The second night isn't over for everyone. These next two chapter mark some important developments in this story's...conflict? Yeah, let's go with that.
Vanessa spent all day pacing back and forth in her miniscule motel room with Lin's unconscious body lying down completely motionless for about eight hours now. What made it all worse was how, in a complete panic attack, the freelancer lied to Heidern about who knocked on her door, coming up with the story of a disgruntled employee complaining on how badly she parked her car. What the hell was she thinking jeopardizing her career, her entire life, for a wanted assassin like Lin. She tried to be rational, convincing herself that she needed to hear what Lin wanted first, but he's been out of it for the whole day, one would assume that man is as good as dead-
"Ugh...I feel...broken."
Vanessa skipped an heartbeat when the Hizoku suddenly talked, or at least struggled to. She was tempted to reach for her gun, but decided against it, she needed to pull out from the Hizoku what in the world he wanted.
"Rise and shine, princess. You sure took your time." Vanessa sarcastically greeted.
"This must've been the longest healing cycle of my life. I'm sure it's been a pretty hectic day for you."
"Yeah, you bet it's been hectic. You barge in unannounced, collapse in my room and just...freak me out. I've been forced to make lunch and next to a possible corpse. Don't I deserve a little credit?"
"Of course you do. But I didn't almost die to come here for useless pleasantries."
"I sure hope so. So what do you want from me of all people? You didn't killed me on the spot so...?"
"It's about the other Devas. They reduced me like this."
"The other head honchos of the Hizoku? Sorry to hear that, but I don't see how I come in-"
"But they would NEVER..." Lin's sudden scream genuinely managed to frighten her. "...never do that willingly. They've been tricked by that monster, Ron. They prattled on with this nonsense about protecting the "New Hizoku" from extinction...despite their so-called master being the one who razed our village and slaughtered our clan. They must've been brainwashed somehow because otherwise I can't fathom h-how..." Lin couldn't continue, the sting of betrayal that was still warm in his chest wouldn't let him.
"I'll ask you again. How do I fit in all this?"
"To put it simply...I need your help to save them."
Oh no. No no no no no, no times infinity. That's none of my business!"
"Please Vanessa-Gah!" Lin felt the stitches burn like hellfire as he stood up from the couch. "Let me explain properly-"
"No, you can't waltz in here, drag me into your problems and expect me to take it in stride. I'm not gonna add your murderer friends to my schedule, which from what you just told me, they tried to kill you too."
"Tch, if I had a nickel...the Hizoku is so much more than that."
"Okay, even disregarding your "particular lifestyle", I've got my hands full with the MIST Directive's case."
"Of course I'm not asking you to help me with nothing in return. I can be your key witness and ally when it's time to face Ron-"
"No, I-i just can't. I put my family in danger enough as it is with my work. I can't afford to add more. Why do you need me for all this? You fought against Igniz and won, certainly you don't need the help of a run-of-the-mill housewife."
Lin realized that all the pleads in the world wouldn't have made a difference. If only he could convice her of just how much this absurd situation weighs on his soul...
"Okay, you want the truth?" Lin's voice suddenly turned melancholic, almost sincere, ditching the imposing tone he used until now. "I'm terrified...terror is something that as an Hizoku I was practically forced to coexist with, but this is different...a visceral kind of terror. The feeling that something catastrophic is about to happen and I don't even know what it is. I saw my companions morphed into people they are not, twisted by that madman's words, charisma, or something else entirely. You only see them as heartless assassins, but I remember the days when we sat fishing by the side of our village's river for hours on end, the bonfires between our missions, the secrets, the fears...and the dreams we shared."
"...Why are you telling me all this?"
"Becuase while you can hate us for doing what we were born to do or for the crimes they've commited now, I know there's still a shred of humanity in them. You wouldn't give up on the people you hold dear, would you?"
Now this was a surreal situation. An Hizoku with a moral fiber? How is she supposed to respond to that?
"Lin, I don't doubt you still care about the Devas, but I can't take more risks than I'm already dealing with-"
"Ron was there that night." Lin blurted out, as a display of genuine trust for the first time in his life.
"Excuse me?"
"When Chat and the others offered me a place in the new Hizoku, Ron was there with them, said he wanted to see his "old friend". And trust me when I say...he's becoming just as monstrous on the outside than he is on the inside." True anguish could be felt by Lin in that room. "There was a time when I trusted him with my life, but no longer. I will send him to the Styx, even at the cost of sharing the journey with him. Do you understand now? I may be an Hizoku, but that doesn't make me any less vulnerable than anyone else can be. So please...I'm all but begging you. From a human being to another.
Vanessa was nothing short of stunned. She could deduce Lin was utterly hopeless and that it was the first time he opened up to someone outside of his clan. Luckily, the more altruistic side of her prevailed, but the agent still needed to cover it up as simple pragmatism.
"Let's make something clear. This is a deal where both parts do the busywork. As busted as you are, I expect you to help me with my migraines too." Vanessa declared.
"Of course. I've always been a man of my word." The two sealed it with the firmest handshake their tired bodies could afford.
"So...got a plan of action?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." The Hizoku responded, while putting his bandaged hand on his chin. "Ron and Misty want to play a faction war? Then we need a faction of our own. Do you know anyone willing to help?"
"Sounds like we're already out of luck, becuase my "companions" are busy with operations of their own." Vanessa explained, dejected.
"I think Xiao Lon could lend us her aid." Lin proposed.
"Another buddy of your clan, I presume. What makes you think she will help us?"
"While her status as a bastard child still doesn't sit well with me, I took care of her and fed her out of a sense of basic decency. She will certainly come to Los Angeles to see her brother fight. You must search for her at the stadium during the first day of New Horizon. But for now-"
"Gotcha, looks like another long day is ahead of us, so if you don't mind..."
"Wait! Where do you think you are going?"
"To bed, where else?"
"But there's still so much to prepare for, we have to consider so many scenarios-"
"What you have to consider is that I don't have your fancy regenerative skills or whatever the fuck it is. I need my beauty sleep if I don't wanna fall over the next day."
"Can you at least help me barricade door and windows?"
"Ugh, fiiiiiiiine. I guess we need the extra protection."
As Vanessa started looking around to look for anything to block the door, she wondered...is she being too soft-hearted in this situation? Heidern sure as hell wouldn't be too happy about hiding a wanted man and lying shamelessly to a superior officer. She could risk her entire career and livelihood over helping a stranger and a murderous one at that. Then again, sometimes doing the right thing doesn't lead to the most logical paths.
NEXT TIME: Jyazu and Silber reach the meeting point with the new Hizoku and things escalate pretty quickly.
