Axel's eyelid fluttered, then his eyes flared open, as he groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"That was one comfortable rest," he mumbled, "even better than my bed."

His eyes widened, "odd, was I that exhausted."

It was that water wasn't it, it did something, he quickly checked his body, searching for any abnormality, but there was nothing.

Quite the contrary, he felt full of energy, like just a touch from him could destroy a mountain.

"But why did I pa…" he paused as he noticed a shadow from the side of his eye, at the tunnel.

At that moment, he remembered, just before passing out, someone came into the cave.

Axel quickly reached for the gishiki and spun around, pointing the katana towards the dark tunnel, the only thing he could make out was a figure leaning on the wall.

"And what do you intend to do with that," the figure said with an amused voice, tilting its head.

Axel frowned, "who are you."

The figure straightened up, "You really don't listen well, do you?" it muttered, stepping out of the shadows.

Axel's face lit up, perhaps due to seeing it was a human, his guard was slightly dropped, the Katana slightly tilting down.

The figure was a girl, dressed in a black tank top, revealing her navel and toned stomach, Over one arm hung a torn, dark scarf that swept back like a fragment of smoke, melding with the darkness of the corridor.

Loose black trousers, cinched low at the hips with a rough leather belt. Heavy boots anchored her stance, built more for war than for grace. Arms wrapped in black braces, along with gloves, a snake tattooed on her left shoulder.

As her face came out the darkness Axel froze, the blue light of the cave bounced off her white hair, spilling from beneath a black headband, her eyes burning with curiosity and arrogance.

Although she was shorter than him, he felt like she was towering over him, like she was looking down on him.

She tilted her head, eyes narrowed, "are you going to attack me."

Axel quickly tightened his grip on the katana, straightening it, "who are you."

She didn't answer immediately, letting the silence lingered as if she was giving him time to realize how absurd his question was, then she clicked her tongue, "I don't repeat myself."

"Careful. It'd be embarrassing if you cut yourself trying to impress me." She continued stepping further into the cave, moving closer to him.

Axel found himself taking a step back, "stay back," he muttered.

But she kept coming forward, slowly, each step deliberate, her lips curved slightly.

Axel gritted his teeth and stopped, then he thrust the sword forward, stopping just at her neck.

She leaned forward, her gaze sliding down the length of his blade, then back to his face, not wary, just mildly interested, like she was examining a dull toy.

She tilted her head, still smiling, "why did you stop," she asked, her tone slow, controlled.

Axel clenched his jaw and dropped the Katana, he didn't like this, her tone was annoying, it felt like he was a bug, her subject, but he wasn't going to outright kill her.

Rather, he smirked, his fist already soaring towards her stomach.

But she disappeared, his fist sailed aimlessly through the air.

Before he could regain his balance, a finger touched his back and…

Slam!!!

He crashed onto the rock floor, it felt like a mountain was suddenly placed over him, he tried to move, but he couldn't pull himself up.

Then she sat on his back, her boots in front of him, "you're bolder than expected, to think you'd be able to move in my presence."

She ruffled his hair like a pet, "I think I'll keep you," She muttered, not to him, to herself.

"And relax," she chuckled and moved closer to his ear, her breath cold against his skin, blowing his hair, she said "if I wanted you dead, you wouldn't be here."

A cold chill travelled up Axel's spine, she meant it.

Imu, if he remembered correctly, that was the last thing he heard before passing out, and it's obvious this lady was arrogant, he had to somehow appease her, until at least he can get back at her, for now.

"Yes miss Imu, forgive this lowly servant for not realizing your greatness earlier." Axel's face scrunched up, this hurt me more than anything, even getting shocked didn't hurt this much.

But the silence hung thickly, Imu didn't reply, Axel tried to turn perhaps glance at her expression.

But, Slam

She pushed his face harder against the rock floor, the taste of dirt in his mouth.

"Did I say you can lift your face," She asked.

"No mistress Imu, forgive this ignorant servant," he said, his fists clenching tighter.

Calm down Axel, this is all for survival, he told himself.

"Bold of you to try and flatter me, do you think that'll work." Her voice came again, cold, controlled.

Dang tsundere, Axel cursed in his mind.

"No mistress, I just realized your greatness that's all."

She didn't say anything, no reply, no movement, that gave Axel the chills, he was tempted to look up, but he knew better than to look up.

"You don't qualify to be my slave," She muttered and lifted the Gishiki.

Axel's eyes widened, how can she lift it, since he got it contact with the Gishiki, no one had actually lifted it, at most drag it.

The only person who touched it got blown away.

But she lifted it, and it didn't sound like she used any effort, or got blown away.

"You're weak and worst of all," She pressed his head further, digging further into the rocks which started cracking, blood seeping down.

"You're a coward."

Axel gritted his teeth, trying to push her off, his head felt like it would explode, the pressure getting worse with each passing second.

Then the pressure lifted, "killing you will be boring." She stood up.

Axel winced and picked himself up from the ground, he touched his head, hair matted onto his face, wet blood.

He glared at Imu, who tilted her head and smirked, as if asking what would you do.

Axel clenched his fist, he screamed and punched the floor, cracks spreading along the floor.

His eyes widened, when did I get this strong, he looked at his knuckle, no bruise.

"Oh," Imu smiled, "why not attack me instead."

Axel glared at her then snorted and looked away.

"With something this powerful, why do you hide in this cave," Imu asked, leaning on the Gishiki.

Silence, Axel didn't answer, then he felt a cold shiver run up his spine, the cave turning colder.

He slowly turned back, glancing at Imu over his shoulder.

He gasped as he saw her, her smile was gone, an emotionless expression on her face, her dark eyes focused on him, no it was looking down on him, he felt like everything about him was exposed at that point. Like he was naked in the winter wind.

Yet she didn't say anything, the silence felt more suffocating than anything.

"You do not ignore me." She muttered, her words sounding like a command, rather than a statement, a command which if he disobeyed, the consequence would be unbearable.

He lowered his head, "I…I was injured and scared." He said.

Her gaze lingered on him, a look of disdain flashing for a second, then the suffocating aura disappeared as she grinned, stroking her chin.

"Intriguing, a human scared of a big lizard." She chuckled.

Yeah, if you were so strong, why don't you defeat it yourself, Axel thought, not daring to say it aloud.

She nodded her head and threw the Gishiki at him, the sword stuck in the rock next to him.

"I've decided, I'm craving lizard sushi" She grinned and looked at Axel, "and you'll provide that for me, else…"

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