猟師、猫、乙女と騎士たちは狐と狼を保存するために行く

The Hunter, Cat, Maidens and Knights go to save the Fox and Wolf

Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep. ~Denis Waitley

Meanwhile, Ryoshi and Saburo rushed to the Otogi Bank to inform them, however, they were already aware of this, for Shiro had contacted them. Why would Shiro want us to know that he kidnapped them? Ryoshi asked himself. His question was then answered.

"He wants to lure you in his trap Ryoshi, just like last time. And now that I remember your little skirmish with him, I think he wants payback." said Liszt. As soon as he mentioned that, his mind retraced its steps to his fight with Shiro Hitsujikai. He remembered the blood he drew from him. He remembered what he said after the first blow. "I hope you're ready to pay for the consequences…" the words were engraved in his mind. Remembering Shiro's voice made his ears ring. He strapped on his glove and stretched the elastic.

"I'll handle this." Ryoshi said.

"What?" Ringo asked in a frantic tone.

"Ryoshi what're you saying?" Saburo shouted.

"Are you crazy; you can't do this by yourself!" exclaimed Otsu. Ryoshi stood sternly.

"I promised Ryoko that I'd protect her at all costs and that's exactly what I'm going to do." He stated austerely. Saburo rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Ryoshi, it's truly noble that you'd protect her at all costs," he began, his head down. He then looked up and stared at Ryoshi dead in the eyes. His glim was much like Naoko's glare. He didn't dare to shiver nor move an inch. He wasn't scared.

"But remember that that damn Hitsujikai took Kitsune… let me deliver some payback as well." he said determinedly and fervently.

"He's got a point Ryoshi; besides the Otogi Bank never leaves one of our comrades to face a battle by themselves. Also, we all need to deliver some vengeful payback, just as I promised Hitsujikai." Liszt stated ominously, his eyes opening and showing a slit of his bright ill-omened amber eyes.

###

Concurrently, Ryoko was gradually slipping away from her slumber as she remembered Ryoshi's promise. "I'll be the one to protect you. He had always kept that promise. He had been assisting her from the shadows, aiding her and shielding her implicit weaknesses. It was clear to see that Ryoshi loved her and that she harbored feelings for him as well. If only she'd pay attention, if only she could open up, if only she wasn't so afraid to be hurt again. She heard Hitsujikai chuckle. She turned and scowled. He was looking at a security monitor.

"Well look at this, the hunter came to get the wolf and fox back. And her brought companions too. This will be fun, to see you all bruised and beated." He said, chuckling and staring at her malevolently. Ryoko felt as hopeless as the day she discovered Shiro's true self. All she could do now was waiting.

###

Ryoshi, Saburo and the other Otogi Bank members shortly arrived at Onigashima High school. They had known ahead that they were coming and already had gathered a few of the teenage oni outside. They were all armed with weapons; bats, wooden swords from the kendo club, iron pipes and switch blades.

"There are quite a lot of them. Much more than last time, huh Ryoshi?" Saburo enquired, breaking the silent calm of the awaiting storm and easing the tension. Ryoshi nodded simply.

"Yeah." He uttered in hushed tone.

"Do we have any back up President?" Alice asked.

"Unfortunately no." Liszt replied impassively. She sighed but kept a straight face.

"Well, it won't make a difference anyway, we would still be outnumbered." She said.

"Ryoshi." Liszt began. "Here's the plan. The others and I will hold up these guys, you and Nekomiya-senpai go split up and search for Okami and Kitsune." He devised.

"Alright, got it." Ryoshi responded. With that, Saburo and Ryoshi charged head first into the combat zone, commencing battle. The others went in next. The first two rounds in his slingshot were smoke bombs. He fired it at two delinquents that were coming at him from the left and right with great speed. A thick cloud of gray smoke obscured the air.

"Here we go, this should level the playing field now!" he shouted to his comrades speedily placing pachinko balls and firing at the black school uniforms he saw through the smoke. He felt something press against his back. From the corner of his eye he saw that it was Saburo.

"Ryoshi, don't stray off too far, we need to get in the school together if we're going to find the two." He advised.

"Yessir!" he responded as he continued to fire. Saburo charged just a few feet away from Ryoshi's area and moved about swiftly and nimbly like the cat incarnate he was and delivered harsh kicks, all with the steel toed part of his heavy boots first.

"Ryoshi!" he called out. "I'll clear a path, keep firing!" he ordered. Ryoshi did as he was instructed to and kept up his relentless barrage. Saburo kept moving so rapidly that it was hard to see where he was. He looked nothing more than a blurred flash as he sprinted and beated down the delinquents.

"Let's go, I've cleared a path!" Saburo called out as the gray haze swirled about him. Ryoshi looked back at the others. He saw Ringo. She turned.

"Go Ryoshi, save Ryoko-chan!" she yelled. "Go now, the smoke's clearing up!"

He nodded and followed Saburo through the diminishing gray miasma, luckily undetected. Finally their cover had slowly and inevitably dispersed and the air was clear. Ringo looked up hopefully at the towering school. Please Ryoshi, please save Ryoko… she wished for.

###

Ryoshi and Saburo sprinted through the dim lighted corridors of the gray and graffiti covered school. Because of the scarce smoke from before had allowed them to go in undetected, but they kept their guards up. They knew Shiro was too smart to leave the interior of his fortress vulnerable.

"Do you think the others will be alright?" Saburo asked.

"I wouldn't need to worry about them." Ryoshi assured.

"Neko-san…" he began falteringly.

"What is it Ryoshi?"

"What's your relationship with Kitsune-san? Ryoko said that you and Kitsune had a difficult time because, well, someone got in the way." He said uneasily. Saburo heaved a heavy sigh.

"There was no other person. It was truly a misunderstanding. Kamiko managed to turn one of Naoko's friend's against her. It made it seem that I was her boyfriend when I really wasn't. I tried to tell her, but I cowered and ran away, just like I did to Okami-san. I can't believe how pathetic I am." He expounded shamefully. Ryoshi was about to console him until they heard the sounds of speedy footsteps. From the corner of his eye he saw Saburo running.

"Neko-san where are you going!" he called out.

"I won't run away this time. I'm going to go to her. I'll save her! Now go Ryoshi!" he exclaimed before dashing off to the other direction where there were many delinquents. However, in the direction of Shiro's lair, it was desolate, unguarded. He knew he was walking into a trap and he didn't care. He knew he will bring Ryoko out unharmed, or at least he would risk fighting to the end, the same could be said for Saburo. All their fates at the moment, are undecided.