I was already fully dressed in my business suit as I reached for my blue traveling bag, and was ready to leave the hotel room for roughly two or three days... in Kurumi's care.
Not something I thought I would ever do in my life, but here I am.
And as I expected, Kotori informed me that Shido's school trip destination was changed from Okinawa to Arubi Island. I of course knew that it was thanks to the company responsible being connected with the DEM and because of Isaac setting his eyes on the closet available Spirit that being Tohka, in the hopes of capturing and Inversing her.
Yeah, like I will let the bastard get away with this, but that's a problem for me to deal with when the Miku arc comes around, but right now...
"Fou?" I called after the little critter that should have been waiting for me by the door but is nowhere to be seen. Is Kurumi still snuggling him in the bedroom?
Sighing, I turned back from the door, only for a familiar weight to start hanging on my back while a pair of hands covered my eyes. I probably shouldn't have ignored that small mana spike and maybe this giggling Kurumi clone wouldn't have got a jump on me... I think I got way too used to her presence to bother with it.
"Ara ara, leaving without saying anything onii-chan~?" Came the teasing voice of Kurumi, that surprisingly enough was not coming from the one on my back.
"I did not want to wake you up from your beauty sleep, dear little sister." I calmly replied with a small smile before sensing the small beast being close to Kurumi. "Oh, is Fou on your shoulder by the way? I don't want to be late for the plane and end up catching a ride on its wing, so could you please place him on my shoulder and let me see?"
I wanted to leave without catching Kurumi's attention, hoping that the past few weeks were enough to loosen up the girl's guard if only to make her sleep longer, and not try to sneak herself in on my couch in the middle of the night.
Which, regrettably, did not happen.
"Ah, but I wanted to give you a small gift before you leave." Said the girl, surprising me enough to raise a brow. "Kihihihi, just wait one moment~."
This was a bit odd and I was tempted to resist it, but last time Kurumi said something like that I ended up with cat ears on top of my head... I did, however, refuse to wear the tail though, much to the girl's displeasure.
So, I allowed her to continue as I felt the clone on my back wiggle a little and move the hands covering my eyes before I felt something sliding on the top of my ears and sitting on my nose.
"And... done, you can see now~." Kurumi giggled a bit and the clone removed her hands from my eyes and disappeared into the shadows.
And as she did so, I saw her dressed in her black dress as she was covering a small smile with her hand with Fou sitting on top of her head. Also, everything seemed to be colored in orange.
"... Sunglasses?" I asked, perplexed as I took the glasses off my nose and took a good look at them.
They were a simple pair of wide, circular, tinted orange sunglasses with a silver wire-frame, and they could easily hide my slit red eyes.
Looking at them, I can't but smile because I haven't replaced the destroyed ones yet, and was planning on getting a pair by buying them or using Gradation Air to create them on my way to the airport that is just outside the city.
"Ara? I see you like them already~." She teasingly said upon seeing me smile, only to freeze when one of my hands reached and took off Fou, while the other gave her a gentle head pat.
"Yes, I do like it, thank you Kurumi." I genuinely thanked the girl for the gift. "So, will you be fine for the next three to four days without me or Fou being around?"
"Hmm, I think I will be fine, and there is always the company of your weird birds if I'm too bored." She answered casually before locking her mismatched eyes with mine. "But, I can tell that you are expecting a little more than someone's temper tantrum... isn't that right?
...
She really is too smart for my own good, but there is little sense in lying to her now about the near future, as I can just chuck it up to a gut feeling, and so I sighed.
"Yes... the sudden change of the destination is most likely the work of DEM, meaning that they know at the very least about Tohka." I said while scratching the side of my head and choose to ignore an irritated glare from the girl. "Oh, and judging by the weather reports I believe that the Yamai Twins or better known as Berserk just so happen to move in the direction of that island."
Kurumi seemed to glare for a moment at me for withholding those details, but then she sighed and gave a small smile.
"Fufu, are you sure you don't want me to come too?" She asked while tilting her head to the side.
"As amusing as it would be," I said, stifling a giggle as I imagined Shido's reaction at Kurumi's presence there. "I must ask you to sit this one out."
"Fine..." Kurumi seemingly pouted and sighed.
"Good, now try not to bring every kitten you see while I and Fou are gone." I cheekily said as I watched the girl turn around and walk towards the living room waving goodbye with her hand.
So, with Fou on my shoulder and the suitcase in hand, I finally began making my way towards the airport when Fou decided to ask a question.
"Fou fou?" Quietly inquired the small beast.
"Yeah... she is a bit annoying, but having her here with us will let us stay informed better thanks to our combined information network." I answered after a moment of thought.
"Fou?" He asked again about the Yamai Twins.
"Ah, those two... they will be a headache to deal with, especially if they try to tangle us in their stupid battles." I said with some hesitation this time, as I knew the reason for their fights.
The desire to become one person again, not even considering any alternatives... it makes me furious just thinking about how stupid they could be. They are basically sisters at this point and the fact that they are currently drawing is telling everything.
"Neither wants the other to be gone nor do they themselves want to disappear." I muttered quietly and shook my head, much to Fou's confusion.
It doesn't matter, they will both be saved from that stupidity by Shido in the end and if not, then I'll simply spank it out of them after I will deal with the DEM.
I'm wondering though... will I recognize Ellen at first sight? After all, she is European and would stick out quite a bit on the plane, just as I will.
Anyway, something to think about when I reach the airport with the help of a bus that drives directly to it.
This meant an almost two hour trip up and down the crater of Tengu City, admittedly the view from the top was amazing, even better than the one that I get from one of my hotel room windows, which is located at the eastern side of the crater just as the Itsuka household is.
But I was quite surprised when I arrived at the rather large airport that was a few kilometers away from the city and failed to notice the presence of Ellen with the group of high school students, but I assumed that she must have already boarded the plane.
I did however notice Tohka, Shido, and Origami who in turn noticed me, but not Fou, who was kept hidden under my Concealment Phantasm.
When I was noticed by them, the blue-haired boy restricted himself to a simple nod and smile, Origami just gave me a short glare, and Tohka... she decided to wave and yell towards me, bringing the attention of her classmates on me.
That brought about a lot of whispering about 'that weird European guy', particularly from the three girls who I somewhat recognized.
I hope that those annoying girls will focus on Ellen and not me because I am hoping for a quick nap during the flight.
In hindsight, I should have just brought something to distract myself with.
----
And after what felt like countless hours, I've finally arrived at my destination and that made me feel... unsure.
Yes, the view was utterly breathtaking and in a way beautiful.
A castle on top of the tallest mountain, with rusted chains acting as a bridge to its gate with a hollowing black abyss below and the enormous moon shining above its tallest clockwork tower.
Once, it must have been pulsing with a life of its own, after all...
It is the Millennium Castle Brunestud.
Something that was once the home and a fragment of Crimson Moon's Reality Marble.
"Tsk, that's an annoyance." I said, clutching my forehead with my right hand and focused my sight on the moon.
I remembered less about the Tsukihime lore than I would have liked, but that part seemed so obvious to me, natural in a way, almost as if...
It was ingrained in my very being.
This slumbering castle exists in a place that is the closest to the moon, but not in a normal way, no. It exists in a place where the moon has the greatest influence on the world.
If that makes any sense...
Also, this is the place where my kin-! "No..." I whispered while shaking my head.
This castle was the ultimate protection of the True Ancestors... which makes me want to scoff because it did not save them from a bloodthirsty Arcueid, leaving only her and Altrouge as the last True Ancestors.
Huh, I have this sudden urge to hunt down a snake, if I ever leave my current world that is.
Ignoring that, I laid my eyes on the castle again, and I felt a little sad for some reason as if I was looking at something that I once held dear to me.
The castle was huge and it could probably hold a hundred or more people inside of it, its wall and towers were at least seven times the size of Shido's house with the one huge tower standing tall in the background.
Its architecture was an odd mix of Romanesque with some Gothic elements, particularly when it came to the towers with pointy roofs. However, when I decided to walk through the bridge made out of giant rusted chains I began to see how dilapidated the home of the True Ancestors truly was.
The walls that once must have been white like snow are now gray and chipped, some towers look like they're about to crumble, but the most glaring thing was now before me after I crossed the 'bridge'.
The gate.
Or, more like a door. A metal door that is five times my size and is now totally covered in rust, any letters or decorations that it once had were unrecognizable. So of course I made my way to it and laid my hands on the door to open it.
"Ugh?!" I groaned from the effort that I put into pushing the doors open, barely managing to make any progress.
Just... how heavy are these doors?
After a while however I have managed to throw them open, but I was surprisingly tired after it, I was even more surprised when I saw that behind that door I could see the courtyard already.
It was a field of beautiful white flowers that seemed to glow thanks to the moonlight, a broken fountain laid in the middle of it, and the courtyard itself was surrounded by the castle's walls, and behind the fountain was the main keep with its tower that stood tall above everything else.
Still... why am I hesitating? Why am I afraid of stepping into the castle itself, this just doesn't make any sense to me.
There should be no one in the castle who could threaten me, nor from what I know the castle itself doesn't have any traps to deal with any intruders. So why do I feel like making even one step forward could have consequences.
I mean, the only one I could think of being here would be...
"Arcueid." I whispered as I focused on the keep proper.
If she's here, then maybe... just maybe I could talk to her? She would most likely be asleep on her throne, but it is still the best option if I want to learn about being a proper True Ancestor myself, hell maybe I could even ask her to request Zelretch's help dealing with Mio.
Dismissing my previous worries, I steel myself and take my first step past the gate and into the courtya-
Welcome home.
And I stopped the moment that feeling hit me like a speeding truck.
That no matter how much I would like to deny it, this place, that the Millennium Castle Brunestud... is my home. Each step I took across the flower-filled courtyard seemingly reinforced that feeling as if I had done that countless times before.
Now, even the ruined fountain in the middle of it seems so familiar that I could imagine how it must have looked before, with crystal clear water pouring into its basin and-
"Hmm, how interesting." Said a female voice behind me and I froze. "Truly, you are a curious case, so far away and so confused too."
I was terrified, I knew that I should have not walked inside, because I forgot the fact that when the White Princess sleeps...
The Crimson Moon himself walks around the castle, waiting for the time to fuse with her.
I didn't look behind me, I simply stared at the fountain and tried to not end up running away, no matter how tempting the idea was, as I simply didn't know what to do now.
"Ah, you're afraid?" Asked me 'Arcueid' with a hint of curiosity and amusement in her voice.
Just my luck too, the little part of Crimson Moon being present and sensing me the moment I entered, but no worry I still didn't do anything too suspicoi-
"Are you... rejecting me?" She questioned me in bewilderment.
And I jinxed it.
I reluctantly turned around and the first thing I saw was narrowed eyes, a red so similar to my own as they stared with curiosity and annoyance.
"How a... e yo... d... it?" I think she was saying something, but it all started to become distorted and she must have noticed that judging from the anger in those eyes. "Me... ou... gain..."
----
I blinked.
Moving my head to the sides I noticed that I was back on the plane, with Fou sitting on my right shoulder and napping undetected, then I discretely looked at the back and noticed that Shido was doing the same with Tohka and Origami leaning on him.
I noticed that Tohka seemed to have some traces of drool on her face while Origami was smiling gently, causing me to smirk a bit.
At least someone is having a good nap.
I think I would prefer not to dream about anything ever again if that would mean I don't have to visit 'home' again and be faced with the shard of Crimson Moon in the form of Arcuied.
I didn't even manage to see more than her eyes and I'm sure that I do not want to even talk with her more, especially after what was said. I'm rejecting her? Is that thanks to my human origin, am I too alien to the alien?
"Ugh, that's too much of a headache." I muttered quietly under my breath.
"Sir, are you alright?" Came a worried question from the seat on my right.
I looked towards the source and... ah, that's right.
"Yes, I'm fine miss...?" I answered after lightly shaking my head.
"Ellen, and I'm glad you're fine sir...?" She answered after blinking in surprise.
"Please call me Al." I smiled at her and focused on the camera hanging on her neck. "You're that beautiful photographer that the company has sent with the kid's school trip?"
Ellen Mira Mathers, number one Wizard in the world, Isaac's right-hand woman and personal attack dog. Also, an utterly beautiful woman with pale blond hair, deep purple eyes, soft pale skin, and a slender gentle body.
Also, she's probably like forty plus years old but looks barely twenty, does the DEM have youth potions or something?
"Y-Yes, that's correct." She stuttered a little there and blushed? "Wait, you're not here with the students?"
"Nope." I swiftly answered with a grin. "I'm a tourist and I didn't know that I would be flying with an entire school, you see?"
Ellen seemed to be surprised at that, so I guess she must have taken me as a teacher aid or something like that and not some tourist that just happen to be traveling to the same place as her target.
"I see... say do yo-"
"Ellen!" An overly enthusiastic voice called out to the woman I hoped to talk for a bit.
I and Ellen looked towards the... oh dear, it's the three weird girls again standing next to us and I had to withhold a tired sigh.
"Ellen, you're supposed to be taking photos and not flirt with the suit guy." Proclaimed the blond and yellow-eyed Ai Yamabuki.
"Yes, you can work on your love life later Ellen." Chimed in the brown-eyed and brown-haired Mai Hazakura.
"That's so lame." Inputted the short girl with gray-purple eyes and hair named Mii Fujibakama.
I then turned my head towards Ellen, to see her face adorned with a nice shade of red and I grinned, much to her horror.
"Well, well, Ellen-san~." I began with a teasing tone causing the eyes of the woman to widen. "I did not know you're a cougar on the hunt."
The three girls gasped at that and most likely looked at the woman in horror and shock at the sudden realization.
"I-I... N-No, it's not l-like that!" Ellen tried to defend herself with little success as Mii commented with another 'lame'. "D-Damn y-you!"
Ellen then surprised me by reaching out with her hands for my throat and trying to choke me out of embarrassment.
"E-Ellen, I didn't know you're this forward with your kinks." I managed to speak, despite her hold on my throat to the growing terror of the woman. "B-But shouldn't we wait for... a more private place?"
"..." Ellen just looked at me, a mixture of horror, embarrassment, and bloodlust in burned in her eyes.
...
Worth it!
----
"Fou?" Asked an annoyed Fou.
"Yes, it still hurts." I answered and grabbed my neck that still felt sore.
I swear a human would have died from all the shaking and choking that an embarrassed Ellen can dish out. Still, even if I end up as the hated enemy of that woman I think it was worth it, if only for giggle's sake.
Wonder if Kurumi will find it funny after I tell her about it?
Anyway, after we landed on the crescent-shaped island, I went straight towards the local hotel where the students will also be staying for the next few days. I also was there before them, if only to avoid being questioned by Shido or Tohka about the 'screaming woman that was choking me on the plane'.
Funny how Ellen hid in the plane's bathroom after her screams woke everyone up and directed their attention on us.
So, now Shido's group went on a tour of the island while I'm standing around in the hotel's lobby and trying to sense out DEM's airship or the Yamai Twi-
"Fou!" The critter yelled out in alarm.
"They're coming towards the island?" I asked him for confirmation about the two sources of magical energy he detected well before me.
A mere moment later I also sensed them and was surprised by their speed, so I bolted towards the exit and used my Concealment the moment I knew I left the sight of any bystanders.
I ignored the sky that was darkened by gray clouds, the strong wind, and the occasional lighting. Instead, I focused on the signature of the twins, which wasn't too hard, they do stand out after all and feel like the raging wind itself, and they already were on the island, not that far away too.
"Hold on buddy, we're going to meet them." I said to my small companion with a mad grin on my face.
Just like in Ocean Park, I felt my mana gathering in my legs, waiting to be released, and when I did I was catapulted in the direction where I felt the twin's power hang in one place for a moment.
I felt the wind on my face and Fou's claws biting into my shoulder so that he would fly off, however, I knew I couldn't reach them in one jump and began to gather mana once again in my legs for the landing.
This actually helped to smooth the landing enough from a deathly danger to a normal human to an annoyance and helped to launch me off again.
As I was in the air I finally noticed two objects moving with incredible speed in the air and colliding with each other... and I chuckled a bit. Those two will be such a pain to deal with.
I then landed on a road and noticed Shido and an unconscious Tohka handing on his back below the road, and I waved my hand at the boy.
"Oi Shid-" Was all I managed to say before...
SLAM!
"GAH!" I yelped as a pair of fists hit me right in the face and stunning me just for a second.
In that second the girls that hit me had probably realized their mistake, but not the magnitude of it, as after regaining myself my hands reached for the girl's ears, and I pulled them closer and ignored their yelps of pain.
"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOLTS DOING?!" I shouted at the two girls whose ears I held firmly in my hands.
They really are acting like kids...
XXXX
So, this took way too much time to write... and somehow the hardest thing was the very start of the chapter, I don't know why honestly.
Yeah, Al got away from a talk for now, but can you really run away from dreams? Next time CM might not just let him go.
