19 Powers and Magics

The next day, Mariko woke up on her usual time and didn't get to sleep back due to overthinking. Instead, She spent the time down on the bar. Instead of seeing Suzuka first in her usual spot, there was nobody. She walked further and saw Alice standing inside the bar. "Oh? Alice-san, Good morning... What are you doing there?" She asked as she took a sit in front of her. "Good morning. Suzu-chan and Haru-chan aren't here, as you can see. They both argued and I told them both to go" Alice answered. "Y-You?" Mariko gave her a curious look. "Yes. Is there a problem with it?" Alice tilted her head way too much. "Uh... No, I mean you sounded like you just dominated your boss or something..." Mariko said. "Well, I shouted at them too. Does it count as domination?" Alice asked. "Y-You shouted? That doesn't sound like you..." Mariko thinks of Alice's quiet voice being loud. "Do you want to hear me shout?" Alice asked. "No thanks" Mariko quickly rejected.

The silence built around them then. When Mariko saw Alice staring at her, She made it a boring staring contest. After few minutes, Mariko finally got tired. "...Aren't you supposed to ask me for a drink? You can't just stare at your customer" Mariko asked. "But you're a friend, not a customer" Alice responded. "Huh? What's your logic? I might be your friend, but I'm still a customer" Mariko looked a little bit annoyed. "Friend comes first before the customer" Alice said. "Look, Even if-" "Can I get you a drink?" Mariko was about to explain but Alice cuts her. Mariko sighed deeply. "...You have coffee or something?" Mariko rubs her own face with both of her palms. "We only have Hot chocolate for now" Alice said. "Yeah, That chocolate's fine..." Mariko lays her head on the table with her arms hanging. "Then I'll make you... You pay for it" Hearing Alice says about paying made Mariko quickly look at her with a worried look. "Just kidding..." Alice said as she felt her look and disappeared to the kitchen. "This goddamn west fucker..." Mariko returned to the lazy position. "Haaa....." Mariko sighs as her mind thinks of all the things. "Chu fucking yuan..." She thought of the Chu-yuan's standing in the Tsukosa alliance. The Chus actually have big lands and has a bigger army compared to the other small countries. Making them the fourth country before the three big countries, The lastest considered was the Soma, then the Jima, then the Yugara before Chu-yuan. Despite being on the top of the small countries, Chu-yuan's lack of cooperation made them drop down the standings. Their leader barely talks. Rarely goes out for the meetings of leaders made by the great leader. Has a dangerously growing group of unknown assassins that the leader doesn't even care about. Mariko counts her suspicions on the Chu-yuan. "Hrm..." She grunted as she thinks deep. Sometimes, the other countries just think they are not the bright kind of a country. The kind that just wanted to be left alone, but still carries the loyalty towards their allies quietly.

"Tsk..." Mariko uttered and sighs and she moved her head up to rest her chin on the table this time. She lazily looked at the wall. "Hurgh...." The feeling of knowing that she can die with a slight mistake overwhelmed her. "Hm...." And knowing the fact that you can only live once and everything will just disappear when you're dead and you can't just come back anymore. "Hmph... If that's how it is, I will make sure they'll get to taste it before I do" Mariko talked against her thoughts. With that, She sighed and just stared at the wall. Then suddenly a hand slams a glass of hot chocolate in front of her face. "Ah!" Mariko quickly backed off and saw Alice looking so hurt, she was touching her right foot. "S-Sorry, I tripped" She apologized. It took Mariko a few seconds to process. "Y-You okay?" She asked. "Yeah, Bumped on this stupid stool" Alice glared at the foot of the chair. "You... You should calm down" Mariko thought it was hilarious to see her get mad at an unliving thing. Then Alice looked at her and bowed. "I'm sorry... It looked like it splashed at your face" She apologized. "Not really. I was just surprised" Mariko smiled. "Oh? So it was really okay to splash it on your face?" Alice asked, looking a bit angry. "I-I told you it's no worries" Mariko looked at her eyes. "I saw some splashed on your face... Are you saying I need to wear glasses now?" Alice continued, making Mariko sigh. "Just go the fuck away..." Mariko snatched the hot chocolate Alice was holding the whole time. "I have no other places to stay. My father died in my hometown and I only have my mother here" Alice said. Mariko started to think she was just teasing her rather than being an idiot. But being an idiot at the same time as she teases. She even bought a very sad and shocking news along with her joke. Mariko didn't know how to react and stayed quiet. Then She stayed with Alice, feeling annoyed for the rest of the time. One hour later, The two girls arrived and Mariko quickly approached Suzuka. "Hey, The person you just hired in your Inn has some serious problem with her head. I think you should check on that" Mariko said, looking so pissed off. "Eh?" While feeling confused at the sudden approach, Suzuka just watched her walk away. "You hate me?" Alice asked and Mariko didn't bother answering her and disappeared to go upstairs. She regretted going downstairs and slept back.

A few hours later, Sun rose. The whole group went downstairs together. Alice ran to Mariko upon seeing her. "M-Mari-ch-... Mariko-san, I'm very sorry!" She said, looking so sad. "W-What? It's not like I hate you or something..." Mariko quickly corrects her. "Did Alice-chan do something bad?" Yagano asked as he takes a seat in front of the bar. "N-Nothing, really" Mariko answered as she also took a seat. "I'm very sorry about our talk before" Alice followed Mariko. "I-It's fine! Don't drag yourself down, geez..." Mariko turned to look at her. "Right, I will start wearing glasses from now on" Alice said. "Oh no. Don't, for goodness' sake. If you really don't need one, don't" Mariko sighed. "Okay" Alice nodded. Then She asked the group for breakfast and they ate together, while they are eating, Chiho asked. "Why are we eating in a place for drinking alcohol?" and nobody ever spoke.

After their breakfast, they went out of the Inn and while on the front, Yagano faced the girls. "Are you heading out for practice? I would feel bad if I were to prison you here just because of unsure doubts. But we have a problem with the Chu-yuan and i should not be allowing you to go outside right now, to avoid any problems, But... J-Just don't talk or even approach someone you don't know, especially if they looked like Chus. Just go away from them... Okay?" Yagano asked a promise. Instead of responding, Chiho and Ayumi worryingly looked at Mariko, who looked a little bit angry. "Girls?" Yagano saw them act strange. "A-Ah, yes, Father... We'll be careful" Chiho answered and bow. "Chiho? Is something the matter?" Katsuko looked worried. "It's fine! We're just scared, you know... We have a problem with the Chus, you know?" Alice shooked both her hands. "Hm..." Katsuko didn't quite believe her. "T-Then, We'll get going!" Chiho started walking and the two followed. On the side of the Inn, near the R37. Chiho and Mariko stand there. "You drive, Chiho... In case of some chu motherfuckers ambush us or something, I will jump on 'em!" Mariko said. "A-Alright, I will drive but don't do that" Chiho anxiously took the driver seat and Mariko sat behind her. Then they headed for the gate. On the gate, The guard on the left talks to them as usual. "Your father may have told you already, We have a growing suspicion against the Chu-yuan. Are you sure you're going to head out? Did your father allowed you to?" He asked to Chiho. "Yes. He's aware of our trip" She responded. "Is that so... Then, We have nothing left to do but say our wishes to avoid any more problems outside" The guard then looked at the other guard and nodded. The other guard then shouted an order and the gate slowly opened.

On the field, Mariko asked Chiho. "Do you know the direction of the Chu-yuan?". "Yes, It's this way" Chiho pointed in front of them. She was already heading there. Northwest of Saiju lies the Jima, then to the Northeast lies the Chu-yuan. They are heading in that direction. While accelerating, They someone with a black hood leaning on a tree, looking at the ground. "You see him?" Mariko whispered to Chiho. "Yes" Chiho nodded. "That must be an assassin... Approach him, but be cautious..." Mariko whispered. They saw his head turn at them. They saw the assassin's face and they saw that it's a girl. "Huh..." Mariko observed her. The assassin has pink hair poking out of her hood. Her face can be barely seen. She was wearing a hooded cape with pink lines that cover most of her body. "She... She looks scary!" Ayumi feared as she stares at the assassin. Once they got closer, The assassin moved away from the tree and they stopped in front of her. Her eyes quickly landed on Mariko. "No ride. Walk." The assassin has a mysterious yet soft voice. "Just close. No rides need" She continued. "S-So..." Mariko tried to ask Chiho but the assassin's stare bothered her. "Don't worry. Ride won't be taken" The Assassin assured them. "I will find out who takes it then bring it back to you" She continued. "R-Right... Then..." Chiho puts a little trust and stepped out of the R37. Ayumi also stepped out of the sidecar. "Hey, Are you sure about this?" Mariko asked while still sitting. "We walk" The Assassin said to Chiho. "Tsk..." Mariko left the R37 with an utter.

"...Why bring a child? I get it that you bring someone to be safe... but why with child too?" She saw Ayumi and asked Mariko. "Hey, friend. Chiho's my acting boss right now, stop asking me" Mariko was bothered about her asking her the whole time. "Huh?" Chiho looked at Mariko. "Well, I asked you to go here. Not your friend, Nor did I ask you to bring them. I only want you. My business only matters to you" The Assassin responded. Her response creeped out Mariko. "F-Fine..." Mariko shuts herself up. Hearing her say she only wanted Mariko made them even more anxious. After they walked far enough from the R37, The Assassin stopped walking. "Hey, What's the matter...?" They stopped walking and Mariko asked her while resting her hand on her axe. "For..." The Assassin spoke but they didn't quite hear her. "Yes...?" Mariko listened carefully. "For Prohorovka..." The Assassin said. The three got alarmed upon hearing the name. "I'm sorry. You have to... Die!" The Assassin quickly turned around, making her cape rise and exposing her body and armed with two short swords. The group only had one second to see her weapons before seeing her charge towards Mariko. "Shit!" Mariko quickly took her axe out and prepared. "Mariko-san!" The two shouted as the Assassin extends her right arm for a stab to Mariko's neck. "Not gonna happen!" Mariko swings her axe left to hit the sword. "Ah...!" On the corner of her eye, She saw the Assassin's other hand going for a stab. "Hrah..!" Mariko spun to avoid the sword and slams her fist to her face. "倔强!" The Assassin shouted something. Mariko quickly burned the words into her mind. "送你一程!" The Assassin shouted one more time before charging. This time, She was swinging her swords instead of a stab, which gave Mariko a hard time looking for an opening. "Goddamn it!" She fears as she only moves away from her attacks. "Heh..." Mariko saw her laugh. On the last swing with her left arm and Mariko avoiding it. The Assassin jumped and had her arm extended towards Mariko's chest. "W-Whoa...!" Mariko desperately jumped back, losing her balance and falling to the ground. Luckily, The Assassin didn't pounce on her and just waited. Mariko then looked at the two. "Goddamn it, stop looking at me and run back to vehicle! Take your goddamn weapons and help me!" Mariko shouted at them as she stands up.

"L-Let's go Ayumi-chan!" Chiho ran away with Ayumi. Mariko watch them run, then turns back to the Assassin. "Say... Are you working for those idiots?" Mariko asked her. "...What if I do?" She asked back. "What kind of sick fuck would side with those them? I thought we were supposed to be helping each other?" Mariko's words darkened the Assassin's emotion. Then She looked straight at Mariko. "...Just die!" She charged again. "Tsk..." Mariko had a little hope of stopping her, but she focused on not dying for now. "...!" The Assassin mixed up the stab and swing attacks, making it harder for Mariko to evade. Each Mariko's evasion against the swing will be faced a stabbing attack and she can barely avoid them. "Haah...!" After giving Mariko enough pressure, The Assassin jumped again and aims for her chest. "Not this time...!" Mariko grabbed her arm to throw her on the ground. But the Assassin quickly recovered and jumped from the ground, aiming for Mariko's stomach. "Whoa!" Mariko narrowly evades and moved away. Mariko started to breathe heavy. Seeing her in that state, the Assassin took the chance and charged. "Give up your life!" She shouted as she assaults Mariko again. "Haa...!" Pissed off, Mariko began attacking. "...?!" The Assassin got surprised by her attack and moved away. "I'm not gonna let you do that all the time, stupid" Mariko made a stance. "...Don't be an annoyance!" The Assassin charged again. Knowing her usual attacks, Mariko easily blocks them. "Hiya..!" The Assassin swings her left arm. "...!" Mariko quickly caught her arm and saw her other arm going for a stab. "Hrah..!" Mariko slams her body against her. The Assassin staggered back. "Caught you!" Mariko jumped and swings her axe down. But the Assassin evaded her attack by taking another step back. The Assassin swings her right arm to sway off Mariko. "You realize you're attacking your own allies?" Mariko spoke while catching her breath. The Assassin also started to breathe heavily. "You're serving the wrong people!" Mariko shouted, surprising the Assassin. "You think they're gonna let you go just because you obey them? Soon enough, they will harm your people!" She continued to shout. The Assassin grits her teeth. "It's happening right now with the Saiju! They were treated like a friend, then later they were antagonized! This shit will continue until they took everything away!" She continued.

"Shut up!" The Assassin shouted and charged. Mariko quickly caught her first attack and pinned her down using her violent strength. "Saiju, The Kosun, Yugara, Jima and the Soma! Once they are down, they will destroy your country to finish the job!" Mariko angrily shouted. The Assassin tried to attack while pinned down, But Mariko quickly caught her arm and pushed it down. "The Tsukosa, With the leader of the Saiju taking the lead. They are planning on actually fighting back! While you sit here, obeying those fuckers like a coward!" She shouted. "Our weapons are at a huge disadvantage? Can't fight back?! So what?! It doesn't mean you have to sit and kiss their ass while they destroy your neighbors!" Mariko was literally angry. "S-Shut up!" The Assassin desperately breaks away from her bind and moved away. "When the Tsukosa is defeated, Everything's done for! They will wipe out every country in this godforsaken region! Including you fucking Chu-yuans! You think you stupid assassins can take that whole army alone?!" Mariko shouted. "I'd rather die fighting them along with my allies than betraying them and getting stabbed afterward!" She continued. The Assassin got surprised at her continuous rage. "Raah! Whatever!" Mariko furiously scratched her head. "Come at me! I'm gonna knock some sense out of you!" Mariko shouted. Her anger made the Assassin uncomfortable. "Regretting your decision?!" Mariko charged instead. "Ah...!" The Assassin got surprised that she was charging, She readied herself. "Hrah...!" Mariko pretends to swing down the axe. Effectively, The Assassin readies to catch her attack. Without a noise, Mariko swiftly spun around the Assassin, hitting her in the process. "Argh!" The Assassin staggered forward, Her back had a cut and is bleeding. She pants heavily. "Ho...? A normal person scratched an assassin?" Mariko laughed. The Assassin can no longer sense the fatigue on Mariko. "It hurts me when I hit a friend, you know" Mariko tilted her head. "Even if you Chus are shitty when it comes about meetings and shit... We treated you as one of ours. Our neighbor, Our Friends" Mariko continues.

"...Friends?" The Assassin sounded curious and Mariko thinks she got the solution. "Yeah. Friends. You thought we don't think you Chus as one? Then that's where you're wrong. We are all glad to have you on our side. It's just, We don't know why you Chus are acting weird" Mariko sighed. "...We are not fond of being all noisy like you" The Assassin answered. "Exactly what we thought... Now I only have to tell everyone that you are shy-ass and actually friendly!" Mariko smiled, lessening the Assassin's threat. "Mariko!" Chiho and Ayumi, with their weapons, shouted as they ran. The two looked at them run. "Hey! Everything's fine!" Mariko turned her back to the Assassin. "N-No!" The Assassin shouted. "Huh?" Once Mariko turned around, She saw her charge with her right arm extended. "Whoa!" Mariko narrowly avoided the attack. "M-My friends will...!" The Assassin panicked. "You... You just have to die!" The Assassin attacked with a worried look. "Kh..!" Mariko blocks her attack with loud clangs. "What friends?! What's happening to them?!" Mariko asked. "Haa..!" The Assassin ignored her and continued attacking. "Tsk...!" Mariko forced herself to attack. Once the Assassin swings her right arm down, Mariko quickly caught it and used it to bring her down. "What's happening to your friends?!" Mariko asked. "Get off!" The Assassin desperately breaks out and moved away. "Mariko!" The two finally arrived. "Don't stick with me, Move away!" Mariko told them to spread. The two moved away from her. "You don't need to know!" The Assassin's swords suddenly lit pink and emitted small white particles. "W-Whoa!" Mariko was rather amazed than afraid. "For my fellow Assassins... I will kill you and save them...!" The Assassin shouted as her weapons letting out a faint heating noise. "W-What is that?!" Chiho shouted. "It's shiny!" Ayumi shouted. "H-Hey... The hell is that?!" Mariko tried to ask the Assassin but She ignored her and charged. "W-Whoa!" Mariko readies herself. "Haa...!" The Assassin swings her right arm down. Mariko tried to catch the bright sword with her axe. But the sword smoothly cuts through the blade "Ah!" Mariko saw the blade fall off. Then She quickly saw the other sword aiming for a stab through her neck. "...!" Mariko moved her head away. Then she slammed her body against the Assassin to push her away.

"I-It cuts through the blade!" Mariko looked at the broken axe. "What the hell..." She slowly looked up to the Assassin. "...With this, I can cut you at ease" She said. "D-Damn..." Mariko didn't know what to do. The Assassin charged again. She pressured Mariko by swift attacks. "M-Mariko-san!" Ayumi shouted, Then She thought of something and spun her sickle up. Chiho saw her. "A-Ayumi!" She shouted, But Ayumi concentrates on the Assassin. While evading, She quickly saw Ayumi spinning her sickle. "Oh...!" Then She focused on the Assassin's attack and tried to read them. The usual combo, Swing attack, if missed, go for a stab. Then repeat for two or three times before reversing it. Stab, miss, then swing. Mariko quickly remembered them all. When she found an opening, she throws the Assassin to Ayumi's direction. "Ayumi!" Mariko shouted. "Haa...!" Ayumi throws the sickle. The Assassin got surprised at her shout. Then the sickle hits her shoulder and Ayumi quickly pulled the chains, making the sickle slides away, leaving a huge cut. "Urgh...!" She was slightly pulled by the sickle. staggering back, She tried to look at Ayumi. "On me!" But Mariko quickly jumped to her and punched her in the face, they both fell to the ground. "Ah!" Mariko quickly recovered and took away a sword from the Assassin's hand. She quickly realized the light disappeared from the swords. "Kh..." The Assassin held her shoulder as she stands up. "Give it a rest! We don't have to kill each other here!" Mariko shouted. "N-Never... I can die for my friends if I have to!" The Assassin swings her sword. "Don't be fucking stupid!" Mariko shouted, getting angry again. "There are ton shits of ways to save your friends from whatever happened to them!" She continued. The Assassin's sword lights up again. "I'm not going to listen to you..." She said. Seeing her sword lights up, Mariko looked at hers and it's not lighting up. "That's unfair!" She whined. "Haa...!" The Assassin charged. She aimed for a stab to Mariko's stomach. "Don't touch me there!" Mariko swings her sword and tries to hit Assassin's sword. But her sword goes through the bright sword and was broke. "N-No way!" She forgot that the pink light made it cut easier.

After a few moments, Ayumi thought of something. "Onee-chan! We have to help her!" She shouted and spun her sickle up again. "D-Damn it...!" Chiho charged with her long axe raised above her. Seeing the two ready to attack, Mariko thinks of something. She began to fight back a little bit with punches. When Chiho is close enough, Mariko gave the Assassin a strong attack. "...!" But the Assassin successfully blocked her and pushed her away, Then She kicked Chiho away. "Akh...! No way!" Chiho falls to the ground with her long axe. Then the Assassin faced Ayumi's direction and raised her sword and the light changed to yellow. "Waah...!" Ayumi, who has already thrown the sickle, got surprised. The Assassin caught the sickle by letting it bind to her sword, Then she pulled it and Ayumi loses it and fell to the ground. Then the light changed to pink again and she swings it away, it easily cuts through the chains, sending them on the ground. "N-No way..." Mariko and Chiho saw it clearly. "No way of winning now..." She slowly walked towards Mariko. "Grr...!" Chiho took her long axe and stood up to attack the Assassin. "Haa...!" She swings the axe down to the Assassin. But the Assassin pointed the sword directly to the blade of the axe. "What?!" Chiho saw her do it and was confused. "Y-You idiot! Don't you get it?! It cuts through everything when it's pink!" Mariko shouted. The Assassin's sword penetrated through the blade up to the base, Then the sword changed yellow and pulled away. "Ah...!" Chiho loses her grip to the axe, It was stuck on her sword. "What the hell..." Chiho stood dumbfounded. The light changed to pink again and the axe slides and fell to the ground, broken. The Assassin stared at her. "...I have no business with you, Go away" She said before turning back to Mariko. "W-Wait!" Chiho moved to her front. "Tsk..." The Assassin got annoyed. "Ah...!" A spiked ball hits her back. It completely penetrated her cape and her dress, hitting directly her skin. It slides down from her back, leaving a long scrape. "A-Ah...!" The Assassin looked like she can't take the pain anymore and was just standing there. "Ayumi-chan!" Chiho shouted in relief. They knew it was Ayumi who threw the ball.

"K-Kh...!" The Assassin fell on her knees and she used both of her hands to support herself from falling further. "Aaah!" The wound on her shoulders burns and she completely fell to the side. "K-Kh...!" She struggled with her wounds. "D-Damn it!" Mariko ran to her, Chiho also went. "We will-!" Mariko stopped as she saw her cry. "該死的...!" She said something as she grits her teeth. "Hey! Stay with us!" Mariko said to her. The Assassin looked at her with her teary eyes. "Shit... We'll bring you back to your village!" Mariko shouted. "H-Huh? Why...? But..." The Assassin asked. "No buts! Chiho, Stay with her! I will bring the R37 here!" Mariko asked her to stay. "Y-Yes!" Chiho nodded and Mariko started running fast. "Why... Are you doing this?" The Assassin asked. Then Chiho calms herself and smiled. "You are from Chu-yuan?" She asked. "U-Uh..." The Assassin didn't know what to say and just nodded. "It really made us sad that you went to side with those Prohorovkans" Chiho said. The Assassin looked sad. "My... My fellow Assassins. They were held captive by them... Coincident, They asked us to kill someone. Then my fellow Assassins will be free" She answered. "I'm afraid, They will be killed when we do bad job" She continued. "Oh, Is that so..." Chiho looked worried. "Then we'll find a way to let them free!" Chiho told her with a smile, The Assassin looked at her with a bit of relief. "We will tell this to the Saiju and we will make a plan!" She continued, The Assassin felt happy. "Hmph!" They heard someone and looked up to see Ayumi with her arms crossed. "Assassin... But was taken down by a child" She insulted the Assassin. "...I was holding back" She answered, surprising the two. "When Mariko said you treat us friends, I felt happy... But of course the intention of killing her was still there, Only I was able to hold back a bit" She continued. "W-Well, That was right you know!" Chiho backs Mariko's words up. "Chu-yuan is a member of the Tsukosa, We are all glad to be formed!" She continued. "Y-Yeah..." The Assassin smiled. "Hmph... betraying us and all..." Ayumi pouted. The Assassin looked at her. "When we thought we were allies and will bring those Prohorovkans down with our strengths together" Ayumi continued.

"Together?" The Assassin asked. "Yes, That's right, Dummy. We will bring them down together. Their technologies are way different, but that doesn't mean we are going down without fighting back" She answered. "Ha.... Damn it.." The Assassin closed her eyes then they heard the R37's engines. "Hey! " Mariko shouted and she stopped beside them. "Bring her there! Chiho, You drive!" Mariko moved back. "Alright!" Chiho quickly rides the R37 and accelerates towards the Chu-yuan. On the gates, Two guards were there. They were alarmed by their presence. "舜! (Shun!)" The Assassin called one of the guard. "疏放 (Shu Fang!)" A guard rushed to them. Then the other guard got confused and started arguing with them in their language. Then suddenly they opened the gate. "We go with you!" The guard said. "O-Okay..." Chiho agreed and the guard sat beside Mariko. "Thank you..." The guard thanked them. Then he leads them to a less populated spot, There were still some houses around. There are still some untouched lands inside and there are still trees everywhere. On a small hut, Mariko and the guard carried the Assassin there and made her sit. "S-Shouldn't we let her lie down?" Mariko asked but the guard just looked at her. "Don't worry..." The Assassin said, then she took out a painkiller. "W-Wha...Wait, You have one of those?!" Mariko asked. The Assassin used the painkiller first before looking at her to answer. "They gave us these in case we defeat" She said. Then the guard came near and bowed his head. "A-Ah..." Mariko was surprised. "Are you Mariko Sakitama? I'm very sorry if my friend here causes you trouble!" He apologized. "Shun!" The Assassin scolded him. "I'm Shun Huang, an Assassin, just like her" He revealed that he's an Assassin. "We are actually wanted to fight them, But we failed horribly and some of our friends got caught by them. Then one day, they offered us their freedom in exchange for killing someone. And you know it's you which is the target" He said.

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"Yeah..." Mariko nodded. "Now. Us, We... The remaining Assassins, we rejected this quickly. Except for Shu Fang..." He gave a quick angry look at the Assassin who has the name of Shu Fang. "Hmph..." Shu Fang looked away. "She acted on her own and went after you. That's the story" He continued. "I-I see... I understand that, no worries..." Mariko forgives her. Shu Fang looked at Mariko. "...Just why are you so kind?" She asked. "Just why don't you just shut up and take all our love?" Mariko asked back. "L-Love?" Shu Fang blushed. "I-It means love, like friends!" Chiho panicked and told her. Shu Fang stared at her. "F-Friends...!" Chiho blushed. "Damn it, Mariko! Don't give them a bad idea!" She hits Mariko. "W-What?" Mariko got confused. Chiho stopped but still saw Shu Fang still looking at her so she looked away. "...You seem like fun people to hang around" Shun said. "You think so?" Mariko asked. "I don't know..." Shun's answer confused the girls. "Certain things make me think... How are you able to take down Shu Fang? She has all these power the enemies gave her" Shun looked so curious. "It's me!" Ayumi showed herself and puffed out her chest. "We were three against her alone, So it was kind of unfair for her" Mariko answered. "No, I think she held back? She..She said so herself" Chiho looked at Shu Fang. "Yes, I held back. If you haven't said anything at that time, I would have taken you seriously and killed you already so it won't be long" Shu Fang answered. "Is that so... Well, How about your powers?" Mariko was eager to listen about the power. "You saw it before. You make them bright by using your mind. When your weapon turns pink, It can cut through everything. When it becomes yellow, It becomes the hardest thing. Even if you use a sword, it will just hit the enemies and doesn't cause a wound or something" Shu Fang explained. "And how did you got that from the enemies?" Chiho asked. "They gave us grapes juice, is magical, they say" Shu Fang answered. "I felt weird when I drank it. But then I felt a little bit powerful" She continued

"Sometimes it suddenly just lights when I reached a certain thought. Because you use your mind to make it have that power" She explained further. "...You say you fight them together, yes?" She asked the three. "We only have two more of their magical drinks. One of you can't have one, so decide" She said. "As much as it sounds awesome, I guess I will let you and Chiho have it" Mariko told Ayumi. "M-Me?! Really?!" Ayumi became excited. "Yeah, I will just snatch one later" Mariko laughed. "Is not good for children, I think" Shu Fang said. "Well, That's what you thought" Mariko grinned. "...Don't blame me for whatever happens... Shun, 把它拿过来" Shu Fang talked to Shun. He nodded and walked away. "What did you say?" Mariko asked. "I told him to bring over the magical drinks" Shu Fang responded. "Ah..." Mariko looked at where he disappeared. It doesn't take him long to return. He went back with two juice boxes, both grape-flavored according to what's written on it. "Here..." Shun handed the two boxes to Chiho and Ayumi. "...Straw on back, Stab that little hole on the top. Sip on the top of straw" He instructed. "A-Ah..." Then the two drank the juice. Then they waited for a few seconds to see what will happen. "N-Nothing happened...?" Chiho asked Shu Fang. "N-No? Must be lucky" She looked at the two. "...The magic takes effect faster than one second" Shun said. "Could have said instant" Mariko whispered. "...Not everyone is a smartass like you..." Shun's words surprised Mariko. "Now, now... You, Orange hair. Try making it pink" Shu Fang gave her the sword. "My name's Chiho Hasegawa, By the way" Chiho said as she took the sword and held it tight. "Now think of the feeling of cutting everything with a swing of your weapon" Shu Fang instructed. "Think of..." Chiho concentrates, Then her sword flashed a pink light. "Ah!" She got surprised. "Try to keep it on your mind" Shu Fang said. "O-Okay!" Chiho nodded and concentrates again. The sword lits pink along with the particles. "Ho...!" Chiho managed to let it stay for longer. Then as she raised it, The light fades again. "No...!" Chiho panicked. "It seems you manage to get a hold of it... How about you, child?" Shu Fang looked at Ayumi.

"Name's Ayumi Kirisaki! I'm not a child!" She introduced as she takes the knife from Chiho. Unlike, Chiho. Ayumi managed to make it stay lit longer. "Ha..!" She even pretended to stab. "Oh! Nice one, Ayumi!" Mariko got amazed. "You're quick learner, huh?" Shun was amazed. "This power will use your own energy. Meaning, you can easily tire yourself out if you're reckless" Shu Fang said. "I want to train you to get used with the magic. It will take long, I will tell you. I also need practice so we can do it together" Shu Fang warned. "More training?! Yay!" Ayumi became excited. "You agree on training? Then we will train here, You will live here temporarily as we train. Then after that, you can go back to Saiju" Shu Fang said. "Yes!" Chiho and Ayumi nodded. "...It'll be long, be prepared" Shun said to them. "Can I still join though?" Mariko asked. "Of course!" Shu Fang nodded with a smile. "Hehe..." Mariko was visibly excited too. "We have a lot to tell Leader-san about Chu-yuan, huh?" She continued. "Yeah..." They looked at the sky, can't wait to see what will happen from that moment.