☢ Chapter Written By StriplessKitten ☢

Aya furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and analyzed the noble girl. The girl stared back at Aya with solitude ignigting in her grey eyes. This confused Aya beyond comprehension. She decided not to underestimate the girl's current sanity, she'd seen so too much, Aya then was startled when a horn started to blare in the distance. The girl managed to notice Aya's discomfort.

"We have to leave." The girl said, a sad smile still gracing her features.

"Leave?" Aya repeated, what did the white haired female mean by 'we'?

"Yes, the guards have been released. They're most likely looking for you, are they?"

"How the Hell did you know that?"

"I have powers beyond my control, I'd explain, but it'd consume too much valuable time, we'll have to retreat."

Aya crinkled her nose in disgust to get a whiff of the freshly butchered corpse of the girl's Mother. She lay lifeless, in a pool of her own blood from her underbelly, her face down into the wooden ground, but one of her eyes were visible from her head being slightly tilted at a side angle, the said eye was widen open with a dullness to it's lost light.

"Tch." Aya clicked her tongue, before she pointed her blade's end at the girl's neck.

The girl stood still and moved her chin upwards to avoid the point of the sword that glistened a small flare in the sunlight's reflection.

"How can I trust you?"

"You just have to, I'll show you my loyalty from freeing me from my Mother, I can guide you safely out of the Kingdom with quick shortcuts, I promise."

"Mhm, I'm not fully convinced."

"Please, tell me your name."

"I beg your damn pardon?"

The place grew silent, the blare of the horn getting louder and louder, then the church bells began to ring alongside it, causing a frantic racket. Whatever the Hell the Kingdom of Idreselle was planning, it involved Aya, she wasn't absent minded, she knew that they'd discovered the King and Queen's bodies, and she then realized that she couldn't take cover in the manor for the night, they'd go raiding the entire land till they found her, she must've been ratted out by a witness she let escape on the East corridor when she slaughtered her seventh batch of oncoming guards. She cursed under her breath, before she heaved out a sigh, then looked the girl in the eye.

"Aya, Aya Kamishiro."

"That's your name?"

"Yeah."

"I'm Karma."

"Well, nice to fucking meet you, but you're very odd, how the Hell am I supposed to trust a stranger, and in my predicament?"

"In your condition, you won't get very far, you're covered in blood, you'll need to change if we stand a chance of getting out of here peacefully."

"Again, you're adding yourself to the damned equation, what makes you think you can tag along? I'm not a fucking babysitter." Aya sheathed her sword hastily, the girl named Karma then gave her a monotone expression once more.

Karma then grabbed Aya's wrist and hurriedly dragged her to her bedroom, she released her wrist, then began packing at a very quick pace, while Aya stood in the room, bewildered.

"Listen, I want to help, I don't want to stay in this noble establishment, you're that rebel heir, aren't you? Your cause is the key to my freedom, and I want to partake in that accomplishment, my powers can be of use. Not for.. torture." Karma trailed off as she shook her head and then finished packing her clothes, she then tossed Aya a bundle of clothes.

"Eh?" Aya caught the bundle with ease, as her reflexes were slightly above average, with more advanced training she'd be way better.

"Change into those, and then throw me out your clothes you're wearing now. They'll help you blend in easier, trust me."

"You have a lot of dialogue to explain once I get back to the damned Under-World." Aya rolled her eyes, then began stripping, not caring the other female was in the same room as her, as Karma had finished packing clothes, but not other essentials that included toiletries, so she occupied herself with that basis of packing.

Once Aya had completed changing into the red dress, that was an off the shoulder style, while it reached just below her thighs, and tight, since Karma seemed to be younger than her which meant smaller clothing, but it still fit her, just hugged her curves more. She grumbled in distaste, she was a gigantic tomboy, to wear a dress was humiliating for that prospect, but she needed an escape route somehow. If that meant to blend in with nobles, then so be it. Aya then slid on some maroon flats and handed the bloodied attire and boots to Karma who also had achieved to finish packing all types of things, clothes, food, a couple weapons, books, and garbs. Karma then stuffed the bloody clothes into another bag.

"Question." Aya blinked.

"What's that?" Karma replied.

"How are we going to bring all that luggage, surely you'll have to leave some behind--" Aya was cut off.

"Watch and see." Karma looked at Aya over her shoulder, before she got out numerous multi-colored stones shaped like orbs, and then a single chain that seemed to belong to a plain bracelet.

Aya kept silent, and began styling her hair into a high ponytail, borrowing a string of crimson ribbon off Karma also. Karma set one stone on top of each five individual suitcases, including the bag containing Aya's clothes. She then stepped back a few steps, before she pointed her finger at one of the cases, the one that contained her clothes. She closed her steel colored eyes and then muttered something unintelligible under her breath, Aya fluttered her thick eyelashes the same color as her jet black hair, in confusion.

Suddenly, the stone began to glow, and encased the suitcase inside of it, Karma repeated this process for each and every one of the suitcases, including Aya's bag of clothes. Aya was beyond impressed by the sorcery example, her mouth hung agape all the same. Karma then picked up each of the stones, the created miniature charms of each by inserting a mini hook into each stone, she then linked the charms onto the plain bracelet, and put it on.

"Now, do you understand how I can wield magic?"

"Huh, I guess."

"Well you shouldn't suppose, I just did display it for you."

"I ain't into the whole magician bullshit, you can pull a rabbit out of your hat another time, we have to go now."

Karma and Aya then exchanged a nod, dashing out of the manor, they were lucky that Karma lived at the opposite end of the Kingdom, the swarm of the people looking for Aya wouldn't reach them till another short while. Aya then whistled, summoning Ynisted to run to her side. The said horse came galloping down the street not so long after Aya had called for him. The black stallion halted his trot when he came upon his rider and Karma. He thrashed his head side to side as he then stood still for Aya to saddle him up and jump aboard. Upon her doing so, Aya then held her hand out to Karma, helping her onto the steed too

"You know, you clean up nicely." Karma complimented Aya out of the blue.

"W-Wha--?!" Aya felt her pale cheeks tint a bright pink.

"You can keep those clothes, they do suit you. Maybe for something formal concerning the rebellion negotiations? Or another use for disguising?" Karma offered a couple ideas, oblivious to Aya's growing blush.

"Y-You..! Idiot, shut up!--" Aya's blush tinted the same hue as her dress, spreading across her entire face and the bridge of her narrow nose.

"What, did I say something wrong?" Karma blinked, emotionless still.

"I appreciate your generosity and the lot, but do keep quiet when mentioning my appearance's appealing factors, that's quite embarrassing to discuss." Aya cleared her throat by coughing into her fist.

"If you say so, but I don't see the problem with it." Karma stretched out her limbs.

"Uh-huh." Aya then scoffed, and whipped the reigns, causing Ynisted to begin moving again.

The blaring of the horn and the church bells began to increase into a higher intensity, signalling the search was drawing near, Aya growled, then whipped the rain trice, each one harder than the other, Ynisted went practically mad trying to comprehend what was happening to his owner's constant whippings, and this alerted his adrenaline, Aya must be in trouble. This caused the horse to push his limits and dash. Aya was used to his aggressive speed, but it was clear Karma wasn't, she wrapped her arms around Aya's slim waist from behind, to maintain her balance on the horse. Aya chuckled at this, but didn't bother to mention her amusement.

Aya had been riding Ynisted for another few minutes, when she had followed a western directory destination from Karma's advisory, to take a drastic time-saver shortcut. What the rebel heir didn't expect, was to come across her swordsmanship trainer and 'bodyguard' Mikah, to be on his own grew freckled horse, which he named Gurē, and fighting numerous townsfolk off. What had he gotten himself into? Aya didn't want to take the risk of drawing attention to herself, so she was torn in rescuing Mikah, like the fool he was for following her, or keep advancing.

"Karma, do you know the way to the Under-World from here?"

"I haven't been out in awhile, I'm sorry--"

"God dammit!" Aya swore.

Aya then caught side of Mazen, he was a buff man, of the elven race, ripped beyond normal, a bodybuilder standard perhaps, and had shoulder length black hair, his eyes were also black, as was his mezmorising shadow-like skin tone. He had a single blue dash of paint that started from the top of his forehead to the mid section of his eyebrow, it didn't trace his eyelid, but continued beneath his eye till it reached his jawline where his well trimmed beard was situated, his piercings consisted of a single hoop nose ring, a single blue ear ring, and another hoop ring that dented the top of his pointed ear. He was also on horseback upon his brown stallion he named Kareon, wounding people with his sword that with two sides, one sharp edge that was curved, and beneath the curve, a saw-like edge.

He must've been helping Mikah. Aya then unsheathed her own sword, and charged towards Mazen, he had to help Karma. He seemed to have noticed Aya also, as he slaughtered the last few royal guards before galloping over to her. Aya frowned, then she developed a plan.

"Mazen, what are you doing here?"

"Mikah suggest that we help assist ya, wasn't my idea. But, it's clear you took a different route, lookin' swell."

"Geez, not you too. I'll elaborate at a later date, but you need to take Karma, the girl behind me, home. It's urgent, she can cast magic, just like Lezabella."

"Magic, eh?"

"Yes, now go, take her back safely. She's important, but keep an eye on her, she hasn't gained my trust fully.. yet." Aya then felt Karma's grip tense around her waist, which caused her to hum.

Mazen looked around him, resting his saw-sword over his left shoulder, he then gave a grunt of approval, much to Aya's delight. Karma understood what she had to do, and got off of Ynisted, and climbed up onto Kareon. Aya saluted them both, but only Mazen returned the salute, he then was seen to steer his horse around, and take off towards the Under-World. Aya then looked to the side, before she raised her head high, and took off in Mikah's direction.

Mikah tried his hardest to fend off the swarm of guards, his long black hair tied into a low ponytail, it wasn't as long as Aya's hair, but it was still as far as his lower spine. His brown eyes held determination as he slashed his katana two and fro, he didn't seem to be aware of Aya fast approaching from his right, he had gotten down a good amount of guards, that did make Aya's heart flutter with admiration, he truly was strong.

"Sensei!" Aya called.

Alerted, Mikah turned briefly to see who called his name, he then furrowed his eyebrows and then fought a dozen more guards before he eventually had an opportunity to get to Aya. His face softened upon seeing Aya in such attire, she was still a girl, even if she was to be a strong future ruler.

"That's a fancy getup."

"You're not the first to mention it, how long have you been doing this?"

"Couple hours, I'm not sure."

"Hours?!"

"We followed you back as soon as you left that slave."

"Aye."

Mikah inclined his head to where Mazen previously was. Which made Aya gaze in that direction, Mikah then returned his line of vision onto Aya, which she felt boring into the back of her skull. She sighed and then faced him once more.

"I sent him back the way he came with another potential recruit, this one can use magic."

"Magic? You do realize that Lezabella is responsible for that."

"Yeah, but she's old. When she dies, we'll need a step in."

"God forbid."

"Mhm. She won't go out too quick, but it's never bad to ramble up more recruits, right?"

"More like more mouths to feed."

"Oh, shut up, we have plenty to go around if we get some more scavengers."

"Aya, we need to get a move on, this conversation and anything else necessary to it can be discussed back at home."

"Alright--"

"Hurry."

Mikah then whipped the reigns of his horse, causing Gurē to bolt ahead, Aya blinked, then followed suit on Ynisted. They rode alongside each other, taking down anyone in their path as they desperately tried to evade the army, they needed to return as soon as possible.

Aya gasped as a pointed edge of some object flew straight past her, barely grazing her cheek. She then looked to where the object indented into a nearby house, an arrow? Aya then glanced upwards to see Phillip, Sakura's handyman as she liked to call him.

"Shit, Sensei! We've got company."

"What sort of company?"

"Phillip."

"That blonde pompous ass?" Mikah asked.

"Correct."

"Pick up the pace."

It was clear that Mikah wished to avoid going into too much combat, as it would delay their escape. Phillip shot a further six arrows at Aya, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Aya ducked and swerved on top of Ynisted to avoid every last one of the arrows, but she was growing a little frustrated with the amount she had to dodge. It nearly overwhelmed her. Ynisted then neighed out, which drew Aya's attention to where a couple inches in his ribs away from Aya's foot in the straddle was, an arrow had pierced. Aya cursed loudly as she then got out kunais, one laying between each of her five digits, she then would toss each one with great accuracy at Phillip, her blood boiling in rage. Aya's weakness was her temper, she had a very short one, and often let her anger cloud her judgement.

"Aya! Halt! It's not worth distracting yourself, keep your eyes ahead of you!" Mikah scolded.

"He injured Ynisted!" Aya yelled back at him.

"Aya! Draw back I said!" Mikah grew concerned, but hid the tone in a stern voice.

"Shut it!" Aya then threw the other half of the kunais, she managed to get at Phillip several times, but not enough to slow him down.

That's when Phillip leaped from the rooftop, and bent his bow, snapping it into it's other form of a staff. He then began running after them, with Ynisted distressed, and Mikah way ahead, Aya was damned if she didn't take action, her horse couldn't outrun him with his injury, he'd strain himself, instead, Aya leaped off of Ynisted's back, allowing him to eventually catch up with Mikah due to Aya's weight being lifted from his back. Mikah grunted, then looked back at Aya, who was in a crouched position, she withdrew her sword, and then looked over her shoulder at Mikah too.

"Go! Wait for me when you're close to our destination, I'll catch up! Tie Ynisted to your horse! Bring him back!" Aya shouted so he'd hear her from his gaining distance.

"Dammit, Aya! Why do you always have to play hero?!" Mikah growled then faced ahead of him, doing as she wished, but if she didn't return quick enough, he'd take action like he did before.

Aya's eyes were covered by her bangs momentarily,

"Because, how else would I improve?"

She then breathed a sigh of relief, then slowly rose to her feet, flipping her ponytail backwards out of her face as she then swung her sword in a figure eight before she got into a fighting stance. Phillip stood before her, his staff raised horizontally in front of him as he eyed Aya.

"Something you're after, preppy?" Aya glared.

"I'm merely following orders from my Queen."

"Queen? Sakura's the Princess, not the Queen."

"Not yet, would be the terms I would base that statement on."

"..Right." Aya gripped the hilt of her sword in a tight clench.

Phillip then stepped forth, Aya retreated a few steps, until they began to analyze each of their combat behavior. Aya was first to launch, much to her impatience's fault. Phillip quickly countered her strike with the mid-section of his staff, then pushed her sword upward so her abdomen was exposed to her lifted arm's uprising. Aya saw this coming, then parried his blow by sidestepping with swiftness, she then would engage in her enhanced speed, which was a ⅓ of sound empowered. She was yet to be known as the swiftness living thing on Earth. Her agility would come in handy, but her lack of stamina would be her curse, at a cost of her speed, Aya was shorter of breath. Said speed was used to appear behind Phillip and attempt to cut him from his back, Phillip was slow to react, but still swerved forth, resulting in a scrape instead of an actual deep wound. He then turned to Aya, and clashed his staff with her blade, they both began pushing against each other's weaponry, Aya squinted her mysterious hazel eyes in obvious struggle, she was still not as strong as she desired to be, but her limitations had to be pushed past, she needed to get back to the Under-World in order to establish a future step in the rebellion's name.

Sakura was yet to be crowned Queen, and all Aya could think about was how she had to battle her former best friend in the future, she didn't know what to anticipate, but she was slightly saddened at the idea. Sure, Sakura did kill off her Father, and Aya just did slaughter her parents, but she didn't particularly want that to happen. She saw it as a nightmare, she wanted her old friend back, as much as she hated to admit it, but it was too late. What was done, was done. They'd have to battle it out now, just like she was doing with Phillip, and Aya will overpower Sakura's rule, one way or another. She was going to start off by disguarding the fool who dared raise his staff at her, or injure her steed.

Phillip wasn't that worried about his strength faltering against Aya's but he was surprised at how strong she was in lasting this long, with any other average soldier, they'd be meeting an early death, but Aya had to be spared and brought back to his Queen, that's all that mattered to him, once he was successful in doing that much for her, maybe Sakura would pay him more attention? Oh, how his body trembled for that sensation, but yet, he had to cope with resilience until he could. With both of their mind's drifting off into thoughts of Sakura, they failed to bring themselves to their current situation, but Phillip had pined over Sakura for a longer period of time, as he had spent more years with her than Aya had after Exavier's assassination.

Aya took her chance, and battered her blade harder on his staff, which made him stumble backwards, Aya saw another opportunity and struck a second time, this caused Phillip to fall onto his tailbone with a 'thud' noise. Aya then stabbed him in his left thigh, earning a cry of agony, how could her sword impale him? Well, Aya's sword which previously belonged to her Father, had many enchantments casted onto it during it's creation, including the ability to slay beings like vampires. It surly came in handy for encounters like these.

"Argh..! You sewer smelling harlot! How did you damage me?!"

"Because your skin isn't as thick as your ignorance, judging by that stupid handcuffs dangling from your belt, you were trying to bring me in, is that it?"

"You've got more obvious sightings than a foolish beggar."

"I'll take that as an affirmative, how much for my capture?"

"Take a guess." Phillip spat, gritting his teeth as Aya sunk her sword further into his thigh, teasingly not reaching any important veins, just enough to make him writhe around.

"I don't like cheeky bastards who aren't shit but underlings. You're blinded by them all, it's a pity a man of your pride couldn't have used a more suitable conduct when choosing the right side to work on, no matter.. I'll make you my bounty instead." Aya smirked as she knelt down, then released her sword from his flesh, only to stab him in his other leg's calf.

Phillip gasped in pain as he rolled his eyes backwards. Aya took pleasure in this display, it looked just like Diamond's eyes when she was mutated not so long ago.

"Does it hurt?~" Aya cooed in his ear, releasing the sword yet again, she was satisfied he couldn't walk no longer.

Phillip couldn't form an insult as he was whining with the amount of never before felt pain, he was always too strong to ever get injured, so when he was, his foreign approach to the unpleasant feeling, was his downfall.

Aya then proceeded to handcuff him, and hoisted his form over her shoulder, she then would strip him of all his weapons, spare his staff she playfully shoved down his shirt. She then took off running in the direction of the Under-World. Just another half hour, and she'd make it.

Copyright © 2018 by StriplessKitten

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.