Bitch Heiress X Samurai Butler

by KuroKoneko Kamen

  Ranmaru had become a demon. There was a powerful aura of energy flaring all around him, and his eyes were glowing blood-red. He moved his sword through the air and before the yakuza could even blink they were being cut down. Their pained and anguished cries were ringing through the air and filling the hospital room. Ranmaru’s sword flashed through the air, streams of red flying and following the elegant movements of his sword. Ranmaru moved past the remaining group of yakuza swiftly and to the other side of the room turning around to face them.

  At that moment all of the remaining yakuza fell to the floor - dead. In that split second, Ranmaru had managed to cut them all down.

  Ranmaru then turned towards Haruka, who still had the scent of Kusanagi’s blood on him. Ranmaru’s eyes were glowing fiercely and an aura of murderous intent surrounded him. He was ready to kill Haruka and cut him into tiny, little pieces for harming his Kusanagi, and he was ready to enjoy it. Kusanagi, however, sensed his overwhelming bloodlust,

  “No Ranmaru! Don’t kill him!”

  But Ranmaru rushed forward and attacked anyways. His sword moving through the air in a powerful sideways slash-The attack hit Haruka and the force and energy behind the attack caused Haruka to be blasted backwards. Haruka hit the back of the hospital room wall, hard, and slid down it to where he remained in an unmoving heap on the floor.

  Kusanagi turned to glare at Ranmaru, “Ranmaru! How could you he-” But Kusanagi seemed to stop mid-rant when Ranmaru turned to face her with a relieved, yet pained expression on his face...

  “Oujo-sama, I’m so glad you’re alright.” Ranmaru 248

  coughed suddenly, and blood trickled down his chin. He staggered forward, towards Kusanagi, hand outstretched towards her, before he sunk to his knees.

  “Ranmaru!” Kusanagi rushed over to his side suddenly worried. Is he injured? “What’s wrong?”

  But Ranmaru no longer had the strength to respond and so he fell forward, unconscious.

  “Ranmaru!” She flipped Ranmaru over to see where he was injured and wondered how he had gotten injured in the first place. She hadn’t seen a single blow or shot from the yakuza land on Ranmaru after all. She saw that there was blood on his chest, however, so he must have been injured somehow. Kusanagi quickly removed his jacket, vest, and shirt, running her hands over his chest and searching for a stab or gunshot wound. But there was no wound. Kusanagi blinked, but then where was all of the blood coming from? Kusanagi followed the trail of blood up to his neck.

  That’s a strange necklace. No wait. Collar that Ranmaru’s wearing. Collar? Kusanagi placed her hands on it and immediately took her hands back - Ew! It had felt just like a live and writhing snake. But Kusanagi could see that the blood was coming from under his collar, which meant that the collar was harming him somehow…but why? How? Kusanagi’s eyes widened when she thought of something. It can’t be...Ranmaru...he can’t be a Spell-Collared yokai slave can he?

  And so the Spell-Collar is punishing him because he’s disobeyed his Master’s order or something, but then who’s his Master?

  What was the order?

  Then it hit her like lighting. Kusanagi realized with a burst of sudden horrid clarity that she was Ranmaru’s Master and the command that was killing him was the very same one that she had given Ranmaru earlier about her not wanting to see him for six hours…

  The horror of this truth began to sink in and Kusanagi shook her head vigorously. No...No! “I take it back! Oh my god...how do I take it back? Ranmaru! I...I...order you to be near me! To open your eyes and see me! Come on! Speak to me Ranmaru! That’s an order!”

  Ranmaru immediately opened his eyes since the collar Bitch 249

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  had finally stopped constricting painfully around his neck - biting into his neck with its sharp, vicious metal teeth, and sending nasty, electro shocks through his body. Phew. “Oujo-sama...” He began weakly.

  Kusanagi’s eyes filled with tears of relief. “Ranmaru!”

  Before she realized what she was doing she hugged Ranmaru and his eyes widened dramatically. “I thought I was going to lose you, I...” But then Kusanagi realized something, which caused her heart to clench painfully in her chest.

  Ranmaru was a Spell-Collared yokai, which meant he didn’t really care about her. He didn’t have a choice but to pretend to care. Kusanagi suddenly felt like such a fool. She didn’t know if she wanted to laugh, cry, or throw up. But that was probably because of her cold. Why did tears come to her eyes so easily? Kusanagi looked away from Ranmaru before he could notice. Why did her heart feel like it was breaking?

  But she quickly scrubbed at her face with the back of her hand and pulled away from Ranmaru to stand while recomposing herself. She couldn’t meet him in the eyes just yet.

  “This...changes everything. I can’t own a slave Ranmaru...damn Grandfather. He better be able to explain himself. Come on, Ranmaru. Let’s get home. We need to resolve this ‘situation’

  somehow...” She finished with a heavy sigh.

  Ranmaru blinked, a flash of hurt crossing his face in surprise and confusion at Kusanagi’s conflicting actions and words, but he simply nodded, “Hai, Oujo-sama, as you wish.”

  Kusanagi frowned and looked angry at Ranmaru’s choice of words and he couldn’t help but wonder what he had done wrong.

  The sound of upraised and panicked voices along with the sound of rapid footsteps was heard approaching the hospital room.

  “I heard shots!” “It came from over there!” “Hurry officer!”

  “Aw shit the fuzz, we have to get out of here, Ranmaru. Now.” Kusanagi ordered him.

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  Ranmaru nodded and easily picked up Kusanagi, sweeping her up into his arms bridal-style before she could protest and jumping out of the window with her.

  “Ranmaru no baka! ” Kusanagi cried as they fell through the air.

  ***

  Once Ranmaru and Kusanagi had arrived back at the mansion she immediately made her way to her grandfather’s study and burst inside. She slammed her hands down angrily on her grandfather’s desk. “Grandfather! I demand an explanation!”

  Kimamura- san raised an eyebrow at Kusanagi, “About what?”

  “Don’t play dumb with me.” Kusanagi growled. “About Ranmaru. He’s a Spell-Collared yokai slave isn’t he? How could you purchase a slave?”

  “Oh shit, I mean, fiddle-sticks, the cat’s out of the bag now - or should I say the fox is out of the bag. Though I don’t understand why you’re so upset, dear.” The old man steepled his fingers together as he narrowed his eyes at her own red-rimmed ones.

  Why...? Now that she knew Ranmaru never really cared about her...? No, now that she knew she owned a slave dammit!

  Kusanagi shook her head and glared. “Isn’t that obvious. I own a slave because of you! This is completely unacceptable.”

  “So you want to sell him then?”

  Kusanagi blinked back in shock. “Sell? No, I want to free him!”

  Kimamura- san frowned thoughtfully, “It can’t be done...”

  Kusanagi glared at Kimamura- san, searchingly, giving the man a piercing stare, “There must be a way. You’re keeping something from me, old man.”

  Kimamura- san remained pensive. “No, it really would be impossible to free him as things stand now. If you don’t want a Spell-Collared slave then I’ll have no choice but to sell him...”

  Kusanagi clenched her fists at her sides angrily. Sell...sell Ranmaru! Like he’s a piece of meat? A thing. He may not care about me but I still care about him!

  Kusanagi’s eyes widened in shock. Wait a sec. How or when had that happened? She cared for Ranmaru? She was Bitch 251

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  supposed to hate him...but now he truly was the victim in all this...right? A victim of herself...of her own careless words, which had hurt and almost killed him. How could he possibly care about a total bitch like herself? She had been so...stupid.

  “We’re not going
to sell him.” Kusanagi said adamantly,

  “I will continue to try and find a way to free him too. I know you’re lying to me about that, old man.”

  Admit it...you don’t want to see him go...you want him to stay...even if you have to order it against his will. You won’t really sell him or try and find a way to free him will you?

  Kusanagi’s inner voice popped up in her mind. Shut up! I wouldn’t do that. And I will find a way to free him.

  Oh? I don’t believe you.

  Kimamura appeared bemused. “Oh? And what do you expect Ranmaru to do once you free him?”

  ...kill me. Kusanagi sighed heavily. “What does that really matter anyways? He’ll leave of course. He’s probably wanted to leave all along but because of that damned collar...that’s why he was able to last so long despite my best efforts to get him to quit.” Kusanagi’s nodded to herself as she suddenly thought back to all the things she had done to Ranmaru on purpose. “I get it now. It all makes sense. I’ve been such a fool. I thought he was putting up with me all this time because maybe...” He cared about me. That maybe we had become friends somehow. Kusanagi turned to leave the study.

  Kimamura- san’s smile had broadened. That sly fox, somehow he’s managed to worm his way into Kusanagi’s heart of ice.

  ***

  Kusanagi had gone to visit Haruka’s sister, Keiko, at the hospital later that week, and was setting down a rather large and flashy gift-basket on a table at the foot of her hospital bed. Keiko’s eyes widened as she heard the loud thud the basket made. “Um, thank you, but...who are you?”

  “Oh, I’m...a friend of your brother.” Kusanagi lied. Or is 252

  it a lie? Kusanagi wondered to herself.

  “I see...” Keiko looked thoughtful, “Was it you who paid for the medicine that was needed to cure my yokai disease? I was able to wake up because of it.”

  “Keh, do I really look like a do-gooder to you?” Kusanagi waved a hand over herself. “It was your brother...He did it.”

  Keiko looked over Kusanagi’s facial piercings, the military hat that was on her head, her matching combat boots, black tank top, dark green, beige and black camouflage pants, and nodded knowingly, “Ah, so you’re with the yakuza too aren’t you? I hope Haruka didn’t kill anyone for my sake...” She trailed off sadly.

  “Yakuza! ” Kusanagi spat and then glared at the girl. “Now you look here-” But then Kusanagi caught herself and shook her head. “No, Haruka didn’t kill anyone. The yakuza finally gave him all the money they owed him - that’s all.”

  Keiko let out a sigh of relief, “Oh Haruka...” She sat back and closed her eyes peaceably. “He was always such a gentle soul. He always looked after me. Haruka really is a good person, you know. Is my brother...alright?” She yawned sleepily, her eyes beginning to close.

  Kusanagi frowned darkly, and didn’t respond. She then turned to leave the hospital room, and closed the door behind her quietly as Keiko fell fast asleep. Kusanagi stomped down the hallway with swift steps and stopped just outside of another hospital room. She never thought she’d come to a hospital in order to visit him.

  Kusanagi opened the door and stalked inside. Haruka’s eyes widened at the sight of Kusanagi and his eyes immediately flickered to her side fearfully, as if expecting to see Ranmaru. “You! Is your komainu with you?” He demanded, his voice shaking.

  Kusanagi shook her head and looked Haruka over - his entire torso had been bandaged up. She reached out and picked up his medical chart flipping through the pages curiously as she read about his injuries. Apparently, it wasn’t anything too serious, just a few broken ribs. He would live. Kusanagi raised an eyebrow in surprise. She had thought Ranmaru had sliced him open, which could only mean that at the very last second Bitch 253

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  Ranmaru had used the back of his sword to hit Haruka with instead. Ranmaru had chosen to heed her request and had stopped himself. Or had the collar forced Ranmaru to bend to her wishes?

  “You’ll live.” Kusanagi looked up and pulled out an apple, “Here I brought something for you.”

  Haruka looked a bit teary-eyed and surprised, “Kusanagi - chan you really do care don’t you...?”

  Kusanagi, however, flung the apple at Haruka and it hit him right between the eyes.

  “OW!” Haruka exclaimed rubbing the center of his forehead in a mixture of both shock and pain, “What the hell did you do that for?”

  Kusanagi shrugged and tried to look innocent, “What?

  Did you really think I was the kind of girl that would sit by your bedside and peel an apple for you? Ha!” Then her expression turned serious. “That was for trying to kill me. And for being a complete idiot for asking money from the yakuza. No one ever gets away from them scot free. I’d say we’re even now since my komainu, as you like to call him, tried to kill you.”

  Haruka’s eyes widened as if he had just remembered something, “That’s right...the yakuza...my sister!” Haruka looked like he was going to try and get out of bed, but Kusanagi put a hand on his chest and shoved him roughly backwards. Haruka let out a small pained ‘Oof.’

  “Is safe.” Kusanagi informed him. “And awake.” She added with a smug smirk.

  Haruka blinked at Kusanagi in shock, “Awake? But how...?”

  “I paid for the medicine she needed to cure her, of course.” Kusanagi had a haughty look on her face. Haruka’s brows furrowed, “But why...why would you do that after everything I’ve done to you?”

  “You’re not the only one who’s tried to kill me for my money and you certainly won’t be the last. So don’t go thinking you’re special or something Haruka because you’re not. At this point, I’ve stopped taking it personally...” Kusanagi admitted. 254

  “But the yakuza...they’ll...” Haruka trailed off, looking worried.

  “Ah, about that. I also paid off your debt with the Skull Heads. All your paper work, debts, and records have been transferred to me. Although I had to convince some of the lower level thugs to do this for me I think it otherwise went pretty smoothly. Their Oyabun hasn’t found out about this yet, that son of a bitch. He’ll probably have a cow when he finds out though.”

  Kusanagi couldn’t help but smile at the thought of getting one up on her mysterious, faceless nemesis. “So now you don’t owe the yakuza...you owe me instead.” Kusanagi’s eyes gleamed evilly. Haruka blinked. “I owe you? ”

  “Yes, you belong to me now.” Sigh. Is this a sudden trend? “I heard about how the yakuza trained you as a ninja assassin. I could use the skills of a ninja to protect my menagerie I think.”

  “Menagerie.” This was just getting weirder, and weirder. Haruka’s mind was spinning.

  “Hopefully, you’ll prove yourself to be useful to me. The whole modeling gig was just a cover huh? Behind your pretty face you concealed your knives and darker dealings. I must say I’m somewhat impressed.” Kusanagi gave him an assessing look. And she had thought her own mask was flawless. Haruka frowned, chagrined, “Actually, no, I really am a model and take my modeling career seriously. It’s the yakuza who used it as a front and didn’t take it seriously.”

  “I see.”

  “Heh, so now I owe you a shit load of money and am practically your slave.” Haruka continued in a joking tone. Kusanagi grinned back at him, her incisors peaking out,

  “You know it, with ten percent interest. And you’re not my slave you’re my ninja got it? When I need your services I’ll page you. Otherwise, stay out of my sight.”

  Haruka laughed then, tears of happiness sliding down his face, “Ten percent interest huh? You really are...”

  “A bitch.” Kusanagi finished for him with a smirk. “So I’ve been told.”

  ***

  Ranmaru looked down at the burned palms of his hands Bitch 255

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  and licked at his wounds. Ow.

  His sword had burned him.

  When Ranmaru had been about to kill Haruka, he almost
hadn’t heard Kusanagi’s order through the red haze of his bloodlust in time. But somehow he had. Somehow her words always seemed to be able to reach him.

  And because he had heard her at the last second he had moved his sword to use the back of the blade instead - but his sword Kuroki Ryu had rebelled against him in response. Ranmaru had had to use all his strength and power to flip the sword in his hand because of this, so that he would strike Haruka with only the back of his sword. And Kuroki Ryu had punished him in its anger. They had a pact after all. The sword allowed Ranmaru to wield it and have immense power and in return Ranmaru fed it blood...lives. It was a sword of destruction after all...a sword that sought to takes lives, certainly not save or spare them.

  Ranmaru looked down at his burned palms. A cursed sword Muramasa that sometimes seized the hearts of lesser men and turned them into monsters. The sword would never control him but...if it had the chance the sword would one day try and betray him. But Ranmaru had known this all along and had decided to take that risk, besides his soul had already become linked with Kuroki Ryu’s soul. After all, it was Ranmaru who had chosen this path. The path of destruction, of ultimate conquest, the path of power. And so now there was no escape or turning back...

  Right?

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  Chapter 9

  True beauty comes from within

  She realized she cared for Ranmaru only to find out he was a Spell-Collared slave. To realize he had no choice but to obey and be protective of her and to put up with her shit. So, it was only fitting that Kusanagi was in a pissy mood that morning, and wouldn’t even talk to Ranmaru whom she was mad at most of all because his whole persona was an act...right? He didn’t care about her at all...dammit.