The doors to the training room unlocked and opened, indicating the end of the simulation. Shinkurou Kichijouji strolled into the room and leaned against the doorpost. A lone figure stood in the center of the room, CAD in hand. The room and the student's uniform was splattered and covered in red paint. So he was practicing 'Rupture' again; he did like to have the simulation as realistic as possible, even the consistency of the fluid matched that of human blood.
"Good work."
Masaki turned his head at the voice, then seeing his friend, he rotated his body completely so he could face George.
"George."
Masaki was mildly surprised that his friend had come to visit. He finished stowing away his CAD in the new holster he was breaking in. George pushed himself out of a leaning position into a full stand.
"Did you hear the news?"
George held up his terminal for his friend to see; Masaki strode over to where his friend was standing and took the terminal for a better look at the headlines.
'A Mysterious Bombing? Could be a Terrorist attack.'
"First High, eh?"
Masaki handed the terminal back to George and turned and walked off in the direction of the locker room showers. George followed, scrolling through the article as he went.
Inwardly, Masaki sighed. George immediately picked up on the change in Masaki's mood.
"Something wrong?"
"I suspect there will be a clan meeting soon. Anything that involves danger or antagonism towards the magic community will warrant a discussion, especially that two of the ten clans have representatives at First High. After the last one, I'm not looking forward to it, but otou-san is sure to ask me to attend."
George nodded in understanding. He knew he would probably never understand the pressure of being a part of the Ten Master clans, and much less, the next clan head of, what was arguably one of the most powerful families in all of Japan, no, in the world. He felt sorry for his friend, as it would only get harder from here on out, but he was confident that with Masaki's determination, ability and ambition, he could handle that prestigious mantle. George caught up to his friend and together they strode into the shower room. Masaki got in the shower, stripped and passed his stained school uniform over the stall to George.
"Well, if you ever need to talk, you know I'm always around."
Masaki chuckled as the hot water started pouring out and steam filled the room.
"I know George. You are the most reliable friend a guy could ask for."
He paused for a moment, then continued.
"Sometimes I wish I was just a magic technician, not attached to any powers or politics," Masaki finally said, tone somber, "I know lots of people would love to be in this position, but I wonder how many of them would continue to desire it with all the strings, the cloak and dagger tactics and mind games that accompany this position…"
George really didn't know what he could say that could comfort his friend, but as he fumbled for words to give to Masaki, his friend spoke up first.
"I know you don't have much to say about this, but I'm glad I can vent to you."
George closed his mouth and silence stretched for a few minutes.
"Well, Nine Schools is coming up, so that should take your mind off a some things and give you a chance to show up those kids at First," George finally broke the silence.
"Should be exciting," Masaki responded, "I am quite curious to see how the fresh blood is at our rival's. I want to break their win streak; it's time Third came out on top."
George laughed.
"That shouldn't be a problem, at least for you Masaki."
The faucet stopped and Masaki stepped out of the shower.
"After all," George continued, "the 'Crimson Prince' has no match."
"The meeting will be set next Saturday, in Tokyo. Be sure you have no conflicting events to attend."
"Of course, otou-san."
Masaki and his father stood in the study. They were going over the budget of the family company and were wrapping up when Gouki made the announcement of the Clan meeting.
There was a pause in the air before Masaki spoke again.
"If I may ask, otou-san, what will be your take on the matter?"
Ichijou Gouki scoffed.
"They are idiots who do not know the truth of the matter. Magicians are treated superiorly? It's true, that the more powerful magic technicians do receive some benefits; the Ten Master clans is evidence of that. We have a measure of influence over politics and government. But at what cost? To be used as tools for our government and its affiliates. Most of the magic technicians produced by the high schools and university will go into some occupation affiliated with defense or military, and this pushes magicians to the limit due to the rigorous nature of the job, which is physically and mentally taxing. Anti-magic superiority? They only advocate this because these organizations, who are mostly themselves magic technicians, do not get earn wages comparable to skilled technicians. Fools."
"...What is to be done?"
Gouki sighed.
"Honestly there's not much to be done other than monitor their activity and educate the public, magic technicians or no. I hesitate to advocate more extreme measures...though this cannot be said of all the clan heads. That's what this meeting will be about."
Disciplinary Committee Chairman Soshiroda Hayato grimaced. In his hand was a report of the terrorist attack on First High as well as some comments from the Third High school board. The same document was lit up on all the other terminals around the table.
"Ridiculous," he muttered.
It was inconceivable that Blanche would make such a brash move against the magic community in such a way. He wasn't quite sure how well through the attack was thought out. The institution they chose to target was First High school, and even if his loyalties lay with the yellow octagon, he had a healthy respect for the eight-petal flower emblems that could hold their own in pretty much any circumstance. The report stated that the Juumonji family heir single-handedly cleared out the south schoolyard; indeed the 'Iron Wall' is not someone to be trifled with. Add in the 'Elfin Sniper' and it was game over.
"...What a pain in the ass…"
Hayato turned to glance at the owner of that voice, Yasuda Lucina, Third High's counterpart to Juumonji Katsuto as the Club Management committee's leader. Black, almost blue hair fell below her shoulders, bangs fringing glowering indigo eyes. Only a second year student, her fiery temperament and focus won her the role, which fit her well. He didn't think anyone could maintain that iron grip on the school's clubs as well as she. Even the senior males treaded lightly when she stalked down the hallway. Lucina came from a Japanese father and an American mother, but the USNA was a land she had never even seen.
"A pain or not, the dean and the principle of the school has requested it. And in light of recent events, it is reasonable," voiced Nanako.
Hayato chucked inwardly. If there was anyone who could quell Lucina's fire, it would be his Nako-chan. Despite her smaller size and bright eyes, she radiated an aura of maturity and level-headedness. It was no wonder that she had been elected Student Council President for second year, with poise that could even rival First High's Suzune Ichihara.
"There, there Lucina-chan, 600 students, how hard could it be?"
Late as always, student council secretary Ishimaru Eishun strolled in, terminal in one hand and other hand patting Lucina on the head. The second year secretary was the only one that would dare do something like that to Lucina; if any other boy did that Lucina would lop his head off. Amusingly enough, Lucina was turning a crimson red, not due to anger, but embarrassment, as indicated by her gaze which was directed downwards, bangs covering her eyes. Seriously, those two.
Hayato glanced back up to his friend. He wasn't quite sure how Eishun kept the school running as smooth as he did. Chronically late, always a disheveled look, rumpled uniform, tie hanging loose. However his appearance complimented a handsome face and his careless attitude concealed a sharp mind, fit for someone who scored top marks for theory in his cohort.
"Already have it organized don't you?"
Hayato finally decided to speak up, leaning back in his seat.
Eishun flashed a brilliant smile.
"Of course, Hayato. Wouldn't have popped in otherwise."
Eishun's expression hardened as he went into full secretary mode. A few quick keystrokes on his terminal and a diagram flashed up on the room monitor.
"We'll have to rifle through all the student's profiles again, check around who might have connections to other anti-magic organizations. Sorry President, but Course 2 students will just have to be under greater scrutiny for reasons you understand."
Nanako face tightened slightly, but sighed and nodded.
After we've identified students to watch out for, each student will go through a full screening before getting back on campus. Hopefully this will identify students to keep an eye on for a good month before relaxing security. The screening should take place next Monday.
In the wake of the beheading of Blanche leadership, the government had mobilized the police force for a crackdown on any remaining members in the country. The heat was greatest on the National Magic University Affiliated High Schools, as some of the tools used by the nefarious organization were found in the Egalite student group, which was a multi-school organization. The school board had requested a thorough examination of the student body, to prevent loss of students to government custody.
"Seems too simple."
Eishun reverted back to his nonchalance, and grinned at Lucina.
"Told you it would be so Luci-chan."
Eishun immediately regretted his words. The temperature climbed a few degrees and the table they were sitting around started vibrating. Lucina had a particular affinity for oscillation-type magic.
"SORRY, SORRY!" Eishun yelled, voice laced with panic.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!"
Hayato glanced over at Nanako, who was cocking an eye at him. Eishun wasn't the only one who had that bad habit, and his girlfriend stared knowingly back at him. Hayato decided to bail his friend out.
"Eishun, you can leave."
Eishun's face melted in relief and fairly dashed for the door. He threw one last look of thanks to the chairman.
"Well if we're done here," Nanako finally spoke up amid the following silence," you all can be dismissed. Class starts in 15 minutes."
The rest of the student council and select disciplinary committee members rose and shuffled out of the room, some stretching, closing down documents on their terminals and opening notes and homework. Hayato was the second to last out of the room, but before he could set off towards his Integrated Physics and Thermodynamics class, he felt a tug at on his coat.
"Nako-"
"Don't call me that here," growled Nanako.
She pulled him towards a set of stairs that no one used ever, unless you happened to be with a student of the opposite gender. The two of them had been there a few times over the past two years, but the look on her face told him that something else was up. After concealing their presence with an optical barrier, she turned to look at him.
"Something's up. The board isn't telling us everything. The attack on First High was a senseless ambush. What does Soshiroda-sama say."
So. She want's to discuss clan opinions here. Hayato turned aside.
"Otou-san hasn't said much. Our intelligence isn't as widespread as the Ten. We ran into roadblocks as soon as the first eyes and ears were dispatched. The Ten are up to something."
"Well, then what's the point of the board asking that of us?"
"I don't know," he replied, "but there's a certain underclassman who may have some answers."
"...This spell targets the hydrocarbons in the solution, vibrating them with oscillation and a slight speed application. This emulates a heat source causing the solution to…"
"Masaki!"
Masaki jolted awake at the urgent whisper and a sharp jab from his classmate. One groggy eye popped open and swiveled over to Airi, who just glared at him. The pair earned a few curious stares, but the professor, ignorant of the going ons behind his back, simply continued with the lesson on application of magic to atomic particles.
"This is the third time in the last hour," hissed Airi, "What's up, ace? This isn't like you!"
Masaki felt slightly off as well. He had a pounding headache and he fought the urge to close his eyes. He shivered despite his school coat. When did the professor decrease the temperature in here?
Masaki muttered something incoherent and turned back to the display. He tried his best to stay awake for the final half hour of the class, but failed to follow the lesson, leaving his understanding punctured with holes and missing the homework assignment. Airi had shook him occasionally and kept a wary eye on her classmate.
"Here. These are the notes I got from the lecture."
Airi uploaded the file from her terminal to his.
"Now go home and get yourself checked out."
Masaki nodded; Airi took one last glance at the boy then abruptly turned and walked out from the last class of the day. He wouldn't be able to straight to the Ichijou residence; he still had a duty to the Disciplinary Committee and a job to do. Pulling his jacket tighter around himself, he made his way to the committee headquarters.
The room was empty when he walked in. He strode quickly over to the roster logs. Understaffed. He had no choice but to do a perimeter walk of a section of the school. He yawned and grabbed an armband off the shelf. Well, if he was going to go on a patrol, might as well grab some medication first. Checking that his FLT Phoenix series CAD was securely in the holster, he jogged through the hallways to the medical office. Good thing it was on the same side of the school that needed a sweep.
Two painkillers later he dashing through the great forest on the east side of the school. His magic-bolstered strides took him in between the great cedar trees that made up most of the practice area for Monolith Code come summer. Despite his speed, his footfalls were silent due to a layer of air that he created as a buffer zone between his footfall and the soft ground. A soft but sharp snap caused Masaki to swivel towards the sound.
"Who's there. No club's scheduled to use this area until next week."
Despite his condition, he was aware enough to know that firstly, there was something there and secondly, it was human. He was in the middle of reaching for his CAD when a slim figure dropped out of the leaves.
"Hey there, Prince."
It was none other than Hana. He hadn't been able to talk to her since he ran into her-wait. Wrong person. Shiba Miyuki. Mugura Hana. He hadn't been able to talk to her since that incident during club recruitment week. He was secretly hoping they would run into each other, but with the difference in course and his status as the heir of Ichijou kept things busy.
"No sarcasm? What a treat."
Hana scoffed and stowed away the terminal she was holding in her hand. She was wearing her committee armband.
"You on patrol?"
"I could ask you the same question."
Hana had a thoughtful look.
"I could have sworn I logged it in...but no matter, it's pretty much finished. I've done a sweep of the forest and was finishing up some reading in the tree."
She turned to leave, but Masaki grabbed her arm before she could take a step. She raised her eyebrows and in a blur she had pinned him to a tree.
"You know, it's not nice to grab girls in the middle of the forest."
Fatigue forgotten, he stared into her eyes the position they were in ignored. Hana eventually began to blush and released him. Masaki stuttered in front of a girl for the first time.
"Sorry, I-I just wanted to ask you if you would want to help me finish this patrol? Maybe?"
You're an idiot. Should have just finished the patrol and let her go.
"...Never been asked to accompany someone before…"
Hana had a thoughtful look on her face.
"...I think I will."
Masaki couldn't believe her answer. The two just stood there for a moment.
"...Well? Aren't you going to lead the way?"
He remained slackjaw for a while, but then his mind started working again and he pointed in the direction he was going.
"Yea, I was, uh, going that way to finish up the last bit of fence at the far end."
Hana turned and jogged off at a good clip, Masaki still not believing what was happening followed. The silence stretched before them, but neither seemed to uncomfortable with it. Despite their differences, they both found a solace and an understanding as they finished up the last bit of woods.
The two arrived at the end of the fence, marking the end of their patrol. Still in silence, Hana turned back to the school to leave.
"Thank you."
Hana turned around again, eyes curious.
"for helping me with this patrol. I liked spending the time with you."
Hana seemed at a loss of how to respond. She turned quickly, cheeks dusted pink.
"Y-You're welcome Masaki."
He felt a slight warmth in his chest; she had actually said his name without some sort of malice dripping.
"You know, I...I think I-"
Before he could complete his statement, Hana's face flicked through several expressions that he could register. Embarrassment, shock, then, one he had not seen on her face before.
Fear.
Eyes focused, she turned away from Masaki.
"I'm sorry Masaki-kun, but this might hurt."
Then he blacked out.
"Blood tide, come in."
"We have a visual on the target. The drug administered seems to have worked. The Ichijou heir is on the ground."
"Excellent. Proce-"
"Although we do have one unforeseen circumstance. There appears to be another student with him. Female."
"...Dispose of her as well."
"Affirmative."
A shadow moved behind the man sitting at the control coms.
"You know I do not appreciate it when you use 'Ghost Walker' get through my security."
The tall Chinese man stepped into the light as the man swiveled to meet their gazes.
"You trust me so little? After all I've done to help you maneuver to where you are now? Come now. Blanche still has its role to play."
"I don't trust you. But if it weren't for your information, we couldn't have gotten this close to the Crimson Prince without facing 'Rupture'."
He swiveled back in his chair.
"Relay my thanks to your boss. He can expect the rest of the Antinite shortly. A pleasure doing business-"
The Chinese man had already disappeared.
"-Zhou Gongjin."
Men in black stepped out of the treeline and surrounded Hana and an unconscious Masaki. She counted 12, no, 15. She had been forewarned by an informant that this would happen, and had orders to keep an eye on the Ichijou heir. His state was evidence that someone wanted him dead. He was in no condition for a fight, but the main reason she had knocked him out was to conceal her magic. But she wouldn't have to worry about the new assailants.
None of them would be leaving this place to talk about it.
She rolled up her uniform sleeve, revealing a sleek pale blue CAD, the FLT Silver series wrist model. A gift from her cousin.
"Now fall."
"Boss!"
"What!"
"We've lost connection to the Blood Tide team!"
"What do you mean!?"
"They...They're gone."
"Bullshit! What does Aerial say?"
"Th-There's no one there….not the team, or the Prince, or the other one!"
The man slammed his fist down on the desk.
"We can't fail! Not after that idiot Tsukasas set the stage like that with his sacrifice and failure to get that info! Redouble your efforts and find somewhere we can hit him again! Our employers will not be happy if we fail a second time!"
Masaki cracked his eyes and woke to Disciplinary Chairman Soshiroda Hayato crouched over him, hand lifted, moving in for a few taps on Masaki's cheek. Seeing him respond, the third-year stood up and exteneded a hand down towards his junior.
"You know, there are better places for naps than the forest training grounds."
Masaki stared at the hand for a moment then finally decided to grab it; Hayato pulled him to his feet. Masake took a moment to regain a balance then snapped his head up, memories crashing back. Hana, then...what happened again?
"Thanks, Soshiroda-senpai."
"I've been looking for you Ichijou. Good thing I checked the patrol logs; you should have been back 10 minutes ago?"
Masaki felt like he was out for a few hours, but if what his senpai was saying was correct, he was only out for 5 minutes, max. Masaki still felt groggy, but no where near what he felt during class. And where was Hana?
"Hey! Ichijou!"
Hayato clapped his hands in front of Masaki's face. Masaki started and turned his now focused eyes back on his senior.
"Is it just the two of us?"
Hayato cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes…"
Hayato made a mental note to check the cams on this sector of the school later, but was sure he would see nothing.
"Now, if you don't mind, I have a few questions for you, not as your chairman or senior, but as a member of the Numbered. It's about Blanche."
Masaki pushed any other thoughts out of his head at the mention of that organization. Hayato glanced around and crossed his arms.
"The Committee Room? Away from prying eyes and ears."
"What does Ichijou say about the attack?"
Masaki was slightly surprised at the abruptness of the question. He figured it was a good quality to have as a leader, to not beat around the bush.
"I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say, or even how much I know of the situation. But there will be a meeting in a few days. They will decide something there."
Hayato sighed resignedly.
"There's something we're missing here. What would they gain from attacking a school? And the claim that Blanche is dead in Japan; that one I seriously doubt. I didn't catch much, but according to family intelligence, a group of First High students led the ambush. That was before all com lines were shut down. As far as I can see, all this does is add fire to the anti-magic establishment."
The frustration was visible on Hayato's face. Masaki sympathized with him.
"There was one other thing."
Hayato looked up.
"While publicly, it's viewed as a simple terror attack, what gets failed to be mentioned is the fact that a small group peeled off and broke into the library, attempting to get to the National Magic University database. They wanted intelligence. On magic."
The third year looked thoughtful, then shook his head.
"Still makes no sense. The database is mostly theory and a collection of spells and activation sequences they can't use unless trained well. Still, by attacking the youth, they try to weaken the power magic has on Japan..."
Hayato shook his head.
"Thank you, Ichijou-san, for putting up with me."
"...you have a lot of pressure on you don't you Soshiroda-senpai."
Hayato smiled, laced with weariness.
"You try so hard to protect your school, your friends, the people you care about. And it all seems so impossible. People look at me, and they see a leader, a Numbered. And I have to live up to the expectation. But I always feel like I'm never good enough. This is my last year to impact the lives of 600 students. I hope I can live up to the expectation."
Hayato got up to leave.
"Learn from my mistakes Masaki. And when you stand where I am, lead them well."
"And the Ichijou heir, he is unscathed?"
"Yes. The assailants were disposed of as well."
"Good. You also should come by the residence Saturday evening. There will be a Clan meeting the next day, and intel has already picked up chatter indicating a move."
"Of course, Hayama-san. My regards for the head."
"I will relay them. And I'm sure your parents will be happy to see you too."
The line disconnected and Hana dropped her serene facade. It was going to be a long weekend.
Masaki stepped out into the crisp spring air and inhaled deeply. He adjusted his tie, loosening it slightly so the cool breeze could touch his neck. He turned at the sound of another vehicle. Sleek and black, but inconspicuous, like the car he came it. He wondered which family would be in that one.
"Let's go."
He turned obediently to follow the voice of his father, who was already moving towards the door to the Kanto tower of the Magic Association.
"Targets in sight. Awaiting further orders."
"Wait for now. When the heirs are released, take them all out, at once. If not possible, then focus the assault on Ichijou. One of them will suffice to weaken them all."
"Comms check."
"Loud and clear on this end."
"Don't attack until they make their move, Mugura-san."
"Affirmative."
"This act cannot go unpunished!"
"Oh, sit down and stop making a fool out of yourself, Kudou. You know full well we can't just go in and launch a full-blown operation to take these guys down," intoned Yatsushiro Raizou.
The Yatsushiro head glanced at Saegusa Koichi and Juumonji Kazuki.
"Well, you two have family at First High, so I assume you two have already made some moves around this incident..."
He turned and stared pointedly at Juumonji Katsuto as well.
"...and I have heard mention of the Juumonji heir being involved in taking down of the branch organization. So are the reports concerning the destruction of the Japan branch confirmed. Because I think I speak for multiple people here when I say that I have my doubts. High School magicians, even if they are the very best, can only do so much."
"Rest assured, they have been dealt with," answered Saegusa Koichi, "there is no reason for any other families to be involved with this incident."
"But what are the odds of this being an isolated incident?" demanded Ichijou Gouki.
"For all we know, Blanche may have reached their fingers into all parts of magical society, and even our other Magic High schools."
"Saegusa is hunting down all leads on other possible perpetrators. Any data on persons of interest outside the Tokyo jurisdiction will be handed over to the clan with authority over that area."
"We don't need your help hunting down our own prey, Saegusa," voiced Mitsuya Gen, "we have our own eyes and ears. This is a matter that all of us need to handle."
"Even if we do want to find and destroy this organization for good, we have to have a subtle hand. We cannot attract the attention of the public."
"Why do that? We need to let them and any other entities that would stand in our path know that the power or magic and the Ten is not something to be taken lightly."
"Kudou, neither do we want to create a situation in which the public fears that power."
"I agree with Ichijou. We cannot have knee jerk reactions."
"What does Juumonji know about this!?"
Masaki could feel the discussion start to deteriorate again, but a certain person managed to retake the attention of everyone in the room again.
"Or, you could just destroy the entire global operations by taking out the top brass…"
All eyes turned to Yotsuba Maya.
"...And how do you suppose we do that, Yotsuba?"
A global map flashed on the screen, a red dot popping up located on the Korean peninsula of the Great Asian Alliance.
"Their facility is in a desolate part of the land. A strike there should do it."
A faint smile played about her lips.
"That's even within the range of Ooguro Ryuuya...not that we need a strategic class from the military involved in this matter."
There was silence in the room for what felt like an eternity. Masaki was not sure which one people were more shocked at, the fact that Blanche headquarters were practically in their doorstop, or the fact that the name Ooguro Ryuuya came up.
Ichijou Gouki broke the silence.
"I would request that everyone but the heads of clans vacate the room while this matter is discussed privately."
Masaki was partially glad for the reprieve. He closed his eyes and stretched. Yes, some fresh air was good. He thought he might go for a walk around the streets of Tokyo; his father would find him when they were done. He passed Juumonji Katsuto and the Saegusa heir in a discussion about the events that recently transpired.
"Your thoughts Katsuto-san?"
"...I cannot say anything about this without more information. This certainly sounds like a matter way above our heads...maybe even that of the Ten Master clans…."
Masaki walked a little ways down the road, lost in thought. HIs mind was a jumble of things, Blanche, Ooguro Ryuuya...Mugura Hana. He really didn't pay attention to where he walked, just happy to be able to wander free from responsibility, even if only for a little while.
"Target moving."
"Get him. It's our last chance."
"Hayama-san he's moving."
"Happy hunting, Mugura-san"
Masaki's first thought was it was oddly quiet.
Then the bullets started firing.
Masaki tucked and rolled behind a car. He cursed his idiocy, walking away from the venue and in the middle of the street. He slipped his CAD out of his coat pocket. Where were those shots coming from?
He peeked over the hood of the car. Nothing. A shot rang out and he barely ducked into the cover to avoid having his head blown off. 45 degrees. They had snipers; following hte bullet trajectory, they were on the building two blocks away. Too far.
Suddenly the car jerked towards him with a loud bang. Magicians too? One thing at a time. Magicians first, snipers next.
Masaki threw up a barrier in the air to deflect the sniper, or snipers, bullets. Masaki backflipped over the crumpled car, pushing off the sidewalk, then the wall and fired off several invocations of 'Jetstream' at the directions the magic was coming from. He used this in favor of 'Rupture', firstly because he wasn't sure who the attacking him, which if he decided to use his signature magic, there was no way they were identifying them. 'Jetstream', meant to knock away and concuss, still packed quite the punch. It created a sudden pulsation of the air molecules, generating a longitudinal wave through the air, with the benefit of a wide blast radius.
He saw two black cloaked magicians go flying, one striking a tree and the second crumpling next to a parked car. He spun, no time to think, just to fire.
Bless Taurus Silver and his loopcast system.
He managed to dispatch three more, but it seemed that whoever was attacking unleashed all their forces on him. He noticed someone rush him out the corner of his eye, a knife glinting in the streetlight. Masaki had to momentarily put his assault on hold while he ducked beneath a thrust towards his neck. He pointed the CAD towards the abdomen of the assailant, who was arched over Masaki due to his stab attack. He pulled the trigger and the knifeman was blasted point blank.
This isn't looking good. There's a lot of them, and I don't know where they're hiding or where they're coming from. Throw a few snipers on top of that and the fact that we're in civilian streetspace reduces my arsenal. Long range bombardment would cause excessive destruction and increases the odds of collateral damage.
Activation sequences appeared in the sky aimed at him. With a curse he leapt out of the way and fired off several more rounds. It was impossible to watch everywhere at once, and Masaki knew it. Sooner or later a stray bullet would hit.
Side step to your left, fire 45 degrees to the right.
What? Who-
Just do it!
Masaki did as he was told, narrowly avoiding a burst of machine gun fire and let off an invocation, rewarded with the sound of bodies colliding. Another black cloaked figure dropped out of the sky; Masaki instinctively turned to aim at the new arrival, but the figure grabbed his arm and pointed the CAD in a different direction, causing him to blast another knifeman.
He just stood there, momentarily forgetting the fact that he was under attack.
"Who-"
The cloaked figure removed her hood, revealing eton-blue eyes.
"H-Hana?"
"No time. These guys aren't here for a party. I suggest you ramp it up to 'Rupture', Prince."
The rattle of machine gun fire indicated another hail of bullets coming from behind. They never hit. Two magic sequences flared up, one behind Hana and another about 100 meters off. The bullets dropped, energy lost while the other sequences created an inferno, disintegrating the gunmen and their weapons.
Masaki was too stunned to move, until Hana physically slapped Masaki.
"Fight?!"
Hana spun away, firing sequence after sequence, seeming to know exactly where each enemy was. Masaki decided to follow suit, turning his back to Hana and focused on killing the assailants. He didn't hold back 'Rupture' anymore, and he could feel the enemy lines thinning. He still had to avoid the bullets of the snipers from above.
"Nice of you to show up out of the blue. What are you doing around here anyway?"
Masaki dispatched two magicians with 'Rupture'.
"Classified. I'll tell you later."
The two stood back to back continuing to fire off magic. Masaki wasn't sure which to be more amazed with. The fact that Hana showed up or the fact that she could wield magic like any other Course 1 student.
"Any way to take out the snipers? I don't even know where they are."
"I brought backup. They should be taken out in about...now."
Ten different rooftops from various distances burst into light as if small fires were lit in those locations. The machine gun fire ceased. The two of them cleaned up the last few magicians and gunmen and the street fell silent again.
Masaki looked around at the bodies littering the street.
"Well, you can leave the cleaning up to me, my father will take care of it."
"Not fast enough."
He watched in amazement as all the bodies simply...vanished.
Another black suited figure dropped from a building above them.
"That needed to be take care of immediately."
The other figure removed his helmet.
"You're-"
"Thank you for coming out here on such short notice, Tatsuya nii-san."
Masaki looked back and forth between Hana and the mundane-looking teen from the other day, bewildered. If this guy was Hana's cousin, then that meant that girl he mistook for Hana was also her cousin...This night was getting crazier and crazier; he felt like his head was going to split.
"No problem, Mugura-san. I'm on orders tonight as well."
Tatsuya glanced over at Masaki.
"You'll take care of this one?"
"...I will."
"Good. You know what oba-ue would say about witnesses."
With that statement, Tatsuya set off at a lope into the night, his steps boosted by magic.
Masaki turned to Hana.
"So what the hell is going on!?"
Hana didn't answer for a while.
"...We just took out the rest of Blanche."
"...What!?"
"It'll be easier if I start from the beginning."
"I guessed you had something to do with the Yotsuba. But now I know. So that entire thing your aunt said about the organization being on the Korean peninsula was a lie?"
"Yes. Killing some of the heirs to the Ten Master Clan would weaken their power, and out of all of them, you were the youngest and most easily targeted. She knew they would follow you and attempt to kill you, so she dispatched me to keep an eye on you. In the meeting she was stalling for time, because their attack was going to take place then. You were the bait, and Blanche is dead. For good."
Masaki struggled to wrap his head around this new information. He raised his head.
"...you can wield a pretty mean CAD. I don't see why you aren't a Course 1 student."
"...Well...It was supposed to make me look inconspicuous," Hana said. A pause. "For the good that did me," she muttered.
"...and that telepathy thing?"
"I specialize in a mental-interference magic that can directly alter people's memories. I merely implanted the memory of saying that to you in there."
The two sat in silence for a while. Masaki finally spoke up.
"What did your cousin..."Tatsuya"?... mean by 'take care of me'?"
"...The Yotsuba works in the shadows. But now you know, not just one, but two of its members."
"...So what's going to happen? I mean, you just saved me and now you're going to kill me?"
Hana remained silent.
"Hana?"
"...I can't kill you, Masaki."
"..."
"The time I spent with you at Third High...no one has ever treated me like that outside my family. I never had the opportunity to get to know other people, to form meaningful relationships. But meeting you, that changed everything..."
Masaki was breathless for a moment.
"...But our time together is coming to an end...and while it was short, it was...nice."
The girl looked up, smiling. A single tear dropped from her eye. She stood in front of him and put her hands on the sides of his head.
"...Hana...I...thanks."
He wasn't sure what to say. Was this love? He didn't know.
But he did know she had become someone important to him.
"...take care of yourself, Hana..."
Her lips curled slightly into a smile.
"Are you sure you should be saying that to me?"
He was about to respond but was interrupted when Hana stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. At that moment she activated her magic and a bright flash erupted from her hands. Masaki's body went limp and Hana caught his unconscious body.
"...and I'm sorry, but I have to do this. Maybe we will meet again, in another time, Masaki."
Epilogue
"All files at Third High relating to Mugura Hana have been erased."
"Good. I heard she had to deal with the Ichijou prince personally...how about everyone else?"
"She cast a wide-range memory wipe. It should be enough to erase most memories of her from the students and faculty. It will be like she never existed."
"Excellent. I have another assignment for her..."
Epilogue 2
Masaki stood, swirling the punch in his glass. The banquet hall was filled to the brim with other Magic High School students, some talking and laughing, others standing stoically off to the side. His eyes scanned the room, studying some of the competition, picking out people who might be stiff competition. He had trained and pushed himself and there was no way he was going to lose to anyone on his two events, 'Ice Pillar Break' or 'Monolith Code'.
The furious whispering of the other first year boys caught his attention.
"Who is that girl?"
"She's amazing."
Masaki turned and listened in, but the other boys picked up on his movement and immediately started addressing him.
"Ichijou, look, isn't that girl rad?"
"Who the heck says rad these days... In which generation did you attend high school?"
Shut up, I wasn't asking you. So, Ichijou, what do you think?"
"Why are you so excited... It's no use, that level of beauty is out of your league, so don't bother trying."
"Man, would you quit it, even if I can't, Ichijou should be no problem, right? Because Ichijou's got the looks and brains and is a member of the Ten Master Clans to boot, surely we can get on his coattails, right?"
"I'm amazed you can speak so brazenly with a straight face..."
The voices faded as he caught sight of the girl. Unconsciously he his fingers lifted and touched his lips. A faint memory of a girl stirred in his mind but slipped away before he could grab a hold of it.
"Masaki, what is it?"
Masaki didn't respond, just stood there, staring at the girl.
"...Masaki?"
He snapped out of his reverie and turned to look at his friend.
"...George, do you know who she is?"
Shinkurou Kichijouji turned and looked in the same direction as his friend.
"Oh, her? I think her name is Shiba Miyuki."
hey everyone!
thanks for putting up with me and the long wait. finally got around to finishing this thing, yay!
if it wasn't clear, Masaki has had his memory of that night wiped, except maybe that kiss (ugh, how cliche)
that's the end of the third high enrollment arc, i'm still deciding whether to continue with a nsc arc or to take a break.
anyway, thanks for following me through till the end
again, if you have any ideas, comments or questions, feel free to review/message!
thanks and see yall next time!
Character Profile: Mugura Hana
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Appearance: Physically similar to Shiba Miyuki, except for a few minor differences, due to the same experimentation the Yotsuba undertook to give Miyuki her specialized magic.
Magic Ability: Able to wield systematic magic without problems. Inherent magic is Outer-Systematic Mental Interference, designed to interfere with people's memory, manipulating and wiping it. This gives rise to her ability to be a reconnaissance field agent for the Yotsuba.
Heads of the Ten Master Clans as of 2093:
Ichijou Gouki
Futatsugi Mai (f)
Mitsuya Gen
Yotsuba Maya (f)
Itsuwa Isami
Mutsuzuka Atsuko (f)
Saegusa Koichi
Yatsushiro Raizou
Kudou Makoto
Juumonji Kazuki