-Yumi-

Immediately Noriko was standing by the blonde's side clearing for Haruka the way to the waiting Helicopter that they had prepared for emergencies. Meanwhile Shinobu had come to Yumi's side and Yumi was about to brace herself to go onto the stage to take the blonde's spot when she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder.

"Ka.." the rest of the name did not cross her lips as she noticed that it was her grandfather and not her husband who was holding her back.

"Go and make sure they arrive safely. You haven't drunk yet and I know you don't need to. I take care of the rest." Hiroto said calmly before he stepped onto the stage.

Yumi didn't need to be told twice and caught up with Haruka who was carrying Michiru into the Helicopter.

"I fly." Yumi told the waiting Pilot who immediately made space for her, while Shinobu got onto the co-pilot seat.

The take-off was smooth and as Tokyo shrunk underneath them Yumi wondered where Katashi was. He had been sticking to her the past weeks like unwanted gum to a shoe and yet, when she counted on his presence, he was nowhere to be found.

That irritated her and she blamed herself for not double checking all protocols that didn't involve her directly.

As they approached Tenoh Tower, she noticed that the Professor was already waiting on the roof, heavily guarded by robots.

The moment Michiru was put onto the stretcher, the professor gave her an injection and they took the elevator down to the vault.

It was eerily quiet and cramped in the elevator until Yuuko broke the silence after she had finished examining the violinist.

"I will have to run a few panels, I cannot make any promises, but she seems be stable." Yuuko reported.

"The boys?" the blonde asked.

"Safe. At least as far as I can tell." Yuuko replied. "Yaten seems to have his hands full and we lost contact to Taiki, but his chip is still on the premise."

They arrived on the vault floor and a row of robots made way for them to be greeted by Mizuno-sensei.

"You do what you need to do and I'll make sure that Yuuko stays focused on what she needs to do." Mizuno-sensei instructed them before they disappeared in the inner perimeters of the vault.

Haruka stood there for a moment, lost, as they watched the doctors disappear with Michiru in the inner sanctuary and Yumi knew if she didn't snap the blonde out of this, they might all end up in more danger.

"Tenoh, no time to lose." Yumi called out and the momentary anguish in Haruka's eyes made way for fury.

The blonde pulled off the beard that she was donning and went to one of the smooth walls. With a scan of her palm, she revealed a hidden arsenal in which she started to reach.

"You two stay here with Yumi, I take care of the rest. If you need anything, call Yaten." The blonde handed them communicators.

"What about this?" Yumi pointed at the remanence of the beard on the floor.

"My enemies should see my true face before they head to Hades." Haruka growled before she armed herself and was off through another hidden door.

The cold and calculating bloodlust in Haruka's eyes and the anger in her voice only covered up a deep-seated despair that she hadn't seen a long time in the blonde.

As Yumi watched Haruka disappear into the darkness, an unease overcame her that she couldn't shake.


-Yaten-

He had lost communication with Taiki, but he knew that Taiki was still on the premise, at least that is what the system showed him. Not soon after Taiki was gone, Kakyuu was called into the vault by Mizuno-sensei and now Haruka had returned and he had lost another 30% of energy that he needed to keep operating all robots at once because the vault was drawing in insane amount of electricity suddenly. With a reduced force, it was hard to keep their enemies at bay and a robot without charge, was just an expensive piece of metal that could be used as an obstacle at best or was a blockage for their own reinforcements at worst. Technically he could still defend the entire tower for another three hours, four tops, but if their enemies got any more of unexpected reinforcements of their own…he didn't want to think about that at all.

"Yaten, where is the strongest group heading?" Haruka's voice came clear through the communicator.

"They are heading towards the bottom training floor." Yaten replied prompt.

"Good. Focus on the outer perimeters and cut off their reinforcement, on the flight in I saw some coming from the north east. I take care of the training floor."

"What about Taiki…" Yaten asked hesitantly.

"As long as he is in the tower, he is safe, as long as he is alive, he will do what is needed." Haruka answered. "When I give you the signal, cut all electricity on all the training floors and disrupt all communication on that floor and I mean all, mine included. I will reconnect with you manually when I get to the control centre in the training hall."

"But only few robots are charged there and how am I supposed to send you more when I don't know when and where?" Yaten objected.

"I won't need any of them. What I need is that you to put all we have into protecting the vault and yourself. If you fall, no one can protect the vault." Haruka insisted.

"Understood." Yaten sighed.


-Katashi-

"We need more help here. The devil ..." A desperate cry for help came from one of the Chiba men through the helmet that he was wearing before static hit.

Shinji and him were still battling the group right in front of them, picking off the drifters, while evading all robots at the same time. He signalled for Shinji to follow him as they made their way towards the location indicated where Haruka was most likely and he was greeted by an all too familiar battle cry in the next room.

Katashi quickly pulled Shinji aside and out of the line of fire so that they could hide behind a pillar for the storm to pass, merely glancing down onto the battle field to witness the wrath that was released every now and then.

Haruka was on the floor below him, alone, taking out several opponents at once, sparing no one.

Katashi knew better than to interfere when the blonde's rage took over as this wasn't the first time that he was witness to the purge that was happening and he knew that no good would come if he presented the blonde his recruit now, even if they could possibly help.

He looked down onto Shinji, who looked more broken than expected. The information that he had provided to Katashi had not been wrong, but in parts incomplete and Shinji was still digesting the callous treatment of his father in regards to his life as he had just found out on the battlefield itself that he was on that he was to be left to die if he had failed in his mission.

After having stowed away the Kous, they had picked some troupes off the frontline, but were nowhere near in stopping the entire attack. Merely strategically slowing it down, crippling the advancement and stopping reinforcement from joining effectively. But all in all, they knew that it was putting merely a dent into the Chiba's effort of infiltrating the tower.

He knew that that was all he could do without drawing too much attention to themselves, but it also felt frustrating to be stuck with waiting.

Eventually the sounds of combat died down.

"TENOH!" he called out when he heard the last body drop and only moans of pain emerging from one corner or the other cutting through the sudden eery silence.

"YEAH." Came the clipped response, and the two men made their way down to face the blood soaked blonde.

"Was that all?" Haruka asked calm.

"Yes." Katashi replied while passing her a handkerchief with which she wiped her face, never breaking eye contact with Shinji.

"Where are my boys?" Haruka enquired calm.

"The little one is in his fortress; the two other ones are in one of the safe rooms." Katashi reported.

"So, this is your guy…" the blonde's voice was devoid of all warmth and Katashi noticed how Shinji visibly stiffened.

"I take it that this is not what you expected. If you want to finish your family's pursuit of killing my kind, this is your chance." Haruka handed Shinji her gun.

"I have no family." Came Shinji's immediate answer as he fell onto his knees in front of them. "If you have no use for me, you might as well finish me here, too." The tall man turned the gun around as to hand it back.

Haruka and Katashi exchanged a glance and Katashi took the gun out of his hands and placed it right at Shinji's head.

"You chose him. You know his nature. He is your responsibility." The blonde said cold.

"Any last words?" Katashi asked.

"Thank you for your consideration and I am sorry for the hassle I have caused you." Shinji said, with his head hanging low.

Katashi kept looking at Haruka for her verdict and eventually she gave an approving nod.

"Fine, but you keep him. As you can see, I still have my hands full with training these guys to their full potential." Haruka sighed. "Always keep in mind, if you cross me or any of mine, it will not just be your head, it will be his, too." Haruka addressed Shinji, who finally looked up.

Shinji just nodded solemnly.

"What will happen to my … father?" Shinji eventually asked.

"Your father will answer for his sins himself." Haruka only said cryptically before Katashi helped Shinji to get onto his feet.

Haruka looked onto her watch.

"It is almost time. Take the D exit and avoid entering the river. Put him up at the Ramen store into Ryou's care. Tell him I sent you and he will give you no trouble. I expect you back as soon as possible. Your wife is here and she seems very agitated." Haruka instructed them before she sent them off while she stayed behind between the piles of bodies.

As they entered the D exit, he suddenly received a messaged on his phone.

It was a short message with words that were commonly used, just not by her, Yumi.

'Where are you.' Was all that the message read.


-Haruka-

She watched them leave, standing tall, eyes focused, but she could feel the aches already spreading in her body. It was almost midnight.

Her reinforcement should be on the way.

Just a few more minutes and the ban would be lifted for 48 hours.

As it struck midnight, it was as if the gates of hell opened and support flooded in in form of the Ainos, Kinos, Okamotos and, of course, the Yamaguchis. All lead by the one person that she could only encounter safely this time of the year.