Summer had taken its toll on the Damascenes. The fans hanging on the ceiling of their abandoned warehouse were at full speed. Some of them shook violently, as if their blades would fly off at any moment.

Tsukiko stared up at one of them as it seemed to move from side to side. It teetered away, inches from breaking away from the scaffolding holding it in place.

"God, can't you find a better place?" Haruka complained.

"This is the only place with electricity." Sylvie replied.

"Times like this, I wish I had shorter hair." Shizuka frowned, adjusting her hat.

"You'll be fine, quit whining." Sylvie brushed the comment aside.

"We really couldn't meet up anywhere else? Aurelia's shop, Tsuki's place, Shizuka's? Fucking anywhere but here?" Haruka groaned.

"We spend too much time at Aurelia's. Tsuki's place is weird, and Shizuka's place creeps me out." Sylvie looked up toward a large window. "Besides, I'm proud of this place."

"My place is weird?" Tsuki asked.

"Who still listens to records? Also, bunk beds? You two had a bunk bed?" Sylvie walked around, pointing at the group as she criticized them.

"Listening to old records is a Himura family tradition... but really? Records are too out of date for you? Shizuka's still got a PC-98 buried in her house somewhere." Haruka's voice grew more and more annoyed.

"Don't drag me into this." Shizuka complained.

"What's creepy about her place anyways? It's just a house." Tsuki grew more and more upset.

"Okay, so what's the real reason you brought us here?" Shizuka cut in.

"I... well... I, uhhh, think the Shakudos are coming here." Sylvie admitted.

"Really?" Tsuki made her right hand into a fist.

"Well, I'm not too sure, but I thought I'd rather be safe than sorry." Sylvie shrugged.

"Couldn't have told us?"

"I dunno, I didn't wanna piss you guys off."

"I'm already pissed off, it's hot as hell!" Haruka fanned her face with her hand.

"I don't know why these idiots are still wearing their masks. I would've taken mine off hours ago." Shizuka pointed to the leftover Damascenes.

They were all drenched in sweat, but they stood strong. Well, at least most of them did. A few of them stuck their fingers under their masks to lift them up to let air flow underneath.

"These guys must hate you, Sylvie." Haruka laughed.

"They... actually insisted on staying." Sylvie seemed to doubt her own words.

"Sure they did." Haruka spoke with a deep sarcasm.

"Whatever." Sylvie rolled her eyes. "Just be ready for anything."

"You'll owe us one." Shizuka smiled.

"I dunno, what do you--"

"Something cool and refreshing." Haruka smiled with razor sharp teeth.

"I'm not buying you liquor." Sylvie sighed.

"You hurt me, Fontaine, you really do." Haruka chuckled.

"I'll get you guys something from a vending machine." Sylvie pulled out her wallet.

"Convenience store." Shizuka countered.

"Fine." Sylvie grit her teeth.

"Yes... hehehehehe..." Shizuka chuckled to herself.

"I guess we gotta wait now, right?" Haruka started stretching her arms.

"Unfortunately." Sylvie sighed.

"Well, at least we know it's coming. The Damascenes ready?" Tsuki asked.

"Yeah, yeah, Etsuko was the one who told me."

"That's good, we'll have some back up this time." Tsuki nodded.

Suddenly, a loud banging came from the large metal door closest to them.

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"Damnit, I was hoping it wasn't happening this early." Sylvie approached the door.

"Do we attack first, or wait?" Tsuki asked.

Sylvie turned around and shouted. "You know the drill! Don't attack first!"

The Damascenes cheered as they approached the massive metal doors.

"Help me with this, Haruka." Sylvie tugged on one end of the door.

Haruka approached to help force the door open.

Tsukiko walked outside, and before her stood Morgan and at least two dozen Shakudos. Shizuka walked up beside her, and the Damascenes piled up behind them.

"You ran away last time." Morgan shouted.

"You ran away when I found your old office hideout, so I think we're even." Tsuki stared him down.

"Then let's make it a fair fight, alright?" Morgan laughed.

"Alright then!" Tsuki shouted back as she cracked her knuckles.

The white masks and black masks watched each other intently. Sylvie ran to the front of the pack to lead her gang. They waited for the Shakudos to make the first move.

"This looks like it's gonna be an all-out brawl." Morgan laughed.

"What's your deal?" Tsuki narrowed her eyes.

"Can't a man have a little fun?" Morgan stepped forward, the Shakudos watching his every move.

Tsukiko stepped forward as well. "This your idea of fun?"

"Yeah." Morgan laughed again.

"What's so fucking funny?" Tsuki hissed.

The leader of the Shakudos raised his fists. "Let's dance!"

Morgan threw the first punch and the rest of the Shakudos ran forward, like a black wave. The Damascenes and Shakudos ran toward each other. Morgan and the Third Knight fought in the center, surrounded by a brutal gang war.

Men and women, left and right shouted like soldiers running into war. Though outnumbered, the Damascenes fought valiantly. They managed push the Shakudos back.

Left and right, the black masks fell, one by one. Sylvie shouted orders and helped her own, keeping morale up and keeping her gang strong. Haruka and Shizuka defeated what felt like hundreds of rather weak foes.

Once again, Morgan and Tsukiko were locked in a stalemate. Neither of them could focus on the battle going on around them. Tsuki still felt the pain of their last bout, not having had enough time to recover. Morgan tossed aside his robes, revealing a rather thin body, covered in red and blue bruises.

Morgan stood across from Tsukiko, motioning for her to come closer. Tsuki squeezed her fists tighter. Just then, Flowers dove in from the fight around them and hit Morgan square in the jaw.

"Take that, you weird fuck!" Flowers shouted.

Morgan almost fell over from the force of the hit. Flowers nearly fell over from putting all her weight into one punch. The Silver Masked man rubbed his jaw, before striking Flowers in the throat. The tan girl grasped her neck, coughing and choking. For a moment, Tsuki forgot about her fight, running to check up on Flowers.

Flowers was unable to speak, only raising a thumbs up to confirm that she was okay. By the time Tsukiko looked back, Morgan had disappeared. The fighting went on without him, as if he had left all his men behind to finish the job themselves.

Though most of them had fallen, a few stubborn Shakudos stayed behind, fighting to the bitter end. Tsuki scanned around, and she couldn't find Morgan anywhere. It was as if he had vanished.

Just then, Haruka broke off into a sprint into one of the side alleys, without telling anyone else. Tsuki ran off after her, down the same alley. It was dark, but bright at the very end. She could see a cloaked shadow at the end, as well as her sister's shadow.

By the time Tsuki was near the end of the tunnel, Haruka had already engaged with the figure. Haruka had raised her fists, ready to fight.

It wasn't Morgan, though. It was someone in a golden mask. Still, Haruka seemed prepared to beat them down.

"Where do you think you're going?" The person under the mask hid their hands.

"I could ask you the same." Haruka stared.

"Leave us be." The figure demanded.

"Why should I?"

Morgan had backed into a corner, with this one single robed Shakudo still defending him.

"Back away, Knight." Morgan demanded.

"You think I'm scared of you?" Haruka smirked.

"I know you aren't." Morgan hissed.

"Back off, lady! Get away from the boss!" The other figure shouted.

Tsuki stepped from behind the alley to be alongside her sister. The figure suddenly shoved Haruka, giving Morgan just enough time to escape. Haru tried to chase him, but the figure blocked the way out.

"Outta the way!" Haruka warned him.

"No, the boss ain't ready yet!"

"Ready?" Tsuki asked.

"Tough shit!" Haruka moved forward for a punch.

The figure's hands suddenly jumped out from their cloak. Time stopped. Tsuki watched as both Haruka and the Shakudo stopped. They remained motionless for what was a second, but felt like an eternity. Haruka's body obscured what was happening.

At first, there was a yelp of pain, then the sound of a body falling to the ground. Tsukiko froze as she realized what happened, and as the blade turned toward her. It felt as if all of the energy and momentum she had had left her.

All the experience Tsuki had gained, all the confidence she had earned was gone at that moment. Once again, she was in an alleyway, watching someone she loved fall to the ground, covered in their own blood.

She didn't feel like running, or even breathing. Her wide eyes stared at the figure with the knife, who seemed just as scared as she was.

The figure turned and ran, and Tsuki fell to her knees to help her sister. The others were still fighting, so the two of them were stuck, alone. Haruka sat up against a wall, holding her stomach.

"Fuck, that really stings..." Haruka struggled to breathe.

"Oh my god." Tsuki could barely choke out words.

"H-hey, are you alright?" Haru turned to her sister.

The sight of the blood made Tsuki sick to her stomach. "W-w-what should I do?"

"It's just a scratch!" Haruka said as she winced in pain.

"You're bleeding!" Tsuki panicked.

"Yeah, I am... That's usually what happens." Haruka grit her teeth.

"Oh, uhh..." Tsuki panicked as she searched her pockets. "I-I'll call an ambulance!"

"It's... just a scratch, seriously."

"You're hurt!"

"Y-you're letting him get away, y'know." Haruka groaned.

"I-It's gonna be okay." Tsuki muttered as she dialed the emergency number.

"Huh?"

"It's gonna be okay, don't worry, I won't leave you." Tsuki spoke in desperation.

"Of course it's gonna be okay! I'm fine!" Haruka shouted.