VIII

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Arc VIII Chapter 11

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The day ended, and the sun set on the horizon. The last rays of the daylight vanished, replaced by frozen darkness and the coming night. The temperatures fell, and the city turned hostile to human life.

Yuki's breath congealed in the cold air as they were searching for a warm place to spend the night,

Yuki shivered. Her body was freezing, and her companion was useless.

Tobi was a natural idiot. His unreliable sense of direction got them lost over and over again. They were even forced to ask for directions.

The wrong street. They wrong shabby inn. The prices were daylight robbery. The food quality dubious. No running water. The rooms didn't befit nee-san's standing and status.

Yuki clenched her fists, determined to achieve her goal. She would find the best inn in the entire city and make nee-san proud. Nee-san deserved nothing less than the best.

They succeeded eventually and located a suitable place. They even organised some food as they were both hungry. The day was long and their stomachaches roared.

Tobi enjoyed his sweet dangos and his mountain of empty plates grew.

Yuki disapproved. The spendthrift wasted nee-san's money.

Tobi's mouth was stuffed full of dango sticks. "Sommmething wronmmmg, Yuki? You don't look happy."

Yuki deflected. "Never mind. Nothing important.“

Tobi tilted his head. He was confused. “Really? Tobi doesn't think so. Tobi thinks you should tell Tobi! Talking helps!“

...

...

...

Yuki disagreed and crossed her arms. “...“

Tobi rubbed his chin, thinking. "Tobi has a solution."

Tobi presented her with his brilliant solution, a dango. "Tada, dangos help against worries and mild depression!"

Yuki narrowed her eyes. No wonder nee-san loved hitting Tobi. The same urge befell Yuki. Tobi, the ideal punching bag.

"I doubt a simple dango will help ..."

Tobi poked her cheeks with his dango.

Tobi poked her.

Tobi poked her.

"Are ~ you ~ sure ~? Dangos ~ are ~ really ~ tasty ~."

...

...

...

Yuki accepted his dango to stop his incessant nagging. she was hungry, and she liked sweets.

Yuki consumed her sweet joy.

"Tell me, what's the issue? You can trust Tobi! Tobi is reliable!“

Yuki gave him a blank stare before accepting his offer. She trusted him once.

"I am worried about nee-san. I am worried nee-san won't return."

Tobi blinked behind his mask. Yuki was worried about Asami, the heartless grim reaper of Konoha, the black-winged loli of death.

Yuki lowered her head. "I know Mistuhiko. He can't be trusted." Her uncle was a dangerous man. She didn't want to lose Asami as well.

Tobi reassured her with a smile. "Senpai will retrun, I am sure. Senpai~ is strong."

Yuki wasn't convinced. "Nee-san doesn't strike me as strong."

Tobi nearly choked on his tango. “What?“ The little demon in black ... weak?

Yuki nodded. Nee-san was hugging, huggling, cuddling her on a daily basis. Nee-san treated her like her personal teddy bear. Nee-san tucked her in at night. Nee-san enjoyed pinching her cheeks.

Nee-san was the older sister she never had. Nee-san was sweet, fluffy, cuddly. Nee-san didn't appear dangerous, not to mention strong.

Yuki awaited Tobi's answer. His answer never came. Tobi was left speechless. He was lost for words.

Tobi scratched his head. "Tobi thinks Yuki-chan should worry ... less ... "

Yuki didn't react. Her frozen eyes stared into the dark cold night.

Tobi followed her sight and fell silent. Curious spectators gathered on the empty streets as the entire horizon glowed purple. Burning ash and smoke illuminated the night. The fragrance of burnt wood permeated the air.

The column of smoke rose skywards fuelled by the wrathful flames. Blazing purple flames consumed the castle. Nothing could ever withstand the voracious fire, the raging flames

Tobi observed, drawn in by the mysterious purple flames. The fire, the aura felt ... familiar. He had witnessed such power before.

Tobi's voice turned sober. "It seems your worries were ... unfounded."

"Indeed."

Yuki recognised nee-san's sweet melodic, angelic voice. Her face blushed.

Asami strolled through the streets with an oversized gold neko in her arms.

"It took me some time to find you.“ Asami beamed. “I wondered where you had gone ..."

Two tiny arms curled around Asami's hip. Yuki hugged her, and Yuki had no intention to stop. The hug continued and time passed.

Asami greeted her with a warm smile. Her heart was glad to see Yuki again.

"Tobi, take care of my cat for a few seconds." Asami handed Tobi her new feline friend. Looting the castle was a profitable affair. Sadly, the fire claimed the majority of her spoils, but Asami saved the cat.

"Understood, senpai!" Tobi saluted and accepted the statue. He regretted his decision immediately. The weight of the gold pulled him down. The statue was heavy.

Asami smirked. "Be careful, Tobi, don't damage my cat."

Tobi groaned. The cat ... was ... heavy. "I will try my best ..."

He dropped the cat and the statue hit the ground.

Asami rewarded Tobi with an annoyed stare.

Tobi scratched his head innocently. "Sowwy, senpai."

“Sorry my ass.“ Asami fumed. He dropped the cat. Even the head broke off, revealing a scroll hidden inside the hollow torso. A curious find.

Asami retrieved the withered scroll. The scroll was old, not say ancient. A scroll from the distant past whose purpose had been long since forgotten. Only a cat paw decorated the seal.

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