Sluggishly walking towards her room, she soon came across Tiki, eagerly waiting for her to arrive. Holding onto her tablet as she did when not holding onto a lethal weapon, their eyes meeting as she greeted her with a careful tone, remembering all about the fearsome threat she laid on Dante's life just earlier.

"Hey, Enemy-", Tiki was quickly interrupted.

"Please, just...don't call me by that for a bit. I need to clear my head, as I need to get my shit straight right after.", she said in a tone full of exhaustion.

"Look, I won't take much of your time, but I've gotta talk to you about, well, you. Obsulyte analysis, plus a potential first Overseer class M.O.D., specifically crafter for you."

"And that won't take much of my time?", Enemy folded her arms, waiting to enter her room.

"It's science. Drima does the hardest part, I come up with the weapon part, and then we melt and boil it down to a good enough point where we can spoon feed it to you.", Tiki shrugged.

Reluctant at first, Enemy sighed as she opened the door to her room, giving Tiki space as she allowed her to come in.

"Just make it quick. Sit by the kitchen table, and I'll be there shortly."

"Thanks.", Tiki moved inside.

Her room, contrary to that of other's, didn't resemble so much a room as it did a small apartment. A small kitchen area at the top left, enclosed by a marble, corner bar table with a few chairs around it, and her bedroom right next to it on the right, both of those areas sporting a serene white and brown color scheme respectively. Both of those areas were blessed to be in a position where they could look right outside a massive window, directly at the garden of the Ministry Of Civil Affairs, as well as a the right side of the city of Gardard, as the level difference between the height of the room and the rest of the city allowed for a great area of view. In front of the door as well, a two section corner couch that was divided on it's side, allowed access to a small living room area that provided just a large TV on the front facing the couch, and a small library on the right side. All the while it did not all feel cramped and clustered together, even with a small dressing area around the left of the main door's entrance. What baffled Tiki the most was not the fact that, unlike what she expected, the room didn't quite resemble either Enemy or Hikari in a very specific way, but looking rather normal, rather than the fact she so expertly sorted everything to a tea, making the most out of the space given to her while sustaining a cozy feeling, contrary to the storage room feeling Tiki was sure she'd accidentally make out of it instead.

"Interesting choices...wow. How did you hit the mark with all these? You basically have an apartment to yourself compared to our room."

"The Church, or at least the branch once being in Dirunon, had a lot of classes themselves, and all took place in the Monastery, or I guess what they called the 'Temple'. Primary focus was the basics before higher education, especially home economics. That included numerous things, from managing funds based on inflow and outflow of money, taxes, to organizational skills and partial home design courses I took after willingly, which as you see, came in handy in the long run. Everything I needed to learn for more self sufficiency.", Enemy relieved herself of all her gears.

"Wait...you and Hikari did home economics?", Tiki wondered.

"I primarily did, before Hikari started showing up instead of me when she recovered, right towards the attack that destroyed Dirunon."

"Because if you remember-", Tiki was interrupted.

"I'm well aware that Hikari's 'Pasta Incident', may have lead to mass food poisoning among us. But no. Her trying to use my memories to make it were not in the slightest accurate to how I'd do. Had I had to compare, I'd say I at least wouldn't make a comical screw up like you, and accidentally drop an entire glass bottle of salt in the food. That, contrary to how Hikari's stomach is absurdly robust, screwed me up for 3 days straight. And I took, one, bite, out of curiosity, mind you. The salt might've not even been the worst part of it."

"Hey, I picked the bottle off afterwards.", Tiki excused herself.

"It's not about the bottle, the salt inside-screw this. What do you want?", Enemy gave up on trying to educate Tiki.

"Ok, ok. Sit here.", Tiki sat on the bar table.

Enemy finished taking off her heavy armor and sat by Tiki, "This armor is not made by me, it's a modified M.O.D. base, and it's a pain. Hopefully you've got something better."

"That I do. So, from the ground up. Your Obsulyte has been classified as a mix Offense/Utility. Now, Utility class Obsulyte is used by doctors in hospitals, and Hikari herself with how she absorbs your wounds and physical bodily harm and the such. We've classified it as such, because we have sneaking suspicions that, aside from Hikari providing the 'healing abilities', you yourself are able to do something that Dante is barely capable of, which is actively bend Obsulyte to your will. No surprise there, as, again, Hikari is a part of you. The fact you took this M.O.D. base, modified it by sheer will, as well as the very solid weapons you manifest in battle are also a part of that Utility aspect. Given how Hikari is more than welcome to give battling to you over 70% of the time, we will be making this first M.O.D. for you, to make better use of it."

"Dante can manipulate Obsulyte as well, mind you. Mellistar's armored ghost self has changed.", Enemy noted.

"Well aware, but here's the catch. Mellistar is Dante. The M.O.D. base here is an alien entity to you, completely detached from yourself. Additionally, I just have to ask. Why are you and Hikari not fighting alongside anymore, like Dante and Mellistar?"

A question simple to ask, but very, very complicated to answer, once Enemy came to the realization that recent events indeed pointed out to her relying on herself alone, way more than Hikari, as Hikari did the same. She pondered just for a moment, quickly returning to the subject of the conversation while giving a hasty answer, almost as if she wanted to skip over the question itself.

"I don't know. But it sort of feels as if we both...stopped caring to rely on each other's powers. Or maybe, it feels more as if we're drifting away and being separated? I really don't know."

"Well, I'm asking these questions because there's a lot I have to take into consideration when attempting to make a M.O.D. specific to someone. And you fighting alongside Hikari or not is a major factor for consideration. For example, look at this.", Tiki flipped through designs on her tablet.

"What's...this? A male version, so I guess Dante's.", Enemy wondered.

"Because there's more males to go around for battle, not accounting for Drima the science guy and Yuno the midget. Mellistar...do Obsulyte concentrated ghost people even have the ability wear M.O.D.s? Bah, anyone. So, the updated version of Dante's M.O.D. is an example. I removed basically all of his armor, including the bulletproof vest, or should I say, bullet resistant vest. Reason is simple, Dante is extremely mobile, when he fights he gets all the way to the front, but, he loves taking a hit. Reason being, of course, he decimates the attacker with a counterattack right after. Adding to the fact that he is forced to carry a very heavy blade on top of other equipment, and he becomes less effective as his weight drags him down. He can also do far reaching counterattacks that will reposition him or not, based on initial training data from the virtual training room. You could argue that the M.O.D. is too 'Dante specific', as it leaves Mellistar behind, but Reina showed me footage from the air, and it very much looks like Mellistar is an indented tether to Dante, as he can perfectly function on his own, so long as he's feeding off of Dante's Obsulyte signature to keep himself active. Why am I telling you all this now? Simple. I want to get you to understand how intricate making a specified M.O.D. is. And what I'm saying is the boiled down version, mind you. There's a lot more going behind the scenes, starting from the style factor, which is a major deal to make sure that the design itself won't get in someone's fighting way, down to the nanomachine distributor sheet I'll need to calibrate and layer beneath the actual M.O.D."

"Then you can delay it. My abilities, for some reason feel...off. As of late, I don't show it, but there's been something bothering me. Like a subtle pain, not hurting me, but simply annoying me into acknowledging it."

"Here's what I've got for you up until now.", Tiki brought up another M.O.D. design.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Enemy hunched over to take a look, "Hmm? Ugrh.", she tried to look at it.

"What? I'm no fashion designer, my entire MO is practicality, not being a princess."

"It's not that. Just, give me this.", she grabbed the tablet with both her hands, extending it far from her face.

"Uh...ok?", Tiki was weirded out.

"Yeah, looks good on paper. But again, I seem to be on a developmental cycle with my powers. I have no idea how it sparked now, but, I can't say for sure that I'm fully confident committing right now."

Tiki briefly set aside her weird feeling around Enemy and look at things objectively as she tended to do. Right then, a spark lit up in her head as she began figuring out what was going on, reflecting upon herself as she realized what Enemy might have been doing this for.

"So, put the tablet down for a bit. Look, I know this all happened this morning, but, I'm getting oddly suspicious that you might not be all that well health wise. Specifically, your eyes, which is very much understandable. You were shot in the head, after all."

"Had it not been for Terna screwing around I wouldn't. Again, weak energy based gun against an Obsulyte user, so I got away with it.", she angrily said.

"Might want to get yourself checked with an ophthalmologist. Perfect time to go for a walk too, since you're so obviously distressed.", Tiki picked her stuff up, "Go get that problem checked, and I'll bother you with the intricate stuff later. Although, the small informational on your Obsulyte was my primary concern, so I got that dealt with first."

"Right. And where do they give out charity doctor checkups?", Enemy annoyingly said.

"With this, you'll be set.", Tiki gave her a card, "Anya ain't around to provide much, but Drima set us all up with a special program from Del Bank. If anyone asks, you are the owner of a new coffee shop."

"He set us up with a bussiness loan?", Enemy folded her arms.

"It's complicated."

"Yeah. I can tell.", Enemy took the card.

"Look, Drima has connections from the Grand Counselor, down to merchant leaders in the black market. Don't question much."

"As per usual, we do without questions...bothersome."

"Now you're getting it.", Tiki pat her in the back, "Now, take a bath because you smell like ass too. I'll be seeing you tonight, in Terna's room."

"From one random to the other. What's in Terna's room?"

"A surprise. A surprise that'd require you buying copious amounts of snacks to work. May not be exactly my style of approaching something, but Terna actually used her incredible wording skills to convince to partake in that surprise."

"You sound awfully...excited? No, not exactly.", Enemy tried to pinpoint Tiki.

"Hey, first time I get to do something like this. Now, I'm off to grab Luna and Lina for that too. Do me a favor and avoid telling anyone like Dante though."

Enemy scoffed, "Hah. Easiest task to give. Didn't even need to make it a goal for me to do so."

"Hey, I think you're cutting the meatbag out to be a little-", Tiki was interrupted as Enemy quickly got up and left.

"I'm off to take a bath. Do whatever."

Her potential excitement and almost cracked smile faded, as Enemy once again, despite her absolutely defined, deep seated fear, acted against her mind's wishes. She left her room as Enemy herself took a quick shower to somewhat try and relieve that horrid stress, and wash away, albeit temporarily, those bad memories that resurfaced. Amidst the silence in her mind, it was the first time she could truly be left to think. And as she had never done before, once again in the same day, her thoughts slipped her lips underneath the showerhead.

"Why would I try and fight for a world that has given me nothing while keep asking for more?", she realized that she spoke out loud, "Hmm? Hah...", she relaxed under the flow of warm water.

Just standing there alone, under the showerhead, she reflected upon the words that were thought by and spoken out by herself, for what was essentially herself to hear. This inexplicable feeling that, despite being the only one present, loomed over her, as thoughts turned to words that she could hear echo in the silence had a much greater effect that simple, sometimes intrusive, thoughts alone.

As soon as she finished her bath, she realized something so simple yet grim about herself yet again. Wiping the water away she was left there, naked, with the same old, single set of clothes she had been washing again and again. She, simply put, had been denying herself frivolousness of any kind, to the point where the glaring issue of her neglect of even pure necessities started to show. Over the need of getting out of the quarters to head outside, she had to resort to a most humiliating resolution. Placing the same clothes over the sink of the bathroom, she proceeded to put water and soap across the sweaty parts of both the shirt and the pants, scrubbing away by hand as she felt her stomach turn upon realizing how her sense of duty overcame and overtook all of her life, where no matter how many chances were given, she would have never lived a life worth living.

Finishing up even washing the same pair of underwear, a soft tear came across her tender face as she then proceeded to put on the same clothes again, feeling uphauled and disgusted in herself. But come to think of it, when was the last time she got to ever be normal? To have her body of her own that she didn't give way to Hikari, when she didn't need to fight, harm and be stuck in her armor. For someone of her caliber, who others saw nothing but nerve and power, to be reduced to such a lowly existence...she could never live the same life she thought she would from back in the day. She could never once forget all that had happened, as merely living normal, was becoming more of a challenge by the day.

To round up, she put one final layer of laundry detergent on her clothes before finally getting out of her room and hastily, almost running, to the elevator to get out. How her image reflected by her room were not at all how she was herself...what contradictory existence. And though it wasn't, the shame of wanting to be like so but neglecting that need, what good did it do for her? Like a wet cat, she scurried along the streets as she made her way towards the nearest doctor's office she could find using her phone's GPS, all the while being content to herself and very intentionally moving away from any sort of crowd, couple or singular person in her way.

Such an unnatural feeling it had become to her, going down the street without a sword, or a gun of any kind. Could she manifest one with her Obsulyte, had the situation called for it? Definitely. But the grim reality was that this specific feeling of rising anxiety was nothing sort of irregular and most definitely, unnatural, as the same could be felt by a mother leaving her young child alone. What had she become, for that natural instinct to unnaturally replace such a child with means to a violent end? Where dependency on access a lethal weapon at all times, along with hostile outlooks on anything that moved was all that she could bring herself to feel?

Nevertheless, through the blissful, rocky, pedestrian streets that Gardard was known for, coupled with the green spread evenly and unevenly here and there, her mind was somewhat distracted, to a good enough point where she could at least bring herself to breathe easy. Even Dante himself wouldn't act in such a distant way, because although times had changed to where no one could sleep with their doors open as they did before, he'd simply be vigilant, instead of actively preparing to strike at any given moment.

A few strips down, she finally found herself to a local pharmacy where her phone rang upon arriving to her supposed destination. Weirded out as she was, she stepped in slowly, calming down as four walls surrounded her again, enough to feel safe. The smell of perfume, chemicals of medicine and such filled her nose as she looked around to see a pharmacist behind the desk slowly getting up as she realized that a customer had stepped in.

Enemy approached the counter, "Uh, hi. I came here quite quickly while following my phone. Do you guys do eye checkups?"

"Yeah, sure. We are sharing the building with an ophthalmologist, Dr. Will, in case any local driver license students want a checkup to allow them to get the license exams."

"Nothing like that for me, just a checkup. Do I pay up front or...", Enemy tried her best to cover her rising anxiety.

"You can either before, or after. Although, if you don't mind, the doctor went to grab a coffee-", the pharmacist was interrupted.

"No, no, I'm back, send them in please.", Dr. Will sounded in the distance.

"Alright, I'll just pay upfront.", Enemy took out her card.

The pharmacist putting the machine right in front of her as she hovered the card above it. To her dismay, while the card was accepted with the machine beeping, it then locked itself as it proceeded to ask for the PIN number.

"Your PIN please.", the pharmacist turned the machine around.

Horrified as she forgot to ask the details, Enemy panicked into entering whatever she could to get the card working, showing zero signs of fear or distress as she expertly hid it away. And so, she tried her best and proceeded to enter it. 0001.

"Appears to be wrong, please try again.", the pharmacist asked.

Enemy began feeling anxious as she had two more tries before the card was forcefully locked and she was stranded. In a fit of confusion, she quickly moved her fingers around without thinking in order to put at least something in before the time window between the pharmacist asking and her acting became awkward. 0002.

"Uh, give me a second.", the pharmacist took up another machine on the table, "One of them had been acting weird today, could you perhaps pass it on this one instead? Sorry for that.", she took off the other machine.

Same process. The card passed as it asked for the PIN number, to which enemy responded by grabbing her phone and texting Tiki's already saved contact in a fit of immanent panic.

-Tiki, what's the card's PIN?

-Oh yeah, I forgot about that, but you shut me down before I could tell you

-I know, now please just tell me. I'm on my final try here

-Can you send me a picture of the card?

-I don't have mobile data, working on signal, just tell me god dammit!

-Alright, relax. Just tell me the like, final 4 digits of the card number

Enemy scrambled her pocket and found the card with the pharmacist patiently waiting in front of her causing her to feel even more anxious.

-4567

-You're 4567? I took them all out at once so...

-You're the third card I handed out, so your PIN must be 0003

As those 4 numbers were sent, Enemy couldn't help but facepalm as she proceeded to enter the code that almost drove her to an unexplained panic.

"Mother-", she restrained her rage and her mouth as she silently mumbled.

With the PIN being accepted and the payment going through, it felt as if one of her hardest and most mentally consuming battles she had ever had was put to a rest. A simple "Thanks" over text as her mental exhaustion grew ever larger was sent to Tiki, with the pharmacist thanking Enemy and leading her in the doctor's office around the back. Truly, many of them in the group had their own, individual battles to face.