Advencia entered an hour later, a large pile of folded bedding held in her tiny arms. It was stacked high above her head and it was a wonder how she managed to get to the cabin, open the door and close it behind her without it toppling over.

“Taka~” She cooed, her tail swishing wildly behind her. “I’ve bought fresh bedding for you!”

The Ronin had moved to the desk and had been quiet until Advencia arrived. He gave her a warm smile as he spoke, “A pleasure to see you too.”

The demonness huffed and turned toward the bed. “Mistress said you made a mess.” Her nose wrinkled. “She failed to mention that mess was her own blood.” She said with disdain in her voice as she began to strip the bed. “What happened here? I don’t smell your blood, only hers.”

Taka stood up, moving to the bed to help her, “I got drunk, and well, the next thing I knew I had stabbed her in the throat and had begun...well for lack of a better way to explain it, I fucked her corpse. When I realized what had happened I brought her back.”

Advencia stilled. “I see.” Her voice was strained and she continued to make the bed in silence. Her tail stopped whipping back and forth in a jovial fashion and instead sat still, upon the floor between her legs.

“You don’t approve,” He said firmly.

“OF COURSE I DON’T FUCKING APPROVE!” Advencia snapped as she turned around to yell at him. Her shrill voice raised. “You FUCKED mistress, you KILLED her. How do you FUCKIN’ THINK that makes me feel!?” She hissed as she ditched a bloodied sheet, wadded up at his face. She stormed over to the fireplace to tend to the dying embers.

“I remind you, you encouraged this behavior. Is it so surprising under alcohol it would rear its ugly head? If you ever wondered why I don't drink, I think today is a perfect example of why. It won't happen again, she and I agreed that was for the best,” He responded evenly.

“Not her…” Advencia hissed as she began to sift through the ashes with her bare hands, unaffected by the heat. She caught sight of a loose brick and in her anger punched it. It came loose and that’s when she noticed a strange sack, seemingly made of a torn up blue robe. “The fuck?”

Taka stiffened seeing her react. He moved and carefully placed the brick back in its place, “Let's have a nice discussion, because I don't think we're on the same page. Scarlet is confused and conflicted, you know this. She is testing her boundaries and she is forcing everyone around her to change to accommodate for that. You know this as well, that's why you got to sip my soul last night. But we both know the score, we know where that path goes. If she pushes any harder she will kill herself. That, is a long shot, it's a gamble. Now, you could report me and it to her, and let her destroy herself, or you can wait be patient, and hope that it pays out. What is it going to be Advencia? Your next decision is going to decide the fate of the Crimson Hand.”

Advencia narrowed her eyes at the sudden change in demeanor. Just a few moments ago he was playing the part of the broken ronin, uncaring and stoic, just a glimpse of the thing caused him to try and reason with her. She shoved Taka aside and pried the brick away from the wall, she pulled out the bundle. “What the fuck is in here to make you say that?” She hissed as her clawed hands ripped through the fabric. Small items tumbled out onto the floor, strange things. Things that the demoness would consider to be rubbish. They were covered in her scent, in Scarlets scent. “What. Is. This?”

“Memories are a powerful weapon,” He said as he reached out and pulled out a bracelet made of his hair, “They have a power even you must acknowledge. If you destroy these memories Advencia, you ensure Scarlet has no way back, if we keep them safe, we have a chance.”

Advencia gave Taka another hard shove, reaching out to grab the fire poker she stomped down hard on his chest, the poker aimed for his throat. “Why do YOU have these?” She spat. “Don’t talk in circles. Answer carefully.” She hissed, pressing the tip of the poker harder against his throat. “I was barred from feeding on your soul, but not from tearing you apart. WHY do you have these things? WHY do they smell like her?”

He carefully remained still, letting his breathing calm before he began, “Do you remember how you found me yesterday morning?” He waited until she nodded before he spoke, “Under that mattress, was these items. I don't know all their sentimental value, but I know they have some, the hair here,” he held up the bracelet, “I gave to her when she met me in Castle Ixia. I suspect these other items have similar meaning to her. They are Hope Advencia. However, Hope needs to be used at the right time, or it's pointless. I will destroy myself a hundred times over, until I can deliver that hope at the right time Succubus. Our goal is the same, now please, put the poker down.”

Advencia removed the poker, but not before ramming her foot down into his abdomen hard, winding him. “THAT’s for fucking her corpse.” The demoness spat as she turned on him to finish her work on the fireplace.

He exploded in a fit of coughs as he rolled over and spoke, “I deserved that. I won't lie.”

“Do what you want with the trinkets.” Advencia muttered. “I serve Mistress, and only Mistress. What you do in your free time is of no concern to me.” She said as the fire sprang to life. It was her way of telling him the items were safe in his care, and that she’d have no part in telling Scarlet about them, or destroying them. “Best find a new hiding place.”

He carefully regained his breath and nodded before he spoke, “She expects me to rest well tonight because she is determined to see where I end and the Oni begins tomorrow. I know you came to push me deeper into my lusts, I won't force you to follow those orders or not. Thank you though, and I'm sure Amari thanks you as well.”

“I was only ordered to change your bedding.” Advencia muttered. “I will have to mention to her you aren’t as broken as she thought. You almost had me fooled.” She stared at the rubbish on the floor and kicked a small metal ball with her foot. “Perhaps these stirred some more life into you.”

He looked at the succubus and carefully put everything back in the robe. He sighed and carefully stowed it under the mattress and spoke, “Until I find better, best return them to where they were…” he shook his head before he spoke, “My job is to protect her Advencia, she doesn't know the dangers like we do. If I suffer tomorrow because of this then I will see it as my duty. She is wrong however, there is no way I could forsake the warrior's path. Not without being useless to her. Her ignorance is the only shield I have against her though, she doesn't understand what Bushido is.”

Advencia sat herself in one of the plush chairs by the fire, she did not appreciate the words Taka sprouted. Scarlet was clearer and more concise than she ever had been. There were vast shifts in her energy that unnerved the succubus but at the same time it was almost exciting and enthralling. Scarlet held such a dangerous power now.

“I wonder what the Oni would say to that.” Advencia mused to herself as her blue eyes drifted to the fireplace.

Taka replied bluntly, “I don't care what he thinks. This body is mine, not his. If he wants it he can fight me for it. Otherwise, he can wait for moments of drugged lucidity. If you want to talk to him so badly seduce me.” He sat heavily in a chair beside her. “Desire, fear, regret, these are the things the Oni feeds upon, when they hit a point in me, he can take control.”

“You won’t have that issue soon. Mistress plans on giving the Oni a tangible form.” Advencia said as she started to smooth out the ruffles in her tight bodice. “I have no need to seduce you if I cannot feed from you.”

He snorted softly, “I see. A demon to the end.” He mused, “I dared think you could become more Advencia. I am glad to not have that misconception anymore.”

“It would be for the best.” She said bluntly. Advencia shouldn’t care what Taka thought of her. If he thought of her as nothing more than a demon than it’d just make her job easier. Scarlet was the only one who ever saw her as something more than that, something more than a tool to be used. Why would anyone else show her the same courtesy?

“I’ll be here till morning, do what you want.” Advencia said as she stretched and lifted her legs to tuck underneath her, her tail flicking lazily as she curled up on the chair. Body flickering with the firelight.

Taka looked at the fire for what seemed forever, “I won't force you to anything you do not choose for yourself. Thank you for the company Advencia. Thank you for not completely outing me. And...thank you, for listening to the foolish words of a wave-man.” His words held a genuine respect for what she had done as he rose and prepared himself for bed.

“Mmmhmm.” Came her reply as Advencia watched him climb into bed and fall asleep.

“If only you knew, Ronin. If only you knew….”