Collision

“Hands up!”

Aimi follows Tosen’s command. Their battle against Cato finished ten minutes ago. Relief welled through the captains as Cato left those he battled with demobilizing injuries at best. This respite was short lived however, blood dripped from the elevator and their search led them to the top floor.

Aimi stands at the end of the hall, the body of every leader on the ground in between them. All but Higaraki were given a quick end, their cries and pleas all for naught.

Aimi rests her back on the windows behind her. She has the strength to fend one captain at best, but the rest will make quick work of her soon after.

“Have you sided with them?” Chika said.

“Sided with them? Our purpose is to protect our people, our world. Where does torturing others and creating weapons of them have a place in that purpose? You knew about this. You let it happen. I wished to look the other way, but not anymore.”

“Aimi, we’re taking you in.” Tosen steps forward, Aimi dropping her hands despite his gun still locked onto her head, “Don’t make this difficult.”

“Whose side are you going to take?”

Two shots are followed by the drop of their targets. Standing tall remain Aimi, Ichigo, and Ino.

“I can’t agree with murdering everyone here. But, you’re right. Torturing those people, it was never supposed to be like this.” Ichigo said.

“We’ve chosen you, Aimi. I hope you understand the responsibility that is yours now.” Ino said.

“I do.”

“So, this was your choice.”

Ichigo and Ino point their weapons at Cato. He is alone, not a scratch on his body. After two seconds, they drop their weapons. They’ve witnessed a fraction of his strength, angering him would be pointless.

“I have. But my goal is still the same, I will protect this world.”

“That is my goal as well.”

“It is not. The worlds we choose differ, you understand which I will choose. If nothing else, I will make it painless.”

“You’re unwilling to even try.”

“I am not optimistic like Tenki, I understand the reality of humans.”

“So be it.”

Aimi leaves as Cato vanishes into the wind. Her command will begin the next day; she has no desire to remain inside the building any longer and only left the soldiers with an order to clean.

After cleaning herself and changing into a new pair of clothes, Aimi heads home. Her car speeds past the dim streets, and swerves past any obstacle in her path. If it will get her home sooner, she has done it.

At the moment, there is only one saving grace. One that she prays is waiting at home for her. Screeching into her parking space, Aimi runs to the door.

“Please be here.”

She types in the wrong code twice before taking a deep breath. The possibility of him leaving is fair, enough to keep her hands shaking as she unlocks the door.

“Aimi.”

Tenki stands in the living room. Aimi’s body becomes lighter, her first step slow as her body taxes her from the earlier brawls. Despite this, she gathers the energy to run into his arms. The safety of his embrace allows her to cry; she no longer needs the energy to carry herself as he holds his collapsing wife.

“Aimi, what happened?”

“I killed them. I killed all of them.”

Tenki carries Aimi to the couch. Sitting next to her, she rests her head on his shoulder before explaining the events after he left AMDO.

The discovery still disgusts her. She feared walking further into the labs, only looking at her targets as she hunted them. Every death was justified in her eyes, though they can never make up for what they have done to the those tortured by their hands.

“AMDO is under my command now. I won’t let atrocities like that to ever happen again. But the issue of protecting this world still holds.”

“Can you do it?”

“Not alone. Tenki, help us. We must protect this world. This is the world you were born into, the world we live in. Where our families and children will live in.”

“I can’t choose one side over the other.”

“Why not?! I’m sorry. I know it’s unfair. If there was another way, I would take it. But I can only see us going to war if we don’t do something.”

“Aimi. Why not leave with me?”

“Where to?”

“To Mundi, the other world. We could find a way to stop people the disappearances of people from both worlds. It happened to me; it could happen to others just as many have come to this world. You may even come to like it. That world, is has beauty unlike any you have even seen. We could live there if you’d like.”

Aimi lifts her head. “This is my home. I can’t leave it knowing the danger that could be here.”

“Just give it a chance.”

Aimi stands, her legs weak but she musters the strength to stay up. Now at her most calm, it is difficult to ignore the pain her body is in. She has pain killers stashed in a cabinet somewhere, searching for them will be agonizing but a must to get some rest.

As Aimi walks away, Tenki reaches for her arm that pulls away. “Aimi.”

“Tenki. I think you should stay out of this, whatever should happen. I won’t ask you to help again, it is too unfair. I will do what I must, I only hope you will be here when all is said and done. I still believe we can live happily together. Even if we are different now.”

“Won’t you let me take care of this?”

“I can’t. It has to be us who protect this world.”

Tenki remains quiet as Aimi limps up the stairs. Left with no way of convincing of Aimi, he leaves for the only other person he can get help from.

“Cato!” Tenki said as he arrived at a camp deep in the woods.

The camp is filled with tents stolen by Cato and some of the adults with simple magic skills. Food and water are gathered in similar fashion; none have any money with worth in this world.

20 including Cato are present at the camp. Most young adults, each suffering from weakness, malnourishment, harvesting of magic, even lengthy interrogations have left them in states much weaker than that which they arrived.

“Is that the hero?”

“He has come to save us as well.”

“Tenki, I was surprised that you left me to do as I wish in that place.”

“A fight between would have been far more disastrous. Is this everyone?”

“Those that I could find, those alive.”

“I’m sorry. Aimi told me of what she found.”

“The people of our world are not saints, and they will not find a place in this world. I will begin sending them home soon, but I will be staying to find all those that have come to this world.”

“You believe there are more?”

“There must be. Everyone arrived at different locations; it merits an investigation at the least. I will do all that I can to grab them and leave without the need to fight, but any who pose a danger to them will be dealt with. I hope you understand.”

“That is unnecessary. I will help where I can, but our next focus must be preventing our worlds from crossing paths again.”

“I agree. But we must also prepare in case that is not possible.”

“Cato, the possibility of coexisting is there. You must trust me. Did I not live amongst you all?”

“You are different. But look at them. How many did they come across yet receive no helping hand? Our people were cruel to you as well, but you were granted opportunity because of your kindness. The same cannot be said for them.”

“It is unfortunate that they met who they have, but I assure you that my people are kind.”

“That’s just it, your people are no longer part of this world. Tenki, you are one of us. I’m sure you understand this as well. Look at how they see you, you are the hero of Mundi.”

“I can be both.”

“Those who try lose everything.”

“At least-”

Tenki stops and casts a barrier spell alongside Cato. Earth is engulfed in a wave of magic, enough to bring the heroes of Mundi into a defensive position and prepare to retaliate.

The magic spreads, leaving behind a blanket that glows like the light northern lights.

“Everyone get down!” Cato said.

Earth trembles. Like an earthquake overtaking the entire planet, chaos and destruction ravage the planet for thirty seconds. Those of the camp run to each other and embrace, tremors like this are rare even in a world of magic. Should it last any longer they fear the world will tear apart.

Once done, the noise of screams and sirens replace the terrible shaking.

“Cato.” Tenki looks to Cato who focuses on the magic above.

No longer just lights, those with magic can see what is held up above.

“No. People aren’t disappearing by chance. Our worlds are colliding.”