Midnight Clashes

Chapter 11

Entering The Kamikaze

Chiaki struggled with his binds as he watched Red escape once more with the demon. He was really getting sloppy after Maron had lost the ability transform into Jeanne. This was already the second time he had fallen into Minazuki's trap, and all because he could not stop worrying about Maron.

The sound of a cell phone ringing brought Chiaki's attention to Miyako's father, who had by now answered the call. He froze when he heard Miyako's voice on the other line: "Maron fell from the balcony!"

The police gathered did not have much time to realize what was going on before Chiaki was already making his way across the rooftops. It was really amazing how much more one could do when it was truly important.

As Chiaki rushed towards the direction of the apartment complex, he quickly whipped out his own cell phone and pressed one of the few numbers he had on speed dial, bringing the phone over to his ear.

"Dad! Send an ambulance to my apartment right away! It's an emergency!"

&&&&&&&

"Are you absolutely certain about this?" Red questioned from Maron. "This is an extremely important matter and you should not act hasty."

"Calm down, Red-san", Maron said in a manner she hoped sounded convincing to the red-head. "I have thought this through properly. I want to do anything I can in order to help Jeanne. I can't let her die."

Red looked reluctant for a while longer but finally released a sigh. He put his hand inside his jacket and pulled out a small velvet pouch. He poured the contents out on his other hand, revealing a bunch of silver-colored marbles.

"Okay", the green-clad thief muttered in a thoughtful manner. "I have ten seals. That will prove useful when you go and create a ruckus."

"What do you mean?" Maron asked, curious to know what the other thief had planned. As an answer Red flashed her a gaming grin and said: "I'm talking about the possibly possessed guards who will come rushing to the scene at Jeanne's release. I'm going to try to seal the demon energy of those guards in order to buy you more time while Noin is away trying to protect his past self."

Maron smiled brightly at the teenage boy in front of her, speaking softly: "Thank you."

"No problem", Red said and flashed the girl a smirk that held haunting familiarity. But before Maron could place the look, it was gone when Red turned to Noin. "We'd better get moving, then."

Noin nodded his head at the boy before vanishing. Red turned back to Maron.

"Ready?"

"I have to be", Maron spoke with resignation. A reassuring smile adorned Red's face before the other thief gave Maron's shoulder a friendly pat.

"It'll be alright", Red said quietly before also taking off, leaving Maron alone with her mission. With a last sigh Maron steeled herself and took off towards the town square. As she pushed her way past the crowd, surprising exclamations reached her ears: "Hey, what was that?" "What freak wind!"

Maron froze for a moment to look at the people she had passed. They could not see her?

"It's you...that girl from before", a voice suddenly spoke. Maron whirled around to see Jeanne looking right at her. "What do you think you're doing here?"

"I'm Maron, your reincarnation! I've come here to save you", Maron answered instantly. "You need to seal the demon. The bishop has been possessed, along with who knows how many of his followers."

"The whole town has been possessed", Jeanne replied sadly. "I came here, hoping to seal the unusually strong demon, but I got caught." The woman shook her head. "This town can't be saved..."

"Of course it can!" Maron insisted firmly. "You're Jeanne D'Arc! I'll just get you out of those binds and then you can seal the demon."

"I can't seal demons anymore", Jeanne spoke in a broken voice, her voice barely above a whisper. Maron stared at the woman, but before she could comment, Jeanne already continued: "The guard at the cells was a demon as well...he...he took away my purity. Only those who are pure can use the God's power."

"That's stupid!" Maron exclaimed, bringing Jeanne's surprised to herself once more. "A girl should be able to stay pure as long as that feeling of being pure is there! No man or demon can take that away!"

The surprise on Jeanne's face disappeared as the woman smiled at Maron, a sincere smile that held relief instead of bitter sadness. The woman started to speak: "I was going to use the last of my power to purify this whole town in my death. The strength you have displayed before has made me change those plans." Jeanne's face turned decisive. "The demon is in the painting at the cathedral. I'll give my powers to you. Use them to seal the demon." Maron gaped at the golden-haired woman. "Will you accept my power?"

"Y-yes", Maron managed to stutter. "Yes, I'll accept."

At that Jeanne smiled one more time before closing her eyes with a serene look on her face. In a voice that sounded like it was out of the mortal world the woman began to chant: "Let Kami-sama's sigh become a wind, let all of creation's hearts flow, that wind is both gentle and fierce at times but it will surely never leave you. Look to the ocean look to the sky...the forests too...the mountains too...with us. Whether this hope is for healing or helping. Let the time of undoing progress! Become a "Kamikaze"!"

When Jeanne was finished, Jeanne felt a new kind of strength pour right into her soul. She took a deep breath, surrendering herself to the surreal feeling of being filled with raw power. And right then, as she gave herself up to the ancient power pouring into her, she felt it once more. She felt her Jeanne form at the edge of the new strength she had obtained. She reached out and grasped it.

"Reincarnated to seal evil born from darkness", Maron started, the familiar words pouring from her lips with ease. "Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne! Sent by Kami-sama, I have appeared!"

To be continued...