"You wanted to see me?" I ask upon returning to the office.

"Indeed." replies Hisao.

Honestly, I can assume what this is about, and I'm quite nervous.

"You know why you were called here, no?" says Katsumi.

"It's about my fighting prowess. And...whether I'm qualified to be here."

"Correct." Hisao confirms. "But first, could you please reiterate the purpose of both the Kyusen and its separate divisions?"

"Again?"

...

"Fine."

I take a deep breath to calm myself.

"The original purpose of the Kyusen was to act as an independent governing power for all continents of Orageru when all civilizations during the Fifth Age were being established. It acted as both a military force strong enough to prevent a developing civilization from being attacked by other countries while also acting as a buffer between cultures. However, as the concern of the Kyusen's power going unchecked rose, all the continents' nations unanimously agreed that the Kyusen no longer directly participate in a civilization's internal issues. But, to make sure that no continent or culture would create chaos amongst other nations, the Kyusen was still allowed to persist. And to make sure that the Kyusen's power wouldn't get out of hand, it was divided into five separate divisions, one for each continent, each with their own unique purposes."

"Our division is the Keisetsu, the military branch of the Kyusen stationed on the continent of Angelia. As the brawn of the Kyusen, we are tasked with the role of mercenaries, bodyguards, and assassins. The members of our division focus almost entirely on combat, and the rumors about the Keisetsu imply that a single member of the Keisetsu should be a one man army."

"The second division in question is Ange Gardien, residing on the artificial continent of Teconial. Unlike all the other divisions, this economic branch of the Kyusen is the only branch open to the public. The branch asks as both a training school and business for those wishing to be a part of almost any legal business. They specialize in shipping supplies, trading, and banking. It's the largest branch and is composed solely of individuals with little to no experience in any of the other branches' fields of expertise, save for Pri-Poda."

"Pri-Poda, hidden on the continent of Nakarein, is the branch responsible for excavation of artifacts of all previous ages. According to what you've told me, 95% of all history, technology, and previous knowledge of past ages were found through this branch. This branch is also responsible for the recreation of past discoveries as well as inventing new products based on what they've learned."

"El Escudo of the continent of Belgoraga focuses on intelligence gathering and retrieval missions. Specifically, they are responsible for gathering and sending otherwise classified information between the Kyusen branches and existing nations almost without fail. They also specialize in tracking, surveillance and, should the need arise, assassinations focusing more heavily on stealth than raw strength."

"Shade Pursuit, on the nearly all yokai populated continent of Obaken, has the important role of keeping all branches in check. To do this, each member of Shade Pursuit is required to train in the focuses of all the other branches in order to blend in with them to survey them and also provide necessary backup should something happen to one of the branches. It's considered mandatory for at least one member of Shade Pursuit to be among another branch's ranks."

"In order for anybody outside of the Kyusen to request aid from branches other than Ange Gardien, said individual or group must either have connections with that branch already or file for a business agreement through Ange Gardien."

I take a deep breath.

"And...I honestly believe that is everything."

Hisao quietly applauds.

"Bravo. You caught on quicker than a lot of other members."

I simply shrug at the comment, as I'm still concerned about why he asked this.

"And given your knowledge of the Kyusen," Hisao continues, "can you truly say that the Keisetsu is the one for you?"

(Oh...I see.)

Stolen novel; please report.

I remove my sheathed blade from my waist and show it to Hisao.

"Look closely at this blade. This once belonged to a feared warrior who, ironically, became my friend when we should have been enemies. The irony comes from a cruel twist of fate, where my arrogance and weakness led to a tragedy that I couldn't stop. I couldn't protect anything close to me, be it my home, family, or friends. Is the Keisetsu right for me? It HAS to be! All I've known is fighting, and without the Keisetsu's guidance, I will never get strong enough on my own to reach my goals!"

Hisao looks at me, his face alternating between delight and disappointment.

(His motives are understandable, but he once again confirmed his greatest flaw...)

Hisao lets out a sigh.

"Oren Tsurai, you show great potential, but..."

(BUT!?)

"Due to what little you've shown us..."

(OH NO!!)

My heart sinks.

(Father... Sueka... Hisashi... I've failed y...)

"We have chosen to give you a mission to prove yourself."

"What?" asks Katsumi.

"Que?" I exclaim.

Hisao begins to rummage through the piles of papers on his desk.

"I don't understand." I begin to say. "Aren't trainees not allowed to participate in missions?"

"I'm confused as well." Katsumi agrees.

"It was here somewhere..." says Hisao, tossing papers around.

As papers scatter around the room, I notice some of their contents. Bills. Mission descriptions. Request letters from other branches. One that lands in my hand is the current rankings of the fighters. The Keisetsu has three days a year, spaced out equally over four months, when Keisetsu members fight each other, and the averaged rank of the fighter of those three fights results in their respective rank for the upcoming year.

In descending order: Hisao, codename: "Hell's Kulshedra"; Crystal, codename: "Impenetrable Glacier"; Hiromu, codename(s): "Raging Pistol" and..."Mach 5 Granny"; Sigka, codname: "Sage Beast"; Mydrea, codename: "Phoenix", Yamiso, codename: "Darkness Angel", Katsumi, codename: "Winds of Fortune"; Claire, codename: "Seasonal Toxin"; Tamashi, codename: "Magma Buddha"; and Ripperu, codename: "Liquid Wrath". The only reason Ripperu is ranked last is the fact that she hasn't been around a year yet.

"HERE is it!" Hisao exclaims, taking a paper out of the pile.

Katsumi uses his wind subtone, "jet stream", to freely lift and move separate lightweight items in any direction of his choosing. In a mere instant, all the papers fly back onto Hisao's desk and form a clean, and possibly already organized, stack.

"You and Yamiso will be aiding Hiromu and Sigka with this bodyguard mission."

BATAN!

"I refuse!" yells Yamiso as he storms through the door. He still looks quite tired from our fight.

(Wait...was he outside the door the whole time?) I think.

I look outside the office door and see everyone else, Sueka included, looking at me with their ears to the other door to the office, then quickly improvising with random acts of "being busy" to cover up their actions.

"I don't have time for a mission that is already being handled!" Yamiso proclaims. I can tell he's tempted to swear, but Crystal is outside along with Seppe.

"Hisao," Katsumi jumps in. "I will have to agree with him. Oren may show promise, but to have him participate in a mission, let alone the one currently incomplete by our strongest duo, is foolish. Don't gamble an unpredictable piece."

"The mission requires all participants to act as bodyguards for medicine transporters." Hisao states, completely ignoring Katsumi. "Recently, following the bailing of prisoners who pleaded innocent to varying accusations made by the hospital firm, 'Wave Medicine', many of these offenders have been attacking shipments of medicine between its hospitals, mainly antitoxins. While 'Wave Medicine' isn't in need of this medicine immediately, the concern about these offenders' actions has caused them to ask for our assistance to stop these criminals. So, they've chosen to purchase antitoxins from other firms to purposely set up traps for these individuals while also attempting to get back the medicine they've lost."

"Alright, alright, we get it!" Yamiso retorts. "But I have to wait for deployment when Mydrea's location comes up!"

"You'll be guiding four acquaintances with the Keisetsu for this mission."

Tamashi then stops and simply replies, "Oh." Seems he realizes something the rest of us don't.

"And you'll be transferring the antitoxins from the main hospital in Noria to another hospital within the network in Pira Attis."

"BBBBBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" the girls squeal in unison. The rest of us guys cringe at the sound. It's surprising to see Crystal of all people this excited!

"Pira Attis!?" Ripperu gushes. "Diva-de is having a concert there tomorrow!"

Can't remember the last time Ripperu was this excited about any girl either.

"Diva-de?" Hisao ponders. "The electric tuneless idol?"

"Yes!" all the girls, save for Sueka, yell. Sueka simply replies with "Si!"

"We were hoping to ask for a reason to attend!" adds Claire. "And now I think we have one!"

"Having so many members off site isn't exactly..." begins Katsumi.

"We! Are! Going!" say the girls, with an ominous note in their voices.

(Tuneless?) I think.

"Ripperu," Hisashi retorts. "You know it's your shift for the next few days."

Quickly, Ripperu turns to Tamashi. "Wanna switch shifts?" she asks.

"I don't see why I..." Tamashi starts to say.

"You owe me for that food bill..." replies Claire threateningly.

"And you know Sueka needs to help repair the wall." Tamashi counters.

"What wall?" say Katsumi and I together.

Hisao sighs.

"Fine."

We all turn to Hisao.

"REALLY!?" everyone asks.

"Relax a little. But I expect you to work hard in the following days."

"You got it!" rejoins Ripperu.

"What about the...?" begins Tamashi.

"You take the shift. I'll fix the wall."

Truth be told, I forgot to mention. Windows aside, there isn't a normal entrance or exit to this building we use as a hideout. Said entrance is actually hidden in the nearby karaoke business adjacent to this place, with Keisetsu members taking shifts maintaining said business. Thanks to our connection to Pri-Poda, every Kyusen branch has early access to almost all the music excavated from previous ages, giving us good business for those who wish to try singing different songs. Since personal music devices, like CD players, have yet to be reinvented, karaoke is one of the only ways to listen and sing to existing music. Even when everyone can sing like an idol, nothing beats the fun of karaoke with songs that will continue to bring people back.

I look to Yamiso. Seems he is not quire sure about this "Diva-de".

"Actually," Hisao interjects. "I'd like to hear the world's top idol as well. I'll get to the wall later."

"Oh no, you don't!" counters Katsumi. "You've got LOTS of paperwork left to...!"

Hearing this, Hisao quickly turns to the pile of papers and...burns them instantly by blowing black flames! Katsumi then turns deathly pale with an expression of absolute fear.

"Problem solved." Hisao answers.

"H-h-h-hi-s-sao!?" stutters Katsumi.

"Yeah, what?"

"I-i-i-in th-th-that p-p-p-p-i-ile..."

"Yeah? What about it?"

"Y-y-you h-had a-a..."

"Hm?"

"A letter...from your wife!"

In an instant, everybody, save for Seppe, Sueka, and myself, all look as frightened as Katsumi does.

Yamiso grabs the mission description from my hands.

"I'll take the job!" he yells, panicking.

"Well, see you!" all the frightened girls say, leaving the room.

Yamiso grabs my hand. Hisao then begins to pick up the ashes of the papers, as if futilely trying to piece them back together.

"Well, we have no reason to stay around here!" Yamiso proclaims. "We've got a mission to finish!"

"Shouldn't we...?" I begin.

"If you think I'm going to stick around when all Hell breaks loose, you're insane!"

(Swearing even with Crystal nearby. This must be worse that I thought!)

As we leave the room with the door slowly closing behind us, I can hear Hisao's last words before the mission begins.

"DON'T LEAVE MMMMMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"