The Night of the 16th, Part 3

RYUUJI AND HOTARU RAN through an isolated mountain path, escorted by the Amaterasu Unit and led by Miyuki in the center with the help of the Moon Mirror.

“Enemies around the next turn, watch out!” she said, prompting Ren and Raiden to rush ahead in a pincer maneuver. With Ren drawing out the enemy fire, his comrade had a brief window to flank them.

The ambushing squad, suddenly attacked from the side, turned around to defend themselves. However, Aoi stood on overwatch and suppressed them with a hail of machinegun fire the moment Ren stepped out of the way.

With the enemy pinned in position, Shūgo pushed forward and helped the other two wipe them out. It was a ruthless, systemic annihilation well practiced by the team.

“There’s hardly anything for us to do,” said Ryuuji, frankly amazed by them.

“Goes to explain their reputation,” Hotaru replied.

“You’re our trump cards in this mess, my dears. We need you nice and fresh,” said Itsuki behind them.

Far to the distance on the horizon, the city was in a state of chaos. Flashing lights and explosions were everywhere, and up the sky, there was a massive black dragon wreaking havoc in its wake. The JSDF and ACU air forces were pressed in battle against it, but their odds of victory looked grim.

“Enemies down. Where next, Jōnoha-san?” asked Shūgo.

“We’ll run straight for a hundred meters, then jump down. We should land right on top of them from there; just give me a moment,” said Miyuki, pressing her finger onto the mirror in her hands.

“That relic is a thing of beauty,” said Raiden, regrouping with the team. “You’re sniffing them out like a bloodhound. Any chance you can lend it to me later?”

“If you become a High Priest of the Divine Veil, sure,” Miyuki replied.

“Oh, come on. Not even a little? I’d like to scry with it sometime.”

“Nope. It’s too sacred for me to lend. Besides, it’s not always this potent.”

“Really? How come?”

“It’s stronger close to its target, and tonight the sky is clear with a full moon.”

“Ah. So there is a silver lining tonight.”

“Yup. The Gods work in mysterious ways. In any case, I’m done with the marking. I think we’ve got them all.”

“Perfect. We’re clear to engage,” said Ryuuji.

“Ahead we go then. Lead the charge, Ren,” said Shūgo, and the team continued running down the abandoned mountain road.

* * *

WHEN THEY REACHED THE AREA indicated by Miyuki, the team jumped off a cliff and activated a barrier spell. They were met with a hail of fire as they descended, but the combined might of their overlapping defenses bought them enough time to land.

With that, the team found themselves in the very heart of the enemy’s operation, within the once sacred grounds of an ancient temple. A foul runic formation was etched onto the courtyard’s floor, surrounded by energy pylons, with the figure of a lone woman in the middle.

That person was the primary source of corruption, the one singing the dreadful song that plunged the spirits into madness. If not for the blessing Miyuki had imbued the party with beforehand, they too could have succumbed.

“Is that… Akiko-san?” asked Hotaru, horrified by the sight.

The beautiful and elegant woman she had met just the other week was now a husk of her former self. Her hair had completely grayed out, her eyes were sunken and hollow, and her skin had wrinkled like she had aged over a hundred years.

For all intents and purposes, Akiko was in a state of living death.

“Bastards…” Ryuuji clenched his fists, fighting hard to suppress his fury.

Even the hardened veterans of the Amaterasu Unit were disturbed, and as they gazed upon her in horror, the figure of a lone man walked towards them.

“My, oh my,” he said, his voice confident and cocky as he looked at Hotaru. “I was hoping for visitors, but I didn’t expect you would show. I mean, you do realize the whole area is crammed with dampeners, right? You can’t hear them well from that woman’s screeching, but they’re there, and they’ll block any song you could have for us.”

Hotaru didn’t reply, and only glared at him.

“You…” said Ryuuji, his eyes narrowed. “I’ve seen you before. You’re the bastard who shot us, aren’t you? I’d never forget your posture.”

“Oh. You could tell? Man, and I thought my disguise was perfect. Yes, that was me and my favorite ladies. We really sold the family appearance, didn’t we? You should’ve seen the look on your faces when we gunned you down.”

It took Ryuuji and Ren every ounce of willpower not to charge him on the spot. The taunt was blatantly obvious, but that didn’t make it any easier to endure.

“Say, where’s the missy? The one the shorty shot. Don’t tell me she’s dead, please. I was hoping for a rematch with the lot of you, and it really won’t do if she’s gone.”

“Don’t fall for it,” Miyuki whispered from behind. “There’s a containment field in front of him. They’ll grab you if you get close.”

The man before them was so confident that he was looking to take prisoners. With Hotaru’s power sealed, and over a dozen guns pointed at them, it was difficult to blame him for his arrogance.

“It seems you know plenty about us, but we don’t know about you at all,” said Ryuuji, keeping his temper in check. “Would you mind introducing yourself?”

“Oh, but of course. Where are my manners?” he replied, conspicuously dropping his guard. “My name is Hakurō, I’m the leader of the Hands. And these two are Miu and Saya, my darlings. Um… darlings? Come here, you cows, we’re talking here.”

“Oh my God, Hakurō, we’re supposed to keep overwatch.”

“And I don’t give a damn. Come over here, be social for once in your lives.”

With every ounce of reluctance, two women left their positions and walked to his side. They were clad in dark armor and their faces were concealed, but they were definitely the same people from the ambush.

“I thought she was a kid,” said Ryuuji, looking at the shorter one.

“Nope, she’s just short. Makes her all the more dangerous.”

She did trick Ryuuji, through and through.

“And well, now you know us,” said Hakurō. “And with all the introductions out of the way, I’d like to offer you a deal. You see, we’ve won already. The Bureau is in ruins, thanks to our dragon friend over there, and the ACU has no hope of turning this around.

“Even if they do, the damage is permanent. There’s no purifying all the cursed energy in the city, and the only ones who can mitigate it are the Red Thread. So, I’d like to invite you to join us. You’ll get to keep your life, land a new job, and be on the winning side of this bright new world.”

“Bright new world, you say…” Ryuuji scoffed at him, as the Amaterasu Unit kept their eyes peeled for hostiles. “Do you honestly believe that? Do you actually think all your crimes serve some greater purpose?”

“I don’t merely think so; I know. I may not be as eloquent as the Director, but I know for a fact we’re doing good. It won’t look that way for a while, but give it some time and you’ll see.”

“And what of all the people you’ve killed along the way? What of Akari, whom you gunned down? What of Akiko, whom you’ve turned into that… thing?!”

“They’re necessary sacrifices. It’s unfortunate, but they stood on the wrong side of the balance… and I hope you won’t make the same mistake. I did try to kill you before, but the Red Thread would like to recruit you if possible. All of you.”

He turned to the Amaterasu Unit, and even Miyuki as she clutched her mirror.

“It’s your call, Hotaru,” said Ryuuji, turning to her. “What do you say?”

Hotaru stared at Hakurō, not giving an immediate answer.

And then…

“I say descend. Descend and crush my enemies.”

Her voice echoed in the sky, reverberating to the very bones of everyone present. And at her signal, Miyuki activated the Moon Mirror, using it as a teleportation gateway to evacuate the whole team.

Hakurō’s henchmen opened fire, but by the time their bullets reached their marks, there was nothing there to hit anymore. Once again, Ryuuji and his allies had slipped from his grasp.

But more alarmingly…

“Hakurō. She didn’t talk.”

The taller woman next to him, Miu, pointed out the most crucial detail in the exchange. Despite casting her magic in full force, Hotaru’s lips didn’t move at all.

“We’ve been had,” said the leader of the Hands, turning his eyes to the sky above.