“I didn’t expect you back so soon.” Mizuki replied as she stared at Sora.

Unsurprisingly, Sora found her exactly as she had left him – sprawled all over the divan.

Sora did not believe her when she said ‘I didn’t expect you back so soon’. The statement could be interpreted two ways – first, Sora was expected back but at a later time, second – he was never expected back. In all likelihood it was the first statement. It made Sora wonder to what extent was Mizuki ‘all knowing’? Were there any limits to her foresight?

Just for clarification, Sora had no doubt Mizuki was the same as Yuko Ichihara the anime character. Even though she called herself Mizuki in this game, she was most certainly Yuko. However, Sora made no allusions to that as it would serve no purpose. If Yuko, wanted to call herself Mizuki – Sora couldn’t care less.

Mizuki truly meant what she said; she imagined that Sora would considerable time finding his way to the lower floor. Then, unexpectedly run into the ‘woman’ and taste defeat. There was also an expectation that Sora would be heavily injured before coming to see her however Sora betrayed those expectations when he returned completely intact.

There were a lot of questions floating in Mizuki’s mind – how was it possible for Sora to be unscathed. The woman who stood awaiting him on the lower floor was no ordinary woman; she was a master amongst masters...

“I decided it was better to take you up on your offer than to break a woman’s heart.” Sora answered without a hint of emotion. It conveyed neither his true feelings on the subject nor the real reason why he didn't fight the woman.

Why the sudden change of heart? – Mizuki wondered.

It was not so long ago that Sora had been so completely incorrigible. He adhered to none of her requests. Therefore, it was outside the realm of her expectations that Sora would return completely obedient. She expected more angst and resistance instead before he completely accepted the position of a Gate Keeper.

“How noble of you…” Mizuki replied back in an unsure manner. Very rarely was Mizuki uncertain about something; Sora’s case that seemed to happen a lot more often.

“However, the room she occupies belongs to the Gate Keeper. Unless you subdue her or force her out, it would be impossible for you to take up my offer.” This was a test. Mizuki could easily remove the woman from the Gate keeper’s chambers. But would she? No.

To be exact both Mizukia and Sora were engaged in mind games – each trying to out think / outwit the other. Their words carried double meanings; each question or reply had a different intention behind it than the obvious that was reflected. They both were prying for information and trying to glean out some additional insight into the other. For example: Mizuki was uncertain what Sora’s intentions were. Further, she was not aware how Sora got away from the chamber so easily. Either he never went to the Gate Keeper’s chamber or he never fought the woman. The woman in the gate Keeper’s chamber was not of a lower level than Toketsu. She should have had no difficulty subduing Sora….however since Sora came back completely fine…..Mizuki needed to learn what happened. By putting forth a trial of sorts, she hopped to clear the air of mystery surrounding Sora and hopefully reveal his intentions. If Sora fought the woman, he would learn a lesson and beg Mizuki for help.

However, Sora approached the same situation in an opposite manner. Sora suspected, the woman present in the dungeon room was part of a trial prepared by Mizuki. Although, she appeared weaker than Sora – Sora was second guessing that it was a trap. In rock, paper, scissors – which is the strongest one? Even if Sora defeated the woman guarding the exit to the lower floor, it was likely that it would end in some kind tragedy for him. Sora truly believed in ‘no happy endings’. Therefore, Sora had decided to avoid fighting the woman to begin with. Why engage in a trial where one is doomed to fail? The last thing, Sora wanted was to come back to Mizuki begging her for help….

“Why can’t she be the Gate Keeper?” Sora asked revealing an irritated tone. Was there any point to having him as a Gate Keeper? If there was someone so capable, was there any real need to have him?

There was. However, Mizuki was not going to reveal it to Sora.

“The duty is not hers to keep. She is terribly weak. She would do miserable as a Gate keeper (*a very big lie). See, outside the window? See the ruckus? Those monsters from the lower floors are making their way up here and she is doing nothing to stop them.”

“And you would have me stop them? What if I don’t listen to you?”

“Why would any monster listen to me?” Mizuki asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Sometimes, I forget that you know nothing.” Mizuki sighed as though she were speaking to an idiot. “Naturally, becoming a Gate Keeper comes with its own benefits. Those benefits are granted when you fulfil your duties.”

“Can’t you extend the same benefits to her?”

“Unfortunately, she in uninterested in those. After all, you did kill her master.’

“The vampire?”

Mizuki simply nodded.

“So it is a matter of the heart?”

“A maiden in love.” Mizuki replied with a teasing cold voice.

“And is she human?”

Mizuki paused and thoughtfully replied. “In the end, we are all monsters. Are we not?”

“Are you a human?” Sora asked picking up on the cue. It was very apparent that Mizuki refused to answer that question.

“A sorceress.”

Sora wondered what that meant. What does one’s profession have anything to do with their race? But he moved on, “Then, until I defeat her…it is not possible for me to advance further?”

“Yes.”

“And what are the benefits that you extend to me?”

“I am aware that you are looking for something. I can aid you in your search.”

Sora would have readily accepted her offer but he had to know the full terms of his employment – you can never be too sure with this woman. “And?”

“And?” Mizuki asked back not following.

“How long must I be a Gate Keeper?”

“Till you are defeated.” Mizuki replied with a vile smile. – So how will you respond to this? If you remain undefeated you will forever be my slave and if you are defeated you will die. Mizuki planned victory both ways.

“I accept your terms.” Sora replied swiftly.

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Author's Note:

1.

Readers: You lied to us!

Author-sama: Muahahahahahaha! Now you must read another chapter!! Muahahahahahahaha!!

Readers: Nooooooooooooooo!

Author-sama >

Readers: So is there more?

Author-sama: Shhh!! I am pretending to be dead....of course there isn't more.

2. Thank you for reading! But please live in the now! When reading, only read and when in class only study / be in class. :-/ Seriously, last thing I need is a reader blaming me for their failed trigo-test. #KingAuthor.

3. I hated writing this chapter. It was so boring and pointless....but I just needed to write this chapter. So if you hate this chapter, then it's okay. We can hate this chapter together.