24 chapter 23
Castiel P.O.V.
It is already morning. It was hard to tell at first since I never got much sleep after what happened. How could I? I couldn't bear to go to sleep and leave one of the girls I love vulnerable. I guess you could say that was paranoia, but I couldn't care less about how it looked like. After seeing her like that I needed to see her waking up. To see that she was fine. To see that my failure did not cost her life.
"Hmmmm~ boss, not there. We are on a mission… Ok, just a bit." I couldn't help but smile bitterly when I hear her mumbling stuff like that. Seryu always did have that habit of muttering in her sleep, but I found it adorable to watch. If she can be having one of those dreams she is ok.
Despite my protective boyfriend side wanting to let her rest some more, I knew that I could not indulge her in this.
"Se-chan, it is time to wake up." I said caringly while nudging her shoulder. She was pulled in this world because of me, I do not want to see her hurt like this. A low moan escaped her lips as she tried to swat my hand away, trying to keep herself in dreamland but I did not stop no matter how much I wanted to let her rest.
She started waking up after hearing my voice. She was looking groggily at the ambient around her, probably she does not know where she is. However, at seeing me she jumped out of bed… or tried to as she ended up falling to the ground.
THUD
Seeing her falling like that made me even more relieved. This made it even more clear to me that she was alive. Showing her clumsy side like that is just so like her.
"Casti- I mean Boss. I apologize for my sorry display!" She gave a salute to me. She always tries to act in such a military way whenever she is nervous. "I allowed that the target to be wounded, and did not follow your expectations, and-"
I could not bear to see her acting like this so I shut her up by giving her a hug. I know that she is scared. This was the closest to dying since the day I found her that she has ever been. I could not do much but pet her head and started whispering into her ear.
"It must have been scary. Sorry for being late. Don't worry, nothing else will happen to you with me here." I kept repeating this over and over again. At the start, she could not understand what I was saying, but little by little she seemed to understand. She started trembling, her body started trembling I could hear weak sobbing's from her. She hugged me closer as if I was her lifeline as if her life depended on it.
She was crying.
Crying out of fear, out of powerlessness, out of happiness to be alive.
And I let her cry it out. No matter how unsightly she may look with her nose full of snot and face covered in tears, or if my shirt got wet by her tears, or if her fingers pressed my back to the point that I could feel my body bleed a little. I still kept her on my chest in a gentle but strong hug until she let it all out, for she is one of the women that I love. And I do not want to ever let her go.
Miku's room
Miku P.O.V.
I could hear everything on this floor. Be it the soft breath of Emily as she sleeps or the sound of that stilt wings flapping. It was one of the few true benefits of being born who I am, an absurd affinity with sound and music.
Since a few moments ago I heard the sound of Seryu-chan waking up. I was about to go and see her when I heard her talking to Castiel. The sound of her crying and what he said to her, I heard it all.
"You must be lying. I cannot and will not trust the word of a man, they are all filthy liars. None can ever be anything more than a venomous beast."
He disgusts me.
I want to vomit hearing those words. Pure lies, no truth at all. It cannot be genuine. I simply can't believe what he says.
I will not let this girl, she who almost died for me last night, be deceived by some random man. I will protect her. I will not let her be deceived by some 'fake goods', fake words and fake promises. But what can I do to show her what he truly is like?
...oh, I got an idea. That ought to show her the truth about him and all man.
I will show her the truth before it is too late… like it was for me.
No man can be trusted. None.
Castiel P.O.V.
This must be what the description of hell is like.
I know I had gone on some dates before and I had seen how some woman act. I mean Yuno is crazy about how 'forward' she is. It is to the point that if I wasn't under threat of torture for eternity, I would probably have already done IT with her. Independent of what I say.
But, Yuno is my girlfriend/fiancé. I could understand why she acts like that. But this situation is ridiculous.
Since this morning Miku decided to have a 'relaxing day' by going to some dating spots all the time. We went to see a movie (I must admit that black panther IS amazing, among the best Marvel movies out there), went to *shiv-v-v-vers* shopping (it was the proof that I could probably carry a mountain as I probably did carry such a mountain made of clothes) and even went to a lingerie store. She made me accompany her all along.
She flaunted her body to me and was awfully touchy. It is like she was trying to charm me or something.
The worst part is that Seryu was watching at a distance and she was visibly not pleased. I am probably looking like a playboy to her. Afterall we did have a moment earlier and now here I am with Miku. Just what is going on in this woman's head?
Miku P.O.V.
The plan is going as planned.
I will prove to Seryu that this thing cannot and is not of confidence. That he is no more than a beast.
His eyes on me feel terrible. And touching him is no different than touching a cockroach. But I must do it.
If I can show Seryu what he is like, the fact that he is no different than all those stinking pieces of garbage she can move on. To not be betrayed.
And letting he carry my luggage is good. I can buy as much as I want AND make him carry it all instead of sending it to my room, a double win if anyone asks me.
Emily P.O.V.
This is annoying. Here I am with Seryu basically watching Castiel on a date with our target. How can this sort of thing happen, or better yet, why can't we just wrap this up so I can go home and watch my TV?
I heard it from Seryu what happened this morning. Of how Castiel comforted her.
But now, just a few hours later he is with Miku. The worst part is that Seryu has been watching it all and making it very clear that she is not pleased. Especially if you consider that when she was almost pickpocketed she punched the man so hard his teeth fall off and she wanted to keep pounding him.
And then there was the lingerie store… I spent a lot of time trying to NOT let Seryu blow it all. It was extra hard thanks to Koro being beside her cheering her on. I could swear that Seryu must be related to Michael Bay at that moment, her love for explosions was too strong.
I must get a good pay or it will not be worth it at all.
Later that day
Castiel P.O.V.
We are now in the studio. Miku is recording a new song for her latest album.
I did not like it one bit.
The lyrics were shallow and the emotions could barely be felt. I mean it was just plain awful for me.
Strangely enough, it seems that everyone else was intoxicated by it. It was in different degrees but they ALL liked, and that is strange for me no matter how I see it.
I mean it was not good. Like at all.
Seeing Miku getting out of the recording room everyone approached her. Complementing her voice, talent, appearance, etcetera, and etcetera.
She ignored it all and approached me. She looked right into my eyes and said.
"So…" is she wanting my opinion?
"What?" I acted dumb. I have no need to act any different after all.
"What did you think of my song? Was it amazing? Or perhaps the best one you have ever heard?" she asks all smugly. I could hear all about everyone acting crazy and even some answers along the lines of 'it is perfection' and 'no one can ever be better'. The more she heard the smugger she got. It is like she loves complements just that much.
"... Do you really want my honest impression?" I asked.
"Yes of course. I know you must be in love with my voice by now, but a verbal confirmation that you love it is good." She said.
"Fine them. It was terrible. No emotions and the lyrics were shallow. It was empty and truly more mechanic than anything. It is like you do not even like singing these songs, and I do mean this one and the last few I have heard." I sad it to her.
Hearing this she basically froze, completely disbelieving my words. Then came a flood of hate and insults that made me wonder if she was really a goddess or simply a hooligan.
I ignored most of it, no point in being angered by those insults. After a while seeing my lack of reaction she stopped speaking and just looked at me quietly, no movement whatsoever.
She stayed like this for a few moments till she turned away and started walking. She went to the recording room to do it all over again.
The others in the room kept saying that the song was good enough but she did not listen. She just kept singing. It got a bit better, but it was still trash for me.
When she finished she asked me again and my answer was as such.
"Better, but the emotions are all wrong. I can only feel contempt and hate in this song."
"SO YOU GO AND DO BETTER!" she screamed at me.
"Sorry, I am no singer. If I tried I would probably make you laugh or cry due to how bad I am." I said in good humor.
She did not appreciate that as she turned her back and decided to leave the room. I was going to accompany her when.
"I do not want you by your side anymore. Go away you trash!" She exclaimed and walked briskly to the door.
The moment she left the room I caught a sign of a shadow moving slightly. No more than an instant later I was in front of Miku with my sword (Kupriotes) in hand on a lockdown with a dagger.
I looked at the offender. It was wearing a black cape all over its body and had a skull mask on its face. I could not identify the gender or any other information out of it but in this instance, it did not matter. All I could see was that it is the one that wounded Seryu.
That was enough for me.
I used all blessings I could on myself and started lashing out with all curses I could on it. Strangely enough, it did not seem to have any effect as the power on the dagger was still as strong as before and when it moved back the speed did not change as well.
Is it an immunity to curses or is he already cursed? I know that there are curses that are just so strong that any individual can only carry one such curse. If it is that it can be a problem as part of my powers just turned useless.
After the deadlock continued for a second the assassin jumped back.
Taking advantage of the new distance the assassin dashed to me once again. He ran fast, but when he was about to get on my sword reach he jumped to the wall and kicked it to go faster in an angle that my sword could not reach that spot fast enough. The assassin then used its hand to touch my face during the interval that I took to get my sword in a way that it could affect it.
Strangely enough, I noticed that it must be a girl as her fingers skin was simple to soft and creamy to be of a dude, I can say this for certain as Bon Clay uses all creams there are and his palm is still no match for a girl.
After touching me she kicked the wall again and using it she got away before I could even touch her, but not before she used her other hand to activate a small gadget on her that I did not notice before that liberated a small hail of golden needles no thicker than hair. Lucky me that I was using my combat clothes, if it wasn't for that I may as well have turned into a hedgehog.
After getting a distance from me it seemed to be waiting for something, I don't know what but I took that moment to analyze the situation. The assassin is in front of me, Kanda and my team are a small distance away and Miku is right behind me. The bigger problem is that I do not know if there are enemy reinforcements.
I must proceed with caution… even if I want to kill this bitch for what she did to Seryu.
As we kept in this staring contest the enemy started shaking and it was clear that whoever it was the enemy was taking deep breaths. I do not know what does it mean but I will not let this chance go, I swiftly charged forward while writing a small rune on my sword.
When I reached her I sweep my sword at the enemy mid-sector, she managed to escape by flipping herself back twice. Unfortunately for her, the rune took effect at that moment by liberating a large number of flames in her direction.
She used her daggers to defend herself, and while she did manage to go away mostly with no big amount of damage his cape was burned.
That is when I got to see that the enemy was indeed a female. She had a violet short hair, slim figure and (as strange as it sounds) gray skin. She was dressed in a dark leotard covering most of her body but leaving her shoulders and arms bare, she also had gloves covering most of her hand and fore-arm except her fingers and she also had a pouch attached to her belt. But as she was still wearing a skull mask I could not see her face, just her big purple eyes.
She looked at me in slight shock but I did not let up, I kept going forward swinging my sword while trying to hit her, but it did not work as she was even faster than me. Suddenly she throws at me a small ball and when I took a step back as to prepare in case it was an explosive it liberated a large amount of smoke.
When the smoke cleared up she was in the shadows and started disappearing on it.
SHIT!
You better not think I will let you get away this easily, with no repercussions. I activated the only other spirit bone I had. Its appearance resembled one of those helmets seen in ancient Greece or a roman commander, but it had three jewels being two sapphires o the sides and one ruby on the middle above the forehead and the rest being completely white.
The name of the beast it was born from is spiritual king Baize, a unique spirit beast that had the form of an incorporeal cloud with ever-changing form. It is very hard to describe as each person will see it a different way, but the fact that it was among the very best spiritual fighters was undeniable (or so Zelretch said, and considering he has traveled throughout the multi-verse anything he says is very good is really awesome).
This bone had two effects; one is complete and total immunity to all mental interference, be it hypnosis, charm, spiritual and mental attacks or curses (obviously that complete immunity as long as it is not too strong, no matter the item is, if a god wanted to curse my mind it would still be cursed for instance); the other is the effect I am using on her, complete understanding.
This skill can only be used once a day but it cannot be stopped as long as the adversary doesn't have the magical resistance of high enough caliber. She does not have it.
The effect is comparatively simple after I use it I can see the adversary past and intentions in my next dream. It is not an offensive skill, but it can show me all I possible need to know about my opponent and even what he intends to do. The best part is that the target won't even realize a thing.
After I activated the bone she finally disappeared into the shadows. The battle may seem to have taken long, but it took less than 7 seconds. I turned to look at Miku to see if she was fine.
She was on her knees, trembling on the ground. Seeing her like that made me pity her a little so I went to help her up. As I was about to touch her…
SLAP
"Do not put those filthy hands on me." She said glaring at me as if I was the one that attacked her. She straightened herself and got up. She huffed and turned to walk away from all this. I obviously did not let her simply walk away from me as I held her shoulder to not let her keep walking.
"Let me go this instant!"
"No. It is still dangerous as the assassin may still be around. We will both wait right here until the others arrive and after we will all decide what we are going to do." I said firmly. My only answer was a 'Tch!'.
A few seconds later the rest of the team arrived. I explained the situation and they all got quite nervous. The enemy assassin can get in here at any time, despite the bounded fields we placed here, and we can't detect her properly.
At least after tonight, I will be capable of seeing her dreams and peer at her past, this will probably give me a general idea of where they are and what can be expected.
We decided that the best counter to her must be keeping myself as close as possible to Miku as I am immune to the poison and for the others to not guard the entrances so heavily and focus more on being close to the target. If the enemy can approach anyway it is safer to protect the target in close range than keep protecting the building.
Miku did not like that I would be kept even closer to her now. She did not like it one bit.
Later that day
Miku's personal room
It was later at night. I was guarding the room of Miku on the outside as she took her bath, no matter what we said that is one thing she did not concede.
It was quite boring.
As we did not know yet how the enemy evaded our protection we arrived in two possibilities, it could be that either the enemy has a powerful stealth or she can transport through shadows.
To deal with that we closed the windows and put as many spells on it as possible, also letting Kanda and one of the Sisters in watch duty outside (the fact that there were many bugs and it was a hot night knowing Kanda will face it all was not part of the reason, the fact that I was smiling when this was decided most definetly does (not) mean that I took pleasure in the pricks misfortune) and I stationed myself in the front of her door.
We also stationed Seryu on the room below and Okuyasu plus Emily on the room above. I put Seryu in the room below as it was the less likely to be attacked tonight as rising.
As I waited for Miku finish her bath I started hearing a small tune. It was not an agitated or fast song. It was a true emotion, a simple wish.
(Ost insert: Tsubasa o Kudasai from episode 7 from danganrompa 3: despair arc)
~If I could have one wish granted,~
~I would want wings.~
~On my back, as on a bird's,~
~Please, give me white wings.~
~I want to spread my wings to the sky,~
~And fly away.~
~To the free sky, where there is no sadness.~
~I want to flap my wings,~
~And go there.~
~The dreams I dreamed in childhood.~
~Even now, I still dream.~
~I want to spread my wings to the sky,~
~And fly away.~
~To the free sky, where there is no sadness.~
~I want to flap my wings,~
~In this vast sky, I want to spread my wings,~
~And fly away.~
~To the free sky, where there is no sadness,~
~I want to flap my wings,~
~In this vast sky, I want to spread my wings,~
~And fly away.~
~To the free sky, where there is no sadness,~
~And fly away.~
I could not contain myself, I ended up closing my eyes and immersed myself in the song.
That was true music. The emotions and feelings were there. Anyone could clearly feel what the singer wanted to say, what she wanted to say.
It was different from her earlier songs. This was… beautiful.
A few minutes later she ended her bath and I entered the room. Even if she wants to sleep alone in this room I would not allow it, so I decided to sleep in the couch (note to self, I hate almost all couches but spoiled people couches were much better). While she was getting ready to sleep I could not help but comment.
"That song just now, it was great."
The moment I said that she froze. Not a single movement whatsoever. It was even worse than when she was attacked earlier today, but after a moment she turned to me. Her eyes were filled with pure unadulterated hate as if she wanted to kill me this instant.
"Get out." It was all she said. I would like to say that I stood my ground but my instincts were telling me to obey her in this, and considering that they are equivalent to some servants according to the last few tests I made (even if they work only on pissed woman, I dubbed these instincts as the 'Oh shit' sense) I decided to obey said warning.
After getting out of the room I messaged the others to inform a slight change of plans. I put myself at the door, the Sister in the room with Miku and kept Kanda outside (I needed to have a good thought to get a good sleep after all). I put some alarms on the whole corridor and door to wake me up in case of ANY disturbance no matter how small and went to sleep.
On an abandoned building
3° person P.O.V.
It has been a few minutes that the assassin returned to her base. She did not talk much as she looked at those assembled.
On the left was the figure of a large man, easily two meters tall with a pale white almost grayish skin eating a plate of candies. He was using a brown overcoat and brown pants.
On the right was a young woman of no more than 17 polishing some sword. She was dressed in a red yukata and used a black eyepatch.
On the center was a man of around 30 drinking tea while reading a bible. He had a smooth face, wavy brown hair and had a small scar under his right eye.
Looking at the members that did not even acknowledged her existence when she arrived she said.
"I failed."
That got the attention of those in the room. They knew her reputation of always succeeding in assassinations, so seeing her fail in one was surprising.
"Why exactly did you fail, Serenity?" The man in the center asked. Meanwhile the larger man simple went back to his candies, they were more important for him.
"I did not expect that the guard beside her could react in time for defending her. I could not pass by him in time as the other guards were approaching before long." She explained in her voice that was strangely sweet and delicate, the voice of a young girl.
"Did you at least manage to kill the guard?" the man asked.
"No. I even got to touch him but he showed no signs of being affected by my body." That last part was not explained further as it was just too great of a shock for her to this to be even possible.
"It must have been Castiel." The eyepatch woman explained.
"And who is this 'Castiel' exactly?" the older man asked.
"He is the heir of the Tower. He is quite good with a sword and has many different skills, no great master in any of them but can make some good work with what he has. He's also fully immune to poison so it would make sense to be him." The girl explained. She was an ex-member of Judgment after all so she got to work with him more than once.
"Hum, it can become a problem." The man started rubbing his chin in thought. "We will wait till the reinforcements arrive to deal with this situation. Allow neither the fake goddess or those heretic bodyguards to survive." He said looking at all of them.
The big man did not care, as long as he had his candies and good fights it was enough for him.
Lugh (the eyepatch woman) started thinking about how to get her hands on some new treasures. While she did not want to see her former comrades dead, but if that happens their treasures would be free game as long as she was concerned.
Serenity (the assassin girl) was… conflicted. She finally saw the hope she wished for. a hope that she would now have to crush with her own hands to get her dearest desire. She could not help but ask.
"Bishop-sama, is the treatment ready yet?"
He looked at her with pity in his eyes as he knew what she was talking about. The ONLY reason why she did everything they asked of her.
"No, it is still underway. Finding all herbs necessary to seal your poison is not such an easy work." But then he gave her a beautiful and resplendent smile. "But, fear not. It will not take long now for it to be ready and you will be capable of becoming the normal girl you always wanted to be."
She hesitated for an instant but gave him a nod. Them she turned around and left the room.
Unfortunately, she missed the moment the smile of the priest turned into a ridiculing smirk. The only thought on the priest mind at that instant was that he must make sure to make full use of her now as later no one would make use of such a useful tool again.
