Chapter 39

All four of us were in the sound room, each talking about both the plan and the concert. Tsuki and Marie were happily chatting about the songs we were going to play, and Ichiro was tuning his guitar. I sat there, absent-mindedly tuning my own guitar, turning the pegs without paying much attention. My mind was currently elsewhere. I stared off into the corner of the room, not focusing on anything specific. I turned one peg several times and stroked an unrelated string.

“Ryuki?” Tsuki called out to me, but I didn’t hear.

“Ryu?” Marie followed up.

I kept turning the peg until, with a loud snap, the string was stripped off the bottom rung and flew into the air. I shook my head and dropped the guitar, and it clattered on the ground. I held my hands up in surprise as I looked around the room to see Tsuki and Marie staring at me, their faces filled with concern.

“Ryu! What is going on? You’ve been completely distracted ever since you got here.” Marie said, coming to sit next to me.

“It’s nothing, just something on my mind.”

“You weren’t like this when we spoke in our room.” Marie persisted.

I stared at her, then at Tsuki who was equally as concerned. I glanced over at Ichiro who just nodded at me, as if telling me to explain it to them. I let out a deep sigh and wiped my brow.

“Yeah, you’re right. There is something bothering me.”

Tsuki and Ichiro came over and sat in front of me as I swallowed down my saliva and steeled myself. As I spoke, I looked at Tsuki.

“Ichiro found out by examining my blood... that I’m a replica.”

Tsuki’s eyes went wide and her face pale. She froze in place and said nothing. I turned to Marie, who had the same expression. Ichiro sat in silence as he watched the two girl's reactions. It was an awkward moment of silence before Tsuki broke it.

“So, you’re just like me?” She paused then her face lit up. “That’s awesome! I knew there was I reason I connected with you so easily!”

“You only found out you were a replica recently, Tsuki.” Ichiro said matter-of-factly.

“Doesn’t matter!” Tsuki said throwing a finger at him.

I turned to look at Marie whose face had softened from the shocked expression to a light smile. I stared at her, waiting for her response. She put her arm around me and pulled me close to her, embracing me in a hug.

“It doesn’t matter what you are. Because you are Ryuki. You are my Ryu.”

She was right. Just as we said to Tsuki; it doesn’t matter if we’re a replica or not. We are who we are at this moment. We are who we live as. I was distraught after Ichiro had told me what he discovered as I felt the same emotions Tsuki did. I was questioning who I really was, who the person I was copied from was, and why I was still alive. I was 20 years old, four years past the expected lifespan of a replica. That must mean the real Ryuki is a powerful mage. Ichiro theorized that I was swapped out at a young age like most mages, but assumes due to the level I possess, I may have been swapped in at a very young age hoping that I would die off sooner.

I realized what he was implying to me. That as an infant I was switched into the place of the real Ryuki. And there was only one point when that could have happened; when the doctors took me away from my parents in order to save my life. It turns out, however, I wasn’t being saved. I was being brought into the family in place of their real son. I was named Ryuki then and there. The person I replaced didn’t have a name. He wasn’t Ryuki. Isn't Ryuki. I spent my life with my mom and dad and I saw my sister join the family. They are my family. And this is my life, not the other Ryuki’s. And I’m glad that everyone accepted it and thinks of me as who I am; I am Ryuki. Just as I think of Tsuki as just that; as Tsuki, not a replica of someone else.

I pulled away from Marie who had a single tear in her eye as she looked at me with a smile. I wiped a tear from my own eye and cleared my throat.

“Thanks, guys. I needed to hear that.”

“Of course! You can always count on us! Now, Ichiro, fix his guitar!”

“Why me?”

Marie and I looked at each other again and chuckled. Then, to my surprise, she came in close and gave me a kiss.

***

“Alright guys. We’re planning to set up everything for tomorrow, Saturday, hoping to get as many people as possible to see us. So, let’s go over it one more time.” I said as I flattened a blueprint of Shibuya Crossing. “Ichiro, you sure your storage magic can pull this out?” I pointed to the stage.

“Yes, I’m working on it now. I got Tsuki to get me large sheets of paper that will be big enough for it.” 

“Perfect. Marie and I will carry the guitar cases, but they will just be a cover for Marie’s weapons. We’ll use the storage sheets for them along with Tsuki’s drum kit.”

As I spoke, a tinge of embarrassment crept into my mind. We seriously were planning to put on a rock concert in the middle of the busiest street to fight magicians. I brushed that aside as I continued.

“During the show, we need to make sure we make it apparent and completely convincing that the effects we’re using aren’t special effects but magic. So, during the show, Tsuki you need to manifest that halo-thing you had before.”

“Got it, Boss!” She said, saluting me.

“I’ll try to use some minor spells for flare, like making flame spheres and water orbs or something during the show, but once we get to the solo I’ll go with Tsuki’s suggestion.”

“Yea! Flying dragon solo!” Tsuki said, throwing her fist in the air. It’s hard to remember that she’s an adult.

“As for you two, I can only think of maybe giving you enhancement magic. You have anything else you can think of? Maybe Tsuki can do something?”

“Oh, I thought we mentioned it to you.” Marie said, pulling something out of her pocket. “Ichiro found these in his storage.”

“Oh, that will work. That will work really well. And anyone can use this, no magical talent needed?”

Ichiro nodded at me as he sipped on another energy drink.

“Alright, so that’s the plan for the concert. We have several songs planned in case the Secular doesn’t come right away, so we’re covered there. Now, battle plans.”

“I will take Ichiro and get to a safe spot and support you from afar with my rifle. I will focus on any regular magi officers while you and Tsuki focus on Apostles and any Bishops.”Marie said, pointing to one of the read buildings.

“And Ichiro will be your rear lookout. If anything happens, do not be afraid to bail out. Your safety is top priority here.” I said, giving them a stern look.

The two nodded at me in agreement. I turned to Tsuki who was playing air drums and started to talk battle tactics with her. Knowing the extent of her power from the battle against Yukino and Kyosuke, I knew that if she was at full strength, her large unique attacks could be pivotal. We discussed for roughly an hour, planning everything out for every unique scenario we could think of. After that, we decided to order some food and all headed to bed early for the night.

“Okay, get some rest everyone. Big day tomorrow. Goodnight.” I said, leaving the sound room with Marie.

We walked to our room, and I flopped onto the bed, sprawling out my arms and legs as I let out a loud sigh of relief. I had gotten something big off my chest after Ichiro finally explained to me what he found, and with everyone accepting it and not thinking anything of it, it was easier for me to accept my own rationale. I closed my eyes and started to relax, but then felt something drop on top of me. When I opened my eyes, Marie was lying on top of me, her head on my chest. She then looked up at me and blushed slightly, before speaking.

“You were taking up much of the bed, so I thought I’d just sleep on you like this.”

“I won’t mind.”

“I knew you wouldn’t.” She said, moving up to kiss me.

“You’re getting bold, Marie. Not that I’m complaining.”

She drifted her eyes downward and placed a hand on my chest. “I could be bolder.”

I tilted my head in confusion, but she didn’t continue and just smiled at me, before rolling off and snuggling next to me.

“Goodnight, dragon boy.”

“Goodnight, Marie.”