Hi. I apologize for not updating as often as I did when this fic first started out. As mentioned previous chapter, I've been writing for another fandom I'm currently invested in. However, I genuinely miss writing for Fire Force. There's so much plot I want to tackle that it's been constantly visualized in my head before I go to sleep.
Unfortunately I'm now a college student struggling to turn in assignments due every single week. College sucks. :( I try to squeeze in bits of writing for fanfiction when I'm both motivated and free. Atm I'm on my winter break having a bit of writer's block from my current fandom and procrastinating as well for some me time.
Since the last time I updated, I've decided to change Kasai's hairstyle a little bit. I had realized having her in a short bob cut is a little too similar to Lisa's after the Netherworld arc. I've edited some things in the past chapters to reflect that but you don't have to read back since nothing major changed.
Imagine Kasai with a long, low ponytail under her bob cut reaching just above her waist, tied with a simple hair tie at the nape. Isn't it cool? XD
...
Verdant green eyes land on the woman.
Why is Hibana here at the 8th's cathedral again? Oh right, Obi wanted to discuss a plan with her now that both the 5th and 8th companies have joined hands.
Hibana makes eye contact with Kasai, tanned skin glowing after taking a shower at their base. The vague scent of barbecue is now replaced with the aroma of flowers.
Kasai closed her eyes and bowed her head respectively to her superior colleague. "I take it our shower room was acceptable to your standards?"
"...You're not going to shower?"
Without skipping a beat, Kasai had predicted the question and answered, "I'm usually the last person to use the facility before retiring the night. I'm not comfortable with public eyes, and since Maki and Iris are still inside, I can't enter."
The redhead would have presumed Hibana had asked this question to Iris and Maki who were also showering together. They all arrived to the cathedral at the same time, and the girls aside from Kasai were eager to cleanse themselves from the barbecue and grime, something Kasai still has on her right now. She's patient to wait until it was her turn, though Maki and Iris have no further business for the rest of the day and are free to take their time. Kasai has to attend the meeting together with Obi and Hibana anyway, along with Arthur and Shinra.
Hibana stared. "Since when did you become dapper than any of the gravel I've crushed?"
Kasai internally sweatdropped by how she uttered the last part so nonchalantly. Without opening her eyes she replied, "I'm simply showing respect to my superior and being considerate by keeping a distance since I've yet to shower myself."
The woman was quiet, contemplating something until she turned her nose away. "Hmph. Enough chatter. Take me to Obi's office."
Without another word, Kasai leads her to their destination as the click clack of Hibana's heels filled the silence.
Pink flower pupils narrowed.
Kasai has yet to ask her about the scheme to extract data from her. Hibana had left the preparations to Conehead and he had reported to have successfully plucked a few hair strands and is running an examination as they speak.
Hibana lowers her gaze from the back of her head to her left arm. She has a distinct feeling Kasai refuses to shower with the girls is because of her burn scar. Does she still suffer psychological trauma from it as well? Right now she seems to be fine...
When they arrived, Kasai knocked the door and announced their arrival before entering upon Obi's call.
Kasai stands in line with the boys before their captain who then revealed the plan for them to discuss.
"An undercover investigation of the 1st using the rookie training reassignment system? That's pretty good thinking for a gorilla, Obi." Hibana commented.
"The rookie training reassignment system is the one that allows crew members in their first year of service to be temporarily assigned to other companies to broaden their experience." Obi states before looking up from the directory book. "I'm going to have you three do an undercover investigation of the 1st."
"An undercover investigation of the 1st? Us three?" Shinra asked.
"Within the 1st's jurisdiction, there may be someone who is artificially creating Infernals. We want you to come up with any leads you can." Hinawa said.
"It's an important mission to help us crack human combustion. I'm counting on you three." Obi said.
Shinra frowned. "If there really is someone causing human combustion, they'll pay for it."
"It may seem unnatural if there are only members from the 8th. I'll send someone from my company, too." Hinawa removes herself from her leaned position on the wall to make her exit. "I'll hit up other companies I have connections with, too."
Kasai stared where the woman was last seen behind the closed door and pursed her lips. She has a feeling she'll be seeing her in the 8th more often than the captain should...
Come to think of it, Hibana would be staying over their cathedral for the night. Maki would be sleeping in Kasai's bedroom because of that. Since Iris and Hibana are sisters (both metaphorically and role-wise) who are on good terms now, it's only appropriate to let them spend some bonding time together while they can.
Kasai had stepped out of the shower room in a new change of clothes when Maki came to tell her that Hibana was waiting for her by Kasai's room.
Kasai refrained from a resigned knowing look spreading her face when she spotted Hibana leaning by the doorframe. "Did you need something?"
"Let's have a talk inside."
Kasai obliged and opened the door to allow the pink-haired woman inside first before closing the door behind her.
As Kasai approached her desk and pulled out a red grip ball (her quiet alternative to hand training instead of the metal kendama toy), Hibana crossed her legs and arms under her large cleavage.
"I heard from Iris you're close friends with Shinra."
The redhead can see this discussion coming a mile away. Hibana's voice was laid thick when uttering the "close friends" part.
"Yes, we knew each other since middle school as fellow classmates." Kasai affirmed. She absentmindedly squeezes the ball. "I'm assuming you want me to spill everything about Shinra?"
"Of course."
Kasai silently sighed through her nose as she nonchalantly twirled her long ponytail around her finger. "Why not ask him yourself? He wouldn't mind telling you simple things like what's his favorite food, especially from a beautiful woman like you."
A warm hue tinted Hibana's cheeks. "Really...?"
Kasai hummed.
Shinra has the 5th captain completely wrapped around his finger and the boy himself doesn't even know it. Perhaps that was for the best.
"What are you smiling about?" Hibana pointedly looks at her.
Kasai let out a chuckle. "I just find it cute that you're head over heels for Shinra. Who wouldn't when he's out being a hero?"
Hibana squinted. "Do you like him like that?"
Kasai leans back, reserved. "I like Shinra as a friend. I also see him as a rival but it doesn't seem obvious to Shinra as of now. Overall, I respect him. I aspire to be strong like him. So relax, I'm not your rival in terms of romance."
Hibana was not relieved of this reassurance. Nothing she says will go through, Kasai realized with resignation. Oh dear...
Hibana then asked, "Does the name 'Saika' ring any bells?"
Surprised by the random question, Kasai stared and slightly tilted her head. "Not that I know of. Why?"
"...So you don't have a distant relative who goes by that name?"
"No. I only have my parents and grandfather. There's my dad Kazuo Daigo, my mom Satsuki Itsuka -who kept her maiden name- and my grandfather, Hari Daigo. Then there's me and my little brother, Kaen Daigo." After listing off her family members' names, Kasai eyes the 5th captain peculiarly. "Is this Saika person one of the sisters back in your church days?"
Hibana slowly nodded. "Yes. She...was loved by everyone, including me and Iris. She had bright red hair like you, except more red-orange than pink."
Kasai rubbed her ponytail strand. It does look more pinkish red like strawberry color.
"But you don't need to concern yourself with the matter anymore. It's all a thing in the past."
Kasai watched as Hibana stood up. She then follows to open the door and see the woman out of her bedroom. As she did, Kasai bowed her head. "Thank you, Captain Hibana. I hope you find something worthwhile from my hair."
The woman said nothing as the redhead closed the door.
~Fire Force~
The day came for the undercover mission to commence.
"Kasai-san, that uniform..."
Said girl glanced to Iris inquisitively. She wore the same uniform as Arthur and Shinra, the male gakuran uniform with a mantle and hat. "Is something wrong?"
Iris shook her head. "No, I was just surprised. For a second I almost mistook you for a boy."
Kasai blinked before a smile lifted her lips. "Is that so?"
A black gloved hand took the blonde's in theirs and brushed lips against her knuckles as light as a feather. Summer green eyes beneath long red lashes peer up from the hand to bashful blue. "Isn't it more appealing this way?"
Iris rapidly blinked, flustered. "Um..."
Kasai chuckled. "Just kidding."
Iris then giggled. It's funny to see this more playful side of the Fire Soldier. She's opening up to the 8th little by little each day, a welcoming development.
Meanwhile from the side, the flowery romanticist Maki was biting down her handkerchief with tears. "So lucky..."
Sensing a dangerous intent, Kasai suppressed a start from leaping under her mantle before slowly inclining her chin to meet Hibana's flower pupils.
Kasai whispered for Iris' ears only, "I feel like I'm trying to earn your sister's blessings for your hand in marriage..."
Iris smiled. "Well unfortunately I am a sister."
A heartier chuckle escaped Kasai's lips. "True."
When Shinra, Arthur, Maki, and Kasai were ready, the redhead saluted to the remaining Company 8, "We're off!"
They have arrive to the Special Fire Grand Cathedral 1 - the Holy Sol Obelisk.
'What a mouthful.' Kasai thought.
"So this is the Holy Sol Obelisk. It's even bigger than I imagined." Shinra remarked as everyone stared up at the grand building.
"We could still climb it." Arthur said. Kasai sincerely hopes he doesn't mean that in a literal sense.
Kasai and Shinra glanced to the side. An unfamiliar face from the 2nd is notably tall (at least two meters tall) with squinted eyelids and short brown bob cut. The blond Fire Soldier from the 5th blowing a bubble gum (the same guy who belittled Obi's nonpowered abilities) is accompanying them as well.
"This is lame." The Kishiri said disinterestedly. This is the guy Hibana chose to send?
"I'm not sure I'm worthy to enter the sacred 1st." The 2nd soldier spoke meekly.
"Who are they?" Shinra asked Maki.
The woman whispers back, "They're camouflage. Make nice with them, okay?"
After entering the obelisk and registering at the counter, Maki thanks the nuns working there. Behind their polite smiles, Kasai can detect the slither of it strained. Their group kind of does attract attention.
As they make a beeline down the hallway, a man in a white priest uniform was standing by the windows. He has headphones on and regarded the group with scrutinizing dark eyes.
"So you're the trainee newbies?" He approached them. "Sheesh, I bet your crap is crap. Are you crappy, you crap?"
Kasai was trying to comprehend the crap he just spouted. It sounds like he's trying to berate them, but he's just calling crap "crap". Does she have that right?
The priest faced Arthur. "You've got the ass of an ass. An ass should ass like an ass, you ass!"
"What was that?!"
Shinra held a hand to stop the ticked off Arthur, "Easy! He's just saying your ass is an ass." Much to the blond's confusion.
The unnamed priest stared before leading the group, "Captain Burns is expecting you. Follow me."
Kasai's brows furrowed. Leonardo Burns of the 1st. The guy with an eyepatch. He demonstrated superhuman strength when he caught the cat girl soldier by simply leaping to great heights. Behind his burly build, just how powerful is his raw strength? Looks alone may not be enough to reveal unspoken prowess.
"This is the Grand Cathedral."
The door opens to the golden tiled flooring leading to the velvet red carpet where the captain stood with crossed arms.
"Welcome to the 1st. I'm happy to have you."
Kasai eyes the mosaic glass shining warm and pink tones from the sunlight. The contour of the blazing sun surrounds the cross. Had she seen this somewhere before?
Upon arriving at the foot of the staircase, the boys follow suit when Maki salutes, "First Class Fire Soldier Maki Oze, from the 8th! I have brought the new recruits for training!"
"While this is a formal function, we're still in the Grand Cathedral. Forgive me for asking, but I'd prefer that you tent hands, rather than salute." Burns' light blue eye glanced to the side. "Take a page from one of your rookies."
Maki and the others follow his line of direction on the space beside Arthur.
Kasai didn't open her eyes to acknowledge the respect behind his passive gaze and remained silent. From the beginning, her hands were in a prayer.
Maki stifled a gasp and made the Latom prayer with the rest of the crew members. "Please excuse us!"
The three priests standing from a few ways from the captain greeted them with their praying hands.
Burns then introduced them from right to left, "Lieutenant Flam, Lieutenant Hoshimiya, and Lieutenant Li, of the 1st. They're going to be taking care of you. After you've looked around the facility today, relax and make yourselves at home."
Shinra spoke up, "Captain Burns, if I may?"
A smirk crept his lips. "I realize this is sudden, but in order to have you assess our abilities, I would like to ask you to take us on in some sparring."
The crew members were shocked at the bold proposal. Maki looks to him mortified. "Shinra! What are you talking about?!"
"We are aware of your abilities from the paperwork we received on you. That will not be necessary." The lieutenant with dark red-brown hair and matching eyes with yellow star pupils said.
"That's all right. Rekka, let them practice on you, too." Burns said, much to the man's pleasant surprise.
"Huh? Do you mean it?!" It could have been Kasai's imagination, but she thought she saw a star spiral out of the sudden grin plastered on his face. That's a 180 compared to his solemn demeanor.
His fellow lieutenant coworker in a black hat chided him for this. "Rekka, we're in the Grand Cathedral."
The redhead cleared his throat and composed himself.
Maki whispers, "Shinra, what do you think you're doing?"
"Just a light jab." He then raised his voice for Burns, "If I can beat you, there's something I'd like to ask you."
Kasai glanced to the boy. Though he may have defeated the 5th's captain, he's biting off more than he could chew with this guy...
The man meets his smirk impassively. "Fine with me."
They relocate to the training grounds beside the cathedral now in their Blue Stripe firefighter uniforms. Shinra wasn't even hiding the hostile snark of his sharp teeth and intense eyes. He looks ready to beat someone into a bloody pulp.
"Why do you suppose he has such a chip on shoulder?" Huo Yan tersely spoke up.
Maki smiles. "He's so delighted to be at the 1st, he's all revved up."
"He's a high spirited crewman, all right! I'm starting to get fired up!" A wide anticipating grin was on Rekka as he pumped his fist. Something in Huo Yan's strained smile told Kasai this was part of Rekka's eccentricity. She's starting to see it now.
"Who gets to go first?" Arthur asked.
"I'll start with the lowest-numbered company. There's no need to hold back. Put your full power on display for me." Burns told them.
Kasai casted a sympathetic glance to the 2nd Company crewman. He's going to be the one to take the hit first.
Fire lights Rekka's fist. Kasai's eyes widen a fraction. He has a similar pyrokinesis as her.
"Ah, a third generation with the same powers as Kasai. I can already see him as your sparring partner." Maki said optimistically.
Kasai didn't share the mutual feeling, however. "I guess so...?"
Does that mean she's as "eccentric" as him? She shook her head. No no no, that's a funny way to group her with someone. Haha, she made a good joke with herself.
From the sidelines, they could see the young man cower from the fire. Shinra remarked if he was all right. They're all firefighters here, after all.
Fireballs appear around the boy nicknamed Juggernaut. They assume the shape of massive bullets as he whimpered, "There's fire coming from me, too! I'd like to get this fire put out!"
"I'm simmering here! We Fire Soldiers have been waiting for talent like yours!" Rekka has his fists pumped up above his head.
"Stop! Don't get me stirred up! I'm afraid of flames! I became a Fire Soldier so I could get my flames put out! This is what happens when you get me stirred up!" Out of fear, Juggernaut sends his projectiles rocketing for the lieutenant.
"This amount of heat is incredible! Every single shot is a juggernaut!" Rekka dodges every single one with ease. "That's it! Fantastic! Just like that!"
However, Lieutenant Flam deadpanned at the remaining missiles flying for the other side where the 1st stood. "Go easier on the easygoing, you easy-goer!"
Rekka winked. "I have you backing me up, don't I, Karim?"
Before the missiles would make contact, Karim waved the bell in his hand once. They instantly disappeared into white clouds. He snuffed them out?! Where did that tremendous energy come from?
With another chime of the bell, a surge of energy erupts from the peculiar instrument he was carrying. A field of ice surrounds him. The flames got chilled out.
From the frosty streaks of air, a jagged icicle forms.
"Rekka!" Karim flung the icicle at Rekka's feet who hopped back. "That would have hit the captain if I hadn't been here!"
"And I trusted you to be here for me, Karim!" Rekka replied.
"The 1st has a Fire Soldier who produces not flames, but ice?" Arthur questioned as the group approached him in the field.
Karim cocked his head. "Hm? What kind of nonsense is that? Show me a person who can create ice!"
"Then where did the ice come from?" Kasai asked.
"Thermo-Acoustic Cooling. It's a technique that converts the energy of flames into sound, and converts sound into cold. When you compress heat, you can convert it to sound. As sound abrades the air, it can be converted into cold."
"You're saying you can turn flame energy into sound and cold?" Shinra said.
"Such a thing is really possible?"
"That's so cool! Er, pun unintended." Kasai quickly added, sheepishly smiling.
Meanwhile Arthur blinks rapidly in confusion. At this point he decided to tune out the world and not ask for elaboration, to which Shinra eyed him oddly.
As Karim returned to his spot, a familiar girl in a nun uniform ran up from behind and kicked the unfazed Shinra behind the leg before following to the 1st company's side. Wasn't that the cat lady in a bikini from the rookie games?
Kasai looked to Rekka who was chatting with his colleagues when cat lady leaped for him only to be caught by the arms without another glance.
So he's a third generation who also lights his flames on fire. It's not unheard of for some pyrokinetics to have similar abilities, but to meet another one for the first time...
Kasai approached the 1st Company. "Lieutenant Hoshimiya, sir!"
Everyone fell quiet and looked at the girl's way. However, Kasai was focused on Rekka to not pay mind. Bright starry yellow pupils meet her light V pair.
"I wish to spar with you, if that's all right."
Rekka sets Cat Lady down before beaming, "Sure! If the Captain's okay with it, I'm all good to go." He then glanced to Burns.
"Go ahead."
The two redheads meet in the middle of the field. Kasai bowed. "I look forward to our match."
Rekka flashed an eccentric grin and set his fists ablaze. "Let's get fired up! Show me what the 8th can do!"
Kasai's lips and brows deepened when she returned to full height. When he says that, there's no way she'd hold back. She inhaled as she raised her arms into an X before pumping her gloved fists to the side, dark orange flames cloaking them whole.
The grin widened on the man's visage. "I bet I got ya fired up after seeing my flames! That's great, don't forget that feeling!"
Meanwhile Kasai kept her guard up at all times. Rekka had demonstrated good reflexes when he dodged the myriad of missiles Juggernaut sent. The match was short-lived that she couldn't read more of his attack pattern after Karim stepped in.
She needs to play around to get a better overview.
Kasai charges in. She swings a punch to the right of his head. He dodges.
Kasai mentally notes the reaction. The split second of delay may not seem noticeable to any other viewer, but for Kasai, she learns that Rekka is right-handed. Usually you would evade to the dominant side as you would stepping forward with your dominant leg. Assuming the individual is not skillfully ambidextrous, attacking the less dominant side tends to put some people at a disadvantage. She would know, since she herself continuously trains to strengthen both left and right arms to the point she became ambidextrous herself. This method is a 50-50 risk, since lefties are not as common as their righty counterpart.
Kasai continuously deflects his punches as their feet danced around the expanse of the field.
Shinra found himself unable to blink from the fight. "Amazing... They're matching each other's pace."
Maki watched with mesmerized eyes. "Their footwork is impressive..."
A bead of sweat flew off Kasai's forehead as she evaded another burning fist, flames barely licking her skin. She needs to be light on her toes to be able to keep up, but Rekka's punches are rushing in a wider hit box the more they keep tiptoeing each other.
Especially when Rekka keeps targeting her left arm. She knew he knew how hard she's trying to avoid using her left forearm as a shield. It becomes evident to everyone as the pair were moving towards the right side of the area. Rekka is deliberately driving her to a wall.
She needs to find an opening to counterattack.
"Not enough firepower! Pump yourself up more, newbie!"
Kasai was too concentrated in evading to even spare a word. It was then she had to slip when her feet tangled together, having reached their peak. A yelp leaps out of her throat as she fell backwards.
Rekka's eyes glimmered. A chance!
He reaches for her collar.
The girl allowed gravity to quickly pull her weight closer to the earth and grinds the soles of her feet for stable footing before delivering an uppercut for his lunged arm.
Kasai performs a roundhouse kick for his head. Rekka ducks and blocks an incoming swing of the arm during her momentum before aiming for her exposed back. She ducks low right beneath the sweep of his arm, head now on the other side.
They bounce back to a safe distance.
While in midair, Kasai propelled herself before Rekka would think twice and knees where his face would have taken the hit, had he not guarded with his crossed arms. He withstood his ground despite Kasai applying more pressure to push the man from his spot to no avail.
"My stars, you really can fly! Must be nice!"
He grabbed her ankle.
Kasai internally cursed; she had let him gain the advantage with close contact. The man twists her whole body around before slamming her back to the ground. A grunt escapes her from the impact, though he didn't use full force to throw her down.
Kasai panted for breath, somewhat disoriented from the twist. Rekka hasn't even broken a sweat yet.
Cat Lady bristled from the sidelines. The redhead girl is too close to Rekka for her liking!
Rekka slips her out of his hold. Kasai props herself up by the elbows when his hand was outstretched for her.
Summer green eyes glanced from the pearly white grin of Rekka's teeth to his hand before accepting the offer. After being lifted to her feet, Kasai bowed her head. "Thank you for the spar, Lieutenant Hoshimiya."
She flinched when a hand rests on her shoulder. With his other free hand, a thumbs up was sent her way. He pats her shoulder enthusiastically as he said, "Don't be so stiff! Youngsters like you need to keep their head up high to the sun!"
"I don't think you're that far old enough to say that, sir. Also I would go blind if I did that." Behind her polite demeanor, Kasai internally sweatdropped as she withstood his rather strong handclaps. For a second she thought her grandad Hari had took his place, especially when he's clapping her shoulder without restraint.
Rekka let out a hearty laugh. "True!"
Meanwhile Kasai was unsuspecting of a hissing cat.
When Kasai returned to where Maki and the other rookie crewmen stood, the woman spoke, "Good work out there. What did you think?"
Kasai rolled her shoulder back. "I really need to put my back into my training." She wouldn't hear the end of it if Hari learns of this.
She understood one thing though; Rekka Hoshimiya would have wiped the floor with her if they fought to the death. Despite his fiery remarks and ecstatic spirit, he can hold back while keeping his movements closed off from any openings. Maybe he had seen through her plans to try to understand his fighting style. It does make sense to not reveal too much of your techniques, but...
Something about him still seems...off.
Kasai glances over her shoulder.
She blinked. Did she imagine him looking her way?
"All right, next!"
Huo Yan excused himself from the sparring as he never fights without a purpose while Kishiri avoids the dirty work and sits back.
That would leave the contestants Shinra and Arthur against Burns. He claims he'll take both of them on. Of course he would, he's without a doubt stronger than the two of them combined.
Regardless, this is a good opportunity to fight up close and understand his tactics.
A ring of fire surrounds Shinra's feet.
Behind Burns' right eyepatch a flame burns to life. "Bring it on."
Before Shinra would lift a foot, a plasma blade stops him.
"You won't be getting a turn. I will gallantly beat my opponent. The end." Arthur charges in with Excalibur loyal in hand.
Burns raises his left hand slowly.
Arthur stops running and watches with wariness. "What are you planning to do with that hand?"
Shinra and Kasai stare.
"Come at me as hard as you can. Otherwise, this match will mean nothing." Burns said.
"Don't blame me if you lose an arm."
"It will take more than that much flame to cut me. Set your mind at ease."
"That much flame"? Arthur's Excalibur can cut through even steel.
Arthur rushes in to swing Excalibur. Burns blocked it with the back of his bare hand.
The 8th were rendered speechless. How is that possible?
Burns shrugged off Excalibur, extinguishing the plasma blade not even Maki could accomplish.
Shinra delivers a flurry of kicks before unleashing a powerful kick to the abdomen, exploding fire beneath and swallowing the captain whole. The sheer power shook even the street lights from its post.
However, Burns remained standing unfazed, clothes charred black with soot.
"Why did you become a Fire Soldier?" Asked Burns. His right eye lights up behind his eyepatch.
"My mother and brother died in a fire! I'm going to solve the mystery of human combustion, and make sure that kind of fire never happens again! It was to become a hero who could save the world from the flame terror!"
"You still have a long way to go."
Burns placed his foot on the ground once. Out came smoke, and knocked Shinra off his feet as though some invisible force punched his midriff. The boy was sent tumbling to the other side of the field where Arthur remained.
The flame in Burns' eyepatch disappears, heat pressure released from the man. "The 1st welcomes you. I hope you find this training enrollment fulfilling."
Karim comes to them to tell them he'll be in charge of the 8th. After praising them for their fair efforts against Burns, he then said, "But whether your pace keeps you apace of this pace, or whether your pace does not keep you apace of this pace, is all up to you. Hang in there."
So he's saying they should keep up with the training at the 1st if they've got what it takes? This lieutenant sure is redundant and beats the bush a lot that it could be verbal torture.
~Fire Force~
Five days have passed since they joined the 1st. Their investigation is to last a month and find leads on artificial Infernals within that month.
During those five days, Kasai was often paired up with Rekka as sparring partners due to their similar flame abilities. She wasn't particularly against it since she also wished to learn some martial arts combat tips from a more experienced user such as him, though interacting with the hot-blooded man can be weary for her.
It tends to be a one-sided conversation with Rekka. He's not exactly unbearable, but the awkwardness coupled with said personality kind of reminds Kasai of herself.
Not that she went on spouting fire-related speech and pumping herself up. She was just sort of distant with her peers because of her being self-conscious of her hair. Fire is feared the most in this world, and her hair color wards most people from interacting.
Rekka seems to be aware of the awkwardness he carries but doesn't let it bother him. Kasai supposed that part of him is respectable.
Shinra and Arthur had asked her a couple of occasions if Rekka was being creepy towards her but she would tell them there was nothing like that between them. She really doesn't feel creeped out by his behavior, truly. It doesn't stop the boys from worrying, though.
Every time she is with Rekka, the cat lady named Tamaki Kotatsu would come and watch at every opportunity. Though Kasai knew she was watching her like a hawk.
"All right, time for warm ups!" Rekka would announce before marching over to Kasai. He turned so his back made contact with hers and locked arms from behind, bending his back forward and pulling a flustered Kasai above the floor despite her protests.
"Sir, not so fast-!"
"Fiiiirrrre~!"
Thus a limp Kasai collapsed to the ground as Rekka's carefree laughter rang in her ears. She's getting flashbacks from her years training under Hari again, except this is a younger, hyper version.
"C'mon now, we've only just started warm ups!" Rekka lifts the girl from under her arms and raised her above him as though she was a cat, causing a yelp to elicit from her throat at the abrupt difference in level. From the sidelines she thought she misheard an actual cat screeching at her.
"You gotta shine bright just like your hair! Like the stars! The sun itself!"
Kasai sweatdropped for the nth time since paired with Rekka and meets his starry eyes pensively. She wondered if the man was this...handsy. Not in a perverted way of course. Even if he's her superior and from a different company, she wouldn't let indecency slide.
"Okay, okay, I heard you loud and clear, sir." Kasai sighed into her breath.
When Kasai was waiting to be set down, she looks back to Rekka.
"Lieutenant Hoshimiya, sir? You may put me down now."
No response.
She squinted. Did he not hear her?
Yellow stars expand across his dark red irises the more he stared up. He beheld the sight of bright red hair almost glowing from the rays of the morning sun, strands radiating light and swaying with the slight breeze. Her long ponytail occasionally flashes into view, like a trail of flames dripping from the sun all too humongous to contain.
For once, Kasai didn't see his usual cheery grin. Instead his lips were parted, the words melting to nothing in his tongue. It was strange to see a man of words such as him being speechless.
Kasai lifted her hand.
And promptly hand chopped his head.
Fortunately the firm yet not too overwhelming force managed to knock him out of his reverie. Unflinching from the action, he blinked rapidly and met her flat green eyes with a perfect O shaping his mouth at her bold move she wouldn't usually make on a superior as him. He's not the type to be offended so that was good.
She looked over her shoulder and blankly called out, "Lieutenant Flam! Lieutenant Hoshimiya is not doing his job!"
"Eh?"
"Oi, Rekka! Use your hands for hand-to-hand combat instead of being handsy, you handsy idiot!" Karim stomps over to scold the redhead man.
Kasai finally had the chance to breathe once she was back on the ground. While listening to Rekka and Karim banter, the female glanced to the side.
Uwah... Such intense eyes. Does Tamaki really adore Rekka that much?
Putting the cat lady aside, it didn't occur to Kasai that Rekka staring at her hair should be mentioned to the concerned boys. He's not the first, and certainly not the last, Kasai thought to herself as she had greeted the nuns and priests on her way to the cafeteria. They would smile and tent their hands in greeting before glancing back at the girl's remarkable hair color flashing under the sunlight with every movement as she was further way.
"What a lovely shade of red. It's so pure."
"I could see the angel appeal after seeing it in person."
"Could that be a sign from the Sun God? Nothing about such red hair was mentioned, though."
Kasai internally sighed to herself. The undercover investigation troupe were gathered together at the empty cafeteria for breakfast. She cuts a portion of her sunny side up egg and eats it for breakfast.
She mused: Now she has both women seething in jealousy at the 8th and the 1st cathedral. What did she do to receive such hostility?
Speaking of, Hibana had came to visit this morning and bumped into her the moment she had thought of it, much to her surprise. According to Shinra, Hinawa also started to come by every morning greeting him at the window. Apparently Obi was pacing in circles back at the 8th, concerned for their wellbeing.
She internally giggled at the thought. They remind her of her parents who often hover over her back as two balls of anxiety. They're very timid people who never killed a fly but are understanding people who can't help but worry for their daughter out of parental habit. Honestly, she worries how much their hearts could take. Especially after losing Kaen to the flames.
Kasai frowned behind her neutral expression. She needs to make sure she doesn't cause too much grief for everyone at the 8th as well. She would prefer that to be the best case scenario, but she's well aware her safety would not be guaranteed.
"U-Um, why did all of you become Fire Soldiers?" Juggernaut asked, the first to speak up after everyone sat with meals on the table.
"Why, to be a hero, protecting everyone from human combustion and Infernals!"
"It's only natural that a knight would fight on behalf of the weak." Arthur said before swallowing a whole cooked egg dripped in soy sauce, much to Shinra's disgust.
"Well, I'm a third generation, and as a Fire Soldier, I'd be in with the ladies." Said Kishiri.
"...To find a cure to Infernalization." Was what Kasai said before sipping her soup. Though that wasn't a lie, she didn't mention her brother because she currently has no proof whether he is still alive or dead.
"You're all so great. I can't really use my pryokinesis very well. Nor do I have any grand objective like the rest of you." Said Juggernaut.
"Forget about the objective. As long as we end up helping others, that's enough, isn't it?" Shinra said with a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, I guess so. Thanks, Shinra-kun." A bashful blush dusted Juggernaut's cheeks. He looks up to see Tamaki approaching their table.
Kasai had finished eating by then and stood up from her seat between Shinra and Arthur.
"How long are you going to sit around eating?! Time for morning assembly! Everyone, hurry back to your appointed stations and-"
Kasai blinked.
The bottle of mayonnaise Arthur was reaching for ended up lifting Tamaki's short skirt uniform.
Tamaki pulled her skirt back down while Juggernaut was red and steaming in the face. "What the hell are you doing, sicko?!"
Kasai had heard of this "lucky lechery" from Rekka and Shinra, the latter who was a victim to it (he didn't go into too much detail for both his and Kasai's sake). Surely it wouldn't apply to a girl like her, right?
Tamaki sporadically spun in her fit of embarrassment and couldn't see where she was about to land with her buttocks out.
Before the pigtail female would land for Shinra's head, Kasai caught her with arms around her midriff.
Tamaki slowly opened her amber yellow eyes and blinked. She glanced behind to make eye contact with Kasai.
"You shouldn't move around so much and cause trouble early in the morning." Kasai chided, expression gentle.
Tamaki begrudgingly bowed her head for her (supposed) rival of Rekka's attention. "I'm sorry..."
The trill of an alarm rings throughout the cathedral.
"Is that morning assembly?"
"That's the alarm! An Infernal has appeared!" Tamaki told them when Kasai had set her down. She orders, "Juggernaut, report to Lieutenant Hoshimiya! Kishiri, Lieutenant Li! You three from the 8th, report to Lieutenant Flam!"
Everyone gets up and prepares to get ready to be deployed.
Several Matchbox vehicles drove through the streets of Shinjuku where the Infernals appeared. With Karim's team, a table and map of the 1st's jurisdiction was already spread out.
"There are five victims who Infernalized. This appears to be another multiple incident. Nozaka Squad, make sure the civilians are all evacuated. Matsuda Squad, you'll gather information and report it to everyone. The rest of us will look for the Infernals. Let's put them to rest quickly!"
"Yes, sir!"
Karim approaches the 8th. "You three from the 8th, stand by here with Matsuda Squad."
"But we can help, too!" Shinra protested.
"Our leadership structure would be thrown off by newcomers. Keep on keeping yourselves here." Was what Karim ordered before leaving.
The three crewmen obliged and stood standby at their posts.
Some time passed when Shinra notices a civilian stumbling out of an alleyway and leaves his station to help. "Are you all right, sir?"
Kasai and Arthur follow behind and catch up to the boy when he stopped jogging. The former asked, "What happened?"
Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Until flames bursted out of the man's eye sockets, nostrils, and mouth that he had Infernalized right before their eyes.
"There they are! After them!" Shinra activates his pyrokinesis and propels for the supposed enemy.
"What about the Infernal?" Arthur asked.
Kasai runs past the blond and held her burning fists up. "I'll hold it down and wait for a priest to say the prayers. If the 1st has a problem I'll just talk some sense into them. Arthur, go with Shinra. Shinra, you go on ahead."
"Thanks, Kasai!" Shinra said before darting off into the alley, Arthur following his trail.
Kasai gazed into the Infernal sympathetically. If the civilian was artificially Infernalized, he shouldn't suffer any longer than he has.
"The flame is the soul's breath. The black smoke is the soul's release. Ashes thou wert and art. May thy soul return to the great flame of fire." Before the Infernal could run rampant, Kasai delivered a clean straight punch to the core.
"Latom."
Ashes run down from where the body once stood, disintegrating from existence. A thin line formed at her lips.
How could she say the prayer with such mercy when it wasn't the Sun God that decided the citizen's fate? Even then, the Sun God is a load of crap for doing as it pleased. She knew from the very instant her brother combusted...
That the "Sun God" be damned.
A dark shadow hung over her narrowed eyes.
"Oi, Kasai,"
The darkness disappeared once she turned around to face Tamaki. The pigtail girl had just arrived to the scene.
"Shinra and Arthur are in the alleyway." The redhead told her, pointing to the direction the duo were once seen.
Tamaki enters the alleyway. Even when she had ordered her to remain outside to keep watch, Kasai chose to stay out since meeting up with Shinra and Arthur inside would seem suspicious, assuming the culprit is one of suspects from the 1st.
Out came Karim and Rekka. When Kasai made eye contact with the boys following behind, the boys made the slightest nod of acknowledgement.
Later that evening, the trio met up in Shinra and Arthur's shared room to discuss the discovery made earlier. Kasai sat on a bed across Shinra while Arthur stood.
"So those two lieutenants are our artificial Infernal suspects?" Kasai inquired.
"We still don't know who the enemy is, and who our allies are. Arthur and I could have been eliminated right there on the spot." Shinra said.
"Then what are you planning to do? You saw what happened." Arthur said.
"Yeah. I definitely saw it. He pressed a bottle containing an insect against that civilian's back. Immediately afterward..."
"...They Infernalized." Arthur finished.
"This is the worst. How can a Fire Soldier be creating Infernals?"
Kasai held her gaze on the floor. "Perhaps they're just acting as one to trick us into believing they're an ally."
"The person you saw wearing those robes was only one of the three lieutenants from the 1st. We'll have to start by investigating Karim and Rekka." Arthur proposed.
Shinra looked to the blond. "You sure are enthusiastic. These guys are formidable foes."
"Of course I am. I don't care who they are, they have to pay."
Kasai suppressed a shiver. "Just thinking about those weird bugs scares me."
"Oh yeah, you really don't like bugs," Shinra remarked. Kasai had almost committed arson when a big cockroach was crawling around in their classroom back in the academy, had Arthur not nonchalantly exterminated the pest with Excalibur. Kasai honestly felt no remorse for even thinking of lighting the classroom on fire just to kill one harmless insect. ("They're unpredictable creatures that can never die!" She had once claimed.)
"I'm not one to play around with those things," Kasai muttered before exhaling. She stands up. "Since I'm closer to Hoshimiya and he seems to like me, I'll distract him while you two check his room."
Shinra frowned. "If he turns out to be the culprit, you'll be in trouble."
Kasai nodded. "I know. The chances of him kidnapping me is high, but I won't get killed."
Kasai recalls the time Rekka was almost in a trance when he lifted her off the ground. She was not oblivious to not recognize the awe in his eyes after seeing her hair shine under the sunlight.
What really disturbed her was the ominous glee shimmering inside the five-pointed stars.
"I think you and I will get along well," Rekka had suddenly claimed after they had a few matches together. It was the first official day of her enrollment.
Kasai quirked her brow at him curiously. "What makes you say that?"
The man pointed a finger to her eye. "The V in your eyes - Don't you think they stand for 'victory'?" He made a V with his fingers, branding a toothy grin akin to a boy who was self-pleased to have made a genius theory.
Kasai awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck. "I never really give much thought to why I have V pupils, sir."
"Or maybe the V stands for the Roman numeral five? Your surname is 'fifth' in Japanese, after all."
Kasai stared. "What does my eyes have to do with this, anyway?"
Rekka pointed to his own eyes. "I have five pointed star shapes in my eyes. The number five practically symbolizes us as individuals. We're both redheads, and we both have fiery fist powers, to boot! I was thinking it must've been fate for you and me to meet."
" 'Fate' would be an exaggeration, sir. It's just coincidence upon coincidence. And please don't word it like that, it's misleading." Kasai deadpanned. Was Rekka the type to believe in stuff like fate and destiny like Kagamine does with her love of horoscopes?
"Don't be so quick to deny it! You're special, I know it. You just haven't realized your full potential. You didn't get fired up enough to see that! I'll help you become stronger than ever before!"
"That is your job, sir. You're too close, by the way." Kasai sweatdropped, hands raised in case Rekka's hyper energy would skip past personal space.
Rekka snapped back to full height.
"You're something, all right."
Kasai's lips pursed. "Something told me he wouldn't."
After splitting up with the boys, Kasai found Juggernaut in a hallway and tapped his arm.
"Oh, Kasai-san. Did you need something from me?" Juggernaut meekly asked.
"Yes, I do. I'd like you to distract Lieutenant Flam while Shinra and Arthur search for stuff in his room. Of course, not for free." She then whispers, "I'll get Tamaki's phone number for you."
"You will? I'll gladly do it!"
Kasai watched as Juggernaut left to find Karim soon after. It's amusing to see how easy to read that guy is. Speaking of which, she hasn't seen Tamaki since they've returned to the grand cathedral.
Her brows scrunched. Could she also be a part of the culprit's schemes? Assuming Rekka is the culprit, then there's little room for doubt.
Kasai searches for Rekka around the grand cathedral.
"Excuse me, have you seen Lieutenant Hoshimiya?" Kasai asked to a nun in the middle of a corridor.
"I recall seeing him at the garden near the courtyard." A mirthful smile folds her lips. "I must say, it's rather adorable to see you look up to him to actively pursue him. He is a handsome young man. Ah, to be young again..."
Kasai's expression faltered subtly, which went unnoticed by the nun. She mustered a small albeit awkward smile and rubbed the back of her head. "Did it seem like that? Well, I'm in a hurry. Thank you, and have a good evening."
Kasai bowed before taking long strides to the courtyard, unknown expression shrouded by the shadow of twilight.
There is no way Kasai will ever admire someone who artificially creates Infernals no matter what scheme it is.
A hand abruptly appears in view from behind. A rag was pressed into her nose and mouth, leaving her no choice but to breathe in the odor of chemicals.
She cursed. A sleeping drug too potent swarms into her nerve system, forcefully pulling her into the dark consciousness from the outside world. She recognized the white grin of the culprit from the corner of her eye.
"Hoshi...miya..."
Kasai faints in his clutches. Her limp body is effortlessly hauled over the man's shoulder.
Bright yellow stars gleam an amber glow.
"I finally found them. There's no mistake about it." Malicious red light fills in dark irises.
Pinched between his fingers is a small vial containing a blood red insect screeching and clawing its multiple hairy legs towards Kasai's direction. It couldn't contain itself and thrashed about from inside the vial as the man moved it closer until it hovered above her exposed nape; a desperate reaction just anticipating to impale its jaws on where her pulse is beating. He had to put it away before it would die from shock.
A smile was wide on his lips.
"The Evangelist will be overjoyed to see her."
[Dark Sun and Bright Stars]
Name Trivia Corner
Kasai's mother's name, Satsuki, means May (the fifth month) and her maiden surname Itsuka is "Five Streams/Rivers".
Kasai's father's name, Kazuo, means "the first born child".
When I wrote out Kasai wearing the male uniform, I wasn't sure what the female version would be. I think Maki's is more of a military uniform than an academic one, but regardless I'll have Kasai wear the gakuran clothes.
Tbh I had never expected myself to write Rekka a lot more than I had planned. I wanted to explore the dynamic between two users of similar abilities.
At the moment I publish this update, my writer's block comes on and off. Especially when I'm writing multiple OC fics. This is just a horrendous habit of mine, bleh.
Happy Holidays!