❀✿

Hᴀʀᴜᴋᴀ

"Your sense of direction is shrewd,"

"S-Sorry, you seemed to be leading us nowhere so I thought that maybe nor-"

"That's the idea. Chaos doesn't have an absolute direction. Or does it? Anyway, don't act like a lost doe, it doesn't suit you, Fox."

"Uh.. I'm sorry."

The endless chatter sounded like this throughout entire journey, from what I can recall. Akki Shadou paved the way alongside Sora, and they walked together without halting. Sora occasionally treaded forward, which analytically began the controversy. It was unnecessary speech, halting the trip. The emotion sensed between the two was irritation, yet the 'Fox' had an increase in her pulse. Research into this will be conducted, for it was a small occurrence that I did not understand yet.

Unlike the two who lead, I was definite in my actions, sauntering forward at an easy pace. Tomoe trudged on, approximately 50 inches behind the group at all times. The group. A foreign term, in my eyes. It can't be helped, solitude is a friend of mine.

His expression conveyed a monotonous mood. I would have to do something about it, I had sworn myself to helping him on this quest. Unhappiness can have long term affects such as dysthymia and severe trauma if something were to become an issue for too long. This negative emotion will be terminated for the safety of one of the comrades of mine. The feeling of unfamiliarity returns to me with this thought. I decided to wait until Shadou stopped to rest for the eve, and statistics show that there is a varying chance of him doing so.

When we had left the castle, after Sora had an adequate outfit, a simplistic dress which would have been common forty years ago, we left abruptly, barely missing an estimated amount of 10 common soldiers. I could have handled them, but at the time, I had believed it would be essential for our group to remain anonymous for as long as possible, to guarantee a high rate of success on this task. 

The soldiers were humans, though they were armed with potentially lethal weapons, they would not have posed any threat to me. This would not be equal to Tomoe & Sora's survival rate. Certainly, the demon could dodge a bullet or two.

After we had left, I began to study Miss Kitsune. The media had no information on her, other then how scandalous people thought of the fact that she could be crowned as queen. Most records seemed to be forged, but the scale of time I had spent with her allowed me to collect data.

Sora Kitsune - VALID PROOF ON NAME N/A

Alias: Fox (Might be a joke, uncertain for now.)

Age: 15

Personality: Patient, Faithful(?), Shy, Untrusting (towards others), etc

Status: Nervous

Species: Presumably human, blood test needed

Temperament: Phlegmatic

My information on the three were unofficial: Shadou seemed both sanguine and choleric yet he remains an enigma to me, Sora's profile was equally as controversial with classification issues, and Tomoe's charisma inspires suspicion. Knowing my allies is of great importance, the records would allow me to be conscious of how to respond to them in various situations. For example, an ally can become a target in a nanosecond.

Concluding my scrutiny on Sora, her appearance wasn't of much concern to me but there are noteworthy aspects. She could strike one as unbearably outlandish, according to what the recent archives state on her. Pale lavender hair and evidently false auburn eyes added up to a purely apprehensive assumptions on her. Even I, a never-opinionated, dispassionate android could comprehend that.

Few words were exchanged on our trudge forward through the Tekonn pinewood. My compass deciphered our directions, usually curving around an area then striking another direction. At this rate, we would reach the border of the woods. This was of no difficulty to me, for I was able to calculate some of the various circumstances, depending on where Shadou led us. Meaning, I knew how to respond no matter what was thrown at us.

Although we seemed to be traveling to an exact location, we moved in such a disoriented angle because Hibiki seemed to trace ordinary genetic mishaps in trees or the terrain, such as an odd angle in the log of a tree or discolored, fallen leaves. His search was not meaningless, for I believed that fluorescent leaves were something that environmentalists would be concerned about. Then, I began to assess the situation.

The setting. The forest- It was nothing more then a large group of trees and excessive growth in plant life all bundled to form an environment, but Sora described it as, "exhilarating and peaceful, like a medicine for stress". I suppose that would be an accurate description. The plants were of healthy shades, life cycles were in imperfect balance, and poachers were nowhere to be seen.

The rare exception was the traces of 'chaos', that Hibiki pointed out to us. The trees glistened with chlorophyll, the floor was littered with browned leaves and twigs as well as large roots stemming from large trees. The sky was a plain azure. Prince Tomoe had a figurative way of seeing the world.

Azure will always be plain to me, but he managed to put the scenery into his own words as he muttered to himself. He walked alone, and he had an expression that could equal confusion yet curiosity- 'lost in thoughts', perhaps? Human nature was tiresomely difficult.

Hibiki. I'll try to change my system formatting for the demon lord's title, as a way of being more casual. Hibiki is what I will call him. Shadou was too forced, opposite to Sora's relief at the sight of such a rumored diabolical being. His horns were a questionable sight, something that could draw unwanted attention. Curled, similar to a ram, it surely not the type of horns that you'd stereotype from a demon. Or was it? Human generalizations on magic was another puzzling topic.

I was in a form of hibernation as we traveled, so I was able to process all the information and carefully maintain the conditions of the other three as I was. To simply state it, my feet did the walking. We walked all afternoon, and I was able to note all the dialogue that had taken place. What I had recorded in my audio transcription from it all was in the operation of being dissected.

Though, I do have a memory my files where Tomoe indirectly slaughtered a bird. He was excessively cautious at the time, but are these signs of paranoia? Again, human nature.

Time passes.

After an entire noon of walking, which I had gotten through in an unconscious state of mind, the sun began to shift in the atmosphere, a case named as "setting", though the sun could not move. Figurative phrases were incompetent. With this seemingly meaningless change in the skies, the demon lord swiftly halted his walk, and we all followed. Tomoe only glared vainly. As Hibiki was about to speak, he intruded with an easily expected statement:

"Now then, Ram-horned, the sun is beginning to set and I've noticed we've been going in circles. I'm sure a few weirdly tainted leaves could simply be an accident with paint or so, and I don't think anyone here is convinced that we're actually on some deadly quest," he crossed his arms and seemed extremely satisfied with his words. Sora seemed to have thought the same, as I noticed her shifting her gaze and her stance. I decided to duplicate the expression of the majority, but I had no opinion on the truth that Tomoe set out for.

Hibiki exasperatedly looked to the sky. "All leaves never fall very far from their originating tree. We'll set up camp, but not because you caviled. Chaos doesn't rest at night but regardless, Kaosū couldn't do much harm in such little time." He then continued forward, with his head held high, doubtlessly on track with what he had planned. Sora skipped ahead with a faint hesitance, keeping the same pace he had. The demon lord called her a fox, but she acted much more like a dog.

Tomoe, seeming uncontroversial with the idea, slid past me and muttered, "There's no need to be so stiff," As if he hadn't said anything at all, he simply continued to keep his distance from Shadou but still walked in his footsteps. Had he noticed me recording the others? Surely not.

With that, I formulated a new task. Humans require warmth so gathering wood to fuel the combustion, fire, would be a reasonable course of action. Tasks, orders, 'requests'. It was against what I was made for to do otherwise- withholding was not an option, ever. What was an option, was massacre. I would not use my skill until we encountered the 'being of chaos' that Hibiki spoke of.

The others turned left, presumably in search of a suitable clearing to set up some sot of camp. Nothing would divert me into meaningless conversation now that they were gone. I could focus.

-/Saving audio transcriptions to file: Allyrelationships.imp complete.

A message appeared on my sights. I would have to view what I had recorded when I'm inactivated, I regularly go over system component regulations every night. At least, it's what seems regular to me. I don't have any preexisting files, meaning, days before today are a blur.

Now, in the middle of a forest, any tree would do. Though, the wood with a precise moisture rate and texture would be best. A quick scan led me to an adequate tree, only half a mile away, but a more-than-efficient speed made the walk take no more than four minutes.

At that moment in time, there was no clue, no signs, that I would find what I had found then. No probabilities in my calculations could have ever predicted the sight.

As if it were luck, I came to a stop, and the soft hum of the gears in my chest accelerated. It was then and there that my head filled with a cognizant desire. The enigma sighting was prevented or, paused, due to my emotion.

I paused and felt a burning sense of self-awareness. It couldn't have been anything else, alas, I would never normally feel such a curiosity.

I tilted my head downwards, and finally had the opportunity to identify the two silhouetted gems implanted in both of my wrists, each indistinguishable from it's counterpart. There were no pieces of information about this in my memory. The urge to trace my fingers on the edges of these 'additions' was easily repelled, but artificial human instincts that I've been programmed with have always seemed to be against my will; The Creator's way to make us seem more alive.

Synthetic Humans.. Androids.. Robots. No matter what name is given to me, the generalization of never truly having a soul will forever be with me. Nevertheless, I decided put this thought aside. Finding out what the diamond-shaped symbols embedded in my wrists was much more important.

I coaxed the meaning of the symbols into my systems, searching every file on my anatomy. There's no need to be so stiff. I could still hear the phrase ringing in my ears. Perhaps, I was over-analyzing. Perhaps, 'loosening up' would actually help. I decided to go back to basics, and review primary my limb sensors. And there, I found the answer.

As if it was a pulse in my mind, like a temptation, I felt what seemed like an inactive part of me. It felt like I had a restrained hand.

Exactly replicating the sensation that overcame me when I whirred to life, a flip switched inside of me. With the flick of a wrist, on both sides, slid forth blades of equal length, stemming from the center of the two triangles that met to create a diamond shape. The edges of each blade reached a few inches past my middle finger. If I were to clench my fist and attempted an attack, I dare say that the newly found weapons of mine would be faultless.

A versatile weapon surely, for with another flick of the wrist which was opposite to the direction I had motioned before, the blades retracted. It was as if I could duel-wield two daggers, yet they were apart of me, and I had no need to use my hands. Hidden blades made from carbon steel, an assassin's treasure. A pernicious weapon that I could use to deliver a fatal blow without the use of any extra aid, and it was indubitable to predict that it could slice through more then organic matter.

With my questions answered, my thoughts were cleared and on default, I was set back to the goal I created minutes before. I expected a sense of accomplishment with what I had solved but such luxuries, such feelings, were too good to be true. At least I knew that it was the correct way to react to solving a situation.

Though, maybe remembering how to summon a weapon wasn't as appealing as I found it to be. I would have to further study human emotions to learn the correct response, there's no doubt that Tomoe would represent these lacking emotions: anger, disgust.. And whatever other negativity that I had installed. These artificial emotions are what I had always tried to avoid, but it was clear that I had to accept how I was made.

Ultimately and unfortunately, I would have no choice.

What was to come, was to grotesque to disregard and evade.