Kino
"THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE you should know sis. It's about the man who took you."
"You mean Fuji? What about him?"
"He's…"
"I'm your father, Riho." Said Fuji, as he too steps out of the shadows. Lowering the hood of his dark grey cloak.
Without hesitation Ryo attacks Fuji. A wall made of shadows rises up to block his attack, but Fuji never utters a word.
This forces Ryo to retreat to a safe distance; well as safe as one can be when facing a mage, and being in a bedroom really limits one's options.
"How?" Ryo mutters.
"Be careful you two. That man has a fae with him." Said Nightblossom, appearing beside Riho.
"Get out here, Nightshade." Orders Fuji.
A sickly looking–nude male fae, appears beside Fuji. He's the same size as Nightblossom.
Nightblossom gasps.
"Do you know him, Nightblossom?" Asked Riho.
Nightblossom doesn't respond. All her focus is on the sickly looking fae.
"I-I never thought I'd see you again, big brother. " A rogue tear trickles down her cheek. "Not after those bastards captured you and imprisoned me in that stone. I never stopped believing that we would one day be reunited…"
"Enough of this nauseating family reunion shit. I'm only here for my daughter. Now get your ass over here little girl!" Fuji points to the ground by his side.
"You're not taking my sister anywhere, asshole! You're not her father!" Shouts Ryo.
"Of course I am. How do you think she has the ability to use dark magic? No one else in the Takashi family can use it. Not your mother, grandfather, and not that bastard who pretended to be your father."
"That doesn't prove shit." Argues Ryo.
"I'm done arguing with you. Let's go Riho, now!"
"Do it Nightblossom!" Shouts Riho.
Thrusting out her hands. "Umbraporation!"
Everyone is swallowed up by their shadows and spit out into an open area outside.
"Where the hell am I?" Only Fuji and Nightshade are in the center of some sorta fighting arena.
Rocks and a thick rope form a massive perimeter. The ground has been tamped down. Torches are held by every other Valkyrie and Shield Maidens. Those without torches hold weapons.
But let's be honest, even a torch can be used as a weapon. Especially against goblins.
Fuji Takashi slowly turns, realizing that he's completely surrounded.
Crown Prince Jamison, Kino Kurosaki, King, Izumi, Angel, Igz, Emmy, Brittney, and Lucy are also present.
King leans in and whispers, "Your Royal Highness, that's Fuji Takashi. He's responsible for the Hyacinth Colosseum Incident, burning down Takashi Manor—his home, murdering Yoshi Takashi—his father, and is wanted for a slew of other crimes."
"Judging by the way everyone is reacting to his presence, we're about to bear witness to what happens to those who trespass into this empire uninvited." Remarks the Crown Prince.
"And what happens to those who kill their citizens." I said.
A lone figure steps forward drawing Fuji's attention.
"No! No! No! No! Your fucking dead! I killed you myself!"
"As if the likes of you could kill me, you arrogant prick."
Now standing before him is the last person Fuji thought he would ever see again. It's Yoshi Takashi—his father.
"You're like a damn cockroach, old man. What's it gonna take for you to die?"
"You won't live long enough to find out."
"What, you gonna do me in?" Taunts Fuji. "Face it old man, you don't have the stones to kill your own flesh and blood."
"He won't be the one ending you. That honor goes to me."
Turning towards the new speak. Fuji watches as a woman with sun kissed skin, a well-toned body, wearing a jaguar top and matching bottoms, platinum bangles on each of her wrists, and leather roman sandals, makes her way towards him.
"Who the hell are you?" Demands Fuji.
"Seriously?! You trespass into my empire, kill my people and you don't know who the fuck I am. Well then allow me to properly introduce myself."
Rhea closes the remaining distance in a flash and grabs Fuji by the throat. She then picks him up and throws him across the arena.
"Names Rhea. Empress of the Harmonia Empire and your fucking ass is mine for the murder of my people."
"How long have you known I was here?" Fuji asked, picking himself up off the ground.
"Since the moment you entered my empire uninvited."
"Why'd you wait so long?"
"My scout, Lindsey recognized you from both the colosseum and your wanted poster. It wasn't hard to ascertain what your objective was here. We just needed to let you make an attempt to abduct Riho."
"She's my daughter. I have a right…"
"No I'm not!" Shouts Riho, "you're just some asshole who killed my teacher, kidnapped me, and made me attack my friend Emmy! I don't want shit to do with you, so just go away and fucking die!"
Ryo turns to his sister, who's breathing heavily from shouting. He wants to chastise her for swearing, but doesn't. Instead he just puts an arm around his her.
"Tch. You know better than to use that kind of language young lady."
"Cosmo!" A massive smile blossoms on Riho's face. She runs and jumps into his big fury arms "I missed you."
Cosmo catches her and spins her around. "I missed you too little one."
"Cosmo."
"Ryo."
"Of course you're alive Monkey Man. Why can't the people I kill just stay dead?"
"Well guess what asshole, you no longer need to worry about that. Cause you're not leaving here alive."
Empress Rhea raises her hand, signaling Freyja, who drops her torch onto the rope—igniting it, fire races around Rhea and Fuji.
"Are you sure that was wise? You just created all these lovely shadows for me to escape with."
"Go ahead and try it. You won't get very far I assure you." Rhea folds her arms, daring Fuji to run.
Which he does. "Dark Magic: Shadow Dive!" Fuji disappears, then reappears in the same spot. He dives again and again and again only to be spit back out in the same spot every time.
"Nightshade, what the fuck is going on?"
"Someone with stronger dark magic than I, is doing this."
"Useless!" Fuji strikes Nightshade, knocking him through the air.
"Brother!" Cries Nightblossom.
Recovering from the blow, Nightshade flutters back to Fuji's side.
"Fine then. I'll just kill you all. Using these shadows you so graciously gave me. Dark Magic: Shadow Wolves!"
Ten shadow wolves rise up from the shadows. "Go, rip her to shreds!" Orders Fuji.
The pack charges Rhea.
"You stupid son of a bitch." Rhea kicks the first shadow wolf that reaches her—destroying it.
"You think this weak ass attack is enough to hurt me?" She punches three more wolves.
"I am known as The Wandering Empress. The strongest ruler to ever come out of Harmonia."
She catches two wolves one in each hand by their throats and squeezes, they too disappear.
"Dark Magic: Shadow Binding!"
More shadows rise up and wrap themselves around Rhea's arms, legs, and waist, stopping her movements. The last four wolves latch onto each of Rhea's legs and arms.
"I am the first female to dominate the Hyacinth Colosseum, winning five-hundred straight fights; zero losses, and not a drop of my blood was ever spilled."
Rhea smashes the wolves on her arms into the ones on her legs, destroying the last of them. She begins advancing once again.
The shadow bindings strain to hold her in place and eventually they too reach their limit and disappear.
Fuji begins running around, throwing whatever spell he can at Rhea.
"Dark Magic: Darkness Sphere!"
Rhea smacks the dark sphere away like it's an annoying bug.
"Dark Magic: Dark Javelin!"
She catches the javelin and crushes it.
"Dark Magic: Shadow Slasher!"
Rhea takes the attack head on like she's the Terminator, nothing stops her advancement.
Desperate to find a way out of this, Fuji makes several attempts to flee, by attacking the women surrounding him. This proves to be a fruitless endeavor.
Fed up with it all, Fuji makes one last desperate attempt to win.
"Nightshade! Pour every ounce of your mana into this attack!" Orders Fuji, "Dark Magic: Devouring Black Flame!"
Rhea is engulfed in black flames. And much to Fuji's surprise, she starts screaming in agony.
"Yes! Die you fucking bitch! Die! Die! Die! Hahahahahahaha!" Fuji's laughing like a lunatic.
"Why did you interfere, Ryo?" Demanded Rhea.
Ryo calmly withdraws his sabre from the base of Fuji's skull.
"Why, you ask? He kidnapped my sister, burned down my family home, kidnapped my sister, placed a curse mark on my sister, kidnapped my sister, forced her to attack her friend, and did I mention that he kidnapped my sister."
"Your sister complex is showing." Remarks Brittney.
"You said 'he kidnapped my sister,' like four times. We get it you have an unhealthy obsession with your little sister." Lucy points out.
"What did you do to him?" I asked.
"By utilizing my skill "Sting" combined with my knowledge of human anatomy, I injected a neurotoxin known as thorn-apple into his blood stream. It's known for causing hallucinations.
"What's gonna happen when it wears off?"
"He won't live long enough for that to happen. I also severely damaged his high spinal cord. Causing total paralysis from the neck down. He'll eventually die from…"
"One Thousand Needle Impalement!"
Black needles explode out of Fuji. Making him into a human porcupine. Everyone turns to look at Riho.
"Don't look at me. I didn't do it. Nightblossom, did you kill him?"
"Nope."
"I killed him." Said Nightshade, "he was an abusive piece of shit who needed to die. And thanks to Ryo's interference his control over me vanished. Allowing me to finally exact my revenge."
"What will you do now?" Nightblossom asked.
"The years of abuse I've suffered through have taken a toll on my mind and body. Once this curse mark is removed I just want to live in peace and quiet somewheres."
"Then why don't you come stay with me?" Offers Yoshi. "I have plenty of land. You can stay as long as you like."
"Thank you. That sounds wonderful."
"Um grandfather, was that man really my father?"
"Of course not. Fuji only has a son."
"Had a son. Word is he died over in Hyacinth City." Said Cosmo.
"But how do you explain the both of us being able to use dark magic?"
"Listen Riho, although your father–Ryu, chose to be a doctor, he was actually a mage. One with an affinity for dark magic." Said Yoshi.
"I didn't even know, father was a mage." Admitted Ryo.
"Both of you kids take after your parents. Ryo, your skill with the blade is on par with that of the Rapier Princess Fuchi–your mother. And Riho, I have no doubt that your skill as a mage would've equaled your fathers, had he actually become a proper mage."
"It's also worth mentioning that Opis is also skilled in dark magic, and your great grandmother." Explained Rhea. "Her vast knowledge in areas include: hexes, enslavement marks, curses and whatnot. She also used a shadow technique to save Yoshi and Cosmo from the fire that night."
I perked up at this bit of news and asked, "did she use shadow clones by chance?"
"Wow, I'm impressed you figured it out. How'd you know?"
"It's a favorite technique utilized by a certain ninja I know of."
"Can you introduce me to that ninja? I'd like to learn this shadow clone technique."
"Sorry, Riho, no can do. I don't know them personally. I only know of them through stories that I've read."
𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑠.
"Oh, okay." Riho replied, looking dejected.
It's King who comes up with a solution to Riho's problem. "Why not become a ninja yourself."
"Absolutely not," objects Ryo. "My sister needs to return home with grandfather, find a new teacher and continue her education."
"That's not necessary, big brother."
"And why is that?"
"Because I'll be staying here."
"No you're not. You'll be returning with grandfather."
"No. I'm staying here."
"No. You are returning with grandfather."
"I'm. Staying. Here." Riho crosses her arms.
"You. Are. Leaving." Ryo crosses his arms too.
The siblings stare at one another. Until their grandfather intervenes.
"Ryo, I think it best that Riho spend some time here."
"Yes!" Shouts Riho, punching the air in triumph.
Ryo is too stunned by his grandfather's decision to reply.
"Sir," said Cosmo, "might I inquire as to why you've agreed to Riho's request?"
"I feel it best that my grandchildren learn more about where their parents come from."
"Isn't our father from Britannia?" Ryo asked, snapping out of his bewilderment.
Yoshi shakes his head. "Your father is originally from the Nihon Empire. Which is why when you two are ready I'll take you there."
"What else do you know about him?"
"Only that he requested to take my last name when he married your mother."
"Well this has been an interesting night." Said Prince Jamison, "Empress Rhea, I'd like to send a report to my father informing him of Fuji's fate and of course the discovery of Yoshi Takashi and Cosmo being alive."
"Of course. Follow me. And please just call me Rhea."
While the two members of nobility walk off together Ryo comes to a sudden realization. "Grandfather, how did you and Cosmo know you needed shadow clones of yourselves in the first place?"
"That was also Opis's doing. She used a technique known as tasseomancy to read my future when I was here last."
"She can read tea leaves. How old school." Remarked Izumi.
"Can we meet her?" asked Ryo.
"Yeah, can we go right now? I wanna learn how to make shadow clones."
"I can teach you." Said Nightblossom.
"Thanks but no thanks. I think I should start learning the basics of dark magic."
"The road to becoming a ninja starts with the basic fundamentals." I said.
"Then I shall help her the best I can." Declared Nightblossom, "let's go see this Opis person at once."
It's Cosmo who brings reality crashing down by pointing out how she's probably asleep given the late hour.
Everyone agrees that it's time to turn in for the night. The fire is properly put out and everyone heads for their respective sleeping quarters.
****
The next day after breakfast Opis has Riho studying dark magic for beginners.
It's such a beautiful day that she's studying outside under a black walnut tree.
Nightblossom rests on her shoulder, occasionally explaining something that has Riho confused.
Yukino is asleep in her lap. Dante is actually resting beside Riho, instead of running about.
Opis and Kino are currently conversing in the kitchen over a cup of tea.
"It's been awhile Kino, how are you?" Opis asked.
"Um, how do you know me?"
"You might remember me as Oliva."
"Hmm…nope sorry. Not ringing a bell."
"I sent you to Scarlett, the Red Dragon."
Kino closes her eyes trying to recall if she ever met a red dragon named Scarlett.
"𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑? 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑠?"
Snippets of memories begin to surface.
"𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛? 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒? 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑎 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑡!"
"𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙."
"𝐻𝑂𝐿𝑌 𝑆𝐻𝐼𝑇!!! 𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛?!"
Kino's eyes fly open. "That's right, I did meet her."
"How is Scarlett doing?"
Kino's face falls. "Scarlett is dead. The Black Dragon Abyss killed her."
"Are you sure it was Abyss? He is dead, you know."
"It's been confirmed by Prince Jamison, several Templars, The Rising Sun—my party, and Reigget, a blacksmith."
"If that's true then someone or someone's used necromancy to bring him back from the dead."
"Is that even possible?"
"Yes."
"So who are you really?" I asked, having remembered Scarlett asking if I was a God.
"Opis is my real name. However history from your world would remember me as a Goddess in the Roman religion."
"How'd you end up here?"
"Over time our followers dwindled and eventually we were no longer relevant. I traveled to different worlds just enjoying myself."
"What kinds of worlds?"
Opis takes a sip of tea before answering.
"In one world the gods bestowed their blessings onto their people. I even observed a boy who had many blessings. He enjoyed researching slimes, and owned several businesses.
"In another world the gods grew bored, had their divine powers limited, and descended to the mortal plains to live as they do. They even have retinues who they consider members of their familia.
"Another world had dragons living and working as humans do. For example: one works as a maid, another dragon enrolled as elementary school student. There's an office worker, a candy shop employee, and a couple others became shut-ins.
"Does anyone else know what you really are?" I asked.
"Just Rhea. She is a Greek Titaness after all. And of course Proteus knows who I really am."
"𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑜 𝑂𝑝𝑖𝑠, 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔."
"𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜𝑜, 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑢𝑠. 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒?"
"𝐴 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑔𝑜. 𝐴𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝐼 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑝 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠. 𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑."
"Who else in this world is a deity or titan or whatever other entity?"
Opis smiles and replies with "you'll just have to travel this world and find out for yourself. I did ensure you had the financial means to do so."
"Why?"
"I am the goddess associated with: Wealth, growth, abundance, prosperity, and earth's… well now this world's fruiting.
Plus all that treasure was just gonna sit there long after Scarlett passed on-–collecting dust for who knows how long.
"So after talking with Scarlett about her treasure we struck a deal. I would send someone who would grant her request of 'fighting and dying on the field of battle,' and in return she would give them all of her treasures."
"But why us?"
"While using tasseomancy I foresaw your arrival to this world from earth and was feeling a bit nostalgic."
"Can you use it on me now?"
"I already did."
"When…" I glanced down at my tea cup, "I see. So, what did my tea leaves show you?"
"You will acquire three little sisters."
"What?! How?! When?! Tell me more."
"Apologies. That's all I know. I couldn't even tell you when or where you'll meet them."
They both fall silent. Eventually Riho comes in with Dante nipping at her heels. Ryo follows behind her with Yukino perched on his shoulder.
"Hey granny, can we start training soon?"
"You betcha; let's go. Ryo, would you like to join us?"
"Perhaps another time. I came to ask Kino to start training me. I want to get strong enough to beat her brother."
"I won't go easy on you." I said with a mischievous smile.
"Good."