Two weeks later news came from the mainland. A law had been passed stating that all alters were to be considered sub-human and were to be apprehended immediately for testing. The news came to them not by courier, mail, or home, but from the residents of the town. They came to the door of their shared home and broke it down carrying handcuffs and rope with which to take them into custody. The only one at home at that time was Kanami, and she was taken away to a prison cell until the others could be taken. It wasn't long before they came.
The farm at which Kazuma, Cougar and Kanami worked at was closed off to them. As Kazuma and Cougar returned home they noticed a crowd in front of their house. It was Kazuma who spoke first.
"What the hell is going on here?" He yelled at them, walking towards them in a threatening manner. A few backed up, but most stayed their ground. One burly man stepped forward.
"Alter! You are hereby under arrest in accordance with law number 22-8, section F. You will be transported to the mainland and you will go willingly or we will be forced to use force." When the man's speech ended a few people stepped forward holding out handcuffs. Kazuma glared at them and Cougar just laughed.
"Where's Kanami?" Kazuma demanded.
"Do you honestly think you could defeat us? You have no alter. " Cougar said between laughs."Tell you what, how about we just leave?"
They were both ignored, and Kazuma's right arm began to glow. Cougar slid his shades off the top of his head and over his eyes, and began to glow as well. A few of the men's faces reflected fear, but they kept on advancing. A shrill scream split the air.
"Let go of me! I need to do my work at the hospital!" Cougar looked over to the voice, but Kazuma jumped into the air, his arm now a mechanical looking object.
"Shocking first bullet!" He yelled, bringing his fist down upon them men. They scattered, the few unlucky enough to be caught in the attack were knocked unconscious. Cougar ran over to Scherise insted, intent on getting the crowd of people surrounding her out of the way. He was barely surprised when Ryuhou appeared on the other side of him, Zetsuei already out. Before either of them had reached her though, she managed to twist her arm around, flip up in the air, kick a few men in the face, and let out a series of punches thast shocked her attackers as much as it shocked her. Ryuhou ran towards one of them who was still conscious and knocked him out cold. A loud crash sounded behind them, and all three turned.
Kazuma was standing in the remains of what used to be a house with knocked out men and several woman surrounding him. Several of them were running away from the scene, and before she could get by, Cougar grabbed her by the neck of her shirt and pulled her back towards him. A gasp escaped the woman as he turned her around to glare at her.
"Where's Kanami?" He fairly growled at her. She paled and shook her head.
"Answer him!" Kazum yelled, showing up over his shoulder and reaching out an arm to shake her.
"She's in the prison." The woman said faintly. Cougar released her ad she ran off, her legs shaking badly. Ryhou and Kazuma ran off to go get Kanami as Cougar turned to face Scherise. She was trembling and satring at her hands in shock. After a few moments of silence she looked up at him.
"How..?" She began.
"Basic combat training for all HOLY members. We learn to not only use control our alters better, but how to defend ourselves without hurting a non-alter opponent too greatly." He answered before she could finish. That said, he turned back towards the house to rummage through the rubble for any food or supplies that may have survived the destruction. After a while Scherise walked over and began helping him.
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That night they left and headed in the direction of the mainland. Ryhou was driving with Kazuma asleep on the luggage with Kanami in his lap. Mimiori was up front with Ryhou, staring silently ahead. Cougar and Scherise were currently occupying hte back seat. Scherise had long since fallen asleep, and was leaning on Cougars shoulder with her feet up in the seat. Cougar was trying to ignore her, but it was proving to be difficult with her lips brushing his neck and her breath falling across his skin. Goosebumps had long since arisen from the sensation, but he stubbornly blamed it on the cold. He had given Scherise his jacket to wear, but only after she had fallen asleep. Mimiori had noticed the movement in the passenger side mirror and had smiled at him. He had stuck out his tongue in return.
Scherise shifted, and her body fell of his side and into his lap, her head lying on his thigh. She turned onto her back and threw an arm around his waist, the other coming to lie across her stomach. He stiffened slightly, a pink tinge coming to rest on his cheeks. Gradually it went away and he looked down at her, relaxing. His hand came out to brush some hair off of her face and finally went to her waist, lying there comfortably. A small smile crossed her lips.
He began to doze.
