章 38: Chapter 55&56
Chapter 55: When Blades Cross
"Please take your time with the tea," offered Izumi Kyoka as she gracefully emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tea tray with freshly brewed tea. Kurumi Tokisaki and Koyo Ozaki had been having a casual conversation in the living room, but when Kyoka approached, a gentle warmth softened Koyo's gaze.
After placing the steaming cups on the table, Kyoka gave a slight bow and turned to leave. But Kurumi reached out and invited her to sit on the sofa beside them.
"Miss Ozaki, would you mind if Kyoka joined our chat?" Kurumi asked innocently.
"Not at all; I would very much enjoy that," Koyo replied with a soft smile. "It's been a while since I've seen her. It would be lovely to catch up."
As Kurumi expected, Koyo didn't object. The primary reason Koyo had come to visit Kurumi, a new and relatively low-ranking member, was out of concern for Kyoka, not for any official business. After all, Koyo wouldn't go out of her way for just anyone.
"Kyoka, Miss Ozaki is your teacher, correct?" Kurumi asked.
Kyoka nodded quietly, without any visible reaction. Though it was Akutagawa who brought her to the Port Mafia, his combat skills were too reliant on his ability to properly teach her. That's where Koyo stepped in, becoming one of Kyoka's two mentors. Upon first meeting Kyoka, Koyo had felt a deep fondness for her—a connection forged from shared experiences and similar abilities.
Koyo had taken Kyoka under her wing, hoping to spare her from the dark aimlessness she herself had once endured. Through diligent training and Koyo's undivided care, Kyoka quickly became one of the top assassins under Koyo's guidance. In Koyo's eyes, she was more than just a mentee; Kyoka was almost like her daughter. And now, learning that Kyoka had been assigned to someone even more feared than Akutagawa, Koyo had come to see for herself how things were.
Kurumi was fully aware of Koyo's intentions, which is why she had invited Kyoka to join the conversation. As long as Kyoka showed she was comfortable with Kurumi, Koyo would likely leave without further concerns.
Kurumi didn't want too many close ties or discussions with Koyo. Handling Ogai Mori was complex enough without adding more complications, so a distant, neutral relationship with Koyo suited her just fine.
"It's been some time since you last saw her. Is there anything you'd like to share?" Kurumi asked Kyoka. "Miss Ozaki is quite busy, so this might be the best chance."
"Nothing in particular..." Kyoka responded bluntly, unwilling to engage.
Kurumi chuckled, trying to ease her in. Koyo, sipping her tea with elegance, occasionally glanced at Kyoka, her eyes filled with anticipation. But despite Kurumi's attempts, Kyoka eventually muttered, "We're not that close."
Kurumi was caught off guard; she hadn't expected such bluntness. Despite all the time Koyo had invested, Kyoka still felt little attachment. Though Kurumi knew Kyoka's reserved nature wasn't intentional, Koyo's attachment had become so deep that she'd likely rationalize Kyoka's indifference as mere shyness. Even if Kyoka outright denied having any motherly attachment, Koyo would dismiss it as a cover for her "true feelings."
In the silence, Kurumi held her tongue, letting Koyo's delusions be her comfort. No need to intervene.
Afterward, Koyo asked Kyoka a few more questions about her time with Kurumi, and Kyoka gave honest but short answers. Compared to the ruthless days under Akutagawa's wing, her time with Kurumi felt like paradise. No killings, only simple household tasks and meals; her life was peaceful.
Koyo then discreetly brought up the Port Mafia rumors labeling Kurumi as a heartless monster and asked Kyoka for her thoughts. But Kyoka immediately dismissed it, saying if she found out who started it, she'd make sure they regretted it. Kurumi, listening, felt somewhat embarrassed, knowing the rumors weren't entirely baseless.
To Kyoka, Kurumi was her caring savior and a friend. And as she listened, Kurumi couldn't help but smile a bit nervously.
Once their personal conversation ended, Koyo shifted to business. Excusing Kyoka to the market, Kurumi and Koyo were left alone.
"Kyoka seems happy under your care. That's a relief," Koyo commented, sipping her tea. "She seems genuinely fond of you."
"Even though we aren't related, she's my responsibility, so of course I care for her," Kurumi replied.
"People in the organization say you're a demon in human form, yet to Kyoka, you're one of the kindest people in the world," Koyo noted, her tone inquisitive. "Who is the real Kurumi Tokisaki?"
Kurumi smiled, replying, "People believe what they want to believe, don't they? Perhaps I am both. Or maybe neither. But that isn't what matters—what matters is what you think."
"Oh? What I think?"
Kurumi leaned forward slightly. "Yes. What kind of person do you think I am?"
Koyo answered, "I'll reserve judgment. I hope you aren't using Kyoka for underhanded purposes."
A sharp gleam flashed in her eyes. "If you are, I won't hesitate to draw my sword against you, even if it means Kyoka will despise me."
"Oh my, you truly care for her, like a mother." Kurumi chuckled. "But rest assured, I have no need to use her. The Port Mafia doesn't hold what I seek, and Kyoka has no role in my plans."
"Then why did you join?"
Kurumi casually responded, "The Mafia is merely a temporary stop. When the time is right, I'll leave."
Koyo's eyes shifted slightly.
The Port Mafia was a trap, a place impossible to leave, even for its leader. So Koyo's expression sharpened as she warned, "A statement like that could be considered treason. Aren't you afraid I'll tell Mori?"
Kurumi met her gaze without fear. "Oh? Do you believe the Mafia has the means to kill me?"
"I could cut off your head right now." Koyo's eyes turned cold, and the aura of a formidable demon warrior emerged around her. Her ability, Gold Nightshade, manifested a formidable warrior spirit wielding a gleaming blade. The sword hovered dangerously close to Kurumi's neck, sharp enough that she could feel its chilling intent.
But Kurumi remained calm, delicately placing her tea on the table. "Oh, I don't doubt that sword's sharpness could sever my neck. But tell me, Koyo… didn't you overlook something?"
Koyo's eyes widened as she felt the cold touch of a gun at the back of her head.
A second Kurumi, a shadowy copy, had somehow slipped behind her undetected. "Now, now, Miss Ozaki, isn't it rather unprofessional to focus solely on me without regard for your surroundings?"
"Impossible. I chose a seat with no shadows deliberately." Koyo's voice wavered slightly as she noticed her own shadow. She recalled Mori's report detailing Kurumi's ability to meld into shadows, but she hadn't considered that Kurumi could infiltrate other people's shadows too.
Koyo remained calm despite the reversal. "My sword… it's faster than your gun."
At that moment, her blade was at Kurumi's throat while Kurumi's gun was aimed at Koyo's head a perfect standoff. Koyo knew she could likely eliminate both the real and shadow Kurumi simultaneously, but the risk was immense.
Kurumi's faint smile shifted into a smirk. "Pardon me, but do you honestly believe that sitting before you is my true self?"
Chapter 56: Born of Darkness
Watching the young girl in front of her, calm as she sipped tea with a blade held to her throat, Koyo Ozaki finally realized just how formidable her opponent was. The sensation of being overpowered had already flickered within her heart when she read the intelligence Ogai Mori had gathered on Tokisaki Kurumi. Yet, experiencing even a fraction of her ability firsthand spread an unsettling feeling of helplessness through her body.
Koyo was powerful, and her Golden Yasha was even more so; together, they were unstoppable in the world of assassination. No matter how renowned the enemy was, they all fell under her blade. But what could she do against someone as unreasonable as Tokisaki Kurumi? She couldn't even distinguish the real Kurumi from her clones. And this was only the first of many challenges in trying to defeat her.
Realizing this, Koyo sighed softly, her fierce aura dissipating as the large, intimidating figure of the Golden Yasha behind her gradually faded away.
"You're right; even if the entire Port Mafia fought you, it's unlikely we could kill you," she said, resuming her seat as if the confrontation had never happened. "Even our strongest, Chuuya, might only be able to defeat you—never kill you."
"It's good that you understand that," Kurumi replied.
"But there's one thing I still don't understand," Koyo continued. "If the organization is merely a temporary stop in your life, why form a bond with Kyouka? Someone like you would typically be indifferent to everyone and everything aside from your goals, wouldn't you?"
"That's true," Kurumi agreed before turning the question back on her. "But as the head of the assassination and intelligence division, why do you care about her so much?"
"Because I feel a certain closeness to her."
"Interestingly, so do I." Kurumi glanced out the window, her gaze distant. "You and I are people who have fallen into darkness. Seeing Kyouka, struggling helplessly in a world of shadows, brings a sense of familiarity. It makes one want to help her, as much as possible."
"Indeed," Koyo acknowledged, her tone softened by a trace of understanding as she looked at Kurumi. "That's why I've cared for her so diligently, preparing her to inherit my role. Only those who possess power and control can master their fate."
"But despite reaching the top of the organization, aren't you still unable to control your own fate?" Kurumi countered.
"At least, it's better than having no choices at all."
"But what I want for Kyouka goes far beyond that."
Koyo was momentarily stunned, then quickly furrowed her brow as she caught on to Kurumi's intentions. "Are you saying...you plan to take Kyouka away from the organization?"
"That's right," Kurumi replied with a nod. "While you and I are alike in some ways, there is a fundamental difference: you intend to push her to the top of the dark world, granting her a small chance to breathe. I, on the other hand, want to pull her out of the darkness altogether."
"Naive thinking," Koyo murmured, shaking her head. "A flower born of darkness can only wither in darkness. If it yearns for the light, it will only burn itself to ashes."
Koyo remembered her own past attempt to escape the darkness with her lover, their shared desire to live as ordinary people blinding them to reality and ultimately leading to her lover's death. To be born of darkness is to return to it a truth of this world. Those who defy this rule only end up battered and broken.
"But those rules exist only as shackles to bind the weak," Kurumi stated calmly. "Ms. Ozaki, if you had the power to kill the entire Port Mafia back then, wouldn't you already be living a happy life with your lover?"
"No matter how powerful one may be, it's limited. No one can take on an organization alone."
"But I am not alone," Kurumi said with a serene smile. "If I wish, there's no organization in this world that can stop me."
Her voice remained refined and gentle, yet Koyo could detect an unparalleled confidence and arrogance in her words. And absurd as it seemed, even with her limited understanding of Kurumi's ability, Koyo felt certain she wasn't exaggerating. Kurumi and her twenty clones, capable of slipping into shadows, would be a nightmare for any organization they decided to pursue.
Koyo and her lover had been like moths, flying toward the light and burning themselves for it. But the girl before her was a nightmare born of darkness itself, unbound even by the deepest shadows.
"If it's her," Koyo mused, "then maybe Kyouka really could have a normal life."
In this world, strength governed everything. The weak had to follow the rules imposed by the strong; only someone even stronger could break those rules.
"But even if the Port Mafia would agree to let her go, how will you handle the government?" Koyo asked, calming her stirred emotions. "Kyouka is still a wanted criminal. Without the Port Mafia's protection, she'll spend her life in prison."
"You're right, which is precisely why Ms. Ozaki is currently helping me."
"Helping you? When? How?" Koyo asked, confused. "Isn't this the first time we've met?"
"Mr. Mori assigned you the task of luring the director of the Special Ability Department, Sakaguchi Ango, correct?"
"That's true."
"I was the one who made that request to Mr. Mori."
"You mean...you want Kyouka to take the same path as Dazai?"
In an instant, Koyo understood Kurumi's plan. While Kurumi might be able to free Kyouka from the Port Mafia, she would still be a criminal in the eyes of the government. To let Kyouka live a normal life, the government would have to lift her criminal status. This would require negotiations with the official Special Ability Organization.
Sakaguchi Ango, the head of that organization, was the government's representative. The Special Ability Department had once pardoned Dazai, and they could pardon Kyouka as well. Dazai had been a vital figure in Yokohama's "Three Parties Accord," maintaining the balance and safety between the Port Mafia, Armed Detective Agency, and the Special Ability Department.
But Kyouka didn't hold the same value as Dazai. So what leverage could Kurumi possibly offer the government to convince them?
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