Opening Song: "Holy Diver" by: Dio/Killswitch Engaged
I peek over my shoulder and check the trees and rooftops. As of now, Gekko and Senko are nowhere to be found. Ayame looks around and motions that we are clear. The lake is directly behind the Archives, and a long structure that looks like a pier stretches over the gate and hovers above the middle of the water.
"Alan, take me off your belt and hold me up!" Gehrman says.
I unhook him and hold his koukla up, "Ah, yes. If this is anything like Byrgenwerth, then I might know where Miss Fubuki hid what you are seeking." Gehrman states.
"Speaking of Byrgenwerth, were you a teacher there?" Ayame asks as I reattach him to my belt.
"I didn't have a classroom there, but I trained people out in the fields."
"Like what Mr. K does with us in the woods?"
"Kind of like that. The main job I had at Byrgenwerth was accepting hunts. The headmasters told me what they wanted, I went and got it, and I walked away a rich man every time."
"What was the last job you had?" Ayame questions.
"I was the Queen's instructor. I taught her everything she knows."
"Did she ever mention anything about why Kagura sealed her?" I ask.
"No. In fact, she was very reserved about the subject until her seal was about to expire. I think it had something to do with her return to kill a beast called Shen, but because Kagura was afraid the Queen might succeed, she sealed her away. I think it's just a matter of pride. Both of them want the glory of killing Shen, and they are willing to poke and gouge at one another until they succeed."
"As long as Shen dies, I don't give a fuck who kills that piece of shit." I reply.
Ayame looks confused at the conversation. It's like she has no idea that gods bicker back and forth over stupid stuff much like humans do. If it weren't for the constant threats of genocide against the shinobi, someone would probably think M's problem with Kagura rivals something from a slice of life manga, and I'm the poor bastard that's caught in between a harem he never wanted.
"So Gehrman, who is Shen?"
"He's the current ruler of the Fracture. The home of the beasts." He answers Ayame. "The very thing that's been terrorizing humanity and hindering Kagura since the beginning of time according to the Queen. Rumors have it that he's immortal because he's the only beast lord that's survived since his reign."
"Immortal?" Ayame shutters.
"The boasting of a god. Typical dickhead behavior." I state.
Gehrman lets out a small chuckle that's followed by a small, raspy cough, "You sound like the Queen."
"If it bleeds, it can be killed."
"Aye, that's what the Queen believes. She claims to know the secret to his immortality. Of course, her boasting is probably another reason Kagura sealed her away in the Hunter's Dream on top of needing time to gain the strength required to compete with the Queen."
"Wow… Someone that's potentially stronger than Kagura. That's something that would have never crossed my mind." Ayame says.
"Well the poor lass had to survive the worst horrors the city of Yharnam had. Anyone who could survive that madhouse on top of the sprawling, cursed dungeons below truly is a force to be reckoned with."
The well Ryoki was talking about sits a couple feet away from the lake. Grey and red stone stacked on top of one another and held together with what appears to be some kind of grainy plaster rests behind a giant tree. Due to its positioning, the well would be impossible to see from the academy. Not only that, but it truly could conceal someone climbing in or out.
Ayame pulls her map out and looks towards the woods. Two symmetrical lines cut into the snow and have been dusted with the white powder from above to try and cover the deep ravines. Little lines that crisscross one another weave back and forth within the treads. There's no doubt. Someone transported something here. They must have done it when it was snowing in hopes of covering their tracks, but it didn't snow hard enough.
"Hey Alan! Look!" Ayame says.
I take hold of the map and look it over. Ayame points directly behind the academy and traces her fingers along a railroad that runs directly behind Gessen. About a mile (1.6 kilometers) away sits a private train station that isn't owned by Gessen. However, that doesn't dismiss Yumi as a suspect yet.
I study the direction the rail road runs and attempt to put two and two together. There is a possibility this isn't the one Fubuki used the other night, but it's hard to prove it isn't. A private train station sporting a private train located directly behind Gessen? There's no way Oliveria's weapons and stone can't be here.
"Okay Ayame. I'll head down first and let you know if it's clear." I say as I drop a rock into the dark well and count. Three, four… The stone plinks the wet bottom and skips a couple times. There isn't any standing water at the bottom, and it's around a forty foot (12 meters) deep.
"Sure thing Alan."
Ayame summons a grappling hook with a beginner spell and ties it around a nearby tree. I take the rope and vigorously yank on it to make sure it's secure. Ayame signals that it's good. I climb down the well, and my shoes touch the bottom. Massive drops of water drip down from the ceiling and force the puddles that stand below to ripple. A few dim lanterns cast a silhouette of weak light that bounces off the black ground below.
The temperature is significantly lower and my legs start to really feel the icy teeth of the cold. Damn you Murasame! The least you could have done was get me a pair of stockings that were actually insulated!
The lake above the passage sounds like a raging torrent of unending waves that attempt to overcome one another. As I listen closer, it sounds like something breathing in and exhaling as if it were asleep.
"Okay Ayame! It's clear!"
The rope whips back and forth, and Ayame slowly descends into the formless color of black. At the other end, I see a ladder that leads up. Ayame squeals as her feet finally touch the bottom. She wraps her arms around herself and attempts to try and retain some body heat.
"It's so cold down here!" Ayame chatters as a huge puff of fog exits her mouth.
"Race you to the other end." I say.
Ayame and I take off and try to get to the other side before we freeze our asses off. These little thin skirts and stockings are useless. I have to give it to the girls though, they are certainly tough when it comes to winter. Wearing skirts scantily clad clothing. I can barely stay warm with my insulated armor.
Ayame's steps begin to slow down into a causal walk. She leans over and rests up against the wet wall.
"Alan… There's something strange going on here… I don't know how to explain it…"
"Are you sick?"
"No. I just, feel... weird. Like I lost a ton of energy for no reason."
Then that must mean the stone is here for sure! We are almost home free! Although I feel bad this is happening to Ayame, at least we know that the trip here hasn't been for nothing. I won't make her push on if she can't.
"Do you think you can climb the ladder?"
"I don't think so…"
"Okay. You sit tight. I know for a fact what we are looking for is just right above us. Once I find it, I'll carry you out and we'll be home free."
Ayame smiles and gives me a thumbs up as she slowly slumps down and sits on the ground. I grab the ladder rung and start climbing. The trap door above has been left open. That means I'm going to have to be quick.
The inside of the building looks like a library. Old shelves with years upon years of dust coating the top of the books rest up against the walls while a spiral shaped set of stairs sit in the middle of the building. Multiple candelabras cry white wax and give off an eerie lighting effect that force the shadows of everything to dance on all over the floor and walls.
"Okay boy. Whatever you are searching for is close. I can feel it myself." I hold Gehrman's koukla out and let him get a feel of the building. The chiseled tooth starts to lean to the right strongly like he's wanting me to head upstairs. I reach over and grab a candelabra as he guides me around.
"Hmm…There's a draft of power. Take us up."
The second floor has no light, but Gehrman is pulling hard to the left now. There's a door leading into the room Gehrman wants to go in. I ward off the blanket of dark with the light and head inside. Gehrman is shaking with anticipation, and he rips back to the right. The more I walk, the more his koukla trembles.
"Here it is!" Gehrman states as he tries to rip his way out of my hand and fall.
A dark violet colored blanket covers a long, rectangular shaped box. I put the candelabra down and yank the blanket off. Underneath sits a wooden chest with a heavy-duty brass lock. Nothing a little Hellwalker ingenuity can't fix. I grab the chest with my hands and wedge my fingers in between the crevice.
"Nice and easy."
The lock flexes the board it's holding shut. The chest finally gives, and the wood snaps in half as the lock bounces across the wooden floor with a metallic ping. The top half of the chest splits off the top and slams backwards.
"Nice and easy huh?" Gehrman sneers.
"I got the damn thing open. That's all that matters." I reply as I look inside.
It doesn't take much for me to see why Gehrman was wigging out earlier. Not only is the stone here, but there's also a couple flintlock pistols, quicksilver bullets, wadding, a yoma horn of hellshot powder, some black leather holsters and a sword. Setting off to the side is a massive looking hammer. There's also a bizarre looking spear with a unique design.
So, this is it. The evidence needed to clear Asuka's name. I reckon Oliveria won't mind if I hold on to the hammer, the spear, and the guns as long as she gets that stone. If she makes a big deal about it, I'll return them no questions asked.
I throw all the holsters on, store the ammo components and stick the guns inside. One holster however, is built more like a sheathe. It's got a wide mouth and several metal clamps used to hold something heavy. If I had to guess, it's probably for the hammer, and the sword.
The last thing is the talilbasha. Deep within the pulsating red crystal lies a perfectly formed blood droplet that looks like a falling teardrop. At the very bottom of the stone rests several icicle shaped protrusions that pulsate and glow.
"By the gods, old blood from the death angel herself." Gehrman gasps.
"The very blood that saved my own." I reply as I roll the talilbasha around my hand. "Okay Gehrman, I want you to take the sword, oversized hammer, and the guns while you deliver the talilbasha. I'm going to hold onto the spear though. I'll go get Okatsu, and we'll meet you back home."
"I have no idea who that is, but I'm assuming Ayame." Gehrman says as he takes on his physical form and rolls his wheelchair over to me.
"That was part of the plan old man."
"What plan Misses Yuno?"
Gehrman and I point at each other and have a chuckle as I stick the sword and hammer in the storage basket of his wheelchair. There is a curved blade and what looks like a yoma bone handle sitting inside a perfectly hollowed out compartment.
That might be the scythe Gehrman was talking about last night. Whatever it is, it looks really cool. Almost like mine except not as modern. I hand the talilbasha to Gehrman, and he sticks it in a cloth bag hanging off his belt.
"Okay Misses Yuno, I'll see you back home. Be careful."
"Can do…Old man."
Gehrman places his hand on his forehead and utters some kind of phrase. He starts to fade and suddenly, he's gone. Mission accomplished. Now all that's left is getting out ourselves. I grab the candelabra and head downstairs.
The familiar click of a firearm being charged hits me in the right ear as my feet touch the ground floor. Off to my right stands three figures. There is a fourth one, but she is sitting on her knees with her hands tied behind her back. Of course. I knew they would eventually catch on.
"So you found my little secret?" Fubuki states as she aims a blunderbuss directly at me.
Her two supporters, Gekko and Senko haven't transformed because they think I have the stone in my procession.
"I have no idea what you are talking about. I just got hired on as a sign language teacher, and I was looking for my class." I reply as I give my best female impression. Despite it sounding pretty masculine, I have to say it sounded pretty good.
"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to believe Gessen would hire a sign language teacher?"
"Yes."
Fubuki inhales through her nose and releases a huge puff of anger. I let out a small chuckle and casually lean on the stairwell railing, "You know Fubuki, you claim to be a shinobi, but just like me, you're not who you say you are. Why don't you tell me the story of how you ended up a half-blood, and I'll tell you mine."
"Such a tempting offer, but you won't live long enough to do so."
"A half-blood, shinobi scrub like you couldn't pull that trigger even if you tried."
I dive behind the stairwell, and a massive volley of quicksilver and hellshot shreds the bottom half of the stairs. I don't think anyone outside heard it, but I know for a fact it's time to get the hell out of here. Both Gekko and Senko have their ears covered and are in awe of what just happened.
Ayame snaps the ropes that bind her, picks up a nearby chair and smacks Senko directly in the face. The wood explodes into hundreds of fragments and Senko spins violently out of control and collapses a nearby table she lands on. There's no doubt Senko isn't getting up from that anytime soon.
"I'll deal with the girl! You get Alan!" Gekko yells as she tackles Ayame to the ground. They roll around and engage in a fist fight, trying to gain superiority by pinning the other down. Right now, it's evenly matched.
"That's Misses Yuno to the likes of you young un!" I reply as I grab the spear and rush directly at Fubuki. I have no idea how to use this thing, but I'm about to find out.
Fubuki completely disregards reloading the blunderbuss and grabs her black fan. I lunge the spear at Fubuki. She tries to sidestep, but it clips the side of her stomach. It isn't enough to deal any significant damage, but it does draw blood.
Fubuki swings back with that bladed fan. I lean back, but the tip knicks me across the chest. A huge chunk of my uniform explodes into a shower of grey and black, revealing half of the armor underneath. Fubuki swings again and hits me in the leg. The entire bottom half of my skirt turns into nothing but strands of fabric and my stockings have holes in them for some reason.
"What the hell do you make these uniforms out of!? Papier-mache!?" I yell as Fubuki forces me to stay on the defensive.
Not going to lie, this isn't looking good. She's good with that fan, and I'm stuck using a weapon I've never seen. She intentionally leaves herself open, but I step back. Fubuki closes the gap and we're at it again. I haven't got to attack once other than at the very beginning of our fight.
"I'm impressed Alan. Normally people don't survive this long."
"I don't know who this Alan is, but Misses Yuno knows a thing or two."
Fubuki slices downward. I block the incoming attack, but she kicks me in the chest, and I stagger backwards. It feels like something within my chest is rattling around from the aftershock of her kick. Fubuki spins around and lands a solid hit on me again with the razor-sharp edge of the fan.
A red mist exits the thin line in my armor as she hits me in the face with a bare fist. The taste of rust fills my mouth as she continues her onslaught of hits. She knows she can't win outright, so she's trying to chip at my endurance any way she can.
"You're in a suppressed state Alan! You don't stand a chance!" Fubuki taunts.
"Whether you possess more power than me or all the gods put together, I'm taking you down!" I yell as I spit out a wad of crimson. Blood oozes out of my busted lips as we keep going.
I could bite into that hollow tooth and level the playing field, but the moment that happens, Yumi and everyone else in her group is going to see through the shreds of my disguise. Unless Ayame's life is in danger, I'm not doing it.
As of now, Ayame's doing better than me. Gekko is currently winning, but Ayame slams Gekko into a bookshelf and wails on her with a flurry of punches before Gekko pushes Ayame away and kicks her in the face. Both of them have blood running down their faces, and their knuckles have been busted open from beating the hell out of each other.
"Well Alan, I can say that even with your yoma powers suppressed to the point of being human, you still put up more of a fight than Asuka did the other day." Fubuki states.
"I'm not the one to get mad over stupid statements. Especially the bullshit that spews forth from your mouth, but no one talks about Asuka like that." I say as I swell up with anger.
"Yes, now the feeling is mutual." Fubuki grins.
She fakes an attack and gets me to block high before kicking me in the chest again. This time, I hit the ground. Out of instinct, I roll back. The wind off of Fubuki's fan pats my back. The soft leather bottom of my shoe loses traction as it slips on a piece of paper, and I hit the ground again. Fubuki hovers over me as I attempt to stand up. She's got her fan at the ready, and no matter which way I roll, she's going to hit me, so I fall again and her attack misses.
Fubuki corrects herself and stabs at my chest. I bring the spear up and her fan buries itself into the bottom of the blade. Something clicks in the weapon, and the tip of the spear suddenly turns sideways. It sounds like a spring and some kind of contraption has just activated.
Fubuki loses her grip on the fan, and the back part of my weapon shoots up and connects with her bottom jaw. The look of surprise combined with Fubuki grasping her face in pain makes for a hilarious scene I can't help but laugh aloud at.
The weapon within my hands has now transformed from a spear into a scythe like weapon. Ah yes, now there is no reason to bust that hollow tooth when I have this. In terms of how familiar I feel with this thing, it's my old scythe. This should be fun.
"Had enough?" I taunt.
Fubuki bends over and picks her fan back up. To give her the impression she's still got a huge edge over me, I humbly stand there and act like I'm surprised at what happened but puff up with pride at the end to provoke her.
"Not yet."
Fubuki slashes at me. I kick the bottom of the thing to where it spins and blocks the attack. The weapon lands in my hand and I swing it upward. Fubuki blocks it, but it throws her off guard. She certainly wasn't expecting this.
I slash down and tear a huge chunk out of the front of her armor. She leaps back and reaches down into her armor to check for damage. When her hand comes back out, there is a fair amount of blood that stains her white skin.
I put my hands together, "shinobi transformation." I make an explosion with my mouth and wave my hands in a circular motion. She clenches her fist in anger to the point it sounds like leather crumpling.
The both of us take a step back and charge directly at one another. She flings her fan at me. I block it, and the both of us lock up in a battle again. This time, it's a lot more balanced. Our weapons collide with such force that it's making the nearby tables vibrate. Both Gekko and Ayame have stopped fighting and are now cheering and heckling the both of us.
"Get him Fubuki!"
"Hit her again Alan!"
I get my scythe to rapidly spinning and force Fubuki on the defensive. She wedges the fan in between the handle, and the blade. I leap back and defend myself before turning the tables and forcing Fubuki back on defense. She slashes upward and I slash downward.
The side of my face bursts into flames from pain and hot liquid gushes out and floods down onto the wooden floor. Fubuki grabs her face and utters something under her breath. Her pale hand is completely painted red and much like the side of my face, is dripping.
"Well Miss Fubuki, we have reached an impasse." I say as I drag the side of my hand down my face to try and sop up some of the excess blood.
"So, it seems. Even suppressed, your skills with scythe like weapons are incredible to say the least."
"Thank you, and your skills with that fan rivals even me. In all honesty, I haven't had this much fun in a while."
Something catches Fubuki's attention and her head tilts to the left. I can't sense anything but because Fubuki has her yoma powers, that must mean fun time is over. I listen closely and hear the front door kick open. So much for off limits to anyone other than Kurokage and Jonathan.
Fubuki has already scrambled down the hatch while Gekko carries Senko on her shoulders. Ayame was distracted by the sudden breach that Gekko has slammed the trap door shut and locked it from the inside.
"Damnit!" Ayame strains as she tries to forcefully open the hatch.
"There's no time! Come on!" I yell as I grab hold of her.
Ayame picks up a book and throws it at the door leading into the room we are in. I hear Yumi gasp loudly and slam the door shut to avoid being struck by the object. Ayame and I shoot up the spiral staircase with Yumi and her elites directly behind us.
"STOP!" Yumi screams.
I can hear the water in the air crystalizing into ice behind us. Ayame rushes into the last door on the left and quickly climbs up the ladder leading to the tower's top. I jump, plant my feet on the wall and shoot back towards Yumi.
She suddenly cancels her offensive spell and brings up a wall of ice. I ram my left fist into the thick wall of blue with everything I have. The blood leaking from my knuckles spatter all over several huge chunks as Yumi and everyone else is launched back in a wave of blood-stained frost.
"Forgive me Yumi! Nothing personal, it's just business!" I mumble as I slam the door shut and lock it. An immense pain eats at my left arm as I quickly climb up the ladder with only my right. Ayame reaches out and helps me up.
"Uh…Alan…" Ayame gags.
"What?" I look down at the arm I hit the ice with. The bone that connects my wrist to my arm has pressed my knuckles out of place, and my arm has been twisted completely around. Oh shit...
With my good arm, I take a deep breath and try to relax, "This isn't going to hurt, this isn't going to hurt…"
I spin my arm around as fast as I can. The sound of an egg shell being crushed in someone's grip rings out as ligaments snap back in place. My bones grind against one other as it resets itself back to its normal position. Ayame shutters and cover her ears to try and unhear the grotesque sound my injury made.
This massive yell of suppressed pain exits my mouth as I walk around and try to take my mind off the pain. While the nerves are focused on my arm, I quickly push my knuckles back in place.
"Mother…FUCKER!" I try and work feeling back into my palm and fingers. Punching a solid pillar of ice formed from Yumi's blood as hard as I possibly could isn't one of my better ideas.
"Why didn't you use the weapon!?" Ayame yells at me.
"Because busty ice waifu down there would have figured out it was me if I started twirling that thing around in front of her! Not only that, I would have seriously hurt Yumi, and the others if I hit that thing with anything other than my fist!"
Brass hinges bounce across the floor as the door explodes into sawdust. Yozakura's golden gauntlet flashes as she reabsorbs some of the energy she spent. The sound of two animals maliciously growling and barking hits me in the ears. It's a sound I honestly didn't want to hear. Son of a bitch. Murakumo has summoned her white and black wolves, Kotaro and Kagero.
If they get anywhere close, Murakumo will instantly know it's me because Kagero will urge Kotaro to stop. I got so caught up in fighting with Fubuki that I didn't think that through. Kotaro and Kagero both hop up on their back legs and bark like they've just treed a cat.
"What are we going to do!?" Ayame asks.
"WAIT! I have an idea."
"What!?"
"I can buy us some time, but you are not to speak of this to Asuka in any way. If she finds out this involved Yumi, I'll be sleeping on that fucking couch until next Christmas."
"I promise Alan!" Ayame replies as she looks for a way out.
I look down and see Yumi climbing up after us. I give a wolf whistle and cup my hand over my mouth as I stare directly at her breasts, "Hey sweetheart! I can see down your robe!"
Yumi's face bursts into flames and her cheeks glow brighter than a rose pedal. She attempts to cover the top of her robe to prevent me from seeing. "There's no point in hiding it beautiful! It should be against the law to have boobs that big!"
"Please stop it!" Yumi exclaims as she looks away from me.
"She's certainly got a perverted side." Yozakura states.
"That goes for you too! That floral pattern kimono really brings out the spice of that slamming body you have!"
Yozakura blushes herself and steps off the ladder. Murakumo grabs hold of the ladder and Shiki follows directly behind her. Ayame is still looking for a way so, so I casually walk over to her and shrug my shoulders, "well I've done all I can do. We're doomed!" I say as I put my hand on a nearby window and pat it a couple times. "Or are we?"
"I'm not a fan of vandalism." Ayame states.
"It's all in the shinobi job description. In between the lines stuff."
I step back and slam the end of the war pick into the glass. Shards of black splinter off everywhere. Ayame hops out and slides down the roof. I throw my weight back and slide down the shingles after her, occasionally using my foot to act like a brake to avoid losing control or hitting the edge way too fast.
Ayame reaches the end, slides off and lands on a nearby building. I lean forward and launch myself to the next building. Down below, students and teachers causally walk around. Completely unaware of what is going on as I bend my knees and roll to avoid losing all my momentum. The entire place hasn't been put on lockdown yet. Although I have a feeling that's about to happen.
Going out the front is shot, and trying to hit the train station won't serve any kind of purpose once the academy hits lockdown. The entire town will be looking for us. Shinobi, law enforcement, civilians, and any bounty hunter looking to try and make a quick buck. I do however, have another idea.
"What are we going to do Misses Yuno!?" Ayame asks as we sprint across the main school and drop down to street level.
"Follow me." I huff as I try to catch my breath.
Ayame sticks close as I lead her to a girl sitting on a nearby bench. She has a pocket mirror and is putting make up on before class starts. I grab Ayame's arm and think of the living room back at Hanzo Academy. She is completely unaware of us as we causally walk up behind her. Nor can she see the image in the mirror.
I tap her left shoulder and stick to the right. She turns around to try and see who it is that touched her. Before she realizes it, I reach over and touch the mirror in her hand. The temperature heats up and suddenly, me and Ayame are back at Hanzo Academy.
"Ayame! Alan!" Hibari yells as the both of us collapse from exhaustion.
That was so much more complicated than I planned. It was supposed to be in, out and done, but ole Shinobi Master Fubuki had to throw a kink in the plan. Bottom line, we got the stone and enough evidence to convince Oliveria Asuka is innocent. Not only that, but I got a couple new toys to play with.
Asuka props me up on her knee while Katsu attends to Ayame. Asuka pulls my wig off and dabs a wash rag with some alcohol. I gnash my teeth together and bear the pain as Asuka cleans the wounds Fubuki inflicted on me.
"Something feels so wrong right now." I say as I run my tongue over the back of my misshaped molar. "Oh yeah…"
I dislodge the hollow tooth and clamp down. The taste of fluoride and grit rolls around my mouth as the yoma extract leaks out and flows down the back of my throat. All the wounds I sustained over the fight with Fubuki instantly mend themselves and heal, but without the aid of an I.R.E, it feels like someone dropped me in the middle of a boiling caldron. My entire body flairs up with an intense burning sensation that hurts like hell as my muscles and tissue rebuild themselves.
Somehow during the fight, Fubuki must have cracked one of my ribs, but because I was under the influence of adrenaline, I couldn't feel it until right now. My chest feels like it's coming apart as the rib seals the fracture and heals. The pain goes away, and I can breathe normally now without huffing or gasping.
"Damn Ayame, you got tore up!" Katsu giggles as she smears ointment on the cuts and bruises all over her face.
"Well I knocked one girl out and messed the other one up almost as bad as she did me. Alan can testify."
"It's true. She smoked that bitch. Knocked her smooth out before taking on the other." I reply as I stand up.
"Then Alan took on a woman that looked like a vampire! He was losing at first, but when that thing he was using made that scythe, it was so awesome because it was evenly matched!"
"You didn't do too bad either Ayame. I saw you land a couple solid hits on Gekko." I reply.
Ayame's excitement has drawn everyone in. Including the doll, Daidouji and even M. Of all people. As she tells the story, I head to the bathroom and prepare to clean up. I take my shredded Gessen uniform off and toss it to the side.
None of the clothing can be salvaged, but the shoes are still good. If I wouldn't have been wearing my armor underneath, Fubuki could have probably killed me in one hit. I quickly wash my hands and remove the gold contacts from my eyes.
The bathroom door opens up and Asuka walks in as I remove the last lens and put them on the sink counter. It appears she wants to say something. Ayame probably slipped up and mentioned something about me temporarily detouring Yumi from pursing after us. Well I guess the couch just became my new bed for a whole year.
"Hey Alan."
"Yes Asuka?"
In her eyes, she wants to say something else, but she holds back. Perhaps I should say something, but what?
"I'm glad you made it back." Asuka says.
"I'm glad to be back."
I pull my chest piece off and throw it on the ground as Asuka leaves. Underneath is a fresh new scar that's just scabbed over completely. I step into the shower and wash all the blood off my body. In a couple of hours, this will all be over and everything will go back to normal. Thank God.
I put a clean pair of street clothes on and cinch my armor back up. Before delivering the stone, Octavian is next on my list. I want to talk to him about Ryoki and Shiki. Even if he doesn't want to.
The boy needs to feel some kind of obligation to eventually go back and save his guardian. Even if he can't do that, the least the boy can do is go back and forgive Shiki and Ryoki…
Ending Song: "Stillborn" by: Black Label Society