[243] Preparing a Safeguard

Chapter 243: Preparing a Safeguard

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“Understood? And if those fools from the east…” Yasaka’s voice drifted through the courtyard, clear and firm as she spoke to her daughter, Kunou.

Even when it came to her daughter, there was a touch of command in the way she spoke right now—like a queen even when the conversation was family. She was preparing to leave Kyoto, and from the way she handled it, one would think it was a military operation. Because in a sense, it was.

Leaving Kunou in charge of a city like Kyoto wasn’t a small thing.

I stood nearby, leaning back slightly as Akane’s arm brushed against mine. I wasn’t involved in the conversation, but I could hear everything. It was kind of cute to me, truth be told, although it was a very serious matter to them.

Yasaka was going away for what could possibly be weeks, such a sudden travel right after her city was attacked might be problematic, so she was instructing Kunou in detail. This was her ensuring Kyoto would be stable even if she had to be away for more than weeks, maybe a month. Because now that everyone was alert, Valerie’s Vampires probably wouldn’t move hastily. She could wait months before making a move.

Yasaka knew that, but she wasn’t the type to sit back and wait for them to come knocking. She wanted to be there when the killers of her friend would show up.

Kunou was capable, from what I recalled, but she could be bratty, and the weight of responsibility was heavy for someone that young. I could see it in the way Kunou stood—trying to show strength, but still aware of what was being placed on her shoulders. She had Yasaka’s confidence, though. People would listen to her.

“Mhm…” As all this played out in the background, my mind drifted. I glanced down at Akane, her eyes catching the soft glow of the garden’s lights.

There was disappointment there, mixed with understanding. She didn’t have to say it. I knew she hadn’t wanted the day to end like this. “Sorry,” I murmured, my hand sliding around her waist. I pulled her closer, her warmth pressing into me as she leaned in, seeking that small bit of comfort. “Yasaka seems almost ready to leave. Looks like we have to put an end to the date now.”

Akane let out a soft sigh, resting her head against my chest. “I understand… It’s not like you can control these things. I saw with my own two eyes. Things on this side of the world are more unpredictable than I thought.”

I nodded, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ll drop you in front of your house, alright? We’ll pick this up another time.” My voice stayed casual, but I honestly felt guilty that I couldn’t give her more of my time today.

“Yeah, sure,” she replied softly, her fingers brushing lightly against my jacket. There was that mix of disappointment and acceptance in her voice. She knew this was how things were with me, even if it wasn’t easy to swallow sometimes. She had gotten used to this, the unpredictability of my life. But it didn’t mean she’d like it.

I raised my hand, waving it through the air as the fabric of reality split.

Energy flickered, and the familiar sight of Tokyo appeared on the other side, just outside her home. The portal shimmered in the courtyard's dim light. I glanced at Mai, who had been standing quietly nearby. She gave us a small nod, understanding the situation without needing to say anything.

Then I led Akane through the portal, stepping out onto the quiet street outside her house.

The sounds of Kyoto’s hidden town faded behind us, replaced by the calm stillness of Tokyo at night. For a moment, neither of us said anything. The air was cool, the night peaceful. But there was still a tension lingering between us.

Just as the portal closed, without warning, Akane pressed her face into my chest, her arms wrapping tightly around me. Her warmth seeped through my shirt, and I sighed softly, my hand finding its way to her hair, ruffling it gently. I felt even more guilty. The silly girl didn’t have to do this—holding onto me like she was afraid I’d disappear if she let go.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, the words coming out more out of habit than anything. I’d promised her more than just a few hours together, but in the end, duty always came first.

Her voice was muffled against my chest. “I was hoping we’d at least spend the night together,” she admitted in a tone of disappointment and longing.

I closed my eyes for a second, resting my chin on top of her head. “I know, me too,” I muttered softly, my lips brushing against her forehead. She deserved better than this. But this was the life I led, and she was part of it, whether we liked it or not. “I had some ideas on how to spend the night, but then things went wrong like this.”

“It’s okay, just…” Akane tilted her head up, her lips parting slightly as she looked up at me. There was something in her eyes—soft, but eager. “Give me a kiss?”

I smiled despite the situation, leaning down to meet her halfway. My lips brushed against hers, and she whimpered softly into the kiss, pressing herself even closer.

Her breath hitched as my hand slid down her back, finding its way to her plump ass. I squeezed gently, earning a soft moan from her as I pushed her against the wall of her house, deepening the kiss.

For a moment, everything else faded away—no yokai, no vampires, no looming war. Just the two of us, enjoying whatever time we could steal in the quiet of the night.

Her fingers clasped the front of my shirt, drawing me nearer, our mouths moving in unison. The passion between us was intense, the anticipation that had been growing all day finally releasing. However, reality interrupted us minutes later as a pair of people walked past us, yelping at the sight of us in the act.

With a reluctant sigh, I broke the kiss, stepping back slightly. Her breath came out ragged, her face flushed as she looked up at me, her lips still slightly parted. I met her gaze for a moment, my own breathing steadying.

“Then I’ll be going now, Akane,” I said again, but she just shrugged, looking away with a slight pout.

“Just… remember your promises,” she muttered, her voice softer now. There was a vulnerability there that she didn’t show often. She played her role as a strong girl well. I nodded, allowing the weight of her words to settle in.

“I will,” I promised, and this time, I meant it. There were too many promises I’d made, too many I still had to keep. But I had to start somewhere.

Eternity was a long time, and in this Nexus, I had to maneuver well enough that my loved ones didn’t feel left out.

With one last glance, I opened a new portal, the shimmering light cutting through the night, leading back to Kyoto. I stared at her, our gazes locked, and nodded, turning around. As I stepped through, I heard Akane’s soft voice call out behind me.

“Aqua… Be careful,” she whispered.

And then the portal closed behind me, leaving the quiet streets of Tokyo far behind.

****

The familiar shimmer of a portal cut through the night air, opening into the quiet grounds of Kuoh Academy.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting odd shadows over the empty courtyard. I stepped through first, enjoying the cool breeze brushing against my skin as Mai, Yasaka, and Elmenhilde followed behind.

“The air’s gentle here,” Yasaka said, and I agreed. Kuoh had always felt strange at night—quiet in a way that didn’t match the usual energy of the place. But recently, more so. The school had been closed for over a month, and now it looked deserted, like time had frozen here while the rest of the world moved on. No students, no chatter, nothing but the eerie stillness that stretched over the grounds.

Mai frowned as she looked around, her eyes scanning the familiar buildings. "This place looks… strange," she muttered, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Much different than what I remember." Of course, she too hadn’t been attending classes.

I nodded, properly taking in the atmosphere. It should be hard to maintain such an odd and long school break, but the devils’ hypnosis definitely helped convince the crowd. Harsh, but it was the better choice. With everything going on now, normalcy was fragile, and the students would have been in danger.

“Let me give it some life,” Yasaka, standing beside me, raised her hand, summoning a small flame that flickered to life above her palm.

The flame grew, rising upward, turning into a miniature sun that hovered in the air, bathing the courtyard in its warm, orange glow. The light chased away the shadows, illuminating the stillness with a soft, radiant heat.

A quiet gasp caught my attention. I glanced down to see Elmenhilde trembling beside me, her crimson eyes wide as she stared at the sun of Fox Fire. Was the warmth from Yasaka’s fire too much for her? Yasaka’s flames were barely any different from sunlight to someone like Elmenhilde. It could be deadly, if not checked.

“Little girl, relax,” I murmured, placing a hand on her head. I spread my Qi over her, creating an invisible protective barrier right above her skin to shield her from the discomfort. My Sage’s Authority helped enhance that.

The tension in her body eased slightly as the pressure of Yasaka’s flame lessened, but I could still feel her unease. She looks up at me, nodding in thankfulness.

Yasaka caught my eye, a soft giggle escaping her lips. “Oh, I was going to enjoy her squirm a little, it wasn’t going to be anything lethal to her,” she said, making me raise an eyebrow. “But I’m impressed. You’re pretty good at little tricks.”

I grinned, brushing a hand through my hair. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Lady Yasaka, but I have a soft spot for Vampires. Not enough to let them run amok but definitely enough to save them from needless death,” I said, making her stare at me in silence for a moment before she smiled, the playful edge to her still there.

But before anyone could say more, I sensed movement from the old school building nearby. Doors swung open, and before that I had already heard the sound of footsteps rushing toward us. A moment later, familiar faces walked toward us—Rias’s peerage, namely Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba, were walking toward us, looking surprised when they saw me. They were being followed closely by Sona and Tsubaki.

The false sun must have pulled their attention.

They almost smiled at me but slowed to a stop as soon as they saw Yasaka.

I didn’t blame them. Seeing the powerful leader of the Yokai Faction casually standing in their courtyard was sudden. They looked awkward as they shot me a confused look.

Sona was the first to speak. “...Aqua, what’s this?” she asked, adjusting her glasses as her sharp eyes darted between me and Yasaka. “You’ve been visiting frequently these days, which I appreciate, but… looks like you’ve brought interesting guests this time,” her eyes fell on the little vampire beside me. “Did something happen?”

“Hey Aqua~” From beside her, Tsubaki waved, prompting Sona to shoot her a look.

“Yeah, something happened alright,” I said, waving at Tsubaki as I continued, “There was an attack in Kyoto. A group of vampires killed one of Yasaka’s closest allies. They were after the sacred gear she had, a piece of Evil God Balor.”

The girls blinked as a wave of shock passed through their faces. Koneko’s usually impassive face showed a flicker of concern, and even Akeno looked unsettled by the news. Kiba frowned. “Balor…”

“Yes, the same Balor whose Sacred Gear Gasper has. The vampires released two Onis from an ancient seal to distract us, and in the meantime they took the Balor sacred gear, killing the wielder in the process,” I continued, “and now it looks like they’re after Gasper.”

“Shit,” Sona cursed, her expression growing dark. “Why are they after the wilders of Balor Gears? What’s going on, even?” She grumbled, “And at a time like this, that Rias isn’t bothering to show her face to her friends!”

I sighed. “Calm down, I’m here,” I patted her shoulder, watching her relax a little. “As for why they’re after Balor Sacred Gears, it’s complicated. But basically, we think they’re trying to revive him. To be more specific, a rogue vampire, Valerie Tepes, is trying to gather pieces of Balor, to revive the ancient God from his slumber.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Gasper had always been kind of useless to the peerage, but they were still close friends—they likely saw him as one of their own, and now he was caught up in something that none of them could step up again.

“Rest assured, I don’t think they’ll attack tonight,” I added quickly, trying to ease the tension. “Yasaka is here, and there’s no Oni to release this time. But more importantly, I’m here too. If they have any sense, they’d run before attacking Kuoh.”

The kids collectively sighed of relief when they realized that my words were true. Yasaka nodded in support.

Akeno nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Alright. If Lady Yasaka of the Yokai and you are here, that’s reassuring. We’ll prepare ourselves, just in case.”

I gave a short nod. “Good idea. I’ll send Quetzalcoatl here to stay on post here. She’ll keep an eye on things while I head back and discuss what’s happening with my fam- sect.”

Akeno tilted her head, a sly smile playing at her lips. Now that she knew an attack wasn’t happening tonight, she seemed more relaxed. “Leaving me so soon, Aqua? My shoulders have been aching since earlier, bearing the responsibilities of the president… Will you give me a massage later?”

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. “Please don’t act up, this isn’t the time for that. I’ll be right back.”

Without further delay, I looked at Mai, wrapping an arm around her waist, surprising her, as we shot into the night sky. The courtyard and the group below grew smaller as we ascended.

Valerie’s group of vampires were one thing, but I was curious about who else was related to this situation. It’d be annoying if there were other big names here.

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