A Knight's Duty [Minion Contestation Arc part 3]

Inky blackness painted Yumiko’s dreamless sleep. She was utterly out of it, blissfully unaware of anything happening around her. Back in reality, her body had reverted back to the usual human form, losing the fur, whiskers and claws. Before Anton had cleaned her, what he could anyway, she had been covered in blood. Splashed with it like the painting of a mad artist. Fortunately, most of it wasn’t hers. Just... bloody muck pooled on the cavern floor... Well, at any rate, she wasn’t in a terrible shape. There had been a nasty bump on her head where she had softened her superior’s landing, but it had already shrunk considerably. Zoans were sturdy, as Anton most likely knew.

Eventually, the unconscious marine stirred. Her eyes barely blinked open, squinting at the dancing light. Pain pounded inside her head, as if her skull were an anvil to a smith. She couldn’t even recall drinking last night... However, as she feebly peered around, she didn’t find her own room, or even the ship’s drunk tank, but rather a grim cavern. Memories flashed through her mind. Right... She had fallen into a trap... Tried to climb out... Fell back down... Then... T... h... e... n... With a startled gasp, her eyes widened. She pushed, forced herself upright, , much to the protests of her aching head.

“Master!”

Following the sudden shout, Yumiko’s eyes quickly swept her surroundings. Only upon finding her superior unharmed, her steely gaze finally softened. “Oh, thank goodness you are safe...” After shamelessly stealing what was, perhaps, someone else’s line, she finally glanced down. What manner of blanket was this...? And where did the Master even find-? The realization struck hard. Her expression turned strange. Slowly, gently, bright pink coloration crept up her pale features. Hastily her hands moved to pull the coat away and fold it, before hesitantly realizing the captain would most definitely want to wear it and not put it in his closet. “H-here... Y-your sacred coat... M-master...” With shaky words, she extended her equally shaky arms and offered the coat back.

Trying to push any questionable thoughts aside, the samurai sharpened her focus. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed the shameful reaction. ...Well, most of it anyway. A hint of pink still warmed her cheeks. However, the hesitation vanished completely. “Master.” Her gaze narrowed intensely. She drew closer, studying him carefully from head to toe. “Are thou hurt?” If he had suffered any injury because of her incompetence, she would never forgive herself. Furthermore, it only now occurred to her how cold it was down here. She was used to it from back home, but she shouldn’t expect the same from others. “Are thou cold?” She pressed even closer, disregarding any notion of personal space.

“Please, allow me to warm thee with mine body.”

Anton’s carefree answer was met with a stern stare from Yumiko, as warm as the white wind howling outside. So he didn’t deny that he had gotten hurt... Again. An unforgivable blunder from the tool that was supposed to protect him. To be useful to him. “‘Tis my duty to worry. Thou push thyself too much.” In stark contrast to the icy attitude and scolding words, however, the swordswoman’s touch radiated gentle warmth. When her superior suddenly grabbed her into a hug, she wrapped her arms around him without hesitation. The Marine Survival Handbook stated that sharing body heat was an important survival method in cold environments. She would proudly fulfill this duty for as long as the master desired it.

When the captain pulled away and stood up, the first mate stayed kneeling on the ground. She gazed up at him expectantly, awaiting orders. His statement of the obvious was revered like the word of a god. She promptly nodded. “Yes, master.” Her gaze narrowed as it searched the opening in the ceiling. She agreed with the assessment of the grim trap. “Verily so. I inspected the walls, but there are no other openings.” Casting a glance at the numerous corpses “I suspect there has been a path out, but it has collapsed long ago...” Or perhaps blocked intentionally. It was beyond cruel to rob people of their glorious death like this.

However, Anton’s escape suggestion was met with an odd huff. Orders didn’t start with ‘I think’, so Yumiko dared to disagree. Her eyes sparked with rekindled determination. Rising from the floor, she stepped up to the man and voiced another slightly questionable request. “Master, please ride me.” No explanation or clarification. She simply left that hanging in the air, to stew in the awkward atmosphere. Instead, she took a couple of steps back, closed her eyes and crossed her arms. Deep breaths hissed between her teeth. A sudden gust of wind circled the cavern, even though it should have been impossible.

Suddenly, Yumiko dropped onto all fours. Her body bulged in strange ways. A sleek coat of white fur spread across her skin. Her nose turned black and stretched into a snout. A set of whiskers sprouted from each side. Her hands twisted into paws, sporting massive scythe-like claws. Finally, a long tail peeked from beneath her kimono, ending in yet another blade. The black eyes flickered open, still burning with that same determination. Once the transformation was over, the human-sized weasel trotted over to her master’s side before finally clarifying. “I shall carry thee back up, so thou may conserve thy strength.” Despite failing to climb up on her own, she still insisted on taking the impossible task. Not to mention the hole was barely big enough for one person. With two, it would be more than a tight squeeze. Maybe she did need someone to state the obvious after all...

Much to the loyal first mate’s frustration, the captain simply refused the plan. “But master...” While she wanted to protest, he did bring up one very valid point. As much as it pained her to admit, she would never reach the top with additional weight and bulk on her back. It had been tough enough on her own. As for his first point... Well, they would just have to agree to disagree. A tool deserved no respect. Praise for a job well-done, perhaps, but not respect. Still, she bit her tongue and merely listened. It was not her place to question her master’s will. ...Even when he held some strange misconceptions.

When Anton transformed and wrapped his extra pair of arms around Yumiko, she didn’t resist. Rather, she returned the gesture and held on as instructed. With a mighty leap, the two rocketed up into the hole above. She gasped as the icy tunnel forced them together. Even like this, it was indeed a tight fit. Instinctively she dug her claws and even her pointed tail into the icy walls. Accompanied by a sound of grinding stone, they came to a stop and stabilized. A moment of respite... With the putrid stench of blood left behind, she found her senses rapidly returning to their usual sharpness. She could smell his scent, hear his breaths, feel his every heartbeat...

The weasel woman fell quiet. Her black eyes stared back unflinchingly. “As expected...” She whispered. “...thy idea worked perfectly, master.” Her comment was blunt and flat, without a hint of hesitation. Just like with the tender hug earlier, she was convinced this closeness was all part of his carefully crafted plan. It would have been shameful to try to avoid his gaze. ...Not that there was any escape from it anyway. So when her superior suddenly blushed, worry flared in her mind. “Master, thou look red. Are thou feeling well? Did thou catch a cold?” She bombarded him with questions, blissfully ignorant of the rising awkwardness.

Yumiko shifted, starting to push herself upwards. One claw at a time... Unwilling to waste time while her captain may have been ill, she urged him to move as well. “Master, please set the pace. I shall match thee.” Her voice remained a gentle whisper, mindful of his ears. It was a long way up, but... If they worked together, they could make it out of here pretty quickly.

Despite Anton’s assurance that he was fine, Yumiko still clung onto her worries. His heart was hammering heavily. This climb had to be straining him greatly... She briefly considered turning back into her human form, or at least the slightly lighter hunter form. Unfortunately, her tail and claws were proving invaluable. Without them, she would surely start slipping again. Thus she resolved to simply focus on climbing. Along the way, she nuzzled closer to him, trying to guard him from the biting cold with her fur. Anything to ease his burden in this cold, dark place... The only stop was collecting the master’s twin blades and soon the climb continued again. Just a little further now.

Unfortunately, plans were never as simple as one hoped. Upon reaching the top, they found their path blocked. She attempted pushing in unison, but the trap door wouldn’t even budge. Blocked from the other side, no doubt. There wasn’t even enough room for a proper sword slash. She gritted her sharp teeth, trying to endure the creeping feeling of helplessness. Uselessness... However, when the captain suddenly ordered the weasel woman to cover her ears,  frustration turned to puzzlement. Questions bubbled in her mind, why and how being the foremost. Her ears pivoted down and she awkwardly attempted to bring her clawed paws up to keep them closed.

Just what was master-?

Yumiko’s unspoken question was answered by what to her sensitive ears sounded like a shriek from the netherworld. A high-pitched scream shook the tunnel and her eardrums. The path exploded open and faint light cascaded down into the darkness. Fortunately Anton had his extra pair of arms to drag Yumiko up as well, because she had gone as limp as a furry noodle. Her black eyes were spinning like a pair of spirals. The ringing noise still echoed in her ears, reminiscent of a huge mosquito in an empty hallway. A vaguely familiar voice tugged at the edge of her hearing. She couldn’t quite make it out...

“...WHAT?”

If the horrid shriek hadn’t already alerted every pirate in the building, the carelessly loud question certainly did. The chaotic drumming of footsteps started coming down the stairs. Naturally, the marines would be getting a warm welcome. The weasel woman tried to get back onto her feet, but her head was still spinning with the phantom sound. Having sharpened senses had its distinct downsides. She shook her head, trying to gather the shattered fragments of her focus. Her nose twitched at the multitude of filthy scents approaching. “MASTER. I THINK SOMEONE IS COMING.” Well, she wasn’t wrong.

The floor trembled beneath massive footsteps. As enemies filled the room, Yumiko rushed her master’s side. She placed herself between him and them, planting her sharp claws into the floor like a huge, furry barricade. [Toggle - Mythic Form]  Even in the face of the approaching giant, she stood her ground defiantly. Retreat was not an option. The ringing was slowly going away, but his booming voice was hefty enough to reach through anyway. A low, guttural hiss escaped through her sharp teeth. “Thou will regret thy cowardice. I, Kamaitachi no Yumiko, shall-” Fortunately, before she could finish her foolhardy declaration, Anton’s voice got her attention. “Master?” She hesitated, wanting to protest. Facing such a mighty foe was the perfect chance to die a glorious, romantic death for the sake of her master...

However, there was no time to argue. The weasel woman nodded firmly and stepped aside. “Understood, master.” Deftly she circled around the captain to block off the advancing lackeys. “I shall be thy opponent.” She eyed the horde of foes carefully, trying to pick out the most dangerous ones. Most of them were armed with melee weapons. Swords, axes, spears... Anything sharp that could be used with minimal training. But! She was not naive enough to think their weapon choices were a sign of weakness. If they were allowed to stay this close to their leader, then surely they had to be his most elite forces! (...Or simply his favorite boozing buddies.) She promptly disregarded the latter option. Elite forces, yes. Truly glorious foes to fight.

Meanwhile, up the stairs, a shabby figure sat on the steps. Sharp eyes could spot the unkempt man who had lured Yumiko into the trap in the first place. As he lounged lazily, his large jacket was like a tent around his bony frame. He let out a tired sigh. This was turning out troublesome... When would these government dogs learn? He raised his rifle and steadied it with practiced ease. Through the scope, he peeped at the transformed woman’s chest. A whistle left his lips. Now that was a nice and big center of mass... Like shooting fish in a barrel. While he was taking aim in the shadows, the marine woman suddenly shuddered. A disgusting sensation crept down her spine, the kind of chill that bit through her warm fur. She recognized this feeling. Pure killing intent...

And it was directed right at her.

Following the giant captain’s example, the boozers charged as well. Yumiko had to shake the shivers aside for a moment and focus on the threat right in front of her. Perhaps a costly mistake... Dust started dancing in spiral patterns around her claws and tail as she whipped up blades of wind. “Stay away... from mine captain!” She rushed her foes with a wild flurry of slashes, reminiscent of a frantic dance. [MT - Tempest Dance] Leaping, dashing, bouncing, rushing... [LT - Weasel's Tail] The wind blades followed her every motion, striking an additional time or slipping past guard. [UT] Every motion painted the scene with a streak of crimson.

Unfortunately, the elite forces were too drunk brave to care about their friends falling. They had strength in numbers and they were going to use it. In unison, they surrounded the woman and attempted to overwhelm her. [LT - Overwhelm] She was one step ahead, however. Just as the quickest attacker was about to reach her, she flipped backwards. [LT - Gale Warning] A weak gust of wind pushed the foes back. In closed spaces, her wind didn’t have much room to grow, but the cutting gust still managed to graze some of them. Their attempt at overwhelming her failed completely. For a moment there, she dared to think that she had this under control.

A gunshot echoed through the room, heavy like a hammer slamming against an anvil. [MT - Sniper]

Yumiko never saw it coming. Suddenly she just found herself staggering beneath sheer stopping power. A punch to the gut from an unseen fist robbed the breath from her lungs. Her legs buckled. A burst of red stained her white fur. As the weasel woman collapsed, the pirates immediately swarmed her. It was easy to lay a beatdown on a motionless target. Effective too. [LT - Beatdown] She couldn’t even defend herself against the storm of punches, kicks and slashes. [UT] Meanwhile, on the other end of the smoking gun, the hunter let out a tired mutter. “Still alive, eh...?” Too quiet for anyone except himself. “You Zoan-types are always so stubborn...” With cold efficiency, he pulled the bolt back and chambered another round.

Pummeled by the rain of strikes, Yumiko barely clung onto consciousness. Her grip was slipping. The darkness beckoned, promising an escape from the pain. All she had to do... was to close her eyes... However, the sudden shout shook her awake. Her half-open eye peered towards the voice. She saw the surrounding pirates stagger, while a familiar figure appeared above her. “Mas... ter...” The weak mutter was accompanied by a bloodied cough. She pushed herself onto all fours, fighting through the throbbing pain. “I am...  fine...” She lied through ragged breaths, especially to herself. While she struggled, an empty bottle flew from the crowd and shattered against her skull. [LT - Bottle Toss] Glass shards dug into her skin. [UT] The pirates laughed and jeered.

Suddenly, through the haze of pain, another deep shiver clawed at the weasel woman’s spine. Her widening gaze turned onto the man by her side. Inexplicable anxiety flooded her mind. A sense she didn’t quite understand was screaming at her. It commanded her to get up this instant. Something glinted at the very edge of her vision. In that very heartbeat, she did the worst possible thing to do with a sucking chest wound. She moved. In a blur of white fur, she sprung up and leapt at her superior. Another gunshot pierced the room. [MT - Sniper] A heavy rifle bullet clashed against crossed claws. Its splintered pieces ricocheted into different directions.

Yumiko stood in front of Anton, glaring down the gang of pirates. Her spirit was burning with righteous rage. Trying to kill her was perfectly fine and normal, but threatening her master was going too far! Not happy with simply moving about recklessly, she did the second worst thing to do with a sucking chest wound. She started talking. Ranting even. “No... longer... Thou evil pirates shall not... have thy way any longer... for I... Yumiko... stand in thy way. Thy reign of violence... greed... and awful hygiene... ends here.” As she spoke, her focus sharpened immensely. She would no longer try to take them alive.

[MT - “Have at thee!”]

With the old-fashioned battlecry, the mythical weasel slashed the air faster than most eyes could follow. [LT - Sickle Wind] Immediately afterwards, several pirates fell from a wound that seemed to simply appear on their bodies. While the enemies reeled from surprise, she leapt at them with reckless abandon. [LT - Storm Chaser] One of them aimed a flintlock at her, but she narrowly dodged past it. [LT - Flintlock Shot] The lump of lead rustled her fur as she dove towards the assailant and dug her claws into him. [UT] Her head was spinning and the looming darkness had started beckoning again... So she resolved to end this quickly. No matter the cost.