Almost everyone.
"What do you really think?" Akio asked. "Do you really want to risk it, when we might be able to hold him off here?"
"My gut," Axel smiled softly. "Or something else, says that we need to try to take the fight to this Talpa."
"A defensive strategy is almost always a losing proposition," Else added, her arms crossed. "The people who lasted longest with such a position were those of the city of Troy. They were defeated by that which appeared a gift, and turned out to be the trap of their enemy."
"The Trojan horse," Akio grimaced. "With the nature of these armors, it's an uncomfortable parallel."
"Yes," she whispered. "It is."
Axel put his arm around her shoulder. "Also, it sounds as if this is the first time in a very long time our side of the conflict has had all of its support. And when you actually look at it, I'm not convinced we're as weak as some of us think."
"Do you mean in knowledge, character, or fighting power?"
"All of it, I suppose," Axel assented. "But I was referring to offensive manpower. I know Liam thinks he is of little value, but from what we've been told, even he has some good potential. Mikhail's learning, and he has the will to get better. You, Else, Zariel, Masanori, me," Axel continued. "Have all had training or experience. Everyone else has neither given up, nor proven useless. And Else and I gave them some instruction on our way here. I don't think we should shy away from giving it our all." He hesitated. "Without me, if it came down to that, you would still have a good chance."
Akio nodded. "But if we tried, and we failed, then Talpa would have all of the armors back in his possession, and our world would be doomed."
"It seems to me you fear failure either way," Axel stated.
"When uncertain," Else interjected. "It usually seems best to be bold."
"Would you really be okay with trying?" Akio asked, knowing if he had received Halo, and been in that position, he would have tried to honor his great-grandfather with the effort.
"There's no choice, is there?" Axel's expression asked for neither pity nor compassion. "Yes, I am willing to try." He squeezed his sister's shoulder. "We are trained militia, and we've always known we might be called on to protect our country. We're willing to give it everything we have. If this is my role, then I will do my best." He smiled brightly. "I just never expected to have the whole world under my protection."
"Yes," Else said strongly. "We will do everything required of us, or die in the effort."
Akio was impressed. He wasn't used to seeing devotion like that from other people. "Aiden has my respect, and I owe him my life. I am willing to follow his lead, but I believe his wish to protect us is against the common good, in this case."
"So let's just get everyone together that wants to go, and leave him behind," Zariel broke in, stepping into the room. She had been in the hall, listening. "Can't be that hard."
Akio found her manner grating, but considering her heritage, he was willing to be forgiving. "Only four of us wanted to go. The majority chose to stay."
"I think it would be a bad idea to divide our forces," Axel agreed.
"I am willing to change my vote," Else said. "And if we both are going, I'm sure Mikhail will come, too."
"Masanori wanted to go," Zariel pushed eagerly. "And I'm sure we can talk Liam and Peregrine into it." Her nose wrinkled in distaste. "Liam, anyway. Then Aiden will feel he has to go."
Akio shook his head. "Masanori will not go if Aiden does not."
"Can't you talk him out of it?" Zariel asked.
The look on Akio's face was hard to define. "That's not a good idea."
"I believe I can see why you would choose to follow Aiden," Axel said. "And I suspect he would quickly earn my loyalty, as well. But I feel too strongly on the matter. Let's give this a try."
Akio didn't like going behind Aiden's back, but he agreed with the Dane. "The sooner the better," he said. "We don't want to leave the enemy here to attack in our absence."
"I'll need to rest," Axel took a breath. "Tomorrow at noon?"
When the sun should be strongest. "Yes," Akio nodded.
"You go sleep, then," Zariel said brusquely. "We'll work on the others, and get them to come." With that, she turned and strode quickly out of the room.
"Thank you," Akio bowed and followed her out.
Alone, Else buried herself in her brother's chest.
He hugged her back. "You know," he said gently. "Nothing's certain."
"I know," she mumbled, but didn't let go.
Outside, Aiden worked with the others to help restore the Dome and the Line. It was good to have the opportunity to get to know some of them, when they weren't discussing life and death. Liam was easy to get along with, and though Mikhail was very quiet and reserved, he was slowly warming up. Peregrine was harder to understand, with his flippant personality, but there was more to him than that. Masanori was working alongside Akio, apparently having put aside any and all ill will towards him for the day's events. Partners traded frequently, giving everyone a chance to mingle and connect.
They all had at least one thing in common, Aiden reflected, looking at them. Even now, he felt as if the simple uncertainty, and even the confusion brought them together. They were still unknown, but he knew he couldn't call them strangers. Was this, he wondered, what those before him had felt?
It was the next day when Masanori burst into the conference room where Wildfire, Seiji and Hitomi were talking. "Aiden. You must come."
"What is it?" Aiden asked with concern, hurrying over. Seiji and Hitomi followed.
"They are going to leave," Masanori explained as the four of them rushed out.
"Leave?" Aiden was confused for only a moment. "No," he muttered, and passing Masanori, ran outside.
The other seven were gathered, in their armor, just outside the Dome, where the sun was as strong as they could hope to find under these heavy, black clouds. Above them could be seen the red and gold gates barring the way to Talpa's domain.
"What are you doing?" Aiden gasped as he came up to them. "I thought we agreed to stay here!"
"I understand that you're upset," Axel stepped out from the middle of the group to meet him, followed by Else. "But I hope you'll understand that we have to try this."
"But," Aiden was distressed. The others looked between him and Axel, and not even Zariel spoke. "The risks," he reached out to Halo. "Your life!"
"It's a mindset you're unaccustomed to," Axel looked at him earnestly. "But it's actually something I have been prepared for in my country. I'm okay with this."
Aiden realized he wasn't going to get anywhere with him. He looked further into the group. "Akio?"
"I'm sorry, Aiden," Akio said. "But we've decided to go."
Aiden felt a hand on his arm, and turned to see Masanori looking at him. The young man's face seemed to have it's usual expression, but Aiden knew he was being quietly beseeched. He looked back to the assembled young men and women. "I can't change your minds?"
"No," Else answered resolutely.
"I had a feeling this would happen," Seiji said, as several servants approached, bearing small packs. He must have sent for them while the others were talking. "These will not last you long," he warned as the packs were distributed. "But they will provide you with several days sustenance."
"Thank you," Axel said gratefully, accepting his.
Aiden allowed himself to accept one, as well, but couldn't bring himself to step into the group.
"Please take care of them," Hitomi said next to him. "I have faith in you, Aiden."
Aiden let out a frustrated breath. He summoned his armor, quickly followed by Masanori. Axel stepped back, giving him room to join their circle.
Hitomi couldn't contain herself. She darted into the group to embrace her son. "I love you, Akio," She said, pushing down her tears. "Be safe."
"I'll do my best, Mother," he answered.
"We will wait for your return," Seiji vowed as Hitomi came back to him.
What was he supposed to say? Aiden wondered. He was being forced into something he had already declined, he was expected to take care of people who wouldn't listen to him, and there was a good chance this would prove a one way trip. He felt the cross against his chest, reminding him to have faith, as well. There wasn't a wrong, or right thing to say. He settled for, "We'll meet again."
In this life or the next, Seiji thought as he nodded, looking each of them over one last time.
"Are you ready?" Aiden asked, pressed in with the others.
"Yes," Axel nodded. He drew his nodachi and knelt, placing its tip into the ground. Next to him, Else drew her sword as well. He looked at her in confusion.
"I can help," she assured him.
He smiled, believing he knew what she was thinking. Darkness and Light did not always have to work against each other. "Please stand still," he asked the others as he closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. Light began to emanate from him. It flowed outward to encompass all nine as they stood in the circle, pressed as closely together as they could. It slowly grew brighter as Axel felt out the destination.
Else raised her sword above them, her eyes closed in concentration as well, feeling out the edges of the light Axel needed. She could feel it building, growing upward. She could also feel the stray wisps of it as it flowed and twisted around them. These she sought to contain, creating a barrier of darkness around the pillar that would transport them. She followed it up, narrowing the focus, helping her brother be as efficient as she could.
She was with him, entwined with his effort as he found the end point. Axel was beginning to tremble with the strain, and sweat beaded his furrowed brow, but he had only done the easy part. Making sure he had all of them in his control, he began the real effort. He was glad to have practiced twice before, and that the second time it had been with as many as it had.
But something wasn't right. He couldn't reach the breakthrough point. For a moment, he wondered if it was the darkness Else was using to help him, but he knew that wasn't the case. It was as if there was another element missing. For some reason, his power wasn't going to be enough to break through the barrier and enter the realm. But he was too far past the point of no return, and he didn't know what would happen if he stopped trying now. He could feel his whole body shaking with the tremendous energy he was expending, and he was growing incredibly light headed.
That was the moment he knew he wouldn't survive this, he could feel it consuming everything he had, and more. He wondered if he would simply turn into one of the light beams itself, and disappear.
The light grew brighter and brighter, until it was painful to keep his eyes open, but Aiden forced himself to watch Axel. As the moments passed, he grew increasingly concerned. Now the young man was visibly shaking from head to foot with the effort. The sword was quivering between his hands as he began to shout as he strained. Axel was visibly weakening. His shoulders drooped, and suddenly he bent over the sword, as if it was his only support. He wanted to go to him, but he'd been told not to move. He saw Peregrine slowly reach a hand out to place it on Halo's shoulder.
The tint of the light changed, a bluish white intermingling with the color of the sun's rays. Aiden couldn't help but watch with fascination as it worked its way down to their feet, and weaving faintly between them. Suddenly, they were moved.
Hitomi and Seiji strained to see through the darkness that twisted around the pillar of light that was only visible in flickering glimpses. Each willed Halo to be capable of doing it.
"Come on," Hitomi whispered as the pillar continued, wavering and straining into the sky.
Seiji was growing doubtful. Almost half a minute had passed. From what had been described to them, the transportation should already have happened.
The servants suddenly began pointing and talking rapidly. Seiji raised his eyes to see what caused the excitement. Strands of blue and white were flowing down from the sky, breaking apart the darkness and enveloping the long shaft of golden light beneath that Halo was producing, mixing into it and sparkling in the light of day.
"Mother," he breathed.
The bluish white touched ground and fully melded with the pillar. There was a blinding flash, a crack of thunder, and in an instant, everything was gone. The Date family and their servants blinked to restore their vision, finding nothing on the ground where the nine Ronin Warriors had stood. They looked to the sky, to the great gates and the black clouds.
"That looked like the portal as described by Sage," Seiji said quietly. "As opened by the Ancient One."
"It did," Hitomi murmured.
"Is Anubis with us?" Seiji wondered. "Did they make it?"
"We will find out in time," Hitomi sighed. "Or we will never know.
AN: I felt sorry for Hitomi and Seiji, left standing there with no answers. Bye bye, guys. And next chapter starts the second half of this story! We are going to the Netherworld! Hopefully, our nine are up to the challenge.