The next day the celebration continued. Fire soldiers of the Seventh beat drums and set off fireworks to begin the day. Citizens of Asakusa yelled "Kaguya!" in the streets.
"Wow, they really do throw quite the party when they send someone off," remarked Obi, standing in the middle of the street with most of his crew members. One was still asleep in her bed here in Asakusa. The other, Sister Iris, had been left behind to tend to the Cathedral.
"It's definitely much different than most funerals," returned Hinawa.
"No wonder Phoenix was told Asakusa was a place to party," murmured Shinra, turning to look up at her window.
"If I damaged your house during Kantaro's send off, we have provided shelter for you at the guardhouse. You will also be given food and anything else you need while you're there," announced the Captain of Company Seven to the people milling about in the streets. "You're welcome to stay until the repairs are finished."
As usual, he was taking care of the denizens of his district to the best of his ability.
"Hey Captain, is it okay if I stay to help out with the rebuilding?" Shinra asked Obi.
"Sure thing. I believe we'll all be staying. Phoenix already said she would be staying," Obi said, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously. "Sometimes I'm not sure when exactly I lose my command around her, but it happens."
Shinra smiled one of his overly large nervous smiles. All too familiar with the woman's ability to be a bit too forceful at times, he sympathized.
"Considering how Shinmon feels about outside help, I believe we should just get changed and begin pitching in. It's better to ask forgiveness than permission," Obi said.
"Yeah, well, I doubt we'd get that either," muttered Shinra.
In her room, Phoenix gradually came to wakefulness. She had stayed up well past midnight searching decimated structures for injured people and testing the buildings that remained mostly intact for soundness to prevent anyone from being hurt by a cave in or falling debris.
Halfway to her return to consciousness she realized she was not alone. At some point during the early morning hours, the twins came into her room and crawled into bed with her. Hinata had inserted herself into Phoenix's arms, and Hikage lay nestled against her back.
Just like the old days. The girls used to do this all the time when she was a member of Company Seven. Although they were prone to say any hateful, nasty thing that came to mind, they did like having her around.
Benimaru was to blame for their talent to come up with biting insults and cutting remarks as Konro often reminded him. The girls followed their leader a little too much sometimes.
Sighing in contentment, Phoenix snuggled down between the twins preparing to go back to sleep to catch a few more winks despite knowing she should get up and get her day started.
"Phoenix," came the whispered hiss of her name from the door. "Wake up."
Phoenix groaned. Please, just a few more minutes, she wanted to whine but refrained. Slowly sitting up, carefully extracting herself from between the still sleeping twins, she crawled off of the futon before standing up.
The young girls had stayed up late with her and needed their sleep so they would not be super grumpy. They could already be irritable enough with a full night's sleep.
Shinra stood outside the door patiently waiting for her. He gave her a sweet smile in greeting after she slid open the screen. His eyes skimmed down her body, taking note of typical small pajama shorts and tank top. His lips stretched further giving him a decidedly lecherous expression.
Instead of being offended because she knew he could not help but make that stupid grin, she giggled and put her arms around him to hug him.
"One of these days you will be able to control that nervous reaction," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
"We're staying to help with the repairs," he informed her, combing his fingers through her hair to tame her wild bedhead. "You're cute this morning. I like your messy hair. I wonder what it will be like to wake up by your side."
"Oh, Shinra Kusakabe," she gasped in mock embarrassment from his bold statement.
When his cheeks burned a bright fire red, she giggled again, squeezing him briefly in a firm embrace. Pushing herself up on her tiptoes, she placed a kiss on his lips.
"I can't wait to wake in your arms either. Maybe one day soon we can - "
"Mmmm," moaned Hinata as she began to wake.
"Phoenix? Where are you?" whimpered Hikage.
"Let me get the girls up. I'll meet you downstairs," she said.
"I'll see you later. I need to go start helping out anyway," he rejoined, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"O-okay," she stammered, reluctantly dropping her arms from around his body. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I just...we can talk later. It's nothing. I swear," he promised.
"Shinra..."
"Phoenix!" Hinata called out. "Is that boy out there?"
"I gotta go," he murmured, hustling away from her.
Without watching him walk away, she went back into her room. The girls were sitting up on the futon rubbing their eyes like sleepy toddlers.
"All right, girls! Up and at 'em!" she shouted, clapping her hands. "We've got a lot of work to do today. I think we should deliver food and water to the workers to do our part. What do you think?"
"Okay," they answered in a unified yawn.
"Go get ready. I need to get dressed too."
Opening the drawer of her dresser, Phoenix found her clothes just as she left them. Holy Sol. She really did completely abandon them. Here one day. Gone the next. Guilt permeated her entire being, making her feel a bit nauseated.
"Do you love him?" Hinata asked suddenly.
"Wh-what?" she stammered, pulling out a pair of denim shorts and a black t-shirt.
"That Shinra guy," Hikage helpfully supplied. Then both in harmony inquired,"Do you love him?"
"I do," she responded truthfully.
Why did admitting her feelings for Shinra to them heap on another load of guilt? Because she knew why they were asking. She steeled herself for the next questions she knew would be coming.
"But what about, Waka? You loved him too. Didn't you?" Hinata asked, blinking her big golden eyes at Phoenix.
"I did but...but some things aren't meant to be," she sighed.
"I don't understand," grumbled Hikage, scratching her head.
"And you won't no matter how much I try to explain it. It's a grown up thing," Phoenix said, attempting to shrug off the matter.
"You're a grown up?" Hikage retorted in her typical sassy manner.
"Oh, ha ha ha. Go get dressed, girls," she gently ordered in them in a no nonsense tone. "We've got work to do."
~\'/~
Phoenix stood on the ground looking up at Shinra who was busy replacing the red clay tiles on the roof of a house. Glancing into the baskets held by the girls, she saw there was one last bottle of water and bento box. There was also a cool, wet towel in a plastic bag which he could use as well. The sun beat down on everyone mercilessly as if punishing them all.
"Oh, no. We're out," she sighed, taking the three items.
"We'll go back to headquarters to get more," Hina assured her.
"Be right back," Hika followed up as they scampered away.
Good. This would give her a few extra minutes to be with Shinra. Extending her wings, she pushed off the ground with her feet and flapped, rising to the roof to land on her toes in front of him.
Shinra looked up at her, sweat trickling down his cheeks and dripping from his chin. A smile of happiness and relief upon seeing her spread across his face.
"My angel of mercy," he said, taking the bottle of water from her outstretched hand.
Phoenix smiled, straddling the peak of the roof to sit down in front of him. She gently mopped the sweat from his heat reddened face.
"You should really take a break," she said, folding the towel to drape it around his neck to cool him down further. "You can entertain the girls for a while."
"You need a break too huh?" he ventured, draining the bottle of its contents.
"I forgot just how active and talkative those two are. They have worn me out. We've been all over this place taking people food and water. Bad part is, there's still so many people to take care of. How's the rebuilding effort coming along?"
"It's coming along quite quickly with everyone helping out. We should be able to return home tomorrow."
Phoenix looked out over Asakusa, the place that was once her home. People were out and about everywhere, talking and helping each other. One of the things she always loved about this place was the sense of community, of family, not just among Company Seven but Asakusa as a whole. She was so happy she had recaptured that feeling of family, of belonging, with Company Eight.
"Do you miss it here?" Shinra asked her, noting the expression on her face exhibiting happiness and sadness but also longing. "Do you miss being part of the Seventh?"
"Sometimes," she admitted, swinging her eyes back to him. "But I also love where I'm at...in Company Eight. Who I'm with."
Shinra's smile widened. "Do you regret leaving here?"
She returned his smile. "Not anymore. The only thing I regret is the awful, selfish way I left. But if it hadn't gone, I wouldn't be where I am now. I would not be with the Eighth. Or with you. I don't think I can bear the thought of not being with you."
Phoenix leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.
"Ew!" a duet of disgust reached them from below.
"They're baaaack," she sang out, chuckling lightly.
"I'm almost done here. Then I'll come down and show the girls some of my cool dance moves," Shinra said, giving her wink.
"Oh, I'm jealous," she remarked. "I've never even seen your cool dance moves."
"Well, then stick around. It's gonna be awesome."
"I have no doubt."
Phoenix stood up, cautiously making her way down the steep pitched roof. Shinra had done a fantastic job of laying the overlapping tiles. Not a single one shifted or slid under her feet as she walked across them. At the edge, she opened her wings and glided down to the street.
"Come on, girls," she proclaimed, her energy renewed after her short encounter with the man she loved. "There's still plenty of people to feed and tend to."
"Yes, ma'am," the twins returned, saluting her.
"Ugh..."
~\'/~
Phoenix had gone to the little old woman's sweets shop to retrieve the bag of promised daifuku. Earlier in the day, after receiving a meal, the thoughtful lady had asked her to stop by later for her famous, famous in Asakusa anyway, daifuku. Beni hated sweets but the old woman insisted on always giving them to Company Seven and dutifully he ate them, always complaining about them being overly sweet. Captain Obi had eaten the last two for dessert and really seemed to like them. He would be excited to see a fresh batch.
Glimpsing around, a sense of unease filled her. Not from the appearance of the shop; it was neat and clean as always. The glass cases had been emptied and wiped spotless, ready to be filled in the morning. This place looked the same as it always had. Nothing had changed in over two years. Except her.
A single, life altering memory held here made her sweat and her heart race, feeling as if she might break out into a full blown anxiety attack. This was the place where Hibana approached her, giving her that offer she could not refuse. Hibana had invited her to come to Company Five, asked her to be a spy, and said she find out the true cause of her mother's death which was far more than a lab accident.
However, discovering the truth had not stopped the pain. If anything, it became worse and raised more questions. Questions still remained to be answered, and more were added to the list every day since she came to Company Eight.
"Here ya go, dear. Sorry about the wait," the little old lady apologized unnecessarily, handing over the treats tied in a navy blue cloth with white whorls all over it.
"Thank you so much," she responded gratefully, bowing deeply.
"It's so nice having you back," the woman said, patting Phoenix's cheek.
"But I'm not..." Her voice trailed off when the woman's smile faltered.
"Hmmm? What's that, dear?"
"Nothing." She did not have the heart to explain she was only visiting. "Thank you. Good night."
"Good night."
Phoenix left with an exceedingly heavy heart sitting like a rock in her chest. Suddenly there was a rumbling sound. Thunder? She looked up at the sky. An expanse of black dotted with white twinkling stars. Not a thunderstorm.
There was another rolling grumble that grew louder until reaching a deafening crescendo which ended in an explosion. Orange and red flames flashed above the roof of the buildings several blocks ahead of her before dying away. Another Infernal? A roaring sound followed by a second flash of fire came from the same area.
Phoenix dropped the daifuku and ran toward the area to investigate. Extending her wings, flying up and over the buildings, she arrived just in time to see Beni toss a flaming wooden wash tub at Obi and Hinawa. They dove to opposite sides of the street to avoid the fiery projectile. Shinra stood several yards behind Benimaru, away from his squad mates presently under attack yet did not move.
"You're lying about this Evangelist! These so called White Clads don't exist! You made them all up to cover your own heinous deeds!" accused Benimaru. "You're the enemy!"
"We didn't do anything!" Obi yelled back.
"What the hell is happening?" Phoenix asked herself, dropping onto the nearby roof to observe and listen until she could get some idea of what was going on.
"Stop this now, Shinmon! We can talk about this and figure out what's going on here!" Obi yelled.
"There's nothing to talk about! I heard you and your Lieutenant congratulating yourselves on a job well done of creating Infernals here! You murdered Kantaro! You planned to burn the whole damn place and everyone in it! I won't let you!" he bellowed in return, stubbornly refusing to listen. "Prepare to defend yourselves! Traitors! Murderers!"
Obi turned and ran. Unfortunately, seeing Captain Obi run away from the fight, back toward the Matchbox only baffled her further. Hinata and Hikage sat on top of the vehicle eating shiny red candied apples as if attending a sporting event.
"Waka! The muscle bound moron is running away!" Hinata warned him like a good snitch.
He can't be running away, Phoenix thought, stunned by what was occurring below and remaining motionless.
"And a coward too!" Benimaru accused. "That's why I never trust outsiders!"
Maki stepped up. Benimaru raised his hands. A circle of flames appeared behind her, exploding and pushing her forward. Using that surprise momentum to her advantage, she rushed forward to attack the Captain of the Seventh head on with her fists. He easily avoided the uppercut and haymaker punches. When she tried to land a roundhouse kick, Benimaru grabbed her ankle and sent her flying through the air with a flick of his wrist.
"Maki!" Shinra yelled, igniting his feet and propelling himself forward to grab her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, but she was moving too fast to be stopped in mid air. Tangled together, they hit the cobblestone street. Rolling across it and over the cement embankment, they splashed into the river.
While he was distracted, Hinawa had raised his gun, taking aim at the enraged Captain in front of him. Upon meeting the man's X and O pupils, he pulled the trigger several times. His eyes glowed golden, his power stopping the bullets to leave them suspended threateningly in the air in front of Benimaru's face and chest.
"Do you seriously think you can hurt me with that thing?" he challenged.
"Nope. Just testing your limits," Hinawa responded, squeezing the trigger again in rapid succession.
"No," Phoenix gasped, diving down toward the street. She landed in front of Benimaru, wings extended and flames roiling, facing the bullets already hanging in the air as they were joined by a new round of bullets.
"Move!" Benimaru yelled, knocking her out of the way and against the side of the building.
She spun like a top, keeping herself from smacking face first into the wall by extending her arms.
"I don't need your help!"
The ferocious Tamaki rushed at Benimaru to take her chance. She was kicked to the side, hitting and almost wrapping around a pole. Arthur immediately followed up, swinging his sword only to be disarmed. The Captain of the Seventh grabbed him, turning him around to use him as a human shield as Hinawa released the bullets which slammed into the brave knight's chest. Pushing him forward, the dumb but courageous blonde crumpled to the ground, falling on his face with a groan.
"Fire Moon!" Benimaru exclaimed.
"Beni, NO!" Phoenix shouted, running toward him only to be deflected a second time as he raised his hand in order to complete the maneuver.
She hit the wall again, her back ramming into it this time. The back of her head slammed into the wooden boards. Seeing stars that were not in the sky but right in front of her eyes, she slid down the wall to the rough and bumpy stones that comprised the street.
For several seconds nothing happen. An eerie quiet and discomforting atmosphere settled around them as befuddlement beseiged their minds. Arthur had picked himself up and stumbled to stand beside Hinawa who exchanged a questioning look with him.
Then it appeared. An arc of flame, the shape of a crescent moon, right in front if them, slicing through the air to cut through them and send them flying backwards.
"Is that the best you've got?" Benimaru taunted them.
Heavy footfalls echoed between the buildings. Captain Obi stepped forward dressed in full fire fighting turn out gear.
"No! I'm the best they've got!" he answered back to the strictly rhetorical question.
Cracking his knuckles, his face set in a determined scowl, he prepared to take on the man known as the strongest fire soldier of them all and the destroyer of Asakusa. At the moment, this man was truly living up to his nickname of destroyer, devastating the buildings around him and exhibiting a willingness to take the lives of fellow fire soldiers.
"You attacked my subordinates so now you have me to answer to for that," he said, flipping down the grated face guard. "The fight is between us now. Let's settle this...Captain to Captain!"
Obi flipped down his face shield. He was prepared and ready to fight.
"He was just suiting up?" murmured Shinra, assisting Maki out of the water.
Phoenix breathed a sigh of relief. How could she ever think Captain Obi would run away when his fire brigade members were in danger?
Obi extended a shield, the overlapping fireproof metal plates sliding apart to lengthen the shield to its full five feet. Placing the shield in front of himself, ducking his head, he ran forward he fended off the onslaught of fireballs.
"You're not putting out my flames with your own. Why?" Benimaru asked.
"I don't have pyrokinetic powers!" he confessed, pressing forward despite repeated flaming attacks.
"Shouldn't you be afraid?"
"You're damn right I am but that doesn't stop me. As a matter of fact, that is why I do what I do because fire scares the hell out of me!"
Lifting the shield higher and folding as much of his big body behind it as possible, Captain Obi surged forward and rammed it into Benimaru to physically push him backwards like a human battering ram.
"Then why did you do it? Why did you turn Kantaro into an Infernal?"
"I told you! There's been some kind of misunderstanding!"
"I saw what I saw! There was no misunderstanding that!"
Confused, having no clue what was going on, Phoenix leapt up from the ground. Mimicking Shinra's maneuver to launch himself through air but using a backward thrust of her wings to propel herself, she stood in front of her new Captain facing Benimaru. Leaving her wings extended and opening her arms, she stood between him and her irate ex-captain daring one of them to touch her.
"I won't let you hurt him!" she screamed at Beni as he moved his hands in a circular motion, building his fire power to unleash a lethal blast.
"I'll kill you too, Phoenix! You're one of them!" Benimaru accused, growing the widening whirlpool of flames.
"Let me handle this!" Obi yelled at the top of his lungs while simultaneously grabbing her and shoving her behind him.
Phoenix fell into Hinawa, knocking them both back against the Matchbox a few yards behind them. Damn the Captain was strong.
Akitaru Obi was neither weak nor powerless in body or spirit. Despite not having the power of the flames, he compensated for it by increasing his raw physical capabilities along with building a staunch and resolute mind. He never allowed his lack of pyrokinetic abilities to be his weakness but the metaphorical flame that fueled the fire inside to be better and stronger, something more than human. He would not allow the flames that terrified him to keep him from being a Fire Force soldier, from saving people or from finding the truth about Infernals.
Benimaru unleashed hell upon the Captain of Company Eight, raining down fire on him until he was surrounded, completely enclosed by the flames.
"Captain, no!" Shinra yelled.
The flames subsided. Amidst the black smoke, Akitaru Obi stood straight and tall and strong.
"I don't give a damn who you are or what abilities you have. The difference between me and you is that I worked hard, every damn day, for the power I have. I train every waking minute so that I can do my job as Captain of Company Eighth to the best of my ability. I'm going to protect my subordinates! My family!"
Obi reached into his pocket, pulling out a grenade and tossing it at Benimaru where it landed at his feet.
"An extinguisher grenade?" he inquired aloud, puzzled.
"I have other ways to fight, to defeat you, besides fighting fire with fire," Obi announced.
The grenade went off but the Captain of the Seventh did not move a muscle. Obi hurled a red canister fire extinguisher through the smoke to further offset him. Benimaru knocked it aside as if waving aside an annoying fly.
Obi used the smokescreen to rush forward in an attempted surprise attack. However, Benimaru simply flicked a hand, shooting out a fireball that hit his present foe in the chest. Stumbling back a few steps, dropping more extinguisher grenades to create another distraction, Obi shot forward with another fire extinguisher to strike Benimaru.
Benimaru had no choice but to jump back to avoid being hit as well getting a face full of gas from the grenades. Like a lion, Obi pounced on the other Captain, knocking him over onto his back.
Planting a foot in his abdomen, Benimaru swung Obi over his head and onto his back, gaining the advantage. Extending his hand, he delivered a blast of fire directly to Obi's face.
Undaunted and seemingly empowered, the Captain of the Eighth jumped to his feet again, head butting the stubborn and headstrong fellow Captain who could not withstand the blow from the steel reinforced fireman's helmet to his unprotected skull.
Benimaru swayed and dropped to his behind, stunned and dizzy on the verge of unconsciousness. Blood poured from the wound hidden under his hair, streaking down his forehead, running along the bridge of his nose, and down his cheeks.
"And let that be a lesson to ya. Never underestimate me again," Obi panted, the sound amplified through the bent and charred grate of his face guard.
"What the hell are you? It's like you can't flinch," Benimaru said, breathing heavily himself from the effort of the fight.
"I can't afford to flinch right now. The lives of my crew members are at stake. So is my honor as a Captain and fire force member. I don't know what the hell happened here, but I'm telling you, I would never hurt people much less turn them into Infernals."
Extending his hand, he offered assistance for Benimaru to get to his feet. Begrudingly accepting the help, Benimaru slapped his hand into the other Captain's gloved hand to be pulled upwards to his feet with a short jerk without expending any effort of his own.
Konro stepped in, standing between the men as Benimaru prepared to attack again.
"Stop this!" he shouted in his Captain's face, igniting his own power which caused his skin to immediately start burning.
"Konro, stop!" Benimaru shouted at him.
"You first!" he yelled back, holding the man's hands to keep him from attacking. "Please listen to them...hear them out...for me."
After a brief discussion, they came to one conclusion pretty quickly. They determined was no way the two men Shinmon had seen talking were Obi and Hinawa. They were on the other side of Asakusa at a store buying a few things they had ran out of. They had told Maki before going so she knew they were there instead of in the alley where someone who looked like the two of them had told Shinra to get Benimaru meet them.
"I'll go ask the store clerk to confirm your story to settle this matter," Benimaru said, standing up to leave the room. "Only for Konro's sake am I allowing you the benefit of the doubt."
Everyone remained silent until Benimaru left the room.
"Leiutenant, I'm sorry for being rude but how long have you been like this? Having this condition? Tephrosis, I mean," Shinra clarified for the others in the room more so than Konro.
Phoenix stood up to leave the room. She had heard this story before. It hurt her to hear it then, for both Konro and Benimaru. Already having a tender heart and raw emotions from the battle that had ensued between her two companies, former and present, she wanted to leave.
"Where are you going?" Shinra asked her as her hand fell on the notch in the screen to push it back.
"It's all right. Let her go. She's heard the story before. She doesn't need to hear it again. It will only hurt her," Konro answered for her. He always knew her heart almost as well and sometimes better than she did.
"Thank you, Konro," she told him, her eyes flickering from him to Shinra. "I'm going to take a walk. I'll be back later."
After she left, Konro smiled, glancing at Shinra.
"Once she decided to start having emotions, she started having them in a big way, didn't she?" he asked the young man who she obviously cared a lot about and he cared for her in return.
"Yeah, she did," he agreed. "Are you okay? Talking about what happened? Your Captain seems to have a lot of regrets about it."
"He carries a lot of guilt...even to this day. He believes what happened to me was all his fault. But it wasn't. He didn't do anything. I did it to myself."
As Konro continued with the story, Phoenix walked away gradually releasing the breath she had been holding. She knew the story. Not only was it the story of how Konro developed Tephrosis but it was also the narrative of how Company Seven began. They had entrusted the truth to her only after she had been a member for over six months.
Konro had sacrificed himself to save Benimaru from a demon Infernal. Even then, the Lieutenant was incredibly loyal and protective of the man who would become Captain in no short order because of him and his willingness to put himself in harm's way. Benimaru Shinmon truly was a man like no other. Konro was without a doubt the unsung hero of his own story and never could see it.
Phoenix wandered aimlessly through Asakusa. Everywhere she went there were people openly fighting in the streets whether it be with words or fists. A woman accused her husband of having an affair with another woman. Neighbors pointed fingers in each others faces and shouted accusations of destroying each other's property. Even the fire soldiers in Beni's brigade fought, trading punches and curse words, in some cases simultaneously.
"What is going on? This isn't Asakusa. Someone is doing this...causing this trouble and strife. But why?" Phoenix muttered aloud as if talking to herself.
She continued walking, being more mindful of what was going on around her. Paying close attention to her surroundings became a necessity to avoid flying bodies from fights or to scoot around arguing couples in the middle of the street. No matter the street, no matter how many turns she made, there was fighting.
Not sure of how long she had walked or how far she had gone, she glimpsed around her present surroundings in an effort to get her bearings to return to the Seventh's house. Slipping into a narrow alley in hopes of avoiding all people, she saw a couple standing in the shadows in an obviously amorous embrace. At least someone was getting along tonight. Turning her head to avoid looking at them, she backed up to the street to find another shortcut.
"I'm so glad we were able to slip away and find a moment alone," the man whispered, keeping his head close to his beloved's and his voice low.
But there was something familiar about that voice. Backing up, she stared down the alley encased by shadows.
"I didn't think we'd ever be able to get away from her. I try so hard every day to get your attention, but she's always in the way," the woman whined.
Phoenix recognized that voice too.
"There's someone at the end of the alley. We should find another place," he said.
"Yeah," she agreed, putting her hand into his. "This is so disappointing. I finally have you to myself and someone interrupts."
Phoenix rushed forward down the street away from the alley, hiding behind a trash can as the couple emerged. Shinra and Tamaki stepped out onto the street. Her breathing stopped. Her heart dropped from her chest to her toes. Jealousy surged inside of her along with a hefty does of betrayal and unadulterated hurt. But Shinra would never do that. Tamaki would never do that either.
Standing up straight to her full height, no matter how diminutive her five foot three inches might be, she held her head high. Pushing aside the crushing emotions that had taken her breath away, she inhaled a few deep, cleansing breaths.
Those people are not her who they appear to be. They, whoever they are, were a part of this huge deception going on in Asakusa. Besides, she never felt his heartbeat. That was definitely not Shinra.
Stepping into the middle of the street, Phoenix squared her shoulders and glared at their retreating backs.
"Hey!" she shouted at them, her voice echoing back to her from the alleys on either side of her. "Hey, you two!"
They instantly halted in their steps. The man looked at the woman, squeezing her hand.
"She's here," she said, sounding fearful and snatching her hand out of his.
Nice act. They deserve an award for commitment to their farce and not stepping out of character. But she knew they were fakes.
"Go. I'll take care of her. She's my problem," he remarked, watching the faux Tamaki walk away.
"Damn right I'm your problem!" Phoenix yelled at him.
The convincing doppelganger turned to face her, chuckling lightly.
"Did I say something funny?" she snapped.
"Actually, yes." He laughed louder.
The resemblance, the mask, the whatever the hell it was that made him look like Shinra was incredible. He sounded like him too. Honestly, if not for their bizarre connection, she probably would have never known an imposter stood before her. No wonder these people were being sucked into the deceptions so easily. Even Benimaru had been fooled.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
"What's wrong with you? You know who I am." That sinister little chuckle again. Shinra never laughed like that. He smiled when nervous. The second tip off.
"You're not Shinra. And that's not Tamaki. Who the hell are you?" she repeated more emphatically and angrily.
"Hmmm," he hummed, his grin morphing into a deep scowl. His expression of amusement turned angry in an instant. "You're not as dumb as you look."
"Too bad I can't say the same for you," she retorted.
"But - "
Before he could fire back with an insult regarding Shinra's face which had absolutely nothing to do with the barb she had lobbed at him, Phoenix spread her wings and flapped them, issuing a concussive burst of air that knocked the man down onto his derriere.
"What the f- "
He could not get the expletive out of his mouth before she was standing over him, pushing him flat onto his back and leaving her foot propped on his chest. Of all times not to be wearing her spike heels. Stabbing him with the pencil thin, weapon like heel would aid in her attempt to make him talk.
"Who are you really, and what is going on here?" Phoenix interrogated him.
The head of the phoenix rose behind her and bent over her head, staring down at the mystery man wearing Shinra's face.
"Hmph," he snorted, giving her a lopsided smile of contempt. "Is that supposed to frighten me?"
"If you were smart, it would," she said, lowering the birds beak closer to his face. For a split second, unbridled horror registered in his red eyes before he narrowed them to glower back at the fire bird. "Are you a member of the white clad? Who is this Evangelist? What are you after?"
"I'm not telling you a damn thing," he snarled through his teeth, beginning to sweat and shake.
"Answer my questions!" she screamed, startling him which made him wince. The phoenix's beak, flames undulating but always maintaining a sharp point, moved down to his chest, hovering over his heart. "Tell me. Or I'll kill you."
"You'll just have to kill me," he arrogantly shot back.
Phoenix allowed the searing rage, the sickening jealousy, and the desire for revenge to seep back into her consciousness heating her body and numbing all other emotions. She pretty much already had her answer. She knew this man had to be a white clad member, willing to give his life up for their cause. She would willingly take his life for her own cause. This asshole was not going to tell her anything anyway. Maybe killing him would send a message to his girlfriend lurking close by which would in turn get her to cough up all the details.
She smiled down at him. Then fear, real and evident, took hold of him. His face, bearing Shinra's healthy peaches and cream complexion paled to an ashen gray as if he were already dead. His eyes widened and his lips parted.
"Hey...wait...don't..." He was about to begin a pathetic plea for his life too late.
"As you wish," she said, her voice low and gravelly as if a demon had risen up inside of her.
Maybe it had. They were responsible for her mother's death because they created the damn bugs. She was not going to allow these people to destroy another person she loves. They had already tried several times tonight to kill people she loved by making them fight. Enough is enough.
The phoenix thrust its head forward, penetrating the man's chest. The flaming beak swiftly cut through skin, broke through ribs, and tore through viscera to impale the muscle of his heart. She could feel the heart continue to contract, uselessly trying to pump blood through the body but instead sent a crimson jet spurting through the hole in the man's chest. The phoenix's head withdrew so she would not have to continue to feel the slowing pointless beats of a heart that did not yet know it was dead.
"NOOOOO!" a mournful cry rang out from the end of the street.
The woman wearing Tamaki's face ran at her, fueled by her rage. Speeding at Phoenix as if she had been shot out of a cannon she prepared to bumrush her. Bending at the waist, curling her shoulder under, she tucked her head down plowed into Phoenix's abdomen.
Phoenix dug in her heels and then her wings, thrusting them into the street which was a mixture of densely packed dirt and small stones here. She was pushed backwards, bulldozed down the street for several yards. Before she lost her footing, she seized handfuls of the woman's shirt, lifting her off her feet, and flinging her over her head to cease her progress. She had learned many of her fighting techniques from Benimaru Shinmon. Watching him fight Akitaru Obi earlier had given her a refresher demonstration she had no idea she would be using so soon.
The woman was fast and seemed impervious to damage since she got to her feet and kicked Phoenix in the back, shoving her forward. Losing her balance, Phoenix fell onto her hands and knees. Tiny, sharp rocks embedded themselves into her skin, making dozens of abrasions and a few deep cuts that leaked blood. Standing up, she ignored the blood dripping from the tips of her fingers and streaking her shins with thin red lines.
Extending her wings, Phoenix shot several of the longer outer primary feathers at the woman like darts. With the woman pinned to the wall of the building like a specimen ready for dissection, she prepared to send the phoenix forth for the finishing blow. Piercing her heart would be a fitting end; to kill her in the same way she had her lover.
However, she had second thoughts. Hesitating to act, she slowly approached the crying, moaning woman who stared at her dead boyfriend down the street behind Phoenix.
"What are you waiting for? Just do it! Kill me!" the woman implored her, ready and willing to die to be reunited with her lover.
"Answer my questions, and I will let you live," Phoenix said.
"I won't tell you anything," the woman seethed, spittle flying from between her teeth and collecting on her lips. Her entire body shuddered from the pain.
Phoenix heard a sound behind her. The rushing sound of the air being disturbed by something hurtling through it at high speed coupled with the distinct whooshing sound made by super heated flames that cannot be put out by mere air. The flaming arrow impaled the chest of the captured woman.
"Dammit," Phoenix gasped, her eyes darting around to search for the source.
She saw nothing. Someone wielding flaming arrows should have been easy to see. They must have been on the run. Possibly dashing across the rooftops on the way to somewhere else. Finding them here and killing the woman to keep their secrets was most likely a happy accident - for them at least.
A fellow White Clad no doubt, murdered the woman before she could divulge any information about them and their clandestine goals. That was fine. Phoenix already had a good idea of what they were dealing with through piecing together the small and scattered bits of information they had collected so far.
Before she could fly up to the rooftops to investigate, several explosions sounded one after the other. Tall, thick columns of flames lit up the night. Plumes of smoke filled the air burning her eyes and nose. Screaming, brought forth by both fear and pain, filled the already chaotic night.
"What now?" she wondered, setting off to assist with getting the mayhem under control - whatever it may be this time.
~\'/~
Arrow could not believe her good fortune. She believed she had found the Avenging Angel.
She had complete faith the winged woman would have eventually killed their not so covert agent in order to get information from her. However, she did not have to the time to wait and see if the member of their White Clad ranks would keep her mouth shut to the end or give their secrets away before dying a slow death from her wounds.
Perhaps it was predestined all along that Asakusa be the birthplace of a new beginning - and a new end. This place lived up to the hype of the legends they believed as gospel. Purported to be a great source of power, they determined Asakusa would yield the greatest source of compatible vessels for the bugs, possibly giving rise to a demon Infernal. These Infernals would be used to help them reignite the purifying flames that would cleanse and reclaim this world for the Evangelist.
The Avenging Angel, the harbinger of the demise of mankind, the right hand of destruction of the Evangelist. The Angel's destiny is to herald in and ultimately lead them to realize the Evangelist's goal to burn away the human scourge infecting the earth.
Before acting on her own assumptions and to be sure of the woman's identity, she would inform the Commander first. He would determine what to do next, how to proceed in order to find out if this woman really is the Avenging Angel they were searching for.