Chapter 2- Breakthrough

Shadow managed to process all the information that Kokonoe had on the Azure Grimoire in a couple of days. If there was a problem with this item falling into the wrong hands, what would it do to the world by itself? "It sounds just as powerful as my Chaos Gems. That grimoire falling into darkness means certain doom."

"It would be bad, wouldn't it," Kokonoe observes the seven revolving stones, "You value those as much as I do the Azure?"

"More or less, seeing as they are power sources to my abilities. Blast radius, teleportation, healing, name it. I might have discovered it already. And when all seven are gathered, miracles can happen, more often in a pinch with the experience I have."

"Fair enough. In that case, Tager's next task will be twice as fast with your cooperation. I'm trying to research something and I might have stumbled upon something in the debris inside a place we know as Ibukido."

Shadow shook his head. As kitty curious as she is, she gives no time to give an indication to bark an order or two. "This benefits all of us then. More learning for me, more research data for you."

"Ha, that's what I want to hear. I think you and I will get along just fine. Tager," she clicks a button, "come here."

"Yes, Kokonoe." Tager arrives.

"Your mission starts now."

"Wait what? No departure? You aren't going to try-"

"Calm down," She pointed to Shadow, "Things are gonna get easier, so lighten up. He has a more stable source and will give you transport."

"Come again?"

Shadow's body had two gems in front of him, to which the orbits expand around Tager. A hand is held out, "I will be working with you and Kokonoe from now until further notice. It's a pleasure cooperating with you."

"Likewise."

The debris of Ibukido was massive. It was as though a bomb or some other force came through. A flash of light fills the darkness a brief moment for Shadow and Tager to appear. "We arrived, with the place in complete shambles. Makes me feel bad for these people."

"Eh, your choice. Be thorough, there has to be something in there." Kokonoe clicks off.

"This area is nothing but broken pieces, we'll check the underground facility, or what's left of it." Tager slammed his fist onto a spot beside a wrecked structure, which it came crumbling down a stairway underground. He managed a smile for the luck the two had been blessed with. Shadow took his turn, a small blast opening gates enough for Tager's size. "Our comms are going to static when we progress."

"Not like Kokonoe wants us coming back empty handed." Shadow casts a small light down the stairs as he walked. Tager's scanners got faint readings as his night vision mode looked at numerous piles of rubble. Following him, Shadow watched the backside. A Chaos Spear changed form to a Chaos Blade, prepared for any small chances of a surprise attack.

"The reading is getting stronger! The disposal room, it seems!"

Their pace quickened, the piles of debris increased, in both size and number. They began dealing blows at various haystacks, hoping for a needle. There was nothing but garbage everywhere and the dust thickened with each bashing. The shaded figure in Shadow's eye was just the sign he needed. It was way too small and skinny to be Tager, by a landslide. First the sight of Noel caused deja vu. This time, the humanoid figure somehow penetrates through his wall. After all that time in GUN, using the promise to steel himself further, the work he put himself through has went to waste, just from this one feminine humanoid.

"You're not Maria… and yet you destroyed my defenses without a single movement… What are you…?"

"Shadow, you okay? Who is Maria?"

"Maria is a deceased friend of mine… I haven't seen her in a little over sixty-five years. I thought seeing Noel was going to tear down everything I did to suppress my past. No, it was this girl instead…"

"A tragedy I cannot understand completely, forgive me." Tager sighs.

"It's alright. We found somethi-" He stopped himself, "Someone that Kokonoe could find information about, much to my dismay for any of her methods. The way she looks, all battered and shit… Now I don't feel bad for those who have previously occupied these ruins. Mission accomplished."

"Roger." Tager stood firm as he and Shadow vanished from sight with the humanoid girl. "Will you be okay, taking her to Kokonoe?"

"Yeah, I'll deal with the trauma. Go ahead and rest for the next task. I'll report in."

"Thank you, Shadow. I'm glad you are on our side."

"As do I."

"If he knew what the power of the Boundary is, you should too." Kokonoe said.

"There had to be a way of disengaging it, though." Responded another woman.

"He did what he wanted, and it was his decision. Nothing we can do about it." Kokonoe turns to the door. "Come in."

In came Shadow with a girl in her arms. This must be the clue they finally found. "Sorry for the intrusion."

"It's alright," the other woman begins to walk out, "I got my answers."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Litchi." He spoke. "I knew you had the same outline as the woman in the clinic."

"Oh, I'm glad you knew! The pleasure is mine as well, but you seem new."

"Shadow. And yes, I just got here yesterday."

Litchi's surprise turned to a smile when she saw Shadow's rare smile. "Come by anytime should you get injured." And she left.

"So what's this successful looking package supposed to be?"

"Do. Not…" Shadow breathed deeply, "Don't call her a package… Do you have any extra rooms?"

Kokonoe pointed next door, watching Shadow drag himself after another look to the lifeless body. It seems respecting his wish, or wishes, for this humanoid is the only way to go, she thought. She readied an x-ray and other scanners for a quick rundown of the battered girl. Soon she realizes that the girl is a previous Murakumo Unit. She smiled triumphantly, "Finally I get somewhere. Worry not, Shadow. You'll be happy when I pair you up with her."

Shadow woke up a few hours after laying on the small bed. His mind was on the girl. Each bruise on her, it somehow hurt Shadow mentally. It was time Kokonoe knew why the humanoid had such an impact. Luckily she was still up, monitoring the discovery he made. Suppressing the past again was not going to completely work this time, or ever again. He took a breath of relief, "Thank you, Kokonoe, for listening. The incident was not an easy one, and now the weight is off my back, for now at least."

"Not a problem. If it helps, let it out. It also gave me a deeper perspective on how you now feel about the girl. Speaking of which, follow me."

Shadow soon saw the capsule full of liquid and the girl inside, with absolutely no cover over any part of her body, forcing him to look away. "Um… this is rather…"

"Oh, right. Sorry about that. It's required to have her completely restored, or as much as possible."

"Still, her having more power than Noel's physical resemblance to Maria," He looked down at his feet. "I wonder what will happen to her."

"Add it to a list of my crimes. Hey, Shadow."

"Yes?"

"I'm thinking of giving up Lambda to your care. Think you can handle it?"

"Lambda…"

"A greek letter used in math and science. She is very valuable as a previous Prime Field Device, but probably inferior to as much as you would think of her now. What do you say?"

Shadow's spirit lifted. To see Lambda's recovery, and now to work and take care of her. He nodded and looked back to the tank. It's only a matter of time, he thought. This is now just a waiting game.