Hidden Inventory VII: Crisis

" How much longer do I have to stay at an airport?" Two figures stood guard at an airport as one of them grumbled in annoyance over and over.

" Nanami senpai, at least this is different from Okinawa airport. At least we're near Jujutsu High and we can rush there in case of anything." Kurama smiled and said with optimism.

" Spare me the chat Kurama. I'm already thinking of retiring as a sorcerer." Nanami facepalmed and sighed.

They walked to a store on the inside and immediately purchased bowls of ramen as they sat down and began to ate.

" Hmmm?" A few minutes later, Kurama was busily devouring his bowl of ramen when he immediately sensed a strange presence courtesy of the shikigami he had hidden at vantage points in the airport.

" Nanami senpai! Someone's coming!" Kurama immediately stood up, as his shikigamis morphed into shadows and flew right back into his body.

" Satoru and Suguru have already taken the star plasma vessel to Jujutsu High. Why would the mercenaries dare to show up even after that?" Nanami asked a bit surprised.

" Kurama, Kurama! Always the cautious one!" Immediately Kurama and Nanami immediately heard a creepy yet familiar voice, as they saw a figure appearing from the distance.

" Geto Urahara?!!! You're still alive?!" Kurama immediately revealed a shocked expression as he looked at the figure in front of him.

" Hehehe!! Unfortunately for you Kurama, you're going to die today." Urahara laughed as Kurama stretched forth his hand, as a blade appeared. Nanami also reached toward his back and pulled out a short blade covered with a white and black piece of cloth.

.........

Bottom of Jujutsu High, Tombs of the Star corridor, residence of Tengen sama.

Suguru, Riko and Kuroi hurried towards Tengen-sama's dome.

" Milady, this is as far as I'm allowed to go." Kuroi immediately stopped and gave a respectful bow.

" Kuroi! I love you!!" Riko immediately jumped into her arms as she cried her eyes out.

" I love you too milady. Forever and ever." Kuroi spoke. As the two girls hugged each other with tears, Suguru immediately examined his surroundings and realized that they were near some sort of tunnel.

After separating from Kuroi, Riko and Suguru rushed into the tunnel, and when they came out, they were stunned by what they saw. There were huge antique buildings arranged in a circular order, with a large tree that resembled Yggdrasil from Norse myth proudly standing in the middle.

" We're just outside the barrier where Tengen-sama lives." Suguru spoke as he examined the place in wonder.

" This is also the country's base for primary barriers." He added as he walked around with Riko.

" This is as far as I go Riko. Go down the stairs and pass that gate, then head towards the base of that huge tree." He directed with a small smile.

" Don't worry, there's a barrier there created by Tengen-sama which only allows those he deem worthy to enter. No one can attack you once you enter the barrier and you'll be safe till the merger." Suguru smiled and said.

" That or, you can turn back.... and return home with Kuroi." Suguru immediately spoke which shook Riko immensely.

" What?" Kuroi turned to him in shock. " When we were assigned the mission by our Principal, he referred to the merger as an erasure." He said with a sigh. " It means if you agree to be merged with Tengen-sama, you're going to die Riko." He said which made Riko's heart skip a beat.

" Satoru and I came to a conclusion before we found you. The conclusion was that if the star plasma vessel refused to be merged with Tengen-sama, then we call it off."

..... Flashback.....

" Hehehe! You sure about that Satoru?" Suguru asked with a chuckle. " I don't know, but we should be fine." Satoru answered him.

" We might have to fight Tengen-sama." Suguru smiled. " What? You scared?" Satoru asked as he chuckled slightly.

" Of course not, after all we are the strongest." Suguru said and smiled....

...Flashback end.....

" No matter what you chose, we promised to protect your future." Suguru spoke as tears began to drip down Riko's cheek.

" I.... " Riko stammered, as more tears began to drip down her cheeks. She immediately began to remember her life, how her parents died in a car accident, how she had lived alone with Kuroi. Up to now, her greatest wish was to travel the world with her friends and family.

" I just want to live normally and enjoy my life with everyone like a normal person!" She spoke in grief and so much anguish, something that no one would understand. Suguru hugged and patted her back. He understood and sympathized with her. In fact, his eyes were red with tears themselves.

How could anyone understand what she was feeling at the moment. Living your entire life alone and being made to believe you were special only to realize that your entire purpose was to offer your life as an offering for some being you never even knew about.

" Let's go home Riko....." Suguru stretched his hand forward, and waited for her to put hers in his, however, just as she was about to place her hand in his, he heard a sound, something that would forever haunt him to the day he died, the sound of a gunshot.

" Bang!" Immediately, it was as if the world had turned slow motion for him. He could see a sharp and round metallic object rushing straight into the poor girl's head with frightening accuracy. He tried to move his body, yet it was as if he was frozen in place.

He could only helplessly watch as the bullet slowly pierced into the side of the poor girl's head, as blood spurted out. Immediately he could see the look on her face change from fear to one of shock, as she turned to him in that split second and let out a small smile as her body collapsed to floor, and took its last breath.

Instantly, it was as if his world had been thrown into chaos. Tears dripped down his cheek, as he turned around only to see the mercenary from earlier standing there still in the stance with a devilish smile on his face.

" Riko...?" His brain couldn't capture what had just happened, and in the end, the words he wanted to say couldn't really form.

" If you're wondering about your friend from earlier, the boy from the Gojo clan, he's dead, along with the woman in the maids outfit." Toji smiled deviously as he watched Suguru immediately sink into despair.

Suguru could only wave his hand in anger, as a masssive amount of cursed energy burst out of his body in an instant, as a large dragon like cursed spirit materialized with a ferocious roar.

" Oh, special grade curse spirit?" Toji frowned, as he saw the dragon like cursed spirit rushing towards him with increasing ferocity.