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Some say I'm the Reverse
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Second Part.
Quote:
Makigami. Makigami. Autumn shut her eyes, trying to memorize the name in a way that it would become second nature. She had only received her cover identity the hour before, Makigami of Mitsurugi Industries. The cover was only good for a few days, after which it was worthless. Autumn figured it would be best to take on the role as soon as possible. Opening her eyes again, she regarded the figure in the dressing-room mirror. Business suits were uncomfortable on her skin, Autumn would much rather wear casual or free-flowing clothes. Easier to hide weapons in. Despite that, she admired the pinstripe jacket that Squall had picked out for her. It was elegant, professional in its bearing.
"I don't think someone like you could afford such an expensive suit." The storeowner snidely remarked from behind her. Indeed, Autumn had entered the shop dressed in a sleeveless shirt and jeans, not the norm for the shop's typical customers. "That is one of our best, and it won't come cheap."
There was a grimace on Autumn's lips. For a second she hesitated, the temptation of simply pulling out a knife and slicing the storeowner's throat open colliding with her calmer assessment. Taking a breath, Autumn approached the storeowner. "My employer is paying for this."
"I see." The storeowner was an old man, who continued to look at Autumn with contempt. "And would your employer be paying cash for your clothes?"
"Yes. Please put this on her account." Autumn simply put down the charge card where the storeowner could see the name.
"O--on Miss Meusel's account?" The storeowner blanched at the card, and Autumn relished that hint of fear on the man's face. Squall was one of the shop's regular customers and had a large account with them. Every so often she would splurge on clothes as gifts to random people--not so much to show kindness as to cover her tracks. Robin Hood foiling the Sheriff, as Squall once joked. When one made so many purchases at the same store, one single purchase would not turn up as suspicious on any record. "Ah. Yes, yes. I'll let her know you picked up the order, Miss Makigami."
"Delivered." Autumn smiled. That way there would be no trace.
"Ah yes. Delivered." The storeowner bowed profusely, taking the card for payment while snivelling and grovelling. Autumn enjoyed every minute of it.
<--------------->
Hm? That's odd. Haruko panned back to the image that caught her eye. The Johohonbu were mainly occupied with Signals Intelligence--information gathered through the use of cameras, radio and internet telecommunications. That meant actual units on the ground like Haruko and <Ren> were the rare exception rather than the rule, and often for special cases such as IS Academy and the search for Tabane Shinonono. Thus, the bulk of Haruko's work had to do with video analysis.
Digital cameras occasionally had glitches. Transmissions would occasionally go wrong, or interference from local sources would cause images to warp. The most common of which was pixelation, wherein a video feed would freeze and turn into numerous digital bits onscreen. Conspiracy theorists online often cited this as proof that aliens in disguise were caught on camera. There was some truth to this, as spies and other groups occasionally developed systems for scrambling video recording. The video image passed her eyes again, and this time Kokuto was certain it wasn't a mere glitch. It was one of the many cameras in the shopping district, panning neatly across the faces in the crowd. The woman leaving the store was what caught her attention.
Her face was pixelated. And only her face. She ran the video back and forth, and the same effect turned up. Haruko thought this was too specific, too localized to be just another glitch. A transmission glitch happened with television or wireless transmission, but a CCTV camera was a wired connection. Part of the government's network of cameras nationwide, the dedicated cameras were isolated from the more public internet. Only government officers had access to the system--it was not a system that could easily be hacked into. Much less be affected by transmission glitches.
She called <Ren>.
<--------------->
"I see her."
<Ren> followed the woman a safe, unassuming distance away. She was tall, with what <Ren> assumed were Eurasian features. Hair was long and black. The woman could pass for Japanese or Korean, or even Southeast Asian if she wanted to. There was also something in her stride that was indeed different, a more purposeful walk. She certainly did not walk or act like a spy trying to hide or be nonchalant. This was someone who carried herself like a fighter, not a tourist or some other civilian. Not military. Paramilitary, maybe security person or a mercenary.
"Waitasec. She's passing near a traffic speed camera." Haruko ordered, then a pause. While there was a large network of closed circuit cameras in and around the area, the Johohonbu did not have immediate direct access to each and every one. It took at least a few seconds before they could respond. "There's no mistaking it. The cameras can't make out her face."
"Twice in a row. No coincidence there." <Ren> continued to shadow the woman, who seemed preoccupied with looking off the coast at IS Academy in the distance. "Your analysis?"
"Only two things come to mind. Either she's got some sort of hidden scrambler," Kokuto's voice took a breath in. "Or she possesses an IS that can scramble digital video."
It was believed by some members of the Johohonbu that this was how Tabane Shinonono was consistently able to move freely despite video monitoring 24/7 around the area of IS Academy and other parts of Japan. Certainly, one of the IS reportedly stolen by Phantom Task was a combat infiltration unit.
"Wouldn't military-grade scramblers tend to project a false face?"
"Normally, yes." Haruko mutters back. The CIA and Russian FSB had used such scramblers in the past, to infiltrate and spy on Japanese soil. As neither agency had caused a fuss, the Johohonbu were content to pretend nothing happened. "She's probably left it on default settings. I wouldn't have picked it out otherwise."
"So she's a bigger idiot than Cousseran."
The garbled voice on the other end was Kokuto, trying not to scream. "None of the other agents have reported it, but they're on the lookout. You're the only one near her."
"I'll keep on her trail." <Ren> began, but noticed how often the woman kept looking in the direction of IS Academy. A little too intently for casual interest. "Haruko. What's your best guess? Tourists don't normally carry a scrambler. And professional spies would use the face projector to hide themselves."
"She's too tall to be the one that attacked the Americans' base." A sound of clicks as Kokuto tried to pick up more information on her computer. Without a positive facial identification it was all guesswork. Even had they managed to take the woman's face, it would be a week at least before something definite could be traced. "Say, <Ren>? You don't think she could be a member of--THAT organization, do you?"
Normally <Ren> would respond back with: 'you're the analyst', but did not do so this time. There was no obvious or immediate intent from the woman she was following. But the scrambler plus the way she moved raised her suspicions. Looking consistently at IS Academy as if she were sizing it up, looking for a way in. Looking at the woman, she began to feel more certain that she was a threat. The locals did not take much interest in the Academy. A few tourists did, but not for such extended periods of time.
It was that look of intent that made <Ren> certain of this.
You won't be able to handle an IS in a head-on fight. Tatenashi's words stuck in her head. Something about the words seemed like a challenge, one that <Ren> could not help but take personally. If she was wrong, there was no harm done. But if she was right...
"Haruko. I'm taking the target out."
"Eh?" Kokuto's flabbergasted confusion was barely relayed through the earpiece. "But it's just a guess! We haven't confirmed--"
<Ren> wasn't listening to her partner. "I know what I'm doing."
"--ARE WE ACTUALLY HAVING THIS CONVERSATION?!?"
<Ren> yanked the earpiece out and began to approach the woman more closely.
"<Ren>! Don't do anything stupid!" Haruko yelled into her phone, but the line was already dead.
<--------------->
The day was closing, and Autumn had just about finished her walk. The coastline was free from people, and she felt it best to double-check potential escape routes before tomorrow's operation. Satisfied that every angle was considered, she took a small break.
Autumn cupped her hands to catch the flowing water and brought it to her face. One deep breath, and she was at ease. The clothes would be shipped to the condominium, and a quick review of the timeframe was all she needed. Attacking the target and taking his IS should be no problem. And escape would be quick. Autumn realized that worst-case she could jump into the ocean and swim away from IS Academy with no trouble.
And I won't need any help from that condescending brat.
She stepped out of the women’s toilet, and began walking down the bayside park. Seeing she was still alone and unfollowed, Autumn relaxed. With the sun falling fast, IS Academy did not look as far from this part of the coastline. Autumn had never considered a frontal approach to the island before, with good reason. It was open, in plain sight. Most times an infiltration would be next to impossible. A frontal assault with a squad of fully equipped and trained troops might work, but Autumn doubted anyone would try anything that stupid.
But just walking through the front door. Squall's a genius. Autumn could not help but smile gleefully at the thought of infiltrating the Academy. Her one shot at impressing her leader and lover, by taking the IS Byakushiki. Tomorrow. Autumn had just turned, planning a leisurely walk back to Squall's condominium, when a voice stopped her.
"Yo."
Autumn turned around to the unexpected voice. Behind her was a wall, in front of which stood a single teenage girl. A baseball cap crowned a head of short black hair, and for a second Autumn thought it was actually M speaking to her. But no, the girl's voice was different. As were the piercing, snakelike eyes.
"Makigami Reiko, I presume?"
"Ah. You must be mistaken," taken aback, Autumn smiled falsely at the girl. "My name is Ayako. Makigami Ayako."
"You're a lousy liar. And an even worse assassin."
The elder woman did a double-take. "Excuse me?"
"Your calling card says Reiko." The girl with a cap pulled out a familiar card, one Autumn did not remember giving out. "You didn't even bother memorizing your own cover story, did you? You're painfully bad at this line of work." The girl threw two objects at Autumn's feet.
Autumn stared at the items on the ground, then reached for her back pocket. The empty pocket told her all.
The girl had somehow filched her wallet and card case.
"How clever, how clever." Autumn felt her face twinge madly, though she tried to control her emotions. She bent down to pick up the wallet and card case, making sure they weren't rigged. More than anything, the frustration at being played for a fool began to creep into her voice. "So. Who might you be?"
"<Ren>." The girl shoved her hands in her jacket pockets, a smug smile on her face. "Let me guess: You're with Phantom Task, correct?"
"How did you know that?" Autumn snarled.
"A little bird told me." <Ren> wore a smirk of victorious amusement on her lips as she caught the woman's look of surprise. That was all the confirmation she needed. She paced around Autumn from a distance, circling her like a snake did her prey. "The kidnapping of Orimura Ichika years ago. That was your doing, right?"
Trying to intimidate me, brat? Arrogance took over. "And what if it is?"
"Secret organization my foot." <Ren> stopped with a shrug, facing Autumn directly. "It's not much of a secret when you idiots brag about it so much."
"If you already know, no sense in hiding it." Still trying to maintain her composure, Autumn confronted <Ren> with hands on her hips. "And which group are you with, then?"
"Me?" <Ren>'s shaded eyes fixed on Autumn with chilling precision. "I'm not as stupid as you are."
Autumn's hands dropped and she clenched her fists. She did not show it, but the girl disturbed her immensely. Irritated her with that arrogance. Those eyes. The hissing eyes enraged her. "Why are you looking at me with those eyes?"
"Why?" The girl replied. "Are you afraid of me?"
"What?!" It was more insulting than anything Autumn had heard of to date. The smugness once again reminded Autumn of M. Her rage-twisted face betrayed the loss of calmness and control, as she summoned part of her IS. Demonic long yellow-and-black limbs sprouted from her back. "Are you daring me, brat?!"
"Jorogumo." <Ren> passively assessed her opponent. A nightmare-spider of Japanese folklore, which masked itself as a woman. Calmly waiting at the centre of a web, but ready to burst out in violence at the slightest provocation. "Should you really be revealing yourself in public?"
"Shut up! The name of this IS is Arachne. Eight legs, with guns or blades depending on the situation." The demonic spider-arms flexed. Autumn's sideways glances showed that no other people had approached. Yet. Darkness was fast approaching. "So, what type of IS do you have to confront me with, brat?"
"Don't have one." <Ren> responded, hands still in her pockets. "Don't need one."
"Seriously?" Autumn had to chuckle. This little child, this girl was threatening her. Without an IS or even any weapons. "Without an IS, do you really think you can take me on?"
A silent and cruel smile was <Ren>'s response. Autumn's knuckles turned white as she balled up her fists. That smile, that arrogance enraged her.
"You infuriate me, brat."
"And I can only laugh at you." <Ren> smiled her snakelike, wicked smile as she traced the brim of her cap in mockery. "Amateur."
The impact of a giant spider's leg hammered into the wall inches from <Ren>'s face, but she did not flinch. Concrete dust and crumbling stone trickled to the ground, a sound overtaken only by Autumn's angered breathing.
"You arrogant little brat, I'll crush you like a flea."
"If brat is the worst thing you can call me, you need a larger vocabulary." Unshaken, <Ren> meets Autumn's eyes. "Do you know what happens when a snake meets a spider?"
A crazed grin marred Autumn's features. "Some spiders eat snakes, you know."
"Hah." <Ren>'s frightening smile matched her opponent's. "This ought to be fun, then."
<--------------->
Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.
Haruko desperately tried to scan through the cameras while driving, but she could not find where either her target or <Ren> had gone off to. They were nowhere near the last traffic camera Kokuto had been watching through, she'd just passed that point. There were no reported incidents yet, no public ones anyway. None of the other Johohonbu agents reported anything out of the ordinary as of yet. Johohonbu HQ was only now reviewing the video feeds she had indicated, but there was no confirmation or denial either way.
And now she'd lost her partner.
It had been an hour since they'd last spoken, and <Ren> was now probably in a different area of the town, confronting the woman. <Ren> preferred to take covert and often violent action. For all Kokuto knew, she might have jumped the gun and <Ren> had just decapitated an innocent bystander on her guess.
<Ren> you idiot, why'd you disconnect?
<--------------->
Arachne scampered across the ground rapidly, hunting prey like its namesake.
"Where are you?" Autumn howled at the night. The girl had begun the fight by throwing a knife at her, which she parried easily. Then she vanished, leaving Autumn to wonder if she had run away.
But she was there. Autumn fully deployed Arachne's armour and control suit to make full use of the IS capabilities, such as the faceplate containing Arachne's eight sensor eyes. The darkness began to fill the walk, and streetlamps began to flicker on. Autumn set her vision to low light mode, each individual eye scanning the area. Most IS like Arachne did not include infrared as part of their visual enhancements. Even so, the ground and structures were still warm from the sun's heat. She could not see her opponent clearly. Motion tracking was no good as it relied more on sound than actual movement, and Autumn's movements caused too much random noise.
Then just as she turned her head, she caught the sliver of a blade.
What? Autumn blinked at it, strands of her hair falling past under the park lights. She had dodged in reflex rather than any true fear. How could she cut my hair like that?
"The slow blade penetrates the shield." A voice gleefully hissed, then was gone again in the darkness before one of Arachne's many arms could strike at her. The spiderlike arms fired energy bolts into the darkness but struck nothing.
Of course. Despite herself, Autumn's nerves twinged. The Passive Inertia Canceller or PIC shielding was intended to protect the IS pilot from sudden life-threatening impacts. It was effective against bullets and other high-speed attacks, as well as large close-combat weaponry like swords. Anything that could clearly damage the IS itself or its pilot was protected by the PIC. But a small, handheld weapon like a knife?
A rapid stab would be stopped by the PIC. But a stealthy, slow approach could get past. A gentle tap, or even a punch could get through without the field stopping it. The PIC was the IS exoskeleton's true armour--Bypass that and you had but a fragile human underneath. The PIC made the use of most infantry small arms partly obsolete. But the effective and precise use of a relatively slow-moving dagger was not something the designers had considered.
A sudden stab, Autumn blocked with a metal-gloved hand that broke the blade. A paring knife? Is she mocking me? Arachne's multiple sensors and vision enhancements weren't helping at all. Autumn found it difficult to predict where the girl would attack from next. Another blade came at her, and then she realized why her opponent didn't simply kill the lights. Arachne's spider-arms flayed the metal edge but hit nothing but night air.
Light and dark. Arachne's vision enhancements worked fine. But rapidly adjusting between the bright streetlamp-lit sections of the park and the pitch-black night was what hampered Autumn's human eyes. The girl's smaller form kept moving, weaving between the street lamps and even behind Arachne's legs and armoured rear skirt. The knife-throwing girl might as well be invisible, flitting in between the night and the light. Autumn wished that she had added an automatic firearm to Arachne's weapon slots. That way she could just spray the area with bullets, force her opponent out of hiding. The beam cannons in Arachne's legs were not rated for long, sustained rapid fire. Fighting a person in an IS with just knives.
"--ACH!" Autumn gasped in surprise as a cold edge painfully sliced her thigh. Before she could react, the girl was gone again. A glance showed a hair-thin cut, not serious. Distance. I need distance. Arachne scampered sideways like a crab, and despite all sensors searching Autumn could still not find where the girl was.
She could have easily cut an artery, Autumn realized. In fact, she could have been easily dispatched by the girl at any time before she summoned her IS. If she could pick my pocket without noticing--Why didn't she just kill me then? Why challenge me directly?
Trembling, the spiderlike IS and its pilot stopped as Autumn finally understood the girl's reason.
You actually think you can take me on. Just like her. The same arrogance. The same overconfidence. The same lack of fear. The hatred in Autumn's gut boiled over. She's just like that girl.
Just like M.
You think you're so smart. She twitched nervously, like a tarantula threatened and baring its ugly fangs. The two pairs of foremost spider-legs reared up as Arachne stood on its hind legs, expanding to its maximum height over the streetlamps. Here, Autumn now had a better vantage point. That you're so talented, so skilled that you can beat me even without using an IS.
The eight sensors in Arachne's helmet twisted wildly, trying to fix onto a target.
When I catch you, I'm going to rip you apart.
The tips of the front spider legs opened up, spraying a wiry fluid all over the ground. In a circle, like a massive orb web with Autumn and Arachne at the centre. The IS stopped moving, save for pulling itself as low to the ground as possible. Autumn was breathing heavily, trying not to give into a rage-filled frenzy. Arachne's sensor eyes were still moving, still looking for the girl in the darkness.
Waiting.
Autumn's eyes flicked around like the mechanical sensors, wary and tensed. The girl was taking advantage of the light and dark, but Autumn had already set her trap. In the middle of lights, in the centre of the web, all she needed was one more movement from the girl with knives.
There.
A dagger was thrown at her, which Autumn parried. Arachne's legs bolted upward in ranged firing mode, blasting away at the streetlamps. The energy blasts cracked the air as loudly as they burst the streetlamps they were aimed at. Fragile glass shattered and rained on the pavement and grass, as the circle of the spiderweb was suddenly bathed in darkness.
There was a stumbling sound as the girl was now the victim of her own plan. From light into sudden darkness, she was blinded for a few critical seconds. A loud thud followed, and Arachne's night vision-equipped sensors spotted <Ren> immediately.
The girl quickly realized it was the thin sticky strands wrapped around her right leg that fought her movement. Another jet of fluid webbing wrapped her arms and body together before she could raise her knife.
"Do you know it's dangerous to go stabbing people with knives?" There was no hiding Autumn's glee. "My turn, brat."
<Ren> was hurled into the air before she could cut the strands. Just as rapidly, she was slammed to the ground. Still stunned, she was then picked up and slammed into the ground again.
"It's dangerous for brats to play with knives."
Again.
"Arrogant like that, thinking you can beat the great Autumn?!"
And again. Blood started to spatter.
"You're like a kitten in a bag!" Autumn smiled as she picked up and swung her captive at the floor again, with all her might. Enjoying every second of it. Bashing their little brains out on a sidewalk.
And again.
"That attitude you have makes me sick!!!"
And again. The sound of bones breaking.
"Like that. Just like that!"
And again.
"JUST LIKE THAT!!!"
Finally, one mighty swung hurled the girl at a nearby wall.
<Ren> felt the wall, but not the floor as she fell face-down into it.
<--------------->
Confirmed gunfire.
Haruko was now trying to sort out all the information coming in. The information came not from an agent but the local police channel. The town's police were now focusing on the area, apparently due to multiple reports from a bystander regarding 'some sort of giant spider' in the area. There were also sounds of demolition on the bayside walk, not ten minutes away from Haruko. In the opposite direction.
The Koanchosa-cho was tied with the Ministry of Justice, thus they would have gotten wind of the police communications long before Haruko did. They would not be happy to find agents of the Johohonbu operating in the area, despite the organization's obvious responsibilities regarding IS Academy. And if <Ren> was in the thick of it, Kokuto figured heads would roll in her organization. Maybe even hers.
Even now, it was having all of the hallmarks of a grand fiasco. The agents of the Johohonbu were performing like a comedy troupe, trying desperately to gain information about the situation but receiving delayed or downright incorrect reports. From what Kokuto could find from HQ, some of them were already cursing <Ren> by name. The police apparently knew more about the situation than they did, which meant that the Koanchosa-cho had a leg up on them already. The communications breakdown was practically farcical. And as Haruko turned her car around toward the reported source, she saw a hail of police squad lights and sirens zip past her. Going in the same direction.
We're doomed. We are all so doomed. Kokuto suddenly had that sinking feeling as she hit the gas pedal.
<--------------->
"Ha-ha~~This is so therapeutic!" Autumn cackled openly, still boiling over with bloodthirst and anger. She wanted to finish the job, crush the girl like a bug.
I'll kill you. Slowly. Painfully. Violently. Autumn dearly wanted to complete the task, finish off the girl with knives. She was skilled, but skill was pointless against the power of an IS. It was more of Autumn's annoyance, her resentment that she was kept busy by a child. A child that did not even have an IS equipped. Smash her. Smash her until her insides pour out.
<Ren> lay motionless on the ground, unaware of Autumn's approach.
Just like that girl. It was the real reason Autumn wanted to just reach out and crush this girl's skull, the feel the blood and brains ooze out into her hands. Just like that M.
And then, that very voice was in her ear. "Autumn, retreat."
"Shut up!" The IS paused, the pilot bellowing loudly at the sky. Hearing M's voice made her blood boil even further. "I'll kill her. I'll rip out those eyes, tear out her throat!"
"Don't be stupid." M did not seem particularly concerned about Autumn's fitful rage. "You'll ruin the operation."
"--I don't take my orders from you!" Arachne started taking steps toward the fallen girl, but in Autumn's mind it was M she was readying to crush in her metalshod hands. "I'll wipe this park down with her bloody spleen!"
"Autumn." Another voice, older yet less firm in tone. "The police are converging on your position. Break off."
"Squall." Autumn mumbled, still drunk from the adrenaline rush. "Don't worry. I can take them out."
"You'll be recognized." Squall's voice was a calming influence on her, and Autuumn's temper cooled. The mission was more of a priority than personal spite. "Retreat. We still have the mission tomorrow."
A now-calm Autumn stopped, deactivating her IS. Standing above the body, her fists cracked. The desire to kill was still there, but she remembered her task. Her promise and commitment to her leader. Stepping back, she made sure that the girl was unconscious before turning around. Urgency filled her steps, and she strode off. No one had seen the fight, and she would be long gone before the police would arrive.
I can't take any more chances. Autumn considered dyeing her hair at the very least. They would be looking for a black-haired woman. A red-orange colour, maybe. The colour of autumn. From far off, Autumn shot one last glance at the battered body and cackled to herself.
Another time, brat.
<--------------->
Another time.
Sitting atop a tower, M watched the fight below from a birds-eye view. Short black hair rustled in the wind as she watched Autumn retreat. Scoffing, she never thought much of the woman simple-minded and snivelling under Squall's slightest order. Just like a rabid dog. Or a pet spider.
Frightening to see hissing at you, but of no real danger to one with any level of skill.
M had her reasons for joining Phantom Task, but bore no respect for its members. They were simply means to an end, using her just as she was using them for her own purposes. As long as she had her one chance, that was all she wanted.
"It was your IS that saved you, idiot." Frowning, M stood up. The fight she had observed was just proof of the IS capabilities in action. In a fair fight without the use of the IS, Autumn would have been the one broken and battered in the park. M didn't think much of the woman's abilities. Possessing Arachne gave Autumn every advantage in the fight, even if she had been careless with using it. If it had been M, she would have defeated the opponent in less than a minute. But skill in combat didn't really matter in the equation, using an IS against an ordinary person was like dropping a bomb on a single ant. This is the power that changed the world order.
Still, M was bemused at the girl whom Autumn fought. She had managed to extend the battle long enough for the local authorities to be alerted. Surviving for more than fifteen minutes alone against an IS was indeed a feat.
"Too bad you're no good with an IS. You could actually have been worth something." M directed her words to the motionless girl on the ground afar with a mocking smile. "So. What are you going to do now, Shiho?"
Not that the answer mattered to M. Phantom Task's board of directors had other plans.
<--------------->
Eyes opened to light and a world of pain. And an odd smell, one that did not correspond to an ocean sunrise.
<Ren> slowly picked herself off the battered floor, fighting the pain of broken ribs. It was bright, unlike the night before. Yet she could not see the sun or the sky. Standing, she could feel the pain and yet not feel it. The pain seemed more like a reminder, rather than an urgent warning as she began to walk the shattered path.
Two steps forward, and she found herself in her old home. <Ren> thought it odd, as she had been outside just the second before. Now, it was the familiar reed-matted floor of the big house her father lived in. Walking forward, <Ren> did not hesitate to open the sliding paper doors of the old house, leading through to another room of reed mats. Another door she opened, another room full of mats. <Ren> went on through the many doors until she opened one last door.
The last room was the largest. All around were faceless figures in red, kneeling in silence toward the old, wizened hag at the centre. The old woman met <Ren>'s eyes with disgust and hatred, her eyes just as venomous in their stare. <Ren> knew then why her father called her Obake-Obaasan: Grandmother Ghoul.
All of a sudden, the entire red-clothed mass stared at her at once. All of them raised their arms, their red tattoo matching her own.
"The clan have a proper successor." The voice was low, with a mocking hiss as the old hag threw an accusing finger at <Ren>. "You. You are no longer needed."
She stood silent, blood seeping from her balled-up fist.
All of a sudden she was no longer in the old home, but in the elevated tram overlooking the city. A bright green park, the one she had met Tatenashi Sarashiki at only days prior. Looking down from strangely open door of the tram, she saw the scene of a laughing boy and girl. They were distant, a picture on canvas seen through a sea of sharpened grass.
The doors shut on the outside of the sky-tram, but none were sealed tighter than the emotions <Ren> felt in her heart. Cold and hateful, the only trace of emotion was the way she subtly wrung her hands together beneath her jacket. No one could see, no one would know. The tram pulled away from the park, back to the outskirts that lay close to the academy <Ren> had watched over. The skies with their blue joy mocked her inner misery.
<Ren> looked at her bandaged arm, but could not help remembering Tatenashi's face. The laughing eyes, ocean blue hair and mischievous smile hidden behind a folding fan. <Ren>'s clasped hands tightened at the thought of Orimura Ichika spending time with Sarashiki.
He's mine.
Her arm, hiding the truth behind the wrappings.
It was a phantom pain, one that had no grounding in reality as the tattoo hiding beneath had healed ages ago. But the lines drawn in blood still tore through much deeper than skin. The mark of her family.
Her father's mark.
It's not fair.
<Ren>'s eyes flew open, awakening to the white ceiling above.
She could barely breathe through the pipes in her nose, and felt uncomfortable with the bed she assumed she was lying in. Her right leg felt like it was made of stone, and there were jabbing bites in her right arm as well. There was a little weight on her arm and finger, and a small biting pain in her chest. The stale antiseptic air and electronic noises made her think of a cage. <Ren> tried to rise to a sitting position and found it difficult.
"Don't move too much." Haruko's voice. An electronic buzz, and <Ren> felt the bed underneath rise to a sitting position. The older girl looked concerned in a way <Ren> would have laughed at, had her chest not been in so much pain.
"God, you look awful." Kokuto mumbled, obviously lacking in sleep. "You decided to die another day, didn't you?"
<Ren> gave her a flat look.
"Even now, you don't get a James Bond joke." Haruko pouted, then removed her glasses to rub sleep from her own eyes. "Headquarters isn't happy. A lot of field agents aren't happy. The Koanchosa-cho is breathing down our backs. The only two good things are that we've confirmed a threat against IS academy and that neither of us are dead yet."
<Ren> did not reply. Being alive didn't feel like something worth celebrating at the moment.
"Seriously." Kokuto put her glasses back on. "What the hell made you think you could beat someone with a deployed IS?"
"She was an idiot." <Ren> replied painfully.
"A monkey with a machinegun is still dangerous."
"Point taken." <Ren> dejectedly looked at the clock and frowned. It was a dream, most or all of it. She was certain the fight against the woman in the spider-like IS was real, but the rest she was unsure of. "How long was I out of it?"
"Three days." A pop of a can as Haruko opened up another one of her coffee drinks. "You have five broken ribs. Right lung was almost punctured from the fragments. Your right leg is in a cast. Your right shoulder blade's splintered. Multiple head concussions. And tons of scars and bruises all over. And some other medical terms I can't even pronounce." Kokuto took a long gulp of coffee. "You looked like a tank ran over you. The doctors are still surprised you didn't get your skull or spine broken."
"That woman." <Ren>'s eyes had an odd flash of panic. "Did she infiltrate the Academy?"
Haruko replied slowly. "She did."
"Then---!!"
"Sarashiki took care of it." Kokuto rubbed the back of her head, with an expression of weariness written all over. "Orimura's all right. And she took care of that nutcase with the spider-IS, too."
The answer did nothing to lighten <Ren>'s mood.
"Headquarters is putting it forward that Sarashiki's approach to guarding Orimura and IS Academy is the better choice." Haruko leaned back slightly in her chair, apparently exhausted from all the goings-on. "Hell, Tatenashi was even here earlier. She wanted to see how you were doing."
You won't be able to handle an IS in a head-on fight. The words were all <Ren> could think of when Sarahiki's name came up. Foolishness! was the next memory in <Ren>'s mind. The voice of Obake-Obaasan chiding her with genuine hatred. Fresh as the day she had first heard it. It was then that she noticed the fresh flowers in the vase next to her. Flowers with an all-too familiar scent and colour.
Light blue lilies. The same colour as Sarashiki's hair.
"Those flowers."
"Yeah." Haruko then felt the oppressive silence of <Ren>'s stare. "Hey! She--she wasn't here to insult you, she was genuinely concerned!"
<Ren>'s bitter silence was worse than her sarcastic jabs.
"I need to be alone."
Haruko scratched her head. "Look..."
"I. Need. To be. Alone."
"All right." Kokuto stood and headed for the door. "I'll give you a few minutes."
No sooner did Haruko close the door than she heard the crash of a vase being thrown.
<--------------->
Foolishness!
<Ren> looked blankly at the stain on the wall. A mess of water, shattered pottery and broken lilies. Painfully, she fell back onto the bed with grit teeth and her left hand clasped tightly. She could not really move her right. For a few seconds, she maintained her arrogant demeanour to show to no one but herself. To fool no one but herself.
<Ren> had failed. Her mission. Her clan.
She had failed Ichika.
Here, alone and unwatched, she cried like a petulant child.
<--------------->
Haruko's phone rang. The blocked number was one she was expecting as she answered with calm precision.
"It's Kokuto."
The whispered, garbled voice on the line was a scrambled and inhuman mix. Kokuto knew that no one on the other end truly spoke--the synthesized voice was the result of a typed response to her reports. A speech machine basically read the sent message with emotionless precision. By this, her bosses would face little risk in being identified by their voices.
"No sir. I don't think she's taking it very well."
The computerized response stunned her.
"Excuse me? Sir?" Haruko looked from side to side nervously, hoping nobody overheard her. Cupping one hand over the speaker, she tried not to raise her voice. "Are you serious? She's still recovering. Isn't there anyone else?"
The response could not be any colder than the machine that answered back.
"No. I understand, sir. We have to strike while we can." Kokuto looked out at the window coldly. Her bosses were unnaturally insistent this time around. "I'll get her prepared as soon as possible."
As she set the phone down, she once again wondered that fearful thought.
Could Phantom Task have already infiltrated the Johohonbu?
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2013-11-16, 10:00
Author
"Focus entirely on me, you ordinary soldier."
