Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though it was pretty common for her victims to simply ignore things like being stabbed, Hanako could tell Vahn was aware of it due to the fact he wasn't bleeding. Her powers allowed her to ignore conventional durability, and, thanks to the Law of the Assumed Form, even the most powerful Gods in existence were vulnerable whilst appearing as humans.Under normal circumstances, the people stabbed by Hanako would simply ignore the injury even as they bled out. The closest they would get to being aware of their plight is feeling weak or nauseous. It didn't matter if they were alone or surrounded by a group of people. Unless they possessed some form of extra causal sense, they shouldn't be aware of her actions. Such was the fate of the Lost and Forgotten."You knew I was going to stab you...?"Hearing Hanako's question, Musashi Pink's brows perked up as she looked towards Musashi Black and Kenshin, asking, "Are you for real? Did you actually believe you could just walk into the Sage Dragon's Hearth and assassinate Vahn? And I thought I was rash..."Recalling how she had once attempted to battle against Vahn head-on, a wry yet reminiscent smile developed across Musashi Pink's face...Confused by her counterpart's lack of hostility, Musashi Black sent Kenshin an accusatory look out of the corner of her eye as she coldly replied, "Someone neglected to inform me of this particular aspect of our plan..."Shaking her head, Kenshin did her best to appear calm as she explained, "You're mistaken...we did not come here with the intention to kill or cause harm. Our mission was to ascertain the true nature of Vahn Mason and the Sage Dragon's Hearth. If your Community is truly as neutral as you purport it to be, there is no reason for you to refuse your services to the Nine Dragons Sword Association..."Rising to his feet, Vahn removed Hanako's pitch-black dagger from his stomach before ruffling her hair and handing it back to her. Then, with a marginally more serious expression on his face, he met Kenshin's gaze, stating, "That isn't the only reason you were sent here. Hanako is unable to trespass the domain of another unless someone enters with the intention of seeking lost children. You must be aware of her existence, or, at the very least, aware of the possibility of her existence in order for her to manifest...""..."Realizing there was some truth to the rumors regarding Vahn's deductive omniscience, the tensions in Kenshin's body began to relax as a paradoxically oppressive yet serene aura began to exude from her body. The turquoise haori on her body, starkly contrasting the rest of her outfit, wasn't worn out of a sense of pride or braggadociousness. She was, at the present moment, the greatest among all mortal swordsmen, women, and everything in between. Her Origin also ascribed her with the ability to break through encirclements and shatter the ranks of her enemies, so, even if she was trapped in an inescapable prison, she could break free so long as the people within identified her as an enemy.Amused by the overly serious woman before him, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face until he heard Musashi Pink muttered, "There he goes again..."Promptly deciding against teasing the fiery-eyed brunette, Vahn motioned towards the cushions he had prepared before returning to his seat, manifesting tea, and asking, "So? What, specifically, does the Nine Dragons Sword Association seek from my humble enterprise...?"Taken aback by Vahn's behavior, Kenshin found herself at a loss for how to respond. It didn't help that Musashi Black immediately followed Pink's example by taking a seat. As for Hanako, the only person still aware of her was Vahn. Kenshin knew she had to be around, but, unlike Vahn, she had very little affinity with beings possessing non-existent or acausal physiologies. Hanako wouldn't be able to kill her due to the differences in their Origins, but, unless the Demoness went out of her way to draw attention to herself, even omniscient deities would find it difficult to sense her. (A/N: Simply put, a Lost/Forgotten Child could never defeat a swordsman recognized as Peerless Under Heaven.)Deciding it was for the best if she continues with her mission, Kenshin returned Musashi's sword in an effort to remove the temptation from her heart before taking a seat and answering, "According to the rumors, the Sage Dragon's Hearth specializes in the production of Gifts. Similar stories credit you with the ability to awaken a person's hidden potential. We have unearthed substantial evidence to back these allegations, but, no matter how deep we dig, we have been unable to ascertain what, exactly, you expect in return. How does the Sage Dragon's Hearth benefit from empowering others? What is your aim?"Though they had conducted a thorough investigation into the Communities affiliated with the Sage Dragon's Hearth through the Burgeoning Communities Accord, the subsidiaries of Kotoamatsukami had failed to ascertain the reason behind Vahn's actions. It would have made sense if he was trying to build a rapport with the people of the Little Garden, but, looking at his most recent actions, that didn't seem to be the case. He also didn't actively communicate with or demand tributes from the Communities he assisted, so, while there was a possibility he would call upon them in the future, all evidence pointed to the fact that Vahn had helped them simply because he felt like it.Reinforcing this sentiment, Vahn just shrugged his shoulders, answering, "Everyone, be they good or evil, deserves the right to pursue strength if they're willing to work for it. The reason I don't care about benefits is that I have no need for them. As for my aims, well, I don't see how they are any of your concerns. Even if you did accept my offer, it wouldn't have anything to do with my penultimate goal, much less my final aspiration."Furrowing her brows, Kenshin asked, "You would empower the wicked in their pursuit of strength? Do you have no conscience?"Rolling his eyes, Vahn's expression became a mocking deadpan as he asked, "Really? You're going to lecture others on conscience when you willfully brought a Demon Lord that specializes in making children disappear into the home of someone who's never wronged you? It always amazes me how truly hypocritical you 'justice' types can be..."Unable to refute Vahn's words, Kenshin could only lower her head in shame, hands clenching into fists. She didn't like the thought of employing Hanako any more than Musashi did. It simply wasn't her decision to make...Resisting the urge to snort, Vahn briefly cast his gaze towards Hanako. A smile immediately spread across her face, as, despite trying to kill him, she didn't have any actual enmity toward Vahn. Killing people was just the most 'convenient' method to ensure there was always at least one person who remembered her. There were a number of other reasons as well, but, as those were significantly less pleasant, she did her best not to even think about them.Ruffling the marginally more mature-looking girl's hair, Vahn's expression gradually relaxed into a smile as he said, "Besides, you're mistaken about one thing. More specifically, I haven't explained to you the 'cost' of receiving my aid..."Retracing his hand from Hanako's head, Vahn met Kenshin's gaze, adding, "Anyone who signs one of my contracts accepts the inevitability of being wiped out the moment they come anywhere near my bottom line. Trying to eliminate 'evil' is a fruitless endeavor as even people such as yourself are capable of making exceptionally foolish decisions. Thus, rather than arbitrarily killing people I don't like, I place restrictions on them to make them act more in line with my principles. I provide them the means and opportunity to change. If they violate the terms of our contract after the fact, they only have themselves to blame for the consequences of their actions..."Tensing at the word 'consequences', the fiery glow in Kenshin's eyes became more prominent as she asked, "And what, exactly, are these consequences you speak of...?"Shrugging his shoulders, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes spread across Vahn's face as he answered, "As I stated previously, I don't help people while expecting anything substantial return. If they violate our contract before the term expires, I will kill them without hesitation. I don't believe in imprisoning people, and, unless they committed some kind of heinous act against children, I see no merit in forcing people to suffer. I would rather just kill them and let the systems in place sort them out. Simple as that."Though Vahn's words might sound extreme, they were actually relatively tame in regards to the way most Gods dealt with their enemies. Nearly every major 4-Digit Faction had its own version of Hell, a place where their enemies and people who refused to abide by their will would be made to suffer for all of eternity. In that regard, killing was a mercy, as, more often than not, it simply meant being reincarnated or descending into a lower realm. This often meant losing your memories, but, unless the person who killed you went out of their way to remove your inborn powers or Gifts, they would persist even after reincarnation."I see...it would appear our Master may have misjudged you..."Following her words, Kenshin attempted to perform an apologetic dogeza but found herself barred by an invisible force. This briefly improved her impression of Vahn until he, in a tone reminiscent of Musashi Black, stated, "Mistaken as she was regarding the Sage Dragon's Hearth, Amaterasu is right to fear me. Soon enough, my Empire, the Aldrnari Empire, will span the entirety of the Divine Realm. I'm not particularly fond of the current state of affairs, so, unless they are willing to join me, Factions such as the Kotoamatsukami are bound to be shattered and subsumed. Thus, while I can appreciate your willingness to apologize, rest easy knowing there is no need. The moment she tasked you with inviting Hanako into my home, Amaterasu had already crossed my bottom line..."Though his tone and expression gave off the impression he was completely disinterested in the words coming out of his mouth, the aura exuding from Vahn's body caused even Musashi Pink to freeze in place. He might not have any enmity towards Hanako, quite the opposite, but Loi-chan had made him very aware of her powers and abilities.As the Demon Lord of the Lost and Forgotten, Hanako didn't even need to take personal action in order to make children simply spirit away. The only prerequisite was for a child to be neglected for even a moment. Then, unless the parent or guardian proactively searched for them, it would only take a few hours for them to forget they even existed.The most terrifying thing about Hanako's ability was that it wouldn't actually take the children away. Rather, from the perspective of the child, everyone would simply be ignoring them. They would still be able to interact with the world around them, but, even if they threw objects or violently attacked people in an effort to garner their attention, nothing would work. They would be lost and forgotten in a world filled with people. To make matters exponentially worse, the only people who could see them were Demons, Evil Spirits, and those who willfully predated on children. In their eyes, the Lost and Forgotten were a rare treat, as, even if they committed all manner of heinous acts right in front of other people, no one would notice...Though the odds of his children being spirited away were precisely 0%, Amaterasu had no way of knowing that. She knew it was a possibility, but, for the sole purpose of obtaining information, she sent Hanako into his home without regard for the consequences. After all, if the Lost and Forgotten couldn't be remembered, what consequences could there possibly be?She would learn the answer to that question very, very soon.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'SCP-1504 had a daughter...','Vahn almost had a relapse xD...','To be Lost and Forgotten is a fate worse than death...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though she could understand Vahn's anger, Kenshin was still an affiliate of Kotoamatsukami. She also didn't believe her Goddess, Amaterasu Ōmikami-sama, was as malicious as Vahn was making her out to be. There were times when she could be ruthless, but, as a Goddess in charge of one of the largest Factions in the Little Garden, showing weakness was the same as inviting tragedy upon the billions who relied on the Sun Goddess's grace and protection."Vahn-dono...I believe there has-"Raising his hand to silence the nervous-looking swordswoman, Vahn said, "What you choose to believe has nothing to do with me. If Amaterasu wishes to apologize, she knows where I live. You have no right or reason to speak for her...""I-""Have misinterpreted my words? Yeah, I noticed. Don't worry, even if Kotoamatsukami attempts to wage war against the Sage Dragon's Hearth, I have no intention of holding anyone but the people in charge accountable. Stop looking at me like I'm some kind of monster that's going to appear in your territory and start slaughtering innocents. I am not your Goddess.""..."As she had never been the most sociable person, Kenshin found herself at a complete loss in the face of Vahn's words. This seemed to amuse Musashi Black quite a bit, a cheeky smile developing across her no longer bored expression as she remarked, "Wow, you really know how to put people in their place, don't you? If you're half as good with your sword as you are with your-"Interrupting before her counterpart could finish, Musashi Pink stated, "Don't even think about it, doll face. Unless you're prepared to spread those pretty little legs of yours, you shouldn't involve yourself with this one. He has a thing for strong-willed women and you won't be able to get him out of your head once he sends you back to foundation building..."Though the thought of Vahn dominating another Musashi made her more than a little giddy, Pink would much rather be rid of the raven-haired swordswoman. As novel as this encounter had been, the world had no need for two Miyamoto Musashi(s).Demonstrating she wasn't all that different from her sakura-haired counterpart, Black gave Vahn a clearly intrigued look. She was no stranger to the relations between men and women. Rather, once you reached her level, there was little else to do but drown yourself in alcohol and debauchery.Unfortunately, like many of the most powerful swordsmen in the East Side, the only people Black would sleep with were those she recognized as her contemporaries. For one reason or another, this meant most of her partners in the last three hundred years had been female. Her last male partner had been Sasaki Kojiros, but, ever since he got played to death by the Purple Demon, the reclusive swordsman had spent more than fifty years in seclusion...Seemingly having made up her mind, a smile developed across Black's face as she replied, "Sounds like fun."Though she wasn't particularly surprised by her counterpart's brazenness, an exasperated sigh still escaped Pink's lips. She had once been willing to give up everything, even her soul, just to pursue the path of swordsmanship a few steps further. Instead, Vahn showed her countless paths she had never even considered. Now, even if she were to fight against an innumerable number of her past selves, they might not even be able to comprehend how they died...Simply put, if Vahn humored Black, the raven-haired woman would doubtlessly become obsessed with him. Pink wouldn't have been bothered if Black was anyone else, but, imagining Vahn calling out the name 'Musashi' while he was with another woman caused a chill similar to sword intent to exude from the very core of her being. Thus, before she even realized the words coming out of her mouth, she locked eyes with her raven-haired counterpart, a vicious smile on her face as she said, "Over my dead body..."Undaunted by her counterpart's words, an equally vicious smile developed across the face of Black as she retorted, "Don't tempt me with a good time, Pinky..."Recovering a bit thanks to the actions of the two Musashi(s), Kenshin cleared her throat, a mask of calm veiling her previous nervousness as she stated, "That isn't the reason we came here, Musashi. If the two of you are insistent on determining the 'True Musashi', I suggest settling things at Gojo Ohashi. Quarreling like children behind closed doors is inappropriate for people of your status and ability..."Though she would normally abide by Kenshin's words, a snort escaped Black's nose as she replied, "I'm to learn propriety from someone who invites an assassin into the home of a person they are trying to make a deal with? Shave your head and go preach somewhere else..."Inhaling an inhumanly deep breath, Kenshin's hair and clothes began to bristle as if acted upon by a powerful wind. This caused the color to drain from Black's face, but, having known Kenshin for more than three hundred years, she was fairly certain the highly principled swordswoman wouldn't attack over a few teasing words...While Black's assessment of the situation wasn't entirely incorrect, she had failed to account for the fact that Kenshin was even more upset by the situation than she was. She abhorred such tactics, yet, due to her status as the 'Peerless Under Heaven', she bore the burden of executing Amaterasu's will.Causing Black to pale even further, Kenshin, with a pouty expression and tears beginning to build in the corners of her eyes, pulled out a piece of folded washi paper, a Japanese-style long brush, and a high-quality inkstone."H-Hold on a minute, Kenshin! It was just a joke! A joke...!"Ignoring Musashi Black's words, Kenshin suppressed a few sniffles as she aggressively prepared her brush for use. She was fully intent on issuing a challenge letter to her longtime friend and rival, but, before she could finish scraping the inkstone, Vahn interrupted, asking, "Uh...can we get on with our discussion? As much as I'm enjoying this little exchange, I have other matters to attend to. You also need to inform your Master that she has crossed my bottom line. I would feel guilty if I showed up and she had no idea why I was punishing her..."Wiping away the evidence of her indignant fury using the sleeve of her kimono, Kenshin managed to regain her mask of calm as she said, "Vahn-dono is correct...please forgive my imprudence..." in an audibly strained tone.Restraining the urge to scratch the back of his head, Vahn forced a smile as he said, "Don't worry about it...now, where were we?"......Though Musashi and Kenshin ultimately refused his services, Vahn didn't particularly mind. He knew their only intention had been gathering information. Since his contract and services weren't exactly a secret, he just treated the interaction as entertaining guests.Going into the discussion, Vahn's only goal had been introducing Musashi to her counterpart in the Nine Dragons Sword Association. The appearance, heck, the very existence of Hanako had caught him completely off guard. Thus, while he was more than a little incensed by Amaterasu's disregard for the safety of his children, Vahn didn't mind putting off her potential execution so he could help the peculiar Demon Lord get settled.With this in mind, Vahn linked the Temporal Axes between their two territories before asking Da Vinci to return to the Sage Dragon's Hearth. When she heard the reason for his request, she didn't even hesitate before dropping everything else she was working on, as, compared to the mundane task of conquering the West Side, investigating an anomalous existence on the level of Hanako was infinitely more interesting.Seeing Hanako for herself, albeit after using quite a number of advanced detection spells, Da Vinci's eyes shifted like a kinetic painting as she remarked, "Oh my...had I not already conducted 1,307,492 studies into non-existent physiologies, I would never have imagined such a person could exist...well, appear to exist..."As Vahn had been her primary focus for the better part of 50,000 years, Da Vinci had done 'a lot' of research into his anomalous properties. She was even aware of the existence of the Law of Identity. After all, she was literally the person who planted the idea of creating her Template in Vahn's mind. Thus, as tantalizingly intriguing as Hanako's physiology was, Da Vinci wasn't particularly impressed by it. Compared to Vahn's ability to separate himself from the Axes of Time, Space, and Reality itself, Hanako's ability was quite a low level...Realizing she was, once again, comparing one of her subjects to Vahn, specks of pink appeared in Da Vinci's eyes as she sent a playful gaze his way. At the same time, the inordinately thick tail that dangled from the bottom of her skirt perked up slightly. It wasn't enough to show anything but it was more than enough to plant ideas in Vahn's mind...Shaking his head, Vahn resisted the urge to ruffle Da Vinci's indescribably smooth hair as he said, "I need you to develop an upgrade for Will and the Companions. Though it could sever the concepts binding Hanako-""Someone else would invariably appear as her replacement. Worry yourself no longer, my beloved. Now that I'm here, the matter may as well be settled. Just make sure you prepare a suitable reward, okay~?"Wafting a few her pheromones Vahn's way, Da Vinci's already picturesque smile become a peerless masterpiece as she saw his pupils contract into thin slits. He might keep it concealed at most times, but, deep down, potentially serving as the foundation of his very being, Vahn was still a Dragon. She had restructured her body countless times in order to be completely irresistible to him, so, while he no longer pushed her down the moment she teased him, Da Vinci took pleasure in knowing he had to stop time just to hold himself back..."Unless you're going to start painting me, I'd rather not continue holding this position..."As her SS-Ranked Embodiment of Beauty compelled her to present her best angle when she was smiling directly at someone, Da Vinci couldn't help speaking out to interrupt Vahn's gawking. The very faint blush that developed across his face caused her smile to become even more prominent, but, thanks to him averting his eyes, she was able to return her attention to Hanako, saying, "Shall we move to my lab? Don't worry, none of the tests I'll be conducting are invasive in a manner that might cause you any harm. I swear by every Gift I have and ever will possess."With a Geass Roll literally appearing in response to Da Vinci's words, Hanako was able to breathe a little easier. She had long grown indifferent to the pain and suffering wrought by human curiosity and experimentation, but, if given the option, she would rather avoid it. Da Vinci gave her a similar impression to the Scientists who once held her captive during her brief stay in the West Side. They had also worn kind smiles, but, shortly after agreeing to let them 'protect' her, they stored her away in an underground containment facility and performed all manner of inhumane experiments on her.Though there were various loopholes to be exploited when it came to Geass Rolls, there were few greater assurances than a person swearing by their Gifts. If they violated their promise, they would never, under any circumstances, be able to make use of a single Gift. This included tools, and, more notably, things as instrumental as water produced by a Water Tree. In other words, if Da Vinci broke her promise, she wouldn't even be able to eat or drink if said food and water were produced from a Gift.Extending her hand, Hanako accepted Da Vinci's with a smile. Her nature made it impossible for her to ever truly trust another person, but, much like an actual Lost and Forgotten child, Hanako could be remarkably gullible in the face of kindness, real or otherwise...Seeing through each and every one of Hanako's thoughts, an indescribably motherly expression promptly developed across Da Vinci's face. She could understand why Vahn would want to help such a girl, so, even if Hanako never trusted her, Da Vinci swore in her heart she would never let either of them down.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'We have ourselves a Highlander situation here...','Kenshin is surprisingly cute xD...','Every time Da Vinci appears, she immediately puts herself into contention for the title of Best Girl...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though the Little Garden was abuzz with rumors and speculation regarding the Sage Dragon's Hearth and their unscrupulous methods, the leaders of Kotoamatsukami couldn't help feeling nervous.While most Communities would be in damage control, the members of the Sage Dragon's hearth, or, more specifically, Vahn demonstrated little regard for the rumors circulating about him and his Community. Instead, he continued to operate his business in the same manner as before, leisurely and however he pleased.When approached by Communities specializing in news and journalism, Vahn's only response was that the Sage Dragon's Hearth was a neutral party that treated all who approached them in a fair and just manner. It didn't matter if they were good, evil, or somewhere in between. So long as they were willing to compromise and reach an agreement, the Sage Dragon's Hearth was willing to help any and all who sought their aid.It was this statement that caused the leaders of Kotoamatsukami to begin sweating, as, rather than attempting to absolve himself of wrongdoing, Vahn's words and actions made it seem as though he simply didn't care. This wouldn't earn him any favors with the general public, but, so long as he kept minding his own business, the people would soon lose interest. The only reason most people even paid attention to such matters was because they enjoyed watching the drama unfold between rival organizations. Watching one group throw around accusations while the other simply ignored them wasn't very interesting........."Master. A delegation from the Nine Dragons Sword Association has arrived."Nodding his head in response to the petite Vampire Princess's declaration, a smile developed across Vahn's face as he sat down his cup of tea and replied, "Thank you, Leticia. They have my permission to enter."Returning a courteous bow, Leticia softly muttered, "As you will..." before raising her head and going to retrieve her Master's 'guests'."I told you things were about to get interesting..."Shifting his focus from the direction Leticia had departed, Vahn met the mesmerizing gaze of the buxom beauty seated next to him. In response, a remarkably predatory smile developed across the woman's face as she replied, "We'll see about that..."Arriving shortly after Leticia's departure, three girls, each with very distinct features, made their way into the room.The first, appearing as the leader of the group, was a petite woman around 158cm tall. She had long brown hair fastened into a neat ponytail, fiery-red eyes, and, despite her small stature, a fierce aura radiated from her body. As for her attire, she wore a two-layered kimono that was purple on the inside and reddish-orange on the outside. This was accompanied by a dark brown hakama, a pair of wooden geta, and a blue-green haori with the kanji for 'Dragon' and 'Echigo' sewn into the shoulders in golden print. On the back, pulsating with sword intent, were even larger kanji denoting the words 'Peerless' and 'Heaven'.Dragging her feet lazily behind the prim and proper samurai beauty was, in Vahn's opinion, an even more remarkable woman with healthy brown skin, somewhat unkempt black hair, and paradoxically lazy-looking eyes that threatened to 'cut' anyone that stared directly at them. She was much taller than the first woman, standing approximately 182cm even whilst barefoot. As for her clothing, she wore a grey tunic, matching trousers, a tattered-looking obi fastened with red cord, and a peculiar poncho that seemed to be lined with the feathers of an owl. She also had a modified amigasa, a circular straw hat covering her back, and, most notably, three different katanas, two at her hip and one, much larger blade resting in a sling on her back.Following closely behind the second woman was a relatively normal-looking girl, who, at a glance, resembled any other girl you might encounter on the street. She was average height, possessed medium-length brown hair, brown eyes, and, though she was far from ugly, she wasn't going to be winning any beauty contests in the near future.In spite of this description, the girl managed to stand out even more than the others due to the sheer 'normalcy' exuding from her body. She seemed so out of place, yet, at the same time, gave off the impression that it was absolutely normal for her to be here. As for her clothes, they gave off an equally disconcerting impression as they seemed perfectly normal at first glance, but, the longer you looked at them, the more questions entered your mind...Noticing Vahn's gaze, a marginally surprised expression appeared on the relatively normal-looking girl's face before she promptly tilted her head to the side and stuck out her tongue. Then, for a very brief moment, Vahn completely lost track of her until he noticed her standing in the corner with her hands in the front pockets of her oversized hoodie...Interrupting before Vahn could ask what the mysterious girl was up to, the presumed leader of the group said, "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Vahn-dono. My name is Uesugi Kenshin. This is my compatriot, Miyamoto Musashi-dono. We are pleased to make your acquaintance."Speaking before Vahn could return his greeting, the buxom beauty at his side promptly chimed in, asking, "Oh? You're 'the' Miyamoto Musashi...?"Though Kenshin adopted a disproving glower, the lazy-looking woman at her side maintained a completely neutral expression as she cooly answered, "Somethin' like that..."Adopting a massive grin, the woman sitting at Vahn's side, possessing pale-pink hair and eyes that glimmered with a different color depending on the angle you viewed them from, rose to her feet as she said, "What a coincidence...I just so happen to have the same-"Reacting before Musashi could finish speaking, the raven-haired Musashi immediately drew one of the swords at her waist. At the exact same moment, almost as if her sword had always been drawn, the pink-haired Musashi charged forward with one of the most battle-hungry expressions Vahn had ever seen. Unfortunately, despite no time passing since the moment they drew their swords, Vahn managed to appear between the two Musashi(s), his hands closing around their respective blades as he said, "Not inside..."Though he was pretty confident in the durability of the Sage Dragon's Hearth, Vahn knew better than to underestimate one Musashi, much less two. The duo had the power to cut through all of creation, so, even if they were in a closed-off space, there was a non-negligible chance that their attacks could pierce through the protective barriers of the Sage Dragon's Hearth and affect their surroundings. Hell, the duo were still holding back yet their blades had managed to pierce nearly a centimeter into the near-indestructible flesh of his palms...Surprised by Vahn's ability to stop her sword with his bare hand, Musashi Black opened her mouth to speak even as her hand slipped towards the second katana at her waist. Fortunately, before she could draw it, the blade appeared in Kenshin's hand as the latter said, "Musashi-dono...s, I implore you to remain calm. We didn't come here to start a war."With Musashi Pink already backing down, the raven-haired Musashi gradually retracted her intent, muttering, "Whatever..." as she freed her sword from Vahn's hand. Then, rather than returning the blade to its sheath, she stabbed it into the ground, explaining, "Let's hurry this along. Now that my Kagero has been drawn, it won't return to its sheathe before shedding blood..."Surprising the bronze-skinned beauty, Vahn grasped the hilt of her sword before her eyes could widen so much as a single micron. A reddish-black haze immediately erupted from the blade, but, nearly as soon as it had appeared, the silvery edge had returned to normal as Vahn handed it back to her, saying, "That should have calmed it down a bit."With her mouth hanging open, Musashi Black accepted her sword with a look of utter disbelief on her face. The Kagero was one of the Immortal Blacksmith's, Sengo Muramasa's masterpieces. It was a sword that would consume the souls of the slain and unworthy to increase its strength, so, seeing Vahn both handle it and pacify it with ease, Musashi found it difficult to believe this was the same sword that had caused her countless headaches...Amused by the befuddled swordswoman's expression, Vahn explained, "I may not be the greatest Blacksmith in all of creation but I'm pretty confident in my understanding of the heart and soul of weapons. I'm also pretty handy with a sword so it would be pretty strange if I was unable to wield something like a Muramasa..."Emphasizing his point, Vahn manifested his own Muramasa, a Zanpakuto by the name of Tokiwatari. It possessed the unique ability to sever time, but, more importantly, it clearly radiated the aura of a Muramasa blade.As Muramasa was a close friend of hers, Musashi Black was intimately familiar with every blade her drinking buddy had forged. The Tokiwatari was not among them, so, after a moment of remarkably awkward silence, she met Vahn's gaze, asking, "Do you share an origin with Muramasa...?"Smiling wryly in response to the unsurprising inquiry, Vahn returned Tokiwatari to his Soul Palace before returning to his seat and answering, "My origin is my own. Let's just say I drew inspiration from Muramasa-dono's work when I was forging that particular sword. Now, care to explain why the three of you have ventured all the way from the Nine Dragons Sword Association."Though Musashi Black seemed genuinely confused by Vahn's words, Kenshin's expression briefly hardened as her grip on Musashi's second Muramasa tightened. Fortunately, she wasn't given the opportunity to draw it as the unremarkably mysterious girl chimed in to say, "I knew it. You really can see me, can't you?"Showing just as much surprise as her raven-haired counterpart, Musashi Pink asked, "Who the hell? When did you get behind me...?"Answering in the girl's stead, Vahn explained, "Nanashi no Hanako, the Demon Lord of the Lost and Forgotten. She is a Greater Demon representing lost children. Unless you are specifically looking for her, she can slip from your mind the moment you get distracted..."Surprised by Vahn's words, Hanako's eyes lit up as she remarked, "How curious...tell me, what do I look like to you...?"Though he was somewhat confused by Hanako's words, Vahn answered, "You look like a young girl between the age of 14-16 years old. You have brown hair, brown eyes, and relatively plain features that range between cute and unremarkable..."With her eyes glowing with even greater intensity, Hanako took a few steps forward, asking, "And? What about my clothes~?"Keeping the overly excited girl at bay with a weak telepathic push, Vahn's expression revealed a modicum of incredulity as he dutifully answered, "You're wearing an oversized, dark-grey hoodie with matching stockings..."Seemingly surprised by Vahn's response, Hanako looked down at her body before pulling at the collar of her hoodie to get a better look at its contents. Then, with a slight pout on her face, she looked up at Vahn and remarked, "You must have experienced something pretty messed up if you imagined me without underwear..."Confused by Hanako's words, Vahn shifted his gaze towards Loi-chan, the person who had revealed her identity. In response, she placed her finger on her chin, seemingly in deep thought before finally answering, "It seems her appearance and outfit change based on the perception of people viewing her? She was happy because you were able to see her true self. Now she's bothered by the fact you didn't imagine what her underwear would look like...?"Realizing where the issue lie, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he asked, "How about now?"Blinking in surprise, Hanako lifted her hoodie to find a pair of denim shorts and a comfortable, pristine-white blouse with red ribbons on the side. The shorts were a little tight, but, feeling the comfortable fabric beneath them, a radiant smile developed across her face as she asserted, "You really care about children, don't you? I can't even remember the last time I had clothes this warm and cozy..."With Loi-chan promptly informing him that Hanako was telling the truth, the expression on Vahn's face gradually morphed into a fatherly smile. Before he could offer any comforting words, however, Hanako surprised everyone present by asking, "Can I stay here from now on? I don't think I need to explain this but being the Demon Lord of the Lost and Forgotten gets pretty lonely. Even if it's only for a short while, I would be happy if at least one kind person remembered me...most of the people who can see me aren't exactly pleasant-"Seeing the indescribable melancholy in the depths of Hanako's hazel-brown eyes, Vahn didn't wait for her to finish speaking. Instead, he took a knee before wrapping his arms around her inordinately thin and frail body. Rather than a fifteen-year-old, she suddenly had the stature of a girl around ten. Thus, even though there was currently a knife sticking out of his abdomen, he embraced the young Demoness, answering, "Of course you can stay..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'People love drama...','Vahn never misses a chance to show off...','Uh...bro...you kind of have a...you know what? Nevermind...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2183: Cause, Effect, and Consequences