The Devil's Deal

Capriciousness or pettiness, it was hard to pick one. Yori didn’t normally have strong feelings about Akasha. Opinions, absolutely, but feelings were another matter. It never spoke with him. It never did anything other than curse him with the eye and his fate. A one-sided transaction was all that it was at the end of the day. What was there to be seething over? Especially for something that happened when he was a child.

But it was really starting to make him develop some. Yori couldn’t believe that it actually took back the power. If it gave it, then naturally, it should be able to take it. He wasn’t the first or the last owner of Akasha’s will. But to so arbitrarily revoke it, when he needed it, felt like the height of pettiness. If an amorphous omnipresent will of the planet could have such emotions. It probably would have despised such a suggestion as to think it might be human, like the rest. The thing had so little regard for humans that it would probably find it insulting.

Yori lost what little care he had for such notions. Screw him, then screw you. The only problem was that it made the plan worse. Miho needed him, and he was failing her because of outside interference. She hadn’t given the signal, but it didn’t matter anymore. Their time was almost out. It was now or never, and he couldn’t deliver.

Another chime rang through the hall, signaling the imminent start. Yori clenched his jaw tightly as he approached the edge of one of the many balconies. Roughly a third of the theater was filled. An impressive number, but he also didn’t know how much that represented. It was enough if his power would actually work.

It failed again on him.

There was no path open anymore. He looked over to the exits. Everyone dressed nicely, even the guards. It was hard to know exactly which were sorcerers and who was normal. He was going to have a lot to deal with. ‘I need a better plan than just starting a brawl…’ There was no route other than death at the end of such a plan, even if he did accept that outcome.

Before he could take another action, a deep rumble came through the theater. If he had the ability to detect mana, then he would know with certainty what happened. But he still felt confident enough that he knew. It wasn’t what the signal was supposed to be, but Miho must have had to improvise. Yori couldn’t complain, considering his situation.

However, watching every single sorcerer react immediately with all of the mundane delayed confirmed for him what he needed. But as more rumblings came and even threats of the lights fading, the severity became even clearer. ‘You’re overdoing it, Miho. Just get your sister out of there!’

As the attacks became obvious, confusion spread through the theater. There was uncertainty about whether a raid was happening, as if the government would actually get off its ass to move. Others wonder if a mage got loose, but it was unlikely since, without a catalyst from this side or a prepared one, the Veil would catch and move them promptly. Though more curious was the question of some sneak attack.

The entirety of the Tokyo underworld currently operated in a sort of cold war status, having come out of a violent turf war a decade ago. He wasn’t active in the incident, but the Saioji’s were. It was the worst magic conflict since World War II, and the syndicates were still recovering. Or at least claimed to be. After a decade, some might be waking back up. The increasing movements of sorcerers and the stealing of innocents certainly signaled a change coming. And some of the voices echoed that concern.

Yori looked around at the theater, assessing his options. If he did nothing, Miho would be swarmed with dozens of high-grade sorcerers in minutes. It’d be more than she could handle, even running with her sister. ‘I need to make a decision.’

He didn’t like the limited choices he had. His power was supposed to disable a lot of them, so they had less to fight. Though it did mean he could still engage with them, unlike the original plan. It wasn’t something he was thrilled about, even if it was the practical thing to do.

But as he watched the building turmoil and stress climb below, a dark thought came to him. He hated it. And yet it would give Miho what she needed, even if it meant the sacrifice of others. Yori checked the state of the aisles. If he wanted to make such a move, he would have to do so quickly. It wasn’t something that he could delay any longer.

His mind darted between the risks. It was a terrible plan. But it solved things now. Damn Akasha for forcing the hand he had to play. Yori stopped debating. Seconds burned away.

He looked around him to see if anyone was watching him. Their interests were elsewhere, distracted thankfully. Pulling out his senbon, he braced for what he would begin. Placing a marker on each, he focused his vision tightly on three normal humans. It had to look like an assassination; sorcerers wouldn’t cut it. They were at least with sin, so such blood wouldn’t be a problem. Just that which followed.

Throwing the needles quickly through the air, they struck at the arm or shoulder of three black-suited men. The prick was felt immediately, but he went to his magic item. Pressing the cross shape into his hand, he channeled the mana through as lightning struck down from the ceiling on each marked senbon.

Shouts and screams roared from the floor. Yori darted out of the balcony and moved over to another as chaos started to spread. Through his disguise, he shouted out enough for it to be carried by others. “The Jade Dragons--!” It just had to sound desperate, and he would let emotions carry the rest. Immediately, guns started to be pulled out, and sorcerers turned, paranoia burned like a fire through brush.

Yori caught a glimpse of a gun at the side of one of the panicking members. He quickly lifted it and confirmed it was loaded. Tensions shot through the roof already. Just needed a final push.

Sneaking away, he found an isolated spot in the theater with others roughly in line. ‘It's been a while since my firearms training, hope I’m still a good shot…’ Yori made a final check, burying the gun between two chairs as he hid. One more death for the fire.

It was almost deafening, the shot of the gun as everyone started to turn, trying to identify the location. Quickly, guns and catalysts were pointed. Threats were thrown out. No one was backing down anymore.

Disappearing into the shadows once more, he made it to the hall before weapons fire broke out. He closed his eyes for a moment, knowing the chaos he opened. But Shiori would be safe. Miho had her time now. She just had to escape.