Bitch Heiress X Samurai Butler

by KuroKoneko Kamen

  intimidating figure immediately. His mere image had instantly struck fear into the hearts of his enemies with one glance. Kenmaru had always envied that quality of Ranmaru. Ranmaru’s loose coppery-colored hair was blowing violently in the fierce wind around him. “Kenmaru...I never...you’re like a brother to me, Kenmaru. Please try and understand me. I was never very good with words. But please don’t do this. I don’t want to have to kill you.” If only my words could reach him…if only I could make him understand…

  Kenmaru laughed, a broken, slightly hysterical sounding laugh, “Kill me? Yare yare, you were always a cocky bastard weren’t you? Always thinking you’re better than me. Always thinking that you need to save me. But today I’m the one who’s going to win. I’m the one who’s going to kill YOU! ”

  Kenmaru gathered his yokai power around him and that of his new sword. Ranmaru watched as his usual red-tinged yokai aura began to become pitch black. It was this menacing aura that began to wrap around Kenmaru and his sword resembling black flames.

  Ranmaru could sense that this new aura of power that surrounded Kenmaru was incredibly intense and evil. It was unlike anything Ranmaru had ever felt before. Just what cursed sword had Kenmaru managed to get his hands on? Perhaps, one of the Legendary Four? No, it can’t be…it’s not possible…!

  He also recognized the power for what it was. “Black Fire...it can’t be. No! Kenmaru! You’ll die! Don’t you realize Black Fire’s a double-edged sword – yes, it is able to destroy anything in its path, but it will ultimately destroy you as well. Black Fire eats one up from the inside every time one uses it - your life is being drained!”

  “Ha! You think I don’t know that?” Kenmaru sneered,

  “This is the only way I can defeat you! I’m willing to pay that price! Now DIE RANMARU! NAGI WILL BE MINE!”

  Ranmaru powered up too, a red fiery aura resembling crimson flames surrounding him and his sword. Ranmaru prepared to meet the Black Fire attack head on despite knowing that it was futile since Black Fire destroyed all- So be it, Kenmaru. If you want my life that badly. You shall have it. It is yours. Ranmaru thought sadly as he raised his Bitch 129

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  sword. Forgive me Nagi…

  Kenmaru let out a battle cry as he swung his sword forward and unleashed the powerful Black Fire attack upon Ranmaru-Ranmaru let out a battle cry of his own and swung his own sword forward to unleash a red fiery attack-“Black Fire Attack!”

  “Fire Blast Attack!”

  The two attacks clashed in midair but it was just as Ranmaru had known all along. The Black Fire pushed back on his attack and consumed it almost instantly. And now the Black Fire attack was headed his way, ready to consume him. Goodbye Nagi...I’m sorry I failed to protect you...

  “Ranmaru!” It was Nagi’s beautiful melodious voice, which sounded like the temple bell from her village. Ranmaru opened his eyes to see that Nagi was standing in front of him, and she was… glowing. A beautiful, white-tinged aura of immense purity surrounded her body and she had her hand outstretched before her while using her power to shield Ranmaru and herself from the Black Fire! His miko love was fighting to protect him! Nagi... Ranmaru’s heart clenched in his chest as he watched her. She really was beautiful. She was wearing her usual miko robes - a white haori shirt and red hakama pants. She was the complete opposite of himself. A fragile, dark, pale beauty. Nagi was delicate, refined, with long silky black hair, small hands, peridot-colored eyes, and skin as pale and fragile as porcelain. In fact she reminded him of a porcelain doll. She had always looked like a single touch from him would cause her to shatter. But he had always been very gentle with her for that reason...something he would never have done for anyone else...

  Such incredible power! Ranmaru couldn’t help but be impressed by Nagi’s display. As the fire pushed against the shield Nagi had created, she struggled to use more of her power to keep the fire at bay and then managed to dispel the attack entirely with one final push of her power.

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  Nagi had conquered the Black Fire attack!

  However, blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth. Her body was trembling from the aftereffects of using such an immense amount of her power in one go, and she sunk to her knees from utter exhaustion.

  “Nagi!” Ranmaru rushed over to her side.

  “Ranmaru... ” Nagi smiled weakly. “I’m so glad you’re safe.” Nagi’s eyes flickered somewhere directly behind Ranmaru.

  “Oh thank goodness. It’s gone...”

  Upon seeing his miko love weakened and looking even frailer than usual Ranmaru became blinded by the sudden rush of hate he felt for Kenmaru. “Nagi, do not worry. I will make him pay for hurting you. I will defeat Kenmaru. And protect you.”

  Ranmaru stood and turned his attention back towards Kenmaru spotting him a ways away.

  “Wait…don’t go Ranmaru…” Nagi reached out her hand to stop him, but he didn’t hear her, so blinded by hate and rage was he. “No...wait...please, there’s something I need-”

  But her voice was too low, too weak, for Ranmaru to hear, and her hand fell when she realized that she would not be able to reach him in his current state. She watched Ranmaru raise his sword and charge Kenmaru and willed her eyes to stay open so that she could watch the rest, but her eyelids felt heavy and she fell forward onto the ground collapsing in a faint, her energy finally leaving her.

  Kenmaru was in bad shape and coughed up a large amount of blood, which dribbled down his chin, and stained the ground in front of him. The Black Fire had destroyed and damaged several of his internal organs, and until they regenerated he could not use the Black Fire again without causing his immediate death. He turned to see that Ranmaru was completely unharmed, and had transformed into his nine-tailed fox form due to being consumed by his bloodlust and losing what was left of his humanity. “Stubborn bastard...let’s end this...” More blood trickled down his chin and he wiped it away with the back of his hand, a grim expression on his face as he smiled lopsidedly. “I’ll show him how much I’ve changed...that I don’t need him to protect me anymore...”

  Ranmaru growled fiercely revealing his sharp teeth, and Bitch 131

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  placed one of his clawed paws in front of him as he prepared himself to attack.

  Kenmaru transformed into his own two-tailed fox form - a fox that had snowy-white hair and pink eyes. An albino fox. He too mimicked Ranmaru and snarling while revealing his own long, sharp fangs moved one paw forward as he prepared to attack his foe.

  They stood off like this – facing each other – appraising their enemy.

  And then the two foxes rushed at each other, using their yokai speed and power, and they attacked each other leaping up into the air and slamming into each other. As their speed increased to the naked eye they became nothing more than two bright lights slamming into each other in the air - like two angry fireworks, sparking and exploding as they collided. The air was filled with the powerful shockwaves from the force of the attacks that they were using on each other and the ground around them began to explode and crumble...

  Finally, Ranmaru and Kenmaru passed each other as both of them used their final and most deadly attacks, putting an end to their fierce battle.

  Blood spurted out from a wound on Ranmaru’s shoulder and he turned to face Kenmaru. Kenmaru leered victoriously revealing his white teeth, and was seemingly unharmed before he frowned suddenly and collapsed - blood spraying into the air from a deadly wound on his neck. Ranmaru leapt onto Kenmaru’s prone body, still in his fox form, and was prepared to rip his throat out when-An amused, trilling laughter filled the air. Ranmaru recognized that laugh. It was her.

  He turned to see Nagi’s twin sister and the sight of Nagi with that twisted smile on her face caused him to shiver. Kagura was standing not too far away from him, with a pleased expression on her face. There was also this cat that ate the canary smile upon her blood-red painted lips. She was hiding something…Ran
maru realized.

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  Kagura was twirling a single leaf in her hand, a fox magic talisman that Kenmaru had gifted her with in order for her to be able to transform into the mirror image of Nagi. This would have been so that Kagura could have approached Ranmaru while pretending to be her sister, but now that her sister was dead the spell Kenmaru had gifted her with was no longer needed. A pity. Kagura tossed the leaf away and approached Ranmaru.

  “Darling Ranmaru...” She purred, “I see you’ve won your little battle. Did you have fun? I bet you did. I know how much you love to fight. Love the heat of battle - that feeling of not knowing whether or not you’ll live or die. It’s orgasmic isn’t it?

  A warrior, no a beast, like you doesn’t feel truly alive unless he is in the midst of a battle to the death. You love fighting more than anything Ranmaru, do you not? Apparently even more than my very own sister...”

  Ranmaru’s eyes widened as he suddenly remembered about Nagi. Where was she? His eyes frantically searched the scorched battlefield in search of her. And then he caught sight of her - There! Lying face first on the ground was the prone, bloody, broken, and unmoving form of his miko love. Nagi… There, lying in a pool of her own blood...

  -- Nagi!

  Ranmaru quickly transformed back into his human form and rushed towards her, “Nagi!” He bent over her and took her limp body protectively into his arms and looked down into her lifeless face. “Nagi? Nagi! Speak to me! Wake up Nagi! Open your eyes!” He began to shake her vigorously, her head snapped back and forth in a chilling manner. Ranmaru looked down at her shocked, eyes full of disbelief. Her eyes weren’t opening… This can’t be happening…

  “She won’t wake.” Kagura began in a singsong voice,

  “And do you want to know why? Because she’d dead! You killed her Ranmaru!” She burst out, her voice taking on a sudden hateful and angry tinge. But then her tone suddenly turned mocking. “Just kidding, like I care!”

  “No... ” Ranmaru shook his head and murmured to 134

  himself. No…it can’t be. I didn’t…no…

  “You knew my sister was weak, sickly, and yet you used your full yokai power while in her presence and this is what has killed her. Foolish yokai beast.” She sneered. “You really are so pathetic. You couldn’t even protect the woman you loved. All you know how to do, all you’re good at is – killing.”

  Kagura’s words were like knives.

  Ranmaru shook his head, “No...no...no...NAGI!” He raised his head and looked up at the sky in despair and howled while he clutched her broken body to his chest, tears were streaming down his face. Tears that hadn’t fallen for centuries. “I didn’t mean to...my love…”

  Kagura came up behind Ranmaru, “Yes, you did. After all, you’re just a beast that loves fighting. A tool for killing. But perhaps in that respect you could become useful to me somehow. There are so many who stand in my way. And I can have you get rid of them for me. And so you shall become mine!” Kagura reached down and placed the enchanted Control Collar that Kenmaru had gifted her with around Ranmaru’s neck.

  “Embrace.” She spoke the word of subjugation, the word of

  ‘punishment’, just to try it out and make sure that Ranmaru was truly in her clutches now.

  Ranmaru cried out in pain as the collar constricted tightly around his neck and sent painful electric shocks coursing through his body.

  “That’s for killing my sister, darling Ranmaru.” An evil and triumphant smile formed on Kagura’s face. “I’m going to have fun breaking you as punishment for loving my sister. I wonder how many centuries that will take...No matter, I’m immortal now too.” She laughed gleefully.

  Ranmaru hung his head. This…this is only what I deserve…

  END OF FLASHBACK...

  “What I fight for...?” Flashes of memories he had long tried to bury and repress had begun to surface within his mind. And he had begun to remember bits and pieces of how he had failed to protect his miko love…how he had caused her death. He suddenly felt like throwing up.

  “You do have someone to protect, Ranmaru. Don’t lose Bitch 135

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  sight of what’s important. This will sound funny for a robot to be saying but don’t lose sight of your sense of self. You aren’t just a warrior. You unlike me, truly have a heart. So live!” Remington pushed the dazed Ranmaru out of the way and from the billboard that then fell onto Remington and crushed him instantly - the sound of crunching metal rang in Ranmaru’s ears hauntingly as the robot was destroyed.

  “Nooo! Remington!” Shinichi cried.

  No, you’re wrong. A robot can have a heart. Ranmaru found himself thinking. It is I who has lost mine.

  FLASHBACK

  In a small rundown warehouse in the middle of a junkyard Shinichi was in the midst of using spare parts to fix Remington…Shinichi rubbed the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and frustrated threw a spare part he had been planning to use aside when he saw that it wasn’t the right size. “I can’t do this anymore...these spare parts are no longer enough. We need new parts if I’m going to repair you properly Remington. And for that to happen I need money. I don’t even have the money to buy you robot oil in order to maintain you properly. This sucks...why did my father have to gamble away our family fortune? At this rate I won’t be able to fulfill my promise to you Remington - about turning you into a real Samurai Butler. And about trying to find or create a soul for you. If this continues...you’ll die.” Shinichi beat his fist into the floor. Remington put a hand on his Master’s shoulder. “I’m alright with that Master. I understand. You did your best.” He said in his monotone voice.

  “No! No you don’t understand!” Shinichi yelled and turned to face Remington, tears in his eyes, “If you die then I’ll be left all alone! If you all leave me then...I’ll have no one. No one that really cares about me. I...don’t even have any real friends. Everyone at school hates me. You can’t go yet Remington - I still need you!” Shinichi began to beat his fists in frustration into Remington’s chest.

  Remington laid a heavy hand on Shinichi’s head and 136

  attempted to pat it. “Perhaps, there is a way the young Master could acquire the money. Perhaps, a part time-” Remington was suggesting.

  But Shinichi’s eyes widened as an idea struck him,

  “That’s it! The money! All I need is the money and I can save you! All I need is her money! If we kill her I automatically get her inheritance and then I’ll have unlimited money to save you Remington and find you a soul!”

  “Her?”

  “Kusanagi Kimamura my distant cousin. They say she’s a total bitch anyways - she’s done time in prison and was even accused of murder. Killing someone like her...we’ll be doing the world a favor, Remington. Don’t you see? It’s the perfect plan. I just have to enroll in her school and wait for exactly the right moment to make my move.” Shinichi was rubbing his hands together, a calculating look on his face.

  “Young Master, are you sure this is such a good idea?” If Remington had had lips he would have been frowning. But Shinichi was already lost in his plotting thoughts.

  “This is just perfect! Kusanagi The Bitch is going to die!

  Buwhahaha!” Shinichi let out an evil laugh. “Remington, come on, you have to laugh evilly with me too! That’s an order!”

  “Bu wha ha ha ha ha.” Remington tried to mimic his Master in his monotone synthesized voice.

  “Close enough.” Shinichi waved the attempt aside, and pushed back his sleeves. “I think you’re going to need an upgrade since I heard the Kimamura family always employs a formidable Samurai Bulter. But against you they won’t stand a chance.”

  END OF FLASHBACK

  Shinichi finally managed to pull his arm out of Kusanagi’s grip, “Let go of me YOU!” Tears welled up in Shinichi’s eyes. “I hate you! You destroyed all my friends and you just wouldn’t DIE! Now I wo
n’t have the money to save Remington...now Remington is gone forever! I hate you! I hate you! You really are a bitch!” Shinichi glared one last hateful glare at Kusanagi before taking off running.

  “Shall I pursue him, Oujo-sama? ” Ranmaru asked in his disinterested tone as if he didn’t care one way or the other.

  “No, you shall not.” Kusanagi turned to glare at Ranmaru. Bitch 137

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  Ranmaru felt the need to add-“I will not harm the boy if you do not want me to.”

  Kusanagi let out a heavy sigh, “You better not. And that’s an order Ranmaru.”

  Ranmaru bowed, “As you wish, Oujo-sama. ”

  Kusanagi looked thoughtful, “So, it was all for them...”

  She looked at the pile of broken robot parts and noticed the rust that had been eating away at them. “That’s why he wanted my inheritance, the fool. He should have just asked me for help.”

  Kusanagi sighed once more, and turned to face Ranmaru, a serious glint in her eye. “Ranmaru.”

  Ranmaru’s back straightened at her tone of voice, “Yes, Milady?”

  “I have a favor to ask of you.”

  ***

  Kusanagi, Ranmaru and Katsumi were all back at Akai Bara Academy the very next day. Kusanagi snuck away from the two of them during her lunch break to seek Shinichi out. She discovered the boy alone and crying in an alleyway that was between two school buildings. It was a place that ironically enough Kusanagi sometimes came to when she had wanted to be alone, and let her mask drop, which was why she had thought of it.