“A decoy?” Caity asks, raising an eyebrow at Reiku’s plan.

“Yeah,” Reiku nods, “I want to do more than simply protect the kids- Now's the time to make a lasting change to River City,”

“That's ambitious,” Kita chuckles.

“We'll send the people of Level Zero to the border of Level Two. Then we split the black-eyed ones up between the group going to Level Two and keep the other half here,” Reiku responds, glancing over to Kita, “That includes you,”

“What?” She squints.

“To my knowledge, they are also after you. I don’t know why but I’d prefer they didn’t capture the most experienced black eye,”

“I can take care of myself,” Kita scoffs, “Focus on the kids,”

“As long as you are on my floor, you follow my rules,” Reiku says with a stern voice.

“He’s right,” Caity adds, “We can’t have Chevo taking you out again,”

“Ugh,” KIta sighs, "Fine,"

“What do you mean?” Raya asks with a lost expression on her face, “Did Chevo kill you?”

“Something like that,” Kita shrugs, “So where am I going?” She asks, avoiding any further explanations.

“You and I will lead the people and three of the black-eyed to the border to draw Chevo and Vlad's attention away from Level Zero,” He nods before pointing at Raya and Caity, “The two of you will stay here with Griselda and Alex to protect the other three black eyed. There will be a few others providing you assistance, but you must understand that they are not experienced fighters,”

“So the plan is to get us all killed in front of the general public?” Kita jests with a grin.

“The plan is to rally the aid of the River City Guards, courtesy of Ms Eeve,” He says, pointing a finger to his head, “You could benefit from using that head of yours, Black eyes,”

“You trust this one with the lives of your people?” Caity asks, passing a distrusting glare at Ms Eeve.

“No,” Reiku says as he makes his way to his assistants, “But I’ll make sure she complies,”

Ms Eeve scoffs as Kita, Raya and Caity briefly glance at one another and nod in agreement. The plan is the best shot they've got right now, but Kita can't help but feel it won't go so smoothly. There are a lot of factors at play here- her initial plan was to simply leave River City with the kids, but that doesn't guarantee they won't be followed. She'd considered going on the offensive, to simply assassinate Chevo or Vlad. Making a political statement was never in her interests.

Politics is too messy.

Honestly, Kita doesn't care about all of these strangers or the justice Reiku seeks. All of these tedious grudges don't resonate with Kita's sense of morality… or whatever morality she has…

Do I even care about these kids? Or is her subconscious using emotions to make her feel as though she cares, when in reality she only sees a way to the dark one through them?

No, I'm just overthinking…

Right?

She's even been coming up with a backup plan. Some way to guarantee she can get out safely with Jan, Starlet and the others if the plan goes south. Planning isn't exactly her forte so she hasn't got anything, but being prepared to make a move is good enough for her.

"You gonna be okay out there?" Caity asks with endearing eyes.

"Probably," Kita grins.

"Don't do that thing where you kill everyone," Raya chuckles, promoting a giggle out of Caity and Kita.

"Or that thing where you completely ruin the plan," Caity grins.

"Pfft," Kita scoffs with a smile. "I don't remember having done either of those things,"

"It's quite clear how unreliable your memory is," Raya says.

"Yeah, that's why we do the remembering for you," Caity winks.

"Mmm, you both only ever remember my failures,"

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Not true," Caity says, glancing at Raya.

"Yeah, we remember the good times too," Raya agrees.

"Like when?" Kita asks, raising an eyebrow.

"There was, uhh-" Raya passes a perplexed look to Caity.

"That time when we uhh-" Caity stammers, trying to follow up.

"You two are the worst," Kita laughs. "From now on I'll be taking stock of your failures too,"

"Alright," Reiku says, returning with Jan and two other black-eyed children beside him. "These three are staying behind with you,"

"Kita!" Jan yells, running over to hug her. "You did save me," He chuckles.

"Don't thank me yet," Kita raises both arms in surprise before awkwardly returning the hug. "We aren't free yet,"

"Well if you're there, it'll all be fine!"

Kita blushes before separating the hug and placing her hand on Jan's forehead. She doesn't know why, but an instinct within her begins to feel the number of souls surging in his body. He has about ten souls.

"If anything goes wrong, you need to use those souls to protect everyone, okay?" Kita asks.

"But isn't that-"

"Not if you're protecting people you care about," Kita says, giving him a noogie.

"Time to get moving," Reiku says, rubbing Jan's head and nodding at Kita.

"Take this," Raya says, placing an immortality pill in Kita's hand. "You'll probably need them,"

"Thanks," Kita says, tossing the pill in her mouth straight away.

– – – – –

As the populous of Level Zero funnels through Level One, Kita, Reiku, Ms Eeve and Jan make their way to the front of the movement with two other black-eyed children, leading the people to the border of Level Two. Raya and Caity remained in Level Zero, occupying Chevo's tent near the entrance and hiding the kids in a tent at the far end of the floor- not too far from Reiku's elevator.

The repulsed glances of Level One residents in their navy blue garments immediately bring the politics of the situation to a boil. The inhabitants of level zero are mostly dressed in worker's clothes or the cheap rags they can afford. But there's no sympathy in the eyes of the inhabitants of Level One.

"They treat us as though we don't belong," Reiku grits his teeth. "It's been this way for far too long,"

"Maybe you don't," Kita responds.

"Hmph," Reiku grunts, "You would know,"

"Exactly," She chuckles, "People like me don't belong anywhere,"

"We aren't like you,"

"Oof, hurtful," Kita smiles, "I thought we were becoming the best of friends,"

Reiku says nothing as his breathing deepens at the sight of Level One residents passing him glares of disdain.

"We more alike than you think," Kita says, noticing the effect the staring is having on Reiku, "Once people know what I am, they prefer to keep their distance too,"

"Those people are privileged with a choice," Reiku scoffs.

"But you and I aren't," Kita winks, "That's my point. We do what we have to do. It might not make sense to others but we get it,"

"From the stories I've heard, you simply enjoy chaos,"

"Wow, that's reductive," Kita rolls her eyes, "It's much more complicated than that,"

"I'm all ears,"

"Well, I- uh," Kita stammers, somehow finding herself having to share more details than she'd like.

She sighs before taking a deep breath and figures it wouldn't be the end of the world if she tells Reiku about her magic.

"Everything I do is to get my soul back," Kita says.

"Your soul?" Reiku asks.

"Yeah. It was taken from me a very long time ago and I've died countless times trying to get it,"

"Died?" Reiku's attention shifts away from the spectators and focuses on Kita. "What are you?"

"Yeah. If I consume enough souls, I can reincarnate,"

"It was you who took these children's souls?"

"No, no- When I consume a soul, the owner dies,"

"Hmm, and when you reincarnate. You are reborn into a new body after death?"

"No, in this body,"

"I see," Reiku runs his fingers through his beard, "Consuming souls gives you magic?"

"Who said anything about magic?"

"Rumors spread after your excursions. There are very anomalous descriptions of you in combat,"

"Oh… Yeah, it gives me magic,"

"And how do you wield this magic?"

"What do you mean?"

"Who do you fight for?"

"... Myself,"

"Mmm," Reiku nods, "But you are here,"

"There are others I care about,"

"The one who stole your soul. Do you know him?"

"I do,"

"Is he here? In River City?"

"He is,"

"Then you may find yourself with conflicting interests soon," Reiku says, turning to look amongst the onslaught of onlookers. "Moments like these have a funny way of testing our loyalties,"

"Yeah, no thanks,"

"It is inevitable, Kita. Even if not today." He shrugs, "The world will soon ask you- Where do your loyalties truly lie?"