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"A hike?" (Y/N) asked as she looked down to the boots Ivo dropped at her feet.

It was early in the morning, a bluish hue cast into her room from the balcony window.

(Y/N) was sitting on the edge of her bed, after being startled awake by Ivo running his fingers through her hair.

"Yes, Little Dove," Ivo nodded once. "Trust me, I hate the sound of it too." He smiled.

"I do not know if I hate it, I have done nothing close to it," (Y/N) admitted.

"You will hate it," Ivo smiled brightly. "And unfortunately, this is not a typical stroll through the woods, we will be hunting."

(Y/N)'s eyes widen by a fraction.

"Hunting? Hunting what?" She wiped a bit of sleep out the corners of her eye.

"Possessed." Ivo stepped over to her window to look out towards the jungle forest in the distance. "People who made contracts with demons but did not have the ability to control them, and thus were reverted to shells for mindless beasts."

That does not sound very safe to be hunting.

"Why are you hunting them?"

"We will be going in groups, Hadan, and that Chusi woman is leading another group as well. We will make the mindless beasts into soldiers for the war against Taycia."

Her heart started to race at the mention of her Kingdom.

"How? If they're just shells."

"They submit to higher demons, such as us." Ivo turned to her with a smile that did not reflect the mood in the room.

"Is it safe for me to join you?" She finally asked, again glancing down to the hiking boots Ivo somehow got for her.

"If you stick with us, then yes, it perfectly safe. You can just enjoy the walk and pick flowers."

Ivo came to sit by her on the bed.

"But if you run off, then you could be killed." He warned her with an evil smirk.

"O-okay." She nodded warily looking into his pale ivy green eyes for some sort of comfort, but she knew she would not find it in Ivo.

"Well, then get dressed we will be leaving in fifteen minutes." Ivo patted the hiking outfit he had set on the foot of her bed when he first arrived.

Fifteen minutes?! (Y/N)'s jaw slacked by an inch as she watched Ivo stalk out the room, unknown to her but with a smirk on his face.

He was supposed to tell her all this yesterday and give her an option of staying at the Inn, but he thought it would be more fun this way. And from the sound of her scurrying out the bed and racing into the bathroom, he was right so far.

We are going into the mountains to hunt demons, huh? I do not know if I will be able to keep up with them, I might end up slowing them down. (Y/N) thought worriedly as she brushed through her bed head quickly, tying up her now almost (h/l) hair into a tight ponytail.

She brushed her teeth hastily and washed the crust from her eyes simultaneously.

Why did they wait last minute to tell me?! She thought as she ripped off her pajamas.

The outfit Ivo provided for her was a pair of khaki shorts that she did not fail to notice had a lot of pockets, a ribbed light blue tank top, and beige crew socks. She slipped on the cloth belt Ivo left her and decided she would bother with the buckle on the way downstairs, but she still had time to attach the plastic pink bear keychain to the front belt loop.

She slammed her feet into the chunky brown hiking boots and tied the bright red laces as speedily as she could manage.

Again, she met the men in the lobby waiting for her, save for Kazumi who was nowhere to be seen. The three did not look to be dressed for a hike, more like it was any other day.

"My little hiker," Ivo cheered. "You look so cute!" He teased as she reached them, he reached out squeezed her cheek.

She let him, as it did not bother her as much as being the odd one outdid.

She noticed Leven's cheeks were red and he was not looking her way, purposefully. She looked down at her outfit and realized what might have been the problem.

It was tight, and the most skin any would have seen of her.

The tank top had a low scoop neck, and the inch-wide straps showed her entire arms. Her shorts stopped just below her bottom, they hugged her nicely, and the belt cinched in her waist only adding to her slight hourglass figure.

(Y/N) blushed deeply now; she did not realize how much Ivo got her to show until now as she was in such a rush.

I do not know if even Silas has seen this much of me, maybe the outline through the sheer pants but gods, this is embarrassing.

"You do look lovely, dear." Leopoldo patted her head.

She returned a quiet thank you.

"I am surprised you agreed to come on such an excursion, I must admit it worries me." He removed his hand from her head.

Agreed? Her eyes flickered to a smirking Ivo, who secretly raised a secretive finger to his lips.

She wanted to roll her eyes at the man.

"I will be with you guys, so I know I am safe." She smiled mocking Ivo's words.

Leopoldo held in a whimper from how adorable he thought she was.

"Where is Kazumi?" She asked looking around the lobby.

"Captain went ahead earlier than the rest, going over the plan with Hadan on the edge of the forest," Ivo explained. "We should get going before we get a lecture about taking too long."

The brunette started towards the door.

"Come, brother, walk ahead of (Y/N) as to not get a nosebleed." Leopoldo joked, motioning for Leven to follow Ivo first.

"Shut it," Leven grumbled but did what Leopoldo suggested earning a soft chuckle from the older brother.

(Y/N) followed Leven with a confused look to Leopoldo, who followed after her with a satisfied smile and pep in his step.

On the walk to the edge of the jungle-like forest (Y/N) still kept her head down and worried about the passing guards or potential royal tour.

She listened to Leven and Leopoldo bicker back and forth over something about last night having to do with their sleeping situation. Ivo remained silent most of the way, only asking trivial questions to (Y/N) in passing, such as 'Did you sleep alright?' or 'Do you like the outfit?'

(Y/N) was growing nervous the closer they got to leaving town, and her stomach was doing backflips.

I cannot go on a demon hunting expedition, I know I will get in their way, I am just going to be a pest. Should I make up that I am not feeling well? No, that would be suspicious, and one will surely have to go back with me, that would make me a bother.

(Y/N) almost groaned in frustration but refrained, instead she threw her head back as if she was working out a kink in her neck.

When she looked up, she spotted something, rather someone, staring down at her from a nearby roof.

A soft smile touched her lips.

Momo.

She watched the fox mask for a second longer before making herself look away, she did not want any of the three to follow her gaze to see him.

If you are here, Momo, I can be your headache gladly.

She felt comforted by the fact Mamoru, someone who has been protecting her whole life with no complaints, was joining her.

She did not doubt the pirates' abilities to protect her, but if she needed to separate from them as to not get in the way, she was comforted Mamoru would be there for her.

Kazumi stood with Hadan and Chusi on the edge of the forest, with them several royal guards. Hadan held a map of the forest out discussing how they split up once more, and where the densest populations of the Possessed would be.

"Oh, captain~!" Ivo sing-song-ed with a wave as they approached.

Kazumi turned; annoyance engraved on his features getting ready to lecture them for being late, but his lips parted as he spotted (Y/N) trailing behind them.

His wide golden eyes traveled her body, shown off to the world, and he felt his cheeks heat.

He decided in his head as he turned back to the map.

"You're late," Kazumi said flatly, but loud enough for Ivo to hear.

"Perhaps by thirty seconds." Ivo agreed.

(Y/N) kept close to Leopoldo, hiding her face from the guards who might recognize her if they ever escorted a royal to a Taycia event.

"We will be splitting into three groups," Hadan looked over to the newly arrived four. "Of course, you five are one. You will be heading west into the forest," Hadan explained motioning with the map. "I will lead a group of soldiers north, and Chusi with go east with her soldiers."

(Y/N) pressed her lips together, telling herself not to ask any questions, knowing full well she is prone to blurt things out.

"We have spirit chains, you will have six, as will the other groups, we are aiming for eighteen demons. Lock them up good and tight and leave them until you get your six. Tag them then bag them, get me?" Hadan motioned to a trunk in front of the royal guard soldiers.

Spirit chains? I have heard of those. Prisoners that are imbued with a spirit beast or I guess, a demon, will be weakened by the rare metal and spell cast upon the chains once they lock.

"Eighteen? A bit excessive." Leopoldo commented.

"It is better to have more than too little." Hadan huffed. "I hear Taycia has a few fox spirits under their thumb, and that can be the end of the line."

I wonder where Mamoru is right now. (Y/N)'s eyes traveled over the scenery quickly.

"Anyway, once you lock up six, you can head back down and collect them on your way." Hadan finished.

"If that is all, we will take the chains now and head in," Kazumi said causing (Y/N)'s insides to crumple in nerves.

I will be okay if I am with them and Momo, I will be okay. She told herself to reassure herself of the situation.

"If you see any that aren't worth it, kill them, they're prone to come into town from now and then and create a racket," Hadan added walking over the navy-blue chest.

"I will act as I please," Kazumi countered, and a thunderous laugh raised from Hadan.

"I am sure ya got a soft spot seeing as how you are one of em, but they won't leave you much of a choice, either way, fellow," Hadan assured.

Kazumi clenched his jaw.

"We are not one of them, still though, I am not killing anything unless I have to, not because 'they are prone to cause a racket', fellow." Kazumi mirrored Hadan's statement, right down the unfamiliar title he had given Kazumi.

The intensity of the staredown between Hadan and Kazumi made (Y/N) shift uncomfortably.

A hand landed on her shoulder, causing her to jump slightly and look to see who it was. Ivo smiled down at her with reassurance. She quickly looked to Leopoldo and Leven who look unbothered as well.

"It is okay, Little Dove. Do not be frightened by Kazumi, I know he looks scary." Ivo whispered in her ear.

"I am not scared of Kazumi; I am upset that that man compared you all to mindless shells." She whispered back to him.

Ivo felt frozen by her words.

Kazumi took the chains from Hadan and turned his heel walking into the forest going west.

"Let's get this over with, shall we?" Leopoldo muttered following Kazumi.

"This is going to suck, what a waste of the day," Leven grumbled.

"After you," Ivo allowed (Y/N) ahead of him.

She took hesitant steps but followed into the forest with a heavy heart.

Here we go.

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[[ Y/N's hiking outfit-

And remember this isn't a story based on real-world history, so no historical accuracy is being attempted here. It is an AU/ world of its own so please do not get carried away with 'why would we wear something like that in the time of princesses and pirates'. I love you all and hope you enjoyed this chapter! - L. RANDY]]