The moment her lips touched his skin, Kagero jolted, his mind becoming a jumbled mess as he tried to process what had just happened.
Like a surge of fire permeated through his body, his complexion matched his red hair, giving him the appearance of a human sized tomato.
"What the?!" He staggered back, holding his cheek amidst stammers.
A ghostly lady had just done something he would have never believed would happen in his wildest dreams.
Why exactly did she do that out of the blue?
That would have been the question any normal individual ought to have thought in such a situation.
However Kagero was— different.
'So that's how it feels.' He watched the woman respond to him with a bright smile. 'To get kissed by a stunning lady?'
'[Whoa, you really are a nerd.]'
'Shut it!'
Kagero proceeded to wipe the red lip imprint from his face. "So— what was that all about?"
The lady pressed her finger against her face and tilted her head in thought. A mix of curiosity and excitement beamed through her eyes.
"It should be right about…" She dragged her words, staring into her empty wrist.
'What is she even doin—' Kagero tried to question. But he was instantly interrupted by the mischievous grin that preceded the lady's next word.
"NOW!"
As though being in tune with her command, Kagero's body immediately grew hotter and hotter by the second.
It was as though liquid fire had amalgamated, and started to course through his veins.
FWOOSH!
Suddenly, a radiant purple flash gleamed around him, birthing purple flames to rage through his skin.
"What the?— what the hell?!" Kagero managed to probe the possibility of his situation, however nothing could come to mind.
Except for the lady who just smirked with apathetic mirth, getting premium entertainment from his agony.
What exactly was going on? Was she betraying him? Was she trying to kill him? Was she deceiving him all this time?
In the space of a single second, Kagero's mind was reduced to a battleground. A plethora of disheartening questions dueling each other in a desperate need of answers
"I used a Shinigami art on you." The lady's words broke him out of his trance.
She looked past the flames, then pointed at his right arm.
"It'll help heal your erosion. And prevent it from proceeding."
'Huh?'
Stunned, Kagero just stared blankly at her, questioning how quickly he was to jump into conclusions.
"Also, I think you'll love this part."
She paused, pasting a reassuring smirk across her face. "It'll also help you fit in just a little bit better."
Suddenly, right when her words had ended, Kagero watched the ethereal flames dance around him with infernal grace.
As though he was imbued in a fiery tornado.
The purple embers trickled through his skin, transfiguring his peachy complexion into an ivory hue with a stinging burn.
The flames continued in its motion, seeping into his clothes and burning through them, to immediately clad him in a much more
suitable garment.
And then the embers finally quieted.
"Whoa Whoa Whoa!" Kagero's face beamed in excitement, watching his new appearance.
His hair was as white as the snowy mountain tops, leaving hints of red around it.
And right at the very crest of his head stood a pair of black horns, their blue patterns hidden behind a large straw hat.
His bloodied clothes were gone, being replaced by a Samurai inspired Kamisimo.
Which consisted of a dark Kimono; secured with a purple sash, and fitted into a dark purple Hakama.
However, instead of being wrapped under a sleeveless jacket.
Kagero donned a wide purple jacket with imperial golden seams that flowed behind him like a quiet river.
'I look so freaking cool!'' Kagero smirked, holding onto his chin, all the while still admiring his fit.
"I'm glad you love it." The lady approached Kagero, the ecstatic boy struggling to switch his gaze away from his outfit.
"Seeing as I've held my own end of the bargain." She waved her hand across his eyes to get his attention. "It's time to finalize the contract."
For a moment, Kagero thought that his time of reckoning had finally come. After all, no one would offer him a fit this clean without some sort of ulterior motive.
'Is this the point where she asks for something unbelievably impossible?' Kagero's heart sank.
'I can't lose this drip!'
But her next move made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"Let's shake on our agreement." The lady brought her hand forward with a smile.
"My name is Gami."
Kagero watched her in dubiety.
His blue eyes seemed to say he knew she was planning something, but he just couldn't prove it.
"Mine is Kagero."
He responded, bringing his arm forward hesitantly.
She stared at him for an added moment. Her eyes seemed to sink into his soul as she observed him with a bright smile.
"Kagero— huh?"
Both their arms came together for a handshake, and immediately it did.
Dark tattoos both emanated through both of their wrists, forming what seemed to be a contract seal.
"Ah? Was this necessary?" Kagero wondered, watching the eerie aura that seeped through the seals.
"Absolutely. Now if both of us don't follow up with our promises." Her scarlet eyes suddenly glittered with strange glee.
"We'll both die in an unspeakably horrible way."
Kagero swallowed hard on hearing her words, his nervous smile freezing on his face.
Talk about commitment.
"There's no time to lose." Gami held onto his hand, dragging him as she walked. "We have to get you back home before the jutsu wears off."
Kagero followed her lead, and for a moment. His mind drifted to just how tedious his journey back to Konoha would be.
'[Kagero.]' The system called out within his mental space.
'Yeah?'
The System paused for a moment, letting silence rule their conversation before continuing.
'[Dont trust that woman.]'
Kagero turned his vision to the humming lady, the latter staring back at him innocently.
'I know.'
•••
After a few minutes, they had traversed through the thick mocking forest and were now before the otherworldly city that was Shikigamikagure.
Staring all around him, Kagero couldn't help but be overwhelmed by what his eyes beheld.
"This place." His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Is pretty crazy."