Chapter Text
December 18 13:00
Izumo growled in his throat before he turned and picked up Eric, “this is turning out to be more eventful than I originally had thought it would be.” He spoke to himself as he lugged Eric back to the school buildings. He could hear the momentary pause of battle as both clans watched the new sword appear in the sky followed by the clashing of the Red and Blue kings swords. As he approached the school building Izumo caught the attention of a few of the red clans lower members that he didn’t have much interaction with. “Take care of him, will you?” Izumo asked them as he passed Eric over to them. “Yes sir.” One of them replied.
As soon as Eric was safe Izumo turned and hurried back into the school building in an attempt to find Yata and the others. As he ran up the stairs Izumo couldn’t help but feel slightly overwhelmed not only were they fighting the blue clan but the colorless king. Was their main target and now the silver king was here as well. “It never has been simple in the world of kings though.” He thought to himself as he turned down the hallway where he had left the three younger members. Instantly Izumo noticed the pile of broken glass in the hallway, the shattered window and a small trail of blood. “Anna! Tatara! Yata!” Izumo called out.
“We’re in here.” Tatara called back, coming out into the hallway. Izumo was relieved to see his friend unhurt. “There was an accident.” Tatara told him.
“What kind of accident?”
“Yata was shot again.” The sandy haired male explained as he led Izumo into the office they were occupying.
“Oy, don’t say it like that!” Yata hollered out. This initial panic Izumo felt at hearing Yata was injured again quickly left at the sound of the younger man's annoyed voice.
Inside the office Yata was leaning against the window, he had a bandana wrapped around his arm and was down to just his tank top. Anna was curled up in a chair with Yata’s red sweater wrapped around her and appeared to be asleep. “Is Anna okay?” Izumo asked, finding it odd that the young strain would be asleep at a time like this.
“ Some damn blue took a shot at her.” Yata growled as he came to stand in front of Izumo.
“It’s true Izumo,” Tatara added, backing the shorter man up, “If it wasn’t for Yata he probably would have finished the job as well.”
“Is that how you got injured again?” Izumo asked, his tone sounding more on edge than normal.
“Better to be shot again than to lose Anna!” Yata shouted at him, obviously stressed out from the ordeal.
“You’re right. Thank you Yata.”
“What’s going on out there Kusanagi?”
“The boys are up against Scepter 4, Mikoto found the boy we were looking for but Munakata prevented him from attacking, the two kings are currently in battle, and to top it all off the silver kings sword of Damocles has appeared.”
“The silver king?” Tatara questioned.
“I know, I’m not sure why he’s here either.”
“Kusanagi, the black dog is out front!” Yata interrupted.
“What? The black dog?” Izumo questioned as he got up to look out the window.
Before he had the chance Anna opened her eyes, “The King is coming.” She told them before she hopped out of her chair and moved to open the window. “Anna?” Izumo questioned. Anna simply stood to the side as three figures flew through the window, “Coming through!” One of them hollered as they crashed in.
“That hurt…Sorry to drop in.” The same voice spoke. Izumo could only stare his cigarette falling from his mouth as not only Seri had crashed through the window but the man they were looking for and a young woman. “What the hell are you guys doing here?!” Yata stumbled over his question “I mean, uh…what?!”
Seri and the young women both recovered first, quickly moving to battle positions against each other. Izumo moved to pull his lighter out and quickly flicked it open, igniting it, “They’re not the enemy…” Anna interrupted, “These people aren’t… the enemy.” She said before she fainted once more in which Izumo rushed to her side to catch her before she fell.
“I appreciate that. The truth is, I need your help…” The white haired male explained as Seri continued to point her Sabre at him. Izumo’s phone began to ring, startling all of them, “W-what the hell?!” Izumo asked confused as to who would be calling at a time like this.
“Now what?!” Seri asked as well.
“I wonder…? Sorry. That might be for me. Could one of you get that?” The white hair male asked with a smile gracing his face. Izumo stared at him for a moment before looking to Seri before he pulled his phone from his pocket, “Hello?” He answered.
“Am I speaking to Mikoto Suoh’s first in charge, Izumo Kusanagi?” An older male sounding voice spoke to him.
“Well, I…” Izumo fumbled completely at a loss of the situation.
“There should be a man standing there with a silly look on his face. Let me talk to him.”
“Well…May I ask who’s calling?”
“Daikaku Kokujoji. The gold king.”
Izumo froze for a second; this was certainly not what he was expecting at all. The white haired man stood there still with a stupid grin on his face before Izumo sighed and handed over the phone.”Just one second Lieutenant.” He said into the phone before he turned his attention to Izumo and Seri, “Listen the colorless king is here on the island. He has the ability to possess other people’s bodies, mine included. That’s why you all think I’m someone who tried to kill your clansmen. That attack took place while he was in control of this body before he took over my original body and my spirit was ejected into this body. We need to isolate him into one body and get the rest of the students and clansmen out so he can no longer switch around. Do you think you can make an escape path for the students and stop the fighting?“
“Uh, sure.” Izumo replied as he summoned Yata over to him. “Seri, is this guy for real?” Izumo asked, baffled by the events happening in front of him.
“It has to be. He made me fly across the campus. He has to be the silver king.” She shot back at him. Izumo sighed, “ guess we have to go along with what he says for now.” He thought to himself as he weighed his options. Izumo and Seri pulled out their phones and proceeded to make the calls to all members to cease the fighting and get things underway. However, Izumo knew that not everyone was going to answer their phone and they couldn’t waste time squabbling over the fight while trying to get the evacuation underway, however, Seri nor himself could leave their post right now. Tatara and Anna were simply out of the question and he didn’t trust the silver kings clansman to do as she was told. That left Yata, Izumo really didn’t want to send Yata out but they were out of options at this point. “Yata, I need you to help establish an evacuation route for everyone on this island. Get the rest of Homra to help you.”
“Sure thing, Kusanagi.” Yata replied, obviously wanting to get away from the situation. Izumo couldn’t help but think it was the white haired male’s presence making Yata on edge. The guy had technically shot him after all. “Make sure you look after Tatara and Anna.”
“Okay I’m counting on you.”
“Hurry.” Seri added. Yata shot a glare at her but quickly turned away and left.
“Man, this has really gotten weird.” Izumo sighed as he took another drag off his cigarette.
“You can say that again.” Awashima conceded.
Behind the two second in commands the white haired man continued to talk on the phone. The two of them waited as he finished his conversation before Izumo decided to speak up, “Um…”
“Silver King.” Seri interjected.
“Just call me Yashiro Isana.” The apparent silver king replied
“Very well… Yashiro Isana. As you proposed, we’ve established an escape path for the students. At present, we have both clans back under our control and have them escorting the students out.”
“That said, if what you say is true…The Colorless King could possess one of the students and make his escape.”
“No. He’s only targeting the kings. That’s why he lured the Red and Blue Kings here. All the more reason why we must get the students evacuated as quickly as possible. Because the colorless king is not the only potential danger.” Izumo stiffened at that statement, “ Mikoto..” he thought to himself imagining the king's sword and how it was falling apart. He noticed how Anna seemed to shrink in on herself before she furrowed her brow, “He’s coming…” she whispered.
They all heard the maniacal laughter around them, “You’re not getting away! It’s useless to run away. You’re all mine.” The voice squealed with delight. “Form a circle around my fingertips and dance until you all die. And give it all to me..”
“Is this the Colorless King?” Seri questioned
“Your experiences,”
“Damn it, he’s making things even worse.” Izumo growled.
“Your dreams, your abilities, all of it!” The voice ended with his laughter ringing all around them. Izumo watched as the silver king approached the girl he called Neko, “Neko, I need your power. More than you’ve ever used before.”
“What do you want me to do?
“‘Til this day I’ve never had my own clansmen. Not even one. Will you be my very first?”
“Stupid Shiro!” The girl cried as she clung to the man. “Is this really the time for such sentimental?” Izumo thought to himself as he watched them interact. “You’re Neko’s Shiro and I’ve been your Neko for a long time now!” Izumo tried to be patient as he watched the new clansmen be born and as Shiro turned towards the window, “I won’t let you have your way.” He spoke to no one but they all knew who he was talking to. Izumo watched as the strain girl used her ability to project an image of the silver king all over to the student on the island so he could lead them to safety. Izumo tuned him out for the most part as he talked to the students, his thoughts more focused on Mikoto and his clan. “Found you.” He heard the king say at last drawing Izumo’s attention once more. “Don’t lay a hand on other people. Let’s put an end to this.”
Izumo watched as the strain collapsed in exhaustion before Shiro picked her up to set her in the seat Anna had just vacated. “Thank you, both of you. Please look after her for me.” He asked them.
“Got it.” Izumo agreed as Anna came to stand by his side.
“Silver King! Please…” Seri started as the king walked back to the open window, his decision to leave final.
“Sorry. I can’t promise anything. But I’ll do the best I can..” he told them all before he hopped onto the windowsill, “All of you, good luck!” He said as a final goodbye. Izumo exchanged a look with Seri. “We should probably get out of here as well. Totsuka come on.”
Izumo moved over to the strain before he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and under her knees and picked her up. “Tatara, hold onto Anna, alright?”
“Sure thing Izumo.” Tatara smiled as he stood by Anna’s side holding onto her hand. “Where should we all be evacuating to?”
“We’ll head to the other side of the bridge and rendezvous there.” Izumo answered, “Totsuka do you think you can send a message to everyone to meet there?”
“Sure thing.” The easy going man smirked as he pulled out his phone and quickly sent the message before he grabbed onto Anna’s hand once more. “You should probably get back to your men.” Izumo said, turning his head towards Seri. The woman looked the group over before she nodded her head and fled from the room to go help her own clan. “So Kusanagi…” Tatara started as they walked.
“Yes?”
“What happened last night?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You really expect me to believe that you were scouting all night?”
“Is now really the time you want to be bringing this up?” Izumo asked incredulously.
“Actually I wanted to ask you earlier but you seemed busy.” Tatatara joked an easy smile on his face as the group of them made their way down the school hallways. Izumo sighed, fighting the urge to drop the girl in his arms in favor of pulling out a new cigarette now that his other one had been finished. “I was on the roof all night.” Izumo decided to answer knowing that there was no one that he would be able to evade Totsuka’s questions forever.
“Was Yata with you?”
“He was.”
“Always one to keep the answers for yourself, huh Izumo.”
“Nothing happened, if that’s what you’re trying to figure out.
“Yeah but- Ah!” Tatara cut off a small gasp of pain escaping his lips.
“Totsuk-“ Izumo started only to be cut off from the pain that suddenly flooded him as well, starting from his right shoulder. Izumo watched in horror as even poor Anna had her hands over left eye as she collapsed to the ground. Each of their Homra marks had begun to glow a bright red and emitted a burning heat. “M-Mikoto,” Izumo growled out as he was brought down to his knees all while trying to keep Neko from falling to the ground. “What the hell are you doing?!”
After a few moments the three Homra members were able to push past the pain that was now fading. “Izumo what was that?”
“Mikoto…” Anna whispered her eyes looking over to where Mikoto was located on the island before she collapsed from exhaustion, the strain of the last few hours catching up with her once more. Tatara bent down and picked the young girl up into his arms holding her close to his chest before looking to Izumo for answers.
“He’s drawing too much power from the slates.” Izumo answered honestly.
“But King will-“
“Totsuka… we need to go.” Izumo pushed. “Damnit Mikoto, don’t you dare do what I think you are going to do.” Izumo thought bitterly as he led the younger members away from the school and towards the entrance that would take them to the bridge.
As the two males started to walk across the bridge, each carrying a person,Totsuka spoke up once again. “Izumo, do you think that King…”
“Not now Totsuka. We need to get to the rendezvous.”
“Izumo stop!” Tatara yelled, causing the older male to stop. It was rare for Tatara to yell at all let alone when Anna was nearby. “King, no, is Mikoto going to die?” He asked the older male with his eyes watery with the effort of keeping the tears from falling. Izumo closed his eyes taking a deep breath before he opened them once more letting the emotions he kept bottled up show for once as he met his younger friends eyes. He knew Totsuka could read the grief evident on his face and the helplessness he currently felt all while trying to stay strong for all of them. “Izumo…” Tatara whispered. Kusanagi gently shook his head before he turned and continued walking across the bridge knowing that Totsuka would be following. “How is this all going to play, huh, Mikoto? Will you remain the gun we need you to be or will you give into your own desires? What we’ll become of us if you’re no longer here to control this group of ragtag kids. I can’t do this without you.” Izumo cried on the inside, unwilling to let the tears actually fall. He needed to remain strong for the rest of them.
“Looks like most of them are here.” Tatara spoke as they reached towards the end of the bridge. Following the younger man's gaze Izumo saw that the boys had gathered under one of the sides of the bridge. Kusanagi knew that a portion of the members would have run off as soon as the fighting ended. As they made their way down Izumo noticed that a particular short tempered skateboarder was missing. “There you guys are, we were beginning to worry.” Dewa stated as he approached them and took Anna from Totsuka. “Where’s Yata and Kamamoto?” Izumo asked as he followed Dewa to a stack of wooden pallets that they could place Anna and Neko on. Dewa sighed as he set Anna down, “Kamamoto went back to get Yata. The last any of us saw Yata was fighting with Fushimi.”
Izumo resisted the urge to bang his head into the nearest object. “Damnit Yata, just wait until I get my hands on you.” He seethed as he surveyed the congregation around them. Tatara had broken off to the side talking quietly to a few members but still within Anna’s line of sight. “Why the fuck did you do that, huh?!” Izumo heard Yata hollering in the distance and turned his head to watch as Yata and Kamamoto approached. “Huh? But I was just trying to help…” Kamamoto tried to defend himself. “Oh, good. The idiot is finally back.” Kusanagi murmured to himself.
“How could you leave Mikoto behind?! This is bullshit, damnit!”
“Hey!” Kamamoto tried again only to get whacked in the head.
“Kusanagi, why did everyone but Mikoto pull out? Are you going to just abandon Mikoto?!” Yata yelled as he ran towards him.
Kusanagi glared down at the younger male who was looking to him for answers before he brought his hand down on his head.
“What was that for?!” Yata hollered, clutching his head in pain.
“Stop whining and take it like a man. Even Anna’s enduring this whole situation.” Kusanagi glowered at the younger male as he gestured to Anna who had woken up and was now sitting by Neko, a solemn look on her face, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” He continued to lecture thoroughly done with Yata’s behavior.
From her spot on the wood Anna jumped off and ran towards the edge of the water. “Anna?” Yata whispered softly, feeling the girl's sorrow already. They all turned their heads to watch the swords dance above the island. “When it comes down to it? What will you Mikoto? Is it worth more to be a king who takes needless revenge or to stay and be our protector? Or, is it possible it’s too late for either?” Kusanagi sighed as he lit a new cigarette and moved to stand beside Tatara and Anna. “Don’t worry Anna.” Tatara told her, “It’s all going to work out how it’s supposed to.” Izumo looked down at the young girl who was practically trembling.
They all felt the wave of power that seemed to shake the entire Earth. A pillar of red light shot up from the island like a volcano and into the sky. Izumo felt the burning sensation over his homra emblem once again. Izumo felt his insides quake as the colorless king and silver king's swords both disappeared, and still the pillar of light remained blazing into the air. He was trembling as badly as Anna as he saw the sparks flying around his king's sword as pieces continued to crack off. Izumo couldn’t help the way his stomach plummeted when the once blazing ruby stone in the center turned grey nor how the Earth pulled him to his knees the same time Mikoto’s sword fell as well. Tatara was crying beside him as they watched in horror as the sword fell to the Earth.
Everyone held their breath until the sword froze and started to disappear in shards of red aura. “Mikoto!” Anna screamed, her cries of desperation shaking every member to the core. Above them Izumo could hear the blue clansmen cheering at the fact that a sword didn’t destroy the island. None of Homra moved, they all stood watching the island trying to argue with what their eyes were seeing. The sun began to set and snow was falling when reality seemed to set in for all of them. Izumo held Anna in his arms with Tatara by his side as he heard Yata begin to sob. “I’m sorry Yata. I’m sorry Anna. I’m sorry Tatara.” Izumo repeated in his head naming every person he felt he had let down and was now bearing the responsibility for. “No blood… no bone… no ash!” Kamamoto started. “No blood… no bone…. No ash!” More members were joining in now. “No blood… no bone… no ash!” They were screaming, “No blood… no bone… no ash!” They screamed and stomped their feet. “No blood… no bone… no ash!” Yata sobbed behind him, his voice breaking at the end, barely able to finish their motto.
Izumo felt the same pain they all did as their aura flared over their emblems. “No blood… no bone… no ash!” Everyone was cheering now. Anna struggled to get out of his arms as she ran ahead slightly watching the aura of every member fill the night sky. “A lovely red.” She spoke with a small smile gracing her face.
“ You hear that, Mikoto? You were the best king we could have asked for.” He thought to himself as he watched the remainder of their aura fill the night sky.