that were keeping Enmie and Enma were also taken down by shooters.
Reinold looked at that with complete astonishment, and then he positioned my beloved in a way to serve as a living shield to him and began retreating, at that exact moment Royal guard reinforced vehicles were heard amongst more shots coming from the elite shooters, moments later the shock troopers entered via main gate, as soon as that happened Reinold and the attackers leader shouted "RETREAT!" and then began running towards the back part of the propriety, under a rain of bolts coming from the royal forces; I pointed to the criminals and, looking to the soldiers, shouted:
Man, seize them! I, Montecchio Richard, representative of Verona's King, Your Highness João order you to recover the nekomimi Akira that is under their possession – I then also charged at them.
Hey, stop right there! – shouted a nekomimi that was on the roof of my mansion, when she had just finished preparing three dynamite and throwing it against us – you won't get us so easily! – running away in sequence.
Have you never seen explosives in your life? – I shouted with the soldiers, as they were looking at the dynamite as if it was something inoffensive – seek shelter, the explosion will be strong!
All the soldiers returned to the front gate and hid behind the wall; Enmie, Enma, Kitagawa and Niwatori hid behind a tree, example followed by me instants before a huge explosion happened, which threw a lot of dust and debris in the air, however that didn't prevent me from going to where my sword was and run after the attackers, when I was almost reaching the left side of my house, two more dynamites were thrown as soon as Reinold turned around the opposite corner, I jumped in front of my residence and protect me from the artifacts.
Then I ran again towards the left side of the house signing to the royal guard to follow and give me support, however as soon as I reached the back part of my residence, both the attacker's leader as well as their henchmen had already entered an helicopter that was waiting for them, which took off in sequence and left to the skies, taking together with them me beloved little nekomimi; I looked around and noticed two individuals, a human male over a female that I was certain being an inumimi! I quickly went beside them both, I placed first my finger on his neck and noticed he still had pulsation, however was unconscious, at that exact moment the soldier that was following me, shouted:
We have got a man down, doctor now! – he then pointed to the soldier that was coming behind him – private, bring the paramedics!
Negative – I ordered looking at the sergeant – near the front door is a usagimimi named Enmie, she is the kingdom best doctor, bring her here, now!
You heard private, do as the commander ordered! – he then pointed to the other privateers that just had arrived – search all around and check if any enemy stayed behind and look for clues that might lead us to find out who handed this down to them!
Here we are Richard – Enmie said as soon as she arrived, thirty seconds later, along with Enma – what happened?
Look, I am sure that Andrade is still alive – I then pointed to the young noble – but as I was not sure about the kind of trauma he might have, I didn't move him… - I then pointed to Dusk under him – could you check if she is… - I saw Dawn arriving through the corner of my eyes at that instant – well?
Yes! – Enmie touched the noble and the white light left her paw – he is just unconscious, I didn't feel any apparent damage in his body, help me turn him around – which we did right afterwards, as soon as the noble was lying beside his sister-in-law we noticed that Dusk had a deep cut in her belly – shit! – Enmie said touching the wound with her paw and letting a little of the luminous rays flood it and, with a severely serious face, said – Dusk is alive, however her state is critical, she has a very intense bleeding at this moment and I believe she already lost quite a bit of blood – she then looked at the sergeant that was beside me – order some of your men to take noble Andrade to the infirmary, he just need observation, now this inumimi is between life and death, help me take her to the infirmary – she then looked at Dawn and said, in an already completely changed voice – you come with us.
We then took Dusk to the infirmary and as soon as we arrived there Enmie began applying energy on Dusk's wound, ordering that the Royal Forces Doctor to make a direct blood transfusion between the inumimi sisters, then the noble was also brought in; I looked to Enma that followed us and ordered her to bring Kitagawa and Niwatori to the meeting room again, as we needed to define what would be our position regarding this tragedy; as soon as I was surprised to notice how calm I was at that moment despite my beloved nekomimi being under the enemies' possession, I could think clearly and so I stood like that until moments later when the kitsunemimi returned, looking at me and saying:
Here we are Richard, we can start the meeting – Enmie then sat pointing to the nekomimis where they could also sit.
Alright Enma, we have a serious problem – I then placed my elbows on the table, placing my head over my hands, then I continued – they got Akira, we have to rescue her at all costs! What do you think we should do? Send all the Royal Army after her?
No Richard, something tells me that is exactly what they aim with this attack – Enmie frowned in a malicious way – making us rush after her and leave the capital unprotected, or something of this sort… - the kitsunemimi then relaxed a bit – as long as they are not sure that there nothing left that proves her origins or that links her to all this…
Wait just a moment there, as I do not understand a single thing anymore – Niwatori said, visibly clueless as to what we were talking – I am aware of your reputation of treating your slaves with extreme respect and care, almost if they were your family – he then slammed his paw on the table – but I clearly saw the slave mark on that girl's paw! I always thought that you were a noble with extreme good reasoning and judgment, however taking into consideration using all the army forced just to rescue a mere slave, isn't a little bit of an overkill?
Niwatori… let's think a bit – I then faced him, putting as much security in my voice as it was possible – as we were attacked before I could explain better what happened with the descendant, I shall do it now, do you know what was the motive that made Hikari Mitsuki go to the noble Capuleto's house, to meet with Leandro?
Well, she surely felt she needed to do that – Niwatori replied, after pondering for some instants – otherwise she wouldn't risk herself to do it.
Exactly, and I add more to it – I added moving my hands in order to help the explanation – from what I could judge from the videolog, if Mitsuki hadn't been killed on that fateful day, she would die from natural causes in at most one month after that, because of a cancer…
My Saint Meow! – Kitagawa exclaimed, asking astutely in sequence – but what would make a dying person, with just one more month of life at most to look a noble? – the elder then frowned, continuing – I really doubt that it would be to ask for a treatment, seeing that the amount of time she had left would indicate a hopeless situation… - he then pondered for a little bit more and asked – would it be to say goodbye to an old love?
Right, although that wasn't the whole motive – I replied, smiling triumphantly – she wanted to make sure that the future of their daughter, which the noble didn't know until that day, would be secured – I then explained to the pale nekomimis the couple's history before the operation day.
Hold your horses! – Niwatori exclaimed, making a "T" with the paws – that information implies in two things! First if Mitsuki, who was the first Mewsus' female direct descendant, had a daughter, this means the second sign became true! – he smiled, however it disappeared quickly – wait… don't you tell me that that child was also killed that day? But even more, what all this has to do with sending a whole army to rescue a slave?
Apparently one thing has nothing to do with the other – I replied, preparing the last blow – but technically, the order that the agents responsible for the mission that dat were that to eliminate any living being involved with the target, however be it a mere coincidence or the work of a higher being, the noble that acted that day apparently pitied the little one instead of eliminating her, made her a slave… - I finished my explanation on the moment Enma began dealing with a small device.
Don't you tell me that… - Kitagawa commented, becoming even paler – that the girl they just kidnapped now… was called Hikari Akira and was a direct Mewsus' descendant?
Exactly Kitagawa, not only that… I love her a lot and I don't want… - I was saying that at the exact moment the sergeant from before entered the room dragging by a collar and chains a female nekomimi of black hair and golden fur, with green eyes and I recognized her instantly as Maria, Reinold's life partner.
Montecchio Sir, we found this nekomimi slave along the propriety's back wall – he then made her kneel – she was looking at the helicopter that was already far away and was crying, murmuring things like "you didn't take me… you left me behind".
Thanks sergeant, you can leave us – I ordered, as soon as he had left I drew my sword and left it practically touching Maria's head – give me just one motive for not beheading you at this exact moment, tell me why did Reinold did this you never told us anything about it?
I w… will tell what I know… just… - Maria then looked at me with her green eyes, filled with sadness – kill me after that… life without Reinold… has no meaning…
Right, depending on what you tell me, I might grant you your wish – I replied, lying.
Alright… - Maria replied resigned, looking at me with tears on her eyes – since we were enslaved, I dreamed just living the rest of my life beside him and to do my work here with pride, almost an year ago, a nekomimi came and talked with Reinold telling him it was time for him to revive his legacy – she had a confused look – however he never told me what it was all about, he just said that soon he would leave and take the farce and expose in the worldwide television that the pacifist nekomimis had "invented" a legend that never existed…
So they intend to make Akira-chan look like a fraud directly on the television? – I asked, lowering my sword.
Yes, up to where I understood it was that… I didn't even knew that Reinold was a nekomimi… - she commented, as if someone had asked her that.
I understood – I looked to the door and shouted – soldier, take the nekomimi to the Montecchio prison and leave her there as a war prisoner – I then looked at Kitagawa and Niwatori – you two, follow me please.
What do you intend to do Richard? – Niwatori asked, intrigued – to where are we headed?
We shall go to the Royal Palace, we shall fight fire with fire – I replied, heading to where Enma was – if they intend to make Akira-chan look like a farce, we shall prove before that she is the true and real on in the television!