Ko-chan’s Chronicles

"Speak. What did you find." Matsuko sat on the couch with my head on her lap, slowly stroking my hair.

"Mist family daughter. Act of revenge." Naruyo spoke succinctly.

"The Mist family? I had just deprioritized their family business due to their failing endeavors. Seems like I need to take further measures."

"Orders from mother. Used discord seal. Lowered inhibitions, raised impulsiveness." Naruyo continued.

"So, it wasn't just the daughter lashing out. Discord seals are fairly rare, the Mist family wouldn't have more than one or two. Why incite the students against Ko-chan though?" Matsuko seemed to be deep in thought.

"True target, you. Ko-chan, weakness." Naruyo said helplessly.

I could feel Matsuko's flames ignite again. "Those bitches, they have no bottom line, do they? They can't hit me so they hit those around me? Well, we'll see what they do when their precious daughter is made an example of."

"Next moves, unclear. Best to strike first." Naruyo frowned.

"....Fine, I don't mind making them remember the existence of the Flame of Judgement." Matsuko declared the death sentence for an entire family like nothing.

She stroked my head and lifted me to a sitting position. "I'm sorry, Ko-chan. I'll need to leave for a few days. I'll answer your questions when I return. Train hard and stay out of trouble while I'm gone."

I nodded and rubbed against her hand again. I felt bad that she was going to do something dangerous for my sake again, but I was in no position to express myself. I made some unintelligible noises and got a little chuckle back in reply.

"How cute. Remember. You asked for this. If I find you've been slacking off when I get back, I'll punish you, got it?" Matsuko lifted my chin and gave me a passionate kiss.

"Let's go. I want every member of the Mist family captured within 24 hours. Inform the family and mobilize all fighters." Matsuko stood up, gave me a wink, and was engulfed in flame. A second later, the flame disappeared and she was gone.

"Good luck, Ko-chan." Naruyo smiled, and disappeared in a flurry of snowflakes as well.

Hinari frowned. "Off to battle again, huh? Makes you feel a bit inadequate that you weren't even considered to join them, doesn't it?" She sighed deeply then leaned back on the couch.

Sakari smirked. "That is no fault but your own. I have never seen you training once. How could you possibly hold your own in a fight?"

Hinari seemed unhappy. "Tough words from someone who does nothing but sate her own horniness all day."

Sakari grinned. "Who said I was just playing around?" Her eyes glowed bright pink and suddenly, Hinari started to tremble. Her breathing became heavy in seconds, and seconds later her entire body convulsed and she let out a series of cries and moans.

"Oh, that looked like fun, did you enjoy yourself?" Sakari's eyes turned back to normal and smiled, but all she got back was a middle finger.

"Ugh... now I'm all sweaty. Don't think I'll forget this, Sakari." Hinari stormed off to her room to get a shower.

"Aww, she normally loves having fun. Do you want to have some fun, Ko-chan?" I quickly shook my head and ran off to my room, but not before I heard from behind me, "Aww, that only leaves Asami left... Surely you want to have some fun?" Asami was too slow to get up, due to her restraints, and was quickly mounted on the couch by Sakari.

"Well, you must have been relieved that Matsuko has kept your vibrators off for a few days, but don't worry, I can fix that." She shoved her hand between Asami's legs and I could hear the vibrators come to life all the way from the stairs. A muffled whine escaped her lips and I ran off before I was somehow pulled back into the playdate.

* * *

"Shit, why is the Flame of Judgement here?" A panicked girl ran from the manor she was just in. The manor itself was currently on fire and sounds of battle were heard all over.

A loud repeating voice could be heard over the chaos. "By order of the Flame Family, all Mist Family affiliates must surrender themselves without a fight. Resistance will be treated harshly."

"Trying to escape, are you?" A hand grabbed the girl's neck as she was trying to look behind herself.

The girl was engulfed in flame, and when she was dropped to the ground, the flames dissipated, leaving her in a strict reverse prayer hogtie.

"W-w-why? What did we do to deserve this?" The girl squeaked out from the ground, helpless to escape the ropes that now surrounded her naked body.

"You should blame your elders who sent assassins to target the Young Mistress of the main family. A very, very bad idea. Now, lay here and await pickup." Matsuko left the girl on the ground and went to capture more escapees.

In one night raid, over 80% of the Mist Family was incarcerated. The remaining 20% were not in any of the main compounds, on trips, or visiting other people.

* * *

In a circular room deep within the Flame Family compound, a middle aged woman was sitting naked and frogtied on the ground, her arms in a reverse prayer and tied thoroughly with ropes.

Hanging next to her was a young girl completely mummified in tape, and locked into a tight gibbet cage, hanging from a chain in the air.

Sitting on a chair a short distance away, with her legs crossed, was Matsuko, with a very unamused look on her face.

"So let me get this right. Instead of redevoting yourself to your businesses to try and rectify your failing strategies, you decided to try and assassinate the heiress of the main family. And then when that didn't work, you targeted the people around me instead?" Matsuko recounted the woman's crimes as she stared. Flame Family guards were standing every few meters around the edge of the room, so there would be no escape or chance to turn the tables, even if she wasn't chained to the ground in four different places.

"And, to make things worse, you even sent your own daughter to do the deed?" Matsuko glared at the girl hanging completely immobilized in the cage next to her mother.

The woman grit her teeth. "You bitch! You ruined my family and you know it! What 'redevoting ourselves to the business'? You've already cut off all avenues for us to rise again with your budget decisions!" She jerked against the chains attached to her collar, but it did nothing.

"I wouldn't have done that if you weren't in the red for four years in a row. Do you even know how to run a business? We offer our protection to branch families, and we expect to be repaid in both loyalty and financial gains. If you cannot manage to pay your dues, why should we further invest in you?" Matsuko unleashed a scathing rebuke of the woman.

The woman just glared at Matsuko. "What are you going to do? You can't be thinking of exterminating an entire family over a single decision, can you?"

Matsuko smiled grimly. "Even though I want to do that, you are correct. We won't conduct such a dire punishment on your entire family just because of what you did. The properties of the Mist Family will be distributed to the other families, and the employees of those properties will be folded into the other branches."

"Of course, you, your daughter, and anyone involved in making the assassination order won't get off so lightly. I've got another cage just like your daughter's for you to hang around in for a long time." Matsuko's eyes ignited with white fire as she spoke.

"ARRRGH! YOU BITCH HOW DARE YOU!" The woman desperately pulled against the chains, but she was held down ruthlessly.

"This is the law of this world. You played a big hand, and you lost. Now face the consequences. You should be happy you'll only have to hang around for a few dozen years instead of being executed entirely. We're done here." Matsuko stood up and left the room as the woman screamed obscenities at her.

The nearby guards brought over another gibbet cage and rolls of duct tape. A short time later, the woman was locked in just like her daughter, and both were taken away for confinement.

* * *

Things seem to have returned to some normalcy at school the next day. No one seemed to remember the girl who was taken away, I suspect she wasn't actually a student here in the first place.

There were a number of girls walking around awkwardly, and some asked to stand in class instead of sitting.

Amusingly, one of the two girls who played Matsuko's "game" showed up in the morning still bound and naked. She had been unable to find anyone to release her, even after she went back to her dorm. And even this morning, people were just taking pictures and teasing instead of stepping forward to help, despite her tears.

I felt bad for her, but I was in no condition to help her out. After all, I couldn't help myself either. The magical tool used by the Mist family daughter may have intensified the situation, but it didn't create those feelings in the first place. I may no longer be being chased around by dozens of students trying to molest me, but I still found myself the target of a considerable amount of attention as I went through my day.

Unlike my other training, my resistance to compliments did not seem to be growing over time. Instead, I found myself starting to look forward to getting picked up, spun around and patted on the head. As soon as I get placed on a desk, my heart starts racing to get ready for the sweet words I'm about to hear.

After school, I sat alone in the foyer, trying to sort things out. Ahh... It's not working, what should I do? Maybe Hinari will know what I should do? I went upstairs and knocked on her door. A few seconds later, she opened it and smiled, "Ko-chan, how's it going? You look cute today as well~" She gave me a little hug and let me into her room.

"Mmmm. MM~" I tried to start talking, but I knew it was futile.

After several seconds, Hinari looked serious, cupped her chin, and nodded. "Hmm, yes, I know just what you mean."

I looked quizzically at her, only to get a laugh back. "Did you think I would say that? We both know you can't talk at all with that muzzle in your mouth. Come over here and I'll help you out."

She reached into my mouth and pulled the muzzle out, much to my frustration.

"Hey, when are you going to tell me the secret to removing those?"

"Hmm, maybe next year? Whenever you stop looking cute fighting to open your mouth?" She started teasing mercilessly.

"Aah! Come on, now you're just being mean! I'm serious!"

She gave me another pat. "Fine, fine, what is it that is so urgent?"

I calmed down and explained my troubles to her.

"So, let me get this right. You are worried because you can't get used to getting complimented? And instead you are starting to look forward to it?" She looked like she was going to burst into laughter at any point.

"I'm sorry, Ko-chan, your illness, being cute, is terminal." Hinari put on a serious case. "I'm afraid there's only one cure. And that is to make you less cute." She opened her desk drawer and took out a pair of scissors.

She slowly got up and started to approach me, "Don't worry, Ko-chan, it'll only hurt for a minute. Your chances of recovery are high with the right rehabilitation."

I scrambled back across the bed while yelling, "Wait, Hinari! We don't need to go this far just yet, do we? Let's talk about this!"

Hinari stopped and put the scissors down. "Well, if you don't like the treatment.. I guess all you can do is accept the fate of being cute, and everyone around you wanting to cuddle you and say nice things about you." She shrugged her arms sadly, as if telling someone a horrible prognosis.

I sighed. "Is that the only way? I... guess I can live with it. Thanks for trying to help, Hinari." I started to head for the door and then turned back. "Oh, can you help? I need to get back to training."

Hinari looked at me, a little puzzled. "Do you like not being able to talk so much? Wouldn't you rather take a break for the night? It's been a few days since you started the training, right?"

I thought about it, and the temptation was strong. Matsuko was gone and she wouldn't know I took a night off when she returned. "...Maybe that's a good idea. Thank you, Hinari-chan." I bowed and left the room, heading for mine. Today was another exhausting day, and I was ready for sleep.