The Cursed Iris

Sprout 42: Preparing For Our Future

Ayame and the others had made camp as night came, but she felt more exhausted than before. Minori had a large grin on her face as she locked gazes with Ayame.

"What is it?" Ayame asked nervously.

"Oh nothing," Minori replied.

She's a weirdo, but she's incredibly strong. Ayame thought.

Katsumi was staring at Ayame, which made her kind of embarrassed. She felt like he was staring straight into her soul, "Uh Katsu," she mumbled.

He chuckled. "Oh sorry, I just noticed that your horns change with your emotions. It's really cute."

She felt her face grow hotter, and Minori laughed, "You two are so adorable. It makes me want to just eat you up."

"Enough of that," Chiyoko sighed. "Listen Minori how about you tell them what's going on in that country. Especially since they are going there."

"You're no fun!" Minori whined. Chiyoko shot her a frustrated look, "Okay, fine," she sighed.

Chiyoko's expression worried Ayame and the others, "Look here Ayame and Katsumi I've been doing some snooping around and it seems like you two are the main focus of the information I've gathered," Minori stated.

"What do you mean?" they both asked.

"What I mean is the person in charge has been wanting to get to you both the most. It was something to do with the Dragon Emperor Rumiko. She wants Ayame's blood for a special ritual and she wants Katsumi's spirit energy to open a gate to one of the closed off realms."

The air seemed heavy as Ayame felt something shatter inside her.

"We were suspecting that Dracul and Rumiko were both controlling him, but it seems like Rumiko is the one with the most control as she's the one with the higher status. It has been unheard of that two Dragon Emperors would work together on this scale. Not only that the countries of both Insholu and China are under their control," Minori continued.

"Right," Usagi responded, "according to mother there's a situation where they are invading outlying parts of our country and Korea."

"Yeah and that's not all though. Ayame there's something particularly interesting about you."

"About me?" Ayame mumbled.

Minori stared at Ayame intensely, "Ayame, if you go there you will die. I hate to drop this on you, but the way you are now you wouldn't last a moment in that country," she said.

Ayame felt a chill go down her spine, "But that is why I came here," Minori smiled. "I will get you ready even if it kills me. Because that country and this world needs you, but not only you, it needs Katsumi and all of you."

"That's not all either. Ayame there maybe something else about this that you should know about this," Chiyoko sighed. "How should I say this?"

"Say what?" Ayame mumbled.

"Well the rest of the Dashavatara wants to see you gone. Everything that has happened so far they're trying to place the blame on you."

"But why? I don't have the power to do anything," Ayame added.

"And that's the issue. A few of them finds your power or lack thereof. I personally see no issue with it, but me being a half breed I already have little impact there."

The mood seemed tense, and Ayame wanted to cry. Then Natsume stood up, "I won't let them lay a finger on Ayame!" she yelled.

They all stared at Natsume, "I like her spunk," Minori smiled. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Once we get to Shangri-La you're going to have a lot of trouble, but Asami will be there for you."