A Change of Perspective: Chapter 12 - Novitiates of the Coil, Week One

"It's over already? I assumed you two would go at each other more thoroughly." - Kagami

"It seems the time for that has not yet arrived. I'm sure we'll fight to the end someday." - Akabane


Four women in bedraggled formal attire emerged from a thick growth of trees into a small clearing and quickly scattered to explore the area. Sure enough, a few paces away, partially hidden by tall weeds, the unconscious form of a woman in black was discovered.

"Over here! I found someone," Reinhilde Hermance called out to three of her companions as she knelt down and touched the unconscious woman's flushed cheek, then her forehead. "She's warm. Very warm."

"Here, let me," Kendra Hanayaka offered, confirming Reinhilde's assessment. "We need to find some water soon."

"It would be much easier to search for water if that bitch was awake," Marjani Mugambi said irately, crossing her arms.

"Maybe, if we give her a little shake?" Ermelinda Madeo said, giggling at her own joke. "She might wake up this time?"

"Akasha Bane, can you hear me?" Kendra coaxed, trying to rouse her pale-skinned colleague by shaking her shoulders. She ignored Ermelinda's tittering beside her.

"I will continue my search of the area, perhaps more of us are hidden here," Marjani said impatiently. "If Bane is not awake when I return, we will leave her."

"I'm coming with you," Ermelinda said, chasing after the tall, athletic African woman.

When she was certain none of the other women were watching - Reinhilde was a good distance away currently giving Marjani a piece of her mind about her callous behavior - Himiko dipped her head down and whispered, "rise and shine, Dr. Jackal."

She smiled to herself when Akabane twitched.

"Oh! She's waking up. Thank goodness," Reinhilde said in relief as she approached Kendra and a stirring Akasha. "I'm tempted to leave them behind instead and find a way out ourselves, but Marjani is the only one with a usable weapon. How careless of me not to be prepared myself."

"How the hell were we supposed to know that these stupid 'Trials' officially started last night? It's bad enough I'm stuck wearing a dress in 'Tarzan's Territory' on top of being weaponless," Kendra said sourly. "Though, I have to admit, it was really sneaky of them to drug our drinks."

"It's useless for us to complain now. We need to get Akasha up and walking very soon or we'll be forced to leave her," Reinhilde said with genuine concern.

"No offense, but you're being awfully helpful for a competitor," Kendra stated.

"Make no mistake, I'm still your rival. I simply refuse to be a dishonorable one," Reinhilde said with a smile.

"There's no need to fuss. I can manage," Akasha said as she slowly sat up, declining Kendra's doting with a push of her hand. "How many of us are accounted for?"

"Five, so far, including you." Kendra replied. "Also, the four of us have been walking for over three hours now before we found you."

Himiko was thankful that the polished ivory bracelet she wore was still snugly secured to her left wrist. The two-inch wide bracelet was practically manacled to her with no visible seam and the only way to remove it was to use an imprint from either of her thumbs. Anyone unfamiliar with this procedure would see no other way but to physically cut it off, risking injury to her, which was probably why the Coil had left it alone. The bracelet was also imbedded with a cleverly concealed watch, a gift from Hevn, meant to remind her of a joke they shared about James Bond. Who knew that the thing would ever come in handy? Now, if only the bracelet had included a GPS satellite link-up! It was an important upgrade she'd have to remind Hevn to install.

"Marjani told us that when she woke up, she found a machete beside her with 'go west' etched onto the blade. Right now, our priority is to find a source of water or we won't make it too far for much longer," Reinhilde added.

"Weren't you wearing a matching necklace to that bracelet at the party last night?" Akasha asked, turning to Kendra. Akabane had seen Himiko wearing that particular necklace before on past assignments; a choker that hung nicely at the base of her neck with six detachable square-shaped ivory pieces designed to contain small emergency amounts of 6 of her 7 deadly perfumes.

Certain items on his person were also missing, Akabane thought irritably, most notably a small dagger that was strapped to the back of his corset.

"Yeah, I was wearing a matching necklace. I always enjoy getting frisked before being dumped at the ass-end of the world," Kendra groused sarcastically, causing Reinhilde to giggle and Akasha to smile.

"Well, I suppose we should catch up with the rest of our little group. If this is just the beginning of our trials, we should take special care to hide our personal essentials in the future. I, for one, am rather amused by the Coil's theatricality. I'm eager to see how this plays out," Akasha stated with a fiery glimmer of anticipation in her amethyst eyes.

Yup...I just KNEW you were gonna say that, Himiko thought to herself, rolling hers.


Kazuki jolted awake, his bleary eyes focusing on blue sky. Confused, he cautiously turned his aching head and realized he was lying on soft earth under a gnarled tree surrounded by lush forest.

Where in the - ?

He sat up slowly and saw that he still wore the pink silk kimono from last night's dinner party. Using the nearby tree for assistance, he stood on wobbly legs, head still spinning from whatever drug they used to knock him unconscious.

When Kazuki shook his head to clear the fog, he noted the absence of his headdress. A hasty personal pat-down confirmed other missing items as a sudden wave of panic struck him. If they had searched his body to confiscate concealed weapons or valuables - had they discovered that he wasn't who he claimed to be?

No. If they knew, he wouldn't be breathing.

Before he began the quest to locate the other Novitiates, Kazuki altered his silk kimono, making it more functional for a trek through rough terrain. He ripped large sections of fabric, reducing the kimono's length to slightly above his knees. He also tore off his sleeves and used the smaller strips of fabric to tie his long hair in a secure knot of braids at the back of his head. The remaining silk material he wound around his legs, binding the flimsy sandals he wore to his feet.

Luckily for Kazuki, whoever searched him, allowed him to keep the intricate thread choker that concealed the slight telltale bump on his throat. The woven threads of the necklace were also designed to refine the feminine timbre of his voice. He shuddered to think what the enigmatic Dr. Jackal had done to perfect his own feminine disguise.

A rustle of leaves had him instantly in a defensive stance.

"Kotone?"

"Yori!" Kazuki greeted in relief, running to Sakura who emerged from the bushes. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired. I think I've been walking for most of the morning. You're also the first person I've seen, so far," Sakura replied.

"Wherever we are, it looks like they've stranded us here to weed out the more 'delicate' of us Novitiates," Kazuki sighed. "I'll let you rest a bit but I'm not letting you out of my sight. No telling what other underhanded tactics the Coil will try next."

"We should find some water. Maybe others have found a lake and could be waiting there," Sakura suggested.

"Let's also try to get to higher ground; gives us a better perspective of where we are," Kazuki stated. "I'm still a bit woozy from the drug they slipped in our drinks," he frowned, then added, "did they miss anything after they searched you?"

"No, they took all my jewelry. I had a compass built into one of my rings and I found this tied to my right arm when I woke up," Sakura said, presenting a white scarf with a cursive message written in small, black marker.

Head West.

Clues? Whoever wrote it, did so in a hurry. No doubt the young Ianna Kurnugi and her crew held true to their promise, doing everything in their power to keep them alive.

More rustling of leaves brought Kazuki and Sakura to their feet, but they both smiled when they heard cursing and grumbling in a familiar voice.

"Note to self: wear something more practical to future Coils of Set gatherings. You never know when they'll decide to strand you in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere!" Hevn screeched angrily as she tore away hanging foliage from her path.

"Save your energy for the local wildlife, Hera," Sitara teased, walking behind her. "A passing bear might - "

"Hera! Sitara!"

"Kotone! Yori!"

"Nice of you ladies to join us," Kotone beamed.

It was good to know that Hevn was well. Kazuki was eager to determine the whereabouts of the rest of their Recovery team.

"I'm so damn thirsty, I can drink a river," Hevn exclaimed, fanning herself vigorously, trying desperately to cool down her overheated skin.

"I, for one, am simply happy to finally meet other members of the human race, even if they're rivals," Sitara said and laughed. "I think I've spent too long in your company, Hera. I'm never sarcastic."

"A little sarcasm's healthy, honey. Keeps your spirits high. I'm sure these two are just as parched as I am, so let's get moving, shall we? Oh, the things I could do for a cold glass of water, a shower and some food, right now," Hera announced as she plodded past Kazuki and Sakura.

I'd rather not imagine, Sitara thought to herself.

"May I suggest heading west? It'll feel better to have the sun behind us when we walk," Kotone recommended.

"Sure. Whatever. I'm game for anything," Hera answered and turned to Sitara who nodded in agreement.

"I hope we find the others," Sakura said, her double meaning clear.

"Me too, Yori. Me too," Kazuki replied and supportively squeezed her hand.


"This way, gentlemen," Ianna instructed as she lead a small, angry group of husbands into a large, previously sealed room at one end of their residential guest wing.

When they entered, the men saw that soft leather couches and recliners were arranged facing an enormous white wall to the front of the room. There was a fully stocked bar where a group of young handmaidens swarmed around a long table placed beside it and against the back of the room, where various food items and refreshments were being prepared. Glass and brass double-doors led out to a large balcony overlooking the compound's extravagant central garden, complete with stylish but comfortable patio furniture.

The displeased husbands of twelve missing Novitiates to the Coils of Set organization reluctantly sat down and watched as the room slowly darkened. Heavy drapes were pulled shut, blocking out a majority of the bright sunshine from outside.

All eyes followed the High Priestess, Ereshkigal Erkalla, as she took a casual stroll to reach her designated plush, pivoting recliner, situated to the right of the expansive white wall at the front of the room.

"Where is my wife?" Sizwe Mugambi demanded. "I awoke this morning to find that I was alone in my bed! I have a right to know what has happened to her."

Like an opened floodgate, Sizwe's outburst prompted other restless husbands to stand up in protest. Ban calmly sat and watched the drama unfold around him with a keen eye, while Shido and Kazuki's companions opted to join the agitated demonstration. Ginji and Emishi chose to remain in their seats but fidgeted nervously, obvious concern for their partners plastered to their faces.

"Peace, gentlemen, please," Ereshkigal spoke and gestured for everyone to sit down. "I'm sure you're all aware of the nature of your stay here, so I'll get right to the point. The First of the three Trials for the Novitiates began last night."

When the noises of disapproval settled to a dull murmur, Ereshkigal snapped her fingers sharply. Instantly, images of the twelve missing Novitiates were projected onto the massive, white wall.

"What's happening, Kaze?" Juubei whispered to Toshiki.

"They're showing projected images of all the women. They're still in their evening gowns from last night. Kotone's with Yori, Hera and Sitara Narendra," Toshiki narrated with a whisper and a relieved little smile. "At least our dear one's not alone but some of the other women are."

"We have powerful cameras mounted to small, solar-rechargeable drones that are following each of them at a covert distance. In this First Trial, the Coil wishes to test our Novitiates' resilience of body. They simply have to make it to their goal. Clues and useful items were given to a few women. The first Novitiate or group of Novitiates that reach the designated area will be given a special advantage they can use in the Second Trial," Ereshkigal explained.

This thing's morphed into a twisted Reality-TV show, Ban grumbled to himself. Ch. Jackal looks like he could drop dead at any moment. That bastard's either gonna get himself killed or get us all killed! Professional, my ass! If he wasn't up for this assignment, he should have SAID so from the beginning!

"Hey, uh, Bastian?" Ginji asked meekly. "You, um, wanna go grab something to eat with me? I kinda don't feel like being the only one over there at the food table." He was taken aback by the smoldering look in Ban's eyes when he turned to look at him. "...or not."

The fiery look in Ban's eyes softened when he realized who had spoken to him.

"Sure. Got nothing better to do," Ban replied as he shrugged, gratefully distracted by his best friend's predictable behavior. Stares of incredulity and mild amusement followed them as they walked toward the back of the room.

"I can understand the lack of concern from the plaything but I'm very surprised to see Kin over there, much less with that young brute," Hammond Ashford commented to Apollinaire Molyneux who was seated beside him which the others overheard.

"Some overcome anxiety in strange ways but I find food to be the most popular solution," Livio Madeo said in defense of Kin.

Incredible. No matter where we go, what we do, or who we meet, Ginji always manages to win over the strangest bunch of people, Shido said to himself with a smile.

"I guess this wasn't such a good idea. Everyone's staring at us," Ginji mumbled between mouthfuls of cheese and crackers.

"Let them. I couldn't care less," Ban grumbled back, popping a few grapes into his mouth and pouring himself a generous glass of red wine. His eyes drifted back to the images of all the Novitiates in various states of discomfort. He bit his tongue to keep from grinning at Hevn's clumsy attempts to navigate through dense plant life. As for the Jackal, the annoying Transporter was doing a marvelous job of holding himself together. He now knew that even Dr. Frankenstein had his limits and because of Akabane's inexplainable illness, Ban was seeing way too many of them.

"How can both of you eat at a time like this?" Sizwe spoke out. "Have either of you no concern for your wives?"

"Hey, I'm hungry, dumbass, in case you haven't noticed. Besides, I know Akasha can take care of herself, so I got no worries," Bastian said with a cocky grin. "Not my problem if the rest of you have spousal issues." His confident statement was met with great approval from Ereshkigal.

"Insolent flesh-toy!" Sizwe yelled and stood up, ready for a fight to relieve some of his pent-up aggression. He was promptly held back by Desya Michailovich and Sudarshan Narendra.

"C'mon, old man. Let's see whatcha got," Bastian taunted with a leer and cracked his knuckles. Ban's inner bar-brawler just couldn't resist the temptation of a good old-fashioned fist-fight.

"Release me! That whelp deserves a beating," Sizwe thundered, struggling to free himself from four strong arms that locked him in place.

"Bring it on, tall, dark and ugly," Bastian taunted again.

"Hey, I don't think - " Kin began, laying a staying hand on Bastian's shoulder which was slapped away as Bastian strode forward, further goading the enraged Sizwe.

"Cease this nonsense! Though I find a show of testosterone very entertaining, concern for your wives does hold priority over a petty brawl, correct?" Ereshkigal stated, clearly amused. "If you gentlemen would kindly take your seats? Also, if any of you are hungry, I sincerely doubt that your wives would hold that against you. That table is laid out for your benefit, so I insist that you all use it."

Sighing, Isamu meekly stood up along with four other men and silently walked toward the refreshment table. Sizwe took a deep breath to calm himself as Bastian shrugged, returning to take advantage of the luxurious spread of food.


"Who's there?" Amarantha Ashford shouted out in the waning sunlight. She was hungry, thirsty and dirty. The last thing she needed was the indignity of being torn apart by a rabid animal.

"Allo?"

"Faustine?

The Frenchwoman appeared, shoving her way past the brambles and bushes, looking far different from her normally impeccable appearance.

"We've looked better, haven't we?" Amarantha laughed. Both of them agreed that they'd be mistaken as understudies on the set of Les Miserables.

"Oui, nous avons," Faustine sighed. "What in sa world are we to do now? C'est ridicule! What is sa point of all sis?"

"It's for their amusement, naturally. Seems like the Coils of Set enjoy playing games and displeasing as it is for us to gad about in slipshod evening gowns, we shall endure it. Unless of course, you'd rather bow out?"

"Your faith in me c'est bon," Faustine smiled icily. Chienne.

"I hope the ink in this pen they used doesn't rash," Amarantha griped, glancing at the written words 'go west' on her right forearm. "It's unacceptable enough that they're forcing my delicate skin to tan!"


"The sun's beginning to set," Kendra called loudly in Marjani's direction. Himiko was hardly intimidated by the condescending stare the woman shot back at her.

"We don't have flashlights, so I suggest we build a fire and camp here for the night," Reinhilde added. "Unless of course, Marjani, you see in the dark?"

Ignoring the barb, Marjani frowned and nodded. She twirled the machete blade she held as she swept the surrounding trees with her sharp eyes. "I will go hunt for food. I suggest the rest of you do the same. Anything edible. A source of water would have been good but no such luck today."

"I'll go tag along with Marjani and Ermelinda. Maybe I can scrounge up some fruit," Reinhilde volunteered.

"Then Kendra and I will stay behind and build the fire. We'll do our best to make some bedding as well," Akasha said sweetly.

After casting the woman in black an irritated glare, Marjani and her companions disappeared through a thick tangle of leaves.

"Peace at last. There's only so much idle chatter I can stand," Akabane said as Himiko snickered. "Now, then. We could all use a drink."

"Huh?"

"This clearing didn't appeal to us by accident," Akabane stated with a knowing smile and stood up, walking purposefully toward the stump of a nearby dead tree. Pulling the loose swaths of fabric draped over his shoulders - which he'd ripped from the length of his gown earlier - he wrapped them around his hands and started digging at the base of the withered trunk.

Puzzled by Jackal's strange behavior, Himiko jogged over to observe him. Beads of sweat dripped down the sides of his face as Akabane labored in the dirt with his hands. Soon, he uncovered the one valuable thing they had hoped to find.

"I don't believe it!" Himiko exclaimed in amazement, watching Jackal unearth several heavy military canteens filled to the brim with water. Grabbing the first one within reach, she took an eager sip, being the best person among them to judge the water's purity. She drank greedily the instant she certified that it was safe. "Damn, that's good."

Passing the canteen to Jackal, Himiko watched her companion drink with gusto.

"I couldn't agree more," Akabane replied with relief. The cool, fresh water felt incredible as it flowed down his dry throat. "I'm surprised a seasoned tracker like Marjani would ignore such a treasure."

"I didn't know you were a tracker."

"I'm not. Whoever hid these canteens injured themselves. I followed the smell of blood," Akabane answered with a chuckle.

A brief shudder ran up the length of Himiko's spine. A vampiric Dr. Jackal was absolutely not a pleasant afterthought to the man's growing list of abnormalities.

"I'll help you gather wood for the fire. We should have everything ready for the hunting party's return," Akabane said softly, sensing Himiko's unease. Over time, he had grown fond of partnering with Lady Poison on assignments and did his best to curb his more frightening urges while in her presence.

"Well, since we're sharing and all...I'll show you how I build a fire," Himiko said with a sly smile.

Gathering as many large pieces of dried wood she could find - even going as far as climbing a few trees and ripping off dead branches - she stacked them, building a miniature teepee and knelt down a short distance away from it.

"Normally, I gather kindling if I want to do this the traditional way. Instead..."

With rapt curiosity, Jackal watched as Lady Poison whispered words in a language unfamiliar to him. There was a strange disturbance in the air and a tingle of unseen energy that gathered around them as Himiko chanted softly. He then smiled in delight as a roaring fire miraculously sprang to life.

"That, my dear, was truly wonderful. You never cease to amaze me," Akabane declared with genuine admiration.

Flattered by the rare gesture of praise from Akabane, Himiko couldn't help an embarrassed blush. "Oh, stop. It's just a little trick I picked up...no big deal..."

"You always seem reluctant to hear positive compliments. May I suggest that you occasionally accept them for what they truly are," Akabane admonished kindly and winked. "Ah! Our self-appointed huntress has returned. I don't know about you but I'm starving."


"Sssh! Wait, I think I hear voices!" Kotone said excitedly. "This way."

The other women in Kazuki's group followed closely behind him as he wound his way nimbly up a large rock. Squinting in the fading light, he spotted the rising smoke from a fire in a small clearing. The smell of cooked meat wafted past his nostrils, making him and the others in his group realize just how hungry they all were.

"Some people have all the luck," Hera grumbled. "Well, what're we standing around here for? Let's go see if those lucky bitches down there don't mind sharing!"

Kazuki and Sakura pretended to be just as appalled as Sitara but secretly laughed and shook their heads mentally, fondly familiar with Hevn's bouts of tactless candor.


Geez. If looks could kill. What the hell's her problem, Himiko thought irritably, quelling the urge to stare back with as much malice as Marjani did. Then she smiled to herself. Oh, that's right. Queen Amazonia failed to save the day by her all-powerful self. Cheerfully, she mentally stuck her tongue out at the glaring woman.

"Tell us again how you found this water," Marjani demanded firmly, hoping to uncover the truth she thought Akasha hid from them.

"To you, I say again that I got lucky."

"Luck is a pitiful excuse. You knew exactly where to find water because somebody told you. An unfair advantage."

Akabane sighed. His patience was wearing dangerously thin. He wasn't at all in the mood to argue with the insufferably stubborn woman. It exasperated the throbbing ache in his head.

"One track mind much? We told you what happened, so why don't you just drop it?" Kendra stated, her annoyance radiating openly.

Marjani stood up, her posture threatening. She shouldn't have bothered. The targets of her ire were unafraid and it fueled her building rage. She firmly gripped the handle of her machete.

"Attempt to use that weapon on either of us, Marjani, and I shall bury that blade down your throat, leaving your lovely corpse to rot beside the fire pit," Akasha said calmly, her purple eyes smoldering, dispelling all doubt of her conviction.

Akabane's words sent a chill of fear to the other women present. Himiko stifled a smile. This was simply the Dr. Jackal she was accustomed to.

Steadily approaching noises sent the women in Akabane's group on high alert. The women around the fire watched warily as a pair of graceful hands parted the bushes at the perimeter of their campground.

"Yori!" Kendra greeted excitedly and ran to meet them. She was also relieved to know that Sakura and Hevn were very much alive despite looking ragged and travel-weary.

"I suppose now we must share what we have, no questions asked," Marjani said sourly. That remark earned her looks of confusion and displeasure.

"Ignore sourpuss over there. There's plenty of food and water to go around," Kendra stressed to the new arrivals.

"Actually, we brought our own food as a courtesy. Kotone's right behind us with some rabbits," Yori stated, answering Himiko's unasked question of a missing Kazuki.

"Yes! Water! I'll have some of that right the hell now," Hera exclaimed excitedly.

Smiling widely, Akasha stepped forward with a full canteen which Hera immediately gulped down with unladylike haste.

"The Japanese princess hunts?" Ermelinda whispered in surprise. Marjani also scoffed at the idea but lifted a brow in disbelief at Kotone's disheveled appearance when she neared the fire.

"I must look awful," Kotone said shyly, brushing the loose dirt and flecks of blood that matted her skin and the tattered fabric of her outfit. "Here you go. They gave me a bit of trouble but I managed to catch them. They should make a nice roast."

From one outstretched arm she held out three dead rabbits, their necks clearly broken.

"You caught the rabbits?" It was Reinhilde who stood up to accept Kotone's offering.

"Since I married, I haven't had the freedom to indulge in all of my skills. My mother taught me basic survival. My family had an ancestral home in the mountains of Japan which was good training ground," Kotone explained.

"I'm a poor hunter but I'm a rather good cook. Too bad we're not in a real kitchen. I can make a very tasty stew with these rabbits," Reinhilde said. "For now, we will have to make do with roasting them on sticks."

"I can help with the skinning," Akasha offered, twirling a blade deftly with one hand.

"Where did you get that?" Marjani exclaimed, pointing to the small hunting knife Akasha held.

"In the pit with the rest of the cooking utensils. I dug a little deeper after I removed our water supply and found a small shipping crate. It's full of everything we need for our journey in this little game of theirs," Akasha said sweetly.

"What?" Came the collective response as the rest of the women barreled past Akasha to verify her story.

Sure enough, everyone crowded around the edge of the pit Akasha had made and within it she had unearthed a crate (already half-opened) filled with cooking and eating utensils, spices, camping equipment and rugged, outdoor clothing.

Once the Novitiates divided Akasha's discovery among themselves, the group settled down and was treated to a demonstration of Reinhilde's culinary skill.

"This is really good," Kotone praised, swallowing the last bite of a second helping of rabbit stew. Other women followed her example with words and murmurs of approval.

"I'm flattered. I did my best with what we had with help from Yori and Akasha," Reinhilde said gratefully and laughed. "I have to say, Akasha, I have never seen anyone so skilled at skinning an animal before. You were so efficient, it was almost surgical. I never would have expected that from you."

"Before I met Bastian, I had an affair with a world-renowned chef who also enjoyed hunting his food. What can I say? I'm a quick learner," Akasha said devilishly. "Ah, but truth be told, I'd rather not get my hands dirty."

"Amen to that," Hera piped in. "What I wouldn't give to have a soak in a hot bath right now."

"That should be our goal for tomorrow then, find a clean stream we can bathe in," Kotone said.

"Is everyone out of their minds?" Ermelinda spoke and abruptly stood up. "We are not on a camping trip! We've been stranded in the middle of nowhere. I want to go back to the comfort of my bed. I don't understand why we're here, why I'm being forced to sleep outside on the dirt with insects biting my skin!"

"Then quit," Akasha responded with a smile. "I'm sure we're being watched, so just say the word and off you go into a warm, soft bed."

Sputtering indignantly, Ermelinda screeched in frustration and stomped off toward her sleeping bag.

"How do you know we're being watched?" Sitara asked curiously.

"An obvious assumption. This organization has an invested interest in us, therefore I doubt we're as expendable as they're leading us to believe," Akasha answered. "All we have to do is endure three weeks playing silly games for their amusement. The rest will happen in due course."

Ereshkigal freeze-framed the image of Akasha Bane projected against the massive wall of the viewing room as she sat alone in her leather recliner. She grew increasingly impressed with the woman's calm, calculative intuition regarding her role as a Novitiate of the Coils of Set. She herself had to take care not to shower the Bane woman with open favoritism lest the members of the Inner Coil suspect her hidden agenda.


Kazuki awoke to the bright rays of the morning sun. He yawned and shifted, wincing in discomfort from his aching body. It made him appreciate how lucky he was that a soft bed awaited him each night after a hard day's work. Even with the slight cushioning of his sleeping bag, lying on hard-packed dirt royally sucked.

"Ermelinda and Marjani - they're gone!" Sitara exclaimed in surprise. She feared that foul play was involved.

Interesting. How did they disappear undetected? Akabane mused, looking around for signs of their flight.

"No indications of a struggle," Kendra added, brows crunching together.

"I think they just up and left. This is supposed to be a race, right?" Hera sighed and yawned. "Not that I really care..."

"I, for one, am not waiting around for something else to happen," Reinhilde said, quickly gathering her things.

"Since we're all in agreement that we should leave posthaste, may we do so after a good breakfast first?" Akasha suggested irritably.

An impatient Akabane? Himiko's mouth hung open slightly in startled amazement.


More unexpected behavior, Ban thought to himself as he mentally jotted down Himiko's expression. Which reminds me, doesn't that girl know how dangerous - not to mention forbidden - public displays of REAL magic are? What the hell's she trying to prove?

As for Dr. Feels-You-Up-Good, he seems to be holding it together well. He'll damn well need to...or we're all cooked!

It was day two in the special viewing room where Ban sat apart from the rest of the Novitiate husbands as they were forced to patiently observe their wives' individual plights.

He surreptitiously gave Ginji a glance to locate him. His best friend sat in a group with Livio, Sudarshan, Pincushion and Goldilocks. Off to the side were Kunigunde, Desya, Prince Primate and Rodeo Clown. Lurking in a corner by the wine bar were Apollinaire, Hammond and Sizwe. Ban slouched by himself on a leather couch placed near the front of the room with a bottle of premium beer, intently watching the changing images projected onto the wall of the viewing room.

"Do you fear for her?" Ereshkigal asked him as she stood silently beside the couch.

"Nah. That woman can take care of herself," Bastian replied, taking a generous swig of his beer and tossing the empty bottle into a recycling receptacle by the wine bar, barely missing a few angry heads.

"I fail to grasp what Akasha sees in you," Ereshkigal commented, truly puzzled by Bane's choice before her.

"There's just one reason she chose me, lady," Bastian said with a leer. "Cause I'm the only one who's been able to fully satisfy her." He emphasized his words by trailing a hand languidly down his bare chest to his crotch and licking his lips.

"That, young man, remains to be seen," Ereshkigal countered and smoothly straddled Bastian on the couch. The high slits of her dress exposed her long, smooth legs as she sat down and leaned forward to reveal more of her ample cleavage. Her maneuver had every male eye in the room focused on them.

"With your mistress's permission, perhaps I can test your claim?" Ereshkigal whispered suggestively, propping herself on her hands which were placed on Bastian's upper thighs, her thumbs close to his groin.

"Didn't know this place was a free-for-all," Bastian snickered. "Whatever. Sure, be my guest, lady, but I'm not the one who's gonna do the asking."

"Very well," Ereshkigal said, bending down for a taste.

"Nah-ah-ah," Bastian replied, dodging the woman's eager mouth. "No sampling the goods before approval from my Leather Empress." Bucking the woman off him, he switched places, sitting on her lap and pinning Ereshkigal's wrists on either side of her head. "It would crush me to upset my Raven Butterfly. You understand, right?"

With his whispered words caressing her left earlobe, Ereshkigal unexpectedly felt a tingle of excitement, but when Bastian tightened his grip on her wrists and slowly ground himself against her, she felt a jolt of arousal.

Strong arms instantly pulled them apart as Ereshkigal's personal bodyguards intervened, instantly ending Bastian's inappropriate behavior.

"Leave him be. We were having a harmless but...heated discussion," Ereshkigal claimed, smiling at her own pun. "I look forward to asking Akasha for permission. Until then."

Ban watched the woman leave the viewing room suspiciously. Although he found the idea of bedding Ereshkigal immensely more appealing than pretending to bed the Jackal, he knew that her sexual proposition was anything but simple. The woman was clearly up to something. Even Ginji picked up on it.

Scratching his head, he cracked his neck joints and slouched back down on the couch, lazily watching the changing images of all the Novitiates, his eyes flitting back and forth from one face to another.


"It's so hot," Hera whined. "I need a shower!"

"We all do. Let's just keep heading west and find whatever destination they want us to reach. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can all return to our rooms," Kotone said, just as tired and hot as Hera felt.

"All this drinking water's weighing us down. I'd ditch some of the canteens if I knew we were headed toward another drinkable water source," Kendra stated.

"We should also ration it, in case we never find more," Sitara suggested, then giggled suddenly. "My husband will think it's very amusing that I'm in this situation."

"How so?" Yori asked.

"Never have I ever dreamed I would go camping. Yet here I am, carrying a heavy backpack and hiking up the middle of heaven-knows-where."

Wish Hevn KNEW where, Hevn grumped to herself.

"Hey, you feeling all right?" Himiko asked a struggling Akabane. She fell back from the group and walked beside Jackal at a slower pace.

"Sadly, I think this heat's getting to me," Akabane whispered, thoroughly annoyed with the mysterious headaches that now constantly plagued him, hampering his every physical exertion. Mido's frightful concoction's wearing off. That would prove troublesome considering where I am. "I don't suppose you have any extra-strength painkillers on hand?"

"The one thing that crate didn't have was an emergency medical kit. Otherwise, you'd be nicely mellow right now," Himiko whispered back. "Maybe we should stop. You look like you're about to drop."

"Everything okay back there?" Kotone called out.

"You guys go on ahead, I'll stay and rest with Akasha here," Kendra called back.

"No. If one of us stops, we all stop," Kotone said adamantly.

"Hey, nobody made you group leader, girly-girl. I want my soft bed, a cold shower and real food that isn't freeze-dried or served out of an Insta-Pack! If you want to stay and wait, be my guest. I'm going on ahead," Hera countered, stomping forward and brushing past Kotone with a shove.

"I'll make sure she stays alive," Sitara volunteered.

Sighing, Kazuki stared at the distancing forms of Hevn and Sitara. Hope you know what you're doing, Negotiator.

"I'll be going with them. I don't feel like resting and I agree with Hera. I'm sure that when one of us reaches our goal, we can all retire to our rooms," Reinhilde stated. "I'll make sure to leave an obvious trail for you all to follow."

"Please be careful," Yori said.

Nodding, Kotone and Yori returned Reinhilde's sincere hug and watched as she caught up with Hera and Sitara.

After a generous helping of water, Akabane felt a bit better, but the fact that he'd slowed them down and split the group up, bothered him the most.

"She's right, y'know. You should leave me and chase Hera. We're supposed to be rivals, after all," Akasha said.

"Rivals or not, I won't leave anyone behind to watch them die in cold blood," Kotone expressed seriously, kneeling down beside them.

However, Kazuki was quite startled when he received a sly look from Akabane that pierced right through him. Here sat someone who had a sense of who he truly was as the Prince of Battle Terror. He would never leave anyone to die in cold blood, enemy or not...unless of course...they somehow deserved it.

One that note, Kazuki could no longer maintain steady eye contact with the subtly smiling Jackal.

Clearing a suddenly dry throat, Kazuki stood and readjusted his heavy backpack over his shoulders. "If you're feeling better, we should push on."

"I couldn't agree more," Akabane replied, allowing some assistance from Himiko as she stood to her feet.


"You think we're closer to wherever we're going?" Ermelinda asked breathily. She was tired and filthy but kept pace with the ebony-skinned woman in front of her, fearing that if she didn't, she'd be left behind to die.

"I do not know," Marjani confessed, clearly frustrated. "I have found no trail or any clue that we are on the correct path - anything that could tell us how much longer we must stay in this stinking wasteland!"

She abruptly stopped and listened until the sound of her angry voice faded as it echoed against the valley of rocks. Even a strong woman like her had her limits.

"No worse for wear, I see."

Marjani whipped around and looked up, spying two smiling faces that peered down at them from a parallel path in the rocks through the valley they were crossing.

"You."

"How eloquent. Such a delight to meet to you again," Amarantha replied sarcastically as she and Faustine slowly wormed their way down to join them.

"Now, only Jekaterina remains to be seen," Marjani said.

"If she still lives," Ermelinda mumbled softly.

"You've caught up with the others?" Amarantha asked eagerly, doing a visual tally of the clothing and camping equipment she noticed they wore and carried.

"We found Hera, Kotone, Sitara, Kendra, Reinhilde and...Akasha," Ermelinda supplied helpfully.

"Yes, but we left them behind. The Akasha woman was ill and Kotone refused to leave her," Marjani explained easily.

"Sa four of us sen?" Faustine said, edging closer to Ermelinda.

"If we must," Marjani said irritably.

"It's settled then," Amarantha said confidently, ignoring Marjani's scowling face. "As a show of good faith, I shall trade this generous piece of flint for some of the excess water you both carry."


"Someone's shadowing us," Akabane whispered.

"Want me to flush her out?" Himiko whispered back with a grin.

"Not yet, I'm curious to see what our little shadow will do," Akabane replied with a smile. "Kotone, that hill should provide us with a good view." He emphasized his statement by pointing in the direction he mentioned.

Nodding in agreement, Kazuki, Sakura and Himiko darted up the hill, Akabane right behind them at a slightly slower pace. When the group reached the top, what they saw below them was nothing less than a breathtaking vista of a miniature Grand Canyon.

"If we weren't in such a dire situation this place would be rather enjoyable," Akabane commented, taking a moment to delight in the wonder of Mother Nature.

"Didn't we have a pair of binoculars in that crate?" Kazuki asked.

"You mean these," Sakura replied with a grin. "I snatched them away before any of the other girls could." She handed them to Kazuki who immediately used them to scan the horizon.

"I see Hera and her group. We'll have no trouble catching up to them if we want to," Kazuki reported. He pushed the limits of the binoculars' magnification range and his own keen eyesight for any signs of the other Novitiates. Off in the distance, he barely made out four retreating forms. "I think I've located Marjani and Ermelinda. Seems they've found two more."

"Any sign of the finish line?" Himiko mentioned wryly.

"No. Nor do I see any kind of river or stream we could bathe in," Kazuki said, sighing. The general feeling of being hot, smelly and sticky began to bother him.

"We'd best push on," Akabane said, readjusting the backpack on his shoulders and wrapping the black zip-up top he had around his waist, exposing a loose, white shirt. "Shall we catch up to Hera, then?"


Day three of the 'Wilderness March' and a majority of the Novitiates' husbands were visibly cringing at the deplorable conditions their wives were subjected to. Kazuki's small group were the second set of Novitiates that wound their way through the dusty stone valley. Tired and dirty, they presently sought shelter from the baking heat of the afternoon sun under a large, overhanging rock.

All but one.

Trailing a distance behind Kazuki's group was a solitary figure in a dirt-riddled white evening gown (ripped short for better movement), the woman's feet wrapped in tattered fabric forming improvised hiking shoes.

"Desya, why does your wife remain behind the group like that?" Hammond asked, genuinely puzzled.

Shrugging dissuasively, the Russian nobleman nevertheless smiled at his wife's actions supportively.

"Only she knows the answer to that question," Desya answered calmly.

"Your wife's wasting her time shadowing Akasha's group," Bastian criticized. "She's better off tracking Marjani, who's way ahead of the pack."

"No action of Jekaterina is a waste," Desya replied with an even smile. "The sophistication of her mind is something someone like you can never understand."

"Ch. Whatever," Bastian said, rolling his eyes in disagreement. Hate ta burst your pink bubble, Dez, but I know she's hunting someone in that group, and I'll bet a box of a hundred-and-one scalpels that it's Akasha she's after.

"I demand that my wife, at the very least, have access to a river to bathe in," Tora spoke up suddenly, startling the men around him.

"I agree with Mori here," Kaze said and stood up in protest along with the rest of the husbands.

"Calm yourselves, gentlemen," Ereshkigal said, both arms raised in a gesture of placation. "The Novitiates must cross a river before they arrive near their intended destination. They may refresh themselves and rest undisturbed there."


The unmistakable wet scent of a large body of water that drifted with the breeze excited Akabane. A cool dip and bath would be a welcome relief to his tired, aching and dirty body. So palpable was his desire for that simple amenity that he had unconsciously darted toward the source of the scent, his fellow group-mates barely keeping up with him through the twists and turns of the valley of rocks.

"Akasha, slow down!" Kendra called out, worried that this particular type of behavior would cause suspicion. After all, who would've expected to see a filthy-rich heiress sprinting across rocky terrain like a seasoned Olympic runner?

Comparably nimble to Akabane, Kazuki could've caught up to him or stopped him with some kind of thrown projectile, but doing so would've brought the spotlight onto him, red-flagging his own actions as unbecoming of a 'prissy princess.' Gritting his teeth, he kept a measured pace behind the unpredictable Transporter hoping that this recent erratic outburst remained insignificant to their observers.

A hurdle over a half-wall of rocks at the edge of the valley produced the running stream, a rejuvenating sight to the tiny group of weary travelers. They were the last group to arrive as they watched those already gathered at the flowing stream gratefully splashing about in satisfied glee. Rather than jumping right into the cool, refreshing water, Akabane stopped at the water's edge and caught sight of a grove of trees on the other side.

"Kotone, you may join me in there," Jackal pointed out, noticing that part of the river flowed along small channels toward the grove. The leafy trees and shrubs would provide them with the crucial privacy they needed to bathe while maintaining their disguises.

"Perfect. I'm not an exhibitionist, no matter how much I feel like swimming naked in that stream right now," Kazuki laughed, his eyes widening slightly when he caught sight of someone emerging from the water. "Oh, my."

"Oh, yeah, this is what I'm talking about," Hevn growled out with a satisfied grin, prancing shamelessly past several blushing women in all her naked glory. She reached into her backpack, pulling out one of the shampoo and conditioner sets she aggressively wrestled away from a frowning Ermelinda and began lathering herself in an openly suggestive manner despite protests from some of the women present.

(Which was a sharp contrast to the appreciative ogling from some of the husbands back at the observation room as Shido averted his eyes with a blush, slowly slid down his seat in embarrassment while Ban's loud roar of unrestrained laughter filled the room)

Inside the secluded little grove, Kazuki and Akabane were relieved that Hevn's performance was a successful distraction that diverted attention away from them. The last thing they needed were the invasive eyes of curious competitors.

A soft groan made Kazuki's head swivel toward his companion. He saw Akabane rubbing his temples, wincing slightly from obvious discomfort.

"So, it is true. You are far from your usual top form," Kazuki observed as he waded closer to the Transporter, placing a cool, wet towel on Akabane's forehead.

"Rest assured that this irritating condition hampers only my efforts in this enterprise," Akabane replied. "Your chivalry is admirable but wasted on the likes of me. I can more than take care of myself."

"Even the best of us can appreciate a helping hand from time to time," came Kazuki's rebuttal.

"Duly noted," Akabane said. "In that case, you wouldn't happen to have any extra strength Ibuprofen hidden somewhere in that backpack you carry, do you?"

"No, but I've got the next best thing," Kazuki stated cheerfully. "A good friend taught me how to prepare an herbal analgesic remedy in case of emergencies. I've been gathering the ingredients during our trek across this wilderness. Soon as we're dressed, you can help me make it."

As the sun set on day three of their ordeal, two fires were soon blazing by the stream. Most of the Novitiates were present and accounted for, with the obvious exception of Jekaterina. Her whereabouts remained a mystery to most and her illogical motives for remaining hidden began to grate on a particular person.

"Drink it slowly. Sorry, I can't do anything about how it tastes," Kazuki said, cringing along with Akabane after he drank his first mouthful.

"It's disgustingly bitter but hopefully worth it," Akabane replied, struggling to drain his cup. "This mixture better not grant me a stomach ache."

"No worries. I've had it before. The bitterness is the potency. I'm guessing you wanted it as strong as I could make it," Kazuki grinned.

Grimacing, Himiko and several other women watched as Akasha drained the last drop from her cup, sputtering and coughing with a very disagreeable twist to her lips.

"I hope I provided everyone with decent entertainment," Akasha said icily, walking to the river's edge to rinse her tin cup clean.

Predictably, Marjani separated herself from the rest of the Novitiates, content to observe her competitors from a safer distance. Ermelinda, along with Amarantha, Faustine and the rest of the Novitiates had gravitated toward the lively Hera, their attention totally captivated by her over-enthusiastic delivery of the latest Hollywood gossip.

"Jekaterina. Rather than slinking in the shadows, why don't you join us by the warm fire? I find your silly attempt at cat and mouse extremely pathetic," Akasha announced loudly, voice piercing the darkness and effectively silencing the gathered Novitiates. "We're waiting."

Reluctantly, a cleaner but ragged-looking Jekaterina appeared by the fire occupied by Akabane's group.

"You've known it was me the entire time," she said flatly.

"Undoubtedly. Whatever you were trying to accomplish, my dear, is lost to me," Akasha taunted. "Were you vainly hoping we'd mistake you for one of the observers from the Coil?"

Choosing to remain silent, Jekaterina sat stiffly by the fire.

"Here," Yori said, tossing her a few folded garments. "I have some spare clothing for you. Can't vouch for the fit, though."

"Thank you," she answered quietly and left to change out of her tattered ball gown.


In a converted, dimly lit conference room in a section of the Coil compound's guest wing, Ban sat alone on a soft, leather couch stubbornly observing the Novitiates still visibly awake on the various projected images.

"Though your vigilance is admirable, we won't be leaving the Novitiates out there indefinitely," Ereshkigal stated from behind, placing both her elbows on the leather couch's backrest. "You should get some rest. I'm sure you'll be needing your strength when your mistress returns."

"I'll leave once I'm satisfied with what I've seen," Bastian replied.

"Oh? I'm sure your mistress is more than capable of handling herself among the others, as you yourself have stated. It's unfortunate, however, that she's made a fair number of enemies."

"You misunderstand. I'm not worried about Akasha," Bastian answered with a grin and was rewarded by the High Priestess' stunned face. He stood up and stretched his upper body, effectively popping a few joints, giving Ereshkigal a tantalizing view of his tightly muscled midsection.

"You know what? I guess I'm exhausted, after all. Goodnight," Bastian drawled with a wink.

Ereshkigal stared at the departing form of the young, enigmatic boy-toy companion of her sole Novitiate prospect for her personal revenge. It was blatantly obvious that the boy was flirting with her. The minute Akasha Bane returned to the compound, she would make asking for permission to share Bastian her top priority.


"So help me, if I have to channel Jane-of-the-Jungle one more time," Hera grumbled loudly, relinquishing possession of a machete - the group's only weapon - and stomping past a few smiling women who had agreed on taking turns wielding the sharp blade without much complaint. Her obvious distaste for the task was a source of great amusement.

"Reserve your bravado for the journey, Hera," Akasha suggested. "It would be a shame to lose you to this forsaken wilderness."

"Speak for yourself witch," Marjani cut through. "Whatever illness you have is slowing us down. Count yourself fortunate for the charity given by those around you." Three and a half days of forced abandonment in unfamiliar territory fueled her bubbling fury and she chose to focus a majority of it toward the one person she disliked the most.

Eyes blazing, Akasha shot back a menacing stare guaranteed to prompt lesser beings to fall to their knees. To Marjani's credit, she stood her ground.

"Listen, you Medusa, I've had quite enough lip from you, so do refrain from irritating me further."

"Or you will do what?" Marjani spat back bravely.

"You're teetering on a sss-knife's edge, I assure you," Akasha warned, wincing slightly as she strode past the ebony-skinned woman to the front of the pack. Mentally, Akabane cursed himself for his almost faux pas, nearly uttering 'scalpel' instead of 'knife.'

"Empty threat in your condition, she-rat," Marjani snickered.

"Will you quit it, Margie," Kendra called out, jogging up toward Akasha and looking back at the sneering harpy. "Unless you sincerely have a death-wish, stuff a sock in it!" Preferably, one of Hishiki's.

Himiko knew the extent of Akabane's limits having worked closely with the enigmatic Transporter for the last three years. Although Jackal rarely lost his composure during assignments, she recognized the angry timbre in Jackal's voice which was inching dangerously closer to Armageddon. If she couldn't restrain Marjani from continually provoking Akabane soon, the Coil would have one less Novitiate returning to the compound.

Sure enough, Kendra's warning only lasted a few minutes.

"What is the matter, she-devil, too tired to carry out your threat?" Marjani jeered again, the tension in the group spiking considerably.

To everyone's shock - including Marjani's - the sharp machete blade that Reinhilde was using to slash a path through the bushes, somersaulted past the amazon's face, leaving a red, bleeding line across her left cheek.

Wide-eyed, Marjani felt the painful sting as her fingers touched the fresh wound on her dark flesh. Staring past Akasha to the front of the group, her mouth parted in stunned silence.

It wasn't Reinhilde who had thrown the machete.

Instead, Marjani stared at the normally haughty, whining face of Hera Stone...a face which had morphed into something unexpectedly deadly.

"You get one warning, Marjani," the now venomous diva said steadily, approaching the still astonished amazon in a few long strides and bending down to swiftly retrieve the thrown blade embedded on the ground. "Behave now or I cut your throat."

Every pair of eyes followed Hera as she deftly twirled the machete she held, passing it back casually to Reinhilde. The German woman then resumed her task of clearing them a path through the thick vegetation as the rest of the Novitiates shuffled wordlessly behind her.

It was blessedly quiet for the rest of the day.


Ban listened to the whistles and hoots of admiration in reaction to Hera's excellent control over a potentially violent situation. Not used to being the center of attention, Shido blushed crimson as a few of the other husbands congratulated him with gestures of thumbs-up and strong claps on the back.

Slouching low on the soft leather couch, even Ban was forced to admit that Hevn's actions were something he hadn't remotely predicted. Grinning to himself, he had sorely underestimated the busty Negotiator, vowing to show her his 'approval' the minute she returned with his trademark breast-grab - a maneuver he hadn't employed on her in quite a while, his fingers twitching eagerly.

"You're one lucky chap, Tora," Hammond commended with a grin, "to have married such a brilliant specimen of a woman."

"Believe me, all the credit goes to her," Tora replied wryly. "Hera's just full of surprises."

Chuckling to himself, Ban knew the true significance of Shido's statement as he carefully glanced around the room to his fellow Retrievers, who were equally as amused by what Shido had said.

"I miss my sweet Yori," Isamu Tsugi complained loudly.

"How much longer must this go on, Priestess?" Sizwe asked angrily. "Do you intend to break all their spirits before you allow them back? Five days they have been wandering in that wasteland!"

"I'm fully aware of what is happening, Mr. Mugambi," Ereshkigal replied with a smile, languidly leaning back into her leather recliner which she'd pivoted to face them, delicately sipping vintage red wine from a crystal goblet. "It is the strength of their spirits I am testing. This organization isn't cruel, gentlemen. Your wives are in good hands."

"When is the real test to begin then?" Desya remarked, causing some of the husbands to raise their eyebrows. He crossed his arms over his chest and gazed expectantly at Ereshkigal's answering smile.

"The real test, gentlemen, shall begin shortly," the High Priestess declared, nodding approvingly at Desya. "So I suggest you all make yourselves comfortable and please," she scanned every face in the room for emphasis, "be certain you've all had enough to eat."


Leaning against the rough bark of a large tree, Akabane gazed repeatedly at Hevn who was happily the center of attention as she entertained most of the Novitiate women that sat around Amarantha's large bonfire, courtesy of the flint the English socialite successfully smuggled with her.

"The way you keep looking at her, I'll hazard to guess you may have a little crush on our buxom Ms. Hera," Kazuki teased, sitting down daintily beside Jackal.

"Absurd. I'm merely delighted by the way she handled Marjani," Akabane replied. "Also, I wish to convey my...gratitude to you for that horrid remedy you prepared for me earlier. It's keeping the pain at bay rather nicely."

"How long have you had these headaches?" Kazuki asked curiously.

"In it's entirety since the pain manifested itself: a total of four and a half months," Akabane answered softly, glancing at the feminine-faced Retriever.

"What?" Kazuki blurted out.

"They're also getting worse," Akabane sighed.

"This is serious! Have you seen a doctor?" Kazuki said, genuinely concerned.

"Yes, I have. I've seen three excellent specialists and none of them could offer any physical explanation for the cause."

Biting his lower lip briefly, Kazuki puzzled over what Jackal had told him. Personally, he couldn't fathom ignoring physical pain of that magnitude for any lengthy period. Perhaps he could request the help of Juubei's ancient medical expertise to divine a possible cause and solution for the debilitated Jackal.

"In that case, here. This canteen has more of that herbal analgesic solution I made but with the strongest bitter potency. You'll have to ration it to last you the entire test since I can't gather anymore ingredients in this area."

When Akabane began to politely refuse, Kazuki merely smiled, pushing the canteen firmly into Jackal's hands as he stood up and joined Hevn's group of women by the fire.

Sighing, Akabane stared at the military canteen roughly etched with a smiley face on both sides and shook his head in acquiescence, mystified by the amount of aid offered to him by rival Retrievers.

This type of situation was one of the reasons he preferred to work alone. The avoidance of being indebted to anyone freed him from returning any favors. At the rate he was going, he might end up owing a favor to every member of this operation's Recovery team!

That, I will not allow, Akabane said to himself resolutely as he nestled the special canteen deep inside his backpack, his eyes squinting in annoyance when his peripheral vision caught Marjani soundlessly sneaking away from the safety of the campsite.

After a momentary scan to ascertain no one in the camp was watching him, Akabane slipped behind the trunk of the large tree he'd been leaning against and bounded up it's limbs as far as the branches physically allowed him. His high vantage point revealed a faint, blue light twinkling away in the distance - the same direction Marjani had disappeared to. The First Test's 'finish line' perhaps? It was definitely worth investigating.

On his way down, another urgent question percolated in his head: should he divulge his discovery to the other Novitiates?

Smiling insidiously, Akabane knew that Himiko would notice his absence sooner rather than later. Gathering his backpack and readjusting the fit of his traveling fatigues, Jackal pursued Marjani, his retreating form quickly fading into the wilderness's inky darkness.


Reckless move, even for you, Jackal, Ban grumbled to himself, frowning as he slouched, sinking comfortably into the leather couch he'd claimed for himself in the Coil's special observation room. With his thumb, he easily popped the metal cap off his third beer in the last hour, guzzling down the cold, amber liquid in one long swallow and marathon-burping unashamedly, eliciting protests from some of the room's occupants. The anxious tension surrounding him was thick enough to slice a knife through as the other Retrievers glanced nervously in his direction, dreading the next bullheaded maneuver that suited his mood. Rolling his eyes, he resisted the urge to do a double 'middle-finger-salute' to his fellow Retrievers seated behind him out of irritation.

A soft shuffling of footfalls made him glance sharply to his left.

"What do you want?" Ban asked acridly. Part of him welcomed Ginji's company but was more concerned with keeping up appearances, always careful that both of them didn't look too chummy.

"Mind if I sit next to you, Bastian? You're kinda hogging the comfy couch," Kin said tiredly. His downtrodden expression produced a flash of worry in Ban's eyes.

Shrugging, Bastian moved over slightly, turning his head with a bored sigh as he reached over the armrest to grab a beer from the mini-fridge on the floor beside them, generously offering a bottle to his new couch buddy.

"No, thanks," Kin softly refused. "I haven't eaten anything and beer in my empty tummy's just gonna make me puke."

"Gotcha," Bastian replied, shutting the mini-fridge door firmly and shifting back to his slouched position. After a moment of tossing the cold bottle of beer end over end in one hand, he glanced to his silent friend beside him curiously. "Why don't you skedaddle and go get something to eat then?"

"I'm not hungry."

Ban's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Had he HEARD that right? He was pleased that his blonde friend played his role nicely but he knew that Ginji wasn't that good of an actor! He definitely must've nodded off to sleep because there was no way in bippity-boppity hell he ever expected Ginji to say the impossible! Something odd was happening to his best friend and his mind hastily formulated a plan to go and talk to him in private.

"Whatever's bothering you is none of my business, Kin, but if ya wanna sit here, ya gotta stop looking like you kicked yer pet puppy to death," Ban pretended to complain.

Snapping his beer bottle's cap off with his white feral teeth, Ban leaned back and spat it high in the air, watching as the little tin projectile landed inside the High Priestess's titanium ice bucket with a satisfying plink.

Snickering at his own antics and pleased that it did the trick, Ban's peripheral vision caught Ginji's smile of amusement at his modest stunt, the murmurs of disapproval in the room making him grin wider.

Without turning her chair, Ban watched Ereshkigal's bejeweled arm extend toward the small glass table beside her, and using the tips of her long, immaculately manicured fingernails, fished out the offending object from her ice bucket which she threw to the ground. A servant girl immediately appeared and swept it away.

"Now that you've livened yourself at my expense, Bastian, could you kindly refrain yourself for the time being? I'm sure you'll be needing your undivided attention for what's coming," Ereshkigal reminded him, her chair remaining turned toward the large white wall of moving projected images.

Glaring mischievously at the back of the High Priestess's leather chair, Bastian replied, "whatever you say, lady."

The lights slowly dimmed in the room signaling everyone's attention toward the ever-changing pictures of two scenes. On the left was Himiko informing the other Novitiates around their campfire that two of their group was missing, while on the right, Jackal was reaching a natural cave that led deep inside a mountain where the bright, blue twinkling light originated.

"Lights, camera, action," Ban whispered to himself.


Treading fleetly but silently across the forest floor, Akabane caught up to Marjani who had fearlessly raced ahead into the dark wilderness toward a faint, blue, blinking light. He kept his distance behind her, shadowing her movements until they reached a solid wall at the base of a mountainous rock formation where they found the partially concealed mouth of a cave. Without hesitation, Marjani sprinted through the cave opening.

A bit more cautiously, Akabane skidded to a stop at the cave's entrance and noticed a line of hanging unlit torches, one for every Novitiate participant. Apparently, Marjani had seen the torches during her running approach and quickly ripped one free of it's cord. He chose the nearest one and entered the dark cave.

Inside the cave, it was pitch black. How could Marjani have navigated her way in complete darkness? Jackal suspected that perhaps the annoying amazon really could see in the dark.

Around the first bend, Akabane saw the faint glow of retreating torchlight ahead of him. He fumbled with the pockets of his sport-top and found a small lighter - a little prize he'd kept for himself from the contents of the supply crate - and lit his torch. It blazed brightly, illuminating his surroundings.

The cave's passageway was tall and narrow, the walls damp and mossy, the air humid and uncomfortable. After walking down the long, stone tunnel for fifteen minutes, Akabane winced and rubbed at his temples. Stopping momentarily, he drank a few mouthfuls of the Threadmaster's bitter-tasting medicine, lessening the pain of his throbbing head. Compared to Ban's concoction - which tasted a hundred times worse - this particular herbal remedy's analgesic effects only lasted half as long. Cursing to himself, Akabane returned the smiley-faced canteen to the bottom of his backpack as he continued down the monotonous stone tunnel.

We're heading down. How much deeper will we go? Akabane wondered, having traveled down a sloped passageway after a second bend in the cave for the last twenty-five minutes.

The air is getting insufferably more humid, he complained, wiping the sweat dripping from his face with the sleeve of his sport-top tied to his waist. The stifling heat was slowing him down and he'd taken more breaks than he normally needed, the torch and backpack he carried increasing in weight with every step. Another twenty-five minutes of walking and it irritated him that he'd somehow lost track of Marjani. The soft glow of her torchlight was no longer in front of him. Perhaps she had noticed him following her and was waiting in ambush? Shrugging to himself, he continued on, curious to determine what the dark-skinned amazon had in mind.

Sweating profusely in the high humidity of the cave had a major drawback that gave Akabane some worry. His body was metabolizing the liquids he ingested at a much faster pace, thereby reducing the vital analgesic properties of the Threadmaster's herbal remedy an additional half its intended duration. He had to take extra care not to overexert himself or he'd risk collapsing deep inside a mountain cave with no hope of being rescued.

I'm hardly optimistic the Coil would waste their precious personnel on a search and rescue party for a lowly Novitiate vying for an 'honored' position within their sect, Akabane thought wryly. And, how much longer must I endure -

A distant startled yelp that echoed throughout the passageway immediately sent him running. Around a third bend in the tunnel was when he felt the blessed caress of a soft breeze - which in actuality was merely warm air in motion, but it was better than nothing.

The warm breeze came from a perfectly rounded, narrow hole in the stone floor of the passageway where the tunnel simply ended. Also, rather than the hole leading straight down, it was created at a strange angle. Staring at the hole in disbelief, Akabane knelt down to give it a closer inspection.

This hole is man-made, Akabane exclaimed to himself in surprise. The sides are incredibly smooth. If Hevn were here, I'm sure she'd propose a few amusing theories on how this was done, he chuckled. Obviously some kind of machine was used to tunnel a hole deeper down to...where? Also, this hole presents an interesting problem. It's not large enough to fit my body and backpack at the same time.

Looking around him briefly, there wasn't any sign that the amazon had been there at all. Had Marjani succeeded in taking both her backpack and torch with her?

He considered the choice of pushing the backpack ahead of him but he risked losing it if the other end of the tunnel proved to be treacherous; most likely resulting in Marjani's earlier outcry.

Sighing, he emptied the contents of his backpack and decided on the barest necessities. He bound two canteens and a small skinning knife to the front of his body then stuffed every pocket of a cargo zipper-top with as much food rations as it could carry. Keeping one foot on the lip of the hole, Akabane doused his torch with his sweat dampened sport-top. Relying solely on touch and recollection, he disrobed and replaced his sweaty fatigues with cleaner, drier garments.

Well, here goes. It's a good thing I'm not claustrophobic, Akabane said to himself as he eased his body carefully into the hole. However, he hadn't anticipated on how remarkably slippery the sides of the hole really were and with a startled yelp, his body slid down rapidly, gaining momentum along the length of the hole.

This place is a blasted fun-house! Akabane groused angrily as he tried in vain to slow his descent by pushing his hands and feet against the sides of the narrow hole. That's when he realized that not only were the sides incredibly smooth, they were coated with a thin film of greasy grime that aided in speeding him along toward a possible early demise.

The air...it's changing, Akabane noticed. He was nearing the other end of the narrow hole...but at the speed he was going...

Bracing himself for the inevitable, he felt the narrow, cylindrical passageway disappear completely as he was pitched into empty air, his body free-falling from a great height. He squinted to get a better look below him but it was too dark to make out an image. His sense of smell, however, told him exactly what awaited him.

Water. A great deal of it.

Instantly, he tucked his arms and legs tightly against him, his body straight as an arrow as he took one last sniff for distance. Inhaling a substantial lung-full of air, he held his breath. Soon enough, his body hit the water like a torpedo, piercing into the murky darkness of the mineral-heavy liquid. He struggled to the surface with barely enough oxygen, his loud, desperate intakes of breath echoing in the empty chamber.

Weak from exertion, Akabane drifted slowly in the water till he felt a shoreline. He lifted his waterlogged body out and onto the stone ledge, coughing out the last of the water from his lungs. His body was sore and to his tremendous annoyance, the pain in his head progressed from a lingering ache to a thudding throb.

Slumping down and rolling onto his back, he laid on the rough floor of the large stone chamber listening to his heavy breathing and the resounding drip, splash, drip of sloshy water as it rippled and crashed against the stone shoreline. He laid unmoving for some time until the rise and fall of his chest returned to normal, unhurried intervals. The cave was quiet and peaceful as it lulled him into a sense of comfort, his eyelids feeling heavier.

Need just a few minutes rest...Akabane told himself.

There was the presence of someone looming over him.

Akabane suddenly jolted awake, unaware that he'd drifted off into a deep sleep. Cursing his carelessness, he sat up quickly, the foreboding sensation of being watched still lingering.

Brilliant. I'm sure Mido's having a wonderful laugh at me right now: the villainous Dr. Jackal caught napping on the job, Akabane thought to himself in disgust as he drank a generous gulp of the Threadmaster's medicine. I'm even sorely tempted to try jamming this skinning knife into my brain to cease these troublesome migraines!

After a few deep breaths to calm himself, Akabane stood up and tried wringing as much water as he could out of his damp garments, searching the bulging pockets of his zipper-top for his lighter, hoping that it still functioned. When he managed to coax the lighter into action, its tiny flame did little to illuminate his surroundings.

What I wouldn't give for a flashlight right now, Akabane sighed.

As if on cue, several points of torchlight lit the stone chamber all around him revealing the area to be very large and very beautiful. Formations of glittering stalactites and stalagmites twisted and turned in every direction and he watched as the lazily flowing underground river meandered along, moving in one direction away from him.

There was now enough light inside the chamber to guide him on his way as he followed the flow of the river, carefully watching his steps on the rough and slippery sections of the cave. The soft, but warm breeze persisted and churned the damp, humid air around him, teasing the beads of sweat on his skin. After a few more minutes of walking, one question had persistently needled him.

Where the hell did that damn amazon run off to? Akabane thought irritably. There should have been some sign of her along the way but there was nothing. No tracks, no footprints. It's as if she'd disappeared into thin air! If the Coil had something to do with her spectacular nonexistence, then why do I still feel -

Startled, Akabane barely moved out of the way as something large lunged past him from behind.

Marjani!

The proud amazon was now crouched across from him in a confident battle stance - much like a hunting lioness - her body coiled, ready to spring at him again. There was an abnormally savage aura emanating from her that caused Akabane's eyebrows to raise in surprise. He was hardly in any shape to retaliate with a full offensive and settled instead on his defensive reflexes to dodge and feint away from the pouncing madwoman.

Trying to eliminate the competition early, I see, Akabane snickered in amusement. Quite amateurish of you, Marjani, you disappoint me.

The successful series of maneuvers he employed to avoid Marjani's attacks had begun to frustrate her. She growled more fiercely and lunged more carelessly toward him.

Time to end our little tap dance, my dear. I'm getting tired.

Edging his way closer to the river, Akabane timed his final evasion of her perfectly. Grinning in smug satisfaction, he watched as the annoying amazon coughed and sputtered her way out of the water, her hands reaching frenziedly for the shoreline.

"Are you quite finished?" Akasha taunted sweetly with her arms crossed, standing a safe distance away from the furious dark-skinned woman.

"For now," Marjani replied sourly, heaving herself out of the water and shaking the excess liquid away from her entire body like a wet alley cat on fast forward.

"Charming," Akasha commented evenly. "Shall we continue on?"

Neither trusting the other to walk behind them, Akabane and Marjani trekked side by side at a measured pace along the torch-lit stone chamber.

"I realize you're itching to kill me at the first opportunity, Marjani, but if you'll permit me to be candid, in our present situation, I find your constant death threats toward me rather cliché," Akasha said tiredly, rolling her eyes at the menacing glare she received in response to her statement. "Wouldn't it be better sporting of us to battle on equal footing in a more appealing environment? I'm sure you're just as fed up as I am about this whole wilderness excursion we've been forced to endure. I'd truly like to get this over with quickly so we can all return to the comfort of our bedrooms."

Rather than reply with her usual frowning and glaring responses, Marjani turned her face away from Akasha's knowing gaze and preoccupied herself by following the flow of the river. She remained this way for some time before her gaze shifted forward and she spoke quietly.

"Very well. A truce for now, but when I challenge you again, we will fight to the death."

"I would expect nothing less," Akasha replied with a genuinely cheerful smile that unsettled the dark-skinned amazon.

Marjani then stopped in her tracks when Akasha added a playful wink, giggling and walking ahead, recklessly exposing her back to an attack. The irrational audacity of the Bane woman's actions were enough to shock her rigid with confusion until she had to sprint to catch up.

(Who else but our dear Dr. Jackal would smile sweetly in the face of a blatant death threat. xD)

The unlikely pair followed the path of torches that meandered them through the underground chamber alongside the lazy river. By Akabane's count, they had been walking for nearly two hours with both of them showing marginal signs of fatigue. He then silently and reluctantly commended Marjani for being comparably efficient with him on conserving energy.

"The river is flowing faster," Marjani spoke in a flat, matter-of-fact manner.

"Indeed. I've noticed it as well," Akasha replied. "That could only mean one thing."

An understanding passed between them when they exchanged glances, nodding slightly to each other.

"I will meet you at the river's edge, she-snake, but I will not wait long," Marjani said with a smirk.

"As I overheard an adorable acquaintance once say, 'last one there is a rotten egg,'" Akasha remarked slyly and launched herself forward in a full run.

Marjani and Akasha approached what they thought would be the edge of a waterfall. Instead, what they found was the formerly lazy river flowing faster down a naturally worn hole through solid rock that caused a rather menacing-looking whirlpool.

"They want us to drown," Marjani said, frowning, staring at the fiercely flowing current.

"Perhaps...and I see that you've lost your supplies," Akasha noted out loud.

"Yes, I lost my bag in the fall. It was too heavy and I had no breath left to find it," Marjani replied, shrugging, and added, "the water from this river is safe to drink but food will be harder to find."

"I'll share my rations with you if you ask nicely," Akasha offered.

"I would gladly starve."

Grunting her immense disapproval of her rival's statement, Marjani took a deep breath and plunged fearlessly into the rapidly flowing water, instantly disappearing deep down into the whirlpool caused by the naturally formed tunnel.

Himiko isn't going to like this one, Akabane thought worriedly. He knew some of Lady Poison's limits and this was one of them. Using his skinning knife, he carved a glyph on a nearby rock, one of a set of many symbols that he, Magaruma and Kudo had invented to secretly relay instructions to one another on joint assignments. The particular symbol he chose expressed encouragement.

Best of luck, Lady Poison, he thought fondly.

He unbound the second canteen of water he carried, keeping only the Threadmaster's concoction and some of the tastier food rations. Once satisfied that his supplies wouldn't hamper a possible lengthy swim, Akabane took a deep breath and joined Marjani in the depths of a watery unknown.

Not long after the pair had plunged into the river, the footfalls and soft chatter of female voices from the rest of the Novitiates slowly neared the area.

As Akabane had anticipated, it was pitch black all around him while the swift current bore his body along the stone tunnel's undeterminable length. The loud rush of flowing water in a confined space filled his ears. He kept his limbs tucked close, hoping that the air in his lungs lasted him the journey.

Without warning, the tunnel walls were gone and his body plunged feet first into another body of water below him. Akabane gasped for air as he broke the surface, scanning quickly for the shoreline and spotted Marjani sitting on the ground tightly clutching at her right shoulder.

Letting the current of the water carry him toward the shore, the dark-skinned amazon's soft moans of pain greeted him as he approached.

"I hit my shoulder," Marjani said with gritted teeth.

"May I have a look?" Akasha offered. "I dated a brilliant doctor once upon a time and I have yet to meet anyone else of her caliber."

At Marjani's puzzled expression, Akasha couldn't help but laugh.

"What? You didn't think me the type to date women?"

"I...what?"

"Never you mind. All you need know is that I'm more than qualified to assess your physical injuries and let's leave it at that," Akasha said cryptically.

Although very mistrustful of the Bane woman, Marjani's painfully throbbing shoulder made the decision for her as she reluctantly allowed the enigmatic she-snake to touch her.

"It's badly dislocated but nothing I can't fix," Akasha said. "The pain you feel now will worsen considerably when I try to pop this back into place."

"Do what you must," Marjani mumbled.

"I'm truly shocked that you're letting me," Akasha replied with raised eyebrows.

"I will have my shoulder examined again when we return. If I find that you were incorrect and caused me permanent injury, I will not hesitate to kill you."

"Fair enough," Akasha acknowledged with a nod. "On three, then? One, two - "

Unprepared for the immense jolt of pain, Marjani's agonized scream of outrage and surprise was heard throughout the stone chamber.


Himiko stared in horror at the next required task. Even Akabane's hastily etched reassurance did nothing to ease her fear.

"Kendra, you look pale. Are you ill?" Reinhilde asked. The question unfortunately brought everyone's full attention toward Hanayaka.

"No," she replied and tried to smile. "I just don't like water in tight spaces."

"Truly not our concern," Amarantha declared coldly. Her eyes caught the glances of other women with her that agreed. Not interested in rebuttals to her insensitive comment, she, along with Jekaterina and Faustine, plunged into the water.

"Well, girly, there's no other way out of here but through there," Hera said, pointing to the naturally formed hole that reminded her of a large bathtub drain. However, being reminded of the comfort of a bath which she sorely craved and couldn't get, made her crankier. "Suck it up, honey, or you'll get left behind."

With that parting remark, Hera plugged her nose shut with her fingers and leapt feet first into the river.

Other women followed but left kinder, more encouraging words behind. Still shaking and slightly pale, Himiko was so focused on calming herself that it took some time for her to notice that the only person remaining with her was Threadmaster Kazuki.

"Hera's right, Kotone. You shouldn't stay here. Go. This is something I have to face on my own," Himiko said softly.

"That's where you're wrong," Kazuki replied with a smile and held out his hand. When she shyly took it, he whispered in her ear, "my sources could be wrong but I heard that a certain notorious Transporter known as Lady Poison can hold her breath far longer than humanly possible."

Himiko couldn't help but smile. "Fine. Let's do this before I lose my nerve."

Quickly bundling his hair back into a tight, braided bun, Kazuki took Himiko's outstretched hand and held it firmly as the pair took deep breaths, plunging quickly into the water.


Gingerly rotating her shoulder, Marjani carefully assessed her current condition. The pain from the relocation of her shoulder had lessened somewhat but a throbbing ache lingered. Despite the soreness of her arm, she could now use it.

"I would've been more concerned about how you managed to carry that machete strapped to your back like that," Akasha commented.

"I have carried many blades sharper than this one," was the amazon's simple answer. "We must go."

"Looks like they want us to walk that way," Akasha offered, pointing to a narrow opening just a few meters ahead.

Similar to the previous chamber, scattered torchlight illuminated their surroundings; their new subterranean location having comparatively beautiful rock formations as the first one. Neither of the women, however, spared no additional time examining the area and instead jogged straight toward the only visible exit. When they approached, the opening looked more like a crack which ran from top to bottom along the solid rock wall than an actual entrance.

Their way out proved to be much narrower than they expected.

"Bit of a rough squeeze," Akabane grumbled as he and Marjani wormed their way along the tight passageway. "This should challenge those most claustrophobic among us."

No words were spoken for some time as both women edged along the narrow exit. Then, quite unexpectedly, Akabane felt a tight grip on his arm.

"Wait. Quiet. Stop moving," Marjani suddenly demanded. "Do you - "

"Smell the air?" Akasha interrupted glibly.

"Feel the air."

"Yes, it's very slight but unmistakable," Akasha said excitedly. A movement of air was wafting against them and it wasn't humid. It was cooler and crisper than what they've been forced to endure during their entire cavernous trek.

The pair quickened their pace as they sidestepped their way closer to the source of the fresher, cooler air.

"Seems the Coil expect us to claw around in the dark again," Akasha commented, squinting in the dim light.

"So it would seem," Marjani agreed, gliding her fingers along a section of rock ahead of her. The narrow opening was so tight that even the width of their slim bodies barely managed to fit through it and the only light available to them came from the torches burning at the mouth of the opening. A few more steps and they would be engulfed by complete darkness.

"Try to keep up, she-snake," she added with a smirk.

"Anywhere, anytime, Margie," Akabane retorted back sweetly in his most refined feminine intonation. He recalled the taunting nickname Himiko had used and it produced the desired effect.

Growling lowly in her throat, Marjani tried to place as much distance as she could between her and the irksome Bane woman.

Unaware of cleverly placed cameras several meters above them, high definition video feed from wide-angle night-vision lenses relayed their progress.

The pair diligently squeezed themselves along the narrow opening, much like insects slithering their way through a bed of sand. The zero visibility they were left with also made it difficult to judge how much longer they needed to continue in this manner.

"Do you hear that?" Marjani exclaimed out loud in excitement. The rush of outside air was now stronger and faster as it whistled past them, cooling their damp skin.

Spurred with renewed strength by this simple fact, the pair hurried along the passageway, neither caring of the many scrapes and cuts they received on their exposed skin from the roughest parts of the stone surface pressing against their bodies.

"I never wish to see a cave again for the rest of my life," Akabane muttered the moment they were free of their cavernous prison of rock.

The pair collapsed to the ground from exhaustion and relief, both openly rejoicing as they gazed at the starry, night sky above them. They greedily breathed in the fresher, cooler air, their bodies and splayed limbs revelling in the unconfined, open space around them.

"I think I'll sleep right here," Akasha said and closed her eyes.

"Reckless she-snake," Marjani mumbled but followed her example.


From the comfort of their observation room, not all the Novitiates' husbands present cheered for the sleeping Akasha and Marjani.

"What are they doing?" Sizwe said, outraged. "They must push on!"

"They're exhausted, you moron. Are you really that dense?" Ban commented with a laugh, turning around to face Sizwe Mugambi from his comfortable leather couch at the front of the room. "Blind, deaf and dumb. You're a winning catch."

Before any of the other husbands could stop him, Sizwe launched himself forward with a roar, his arms outstretched, his hands eagerly reaching forward to wrap firmly around Ban's neck.

Just as quickly, Ban danced out of the angry man's way, grinning with delight as he cracked his knuckles.

"About fucking time you got your fat ass over here," Ban taunted out loud. "Let's see if your bite's as bad as your bark." He figured that one well-placed punch to the jaw would knock Sizwe out cold but his right fist never made contact.

Ban felt it even before it happened. Heard the words in ancient Sumerian whispered in a flurry of purpose from a corner of the observation room. The unseen force that loomed in the air which froze both him and Sizwe in their tracks was formidable, but not unbreakable, at least by his standards. He was even sorely tempted to utter a counter-spell to the Priestess's attempt but he was preoccupied with a more urgent matter. The entity that shared his body took a mighty offense to being restrained in such a manner that it took all of Ban's strength of will to force Asclepius into silence.

Fuck me, that was too close, Ban said to himself, panting. If he had failed to reign in his ethereal tenant, their mission and all they had accomplished would be razed to cinder, not to mention the unfortunate scope of the collateral damage. It was a picture-perfect tragedy that he quickly dispelled from his mind. After all, as a wielder of Asclepius' power, the covenant demanded nothing less than the absolute and indiscriminate destruction of his enemies.

There would have been no survivors, the compound and miles beyond it reduced to nothing...with the possible exception of Ginji. Much like him, his best friend possessed an enigmatic and inexplicable power, the only phenomenon of its kind he'd ever witnessed that was able to withstand the full brunt of his own. He now admitted that he'd sorely underestimated Ginji as an opponent when they'd first met...but not anymore. He'd grown to admire his blond buddy now more than ever. Of course, he'd never say that admission out loud.

Ginji saw the momentary flash of an impending - and thankfully averted - apocalypse in Ban's shielded, fiery eyes. He released a breath of relief, winking playfully at his best-est friend. It was a reckless maneuver but he simply had to let Ban know that everything was fine, his wink a lame attempt at patting his good buddy on the back. He stifled a laugh when Ban narrowed his eyes at him slightly.

"I shall not have this kind of barbaric behavior in my presence. Is that understood, gentlemen?" Ereshkigal stated in a clear, commanding tone, glaring menacingly at both Bastian and Sizwe in turn. "That will be my only warning," she added darkly, releasing Ban and Sizwe from their invisible cages. "When your wives return, I'm sure we can arrange a more suitable location if the two of you still feel inclined to kill each other."

"I'm ready anytime Grundo here decides he wants a piece of me," Ban replied flippantly.

"Killing you, insolent brat, would be a pleasure," Sizwe ground out.

"A showdown at high noon then?" Ban said with a shrug. "Your funeral, buddy."

"Enough!" Ereshkigal screamed, her eyes flaring with unearthly color. Without warning, both Mugambi and Bastian were flung apart in opposite directions, both landing roughly and abruptly. The robustly built African man flew to the back of the room, hitting the wall and crashing onto the refreshment table, rendering him unconscious. Ban slammed hard against the High Priestess's solid leather chair with a yelp, as he and the chair were propelled backwards, knocking the wind out of him.

The room was suddenly in chaos with various reactions and protests flung at the Priestess by some of the husbands while the rest went to assist the fallen men.

"Ow, ow, ow...that fucking bitch," Ban hissed through clenched teeth. He tried moving but his body was uncooperative. "Shit, this is gonna bruise."

"A hand up, young sir?"

It was a voice Ban never expected to hear. Disbelief made him look up, his head throbbing with the effort and he barely managed to contain a wince. Ginji was beside him as well and remained silent, but worry was plain as daylight on his friend's face. Tearing his eyes away from Ginji before he was tempted to thump him, he stared for a few moments at Hammond Ashford's outstretched hand.

"Sure, why the hell not?" Bastian muttered, gripping Hammond's hand tightly as he stood up carefully with both the Englishman and Ginji's assistance. They steadied him when he swayed with the spinning room.

"Anyone that can stand up to that kind of punishment deserves my respect," Hammond said in admiration, his mind still in awe from what he'd just witnessed. Bastian grunted his acknowledgment. "I've never seen such a display of supernatural power."

Power? That woman's cheap parlor tricks? That stupid bitch is messing with forces she can't even begin to comprehend, Ban wanted to say but kept his mouth shut. A glance at Ereshkigal confirmed his suspicion. She was leaning heavily against one of her handmaidens, her eyes wide and looking like she'd just run a competitive Triathlon on her last breath.

When the girl Ianna had told them of the High Priestess's possession, Ban hadn't put much stock into it. He'd almost forgotten about it when he hadn't sensed anything worth worrying about from Ereshkigal's aura, not even during the physical contact he had with the woman during their little straddle-grind...until the incident that happened only minutes earlier. Whatever entity it was that had attached itself to Ereshkigal, it was clearly and most definitely real...and it was evil. The spike of power he felt during his second mishap under the Priestess's reckless temper was indeed formidable and might even give Asclepius an actual challenge for once.

This is one whopper of a complication we hadn't anticipated. Fucking hell! This isn't good at all, Ban said to himself. The other members of their motley Recovery team must've sensed his trepidation as they all openly stared at him with troubled faces.


The Infinity Fortress loomed far above him as he crossed deeper into Lower Town's territory. With every step he took, the menacing monolith seemed to be sneering at him, daring him to enter and pry forth its secrets. He'd returned for some answers and to confront a certain someone to help him with his currently debilitating physical problem.

He'd traveled through Lower Town without incident and sought a passageway he'd used years ago when he was once a resident of the uppermost floors. When he turned a corner, his eyes traveled over unfamiliar territory. He wandered alone in a dark, desolate area that was oppressively foreboding and curiously silent.

"Even now, at thy right hand, until this cursed Fate is spent..."

I know that voice!

The voice pierced the silence and seemed to be emanating around him from everywhere at once.

"...is the one who houses Asclepius, who descends from the Milky Way on high..."

I've heard those words before.

Akabane concentrated carefully and tried to pinpoint the origin of the familiar voice. The familiar words.

"Therefore, I invoke thee."

The origin of the voice was suddenly behind him.

Mido!

The young GetBacker now stood a short distance from him and slithered forward like a mythical dragon preparing to defend itself from an errant knight that wanted its head for a trophy.

Is it our final dance, then? Will you kill me this time, Ban?

The Jaganmaster's stride never changed as the boy strode purposefully toward him.

I still believe that you could have...when we fought in this place not so long ago...so why didn't you kill me then?

Mido had stopped walking and stood only inches away from him, so close, that all he had to do was lift his arm to effortlessly touch him. The boy just stood there looking at him with predatory, searing blue eyes, his face a blank mask. He could feel the danger and power radiating off the slight, trim frame...and it excited him! It was an electricity of anticipation he'd never felt before. The sensation made his heart race and his breath quicken.

Then movement.

Ban's eyelids narrowed and a smile grew dramatically on his lips until it was an impossibly wide grin, the young man's pearly-white teeth glistening and revealing a pair of fangs dripping with venom.

When the boy leaned in closely toward his face, he held his breath and Ban whispered tenderly in his ear, "Feed with your Fangs of Poison."

Faster than he could've anticipated, Ban's hands clamped on his arms and held him in place. The boy's head then dipped lower and he felt the sharp, excruciating pain of two poison-filled fangs piercing his throat.

"Ah!" Akabane yelped in surprise as his eyes flew open. He cursed, shutting them again out of reflex when the brightness of the morning sun nearly blinded him. Shielding his eyes with his arms as he laid on the hard ground, he tried to process the bizarre dream while he waited for his vision to adjust.

Mido wasn't a dragon...he seemed more like some kind of...celestial sn -

"I could have killed you while you slept," Marjani said, emphasizing her point by poking Akasha's throat with the tip of her machete.

Luckily, the blade had somewhat dulled from repeated use, otherwise, the woman's stunt would've left a nasty cut on the skin of his throat. Akabane sighed, he wasn't exactly at the top of his game at the moment. His head was throbbing, his throat was parched and his exposed skin felt slightly sunburned.

Marjani had no idea how fortunate Fate had been to her. In his mind's eye Akabane had already killed her mercilessly - many times over - without so much as a twitch, each scenario progressing with such unabashed brutality he might have made the Lord of Hades himself look away. He also considered her a kill so insignificant that her mangled corpse was unworthy of even bearing his signature 'J.' He'd have to carve his symbol clean off her body before punting her mutilated carcass off the ledge they'd slept on.

Feeling better from his morbid daydream, Akabane pushed aside the blade against his throat, sat up and leaned back, resting most of his weight on his arms.

"What stopped you then?" Akasha challenged, looking calmly and curiously at her competitor.

"Because there is no honor in doing so," Marjani answered, sheathing the machete behind her back as it's scabbard rested along her spine.

"All's fair in love, war and a Novitiate cat-fight," Akasha retorted with a smile. "How can you trust me not to have done the same to you last night?"

"I am a light sleeper. You were snoring so loudly that I was able to rest knowing exactly where you were last night," Marjani replied with a grin.

"I do not snore," Akasha sputtered in outrage. She glared indignantly as the ebon-skinned woman laughed heartily and walked toward the edge of their stone platform. Just one swift kick to the back of her legs...

He'd nearly done it too if it wasn't for the distraction of watching Marjani as she leapt onto the flat but precariously small top of a tall, stone pole that stretched high enough out of the deep chasm that separated their ledge from the other side. Peering over the edge, Akabane marveled at how impossibly tall the collection of columns were, scattered before him. They were ancient and probably man-made, entirely covered in intricate carvings of symbols and images he didn't recognize. He recalled that Mido had proven to be a delightful repository of information in some of their longer conversations. He made a mental note to consult the Jaganmaster regarding the symbols he'd seen when he returned to the Coils of Set compound.

It was obvious that their next set of tests had begun. With a slight wince, Akabane stood to his feet and observed Marjani as she leapt from column to column confidently balancing herself with every landing.

I suppose it's my turn to cross this obstacle course, Akabane said to himself. He untied the Threadmaster's canteen from around his waist and drank every drop of the remaining liquid. He then patted himself down, found that all the food rations he'd hidden away in the pockets of his sport top were gone and he knew exactly who the culprit was. Discarding the empty canteen at his feet, Akabane calculated the quickest possible route along the grid of stone poles.


"I hate this place!" Hera's scream of frustration echoed loudly in the large stone chamber. The other women shared her disgruntlement but remained quiet. "Someone's head's gonna to roll for this shit when I get back to my room."

She squeezed the excess water from her hiking clothes and her hair, her ill temper fueled by fatigue and hunger.

Most of the women were forced to leave their backpacks behind as each of them creatively carried whatever food or water they could spare for their journey. Hevn had eaten the last bar of her rations and guarded the remaining water in her canteen like a rabid she-bear.

"Looks like they want us to go that way," Kotone suggested, pointing to a narrow slit a few paces away on the cavern's rock wall. Looking around, everyone was present and accounted for except for Akasha and Marjani who were both well ahead of them.

"Are they mad? We can't possibly fit in there," Amarantha Hammond declared in outrage. Faustine, Ermelinda, and Reinhilde were equally as unimpressed and distressed by the narrow opening.

"Our only flashlight's waterlogged and useless. Well, ladies, looks like we're crawling around in the dark," Kendra announced, fluffing her hair with her fingers and combing it out of her eyes. Himiko counted her lucky stars that she wasn't subjected to caring for ridiculously long hair like her other companions.

"It's a tight squeeze but we can all manage it," Kotone said and blushed when she glanced at Hera. "Well, most of us, anyway."

"I'm sure part of your traditional Japanese upbringing included breast-binding? It's the only way you can hope to squeeze yourself into those tiny kimono's you wear," Hera said snidely, making Kotone's blush darker.

"How barbaric," was Amarantha's unwelcome comment.

Ignoring her, Kotone stepped toward Hera with her chin held high and offered to help 'protect' her excessively large chest area.

"Are you going by yourself?" Ermelinda said in surprise when Amarantha disappeared into the cave wall's narrow opening. It wasn't long before Jekaterina, Sitara, a very reluctant Faustine and Ermelinda joined the Englishwoman's brave lead.

"There's no point in you all staying behind to watch," Kotone directed toward the remaining women. Kazuki added pieces of his own clothing for more wrapping fabric. "I can handle this myself, you girls go on ahead."

"I'm waiting for someone to scream," Reinhilde spoke with a grin. "It will give us something to expect." The others giggled along with her.

"We'll also be at a slight advantage," Yori replied, producing a tiny flashlight the size of a fountain pen. "It's not much and I don't know how long the batteries will last but it's better than nothing."

"You got that right!" Kendra said triumphantly. "I really hope that opening's a way out of this mountain. I've had enough of caves to last me a lifetime."


Sizwe Mugambi was no longer present, taken away to the Infirmary having remained unconscious from the violent aftermath of Ereshkigal's temper. Bastian Mann (Ban) had politely refused admission, insisting that he'd rather stay and monitor his mistress's progress. After a quick examination by the resident doctor to insure that no bones were broken or showing any signs of internal injury, Bastian was allowed to remain behind. The Priestess herself was absent as well, whisked away by her horde of handmaidens to her private chambers to compose herself and freshen up.

"What I wouldn't give to have Kazu's listening threads active right now," Shido mumbled under his breath to Juubei who sat beside him at the small, well-stocked bar in their viewing room. Juubei was nursing a Black Russian and pretended to ignore him, whispering in hushed tones to Toshiki who stood to his left. The bar's attendant returned and Toshiki ordered a refill, discarding his empty Mojito glass.

The trio at the bar sat facing the large projected images of all the Novitiate candidates as they struggled through the first test of their entrance exam, displeased along with a majority of the other husbands with what they were seeing. At the moment, most of the Novitiate women were slowly groping their way in pitch darkness, (the crystal-clear image courtesy of night-vision cameras) squeezing themselves through a very narrow opening in solid rock toward freedom from their mountain prison. Emishi had cheered when Sakura produced her tiny flashlight, gloating proudly of his clever 'wife's' resourcefulness.

Ban gritted his teeth when Akabane swayed dangerously, nearly losing his balance when he hopped onto a tall, man-made stone column, one of many that served as the only way across the gorge from the ledge of their mountain exit. The diameter of the top of each column, Ban guessed, was about 9x9 inches at most and not accommodating to anyone with large feet. Somehow, Akabane regained his balance enough to squat down for a rest as he looked around to contemplate his next move. Organic remedies were slower-acting on the body as opposed to commercial pharmaceuticals (but better for you and a lot less harmful in moderation) and produced varied results in different body types. Jackal had taken well to his Oma's brew and its effects lasted longer than he'd anticipated.

"I have to commend your woman, Bastian, it appears she endures punishment in a similar fashion. I see why you've both chosen each other," Hammond remarked, reclining languidly in the soft leather sofa and sipping a glass of vintage red wine. "Awfully selfish of you, keeping this comfortable piece of furniture to yourself."

"I don't recall inviting you to sit down," Bastian replied, chugging back the remaining half of his beer. He was tempted to throw the empty bottle till it smashed against the wall at the front of the room but thought better of it. Causing another scene so soon after Ereshkigal's magical spectacle was unwise with the heightened tension in the room. However, he was currently in a bad mood after the High Priestess's reckless stunt and he felt like sharing some of his anger with others around him.

"In a snit, are we?" Hammond said, chuckling. His eyes followed Bastian as the young man stood up from the couch, not the least bit bothered by the boy's prickly disposition.

Sauntering in the direction of the bar, Ban noted the absence of the bartender and grinned to himself. Time for a welcome distraction. He needed a break from the tension of Jackal's illness which constantly teetered them on the brink of failure. He was also sure to attract an audience since the rest of the Novitiates were still inching themselves through solid rock. Hopping over the counter, Ban took a visual inventory of the spirits the Coil Organization was serving them, uttering a triumphant 'aha' when he found something interesting.

"Yo, Jeeves, when were you gonna let us have the good stuff, huh?" Bastian told the surprised bartender when he arrived. "I'll be needing a Fountain, several Pontarlier glasses and for this demonstration, I'm using grilles. If you're quick, I might even share an Absinthe recipe or two with you."

There was momentary hesitation and even a little skepticism in the elderly bartender's eyes but he nodded and obeyed without a word.

Uncorking the bottle he held, Ban closed his eyes and inhaled the aroma of the liquid, appearing very satisfied with its contents.

"Absinthe Suisse La Bleue Clandestine, made with only the finest herbs and developed by local farmers in the Val de Travers when they bootlegged the stuff during the Absinthe Prohibition. It's distilled in the traditional artisan method, no coloring or artificial flavor. What isn't traditional about a La Bleue is its crystal-clear color instead of a bright green one which made it easier to hide what it was back then. These days, modern Absinthe can be enjoyed under strict guidelines. I personally prefer stronger, pre-ban versions like a Jade PF 1901 at 68% or a Jade L'Esprit d'Edouard at 72%. This thing's got a 53% alcohol content but that's not the most important thing when it comes to enjoying the Green Fairy. It's all in the wonderful flavor and aroma, the unique sensory experience it delivers and contrary to popular myth, Absinthe was created to be a medicinal tonic."

Pausing momentarily to catch a breath, Ban noticed that everyone in the room was listening to him. He cleared his throat and continued.

"The three main ingredients in Absinthe, besides the obviously high amount of ethanol, are Green anise (Pimpinella anisum, not to be confused with star anise, which is Illicium verum), Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia pontica), and Florence Fennel (various cultivars of Foeniculum vulgare). Absinthe is French for Wormwood. It's ironic that the liquor named after wormwood contains a relatively small amount of the plant, compared in total to the other herbs used in virtually all the recipes. Anise is the predominant herb. Some of you will either like it or hate it depending on your palates."

"Pas mal. Pas mal du tout," Apollinaire said with a smile and loud clapping. "Je suis curieux de combien vous êtes au courant de Belle Epoque. [Not bad. Not bad at all. I'm curious of how much you know about the Belle Epoque.]"

"Un autre temps, peut-être? [Another time, perhaps?]" Bastian replied fluidly in perfect French, surprising everyone present. The other members of the Retrieval team were mystified by his performance. They wondered what other talents he possessed.

The elderly bartender stood to one side having listened with his full attention. Whatever doubts he had about the young, leather-clad 'rascal' had vanished and was replaced by a growing measure of admiration. He was now more than curious about the special recipes the boy intended to share with him.

"If I may, sir?"

Ban watched as the bartender placed three replica 19th Century Belle Epoque Absinthe Fountains on the counter. The contraptions were approximately 20 inches/53 cm in height with clear, glass containers filled with ice cold, pure, distilled water, filters and removable lids. Jutting out below each glass container were four narrowly-tubed taps with small spigots, the stands beautifully etched. Ban guessed that each Fountain was made of the highest grade stainless steel and plated with silver.

Next, the bartender lined up Pontarlier Absinthe glasses (specially handmade, individually glass-blown at 14cm/5.5 inches in height, each with a measured reservoirs at the stem for the ideal amount of Absinthe) and placed tiny, delicate, saucer-like silver Grilles or 'Les Rondes' with filigree fissures. The Grilles neatly rested on the glass rims and were perfectly leveled by three antennae-like feet.

"Excuse me a moment," the bartender apologized as he walked off to one side.

With a subtle signal to the elderly bartender, Apollinaire whispered something in French. Smiling, the bartender snapped his fingers and repeated whatever request was given to him to a handmaiden. She then nodded and quickly took her leave. Ban eyed the Frenchman curiously when he smirked, took a seat at the bar and claimed a glass by removing its grille.

The handmaiden reappeared and presented a black lacquered box with a silver emblem stamped on it. When the lid was lifted, the inside of the box was lined with purple velvet cushioning, cradling items wrapped in a white, embroidered silk handkerchief. Apollinaire carefully unfolded the silk fabric, revealing a small silver gadget which the Frenchman placed on the rim of his glass.

Everyone at the bar moved in for a closer look.

"What he's got there's called a Brouilleur, an Absinthe dripper or mixer. A Cusenier 'Auto Verseur' to be exact with an oscillating seesaw to control the dripping water. Kinda geeky, if you ask me," Bastian explained, grinning to himself when he saw the Frenchman's brows crunch together in distaste. "What else you hiding in there?"

He was referring to another lumpy mass still concealed in the handkerchief.

Apollinaire observed without protest when Bastian carefully removed an artfully crafted silver spoon in the shape of a leaf with delicate vein-like perforations.

Eyes widening slightly in surprise, Ban flipped the spoon over and read an engraved inscription out loud. "À mon meilleur patron, Frénay Feuille. [To my best patron. Frénay Feuille.]" His mouth remained slightly open. "Is this...what I think it is?"

"An original exclusive. A family heirloom," Apollinaire said proudly.

"Why use the Brouilleur then?" Bastian asked.

"Il est plus intéressant de regarder. [It's more interesting to watch.]"

"Huh. You wouldn't happen to have a bottle of Jules Pernod, do you?"

"Better. Absinthe Premier Fils 65%."

"Holy shit."

Chuckling, Apollinaire leaned in and said, "Je partagerai une boisson avec vous, si vous aime? [I will share a drink with you, if you like?] When our wives return?"

"You don't have to ask twice," Bastian replied eagerly.

The elderly bartender cleared his throat and the two men turned their heads in his direction. "Shall we continue, gentlemen?"

On each of the Grilles, a single cube of sugar was added. The bartender then took the glasses, their reservoirs already filled with Absinthe La Bleue and placed them all under the Fountains, one glass for each tap. A handmaiden assisted in placing sculptured blocks of ice into the three Fountains' glass containers. The bartender then untwisted the small taps slightly, enough for icy cold water to flow in steady droplets. Everyone around the bar watched in awed fascination as the sugar cubes slowly melted, mixing with the pure, icy water and flowing through the Grilles into the glasses.

Ban took it as another opportunity to continue his lecture.

"What's happening here is known to absintheurs as the "louche" and the nature of the louche is very much a factor in the consideration of a quality absinthe. Essential oils from the herbal ingredients in Absinthe (mostly from anise, but the other herbs contribute as well) are dissolved in the high-proof liquor and therefore invisible. These oils, if added to pure water, won't dissolve and disappear as they do in alcohol, but would lie on the surface like an oil slick on a puddle or hang within the liquid like clouds in the sky. Therefore, as the drop by drop watering process changes the drink in the glass from alcohol with a little water, to water with a little alcohol, the liquid in the glass eventually becomes entirely cloudy white and opalescent. This tabletop alchemy is an aesthetic experience in itself, thus methods were devised for enhancing the show. What you're seeing here is a traditional French ritual popular during the Belle Epoque era."

When a soft, rhythmic tick, tick, tick was heard, everyone's heads swiveled in the direction of where Apollinaire sat. He moved aside allowing a clear view of his little silver gadget as the seesaw dispenser at the bottom of the upturned bell mimicked the steady movement of a metronome.

"We're using spoons when I come to visit," Bastian said. "I'm sure my mistress would appreciate your rare vintage."

Once the glasses were filled with the proper amount of sugared water, everyone took a glass and had a sip. A few were amazed with the Absinthe's aroma and taste, some were moderately pleased while the rest were undecided.

"Oh, yeah. That recipe I promised," Bastian said and whispered instructions to the elderly bartender whose eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.

Ban surveyed his handiwork, noting that everyone in the room was sufficiently distracted by the experience of tasting the mysterious green liquid called Absinthe. He then quickly made his way toward every member of the Recovery Team and casually slipped them little notes he'd hidden inside special sugar cubes.

"Drink up, everybody. You guys won't get another opportunity like this one." Glancing at the projected image of Akabane, he narrowed his eyes and wondered how much longer the Transporter had before his stupid headache began to overwhelm him.


With his feet firmly on hard-packed ground, Akabane looked back a the gorge of columns that served as the first of perhaps many more obstacle courses they might encounter. At the moment, he was simply grateful that he hadn't lost his balance and fell to his death at the mysterious gorge's bottom. He noted that Marjani had sprinted ahead of him and he took a deep breath before he ran to catch up.

Pacing himself, Jackal jogged behind the African Amazon keeping a decent distance behind her. He could tell that she was just as careful rationing out her body's strength. She also had a slight advantage over him, having raided and eaten almost all his food rations while he slept, although neither of them had any access to more water.

After a few minutes of running through tall vegetation, the pair came across a woven net made out of rugged, thick twine that led up a steep slope against the side of a stone hill.

I'm starting to feel like a military cadet-in-training, Akabane mentally chuckled as he eyed the tall net of ropes in front of him. Marjani had already started her slow ascent up the net.

Sighing, Akabane followed after her, trying to speed his climb by stretching out his legs and arms as far as the limbs would allow him. He knew it was risky, he was exerting far more effort that way but he was now determined to rid himself of the Coil's stupid First Trial. Like Hevn, he'd had more than enough theatrics and sorely wanted to sleep comfortably on the soft King he shared with Ban...and entertained the thought of even daring to molest Mido as a bonus.

The thought of having the naked young Jaganmaster writhing in pleasure underneath him sent an unbelievable jolt of excitement and arousal through Akabane. Like fuel to a raging fire, his carnal fantasy spurred his movements and he was barely aware of passing Marjani as he climbed to the top of the net.

Flushed and predatory, Akabane ran forward toward another deep gorge, this time with a single rope spanning the length of the gap. Without hesitation, he shimmied his way across it, ignoring Marjani's feral grunts of frustration as she struggled to catch up to him.

Panting, Akabane knew he was recklessly tiring himself out but chose to ignore his protesting body in pursuit of the stupid 'finish line'...wherever it was. Somehow, he felt that it was close.

He was right.

Just barely within range of his exceptional vision, another faint blue light caught his line of sight. He instantly ran toward it with the strength he had left.

Unknown to the Novitiate candidates, their husbands had been observing their actions...and Ban gripped the armrest of his couch so tightly that his fingers punctured the thick leather.

Gritting his teeth, Akabane raced toward the blinking blue light, its brightness increasing with each stride. It was all he saw, his mind completely focused on reaching his goal. He ran till he felt his legs nearly seize as his lungs heaved heavily to draw in air.

The last thing Akabane remembered was slamming into something soft past the haze of blue light that flashed brightly and temporarily blinded him, leaving his vision engulfed in a vista of stark white. His dream of the Jaganmaster with predatory purple eyes and fanged teeth filled his mind, just before his body shut down and his eyelids slid closed, his consciousness leaving him entirely.


Kazuki sighed loudly in contentment as the warm spray of water from the enormous shower-head above him rained soothingly over his entire body. Looking down, he watched the last of the mud and grime of nearly six days of walking in the wilderness disappear down the drain of the marble shower. Once he felt clean enough to leave the glass stall, he carefully walked toward the large Roman tub where a perfumed, herbal bath was waiting for him.

Juubei's so thoughtful, Kazuki mentally smiled as he slipped into the churning waters of the tub. Leaning back into the water, he closed his eyes and felt the strands of his hair splay out around him.

"May I join you?"

"Go right ahead," Kazuki lazily replied, his eyes remaining closed.

"You've been through quite an ordeal, Kazuki."

"Nothing I couldn't handle. It's the being dirty and sweaty part that I hated most. You had no idea how much I wanted to scream and whine like Hevn. I craved a bath just as badly as she did," Kazuki said, laughing. "I think I'm really starting to turn into a girl."

"Would you like me to rub your shoulders?"

"I'd love it, if you did...Toshiki," Kazuki said softly, leaning back against the Hell Knight's warm, firm chest. He tilted his head back further, twisting slightly to look at Uryuu with heavy-lidded eyes. Warm lips met his and they kissed deeply, Toshiki's hands running possessively over his body and urgently gripping his waist.

"I want you," Kazuki said huskily, arching his body in reaction to Toshiki's hand as the Hell Knight's fingers curled around his erection. "Toshiki..."

"Kazuki..." Toshiki replied, his voice thick with arousal. The hand he'd wrapped around his Threadmaster's throbbing manhood began pumping in slow, rhythmic pulses, his palm squeezing with gentle pressure at the tip.

Gasps and moans of pleasure escaped Kazuki's lips, his hips thrusting with urgency into the searing touch of the hand that enveloped him. When the building tension reached a nearly unbearable level, he lifted himself slightly in the water with his arms and felt the brush of Toshiki's hardness against his buttocks. Positioning himself above the Hell Knight's arousal, he sat down with a sharp gasp, his body shuddering violently as he felt Toshiki's glorious length enter him fully.

Kazuki.

"...whua? Juubei?"

Wake up.

I'm...I'm dreaming?

The Prince of Battle Terror's eyes flew open as he gasped softly. He'd never had a vivid dream like that before and with Toshiki no less! Looking around, he almost didn't recognize where he was.

Rubbing his face with his hands, Kazuki felt the slight sheen of sweat on his forehead and the unusual warmth of his skin. He felt the press of two bodies against him from both sides and realized that he was lying on the oversized bed of their assigned guest quarters in a special wing of the Coils of Set compound.

That's right. The First Trial was over. Jackal had overcome all the obstacles and reached the 'finish line' before Marjani caught up to the Transporter. He also remembered that Akabane had collapsed and wondered if he was all right.

They had watched as Ban intercepted the gurney where Akabane was placed before he was rushed to the Infirmary. Mido explained that he'd been given explicit instructions by Akasha that no one but him was allowed to touch her when she was unconscious and he'd emphasized his statement by literally growling at approaching security personnel.

Only with Ereshkigal's reluctant approval was Ban allowed to carry Akasha to their room.

Turning his head to the right, Kazuki saw the peaceful, sleeping face of Toshiki Uryuu and smiled tenderly, wondering what the vivid dream he had truly meant.

Yawning, Kazuki decided that he was too exhausted to analyze anything right now, deciding to simply delay his thoughts till morning after a good night's sleep.


Akabane jerked awake to a raging headache, moaning softly as he dug his knuckles into the temples of his forehead.

"Hmnh?" Ban grunted, turning over to face his temporary bed-mate and seeing the expression of pain on Jackal's face. "Shit."

Sitting up and reaching over toward his night-stand table, Ban used a teaspoon to mix the contents of a tall glass of his Oma's herbal analgesic, then carefully brought the full glass toward his wincing companion. "Jackal, can you sit up?"

"I'll...try," Akabane replied, gritting his teeth. His eyes remained closed when he lifted himself with his arms and scooted back against their bed's headboard to an upright position.

"Here, drink up," Ban instructed, guiding Jackal's hands to hold the glass. He watched as the Transporter immediately chugged the glass's contents without hesitation.

"I grow weary of these migraines," Jackal groused, his fists clenching tightly.

"It'll take a few minutes before your body absorbs that medicine," Ban said, pausing for effect and adding, "your headaches are getting worse, aren't they?"

"...yes..." Jackal reluctantly admitted, refusing to meet Mido's observant, blue gaze. "They're...also worsening at a much faster rate."

"Well, that's just fucking great," Ban muttered, running a hand briskly through his rumpled red hair. "I told the others that this thing of yours is under control and I'm sticking to it. I'm not letting you out of my sight this time, no matter what the next two Trials are like."

"I...I appreciate your concern and assistance, Mido..." Akabane said softly, still not making any eye contact. "I now regret my decision of failing to inform you of my condition before this assignment...since I merely predicted these headaches as a minor inconvenience. I...truly had no idea how progressively worse it would get."

"We'll manage," Ban said with a shrug. "In the meantime, I think you can use a little distraction from that throbbing head of yours."

Before Akabane could react, Ban crept over and straddled him, grabbing his face with both hands. His heart hammered in his chest when Ban hadn't moved as they stared at each other. He savored Mido's weight on his lap, then gasped and closed his eyes when the Jaganmaster wiggled enticingly on top of him. He then felt Ban's strong fingers kneading his head.

Such a wickedly clever boy, Akabane thought with a grin. Oh, the fun we could be having together right now where I not so incapacitated.

"Ch. You're a hopeless pervert, y'know that?" Ban chuckled, accurately reading Akabane's expression and deepening his massage. "I'm actually kinda grateful to these headaches of yours. Otherwise, you'd be trying to inappropriately grope me right now."

"You really believe I still won't try?" Akabane replied with a leer, his deep purple eyes fluttering open.

Ban felt the Transporter's hands snaking up to clamp around his midsection, his body stiffening at the touch. He was already bare from the waist up, having gone to bed wearing only a pair of comfortable, white cotton drawstring pajamas.

"Guess I should've kept my mouth shut," Ban grumbled.

"I'd rather you opened your mouth so I can taste you with my tongue," Akabane teased boldly, recalling the fantasies he'd used to spur himself faster as he ran the last leg of the First Trial with Marjani.

"Take it down a notch, Jackal, I'm not in the mood to play tonight," Ban replied angrily, quickly rolling off the Transporter when he felt the heat of the man's arousal against his inner thigh. He sat safely on his side of the bed and crossed his arms. "Anyway, all that extra blood-flow's speeding up your metabolism. You should feel my Oma's herbal painkiller kicking in soon."

Again...what a clever and wicked boy, you are, Akabane thought commendably, audibly sighing, resisting the urge to lasciviously stroke himself in retaliation for the Jaganmaster's refusal to 'play' with him. His sexual desire for the blue-eyed GetBacker was reaching dangerous new levels.

When his hand threatened to move downward, he fingers brushed the soft, satin material of his nightgown. That's when Akabane noticed his current state and what he was wearing.

"I suppose you're responsible for cleaning me up?" the Transporter remarked, feeling the smoothness of his well-combed hair as he draped the long strands over one shoulder. Turning to place his feet on the floor, he glanced briefly at Mido who was behind him and said, "For doing this...I'm grateful."

He stood to his feet, though a bit unsteadily and headed for his vanity table.

"You should stay in bed," Ban advised, irritated as he lounged on his side, mentally stabbing holes in Jackal's back with his piercing stare.

"I won't be long," Akabane replied with a slight smile, glancing at Mido's reflection on his vanity table mirror. When his eyes drifted to his appearance, he frowned. His face looked haggard and his brow was creased in discomfort from the pain of his migraine. Also, he was looking rather thin. "Oh, my...I look...horrid."

"If I had to deal with ass-kicking headaches on a daily basis, I'd look like shit too," Ban stated flatly. "So, this is the last time I'm gonna say this: get your skinny ass back here and go to sleep. You can make yourself pretty after you at least get a day's rest."

"Your concern is noted, Mido. I'm touched that you care so much for my well-being," Akabane teased.

"What I care about is getting us out of this mess alive," Mido replied casually. "Not my problem if you're reading too much into it."

Chuckling, Akabane rose and trudged toward their spacious walk-in closet.

"What are you doing now?" Mido called out.

Ignoring the Jaganmaster, Akabane felt restless despite his condition and sought to distract himself from the pain of his migraine by rummaging through the many items that his 'mentor' Augustus had provided him for this adventure. As he sat down on the carpeted floor of their custom closet, he noticed something partially hidden behind a stack of Mido's empty luggage.

A violin case? Akabane thought with surprise. He noted the unusually sturdy construction of the instrument's carrying case. Mido plays the violin?

His curiosity winning him over, he left their walk-in closet carrying the object of his current focus.

"Anyone ever teach you not to touch other people's things?" Mido griped as he sat up on their bed with an annoyed expression.

"I realize that I've overstepped personal boundaries here...but I'm curious. Do you play this instrument?"

"Maybe I just carry it around for appearances?"

"Ah. It's a shame then. It would have been an absolute pleasure to hear you play, if you knew how," Akabane said, rather disappointed. Aside from the piano, the violin was a musical instrument he was quite fond of listening to. "I'll return this back to where I found it."

"Hold on there," Mido said as Akabane stopped and stared at him. "Why are you so interested, anyway? Do you play?"

"I...never learned to play the violin...although, at some point in time, I would very much like to," Akabane said, looking longingly at the case he held.

"It clearly sounds like there's more to what you're telling me."

There was a slight pause.

"You're too shrewd for your own good, Mido," Jackal said, narrowing his eyes.

"I'll take that as a compliment," he grinned and held out his hands. "Give it here."

"I thought that you..." Jackal began, his brow creasing.

"Did I say I couldn't play?" Mido countered, setting down the violin case in front of him on the bed where he sat. Jackal stood nearby and watched intently as he removed the polished, specially hand-crafted, antique violin from it's velvet-lined, shock-absorbent case.

"Is that..." Akabane gasped softly.

"A Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù violin," Mido finished. "Didn't know you had such an eye for music, Herr Chirurg." [surgeon in German]

"May I see it?" Jackal asked almost reverently, ignoring the Jaganmaster's derisive tone. "I never thought to ever see one on the other side of a glass case...let alone touch one." He held the violin delicately in his hands.

"It's not a holy relic, Jackal. It won't break. Go ahead and have a good look at it," Mido chuckled, shaking his head. "That thing's been passed down for generations. My Oma told me that it was specially handcrafted for a family ancestor," he explained.

After careful inspection of the violin he held, Akabane sighed. It was easy to recognize the instrument's shape and craftsmanship as a handmade 'Guarnerius' but the wood that was used to create the violin was exceptionally odd. It was black as coal...almost as if the tree itself was badly burnt!

Rather than comment on the wood, Jackal said out loud, "Something's amiss with your violin's inscription."

"Oh?" Ban said stoically.

"The wording style and typeface is consistent with any authentic del Gesù, as is the 'IHS' and cross...but the etching's been painstakingly painted red, and there's no written date of when the violin was made. In place of where the date should be...someone appears to have scribbled in strange...symbols instead," Akabane stated with a frown.

He can see them? Ban thought in alarm and tried his best to remain poker-faced. Does this mean Jackal's...part warlock? Either that or this dude dabbles in the arcane?

The sheer possibility made Mido shudder.

"So, you're saying my violin's not an authentic del Gesù?" he said smoothly, forcing his disturbing thoughts aside.

"I'm not sure. Apart from the inscription and the violin's char-black finish, everything else points to an authentically crafted Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù."

"How about if you listen to the way it sounds?"

"Yes, if I heard its music again...I would know," Akabane confirmed.

"Where'd you hear one being played, if you don't mind me asking?" Ban said, curious.

"A lifetime ago...when a...friend and I attended a concert together in Europe."

Since Jackal had no wish to elaborate further, Ban removed the Jacques Lafleur handcrafted bow from its velvet-lined indentation in the violin case and stood up. The antique bow had the same char-black finish as the violin.

"May I see that bow?"

Ban watched as Akabane's face was awestruck as he examined it.

"Incredible. Just like your violin, this bow belongs in a museum."

"Technically, yeah, they both should be. The bow came with the violin though. Matching set," Ban replied. "Far as I know, these two things are inseparable."

While Ban tuned his instrument's strings, Akabane sat in silence and wondered about the strange symbols that were carved into the wooden bow which were identical to the ones found on the violin. He kept that observation to himself for now.

"Any requests?" Ban said with a smirk.

"Don't tell me you're familiar with every violin concerto ever composed?" Akabane said doubtfully.

"Just about," Ban grinned boastfully.

"Riiight," Jackal replied skeptically, grabbing the nearest pillow and hugging it tightly as he thought of what to say. "Then play me Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major."

After a deep, meditative breath, Ban began to play and the powerfully sonorous, soulful melody of the violin blanketed the room. Instantly, Akabane completely forgot about the pounding ache of his head nor was he aware that his mouth had remained slightly apart as he listened. When Ban concluded the piece he was playing, Jackal was so moved by the music that the Transporter's eyes showed the barest hint of wetness.

"That was...magnificently played," Akabane said, clearing his throat. "Without a doubt, the instrument you have in your hands is an authentic del Gesù. Although, it's definitely a del Gesù in it's own master class." He stared at Ban who quickly looked away. "Either you're secretly a virtuoso...or that violin has a life of it's own."

"How's your headache?" Ban remarked, returning the violin and bow into the red, velvet-lined carrying case that was laid open on their bed. Hopefully, Jackal decided to stop asking further questions. His family's violin wasn't something he wanted to discuss.

"Much better. The music helped me forget the pain and I believe your Oma's organic analgesic recipe's taken effect," Akabane answered.

"Good," Ban said with a yawn. "Let's get some sleep before our neighbors come banging on our door coz of all the racket we're making at fucking four o'clock in the morning." He closed the carrying case's lid and reset the combination.

"That's precious cargo. Why would you bring such a treasure with you on this assignment?"

"I always bring my violin with me on extended leave," Ban said casually and shrugged. "Never know when I might need to play it." Oh, yeah, and the damn thing's cursed too. I couldn't destroy or ditch the thing, even if I tried...and I wouldn't want to. The last guy that did...I'm sure his family's still finding his body parts around their estate.

Following Ban intently with his eyes, Akabane watched as the shirtless, young Jaganmaster sauntered to their walk-in closet to return the violin case to its hiding place. There were also niggling thoughts in his head about what he'd seen and heard.

That's no ordinary violin...is it, Mido? Jackal thought to himself as his temporary bed-mate returned to hop onto their oversized mattress, turning out the lights in their room without warning. Also...had he imagined seeing bruises on the boy's back?

In the darkness of their bedroom, Akabane settled down on his side of the bed as he forced his mind into silence, trying not to think further on Mido's strange, antique violin with it's powerful, haunting sound or of the dream he had during the First Trial.

Otherwise, he'd never fall asleep.

"May I have a goodnight kiss?" Akabane requested, facing toward Mido's silhouette in the dark.

"Shut up and sleep," Ban replied, violently turning over to face the opposite wall.


The sun's bright rays on his eyelids woke Akabane from the deepest, most satisfying, dream-filled sleep he'd had in a very long time. Glancing at the clock on his bedside table, he gasped in surprise when he saw how late in the day it was.

Bolting upright and out of bed, Akabane soon regretted his hasty actions.

"Curse these foul migraines!" he said out loud, sitting back down heavily on the bed and clutching his head.

"Good morning to you too, sweet-cheeks," Mido said with a grin, mixing a glass of his Oma's recipe with a delicately crafted silver spoon. He wore a loose, steel-grey shirt that needed a bit of ironing as he stopped within arms reach of Jackal who stared menacingly at him. "Bottoms up."

The Transporter took the glass eagerly but after the first few hurried gulps, he coughed and sputtered.

"Oh, yeah. I doubled the potency, which in turn, doubles the bitterness factor."

"You...could have...given me...some warning," Akabane said crossly, trying very hard not to grimace.

"I wanted to, but you drank it up so fast, I didn't have time," Ban shrugged, not the least bit apologetic.

Before Akabane could give him an earful, there was a polite knock at the door.

"Lemme go tell whoever it is to fuck off," Ban said irritably. He wasn't in the mood for any visitors when he answered the door with a glare. "What?"

"Begging your pardon but the High Priestess has a message for your Mistress," Ianna Kurnugi replied with a slight bow and held out a small silver tray with a lavender envelope addressed to Akasha Bane.

Grabbing the envelope, Ban exchanged a loaded glance with the young handmaiden, nodded curtly and closed the door.

"You got mail," he said, waving the small envelope in his hand.

"From?"

"The slutty High Priestess," Ban said, Frisbee-tossing the lavender stationery to the bed beside the Transporter.

Ignoring the jabbing pain of his head, Akabane opened the perfumed envelope and read the folded letter, his eyebrows rising to the top of his forehead.

"Well, this is certainly interesting," Jackal chuckled.

"What's it say?" Ban swiped the letter from the Transporter's hands then guffawed loudly, the paper fluttering to the carpeted floor. "She totally asked you!"

"You know something about this?"

"The vixen literally sat on my lap, making her intentions very clear."

"Then are you interested?" Akabane asked casually.

"That a trick question?"

"Are you?"

Jackal's face seemed so neutral and calm that Ban wasn't sure how to answer him. If he expressed that he was interested...

"I don't think it's a good idea for me to sleep with that Priestess," Ban said.

"Oh? If you desire the woman, I won't stop you. Who am I to disallow you a measure of enjoyment on this assignment?"

"You're my Mistress, that's why," Mido replied. "I wouldn't go sharing me with just anybody if I were you."

Smiling slightly, Jackal rose from the bed and sauntered toward the GetBacker, deliberately invading Ban's personal space as he placed a gentle hand on the boy's right shoulder, pressing the entire length of his body's left side against him.

"If it were up to me, I wouldn't share you with anyone," Akabane whispered closely with undisguised seduction. He tried not to openly chuckle when he felt Mido shiver in reaction to his statement. Or was it from revulsion? Rather than frown at the strong probability of the latter, he let it slide.

Now in a much better mood, the insistent pounding of his migraine lessened, Jackal decided to celebrate his relief with a good dose of reckless behavior. Firmly grabbing the Jaganmaster's startled face, he planted a strong kiss on Mido's soft lips.

Surprisingly, Ban hadn't struggled or pulled away which caused Jackal to stop and stare in disbelief.

"Remember this, Jackal. I never do what's expected," Ban said softly, patting the Transporter's left cheek briefly - like one would do to a two-year-old - before turning around.

Akabane watched wordlessly as Mido sauntered toward their en-suite bathroom whistling a happy tune.


In the guest wing of the Coils of Set compound, specifically room number five addressed to Kendra Hanayaka and her husband Kin Shiro, the platinum-blonde Novitiate was ecstatic that the First Trial was over.

"I'm never taking a soft bed and a hot bath for granted ever again!" Himiko said loudly in delight, falling back theatrically with a bounce on their oversized mattress. She wore a comfortable tank top and shorts to bed and she felt like staying in for the rest of the day.

"Me too. Sleeping in Miss Lady Bug a few nights in a row totally messes up my back," Ginji replied with a chuckle.

"Seriously? After all this time, you and Ban are still homeless?"

"Not after this assignment," Ginji said proudly. "Ban says that with all the money we've saved up, we can start looking for a nice place to live in."

"Is that so?" Himiko recalled a conversation she had with Ban about Akabane 'breaking' the GetBackers' ridiculous 'black hole' streak with the money they made. For the longest time and for the oddest reasons, every cent the pair had was either taken away by parking infraction tickets, repairs to Ban's car, collateral damage or a client double-cross. Hevn may have been responsible for pairing Jackal with the Dynamic Duo on joint assignments, but it was under the Transporter's 'insistence' and Ban suspected a large cash transaction was secretly involved. Nevertheless, it was primarily due to Akabane that the Getbacker Duo were turning things around in their personal funds department.

When Ginji seemed strangely silent, Himiko said, "You all right?"

"Hmnh?" he said distractedly.

"What's up?" she asked casually, inching next to a shirtless Ginji who sat cross-legged and was leaning against their bed's headboard. His bright-orange boxer briefs with adorably drawn baby chicks printed on them was a bit distracting. Her 'husband' had the fashion sense of a five-year-old.

"I think the High Priestess is possessed...and the thing she carries around inside her's very dangerous," Ginji remarked seriously.

"I know...I sensed it too," Himiko replied, shuddering. "I guess Ban's worried, then?"

"Yeah. Very. When Erkalla used her borrowed power on Ban and Mugambi...he almost lost control over Asclepius."

"What?" was Himiko's startled response. She knew firsthand just how menacing the ancient celestial entity that resided in Ban truly was as images of her slain older brother filled her mind.

"It's a major wrench we're not prepared for."

Silence filled their room as the 'couple' sat in deep thought beside each other.

"Ban will think of something...he always does," Himiko replied softly. It was almost affectionate.

Turning his head to face Himiko, Ginji smiled. He could sense the great love she harbored for Ban. Whatever wedge was driven between them was slowly repairing itself.

"So, what's your message from Ban say?" Ginji asked, switching completely to his normally goofy self. "Mine says, 'stop being such a dork,'" he recited proudly. When Himiko stayed quiet and a blush appeared on her cheeks, his eyebrows rose dramatically. "I read you mine. Can you tell me yours...pleeease?"

Sighing, Himiko had no defense for Ginji's puppy-face. (Nobody does! xD)

"He's mad at me," she muttered.

"Why?" he asked, shocked. "About what?"

"Well...remember when I started that big bonfire for Akabane?" When he nodded, she added sheepishly, "...I kinda used real magic for it."

"Wait...real magic? Like the Dungeons and Dragons kind?"

Rolling her eyes, she nodded and replied, "Guess it's sort of like that, yeah."

"Wow. Cool. I've only seen Ban do magic a few times. He got us out of really bad spots on some assignments, I tell ya," Ginji grinned. "I like some of the chanting he does too."

"Chanting? He did full-on spells?"

"Is that bad?"

"It is, if other people saw him do it."

"It was always just the two of us whenever he used magic and it was usually as an absolute last resort."

"Oh," Himiko said, fiddling with a thin piece of 1x1 centimeter plastic in her fingers.

Hevn provided the entire team with devices that imprinted and read microscopic messages on tiny plastic pieces that could be concealed anywhere and successfully passed between them.

"He wrote down something bad, didn't he?" Ginji said. Whenever his best friend was mad at him, he always swore a red streak. He was hoping Ban wasn't too mean toward Himiko. "How nasty is it?"

"Don't worry about it," she answered back with a frown. "Anyway, what I did was a mistake. The worst part is, the whole thing was caught on film."

"I thought witch-hunting died with the Dark Ages," he remarked.

"As long as there are still real witches in the world, the witch-hunters usually lurk around the corner. It's a battle that been raging on since the rise of the civilized caveman. Stupid, self-righteous fanatics that think all magic-users come from the depths of hell."

"If destroying that bit of film's really important, I'm sure Ban's already found out a way to fix it," Ginji said confidently.

"I hope so," she said worriedly. She felt Ginji's strong arm drape around her waist, pulling her body against his. Her cheeks warmed instantly.

"Whatever happens, Ban and I will always be around to help you. You know that right?" he said softly.

An aspect of the Lightning Emperor was back again and Himiko's stomach fluttered. She had to admit, Happy Ginji was cute but Dangerous Ginji was...hot. Must be in his eyes. They practically smoldered as he stared back at her. Although, it wasn't just his eyes. It was the whole package. Inwardly, she scolded herself for being stereotypically attracted to the 'bad boy.' Her major crush on Ban was an excellent example. She then cursed Evil Eyes for showing up at a pivotal point in her impressionable adolescent life!

Leaning on Ginji's bare skin felt so warm and comfortable, she loathed to leave her cozy, little spot mashed against his side. Playfully, she decided on a bit of harmless flirting.

"Y'know," she began, turning her head and propping her chin against Ginji's shoulder. She was so close to his face that their noses were almost touching. "You're kinda sexy when the mood hits you."

"S..."

A tiny hiss was all Ginji could say before his entire body blushed a deep red and he pulled back in surprise with widened eyes. There was a silly, lopsided smile on his face.

Their 'moment' came and went, to Himiko's dismay, as Goofy Ginji was back in full swing with the funniest expression plastered to his face. No longer able to contain her reaction, she tilted back her head as her lilting laughter filled the room.


As the day progressed, most of the Novitiate couples chose to stay within the confines of their assigned guest bedrooms. Some were in heavy discussion about the First Trial, proposing strategies for the near future; others were convalescing, having depleted their mental and physical reserves; while a few chose to pass the time in a unique merriment of their own, a welcome distraction from everything that was happening around them.

Sakura and Emishi were having a spirited game of Dress-up and the Clothmaster had never laughed so much in her life, watching her 'husband' making a fool of himself for her benefit.

Kazuki decided to mingle with available Novitiates as he explored the grounds that were allowed to them, Juubei and Toshiki acting cordial but staying observant of their surroundings.

Hevn was hard at work tweaking a few of her inventions disguised as jewelry under the curious eyes of her 'husband' Shido. To anyone spying on them through hidden cameras, all the observers would see was a wife asking her husband's opinion on which of her trinkets she should wear.

Akabane reluctantly stayed in bed on Ban's insistence.

"This is ridiculously unnecessary, Mido. I'm not debilitated," Jackal argued. "Except for the migraines, I'm perfectly healthy."

"Just play along, will ya?" Ban replied, slightly irritated. "I'm sure they're spying on us right now and they had better see me nursing you back to health after I practically wrestled you away from this place's medical staff." He was carrying a tray of food he'd requested delivered to their room and he set it down carefully on Jackal's lap.

"I suppose it's worth it...if I'm spoon-fed," Jackal said slyly.

"Whatever you say, 'honey,' Mido said acidly. He made deliberate movements of laying down a napkin on the Transporter's lap, sitting beside him and resisting the urge to ram the soup spoon he held down Jackal's throat.

After five or six spoonfuls of soup, Akabane noted Mido's slight wince.

"Are you all right?" he asked. "Did something happen while I was away?"

"You're imagining things."

"Spare me your condescension," Jackal frowned, crossing his arms.

"Might as well tell ya," Mido said with a sigh and sat up straight. "There's been an unexpected and very dangerous development. Remember Ianna Kurnugi's claim that the Coils of Set's High Priestess was possessed?"

"Yes, it's one of the main reasons for this assignment and the girl genuinely believes it."

"Here's the thing. Ereshkigal Erkalla isn't possessed. It's much worse than that. She's a living vessel and channeling an unknown entity's power which I confirmed personally," Ban said as he stood up, turned around and removed his shirt. He heard the small gasp as the Transporter surveyed his back. From what he'd seen in the bathroom mirror earlier that morning, he knew it was ugly. "Whatever dark force this stupid cult's messing with...it's old, it's powerful and it's pissed."

"Tell me what happened," Akabane requested. He then listened carefully to Mido's story. "Ancient supernatural entities are never to be taken lightly. This is indeed a very troubling development. Aborting the mission is out of the question. The heavy importance of our royal client's request demands that we see this assignment through to its indeterminable end."

"I sure-as-hell am not dying for some bit of shiny jewelry!" Mido said loudly, ruffling his red hair in exasperation.

"How must we proceed then?"

"I sent the others messages and they should get back to me with their opinions soon. We'll decide then."

"Seems we've discovered an intriguing link between this organization's dark entity and Prince Bahadir's stolen Eyes of Horus heirloom," Jackal pondered audibly.

"Shit. Whatever thing we're up against is in that necklace," Mido concluded.

The pair sat quietly with grim expressions as their unspoken thoughts ran a parallel course.

What exactly had their Retrieval group walked into? Were they all in a crazy, elaborate trap that made them unfortunate scapegoats for a bigger, more sinister scheme? It began as a simple enough assignment: return the Eyes of Horus necklace that was 'stolen' by the Coils of Set organization to Prince Bahadir's royal family vault, insure that Ereshkigal Erkalla was unharmed then placed in Ianna Kurnugi's care, and each member of their Retrieval team went home with a sizable chunk of wealth.

However, their entire assignment had escalated into a unexpected mess that was anything but simple!

"You should get those bruises looked at. You may have internal injuries," Akabane suggested. At present, it was best to address issues they could easily resolve.

"I'm fine. I don't need this place's quacks to poke me with fuck-knows-what," Ban said indignantly as he began putting on his shirt.

"Wait. If you won't let the Coil's medical staff look at you, will you allow me a quick check?"

"Why the hell would I let you do that?" Ban said with a snicker.

"You've taken good care of me, so far, Mido. I simply wish to extend you the same courtesy."

There was a period of contemplative silence as the two men stared at each other.

"Whatever," Ban relented, setting aside Jackal's food tray as he sat on the edge of their bed with his back toward the Transporter. He felt Akabane's remarkably careful fingers as they gently examined the bruised areas of his body. "Ow."

"Sorry," Jackal said reflexively and continued his meticulous inspection.

Trying not to fidget in impatience, Ban did his best to sit still until Jackal was satisfied with his 'examination.'

"Besides some very tender areas of deep bruising, it doesn't feel like any of your organs were damaged."

"Good to know," Ban said, rolling his eyes as he wore his shirt. He chose a soft, rather stretchy material that didn't irritate his skin. Turning around to face the Transporter, he asked casually, "So, Jackal...were you really a practicing physician before you turned into a homicidal sociopath?"

Stunned by the Jaganmaster's question, Akabane was strangely speechless and uncomfortable.

"I'll take that as a 'yes', then?" Mido replied, equally surprised by Jackal's bizarre reaction.

Ban never thought he'd live to see the day when he'd work side-by-side with the murderous Transporter, not to mention having lengthy conversations with the weirdo that didn't involve nasty taunting and a fight to the death!

Looking agitated, Akabane seemed uncharacteristically vulnerable and...lost.

"Hey," Mido prompted, when the Transporter resorted to staring blankly at a wall. "Planet Earth to Dr. Jackal. You coming in for a landing or what? Didn't think my simple 'yes' or 'no' question was such a land-mine." After another lengthy span of silence, he added, "hello? Scalpel got your tongue?"

"I truly wish...I knew for sure," Akabane mumbled softly.

"Huh?"

"I don't have an answer to your simple question, Mido...of whether I was a professional medical doctor or surgeon," Akabane continued, visibly hesitant of his admission. "Although I possess extensive knowledge in both those areas...I...I can't tell you how or even why I've acquired such medical expertise...because I simply don't remember that part of my past."

There was a massive, nuclear explosion and Mido's mind was ground zero.

"Wait-a-fucking-minute," Ban fumbled, feeling like he'd lost his grasp on reality. "Are you telling me...that you...the most dangerous, most deranged man that Ginji and I have ever met...is suffering from amnesia?"

"Am I to readily believe that the GetBackers, a pair of eighteen-year-old professionals with the illustrious reputations of Jaganmaster and Lightning Emperor of the infamous Infinity Fortress...are homeless?" was Akabane's rebuttal.

Ban's face went beet red and he muttered, "Tou-fucking-ché."

Quickly covering an amused grin with his hand, Akabane sputtered until he could no longer hold back the gale of laughter that reduced him to a helpless mass on their oversized mattress. Mido included.

"Shit," Ban said, clutching his stomach as he stared at the ceiling. He and Jackal were laying side-by-side on the cozy bed. "Haven't laughed like that in years."

"Same here," Akabane replied, wiping the excess liquid from his eyes. "Years."

"How much of your past did you forget, exactly?" Mido asked curiously.

"Most of it. I have no idea where I was born, who my parents are or if my name is truly mine to begin with..." His voice drifted to a hush when the memory of a precious face from his not-too-distant past shot to the surface. A hard lump immediately formed in his throat as he cursed under his breath.

"That bad, huh?" Mido commented and was shocked to realize that he felt a bit sympathetic toward the scalpel-wielding lunatic. The world as he knew it had officially ended and he had no idea how to restore the familiar balance.

He was making friends with his greatest enemies now? Ban imagined his grandmother screaming at him and rolling in her grave in outrage. At this rate, he should go ahead and track down the Chief Shaman of the witch-hunters so they could resolve their major differences over a pot of English tea and freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies. The ridiculous image threatened to wrestle another laughing fit out of him.

Glancing at Jackal, Ban knew that his 'friendly camaraderie' with the lethal Transporter was a direct result of the man's worsening migraines. Whatever plagued the Scalpel Fairy made him vulnerable, prompting him to act totally out-of-character. Whether it was unwilling behavior or not, he was learning things about Jolly Jackal that both intrigued and bothered him.

"Tell me something, Mido," Akabane said, still staring at the ceiling above him. "Ereshkigal's mysterious entity...is it similar to your link with Asclepius?"

Ban's face went pale as he pursed his lips. He felt physically sick.

"That information's strictly need-to-know under pain of death, Jackal."

"I truly resent your stubborn need to patronize me, boy."

"I resent your fucking nosey attitude."

"Mido. Will you just, please, answer my question?" Akabane insisted.

The room was plunged into a long, tense silence.

"I'm not a sideshow freak you can pick apart," Ban replied darkly before hopping off their bed and quickly walked out the door, shutting it with a sharp slam.


Later in the day, each Novitiate couple was visited by a Coils of Set handmaiden who delivered invitations on elaborate stationary to a prepared dinner feast in celebration of the completion of their First Trial.

With thoughts weighing heavily on their minds, the members of the Retrieval team were the least enthusiastic about the event.

Ban eventually returned to the assigned room he shared with Jackal smelling heavily of cigarette smoke and hard liquor. He wordlessly listened when he was informed of the dinner invitation, hardly making any eye contact and nodded curtly, retreating to their bathroom en-suite.

Sighing, Akabane prepared himself for dinner, selecting another entertaining costume for his amusement, but his actions lacked the usual enthusiasm.

At the dinner feast, Mido proved himself a fine actor as he mingled convincingly with other Novitiates, smoothly communicating in code to the rest of the Retrieval team and getting their opinions on the next step.

Collectively, it was decided that they would finish the assignment, the need to deviate from their original plans, unnecessary. Only if the dark entity became a direct threat to them would they consider alternative measures.

Laughing out loud, Ban signaled his discontent to the rest of the Retrieval team, threatening to take matters into his own hands to insure their safety. As damage control, Akabane had a lengthy 'discussion' with the Threadmaster disguised as derisive innuendo, pretending to be a jealous rival of the beautiful 'princess.'

With added help from Ginji and Himiko, Ban reluctantly conceded to the majority decision, but inwardly, he was furious.

"You're all idiots," Ban said, walking out to the room's balcony with an unopened pack of cigarettes after the Novitiates were dismissed from the dinner feast. Thankfully, it was a more informal atmosphere since the High Priestess wasn't in attendance.

Weary of Mido's angry and distant behavior, Akabane shed his stuffy, formal dinner attire for a loose-fitting, black silk dress and tried unsuccessfully to read a book. Frustrated, he left their assigned room and wandered over to a darkened section of the Novitiate guest wing that was used for the dinner feast where an elegantly polished grand piano was placed.

An elderly musician played soothing melodies while they ate and during dessert, a few of the Novitiates took turns outdoing each other. Most notable among them was Amarantha Ashford, whose musical skill was impressive.

Sitting on the piano's immaculately shiny bench, Akabane ran his fingers lightly over the black-and-white ivory keys as the disjointed memory of a song echoed in his head. Almost unconsciously, he began to expertly play, the pleasant tune of the untitled melody drifting around him as he listened, openly fascinated by his own strange musical knowledge, wondering how he had learned it.

"Didn't know you could play the piano."

Jolted by Mido's unexpected arrival, Akabane's fingers clumsily ground to a halt.

"We're on speaking terms again?" Jackal said flatly, resuming the music and trying to ignore Ban's intrusion.

"Lemme guess, another mysterious skill you don't remember learning?"

"What if it is? Shall I enumerate all the gaps in my memory for you?"

Akabane stopped playing, staring sourly at Mido who'd wandered over, casually leaning his body against the grand. The boy was shirtless, wearing a loose pair of black, silk pajamas. It was an enticing package had his mood been different.

"Amnesia," Ban said, shaking his head with a snicker. "You're just all kinds of fucked-up, aren't you?"

"Says the one not afflicted by the problem," Jackal replied with a frown, deliberately holding his fingers above the piano keys. "I'm trying to relax, so if you don't mind, go bother someone else."

"Damn, you're crabby," Ban taunted with a grin.

"If your link with Asclepius is as tenuous as that dark entity is to the High Priestess, I can see why you evaded my question earlier," Akabane said bluntly before he could stop himself, knowing that the subject was a sore spot to the young Jaganmaster.

"Not here," Ban warned with a growl, stalking closer and adding with a low hiss, "you trying to get us all killed?"

There were visible sparks as the pair stared menacingly at each other.

Looking away, Jackal sighed. "Forgive me...that was careless."

"You're turning into a liability," Ban groused angrily. He knew his statement would start a fight between them but he needed to vent his frustrations out on Dr. Jackal, who was an increasingly unpredictable speed bump to their current operation.

"I know," Akabane admitted meekly with a sigh. He very rarely made mistakes and this particular mission was turning out to be the biggest blunder of his entire career as a Transporter. He also failed to notice the look of absolute shock on Mido's face as he gazed pensively at his fingers which were positioned to continue playing the melody where he'd stopped.

Ban couldn't decide what was more shocking: Jackal's easy admission that he was wrong or the calm manner in which he'd said it! He had fully expected them to have brawled it out, regardless of the consequences.

"Shall we continue our conversation elsewhere, then?" Akabane suggested.

"After you."

As the pair walked down the corridor to their assigned room, Jackal thought it was best to change the subject.

"I saw you handing an envelope to one of Ereshkigal's handmaidens at dinner. Have you formally refused her proposition?"

"Tempting as it was for me to say No in twenty offensive ways, I gave the Priestess a counteroffer," Ban replied.

"Oh?"

"It's a proposal she can't refuse and your being able to play the piano can only sweeten the deal."

"Well, what was your offer?

"I sent her a message saying I'll gladly play Giuseppe Tartini's Violin Sonata in G Minor for her and the rest of the senior members of the Coil, unless she prefers a private performance," Ban explained.

"The violin solo known as 'The Devil's Trill.' That's one of the most technically demanding pieces ever composed," Akabane remarked. "Having heard you play myself, I don't doubt your skill...but where exactly do I fit into your proposal?"

"I figured we'd to a little duet," Ban said with a shrug. "That way, you'll stay in the center of the Priestess's radar. I've seen the way that woman looks at you. She's got some hidden agenda brewing and I'm betting you're somehow involved."

"I've suspected the same thing since the beginning," Akabane agreed. "We'll have that information when she decides to contact me privately."

There was a momentary pause before either of them spoke again as they approached the doorway to their room.

"That song you were playing...I've never heard it before," Ban remarked, leaning against the doorjamb as he watched Akabane work the electronic lock.

"I did some research, tried searching for the song's title on mp3 databases but I think the song's an original composition," Jackal replied, the pair entering their room. "Also, that's the first time I've ever attempted to play it." He fidgeted as he sat on their bed, true to his character in ladylike fashion, crossing his long, slim legs.

Hopping onto the bed, Ban waited patiently for Jackal to continue his story.

"I've heard the song in my head a million times...and my hesitation to play it..." Clearing his throat, Akabane tried to describe how he felt. "The melody brings with it an incredible ache, a sense of longing and loss that weighs heavily in my chest. Now that I've played it...the song hammers home the reality of a gaping emptiness that I fear...I may never be able to fill."

"Is that why you kill? As a distraction? As a way to fill that emptiness?" Ban said in disgust.

"Partly," Akabane admitted, his eyes a blazing purple. "Mostly...I enjoy it."

"That's the Jackal I know," Ban replied with a molten blue gaze. "The main reason I hate you so much is because you constantly remind me of how I used to be. These days, I've come to loathe that part of my past. The angry, violent, selfish me that I never want to be again."

"Which brings us to what intrigues me the most about the GetBackers," Akabane stated, smiling diabolically. "You and Ginji spend so much energy trying to squash the basest aspects of yourselves, denying what I know you both still feel. Underneath your facades of chivalry and heroism, the combined bloodlust that you and Ginji possess...it's magnificent and irresistibly delicious."

Ban's blank expression would've served as a clear warning to anyone who saw it to quickly run away, but for Dr. Jackal, it only drew him closer.

"There it is," Akabane whispered with a chuckle. "Such seductive darkness."

"Listening to your bullshit really pisses me off," Ban said between clenched teeth. "At least Ginji and I have moved forward. Looks like your stuck in a rut, Jackal, alone in the dark...and there you'll stay...unless..."

Whatever insight Ban had gleamed from the depths of Akabane's gaze and body language remained unsaid as he quietly watched the Transporter hastily leave for the solitude of their en-suite bathroom.


to be continued


Author's Note:

Ban is not happy with Himiko's public display of real magic.

There's a long-standing debate among violin aficionados on the qualities of a 'Guarnerius' versus a 'Stradivarius.' Many say that a 'Guarnerius' possesses a 'darker and deeper' sound compared to the 'lightness' of a 'Stradivarius.' Also, the overall craftsmanship of a 'Guarnerius' is 'cruder and less sophisticated' than that of a 'Stradivarius.' (I suppose it all comes down to personal preference, right?)

I never intended to adhere strictly to canon for either the manga or the animated series. (Besides, where's the fun in that?) I hope that my personal touch on the GetBackers lore continues to be entertaining. ^_^

I'm sure many of you noticed that I tweaked the name of another character: Prince Bahdir. He's now to be known as Prince Bahadir. Why? For the longest time, the Arabian prince's name has been bothering me. It just didn't sound right. So, I finally did something about it.

For those of you who don't remember the GetBackers' new identities, please refer to the tables at the bottom of chapter 6.

For more comprehensive information on Absinthe, the fabled Green Fairy (and the site I owe Ban's lecture to) please visit: www dot feeverte dot net slash faq-absinthe dot html number-sign B1


Why, oh, why does it take so bloody LONG for me to update? Simple! My muses tend to ditch me and reappear at the most inconvenient times - especially when I'm busy with life-stuff. Stupid life-stuff. Grr!

(Nobody's more frustrated than me trying to push this story out of my head!)

I've also been distracted by another fic I've been writing. *bows head in shame*

I always breathe a sigh of relief listening to my GetBackers playlist for getting me through chapter after chapter: GetBackers OST, Cure, Depeche Mode, some classical Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky, the talented Itzhak Perlman and Vanessa Mae, along with Keane, NIN, Placebo, and Portishead. Not to mention the fantastic selection of delicious mellow electronica from web-radio stations' Groove Salad by SomaFM and ChillFM, or trance from AHFM. xD

Also, for your entertainment, you can download my story banners on my ffnet profile page. Enjoy.

Again, much LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to all my faithful readers! Your reviews and support give me the perseverance to keep typing away, not to mention constantly kicking myself in the rear to get moving onto the next chapter.

Although...I'm sure a lot of you wish that I'd update faster.

Me too!

(=^_^=)