Two days before the summer break began, nothing unexpected had happened in Yukino and Kaoru's lives as students at Hoshi High School. The day after Lucero obtained her new identity, school life began with her presentation to the group without major setback, as normal as it could be for any girl. In the same way, the feeling of hostility that they both perceived the moment they set foot in the school seemed to have disappeared as if nothing had happened. Yukino attributed this to the fact that they were possibly receiving help from the student council president, so she let go of any bad feeling about the seemingly peaceful environment.
Just one hour before the end of the last tutoring period, the classroom speaker sounded issuing a statement. Both Miss Yukino and Miss Kaoru were to report to the principal's office immediately to discuss an issue that she indicated was highly sensitive.
There was not a single murmur in the classroom, but a few sideways glances fell especially on Yukino. Who standing up, she was accompanied by Kaoru heading to the principal's office. Both of them already knew perfectly the kind of volatile temperament that Loa had, so they were aware that they had to keep their guard up every time they encountered her. Even though she was supposed to be a common ally herself, the announcement she issued over the audio system had left them thinking very seriously.
"Miss Yukino and companion, please come in and take a seat" - Unexpectedly, Hanabi opened the door for them in a way that was too polite and suspicious, something to be surprised about due to the circumstances in which they had met for the first time.
Upon entering the office, Yukino's eyes were captivated by a crystal orb that refracted the sunlight that came through the office window. That contraption was not in his previous visit and due to the conditions of the scene it stood out too much to go unnoticed.
As soon as they sat down, Hanabi opened her desk drawer and pulled out a file folder on Hokkaido University letterhead. Yukino remembered that Hokkaido was an island in the north of Japan that had a rich diversity of flora and historical elements for which she at some time was attracted in her past life.
"Freyja has given me precise instructions as to what I should do with you Miss Yukino. As you remembered from our initial meeting, I mentioned that only one guardian was allowed per city. I must admit that at first I saw you as one. upstart who came to displace me from my throne ... that is, area. But knowing the circumstances behind your arrival, I do not see the need to continue with our differences. " - The smile on Hanabi's face was too transparent to reveal her true feelings, her friendly terms were nothing further from the truth.
For her, Yukino represented all that she despised from the depths of her being, even as someone so weak should be in her presence or deign to speak to him. But for the sake of preserving her hegemony, she was willing to be hypocritical in order to soon end what was a bad taste in her mouth.
It was then that she began to raise the reason for her call to her office: That crystal orb was not a mere expensive ornament that a rich man would have to distract himself. In itself it was a compact dimension, oblivious to the flow of time and space where human beings find ourselves. Hanabi had created her some time ago as a training medium isolated from the outside in order to overcome the limits of her latent ability, but due to her own design she was unable to succeed in the process.
On the day of the closing ceremony of the course, Yukino was to appear before Hanabi in private to begin a comprehensive training, the purpose of which was to help him control her latent powers in the shortest possible time before her departure to Hokkaido in January 2008. next year.
Even though she tried with all her might, Kaoru couldn't hide a certain concern in her eyes about the plan that Hanabi had in hand for Yukino. Trying to cope with the stress she felt, she squeezed the hem of her skirt with all her might in an attempt to control that anxiety attack.
Meanwhile, Yukino was still concentrating on that file folder on the table. Hoshi Institute was a nationally prestigious private school from which many prominent businessmen and women were known to have graduated. But even with that degree of influence, she could not skip the pre-selective entrance exams in a public school. How was it possible that Hanabi had even managed to make an admission file even outside of the designated times?
"I know what you are thinking, it is enough for me to see those beautiful blue eyes to realize that you consider that there is a trick in all this. I will be frank, that is one of the things that I hate the most about your miserable being, but at the same time It makes me turn on in some way. " - Taking a candy from the candy box that he had on his table while he slowly placed it on his tongue, I explain that Loa are distributed throughout the world in such a way that they can protect a considerable extension of territory with the least amount of elements possible.
In the case of Japan, because it is a relatively small country compared to others, the Loa were distributed by each city, even encompassing the lands of other prefectures. Hokkaido already had a Loa but because he was seriously injured a couple of months ago, he was without enough capacity to face greater threats on his own.
Ending that conversation, Yukino and Kaoru stood with a slight bow to leave the office. While Kaoru watched from the corner of her eye as Hanabi said goodbye to her with a subtle gesture of her right hand while she had her gaze fixed on Yukino, in a really intimidating way.
"There is still one hour of study session left, but I don't think we should go back to the classroom Kaoru yet. We need to talk about this in a place where no one can see or hear us" - Nodding her head, Kaouru started with Yukino raising the stairs to the roof of the building.
The air was slightly cool, just the light of the sunset sun leaving a slight mark of red tones on the cloudy horizon that contrasted with a part of the blue sky. Yukino's long hair swayed with the beat of the wind as he leaned his back against the wall as he took out the cigarettes he had previously stolen.
"What do you think your Lucero? You know her better than I do, I even bet a finger of my right hand that you had to do something with her assignment to this place" - Smiling while taking a puff on the cigarette, Yukino looks at that flushed face that revealed everything that was going through her mind like an open book.
Kaoru mentioned that she knew about the existence of orbs or pocket dimensions, only some Loa with great skill and control of their spiritual level were able to create them through the flow of life. And indeed, it would be helpful if Hanabi offered to occupy her he should do so. That there was nothing to fear since although it was true that this woman always hid ulterior motives with her actions, she would not harm him if she did not obtain a benefit in the process.
And in this case the benefit she obtained was that by leaving for Hokkaido, she Freyja would no longer get her hands on matters involving the territory of Tokyo.
Yukino's thoughts were lost with her gaze fixed on the traces of cigarette smoke that she exhaled while she had her face turned to the sky. She had little or no opportunity to train her new powers since the abandoned building incident, that offer was very convenient now that she knew what Freyja had in mind regarding how she would use it in the immediate future.
For a moment Kaoru was captivated by Yukino's passable silhouette and taciturn face, the reddish glow of the sky was clearly appreciated in the radiance of her pale skin, adorned by that sea of black hair that swayed with the wind like the tree branches. In her heart he felt that sensation that she experienced that time in the hospital room, her palpitations seemed to accelerate and suddenly her face became completely flushed when her gazes met.
"Are you feeling okay Kaoru? You look like you are going to catch a cold" - With a gentle movement Yukino placed her hand on Kaoru's forehead as she brought her face to forehead as she smiled at him with warm sweetness. She felt that at any moment her heart would stop for that sensation, while her senses were intoxicated by the aroma of the violet perfume that still gave off Yukino's neck.
That very personal moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the door opening at the side of them. Asami, the class representative, had been looking for the two of them throughout the building, but at last that she had found them, she felt a bit of shame, raising her hand to her face, hiding her eyes at that scene, while a little stuttered, she said "The girls from the class they plan to go to karaoke as soon as we leave and they asked me to invite them too. "
Quickly escaping as she slammed the door, she elicited a laugh from Yukino while Kaoru got mad at her as she slapped her on the chest to make her stop teasing her.
"When you put your mind to it, you are pretty. Did you know that, Lucero?" - As she stroked her head, Yukino stubbed out his cigarette on the rooftop floor. Both of them prepared to go down to the living room to collect their things and get ready to attend that invitation. Yukino thought it was the perfect opportunity to relax before it was time to start training, as well as a way for Kaoru to better blend in with the human environment.
When they reached the front door, they watched as a limousine pulled up in front. A bodyguard of the Kojima family got out of the front seat while carefully observing the surroundings, warning on his intercom that the perimeter was safe.
The firm and resounding footsteps down the deserted corridor were heard closer and closer, accompanied by a series of murmurs of what sounded like the gossip of young people. "Wow, it seems that you accepted the invitation my dear Yukino" - Akane subtly held Kaoru's shoulder, the pressure of her fingertips made her feel self-conscious at the sudden show of affection as she was watched carefully by a surprised Yukino, who was still wondering how she had gained so much confidence to approach Kaoru like this.
Bowing her head slightly, Akane directed the girls present to get into the vehicle that was arranged to escort them to the Kojima mansion. It was not surprising that the karaoke party was within the confines of the mansion since she was the daughter of a prominent politician who had known deep enmity throughout her career.
During the journey the girls began to get in the mood, taking off their modesty facade and showing their true colors. A life of luxury without limitations and with complacent parents was fertile ground for rebellious attitudes to grow in those hearts, taking them to points of no return or appreciation for the moral sense.
"Why are you so pale? Do you need some fresh air Yukino?" - Akane took the intercom from the passenger cabin to order the driver to open the sunroof, as she stood up holding Yukino's hand making her also stick her back through the roof of the limousine.
The draft of air that was generated by the speed of the vehicle barely allowed her to keep her eyes open. It was refreshing in a way, but it made it difficult for her to hold her breath in the dizzying speed of the wind. Turning her face a little, she could see that the neon lights looked like a dazzling sight on Akane's skin.
Her gaze focused for a moment on those full lips that had a subtle sheen of peach balm, she felt dizzy and ecstatic without knowing in a rational way what the state she was experiencing was due to. The only conclusion that she could reach is that within the memories that lay in the subconscious of Yukino's body, they were responsible for that reaction that she experienced.
A biochemical trigger perhaps as occurred in the case of cigarettes, there was a possibility at that point since Adam recalled that he once read that patients with amnesia can experience involuntary memory episodes due to cellular memory.
"I think someone is on the moon!" Smiling almost from ear to ear, Akane raised her voice so that she could hear it amid the violent rush of the wind. Bringing his lips to Yukino's ear, he gently rested them on his lobe emitting a whisper: "I hope you have not forgotten what day it is today" - Saying these words he licked his ear with the tip of his tongue and then gave him a light bite which caused Yukino to fall abruptly into the car seat with her face completely red.
The guests at the party thought that she had hyperventilated after taking her back outside so they did not even give it much importance and continued with her business. Only Kaoru was worried about Yukino's condition, only she knew the secret that she resided in her body and the risk that she could experience if her mind got out of control.
As they reached the mansion grounds, an iron gate with gold decorative motifs loomed in front of the limousine as the chauffeur reported on the radio that Miss Kojima had just arrived.
A screeching crash of metal was heard as that great gate began to open wide to allow the vehicle to pass. Looking out the car windows, the road was adorned with marble statues and busts, interspersed with rose bushes that let out an intoxicating fragrance in the night breeze.
At the front door of the mansion ten servants stood reverently from side to side to greet the guests of Miss Kojima, who with a haughty pose walked confidently as if she were a Victorian aristocrat.
"My lady, everything is arranged as requested in the recreation room on the second floor" - A maiden with blond hair adorned by shoulder-length curls bowed before Akane in complete submission, who with a wicked smile stroked that abundant hair at the same time. that gave him little tugs that made the maid escape small moans.
Seeing that, the guests rejoiced at that display of humiliation, being a surprise for Yukino that she could not reconcile the kind and gentle figure that she demonstrated at school, against the dominatrix pose that she revealed to her now.
Upon reaching the recreation room, Kaoru and Yukino saw a table laden with exquisite snacks and drinks set up for a celebration. That day was the eighteenth birthday of the young mistress of that mansion, who she exclusively asked her father to allow her to celebrate in private with her closest circle of friends.
Being a wealthy girl and because of the position of her father, she lived repressed from many experiences typical of a middle-class adolescent that she in a certain way wanted to experience. One of them was to go with her friends to karaoke and have fun quietly, but that was impossible to do in a public environment. Being the daughter of a politician, all her eyes were on her and they would seize any opportunity to make a dent in her career, even if they had to resort to hurting her daughter.
"A caged canary" - Was what Yukino thought as she contemplated Akane while she laughed when she heard her friends singing out of tune the music tracks that she was choosing for them. She, in a way, could understand the reason for her despotic treatment with the servants that she was at her disposal: they were jealousy.
The jealousy of a bird with a magnificent caged plumage that she could only contemplate as the other birds with brown plumages flew free. She had it all, but at the same time she was empty. For a moment she felt something of compassion in her heart that displaced the previous feeling of surprise that she experienced at the entrance of the mansion.
"Miss Yamaguchi, do you want some more juice?" Asumi held up a plastic bottle in front of Yukino as she extended her glass in approval. At that moment, she sincerely wanted to celebrate and give Akane what she was looking for so much. A healthy coexistence typical of girls her age.
"Yukino, I think I feel a little tired" - Subtly pulling the sleeve of Yukino's blouse, Kaoru rubbed her eyes delicately letting him know that she was sleepy. So she asked the hostess to allow her to take her to a comfortable place to rest.
Akane set the song selection tablet on the table and asked that the other guests continue to have fun while she returned. Accompanying the two of them to one of the guest rooms so that she could rest for a moment, she began to feel a slight attack of anxiety in her chest as she stared at Yukino's back. Her long black hair down to her waist captivated him to the rhythm of the movement of her hips; she wanted her, it was that feeling she had in mind from the first time she saw her in high school.
But she was unaware that the Yukino she knew had died and that she was just a container for Adam's soul. All the experiences that they lived in her early youth were only memories in the oblivion of death, there was nothing since she united her without knowing it.
As soon as they laid Kaoru on the bed and closed the door to the room, Akane couldn't resist anymore and pinned Yukino against the hallway wall. Her eyes had met at that moment, losing her gaze in the depth of those blue eyes that she so longed to be looked at.
"There are so many things I would like to do to you right now, it's been a long time since we grew apart when you found out that I started dating Hiro. But I can't hold back anymore, I need you by my side." - Akane held tightly with her right arm around her waist to Yukino, while with her left hand she caressed the nape of her neck as he merged with her in a passionate kiss.
It was then that a series of memories began to come to Yukino's mind as if it were the flow of a river that has lost its course in a violent way, flooding everything. They were lovers, at least that's what Adan contemplated in the vivid memories that came from the late Yukino.
Distant in the summer of a ten-year childhood, under the shade of a cherry tree that dropped the delicate petals of her. The figure of those children kissing was clearer than the crystalline water of a spring.
When Akane's father entered politics, he had enough charisma to gain popularity with the electorate, but one thing that is true in the world of politics is that money is the fuel of any campaign. Without it, however charisma the candidate may have, he is completely sure that he will be crushed by his contenders. It was then that he met Chief Hayate, a forward-thinking man who believed that the future of the Yakuza lay in pulling the strings of politics rather than the use of weapons.
Being an orphan of a mother, she Akane was constantly drawn into the meetings that her father held with his sponsors. Who, out of fear that her only daughter would be a victim of her because of her actions, dressed her as a man so that she would pass incognito when she was at her side.
Being just a child, being stripped of her femininity was a serious trauma to her mind and heart. While the other girls could wear her long hair and wear pretty clothes, she constantly had to act like she was a boy.
But one afternoon in August, her whole world took an unexpected turn that completely refreshed her in her already shriveled little heart. Near a koi fish pond, a small, fragile figure with abundant black hair squatted to feed the fish while she held a straw hat adorned with a red ribbon.
The evening breeze whistled through the tree branches as they made their hair billow out like the buds in a hay field. Conforming to looking at her from a distance, there was the spitting image of what she wanted to be. A complete admiration grew deep in her heart as she was enraptured by that beautiful angel that she had before her eyes.
It was then that due to fate that hat flew to Akane's feet, causing that girl to turn to where she was. He felt her hands sweat and her heart pounding as she saw a beautiful face with snow-white skin revealed before her, shining with the rays of the sun. A pair of sapphire eyes adorned the figure that looked like a porcelain doll fixed firmly on her as she took bouncing steps as she approached.
"Are you alone? Did you get lost?" - With the innocence of childhood, Yukino worried about that unexpected visitor who was in front of her. Who blushed by that meeting of her covered her face with her hat while she handed it to him in her hands.
Every time there was a business meeting, Akane took advantage of meeting Yukino and playing with her like any girl her age would. But inside her heart an indescribable feeling grew and she could not reconcile it with the fact of a mere friendship.
It was then that one morning under the cool shade of a cherry tree both girls sat down for a picnic. Eagerly Yukino laid an embroidered blanket and a basket of snacks on the grass, while Akane cut some wildflowers to surprise her.
Hours passed between innocent talk about how their school days had been and how many friends they had, which anime characters they found funny, and their dreams for the future. But that innocence was interrupted with a single phrase that came from Yukino's lips "if you were a boy I would like to be your girlfriend"
It was like a glass breaking inside Akane's chest, the feelings that she had experienced with confusion now taking the form that she felt was the right one. She had fallen in love with that girl, she did not see her only as a friend of hers. So that one sentence she felt made her world collapse.
It was like this that she took courage, holding Yukino by her sides and supporting her against the cherry tree while her breath shook and a cold sweat ran down her spine. Even though she was so young, she knew what she wanted and what her feelings were towards Yukino, so she would not give up without confessing what was inside of her.
"What if I'm a girl! Do you need me to be a boy so that you can love me the way I feel I do !?" - Tears flowed nonstop from Akane's eyes, her lips trembled as she experienced the feeling of confessing her love at the risk of not being reciprocated. That trembling was felt in her hands, which quickly stopped when she felt Yukino's soft and gentle hands on hers.
Her heart began to experience a warm sense of peace that she hadn't felt in a long time. Since the death of her mother, Akane only felt the cold distance that her father had on her; painful memories of indifference, which in a single instant fell before beautiful blue eyes that were getting closer and closer to hers. It was in just an instant that she seemed frozen in time, when Yukino's lips sought Akane's, melting into a loving kiss.
"If it doesn't matter to you that I'm a girl, it doesn't matter to me that you are either" - As if a rock was breaking from its core, that's how all the pain that Akane had brought with her was at that moment. From that moment on, her relationship grew behind the backs of both families. Since they would never approve of the scandal that this supposed for them.
All the memories began to blur in a single instant, leaving only the image of the day they broke off the relationship due to her marriage arrangement with the young master Hiro. The image of a room with two souls in conflict, berating each other for lying about it.
Yukino could bear the fact that Akane was looking for someone besides her, she could accept that her heart belonged to someone else. But she could not bear that in her selfishness Akane dragged her down to the level of a lover behind Hiro's back. All this happened in the Yamaguchi mansion, when there was no one else in the house.
It was then that Yukino, with a broken heart, decided to rent an apartment to avoid meeting Hiro and Akane in a situation where she could not contain her jealousy. She wanted to be alone, cut off from everything and everyone, disappointed in trusting in love.
All that managed to overwhelm Adam, who was trying to keep his mind clear about the situation of harassment that he was feeling before Akane. Yukino's memories were able to clarify the doubts I experience while traveling in the limousine, to the point that I take one of Akane's arms exclaiming: "It's easy for you to say that you need me by your side, but the moment I need you to be there you turned your back on me and left with my cousin, instead of challenging your father you preferred the comfortable position of the obedient girl just like that day we met "
The words that Adam was expressing at that moment as Yukino, penetrated the depths of Akane's being. The strong and dominating student council president was devastated inside with the sharp dagger that had been driven into her heart.
With a serene step Yukino made her way down the corridor, only turning sideways towards where Akane was with a look of contempt. For Adam what Yukino had suffered due to Akane's deception was something he felt sympathy for. For in her past life she was the object of the same cruel disappointment.
"What are you waiting for? Let's keep the facade as good ladies of high society? Let's not make scenes for something that is already in the past" - Akane gnashed her teeth as she clenched her fists in anger, the woman for whom her desire was ignited A few minutes ago he was now the subject of all his anger. Her pride hurt by her was stronger than the love she ever felt for her, so much so that thinking to herself she swore she would make Yukino's life hell.
The evening passed for a few more hours with a tense peace, the jovial atmosphere became heavy to the point that each of the guests was getting ready to leave immediately. A sleepy Kaoru and a disappointed Yukino left the Kojima mansion with a bad taste in their mouths. Saying goodbye to her just out of formality with an expression of anger in her eyes, Akane started to return to her chambers, ordering her maids to undress him from her and lie down next to her while she fell asleep. she.
Entering her lethargy, she meditated on a phrase of heartbreak that a playwright wrote around the seventeenth century: "Heaven knows no anger like that of love turned into spite, nor hell fury like that of a despised woman"
With a mean smile on her lips, Akane fell into a deep sleep, scheming in her dreams what revenge would be like that would completely take Yukino's heart away.