I really couldn't do anything when that short girl has set what she wanted to do in stone. She's the type to go through things to the end without thinking rationally. She really should have the option to stop and think of whether the things she's doing could be a trap or not. I'm being as transparent as I could in front of Nekomata and that shorty still couldn't tell what I was trying to say.

I guess it all comes down to what I have been doing to her for the past few months. I mean, why would you even trust someone who had killed you before? I know that sounds like a rare phenomenon but if you think about it, that's not pretty far off to why she does not trust me at all. I honestly couldn't do much because Nekomata was with us. Nekomata is one of Kitsuneki's trusted henchmen. That cat has more power than I have in the hierarchy.

"Thank you for leading your little friend to the house, Yumiko." The cat gave me a wicked smile as it finally bares it fangs.

I was reluctant at responding to what that cat was saying. But I had to and said, "It's part of my job..."

"And you did a good job at making her not trusting you at all." She laughed as if she was laughing at her own lame joke.

"Well then, Yumiko. Will you bring the girl to our lord?"

"...Sure..."

I went to the short girl and notice that Recordia was trying to wake her up. I hesitated at first, but I took a glance at Nekomata and grit my teeth as I load a special binding bullet. I aimed my flintlock and pulled the trigger to the little fairy. The little fairy was quickly captured inside a small cage fit for her.

"W...What is going on?! Recordia is confused!"

I swallowed my pride and told her, "Recordia doesn't need to be worried. Maybe Recordia can help Yumiko with something."

"Why should Recordia help Yumiko? Recordia does not trust Yumiko after experiencing this betrayal."

I aimed my flintlock to the small cage and threatened her, "Look, this could be the only chance for me to know if I have any other options left to save everyone and make things right. Just listen to me, Recordia."

"Recordia is a bit scared of what Yumiko was telling but Recordia will try to listen."

I whispered to her about something while making sure Nekomata, who was having a pleasant slow walk toward the wooden building doesn't notice what I'm doing.

"You got all that, fairy?"

"...Recordia slowly nodded and told Yumiko that Recordia will look it up. But it will take about seven hours until then..."

"I don't care about the specifics. As long as I get to know something crucial later on then everything will be fine."

"But..." The little fairy suddenly stuttered, "What you asked doesn't seem to be related to anything that is happening right now..."

"Don't worry about that, Recordia. You have to do this, for the sake of that girl..." I turned my head to the fainted snow girl as I said those words to the little fairy.

"...Okay...Recordia will find out about what Yumiko asked."

Recordia puts herself into her 'sleep mode' as I like to call it and began searching through her indexes of knowledge on what I asked her about. Let's hope waiting for seven hours will be beneficial for me and it will not just waste my time. For now, I just have to follow the groove and see where this will take me. The thing is, the matter that I asked to Recordia doesn't really require at this time. It's for future reference. I basically lied to her about doing it for that shorty.

Stolen story; please report.

In any case, I carried her to a different room in the building and placed her inside this other room. Two Nopperabo was on guard duty for that shorty. What's a Nopperabo? It's another one of those Yokai that we have seen so far. A Nopperabo looks exactly like a human from their hair right to their toenails. The crucial difference was that these Yokai doesn't have any face at all. It's really freaky when you try to look at them, really. They can wear any kinds of outfit just as we humans were thousands of different kinds of outfit. In this case, the Yokai was wearing the classic samurai armour.

I went downstairs and notice that Nekomata was waiting for me by the entrance of this wooden building. I prepared myself and made my way toward her.

"Good job on leading the girl here, Yumiko."

"I didn't really do much. It was mostly her and I'm just giving the gentle push that she needs."

"I see...a gentle push." Nekomata laughs a bit.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh you think I didn't notice that you told something to that girl didn't you?"

A drop of sweat started to drip down from the back of my head but I tried my best to remain my composure and said, "I was just encouraging her to go here."

"Is that so?" The cat raised her eyebrows and said, "Do be careful, Yumiko. You do know what happens if you dare to turn your back against Lord Kitsuneki, right?"

"...Yes." I hate that cat if you still didn't notice that from what I've told so far.

The cat then added, "And if I'm not mistaken. You were also promised something from our lord."

"You really don't have to rub it on my face, Nekomata...You were the one who suggested that thing..."

"But you still agreed to it because of what he promised, correct? What was it again?" The Yokai was playing around with me. The Yokai answered for herself, "Oh yes, he promised you that you will get to undo the things that you have done in the past."

"I'm still quite sceptical on that to be honest, kitty. What do you mean by that? How can a Chaos Champion undo the things that have already been written before? It's not like Kitsuneki has some sort of Time Manipulation ability, right?"

"He doesn't" said the cat. "But now he does have that Mikazuki Blade. He can rip off The Rift of Time and that will be it."

"What is The Rift of Time, anyway?" I wondered about that.

Much to my surprise, the Yokai told me what it was, "The Rift of Time is like a whole different realm. All of the living that has been lost in time can be found here, including the whole shrine maiden that you killed." At that final point, the cat wickedly smiled at me.

She was trying to piss me off for some reason but I endured it and told her, "This only happened because I was found out about that event..."

"If it wasn't for Lord Kitsuneki brilliant mind, I would have already told to general public about what you have done."

"You will not spread the news!" I hammered down my words to the Yokai.

"I'm sure I won't have to do that...as long as you do your job and pull the final trigger on that girl later..." she whispered that last sentence to my ears.

The Yokai then left me to my own and headed upstairs as I continued to endure the situation. As much as what people have previously known me for...I'm not really like this. I wasn't the overconfident female dog that I am right now. I merely put on that act just so I don't want to get attached to anyone anymore. I am to afraid that I might lose another precious thing. I don't want that to happen.

Although it was only for a short while, everyone at the shrine was happy to see me back then. My parent was also happy to the point that they would gladly ask the shrine maiden to look after me while they go on to their business someplace else. I'm not saying that my parent neglected me. I know they only came here for business purpose and that was the only reason I get to befriend with everyone at that shrine. But I kind of regretted that once I touched that cursed sword. I really shouldn't have done that. It was mistake. A terrible mistake that I will fix soon after this is all over.

"I think this is good. People hate me. That means I'm not hurting anyone else..." I grit my teeth.

Just as I finish saying that, I heard a loud crashing sound nearby. I looked around the graveyard and noticed that a tree had fallen down from something. I smelled gunpowder and immediately realize the familiar scent.

"What the heck was that, Ethereal?!" I saw a familiar looking boy along with his tour guide. "We're in a graveyard for goodness sake!"

"I saw a Yokai just now and it has that eye."

"What eye? You can't tell the difference between a human eye and a Yokai eye, right?"

"Don't lecture me on that, kid. I'm a sharpshooter and my vision is as sharp as an eagle. I can tell from this distance."

"Well you should have warned me first."

It looks like White and Ethereal has finally arrived at the graveyard. I looked at the sky and saw smokes from a distance further away on a different direction. Apparently, Lord Kitsuneki and his Yokai soldier are also on its way to this resting ground. Things are finally picking up with this kind development. Let's see where this goes...

TO BE CONTINUED