Atop of a large war ship were three individuals, each with long black hair. A woman who playfully walked around the deck, looking at those below her. A man with a cleaver-like blade, who looked towards the clouds above. Finally, a god, who sat on his throne with his eyes closed off from his surroundings, and a clenched fist for his cheek to rest on.
Opening a single eye, the god of darkness gazed upon the two who had stayed with him.
Nero: [I find it rather odd that the two of you would choose to remain here.]
The woman turned to him, providing a smug smile that revealed her demon-like fangs.
Ryuka: [It’s a matter of gauging your enemies! You can blindly go into battle, sure, but then one of two things will happen. You’ll either get bored, or die a careless death. You’ve gotta check to see who's worth your time, and who’s not! That’s all I’m doing right now! I just wanna see which of these beasts is worth fighting!]
Nero: [Your foolish attitude from a few days prior led me to believe you were not capable of such thought. I suppose I’m able to understand the logic behind your words. Those who were sent down have chosen to throw their lives away before they’ve even considered what they are up against.]
Giving an enthusiastic point towards the man, Ryuka provided a laugh as her smile opened.
Ryuka: [See? I knew you’d get it! Trust me, you won’t regret putting us at the top! As for my bro, though, I’m not all too sure why he’s here.]
The man across from Ryuka proceeded to shift his eyes from the sky to the sister nearby.
Ryuusei: [I’m gauging our enemies as well. Rather, Devi Bloodfire and Tequi Tensetsu.]
An eyebrow was raised by the leader sitting behind him, Nero.
Nero: [A common goal, then.]
Just then, Ryuusei’s eyes turned to face Nero. A visible disdain existed across his face as his fangs began to show.
Ryuusei: [Don’t get the wrong idea. I’ll agree with you in that our people deserve revenge after what has happened, and I don’t doubt the possibility of bad apples in there who have harmed those who were far more innocent. The way you explained it, it’s clear that there were some in that extermination who did care. On top of that, I’d like to be given answers by the two down there. Their families could have stopped all of it, and yet it took far too long. However…]
Much like his sister before him, a single finger was pointed towards Nero.
Ryuusei: [Your actions disgust me as well. I’m assisting you for revenge, along with the safety of my family. Even if we have to be under your rule, I'll still say that I find your words repulsive. Revenge is one thing, but a mass genocide is really pushing it. I’d suggest that you sleep with an eye open from now on.]
Nero: [Choosing a cowardly method rather than engaging in battle here and now. How uncouth.]
A cold glare clashed in the middle of the thin air around them. It was clear as day that if a battle were to start between the two, it would be to the death. Not a single other option would reside in their minds.
Interrupting the two was an excited voice that exploded out onto the deck.
Ryuka: [Oho! Now this should be good!]
With his mind entering a calm state, Ryuusei turned to his sister, before moving his eyes to match her own. Below them were two comrades who were now face to face with a woman colored in white.
Ryuusei: [Damn! Both Tari and Sena are gonna fight her? I feel bad for that lady.]
Nero: [Do not underestimate Shiro Fuloreen.]
At the odd call of a name, the two moved their heads to their shoulders to face Nero.
Nero: [Among those who are currently battling, she and the orange fox are the most skilled within their group.]
While Ryuusei’s face widened with surprise, Ryuka only grew more excited.
Ryuka: [Really?! Oh man! I’m keeping my eye on her then!]
Squinting her eyes and providing another smug smile, she looked towards the woman known as Shiro Fuloreen.
Ryuka: [Maybe she’ll be the one I bite into!]
Pulling her sword in front of her, Ryuka unsheathed the blade ever so slightly, allowing the sun to reflect against the clear metal.
Her focus was now entirely placed onto the white goddess below.
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Face to face with a pair of succubus sisters, Shiro readied her faithful companion, Storm, as a fight would soon unfold. Knowing that the two were both quick to the kill along with being effective when working together, she remained cautious of her situation. To allow them to move would not only cause a problem for herself, but those around her as well. However, there was one detail that continued to bother her. A single detail that clawed at the deepest spaces of her mind.
The reason as to why these two were here.
Their wings and tail made it clear what they were. Even if they had not shown their horns yet, as they still continued to hold their full power back, it did not require words to deduce their forms.
Being familiar with such a race herself, Shiro found the appearance of these two to be quite odd in comparison to the rest.
Shiro: [I’ve got a question for the two of you, if that’s alright.]
The shorter girl adjusted her position, moving from her crouched down look with her sai held high into a much more neutral stance.
Tari: [Fine. It’s the least we can do before ending things. What is it?]
Shiro: [There’s not really a defining trait to the others here…However, I’ve known the person who’s leading all of you for the past ten years now. In some ways, I would think that an army of oni wouldn’t be the choice that he would make. But I’m not even sure if I know him anymore to begin with. My point is, why would the two of you assist him? You’re succubi, are you not?]
Closing her eyes, Tari provided her answer to the lingering question.
Tari: [You’re right. We are. To be honest with you, we shouldn’t even be here in the first place. As it stands, that Nero guy enlisted a whole bunch of oni into his force. The only reason we’re here is due to our skills. We’re equivalent to assassins with how well we work together. Unfortunately, even if killing isn’t our thing, we don’t exactly have a choice.]
Shiro: [If I had to assume, failure to follow through with your orders…]
Sena: [...We’ll be killed if we return empty handed. To us, survival is the most important thing now.]
The information given was a hard pill for Shiro to swallow. Despite Nero’s views in the past, despite his philosophy, despite being the kindest person she knew, Shiro had already started to witness the rose-like man wither into a husk of his former self. A man who now solely sought out blood and death, without any regard for those who were weaker than him.
With her eyes wavering, Shiro looked up to meet the eyes of the two.
Shiro: [Perhaps in the past, I wouldn’t have said this…but working under him isn’t exactly the best choice if you’re focused on surviving.]
Tari: [Oh, trust me. We know. Neither of us enjoy working for the guy. However, it’s not like we have many other options available to us. In our scenario, it’s just kill or be killed.]
Crouching once again, Tari pulled her sai close to her face while Sena readied her pistols.
Tari: [Sorry, lady. This is how it’s gonna be. Though, whether I should say sorry or not is still up for debate.]
A kick to the ground shot Tari forward. Shiro shifted her hand over to the hilt of Storm, ready to counter attack the incoming slashes. However, what was instead used as an attack was not the sai in hand, but merely just the palm of a hand. With a touch to Shiro’s chest, she witnessed a single memory within her mind.
I’m beginnin’ to like ya a decent bit. Ya can stay. Not just for the night. For however long ya need to. ‘S my deluxe offer just for ya.
A teenage fox girl, colored in orange, white and blue.
Shiro: [This is…]
With a shift of her sai, Tari turned to stare at Shiro’s neck.
Tari: [Guess that’s it.]
Swinging the hands forward in a cross motion, she focused on cutting Shiro’s throat open.
…Only to have her attack parried in an instant.
Tari: [What?!]
Moving her eyes to view Shiro’s face, Tari could only see a calm smile.
Shiro: [Did I see that because of you?]
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Tari: [Tch!]
Disappearing in merely a second, Tari reappeared on the opposite side of Shiro, and applied another hand to her hip. Once again, another memory came flooding into her vision.
Friendssss? And what for, may I assssk?
A snake girl, the same age as her, with purple scales along her body and long hair that matched in color.
Another strike was attempted, this time towards her stomach, but it was once again deflected. A deep frustration was starting to build within Tari.
Tari: [Why the hell isn’t it working?!]
Shiro: [I hate to break it to you, but bringing me back to all of these happy times is only going to make things worse for you.]
Again, Tari shifted to a different spot. With her hand thrusted towards Shiro’s back, she quickly applied her palm and jumped into the air in order to cut her down from above.
Tari: [Why are all of you people happy at every point in your lives?!]
Again, a memory flooded into Shiro’s mind.
Do I really need a reason for it? I just love you, plain and simple.
The image, and voice of a kind hearted man.
Her smile widened in size with a beet red blush following close behind.
Shiro: [Oh…This is a good memory…]
Though her back was turned to Tari, Shiro thrusted her sword into the air, causing Tari to panic and flip backwards to avoid being skewered.
Snapping her fingers to get Sena’s attention, Tari glared at her with fury resting in her eyes.
Tari: [Sena! What are you sitting around for?! Assist me on this next one!]
Sena: [Oh! Right!]
Pulling her guns forward, Sena prepared herself to fire at Shiro while Tari once again rushed in. With a hand placed against Shiro’s body, and the loud bang of two bullets being fired, a memory served as the final piece to the entire arrangement.
Shiro’s teeth began to show, her blush from before still remaining.
A single image.
A single voice echoed into her mind.
I’m gonna be the strongest! Just like you!
Shiro: [This one….I love this memory too…]
Shiro’s right hand had then moved at such a quick pace, it remained a blur to both of the sisters that focused on her. Ripping through the air, she easily cleaved the two bullets in half, before hitting the now guarding Tari’s sai and propelling her body backwards with the force.
For several feet, Tari drifted along the ground before regaining her footing. Annoyed by the lack of a good response provided by her ability, she grinded her teeth together in frustration.
Tari: [Seriously?! Is there nothing at all?!]
With a calm smile still accompanying her face, Shiro looked towards the small girl.
Shiro: [Sorry. Your ability won’t work on me. My life has only been filled with joy since I was born. Even the sadness of my father's passing was outweighed by the important lesson my mother had taught me. Besides, my father wouldn’t want me to cry over the past to begin with.]
Looking over her shoulder, Shiro gazed at two of her friends in the distance. Oddly, both of them had been smiling right back at her.
Shiro: [Oh? Does your ability perhaps affect everyone involved?]
Tari: [W-What?! How did you–]
Shiro: [Normally, I wouldn’t be able to make that deduction. However, two of the memories that you had showed me involved those two. I only wanted to look at them because I was enjoying the past so much. But now that I’ve seen their very own smiles, I’ve gotten a full understanding.]
Tari: [Heh. Fine then.]
The girl who should have been concerned over the forceful reveal to her ability…was now providing a cool smile of her own.
Shiro: [Huh?]
Tari: [Whether you understand it, you don’t understand it, none of that matters. Mine might not always work, but it’s a real good thing that my sister was the first to make hers. I only followed suit, but mine is better for a whole different reason. Regardless, all we need is her.]
The flaming pinkish-red eyes now turned to meet the matching purple across from them.
Tari: [Sena. I’ll corner her, and in the meantime, you use your ability. We’ll finish it from there.]
Giving an open smile, the taller sister nodded in agreement.
Sena: [Ah! I see! Alright, let’s do it!]
Shiro continued to move her eyes back and forth between the two as she wondered what would come next. A hand was slowly placed on Storm as she did so.
Shiro: [I guess I should have considered that she would have one.]
Slowly walking towards Shiro, Tari prepared her weapons while Sena clapped her hands together.
Tari: [I’ll let you know now, since you’re probably gonna die soon anyways. My sister’s ability is just like mine. Unfortunately for you, it doesn’t exactly have any memories it’ll recall. Instead, it’ll focus on what hasn’t happened yet. The same rules as before apply, but…]
A single fang started to appear beneath Tari’s lips.
Tari: [...Don’t blame us if you see your own death. You should be thankful that it has some range though. Otherwise, your loved ones would probably be scared as well.]
With the two kicking off the ground, they quickly approached Shiro’s location.
Countless slashes were exchanged between Tari’s sai and Shiro’s sword as they both rapidly moved forward and backwards, attempting to approach and distance themselves respectively.
All the while, the purple haired succubus moved closer and closer beside Shiro. A smile still attached to her face, providing either both a kind and terrifying look.
Further and further, Shiro stepped back in order to move away from the two.
She could not safely fly from here, she could not jump or launch herself off the ground.
The barrage of small attacks, along with the approaching threat were far too great of a combined force.
At this point, there was only one option left.
Shiro: [I guess if you two are gonna use–Hk!]
A swift kick as Tari jumped in the air was dealt to Storm.
Following the kick, Tari landed atop Shiro with her feet placed by her shoulders. Her sai now caught between Shiro’s blade.
Tari: [NOW, SENA!]
Fear rose within Shiro’s body as she looked right next to her position, only to see the girl known as Sena mere inches away.
A hand was once again approaching.
Much like the many times before, an ability would be used.
Unlike those times however, a future memory Shiro was not aware of would soon appear.
As proposed, the ability would have the same properties as Tari’s, only now with a memory she had yet to see.
One that could be devastating to her own mind.
One that could horrify those around her, depending on the contents of it.
Closer and closer, the hand drew near.
A sickened feeling rose up in Shiro with every inch that decreased between the two.
Her unknown future…would soon appear.
With a hand touching her stomach, a single memory–
I’m…
Again.
Again…the figure appeared.
Red hair.
Red eyes.
Red like blood.
But why?
Why now of all times?
In her most crucial moment of survival, the figure appeared to Shiro…
…
…No.
It was not just her.
In front of her, along with beside her, the two had awkward smiles etched across their faces.
Tari attempted to pinch her cheeks, forcing the smile to stop. It would not budge.
Sena tapped her hands across her face, confused as to why her smile was now different.
And yet, despite the oddity of the two being affected…
It did not stop there.
Across the battlefield stood a kitsune, confused by the warm feeling inside of her. A tight grip was placed onto her burning chest.
Kōkatsu: [...That vision jus’ now…Was that what…]
Beside her was a kitsune of a similar appearance, who had received the same feeling.
Kaoru: [Lady Kōkatsu…I’m scared. For some reason, I feel warm…I think one of our enemies can give others fevers…]
Silvia: [No…It issss not jusssst you, Kaoru…I’m not ssssure why, but I feel the ssssame…]
Just like Kōkatsu, Silvia held her chest tightly as the furious sensation within her.
A slight difference had appeared next to the three. One that was born out of sadness.
Helig: [What…was that…Why is there a somber tinted presence within my heart…]
Standing close by, three other members of the group experienced the phenomenon.
Hidari: [Are we…under attack…?]
Migi: [Oi, oi…I haven’t done any research on something like this…]
Though a much lighter feeling resided within the two, they could not stop smiling no matter how hard they tried.
However, the fever-like feeling resided within another.
Bachi: [I…I didn’t sign up for this shit…The hell is goin’ on…Who the fuck was that…?!]
Several arrows flew in and protected those who were currently being affected. The owner of which, however, was confused, as close to them stood a fellow figure of royalty who was experiencing severe pain within their chest.
Tequi: [Hey, Devi! Are you alright?]
Struggling to breathe and gripping at the grass she had sat on…the same feeling rested in Devi’s heart.
Devi: [I…I don’t understand…I wasn’t struck with an attack…I was merely shown…someone…and then…]
Night: [Lady Devi, I believe it may be an attack. I’m unsure as to why, but for some reason, there’s a difference of temperature inside of me. It’s faint, but something like this has never happened before.]
With her eyes quivering in pain, Devi looked up to her officer that stood above.
Devi: [Night…you…as well…?]
Tequi could not understand either of them, and continued to cycle her gaze between the two.
Tequi: [Huh? I seriously have no idea what either of you are talking about. I didn’t see anyone.]
Within those who were on the ground, there were only some who were affected.
However, aboard an airship floating in the sky, three more were added to the list.
A girl with long black hair stood atop of the deck, pinching her cheeks in confusion.
Not only was a smile formed across her lips.
Not only was there a burning sensation within her heart.
But a blood red blush was stretched out from her cheeks to her ears.
Ryuka: [Huh..? Huh? The hell? Why won’t…my lips stop? Stop! STOP! The hell are they…Stop!...Are…Are these tears…?! Stop it!]
Flowing down the sockets of her ears were streams of tears that joined all three previous symptoms. Growing more and more confused, the girl attempted to punch the emotions out of herself.
Rushing to her side was the girl’s older brother, who grabbed Ryuka’s shoulders in order to prevent any further harm.
Ryuusei: [Hey! Ryuka! What’s going on?! Is your body under attack or something?!]
Ryuka: [I…I think? I can’t stop smiling and I don’t know why! My chest kinda hurts, and my cheeks are tingly…Now I'm crying …This is really weird! All that happened was I saw some fuckface and now I can’t stop! Why won’t it stop?!]
Ryuusei: [You saw it as well?! Who was it?! Was it someone down there?!]
Ryuka: [No! They were right up close, I swear! I don’t know how they got here, but they were right in front of me!]
???: [I presume the person you saw…had red hair and eyes of the same.]
Ryuka: [Yeah, see! He…]
The two turned to face the man nearby as Ryuka spoke, only to see the hand he once rested against now clenching his forehead. On every portion of his face, the veins within his body could be seen protruding outwards.
With a face that displayed something far greater than an annoyed, menacing glare, the man bared his fangs at the now vacant space in front of him.
Nero: [Only a second had passed after they appeared, and yet…a new infestation of pain has entered my head and refuses to leave.]
The sole oddity between all who were affected, a man who had received pain rather than pleasure was Nero Virtuoso.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With her feet now against the floor, and her sai resting by the same place, Tari slapped her face repeatedly as she tried to comprehend what had occurred. Looking towards the smiling sister nearby, who repeatedly touched her large chest in confusion delivered by a similar feeling many had shared, Tari grew annoyed like she had many times before.
Tari: [Hey! Sena! The hell was that about?!]
Looking back up to Tari’s irritated eyes, Sena continued to keep her joyful appearance.
Sena: [I’m not sure…but I kinda like it! Whoever that was, they’ve made me feel very good!]
Tari: [You’re telling me you used your ability and yet you don’t know?!]
Sena: [But that’s not how it works, Tari! I can’t figure it out all by myself! It’s just like yours, remember?]
Tari: [Then why the hell did it…]
The single person who was not as severely affected, the single person who had seen this figure many times before, Shiro, looked towards both of the girls with bewilderment.
Shiro: [You two…You both saw that…?]
Tari: [Yeah! The hell was that?!]
Shiro: [The two of you…saw that vision…]
Tari: [Of course we did! That’s how our–...What…?]
Tari’s face contorted as she noticed a word present within Shiro’s statement.
“My’ was not used. Instead, a much more pronounced “that” was given.
Tari: [That…vision? You mean, you’ve seen that before…]
Shiro: [Ever since I was a kid…Yeah.]
Her words only drove the two into a far greater state of confusion.
However, this did not last long in the slightest.
With a grit of her teeth, Tari moved her hands across the floor in order to pick up her sai before moving her eyes to Sena again.
Tari: [Sena…]
With her smile now fading, Sena looked towards her little sister.
Sena: [Yes?]
Tari: [No more games. Take your horns out. We’re finishing this.]
A tight clutch was given to the long strip of buttons across Sena’s shirt, her eyes now casted down with sadness.
Sena: [...Yes.]
A large burst of two matōki auras was born, each of pink and purple respectively. To the side of Tari’s head came two incredibly long, but thin horns. Atop Sena’s was that of the opposite. Two wide horns that did not cover very much in height.
Gripping their weapons of choice, the two set their determined eyes on Shiro’s body.
Sharing the same resolve within her own eyes, Shiro lowered her posture while gripping at the hilt of her blade.
Shiro: [I’d like to let the two of you know, even if your lives are on the line within this battle, I will not rob you of them. Perhaps it’s a much weaker side of me, but I cannot bring myself to do so.]
For the first time, a sad gleam was reflected within Tari’s eyes.
Tari: [...Thanks. It’s unfortunate, but we still have to kill you. That said…]
Her hood was lowered by the shift of her head, now covering her eyes.
Tari: [...You’re a real nice person. Far nicer than I was expecting. We’ll at least make it painless for you…]
With their full powers now unleashed, the two were prepared to end their battle with Shiro.
The electrifying battle of past, present and future was beginning to reach its conclusion.
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