Opening Song: "Requiem" by: Jesper Kyd

The carriage bursts through the portal and emerges on the other side. Intertwined dimensions of the real world and Cainhurst's uncoil and grant us passage. The mesmerizing and strange portal disappears and leaves the carriage at the edge of the city's outskirts. Nearby is a set of elevated train tracks that soar above the blanket of trees.

I step off the carriage and pull the hammer of my revolver back. Yoma blood rushes to my eyes and washes the white out. The emerald color of my eyes drain into the black sclera while demonic red replaces the green. No hunters. No shinobi. No yoma. There aren't even any vagrants hunkering down under the shelter of the train tracks. Not one enemy in sight.

Asuka's mom hops out of the carriage with a pair of unsheathed katanas. The barrel of the revolver finds a small trench off in the distance and traces over every gap and peephole possible. A speck of snow falling into the hole causes Asuka's mom to line her fingers with shurikens, while the revolver's barrel snaps back to where we saw the movement's origin.

A pair of hands pop out from the trench, "DON'T SHOOT! IT'S ME!"

"HA! What a weenie." I laugh.

"Honey, I love you very dearly, but didn't I tell you not to make any sudden movements when we're not in the city? You nearly got a bullet, and a handful of stars." Asuka's mom runs her hand across her waist and puts the stars away.

"What!? What for!?"

"The only law out here is 'fire before fired upon.'" I twirl my revolver around.

"Wait a second, you're supposed to be half yoma, how come you couldn't detect me!?" Asuka's dad stumbles out of the hole.

"Who says I didn't?"

"Bastard."

"Such a loser." Raesetsu states from above. Her legs drop from the train track's underpinning, and she climbs down.

"Asuka? Where are you?" Her mother calls out.

A gentle gust blows over my ear and sends shivers down my spine. Yet the air isn't natural because it feels way too refined. I turn around and see Asuka standing behind me with her arms behind her back as she takes up the stereotypical cute girl cliché. My yoma senses perk up and attempt to detect her, but she remains completely invisible.

"Wow. You managed to sneak up on me of all people." I state.

"Yeah. Even I didn't detect you. What did you do?" Raesetsu asks.

Asuka puts her hands together and channels some energy. Energy from her personal scroll filters through and causes half her body to glow green. Pure power from the awakening scroll channels from the other side and touches the green with a colorless hue.

Asuka's fragrant scent vanishes along with the ability to detect her physical presence. She turns completely invisible, and moves forward. Asuka leaves no footprints behind, but her body slowly regains a faded appearance the more she moves.

"Raesetsu? Your senses are always active. Can you detect her?" I ask.

Raesestu walks within touching distance and sniffs around. "No. In fact, it's almost like she isn't here."

I walk over and reach out with an open hand. The palm of my hand grasps her left breast as my fingers clasp around and squeeze. Asuka steps away and covers her chest. The power within Asuka fluctuates for a brief moment and reveals her to me. The scrolls quickly re-masks her and she disappears again.

"Hot damn. She basically is invisible. Even to us." Raesetsu states.

"Unless you do this." I reach out and squeeze Asuka's right breast this time. She squeals, and her invisibility cloak disappears for a small moment. She backs away from me and giggles, "Stop it Alan. I can't control it with you distracting me."

"Now we know to make sure you have a clear mind when you cast this. Which means I have to make sure you can keep your mind clear." I reply.

"Hey! Hands off my daughter!" Asuka's dad yells.

"Calm down old man. It's one hundred percent consensual." I reply. "Besides, I know all about those times you and your wife snuck out behind old Man Hanzo's back."

"How are you doing that?" Asuka's mom asks.

"Being on Caligula Island gave me some time to think outside the confines of shinobi tradition. It made me question why the forbidden is forbidden."

"Asuka!" Her parents snap.

"Let me finish. I understand most people seek forbidden techniques for exploitation, but there was something that always bothered me. Why do good people resort to using these techniques? If they were truly good, then that thought would never cross their mind. It wasn't until the guards put that rope around my neck and hoisted me up that tree I understood. Personal skill and training could only get me so far, but in order to get out of that cell, I had to resort to something that went against the standards Hattori Hanzo put in place to protect us. I know that once people see me doing this, they will do anything to mimic or recreate this ability for themselves."

Asuka holds her hand up into the air and lets the energy flow from her body into her fingertips. Her presence disappears again, but this time, she isn't using any of the power granted from the awakening scroll. She leaps up into the air, and a silent gust of wind pushes her in my direction. I hold out my arms as she slowly descends like an approaching angel.

"You know, I prefer it when you're not invisible." I say as we wrap our arms around one another.

"Why is that?"

"Because it's like being approached by an angel that isn't ugly." I reply.

Asuka now has the ability to glide and mask her presence. With the aid of that awakening scroll, she can even turn invisible when standing still. Yet, I wish this is something I could have prevented. Asuka knew how to utilize stealth up to a physical and somewhat magical extent, but that was in a controlled environment where there wasn't the threat of death.

However, Asuka may not have learned this ability any other way. She said it herself that she understands why good people do forbidden things. Although it upsets me that she was hurt in the process, I am proud that she has grown. Not only as a shinobi, but as a person.

"Those are some kind words, but what is your plan?" Asuka asks.

"We're going to gather the food so I can fight Cavalier. Raesetsu? You stay here and wait. Just in case old Man Hanzo decides to return with the bombs."

"What about us?" Asuka's dad asks.

"What about you? You're home now. Get something to eat, go to the bar, bang your wife. I don't care."

"What about Gallowglass?"

"I'm pretty sure they got bigger problems on their hands." I hint.

"Let's just go home for now. We have that emergency escape if anything does happen." Asuka's mom states.

"What about Asuka? I don't want her around him."

"DAD!" Asuka yells.

"No Asuka. It's okay." I undo my armor and flash off the fresh battle scars from the conflicts with the Horsemen. "Besides, I'm pretty sure Paladin and his brothers would love to sit down and have a friendly chat by sword point about Asuka and her awakening scroll."

"What does this have to do with Asuka and her scroll!?" Asuka's dad rages.

"Honey please. Let's just go home, and I'll explain everything from there. As for you Alan, take better care of Asuka this time. DO NOT make me question your ability to protect her again. Do I make myself clear?" Asuka's mom states with controlled anger.

"Crystal." I say in a serious tone.

"Good. Let's go then."

Asuka's parents walk towards the city's entry road and wait at the bus stop. I pull my shirt down and strap the chest plate back on. Unwanted, but not uncalled for. Dear ole mom and dad are worried for their daughter and if there's one thing I've learned despite not having a nuclear family is don't let the nuclear family down. Asuka's mom does seem a bit more cheerful and supportive than that doubting Thomas husband of hers.

"Alright Asuka. Let's go." I say.

"Watch yourself out there." Raesetsu states.

I climb up the support beams of the train tracks and climb into the hollow underbelly. Asuka follows me up, and we crawl our way towards the city. I make sure there isn't anyone watching from ground level, or the nearby buildings as we smuggle ourselves into a city that wants me dead and Asuka in chains.

Gallowglass will be here for certain, but hopefully they will be investigating what happened to Hanzo Academy. Since Mr. K and Katsu are currently in the hospital, there will definitely be Gallowglass members there. Hanzo Academy is on one side of the city, the main hospital is on the other, and we're entering from the old part of town that has a series of parks. With most of the Hanzo girls missing, the town patrol will be scattered thin.

"Asuka?"

"Yes Alan?"

"If something happens, I'm going to hold up my hands and cast a spell. The moment that magic leaves my fingers, I want you to cast your invisibility spell and get to safety. We'll meet up with Raesetsu and figure out another course of action."

"Got it, but I'm counting on you to keep us out of trouble. Even though that's difficult for you." Asuka giggles.

"Hey, trouble comes looking for me." I reply as I think about the upcoming battle.

I really want to go see Mr. K and Katsu before going on to fight Cavalier, but should I? No. It would draw unnecessary attention. Not to mention that Asuka has no knowledge of what has happened. How do I tell her about Mr. K and Katsu being in the hospital, or why they ended up there in the first place? That the school her great ancestor built is now a pile of rubble?

And that's not even the surface of the problem. What about all of Asuka's friends that have been kidnapped? I shouldn't be focused on the failure more than coming up with the solution, but it worries me that she is going to be understandably upset about my failures and inefficiencies.

"Hey Asuka?"

"Yeah?"

"I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

I ball my fist up and smack the pipe underneath me. It's time to put the big boy pants on. "I'm facing off with Cavalier because he put Mr. K and Katsu in the hospital and kidnapped the others."

Asuka freezes in place. Her mind seems to be fixated on the statement, but it has not registered yet. She shakes her head in denial and looks down at the street.

"I want to see them."

"What?"

"Take me to the hospital." Asuka replies.

"I will after we get the food."

"No. We're going now."

"Asuka, I have to get that food now."

"Then I guess this is where we part ways because I'm going to the hospital." Asuka answers as she drops to street level and slides down an alleyway. She puts her hands together and activates the spell.

There's no time to get pissed off since there's a chance my cover might been blown. The scolding can wait for now. I continue forward and stay on high alert. Nobody is coming, but that doesn't mean nobody is watching. Thoughts and considerations bombard me as the original plan drastically changes. Get the bombs, grab the food, then get out of town.

The train tracks condense and lead back to the train station. Several blocks away from Old Man Hanzo's shop. It got me this far at least. I climb down the shielded maintenance ladder and ram my thumb into the keyhole of a padlock and yank. Tumblers and shards of metal fly all over the place as the chain link door opens up to a secluded alleyway. Troublemaking teens, runaway kids and common punks socialize, drink and partake in the common street practice of illegal fist fighting.

"Five thousand minimum!" The organizer shouts from atop a dumpster.

I slide in between people and gently push others out of the way, "I don't mean to put a damper on your debauchery, but I have somewhere to be."

The crowd cheer and chant as the sounds of people beating the hell out of each other grows. Up ahead are some people who encircle two men fighting. I break through the ring and walk right through the middle of the fight. The two brawlers stop what they are doing as everyone looks at me with anger. The rage quickly dissolves into fear as everyone stops what they are doing and backs away from me.

I press the barrel of my revolver to the head of the nerdy looking fighter, "You're going to help me do a little grocery shopping. Succeed, and I'll make sure you are compensated. Deny, and everyone here is going to learn the real definition of a street hustle."

"Yes sir." The man states as he wipes the blood from his busted lip and stands up with raised hands.

I pull out the last of my money from my satchel and hand it to the man, "forty cans of food from that grocery store. You got five minutes and don't keep me waiting."

"What exactly do you want?"

"Anything will do. Fruit, vegetables, meat. Put it in a box."

"Will this be enough?"

"I'm not paying you to ask questions. Now get."

"Fine. Fine!" The young man puts his shirt and glasses back on and enters the grocery store.

I ease back into the dubious crowd and lean up against the wall with my revolver over my shoulder, "I won't tell if you don't. Now get to betting."

The anxious crowd refocuses on the scared callouts of the organizer. Everyone returns to their underworldly behaviors as I watch the entrance of the store. It probably wasn't the best idea to send someone who looks like they were in a fight to do my shopping, but in reality, nobody here was fit. However, threatening a want to be delinquent is easier on the conscious rather than some random pedestrian who's never done anything wrong.

Maybe it was a good thing Asuka went to the hospital. Otherwise, she would have to be part of this. The crowd here noticed who I was, but worse, they know what I've done and what I'm wanted for. Yet it worked out for what's best. With them being on the wrong side of society, they knew that I spent my early years terrorizing the wasteland.

Yet the idea she ran off hurts. It's understandable why. She's worried about Mr. K and Katsu. She's scared. I can't really be all that mad considering that I deserved this for not beating Paladin or stopping Cavalier, but Asuka should have at least waited before casting a spell. Even if it hides her presence completely, I can't. Relatable, but it isn't going to save her from a rant later.

The young man walks out of the store with a box and makes his way over to me. He sits it down and I double check to make sure there is forty cans. I point the gun back at the guy.

"Pick it up and follow me."

"Ah come on!"

"This whole box right here didn't even cost six thousand yen, and you know how much I gave you."

"Do I get to keep the change?"

"If you shut up and get to work."

"Where to?"

"Main street."

The man sighs and picks the box back up. I keep my revolver underneath the flap of my duster and stick close to him. He should provide me enough cover to get to Old Man Hanzo's shop.

"You know, the rumors are true. You're just as big of a dick as you are ruthless." The guy states.

"So I've heard."

"What are you planning on doing with this food?"

"The same reason you were participating in an illegal bare-knuckle brawl. Trying to survive."

"Fair enough. Is it true that Asuka Hanzo is your girlfriend?"

"Girlfriends are a shinobi term. Us hunters call them brides."

"So you're married?"

"You could say that."

"So are those rumors true? About how you hunted down and killed your old gang?"

"Every last one of them."

"Were you offered some kind of deal if you did?" The man asks.

"I had no intentions of killing them unless we crossed paths. It wasn't until the people I used to call family murdered a real family."

"Really?"
"Killed a set of parents and seriously maimed the daughter. Just because they were shinobi."

"That's it?"

"That's the world we live in, and there's no changing it."

The man falls into silence and probably contemplates on what the meaning of life really is. If there is even a point. The fact he was out here fighting a roided out gorilla for money leads me to believe he's having some kind of issue at home.

I put my revolver away as we come out of the shady and questionable part of town. The kid comes to a stop at the corner of an intersection and examines the street post.

"We're almost there."

I reach over and take the box of food off his shoulder, "You've done enough. Take that money and go home."

"Do you realize how much money is left?" The boy runs his thumbs through the stack of bills.

"Get back in school, pay off a mountain of bills, get your loved one some medical treatment. I don't know your situation, and I don't care, but whatever the problem is, don't ever go back to that part of town ever again. Lest you want to end up like me. Constantly on the run and always hiding."

"But how do I explain to my parents where I got this money?"

"Financial aid, your family qualified for full medical coverage, the insurance pulled through. Who says they have to know?" I reply.

The boy clinches the wad of bills with a tight grip and gives a humble bow. A gesture that I've rarely received throughout life. The boy runs down the street and disappears around the corner. With him gone, it's onto Old Man Hanzo's shop. I ease through the passing crowds of people and cross the street.

It would probably be safer to use the carriage to traverse the city, but the issue is it's not clear on when the passenger becomes visible to this world. There's probably some kind of catch where nobody can see you, and you come into the world at the perfect opportunity. Since the driver can't talk, it would be unfortunate to cross over when nobody is looking but be surrounded by a huge patrol of Gallowglass members.

Even with the perfect time to cross over, they would see me immediately after reality stops being bent. If they were just regular mercenaries, that would be okay, but it would attract a lot of unwanted attention. However, every group is led by either Ange or one of her elite cores, and that is a recipe for disaster.

I use the back alleyways and avoid the main road that runs in front of Old Man Hanzo's shop. Since the place may still be under surveillance, it wouldn't be a good idea to stick around for long. I make my way through a plot of open land behind Hanzo's shop and ease up to the patio.

Locks and latches on the door rattle from being unlocked. Old Man Hanzo bursts out of the building and hands me a sack. "Where is Asuka?"

"We split because she wanted to check on Mr. K and Katsu." I reply.

"Have you gone yet?"

"After Cavalier is dealt with. Where to?"

"Take me by the hospital."

"Is it safe?"

"Gallowglass is tied up with an investigation regarding my school, and the disappearance of the other girls. Patrols are out, but they aren't too concerned with us for the time being."

"Won't they be turning to Katsu and Mr. K for eye witness reports?" I ask as I sprout my wings.

"The one in charge of that happens to be the one that was there the night that incident happened." Old Man Hanzo replies as he grabs hold of my dead wings.

"That Sebastian guy? Why would he be assigned to that since he was there?"

"I don't know. I don't think he would do anything, but I want to stop by and make sure Asuka is okay." Old Man Hanzo answers.
"Rutur and Daemogina are watching the hospital from a distance as well so she should be safe."

I launch myself up into the air. Old Man Hanzo lets out an excited shrill like someone on a roller coaster. I coast up to the tip of the sky and stick close to the dark clouds to keep me from casting a shadow down below.

"So, I want to hear your side. What happened that night?"

"To Hanzo Academy? The man I'm about to go fight is the one that burned it down and kidnapped the girls." I answer.

"Do you think you can do it?"

"I'll have to be smart about it, but yes."

"You asked for three bombs. I made you four. Two smoke labeled white, and the other two being black for explosive."

"What for?"

"When the time comes, you'll know." Old Man Hanzo states.

I descend towards the rooftop of the hospital and slow down.

"Now get out there and win!" Old Man Hanzo lets go and freefalls towards the helicopter pad.

"Wait! We're still forty feet away!" I try and stop him.

Old Man Hanzo puts his hands together and summons a small amount of magic that is almost impossible to detect. The bottom of his shoes glow as he lands feet first. He throws his hands up like a gymnast and prances around with a proud attitude. Despite the huge fall, he shows no damage. Nor does he limp around like he's hurt.

"Showoff." I laugh.

Old Man Hanzo scales down the side of the building and makes his way into the hospital through a window. I regain altitude and point myself in the direction of where Raesetsu is. So Gallowglass is preoccupied with what happened at Hanzo Academy? Which means Asuka and I did all that sneaking around for nothing. The cost of caution but having time wasted is better than provoking any unnecessary fighting.

I glide over the city walls and descend towards the ground. Raesetsu is sitting at the base of a tree. Broken bark, and stripped stems lay all around her. She runs her thumb across the grain of a trimmed tree limb and wood shavings fall to the ground. A red knife-like object takes the place of her finger nail as she widdles away at the untreated wood.

I drop the box of food on the ground and unpack. Cataphract didn't say this had to be done in a specific manner. Just that only twelve days' worth of food had to be sacrificed. I build four circle shaped foundations before stacking the left-over cans upon one another. Each representing the four horsemen.

Mana channels into my palms and filters into pure fire magic. Flames emerge and splatter against the metal cans. The plastic labels bubble up and burn as the tin superheats to the point it melts. A huge gust of wind swoops in and angers the fire. I step back and let it burn.

A series of magic lines connect to one another. The metal and plastic fuse together and form a huge puddle of slag that slowly oozes outside the circle. Different types of food meld together and turn to ash. The wind sweeps up the ash and assembles it into a charred gateway.

"Do you need me to come with you?" Raesetsu asks.

"No. I want you to stay here and watch the gate's entrance. Just in case someone or something tries to follow me in."

"Alright, and hey, you got this." Raesetsu says as she pats my shoulder.

"Yeah."

"Before you go. Take this."

Raesetsu hands me a wooden charm. It's shaped like some kind of emblem, but it isn't completely finished yet. It's shaped like a three, but it has some kind of tail. The top of it is still just a hunk of wood that hasn't been chiseled away yet.

"For good luck. And because I need you to come back so I can finish it."

"Thanks."

Raesetsu steps back as I clench my fists and step into the infinite blackness of the ash gate. Either I beat Cavalier, or I don't come back at all…

Ending Song: "Yamiyo wa Otome wo Hana ni Suru" BGM version by Ruka Kawada