𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 | 𝙪. 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙖

-004-

-•𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄•-

ʙᴇꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪɴ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴏᴅᴇ

"A-Akumi-sama, if I may ask...." One of the caretakers asked, her fingers quivering around a three year old Mazoku who yawned in boredom.

The said woman gave a nod of permission to continue.

"Where are we headed...?"

Akumi was thankful the enemy clans were worried about their own, and not the fact that that one weak moment she experienced will be as close as she will be to death.

They spent around 4 hours walking throughout the dark forest that contained a part of their territory. The forest was made of trees with a mahogany-like coloring, its branches seemingly weeping as the hanging leaves swept the forest floor. It was enveloped with an eerie blanket containing a ghost quiet atmosphere, as if any thing was too afraid to speak. Unlike most of the Mazoku, Akumi found it relaxing at night, the lights of fireflies on the hanging leaves acting as fairy lights to decorate her travel.

Akumi glanced at the caretaker called Shiyo briefly, before they started walking on rocky ground that elevated in a slope. "You and the children will be escorted to a safe hiding as I go to another destination. I seek one that will give me the opportunity for a greater power." She explained as she took a sack from another caretaker's hands (who she believed was named Haku), opening it up and taking out five apples as a snack, tossing three to the older boys, while the two caretakers would share one.

"Why do we have to be in hiding too??" The three argued with the woman as they each caught an apple.

"Hm? I never said you did. You guys are not just children, after all." She said, to which their eyes lit up once away from her gaze.

"So we get to come with you?"

She hesitated, "Yes. But only for the experience. There may not be any fighting at all." She waved them off.

Kiro and Futari pouted as Akumi grinned at them with an overly optimistic aura. "Just kidding!!!"

The two children cheered while Kai deadpanned with a disappointed face at the Maō (Mazoku clan head). "So are we leaving forever?"

Kiro and Futari put a hand up to their mouths as they crouched down into a huddle, "I didn't think about that.." they both harshly whispered, peeking at the stare down happening in front of them.

Akumi calmly took a bite out of her apple before speaking, "Maybe, maybe not." She said simply in deep thought with a nonchalant yawn.