Waging War

Kurama growled at the person in front of him. He asked, "So, you're not going to say anything about it?"

The person he was talking to was Shindou Takuto. The two were perfectly minding their own business inside the mall, but that's when Kurama realized that the person in front of him was Shindou. Shindou was suddenly blocked by Kurama, a person who the former wanted to stay away from... preferably, forever.

"No, I do not doubt the mistress. Unlike you." Shindou stood firm with his decision.

"Boring. Well, it is like you." Kurama sighed and then asked, "The mistress is a mysterious person. Are you not curious about it?"

Shindou shook his head, wondering why Kurama would force Shindou to betray the mistress. "They say curiosity killed the cat, Kurama-san."

Kurama wrinkled his nose before replying, "Yeah, and satisfaction saved it."

"This is actually harder than I thought." Kurumada stated aloud.

He sat at the edge of the fountain in a park. Hopefully, no one decides to surprise him so he doesn't get to fall down the large fountain. There were coins in there, symbolizing the coins thrown by lovers and tourists alike.

Groaning, Kurumada looked at his watch, which read ten in the morning.

"Kurumada-senpai?" a voice asked, hesitating in calling the boy.

"What?" Kurumada asked as he turned around to see the person who called him.

Kirino Ranmaru waved at him. Kurumada grinned at Kirino and gestured to join him. Kirino raised an eyebrow at this but decided to accompany him anyway, not bothering to question his favor.

"Say, Kirino. You do have powers, don't you?" Kurumada asked immediately.

Tactless! Kirino thought, but replied, "Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Well... is that the reason the mistress hired you?"

"Hired? She didn't hire me. I simply volunteered to help her."

"Why?"

Kirino pursed his lips and then sighed, "It's... you won't understand."

Kurumada raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you've never been in love..."

"What? So you like the mistress?" Kurumada asked, bewilderingly.

Kirino blushed and then shouted, "NO!"

Kurumada chuckled, "I didn't think so. Well, if you did it willingly, have you ever wondered why the mistress refuses to tell you anything?"

"Yes, but I know it must be for a good reason."

"Kirino, will you help us, then?" Kurumada pleaded.

"Help you do what?" Kirino asked.

Kurumada smirked, "Help us ask the mistress what she's hiding."

"You mean threaten her?"

"If that's what you prefer, yes."

Kirino thought about it and then answered 'yes'.

Nishiki strolled the streets, waiting for certain people to show up. Not that he called them over, he just simply needed to 'bump' into the people he was looking for.

Nishiki stopped immediately as soon as he saw a person he knew had something to do with the mistress. He called, "Hey, Kishibe! How are you doing?"

Kishibe glanced at Nishiki and proceeded to wave. "Hello, Nishiki-san!"

"What brought you here in the park?" Nishiki asked.

"Well, I was supposed to go back to the house, but it's kind of..." Kishibe simply trailed off.

Perfect! Nishiki grinned. Kishibe looked like a person who was persuaded easily. "What are you saying, Kishibe? Are you tired or anything?"

Kishibe glanced at Nishiki and then pointed a sharp katana at him. Kishibe stated, "Why do you want to persuade me, Nishiki-san? Do you really think you'd win against the mistress?"

Nishiki gritted his teeth. Did this guy have telepathy?

"Yes, I do, Nishiki-san. I advised you to keep your thoughts to yourself for a while, I'll read them anyway."

Nishiki sighed and then asked, "So, you don't approve our reason on why we want to threaten the mistress?"

"Well, it's a pretty stupid reason. I have been in the shadows, but I didn't question the mistress."

"So, you are curious."

Kishibe smirked. "Let's strike a deal, rookie. If I win this fight, you won't bother me again. But if you win this fight, I'll consider being a part of your 'resistance'."

Nishiki pursed his lips. "Fine."

This was going to be the most idiotic risk he had to take. Regardless, Nishiki unsheathed a long black sword Tsurugi forced him to take. It was amazing how the people in the park never noticed it.

"Okay, this is gonna sting. Get ready, Kishibe!" Nishiki shouted as he pointed the sword at said person.

Kishibe narrowed his eyes and asked, "I'm ready. Are you?"

"Yeah."

They clashed swords. To anyone who was watching them, they would know that Kishibe was dominating Nishiki. Kishibe was much faster and more experienced with sword fighting, however, Nishiki was much stronger than him. So, no matter how many strikes Kishibe gave, Nishiki won't fall down nor move from his spot.

Kishibe noticed this, so he decided to use some of his powers... one of them was telekinesis. A park bench suddenly came sailing down near Nishiki and that made Nishiki drop his sword in surprise.

"Got you!" Kishibe grinned as he was about to strike Nishiki right on the stomach.

Nishiki widened his eyes, thinking that: this isn't fair!

And that's where it happened: the place where Kishibe was about to strike him turned into pure metal. Kishibe willed to stop, but his sword had already stabbed Nishiki... causing the sword to crack and turn to pieces.

Nishiki mused as he realized his whole body was pure metal, making him look like a robot.

Kishibe gritted his teeth as he stated, "Well, I think this makes what I did fair."

Nishiki beamed. "I won, right?"

"...yeah."

Tsurugi already made preparations.

"Hey, ain't we gonna call those girls who we came with the first time we entered the house?" Kurama asked.

Tsurugi grunted, "I couldn't care less about those girls."

Kurama sighed, "Well, they should be curious about it, too."

Tsurugi shook his head as he drew on the map. They were inside Tsurugi's room, officially made the HQ of their so-called 'resistance'. Good thing Tsurugi Yuuichi simply allowed them to do whatever. That was good, because the room was already filled with blueprints and stacks of papers were everywhere. They actually don't no what to do if Tsurugi Yuuichi was strict.

Kurama grabbed a piece of paper from a table and glanced at it. He mused, "You must have great memory to see the weapons that were stashed in there."

"That's simply what Kirino told me. He said there were hundreds of weapons inside the storage room... we just didn't see it." Tsurugi replied.

"So you drew them? Honestly, you're quite the artist here." Kurama laughed.

Tsurugi rolled his eyes and then finished writing on the map he had. He said, "Well, since we already know what to do, I guess we have to execute it... we invade tomorrow after lunch."

"After lunch? What for?" Kurama frowned.

Tsurugi smiled, "...well, most people would feel lazy after lunch. The sun's rays are the hottest and anyone would want to sleep by that time. It just means that their staff would probably be sleeping."

"All for that reason? What about the other workers who are working?"

"Well, they won't be."

"What do you mean?"

Tsurugi smirked. "Kirino got us some smoke bombs. The smoke could make anyone fall asleep."

"...and here I thought that guy always had a stick up his ass."

The mistress, or rather, Amaterasu propped her legs up.

"You do know that Tsurugi's going to come to you sooner or later, right?" Natsumi told the girl.

Amaterasu scoffed. "Let him do what he wants. I don't want to see that guy ever again."

"Why not?"

"He gives off a scary aura."

"So, you are scared of him?" Natsumi mused.

"...no. Rather, I'm scared because I'm blind. Usually, I know how a person acts and thinks, but Tsurugi's different- a bad different. I don't know what he could possibly do..." Amaterasu drawled.

Natsumi glanced at the younger person. She stated, "He's a threat to our house."

"So am I."

The room became silent.

Amaterasu broke the ice by asking, "Shouldn't you be going back to your husband? He misses you."

"This is my job, mistress. Mamoru understands that."

Amaterasu leaned her head back on the soft, comfy chair. "So, when are you planning on having a baby?"

Natsumi was flustered. "MISTRESS!"

Kirino opened the storage room.

It was the next day, and they were back in the house.

"Wow, okay. I never expected this." Kurumada whistled.

Thousands of weapons were propped up everywhere. Missiles, bazookas, rifles, pistols... it was that kind of stuff you'd see in any action movie where the good guys needed guns.

Except, well, Kurumada and the others weren't exactly the good guys.

"Well, grab what you can and let's scoot. Kishibe and Fei are standing on guard, but we still need to hurry. You'll never know with the mistress, I can never figure that girl out..." Kirino sighed and then picked up random weapons.

Kurumada nodded and proceeded on taking large quantities of grenades and etc.

Meanwhile, Kurama and Nishiki were tasked on finding the mistress' room.

"Is it almost one o'clock?" Kurama yawned.

Nishiki nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."

"Well, shit... we can't find that damned room and you know how Tsurugi's strict on-"

"Oh, look. I found it!" Nishiki grinned.

Kurama frowned. "That was quick."

Nishiki glanced at his watch and then nodded. He stated, "Okay, we still have five minutes. Signal Tsurugi."

Kurama nodded and then brought out a walkie talkie. He barked, "We've found it. Top floor, somewhere at the east hall and the third door from the right. Good luck."

"You were supposed to say 'over,' damn it!" Saru shouted over the phone.

"You didn't use 'over' too, monkey!" Kurama retorted.

"Who're you callin' monkey, you lazy freak?!"

"Where did you even get that idea?!"

"Stop it! We're almost done... get ready for a battle." Tsurugi's voice cut off their fight.

Amaterasu sat up and then looked at Natsumi.

Natsumi shrugged. "I don't know what's happening outside."

Amaterasu hit a button and immediately spoke, "Intruders. Anyone who looks hostile are to be eliminated... even if they are our allies."

"Should you really be giving that order?" Natsumi asked as Amaterasu put her hand off the button.

"You're always criticizing me. Go to your family, I need to take care of this."

"But-"

"Alone."

Natsumi sighed, "If that's what you wish."

Shindou sniffed as he saw Kirino and Kurumada walking towards him.

Kirino glared. "Shindou, move."

"And why would I?" Shindou asked.

"We need to pass." Kurumada interjected.

"Why?"

"To see our friends on the other side...?" Kurumada replied nervously.

Shindou waved his hands and soon, Kirino and Kurumada were flattened against the wall.

"W-what the hell?" Kurumada sputtered.

Kirino stated, "Shindou can control sounds. Like now, he amplified the sound his hands made and the result was us falling backwards."

"I don't get it."

"Basically, he uses sound to make his opponents fly away."

"Oh."

Kirino rolled his eyes and then concentrated on the floor. A tree emerged at the exact spot Kirino was looking at, this amazed Kurumada. Kirino told at Kurumada, "Eat the leaves of the tree."

"What? Why?!"

"...the leaves temporarily makes your powers appear. The time limit's twenty minutes, so you'd better maximize it."

Kurumada was appalled. "If you can do something like this, why can't you fight?!"

"...I can't fight, or, say, I don't know how to fight. I heal everyone, that's the only extent my powers can do."

Kurumada gritted his teeth. "Don't they teach you how to punch or anything?"

Kirino smiled. "I'm afraid not. Now, go!"

Kurumada nodded and then ate the leaves of the tree. Immediately, his arm started to turn furry and his eyes started to dilate, Kurumada didn't know what was happening. Plus, the smile on Kirino's face was not helping.

"Shape-shifting. What a handy technique." Kirino stated.

Kurumada growled at him... and then widened his eyes. His growl sounded like a wolf of some sort, what the hell happened to him.

"You're like the werewolf man."

The tree was cut in half. Then came out Shindou, looking serious as ever. "Don't think you can stop me."

Kurumada growled and then charged at Shindou. Shindou simply waved his arms and sent Kurumada flying backwards. However, before Kurumada could land on his back (which would have hurt), he already appeared behind Shindou. How he did that, Kurumada will never know.

Kurumada bit Shindou's leg, which kind of looked tasty to him that time.

"What?" Shindou blasted Kurumada.

This time, Kurumada was able to dodge it completely. Kurumada appeared behind Shindou, yet again, with Shindou about to turn to him. Unlike last time, though, Kurumada targeted Shindou's arm.

"Gah!" Shindou wailed and his arm went limp.

Kurumada smirked- or well, tried to, it's not like he could smirk while being a werewolf.

Shindou cleared his throat. "You think just because I lost my arm means I can't blast you to pieces?"

Shindou opened his mouth to sing a note. After, Kurumada's inside felt like it was being churned. Whatever Shindou did, it definitely hurt like hell and he turned back into being a human.

"Don't underestimate your opponents too much." Shindou stated as he brought put a knife.

"Sorry, Shindou, but it loks like you were the one who's underestimating us." Kirino retorted.

A large explosion went off in a hallway. Kariya noticed this and so did the other workers. Kariya gritted his teeth as he figured that Kirino and Kurumada must be there. He ran, shoving some people on his way over... they didn't really like it that much.

"Watch where you're going, bastard."

Kariya widened his eyes as he turned around. "Hakuryuu."

"What the hell are you doing?" Hakuryuu demanded.

"Running...?" Kariya chuckled nervously.

"Are you working for Tsurugi?" Hakuryuu questioned.

"What gave you that idea? Look, Hakuryuu, I'm just curious on what happened. Didn't you see the explosion at all?"

Hakuryuu sighed. "Fine, but I'm coming with you."

This was not going as planned. Kariya walked to the hallway that had exploded a minute ago... with Hakuryuu. It's not like Kariya was afraid of Hakuryuu, it's just that the guy was tense and it didn't help that he was too faithful to the mistress.

Of course, you'd expect Kariya to never be trusted, did you not?

Once they reached the hallway, Kariya gasped at what he saw.

"...Kirino, Shindou and Kurumada... what the hell are they doing?"

"They fainted." Hakuryuu stated.

Kariya looked around and then sighed. Those two idiots used up all the bombs, well most of it. Kariya could see glimpses of grenades and it looked like there was a big bag stashed around the corner. A corner Hakuryuu was going...

"Ah, shouldn't we heal them first, Hakuryuu?" Kariya yelped, trying to buy some time. Hopefully, Saru gets here on time to collect the guns. Kariya was merely on the lookout and he didn't looked forward on delivering that many bombs downstairs.

"What are you talking about? Both Kirino and Kurumada are traitors, they should be eliminated." Hakuryuu pursed.

Kariya chuckled, "Yeah, but Kirino and Shindou are still our comrades, right?"

This time, Hakuryuu faced Kariya with a cold expression. "You're not acting like yourself today."

"What do you mean?" Kariya chuckled nervously.

Hakuryuu slashed Kariya with a sword and asked, "Are you working for Tsurugi?"

Kariya gulped, barely dodging that attack. He said, "What are you talking about?"

"I don't like asking the same questions twice, brat."

Kariya's aura turned cold. "Well, if that's the case. Working for him is too strong a word, I could say I'm just... merely giving him a helping hand."

Hakuryuu flared as he attacked Kariya with his sword. Kariya blocked him with only a knife, but he managed to keep himself unscathed. Hakuryuu, however, must have been impatient because he already attacked with a white ray emitting from his hands.

"That's..." Kariya started to say, but he was striked with the ray hard. Kariya toppled over and laid on the floor.

"The difference of our strength is too high, Kariya. I suggest you tell me what you're planning to do."

Kariya let out a chant, "O gods above, hear my deed. Destroy the one with the strongest greed."

"What the hell?!" Hakuryuu started to cuss as he was enveloped by a thick white light.

"I hate using magic. Especially since I'm the only one who uses chants." Kariya frowned.

After two minutes, Hakuryuu walked out of the white light that he was enveloped. Truthfully, he just sucked the white light in his system, it didn't really hurt that much. Kariya, though, looked like he was still hurting from Hakuryuu's attack.

"You should know very well that I'm invincible to white light. Why did you do it?" Hakuryuu frowned at Kariya.

Kariya shrugged. "The first thing that came to mind and... it was only because I had to buy some time."

"What are you talking about?" Hakuryuu demanded.

"Tsurugi's off to kill the mistress."

Hakuryuu widened his eyes as he started to run.

"Oh no you don't." Kariya chanted, "O gods above, see that I am alive. Try to destroy me with the fire inside."

And the hallway exploded, yet again.

Tsrugi walked in calmly at the mistress' office.

"How did you get in here?" Amaterasu demanded.

"Oh, hello, Amaterasu." Tsurugi sneered.

Wow, the mistress wasn't expecting him to know her name.

"How do you..."

Tsurugi growled, "Let's cut to the chase, woman. What the hell is the 'Family'? And why are we here?"

Amaterasu sighed, "How many times do I have to say: 'because you have powers'?"

Nishiki, who was there the whole time, started to speak, "Then why did you take the girls here?"

"A-ah..."

"We have powers... but that's only because we walked into this house. This house activated it." Tsurugi snarled.

Amaterasu's eyes twinkled, well, if that was possible for a woman who has pure white eyes. "So, you figured it out? Well, this house could activate any person with potential."

"So, why were the girls gathered here?" Nishiki insisted.

Amaterasu sighed, "Because they are needed by the Family. Look, kid, I would have died if they haven't saved me... that's why I serve under them, that's why I left my brother alone and that's why I follow whatever they say."

"That still doesn't explain why-" Tsurugi started.

"I don't know!" Amaterasu exclaimed. "I do things without question, so I couldn't have known..."

Tsurugi sighed as he found that Amaterasu was not lying. "Geez, woman, you're fucking emotional."

Amaterasu frowned and then shook her head. "I- I was expecting you'd do something like this, but I never expected you to suddenly kill most of my staff."

"Saru's good with guns." Nishiki chuckled.

"You're an idiot." Amaterasu stated. "The Jinomji Family is an organization, a mafia that overlooks at all things 'magical' and recruits anyone who can do superhuman feats."

"You're a normal human." Tsurugi noted.

Amaterasu smiled softly, "A human who can see this house's calls and yearns. A normal human cannot see that, for they are blinded by the logic that 'everything can be explained'... when I know not everything can nor should be explained."

Tsurugi frowned, "So, what you're saying is... that those girls you recruited are just like you? A human who was not gifted?"

"True, they are not gifted, neither am I. But we can see things gifted people can see. Normally, a human who passes this house cannot hear the despairs and the wails this house has, but those girls can and you can, too."

"So, then you only knew that we were gifted when we first walked up to your house?"

"The Family wanted those human girls, so I stalked them. You four were just additional package."

Nishiki cleared his throat, noticing the rising tension present once the mistress had said 'additional package'. Clearly, Tsurugi did not like to be compared to something like that. Nishiki asked Amaterasu, "Why are you so calm and answering our questions?"

"Didn't you hear the first time? I said I expected you to do something like this." Amaterasu rolled her eyes.

Well, what did Amaterasu mean by that?

Clearly, she wanted you to get some answers as well!

So, I haven't been updating much recently: SORRY!

I still hope you review, even if I didn't update sooner. :D