"Haaaah..." Heaving a long sigh Akatsuki sinks into the bath. It was an open air bath with a great view of the moon. The air is clean, fresh, and slightly cool giving the warm bath's water even more emphasis.
It is truly a bliss sitting in a hot bath after a day's work. After carrying back the Overflowing Glacier that was the size of a house Akatsuki was given first dibs on the manor's bathhouse. The glacier was placed in the center of the manor where its water could connect to all the pipes as it flooded the inner structure. The children were overjoyed by the news of victory and of not having to buy fresh water from other Circles or go on a journey a few kilometers away to fetch buckets only to return with so little.
"So what the hell are you doing servant? Come and massage me!" "Uuuuuu..." Enduring the humiliation of being allowed to only wear a single bath towel and nothing else the white haired beauty Shirayukihime was ordered by Akatsuki to massage his shoulders.
"Ah..." Feeling at peace Akatsuki leans further into the water.
"You damn human I'll have you pay one day!" "Hahaha!" In the meantime the pitiful Shirayukihime will have to endure her humiliation as she massages Akatsuki's shoulders while giving him the death glare.
"Speaking of which..." He directs his eyes to the shadow behind the door of the open bathhouse.
"Inaba how long are you going to stand behind that door?" "I-It's improper to have a mix bath like this!" Peeking her head out of the dress room Inaba answers. Her hair was set down as well which gave off a more mature look.
"It's normal in my world." Normal, in his world back in the ancient times where men who were moral enemies would go into the bathhouse together entrusting the other to not bring any arms with them. Basically a naked consultation of mutual trust.
"Just hurry the hell up and come into the water if you don't want to be seen in a towel." "Uu..." Faster than the eye could follow Inaba splashed into the waters. Her long air was a mess as it floated on the surface of the water.
"Tch." Akatsuki clicks his tongue in displeasure as he missed it. It was then that he remembered to tell Inaba something."From now on keep your hair down." "Eh...why?" Giving off a puzzled look Inaba tilts her head.
"This hairstyle was recommended to me by a friend." "..." Did her friend have screw loose in the head? Or were they also a pervert? Thinking along those lines Akatsuki's mouth broke into a teasing grin.
"You're back is exposed for one so it makes others probably want to jump you and do some ***** and ***** that will cause *****. Unless you're asking to be ***** and then treated like a toss away doll after they've had their fun." "Wh-Wha...!?" Being pointed out so cruelly of something she has never noticed Inaba sinks her redden face into the waters and blows bubbles.
"Hmm." "Akatsuki-san is something wrong?" "Nah." He had fun today. It was the most fun he's had since the death of his foster parent. He wonders what sort of face she'd make now seeing him like this.
"Ah I wanted to ask but Akatsuki-san what was your old world like?" Inaba shoots out a random question.
"Hm?" "!!!" Shirayukihime's eyes shined. Could this be her chance to get some dirt on this monster?
"It wasn't really anything too special. Still want to know?" "Yes, yes!" With the excited face of a child in anticipation Inaba swims closer.
"Hmm where to start I wonder..." Putting his thoughts together Akatsuki begins his story:
As two young couple walked down the snow paved parkway road hand in hand they turned to face each other.
"I love you." The boy confessed his love to the girl. Fidgeting from happiness the girl nods and answers back.
"I love you too." They closed the distance between themselves, so close that they could feel each other's breaths.
Drawing their faces closer and further and were about to meet the other's wet lips they stopped as a shadow looms over them.
"What?" They looked up and are greeted to the face of a giant monster!
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaawr!" It roars and tramples them underneath its foot smearing their blood on the stone walk. The monster didn't know from where it had come from or for what purpose he served. All he knew was that he was angry and wanted everything destroyed. Not even the most powerful military artillery could strike the beast down till finally they could do nothing but utter its name, Kurogami Akatsuki!
"Wait, wait! What is up with that story!? It has nothing to do with your past at all!" Inaba finally speaks up as she listens to Akatsuki's dramatic story playing on the love of two lovers.
"Eeeeeh... I was just getting to the good part..." "I don't care! If you're not going to tell us about your past then don't bother!" "Tch." This time it was Shirayukihime who clicked her tongue clearly in disappointment of not being able to get any dirt on Akatsuki who was leisurely sitting in the hot bath water. She has long since stopped massaging his shoulders as he began recounting that ridiculous story.
What kind of sense of humor did this boy have? Using a monster the size of a mammoth to squash two loving couples just after they had confessed their love for the other!? Who else out there could be so cruel so as to do that? "You two are just spoilsports." Even worse is that he didn't feel sorry for the two lovers in his story and merely laughed it off as if they are simple side characters. Which well they were in Akatsuki's eyes...
"Anyways I'm out." Akatsuki got up and out of the bath. Of course his crouch is covered by a towel as he walked out.
"*Sigh*" Inaba heaves a heavy sigh as Akatsuki shut the door to the bath.
"That damn kid..." "Akatsuki-san is a problem child even back in his world..." And it didn't seem like he'll ever change that trouble making personality.
"But..." They couldn't help but feel some sense of respect for that monster in human skin. After that game against Shirayukihime was over they found out that Akatsuki had destroyed the Divine Armament that calls forth King Arthur to service. The golden dagger that resurfaced from the marble stone floor snapped into two as it dissolved into particles of light afterwards. Inaba who had summoned Akatsuki could only feel a chill run down her spine seeing the strength possessed by the strongest troublemaker. Shirayukihime who was absolutely terrified during the conflict could only hang her jaw loose as she lost a prized possession."The power to shatter a Divine Armament." Was one in a million. The rank of Shirayukihime's Armament was about star class. The King Arthur replica armor who Shirayukihime had summoned may not have had its own Divine Armament but it was still a star class spirit that possessed might that is far higher than average.
"Talking about it will only give us a headache." What's hard to understand is hard to understand. But in Akatsuki's case he was just an unknown that didn't seem to fit into any logic or equation. "Shirayuki-san will be staying in this Circle correct?" "What choice do I have? I lost..." Shirayukihime hung her head down. After losing to Akatsuki to a final game her own Circle was dissolved. Which for better or for worse may have been a good thing in some sense.
Shirayukihime was the sole member of her Circle after all as all her fellow members left.
"I feel like that kid's seen through me completely." Uncovering her true identity to be that of the wicked queen and then challenging her to a final game to acquire her person. It all felt so calculated as everything went in the flow of Akatsuki's scheme. In the end he had the face of an accomplished prankster as he laughed about Shirayukihime's situation.
"Ugh just recalling that damn arrogant smile he had on his face then irritates me..." "Ahaha..."
But because of that this nameless Circle now has a new player that could play in future games.
"One of these days I'll definitely beat him in a game." "I'm grateful for Shirayuki-san joining our Circle though." She has already heard of this Circle's circumstances. It was a Circle that wanted to bring back its former glory. Something that Shirayukihime had once tried to do for the Circle she belonged to.
However that dream was long since tossed away. She formally gave it up when she joined this Circle.
"What will you do now though?" They now had a source of water. What was next?
"Ah!" After if just realizing something Inaba raises her voice.
"Shirayuki-san, Shirayuki-san!" Her eyes were shining as approached Shirayukihime.
"Wh-What?" "This is a girl's talk isn't it?" "Eh?" With no other guy around it may as well be. It must have been so long since Inaba has had someone that she could talk to in this Circle as the other members were children. "I suppose. "Revealing a gentle smile Shirayukihime gave off the air of a real princess.
"Then let's talk Inaba-san." "Yes~!" "Heh looks like they're having fun." Akatsuki who stayed outside of the open air bath could hear the two girls inside talking happily about topics of no interest to him as a boy. He was given a new set of clothes for easier movement, a tank top and a slippery pair of pants. He still wore his sneakers though.
"Now then shall we hunt?" He gave off a scary look in his eyes as he peers into the corner of the hall. It's been bothering him for a while but this manor felt a little bit off. Hostility is somewhere in this manor. No not from the children. Rather the children probably could feel it as well. Their stiff movements gave away their nervousness. What was it that they were afraid of?
"The night's still young so play with me till I'm asleep intruder." He walked off towards the left hall.