(Man, I'm tired!) I think, stretching. (A mission where I nearly used all my rhime, followed by hours of singing. Wonder if Diva-de feels like this after every concert.)

I lie down on the roof tiles and look at the sky. Like in New Vegas, the sky is surprisingly clear, even with all the city lights, giving me a clear view of the stars. Nothing beats Terraz's night sky, but it's still beautiful.

Botan.

"Hello?" I say, looking to my left.

"Room for one more?" Yamiso asks, lifting the drink in his right hand.

"Have a seat."

As Yamiso walks over to me, he tosses the drink to me. A catch it and...

"COLD! COLD!"

Yamiso snickers.

After juggling it between my hands, I finally grasp it once it's warmed up a bit. I take a deep breath to stop my teeth from chattering.

"Had a run in with Crystal?" I ask.

"Who else?"

He sits down and opens his drink. He takes a sip, then turns to me.

"Mind if I swear?"

(Figures.)

Considering how long he's gone without swearing because of Crystal, I nod.

"About fucking time! Rhoken damn that bossy skank! What cunt died and made us her bitches? I'm a darkness tone, for fuck sake! I can't change something I've always done!"

And he says this all in English, much to my surprise.

"Truth be told, I didn't know you could speak fluent English."

"I don't speak English. I speak American. There's a difference."

...

The two of us burst out laughing. Nice to hear Yamiso laughing again. Guess swearing helped him relieve some of his stress.

I sit up, open my drink, take a sip, then look back at the sky. I look at Yamiso and see him knocking on the roof tiles.

"How the hell can you sleep on these things? I've used bondage gear more comfortable than this!"

"Do tell..."

For the first time, I see Yamiso blush.

"I-I mean... Fuck it! Nevermind."

"I don't mind if you swear, but please don't make everything awkward."

"Fine."

I look back up at the sky and raise my left hand towards the stars.

"Fascinating, isn't it?"

"Beautiful, yes, but I don't see what so fascinating. Not like we're under a different sky."

"Exactly. The same sky."

"Yeah, so?"

I close my hand, grasping at stars I'll never touch.

"When I lost my memories, I always wondered where I came from and who I left behind. But, no matter where these people are, we're still under the same sky. Even if I don't know where to look for them, I figured that, if I could get closer to the sky, I could get closer to a place I could reach those I love now and those long lost."

"Still doesn't make this roof any less comfortable."

"Can't argue, but I still like some time to myself."

"You ever sleep indoors in Terraz?"

"A little. But I have my reasons. I used to sleep with Sueka, as we didn't have a third bed."

"Seriously!? Then why'd you stop!? Damn, I can think of many guys who'd love to have your excuse."

"Ever sleep with a girl who can change into a cow at any moment? Last time that happened, I thought I was going to die. And don't get me started about mating season."

And Yamiso has a nosebleed.

"Pervert." I say.

"Damn straight."

The two of us chuckle and raise our drinks as a toast. We take a sip from our drinks.

"What's the occasion?" I ask.

Yamiso puts down his drink and lies down.

"I know we've never been on the best of terms, but you seem nicer than usual." I continue.

...

He reaches for the sky, like I did before.

"This might be the last time we can meet like this."

"Que?"

"Let me answer your question with a question. How did your mission go?"

I pause. I know what he's implying.

(Sure, the mission ended in success, but my performance was...lackluster.)

"I can take a hint." Yamiso says.

We remain silent.

"What now?" I ask.

"Vorn and company are reoccurring clients who know how the Keisetsu works. The dwarves were acting not only as protectees, but also your judge. It's up to Vorn to tell Hisao if you're qualified."

Yamiso takes another sip of his drink.

"Word of advice. Don't try to play the hero. You're just fucking yourself over, along with your partners."

"The whole reason I joined the Keisetsu is to get stronger so I can 'play the hero'."

"Darkness Drive: Animated Sins."

On the side of me opposite to Yamiso, one of his darkness clones prepares to punch me, but stops right before hitting my face, while Yamiso does the same on his side.

"Fast as you may be, you still can't fight and defend from all sides."

I pause to look at his clone.

"I don't remember you having this technique in New Vegas."

"If you've seen my hall, you'd understand. Animated sins and eclipse void are simply weaker versions of what happens when I use my hall. Not like I learn anything new."

His clone disappears with the snap of his finger.

"Still, don't try to show off. We have teams for a reason, damn it. We've all got our weaknesses."

"Then what's yours?"

"The same one every darkness tone has. Our rhime, including during syncing, allows for us to strengthen our muscles and bones to make us stronger offensively and defensively. However, we're not invincible, as it doesn't make us stronger than fire or animal tones, or more defensive than ice tones. Plus, our biggest flaw is our slow speed. I'm lucky that I can fly, but darkness tones are the second slowest tone type, only surpassing the ice tones."

"Honestly, you seem to keep up with me just fine."

"I have better hearing than most. Helps in my eclipse void. But I digressed. I know that you want to become strong. We all did. Trust me, we've all got our own burden that brought us together."

I stare point blank at Yamiso.

"Fine, I get it. Hisao and Katsumi, the oldest active members, joined because the Keisetsu acted as an open militia when they were younger. There was a war going on for territory, so their reason was fighting for the side they believed in. Hiromu joined to get money to originally support his wife and newborn daughter, but his reason to stay is to save more money for a theatre in honor of his dead family while also getting stronger to hunt down those responsible for the train accident that killed his family. From what I heard, it was a civil war, and he hasn't been the same since. You can say that his 'comedic' personality, which he only had because it made his daughter laugh, is all that's left after he snapped. Sigka joined to help Hiromu recover, as Hiromu helped Sigka receive an equal education. Claire wanted to study strong individuals, along with their tolerances to her spores, in order to create a 'natural, all-purpose' medicine, but she chose to stay because she loves Hiromu."

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"She does?"

"You haven't socialized with those two very much, but it's actually quite obvious. Pity Hiromu can't seem to move on."

...

"Anyway, Crystal told you her story. Though Yuri isn't a fighter, she joined because she wanted a place to feel accepted. A freak among freaks, as she once told us. Ripperu wanted to get money but quit her life of thievery. She also wanted to get stronger to prevent what happened in her last failed theft. Tamashi wanted to get stronger to beat Doryoko in boxing. And Mydrea..."

Yamiso tightens his grip on his drink.

"Whoa. Calm down."

He stops, then takes a deep breath.

"Sorry. Thanks."

Yamiso looks to me.

"Did you know Mydrea is Hisao's granddaughter?"

!!!

(They...seem nothing alike.)

"You never met him, but Mydrea also had an older brother in the Keisetsu. Her parents went missing looking for the Fire Face, Amaterasu, and the two kids stayed with their grandfather ever since. Her brother, Nonryo, became one of the strongest members we had, rivaling even Hisao. However, for reasons he never said, Nonryo left to look for Amaterasu, and hasn't returned since. Mydrea has always been attached to Nonryo and, when he left, she insisted that Hisao tell her where he went. Hisao said he would only tell her if she got strong enough to protect herself, as he didn't want to lose her like he did her parents. Since then, she's been focusing solely on attempting to be just as good, if not better, than her brother at being a Keisetsu member. Whether it's training, following orders, you name it, she's dedicated her entire being to becoming just like her brother."

Reflecting on her actions in Terraz, she consistently put her mission over her own feelings.

(Though I cannot forgive her for what she's done, I at least understand how she thinks.)

"And then there's me..." Yamiso continues.

I wait with curiousity.

"In a nutshell, I joined for revenge."

I put my free hand on Clarent.

"Seems...we're similar in that way." I say.

"Fuck no, we're aren't!"

"Whoa! Sorry!"

Yamiso takes a deep breath.

"Your reason for revenge stems from the fact that you were framed, and innocent victims were killed by one person. But my vengeance comes from generations of hatred. Decades ago, illusion tones drove my ancestors from their kingdom of Decalone, all because their faith justified our prosecution. Mainly, they thought they deserved a kingdom closer to the sky than anybody else, as it would make them look superior and allow them to literally look down on all other tone types."

...

"However, around 8 years ago, my parents and other adults of my village went to reclaim our homeland. While the few who returned, led by our strongest figures, Besuro and Byaku, stated that they drove the illusion tones back, the Illusion Face, Nūr, managed to escape. My parents died in vain. My reason for joining...was to get strong enough to take on Nūr. Basically, I desired the power to kill one of the Nine..."

I watch him closely.

(But what if I'm an illusion tone? Why be so nice to me?)

"However, my reason for staying was Mydrea."

"Huh?"

"With her own goal in mind, we ended up sparring partners and, after a while, I fell for her hard."

He starts to breathe heavily.

"Those tiny tits... Tight ass... Oh, I loved it when she stepped on me! The sweet pain, coupled with her aggressive ways! Damn, I found heaven in volcanic flames!"

"Honestly, I didn't peg you for a masochist."

"Word of advice. Life's a bitch. The real question is, will she raise you to be a sadist or a masochist?"

...

"Besides," he continues, "You're not one to talk. You're the yandere incest lover."

"Oh, shut it!"

The two of us pause, then burst into laughter.

"I don't know if my mind can be as dirty as yours, Yamiso."

"What can I say? It's every darkness tone's life goal to not die a virgin."

"Sounds simple enough."

"Oh hell no! It's anything but! The reason darkness tones rarely marry other darkness tones is the fact that we choose our partners based on our fetishes, and good luck finding a darkness tone marriage where both sides are satisfied. That's why we look for other tone types."

"So, you're into flat chests and aggressive personalities."

"And the fact that she steps on me sssooooo ggggoooooddddd....."

"Awkward."

"Can it. Anyway, if you can't stay, what's next for you? Your singing gift could make you an idol."

"I can't see myself in front of a large audience. Especially when I don't know everything I can do. I can breakdance and dance different flamenco styles, specifically tango, bulería, sevillanas, alegría, and fandango, but I doubt that's enough to pay for the bills for two people. I can't do Diva-de quality shows, that's for sure."

"Didn't know you could do all that."

"Yeah, well, I just don't feel confident enough doing them for a living. And it doesn't solve my 'protection' problem."

Yamiso gets up.

"You need confidence? Well then, let me give you some advice, darkness tone style! You want to tame that bitch called life? Then thrust hard through this skank whore! Plow right on through! Show that cunt you're in control! Control that pussy, and you'll show the world that you got your shit in gear!"

...

(Ay caramba... The pelvic thrusting wasn't necessary...)

!!

Yamiso stops...thrusting.

"Is something..."

"Hush!"

!

The two of us look around.

(Okay...what are we looking for?) I think.

I look back at Yamiso. He's still listening for something. I close my eyes.

...

...

Za... Za...

"Two people..." Yamiso under his breath.

Zaza... Za... Zazaza...

(Focus...) I think.

Zazazazazazazazaza!

"Behind you!" Yamiso yells.

I spin and perform a kip up to get onto my feet...

Just to see a woman, dressed in black kunoichi clothing, ready to kick me in the face. I prepare to counter with a kick...

BATAN!!

But I'm not fast enough.

Kicked off the roof, I land head first on the grass of the hotel lawn. While continuing to skim across the ground, I regain my footing and slow down my momentum, drawing me to a halt. I look up to see Yamiso blocking a few fast kicks, sparks and electric rhime occasionally coming from her limbs.

(Wow! She's fast!) I think. (Possibly even faster than me!)

She performs a midair spin kick, knocking Yamiso off the roof towards me.

(Darkness Drive: Fallen Wings!)

Before he reaches the ground, Yamiso's wings slow his descent, allowing for him to glide to where I am. Upon landing, he brings out his darkness claws while I reach for my sword...

Just to see the kunoichi dash into the open window of...

"Hey, that's MY room!" I holler.

(Soul Conversion 3...BEAT!)

Yamiso flies in first, with me jumping up to my window after him. We look in to see the kunoichi opening and pushing over furniture at blinding speed.

BATAN! BATAN! BATAN! BATAN!

"HEY!" I shout.

The kunoichi turns in our direction.

I rush in and draw my sword, preparing to hit her with a downward vertical slash. I strike, but she disappears and reappears behind me, putting my sword arm into an arm lock. She looks to my sword, then immediately starts stabbing my arm with a barrage of attacks.

"Argh!!!" I yell out.

"No you don't, bitch!"

Yamiso rushes towards us, spinning his darkness claws, attempting to land a hit. And again, right before contact, she dashes away...

BATAN!

Causing Yamiso to hit me instead.

"Watch what you're doing!" I yell.

The kunoichi appears before me again, this time hitting my stomach with her knee repeatedly, I double over and fall, gasping for air. Yamiso slashes again, misses. I roll over to Yamiso, putting my back against his, and we wait.

(Soul Convers....)

The kunoichi appears before me, attempting to spin kick me in the face. This time, Yamiso and I duck and avoid the attack. Guess Yamiso's hearing does help after all.

We continue this dance. She attacks me, occasionally going for Clarent. And the two of us constantly fail to land a single blow on her. Slash after slash, nothing hits. The kunoichi continues her onslaught, dashing close to me to hit me, or simply stopping somewhere in the room, be it near the door, windows or even on the walls or ceiling, just to throw us off.

(Very few people are this fast.) Yamiso thinks.

(And how can she have enough rhime to do all this?) I think.

(Soul Conversion 5...BEAT!!!)

She appears right in front of me again, with electric rhime circling her hands. She attempts to hit me with a barrage of

attacks, but I block each one, matching her supernatural speed.

"Sorry, Oren!" Yamiso yells. "Darkness Drive: Eclipse Void!"

With that, the entire room is engulfed in darkness rhime, hindering my vision. I roll backwards, allowing Yamiso to move in. Though I cannot see anything, the sounds I hear imply that the kunoichi's movements are becoming far more random.

(Hold still, damn it!) Yamiso thinks as he attempts to close in on the girl.

Behind me. To my left. Above me. The sounds of the girl colliding with different parts of my room continue.

BIRI!

The sound of clothes ripping.

The girl lets out a high pitch scream.

Breathing heavily, Yamiso removes his eclipse void and darkness claws. I look behind me, as that is where Yamiso is looking, to see the kunoichi holding her bleeding left arm. She looks at me, then dashes forward. I jump back to the door.

(Soul Conv...)

BATAN!!!

And the door is slammed in my face...

"Main character! Prepare for your destiny!"

By Hiromu.

"Ripperu, was this really necessary?" I hear Sigka say. "And why are we b...?!?!"

Everyone I know looks at the kunoichi in silence, and she looks dumbfounded at Hiromu.

"You're not Oren." Hiromu says, quickly pulling out his guns. "YOU'RE FIRED!!!"

GA! GA! GA! GA!

Hiromu fires his guns, charged with electric rhime, at the intruder. Even in her wounded state, she easily dodges all the shots and jumps out the window.

"After her!" Yamiso yells.

"Who is that girl?" Ripperu asks.

"Aaaanoootttthhhheeeerrr ggggiiirrrllll iiiinnnn mmmyyy bbrrrooottthhheeeerrrr'ssss roooooommmm?!" I hear Sueka ask eerily.

Yamiso jumps out the window and activates his fallen wings. Hiromu quickly dashes over to the window, preparing to jump.

"Be careful!" I hear Claire plead.

"I don't need to be careful. I've got a gun!"

And with that he jumps down, and follows Yamiso and the girl at electric tone speed.

"Get Oren and inform him of..." Sigka begins, sniffing around. "Oh..."

She moves the door away from the wall...

And I fall face first onto the floor.

Soon after, all of us, save for Seppe and Yuri, leave the hotel, following Hiromu's trail with Sigka using the communication crystal to inform Katsumi of the event. Before long, we see the kunoichi attempting to dodge and block all of Hiromu's and Yamiso's attacks. She is starting to show signs of fatigue.

"Circle her!" Sigka yells.

We all circle her, taking defensive positions. She looks around, then stops when she sees me. I look at her, then at Sueka, who's starting to have a vengeful look in her eyes.

"Come quietly, and you won't be injured any further." Sigka proclaims, putting away the communication crystal.

She looks at Sigka, then back at me...

And sends electric rhime into her feet.

"Don't bet on it!" Sueka yells, throwing one of her new chuí at the girl...

"MY LADY!!!!"

Before it's stopped...by a pelican plant!?!?

(No! It can't be!?) I think.

In that instant, we are surrounded by countless numbers of pelican plants and their vines, big and small. Many of the pelican plants open up...and charge at all of us. For Hiromu and me, dodging these plants is easy, given our speed, but the sheer number of vines makes it nearly impossible to get to the girl.

(Where is he!?) I think as I look around for Togo-sama, the only person I remember who can create such plants.

I start slashing violently at the plants to clear a path. Yamiso and Sigka turn their hands into claws and do the same. Sueka recklessly smashes everything in sight with her chuí. Crystal instantly freezes many of the plants surrounding her, though only within a small radius to not accidentally harm us. Unfortunately, fighting these types of opponents is Claire's and Ripperu's strength, as they struggle to take down even a few plants with their spores and water respectively. In the end, the two get cornered and, with increasing quantities of the plants, even I begin to slow down.

Biri! Biri! Batan! Biri!

Everyone but Hiromu, Sigka, and Crystal starts getting overpowered, as the plants take the offensive, slamming into us and occasionally ripping some of our clothes as they pass.

Biri!

And eventually, they rip off Claire's face mask and rub against her nose.

"Kuuuu!....Kuuuuu!!!!...."

"No no no no no nnooooo!" Sigka yells.

"KKKKKKUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!"

BBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And with that, the entire battlefield is covered with spores. To my surprise, the spores seem to be toxic to the pelican plants, which shrivel up and die. Other than that, I cannot see anything.

"What the!?" I hear Sigka shout.

Zazazazazazaza!

When the spores clear, Claire continuiously bows, apologizing, and we look around to see all the plants, grass included, dead. Whatever this spore is, thank the Rhoken it doesn't work on humans. Wonder if it's a First Age plant spore or not. Unfortunately, the kunoichi got away.

"Geho! Geho!"

"Huh?" Crystal draws out lazily.

Cautiously, we move in the direction of the sound, and Sigka double checks his pockets, then pulls out the communication crystal.

(Thank goodness. I could have sworn she attempted to steal it when we couldn't see. I know I felt something.)

Sigka sniffs the crystal.

(This is definitely someone else's scent. But at least she only touched it and didn't steal it.)

"YOU!!!" Sueka and I yell.

After following the roots of the plants to a small river leading to the ocean, we find the man responsible for the kunoichi's escape. Breathing heavily, grasping at his neck and chest, writhing in pain...

Is Togo Kokoro.

"OW! Easy!" Togo-sama yells in pain as Sueka slams him into the wall of the hotel. At least Claire had time to take care of the spore side effects.

"Easy!? After everything you've done!?" Sueka shouts, lifting Togo-sama up.

"ENOUGH!!" Sigka yells, separating the two.

"That man is responsible for the destruction of Oren's and my home, and you want me to back off!?"

"With all due respect," I start to say, "I have to agree with my sister. This is the second time he's played a part in attempting to kill me, and even if I'm okay, this man's actions have led to the misery and death of innocent people. That woman seemed to be after me, so it's more my problem, and I believe the punishment should be decided by Sueka and me, not you!"

"If the world followed the concept of 'an eye for an eye', most men would be blind."

"The whole reason I joined was because of this man's participation in a tragedy Sueka and I lived through!"

Everyone else looks at Togo-sama. When I glance at him, I see how...mournful he looks. Sueka walks up to him and prepares to punch him.

"Any last words?"

"Sueka," I say, "no killing."

"But you just said..."

"Vengeance is one thing, but you're not a murderer. Don't fall to his level."

"OOOoooooo.... Fine!"

Sueka readies her arm again to punch Togo-sama. To my surprise, despite knowing her strength, Togo-sama shows no signs of struggling.

"You may not be murderers..." he begins to say. "But after everything I've done, perhaps you're right. I...don't deserve to live any more than anybody in Terraz did..."

BATAN!!

Sueka smashes through the wall right behind Togo-sama, purposely missing his head. The wall crumbles, creating a new opening between the two adjacent rooms. Before Sueka prepares another punch, her hands begin to shake. She lets go and grabs hold of my cloak.

"What did you say?" I ask.

"You see me as a murderer...and you're right. Unwilling, but the fact remains. You have every right to be angry."

"What do you mean 'unwilling'?" Crystal asks.

"I take it all of you are part of the Keisetsu..." Togo-sama guesses.

"True or false, you think the Keisetsu would simply reveal such information?" Claire says, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Perhaps not... But, should these be my final hours, let me repent for my actions. I'm sorry for what I did in Terraz. To you, Oren, Sueka. To your father, Doryoko. To Mydrea..."

BATAN!

Yamiso grabs Togo-sama with his darkness claws and slams him into another wall.

"What do you know about Mydrea!?"

"..."

"Yamiso...enough..." I say, putting my hand on Yamiso's shoulder.

Hiromu puts one of his hands on Yamiso's other shoulder and shakes his head. Yamiso glares at Togo-sama with hatred, but reluctantly releases him. I walk up to him and kneel down to be at Togo-sama's eye level.

"What did you mean by 'unwilling'?"

Togo-sama looks at me, then Sueka.

"Young lady," he says to Sueka, "would you commit the unspeakable to save those precious to you?"

Sueka stares at him, speechless. She then looks at me. And, even to my surprise, she nods.

"Loyalty, love, call it what you will. But I'm the same. That woman who attacked you earlier...was my master."

!!!!

"And she is?" Yuri asks.

Togo-sama remains silent.

(Seems he's indeed quite loyal...) I think.

I look at Sueka.

(You'd do the same? I'm thankful that I have someone care for me this much. But...)

I look at Clarent.

(Perhaps...I'm no different. Nor was Hisashi... Small world.)

"My lady is...trapped in a illusion. An illusion that a heartless murderer, whom Oren and Sueka here know as 'Hunter'..."

!!!

"Is her closest friend. To the point that she entrusts me and my fellow collegues, Dodge and Chates, to do Hunter's bidding, believing we are doing 'heroic deeds' elsewhere to make sure the word doesn't suffer as she did. I'm...a pawn. A murderer, yes, but a pawn nevertheless."

(Hunter...)

I reflect on her hydra form. The towering beast that, even now, seems impossible to beat.

"Should this be my final moment, may I make one last request? I know I don't deserve it, but please..."

"You think death will solve anything?" I say.

"Hm?"

"My father and one of my closest friends died sacrificing themselves for me. Whether it was love, or atoning for their own mistakes, their final moments were dedicated to protecting those close to them. You care for your master, correct?"

"Yes?"

"And how would your master feel if you died here like a coward, defeated?"

"..."

"Well?"

"I...don't know. She sees me as family, but..."

"You may not be able to defeat us, but I don't want to see anyone give up so easily."

Tears well up in his eyes.

"What do you want?" I ask.

"Please...save my master."

I stand up and stretch out my hand.

"Then, instead of dying, help us."

"What?" say Yamiso and Sueka.

"You sure?" Hiromu asks.

"He's the only link we have. Besides, he might have the biggest reason for revenge here."

My comrades look at each other, and most of them nod. Togo-sama looks to me, then takes my hand.

"I'll do...what I can."