The six left Pebble the next morning. Mia was the driver on a backroad out of town, forest flanking the clear drive ahead.

"Gonna be real awkward if that tablet breaks before we get there." chimed Yuruko, and the five groaned at the jinx.

"Now we know who to blame if it does." laughed Samuel. "Still - doesn't seem like we've got much left, now. What're we at - five Revenants left?"

"Yeah." said Aimee. "Still, gotta keep going -"

- Mia saw a figure enter the rearview mirror, and before she could react -

- the van was launched rapidly forward, from sixty to five hundred in an instant, and six screams filled the vehicle -

- and for Mia, the world slowed as a reflection in a disturbed pond.

"Why me?" she groaned, thrust in to the position of savior.

"Good luck." chimed Aimee, tendrils in Mia's veins. "Just don't -"

" - don't freeze it to the ground. G forces. Right." said Mia, and as time resumed -

- a spoiler of ice formed on the back of the van. A set of wings erupted from the sides, catching the air and slowing their advance as they slid for hundred and hundreds of feet down, Mia pumping the brakes as a frozen airbrake popped out from the hood; but four screams still filled the van, not yet privy to their aerodynamic savior -

" - it should slow down faster, now!" shouted Mia.

And the van peeled to a steady stop, a thousand feet from its initial position.

"O-Oh." muttered Serena, seeing the aftermarket modifications disappear. "Man - that's the one time you can have those and not look like a douchebag."

With a shared laugh, the six stepped out of the van on to the road, and as they turned -

- they saw a speck on the horizon, a thousand feet separating them and them, forest flanking the six as they started in pursuit back down.

"Should - um - should we flank him?" said Serena. "If I get within range -"

"They'll know we have six -" - said Samuel - " - but -"

"- go." nodded Mia, and the punk set off, rushing off the road and disappearing in to the trees. "If only one of us is gone, he may not realize it until it's too late. Serena can kill him at close range."

"Why did you assume they're male?" laughed Yuruko, and Samuel's lips pinched as they rushed.

"If I had any ability to be offended, I would be."

"I suppose we do seem to fight mostly men." chimed Mia, relevantly. The five laughed as they ran, speck growing on the horizon, the full speed of their Revenants upon them, and as they drew five hundred feet between -

- they saw a second van screaming with the speed of sound towards them, and as the vehicle drew within range -

- a titanic spray of a Rider-enhanced Dream ahead, and the van turned to water-van, dousing the five in liquid automobiles as they ran, hundreds of feet still separating them and the masculine figure on the distance, black-haired&thin.

"Told you!" shouted Mia.

On the horizon, they saw Seth sweep his hands back, and in the next instant -

- the crack of three gunshots rose in the air, and as the bullet sought their chests -

- a wall of ice formed and blocked the foul projectiles, disappearing as the five came within range, another hundred feet cleared as they ran.

"You like that, you fucking retard?!" shouted Yuruko, wishing she had the punk in tow.

Another set of gunshots cracked the air, and as Mia readied to blunt the storm again -

- a far different projectile met their stare; three civilians shooting with the speed of sound towards them, and before they could react -

- Samuel rushed ahead and took the brunt of each head on, three bodies snapping in half against Outcast's armor, chunks of gore hitting the road behind and leaving a crimson streak.

"They - were - dead if they landed - anyway." winced Samuel, wiping remnants of man from Outcast's armor as they kept pace. Ahead, the crack of six gunshots rose, and another dozen civilians screamed towards them -

- and a ring of fire burst from the ground ahead, and in to the burning ring of fire fell the civilians, disintegrated in an instant. Mia cursed as she ran ahead, three hundred separating her and Seth, leading the pack now.

"If he - fucking wants to play this stupid fucking game - I'm so fucking sick of these fucking -"

" - he's trying to - guilt us -" panted Yuruko, wincing as Mia burnt another dozen civilians.

"Mia -" said Samuel - " - if you need to ease your conscience, remember that -"

" - I know! It's us or them!" shouted Mia, and the whip cracked their consciences clear, a hundred feet separating them and Seth now, no civilians or vans left, the road bizarrely clear where he stood.

He held his left hand out as if to receive something, and a block of steel appeared in his grip; it formed rapidly in to a revolver, and as Mia's scarabs readied for the next barrage -

- he clicked the trigger, and the bullets froze in mid-air.

"Is - what's he doing?" said Aimee.

"It's - taking the momentum?" said Yuruko. "He conserves and replicates momentum?"

"Best guess we've got for now - shit, but - Serena doesn't know -"

- and with desperate eyes, they saw Serena rushing out from the forest behind Seth, only a dozen feet away and flanking behind. She cleared the clearing in a single bound -

- and with the speed of light he turned, and his right fist smashed her nose; his left hand gripped her neck, and as he aimed her back in to the forest -

- she was launched with the strength of a million in between the trees, screaming as she flew, disappearing behind the foliage; and almost not of her own volition, Mia peeled off from the group and rushed in to the forest, hearing Aimee's order to scatter a second later.

Sheets of ice formed underneath as she ran and slid, brambles and roots freezing below; but below the ground, she felt an unfamiliar presence, and in the next instant -

- the head of a serpent grew from a drop of water and pulled her in, shrinking her in to the liquid vortex; she shrieked and thrashed, and as she was yanked direct in -

- she landed in the center of an unfamiliar chamber, wide and durable, a curtain for a door. She shot to her feet, and the material underneath made no sound, the serpent suddenly gone.

"Ryumi-Lite!" shouted a masculine voice behind, and as she turned, there stood Akira at the other end, drinking a bottle of water.

"Who - who are you?" grunted Mia, sword and scarabs in-hand.

"You're not nearly as aggressive as she was. She would have already -"

- a pillar of white flame claimed his body, and he still spoke as his eyebrows singed.

"Only white fire, Ryumi-Junior? You're using Worldwide for lighting birthday candles?"

"The - wait." muttered Mia. "There's - five Revenants left - but you have - Mizuchi was an Eastern League Revenant?"

"I'm not taking questions." droned Akira, throwing the bottle of water at her feet. It burst open in a shower of water, and as the serpent grew from the liquid portal -

- underneath Mizuchi's sweeping fangs she dodged, and as her sword sought its serpentine neck -

- it shot with the speed of lightning back in to its portal, erupting from the liquid behind a second later, fangs seeking her spine -

" - Worldwide!"

- and a swarm of ice scarabs froze the portal behind, trapping Mizuchi as a rooted tree. She spun, and as her sword raised again -

- Akira laughed, and Mia cursed as she saw the next instant scene.

A hack of Mizuchi's saliva below, and the icy prison cracked and shattered; it slid back within its portal, and as it burst up from its own saliva below -

- its fangs pierced through Mia's left arm, venom dripping in her veins as it threw her back and to the wall, agony staggering her back.

"Worldwide." winced Mia, ice scarabs freezing the venom at her wound, preventing its advance. A dozen feet separated her and Mizuchi now, fifty her and Akira.

"Far different than Rayaka, Diet Ryumi." said Akira as Mizuchi's head swayed. "You've never dealt with the level of a truly professional Revenant."

"Who - who the fuck are you?" grunted Mia, starting her charge forward, and as her sword sought Mizuchi's neck -

- its teeth shot to her hilt, ripped her grip off instantly, and as it readied to snap the blade in half -

- a hundred electrical currents entered it from below, its saliva portal still conductive; the pain staggered Akira and the serpent back, and as she ripped her blade free from its mouth, a thrust impaled it clear through -

" - have you ever wondered -" coughed Akira - " - if you only win your fights through the naivety of your opponents? Five seconds."

"Five seconds." grunted Mia, Worldwide's blade a flurry of movement, blocking the fangs that sought her face -

" - three."

- a glob of saliva erupted from Mizuchi's maw, and as she readied for the attack from behind -

- its teeth tore through her chest, and as it gripped her sword again -

" - one."

"Worldwide - White-Hot!"

Her sword burst in to white flames -

- and she saw with aghast eyes Mizuchi and portal barely harmed, shaking rabid -

" - zero! Better luck tomorrow, Ryumi Fresca!"

She blinked, and they were gone. Her eyes spun as she wheeled, and from the curtain door behind -

- came a woman in a gown and bowed head.

"P - please do not kill me." she said.

"Who - who are -you-?" said Mia, a constant turn.

"J-Jakiro. Akira - gave me the medic of the Eastern League's Revenant. To - heal you. Please." said the woman, kneeling down. "He - he's threatened to kill me if I do not heal you. My name is Jakiro."

"Why - why would I possibly trust you?"

The woman's voice went low and soothing. "Mia Schultz. Let Soulborn spark the fire of Worldwide in your heart."

Her wounds began to heal.

"He - he will not let either of us escape. P-Please - kill him. He will come every day."

"I - of course." murmured Mia. "Do not ever approach me again without asking."

"Of - of course." She nodded. "The - the room across has accommodations. I will stay further down the hall."

The two stepped out to the hall. Mia's room's door was across, Jakiro's down, and a third at the end.

"Why can I not leave?" sighed Mia.

"Because the way out is currently filled with water." said Akira's voice behind, and as Mia wheeled -

- he was gone, leaving a nodding Jakiro. "Y-Yes. The way out is filled with water, and if -"

" - Mizuchi gains power the larger the portal. What do you know about him?" She leaned back against the wall, fire scarabs vaporizing any liquid.

"He - took me from my home." said Jakiro. "I - I did not have a Revenant before him - but - he has told me he will not harm me, s-so long as I heal you."

"And the others?"

"The - o-others? I - I do not - understand."

Mia sighed. "Of course. You're utterly clueless."

Jakiro's eyes went down. "… I - I am sorry. I - I do not know who he is - I don't believe I have ever seen him before. I was taken from my home, and when I awoke, I was in my room, down the hall. That was a week ago."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"And I suppose I'll have to find a real answer out of him." sighed Mia. "Leave. Go to your room. Do not approach me again unless I ask."

Jakiro nodded, and Mia waited until she was gone to enter her own room, fridge in one corner, mattress in the other. She stepped to the fridge, sword drawn, and as she yanked the door open -

- inside, meat and a water bottle; she swept away and back, and in the next instant -

- Mizuchi's head burst out of the water, fangs missing narrowly the spot she had just been; and she heard Akira's laugh as it disappeared.

"Worldwide." grunted Mia, fire scarabs vaporizing the liquid's remnants.

◆◆◆

The four remaining heroes had scattered off, searching through the forest for Serena; but only one man knew the angle her flight had taken. Seth ran between the trees, roots cutting his ankles as he sought the punk, hearing her footsteps ahead, growing closer by the second.

Ahead was another oak, and as he put his left hand to it, readying to absorb the bark in to his palm -

- a familiar figure leaped from above, and the two combatants hit the ground fighting. In a whirlwind of blows they revolved down the clearing -

"- FUCKING - COCKSUCKING FUCKING BITCH!" shouted Serena, scarred and bloodied, hoping the rest would hear her, and as her fog sought his eyes -

- his sockets filled with cement, and from out of the ghastly apertures burst his eyes; but he was fired to unholy durability. His left hand shot to her face, and as she gripped it desperately away -

- she was blown up&away with the strength of a thousand, and now blinded, he heard her scream begin to fade in to the sky above; but another set of footsteps began from behind, and as he turned -

- he felt a set of tendrils pierce his chest -

- and he aged rapidly, from man to elder in an instant; and died of unnatural aging in the next, leaving Aimee surprised, the wrinkled corpse falling limp.

"I - got him!" shouted Aimee, and from out of the forest around ran the others, her eyes on the sky above.

"You - can do that?" panted Samuel as he ran up behind, having seen the spectacle directly.

"Are - Serena?!" shouted Yuruko above, seeing the punk fall from a hundred feet above -

- and her body caught every branch on her way down, slashing her cheeks, piercing her heart and stabbing her lungs; and down one tree she slid, covered in blood and gashes, scraps of skin mixed with torn patches of her jacket, limp as she hit the ground.

The four rushed over to her. Aimee took her hand, dipping her tendrils in Serena's veins to stem the bleeding.

"You're - calm. Okay?" she said, crouching down. "You've got Rider's durability. Got a lot more time now. Right?"

"… o-ok…"

"I - I got him. You're safe." nodded Aimee. "Focus. Heal yourself."

"… O-Okay…" she winced, fog refilling far quicker with Rider's protection. Aimee nodded as Serena filled her own wounds. "… o-ow…" She whimpered again, and with a gesture, Aimee cautiously pulled Rider's tendrils out.

"Er - sorry to interrupt, but." said Samuel. "Aimee, you can use Rider like that? The aging?"

"I... uh, no. That's… new. Uh. I've thought about that, before, but I didn't have the strength to - shit."

"… One more down." nodded Jeanne, helping Serena to her feet.

"Gonna live?" said Aimee, and Serena nodded weakly as her fog refilled. "Alright - we need to find Schultzy -"

- and three tablets vibrated, three quick takes.

(Mia) "Mizuchi has taken me to an on noun location - puck king speech to text! Bald man host."

(Mia) "Woman named Jack ear O'Hare. Has healing revenant soulborn. Possibly friendly. Question mark oh of course. Cannot leave until my zucchini dead."

(Mia) "Will update when possible. Do not want to risk concentration Taiping."

"Speech to text hasn't gotten any better." murmured Yuruko, and the five sighed relief.

"… Um, what's Mizuchi?" winced Serena.

"It's - sorry, one sec." muttered Aimee.

(Aimee) "Look for you?"

(Mia) "No."

The message filled her lungs, and she sank against a nearby tree.

"… okay. Sorry - one sec. Just - let's all calm. That guy's dead. Can't - do anything this second."

The four sank beside her, glad to take the calm minute.

"… I'm - sure she'll be alright." murmured Serena. "Um. She's super strong."

"I - I know." laughed Aimee. "… still. Doesn't want us to look for her - so we've just… gotta keep going. Right?"

"Yes." muttered Samuel. "We still need to destroy his Revenant. Yuruko, you mentioned having a quicker way to destroy it?"

"Yeah. Are you good to run, Serena? I'm gonna do the acid again." said Yuruko, standing and heading to Seth's corpse. Serena nodded. "Coolio. Uh - momentum dumbass down. So, four left? Those two with Mia?"

"Yeah." said Aimee. "… Mizuchi. Fuck - sorry, that's just... fucking weird." She wiped her eyes down. "We - uh, fought it before - me and Schultzy. Didn't know it was an Eastern League Revenant, though. It's a snake that travels through liquids."

"A liquid snake." said Serena, solidly.

"Uh, it's the name of a Japanese water serpent, too." chimed Yuruko.

"Weeaboo." grinned Serena.

"You're the one who has your lock screen set to an anime woman -"

" - don't tell them that!" sputtered Serena, clutching the pocket wife close, grateful she had also survived the fall.

As was often the case, they were the only two laughing. Yuruko crouched over the corpse, sharp metal in-glove, and made an incision in to the chest.

"How'd, uh - how'd you manage to survive, though?" said Aimee, gesturing to Serena. "I kept hearing your footsteps - but they weren't getting any louder. Were you just running in place?"

"I, um… shit. I lost my cup again." mumbled Serena. "When I hit a tree, I had enough fog to fill it with rubber, so that helped. Um - but I figured he'd look for me, still, and I guess I just… It took nearly all of my fog - but I filled my cup up with the… sound of footsteps?"

"Gonna make you another one." grinned Yuruko, and peeled the corpse's chest open - " - what the fuck?!"

The rest shot to their feet -

" - shit." muttered Aimee, holding her hand out to calm. "I - know what that is. Fuck."

Inside, two still-beating hearts.

◆◆◆

That night, Mia felt something bulky awaken her, and in the next instant -

- Mizuchi's fangs were at her neck, having grown from a drop of sweat. Akira was standing over her.

"I've had this opportunity for your entire trip. Do you know how easily I could kill you in your sleep? All the times you sweat during the night?"

Mizuchi's teeth inched closer to her neck -

- a pillar of white fire claimed her, drying the liquid; its portal gone, Mizuchi wilted as she leaped up to Akira -

- and he was gone, having stood in a drop of Mizuchi's saliva. She sighed and set her scarabs to chill the room dry.

◆◆◆

She hadn't had water that first night, but had no choice the next morning. Three scarabs formed on her tongue, and the water & fire scarab slid down her throat -

- but she vaporized the stream, having felt - or thought she had - Mizuchi's form in her neck.

◆◆◆

That afternoon, the two were combatants again, fifty feet separating her and Mizuchi, a hundred her and Akira. A raise of her sword forward -

- and a jet of water erupted from the tip, spraying Akira's face; a second swarm of scarabs vaporized Mizuchi's portal, and as she rushed forward for a electrical volley -

" - you can't fill a room with lightning yet?! I remember - she charred Magnus bald for an entire year!"

- and as the electrical current entered his body, he was gone.

"God fucking - fuck -"

- she took a large breath, remembered her training with Matoi, calming.

◆◆◆

She awoke three mornings later. Akira was sitting on the fridge with her tablet.

"Fingerprint required. Cute. I was going to send Aimee a photo of you." He laughed. "Today, she confided in Jeanne about a nightmare she had involving you. I've been here for three hours, Ryumi Sweet. Three hours I could have killed you."

"And yet you haven't." said Mia, sitting and vaporizing Mizuchi's saliva underneath. "Why?"

"Torture the answer out of me. It's what she would have done."

"You knew Ryumi personally, then?"

"Torture the answer out of me -"

- a pillar of white flame claimed his body.

" - haven't even achieved Worldwide's signature color, Ryumi Sugar-Free." laughed Akira, and he was gone.

◆◆◆

That afternoon, she set her blade as a meat kebab, steady flames to cook. A drop of fat dripped down -

- and Mizuchi ripped the rest of the meat off, Akira laughing as both serpent and meal disappeared.

◆◆◆

She'd had nothing but meat burnt dry for the past days. If she hadn't her tablet, she would've lost track of the days.

"Diet Ryumi!" shouted his voice from the chamber adjacent. "If you won't come here, I will!"

She sighed, sword out as she stepped in to the familiar room. Akira was on the other end, bottled water, and she pretended not to notice Mizuchi's saliva underneath her.

"Aimee sweats during the night, as well." said Akira. "You're -"

" - you respected Magnus - didn't you?"

Akira paused and stared. 

"That was why he left these Revenants to you. His conduits." said Mia. "It must have bothered you that he loved Ryumi - that he trusted me to host Worldwide over you. You were unimportant enough that he never even mentioned your existence."

Silence.

"And every person you've sent has died. You're compensating for -"

"- I wonder how long you'll keep embarrassing yourself. Provocation works on the hormonal students you surround yourself with. It doesn't work on adults."

"Is that why you killed the weather Revenant?"

"Mizuchi."

He threw the water bottle at her feet, and in the next instant -

- she swept with the speed of light back as Mizuchi grew from its saliva portal underneath, and in a cleave seeking its serpentine neck -

- that caught only air as it swayed back -

- direct in to a wall of unmeltable ice. An icicle burst out from behind and pierced through its head, pinning it to the frozen wall, and in a second thrust seeking its neck -

- that impaled its throat in a geyser of crimson; a second sweep upward split its throat up to its maw, and as its fangs tore at her sword -

" - Worldwide - White-Hot!"

- she tore her gleaming white blade free, an electrical swarm below for what remained of Mizuchi's portal, and as it began to shrink within -

- a ring of icicles burst from the ground and pierced through the serpent, trapping it like a perimeter of nails; and a second downward sweep cleaved the beast in two.

The ice disappeared, and as she glanced down -

- she heard with aghast ears Akira's laughter, saw with aghast eyes the serpent-turned-hydra regrowing to two new; she swept away.

"As I told you - you've never dealt with the level of a professional Revenant."

And the true assault began then. A dual hack of saliva from the Mizuchis' maws, erupting from new portals at her feet a second later; inch by inch, the pressure of their strikes forced her away, and as her back approached the wall -

"Come on, Ryumi-Zero! Disintegrate me! Three seconds!"

With no option left, she swept to the wall, vaporizing the portals underneath -

"Worldwide - Solar Beam!"

A hundred feet separated the two, and as her scarabs swarmed her wrists -

" - three!"

- her palms aimed forward, rage coalescing -

" - two!"

- an orange beam erupted from her palms, shooting through the air, piercing through Akira's chest -

" - ticklish - Ryumi - Low-C-Carb. Better - l-luck tomorrow."

The serpent swallowed him whole, and he was gone.

◆◆◆

The next night, she stepped in to Jakiro's room, her fight for the day having ended in stalemate, bleeding from a score of wounds. Mizuchi had been one again.

"Heal me." muttered Mia.

The woman's voice drew low and soothing. "Mia Schultz. Let Soulborn spark the fire of Worldwide in your heart."

Her wounds began to close.

"Are my wounds healed, then?"

"Y-Yes. Good luck on your next fight."

Mia nodded, and her eyes caught something in the corner as she turned; a drop of Mizuchi's saliva.

"…Of course." She sighed. "Worldwide."

A pillar of white flame claimed Jakiro's body, charring her dead. Mia vaporized Mizuchi's portal and headed to her room.

◆◆◆

She awoke the next morning. A note was on her forehead.

'Did you think killing Jakiro-Lite would prevent me from healing? I could have easily coerced Serena - she was your handicap, not mine. You're free to leave, after destroying the Revenants of the most vile coworkers I've ever had. It was a pleasure reliving it.'

She stared at it for a while, and took out her tablet - but decided against it. She felt no presence as she walked out of her room, through the hall and to the end's door. Sword readied, she pressed open the exit -

- and found a circular room, stairs at the other end, glass walls. A stool was at the center, desk with a picture frame facedown. Her scarabs searched for any liquid, and as she found none, she drew over to the desk, picked up the picture frame.

She flipped it and gasped.

In it, a man Mia knew but didn't. He was a brown-haired dreadnought, the size of two men, and bridal carrying a black-haired woman.

Something in his now-dead smile made him too human. She couldn't look at him long, but folded the picture in to her pocket, and went down the stairs of the tower. She came down to the hall of the first-floor, and was soon to the clearing outside.

Her eyes searched again, and as she turned left, she saw within a dozen paces a gravestone.

She decided not to look. She marked her location, and resolved to find her way back to Urasaria.

◆◆◆

Aimee's tablet awoke her the next morning.

(Mia) "I'm back at Urasaria, now. I killed the medic, and Mizuchi's host allowed me to walk free - or so he wrote."

Aimee received a picture of a smiling Mia.

(Mia) "Is Atori on campus? I had come out of a tower, but I didn't stay to look around. If he could, I would like for one of his illusions to check it - I have the location."

(Mia) "Because I did find this."

She received the picture of a smiling Magnus&Ryumi.

(Aimee) "shit"

(Aimee) "uh, that's Ryumi."

(Mia) "I had guessed - and I suppose that is…"

(Aimee) "that's… gotta be. yeah. y'know."

(Aimee) "we haven't fought anyone since. getting to Fracassor tonight, can finally sell this fucking thing, and - honestly, risky as hell - but I just want to take a plane back to Urasaria."

(Mia) "Be careful. Mizuchi is still alive."

(Aimee) "yeah. <3 I'll figure something out. maybe just have the five of us swap and drive the entire way back. aaalll sixty hours."

(Aimee) "just wanna cuddle my Schultzy. uh, but yeah, I'll text Atori - he had some other stuff going on this month."

(Aimee) "should probably check too. how many did you fight? two? medic and mizuchi?"

(Mia) "Correct, leaving..."

(Aimee) "uh - lemme think. so we've got - 20, minus…

(Aimee) " - ugh hang on. lemme just type this out."

Mia waited tense for Aimee to finish writing, and a list soon came.

(Aimee) "… no #20. right?"

(Mia) "…No #20."

(Aimee) "someone's still out there."

◆◆◆

The worry kept the five as they arrived, finally, at the buyer's mansion. The guard buzzed them in through the gates, and Nuiko had swollen the tablet back up by the time they were to the front door, under the marble columns. Aimee knocked.

"Man." mumbled Serena. "This guy's rich as -"

" - cameras." whispered Yuruko, gesturing above. Serena gave her a wink as she saw them, and Yuruko stifled a grin a few seconds later.

The door opened, and the nouveau riche answered.

"We have your tablet, Mr. Juster." said Aimee, putting on the courtesy she'd have to wear for the rest of the year. "Your item. Transported safe."

He nodded and took the pouch, and Aimee stifled a sigh as he gestured them to the main hall. With no choice, they stepped in, chandeliers on the ceiling, walls of art.

"It's a beautiful piece, don't you think? You must have seen it - I don't mind if you took a look." he said. "It was traded for fifty years ago. The lettering - the language - all exquisite. Very high quality."

"I guess." muttered Aimee.

"Come." He led them down, gesturing to a steel door hanging from the wall. "Ah - this, I acquired this quite recently. What do you believe this is?"

"A door." said Yuruko, and the man laughed.

"But not a simple door. It's very nice - very well-kept, isn't it?"

"It sure is." said Aimee.

"It was only two-million for it - but it's highly in-demand. This was taken from the wreckage of the Titanic. First-class - but well-preserved from that tragedy."

Samuel detected in him the type of man who'd say he loved honesty, and would act like he was bringing that knowledge from the heavens. "It's quite nice, but we ought to leave soon."

The buyer sighed. "There's no accounting for taste. You would do well to remember history, young students."

"Mmhm." yawned Jeanne.

"When you're older - you shall appreciate the finer things, I'm certain. It should be displayed - prominently, near the front door." He gestured them away as he went back through the hall, glancing between the paintings. "… somewhere - prominent. Guests will ask about it, certainly."

"We're just here for delivery." said Aimee.

"I wouldn't trust - no. This requires an expert hand and eye - of course, mine. The money is already transferred. You may leave."

Aimee checked her tablet for a message from the curator and nodded. The five went out the door like they were fleeing to their van.

"…time to go home."

◆◆◆

That night, their buyer held a dinner party. Not a guest there understood the history behind the tablet, but wouldn't dare expose themselves as ignorant.

"It communicates a message, doesn't it?" one droned, wine glass in hand, two thousand that tasted the same as five dollars. "There could be a film done on this - all the different interpretations. Warhol-esque, perhaps."

"Perhaps a New York Times article." agreed a second.

A serpent's head grew from the alcohol.

◆◆◆

The five drove for sixty hours, and Blackburn's fog ensured they never had to stop but for food and rest.

Aimee picked up Nuiko on the way, and the two talked about the grand couturier's new duties as acting student body president in the Council of Four's absence. She'd enter in seventeen bounties for each, once Yuruko had her hero name thought up.

And Aimee knew, as soon as they stepped through the gate -

- a woman of ice, the heat of Mia's passion, the raining of kisses, the sweeping of arms.

"Awww." chimed Yuruko, relevantly.

"I'm back - I'm back, again." laughed Aimee, gasping as Mia clutched her tight.

"Just like I said." said Samuel. "We survived that trip."

"We - we did." laughed Mia, and the seven went for a grouphug.

"… Man, got here late, too." muttered Serena, and the seven started down the hall. "It's almost midnight."

"Yeah - new patch came out today." chimed Yuruko, tapping Serena's shoulder and setting the punk smiling. "New ranked season."

"What?" said Aimee.

"Videogames." murmured Jeanne, accustomed to the duo by now.

"Not a true gamer." muttered Yuruko with mock ruefulness. "Serena, do you wanna do our calibration matches?"

"I've, um - never done team ranked - but sure." chimed Serena, a knowing glance at Mia.

"I shall see you tomorrow, then." laughed Mia.

"Or five months from now."

The seven set off their separate ways again.

◆◆◆

The prodigal couple stepped in to Aimee's mansion. Mia shut the door behind.

"… finally done." she sighed, and Aimee nodded.

"Finally done. But, uh - gonna have to head out tomorrow morning, around nine. Do you, uh…" Aimee smiled, and her hands pressed lightly Mia's arms. "Rider-time?"

Mia smiled, trying to muster what she could, but the president saw her immediately.

"Uh - don't have to if you don't want to, I mean." said Aimee, pulling her hands back.

"I'm surprised you're even in the mood after all we went through." laughed Mia, and she gestured for Aimee as she went to the stairs.

"To uh, be honest," said Aimee, " - kinda wanna sleep - but… last time we'll see each other for a while."

Mia smiled. "And if we haven't had it by the time you leave, both of us will go mad within a week."

"Yeah." laughed Aimee. "Can't always have it perfect." 

The two grinned to bed.

[END OF ARC 6: IT BLEW IN FROM THE EAST]