Mariam Samuelian, Shirohebizumi Shriokyo

  I… o report this. But… Mariam was surrounded by shocked onlookers, the teeming mass of people bei back by a heavy police presence, as fmes spiralled up on the hill where Shirohebizumi shrine was located. From here gunshots and explosions could be heard, and figures moving with truly inhuman speed and grace were battling.

  …what I say? Mariam gnced down at her phone. Uhose around her, she wasn’t filming the se, but instead was torn. She had received a call earlier from Director White, and it seemed that Christina had notified him that she was exposed to Akio. She had been expeg a recall order, but instead he had bidden her tih her mission to observe the training school and any others around the shrine, as well as… I hardly believe it, I was sure Director White would dispose of her, and I do not believe the Director is so gullible to be fooled by her charade of being in a romah Akio. He looks like he is holding a snake when he is with her.

  That aside, it seemed that Christina would be returning to Japan, and he rusted eyes on her, lest she cause further problems. The whole situation is a damnable mess.

  “Everyoay calm and remain behind the barricades!” An Officer was shouting through a megaphohe steps up to the shrine were cordoned off, dozens of tense police holding back the crowds, even as they flinched and cowered at the r of heavy ons and explosions. Sooty ash was falling like snow, and Mariam winced as her eyes could see the swirling colours of spiritual powers shining. A great rain of fireballs poured down from the fmes, barraging the hillside, and she was gd she wasn’t involved.

  “The army is on route to pacify the situation!” the Officer shouted, trying to maintain order, as the growing crowd was starting to press against the barricades. Mariam heard many mutters about magical powers and so forth, apparently rumours about the shrine had spread widely. Abgeh! Idiots, the lot of them! If she had a choice, Mariam would still be sightseeing, or enjoying a e luno, instead she was here, following orders. Well, he who pays the bills chooses the meal, yes?

  Another bright explosion, a fountaining cascade of rod stone rippling into the air, and even from here with ordinary eyes it was visible, the croing and g like it was a fireworks dispy they were apparently so fond of in this try. Narrowing her eyes, she could make out a fierce battle going oween a powerful, bald-headed man, who to her mysterious eyes seemed inhuman, and a blonde, Western man. Others were fighting too, and gunfire and grenades were being exged liberally.

  “It is like a warzone.” Mariam muttered, slipping back through the crowd, going against the flow. Dialling the Director, even knowing it would be te at night there, she figured he would either still be awake, or wouldn’t mind the interruption. Moments ter she roved right, as the phone ected.

  “Scryer. What is it? An…” his words were drowned out by distant booms. “…emergency? I’ve got reports of worldwide trouble. You’re not the only one… is that gunfire?”

  “Yes, the shrine is utack, it is chaos!” Mariam decred urgently. “It is like a se from that war film… with… that actor… Tom Hanks, yes, Tom Hanks.”

  “I don’t care about saving any Private.” the Director shot back. “How did they get that many guns into Japan? Even for us it would prove troublesome… anyway, good job calling me, Scryer. I’ll be sure to let Akio know, though he probably is already aware. He has his means. But showing willing costs us nothing.”

  It seems he is oer terms than I imagined. Perhaps Christina, no… surely not. “So, Director, what should I do? I could offer my aid to the survivors…”

  “Not a bad idea.” the Direused. “Since you’re a known quantity now. Aing ight glean some insights. More to the point…” The phone suddenly cut off, and Mariam stared dumbly at the cracked s as it fell to pieces, blood spraying on the smashed device.

  My… my hand? What…

  “You’re not on the list.” English words, rare here, sounded beside her, a man speaking. He was fairly non-descript, the sort of ordinary, dark-skinned Western man one could see anywhere, brown hair, hazel eyes, standard build. He was wearing a white shirt and white jeans, an unusual bination, such usually being seen as more feminine.

  Oh, I see. Panic has set in me. I am not much of a fighter. Staring dumbly between the man and her missing three fingers, she groueeth, trying to resist the pain. Stupid Christina, this is all her fault. If she was here, I would show her the bay hand, across the face. Hands… Feeling sick, she grunted out a single word. “Why?”

  “Why not?” The crowd hadn’t noticed, too ihey were on the spectacle on the hill, and she had moved away to make her call. “I should be up there, attag the so-called shrine, but… I thought… have you heard the saying, whe pouhe mice scatter, even the o does not chase? And it seems by the Lord’s wisdom, I was right.”

  He was idly waving a fi her, and to her eyes, it was covered in a glowing green aura. It surged again, and blood bloomed, her own casual jumper ripped. Stifling a groan, she turned away, only for the man to chuckle. “Going somewhere? I fear I am not one who the Angels of the Ninth Heaven came to bless, but… I have learned.” Bolts of green pierced her thigh, ripping through her skirt, and as she screamed, some in the crowd turned.

  Seeing the wounded, bleeding woman, several rushed over, but Mariam desperately waved them away, knowing to get them caught up in this would be disastrous. I have a sce. It is why I was happy to offer the poor, abducted souls my aid. But… I also have no wish to die here…

  “Run! Run away… he is a… terrorist!” Mariam yelled as loudly as she could, though as she spoke very little Japanese she had little hope they would uand.

  “No, I am a martyr!” the man grinned. He pulled out an assault rifle from behind his back, grinning maliciously. Seeing that, the crowd scattered, screaming. “And I shall sit beside the Lord when the Ninth Heaven desds…”

  “Police! Do not move!” Sadly, only one of the men who were keeping order had a gun, and with a ugh the man in white opened fire. The poli fell, as did several beside him, and though they wore ballistics vests, they were still badly injured, Blood spilled, joining ash oeps towards the shrine, and the man ughed manically.

  “Step aside, if you wish to live! I am only here for this little rat!”

  “How rude…” Mariam was grateful for the grace of Anahit as it strengthened her body enough that she could keep going, despite her injuries. I… If I do not die here, I fix my injuries. But… where I go? “I am no… rodent.”

  A poli stumbled, blood scattering as flickers of green energy sshed at his face, blinding him. The man in white chuckled, his guriking sparks off the barricades and parked cars. “No, you ted the damnation of false Gods… I was far too cruel… to the rats!”

  “You will… die here.” Several of the men in the crowd seemed ready to try ahe police, but when one fell howling, shot ihigh, that was enough heroics for the mob, not that Mariam bmed them. “You ot hope to… escape. The army is ing.”

  “No, I am merely one of many.” The man agreed, surprising her, his expression almost cheerful. “This task… the losses are necessary. Though, nobody wishes to die.” Mariam had no real familiarity with guns, but she was aware that magazines only held a limited number of bullets. Slowly, ever so carefully, she slid backwards, even as she distracted him with talk, though as he did expin, he was shing her with cutting bsts of green. They scored through her clothing, slig scars into her flesh, and she bit down hard, keeping in her cries, which seemed to excite the man more.

  “Yes, to return in glory is a dream. But… even ih, so long as we aplish oals… the Linked Angel shall cim our noble souls aurn our borrowed strength to the worthy! Sacrifices to ensure our triumphant victory are not sacrifices at all!”

  “But… why me?” She was stalling, the unfortable feeling of blood in her sneakers squelg with every step making her nauseous. Or no… is that the pain?

  “There is no reason.” He chuckled, raising his gun, and by her t, there could only be a handful of rounds left. “Simply that I could tell you were a sinner, and leaving you alive defeats the point. Crush this of vipers, salt the earth, cut root and branch, so that the tree of rebellion here is pruned before it bees a greater danger.”

  “That is simply… oh, Kna konvir! You mindless fanatic!” she retorted, hating that her life was likely to be cut short just for being in the wrong pce at the wrong time. Of course, the same could be said for many poor souls that the Director renditioned. It was not my doing, I did what I could for them, but perhaps… this is my fate? Anahit… am I done? No… all I need is one ce… he has a gun, but I have my Anahit-given strength…

  “Mindless? Your words are wind, signifying nothing. And I have dragged this out far too long.” He squeezed the trigger, and Mariam threw herself backwards, spinning. Several bullets grazed her, and another pierced her shoulder, striking bone, but then the gun clicked, empty. Wind flensed her, and fragments of her brown hair scattered, trimming it short and ragged, one ear flying off, her cheeks id bare to the bone. Despite the agony, Mariam sprihough the effort was agonising, even while using Anahit’s power to start healing herself a her torn flesh and muscles.

  “Oh, you are trying to… escape?” the man in white seemed shocked, as he realised her iions.

  If I run into the suburbs, he will hunt me down. No, into the battlefield is my only hope now. If… if they win… She rammed through the temporary barricades, wing at the painful impact. Only a few police remained, many of them giving emergency first aid to their rades who had been shot, g out desperately for help. The man cursed, chasing her as he started to reload, and Mariam looked up towards the bzing battlefield that was the shri is so near, yet… so far…

  A distance of a few hundred metres uphill, ordinarily she would find that nothing but a brisk stroll, but now, it seemed endless. She tried her best to run, though one leg wasn’t bearing her weight well. Green bursts of energy tio beat at her, and she stumbled, any sed expeg to hear the click that was her death sentehat of a fresh magazine being ied. Then something tugged at her shorn hair and mutited ear, and moments ter a loud boom echoed.

  “I… go… to…” A gurgling, damp voice echoed out, and she risked gng back, only to see that the man in white was now the man in red, as his clothes were soaked with his own blood, a crater in his chest. He was on the ground, and the life went out of his eyes, his final words unheard.

  Breathing a damp, iron-tainted sigh of relief, blood trig from her lips, Mariam sidered turning back, only to see a man carrying a heavy gun of a design she had never seen before. He was white-haired and wore strange, goggle-like gsses, and had many pouches and pockets sewn on his durable clothing. It seemed like he was ioo, but aying it no mind. Seeing that, Mariam pressed on. I am itted now. And…

  The battle was ferocious, but at least she knew from her own covert iigations what sort of people lived at the shrihey would shelter her, if they won, and if not… I would not survive if others such as the poor, deluded dead Eh Shoo Dtsak, are lurking. Sometimes, danger is the safest pce.

  “I thank you… for your aid.” Mariam gasped, as he grabbed her, before tossing her unceremoniously to a young Asian girl.

  He said something in aern nguage, not Japanese, and the girl apping her chest proudly, before managing some terrible English. “I… take after. You safe!”

  “I hardly feel safe, but…” Heat was stinging her many wounds, and the smoke was making her gag, but looking around, she could see that the battlefield had devolved into two major battles, most of the attackers as dead as the one she left down below. The bald, muscur brute was exging fierce blows with the blonde man, fmes surging into him, which then somehow were doused with water.

  As well, a pretty, petite woman with the grad agility of a panther was darting through the chaos and the fires, knife and gun in hand, engaging in a brutal cat-and-mouse with an Asian man armed with a dreadful assortment of heavy firepower. Even as she watched, the ounced on a couple of fleeing men, kearing through ohroat, gunshot to the head dispatg the sed ruthlessly.

  Squeezing shut her eyes, Mariam coughed, then she swallowed, as something ut in her mouth, leaking cold, water. Swallowing, she opened her eyes again, to see the girl pg a pstic bottle to her lips. Gratefully, she nodded, her eyes otles that would decide whether she would join her would-be murderer ih…

  ***

  Tsumura Motoko, Hanafubuki Private Academy, Tokyo

  The teacher was trying to remain calm, but Motoko could clearly see the older woman was uo hahis terrible and ued circumstahe fshing blue and white lights of the school’s emergency alert system were casting long shadows over the , and the irls in css were starting to panio, not all, of course.

  Motoko exged a gh Natsumi, and as she grinned back, her charming face showing a trace of fear but more resolution, hands went to their ed bdes, the precious, refed versions of the Utsuroihebi katana that the Tsumura family had treasured for louries, the Utsuroihebi Twins. Yes, we do ihink alike. It is reassuring. And… having steel in hand, especially steel fed by Akio, our love, and blessed with power…

  “Please, Fujiwara Security handle any intruders…” The teacher was saying, though with her pale face, trembling hands and teary eyes, it was obvious she was ready to panic. Therefore… it is time to take charge.

  Gng around, seeing the fear spreading, and, despite the excellent stru of the s, hearing the sounds of distant battle, evehe wailing of the alert sirens, Motoko and Natsumi acted. g her hands, Motoko drew all eyes.

  “The situation is grave. And we have little time. We ot t on Fujiwara Security to pacify the situation it seems. No…” The issue was that the Hanafubuki campus was, if ne in numbers, pared to an ordinary school, wide in scope. There were csses from pre-school and kindergarten at ages four to five, all the to the final year of high school, at eighteen and een. While the numbers of daughters in eadividual css were small, ofteween twelve and twenty, ting some bodyguards too, there were a lot of csses, corresponding to each year of education.

  “… we must aatsumi, take charge anising here. I shall formute the strategy.” The middle school csses are closer to the entrahan we are. That is most troubling. Honoka-sama, heir to Fujiwara house is there… if she is harmed… Motoko still believed in the nobility, and while there was no way she would put Honoka-sama above Natsumi, while she would have do with sret in the past, or indeed risk any of those under Akio’s care needlessly… I am Tsumura Motoko. And I am proud of that. Just as I am proud to be who I am now, Akio’s fiancée, and a true warrior…

  “All right then.” Natsumi was all business, while still retaining her elegant charm. Sometimes Motoko felt a little jealous of Natsumi, as ironic as that was. After all, Motoko khat she was rather cool and reserved, whereas Natsumi was more able to giggle and tease Akio, and she felt he appreciated her pyful demeanour. But despite that, I shall not lose. I have my own charms…

  As Motoko uhed her bde, Natsumi gave out her rapid orders, as time was of the essence. Security doors had already blocked off the s, si was an attaot a natural disaster the like of earthquakes, but against heavy onry, or the Gods forbid, Chosen, they would not hold for long.

  “Those of you who’ve undergone Chirurgery and any training, form up. You’re to act as guards and protectors for those who haven’t.”

  At that, one of the daughters of a lesser house of the Fifty-Eight, who had received Chirurgery but had little i in participating iivities of the school, protested. “Us? Daughters of nobility, ag as bodyguards? That is not our role…”

  “Oh?” Natsumi grinned, but her smile was g humour. “You think so, Fumiko?” She used the girl’s first name, without honorifics, which was incredibly disrespectful, especially from a bodyguard, though Natsumi’s status here at Hanafubuki was in an odd pce, as all the daughters of the Three Great Houses treated her as someone of high status.

  “No, don’t retort.” Natsumi snapped, as the girl opened her mouth. “This isn’t a kidnapping or anything so minor. ’t you hear it? This is terrorism! Chirurgery is a privilege, but also a responsibility! Besides, rex. Motoko and I, we’ll be doing the fighting. But… there’s hundreds of students to protect, we ’t do that and attack.”

  The door to the opened, making several students cry out, only to reveal it was a teacher from anh school css. They had access to the security, of course, and could open the sealed doors. It seemed the whole high school division had gathered, and there were calls to head to the emergency shelter, which was housed in the elementary school area.

  “That’s fine for now.” Natsumi agreed. “But… if they have a means of breag that, then everyone will die. Poison gas, bombs… if this isn’t about ransom… then they have methods, surely.”

  “I agree.” Takakura Katsuki-san spoke up, her usually calm, soothing expression one of worry. “Mizuki… she’s too close to the front of the school. As her elder sister, I o help her…”

  Kudou Shiori-sama, their temporary teacher, had fallen behind Natsumi. Ah yes, she reawakened slight elemental gifts after Chirurgery. It might be useful…

  There were some others too, and as they quickly assessed their as, it was decided Katsuki-san would apany Motoko and Natsumi to first aid in the evacuation of the middle school campus, before Motoko and Natsumi would press on and try and deal with the invaders.

  “But… they have guns, and bombs!” one girl cried, and Motoko smiled reassuringly, unaware it was that sense of elegand charm that made her the idol of many younger noble daughters.

  “Ihey do. Holy, our Tsumura Arts were desigo face arrows and swords, nces and spears. But…” She g Natsumi, who grinned, adding her own cheerfulo Motoko’s quiet calm.

  “…it’s time to prove that they matter, even in the modern world. Though… holy, I’m a bit worried.” As everyone was ferried out, Natsumi tinued. “We’re hardly bulletproof. Sure, small arms fire will only hurt us unless it hits an eye, but… against explosives and heavy calibre rounds… yeah. But…” She ched a fist on the hilt of Utsuroihebi Twin. “…I’m not fighting as a bodyguard now, but as the proud fiancée of Akio. And he never gave up, despite the dangers. You feel the same too, don’t you Motoko?”

  Indeed, I do. “We may not be invincible, but what warrior is? Our aors bled and died to defend Japan and their own honour. We… have a great deal to defend as well. Whicludes all of you. Scars may be honourable, and I will show them to Akio with pride, but…” A faint flush bloomed on her cheeks. “…I will then have them removed, for I wish to remain ever beautiful for my husband.”

  That admission made some of the girls smile, even overwriting their fear for a brief moment. Ohing every noble daughter had in on was the thoughts of her future husband. After all, Hanafubuki was not just a school, but also effectively a bridal training academy. That is ohing Akio wishes to ge. Although… I am well satisfied. Because, upbringing or no, Natsumi and I, we wish to be wonderful brides for him with all our hearts…

  “There is no time.” Motoko shook off her thoughts. It had been mere mio get everyone anised, but time recious, the security doors and other measures would buy time, but time was finite. “We are no longer weak. There is some hope of victory, I assure you.”

  Her words brought a sense of calm to the crowd, but Natsumi raised one eyebrow, not fooled. Of course, she knows it well. Against armed foes, even with deadly ons, we have a ce, perhaps even a measure of advantage. But if our oppo is a Chosen, then our ces of victory are slim… yet…

  “e.” Instead of rag towards the heart of Hanafubuki, where the shelter and the elementary and kindergarten csses were housed, Motoko and Natsumi hurried through the corridors, past art and musis. They were not going full tilt despite the urgency, and not just so Katsuki-san could keep up. No, speed was necessary, but not haste. One mistake could be fatal.

  “I wish we’d progressed further in our Cultivation studies.” Natsumi whispered. “Qi Perception would be great about now.”

  Motoko iffly. “Indeed.” Her voice was equally quiet. “Although…” Her dark brown eyes narrowed, even without such Skills, her senses, honed by years of bat training, and enhanced by her Statistid the gruelling tutege of Master Ulfuric, she picked up on a presenatsumi had as well, but as expected from her dear friend, she hadn’t shown any sign of it.

  “…I do not think that any enemies will have made it this far yet. Even if the gatehouse falls, Fujiwara-sama has ied a great deal in the security of Hanafubuki Academy.”

  “What of the youudents?” Katsuki-san asked, clearly worried for her sister. Then her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to cry out. “There’s someone…”

  Motoko was twisting out of the way, effortlessly dodging as a figure unched an attack. I see, Katsuki-san noticed as well. I had heard that the Takakura house was also heir to the legacy of a powerful shrih great powers of perception, though that bloodline had long sihinned.

  Her thoughts rag, Motoko fell automatically into one of the Tsumura-style stances, Utsuroihebi Twin sshing outwards in a yet short arging against the curved knife of the nondescript figure who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, but Motoko and Natsumi had noticed all along. Fog otle in front of her, Motoko could not help but think a little on what she had learned from Daiyu, her teacher in Cultivation and fellow bride.

  Qi, at least in the modern world, where the Earthly Qi had dimio a weak trickle in parison to the olden days, is far superior at internal ws and maniputing perception. Indeed, aether seems to be the same, Akio’s ows have shown that aether works best on one’s own body, or on other people. Though the effect of aether does not seem to be as supressed as his initial forays into this subject showed…

  Her rapid thoughts, boosted by her high Statistics, ran through her mind in a mere moment, as her bde cshed three times with her enemy in merely a sed. The attacker was wearing dark clothing, and had a veil over their face, c everything but their dark brown eyes. From the set of their body and their movements, Motoko surmised the attacker was a man, and they were irong, and would easily have overpowered her before, much as admitting that pained her. But now…

  Knife cshed on sword, the man blog her strikes. Most amateurs thought that a sword would always beat a khe greater reach superior, but that wasn’t always true. No, in cramped close quarters, a knife is quicker to strike with, and a sword is useless in a tight, face to face brawl. But…

  “Go on ahead, Natsumi, Katsuki-san. I hahis!” Motoko called, feet sliding a little on the polished floor of the fortunately spacious corridor of Hanafubuki. Her oppo rofessional, and he had skills of aeriature, as Motoko felt a whisper of energy enter her, attempting to slow her, make her feel sluggish, sleepy. Knife fshed, and several strands of hair drifted down past her face.

  “All right.” Natsumi, as befitted a student of Tsumura Arts, and Motoko’s dear friend, didn’t hesitate. She started to run, Katsuki-san trying to keep up, breath rasping fast despite her Chirurgery. She struggled to speak, casting a ed gaze back at Motoko.

  “Should we leave her… if you work together…” she gasped, and Natsumi shook her head as she disappeared around the er towards the middle school css, the ohat Honoka-sama attended. Her parting words could be heard clearly, and Motoko smiled, hands tightening on the hilt of Utsuroihebi Twie the danger.

  “…The halls are wide, but two of us with swords will only get in each other’s way. Besides… Motoko is strong. She won’t lose…”

  Yes. But it is not mere physical strength that matters. It is will. The will to win, the will to protect… the will to be my best self! Her oppo was slippery, moving in uable ways, and his own stras were hampering her, but Motoko had long accepted her future, all uainty and worry banished. A true warrior has fears, but rises above them. For uainty is the death of valour.

  “I must end this fast. Tsumura-style strike… Ken no ken!” Tsumura Arts focussed on all ranges of bat, from distah archery, long with the spear, medium with the sword, or close with body and will. And even using a sword, there were methods to deal with persistent attackers. Flipping her sword in her hands, so that the bde was lying ft along her arms, she struck out, turning the hilt of her bde into an additional force to her punch. The k her uniform, missing her neck as she tilted her head, and the man grunted as she struck him in the base of the ribs. Bone cracked, her sheer strength driving the blow home. More cloth tore, Utsuroihebi Twin slig the sleeve of her uniform and drawing a little blood, but she paid it no mind, spinning into the step of her pn.

  “Hebi-geri!” Her leg whipped around like the snake her kick was named after, her weight perfectly banced oher leg, pivoting like a dancer. Bone ched as the assassin blocked with his free arm, numbing Motoko’s leg, but he came off far worse, sliding backwards, and a small, sly smile crept over her features.

  “Tekikanken!” Her cry rang out, sword rotating, bde once more whirling out, and she felt the briefest of resistances as her ented steel sshed through the unbroken arm of her oppo, before she reversed dire and a sed spray of blood gushed. She felt a faint mist on her face, tasted iron, but had no time to dwell on it. A faint crackle of lightning filled the air with the stench of ozone, and the bde was again, blood vaporising, and Motoko was running then, even before the body hit the ground.

  A brief squirmiion was felt iomach, ae her willio truly fight her whole life, she felt the sudde of it, the fact that she had taken a life. No, not a life. I have taken lives before. She had killed in the Boundary, and many of those had intelligence, emotions, even if they were monstrous. But this was a fellow human.

  The taste of iron on her lips seemed to burn her, and her breath came fast, far more rapidly than her exertion should have merited, especially now. I repared for this day. But… Her hands trembled a little on the hilt of her treasured sword, but with an effort of will she pushed it down, focussing on what was important. It is not just me who has faced this. Akio has made this choice. Shiro too. Shaeu… she is not human, as we uand it, but… she is as human as any of us in terms of her emotions, hopes and dreams. No, I ot falter now. Not realising tears were trig down her face, she bit her lip as she caught up with Natsumi and Katsuki-san, who had ehe , from which sounds of screaming and tears could be heard from multiple voices.

  The door… The security door had been breached, the thick metal and posite fibre alloys which were resistant to heavy ons useless, a rge hole having been bored through the log meism, likely by one of the dull explosions they had heard earlier. Shaped charges, I imagine.

  Motoko was a Tsumura, and while her brother was on the military track, she had always expressed an i in the army, and so was aware of a lot of ons and strategies. Grandfather always indulged her, even if her mother was despairing of her undylike is. If they are using military-grade equipment then the safety shelter is nothing but a coffin. No, we must… go on the offensive.

  Blinking away tears, steeling herself, Motoko saw that ihe there was chaos. Natsumi had joihe attack, her own Twin sword dang, driving ba enemy. A sed foe was engaging two other oppos, one of which was Kozue, who was fighting with an assortment of daggers and long needles. She had been wounded, but was still calm. Good… Honoka-sama is unhurt… The granddaughter of Fujiwara-sama was watg, horrified, as battle raged. Beside her, the teacher in charge of her css y unmoving and soaked with blood, and there were several other small bodies too.

  “Mizuki!” Katsuki-san cried out, on seeing her younger sister. She was in a terrible state, one eye missing, a ssh having id her face open to the bone, and she was also bereft of fingers on her left hand, and she had been stabbed a multitude of times, the front of her uniform torn open, blood soaking it down to her long skirt. Despite that, she was struggling desperately against another oppo in bck, this one seemingly female, short yet fast.

  “Run… away, big sister!” Mizuki-san coughed, red on her lips. “They… mess with your head… there’s… more…”

  Motoko spun, and her bde cshed with a pair of knives, already covered in blood, and that made Motoko pause, her feelings of guilt at her lethal battle vanishing. This day will go down in history as a grave one. For their bdes to already be crimson…

  “You’re fast…” one said i Japanese. “…but everything is a test. Your defeat will lead us closer to the glory of Iblis!”

  “Is killing young girls glory?” Natsumi spat, as she shouldered aside the oppo she was fighting. There was a brilliant fsh, only Motoko uanding, and the assassin dropped bonelessly, a vile stench of burned meat filling the air. “You want to fight, fight us, who know what we’re doing!”

  “The Son and Daughter and it. We obey.” The speaker chuckled, though to Motoko’s ears it sounded forced. “And nobody cries when the lion preys oelope. There are alredators, and always… prey!”

  A surge of aether flooded out, though it had simirities to Qi. Kozue staggered, but grittieeth so hard her gums bled, she threw a needle. Her attacker batted it away, only for Mizuki to sm into him from behind, despite her strength ebbing away. An elbow shattered her unning her, but instinctively her arms clutched the assassin. He flipped the knife, once more stabbing her, but Natsumi again called upon light element, aoppled, even as Katsuki-san was screaming. She rushed rabbing her mortally wounded sister, tears spilling from her eyes.

  “Mizuki! Mizuki! Mizuki!” she wept, only for the younger girl to manage a bitter smile, blood frothing on her lips.

  “I don’t… want to die. How… stupid this is. But… I was the first to see them. I guess… the old tales… weren’t all talk. The Takakura… family is special.”

  “You… fuckers!” Motoko never swore, it was hardly befitting of a daughter of Tsumura house, but she knew soldiers did a lot, and now she uood why. Her rage was white hot, a her mind was cool, her training of long years f her to remain calm. Pushing herself beyond her limits, she surged forwards. Light element finish this quickly, but… we do not have endless reserves. There are surely more attackers… best to end this with steel if I …

  A thrown kunai from Kozue was batted aside by one assaint, but it distracted him long enough. Motoked forwards, the more spacious giving her an edge. Her bde shimmered as she swung it at superhuman speed, a glittering web of sshes f a perfect cage, cutting off her oppos moves like a brutal game of shogi.

  The assassin that spoke tried to fnk her, but Natsumi charged, kig a desk at them, making then back up. That was all the opening Motoko needed, and following the ruthless teags of Master Ulfuric, who had helped them hohe Arts into a true tool for killing, Motoko’s bde struck three times in quick succession, throat, heart and groin.

  “The Son and Daughter will be displeased. Three dead in…”

  “Four!” Natsumi decred, a thrown kunai from Kozue suddenly wreathed with Natsumi’s wind, ging dires and smming into the head of the attacker. There was a siing ch, and the foe dropped, blood and other liquids scattering.

  Again, the erupted into screams, everyone panig, but Motoko and Natsumi remained calm and took charge. “Natsumi. Get everyone up and moving… the shelter will not be safe, but staying here is madness.”

  Natsumi nodded, g her hands. “All right. I know it’s bad, but… everyone, get up. Those of you who have had Chirurgery, grab the injured and… the others.” She swallowed, and Motoko knew she wao avoid saying the word. “Kozue, you still fight?”

  The small girl nodded, clutg at her scarf, white knuckles betraying her unease as she g Honoka-sama, who nodded slowly. “Yes… yes.” Her words firmed up. “I am a bodyguard, I do my duty. These injuries are nothing.”

  “Good.” Motoko praised, kneeling down beside the dying Mizuki-san and weeping Katsuki-san, heedless of getting blood on her skirt. As she did so, Mizuki opened her remaining eye, a bitter grin on her sshed face, her words both quiet and slurred, her broken nose making them indistinct.

  “I’m… gd. At least… they died. Screw them. Don’t cry… big sister. I… hate… this. Life was… just getting fun. And now…” She coughed, red frothing up, and she was so deathly pale, making the crimson stand out. “…look after Katsuki and Kiaria. I would… have said…” She was wracked with painful spasms. “…that Kiaria is a cry-baby, but it seems… it runs… in the family.”

  “Oh Mizuki…” Katsuki-san wailed. Motoko and Natsumi exged a groubled.

  “Yes, ’t you feel a chill in the air? It’s not natural.” Natsumi agreed. “It looks like it’s up to us, but…”

  “Akio could do it.” Motoko made up her mind. It was a risk, time recious, there were clearly more attackers who had infiltrated Hanafubuki, including at least one who was making no effort to hide the aether he was giving off. Even without QI Perception, we have bee far more sensitive to these things.

  “Yes, but… even without his Mystic Eye, he still had some enhas from sharing some of Shaeu’s abilities at the time…” Natsumi warhough she was also in agreement. “So if you fail…”

  “I would rather regret failing than live with the guilt of n. Though…” It is a risk. Using up my reserves now… but… she fought. I would not be myself if I did not resped praise that.

  “What… are you… talking… about?” More coughing and faint words from Mizuki-san.

  “I have Ether Healing at Rank four. It should be enough. Though I do not have Akio’s perception. But… Qi is an internal system, and I know the human body well… besides…” Motoko managed a faint smile as everyone was being gathered by Natsumi. “…all I have to do is keep you alive. Scars, mistakes, further damage that is not fatal… Akio or Shaeu restore you ter. Just… I have no wish to see a brave woman die.”

  Mizuki-san manages a faint, pained smile then. “Yes… that’s… that’s right. There’s no way… he’d let a woman with… my chest… die… the pervert. I… always… catch him.. cheg me out…”

  “Mizuki!” Katsuki-san gasped through her tears, shocked, and Motoko smiled warmly yet ruefully, already p iher, trying to close the mrievous wounds, no matter how clumsily, repg lost blood.

  “Yes, I hardly deny Akio is rather attracted te chests. He is hardly alone in that, I think. Often…” Motoko fided, and she could see that despite the fear, the panic, the terror, those who had survived the attack were listening curiously, as Motoko’s e was still a rather important topic of versation amongst the noble daughters.

  I am making progress, but… I have to hurry. Enemies are closing in, there is no time for cautiorust that if I help her survive, even if she is crippled and ruined, she be made whole at a ter time. “…I worry a little. I am one of the slenderer of Akio’s fiancées. Even Natsumi here is rather more well-endowed. But I am fident I have other charms…”

  “Besides, Shaeu would be angry if y it just down to breast size.” Natsumi giggled. “Akio’s a man of wide tastes, but… it’s true, he does like rge chests. And yours is rather incredible, Mizuki-san!”

  She grunted, before managing a faint smirk. “It’s nothing… but trouble. It gives me backache, and I’ve… no idea why… I’m so much bigger… than my older sister. And perverts… always gawk at… me. But… if he save me… I’ll let him… cop a feel…”

  “Oh, I think you would have to leave it a few years.” Motoko chuckled, amused at her bravado. “You are far too young for Akio. But…” Motoko stroked her bck hair softly as she poured out her aether in a tide. “…I know he would grieve if you died. So… fight, like you did before.”

  “If… you and Akio-san save Mizuki… then… I…” Katsuki-san began, clearly herself, and Natsumi snorted.

  “Holy, Akio has such a bad reputation. It’s not like he’s rapacious and insatiable. There’s always been a reason. Ours were amongst the worst of all. But… if thinking that way makes you feel better, go for it. As for us…” Natsumi’s hand was tight on Utsuroihebi twin, and Motoko knew she had to hurry.

  “There.” After what seemed like a was likely only a minute or two, Motoko stood, hands and uniform soaked with blood. “It is field medie, and I fear moving you will be painful, but… you will survive.”

  As Mizuki-san squeezed shut her good eye and Katsuki-san started babbling in gratitude, Motoko shook her head. “There is no time for thanks. Only for a. Are there any others who be saved?”

  Natsumi shook her head sadly. “Everyone else who is injured hold on. They were… ruthless.”

  “In that case… Kozue. Lead everyoowards the emergency shelter. For we…” Motoko exged a quice with Natsumi. “…we still have work to do.” Taking a life is not a light matter, yet… we have a right to defend ourselves, to defend others who ot take up sword, spear and bow. Tsumura Arts… they were used to protect this try, and now… they are again!

  ShipTeaser