A/N: Welcome back~

Bit of a plottier chapter this time around, so do enjoy the longer length~

The Haar

Chapter 22: Noshiro and Kinu

Kinu wasn't fond of this 'Island 13'.

The only plus to it was that it offered a different challenge to what the Sirens offered, and also gave her the chance to put her swordsmanship skills to the test – but aside from that, it was all negatives. From the fatigue of non-stop battles to the unlucky few that were claimed – in more ways than one – by the monsters, and she was very much regretting that she had volunteered to join the Sakura Empire's aid fleet.

Of course she was quick to quash such regrets – she couldn't change the past and moaning over it wouldn't do her or her comrades any good, so she just pursed her lips and put up with it. A task made much harder due to her newest orders from the Western Fleet's flagship, Impero – to retrieve Prinz Heinrich and Prinz Adalbert. She was given Noshiro to aid her.

And that was it.

No capital ships to provide supporting fire, no Heavy Cruisers to give them an edge – heck, not even some Destroyers to screen for them. It was just her and Noshiro. Not that she doubted Noshiro's skill and she had a good estimation of her own, but if they came across a pack of enemies they'd struggle severely against them. While Noshiro had a fairly competent armament, Kinu herself was much more limited – hence using her swordsmanship as a supplement, even if it was of only limited use against Siren warships.

Kinu chased off such thoughts though, grimacing. The forest around them was deceptively quiet but she wasn't fooled – danger could lurk around any bush or tree trunk. A sentiment Noshiro clearly shared as she kept one hand on her katana's hilt, preparing to quick-draw it and cut down any foe foolish enough to jump them. Kinu wisely did the same, head on a swivel as they made their way towards their target – made distinct thanks to Impero dropping bombs in a straight line. Every so many trees apart would be another small, but noticeable blast crater, serving well enough as a route for them to follow.

Personally she would've preferred flares or something, but she supposed being the flagship Impero hadn't thought to bring more supportive equipment, and with Centaur currently busy searching for other MIA ships this was the best they were going to get.

''...I don't trust Impero.''

Kinu looked over at Noshiro then. ''What for?''

''She's not competent.'' Noshiro stated simply, still looking around as she spoke. ''The fact she's insisted we keep moving in deeper to 'get this over with quickly', despite our missing and wounded, hasn't changed that opinion.''

Kinu hummed, a note of agreement in her tone. Though hardly a bad leader... yeah, Impero left much to be desired. She wasn't really the sort to inspire others and in fact that fell more to her sister-ships Littorio and Veneto, both of whom were with the fleet – yet why they insisted that Impero be the flagship she didn't know. Was it some sort of ploy from the Sardinians – and if so, what? Or perhaps was this a sort of sisterly love thing, where they wanted to use this operation to bring out the best in their sister and fix her bad habits?

Regardless of the why, the fleet was struggling. Still, nobody complained, not when they were already getting close to the objective. The thinking being that they would double back and get anyone who was left behind... though, nobody talked about what would happen if it turns out those left behind her broken or worse, dead. Impero wasn't in anyone's good graces at the moment, that much could be said easily. Not that the carrier herself even seemed to care.

Or maybe she did and was just good at hiding her emotions. She didn't know.

'I wish we had Amagi to lead us...' Kinu sighed to herself. 'She'd serve us better.'

Shaking off such thoughts she continued marching ahead, focusing on the task at hand – rescuing Heinrich and Adalbert. The sense of purpose gave her renewed confidence and she carried on, hearing more than seeing Noshiro follow just a few steps behind. The trees broke up a bit up ahead, another crater present that told her she was on the right track, urging her onwards.

That until Noshiro spoke. ''Hold on, what's that?''

Gripping her sword in anticipation of a foe Kinu turned – only to pause as she noticed what Noshiro was pointing at. A tree. Or to be more specific, a mark on the tree. She approached it warily but when the tree didn't spontaneously come to life she lowered her guard slightly, examining the symbol on the tree with interest. It was a diamond shape, with the top going straight down to form a second, smaller diamond shape in the centre, with a single dot within it. Nothing that made sense to her.

''...let's just keep moving. I don't want to be around when whatever made it comes back.'' Kinu remarked, tugging on Noshiro's arm.

The horned cruiser murmured an agreement and followed her along. The trees were slightly denser around here, the land uneven, so Kinu took a slightly roundabout route up onto higher ground where the land was flatter – the patch clear of trees. On the way though she noticed several more markings on the trees, each fuelling the sense of unease in her gut more and more. Yet they were getting close to the last known location of Heinrich and Adalbert; Impero had dropped twelve bombs and they'd just passed the ninth, they couldn't be more than a minute or two's jog away from the pair.

The feeling of unease though worsened, a twist in her gut that became a sudden, acute feeling of wrongness. The forest ahead of her seemed to warp and waver like an illusion being unwoven, the greenery of the leaves draining away to a pale grey as the tree trunks diluted to a darker shade bordering on black. The ground felt unsteady and Kinu tried to walk back but the world inverted, gravity pulled her up-

-and then suddenly she was on the ground. Her thoughts were sluggish and she clutched at her head, groaning reflexively as her brain pounded within it – a terrible nausea holding her mind hostage. It waned steadily though, and when she no longer felt sick Kinu managed to get her hands under herself, pushing herself up. Her sword was still sheathed in her hand but when she looked around she couldn't see Noshiro anywhere.

Or reality as she knew it, at that.

Gone was the vibrant greens of the forest and in its place was a total grey-scaled forest. The trees, the dirt, even the water from a nearby stream was grey. She couldn't see the sky but she suspected the same could be said for it – and strangest of all was the noise. A low, unnaturally vibrating pitch like a swarm of bugs deep inside of her ears, yet so distant the noise could only be heard if she stopped to listen to it.

'Dammit...' Kinu grimaced as she stood. ''Noshiro?!''

Her voice carried far, and nothing answered it.

Until with a shriek a wall of flames surged up. Kinu flinched in surprise, glancing back – only to watch as the wall of fire raced to cut off that avenue of escape. Alarm filled her and she looked about, head on a swivel but helpless to escape before the fire formed a perfect circle around her. The baleful orange flames disappeared up into the canopy but oddly didn't cause the trees to burn, yet when she dared approach she could feel the heat on her skin, warning her if she dared touch it she'd be burned.

The dirt underfoot, however, was not spared from the flames. It dried and cracked unnaturally quick; grass burnt to ash and dirt turning to charcoal, leaving the ground a black ash-covered stone more reminiscent of volcanic rock than regular stone. The change, too, happened over the course of seconds, exceeding what was physically possible.

Then again, summoning a wall of fire was similarly impossible.

'Where the hell am I?' Kinu gripped her katana tighter, tense.

As if in answer to her question she heard motion up ahead – feet thudding against hard stone. A shadow appeared on the wall of flames ahead of her, growing as it neared – until through the blazing barrier marched out a monster. Its skin was a deep red as if it was burned, yet it was without injury, nor sign of pain upon its humanoid face. Luminous green eyes gleamed like jades in the firelight and from its sides stretched out a total of six arms, three each side and ending in a thick hand wielding a broadsword of scorched caspian steel. Clad only in a tattered loincloth there was little of the creature's defined musculature hidden, nor were the large curved horns on its head hidden.

A demon. Or as she dubbed it, a Rakshasa.

The demonic monster flashed her a grin then, broad as it was menacing. Its arms spread apart and it displayed its swords prominently. A challenge.

Kinu huffed and summoned her rigging – or tried to. It failed to manifest.

There was a barrier, a blockage, when she tried to pull her rigging to her. Like there was a thin but sturdy brick wall between her back and the metaphysical space her rigging occupied – unable to connect and, thus, unable to be summoned. Try as she might it would not come to her, leaving her armed with just her katana.

''Hmph.'' Kinu pushed down her fear, gold eyes hard as she glared at the monster opposing her, the flames behind it giving it an intimidating silhouette. ''I was always more of a swordswoman, I suppose.''

The Rakshasa grinned wider, and the flames around them shrieked louder.

X-x-X

Noshiro wasn't sure where Kinu went.

All that she knew was that the world seemed to flip on its axis before she found herself in a strange grey-scaled copy of their world. Before she could even attempt to run back to the fleet for aid she was ensnared by a barrier of fire, surrounding her and preventing her escape – the ground too turning into rock warm to the touch. And most of all was the six-armed demon that marched out of the flames, jade eyes and six blades gleaming in the firelight.

A demon looking for a fight.

CLANG!

''Nn-!'' Noshiro grunted harshly as she was sent skidding back across the hot rock underfoot.

The Rakshasa opposite her charged, its broad grin unfading. Four swords came swinging for her so she leapt back, putting some meagre distance between her and the red-skinned monster, her katana flying free from its sheath as she slashed for its upper-right arm. Alas it pulled its wrist back and retaliated with its middle-right sword, metal harshly screeching against metal as it held her back, its strength easily equal to her own.

Knowing better than to stand there she disengaged – and not a second too soon either as the Rakshasa's two lower arms jerked out, thrusting their own swords to where her stomach would've been. She evaded such a fate narrowly but the beast was far from done with her; not losing its broad grin as it turned and slashed out with three swords at once. Unable to duck into, under or over the attack Noshiro had no choice but to throw her weight back, wincing as several cuts marred her stomach, but she evaded disembowelment and landed on the hot rock underneath.

It didn't burn but the warmth was uncomfortable as she transitioned into a roll, getting one foot under herself – and then the Rakshasa was there, thrusting for her neck. She jerked her head out of the way and raised her blade in time to spare her neck, sparks tickling her skin from the grinding metals, and she used the monster's blade to push her away from its follow-up thrust. Her heel dug into the hot rock and she leapt at it then, intent on stabbing it through its chest-!

But like the two times before it, the monster brought two of its swords together in a guard, stopping her katana dead before shoving her back.

Noshiro grimaced. 'Dammit, does this thing not have any openings?!'

If it did she wasn't skilled enough to exploit them. Alas the time for introspection was over as the Rakshasa tensed its legs – and then it lunged at her, releasing an inhuman roar of bloodthirst as it did so. The sound shook her to her bones but Noshiro pushed down the primal fear that threatened to distract her, eyes hard as she quickly parried aside one broadsword and then the next, both hands on her weapon as she held back the torrential typhoon of blades.

Despite her best efforts, however, she could only do so much. Gashes opened up on her biceps and ribs as the tip of the monster's swords got past, cutting through cloth easily and drawing blood. A nick just next to her thumb made her right hand's grip slick, hot blood getting between her palm and handle, but with gritted teeth Noshiro just squeezed the handle tighter as she endured the relentless assault.

Until soon her back neared the fire. She couldn't back up any further. She felt her hair nearly ignite as the flames licked at her back, and in a moment of desperation she leapt to the side.

A mistake.

''Nn- agh!''

Two blades cut deep into her side and sent her sprawling across the hot rock. Noshiro hissed through gritted teeth, rolling onto her back only to regret that choice as her side burned with fresh pain. Stomping near her though inspired panic in her heart and she tried to stand-

-but then a heavy foot stomped on her stomach. The air was knocked out of her and it felt like her organs were pushed up into her chest, her wheeze pained. Clutching her sword she swung for the Rakshasa's muscled leg but a sword intercepted it, holding it back with ease. She couldn't put her back into it, pinned as she was, and the demon above her knew that.

So she was startled when it stepped off of her and backed up.

Not one to question good fortune Noshiro hurriedly scrambled to her feet, raising her sword – only to gasp as the Rakshasa lunged, pushing her blade aside and slashing down her front. Hot pain flared and she stumbled back, a diagonal line of pain from her collarbone down between her breasts to her stomach formed that wept crimson – but she had no time to address the wound as the Rakshasa came in again. She raised her katana and blocked it, but the sheer strength packed into the swing threatened to knock her sword from her weakened, slick grip.

A slash for her neck forced her to duck – and she saw stars as the beast's knee came up. Her nose made an unpleasant crunch sound and when her vision came back she was sprawled on the hot ground, sword just a few feet ahead of her.

Stomping alerted her to the Rakshasa's approach and she weakly looked up at the beast, its grinning visage seemingly wider than ever... before, with a foot, it nudged her sword towards her.

Daring her to continue fighting.

To submit, or to rebel until the end.

Noshiro gritted her teeth. She tried to push herself up but her arms were like jelly after tanking so many blows. Her head was light from strain, the sudden knee to her face and the blood loss – already she could feel her uniform, tattered as it was, clinging to her body as hot sticky ichor trickled down her belly and sides. She wasn't in fighting condition.

But she couldn't just give up to this monster.

Snatching her sword Noshiro lunged up, yelling at the top of her lungs-

And then a broadsword stabbed straight through her.

Noshiro froze, inhaling – only to vomit blood back out. Hot steel stabbed from her collarbone down through a lung and out of her lower back, probably hitting her heart on the way through. The slightest inhalation sent violent shudders through her, fluid filling her lungs as she tried to breathe only to rasp out what little oxygen her lungs would allow. Her chest hurt and her head felt lighter than before, her vision darkening around the corners, the grinning Rakshasa before her illuminated by the firelight.

'Is this... how it ends...?'

She tried to rebel, to defy, to fight-

-but she was so very tired. The toll of battle and blood loss weighed heavily on her form and her eyes fell shut against her will, her last breath shallow and meek, withering into a faint, noiseless exhale.

Then she blinked and she was standing once more.

Her legs were stiff and when she twitched she felt motion come to them; a bit of numbness, but otherwise mobile yet. A hand flew to her chest and she flinched as she felt the cooling blood cling to her dress, but the wound that caused it was gone. As was the one between her breasts or the smaller ones along her arms. The blood remained, but the injuries did not.

Low, ominous cackling that sounded like two rocks grinding together made Noshiro whip around, glaring as she found the Rakshasa where she'd last seen it. Only now its blade was impaling nothing; just crimson blood, fast drying in the heat, smeared across the blade. It flicked that sword out as it turned to face her, grin wide as it pointed all three of its left-handed broadswords at her, its other three kept close to its chest in a guard.

'Is this hell?' Noshiro was struck with the thought, gritting her teeth as she raised her blade. It rattled in her grip. 'Unable to die but forced to fight?'

She had tasted death. She had felt the coldness briefly touch her bones before she found herself alive once more. She hated it.

Yet the monster across from her didn't look like the merciful sort. The only way to escape, presumably, was to kill it in battle.

Assuming it didn't simply resurrect as well.

''Fine then.'' Noshiro rasped out, ignoring the very real fear of death in the back of her mind. ''Come at me.''

The Rakshasa obliged.

Blades clashed as it swung to meet her. Steel screeched as her retaliatory attacks were deflected or blocked outright. Cries pierced the roar of the flames as metal cut into her flesh. Gurgles preluded the final exhale as her heart was cut through by a stab, her watering eyes seeing little beyond the burnt stone underfoot.

Then she was back once more and fought. She tasted steel as she was stabbed through the throat and drowned on her own blood.

She came back and tried to surprise it. It disembowelled her with a triple slash.

She pleaded. It forced her into the fires. It laughed as she screamed, her death a slow one.

Time and time again Noshiro fought and fought, she bled by the bucket-load and broke more bones than she had in her body. Yet the best she managed was a few slashes across the beast's body, so insignificant that after a few deaths the blood flow had coagulated and ceased. The only mercy was that each time she came back from the dead her wounds were healed and the pain reduced to a phantom one – but the damage to her clothes and the fluids on her body didn't disappear.

After numerous deaths her serafuku shirt was in tatters, showing more stomach than she was comfortable with. Her sleeves had long since been hacked away at, leaving her tired arms bare, whilst her skirt was cut up but mostly in tack, if a bit more breezy. Her pantyhose those had been mostly destroyed by the fire, leaving them in tatters, the rest of her uniform not untouched either and marred with scorch marks. Why her clothes weren't entirely burned away eluded her, but she was grateful she didn't have to fight in the nude.

Modesty was one of the last things on her mind at the moment, however.

''Haah... haagh...''

Noshiro rasped in air, the tip of her sword stabbing into the hot rock underfoot as she fell to one knee. Blood ran down her bare arms from the numerous gashes now littering her formerly-flawless flesh and her expression was contorted into one of pain. Fatigue made her sword-arm shake but she didn't dare swap to her other hand, having already tried that before and lost her hand as a result.

Across from her the Rakshasa stood barely injured, only a handful of small cuts on its chest. She'd made progress, but only the tiniest increments of it. At this rate she'd die a hundred times more before she got remotely close to killing the beast – and if it came back from the dead like she did, then she didn't think she could keep fighting.

The Rakshasa's slow, stomping footfalls neared but Noshiro didn't raise her blade, not even when one of the Rakshasa's own touched her chin and lifted it up. The very tip of the blade opened a cut on her throat but she just flinched and no more, lacking the energy to. She simply gazed up at the monster before her, her body beaten and her spirit broken.

The demon's swords raised up – and then stabbed now, impaling themselves into the rock.

Noshiro didn't get the chance to be surprised before the Rakshasa grabbed her sword by the hilt and threw it aside, a wince flashing across her face as she saw it come to rest near the flaming wall. Her attention was quick to refocus on the red-skinned demon though as it tore away at its loincloth – and her heart fell into her stomach as it revealed its large, erect cock, red as the rest of it.

''W-What-''

Meaty fingers grabbed her left horn – and Noshiro choked as the monster's thick cock slammed into her mouth. It was so sudden she had no chance of stopping it, her hands jerking up to grab the monster's hips but doing nothing to stop it from rearing its cock back out before slamming back down her throat. Its girth was uncomfortably thick and pinned her tongue to the bottom of her mouth, every thrust pulling her head back-and-forth with the motion.

Worst when the tip of its cock pushed down her gullet. It made her feel sick, gagging, but the Rakshasa mercilessly pulled on her horn until she feared it might snap off, yanking her nose-deep into its crotch. Its musk filled her nose as its cock stuffed her throat, cutting of her air supply for a frantic moment before it pulled back only to do it all over again, the beast relentlessly face-fucking her.

''Ghk- nnghk-!'' Sloppy, rasped grunts escaped Noshiro, her eyes scrunching shut as she endured the oral violation.

Was this the price she paid for surrender? No longer death, but now merely defilement? Disgust welled within her but she was too weak to fight back, and she knew what awaited her if she resisted – no, better to just accept this as her fate, as much as she hated it. Thus with only grunts of discomfort Noshiro gave up resisting, her grip on the monster's hips token at best as it used her horn to pull her back and forth, using her throat as its own personal cock-sleeve.

Until abruptly it let her go. Noshiro sucked in a sharp breath, breaking out into coughs nary a moment later, wincing and thumping her chest as she tried to catch her breath. The Rakshasa though swiftly grabbed her by her serafuku and pulling until the tattered fabric ripped, exposing her bare breasts to the monster. It grabbed her tits as it pushed her down, a wince marring Noshiro's features as she was left pinned under its bulk; two of its hands restraining her wrists whilst another two forced her legs open. The hand groping her left breast soon darted down and ripped a hole in her tattered pantyhose, exposing her pussy as it positioned its saliva-coated cock against her opening-

-and then Noshiro screamed as it deflowered her, slamming into her virginal tightness. On instinct she resisted but pinned down as she was the cruiser could do nothing as the Rakshasa penetrated deep inside of her, forcing her virginal walls apart until its tip was pushing up against her cervix. Her back involuntarily arched and her eyes went wide, feeling the monster's huge cock inside of her, nearly breaking her apart.

Then it pulled back – only to slam back inside hard enough to make her scream. The Rakshasa though offered her no mercy as it drove its cock into her again, then again and again, each plundering plunge bashing her deepest parts. She threw her head from side-to-side, crying out as the monstrously-huge cock ruined her pussy, each thrust jamming it into her tight hole and forcing her insides apart just to accommodate it.

''Hnnng! Stop...!'' Noshiro managed to gasp out.

Naturally though the demon just ignored her, never losing its intimidating grin that was practically etched onto its visage – and Noshiro threw her head back as another stabbing thrust made her feel light-headed. The harsh, fleshy smacks of its loins against her own echoed out and she struggled to stay sane, her breath catching in her throat and her legs going numb from a mix of fatigue and abuse, her pussy used gleefully by the Rakshasa.

Screwing her eyes shut she bashed her head back against the stone, some dark part of her mind hoping it'd kill her so she'd come back untouched. Alas it wasn't enough and the beast seemed intent on preventing that; grabbing her horn harshly and pulling her head towards it as it ruthlessly forced itself into her, taking the air from her lungs with every hammering impact to her depths, her abused insides raped raw.

'It's too much, it's too...!'

The Rakshasa's two centre arms grabbed at her breasts again, squeezing and kneading them harshly enough to take the breath from her lungs. There was no pleasure to be felt in this hell. No gratification. Only pain and despair as the monster entered her again and again, only the barest of lubrication to ease its large cock into her tightness, its shaft throbbing and pulsating against her tender insides, its grip on her horn growing tighter and her forehead aching with the sensation.

''S-Stop-!''

Crack.

Bone splintered.

And then a shrill scream escaped Noshiro as the monster broke her horn off, leaving just a tiny stump left – and with a howl of its own the Rakshasa slammed into her unwilling pussy and unloaded a torrent of thick, hot semen into her depths. The sting of its impregnating load was second to the pain in her head, however; ragged gasps and tearful whimpers escaping Noshiro as she laid there, restrained and helpless as the monster filled her up.

Alas, it was not done with her.

A fact she learned well, her cries piercing the unnaturally still air, none save the flames privy to her despair.

X-x-X

'Damn it...'

That was the thought that circled around in Kinu's head as she knelt on the hot rock, panting for breath. Her right boot touched the ground but she lacked the strength to stand; her right hand gripping her trusted blade whilst her left arm hung limply by her side – a result of overestimating her own strength, and her ability to block a back-hand from the demon.

A demon who stood across from her, tall and proud. Numerous cuts marred its chest from where she managed to strike blows, feigning and leaning on deception rather than brute force – but despite her best efforts, it seemed this was as far as she could go. With her rigging perhaps she could've gone further, but she'd never know. She was one arm down, exhausted and her katana was beginning to blunt from the constant clashes. She wouldn't be surprised if it would soon break from the strain, durable though it was.

Kinu snapped out of her thoughts as the monster approached her; each step seeming to shake the ground underfoot. She grimaced, hanging her head in anticipation of an executing blow... but it never came.

Instead the Rakshasa used the tip of one of its swords to nudge her own away from her. She let it, wise enough to realise attempting to attack it right now would just end up with her impaled – it had six swords to her one, and this close there was no chance she could dodge. The clatter of her katana against the stone was lost to the ever-present roar of the flames around them – and she flinched as two of the beast's swords stabbed into the rock in front of her. As if daring her to grab them and use them as her own.

When she didn't, a engorged index finger cupped her chin, lifting it. With a grimace harshening her features Kinu obliged, staring up into the luminous jade eyes of the Rakshasa before her. It grinned as always, but there was a glint of something hungrier in its eyes – a satisfaction, too. She didn't get to ruminate on that for long before the beast slowly brought its upper-right blade to bear; dragging the tip along the ruined fabric of her top.

A sudden swipe – and then her top split open. Kinu's cheeks burned bright as her bra slid off too, her medium-sized breasts shown to the creature. A fresh shudder though trembled down her spine as it dragged the tip of its blade along her breast, teasingly drawing a circle around her nipple before lifting her left tit up a couple of times with the flat edge of the blade, playing with her chest yet threatening to harm her if she dared resist.

So she didn't. Her pride demanded she did – but pride wouldn't save her here. Patience, would.

Another swipe and her skirt came off. A slower, more pronounced cut made her panties fall limply around her knees. Seconds later the Rakshasa's loincloth fell and its large cock sprung out, looming over Kinu, the monster's want all too obvious to her in that moment. Once again pride reared its head but she pushed it down, not resisting as the demon grasped her hair and pulled her in, her lips parting for the tip.

Then she took it into her mouth. She did so slowly and mercifully the demon didn't force it down her throat, as if rewarding her for her compliance. Her lips grazed down its meaty shaft and with some effort she sucked back up to the tip, disgust simmering in her gut even as she repeated the motion, her head bobbing into its crotch. Her tongue was forced flat against the bottom of her mouth with its size, her jaw aching as she had to open her mouth wide just to fit it in.

''Mgk... mmph...'' Kinu grunted lowly, eyes shut as she sucked the Rakshasa off.

An approving growl escaped the beast, deep and husky. The noise sent a shiver up her spine but she didn't stop giving the demonic entity head, unconsciously taking it deeper and deeper as it pushed on the back of her head – until its tip hit the back of her throat. Kinu grunted but resisted the urge to gag, quelling the urge as best she could and just focusing on her newfound job, hoping if she served the monster well enough it would lower its guard. The swords were still in reach, but it still had four in its hands. The time wasn't right.

So she forced herself to give the Rakshasa a blowjob. Her lips pursed around its meat as she bobbed her head, every slurp making her gut twist and the taste of the being's cock – like smoke, she noted – made her feel sick, but she kept those thoughts to herself. She was almost tempted to grab its balls to see if that would make it cum quicker but the threat to retaliation kept her at bay, simply using her mouth and nothing else to pleasure the beast.

Until it pushed her head off. Kinu gladly took the chance to catch her breath, chest heaving, when the Rakshasa gestured. She glanced up in time to see it – an index finger twirling around.

'Turn around'.

Grimacing she complied, shuffling around and bending over on all fours. Shame crept up her neck and burned her cheeks as she felt its gaze run over her naked self, her jacket hanging open and her lower half bare, allowing the monster to kneel down behind her. Four dull thunks echoed as it impaled its swords into the hot ash-covered rock; two hands grabbing her hips whilst another two held her shoulders, leaving its middle-left hand to reach around and grope her breast – whilst the middle-right guided its cock to her opening, rubbing its large tip along her slit.

And Kinu moaned as it penetrated her. It wasn't a moan of pleasure but one of pain, not that the monster seemed to care – its saliva-coated cock sheathing itself between her petals and deep inside of her, claiming her first time and stuffing her full all on the first thrust. Kinu groaned through gritted teeth and clenched her fists, enduring the sensation of its large shaft penetrating right up to her cervix, the foreign fullness making it hard to breathe.

''Nn-!'' The hands on her shoulders suddenly pushed her down and her cheek found itself flush against the warm stone.

Not a second later the Rakshasa began to move in earnest. Its cock dragged out until the tip grazed her opening before it slammed back in with much more force than before, hard enough to make Kinu gasp and cry out, her stifled shouts of pain going entirely ignored by the demon as it took off the metaphorical gloves – harsh, echoing slaps of flesh filling the arena as it gleefully began to pound her submissive pussy.

A submission Kinu continued, teeth clenched as her body was filled with the demon's cock. She could feel it raking her insides as it pushed in-and-out of her, stretching her open in ways she'd never felt before and left her nauseous. The beast's groin smacked up against her ass cheeks hard enough to qualify as a spank, leaving her rear sore with each consecutive impact – worsened by the cock that jammed into her at the same time.

''...hnf, nn... nn- hngk... mn...''

Grunts and hisses were the only noises that escaped Kinu in response. If the Rakshasa was bothered it certainly didn't show it; instead taking the time to fondle her breasts at its leisure. Whatever pleasure she might've derived from the perverse act was ruined by its roughness; squeezing and kneading her breasts hard enough to bruise, yet she endured it with little more than a hiss of discomfort. It hurt less than the cock plunging into her, at least.

There was a gradual up-tick in its tempo, she noticed; managing to think through the discomfort. She could feel its girth pulsating within her and she tensed, feeling it throb all the more from her sudden tightness. With pursed lips Kinu just stayed quiet, eyes shut as she tensed her muscles and worked its cock as it plunged into her, the snug grip of her loins making the Rakshasa hiss in delight, its pace hastening and hastening until it was pounding her pussy outright, the sharp claps of flesh echoing in her ears-

-and then with a sharp roar it slammed into her aching cunt, a torrent of unnaturally-hot cum pouring into her womb. Its tip pressed against her cervix, delivered its baby-making seed into her womb, but she endured. She let it get this final victory. She let it impregnate her.

All so that in its moment of euphoria, it let down its guard and loosened its hold on her.

Then in a burst of motion Kinu jerked forth and turned, snatching up a broadsword – and before the Rakshasa could rearm itself, she jammed the hot blade up into its jaw and through its head.

The beast spluttered; jade eyes filled with what she could only describe as shock... before the light left its luminous eyes once and for all.

Around her the flames extinguished themselves, the embers fast to fade from the world. In their absence though the haunting quietude of the grey-scaled forest revealed itself; the air was unnaturally still, the colour drained from all surfaces, and that disturbing buzzing sound had returned to her ears, distracting as it was unfathomable.

Then suddenly Kinu felt the world under her pull her down, her whole world flipped suddenly on its axis-

And then she was back again.

Back in the lush green forest of Island 13.

For a moment the Sakura cruiser just sat there, dazed. It was only when she heard distant shellfire that she snapped out of it and remembered what had just happened – and why she'd been sent out into this godforsaken forest in the first place. Heinrich and Adalbert were still needing her aid – as was Noshiro, no doubt.

Hissing Kinu forced herself to her feet. Her left arm was still broken, her crotch ached and the wounds from her battle remained – but she was still able, and she wouldn't be put out of commission by this much. She refused to be. A quick glance around located her sword off to the side, in the same general area that the Rakshasa had thrown it, and she was relieved when she could summon her rigging once more. Her two 140mm guns might not pack the same punch other cruisers did, but she'd take every advantage she could get.

She was left with a problem though – how to get Noshiro back, assuming she'd been taken the same way Kinu herself had been?

Looking around she hoped to find some convenient portal but came up empty – when she spotted one of the sigils on the tree. It was glowing red.

She looked around, noticing all the other red marks, forming a vague circle around where she was stood... and where the flame barrier had been in that twisted Otherworld. Her knowledge of the spiritual was limited but it wasn't hard to form a connection, and so with a burst of fervour Kinu half-jogged, half-hobbled over to the nearest mark and slashed it. The sigil emitted red sparks as her blade dug a groove through it, and within seconds the glow flickered and faded.

For a brief moment, her world flickered grey. She ignored it and moved onto the next mark. Then the next one after that, and after that – four, six, nine, twelve marks-

-and after the thirteenth mark was severed, the sound of slapping flesh and a confused grunt reached her ears.

Kinu whipped around, eyes hardening as she found a Rakshasa identical to the one she'd slayed standing near the edge of the clearing – and under it, legs open and looking like a total mess, was Noshiro. The beast had its back to her and was unarmed so Kinu rushed it, blood singing in her ears as it pulled out and tried to turn-

Too late, as her blade dug into its neck – and with a single, brutally efficient slash, she beheaded the Rakshasa. If only it had been so easy when it was armed, she could only think as the decapitated head flew and rolled to a stop some twelve feet away, the light in the beast's eyes fast fading.

''...Kinu...?'' Came Noshiro's weak call.

Kinu looked down at her comrade-in-arms as the Rakshasa's headless body fell, wincing at the sight of her. Blood ran thick down her bare arms and marred her torso plentifully, cuts both fresh and not present upon her form, the scent of iron so strong Kinu could smell it from a couple feet away. Bruises marred her hips, her breasts, her shoulders and though she only glanced briefly, it was impossible to ignore the bruises between Noshiro's legs as well. Most noticeably, however, was the absence of one of her large horns – her left one snapped off, leaving just a small stub of bone near her forehead.

''You're safe now, Noshiro.'' Kinu said quietly, dipping her head. ''...can you stand?''

Noshiro closed her eyes and just drew a slow breath. A second later she put her palms to the grass and managed to push herself up, wincing as she did so. Kinu sympathised and offered a hand, pulling the other cruiser to her feet – and when Noshiro suddenly hugged her Kinu didn't resist, simply wrapping her one functioning arm around her comrade-in-arms. A brief silence held itself over them.

Kinu broke it first, gently extraditing herself from her hold – though she was surprised when Noshiro tried to continue the embrace, put off only when Kinu stepped back. Trauma from her defilement, perhaps? Or was she just feeling vulnerable?

After a moment Kinu rid herself of such thoughts. It wasn't up to her to determine such things. It was just up to her to bring Heinrich and Adalbert back to the fleet.

Stabbing her sword into the grass Kinu reached into her rigging, withdrawing a fresh uniform from it – plenty of spares packed inside the metaphysical space her hull took up, although not for situations like this. Regardless she looked over at Noshiro, offering it, but Noshiro tentatively shook her head and summoned her own rigging, withdrawing a fresh uniform of her own.

Quietly Kinu looked about. ''I'll keep watch.''

Noshiro didn't protest, and with some effort Noshiro managed to dress herself. The pain wracking her body and her own inner turmoil slowed her motions no doubt, but perhaps it spoke to Noshiro's pride, broken though it may be, that she managed to dress herself despite the awkwardness. Once that was done Kinu took the chance to finally clothe herself, although quickly ran into a problem with her broken arm – hissing at the slightest twitch she made with it.

Given that, she just left her broken arm within her jacket; tucked up against her side until she could have someone with medical knowledge look at it. Fighting with one arm would be troublesome, but she wasn't about to complain. Better than being that Rakshasa's broodmare for eternity.

She shuddered just thinking about it.

''Come on.'' Kinu murmured then, glancing over at her comrade.

A comrade who, despite being fully dressed, looked hardly better than before.

Her pride visibly broken, and her spirit crushed.

...alas, there was nothing Kinu could do to alleviate her of her woes. Not when she still felt the monster's mark within her womb, as if a final taunt.

''...we've still got a job to do.'' Kinu finished quietly, marching on.

Memories of the unfathomable Otherworld lingering strongly in her mind.

[END]

A/N: What's this? Some actual bits of plot, tiny as they are~?

Also Noshiro is 110% traumatised from this. Dying several times, often in quite painful ways? Plus that broken horn probably stings a tad~

Regardless, see you next time in Chapter 22: Repulse, Renown and Centaur~