Three Day Storm

#10: Charming Doors

X X X

The four of them walked in a diamond shape, Ban at the lead because Shido lacked the breath to argue the matter. Juubei brought up the rear, listening acutely to Kazuki's footsteps for any indication of trouble. Ban was relying on the fact that Juubei couldn't see the VR world they were now in; hopefully it would be an advantage… unless they got separated. But they'd all faced the VR before... they'd survive.

He hoped.

The group was on tenterhooks as they made their way forwards, every sense hyper alert for the first sign that the Beltline was going to try and stop their journey. They didn't speak, each fighter too concerned about keeping their energy levels up after the mad dash to exit Lower Town.

The quiet suited Ban just fine. He'd become greatly accustomed to working amongst thieves again, and there was a certain silent quality that they learnt to exhibit in almost every manner. You spoke when it was necessary, and you were loathe to leave an imprint on the world you were passing through.

Of course, the Limitless Fortress liked to throw all of that to hell. Lower Town - and the people from it, like Monkey-boy back there - wasn't so good at staying quiet. It made sense, really. After all, the lower town region was a place full of rough edges and cracks; people who were wholesomely dysfunctional and ironically wouldn't survive in a better world. Makubex worked hard these days to help make his people happy, but there remained a brutal reality under it all; the hard fact of having to fight in order to survive. Being quiet and trying to be unnoticed in the grand scheme of things was not something the Lower Town was good at. It was not how you survived.

Then there was the Beltline… It was a place that held answers to every question that was asked in life, answers they'd never get a hold of or understand. It was essentially a smirking, arrogant creation that only seemed to extend the mystery and power of Babylon City. The Beltline helped to make them all into marionettes, forcibly danced towards traps and pitfalls that they'd avoid if they had the chance. It was a bit more thief-like, but not greatly. The Beltline was too busy embodying the rule of the Gods over 'their' Fortress… and that always pissed him off.

But Babylon City... yeah, was where the thieves lived. They took all that they could from the people who couldn't escape their claws; the souls that Makubex couldn't protect, the ones who the Gods refused to let go. Ever since his first visit to the Limitless Fortress, Ban had known this was true.

He'd never had any idea that it could happen to someone he knew and cared for.

At first, Ban was too busy with his thoughts to notice that the hall was getting wider as they walked along, the walls gently sloping away a bit more with every step. It wasn't until he glanced to his comrades that Ban realised just how far apart they all were. He didn't slow or change his pace as he turned an eagle eye to the space they were travelling through, intrigued by the subtle nature of the change. As the group rounded a sharp curve in the hall, the cause of the change became clear.

After all, it was hard to miss the blank wall a short distance ahead, as cold and faceless as the corridor they had spent a lifetime walking through. They came to an unspoken but unanimous stop and at the front of the group, Ban narrowed his eyes as he studied it sceptically. He knew the others were doing the same, watching this flat wall that felt far more menacing than it actually was.

He heard Shido snort dismissively and step forward a little, obviously keen to keep on going. "We're ready," he muttered, speaking for the group. Ban felt his blood warm in the excitement of an upcoming fight and disguised it with a firm nod as he started to walk once more.

"We are," he confirmed, blue eyes never leaving the wall ahead.

The smooth metal surface began to ripple as they got closer, distorting and reforming into new shapes and colours. Here, it was Ban's turn to snort in contempt.

"Is this the best they can do?" he asked rhetorically, as four doors solidified in the wall ahead of them. They were eerily familiar, labelled with large numbers and made of a heavy steel. In short, they were the very same doors (albeit minus two) that Makubex had presented with them during their recovery of IL. "Four lousy doors?" He had played this game already - twice, and now the Gods wanted to play it a third time?

Well, at least this time, his opponent would not be Fudou. Although, if he was honest about the matter, his luck with new acquaintances was roughly on par with his luck about money, and both were utterly miserable. There were quite a few enemies that could easily be waiting on the other side of his door... whichever door that was.

"How do we choose?" Kazuki asked, that petite frown returning to his face.

"Perhaps it is a game, like last time," Juubei suggested.

"There is no time for a game," Shido said impatiently, folding his arms.

As much as it pained him to admit it, Ban had to agree with the Beastmaster. There wasn't time for this kind of shit - he would be surprised if the Gods had forgotten about their mission to recover Makubex, since they themselves had a hand in that V-R saga. This was old, this was a known opponent, even if the strength of the V-R was stronger here than in Lower Town.

If he had to guess, Ban was willing to say that his thoughts were not unique. Kazuki was scanning the floor in front of them as well as behind, looking in case that same die was sitting innocently on the ground. "If it is random, then how do we choose?" he asked, when it became apparent that they would have no such luck this time around.

Ban sighed, pushing his glasses higher up his nose. He looked upwards and adopted his very best look of Don't Push My Buttons. "Give us a hint, you old bags," he said to the ceiling, eyes narrowed to a glare specially designed for whoever watched them from somewhere above.

"Look -"

Following Shido's voice, Ban looked away from the ceiling to see the man walking forwards, stooping a little to look at the doors. "Around the handles -"

"What is it?" Juubei asked, taking a step or two forwards. Ban could tell that he wasn't sure where exactly the doors were, since his own senses were conflicted with what the VR was trying to tell him. Perhaps not the best ally that Makubex could have sent, after all.

Kazuki moved forward as well, peering in a morbid curiosity. "String," he said, with a hint of excitement - or admiration? - in his voice.

"And an animal tooth -" Shido said.

"There's a needle hanging here," Kazuki added, twisting to look for his partner. "This one must be yours, Juubei."

Ban, meanwhile, scowled at the little snake charm hanging off of the fourth and final door. "How creative," he said sarcastically. With a mutter to himself he yanked it off of the handle and pocketed it. "I guess this answers our question," he said to the others. By now they all stood at their own doors, Shido at the fartherest and Kazuki at the nearest as the three of them looked to him.

Kazuki was the only one with a smile, as small and careful as it was. "See you on the other side," he said to Ban. He pushed open the door and stepped through. It swung shut, sealing Kazuki away.

Juubei was only a step behind, with a curt nod to the two remaining men before doing the same.

Standing at far ends of the wall, Ban watched Shido the same as Shido watched him. It was the Beastmaster who broke eye contact first, twisting the handle and moving forwards. "Don't be late," he tossed to Ban.

"I'll beat your ass there, monkey boy," the thief shot back, but had to wonder if Shido had heard him - the man was already gone.

With a small sigh, Ban told himself (and not for the first time) that if Ginji didn't appreciate all of this, he'd thump him when they got back. With that thought firmly at the front of his mind, Ban stepped out of the corridor and into his own little world, tense and ready for the challenge.

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To be continued.