'?! He is able to keep with me despite me choosing difficult terrain and annoying obstacles?!' The woman thought with a shocked expression while occasionally glancing behind her just to see Akashi slowly getting near her. It would only take some time before he would catch up to her if she wouldn't have such a big head start at the beginning, she would have already been caught.
"Fireplace, is it? I don't mind going with you." Akashi shouted at her so she could hear him.
"You are real gentleman for wanting to escort me but I don't usually invite guys I have just met into my house!" She replied while changing her strategy from running on the roofs to running among the people walking on the streets.
"No need to invite me in, I am content with waiting outside. You still have some time to think about it before I will catch you and I will no longer feel the obligation to hear you out first!" Akashi shouted with a small smile across his face, he was quite enjoying this little tag game. However, he was taking this so lightly just because he knew that she had no bad intentions towards those kids. Also, he would be lying if he would say that she doesn't intrigue him, mostly the tool that enables her to transform partly into a beast.
'...He is telling the truth. He is gradually getting closer to me despite me having an advantage in overcoming tricky obstacles by using all 4 of my limbs together with claws. Wherever there is some time without any obstacle, he closes in on me by a lot. I have no chance of getting away from the Capital with him on my back. Neither I can lead him to our hideout inside the Capital just to have some chance in ambushing him with traps.' The woman thought with an annoyed expression as she slowly began to hate the man running after her due to him concerning her like this. She wasn't a big fan of this game. She liked chasing her pray and ambushing it but she totally hated if the roles were reversed which was happening right now.
"Grrr, I hate your guts! Catch me if you can and I will talk!" She shouted back while doing zig-zags on the streets full of people. She was leaning forward, trying to keep her hidden inside the crowd.
'She is smart, if I was using my sight as my main sense, I would eventually lose her inside that crowd of people. Unfortunately for her, I am already locked on her, unless she will run more than 50 meters away from me, I will always be able to tell where she is hiding.' Akashi thought with a small smile and jumped up back on the roofs to get better "sight" or at least make her think like that.
The woman who saw that used her chance to blend in with the crowd and started slowly walking in the direction from where she just came from, trying to fool Akashi.
'Damn, even if I am able to see outlines of things and people, there is simply too many to recognize which person is that woman. I would have really lost her if I was only relying on my sight alone.' Akashi thought with a smile while observing the crowd at the front while the woman was already behind. When she finally disappeared behind the corner leading to the dark alley, Akashi stopped looking at the crowd and slowly went after her while she had no idea about this.
"*sigh* This guy gave me quite a scare, I have to report this to the boss" The woman muttered in a low voice while stretching her back and arms.
When she was at her most vulnerable moment, she felt something nearing her shoulder, making her eyes wide open in shock. She quickly reacted and caught Akashi's hand while throwing him over her shoulder.
"?!" She stared in shock at Akashi who performed a few flips in midair to gain balance and then landed on the ground unharmed.
'I intended to break his arm or even tear it off! This guy's physical capabilities aren't definitely any weaker than Bulat's!' Tho woman thought while observing Akashi's movements with a cautious expression.
"Tag, you are 'it'." Akashi said to ease a mood by a bit. He just wanted to know who she is working for, although he already had some guesses in mind.
"...*sigh* What do you want?" The woman sighed and asked while keeping her defensive pose. She was aware that she wouldn't get another chance in running away and she still wanted to try her luck by talking since she felt how Akashi is dangerous. If she had to abide by her senses, she probably has only 10% of getting alive from the fight with him and her senses are very good including her 6th sense.
"Why were you following me and my carriage? Also, it would help if you could tell me your name but if you are planning on giving me a fake one, don't even bother." Akashi asked as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded.
"Those kids...Are you a human trafficker?" She didn't like this feeling of helplessness so she replied with her own question instead of just obediently answering.
"? Do you think that any random human trafficker is as strong as me? If I needed money there are many other ways how to make them other than transporting annoying kids." Akashi asked with a confused expression. He was aware that she didn't want to obediently answer so he decided to give her some space. If she wouldn't talk even then, he would be forced to use other means.
"Well, I certainly don't hope so... You call them annoying, so where are you taking them and why bother?" She asked with a small smile while scratching back of her head.
"Ehm, have we forgotten who is asking questions here, lion girl? Don't be too greedy after getting one slice of the cake. Now, tell me why you were following me..." Akashi replied with a harsher tone.
"I was curious about where are you taking those kids. Isn't that obvious?" She replied with an innocent smile.
"If you are so curious, I can take you together with them to my house" Akashi replied with folded arms.
"I see...Well, I am not that type of girl, sorry handsome." She said with a teasing tone while turning Akashi's "offer" down.
"I take it that you are with Najenda, right?" Akashi decided to stop this little act between them and went straight to his goal.
"?! Who?" Her eyes widened for split second but then confused expression appeared on her face. She was able to cover it very well but she couldn't hide the increase of her heartbeat from Akashi.
"...Do you know what's the biggest obstacle in improving all of your senses?" Akashi asked after looking at her for a moment without saying anything.
"..." She didn't answer and just continued cautiously observing Akashi.
"Your eyes, for me you see, the strongest sense is sight. Most people believe only in things they can see with their own eyes, in a fight if their opponent just suddenly disappears, they are instantly shocked trying to find them with their eyes instead of focusing on smelling or hearing their enemy. Why? Because sight is much stronger than smell and hearing, it has a wide field of view, being able to see a lot of things at the same time which is very convenient but it can also distract people. Just a few people can use all of their senses at the same time in the battle but those who can are very seasoned warriors that won't be surprised by any moves their opponents will make." Akashi explained with a content smile.
'...I already guessed that he isn't blind and that's the sole reason why I even tried to mask my shocked expression despite him wearing a blindfold, unfortunately, the idea of him using that blindfold only to train his other senses never crossed my mind. He must have heard an increase of my previously stable heartbeat. If I wouldn't have chosen such a quiet alley, I would have been able to fool him. Tsk!' The woman was a little shocked by how much she failed here.
"On which side are you?" She suddenly asked while looking at Akashi with furrowed brows.
"None, I am on my side, on my family's side. People are selfish creatures that usually only think about themselves and their close people. But you can say 'Hi' to Najenda for me. Now, off with you before I reconsider my opinion of having a lion on dinner. Also, don't bother me anymore." Akashi said and nodded his head towards the lively street.
"Grrr" She grunted but still turned around while slowly leaving the alley.
'To think he would just let me off like this...and I was already prepared for a tough fight...' She thought but before she left the alley, she suddenly stopped in her steps and glanced back at Akashi.
"Name's Leone and haven't you left those kids alone? Shouldn't you go back fast?" She suddenly introduced herself and asked with a worried tone. She completely forgot about those kids because of that entire chase.
"I guess you need to know my name if you are to say 'hi' for me to Najenda. I am Akashi, nice to meet you. And don't worry about those kids, I have my ways, I wouldn't bother extending this useless chase if I had to leave them unguarded." Akashi replied with a slightly provoking smirk.
"...Do as you see fit." She said and entered the main street, blending in with the crowd.
'What the hell was that supposed to mean? "Extending useless chase"? Anyway, his name sounds familiar, I just can't put my finger on it. I will just ask the boss after I return but I still better check on those kids. However, he doesn't look or feel like a bad person.' Leone thought with a slightly curious expression while trying to recall any memories tied with the name Akashi but she gave up after a while. She quickly went back to the location where the carriage with kids was left.
.
.
.
*sigh* 'Looks like they are alright. I can feel...some things inside that carriage together with those kids. It feels like danger beast presence but it doesn't make any sense since I would have already smelled blood or feel fear from those kids, weird. Anyway, they are alright and I already learned my lesson so I won't follow them and just decide to trust that man named Akashi. He called them annoying but there was a speck of tenderness in his voice so I can tell that he isn't like those nobles who try to lure kids in with their kind looking faces just to tear those faces off to reveal their fangs.' Leone thought with a small satisfied smile when she arrived at the same roof where Akashi found her and when she discovered that all kids are safe.
'Anyway, Akashi...Akashi. Haven't boss mentioned that name a few times? Hmm, well, whatever. The night is still young so I will go for a few more drinks before returning to hideout!' Leone stretched her back a few times while throwing other worries aside. The cat smile instantly appeared on her face when she thought of more beer.
She still had no idea that once she would return and report this to Najenda, she would be reprimanded for creating an unnecessary dispute with Akashi without any provocation from the other side.