~ Aika learns she is now a political scandal
Aika had always assumed that if she ever became the center of an international incident, there would be paperwork.
Possibly lawyers.
Definitely less growling.
Kazuki stood in front of her like a living wall of murder, silver hair lifting as his aura flared, runes along his skin burning brighter with every second the Beast Council envoys stared too long.
Aika peeked around his arm.
Bad idea.
One of the council beasts noticed immediately.
His eyes—golden and sharp—locked onto her.
"…She sees us," he observed.
Aika waved weakly. "Hi. Sorry. Existing."
Kazuki shifted, blocking her completely. "Speak your business and leave."
The lead envoy exhaled slowly, clearly irritated. "You shelter a human. One who has bonded with a Shiranui heir."
"I shelter nothing," Kazuki snapped. "She trespassed."
Aika whispered, "And kidnapped a baby."
Kazuki hissed, very quietly, "Stop talking."
The envoy's gaze flicked to Mochi, who was peeking out from Aika's mantle sling, eyes glowing softly.
"Bonding has already begun," the envoy said. "Unacceptable."
Aika's stomach dropped. "Unacceptable how?"
Kazuki's claws extended with a sharp shk.
"You will not finish that sentence."
The second envoy—taller, antlered, calmer—raised a hand. "Alpha Kazuki. Control yourself. No one is accusing you."
"That's exactly what you're doing."
"We are observing," the antlered beast replied. "A human influencing Shiranui instinct is… unprecedented."
Aika bristled. "I'm not influencing anything! I just—exist aggressively."
Mochi chirped in agreement.
The third envoy—quiet, serpent-eyed—smiled faintly.
"That may be the problem."
The system flickered violently.
[WARNING: HIGH-LEVEL OBSERVERS DETECTED.] [RECOMMENDED ACTION: DO NOT DISCLOSE SYSTEM EXISTENCE.]
"Oh don't worry," Aika muttered. "I lie for a living now."
Kazuki glanced back at her, eyes narrowing. "You are afraid."
"Of course I am," she whispered back. "They look like they vote on executions."
The antlered envoy stepped closer—too close.
Kazuki moved instantly, aura slamming outward like a shockwave. The ground cracked.
"Enough," Kazuki growled. "You will not intimidate her."
Silence followed.
Then the serpent-eyed envoy chuckled softly. "Interesting."
Aika did not like that tone.
"The Beast Council has not decided her fate," the envoy continued. "But understand this, Alpha Kazuki—"
He looked directly at Aika.
"Humans do not belong in Beastworld."
Aika's chest tightened.
Kazuki's voice dropped to something lethal. "She belongs where I say she does."
The envoys exchanged looks.
That… was new.
The antlered envoy inclined his head. "Then the council will watch."
"Closely," the serpent-eyed one added.
"And if she becomes a threat," the first envoy finished, "we will remove her."
Mochi whimpered.
Aika hugged him instinctively.
Kazuki didn't hesitate.
"Touch her," he said calmly, "and there will be no council left to judge me."
The air vibrated with the promise.
The envoys backed away—slowly, cautiously.
"This discussion is postponed," the antlered envoy said. "For now."
They vanished into the forest, pressure lifting only after their presence was completely gone.
Aika sagged. "Wow. That went… bad."
Kazuki didn't respond immediately.
His aura receded, but tension still radiated off him like heat from stone.
"…You should not have bonded with him," he said finally.
Aika looked down at Mochi.
"I didn't choose it."
"I know," he admitted quietly.
That surprised her.
The system chimed.
[RELATIONSHIP STATUS UPDATED:] [KAZUKI — PROTECTIVE (UNSTABLE)]
Aika swallowed. "Is that… good?"
Kazuki turned to her, eyes sharp.
"It is dangerous."
He reached out—hesitated—then adjusted the mantle around her shoulders more securely.
"You are now under my protection," he said. "Which means Beastworld will test you."
Aika forced a grin. "I hate tests."
"You will survive them," he replied. "Or you will die."
"…That's not comforting."
Kazuki looked at her for a long moment.
"…Stay close," he said.
Her heart thudded.
Mochi purred.
And deep within the forest, something ancient shifted—aware now that the human was no longer invisible.
Aika stared after the vanished envoys and whispered, "I really should've just unplugged that rice cooker."