Chapter Two - Tsuruko Arc: Disarm Me (With Your Friendship)
"This is really fucked up, Nee-san!" Asuka screeched.
"Just stay behind cover!" Tsuruko had to shout back. But Asuka was right, this was pandemonium. In all her years of experience, she's never seen such an outbreak of carnage like this. Bloodshed never made her squeamish, but this onslaught of violence made her break out in a cold sweat. Modern warfare was bloodcurdling and unceremoniously loud.
"We can't get close to the target like this! We need to find a backdoor of some kind!" Reina recommended.
"I warned you that we needed to wait!" said Subaru. "For the Violet Swords to be frightened, such a disgrace."
"Shut the fuck up, you bitch! You're not helping!" Asuka said colorfully.
All four of them we're pinned in a narrow crevice between two buildings and in the midst of bullets in the air, things were also randomly exploding. Tsuruko calmly tried to think about a way turn this situation around. She looked up into the night sky and found her answer.
"We've got to get to the roof! You three get up there while I distract them!" Not waiting for an answer, Tsuruko rushed into the fray. "Messatsu Zanku Zanmasen - Annihilation Air and Evil-Cutting Flash!" Concentrating her chi, Tsuruko unleashes a giant blast of energy, quickly dispatching the immediate threats. Tsuruko runs to the opposite side of the street and leapes onto the roof of the building. In that split second, she decides to go on ahead of the team. Tsuruko needed to remain unnoticed while still making her way towards the Valkyrie Host. Flash stepping from roof to roof, she stood in front of the five story building, but she wouldn't be able to make the jump from where she stood.
"Jakuzankusen - Lesser Air-Cutting Flash!" Yet with no fear, Tsuruko shatters the outside glass and dives into the third floor.
She glanced outside and saw the others trying stay out of sight on the opposite building. Tsuruko retreated further away from the window, avoiding incoming gunfire. She was spotted and therefore unable to make her way to the roof via flash stepping up the building. Looking around, she noticed the sign "EXIT" over one of the doors. Opening it slowly, peeking through the crack, she realized that it was a staircase. She moved back instantly, avoiding the barrage of bullets.
Tsuruko sensed eight men within the staircase. They were arranged in such a way that was similar to a choke formation. Why she didn't sense them before, disoriented her a bit. But if they were taking strategic positions here, that means that something important was at the end.
"Shin Raikoken - The True Lightning Sword!" Infusing her sword with chi, Tsuruko unleashes an explosion of lightning though the wall, instantly removing the two men at the door. She quickly dashed through the hole and up the staircase. "Zankusen - Air-Cutting Flash!" Releasing her chi in circular fashion, Tsuruko made quick work of the two goons above her.
Reaching the top of the staircase Tsuruko senses two people on the roof. One was crouched a few meters away from the door and the other one was at the edge of the roof. Surprising her enemies by destroying the door may be her best chance, but she couldn't be sure which one she needed to grab. Logic tells her that the one on the edge of the roof would be the target, but she can't be absolutely sure about the other one either. Deciding to knock out both, Tsuruko gets ready.
"Hyakka Ryoran - Many Flowers Blooming in Profusion!" With concentrated intensity, Tsuruko unleashes a blast of chi that spirals in a straight line, blowing the door back and thrusting the first person backwards, but is somehow stopped on him. From that instant, the second person turns around and shoots from a very long gun. Unable to move, Tsuruko could only feel the sheer force of the bullet pass by her face.
"Kakusan Zankosen - Scattering Light-Cutting Flash!" On pure instinct, Tsuruko releases a volley of chi raining down at the sharpshooter. Realizing that the person was a she, Tsuruko immediately checked on the woman. Standing over her injured body, Tsuruko looked for signs of life. The woman was alive, but her breathing was labored. Upon closer inspection, Tsuruko was absolutely sure that this was the target. Her employers would not be pleased-
"Let her go!" Tsuruko looked at the man crawling towards her... and couldn't believe her eyes.
"Keitaro..." Why couldn't she sense it before? That familiar chi was him all along, but what would he be doing here? No, now's not the time for inquisition. He obviously has some kind of bond with her target. Things just got a lot more complicated.
"I won't let you... take her!" Tsuruko didn't have a chance as she saw him brandish the gun. In that instant, Reina descended and kicked the gun out of Keitaro's hand. Reina drew her blade.
"Wait!" Tsuruko commanded.
"What're you stopping me for? He tried to kill you!" Reina reminded.
"I know him. Please, don't hurt him."
"Really? Might I ask how you know this piece of trash?"
"He's not who you think he is. Just a few months ago, he was the landlord of the apartments where Motoko is staying. I have no idea how he came to be here, but he is a friend."
"Didn't look like it to me." Reina snorted.
"I'm not discussing this right now. Where is Asuka and Subaru?"
"I left them in charge of the escape route. We need to hurry, our window to get out is closing."
"Here, carry her. We'll be heading back home first."
"Whoa, just hold on a minute. Don't we need to turn her over first?"
"Normally this would be the case, but these are unusual circumstances. Any repercussions will be mine." Reina comes and puts the Duchess over her shoulder. She starts to head back first.
"What have you gotten yourself into, Keitaro?" Tsuruko ponders. She puts him on her back and follows Reina past the war zone down below.
Obviously this chapter has come out a lot faster than what I usually do. For both your sake and mine, don't expect such speedy updates.
On another note, the naming of Tsuruko's attacks is based off what Motoko uses in "Love Hina" and some are from Setsuna in "Negima".
As always, any comments, questions, or concerns can be put into the form of a review.