Red River Fan Fiction ❯ A SHINTO PRIESTESS IN THE ANCIEN HITTITE EMPIRE ❯ Vol 1 Chap 1 Alice in Wonderland or Where the hell I am now? ( Chapter 1 )

A SHINTO PRIESTESS IN THE ANCIEN HITTITE EMPIRE

OR

WHERE THE RED FIRE AND RED RIVER MEET

 

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Miyuki Kanzaki.

 

Note: Thank you for my first review about this story. If you have found Miyuki too powerful in the description of the prelude, you should have seen what combat monster I created at first.

 

 

Vol 1 Chap1: ALICE IN WONDERLAND

OR

WHERE THE HELL I AM NOW

 

 

It was such a good day. The powerfully built European smiled as he entered the court of the small high school. One could ask what a gaijin was doing in an exchange program in the relatively unknown faculty, but Eric Carter was not here for the curriculum. At sixteen years, the young man was the first disciple of the one known as the Supreme Sorcerer, the mystical defender of the human sphere. As the heir of such huge duty, the blue-eyed blonde must learn many things and like his mentor believed in experience first hand. Still smiling as he saluted his peers, his gaze found the person he wanted to see.

 

`My dear friend Miyuki.' He admitted to himself that he had a soft spot for the Miko in front of him. She was a quiet beauty and those emerald eyes of her where positively enchanting when frustration or anger colored them.

 

`Clack'! The sound stopped him. Miyuki was talking with a young girl of another class and suddenly she slapped the Shinto priestess before fleeing with a small group of friends. `Was that tears that I saw in her eyes?' He gingerly checked his friend. She was rigid, a hand on her reddening cheek, her long black hair obscuring her eyes.

 

“Miyuki? What's the problem? Are you alright?” She jerked at the voice of her friend. She couldn't face him in such state and angrily weep her tears from her eyes.

 

“Yes, I'll be all right, Carter-kun.” She still didn't face him. “I'm afraid to say that Nakajima-san didn't make it last night.”

 

The European Sorcerer softened his frown at that. `So, the fool lost his soul to the demon and she has just told the bad news to someone close to that poor bastard.' He shook his head. When one played with fire, one could be burnt. Still, he didn't like what he was seeing. Like her alabaster skin, quite a feat for a Japanese girl, the soul of Miyuki was easily marked, even by mere words. Due to her Miko powers, she was more than sensitive to the emotions of others. The grieving and the anger of the departing young girl was more than enough to create another cycle of guilt-atonement in his friend.

 

“Come. Let us rejoin our friends. The classes are about to start.” He let his arm around her shoulder. `God, she must be really rattled. She is not objecting. Well, she is not reacting also. Our circle will have his hands full for a time, I fear.'

 

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The rest of the day passed like a dream in the eyes of Miyuki. She was almost robotic, answering questions when asked but otherwise unresponsive. Her friends became concerned with her state of mind but could only make small talk until school was finished.

 

At least, the day was finished and the group of defenders went to the shrine of their Miko for their daily meeting about their duty.

 

The shrine of the Kanzaki family was not consecrated to just one Kami but the complete Japanese pantheon. Very old samurai bloodline born of the Imperial family, it was the duty of the Kanzaki to protect the Japanese nation from the supernatural. As the eldest daughter, Miyuki had inherited this duty and the sheer pressure of it.

 

The young Miko was climbing the 108 stairs of the main complex, lost in her thoughts, when a blur ran into her and tackle her to the ground.

 

“YEOW!”

 

The blur resolved itself to a curious sight: a cat-girl. She had dark blue hair topped by cat-ears, laughing violet eyes and a smirking mouth with two visible canines.

 

“Hello my love.” The cat-girl breathed sensually in the bosom of the priestess.

 

“Lina! You…you shameless hedonist! Let me go!” A blush was developing to Miyuki under the administrations of the said Lina.

 

“Why? You're very comfortable.” She smiled wickedly and took action.

 

The hands of the cat-girl were roaming the body of Miyuki enticing a few gasps.

 

“You know you're irresistible and too delicious to not eat…Mraww.”

 

Miyuki was blushing hard. The flirting of the cat-girl was a running gag among the Circle since their first encounter. But, even after all this time, she was taken aback by what she was feeling.

 

Of course, the snickering presence of Eric was not arranging the situation.

 

“Alas, my male presence has been eclipsed. How can I bear such a thing? Fear not maidens! I shall not stay in the way of your happiness.” He was faking a swoon.

 

“Cut off your Shakespeare imitation and help me instead of laughing!”

 

Miyuki was struggling under the weight of Lina as the cat-girl rubbed her cheeks on her, purring at full force.

 

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The group, less Miyuki and another black-haired woman, was still laughing their heads off as they munched a few snacks in the tearoom.

 

“Really, I don't understand you, Terran. Why the attention of Lina is disturbing you. It is natural for her. As her friend, you should feel proud.” The black-haired and golden-eyed girl was regarding critically her comrades-in-arms.

 

Komera was an alien Princess of the Empire of Roshain, with powerful psionic powers. Her ship malfunctioned due to the Nexus and crashed on Earth. She was currently waiting for her people to rescue her and meanwhile she had been drawn in the Circle by the last member of the group.

 

Hiroshi Mamiya was the scientist of the defenders and the inventor of many specifically-made gadgets. A real stereotype Otaku, he was a little plump and more in tune with video-electronics and networking than with a real person. It was probably why his current girlfriend was the Artificial Intelligence based on photon-technology known as XL.

 

Yes, Hiroshi had created a virtual girlfriend. She was now projecting her holographic image of a silver-haired teenager with a Tron-like aspect from his portable computer. The odd couple was also responsible for smoothing the legal problems that appeared during their missions.

 

“Well, it's a cultural reference, Komera. I have absolutely nothing against Lina. Only society, in general, does not approve of our apparent relationship.” Miyuki was attempting once again to explain a point of her culture.

 

“I will never understand your race. By the way Lina, Why are you pursuing our priestess? Sex or love?” The interest of the alien Princess was genuine considering that her Empire was rather standardized compared to the myriad of different cultures on this one planet. They were also more open with intimate relationships.

 

“KOMERA!” The exclamation of Miyuki was in stereo with Eric. Even their expressions were showing the same irritation and embarrassment.

 

“Ha ha ha! Well, you know that I have something of a soft spot for all feline-related things, right?”

 

Understatement of the century if one knew about the literal mountain of feline-goodies that cluttered the residence of the cat-girl.

 

“And Miyuki here has definitely something feline in her. Hum…Yummy!”

 

Lina purred on the lap of the full-body blushing Miko.

 

“All right, all right! Let us be a little serious here!” Eric, the designed leader of the group clapped in his hands.

 

A light tension fell as the Circle gathered around the low table, composing themselves by drinking their favorite drink.

 

“As you already know, Miyuki managed to banish the summoned demon last night but Himuro lost his life and soul in the process.” There were volumes under the words of Eric.

 

The cat-girl laid her hand on the shoulder of her friend, lending her silent support.

 

“I have been able to raid his sanctuary during the summoning and found the tome which enabled him to cast this particular invocation.” Eric was silently omitting the dozens of magical traps and the two elementals guardians. No need to worry his friends with `little details'.

 

“The gymnasium has been purified after I sealed the gate. We will have no problem in this building until someone managed to overcome my power.” The voice of Miyuki was neutral and flat, not showing her guilt for the annihilation of Himuro.

 

“Very good. It was difficult to continue our physical exercises in this building with the presence of this extra-dimensional entity.” Komera golden eyes were glowing with contained psionic energy.

 

“My research on the computer library has revealed that Himuro had specifically bought this tome himself by the rest of the Tong filial that we…hum…terminated last month. Most of the stuff was already in transit and thus has escaped our investigation but…”

 

“Let me finish Hiroshi-Chan! As the most powerful system of the planet it has been child-play to redirect all of the goodies in transit to a postal drop in order to prevent a few mage wannabe to become demon-food.” XL had a rather bubbly personality. The matrix she used for relation was a mix of all the girls in the Circle with an emphasis on the zeal showed by Lina.

 

Although sometimes, the Circle wondered if Hiroshi had not been inspired by Washu-Chan from the anime of Tenchi Muyo. Or perhaps XL had done it behind the back of Hiroshi.

 

“And once again the Circle triumph! Now the most important thing! ICE-CREAM!” The eyes of Lina were twinkling with stars as the evocation of the most divine food. The rest of the group groaned in front of the Uber-cute attack.

 

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The Circle went to fight the Deadly Ice-Cream Store. Lina proved to be the most devastating by slaughtering four complete Fujiyama Mount by herself.

 

Komera couldn't let `a mere feline' surpassed her but came a distant second. The Princess loved the Terran frozen confections. She even had the intention to create an exportation line in hyperspace when her people managed to locate her. As she put it, she had been tempted to just order a full scale invasion to secure `this most remarkable food too delicious for barbarians like you'.

 

As the group of defenders worked in the midst of desserts, they also worked on the growing depression of their Miko. The deadly tandem of Eric and Lina proved to be effective and Miyuki began to emerge and relax among her dear friends.

 

She will never forget. For the sake of the soul that has been cast in the Abyss, she must go forward. Beside, she was a warrior, a fighter. Never let go. Learn and adapt. Since the formation of the Circle one year ago, she had progressed and gone beyond any of her bloodline. The comforting presence of Eric was also in factor.

 

Since their encounter one year ago, the friendship between the two had progressed nicely. Desire certainly played a role in it. After all both were good looking examples of their respective sex. No one in the team was jealous, to the contrary. All known that any of them could bite the bullet in the next fight. Life was too precious to waste it.

 

Curiously, Lina was the only one who didn't actively pushed the Japanese priestess in the arms of the European Sorcerer. Her continual flirt none counting, she was also not trying to separate them. When XL asked her why, one day, she merely smiled and said that time itself will tell.

 

This is why no one raise a question when Eric walked back Miyuki to her home. They made small talk, content to bask in the presence of the other, as they went back to the beginning of the stairs of the temple.

 

She didn't know how but Miyuki found herself back to a Sakura tree gazing in the shinning blue eyes of Eric. He slowly inclined his head to her and lightly kissed the girl on the lips. The sensation was so delicious. Then abruptly Eric pulled back blushing.

 

“Eric!?”

 

“S…sorry Miyuki…I can't do it tonight” Eric was asking himself what was he doing? “Even though I've got so much to say to you…It's too embarrassing after all…” It was a first for the heir of the Supreme Sorcerer to discover his shyness, especially now. Embarrassed and feeling a little guilty, Eric flew. “See you at school, tomorrow!”

 

`Kiss…He finally kissed me?' The young girl was blushing madly and her heart was beating like a drum. `We've been friends for one year…When did he start to like me like I like him…Eric!!'

 

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“A KISS!? You finally did it!” Eimi was just under one year behind Miyuki. She was a serious girl with the same black hair as her elder sister but wield it in two braids. Her warm brown eyes were examining her blushing sister behind glasses.

 

“Little sister…Shhhhh!! Don't say that so loud!” Miyuki was embarrassed but she had always had a soft spot for her family and couldn't have resisted for long to their genuine curiosity.

 

“It'll be fine! Papa and Mama can't hear us from downstairs…” Kaneda was a precocious ten years old boy with black hair and eyes that idolized his elder sister. The only male of the children but not the eldest, Miyuki was fiercely protective of him and he sometimes took advantage of it.

 

“Eric Carter, eh? So he came to like you after all? I thought you said you were just friends…” It was good for her sister to indulge in a little petting especially with her `special job'.

 

“Hey…Mi-Chan, what did the kiss feel like?” Kaneda was curious like all the boys, living with his two sisters had showed him that girls were not `weird' like some of his comrades said.

 

“It's hard to explain this to a child, but his lips tenderly touched mine…” Miyuki was gone in her private heaven as she recalled the sensations of that warm first kiss.

 

“Oooh! Love! Did he stick his tongue in?”

 

“That's called a deep kiss! Miyuki's just a newbie.”

 

“BROTHER! SISTER!”

 

Fortunately for the ego of Miyuki, she was saved by the bell, or more exactly by her mother. “Kaneda, Miyuki, Eimi! Food's ready! Come on down!”

 

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Miyuki's eyes widened as she saw the table charged with delicious food. “WOW!”

 

Kaneda beamed. “What a feast!”

 

Although the Kanzaki family believed in the traditions, especially since they were a long line of priests and priestesses, the current ones firmly thought that Japan must evolve or submit to the same fate as the dinosaurs. While the food served was typically Japanese, the dining-room was western-furnished.

 

“It's to celebrate Miyuki passing her high school entrance exams and her mastery of the Red Flame. Thank you for putting all your effort into staying into your school and for following your duty to your utmost ability.” Kimiko was a good mother in the opinion of all her children. Coming from an old line of samurai, she was the primary supporter of her daughter and her friends. She was also a Kenjutsu master and the sensei of Miyuki.

 

Kaneda smirked. “Mama, we already have one thing to celebrate, her first ki…”

 

“Kaneda!” Miyuki prevented a potential situation worse than a demon summoning by shutting off her younger brother.

 

“What was that?” Makoto, the father and head-priest of the temple was very proud of his daughter. It was no consequence to him that she was a girl to the dismay of some in the family. What mattered was the fact that the child of his blood was capable to use her inner energy and summon the Red Flame. The Flame was the inheritance of the Kanzaki line since the beginning. Ultimate expression of the very soul of a priest, no entity was immune to its power.

 

Miyuki sweated and smiled. “N…nothing, Papa…”

 

Eimi raised an eyebrow to her sister. “Hey Miyuki, if these good things keep happening, a meteorite might appear and crush you!”

 

Kaneda was drooling as he examined the food. “Ooooh! All Miyuki's favorite food.”

 

Miyuki shook her head. “Eimi-Chan, you're terrible! Beside with my luck, the meteorite will appear and transform me into Super-girl or Miss Hulk.”

 

The Kanzaki family began to do what it do the best: be a loving and warm family.

 

`But really…now I'm free from all that studying…and Eric…heeehee!'

 

The young boy raised his glass. “Congrats Miyuki.”

 

The big sister's eyes widened. “Ah, Kaneda! That's wine!” `Even if I know that one or two bad things will happen now, I'd have nothing to fear for the future with all my friends and my family at my side!'

 

Makoto felt a little thirsty for something else than wine. “Is the juice and water ready?”

 

Kimiko began to stand up. “Yeah, it's in the kitchen.”

 

Miyuki waved away her mother as she got up. “Oh, I'll go and get it.” She found easily the tray with what her father wanted.

 

The voice of her father reached her in the kitchen. “Mi-Chan, bring some whiskey too.”

 

“Are you sure!?” She didn't like her father drinking too much alcohol. And then, she felt it: A magic surge in her very proximity. Her instincts took over and for a brief instant a red aura manifested around her.

 

The water in the glass on her tray was trembling and moving against gravity. Under the red aura, it shriveled and return to its precedent state. Miyuki focused her senses on the tray.

 

Her mother called her. “Miyuki, what are you doing? Hurry up and come here!”

 

“Oh, ok!” She once again focused on the glass. There was absolutely nothing abnormal. `Just now…did the water just fly out of there?'

 

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Tomorrow morning, at the school, Miyuki was still pondering on what happened at her home. She had checked all the wards and cast detection spells but nothing was revealed. `What happened last night must have been my imagination…The water couldn't have just risen up like that without me feeling an external power or finding proof of an intrusion…'

 

“Yo! Miyuki, you're slow. We're doing the daily duties today. Sensei should be giving out the graduation schedules.”

 

“Oh, Eric…Good morn…ing…”

 

The two teenagers remembered what happened last night and simultaneously blushed at the sweet memory.

 

“I…I'm sorry about yesterday…” Eric was still embarrassed by his actions last night.

 

“N…no, it's all my fault…”

 

“I…I'll give out the prints myself…”

 

“No, I'll help too.” `I'm such an idiot…He startled me and I must've given him a weird look…Now he's gotten all worried…'

 

“Eric and Miyuki sitting in a tree…kissing…” The soft whisper made the couple jumped and turned around on a smirking Lina.

 

“Lina!” She hissed. All they need now was a public scene about their first kiss and how the hell could she be in the know. But Lina was only standing there with a little smile.

 

After a mutual gaze, Eric and Miyuki went for the preparation room to do their work. Lina followed them, hands in the back and with the same little smile.

 

Miyuki sweated. “Hum…You're going to follow us any longer?”

 

“Huh huh!”

 

“Oh…You're not going to let us go and forget everything?”

 

“Nope nope!”

 

Sighing, the couple acknowledged defeat and let the still smirking cat-girl followed them.

 

“Eric, where are the prints?”

 

“Funny…The teacher said they'd be in the preparation room. Could you try looking over there?”

 

“Okay…” Miyuki was a little worried. `Ugh, I shouldn't be worrying like this…How many times have the two of us alone together already? Well alone with a nosy cat-girl at least…' Miyuki began to search a stack of papers near a tropical aquarium. “I'd better find it quickly. If only Sensei had put the prints somewhere easy to find…”

 

“That' true…”

 

“Geez! Hey Eric, Lina. Let's go ask Sensei again where the prints are…”

 

Behind Miyuki, a pair of hands with jeweled rings and bracelets appeared in the aquarium. The danger sense developed by the Miko during her past battles tingle her scalp. “Huh?”

 

Too late, the hands burst out the surface of the water and seized her in a mighty grip. “KYAAA!! NOOOOO!!”

 

But Miyuki was not alone in the room. Snarling, Lina jumped to her rescue. Unique possessor of a power that she had jokingly called the `True Nekoken', the cat-girl was the most dangerous member in hand to hand combat. Claws of blue energy ripped into the hands, dispersing them into harmless water.

 

“Eric! Quick! There're hands in the fish-tank…!” Still shaken by the undetected attack, Miyuki backed away to Eric.

 

“What are you talking about?” Eric didn't saw the attack. What he was seeing was her girlfriend, or at least potential girlfriend, in his arms and Lina in a defensive position against…an aquarium?

 

“Look over there!!” There was absolutely nothing except a broken aquarium. The power of Eric was turned on at full power along with the powers of Miyuki and Lina. There was nothing to detect or perceive. `No…'

 

“Uh…I don't know what happened. My mage-sight reveals nothing. But those tropical fish were pretty important to Yoshida…”

 

`This can't be! I'm certain…I'm sure the hands came out of the fish-tank…' She turned to Lina.

 

“She's right, Eric. Something made of water attacked her from the fish-tank.” The cat-girl was still in a defensive crouch. Her grey tail was out of hiding and was lashing around her. It was a sign of extreme agitation in her.

 

“All right then. We gather the rest of the Circle and we `fished' for answers.” The pun made the two girls groaned.

 

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“So, you have been attacked again, Mi-Chan.” Kaneda was always happy to listen to the exploits of his sister.

 

“Yeah. But we found absolutely nothing.” Miyuki was still a little peeved by the audacity of the attack.

 

“Oh well. I'm sure that you will find it soon. After all you are THE Miko.”

 

“Oh yes, don't worry brother. Although I must be careful since Lina seemed determined to be the one who nailed our new enemy.”

 

“Be careful sister. You have still your nerves shot by all that studying for your tests. It must be why you didn't detect it before the attack.”

 

“Hum…?” It could have been that which clouded the supernatural perception of the priestess. And perhaps also the…kiss…

 

Eimi entered the bedroom, clad in a bathrobe. “Miyuki, the bath is free now. You're the last one, so hurry up and take it.”

 

As she took her bath, Miyuki pondered on the recent events. `…I guess it's true…Thinking over it calmly, it's not possible that all that stuff could have happened without me not detecting it…'

 

Behind Miyuki a small maelstrom appeared in the bath.

 

“If I tell anyone else that I didn't detect in time the hands coming out of the fish-tank because of the stress of the exams, they'd never let it down and tease me for at least a week…And if I talked about the kiss…”

 

The maelstrom gained in power. But the heat of the bath begun to take its toll on the small built of the young girl.

 

“Oh no, I should stop…I'm getting dizzy…Yeah…In truth, it was probably all just my mind being unfocused because of the death of Nakajima and everything after that…”

 

Once again a pair of hands jumped out of the water and took the nude Miko by surprise.

 

`It can be possible!'

 

A powerful, cold and female voice echoed around her. I've caught you…I've finally caught you, my girl

 

`Me? You mean me?'

 

In the bath of the young priestess, a giant maelstrom connected to the infinity appeared. `I'm being pulled in!' But she was still the Mistress of the Red Flame. Her crimson aura burst out, the fantastic might of her willpower focused like a blade. She quickly located the strings of energy of the construct and cut loose. The water of the bath erupted and transformed into steam leaving a gasping and coughing naked girl.

 

Eimi ran into the bathroom. “Miyuki, what's wrong?!”

 

Her mother reached for the young girl and quickly wrought a big towel around her child. “What are you doing!? Were you drowning in the bath!?”

 

Miyuki let her family pampered her after the magical tentative of kidnapping as she pondered on the situation. `I wasn't imagining things…' She could still hear the scary voice: `I've finally caught you, my girl!' The situation was very serious. `There someone out to try and specifically get me. Why!? Why just me!?' Miyuki advised a puddle of water. `Up till now…Up till now, everything's been connected to water…Does that mean I should stay away from water? Worse, the attack have bypassed all the wards I made AND the defenses of the temple.'

 

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As winter passed, the days that followed were rather …particular.

 

“Hey Miyuki, wanna go to Yokohama next Sunday?” The Otaku was excited by the prospect of a giant convention of others like him.

 

“I'll pass, Hiroshi! There's no way I'm going near the ocean!”

 

“You're skipping school because it's raining?” Komera was looking at Miyuki like she had two heads like a few races she knew but certainly not normal for a Terran.

 

“Sorry!”

 

“Hi Miyuki, I've got these tickets to a heated pool…” Eric was preparing a nice date with his girlfriend. Playing in those pools was always fun for a couple.

 

“Uhhh, maybe next time!”

 

The Miko disliked acting like that but she felt she had no choice for now. `Mom, Eric, everyone, I'm sorry…but if I stay away from water then nothing will happen to me until my defenses are renewed…The protection of the Nexus is too important.'

 

“Hey, Miyuki! Get your act together! Dodging the danger like that will turn you in a paranoid! You still haven't given me a proper excuse for turning me down last time! Even today, the long-awaited Saturday, you're rushing to go home? You must relax or you'll burst at the seams!” Eric didn't think that the attitude of his girlfriend was healthy. The aborted kidnapping must have rattled her to force her in such a defensive posture.

 

“Eric…S…Sorry, Eric.” She felt bad. Her actions were making her friends worried instead. She had perturbed the very dynamic of the Circle that she was trying to preserve.

 

“You can take me to the movies by way of apology. Don't worry, we all have taken precautions.” Eric smiled. Joining the fun to the utile was always a good idea for him.

 

“Okay…” For someone who had read Sun-Tzu, she was showing poor intelligence. She had everything prepared for the next attack. No surprise was possible with the Circle warned and ready. `It should be all right, if it's just the cinema…According to the weathercast, I don't have to worry about the snow turning into rain…'

 

“Yeah! Good idea! Let's make it a double-date!”

 

Miyuki almost face-faulted in hearing Lina. The cat-girl looked like she ate the canary. “A double-date? With whom?”

 

“Well, Eric with his girlfriend. That is you! And me with MY girlfriend! That is YOU!”

 

“LINA!!”

 

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“That was fun!” Eric had changed into a leather jacket, white sweater, blue-jeans and was looking very handsome.

 

“Really?” Miyuki had preferred a winter vest without sleeves, a man shirt and tight black pants. Her backpack was full of Ofudas, vials of sacred water and peach wood swords.

 

“I knew you'd enjoy that, Miyuki.” Lina has taken her Mau form. She rarely used this form but the black stripped grey cat knew that in this form the awkwardness of her two friends were lessened and beside she LOVED to be petted in this form.

 

“Yeah, and the sky cleared up, too! I'm glad I came!” Miyuki was content. She had enjoyed the petting given by Eric in the cinema and she also enjoyed giving her own form of petting to her best friend Lina. `Honestly…I was worrying a little too much. If I don't relax a bit, it'll be like giving up before anything happens…I will never give up!' Determination blazed through her soul.

 

“Miyuki, if something is worrying you beside our mysterious enemy…Just tell me. I'll definitely protect you at all cost.” The blonde Sorcerer was looking lovingly to the beautiful emerald-eyed Japanese. Her shining eyes have always been the part of her that fascinated him.

 

“Eric…” Miyuki returned fondly the gaze she received from the European, but was surprised when he suddenly took her in his arms. “Aah!” She had the impression that her heart was about to burst as she snuggled into the large frame of the boy.

 

“Hey…I mean it. Are you listening to me?” Eric felt determined as he held the smaller girl. He WILL protect her.

 

“Yes…I'm very happy…But I'm fine.” Miyuki was attempting to control her hormones. `That's right…No matter where I go, there'll always be water around…' “I really can't let myself lose my mind so easily…” She smiled to the young man.

 

“Really, Miyuki?” Eric was positively happy to see again her dazzling smile. Even the sun was now participating. Unfortunately, the snow present was melting under its rays. Little puddles of water were forming in the street.

 

“Yes…but I'm a bit hungry, Eric.” It was true, emotionally roller-coasting was always making one hungry.

 

“Okay, then! Burgers are on me!” Eric turned around and went to search a nearby fast-food.

 

“Yay!” Lina was always enthusiast about food and promptly jumped on the shoulder of the Sorcerer.

 

Then, Miyuki felt a hand catching her ankle. The surprise was total. Before she even took a breath to alert her friend, the hands moved like a python or an octopus, reducing her to impotence and clamping her mouth. Then the hands violently pulled the Miko in the seemingly without a bottom puddle, her backpack was ejected on the side.

 

“Miyuki, would you prefer McDonald's or Mos burger…” Eric turned to the sight of a backpack achieving to fall in a puddle. Ice flushed in his veins. “…Miyuki?”

 

Lina jumped of the shoulder of the young man and ran to the puddle. “MIYUKI! DO YOU HEAR ME? I'LL FOUND YOU AGAIN! YOU HEAR! I SWEAR I'LL FOUND YOU AGAIN!”

 

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`I'm being dragged in…I'm being dragged in!' The hands were pulling the Japanese priestess by her feet. Miyuki was completely caught flat-footed. Her power refused to kick in despite her best effort.

 

`This is no joke! I'm being drained of my powers, how can this be possible!?' She attempted to contact or even felt any possible Kami in vicinity and drew a blank. She was totally cut off her sources of energy. In desperation she reached for her inner light and called upon the Red Flame. The warm crimson aura illuminated her hopes. Drawing on her last reserves, she managed to kick off the hands that were dragging her. But the effort has left her with barely her consciousness and she was on the verge to being drown.

 

`It hurts…!! I need to get out, fast!' There was a source of light in the watery trap: A square form of sunlight. She pushed herself to this last hope.

 

“GASP!!” She emerged from the surface of the water and took deep breaths of sweet air.

 

She was in a completely different setting. She was in a square spring of stone. Around her, stairs and levels of brick-paved streets with one-story houses of bricks. There was a vegetable market and even a pottery stand under a canvas. All around the spring people of seemingly European origin clothed with simple garb consisting of in general of a tunic for the men or a long tunic for the women. In front of her, a woman jerked backward at her apparition, a baked clay jug broken at her feet. She screamed in an unknown tongue. “&#@€Â¤Â£$*§!!R 21;

 

`Huh…?'

 

A group of women and a child were recoiling in fright. “&#@€Â¤Â£$*§.” “&#@€Â¤Â£$*§.”