POV HOTARU
Some time has passed since we all met. I still can't believe I'm here, as an exorcist.
When I return to my village, I'll show them everything I've achieved, and without their support.
The gray autumn skies covered the city as Kohaku, with a ridiculously long scarf and unnecessary sunglasses, gathered us all at the airport.
"Get ready, kids~! Today you'll have your first international mission… in the city of love~~."
"Why is he wearing sunglasses if his face is bandaged?" Livia murmured.
"Like you, wearing a swimsuit and we're not going to the beach."
I could see Livia's face turn as red as a traffic light; it was fun to see her anger.
Takumi looked at his passport, still surprised. I can't deny it, I was too, though I had to admit I looked cute in the photo.
"How did you get this so fast?" he asked, holding it up.
"Ah, easy~. As exorcists we have several privileges. Besides, the government cooperates with us… and voilà~, instant passport."
"Uh~?" My face lit up instantly. Now I understand why they say the AOE is corrupt.
Livia, Takumi, Ryouma, and I checked our papers, following Kohaku inside the plane. Everything was first class.
Kohaku fell asleep, his mouth slightly open. Ryouma approached the two new ones, opened a huge book, and dropped it on the airplane tray table with a THUD.
"Is he really going to explain the entire history of the AOE?"
"What is that?" asked Takumi, still half asleep.
"The history of exorcists, from the existential era to modern globalization," he responded with total seriousness.
"And what are we going to do with that?" asked Livia, clearly too tired to pay attention. "That was the past, it doesn't matter."
"Actually, it does matter, a little," I responded softly. I wasn't interested in knowing who created all this either.
"This way you can learn the rules of this world. If you don't, you'll die. This trip isn't for tourism."
"Come on, Ryouma. You're not the mother hen." That pushed Ryouma over the edge. The best part was seeing him hit Takumi on the head with the book. "Agh, that wasn't necessary."
When Ryouma started his explanation, the only thing I thought was how boring it was.
"This is torture."
"This is why I hate history."
"Ryouma, can you explain with drawings?"
Takumi agreed with my idea and we high-fived for the first time.
"No."
We all slumped into our seats, exhausted, but the guy just went on and on.
---
Upon arriving in France, Takumi ran off the plane.
"Finally free!"
"Don't be dramatic, the history wasn't that boring," Ryouma responded, slightly annoyed.
As for me, I was a bit busy with Livia.
"Livia, we're here, you can get off my back now." She got down, stretching.
"It was so boring that even my father's army stories sounded more fun."
"Yes, Ryouma is so boring~!" Kohaku announced in a very loud tone, now wearing a French beret and using a baguette as a cane. "Enjoy the culture, the cheese, and the local Ghosts!"
"And the mission?" I asked with dismay, I really wanted to see the country.
"Ah, yes! A little problem with a series of disappearances in the Paris catacombs. Nothing to worry about. So, get to work!"
"You shouldn't have reminded him of that," Takumi said to me, looking at a magazine of the best Parisian dishes.
"And you? Where are you going, Kohaku?" asked Ryouma with his typical seriousness.
"I have a date with the French diplomacy… and maybe with a blonde named Amélie~! Bonne chance~."
"Huh?" we shouted in unison, as a great curtain of dust rose, Kohaku disappearing within it.
Our mission was the catacombs. It doesn't seem like anything major.
---
We headed to the spot Kohaku indicated. The place was dark and humid.
"I feel like someone is watching us," Livia commented.
"Must be your ex-boyfriend who cheated on you," I said in a spooky voice, touching Livia's shoulder and watching her jump. "Ha, ha, ha, ha."
"It's not funny, Hotaru." Despite her words, her smile was still shining.
"Don't act like little girls," said Ryouma, taking the lead. Takumi followed him.
At that moment, several blue lights turned on, illuminating the place. Skulls embedded in the walls began to detach and fall, reconstructing themselves with bones emerging from the ground.
"We're surrounded by Jaki…" Livia mentioned, pulling out her two knives.
"Yes, surely the emotions of pain and rage."
"What class are they?" asked Takumi.
"Class Tiga. They won't be a problem."
We all got into position, dodging attacks; I could only hit them with my hammer.
Takumi managed alongside Ryouma's "Mimo" technique.
And Livia, with her great combat skill, managed to take out most of them.
"This is easier than it seems," murmured Takumi, hitting all the skeletons that began to form flesh.
"What the hell…!?" said Livia, dodging a soldier and killing it.
"mmf… mmm, mmfh," Ryouma added.
"Dammit Ryouma, we can't understand you when you use your ability!" I shouted, while still destroying Ghosts.
At that moment, Ryouma rolled his eyes and, with a sharp gesture, unzipped his mouth.
"Keep going forward, idiots."
"Ryouma, activate your ability!" exclaimed Takumi, losing the knives Ryouma gave him and dodging attacks with jumps.
Livia was totally focused on preventing the skulls from getting back up.
Everything seemed normal, until we went deeper in, into a chamber, where we heard the door slam shut.
"What!?"
"Again?"
The place began to flood rapidly.
"Damn it… it always happens to us," I said, looking for a way out.
"Do you know how to swim?" asked Ryouma. We all nodded; it was basic for any exorcist.
"That's good… because I don't."
"What?!"
"How the hell did you get into the AOE?"
"Obviously, connections."
We all looked at Ryouma with annoyance for a brief moment.
"Okay, Kohaku's spoiled brat."
"I'm not spoiled."
---
POV NARRATOR
While a serious discussion was taking place in Kohaku's group, Kohaku was enjoying his day.
"Are you really taking us to that place?"
"Of course, three beautiful women like you deserve a special space for that."
"Are you sure you can handle all three~~?"
"The faster we get there, the faster you'll know~~."
He put the three of them in a car headed to a hotel.
Kohaku went off to have fun, unaware that in that very city were some very unwelcome people.
"Always a babysitter, this feels like a daycare," said Shiro with annoyance and disgust.
"Tell me about it, it would have been easier to use the psycho Libby's 'Obsession'," mentioned Makisig.
Shiro observed the kids lined up behind them. They were all talking amongst themselves and readying their weapons.
Then a green-haired boy approached; he was one of the leaders of the first squads.
"Excuse me, we are all prepared now."
Shiro looked at him with disdain, but after a long sigh, he responded:
"Perfect, well done, Ren." He stood in front of all the young people. "Very well, this mission starts now. You will all follow Makisig and me. I don't want questions, just obedience."
They all nodded at Shiro's firm tone and looked very happy and excited. Makisig went to his colleague.
At that moment, Shiro remembered what Abaddon had told him.
"Learn all the kids' names. It makes them feel unique and special."
"They're just replaceable bait and I have to learn their names. I disgust myself," Shiro muttered under his breath.
"Let's go now," said Makisig, pulling Shiro's arm.
---
After a long walk, they reached the Parisian caves, spotting Kohaku's group from a distance.
"They beat us to it. What do we do now, Shiro?"
"Order the bait to seal the cave and fill it with water. Then we'll go find the 'Umbra Core'."
Makisig nodded. Within seconds, all the kids pushed a large rock, sealing the cave entrance. With the help of a Ghost, they began flooding the interior.
Inside, the water was already up to their shoulders. Everyone was floating, except Ryouma, who was starting to sink.
"Dammit, the water is rising too fast. Can't you create a gas tank for yourself, Ryouma?" asked Takumi, somewhat agitated.
"Like the Bogers, I need complete manuals of what I'm going to create for it to work."
"You couldn't be more useless," Livia responded, not mincing words.
"I'm still disappointed you can't swim."
Suddenly, several Ghosts began pulling at their legs, trying to drag them to the bottom.
"Ah?!" Livia screamed, being dragged into the depths. "I can feel their bones and the rotten flesh, how disgusting…"
"Rossetti!" Takumi dove down to help her, and signaled with a look for Hotaru to assist Ryouma.
Underwater, the fight was frantic. Sharp bones moved like blades, cutting their clothes and skin.
Hotaru managed to destroy several Ghosts, but they regrouped, forming a huge centipede skeleton.
With one blow, it shook Livia, knocking her unconscious. Ryouma had also passed out from the excess water in his lungs.
Takumi and Hotaru swam to the surface, coughing up the water they had ingested.
"They won't last much longer!"
"Okay. I don't swim very well, but you do. Hotaru, distract the Ghost. I'll look for a way out."
"Understood!"
They both took a breath and submerged again. Takumi analyzed the walls until he found an opening. He quickly began moving stone by stone, with determination.
Meanwhile, Hotaru swam at full speed, attracting the Ghost. Dodging every charge.
Takumi signaled to her, indicating to continue with the plan.
Hotaru swam at full speed towards the wall, moving away at the last minute. The Ghost crashed into the wall.
They repeated this until the foundations loosened further from the impacts and the water pressure shot everyone out of the place.
Takumi grabbed Ryouma and Livia, falling to the ground. Hotaru stayed behind, emerging alongside the Ghost.
"Go to hell, you repulsive cockroach!" Hotaru shouted, pulling out one of her crosses and driving it into the centipede's forehead. "Crucifixion!"
The Ghost exploded, all its parts disintegrating, as Hotaru fell next to her friends.
Takumi and Hotaru caught their breath, seeing the critical state of their friends. Neither was breathing.
If I kiss her, she's going to kill me, Takumi thought, looking at Livia lying on the floor.
"I don't want to kiss this grump," murmured Hotaru.
Their gazes met, knowing they had to act quickly. Their feet paced back and forth.
Takumi gave Ryouma CPR and Hotaru gave it to Livia.
Livia, upon opening her eyes, pounced on Hotaru and hugged her, breaking into tears.
Ryouma woke up suddenly, headbutting Takumi.
"Hey, I saved you!" he said, holding his forehead.
"…Thanks. But don't do it again," Ryouma mentioned, referring to the kiss.
---
While they were shaking off the water, in another chamber were Shiro and Makisig, searching for the crystal ball.
"Here is the chest…"
Before they could open the stone chest, a Ghost rose up, throwing itself at them.
—"Reddish brown,"— said Shiro, stretching out his right arm from which a liquid creature emerged that, in the blink of an eye, ate the Ghost.
"Not bad for a Kojin Ikimono."
"Like you, I'm Class E," Shiro mentioned, removing the lid and checking the inside. "…SHIT!" he yelled, kicking the chest.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" The blonde's gaze turned to the chest, which only contained an empty scepter. "…"
---
Although it had been a disaster for them, for Kohaku's students it was a relief to get out of that place. Minutes later, they found Kohaku.
Upon seeing them, he put on an exaggerated surprised face, pocketing the latest phone number from a beautiful young woman.
"My dear students, you've finally arrived! You look like drowned rats! What happened? Did you decide to have fun without me? How mean~~!" He theatrically leaned in towards them, invading their personal space.
Their faces burned with anger, but their bodies trembled from the cold, their teeth chattering.
"Idiot."
"Fool."
"Imbecile."
"Bad teacher."
"How rude!" said Kohaku, placing a hand on his chest, slowly leaning back. "To earn my forgiveness, I'll take you to a doctor, especially for Takumi's injured hands."
They all nodded, heading to the hospital, Hotaru touching Takumi's wounds amid soft, mocking laughter.
After that long trip, they had to return, exhausted, especially Shiro and Makisig.
Shiro approached Abaddon, brushing his soft, jet-black hair.
"So there was nothing? That's too bad…"
Shiro nodded, carefully washing Abaddon's hair with the help of Cyrus and Libby.
"It was a waste to go to that place, plus a loss of time and money."
"Don't worry, I'll just keep charging those idiot civilians who believe in me, and then it won't be a problem."
The white-haired man nodded, rinsing the black hair calmly.
"It's what I told you. The 'Umbra Core' is a Class E object." The gazes turned to the eldest of the group, Katsuro. "It's the perfect container for Kohaku. It imprisons and kills. Besides, it's given out every year at the summer games."
"That mediocre contest to choose a leader?" Libby spoke up. Everyone nodded at her words.
"So, it's another meaningless prize," mentioned Makisig.
"No. The family that wins must protect the 'Umbra Core' with their life. It has imprisoned the best exorcists in history and has killed," Katsuro refuted. "The more Jaki a person has, the more resistant it is."
"Perfect! Then our strategy will have to adjust a little," Abaddon beamed, letting Shiro finish drying and combing his hair.
"Does that mean I'll soon be able to eat all the men I want?" Libby asked with euphoria. "That excites me so much~~~."
"Of course, but first you'll have to find a good vessel for our future 'son'."