Pursuit

Nine Years Ago

In an interesting twist of fate, or perhaps desperation, Rei ended up joining the Earthwall gang operating outside of Tokyo Sky.

The gang members that beat him a year ago were still there, completely oblivious of who he was. Not that it mattered. Rei only had one goal in mind, and it was to have a consistent access to the ascendant city. Even if it meant delivering suspicious goods.

One day it was a crate full of counterfeit bills. Another it was stolen paintings. The ‘simple’ things as Kakohime, the notorious leader of Earthwall, liked to put it. Still in her early thirties, she was already considered the most dangerous woman of the lower wards. They said she was an exalt kicked out of Tokyo Sky. They said she could move faster than light. They said she rounded up all the crime families and gangs beneath the city’s shadow and put them under her heel. Exaggerations, but Rei didn’t care. She liked him for some reason and gave him all the jobs that involved the ascendant city. One day he found out why.

“You’re just like me,” Kakohime said in her slow drawl. She was pretty in a perpetually-pissed-off kinda way, with sharp, hawkish features, short white hair, and often found with a dragon-emblazoned jacket across her shoulders. That was her style. “I know you’re exalted, Rei. I see the aether in you sometimes. Somebody abandon you too?”

It was a common story. Exalts rose to fame and power in Tokyo Sky. But those in the fringes of society? Those thrown away by others? Sometimes they ascend and get their due, but other times they stray even farther and pushed out. Everyone knew an exalt’s powers diminished greatly outside the city.

Rei needed to spin a tale for Kakohime to sympathize. He was a terrible liar at the time, so his story mostly contained truth.

“I’m looking for the person who made my father disappear,” Rei said in one of the times the Earthwall leader made him pour drinks. “I think it was an exalt who did it.”

“Ah… so that’s why you like exploring the city on your own after a job. Other members think I’m too soft for letting you.”

“I only use the time I’m permitted!”

Kakohime cackled a laugh. “Oh, stop being so polite. And? Found any leads?”

“No… Best I found was the official registry of exalts in public offices. I don’t think any of them have powers I’m looking for.”

“Not bad. Tell you what, Rei. How about I give you a few not-so-simple jobs? Do them right and in time, I can station you in some of our ‘offices’ inside the city.”

And just like that, she trusted him. Perhaps, a bit too much.

One day she had Rei’s group smuggle weapons into the city.

It was a disaster.

A radical organization known as the Humanist Consortium, a group of anti-exalt extremists, bought weapons from their gang. But immediately after the deal happened, one of their members ascended in front of everyone. The pure irony.

It was the first time Rei had seen exaltation with his own eyes. The thunderous heartbeat, the sudden burst of light, bright golden eyes. It was magical.

But then the extremists started shooting. And ultimately, it was Rei and his friends who paid the price. Caught in the crossfire, they had to flee the scene wounded and penniless.

Night of the attack at Tennojima Mansion

December 10th, 2050

Shinjuku Outer Palisades

The clattering of gunfire had lessened since Rei and Masa left to chase after Carlos in the forest. There were flashes of light that occasionally came from the eastern sky, suggesting the fight wasn’t over, but if Rei didn’t know any better, he’d think Ruby herself had joined the fray.

The forest of the Outer Palisades wasn’t very long, about a kilometer or so in total, but it was dense and thick, and the road Carlos went through happened to be the scenic route that snaked its way across. The city probably intended to turn the palisades into a park than simply a shield for the city, but as Shinjuku rose higher than any other ward, plans must’ve fallen through.

Still, the forest was pretty mesmerizing at night, cold as it was.

That was, until Rei found Carlos’ truck crashed into a tree. One of its tires was blown off and the burn marks on the road showed exactly where it was hit. It was no wonder Carlos didn’t make it out of the forest.

But this means someone really was after him…

The truck’s door was left open and there were tracks on the grass next to the vehicle. The man’s still alive, but he wasn’t here.

Rei looked up and saw the government buildings past the canopies, soaring high in the sky. A few more minutes on the road and Carlos would’ve escaped back to society.

The sound of a motorcycle’s engine echoed behind Rei. Masa finally caught up. He removed his helmet, then gagged at the sight of the crash. “Damn…” he muttered. “You good?”

Rei nodded. “Just catching my breath. I’m pretty sure he’s not there.”

“You exalts can run fast, but you probably shouldn’t waste your aether,” Masa said. “Boss is one of the few exalted who apparently have tons of aether to burn, but even she gets exhausted after a while.”

Rei looked east. “Well, let’s hope she doesn’t burn the whole damn forest tonight.”

As if on cue, the sound of police sirens echoed from the other side of the palisades where the main road passed through.

“Look who finally showed up,” Rei noted. “We don’t have much time. Let’s find Carlos and whoever else is here.”

*

“Huff… Puff… Ahhh…”

Carlos hid in the middle of a large underbrush. He clutched his right arm, enduring the pain from the injury he received. He could barely move it.

“Y-You… you win!” he tried to shout. His throat hurt. “I’ll give you the gold medallion! I… I don’t need it anymore!”

“Huff… Puff…”

So damn cold.

How did this night turn out like this? All they wanted to do was protect the institute. Sensei’s legacy. Decades of work. Their blood, sweat and tears… for nothing.

And then sensei was exalted? Why didn’t he tell the team? It made no sense.

What if… what if this had something to do with Shimomura’s research? The man was kicked out of the institute, but somebody kept supporting him behind the scenes. The missing funds that Ringo found was proof enough. But now… now Ringo’s dead.

Carlos rested his head on the trunk of a nearby tree and saw puffs of his own breath in the air.

What did it matter at this point? Carlos never liked Akihiko’s arrogance and Ringo always took credit for everything. They were a piece of work, but they didn’t deserve to die.

What exactly did sensei see? Was it worth his apprentices’ deaths? Would their deaths be meaningless if Carlos gave up?

Carlos clutched the golden medallion in his pocket.

That bastard already took two of their silver medallions. Would the challenge even continue after this? The secret was hidden somewhere in the city. Anybody could get to it as long as they kept playing.

No. Carlos shouldn’t give up. That was probably police sirens he heard earlier. He pushed his back into the tree trunk and forced himself to stand up.

He looked around.

“Huff… Puff…”

If Carlos made it to the second challenge, he should probably throw his lot in with Ruby. Or even the American that Ringo hated. The Nevada Research Group would love to have sensei’s research.

Carlos barely took a step forward when the rustle of leaves echoed ever so slightly to his left.

He turned around to see, but… nothing.

Maybe his pursuer got lost? Or those gunshots earlier got to them. Either way, he should probably—

Light flashed. It was so fast it happened in the blink of an eye. Like it did for Ringo and Akihiko.

Carlos flew sideways. The grass and dry leaves cushioned his fall, but the shock from the attack paralyzed him. That was aether that hit him. Lightning.

Carlos coughed, then barely managed to turn on his back. Footsteps echoed, followed by a person materializing above him, looking down.

It’s… you…

Ayane Kujo, the progeny of sensei’s colleague, leaned closer to look at Carlos’ face. She was the picture of innocence—black hair draped on one shoulder, long white dress, a pretty face free of blemishes.

Carlos had only met sensei’s colleague a handful of times, but he was an enigmatic man. He had sharp features and dark, dark eyes… just like this woman.

“You really made me look for you, didn’t you?” Ayane said. Her frilly dress ruffled as she leaned further. “I’m the one people usually look for.”

“Please…”

Carlos struggled, but he managed to take out his golden medallion.

Ayane swiped it.

“Please…”

Carlos could barely think anymore. His vision was starting to blur.

Ayane stood back up, then straightened her dress. She turned to look at something. There was a booming sound. Was that a gunshot?

And then she vanished.

*

Rei couldn’t believe his eyes. After meticulously following Carlos’ tracks, they finally found the man and he wasn’t alone. Ayane, the woman who left the mansion early, was there standing over him.

Masa called out and fired a warning shot.

“Did you see that?” Masa said in disbelief. “She actually vanished.”

After all this time of living in Tokyo Sky, Rei finally found an exalt that had this ability.

Exalts with specific powers don’t simply ‘decide’ how their ability grew and evolved. It took tremendous training and knowledge of aether to be able to walk on walls or turn basic strength manipulation into healing. Since people ascended randomly, some change late in life and never have the chance to fully grow their powers. And those that try get varying results.

Considering Ayane appeared to be in her early twenties, she was either very talented or had another exalt train her.

“Invisibility must mean manipulation of light,” Rei muttered. “I doubt she could move too much while using it.”

More importantly, I could still feel her aether. She’s using it.

Rei traced where the aether moved and found a large amount far to the right of Carlos.

Ayane suddenly appeared and—

“Masa, look out!”

Rei shoved the man aside as a charge of electricity passed mere inches from the man’s chest.

Invisibility and lightning. Rei didn’t know if the two disciplines connected, but mastering just one was difficult enough. Who was this person?

“I don’t think I could do much with this one,” Masa said. “Bullets are usually enough to deal with exalts, but I’d need to see my target first!”

Rei looked up. Ayane disappeared again.

“I don’t suggest killing her,” Rei said. “Ruby might want to bring her in for questioning.”

“And how are we going to do that?” Masa snapped.

Rei followed the flow of aether in the air and found it gathering twenty steps east of where she was previously, standing slightly behind some camellia flowers.

“My, my…” Ayane’s voice echoed. “You’re a sharp one, aren’t you?”

Ayane appeared, then vanished again. Her aether use lessened, but Rei could still feel a hint of it ten steps away.

“I’m impressed. Reiji Shimomura, was it? I’m afraid we didn’t have the chance to talk back at the mansion.”

“I was planning to!” Rei shouted. “I was sad to hear you left! I wanted to take you up on your offer about exchanging medallions!”

Ayane’s laugh echoed.

“You have it with you?”

“Yes, I do! I got it right here on my jacket!”

Rei took out the empty box from his right pocket, then placed it right back.

“See that?”

“I did. Will you hand it over politely?”

“Doesn’t sound much of an exchange, does it?”

“Haha… What could you possibly want from me?”

“A chat would be nice! Preferably somewhere warm!”

“You’re funny. I kinda wish I didn’t leave as soon as I did… But I couldn’t stand being in that mansion.”

“You and me both!”

“The hell are you doing?” Masa hissed next to Rei. He stayed low on the ground.

“Buying time,” Rei whispered back. “I haven’t heard gunfire or Ruby’s explosions for a while now. Back up might get here soon.”

“I’ve been wondering,” Ayane continued, “I’ve met Shimomura before. You don’t look like him at all. Are you really his son?”

“I’ll take that as compliment!” Rei shouted. “I think you look quite pretty yourself! How about we talk about it over dessert and tea? I know this cake shop that opens early and—”

Crap.

Ayane reappeared, followed by a blast of lightning.

Rei instinctively applied his aether shield, then dove to the side. He rolled over to a stop, then filled his legs with power. He dashed away from Masa towards a denser portion of the forest. Might as well use the area as a natural shield.

“That was rude!” he shouted. “Now I’m starting to reconsider!”

Come on, follow me. Follow me. Follow me!

Ayane did. Her aether almost glided in the air.

The two of them had a little chase between cedar trees until Rei found a particularly large opening beneath thick canopies.

Rei stopped, summoned his aether blade, and when Ayane sent another blast of lightning, he managed to slice through it with his weapon. Barely.

“Huff.. Puff… can’t believe I pulled that off…”

“Impressive,” Ayane said as she appeared, walking closer to Rei. She barely broke a sweat and her pretty face remained calm under the light of the bronze sky.

“It really is you,” Rei said, his heart beating faster. “Why are you doing this?”

“Your medallion. Hand it over or die.”

“You know what… I probably would! How about my medallion in exchange for information?”

Ayane tilted her head.

“Who are you really?” Rei asked.

“Haven’t you heard of the name Kujo before?” Ayane asked. “My family has worked for Daiki Tennojima and his institute for a very long time.”

“And the ability to disappear? Did anybody teach you?”

“Why does this interest you? I’m an exalt. I want to win this competition.”

“Seventeen years ago, a man far outside of Tokyo Sky disappeared in the blink of an eye. Months later his dead body appeared in a riverbed. Sound familiar?”

Ayane’s face contorted slightly as if the pretty mask she wore broke at the seams. “Where have you heard that? You’re not really Reiji Shimomura, are you?”

“I’m just your run of the mill con artist who wants an answer,” Rei said with a theatrical shrug.

Ayane started to laugh. “This is precisely why I need to win.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I can’t risk whatever secret Daiki Tennojima wants to reveal!” Lightning crackled around Ayane’s arms. It was a lot louder up close. “Keep the medallion. I’ll take it myself after I’m done with you.”

Ayane slapped her hands together, making a wave of electricity in front of her.

Rei leapt backwards and sliced the edge of the attack with his blade. “I’m not interested in fighting!” he shouted. “I’ll worry above my medallion later! I just want to know!”

Ayane sent another blast of lightning that burned some of the trees behind Rei. Forget Ruby burning the forest down, Ayane just might do it herself.

“I’m only twenty-two,” Ayane said. “You think I was exalted seventeen years ago?” Her right hand crackled with electricity, then it formed into a sword. She swiped at Rei, but he managed to cut it with his blade. “You’re very good at tracking aether and bouncing around like a monkey!”

Rei laughed. “It’s pretty much all I can do! But I don’t think you’re involved in what happened. I just want to know if you know anything!”

Ayane swung her lightning sword around, her frilly dress swaying with every move. Had it not been for Rei’s disruption technique, he’d probably been burnt many times over.

After a wide, upward slash, Rei saw an opportunity to strike. He lunged forward, sliced through Ayane’s forearm and cut her aether flow. The lightning sword disappeared. Taken by surprise, Rei charged his left arm with aether, then delivered a blow to Ayane’s stomach.

The woman reeled backwards.

She’s a lot shorter up close, Rei realized. That dress can be deceiving.

Rei pounced a second time, but Ayane blocked it with with her shielded arm. To his surprise, the shield broke into particles, then crackled into lightning. It exploded into a blast, nearly hitting Rei in the face. He leapt backwards to get away.

Dammit, that burns! The lightning grazed Rei’s shoulder and right ear. I really shouldn’t bite more than I could chew.

“Are you working for Ruby Tennojima?” Ayane asked.

“What?” Rei said in surprise.

“Is she the one asking for this information?”

“And why would you think that? I work for my—”

“You can never trust a Tennojima or his institute!” Ayane screamed. “Ruby may be naïve, but if she were to learn what the institute had done, she’ll follow in its footsteps!”

Ayane sent two blasts of lightning. Rei dodged the first, then sliced the second. Before he could formulate a response, the woman already had aether back on the arm he cut.

And then she vanished.

Rei leapt away reflexively. “You know I can just track your—”

Lightning.

Rei dodged and—

Lightning.

Ayane threw lightning one after another. Unlike Shinozuka who went out of control, this woman was completely in tune with her abilities. Her aether reserve was large, and she was very precise in her use of it.

Rei couldn’t win this battle of attrition. He could move fast, but it took extreme mental fortitude to react to every attack. That being the case…

He ran towards to a cluster of trees that’s barely grown—ones deprived of sunlight in this dense forest. Maybe he’d let it burn after all. Lightning hit the trees as Rei dodged left and right, causing them to split apart and fall to cinders. When he found a perfectly good trunk, he swiped it off the ground with his aether, burnt branches and leaves intact.

“Are you serious?” Ayane said, almost choking a laugh.

Rei moved towards Ayane with his new weapon pointed like a mop. He used the length of the object and swung it around to lead his opponent’s attacks and close the gap between them. Once next to each other, Ayane used her wave of electricity and burned the trunk’s branches and leaves.

“So much for—”

Rei threw the burning tree in Ayane’s direction, followed where she dodged, then closed the gap even more until they were mere inches apart. He summoned his aether blade.

Ayane was quick to summon her lightning sword, but Rei took care of that quickly enough. He sliced through both his opponent’s arms, then headbutted her, his forehead coated with aether.

The exalted woman managed to shield her face in the last second, but that was another distraction. As soon as she lost her footing, Rei shoved his aether blade directly at her heart.

Ayane’s eyes went wide. She did a twitching motion, which Rei assumed was her trying to go invisible, but obviously it didn’t work. Her aether was cut from the source.

Rei pivoted, then went for another gut punch. This time, Ayane was completely unshielded. The blow connected and her knees gave out. Rei went for a right hook next, but Ayane managed to somehow raise her left arm to block it unassisted by aether.

Ayane wasn’t as weak without power as he thought. The woman held her ground, pushed Rei, then raised both arms defensively. Her eyes burned with concentration. There was no gap in her defense. Rei might’ve caught her off-guard, but she was clearly trained in the martial arts as well.

Then a heartbeat. The time Rei bought with his disruption was over as aether flickered back in Ayane’s heart.

Dammit. So close!

In the end, Ayane was a professional killer, and he was a fake. Merely an assistant detective pretending to be a con artist.

“Huff… puff… so… do you yield?” Rei said jokingly. “I’d really like my answer now…”

Ayane didn’t look amused. She’d spent so much aether already, but whatever she had left was still more than Rei’s. Her hands crackled with lightning. Less than it was at the start, but one hit could end him.

For a while it seemed like she hesitated. But before Rei could talk his way out, the woman raised her right hand for a final blow.

I failed, Rei thought. I got greedy. I finally found a clue and… sorry, Chief. Sorry Airi.

At least, in the end, Rei could use the last of his power on Ayane and see the information himself.

As he did, the moon appeared above them, followed by a blur that came to save his ass.

*

Ruby walked across the garden outside of her mansion. Several men and women in tactical gear were bound and captured before her, many bearing burns.

The police came in time to assist her security team, but they’d been pathetically late in their arrival.

“Can you make them turn off that flashing light in their cars?” Ruby said in irritation. “It’s making my head hurt.”

“I’ll see what I can do, ma’am,” Issei said before he dashed off.

Near the entrance of the mansion, Keisuke spoke in tears with one of the detectives. Poor man. The attack must’ve taken a few years off his remaining life.

“Monster,” one of the bound attackers spat as he lay sideways on the ground. He was probably not much older than Ruby. “You exalts are a menace! This isn’t over! Just you—”

Ruby walked towards the bastard and rammed her heel down his face. That shut him up.

The Anti-Exalt Faction, huh? It’s been a long time since she’s heard the name. Humanist Consortium or some other nonsense. Why in heaven’s name did they choose to attack the mansion? And tonight, of all times… it wasn’t a coincidence.

Her phone vibrated. When she took it out, she saw ‘Assistant Detective’ on the screen. Perfect timing. “Rei?” she said. “Report. What happened to you?”

“Report?” a voice answered back. A female voice that sounded familiar. “I’m not sure who this is, but this is the last number dialed in this phone, so I clicked it.”

“Who is this?” Ruby asked sharply. “Why do you have that phone?”

“Oh, wait a minute… I know that voice. Ruby, correct? It’s me, Ana Lucia.”

“Why do you have Reiji’s phone?”

“It’s a long story. Hey… did you… yet…”

There was another voice on the other end of the call. A male voice from far away.

“Yeah, I found them! Over here!” Ana Lucia shouted in a muffled tone. She probably blocked the mic with her hand. “Sorry about that. I, uh, I snuck out of the mansion to follow after Reiji and that Masa guy. Took me a while to find them… but I got to them in time.”