Empresses of the Swarm.

Chapter 1 Prologue-Awakening of the Second Empress.

Dimension. Underverse NO.002587.

Type. Alternant Prime Universe Earth with Magical, Supernatural and Steampunk Fantasy Elements.

Date. 1615.

Location. Japan. Honshu Island. Imperial city Kyoto.

Found the auto centering :)

After three years -_-

The imperial capital of Kyoto glistened like a jewel of many lights as it was seen from above. The million or so people that call it home walked about its stone streets and 15th century japanese style architecture Illuminated by blue flame street lights, their tops shaped like metal lanterns with six high sides of glass. The street lights like many things in this world similar to but different from own functioned through magically powers named Sprite force. A material manifestation of ones soul and will power that could be formed into anything ones mind and heart wanted or needed including spirit beasts, weapons or armor and even elemental effects like fire or light or even ice.

Such powers are the bases of the current advanced nature of Japanese society along with many innovations in steam technology exported from Europe such as magical stone powered steam engines and railway trains crisscrossing the island nation. Countless lights of many colors created by spirit force users floated through the sky over the city as a spectacle for the festival celebrating the founding of the empire nearly a thousand years ago.

Men in the red light district cohorted with the woman of the brothels drinking, laughing and entertaining themselves. In the common districts children and their families enjoyed themselves playing festival games like Kingyo Sukui (goldfish scooping) Shateki ( Cork gun-shooting) Wanage (ring toss) and wore masks such as Hyottoko, which is a mask of a guy making silly face, Tengu, a character with red face and long nose, and a mask of white fox among many others as well as enjoying the food from all the different stalls scattered about the festival grounds.

And in the upper class district the rich and powerful enjoyed the company and entertainment of geisha. Women of high class entertainment who entertain through performing the ancient traditions of art, dance and singing, and are distinctively characterized by their wearing of vibrant kimono and oshiroi white makeup with their hair tied up with golden and be jeweled hair pins.

As the celebrations went on through the night the view changed to a guard yawning in his samurai armor holding a spear as he guarded a gate separating the imperial palace complex resting at the center of the eternal capital with the rest of the city surrounding it. He looked a bit bored from his job guarding the palace for hours on end but was still attentive to his duty as there was a highly important meeting being conducted in the home of the imperial family. For a moment he glanced around the gate entrance to the impressive multi-story Palace buildings beyond checking as he thought he heard noise come from inside. Another guard walked closer and two waved at each other.

A few moments later there was a loud crashing noise drawing the attention of the guards as they looked at the building containing the main meeting hall and throne room in the center of the palace complex. The building erupted into a cloud of smoke and debris and pieces from the structure exploded outwards as two gigantic beings pushed their way out from the confining building. One a spirit summons in the form of a giant samurai wearing a fierce red mask which bore a angry expression with glowing red eyes and fanged teeth for a mouth on the mask. On it's shoulder rode a young man in a lord's robe with armored arms and legs with a form fitting plate on his chest wilding a long bladed Shinogi-Zukuri (katana).

And emerging from the opposite side of the collapsing building was a massive heavily armored beast with four thick legs and four bladed arms from it's humanoid upper torso. It's upper body from the shoulders back had a layer of plating that extended backwards. It's head had six eyes flexible plating on the side for jaws and a single horn. Riding atop the beast was a beautiful woman with long azure blue hair tied into a long ponytail and blood red eyes and whose body, her body covered in emerald colored organic scales and armor like plating that perfectly followed her bodies natural curves while also protecting the vital spots with thicker plates on the for-arms, for-legs, along her spine, over her collarbone and chest. Her dragon like wings spread outwards as she gave the man atop his spirit warrior a death glare.

In the next moment both the ultralisk and the giant spirit warrior raised their blades and swung at each other creating a shockwave that sent the observing guards flying onto their behinds as the two giants battled in the palace grounds.

Ten years before.

Southern Japan.

Masamune clan's Home island Kyushu.

In a open field surrounded by a thick wooded forest stood a rounded wood target on a tripod base lashed together with rope. A bow was raised and a arrow notched on the string and after a few seconds of aiming it was released. Flying down range 50 meters the arrow wavered and flexed through the air striking the lower right of the target.

The young blue haired red eyed human girl in a short dull green kimono grinned happily seeing her hard work pay off over the last few days. "Yes" she exclaimed raising her arms up and down to her sides.

"Not bad considering the distance." said a pink haired Oni woman.

She wore a white kimono embroidered with green vines and red leafs stood behind the girl. "Your archery skills are improving quickly."

The girl turned around looking up at the tall woman twice her height. The pink haired woman had two smooth white rounded horns curve upwards from the for-head of her strikingly beautiful face. "Mom? how long do I have to train until I can hunt with you?"

The horned Oni woman placed a finger to her chin in thought. "Mmm. Maybe in a few years if you keep up with your training," she said smiling.

"Aww that's to long," The girl pouted crossing her arms.

The Oni woman smiled again placing a hand on her adoptive daughters shoulder. "Ok a few months then. But all in dew time Haruka. I'm just worried that you won't be able to protect yourself out there. The forest can be a dangerous place for those who underestimate the Yokai and other beasts that call the wilds home."

Little Haruka sighed. "Ok I understand. But i'm going too keep going until dusk ok mom."

The Oni woman gently nodded taking her hand off Haruka. "Ok but come inside when your done dear."

"I will mom," Haruka replied before grabbing another arrow from the quiver of arrows on the ground beside her.

Notching another arrow on the string again she pulled back on the bow string aimed and released. The arrow flew through the air striking above to the right of the first. She drew another arrow repeating the process over and over again until depleting the quiver. Then she would run down range to retrieve her used arrows placing them back in the quiver and repeat the whole process over and over for hours.

Hours later the Oni woman walked into the living room of the her house. Like all traditional house's that typified the era it was a wooden structure with a foundation elevated slightly off the ground, with a black tiled roof. Sliding paper doors (Fusuma) in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space to be customized for different occasions. The living room had three sides with open walls to the outside and one side connecting to the kitchen and stairs to the second level.

Through one opened wall with a view of the field the Oni woman saw Haruka and stopped to watch as her adoptive daughter continued her bow training. Wondering about the child's future she remembered the promise she made to the child's father all those years ago when he came from out of the blue one day requesting that She, his former war friend take in and protect his child. The circumstances were odd and frustrating to Her at the time and she nearly rejected the plea from her old friend. But in the end She took in the child and raised her as her own ever since for the past ten years.

As she watched her adoptive daughter train a pure white cat wandered up to Her jumping onto the four legged short table. "Kaguya?" said the cat.

Looking down to her cat/spirit beast created by and passed down through her mother's side of the family Kaguya answered. "Yes? Shiro."

"How long do you intend to keep little Haruka in this stuffy house? She is ten years old already."

Kaguya became sullen as the reality of her and Haruka's situation became more apparent with each passing day.

"I know my clan will eventually learn of her existence sooner or later. That's why I moved to this rural area in the first place," she said turning back towards Haruka. "But thats why Im training her now so she can take care of herself when she has to leave here. I just wish father and the rest of my clan would see things my way and just let her stay with me."

"You know they won't if they learn of her identity."

"I know Shiro. My clan will view their contract with the Humans as greater importance than to some child one of their own took in as a favor to a friend."

Shiro looked off into the distance as Haruka let loose another arrow. "And she'll be taken to be either killed or given away as a prisoner or become slave for the rest of her life. All because some old guy saw a vision. This is why I hate people who obsess over the future and rely on that kind of spirit magic."

"Anyway we should prepare for the meeting fore our honored guests tonight," said Kaguya.

Shiro sighed. "I really dislike those four. Why should we have to host their meetings. Really they can't go to the top of the mountain for a chat once a year on their own."

"It was one of the condition's for their help in keeping Harukas identity hidden and allowing us to build a house on this mountain that I play host to their yearly meeting's"

"I know I know Let's get the food." Shiro replied as he walked off to the kitchen.

He was followed by Kaguya who stopped at a cabinet taking out a set of porcelain cup's, plates and a teapot decorated with flowers. Shiro walked to the fridge creating a pair of human arms made of blue flame extending from his back. With them he opened the fridge and took out a few plate's of large slices of cooked and seasoned meat, fried Tofu, fresh vegetables and fruit. Shiro pulled the plates out and placed them on the counter before closing the fridge door.

"It's a good idea we prepared these a day before their meeting," said Kaguya as she returned to the main room placing the plates and cups on the table before filling the tea pot with hot water.

"It does make thing easier at least. But their not as fresh as they could be." Shiro replied as he placed his plate of food on the table.

Out in the field Haruka smelled something sweet and stopped to smell the air before turning her head to the house.

Inside the house she saw her mother and Shiro preparing the table. "It is that time of the year I guess." Haruka spoke allowed before returning to her training.

A few more hours passed and Haruka's hands now had a few blisters and were sore from loosing the sting so many times. But as she looked at her sore and blistered hands Haruka felt a sense of joy and accomplishment from the sight of her target having all twenty arrows in it. Most being towards the center with only a few having missed. Most likely from her tiredness from going at it for half the day with little to no rest.

"Oww!" Haruka said feeling her reddened hands. "Aah. That's enough for today. I'm bet," She looked off into the distance of the sky as the sun drifted down into the horizon hidden behind the dark forest. "Time to go inside."

Haruka slowly walked the distance through the field to the house she had lived in since she was baby never having ever left the surrounding area thanks to her over-protective mom. As she approached the house she saw the moving silhouettes of Kaguya, Shiro and the four guests through the closed (fusuma) sliding doors illuminated by the house light.

Haruka had been apart of a few of the meetings back when she was younger but as she got older she became aware of the fact she didn't really have much conversational skills as she would often just sit there listening to the others talked. With little subjects to converse about with people much older then herself she felt out of place and unneeded in that kind of situation. With a sigh she decided to not interrupt them and instead went behind the house to the right.

Making her way passed the kitchen and bathroom windows she entered quietly through the front door and on the tips of her feet sneaked up stairs to her room. Once inside she slid the door to her room open and entered closing it behind her selfe. Breathing a sigh of relief she placed her bow on it's wall mount but suddenly realized she had left the arrows out in the field. Fatigue the obvious cause of the absent mindedness.

"Damn! the arrows!"

She had made those arrows her selfe and valued them. She wasn't just going to let them rot out in the morning dew. So with a heavy sigh she once again left her room went down stairs quietly making sure not to make a sound as she snuck back out and back the way she had came before. Running through the edge of the field to the target. She pulled out the last of the arrows placing them into the quiver before running back the way she had come. It was pitch dark outside by the time she was back in her own room.

Needing light she reached out to the pull string hanging down from the inside lamp hanging from the middle of the ceiling and pulled. Her room was bathed in a blue warm light from two hollow rings of glass filled with spirit fire that illuminated the darkened room with it's contained light. With her room now lit she hung the quiver of arrows on the upwards curved rest of the bow mount and turned to her closet set in the wall. She slid the door open taking out a folded up futon and pillow and lazily flopped them on the floor.

"Ahh... bed at last!"

With that exclamation she promptly dropped onto her futon quickly falling to sleep. During her waking dream Haruka dreamed of her life. The years she spent with her mother and Shiro. The times she would play tag with the white spirit beast cat running through the fields and forest many times in different seasons playing tag and hide and seek. Other times she would just stare up at the dark stormy sky as it rained creating small pools and lakes in the fields around the house. And other times her mother held her close when she was little. And the lonely times when mother would leave for a friends house once a year for some business they had arranged. During those times Shiro would stay with her but it still felt lonesome without mom around. The only thing Haruka liked about those long trips her mother would take was that fact she would always bring back a bag full of candy and sometimes toys when she returned.

It helped soften the loneliness but not as much as the promise of one day going to see the town with them one day. But she knew that her mother and Shiro were hiding something but what it was was up for debate.

Haruka turned over onto her back properly laying on the futon and pulling the cover's over her self. It was then she opened her eyes to the ceiling and the light glaring at her.

"To bright" she she moaned in contempt of the light. Sitting up and reaching up she grabbed the pull string and pulled it twice. Once to turn off one of the two rings of light lowering the light level by half and the second to turn it off completely. With the room now dark she laid back down and drifted of to sleep.

Opening her eyes in the morning birds chipped and chipmunks chittered as they ran across the trees limbs outside her window.

Haruka gave a big yawn stretching her arms and legs on the floor. After her morning stretches she stood up and started folding her futon bed up before placing it back into the closet then leaving her room. Making sure to close the door behind her she walked down the stairs yawning on the way her eyes half open.

She reached the main room where her mother was waiting for her. "Morning sleepy head," Kaguya said from her set by the table in the living room.

"Morning..." Haruka replied rubbing her eyes.

"Come here Haruka I have something to show you."

Following her mother's instructions she walked over and sat legs crossed on one of the pillows by the table. "What is it?"

Reaching into her kimono Kaguya pulled out a green leaf emblazoned with blue glyphs that Haruka didn't understand the reason for or language but was intrigued all the same. "What's that?"

"This is a transformation token. It was given to me by one of my guests last night. They know of your situation and wise to lend if only a little bit of help."

The words of her mother made Haruka hesitate with her response. "Am I in some kind of trouble?"

Shiro leaped onto the table giving Kaguya a look before she turned back to Haruka.

"Haruka..." Kaguya said making her adoptive daughter fell uncomfortable because whenever she was called by her name like that she was usually in trouble like the time she set fire to the house that one time totally by accident.

"Yeah."

"Do you want to go into town with me." it was said more as matter fact as the reply was already predicted.

"Yes..." Haruka answered.

"Do you know the difference between us."

"Yes?" Haruka answered again not liking where this conversation was heading.

"You are Human and I'm a Oni correct," Kaguya said matter factly.

"I know."Haruka replied glancing down for a moment. "Is this in any way connected with my real parents?"

"No but..." Kaguya said taking in a breath. "If you want you can come with me to town with this."

It took Haruka another three seconds to start putting the pieces of theory together concerning the nature of the conversation. "Do... the other Oni not like humans?"

Kaguya's head dropped for a moment as she felt relieved at her daughters quick understanding.

"Yes and no. You see my clan. The Masamune clan doesn't like it when outsiders. None Oni come to their village... and-"

Haruka completed the sentence. "They don't like humans or any other race entering their territory without their permission or ever for security reasons. Or am I wrong."

Kaguya blinked always surprised at her daughters quick understanding of the situation without even needing a lengthy explanation. "Yes."

"You took car of me these ten years without them knowing about me. Will they kill me if they find me out."

Kaguya sighed at the other negative side to her daughters unusually quick understanding which was seeing the worst case possible. "I'm not sure myself. But I know it would be trouble for all of us."

Haruka turned her eyes to the leaf. "So that will make me look like a Oni or something."

"Yes and you will gain the strength of a Oni as well." Shiro said. "But if you lose it the transformation will be undone. So always keep it on yourself at all times when not at home."

"So how does it work? Do I just hold it or something," said Haruka.

"Turn around and open your kimono." Kaguya said.

Haruka did as instructed turning around and lowering her cloths down to her elbows. "Like this?"

Kaguya placed the enchanted leaf token on Haruka's back between her shoulder blades and immediately Haruka felt a surge of electricity shoot through her body like goose bumps.

"Aaa! what was that?" exclaiming as her body started changing growing larger by 10% and sprouting a pair of short horns from atop her for-head. "Huh? wha" Haruka experimentally touched the horns on her for-head feeling them up from base to pointed tip. "Horne's I have horns."

"Here look in this," Shiro said as he, using his spirit arm handed Haruka a hand mirror.

Looking at her reflection she looked the same except for being a little bigger and the pair of horn's sticking out of her head. "Wow... cool I look like a Oni now." Haruka turned her head lifting her hair to see that her ears were also slightly pointed at their upper tips as well.

"But your cloth's are a little tight aren't they," said Kaguya looking at Haruka.

Haruka looked down at her own body now noticing how tight her clothes are now. "They are a little tighter now."

"Stay here i'll go fetch some of my old cloths," Chiyo said getting up and leaving the room. While her mother was out Haruka turned back to the mirror admiring her new body.

"I wonder if this is a kind of spirit magic?" Haruka wondered as she stood up and started posing in the mirror looking at her face and body from different directions.

"It is but... shape shifting techniques are rarely used except for guardian spirits and Yokai," Shiro said. "You should consider yourself lucky to be given such a blessing little one."

"Who made it. I need to thank them?"

Shiro turned his head away looking a bit nervous. "Uuh someone important that's all you need to know."

Now feeling intrigued Haruka made a devious smile while staring at Shiro. "It was one of the guests from last night?" she said looking off into the distance taping her chin. "But which one?"

Shiro rolled his eye's then looked Haruka in the face. "You've never took any interest in those meeting's before."

Haruka looked down at the white cat. "I know but that's because I can't think up any topics to hold a conversation with people like them. And it would be embarrassing just to sit in the corner while everyone else talked."

"That's true." Shiro admitted as Kaguya came back in the main room her arms full with folded clothing.

"Here try these on." she said placing them on the floor.

Haruka immediately set about looking for anything she liked taking only moments to look at each article of clothing before throwing it off to one side. "No... No... Not this. Don't like the color," she said as she as Shiros eyes followed the flying cloths with a stoic look on his face.

Kaguya watched patiently with a small smile as the pile of her child hood clothing was moved from one side of the room to the other. Ten minutes of looking and trying on a few of the cloth's she liked more then the rest and Haruka finally found something she like and that fit.

"This works... I like it." Haruka said excitedly as she wore a long black skirted and long sleeved kimono with red markings running across it. "I don't like the long sleeves and skirt but it fits and it's better than the rest."

"Well im glad your happy," Shiro said with a with a heavy sigh. "At least she's not as picky as you were when you were her age," he said turning to Kaguya.

Kaguya gave a mock look of surprise placing a flat hand over her mouth. "By whatever do you mean?"

Shiro groaned in contempt with a eye roll.

"Can I go into town now?" Haruka asked with a excited look in her eyes.

"Yes we can. We need a few thing's anyway."

Haruka gave a happy grin while Shiro said. "I'll lock up."

A few minutes later they were all outside as Shiro placed a key into the lock in the front door. Once he did so a blue flame barrier rippled over the house and is walls for a moment before fading from view. The white cat hung the key by it's string around his neck before running after the other two.

The group of three walked through the forest enjoying their trip. Leaves rustled from the wind as the sun beamed light in from the sky splitting up between the many tall trees. After walking for a hour and a half they arrived at a stone covered road that went in both directions.

Haruka ran out into the middle of the hard gray stone topped road and looked both ways before Kaguya and Shiro went to the left path. Haruka quickly followed catching up with them. As they traveled down the dirt road occasionally a Horse drawn wagon laden with cargo or a carriage holding people and escorted by Oni samurai on horseback would pass by. But whenever the samurai saw Kaguya they would make a very respected bow and make an effort to avoid being in her way often nearly running themselves off the road to keep what they must have thought a safe distance from her.

"Hey mom are you some important person or something?"

Kaguya looked down at Haruka. "Perhaps..." she left it at that which made Haruka pout in frustration when she didn't elaborate further.

After another hour of walking the group of three finally reached the village gate. The guards standing at the sides quickly stood up straighter and looked far more imposing as Haruka thought.

"Now I now your some important person mom."Haruka said as they passed through the gate into the village proper. "Those guards wouldn't be all serious like that if you were some normal person."

Shiro had a stoic expression. "You don't know the half of it."

"You say something?" said Chiyo with her eyes half open mixed with a tiny but frightening smile as she look back at the cat.

His hair stood on end at the subtle implication of her words. "Nothing!" he looked away.

Haruka was too engrossed in taking in the hustle and bustle of all the people around her all going about their daily lives to hear what the two had said.

The town was structured in a typical grid layout of eight rows of criss-crossing streets. Many buildings were two or three stories tall with a few beng up to five stories high with dozens of metal water towers spread throughout the town between and on top some buildings in planned locations standing high as most two story buildings.

A-long the main street running through the center of town hundreds of people mostly Oni mixed with Humans but also winged Tengu and a few other minor Yokai races all walking about from place to place living their daily lives or working their daily jobs. Street vendors selling food ranging from freshly cut venison (Deer meat) fish of all kinds large and small from the local rivers. One stall even sold a few squids and giant spear nosed fish that were so big it had to be chopped up.

At another stall that sold weapons a variety were spread along the wall and set in large pots filled with spears, swords, daggers and bows with many hundreds of arrows while other stalls sold armor of varying types and levels of completeness.

"I'll never understand why they sell thee things. Sprite weapons are far more powerful than these hunks of junk?" Shiro mumbled as they passed by the weapon stalls.

"True." said Kaguya. "But beginners and tourist from other clans and parts of the Islands like the blades our clan sell."

After passing the weapon stalls Haruka started noticing that many people were shorter than others and didn't have any horn's. Haruka started thinking they looked a lot like her meaning they were humans but mom said that humans weren't allowed in the Oni village.

"Mom." Haruka said looking up at her mother. "Why are there humans here? I thought you said that any other race except Oni weren't allowed in the village?"

Shiro was the one to explain. "We never said that this was the Oni village." the white cat said with a smirk.

Haruka looked confused for a second before recovering. "Ok then where is the Oni village?"

"Further down the road little one. This town is a trade hub used by my clan to trade safely with other Oni clans and races while the main village of my clan remains a guarded fortress nearby through the mountains over there."

"Ok..." Haruka replied looking at the snow caped mountains before she refocused on the town. Another few minutes passed before they reached the restaurant district and the aroma of freshly cooked food sent both Haruka and Shiro wondering off to the nearest food stall.

It was a small restaurant with five slits of orange colored paper hanging over the roof of the opened aired door-less entrance creating a small private atmosphere for the customers seated at the six stools in front of a table like front counter.

In back of the restaurant there was a dark blue skinned Oni man in the back kitchan wearing a chefs apron over his short and sleeveless brown kimono with a chiefs hat on his head. He was stirring some curry in a large pot.

Haruka noticed that the pot was cooked by blue flame and couldn't help but wonder what it tasted like. Beside him was a young Oni woman in her teens fixing up some rice balls by hand along with other foods that looked like meat on skewers that Haruka didn't recognize but all the same wanted to taste test.

Kaguya lifted away one of the paper flaps joining Haruka and Shiro in the small restaurant. "Two curry bowls and a plate of fried fish Tempura with two cups of water please," Kaguya requested.

Shitting down on one of the stools she was quickly followed by Haruka and Shiro.

"Beef, pork or chicken?" the man asked without turning around.

"All of them."

The man hesitated for a moment before replying. "Comen right up!"

With anticipation Haruka watched as the man started gathering bowls and glasses placing them on the inner counter dividing the kitchen and front counter where customer's sat. As time went by two curry bowl's were filled with a pile of rice on one side and a slurry of chopped onions, carrots, potatoes and three different meats on the other. The glasses were filled with water and the Tempura of battered fish was fixed up last.

"Itadakimasu" all of them said before digging in.

Haruka and Shiro had big smiles while they ate into their meals. "Haruka? " said Kaguya. "Why are you so eager to eat that curry. I've made it for you before?"

Haruka picked up the chop sticks beside her plate splitting them into two and placing them into her fingers properly. "Yeah but that's at home. This is my first time eating out in town," she replayed as she started digging in. While off to the side Shiro was using his spirit arms extending from his back to hold his chopsticks taking a piece of the battered fish into his mouth.

Kaguya could only smile at her young daughters innocence as she was discovering the outside world that has been kept from her for the passed ten years. With a smile Kaguya joined her daughter and Shiro in their meal.

In an ally between two buildings opposite the restaurant a group of three unkempt and rough looking human men watched the family of three eat before turning around and leaving.

Haruka placed her empty bowl down giving a sigh of satisfaction. "Aaaah that was good." she turned to Kaguya. "Sorry mom but this guy's better than you at cooking."

"Of course he is, that's his profession."

Was Kaguya's reply as she got out her pocket book and payed the manger and cook if the restaurant. But on the inside she felt a little down at being compared to a professional chief.

Haruka thought for a moment on her words. "Then what do you do for a living?"

As the question left her mouth Shiro almost gagged on the last of his Tempura before grabbing Haruka's half empty glass of water and chugging it to dislodged the food stuck in his throat. "Ack ack... Aah. Well that's one question I'd like to hear answered," Shiro said getting the stink eye from Kaguya. "Ah scary. But you know you'll have to tell her someday little lady."

Spirit beasts can be effectively immortal surviving any injury so long as their host or master who holds their soul lives. So most spirit beasts often take a priority in making sure their masters live sometimes even against their masters own will until a new host or master in found and the spirit beasts souls transferred.

"But not right now." said Kaguya as she stood up. "Come on Haruka were leaving."

Not totally getting what they were arguing about Haruka just went with the flow as both Kaguya and Shiro have never argued like that before so she thought it bests to just keep silent and follow then for the time being.

After eating at the restaurant they went back to the market collecting fruits and vegetables before purchasing some quality meat and fish. All in near silence as the two were still at odds about something. After buying the food they made quick trip to the general store to gather other odds and ends the house needed such as toilet paper a new knife sharpener some paint to redo one small spot of the outside walls and a few paint brushes.

With everything gathered and arms full they returned to the house. After the long walk it was near sun down by the time they returned and all of three were more than happy to be back home.

"Ah home" Shiro said as he deactivated the barrier around the house with the key around his neck.

"Let's put everything away before having dinner," said Kaguya as she entered the house quickly followed by Haruka.

After placing all the food in to their proper places in the kitchen fridge and cabinet's Kaguya started a late dinner while Haruka helped while a lazy Shiro laid down on a pillow in the main room. After dinner Haruka took a bath before starting for bed. She stopped at the base of the stairs poking her head into the main room that was nearby.

"Hay mom?"

Kaguya read a book at the table turned to her daughter. "Yes." she replayed as Shiro lazing on a nearby pillow opened one eye.

"I was wondering if I could go to town by myself one day. I... I mean if it's ok one day."

Humming Kaguya replied. "Only after your 12th birthday."

Haruka opened her mouth ba-moaning. "AH that's way to long!"

Kaguya giggled in amusement. "I want you to get used to going and coming and grow up a... Ahhh! Ohhh!." Kaguya suddenly moned oddly as her face started turning red startling both Haruka and Shiro who sat up.

"Mom! are you ok?" she said taking a few steps forwards before Kaguya held her hand up to stop Haruka.

"Im fine... it's just my... my yearly attacks flaring up! ahh ugh," said Kaguya as she started breathing deeply her face flushed a deep red as sweat started dripping from her head.

"Are you going to be ok?" with concern.

"Yes Haruka I'll be fine. Just go to bed I'll be up shortly."

Reluctantly Haruka went up stairs to her bedroom. She took out her futon and laid down worrying about her mother. She had always had these yearly attacks that came and went and every time she would travel to a doctor friend by the name of Hatsu that treats her conditions.

Haruka always wondered what disease or sickness her mother had but whenever Haruka asked her mom would clam up and get flustered all of a sudden. Haruka rolled over feeling depressed because she couldn't do anything to help her mother who was also too stubborn to explain anything.

Back down stairs in the living room Chiyo took labored breath's holding her hands to her chest, her face still flushed red while Shiro watched with a stoic expression.

"You know it will be more embarrassing the longer you hold off explaining about Oni breeding habit's"

Kaguya despite being in agony shot Shiro a death glare making him sweat. "You tell her that these yearly condition's of mine are heat cycles Oni go through when their ready to breed and I'll tear you limb from limb." she said with frighteningly a scary face full of venom.

Shiro backed off. "I would never think of doing such a thing. But I..."Shiro looked away. "Well you don't want Haruka miss-understanding anything do you. It may cause a problem down the line."

Still breathing heavily from the increase in blood flow in her body Kaguya closed her eyes and laid down on the floor as her kimono opened a bit showing her cleavage. Her chest raising and lowering as with each breath.

"Oh! Damn it why do we Oni have to go through this... Ahh!"

As his master rolled on the floor in agony of her own body yearning to fulfill it's natural instinct's to reproduce Shiro sighed internally.

"If I say anything more to Haruka she's liable to kill me," He thought walking off the table towards the kitchen. Once in front of the sink he used his spirit arms to get a glass of water which he then cold using his Ice elemental power (which is the same type of spirit magic that's used in the refrigerator).

Taking the full glass of now ice cold water to Kaguya he handed it to her while prompting her to sit up using one of his spirit arms. With labored breathing she thanked him and got up and went upstairs to her room taking slow steps to her room as Shiro followed.

"Shall I inform Hatsu of you condition tomorrow?" said Shiro as Kaguya laid down in her futon.

"No. I'll go see him myself. You keep Haruka company and from doing anything dangerous while i'm gone."

"Like archery perhaps?" the cat quipped.

"Shut up."

Reacting to his old nick name he was teased with Shiro turned around in a mild silent tantrum. "Fine i'll will stay home and help little Haruka with her archery lessons."

The night passed and the next morning Kaguya left home to travel to her nearby friends house while Haruka watched by Shiro started her archery training again. Hours later she had placed ten arrows within the second to center ring of the target.

Shiro laying on a large flat rock higher than the grass a distance away waved his tail back and forth with one eye open. "Impressive for your third day. You must be a prodigy. I wonder if anything else will come as easily to you."

Haruka couldn't stop blushing as she took the complement with a full bloated ego. "Haha! yeah maybe I can even become a samurai one day," she blurted out placing her hand on her hips with her chest puffed out.

Shiro rolled his eyes. "Just don't go getting a big head. A lot of young fools like you have always died thinking their the best thing ever going off half cocked and poorly prepared. In my opinion it's best to always think of yourself as always being at a disadvantage so you always think of the best strategy to gain the advantage over a stronger opponent."

Haruka thought about Shiro's words and decided they were wise and would be a good way to stop herself from dying a foolish death. Arrogant fools either die young or drag others to their deaths after all. At least that's what Haruka got out out of the conversation.

Half the day passed and Kaguya returned with her head hung low as she opened the front door. "Im back." She said dismally before flopping herself down onto the pillows in the living room.

Shiro came in from another room. "Why are you back!" Shiro asked wide eyed as this had never happened before. "It usually takes you a full day to calm down at most. You couldn't have..." Shiro stopped speaking that moment as Chiyo turned her reddened face at him.

"He wasn't there." she stated placing a hand on her hot and sweaty for-head.

"What?!" Shiro exclaimed his tail going straight.

"He...Ahh!" Deep breaths. "Left a note saying he went out... Uhhh! to... to deliver a order. He won't be back in three days."

Shiro turned to leave going to the bathroom passed the stairs. "Why the hell would he just go off like that!" the cat mumbled to himself as he turned the bath tubes cold water on full. After that he returned to Chiyo using his spirit arms to help her into the bath where she could get some relief from her own bodies overheating.

Later that evening Shiro helped Kaguya back into the living room where Haruka was also resting from having trained her bowmenship all day.

"Mom why are you still here?"

Shiro sighed and explained the situation. "Hatsu wasn't at home. Will you be all right mom?"

Seeing the look of concern on here daughter's face Kaguya explained at least a few things. Like that she'll die of overheating if she can't get treatment as she put it.

"Mom is there's no one other doctor that can help you besides Hatsu?" Haruka asked as the look of concern on her face became all the more evident.

"Yes only he can help my... Uhh! condition," she replied while Shiro placed a cold wet cloth on her for-head. "Don't worry little one. I'm sure he'll be back in time. He always was punctual even if on his own time."

Her mother's words didn't comfort her very much as Haruka started to wonder if there was anything she could do to help.

Two days passed and no word or sign of Hatsu had come and by the third day Kaguya was nearly setting the floor on fire from her bodies overheating. Forcing her to remain in the bathtub all the time with the water needing to be cooled down by Shiro every few hours.

Kaguya laid in the bath tube with ice crystals melting around the rim while Haruka gave her nearly unconscious mother a glass of cold water. "Mom?" Haruka mumbled as Kaguya remained in a state of heat induced unconsciousness.

Haruka again placed a cooled wet cloth on her mother's head. However Kaguya started coughing making the cloth drop into the bathtub. Haruka reached in feeling the warmth of the water her mother's body heat alone had heated up to near boiling point just a day before. Shiro recooled the rag before Haruka placed it back on Chiyo's head.

"Im..." Haruka said as Shiro looked up at her. "I'm going to town to get help. There has to be a doctor that can help moms contiction."

Before Shiro could react Haruka bolted out the bathroom yealing. "Take care of mom while im out Shiro!"

The white cat could only watch as his masters adoptive daughter ran off and out the door. Deep inside he too wanted to go and get help any help. Even if they where less than decent if it saved his masters life he would grit and bar the shame and repercussions of letting a stranger put their hands of his master. Her life is more important to him then her pride anyway.

"Ugh maybe I should have gone in her place. At least I could have gotten a descent girl from the red light district to do the deed. That wouldn't be as bad as a guy... would it?" Shiro thought.

The cat took over the task of carrying for the living oven in the tub that was his master.

Haruka bolted through the forest remembering the path she took just a few days before. She eventually reached the main road and not long after she reached the village's gate. But once she saw the guards she stoped and ducked into the forest having nearly forgotten the enchanted leaf she was given. Haruka pulled out the leaf from her kimonos sleeve pocket placing it on her back and entered the village in her Oni form.

Like before the town was a bustling center for trade as the streets were nearly filled with people, wagons and the horses that pulled them. After entering the village Haruka ran through the streets asking anyone she came across about any doctors until running into a very tall Oni man. The both of them were running at full sprint when they collided knocking Haruka over while the man bent over catching his-self from falling over by grabbing the shoulder of another passerby who he apologised to.

"Sorry sorry ah! "He apologised to the passerby he grabbed to support himself before turning to Haruka. "Little girl what has you in such a hurry for?" he asked as he reached his hand out to help Haruka up.

Haruka on her rear end looked up at the Oni man. He wore a kimono colored blue on the upper half and white on the lower half with a head of shoulder length raven black hair and emerald green eyes and a pair of black horns on his head that were at least seven inch's long. "Uh sorry," she said taking his hand.

The man pulled the her up and their eyes meet. He stood there staring into her red eyes for a moment. "What is it?" she asked.

"Uh sorry but you just have lovely ruby red eyes."

Haruka was flattered that he liked her eyes which she normally associated with the color of blood but she had more important business to attend to. "Thanks but... Ah! do you know where any doctors are in this town? My moms really sick and she needs a help!"

The man crossed his arms in thought as he didn't want the kid to wonder around by herself plus he didn't have the heart just shrug her off even if he had a important business of his own that he was already a few days late on. "We'll, " he said after turning to one side pointing down the street. "To get to the doctors clinic you should go down this street until you see the forth street on the left side of the street and turn down that way, then go straight and it will be on the right side of the street somewhere."

Haruka's face brightened with joy at the help. "Thanks mister. By."

She sped off without even sharing her name but that smile she gave when she thanked him made his day. The raven haired Oni man waved at the girl as she disappeared into the crowed. The man then continued on his way through town to the exit facing in the direction of the forest he needed to go to.

Haruka made her way through town passing three left handed streets before turning left and then making her way down the forth street passing many shops that sold medical herbs and what looked like colored water in glass jars with animal parts in then. Grimacing at the disgusting displays Haruka wasn't looking the way she was running and bumped into someone once again. She kept her footing but was knocked back a bit from the impact. She had held her nose which had hurt from plowed into the mans hard back.

"Huh! what the!" the man said as he and two others he was walking with turned around catching sight of the child behind them.

"Hey looky it's that kid from the before?" one of the men stated looking down at Haruka.

"Yeah it is." another man confirmed to the second.

Haruka took her hands of her face and looked up seeing the three humans staring down at her. For some reason the feeling of these three unkept men who looked like they hadn't bathed in a while looking down at her made Haruka uneasy. "Uhh sorry for bumping into you." She said bowing. "I'll just be on my way."

The three men continued eyeing Haruka even as she ran off in the direction of the doctors clinic. After looking around for a few more minutes she finally found the clinic on the right side of the street where that nice man said it would be. She stood at the front door and knocked.

Inside the sounds of knocking spread through the building. There was a large waiting room out in the front of the building with a few rooms in back.

"Coming, coming," A man wearing a white kimono said as he exited the bathroom.

Haruka waited outside while the man walked slowly to the front door. But she became impatient and knocked on the door a few times again.

"Hold your horses im coming im coming!" the doctor said in reply to the hurried knocks.

The man reached the front door to his clinic unlocking the door and swinging it open looking outside. He looked left and then right seeing no one except the other people walking around the street. "Damn kids playing tricks... ah I need to get my new stock of antibacterial medication out of their box's," the man mumbled to him self closing the door.

Back at the house Shiro placed yet another cold wet cloth on his masters for-head as she breathed with increasing difficulty as her fever progressed. "Hatsu if you don't get here in time and Kaguya dies im going to slowly and painfully chew your face off, he cursed despite knowing that if that really did happen he would die along with his master."

A few more seconds passed and there was a knock at the front door. Shiro turned to the bathroom doorway and ran out to the front door opening it. There in the doorway was the raven haired man Haruka had bumped into before.

"Sorry im late Shiro. Is Kaguya..."

Shiro shouted cutting Hatsu off. "JUST GET IN HERE AND DO YOU JOB YOU USELESS PIECE OF..."

Shiro was cut off when Hatsu ran passed him.

"She's in the bathroom," he said in a calmer tone.

Following Shiro's advice Hatsu quickly entered the bathroom and saw the almost boiling hot bathwater Kaguya his childhood friend and long time lover was resting in. "This is bad."

Hatsu quickly grabbed Kaguya lifting her out of the scalding hot bath and took her into the living room. There he placed her on the floor and placed a pillow under her head. He then took a deep breath and removed her soaking wet kimono. He then with a single second of hesitation placed his lips on her's and kissed her deeply for a few long minutes before sitting up removing his own clothing placing it to the side. He then lifted Chiyo up and placed her on his lap embracing her. Their bodies embracing and coiling around each other.

Shiro sat outside the room giving a depressed sigh as he slid the door shut. The biology of Oni forces them to mate or at least have close intimate relations or else their bodies will continually heat up as if in a intense fever. But the heat will eventually kill even the normally tough and resilient Oni if they go for to long time without any intimate contact with another Oni. And despite looks Humans and Oni can never interbreed all though it had been attempted in the passed and sometimes Humans and Oni have become lovers from time to time. But no children have ever came from such pairings.

"Now If only little Haruka would come back and everything would be peachy."

On a road in the dead of night a flat-bedded wagon with short sides and a tarp covering it contents drawn by two horses made it's way through the forest road to a train station where a steam train with its base and tracks at 15 feet wide waited for its cargo to be loaded. The wagon stopped at the far edge of the stations elevated concrete platform and was silently approached by a station attendant in a blue uniform with silver buttons on his front vest and a white rimed hat. The attendant lifted his lantern letting it's blue spirit flame illuminate the three men as they got off the wagon.

"Hay put that down would yah," One of the men said to the attendant as he held his arms up to cover his face and block the light.

"Sorry," the attendant said lowering the lamp. "You got the goods?"

The three men walked to the back of the wagon followed by the station attendant. Once all four men were behind the wagon one of the men lifted the tarp showing the darkened back of the wagon. The station attended lifted his lamp up to chest level illuminating a young Oni child no older then ten years old in the back with her arms and legs tied with thick rope her mouth gagged and unconscious.

"Just one?" the attendant complained.

The shortest of the three men held out a hand. "It's getting harder to operate in Masamune clan controlled territory and their starting to put out more guards. We'll have ta to move on to the next clans territory after this job's done."

"I see," The station attendant replied as he handed the short man a envelope of paper money.

"Thank you." The short man said with glee as he pocketed the payment. "Get her loaded up into a empty create so we can get out of here," the short man said as he pointed to the girl.

The other two men pulled Haruka out of the wagon and moved her onto one of the the train cars. She was placed in a cargo crate half full of hay. Before the top of the crate was closed and nailed shut. Tiny amounts of light from the attendant's lantern filtered through the create for a few moments before he and the other men left.

The train gave a loud *WOOT*WOOT* as steam billowed out from underneath it and a few moments later it's metal wheels spun in place for a second before catching on the rails and the cargo train sped of into the night.

The next morning Kaguya woke opening her eyes as the morning sun light beamed into her living room. She weakly lifted a arm from under the thin sheet covering her and blocked out the sun light in her eyes. A few moments of introspective silence passed before she sat up placing a hand over her chest to keep the sheet over her.

She looked around spotting Hatsu beside her on the floor. She gave a reserved smile as he continued sleeping even though she wanted to slap him for disappearing. Kaguya then looked at the closed door between the kitchen and living room.

"Shiro?" she called out.

A moment later the door opened and a down cast looking Shiro came walking in with his head hung low.

"Good morning. And what's got you looking so down?" she asked.

"Morning. "Shiro replied yawning with bags under his eyes. "And to answer your question I was out looking for Haruka all night. I just got back a minute ago."

The answer was not what Kaguya was expecting and it made her heart race with concern. "What! Where s she?"

Shiro stopped in front of Kaguya. "I'm concerned too. I haven't seen her since she ran out yesterday. She said she was going to find a doctor to help you."

Kaguya looked pissed as her hand curled into a shaking fist. "And why did you let her go?" said Kaguya.

"As my master your life takes priority over anyone else's. Even hers. If I went out chasing after her when you were in the condition you were in I would be derelict in my duties as your spirit beast."

Kaguya fumed in rage at the uncaring logical excuse he had. "Then why couldn't you just have stopped her!"

Shiro lowered his head before raising it up to his master's eyes. "I didn't think she would disappear. I thought she would just wonder town. Get directions from someone to the doctor who. Would then explain her about the heat cycle of Oni that YOU decided to not inform her about."

Kaguya gritted her teeth. "SO YOUR TELLING ME HER RUNNING OFF AND DISAPPEARING IS MY FAULT!"

Shiro turned away as his masters shout hurt his eardrums. "I know you concerned for her, so am I but yelling at each other won't do any good. Now are you feeling any better. Do you think you can get up and search for her?"

Kaguya becoming increasingly angry stood up letting the sheet fall to her feet. "I'm ok I..." she became dizzy collapsing back down to her knees holding her head.

Shiro sighed. "See your not fit enough to get out of bed."

The next moment Hatsu moned stretching as he sat up rubbing his eyes. "Morning" he said yawning.

"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" said both Shiro and Kaguya.

Feeling the pure rage they directed at him Hatsu reeled backwards propping himself against the wall. "Ah... wa... what did I do?" he asked fearing for his life.

"It's because of you that little Harukas missing," Shiro explained.

"Haruka?... you mean that kid Kaguya adopted. What happened to her?"

A minute of explaining later.

Hatsu sat with his legs crossed and head down cast at the table. "I see. Sorry for being so late it is all my fault."

Kaguya now in a hadajuban. (A traditional Japanese loose-woven two-piece clothing, consisting of a robe-like top and shorts below the waist.) A white undergarment for a kimono sat across from at the table drinking a cup of water. "What kept you so long?" she asked in frustrated tone of voice.

The valid question made Hatsu sigh in a depressed tone. "My last order was large and needed to go to the main village to collect materials use the forge of my teacher to make the parts in the sizes my last client requested."

Shiro turned to him looking questingly. "It must have been a lot to keep you so overworked."

"It was. And the client said that if I couldn't fill the order on time he would stop placing orders with me. He's a generous businessman, if a little pushy with his time tables. I was going to be on time with a day to spare but then one shipment of the parts was stolen by Ogre bandits out at sea and I had to reforge all of it."

Chiyo feeling like she has had enough of these excuses stood up again. "I don't care about your excuses. I'm going to search for Haruka!"

Shiro looked up to his master. "Please sit down Kaguya. Your not well enough to go looking all over the town and the territory for her in the state your in."

Kaguya shot the white cat a glare.

Hatsu held both his hands up pleadingly. "Everyone please calm down. Im sure Haruka is fine. But first of all since Kaguya has always come over to my place when she had her her... condition. I don't know what Haruka look's like."

Kaguya sat back down and gave Harukas description. After hearing the description Hatsu realised the little girl he had run into before was Haruka. "I ran into her in town. She said her mother was sick and needed a doctor. I gave her the directions to the doctor in town and that was the last I seen of her."

Kaguya gave a somewhat relived sigh. "At least we know she reached town just fine."

As soon as the words left her mouth Kaguya and the others heard a knock at the door. Shiro volunteered to answer it and walked off. A few moments later Kaguya and Hatsu heard him say. "Why are you hear?" from the front door.

"I'm here to see my sister. I have a message from our father." a man's voice replied from outside.

A loud grumbling was heard as the sound of footsteps approached the living room.

Kaguya and Hatsu watched the door way as a Oni man with long red hair in a white and red kimono walked in with a pair of swords at his waist.

"What do you want Renji. I'm in the middle of a crisis here," Kaguya said coldly to her big brother.

Renji looked his sister in the eyes and replied with a mournful tone. "Father is i'll and wants you to succeed him as head of our clan. Before he passes."

Stunned by the news for a few moments Kaguya's jaw dropped before regaining her composer and started gritted her teeth. "Why!... why! now of all times?" she exclaimed with a sigh before standing up and giving Hatsu a glance then turning to her brother. "I'll go but only if you help Hatsu look for my adoptive daughter Haruka," she said with a stern look in her eyes.

Seeing as his sister had made up her mind Renji nodded. "I take it this... Haruka is why you left the main village to come here to live for the passed ten years."

"Yes." she confirmed not caring if her family finds out about Haruka at this point. And knowing that if she is to become the successor of the Masamune clan then she has leverage to keep Haruka safe. "Now are you going to agree to my request or not."

"Of course. I will have my men look for her immediately. What does she look like?"

"Shes a human girl with blue hair and red eyes. She has a enchanted leaf that let's her transform into a Oni from though."

Renji took a few steps forwards placing a hand on his sister's shoulder "I see. We'll do our best to find her but as you know i'm a realist. We may not find her if there is no trail or evidence to lead to her location."

Kaguya closed her eyes gently sweating her brothers hand off her shoulder. "Just find her."

Kaguya left the room in a cold mood to return to her clans main village leaving Renji and Hatsu to look for Haruka.

Fade to black.

The blue sky stretched across the horizon with white fluffy clouds drifting over head as Haruka sat in a field of flowers surrounded by lavender bulbs, red, pink and white tulips and purple morning glories. She plucked a large number of them forming flower bouquet that filled her arms.

"Haruka" a voice called her off in the distance.

Standing up and turning Haruka saw her mother and Shiro off in the distance.

"Coming!" she yelled back before sprinting off toward's them.

She ran and ran and ran but no matter how fast and how long she ran for she never caught up with them. In fact they both seemed to be getting farther away even as Kaguya waved at her.

"Mom! Shiro! wait for me!" more and more desperately she ran after her family only to be left behind. The ground fell out from under her and she fell into a pit of darkness.

Haruka in her Oni form woke up in a cot. Her eyes wide feeling like she had a nightmare. Looking to her left she saw the double bunk cots of the many other slaves that she has lived with for the passed two years. Unconsciously her hand reached up feeling her neck that was covered by a inscribed metal band collar. It was for weakening the spirit force abilities of slaves and also worked as a homing tracker just in case the slaves escaped and ran. But allowed them enough use of their spirit force to me useful workers. Thankfully the leaf that she used to take a Oni's form wasn't effected by the collars. Haruka had greatly feared what would happen to her if the truth about her being a human ever got out.

"Mom" she murmured to herself followed by a moaning that came from under her sheets. Looking under her covering she spotted the young face of one of her fellow slaves and one of the young children that had also been abducted like Haruka was. "Etsuko!" Hauka complained as the twin tailed Kitsune snoozed under the same blanket as her.

*Ring*Ring*Ring*Ring* chimed in from outside.

Haruka knew it was the morning roll call and wake up alarm and knew it would be trouble is she didn't get up. Haruka sat up standing now 5.5 feet tall in her brown work kimono slapping the cheeks of the nine year old fox eared child.

"Ow! ow! ow!. Big sis Haruka why do you always have to be so mean!" said the Kitsune rubbing her cheeks while the other slaves started waking up and leaving the long bunkhouse housing more than fifty people.

They were all a mix of differing races ranging from Oni, Ogres-(like oni but 7 feet tall with dark bluish skin and one horn) Kitsune-(people with fox ears and multiple tails based on spirit force power nine at most) and even some winged Tengu-(human like people with wings). Most male but a few woman and young children were also in the groups.

Haruka stood up and walked out with the others. "Eh! wait for me!" Little Etsuko cried as she chased after Haruka.

As they exited the bunkhouse the view of the surrounding area became clear. They were surrounded by a few dozen buildings in one section of a large flat open pit mine area about three to four miles wide with three main feature's. The first was a massive multi story tall, six legged, steampunk style machine, with a long chainsaw like blade part that was cutting into the hillside with it's rotating mining buckets slowly chewing through the dirt and rocks. Along its body were a series of pips and valves that led to a chamber that housed a large crystal powering the high output steam engine that moved the chain of buckets on the belt that rotated the chain saw like blade carving through the landscape.

The second feature was the river that cut the open pit mine in half and was crossed by three bridges in the upper lower and middle areas.

The last major feature was a large japanese style fortress complex resting on the edge of the cliff overlooking the mining area below. They were connected by a cluster of large cargo and smaller elevators for people that ran up the cliff wall that ringed around the open pit mine which was a few hundred feet deeper than the surrounding forest.

A few minutes later hundreds of slaves were gathered outside their loggings in five square formations seven people thick and twenty person's wide. Haruka stood at the rear most row to the far left square with Etsuko beside her.

Moments later a tall Oni clad in red armor flanked by a pair of Humans in green army uniforms with rifles slung on their shoulders. "Welcome to another new morning," the Oni man said in a harsh grating tone. "I hope all of you have had enough sleep because were getting right back to your work from yesterday. You all know where you belong now get moving."

At the prompting of the Oni clad in red armor the hundreds of slaves dispersed departing for their various jobs around the mine. Etsuko followed closely behind Haruka as they made their way to the office buildings where they started their morning routine of cleaning the toilets followed by mopping the floors, walls and cleaning the windows. After that they joined a group of mostly female slaves that cooked the food for the human workers.

Their tools invented, sold and exported the western nation of Britannia. One of such tools included called a jack hammer that used steam power created by a magical stone to drive and retract a large spike into solid stone breaking apart tough ground witch could then be scooped up with another vehicle called a backhoe which had a arm that ended in a claw like bucket. The broken up rocks, dirt and earth could them be loaded into a metal mining wagon with it's own wheels and engine that could be driven around by one person.

Even so such equipment wasn't given to the non-human slaves who were forced to use what little spirit force they were allowed along with simple tools such as pick-axes, hammers and shovels to break apart and move the heavy loads of dirt and rocks. The restriction collars the slaves had on allowed them the use of a small amount of their spirit force. Enough to work all day and not feel exhausted with enough strength to lift five times what a human could.

In the kitchen building a Adult Kitsune woman walked up to Haruka and Etsuko. "Haruka, Estuko, could the two of you take these water buckets to the men out working please."

Haruka stopped stirring the pot of food she was fixing and turning to the woman. "Sure. Lets go Etsuko."

As Haruka walked off the Kitsuna child rand after her. They collected a pair of wood water buckets and ladles before filling the buckets up.

A short time later out at the work sight.

*SFX whip crack*

"Move faster," yelled a human guard with a scare on his chin as he whipped the air.

The slaves the guard watched dug with shovels and picked with pick axes breaking through the ground easily thanks to their spirit force. The all worked hard breaking up stones and removing piles of dirt from a small hillside before placing them into the one person self propelled metal wagons to be removed to the river for dumping.

One of the slaves (a Tengu) was carrying a large stone but after he took ten steps he collapsed from it's weight combined with his own exhaustion. More from mental exhaustion then lack of rest or food as the lack of moral, will power and hope had a strong effect on ones spirit force and the man's loss of hope of ever seeing his son and wife again became all but a distant dream for him after spending years in the mine.

One of the guards saw this and walked over to the man wiped him as he tried to get back up.

*SFX whip crack*

"On your feet bird boy," the guard ordered with a annoyed expression on his face.

"Aaah! forgive me. I'll get back to work just don't hit me," the Tengu man pleaded as he struggled to stand again but found no strength in his legs and fell back down again.

"I said back up!" The scar chined guard yelled as he pulled back on the whip and lashed out at the slave again.

The Tengu man raised a hand to defend himself but the whip still hit him. "Ah... ahh!" He cried as the whip struck him once, twice, three times.

"Your getting to be more trouble than you're worth. Maybe it's time to replace you chicken boy.

As the guard raised his wip to strike again a hand reached out behind him and caught the whip mid swing.

"That's enough," Haruka's voice called out from behind the guard. The guard realising his whip was caught by someone and going nowhere turned around staring daggers at the 12 something kid interfering in his work. "He can't work if you hurt him," Haruka said in a calm logical voice as she let go of the whip and walked to the Tengu mans side while the guard gave her a venomous glare. She handing the man a ladle of water which he took gulping down in a few seconds. "Don't drink it too fast you'll choke."

"Why you little!" The scar chin guard angered that he was being ignored raised his wipe again only to be stopped by Harukas cold stare and words. "If you hurt a good worker I'll report this to the mine manager and i'm sure the paper work he'll have to fill out to get a replacement will give him a headache that may just make him willing to reconsider your employment since your disrupting operations and debilitating his workers, slowing their work down and wasting time for the lord in that fortress over there."

The guard sneard in anger at the fact the child words were true. Not wanting any trouble he dropped his arm and wrapped the whip up into a coil again before walking off with a grudge in his heart.

"Ah thank you Haruka," the Tengu man thanked as he stood back up. "But don't push it with the guards. None of us want you to be hurt for our sake's. You've always done stuff like that protecting and taken care of us. You have my gratitude," the Tengu man said bowing a bit.

Haruka sighed at the complement dipping her ladle back into her wooden water bucket and bringing it backup to the mans face. "It's ok i'm used to it at this point. It pays to be the mine chiefs favorite. Just drink and recover your strength."

Yielding to the child's kindness the Tengu man took the water again and drank. But as he siped the water Haruka's face contorted in pain grabbing her own head she fell to her knees. The splitting migraine paralyzed her for a few moments as the Tengu man worried for her placing a hand on her shoulder and the surrounding workers stopped a moment to look with concern.

"Haruka! are you ok."

Haruka raised her head forcing a smile. "Ugh... ahh yeah... i'm fine...hah... Just a headache is all. It's passed now."

Haruka stood up taking her ladle and water bucket over to other slave workers. Continuing to help and support the other slaves that like her had been abducted from their villages and forced to work for the passed few years at this mine.

Off in the distance from the mining area was the fortress. Many guards stood at attention at its gate and walls. Uniformed Humans stood armed with rifles while Oni guards in red armor stood armed with swords and crossbows.

In one of the fortresse's hallways a Oni man walked down it's langth wearing a richly decorated black and red silk kimono. He was flanked by two fully armed Oni samurai in red armor. The three men walked down the long hallway until reaching a large door and entered. The long room was open aired by the balcony off that was to the right hand side of the three Oni. There was little inside except for rows of banners hanging from the rafters over and to both sides of a red carpet leading from the door up to a large decorated wood throne.

Staring at the throne with his back turned to the door was a western man with a short gray mustache. He looked in his 60's standing 6 feet tall in a dark suit with his hand on a cane half his height with a large crystal set into its top. He had rounded eyeglasses with a silver frame obscuring his eyes and a black bowler hat on.

"Lord Kyoshiro Muramasa," the western man said.

"Leave us." Kyoshiro ordered.

The two guards left the room leaving the two men alone.

Kyoshiro walked across the room up to the western man who turned around facing the lord of the Muramasa clan that controlled Shikoku island. "Mister... Castle. By what do I owe the visite. My mine is operating on schedule is it not."

The man named Castle turned around. "The mine in not the problem this time. Instead it is the Masamune clan. Their warriors have raided a shipment of materials on their why to the imperial capital Kyoto."

Kyoshiro crossed his arms in silent frustration. "This makes the third attack on our business. I think it's time we dealt with them. I should be able to deal with them without much bloodshed if I use my brother in law Renji. My sister has him wrapped around her little finger. These passed few years she's spent seducing him should be worth it."

Mister Castle hummed in thought. "Perhaps it would be wiser to... ensure that your brother in law is the next hair to the Masamune clan. It would place your sister as direct successor to her husband would it not?"

Kyoshiro smiled with a short laugh. "Hehe!. That's an interesting proposal mister Castle. However it doesn't work like that. Among us Oni, one clans members cannot inherit the possessions of another if we intermarry. However it would be possible to take the possessions of another clan if they are challenged to a dual and lose."

Kyoshiro walked closer to the nearby balcony stopping in the open arch way between the balcony and throne room. "However I'm not stupid. Kaguya the current head of the Masamune clan is far more powerful than me. She is a highly skilled and a honored veteran of the war of the two princes from over 50 years ago. I will not foolishly take on a master of a thousand spirit weapons like her. Even before the war she was well known as a prodigy."

Mister Castle joined Kyoshiro at the balcony looking out across the mine, river and the forest beyond. "Then how do you plan on dealing with their interference? Are you going to let the weapons and magitech that I have provided your clan go to waste."

Kyoshiro snickered. "Your nation of Britannia has many interesting and useful toys such as that large mining device over there," he said pointing to the giant machine eating away at the mountain. "However though they can be used by the weaker blooded peasants and Humans born without spirit force, they are still toys to the might of Spirit magic which the great clan's willed."

Mister Castle turned to Kyoshiro with the mild look of annoyance showing. "My nation also possesses mighty sorcery."

"Ah yes I know Mister Castle. However we are not in your country. So for the time being we will use my aforementioned method of using my sister and her husband and that's final. My Muramasa clan and Kaguya's Masamune clan have been both allies and great rivals in the past. So much so that we eventually started a custom of intermarring the clan leaders children and siblings."

Mister Castle hummed as he glanced down for a moment. "If that is the case then why did you and Chiyo not marry. You are the clan leader are you not?"

Kyoshiro looked up at the blue sky. "It was decided by the ancestors of my family that the leaders of the two clans would not marry. Only their siblings and children. Which is why each clan leaders always have at least two children if not more. Don't ask me why it's just always been that way."

Mister Castle felt that such a system was antiquated. "It seems I've overestimated you. I thought you Lord Kyoshiro Muramasa of all people in Japan would be... more ambitious."

Kyoshiro spun around to face Mister Castle. "My ancestors and their blood sweat and tears is why my clan is the second most powerful Oni clan in all of Japan and it was their hard work that developed our spirit arts to the level of power that they are at and..."

Mister Castle cut him off. "And yet despite all that your ancestors have done for you. This generation your clan is... second to the Masamune clan. "Mister Castle took a step closer to Kyoshiro. "You are the leader of the current generation of your clan. Perhaps it is time for you to do something that will... like your ancestors before you... Benefit future generations of your clan."

Mister Castle tipped his bowler hat. "Good day to you. Lord Kyoshiro." and turned around walking away leaving Kyoshiro to think.

That night just after sun down Haruka walked between some of the slave bunk houses. She had some time until curfew and enjoyed night walks on her own. She continued on her way leaving the area of the bunkhouses enjoying the night air and stars. She fiddled with the collar around her neck wondering what her mom and Shiro were up to. And even if they were still looking for her after two years.

"Haruka!" a young voice called out from behind.

Haruka sighed knowing who it was. She turned around seeing little Etsuko running towards her. "Etsuko. You should be in bed this late." said Haruka with a expression of worry.

Etsuko stopped in front of Haruka whom she looked up to and thought of as a big sister for the passed year she had been a slave at the mine. The Kitsune child along with many other slaves saw Haruka a kind of big sister or a good friend seeing as she goes out of her way to help the other slaves and smooth things out between them and the guards. Reducing conflict and increasing productivity at the mine. Which was the reason that she had become the favorite of the mine chief who over see's the mining operation for lord of the Muramasa clan.

"Can I please come with you big sis please please."

Seeing the fox girls begging eyes Haruka let out a sigh. "Fine but stay close."

The two continued their walk enjoying the down time and the star light in the black sky despite the light coming from the nearby buildings they passed. After Walking around for a hour they came across the brightly lit vehicle depot. Leaning into the large doorway Haruka and Etsuko saw dozens of the metal mining wagons parked inside, in a grid pattern neatly spaced wall to wall.

"Wow... I wonder how they work?" Etsuko wondered as the two girls took a few steps inside.

Haruka looked to her left seeing one wagon in the elevated a few feet off the ground in the corner with lights on it and a pair of feet sticking out from under it. Metal clanking sounds were heard as the feet shifted a bit.

"Son of a bitch the drive chain broke again! cheap son of a... ahhh" the Human exclaimed.

Etsuko turned to Haruka and innocently asked. "What bitch?"

Haruka wordlessly lifted her right hand and lightly bopped Etsuko on the head. "Nothing you need to know." With that said she walked closer to the mechanic. "So is it broken?"

Hearing the newcomers voice the man under the wagon stopped his work and slid out from under the wagon on a wheeled board of wood and sat up. "What you want little lasses," asked the bearded man in grease covered over all's, holding a broken piece of metal.

"Were just stretching our legs before lights out." Haruka explained as she stared at the man and the broken piece of metal drive chain in his hand. "Look's like it needs a replacement part."

The grease covered man gave a chuckle. "Hehe. Yeah it does. Say if you could help me out I would appreciate it."

Haruka crossed her arms and Etsuko mimicked her. "What's in it for me?"

"Well I'll give you a ride in the wagon as a thank you."

Haruka had a unamused expression on her face."Like that will be a big enough payment for high class slave's like us." answered Haruka as she looked away with Etsuko mimicking her again.

The mechanic lowered his shoulders in shame. "Ah sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. Uh even though it may seem like a lie I'm also basically a slave here. My family is poor and this was the only work I could get. I wanted to be a farmer and make the land bountiful to feed my family. But when the land became dry from the dought a few years ago I was forced to do lots of other jobs and... well... ended up here. Uh help me out and i'll get you some sweets from the cafeteria tomorrow."

Accepting the offer Haruka turned around with Etsuko continuing to mimic her. "Ok ok. What parts do you need?"

Smiling the man answered. "I need a drive chain the same size as this one and this long. The next building over is a warehouse but the drive chains of the same size I need were all used up. So the only place you can get them from is the main supply warehouse across the river."

"So I got ta run over there and get one. The guards will stop me. Slaves aren't allowed to go intro unauthorized places."

Sighing at the problem the bearded man stood up walking over to a work bench by the wall. He placed the broken drive chain down and took a pack of cigarettes out from a small shelf and got out a piece of paper. Haruka and Etsuko watched as he wrote on it and then handed it and the pack of cigarettes to Haruka with a flip-lighter. "Here hand this to the bridge guard. I know the guy in duty to night and hell believe this letter."

Haruka took the letter, cigarettes and lighter. "Ok I guess this is a bribe. We'll run over and get the part you need."

"Just be careful and don't make a racket when looking for the part. I don't want to hear you got into trouble because of me. The drive chains will be in the area to the left of the front door. Look in the third isle from the entrance and on the second shelf in a large box."

"Got it."

Haruka and Etsuko departed taking a long walk over the open field of dirt between the workshop and the bridge. Etsuko seemed scared by the nearly pitch black conditions as there were no light sources on the way. Which was why she held onto Harukas clothing all along the way. Eventually they reached the middle bridge and the illuminated guard post beside it.

The guard blinked seeing two little shadows come closer. Then he recognised the two as slaved and unslug his rifle. He had no intention of using it seeing as the two were kids but it was his job to keep intruders at bay. "Halt. What are the two of you doing here. Shouldn't you be at the bunk houses?"

Without and fear Haruka walked up to the guard handing him the letter, cigarettes and lighter. "Huh?" the guard exclaimed as he took the item's and read the note. "Oh so that's it. Well... just be quick about it."

Without another word the guard took out a white roll of paper from the small box and used the lighter to light it's tip and made one big relaxed puff before looking down at the two girls. "Thanks... now get going."

As instructed the two went on their way across the bridge. The clopping of their sandals on the metal plating echoed over the broad river below them. After a few minutes of walking they reached the dimly lit parts warehouse.

"He said to go this way," said Haruka as she turned at the door way.

After looking in the area they were told about Haruka and Etsuko found the part they were looking for. But at that moment Etsuko's ears perked up as she heard a odd noise nearby. "Somethings in here," she said.

Haruka not wanting to stay anymore than needed grabbed Etsuko with the part and left not caring about the noise. Quickly they left the building, crossing the bridge again and returning to the vehicle depot and the man.

"Yeah this is the part. Now I need twenty more."

"What!" Haruka exclaimed narrowing her eyes.

The man looked up at her. "Ah sorry. Can you get nineteen others like this one. I'll pay with a chocolate bar and other sweets tomorrow. Promise."

With a angry expression on her face Haruka sighed. "Tell me again why you can't go over and get them yourself?"

The man scratched his beard. "Uh... don't laugh but... I'm afraid of the dark."

Haruka only had a plan star on her face as she looked at the rafters that had extra lights hanging on them. "Explains the extra lights. Etsuko stay here I'll be able to do this on my own faster."

The little twin tailed fox girl pouted with a disappointed face but obayed the order from her big sis. Haruka waved as she once again left and over the course of a hour made three trips to and from the depo and the extra parts warehouse. By the time she was on the last trip she heard more odd noises coming from the other side of the building. She had been ignoring them so far but curiosity finally got the better of her.

After she placed the last parts by the door so she could pick them up on her way out Haruka started sneaking deeper into the building watching out for anything that could be the source of the noise. Then it stopped and she was at a loss for a moment before hearing what sounded like distorted laughing. Getting closer to the area she thought was the source of the noise and laughing she reached a door that lead to the rear of the building.

Placing a hand on the door-nob she slowly open it to the outside. In the gap between two buildings that was no more than ten feet wide Haruka looked right seeing nothing but empty space and then looked left. There twenty feet from her with their backs turned were a pair of men looking down at something. She glanced down at where they were looking and saw a Kitsuna woman half naked and holding herself with both arms around her body.

Haruka knowing the men had attacked the woman who should be in the slave area shouted in anger. "HEY WHAT ARE YOU DO..."

Startled by the loud shouting one of the men jumped grabbed his rifle in fear and reflex aimed and shot. As the trigger was pulled compressed air was released from a tank located in the stock that was sent through a small pipe into the firing chamber and contacted the bullet sending it through the spiral grooved barrel with a loud popping noise that was between what a silenced and unsilenced gun would make.

A shower of sparks flew away from Harukas neck as the 7.62 bullet by either bad luck or great aim pierced through her slave collar severing her spinal cord and cutting through the other half of the collar letting the two halves fall away. With her eyes wide in shock Haruka's head flopped to one side without any support and her body fell forwards.

"AHH SHIT!" the man with a scar in his chin said as he lowered his rifle.

The woman let out a scream and was slapped by the second man. "Damn what the hell was she doing here?"

The man with the scared chin walked over to Haruka's limp body rolling it over. "Haha. That's what you get for making a fool of me bitch. Should have stayed in bed."

The chin scared man turned to the other one. "Lets get ride of the evidence. Her too," he said pointing his rifle at the woman who was curled up into a ball fearing for her life.

"Hey." the second man said grabbing and lowering the chin scared man rifle to point to the ground. "The more bodies there are the more fuss that will be raised. Lets just threaten her to keep her mouth shut like always."

"Fine." the man with the chin scar said as he slung his rifle onto his shoulders.

The two men took Harukas body and threw it over the bridge into the river watching as it disappear into the rushing water below the strong currents and rocks ripped her clothing and the leaf off allowing it to once again take it's original human form. The half naked body traveled down stream for the rest of the night passing rocks and shores with deer and birds watching as the oddy passed them. After a day of drifting down river a log fallen in a deep pool across the river stopped her body from moving any further and the currents pulled her body over to the nearby sandy beach. That night under a cloudy sky a wolf along with it's pack mates came over to the waters edge sniffing the body seeing the neck was in one piece and without a hole that was there a day ago.

Two of the wolves had come closer and was just about to take a nibble of the flesh when a arm grabbed one's neck and squeezed like a hydraulic vise choking the animal and scaring the others off. With a gasp for air the girl raised her head pulling the struggling wolf closer. A intense hunger fueled her actions as she was starving as if she had not eaten for a week. As she opened her mouth the sides of her cheeks split open along slits allowing her jaws to open wider than normal and reveal her razor sharp teeth and few molars in back.

She took a full force bit into the wolfs neck and pulled opening up a main blood artery allowing gout's of blood to pour out. The wolf died in mere seconds after the rapid blood loss and the girl continued eating on the body for the next few hours and by the time she had finished it's internal organs the clouds parted revealing a full moon in the sky. As if drawn by the light she stood up her body bloody and disheveled. Then a voice called out to her one she recognized from her previous life or rather after her previous life had ended.

"It looks like you memories are back," He said in a calm androgynous voice.

The girl turned around as the moon light beamed down on the two of them. The other person floated over the water wearing a black coat with a face and body that looked set in between what was considered male and female with white skin, pointed feet and a tail that ended in a fan of smaller wings that like the white hair shimmered dimly in rainbow colors shifting from one color to another.

"Ellen," it said.

"Psyon," she said.

Ellen sighed as she took stock of the condition she was in after drifting down river.

"Ahh... I look like... well like I got shot I the neck and dumped in a river. I'm so killing those two when I get my hive cluster up and running."

Psyon looked amused as he gave a faint grin towards Ellen. "Sounds like like a plan. So what are you going to do after regaining you memories and awakening as a Zerg Brood queen."

Ellen rubbed her head thinking. "Hmm first things first. Let's have that talk. You said we could have after I reach this point."

Psyon nodded. "Very well. I hazard a guess your first question has to do with the other you that created the version of the Zerg Swarm which you currently have with in your body."

"Yeah. Before... after you salvaged my soul when I died. You just said that, that other version of me was of your own creation. Could you be less vague and go into more detail about that?"

"First of all you yourself are the reincarnated Ellen Reid from the normal prime universe version of Earth. While the other you was born in a combination of underverses I created compiled from underverse copies of your prime universe. The Valkyria chronicles universe. The Warhammer 40K verse but just the immaterium dimension from there. The RWBY universe and the StarCraft universe. She created quite the powerful swarm. One which you now have access to. As per your selection during the reincarnation choice 's I gave you. Your body is that of a third generation Brood Queen of the swarm the other you created. But also as per your selection of drawbacks your memories and abilities have been sealed until you became twenty or..."

"I got shot in the neck!" said Ellen making a shooting gesture to her neck.

Psyon continued. "Also the Ship that could travel between dimensions that you added to your selections is also on this world at this time but you'll have to find it on your own as per your selections of drawbacks."

Ellen looked up at the moon beaming light on the land around them. "That should be the last thing I go for. I still have... personnel things to deal with first."

Psyon tilted his head up to the sky. "Like finding your adoptive mother Kaguya."

Ellen nodded tilting her head to one side. "There's that. But... I also need to find out who my real... or rather my new biological parent's are from this world. If I even can. Also Psyon."

"Yes."

"From now on my name in Haruka. It's the name mom gave me so... I'm sticking with it. And besides when in the future I meet that other me things will get complicated if were using the same name."

"Understood. Also before I go I wanted to say that the ship that will allow you to travel across the Fractal-Verse was once used by a friend of mine. But only for a short time before he was... well..." Psyon shrugged giving a sigh. "Eaten. It was his idea by the way. But that's a story for another time."

Ellen shrugged giving a short chuckle. "Haha. Can't spoil the whole story now can you huh."

Psyon blankly stared at Haruka. "You really want to know what happened to him huh."

Haruka rubbed her head in embarrassment. "Yeah... It sounds like it would be a interesting story to hear."

Psyon started floating higher raising up into the sky slowly. I'm sure you'll meet him someday."

With that Psyon opened a pure white oval gate and disappeared from view leaving a newly reborn Ellen/Haruka to start up her own swarm.

Haruka Gave a distant sigh before turning around and giving the hillside along the river bank a good long look. "Ok... Let's do this."

Chapter End.

Note

To explain myself in creating this new story in detail I felt like my original story because it was going on for so long had become a ball and chain restricting my creative freedom. However after thinking it over I really don't want my previous story to end where it did so by the power of the Fractal-verse both stories are canon and will eventually merge into one. Once that point is reached I'll resume the first story right where I left it off from but it will be in this story group so I won't be going back to the other ones.