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@ophidianlight
      âSlightest details do not offend me. Thou art disrespectful.       Dost thou not think irreverence is enough to anger a God?       Methinks it isâ.
"When have I been disrespectful I wonder? I am merely stating facts and you are free to take them as you will. Irreverence you say? Isn't a God supposedly merciful to all?"Â
      "Dost thou not know what happens to those who stand against a God?       Methinks thou deservest an equally ridiculously complex punishment       I am sure thou wilt kneel in the end, oh if Iâm sure âââ.
"Is that so? That would be proving such a God exists. I hardly think a few words are enough for anyone to deserve a punishment, unless this God is offended by the slightest detail obviously."
      âSuddenly I want to squash thy head with my heelsâ.Â
"Is that so? Would it not be against your role of Goddess and saviour however? I am certain it fails to fit your job description. Or perhaps your role is alike your name, ridiculously complex as well as nonsensical?"
      Kneel in front of your Goddess and Saviour.
"I am certain you mean that this goddess and saviour will kneel in front of an iron casting pole, or am I wrong?"
End... or beginning?
Akane ignored whatever hint Light wanted to play at her, heaving a slight sigh. This conversation was getting more and more bothersome, which led her to believe that instead of being healthily distrustful and intelligent, Light was simply stubborn due to her identity. If her brother had asked him, the blind was sure to agree more easily. Then again, she couldnât really blame him; after all that had happened, he was rightfully suspicious of her. She just wished he could let go of it, for the sake of humanity.
"We could go on about this forever. There will always be inconsistencies, and if I elaborate further, youâll only contradict me again. Thereâs no sense to it, and as I said, you may believe what you want."
"I thought you knew what the result would be. We wouldnât die out, thatâs all. Youâre unaware of things I have seen, so I canât blame you for underestimating Radical-6. However, I do know what this disease will lead to.â At his statement, Akane joined in his amusement and chuckled lightly, a touch of genuinety to the giggle. He did have a point, didnât he? âI would have employed other means such as? I couldnât kidnap you and then ask for your participation, could I? Though that must sound a lot like me.â
     Akane's sigh wasn't lost to the blind man's ears, his smirk widening as he was nothing but pleased by her reaction. Even though she may not have been able to tell, he had already made up his mind whether he wished to help her or not but was dissatisfied of the way she was asking him by merely giving him vague hints and only now mentioning their goal after questioning on his part. What Light needed most of all was a purpose, not words or a reality that she could embellish all she wanted in attempt of convincing him. This was the very reason why he was certain her brother with his more direct approach would have been much quicker at convincing him and not even a matter of the person facing him as his suspicions would have been the exact same, the Kurashiki siblings sharing the same goals after all. However, if provided with the necessary arguments, Light was not above helping them, regardless of the fact that they may or may not have captured Clover. If anything, if they had done so, he perhaps would need to thank them for they had saved his sister's life.Â
     "If you wish so." The SOIS agent didn't mind the end of their argument as he wouldn't change his mind no matter what considering he had no definite proof of what truly transpired. "I do not believe I am underestimating the Radical-6 but there is still so much two people can do, do you not believe so?" However, despite his words, the main issue perhaps was that Light didn't feel like trusting her every words and that, no matter what may leave his lips, he will have reservations on how good her intentions might be.Â
     "This is something I may have expected from you, I must admit." Even though the amusement was clear on his features, it wasn't hard to understand why she may not wish to resort to such means this time as it would only make his distrust worse.
     "You do not have me convinced." Light's voice turned serious as to finally give an answer to her previous demand. "I do not trust you but I shall help. However, I certainly hope for you that you do not intend on stabbing me in the back and if I do not like what you're attempting to do, I shall take my leave."Â
"The only time I was really happy was when I was hanging out with my brother. [âŚ]
I worked in a cafe, and he composed music. [âŚ]
[âŚ] some [of his fans] would meet on their own and recite stuff from the book heâd written and play his songs.â
End... or beginning?
"I see," Akane responded instantly, unable to prevent a bored look from flashing over her features. She was lucky Light couldnât see her, and she was also lucky she knew how to keep her posture in check. This was getting harder than she had expected, but she had a lot more to tell him. "I didnât expect this, but you seem to be in the dark about Free the Soul. Let me enlighten you then."
After taking a deep breath, Akane leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs, folding her hands over her knee. She would have preferred talking to him about the cult after his agreement, but she had underestimated Light again. One could only wonder where Clover had gotten her personality from, considering her brother was so different. "Free the Soul is led by a person calling themselves Brother. I am sure you knew that already, but I doubt you are aware he is a powerful Espers just like me. I am not going to go into detail, but I could come up with a multitute of reasons why Free the Soul is connected to your sisterâs disappearance. She was meddling, and they did not accept that." Akane paused, acting as though his refusal did not upset her, and averted her gaze to eye his apartment. Leaving your opponent a few minutes to think was a stylistic device she tended to use, and it proved to be even more effective specifically while talking to Light. "They didnât want her to interfere at the test site because they set Radical-6 free. Itâs not hard to understand."
"On the other hand, this is just my opinion. Believe whatever you want, Light. As for how my plans are advantageous to mankind, that is easy. It keeps our race from becoming extinct. Weâre heading towards a very dark future, but I refuse to walk the path to destruction. I am doing what I must, with or without your help. The only question is whether or not I will succeed without you."
Tough it was impossible for the blind man to see the expression on her face, slight displeasure could be heard in her voice, leading him to think that she believed convincing him would have been an easier feat. He didn't say a thing upon hearing her statement, brows merely raising in a silent inquiry. While he could believe that she possessed intelligence on the organization he was chasing, it seemed strange to him that she would know much more than he did as an SOIS agent about Free the Soul, impatiently awaiting for her words as light sounds of her shuffling on her seat came to his ears.Â
However, Light's lips curled up to a smile that kept widening upon hearing more and more of her explanation, the pausing she did between her words being unnecessary as he didn't need to reflect upon her theories to have make his own opinion on the  matter. "Then, by all means tell me why they kidnapped my sister along with our superior when they let another team composed of yet another powerful Esper reach the Mars Test Site." Even though he didn't bear the knowledge that Brother had been an Esper, her argument was invalid in his opinion for various reasons.
"There is another point that leads me to believe of the opposite. Even inside the test site, our agent could connect to the Morphogenetic Field unlike Clover. Why would Brother prevent one for accessing the site and from using her powers while allowing another as powerful as Clover to do the exact same? It does not make sense. My opinion is that Free the Soul never had any doubts that they would succeed in unleashing this pandemic. They never feared any of us. If anything, they would have let my sister along with our superior officer die back there. I do believe Clover is alive but merely because another person has yet another purpose for her capacities."
His words held an hint of reproach directed at his interlocutor that hopefully would be enough to make her understand that he suspected her among others. Akane's attitude seemed somewhat strange to him considering her purpose was to convince him to join her, not necessarily debating Clover's disappearance. While he could understand how this was an argument to persuade him, the way she lingered on the topic, bringing back Free the Soul to demonstrate how it should have been them, was enough to cast suspicion on her more than before considering she had kidnapped them once for a Nonary Game. However, he had no proof and couldn't think of any concrete way his sister could be of use, leaving him to push the idea in a corner of his mind for the time being.
"I see. I do admit I am more surprised by the fact that you are trying to convince me to help you rather than your goals." Amusement could be heard in Light's voice as there were words he couldn't believe coming from Akane's mouth. "If my help truly was necessary, you would have employed other means, am I not correct?" Like kidnapping. It still was very hard for the blind man to reach a decision considering her words remained vague at best. "If this succeed what will be the result for mankind?"
End... or beginning?
Akane noted once more how special Lightâs behaviour could be, and it amused her somewhere in the back of her mind. She had not left anything unattempted - except for the mention of a very special person -, but it seemed like she would have to make use of the last ace she had up her sleeve. Light pratically left her no choice; he wanted to gain something from it, so she would have to give said prize.
Of course, she had already crafted her story in advance. In order to sound credible, she had erased any flaws and inconsistencies in her mind, her ideas ready to be presented. "There is something else," Akane sighed, adding a touch of dejection to her voice. "I didnât want to tell you about this so early, but you leave me no choice. There is something you will gain."
"I am fully capable of keeping tabs on organizations such as the SOIS. You may or may not be surprised, but I was following their actions very closely, which consequently means I have heard of Cloverâs disappearance." As if to let the realization sink in, Akane paused. She lifted her head and brushed her bottom lip with her index finger, the corners of her mouth curling into a pleased smile. This couldnât possibly fail, could it? Light would definitely take the bait. "She was on her way to a certain test site, which the ones responsible for this plague are involved with, too. I am not only trying to rescue survivors, I am also pursuing this cult called Free the Soul. My guess is that they have taken your sister and her first line manager Miss Alice hostage. Youâre not stupid, thus I am sure you realize what my words imply.â
"Ally with me, and you will not only contribute to humanityâs safety, but also follow your sisterâs trails. It is a win-win solution for the both of us and mankind.â
Light didn't believe to have anything to win in this situation and considering he already had a job, an important one for the government, handling both cases at once, particularly alongside someone like Akane Kurashiki whom he didn't trust was taking too much risks compared to the benefits he would reap. The fact that she had kept under silence the reason why she needed to save those having a connection to the Morphogenetic Field brothered him as well, not liking the idea to work toward an unknown goal. However, it was Aoi's mention that took him aback most, not understanding the reason why she had used her brother to convince him to she trusted him, thing that he couldn't conceive coming from Akane Kurashiki.Â
"Oh? Do tell. You have piqued my curiosity." The blind man wasn't certain what his interlocutor had on her sleeve but at the mention of a reward, he was at least willing to listen to her. While he was unsurprised to hear about her knowledge of the organization he was working for even though it was a state secret, the mention of his sister's name made him stiffen. However, during the pause left for her words to sink in, Light didn't make a move, his expression unchanging either as he still was unsure what she wished to tell him about Clover.Â
Brows furrowed upon hearing her words, lips pursing as, even though the knowledge of the situation didn't come as a surprise to him, her assumptions bothered him.Â
"Interesting. However, my own theory is that they have not been taken hostage by Free the Soul." Clover had already been retained by the cult and during the process, the siblings had been constantly connected through the Morphogenetic Field, thing that Free the Soul had been incapable of preventing contrary to the current situation. While the SOIS agent had no proof, he didn't rule out the possibility that it was his interlocutor who had abducted them, believing that they were not dead but held captive somewhere where Clover couldn't access the Morphogenetic Field. His theory made even more sense considering he knew of the process rendering their Esper powers unusable, no one but others who also possessed those powers being able to pull it off which left him with a restricted list of potential suspects, the Kurashiki siblings at the top.
"Let me get this straight Akane. I do not trust you and I do not believe this will lead me to Clover." However, the prospect of trailing Free the Soul was a very tempting one, one that would make Light's job much easier, almost making him consider accepting the proposal nonetheless though he didn't voice those thoughts just yet. "I would be curious to know how our actions will benefit mankind though."
End... or beginning?
Akane was so close to blurting it out, to revealing that he had to execute her task because she had seen him doing so, but apparently he stopped his unnerving interrogation and attempted approaching the subject from a different point. With a stifled sigh lingering on her lips, Akane shifted in her chair and fidgeted with her sleeve, staring at Light as though she could read his secretive expression. Truth be told, she couldnât â but if he was to leak a single hint of emotion, Akane was sure to pick it up.
"Our goal is to save as many people as possible, preferably those who have a connection to the morphogenetic fields." She was explaining her aim calmly, honestly. In order to gain his trust, Akane would have to clear the air and let him in on her plans. Only as much as he needed to know, she reassured herself silently. She couldnât risk him suspecting her of being involved in Cloverâs disappearance, after all. "As for our ways, I have no limitations for you. What could be more horrible than this plague? I am not sure if you are aware of its intensity, but it will leave an impact on humanity." Which was a euphemism for wiping their race out. "You wonât gain anything. Thatâs an honest answer, and the only one I can provide."
"I can see why youâd choose to refuse. I am not going to force you, but Iâd be much obliged."
Light's face didn't show a glint of emotion even upon hearing her sigh at his change of approach that he had deemed necessary for him to start comprehending the situation better. He was unconvinced by Akane's words so far and even though he couldn't discern her intentions, if not given a good reason behind her choosing him for this certain task and the certainty that it was something, unlike the second Nonary game, that not only fitted her interests but his as well, he wouldn't accept the deal.
The blind man remained unsurprised at the mention of their goals even though he couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. "I see. Is it not ironic that us who have been kidnapped as children for experiments are deemed more valuable than normal people these days?" Though he couldn't help but smirk at the notion, the idea didn't displease him. There was so much two people could do and if a choice was to be made when it came to those worthy of surviving, he preferred rescuing anyone having a connection to the Morphogenetic Field for they could prove to be useful.Â
"I am indeed aware of this plague's intensity. I may be blind but it is not because I cannot see the corpses piling on the sides of the streets that I cannot pick up their smell." While Light had no idea how far it would go in claiming lives, the Radical-6 truly was a thread to mankind a whole. He didn't comment on the lack of restriction of their means, simply nodding, a satisfied smile on his face as, aside remaining safe at all costs while protecting the government secrets, it already was as much freedom he had as a SOIS agent. However...
"If have nothing to gain, I suppose there is no reason for me to accept your deal then." Though a couple of the points she had mentioned earlier did catch his attention, this still was Akane Kurashiki demanding his help. The blind man had no trust in her, having no intention to put himself in danger for whatever plan she might have hidden from him, doubting everything she said to be the whole truth, simply what he needed to know for him to accept helping her. "If you have nothing else to say, then you can leave. I am a busy man."
   Seriously, who in the world was this man? Even if his attitude was something the vampire could hardly stand, at the same time it was also true that displaying such a capricious demeanour in front of a mere stranger was just disgraceful. Well, now he had a name, a peculiar one on that, even if she wasnât one who could easily describe other peopleâs names as strange considered that hers was probably even more awkward. Even so, she liked it! No matter what this impudent human would say. âIndeed, I wish it was a pleasureâ.
   From the moment his words were still so blatantly sarcastic, she should go with the flow, shouldnât she? Recomposing herself, the blonde woman introduced herself again ââ he could believe it or not, but it simply was how she was called, leaving a moment of silence before pointing a clarification. âSith thou art particularly annoying, thou can either call me Kiss-Shot or Acerola-Orion or Heart-Under-Blade. There really is no differenceâ. Well, if possible, she would have avoided her first name for some reasons, however, it was not of great importance, he could pick whatever he wished. âAnd no, I do not need thee to check my injuries. As I said, I am perfectly fine. Can thou not recognize a taunt?â.
   The smile that was gracing her lips slowly faded upon hearing his words, was it a mania of grandeur? She could trust he had a wide knowledge, yet the vampire had her own share of experience. Clearing her voice, the immortal creature believed it to not be too bad if she would have hinted at some strange events, after all he had witnessed her, and this was his problem, so⌠she should be honest about her nature, right? âI had the fortune in the past to listen with my own very ears to the everlasting compositions of the greatest musicians who lived on this Earth. Did I just encounter another one?â. Her last statement was candidly mocking, as if she was actually defying the male. âWhy dost thou not play something for me? Now thou hast caught my interest and awoken my curiosityâ.
Light's lips curled to a smirk upon hearing of her words, pleased to hear the confirmation that the pleasure brought by their meeting was mutually shared though he had never doubted it for one second. He disregarded the easy insult that preceded her introduction in favour of attempting not to laugh at the ridiculously long and convoluted name this woman presented herself as, a name he already was familiar with though his reaction to it hadn't changed the least. "Do you truly have no simpler name?" He couldn't help but inquire as he had no idea how her parents might have thought it to be a good idea for their child to be called in such a way. "Though I suppose Kiss-Shot will do." Her full name was something he could easily remember but as to use it... If anything, he almost wished he could have her using an alias such as the ones they had used during the second Nonary game.
"Is that so?" The blind man's voice bore a hint of amusement as he could hardly believe a word she said, not considering his interlocutor to be anything but human as he hadn't been told of the opposite and her vague words wouldn't be enough to convince him of it. To his ears, her witness of the greatest musicians' performances was nothing but an exaggeration though he took it as a challenge, not being a man to back down, particularly when asked to show off his skills. "Perhaps you did. I am quite a successful harp player myself and even if I started a short while ago, I am regularly playing my own compositions in various bars. Perhaps would you wish to see one of my performances?"Â
While Light could care less about her attention or curiosity in particular, he was nothing but proud of both his musical talent and his composing skills, his ever growing fanbase a proof of a success he truthfully hadn't expected and wished for nothing but to prove this rude woman, who was implicitly doubting his skills, wrong. "Or perhaps are you not fond of the atmosphere of a bar and would prefer me to arrange something else?" Though he didn't wish for Kiss-Shot to go anywhere near his apartment, there was a room at a conservatory nearby he sometimes used for practice that was available for him at certain times and that could make for a decent space depending on her preferences. The harp-player could care less about her decision, only being intent on proving her how wrong she was in mocking him no matter what.
End... or beginning?
Akane didnât know what to make of Light. On one hand, he didnât ask unnecessary questions - although she could have answered them easily -, but on the other, he was posing exactly the ones she could not respond to. How was she going to explain she needed him and only him for this job? In addition, how was she to justify her choice to save people with a high morphogenetic reverberation rather than those with no access to the fields? And of course, how could she ever mention that there was something else in the works, something that was going to revolutionize the Nonary Games of their past?
"It is hard to explain," she simply responded, tapping at her chin in thought. Akane knew Light wasnât going to accept no explanation whatsoever, and her struggle for proper reasoning was almost desperate. "Think of it as a process of elimination. One is not physically skilled enough, the other isnât trustworthy; one has no access to the morphogenetic field, the other is not cool-headed enoughâŚ" She paused, nodding as if the blind could see it. "The list goes on and on, until only the two of us remain. Tell me, Light, donât you want to save as many people as possible?" Akane stiffened at the mention of Aoi. No matter how many times she lived through the same events de novo, sheâd never be capable of fleeing the pain her brotherâs death entailed. One could experience the same misery time and again; the pain wonât lessen, but one would adapt. Yes, she was used to the omnipresent stinging within her heart, and a master at blocking it out. "As I said, he trusted you. I know he wouldnât make such a grave mistake as to confide in just anyone."
"That is why. If Aoi could trust so, so can I."
Light hardly had time for unnecessary questions and believed Akane to be the same. While he had no idea what her true intentions were upon coming here yet, there was a certain amount of knowledge that was necessary to him, her words puzzling him at best for the time being. While he certainly was interested in knowing more of the task she wanted to give him, he was more curious of the reason of her... peculiar choice of person to assist her with such a task.Â
The blind man's expression remained unchanging during her vague explanation that didn't convince him the least. "I certainly know a few people who fit all of the categories you have mentioned." All the SOIS agents that had been recruited at the same time as he did had the necessary training, access to the fields, were worthy of trust and were level-headed enough to handles tasks of the like. Even though he did understand what kind of person was necessary to her, it wasn't enough to single him out.
"I am not saying I would not want to do it but my job is not to save people." A stern voice uttered as Light would have much preferred concentrating his efforts on finding Clover as her disappearance weighted more heavily on his mind than finding an organisation like Free the Soul or saving random people from a virus little was known about. Even though his work as an SOIS agent was something that needed to be done, he was unconvinced by his interlocutor's words so far and even though rescuing survivors might have sounded like a good action, the woman he was talking to was Akane Kurashiki and he knew better than to blindly trust her words, especially when she remained this vague.
Though the expressions playing on her face or the way her body stiffened were lost to the blind man's eyes, the small silence as well as the past tense used to talk about her brother was enough for him to safely assume that Aoi wasn't of this world anymore. A sigh left his lips at the realisation, his face remaining as impassible as it could get to hide the sadness he may have felt, not swaying from the topic at hand.Â
"I do think you are making a mistake though. I do not believe Aoi trusted me as much as you are saying." Though Light had to make the mention, noticing that there might not be much more he could get out of Akane's mouth regarding the two concerns he had just voiced, he attempted another approach. "Let us say I decide to trust you, what would be our goal? Through what means? And what would I gain from it?"
End... or beginning?
Akaneâs lips drew into a thin line, and she fumbled around with the sleeve of her shirt as though she was nervous. Honestly, she wasnât, but the matter made her uncomfortable. It was but a reminder that another version of herself had failed, and it made her recall just how far away success was. If it wasnât for Lightâs presence, she would have sighed. However, his business-like tone signaled her to adapt, which lead her to a more professional manner of speaking as well.
"Yes, I do have information about Free the Soul and Radical-6. Plenty, to be honest." She would have told him about their ultimate aim, but their connection wasnât established enough for her to do that. Light was undoubtedly a man worthy of someoneâs trust, but even so she couldnât just ramble on about the AB-project, the fourth dimension, jumping consciousnesses and the like. No, Light would have to satisfy himself with the information she could provide. "In addition, I believe we are the only ones capable of this job."
"I know what you prioritize, and I know youâre a reasonable person. Thereâs no doubt youâre prepared to deal with such a situation. Apart from that, you are an Esper â a powerful one after your training. StillâŚ" She paused, and silently noted that she might as well tell him that it had to be him. Akane had seen him dealing with this in a possible timeline, which made it an unwritten law. "Aoi trusted you, so I can trust you, too. My subordinates are just regular people, Light, and if you think the Crash Keys trust one another, then youâre wrong. Money has an impact on people, as you already know."
Though Light could hear a slight fumbling sound, he was unsure what to make of it considering the confidence and professionalism Akane's voice radiated as she spoke to him, not being able to consider the possibility of her being somewhat nervous. He didn't rule out the possibility that it could be an act considering how he knew her but perhaps wasn't he the only one bothered by this peculiar situation.
The blind man merely nodded upon hearing of both the virus and the organization that had been at the origin of the outbreak, neither asking for what information she possessed nor giving some of his own. Beyond the fact that the knowledge he bore were well kept state secrets, trusting Akane was an impossibility, being well aware of what this woman was capable of even though he didn't rule out the possibility that she had information on Free the Soul that he lacked for the completion of his job either. However, even if his assumption was correct, he knew she would be the same as he was and wouldn't want to disclose her knowledge to him.
"We are the only ones capable of this job? How so if I may inquire?" Brows furrowed in confusion as, even though Espers like them were a rarity, even for peculiar tasks, he didn't believe one to be irreplaceable, particularly someone like him to a woman like Akane Kurashiki.Â
Light didn't comment on her next words as he had no doubts she knew him enough to make those affirmations, not doubting that he could handle whatever task she wished to have him help her with either. However what truly bewildered him was her next words.
"Aoi? I fail to comprehend what your brother have to do with this and how it supposedly makes me worthy of your trust." While the past tense used to speak of him bothered the blind man quite a bit, he didn't feel the need to mention it as what he needed further explanation on were the points brought by his query.
End... or beginning?
"Yes, this will be enough."Â
Akane offered the blind a small smile at his consent, and waited for him to seat himself to her opposite. Even if she couldnât make eye contact, she was able to face Light â this was the best she could ask for, given his disability. Carefully, as if Akane didnât want to make too much noise, she leaned forward and folded her hands on the table, a stern expression plastered over her usually versatile face. "Let me cut to the chase, Light. Iâm sure weâd both like to avoid beating around the bush." Akane paused; not because she needed to gather her thoughts, but because she was so used to acting as though this horrified her that she forgot about its needlessness. She had known the virus was about to break free, and she had also known about its consequences. In addition, this wasnât the first time she lived through these events. One could say she was a veteran, albeit this was hardly a position to be proud of. "Itâs impossible to ignore, thus I am sure youâve noticed what happens to people. Theyâre dropping like flies in an arctic blizzard." The femaleâs eyes narrowed, and she instinctively leaned back and buried her hands in her lap. âItâs the virus, Radical-6. As an SOIS agent, you must have heard about it.â
"This is why Iâm here today. Iâm trying to gather the remaining survivors, but the disease hasnât claimed too many victims and my time and space are limited. I need your help to save what isnât lost.â
Though her smile was lost to the blind man, he gave her a slight nod upon hearing her reply, awaiting for Akane to sit down and state her business with him.
"Indeed. I would prefer not waste more time than necessary." Light's voice was a professional one and despite being on a day off, he hardly was behaving as the man he was in private but an SOIS agent in mission since he somehow believed it to be more fitting to the current situation. Even though the very fact that Akane Kurashiki was sitting right in front of him still bewildered him, worrying him as well since it could be a trap, no expression showed on his features as ha awaited her next words.Â
Lips pursed upon hearing of the damage made by the Radical-6's spread but more importantly of the knowledge of the blind man's current occupation even if it hardly surprised him that she had access to such information though it was confidential. However, what truly startled him, even if he didn't show it, was that she was asking him of all people.
"Obviously, I know exactly what is happening in the world at this very moment and I am aware of what, or perhaps more who, caused it. If you possess so much information, I am going to assume you know all of this as well. However, if you are aware of my current position, then you must know that I have duties to attend to and do not necessarily have time for that." Making time could be easily done as it wouldn't be impossible for him to treat it as work considering it could lead him to Free the Soul. However, he hardly trusted her and would need more concrete reasons to lend her a hand. "I would like to know why you are specifically asking this of me. Though I am unaware of the details of your business, I am pretty sure you have numerous subordinates at your service and even if you needed the help of the Morphogenetic Field, I certainly am not the only Esper around."
The white Snake
  Here he, or she, was. It was arduous to keep a serious façade in that situation, from the outside it must have seemed particularly funny if not silly, but Victorique needed to survive. Heard the footsteps, placing both her little hands on her mouth, believing that such method would have prevented any sound to escape unwillingly from her lips, the blonde girl waited, while probably said person was having a look around. Of course, where is the student? The satisfaction due to her plan was making the girl feel perky, yet, her enthusiasm quickly withered away the very moment the cupboard was opened, revealing where she was hiding. How was it possible?! She made sure to be perfectly silent, still âââ giving him a better look, even if she was too focused on keeping her pout, Victorique noticed his closed eyelids, drawing the conclusion the man must have been blind; so, his ears guided him to the cupboard. Still, how in the world he actually heard her⌠Could his hearing be so refined?
   âGood morningâ. Her defeat was as clear as the sky on that day, the blush on her cheeks caused by both embarrassment and the frustration of the loser. Getting out, Victorique stared up to the man some minutes before averting her gaze, looking around her as such words were uttered. âI always read here, isnât it convenient to be inside a huge library such as this one while studying?â. The fact that he was supposedly her teacher didnât stop Victorique from talking boldly, probably being unnecessarily prideful; nonetheless, approaching the exotic hat she usually used to contain her sweets, her fingers caught a pink macaron, while defiantly looking at this Light Field. It was a strange name, but easy to remember. âWho hired you? My father? Cecil? No, it canât be my teacher, she has never bothered about the fact I donât attend classes. If my father sent you⌠Does it mean youâre from the Ministry of the Occult? Are you really a tutor to begin with?â. Victorique made a short pause, swallowing the sweet. âYou are utterly suspiciousâ.Â
   It was true that for her father it was important for her intelligence to be constantly fed, now reading wasnât enough anymore? âI donât know what are your plans, Light Field, but we will stay here. I donât know what you have been told, though, I rarely set foot inside the schoolâs buildings. I usually come here, so I donât see how it is not convenientâ. Skepticism was clearly expressed by Victoriqueâs words: he just arrived and he was already demanding to change things? He would have needed to pass on her dead body. She liked staying in that place, observing the fatigued expressions of her few visitors, unfortunately her tutor was allowed to use the elevator, thus she missed such a beautiful scene.
Attempts at muffling her breath had been pointless as Light's hearing far exceeded a normal human's, being able to pick up even the faintest sounds, an ability had had acquired many years ago to make up for his loss of sight. She might have been impossible to find without a throughout search of the place had he been a normal man as he could admit her hiding spot to be a quite intelligent one if she wished not to be found but Victorique was out of luck since her teacher had discovered it in no time. While he couldn't see her, he could guess that she was rather short, which probably was the reason why she had managed to confine herself so well in the first place even though, how much of a problem she might pose to him remained to be assessed.Â
The blind man's smile widened upon hearing the greeting, content that his student at least was polite. "A huge library? Are you certain you do not mean a botanic garden instead?" Brows furrowed in confusion upon hearing her words, unsure whether she already was attempting to mislead him as, even though he couldn't gaze upon his surroundings, the smell of many books gathered in a large library and the one of plants and earth clearly was different, leading him to the certainty that they currently were not in a study. "Though I do suppose having the library just below must be convenient indeed."Â
Her directness, her bossiness, her distrust and the numerous unnecessary questions she was inquiring of him merely served to make him see why she might have looked as a problem student worthy of getting a private tutor even though it also served to amuse him to some extent.Â
"I do not believe I have any reason to tell you more about who hired me and for what purpose. I am your tutor from today on and it is not your duty to question it." Though Light wished for everything to go for the best, he was paid to teach Victorique, not answer her questions that were perfectly unrelated to her studies, not being one to letting himself being commanded by a little girl either. "I have a query. I do not have any claims about staying in this place, after all, it is calm enough to provide for a good studying environment. However, I do hope there is at least a table and two chairs around." Considering the blind man had no exact idea of his surroundings, he was forced to inquire as he didn't mind the girl's preference even though he would have preferred for them to find a normal room to start classes. Adapting to a situation certainly was something he could do, especially considering Victorique had not expressed any refusal at the idea of studying, only when it came to leaving this place.
End... or beginning?
Before the door clicked open, Akane felt the presence of another Esper approaching. She had no doubts it was Light, but still responded to his silent message rather monotonously. She let the blind know someone was there, but didnât reveal her identity. However, as an SOIS agent, Akane figured he must be able to narrow the possible parties down, which would ultimately lead him to her.
With a hardly audible creak, the door to Lightâs apartment opened and a certain man stepped inside, directly heading for the kitchen where Akane was seated. As the blind came into her field of vision, the corners of her mouth raised into a pleased smile, the girl greeting him with a nod.
"You are correct, Light," Akane responded, rising from her chair to step towards the man. She stopped short and maintained a polite distance between them, effortlessly letting go of their past bickering. While her voice wasnât submissive, she wasnât acting superiorly either, her tone even and tinged with a serious politeness. "It is me, Akane. Iâm here to talk about something very important."
"Iâm sorry I did not announce myself, but the matter is rather urgent. Would you mind sitting down?" She gestured toward the chair opposite of the one sheâd just sat in, and swiftly turned in their direction. "That is, if you donât want me to leave your flat. It would be best if you had some time on your hands."
Upon sending a random thought through the Morphogenetic Field, he hadn't expected a reply or a message back, his only goal to assess whether he should expect to meet a fellow Esper or not. While it, at least, reassured him that he might not get attacked... unless a gaz bomb awaited him which was likely if, as he guessed, one of the two Kurashiki sibling was inside, it somewhat also was a disappointment as finding a Free the Soul agent could have helped his investigations much.
No change of expression could be seen on the blind man's face upon hearing Akane's voice as he was unsurprised, having successfully narrowed down who could have been waiting for him. Eyebrows furrowed at the tone she used nonetheless, the seriousness as well as the politeness she displayed being quite unlike her usual self, or at least how he knew her, her presence as well as her business-like attitude bothering him considering their past history. While he didn't exactly like it, the mention of an "important" matter to discuss was enough to catch his attention even though he was unaware of what to expect, himself being a secret agent for the government now, the younger of the Kurashiki siblings still being a criminal on the run.
"I shall hear you out." Light's voice matched the seriousness of his interlocutor's as he sat on the nearest chair, facing Akane. "Have you changed your ways and now directly ask people instead of kidnapping them?" Even if he had wanted to make the sarcastic remark, he refrained to do so as it hardly seemed the right moment for it. "I almost have all day, shall this be sufficient?"
ăνŃΡŃĎ ŃÎšŃ Î˝ŃΡŃΚŃă|| Ophidianlight
{ 風 }; Swift gales infiltrate the silent manor, their breeze gentle yet furtive as they slip through even the tiniest of cracks, unnoticed to the denizens of the manor slumbering away with the faeries where cold reality cannot touch. But neither faeries nor even Morpheus, god of dreams, can shield a human from Deathâs allure. A beautiful mistress she is with a physiognomy so bewitching and fascinating that both men and their wives loathe her charms; she is indiscriminate in who she visits, who she spirits away to her chambers at night . He, the wind, knows her tactics well for âtis he who performs as her envoy, inviting humanity every night to her bedside with sheets stained of blood.
     âYou are to kill this man, to-night.â
Inquiry is not his occupation. He never questions the contractorâs motives so long as he is paid in full and his head not placed on bounty. âTis but simple terms of agreement for both parties to depart as happy equals, and be it that he slays man, woman, child, noble, or king it matters not for all eventually lay equal under mortalityâs eyes.
     âUnderstood.â
Call him a killer, a monster, a demon if thou wilt for doling murder for another, but to live oneâs existence knowing nothing but the taste of blood âpon oneâs lipsâthat sanguine liquid which flows in severed veinsââtis hard to know a life other than this. As predators kill and consume prey for sustenance, he too must kill in order to survive. His movements are soundless, slithering within the confines of the manor furtive as a shadow born from moonlightâs gaze, a phantom traversing ominous halls adorned with portraits of ancestors past, doors both ancient and new, yet none what he is looking for. Charcoal optics glance momentarily sinistral, and with but a gentle push he infiltrates the master bedroom, slipping within the cracks and beholding the nightâs newest victim, Deathâs latest paramour.
     âFailure is not an option.â
He steps his full form into the room, expressionless and focused, oculars locked to the resting man; silver gleams underneath the moonlight and glows with a haunting white aura, singing whispers to the air yearning to kill. Yet his heart stops as a precariously-situated wine bottle drops and just as he catches it with his foot, its bottom collides with the hardwood floor and an audible clunk shatters the silence. He refocuses his vision toward the bed, wine bottle foregone as the assassin then rushes in to slay his target.
     âUnderstood.â
While blindness was regarded as a severe deficiency by most, Light had taken advantage of it, sharpening his hearing far beyond a normal man's, his lack of sight neither preventing him from acquiring knowledge or skills, nor making him (too) dependant on his subordinates. Born in a noble family, he had been the only male heir as their parents had had but two children, his little sister and him and while his family had been worried for the future of their house when he lost his sight in an accident, it had been for naught. His scholar results had always been excellent and remained as such, his knowledge when it came to sciences and music being second to none, his mastery when it came to martial arts and swordplay having gotten even better with his fastly improving hearing, making him a fierce opponent that many respected.
It was seldom that he was the target of assassins, most likely some sent by whomever was after his family's fortune and noble status, believing a blind man to be an easy prey. It never failed to amuse him how some underestimated him due to his disability and how enjoyable he found to hear words of defeat and the sound of knees falling to the ground. However, he wasn't one to underestimate any opponent either as he knew many who were stronger than he was.Â
Enjoying a deep slumber, it hadn't even taken the moment when the glass hit the floor before it awoke him nonetheless, having caught ear of the falling sound before that, his mind fully awake in the few seconds that had been necessary for him to realize he wasn't alone in his room anymore. Light remained still nonetheless, not showing any sign of the sound having woken him up even though he prepared himself to be under attack at any moment now as it wasn't the first time someone had attempted on murdering him in his sleep. However, the previous sound was more than enough for him to know where his attacker was coming from, the rushing making it even easier for him to pinpoint exactly how the strike would happen and where in order to avoid it.Â
As the blow approached, the blind man was quick to roll to the other side of the bed, placing his feet to the ground before propping himself up, taking a defensive stand while facing his enemy.
"If you are after my life, you might need to try a little bit harder than that." While Light hadn't accessed his opponent's strength yet, he was confident nonetheless that standing his ground was something he could do, the cocky smirk on his face reflecting that very fact as he awaited either and answer or yet another blow directed at him.Â
End... or beginning?
There was only so much a person like Akane Kurashiki could do, and so much an Esper could achieve. She disliked the sickening truth, but she needed help. His help. In order to reach out to him, sheâd have to revert to questionable means once more. Of course, Akane did not challenge them. When was she ever playing fair?
The most ironic detail was the usualness, the lack of something far-reaching. It was but a rainy spring day, and a regular stroll she was taking through an alley. Akaneâs figure was covered in a grey coat, her heels clicking on the uneven pavement with every determined step she took. She was advancing quickly, just as planned. Yes, following a plan was something Akane Kurashiki was an ace at. She planned, she executed. That was the course of events, the course of fate. Although this wasnât part of the initial plan; This wasnât part of her journey to the correct timeline, but given the most recent events, it was a necessity. Akane arrived at his - their - apartment without much trouble. Picking the lock to the Fieldâs siblings flat with a tool sheâd brought along wasnât hard either, and before the rain could drench her further, Akane found herself standing in his living room. Just like she had calculated, Light wasnât home at the moment. Without bothering with politeness - she was alone after all - Akane allowed herself to examine the place a little, before she finally seated herself in a chair in his kitchen. Patiently, the woman brushed a flick of her brown hair behind her ear, noting how clean the apartment was despite a touch of Cloverâs unique taste. Oh, Clover. Light had to miss her, correct? Now that his precious sister was gone, the blind was all alone. Akane couldnât help feeling a pang of sympathy at the notion; she wouldnât want to lose Aoi either, but if it was for the greater good â Well, sacrifices had to be made. And so, all the vixen did was waiting for her prey. She wasnât here to assault Light or to return to their tasteful bickering. No, today Akane wanted to ask for his aid, and to finally treat him like the equal individual he was.
The few days that had come to pass had been among the worst in Light's life. Even the accident he had gotten as a child that had cost him his sight and left arm or the two Nonary games couldn't compare to the loss of his missing sister as well as an unavoidable world-wide disaster. As an SOIS agent, it was not so much his duty to prevent any more spread of the Radical-6 virus but more to find those who had caused this incident, Free the Soul. However, with lack of tracks, there was so much the governmental services could achieve even with the help of the Esper powers some of their most recently recruited agents possessed. This whole situation, a pandemic slowly pushing people all over the world to end their lives was of very little importance to Light though, who, despite doing his job with the best of his abilities, had but one single concern: Clover.
It had been weeks that she had vanished now and even though the blind man had attempted to reach her mind through Morphogenetic resonance more times than he could recall, it had never yielded any success despite their link that had  been strengthened by the months of training they had gone through together. Knowing how their powers worked regardless of time and space, it only served to confuse him more even though it was made it all the more likely that she wasn't dead... After all, were her to have a huge shock, chances are that his mind could at least link to hers right as it occurred. Yet nothing, she had simply vanished into thin air and, even though he couldn't help his worry, it was most of all, his powerlessness to prevent it from happening that distressed him so.Â
Ever since Clover's disappearance, Light hadn't gone back to their house as it would only bring back painful memories. However, today, on a rare day off he had despite the crisis the world was facing, he decided to head there, wishing to bring back some of his belongings and his sister's to the SOIS' headquarters but also because he believed maybe there would be clues even though it was very unlikely.
The blind man wished for the distance between the headquarters and his house to be enough for him to walk there as he enjoyed the rain, the monotonous sound being one that relaxed him, the humid air being somewhat refreshing as well but it wasn't and he couldn't help but be disappointed that a co-worker of him left him right in front of his apartment.Â
It didn't take long for him to realize something was wrong, the door of his and Clover's apartment already being opened when he attempted to unlock it. Light didn't enter just yet, hands checking the door only to notice that it was in its usual shape, guessing that... either Clover was home or someone had entered his home by picking the lock. Even though he wished to be hopeful, the former seemed... too unlikely to be the truth and he couldn't think of one reason why his sister would be back without a single world, making him discard the idea right away. However, there was something he wished to make sure of before stepping inside. Concentrating, he attempted to locate a person inside, sending just a random thought of his about the rain to whomever could be here, the simple gesture having two purposes: knowing if his home was empty and if not, was another Esper inside or was it a Free the Soul agent?
He soon got his reply as his thought appeared to have been received... Even though he was blind, there were many ways he could make up to it, his inhuman hearing and his intelligence most of all. Light didn't know many Espers, lest some that didn't belong to the SOIS as he couldn't believe it to be a joke from one of his co-workers and by a process of elimination, there were only two people that could possibly be the one waiting for him. He entered before closing the door behind him, no sign of fear on his face as determined feet headed to the kitchen where a presence could be felt. "Aoi or Akane Kurashiki I suppose? What is the reason for your visiting me at such a time?"
