?So how?d you find today??
Koishi made small talk as she walked Shou back to the Institute. The new Siren had slowed down on her eating after seeing Sango scurry off. Sango was quiet on the return journey, looking deathly pale and mumbling about how she would never eat lobster again.
?Well, that?s a hard question.? Shou put a hand on her chin. ?It was fun, yeah, and a free meal is always great. But you?ve given me a lot to think about, too.? She nodded to herself, a steel-eyed determination on her face. ?I wanna do this again, if you?re up for it.?
Koishi smiled. ?Sure. I?ll treat you to lunch as often as you-?
The sight silenced her mid-sentence. Across the block, in the direction of the Institute, a wall of smoke was billowing upwards.
?What the-?
?A fire!? Shou yelled before Koishi could finish. By the time Koishi?s brain had caught up, Shou was already halfway down the street.
?Shou-san, wait!? Koishi followed behind as quickly as she could. Sango perked to life again, her earlier nausea forgotten as she kept firmly to Koishi?s side.
At the entrance, the noise was almost unbearable. A crowd of children was being led out of the building, most of the younger ones screaming uncontrollably. Byakuren led them away, looking as terrified as the children she was caring for.
?Grandma!? Shou ran towards Byakuren immediately, looking at the sea of hysterical children surrounding her. ?You need some help over here??
Byakuren?s mouth hung open for a moment, but finally she nodded in response. Shou moved around to the rear of the crowd, pushing the younger kids along.
?It?s okay, everything?s going to be fine...? She patted little Kyouko on the head as she nudged her away from the fire. The bawling was beginning to quieten down.
As Koishi caught up with her, she looked to her side. ?Sango-san, help out here. I?ll take a look around the back.?
?Got it!? Sango nodded, quickly joining the fray at the entrance. She joined in with Shou, leading the kids away and singing songs to try and lift the mood.
No-one noticed Koishi running in the opposite direction. She circled around the building, towards the fire. Without stopping to think, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her Teardrop.
?Wherever evil forces be,
On the land or in the sea,
All who sin should cower and flee
From Dolphin Rider Koishi!?
Even as she took on her Siren form, Koishi never stopped running. An instant could be the difference between life and death here. A wave of heat assaulted her senses, and the smell of acrid smoke flooded her nose. The fire had already engulfed the rear end of the building, and it crept along gradually to consume the rest.
Something leaped out at her as she turned the corner. On sheer instinct, Koishi brought her trident around to swing at it. A fishman came apart in front of her, flopping to the ground as a trio of helpless mackerel.
It was the first of many.
?What is this...??
Fishmen flooded Koishi?s vision. Dozens, maybe even hundreds of them were running towards the burning building. For a moment Koishi thought they planned to attack, but she could make out another face in the crowd making a quick escape.
That?s...Kamishirasawa-sensei!?
Keine was creeping through the crowd, using the fishmen as a walking blockade. There were already two dozen creatures between her and Koishi, and all of them looked ready to tear the Siren apart. Koishi aimed her trident forward, summoning a trio of orbs at its tips.
?Iruka Beam!?
A ray of light fired straight through the army of fishmen, taking out a dozen of them in one shot. In the tiny opening it gave her, Koishi blitzed forwards before another line of monsters could fill the gap.
She heard the sound of fists pounding against flesh. To her left, Mokou was holding off a wave singlehandedly. Her clothes were charred and singed, like she?d been inches from the fire when it had started.
To her right, Youmu was pushing back a wave with mighty swipes of her blades. She cut two paths at once, covering Sakuya from both angles. The maid drew card after card, sending a storm of knives into the surrounding fish. The numbers of the enemy force were beginning to dwindle, and the Sirens' victory seemed inevitable.
No, that?s wrong, Koishi thought. The fishmen were expendable. They'd always been. The real problem - Keine - was getting away while the fishmen kept the Sirens distracted. As it was, Koishi was the only one who had a chance of catching her. She knocked away anything coming close to her, chasing Keine into the forest the army must have emerged from. She was five feet away, four, three-
?Hyaah!??
She stopped just in time as a silver blade sliced through the air in front of her. An assailant leaped out from behind the tree, bringing her sword forward for another strike. Koishi trapped the blade with her trident, pulling it out of harm?s way.
This is the girl Mokou-san told me about!
She?d heard of the masked figure several times beforehand, but this was her first time seeing her. The helm and mask covered her face, but as Koishi got her first proper look she swore she heard the woman gasp.
Her surprise was short-lived. She pulled the sword back, coming in with another thrust. Koishi leaped backwards to dodge the blow. Keine pulled away, shrinking until she was nothing but a dot in Koishi?s vision.
Dammit!
Koishi didn?t even have time to look in Keine?s direction. The fencer was forcing her back with careful thrusts, each one taking all of Koishi?s attention to redirect. It was all she could do to keep herself from being skewered.
Yet even as she fought, there was a glimmer of uncertainty in her mind.
This is the first time I?ve met her...isn?t it?
-----
?It?ll be okay. It?ll all be okay...?
Shou gave one of the kids a hug, squeezing her and patting her on the back. There were still sniffles and sobs coming from the crowd, but the kids were just about in control of themselves now. Shou had done everything she could, and the dolphin girl had been a big help as well. She had a natural inclination towards funny faces and cheery songs.
Byakuren finally allowed herself to sigh with relief, but she refused to look away from the fire. By now half of the building had been engulfed, and the rest was set to follow. The sound of crackling wood filled the air, and breathing through the nose was all but impossible.
?Is everyone out?? Shou asked as she moved around to the front of the crowd.
Byakuren barely heard her, but she managed a nod. ?Y-Yes. I did a quick head-count just there. All the children are accounted for.?
So no-one was hurt. That was a huge relief, Shou thought to herself. If the fire had started in the evening, or in the night when the kids were asleep, the results could have been catastrophic-
Wait.
No. She was wrong, Shou realised. She looked through the crowd again. An important face was missing.
?Where?s Nazrin??
She knew the answer to her own question. She'd locked Nazrin away in her cage before sneaking out. The mouse was still trapped inside.
?Oh. I...? Byakuren?s eyes widened. They began to mist up as she put a hand to her mouth. ?Shou, I?m so sorry-?
?I?m going in.?
Shou stated her intentions without a shred of doubt. She pushed Byakuren away before the monk had a chance to object.
?What?!? Byakuren turned back to her, but she was a few vital paces behind. ?Shou, you can?t! The whole building will collapse at this rate!?
As Shou vanished into the building, her answer consisted of a single word.
?Exactly.?
Nazrin was as much a friend to Shou as any of the children at the Institute. She wouldn?t even consider letting a friend die like this.
It wasn?t long before Shou found herself walking amongst the flames. The smoke stung at her eyes. She leaned forwards, bringing herself down to where the air was breathable. The walls were coming apart around her, planks falling forward and almost smacking into her.
?Nazrin? Nazrin!?
Shou?s lungs burned and her legs ached, but she refused to let herself stop. She pulled around into the corridor she lived in by herself, running towards the last room. With every step, the fire grew stronger around her. She felt the flames licking at her legs, burning at her skin. As she grabbed the doorknob, she fought back the urge to scream as the metal singed her hand.
?Nazrin, I?m here!?
She yanked the door open, finding her own room as a blazing inferno. Her Gate To Makai poster was a pile of ash in the corner. The guitar was still smouldering, but it was well beyond saving.
And in the corner of the room, Nazrin was batting furiously at her cage.
She?s alright!
In one smooth motion, Shou undid the latch on the cage and pulled Nazrin out. The mouse made no attempt to fight her. She cupped her hand to keep Nazrin secure as she made her escape.
By now, every cell in Shou?s body cried out in pain. Her legs threatened to buckle beneath her. Her lungs wanted to give out. Only willpower was keeping her functioning at this point. Her sheer force of heart was indestructible.
And yet she'd never felt more alive.
The feeling was an epiphany that drowned out the pain for an instant. This feeling of defending someone she cared for, doing what she could to help others - it clicked with her in a way no 'ordinary' life ever could. This was the life she wanted to lead, the one she wanted to carve for herself.
That?s right, she thought to herself as she picked up speed. From now on, I want to devote myself to saving every life I can!
She felt a warm sensation in her heart as the thought grew in power. Something took form in her spare hand. She looked down at it for an instant, seeing a brilliant yellow light come from within.
She didn?t notice the falling beam until it was too late.
?Ah-!?
As the wooden beam slammed into her head, Shou heard the sound of her own skull cracking.
The impact was like a switch that turned off her body. Her momentum came to a sudden halt. Her knees buckled, and she flopped forwards onto the ground. Her hands went limp, dropping Nazrin to the floor. There was no pain, just an immense weight that left her pinned to the ground.
Something warm was running down her face. It dripped into her eyes, forcing her to close them. She could feel Nazrin nuzzling at the back of her palm, trying to rouse her. Shou did what she could to summon the energy to stand, but there was nothing left in her.
With an eerie calmness, she realised that she was dying.
?Naz...rin...?
She choked out the words, struggling even to speak in her condition. The weight on her back grew stronger, threatening to engulf her at any moment. Her heartbeat echoed in her head, every pulse a little weaker than the one before it.
?Go...you can...make it...?
Nazrin was out of the cage now. She could make it out on her own if she hurried. In that regard, Shou?s efforts hadn?t been in vain. Drained of everything she had, the young girl finally succumbed to the weight.
As she slipped out of consciousness, the last thing she heard was a tiny voice.
?Master...master, don?t leave me...?
-----
What is this girl?!
Before Koishi knew what was happening, she was back in the clearing behind the Institute. The fencer had pushed her all the way out of the forest back to where she?d started, all without putting a foot wrong. Her technique was flawless, and she guessed her way out of every escape Koishi attempted. None of her attacks had been a massive threat, but Koishi wasn?t left with a single opening.
How am I meant to beat her when she knows what I?m going to try before I do?
Looking back, Koishi saw the last few members of the fishman army being disposed of. Mokou slammed her fist into yet another face, and Sakuya took the time to adjust her collar while Youmu protected her. They?d dealt with the distraction, but the Claw had succeeded in their main goal.
Keine had escaped, and the Institute was burning.
The masked assailant started to hold her ground. Her only job was to keep Koishi preoccupied. Most likely she?d disappear into the forest at the first chance Koishi gave her. It was all the Siren could do to keep her from running now, and she had to-
?Nazrin??
A voice echoed out from inside the building. Everyone in the clearing turned around to face it.
?Nazrin!?
Koishi?s heart collapsed.
She...she can?t be-!
It took one look at the building to know it was on its last legs. There was no way Shou would survive in there. Koishi was the first one to react to the voice.
Hang on, Shou-san! I?m coming!
She ran towards the blazing wall, finding an opening where the planks had come apart. She hurled herself through it, the wood scraping at her bare legs as she landed inside. Immediately she was engulfed in heat and fire, but even amongst the smoke she had no trouble breathing. The Ring of Breath glittered on her finger as she paced further into the corridors.
?KOISHI!?
She heard her companions cry out for her beyond the wall. There was no time to stop. Shou?s life was at risk here. She followed the sound of Shou?s voice through the corridors as she called out for her pet.
?Nazrin, I?m here!?
The voice grew louder as Koishi pushed through the burning building. The walls were giving way, and the ceiling would soon follow suit. Koishi raced onwards, at speeds no normal human could have managed. She had to save Shou. She had to-
?Ah-!?
In the distance, Koishi heard wood slamming against something. Then, the sound of a body crumpling to the floor.
No.
An icy grip clamped around Koishi?s heart. She forgot the flames for a moment, fear driving her towards the noise. She had a good idea what that sound was, but she didn?t want to accept it. Not until she saw it with her own eyes. There was still hope.
When she found the body on the floor, her worst fears came to life in front of her.
I?m too late.
Shou was lying face-down on the ground in a pool of her own blood. Her lips were a pale blue. Her chest was motionless. Even from this distance, Koishi could see the massive wound on the back of her head.
No-one could survive that.
?Master...?
A young girl sat at Shou?s side, grabbing at her hand. Tears streamed down her face as she squeezed at the Siren?s fingers, to no avail. Her mouse-like ears drooped forward, and her tail coiled around itself.
?Master, don?t leave me...?
Any rational person would have given up then. That injury was fatal, without a doubt. Koishi knew that, but in spite of it she moved towards the lifeless body, her eyes still flickering with hope. Maybe Nitori could heal her, or there was some sort of magic that would bring her back. Something. Anything.
?Ah??
Nazrin?s ears pricked up. She pulled her head upwards, staring straight at Koishi. For a moment they were lost in each other?s eyes.
Koishi caught the instant where the mouse?s expression turned venomous. Then the ceiling above caved in, and the mouse leaped backwards to clear the wreckage. It cut the corridor in two, separating the mouse from Koishi and Shou. Koishi heard the sound of tiny feet scurrying away in the other direction.
It?s not over. It can?t be over.
Koishi leaned down, grabbing Shou and lifting her onto her shoulders. The flames grew more intense around her. The walls and ceilings looked set to collapse. Carrying Shou slowed Koishi to a snail?s pace, and it was a long trip back to the exit.
I can?t think like that. Koishi shook her head. I am not giving up on her.
Distracted by her thoughts, Koishi didn?t notice the falling beam until the last minute. She broke to the side, turning herself to keep Shou out of the way. The beam crashed into her knee, sending an unimaginable burst of pain into her system.
?Hyaaah!?
Koishi?s leg gave way. She dropped to her knees, Shou almost rolling off of her shoulders. A sharp throbbing ran up her thigh in time with her pulse. It wasn?t broken, but moving it was an ordeal all on its own. Carrying someone in this state was even more of a struggle.
No. I can?t accept that.
Koishi tried over and over to rise to her feet, but her leg refused to obey. Shou tumbled off her back and onto the floor, her body flopping over like a ragdoll.
It was over, Koishi realised. She had failed.
I...can?t...
She reached out into the inferno, a plea for help dying on her lips. She felt weaker than she had ever been in her life.
To her surprise, someone snatched at her hand and pulled her away.
?What are you doing?!?
The voice belonged to the last person she had expected. As Koishi was tugged out of the flames, she saw the figure of her masked assailant pulling her towards safety.
Huh? Why would she-
There was no time to think it over. Even being pulled along, Koishi?s leg cried out every time she put pressure on it. She limped behind the masked fencer as they dashed towards the exit. Pillars and beams came apart around them. The fencer swerved around everything in her path, Koishi following on behind her.
The heat was unbearable. The pain in her knee was agonising. But more than anything, Koishi felt her heart burning up as she looked backwards at the body she?d left behind.
?There!?
The swordsman yelled as she leaped out of the rear entrance to the building, pulling Koishi out along with her. The cool air of the evening was like an oasis in the desert, and Koishi gasped in breath after breath to get the smell of smoke out of her system. She fell onto her back, finally letting her weak leg rest as she gave in to exhaustion. Behind her, the last remnants of the Myouren Institute caved in on themselves.
?Koishi-san!?
Sango was the first to run up to them, cradling Koishi?s head in her lap. The three Sirens followed behind her, covered in scrapes and bruises from the melee.
?Are you alright?? the woman behind the mask asked. Koishi managed a nod in response. The voice rang a distant bell in the back of her head.
Sango looked about, seeing one head missing from the group. ?Wait, where?s Shou-san...??
All Koishi could manage was to look towards the blazing building she?d been pulled from. Sango?s face went white.
?...Shit.? Mokou clenched her fists, then slammed them into a nearby tree. ?Shit, shit, SHIT!? Her punches echoed through the wood, almost snapping the tree in half.
Sakuya and Youmu looked at each other, then towards the flames. They hung their heads in silence, like they were guests at a funeral. Even the masked attacker joined them, her blade sheathed as she bowed her head towards the blazing remnants of the Institute.
After a minute without a word, she turned around again, looking towards Koishi. ?I need to speak to her.?
Koishi gasped. She tried to step away as the woman approached her, but every ounce of strength in her had already fled.
?Watch it, pal.? Mokou leaped in between the two before the valkyrie could get too close. ?Last time I checked, you were trying to stab her in the chest.?
The figure responded with a heaving sigh. She held her arms out in an act of surrender. ?If I attack her, you may strike me down where I stand.?
?And what?s stopping us from fighting you right now?? Sakuya asked, her expression venomous.
The valkyrie managed a small smile. ?Surely you Sirens have some semblance of honour. I saved her life, so in return I should be able to expect you to spare mine.?
Sakuya?s face only darkened, but Youmu grabbed at her shoulder. ?She?s right, Miyo. It would be unjust to leave our debt to her unpaid.?
The maid looked ready to erupt, but at last she went limp and gave up her resistance. On seeing her companions give their consent, Mokou begrudgingly stepped to the side.
?Don?t try anything funny,? she muttered.
The valkyrie smiled again. ?I wouldn?t dream of it.?
She knelt down at Koishi?s side, opposite Sango. Koishi could see a glimmer of anger in the eyes behind the mask.
?What were you thinking?? Her anger was restrained, but unmissable. ?Being a Siren doesn?t make you invincible, you know. If I hadn?t stepped in, your friends would have been mourning your death as well.?
What? How could this woman even suggest that? Koishi felt sick just looking at her. She felt her strength coming back to her as she choked out a response.
?I...I had to try and save Shou-san. I couldn?t live with myself if she...if she...?
The image flashed in front of her eyes again. Shou lying lifeless on the floor, a terrible wound still spewing blood in all directions. Koishi had to stave off the urge to vomit.
The valkyrie shook her head. ?It was too late to save her. All you managed to do was put yourself in more danger.? She frowned, and now Koishi could make out something resembling sadness in her eyes. ?This is why you don?t belong on the battlefield. You?re a threat to yourself and your companions.?
Koishi felt all the sorrow inside her transform into rage in an instant. She leaned forwards, head rising out of Sango?s lap as she glared straight at the masked woman.
?What makes you think you can tell me this? Why should I listen to a word you say??
The valkyrie frowned. For a moment she trembled, eyes uncertain, but at last she let off another sigh.
She reached up, pulling off her mask and helm.
?Because I don?t want to see you get hurt, Koishi.?
Koishi?s entire world came to a standstill at that moment. Looking down on her was a face she hadn?t seen for months, a face she had wanted to see more than anything.
But not like this.
?O-Onee-chan...??
Satori Komeiji nodded back. There was a cold determination in her eyes, along with an unmistakable glint of light. Mokou and Sango gasped in unison, while Sakuya and Youmu merely flinched.
?Koishi, I want you to promise me something.? From the bluntness of her voice, she may as well have been giving Koishi an order. ?I never want to see you as an adversary again. I went easy on you today, but next time...? She gulped, going tense as the last words leaped out of her. ?Next time, I won?t hold back. I?ll kill you if I have to.?
Koishi was no longer coherent enough to manage a response. Her mouth bobbed open and closed, but no sound came out. She felt like her body and soul had both gone entirely numb.
No, no, no, no, no...
She watched on, powerless, as Satori retreated back into the forest. Mokou leaned down over her, rubbing some sort of gel along her legs where the burns had dug into her skin. She felt the pain, but she didn?t wince at it. It was as if she was witnessing someone else playing out her life for her.
Only when the blaring sounds of a fire engine filled the air did Sango tap her on the shoulder.
?C?mon, Koishi-san. We?ve got to get out of here.? The dolphin wrapped Koishi?s arm around her shoulder, with Mokou quickly taking the other. Koishi was grateful for their help - it was all she could manage to put one foot in front of the other right now. Mokou?s salve had helped with her knee, but it still hurt to walk on.
?Can...can I go home?? she asked. More than anything, she wanted to wrap herself up in bed and pretend this had all been one horrible dream.
Sango looked back at her with a frown. ?Sorry, Koishi-san, but we can?t. We have to head to room 495.?
?But why??
Sango stared off into the distance. ?My boss has a lot of explaining to do.?
