"Izanami. I'd say your new name suits you well." Morgan joked. "Sent straight to hell and now you've gotta drag yourself back out."

"Nah, it's--" Tsukiko paused, remembering her return from the construction site. "...I don't get a say in this."

"Maybe." Morgan said. "Maybe not."

"What does Ishikawa see in you, anyway?" The old Chief turned to her and asked. "Why is he so afraid of you?"

Tsuki didn't have an answer for him.

"Is it really fear? He seems pretty pissed off to me." Etsuko scratched her head.

"He could've gotten rid of all of the Knights at once, but he only targeted you." The old Chief stopped himself. "You've probably talked this over with Shimizu before, huh?"

"Lotta talk, no progress." Tsuki admitted.

"Go for the head, I guess." Morgan groaned. "No matter how you cut it, Ishikawa's a coward, just like the rest of his ilk."

The old Chief didn't seem too pleased.

"Would taking down Tsukiko even stop the Knights? You've still got Haru and Shizuka." Etsuko asked.

"It's all bureaucrat bullshit. A big win for the cops. A nice picture to put on TV." Morgan's fingers tapped on the table. "It's all a convenient excuse for abuses of power. They shut down all of Tokyo for a night just to look for Tsukiko, you don't think he'll push for something like that again?"

"Not with all the protests." The old Chief chimed in.

"Yeah, the protests he sent riot police to break up." Morgan glared. "And the excuse? It's all Themis's fault. The same gang he's had his fingers in since the beginning."

"...putting it like that makes it all seem kinda hopeless, doesn't it?" The old Chief sighed.

"That hopelessness is what I'm banking on." Morgan smiled. "Ishikawa screwed himself over the moment he made this a public spectacle. He couldn't help himself."

"Right." Etsuko nodded. "You mentioned that the other day."

"Tsuki." Morgan turned to the now former Knight. "All eyes are on you right now. Whether you like it or not, everyone's talking about you. Look online or out in the streets."

"And?"

"It's your chance to make things right. You can prove your innocence and expose that bastard for who he really is." Morgan looked her in the eye. "And you're going to take over the Damascenes to do it."

Tsukiko cocked her head. "What?"

"...you're gonna take over the Damascenes." Etsuko repeated.

"Why the hell would I do that?" Tsukiko made a strange face.

"The gang could use a strong leader--"

Tsukiko didn't let Etsuko finish. "That's none of my business. That's Sylvie's gang."

"Sylvie ain't here."

"Then Flowers." Tsukiko scoffed. "Didn't you say she needed this?"

"You'd be one hell of a morale boost for them." Morgan suggested. "They need somebody like you."

"Don't you start." Tsukiko hissed. "Like anything you ever did was good for the Damascenes."

"Hey. Just cuz I apologized doesn't mean I'm gonna let you walk all over me." Morgan defended himself. "You tell me to move on, then you're coming right with me. What happened, happened."

Tsuki took a deep breath. "Is this really the best you could come up with?"

"Yeah." The old Chief confirmed with a nod. "If Ishikawa really is working with Themis, then you're going to need their help."

Tsuki made her choice known "I won't do it.".

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to."

Etsuko sat up in her chair. "Don't get all stubborn."

"I'm not being stubborn, I'm being honest." Tsukiko didn't waver.

"You need them as much as they'd need you." Etsuko tried to reason with her.

Tsuki's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Even you can't–"

Etsuko stopped herself. The sound of shouting and screaming from outside came muffled through the door. Despite her better judgment, Tsukiko jumped to her feet. Morgan followed as Tsuki stepped toward the restaurant's entrance.

"Hey." The old Chief called out. "What do you think you're doin'?"

Tsukiko grabbed the door's handle, but stopped herself.

"You run out there--" The old Chief didn't get to finish.

"I know." Tsukiko barked.

She pushed the door open slowly, then looked out to the alley. A small crowd chased after a lone girl, a familiar hat on her head.

"Merlin?" Tsuki closed the door again.

"You gonna run after 'em?" Etsuko asked.

"I'd better..." Tsuki's voice trailed off.

"Tsuki."

Tsukiko stopped and turned. "What?"

The old Chief cautioned her. "Make sure no one sees you."

"Huh?"

"If it really is Merlin, then you should be fine." The old Chief smiled. "She's a good girl, honest."

Tsuki paused. "...Yeah, I know."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Once again, Tsukiko pushed the door open and then stepped outside. She looked around the alley to make sure it was empty before she put her head down and started to move. She broke into a sprint after the screaming and shouting of Merlin's pursuers through the backstreets.

Eventually, the shouts stopped moving and grew louder. Tsukiko turned the corner and found a shocking scene. There were scattered unconscious bodies all around the alley, the few of them still awake struggling to catch their breath.

Merlin was backed against the wall, three tall men standing over her and preventing her escape. The men threatening her sported red marks and bruises, and their chests heaved. Merlin, on the other hand, seemed immaculate, save for a missing cape.

"Gotcha now." One of them huffed as he approached. "You've been causing a lot of people a lot of trouble lately."

"Step back." Merlin stared up at them. "Or you'll regret it."

"Enough runnin' around. You got lucky once, ya fuckin' brat." Another one of them spit. "But it looks like your luck's finally run out."

Merlin took a deep breath. "Last chance."

"Quit yer fuckin" yappin'. We're gonna give you the beating mommy and daddy should've given you a long time ago." The third man growled.

The three of them didn't hear Tsukiko approach. Just as the man in the middle was about to reach out to grab Merlin, just as the Magicienne moved to attack and break free from her would-be captors, Tsuki grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back.

"What the--" He couldn't finish.

The last thing the man saw was Tsukiko's glaring red eyes, as her black leatherine gloved fist rapidly closed the gap between itself and the side of his face. The man's head recoiled as Tsuki's knuckles pushed into his jaw.

Knocked unconscious, the man could only slowly topple toward Merlin. Quickly, the Musketeer held out her large blue umbrella and opened it. When the man hit its canopy, he limply slid off of it like a raindrop and crashed into the asphalt.

A second man closed in on Tsukiko with his arm pulled back for a haymaker punch. Tsuki responded with her own fist. As her knuckles pushed into his cheek, she could see his face bend and contort in slow motion.

Tsukiko then turned to meet the third man, who'd already gotten close. He reached out and grabbed her left arm in a desperate bid to restrain her.

As Tsuki tried to fight back, Merlin lunged forward. Her body moved like a spring as she leapt high into the air and landed on the man's shoulders, his head between her knees. The man stumbled and swung his arms to try to get Merlin off of him.

Tsukiko took this new opportunity to punch the man in the gut. His body reflexively bent forward, and Merlin hopped off his shoulders and back onto the ground. She watched as Tsukiko once again brought another enemy down with a right hook.

"How feeble." Merlin muttered to herself as she kneeled down next to one of the unconscious men. "I told them they'd regret it."

"Hey." Tsukiko called out. "I saved your ass there."

"I would've been fine without your help, don't worry too much about me." Merlin spoke proudly.

"Like hell you would've." Tsuki countered.

"I-I didn't mean it like that. I'm not trying to brag." Merlin shook her head. "...thanks for helping, Tsuki."

"Eh?"

Merlin looked away. "You're Tsukiko, aren't you? Himura Tsukiko."

"Asuka's such an idiot..." Tsuki sighed. "Yeah."

"I... almost didn't recognize you without your jacket." Merlin made a strange sound.

Tsukiko pointed out the key word. "Almost."

"Left it behind?" Merlin's voice swung down as she asked.

"Yeah." Tsukiko confirmed.

Merlin started pacing around, umbrella in hand. "Well, at least it seems our mutual debt has finally been repaid."

"Guess so." Tsuki watched Merlin slowly pace around her.

Merlin's eyes kept forward and her mouth quiet.

"You're not coming after me next, are you?" Tsukiko stared back. "I'm not afraid of hitting you, even if you're a kid."

"No." Merlin shook her head. "I am not your enemy."

"Good." Tsuki glared.

One of the men stirred, eventually regaining consciousness and sitting up. A single glare from both Tsukiko and Merlin convinced him to back away slowly.

"Who were those guys?" Tsuki asked.

"Gang members." Merlin answered bluntly. "Trying to get revenge for their leader."

"Themis."

"Right." Merlin confirmed with a nod.

"Who are you?" Tsukiko asked. "I mean, like, what does a Magicienne Musketeer even do?"

Merlin looked Tsukiko in the eye, then smirked. "A Magicienne Musketeer is... a seeker. A seeker of all of the extraordinary in the ordinary."

"...what's that supposed to mean?" Tsuki raised an eyebrow.

Merlin put her hand on her hip. "My goal is to protect the dreams of the innocent from those who would do anything in their power to rob them of their joy and hope."

"Is that right?"

Merlin turned to her. "Don't you think it's beautiful? All the people in this city who have their own hopes and dreams? Everyone should be free to choose their own destiny. It's the most extraordinary thing in the world."

"I guess so." Tsuki replied.

Merlin lowered her head. "A Musketeer is... not that different from a Knight."

"Y'know…" Tsukiko hesitated to speak at first. "Someone... close to me said something similar once. Told me there'd be people just like me and her all over the city. We all have people who're important to us."

"It's okay to be selfish sometimes." Merlin declared out of the blue.

"Huh?"

"I am a Magicienne Musketeer because it allows me to fight for something I believe in. It was the task I was given, to do everything in my power to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, that spark of life in the mundane." Merlin paused. "That is not justice. I have never used the word 'justice' to describe my deeds. I just don't think it's right for anyone to stifle or oppress the dreams of the innocent."

"...is there really a difference?" Tsukiko asked.

"Hmm?"

"Nevermind." Tsuki looked up at the skyscrapers above. "I feel like I'm being tugged a million different ways at once. All of this. It's not worth the effort. Not when you're putting your own neck on the line all the time and you haven't gotten a damn thing to show for it."

"But you're a Knight..." Merlin's voice wavered ever so slightly.

"I didn't really choose to be a Knight. I kept doing it cuz it felt right, but sometimes... It feels like it's the only thing I know."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Everyone around me is moving on with their lives and I'm stuck here. Where does it all end?"

"Why does it have to end?"

"Because either I stop now and end up in jail or I keep going and I end up worse." Tsukiko didn't sweeten her words. "But that's all I'm known for. Being a Knight. People paraded me around like I'm some hero when I'm just... doing what I feel like I have to do."

"How is that not what a hero does?" Merlin pleaded with her.

"Heroes only exist in books and movies. They're not real." Tsukiko hissed. "Everyone's playing pretend at my expense. It's not who I am. Not who I wanna be."

"Why not?"

"What don't you get?" Tsuki snapped back. "I live in the real world, not some anime or manga or something. I'm not going to pretend I'm someone I'm not."

"What's wrong with pretending?" Merlin asked her. "If people really think you're a hero, why not be a hero? Why not pretend?"

Tsukiko looked at Merlin for a good long while. "Saying this to... you... feels kinda stupid, doesn't it?"

"I'm a Magicienne Musketeer. Call it pretend, but here I am. Right in front of you. I'm real." Merlin laughed a little. "Pretending is just another kind of dream, isn't it? I want to protect your dream."

"You really do sound the part." Tsukiko let out a sigh.

"What do you want to do?" Merlin asked. "What's your dream?"

Tsukiko took a long time to think. She thought about giving Merlin some sort of funny answer, some snarky comment to try to somehow win the discussion. The weight of the situation turned her thoughts to the serious. For ages there'd been something stuck in the back of her head, a part of her she'd always tried to repress, but its voice returned to her, ringing like a bell.

"...goddamnit." Tsukiko muttered to herself.

"What's wrong?"

"God. Damnit." Tsukiko said it again. "Fuck."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Better than fine, actually." Tsuki started walking. "I've got somewhere I need to be."

"Are you sure?" Merlin cocked her head like a confused dog.

"Positive."