“Joan, I can no longer allow to you escape.”
“…?”
“It’s because you’re about to witness the forbidden kidou that lies hidden within Hotogi priestesses. Like you, we, too, have inherited the power and name of our ancestors. Aria’s family has done so for one hundred and fifty years. Yours for six hundred. And we have been doing so for a long period of roughly two thousand years.”
Shirayuki strengthen the grip of her hand holding the katana, and a waving, scarlet light shined at its point. The light quickly extended over the entire sword blade. The light, which was illuminating the computer filled room, was the light of flames! At this point, there was no doubting that it wasn’t a trick using benzene or flammable gas. It was unmistakably Shirayuki’s trump card—her supernatural ability.
“‘Shirayuki’ is an alias used to hide my true name. My real name … is Himiko (scarlet maiden).”
The second she finished her sentence, Shirayuki darted towards Joan, closing in on her like a blazing arrow. Joan, who for a short instant was entranced by Shirayuki’s technique, stooped down low, and pulling out a gorgeous, western style sword that had been hidden behind her back, stopped the powerful attack into which Shirayuki had put her all.
What would have normally been sparks, emerged in the form of jewel-like diamond dust that immediately evaporated as the two swords vied for dominance. Joan skillfully avoided a swing from Shirayuki’s katana, and it cut the computer beside her in two without making a sound. Joan dodged backwards from Shirayuki’s next attack, placing some distance between the two of them. It was an obvious retreat.
“Fire …” I said to myself.
Taking a good look, I noticed there was a tinge of fear mixed in with cold sweat running down the face of the beautiful girl. In hysteria mode, I could tell. She was afraid of fire. Joan said that the founding ancestor of her clan began developing that technique after nearly being burnt at the stake. Most likely, it was out of fear. She was afraid of what nearly took her life. For generations, her clan has been studying the secret art of ice manipulation with that fear deeply ingrained in their hearts.
“What you just saw was the first of a series of attacks of Hotogi Souten style, Hinokakabi (Scarlet Shining Man). Next, I’m going to cut through that sword with Hinokaguchi (Scarlet Flame Hammer of Fear),” Shirayuki said, once again raising the blazing scarlet katana over her head.
It’s just like a torch. I see now. The purpose of that stance is to keep the surging flames from harming the wielder.
“That will be the end of this. There’s nothing this Irokaneayame cannot cut.”
“That’s my line. The Sacred Sword Durandal can cleave through anything” Joan proclaimed, her voice full of courage.
The large sword Joan wielded was an ancient-looking but a well maintained, magnificent claymore. The blue jewel that decorated its cross-guard sparkled in the light given off by Shirayuki’s flames. Shirayuki sprang towards Joan again … but to my eyes, it seemed as if she were rushing to bring the battle to an end.
Clang! Clang!
Their swords exchanged strikes a number of times, sending the loud sounds of clashing, fierce metal echoing through the room. It was almost unbelievable to watch as Shirayuki’s katana and Joan’s sword sliced through everything they came in contact with. The computers along with the cabinets that housed them. The bulletproof elevator door. The linoleum floor and walls. But there was one thing that wasn’t being cut apart. It was the metal that formed Shirayuki’s Irokaneayame and Joan’s magical sword—the Sacred Sword Durandal as she claimed it to be. Those swords, both exalted for being able to cut through anything, were the only things that didn’t receive a single scratch no matter how many times they clashed against one another.
“This certainly is … a battle between top-ranking chouteis!” came Aria’s voice from below me, and she finally lifted her head.
“Aria,” I whispered, crouching down next to her, “can you move?”
“I … seem to be okay now. But my guns are frozen to the floor so even if I recovered them, they won’t be of any use. My pistols aren’t meant to be used in cold environments. They probably won’t be functional unless I completely disassemble and perform maintenance on them,” said Aria, looking at her frozen Governments in frustration.
“Let’s come up with a plan.”
Aria, who was always arbitrarily acting on her own authority, looked up at me … and nodded her head without protest. It would seem she treated me like an actual partner when I was in hysteria mode.
“I’d like to support Shirayuki in some way, but if our timing is off, we’ll wind up becoming a hindrance. You have experience arresting espers like this, don’t you? Isn’t there some way to create a chance for us to take her down?”
“To be honest . . . I’ve never come up against a Stealth this powerful. But I don’t think … their battle is going to last very long.”
“What do you mean?”
“The greater the power an esper uses, the more that person’s stamina is depleted. When fighting a butei, they make it a point to use as little power as possible … but when the opponent is one of their own kind, they continue to release their full powers just like that. That’s why they run out of steam so quickly. That moment will be our chance.”
“Can you tell when that moment is?”
“As a rule of thumb, probably. Half of it will be based on intuition though. ... Will you trust me?” Aria asked, sounding just a little bit fretful.
I see it left a scar on her heart when I told her I couldn’t believe her the other day. This won’t do.
If two buteis don’t have a relationship of trust, they wouldn’t be able to act in unison. Their timing would be off. I straightened out my knees and gently stroked Aria’s pink hair.
“I was being an idiot the other day. I want you to forgive me. I swear . . . I’ll trust you for the rest of my life.”
“Th-The rest of your life?”
It seemed my formal choice of words wasn’t in Aria’s Japanese vocabulary.
“Even if no one else in the world believes you, I alone will always be on your side,” I explained, staring deep into her camellia-colored eyes.
Aria, whose natural habit of become red in the face had already made her cheeks quite rosy, became the bright red color of a strawberry. Her face, full of surprise, looked somewhat happy as well, and I asked her if that were the case.
“Feeling happy?”
“… Y-You’re an idiot, Kinji! E-Even in super mode, you’re an idiot … you idiot …!
“Answer me. I want to be certain of your feelings,” I urged her.