The Cursed Iris

Sprout 40: The Dark Moon Appears

With the strong spiritual region behind them Katsumi felt like his body was on fire. Not only his body, his spirit as well. He was completely and utterly exhausted, but he also felt stronger. He'd assumed that Minori did that on purpose or she was just plain old mean.

Then there was the feeling he got from Usagi earlier as well. He continued to think about that, "Maybe Minori is just plain mean," he sighed.

"Hey now!" Minori yelled at him.

"I mean he's not wrong," Chiyoko replied.

Katsumi stared at the orb Ayame was in, and there was a strange scent coming from it, "Is she about to wake up?" he asked.

"Yep, seems so. But it also seems like her aura points have been opened as well. That's good."

Ayame groaned, and Katsumi ran up to it with a relieved expression. He seemed like he was about to cry, "You're okay," he said.

Ayame looked around confused. "Where are we?"

She seemed groggy, her eyes were glazed over, and she was sweating, "We're about a day south from the location where we had met. Near a village called Mie," Minori replied.

She nodded, "Okay, also another question is who are the people following us?" she asked.

"Damn I only opened your aura points; who would've thought that the voice would awaken already?" Minori laughed. "Don't worry I was just about to handle those bad people."

Miya and Chiyoko stared at Ayame in awe, "What is this feeling I'm getting from her?" Chiyoko asked.

"It's like a sleeping beast. What the hell did Minori do?" Miya said.

Minori gave them a thumbs up, "Alright you five can come out now. I know you've been following us for some time now," she said.

The air in front of them shimmered, "Very perceptive of you Minori the Alpha, but if you knew we were following you why would you not confront us earlier?" the woman asked.

They all stared at the group, and Katsumi felt like he had seen them before. "White dog masks and black cloaks. Where have I seen those?"

"Because I had to get those three out of the way. Plus I wanted little Ayame to see me actually fight," Minori chuckled. "I'm sensing some strange energies from all five of you and what's this? Three males and two females? Ladies do you really think it's smart to be around men whose faces you haven't seen?"

"Minori the Alpha, a foreigner who was lost at sea. Found their way to Japan, raised by the Dragon Sage, granted the ability of Alpha Centauri, has the possession of a Kotoamatsukami, power is on par with the Dashavatara or maybe even the Empress herself. We're quite informed on you Minori," the woman in the middle said.

Minori sighed with a disgusted look. "Damn you sound like a stalker."

Usagi giggled. "Sounds like when Chiyoko met my mother."

"Not the same thing," Chiyoko replied defensively.

"Chiyoko looks like Minori has all of this handled," Miya said. "So I'm going to sit over there. Although I would've preferred to fight as well."

"So you were prepared to fight? Very well then," the woman said.

Katsumi stepped in front of the orb. "I think they're after Ayame."

Ayame looked around confused as to why they would be after her. Maybe they wanted the Dragonaut and not her, "Seems like dear little Katsu," Minori agreed. "But I won't let them take her, besides, I don't think she'd feel comfortable with these losers."