Ugh... Where am I?

  Kaito slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurred and unfocused. A high-pitched ringing filled his ears, accompanied by the warm trickle of blood from his earlobes. As he attempted to sit up, his body gave way to the sharp pain lancing throughout his limbs. He instantly collapsed back to the ground, briefly noticing the deep lacerations and marred burns on hands and arms.

  I’m such an idiot! I was too distracted! How could something like that evade me? Airi will never let me live this down if she found out.

  He gritted his teeth against the pain and struggled to his knees, the irritation of his inattentiveness fueled every movement. His fingers trembled, digging to collect the small, ornate bottle into his pocket. Tapping its lid once, he quickly tossed it into the air above him.

  The bottle burst, discharging a fine, shimmering mist. The vapor touched his skin and engulfed him in a soft, ethereal glow, fading his burns and mending the flesh wounds.

  As the healing process neared completion, a soft, distant cry rippled through the wind, peaking his attention.

  Is that what I think it is...? Could there be survivors? I can't ignore this!

  Hastily straightening to his feet, he rushed toward the cries.

  Led to a cave surrounded by wilted roses and tulips starving for light that never came, he paused, scanning the area for a bloodlust.

  The cries grew louder with each passing second, then abruptly stopped.

  He hesitated, heart pounding.

  "What is that smell?" he murmured, sniffing a whiff of an unfamiliar scent.

  Cautiously, he proceeded closer to the cave, following the mysteriously pleasant odor. Entering its depths, he advanced deeper, stumbling upon the mutilated carcass of a grey fox.

  Kneeling downward, he examined the fox's injuries with a heavy heart.

  Ears and tail ripped off. A paw broken… three others cut off. Rib cage torn open… missing organs. What an unfavorable fate bestowed upon you.

  Still on high alert, he narrowed his keen eyes, searching for clues.

  I don't see any trace of the missing organs nor body parts. Were they taken? Or...consumed?

  Picking up a nearby stick, he probed the carcass’ openings to further his examination.

  Hmmm… its injuries were definitely deliberate, yet I see no signs of an altercation. Likely torture...but why? What were you protecting? Rigor mortis barely set in...which means…

  The cries resumed, cutting through his thoughts. The mysterious scent grew stronger.

  It's all coming from the same direction!

  Kaito followed the sound until he emerged onto the banks of a lagoon. Strange purple and silver flowers surrounded the water, their petals stretching toward the night sky through a gap in the ceiling above.

  Aren't these the same roses and lilies from outside? They grew so vibrantly here… Could that explain this scent?

  The cries softened as he refocused his eyes to sweep across the cavern, probing for its source.

  "I am Kaito Chika," he called out, eyes astutely canvassing the cave. “King of the Chika clan. I'm here to help."

  In his peripheral vision, a subtle movement within a flowerbed pulled his gaze. He inhaled, puffing his cheek and exhaling a placid breeze, scattering the petals as he hesitantly proceeded forward towards it to reveal...

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  A… CHILD!?

  Much older than a newborn yet younger than a toddler, the child calmly lay on her back, nestled among the lush flower petals. Kaito crouched over her, eyes widened in disbelief at the scent overwhelming his senses.

  "This scent is coming from... THIS CHILD!!!?!????"

  Extending his arm toward the child, he grabbed her by the ankle and lifted her up, dangling her upside down as he brought the child closer to him for better inspection.

  What is a child doing in a place like this??

  A moment of paranoia flared through his mind. He drew his sword in one swift motion, centering his breathing. Eyes closed, he focused his energy outward. His aura radiated from his body, surging through the cavern like a sonar seeking hidden threats.

  Is this a trap? …No… No one but the child and I are here.

  Slowly sheathing his sword, he opened his eyes, his gaze falling back on the child still dangling upside down in his grasp with growing fascination.

  "Well, there's no doubt you're a little girl," he softly muttered. "But that might be the only ordinary thing about you."

  His eyes traced over the child's features, noting each unique characteristic. "Your hair... it's this strange mixture of silver, a color I've never seen before. And your eyes..." He paused, marveling at their depth. "They're this deep bluish-green and grey, like the sea before a storm."

  He gently cradled her tiny hands in his. "Your hands and feet are soft and clean, lacking any visible injuries.”

  Leaning back, his brow lowered. “So… how did you end up here…?"

  The child cooed, smiling in response as she swayed side to side. His stern expression melted into a warm smile at the adorable sight, unable to resist doting on her. "You're quite a lovely child! What am I going to do with you?"

  Then, without warning, a sinister hiss echoed in collaboration with a whizz attack directed at him. With lightning-fast reflexes, he instantly dodged the attack with ease, spinning around to face the attacker. A serpentine Yazumi emerged from the cave's crevices, its scales shimmered with an oily, dark iridescence. Its eyes glowed a venomous yellow as its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air. The child laughed in excitement, still hanging upside down by her ankle within his grip.

  "Hand over that child!" the Yazumi demanded, its voice a sibilant whisper.

  Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Who...or rather what is this child to you?"

  "That'sss none of your concern!" the Yazumi hissed, its coils tensing in preparation to strike again. "Now, die you filthy mortal!"

  The Yazumi's tail whipped forward, launching another volley of shadowy attacks. Kaito smirked, throwing the child directly above him in the air. In one fluid motion, he drew his sword, its blade gleaming in the dim moonlight as it sliced through the incoming projectiles.

  The force of his counter sent the Yazumi reeling backward, tangling its coils. Before it could recover, Kaito placed his sword back in his holster, caught the child, and closed the distance between them in seemingly one step.

  Gripping its scaly throat, his voice ominously dropped, laced with vexation. "Weakling, you dare challenge me and fail?"

  The Yazumi's yellow eyes bulged, a inklings of contempt passing through them. "Sssshut up, you worthleesss..."

  Mid-sentence, Kaito released its throat and seized the flickering tongue, ripping it from its mouth. Blood gushed out, spraying across his face and the child's backside. The metallic taste filled his nostrils as crimson droplets dripped from his chin. He hurled the severed tongue aside, drawing his sword.

  "You are of no use to me," he uttered, swiping his blade through the air and severing the Yazumi's head from its neck. Blood erupted from the stump as the creature's body crumpled to the cave floor.

  The child continued to laugh, reaching out for him, unphased by the brutality. Kaito wrapped the infant upright into his arms, wiping away the blood splatter with his sleeve.

  I wonder why that creature desired this child so desperately? Her looks are quite extraordinary…

  Resting the child safely against his chest, he stepped over the Yazumi's lifeless corpse and made his way back towards the cave's exit. He navigated through the winding passages, periodically glancing to the side at her peaceful demeanor.

  "You don't look like a child of a Yazumi, nor do you give off any aura of one,” he sighed. “Actually, I've never quite sensed anything like you before."

  His footsteps crunched on loose gravel, turning the bend. "You're different. No one in the Living Realm even bears a resemblance to you."

  The child's eyelids fluttered, her laughter softening to gentle coos laying her head on his shoulders.

  ???? SOOOOOOOOO CCCCCCUUUUUUUTTTTTTEEEEEE!!!!!! ??????

  "Alright! It's final! You're coming home with me.” Kaito blushed. “I’ve got an adorable son a few years older than you. No doubt he'll be highly interested in meeting you. Haha! And as for my wife… I think she'll become quite fond of you…eventually…”

  Yawned in response to his voice, her tiny fists curled as sleep claimed her. He smiled, picking up this pace at the faint sight of light bouncing off the passage's end.

  Reaching the cave's exit, he froze in complete bewilderment. Several mangled Yazumi bodies lay scattered across the ground, their twisted forms barely visible in the moonlight. Dark blood oozed beneath their dismembered remains, forming grotesque outlines that writhed in the pale light.

  His forehead wrinkled, tightening his grip on the child.

  WHAT IS THIS?! I NEVER SENSED THEM! WHO COULD HAVE DONE THIS???

  Two figures emerged from the dark shadows of the trees, answering his unspoken question.

  "Well, hello there young man. I see you found a rather special surprise in that cave, hmmm?"