On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Side Eighty – Shiratori Himeko, Shirohime

So, are you ready, Tan? The day had been interesting. First meeting Motoko and Natsumi, two other girls who loved Aki, as well as several other visitors. Aki had spent most of the day with her, which had eased her regret a little, even if it was impossible to forget the feeling of her dead, immobile arm, or the massively reduced range of vision she now suffered. It’s been quite the day, right? Yes, your man seems rather important. Meeting with people of power. Though I still feel it would have served us better for me to eat him…

Enough of that! Shiro didn’t find that amusing, even if she was fairly sure Tan was joking. You know we’ve settled that. But yeah. Motoko’s father and grandfather are big-shots too, huh. And then we met Haru. Ugh, I’m glad we never worked with Kondou Kazuo now. He had it coming…

Yes, she was rather weak, but allies are a good thing, are they not? And speaking of…

Yeah, we’ve been away a while. And with the contracts breaking… well, I just hope no-one has done anything stupid. A brief shiver of pain ran through her body, though due to the anaesthetics and the significant amount of Ether Healing Aki had done for her, she was in no real discomfort now.

I have my worries. But… well, if I eat one of them as a lesson to the others, we can restore order.

Look, no eating, all right? Not unless we have to, or they are bad people like Kondou Kazuo. I was stupid to let you have free reign, Tan. Don’t get me wrong, I‘m grateful you helped me, tried to save my life, but we are doing it Aki’s way now, aren’t we? So you’ll just have to go thirsty for a bit!

I am so saddened, that you would take the side of your man over your friend. Such a pity…

Was that a joke, Tan? That’s unexpected. Now, I’ll leave everything to you. I don’t… feel up to much myself. Though I do want to talk to Arisu…

Very well, leave it to me. I shall project strength. I will not allow them to look down on you. Especially the Raven. With that Shiro shut her remaining eye, and they entered the Boundary. Inside the hospital there was silence, apparently Aki had cleaned out the beings within while she was sleeping, just as an extra safety precaution. He’s such a worrier. But… I don’t hate it.

Moving to the roof of the building, where there was more open space, her thoughts immediately went to the battle on the rooftop of the store in Akihabara. Touching her dead arm, she sighed. “Well, done is done, I guess. it worked out in the end. I just wish...”

Yes?

“I just wish I stayed beautiful. You can laugh and call me vain, but… I want Aki to praise me for how pretty I am.”

You are indeed quite vain. But… that is being a woman, is it not? I was proud of my beauty too. That is why it was so frustrating when the Buddha ignored me and my sisters. Though… perhaps it was for the best. After all, allure should be used sparingly…

Yeah, Aki only! Ignoring the fact I look like shit now, I don’t want other people looking at me that way. I’m Aki’s. Now, I’m going to call Arisu, right?

Tan assented silently, and Shiro retrieved a small token she had been given. Tan had explained to her how the ability seemed to work, and had expressed a little jealousy of it. Clutching the token, she let a little aether trickle into it, and called out. “Hey, Arisu! It’s me! Sorry I’ve been away so long, but can you get everyone together in the room? I have something major to talk about.” For the others, she always let Tan take change, projecting her front as the proud leader of their alliance, but with Arisu, the first ally she had made who was trustworthy…

I still do not know why you trust her so. There is a darkness in her, a black wellspring of malice.

“She’s just been treated badly.” Shiro sighed. Her voice was transmitted through the token, heading elsewhere. As she waited, she looked up at the sky, noticing that the usual multi-coloured lights seemed different somehow, silver lightning flickering high above, the dark skies rippling with radiance. “Hey, what’s happening, Tan?”

The tides are changing once more. It is a regular occurrence, the lower Astral follows events of the higher, and the Boundary, while somewhat isolated from the wider Astral, is hardly immune to such events. Whether a rising or a falling tide, it is too soon to tell.

“I see. Well, I’ll talk abut it with Aki. Anyway, do you feel that? She’s coming…”

Tan fell silent, wary of Arisu, as a black slash opened in space, forming a doorway. With the robes and hood she wore here in place, Shiro was pleased that Arisu couldn’t see the ruins of her beauty, her crippled body. At least there’s that… Stepping out of the portal was Arisu, her long dark hair flowing down her back, her matching eyes as cold as ever. Today she wore a black dress, and as usual it was cut low, showing off her decent chest.

Not as big as mine though. Arisu sure is a beauty, though I’m better. Was better. She amended her thoughts, feeling sorrow. Still, the way she carries herself, as if she’s the most important person in the room… well, you’d expect such off a famous actress. Well, though now she’s mostly infamous, after the scandal…

“Well, White.” Arisu said with a sigh, her tone melodious and word-perfect. She seldom spoke in the meetings, but would open up to Shiro, a little at least. I had to do research on her scandal myself, since she wouldn’t talk about the particulars, only her fiery need for revenge…

“When the contract binding us shattered, I had worried you were dead, or had… betrayed us. Suzanne-san insisted you wouldn’t do that, but she’s simply a naïve runaway, easily fooled. I would like to think we have shared too much for such a betrayal, but… I am old enough and wise enough to know better. Friends are just close enough to stick in the knife fatally.” Her expression shifted then, a mixture of grief, hatred and a haunting sorrow on her features. It almost made Shiro want to hug the older woman, but she knew if she tried Arisu would only throw her off and grow angry.

“I assure you it wasn’t a betrayal of you, Arisu. Though our friend the Raven…” her face twisted under her hood at that. “… might see it differently. But we’ll talk. So, everyone is coming?”

“It seems so. I had quite the time stopping Daizen-san and that Raven creature from destroying your land and splitting the wealth between themselves. Suzanne-san stood with me, of course, and Bunta-san… well, he is a weathervane, always blowing in the direction of the prevailing winds. It is good you have returned, for I expect it won’t be much longer before someone does something foolish and irreversible. However…” her dark gaze alighted on Shiro, who shrank a little under her regard.

I can take over, should you wish it?

No, not with Arisu. I can handle it…

“… so, what happened to your arm? The balance of your body is off. And you keep turning your head more than you need to. Is something wrong with your sight?”

Shiro hissed, surprised. Still, I should have expected Arisu to notice. “You got me. It’s a bit of a long story, and why the contracts are gone. But yeah… my arm’s pretty much ruined and… well, my days of bragging I’m hotter than a famous actress are over…” She pulled off her hood, and this time it was Arisu who drew in a shocked breath.

“Such injuries. Your beautiful face…” her dark gaze hardened. “So, which bastard did this to you? I assume it’s why you called the meeting? Rest assured, I’ll see them perish…”

“No, no.” Shiro put the hood back on, and waved her one hand calmingly. “It isn’t what you think. Let me explain it to you, and then you’ll understand…”

********

“… so yeah. I’m getting married.” Shiro giggled, feeling a strange elation saying it. “… but I’m not sure I want you to meet him, Arisu, you are pretty hot!”

“I have no wish to meet him.” Arisu had listened in silence, her expression growing more and more grim. “Take it from me, you are an idiot, White. He sounds like the sort of cheating gutter-trash I saw in the industry all the time. When the going gets tough, he’ll throw you aside like…” Arisu paused, as Shiro had started manifesting her Divine Possession skill, which burned at her adherence-infected scars, but put out an ominous presence.

“… be very careful what you say next.” Shiro warned, furious. “We’re friends, Arisu, but you don’t know Aki like I do, or how hard he worked to save my life! I made the choice to die, rather than kill him, and he worked a miracle to save me! Then he tried to save my heart as well.”

“Indeed.” Tan spoke then. “I share your annoyance, woman. I would rather have eaten him than had the princess suffer so. But she chose, and I could not stop her. The contracts were a double-edged blade, it seems. But even I must concede, he genuinely cares for her, and her survival is indeed the miracle she claims.”

“He’ll fix me!” Shiro pouted. “He promised. I… I don’t hope for it. My wounds are too raw, too new yet, and hope will only bring me despair, but… if anyone can, Aki can, and his friends. I met another like us too. But we need to go, right? They’ll be getting impatient.”

“True. Daizen is like a child, despite his age. Unable to wait for anything. And who knows what the Raven and his spider will do if left unattended. Well, you had best let her take charge. If your strength becomes weakness, then even a coward like Bunta-san might try for your life. After all, we did concentrate a sum of our efforts to developing your Territory.”

“Rest assured…” Tan declared, firmly settling in, her abilities somehow stronger due to the closer link between their bodies, even if she had to moderate it to reduce the pain Siro felt from her injures. “I am in no mood to be trifled with. Her man defeated me, with the princess and her foolish help, and I had to accept this, but those fools…” she laughed nastily, her tone completely different to Shiro’s. “… well, I am in the mood to take out my thirst upon someone. They had best pray it is not them.”

Arisu sighed at that, before her doorway opened once more, and she led Shiro inside. The room was the same as ever, a black space separate from elsewhere in the Boundary, a dimensional rift, as Arisu had called it. That sure is a neat power, right? It’s really hard to use in the Material world, as Aki calls it, but when she grows stronger, she’ll have an item box and more! A great skill!

I do not see why you get so worked up over these matters. Elemental abilities can be learned, as your man shows. He uses… what, water, flame, earth and wind? Impressive.

Before she could answer, or indeed reach her seat at the occupied table in the centre of the space lit by glowing orbs of multicoloured light, someone called out to her, a young foreign girl who insisted she was Japanese, despite her Caucasian features, noticeable accent and bright blonde natural hair.

“Oh, it’s the boss! I was getting worried, but I suppose I didn’t need to be! After all, you’re pretty badass, right?”

Daizen, wearing his customary white suit, in defiance of the usual traditions of Japanese businessmen, paired with a purple tie, growled angrily, leaping to his feet. “Just what is the meaning of this? I felt our contract shatter, and you have not paid what you owe me, so I demand compensation!”

Arisu shot him a black look, but he didn’t back down. Beside him, Bunta wobbled, the atmosphere a bit too intense for him. Still, Tan scanned the room for her true problem. There he is, hiding in the darkness as always. The spider-woman is there too. He had dragged a chair to the shadows cast by the light globes, and was glaring at her from behind his mask, his dirty yellow eyes baleful.

“Demand? Demand?” Tan snorted. “Perhaps you were under the impression I was one you could make demands of, but you are sadly mistaken. Now sit. Down. And. Be. Silent.” Her words were punctuated by a surge of power, glimmers of flame appearing around her. “And then I shall explain, graciously of course.”

“Best do as she says, Daizen-san.” Suzu, as she insisted on being called, giggled, sucking on one of her customary candies. “She seems more… fired up… than usual.” She giggled at the pun.

He shot an annoyed glare at Suzu too, but she merely continued to giggle, not intimidated. Still, he did sit back down, though not before more barbed words. “I demand an explanation that satisfies. We are not friends, just colleagues, so do not expect me to take this lying down.”

“Not friends? I’m so hurt.” Suzu chuckled.

“As am I.” Tan said, tilting her head, the pattern of toothy triangles on her hood seeming to bend into a smile. “If we were not friends, then I would have no reason to listen to your complaining, when I am in rather an unpleasant mood, Daizen.” Tan warned. “Now I shall explain. But for that explanation… well, Raven…” at being addressed he looked surprised and wary. “… I believe I found the mortal you were so interested in killing.”

At that, his gaze sharpened, and behind him the Jorogumo hissed angrily, dozens of smaller spider-creatures skittering out of the dark shadows. Gross. Now she’s bringing spider-babies with her? I do not approve!

“That bastard who fawns on that worthless half-breed whore Shaeula…?” he began, only to falter, as a whip of fire cut past his ear, singeing his mask.

Whoops, sorry Tan. That was me. I didn’t know I could do that myself, not when you are in control! Still, I don’t like him badmouthing Aki, and even though I’ve not met this Shaeula, she can’t be a bad girl if Aki loves her! Still, that’s incredible! I have power myself now! Shame the cost to get it was so high.

Do not startle me like that. Now I shall have to pretend I expected that. Leave the chastisement to me!

Sorry! Shiro apologised, contrite. My emotions are running high at the moment…

“You dare attack me? In violation of our terms of the contract, a contract I see no longer binds us?” the Raven Knight spat, stinking saliva staining the floor of the strange space, which made Arisu tense, disgusted.

“That was no attack, merely a warning to watch your tongue with me. You have not been forthright with us, Raven. I am most displeased, most displeased indeed. In fact, it is thanks to your mistakes the contracts are severed, not through my doing.” Tan bluffed.

“Nonsense, how could I…” he began, before she cut him off.

“You said this man was weak, that you were merely unlucky. You lied, Raven. Lied and put me in danger.” Tan persisted. “Why, he destroyed my very ability to enforce contracts. This is your error.”

Nice lie there. Well, it’s only a half-truth. But yes, most of this is his fault, even if he couldn’t have known. He needs to make it up to us!

“He was weak!” The Raven Knight persisted. “We almost slew him, yet misfortune dogged me as well. How pathetic must you be to…” he fell silent as thirsting flames blazed around Tan, her divine manifestation growing stronger. Shiro shuddered in spiritual pain, but endured as it was necessary.

“If you are so confident, Raven, I suggest you go test him yourself. I reached an accord and…”

“That is quite the deviation from what you promised.” Daizen growled. “Are you like the nobility, who make fair-sounding promises then only look to their own interests, or…”

“Be silent.” Arisu surprised them by speaking. “I control this space. And I’m growing tired of your yapping! Let our leader speak!” As it to prove her point the darkness swelled, the ceiling of the space lowering, until it was merely inches above their heads, pressing in on them. “Shut up or be squashed.”

“Daizen, I do not do this lightly, but…” she shifted her robe, and her dead arm was revealed, horribly mutilated. “Now, you may be proud of your abilities, but do you think you surpass me? Even with my wounded arm, I can devour you where you stand. Now, Raven…” she turned back to him, covering her arm again. “… I agree, we have technically failed you and the contract. But see these injuries? We tried, but your information was misleading indeed. And thanks to that, I was rather… inconvenienced.” She sneered.

Nice reframing of events, Tan! I approve! “I saw little choice but to come to an agreement. I think you will find it satisfactory.”

“I’ll find it satisfying when he and that weasel bitch are…”

“Slow learner.” This time it was Tan who unleashed her fires, and the Raven Knight had to jump away. “Leash your hatred, lest it lead you to your end. I am still very hungry, Raven, and I never did get to eat any of those Fae. I wonder how you taste.”

“So cool!” Suzu clapped, amused, white Bunta had squeezed his eyes shut and was muttering something, perhaps a prayer.

“This is no way to do business!” Daizen snapped. “You are using power to oppress, the way those bastard nobles do…”

“Says the man who wanted to take everything from our leader while she was gone. Getting hurt fighting for Master Raven, it seems.” Suzu winked. “I’ll have to start calling you Pot-kun, if you keep calling the kettle black.” Suzu used a weird expression, distinctly un-Japanese.

Whoa, managing people is a pain in the ass. I don’t know how Aki does it. Or maybe it’s just the group I have? Damn, even so, Tan and I spent a while gathering them. I don’t want to let them just run off now if I can help it. Tan, can you handle this?

I can. But show weakness, especially after losing the contracts, and they may try something… foolish. “Enough, Suzu.” Tan said firmly. “I appreciate your support, but it is not helpful needling Daizen like this. But then, if he listened, rather than complained…” flames glittered menacingly, and Daizen paled, despite the tough front he was putting on.

“… now, Raven.” Tan declared, her voice cold. “…perhaps you could have been mistaken, but I assure you, he is no easy battle now. In fact, should you care to test your luck, he has agreed to meet with you. Feel free to see if you fare any better than I did.” She sneered.

“In that case, could we not gang up on him?” Bunta asked. “My skill… if he’s unawares, I can take him.” He said, looking around for approval.

“Why?” Tan shrugged. “Raven, you need to focus on what is most important to you. Your Tree, right?” she sighed. “If you stop pursuing your vendetta, then he says he is prepared to return your Tree. Should that not be your priority?”

“I need my Tree, but I also crave vengeance. You promised to help me with that, did you not? I am not a Fae, not truly…” he spat again. “… but even so, I believe oaths should be honoured.”

Damn, why is he so single-minded? It’s very annoying…

“All of us together might not be enough.” Tan declared. Since we shall not fight, princess. Yes, Bunta may be able to surprise him, but even so… “And even if we were, I dare say some of us would perish. You saw my arm, did you not? And do you think any of you are my match, my equal?” she increased the pressure of the Divine Possession, not enjoying the strain on her body, or Shiro’s spirit. “I agreed to aid you, and I have done the best I could. I have secured you a chance for your Tree. Why not be grateful, Raven? Revenge is poison for the soul, and… thirsty… work.”

“Changing the terms…” Daizen began, but surprisingly enough, it was Arisu who stepped in.

“Well, you have your own goals, don’t you? Are you prepared to die for his? If our leader offered you a chunk of what you wanted, here and now, the most important part of it, wouldn’t you take it and be grateful, even if compromises were made?”

He looked at her coldly, but finally managed a nod.

“So, things have changed. Though I must say you sadden me, being so hasty to talk of stealing what is mine, the moment you thought me gone. Upsetting. To that end… I offer a proposal.”

“Oh, sounds fun.” Suzu smirked, finishing off her candy with a crunch, before unwrapping another one and sucking on it, twirling the lollipop stick in her fingers. “I’ll be glad if we don’t need to take the Tree back by force. That Territory looks a real tough nut to crack, I don’t want to lose the guys I’ve been raising for no reason. Though I bet there’d be a lot of profit in it…” she mused.

“Yes. It might be easier… to kill him in the real world.” Bunta was sweating, hands in his pockets, twitching. “If you know what he looks like and we know where his Territory is, I can…. I can find him.” He shivered.

“You would die.” Tan disagreed. Probably because I’d kill you! Shiro didn’t like that line of thought at all. “So now we have a choice. I do intend to honour our agreements as much as possible, but… I am thinking we need a change.”

“I do not consent to this.” Daizen disagreed. “First the contracts severed, now this. I can’t help but feel you want to cheat us, and I do not like it. You promised if we supported you, we could rule the world, but now I see you are as fallible as us. Maybe the Raven is right.”

“That wounds me.”

“Not as much as that mortal did.” The Raven Knight mocked, the spider-woman hissing laughter behind him. “Pathetic. Now, speak, so we can be done with this, with you.”

“Have a care, Raven. Else it will not be your Tree that is your undoing.” Tan warned.

“Unfortunately, it seems that we have overreached. Things might have been different, had the Raven not made us enemies with this powerful Territory. Instead, I have been able to come to an agreement with him. I intend to join up with him.” She declared, leading to uproar. Arisu was wary but unsurprised, as she knew they were engaged, and Suzu seemed interested, but as for the Raven Knight…

“No. No I cannot countenance this! The bastard stole my Tree, drove me out…”

“And he can return your Tree, allow you back.” She countered.

“… do you not hunger for vengeance, since he injured and stole from you too?” he howled, a dark aura of misfortune swirling around him. “My wrongs cry for redress! I never achieve vengeance! I will not let you deny me…”

“Then do you wish to be my food here?” Tan growled.

“I am leaving. Open the door for me, woman.” Daizen stood, brushing off his suit. “I do not agree to work for anyone else. It seems... I have sorely misjudged you. Come.” He snapped at Bunta, who cowered. “You cannot trust her.”

“… uh. No. I think I’ll stay. After all…” he muttered, surprising everyone. “… if this guy beat up her, then … if I make a mistake, I’ll die. I… I came on board to be safe.”

“And work with us and you would be safer still.” Tan promised. “After all, with my Territory and his, as well as your own, and his allies, we would easily be able to dominate all of Tokyo.”

“Well I’m in!” Suzu cried. “This sounds fun! More friends are always good. I don’t care much about ruling the world, but I do want to be the world’s best idol! Besides, if we rule Tokyo, just think of all the…” she started giggling to herself, and once more Shiro considered the foreign girl to be a bit dim, if very cute. I hope she isn’t Aki’s type…

“This is splitting our shares too thinly!” Daizen complained. “I am done with this. I was worried about the direction we were taking, and now I find…”

“Are you such a fool?” Arisu declared. Daizen suddenly found himself trapped, the space around him warping in on him. “You think I am going to let you walk out and stick a knife in our backs? Give me one reason why I shouldn’t just finish you here? You and the Raven too.”

“Try me if you dare!” the Raven Knight shouted. The Jorogumo and her spiders adopted a combat pose, as everything shattered into chaos. We need to get everything calmed down, Tan! This isn’t what I wanted at all!

Those chosen by the divine favours are usually selfish. You are, are you not? The others here too. Even your man, he is a lustful beast, that desires much, even if his desires are often for the happiness of others. But for that, he would stain his hands. I fear you too must sacrifice.

I have already. Shit. Tan, can I take over for a bit?

“Listen.” Shiro said as Tan relinquished some control, though still maintained her presence. It was hard to mimic the tone and way of speaking Tan had, but she did her best. “Daizen, if you wish to leave, then do so. But be warned.” She glared at him with her one eye, still wondering how she could see through the opaque hood. Tan had never explained. “We can part with no hard feelings. After all, neither of us have breached the contract we have with the other, have we? But… if you go against me, or my allies, both old and new… well, I am sure you know what will happen. You may have lost your respect for me, but… I thirst to prove you wrong. Do you really think you can make it on your own?”

“What about me? You broke your contract with me, offering a truce to my enemies!” The Raven Knight was gathering his energy, ready to fight.

You should let me eat them. Even your man would not condemn it. It would remove an enemy who hates him, as well as a potential thorn in his side.

No, I won’t turn on them. Not now. I’ll give them a chance. “So foolish.” Shiro declared. “You want the power to make your dreams come true? You can still have it. There are many worlds out there, countless domains. To give a little now, for later gain. Daizen, I thought you understood business.”

“I understand I cannot trust you. Let me out of here, you bitch! Or do you still have a thing for entrapping men, you dirty, failed…” he snarled at Arisu, before there was a sudden cracking noise and Daizen screamed, falling to the ground, his legs crushed by the collapsing space. Bunta howled in panic, scrambling backwards, and Suzu looked sick, but she merely averted her gaze, whistling.

“You bitch, I knew…” he began, before his windpipe was crushed too, Arisu totally in control of the space.

“First Weal, First Woe.” The Raven Knight called, responding to the sudden carnage. “First Weal, Dark Wings Of Flight!” he declared, and Arisu growled in rage. She tried to smash the Raven Knight with the closing space, but he moved through it, unharmed, the Jorogumo clinging to him. “First Woe… Venom of the Questing Beast!” Even as they vanished, a cascade of foul poison sprayed out. Many of the spiders left behind melted, disintegrating, the Raven Knight leaving no backlash to chance this time. More of the venom scattered towards the group at the table, and it was Tan and Suzu who reacted first. Suzu brandished her parasol as a shield, and surprisingly enough that stopped the poison, droplets bouncing off it, sizzling on the floor. Tan also protected herself, but by hauling up Daizen. As the acid burned into his dying body, she grinned, flames boiling.

But… he was our ally… Shiro was conflicted, not wanting to turn on even such an argumentative and unpleasant man as Daizen. He might still make it. Damn, he poked at Arisu’s wounds. Inside her own space. What an idiot…

No, the venom carries some of the curse the Raven endures, as well as dark arts. Even if he was to survive with smashed legs and his crushed throat, which I doubt, he will die. So we should not waste his foolish sacrifice. With that, Daizen let out a single choked gasp as he was instantly consumed, burning away to ash, his divine favour flowing into Tan.

Yes, this one is rather nice. It will take me a while to learn how to use it. It is not a patch on your man’s, of course, but since I cannot have that…

No, you certainly can’t. Ugh, this feels way more unpleasant than when we ate those other two. Is it because they were out to betray me? Daizen might not have done… or is it because I want Aki to think I’m a good person again? I guess I miss your allure, at least a little…

Conscience is a terrible thing. Well, now to clean up this mess. A shame the Raven got away. He will cause trouble for your man, I am sure. Bunta had scuttled away from the chaos, while Suzu was trying to look composed, but was trembling hard, her face pale. Only Arisu looked untouched, sneering a bitter curse at the dead Daizen.

If he messes with Aki, he’ll get smacked down. Why couldn’t he give up his revenge and take his Tree? I don’t get it.

All he has at his core is hatred and desire for revenge. He believes he is doing it for his parents, wronged by his aunt, but I have my doubts. He is an empty being, cursed and vengeful. He would not be himself if he conceded here. Even if he suffers for it.

“Do calm down. I simply put him out of his misery.” Tan said, back in charge, after Shiro’s failure to bring everyone together. “Arisu, I understand your feelings, but you went too far.”

“Anyone who parrots those lies about me, I’m going to kill them. Just like I want to…” she trailed off, biting at her lip. “… but sorry, White. We’ve broken up, it seems.”

“Well, the Raven Knight is at fault, his ill-fortune seems to have led us all to this path.” She consoled Arisu. “Well, do calm down, Bunta, Suzu. I have no intention of doing you ill, and neither does Arisu.”

“Yes, I’m sure neither of you are so foolish as to provoke me?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, big sis.” Suzu said, trying to act nonchalant, though she looked pale. “Still, damn… seeing a person die isn’t anything like killing monsters. I don’t think I like it.”

Bunta nodded. “I won’t say anything, I promise.”

“Good. The Raven was foolish. He lost sight of what he needed, for what he wanted instead. Now there will be no Tree for him, unless he comes crawling back. And since he tried to kill us all, I am not inclined to welcome him. So, let me assure you, so long as you remain with me, I will be your ally.”

“Well, I can’t leave you now, boss. But I have to know, just who is the guy that beat you up? The enemy of master Raven? I’m curious…” she smiled, and while it was air-headed, it was cute. Annoyingly so.

Taking over, Shiro spoke. “You can be curious all you like, but just know he’s mine.”

“Oh, like that, huh?” Suzu smirked. “But wait, didn’t the Raven say he was with that Shaeula woman? Damn, is this some sort of love triangle? Neat!” as Suzu babbled on, Shiro felt a headache to match the sickness she felt at the death of Daizen. Well, I was hoping I could reconcile the Raven Knight with Aki, as he’d be useful. But… I guess bringing Arisu, Bunta and Suzu to his camp is good enough. That reminds me…

“Daizen is dead, so his Territory will have ben destroyed, Bunta, it’s your turn. Go and scoop up whatever is left there. Arisu, let him out.”

As Bunta gratefully departed, still fearful of being killed like Daizen, Shiro rubbed at her aching eye-socket sourly. Best I keep Bunta happy. His skill is dangerous. I don’t think it could take Aki, but if one of the other girls or some people around him were caught unawares, they’d die. For his timid nature, he sure did get a brutal skill…

“So tell me more, then!” Suzu demanded. “Just what’s so good about this guy? And if you are like that, how come your arm got all screwed up? You didn’t lie to us, did you? No way you’d do that, boss…”

Damn, she’s never quiet. I suppose I need to answer some of her questions… “As it happens, while Aki was stronger than me…” Shiro began, forgoing the cold tone of Tan, caught up in her recent memories. “… the wounds are actually to save my life…” as Arisu yawned, having already heard the story, Suzu looked on, making appropriate noises of wonder…