A shrouded couple landed in an empty warehouse. The walls have all but crumbled, with metal piping protruding from the collapsed heap. The masked young man carried her to a dilapidated, downtrodden couch before gently laying her down on top of the beaten cushions. The amber-haired woman peered up at him guiltily. "Kurofiru-sama-"
He knelt beside her and took off his gloves before holding his hand over her open wound. "Just rest, Hinamori." A cloud of leaves erupted from his palm, covering the injury with a light green glow. She hissed in pain just as a boisterous laugh suddenly echoed from above. She glared at the source: a sneering teenage boy, dangling his feet over the railing of what once was the second floor.
"Way to go, Hinamori! So much for being the stronger one of us, huh?" He jested, his magenta-irises shining with mirth. His gaze pierced through the shadows that covered his face.
"Shut the fuck up, Rozu!" She shrieked as she sat up, ignoring the burning sensation that tore through her body. "At least I'm getting results, unlike you!"
"Yeah, getting fucked-up results, that's for sure!" He hopped off the railing and landed next to them with a soft thud. He straightened and dusted off his grimy shirt before cracking his neck, which was covered with intricate tattoos that traveled across his shoulders and over his shaven head. He peered over the man's shoulder at Hinamori before snickering once more. "Let me guess, you didn't even get one this time."
"I was about to! But then these meddling twerps-"
"Rozu, quiet." The boy immediately clamped his jaw shut as the man slipped his gloves back over his fingertips. "Hinamori, just rest."
The woman hesitated before giving a solemn nod. She closed her eyes, soon falling unconscious due to her wounds.
The boy then immediately knelt down, bowing his head. "Kurofiru-sama. Let me go out tonight to fix her mistake. I-"
"Go." Without another word, the teen disappeared into the night.
There was a long silence before a shadow fell over the man's turned back. He rose to his feet, continuing to gaze at the woman. "You told me everyone there was killed that night."
"Well I thought they were- how was I supposed to know some of them survived?" The voice quipped. He turned around to glare at the speaker behind him.
The moon cast an ominous glow on the figure as it stepped into the light. It appeared to be a slightly older humanoid male; his long, pearlescent white hair cascaded down his onyx-shaded robes. Gold chain links wrapped around his arms and neck. A thin black mark ran down the right side of his pale face, crossing over his right opalescent eye to his cheekbone, where another shorter marking branched off towards his smirking lips.
He tapped his chin in feigned pondering. "I was so sure all thirty people in that neighborhood burned to death, or was it twenty-eight?" He then raised both hands, revealing the roman numerals one to twelve on each knuckle, before waggling his fingers playfully. "Six fingers on each hand make it so hard to count properly, you know."
The younger man simply stared at him wordlessly, his lifeless eyes clashing with the other''s mischievous gaze. The latter chuckled at his own humor.
"Well, what now? Do you suddenly want to see her again?" He jested, folding his hands back into his sleeves.
The younger man sighed and placed a hand over his mask, which dissipated into a flurry of leaves. His black hair fell loose onto his forehead.
"Yes." He murmured emotionlessly, crushing the foliage in his palms. "So that I can kill her myself."
He turned his heel and headed out of the back of the building.
"Ooooh, you're so scary sometimes!" The being chided, following him towards an open field where a decrepit greenhouse stood in its center.
The former turned the handle and the door opened with a slow creak. Laid before them was a field of monstrous bulbs lined down multiple rows, with naked human bodies lying underneath each base. Thick, veiny stalks wrapped and pierced into various parts of every individual's limbs, the tendrils all connecting back to the plant itself.
"P-Please…let me go…" One of them groaned as they walked past. A middle-aged woman, her cheekbones sunken in as she feebly raised her hand. She gasped in pain as a ominous green glow lit up on her shriveled chest, traveling up the tendril that was penetrated into her torso. The bulb twitched and seemed to breathe as the light reached its basal stem. The woman shuddered once more before she became still, her skin and hair disintegrating to dust, leaving behind nothing but dried up flesh and bones.
The young man stopped and turned to see the bulb burst open at its tip, a grotesque head reared back as it screeched. Within seconds, it tore open the sides and raised its front legs to the glass roof before collapsing on the ground. It gave another screech as it climbed to its knees.
He raised his hand, which now glowed green, and placed it gently on the creature's hind. It immediately began to calm down.
"Go to Fukuoka. Do what you were born to do." He instructed, his golden eyes glowing.
The creature scrambled to its feet and leapt towards an open gap in the glass, disappearing into smoke.
—-
"M-My name is Shinji Samoru. I was going to the convenience store to get some cigarettes."
The five of them were sitting across from the man in the lounging area of the inn. Adalaine came over, carrying a tray of tea and sweets. Shinji gratefully took a cup, his fingers trembling as he struggled to take a sip. "You see, I had just discovered my wife was cheating on me and I just…needed to get away."
Satoru nodded, urging him to continue. The man sweated profusely at the memory. "T-Then she showed up out of nowhere, she seemed so nice…offered to get me some coffee…and then…I-I offered to walk her home and that's when t-this freaky flower thing grabbed me…"
He then chuckled dryly. "F-Fortunately I'm fat." Patting his large stomach heartily, his smile slowly fell. "So it was struggling to carry me so I wiggled and fought as much as I could. At one point, it slipped its hold and I fell out. I ran as far as I could." Thick tears began streaming down his cheeks as he began sobbing in his hands. "I-I had no idea there was a thing like that."
Qian's eyes softened as she regarded his traumatized figure. Satoru leaned back on the couch, crossing his arms with a sigh. "And you have no idea why she attacked you, or what she wanted from you?"
Shinji shook his head. "No idea. I had no money on me, just a couple of bills in my pockets. My phone is old and practically broken."
Satoru frowned. "Alright well- good thing we found you in time."
"B-But how did you find me!? Or better yet- what was that thing?! Who was she?!" The man slammed his hands on the table frantically. "Is she gonna come back for me again!? What do I do if she does?! Oh! you guys have to help me-"
Satoru glanced at Adalaine, who nodded her head. She subtly went around the man's seat and placed her fingers gently on each side of his temple.
"Purification." She chanted, and a light blue glow emitted from her fingertips, enveloping his head.
Soon, the glow disappeared and Shinji blinked dumbly, looking around his surroundings with wide, confused eyes. "U-Uh where am I?"
Adalaine gave a business smile. "You are at Le Ciel de Nippon. Would you like a cookie?"
His eyes widened like an excited puppy as he hungrily took the treat. "Why, thank you miss! How did I end up here?"
"You're a customer of course." She continued smiling as she took his arm and helped him to his feet, leading him down the hall. "Allow me to show you to your room. You've had a rough few days and came here to unwind…"
Once she was out of sight, Nobara turned towards Satoru and leaned towards him, raising her hand to whisper quietly. "Sensei, what was that?"
"Her cursed technique is used to heal people with traumatic memories, or harmed minds in general." He explained with a shrug. "Why do you think she owns this place?"
"Seriously?! That's SOOO COOL!" Yuji cried, jumping up in the air. "What a beauty, AND she's a sorcerer too?!"
"Sit down, idiot." Megumi muttered, covering his ear with his good hand. "You're too loud."
Qian blinked in awe, peering after the woman. She let out a soft, defeated sigh, chewing her lower lip as she ruminated over her own incompetence.
She was snapped out of her daze by Satoru clapping his hands together. "Alright well, now that the enemy knows we're here. I say we head back and discuss our options."