Secrets of This World

“Is this how the people of Earth greet visitors?” Cato said.

“Not that I remember. Oh! Look, that’s a burger spot.”

Cato peers through the small holes of the window guard. Their vehicle rushes through the streets of Tokyo, passing by a myriad of businesses, lights, and people unlike any Cato has seen. He believes it beautiful, but the worry of the chains around his wrists makes it difficult to enjoy the view.

“It does look good. What’s that bubbly stuff they’re drinking?”

“Soda! Just wait until you get some of that, the beer here is good as well.”

“You two must not realize what position you are in.” A single guard sits across from Cato and Tenki, their gun remains in their hands.

“Well, it is uncomfortable in here. Tenki, you said your people didn’t know about magic.”

“Unless something changed in the last six years, I was certain they didn’t. But, it’s not rare for governments to keep secrets.”

“Just like back home, maybe this place isn’t so bad.”

“Your name is Tenki?”

“It is. I’m from this world; I’m returning after being sent to another. I can verify all of this.”

“You’ll have to take care of that at the base.”

“I see. Well, if I may ask, how long have you guys known about magic?”

“… I can’t answer that here.”

Tenki and Cato are dragged out of the vehicle by a horde of guards.

Ahead of them is a tall building with a plaque. AMDO, a top-secret organization known to the few who serve under it, and the select individuals who work outside of it. The building itself is surrounded by walls, every window tinted to the extreme.

“You guys really like tall buildings.” Cato said.

“A lot of space to use if you go up.” Tenki said.

“Quiet. I’ll be escorting these two to their cells, inform the commander of what we have found.” The guard from the vehicle said.

With a gun to their back, Tenki and Cato walk forward as instructed. Down an elevator that stuns Cato, past guards stationed throughout the base, and to the final security checkpoint that leads to the cells.

Before they arrive, Tenki is pulled into a different hallway with the gun to his neck.

“Hey!” Cato said.

“Don’t move! Both of you.” The guard said.

“Ok, ok. I promise, we’re not here to hurt anyone.” Tenki said.

“Prove that you are Tenki.”

“What?”

“Prove it!”

“Prove it? I-I worked as tutor through high school, my parents live in Osaka, I graduated and was going to start work as an analyst. And, my wife, my beautiful Aimi, I sure hope she is doing well.”

“It really is you.”

The guard steps back, dropping their weapon and removing their helmet. Underneath is a woman with long, brown hair. Her left eye is silver, the other brown, both welling with tears as she smiles at Tenki.

“Aimi.” Tenki runs forward, pulling his wife into his arm, “It’s you.”

“Tenki.” Aimi pushes him away, “We don’t have time to speak. I have to put you in cells, but I will find a chance to speak with you.”

“Aimi, what is going on?”

“I’m sorry, it will be difficult to explain. But this is my job. It’s always been my job. I know I told you I was in law enforcement; well, I am in a way. I’m sorry for lying. I’ll explain more later, for now do as I say.”

Aimi escorts the two to their cell, a massive space with a platform at its center and bottomless pit surrounding it. They’re chained to a large pole at the center of the platform, their hands kept high to make movement difficult.

“Wait here. I should return soon.”

“Aimi, how do you guys know about magic?”

“You two aren’t the first to cross over to this world. That is all I can say.”

Aimi leaves, rushing to the meeting hall where leaders of the organization, AMDO, gather. The captains of the four squads are present, alongside the commander, three government representatives, and Aimi, the leading soldier chained by none of the squads.

“Were you able to gather any information on those two?” Ino, captain of the first squad, said.

“Nothing other than how unhospitable we are.”

“They’re in high spirits; their world must not understand danger.” Tosen, captain of the second squad, said.

“It matters little to us. It is clear that these two are a step above the rest.” Commander of AMDO, Higaraki, said. At the slam of his cane, a picture of their newest arrests appears behind him, “The weapons we used against them should have put them into a deep coma, yet they are awake and well. They’re not even showing aftereffects; they will be excellent for the research.”

“We must interrogate them first.” Ichigo, captain of the third squad, said.

“No. They’re far too dangerous. If we can harvest their power, then we should not waste time.” Chika, captain of the fourth squad said.

“Harvest? Wasn’t that project done?”

“Ah, yes. Ichigo, Aimi, and Ino, you three have yet to be informed of the next phase. Our scientists have developed a new way to harvest their magic. The first few subjects were fine, but I am sure that these two will make for fantastic sources of magic. Our plan is to proceed with sending their bodies to our scientist.”

Aimi, ino, and Ichigo share gazes. They’ve voiced discontent with the treatment of those they capture; although they understand the danger, using them to create weapons is against their purpose.

“Let’s go, the five strongest will take care of this.” Tosen said.

“So, you board self-powered chariots and it can take you from one kingdom to another in hours?” Cato said.

“It’s a smooth ride as well, the seats are comfortable. You can eat on the Shinkansen.” Tenki said.

“Incredible, how do we bring that technology to Mundi?”

“Well, I’m not smart enough to say. But we may be able to search up some plans online.”

“Online?”

Cato and Tenki go silent as the select five enter their cell. They each carry a weapon; their tense movements a faint signal of danger to come. Aimi follows her teammates, catching Tenki’s eye and shaking her head.

“Cato.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“Hey!” Tosen shoots, but his targets are halfway across the cell jumping backwards into the pit.

They drop, their chains following until reaching their limit. The snap of the chain’s length is followed by a loud crack, Cato and Tenki rising from below and high into the sky.

“Dammit, sound the alarms!” Chika said.

The leaders begin their offensive, rushing forward and unloading their weapons at the two frightening figures rushing across the roof at unbelievable speed. They cross from one end of the massive cell to the other in seconds, each bullet can only hit an afterimage.

Still, they continue, aiming at anything they can see in hopes of landing a lucky shot. Their guns warm up, two coughing from the plethora of gunpowder in the air. After reloading, they take aim once more but have no target in sight.

“I’ll take care of these.”

Cato appears behind his opponents; their guns cut into pieces, forcing them to take a few steps back and reach for their holstered weapons. Even as the five strongest, the power displayed makes them stumble as they retreat, even reaching for their gun is a difficult task with trembling hands.

“Let’s not do that.” Tenki displays even greater speed than before, each holstered gun in his hands before being tossed into the pit, “I’d like you all to know, we mean you no harm.”

“Magic is dangerous, we cannot trust you.” Tosen said.

“That is unfortunate.” Cato claps, the shockwave of his empowered movement shattering every bulb in the vicinity and allowing them to escape into the darkness.

Chika falls onto her butt, at last allowed to breathe. “They got away. They’re far too powerful, even for us.”

“Then we will become stronger.” Tosen said.

“How do you plan on doing that? We have nothing that can match magic.” Ichigo said.

“That is where you are wrong. But it will take time to convince the others. Send a group to search for them, but they are not to engage.”

“I love your cosplay!” Cato is rushed by a group of girls wanting to take pictures with him.

“What is a cosplay?” Cato said.

“Hahaha! He’s a pro, always in character!” Tenki said.

“Wow! Your armor is great.” The group said as they admire Tenki’s sparking chest plate.

“Thank you, but we really must get going.” Tenki drags Cato with him.

Deep in the streets of Okubo, Tenki and Cato speed past admiring eyes. Cato’s ears remain down, the noises of a busy street near overwhelming if he is not careful.

“Do they also know we’re from another world?”

“No, they just admire your look.”

“Haha, perhaps humans of this world do have great taste. Now then, are you sure she will be here?”

“Certain, it was our friend groups favorite late night spot.”

As Tenki predicted, Aimi waits for them outside of a bar. She covers her face with a mask and glasses, though even that is not enough to hide her from Tenki.

“Hurry.” Aimi said as she dragged them to a table, “Three beers please.”

“Three beers!”

“You two couldn’t have teleported out of there or something?”

“I’m terrible with that kind of magic.” Tenki said.

“As am I.” Cato said.

“Great, great.” Aimi grabs Tenki’s hands.

“Hmm, do you mind if use the bathroom.”

“Go ahead, it’s just around the corner.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s great to see you again. I always hoped I would.” Tenki said.

“Tenki. There’s so much I want to ask. But there must be even more you wish to, go ahead.”

“There is. This job, how long have you known about magic?”

“I’ve known since I was a teenager, but AMDO has known for much longer. They do everything in their power to keep magic hidden.”

“Why? Magic is wonderful.”

“It’s too powerful. AMDO was created to protect us. Many natural disasters were caused by magic, even a weaker magic user is dangerous.”

“You’re right, but magic can be used for defense and to prosper as well.”

“I don’t have such faith in humans. Even today… Tenki, can you help us? I might be able to make a deal with AMDO if you two do.”

“What would I need to do?”

“We would need to eliminate the threat of magic. AMDO was created to have an end after all, we could help it finally reach it.”

“Eliminate? I could never hurt them, surely there is way for us to coexist.”

“Us? Tenki, you are human. You are of this world.”

“I am. But I love Mundi as well. Please, you have to trust me.”

“I want to, I really do. Enough work talk for now, we have a lot of time to catch up on.”

“We do.”

“So, what was it like?”

Cato watches from afar as Tenki’s eyes grow happier by the second when speaking of his journey. He’s lost himself in wonder, but Cato’s ears never fail, his world could be in danger.