Tsukiko burst through the door and slammed it behind her, hoping that it'd break the cops' trail if she got in fast enough. Once she'd finally turned around, Tsuki was hit with enough whiplash to think she'd fallen for another one of Aurelia's doors.

Her eyes scanned the beige walls that surrounded her, all lit by old, warm overhead lights that produced more heat and sound than light. Intricate ink painted calligraphy and signatures from generations old celebrities lined the walls. From the few she could recognize, she at least knew she knew she was at least still in Japan.

Below the wall ornaments were low wooden tables, made of old lumber that'd gone dark over the years and hand built oak and wicker chairs and stools. The shop must've been pre-war at least, but judging by the condition of some of the furnishings, it may have been even older.

The second thing that assaulted Tsukiko's already stirred up mind was the smell. An absolutely overwhelming scent of searing beef and garlic made the air dense enough to cut. Judging by the state of the place, the smell'd probably seeped into the walls and furniture ages ago.

Tsuki turned to the kitchen and took a look at whoever was manning the place. The chef, younger than she'd expected, stood behind the counter and didn't look away from his knife to greet her.

Tsukiko started walking toward, from what she could see, the only occupied table in the restaurant. As she approached, one of the people sitting there raised their head, and Tsuki recognized them.

Tsukiko spoke first. "Chief."

"Siddown." The old chief ordered.

Tsuki stood. "What're you doing here?"

"He's with me." Etsuko was sitting at the other end of their table.

"Etsuko." Tsukiko's demeanor changed almost instantly. "It's been a while. Where've you been?"

Etsuko kept her answer short. "I've been out, hon."

"What do you mean, out?" Tsukiko chased an answer.

"Out. Livin' life." Etsuko explained. "I heard what happened with Sylvie and... well, I thought I'd keep a lookout."

"But Flowers's been looking for you for days." Tsuki replied.

"Flowers..." Etsuko paused. "The hell's she need me for?"

"Aren't you Sylvie's right hand?"

"Sylvie ain't got a right hand or anythin' like that." Etsuko's fingers tapped on the table. "It's more like... advisors."

"Well, go advise." Tsuki urged her.

Etsuko almost laughed. "It's not that easy."

"Why not?" Tsukiko pressed.

"Because Flowers needs this." Etsuko looked up at Tsuki. "Besides, I have my own life outside of all this too."

Tsukiko didn't say anything back.

"Tsuki, when we met, I was livin' out of a... tent by the river. You remember that, don't ya?" Etsuko lost her usual smile. "I got a job cuz of you and Lily. I'm here cuz of you and Lily. I've got my own place cuz of you and Lily."

"Me?"

"Yeah." Etsuko nodded. "When the Knights came back, people were a hell of a lot less willin' to mess with us down by the river."

Tsuki looked away for a second. "...I didn't do anything."

"Just you bein' there was enough. You and Haru and Shizuka." Etsuko sighed. "I can't go back to that. I got a job now, Tsuki. I'm talkin' to my family again, I got an apartment. I can't risk it all on... this."

Tsukiko lost her words. "...yeah."

"I was never much of a Damascene. I wasn't out there fightin' with Sylvie or sneakin' around with Flowers or--" Etsuko stopped herself. "I guess I'm just protectin' myself, y'know? I have to pick my battles."

"Yeah." Tsukiko let out a sigh. "You're right."

"Sorry, hon."

"It's alright." Tsuki put on a weak smile. "I'm glad you're in a better place now."

"Me too." Etsuko shot a glance over at the old Chief. "...it's better we just pull off the band-aid, right?"

"Yeah." The old Chief cleared his throat. "I really didn't wanna do this."

"What?" Tsuki stepped back.

"Don't worry about us." The old Chief shook his head, then turned to the corner of the restaurant. "Get up. You asked for this."

A person sitting in the corner, someone Tsukiko hadn't noticed, stood up and walked a few steps toward the group. It was a man wearing a hoodie, sneakers and jeans, the kind of clothes Tsuki would see on anyone.

Tsukiko watched the man carefully as he approached. His raised hood and hanging head left part of his identity obscured, with a hand hiding the rest.

"Hey. Tsukiko." He spoke. "How long's it been?"

"Who are you?" Tsuki stood up straight.

"...just trust me, okay?" The man said. "I'm here to help you."

"Who are you?" Tsuki repeated.

"I--" He didn't get to finish.

Tsukiko reached out and grabbed the man's wrist and she pulled his arm away from his face. He turned to her and Tsukiko recoiled, the man yanking his arm from her grasp and distancing himself from her.

"J-just wait a second!" The old Chief tried to calm her.

Just one look was all she needed. Tsuki looked at him and the world around her seemed to turn into a haze. Her body seemed weightless as she marched toward him, just about ready to kill him with her bare hands.

"Don't do anything stupid, alright?" The old Chief pleaded. "He's here to help, honest!"

Etsuko got to her feet and moved to block Tsuki from moving any further. "Listen to 'im."

Tsukiko grabbed Etsuko by the shoulder and shoved her to the side. Etsuko nearly fell over, just managing to catch herself at the table. Tsuki continued her advance.

Without another word, Tsukiko took a swing at Morgan, and he raised his chin to avoid it. She followed him with another punch, and then another. Morgan stumbled backward to get away from her, further and further until he bumped into another table and fell onto it on his back.

Morgan raised his leg to push Tsuki away, but she grabbed it and used the leverage to pin him down. Her fist came crashing down onto the table, Morgan twisting his upper body to save himself.

His other leg kicked at Tsuki's abdomen, pushing her back as he moved himself off the edge of the table, his body falling down to the tiled floor. Morgan ultimately escaped Tsukiko's grasp, but found himself backed up between two tables and trapped on the ground.

A high heeled boot came crashing toward his head and Morgan caught it just a few centimeters from his face. Tsuki's leg trembled with rage and power as he used both arms to keep his old adversary at bay. She pulled her leg back, freeing her boot from his grasp, then brought it back down. Morgan slipped away at the last second.

"Calm down, calm down!" Etsuko grabbed her arm and pleaded with her. "You're makin' a damn scene!"

Tsuki didn't even stop to look at her. "Get back here, fucker."

Completely and utterly overpowered, Morgan found himself hiding underneath a table. He had a big smile on his face, her raw anger and power bringing him a strange sort of pride. What he didn't realize was that the look on his face was what fueled her strength.

"Come out, you son of a bitch!" Tsuki yanked a chair away from under the table.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Hey!" The man behind the counter shouted.

Everyone stopped to look at him. His voice alone carried enough experience and authority to rend storm clouds.

"No fighting in the restaurant." The man continued. "Stop or take it outside."

None of them spoke up, not even to apologize. Tsuki just backed away from the table and Morgan crawled out from under the table, wiping the dust from his clothes.

"Saved my ass." Morgan muttered as he pulled himself up.

Tsukiko grabbed him by the collar. "I'm taking you outside."

"No, you're not." The old Chief stopped her. "You need a reminder? You take one step out there and you'll have a dozen riot cops on your ass before you can even give him a black eye."

Tsuki spoke through her teeth with emphasis behind each word. "Then why is he here?"

"Because he's going to help you." Etsuko replied.

"I don't want his help." Tsukiko glared. "Why isn't he stuck in some cell somewhere?"

Etsuko raised her voice. "Can you hear us out for just a goddamn second? Tsuki?"

Tsuki didn't say anything back.

"...I knew you were gonna get mad. I'm no fool." Etsuko's fist came down on the table, gently. "If I had any other ideas, I'd've done one of those instead."

Tsukiko's glare softened, just a bit. "Etsuko, you know it can't work."

"Put your grudge aside for just a second. Tsuki." Etsuko pleaded with her. "Please, hon."

Tsuki felt disturbed seeing this weak side of Etsuko. "...I have a lot of reasons to be mad at him."

"He ain't a monster." Etsuko countered.

The old Chief chimed in. "It's your call if you wanna do the usual Knights Himura ritual of wandering around town punching everyone you see."

"...lot better than you did." Tsuki defended herself.

The old Chief frowned. "Just... hear him out."

For a long, uncomfortable minute, Tsukiko stared at Morgan with narrowed eyes. She tried to figure out his angle, his reason for being there, his reason for offering his support. Even with the few days they'd known each other, Tsuki had learned to be weary of him.

"Why're you here?" Tsuki looked to Morgan for the truth. "Why?"

"To get in your head." Morgan said. "At least, that was Ishikawa's plan."

"...of course." Tsukiko gave Morgan the exact annoyed expression he wanted from her. "Is meeting me here also part of Ishikawa's plan?"

"Calm down, I'm on your side." Morgan raised his hand and waved it. "Always have been."

"Bullshit."

"You remember what I told you the last time we talked." Morgan lost his smirk.

Tsuki's anger blowed out of her in a sigh. '"Yeah. I remember."

"I don't want anything bad to happen to you or the others." Morgan assured her. "Everything I told you there was off the books. Ishikawa didn't know who or what I was. He just pulled some strings and thought I'd be some old enemy of yours. Don't prove him right."

"Christ." Tsuki shook her head.

"I'm responsible for everything that happened." Morgan told her. "I said it back then and I'll say it right now."

Tsukiko crossed her arms. "Just shut up. You don't get to apologize. It happened, live with it."

"I still feel better with it off my chest." Morgan smiled a little. "I gave it my best shot, if you don't think I'm being sincere--"

"It's not about whether I believe you or not." Tsukiko shook her head. "You're not on trial. Words aren't gonna win me over, especially after all this time."

"Let me have this." Morgan said. "I've been watching you for a couple days now, waiting for my chance."

"...have you been spying on me?"

Morgan waved away her concerns again. "Nah, just browsing Knights General."

"That damn site again?"

"You should really keep a closer eye on it." Morgan advised. "Your fans might be able to help you out."

"Fans?" Tsuki scoffed.

"What do you want me to call 'em?" Morgan asked.

"It just... feels weird having fans." Tsukiko went meek.

Morgan cracked a joke. "Shouldn't a hero like you have admirers?"

"I'm not--"

"Get out of your own head." Morgan scolded her. "No one cares if you like the attention or not. You don't have to prove anything to anyone."

"It's not like I can go around doing whatever I want." Tsuki tried to defend herself.

Morgan looked her in the eye. "Since when do you care?"

"Huh?"

"You didn't give a damn about what the Chief had to say back then. You didn't care about breaking the law or going to jail or any of that bullshit." Morgan continued. "You stomped through the city grabbing anyone who crossed your path and crushed them. You didn't find answers, you made answers."

Tsuki lost her words. She wanted to say something, something angry. She wanted to argue with him, but there was nothing coming out.

"If you want the truth, make the truth. Bring back the old Tsukiko." Morgan demanded. "You're in there. I can feel you. I know you. That jacket wasn't supposed to hold you back. It wasn't a beacon of hope, it was a warning."

Tsuki's hand balled into a fist on the table. "It never held me back."

"Then what is?" Morgan's words hit hard. "What're you scared of?"

"I'm not gonna run in and dig my own grave." Tsukiko stood her ground. "...I can't fuck this up."

Morgan went quiet. The others had turned to her, their eyes piercing her skin with tense expressions on their faces.

"You already fucked up. You fucked up the moment you started hesitating." Morgan stepped closer. "The Tsukiko I knew wouldn't listen to me. She'd've caved my damn head in for even questioning her."

Tsuki kept her cool. "The only reason you're sitting here is cuz I didn't."

"You tried." Morgan reminded her.

"He's... got a point." The old Chief spoke softly. "I've never seen you like this before."

"I've always had my doubts." Tsuki shook her head. "Even back then."

"Coulda fooled me." Morgan commanded her firmly. "Get mad already. If you're gonna dig a grave, dig two."

Morgan's expression seemed to sour in slow motion as he took a good look at Tsukiko. Despite her obvious anger and frustration, he saw no drive behind her glare, and his words seemed to fall on her deaf ears. Still, he watched her intently, spotting the embers of the woman he once fought flicker in the backs of her eyes.

"I'd rather just dig one." Tsuki stared back at him.

Their short, silent reunion was cut short by the door to the place swinging open, practically slamming on the wall. A single man in uniform charged in, several men in riot gear behind him, each of them armed with less-lethal weapons, presumably all to subdue Tsukiko at any cost.

The man at the lead brought a radio up to his mouth. "We've spotted Izanami, how do we proceed?"

Almost unintelligible electronic gibberish came out the other end of the radio.

"Hey, hey!" The Chef behind the counter called out. "Don't make a mess in here!"

"Izanami?" Morgan muttered under his breath.

The old Chief stood up from his chair and stood between the police officers and Tsukiko and barked out an order.

"Officers. Stand down." He spoke firmly.

"We won't do that, you have no authority." The lead officer replied. "Now move out of the way."

"I may not be on the force anymore, but you know to respect your seniors." The old Chief looked him in the eye. "Turn the walkie off."

"Sir."

"Turn it off. Please."

The lead officer hesitated at first, but did turn his radio off.

"Alright, it's off." He muttered. "I'll hear you out, but nothing more."

"Don't you have any respect?" The old Chief chastised him.

The lead officer stepped forward. "It's not about respect, sir."

"But you're willing to completely forget what the Knights have done for us? What Tsukiko's done for all of us?" The old Chief defended her.

The lead officer's demeanor softened. "I know all about the Knights... but it isn't my job to decide any of that. I have orders to arrest her on sight."

Morgan almost laughed.

"C'mon. You know damn well Miss Himura hasn't done anything wrong." The old Chief tensed up.

"I don't." The lead officer countered.

The old Chief continued. "Then you're willing to march her straight to jail knowing they're gonna put her away for nothing?"

The lead officer sighed.

The old Chief slowed down. "You know what's going to happen. There's no fair trial for someone like her."

The lead officer tried to push him aside.

The old Chief stopped him. "Do you really want to put her away?"

"I don't really have a choice." The lead officer stopped.

"Yes you do." The old Chief insisted.

The lead officer peeked over the old man's shoulder and took a long look at Tsukiko, then turned to his men. The riot police behind him had already lowered their weapons, giving their quiet approval of the situation. Their leader had apprehension on his face, but he too eventually gave in.

"This is a hell of a risk. For all of us." The lead officer spoke aloud.

"I'm the one ordering it. Not you." The old Chief declared. "They give you any trouble, you tell 'em."

The lead officer turned on his radio and spoke. "Izanami got away. Apologies for the silence, my radio seems to have lost its signal in the skirmish."

With that, the officer turned and started for the door, his riot cops filing out one by one before him.

"I will protect my men." The lead officer stared. "I will hold you up to that."

"Thank you." The old Chief sighed. "It's the least I can do for you. And for Miss Himura."

"Once." The lead officer didn't turn back to him to speak. "Just once."

"Right." The old Chief nodded.

The lead officer was the last one out, closing the door behind him.

"...Izanami?" Tsuki pondered aloud.

"Codename." Morgan explained. "Flowers. Morgan. Izanami?"

Tsukiko groaned. "Oh goddamnit."