Blood rained on Akira, painting him red. Kurai was enveloped by an invisible layer that protected her from everything including the bloody rain, which would have made her puke if her gaze wasn't focused on her savior.
She just stared at Akira with a wide open mouth. It was clear that he had become her hero.
He then proceeded to cleanse himself and the environment from all the blood, seeing so many red liquids could traumatize little Kurai.
With no other threat around, Akira approached Kurai gently as to not scare her or be too brusque.
"Are you all right?" He asked, bending his knees and asking for her well-being.
"I-I'm fine..." She mumbled, still staring at Akira with a fascinated expression and a shock on her mouth.
"Those were the Hero Faction. From your looks, you're a Kitsune. What's your name?" Akira asked her.
"K-Kurai..." She mumbled, with bright eyes staring ay Akira.
Looking around, Akira asked one more time, "Nice to meet you Kurai. Where is your mother?"
It took Kurai a few seconds before replying, "M-Mother, Kyuumi, she must dead of worry.... I-I was abducted..." She said.
"S-Sorry for not introducing myself! My name is Kurai, my mother is Kyuumi, she's the sister of Lady Yasaka, the princess of the Yookais..." Kurai said.
Akira rose an eyebrow in surprise, he did not remember Yasaka having any siblings. This must be a plot of this AU. So Kurai's mother is actually Yasaka's sister.
"I see..." Akira said.
"But... Who are you?... Why did you save me when we don't know each other...?" Kurai asked with uncertainty.
"Oh, right. My name is Akira. But don't be scared, I just happen to be passing when I saw those bastards annoying you. Also, i couldn't just let you on your own, right?" He spoke, to which Kurai gave a nod.
Akira head patted Kurai which made her mumble sounds of satisfaction and happiness, her expression turned into a more gleamy moud. He smiled when he saw that she was feeling all right.
――――――
Departing from that dark alley, Akira walked Kurai back to her home in Kyoto while lifting her on his shoulders.
Those jerks really abused her, Akira had to clean her outfit which was a long kimono and buy her food which liked.
Kurai was very happy by the night, they had such a good time that it flew without them noticing. At night, Akira brought her back to her faction in the West of Kyoto.
Once her mother heard about her daughter's return, she rushed towards her position. "KUURAIII!!!!" Kyuumi rushed towards her daughter, lifting her hands in a big hug.
Letting Kurai back on the ground, the little Kitsune jumped on her mother and they hugged tightly celebrating their reunion. Kyuumi shed to tears, finally getting her daughter back after she had been abducted by the jerks of the Hero Faction.
Kyuumi caressed Kurai's hair and cried tears of joy, feeling her only daughter's warmth once again.
But as the mother moved her vision by a few degrees, her gaze fell upon Akira, also know as, the one who brought up extinction to the Greeks, the biblical god and the four maous.
Her eyes darkened in shock and she almost screamed in fear, Akira's reputation was catastrophic and Kyuumi was unfortunately one of the few lucky people who got to see Akira's appearance.
But then, Kurai pulled her mother's kimono in order to grab her attention. Kyuumi noticed that her daughter was blushing in happiness, smiling and giggling.
"Mother! I had the best day with Akira today! We went for a walk, we ate good food— oh! and, and we went for a walk again~!" She said happily.
"He— He even cleaned my clothes hehehe~" She giggled.
Akira smiled after hearing Kurai, he took a bit of pride in this achievement. Kyuumi rose her eyebrow after hearing Kurai.
"I-Is that so dear? Did Lord Akira take good care of you...?" She asked.
Kurai nodded happily in response. Kyuumi looked back at Akira but with a different mindset this time. She kneeled in front of him and even forcibly pulled Kurai so she could kneel, "Woaha!" Kurai mumbled surprisingly.
"Th-Thank you so much for your help, Lord Akira! I am forever in your debt for saving my daughter from the hero faction!" Kyuumi yelled in respect.
Seeing what was happening, Kurai understood that this kind person was someone of high status. This was the first time she'd see her mother so tense and serious.
"T-Thank you for saving me Akira..." Kurai thanked her savior.
"Well I'm glad I was of help" Akira said. Approaching Kurai then tickling her chin, "Hahaha~" She laughed.
Kyuumi was shocked after seeing such a wholesome sight. Was the guy truly the one who brought up the demise to so many ?
"I couldn't just let jerks abuse little Kurai without doing a thing~..." He said while tickling Kurai's chin.
The little Kitsune lifted her hands up hugged him tightly, blushing bitterly and smiling, the boy brought her up a type of comfort and safety she had never felt before. He may be reputed for being a mindless beast but to her he was an icon.
"I love you Akira~" She said while closing her eyes and enjoying the hug.
"K-Kurai!—" Kyuumi said, alerted. She wasn't supposed to say such things to him.
"Hahaha silly Kurai~" Akira replied, not taking her seriously.
It was obvious that he wasn't taking her seriously, who would, coming from a child. She pouted while being flustered.
"KYUUMI!" Shouted a smooth voice which just arrived to the scene. Another female Kitsune, this latter ressembled Kyuumi alot. A young woman with a voluptuous figure and very long blonde hair with matching eyes and delicate facial features.
"Y-Yasaka! My K-Kurai is back!!" Kyuumi cried in happiness once again.
Hearing the name Yasaka, Akira turned to see the princess of the Yookais coming their direction, however Yasaka seemed a lot younger compared to the anime version. Well it was to be expected since this was happening almost five hundred years before canon. Now, she looked to be in her very first twentieth year, in human age.
Stopping in front of them, Yasaka immediately noticed Akira. It sent her a shiver to see the almighty dragon so close to them, but ignoring that, she sighed in relief to see her sister finally smiling again.
"So it's true... It's Lord Akira who saved my sister's daughter..." Yasaka said. She bowed in respect and thanked him deeply.
Kyuumi lifted Kurai then pressed her on her chest, tickling her nose with hers in happiness. Kyuumi however noticed that Kurai wasn't laying her eyes off Akira the whole time.
Kyuumi saw how much Akira meant for Kurai. After all, she was little girl saved by a legendary figure. The mother would feel the same if she had being in her daughter's position.
"I thank you once again for your help, Lord Akira." Yasaka Sia's solemnly.
"Just call me Akira, I'm long past that phase" He replied.
"Right... Then, Akira, would you be kind enough to stay at our faction for a bit longer?— We're feasting tonight to celebrate Kurai's return." Yasaka demanded, lifting her face off the bowing.
"S-Sister..." Kyuumi mumbled, emotionally. Kurai's eyes lit up, "YES PLEASE~!!" She shouted with red cheeks.
Not having anything better to do he accepted, "Sure, I'd stay for a bit" He said.
With the green lights now given, Yasaka's eyes lit up and so did Kyuumi's. Kurai celebrated this very good news by jumping around and giggling.
――――――
For Kurai's return, a feast was imposed. The Youkai faction of the West were celebrating the well being of a cute royal children. With many food stands around and entertainment such as music and shows.
Kurai was dragging Akira along with her around the entire party. "K-Kurai wait!" Kyuumi said in a hurry as she was following the two around.
"Kyuumi, rest at ease, it must have being tiring these last days. Your daughter is in good hands, there's nothing to be afraid of anymore." Akira said, comforting the skeptical mother.
"If you say so..." Kyuumi mumbled. And then, she fainted, collapsed to the ground sleeping heavily. "Damn..." Akira mumbled as he did not expect her to be that tired.
"Hehe~ Mommy is sleeping" Kurai said.
――――――
One of those chapters that make you love being a writer. Hope this feels refreshing and completely different from other fics!
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