Boss Rush

XL: Prominence Knight

"That was not human," Adrian hotly protested in the backroom where Koichi had managed to manhandle him into nearby. The black-haired man then hissed as a wad of cotton soaked in alcohol touched a scrape. "That was a scary, scary monster disguised as a human. No, scratch that, it was the scary kid with all the powers in the Twilight Zone."

"You've said that before," Satoshi dryly replied as he pulled out a roll of bandages. "Anyway, thank you, erm...?"

"Yamamoto Koichi," Koichi muttered. "I'm guessing that you have a grudge against Setsuka?"

This earned him stares and, in Adrian's case, a snort. "When did you get so chummy with her?"

"Long story," Koichi nodded to Satoshi. "You must be Shinamori. Kaido mentioned you."

"He did?" Satoshi echoed.

"If mentioned you, in terms of 'a bastard that keeps running to who knows where', then yes."

"Okay, I believe you," Satoshi nodded, as if that settled everything. "Back to the conversation, overt threats are not the method of Shimotsuki Setsuka."

"Agreed," Koichi nodded. "Covert references, maybe mentions of the National Tax Agency or HM Revenue and Customs, things like that. Something like watching, waiting, finding every one of the family, and then teaching them how to play silly buggers. The car was... just gauche."

Both of them stared at him. Koichi just slowly sipped the water served up.

"True," Satoshi nodded. "What do you think?"

"Possession," Koichi automatically answered.

Satoshi began laughing. "Possession? Shimotsuki Setsuka? No, really?"

"I can't imagine," Adrian muttered, echoes of snakes hissing around him.

Koichi cocked his head. "Vennominaga the Deity of Poisonous Snakes?"

"You can see her?"

"Yes, I run a detective agency mainly on my ability to communicate with spirits, yes, I can see her." Koichi nodded. "Are you guys planning to do something about Setsuka?"

"Yes," Satoshi admitted. "But... we're one guy short for the Stygian Dirge."

"Count me in."

"What? But-"

Koichi held up a hand. "There is something seriously wrong going on with Setsuka. I know that Fudo Ryuusei might be doing something, but it might be too late. Shinamori, I think you want to protect Kaido. Right now, I have someone I wish to protect as well, but both of them are still in the Arcadia Movement. Take it that I'm begging you. Please."

"Hold on..." Adrian peered at him. "You have a professional license. I remember, the guy who whooped the examiner using a Cloudian deck."

"Er, yes?" Koichi shook his head. "Either way, I need to get to Tsugare before Setsuka can do anything else, because he's at risk. I won't leave him at the mercy of anyone else again."

Adrian grinned at the Fire Duelist, who just groaned. "Fine, you both win. Welcome to Team Conflagration."

Far away from the rest, Tsugare had to stop his D-Wheel to sneeze. "Heh... it's not even pollen season now... it's not cold."

The green-painted console of his D-Wheel activated. "Oi, you okay?"

"I'm alright, Kasai," Tsugare nodded to the grinning man on the other end. "Just a chill."

"Huh? What're you talking about, it's sweltering!"

"I can tell," Tsugare muttered as a black D-Wheel skidded up.

"Oi!" the dark-suited rider took off her helmet to show a shock of brown and a scowl that reached to the battle lust in her eyes. "This is our slot!"

"Oh, come on..." another voice muttered from Tsugare's console.

"Wanna bet?" Tsugare smirked.

"Let's do this the usual way," the female D-Wheeler grinned. "Anna Shiloh. You the girly cross-dresser?"

"It was only one time!" Tsugare hotly protested. "Misawa Tsugare!"

"Riding Duel, Acceleration!"

Tsugare: LP 8000, SPC: 0

Anna: LP 8000, SPC: 0

"I'll start, draw!" Tsugare announced. "I'll summon Naturia Beans [100/1200] in attack mode!" A giant green bean appeared on the field. "With that, I activate One for One to special summon Naturia Mosquito [200/300] from my deck to the field. I'll set two cards and end my turn."

"Draw!" Anna called. "Well, I'll special summon Vice Dragon [2000/2400 → 1000/1200] from my hand!"

"Crap," Tsugare swore as the infamous dragon appeared. "Well, at least it's not Cyber Dragon..."

"Next, I summon the tuner monster, Counselor Lily [400/1500] to the field!" Anna continued as the winged doctor appeared.

Tsugare's eyebrow rose a fraction. "Huh."

"Shut up!" Anna snarled. "Tuning, level five Vice Dragon to level three Counselor Lily! Darkness curls and grows from the shadows, distinct but never evil. Synchro summon! Arise, Dark End Dragon!"

The dark dragon arose from a pillar of black smoke, a second face on its barrel-like chest [2600/2100].

"Activating the effect of Counselor Lily!" Anna declared. "During the turn Lily was sent to the graveyard for a Synchro summon, I'll pay five hundred life points to let Dark End Dragon gain one thousand attack points until the end phase [2600/2100 → 3600/2100]!"

"Urkh!" Tsugare muttered.

"Entering battle phase, Dark End Dragon, attack Naturia Beans!" Anna called. "Dark Fog!"

"The effect of Naturia Beans activates," Tsugare pronounced. "Once per turn, Naturia Beans cannot be destroyed by battle. Also, that when my opponent chooses Naturia Beans as an attack target, my opponent will take five hundred damage."

Anna: LP 8000 → LP 7500 → LP 7000, SPC: 0 → 1

Tsugare: LP 8000, SPC: 0 → 1

"Furthermore," Tsugare continued blithely as the mosquito flew over to bite Anna. "The effect of Naturia Mosquito ensures that during battle between any Naturia monster and my opponent's monster, my opponent takes the battle damage instead, so thanks!"

Anna: LP 7000 → LP 4000, SPC: 1

Tsugare: LP 8000

Anna's face flushed. "That..."

"Duel Monsters was a game of strategy to begin with," Tsugare solemnly grinned at her expression. "This cross-dresser just took out half your life points."

Yet, as the Duel raged, Tsugare still frowned at the block-and-parry it devolved to. "What the hell am I doing?"

Alexianna grimaced as she spied the other dark-haired girl in the distance, skidding by on the white-D-Wheel. She gripped the handles of her own black D-Wheel. "The things I do for love."

Tenjouin Michiru started as Alexianna drove up. "This is our practice time, get lost!"

"Oh, come on," Alexianna teased. "You can't let little old me drive? Why, scared I might spy on you?"

Michiru's jaw set. "I can beat you even if you know my deck back to front."

"Oh? Then let's try it." Alexianna challenged. Both of them glared; it seemed a coincidence for Duelists with completely opposite decks to stand on opposite sides.

Get a raise out of her, Takeshi's words echoed. Even Kiyomi doesn't know everything...

"I accept." Michiru's eyes narrowed.

Duel Mode, the consoles flashed. Speed World Two – Dual Magic, Set, On.
Lane Selection, searching for optimum, usable lane. Submitting duel lane to central.
Authorisation!

"Riding Duel, Acceleration!"

Alexianna: LP 8000, SPC: 0

Michiru: LP 8000, SPC: 0

"Draw!" Alexianna called. "From my hand I'll send Darklord Edeh Arae from hand to graveyard to special summon Dark Grepher [1700/1600]!" Her new monster, a dark warrior, appeared with a swing of his blade. "The effect of Dark Grepher activates. I send Darklord Superbia from my hand to the grave to send another Dark Attribute monster from my deck to the graveyard, like Darklord Zerato!"

"A mill deck?" Michiru idly commented, before she swerved, making a turn-back. "No way..."

"With three Dark Attribute monsters in the graveyard, I'll special summon Dark Armed Dragon [2800/2600]!" Alexianna called as the dark and deadly creature appeared. "I'll end my turn here."

"Draw!" Michiru called. "Last time, you won the Duel. This time, I'll win!"

"Say that when you've actually won," Alexianna sighed.

Michiru growled. "I'll activate the Spell, Card Destruction. You know what it does, right?"

"Mais oui," Alexianna demurred as she discarded three and drew three, while Michiru just threw out her whole hand.

"When discarded, The Fabled Ganashia [1600/1000 → 1800/1000] will be special summoned to the field with two hundred more attack power, and it applies to both." Michiru began as two elephant-headed creatures appeared, followed by a chestnut three-headed dog. "The same applies with the tuner monster, The Fabled Cerburrel [1000/400]. When The Fabled Catsith is discarded to the graveyard, one card on the field, such as your Dark Armed Dragon, is destroyed."

"Merde!" Alexianna cursed as her dragon imploded. "Three monsters and still no normal summon..."

"Now, I summon Tour Guide From the Underworld [1000/600]," Michiru continued determinedly. With a loud puff, a cute young girl with bubble-gum pink hair dressed in a prim dark blue suit appeared before them, giggling innocently. "Due to her effect, I special summon Fabled Kushano [1100/800] to the field from my deck."

"Tour Guide?" Alexianna murmured distractedly. "But-"

"Overlay, level three Tour Guide with level three Kushano!" Michiru called. "I create an overlay network! Exceed Summon! Arise, Muzurhythm the String Djinn [1500/1000]!"

Guitar strings strummed as the new monster appeared.

"Now, overlay both level three Ganashia! Exceed Summon! Come, Melomelody the Brass Djinn [1400/1600]!" The Fabled Duelist continued as the green-haired devil appeared, playing the brass horn.

"Mon Dieu," Alexianna muttered. "But..."

"Activate the effect of Melomelody!" Michiru cried. "I detach one Exceed material to choose Muzurhythm; this turn, Muzurhythm can attack twice. Now, entering battle phase, Muzurhythm attack Dark Grepher!"

"But my Dark Grepher is stronger!" Alexianna pointed out. "Unless-"

"That's right!" Michiru laughed. "During the damage step when a Djinn Exceed monster attacks, he can detach one Exceed Material to double that monster's attack till the end phase, including his own [1500/1000 → 3000/1000]! Trample it!"

Alexianna cringed as her warrior shattered.

Alexianna: LP 8000 → LP 6700, SPC: 1

Michiru: LP 8000, SPC: 1

"Let's not forget the next attack!" Michiru laughed. "Come on, do the Hendrix impression! Direct attack!"

Alexianna: LP 6700 → LP 3700, SPC: 1

Michiru: LP 8000, SPC: 1

"Ow!" Alexianna howled, biting her lips back as her D-Wheel wobbled.

"I'm not done!" Michiru smirked. "Melomelody, Cerburrel, direct attack!"

Alexianna bit her lip as the next wave of attacks crashed down.

Alexianna: LP 3700 → LP 2300 → LP 1300, SPC: 1

Michiru: LP 8000, SPC: 1

"Hmph, I'll set two cards, turn end," Michiru scoffed. "Well? You aren't looking so hot now, are you? Damn, I love this power..."

Alexianna reflected back to the scored marks on the road they passed. "Haven't you learned any self-control? This power... this destructive power, it harms us as much as we harm others."

"Huh?" Michiru laughed, though her voice shook. "What does it matter?"

"You know the loneliness all Psychic Duelists share," Alexianna continued as they swerved and drove on, riding like the winds carried them. "This is the cursed power we share to hurt, and you enjoy it. How...?"

"Because I can," Michiru scoffed. "Start your turn, sister. It'll be great, this power. Don't you see? Now, like you, I have the world at my fingertips. I can do anything, to anyone. Maybe I'll deal some pain out to that boy-toy you keep around, no?"

"You keep away from Takeshi, bitch!" Alexianna shouted. "It's like a drug, it gives you immediate pay-off and a craving for more. It goes quick from being the last possible option to being the automatic response no matter the situation. You don't walk away from people you love for it. I have felt it, I'd fought it, and Takeshi had been one of my biggest motivations to win. Maybe it makes me the world's biggest bitch to think it, but you've either lost that fight or you had never fought at all."

"Shut up," Michiru shook her head. "It's your turn, play. Or end, and with it this farce."

"Agreed, I draw!" Alexianna called. "Now, I activate the Continuous Spell, Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen! With that, I special summon Athena [2600/800] from my hand!"

Chiton fluttering in the breeze under gleaming armour, the Greek goddess held spear and shield ready.

"Normal summon, Dark Valkyria [1800/1050]," Alexianna continued. "By the effect of Athena, each time a Fairy Type monster is summoned you take six hundred damage!"

Michiru: LP 8000 → LP 7400, SPC: 2

Alexianna: LP 1300, SPC: 2

"Activating the second effect of Athena," Alexianna commanded. "By tributing Dark Valkyria, I can special summon a Fairy Type monster from the graveyard, such as Darklord Superbia [2900/2400]. The effect of Darklord Superbia activates; when he is special summoned from the grave, I can choose to special summon another Fairy Type monster, such as Darklord Zerato [2800/2300]. That's another twelve hundred damage."

Michiru: LP 7400 → LP 6200, SPC: 2

Alexianna: LP 1300, SPC: 2

"That... was fast," Michiru slowly admitted.

Alexianna grimaced. "Superbia, attack Muzurhythm. Zerato, attack Melomelody. Athena, attack Cerburrel!"

Michiru: LP 6200 → LP 1800, SPC: 2

Alexianna: LP 1300, SPC: 2

"Give up this poisonous dream!" the Darklord Duelist called. "You still have a family, don't you? You still have-"

"Don't talk to me about them!" Michiru snarled. "I don't want to hear them! I don't want it! You don't know anything about me, so hurry up and finish!"

Alexianna's expression set. "Fine. I'll have to defeat you first. Turn end."

"Draw!" Michiru drew like she was possessed. "Trap card, Beckoning Light. I discard all three cards in my hand, and then take back Fabled Grimro, The Fabled Catsith and Melomelody to my hand. The effect of the two discarded Fabled Krus activates; I can revive Cerburrel and one of the Fabled Krus [1000/800] to the field." A weeping little girl-spectre appeared next to the yapping puppy-dog. "Tuning, level two Krus to level two Cerburrel. Legends long hidden by the con of man, lead the charge to reveal yourself in light! Synchro Summon! Charge, The Fabled Unicore!"

Hooves clipped onto asphalt as the mythical horse creature [2300/1000] galloped next to its mistress.

"Trap open, Horn of the Phantom Beast," Michiru snapped. "Horn of the Phantom Beasts equips onto Unicore. The Fabled Unicore gains eight hundred attack points [2300/1000 → 3100/1000]. I use the effect of Fabled Grimro to search for a Fabled monster from my deck to add to my hand, such as Fabled Urustos. I summon Fabled Urustos [1500/200]. Due to its effect all Fabled monsters gain four hundred attack power when I have two or less cards in my hand. [1500/200 → 1900/200] [3100/1000 → 3500/1000]. Entering battle phase, Unicore, attack Athena with Spiral Horn!"

Alexianna: LP 1300 → LP 800, SPC: 3

Michiru: LP 1800, SPC: 3

"Due to Horn, I get to draw a card," Michiru called. "I set a card, and end my turn."

"Draw." Alexianna declared. "Entering battle phase, Darklord Zerato attack The Fabled Unicore! Chain quick-play Spell, Light of the Master!"

"The effect of The Fabled Unicore activates," Michiru countered. "While my opponent and I have the same number of cards in hand, I can negate all card effects triggered by my opponent. I still hold The Fabled Catsith in my hand, and you have one card in yours. My Unicore, stomp that monster with your Illusion Killer!"

The unicorn neighed, lifting its forepaws to sink down at the charging cloaked monster and soundly defeat it.

Alexianna: LP 800 → LP 100, SPC: 3

Michiru: LP 1800, SPC: 3

Alexianna could only cling on for dear life.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Michiru smiled. "Claíomh Solais, the shining sword... I will never hurt again..."

"I set a card, turn end!" Alexianna called, deciding to end the battle. For it had definitely turned out to be a battle already rather than a so-called friendly Duel. There was definitely something very wrong with Michiru, that much she had managed to figure out. Then again, Michiru did display latent homicidal tendencies before...

"I draw!" Michiru drew, grinning in imminent victory.

"Trap activate, Shockwave!" Alexianna countered.

The grin dropped. "What? But- Dammit!"

"I'll destroy Darklord Superbia, and then both of us take damage equal to its attack!" Alexianna called.

"That doesn't matter! I'll kill you, bitch!" Michiru howled as the shock-waves spread under Alexianna's power, knocking them off-kilter.

Alexianna: LP 100 → LP 0

Michiru: LP 1800 → LP 0

The French girl hurriedly kicked her D-Wheel into high gear the moment the involuntary stop could be overridden, immediately racing as The Fabled Unicore raced, horn lowered at a place enough to skewer her ribs. Yes, Michiru had been serious about her threat, and judging from its speed, Michiru was also not above learning some fine control.

Still, Michiru had come into power much later, and therefore experience was the only advantage Alexianna held as she summoned Darklord Asmodeus to hold the unicorn off in her escape.

Alexianna quickly tapped a number. "Takeshi? I've managed to challenge Tenjouin Michiru. I know you said to go for Hinamori Seiran, but I'm not ready to handle Queens' youngest ever Lady just yet. I really think there's something going on here."

There was a long silence, before...

"Really?" Takeshi finally said. "So did I."

"Why am I following?"

Takeshi snorted as the pretty-boy. "You managed to escape Shimotsuki Setsuka on the warpath. You tell me."

"That doesn't mean I'm keen on entering the damn competition ready to be thrown out on my ear!"

"Let's look at it this way," Takeshi finally answered after a moment of consideration. "You can participate with Alexianna and me in the Stygian Dirge, and I don't tell Nee-chan. That way, you get a place to stay, dinner, and you don't get thrown out by unmentionable body parts when Nee-chan finally gets around to demanding why are you leeching off us."

Natashi Kiyomi weighed his options briefly. On one hand, he would be free of obligation. On the other hand, he would be hounded after by the woman would could neutralise 'seeds', two rather powerful Psychic Duelists, and the guy who held all three Aesir cards. Not to mention that Shimotsuki would be after his hide the moment he got out of earshot from the Ishihara house. Kiyomi was very fond of living, after all.

"I think we're having teriyaki chicken tonight," Takeshi lightly added.

Kiyomi was a sucker for savoury things. "Fine."

"Oh, how lucky," Takeshi casually spoke. They had somehow stopped near the stands, where Fudo Ryuusei was conversing with an albino boy in Ra Yellow. On reflection, perhaps it was to be expected; the man was rather too popular for his own good. "Now if only we could hear them."

"Hmph," Kiyomi held out a hand while the other cupped his ear, a simple sigil glimmering upon the outstretched hand. "Fragarach, the Answerer I hold, tell us the discussions beyond our ears."

The voices came loud and clear. "... can see Duel Spirits as well, Justin-san?"

"I belonged in a family with a fortune-telling background," was the answer from the Ra Yellow boy, Justin. "Seeing the mysteries of the future has always been our work. My own work lies in astrology, in how the stars may dictate the life of the person at birth, their lives already decided. Yet, there are fates that I do not know, such is the rule of those Duelists. Duelists regularly defy the will of the stars, snatching victory by the skin of their teeth at the single turn of a card. Yet, I cannot see any finer Duelists who so regularly defied fate as Shimotsuki Setsuka."

"Defied fate?" Takeshi murmured, confused. "What do they mean?"

"Later," Kiyomi snarled, irritated. "Fragarach reacts badly to the 'seeds' around the Fudo guy."

"Defied fate?" Fudo Ryuusei's voice echoed Takeshi's sentiments.

"Shimotsuki Setsuka's fate was to lack love all her life, and yet her harshness would be all the kinder for it," was Justin's reply. "Faced with such a thankless fate, most would have wasted away long before. Not to mention, Shimotsuki Setsuka was born of a bloodline of powerful women, hunters of the night and the moon. At the young age that she was orphaned, one would have expected that the girl would have died almost nine years ago. Yet, against all odds, the girl survived, and fought fate, strife and death following at her heels and yet the girl herself remained, cruel, cold and callous, and all the kinder for it. Her fate of death was reversed."

Here, a breath was drawn. "Yours, Fudo Ryuusei, was the exact opposite of Shimotsuki Setsuka, where you would have love all your life, but your kindness would be all the harsher for it. Because your kindness would lead others down the path of despair. In short, Shimotsuki Setsuka would be your foil, your mirror, the Winter Queen to the King of Summer. Your existences should not, could not, coexist, and yet you do in the same city, same sphere and same time. And frequently, you face the same enemies."

"Of course," Ryuusei answered. "Shimotsuki is... always doing what needed to be done. The least I could do was lessen her burden-"

"And why did she take this burden on?" Justin demanded. "For Arcadia, the harshness she held in her soul was directed to its enemies, and her kindness spread to us, the members. Your kindness meted out to several others, and yet they destroyed themselves in a bid for your love."

"T- That's not true-! I- there are people I help-!"

"Hanazono Shizuka Dueled you this summer. At the end, Hanazono Shizuka wasted away pining. Natashi Kiyomi sought your approval, and by the end nearly murdered your friend. Miyagi Avalon hired you, and in the end her fate was sealed by Duel spirits who attacked because of your very existence in this city. If I had to consult the stars, I would think that the fate of Madame Shimotsuki was also related to you-"

"That has nothing to do with this conversation." Automatically, Ryuusei had cut in. "What is your point? You challenged Rowena-san for a reason, and got my attention. You can see spirits, and so I think you wish to challenge me. If you have no other relevant words to share, I suggest we pursue a policy of non-aggression by avoiding each other where possible once we part ways. If not, I will take Madame Shimotsuki's ideal of self-defence by the Duel and place it into effect. I believe that as a member of the Arcadia Movement you have a clear idea of what I am talking about."

"Ah, I see I have touched a nerve. I apologise, the Madame's death was devastating to all of us," Justin immediately backtracked, something telling the two eavesdroppers that there was a hallowed ground to this conversation that the seer was getting too close to. "My point is this; just like how winter is a curse that brings that water that feeds spring growth, summer is the season of growth where plagues are the most common. Your existence itself bears a curse disguised as a blessing."

"Thank you for the concern," Ryuusei answer was flat.

"Oh, woman?" Justin turned to the other in their eyes as silence passed over the magic of Fragarach. "The tragedy of Shimotsuki Setsuka is that she will never be thanked for her efforts, but somewhere, people know that they owe what they have to her. The tragedy of Fudo Ryuusei is that people will appreciate his help, but in the end his existence will be what leads them to their doom. In the end, they are both very flawed, cursed existences upon humans from the Duel Spirits."

"That's not true!" Rowena growled. "No one's existences can be a curse on the world! What gave you that right to call them a cursed existence? Ryuusei-kun offered his help out of his kindness, he couldn't have anticipated that others would misuse it! Shimotsuki-san, she did her best for us members of the Arcadia Movement!"

"But, it ultimately doesn't change the result," was the placid reply from Justin. "That they are a curse upon mankind from the spirits. That, whether they wish to help or harm, in the end they will have the opposite reaction. That is the tragedy of your fates ordained by the stars, because they are the very core of yourselves."

A breath was drawn. "But do not worry. There are others like me who work with the spirits as well. As long as one who holds the fate dies, the other's fate will disappear. That's why the Constellar tribe places its service to you, Fudo Ryuusei. Once one side is gone, the other remains. Once she who holds the fate of cruelty is gone, only you, who hold the fate of kindness remains. Like the battle of light and darkness, finally, it will end, and with it our pain."

A long silence passed, the albino figure walking away.

"You're wrong." the voice came through the magic before Kiyomi's hand dropped.

"Sorry?"

"Shimotsuki's effort. It is not dictated by any horoscope. It is the unwavering effort of a relentless soul; it is a purely human work, made and worked upon and protected by humans. True, Shimotsuki might have reinforced the power of the Arcadia Movement, but she wouldn't have succeeded without the rest of the members. You, me, Rowena-san, we made our own fates. It's not the point of gaining love or never having it that we help. It's to make our own lives worth living that we do so. Regardless of what others tells us what is our fate, we can only move forward. I am sure, that Shimotsuki already knew the chances of her fate coming true, that she would be in danger because of her choices. But, she faced it, she faced her own fate, and she won. So don't bank too much on the words of the Constellar spirits, don't wrap yourself in the illusion that your fate is already decided."

"Why?" Justin sounded unamused. "Our fates do not cross. Shimotsuki Setsuka does not know her coming fate. She has no reason to come after me."

Ryuusei then bared his teeth in answer. "If I know Shimotsuki, she'll defy whatever fate you see for her just to spite you." Almost in spite, Ryuusei then turned, pulling the woman, Rowena, along, and leaving Justin staring at their backs.

Kiyomi metaphorically hung up just as Takeshi's phone rang, the Aesir Duelist picking up but not answering for a while. When he did, his voice held a note of resignation. "Really? So did I."

"I'm back!" The door slammed behind Michiru as she charged straight into the penthouse apartment in the Arcadia Movement.

It was no surprise that Shimotsuki Setsuka would live in the building that was the centre of her power, not to Michiru. It was also no surprise that Setsuka lived alone, with only Nakamura being her closest neighbour. It was due to the condition of living under Setsuka's roof that Tenjouin Fubuki even allowed his daughter to move out of the house and to the Arcadia Movement, and so Michiru had every right to charge in.

"Welcome back." Paper boxes and cheap china bowls had been set out, steam still rising. "Today we're having take-out because someone forgot to supply their share of the food budget."

"You can pay my share, right, Setsuka?" Michiru grumbled, crossing her arms. "Besides, we had beef, right? Couldn't you cook that-"

"No." Setsuka replied shortly. "How was your day?"

"Oh, fine." Michiru scowled. "I was about to defeat the Angel bitch, but she forced a draw."

"This rivalry with Alexianna cannot be healthy."

"It's fine." Michiru's eyes glimmered with avarice. "So, what will we do about the rats? We know that Aquila is one, and so is Anna and Rose. You've already issued a warning to the snake guy, and you're leaving Fudo Ryuusei alone although I don't know why. Did I miss anything?"

"Yamamoto Koichi has joined Team Conflagration, with Adrian Rodriguez and Shinamori Satoshi." Setsuka's head did not turn as a giant bird fluttered in through the grilled windows and cawed. "Misawa Tsugare is possibly on the verge of remembering, but not yet. I... Chase Princeton and Rex Atlas have not been curious enough to decide to act in their friend's benefit, and in the case of the former I do not know about the motives of Dreigoon. If this continues... if this continues... if this continues..."

"Setsuka?" Michiru froze in the middle of snapping her chopsticks. "Are you...?"

"I..." cold eyes met deep blue eyes. "I... got a letter from James. We're... we're through."

"I... I'm sorry."

"I... It's so hard, trying to forgive."

"It is." Michiru nodded as she slowly moved towards the fridge, digging out the orange juice. "Juice? It's bitter."

"I expected it," the icy girl huffed, glaring at the glass Michiru placed before her. She took it, downing a good quarter in a single gulp. The glass thumped on the table, before the sounds of chewing sounded in her lips, the juice having frozen the moment it flowed into her mouth. "It's... it's bitter, you know. Having to end it..."

"I don't." Michiru honestly answered. "Are you...? Will you accept what I give?"

"What you give will be too paltry to manage."

"But I can only give. There is nothing I can take that you will not fight me tooth and nail for. Shall we begin?"

By the fourth gulp, the glass stood empty and the ramen takeout cleared. Setsuka glared as the soup remains froze under her glare, as if the ice had somehow mortally offended her in some fashion.

"Time is running out."

The frozen glass smashed in her grip.

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