[ Sakurakoku Capital, Thunder Mist Palace ]
[ Yakujin's Private Chamber ]
Yakujin is preparing to meet the Chimeras of Sakurakoku, her hair is being done by some servants of the late Lord of the Nation, the ones she spared for the sake of the costs, while she sees their progress in the mirror.
" Are you sure it's wise to show him to the others, Master? " Akafushi asks the Kitsune Chimera about her decision, for she reveals Shiro to her guests, her 'Sacrifice Lamb Blood' human.
" Is that worry I smell from you? " Yakujin sniffs Akafushi worries about it.
" I never liked this one bit, you know when they knew Shiro's blood was special, they would do anything to get it. "
" Besides, since you have him, losing him would hinder your evolution, he- "
" Not to worry... " Yakujin looks at Akafushi, smirking.
" Our little one is in our safe hands. " Yakujin assures her, smirking with confidence, that she began to remember something from weeks ago.
...
( Weeks ago. )
[ Unknown Place. ]
" So, you believe the boy is Special, 'Old Man'... " Yakujin says this to the Black Merchant as she comes to his place, a place inside a black and dark forest, no light enters it besides the light of the Merchant's very home itself.
" He is an asset of importance, for me... "
" Aside from his 'Blood' and his capability as the First Chimera Master's Vessel. "
" I need him to grow, to fulfill my wishes. "
" Your wishes? " Yakujin asks in confusion.
" When you said it, I could tell you seemed acquainted to him in some way... "
" What is it? " Yakujin asks the Black Merchant as she releases some of her pressure.
" Do not do that, Chimera Master... " Black Merchant says it, making Yakujin instantly stop her pressure.
" You... " Yakujin stops herself, suddenly pouring sweat.
" How did- "
" You may not believe me, but this is the truth. "
" The truth is, I didn't want to involve myself in this matter due to my other business in Westerios, in Elysium Haven. "
" Thus, that's why I'm entrusting the boy to you, my Dear... "
" You may use him whenever you like, I'll assure you he will be useful for your needs. " Black Merchant says that while throwing something to her which she immediately catches.
" Useful? " Yakujin asks him, but suddenly, in the slightest moment, she sees herself already in the front of the Forest itself.
" Huh...? " Yakujin's confused, but then, she sees what the Black Merchant gave her.
...
( Back to the present. )
" This crest... " Akafushi sees it as Yakujin holds it in her hands.
" The symbol within it..., isn't that what I- "
" If you remember our learning days before entering this world, then the answer is what we both think right now. "
" Make sure this secret is only for both of us... " Yakujin says it as the servants are all on the floor, having their blood drained by Akafushi as soon as Yakujin shows her the crest.
...
[ Sakurakoku Capital, Thunder Mist Palace ]
[ Thunder Mist Palace's Private Arrival Hall ]
The Hall was made in the secret parts of the palace, a section that is made using the greatest of secrecy.
The place was made to catch the 'Teleportation Ritual' Stream, a landing spot for those who came using the method. The arrival place was quite big as there was one room used to hold a large Mystic Circle.
* Mystic Circle glows *
* The guards of the Circle began to prepare. *
As the teleportation ended, Shiro-Nishino and Saiki Nishiki appeared and arrived at the place in the flash greeted by the guards.
" It is I..., Crimson Palace Guards... " Nishiki shows the guards his special sign, showing his badge too.
" Welcome back, 'The Master's Blade' Saiki- "
" Forget the greetings, prepare the things for the Young Master... " Nishiki interrupts the guards, pointing at Shiro to remind them they had a schedule.
" Samurai? " Shiro asks Nishiki.
" It means I'm Master Yakujin's personal Sword Warrior, the retainer of her honor. "
" Even though, I barely think I'm worthy of it. " Nishiki says while Shiro looks at him silently.
" Before this, I am once a Ronin, a swordsman without a proper master to serve..., for I once swung my sword to survive, not for another person's status. "
" But, as I lost to the Chimera Master, I had to serve her and retain her honor as her 'blade'. "
" Hence my title, 'The Master's Blade'. " Nishiki tells Shiro about it while the two walk out from the Circle.
" Ahh..., it seems you both arrived just in time... " a voice calls the two, Shiro is surprised as soon as he sees the person in front, while Nishiki expresses some contentment, seeing the person.
" It's her... " Nishiki says to Shiro as the person, a woman with rabbit ears greets them.
" Glad to see you both teleported safely... " the rabbit woman smiles at them.
" Pardon? " Shiro asks the woman, confused about who she is.
" My name is Kagurabu, the Hare Hybrid... " the woman introduces herself.
< Scanning >
< Scanning the Subject >
< Name: Blackfoot (New Identity) >
< Gender: Female >
< Race: Hybrid Monster >
< Stage: Hybrid >
< Roots: Hare and 'classified' >
< Age: 'classified' >
< Rarity: 'classified' >
< LVL: 'classified' >
< HP: 'classified'/'classified'>
< KP: 'classified'/'classified'>
< MP: 'classified'/'classified'>
< Stamina: 'classified'/'classified'>
< ... >
< 'Status': >
< Strength: 'classified' >
< Agility: 'classified'>
< Intellect: 'classified'>
< Sense: 'classified'>
< Power: 'classified'>
< Soul: 'classified'>
...
"( 'Classified'? ) " Shiro wonders why it's classified but then.
< This subject's Data is classified, the System's scans can't measure it due to some prohibitions... >
< Perhaps next time. >
" Ah... " Before Shiro could ask, Blackfoot hugged him, hugging him tight and wiggling her head over Shiro's.
" Ah, so good to finally see you... "
" Guess, ol' Black Merchant kept his promise to me, the reason for my pinky's phenomenon. " Blackfoot says to Shiro, then showing her pinky finger, revealing a 'Red String' that only those who had it and are connected by it could see, the 'Red Strings of Fate', the Red Strings that connect those who were fated to one another.
< Skill: [ Red String's Spiritual Sight (Passive) -- LVL. MAX ] >
< Allowed the User to see the one connected to the 'Red Strings of Fate' with him, since the strings are a spiritual-based item, it can only be seen spiritually exclusively to those who were bound to it. >
* Smooch. *
" Greetings, my betrothed. "
" From now on, I will join the brunch with Master Yakujin and Sister Akafushi, fufu... " Blackfoot hugged Shiro, in front of Nishiki who decided to look left, trying his best to evade seeing the sight in his eyes.
"( The rabbit from the 'Black Merchant's here, great... )" Nishiki sarcastically comments on the situation.
" Black Merchant sent you to support me? "Shiro asks Blackfoot as they walk together, along with Nishiki who closely accompanies them.
" Yes, since he had a deal with the 'One within you'..., he sent me instead to ensure your safety, fufu. " Blackfoot chuckles.
" And how exactly are you going to do that? " a sinister voice came out from Shiro, a mouth and eyes appeared on his face.
" Azi Dahaka? " Shiro asks as Nishiki immediately prepares himself, touching his sword handle and half-releasing it.
" At ease, little fish. " Azi Dahaka looks at Nishiki and smirks at him.
" We will battle soon, I promise. "
" But first..., " Azi Dahaka rolled his appearing eyes over Blackfoot.
" I need this young bunny to clarify something... " Azi Dahaka looks at her from top to toe.
" Your face..., are you happened to be..., related to that Merchant, young one? "
" I mean, blood-related? " Azi Dahaka asks which made Shiro and Nishiki look at Blackfoot as she went silent.
" Afufufufu... "
" It seems there's no way I can hide it anymore, yes? " Blackfoot chuckles, and smiles towards Shiro, smiling softly at him.
" Yes, I am related to the Black Merchant... "
" I'm one of his great-granddaughters... " Blackfoot places her hand towards her chest, winking as she releases the truth over her tongue.
" Great-granddaughter? " Shiro asks, remembering what Black Merchant looked like as he remembers not seeing his real face as it was covered with the hood.
" Brat, if you ask what the Black Merchant looks like, then he looks like this young bunny but the male version of it. " Azi Dahaka tells Shiro, as their minds are in sync thanks to their share of the flesh.
" But still, that guy had been through lots of appearances... "
" For the first time, I, Azi Dahaka, 'The' Chimera Master... "
" Had to admit, that I can be wrong about things, especially regarding 'that one'. " Azi Dahaka ends his appearance, disappearing his mouth and eyes from Shiro's face.
" Wow, that's some knowledge there... " Shiro says after the almighty Chimera Dragon is gone.
" Great-grandfather, my old man, had already predicted this..., he knew Azi Dahaka would catch some of his scent of me... " Blackfoot tells Shiro, approaching him.
" Black...foot... " Shiro realized Blackfoot was hugging his arm.
" It seems, becoming the Dragon's Vessel had granted you so many benefits. "
" For you to grow to such height at the slightest of moments, guess kids these days grow so rapidly, fufu... " Blackfoot placed her head on Shiro's shoulders, cuddling.
" I can see why the 'Red String' binds us, it seems this is just fate, isn't it? " Blackfoot wings at Shiro while the guy just looked at her, wondering how it all came to this.
" Um..., yeah... "
"( Perhaps it's just..., 'fate'. )"
"( But still... )"
" But, it could also be because of 'Black Merchant's intention, right- "Before Shiro could finish that, Blackfoot placed her hand in his mouth, whispering to his ear.
" Please do not say that, dear~ "
" Things about him must only revealed at the end, otherwise, things could be fatal~ "
" My betrothed~ " Blackfoot ends it and releases Shiro's mouth.
" Now, now, shall we meet sister Yakujin and Akafushi... "
" Shiro-Ya*! "
"( Shiro...-Ya??? )" Shiro wonders what that means.
__________
Extra:
* Shiro-Ya.
the '-Ya' is an affectionate informal suffix that Blackfoot uses instead of '-chan' or '-kun', perhaps she thinks Shiro is cuter when she calls it that way.