Chapter 149 - Suzaku's determination

That girl was in the upper grades of primary school when Suzaku Himejima met her.

She was a child who had been hated by her own relatives since birth. Suzaku had been meeting this child secretly on occasion for several months.

On that day, too, Suzaku had lied about going to a Shinto shrine associated with the Himejima family, and instead went to a secret location where the child had been housed. That place was heavily guarded, which meant that neither ordinary people nor ordinary practitioners could simply appear there.

But Suzaku knew how to overcome those defences. This had nothing to do with her being the most talented woman in her family since childhood but was because she had been taught how to get past those defences.

She only had to follow a path in an infinitely straight line without escaping. No matter how many times she reached the same turn, Suzaku only had to make a special hand-seal with her hand to keep going.

After several minutes of walking, she arrived at a single-story house that was not in its best condition. The house had once served as a shrine, but had been abandoned for a long time.

As she entered the grounds, Suzaku could see a girl playing alone in the distance, drawing on the garden floor. She was a little girl about seven or eight years old with a shiny black ponytail.

The girl turned when she noticed a presence behind her. Seeing that it was Suzaku, she ran toward it with a smile that lit up her entire face. And, just like that, she plunged into Suzaku's chest.

"Suzaku-nee-sama!"

Suzaku hugged the girl who had jumped on her chest with love.

"Akeno, were you drawing something? Did you memorize the exorcism technique Shuri-oba-sama taught you?"

When Suzaku asked this with a smile, little Akeno stuck out her tongue and said: "It's okay if I memorize it with Suzaku-nee-sama."

For some reason, Suzaku found that gesture personally relaxing.

Suzaku and Akeno were very much alike. Although that was to be expected. Akeno was Suzaku's first cousin. Akeno's mother was Suzaku's mother's younger sister, so they had strong blood ties.

"Oh my, Suzaku-chan. You have arrived."

A woman appeared on the porch. She also had a face very similar to the other two girls. She was Suzaku's aunt and Akeno's mother.

"Shuri-oba-sama, I ask you to forgive my intrusion."

Shuri, pleased with Suzaku's visit, greeted her with a smile.

Along with her aunt Shuri, Suzaku had tried to test whether the young Akeno could adapt to the techniques handed down by the Himejima clan. The primary foundations were the Five Phases, the attributes of the five elements: fire, water, wood, metal, and earth.

(Everything related to these Five Phases is canon, although it has not expanded much on this. I am one of those who think that Naruto's system of elements is much simpler than this one. Still, I will have to do some research to be able to develop it better in the future. Shuri has not died, and Akeno has not become Devil, so she will learn these powers as well)

The Himejima, because of their belief in gods belonging to the Hi-no-Kagutsuchi-no-kami lineage, were a family that mainly manifested supernatural powers related to fire. Suzaku and Shuri were no exception.

However, Akeno demonstrated her overwhelmingly talent with lightning instead of fire. No doubt this was because she was the daughter of a certain person... and that was unfavourable information for those connected to the Himejima.

And then, there was one more point that Shuri had told her. Akeno had a constitution that was favourable to oni. This was something that Akeno carried inside her body that was identical to her mother, Shuri, or so Suzaku believed.

For the Himejima clan... there were numerous instances where those who lacked the divine protection of fire were forcibly exiled. Akeno in particular, because of her different bloodline, was viewed as nothing less than a disgrace by Himejima's superiors.

If only she had a talent for fire, or possibly the divine grace of the Hinokagutsuchi line, it could be an entirely different story...

This result had brought much pain to Suzaku, as well as to Shuri.

Akeno will never be welcomed by the Himejima.

Suzaku and Shuri looked after Akeno, who was playing alone in the garden.

Suddenly, Shuri spoke to Suzaku.

"Suzaku-chan, if anything ever happened to me..."

After saying that, Shuri shook her head.

"No, please, forget it. You're the next generation of family heads. Being elected by the Himejima family. I won't let the matter that concerns us affect you."

Suzaku took Shuri's hand.

"Oba-sama, please don't talk like that."

She said it clearly with a determined look.

"I.....if I become the head of the family, I intend to make reforms so that Oba-sama and Akeno can return to the family. Also, I've decided that I want to do everything I can to get all the exiles back into the family. After all, is it not sad.....that even though we have the same blood running through our veins, we are discriminated against because of small differences in ability....?"

In fact, Suzaku... from birth, had been born under the divine protection of Hinokagutsuchi and was compatible with 'Suzaku', the sacred beast that ruled the Himejima family, and as such was the rare existence even within the family that was allowed to be named with that same kanjis.

From birth, she was a child whose future as head of the family was destined...

The young mind of Suzaku, however, resented the way her relatives had handled things. Though they were not blessed with the power of fire, they were still kinsmen in whose veins the same blood flowed. Banishing them like this only created feelings of resentment toward such arbitrariness.

When I am head of the family, I will not be like all the successive heads of the family have been... This is what he decided in her heart. Even if it promised to be a thorny path.

Shuri brushed the cheek of Suzaku.

"...You are very kind, Suzaku-chan. You are a kind girl, not like someone from Himejima. ...No matter how many painful things happen, even if that dream changes, your kind heart will never change."

As Shuri embraced her with a trembling voice, Suzaku couldn't understand at that moment what her aunt was saying..... The only thing she could perceive was Shuri's warmth.

--Several years later, her aunt Shuri was attacked by powerful hostile assassins who resented the fallen angels, and she lost her life.

Or that is what should have happened, if not for the fact that someone interfered with that assassination attempt.

Ironically, it was the day Suzaku underwent the ceremony of the inheritance of the sacred beast [Suzaku].

She learned the details the next day, after the ceremony was completely over.

Baraqiel's friends, a dragon and a Nekomata, saved the lives of Baraqiel's family and his student.

Suzaku knew that Suou was involved in this. How could they have so many details if not for the fact that they had been spying on them throughout the process?

She was upset, but there was nothing she could do at the moment. Suzaku visited the house where Shuri and Akeno used to live a few days later, but it had already been completely abandoned.

She swore to herself on that day that she would reform the Himejima.

--Once I become the head of the family, I will reform the Himejima. If it's for that reason, I will imbue this body with hellfire no matter what the discomfort.

-So, Akeno, Shuri-oba-sama. When the time comes for you to return, surely...

And now, the seventeen-year-old Himejima Suzaku carried the same desire as she had since those days when she stood before the destroyed house of Shuri.

"After so long, I will be able to see you again, Akeno..."

"And Drako... I have to thank you properly..."

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"So this Suzaku Himejima wants to meet you next Saturday."

"That's right, she has information regarding the remaining Fiends."

Kuroka and Drako were sharing a bathroom. Lavinia only went to the pools once or twice a week, so she only used the bathrooms on the lower floors on those days.

"And who are you taking with you, Nyaa?"

Kuroka was sitting on Drako's lap, though she was making suspicious bounces.

"To all those connected with the Four Fiends. Well, it's not like I'm gonna turn anyone else away if you want to come. The meeting place is a nearby town, so we can take a walk and have some entertainment. Oh, yeah, I'm also bringing little Akeno with me."

"Is that so?"

Kuroka was using Drako as a chair while riding his c.o.c.k. This was the position they used when discussing serious matters.

Drako felt Kuroka's v.a.g.i.n.a tighten, squeezing his c.o.c.k to the fullest. The sensation was infinitely pleasurable, and he was close to ejaculating. Kuroka felt it as well, and increased the speed of her movements.

"Ugh... I'm coming!"

"Me too...! Nyaaaaa!"

Drako's c.o.c.k reached the bottom of Kuroka's v.a.g.i.n.a, reaching the uterus. He let his entire load enter Kuroka's interior, and it was no small load.

Kuroka let herself fall onto Drako. The creampie had satisfied her... for the moment.

"Come to think of it... Natsume and Lavinia are going, aren't they?" Kuroka asked.

"That's my intention. Akeno, Tobio, Kouki, Sae, Natsume, Lavinia and Valina. They are all coming. It will be a small reward for all the effort they are putting into their training." Drako responded.

"This is the perfect opportunity, Nyaa! You have to take Lavinia and Natsume shopping, and improve your relationship with them!"

Drako sighed. Was this really the time to talk about this?

"Aren't you coming?"

"Me? No, no. I can't leave Shirone alone with Mordred. Who knows what state my pretty little sister will end up in if I don't have my eyes on her. And before you say anything... no, Shirone is not going with you. I don't want her involved in any trouble yet."

Drako knew there was no way to convince Kuroka if she had decided anything.

"All right, I'll do my best. Though it would be easier if you or Mordred joined us, in case anything unexpected happened."

Drako knew his own limitations. With his skills, Drako was confident he could take on Ultimate-Class beings. Still, he had no confidence in winning against Maou-Class or Cadre-Class. The difference in statistics was too great.

"Talk to Mordred, I've already told you everything I have to say. Next Saturday, Shirone and I will have a movie session with Valerie. Maybe we should invite that little pervert and Raynare... Nyaaa!"

Kuroka shouted in surprise when Drako shoved his c.o.c.k back in. It seemed the dragon had recovered and was ready for another round.

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The next Saturday, Drako took the group into town.

The people making up the trip were: Drako, Akeno, Valina, Lavinia, Mordred, Kouki, Natsume, Tobio and Sae.

Those who stayed at home were: Kuroka, Shirone, Valerie and Issei.