Chapter Seventeen – Wild Tiger

"What?" Sakuya gasped in the staff room with Kaworu next to her. They were facing Shusui and Ouka Hayasaka, Tokiko, and Hanaka Busujima, who Sakuya was introduced to for the first time. The only other school staff members there that were not part of the Alchemist Warriors were Mahiro, Principal Rokumasu and Coach Okakura, two of Kazuki's and Tokiko's most trusted friends. "B-B-But tomorrow's exam day!"

"We're aware, Sakuya," Tokiko replied with her arms crossed. "But our intel's reports state that something is going on in Ginsei City."

"Chunks of metal from buildings, street lamps, even coins from ATMs and cash registers," Busujima added, "tons of different types of metal have been reported missing or removed. We've also detected strange movement and found that some citizens have been disappearing over the past two weeks." The brown-haired woman took out the papers from a folder. "What's more, there are some places with what look like claw marks before the point of the metal extraction…it could be Homunculi or a Buso Renkin."

Kaworu placed his hand on his chin and silently thought to himself. "Claw marks on the metal…it could very well be a Buso Renkin if places by the claw marks were removed but…" He then turned his violet eyes to Sakuya. "Sakuya, we can't ignore this. I know you've been studying hard, but our duties as Alchemist Warriors come first."

"Right!" Sakuya exclaimed and punched the palm of her left hand. "I'll do whatever I can to protect Ginsei Academy and everyone else!" The adults smiled at Sakuya's resolve. She seemed to have made a full recovery since the two weeks earlier she was depressed.

"I'll postpone your tests until before summer break, giving you two extra weeks," Rokumasu stated, pushing up his glasses.

"And if things get hairy, you can count on me and Mahiro to evacuate everyone!" Okakura smirked as he pointed to himself with his thumb.

"Principal Rokumasu…Uncle Okakura…" Soon, Sakuya felt Ouka's hand on her shoulder, and Kaworu looked at Shusui for approval. "All right…I'm not going to back down…for all of you, and for everyone!"

The very next morning, Ouka Kurosaki, Yumi Anno, and Mihoshi Chiba were walking to school from the dorms. They looked worried as they scanned the area; Sakuya and Kaworu weren't in sight. "This is strange…" Mihoshi muttered. "Sakuya-chan, I would understand, but Kaworu-sensei…"

"They were acting strange since last night…" Yumi added before she climbed onto Mihoshi's back. "You don't think they're hiding something…like playing hooky on the day of the exam to make oooouuuut?"

"N-No!" The girl blushed quickly. "Th-they wouldn't! Right, Ouka?...Ouka?"

Ouka was silent. She was looking down at the ground since the conversation started.

"Playing hooky again?" asked a shaggy-haired man in her past as Ouka sat on a trash can, puffing a cigarette."

"Shut up, old man," she snarled. "I can do whatever th' hell I want!"

The man smiled and poked up his small, circular shades, taking out a lighter and lighting up his own cigarette. "Sounds like a life I'd like. But things aren't always easy. We all have something we want, but we're bound to our fate. Us old people know that well." He then took his cigarette and used it to point at Ouka. "But you…can change yours while you're still young."

Ouka looked up at the man and took her cigarette out of her mouth. "…You think so?...Then what should I do…"

The man took her cigarette, dropped it with his own, then stepped on it as he held out his hand to her. "Come with me…"

"Yo~! Earth to Ouka!" Yumi was now on Ouka's back, yelling at her ear. "Are you still asleep?"

"Stop yellin', you midget!" she roared, causing Yumi to jump off and run towards the gates while laughing at her. Mihoshi smiled and chased after Yumi. Ouka watched the two and sighed. "Why'd I remember him now…damn, I'm definitely gettin' old…somethin's happenin', I know it…" Shaking the thought out of her head, Ouka walked towards the gate after her friends.

Up on the roof, Sakuya and Kaworu stood. Kaworu wore a black blazer over a purple t-shirt and grey jeans while Sakuya wore a white t-shirt with a black vest, and denim shorts with black leggings. Busujima was standing behind them, wearing her Alchemist uniform and holding her Kakugane. "Are you two ready?"

"I was ready for a test," Sakuya sighed, "not an invasion…"

"We have Warriors undercover throughout Ginsei," Kaworu explained. "Warrior Busujima will create a city-wide fog to hide whatever's out there, but at the same time make it harder for them to find the school. The Warriors can take care of anything they find out of the ordinary. They're trained like that."

"What about us?" Sakuya asked. "What if the others recognize us?"

"I have a solution for that. But as for you…well, blue hair isn't exactly normal, is it?"

Sakuya sighed once more and placed her hand onto her chest. "I'll…find a way. I shouldn't worry about it now…"

"Busujima-san, how long until the plan begins?"

Busujima held out her Kakugane. "I'll need exactly ten minutes before I've combined enough molecules to create a citywide fog around Ginsei."

Ten minutes before the plan begins. Sakuya could feel her Kakugane heart pounding. Kaworu looked at her before turning back to Busujima. "And how long can you keep it up?"

The female Warrior was silent. "Mission time is…two hours. Buso Renkin!" Her Kakugane opened up, and a brass-colored metallic gas mask with wires extending from the back covered her entire head. "Buso Renkin of the Gas Mask, Aerial Operator!"

Now that Busujima was ready, Sakuya and Kaworu turned to the city from the school's view. "Are you ready?" Kaworu asked.

"More than ready…" Sakuya answered, gripping her chest tightly.

The black-haired woman walked down the street, eying certain individuals: a tall man with long wild hair, a short man with blonde hair hiding in the alley, and a woman with long blue hair and a scar on her nose. She smirked as she looked towards Ginsei Academy from her view. "Here we go…" Then she noticed that a fog began to flow around her; she could hear the sounds of the citizens complaining and worrying about this sudden weather change. "Hmph, so they're going to mess with my babies' independent senses, huh? Not a problem. If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself."

With a wide toothy grin, she ran through the mist towards the school gates.

"Stabilizing…" The mist was shooting out of the gas mask's nose at an alarming rate, as well as the wires on the back. "Oxygen levels are stable. We are now the only part of Ginsei Academy without fog."

"They're coming…" Kaworu stated. Sakuya gripped her chest tightly.

"Counting down before mission begins. Ten…nine…" The mist began to envelope the gates of the school. Only the courtyard was clear. "Eight…seven…" Kaworu looked at Sakuya to his left. "Six…five…" Sakuya looked back as a drop of sweat slid down her cheek. "Four…three…" The two held hands for a time. "Two…" Then they turned at the gate. "One!"

There was a loud roar from where the gate was, and two mechanical tigers launched themselves towards the school.

"What was that?" one student gasped from the classroom as they looked out the window. "I just heard something!"

"I heard it, too!" a male panicked. "What's going on outside?"

Mihoshi's eyes were on the mist. "Why…do we have a fog and mist in the summer?"

"What are those?" Yumi was at the window, pointing at two large mechanical tigers running towards the school entrance.

Ouka looked down at the window, gritting her teeth. "I knew it…somethin's happenin' now…"

Ouka Hayasaka looked at the window, gripping her Kakugane from under her desk. "It's begun…"

"BUSO RENKIN!"

Two loud voices echoed throughout the school grounds as the students watched a figure with long blonde hair jump down from the roof. He bore a large white claymore in his right hand that was brought down on one of the tigers' heads. He then quickly slashed at the second tiger through the face. "Buso Renkin of the Claymore! Garden of Eden!"

Another loud roar echoed as a third tiger charged through the mist, heading straight for the boy. All of a sudden, a large sword plowed through its center from above, cutting it in half as a girl with blue braided hair and a red scarf around her mouth stomped on its face. The scarf was connected to the sword. "Buso Renkin of the Buster Sword! Grand Gaia!" More roars echoed as the girl turned to the boy. "You should keep your hair untied more often, Kaworu-kun."

Kaworu smiled back. "A scarf around your face…just like you, Sakuya-kun."

As Sakuya looked up at the window, Ouka's eyes widened. "Is that person…looking at us?" she muttered to herself.

"Look, look!" Yumi exclaimed. "Those guys are fighting the monsters! Like heroes from a shounen manga!"

"Heroes?" one student yelled. "There's no such thing! These guy can take down those monsters…they must be monsters too!"

"But they're helping us!" Mihoshi protested, but the other students were blind to the fact as more tigers bursted through the mist.

Then the door slid opened. "Mihoshi-chan! Yumi-chan! Ouka-san!" Souta exclaimed as he barged through, Arata and Daisuke behind him. "Are you guys okay?"

"We should be askin' you that, kid," Ouka replied and turned her attention to the window. As the two fought against the tigers, she, Yumi, and Mihoshi were fixated on the blue-haired girl. "That idiot…"

"There's so many of them!" Sakuya complained, swinging her sword behind her at a tiger's leg. "Where the hell are they coming from?"

"Animal homunculi aren't uncommon, but these…don't have the homunculi marks on them!" Kaworu quickly dodged from his side and thrusted his sword from under, impaling another tiger. "I don't sense any human intelligence or conscience from them at all! They must be drones!"

Meanwhile, behind the school, a lone man stood before a horde of tigers. He held his sword tightly and readily. At the first movement, the tigers were slashed down. Shusui stood straight and looked at the walls. "They're attacking from all sides…Mutou-san…Jounouchi-san…Ouka…please be well…Ha!"

"Hiyaa!" With a quick slash, Sakuya placed her back on Kaworu's. "So someone's controlling them?"

"Most likely…and probably the one who took chunks of metal and coins these past two weeks."

"But where is that person?"

The tigers then stopped, making their way to the entrance. From the center of the mist came a well-endowed black-haired woman with a beige tank top and camouflage pants and combat boots. She also wore a green bandana on her head. "Hmph. So you two are the ones that killed our comrades," she smirked. "I'll admit…I underestimated you."

"That woman…" Sakuya muttered, lifting her buster sword. "Is she…"

"That's right, girl! I am X (10) of the Tetsujin Juusan, Tora! And YOU are the one who killed Kabuto." The name made Sakuya shudder. Having to remember Kabuto now wasn't the best time. "That guy…we were actually equal in strength. So defeating him shouldn't have been an easy task. But what ranked me higher than him…was MY BUSO RENKIN'S ABILITY!" Then she ripped a Crimson Kakugane from her chest. "BUSO RENKIN!" A metal gauntlet began to envelope her right forearm, the blades extending from over her knuckles. On her left forearm, a similar gauntlet appeared, but shorter-bladed claws appeared to cover her finger tips and over her nails. "Buso Renkin of the Neko-te (Clawed Gloves)! Fu Jow Pai!"

"Sakuya, be careful!" Kaworu exclaimed, raising his claymore. "This one isn't a pushover! She's stronger than Kabuto!"

"I get it!" Sakuya roared back, glaring at Tora. She could feel her Buso Renkin beating in her hand like a heart. "This woman…is our enemy! That's all there is to it, and we have to beat her to protect everyone!"

"Beat me?" Tora chuckled and took out a handful of yen coins in her left hand. "You don't seem to know…who're you're dealing with!" She threw the coins into the air and slashed them with her right claw. The coins split, and the halves began to grow and shape into metallic tigers of the same size as the others. The charged at Sakuya and Kaworu, who defended against them and quickly dealt with them.

"She can MAKE her allies?" Sakuya gasped.

"I understand now…" Kaworu glared at Tora with his deep violet eyes. "Your Buso Renkin has the ability to create drones from metal."

"I told ya I was stronger than Kabuto." Tora knelt down and petted one of her tigers. "These guys will never betray me. I tell them what to do, and they do it." Then she glared up at the two. "Unlike that guy who likes to do whatever he wants. He's probably inside right now, tearin' it up."

"That guy…wait, someone else is inside the school?" Sakuya turned back towards the building and looked up at the windows to her classroom. "Guys…"

"She's looking at us again…" one student muttered. "Is she…going to attack us?"

"Look, she's running towards the school!"

As Sakuya made a break for the school, Tora appeared before her. "She's fast!"

"Oh no, you don't!" With a swift kick, Sakuya was sent flying back to Kaworu. "Be a good girl and stay where you are!"

Kaworu then placed his hand into the intercom hidden in his hair. "Master Shusui!" he shouted. "There's one more inside the school building!"

"There doesn't seem to be anymore coming," Shusui responded. "I'll take care of it! You and Mutou-san defend the school!"

"Roger!" Kaworu slashed down a tiger and charged at Tora. But Tora was one step ahead and launched her knee into his chest, sending him back to Sakuya. "Ha! You two think you can defend the school, when you can't even get past me? I may have given you more credit than I had intended." She sneered as the tigers began to surround the two. "And now, my partner's about to take care of everyone."

"No…everyone…"

Ouka Kurosaki's eyes widened as a familiar tune, a whistle, echoed outside the classroom. "No…" she muttered.

"Ouka?" Mihoshi and Yumi worriedly looked at their taller friend. "Are you okay?"

"It can't be…he should…he…" She turned to the classroom door to find a shadow standing behind it. Their teacher noticed it as well and stood up.

The door slammed open as the students' attentions were turned to the door. They all gasped at the figure standing there. He was a tall, shaggy-haired man with circular tinted shades in front of his eyes. "Hello, class," he smirked.

"Akira…Ishida…" Ouka was at a loss for words.

"It's good to see you're doing well, Ouka-chan," Ishida smiled and walked towards the class. He eyed the rest of his former students, then at Ouka Hayasaka, and then at Souta Muto. "You all missed me?"

"No way, that guy is dead!" exclaimed one student. "The rumors said that he's dead!"

"I heard he ran away!"

"Oh you kids and your rumors…" With a chuckle, he kicked a desk that was sent flying into a wall in the back. The girls screamed loudly by his actions. "You kids…need to be punished. Demerits won't do, oh no. Death will do just fine…" He then proceeded to rip out a Crimson Kakugane from his chest.

Ouka fell to her knees, scared by this. "Akira…this isn't you…stop this…"

Yumi and Mihoshi looked at their frightened friend, but then they looked up to find Souta standing in front of him. "Souta-kun!"

"Oi, Souta!" Daisuke yelled as he tried to pull his classmate back. "What're you doing?"

"Get back!" Arata added.

"What do you think you're doing…Souta Mutou?" Ishida glared down at the smaller blue-haired boy. "Are you…standing up to your teacher?"

"Teacher or not…" Souta muttered, returning his own determined glare, "I won't let you hurt onee-chan's friends!" He then spread out his arms.

"Hey, stop this!" Daisuke exclaimed.

"Daisuke-kun…Arata-kun…y'know…I told you that dream I had, right?"

Kaworu looked up through the mist and saw a glowing light. "An aurora…" he muttered. "I must be seeing things…"

"Kaworu-kun…do you see that?" Sakuya looked up as well. Soon, Tora was looking up. "An aurora…at this time and place?"

"What…is that?" Tora questioned, raising an eyebrow. All of a sudden, her tigers were pressed down and smashed from where they stood. "What?"

"Did you see that?" Sakuya exclaimed and stood up.

"That aurora…is not just an aurora! That's a…"

The lights grew closer, and a busty woman with an orange hair and a tight, revealing body suit descended the air. The aurora was coming from her back in the shape of butterfly or moth wings. She had frills down her waist that turned into tails behind her, and she wore a pink butterfly mask over her face. "Hmph. You worms seem like you're doing well. Especially you, Sakuya Mutou!"

"That voice…" Sakuya's eyes widened as she recognized this person. "Reiko Motomiya!"

"Non~!" she exclaimed, crossed her arms in and X-like fashion. "No longer am I Reiko Motomiya! I am the successor of the wonderful Papillon-sama, the Bright Moth Queen, Phalène!" She watched the two with blank stares up at her. "…DON'T GIVE ME THAT LOOK! PAPILLON-SAMA SAID IT HAD A NICE RING TO IT, SO IT MUST BE NICE!"

"You…you're a Homunculus who descended with us!" Tora growled at her presence. "Are you betraying us, your own kind too?"

"Hush! Ugly people do not deserve to speak right now!"

"UGLY?"

Reiko…er…Phalène descended to the ground and walked towards Kaworu and Sakuya. She sneered and opened her wings. "As much as I want to pummel you two…ESPECIALLY you, Sakuya Mutou, it's rather unlady-like of me to let someone…take my prey." As she said this, she glared at Tora. "I want our rematch, Mutou, to be without interruptions. I want to kill you at your best. So take care of this mess!" He wings began to glow, and Sakuya felt her Buso Renkin lift her up.

"H-Hey, wait, what is this?" she exclaimed. All of a sudden, she was sent flying towards the windows.

"I dreamed…that I was attacked by a huge monster." Souta clenched his fists as his arms remained spread. "And Sakuya-nee…came and rescued me. Now…I think I'm facing that monster again."

"Get out of my way, boy," Ishida growled and raised his fist.

"Souta-kun!" Mihoshi called out.

"Souta, run!" Daisuke and Arata insisted.

"I'm not running! Because I know…I know…" A light shined from the windows. "Onee-chan is going to protect me! She's going to protect us all!"

"Gaia CRASHER!" A voice echoed from outside as every ran from the windows. A large blade broke through the glass and wall, and the blue-haired girl they were watching charged through. The cloth around her face and at the hilt of her blade was glowing. She charged past Souta and towards Ishida, who blocked her with his Kakugane.

"Onee-chan!" Souta exclaimed happily.

"Hey, isn't that…" The students were in shock of who came to protect them.

Yumi and Mihoshi helped Ouka up as the smiled at their savior. "Sakuyaaa!" Yumi called out. Ouka's eyes were fixated on Sakuya and Ishida. Ishida came to attack them, and Sakuya came to protect them. She knew that Sakuya…would come to protect them.

"Are you guys okay?" Sakuya called out, only to get a collective reply of "Yes, Sakuya!". She turned her attention to her target, but was surprised by his identity. "I-Ishida-sensei!"

"You've come…Sakuya Mutou! I, IX (9) of the Tetsujin Juusan, Sasori, will have my revenge!"

"You've joined the Tetsujin Juusan?"

"Aww, she got through…" Tora let out a disappointed sigh. "Well, good thing we always have back-up." She smirked as she turned to Phalène and Kaworu.

"Back-up…you mean there's another person there besides your partner?" Kaworu gripped his claymore tightly.

"Go help her, pretty boy," Phalène said. Kaworu was shocked by her words. "Mutou needs you. As much as I'd take care of you two myself…I don't let anyone else take my prey. And this ugly woman…is no exception."

"Motomiya-san…"

"Ahp! It's the Phalène!" She then smirked. "Or you can call me the Bright Moth Queen, Pha-"

"Alright, I get it," Kaworu sighed and smiled. "Thank you." He then charged towards Tora, but as he passed her, the Tetsujin Juusan Homunculus didn't stop him, and he ran through the entrance.

"Hmph…" The look on Tora's eyes changed. "If it's not one traitor, it's two."

"You were eying that pretty boy the entire time, weren't you?" Phalène chuckled. "For some reason, you EXTREMELY hate him. Too bad. I'm your opponent now."

Her wings spread themselves, dissipating the mist around the two of them. "I won't let you get away…for laying a hand on my prey!"