The Red Hand

Chapter 372 – One Day.

*NOM*

"Is biting my ear really necessary?" Akagi asked as she was hugged and chewed on by the Priestess. "Or is this your way of marking me since Miji played with me so much since we got back?" She snickered as she was snuggled and loved.

"Hush, I must reclaim my kitty time." Yumi said as she buried her face into Akagi's fluffy ears. "Miji will be asleep for at least another hour, so you're mine!" They'd gotten up early specifically so that the Priestess could have the Catkagi all to herself.

{MINE!} (Yumi)

"It's okay. This obsessive part of you is cute, so I'll allow it." Akagi giggled as she was hugged and nibbled at. "And the attention I get is worth every bit of it."

{Kind of hard to say no to huggies like this.} (Akagi)

"I'm not obsessive. I just love you." Yumi puffed out her cheeks. “Don't make it out to be a bad thing.”

"Lying isn't good, Yumi." Akagi tutted. “Foreshame.”

"Perhaps not, but it was worth a try." Yumi laughed as she continued to nibble away at Akagi's ears and cheeks. "You know that you're just adorable, right?" She said as she continue to giggle. "You're my very own little kitty that I can spoil to my heart's content, and you're just so fluffy!" Yumi said as she gave her a light squeeze.

"Would you still like me if I wasn't kitty anymore?" Akagi asked, looking up at her with big ol' kitty eyes. “Mew?”

"Hmmmmm.... I'll admit that it would be hard, but I'd suffer through it somehow." Yumi laughed as she scratched Akagi's head.

"You'd just squeeze Miji more to make up for the loss of the kitty." Akagi rolled her eyes as she was scratched.

"I can neither confirm nor deny the amount of squishing I do or would do to Miji on a daily basis." Yumi giggled. "But can you blame me for wanting to spoil you both? You are you, so we have that to account for and Miji is just the best little sister I could ask for!" She hugged Akagi tight. "And... And I don't want to lose either of you..." She grew quiet again as her hands trembled slightly. “You both mean... everything to me...”

"The nightmares stopped right?" Akagi turned around and hugged her back. "Since you got Miji back you haven't had any more, right?"

"They... They have..." Yumi nodded, slowly. "I haven't had another... You know..." Having her sister return to her took a lot of pressure off Yumi's psyche and elevated some of, but not all of, her trauma. However, that did not mean that Akagi took for granted that all was well, and she made sure the keep Yumi close.

"Good, I'm glad." Akagi said as she buried her face in the Priestess' chest. "They were the one thing I couldn't protect you from..."

"Thank you..." Yumi said she rubbed Akagi on the head. "Thank you for everything. You've given me far more than I can ever repay."

"You don't need to thank me, I was just being selfish..." Akagi said, her voice muffled as she continued to hug Yumi. "I've basically turned you into my crutch... And I've saddled you with a great burden by making you be with me..."

{She's basically stuck with me at this point. Till death do us part ain't got nothing on this...} (Akagi)

"You know that I don't see it that way." Yumi said as she stroked Akagi's head. "If the cost of this wonderful life is an eternity of spoiling you..." She pulled Akagi away from her chest. "Then I'd gladly do it twice!" She smiled. “An eternity of kitty isn't so bad!” She laughed.

"I don't think eternity works like that, but sure." Akagi said as she gave a wry smile as she appreciated the Priestess' levity. "Just... Just know how much it means to me..." She grabbed Yumi's wrist as she trembled slightly. "To have someone so wholly dedicated to my happiness... It means more to me than you can ever imagine... I... One day, Yumi. One day I'm going to figure out how to overcome my issues... So that I can tell you that I love you and mean it from the bottom of my heart. I swear that I'll do it..."@@novelbin@@

{That will just be the start of it. I need to do so much to repay your kindness and the hope you've given me.} (Akagi)

"There's no rush." Yumi sat the kitty down next to her. "I'll wait as long as you need, so take your time and do it at your own pace." She said as she pat Akagi on the head. "Besides, even if you struggle to say it, I know that you love me." She gave a warm smile. "Your actions say more than words ever could, and I know good and well just how much you mean to me." Yumi said as she put her hand over her heart. “I can feel it in here.”

_____________________________________________________________________________

<Ariel POV>

"So our scouts were dispatched? A pity, I would've liked a bit more information, but it I suppose that I shouldn't be too shocked." Penelope sighed as she looked over a group of documents that lay before her. The army had stopped for a break, mostly so that the infantry columns could catch up to the must faster cavalry, and Penelope and the others were taking the time to do last-minute planning for the coming battle. "Though their death confirms that at least someone among them has a bit of backbone. They've done nothing but sit around this entire time, and I was starting to fear that they'd fled in panic."

"I wouldn't blame them. This force is likely overkill... If not for the fact that we're fighting a probable Demon Lord..." Arcus commented from her back. “So I wouldn't go counting your chickens before they hatch.”

"Demon Lord or not, we'll handle it." Penelope assured him that all would be well. "Vikes was trouble, but we've learned much from him, and It shouldn't be much trouble at all to seal this new Demon Lord away with some advanced magic." She said as she pat a scroll case at her side. “They won't be much of a threat with this around.”

"Let's just hope it works out like you've planned. Otherwise, we'll need to call in some bigger guns..." Arcus' eye rolling was audible.

{And the worst part is we probably won't get any just yet either...} (Arcus)

"How are preparations for bombardment coming? Have your mages had enough time to prepare the spells in advance?" Penelope said as she turned to the Phimas. “I'd like to open with a large scale attack like we discussed.”

"Preparations were completed last night, my Lady. Everything has been reduced to scrolls or talismans, so we can activate everything right at the start of combat." Phima replied. She'd been charged with gathering up and leading the Mage Corp, mostly so their firepower could be concentrated and organized. “I've already briefed them on how to act, so we'll be waiting for your signal. Based on our calculations they should be mostly wiped out in one strike.”

"Excellent. We'll open things off by leveling that little metal base of theirs, and with that gone we should be able to overrun them with sheer numbers." Penelope said as she bit her lip. "Though we will still have the Halifax problem to deal with.”

{I still can't believe she sided with the enemy... And after everything we...} (Penelope)

"Halifax? You can't possibly mean-" Ariel nearly choked on her water as she heard the Divine Sword's name come up. She was fully aware of who and what Halifax was and hadn't expected to hear that she of all people was involved.

"Yes, that Halifax is here." Penelope's eyes scanned over the Princess-Regent as well as the other Elector-Kings. "But don't worry, I will handle her."

{She's my responsibility! I will not allow her to shame us any longer! And to think I used to-} (Penelope)

"Back up for a moment!" Ariel shouted, breaking Penelope out of her internal meltdown. "Why is Halifax here?!? She's a legendary Hero! Are you trying to say that she is working for a Demon Lord?!?"

{Why the hell would a Divine Weapon take the side of a Demon Lord?!? And don't the Gods have ways to stop that?!? And why didn't you tell us that earlier you idiot?!?} (Ariel)

"I can't say what made her turn traitor, but I can tell you that she will be dealt with." Penelope smirked, unsettling the others in the room. "I have no tolerance for those who turn their back on the Gods, and it looks like she forgot just who holds her leash." She continued. "Thus, it is up to me to put down this insolent dog."

{It does not bode well that Elariel may have actually joined their side, Pen. Things aren't adding up. We should contact Lady Reflia and get backup. I'm sure a few legions of Angels could be sent quick enough to back us up, and if we're lucky Rehael or Jonus could be mustered.}

{No, I will handle this myself. There is no need for Lady Reflia or the others to bother themselves with this. I will defeat the Demon Lord, and I will bring Halifax to justice.} (Penelope)

{Why are you in such a rush, Pen? This isn't like you. You never go rogue like this. So what's the matter? Why are you so adamant about doing this yourself?} (Penelope)

{I need to show Lady Reflia that her trust in me is well placed, that is all. Now stop asking stupid questions. We've got a war to win.} (Penelope)

{… As you wish...} (Arcus)

"It matters not if our opponent has some kind of traitor hero on their side, we will crush them entirely! Our might cannot be stopped!" Bathrumd said as he loudly bellowed. "We'll show that fool the error of her ways, and prove that the might of the Demon Army is unmatched!"

"While I appreciate your confidence, I am worried that our foe will not be so easily defeated." Melifous interjected, clearly a bit distraught as there was visible sweat on his face. "Halifax's legend is well known to me, and if she has sided with this Demon Lord, that raises many questions."

{Its looking more and more like I'll have to call upon Sariel to win this, and Gods only knows what she'll demand... Well, I think I've got an idea of her price actually...} (Melifous)

"Exactly, why would a legendary hero choose to side with a genocidal force like a Demon Lord?" Jerome asked as he swished his hair off to the side. "It makes no sense, and I'd like more information about the situation before we go in. Charing in like headstrong fools is a quick way to die."

"I agree." Balour nodded. "Intelligence is the most important part of any war, and it would seem that we're lacking in it critically. I'd advise waiting a bit longer to ascertain the enemies-" His reasonable suggestion was quickly and rudely cut off by Penelope.

"No! There will be no delay, no waiting, and no feet dragging!" Penelope yelled as she slammed her hand down on the table, causing it to shake. "We shall crush these fools now, and that will be the end of things!"

{I will not permit any delay here! We must defeat them all NOW!} (Penelope)

"Take it easy, Pen. You're going to smash the table up if you keep whacking it like that." Arcus said, trying to calm her down. "Listen to what they have to say. They have good points, so just try and-" He was silenced as Penelope grabbed one of the arms of his bow.

"Quiet. I did not ask for your counsel, nor do I need it at this moment." Penelope's words were practically a hiss and they caused the others in the room to tense up. “And Arcus, I believe I gave you a command to be silent. So listen to your Master's orders.”

"Fine, I'll be shut up." Arcus sighed as he was let go, not wanting to provoke her. “Do whatever it is you want...”

{I just don't get it, what's gotten under Pen's skin this bad? She's never like this. It can't just be Halifax. I know she held her in high regard, but still...} (Arcus)

"Does anyone else have any complaints?" Penelope glared at the rest of them.

{This child... I fear she is going to be the death of us... If it were not for that Divine Command I'd tell her to pound sand. She has no business commanding this force, especially when she seems unable to keep a level head.} (Delora)

“Good.” With no verbal dissent, Penelope continued explaining her plan of attack, all while the members of Demon Leadership questioned it was too late to get off the proverbial crazy train.