Chapter 18
A new day came fast, Pavel and Oleg quickly got up, washed up and headed to have breakfast. They decided to get early as possible in order to prepare for the report better. Oleg took his file with him, and he decided to put the book Sakura gave him with them, as he wanted to study it more carefully along with Sakura. Maria and Ilya, also got up at the same time, however they met only at the table.
"Maria Sergeievna, do you want to go with us?" Pavel asked the woman with a surprise.
"Yes, Asagi sent me message that I must go too." she answered him.
"And what about me?" Ilya was rubbing his eyes and eating at the same time.
"If you want you can go." Maria answered him, "We're in another squad."
"Oh, that means I can stay and…" Ilya wasn't able to finish his thought as he was interrupted.
"You'll go too." Oleg replied him, "It'll be a good opportunity to study, how to give reports."
"Man…" Ilya moaned, "I wanted to relax today."
"By the way…" Pavel looked at the woman, "Will we work with Masami today?" the boy was worried as he didn't know had Maria got some plans for today or not.
"Yes, I belive, today will be the last therapy." she nodded him.
"That means you'll work with her mind, doesn't that?" Oleg looked at his colleague and childhood friend, who only nodded, "Do you plan to go alone?"
"Yes, she built bonds with the two of us, so it's only up to us." Maria nodded at his question.
"I hope it won't be difficult like it was with Shiranui." Oleg sighed, "Her second personality was really tough."
"It's only her fear." Maria answered him fast, "At the same time, she can suppress it now, since she fought with Pavel. That means it won't be that difficult." she put aside her bowl and too a cup with coffee, "It's not the other personality, which has its own mind and can control body."
"Even fears can be dangerous." the man warned her.
"I know that, I work with them much longer." Maria didn't like how the man was overprotective with her.
"By the way." Pavel interrupted, "What is our role there? I still can't understand that."
"Our role is protecting her. Masami must do everything herself." Maria explained, "Don't worry, she will do everything as needed."
"I know, but still… I'm a little worried." Pavel sighed.
"When I do such things, I always worry." Maria answered him, "So it's normal."
They finished their food, and quickly dressed up and went to the academy. Their way wasn't too long as they were in a hurry. Pavel used a moment and called Masami. He told her, she could come in an hour to the academy.
"What a meeting." the Russian quartet heard a voice, on their right, they turn around and saw Shiranui with her daughter and Akiyama's siblings.
"It seems we will encounter you often." Oleg looked at the other quartet, "I thought you'll be there before we do."
"Well, we thought a lot at the breakfast." Shiranui chuckled.
"Yeah, especially Tatsurou." Yukikaze added after her mother.
"I wasn't that thoughtful." Tatsurou quickly protested.
"By the way, what's with Commander?" Oleg quickly asked her.
"Commander?" Maria looked at Oleg with puzzlement.
"He is fine." Shiranui nodded, "He wanted to come himself, but I ordered him to stay at the medical room." she shook with her head, "The nurse said he is too energetic and can't handle with him."
"Well, he always was from those, who hate to be in hospitals." Oleg quickly understood her.
"If she allow, I'll take him to our place." the woman with the ribbon sighed, "Maybe there he will be a little quieter."
They continued their way, and at the gates of the academy they met another trio, which consisted of Maki, Aki and Ren.
"Wow, even you two are here too!" Ilya was surprised to see them, "I thought second team have no need to come!"
"Yatsu-sensei called us." Maki yawned, "She told us to be here if we don't want to have punishment."
"Yes, it's like her." Yukikaze chuckled, "That means Chikeko will come too."
"Yukikaze, it's Hirata-sensei." Shiranui coughed at her fist, "Well, I think Asagi must be there and if she is there Sakura and Murasaki are with her."
Everyone decided not to delay themselves and to go ahead to the conference hall, where they had meetings.
When they came to the needed place, they saw that Asagi, Murasaki and Sakura had already on their places and were waiting for the main group.
"Nice to see, you came fast." Asagi looked at the group.
"By the way, sensei…" Ilya turned to the headmistress, "Why is there the second squad?"
"Because everything what relates to our common foes, must be discussed together." Asagi said him seriously, the boy understood that it was a stupid question and quickly became quite.
"Good thing, I didn't ask that." Maki hit Aki at his hip slightly.
"Well, first I want to know, was it a seal or not." Asagi said watching at Shiranui and then at Oleg, "Sakura told me briefly, but still…"
"No, it wasn't the seal." Oleg shook with his head, "Did she tell you, whom we were fighting?" he asked Asagi then.
"She told about some boy, who was after 'The Third Law'." the elder Igawa replied.
"Yes, I'll start then." Oleg said he looked at Shiranui, who only nodded, "First we separated and then encountered our friends. We fought Pegasus, lizard the one with a big tail and a new guy."
"We fought that demon." Maki quickly said as she heard the description of Malek.
"Can you say what that new one looked like?" Asagi asked him seriously.
"It was a demon that looked like a bird, and…" he stumbled, "The Pegasus called him general Murn, didn't you hear that Sakura?"
"Yes, that's right." Sakura quickly nodded, "He had wind power too."
"I'll continue." Shiranui got up, and then Oleg sat, "Our team fought with Mystic, Minori and the demon with pincers. It was a big type."
"So, it's a new one too." Asagi frowned, "I will ask you another question now. Kurenai and Ayame, did they leave after the fight or in the middle?"
"After the fight." Shiranui replied, "I'm sorry that I didn't watch better after them. However, I think it'll be good."
"What do you mean?" the woman with blue hair looked at Shiranui with surprise.
"That Ezekiel, did he help you?" Shiranui asked Asagi, who only nodded.
"He helped us several times, though I don't know who he is and what his intentions are." the headmistress replied fast.
"Maybe it's really good if they hunt with that guy for Walter? At least we'll be able to know what is there in crime world, and at the same time, probably they will find some data on that organization."
"Sakura told absolutely the same." Asagi wasn't glad that ideas of her sister and the brown haired woman were the same.
"Kurenai and Ayame are veterans, I don't think they will have problems." Shiranui replied to Asagi, "And, I hope they will inform us about what is going there."
"Fine, we'll discuss it later." Asagi said, "What was next?" Pavel raised his hand, "Yes, Pavel, do you want to say something?"
"Yes, Pavel." the boy nodded, "That new demon we fought I don't know how, but he said that he knows me." Asagi didn't like that, but then Shiranui took the floor.
"Yes, the demon with pincers also said he knows me." Shiranui quickly remembered her meeting with the enemy's squad, "However, I don't remember, I fought him even when I was the salve of the Incubus King."
"That's strange." Asagi put her finger onto the chin.
"Well, and he told something about brown haired girl." the boy added then.
"A brown haired girl?" Rinko looked carefully at him then at Yukikaze and at Maki.
"Hey! I don't know this big demon!" Yukikaze quickly replied to Rinko.
"I also didn't meet big demons with pincers and birdy types." Maki quickly said too.
"He said she was with a spear." Pavel quickly replied in order to stop unnecessary talks, and then everyone looked at Shiranui, "Well, he told girl, but sensei is…" Pavel stumbled, as in a second he felt that Shiranui was watching at him with strange glance, "I just wanted to say…" he wanted to say, but then suddenly Ren got up.
"Later we could defeat the lizard demon." the tanned girl continued.
"Really?" Maki was surprised.
"How?" Aki couldn't hide his astonishment too.
"Me and Pavel…" Ren suddenly stumbled, but then decided to continue, "But then that bird demon appeared, and we almost lost, how suddenly we appeared next to Tatsurou."
"That's true." the purple haired boy nodded, "I was with Kurenai and the other boy from 'Red Division', Kangaroo."
"The boy with ground power?" Murasaki asked the boy, who only nodded.
"And then we started to fight another enemy, as I belive he was after this anomaly with lighting." Ren concluded.
"It was a boy, and if not help of 'Red Division' I don't know how long we would fight him."
"I see." Asagi tried to calculate everything what everyone told.
"And at the same time." Shiranui added, "Their Commander was risking with his life to save Yukikaze, and was wounded, so now he is medical block." she saw Asagi's glance and added, "He is my guest here now, so I hope you will do nothing to him." the woman with the ribbon smiled to Asagi.
"If he is your guest, then there's nothing I can do." the headmistress smiled too, but then became serious, "I can't understand, how these demons know you." she looked at Pavel with interest.
"I swear, I don't know!" Pavel raised his voice, "If I knew I would…" Ren put her hand onto his shoulder.
"Pavel, I'm not saying that you're lying or something like that. I know that the demons can lie and do everything to destabilize you in battle, but the problem is that the enemy I know nothing about. And that make me not only puzzled, but worried."
"Like everyone else." Murasaki mumbled watching at the boy too.
'Again that distrustfulness.' Pavel didn't like that, 'There must be a way to prove that."
"Murasaki." Maria suddenly said, "I and Oleg worked a lot with Pavel, and I ensure you that he didn't fight that demon."
"Me too." Oleg nodded.
"But it strange that he said about something a woman with brown hair and a spear." Rinko frowned, "Who it could be?"
"Well, in Russia I didn't have such people." the boy quickly answered.
"And that boy, whom you were fighting, what was his point? Was he with them?" Asagi decided to change the theme.
"I don't know." Shiranui shrugged with her shoulders, "These criminals disappeared when there was no presence of the seal."
"I see, nothing is clear like usually." Asagi was angry, but hid that sense, "And that general, I belive the second new demon is general too."
"Who knows?" Sakura looked at Asagi with worried voice.
"I have got bad news too." Asagi suddenly said, "Another two Taimanin disappeared."
"What?!" everyone exclaimed.
"These wasps have activated again." the woman continued, "Good thing we got a message from them at least."
"We need to check that building." Oleg replied her fast.
"How the hell they could appear out of nowhere?" Yukikaze was pondered too.
"With Commander we could coordinate the work and probably we could check what is there inside." Shiranui suddenly gave an idea.
"Not a bad idea." Sakura looked at Asagi's right hand.
"Yes, we must think of something." Asagi agreed, "We can't leave it and let it strike us when we are distracted."
"I wanted to ask too." Murasaki turned to Shiranui, "Didn't you meet another demon, with a tail and four hands, he used gravity power."
"No, only that boy." Shiranui shook with her head.
"We have one problem after another." Maria sighed.
"There also was something peculiar…" Yukikaze suddenly said.
"What is it?" Asagi looked at the young Mizuki.
"There was a woman, we saw it when we fought that wasp guy, and then she appeared again, when we fought that shrimp." Yukikaze seemed thoughtful.
"A woman?" Murasaki was surprised too.
"She had dark skin and…" Yukikaze tried to remember her, "Black hair."
"Maybe she had pink hair?" Murasaki looked at Yukikaze.
"No, black hair." Yukikaze said firmly.
"At least something." Asagi was watching at Yukikaze, "Then we must pay attention to such persons." she stopped for a minute, but then continued, "I hope no one saw you."
"I'm surprised that there were no people at all." Shiranui replied her, "Even when lighting hit the building, people didn't appear."
"That's good, but strange." Asagi mumbled.
Now there was silence. The presenters didn't know what to say, but then suddenly Ilya broke the silence.
"About these wasps, what if one squad sneaks inside, while the other one will protect the first one we can make a big investigation squad if we join forces with the division."
"We can do that, but what if there are a big number of these wasps?" Murasaki asked the boy.
"Probably it can work." Shiranui pondered, "They're fast outside, but their speed will be their lack inside the building."
"We only need two people with mental abilities inside and on outside." Oleg joined the conversation, "But how can we find the other one?"
"Maybe we can ask Eugene to lend us another one?" Maria looked at Oleg.
"I don't think they will give us him." the man pondered, "They always have work,, and to transfer here another one is a difficult thing."
"Does the division have another one?" Sakura asked Oleg too.
"I don't know." the sighed, "I can ask Commander, but…"
"I'll try to talk to him." Shiranui answered fast, "Maybe he will tell something to me." Oleg only nodded at her words.
The meeting continued, the squad talked about the methods of fighting their enemies and that Pavel must be along with those who meet Walter.
After sometime, they decided to finish the meeting as someone needed to practice, while the other part wanted to go somewhere else.
"Shiranui." Asagi suddenly called the woman with the ribbon, "I'd like to discuss something with you. If you don't mind I'd like to do that at my office."
"Sure." Shiranui nodded, and they went to Asagi's working place.
"Oleg!" Sakura quickly rushed to the man, "Do you remember?"
"Yes." Oleg nodded, "If you want we can go right away."
"Where are you going?" Asagi was surprised that Sakura was going somewhere with the Russian teacher.
"Ah…" Sakura pondered, "Secret." she chuckled then.
"Oleg, one request. Don't spoil her a lot." Asagi sighed likewise there was something stupid.
"Don't worry, I won't do that." Oleg nodded to her and saw how Shiranui and Asagi headed to the exit of the room.
Maria and Pavel left the hall together, while Ren decided to have some practice with Aki and Maki. Ilya along with Yukikaze, Tatsurou and Rinko decided to practice too as he didn't want to seem lame among the rest. Murasaki decided to do her work before going back home.
"Masami, is in the small gym." Pavel looked at the screen of her phone.
"Good." Maria nodded, "As early we start as early will finish." she stated, "Tell he to change into battle uniform." she suddenly said, "And we need to do that as well."
Pavel quickly turned his phone on and typed the message to Masami.
"She is in her uniform." Pavel replied to the teacher, "Interesting, if Masami becomes normal, will she do missions the next day?" Pavel decided to distract himself and asked Maria that simple question.
"She'll be able to do that." Maria replied, "However she must relax well the first day. Do you want her to join us?" Maria looked at the boy with interest.
"Well… Masami is a skillful fighter, I think her help will be really good addition." the boy announced his suggestion.
"She is really an amazing Taimanin." Maria agreed with him, "Somehow I doubt you and Ren will be able to defeat in fair combat."
"I and Ren would think of something." Pavel quickly replied.
"I don't think that would work well." the woman replied him, "I read some data on her. She was one of the strongest students among her herd mates. There also were good students, but she was on one line with Rinko and Ogawa Mai."
"And where was Ren?" Pavel interested.
"She was lower." the teacher answered, "I guess you and Ren are equal, but if you fight Rinko seriously she will give you a lot of troubles."
"Masami's power didn't awake." Pavel said, "And to be along with Rinko and Mai, is really wonderful." Pavel was astonished.
"I have a small idea how powers can awake, but still I don't is true or not." Maria sighed, "As Taimanin awake them fast than we do."
"Yes, it's a big rarity that they awake them late." Pavel nodded at her words, "Maybe they have more participles?"
"Who knows?" Maria pondered, "That question is better to ask to Oleg." Maria answered him.
They continue their way. Maria and Pavel went to the room where their equipment was and quickly changed to their uniforms, Maria got her spear, while Pavel took his sword. Then they headed to the small gym, where Masami supposed to be. When they entered they saw the brown haired girl, who was holding her spear in her hands and was doing some exercises.
'By the way…' Pavel looked at Masami carefully, 'Could it be…?'
"Good morning, sensei, Pavel." Maria greeted the Russians.
"Good morning Masami." Maria nodded and looked at Pavel, who was delaying with greetings.
"Ah, yes… good morning." Pavel said after a small pause.
"Are you alright?" Masami looked at him carefully.
"Yes, I'm fine!" Pavel quickly replied with a smile, 'No, it can't be her. We know each other not so long, it definitely not her.'
"So, how we're going to do it today?" Masami looked first at the boy, then at the woman.
"Today is the last day of your therapy." Maria started, "Everything will depend on you, will you be able to overcome your fears or not." Masami nodded her face became more serious, however Maria understood she won't escape, "Nice to see you're ready." the woman was glad the girl wasn't scared, "For now it'll be enough your usual training in or to warm up."
"That we'll do easily." Pavel chuckled exposing his sword, "Do you need time for warming up?"
"No, this time we'll try to do everything equally." Masami smiled too.
Maria went aside and started to watch how they were practicing. Pavel didn't give Masami time for getting used to his pace, but still the girl did everything well. She avoided the strikes and tried to understand when to strike him back,
"Not, bad." Pavel smiled to her, "And what about that?"
The boy rushed ahead, squatted and did a trapping with his foot.
"Wow!" Masami could avoid it, and did a lunge with her spear making Pavel to step back, "You really know well how to make traps."
"Thanks to you." Masami replied him, "I'm returning to shape fast."
Maria was watching about ten minutes at them, when suddenly she shouted.
"Enough! I think there's no need to continue." Masami and Pavel stopped and looked at the woman, who was coming to them, "Give me your hand." she told Masami
The girl obediently stretched out her hand, and Maria took it. She closed her eyes as if she was focusing on something. The teacher was in such position for some time, and then released her hand.
"Well, your thoughts are not chaotic like in the beginning, however you're still have fears about your problem." Maria put her hand onto the girl's head, "Now we can talk."
"What for is that?" Masami was surprised because of such move.
"I'm suppressing the one we must fight." Maria replied fast, "Listen, you must except, what happened to you, if you fight because of sense of blame, nothing will happen or vice versa, it can be only bad. What happened wasn't your fault, you must remember that."
"I…" Masami flinched, but then felt how a hand was laid onto her shoulder.
"We're with you." Pavel smiled, "You did great efforts just for this moment. I belive you will do that."
Masami watched at Pavel and squeezed her fist, which was holding the hilt of the spear.
"I'm ready!" Masami nodded decisively.
"Sit down." Maria told her when she removed her hand from the head of the girl.
She sat onto the floor, Pavel and Maria did the same. Maria was in the middle, while Pavel was on her right and Masami was on her left.
"Take your hands too." Maria told them, and they quickly did what was told, Masami and Pavel did what was told, and then Maria said again, "Close your eyes." the students did what was told and Maria did the same.
"What did you want to talk about?" Shiranui asked Asagi when the brown haired woman sad onto the sofa, which was in the office of the principle.
"I wanted to ask you about the invitation." Asagi suddenly said, "From the Incubus."
"Do you want to meet him?" Shiranui narrowed her eyes.
"We need answers, there are only questions after questions. We must ask at least some one, who must know the answers."
"And what if it's a trap?" Shiranui asked Asagi again.
"Our spies report that everything is like usual. He sits at the café and waits for an hour." the blue haired woman replied, "He even suppresses he power not making normal people to feel it."
"That means he really wants to fight these guys." Shiranui frowned, "But to go alone will be reckless, I'll go with you and…"
"Do you want to take Commander?" Asagi smiled slightly.
"He will be a really good support." Shiranui smiled too, "And at the same time, we would be able to do something against these new ones."
"I hope you're right…" Asagi pondered.
"What are you thinking about?" Shiranui looked at her.
"About Pavel's words, that the new demon, who is a general, knows him." Asagi leaned onto the back of her chair.
"I hope you don't think that Pavel is hiding something." Shiranui looked carefully at Asagi.
"Honestly , I belive him, but the problem is that we fight absolutely new enemy, who is more dangerous than our old ones. I have doubts that even Russian government knows nothing about them."
"Here you're right." Shiranui nodded, "But as I told you that demon which I fought knows me, while I know nothing about him, I even didn't fight demons like him."
"Can you describe him?" Asagi asked Shiranui.
"A big demon with pincers, it also had super regeneration." Shiranui tried to describe him quickly.
"On the mission, when Russian minister came, they also fought such demons, but there were only two of them." Asagi replied.
"I see." Shiranui nodded.
"And as I understand theirs were calm, while yours was talkative."
"Yes, he really wanted to fight me, but Minori ordered him to fight someone else, So Tatsuro and Yukikaze tried to fight him." Shiranui added.
"Was it hard to fight her?" Asagi asked her helper, "I'm sure it was hard for Tatsurou to see her."
"I agree, Yukikaze felt absolutely the same, when I fought them." Shiranui became sad, "But instead of me, she is doing it on her will. So she understands what she is doing."
"That is sad." Asagi also wasn't happy, "I still can't understand how she encountered that Walter."
"When do you want to meet Kuroi?" Shiranui named the demon by his name.
"I think to do it as fast as possible. But if you want to take Commander with us, we must do it when he is treated well." Asagi answered her.
"I guess he will be really good in few days." Shiranui chuckled, "He is really a persistent type."
"Like Yasuhiro?" Asagi looked at Shiranui.
"Worse." the woman with the ribbon responded.
"Well, I for now, I think we can finish." Asagi suddenly said, "Talk to him and then we decided when we meet."
"Understood." Shiranui got up and left the room, she headed to the medical block of the building, where they went on their missions, in order to see the man, who saved her daughter.
"Where are we?" Masami asked straight when she opened her eyes.
"In your head." Maria replied, "That's how it looks like."
They were in some kind of a hall with lots of doors on both sides from them. Pavel and Masami looked with interest at what was around them, while Maria seemed thoughtful.
"We will walk by your thoughts and find fear, which bothers you." Maria answered, "Remember, be careful, it can be absolutely everywhere, and it's impossible to predict when it strike."
"What it looks like?" Pavel asked Maria seriously.
"You will understand when you see it." Maria answered him and looked around, "Follow me." Maria told to her students.
They passed several doors, and then Maria chose the one which was on their right. She put her hand onto the handle and said.
"Do nothing until I say you. Don't irritate your thoughts." Masami only nodded at her words, and Maria quickly opened the door.
When they entered they saw a big white room, where were two people, who were practicing. One of them was a girl with brown hair, who was fighting with a spear, while the third one was. And the other ne was a boy, who had black short hair, he was fighting with two sided spear.
"I… Isamu…" Masami whispered.
"Not bad, you're really and impressive fighter." Isamu said to the brown haired girl, "I think this mission will be piece of cake for us."
"We can think it's easy, but still we must be ready to have problems on it." the girl replied parrying the attack of the boy.
The girl did a turn and Pavel with Maria saw Masami.
"Yes, you're right, however you must tell it to the rest captain." Isamu chuckled.
"Please, don't call me that, it's early for me to be captain. It's just one mission to check my abilities in controlling and commanding the squad." Masami replied to Isamu.
"Yes, yes. But still it'll give more opportunities." the boy chuckled.
"What opportunities?" Masami didn't understand him.
"For example you'll be able to become the captain of Taimanin faster than we do." the boy answer her question.
"I'm not rushing for that." Masami didn't like his words.
"It the day when we lost…" Masami, who was with Pavel and Maria whispered, "The day when…"
"Calm down." Maria put her hand onto the shoulder, "You must see it. There's no other way."
"I… can't…"
"We're with you." Pavel also put his hand onto the other shoulder.
Maria looked at the door, which was on their left, and then she went to it. She put her hand onto the handle.
"Here." Maria ordered them, Pavel and Masami only followed her.
When they passed another threshold, they appeared in the familiar room with a big desk, several chairs and the sofa.
"Is it Asagi's office?" Pavel looked around the familiar place.
Now there were more people. Along with Masami there were four people, one was the same boy Isamu, and the other three, who were a tall boy and two girls.
'They're her friends from that photo.' Pavel quickly remembered, 'And that boy was too…' Pavel quickly understood, where he saw these people.
"According to the data, there will be fifty demons." Pavel heard a familiar voice, which belonged to Asagi Igawa herself, "Your mission is to clean the place and return back."
"Don't worry, we'll do it easily." a girl with green hair replied, "Just a bunch of orcs won't notice us."
"I hope I shouldn't remind you that you must careful and covert." Asagi looked at the girl.
"Don't worry, sensei." the tall boy, replied, "We'll talk to her later."
"As I told you before, Andou is the leader of the operation." Asagi continued, "The mission must be not difficult, but I want to take it seriously."
"Yes, sensei!" Masami, who was in front of Asagi nodded, "I'll do my best!"
"I'm counting on you, but at the same time, don't overdo with your role." Asagi smiled to Masami.
"And I failed, not only my friend, but sensei too." Masami, who was with Pavel and Maria mumbled, it was possible to see tears in her eyes, "I didn't handle with my work, I had to reject it…"
"You couldn't predict future." Maria replied to Masami, "Each of us thinks, he did something wrong, and if he would do it vice versa, everything could be not like it was."
"Do you want to say, that I must be happy about what happened?!" Masami shouted at the woman.
"I want to say you didn't make a mistake, you followed the order. There is nothing bad in that as orders are orders. But you must do everything in order not let their attempts be vast."
"You must remember them, but not with blame… How it's better to say?" Pavel tried to find needed words, "You must live for them, it's the best what you can do for them."
"By the way, sensei!" the girl with green hair turned to the teacher, "If this mission is successful, can we go to other missions in our company?"
"Let's deal with this one, and then we'll watch." Asagi said with strict voice, likewise she didn't like such attitude.
Maria headed to the other door. Pavel surprised as in the real office there was no doors. When Masami came was behind Maria. The woman turned to her putting her hand onto the door.
"I hope you understand, what is behind that door." Maria looked at Masami, the girl didn't reply, so the woman continued, "Be ready." Masami nodded indecisively, and Maria opened the door.
When they entered next door, they saw some corridor, they heard some metal clashes and then they saw a battle. It was the battle between Masami and her friends with demons. The Taimanin had advantage of unexpectedness, the demons couldn't do anything against them.
Pavel looked at Masami who started to flinch. He wanted to take her hand, but Maria put her hand onto his shoulder and shook with her head, giving him to understand that he should do that.
They walked after the team, when suddenly they heard a female voice, which had sadistic notes.
"You're doing great work young hunters." Pavel and Maria turned around and saw a woman with purple hair, red Taimanin uniform and with metal claws on her hands.
"Oboro?" Masami, who was fighting demons, while the other Masami only whispered.
"What?!" the boy with the spear shouted, after parrying a lunge of some demon.
"It said nothing about Oboro being here!" the girl with red hair shouted too.
Masami was fighting Oboro well, however the girl wasn't as skillful as the woman and it was possible to that the woman was only playing with her like a cat with a mouse.
"Not bad girl, not all young Taimanin can react that fast." Oboro licked her lips, "You're the one with some potential, don't want to join us?"
"In your dreams." Masami gritted thorough her teeth and then pushed her away.
"If I think some strategy, probably we had an opportunity to escape." Masami, who was with Pavel and Maria said with tears on her eyes.
"As I told you before, you did no mistakes." Maria replied Masami, observing the fight with the woman and the demon with wings, who was with other demons, "She is much stronger, and there were no options for you to defeat her."
"So what?!" Masami exclaimed, "I should do absolutely everything to save my friends! I had to…" Masami stumbled.
Then next moment her eyes widened, the girl that was fighting with the whip did a fatal mistake trying to help masami and the flying demon hit her making her fall, and when she was about to get up it cut her neck. She fell onto the floor.
"Momo!" Masami shouted seeing how the green haired girl fell down onto the floor breathlessly.
"Mo… mo…" another Masami whispered, her eyes were watching at the breathless corpse of her friend.
"Masami! Calm down!" Maria raised her voice, "Do you hear me?!"
Next moment, the green haired girl lost her life, she tried to fight, the demon, but she also did a grave mistake, so the demon could smash her had against the wall.
"Meiko!" Masami shouted again, her hands started to trembled, even the hand of the other Masami did the same, but somehow she tightened them and rushed to the demon. Her moves became chaotic as Masami stopped controlling herself, her moves were based only on her instincts.
"Meiko…" the other Masami only said.
"Masami, try to fight this fear!" Maria was saying to the woman, "All of loose our friends and comrades in battles!"
"It seems that the number of your friends is being reduced." Oboro grinned sarcastically, "Won't you help you friend?" she asked the boy.
"I…" Masami only sobbed, "I…" widened her eyes, as the boy with two sided spear was straight in front of Masami with Pavel and Maria, Masami was trembling because of the glance of Oboro.
"Pavel, hold her!" Maria ordered to her student.
"No!" Masami exclaimed closing her eyes, "I don't want to watch at this! I can't do that!" she was crying make it stop!" the girl wanted to escape, but Pavel was holding her tightly.
"Masami! Hold yourself!" Pavel told to the girl.
"Let me go!" Masami tried to break free, "I don't want to watch at that!" Maria also grabbed Masami as Pavel had problems in holding her.
"Masami." Maria said softly, holding her hand on her arm, "You must calm down." Maria was quiet as if she wanted Masami to listen to her calm voice, "Pavel your turn."
Pavel took her head and turn to his, now he could watch at her eyes.
"Masami, you're a strong Taimanin." Pavel was telling her, "You must deal with your fears."
"I'm sorry, but she scares a right person." they heard a voice, behind them.
"What?!" Pavel turned around and saw the same, purple haired woman with red uniform.
"Oboro…?" Masami looked at the woman with shocked eyes, which were full of tears.
They looked around and saw how the tall boy was also on the floor. Oboro that they were fighting was holding Masami, while the winged demon took the boy, Isamu.
"Maria Sergeievna, is it possible?" Pavel quickly exposed his sword, Maria did the same with her spear.
"The nightmare felt her weakness, so it decided to take her down." Maria replied.
"I thought you're wiser." Oboro smirked watching at the trio, "I really liked how you were trying to deal with everything yourself, just driving yourself into despair."
"I…" Masami didn't know what to do, her hand were trembling,, she was the only one, who still didn't expose her weapon.
"But when these ones have appeared, I didn't like that you started to change. So that means I must do everything myself." the woman licked her claws and dashed ahead.
"Pavel!" Maria stood between Oboro and Masami protecting her.
"Take Masami and try to convince her, I'll try to hold it!" Maria ordered him.
"I will not leave you alone!" Pavel protested.
"Do it! In such stated she will do nothing against it!" Maria pushed the woman away and started to fight, "Our life depends on her!"
Pavel gritted his teeth and grabbed Masami's hand. They ran to the next door which wasn't far.
"Don't dare to lose!" Pavel shouted opening the door escaping with Masami to the other memory part.
They rushed through several doors. Masami was obediently following him. Suddenly they appeared in a small dark room. Pavel looked around and was shocked. He saw Masami and Isamu, who were chained. Masami the toy of a big ork, while the boy was the toy for Oboro herself.
"Is it the moment…?" Pavel was astonished.
Masami raised her head and then lowered it again.
"Yes… when we were tortured." the girl only responded.
Pavel squeezed his fist.
"What scums…" he only gritted through his teeth.
"Do you like it?" Oboro asked the boy, "Am I better than this puny girl?"
"Damn… bitch!" Isamu moaned, "I'll… kill you… when I break free…" the boy tried to resist, but it was difficult for him.
"Isamu!" Masami, who was tortured by the demon exclaimed.
Suddenly the room disappeared and there was nothing buy a white space.
"What?!" Pavel looked around not understanding what was going on.
"It would be better if I die with him…" Masami sobbed, "I still can't understand why I survived…"
"Masami…" Pavel looked at her.
"I was trying to deal with that myself, but I did only worse…" her hands and leg were trembling, "And even now, I can't do anything but making you to risk with your lives in order to help me." she fell onto her knees, "I thought I'll be able to do that, but…" she closed her face with her hands and started to cry, "I will never do that! I'm just a scared girl, who can't do anything…"
"You're wrong!" Pavel shouted holding her shoulders, he shook her little in order to make her to pay her attention to him, "Yes, you're scared! Yes, you lost your friends! But you're trying to defeat that fear!" he continued to shout, "You were scared to fight, when we only started you were scaring to hold your spear, but now you hold it fight! Of course with fear, but you do that! And your friends, would be glad you…" Pavel stumbled, "You found new friends!" Masami stumbled, and raised her head a little, she saw Pavel's serious face, "Ren, Maki, Aki, Maria Sergeievna, Oleg Semenovich, me! We always will support you!"
"But…" Masami looked at him with wet eyes.
"I don't mean you must forget your old friends. They were close people to you, and you must remember only good, what happened to them. You mustn't forget what happened to them, but I guess… You must forget what happened to them in sign of lesson."
"Do you really think I'll be able to fight my fear?" Masami asked at him wanting to know his answer.
"If you wouldn't, I guess you wouldn't start practicing, and you wouldn't agree us to help you." Pavel smiled to her and hugged, just to comfort her, "Masami, you're strong, stronger than me or Ren, and I think we won't defeat you in fair battle." he remembered Maria's words, "Therefore you're the one, who must be in this head." he pointed at her head, "There must be no places for fears and sorrows. And just some old hag should scare you."
"Me an old hag?" they heard a voice behind them, "You have guts to name like that." they turned around and saw Oboro.
"Impossible…" Pavel quickly expose his sword.
"Surprised that bitch could hold me for long?" Oboro chuckled, "She is really skillful."
"What did you do to Maria Sergeievna?!" Pavel shouted at her.
"What if I say, I made her my slave?" Oboro asked her question to the boy.
"As if she loses so easily!" Pavel shouted and rushed at the woman with his sword, the woman quickly blocked it with her claws.
"First, I'll deal with and then, I'll make sure she will be in absolute fear towards me." Oboro licked her lips.
"Masami! Go and find Maria Sergeievna! With her you'll be able to fight her better!" Pavel ordered to Masami.
"What?!" the girl looked at him with wet eyes.
"I'll hold her, and you with her help will…" he dodged the attack, "Will deal with everything."
Pavel was fighting well, but Oboro seemed like the boy and was only playing with him. Suddenly she cut Pavel, Masami wasn't moving, as if she was shocked of the view of the blood.
'Damn… Did she see it?' he tried to cover the wound, but it was his mistake, as Oboro used that moment and kick Pavel at his stomach, "Shit!"
"Pavel!" Masami looked at him.
"So, maybe you give up now? So we'll be able to finish everything fast?" the purple haired woman smirked, but then came to the Pavel, who wanted to give up.
Oboro jumped and didn't let Pavel to get up, the boy protected himself with his sword from her claws again.
'I must… help him. But…" Masami didn't know what to do.
"I will not let you harm her!" Pave gritted, he could avoid the inconvenient position, but then Oboro hit him again, this time at him back.
"Still not perfect protecting." the woman laughed, "Let's cut your hand off." Oboro smirked, and was about to do a strike, when suddenly she clashed it with a spear, which appeared out of nowhere.
"Don't touch him!" Masami raised her voice, she was trembling, but still it was possible to see that she did it on her own.
"Oh, it seems you decided to save your boyfriend, doesn't it?" Oboro chuckled.
"Boyfriend or not, but I will not let you touch my friends anymore!" Masami still was scare, but she tried to tighten her grip on the hilt of her spear.
Oboro jumped back and looked at the duo.
"It seems I have to teach you, who the boss here is." Oboro liked her lips and rushed at Masami.
"I'll help you!" Pavel shouted to Masami and joined her.
The fight became a little equal, Pavel was fighting Oboro, while Masami did everything to help him. Her help was really well coordinated. Masami tried her best, but still it was possible to see how she was indecisive, though her attacks were dangerous sometimes.
"Masami!" Pavel shouted, "You will be able to do that! Your head belongs to you, but not to that scum!"
"What a good boy. Taking care of his girlfriend." Oboro smirked, "But the problem is that this is my head now."
"As if we let you have it!" Pavel pushed her away.
"Fine, that's enough!" Oboro suddenly hit Masami at her stomach and then at her head, then she hit Pavel at his leg and cut him again, with his claws, but this time it was at his chest.
"Shit!" the boy exclaimed falling down.
"Well, it seems I'll deal with you first!" Oboro aimed a blow and when she was about to strike the boy, there was a metal clash.
"Just touch my students, monster, or I'll shove my spear deep into your ass!"
"Maria Sergeievna!" Pavel and Masami exclaimed, seeing their teacher safe and sound.
"Masami! Continue to fight!" Maria shouted, "Did you feel anything?!"
"Felt?" Masami only asked the woman.
"It's not the real Oboro! This creature wants to make to belive you're scared of Oboro, and if you belive to that you'll be not only fooled, but also will lose everything."
"What do you want to say?!" Masami didn't understand, while she was trying to understand her words, Pavel came, and put his hand onto her shoulder.
"You're scared to lose the ones you love, and that's why you stopped fighting in order not to see the losses of your friends." Pavel answered her.
"Damn, bastard!" Oboro tried to push away Maria, however Pavel didn't wait long and join Maria.
"I'm scared to fight… Because of fear to lose everyone…" the girl repeated the boy's words.
"Masami, if you won't fight, we will also be dead!" Maria shouted, "Our lives depend on you!"
Masami's eyes widened, she looked with surprise at Maria and Pavel, who were trying their best.
'No! I… I can't let them die too!' Masami thought, 'I wasn't able help to my friends, but I must do everything not let it kill sensei and… Pavel' she looked at the boy, "I will not…" Masami suddenly said as she got up, "I will not let you touch the ones I love! Do you hear me?"
"Little brat is becoming serious." Oboro chuckled watching at the girl, "What?" then she was puzzled.
When Masami dashed at Oboro, there suddenly appeared another Masami straight out of the first one.
Both of them started to fight, both girl looked as twins, but they were fighting absolutely differently. Maria and Pavel jumped aside in order to take a small break and restore their powers.
"It seems there's no need for me to hide my form anymore." Oboro, who was taking now avoiding the attack jumped aside.
Next moment her arms and legs became longer, her skin became darker and then black. Fingers also became longer and there were ten long sharp claws, the head of her turned into something what resembled a dog's head.
"This time, I'll eat you!" the creature roared.
"Finally it showed itself." Maria nodded.
"Is it her fear?" Pavel looked at the creature.
"It's the nightmare." Maria answered him, "How it really looks like."
When Masami was about strike it, the creature stretched out his arm and blocked her spear and then cut Masami with the other hand.
"Masami!" Pavel exclaimed.
'Will she hold and not be scared?' Maria thought watching at the girl, but there was nothing, the girl didn't react as she closed her eyes, and then opened them her eyes were directed at the monster, 'Good.' Maria looked at Masami with serious, but glad eyes.
"Cut me as much as you want, but if I watch at you, there will nothing." Masami pointed her spear at the monster then, "This time, I won't escape and won't let you make me a crying girl anymore."
Maria and Pavel ran to the girl and stood next to her.
"Now, it's up to you." Maria said her with a slight smile, "You must kill it."
"And we'll help you to get it." Pavel chuckled.
"Thank you." Masami nodded, there appeared Masami's clone again, and now the four of them, headed at the creature.
The creature had problems fighting the four enemies. However it still could block the attacks with his hand and arms. Two Masami were tried to kill the monster, while Pavel and Maria were distracting him.
'There must be a way, to break through his hands.' Masami thought trying to find an opportunity to kill the monster.
"Pavel, let's try to do that!" Maria suddenly ordered to the boy.
"Understood!" Pavel nodded and ran to Maria, the boy jumped and landed onto the hilt of her spear, then she raised her hands, making Pavel to jump higher.
"What?!" the monster was distracted.
'Now!' Masami saw the chance and both of them did their lunges wounding the beast.
"Not bad." Maria praised the girl.
"Scums…" the monster fell onto it knees, "I'll kill you…" it roared then.
"I'm not scared anymore." Masami told coming to the beast.
"Most of all, I have new people for, whom I must fight." another Masami added, "So your threats are nothing for me."
"You tell that, but in your heart you're still scaring." the monster smirked, "Do you think if you kill me I won't return?"
"You can return, but now I know I should deal with it myself." Masami replied to it, "I need to have someone I can rely on." the other Masami responded, one of the girls looked at the woman and the boy, 'And I won't fail those, who believed in me."
"Nice to hear that." Pavel chuckled.
"Finish that." Maria said watching at the monster.
Both of the girls raised their spears and pierced the monster, one Masami pierced its neck, and the other one stomach.
"Bitch…" the demon groaned and then fell down.
For a minute no one said anything, but then the creature started to vanish, turning into dust.
"You did it." Maria looked at Masami with a smile, but it was a strict smile, which was just like hers.
"Does it mean, I…" Masami stumbled, "Finally came to normal?"
"Yes, your fear of blood was caused because the blood of your friends." Maria started to explain, "After dealing with your fear, everything must be back to normal."
"Does it mean we can return to our world?" Pavel asked the teacher.
"Yes, our work is done here." Maria responded fast.
"Wait!" Masami suddenly exclaimed, "I wanted to ask you something, why is there my duplicate?" she looked at her copy, which still haven't vanished.
"I guess, your power has been awoken." Maria replied to her.
"Really?!" Pavel was astonished.
"My power?!" both Masami were also unsure about that, "Well, how can I know it that it's really is my power?"
"When we return back to the real world." Maria replied.
"I think I'll try something." Masami that was next to Pavel said.
Masami that was close to Maria came to the other one and Masami, who was near with Pavel hugged the other one making her disappearing.
"Wow." Pavel was astonished.
"Can I ask you about something?" Masami looked at Maria, who only nodded, "Can you make that I can see my friends?" Maria wanted to ask her about something, "I want to say the goodbye."
The woman understood that, and decided to give her student such an opportunity. Maria stretched her out her arm and then there appeared four people, two boys and two girls, who were dead.
"Guys…" Masami looked at them tears appeared on her eyes again, "I'm sorry for what happened."
"Don't worry, what happened is what happened." the tall boy suddenly said her.
"Yeah, stop saying that." the red haired girl told to Masami, "You must continue to live."
"Just for us, and those, who are with you." the girl with green hair smiled to Masami.
'Is it really them or it's just Maria Sergeievna?' Pavel glanced at the woman, whose arm was still stretched out.
"We will never meet again Masami." Isamu said to her, "But you must know we will live in your heart." he put his hand onto her chest, "If you need us, remember we're always with you."
"Th… thank you…" Masami sobbed and hugged the boy, everyone hugged Masami, except Pavel and Maria, who only did a slight move with her fingers, "I will remember you… and I promise, one day I will find an opportunity to kill Oboro…" Masami was crying, "Goodbye… Rest in peace…" she finally said her final words to her close friends.
Next moment Masami opened her eyes and saw the small gym where they came.
"How are you?" Maria looked at Masami, her eyes were focused on the girl.
"I… I think I'm better." Masami said, "Honestly, I feel much easier now." she tried to understand, what she was feeling now.
"Do you want to try to watch at blood?" Maria asked the girl.
"Yes, I do!" Masami was decisive.
"Pavel." Maria looked at the boy as she stood up, "Try to scratch her."
"Me?!" Pavel asked Maria.
"Do it, I don't mind." Masami smiled to him.
"Fine…" Pavel mumbled and took his sword, "Here." he slightly cut Masami's hand.
The girl stumbled for several second, but then looked at the scratch, where was blood.
"Is everything fine?" Pavel asked the girl.
"Yes, I think there's nothing to worry about… Now." Masami added after a small pause.
"Congratulations then!" Pavel clapped Masami by her back, "With complete treatment!"
"Take my congratulations too." Maria said to the girl with a smile, but this time the smile was warm, so Masami quickly came back to normal.
"That's must be celebrated, how do you think?" Pavel asked the girl, "Maria Sergeievna! You also are with us."
"Well, if you want to do so, then I'd like to celebrate it only with you." Masami suddenly said.
"Why?" Pavel looked at her, "We can also call Maki, Aki…"
"No need." Masami replied to him, "I'll do it myself tomorrow." she continued then, "I want to make a surprise to be honest."
"Well if you say so." Pavel pondered, "Then I'll tell no one about it today." he added after a pause.
"Thank you." Masami thanked the boy and then suddenly kissed him in his lips, "For everything what you did for me." Masami smiled to the boy.
Maria didn't pay attention to that, however was glad that Masami was normal.
"Oh and one more thing." Masami suddenly broke the silence, she closed her eyes, and then another Masami appeared out of her.
"So it was really your power after all." Maria was surprised.
"It seems I finally awoke my power." the girl hugged her clone making her to disappear.
"That's amazing!" Pavel was really glad for Masami, "And your power is really amazing! To fight with a clone, you'll give lots of troubles to you opponents."
"Yes, I think you're right." Masami nodded.
"That must be celebrated. What about to visit Inageya?" Pavel looked at Maria with questioning eyes.
"Fine, I don't mind." Maria only replied, "After all you deserve prize for your efforts.
Pavel, Masami and Maria headed to the exit. They did everything as Masami wanted, didn't tell anyone about her treatment, as it was really a good idea for the girl to tell everything herself.