Disclaimer: I do not own Owari no Seraph (Seraph of the End). I write this for your enjoyment only. This story is alternate version of the Shibuya/Shinjuku arc with differences from the original; please refer to the footnotes at the end. Once again, I would like to thank my beta reader, ResidentialPsycho, for her help in making this fic possible. Enjoy and please review!
Chapter 15: Fated Reunions, Part I
"Whoa this guy is heavier than he looks," Kimizuki muttered after allowing Yoichi and Yuichiro to hoist the comatose Nagai onto his back.
"Well, if he's too much for you to handle, I can carry him instead," Yuichiro offered innocently.
Though he knew she didn't mean anything by it, Kimizuki was appalled as well as embarrassed that a girl was offering to do what was expected of him as a man. Yoichi might have a free pass due to his fragile appearance, but there was no excuse for someone as strong and robust as Shiho Kimizuki to be unable to carry another soldier to safety. The last thing he wanted was to look weak in front of a girl and one who was his squad mate, no less.
"Never mind, I can handle him just fine, Miss Hyakuya," the pink-haired boy insisted with a roll of his eyes.
"Well, good," Shinoa said. "There's no time to waste; let's get going."
"Do you think there's an exit is nearby?" Yoichi asked curiously. "What if the concrete from the streets above blocked our way out?"
"Simple," Mitsuba answered as she summoned her battle ax. "If there are no exits, then we'll make one. In case you didn't know, our demon weapons can be used for other things besides killing vampires, Yoichi."
Yuichiro grinned as she palmed the hilt of her sword.
"You know, Mitsu, for once, I actually agree with you. In fact, I think we'll save more time if we make our own exit outta here instead of looking for one. I'm sure Sato and his squad would do the same if they were in our place."
Relieved that her two most difficult subordinates can at least agree on a more efficient way to escape the underground subway, Shinoa gave her approval.
"Let's do it then. The sooner we can get Mr. Nagai to a shelter for treatment, the sooner we can join Guren's and Satoshi's squad at the front."
"Way ahead of you, Shinoa," Yuichiro said as she unsheathed Asuramaru and turned to Mitsuba. "Shall we take that wall down then?" the ravenette asked as she pointed towards another wall of rubble set in the opposite direction of the one that separated them from Satoshi's squad earlier.
Mitsuba nodded. "Yes. Everybody, step back and let me and Yuu take care of this."
"Of course, Mi-chan," Shinoa said as she made a gesture for Yoichi and Kimizuki to move away from the wall that barred their exit back to the surface while she did the same.
As soon the others were far enough, Yuichiro and Mitsuba took a deep breath before raising their weapons high over their heads and shouting in unison:
"HERE WE GO!"
SSSSSS
"So how is he? Is Mr. Nagai going to be all right?" Yuichiro asked Shinoa as soon as she saw her squad leader walk out of the medical tent where they dropped their driver off earlier. Like herself, Kimizuki, Yoichi, and Mitsuba were waiting patiently outside as well.
"He'll be fine. The doctor says his injuries are very minor and he'll make a full recovery."
"Oh, good! That's very fortunate considering that he was trapped in the driver's seat of the truck after it flipped over," Mitsuba pointed out.
"Well, our timing was perfect too," Shinoa admitted. "If we had spent too much time looking for an exit instead of making one like you suggested, Mr. Nagai's injuries might have gotten worse, especially since we had to move him. Not to mention how tiring and inconvenient it would have been for Kimizuki as well."
"It's all right, Shinoa, I'm sure I would have managed," Kimizuki calmly insisted since he knew Yuichiro was listening. "In any case, we better get going. I'm sure Satoshi and his squad must have made it to the front lines by now."
"Do you think they got there ok?" Yoichi asked, concern for the other squad apparent in his voice. "I mean, they just passed their demon aptitude tests and got their cursed gears this morning. Don't you think it's a bit too soon for them to be sent to the front without more training?" *1*
"Well, we got ours just a day before they did, Yoi," Yuichiro said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Technically, we should still be in training too but like Guren says, we don't have the luxury of time with the vamps closing in on Shinjuku; the army needs as many soldiers at the defensive line as possible."
"Right," Shinoa said as she made a gesture for her squad to follow her out of the camp.
After walking for a few minutes, the squad overheard some soldiers talking rather loudly from a nearby tent.
"I told you, it's not possible!" One of them, an officer, insisted. "Our orders are to send everyone we have to the defensive line; if the vampires break through there, Shinjuku will fall!"
"But what about our troops here?" a soldier asked in exasperation as he tried to avoid grimacing in pain from an injured arm set in a cast. "If we don't help them, they'll be wiped out and so will everyone at the base, including the civilians!"
"Well, the only way I can keep you here is if the extermination unit is confirmed at the front lines, all of them! Or would you rather go and have them defend the base here?"
"But they're just kids with too little experience! And besides, weren't there supposed to be two squads sent to assist Lieutenant Colonel Ichinose at the front? I only saw one!"
Yuichiro gasped and stopped in her tracks as soon as she heard the soldier mention another squad. Without asking for her squad leader's permission, the ravenette turned and walked into the tent.
"Hey wait, did you mention you saw another squad from the MDC?"
Blinking, the injured soldier stared at Yuichiro in surprise for a moment before answering.
"Yeah, I did. Who're you?"
"We're part of the Moon Demon Company too," Shinoa answered as soon as she caught up with Yuichiro.
"Tell me about this other squad; are they led by a blue-haired guy? Were there a pair of brunette twin sisters with them?" Yuichiro pressed.
"Yeah, are you with them?"
"Never mind that, I just need you to tell me where they are."
After a moment's hesitation, the soldier finally answered.
"I saw them heading towards Shinjuku Central Park. They may still be there since we haven't received confirmation that they're with the lieutenant colonel at the front."
"All right then, we'll find them and head to the defensive line. You and your men can stay here and defend the base."
And without another word, Yuichiro stormed out of the tent to inform the rest of her squad that there's been a change of plans.
Like Shinya, Shinoa was not the kind of person to get upset easily and often allowed Yuichiro to get away with acting alone or making hasty decisions in the past. But this time, even she could not help feeling a bit infuriated that Yuichiro had finally overstepped her bounds by making a decision that went against the direct orders of her guardian and superior officer.
"Wait, Yuu! You're not thinking straight!" Shinoa protested. "Guren's orders are for us to meet his AND Satoshi's squad at the defensive line. We can't afford to waste time looking for them before that!"
Yuichiro spun around and glared at her squad leader.
"Look who's talking, Shinoa! Sato's squad should have made it to the front by now but if they're still at Shinjuku Central Park, that means they could be in trouble and we have to help them!"
Shinoa looked about to argue further but Yoichi beat her to it.
"Wait, I agree with Yuu, Shinoa. If Satoshi and his squad are having some kind of difficulty, we owe it to them to offer our assistance. After all, they did save us when we were outnumbered by the vamps at Omotesando Station."
"She's right," Kimizuki agreed. "If something happens to Hiwatari's squad, they won't be able to help us at the defensive line for sure."
"And besides, Shinjuku Central Park isn't that far from here. We can regroup with them and go to the front together. That should make things easier," Mitsuba added, secretly surprised that she found herself agreeing with Yuichiro for the second time in one day.
Realizing that she was outnumbered, Shinoa sighed and finally gave in.
"Fine, I understand. We'll help Satoshi's squad and meet with Guren after that."
Yuichiro grinned, feeling like a triumphant child in her success to sway her squad leader (with the help of her other squad mates).
"Let's go then!"
SSSSSS
"Sato, look out! Behind you!"
Before Satoshi could turn around to confront the vampire he knew was about to attack him from behind, he felt a slight breeze near his ear as Takeshi's arrow flew past his shoulder to strike his enemy first.
The blue-haired youth didn't even have time to thank his subordinate after his attacker turned to ash when he found another vampire charging at him like a raging bull with his sword drawn. If he could, Satoshi would have come to the aid of the Harada twins who were slowly being cornered by three other vampires while Daisuke had his hands full trying to keep another from getting two close to Takeshi, whose crossbow was useless at close range.
As he attempted to come up with another strategy, Satoshi heard a somewhat cruel snicker in the recesses of his mind.
"Quite a fix you got yourself and your squad into, Master Satoshi. After saving Shinoa's squad back at Omotosando, you should have known something was up when a suspicious civilian told you there was a vampire sighting at Shinjuku Central Park…"
Satoshi gritted his teeth in frustration but he knew that Krad was right; he had been naive to think that there were only one or two vampires at the park instead of the eight that surrounded his squad now.
"So what do you want from me, Krad, a medal?" He silently asked his demon bitterly, knowing full well Krad could read his thoughts. Out of all the demons Satoshi could have made a contract with, why did it have to be this one?
"Well, you've always adored swords just like that girl you pranked in seventh grade. Unfortunately that lovely gold-bladed katana in your possession comes with me and you're going to have to deal with it if you want to stay in the MDC and keep your comrades alive. In any case, I could easily help you get out of this fix you're in if…"
Satoshi narrowed his eyes at the demon's offer as he took another swing at an advancing vampire and managed to knock the creature's sword out of his hand before stabbing him in the heart.
"And that is?" Satoshi asked suspiciously as he activated the curse on his sword to send the vampire to the other side. He and Krad had been in contract for hardly a day, yet he still knew all too well what the creature was asking for.
"If you'll give me a little more control over your body, master. I used to be an adept swordsman back in my human and vampire days. I even have centuries worth of experience. Well?"
Though he loathed the idea of letting Krad have any control over his body, Satoshi knew he had little choice. Even though he had just eliminated one of the vampires who ambushed his squad, they were still outnumbered seven to five.
"Fine… but you'll have no more control over me than I allow you to, Krad. Understand?"
"Of course, master…"
No sooner did the blue-haired boy give his consent, his felt his skin tighten where the curse marks were starting to appear. The feeling wasn't painful but neither was it comfortable since allowing his demon to have more control over his body made him one step closer to becoming one himself.
But that was a risk he was just going to have to take.
As soon he was partly possessed, Satoshi moved with the speed of lightning and quickly sliced off the head of another vampire before he could run Daisuke through but as soon as he did so, the blue-haired boy felt he was losing a little more control over himself.
Such loss of control came as no surprise to Satoshi since he had been warned by Major General Hiragi before taking the demon aptitude test, the most important lesson being never to trust any demon, at least not completely.
Especially a demon like Kuraddo Hikari, Krad for short- even among demons, the bastard radiated malice inside and out.
Daisuke was the first to notice Satoshi's sudden display of power and the reason behind it. Unlike his squad leader, the red-haired boy was lucky enough to be contracted to Krad's easy-going rival and polar opposite. Not wanting Satoshi to put all the burden of protecting the squad on his shoulders, Daisuke called for his own demon to assist them.
"Daaku Maushī, lend me your power!" *2*
In response, the red-haired boy heard a light-hearted chuckle in his mind as the demon bound to his whip answered his call.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Dai? Just call me Dark! Makes things so much simpler! "
Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Never mind that, Dark. I need your help; I don't want Satoshi depending too much on Krad to protect us or he'll get completely possessed!"
"Hmm, is that so? Well, considering how nasty my nemesis can be, we can't let him have a human body, now can we? Very well, Dai, I'll lend you my power, but I have to warn you that it still requires me to possess you, at least partly. And it isn't the most comfortable feeling… "
Daisuke closed his eyes and tightened his grip on his whip's handle. He knew all demons would completely take over their master's body if they got the chance and even Dark was no exception. But out of fondness for his new master, the Phantom Thief, as he had been known in life, had promised not to do so as long as Daisuke kept things interesting for him.
"I understand, Dark. I'm also doing this so that Takeshi and the girls won't have to call for their demons too."
"Ok, here we go!"
As soon as Daisuke gave Dark his consent, he too, felt a surge of power flow through his body. Trying his best to ignore the sting of the curse marks on his skin, Daisuke drew back his whip and sent it flying towards a vampire who was starting to get too close to Takeshi.
With Dark's power, Daisuke's whip extended three times its normal length and coiled itself around the advancing vampire's neck before he pulled it back and tore the creature's head off.
Two down, six to go. We're still outnumbered! Daisuke thought frantically as she shot a glance in Satoshi's direction. And from the look of things, his squad leader was no doubt struggling to contain his demon while attempting to draw the attention of the vampires surrounding the Harada sisters.
If he could, Takeshi would have rushed to their aid immediately but as soon as Daisuke destroyed the vampire that almost came within striking distance of him, another one quickly took its place, barring him from firing his crossbow at the vampires advancing on Risa and Riku.
Sharing their concern for the Harada sisters, Takeshi was about to follow Satoshi's and Daisuke's lead and call for his own demon when he suddenly saw an arrow that was not from his own crossbow fly through the air and struck a vampire that was about to cut Riku down in the back of his head. As soon as she saw the advantage it provided, the brunette girl rushed in and stabbed the creature between his eyes with one of her sai and through the heart with the other before it finally turned to ash.
Now that the vampires' numbers were reduced yet again, the fight became more even, especially with the aid of their new allies.
"It's Shinoa's squad! They've come to help us!" Risa cried in relief as she used her fans to ward off another vampire's advances.
"Talk about luck!" Takeshi exclaimed as he took aim at the vampire whose back was turned to him because he was focused on Risa.
As soon as he heard that Shinoa's squad had arrived to assist them, Satoshi seized the chance to force Krad to release his hold, which was getting stronger by the minute, on him.
"That's enough, Krad! Your assistance is no longer required!"
The demon snickered. "As you wish, Master Satoshi. But keep in mind that sooner or later, you will eventually have need of my power again…"
"Hopefully not for a while…"
"We'll see…" the demon mocked in a sing-song tone as he finally submitted to Satoshi and the curse marks on the blue-haired boy's skin vanished, leaving him to fight on his own again.
Daisuke breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his squad leader was out of immediate danger from his demon and Dark sensed it too.
"It looks like today is your lucky day, Dai! How fortunate for you that your allies from Shinoa's squad have come to assist you! It looks like you won't be needing my help anymore, at least for now. Until next time…"
The red-haired boy smiled as he felt the curse marks vanishing from his skin.
"Yes…thank you, Dark. I'll call for you again when I need you."
"You're welcome, Daisuke Niwa… Good luck!"
"Daisuke, are you all right?" Yoichi asked without lowering his bow. Since they were not out of danger yet, the brunet boy kept his bowstring drawn so that he would be ready to fire at a moment's notice.
"I'm fine!" Daisuke insisted. Now that you and your squad are here, I don't have to rely on my demon's power anymore!"
"Don't start celebrating just yet!" Kimizuki exclaimed as he jumped behind the red-haired boy and used one of his swords to deflect an arrow from a vampire archer before it could hit him in the back.
"Sorry!" Daisuke apologized. "I'll be ok, just help Takeshi and the twins!"
"Shinoa and Mitsuba are already on it," Yuichiro said after decapitating another vampire just as he was turning his sights on Takeshi.
As promised, Daisuke looked over Yuichiro's shoulder and saw Shinoa and Mistuba assisting the Harada twins in fending off the vampires who tried to corner them. As soon as there was enough distance between them, Risa threw her fans at the last two vampires to slice off their sword hands before Riku, Shinoa, and Mitsuba finally destroyed them as well.
Once the battle was over, both squads lowered their weapons and Satoshi spoke first.
"Yuichiro! Shinoa! How did you guys know we were here?"
"Well, lucky for you, Yuichiro overheard some soldiers back at the medical base where we dropped off Nagai mention that your squad has not been confirmed at the front yet. So she figured that you were still at Central Park," Shinoa answered after putting her scythe away.
"I thought you might be in trouble if you were still here and it looks like I was right," Yuichiro said coolly as she sheathed her sword again.
"Yuu often acts as if she were the squad leader instead of Shinoa. I hate people who do that. But at least this time, I'm glad she did," Mitsuba confessed.
Risa and Riku had to stifle a laugh at the blonde girl's remark.
"Well, regardless of the reason, I'm glad Miss Hyakuya followed her instincts; we were in a tight spot before your squad came along," Risa confirmed.
"Right," her sister agreed. "I guess that makes us even now."
Satoshi cleared his throat. "Not that I'm ungrateful for your help, but shouldn't your squad be at the front lines with the lieutenant colonel by now?" he asked.
"Technically, yes," Shinoa answered as she shot a quick glance at Yuu. "But Miss Hyakuya insisted on coming here first to see if your squad needed help. Guren will probably chew us out for being late but I supposed it can't be helped."
"It's all right, Shinoa. I may not like getting lectured by Guren but I'd hate losing comrades even more. Speaking of which, we should probably be heading to the front lines now," Yuichiro pointed out.
"I guess that's one thing we can all agree on," Satoshi said. "Let's get going then. And thank you for coming to help us."
"No problem, Sato. It's the least we can do after what you did for us back at Omotesando."
"Heh, you're right. So does that mean you'll finally let me off the hook for that skirt pulling prank back in seventh grade?"
Yuichiro scowled when she heard their squad mates snicker at the blue-haired boy's light-hearted joke.
"Since when did I ever said that?"
Footnotes:
1. In canon, newly ordained MDC members would likely a training period before being sent to the front but I surmised that both Satoshi's and Shinoa's squads would not have the luxury of time for more training with the vampires closing in on Shinjuku. In real-life wars, such as WWII and the Vietnam War, soldiers have often been sent to the front with very little time to train beforehand because of necessity.
2. In the anime/manga series, DN Angel, Daaku Maushī, better known as Phantom Dark, is one half of the The Black Wings artwork along with his arch-nemesis and other side, Krad. Dark seems to have a large reputation as a thief, as a large police force showed up to try and capture him after his 40-year slumber. He lives inside his tamer, Daisuke Niwa and unlike Krad, who cares nothing for Satoshi, Dark shows concern for Daisuke's safety and well-being. In my AU, Dark is Daisuke's demon contractor.
