--Xai Mountains, rivers, 8 am--

Hisayo and Yuko spent the night at the old fortress and, after a rather jovial breakfast in the massive feast hall, boarded their boat first thing in the morning. Yuko once again sat on the deck next to Hisayo, examining a scrap of parchment that Jafar, the twin, had slipped her before she left. It contained a number followed by the words ‘Call Me Very Happy [https://www.royalroadcdn.com/public/smilies/biggrin.png]’ written hastily across it. Yuko smiled to herself in amusement. Who would’ve guessed that a master assassin could be a submissive type,” she thought to herself. She glanced over at Hisayo who seemed to be in a good mood, her eyes were closed as she laid back in her chair and softly hummed a tune.

“Feels good being a hero doesn’t it?” Yuko remarked

“I didn’t do it for any sort of heroism, such a punishment was something they did not deserve. I merely righted something that was wrong.” Hisayo said.

“Thinking back on it, I was in that tomb with you, I don’t remember you unearthing some sort of mystical gem. I would have caught that,” Yuko mentioned. “When and where did you actually find it?”

“Saw right through me eh? Those observation skills of yours may be quite troublesome. The whole process took me nearly two decades. Though my father ordered it, my mother was the one who originally formed the curse seal. She was strong in the mystic arts, used her powers to collect the spiritual essence of everyone outside of our immediate household, and bound them to the confines of the fortress grounds. The curse was so potent that it permanently shrouded the area in total darkness, preventing those bound by it from even being able to see the sun. Such a fate is worthy of the greatest enemies of our family, not...for the reason my father did it.”

“So that stuff about paying respects was a lie?” Yuko asked.

“No, not entirely. It was indeed my fathers birthday and I did come every year at this time. The final thing I needed to break the curse was something from my mothers to channel her. All that was left was her ashes so…”

“You destroyed your mother’s ashes to free your family from her curse. Makes sense.”

“You know you’re accepting all of these things pretty easily, most normal people would have gone mad from what you’ve experienced.”

“Maybe I already have,” Yuko quipped. “Or maybe this is proof that with enough exposure, people can get used to anything. Even living among superhumans.”

Hisayo chuckled at the girls' explanation.

“Such a flattering classification, however, I assure you Ms. Hiragi that we are not very different from normal humans. Sure our eyes are a little weird, and we can see perfectly in the dark, but most of what we can do is all thanks to our training.”

“Oh, yeah? Why don’t you teach me?” Yuko playfully challenged.

“You? Want to learn Tai’Xuan?” Hisayo asked disbelievingly.

“Why not? I don’t want to be a burden, so teach me how to fight. So I can at least defend myself,”

“Are you sure? It’s not going to be easy, and unlike other martial arts styles, ours is designed specifically to kill.”

“Teach me. Please.” Yuko gave a slight bow to Hisayo who laid back in her chair.

“Fine, when we return it shall be arranged.” The boat engine and the sound of jungle creatures filled the silence between the two before Hisayo returned to her humming. Maybe it was the droning of the engine or the buzzing of insects that flew by her face, but a subject she had decided to bury forced itself back to the forefront of Yuko’s mind. The woman deserved to know.

“Um..by the way. There is just...one more thing I need to tell you,”.

--Hattori Compound 9 am,--

Focus. Control. Balance.

These were three principles Akane Hattori tried to live by. Everything in her life, down to her morning meditations incorporated some nature of discipline in the routine. Especially at the moment, as she propped herself up on a single finger atop a stone statue, all the while balancing 6 heavy plates on her feet. It was a martial arts exercise known as “The Tower” and was used to practice keeping one's physical and spiritual energy in harmony. Traditionally a person would only perform a handstand and balance something on the outstretched feet, but that was not enough for Akane. She had done this every morning since her training began and needed to increase the difficulty as she got older. She was capable of balancing up to 5 tons, but today she would go light with only 1200 pounds.

She kept her breathing steady and her eyes closed, feeling her chi balance and expand outward. The serene state heightened her perception, encompassing the mansion and surrounding area. She could sense Satoru performing his own meditations on the waterfall next to the mansion, his energy exuding an air of serenity and control. She felt Hanabi in discussing business in the conference room with executives from their dummy corporation “Asano Shipping”. Her demeanor always cool and confident. Maya and Zed were performing orientation for some new hires. What piqued Akane’s curiosity was what she felt emanating from Haru. An intense, passionate wave hit her when she reached out, nearly causing her to lose her balance.

“How does she have an aura that strong?” She thought to herself. Her curiosity was piqued. With a powerful upward thrust she sent the stone plates and herself flying into the air. With four quick strikes, she shattered the stones with ease and landed gracefully on the ground letting out a long exhale, releasing the pent up energy.

“Maybe...I should go check on her,” She said to herself.

“You were looking for an excuse to see her weren’t you?” The rumbling voice in her mind could only be her the thunderous deity she housed within herself. Ba’al.

“Her aura is strong for a normal girl, too strong, it could be trouble,” Akane said.

“It is true the girl is gifted, I am unaware of her origins, but only a strong family line could have produced a child with such a powerful aura. Lucky for us, she does not seem to be trained for any sort of combat. Maybe when you aren’t ogling her, you could find out more about her, she could be harmless, or..she could not be,” Ba’als presence then retreated before Akane could retort, a bright red blush on her face.

“Stupid...dragon,” She said as she marched into the house. When she entered the hallway she heard strumming coming from the direction of Haru’s room, getting louder as she approached. Just behind the door she heard Haru’s playing and singing, she would periodically stop and utter a light curse, or something else Akane could not tell. She took a deep breath before knocking on the door. It took a few moments before the door slid open, Haru stood on the other side. She was dressed in a tank top and shorts, and her hair was let down to her shoulders, signifying she recently woke up.

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“Can I..help you?” Haru asked, her posture relaxed slightly when she saw Akane on the other side of the door.

“Oh, I just wanted to see what you were up to. I had some free time so...just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out?” Akane tried her best to put on a bright smile but was met by Haru’s cocked eyebrow.

“Mhmm,” Haru said, her tone full of disbelief. “So just yesterday you tell me not to get to close and have a full-on panic attack from being near me. Then all of a sudden you are coming back to me asking if I want to hang out?” Haru left the question rhetorical knowing that Akane would realize how foolish it sounded when it was voiced aloud. ‘Tch, damn this girl’ Akane thought. For some reason, Haru was able to see through her as if she was made of glass. No other girl she had met had been able to do that since…

“Anyways, It’s not like I can stop you,” Haru continued. She stepped aside and motioned for Akane to come in. “It is your house after all.” Akane stepped through the threshold, taking note of the personal effects the guest had spread about the room. Her guitar was out on her bed, next to a pen and paper with some words scribbled on it. A scented candle burned softly in the corner filling the room with a pleasing and comforting smell.

“I heard you playing earlier..” Akane started, trying to start a conversation.

“Yeah, It’s been a while so I figured I’d get some writing done. The band is gonna be pissed if I ghosted them for this long and don’t have anything to show for it.” Haru said, sitting back down on the bed and putting her acoustic guitar back in her lap. “I hope that they’re doing ok. They better keep rehearsing if they know what's good for them.”

“I’m sure they miss you,” Akane said. “What’s the name of your band? What kind of music do you play?”

“Well rock mainly, but we can pretty much play anything. As long as it’s interesting so we can keep ourselves challenged.” Haru boasted with a proud grin. Akane twirled a loose lock of her hair, butterflies fluttering in her chest as she conversed with the musician. She had to admit that the girl’s charisma was infectious, it could possibly be the effect of her strong aura.

“How long have you been playing? She asked. Haru shrugged and began to play a few chords, arpeggiating them, filling the air with a pleasant melody.

“I picked it up around high school, people always said I had a natural gift for it. Not surprising considering a few family members are all famous musicians. My uncle really started pushing me to get into the business before I went to college…”

“Do you not want to?” Akane asked, taking a seat next to her on the bed. Haru continued to play softly.

“Well... it's not like I don’t want to….and wait a minute!” Haru abruptly stopped her playing and glared daggers at Akane who paused in confusion.

“Is something wrong?” The assassin asked.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Haru questioned. Akane replied with a shrug and a confused look.

“Don’t give me that! You’re trying to honeypot me aren’t you!?” Haru jumped from the bed, pointing an accusatory finger at Akane.

“I’m sorry I really don-”

“You almost had me you know. The way you easily closed the distance between us, getting me to drop my guard. Playing that music in the garden. You’re good. I admit I let my guard down, but I’m on to you!” Despite the outlandish accusations, Akane couldn't help but be impressed. As an assassin, it was true that her training taught her some sort of social manipulation to get her targets to drop their guard. However, that was something performed and executed on the subconscious level, so Akane herself shouldn’t know she was doing it nor should her target be privy to it.

“I assure you that isn’t the case,” Akane defended. “You said it yourself in the garden If I meant you harm I would have done so already. We did not get to finish our talk the other day so I thought I would come by and try again, so please calm down and let us talk.” Haru’s glare persisted for a moment, then she settled and elected to sit on the recliner opposite the bed.

“Fine. I’m still on the fence about trusting you though. So, if we’re going to chat I’ll be asking the questions.

“Ok,” Akane nodded. “That is satisfactory,”

“Why are you really here? What do you want from me and Yuko?” Haru asked, crossing her arms.

“This was supposed to be saved until our next briefing, but we managed to get a lot of information from the programs they planted at the Eastern Inquirer. There was a lot of news filtered about Draconia’s increasing military spending. They seem to be ramping up to something and we think it has something to with that person that was after you and APEX. We also backtraced your calls and see that you had conversations with the man William Duncan.”

“Yeah, he’s the sugar daddy doctor guy who bought me a new car and paid my rent,” Haru remarked.

“Well, there is more to him than that. You do know that he is the Chief researcher at the Draconian Ministry of Science. A nobleman by their own standards.”

“Jeez, I knew he was a bigwig after all. I guess now I know how big. He paid me to make him aware of your movements in Oshan…” Haru said full of regret. Akane put her hand to her chin deep in thought.

“That explains the heavy security at the storage facility..” Akane said. “He must have prepared all of that in advance and that creature… I am eager to know its significance.”

“Well, do you plan to use us for any unsavory work in the future?” Haru asked.

“You want to go home, don't you?”

“Well of course I do! I have a life I left behind, people I care about..and stuff.”

“I know how you feel. You are free to go home, however, I do not think that would be wise,”

“Because we would be safer here..” Haru finished, she let out an exasperated sigh. “I already knew that, but I can’t say that it doesn’t suck.”

Akane sympathized with the girl. She understood the fear and frustration of being swept into a world you had no business in. Unlike her, Haru was neither trained nor equipped to deal with the dangers this world had to offer. She was overwhelmed and beginning to feel alone. Akane wanted her to feel comfortable here, somehow.

“You said you were working on a song? Would you mind If I heard some of it?” She asked. Haru turned her gaze away, trying to hide her excitement.

“Usually when people ask me to play, they usually have to pay a cover. Are you sure you can afford me?” the musician asked coyly.

“I’m sure if you checked your bank account you’d be more than satisfied. We are paying you after all.” Akane pulled out her phone and tapped a few buttons then showed the screen to Haru, whose eyes grew wide.

“Ok then!” Haru said enthusiastically as she grabbed her guitar and began to tune the instrument. “You should feel honored, you’re gonna be the first person to hear this. So sit back and relax and enjoy your private concert.”

Akane did just that

-- In the living room--

Yuko plopped down on the living room couch, happy to be on solid ground and comfortable seating after adventure deep in the woods with Hisayo. It felt good to be out of the heat and humidity of the jungle and back in the cool air conditioning.

“I’ve gotta remember to archive all the stuff that's happened in the past few days, It’d make for a great book,” she said to herself.

“Be sure to give me a signed copy,” Satoru said as he plopped on a seat adjacent to her. “Yo, princess it's been a while,”

“It’s because your aunt has been dragging me all around the woods. I’d love to take a proper shower and hopefully pick off any ticks that surely attached themselves to me, but I’m way too exhausted.” Yuko responded as she sank deeper into the cushions, letting out a groan.

“It seems aunt Hisayo is starting to warm up to you a bit. She gets kind of clingy when she does,” He said. “For what it’s worth I’m glad she didn’t kill you. She probably would have made me do it,” he grumbled.

“And would you have done it?” She asked.

“Yup, she’s the boss after all. I’m sure you know by now that her temper is nothing to mess with.”

Yuko sat silent, as she knew all too well how volatile the woman could get.

“Your mom and her. They are sisters, but your mom told me she was older. Shouldn’t she be ‘the boss’ by traditional standards?”

“Well, you heard her story. Also, she had me!” He grinned proudly, while Yuko stared blankly at the teen.

“So?” She said. “What does your birth have anything to do with it?

Satoru sat with a look of disbelief briefly, before giving her a knowing look. “Mom didn’t tell you about me did she?”

Yuko shook her head, “I assumed you were born here like everyone else. Though you do seem a bit spoiled compared to the others, ``she mused aloud.

“Spoiled!?” Satoru was offended. “Me? Spoiled? How could you think that?”

“When you first brought me here I saw all those fancy cars in the hangar, you seem like the type to indulge in such things, considering you were talking on the phone and also asking for a toilet television.”

Satoru was about to protest but stopped, realizing he indeed did ask Maya for a toilet tv. “Ok that's fair, but those cars aren’t mine! They’re actually my moms. I’m a country boy at heart really.”

Yuko realized she hadn’t properly gotten a chance to know the boy since she was brought here. She had already interviewed his mother, but she was interested in hearing what the son had to say.

“Alright then. Let me get a pen.”

--Meanwhile--

Hisayo paced anxiously in her chambers. Since returning she had all but ran to her room, speaking to no one. Bento had trotted over excitedly to greet his master, but she dismissed him as well. The disgruntled tiger now laid in a corner some distance away, keeping an eye on Hisayo during her anxious motions.

“It's impossible,” She said to herself. “I..don't believe...I won’t believe it.” Yuko’s utter bombshell had ruined the woman’s good mood and had set her mind spiraling out of control. All these years and she never knew her own daughter…. Zed’s presence outside of her door snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Enter,” She bid plainly finally allowing herself to settle on the couch as her caretaker entered her chambers.

“Mistress, there is something that I would like to discuss with you,”

“Impeccable timing Zed, I've been wanting to speak with you as well. Have a seat.” She gestured to the couch near the door.

“I’m going to start,” Hisayo asserted. “10 years ago, on Akane’s first solo assignment. Tell me in what state did you find her?”