14 - 2

"Now..." said Yu sternly, "What is it that you want to talk with us about?"

Katsura responded, "It's simple really... The Enigma's are laying low..."

Jin, Yu, Takehaya and Mary were shocked to learn this and were even sceptical if whether or not what he was saying was true or not.

Takehaya sharply stood up and said, "That can't possibly be true! Why would they be doing so anyway?"

"I'll have to agree with Takehaya. Shiori is not the kind to surrender so easily, there must be a catch." Jin stated.

"But it is true!" said Katsura as he took out an orb that showed the world that the Enigma's reside in.

The world of the Enigma's was dystopian in appearance and was surrounded by clean metal, giving off a technological or metal city vibe. In the orb, it showed how the Enigma's were turning against one another from parasitic kind to the unfortunate ones being killed by others.

Takehaya commented, "You call this laying low?"

Katsura then explained, "Apparantly as Shiori had announced something menacing and she stated that she needed 444 Enigma's and therefore, they began killing each other to fill that 444 requirement."

He then showed a checklist that showed the number of Enigma bodies that had been collected, showing it around 179 and rising.

"For what purpose?" Asked Yu.

"I've said it already, Shiori is creating something sinister!" Answered Katsura.

"But WHAT IS this thing?" Asked Yu.

"That..." said Katsura as he paused for suspension, he concluded, "... I do not know..."

Yu appeared prepared to punch Katsura as he tightened his fists.

Jin stopped him as he asked, "And what purpose is there for you to tell us this Katsura?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Said Katsura sounding puzzled.

"Its simple really..." said Jin, "The Katsura that WE KNOW would always be standing at that ROOFTOP as we discussed plans!"

Katsura showed a slight sign of sweat on his face as his expression appeared to change but it returned and he kept his normal expression as he said, "Yes well, that was me decades prior and I HAVE been away for so long... Long enough that everything has changed for the worst."

Mary said, "What do you mean? The Iza Islands are peaceful aren't they? Minus the Enigma attacks."

"That is true, young comb but I do not DO peaceful!" Said Katsura. He then stood up and said, "Well, I have said what I needed to say and so... I shall be leaving... Good luck to all." Saying that, Katsura walked out of the room.

As Katsura opened the door, he found Naoya and Luna, their ears being held by Elle who caught the two as they were tanding outside the room while eavesdropping.

Katsura sighed and said, "It seems you two have changed significantly since I've been away." In a manner of sarcasm.

Yu asked, "And what is it that you'll be doing Katsura?"

Katsura bluntly answered, "Nothing..." This surprising everyone and there Katsura explained, "For more than a decade, I have been down there in Yomi as I have had to sacrifice my body and my chances of retiring all in the hopes of protecting everyone from what remains within and wait for Takehaya to come to me... And now that I'm out of there, I am out of the business... And besides, I kind of hope my body will be able to recover back into my human self... I kind of look like a dishevelled old skeleton with this appearance that I have. Anyway, I wish you all luck and if you have the time, come visit me."

Katsura waved goodbye and exited the Kami residence. Everyone watched as he disappeared from their sight.

"Umm dad?" Said Naoya as he asked, "Now that Katsura won't be helping us, what should we do?"

"We prepare..." said Yu. He asked Luna, "Gather every member here, Luna. We must discuss further on what we must do."

"Understood." Said Luna.

She ran out and within minutes, there was a group of other warriors from the other districts as they along with Luna and Naoya discussed with Yu and Jin on what they must now do. Meanwhile, Takehaya, Mary, Yuno and Charao were instructed to wait elsewhere until they were called.

Charao asked, "How come we're not in there with the others?"

Takehaya answered, "My father must have something else for us to do."

"You don't seem to be that bothered Takehaya." Commented Yuno.

Takehaya, who laid back, answered, "This is how its normally like as I'm instructed to secure any wanderers of the city to the bunker rooms for safety."

"Your father was okay with you doing so?" Asked Mary.

"No." Bluntly said Takehaya, "It was Jin. Since he retired as the chief, I was hired by him full time to do the searching for the police department while they guided the people in the bunkers."

Mary, Yuno and Charao were left baffled by what Takehaya said to them. Since the beginning of his job, Takehaya had kept himself busy with maintaining zero casualties and he did this while everyone else from his own and other families took care of the Enigma attacks.

Yuno turned to Mary and said to her, "He is so your boyfriend."

"I know..." said Mary.

They heard the door open and they saw as all the warriors and Naoya and Luna as they marched out of the Kami residence and flew up in the sky as they went to different areas across the islands.

"Takehaya!" Said Yu. "Bring Charao and Yuno and come in please."

Takehaya took a sigh and said to Mary, "We'll be back." He then stood up and with Charao and Yuno, they entered inside, leaving Mary by herself.

Mary waited while Yu talked with the three. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Mary was attacked from behind. She screamed.

Takehaya heard Mary's scream and barged out of the room in a hurry, finding Mary had been taken. There was a trail of purple slime leading to outside and upon running out, Takehaya saw Mary being taken away by a Slime Enigma of such.