Author's Note: Hi all! Finally an update! Thanks to everyone for the favorites and follows. Reviews are always welcomed. Happy reading, and please enjoy!
~\..'../~ This symbol indicates a definitive transition in time or point of view. I apologize in advance if I missed any glaring errors during the editing process.
Phoenix ran through the streets to find Shinra. Along the way, she broke up fights and knocked out disguised White Clads. She refrained from excessive violence in the presence of women and children. She directed them toward the guardhouse to stay until the mayhem was over and this present mess could be sorted out.
"Shinra! Save Beni!" she heard Konro bellow as she ran down an alley.
Backing up and turning the corner, she emerged a few feet away from him on the main street where he knelt staring up into the sky. The shoulders of his shirt were burned and tattered. Oh, no.
"He heard me?" he mumbled to himself, his eyes still on the sky.
Ignoring his statement which made no sense to her, she ran to Konro, dropping onto her knees beside him. He had injured himself again. The tephrosis had returned to his shoulders. The bandages had incinerated, exposing the gory wounds where the skin had completely burned away leaving blackened edges around exposed raw, red muscle.
"Not again," she murmured, putting her arm around his waist while taking great care not to touch his wounds. "What's going on?"
"There's a Demon Infernal," he panted, pointing into the night sky lit up by streamers of fire.
"A Demon Infernal? Another one?" she questioned him, holding him upright.
"Waka is trying to destroy it. Despite being the strongest fire soldier, he still needs help with that thing. Shinra...Shinra is on his way. You should go help him too."
"No. Shinra can handle it. I need to stay here with you," she insisted, feeling the pressure of his body leaning into hers as he grew weak from the pain.
They observed the streaks of red, yellow, and orange racing across the inky blackness leaving trails behind them like rockets trying to break free of the earth's grasp. A thin red line raced across the dark backdrop as if chasing the men and Demon Infernal though the sky. That looked like one of the arrows that had killed the White Clad who bore Tamaki's face; only this arrow was much bigger and brighter.
"Oh, no," gasped Phoenix, gripping Konro's tightly. She wanted to go, to assist Shinra. But she meant what she said - she knew he could handle this.
"What the hell is that?" Konro asked in reference to the red line heading straight for Beni.
"An arrow. Shinra will stop it. Don't worry," she said.
"Come on, Shinra. You can do this," Konro cheered for him.
The thin red line with the distinctive arrowhead tip kept a steady and fast trajectory toward its mark. Shinra suddenly changed directions, heading toward the arrow to stop it. At first nothing happened. It did not stray one inch from its course. Then finally it began to slowly turn before shooting off the right away from its intended target to burn out into nothingness.
Six flaming matoi were launched from the ground to rise upwards to Beni to literally add fuel to the fire. His flaming pinwheel surrounded the Demon but seemed to have no effect.
"I should go Konro," Phoenix said, reluctantly removing her arm steadying him to stand to her feet.
"Phoenix! Where have you been?!" Captain Obi shouted, startling her.
"That's Beni and Shinra up there! I have to go!" she hollered back, spreading her wings with the distinctive whoosh of her fire igniting.
"Shinra is up there and taking care of it. You'll do more good to stay down here."
"But Captain!"
"Stay! That's an order!" he commanded her brusquely. "Are you okay?" he questioned her, his voice much softer upon noticing the blood spattered across her face and chest. "What happened? Where are you injured?"
"I'm fine," she assured him as he looked her over for wounds. "It's not my blood."
"Who's is it?" His eyes ceased their search for injuries to meet hers.
"I ran across two White Clads. One looked like Shinra and the other like Tamaki."
"Then what happened?" he asked, the tension showing on his face. The muscle in his jaw worked relentlessly, writhing under his skin as he waited for her answer.
"I disposed of them. Sir, I tried to get information but..."
"Don't worry about explaining. I'm sure you had a good reason for doing what you did. We should get Konro back to the house and tend to those wounds."
"Yes, we should," she murmured, turning her attention back to Konro.
Before Phoenix and Obi could stand him to his feet to take him home, there was massive explosion in the sky. A white flash followed; so blinding it made them instinctively close their eyes but they still shielded them with their hands to ward off the light. Several seconds later, there was a blowback from the blast powerful enough to send a strong, heated wind rushing through the entirety of Asakusa despite its origination high in the sky.
Phoenix and Obi were pushed down to the ground and onto their knees, Konro held between them with his arms over their shoulders. The immense pressure pushed on their eardrums as if it might burst them. There was a resounding boom as the discharge of energy that incinerated the Demon Infernal broke the sound barrier. They could not hear it anyway due to force already pressing on their eardrums.
Ash began to fall from the sky like a macabre black snow. The moon turned red.
"Oh, what a beautiful sight. The Crimson Moon," Konro murmured, gazing up at the blood red moon.
"He used your move to finish off the damn demon," Phoenix said, patting his back.
"Yeah. I couldn't be more proud."
Two of the Seventh's Fire Soldiers joined them to report to their Lieutenant.
"All of the Infernals have been taken care of, Sir. All of the fires have been put out too," one informed him.
Konro breathed an audible sigh of relief, his body sagging between the two people who held him up.
"Ah, that's good. Splendid work," he complimented them. "Company Eight deserves our gratitude as well. Especially our friend, Shinra."
About that time, Shinra appeared above them. Using the flames of his feet like rocket blasters, he gingerly lowered his body, and his precious cargo, to the ground. He held Benimaru in his arms in a Princess carry.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear," murmured Phoenix, using an old adage her aunt used to say a lot. A broad smile on par with one of Shinra's nervous grins stretched her lips. The sight before her amused her greatly. "My, my, Shinra. That's quite a lovely damsel in distress you have in your arms there. I'm a little bit jealous."
"Shut up, Bird Brain," snapped Benimaru as Shinra lowered his feet to the ground so he could stand up. However, the man still had to lean against his knight in shining armor to remain upright after completely depleting his strength.
"Ah, you're going to be just fine, Beni. You're effervescent charm is already returning," she murmured, noticing Shinra's eyes were glued to her face. "What's wrong?"
"Are you okay? What's all over you? Is that...blood?" he asked unable to stop staring at her.
"I'm fine. It's not mine," she replied, the words tumbling out fast. "Captain," she said, turning toward Obi. "We should get Konro to the house."
"Yeah," he agreed. "Let's go."
"Yes, Sir," she replied.
After cleaning up and getting rid of the bloody clothes, she joined Captain Obi and Konro in the main room of the house. Everyone else, including Shinra and Benimaru, were busy getting themselves cleaned up and tending to other matters which left the three of them together at the moment.
Opening the cabinet in the corner, Phoenix retrieved the jar of salve to begin rubbing it over the new burns that had seared off the old scars on Konro's body. Newer and deeper scars would form when the skin healed itself once more.
"Why were you covered in blood? Will you tell me what happened?" Konro asked her gently as she knelt behind him.
"I'll leave," Captain Obi volunteered.
"Stay," she said, dipping her fingers into the oddly cool white cream that felt as if it had been refrigerated. "You should hear this too, Captain."
A bizarre sensation of numbness filled her body as she began to speak. Her emotions were anesthetized as she told them what happened from the moment she found the doppelganger's of Shinra and Tamaki until each of them met their end.
"How could you bring yourself to kill him when he looked like Shinra?" Konro asked when her story was complete. He hissed and winced as she smoothed another layer of the cooling salve on his heated and damaged shoulders.
"Because he wasn't Shinra," she answered simply.
"How did you know? How could you be so sure it was not him?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"I'll go get us some drinks," Captain Obi offered, already knowing the explanation that would come.
"The good Sake is in the corner on the top shelf of the dish cabinet," Phoenix told him.
Phoenix gently pressed the end of the gauze to Konro's shoulder, waiting for him to reach up and hold it. As she began the long process of wrapping his ointment covered wounds, she asked, "Konro, have you heard of something called the Adolla Burst?"
~\..'../~
"Commander!" Arrow exclaimed, bowing deeply in respect to the small, jaded Commander sitting on his cold stone chair that was just as cold and hard as demeanor.
The chair carved out of pure white marble resembled a throne fit for a king: the king of everything and nothing at all. The little Commander of the entire White Clad army second only in power to the Evangelist. Well, possibly third if they had indeed found the Avenging Angel. There was also the boy called the Devil's Footprints. No time like the present to begin informing him of their incredible discoveries in Asakusa.
Yona remained standing beside her as if unaware of his place. He tapped the pads of his fingers together and muttered to himself maniacally. At least he was consistently crazy. Due to his unique capabilities, mostly his talent for reconstructing the human face and stirring up general mayhem and confusion as they had in Asakusa, his insolence was largely overlooked.
"What do you have to report, Arrow?" the Commander asked without even lifting his white head to look at her.
"Sir, Asakusa turned up many interesting finds just like you believed it would," she began. "A second Demon Infernal was successfully created. He was stronger than the one from two years ago. Haran's courageous sacrifice will not be forgotten." She paused momentarily as if offering him a moment of silence in her fallen comrade's honor. "There was a boy who established an Adolla Link with the Demon...and myself."
"That is interesting," he said, sitting up straight from his slumped over position. "I would like to see this person for myself. The next time you go out, I will going with you."
"But there's more, Sir," Yona interjected before Arrow could continue.
"Oh?" His lightly glowing crimson eyes latched on to Arrow's Face as if Yona had not spoken a word.
"I believe we've found the Avenging Angel, Sir."
The Commander blinked, standing up from his chair, his sword clutched tightly in his hand.
"Have you told anyone about this?" he asked, pushing up the hilt with his thumb to slide the sword a few inches from the scabbard attached to his side. Several snow white feathers floated out into the air.
"No, Commander. I thought it best for you to see her for yourself and personally make the determination of her identity before anything is said," she explained dutifully, lowering her eyes from his piercing stare.
"Very smart, Arrow. Good work. I look forward to seeing this person as well. If she is the Avenging Angel, we must immediately bring her to the Evangelist where she belongs. She is extremely important to stoking the purifying fires."
"Yes, Sir."
~\..'../~
Two days later after piecing Asakusa together once more, the time came for Company Eight to say good bye. Phoenix had packed her remaining possessions from her room at the Seventh and was loading them into the Matchbox with the assistance of Shinra and the twins.
"So you're really not coming back?" Hinata asked, standing behind Phoenix as she scooted the last box into the vehicle.
"Ever?" Hikage inquired, tears forming in her eyes.
"She'll come back to visit. I'll make sure she does," Shinra assured them.
The small girls put their arms around Phoenix's waist, giving her a tight embrace while she hugged them both, an arm around each.
"I'll miss you both so much," she said, fighting her tears.
After the twins hugged her, they went to Shinra next. He squatted down to be eye level with them for his farewell.
"You'll be coming with her to visit, right?" Hikage asked him directly.
"Of course I will," he answered quickly.
"We'll be looking forward to seeing more of your cool dance moves," Hinata said.
"You really like my dancing?" Shinra asked, blushing with happiness.
"Of course not, you big dork," Hikage added, getting in one final insult before they left.
"Oh," he muttered, crestfallen.
Both of the girls charged at him, nearly knocking him down as they threw in their arms around his neck in a double hug.
"But we do like you," Hikage said to him receiving a collective awe from the members of Company Eight and Konro who had gathered around them.
"This is good-bye again, huh?" Konro said to Phoenix.
"I'm afraid so," she mumbled, thrusting her hand into the pockets of her ripped jeans.
"It was great seeing you again...having you here. It was kinda like old times."
"Yeah. It was. Without all of the fussing and drama. Where's Beni?" She glanced around Konro but did not see him.
"I don't...I don't know. I'm sorry," he apologized.
"It's fine. I honestly didn't expect him to be here. But anyway, I'll see you again soon, Konro."
"Yeah. Take care of yourself,"he said, bending down to hug her.
"Hey, that's my line," she jokingly snapped at him.
Phoenix was wearing flat sandals which made her almost an entire foot shorter than the man so he had to bend way, way down to reach her. She convulsively swallowed to rid herself of the lump in her throat. She hated good-byes.
"Don't stay away over a year this time, okay?" he said before letting her go.
"Okay," she agreed, wondering exactly how long it would be before they could visit. There was no way to tell with the unpredictable threat of the White Clads, the extremist zealots hell bent on carrying out this mysterious Evangelist's agenda of bringing about a second destruction of humanity by fire since the first one did not quite decimate everyone.
Phoenix walked away from Konro to the Matchbox before she started crying. Climbing into the vehicle, she took her seat. Beni did not say good-bye again. Not surprised but definitely hurt, she allowed the first tear to fall.
"Hey! Hey, wait! Phoenix!" she would swear she heard Benimaru yelling from somewhere far, far away.
Great! Now I'm hearing things!, she thought to herself, closing her eyes to hide her teary, bloodshot eyes as the others began to clamber into the truck.
"Fire Bird! There's something I need to say to you!"
Her eyes popped open. She knew for sure she had heard him that time. Impatiently waiting for everyone to be seated, she exited the vehicle to see where Beni was at.
He was walking toward the Matchbox with a package wrapped in a dark green cloth decorated with white swirls. She recognized that pattern. When he came close, he thrust the parcel at her.
"Here, the old hag wanted you to have these. I don't like them very much but your Captain seems to enjoy them. As I recall, you like them too," he said.
"Yeah. I do. Thank you, Beni," she returned, hugging the bundle to her chest.
"This isn't good-bye you know. Until next time," he said, taking one step closer to her.
"Yeah. Until next time. See ya." She turned to walk back toward the Matchbox.
"Phoenix, wait."
Before she had fully turned to face him, he lurched forward, giving her a hug that was stiff and uncomfortable for the both of them. However, it meant a lot for him to give her that embrace - and it meant a lot to her to receive it, to part on good terms after what happened before.
"Take care of yourself. And take care of Shinra too. He's a very special guy," he said, dropping his arms away from her body and backing up a few steps.
"Yes, he is," she wholeheartedly agreed.
~\..'../~
Shinra tapped on her bedroom door as not to make the sound echo down the hall of the Fire Cathedral. He should not be here at this time of night. However, over the past few days since they returned home, he had not had much time to speak to Phoenix because they were busy with paperwork detailing the events that occurred in Asakusa.
He was worried about her. Something happened in Asakusa, but he had no clue what. Captain Obi seemed to know, but he kept his lips tightly sealed. The thing that bothered him the most was the fact Phoenix would not talk to him. Once again she had retreated inward, not telling him a damn thing.
Reticent and hermit-like, she hid in the office behind stacks of reports or in her bedroom reading. At first he was able to convince himself she was acting this way because of the sadness of once again leaving Asakusa, of having to say good-bye to her old fire company mates. However, he could not ignore the fact she did not bother to put on her make up and dressed only in jeans and over-sized t-shirts. Definitely not her normal style.
"Phoenix," he whispered at the door, tapping again. Although he had spoken her name softly, it was like a shout in the dark silence. "Please, open up."
He held his breath until he could sense movement behind the door. Despite the absence of sound, not even a swishing of material or light footfall, he could feel her moving toward the door. His pulse pounded through his feet and ankles rushing up his legs to his chest to make his heart beat faster. His heart thumped heavily against his rib cage. She must be right behind the door.
"What is it?" she whispered through the door.
"I need to talk to you. There's something I need to tell you. Please open up," he begged, a desperation building so fiercely his heart physically ached.
"This isn't a good time. Shinra, we shouldn't - "
"There's never a good time anymore. We have to do this now. Please, open up. Let me in." There was more meaning behind those words than just a request to remove the wooden barrier between them.
The lock disengaged with a click seconds before she slowly opened the door. Her eyes were red rimmed, her face puffy, as if she had been crying for hours. She stood there dressed in an over-sized gray sweatshirt baring one shoulder. Her legs were completely bared by the short black yoga shorts she wore. At least he thought they were yoga shorts and not her underwear. He could feel his cheeks warming with a blush and his lips stretching into an anxious smile.
"I was beginning to think - Whoa!" he yelled when she grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him inside.
"Well, come on inside before someone hears you," she hissed, carefully closing the door and locking it. "What is it?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" he returned, stepping closer to her. He stood so close she had to lean her head back to see his face. Her heartbeat rattled through his chest although he was not touching her.
"What do you want to talk about?" Phoenix asked, her face hardening into a mask as if preparing for a game of twenty unwanted questions.
To set her at ease, and hopefully bring down her defenses, Shinra decided her should tell her about his shocking experience in Asakusa, the unexpected Adolla Links he formed with the Demon Infernal, the White Clad woman, and Konro.
"Something happened in Asakusa," he began, watching her jaw tighten and a look of fear flash through her eyes for a split second.
Shit! This is not going as planned, he thought.
She appeared to be pulling away even more emotionally despite standing stock still in front of him. Enveloping her in his arms, he drew her in for a crushing bear hug, flattening her breasts against his chest.
"I can make connections with others," he blurted, hugging her tighter. "Each one is different and unique...and weird."
"Sh-Shinra," she wheezed, managing to lift one hand to pat his lower back as if to tap out of a wrestling match.
"Oh, sorry," he apologized, loosening his grip but not letting her go. "When I connected with the Demon Infernal, I felt...I saw..." He faltered, not wanting to think about what he had seen coming straight from the mind of that creature that was no longer human. "I saw terrible things. Beni said this was the second Horned Infernal in Asakusa."
"Yeah. It was," she confirmed. Wiggling her arms from between his, she reached up to wrap them around his neck. "I'm sure he also told you defeating that Horned Demon was what caused Konro's tephrosis. What else happened? Who else did you establish a link with?"
"I could hear Konro's voice as if he were speaking to me directly. I had told him earlier to call out for me, and I would help him so he wouldn't have to kill himself to protect Captain Shinmon. I heard him...I heard him ask me to save his Captain."
Shinra could feel her body stiffening in his arms and wondered what that was about. Lowering his head, he placed it on her shoulder, pressing his forehead against her neck.
"I also...I also heard the voice of that White Clad woman who shot the arrow. She said I'm in not where I belong. I don't belong in the Fire Force. I belong with them. My flames are meant to exterminate mankind."
"We both know that's bullshit, and those White Clads are crazy," she assured him, rubbing his cheek with her own.
"I'm meant to protect mankind," he said, his voice slightly shaky with emotion. "All I've ever wanted to do is protect people...to save them. She said I have an Adolla Burst like their Commander. Who the hell is their Commander?"
"Who the hell knows or cares about their commander?" Phoenix snapped, sliding her fingers through his hair.
"I think we should care, Phoenix. All things considered, it's important information. Getting rid of him of him would enable us to take down the White Clads."
"All things considered, we both know you're a hero and a savior of mankind." She paused, stroking his head again. "Maybe she meant me. It seems like no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I want to protect people, all I do is kill them."
"What do you mean? You haven't - "
"I murdered two of the White Clads in Asakusa," she confessed.
Shinra winced at her blunt admission, lifting his head to look down at her. Surprisingly, her eyes met his. Even more shocking was the lack of emotion he saw there. No sadness. No regret. No joy either over what she did which he found comforting.
"I did what I felt like I had to do under the circumstances," she said with assurance, her gaze unwavering. "I honestly don't know if it was the right thing, but at that time it felt right. It was weird. I can't explain it. It's like something took over me. I had all of these thoughts running through my head. Bits and pieces of the past. Memories...but it's like some of them belonged to someone else. There was so much rage. I couldn't...I couldn't stop it. They were a part of the people responsible for killing my mother. For so many years, I've wanted to avenge her and it felt...it felt good."
Closing her eyes, she inhaled a shaky breath to get herself back under control before completely giving in to her emotions. When she opened her eyes again, he was staring at her but she did not look away.
"I won't let them take anyone else from me. I will protect my new family, the ones I love, no matter what it takes," Phoenix swore to him with a conviction that burned in her mercury colored eyes. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes and streaked down her flushed cheeks. "I won't lose another person I love. I can't."
"I don't know what happened exactly because I wasn't there. I can't and won't judge you for a decision you made...actions you took. But I do understand being willing to kill to protect the ones you love."
Shinra put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her face into his chest. Her fingers curled into his black t-shirt at his shoulder blades as she cried quietly, restraining herself. Holding her securely in his arms, he allowed her to cry as long as she needed. Occasionally, he brushed his lips across her cheeks, whispering words of comfort in her ear.
"It's okay. You're going to be fine. You did what you had to do," he cooed, stroking her back as if she were a cat.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I keep crying like this," she apologized, burying her face into his already tear soaked t-shirt.
"Don't hold back. Don't ever hold back anything from me," he implored her, caressing her damp cheek with his fingertips.
"The part that bothers me the most is the person I killed looked like you. I know it wasn't you because I didn't feel you, your heart. But it was surreal and scary. And I don't regret it. I only regret not getting any answers to my questions before I killed him," she said, raising her head to look at Shinra's face. "Do you know how many people I've murdered, Shinra? Can you love a murderer?"
"We've had this discussion before. Stop it," he ordered her gently. "You are not a cold blooded killer."
Shinra inhaled deeply, holding the desperate gaze of her bloodshot, crying eyes. His fingers trembled as they pushed through her hair again, gently combing out the snarls. How can he love a murderer? But was she really a criminal? Weren't they all murderers considering they all had put an end to Infernals who were once humans? Was it merciful? Was it deserved? She would never cold bloodedly kill an innocent person. She couldn't.
"Shinra," Phoenix whispered in a husky voice that caught his attention in a way that shocked him.
Her eyelids drifted closed, shutting off her soul to him. One of her hands raised to the back of his neck, coaxing his mouth down to hers. He could taste the salty tears on her lips as she gave him a hard kiss, putting her heart and soul behind that kiss. He could feel her need, her desire. The firm kiss that continued at length took his breath away and lit a spark he did not expect to experience under the circumstances.
Shinra wrenched his mouth free from hers, not only to breathe but also to get a grip on himself before he too her to the bed. Her lips hovered above his after they broke apart, her breath caressing them as she panted lightly. Her hand pressed on the back of his neck, pulling him back toward her for another bold kiss.
This time Phoenix pushed further, wanting more. Shinra gladly gave it to her, separating his slightly parted lips when the tip of her tongue teased the opening between them. The tip of his tongue met hers, beckoning her to come inside for more of a taste. He found her kiss exciting, downright intoxicating. His arms encircled her waist, lifting her from the floor to carry her to the bed. As he bent to lay her down, her legs wrapped around his waist to keep him close - to keep him from escaping.
"I should go," he whispered between the pecks on his lips.
"Please, don't," she begged, her lips pressing a kiss to his cheek then his earlobe. "Stay."
"Ugh, Holy Sol," he groaned, pushing her hand away that attempted to sneak under the hem of his t-shirt. "We can't."
"Why not?" she asked, pushing her hips against his to create a delicious friction that turned the spark into a flame.
"Phoenix," he murmured, unhinging her hand from the back of his neck as she tried to pull his mouth to hers again. "As much as I want this...and I definitely do...as much as I want you...we can't do this," he whispered, breathing heavily in an effort to calm himself.
"The timing just isn't right yet," Phoenix agreed. "Will you stay with me tonight? To sleep of course."
"Yeah. I won't leave you yet. Are you going to be okay?" he asked, holding her face between his hands.
"Yeah. Thank you," she said, giving him an easy, genuine smile.
"For what?"
"For loving me and not giving up on me...ever. I love you with all of my heart, Shinra Kusakabe."
"I love you too. I never give up on the ones I love."
~\..'../~
"A new team member? That's kind of sudden, don't you think?" Obi asked Hibana as she followed him down the hall to his office.
"Haijima pushed it through like a battering ram since Company Eight is long overdue to have a science officer," she explained.
"Yeah, well, I can't help but think it's a poor excuse to plant one of their spies among us," he said, admitting his worst fear.
"It's possible. But don't worry. You have a spy of your own. And she has connections with this guy," Hibana informed him in an annoyingly cryptic manner.
"Huh?"
"You'll see."
A little while later, with Company Eight gathered in the Captain's office, the official announcement was made. Everyone except Phoenix was there. She had gone to retrieve files from the crew's desks in the next room as the others planned to meet the new member.
"I don't see why we need you here. We were doing just fine recruiting new members on our own," Captain Obi grumpily began, not really getting off to the most hospitable start.
"That's kinda harsh don't ya think?" Viktor Licht returned with a flippant attitude. "After the whole Evangelist thing, every company is under Imperial order to increase their scientific investigation. Obviously you were further behind than most and Haijima saw fit to give you a boost in that department. So here I am!"
Everyone glared at the tall, wiry man whose black hair stuck out from his head in all directions. He wore a white doctor's coat over a red and white striped t-shirt, jeans that were already too short but had also been rolled up, and black running shoes with red soles worn without socks. How could they take this guy seriously?
"We were handling things just fine," Obi snapped, irritated by the man's lack of decorum and unwarranted air of familiarity. "Captain Hibana provided us with all of the information we needed. There's also - "
With epic timing as usual, Phoenix entered the room. Distracted, she did not notice their guests as she flipped through the pages of the report in the folder she held.
Back to her normal self, she was dressed in a loose fitting black halter type blouse that ruffled around the waist line of her tight fitting black jeans that fit like a second skin. Her pin point stiletto heels clicked on the tiles as she walked. Her eyes were lined with thick black eyeliner making the silver irises glow like liquid mercury.
"Hey, Shinra, there's a few places you forgot to sign in here. And what the hell is a monedif? That's a misspelling right?" she asked if no one else was in the room.
"We have guests today," Captain Obi announced loudly as if to get her attention.
"Oh," Phoenix gasped upon seeing Captain Hibana. She gulped then greeted the woman who eyed her suspiciously. "Hello, Captain Hibana."
"Hmph," the Princess snorted, tossing her pink hair over her shoulder.
"Ahem," Captain Obi dramatically cleared his throat. "I would like for you all to meet our new science officer - "
"Viktor Licht," Phoenix said, already knowing the name of the strange man but not a stranger to her standing in front of her.
Phoenix glared at the familiar rail thin, black dandelion headed man from Haijima Industries. He was her main point of contact, her greatest information source on her little reconnaissance expeditions to the Haijima Labs. Once he found out her true identity and that her mother was a former scientist at Haijima whose research he used to write his college thesis, getting information from him was easy.
He was a major fan-boy of her mother's research, basing most of the information contained in his published thesis about Spontaneous Human Combustion on her work. He was positively thrilled to learn Phoenix was the baby born from the ashes of her mother's body he had read about in the reports detailing the tragic death of the brilliant former head of the Lab. Only he could find that information revelatory and exciting.
Entertaining his thousand and one inquiries and seriously awkward attempts at flirting was much more difficult for Phoenix to endure than him gushing about her dead mother. But she did what she had to do in order to get the information she needed. Even if Hibana knew the torture of listening to that man blather for hours, she would not have cared because it was a means to an end - and Phoenix always got the top secret information.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Phoenix demanded, snapping the folder shut.
Viktor saluted her sloppily with his left hand. Putting on a ridiculously formal voice, he announced himself.
"I will be serving as special Fire Force Company eight's head scientist. And as you know, sweetheart," he said, winking at Phoenix. "The name's Viktor Licht."
"Sweetheart?" Shinra muttered, his hands forming fists at his sides.
"How dare you address our Queen in such a familiar and provocative way, knave?!" Arthur yelled at him.
For once, Shinra was grateful for Arthur's courtly manners and delusional nature. Wow. And he actually got all the words right this time.
"Did you say Shinra? As in Shinra Kusakabe?" Viktor asked, turning toward the man in question. He bounced up and down on his toes, clapping his hands together like an overexcited child. "As in the Devil's Footprints?"
"I hate that nickname," Shinra muttered, looking away from the overly enthusiastic beanpole. "Yeah. That's me."
"That's not a proper Fire Force salute. You should perform it with the right hand not the left. Crisper, and more firm. If you're going to do it, do it right," Hinawa chastised the dandelion in their midst who summarily ignored him as he rushed toward Shinra.
Viktor dove to the floor at the Shinra's feet, staring at them as if they were the most fascinating specimens he had ever seen.
"I have to indulge my curiosity!" Viktor yelled as if it were a scientist's battle cry.
"Hey!" Shinra yelled as the man grabbed his foot and lifted it from the floor to examine it closely. "What the hell are you doing?"
Viktor snatched off the flip flop hindering his view and tossed it carelessly over his shoulder.
"Get your hands off of me! Hey!" Shinra cried out.
"So these are the feet of the Devil's Footprints," Viktor mused to himself.
"Hey!" Hibana shouted, stepping in between Shinra and Viktor. "Don't get all touchy feely with him!"
"Yes, ma'am," Viktor acquiesced, standing to his feet.
"Only I can do that!" she shrieked, stomping her foot indignantly.
Shinra bit his lower lip, his face turning crimson red. Tears formed in the corner of his eyes.
"Excuse me?" Phoenix snapped, running over to them. "Who will be getting touchy feely with Shinra?"
"My foot!" Shinra wailed in pain when everyone ignored him.
All of them looked down to see her pencil thin heel stabbed Shinra in the very middle of his foot.
"Get off of him!" Phoenix screamed at her, grabbing the woman by the lapels of her beige trench coat to pull her forward and shove her away. "And you will NOT be getting touchy feely with my boyfriend! EVER!"
Hibana blinked at her, her eyes forming huge round circles.
"Your what?" the Princess scoffed.
There it is. The metaphorical cat was out of the bag, set free by Phoenix herself. Straightening her shoulders and raising her chin, she managed to appear like a defiant child standing in front an angry parent.
"You heard me. My boyfriend," she repeated, emphasizing the my so viciously Hibana flinched for everyone to see.
"I see," she murmured, her eyes returning to their normal size. Once again, she threw a lock of hair over her shoulder then placed a hand on her hip. "And when exactly did this little travesty of a relationship begin?"
"It's the real thing, Captain Hibana, I assure you," Shinra said, limping over to place himself as a barrier between the women. "It began pretty much the moment I met her."
"Hmph," she snorted derisively, crossing her arms under her big breasts lots of cleavage revealed by her low cut dress. "That's just ridiculous. There's no such thing as love as first sight."
"This is stupid," Phoenix snapped, throwing the file in her hand onto her desk. "I'm not arguing with you about this. I don't have to. I'm not going to fight over what's real or what isn't. And I'm certainly not going to fight over what I know to be true."
"Well, then," Hibana sniffed, sticking her nose into the air and her face pinching as if she smelled something rotten. "I suppose I should be going since I'm done here."
"I suppose you should," she returned, almost growling the words. "We no longer need you around here. For anything."
No one said a word as Hibana sashayed out of the office. It was better not to say anything and allow the woman to try to pick up the pieces of her dignity and get away with what she could salvage of her self-esteem after a former subordinate read her the riot act and dismissed her.
Phoenix was not afraid. It was about time that damn woman knew her place since she was always so quick to put everyone else in theirs. Sitting down at her desk, rifling through piles of file folders, she searched for the one marked Viktor Licht. The only sound that could be heard in the office was the rustle of papers until she found the folder which she wished she had noticed a hell of a lot sooner. It had gotten buried under reports and mail and a dozen other things she had not yet been able to sort through since their return to the Cathedral.
"Here, Captain. Mr. Licht's credentials," she said, handing him the file over the desk.
"So, listen, Licht," Captain Obi began in order to dispel the tension and bring their attention back to the matter at hand.
"Oh, call me, Viktor, no need to be so formal. We're all friends here right?"
"Actually, no. No, we're not," Hinawa returned, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at the irritating, overenthusiastic man.
"Hey, Captain, how do we know we can trust this guy?" Arthur demanded. "He did work for Haijima Industries after all."
"In case you've forgotten, we trusted the spy over there who used to infiltrate Haijima on a regular basis," Hinawa pointed out matter of factly. "No offence, Phoenix."
"None taken," she responded, waving dismissively as she tried to sort through the mess on her desk.
"My Queen is not a spy," Arthur vehemently countered, offended for her.
"Look, you clueless idiot - " Shinra began but was distracted by Viktor's reaction as he stared at Phoenix.
"Phoenix, my dear, it's been a while," Viktor said breathily.
"Oh, damn it all," she sighed, glancing up at the man who was now standing in front of her desk.
His huge round black eyes met hers, and he smiled a smile that was just as awkward and weird as one of Shinra's anxiety grins. Why was no one teasing that weirdo about his smile?
"So how have you been?" he asked her.
"Fine. Until now," she added acidly.
"Awww...is that any way to talk to an old friend?" he whined as if hurt by her harsh greeting.
"You were never a friend, Viktor."
"This should be interesting," Obi murmured stealing a moment to look over the man's file.
"It doesn't surprise me they have a history considering she visited Haijima on a regular basis. I guess it didn't occur to any of us this could be a problem," Hinawa returned.
"I assure you, it's no problem," Phoenix said directly to the Lieutenant upon overhearing his words. "Viktor and I were never friends. Of any kind. We were work acquaintances at the most. A spy and her informant. Absolutely nothing more."
"Now you're just being mean," Viktor pouted. "What about that date we were supposed to go on?"
"Stop it, Viktor. There was never going to be date. You knew that," she snapped, standing up from her seat. "You allowed yourself to be deceived."
"A what? When?" Shinra interjected.
"Nothing and never. The last person you should be threatened by is this guy," she said, standing up from her seat and turning her back to Viktor.
"Oh, dear Phoenix. I do miss our little games. The flirting. Our intimate tete-a-tetes we used to have," Viktor said, shamelessly attempting to be coy.
"What the hell?" Shinra muttered, raising his fists.
"Steady, boy. Don't let him get to you," the Captain warned.
"Mm-mm-mm," Viktor grunted, staring at her behind. "I always did hate for you to leave, but I did like to watch you go."
"Oh, that is weird," she muttered. "Stop it, Viktor or I'll burn you down right here in this office. I'll sweep up your ashes and throw them in the trash where you belong."
"Oh, baby you have no idea how I already burn for you."
"Ew!"
Picking up the set of Obi's hand grippers sitting on top of the filing cabinet, she hurled them over her shoulder straight at Viktor's head. He easily dodged them and Obi reached out to grab the hand strengthening device he also used to relieve stress before it the hit the floor to break.
"All right, that's enough!" Captain Obi shouted, deciding to intervene in the steadily escalating situation. "Hinawa, show Viktor around the Cathedral. Help him find a suitable space for a lab and the room that will be his."
After Hinawa and Licht left the room, the Captain turned to glare at Phoenix.
"Phoenix, about your behavior..."
"I apologize, Captain," she said, bowing deeply. "That was conduct unbecoming a fire soldier in regards to a colleague. Two of them actually. I will apologize to Captain Hibana later. But Licht, sir - "
When she heard Obi chuckling in amusement, Phoenix immediately stopped speaking and stood up straight.
"Sir? What -"
"I'm just glad to see you're back to your old self, Phoenix. Besides, I have the feeling we're going to need someone around here to keep Licht in line and make sure we can trust him," he said, closing the folder in his hand. "And you'll do no such thing as apologize to that woman. It was refreshing seeing someone put her in her place for a change. Good thing I'm your Captain so it won't be viewed as insubordination."
"You can trust Viktor, Sir," she assured the Captain, ignoring his comment about Hibana. "He might have worked for Haijima but he was there to suit his own agenda and further his own research into Spontaneous Human Combustion by using their resources. He's not a company man at all. I believe he is just as dedicated to solving the mystery and putting an end to Spontaneous Human Combustion as you are, Captain."
"Well, that's good to hear. Looks like everything might be falling into place again."
"Yeah. But for how long?"
"Duchess," Captain Obi sighed, leaning down to be face to face with her. "Just enjoy the good times when we have them, and don't question the future. Whatever comes will come, and we will deal with it together...as a family. Do you understand me?"
Phoenix could not help but feel more confident and less anxious about what tomorrow could hold. With her family beside her, what did she have to fear?
"Yes, Sir. I understand."
