Chiharu stepped back and waited. The carts sounded old just like the driver steering them. She recalled the youthful teenager she'd seen almost a century ago. Now, even with powerful martial arts, time still came to claim what belonged to it.
Then, as the carts pulled closer and came to a stop, her eyebrows rose in visible surprise. The ever-quiet Shirone had fallen asleep on a human. What…was going on?
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|DxD|- Chapter 120- There Is More To Vitality
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Kuroka was young, only thirteen years old. But, circumstances had forced her to wisen. She was the first nekushou in centuries, born of what was, to her belief, a mistake.
Her…father, loath as she was to call the man, had her mother firmly in his clutches. She did not know if it were aphrodisiacs, coercion, or their biology forcing her to bond to that man, but she hated him. She hated him with everything.
Elder Magari had done nothing every time she brought up her mother's matter. Even she, young as she was, could see that, that man saw her mother as nothing more than a…a…
"..."
Kuroka swallowed her grievance and looked at Shirone with worry. She was wary of Igor, especially after what had happened. She knew an important conversation had taken place. She'd learned to recognise the signs once the daze wore off.
The quiet air. The lost eyes. The twitching fingers. All of it pointed to matters not meant for other ears. She knew nothing of what was spoken, but she wouldn't be surprised if it included them…not anymore.
Her only hope was Shirone's safety and innocence. Her little sister still had the time to feel warmth. Where their mother lacked, she'd taken over as best as she could, but she recognised her short-comings.
Her fists clenched. She didn't trust Igor. Not one bit. Who knew if this human would be deceitful like that man? A smile was just that—a smile. Even the vilest people could speak softly.
Igor was strong, but not as strong as Elder Magari. She'd guessed that much. Probably no one on this cart was. But she still wasn't comfortable having Shirone next to Igor. Words could damage far more than a fist.
With the cart at a full stop, she crawled over to him and reached out.
"Th-Thank you. I'll take her now…"
There was a tinge of fear, but it didn't stop her hands from snaking under her sister's arms. She didn't dare meet Igor's eyes for long, for there was something unnerving in his smile. Was he gloating? Amused? She didn't know. She was only glad he didn't resist—
"Keep a head like that and you'll live long."
"???"
Kuroka froze, the shock reaching deep into her soul. His words were frighteningly ominous.
"Yes…"
She murmured, and right before her eyes, Igor vanished. Her eyes only saw streaks of disfigured shadows before her mind finally processed the empty space where he once sat cross-legged. His sudden lack of presence made Shirone fall over backwords.
Kuroka lurched forward, already planning to use her extra hand to grab the cart's wall but a hand grabbed her by the scruff of her dress.
She stiffened. The back of her neck vibrated to the point of itching. He was right behind her, caught her in the most vulnerable position.
"Summer."
Kuroka calmed slightly when Magari began speakiing.
"I said nothing when your unwashed buttocks sat on my food. Now, not only do you get off, you jump on again with your dirty shoes?"
Igor chuckled.
"Sorry, elder."
He jumped off again and stood at the side. Kuroka hugged Shirone tightly and carefully got off as well. It was…cute how she always kept him in her peripherals. He had the urge to tease her, maybe even play the villain for a bit.
"Hey."
He called out and crouched before her. She took a step back with her sleeping sister in her arms. Looking at the two of them, they really were polar opposites.
"Calm down, little kitten. I won't hurt you, at least not with her here."
He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder at the seven-tailed cat proudly bearing her weight on poor Chiharu's head.
Kuroka's ears slicked back, nearly blending with her hair. Her tail bristled, the hairs on it straightening. Igor knew he had gone a step too far by triggering her flight or fight response. He raised his hands placatingly, fighting the urge to scoop her up in a big hug.
"It was a joke, kitten. Look. There's a cut on your dress."
"..."
Kuroka warily looked down. Her dress was very dirty from when she'd fell in the forest. A long tear stretched from the hems up her thigh. She frowned, because it was scandalous for her to look in such a way.
"?!"
Her head snapped up in alert. She nearly bared her fangs, until she saw the non-threatening energy. Igor had raised a finger, and on it, a flicker of orange energy burned like a gas stove.
"It's not the best method, but I can stitch it for you if you want. It won't take long, kitten."
"..."
Kuroka stared strangely at his finger. She still couldn't understand his energy no matter how much she focused on it. Rather, the more she looked at it, the more she felt warm, like it was a fire promising to shield her from the snow. She…didn't like that.
"Summer. Quiet your energy before you send my granddaughter into heat."
""?!?!""
Sairaorg choked and fell into a coughing fit. Igor almost mirrored him. He turned his head so fast his neck cracked, and his eyes were drawn to Chiharu. Her face was no different from stone and her eyes drilled through him. But her two tails swished animatedly behind her, and Igor felt relief when he realised Magari meant her.
He withdrew his energy and reined in his curiosity. Following his relief, he felt disturbed to know his vitality might function as a switch for nekomata. And that thought rooted itself deeper
"Summer. If you're going to stand there, you might as well help us offload."
"..."
Igor looked to his side. There were six carts, all massive and fully packed to the brim. It would be uncouth of him, but he did not have the mind to linger around any longer, not when his vitality held an allure for nekomata.
"Apologies, elder. I cannot do so at the moment."
Igor lowered his head and declined respectfully. In that moment, a realisation popped in his head, of why Shirone might've sought him out. And that filled his throat with revile.
"I will be in the forest and wait for your call."
He calmly finished and flickered away before she could utter a word. Sairaorg tensed when Magari's gaze fell on him. He looked to Diehauser for help, but the man shrugged his shoulders. Sairaorg gritted his teeth and clicked his tongue.
"Hey! Don't run off, damnit!"
He quickly clapped his hands together and addressed Magari.
"Don't worry, Granny Cat. I'll go get him for you."
The last thing Magari saw was his wide, innocent grin before he vanished as well. He followed their aura right through the forest towards the outskirts. Forget a child. Even a fool could see that Sairaorg was using Igor as a pretext to run away.
"Hmph. I suppose you will help, Kazuma?"
"I have advanced in years, elder. My back is no longer what it once was. Perhaps my friend here will?"
"..."
As the youngest of the three, Diehauser felt he should've seen this coming. Now, it was too late.
"Sigh…"
Chapter 120
END