Chapter 6

Kuro's POV

After my exchange with Alice, the fever kicked in again and I went back to sleep. Despite being asleep, my conscious self was in a pitch black barren world, it was, empty. But in spite of the lack of life around me, there were a few trees glowing radiantly.

Compared to the surroundings they were brimming with life and gave me piece of mind. Despite how peculiar the surroundings were, the thing in front of me was perhaps the most peculiar. I could vaguely make out the outline of a dragon shaped creature. It wasn’t quite solid, but it looked extremely real and it was staring straight at me.

“Wahahaha, so this is how you currently see the world? Just what kind of a life have you lived boy?”

“Is that you old man Bahamut?"

“So you’re finally awake, don’t panic boy, this is just the realm where I and your future familiars will dwell. It is a part of you, as you grow, it will also grow. Although, looking around, it will take hundreds of years wahahahaha. At least it isn’t as boiling hot as Lucifer’s, that bastard’s was just pure fire and brimstone.”

“Old man, is that what you look like?”

“Ey? Ah no, Since you so brazenly attempted to forcibly contain me, our souls and energies have not properly synchronised. As we speak, the Japanese demon is sleeping beside you.”

“Hey old man, since we’re gonna be partners for the foreseeable future, I think it’s best for me to tell you about myself.”

“Wahaha, no need boy, going by the world around me, I don't think I want to know.”

“I see, how much longer until I can wake up?”

“Not until I can fully materialise in this world. Ohhh the Japanese demon has awoken, she’s staring at you. She just, stroked your hand and leaned in to take your temperature with her forehead, hey you can totally see her...”

“H-hey old man dafuq! Why the hell can you see that!? And she has a name yknow, it’s Shirayuki, Shirohime Shirayuki.”

“Wahahahaha Shirayuki? Where have I heard that name before? Don't look at me like that boy. When you become fully accustomed to my presence that now resides within you, you will be able to hide such a sight from these aged eyes. Until then, I guess that I will just have to enjoy the show. She is quite lovely yknow, especially when she transforms.”

“Y-you saw that! I changed my mind, get the hell out you perverted old man!”

“Wahahahaha, I can’t help it boy. I'm a dragon, it’s in my nature. Why do you think there are so many tales of knighted heroes saving Princesses from my kin?”

I argued with the old dragon until he fully materialised within the realm. According to him, he would govern this place as my main familiar. He had nothing to look forward to though because I had no intention to add anymore familiars.

A little after finishing speaking with the old man, I decided that it was time to wake up. I couldn’t feel the effects of the fever anymore, although the soreness from my struggle with the old man was still very much alive.

About 6 seconds after opening my eyes, I felt something really warm and soft on my body, no it wasn’t warm, it was freaking cold!

“You idiot, idiot...idiot.”

“Hey Shirayuki-san, if you keep holding me like that, then you guys are gonna have to treat me for pneumonia too.”

“Eh? N-no...I didn’t realise that I was allowing my spiritual power to run free like that, I’m sorry.”

“I’m just teasing you haha. Thank you Shirayuki-san, if it wasn’t for you, then I wouldn’t have managed to beat that fever. You might not have known it at the time, but I could feel your spiritual power on my forehead. It was the only thing that gave me relief.”

“I-I’m sorry, If it wasn’t for what I said, then you wouldn’t have put yourself in so much danger. When I saw the state you were in, I couldn’t forgive myself. All I could do was cool your forehead when you were suffering from the effects of that fever. I was so useless, this was all my fault, all my…”

Before she finished her sentence I leaned in and lightly flicked her forehead.

“Ouch!”

“It’s not your fault. This is just the beginning, if you wanna blame someone for what happened then blame Seir. He was the one that asked me to bring you here. That bastard had it all planned from the very beginning, come to think of it, the bloodlust that he never ceased firing at me these past few years, it was in preparation for…”

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“Wahahahahaha, I was wondering why you didn’t completely crumble under the effects of my bloodlust boy. It all makes sense now, that foolish Prince is pretty terrifying too. Oh and don’t blame yourself snow girl, this foolish boy would have dove straight in, regardless of any motivation that he subsequently derived from you. If anything, your presence and the desire to come back to your side is what kept him alive.”

“Ehhh? I-is that really true Fujioka-san?”

“W-well, hang on just a minute old man, I already told you, she has a name, it’s Shirayuki, Shirohime Shirayuki!”

“Wahahaha, what was that foolish boy? You didn’t complain about what I called her when you asked me if there was a way for you to see…”

“S-shut it old man, stop making things up.”

Shirayuki-san finally smiled for the first time in a while, I need to remember to thank the old man for what he said to her later.

When I finally got enough feeling in my body to stand, I got out of bed, despite Shirayuki-san’s constant insistence that I should rest more. I needed to speak with Seir and find out what was next. Only when Shirayuki-san threatened to freeze me in place, if I didn’t listen to her and told me that she would bring Seir to me, did I give in and sit and wait for him.

“There he is! The man of the moment! How are you feeling my Kuro-kun? I was worried sick about you yknow.”

“So you’re not doing it anymore huh, firing bloodlust at me that is.”

“Waaaaaht? I have no idea what you’re talking about Kuro-kun, Oh yeah, I got a little present for you, think of it as a reward for your efforts so far, Alice if you please.”

“...Yes my lord.”

“Wahahaha, where did you get something like that foolish Prince?”

“You know me Bahamut-san, I have my sources.”

Alice brought a wooden hilted blade to me. It was pretty plain but I could sense something strange coming from that blade. I was unsure what would happen if I were to grab it.

“Don’t be shy Kuro-kun, it’s harmless! Well, it can’t really do any harm to you that is.”

I reached for the wooden hilt and wrapped my hand around it. It was surprisingly light, it felt like the sword I used to use to fence back in high school.

“Wait a second, y-your highness, wherever did you get one?”

“Shirayuki-san, you know what this is? Let me guess your grandmother told you…”

“No! There isn't’ a Yokai or person in all of Japan that doesn’t know what that is, that’s a Muramasa Blade.”

“Not just any Muramasa Blade my little Shiro-chan. That blade was commissioned by a former Shogun, it was supposedly forged using the soul of a pure Miko as its base. It was intended to be used to fight Devils, or other men possessing Muramasa Blades, who were thought to be possessed by Devils, but were in fact..”

“Damiens…”

“Quick on the uptake as always Kuro, give it a go, pour some of your demonic energy into it.”

The minute I began pouring my demonic energy into the blade, it latched onto my hand without me holding it and drank hungrily. It was like it hadn’t eaten or drank something in a very long time.

Just before it was about to suck me dry, it stopped drinking and started wriggling in my hand.

“Ahhh I think she likes you Kuro-kun haha. Why don’t you name her? She is yours now after all”

“Then, how about Yasha? Ow, ow, OK, OK, no need to cut me, this blade has a mind of its own. I’ll think of another one, ummm, how about, Shikome? We will call you Shiko for short? I mean, you were once a Miko, Shiko.”

“...”

“H-hey, hey where are you all going?”

“T-that was pretty lame Kuro-kun, do you even know what Shikome was? And you call yourself Japanese.”

“Hey shut up Seir!”

“...I am inclined to agree with my lord.”

“You too Alice? What about you Shirayuki-san, I’m sure you can see the beauty and humour in that name?”

“...Ummmm.”

“Damn it, oh? See she likes it, looks she’s wriggling in my hand and not cutting me, suck it everyone! Looks like it’s decided then, from this day on you will be known as Shiko!”

After I was fit enough to go home, Shirayuki-san and I left Seir’s Estate. Shiko was strangely able to enter the same realm as old man Bahamut, despite not being a familiar, which surprised everyone except Seir, who made the same devious smile as always.

On the drive back home, Shirayuki-san never stopped leaning on me, I think she was sleeping, I made sure to place her in front of me and not go too fast.

I covered her with my jacket so she wouldn’t catch a cold, If that was even possible. It had been an eventful weekend and so much had happened, one thing was for sure though, I was a lot stronger than before.

Despite this, I felt a sense of foreboding for what was to come. The level of inactivity from that person was drowning me in nervousness and I could also tell that Seir was hiding something me.

“mmmhngh...Oh, are we home now Fujioka-san? Hey isn’t that.”

“Oh, Oh God no, please, I’m too tired for this right now.”

As we pulled up to the girls dorm, a familiar figure was standing outside with her arms folded and with a stern look on her face.

At this point in time I’d rather be fighting to the death with the old dragon, or struggling from the effects of that fever, anything but this.

“Y-yoooo, Mi…”

“Miyabi, it’s Miyabi! And for the last time, who said you could use my given name!?”

“I was gonna call you Misawa, but whatever.”

“Now, Now Miyabi…”

“You stay out of this Shir...Shiro! Why are you wearing his jacket, D-don’t tell me you two.”

“W-well, a lot of things happened.”

“Wh...why are you blushing and looking down? What the hell did you do Fujioka, I knew that I shouldn't have let Shiro go out with you, I’ve just about had enou…”

“Now, Now, Miyabi, come along , Kuro’s got a lot of stuff to do before Uni…”

“K-KKKURO!!! JUST WHEN DID YOU START CALLING HIM BY HIS GIVEN NAME SHIRO!”

“N-no, I...”

“Don’t just look at him with upturned eyes and wipe that smile off of you face Fujioka, I’m not done with you!”

“Well, I’ll see you at Uni, Shiro.”

“SHI-SHIRO!!!”

I drove off without giving Misaki the time to continue to foam at the mouth, I looked back and caught Shiro’s eye as she was comforting and leading a very distraught Misaki back to the dorms. She gave me a small smile and disappeared inside.

As I drove towards home, I continued to ponder over the many questions and matters left unanswered and unresolved and got no closer to resolving them.

I suppose I would have to take on every challenge as and when it came.

One thing was for certain though...

The summit to determine the next King of Hell, was less than a year away.