6. The Brumes

Haruka and Kazuki rode the motorcycle and watched as the landscape changed. The tall buildings and crowded streets slowly gave way to smaller buildings and houses and quieter streets.This transition also revealed more of the blue cloudy sky and the powerful sun already dictating the heat of the day. Soon, the two were entering the highway, surrounded by trees and just a few constructions.

The highway was quite beautiful, the large trees, the sun shining through the leaves, and the warm wind. All alone, they heard the sound of the motorcycle, the singing of the birds and the rustling of the leaves. They remained quiet, as it was hard to talk with helmets, but at times Haruka touched Kazuki's head slightly, pointing his gaze to things like birds and a river. His driving was steady and not too fast, allowing them to enjoy the scenery.

However, it did not take long for them to be greeted by the brume. Kazuki touched Haruka's arm twice, a reminder that they needed to stay on their toes and Haruka touched his other arm in return. It was a matter of minutes for the slight mist to become a thick white fog that allowed for a tiny line of sight. Kazuki turned on the strongest head lights and kept riding on.

Haruka and Kazuki were on the edge of their seats as they advanced through the brume. The road was good and, even though they couldn't see the environment, there was nothing unsettling beyond the sense of the unknown and a feeling of magical energy scattered. Despite that, the climate got heavy when the brume all around them became coloured. Shades of pink surrounded them and when they became more pronounced, Kazuki braked heavily and turned the motorcycle on its side. Haruka and Kazuki jumped out of the vehicle and removed their helmets, already on their fighting stances. They looked around searching for something. Faint sounds kept them attentive but its source was still unknown.

In the corner of his eye, Kazuki saw a purple shade and promptly stepped aside. Haruka could see the shade striking were he was. With his hands, Kazuki sent a stream of ice in that direction, but no effect was seen. Haruka looked around and saw orange dashes and sent a stream of lightning in that direction. The dashes disappeared. Right after, Kazuki saw flowing shadows concentrating and then said:

- "Raikubo-san!" - he jumped, pushed her aside and got down. From the concentration point, a stream of shadows flew into their direction. Haruka, still on the ground, said:
- "Thanks!"
- "I have an idea!" - Kazuki replied - "use your pillars!" - they both got up. Haruka took a breath and set her hand on the ground, sparks flying from it. The sparks flowed through the ground and started sprouting upward in various places, creating lightning pillars. Kazuki kept silent and watching. He saw signs of a shadow dancing between the pillars and sent a stream of ice in its direction. A scream filled the place and the shadow became briefly visible, but soon flowed and disappeared.
- "Great Kaa-chan! Our first hit!"
- "Let's see where it strikes now!"

The brume changed to an orange shade, not distracting the Shocking Blue duo. They heard a sound on their right, but saw a purple shade on the left. The two stepped back as a purple shade went to and fro before them. Haruka sent lightning to the left and Kazuki sent ice to the right. The lightning illuminated a skull like form in blue as it screamed. Despite that, in an instant, it shouted and hurled towards Haruka. She lifted her two hands and supercharged them. Shades were illuminated by lightning as Haruka held her defence. Kazuki leapt and launched ice blocks which made the shade disappear and Haruka stopped her magic.

- "Are you alright?" - screamed Kazuki.
- "Yes, let's keep it up!" - as she said that, the brume became greenish and they could see streams of shadow hurling towards them. They evaded each one of the gloomy spurts, trying to grasp where to attack. While evading, Haruka couldn't see a purple shade that stroke her left arm from behind. As Kazuki rushed towards her, he was hit by one of the shadows, on his hip. He fell on his side and quickly got up. Haruka approached him, in pain and shouted:

- "Time to go all in!" - Kazuki hesitated, but she looked determined and he consented. He unleashed a large stream of frost that scattered above the ground. Far from them, two purple shades appeared and started hurling towards them. The ice made it more visible and as it passed, Haruka dashed and made a grabbing motion. Suddenly the purple shades stopped, on both sides of her hand, as if she grabbed a double bladed sword. As she lifter her head, shadows were hurling towards her, but Kazuki sent an ice stream with all his strength on their direction. They faded in and out of view, but did not approach Haruka any more, even though they seemed more and more agitated. As a shriek was heard, some of the shadows became more and more visible, giving the appearance of a beating heart. Haruka advanced with angry eyes as she hurled one of the purple shades on to the shadowy heart. The heart exploded in a scatter of gloom and a loud shriek was heard. The shades disappeared and the brume became white again.

Haruka breathed as she felt her heart palpitating. Kazuki looked down, feeling his hands freezing. Haruka took a while to say:
- "I hate fighting spectres."
- "Clear reminder of why we still didn't get rid of all the brumes yet. Let's get out of here, it is rare, but another one could show up" - they both put on their helmets and rode the motorcycle again, making haste.