Little Najenda looked at the scene before her, which seemed no different from when adults abused children in the slums, but for some reason, Najenda didn't feel scared; instead, she wanted to laugh, feeling a warmth in this moment.
"Mommy..."
That weak, childish voice made Rin's whole body jolt as if struck by a strong electric current. She stiffly and mechanically turned her head to look at little Najenda.
"What did you just call me..."
"Mommy."
Rin felt a strange sensation begin to sprout in her heart from little Najenda's call, something indefinable, inexplicable, something she had never experienced before, but it wasn't bad... Was this what they called maternal love? I never thought someone like me would have such a great and noble emotion... "Well... forget it, it doesn't matter what you call me. If you want to call me Mommy, then I'll reluctantly take you as my daughter ~ o(////▽////)q"
Rin's fair, pretty face suddenly flushed, and she responded with a wandering gaze, then immediately abandoned Suzaku, who was sprawled on the ground, unable to get up, and picked up little Najenda, pressing her face against the child's and nuzzling her.
"Ah~ Little Najenda is too cute! Luckily, I picked you up in time, otherwise, it would have been a huge loss! Let's go to sleep, it's a soft and comfortable big bed, and I'll never let you return to that cold corner in the slums again. Since you're my daughter, I'll make sure you live a life even princesses would envy."
Rin nuzzled little Najenda's smooth, tender face affectionately. To avoid making little Najenda uncomfortable, Rin had deliberately controlled her body to be soft and smooth, and all the invisible dragon scales on her skin had receded, making her feel like an ordinary girl's body.
"Indeed... they are mother and daughter..."
"You've had enough!"
For the next three days, Najenda lived a life she couldn't even have dreamed of. She wore exquisite, custom-made cotton clothes that were luxurious and warm. Every day, her three meals consisted of desserts, cakes, milk, fruit smoothies, and many other fine foods that were once beyond her reach. She no longer had to endure aching knees begging on the streets; instead, she was held in the arms of her adoptive mother, Rin, and explored the Imperial Capital with Suzaku.
No longer having to read the expressions of every passerby or endure the cold weather, Najenda realized for the first time how wonderful this city, which used to be cold and noisy, truly was. When Rin carried her into various high-end establishments that she and her brother had never dared to enter, the shopkeepers who used to only give them dirty looks and drive them away were now all smiling, many of them praising her beauty and cuteness, saying she would surely become a great beauty in the future.
Why had the world suddenly changed?
Little Najenda looked at this world, which had become rich and colorful overnight, with curiosity and doubt. Following Rin, it was as if her past hardships were just a long nightmare. This world, this city, was actually very beautiful... Rin and Suzaku took little Najenda and sat once again at the outdoor casual seating of the high-end restaurant where they first met Najenda, though this time with the addition of the delicate and adorable little Najenda. Rin held little Najenda on her lap and fed her cake in small bites with a knife and fork.
"Ah~ how nice. Big Sis has a daughter, so I, her Vice Army Commander, am completely redundant now~"
"Eh—alright, alright, alright! Here, you eat it. Happy now?"
Suzaku, inexplicably jealous of a child, was truly unbearable for Tohsaka Rin. She directly scooped up the remaining cake and forcefully stuffed it into Suzaku's mouth, smearing her face with cream.
"Hehehehe..."
No matter how many doubts Najenda had in her heart, the companionship of Tohsaka Rin and Suzaku still brought her genuine joy and happiness. For these three days, she could laugh freely, something that had never happened before.
Tohsaka Rin smiled as she held the happily laughing Najenda, thinking of the one-eyed, mechanical-armed, cross-dressing BOSS at the beginning of the akame ga kill storyline. She couldn't help but marvel at how wondrous the world was.
Just then, Tohsaka Rin saw an acquaintance she didn't want to see. Of course, that acquaintance wanted to see her even less.
"Yo, Major Budo, long time no see. How have you been?"
"Tohsaka Rin!"
Budo, fully armed and patrolling with about fifty Imperial Capital Guards, inadvertently caught sight of Tohsaka Rin enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea on a raised platform by the street. His gaze immediately sharpened. Tohsaka Rin, feeling the unfriendly gaze, also spotted Budo immediately and greeted him first.
If Tohsaka Rin didn't want to see Budo, it was merely because she wasn't interested in burly, muscular men. But Budo seeing Tohsaka Rin was an entirely different concept; it was a genuine, deep-seated hatred! Because of Tohsaka Rin, he, Budo, had become the biggest laughingstock in the history of the General Family!
Tohsaka Rin looked at Budo's short hair, which stood defying gravity like steel needles, and couldn't help but smile humorously. She watched as his breathing visibly quickened from the moment he saw her, and his bronze skin began to faintly redden, like an enraged bull.
However, before Budo could say anything, Suzaku, who was sitting opposite Tohsaka Rin, slammed the table and stood up, facing Budo as she said:
"Major Budo, have you forgotten your basic etiquette as an Imperial soldier to salute your superior officer?! According to Imperial military law, what is the crime for disrespecting a superior officer, calling them by name, and talking back?"
Tohsaka Rin continued to hold Little Najenda and leisurely drink her tea. Suzaku's single sentence, after standing up, almost choked Budo to death. His chiseled, marble-like face turned crimson and purple, yet he couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal.
After Budo fainted from surging qi during his duel with Tohsaka Rin, he didn't wake up until three days later. By then, Tohsaka Rin had already left with her people to take up her post, and the two had not seen each other since. Afterward, Budo served as a commander in the Imperial Capital Guards under his father. His impression of Tohsaka Rin was solely one of humiliation and hatred, constantly thinking about how to get revenge and wipe away his shame, forgetting that Tohsaka Rin's current status was no longer on the same level as his.
"My... My deepest apologies, Legion Commander Tohsaka Rin."
Budo's face had already begun to turn faintly green. Like a rusty, old robot, he stiffly and mechanically bowed 45 degrees to Tohsaka Rin to apologize. Subordinates must respectfully salute their superior officers; this was a strict regulation in military law.
The soldiers of the Imperial Guard following behind Budo all had strange expressions. The name Tohsaka Rin was a living legend in the Imperial military. There wasn't a single soldier who didn't know her deeds. They never expected to see her in person today, and with Commander Budo no less. What was that saying? Oh right, sworn enemies are bound to meet!
"Never mind, never mind. Anyway, we're not wearing military uniforms today, and we haven't reported to the Imperial Military Department since arriving in the Imperial Capital, so it's not Major Budo's fault."
Tohsaka Rin waved her hand indifferently, not taking it seriously at all, or rather, not taking Budo seriously. One played the bad cop, the other the good cop, simultaneously saving face for Budo and the General Family while displaying her own magnanimity. The cooperation between Tohsaka Rin and Suzaku didn't even require eye contact; it was natural and flawless.
Tohsaka Rin didn't intentionally dislike Budo and provoke him repeatedly. Rather, Tohsaka Rin intended to climb the military ranks to the highest echelons of Imperial power, and the General Family became an unavoidable stumbling block. Therefore, Tohsaka Rin, Budo, and the General Family were destined to be enemies.
Budo also had no desire to chat further with Tohsaka Rin, fearing that another word might make him die of anger. In short, he warned Tohsaka Rin not to delay the Empire's important matters. The generals from various legions, scattered across the four corners of the Empire, had already gathered today, and the Military Department meeting would be held tomorrow.
Watching Budo leave, Tohsaka Rin shrugged indifferently. Originally, today was the last day of their outing, and she didn't expect to run into an alarm clock.
Tohsaka Rin and Suzaku played with Najenda until after dinner before officially announcing their arrival at the Imperial Military Department. Afterward, they returned directly to their General's Villa, changed back into their military uniforms, and prepared for tomorrow morning's court audience and duty report, where a major event that would change the entire Empire would also occur...
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.