Chapter 18

The Kawakami Temple was as always, clean and pure. If there's a center of faith in this city it's this temple, I haven't seen them practicing any kind of religion though. But it doesn't escape me their mannerism that resembles Shintoism and Buddhism.

There's not a single statue of anything, not even a symbol. Then yet, how did the Kawakami Temple become a Temple? Why is it so favored? How did Momoyo become the goddess of battle? The more I think about Kawakami the less sense it makes.

The temple in Köchi felt holy, there were statues of different Buddhas, scriptures on stands, monks with prayer beads, people praying.

All you see in the Kawakami Temple are people in monks attire, training, fighting, cooking. But never praying, and yet, they have the mannerisms of a true monk, and I can feel faith from the temple itself. What a weird bunch.

However, all is that tame in comparison with the Grandfather and Grandaughter duo. Not Kawakami Kazuko, she's adopted after all. And while that's nothing wrong in itself, I can feel the aura and strength of the other two completely different.

Tesshin, old and sturdy feels like boundless strength, a paradigm given his youthful personality.

Momoyo, even lazing around and complaining feels ready to attack, destroy and laugh while doing it. And yet, she's squirming trying to take care of a fish, all her focus on the fish, so nervous it may die.

And yet, there's nothing holy about her. In fact, I'd say she feels almost demonic.

Entering the main house is not a hard task, dodging all the monks and avoiding Momoyo's room is not a hardship either. Hm, they need better security. Then again, not many are as resourceful as I am.

And that's the thing is it not? I am strong, but that's because of my resources.

At the end of the day, my body is just at the human physical peak, and while I can boost it temporarily with my energy it's not true strength. Like Momoyo's, she can shatter a mountain with a fist, I can't.

I can, right now, because of my strength bracelets, because of my magical tattoos, because my energy boosts, because I have a thousand things to boost me up.

And that's it, without my resources, I am just a slightly better sorceress than most, after all, I know most of everything about it. From my world, at least. There's no obscure branch I haven't mastered, there are no martial arts I haven't learned. And yet, in equal terms, Momoyo would beat me up in a second.

However, I have learned something these last days while I was training. I can get stronger.

The human limit on my world, it's not present in this one. Moreover, my new body was made in the void. Without a mortal limit, I think I can keep getting stronger, and stronger. Strong enough to shatter continents with my fist if I dedicate myself to training.

And it was probably why I was here, looking at a sleeping Tesshin, hugging a dakimakura of a sexy anime girl.

"Well, well, well, what have we here," I smirk. "Oh, Tesshin old chap, I know you're awake. I felt you awaken when I entered the room, feigning sleep to ignore your awkward sleeping arrangement is not healthy." I laugh out loud at his twitching eyebrow.

-sigh- "Belatsunat... Why have you come into my room at this hour? Oh! Perhaps are you here to assault me at night? Is my purity in danger?" He squirms from side to side clutching his pillow even harder.

My smile remains on my face, and yet my face darkens a little, my fist closes. "Now, now, don't go saying those things around, it is quite disgusting coming from you." I snark back. "Besides, you're just napping, it's the middle of the day."

I sigh and massage my eyebrows. "My fight with Momoyo is tomorrow, right? I came here to make sure of every detail about it. Rules and all." I say as I freely sit in one of the cushions around.

"Want some?" I say taking out a bottle of my favorite wine.

"O-ho?" He immediately sits and starts smelling around. "I haven't smelled something so delicious, what is it?" He says as he takes two cups from his drawer.

"Kukuku, this my fellow, is wine made by the very hands of Dyonisus in the northern Zagros Mountains of Iran, the first wine ever made on earth! Or at least a little batch of it." I smirk at his expression.

"Amazing. How did you get it?" He says as I serve his drink first.

"Well, he owed me one." I grin as we toast.

"Aah, oh heavens above." He moans as he drinks it.

"Oi, don't let those noises out. It's creeping me out." I say with mock disgust.

"Ohohohoho, so, the rules?" He asks with a happy smile.

"That's right. For example, I have this." I say as I take one of my bracelets off and offer it to him. "Put it on."

As he put the bracelet he suddenly lets a gasp, and his eyes open slightly to look at my arm, where I have other six.

"This..." He proceeds to think slowly as he removes the bracelet and gives it back to me.

"Where I am from, people couldn't get as strong as the people here. Even with the blessings of the gods." I tell him alluding to the fact that I am from another world, he's not dumb after all.

"I see. And this is the secret of your strength?" He asks.

"Nah, it's my resources and my skills. There's nothing I can't really do if I put my mind to it. However, yes, my strength comes from my artifacts and stuff. Personal strength... It's quite low compared to the people here." I think out loud.

"I see... While I don't care if you use items and whatnot, I don't think Momoyo would either. The lesson I wanted to teach her is better if she doesn't learn about it." He answers slowly.

"Hm. So, lie to her you mean? I already flicked her for about thirty meters. I believe she has quite a lot of expectations for this fight." I say out loud. Only to see him stiffen. "She does, right? Why are you sweating so much? Oh... You didn't tell her shit, did you?" I smirk.

And he suddenly starts sweating buckets and trembling as he gets paler and paler like a sheet. Suddenly I start feeling a red aura from behind me.

"Oh yeah, this wine does null the senses." I realize with a clap as I start laughing out loud. Drinking the rest of my wine, and then looked up.

Momoyo's face is way too close, and while she's stunning, I have Takae already. So no thanks.

-sniff sniff- her nose twitches and she zeroes on the wine.

"Yeah nope," I say as the wine disappears, at the same time that Tesshin drinks his glass in a second.

"Yo!" I say with a wave as her eyes focus on me.

She suddenly smirks as she looks at her grandfather and me. "Oh my! You didn't tell me we're gonna have a new grandmother!"

And with that, the wine that the old man had in his mouth as he tasted it was spat towards us both.

"Hah!" Momoyo shouts, and a ki wave erupts from her body, completely bypassing me, and pushing all the wine to the floor.

"Nooo!" I and Tesshin shout as the wine falls to the floor.

"Ah!" I scream as I stand in a hurry. "You stupid old man!" I say as I kick him.

"Yes, I am sorry. I apologize. Forgive me. It is my fault, I shouldn't have been born." And with that, we both start crying.

"Huh? You guys didn't want to share with me, so that's what you get. It's only alcohol, don't mope so much around." Momo says with a grin as she kneels beside me, and starts to pat my ass.

With a twitching eyebrow, I remove her hand with a strong grip even as she resists, but I am pressing the weak point of her circulation to her hand, her hand is mine.

"Now, now, don't go touching what's not yours, girl," I smirk as I boop her on her right nipple.

"No bra? Well, it is your home after all." I say as I release her.

"So, what's this I heard about a fight?" She asks crossing her arms with an excited expression.

Locking eyes with Tesshin I grin back. "Well, well, apparently it was a secret from your grandpa. We are gonna fight tomorrow, no holds barred, with everything you got. And I am gonna beat you up. In exchange, your grandpa promised that you would help me in something I am sure you know pretty well." I stop smiling as I start sensing the influence of Ishmallah in her aura, as I thought, she has been in contact with it, but not directly touched it or absorbed it.

As if sensing my seriousness, her battle spirit rises, her own clothes fluttering in the pressure she makes. She's really strong on her own, amazing, I underestimated her.

"Oho, you did surprise me that day on the bridge, appearing from nowhere in the sky? Dodging me and beating us all? But I was holding back. You won't win again. Hah! Now I am fired up and can't wait for tomorrow! Old man, I am gonna go exercise!" And then in an instant, she was far away.

"Did you feel it?" I ask, my meaning obvious.

"So that was the aura of the feather you said? I have felt that on her for about a month, every day it's a little bit more. What is it? Do I have to worry?" He asks, concern evident for her family.

"Hm, yeah. You'd be well in being concerned." I take out the shining inert feather of Ishmallah I own.

"This is a feather of a being named Ishmallah. I told you a little bit about him before, but I guess I should tell you everything now, but I'll tell you while we work. One of the things I came here for, was to put a defensive shield around the battle arena. It'll be strong enough for Momoyo and me." I smirk as he gets up grumbling.

"Oh well, at least other people will be able to see the fight." He mutters.

"Ah, I also have another favor to ask of you, old man." I smile.

Six hours later

"We're done here," I say, exhausted as I clean sweat from my forehead.

The fifty monks that we're helping us cheered as they fell to the ground, tired

"Good job everyone!" Kazuko shouts as she walks towards us all with a big trail filled with an energy drink that she made for everyone here.

"Wait!" She shouts as she slaps the hand of one hasty monk away. "First guests." she smiles as she hands me one of the drinks.

"Thanks, red." I smile a tired smile. And then she proceeds to give one to everyone.

"Ah, you guys did good," Tesshin says as he finished his task.

We all look towards the translucent bubble, like a soap bubble, encompassing the entire arena, even underground. It's a perfect bubble after all.

He walks to it and touches it, yet it remains immobile. He punches it with all his strength, and the only effect of his punch is to blow dust all over the people behind him.

Not me, I have my umbrella.

"Grandpa!" Kazuko shouts. "Ugh, let's go all have dinner, we have prepared the food for today!"

And with a cheer, we all walk towards the dining room, it reminds me of the Vikings' long halls, filled with tables and food on every single one of them.

"Damn! This is delicious!" I exclaim as I eat.

"Hehe!" Kazuko turns red with happiness, her food being praised made her happy. What a simple girl.

"So, Belatsunat, how does one enter the bubble?" Tesshin asked, and the conversation of everyone muted, it seems they're curious too.

"Well, you pour your blood on a talisman that I own and the bubble will let you enter. It will not let you leave until one of the two is knocked out or dead." My eyes glint dangerously as I smirk.

Suddenly the mood of everyone turned tense and nervous, people locking eyes with the person sitting beside them, all looking nervous at Tesshin as he sighed and closed his eyes.

"Well, fair enough." He said to the surprise of everyone as he continued eating without issue.

"Hah? But grandpa! Didn't you hear her? I told you she was evil!" Kazuko exclaims as she points at me.

"Girl, you don't get it do you?" I look at her pointedly. "A fight on our level, without holding back, it's bound to destroy at least Kawakami. The barrier prevents that. Besides, the fight won't come to a deathmatch, I was just telling the old man how the barrier works." I say rolling my eyes. I won't tell them I can deactivate the barrier whenever I want, and knowing Momoyo, she probably won't be knocked out, so they are going to get more and more worried.

I just hope all her friends come, worried about her. One of them must have the feather.

Saying goodbye to the monks I slowly walk towards the Kuki Corp. Building, I have been living there for a few days, I wanna spend the rest of the night with Takae.

Whistling to myself I clap my hands as a magical circle wraps around me and I disappear, reappearing in the room I share with Takae.

"Oh, Nat! How are you? I was going to call you." Takae smiles at seeing me, phone in hand and a towel wrapped around her hair.

"Good, kinda tired. Dealing with the Kawakami's is tiresome." I suddenly smirk. "Momoyo touched me~," I say feigning weakness.

"Oh no! My poor angel." Takae sees my smirk and plays along. "Where did the devil woman touch you? I'll make it purer." She says as she walks slowly towards me, opening her bathrobe, allowing me to see her glistening skin.

With a glint on my eyes, I said trembling. "I do not know,... It was in many places."

"Oh, perhaps here?" She touches my chest as her robes fall to her lower shoulders.

She massages my chest with one hand, slowly as the other one takes my jacket off.

"Mhm." Was my non-answer.

"I think... You need to take off your clothes and go to the bathroom." She whispers, biting my ear. And suddenly walking slowly towards the bathroom, hips swaying, and the bathrobe falling more and more with each step. Until it falls completely as she crosses the door.

I could hear the drips of the water, the curtains of the shower were in the way, but perhaps it was on purpose. After all, I can see her figure through the shadows on the curtains. With a flash, my clothes were inside my storage ring.

I opened the curtains, stepping under the shower spray, oblivious to my onlooker. Taking my time washing my hair, two strong arms suddenly sneaked around me.

Soon, Takae started kissing my nape, slowly biting and teasing my nipples. A hand was on my neck, turning my face towards her as she kissed me. We kissed under the spray of the water for a while, as we explored each other's bodies like it was our first time.

Takae lowered her head and placed her lips on my breasts, sucking and caressing my nipples. She keeps going lower and lower, as her knees hit the tile floor in the shower room, kissing her way down my stomach, reaching the place between my legs.

On instinct, I spread my legs wide open for Takae, as she slowly sucked my clitoris, I was gasping and moaning and one of my hands went to her hair, pushing her against me. Soon, she slid a finger inside me, and another, and another.

I could feel I would cum soon, as the warm water keep falling on us. I was rocking my hips against her mouth when suddenly an orgasm hit me. "Mn, my turn" I whisper, even as I hear her sucking more on me, enjoying the taste of my juices.

Without another word, I grab her up and turn her around as I take the soap and start at the top of her shoulders, working my way down her back as the warm water showers us. Her skin, glistening from the water and bubbles trail down her back, over her ass, I reach towards it. Not letting it disappear down the back of her legs.

Lathering my hands up I begin to massage over her large breasts, with both hands, her nipples, already rock hard as I press Takae against the wall.

My soapy hands all over her body, my mind has already memorized every centimeter of her body, every scar, every mole. Moving her long ash hair aside I kiss the back of her neck, and move down, biting her soft skin on her shoulders. She moans as she tries to turn around, but I hold her firmly against the shower wall.

My hands work their way down to her ass cheeks and my fingers slide between the cheeks. I lift one of her legs and she rests it on a ledge. Finding her wet pussy, I work two fingers deep inside her. My hard blue magical cock presses against the cheeks of her ass as I begin methodically stroking my fingers in and out. Then reaching around her, my other hand finds the hard knob of her clit. After a few minutes of play, I feel her body tense and then shudder slightly in delight. Her inner lips clamp down on my fingers, silently asking for more. I know she is close to cumming but I'm not ready for her to do that yet.

Taking my fingers out of her pussy, I slide my dick inside and begin to pump in and out methodically. And with the other hand, I reach around to strum her hard clit. Her breathing gets heavier.

"Oh, god. Mn, faster," she whispers between her moans.

A few hours later

"Really? Did that brat really say so? Hmpf. I should punch him when I have the chance." I said as Takae and I rest in the bed.

She's inside my arms, we're spooning, but looking at each other.

"Ah... Don't hit him so hard. He's an idiot, but he means well." Takae explains.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. His name is stupid. Hideo. Hmpft." I pout. Only to feel her lips kissing me, making me relax and happy again.

"Relax. Your fight is tomorrow, right? Are you ready? Can we go and see it?" Takae asks.

"Yeah, I guess I am as ready as I can be, I won't progress much on one or two days, I need a few weeks of dedicated training to improve more from now on. My bases are as solid as they can be." I whisper, her face touches mine, no need to talk louder.

"And you and everyone can come. I have asked Tesshin to look for the one with the feather... On the chance, they are in the crowd when we fight. If not, well, Momoyo will fill her part, or I will force her mind open to me." I keep whispering as I caress her hair.

"You honestly hate Ishmallah, huh?" She whispers as she closes her eyes. "How do you see a glass half full?" She asks half-sleep.

"Thirst. Not enough to survive, that's how I see it, whether I call it half-full or half-empty... You'll go thirsty with it. I'd like to fill it to the brim." I grin as my eyes close.

"Good. There's a method in your madness at least." She whispers as she falls asleep, her breath evening.

"Madness..." I whisper, am I mad? I have merely lived longer. I look so crazy to others? Oh well, no need to think too deeply about this. Not going to change. Never. I am me. Belatsunat, the sorcerer queen of Babylonia, the Blighted One, the Champion of Divines. And if I have to beat up a Goddess of Battle for my objective, so be it. And then Morfeus brings me to his realm.

Feeling the rays of the sun on my face I crack one eye open. "Ugh." I groan, but soon it turns to a content hum as I feel Takae's legs intertwined with mine, even if she's the picture of a star right now, with her head hanging out of the bed, and her arms completely extended.

"Pfft. Hahahaha" I couldn't hold it and laughed out loud.

"Mmn... Good mornin'." She croaks. Her voice sounded like a rusty velvet in the morning.

"Good morning, my love," I say back as I forcibly move her to the middle of the bed. "There, now you can't fall. Little star." I smirk.

I am a morning person after all. With my body fully energized I go towards the bath, to take a quick shower and wash my teeth.

"Hey, Nat." Takae's voice rouses me from my bath.

"Yeah?"

"What do you want to have for breakfast? The Kuki's have anything!" She shouted from the room.

"Hm. Can we have breakfast with the Kukis? Let them choose the breakfast if we can, that way we shot three birds with one stone." I grin as I exit the shower.

"Fine." She said as she enters the bathroom, with her phone sending a few texts. "By the way... Why are you taking a shower and all that? Didn't you prefer magic?" She asks.

"Magic is more convenient, yes. But, I don't know. I like this, with you. Feels right." I mutter as my cheeks turn red, she caught me. How shameful.

"Hehehehe." She laughs lightly. "You're surprisingly romantic and cute in many things, Nat." She smiles as she enters the shower. I appreciate her body as I turn around and a flash around me as my clothes appear around me.

Igniting one of my cigs I sigh. "Am I? A romantic? What do you want in a relationship?" I ask from the window.

"Hmm. Well, this, for one." She answers happily. "Just being happy is enough for me."

Hmm. Happiness, yeah. I can get behind that, but I do want to remove his curse, at least, to close that chapter of my life. I owe him that much at least.

"You think too much." She said, walking up to me, with her bathrobe. One of the maids is waiting for us outside, she'll take us to the dining room where Ageha, Hideo, and Monshiro await, cheer up. We have pancakes."

"AH! PANCAKES!" I shout, scaring the hell out of Takae as I fist bump the air.

"Fuck yeah, I knew the Kuki's had a good brain on their shoulders," I exclaim as I dance around thinking of pancakes.

"Hehe, let me get dry and we'll go." She says. However, I do not tolerate that. Clapping my hands, a red spiral appears in my eyes, focusing on Takae, the water on her body starts evaporating in plain view. Pleased with my work I nudge her clothes with one foot as I cross my arms. "Well?" I smirk.

-sigh- "Fine." She starts dressing. "So, pancakes, huh?" She said with a weird tone of voice.

"Hmm? Yeah? What about pancakes?" I whistle innocently looking to another side.

"Nothing, nothing." Her amused tone was even more pronounced. "Alright, let's go."

Opening the door, a maid was waiting for us outside.

"Guests, if you may accompany me, the young masters wait for you in the dining hall." She said as she briskly turned around and started walking.

Looking at Takae with a raised eyebrow she just shrugs back. "The maids and butlers here are all weird." She whispers.

Contrary to its name, the Kuki dining hall wasn't as luxurious as it could be. It certainly was big, with a big table and fancy chairs, and yet, they all sat pretty close and were chatting without the uppity of the higher class I was used to.

"Good morning!" Said Takae as we get close to the trio. Ageha, always looking perfect, a fighter, a businesswoman, there's nothing she can't do. She's the new head of the Kuki Corporation while her parents travel around making more connections and other businesses.

Hideo Kuki, middle brother, according to Takae he's in love with Kazuko, also he's a big goof and believes his own superiority must be used to protect others. Weird boy, he wears a golden suit.

And then, the youngest, Monshiro. Pink eyes and long, gray hair that is past her waist. She wears a Miko-like attire. And like every single Kuki there's the scar in the form of an X on her forehead.

"Yo!" I wave towards them as they turn their heads towards us. All grey-haired with an X on their forehead. It's... Unsettling the focus they give me. However, I merely smile pleasantly. There are Pancakes in play after all.

"Humu. Takae, Belatsunat, good morning!" Ageha exclaims loudly. "You do fulfill your word, and as I said in exchange, the Kuki's will be your friends." She stands up and walks towards me offering me her hand.

Shaking it, she continues. "These two are my younger siblings, Hideo and Monshiro. Go on, I approve of her." She smiled towards her siblings.

"Well, if my older sister said so, then I will believe her that believes in you! I am Hideo Kuki! And while Takae Tachibana is not a Kuki, we accept her as close as a servant is! As long as you properly love her and she loves you back I will accept you, commoner!" He says, with a smile so bright that even his thin-veiled insults sounded fitting from his mouth.

"Ah, he's not insulting you, he refers to everyone not his family as commoners, and his servants as friends. He's weird." Takae whispers to my ear.

"Fufufufu! So you're the lass that stole the heart of our dear Takae!" An exuberant infantile voice said as Monshiro came towards us. "I am Monshiro! My friends may call me Mon! It's a pleasure to be acquantied with me!" She said biting her tongue a little bit.

"Don't mind her when she mispronounces a few words... She gets nervous easily." Snrk, it's hard to control myself when she's so cute and say 'acquantied' with such a proud tone.

"Yep, a pleasure. Now, now, let's eat first, well talk while we eat if you want, but I must focus on the pancakes!" I say as I barrel through them all. I can hear Takae whispering towards them, ignoring it I sit on my designated seat, as a butler fills it with pancakes. "Oh yes!" I mutter as I dig in.

While I eat, they talk in the background. "She truly enjoys pancakes, doesn't she, Takae?" A chuckle.

"Yeah, sorry for making you guys wait." Takae answers and apologizes.

"Ah, don't worry. We were curious about Belatsunat as well. Hideo more than us, though." An amused chortle came out of Monshiro as Ageha exposed him.

"Sister, please! I was merely worried about Takae's partner!" He mutters hurriedly.

As soon as he said that, I stopped eating, it was my 23rd pancake, and I look at him. "You did say something bad about me yesterday to Takae, didn't you? She told me last night." I smirk as his eyes dart towards Takae and then Ageha.

Takae hides a satisfied glint, and Ageha smirks. "Oh? What did you say dear brother? Were you rude to a person I accepted?" She asks, her tone serious, but her face mirthful.

However, Hideo has closed his eyes and is not focusing on her face, he only hears the voice. Oh, he's a funny person, after all, the maid, behind him is looking at me with daggers in her eyes.

I merely smirk at her as I bite another pancake.

"Ah, I... I apologize miss Belatsunat!" He suddenly shouts and strips, showing his muscles. As he was about to bend, Ageha punched him in the back of the head.

"You moron! don't do that while we have breakfast! Also, no one is really angry at you, learn to open your eyes as I scold you. I said, open your eyes!" She ends up shouting in his face as he closes his eyes.

"Pfft, hahahahahaha. You guys are hilarious. I am not offended, Hideo, Takae told me a little bit about your personality. In fact, I am happy that she has so many people to care about her." I smile.

As they calm down and start eating again, this time I intrude in their conversation.

"So, Ageha, any chance you're coming to the fight? Since it was you who told me to fight her, I think you'd like to know the fight is today. In a few hours. Also, her sister and friends will be there." I say, smirking at Hideo's look when I mentioned the sister.

"Yes, we are all going. In fact, Hyume and Tesshin will both be the proctors of the match." She smiles at me.