Match (2)

“Sorry about the handcuff. It’s not comfortable for sure.”

Takagi and Aurora sat in a room deep inside an abandoned building. It was the same building where they had confronted each other until Takagi yielded himself. It was clear that he could not escape from her, no matter what. He thought his life was finished, but to his surprise, Aurora only held him hostage.

He could not use his powers anymore. The special anti-ESP handcuff had prevented him from using his powers.

They were inside a mid-sized room, illuminated by an abandoned portable neon which somehow still works. Aurora had found it by coincidence. The lights revealed both of the espers which sat by the walls, separated by around three metres apart.

“May I ask why we’re wasting our time here?” he asked.

“So eager to die?”

“Yeah, but more than that, my ass feels uncomfortable sitting on this cold floor for an hour now.”

“I thought you want to-”

“Yeah, get on with the jokes.”

Aurora smirked. “Well, about why you are here, I think you can guess it by yourself.”

Takagi said nothing else. He took a glance at her face. Her eyes were closed. Her arms crossed, holding her katana.

“Where’s your sword’s scabbard?”

“I left it.”

“Left it?”

She opened her eyes slightly and stared at Takagi. There was something odd about her expression. “You ask too much.”

Takagi just sighed.

“Just have to make sure that you’re not doing something that might not be in my interest.”

“And what exactly is that?” Takagi smiled as he looked away. “You made me sit on this floor for an hour while you just sit there looking like you’re meditating. Can we just make a deal out of this?”

“You sure sound in a hurry.”

“Yeah, I am.” Takagi decided to leak his intentions a bit. “I came here to meet Travis. Then he’s gone and forcing me to find him, until you suddenly come, that is.”

“Travis…?”

“Yeah. Did you see him?” Takagi tried his luck.

“No,” she said. “Why did you want to meet him.”

“Personal business between men as usual.”

Aurora smiled and looked away. Takagi thought Aurora would be curious to ask more. Instead, she became quiet once again and then closed her eyes.

“Well then, can we please get along with each other and just let it away? It doesn't look like you want to do something with me now."

“I can’t do anything about it,” she said as she opened her eyes once more. “You are my order.”

“What?”

“Somebody wants you.”

Takagi’s expression changed dark and fast. “So, you guys want to eliminate me?”

Aurora looked at him with a serious look. “It seems like you don’t want to talk.”

Takagi frowned. “Look, I just want to meet Travis. That’s all, goddammit. I don’t really care about this damn war in Regra.”

“What if I told you that my mission is to seek and protect you?”

He was caught unable to speak for a moment. “...What? Me?”

“A person seems to take a liking to you,” she said sarcastically. “I got paid a large sum of money for that.”

“Is it Redmond…? No, it’s impossible.”

Aurora waited for a while. “...He called himself ‘Aaron.’ Does that ring a bell to you?”

Takagi narrowed his brows and shook his head. “No. Where did you meet this guy? Do you know him?”

“Online contact via chat. No voice, nothing–and for you second question: no. I can’t link the person to someone.”

“...And you trust this person?”

“No, but the money and your involvement have made me curious.”

“So why does this ‘Aaron’ guy decide to be my guardian angel? For what?”

“It is something that I want to know as well.” Aurora stared at him with full attention. “But if you don’t want to talk. Fine.”

Takagi was dumbfounded. His face looked upward towards the dirty ceilings. His mind started to collect the jumbled puzzles inside his head.

Someone tried to protect him from behind by sending an esper. From who and what? Takagi couldn't put his finger on it. Everything he faced at the moment was so bleak. This was the first time such a thing happened to him. Moreover, an anonymous person was suddenly able to get Aurora’s contact.

He thought it was strange for Aurora to be this lenient towards him. Finally, he could see something behind it.

“When did you get the order?”

“Two days ago.”

“Did this guy say anything about me?”

Aurora did not say anything for a moment. Her eyes looked at Takagi’s face as if she was about to ascertain something.

“He or she just told you that someone out there was on the hunt for you,” she said. “Can’t blame them if someone has a grudge against you.”

Takagi did not say anything. He just kept quiet, trying to speculate what was going on at the moment. His mission, the sudden encounter with Aurora, then the fact that somebody was out there to hunt him.

He had no doubt that his mission had something to do with it. It was not just a petty business against the syndicates, the bees, or anything. He would know it if that was the case. He just could not find the right explanation. There were several wild scenarios in mind, but he dismissed them entirely. Not to mention, Redmond would inform him as well. She was not in a position to discard him even in a worse scenario. However, this ‘Aaron’ person just went past her networks.

“So, how did you track me?”

“I couldn’t until I asked for help from a friend of mine just hours ago,” Aurora said. “She was able to hijack your signal and pinpoint your location.”

“My comm set.”

“...And your digipad.”

In short, her friend was a hired “hacker” and a good one at that.

Aurora continued, “Then, the indicator pointed at Regra. So I wasted no time searching after you.”

Takagi then sighed, “You could just contact me if that was the case.”

“Don’t get it wrong. We’re no friends,” she said. “I’m just here for the money, as we all do. We don’t have the luxury of principles in this damn city.”

“But at least we don’t have to duke it out like before. Now, my stomach is still somewhat hurt and my ass is freezing.”

“It seems someone forgot what he has done in the past. I’m just trying to be cautious and repay the favour.” Aurora talked about an incident several years ago. However, in reality, she also wanted to show her powers towards Takagi. Asserting dominance towards him as her competitor on the job.

“Yeah, but I could get killed and you would fail your mission.”

“You won’t. That’s why.”

Takagi sighed once more. “Alright, when will we get out of this damn place?”

Aurora pulled out her digipad and checked the screen. “Not yet.”

“Now that I’m friendly, can you open these handcuffs?”

“No.”

“Are you serious?”

“Don’t worry. I’m more than capable of protecting you.”

“That’s not the damn problem,” he said. “I mean, what are we waiting for?”

“I’m waiting for ‘Aaron’ to come here. The person wants to meet you.”

Takagi did not say anything again.