From the author: Action is coming guys! A new job also appears! Will Reiki meet a figure of the past? What adventure will Team Crime begin?
"How did they find out?" asked Brock.
Reiki continued. "Apparently James was interrogated into telling the 'fake mages', I guess you can say, into telling them who I really was. I felt so idiotic for giving away my family's secret, and I thought I could trust my only friend. He left with them without a trace the next day. I buried my parents using magic, and I traveled to Marauna in search of revenge. When I arrived, I heard of many Dark Guild and bandit organization defeat jobs, and I travelled to many villages defeating them. I was ten at the time, and fourteen when I met Yousuke and Gray-san. I had forgotten all about revenge and devoted myself to justice."
She looked at her friends and said, "So there you have it. I told you the story, so let's pick a job already!"
Marienne was staring deeply at the request board. She ripped a sheet off violently and shoved it into her teammates' faces.
"This! The Dark Guild job close to Marauna! Reiki, if you go, you can uncover some secrets! I'm sure no one will recognize you, and with a band of other people, it will be even better." Marienne paused to gesture to her friends."And it says here that the reward is guest access to the Maraunian ball, hosted by James Belladonna, the ex-mayor's son. You can find out the true reason why your parents died!"
Reiki stared at the piece of paper and stuffed it into her pocketed utility belt.
"We leave tomorrow, no exceptions!"
Next day
Team Crime stood outside of the house they shared together, waiting for Marienne to grab their train tickets. She came out of the door and they drove in their "magic powered car" to the drafty train station. They hauled their luggage onto the train and disposed of their tickets to board. Yousuke found a one room booth and they all took a seat; Marienne next to Brock and Reiki next to Yousuke. The ride was long, and they were all very tense from their nervousness, especially Reiki. Yousuke noticed, and subconciously held her hand for the remainder of the trip.
Finally, the train opened its doors to Marauna, but the team was stopped abruptly by the conductor.
"If you mages want to live, you better lay low in this town. The people aren't as lenient as they used to be back around ten years ago. 'Wish you kids luck," he said, unloading their baggage.
Reiki only became more tense as she said thank you, but his time it was she that subconciously grabbed Yousuke's hand. The town hadn't changed much in the seven years since Reiki last visited: the food stalls lining the narrowest streets, brownstone houses encircling the city square, and the seemingly friendly people walking around the area. The four of them covered their insignia tattoos and strolled along like regular pedestrians would. They checked into the hotel they would be staying at, and then dashed to the forest behind the city.
"They are here. Deep into the brush we'll find the Dark Guild," said Reiki. "I have this serious gut feeling."
"You better have a smart gut, 'cause I'm not following an idiot," replied Brock with a smirk. Reiki took the insult with an angry scowl.
After some walking, a large building appeared. Ivy curled up its walls and the red bricks were a contrasting sight against the lush green of the forest. An unsuspecting mage walked out the door, and Reiki threw one of her daggers, pinning him to the walls of the guild structure. Marienne punched him, knocking him out, and she immediately took him form. Reiki lifted the wizard with her magic and sent a large wave, throwing him into some faraway bushes. Marienne looked at them with her Dark Guild form.
"How do I look?" she said in a man's voice. Her friends cracked up earnestly.
Winking at them, Marienne walked cautiously into the Dark Guild, (which beared the name of Poisoned Ivy) and Yousuke could hear the sound of violence erupting from the inside.
"That's my girl," Brock whispered to himself.
What came next surprised them. Marienne flew out of the building, thankfully caught in Brock's arms. Hordes of wizards came out with weapons Reiki remembered. They deflected all kinds of magic, and it was the same kind of weapon that had killed her parents. Rage built up inside of her as she charged toward the mass. She held up her hand like a gun and pretended to fire. Yousuke knew this move, what she now called her "gunshot special". It was the first move she used when she defeated those bandits three years ago. Lines of wizards dropped to the ground as her invisible bullet shot their weak spots.
Brock was using one strong looking guy as his "heat puppet". From the inside out, Brock used his magic to cause massive amounts of pain. Fire rose from his hands and mulitiple mages drowned in his hot flames. Screams drenched their ears, meaning defeat was a close sign. The angst on their enemies' faces were a good sign to the team. Marienne and Yousuke fought back-to-back, blinding flashes of electric light against bruising punches and kicks.
After some time, with panting breaths, Poisoned Ivy was defeated. Stirring bodies were all over the churned dirt of the forest. Reiki smiled and held on to a tree branch. Brock hugged Marienne and saw to her wounds, while Yousuke flashed the best smile Reiki had ever seen, making her turn a little red. But suddenly, the double doors to the building opened.
Four people stood outside of it. Two were twins, their toothy grins and long tuxedos reached the ground. Canes sprouted from their hands out of thin air. A woman stood next to them: her two brown eyes were familiar to Reiki, and her feet seemed to root themselves into the earth, while her green hair shimmered in the light of the sun. The last man seemed to be their leader, the master of the guild. He had a bulky build, and his eyes seemed to be squinting. A large mace sat on his shoulder and a wide array of knives hung from the leather sash leaning across his shoulders.
"So, you kids defeated our pawns, eh? Not bad for that crime buster guild run by some idiot ex-criminal," the leader said. Yousuke glared at the large man before him, but the leader continued. "I am Reymas. The woman is Violet. The twins are Verano and Invierno. If you want to live, leave. Or if you can, beat us. If you cannot do either, you might as well drop dead by our hand."
Who are these people? Why do they seem so familiar? And the question is, do they have to do with my past? thought Reiki.
Team Crime was now caught up in a fight for their lives, and a battle for Reiki's past.
Woot-woot! Finally, an intemse action scene rises to the story! I hope the little Poisoned Ivy fight trap thing was enjoyable for you guys. Please review my chappies and I will update as soon as I can. If there are any errors, again, really sorry!