Author's Note: Apologies for the delay. I humbly appreciate all of the reviews for this story so far. Keep it up. I encourage you to tell me what you guys think.
With a sigh of relief, Ragna and Tsubaki had arrived at the town. Between fights and nonstop walking and traveling, all Tsubaki wanted was to rest. She kept leaning against the criminal when she that felt waves of fatigue had caught up to her. Ragna didn't seem to mind at all. When a small clinic came to sight, he smiled at her. "Hang on. We're almost there."
She gave him her own broad smile, "Thank you Ragna. For everything. Even though we're supposed to be enemies, I appreciate your kindness."
Ragna had no objections when he felt her lean closer. Feels a little weird, considering I've never had anyone so close to me, though. Exhaustion proved to be a faster opponent with balance for her. "No problem."
"You're nothing like how to stories make you out to be. You're a lot nicer than I assumed."
"…You know, that's gotta be the first time someone from the damned Library called me good. Well…" His voice trailed off as she closed her eyes, losing consciousness. Chick keeps getting knocked out. After heaving a sigh, he scooped the rest of her body, good thing she's light, and trudged to the clinic.
When she woke up, Tsubaki's first thought was bemusement. Why am I in a bed? Where am I? Slowly, memories started flowing in. Memories of Ragna, traveling, and Azrael. Had I passed out again? Did Ragna take me here? A rhetorical question. Of course, he must have.
"Oh, you're finally awake now, huh? Are you feeling alright?" A sudden female voice sounded in the room. Tsubaki turned to see notice a olive-skinned, young girl walk through the door. She was rather small. She wore her hair in a bun at the top of her head and donned on a white Chinese outfit with a black sash tied into a butterfly. "Looking at your bed head, I don't have to ask."
"Where am I? Miss…"
"Oh, excuse me. My name is Linhua." Linhua responded with a smile. She originally worked in Orient Town, the once proud assistant of Litchi Faye-Ling. Unfortunately, when Litchi defected to join the likes of the Librarium, the dispensary closed. She was left to look for a job and eventually settled in the town. "You were passed out for quite some time. Than man who brought you stayed for some time. In fact, you woke up about ten minutes after he left."
"Did he say which way he was going?" Tsubaki had to find Ragna. Passing out is not a proper farewell and 'thank you'.
"No he didn't. But he did leave these." The nurse exited the room. After a brief moment, she came back with a familiar book and short sword. Izayoi. Tsubaki had almost forgotten that her treasured weapon was in the hands of Ragna while traveling.
"Thank you. Um… may I ask the extent of my injuries?"
Linhua chuckled and then spoke. "Nothing too major. A minor concussion, but nothing too serious to worry about. They were too minor to consider adding it to a bill. If you are in a rush, you are free to leave."
"Once again, thank you. But…I think I will rest for a bit longer."
"Take your time." Linhua was somewhat bothered knowing that a NOL officer is staying longer. I still can't trust them. Litchi…
When the nurse left the room, Tsubaki lay in the bed, pondering. Should I go after Ragna? But…what if he rebukes me? It doesn't matter. I at least need to find him and sincerely thank him for everything. …It's decided, I'm going to look for him. Without another word directed at Linhua, Tsubaki rose from the bed and left.
Wandering through the streets, Tsubaki sighed. He couldn't have gotten too far, had he? For almost 20 minutes, she searched the labyrinth of the town, but to no avail. When she meandered further on, she saw 4 tough-looking, older men in view. Unease and discomfort came to her as she as they came closer. Suddenly, she felt a slight surge of pain as she stumbled to the side. One of the rouges purposely bumped into her.
"Whoa now! I know chicks like to get close, but you're going to far." His voice was rough. His companions snickered behind him.
"Excuse me. I have neither have business nor time to deal with you and your contemptible 'pick ups'." Tsubaki exclaimed with an edge of annoyance in her voice.
The fist man approached closer, with is friends just behind him. Without the officer knowing, he started to slowly produce a switch blade from his back pocket. "Come on now, babe. Don't be like that."
Fire seared in Tsubaki's eyes as she spoke louder. "Excuse me! If you do not leave at once, then in the name of the Librarium, I will have no choice to arrest you. You will be trialed for obstruction and a public slandering of an officer."
The man behind his fellow gave his own little chuckle. A cold mirth with no humorous mark. "Unfortunately, we rather don't take orders from a bitch from that sham organization." As if on cue, each men produced their armament.
The lone NOL officer readied herself, opening up her stance. At a blink of a eye, her treasured Izayoi materialized in her hands. Her short sword extended about two-thirds of its normal size, a threat to back off the punks. With that, the men charged forward, edges of lust in the eyes, roaring.
Shit. How do I get out of this town? It's like a goddamn maze here. Ragna, now traveling lonesome once again, cursed himself for getting lost again. After taking Tsubaki to the clinic to check her in, he had left the clinic with the news of minor cuts and a concussion. While on the road, thoughts of Tsubaki poured in through his head. Heh. A Library soldier called me nice. That took me off guard. Still, it felt nice to help her. A little off of my forte, but what the hell? Hope she opens her eyes and leave the Library.
While lost in his thoughts, Ragna jumped at sudden screams, both seemed to be coming from a woman and a few gruff men. Annoyed with the bedlam, he looked around curiously. Upon looking, flashes of light, as if in a photo booth, caught his attention. Izayoi. With half of a mind telling Ragna to just ignore it and continue on, the other weighed him down to run after it and help her again. Why do I feel like I need to be there for her? Chick has her own problems to deal with and so do I. But… Making his decision, he made a beeline toward the flashing light.
Tsubaki stumbled as she landed. Usually, fighting one opponent was no problem for her, but four, well… that's another story. The brutes never held back. For however long, all damage she managed to do was just mere cuts and bruises on the assailants. I'm usually stronger than this. Is it because I still need to rest? While lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice a punch heading straight toward her solar plexus. She glided against the sidewalk in the ally, losing her grip on her sword. Struggling for breath, she rose onto her hands and knees. Her body felt numb when all four pounced on her, a hard land on her back.
She struggled when one man pinned both of her arms over her head. The fourth of the group clasped her legs solid on the ground, preventing any kicking. The leader bent down to straddle her hips and inched his head as close to hers as possible.
"See what you caused? If you'd cooperated earlier, we would have been done already."
One hand pulled out a cloth and shoved it in Tsubaki's mouth. She gave away muffled screams, only to heard by no one. Tsubaki's eyes changed from determination to sheer terror. They were going to… She struggled to pry everyone off. She screamed louder against the cloth in her mouth, closing her eyes with tears glistening.
The man only chuckled and pinned her head harder to the ground, inching his head closer to hers. "Shhh…" When the second man of the group dropped to her level, his hands made its way under the seams of her shirt. He started to pull her Zero Squadron top up, slowly exposing parts of her bare stomach.
"Mmpphhh! Mmppphhhhh! Mmmmmppphhhhh!" Please! No! Stop! Tsubaki screamed at the top of her lungs, but the cloth was shoved deeper in her mouth. She struggled with all her strength to lessen anyone's grip, but they remained, firm on her four limbs. Her shirt was raising until she felt the edge just under her breasts.
"HELL'S FANG!"
The loud, sudden shout startled everyone. A figure with white hair and a red jacket rocketed through, his right arm engulfed in a purple aura. Ragna's fist collided with the man on top Tsubaki. The other three men released their grip on her in confusion as to what happened. Immediately, she stood up, removed the gag, and ran away from the fallen man, grabbing her weapon on the way. The other three attackers were to stunned to react.
When she made her way to Ragna's side, Tsubaki felt a surge of comfort run through her. She managed to give him a small smile. "Thanks."
"You alright?" Ragna asked, concerned.
Her only respond was a nod of perseverance. When they both turned to the assailants, the leader was on his knees, glaring. "What gives?" He stood up, weapon once again in hand, but in a trembling grip. He signaled his buddies to ready themselves as well.
Tch. We may be outnumbered, but they're unmatched. With a roar he charged towards two men, once again fist surrounded with purple aura. As if on cue, Tsubaki charged forward towards the other two. Her book acting as a shield and a somewhat small battering ram, catching them off guard and smashed into the two simultaneously. She winced as they banged into the wall. They lay there, not moving. One glance at their chests informed her that they were breathing, that they were unconscious. Without another look, she rushed to Ragna's side to where his side of the battle took place.
After stepping over the third out-cold man lying, she took notice of the fight between Ragna and her assailant. Blades clanged with full force. However, the brute looked far too tired to keep it up. Ragna crouched down, sweeping his left foot under his feet. The man fell back toward the ground. Without hesitation, Ragna bent down and yanked on the guy's shirt, pulling him against his will. "Lights out, asshole!"
With that, the criminal socked the man's stomach with full compulsion. As he doubled over, Tsubaki decided to end the fight with a vicious kick to his head. He felt a sharp rap of pain, then saw nothing.
Breathing heavily, Tsubaki looked around then finally at Ragna. After seething his sword behind his back, he turned around without a glance back. Surprised by his actions, Tsubaki raced in front of him. "Wait! Where are you going?"
"Why are you following me? I'm getting the hell out of this place."
She replied, "I… only want to thank you."
He gave a her a questionable look. "You already did, and way too many times at that as well."
"I mean 'thank you' for coming to help me and…" Somewhat uncertain what she was doing, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, eyes closing with content. "I really appreciate what you did, Ragna. It… means a lot for you to go out of your way for me like that."
Awkward by the feeling of someone embracing him, Ragna didn't know what to do. This feels…nice, actually. At last, he returned the hug. "Don't mention it. Glad I could help."
Her cheeks burned slightly. What was that? I'm not seriously… She pulled away and asked, "Um, how can I make it up to you?"
He gave her a small chuckle, followed by a smirk. "Nah, you don't owe me anything. Ain't that much of a jackass to demand catering from you."
"But…"
Tch. Chick won't leave me alone. "Aren't you on a mission?"
"Yes. My mission was to capture you, dead or… alive."
"Not trying to kill me would be good then. But… get rid of the Izayoi. If you have any idea what the hell it-"
"I know well on the price on using such a weapon. However…"
Ragna sighed and turned the opposite way and started to trudge onward. "Whatever. Do what you wanna do. I suggest we split ways, don't want anyone in this stupid town to see me with a Library soldier."
"Okay. Thank you, again, Ragna." With that they parted ways. She turned to look back at him. Thank you, Ragna. I don't care if we're supposed to be enemies. You've done too much for me to hate you anymore.
As Ragna walked on, he noticed her presence getting fainter, telling him that she's moving farther away. That girl is capable to open up to the truth. Hope she doesn't stay with the Librarium.
After walking for hours, Tsubaki managed to get lost. Where she was going, she had no idea. I should continue my mission, but… I don't know if I can bring myself to fight him again. He's done a lot for me.
Descending down to the lower levels, she held back a gasp when she looked in front of her. A tall silhouette stood before her, back in her direction. She could make out a sword, as long as his body, strapped to his back. The white-clad armor was hard to miss.
He spoke, loud enough to silence all noises around the two. "What are you doing here, Tsubaki Yayoi?"