Location: The Highway Shrine (Bureau HQ)
Time: 6:00 AM
The sun was rising over Kagura-Zaka, painting the smog a bruised purple.
Inside the shrine, the mood was quiet. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving only exhaustion.
Dante sat on the floor, shirtless, while Sora applied a glowing green ointment to his bruised ribs. Every time Sora touched a bruise, Dante flinched.
"Stop moving," Sora yawned. "This stuff costs more than your car. It's made from ground-up fairy wings or something. I don't read the labels."
"It burns," Dante hissed through his teeth.
"Healing hurts," Sora said, slapping a large bandage over Dante's side. "Destruction is easy. Putting things back together is the hard part. Remember that."
Across the room, GiGi was asleep on top of a vending machine. She was clutching a stolen microphone from the concert like a teddy bear. Benji was passed out under the table, using his laptop bag as a pillow.
"So," Dante said, pulling his black hoodie back on. "Lust is gone. Eri killed her."
"Eri liquidated an asset," Sora corrected. He walked over to the small shrine altar and lit a stick of incense. "She's clearing the board. Lust was loud and messy. Eri prefers quiet control. This makes things harder for us."
"Why?"
"Because you can fight a monster," Sora said, turning to look at Dante. His violet eyes were serious for once. "But you can't punch an economy. You can't stab a rumor. Eri is playing a different game."
Dante touched the black choker around his neck. "What about Matsuzaki? He's still out there. He wants GiGi."
Sora's expression darkened. "The Iron Prince. He's a traditionalist. He won't stop until he restores his family's 'honor.' Which means he's going to come for her hard."
Sora walked over to Dante and flicked the Hello Kitty keychain on his umbrella.
"You did good tonight, kid. You held your own against a Cardinal. But you're relying too much on the umbrella."
"It's my conduit," Dante said. "It helps me focus."
"It's a crutch," Sora said. "Type-Null isn't about absorbing energy into an object. It's about becoming the void yourself. If that umbrella breaks, you're dead."
Sora reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, crumpled piece of paper. He handed it to Dante.
"What is this?" Dante asked.
"A training schedule," Sora grinned. "Starting tomorrow, you and GiGi are going to The Ghost Line. No umbrellas. No wires. Just you, the dark, and a lot of pain."
Dante looked at the schedule. It started at 4:00 AM and ended at "Whenever you stop crying."
"I have a shift tomorrow," Dante groaned.
"Tanaka gave you the week off," Sora said. "I called him. Told him you had 'Spiritual Mono'."
Dante's eyes went wide. "You talked to Tanaka? Was he... angry?"
"He was terrifying," Sora shuddered. "I'd rather fight Pride again."
Location: The Rooftop of the Prism Tower (Uptown)
Time: 6:15 AM
High above the city, the wind whipped around the glass spire of the Dominion's headquarters.
Kenjiro Matsuzaki stood on the edge, looking down at the city. His white suit was pristine.
Behind him, the elevator doors opened. Eri walked out, holding a tablet.
"Lust has been retired," Eri said, her voice cool. "The concert failed. But stock prices in our pharmaceutical division are up 12% due to the panic buying of 'anti-vampire' garlic supplements. A net positive."
Matsuzaki didn't turn around. "You killed her."
"I optimized the portfolio," Eri corrected. "She was a liability."
"And the boy?" Matsuzaki asked. "The Dhampir?"
"He survived," Eri said. "He's interesting. He rejected my offer."
Matsuzaki turned. His crimson eyes were cold. "He is holding my sister hostage. He corrupted her. Turned a noble of House Ferro into a... street rat."
"So?" Eri asked. "What will you do, Iron Prince?"
Matsuzaki raised his hand. The blood in his veins hardened, turning his skin into living steel.
"I will cut him out," Matsuzaki said. "I will burn their little shop to the ground. And I will drag Gin home by her hair if I have to."
Eri smiled. "Good. I love a hostile takeover."
Location: Smile Mart (District 9)
Time: 6:30 AM
Dante walked up to the store. The front window was boarded up with plywood. The "CAUTION" tape fluttered in the wind.
He unlocked the door. The chime screamed its dying robot scream.
"GYYY-URRR-KHHH."
Dante walked in. The store was a mess. Noodle cups were everywhere. The floor was sticky with Red-Eye and soda.
He picked up a broom.
He put on his headphones. The Cure started playing.
He started sweeping.
It didn't matter that vampires were hunting him. It didn't matter that he was a biological weapon. It didn't matter that war was coming.
The floor was dirty. And his shift wasn't over.