Today had been a rather terrible day for Koneko so far, not only had her King dragged her out of her routine naps...'patrol' missions but had then dragged her to a place full of evil monsters that looked as though they could crush her small frame to paste. As for why she considered these Yokai of being evil monsters?
It's simple, they used the same energy She used that dreadful night. The night where her entire life was flipped upside down and left her all alone against an army of Devils that wanted the young girl's head on a spike.
And if that wasn't bad enough, not even a few hours prior she had met one of the biggest monster's ever seen. That Yasaka was like a volcano of evil ready to blow at any time, it was almost near suffocating to even be near the walking calamity waiting to happen. It was safe say she was all too happy to leave that woman's presence at the first chance they got.
After being dismissed in way that had grown infinitely familiar, their group had been approached by another evil creature with black triangle ears that intimately resembled her own, besides the color at first. It looked somewhat human, being maybe in their late thirties with a slender frame that molded itself to a plain black kimono. A single ebony tail slowly waved behind them as those catlike eyes locked onto her own yellow ones. She could see confusion in them, but wouldn't be fooled by such an expression.
They were just trying to lower her guard so that it can slaughter them, there was no way she would be fooled twice.
The thing had introduced itself as their guide and proceeded to taken them on a general tour of Kyoto, or what she liked to call it The City of Evil. Everywhere they turned, she saw more and more creatures each getting stranger just outright using that vile energy in their everyday life. She even saw a few monsters disguised as children doing the same, their bodies seeming to blur in and out of existence as they hopped about like they were jumped up with lots of excess sugar.
Despite the other Devils having fun, Koneko couldn't seem to relax in this city surrounded by so many that all smelled of the same evil that effected her. It was like she was stepping on eggshells in fear of accidentally enraging some passerby enough to shed that thin disguise and truly showcase the monster just beneath the surface. How everyone else could talk so animatedly with creatures such as these, she didn't nor care to know.
The entire time during the tour,their guide tried on multiple occasions to involve her in discussion without any progress being made. But despite that, the creature was persistent. Like it had an eternity to slowly wear down her defenses so that when it finally sunk its claws into her chest, it would bring about a different sort of pain.
But it really hadn't taken long for them to shake their guide off, all it took was for Sona inquiring about some herb for the Gremory group to slip out of sight and following that it hadn't taken long for them to leave the accursed city. Something she was infinitely grateful for. It was like her lungs were constantly being compressed there and now they were finally out in the wild, she could finally breathe normally.
Taking in the rich vitality of the land itself, allowing its comforting embrace to nearly lull her to sleep. If only her King would keep it down.
"Could you believe that woman?" Rias huffed, throwing some of her crimson locks over a single shoulder. "Does she honestly believe she can just take Kuoh from us? It's been in the family since I was a child! There's no way either my brother or parents will ever allow someone to snatch those memories like that."
Honestly, Koneko thought the Gremory family owned Kuoh not that they were leasing it from the monster-like leader that seem enjoy looking somewhat human. It was quite the shock to realize that even a prodigious House like the Gremory were still subjected to the classic landlord-tenant relationship.
"I believed her." Millicas shuffled from one foot to another, red eyes shunting over the nearby trees that loomed over them with a judgmental and contemptuous air. "She had that same look Mother sometimes gets…"
"Ohh...that's called the 'Mom Look'." She rubbed her chin in thought. "If I remember correctly, she has a daughter around your and Koneko's age… Do you want me to set you two up?"
"N-no!" The poor kid rapidly waved his arms around to forestall his aunt's words. "I-I don't even know her! I-it wouldn't be right to force some stranger to..marry?"
"Never change Milli," The red head ruffled his hair, a wistful expression on her face. She knew that expression all too well. Despite Rias's seemly carefree and bratty attitude, the amount of stress her engagement to the Phenex heir, Riser, was immense. And seemingly she suspected a lot of her antics were like a silent protest against her fate," Never change…"
There the group fell off into silence, each lost in their thoughts.
'I should've gotten some Kushiyaki…' Just thinking of those perfectly broiled skewered fish tickled at the back of her throat, forcing her to swallow back the saliva that threatened to leak out from her tightly pursed lips. She even saw herself surrounded by all sides by delicious goodness, hopping and snatching free food from entirely empty stalls without a care in the world. 'Maybe I'll take a na-'
Until suddenly, all those fantasies of hers went up like a puff of smoke. Dispelled by a sudden wave of energy that nearly knocked her off her feet, like a flash flood had come to sweep them off their feet. Her heart beated rapidly, becoming louder and louder as those tight bands of control went out in a sudden pop. She didn't even need to need them to know they had become visible. Usually, they just blended right in with her white hair but it times like these those appendages made themselves known. Especially her tail that nearly stood ramrod straight.
Death.
That's what awaited them if they were to even take a single step forward, to put a mere paw across that imaginary line. Something powerful beyond imagine had laid claim to this area and stepping forward would draw it's ancient ire. A threat, clear as day.
"What's wrong Koneko?" Rias asked, her face contorted into a concerned expression. "What do you sense?"
The Nekomata turned Devil, hadn't even realized that she had stopped in her tracks. Legs locked in place as her golden eyes were nearly the size of dinner plates, only the sound of her King voice that stirred at the object deep in her 'chest' stopped the instincts screaming at her to turn and flee.
"…" Koneko didn't know what to say at first, no. That was wrong. It was more like she had completely forgotten how to speak in the first place, her tongue feeling more akin to sandpaper than ever before. "There's...something ahead. Powerful. Very much so. We shouldn't approach."
She would've felt quite proud about being able to get that much out while rattled, if only the memory of that near endless wave striking deeply at her core wasn't present.
'Hopefully she'll turn ar-'
"Powerful?" Any hopes she might've had died in their cradle as that familiar look crossed her King's face. Greed tinged at the edges of the red head's aura. "Why don't we go say hello?"
Rias continued to speak but the Rook was far beyond listening at that point, dread filled the very pits of her bowels like black ants nibbling at her insides. She even locked eyes with purple orbs that looked just as concerned as she felt, that in itself made her feel as though she wasn't going completely mad.
"Koneko, can you pinpoint where that feeling comes from? And Akeno, can you keep an eye out? You know, just in case?"
Despite that coming out as a question, the slight stirring in her chest was enough to know it wasn't a request to be taken lightly. Like a chest piece being moved, Koneko stepped forward. However unwilling she might be.