Black Jade Tiger

Katsy looked over little Dove and spoke to Sparrow, "Go fetch Fire Drake, I'll need his help to contain the leaking energy." And I would rather you not see this.

Without the need of being taught, I already know how the ritual works by instinct, as if the knowledge was stuffed into my brain. I have to say it's convenient to be a spirit beast with knowledge passed down into the genes.

But this ritual is harsh though not complicated, if interrupted both of us will die.

I started the process while the room was quiet; If it was quick enough, it would be done before Drake and Sparrow returned and save them from witnessing their friend's demise. It was enough that she herself had to not only witness Dove's last moments, but also be the one who will absorb her― ending the girl's life in the mortal realm. While at the same time, she knew it was the only way to have her live on. There would be nobody to bury for dove as it would become Katsy's human form.

A complex purple and blue energy pentagram formed at the foot of the tiger— enclosing the girl into its lights. Dove floated up in a vertical position, her small body healing and changing. The tiger disappeared as it had entered the body of the little girl.

The girl's cultivation energy made several breakthroughs at a time. The veins changed to accommodate the new owner's power and physique. The girl's face became much fairer and her already beautiful features refined themselves; She grew a whole inch taller and would only be a little smaller than Sparrow.

While Katsy walked into the mind and soul of the girl she loved and cared for like a little sister. She heard a voice speak to her gently, she could recognize it, that sweet little voice... she walked toward it, seeing memories that did not belong to her, but were Dove's; She saw the family that raised them both and how they were treated worse than animals. How they finally ended up at the market for slaves, she could not keep her eyes dry after seeing this, she could not help but cry than she felt a warm energy and saw her own self; Those moments where she played, hunted, and ate to the fullest with them, by then she was nearly brawling her eyes out.

Katsy did not know that while the crown prince mused in his own schemes, he was far from knowing that the plan to keep the small girl sick would so quickly backfire on him. Not only would it warn the tiger about the consequence of having multiple contracts, but she would also gain human form and speech, making it that she would no longer need for a human person to speak on her behalf. His only luck would be that she had not linked the fact that Dove had remained ill due to him, she only thought that medicine could not have saved her in this era.

When Kenshin saw Sparrow run toward Fire Drake to whisper something, he could sense that if he did not follow them, then he would likely miss out on something— especially after seeing the facial expression that boy made.

Seeing Sparrow, Fire Drake could not help but become very worried. Sparrow was supposed to be the one speaking for their mistress so that the little Dove, this little girl could be saved. If he was here, it meant something went terribly wrong!

Before he could even say one thing, Sparrow whispered into his ear.

"Katsy needs your help, she sent me here to entertain His Highness, the crown prince."

He could see from the young boy's red-rimmed eyes that he had cried. In all likeness, he was sent here by the mistress so he would not witness his little sister's last breath. It would be too traumatic for such a young boy.

He turned to face the prince, giving a low bow. "This servant needs to head to the Divine tiger, this servant is being called upon by it." He stated in a solemn determined voice.

"As such, the Divine tiger has sent Sparrow to keep His Highness' company." He hoped the prince would understand what the tiger intended and would not ignore it.

But the prince had been eating too much vinegar lately because of that said tiger. He could not allow that girl to die, she was needed to control the darn thing.

He was no fool, if the tiger had sent this boy here then it could only mean that the girl was at death's door and it did not wish for the boy to see his loved one die in front of him at such a young age...

What made him even more annoyed was that the thing was sentimental enough to protect the boy from the suffering of seeing his little sister's life being extinguished. How smart was it? It could even understand emotions… Not only did he dared to say it also had emotions, it literally showed it! How unique was such a beast? It had to become his; She had to belong to him...

When he saw Sparrow go for the tea kettle, he said firmly and obviously triggered with annoyance.

"No need, this prince will go see your mistress. This prince wishes to know how the girl is doing and how your mistress is handling the blow."

What could Sparrow do, this was the crown prince so he could only bow in obedience.

So the three set out toward the courtyard of the tiger.

Opening the door to enter; the Prince, Fire Drake, and Sparrow were stunned to see the tiger suddenly disappear and enter the girl's mind. Then the body started to fix itself, all scars were removed and healed, her hair became shiny and glossy, her five features refined and became slightly more plum and healthier. Her skin became fair and exquisite despite her very young age. Everything considered, one could see how she had become an ethereal beauty in the making. At this point, one did not know if the tiger or the girl ruled over the body…

If it was the girl then she had become the true master of the beast and it now resided inside her. Its rich energy had all-throughout refined the body. And her future would be limitless! All would try to curry favour with her.

If it was the tiger. Then it had become an existence above its cultivation and had become a true Divine beast. It was capable of human understanding, human speech, emotions, and above all it was powerful; If the divine beast were powerful, then comparing them was like an ant while compared to a true one that had its human form it would be an elephant.

All of them stared at one another, no one knew how to break the ice. They all stared in a daze-like state while the girl still had her eyes closed, tears fell down her lovely cheeks as her energy whirled around, creating lightning storms all around her inside the pentagram.

Inside her mind, she stood face to face with the little girl that was slowly turning transparent.

"Dove, we will try to find a way to bring you …" Dove interrupted her gently yet firmly. "If there was a way it would be nice. But Katsy you know the answer deep down, don't you? There is no way to revive the dead; I'll be able to see life through your eyes as I sleep here. Don't be sad, It's only a goodbye. I am not dead since you will be living in my place. If you truly wish to make it up to me, then just take care of my big brother... you know he is the only family I truly have. Just live happily, I will miss going to the flower gardens and fields, so often go there for me."

She made a gentle smile at Katsy, "Thank you for choosing me and my brother that day, I will never forget your kindness."

"Come back!" Katsy shouted and leapt to grab hold, but only specks of light dissipated in her hands. Falling to her knees, she cried for her friend, for her guilt to have failed that sweet little girl which made her feel like her core was being torn to pieces. Tears fell for a while and a white petal with a center that looked like it was made of gold Narcissus flower took root and blossomed. Katsy looked at the flower and gave a bitter smile, the little girl that she took as a little sister, her sunlight had turned into a beautiful flower of rebirth.

"I too, think that the sun is always shining when I am with you. I hope you can be the light that shines on my path, Dove I will miss you. Let's be reborn together in the future, little sister."