The Mark of a Magician
It was official, the announcement board told everything (the teachers, too). Summer break was in a few days.
"Ru... still isn't here..." Miya whispered.
Physically, she was. Yuu had volunteered (forced, totally forced) to pretend to be Ru until everyone can find out where she is and how they would save her. It amazed the other girls how simple ingredients (and a spoonful of chemicals) can make a lot possible when drinking it.
"I'm sure you'll be able to get her back," Ru (who's actually Yuu) answered from behind.
Miya turned to Yuu (Ru?) and asked, "Why? Aren't you coming with us?"
"Not really." Yuu (Ru?) combed a hand through her auburn hair as she said that.
"You're liking her body, aren't you? Though, I still wonder what made her dye half of her hair pink," Miya observed.
Yuu (Ru?) shrugged (emotionless, if I may add), "It's fine. I have to go, though... I'm glad summer break is around the corner."
"Yeah, me too." Miya replied as Yuu (Ru?) walked off.
Kurama sat down on the grass, along with Kurumada, Nishiki and Tsurugi.
"So, are we gonna join her?" Kurumada started the conversation.
Tsurugi groaned as he laid down, hopelessly, on the comforting grass. He said, "I had a good day until this shit comes up. Can one minute be not about that idiot of a princess and the fucking house?"
Nishiki sighed as he held his chin with his hand. He explained, "Unless we want to live our normal lives, we have to reply to her. I think that's the only way to release the doubt on our heads."
"But... us... gifted people? That's gotta be amazing." Kurumada admitted.
"They may be just fucking with us, you know." Tsurugi sighed.
"Sure, but there's still the possibility she's not." Kurama interrupted. He stated, "Did you see her eyes? It's as if she was challenging us to ask the question... if she was kidding or not."
"What do you mean?" Nishiki asked (as Tsurugi broke out to a groan, yet again).
"I mean... she looked as if she was sincere." Kurama finished.
Tsurugi snorted, "Sincere? That's gotta be one of the most impossible things to happen."
"Not really."
Kurumada rolled his eyes and said, "You know, Norihito, Kyousuke ain't someone who agrees completely. He's like the most stubborn person you would ever meet."
Tsurugi scowled and Kurama only nodded in agreement.
"I want to go." Nishiki said and hurriedly explained, "I think the mistress is telling the truth. I want to believe it, Kyousuke... because it looks pretty believable for me."
"... whatever. Do what you want." Tsurugi stated.
Kurumada and Kurama glanced at each other and announced, "We agree with Nishiki, we're going to that house."
Tsurugi widened his eyes in surprise and also doubt. He had a feeling that a minute later, one of them would be laughing out loud in front of him... that one of them would yell: 'YOU GOT PUNK'D!' and everything was just a bad joke.
Unfortunately, there were no chances of that happening.
When summer break started, the girls were all called in by Yuu. She visited every household and dropped them the news that they should go to the house, yet again.
Of course, the girls followed the order (or request?) and walked to the house the next morning. The moment they entered, they found quite a lot of maids and butlers roaming the house.
"How did..." Sato whispered as her eyes followed the possibly hundreds of maids and butlers.
"Wasn't this mentioned...? That these people lived in the house, too." Miya recalled.
Eri asked (to no one in particular- she said), "What if they're just magic? Or, better yet, what if they don't really know that they're cleaning this house?"
"That's mean," Kari frowned at her.
Eri shrugged, as if that comment couldn't really hurt her in any way.
Kei and Sana greeted the girls as they entered the house, "Welcome back, everyone!"
"What happened? Why is everyone suddenly cleaning the house?" Kairi asked the two.
"Uh, well, this always happens when something's about to happen." Sana explained and smiled apologetically (as if it was her fault that there were a lot of people cleaning the house).
"And, well, the mistress wants to see all of us." Kei added.
Kairi felt a metallic taste inside her mouth and her stomach started squirming. She was guilty for eavesdropping, sure, but was it really that bad?
"She does?" Ai squeaked from behind.
Sana nodded and grinned, "Hopefully, what she got for us is good news!"
"Hopefully." Sato emphasized, just to point out that there was a chance that the news could be bad.
Kei sighed and gestured to follow her. She said, "Let's go. The mistress can be a little impatient."
The pathway to the mistress' office was short and fast. The door of the office had red liquid splattered on the front door... and it clearly spelled the first letter of the alphabet; the letter A.
Kairi felt nostalgia kicking in or was it déjà vu? All she knew that the door looked quite familiar to her... but the location did not. The first time she appeared here, the hallway was scarily very dark. Now, the hallway they were in had a turned on light bulb on the ceiling.
Kei knocked and announced, "It's us, mistress!"
There was a click and the door opened. The mistress was inside, in front of a desk with stacks of papers and the room was dark enough so that no one could see the mistress' face. However, there was a light source: a light bulb hanging by a thread on the ceiling. It swung quite loudly, and looked like it would come crashing any time soon.
"Nice to see you, again," the mistress greeted.
"Why are we here?" Sato immediately spoke up.
The mistress said, "I wanted to give you a mission... if you're all okay with it."
Before anyone could speak, Kei already asked, "What is the mission, if I may ask?"
The mistress sighed and stated, "I want you to save the boys. And also Hyuuga Rukia, if you're up to it."
"Ru-chan? We can save her?" Kari widened her eyes.
"...yes. However, I want you to save my allies first before you go and save your friend," the mistress cleared.
"Allies?" Miya asked, "How're we supposed to save them if we don't even know what they look like."
"I think Kei and Sana knows," the mistress said.
Kei stated, "We accept the mission."
"What?" Eri scowled, "Can we at least talk this over?"
"There's nothing to talk about," Sato fumed, "we have to save Ru."
The others agreed. Kairi spoke up, "That's true. Look, Kurokawa, we have to save Ru... she's a friend."
"You're friend, not mine." Eri snapped, but sighed and gave in, "I'll go, just so to know what's gonna happen."
"Will you go or not?" the mistress snapped impatiently. She added, "Look, Kei, Sana, call Yuu and tell her to bring you guys to the site. Just save them, alright? I don't care how you do it. I don't even care of you blow up the whole place, just as long as they're safe. Of course, you'll be paid handsomely."
"Paid? As in money?" Kairi asked, gaping at the information.
"Yes, Iwasawa," the mistress turned to look at her (and Kairi swore she felt a little colder), "real money."
"Here is the spot you requested, madam," the butler who was driving the van stated. Soon enough, the car's engine had already stopped and almost everyone was - kind of? - nervous.
The van had stopped in a parking lot of a large mall. Thankfully, there were no guards who checked if you were loitering around in your cars (plus, the parking was free).
"Thank you!" Kei thanked enthusiastically. She then turned to the people behind her and explained, "We're here to do our mission: save who are needed to save. I'll stay in the van to keep track of what you all are doing. Can three other people accompany me? I know it's too much to ask, but this is also to have back-up just in case."
"I'll do it." Ai said softly.
Kari looked up and nodded, "I'll help you guys."
Sana grinned and gave Kairi, Miya, Sato and Eri earpieces, as they were now tasked to do the field mission. Sana explained, "Use these earpieces to contact anyone, especially to the people in this van. If you are captured, smash it to the ground... with no traces of anything."
The four girls nodded.
"Now, I'm giving you vials. Normally, these are injected to your body, but since it is time consuming: we did this." Sana said and gave out said vials to the four girls. Sana explained, yet again, "Don't drink the vials yet. They give you magic to use, sure... but time is against us now. So, I request everyone to only use it if you need it.
"Also, you guys aren't exactly trained to be professional gymnasts, so you guys have to sneak in without being noticed. Try to hide in dark corners and blend with your surroundings."
"What about cameras to help you see what we see?" Miya asked.
Kei beamed, "This is why we made masks."
"Masks?" Sato asked.
"To conceal your identity." Kei stated as she ruffled into her bag. She gave each one a thick white mask, including Sana. The masks, thankfully, covered everyone's faces. With the number of enough holes and holes wide enough to breathe properly, see properly and speak properly.
Sana groaned, "Do I have to?"
"Yes." Kei scolded and then turned to the four girls, "Everyone got the rules?"
Ru woke up with a jolt. She had a head ache coming on... and a little bit of a metallic taste in her mouth. Her pain felt so downright horrible, that she wished that she was still fast asleep.
Ru tried to stretch her arms, but discovered it stuck against the wall. Meaning, that she was stuck to the wall as well. Panic was already filled in her head as she struggled to get rid of the thing that was binding her.
"Calm down," a voice soothed.
"Who's there?" Ru snapped.
"Calm down, first. You're hurting yourself with the way you squirm."
Indeed, Ru's wrists were not really holding itself well. Thankfully, when Ru had stopped moving from her chair, the pain stopped.
"My name's Kishibe. What brings you down here?" the guy from earlier replied.
"I'm not sure. Just got kidnapped, I guess."
"Why?" Kishibe paused and asked another question, "You know, what is your name?"
Ru pursed her lips, weighing her options. Should she tell the truth or a lie? Just because Kishibe was trapped in here with her, doesn't mean Ru trusts that guy. Regardless, Kishibe did tell her his name. Or it could also be a lie... maybe Kishibe would believe Ru in her lie, just like Ru did to his.
"Misaki." Ru answered.
Kishibe chuckled, "Misaki? I think you look more like a Rukia..."
Ru widened her eyes.
"Well, I guess there is a reason why you're in here." Kishibe stated simply.
"Miya was following directions quite great, if I say so myself." Kari grinned.
Kei's voice rang in everyone's ear as she ordered, "Go straight, Miya. Sato, there're guards down there, so please be quiet. Kurokawa and Kairi: go left in that corner... Great! We can get to the guys fast enough."
Ai stared at the cameras, where they show each girl's own vision (of course, they labeled it as they see fit). She also glanced at the map of the building, trying to see if they're treading down the right path.
Kari was helping Ai to check, too. She asked Kei, "How'd you even get a map of this place?"
"We stole it from Shuu." Kei stated.
"Who's that?" Ai asked silently.
Kei replied, "One of the people who's inside that building."
Silence followed... and then:
"Kai! You're going down the wrong path!" Kari hissed through the earpiece.
Kairi shrieked and retorted, "Then where am I supposed to go?"
"Intruders!"
The shriek must have been heard everywhere.
"Shit! Anyone who approaches an enemy, wipe them out with magic, understood?" Kei stated, "Also, Aiko has already tracked where they keep the guys hostage. Miya, Kurokawa; help the guys and don't worry; we're giving you directions. Sato and Kairi; try to be a distraction and destroy your earpiece now-"
Said persons; Sato and Kairi had already stomped their earpiece and pulled out the vials, drinking them in one gulp.
Sato ran until she found some enemies to mess with. She then pulled out her fukiya, a Japanese blowgun. It's a long tube, somewhat like a pipe, but lighter and uses darts to hit an enemy. It was said to be a weapon of a ninja.
She filled her tube with a dart and blew it out forcefully, hitting an enemy with it... and when the others started using their guns, Sato simply deflected it with her magical barrier.
Kairi, meanwhile, simply teleported everywhere with two daggers in hand, slashing the back of anyone who she thinks is an enemy.
Eri and Miya met halfway to the place assigned to them.
"Just another day, huh?" Miya chuckled as she ran with Eri.
Eri rolled her eyes and stated, "Not really."
"There! Stop!" Kei shouted through the earpiece.
Eri scowled, "Try not to shout so loudly."
"Sorry." Kei apologized.
Regardless, Eri and Miya stopped. At the end of the hall was a large doorway, which you would have think it was the office of a president on the other side, but Miya was thinking otherwise.
"Open it." Kei and Kari urged the two.
Eri slammed the doors open. Miya sighed and stated, "Could have been more gentler."
The inside of the room was indeed beautiful, flourished carpeting, a chandelier above them, shelf full of books practically everywhere... there was even a hint of fresh lavender that could be smelled. In the center of the room, a mahogany desk was stationed there with a paper and a pen on top. And at the back of the desk was a large window which you can see the garden.
Regardless, Miya glanced at the paper on the desk and realized it was an unfinished letter. It was some kind of suicide note, with apologies here and there, some goodbyes, and regrets. Who the receiver (or the sender, in fact) was not hinted in the letter.
"What's that?" Eri asked.
"Some kind of letter."
Eri shrugged, "Oh well."
And Eri opened all the drawers of the desk. She searched continuously and found a remote inside one of the drawers.
"A remote?" Miya asked, "Without a TV?"
Eri snorted and pressed the 'on' button.
Immediately, the book shelves slid open, revealing hollow rooms in each.
"Miya?" a voice croaked.
"Ru?" Miya tried and and ran to the voice she heard.
"Miya! Help me!" Ru groaned. This time, Miya was sure where Ru was and successfully untied her (luckily, it was an easy knot). Eri was behind them at that time before there were men shouting.
"FREEZE!" a group of men ordered as they pulled out their guns.
"Kurokawa-san, please distract them for a while." Miya pleaded.
Eri sighed and pulled out her vial. She immediately drank it and used her ice to hold the shouting men off.
Miya, meanwhile, moved from room to room (or jaile to jail?), trying to help the guys who were kidnapped. Ru and Kishibe (the latter freed because of Ru) were also untying the other guys.
But, more men drew closer to the room and lit up random things and threw it inside the room. Soon enough, smoke was already enveloping everyone and Eri couldn't compete with the fire.
"Try to escape through the window!" Miya coughed up.
And the large window was shattered into pieces.
The ride home was quite terrifying.
Especially when the building behind you exploded with no reason at all.
"I found the bombs installed by Hakuryuu. It was actually pretty easy." Sana laughed heartily.
Hakuryuu cracked a smile.
The others chuckled, cheering with their kind-of-victory.
Yet, there was still a lot of question left unanswered.
An update for all you guys~
Anyway, see you next week... :]]]
I kind of rushed this though, so point out the mistakes, if you may? :DDDDDD