GUESS WHO IS BACK!...me.

Fucking duh.

Her office was nice and clean... she also had a chain whip, a tamers whip and a... crop all hanged on her left wall like they were trophies and if they are I'm sure I don't want to know why.

I took a seat right in front of her desk where she was seated in one of those comfy chairs only business types always have, she had her fingers interlocked and elbows on the desk her eyes always on me.

Aogami was at my left in a separate chair looking upset but his smile was still there making up a bizarre image "so... you know what I want right?" I started carefully she must know Aogami's involvement with the Gu project and could give me the answers I want.

Or could crush my head between her thi- hands, fuck my hormones...

She nodded "yes, you lack the full picture and want to uncover it, may I ask why?" well... this wasn't a question I really wanted to answer, but at the same time if I didn't she would have no need to answer my questions.

I thought about my words for a moment and leaned back on my chair, I kept my gaze on her if I looked away it would seem distrustful "did I feel bad when I found out about it... sadly that didn't really motivate me to go through with this whole investigation bit, at first I was curious when a scientist mentioned it and it led me to find out more about the project".

Aogami huffed "hardly answers the question" I send him a bored side-eye.

"because I had yet to finish, it was horrible but really, life is constantly being bad if a couple of people suffered it would have never affected me that much it happens all the time and if you worried about everyone who suffered you would start crying blood in about two days" I continued, yeah what bothered me and disgusted me so much was not how bloody it was that part disturbed me but it would have never put me into action.

It was the fact that every single one of them became slaves without choice, that bothered me more than anything else "the fact that every person that was used for the project was without their choice, that pushed me to do this if they felt like doing it then fine, no skin of my back... but they didn't and so I acted to stop it" I finished my answer and looked at Murasaki in the eyes.

Aogami looked at me like I was a weird animal and even a little anger there.

Murasaki had a small smile on her face "so if they went along willingly you would have let them there even if they regretted it?" she asked a question I believe she already knew the answer of.

"If they can't live with the consequences of their actions, then they should have never tried that 'path' in the first place... it isn't for the weak of heart" I replied without missing a beat.

She closed her eyes and her small smile was still there "interesting view" she replied and Aogami did a double-take at that.

"He just admitted to his lack of care about the issue and you find it interesting?" he asked incredulously making Murasaki sigh.

"He didn't say that, his perspective of the issue is just different than ours" she talked as if she was a teacher talking to a particularly stupid person, Aogami sighed and calmed down.

Her eyes went back to me "I have yet to introduce myself right? Murasaki Rusui and I was the second success of the 'original' Gu project a year ago" she replied and my eyes widened.

"would you please explain to me this in more detail?" I asked trying really hard to hide how shaken that got me.

Her eyes narrowed this time "sure... in one condition" her voice had gotten cold and I actually flinched this time, the woman had shown me before her power and I wasn't about to try to mess with that.

"Name it" my voice came out a little stiff.

"When you find out who started this all over again, you will tell me" I didn't trust my words so I nodded.

This time I found out how far down the rabbit hole went... I was unsure if that was a good thing.

"I'll keep the more personal details out, but a year ago the Gu project was being led by a man named Igniz, he stoped after apparently getting his first success 'true' success, he had backing from the city of course not openly but they ignored his actions for the most part" she explained to me while looking at her whips for some reason.

Aogami kept a close eye on me since he is not very trusting of my actions not that it mattered.

But that raises a question "so why are you here? if he left after the first one was out, how did you came to be?" this time she took her time to answer probably looking for a way to tell me without bringing up her history.

"most projects run by academy city are... 'predicted' by the tree diagram, the super-computer that the city threw in outer-space for some reason Igniz decided against using it, I'm unsure as to why" she said like it was the most normal thing in the world, I had to try hard to not show how much that caught me off-guard.

Seriously? a computer in space capable of predicting stuff? that seems like a little too much power for just a city... "well... how about its purpose? it seems like it's all about making more powerful espers through the Gu and a drug named DRIVE but I'd like confirmation".

She raised an eyebrow "it seems the new charge changed directions... I don't know a lot but I heard Igniz only said this once not sure what it means, it was to create artificial 'saints' the information regarding that is beyond me but the basics of it, was to alter the personal reality of someone through a forced process DRIVE is meant to take the access of the aim fields of a dead person and empower those that survive while the Gu was to create an environment where the person would thing nothing but their power" she said while looking a little lost, not sure about most of the science behind espers are but I think I have a good idea.

"so... the personal reality is altered to instead of getting some kind of random superpower you become really damn strong because that's what you need the most while on a Gu?" that sounded weird to me, there may be a longer explanation but I'm not really familiar with this concepts and she doesn't seem to know more than the basics.

She nodded "yeah, now the aim field is more like an armor that protects every part of my body including organs, my strength is simply absurd and you saw what some of my speed is like in simpler words I'm superhuman" ignoring the fact that what I saw wasn't her full speed... this is concerning.

"Alright then... so now I have to find out why they changed the aim of the project, the head of the project and hopefully not meet the original head of the project, because I didn't have enough on my plate already" I grumbled to myself making Murasaki chuckle.

Aogami snorted "you wanted to deal with this, now you complain?".

"I'm allowed to complain whenever I fucking feel like" I snapped at him.

Murasaki coughed to gain my attention "you shouldn't have to worry about Igniz, he quite literally disappeared after he had an argument with the general superintendent of Academy City... or so I heard" well that sounds like another dark figure to worry about.

God, I hate my life "that just makes me worry more" she never said he died and that means he could still be a problem.

I heard a ring on my pocket, oh right I had a habit to never let my cellphone at home... wait barely anyone has my number, I pulled out my flip phone and answered "who-"

I was interrupted "YOU HAVE TO COME BACK SOME-!" the line went dead but I recognized the voice... Uiharu.

"I have to go!" I ran through the door and the bakery ignoring everything around me, once outside I used a strong wind current to jump from building to building.

POV: Saten Ruiko

It was dark.

She could hear the sound of a car, for some reason she couldn't see even if her eyes were open.

She heard the sound of something opening "we are here".

Then she was dropped in a room filled with more people, either older or younger than her... all of them confused and scared wondering what even was happening.

She felt the same.

Hours passed then came the demon.

Wearing red pants and a red suit with black trimmings that is unbuttoned revealing a white button-up shirt with a black western Tie, blond hair that was just above his shoulders and a black mustache was at sight right above his arrogant smile the rest of his face was shadowed and he stood over six feet tall he had his hands on his pocket and for what she could see of them was wearing black gloves.

But the most prominent detail was his Glowing right eye, it was obviously artificial and produced some light that was enough to be noticeable.

His mission here? despair.

"You lot will be trapped here for the next three days, on the fourth one I'll come back and if more than one of you is still alive... I'll leave it up to your imagination" he spoke with mirth in his voice, like an invitation to stop him.

One stood up to him a level 4, she couldn't... remember what happened clearly he said something but the devil stood there taking it all in like he had heard it before.

The level 4 charged and in an instant his head was cut in half, starting from one edge of his mouth to the other side his jaw was still attached to his body... the rest of his head was up in the air.

When it fell to the ground there was panic.

"Take that as a test run, this will be all of you by the fourth day unless there is only one survivor, that one will be spared" there he was, simply enjoying the distraught that everyone was feeling and even took a moment to look around the room, like he was engraving every expression on his head.

He was leaving and she saw someone else besides the door, tanned skin and spiky white hair...

"!"

My eyes slowly opened, the air was hot and I could hear someone screaming... then there was groaning of pain... I looked at my left from the spot on the bed that I was.

Uiharu.

Happiness, absolute joy, Hope.

Was she finally out of that hell?.

...

Why is she on the ground? why is there fire here?.

I glanced slightly upwards and saw spiky white hair and tanned skin.

My heart froze, they wanted to take Uiharu, to that place.

tothathell!notthere!NOTHER!.

I was already up from the bed and throwing myself like a wild animal at the BASTARD that wanted to throw her best friend to that pit, she didn't care about anything else right now.

The man raised his left arm trying to block the incoming punch.

I threw my right fist and watched with satisfaction as his arm was ripped almost out of his body, it was simply there dangling by his ligaments and muscles, he flew through the door.

My eyes landed on Uiharu who looked... scared.

That's fine, I know what I am.

I survived that place, I killed people.

I was a monster.

But...

My eyes went back to Uiharu with a melancholic smile.

I was her monster.

She went out of the room and looked around the abandoned apartment complex looking for the white-haired soon to be body guy she just punched through a door.

The flames were all around the apartment complex, I glanced back at Uiharu that was having a hard time getting up... she may not be able to get up, I heard a click and turned to my right seeing armed men with black military-like gear aiming their guns at me.

Could I take the bullets?.

I didn't have to find out, a strong gust of wind hit the three soldiers and smashed roughly against the wall, and from above the guy I fought back on that place... landed and swiped his left arm on an arc.

Something left his arm and cut the men almost in half, and even if it didn't it still killed them and I was barely affected by it "so... are we cool?" he asked in an awkward manner, while apparently snuffing the flames around us he glanced at Uiharu and went to pick her up.

I heard something fall loudly and looked behind me another one of the soldiers had fallen on his head and his neck was bent in an ugly posture, it was like looking at a spring made of flesh, on top of him was who would assume to be Shirai Kuroko... Uiharu always had a great opinion of her.

But it seems she looked at the wrong side too much, her eyes have barely restrained anger and were red probably from crying... "no other survivors" her voice was hoarse and she clearly didn't want to dwell on the topic any more than I wanted to.

I knew what she was talking about after all.

The guy who I still have no name attached to looked at us while carrying Uiharu on her back, it worried me that this random person that I barely knew anything of was carrying my friend... but it was better that way.

He looked around after a moment "is O'hearn here? spiky white hair and tanned skin" he voiced the question at me and I grimaced.

"He left after I crippled his left arm, don't know where" He raised an eyebrow at that, but let it at that.

"I'm Takaku Sora, by the way, now we need to find another place to hide and not be found... great" the way he acted was surprisingly aloof considering the situation we are in.

But his eyes said everything I needed to know "I know a place skill-out's used as a base before" stated Shirai with her glare still in place, she probably won't let go of the anger any time soon.

He then looked at me... "here catch" he suddenly threw Uiharu at me from his back.

I yelped when she landed on my arms and threw him a murderous glare along with Shirai, but he simply raised an eyebrow "see? there is nothing wrong with holding her, she doesn't seem to mind either" I looked at Uiharu's arm that was holding me tightly while sobbing.

Ah...

"she is a good friend, have faith in her ability to stick with you through anything" he stated like it was a normal thing to say, even if he had somehow hit right on the nail of the issue.

Shirai sighed "you just have a way with words don't you?" she asked a little more relaxed now, he smirked at us.

"Someone has to keep you two from doing something stupid" he replied while still looking around the streets for some reason... then he stopped on a big trash can and opened it.

"well hello there soon to be interrogation victim" he said with mirth while staring at another one of the soldiers that apparently hid away after we dealt with his companions.

He is weird...

But in a good way.

POV: Takaku Sora

This place is pretty comfy... of course, it has nothing to work with and it's basically empty as fuck.

I was sitting on the floor with my arms crossed looking at the three girls right in front of me, Shirai was busy treating Uiharu's leg injury while Saten was staring at the process with concern while Uiharu was telling them it was just a bruise... yeah a bruise that made it harder to walk, how convincing.

Better than expected really "so... I have a captive strapped to a chair on the next room, you three may not want to see what I'm about to do" it was clear the other guy wasn't just going to tell me what it knew, not because he was brave or trained to handle torture.

He was simply more afraid of his boss than he was of me.

Shirai looked at me with a grimace "that seems a little extreme, Takaku" she voiced out her concern even if she had already killed a man, then again she came back after seeing how the other sites were and... well let's just say there was no survivors.

And torturing is probably worse than killing depending on who you ask at least.

Saten looked indifferent, probably still very much angry at what she had to go through so any pity she had for anyone involved in the project was most likely gone already "better than keep going in blind".

Uiharu threw her an outraged gaze "Saten-san!" she exclaimed and Saten looked away not willing to see her friend in the eye after saying that, kids are such a bother to deal with...

"look, I'm not asking for your opinion this is something that I'm doing regardless of your wishes... it's more of a warning really" I gave it to them straight, at this point I need some kind of guide as to what to do to stop it all from going to shit and that guy may be the clue I need to find their boss.

I got up and Uiharu looked up "why are you doing this?" she asked me, well more like pleaded.

But if I had to say... "somebody has to, not everyone is made for this kind of work" some would say I'm going too far, I'd say they aren't trying hard enough.

So I left and came to the next room, the only light it had was that of a candle that the building had for some reason, but I'll take it "alright buddy... let's talk" I closed the door behind me.

He looked up at me with very clear fear on his eyes, poor bastard didn't want this life... but here he is now "please i'll-" I slapped him, it wasn't hard or malicious but to get him to get his head straight.

"Talk when I ask you a question" I went back and picked up a stick of a broom and broke it in half with my knee, now I have to very pointy objects... I wonder what are they for?.

He whimpered but kept silent.

"who is your boss?" simple question really.

He clenched his teeth "look if he finds out I said anythin-" I interrupted him again by rising my left arm high my improved torturing device aimed at his leg, I threw it back down.

Hard.

Bone is a hard material and It's not easy to go through... Muscle though? that is very much doable and the sharp stick was now firmly logged on his leg, his screams of pain would have made me flinch but my mind was on the moment, regret can come later.

I wasn't a good person and I will never ask for forgiveness, one can regret everything they have done and nothing would change but if you do at least you aren't hopeless.

"What makes you think I won't? he isn't here but I am, so think your words carefully" my statement was punctuated by kicking the stick I just logged on his leg lightly, making him flinch in pain.

...

He opened his mouth and closed it "Rugal" I raised an eyebrow and grabbed the stick still nailed on his leg and applied pressure "Rugal What?" I asked again.

"Bernstein, Rugal Bernstein" he said quickly with a shaky voice... is that a pinging sound? I looked at him and backed away.

He started to hyperventilate "WAIT N-" I was shocked to see his head pop like a balloon.

...

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, this is going to be hard to explain.

But I have a name now, that's good.

Now I can finally attack back.

It had been two days and things have been... interesting, this is the third time we have changed locations, right now on District 8 on a part of the sewer system that seemed to be out of commission, Shirai and Uiharu didn't enjoy it but to be fair none of us did Saten and I just didn't complain about it.

For a lack of a better word we are being chased, like literally It started when I asked Uiharu to look into Rugal Bernstein with a Laptop that I stole since mine and Uiharu were destroyed when O'hearn attacked the apartment we were originally in.

It was now and then when I could feel people approaching at the edge of my Sky Eye, so I had to tell Shirai to teleport us away while Uiharu worked with what she had to find anything about Rugal but the process was slow thanks to only having a Laptop and stolen Wi-fi.

"We can't keep going like this, whoever is looking for us will put us in a corner at some point" stated Saten, and yes while I agree, fighting someone that I knew nothing of wasn't very smart.

Shirai was the one to voice out her thoughts first "but we need to find the one responsible first, taking fights isn't going to help with that".

Saten looked away knowing the Judgement rookie was right, doesn't mean she had to like it.

That's when I felt the presence again, four of them I can confirm three girls since one of them is wearing a skirt and the other two actually have boobs the other one is wearing a hoodie and shorts so I know jack about them.

The weird thing is that they are surrounding u... ah fuck, two of them on the easiest exit to take another one to the exit to the surface and the one wearing a hoodie is keeping watch on the expanding sewers, they boxed us in.

All that time wasn't about following us, they were figuring out my range.

I got up and put a hand under my chin, trying to think of a good strategy "Takaku?" asked Saten noticing my sudden shift in mood.

"They boxed us in, all that time was to figure out the range that I could feel them, four of them and two are alone guarding our escape routes and the other two are blocking where we came from" I said quickly, the ease with which they find us is too bothersome someone with an ability to detect people is with them and I don't know the basis they use, like mine is wind currents and O'hearn's is heat.

Shirai got up "then we need to leave now!" she exclaimed and while I would have told her to keep it down they should know we are here anyway.

That won't work, if they have such an easy way to find us then running won't help "no, they are finding us too easily" I said waiting to see if anyone esle had figure out what I did.

"I know I'm not being tracked, that's what I have working on the most" Said Uiharu with a frown on her face.

Saten perked up "an Esper like you? with an ability to sense people" she finished with a statement and I snapped my fingers while pointing at her.

"Bingo, they can find us thanks to that Esper... So here is my plan Uiharu you have to hide away while Me, Shirai and Saten confront them, find Rugal and disregard the tracking, with these guys on our asses it won't matter" I begun and was interrupted half-way by Shirai.

"you want us to separate? Isn't it better to all gang on one of them and push through from there" I shook my head, no that wasn't my mission not to win... but something else.

I smiled "you are going for the one blocking our way to the surface, while Saten fights the one blocking the other sewers, to keep them away from me while I deal with the real threat" Uiharu was surprisingly the first one to catch on.

"You said four right?, so if two of them are alone... then the one with a partner should be the Esper that is finding us" Uiharu realized, she is adapting to this environment better than Shirai is.

"Exactly... DUCK!" I exclaimed the moment something HOT appeared from the one at the entrance, what I saw was a green beam going over our heads...

Shirai got up and looked at the whole in that direction "what the hell?" she whispered.

"of course they would have their tracker with their biggest hitter..." I grumbled to myself while running through the whole they just made.

I glanced behind me and screamed "FUCKING MOVE ALREADY!" with that shout all bets were off, time to play a hunter's game.

YOLO!

...

Why do I even do things?.