Chapter 18
The morning came fast, the sun started to appear on the sky and people started to get up. Sakura slowly opened her eyes, and rubbed them with her fist. She removed her blanket and got up yawing; she opened the door of her room and headed ahead the corridor of Igawa household. She continued her way until she found herself in a big living-room; she glanced around and saw her elder sister who was sitting on the sofa in front of a coffee table. Asagi was wearing a pink shirt along with a home skirt; it was possible to see a mug with coffee on the table and several books. Asagi did a sip out of the mug, and turned the page of the book.
"Hey sis." Sakura turned to Asagi, "When have you got up?" she rubbed her eyes again; she came to her sister in order to see what was she doing.
"I haven't slept tonight." Asagi responded to Sakura and turned another page.
"What are you doing?" Sakura put her head onto the shoulder of Asagi looking onto the book she was reading.
"Reading, as you may see." Asagi responded with a slight and tired smile and leaned onto the back of the sofa.
Sakura closed the book and read it title, "Hierarchy of demons, since when you're reading a school book?" Sakura seemed slightly surprised, of what she had just seen.
"Just wanted to refresh some knowledge." Asagi responded doing another sip of her coffee.
Sakura looked other books, 'History of demons', 'Types of demons' and some others, "What's got into you, sis? You should know these books very well, why did you decide to read them again?"
"I don't read them; I just was watching them through." Asagi told to her younger sister also putting the mug onto the table.
"And what made you to do so?" Sakura jumped onto the sofa, she was wearing a shot light green singlet that exposed her stomach, and also light blue shorts that were tight and shirt.
Asagi exhaled, she didn't know how to start it right so she decided to tell how it was, "On our mission, I've encountered Mystic."
"And how was he?" Sakura asked her.
"Pretty strong, I think he didn't show all his potential, but the problem is not in him." Sakura tensed, "When I was about to attack him one more time, a strange person appeared. He was wearing silver armor; he was able to move as fast as I. But two more things impressed me in him more, first one was when my katana pierced his chest, I thought that he was done, but he turned into a skeleton and then it turned into a dust, and the same person appeared in front of me again, not even being touched."
"And second thing?" Sakura asked.
"He was using aura."
"What?!" Sakura exclaimed, "But only strong demons can use it, it can't be true!"
"I'm telling you what I saw." Asagi said.
"Can he be a pawn of Black or something like that?" Sakura gave her idea, but even she wasn't sure in it.
"I don't think so." Asagi shook with her head, "When I was fighting him, he called himself a true Vampire King."
Sakura started to laugh, "You know we've seen pretty much of these kings, and where they are now?" Sakura still was laughing, but Asagi became only more serious, "He also said something that Black is some sort of a traitor for him, and something about that history had removed their names." After a brief pause, Asagi added, "And at the same time, he named himself a second demon lord of the second line."
"Do you really belive in his blabbering?" Sakura asked her sister.
"I don't know, but seeing his power I understand that he is really a strong opponent. Perhaps he can be even stronger than Black?"
"What?!" Sakura was shocked of these words, "Maybe if I was with you we would deal with him fast?"
"I haven't finished." Asagi said strictly, "I wasn't fight him alone." Sakura became interested, "First, I fought him alone, but after some period of time, one man came to help me."
"One man?"
"The modern leader of 'Red Division' who I fought several years ago, even together we were unable to take this demon down, only then Kurenai appeared with some other vampire. And only then with their help we started to take him over, however he could escape."
"Even in such number you couldn't defeat him? Who is this guy after all?" Sakura pondered too, "Wait a minute, you've saw another vampire, what he did there?"
"As I understood Kurenai came with him, I still want to hear her report on this, but he repeated that title again."
"The second demon lord…?" Sakura didn't remember what was next.
"Of the second line." Asagi ended.
"If he is from the second line, then it means that there must be someone from the first line or the third one?"
"I don't know." Asagi shook with her head, "I tried to find something in our book, but I found absolutely nothing about them."
"And what are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to go to the library; maybe there I'll be able to find out something." Asagi pondered drinking her coffee and getting up, "By the way Sakura, I've got an important mission for you."
"What is it?"
"Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs is going to visit our country, so I want you to be his security, of course you won't be alone."
"And whom do you want to send with me?"
"The first one is Kuro, then I wanted to send Oleg there too, because I think he can be valuable there, but about the other two." she pondered.
"How about Pavel and Ren? They are pretty good, Ren always asks me to ask you to give her some valuable missions."
"Are you seriously?" Asagi asked her sister, "What if these ones decide to attack you along with that vampire, what you're going to do?"
"Don't worry sis, we definitely try to kick their asses."
"You never change, Sakura." Asagi smiled watching at her younger sister, "Let's go and have something to eat or we will late for our meeting."
"Yep." Sakura chuckled, "Sis." Sakura said suddenly a bit sad, but still not much, "I wanted to talk with you about something."
"What is it?" Asagi turned again to Sakura.
"Was it so necessary to push at Oleg with that stupid interrogation? From that accident we started to talk less, and he started to avoid me."
"Listen." Asagi exhaled, "I didn't want to do this myself, but I had to understand was he sincere in his intention to help Masami or not."
"Yeah, but after our apologies the situation changed not much." Sakura stated, "And I don't think that it will change soon."
"Being a teacher, I can't forbid him to try to help her, but I must see that his way won't hurt her more, like it happened with us."
"How do you think will they be able to help her?" Sakura asked her.
"I don't know, but only time will show." Asagi sighed and went to the kitchen, and Sakura followed her.
"Hey, why are you so thoughtful?" Pavel asked Oleg, walking by the streets of Gosha village, "Thinking of what to say on the meeting."
"This too." Oleg responded somehow thoughtfully.
"And what is the other part of your pondering?" Pavel asked again.
"Well, I'm just thinking what tricks our friends from 'The Law' still hide."
"What do you mean?" Pavel asked his Russian mentor.
"Well, during our mission, my squad encountered a very strange person, he wasn't in any dossier on them, and even the three of us were unable to do nothing against him."
"And there are no clues who it could be?"
"That man only said something that he encountered some woman who looked like Tatsurou about thirteen years ago, and Tatsurou said that it was his mother."
"Wait a minute as I remember it right Tatsurou is fifteen years old, am I right?" Oleg nodded, "Then thirteen years ago he was only two, how he can remember it?"
"You forgot about his sister who is seventeen years old, maybe Rinko knows about their mother and told to him it."
"If only to think from that side." and then Pavel added, "Or Asagi could tell them that information about their mother, but why do you think about it?"
"I'm thinking of what ally they could find, if the three of us were unable give him a single scratch." Oleg said, but then he decided to distract himself for a little, "By the way, how was your teamwork with Ren? Won't Hirata-sensei, be mad at you?"
"Why should she be mad?" Pavel asked him with a chuckle, "If she wanted to say something, she would do that tonight."
"Your truth." Oleg smiled too, "So, how was it?"
"Pretty good I must admit." Pavel started, "We fight without extra words, feeling what the other one needs, I didn't tell you but we fought that dinosaur again, and this time he wasn't we could impress him several times."
"Not impressed." Oleg shrugged with his shoulders, "This type of demons can be taken out of guard easily."
"I wouldn't say so." Pavel protested, "This one is pretty smart, and we could do this only two times." Pavel said, "As I remember it right dinosaurs are good in company and especially in the company of some strategist."
"Right." Oleg chuckled.
"By the way, what theme we have today?" Pavel asked Oleg.
"Hm, today we will speak about the strongest noble demons." Oleg said.
"You mean the ones like the Vampire and Incubus kings?"
"Yes, I think you and the rest know this theme pretty well, so I don't think it will be interesting for you."
"Then how about to tell about our powers?" the boy asked the teacher, "I think it will be interesting for them, and a good thing to repeat something for me too."
"We'll see." Oleg said and they heard a voice who was calling them, it was enthusiastic and loud.
"Pavel, sensei!" they turned to the right and saw Maki who was running to them, "Good morning!"
"Good morning, Sato." Oleg greeted her as the girl was near with them.
"Morning Maki." her classmate responded her, "How are you after tonight's mission?"
"Pretty well, I must admit." Maki replied, "After all, I was fighting along with Aki and together, and with him there's no enemy who could beat us."
"Nice to hear that you're as energetic as always." Pavel said.
"Sato, I wanted to ask you about something." Oleg said somehow mysterious.
"What is it?" Maki walked with their pace.
"When will you amend your marks?"
"Well, speaking of that…" Maki looked at Pavel looking for a help from her friend, but Pavel only turned his head also starting to whistle, "I wanted to ask you to give me supportive lessons, I really wanted to become better in your subject sensei."
"Bad lair Sato." Oleg sighed, "But I'll count it for a try, come after your lessons and I'll see what I can do."
"Got it." Maki replied.
They continued their way. On their route they encountered Aki and later both Akiyama siblings, they decided to go to their classes first, and wait for the time when Asagi would call, as this part of today's day wasn't discussed. Aki, Maki and Pavel went after with Oleg Semenovich as their first lesson was his one, Tatsurou and Rinko went to other sides too. When they came to their classroom they could see that almost all classmates were there, Mai was talking with Ren, and Masami was sitting on her place watching at the window, waiting for the start of the lesson. Little by little the pupils started to gather and when the last one arrived the bell rang.
"Well class." Oleg said turning to the students, "I have got a special offer for you today." the teacher said with a strange smile, "According with my plan we are doing well and I have a moment to interfere of it, so if you want we can talk about high noble demons which are in our plan." he did a pause and then added, making them interested, "Or we can step away from it and talk about our powers that we also call special abilities." after these words class started to discuss it, Oleg Semenovich didn't interfere in their discussion, as he always thought that the truth always born in hot discussion and arguing. He quickly found that the class spread on two parts, Aki wanted to hear about high noble demons, while Maki wanted to hear about abilities, Ren also wanted to hear about the abilities and Oleg was surprised that this tanned girl was so active, Mai and Pavel found themselves in her camp, "So, we have a draw." Oleg stated.
"What?" someone from students, exclaimed.
"Who didn't vote?" another one asked the rest.
"Andou." Oleg turned to the brown haired girl, "You're the last one." Masami turned to the teacher, "What would you like to hear about?"
"Come on Masami, chose abilities!" some enthusiastic exclaimed.
"No Masami, take demons." Maki tried to insist too.
"Hey!" Pavel interfered in their shouts, "Don't make her to choose for yourselves, she can decided by herself!" Oleg smiled at such protection, even Ren nodded in approval.
Masami looked at him somehow strangely, Pavel didn't notice it as he was watching at his classmates, 'Interesting.' Mai thought watching at Masami.
"Abilities." Masami said quietly.
"I see." Oleg nodded, "Then we are talking about our abilities today." he heard dissatisfied exclamations of the second part, but he only responded them, "Study how except loosing." and then started to speak with the class, "Well, how do you think how is it possible for us to use our abilities while other ordinary people can't do this?"
"It's simple, sensei." the girl with red hair raised her hand, "Our powers are coming from demons."
"Correct Maeda." Oleg nodded, "You've already known about passive genes, so if we talk about the Taima Participles we can say with confidence that absolutely all Taimanin will have them, I think you know that these Participles give us bigger strength and speed, which can be equaled with some demons, don't you?" almost all pupils nodded, "There's no Taimanin in the world who wouldn't be able to use them. But with our special abilities is another case each of us can have absolutely unique power like using of fire, water, wind or others." he did a pause and then asked the class, "How do you think how our powers work?" he saw a stretched hand, which belonged to Aki.
"We always used to tell that our powers are coming from demons, so is it possible that it's some kind of magic?"
Oleg shook with his head, "No, our powers can be explained from the side of biology." Oleg merely answered.
"Can you do this?" Maki asked Oleg with interest and amusement in her voice.
"Yes." Oleg nodded, "For example, who has a wind power in the class?" he saw a risen hand it belonged to a boy with black hair, and pretty blunt face.
"I have." Oleg heard a rude voice.
"Ah, come up to the blackboard Uchida." Oleg called the boy. The boy got up and came to the ordered place, Oleg came to the window and opened it, then said, "Come here." Uchida nodded all were interested what the man wanted from the pupil, even Pavel, was slightly amazed, even knowing what was going to happen, "Well, tense your lungs Uchida."
"What?" the boy didn't understand his order.
"Take a deep breath." Oleg explained, "Also try to tense your lung as strong as you only can." the boy seemed understood what the teacher wanted and did as he told, and after a second the teacher said again, "Now breath out." And Uchida did this, he breathed out a strong puff of wind.
"Wow!" all students were surprised, "Did he did just with his lungs?"
"Cool." someone said.
"See, sometime you don't need your weapon to attack your enemies; you can just use your physical aspects for doing this."
"Sensei, does it mean that wind abilities are coming from the lungs?" Aki based the teacher still being astonished.
"Good observation, Ito." Oleg praised the boy, and told to Uchida to go to his place, "Yes, wind ability, are coming from our lungs, but as you all know not all of us can use it, if we look on the other powers, for example water, hunters can use it through the control of the water inside of their bodies."
"What do you mean sensei?" Ren asked him.
"Well, as you know human's body consists on sixty percent of water, and this water can be manipulated, and it also allows controlling other liquids."
"But what about controlling metal and fire?" Aki asked another question, remembering the fight with the man in orange uniform."
"It can be easily explained too." he was glad that he could get the attention of the class, "Fire ability depends on the work of the body too; such people can raise the temperature of their bodies what allows them to create flame. Controlling metal depends on the metal that of that body produces, and this metal allows controlling other metal objects."
"Sensei." Oleg heard Ren's voice again, "But what about mental abilities and telekinesis? How do they work."
"Good question Ikenami." Oleg awaited this question, "Previous abilities depends on the work of the whole organize, while such abilities are coming from our brain." he looked at the desk of Aki and stretched his arm, and in no time the pen that was on the table flew to him, "I focused my eye and brain on the pan and in the result I called it to myself." he said spinning Aki's pen with his fingers, "On then threw it above him, and the pen stopped in the air, and flew to Aki again, "An mental ability depends only onto the brain of its user. It's quite difficult to explain the work of their power, but in brief words they can empower, decrease powers, they can block some part of your body, can read memories and to do other stuff."
"Such a big list." Maki was astonished of it.
"It's not all." Oleg added, "This ability also allows to create some bound between it user and the ones who are the acceptors of this power, in the same way we use communicators."
'Just like that time, with Pavel's another teacher.' Ren thought.
"In our country we use such ability from time to time. But still there's one more thing about it, there's not so much of those who could use such power."
"Then what about Igawa-sensei, hyper speed?" the girl with red hair asked the teacher again, "How can you explain it."
"Her hyper speed is not a mystery." Oleg smiled slightly, "Her power can be equaled with Sato's one, while Sato has super strength, Igawa-sensei possesses hyper speed, however I think there's also another explanations, that she has some passive genes, which could be related to light power."
"Light power?" someone asked the teacher.
"Yes, light power is one of the most peculiar and strange powers, which are still not explained, and there's so some secrets about shadow powers." Oleg said, "We still don't know how such hunters can control something that doesn't relate to body or plants."
"Sensei." Ren asked him with a firm voice, "If these explanations are so easy, maybe you know how to find a way to reveal our true power?"
"There's no such a way." Oleg shook with his head, "The only advice I can give you is to practice with the elements and other aspects of your body, and maybe you'll find it someday." Suddenly they heard a knock at the door, "Come in." Oleg said.
"Haven't I interrupted you?" Sakura asked him entering the classroom.
"Not at all." Oleg replied her, "Did you want something?"
"Yes, sis…" Sakura stopped for a second, "Igawa-sensei is calling you."
"Is it serious?"
"Kinda, but if you want you can come after the lesson." Sakura didn't insist, her voice wasn't as merry as always, but still she tried to seem like always.
"Class, repeat our previous theme, while I'm out." Oleg turned to the class.
"Pavel, Ren you're coming too." Sakura turned her head to the named students.
"Are you sure that we're needed too, sensei?" Pavel asked Sakura.
"Yes, I think there'll be some work for you two too." she chuckled to them.
Ren and Pavel got up and came to the teachers, and after a second they left the classroom.
The three called person's followed the teacher pretty fast. Pavel and Ren didn't talk at all as they both were thinking of the reason why such a strange company was needed to Asagi.
'Could it be because of Masami?' Pavel thought, 'No, I don't think so, if Asagi wanted, she could call us after the lessons, or in a big break.' Pavel shook with his head; he looked at Oleg who only shrugged with his shoulders. One more thing that was troublesome was that Sakura didn't say even a single word, what was strange. Pavel decided to wait the time when all answers will be answered.
After some minutes of indecisiveness they finally reached the needed place, Sakura all of them saw Chikeko who was standing by the door of the principle. Sakura nodded to Chikeko and all of them entered the office of Asagi, 'Could it really be because of Masami?' Oleg thought along with Pavel.
"We're here sis." Sakura opened the door entering the office.
"Very well, Sakura." Asagi removed from her papers and raised her head to the younger sister, but then her eyes became pretty wide, "Sakura, I think you must remember that I told you not to call for Tarasov and Ikenami." Asagi's voice was serous and strict.
"Come on." Sakura said coming to her table, "Just give them a chance and they will surprise you." Sakura continued, "If you want Chikeko can say a word for them."
"You called even Hirata-sensei here." Asagi sighed looking at Chikeko.
"Asagi." Oleg decided to enter their discussion, "May I ask you, why have you called us?"
"Fine, we'll deal with it later." Asagi looked at Sakura with disgruntled eyes, "First sit down." and all of them took the places they could, Ren sat onto the sofa along with Chikeko and Sakura, Pavel decided to sit onto the chair that was in front of the principle's working place, and the Russian teacher preferred to stand, "Well, I think you're wondered why Sakura brought you here, let me explain you everything. This mission relates to Oleg more rather than to you."
"And what's so special in it that they can't take part in it too?" Oleg narrowed his eyes. Ren and Pavel were intrigued what was that special mission Asagi didn't want to take them for.
"This mission will be connected with the protection of one important person." Asagi did a pause, "Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia." Asagi said.
"So he is finally decided to come." Oleg thought, "And so unexpectedly."
"As I was informed he wants to visit our Minister of National Affairs, and have some conversation on our further work."
"You want us to be his bodyguards, don't you?" Pavel asked, but was quickly stopped by Oleg's glance, which gave him to know that this talk is not for children.
"Yes, I have some bad feelings that our new friends can use this attempt and try to neutralize such important persons; the problem is that we don't want to have probable conflict with your countries, so I'd like to see you in the number of bodyguards."
"I see. If something goes wrong, then there will be my fail too and our country won't be able to lodge anything to your country, you thought pretty well Asagi." Oleg chuckled.
"I wouldn't say it with such harsh words, but you're right, and you also must understand that there's no opportunity for you to neglect this mission." Asagi added.
'Sis!" Sakura interfered, "Isn't it harsh? I think it's up to him to accept it or not!" Sakura was shocked of what she heard, and decided not to agree with her sister this time.
"Igawa-san." Chikeko interfered too, "I don't think that it's a good idea to press at Oleg that much, after all he is not our Taimanin, and if the laws of his country tell him not take part in some missions he will have an opportunity to do so." Asagi crossed put her hands in a lock, she understood, that Chikeko was right, and couldn't press on him and not being a Taimanin gave him some special rights.
"Yes, this position is really messy." Oleg nodded, "And I think Asagi is right."
"What?!" Chikeko and Sakura exclaimed.
"I really appreciate your help, but on Asagi's place I'd try to do something like this too." Oleg smiled.
"What do you mean?" Chikeko didn't understand what her Russian colleague wanted to say.
"We are from another country and it would be stupid for us to sit without any actions when someone important is coming to visit the country where we're working, and at the same time, the blame of his demise will be left on us, so there's no way for especially for me to reject this mission, and I also think that Pavel's hands are untied here too."
"About him, yes." Asagi nodded agreeing, "I can't forbid him to take part in it, but for Ikenami I can be decided perfectly."
"Sis." Sakura entered their dialogue, "Ren is a skillful girl and under someone's command she will be really strong and dangerous opponent."
"Have you forgotten what happened during her first mission of being a captain?" Asagi's voice became serious, "What if something like this will happen again? At the same time she is just a student and protection of such important person like a minister especially of the other country demands possession of skillful hunters?"
After these words Ren started to feel herself uncomfortable, she became upset, 'She still remembers it.' Ren thought her face became thoughtful. Ren didn't thought that she is a very strong hunter, but at the same time it was impossible to call her weak, from her whole class, only Mai could be contested with her. She wanted to leave this place, but still decided to listen to all of them till the end.
"Sensei." Ren heard the voice of her classmate, "I wouldn't agree with you, if Ren is just a student, she is one of the most skillful students I've met here, and sometime her plans work perfectly." Asagi looked at Pavel with serious eyes.
"Do you understand what do want? What if you encounter someone strong during it, we still have no direct information about these criminals and you want me to send you there? She has already encountered that dinosaur demon, and without your help she could die there."
Ren squeezed her fists, she was angry at the boy that he interfered with his advices.
"But after this we were able to surprise that demon." Pavel continued, "And all these efforts were because of Ren."
'What?' Ren looked at him.
"You know she has pretty good thinking, and under her command I was able to do some wound to his demon."
"Ikenami what does he mean?" Asagi looked at Ren wanting to hear her explanations.
"Well, during our mission we were fighting two demons, one of them was that dinosaur, and the second one was a new one, some big werewolf." Chikeko nodded at her words, "Hirata-sensei was fighting the werewolf, while I and Pavel fought another one. Fighting him Pavel was the first one who was giving ideas on fighting him, but all of them were failed." Oleg came to the boy and gave him a slight cuff on the nape, what made Sakura and Chikeko to smile, and allowed to remove some stress out of Ikenami too, making her to smile slightly, "And then on his ideas I thought to others and they were lucky." Ren took out something out of the pocket of her skirt, came to Asagi's working place, and out it onto it the subject.
"What is it?" Asagi asked Ren looking at the thing being interested.
"A tooth of this creature." Ren, answered, it was sharp and pretty big.
"Pretty big for a dinosaur demon." Oleg came too and took the tooth and started to examine it, "They're usually not so big."
"Maybe it's some subspecies?" Pavel asked the teacher, "I also thought that it's pretty big."
"Perhaps." Oleg nodded and returned it onto the table, "Some species are really unique and can impress every time."
"Then a strange man with white uniform and started to help us." Ren continued, "He was using ice in the fight."
"Avalanche, a member of 'Red Division'." Oleg stated.
"When I and Pavel understood that we are tired, we decided to change our strategy, I was helping to sensei, and he was helping to that man, Avalanche." she added his name too.
"Not a bad strategy." Asagi admitted became a bit kinder when she was before and looked at Chikeko.
"It's true Igawa-san. They're team work is really impressive." Chikeko said with a smile, "I saw it not so much, but I think Ren work with Pavel is much better than with Ogawa." Ren and Pavel looked at her, "That's why I think they will be valuable participants I this mission." she looked at them.
"See, sis?" Sakura was glad that Chikeko joined her side, "This mission will be a great opportunity for them, to reveal their true potential."
Asagi didn't know what to say, from first side, Ren and Pavel were students, but she knew that Chikeko would never lie to her and this made her tensed and doubtful, "I know how we will make it." Leg chuckled, "If you let them go, I'll go for this mission too."
"Even you're with them." Asagi sighed.
Sakura and Chikeko looked at Oleg with contented expressions, Ren and Pavel did the same, "Fine." Asagi said, "Then you'll be the one who will reply for them, and if they do something reckless then it'll be absolutely your fault, do you agree?"
Two other teachers wanted to object such ultimatum, but Oleg referred faster, "I agree." and this answer surprised all of them, "So, do we need to know any other direct details of that mission?" Oleg decided to start the discussion of the mission, Asagi only sighed heavily and decided to start explanation.
"Their plane will land tomorrow in the morning, the first day will pass in Tokyo like official meeting, nothing special I must admit, the other two day, will pass in Gosha Village, and then your squad will be changed, to another one."
"I see, only protecting, nothing special, one more question." Asagi nodded, "How we should form this protection, should someone play the role of security or something or just working from the shadow?"
"You, Ren, Pavel and Kuro will work secretively, Sakura and Hirata will work as some sort of a helpers of our Minister."
"I see." Oleg said, "Not a bad plan, at the same time you're putting those who have already encountered with these ones."
"Yes, it'll be pretty difficult for other hunters to fight those, whom they haven't encountered yet, one more thing Oleg, I wanted to ask you about your group, how Yukikaze and Tatsurou displayed themselves?"
"Pretty well, I must admit, for young hunters they have interesting potential. Working together they definitely can give troubles to some unprepared opponents, and the way of their fighting is smart too, even being indecisive, Tatsurou knows when to protect Yukikaze and let her to attack the enemy."
"I see, I'm glad that they didn't do anything reckless."
'Didn't do.' Oleg smirked in his head, remembering Tatsurou's stupidity.
"Very well, then it's everything for now." Asagi stated, "You can not to come for the meeting about the mission, I want you to prepare well for it, I'll hear everything from the rest, Tarasov, Ikenami." Asagi turned her head to the teens, "Please leave for a little, I would like to have a talk with you." Pavel and Ren gulped, "Oleg, do you need them on your lesson?"
"If you want to borrow them I don't mind at all." Asagi nodded, and then the teachers left the office, "Don't be so nervous." Asagi smiled, "I'm not going to lecture you or something like that." and then they started to relax, "I wanted to see your team work in full play."
"Huh?" Pavel didn't understand, "But how do you want to see it?"
"In action." Asagi got up from her chair and came to them, "Personally of course."
"You mean, you want to have a practice with us, right?" Ren asked the principle, still not believing what she had just heard. Ren and Pavel looked at each other and were surprised of the thought that they will have sparring with Igawa Asagi herself. They quickly got up and followed her.
After a pretty brief period of time they found themselves in a white common training room. Asagi was wearing her purple uniform, while Pavel was in his black and Ren in her blue one. The three of them hadn't exposed their weapons yet, as there was no command for it.
"As I told, I want to see your teamwork, this fight won't be a mere practice, I want to see how you will work against a really strong opponent, tonight I understood, that member of the organization are really strong, and you must be ready to oppose them. I will fight you seriously, but still not in full power, your task is to fight like you want to kill me."
"Sensei, isn't it a bit much?" Pavel asked her.
Asagi smiled and looked at him, "Do you think you can get me?"
"Of course no." Pavel responded, "But is it okay, if we fight you with everything we've got?"
"Yes, fight like we are enemies, not just a teacher and students."
"Got it." Pavel nodded, and exposed his sword.
"By the way, can I borrow it for a minute?" Asagi pointed at his sword.
"Of course." Pavel stretched it to her.
Asagi took it and did some swings with it, 'Not a bad sword.' she thought, 'For a two-handed one it's pretty light.' then she returned it to Pavel and took out hers one, 'No, mine is heavier, interesting.'
Ren took out her short blade too, and both young hunters jumped away from Asagi, "Good idea." Asagi said to them, and then rushed to them too.
'Fast!' Pavel thought observing after Asagi, he was in time and blocked Asagi's lunge with his sword, Ren didn't make them wait for long and hurried to help her partner. Ren tried to get Asagi, but the principle quickly jumped from Pavel away, and headed to attack Ren this time. Pavel quickly stood between them, letting Ren to make another lunge, Ren jumped and tried to get Asagi, from the air behind of Pavel. Asagi pushed Pavel and parried Ren's attack. Asagi wanted to give cut Ren, but the girl quickly blocked Asagi's attempt.
"Not bad Ren." Asagi praised the girl, "You've became stronger from the last time."
"Thanks." Ren responded and quickly jumped away.
In the next moment Asagi saw how Pavel was running to her, preparing to hit her with his sword, 'Not bad.' Asagi thought, and parried this attempt again. Pavel did a spinning move holding his sword on one hand, trying to make Asagi to avoid it, as she was behind him. Ren quickly jumped and after the swing was done, protected the back of her partner, with her blade, "Well, I think warming up is ended, I'll increase my speed, let's see what you'll do now." Asagi said, and jumped away from Ren, and this time her moves became faster. She headed to Ren, making her to react faster, 'Shit, I won't parry it.'
"Ren jump!" Pavel shouted standing behind her. The tanned girl did what was told, Asagi's katana met Pavel's sword, "Ren! I protect you attack!"
"Got it." Ren nodded and rushed to Asagi, trying to get her, but Asagi escaped it again.
The battle became difficult, Asagi started to leave scratches on their uniforms, Pavel decided to focus on protection, and let Ren to look for moments to attack. It was difficult for Ren to find these moments, Asagi's speed was troublesome for her, and from time to time Ren protected herself and Pavel's back.
"Ren." Pavel whispered, "I'll try to attack her."
"She is too fast for your sword."
"Let me try." he smiled, Ren only nodded.
When Asagi was about to clash her katana with Pavel's sword, Pavel jumped letting Ren to encounter Asagi's katana with her blade, 'What?' Asagi raised her head and so Pavel, who tried to slice Asagi with his sword. But Asagi quickly pushed Ren off and parried Pavel's sword.
"Well, I think that's enough for today." Asagi said, "Now I understand why everyone decided to let you go for this mission." Asagi removed her katana into the sheath; the students did the same, "In pairs with skillful Taimanin, you'll be really dangerous opponents, even your style became more decisive and smooth, Ren."
"Do you think so?" Ren was glad that Asagi praised her.
"Yes, your protection became much better, since the last practice. And you also have good skills Pavel."
"Thank you a lot for training." Pavel bowed to Asagi that made Asagi smiling.
"Well, now go for your lessons, the second lesson is started, just tell that I called you."
"Yes." both of them responded and were about to leave the training room.
"Pavel for a second." Asagi called the boy again.
Pavel came and asked her, "My sword?"
"No." she shook with her head, "I wanted to ask you, do you know something about the Vampire King?"
"Do you mean Edwin Black?" Pavel was puzzled.
"No, Walter József." Asagi corrected her question.
"No, never heard about him."
"And do you know something about the Demon Lord of the second line?" Asagi tried to ask another question.
Pavel laughed all of a sudden, "Do you mean the one from these bogeyman stories?"
Asagi didn't know how to react at such answer, "What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm not good in telling fairy tales, if you want you can ask Oleg Semenovich, he will tell you them."
"Fine, now go." Asagi said him, 'What fairy tales is he talking about?'
As Pavel left the training room, he quickly caught up Ren, "Man, I've never thought that one day Asagi Igawa, will give me some practice, if I'd tell it in Russia no one will belive it."
"Everything happens first time." Ren answered him, "Did you like it?"
"Of course I did, and especially this practice was with you , so I…" Pavel quickly stopped, as he understood that he would blurt out something that can frighten her.
"So you…?" Ren wanted said his unfinished thought.
"Well, I'm just glad that it was with you." Pavel said with feeling how his cheeks started to became red.
"Well, I'm glad too." Ren said, "I don't know why, but I feel myself perfect fighting along with you."
"The same is with me." Pavel nodded, "Then… Does it mean that you started to trust us more?"
Ren stopped, 'Wait a minute, I even didn't notice when I've really started to trust him more?' Ren was wondered of her own thoughts; she remembered her attitude toward him in the beginning, and his rude attitude when they just met, but after when they started to save each other's lives, could it be possible that it made Ren melt towards Pavel?, "Perhaps." Ren said, but then added, "By the way, I wanted to thank you again."
"For what?"
"For standing up for me in front of Igawa-sensei, I don't know what I would do if not your protection."
"Well I just said the truth; it's not my fault that she doesn't see a girl with great potential." Pavel smiled widely.
Ren widened her eyes, her face started to become red too, "Thank you for the compliment." Ren whispered, "By the way, when are we going to go to Inageya?" she decided to change the theme of their talk.
"Are you agree?" Ren nodded, "Sweet!" Pavel exclaimed, "I think after the lessons or during the big break."
"During the break is good." Ren said, "After the lessons, I'm going to swim for a little."
"If you want we can do it after your swimming." Pavel suggested, "I also wanted to talk with Masami on it, so I think it would be really good to talk with her during the break."
"I see, then let's do so." Ren nodded, "Do you remember the place?"
"Yes, it's behind the building of the academy, I'll find it."
"Then good luck." Ren said, and their ways separated, Ren went to the female dressing room, and Pavel went to the male's one.
The first lesson was finished, the class left the classroom of Oleg Semenovich for a break, the teacher left alone in the classroom, and started to work on the copybook of his students. He glanced one after another, 'Hm.' Oleg looked at some copybook turned it and saw that it belonged to Maki, 'As I see she could find some material, interesting who could give her them, Aki no doubt.' Oleg was glad that Maki started to study, but still she should start coming after the lesson in order to improve her marks. Oleg was watching through another copybook, when he heard a knock at the opened door.
"Come in." Oleg said not turning away from it.
"I wanted to have a talk with you sensei." he heard a young female voice; he turned his head, and could see a low tanned girl with pigtails, who was in his squad tonight.
"Ah, Yukikaze are you without Tatsurou?" Oleg was slightly surprised, as he always saw her in the company of the younger Akiyama.
"I have something to talk with you about."
"I see." Oleg said, "Sit down; we have some time to do."
"I wanted to ask you about that man who helped us, do you know him?" Yukikaze asked him and then sat down onto someone place.
"Kinda like this." Oleg closed the copy book and turned to Yukikaze.
"Then if you know them, can you answer me, why the hell he does know me?" Yukikaze was straight with her questions, and Oleg was prepared for it, he remembered how Splash told him to tell her about it all on their way to Asagi.
"Well, it's pretty difficult to explain, I don't know the whole story about it all and know everything from words of other people, but still I'll try." Yukikaze nodded, "First thing, the man who helped us was Splash; he is a member of 'Red Division'."
"Never heard about it."
"No wonder, it's a bunch of mercenaries, who are hired to do somewhat dirty and dangerous business, but still they try not to oppose the governments of other countries, they always work with business men and other structures like this."
"But why the hell they know me?" Yukikaze wanted to hear the answer for this question, and not for some story about someone else.
"As I know it your father was the only Taimanin who worked with them from time to time."
"My father?" Yukikaze widened her eyes, "But how is it possible."
"As I said I don't know the whole story, I only know that he was working for them and was some sort of an ally to them."
"Then why do they help me?" Yukikaze asked, "Tatsurou told me that the same person helped us during our previous mission when we encountered my…" she stopped for a second, and said with a lowered voice, "Mother." she almost whispered.
"As I remember it right, your father is not with us anymore, am I right?" Yukikaze nodded, "I think they help you because of him." Oleg suggested, "'Red Division' is some sort of a big family, and never threw its members in danger; maybe your father was a good friend of them?" Oleg suggested again. Yukikaze was puzzled and at the same time sad, she didn't know what to say to the teacher, so Oleg decided to continue, "Splash told me something." he smiled, "They are going to send a squad to save your mother."
"What?!" Yukikaze was shocked of the hearing words, "I don't understand."
"I think that they're in a great debt in front of your father if they decided to do this, if they decided to repay it to you."
"What my father could do them that they decided to do this?" Yukikaze pondered deeply, "Do you really don't know what bound him with that division?"
"I don't know." Oleg answered.
"Then!" Yukikaze got up from the chair, "If they're going to save my mother, I must help them to do this, after all it's my business too!"
"Hey, slow down." Oleg said to her, "Do you really think that Igawa-sensei will allow you to do this? Only hearing the words 'Red Division', she will stop sending you on your missions." Oleg said.
"But, we're talking about my mother! Isn't it right to send me to help her?!'
"You're right, but what if something will happen to you?" Oleg raised his eyebrow, "As I know, you're mother is as strong as Igawa, and alone you won't deal with her."
"But with these people?" Yukikaze wanted to say something, but heard steps from behind of the door, "Let's finish it for now, I must go for my next lesson, and you should do the same." Oleg recommended her. Yukikaze opened the door harshly and left it, "What an impulsive girl." Oleg said out loud.
The lessons continued, Yukikaze did what the Russian teacher said her to do, she was sitting at the lesson, but didn't listen to the teacher at all, all her thoughts were devoted to her talk with Russian, teacher, 'How the hell my father could get friends with that division? And why the hell they decided to save mother? What my father did for them if they want to repay the debt to me?' all these questions were spinning in her head, she didn't know the answered for them and this irritated her, 'And his words about Asagi-sensei, hate to admit it, but he is right.'
Tatsurou who also was far from the lesson, looked at his friend, and noticed that she was thinking too about something. He knew what she was talking about, it definitely the man she was talking with, while Tatsurou was talking to Oleg, but along with this Tatsurou was thinking about the words of that man with the silver armor, the boy was thinking about his words about his mother, 'Did the man lied or told the truth?' the boy thought, 'It's bad that I didn't find Igawa-sensei, I must try to find her after the lesson.' the boy thought, he looked at Yukikaze who was spinning a pen with her fingers, 'No, first I must talk to Yukikaze.' he said firmly in his head.
The lesson started finish the students started to gather their school supplies and then went to enjoy their free time. Yukikaze was still sitting at her desk, Tatsurou got up and came to her, "Yukikaze, did you talk with Oleg-sensei?"
"Yeah." she only responded watching at the window, she saw how clouds started to form.
"And what did he tell you?" Tatsurou didn't want to make Yukikaze nervous so he tried to be delicate.
"Let's go." she only said to the boy, Tatsurou only nodded and followed her.
After some minutes of walking they came to the empty hall, where were several benches and nothing more. Yukikaze sat onto it and after a brief period of keeping silence started, "Oleg told me something about that man who helped us twice, he said that my father somehow connected with their organization."
"Seriously?" Tatsurou couldn't belive to what he had just heard, "Mizuki-san knew that man?"
"I think yes, but sensei, doesn't know what could bind him with them, he suggested that if they want to save my mother they're in a big debt in front of him."
"They're going to save aunty?" Tatsurou couldn't stop his questioning.
"As I understood yes, and somehow we must join them too." Yukikaze said firmly.
"Isn't a bit rashly?" the boy wasn't sure with such idea, "Maybe it's better to give such opportunity to skillful and experienced people?"
"I can't belive what I'm hearing!" Yukikaze shouted, "We have a chance to save our mother, and at the same time there people who want to save her too. And you want to lose this opportunity!"
Tatsurou trembled of such talking, he wasn't ready to face Yukikaze's rage, "I just want to say that we can be only an obstacle for them, and I don't think Igawa-sensei will let us go with them."
"You're talking just like sense." Yukikaze crossed her arms on her chest, "Asagi did absolutely nothing to save my mother, while my father was risking his life and was looking for her."
"Yukikaze, I don't think that you should to say such things, I don't belive that sensei wouldn't send someone to investigate the occasion with aunty."
"And what would you do if that was your mother, Tatsurou?" Yukikaze suddenly asked him.
"What?"
"If it was your mother what would you do on my place?" Yukikaze detailed her question.
"Perhaps, I would feel the same, but I understand you too." Tatsurou's voice started to become firmer, "Aunty is also like a second mother to me, I have no other valuable people except you, Aunty and Rinko."
"Then you must understand that I'm right."
"Even so, how you're going to persuade Igawa-sensei to let us go?"
"Who said that I'll persuade her?" Yukikaze raised her eyebrow, "Maybe you could have some idea how we could join them?"
'Wait a minute, as I remember, sensei told something about knowing them, maybe we could ask him to help us?' then he turned to Yukikaze, "I think I can think something, but we need to talk with Oleg-sensei."
"Why the hell we should talk with him?"
"Trust me; I think everything will be perfect." Yukikaze saw his decisive eye they were firm and full of hope, Yukikaze gulped.
"Fine, I'll do as you say."