Chiyo melted into liquid, slipping through the gaps between his large claws. Then she reformed behind him, her form now that of a mist — elusive and untouchable. Water. It was a gift touch by the water goddess, Marinara. Her mother had warned her not to use it ever for the power is a double-edged sword. It could heal or harm; or tranquil and destructive.
It was the hardest power to control. Water can kill the wielder too.
A long time ago, one of her ancestors had the same gift. He died not reaching adulthood, drowning with his own power — unable to control it. After that, nobody has inherited the same ability except her, but her mother had only taught her little of what she knew then they stopped. She was afraid that such uncontrollable power would consume her: Afraid that once the whole kingdom knew what she is capable of then greed might end her life as well.
So she never used it until now. Her trump card. Using it is still new to her, its raw power pounding in every part of her body — threatening to go out at once.
"My kin had fallen because of your manipulation." Chiyo's voice echoed through the walls — cold and unyielding, with a hint of arrogance. "It's not destiny you weaved, beast. It's the death you ensure."
Hearing the voice, Hachiro spun around. He was searching for her but the mists swirled around him like a ghostky wraith. It became thick, clouding his vision. She was gone but he knows she's nearby. He can feel her deadly intention and it prickles his golden scales.
"Come out!" He roared and was answered by a mischievous laugh. "You want to kill me?! Ungrateful! Your kin has respected me so much and you want to kill me for giving you what you really need?!"
"I don't need the throne!"
"But it needs you! The king is not the heir and the world will turn into chaos because of one stolen fate! It will bring destruction to the world if the gods intervened!" Hachiro swept his tail, hitting nothing. The mists moved in front of him, materializing.
"You know everything yet you did nothing until now."
Mists gathered together, veiling her figure. Hachiro squinted his eyes and so the other two assassins that guarded the exit. Behind the mist, a woman emerged. Her dark long hair cascaded down her back like a midnight silk, gray eyes glowing sinisterly like moonlight that matches the cunning smile painted on her red lips. Chiyo stepped forward, her white tail swaying slowly like willow branches from her back.
Chiyo became a one-tailed kitsune, the last of her kind — her pride and cunning matched only by her fury.
The air crackled with tension as Chiyo raised her hands. Water swirled around her, responding to her call. The liquid wove into a dagger — a blade that shimmered like moonlit waves. She looked up at him, her smile widening — taunting him. She had enough of that throne, and fate, and everything. She will only protect what's remaining of her.
The throne? It is not a privilege. It's a cage; the crown is its shackle.
"Let's just end this game here, Hachiro."
Hachiro lunged, jaw snapping. But Chiyo leaped, her foot slightly tapping on his scale before jumping backwards, her water blade slicing through the air. It hummed with power, a wave of vengeance. She parried Hachiro's claws, each clash sending ripples through the warehouse.
Hachiro shifted, his jaw closed in on her but Chiyo turned into liquid slipping in between his teeth. The dragon roared in frustration, snapping at the air. Chiyo reformed beside him and her dagger sliced through his scale. Hachiro howled, scales searing like a hot metal poured with water.
"I have done everything for your kin yet this is what you pay me?!" Angered, the dragon roared. "I am the mighty golden dragon! The weaver of destinies! No one should dare to defy the fate I have created!"
He stomped his feet and the ground trembled while debris fell from the roof — the warehouse threatening to break from the dragon's wrath.
"If you would be so stubborn to claim the throne then so be it!" Hachiro roared, his mouth opened wide, a ball of fire forming inside.
He lunged the fire at her, Chiyo rolled sideways but his hot breath seared her fur, and once again his claws dug into her flesh — pinning her. The place crackled with fire, the smoke veiling their figure. A dragon above and the kitsune below, trapped in between his sharp claws. The dragon lowered his head, its sharp teeth almost scraping the fabric of her kimono.
"You want to save your husband?" He gruntled, smoke rising from his nostril. "What of your family?"
Chiyo's lips tugged to a sarcastic smile. "They're dead."
"The Komorebi village?" Hachiro laughed at her. Stepping backwards, he let go of Chiyo. Finally, Hachiro transformed back into his human form. "You are willing to protect your husband, but what of the family that rescued you?"
Taken aback, Chiyo was frozen on her spot. Her guts is telling her that something is not right. A premonition — death perhaps — but how?
"What do you mean?" She asked, letting down her guard.
"The village head came yesterday and requested an audience to the king before he was attacked." He calmly explained as if they were not killing each other mere moments ago. "The night I took you here, the queen went with the village head. You know why?"
"Why?"
"The village head went to confirm something..."
"And?" Chiyo stood there, her mind racing as the weight of Hachiro's words settle upon hair.
"The king realized what her real intention was so he sent the queen in guise of escorting the respectable Bakeneko elder — the soulgazer. The one who sees through the depths of existence." Hachiro explained, his eyes dancing with amusement. "The moment she step foot to the castle she's already deemed a threat to the king's secret, so why do you think the queen went with her despite the fact that they were just attacked by assassins?"
To kill...
The dragon's breath still lingers in the air, mixing with the acrid scent of burning wood. She promised to kill the dragon, but now she doesn't know what to do anymore. Time is her real enemy.
"Who will you save, Chiyo? Your husband or your family? Choose." Hachiro turned his back on her then the two assassins followed suit. "You can't save both."
Chiyo's gaze retreated from Hachiro's retreating form to the now opened door. The choice weighed heavily on her for both were a part of her soul. But she couldn't save both.
The fire crackled, mirroring the turmoil within her.
Who?
She stepped towards the door, the sun momentarily blinding her.
Who will I save?
--end of Arc one--