Assessing the threat

The helicopter ride back was awkward, to say the least. One reason being, the looks Raven was getting from Masane and the two men with her. Though she could tell they really wanted to talk, Rihoko being there stopped any of them from outright asking. Masane was wary and curious but what Rihoko told her about Raven and Yang made her ease up. They did take her to Tokyo Tower and spend the day looking out for her.

Masane shot Raven a grateful nod and a smile, which Raven responded to with a small smile of her own while looking at Masane and Rihoko. Yang was glaring at the man across from them with a scar on his brow. He was looking at Raven intensely and Yang didn't seem to happy with it.

"We'll be returning to Douji Industries. I hope you don't mind if we have a little chat while we're there?" The man asked in his gruff voice.

"Not in particular. Though it's getting late and I have to find a hotel for my daughter and I" Raven casually replied.

"That can be easily arranged. Masane is a new, promising employee, though we do have room for one more" The man offered as Raven nodded in thought.

"Hey, delinquent CEO.. my mom's not single so keep the talk plutonic" Yang said with a glower as Raven covered her mouth with a small grin.

"Pffhahaha! That's perfect! I like you, Yang" Masane laughed openly and shot an approving grin at the blonde.

The man's brow twitched at Masane's reaction but chose not to retort. Instead, keeping a dignified silence until the helicopter landed on the roof of Douji Industries.

As soon as they walked into his office, Raven could tell he really wanted to get to the point. Masane was curious as well but didn't want Rihoko involved. Looking to his assistant and Rihoko, he gave him a nod.

"Oh, Lady Rihoko would you care to have a little treat in the CEO's personal lunchroom? You must have been outside quite a while. Of course, Miss Yang can join us too" The assistant stepped up and offered.

"Mmmmn... as long as we save some food for Mom" Rihoko agreed.

"I'll stay, thanks" Yang refused with a polite smile.

The assistant and CEO all looked over at Raven, who simply nodded in approval, much to Masane's astonishment.

"I'll be with you in a minute, Riko" Masane promised as Rihoko nodded and exited the room with the assistant.

"First and foremost. I think proper introductions are necessary. I am Reiji Takayama. The Bureau Chief of Douji Industries" Reiji introduced.

"Oh, I'm Masane Amaha. Riko's Mom and.. sorta employee here" Masane admits while scratching her head.

"Raven Branwen. This is my Daughter, Yang Xiaolong. We're travelers who want to hone our particular skills" Raven explained while rubbing Yang's head.

"And skills, you mean fighting. By the look of your sheath and your rather unique appearance, I'd say you were some kind of magic practitioner" Reiji guessed.

Raven frowned at the mention of magic while Masane looked at him incredulously.

"I admit she looks dangerous but magic's not real" Masane retorted.

"No, magic is quite real, Masane. What do you think the Witchblade is? It is unlike any weapon on Earth and it choses its wielder. Besides it, there are other.. occult items related to it. Not many know of their existence but they're far more dangerous than the Witchblade" Reiji explained as Raven looked annoyed.

"Damn Neo.. neglected to tell me that.." Raven grumbled before looking at Masane's wrist.

She felt it. A living thing. Some sort of symbiotic thing that could enhance Masane's body with its power. Even if she was weak, it made her formidable to regular humans and could even shrug off heavier weapons such as tank shells. She felt the lust and greed from it. A desire pointing to Rihoko and some parts herself. As if it was using Masane until Rihoko became suitable enough.

Raven glared at it, feeling the urge to just destroy it here and now. Yang pulled her sleeve, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Mom..? You're scaring them" Yang said, pointing at the cold sweat on Masane and Reiji's faces.

~Seems some of my bloodlust leaked out involuntarily~ Raven sighed.

"If you aren't comfortable speaking about it.." Reiji started to say, but Raven shook her head.

"No.. It's not that. I felt something from the Witchblade over there. You can call us magic practitioners. Truthfully, I was told this would be a good place to train Yang" Raven explained.

"Wait.. That's too dangerous. The Ex-Cons are killing machines!" Masane exclaimed, looking to Raven.

"How strong are we talking?" Yang asked with an eager smirk.

"Hm.. Why don't you tag along with Masane next time she goes out and you can see for yourself" Reiji suggested casually, hearing Masane protest.

"It'll be fine. We'll both come along and observe your fight. For now, why don't we join Rihoko and turn in for the night?" Raven suggested.

"I.. urgh.. okay, fine" Masane agreed, though aggravated.

Raven and Yang were accommodated by Reiji via a luxurious hotel situated nearby. Though Masane kept giving Raven judging looks of disapproval, it didn't seem to bother her. Raven understood her mindset and approved of Masane's protective nature. Though her situation with Yang was quite different. In a world such as this and with how young Rihoko is, she really couldn't fault her for judging her.

~Though that Witchblade.. It has no good intentions with Rihoko. I might just destroy it~ Raven thought as she allowed herself to drift off into sleep.

-???-

As soon as she did, she saw nothing but black and crimson. An infinite space of just those colors. Stepping forward, it felt like she was stepping through water only half an inch high. Splashing as she walked, she wasn't too surprised at the fact she was naked. She quietly looked over and saw Pride, walking beside her.

"Did you bring me here?" Raven asked, seeing Pride slightly smile.

"No. Not I. But I allowed us to be brought here along with the one who tried to pry into our head" Pride explained.

Raven furrowed her brow and looked ahead, just to see a black/grey gauntlet on the floor. The red eye on the back noticing them as it used its blades, extended and ran at her. Intending to wrap around her hand, she felt its desperation and stopped it dead in its tracks, grabbing it mid air and squeezing it with a cold expression.

"...Hurts..... pain.." It seemed to cry out simply as its blades lashed out, only to be deflected by Raven's aura.

"You tried to invade my dream. Why?" Raven asked, forcing it to listen as her grip increased in power.

Hearing its pained cry, she grinned.

"New.. host" It exclaimed through the pained cries.

"And you thought you could force yourself on 𝙢𝙚?" Raven felt her authority surge.

Pride welling up in her entire being as Pride itself stood beside her and sent the gauntlet a mocking smile. Eagerly awaiting her next move, Pride watched as Raven's powers all made themselves known. All surrounding the terrified gauntlet like hungry snakes to a mouse. The Witchblade started shaking as Raven glared at it, as if it was some cockroach.

Before it knew it, it was dropped on the floor. Raven reigned in her authorities and looked down at it with interest.

"Why? Why do you want me as a host? Why Rihoko? Don't bother lying or I'll kill you immediately" Raven asked, the Witchblade feeling the threat promised upon it.

"Father.. Mother... hate them. Threw me away.. tried to kill... Tried to defile.. hate them.." It spoke, sorrow evident its feminine voice.

Raven quietly considered its words while it shook on the ground. Then she looked back down, her gaze still cold.

"And what does this have to do with Rihoko and getting a host?" Raven asked, folding her arms under her chest.

"Perfect.. host.. until... You. Want.. kill.. father.. mother.. hosts" The Witchblade answered with hate in her voice.

"I'll consider it. I want to see what Masane and you can do first. The repercussions of using you as well" Raven explained as Pride hung off her shoulder and smiled at the sentient gauntlet and snapped, cutting off their link.

Later that day, Raven heard the hotel's door open as Rihoko poked her head in. Waving over to them, she walked inside with Masane. Raven yawned and sat up as Yang greeted them.

"Hey you two! We stayed in the room next to yours. Though Riko wants us to stay at the place she was at before she met you" Masane explained as Raven straightened up her night gown and nodded.

"Yeah! There's a scraggly photographer, a nice older lady, a fortune teller and a nice old man who lives there" Rihoko explained, getting Yang's interest.

"Sounds like a good place. I wanted to go out and shop a little today with Mom. What about you?" Yang asked.

"Oh, yeah! We should really go shopping for new clothes. My mom only has the one pair.." Rihoko replied.

"Actually, now that you say that.. So does mine" Yang and Rihoko both looked at their mothers with a gleam in their eyes as Masane threw her hands up defensively.

"I'm fine with just these.. really!" Masane defended, hearing Raven sigh.

"I know someone capable of giving me any clothes I could ever want.. But I'm not going to reject spending time with my daughter. Okay, let's get ready. There should be a mall nearby" Raven replied, wiping the tiredness from her eyes and stretching.

"Aww...." Masane pouted as Yang and Rihoko high fived, outvoting her.

-Later that day-

Night had rolled around and Rihoko was put to bed after a long day of shopping. Yang, being a growing girl, had really urged Raven to buy far too much clothing for herself. Though Raven complied, since it made her happy. Just as they were finishing up putting away their clothes, Masane entered their room. Something in her back pocket was ringing. Her expression was dire as she looked to Raven.

"It's time. Are you coming?" Masane asked, only seeing Raven pick up Omen in its sheath and Yang grab her gauntlets and blade in response.

"Lead on. I want to see what you can do" Raven said, looking at the Witchblade as its eye glowed red in response.

After a quick drive over to a park by the assistant, Segawa, they all heard and felt the ground rumble. The heavy sounds of metal filled the air as they stepped out. Masane ran forward and Raven stopped Yang from doing the same.

"Remember to assess the enemy, Yang. Don't blindly rush forward" Raven said, seeing Yang calm down and nod in response.

Smiling at her daughter, they proceeded forward. Coming to a rather odd sight. Fat, identical men turning into giant machines and attacking two women. Masane was already destroying one, having transformed. The two women having done the same. The machines were easily torn apart by the blades and strength that was part of the women's armor.

Though.. to call what they wore armor was a stretch. The women, including Masane were all in some strange get up that really only covered up the bare minimum. Raven deadpanned as she watched them finish off the machines. The two women looking down at Masane in contempt. To Raven, she had to look away, cursing under her breath.

"Okay.. Neo wasn't joking about the skimpy part. Why in the fuck are these superweapons like this..?" Raven dragged her hand down her face and looked over to her daughter.

Though she froze in abject terror as she saw her face. Yang had her jaw hung open, sporting a large blush across her face. Raven's eyes widened as she briefly considered murdering all the women here for tempting her daughter. Cold sweat ran down her face as she touched Yang's shoulder shakily.

~N..No.. I'm a failure of a Mother.. I exposed her to such degeneracy at such a young age.. Have I awakened something..? Oh my Lilith.. what the fuck do I do!?~ Raven panicked internally until she heard Yang's next words.

"S..So cool! Mom look at their cool armor!! It's all SHWING! SWOOSH! It's so.. AAAAH! I gotta have one when I get older..!" Yang said, her eyes shining in awe.

~Ah.. nevermind. Never change, baby~ Raven thought, proudly rubbing her daughter's head as Masane and the two woman looked at the two in confusion.