The Red Hand

Chapter 353 – Please Don’t Explode the Cat.

"Well, things didn't go to plan, but overall, I'd say things turned out okay." Akagi said as she touched down just outside the base. “We got a couple new underlings and a bit more information, so I can't be all mad.”

{Though its annoying that its putting off finishing things. The longer I stay here the more problems it creates.} (Akagi)

"No more flying, please." Amakusa said as she fell to the ground. She still hadn't gotten used to high-speed travel, and Akagi wasn't about to place her inside her shadow since that wouldn't be any fun.

{The poor pet is airsick. I wonder if that's like when dogs hate going in the crate for car trips?} (Akagi)

"I don't think I'd call being back to square one okay, but whatever." Elariel sighed, not wanting to debate the Demon. "I'd even go so far as to say its worse since now we have those two idiots running around, and I don't even want to imagine the chaos they're going to cause."

{At this point, Enoris may be destroyed long before its scheduled time. Those two are destructive, immature and reckless and its only a matter of time before they cause trouble.} (Elariel)

"Meh, I'm sure they won't do anything too crazy." Akagi said as Yumi stepped out of her shadow. "Don't forget that I locked down most of their power, so the amount of destruction they can cause is limited."

{Though they could probably still blow up a few towns.} (Akagi)

"So, what's the plan?" Halifax asked what the path forward was. "Are we just going to let them run around and try and smoke Labrys out? Because I have a feeling that it's not going to be that easy..." She figured that actually finding the Axe would be nearly impossible unless they dedicated proper resources to it. "The Gods and I have spent thousands of years hunting for him and came up with nothing, so I doubt two young Primordials can find him."

{I don't even think I saw him once during that time I was captured either. He seems like the kind to stick to the shadows and plot from a safe distance rather than expose himself.} (Halifax)

"Oh don't worry about it, we'll find him." Akagi smirked. "Either the turtle will peep its head too far out of its shell, or I'll just have to entice him into to doing so."

{And I've already got a good way of doing that.} (Akagi)

"Translation for those who don't speak stupid cat?" Amakusa said as she raised her hand.

"She's going to do something crazy that gets his attention." Yumi provided the Akagi to reasonable person translation. "Likely involving explosions, death and maybe some kitties."

"Maybe a few of each will pop up." Akagi winked. "But for now, I'll let the twins and the ninja handle the actual hunting. If that Axe works like I think he does, then eventually he'll hear of me and get interested. After all, hearing that another one of your former master's kind has shown up has to get him moving."

"Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and he'll agree to help us." Halifax said with a bit of vitriol in her tone. "That would be the first useful thing he ever did, anyway."

{Just the thought of working alongside that thing makes me sick to my stomach.} (Halifax)

"Well, Akagi is a Demon Lord, so Labrys may be inclined to work with her." Elariel figured that it was possible. “But I wouldn't exactly bank on it being a happy relationship.”

{Not to mention that we CANNOT have that thing and Halifax meet, it would spell disaster!} (Elariel)

"I have a feeling that he's going to be disappointed that I don't want to go all Vikes on this world." Akagi noted that since he was a weapon made by a feral Demon Lord he likely shared his master's vision for the future. "I can't imagine that he'll just roll over and show his belly to me like the pet does." She snickered as she poked Amakusa in the shoulder

"I ONLY DID THAT BECAUSE YOU MADE ME!" Amakusa hissed as she swiped at Akagi, missing.

{Angry pet.} (Akagi)

"Damn, Shiroe. I never knew you had such a side to you." Halifax said with a wily smile. "I guess you're the kind of woman who gets on her back for anyone."

{Oh. My. God.} (Akagi)

"Halifax, just know that if I wasn't holding Alm in my hands, I'd smack you silly!" Amakusa growled.

“As if you could do anything to me anyway.” Halifax snickered.

"Pfff. Sorry..." Elariel tried her best to hold in a laugh but couldn't.

"WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?!?" Amakusa yelled at the Goddess. "You of all people should have sympathy for me!"

{YOU BITCH!} (Amakusa)

"I know... I know..." Elariel said while barely holding back laughter. "But that... Halifax..." She couldn't hold it in much longer and burst out laughing.

"Great to know that I'm the butt of everyone's jokes..." Amakusa pouted.

"I mean, you are the pet, after all." Akagi laughed. “You're entire existence is one big joke at this point.”

"Yeah, well, fuck-" Amakusa paused as she felt Alm move slightly in her arms.

"Ugh..." The Oni girl slowly fidgeted as she woke up.

"Alm!" Amakusa yelled at the top of her lungs. "Alm! It's me, Shiroe! Are you alright?!? Say something!"

"Shiro-e?" Alm said as she slowly opened her chestnut eyes looking directly at Amakusa.

"Oh, Alm!" Amakusa yelled as she squeezed the newly awakened girl tightly in her arms. "You're alright... I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry..." She began to cry, heavily as Alm was squeezed even harder. "I'm so sorry that I let you take them away... I should've..."

"Hurts..." Alm squeaked out a single word. "Sister Shiroe, squeezing too... tight..." She protested the squeezing but was ignored. “Gonna... die...”

"Its too bad she can't explode to get away." Akagi laughed as she watched the Oni get squeezed like a toothpaste tube that Amakusa didn't want to give up on just yet.

"Well, I suppose that she can, but unlike you, normal people exploding tends to only happen once." Halifax commented.

{Well, usually. Mr. Quakers exploded six times before I put him down for good.} (Halifax)

"Fair, fair." Akagi nodded. "The art of self-destruction is truly a noble and difficult one. Mastering it takes years of practice and strict discipline."

"Please don't explode in front of Miji..." Yumi sighed as she imagined the horrifying scenario of exploding kitty and sad Miji. "If the kitty goes kaboom in front of her eyes, I think she'd get traumatized for life."

{Either that or love it.} (Halifax)

"Hmmm..." Akagi rubbed her chin in thought as she mulled over exploding. "I don't know. It sounds fun."

"If you traumatize my Sister by exploding, then no more kitty pets." Yumi huffed, bringing out her most powerful weapon.

"No, please! I needs those!" Akagi hugged onto her, desperately clinging to the pets in question. "Do not forsake me, Yumi!" She said as she fake cried.

"Why do I get the feeling that you're still tempted to explode anyway..." Yumi sighed, ignoring the clingy Akagi.

{Because I am.} (Akagi)

"Because you'd probably still pet her afterward." Halifax snickered.

{Why must the thief be right...} (Yumi)

"Alm... Alm..." Amakusa continued to hug the Oni girl for some time until Akagi commanded her to ease up before the girl really exploded. Alm seemed to be in overall good health, but it was decided that having Mimi give her a checkup would be for the best, and she was called over from the Estate.

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"My, my." Mimi smiled as she pat the young Oni on the head. They'd moved her to a makeshift medical wing created out of one of the prefabricated buildings. Amakusa was practically clung to the Oni girl's side, which Akagi found funny. "How are you doing? My name is Mimi and I'm a doctor."

"I'm... Alm... yeah..." Alm's unsure tone and head tilt caused a bit of confusion. Amakusa was about to explode in anger, but Akagi commanded her to be quiet until otherwise told to speak.

{Amnesia? No, she recognized the pet right away and she did know her name so I doubt its that. From the way she said it it's almost as if she didn't know if that's what she should still go by. Interesting...} (Akagi)

"Well, Alm. Have a seat over on this table so I can check you over. I was told that you were asleep for quite a while, so we need to make sure you're all good to go. Can you do that for me?" Mimi smiled as Alm, with Amakusa holding her hand, walked over and sat on one of the medical tables.

This facility was far more advanced technology-wise than Mimi's usual office, and the Yuki-Onna was still reluctant to use most electronics so she brought along a helper to do those things for her. "Kaori, please get my bag."

“Sure, I've got it right here.” Kaori had more or less become Mimi's primary assistant, and Akagi figured that it was only a matter of time until she was a fully-fledged alchemist/doctor in her own right. Naomi was looking forward to starting her own training under the Yuki-Onna, but Akagi wanted her to pursue normal medicine for a bit before her alchemy training could begin in earnest.

"Here you go." Kaori said as she put a heavy bag filled with all sorts of devices on the floor.

{That such a frail-looking girl can lift that much. What kind of training has Mimi been putting her through?} (Akagi)

"Now then, open up and say ahhh." Mimi smiled as she performed a series of basic tests to determine if anything was wrong with her. She used magic for more invasive and delicate testing and eventually concluded that Alm was in perfect health, albeit a bit malnourished and dehydrated from being asleep for so long. "All done!" Mimi smiled as she pat the Oni girl again. "You were a very good girl. Thank you for doing what I asked." She said before turning to Akagi. "Do you have anything about the curse that was placed on her?"

"I don't have anything specific. All I know is that it was something that placed the target in a deep slumber. The body would still be active, though in a much-reduced state." Akagi commented that it was basically like animal hibernation, which was likely why Alm was alive but malnourished. "It was a rather powerful piece of magic, one that I doubt the average person could pull of without some help." She glanced at Elariel.

"As you suspect I've seen it before, and no it has nothing to do with Lockheed." Elariel knew what was coming next and preempted Akagi's question. "The spell in question isn't unique, though as you surmised it takes quite a bit of power to actually use. Not to mention that keeping it actively required reapplication of the spell, and you can probably guess what the best way of doing that is."

"Blood sacrifices?" Halifax hissed, hating such things with a passion. "Of course." She clicked her tongue in disgust.

{As disgusting as they may be, using life force and souls to power a spell is the best way to do it. The power you gain from it is likely second to non.} (Akagi)

"Don't worry, Rafferty is going to get all the payback that the pet is ever going to want to give." Akagi noted that the Heroine would likely summon her over and over again so that she could be mutilated and killed for her misdeeds. "Isn't that right, pet?" She released Amakusa from her silence command.

"Ohhhh you bet that I'm going to enjoy myself with her." Amakusa's lips curved into a nasty smile.

{I've cooked up all sorts of ways to kill that bitch. I think I'll take my time and do it nice and slowly.} (Amakusa)

"Sister Shiroe." Alm tugged at her sleeve.

"Aw... Don't worry about her, Alm. The bad fox lady will never hurt you again." Amakusa hugged her again. “I won't let anyone hurt you again.”

"Maybe, but the bad kitty might demand snuggles." Yumi said quietly, her comment eliciting a smack to her funny bone by Akagi.

{WHY IS IT CALLED THAT ANYWAY?!? IT'S NOT FUNNY WHEN IT GETS HIT!} (Yumi)

"Um... Sister?" Alm managed to wiggle her head free as she looked into Amakusa's eyes.

"What is it?" Amakusa asked. "Do you need more huggies?" She was in full-on sister mode, something that Yumi found both relatable and adorable.

{Or maybe you want to snuggle and take a nap?!?} (Amakusa)

“Um...Why is there a Demon Lord here?” Alm asked as she looked at Akagi, her words causing the room to freeze.

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<Alice POV>

“Will it be done soon?!?” Alice asked Imp who was busy mashing buttons on a console. “Mama could be back any day and I want to show her!” She pouted as she tugged on Imp's shirt.

“Done-complete soon- shortly.” Imp sighed as she pointed at the vague shadow of a human within the large green tank in front of her. “No bug-disturb!” She said before picking Alice up and throwing her out of her lab and slamming the door.

“Mean!” Alice pouted as she stood up. Imp had not thrown her very hard so it was in all actually a soft landing on the metal floor. “I'll tell Mama on you!”

“Do as you please-want!” Imp yelled back through the door.

“Grump Imp...” Alice grumbled.

“Don't let her get ta ya kiddo.” Imperial laughed as he pat her on the head. “She's just grumpy because your Mama put in a large order for those metal monsters! Its been almost nonstop work to get the order ready in time!”

“Does Imp not want to make them?” Alice asked, figuring Imp may have not been happy to make more weapons of war.

“Not want? You're kidding!” Imperial shook his head as he continued to laugh. “No, yer Mama just gave her the most exciten project of both ar careers! She's more stressed about wanten it ta be perfect! So do me a favor and cut the lady some slack! You're little side project will be ready in time for Akagi's return, I'll make sure of it.”

“Mama hasn't been told, right?” Alice asked. “It needs to be a big secret so it suprises her!”

“I don't like the idea of surprising that mother of yours, but yeah... Only us three know about it.” Imperial said with a wry smile. “But just do me a favor and direct her anger at the old lady, okay.”

“Its only fair since she threw me out!” Alice said with a snicker that was soon joined by Imperial.

{Just you wait, Mama! I'll be able to help you a whole bunch soon!} (Alice)