Hi everyone! I'm so sorry it took this long for the new chapter to come out, but I was struck with the biggest writer's block and it was simply awful. However, thanks to your encouraging reviews, I managed to push through and produce this brand-new chapter for you! Thank you so much for your conitnued support, and I hope you enjoy it!
(I apologize in advance if the chapter feels a little... rushed? I swear I did my best)
Have fun storming the castle!
"One of the most important parts of this operation is the total neutralization of their activities. If we want to ensure Ame's safety in the future, we have to take down Coup de Grâce as a whole. Plus, there's no telling what sort of underhanded tricks they'll be using against us. In the worst-case scenario, they'll make use of different drugs and poisons that they created, which will leave us in a very tight spot if one of us ingests those. So, we'll need a team to raid their secret lab and gather all of the information held in there before completely eradicating it."
"All right, you've all heard of the situation: the drinks have been spiked with some kind of drug, meaning all of the guests have now become hostages," explained quickly Hebi as the group hid amongst the trees. "Ratto, you've learned to operate with security systems whenever Usagi wasn't available, so you're in charge of getting us into that lab. Yagi, Sugino, and Sugaya will take care of the distraction, and, as soon as Ratto managed to force the door open, Okuda, Kimura, and I will go ahead and neutralize Raphael. Any questions?"
"Isn't there a risk that he'll call for reinforcements?" asked worriedly Sugaya.
Ratto shook his head, checking his untraceable phone. "From the info we've gathered, Coup de Grâce doesn't trust anyone besides their high-ranking members when it comes to that lab. There'll be security set up outside, but nothing we can't handle. I'll blind the cameras so, once we're inside, he shouldn't be too much trouble."
"Plus, even if he does call for reinforcements, the other teams have already neutralized their coms officer and their strategist," recalled Sugino, grinning a bit.
"And he won't be able to directly contact Tanaka because we've been messing with the signal since we've arrived," added gruffly Yagi. "We ought to get a move on, though. Every second wasted is one more second when everything could go to hell. Everyone ready?"
"Aah!"
"Then let's go!"
.
.
"Karasuma, what's your position?"
"We've made it inside the auction room," answered quietly the man, carefully glancing around them. So far, none of the guests appeared affected by whatever had been put in the drinks, but he could tell it was only a matter of time. "Team 1-A is on standby, just outside the four doors that lead inside this room."
"Said doors have been locked exactly a minute and forty-three seconds ago," added Irina. "I'm guessing the show is about to start."
"Do you have a visual on Ame and Saru?"
"Ame's up in the East Wing, on the third balcony. Tanaka's right next to her," answered Rio, who was seated a few ranks ahead of the teachers, next to Isogai. "Saru's in the West Wing, also on the third balcony."
"We've lost sight of Michael," added Isogai, a mild edge to his voice. "We're guessing he's currently guarding the door of Ame's lodge."
"And Saru isn't guarded, as far as we can see. They know he won't make a move as long as they have Ame as a hostage," grunted Rio.
"Alright. As soon as Team 4 is done with raiding the lab, we'll drop the bomb—literally. It shouldn't take too long, so stay on guard—we still don't know where Chamuel and Azrael are, so watch your backs—"
"Gooooood evening, everyone!" All at once, the auction room was plunged in darkness as a single spotlight shone on the stage, where stood a single man wearing a yellow sparkling suit and a yellow mask. "I welcome you tonight to our underground auction! Please relax, enjoy the drinks, and spill that money to your heart's content! Let's get started!"
"Nevermind, we found Chamuel," deadpanned Irina, unimpressed.
"Since he's in the spotlight, he'll be all that easier to keep an eye on," remarked Karasuma, a little tensed. "We'll keep an eye out for Azrael. How long do we have?"
"I'd say fifteen minutes, at most. Be ready."
"Erm, everyone? I- I think we found Azrael…"
Rio and Isogai didn't know what they expected of the assassin, but it certainly wasn't this. Just as the auction began, the indigo-haired man took the empty seat on Rio's left, and she only noticed once he had a knife pressing against her stomach.
"What do you mean, Isogai?" asked urgently Karasuma. "Where is he?"
Without a word, Azrael extended his hand to Isogai, and, after a moment of hesitation, the boy handed him the communication device. Things had just taken a turn for the worst, but there might still be a way to salvage their plan, so long as they didn't cause a commotion now. Keeping his knife on the blonde girl, Azrael installed the communication device in his ear and adjusted the mike.
"Isogai, answer me! What's going on? Where is Azrael!?"
"I'm right here." There was a moment of heavy silence, and he took it as his cue to speak some more. "Have you come here to rescue Ame-san?"
"… What have you done to the children?"
"Nothing. Yet. Answer my question."
"I—"
"Yes, we are." That was Usagi, and his tone was definitely tensed. "What are you planning on doing now that you've uncovered our operation, Azrael?"
"Help you." Again, only silence met him, and he heaved out a small sigh. "Ame-san helped me out. I'm simply returning the favor."
"By turning against your own gang?" replied Karasuma, clearly unconvinced.
Azrael's eyes sharpened slightly. "Be aware that I didn't stay in Coup de Grâce from my own volition. If the organization is destroyed tonight, all the better for me."
"… All right, we'll trust you. Not like we have much of a choice, anyway."
Nodding, Azrael finally removed the knife he had been holding against Rio's stomach, and both her and Isogai let out a breath they hadn't realized they had been holding. The situation had taken quite the unexpected turn but, then again, Ame was apparently involved in some way, so they really shouldn't be this surprised.
Now, here's hoping the rest of the plan will go smoothly… sighed internally Rio.
.
.
"And… move!"
At Ratto's signal, the girls were quick to rush toward the now opened door of the lab, completely ignoring the guards that were currently being taken down by Yagi, Sugino, and Sugaya. As told, it wasn't anything that they couldn't handle, but they still needed to act fast: now that the door was opened and the cameras were down, their target inside was bound to lose his cool, and the last thing they wanted was to give chase in the woods.
"Kimura, Okuda, start placing the bombs. I'll go and neutralize Raphael, along with securing the documents we need," ordered Hebi, gesturing toward the right hallway.
They nodded firmly, instantly getting to work. The secret lab wasn't all that big since it would have made it harder to hide, and the small bombs they had been given worked in a domino effect—in other words, the first one to explode would make the second one explode, which would make the third one explode, and so on. So, all they needed was to set them up with a five-meters distance between each, throughout the entire hallway.
"If only our parents could see us now, uh?" chuckled Kimura, trying to forget about his nervousness as he set up another bomb. "Assaulting one of the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world, setting up bombs to make a secret lab explode…"
"W- well, at that point, it- it's a normal occurrence for- for us, isn't it?" replied Okuda, offering a small smile as she handed another device.
He grinned back, unable to disagree but, just as he took the bomb from her, hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway. Barely a second later, none other than Raphael stumbled into view, holding a silvery suitcase against his chest with one hand, while the other held a gun. As soon as he saw them, he let out a yelp and brandished the gun toward Okuda.
"Stay- stay back! Don't move—ack!"
One moment, he was holding Okuda at gunpoint.
The next, the gun was harshly slapped out of his hands and the bespectacled girl gave him a roundhouse kick to the face, effectively slamming him into the nearby wall and knocking him out.
…
…
…
"Holy crap, Okuda," whispered Kimura, gawking at the now unconscious man lying on the floor before them. "That was awesome."
The shy girl instantly flushed ten shades of red, though she smiled, pleased. "It was- it was Ame-san who- who taught me that move…"
"Okuda! Kimura!" Hebi suddenly appeared, running up to them. Despite the mask, they could easily tell she had been worried. "Are you two alright? What happened?"
"Okuda kicked his ass," answered frankly Kimura, still in awe. Who knew the normally shy girl had it in her? "Damn, I wish I could have filmed it!"
At that point, though, the praises were a tad too much for Okuda, who started stuttering madly as she attempted to politely shut him up, while Kimura kept on singing her praises because damn, it was probably one of the most badass things he had seen in his life—and considering how his current school year was going, that was saying a lot.
Hebi simply chuckled, lightly patting Okuda's head.
"Good job." Grinning a bit, though the teens couldn't see it, she then activated her communication device. "Yagi, Ratto. We've neutralized Raphael and we have the necessary documents. We're almost done with the bombs, too, so make sure no one is in the vicinity when everything goes boom."
"You got it," confirmed Yagi with a grunt.
"Alright," she nodded, reporting her attention to the teens before her. "I've already set up the bombs in the main lab. Raphael walked in on me while I was doing that, hence why he tried to run, but we're almost done. I'll take this guy outside, so you guys finish up in here and hurry out as soon as you're done, alright?"
"Right!"
Nodding once again, the red-haired woman then cuffed the unconscious man, before picking him up along with the suitcase he had been carrying, and heading out. As she walked away, though, the two students couldn't help but feel proud and determined—even more so than before. After all, as unusual as the situation was, they hadn't expected to be left alone to handle such an important task but, like the rest of the E-Class, the members of the Zodiac treated them as equals, sharing the responsibilities while looking after them, but without constantly hovering over their shoulders, as Karasuma or Korosensei would.
They were trusted, treated not like students, but like fellow coworkers, adults… and it was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
About two minutes later, they were done setting up the bombs, and they quickly found their way outside, where the rest of the team was waiting for them. Sugino and Sugaya were quick to congratulate their fellow students for a job well done, while the Zodiac members got to work in order to finish up their part of the mission.
"All right, kiddies," grinned lazily Ratto, turning to the students. "Who wants to do the honors?"
"Okuda, go ahead," urged Sugino, gently nudging her forward with a grin.
"Right, might as well finish what you started, uh?" teased Kimura.
"Are- are you sure?"
"Go ahead!" insisted Sugaya, grinning too.
Somewhat embarrassed because of all of the attention, she nervously took the detonator Ratto was handing her and, with a nod from Yagi, she bit her lower lip and pressed on the button. Almost instantly, the first bomb went off inside, soon followed by the second one, then the third one… In a matter of seconds, the entirety of the secret lab collapsed in a mess of rubbles, fire, and smoke, the tremors running under their feet and the noise scaring away some birds nested nearby. After a minute or so, a semblance of silence fell back upon the forest.
"We did it!" cheered Sugino.
"Yosh!"
All four students high-fived, overjoyed. Yagi rolled his eyes, though he didn't say anything, and Ratto simply snorted, amused. Hebi chuckled, before contacting Usagi.
"Usagi, do you copy?"
"Yup! Good news?"
"Phase Four is complete," she confirmed. "The lab is destroyed, Raphael has been apprehended, and we have all of the info we need."
"Great! I'll pass the word and give the signal for the finale phase, then. You guys hurry back to the Citadel, alright?"
"Copy that."
Seeing as they didn't want to overload communications, it had been decided that not all of the Teams would be able to communicate directly, and would instead talk to Usagi, who would then relay orders and instructions, along with Ritsu. So, when he received the news of Phase Four's success, he was quick to share them with everyone.
"Alright, listen up! Phase Four has been dealt with, so it's time to move on to the grand finale," he announced, biting his lip in apprehension. "We only have Michael, Chamuel, and Sho left, but let's not forget about Ame's bomb necklace. E-Class, you know what to do. Zodiac, it's time to lift the curtain!"
"You're having too much fun with this, Usagi," chided Karasu, clicking his tongue.
"Mou, don't be a party-pooper, Kara-chan," pouted Uma.
"Don't call me that!"
"The brat better be grateful once we get out of here," grunted Ratto.
"I'll give her the scolding of a lifetime," assured darkly Yagi.
"To be fair, she was kidnapped in her own home. Can't you go a little easy on her?" sweatdropped Sasori.
"If anything, she's the one who'll kick our ass for taking so long," snorted Tora.
"We should get out of here first before thinking of what'll happen next," flatly pointed out Same.
"He's right, we should be careful, still. Who knows what other trick Sho has up his sleeve?" remarked wisely Buru.
"And let's not forget Saru, too. As soon as Sho realizes what's happening, our Leader will be in danger," added Hebi.
"Ugh, we better not take the whole night, I promised my wife I'd be home before morning," sighed Buta.
"You mean your wife who doesn't know of your explosive pastime?" taunted Ondori.
"Alright, enough of the sideshow," Ryu cut in before an argument could break out. "Everyone is in position. As soon as Usagi gives the signal, we'll move in. Our primary focus is causing enough of a commotion to force Sho out of hiding, and make things as easy as possible for the students to make their move."
Everyone chorused their agreement with varying degrees of enthusiasm, all of them well aware that, from here on out, a single wrong move could very well mean Ame's death or Saru's death, or both. Heaving out a sigh, Usagi then contacted Karasuma.
"Teach, Phase Five is about to start. You know what to do, right?"
"Aa. We're ready."
"In that case… Phase Five begins now!"
"If all goes right, then Sho and Michael won't suspect the involvement of the students. At that point, we'll have to rely on them in order to get closer to Ame without attracting the attention of the guests. So, we'll have to focus on two things: getting rid of Michael, and getting Sho away from Ame long enough for us to get rid of whatever insurance he put in place. That being said, the Zodiac will cause a distraction along with Korosensei."
"Michael, we have an issue."
The red-haired man frowned. "What is it, Gabrielle?"
"It's the Zodiac—they're all here. They managed to get past the guards, and Ariel and Jophiel have been taken out. If we don't stop them now, they'll just barge in the auction and mess up everything."
Michael scowled. "Understood. We were prepared for such an eventuality, though I didn't expect those two to get taken out first… Keep an eye out, I'm sending Boss to handle it."
"Roger."
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Michael knocked three times, before opening the door and stepping inside of the lounge. The black-haired girl didn't even spare him a glance, completely focused on the auction happening below, and he bent down to be at Tanaka's level.
"The Zodiac's here, the octopus monster too, and they're causing trouble. Ariel and Jophiel are down for the count, too."
"Hmm." Tanaka kept silent for a moment, before nodding. "We expected things to turn out like that. I'll be going ahead, then. You know what to do."
"You got it."
Tanaka rose to his feet and, this time around, Ame reacted. She tilted her head, looking at him with a mix of confusion and apprehension. He simply spared her a smile, unperturbed by the glare she replied with.
"No need for such a look, I'll only be gone for a few minutes. Some business to settle, you know? Don't try anything reckless, now—" He flicked the necklace around her neck, making her flinch. "—or you know what'll happen."
"Tche."
He simply chuckled, before heading out. Michael followed him, returning to his initial position and guarding the door, while Tanaka went ahead to meet with the Zodiac members now causing a commotion on his turf. He had expected them to act out once they realized their precious leader had yet to come out, but he could easily contain them. After all, his orders to Michael were quite clear: if he died, Ame was to die too. And, if they tried to bargain his life against hers and their Leader's, he was to kill them both. Plus, they still had all of the guests as hostages! And, while the Zodiac was busy deliberating, he'd have Raphael use his newest creation to put them to rest—permanently. It was a soundproof plan, really!
Or at least, it would have been, had he not underestimated whom he was facing.
"Tanaka Sho left the balcony," announced Usagi.
"He activated some sort of emergency procedure on his way out," added Ritsu. "As suspected, he intends to use the guests as hostages. There's now a sleeping gaze slowly spreading throughout the entire room which, coupled with the drug they were slipped earlier, will plunge them in a coma-like state."
"Understood," nodded Karasuma, carefully covering his nose and mouth. "Students, it's time. Be careful, everyone."
None of them answered, but he knew they heard him. Beside him, Irina also carefully covered her nose, keeping a close eye on the guests around them. Slowly, but noticeably, all of them started to sway in place, before collapsing in their seats, and they were quick to play along.
As soon as Ame was free, they'd handle the most dangerous opponent.
.
.
Throughout the entire operation, another group entirely composed of students also infiltrated the Citadel, using the air conducts to make their way toward the auction room. Terasaka, Hazama, Yoshida, and Muramatsu had a very simple mission: draw Michael away from the lounge, and kick his ass.
Since none of them were really the planning type, they decided to go for a head-on approach.
"Oi, pepper! I've got a bone to pick with you!"
Terasaka walked right up to the red-haired man, a hand shoved in his pocket and the other hanging loosely in his back. Michael frowned slightly, but he wasn't about to be baited so easily.
"What are you doing here, kid? This is a restricted area," he simply replied.
"You talk all high and mighty, but you just sound plain stupid," Terasaka replied, smirking confidently and channeling his inner-Karma. "What are you, someone's servant? All you're good for is licking someone's boots, uh?"
Michael gritted his teeth at that, but didn't budge from his spot. "Get lost."
Terasaka glared at him for a moment… before suddenly moving, much faster than anyone would expect from a guy with his stature. He struck the man before him right in the guts with none other than the stun gun Ame had gifted him, effectively electrocuting him.
Unfortunately enough, taking him down wouldn't be that easy.
"Enough," he growled, his face twisting in an enraged snarl. "I'll have your head, brat!"
Well, worked like a charm, eh?
"As if you could catch me!" he taunted, already running off. "You're so big, you'll end up stuck in the doorway!"
"Did you just call me fat!?"
Now, Michael wasn't exactly one to lose his cool easily. In fact, the only person in the world who could aggravate him without even trying was none other than the blonde idiot he was forced to call his colleague. However, that brat who had just electrocuted him was just like him.
Another Chamuel? Hell to the no!
And while he wasn't allowed to throttle his coworker, the same privilege didn't extend to some random kid who decided he had nothing better to do than taunt a full-fledged martial artist.
I'll rip his fucking guts out!
He wasn't all that worried about leaving his post, well aware that their guest of honor wouldn't be able to even step foot outside of the lounge without killing herself. However, as he suddenly found himself in a small, dark theater room, he started revaluating his situation.
Who was that kid?
Why did he provoke him like that?
Why the fuck was I dumb enough to follow him!?
There was a movement to his right and, next thing he knew, he was struck again by the stun-gun but, just as he attempted to kick his opponent, pain flared in his neck and he found himself collapsing, with only one thought in mind.
I'm blaming Chamuel for this…
.
.
The last thing Ame expected was for the door of the lunge to be flung open, and for none other than Itona and Isogai to walk inside as if they owned the place. She didn't even get up from her seat, though, not daring to make a move when in such a precarious position. So, as much as she wanted to jump into their arms, she settled for staying still and offering them a relieved smile.
"Took you guys long enough," she teased, though it was half-hearted. "Don't know what's gotten into you, infiltrating the place like that… but thank you."
"Don't thank us yet," replied simply Itona, kneeling so he could take a better look at the choker around her neck. "As long as you have that bomb on you, nothing's certain."
"Sheesh, thanks for the pep talk."
"It's good to see you in good health, Ame-san," then smiled Isogai, pulling out his phone. "We'll get you out of here in no time, alright?"
She could only smile back at that. "I'm counting on you."
"Ame!" Ritsu suddenly appeared on the boy's screen. "I'm so happy to see you again! Don't worry, Buta-san thoroughly instructed me, so we'll get that bomb off in no time!"
The black-haired girl simply nodded, and Itona instantly got to work, Isogai holding the phone while Ritsu guided the purple-haired boy. As nerve-wracking the experience was, though, Ame couldn't help but feel relaxed, and she realized with a start that she truly, fully trusted them to get her out of this mess—as much as she trusted the Zodiac, in fact.
Speaking of which, since they're apparently working together… Ugh, I'll have a lot of explaining to do once we get back, won't I? I—
'BIP.' 'BIP.' 'BIP.'
All four students froze at the noise suddenly coming from the necklace.
"That's not good, is it?" paled Isogai.
"Damn it, there's a timer!" cursed Itona, for once showing a semblance of emotion. "Ritsu-san, what do I do?"
"It's the final stage! You need to cut the blue wire, and switch the black one over there…"
Ame completely tuned out Ritsu's instructions. She was painfully aware that the necklace could explode at any second, now, but she couldn't help but feel at ease.
It's alright. They've got this.
And they did. Next thing she knew, the necklace slipped off her neck and fell on the carpet, the bomb now rendered harmless. Ame let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding, while the boys' shoulders slumped in relief. Then, unable to help herself, she threw her arms around Itona, bringing the boy in a tight hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you—"
"It- it's fine…" he mumbled, somewhat embarrassed.
He patted her back and, letting out a shuddering breath, she released him and jumped back toher feet. Offering the two of them a blinding smile, she then turned to the railing and looked over at Saru, who was watching them from afar. She offered him a thumbs up, and he grinned back, rising from his seat and instantly disappearing from sight, ready to join in the fun.
"Ame-san, here." Isogai suddenly offered her a communicator. "It's time to finish this."
She nodded eagerly at that, quickly putting on the device and activating it.
"Ame here," she announced cheerfully. "I'm no longer a safety hazard, so you guys can go all out. And I'm treating everyone to dinner once we're out of here!"
A few cheers, some chuckles, and numerous sighs of relief answered her. Obviously, the entire cavalry was here, and they had been quite busy, from what she gathered.
"It's good to have you back, Kitsune," greeted Usagi. "Teach 1, Teach 2, you guys can move in and handle Chamuel. Azrael will give you a hand. Korosensei, evacuate the unconscious guests at once. Team 4, get ready to administer the antidote. Everyone else, what's going on with Tanaka?"
"He was stalling for time but, upon realizing that Raphael wasn't showing up and no one was answering his calls, he realized the trick and managed to run off," answered Karasu, sounding a tad annoyed. "The others are handling the last of his security as we speak."
"Well, sounds like you guys were busy," chuckled Ame, before shaking her head. "I know where's Tanaka's headed, though. Leave him to Saru and me."
"You got it."
Quickly heading out, Ame was instantly assaulted by a blonde tornado. None other than Rio started shaking her like a ragdoll, loudly scolding her even though she knew that it wasn't exactly Ame's fault to begin with, and why the hell did you never tell me about your job!?
At that, Ame could only grin impishly.
"What are you talking about? I did tell you."
Her friend paused, puzzled. "Uh? When did you…"
::
"Mind clueing us in? You never did tell me what your job is," pointed out Karma, crossing his arms behind his head.
"Ugh, don't bother," grunted Rio, rising up. "She's had that damn job since we started school and she never told me anything about it other than she likes it, that the money's good and that it's cool."
"It's because I'm a secret agent and a super spy, Rio. I can't go yelling it on the roofs," deadpanned Ame.
::
"Oh my god, I'm such an idiot!" groaned the blonde, stepping back.
Ame simply patted her shoulder in comfort. "Don't worry, that's nothing new."
"Good to see you haven't changed, Ame," snorted Karma, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "We really can't have a peaceful day with you around, can we?"
"I think Korosensei's partly to blame for that, though," she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, you got her out!"
At the exclamation, the little group reported their attention to the right, where none other than Terasaka, Hazama, Muramatsu, and Yoshida showed up, carrying an unconscious, cuffed, and tied-up Michael. Ame snorted a bit at the sight, before remembering another detail that she hadn't picked up on until now.
"Hey, what did Usagi mean by Azrael will give you a hand?"
"Oh, that? Apparently, you made yourself a new friend who decided to help us out," answered Rio, scowling a bit. "He's terrifying, though."
"So it worked? I'm glad," sighed Ame, having completely forgotten about that particular detail. She then shook her head. "I'll explain later. Right now, I've got to go after Tanaka."
"Are you sure it's safe for you to face him alone?" replied Yoshida, quirking an eyebrow.
"I'll be fine," she assured, determined. "He's not all that strong without his pawns around, and he can't threaten me anymore."
"The E-Class was instructed to help with the evacuation and gather outside of the Citadel at that point, in order to clear the way for the Zodiac," then explained Itona, checking his phone. "If the timing is right, then the last standing member of Coup de Grâce, Chamuel, should be—"
"RAAAWRGH!"
"Well, sounds like the timing was perfect," sweatdropped Muramatsu.
"From what I've gathered, Chamuel uses a special drug to enhance his physical abilities, but that basically turns him into a mindless beast, and his rampages can go on for hours," sighed Ame, shaking her head. "Let's leave his case to the teachers. Be careful on your way out, alright? I'll be back before you know it!"
"Kick his ass, Ame!" cheered Rio as the black-haired girl started running.
"Be careful!" added Isogai, somewhat worried.
Karma snorted at that. "At that point, I'd be more worried about what kind of state we'll find that Tanaka guy once she's through with him."
The others could only chuckle, agreeing with him. Now that their friend was back on her feet and free to move as she pleased, she definitely wouldn't go easy on the asshole who kidnapped her—even less so after her classmates and colleagues worked so hard to save her.
.
.
Ame was running. She had stripped a few unconscious guards of their weapons on the way, and she was now running up the stairs leading to the roof. As she slammed the door open and found herself outside, she was suddenly assaulted with memories of that night.
The one she had cracked and almost killed another man.
Not the time, she scolded herself, breathing in deeply.
Nagisa had faced his nemesis on the roof of this very hotel, and it was now her turn. She could hear the hurried instructions yelled over the constant noise of spinning propellers, and she swiftly flung herself over the railing. She landed in the middle of the platform, surrounded by ten armed men who instantly aimed their guns at her.
For once, though, those didn't bother her.
"You're really nothing but a coward, aren't you?" she scoffed.
Sitting on the edge of helicopter's cabin, Tanaka Sho grinned. "I knew you'd catch up."
"You were waiting for me? I'm flattered," she drawled, unimpressed.
"Why, of course. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, after all."
"Still intent on having me join, uh? Well, tough luck: Coup de Grâce is no more."
He sighed at that. "I must admit, I never would have expected the mighty Zodiac to work with children, even if they're your oh-so-talented classmates. I underestimated them, and that's entirely on me. However, that doesn't matter!" He then extended his hand to her, smirking confidently. "The two of us can turn this world upside-down! We'll start Coup de Grâce anew and, who knows? Maybe we can even recruit one or two of your friends, while we're at it."
"Why are you so convinced I'll actually join you?" she asked, genuinely confused. "You threatened me, you threatened my friends… You're ready to abandon your colleagues now that they've been caught, all you want is to create mayhem and chaos wherever you go, and you don't care about the lives that might be harmed or lost because of your childish whims and your temper tantrums. So tell me: why the hell should I follow you?"
A heavy silence ensued, his gaze unwavering and confident, her glare proud and defiant. After a few seconds of rising tension, though, they were suddenly snapped out of their intense stare-down by the sound of bodies collapsing. In barely five seconds, the ten armed men that had been previously keeping Ame in check were now on the ground, unconscious. Then, something flew above Ame's head and landed right into the helicopter's cabin, next to Tanaka.
The girl's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh shit!"
Before she could even move, someone grabbed her and pulled her down, dragging her behind some heavy boxes. There was a loud curse, followed a mild explosion, and it took her a few seconds to realize that she was now being held by none other than Saru, who grinned down at her when their eyes met.
"Yo."
She snorted. "Always have to make an entrance, don't you?"
"Please, you know you love it. Anyway, you can head back down, and I'll handle the rest—"
"Ame!" Both stiffened as Tanaka called out to her, seemingly in pain.
"Ame, don't—"
"I want answers, Saru," she stated, pulling out of his grasp and rising to her feet.
He didn't try to stop her as she stepped out of their hiding place, walking over toward the edge of the landing platform. The helicopter was now a burning mess of melting metal and fuming ruins and, contrarily to the two Zodiac members, Tanaka hadn't escaped from the small explosion unscathed. He was crawling toward the edge, his legs thoroughly burned, but he perked up when he saw her approach.
"I- I'll tell you!" he choked out, forcing himself to sit up. She stopped about two meters away from him, and his grin turned sinister. "I'll tell you. Not- not why you will join me… but why you will leave the- the Zodiac."
She crossed her arms over her chest, unimpressed. "Talk, and talk fast. I'm not in the mood to waste any more time because of you."
Saru frowned, walking up behind her. "Ame, maybe this isn't the best idea—"
"Saru, I love you, I really do, but shut up."
"Ah! Love him?" barked out Tanaka, apparently finding the notion hilarious. "You really didn't tell her anything, did you, Saru?"
"Tell me what?"
She shot a look at her Leader, but his frown had vanished to leave place to a resigned expression, and he stubbornly kept silent. Understanding she wasn't about to get any answers from him, she reported her attention to Tanaka.
"Tell me what?" she asked again, growing impatient. "What's going on!?"
"I know a lot about you, Ame," he stated, obviously enjoying the situation. Even if he could no longer run, he could still land a final blow on the Zodiac. "I know about the E-Class. I know about the orphanage. I even know whyyour sweet grandmother took you in in the first place!"
"That's common knowledge," she snapped. For people like us, at least. "What of it?"
"How did your parents die, Ame?"
Her frown deepened at that. "A car accident. If you know so much about me, what—"
"But was it?" Silence. He grinned. "Was it really an accident?"
"… what are you trying to say?"
He cackled at that, completely losing it. "Isn't it obvious? You're a bright girl, Ame, I'm sure you can connect the dots together! Have you never found it strange, how Saru took a sudden interest in you? Why would the Zodiac bother taking in a random brat? What made you so special, uh?" She kept silent, and his grin only widened even more. "I'm sure you get it at that point, but I'll tell you anyway: the reason why Saru decided to take you in wasn't because you were special, but because he pitied you."
"Mommy?"
"Oh, you're still awake?" chuckled her mother, patting her head.
"I can't sleep… There's a monster under the bed…"
"Oh, really? In that case, we should ask daddy to handle it," mused her mother, picking her up. "He likes to hunt monsters, you know? He's the best at it."
"Really?" gasped the four-year-old girl.
"Really!" Her father suddenly showed up, grinning from ear to ear. "A monster, you said? Is it because of the noises you keep hearing?"
"Y- yeah…"
"In that case, I've got the greatest trick for you." He took her in his arms, slowly making his way back to her room. "If you're ever scared of a strange noise and think it's a monster, there's only one thing to do: make a noise even stranger than his!"
"Uh? What for, daddy?"
"Because it's a way to show that you're stronger than the monster! So whenever you're scared, make the weirdest, loudest noise you can, and it'll scare them, instead."
The child laughed at that. "That's silly, daddy."
He simply grinned back. "But it works, trust me. Now, off to bed, alright?"
"Hm. Goodnight, daddy."
"Goodnight, baby angel."
Once he tucked her in, the black-haired man pressed a light kiss on her forehead, and headed back to the common room. He shared a knowing smile with his wife but, just as he settled down on the couch beside her, the floor creaked loudly. For a second, they expected the girl to get up again, but then—
"Gwargh!"
Silence. Then, a childish giggle. Husband and wife shared a look, and the woman snorted.
"This is going to become a thing, isn't it?"
"That's not it," grunted Saru, clenching his fists.
"He was just trying to make up for a mistake, you know?"
"Mommy? Mommy, where are you?"
She was lost. How could she have gotten lost? Just as the tears started brimming her eyes, though, a familiar voice called out to her.
"Ame!"
"Mo- Mommy!"
Relieved, the woman was quick to wrap her arms around the girl. She hadn't expected to lose sight of her in the market, but was she glad to have found her.
"I thought- I thought you left me…" sobbed the child.
"Never, baby angel," murmured the woman, gently stroking her hair. "I love you too much for that."
Nodding, the child then quickly rubbed her eyes to get rid of the last traces of tears, before beaming up at her mother and grabbing her hand.
"Let's go! There's new books in the library!"
"Alright, alright," chuckled the woman, letting the kid drag her along.
"You're wrong!"
"He took you in in order to assuage his guilt, not because he actually cared!"
"Mommy, where are you going?"
"To run an errand, baby angel," answered the woman, pressing a kiss on the girl's forehead. "We'll be back in about thirty minutes, alright? And we'll make pancakes together."
The child perked up at that. "Pancakes? Really?"
"Really. I know how much you love them," chuckled her mother.
"Don't cause any trouble now, pipsqueak," teased her father, ruffling her hair as he passed by her to reach the door. "And if there's anything wrong, you can call us or grandma, alright? It won't take long, I promise."
"Okay!" Overjoyed at the idea of making pancakes—though mostly, at the idea of eating them—the child wrapped her arms around her mother's legs. "I love you, mommy."
"Love you too, sweetheart."
"That's not true!" insisted Saru, gritting his teeth.
"You're just a charity case in his eyes! A way to make himself feel just a little bit better about his worthless existence!"
"Obaa-san… Where are they? Where are mommy and daddy?"
Her grandmother stifled a sob. "I'm sorry, dearest. They're… Mommy and daddy aren't coming back."
The child looked at her in confusion. "But why? They promised they'd be back soon. Why is it taking so long, Obaa-san?"
That day was the day Naoki Ame became an orphan, and the sadness and loneliness gripping her heart was simply too much to bear.
It was also the last time she cried.
"Because he's the one who killed them! Saru's the one who killed your parents!"
Silence.
Absolute, complete, suffocating silence.
::
"Hm. Goodnight, daddy."
"Goodnight, baby angel."
::
"I thought- I thought you left me…"
"Never, baby angel. I love you too much for that."
::
"I love you, mommy."
"Love you too, sweetheart."
::
"I'm sorry, dearest. They're… Mommy and daddy aren't coming back."
"But why? They promised they'd be back soon. Why is it taking so long, Obaa-san?"
::
Ame wasn't saying anything, her head lowered and her bangs covering her eyes. Saru didn't dare utter a word, his own silence incriminating him even more, and Tanaka… Tanaka was having the time of his life.
"Do you see it, now? We're the same, you and I! Because of him! He took away everything! So now, will you join me?" He extended a shaking hand toward her, grinning. "Kill him! Kill him and join me, and we'll make the rest of the Zodiac pay!"
"… no."
A beat. A silence.
Tanaka's smile wavered a bit. "W- what? What do you mean—"
"I said no. I'm not joining you," she repeated firmly, looking up to glare at him.
"But- but why? It's his fault!" he snapped, his anger and disbelief taking over. "He destroyed your life! He lied to you! He killed your parents!"
At that, though, her glare vanished, and she smiled.
It was bittersweet, but genuine.
"I already knew that."