Fumiko stood in the office, staring at Tsukiko, her body all tense and stiff. She knew something was wrong from just a single look at the Knight's face.

"What did he say?" Fumiko looked her in the eye.

Tsuki paused, hesitant to tell Fumi the truth. "He threatened me. Threatened you."

"Me?" Fumi repeated.

"Said... Said you were leverage." Tsukiko looked at the phone. "Son of a bitch."

"Leverage..." Fumiko shook her head. "So he's getting to you through me."

"Coward." Tsuki muttered under her breath. "Tryin' to keep me away."

"...god. What a piece of shit." Fumi let out a sigh. "I'm really sorry."

"Sorry? Sorry for what?"

"Makin' you worry about me." Fumi frowned a little.

"It's not your fault." Tsukiko reassured her, approaching her. "I'm not that worried."

"Why not?" Fumi asked.

"I'm a Knight." Tsuki smiled a little.

"So... what're you gonna do?" Fumiko looked Tsukiko in the eye as she asked the most important question.

Tsukiko thought for a moment, or at least tried to, but her mind was nothing but grey haze. There were no thoughts in her head, at least, none she'd formed with any real effort.

"Should we call Haru? Shizuka?" Fumi asked, but got no answer. "Tsuki?"

Only a few words came to mind, and they felt right as they lingered on her tongue.

"I'm gonna find that jackass and beat him to a pulp." Tsukiko narrowed her eyes. "What'd you think I was gonna do?"

"I... I don't know." Fumi hesitated. "You sure that'll work?"

"I'm not gonna let some fuckin' idiot threaten you." Tsukiko looked away. "...and I'm not gonna hang up my jacket cuz someone said some names in a phone call."

"...jeez." Fumi let out a long smiling sigh. "Just the other day you were all doom and gloom. What happened?"

"I got mad." Tsuki started stretching her arms.

Before Fumiko could say anything else, a heavy knock came at the door to Fumi's office. Without a word, Tsukiko turned to the door and stepped forward, prepared for whatever it was that came for her.

"Wait here, okay? Get Haruka on the phone and tell her to get here as fast as she can." Tsuki whispered. "Scream if anything happens, as loud as you can."

"Tsuki, be careful." Fumi called out. "Don't let 'em get to you."

"Thanks." Tsukiko turned to her and lowered her head a little. "I'll try not to make a mess in there, I promise."

Opening the door, Tsuki found herself greeted by three teenagers with heavy leather jackets and arrogant gazes. With just a glance, she could tell they were probably still in high school, second years at most.

Their leader stood before them, looking at the Knight down the bridge of his nose. The lights in the office reflected off his black and chrome aviators, doing their damnedest to make him look like an eighties action star. An unlit cigarette was stuck between his teeth, moving up and down as he moved his jaw, and a heavy wooden beam in his right hand, resting on his shoulder. His posture was loose and casual, as if he had no worries in the world, no concerns over what might happen to him.

"The fuck do you want?" Tsukiko stood straight.

"No jacket?" The leader asked. "What gives? You finally hang it up?"

Tsukiko stopped before them, standing straight, but only wearing three-fifths of a complete Knight's uniform. Her jacket and hat had stayed behind in one of Aurelia's doors, not yet returned or retrieved. Her crimson button-up had before served as an undershirt for her jacket, but now it was on proud display, its vibrant color overpowering. Her hair swayed, as it always had, but now it was freer than it had been before. Her body felt lighter as the weight of the jacket had been all but lifted.

"Needed a new look." Tsuki glared. "You looking for me?"

"We're just here to let you know the boss is bein' serious." The leader declared with a slight accent. "No bluffs."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

"Tell your boss I don't give a shit." Tsukiko declared with a powerful glare. "If he wants me that bad, tell 'em to come get me himself."

The leader of the teens stepped forward with a chuckle. "Last I heard, he almost killed you. Didn't take him much effort either."

Tsuki didn't say anything.

"C'mon, it wouldn't take much effort for me to bash your brains in, would it?" The leader played with the wooden beam in his hands. "If he could do it..."

"If you're going to hit me, don't make it a cheap shot." Tsukiko smirked, her hands tightening into a fist. "Gimme a fair fight."

"Fumiko's in there, isn't she?" The leader stared. "C'mon, you can't hide her away forever. Wherever you take her, we'll find 'er."

"'Course she is, you stupid fuck." Tsukiko let her anger take over. "You think you scare me, you little shit?"

With a slow, winding movement, the leader of the group readied his wooden plank. His men readied themselves as well, though they moved back to let their boss prove himself against the Third Knight Himura.

"Don't hold back." The leader said with a toothy smile.

Tsukiko raised her fists.

An overhead swing aimed square at Tsukiko's head came flying in, the wooden plank making a whistling sound as it forced its way through the air. It came crashing down onto the carpet and Tsuki backed away, her back against the door to Fumi's office. A big smile stretched across the leader's face as she gave him the exact reaction he'd wanted out of her.

He raised the wooden beam once again, and let out another forceful swing. Tsuki moved out of the way and the beam flew past her, leaving a sizable dent in the door. Unable to react in time, the man took a kick in the gut and a punch to the face.

Before their leader could hit the ground, another man had already charged toward Tsukiko. He came at her with a pipe over his head, but in a swift motion, Tsuki brought her heel up to the man's chest, kicking with enough force to send him flying. His body tumbled back into a cubicle behind him, all of its walls collapsing like a stack of cards.

As she turned, a third man knocked her down with a tackle, taking down a table and chairs with him. Tsuki could hardly react before he was taking blow after blow. She raised her arms, bracing for a relentless attack.

A loud slam came from the far end of the office, then a shout.

"Oi!" Haruka's voice called out. "Fuckers!"

Tsuki's attacker hesitated for just a moment, giving Tsuki just enough time to punch him and toss him aside. As she pushed herself back up, he tried to hold her down. Struggling with the man, Tsuki fell back, then reached over and grabbed a potted plant, smashing it over his head.

"You alright? Tsuki?" Haruka's voice tore through the noise. "You were gettin' hit hard there!"

"I'm fine!" Tsuki shouted back at her sister. "Try not to make a mess!"

Haruka smiled with white shark teeth. "Too late for that!"

Haruka's voice was enough to bring Tsukiko's strength back, her single opponent laid motionless on the ground. Between her and her older sister were knocked over cubicles, strewn papers, scattered office supplies, and damaged computers.

Tsukiko stumbled over the mess to find the leader of the group laying on his back, her sister's boot planted upon his chest, just under his neck. One hand was wrapped around her ankle, trying to pull her off in vain.

"What were you doing here, huh?" Haruka leaned forward, putting more weight on her leg. "Why're you fucking with my sister?"

He raised his other hand to attack her, but Haru's free leg stomped on it, crushing his fingers. The man below her could only yelp in pain.

"Haru--" Tsuki reached out.

"Talk." Haruka ground her boot into his hand.

"Haru!" Tsuki shouted. "You don't need to do that."

Haruka turned to Tsuki. "What're you talking about?"

Behind them, the door to Fumiko's office cracked open, just quiet enough for neither of them to notice. They didn't realize she'd come out till she finally spoke.

"Oh my god... It's like a bomb went off in here." Fumiko let out a defeated sigh.

"Fumi?" Tsuki turned to her. "Sorry, I tried my best to--"

"It's okay, I'm not mad at you." Fumi turned to Haruka and the man she'd detained. "...I'm mad at these dip shits."

Haruka spoke to Fumi, but didn't take her gaze off her target. "What happened?"

Tsukiko answered for her. "Masahiro threatened Fumi over the phone. Said he'd hurt her if I kept looking for him, then these kids came in."

"What a bitch." Haruka crushed one of the man's fingers under her boot. "Hey, tell your boss I'll fuckin' kill him if he lays a finger on my family."

The man could only yelp in pain.

"Let him go." Tsuki said.

"...why?"

"You think he's gonna tell you anything important?" Tsuki asked her. "If Masahiro really wanted to get rid of me, he wouldn't have sent a couple kids with pipes."

Haruka lifted her leg. "Go on then. Get the hell outta here."

Grasping his injured hand, the leader of the group ran out of the office, leaving his entourage behind.

"You're not gonna hand 'em over to the cops?" Fumi asked.

"What good's that gonna do?" Haruka sighed. "They'll just end up like Sylvie."

"...good point." Fumi admitted.

"...or they'll just end up on the streets again." Haruka muttered. "Like Masahiro."

"...I'm gonna find that son of a bitch and beat him to a pulp." Tsukiko spoke through grit teeth.

"Hey, you don't need to act so tough all the time." Fumiko put an arm around Tsuki.

"If you're still hurtin', rest." Haruka urged her.

"I'll just walk it off and I'll be good as new." Tsukiko reassured her the best she could.

"It's no use going out and fightin' while you're still sore, you'll just make mistakes." Haruka looked her in the eye.

"I'll be alright, promise." Tsukiko promised her with a slight smile. "Sorry."

"Well, for now, we've gotta get down to Aurelia's place." Haruka redirected the conversation.

"Right now?" Fumiko asked.

"Cancel any plans you've got, Fumi, this is serious." Haruka told her.

"...alright." Fumi frowned.

"No way am I lettin' these jack asses hurt you." Haruka stepped closer to her sister. "You too, Tsuki. I'm not letting those bastards hurt you again. Either of you."