With trepidation, Rob, Maria, and Danny exit the far end of the grand ballroom; Xander and Chika follow behind, holding hands. Danny has relinquished his katana to Maria, who now has both. In turn, Maria has given her nunchaku to Chika, who's given her sansetsukon to Danny; she has done this partly because Danny is more comfortable with staff weapons than blades, and partly to earn some trust from the Scarves, an act reinforced by her permitting Danny to remove the chukon and fix the jokon and kikon directly to each other, turning the sansetsukon into a makeshift hanbo.
After cautiously advancing the length of the short corridor, they come across the door to the main dining hall; they push the doors open to find the room is completely normal in every way.
"I'm scared," Maria states, her voice hushed.
"Chika. Explain," Rob demands.
"I don't understand," Chika nervously replies. "Hideyoshi was definitely set up in here; I remember seeing the-"
Suddenly, the room is surrounded by a thick wall of scarlet-and-amber fire.
"I see the kawauso has switched sides." The soft yet threatening voice of Kasai-dojo Grand Master Hideyoshi Takenaka fills the room. "And that she has succumbed to compassion."
"Coming from a dai-sensei that has always prided himself on showing kindness and compassion, even to one's enemies, I find such criticism wholly unwarranted," Chika replies.
"On the contrary," Hideyoshi retorts. "Kindness and compassion should only be bestowed upon the enemy after they are defeated, never before."
"Your words, or Aquila's?" Chika challenges.
"I expect this sort of kuso from the others," Hideyoshi calmly replies. "It is uncharacteristic of yourself."
"If you believe I speak kuso, then you are truly corrupted," Chika declares, her tone one of disappointment.
"Enough talk!" Rob bellows. "I don't give a cào about your kuso! We are here to bring Aquila to justice, and to take Hanna home! Either fight us, or get out of our way!"
The form of a blazing phoenix swoops down from the shadows of the ceiling; it flies low over the heads of Chika and the Scarves, forcing them to duck; it lands on the dais at the head of the dining hall.
"You wish to fight me," Hideyoshi greets. "Therefore I appear."
"You and your big mouth," Maria hisses at Rob.
"I… don't know what came over me," Rob whispers back.
"So," Hideyoshi continues. "Who wants to die first?"
No-one volunteers.
"Oh, did I not mention?" Hideyoshi continues. "I was the one who kidnapped Hanna."