Dropping off Yuuko after she fainted from blood loss, I had Mizuki guide me back to the Rathole to confirm something with Mikato. The torture had earned us more Malice, all stored inside Mizuki's necklace, and at this point it was time to spend some of it while also getting the protection of the most influential demon.
"Becoming Mikoto's puppet…" Attached to my shoulders like a bat, Mizuki nuzzled up to my neck as her words grew drearier. "Never thought you'd actually take that deal."
"We're weak Mizuki, that's the whole reason we had to rely on your tattoos so much," given how much time her powers took to take effect, I wasn't too confident in our ability to ward off any demons in case they tried attacking us again. "We need a weapon, plus someone to watch our back for a while until we're strong enough to take care of ourselves."
Although, after what we've done, I could feel the bond between Mizuki and me, making us both feel stronger, the bitter fact remained that I was paired with the weakest kind of demon.
'Doesn't help that she's a handful either…' Having seen those memories she fed Yuuko, I could only imagine what our next encounter may be like. She already mistook me for her lover in the brief moment she was conscious when we left her at her home.
"She won't die from blood loss right?" I asked, reminded just how much she bled against Mizuki's razor-sharp nails.
"If she does, it'd be an eye for an eye don't you think?" Her response was as grim as always. "At the very least, the grief caused by her death will provide us with valuable Malice."
"I didn't go through such extreme length for her to die!" Stopping on my path, I clenched my fist in rage. "I wanna use her to make that bastard Hero suffer, and get even closer to that monster Kimura."
"Will you shut up about him for a minute?" Feeling her teeth sink into my neck, I let out a grunt and winced.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" Yelling at her, I tried to push her off my shoulders.
But before I knew something insidious began crawling through my veins. Another jolt of clarity hit my mind like a ton of bricks, forcing me to stumble but eventually get back on my feet. Staying locked on my back throughout the experience, Mizuki giggled to herself before whispering.
"Learn to enjoy yourself a little or else you'll go mad," taking a brief pause, she added. "Even madder than you already are, which won't exactly be ideal for either of us."
"What the fuck do you suggest then?" I asked, stumbling my way forward.
I could feel her creepy smile over my shoulder even though my eyes were focused at the front.
"We can spare a few thousand Malice I suppose, blow out some steam at the Rathole?" Her suggestion was more of a demand than anything, she wanted to do it regardless of what I had to say.
Having our minds melded together, I could feel her urges and even her craving for human flesh and other depravities.
"If you're trying to get me to be a cannibal, I'll have to pass," nearing the alley where the entrance to the Rathole was, I didn't want her to have any funny expectations about our visit.
"There's a fortune teller," her whisper stopped me once again. "Mikato, bitch can quite literally see who the hell's gonna win this game, and if she isn't drunk today or maybe drunk enough then I'm sure she can tell us how far we'll make it."
The way she phrased her idea, it almost felt like even she didn't believe we could win this. However, her suggestions weren't exactly all that bad, especially if the price was only a few thousand Malice.
"How much do we have right now?" I asked to confirm.
"Thirty-two thousand, we can spare at least ten thousand and reserve the rest in case either of us needs healing or a new body," she replied, sounding reasonable for once.
"Alright, we'll do it," with that said, I marched right for the Rathole's entrance.
This time, however, I made sure to bring a white mask to cover our faces. Not just only to protect myself from the odors, but also to keep our identities a little more hidden. At first, Mizuki simply wanted to approach the vendors for the most grueling meal, but dragging her away I convinced her to meet with Mikato first instead.
Just like last time, Mikato was hammered out of her mind as she snored near the cheery bloom's stump. Beyond her was the sealed entrance to the high demon society, and surprisingly enough there was a dainty little girl with pink hair wrapped in her arms.
"Shhhhh…" Hushing us both, the girl moved her finger on a golden ring over her fingers. "What do you need?"
'Who is it?' I asked Mizuki through the mind.
'Probably Mikato's human master.' She replied, yet it didn't make any sense.
"We need a reading from Mikato," Mizuki told the girl.
For a spell, she just glanced between us two her fingers clamped on that ring of hers. A moment later, however, she let go of it. Undoing Mikato's wrapped fingers around her, she got to her feet before coming closer.
"I'll wake her up, but don't expect a good reading tonight," given the state Mikato was in, I didn't doubt the girl for a moment.
"You her master?" I asked, unable to keep that question to myself.
Darting me a sharp gaze, the girl almost seemed a bit offended by it but answered me regardless.
"Yes, is that a problem?" Shooting that back, she had her arms on her hips as if aching for a confrontation.
"Nah, not at all," I responded, knowing well enough not to underestimate anyone I come around in this accursed place.
Not long after, Mikato finally woke up. And although visibly tired, she managed to shake it off pretty quickly.
"A reading huh?" She said before anyone ever told her.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"I can read your face," she replied without pause.