"Are you sure you don't remember what happened?" Vander asked for the umpteenth time.
"Yes." Kaze's panic has long settled. But his heart still beat with worry. Years of being a hunter had moulded his heart into something unstoppable, yet Rin was different.
'I will not lose her,' Kaze thought.
"Hmm… yeah… ok…" Vander nodded as he listened to a guy's whispers.
Kaze looked at him, Vander looked back.
"Witnesses say they were cloaked in black Ionian wear with silver masks. They took the girl. There was a fight too apparently. From the sounds of it, it's most definitely the Takugi clan. They have dangerous Chem-Warriors. You're wounded so you probably fought them half asleep. But they escaped." Vander said dangerously.
"It's unacceptable. These are my lanes and normally… we would get our back. But… There is something big happening soon. We can't face a Chem-baron right now. I'm sorry but, if you want Rin back, you'll have to go by yourself." Vander couldn't look at Kaze. He didn't want to see defeat on his face. He hated to see broken people. That's why he led these lanes.
"I understand, it's my duty alone to protect her. You've helped enough my friend." Kaze said. Vander looked at his face. He didn't see defeat. He saw hope. And a calm resolve. Kaze's eyes weren't there. He was already thinking of his plans.
"I wish you best of luck. Hopefully, when all of this is over, we won't need to take his syndicate out." Vander said also adopting a strong face similar to his friend. "Here, they found this in the rubble." He handed Kaze a card. It was black with a golden firelight emblem.
Kaze nodded and turned around. Vander saw the back of a man. A strong man. The kind of man he hoped to be. Silco held Vander's shoulder and gave him a look.
Kaze looked strong, but his mind was storming. Rage, worry, hope. He couldn't think.
Phew. One deep breath and it was all gone. One– No, two goals in mind. Save Rin. Destroy the Takugi.
{Break}
Kaze stood before the addressed building on the card. It was large, tall, and cylindrical. It followed the conventions of Undercity architecture.
He put on his mask. A white mask made of spirit wood resembling the Spirit of Duty. These masks resembling spirits were the signatures of Hasagos. However, Hasagos would wear the mask only when they were to slay demons.
"Rin, bear with me. Reidan, give us strength." Kaze prayed as his blade hummed by his side.
He knocked on the door. He didn't want to barge in and cause a ruckus immediately. At least he would try to negotiate for Rin's safe release first. Her life could not be put in any danger.
The doors opened themselves dramatically. It revealed two columns of armoured people highlighted by Chem-fluids. In the middle was a scrawny man. He sat as he played a melodious tune on a lute-like instrument.
Kaze walked in. The music stopped.
"Welcome to Takugi! Sans edition!" The man said gleefully.
Kaze hated the crazy types, he could never understand why they just couldn't act normal. This man had those eyes. But burying this thought, he couldn't afford to offend this man until Rin was safe.
"Did you take Rin?" Kaze asked, getting straight to the point.
"Yes, yes! Sit, make yourself at home. It will be soon enough!" the scrawny man then cackled. He strummed the instrument wildly.
Kaze sat on a pillow put by one of the men on standby.
"You are going to kill me…" Kaze said.
The noise stopped.
"Will you kill her?"
"Depends… If you're entertaining enough." the man said after thinking a bit. "How about this, we won't kill her until you die! So, if you kill us all, you can leave with her. If not, you both die!" the man continued to torture the music instrument.
"I see… Thank you for making this easier. When do we start?"
"I'll be at the top of the tower with your dear! We'll be watching so don't make her despair. Haha, that rhymed! That's Sans, signing out!" He skipped to his feet with his instrument onto the stairs, quickly disappearing behind a wall.
The guards of the first floor surrounded him. Each pulled out knives of all shapes and sizes. Kaze stood up and placed his hand on his blade.
"You will not understand my wrath… but you will feel it." He muttered to no-one in particular.
They were chum in no time. But Kaze noticed their Chem-tech infused armour's durability. His slashes could cut all the way through.
Kaze left the 1st floor without a scratch.
The next floor had guards with guns and flame throwers.
Kaze's sword hummed as he dashed towards them before they could react. They were spread fairly apart so he couldn't deal with all of them at once. But it was also in his favour since they were isolated.
One guard crumpled to the ground as his knee cavity was kicked harshly. Kaze used the opportunity to slit his neck through a slight opening where only cloth covered. Swift and effective.
The other guards weren't idle. They fired their weapons at Kaze.
Kaze moved like the wind. He didn't move far. But fast and deliberate. Barely dodging the bullet. He clicked his teeth in annoyance. He dashed forwards again, sliding and twisting around bullets like a slimy snake.
One more down.
Kaze used his body as a shield to get closer quickly. He jumped in the air at the last second. The guard couldn't switch targets in time. And thus, he was no more.
The fewer guards there were, the easier it was for Kaze to dispatch.
{Break}
"Hmmm, your guy's quite strong. He's treating my guys like babies. But he has two more floors left. You think he can make it?" Sans asked the bound child beside him.
Rin glared at him with tears in her eyes.
If she could speak, she would probably insult him.
"Ah! But look, the floor isn't done yet. There's still one guy hiding." Sans stroked her head to comfort her.
Rin's head swivelled to the screen. It zoomed in on a barrel sticking out of a basket. Her eyes widened. She would gasp if she didn't hiccup. A hiccup that stopped in her gut for more than a second.
"Bang!" Sans said.