Two years later....

Kagura, 1st Person POV

It has been two years since I deserted the Corps and ran away from home. I know that my father has noticed as he put a bounty out for my "safe return" thanks to hearing on the grapevine and my occassional run-ins with a few greedy bounty hunters. Like the flamboyant fucktard actually cares about me. Yeah freaking right. If he did give a shit then things would be different. The rare moments when I have been captured, I always escaped in the end. Whether it be one of the Upper Moons finding out because of Rui getting away and informing the Upper Moons about my capture and coming over to spring me and wreak havoc on the ones who bagged me, I escape with the help of Rui and his Blood Demon Arts, which sometimes ends with killing the ones who caught me, or I escape on my own with my own power or I use some of the herbs I collected to paralyze my captors or create a diversion so I can get away. Despite the fact they don't get along well, they still kept up their end of the bargain. For which I will always be thankful for, as without them, who knows where Rui and I would be.

Ah, but I don't wanna talk about that. Let's focus on the present shall we?

Octavia, my owl Danger Beast have grown from the little shiny Rowlet I hatched from an egg I found when I was little to a beautiful healthy Decidueye, an A-Class Danger Beast, bordering on S-Class for both their rarity in number and her unique coloring, and how difficult it is to tame a wild one if you are lucky enough to encounter one.

She has grown into a fine and intelligent bird. Her powerful wings and talons were a big help when we are hunting for food, especially at night when traveling by day was a bigger hazard than traveling by night. She also has a great stamina when flying for long distances, which was a help when I'm sending stuff to Yushiro and Tamao, like my blood or my tears for their miracle medicine. I hope it will become a great help for those who fell victim to Muzan's attacks. I don't make Octavia or Revali carry my letters to my former comrades in the Corps, so I either used a carrier pigeon or I just sent the mail through whatever nearby post office I found while making sure there was no return address written on the envelopes. But after learning from my last letter from Giyuu-kun that my old man was on the warpath along with a few of the other Pillars in the Corps, especially after they somehow found out about my "demonic heritage," I stopped writing altogether to my friends in the Corps, if only to make sure they don't get incriminated for fraternizing with me by the leader or by the other Pillars. I still wrote to Urokodaki-sensei and Tamayo-sama, even though it was less often now in case the Pillars were investigating them as well as my (former) friends in the Butterfly Mansion. And sending Revali is a bad idea, as the Corps may recognize him as the bird I received after my time passing the Final Selection ended. And those annoying Kasugai crows are known to be snitches, even against their own masters. Good thing Revali only listens to me or I'd be boned...

Speaking of which, Revali, despite the circumstances, has adjusted nicely to our nomadic way of life. While he hates not being able to fly at certain times during traveling, he is still a capable companion to be around. He dislikes the Upper Moons and barely tolerates Rui, but he has made no move to hurt any of them. While the Upper Moons don't like him either (especially Akaza as he often complains how Revali likes to shed his feathers into his hair, causing Douma to tease him relentlessly until Akaza rips his arms off and shoves them down his throat), they don't attack him either, lest they bring my unholy demonic wrath upon them.

Then there's Issun. He's probably the most vocal about our situation by far. And while he does have good advice off and on, especially in terms of where my patron goddess is concerned, he does have his... flaws. For one thing, when danger pops up, he is the first one to run and make himself scarce until the danger has passed. Then there is his... high libido... Let's just say the last time we went through a red light district, I had to keep that annoying bug locked up in a lantern as he couldn't control himself when he sees the local prostitutes hanging around the street corners. Damned idiot nearly got us caught and in some cases nearly killed whenever he decided to "check the ladies out." Even Douma, Akaza, and Kokushibo couldn't stand him when he's like this. Hell, I had to hold both Akaza and Kokushibo back from sqaushing him every time Issun came back from hiding or when we barely escape the authorities.

Speaking of my boys, I was pleasantly surprised how they, aside from Rui, adjusted to their new way of life without Muzan dictating them with an iron fist. While it was slow at first, they still adapted, and didn't have to worry about walking on eggshells with me (though Douma insists on calling me "Kagura-sama" much to my annoyance) and can relax. While the sunlight thing is an issue, there is still hope for them to walk during the daylight as Tamayo-sama had told me about the possibility of them ingesting my blood or tears can perhaps strengthen them to withstand the sunlight and maybe wisteria, as both of those never affected me like normal demons. The only thing that can probably kill me is nichirin blades, and there isn't a safe way of testing that theory so we do not attempt it until we get more information. Even Kokushibo doesn't want to test his own blade on me aside from when we are fighting with our katanas. And there is no point in arguing with any of them... that is one argument I'll never win.

Coming back to the present, we were approaching the place known as the Empire, according to some people from the docks on the last ship we stowed away on. Kinda unimaginative but whatever. The reason why we are going here? No specific one really. Aside from needing a place to hide  from those damn bounty hunters that may be chasing after me even after crossing the Great Ocean. So I guess I wanted to settle down, if only for a little while.

Today, I chose to move during the day instead of at night especially with the rumors of this syndicate known as Night Raid circling around the place. While I know they only target those of the aristocratic status, I wasn't taking any chances.

As I rode upon Alastor, I took a bottle of liquor I swiped from one of the drunken sailors not too long ago and took a swig, wincing slightly at the sharp burning sensation in my throat as the liquid traveled down my throat. "I don't see what other people see in drinking this crap..." I frowned in disapproval at the rancid aftertaste. "Must be a grown-up thing... Something I'll never understand..."

My thoughts were interrupted when I felt a tremor in the ground of the dirt path me and my companions were on. My ears hidden under the dark hood twitched when I heard screams of some men not too far up the path. Spurring Alastor on, we rushed up to see that this... weird brown giant bug looking thing was attacking some traveling men in a horse-drawn carriage. Leaping off of Alastor, I dashed forward while drawing my katana out of its sheath.

"Celestial Brush Second Form: Tachigami- Power Slash!" I yelled out while slicing one of the creature's arms off. The creature screamed as the extremity hit the ground. Landing on my feet, I stood between the monstrous behemoth and the travelers. It opened its ugly mouth and let out an enraged screech. Before it could bring it's other claw down on me, a shadow leapt up from behind the beast and suddenly, multiple slashes appeared on the beast before the new figure landed next to me.

"An Earth Dragon..." the figure spoke from next to me. As he rambled on, I took in his features. He had brown shaggy hair with a distinctive cowlick, wore what people from the Western countries wear; a pair of trousers, a sweater over an undershirt, and closed toe shoes that I learned to be called sneakers. He had a pretty unremarkable face though his eyes are a brilliant emerald green. I must have been staring at him for a little too long because he then turned to me and smiled at me in what he must have thought to be charming.

Before he could talk however the travelers we saved suddenly appeared, talking to him. I took this opportunity to go back to Alastor and leave this situation before their attention is back on me.

First Person POV Switch, Tatsumi

My name is Tatsumi. I'm from a village outside the capital, and I'm going to the capital so I can join the Imperial Army and make money to send back to my village.

My best friends, Ieyasu and Sayo, came with me with the same goal but we got separated. I hoped to find them soon.

But on the way, I spotted a cute girl in foreign clothes riding on a... is that some sort of phantom horse?! Upon closer inspection I recognized it as a Spectrier, an SS-Class Danger Beast. Just seeing one of those is a rarity! And this tiny girl is riding on it like a tamed pony!! And what's with the big raptor birds?! While I didn't recognize the blue one, I sure did recognize the owl Danger Beast, a rare A-Class type, a Decidueye. And one with rare coloring. People would kill for that plumage, especially one so healthy from a specimen like that.

Just who is this girl?!

My thoughts were cut off when an Earth Dragon suddenly appeared further up the road. That girl was heading right in that direction.

Danger Beast or not, I couldn't chance that girl getting hurt...

I paused in my rush to get to her and those other travelers when I saw her unsheath her own sword and leaped a great height. I saw her sword be incased in some energy as she effortlessly slashed one of it's legs off, making it lose its footing and scream angrily.

I took that as my cue to drop in and kill it off myself.

After leaping and delivering several slashes on the ugly bug-like monster, I stood back up, feeling victorious. As the travelers began to thank me and praise me, I didn't realize the girl that sliced the Earth Dragon's arm had left.

After the other merchants gave me directions to the capital and a warning about the residents being worse than the Earth Dragon, I decided to resume my trek to find Ieyasu and Sayo.

A part of me hoped that I find that cute girl again, though...

POV Switch Kagura

"Man that was close..." I muttered to myself as I nudged Alastor's sides as we entered the Capital. As we entered, I nearly retched out loud at the smell of the corruption emanating from this place alone. I avoided eye contact with any curious passerbys as I didn't want to engage anyone with ill intentions.

However, that plan went down the drain when a blonde busty woman appeared with stars in her eyes as she intercepted Alastor, making him balk and rear his head, jolting Rui and the three Upper Moons awake in their cargo holds.

"Oh my gosh!" She squealed, making me wince at the decibel as my ears flattened against my skull under my hood. "That's the super rare SS-Class Danger Beast Spectrier! How the hell did you get that?!"

I glared at her peevishly. "One, don't refer to Alastor as 'that.' Two, none of your business. Now please move. You are in the way and causing a scene."

She raised an eyebrow. "Wow, not the friendly type are you?"

I leveled a steely look. "Don't really care for that. In a place like this you never know who could stab you in the back."

An odd look passed through her face. "Ooh, a smart one." She grinned deviously. "Me likey."

I sighed trying not to squirm as there were several eyes on us. "Look what do you want? I'm kinda in a hurry."

"Got a hot date waiting on you?" Her blunt question made my face explode in a sudden heat.

"E-excuse me?!" I sputtered.

"What's the hurry?" She tacked on deviously. I swear her face looked like that of a cat who just killed the canary. What the hell am I getting myself into?

"I got things to do and places to be, and as it is I'm running behind." I tried once more to be subtle about wanting this absurdly attractive woman to go the hell away. What a damn minute where did that thought come from?! Damn me and my bisexuality!!

"Why not take some time and have lunch with me, Miss Dark and Mysterious?" She grinned up at me, looking rather unashamed as she practically asked me on a date.

"Sorry, ma'am," I tried to dissuade her. "But I don't have any money to indulge in such..." That was a lie, as I was pretty frugal in my spending and I was no slouch in robbing people (though I targeted bandits and drunkards for the most part, while making a rare exception in aristocrats stupid enough to let their guards down), but I wasn't telling her that.

Only for my wishful thinking to go flying out the window when she suddenly procured a sack of coins. "No worries, Miss Mystery Girl, since I'm asking, this one is on me."

Why do I get the feeling she stole that from someone...?

Timeskip brought to you by a robbed Tatsumi...

I stared ahead of me in disbelief as we both sat in a nearby pub as I tried not to scream in frustration as I felt my leg get groped again by the busty blonde as she chugged another tankard of beer.

I don't know if she was doing it on purpose or the influence from the alcohol she has been consuming up until now is affecting her (I lost count of the number of times her tankard got refilled after the sixth one), but it was not helping me with my current situation as her hand began to travel up my thigh.

The blonde, who introduced herself as Leone, dragged me to a pub that actually served decent food. The only downside to this place was that the place had a lot of booze, beer in particular. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against alcohol, it's just I don't like how it makes people act when they have enough of it in their system. If it weren't for Kokkushibo and Akaza, I would have been a victim of many atrocities involving the flesh since I'm a bit dense when it comes to "certain intentions"....

I quickly grasped her hand to move it away from that place with a red face while she tried to sling her body over my shoulders. "I don' undershtand why you's hide your face like dat..." she slurred. "Ish ver' purdy~" Earlier she had removed my hood and saw my wolf ears and, instead of running off like a madwoman, she just went gaga over them, gushing how cute they are and rubbing them with her slender yet surprisingly rough hands, making me go beet red at the feeling before I managed to push them away from my ears so we could get our food and hopefully part ways...

"Um.. thanks, I guess..." I really had no idea on how to deal with this forward woman. This was kind of a first for me. I mean, Douma goes out of his way to say I'm pretty, that and among other things (i.e. "beautiful", "gorgeous", "a genuine goddess", etc.), but that's Douma for you. But this is someone who had literally just met me and is now having lunch (or is it dinner? Time is a construct after all...) with me. Why? Beats the hell out of me.

"Likesh seriously. Why hide them? Not to mention you have a cute face." She suddenly grabbed my cheeks, squishing them in her hands. I tried to pull away without using my demon strength but, damn, I think this woman does workouts as she got one hell of a grip.

She then rubbed her nose against mine. "Sho cute!~ Like a widdle puppy dog~"

The waiter who had been giving her refills on her tankard suddenly cleared his throat awkwardly. "Another drink, ma'am?"

"No! Don't give her more! She's already insane!" I tried to say but this chick had my face squished up to where no coherent words were formed despite my efforts.

"Yesh please!"

Oh balls in a vice grip. Why did my boys have to still be left back there with Alastor and my birds?

"Kill me..." I tried to mutter out loud, not exactly thinking that Leone heard me.

She gasped dramatically, finally letting go of my face. Only my relief was short-lived as my face was suddenly shoved into her massive cleavage.

.....!!!!????

Kagura.exe has stopped working....

"Oh poor puppy~" She slurred holding my head with an almost unbreakable grip. "You feeling down in the dumps, aren't you? Don't worry, Big Sis Leone is here to fix it~" She then lifted my head out of her breasts only to see that she is leaning her face down to mine, her eyes lowered in that look.

For fuck's sake, someone save me from this madwoman!

Right at that moment, the doors burst open, making Leone pause in what she was doing to see that a bunch of big guys had appeared in the tavern and they did not look too happy.

"Aw rats..." she pouted as they began to stomp towards us.

"This can end so well...." I thought sarcastically as they were heading straight for Leone.

"Time to pay up, Leone!" One of the big guys barked at her unpleasantly.

She stuck her lower lip out at them; how wasted is this woman to not see the danger she is presented with?

Apparently more than enough as she casually answered with a slur in her voice, "Aw, c'mon boys. Can this wait another time? I'm a bit busy here...."

I took this opportunity to try and slip away again while she and her "friends" talked. If one were to call it that.

One of them scoffed, not seeing me beginning to edge my way to the doorway that led out the bar. "Yeah right. With what? You ain't fooling us."

Leone gasped indignantly. "I'll have you know I'm on a date! And I-!" She then realized I wasn't next to her anymore as she suddenly looked around frantically before she spotted me just about to head out the doors. "Hey! Where you going, bestie?!" This made me freeze midstep, turning around to see now everyone's eyes were on me. Especially those thuggish guys. And by the way they are looking at me when she called me "bestie" they are probably thinking of how to beat the tar out of me next just for being associated with her.

"I- I don't know her." I stuttered, trying to save myself. "Never met her before! Gotta go, bye!" With that I bolted leaping onto Alastor who had been waiting outside the whole time since I have been dragged into that tavern. "Hiyah!" I gave a sharp nudge onto Alastor's sides, making him break into a full run just as Leone, chased by those thugs, burst out of the bar.

"Waaaiiittt, bestie!!" She began to chase me, with those burly men right on her heels. Though she was quite fast as she lost those guys in the dust as she chased me while I was on horseback. While she is quite fast for a human, nobody can match Alastor's speed.

It took some doing, but we manage to lose her somewhere in the city. Night has falled as I stuck my head out of an alley to see if the coast is clear. Seeing no one, I came out with Alastor's lead in my hand before I slumped down a wall of a nearby building, placing an arm over my eyes in exhaustion.

"What a helluva day.." I thought in exasperation as the street lights began to illuminate the streets. I pulled my hood back over my head, pulling my knees up to my chin while I bundled myself up in my kimono as the temperature began to drop.

Douma stuck his head out of his basket before he saw me. "Kagura-chan!" He leapt out of his basket to hug me protecttively. "You poor thing! I was so worried something happened to you! Thank the heavens you are okay! Did those meanies hurt you?!"

I tried to pull out of his grip as Rui, Akaza, and Kokkushibo decided to make their presence known as Douma is a loudmouth. "I'm fine, Douma, dammit, now stop being so loud before-"

A door suddenly burst open. making the four demons retreat back into their baskets. Snapping my head up I saw a boy- wait a damn minute. I recognize that guy.

And apparently he did too because his frustrated face gave way to surprise as we locked eyes on each other.

We pointed at each other simultaneously.

"You again?!"

Annnnnnnddd scene!!

Welp happy birthday to me, so here's an update before I go to bed.

This is the ArtVampire signing off!

Ja ne!