"I don't think you quite understand..." a deep female voice, as if her voice echoed in a cave.

"... Just how close we are in locating that wielder, and that was only a few days ago. Now look at us." her blocked figure shaded by the shadows revealed only her feet and her long nails.

"How bold... How daring of you to underestimate our empire." she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but powerful.

A dark figure on the throne... What could she be? What is she?

"F-forgive me, my Lord!" an eldritch, bald and red skinned man kneeled before his empress. 

"It was not my intention to offend the divine... Spare me, my empress.." he was quite desperate for mercy.

"Would you beg for forgiveness, or would you say you're sorry?" asked the Demon Empress... a Devil?

"I'm sorry, my empress! I-I-"

"Enough, you are dismissed."

her voice was rather... Harsh towards the red skinned demon.

"Y-YES, MY EMPRESS!" the demon was frightened as he ran away, trying to catch his breath from the terror that was laid upon him.

"Shutera..." The Empress called out.

A female with long, slightly wavy hair resides with two red horns on her head. Her cold red eyes were accompanied by black markings intersected from the horn to her eyes below. Her elegant body of malevolence was covered with a dark crimson colored Kimono as her left hand was gripped to her scabbard... Holding onto a cursed blade...

"How may I be of service, my empress?" she kneeled before her.

"You know exactly why you're here... And you'll be the one to accomplish that task." the Empress stood up from her throne, her legs walking towards the female oni in front of her. The Demon Empress caressed both her jawline and her chin.

"I have a mission for you." whispered she.

When the Celestial Plains brought their troops, the abyss sprouted just the same...

__________𝕯𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖑'𝖘 𝕬𝖉𝖛𝖔𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖊.___________

"Oi, where have you been!?" a fat middle aged man appeared from the opening sliding door. 

He seemed... Quite angry, letting his emotions get the best of him as his hard hand slaps the person's face in front of him.

"You're late, Akira!!" scolded the fat man.

"You're right. I'm very sorry, Hayashi-sama."

"Get. Back. To. WORK!"

The land of the Japanese, where Cherry Blossoms grew anew, died anew. And come back next year anew. The period where and when samurai still existed... Their hearts remain with not just the code of honor, but the code of the sword.

Others remained high and noble, while the rest remained dead and eventually turned to ash.

The setting sun seemed so low, yet, you could see its beautiful horizon. Akira picks up an apple from a tree before he walks by foot. Taking a bite of his apple.

Akira's life... It seemed solitary. Yet, free. Was he a commoner? No? But he does have his scabbard, containing his katana inside. So he must be a samurai, maintaining the code of honor. But, why would a samurai be working for a rank lower than that of a samurai?

"Caw! Caw! Caw!" a crow hovered and glided down as its claw relaxed onto Akira's already stretched arm. He has already sensed that it will be flying here soon, not so long ago.

"What's the matter, Yoruichi?" asked the cool-headed man, taking another bite of his apple.

POOF!

"Agh..." a female, with a pretty kimono, with the shade of dark crimson and black markings. It happened to be resembling the likes of Sakura petals. Her dark violet long hair slightly swung.

The said female of beauty and elegance appeared out of nowhere outside of a forest, which isn't so far from the Japanese village.

"Oh, I see it now, this must be the land I was commissioned to go to..." she began to walk barefoot, feeling the grass from her feet.

"Hey, you!" a few scarred ronin had spotted her, wielding and unsheathing their swords from their scabbards.

"Humans..." Shutera had spotted the running ronins from afar, as she was intending to fight back.

"Hand over your money!" one of the ronins shouted at Shutera.

"Huh, boss."

"Hmm?"

They secretly discussed.

"That's a fine woman, it's wasteful to just kill her off, no?"

"Heh... Hehehe, you make a good point, we'll make money off of her. Good thinking, Kamaji."

They both went back to face the disguised female oni.

"We're hosting an event, if you'd like to join us." they started off being friendly.

"You?" repeated Shutera.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Yes, would you?" asked the ronin.

"These low-livers... I'll make this quick." whispered Shutera in her heart, before she tried to conjure her katana out of thin air...

SLASH!!!

"H-huh!?" Kamaji's eyes began to widen, as the rest of his pals were in utter shock.

SLASH! SLASH!

SLASH! SPLATTER!!

The green grass was besmirched with blood from all of the now dead ronin, as a man with a medium length pony-tail, dressed in a grey Kimono with a Shimo sheathed his katana.

"W-what...?" Shutera's eyes widened, not being able to witness the swordsmanship In front of her properly.

"You shouldn't be alone at night," he turned to his back, Akira stared at her presence.

"These ronin... You were lucky Yoruichi's eyes happened to bump into your presence." said Akira, walking closer.

"I mean, who wouldn't keep their eyes off a beautiful lady?" asked Akira.

"W-who are you?" asked Shutera, stuttering? That's a first...

"Ah, my apologies." he bowed in front of Shutera slightly, as he faced up once more.

"My name is Akarazu Akira."

"I-I'm... Shutera."

Akira tilted his head slightly.

"... Just Shutera?" he asked further.

"Shikizuru Shutera." Shutera immediately answered.

She answered quite quickly, with apparent stutters. Although, there was an increase of frequency. For an oni, It does seem like an act. Or was that truly the case?

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Shikizuru-san." greeted Akira, politely.

"Likewise, Akarazu-san." she bowed slightly.

"What the... My face is all... Red." she whispered in her heart, she began to realize these... Not so unfamiliar feelings running into her veins, that was slightly showing on those face cheeks.

"Are you okay? Let's get you somewhere safe." Akira insisted.

"Ah, no need. I'm fi-"

Grumble...

"... Are you sure?" asked Akira.

"I... I'm fine... I think I'm hungry, though... May I ask you to accompany me to the village?" asked Shutera.

"Very well. Let us go." nodded Akira, as they walked side-by-side, keeping a fair distance.

"Heh, manipulation at its finest." grinned Shutera, whispering in her heart once more. The grumbling in her stomach, it was all fake. Improvising was key to this mission she was tasked to do.

As they neared the Japanese village, Akira takes his japanese straw hat and puts it on top of his head, smoothly wearing it.

"Is it gonna rain?"

"No, it's... Nothing." 

They blended in the crowd. Well... Not really a crowd. Although it only had passed 7 o'clock... The streets were still filled with few residents of the village. Yatai, a street vendor was still open. Ready to sell a customer's preference according to the said menu.

"There's a few things we can try here. Takoyaki? Dango? Pick two or a few." he said, with a calm smiling face, giving out recommendations.

"... I'll take an Onigiri... and one Takoyaki set." answered Shutera.

"... My budget, that's good..." he whispered to himself.

"Two onigiris, one Takoyaki set and a Dango, please." he requested politely to The Street Vendor Owner.

"Coming right up..." The Street Vendor Owner starts the preparations...

A few moments later...

"Here you go." The Street Vendor Owner gave them what they wanted, two onigiri, one Takoyaki set and a Dango.

"Thank you very much." Akira gave his gratitude as the pair walked away with the food. Already paying up a few moments ago.

Shutera takes a bite of her Takoyaki.

"How sweet..." in all honesty, the disguised oni find human food quite delicious. In her heart, she'd buy again the next time she visits that vendor.

"Heh, you took a bite as if this is your first time." chuckled Akira.

"This is my first time..." Shutera said, with full honesty.

"Huh?" Akira's head tilted.

"I... My life wasn't so good, I could only eat crops harvested by my mum and dad. They both were farmers. Now... I'd rather not talk about it." Shutera told a fake story, intending to cover her secret identity. 

"Would you like to stay in my house? It's not so far." questioned Akira, once again.

"You would do that? You've done so much for me... I didn't even get to thank you, properly..." whispered Shutera.

"It would be improper to leave you. You've seen how those ronin tried to kill you, heck, even use you?" answered Akira, with a question.

"Thank you, Akarazu-san..." she blushed... Suddenly?

GRAB...!

"H-hey...?" Akira's straw hat was missing, grabbed by a common folk, a young boy...

"Hey guys, look! It's the guy that couldn't kill himself after the loss of his daimyo!" the kid laughed at him.

His buddy joined in, two, three... Five. No, six youngsters were present at the streets, as most of the common folk looked at the masterless samurai, The Known Ronin, Akarazu Akira.

"Shame on him... Let's go, dear..." a wife nudged her husband's shoulder as they both left.

Throw! Woosh! Pa!

The Onigiri fell to the ground after the rock was thrown to Akira's right hand. His Dango on his left was still standing though.

"Oh no..." Akira groaned softly, no. He wasn't hurt, the Onigiri had fallen down to the ground as he tried to pick it up. Eating it instantly.

"Yeah, that's right! Serves you right! Eat that filthy Onigiri!" shouted the other kid, his tone made it as if it was all for fun and jokes.

"Yeah, that's right! You don't deserve to eat fresh food like us. We don't need to see you dead, but oh god, are you disgusting." a female kid pointed at the Ronin, as Akira gulped and swallowed every last rice of the Onigiri.

"Agh...!" groaned Shutera, as she held onto his hand, running off to a random place where there were no people.

"W-woah!" Akira tried to keep up, as he tried to match up the sudden running speed. Fortunately, the food was not wasted.

They walked at normal speed once more, after finding out that they were now alone without the presence of the people.

"What was that!?" asked Shutera, in exclamation.

"What was what?"

"Couldn't you do something...? They were turning against you."

Akira recollects his mind for a moment.

"I... I am." he answered.

"Pardon?"

"You don't quite follow?"

Shutera shook her head.

"If I did something, I would've joined those ronin I killed moments ago." answered Akira, straightforwardly.

Shutera stayed quiet to listen.

"My daimyo is long gone, I'm a Ronin now. That does not mean I should resort to being a corrupted bandit..." he explained slowly with a sudden cough, as if a fly had gotten into his mouth.

"But..."

"It's okay, let's just... Go home."

Shutera sighed softly, before slowly nodding.

"Why did I even say such a thing...? He's just a human... I have a mission to do..." said Shutera in her heart.

Creak...

"Welcome to my uh... Humble abode." greeted Akira, once more.

A simple wooden japanese house, that seems slightly far away from the village, while keeping its status of "fitting in" with society. It may not have jewels nor gourmets of the highest values, home is considered priceless, and it only happens to be a bonus when you have family thinking about their beloved member while their noses smelled the delicious aroma of tea.

"It's not much, but it's home." said Akira, before closing the door behind them.

"Huh, I like it. Really, thank you for letting me stay, Akarazu-san." Shutera politely bows.

"Actually... I don't like that." pointed out Akira.

"What is it, Akarazu-san?"

"Call me Akira, please."

Said Akira so casually, as he opened the window, showing the moonlight outside.

"Akira?" repeated Shutera.

"Yes, Shikizuru-san." he nodded.

Shutera then noticed, a worn necklace. As if it is shaped like a heart in a literal sense, its size is as small as a... Well, your average ordinary necklace.

"Hey, what's that necklace?"

"Oh, this?" 

They both sat at an already prepared nearby table, Akira turns on the lights, despite it being dim.

"This necklace... It is the last link I have to my clan." said Akira, in a soft tone.

"It's quite hidden, my clothing makes it hard for people to see. You have a sharp eye." he complimented.

"Thanks," Shutera smiled slightly.

"I sense great energy from that necklace... It looks exactly the same when The Empress showed me its diagram... I must steal it from him." whispered Shutera, in her heart.

"Hah, foolish human..." she grinned, although, there was a sense of... Remorse in it?

Akira turned to his back, as he looked into the moon.

"The moon's lovely, isn't it?" asked Akira, waiting for her response.

"Shikizuru-san?"

"Y-yes! It is lovely."

Smiled Akira, as he sat down once more.

"Let's go sleep." suggested Akira.

"Now's my chance...!" in her heart, once more...

"I only have one sleeping spot so uh... I'll have to sleep on the floor." he chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

"No, no! Please, sleep with me." she insisted, a blush appears slightly from her cheeks.

"Oh? Well... Let's sleep together then. I'll give some space."

"Me too."

Akira pulls his pony tail out, revealing his long hair. He puts his sheathed katana on the nearby Koshirae, letting it face the left.

He grabs onto the rough blanket, adjusting it towards their tired bodies.

"Well, goodnight, Shikizuru-san." smiled calmly, laying on his pillow, next to Shutera.

"Good night, A-"

Snore...

"How fast...!" the oni was in fact, surprised.

The night was... Quiet. The closed window was slightly opened, reminding one that the moon is out there, to be or not to be, and answering that question would surely end up with a nod to a poet's face.

"He's asleep..." said Shutera, barely above a whisper. Her forehead was quite warm, Akira's breath was quite hot.

The Oni woke and stood up, as she unsheathed her blade out of the blue, it was as if her Saya was an interdimensional portal.

Shutera was about to impale him during his slumber, as she stood up, going for the throat, making sure she did not strike the necklace.

"Sayonara." whispered Shutera.

SHINK!!!

The tip of her blade had yet to meet Akira's human skin.

"H-huh..." the Oni's eyes trembled, Shutera had yet to kill him..

"I... I can't do it... He... It must be that necklace..." contemplated Shutera.

"But... The Empress directly told me about this specific Necklace... Akuma no Shinzou... Could only affect her." she gritted her teeth.

""Takoyaki? Dango? Pick two or a few."

"Are you okay? Let's get you somewhere safe."

"I mean, who wouldn't keep their eyes off a beautiful lady?

"You shouldn't be alone at night."

For the first time, did an oni almost shed a tear and tremble upon the decision of killing a human.

SHING!!

"Huh," Akira's hidden Tantõ clashed against the female Oni's katana, as he quickly got up. Making a distance from the oni. 

It's quite unfortunate as his katana is not near his position. It was behind Shutera.

"A-Akarazu-san..." she stuttered.

"What a surprise..." he said, before swiftly thing his hair back into an imperfect pony tail.

His eyes opened, witnessing the Oni in front of him... A female oni with long, slightly wavy purple hair, resides with two red horns on her head. Her cold red eyes were accompanied by black markings intersected from the horn to her eyes below. Her elegant body was covered with a dark crimson colored  Kimono.

Shutera just stood there, in her fighting stance. But what immediate action does the oni make?

"Why didn't you kill me?" asked Akira.

Shutera stood silent, as she looked at the ground.

"Those horns... I don't think you were here for no reason, no?" he asked again.

"I... Akarazu-san..."

"Why didn't you kill me, Shikizuru-san?"

Shutera kept being silent, still in her tight fighting stance.

"You had the chance to." reminded Akira.

"Hah... Agh!" she grunted as she grabbed hold of the necklace by force, cutting the strings after the pull, as Akira got pushed.

"Wha- HEY!" Akira finally held onto his katana before he started to chase her down... Progressively.

"Agh... Damn it!" Shutera grunted once more, running away from the Japanese Village, from Akira Akarazu... The man she wasn't willing to kill. However she does in fact, was able to get the necklace, the Akuma no Shinzou.

"M-my empress... Return me to the abyss...!" she gasped for air, the ronin behind her was... Fast. Very, very fast. She had to step up her game.

RING!!

The sound of the bell... The heavens... No, the abyss was calling.

"Oh, no you don't!" dashed Akira, as he managed to grab her arm.

"LET ME GO, AKARAZ-"

WEEP...

RING...!

THUD! THUD! THUD!!!

"AGH!" groaned Akira, as he accidentally hurt his back.

The walls and the ceiling... They were made of flesh and bones, as eyes leaked out of them. It was, in fact, quite dark. But manageable for the human eye to see.

"Where... Are we..?" he contemplates, as he looked in confusion. His instinct tells him of an evil presence watching over him.

"Oh no... I brought him here...!" her voice was calm, but Shutera's mind was in panic.

The sound of blood dripping could be heard... Until, a bell. As if it was rang from a church, calling the prayer.

Ring...!

The two of them were once again teleported but to a brighter and wide room, with nothing but a throne made of dark crimson flesh. A tall female with her legs crossed, yellow glowing eyes as her dark red skin shades and blends in the darkness. The empress sits still on her well-deserved throne. Her curvy body is covered with clothing fitting for The Queen of Demons.

"Shutera." The Empress called her name.

"Y...yes, My Empress..." the female Oni slowly walked towards her empress.

"Shikizuru-san!" Akira yelled out.

"Wait, wait! What are you doing!?" he asked in exclamation.

Shutera remained quiet as she continued to walk, despite being far.

"Oh. What do we have here? You must be the one that wore this as an accessory, don't you? Well I'm quite happy to be seeing you... I'm just not so sure if you'll be a man that'll tell the tale, hah... No you wouldn't." she uttered.

"But that necklace... That is my possession. MINE!" The Empress exclaimed once more.

"Akarazu Akira, I would spare your life for taking care of this life core, but I'll make sure Shutera will rip your stomach when word gets out." said The Empress.

"As you should since the loss of your Daimyo, you petty Ronin." insulted The Empress.

"Once I gain back my life force, a fragment from the Akuma no Shinzou, no one will stop me. NO ONE!" shouted she.

"I'll make a bigger empire and charge against The Celestial Plains from within! Starting with its bottom!" she exclaimed.

"Shikizuru-san! No, please!" pleaded Akira, he was frightened.

"I'll sto-... Agh!" groaned Akira, as iron chains performed an annihilation of his desperate mobility.

However, Shutera never uttered a word at all, putting the Akuma no Shinzou on the hands of her dear Empress. The female Oni took a step back quickly next to the struggling Akira.

"Finally..." The Demon Empress broke a smile, a devilish grin. As she caressed the necklace, the shape of that heart, it was all... Real.

Shhhh....

The Demon Empress's right hand glowed, a way to try and extract the Akuma no Shinzou. This artifact was a life crystal. The most sacred one.

SHINK!!!

"Thank you, Shutera..." thanked The Empress.

"For being a PIECE OF SHIT! WHERE'S THE REAL ONE!?" she yelled out.

"What..!?" Akira's eyes widened, as he slowly looked at Shutera.

"Sayonara."

SHINK!!!!!!!

The tip of her blade stabbed and plucked to the ground... Destroying the real Akuma no Shinzou. 

"Shutera..." her voice, full of heinousness.

"SHUTERA!!!" she yelled, as The Empress ran towards the Oni in fury.

"HNCK! ACK!" The Empress felt a sharp pain in her neck. As if a chain was stopping her from moving.

She sweats as her eyes are gouged out. Melting slowly.

"S-SHUTERA! S.. YOU... C-CURSE YOU..!" She exclaimed, as the freed Akira stepped away with Shutera.

She could feel her bones crushing one another, as she wasn't able to speak. Her lungs and heart were punctured. Her blood began to fill her lungs.

"GYAAA-AAAHHHH!!!!! HNNGH.. A-ANNHH...!!"

RING!!!

"AAAAH!!" Akira screamed, as he was sent out of the Abyssal realm next to the tired, exhausted Shutera.

"Ugh..." groaned Akira, as they were now on land.

"I-I... Agh..." the tired Shutera was too stunned nor tired to speak.

"Shikizuru-san..." he tried to call for her, looking at her laid self on the soft grass.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Akarazu-san." she apologized as she put her head onto the ground in front of the Ronin.

"Shikizuru-san..."

"This is so awkward, dishonourable...!"

Continued Shutera.

"I don't...! I... I betrayed you, and I... I don't know anymore! It's just-" Shutera was interrupted.

"I told you to call me Akira, Shikizuru-san." he ended with a hug, a warm one.

"Then... Please, call me Shutera." she responded, hugging him back. Not letting go.

Her horns are beginning to fade...

"Shutera..?"

"Oh... Uh..."

They were confused.

"Hey... I... I don't know what'll happen to me... Now that I've destroyed that necklace, I'm sorry for destroying your last link of your clan." she apologized.

"Are you gonna die...!?"

"I... I don't know... But... If I close my eyes, please, please don't worry about me."

Akira's eyes widened, as he hugged her tightly, as her horns and the black markings were almost fading away.

"Shutera... Shutera..."

"Thank you, Akira."

As every last inch, every last molecule disappeared regarding the horns and the markings... She closed her eyes.

"Shutera..? Oi, hey... W-wake up..." he was desperate as he shook her.

"Shutera! Hey! Don't leave me!" pleaded Akira.

"I... I..." he began to shed tears.

"I... I love you...!" he shrieked as he held onto her tighter, as the sun rises in peaceful solitude with the clouds.

"I love you, I love you...!" he repeated.

"I didn't realize it but now I do... Shutera...!" he shrieked once more, as his voice broke out. He cried as if everyone had left him. This was one of the few times he found something so attached to, and it was not a human. But... Would she be considered human if emotions played the same part?

"Perhaps if I committed Seppuku, I wouldn't have felt such pain..." a flashback of Akira's past, after the incident of his daimyo's death.

"Ha... Haha..." a voice went into his head.

"H-huh!?" Akira shook his head as he looked down upon the incoming voice.

"I made you confess to me. Hehe... Manipulation at its finest." she giggled, weakly.

"S-shutera!" his eyes widened, as his eyes formed a waterfall once more.

Shutera blushed as their heart beat synchronized, she put her forehead onto his.

"You're not... Dead...?" asked Akira, with a whisper and a shriek.

"No, dummy... You think an Oni dies just because their originator died?" asked Shutera, with a gentle smile.

"Goddamn it... This is embarrassing." while their foreheads remained touched, Akira looked into the ground.

"I love you too, Akira." she smiled sweetly, said in a whisper.

The sunlight shines brightly despite being only in the early dawn... Making a silhouette of two kissing lovers.

THE END.

"My memories aren't as good as it was, but I'll always remember how much you loved these flowers."

♡