“What should we do?” Nana wondered what Yuki thought about this situation. 

“Nothing to think about. We need to back out of here and take another direction. This whole place makes my tail hair stand up on end.” Yuki could feel her tail hair tingling. This was a sign that danger was approaching. She quickly turned around and began moving away as fast as she could. She hoped they had not been seen yet. 

But as soon as this thought came to mind. She sensed something off and quickly jumped to the side, narrowly dodging a sword that stabbed the spot she was just in. “Oh? To think someone in their third fate star could dodge my attack.” 

“If I didn’t, I would have died….” Yuki snorted as she adjusted her grip on Nana. “I do not care what you are doing here, nor will I say a word about it, but if you want to kill me or harm my friends, I do not mind fighting.” 

The man in a black cloak looked at Yuki and grinned. He removed his hood to reveal his long black hair and handsome yet pale face. “It seems I found an interesting girl, although a little on the young side. But I do not mind waiting. How about it? Become my woman, and I will let all of you leave here alive.” 

“Sorry, but I have a thing against most guys at this time. Bad experience, if you know what I mean. I do not plan to have another any time soon. So let’s take a rain check, shall we?” Yuki replied with another snort. She hated men like this. She wondered why so many men she had met lately all seemed to be arrogant and thought that they were gods gift to women. 

“Yuki….” Nana wanted to tell Yuki to let her go, but just as she was about to speak, Yuki tightened her grip on her thighs.

“Don’t even say it. I will land on the ground as soon as he makes a move so we can both get out of here.” Yuki replied. She knew Nana’s thoughts at this time.

“Are you done planning? If you are, listen now, I will give you one more chance. Become mine, and I will let the others go. If not, I will kill all your friends here and now.” The man stated coldly. He seemed to be getting angry. 

“Heh…” Yuki let out a small laugh as she suddenly kicked forward, creating a foothold, and shot backward at an incredible speed. She then swung her body around whole, holding Nana tightly, and shot towards the ground away from Fatty and Maiko.

“Haha! Do you think you can run from me!?” The man yelled out and gave chase. 

This was what Yuki was hoping for. She quickly landed on the ground, letting Nana down, and put her hand on the hilt of her sword. Nana also drew her sword, ready to fight at any moment. She watched as the man slightly landed on the ground with his hands behind his back with the same smile on his face. 

“It’s good to see you understand. Now come here.” The man said in a gentle voice.

But Yuki did not budge. She was already moving the demonic qi and spiritual qi in her body, boosting her strength by twice as much as before. This, of course, did not go unnoticed. “Hmm? Interesting. Now how are you able to do something like that?”

Yuki ignored the man as she whispered: “Nana, on the count of three, run and do not turn around.”

“No,” Nana stated firmly. She would not leave her only family behind again. Yuki was her everything now. She was her world. She would not allow her world to be destroyed again. If Yuki was going to die, then so would she.

Yuki stole a glance at Nana’s firm expression and sighed inwardly. She knew Nana would not leave, but she still had to try. She took a deep breath and readied herself as she stared at the man in front of her.

“No answer, hmmm?” The man chuckled as he took a step forward. That single step was enough to close the distance in an instant shocking Yuki to the point that she instinctively struck out with her sword, causing a loud clanging sound to be heard as metal against metal clashed. “Haha! Not bad! Your reaction speed is quite amazing. If I was not careful, you might have cut me.”

“Sadly, I was unable to take your head!” Yuki spoke through gritted teeth. “I would rather die than go with you, so give it up!”

 “Hahaha! I see. I see…. Now that is not good. You see, while I do wish to cut you open and see how you tick, I will hold my curiosity in. When you grow in strength, I will come to you again. At that time, I hope you change your mind.” The man disappeared once more and reappeared in the air. He lifted his hand and pointed his finger at Yuki, shooting out a ray of red light that shot into her heart.  

“Ah!” A sharp pain shot through her body as she collapsed to the ground. With blurry vision, she turned her head with great difficulty and looked up at the man in the sky. 

“That is something that will allow me to know where you are. If you try to remove it, you might just lose your life. Now then, until our paths cross again. Maybe in a few years time.” The man turned to leave but stopped and turned around to look at Yuki once more. “My name is…. Let’s see, just call me Kuro.”