章 19: A dare

'Did you have to wait till you were about to go mad before asking for blood?'

The Shogun's voice replayed in her head several times. And each time, her lips pulled back a fraction as her eyes glinted before letting her eyelids drop in an unbothered fashion.

"It's not like I do it on purpose," she confessed. "My condition is getting worse," Empress Himiko explained briefly with a bitter smile hanging at the corner of her lips.

She had noticed in the past year that her craving for fresh blood was getting worse. It was like her appetite had been boosted for no just cause.

In the past, she only had to take it four times a year, but now, she needed it once every month in other to survive.

The worst of it all was that once her craving began, she couldn't last half the time an incense stick took to burn out, without going crazy.

Unfortunately, the kind of blood she took was specific, and it took time to acquire and transport.

"How?" The Shogun probed with a questioning glare as straight lines appeared on his forehead.

He was curious about how long her current condition had lasted but most importantly, how that piece of information seemed to have passed him by.

He didn't look happy about it, to say the least though.

"It's been 5 months," Empress Himiko replied with her gaze stretched into the distance as memories of the first-time experience flooded her mind.

She could remember drinking a bowl of fresh blood a month prior before another craving started without warning.

She almost manifested her evil prowess which would have exposed her to those who did not know any better.

Luckily, an opportunity presented itself in the palace on that very day, leaving her without a choice but to go hunting herself because of the perilous location.

"You should have sent word to me immediately!" Sei-i Taishogun interrogated sharply with narrowed eyes at her.

His lips pressed together, forming a thin line as the corners tugged downwards in annoyance, but the Empress overlooked it.

Rather than feel agitated even if it was just for a little bit, she didn't. Instead, a small smile graced her enchanting face.

"There was nothing you could have done about it, even now."

"Are you underestimating my powers?" Sei-i Taishogun asked with a hard stare pressed on her.

Although he wished to calm his temper, she had somehow irked him with her choice of words.

"No, I am not. I am only stating facts. You can't help to stop this. It is not something within your powers," Empress Himiko stated with so much conviction laced in her tone.

As the smile on her face slowly vanished, her thoughts wandered elsewhere.

If her brother was able to solve her problem, she would have met him the first time she noticed the predicament she was in.

There wouldn't have been any delay.

But as she had already known they he couldn't help, and so she didn't bother to confide in him.

The Shogun on the other hand didn't think so. Currently, he felt that his pride was hurt.

"Still, you would have reported to me," he insisted as the black lines on his forehead became more prominent.

He could not agree that she was right for keeping a piece of important information such as this to herself.

Sei-i Taishogun felt he should have known regardless of whether or not it was within his power to help her.

Without waiting for her response, he mumbled some words under his breath, "This is why we need that stone." But unknown to him, she heard his muffled voice.

Continuing, he added, "I will take care of your cravings. Although I control the entire Nation, it is important that our actions remain discreet."

Nodding in understanding, Empress Himiko assured him, "Alright, I will leave things to you."

A soft sigh fell off her lips before retracting her gaze from the distance, trailing it to his face as she asked with her facial expression turning serious, "Have you found the Seer?"

The moment the words fell off her lips, his face turned grim immediately.

This matter has been a thorn in his flesh for many years because of the incapability of the Daimyos under him.

How difficult was it for people of their level to find just one person after so many years? It just didn't make any sense to him.

Seeing how terrible his mood had turned, she didn't need to guess his response. Another sigh escaped her lips as her shoulders slouched in defeat.

"We have to find the Seer immediately if we want to move to the next level. I will make out time to visit that deranged woman."

For someone who was looking all pitiful only a moment ago, within a split second, her facial expression changed faster than the shadows as her gaze turned menacing and so were her words.

No doubt, this was a serious matter.

"Be careful. I will pay you a visit once you have a word for me," Sei-i Taishogun replied.

This only showed that he complied with her plans.

It was important they found the Seer as soon as possible as this particular matter had dragged on for far too long.

*******

On a lonely narrow path, the sounds of the horse's hooves galloping against the hard red earth resounded in the calm dark night.

The familiar male figure sitting on the horseback held tightly to the horse's reins and continued urging the horse to ride faster.

'Master must be home now,' Daisuke thought as his thin lips clamped together.

His sight narrowed at the dark road ahead of him as his brows furrowed tightly. There was an urgency for him to get back to the castle that second if it were possible.

Some minutes ago, Naoki had told him to return on his own.

At first, Daisuke thought it was because he didn't want him close, but who knew that he would disappear without warning when they got to a secluded path?

And recalling Naoki's instruction to find his way back, Daisuke guessed that he must have gone home already and hurriedly mounted his horse.

"Hyah!" Daisuke shouted with a fierce gaze ahead as he kicked the sides of the horse with his two feet.

Soon, the huge familiar wrecked castle came into his view, but he didn't slow down and continued with the current speed until he reached the picket wood fencing.

Pulling the reins slightly, the horse slowed down a bit, and at the same speed, he guided the horse past the fencing and completely stopped when they got close to the building.

Wasting no time, Daisuke jumped off the horse, securely tied its reins to a tree, and headed for the entrance.

On getting there, he pushed the door open, stepped in, and took off his straw-woven sandals, leaving him to walk with his white socks.

"Master," he called out as his gaze darted around while trying to listen for the slightest sound.

Naoki who was lost in thoughts and sitting on a legless wooden chair in a brightly lit room was suddenly brought out of his reverie by Daisuke's voice.

Immediately, he stilled his breathing as his gaze shifted to the tightly shut door and stopped to listen to the sound of footsteps.

'No shoes.' Naoki mentally noted.

He wasted no time and quickly lifted his right hand. With a flicker of his wrist, instantly, the light from the lanterns went off, leaving no trace of light in the room.

"Come find me," he muttered under his breath with squinted eyes.

On the other hand, with each step he took into the house Daisuke was left to wonder.

'Is he not back yet?' he thought as he drew his brows together and continued walking along the hallway.

He was still yet to hear any sound that showed that a living being was present when suddenly, he paused in his steps after hearing a soft echo from inside his head.

"Come find me."

That was not his voice, and he could tell because it didn't sound like his.

But on second thought, his eyes widened as a realization hit him. "T-That's… M-Master's voice? H-He is here?!"

He was rather elated and shocked at the same time, coming to fast terms with his thought.

He did not know what game his master edged at but he was sure Naoki had dared him to a search.

Whether Daisuke would be able to accomplish this first task from his Master after his awakening or not was strictly up to him.

And a part of Naoki wished to know just how well he had grown in his absence.