So, apparently I lack complete and utter self control when it comes to this story, cause I just want to SHARE IT so badly!, so I am updating this chapter ahead of when I originally planned (that being Friday) and, if anyone reviews and asks me to, I will upload the last two chapters of this arc tomorrow if someone asks, because this arc is just four chapters and I want to see reactions to the surprises I have waiting you all!
In any case, thanks to VanyaNoldo22 (Again, thanks so much, I hope you enjoy the rest!) for reviewing, all 19 followers, 15 favorites and 1,588 readers!
I won't say much here, but there are some choices I make in this chapter that I will explain below. Until then, enjoy!
"Yeah, I just got here. This is some news blackout, not a single mention of armed occupation." Izumo Kusanagi said into his cell phone as he examined the airport, keeping a careful eye on his traveling companion, who was also on the phone. "Thanks for letting me know, Seri, I managed to make it in time for the direct flight."
"Think nothing of it. But tell me, did my pulling strings pay off at all?" Seri answered on the other end of the phone. "After doing field research in Germany for six months, coming home empty handed is unacceptable."
Kusanagi chuckled to himself. Seri was always so serious, it never failed to lighten his mood.
"Don't worry about it, I got all my work done. Although I can't say whether it'll be useful or not." Kusanagi admitted as he looked down at the papers in his hand. "Wish I could've brushed up more on the jargon with the professor while I was there. Oh well, what're you gonna do? Still…"
"What?" Seri questioned, concerned.
"I mean, we are talking about the invincible Gold King here and starting a fight is out of character for the Green clan, or at least I thought that it was." Kusanagi elaborated as he stood up and walked out of earshot of the civilians, his traveling companion still in his line of sight as he took out a cigarette. "They do anything strange since occupying the tower?"
"They appear to be tampering with the data bank, but otherwise there hasn't been a peep out of them." Seri said. "For now, it's a stalemate. The Gold King hasn't retaliated and neither has the clansman sent to observe the situation. My guess is that, based on the situation, we should just assume he's gone."
"So do you think they attacked because they knew that?" Kusanagi asked.
"Can't say. But in any case, since we can't confirm the status of the Dresden Slate, my Captain's strategy is to lay siege without encroaching on the other King's dominion." Seri said.
"And your Captain? Just how is the Blue King doing?" Kusanagi questioned.
"In top form. With the Gold King apparently absent, he's stepped in to deal with the situation, as well as with the agencies involved. Fushimi's helping him." Seri said, though her voice grew soft with worry.
Kusanagi couldn't say he was surprised; his son had always been the type to make himself useful when he was needed the most. Kusanagi could remember several stressful days at the bar where Fushimi had ended up helping out with payments, even in the early days of his adoption. Once Kusanagi had gotten used to the idea that a ten year old could apparently run a cash register, he'd loved working alongside his son, it made even the most stressful of days slightly more bearable.
Of course, Kusanagi didn't say any of this aloud to Seri. She already knew the pride he held in his son and besides, this was a business call.
"The burden of killing a King…hopefully all this worry isn't necessary." Kusanagi sighed, the pain from losing Mikoto still a harsh scar on his very soul. He'd never wish such a thing on Seri, never. "Well, anyway, this isn't really the time for a chat. I'll see you later."
"Alright." Seri whispered and Kusanagi hung up before he'd say something he'd regret, probably something like 'I love you'. After all…that wasn't the Heartless Woman Lieutenant Awashima talking right now, that was Seri, the woman underneath the mask of a cold soldier who needed support just like anyone else.
"All done speaking with your wife?"
Kusanagi shook his head and smiled as he met his traveling companion's eyes.
"Now, Carina, you know Seri and I don't have that kind of relationship." He said.
Carina Saisho, the Miracle, the right hand of the Gold King and the younger sister of the Silver King, scoffed and glared at Kusanagi.
"Don't you lie to me, Izumo, I can see it in your eyes. You're in love with that woman." She stated. After working together in Germany for six months, tracking down her late older sister's work notes, she had insisted they drop the formalities. Kusanagi didn't mind, unless the conversation was one of these.
After all, he felt like he was being scolded by his mother when this came up.
"I may very well be, but it's unlikely anything will come of it, so why bother?" Kusanagi shrugged.
"Now, don't be like that." Carina smiled softly, like the grandmother she was. "Clan loyalties are no reason a relationship can't work. My Rae and Shinji had loyalties to two different clans and Tsuki isn't even a clansman and she still understands Haru must put Daikaku first. It'll work if you allow it to."
"And if it ends badly and clan ties are ruined?" Kusanagi asked sarcastically. He'd thought of all this before, after all, and ruining the delicate Red-Blue balance would be the worst strategic and political move he'd ever make. Flirting was fine, but something serious? Kusanagi wasn't willing to risk the clans or their friendship for that.
"Trust me when I say that the two of you wouldn't ruin anything. You'd only strengthen it." Carina smiled and briefly, Kusanagi wondered if she could see the Red String of Fate as well as souls. Then, however, her face became serious. "I heard from my husband that the tower is being occupied. We should head over to investigate."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Kusanagi questioned, concerned. After all, half the reason Carina had gone to Germany with him was to remove herself from the sight of all clans.
"We'll be needed there, so yes." Carina confirmed.
"Alright then." Kusanagi agreed.
The two remained silent as they left the airport then.
There were some things about being a spirit that Tatara both loved and hated.
Oh, he loved getting to spend time with Mikoto, and Takeru Kusuhara, who Tatara remembered befriending when he had been alive, but Tatara absolutely hated the fact that he could be walking right beside his wife and children…and only Kristopher ever knew.
Such a situation was presenting itself right now as Tatara walked beside Leoda, who held Ame in her arms, while Mikoto walked beside Anna and Takeru walked on Leoda's other side (apparently, when they'd last met up with Shinji, they discovered Takeru hanging around him for the time being. Shinji had then had Kristopher ask if Takeru would be willing to stick around the group in order to help protect Leoda, Kristopher and the not-yet-born Ame. Takeru, of course, agreed and stuck with them since). Kristopher himself was running ahead alongside the very excited Neko as Rikio thanked Kuroh for agreeing to help him and Anna.
This, of course, left all three spirits with no way of communicating with their living companions.
"I'm sorry." Anna suddenly apologized, stopping all other conversation. "I mean, I'm sorry about your King. I realize that he wasn't the one who attacked Tatara."
"Anna…" Tatara whispered, moving to kneel beside his daughter. He wanted to reach out and place his hand on her head, but he knew from experience that he'd simply phase through her.
"She has a kind heart, just like her parents." Takeru offered, placing a hand on Tatara's own shoulder. Tatara smiled back in gratitude, but didn't say a thing.
Mikoto's eyes never left Anna, even as he stayed silent.
"And what about you? Rikio said your powers are unstable. Is it…because the Red King was lost?" Kuroh questioned, his voice gentle and filled with empathy for Anna.
The girl in question was silent for a moment, before she met Kuroh's gaze.
"It isn't, this is different." Anna denied. Tatara could see the fear in every inch of Anna's body and he wished, more than anything, that he could hold her, just as he did whenever she had a nightmare and needed a distraction.
"Anna?" Kristopher said as he ran back and grasped his older sister's hand, his eyes showing the worry they all felt for her.
Before anything else could be said, however, the holographic screens that showed advertisements began to sputter and fade.
"Ah! Electricity!" Neko cried.
"What the hell?" Rikio asked, before he held Anna tightly to him, Leoda instantly in front of them and Kristopher both with a dagger in one hand and Ame in the other, as well as all three unseen spirits in front of her.
"Watch the girl closely." Kuroh ordered, on guard for whoever came to attack them now. Sure enough, the security gate lowered, blocking them in.
"I'm feeling all tingly! Something's coming!" Neko cried in warning.
Sure enough, they could hear footsteps echoing as their owner slowly, but surely, approached the group. Tatara's eyes narrowed as he tried to get a glimpse of their opponent, to determine the level they threatened his family.
"As one travels on,
A reunion awaits them
Just for the moment." A voice suddenly recited.
"A haiku…by Master Ichigen…it can't be!" Kuroh cried and Tatara had a horrible feeling as the two approaching figures finally reached them, Neko hissing at them from behind a column.
One was a man and the other a woman, and Tatara's guard raised as he saw that both were an equal threat.
"His poems are always so touching, don't you think? I wonder why that is? Anyway, hello Kuroh, it's been a while. I hope that you've been well." The man greeted easily.
"Yukari…it's you…" Kuroh said, his voice full of betrayal.
"Hey, so who is that guy?" Rikio questioned, his voice guarded as he held Anna tighter and Leoda shifted closer to them.
"Yukari Mishakuji, former clansman of the late Seventh King, Master Ichigen Miwa, and his student in swordsmanship." Kuroh answered, his voice now detached. "And believe it or not, I once looked up to him as a brother."
"What? Seriously?" Rikio cried.
"Are you kidding?! He's why you dragged me all the hell out here?!" The woman cried, whirling on the man, Yukari. "You've got some nerve, shitbag! I'm not gonna always fucking be there at your fucking beck and call! I never was in the first place!"
"Oh come now, Hikari, it was getting boring, stuck in that tower all day. You should learn to have fun again, let the grunts do the work." Yukari teased the woman.
"Bastard…" The woman, Hikari, hissed, even as she turned back to the group and held the naginata in her hands at the ready.
"Now, Kuroh, what was this 'once looked up to me' you're talking about?" Yukari smiled as he too returned to his apparent task at hand.
"That was then. Now tell me why you're here." Kuroh demanded.
"Oh please, wipe that scary look off your face." Yukari shook his head. "What's wrong? Aren't you happy to see me again?"
"To see someone who raised a blade to Master Ichigen? Don't mess around!" Kuroh snapped, his hand dropping to Kotowari. Tatara's eyes widened, he had never seen Kuroh so angry before in the year he's spent alongside him as a spirit, not even at his worst when he doubted Adolf was alive.
This was serious, something extremely personal to Kuroh.
And Yukari…Yukari simply laughed in the face of it.
"But that was merely a test of our spirit!" He smiled. "It only indicated the strength of the bond he and I had together. You don't understand that?"
"A pack of lies!" Kuroh denied angrily.
"If this keeps up, it could get out of hand." Takeru whispered to Tatara as they kept their eyes on the confrontation.
"Yeah, but this guy seems more focused on Kuroh then on Anna. And the woman doesn't seem to be doing anything either." Tatara pointed out, speaking just as quietly.
"Don't forget about that ninja clansman, he could be here too." Takeru warned. Tatara nodded in agreement.
"When I heard the news that he passed, I cried…for the first time in ages." Yukari admitted, as he was unable to hear the spirits and thus continued on easily. "I still carry those feelings within me. And now here you are, showing up to get in my way."
"Are you with the Green clan? Answer me!" Kuroh demanded. Even from behind him, Tatara could see the younger clansman shaking, though he had no idea if it was in anger or in reluctance to fight his older brother figure.
"Yes. That's why I'm taking that girl." Yukari proclaimed as he unsheathed his sword.
"Fucking finally you get to the point." Hikari huffed. "You just wasted a shit ton of time we don't have."
"Come now, Hikari, it's all in good fun." Yukari smiled at her before turning back to the group.
"Kristopher!" Takeru cried as he unsheathed his own sword, Shooting Star.
"Right!" Kristopher cried as he grabbed the Blue clansman's outstretched hand, allowing him to solidify.
"Oh~, seems the rumors about the Totsuka boy's abilities was true!" Yukari grinned. "You see why I brought you along now, Hikari?"
"So I go from taking out the Usagi our useless shitty grunts couldn't take out to fighting the fucking spirit of a Blue clansman? You suck ass, shitty old man!" Hikari glared.
"I won't let you take Anna!" Takeru declared.
"Look, kid, orders are orders, no matter how shitty. We have no choice." Hikari stated as she tilted her head.
"So, then that means Shiro…are you telling me that Adolf K. Weissman is still alive?" Kuroh demanded as he unsheathed Kotowari, which shook in his grasp, a complete opposite of the steady Takeru.
"Well, we don't know, but we want to find out. We are determined to discover if the biggest threat to the Green clan…is dead or alive." Yukari stated.
The whole area was filled with silence after that and Tatara…he understood Kuroh's pain, had seen it reflected on his wife's so many times now.
But…
"Kuroh, watch out!" Neko cried in warning as Yukari suddenly charged and Kuroh barely managed to lock blades with him.
"We need to move, NOW!" Leoda ordered, ushering Rikio, Anna and Kristopher away quickly. "Tatara, Mikoto, with me! Takeru, help Kuroh!"
"Don't worry!" Takeru smiled over his shoulder as he jumped out of the way of Hikari's naginata. He instantly followed it up with a strike of his own, though the ravenette Green clansman locked her weapon against his instead of dodging.
"Don't think I'm gonna be that easy, ghost ass." She growled.
"I would never." Takeru frowned before he pushed forward to knock Hikari back, putting some distance between them. "I put myself in the line of fire to keep someone important to me safe. I've never underestimated anyone in my life and I won't start now that I'm dead!"
"Get out of here!" Kuroh cried at the same instant.
Those were the last words Tatara heard from any of those involved with the fight as they got further and further away.
But, right then, the ninja from before melted out of a column and faced them, forcing them to stop.
"Shoot." Leoda whispered, mindful of the children nearby, as she quickly passed Ame to Anna. Within less than a second, a sunflower dagger was in her hand and she ran at the ninja while Rikio turned to lead the children away.
The Green clansman, however, was fast and soon had cut down Rikio, leaving him bleeding on the floor.
"Rikio!?" Anna cried as she struggled to stay standing, mindful of the baby in her arms.
"Oh no you don't!" Leoda shouted as she flared gold with hints of red and quickly shot forward to put herself between the children and the ninja, her dagger deflecting the blade and her leg swinging up to land a strong blow to the ninja's head. Tatara knewfrom experience that such a blow would cause a concussion…had the clansman not been wearing a helmet.
"You are Leoda Totsuka, correct?" The ninja questioned as he straightened, a hand adjusting his mask.
"Whatever it is to you, yes. And I won't let you take my daughter!" Leoda snarled.
"We'll see about that, besides, there's a mission about you as well." The ninja stated.
"Wha-" Leoda started to ask before she cut herself off and jumped back to avoid the ninja's next attack, throwing her dagger to slow their counterattack if only a little.
But she wasn't fast enough and Tatara could see the ninja coming to attack again, but Kristopher was too far away to make him solid in time, he couldn't do anything, not while he was incorporeal-
But without another thought, Tatara threw himself in front of Leoda, hoping against all hope that his spirit could slow whatever was coming her way. A second before the ninja's attack came, Tatara could only watch as Mikoto blocked him as well, attempting the same defense in order to spare Leoda, to spare the children-
But it was all for naught and some part of Tatara had known that, had known the moment he had seen this ninja and realized the threat he posed. But there was nothing he could do as Leoda cried out in pain-
And then fell utterly silent.
"Leoda!?" Anna shouted as her adopted mother fell to the ground, electricity running from her throat to the rest of her body.
"Mommy!" Kristopher cried, running to kneel beside his mother, only to hear Anna crying out. "Anna! Ame!"
"No!" Tatara cried as he watched the ninja pick up not only his oldest daughter, but his youngest as well because Anna refused to drop her little sister.
"I'm taking Anna Kushina." The ninja declared.
"Let…them go…!" Rikio demanded as he weakly reached out towards the Green clansman.
Tatara grabbed Kristopher, allowing him to become corporeal, and ran at the ninja, wanting to…to stop him no matter what because he was taking his daughters and attacked his wife.
But there was nothing Tatara could do as the ninja vanished into the ground, Anna and Ame in his grasp, and all Tatara hit was air.
He had never felt more like a failure than he did right then. Even more so when Kristopher's next words reached his ears.
"Daddy! Daddy! Mommy's voice isn't working! She can't talk!"
Takeru jumped back, barely avoiding Hikari's naginata before he bent down low and raised Shooting Star, his final battle with Lieutenant Awashima flashing through his mind.
"Too slow, you shitty ghost!" Hikari shouted as she stepped to the side just in time to avoid the blow and instead kicked her leg out to the side, catching Takeru's side with ease.
Despite the fact that the Blue Clansman was, very much, dead, he could still feel as the kick connected and the pain in his side from the blow, a gasp leaving his lips as he did so.
Takeru didn't say a word, however, and instead used his momentum to right himself before manifesting his blue aura to send a single line of it at the Green Clansman.
"Heh, try some new tricks, like going back to hell where you belong, ghost boy." Hikari smirked as she easily cut through the aura, only to freeze a moment later.
The aura had been a simple distraction, hiding Takeru just enough to allow him to follow up and lock blades with the woman, his sudden movement and strength enough to make her freeze.
"You're quite the tenacious shitty brat, aren't you?" Hikari grunted, glaring up at him with sharp green eyes.
"I've been told I'm stubborn." Takeru conceded before attempting to sweep the woman's legs out from under her, only for her to use the moment to avoid him at the last second, back flipping away a safe distance. "I'm especially so when there's something I want." Takeru leaped forward once again, avoiding the naginata to punch Hikari in the stomach, only to earn a kick in the knees in turn. "And what I want right now…" He pulled back and lifted Shooting Star, aiming for her heart, only to be blocked at the last moment and caught in a deadlock with the naginata once more. "…is to protect this family, no matter what!"
Takeru spun away, jumped into the air and slammed Shooting Star down on Hikari's naginata, which she braced against his sword with both hands, grunting from the exertion.
"Not bad…someone I know might've liked to meet you, had things been different…" Hikari said softly, almost as if she were a different person for a moment. That moment ended, however, and a smirk spread across her face. "But you still aren't good enough, shitty ass ghost boy!"
As she finished speaking, the woman performed a roundhouse kick, landing a hit directly in Takeru's gut. The force of it was so strong, likely backed up by her Green Aura, that he went flying and landed on the floor behind Yatogami, who had been beaten apparently when Takeru had been distracted. He hadn't even noticed their battle…
Suddenly, the ninja Green clansman appeared from the ground, with Anna and Ame over his shoulder.
"Oh? Mission accomplished already? That means this lesson is over. Too bad." Mishakuji sighed, as if disappointed.
"Bout time, shitty old man." Hikari huffed, as if annoyed, crossing her arms petulantly.
"Anna! Ame!" Neko cried as she charged at the ninja, Takeru already on her heels.
"Stop!" He cried, reminded of the moment he died, protecting the captain. But it seemed, this time, unlike then, he was not fast enough and the ninja vanished with the two girls into the floor once again.
"Dammit!" Yatogami cursed as he began to stand, only for Mishakuji to cut through the floor with his katana, allowing him and Hikari to vanish into the smoke left by his Colorless Aura.
"We'll meet again, Kuroh. But don't bore me next time. Make sure you're mentally prepared." Mishakuji called in farewell.
Hikari, however, remained silent as she vanished, as if she were the ghost and not Takeru himself.
"We need to check on the others." Takeru stated and Yatogami nodded in agreement before leading the way in the direction the Totsuka family and Kamamoto had fled.
What they found left Takeru lost for words.
Kamamoto laid collapsed on the ground, a deep wound in his back. Beside him was Leoda, though the only wound she seemed to suffer from was a bruise on her neck. Tatara knelt at her side, cradling her in his arms, and Kristopher looked from one to the other as he knelt between the three adults. Suoh was nowhere in sight.
"You okay, Rikio?" Yatogami questioned as he knelt at Kamamoto's side and lifted his body to examine the extent of the damage.
"There's bigger problems!" Kristopher cut in, sounding panicked. "Anna and Ame got taken by the ninja man, Riki got hurt, Miko's missing and Mommy can't talk!"
"What?!" Neko cried in alarm, bending towards Leoda. Takeru followed her gaze and his eyes widened.
Leoda was, in fact, conscious, unlike what he had first assumed upon seeing her, and her hands were raised, forming symbols he didn't understand as Tatara watched her intently.
After a moment, Tatara met their eyes, his own completely serious in a way Takeru had never seen them before.
"The ninja used his aura to damage Leoda, leaving her mute. She'll have to see her uncle for a real diagnosis, but we can determine for now that she can use sign language." He explained.
"Another one of your hobbies?" Takeru questioned.
Tatara simply nodded silently.
"Never mind Leo and I…save Anna…please, you gotta go after them, quick…" Kamamoto managed to say through his own pain, grasping Yatogami's arm with his remaining strength.
"Leoda and I will join you, Takeru, help Rikio and Kristopher back to HOMRA?" Tatara asked.
"Sure." Takeru nodded.
"But I want to help save Anna and Ame! And you can't be seen without me!" Kristopher protested.
"True, but Rikio needs someone to help him feel better…you'll help him, won't you?" Tatara patted his son's head as he smiled softly.
Leoda reflected the same expression before her hands began to make the symbols once again.
"'This is something only you can do, Kristopher. Trust us to save your sisters and we'll see you tonight.'" Tatara translated without a single slip.
"Okay, Mommy, Daddy…" Kristopher sadly nodded before he looked up with a stubborn look in his eyes. "All of you be safe! Neko and Uncle Kuroh too!"
"Of course we will!" Tatara grinned, looking more like his usual self.
"I'll take care of things on this end." Takeru smiled. "Go."
"Alright, we're on it." Yatogami nodded. "Neko, track them."
"Okay, let's see…they're this way!" Neko pointed a moment later and the Silver clansmen, Red clansman and Gold clansman took off without another word, on the trail of the Green clansmen.
Takeru simply hoped they'd all make it back alright as he picked up Kamamoto, supporting his weight as Kristopher grasped his uniform pant leg and pulled him towards HOMRA slowly, both to lead the way and to keep Takeru from vanishing in the minutes he had remaining from the single touch he received to fight Hikari with.
Kristopher felt panicked, lost and horribly, horribly confused. He'd thought he'd watch as his mommy died, but she didn't, she just lost her voice. Now he can't hear her ever again and he can barely understand her with her hands. And instead of going with Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Kuroh and Neko to save Anna and Ame, he was helping Take bring Riki to HOMRA to make him better.
But he wanted to help! He wanted to save his sisters, stop the ninja man who hurt Mommy and…and do something! He wanted to be a strong clansman, like Anna had been for Miko!
When they reached HOMRA, they found Saki, after Riki fell to the floor since Kristopher hadn't touched Take in a while.
Saki's voice…it was so flat as he spoke of Izzie deserting his bar. Kristopher didn't like it, which was why he yelled at Saki for his attention, pointing to Riki as he helped Take reappear. Saki, thankfully, seemed to realize the seriousness and began to help Take get Riki into a bar seat, allowing the spirit to begin to treat his wound as he asked how he was gonna find the people who took Anna and Ame.
But…none of them had an answer, not even Kristopher. And he wanted to help, he wanted to be useful outside of allowing Daddy and Take to appear, Miko never wanted to though he'd offered him to as well, but there was nothing he could do on his own. Nothing…he was helpless…
Then it hit him. He may be helpless, but his big brother wasn't!
"What about Hiko?! He can help us! He will, for Anna and Ame, I know it!" Kristopher insisted.
Riki seemed to agree, explaining that Hiko had access to the Blue Clan's net-work, and Take added that they might be able to help.
Saki, however, ran out without another word. And Kristopher was left alone, feeling helpless and worthless. He'd tried…he'd given the only idea he had and now he was nothing but the Spirit Seer.
He wanted to do more, to save his sisters! Why couldn't he do more!?
As Fushimi hung up on Misaki, he refused to admit to anything, even in his own thoughts. Anna and the newest Totsuka child, Ame apparently, had been kidnapped and he was the only one Misaki could turn to now that Mikoto and Tatara were spirits and Kusanagi and Leoda were gone?
Even still, Misaki had turned to him when he had nowhere else to turn…there was a measure of trust in just the action of reaching out, Fushimi knew that, and knowing Misaki still trusted him…it shouldn't have been as big of a deal as it felt.
But it wasn't like Fushimi was looking for Anna and Ame's location just because Misaki asked him to, no. This was for official Blue Clan business as well, considering Mishakuji, the woman called Hikari and the masked person who'd taken the girls were all obvious Green clansmen from the footage he'd managed to hack out of the train station cameras.
Even as he sent the location to a most likely fuming Misaki, Fushimi refused to admit he'd done this for Misaki or his…sisters. He hadn't, they just so happened to be involved in his own investigation that he'd already started. He had no personal stake in this whatsoever.
The look the captain sent him as they walked out of headquarters, however, said that Fushimi was fooling nobody, but himself…and that just pissed him off all the more, even if his actions did mean he kept Misaki's attention on him.
None of that mattered, however. This was work, simple as that.
And there we are! Now, explanations!
Carina traveled with Kusanagi because 1. She needed to escape the eyes of the Green clan now that she has been revealed as the Miracle, similar to Shiro needing to go into hiding as well (no matter how unwilling) and 2. She has a better understanding than Kusanagi would of what they were looking for, as she grew up with her siblings as her parents basically and she saw those notes and knows how they both write. Originally, Carina WAS with Shiro and Daikaku, as well as Kazuma and Haru, on the blimp, and once they all agreed that the notes Klaudia left on the Slate were needed, so Carina got Awashima and Kusanagi involved and thus stayed off the radar for the last six months.
Now, Kusuhara. Yes, he is included from now on, partly cause I fell in love with him after seeing K7S: Side: Blue, but for another reason as well. I have mentioned this before, but everyone who gets a POV segment, as in the scene is from their POV mostly, has one thing in common. If you can figure that out, you can figure out why Kusuhara and Hikari specifically get POV segments. Also, I hope his fighting style is believable...I did my best to make that fight scene good.
As for Leoda, I realized that, with the plan I had, she would be the only one of the HOMRA quartet I made (her and the canon HOMRA trio) who would come out of all of this completely unscathed, outside of the mental toll having Tatara in a coma costs her. So, I decided, since it wasn't believable that Douhan would spare her any injuries and I still needed her to be able to fight for later, that she would be muted. Leoda is a BIG part of HOMRA, even if I hide it right now (you will see what I mean once we get to K7S: R:B Blaze especially), and they listen to her as well as they would the rest of the trio. Robbing her of her voice robs HOMRA of any encouragement or strategy she would offer and limits her ability in the clan politics, as most of them do not know sign language (as of now, I have three people who know sign language: Leoda, Tatara and Kuroh). And, yes, there is an actual physical reason she can't speak, which will be explained two chapters from now. Also, with Leoda, I want to point out that there's a reason she isn't fighting a lot (outside of having a baby in her arms) and it has to do with the reason uses Red and Gold auras. She uses Gold more, but the point of her Red is that it amplifies her Gold. She is still also considered a Red clansman, but to the world at large, she is Gold alone.
And Mikoto. He is still here, just like I promised, and he's making a specific point to watch over Anna (that's why he's not noted by Kusuhara btw, he left), but I can't see him wanting to appear all the time, just from what I know of his personality. He's protective, so he sticks with who he cares for and he will protect them even if it means being seen. If Kristopher had been within reach, for example, Mikoto would've grabbed his hand and then protected Leoda just as surely as Tatara would have and they still tried even though they couldn't actually protect her because both of them were terrified that Douhan was about to orphan two biological children and two adopted children and they were not about to let that happen, even if Mikoto did it silently.
Finally, Tatara. I know he's different from canon, but I want you all to remember that this Tatara I'm writing has a lot of different experiences and is also a parent. Please remember this for the following chapters.
Wow, that was a LOT and we're still not done! Two more chapters are left! I hope all of you are as excited as I am! Remember to review, especially if you want the final two chapters of this arc TOMORROW. With all that being said, I'll see you all again soon!