Unselfish Wish

Chapter 30- Fumiko's Familiars Part One

Fumiko stopped to examine Tsuneo. With her abilities now unimpeded and her energy returned, she'd found something new in her list of abilities, besides conjuring clothing. That was handy, but not really god-like. More, changing what existed or exchanging rather than creating, so to speak. But she could read auras. Like, assess if the individual was telling the truth, had good intentions, was pure of heart, or just the opposite. Something about him told her, for all that they had met in shady circumstances, he would have her back. Nodding decisively, she spoke.

"Take me to this Lord Ritaru. I will ask only one thing of you. Please do not abandon me, should I need to fight, okay?" She said, confidence oozing from her. Tsuneo sighed. Why he felt compelled to help her, now that he'd spoken with her, he would never know. He knew that he could never leave her behind, even if it meant sacrificing himself. This thought was a revelation, as he'd not known much care nor been given much care in his entire existence. All he had was his sister. If he hadn't known better he'd have thought it was love at first sight, but this was more like... devotion at first sight. Not romantic at all, as beautiful as she was.

"Fine." He blew out a breath. "But can you at least help with the food and wine?" Can't hurt to try, he thought. She laughed.

"Tell you what, you keep your promise, and I just might be able to help you find a job so that it's never a worry again, okay?" She winked as they headed towards the door.

"I accept your offer, Your Majesty." He said. Fumiko stopped dead in her tracks. "What? You'll be a princess at the least as Tsukiyomi's wife. If the title fits..." He trailed off. She shook her head.

"For now it's best you don't call me that, at least not here. I have a plan, and if the wrong Yokai tries to make a power play, my plans will fail and my husband-to-be will simply destroy everything." She mused. Tsuneo wondered what was rolling around in her mind. Was she actually going to try to help the Yokai? He tossed a cloak over her head, hoping to block out her aura and keep curious eyes away. They made it to the... well, really it was a restaurant, bar, and... brothel. Lord Ritaru was the owner, and it was the most popular place in this particular district. It looked like one of the historical districts in Kyoto.

Tsuneo led the way inside, with Fumiko following behind him. She kept a hand on his arm, just so that should she be grabbed from behind or the side, he would know. He felt oddly tense. Never before when entering the Akai Hono Inn had he felt uncomfortable. He could feel how alert Fumiko-hime was beside him. That was her permanent name, as far as he was concerned. A couple of tanuki geisha led them to Lord Ritaru's room. The hair on the back of Tsuneo's neck stood up.

"Be careful, Your Highness." He whispered into her ear quietly. She nodded, then threw open the doors. Her first thought at the sight before her was how disgusting. This- fox or whatever- was nothing but a pig. He wore traditional clothing in shades of red, but had slid the shoulders down so that his entire chest and arms were bare. He held a bottle of sake in one hand, not even bothering with a cup. This was not really the worst part. He was surrounded by tanuki geishas, all in various states of undress, caressing him in all kinds of places. This Yokai was looking for a wife? Fumiko highly doubted it as she examined his rotting aura.

Lord Ritaru- somehow she felt very strongly he'd given himself this name by pushing others down- raised a brow at their abrupt entry. He ignored Fumiko, who was still obscured by her cloak, and focused on Tsuneo, yawning. "Listen, Tsuneo, if you're here to protest the task I gave you again, You can just leave. I already told you I'm putting your little sister up for her first customer if you can't produce the demigod. We all know you are immune to her purification, which is just weird anyways."

Suddenly Fumiko understood. He had been forced, as much as he tried to be casual about it. Her hand tightened on his arm in reassurance. For the first time in her life, she felt as though someone truly deserved death. She could feel no redeemable part of his black soul. Tsuneo stiffened and growled. "The only reason you're not already dead is because you have her and won't tell me where!" Lord Ritaru laughed and gestured a girl towards his lap. Oh my god, no way, thought Fumiko. There was no way she could sit through such an act.

"Soon enough it will be your sister in this room, performing for me. And that demigod too. I'll make her a w***e once she delivers me a child." Tsuneo could not help the massive roar that ripped from him, but Fumiko-hime placed her hand on his arm, making him pause. Her eyes seemed to tell him everything would be fine. She flicked her finger ever so slightly, which tossed the girl headed for the evil kitsune's lap gently backwards. She scurried away, not sure what had happened. "Hey, what was that?!" Lord Ritaru exclaimed.

Fumiko flung off her cloak, and her regalia plus her butterflies were in full force, hair flying. She addressed the women. "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave this room at once." She announced. They all scurried out. Lord Ritaru, having no notion of whom he was dealing with, merely clapped and eyed the new woman standing before him. Tsuneo locked the door, causing Lord Ritaru to lift a brow. Fumiko turned to Tsuneo. "I am offering you a place with my guard, as my familiar, Tsuneo. Do you accept?" She asked. With tears in his eyes, he nodded. "I will save your sister, this I promise you." She whispered as she kissed his forehead, sealing their bond. Lord Ritaru sat up, just then realizing he'd missed something important.

Tsuneo felt power surge through him, and he felt at peace. This was what he had been missing, he knew it from the bottom of his soul. He also knew that Fumiko-hime would protect his little sister and care for her as well. Lord Ritaru scrambled to his feet, trying to cover his nervousness with bravado.

"I see you've brought me another woman to distract me, but make no mistake, your sister is mine, and I will have the demigod!" He yelled.

Fumiko turned to him, smiling. "There is only one being I will ever allow to touch me in such a carnal way, and that is my husband-to-be, you cretin." She announced as her butterflies swarmed the room. "I am usually a forgiving woman, Ritaru, but you have forced my hand. Probably the same as you've forced these women to debase themselves." She snarled. Tsuneo stood stoic and ready to attack behind her.

"That's Lord Ritaru to you, slut!" He blustered.

"Titles are earned, Ritaru and you have done nothing of merit. That is not what is currently important, however. Where is Tsuneo's sister?" She questioned, her aura rolling out of her.

"Wh-wh-who are y-y-you?" He trembled, falling to his knees under the weight of it.

"Answer the question or I will just.. let my little friends sharpen their blades on you." She said as her butterflies issued a few sharp slices to his chest and arms. He cried out in pain.

"Fine, she's being held in the storage unit behind the the Inn." He blurted out. She nodded to Tsuneo.

"Go get her, I can handle this scum." She sneered. "Bring her back here, quickly."

"You and I, Ritaru, are going to have a little chat while we wait, mmkay?" She said with a sinister smile.

Tsukiyomi would have been so proud.