beaucephalis-lawliet

Latest Posts by beaucephalis-lawliet

You’re Alive

Summary: “Why didn't you fucking say somethin', Konro?” Deliberately walking on Benimaru and Niobe made Konro realize his body still felt raw emotions despite his disability—like sexual desire.

Rating: M

Disclaimer: Nah, don't own it at all.

~

Author's Note: Hey there! Welcome to You're Alive, which is a side-story that is not connected to Sniper. While I've never thought I'd actually be tempted to write a threesome between Benimaru, Niobe and Konro... here it is. Some new friends I've just made gave me the idea, my brain and imagination ran with it—and because my brain wouldn't leave me alone, I need to make them thirsty! Here's my vengeance! Now read!

BY THE WAY: if some of you still wish to read Niobe’s story, I suggest you go look for “Sniper” on AO3, as the rest is posted there. I’m currently working on the fourteenth chapter, so... yeah.

~

Konro looked at the stormy and rainy weather outside with a smirk, sitting comfortably in the living-room to enjoy a good cup of tea and some delicious onigiri Niobe had made—before she was unceremoniously swept off her feet by Beni, hauled on his shoulder and carried away back to their quarters. The exhausted yawns that had shaken her body hadn't certainly escaped Waka's notice, who had taken it upon himself to get his girlfriend back in bed with him without any complaints from the sniper. Doesn't look like this downpour is going to let up anytime soon, the lieutenant thought idly as he turned a page off his book. Since their world had become a scorched fireball ready to combust, the rare days their skies would be surrounded by rain clouds were most welcome by everyone. Even more when there were storms incoming, which would mean more rain and less sun. It was somewhat of a blessing, as listening to the water splashing against their rooftops would mean more quietness.

Peace within Asakusa was a rarity, as the town was always bustling with activity. Konro couldn't complain, as he'd been born here and had gotten accustomed to the harsh life in the proto-nationalist district. It had become more pronounced when he joined the Hikeshi Fire brigade under master Shinmon Hibachi. While his daily life had turned frenzied and tumultuous when he understood the duty of a Hikeshi, it certainly became more interesting when the master had brought Benimaru back with him.

Days off in Company 7 were usually spent with less energy than usual, especially when the weather decided to be a bitch and conceal the sun in the sky. Everyone in Asakusa would spend their time indoors, favoring the warmth and blissful quietness of their homes instead of catching a cold rather stupidly. It was the same with their Hikeshi, who would find something to do inside the guardhouse—the usual games where money would be involved or even some drinking to gossip about the latest news in town. The subjects varied, of course, and Konro himself would join him to give his opinion.

One day, the latest subject was centered around one the lieutenant hadn't given much thought to since he got tephrosis. Even now, he found himself... thinking back to the words he exchanged with his comrades and mulling over them whenever he had no duties to tend to—that is, when Hina and Hika didn't come to him for treats and snacks before Niobe could start making dinner. As grown men who didn't shy away from any subject of interest, they'd eventually debated on the question of sex. Hikeshi were familiar with brothels, as they were quite a few in Asakusa, and it was not surprising to notice some of the new recruits follow their seniors towards these establishments in order to find solace in the arms of a beautiful geisha.

Frowning, Konro put his book down and crossed his arms against his chest to ponder more about the predicament as the discussion with his Hikeshi fully refreshed his memories.

“Shinji finally got laid and his partner had rocked his world!” Shinbeita had shouted, his cup of sake raised in the air. “About goddamn time, too! No way in hell were you goin' to stay a virgin in this Company! Right, Lieutenant?”

Konro gave an insolent smirk. “Damn right,” he'd agreed.

Roars and cheers from the other Hikeshi were loud as Shinji laughed heartily, his own cup of sake half-empty. The young man, freshly clad in his new Fire Force outfit, was flushed and smiling so widely. His body was swaying just a little, but he still held himself in composure while being clapped in the back by his fellow comrades. The morning after would be a bitch, but so worth a damn since the memories of having spent a good time with a beautiful woman and feeding off her body.

The lad needed it. Fuck knows they all did, as Hikeshi lived one hell of a dangerous life. They'd chosen it and they embraced it—all aspects and downsides, thus fully accepting a duty that could feel like a huge burden sometimes. Although there was this frightening chance they could all get used to it, there was also this reminder all Hikeshi couldn't forget and had to cling onto: life was still theirs. It still belonged to them, even when they were the ones to put Infernals to rest in Asakusa. Therefore, the Hikeshi of Company 7 had had to find hobbies to remember what it meant to be fucking alive.

Because that's what they were. Alive and not soulless, heartless beings who had become desensitized from their harsh duty. Ah, what would Konro give to get his hands on—

“... about you, Lieutenant Konro?” Shinji suddenly asked.

The older Hikeshi blinked twice, then turned looked around to find expectant gazes locked on him, waiting eagerly for an answer—the grins said so. And since they've all been drinking sake tonight, gossips, revelations and lots of secrets could be heard. That wasn't so surprising and uncommon. Konro made himself more comfortable, withdrawing one muscled arm out of the sleeve of his yukata to have more freedom of movement and slouch more in a relaxed manner.

He gave a small smirk. “What about me?” he echoed.

Shinji looked eager. “C'mon, please share with us! Is there a woman you've been fantazing about lately?”

“Nah, no one has caught my eye for the time bein', kid,” Konro assured with a chuckle, pouring himself some sake. “I've got too much on my plate with HikaHina, Waka and Taka no Me to be worrying about a woman crying out for me. They take too much energy.”

“Heh! I bet,” another Hikeshi named Tomohiro said with a wide smirk. “Although we've all agreed to not stare and fantasize anymore, I just can't help but share with you guys about the second woman I'd want to fuck.”

“And who's the lucky, or should I say, unlucky gal?”

Tomohiro leaned forward and grinned conspirationally, his eyes twinkling.

“I want to fuck Niobe,” he revealed smoothly. “There I said it. Niobe is my favorite flavor of the moment, on par with that Haijima dominatrix from the 5th. Though I can easily find a geisha who can satisfy my desires, I got the feelin' Taka no Me could offer me so much pleasure I'd want her to be my sexual partner. I can tell she's hidin' one hell of a fuckin' gorgeous body under her outfit and I'm seriously jealous of Waka right now for bein' her man. Would love to grope those jugs while I'm poundin' the hell outta her pussy, hear those sounds she must make each time Waka is fuckin' her brains out and listen to her moanin' that she loves my damn cock inside.”

If Konro remembered correctly, the whole room had gone deadly quiet upon the revelation of the woman's identity and everyone had looked astonished. The silence had been deafening, so much that a pindrop would make you flinch. Even he had found himself speechless and dumbfounded at such bold terms used to speak about Niobe and he'd almost scolded Tomohiro for speaking so casually and crudely about the sniper. He was familiar with such honestly about most subjects among his peers, even Waka, who'd been around some women before he fell in love hard. Nonetheless, Konro wouldn't dare speak his mind in front of his leader about his woman and say exactly what he really thought.

Because Sagamiya Konro silently agreed.

He agreed with his Hikeshi when the shock of the admission had finally passed. Every word, every incriminating fantasy. As soon as they'd started speaking about Waka's girlfriend, the atmosphere got heated upon drawing her in their minds; they'd shared lewd thoughts about the size of her breasts, how big they must be underneath her Fire Force outfit, how squishy and soft they must feel if they could grope them, how they'd feel in their hands and pressed against their muscles. They'd shared lecherous words about how long her legs were, how they'd feel wrapped around their waist when they were pounding into her, how they'd love to run their hands over these amazing thighs they'd sometimes seen out of her baggy pants, how they'd run their tongue over her skin and bite down to mark her.

And when it came to either her mouth or her pussy... that had been when Konro had felt the heat rush through him like a tidal wave. It had gone to his head first, nurturing his mind with dirty thoughts he'd kept silent, and down right to his cock. It had twitched in interest once, then twice when the lieutenant had imagined Niobe all bare and sprawled on her fūton. Her legs open for him to see just how her pussy looked, exposed like the best birthday present any horny Hikeshi could ever ask. Although Konro had never seen her fully naked, it wasn't that difficult to imagine her figure—he'd seen her with more revealing clothes whenever she'd spend some time in the Tokyo Empire with her friends, and also wearing a traditional kimono for festivals. The one she'd worn for Tanabata had been gorgeous on her, confirming every Hikeshi's thoughts that her body was made for wearing kimonos. And Beni had also agreed, for he'd all but dragged Niobe in a back alley with a snarl and glowing eyes. They'd come back to rejoin everyone moments later, Waka looking satisfied and the sniper flushed and basking in an after-sex glow, smiling wide.

Konro certainly noticed the teeth marks and love bites on her throat and nape of her neck, red and angry, how Niobe and Beni stuck close to each other with their fingers intertwined tenderly. He'd never left her side once, standing right behind her and his arms wrapped around her body to keep her close and his chin nestled on her shoulder while she was threading her fingers through his hair.

The Hikeshi snarled and growled low, his eyes closed. What a fucking pain in the ass. Even though he respected Waka and his relationship with Niobe, Konro just... couldn't help but wonder. Thanks to his Hikeshi having shared their lewd fantasies, he'd never been able to ban these forbidden images of the First Platoon out of his mind. It truly wasn't helping whenever he'd run into her; Niobe hadn't run straight into him yet, but if she were to, there was a high probability he'd get hard upon feeling her bust against him. And very quick too. Just the soft and cushy feeling of these breasts flattened on his—

“Shit,” Konro muttered under his breath, cursing.

His loins and cock were already reacting accordingly to his thoughts. He inahled deeply, then exhaled a shaky breath, clenching his hands on the hem of his kimono as he felt his appendage twitch and twitch, pulse and throb. It was straining and struggling against the fabric of his fundoshi, crying out for attention that he should give if he wanted to get the release it desperately needed. His arousal was as painful as it felt great to feel. Once again, Konro thought with a low, strained groan that almost sounded feral in his ears. As his erection pulsed and twitched again, this time with more strength, he huffed silently.

When was the exact last time he'd felt himself grow hard at the mere thought of a woman's body? Probably during that discussion when he'd imagined Niobe in his mind, as the memories he got from his last visit to a brothel seemed so damn faraway. His cock had grown stiff, rock hard and was even leaking pre-cum when he'd finally excused himself to go tend to his 'problem' in the first bathroom he'd found. His fundoshi had been wet when he'd stripped, pre-cum staining the fabric and his balls had been straining as well. Taking care of his erection hadn't been hard at all—visualizing Niobe in his mind had helped, especially in obscene and alluring positions he'd love to man-handle her roughly and wouldn't feel ashamed in doing so. If only she were available and willing to consider him... Konro had had to muffle his groans, grunts and moans upon with pumping his fist around his throbbing shaft, his face flushed and eyes hazy with lust. He just had to watch himself jacking off, had to burn this image straight into his mind, as it was an amazing and very personal moment he'd actually missed ever since the Demon that cost him his Third Gen powers.

He'd broken into a familiar sweat, his body shivering and throbbing in enthusiastic excitement he'd felt like had been in fucking years. His breathing had gotten heavy and loud in his ears, raspy and husky—very much like when he'd pound Hanabi hard enough to render a panting, moaning mess. Strangely enough, while thinking of Hanabi back when they used to be a 'thing' should have helped immensely, it wasn't her deep brown eyes and cute face Konro had seen behind his closed eyes. No, it was a very familiar face with very familiar curls arranged in a gorgeous afro.

It was Niobe. Niobe, on her knees between his legs, slowly running her tongue all over the tip of his cock and lathering it with her saliva. Her mismatched eyes were glazed over, the arrow-shaped pupils pointing up, a pretty blush adorned her cheeks. Pre-cum was leaking over his shaft and she was collecting every drop, humming while he was grunting in pleasure, head lightly tipped back to look down at her through half-lidded eyes. When she got to the tip, she ran her tongue around it twice before finally taking him in her hot mouth to suck him off like a delicious treat. The first suck had sounded like sweet, sweet music in his ears—wet, succion-like—and the feeling of Niobe's lips stretching around his shaft had felt amazing.

The sight of this imaginary vision had made him climax. And climaxed hard Konro had. He'd seen white as his hips had bucked forward into an imaginary mouth, a long and feral growl escaping his throat while he'd thrown his head backward with an elated expression. His hips had stuttered, his cock spraying loads of cum he had had no idea had been waiting to be released. He'd cummed so hard and so much that his semen had splashed on the tiled floor and at his feet, even over him. It had been a little while until he'd come down from his high, feeling immensely much better... and struck by an epiphany.

“I'm lusting after Niobe,” he'd murmured to himself in a panting voice, his eyes wide in utter disbelief. “I'm fucking lusting after my master's daughter and Waka's girl...”

Even if he denied his physical attraction, all it would need is seeing Kirishima Niobe and he'd probably pop a boner at the mere sight of her a few feet away. Falling asleep would be difficult, as the remnants of his orgasm were still reeling in his mind and his body would keep shivering, sweating. Two hours after Waka had changed his bandages and had gone to look for Niobe so they could go to bed, he'd woken up to another hard-on and had had to take care of it. Muffling his hungry growls and grunts in his pillow while pumping his aching cock may have sufficed, but Konro had admitted to himself that he was absolutely craving her cunt wrapped around him so he could pound it the way he'd like.

While it should feel wonderful for Konro to be able to feel sexual desire again, he couldn't help the guilt eating away at his conscious while remembering the most important detail in all this fucking messed up predicament. He was indeed lusting again. Lusting after Waka's girl—someone who was his master's daughter and he'd sworn to protect her, even more so when Niobe and Beni became an item. Goddamn. Ain't that the worst fucking thing that could ever happen.

Groaning in exasperation, Konro stood up and steadily left the living-room with his head low and a hard, determined expression that most would see as somber (well, how would he blame his comrades for believing him to be in a foul mood?). Nonetheless, the slightly flushed cheeks and his silent huffs were an indication that he seriously needed to tend to his new problem. And he had the solution, although it might earn him Waka's wrath and utter disbelief—because really, what the fuck? He was lusting after his woman and Shinmon Benimaru was extremely possessive and protective of her, visibly showing jealousy despite the fact that Niobe would never do him dirty. He didn't share and made it clear. But what could Konro do? Ignore his desires and needs when he'd just found out weeks ago that he could still crave over a woman sexually and agonize about it? He didn't want Niobe romantically, he wanted her body and her body only. He desperately want to act on his sexual desire and fuck Benimaru's woman until he was sated. That was it.

I need Waka to listen and understand first, so I can defuse the bomb, Konro thought with an anguished expression, nearing Benimaru and Niobe's quarters. When he saw the familiar shōji that separated him from the sin he wanted to indulge in, he stopped in his tracks and strained his senses to listen around him once he managed to get a hold of himself—after a full minute or so. So far he hadn't encountered anyone to see him in such alarming and suspicious state, not even someone from the group of Hikeshi he'd shared lewd thoughts with about Waka's precious girlfriend, and this was a huge relief. Save for the twins who were napping peacefully in their room further down the hall, all the other Hikeshi weren't in range and were probably scattered all over Asakusa with their families. Spending the day off indoors to stay out of the rain, but with their loved ones and also to give the inhabitants of the guardhouse some privacy.

So they were alone. Completely alone. Konro was a few feet away from the lovers and his cock was aching as all hell in his fundoshi, demanding to be tended to. He leaned silently and carefully against the wall next to the shōji with a huff, his eyes staring down at the concealed tent he felt was down there. Fuck, was he glad his trousers were roomy and baggy, because it would have been very embarrassing to explain himself to anyone—especially Hina and Hika. The Hikeshi would have certainly understood and would have encouraged him to seek out the women at the brothels in Block Two, Benimaru would have... looked at him in bafflement. Probably in slight horror and anguish. Since the young man was aware of the deep inner struggle Konro was silently going through with his tephrosis, he may not actually have a full picture of the real core of the problem; being seen as weak was one thing, but having to give up on the simple needs people had in life because of a disability?

Konro sincerely wished for Benimaru to never experience this messed up situation. As long as he had Niobe, he'd be fine. But still, it did nothing to erase the painful fact that the older Hikeshi wanted to fuck her raw. A fantasy wouldn't help at all, jerking off at night or in the bathroom wasn't enough anymore—he needed her body. Soon. And he'd already formulated the suggestion he wanted to ask his captain in his mind, thought of every word carefully and was now ready to ask for permission.

Inhaling and exhaling silently, he stepped away from the wall to get closer to the shōji, opened his mouth—

And was promptly interrupted by a long, throaty moan that could only belong to a woman. A woman he'd been secretly jerking off to where no one could hear and see him. Konro fully froze, clamping his mouth shut with his eyes wide. The sound triggered violent shivers down his spine, heat washing over him like a scalding hot tidal wave until it went to his groin, and he had to grind his teeth to prevent the incoming groan from edging its way out of his throat as his body responded eagerly to the voice. His cock twitched once again, making him curl his hands into tight fists.

There was a dark, deep chuckle following that blissful sound of pleasure, lewd wet succion and skin-slapping noises as well. And her moans and mewls.

“Missed me that much, Kitten?” Benimaru grunted in a husky voice. “It's only been a few hours...”

Another whine. “F-Four hours, Tiger... mmmh...,” Niobe managed to stammer out between two moans.

“Fuck...”

Konro shivered and gritted his teeth to prevent another growl from ripping its way out while his cock twitched and protested again in his trousers. Although he may look like he was being tortured (which he was, mind you), he felt thrilled. He couldn't have come at a better time to be served with desserts; the sounds were unmistakable and he couldn't get them wrong—Benimaru and Niobe were in the middle of an intercourse right now and here he was, a mere few feet away, about to drink and bask in the glory of this filthy show he desired every part of. This was even better. Better than having to avoid the two of them. A quick scan of his surroundings assured him that no one was here and would catch him do the unthinkable in Waka and Niobe's bedroom. Their captain absolutely loathed to be interrupted during a nap or an intercourse with his girl, so going into their quarters uninvited while they were going at it? Suicide.

One of his hands hooked into the handle, then slid the screen door as slowly and as quietly as possible for him to angle his head and peek inside the bedroom with expectant eyes. Though the weather was cloudy, there was still enough sunlight to filter into the room and not have candles lit, so Konro could easily find the lovers on the ground. Oh, he could see them clearly. His eyes zeroed in on Benimaru and Niobe, who was comfortably lying on the fūton on her back while Waka was kneeling down between her thighs; he was holding her right leg hiked up on his left shoulder while her left leg was firmly secured around his hip, his other hand flat on the sheet on her left side to hold himself up as he was slightly hovering over her. Niobe herself had one arm wrapped around her toned stomach, just below her bouncing mounds the other hand grabbing Benimaru's forearm firmly for purchase while he was hammering into her. Since they were facing him, Konro could see everything—from Niobe's naked and curvaceous body, to Benimaru's cock pounding in and out of her dripping wet pussy down to their expressions. The motions of their bodies were steady, strong and hard.

Waka's hips were rocking back and forth against the sniper's ass, slamming mercilessly in an unforgiving and steady pace that produced a very pleasant wet sound that sounded so good in Konro's ears. It was relentless and rhythmic, fast and hard. Enough to make Niobe writhe and trash underneath Benimaru helplessly, moaning and mewling with her eyes closed and a blush on her cheeks. She was also smiling, just like he was giving her a feral grin and a hungry gaze. Konro almost purred in pleasure upon staring at her breasts, jiggling and bouncing at each unforgiving thrust from her wild lover. He could see the sweat glistening on these generous milkers (as big as the pink-haired woman in charge of the 5th, he admitted to himself), the teeth marks that adorned the flesh and around the nipples. Her whole body was bathing in sweat, just like Beni's; his muscled chest was also glistening from effort, but Konro knew he was far from done. They both had a lot more stamina than this. He knew they had to.

And he wanted to witness the whole thing. His cock wanted release, his fundoshi was getting so wet in his trousers and he wanted to fucking cum. Pushing the screen door a little bit wider, the older Hikeshi entered the bedroom stealthily like a cat, and slid it back shut just as silently as he'd opened it. It was incredible Benimaru and Niobe didn't hear him as he made his way towards the wall so he could lean against it, but he was utterly relieved they didn't. Their focus on each other was admirable—especially Waka's. The feral, animalistic look in his eyes made him resemble a beast lost in lust, in heat and entranced in its mating with its female. Something primal in him had taken over, allowing him to go all out with Niobe and put his boundless stamina to excellent use. He was being brutal, aggressive and passionate in his thrusts, giving the sniper exactly what they both wanted and needed. She was taking it so well, adjusting to his rough pace and meeting each violent thrust of his hips with wanton moans and her own encouraging movements.

Konro swallowed thickly, feeling feverish. This was exactly what he wished to watch. What he wished to feel with Benimaru's girl. Only her. His cock and desires were centered around Kirishima Niobe and he needed his captain's understanding and approval on this.

Finally, his hands moved to unbuckle the top of his trousers with slow gestures, as if not to make his presence known from his movements. He didn't want to hurry, but the strain in his fundoshi was starting to ache and the urge for a release had grown way too strong to ignore. He opened three buttons, necessary to uncover his cock, untied his happi for more freedom of movement, and grasped his sturdy and throbbing appendage to take it out in the open. He almost hissed at the sensation of no longer being restricted, his cheeks flushed and his half-lidded eyes burning with unrestrained lust and longing. His cock was engorged, almost bulbous and stood fully erect in his hand, thick and veiny. The tip was leaking with pre-cum, still leaking and his ball sack sat full and waiting to be emptied. He used his fluids to smear it all over his appendage, his veins on fire and his body shivering with excitement.

C'mon, you two, give me a fucking good show, Konro begged in his mind as his hand started rubbing up and down his shaft after collecting enough slick. As if he'd been heard, Benimaru let go of Niobe's leg so she could wrap it around his other hip, leaned down to cover her body with his own. His muscled chest flattened her breasts, his hips kissed hers and grinded down while rocking wildly. She cried out in pleasure and arched into him, her arms wrapping around him and hands clinging to his back so desperately, legs immediately snaking around his hips for purchase.

Benimaru's grin was positively wicked and feral. “Go on, Kitten,” he coaxed in a growl in her left ear. “Don't ya dare hold it in...”

Although Waka had been talking to Niobe, Konro felt the irresistible need to listen to him and follow suit. And follow suit he did; keeping his hungry eyes on the couple while remaining against the wall, the Hikeshi pumped his thick shaft between his hand with vigorous gestures. His free hand was balled into a fist for him to bite into in order to block and muffle the huffs and grunts of pleasure that rose from his throat, which would most certainly give him away and startle the lovers. Growling, Benimaru powered through Niobe like a beast with relentless thrusts of his hips, huffing and grunting with his face nestled in the crook of her neck. He'd caged her in his arms, as if protecting her from something, but that merely brought more intimacy to their fiery and passionate embrace. His motions made their bodies rock on the fūton, with the sniper moaning and crying out her bliss. A little more and she'd be screaming to the heavens, arching beautifully in Waka's strong arms while he was marking her again.

“B-Beni... f-fuck...!” she was stammering between two panting breaths.

Konro felt his cock twitch and pulse strongly in his hand at the sound of her voice, reacting once again to her, and he couldn't help the way he almost keened at his body's powerful heat surge. He nearly doubled over, his hand now smeared with his semen while it kept pumping his throbbing cock in tandem with Benimaru's movements. If I can make her scream like that, the Hikeshi wondered eagerly, breathing as silently as he could behind his fist. The sounds he was hearing in this bedroom would haunt him for a long while as much as this vision—wet skin slapping, feral grunts and erotic moans... this was the perfect recipe for wet dreams and naughty mornings with an aching cock demanding to be tended to.

After bottoming out missionary style for a while, Benimaru straightened back to sit up and pulled Niobe as well. She immediately got the hint despite her half-dazed and blissful state, shifting in his arms to accommodate his position and straddle him. She was panting and sweating so much that it highlighted the line of kanji tattooed from the nape of her neck down her spine—her back was toned and strong too. Konro's dark eyes shamelessly admired the gorgeous shape of her figure, sizing her up and down, noting all the details of that delicious body he and other Hikeshi had been secretly fantasizing about. The swell of her hips was enough to entice him and feed his dark desires, already longing to grab these hips so he could pound into her and urge his body to remember the breeding kink he'd grown to adore.

Humming in pleasure, Niobe wrapped her arms around Benimaru's neck while his were secured around her waist possessively and protectively to pull her flush to his chest. Then, she moved first: she raised her hips, then sank back down in a wet, obscene sound that echoed like music in Konro's ears.

“Mmmh!” she squealed against Waka's lips, arching into his embrace.

He growled again, his fingers digging into her sides and his arms tightening around her. “Goddamn it, Niobe!” he cursed loudly.

When both moved, it was in such perfect symbiosis that Konro tightened his own hand around his cock as he watched raptly. When Niobe raised and rolled her hips, Benimaru was rocking back, and they'd join together brutally. The collision between their bodies was powerful and violent, drawing earnest screams and loud grunts from both lovers. Their movements had somehow become more erratic, almost desperate to get them to the glorious end. Even their kisses had turned to heated bites, to which the sniper and Waka groaned and mewled helplessly. Konro couldn't see his captain's face because of Niobe's lovely curls, but judging from the way he was grabbing her ass to help her with her rough motions, he was looking absolutely lustful and was enjoying himself immensely. No poker face at all. It was... it was...

Gorgeous. Magnificent. Envious. Konro desired all that. In response, his cock twitched and pulsed once again in his hand. A lot of pre-cum stained his palm, but he didn't care at all. He had absolutely nothing to hide. And he certainly couldn't conceal his dark needs from Waka and the sniper anymore, whom both had to hear him out once this tryst was over and they'd gotten their bearings straight. Slowly, Konro trailed his eyes from the strong hands kneading and cupping that firm ass up Niobe's back... and met Benimaru's wide-eyed lustful and feral gaze.

For five seconds that felt like a small eternity, the Hikeshi found himself breathless and stunned by the fact he'd just been caught red-handed with his pants half-way down, his cock erect and about to burst. Even if he told himself to look away and leave because it was disrespectful, Konro just couldn't. His stubborn willpower and pride wouldn't allow him to, as he'd come too far to acknowledge his sexual attraction and appetite for Niobe. So he stared back stubbornly, the hand wrapped around his cock still pumping with vigorous and long strokes. Although Benimaru looked positively stunned, baffled and completely flabbergasted at seeing his lieutenant inside his quarters, watching him having sex with his girlfriend and ogling them while getting himself off, his thrusts never wavered one bit. On the contrary, he didn't shout in utter outrage, didn't growl at him for looking at Niobe like a man in heat, didn't curse him out angrily.

He stared back as well while grunting in pleasure and thrusting brutally into her, maybe to not rouse her suspicions and keep her in her blissful daze. His glowing mismatched eyes switched between Konro's cock, which was leaking so much that it had already left some cum stains on the tatami, him, Niobe and back at him. The realization in those orbs was positively striking. Between the feral hunger and lust, Konro perceived the dreaded question that was being directed at him.

'Are you lusting after Niobe?'

No anger. Maybe not yet. But Waka's gaze was so intense and demanding that the lieutenant just couldn't lie to him at all. Not when he was a mere feet away from the woman he was unabashedly jerking off to. Inhaling and exhaling softly, Konro answered.

'Yes,' he nodded with a firm jerk of his head and a determined, shameless and lustful stare at both of them. This was it. Finally, he was admitting that he missed sex. Finally, he was being honest with himself and one of his closest friends. And he was hoping he could understand his plight, as he couldn't take it anymore.

Benimaru's brows furrowed as he glided one hand up Niobe's back to cup the back of her head and coax her face into his neck, which she did with a long hum that rattled Konro's bones. He threaded his fingers through her curls, massaging her scalp tenderly. Without breaking eye contact, he sped up his thrusts once again into the sniper, causing her to jerk wildly in his embrace with erotic squeals of pleasure she tried her best to muffle in his neck. The lieutenant watched readily, unconsciously giving his captain a feral grin of his own—one he hadn't felt curling his lips in so long and that he actually missed. He matched the wild thrusts with quick, vigorous strokes on his shaft, huffing and grunting without bothering to muffle his sounds of pleasure anymore (Niobe was doing an excellent job at being loud enough to cover his racket, so he was perfectly fine jerking off freely). Benimaru slammed, hammered and pounded into Niobe hard, deliberately and with abandon, all the while glaring at his shameless, bold lieutenant for watching them so greedily. The snarl on his lips was unmistakable.

He wants answers, Konro guessed, breathing harshly and sweating through his bandages from such effort he hadn't put in ever since his tephrosis. And Benimaru shall have them, as he'll provide them without putting up a fight. After all, he wanted to show Waka just how much he'd been suffering these past few weeks after realizing that he could still shamelessly act on his own desires and needs like everyone else.

A familiar, pleasant and hot coil was building up in the pit of his loins and he gritted his teeth to growl under his panting breath. He was close, so fucking close. And it was making him feel very light-headed and immensely euphoric, since it would make the fourth orgasm through jerking off to Kirishima Niobe. No, not light-headed and euphoric, these adjectives seemed so weak compared to the heavenly and powerful emotion burning inside him like an inferno.

When the glorious end finally hit them all, it was Niobe who triggered them all: she arched beautifully in Waka's embrace, screaming loud with her head thrown back. Her scream sounded so fucking erotic that both Benimaru and Konro followed suit. The captain growled like a feral beast, his features scrunched up and his eyes glowing bright, his arms tight and crushing her against his chest in a hug while burying himself balls deep into her. Konro grunted as well as his own climax washed over him like a scalding hot tidal wave, his palm covering the tip of his cock while it shot loads of hot cum. It trickled down his fingers, hot and slippery, but he absolutely didn't care as he rode his powerful orgasm. His hips stuttered, his whole body shivered and twitched, his sight went white and his eyes closed in order for him to better enjoy this treat.

Konro leaned comfortably against the wall, spent and utterly satisfied. His grin had softened a little, turning lazy and dopey, but what the hell. That was the best orgasm he'd had in a while, as all it needed was watching  Beni and Niobe having angry sex to get himself off in the best way possible. It took him a while, breathing harshly and trying to regain his bearings, but he finally found the adequate word to describe this feeling. And it fit so well that he'll use it in his arguments.

Alive. Sagamiya Konro felt alive.

In the background, he thought he heard Niobe's voice. “You good, Beni...?”

~

On his way to clean himself up in the bathroom adjoined to his quarters, he encountered another problem—Niobe's teddy bear robot, Atlas. He was holding a top hat that the sniper had made for him three weeks ago, cradling it against his chest. The bright purple and dark blue bear cub looked up at him with his black eyes, silent.

Konro stared back just as silently, his face blank.

Atlas stared.

So did Konro.

This went on for two minutes, until the bear cub walked past him.

“Master Ashura doesn't have to know about this,” Atlas decided.

No, he doesn't, Konro agreed as he entered his bedroom. Doesn't have to, doesn't need to. The bear cub may be loyal to Ashura as Niobe's father, but she was his creator and since she hasn't been in any alarming emotional state lately, he wouldn't report the Hikeshi's... new interest in his daughter. He thanked the little robot for his discretion and shuffled inside his bathroom.

~

Dinner was a rather interesting affair tonight—it was always lively because of Hika and Hina's antics and incessant laughter and chattering, and Niobe having to taste whatever they wanted her to eat. But tonight was more than special; following the special 'treat' had offered himself from watching Benimaru taking and claiming his woman right in front of him, Konro had the exclusivity of being the subject of Waka's wondering gaze as they ate. Though he was somewhat attentive to whatever the twins were babbling about and his girlfriend's soft chastising, his eyes were intense and stubbornly trailed on his lieutenant as he munched on his onigiri.

The heavy frown on his face and his lips indicated his brewing frustration, which Konro could clearly feel.  So could Niobe, as he noticed her glancing at him through snow white curls (that have been washed and moisturized not too long ago, as the sweet scent was noticeable in the air) and blinking in complete confusion while she ate her meat. He was burning for answers and wanted them immediately, just so he could fully understand the situation and read the room before he cursed out. He'd probably go ask alone and without Niobe, probably to not arouse her suspicions. Since they were having dinner, Benimaru couldn't bring this topic up in front of the brats and had to reign in his impatience.

This was... amusing? No, probably not for Waka. Ever since he and Niobe became an item, he'd always mark his territory for others to remember she was off the market and completely his. Mind, heart and body. Just as much as he belonged to her. He was extremely possessive with her, to the point he hated having other Hikeshi he knew and trusted around her. No asexual man in Company 7 was blind—Kirishima Niobe was one hell of a fine woman they'd love to have, even for one night. Benimaru had his own fangirls around town and they may have gotten the point that he was now unavailable, they still didn't shy away from making it known he was a handsome man. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't the only one to draw gazes to him. Now that he was aware his closest friend was lusting after his girl, he had questions. He wouldn't budge or let it go until he had satisfactory answers.

I'll explain myself to you, Beni, Konro thought as he drank his tea, his expression solemn and not betraying his inner thoughts. You will know everything. How it started, when it started... all I need is your understanding. And your approval for touching Niobe, getting to fuck her and remember what it feels like to be alive.

When dinner was over, he had a hard time attempting to not follow Niobe's figure as she sauntered away, Hina and Hika hanging off her shoulders and the three of them laughing their asses off. Those tantalizing legs would feel amazing wrapped around his hips...

~

“Spill it.”

Benimaru's voice had a dangerous edge to it and the tone would have made any other man run away, his tail between his legs. But not Konro. No, not him. He lounged comfortably on the engawa, enjoying the warm air of the evening, and watched calmly as his captain sat down next to him, his eyes searching his with an intense gaze that would melt metal. There was a bit of tension rolling off in waves surrounding his body, which he wasn't even bothering to conceal—he must still be reeling from the shock of having caught him with his pants half-way down and jerking off to him and Niobe. Understandable.

With a resigned sigh, Konro shifted for a more accommodating position to have this discussion. “First of all, Beni, I didn't mean to startle you during such intimate and private act,” he started calmly, staring into these mismatched eyes. “Honestly. But there was something that has been bothering me lately.”

“Other than the surprising shock that you sneaked into our room, without our notice, and openly jacked off in front of me while I was having sex with Niobe?” Benimaru remarked sarcastically. “Now I'm aware. So shoot. I need to understand why my best friend suddenly has the hots for my girl.”

The possessiveness Konro could hear in his captain's voice was very strong, unmistakable. Everything about Shinmon Benimaru screamed 'Mine!' whenever Kirishima Niobe was either mentioned or seen alongside him, and the lieutenant deeply respected their relationship and their love. He cleared his throat, leaning back against the wall with a slight frown on his face.

“I may be alive, but the tephrosis has not just changed a lot of things for me. It changed everything. This condition has weakened me to the point I realized I can no longer do all the things I used to back when that goddamn Demon Infernal hadn't showed up; it's not just the fact I can't fight anymore, but more about the other facts. The simple, little facts Sagamiya Konro used to do and was known for. As a man,” he emphasized with slightly clenched fists. “For these past two years, I seriously believed I could just accept this reality to not spit on my sacrifice because it was well damn worth it. It truly was, as we couldn't afford to lose you, Beni. However, the discussion I had with the guys after Shinji's induction into our ranks... struck a nerve in me.”

Benimaru was silent, patiently waiting.

“Just so you know, it was the usual: drinking, trading jokes...until Niobe's name came up.”

“Who was it?” Benimaru immediately asked—or demanded, though the heat in his voice was slowly receding.

Konro gave him a look. If he told him the name of the Hikeshi who'd triggered this, there was a high chance Benimaru would go and give Tomohiro a piece of his mind. Even a good threat (with a little beating during training). Tomohiro may have been out of line for speaking about Waka's girl in such lecherous terms, but he was still a good Hikeshi and a member of Company 7. They stared at each other for a little while, until Benimaru threw him a look of complete displeasure and a snarl.

“I won't kill him, Konro,” he groaned, annoyed.

“Like hell I believe this,” Konro countered. “I know you, Beni. We all do. And we all know just how possessive, protective and jealous you are concernin' Niobe. You'd maul whoever spoke crudely about her. Remember your reaction when that Hoshimiya bastard boasted about wantin' to fuck her? You were absolutely livid, ready to tear him apart.”

“But he deserved it. He was on a goddamn killin' spree and was off the fuckin' chart!” Beni retorted hotly. “And he tried to kill Niobe too!”

Konro nodded, agreeing. “Yeah. He must have wanted to have her for himself while she'd chosen his best friend over him. But I don't wish to hurt her, Beni. Never. Master Ashura would impale me before I even could. All I've come to realize after the discussion with the guys was that I found myself attracted to Niobe when we've... talked about her body. We shared thoughts. I... got aroused and had to jerk off in the bathroom right after that.” He interrupted himself with a sheepish expression upon hearing a growl from Beni, waited until his friend cooled his jets and resumed talking. “Does that warrant me a beating for developing a sexual appetite for her?”

It took Beni three seconds to answer. “No,” he admitted with a sigh.

He dropped his head with a long and tired sigh while Konro looked away, his eyes drawn to the stars in the sky. Finally speaking what he had been mulling over in his mind and heart was relieving him of a great weight, because Benimaru was taking this even better than he actually expected; he'd been expecting an outrageous and angry shouting match on the same level as that goddamn, fucking stupid Nude Calendar the Special Fire Force had each year—the one they had last year had earned Beni a brand new load of enamoured fangirls who'd fought over the papers the second they'd arrived. Although Konro could have taken the picture himself at the bath house, he'd actually tasked Niobe with the pics. And they'd been impressed by Beni's picture of him sitting on the edge of the bath, naked and wet, his back to her as she'd taken the picture. It made the 7th almost as popular as the 1st, whose priests had somehow stolen all the glory and thunder.

The punishment Niobe received at Beni's hands must have been... something. If anything, the multiple teeth marks, love bites all over her body and the awkward and clumsy way she'd walk four days after the event had confirmed he'd nearly gone all out. Even sitting down had been painful for her. That explained the smug and satisfactory expression he'd worn on his face for about two weeks.

Konro was really surprised—and pleasantly so—at Benimaru's behavior at the moment. He was calmer, most certainly trying to understand his predicament without flipping out on him, and that was a big step. Usually, he wouldn't even want to hear about troublesome matters and would shrug them off, but he always listened to him without taking any complaints. A huge step indeed. If this conversation led to an approval, he'd thank Waka the best way he could. It would mean the world to him.

When Benimaru looked back up at him, he had the most horrified and heartbroken expression on his face.

“Why didn't you fucking say somethin', Konro?” he asked in a hiss. “Why the hell did you keep quiet about this? You could have talked to me sooner, I could have—”

“Because I was too goddamn stupid and too much of a goddamn idiot to realize it myself, that's why,” Konro groaned guiltily, his expression falling. “My sexual infatuation with Niobe only started a few weeks ago. The more I kept dwellin' about it, the more frequently I'd secretly jerk off to her without your knowledge. I can't help it, Beni. I'm sorry it had to be her, but I don't think I'd be content with another woman's body—it just has to be her. No one else. My body and my cock desire her.”

His expression was that of a determined, yet tired man who was sick of denying himself the needs and desires he used to satisfy just because of a fucking condition who'd limited him. He wanted to feel whole again. Those dark blue eyes of his were burning with such determination and intensity that he was certain Waka couldn't refuse him that favor. If he wanted him to be well and love this life once again, all Konro could hope was that he understood and would give him his approval.

“I need and want to feel alive,” he growled, now glaring at Beni.

The silence that stretched between them was almost unnerving, with both Hikeshi glaring at each other. The atmosphere was tense and heavy, so much that Hika and Hina would immediately take refuge in Niobe's arms or right behind her, their adorable faces scrunched up in fear, sadness and concern. There would probably be tears in their huge golden eyes as well, and the sniper would look so pissed at them for making the girls cry. Konro was grateful Hina and Hika had gone with her to play a little before bed, because this wasn't a matter for their ears. He and Benimaru weren't even angry at each other in the first place, but explaining this to them would have been such a fucking pain in the ass he wouldn't know where to start.

Nonetheless, Konro won't back down. He'd made his decision and would stand by it. Beni had his pride, so did he and he'd already showed his hand, revealing his weakness and wounds. It was now all up to Waka to have a say and hand over his judgement. If he said no to sharing Niobe with him, Konro wouldn't beg. Wouldn't even get angry. He'd find another way, would get over his—

“Lemme talk to Niobe,” Benimaru declared calmly.

The words were so sudden that Konro swore he heard that wrong. Blinking twice, he stared dumbly at his captain with wide eyes.

“What...?” he murmured.

No, this can't be, he thought in utter disbelief, carefully staring at Waka. The heat in those mismatched eyes had definitely cooled down and the glower had completely faded as well. His expression was placid and calmer, more peaceful.

“Lemme talk to Niobe,” Benimaru repeated firmly, leaning back. “Now that I understand how much you've been suffering in silence and you can't take it anymore, I'm sure I can get her to... come around and talk this out with you.”

“W-Waka, are you saying...?” Konro started with a disbelieving expression and wide eyes.

The soft smile Benimaru gave him was beautiful. “You have my approval, Konro,” he confirmed, nodding. “Although I don't like sharing and the idea of imagining Niobe with another man would drive me crazy with jealousy, I won't tolerate anyone else than you. After all, I trust you with my life.”

He understands, the older Hikeshi thought happily as his body completely relaxed, his breathing slowed down and a broad smile curled up his lips. Elation and joy washed over his body, coupled with burning anticipation and scalding hot excitement at the promise of being alone with Niobe and finally being able to do all the dirty and naughty things he'd started to write down on a piece of paper—that he'd hidden somewhere safe, so that neither Benimaru or the girls (or even Niobe herself) would find it whenever they'd come into his quarters.

Konro was so happy he couldn't help the way he grabbed Waka's collar and pulled him into a tight hug. “Thank you, Beni,” he murmured gratefully in his ear.

“She hasn't agreed yet, ya know?” Benimaru replied sarcastically, though there was no bite. And he returned the hug as well. “The choice is hers to make and it's completely up to her if she wants to let you fuck her. So don't bring it up until the coast is clear.”

“Of course. Anything you want.”

~

“By the way, she loves the “Cowgirl” position,” Benimaru revealed with a wolfish smirk. “And she looks fucking erotic whenever she rides me raw.”

Konro had to snarl. “Shut the hell up, Waka,” he growled, frustrated.

“Don't hesitate to ask her to ride ya.

“Shut up!”

~

One thing about Sagamiya Konro was that he was immensely patient. Sometimes. But ever since Benimaru gave him his approval to have a sexual relationship with Niobe, he'd been on edge. Brimming with excitement and anticipation to talk to her earnestly so he could show her how much he wanted to fuck her. So Konro waited, going on about his duties and jerking off here and there at night.

Three nights later, as he was about to slide into his covers for a long, long night, the Hikeshi was interrupted by a knock on his screen door. A timid knock that immediately had his attention, and he made a beeline for the door, opening it. There stood Niobe, her hands behind her back and her eyes drawn to the floor. Inhaling sharply, Konro had to force his body from reacting too positively at her appearance—while seeing her naked and feeling her curvaceous figure grinding against him was all he wanted, he couldn't help the pleasant shivers and surges of heat upon seeing her shorts and tank top. All clinging to her curves. Those tantalizing breasts snuggled in this shirt would feel so good and heavy in his hands once he got to cup them.

Judging from her damp curls, the sweet smell of her conditioner and moisturizer, and her body wash, she'd just showered, had put her pajamas on and had directly come to his room. Already making this even more tempting, Konro thought as he suppressed a growl of pleasure, his eyes burning. She slowly looked up at him, her mismatched eyes round and big with wonder as she gazed at him in silence. A blush heated her cheeks while she nibbled on her lower lip.

“May I come in, Konro?” she asked politely.

Never breaking eye contact, he side-stepped to let her in. Sending him a small smile, she brushed past him—really brushed past him, so that her shoulder grazed his muscled stomach. Once she was inside, Konro poked his head out to check if anyone had seen this and met Benimaru's gaze, who stood at the corner of the hallway. The encouraging look, smile and nod he received from him was more than enough to steel his resolve and nerves even more, which made the older Hikeshi smile as well. He nodded back, then slid the shōji screen door shut.

Now, it was only him and the girl he desired to fuck. He wasn't even sure she'd walk out of this bedroom in good condition—meaning, as fresh as she looked right now. That was a dark promise.

Chapter Four: Reality

Author's Note: Hello there and welcome to this fourth chapter, where Niobe will finally get to have a much awaited sit-down to let all this... sink in. Yep.

Please share your thoughts with me, that would be uplifting through these rough times we're living in.

[...]

Tokyo, Shinjuku

Niobe woke up at three in the morning. Too soon for a full night's sleep, too late to even try to fall back asleep. The nightmares were too vivid and, though her ex-boyfriend was sleeping by her side, there was only so much Karim could do at this moment. Still, the student was grateful for his presence and checking up on her. She couldn't love him more. But even he couldn't chase away the awful memories of Asakusa going up in flames forever, no matter how much he tried.

When she opened her eyes, Niobe noticed two things that made her blink in slight surprise. One, she was being spooned by Karim from behind, his face buried in her neck and his hand having found its way beneath her oversized shirt to rest against her stomach. Due to his Ignition Ability, his skin felt pleasurably cool on hers and Niobe loved that side of his powers. It was nice during summer, as she'd suffer literal hell whenever the temperatures were too high. Him tangling himself in bed with her was normal.

Two, Vulcan was staring right back at her from his position on the floor. That wasn't normal. The last time he'd done that was years ago, when he'd begged her to sleep in his bed days after his father and grandfather infernalized. He'd been inconsolable, enraged and so lost that Niobe hadn't refused him. But this time was different, as his gaze told her so. It could also mean many things at the same time.

Though it was dark in her room, she could see him as clear as day with her sight. His bright green eyes were dull and his expression was a mix of hesitation and brooding—which was a stark contrast with his usual character. As he was crouched at the edge of her bed, she could see that he was frowning a lot more than last night. How long had he been crouching there? Was he unable to sleep because he had too much on his mind? Considering that she'd revealed her recruitment in the Special Fire Force, Niobe had figured he'd be furiously against it and that they'd need to talk about it together to hash it out. She owed him that.

Vulcan jerked his head at her, motioning towards the balcony in the living-room. So he did want to talk. But was now a good time, when everyone was still recovering from the disaster? It had to be important, since he actually waited until she woke up from her nightmare.

“Now?” she mouthed, pleading.

“Now,” he mouthed back, rising to his feet and tiptoeing out of her bedroom.

Niobe watched her little brother go with a light scowl and gritted teeth, as she knew he wouldn't help her with Karim—he wasn't the one intimately tangled up with the Fire Soldier and he absolutely didn't care at all, because he was aware she'd just contort her way out of his grasp. As much as she desired to stay in bed with her handsome man, Niobe couldn't even find a way to go back to sleep. The nightmares were certainly waiting for her to give in and would creep back, whispering about her recent failure.

The guilt I'll forever share with Shinmon Benimaru.

A sharp pang of pain seized her, making her feel like she'd just been punched hard in the gut. It still hurt. It still pained her, even after Karim gave her a much needed pep talk. Niobe inhaled as silently as she could and closed her eyes for five long seconds, willing herself to accept that there wasn't and hadn't been anything she could do and could have done. Accept it, she scolded herself, rubbing at her eyes. No one ever said that acceptance was easily admitted, that it was a colossal bitch to get over. How the hell was Shinmon Benimaru—her new captain—holding up on his end? Was he having nightmares too? Was he screaming in his bed?

So many questions. So few answers because she didn't have him next to her.

Slowly, Niobe began the difficult task of escaping Karim's arms. She took his hand off her stomach with great care, lifted it to her lips to drop a tender kiss to his palm, then maneuvered herself out of his arm's grasp. His head fell into the pillow, the fabric cushioning its landing, and she smiled in relief when he didn't wake up and his breathing pattern remained unchanged. Before getting out of bed, Niobe took a few seconds to admire his sleeping face.

Karim looked so... young. And almost innocent. That tousled bed hair just made him look like the handsome young man he truly was under his scowls, bad temper and rude attitude as a Fire Soldier. When he was with her, it was as if all the troubles of tragedy and death brought by Spontaneous Human Combustion left him to become the redundant rebel she'd loved and adored once again. He'd smirk, grin and joke, which would brighten her day. Niobe would always feel loved around him and she'd return his feelings with as much ardor, always remembering that she was his harbor.

It will be hard and heartbreaking to let him go. Once he was promoted Lieutenant Priest, she and Karim would have to learn how to finally move on with their lives.

“Niobe, you still coming or what?” Vulcan's slightly impatient voice whispered at the door.

Caressing her man's cool fingers one last time, she moved the sheets and gracelessly stood up from the bed to tiptoe out of her bedroom. Vulcan had been waiting for her before the door, leaning against the couch where Bo was blissfully snoring softly. He lifted a brow at her, as if saying 'About damn time!', then silently walked towards the balcony. He avoided stepping on Ren and Nyx, both sound asleep in their fūtons, and pulled open the door with a silent hiss. A little bit more awake now, Niobe moved towards the engineer and joined him on the balcony with a quiet sigh. Once Vulcan carefully closed the door behind them, he leaned on the railing and hung his head low with a groan, hiding his eyes from her hawk-like gaze.

The warm air of June hit her rather hard, bringing not only wind but also the remnants of the recent past disaster that hit them like a devastating train wreck. The air smelled of ash and death, attacking Niobe's senses like an infection, and she fought hard not to gag. Unsettled, she pulled her eyes off Vulcan to gaze down at the ruined and burnt down city. If she'd always been proud of her extraordinary and superior sight, it now felt like a real curse to see all the damage that has been done in great detail; the destroyed businesses, the rubble and structures burnt down until they were nothing but blackened ruins. With a wince and dull eyes, Niobe recognized the café she used to work at—all reduced to naught. And beyond these buildings, she knew the devastation was just the same and mind-blowing.

That was exactly the scenery the student had kept seeing when driving back from Asakusa to home, and seeing it in the dark made it appear more... eerie. If she thought that the proto-nationalist town was a gruesome sight when the fire had finally died out, it was only a small percentage of the serious damage all the other areas of Tokyo had sustained. The Empire had nearly died that night and it really was a fucking miracle that the Special Fire Force managed to stop the inferno and put an end to it, at the cost of so much.

“It's a dreadful sight, isn't it?” Vulcan asked drolly. “I may not be gifted with such incredible eyesight like you, but what I've seen when coming to your place was enough for me to be thankful to actually have survived this shit with Yū.”

Niobe could only gulp loudly, her hands holding onto the railing. It was that or trying to rub at her arms as if she was cold—which was ironic, considering how hot it was outside at the moment. She exhaled softly, her lids lowering just a little as she turned to gaze at the young teenager.

“What's going on, Vul?” the pyrokinetic probed gently. “Are you alright?”

He lifted his head to look up at her, intense green eyes staring hard at her. “I should be the one asking you this, you know,” he said, still drolly. “Because you're the one with Third Generation powers who had to use them to put countless Infernals to rest in your father's hometown and this is the second time you had to act, as the Special Fire Force failed to arrive in time. Again. So I'm asking you right now: are you alright, Niobe?”

Niobe faltered under his stare. “I... I don't know how to answer that, Vul,” she admitted truthfully, tracing the lone two-colored curl that hung on her right temple. “There's so much on my mind that I actually have no idea what to latch on and where to start. It's a mess in there, cha-ma-llow.”

“See? That's exactly what I'm feeling at the moment: a gigantic mess I can't even organize for the life of me and the most shocking information I've yet to understand and accept is your recruitment in the Special Fire Force.” Vulcan practically spat the words, disdain contorting his features momentarily as he stood straight. Then utter confusion replaced the disdain. “I don't get it. Why would you... just tell me, Niobe, so I can better understand your reasons to join them. You know they have dealings with Haijima, don't you?”

Through her half-dazed state, Niobe could pick up the genuine concern her childhood friend was feeling, but also the concealed anger beneath the surface. She was no fool, as Vulcan's family had their reasons not to ever get involved with the likes of Haijima Industries and they had everything to do with the shady and distrustful side of this enterprise. By extension, the Joseph family's hatred didn't spare the Special Fire Force and they stood firm with their convictions. Even after Vulcan lost everyone to the flames, he kept standing firm. He does deserve a genuine answer, she thought with a nod as she hopped nimbly on the sturdy railing, her long and toned legs crossed at the ankles.

“It almost seems like I'm betraying the Joseph family's rules, am I not? If you think I really am, allow me to apologize to you, your father and grandfather, Vul,” Niobe said sadly with a slight bow of her head. Then she lifted it back to gaze at those uncertain green eyes. “But let's talk about it together for a moment—no insults, no snarky remarks and screaming, just rational thinking and attempts at understanding. Deal?”

Vulcan mulled it over for a few seconds before nodding, motioning for her to start.

“When I accepted Shinmon Benimaru's proposal to join him, it... didn't feel like actually joining the Special Fire Force. Not at all. Even after the captain of Company 4 came to make that insulting announcement, I could feel his burning rage and hatred directed towards the organization. It was so raw that it was practically rolling off him in waves and trust me, Vul, this isn't something you can overlook. Though he's trying to accept the fact that his Hikeshi Fire Brigade has been inducted, Shinmon Benimaru made it very clear that he'll never allow his new Company to be involved with whatever dealing the other Imperial Forces will be pulled in by the Emperor. Proto-nationalist to the core ever since he was born, so I'm convinced that he'll spit at the old man's face at the first opportunity and refuse to comply with everything. I'm not kidding,” she assured, as Vulcan raised a suspicious brow at her explanation.

“I've heard about the proto-nationalists and their hatred towards the Empire and the Holy Sol religion, they're fiercely protective of their old Japanese values they don't want to reject,” Vulcan mused, leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed. “I guess they're rejecting the Empire and the Sun God because they must be thinking everything they say is nothing but a load of bullcrap, huh?”

“They do remind me of you, your grandfather and father,” Niobe said with a small and sad smile, flicking the two-colored curl on her temple with her index. “You'd get along with them, Vulcan. But back to the real subject at hand: when I said that I didn't feel like I was joining the Special Fire Force, I meant it. It felt like I joined the District of Asakusa instead, not the Force—Shinmon Benimaru's Hikeshi Fire brigade. I joined Company 7, most certainly the only one that will never bow to the Empire and embrace the Holy Sol.”

Uncrossing her ankles, she made sure to wrap her feet around the bars before bending the upper front of her body backwards until she was seeing the town upside down. This action made Vulcan gasp in surprise and lurch forward to grab onto her legs to steady her, his fingers digging into the soft flesh.

“Damn it, Niobe!” Vulcan growled, breathing in hard. “I know you're a circus freak with crazy acrobatic skills but a warning would have been nice! Don't do that shit again, you scared me half to death!”

“Mmmmmh...,” Niobe hummed as she stretched her arms and spine. She did this for a few seconds before relaxing with a sigh, her arms limp on each side of her head. “That feels better...”

“And don't ignore me!”

“I believe that being a Fire Soldier in Company 7 will be different under Captain Shinmon's rules and views, cha-ma-llow,” she said, her tone airy. “From what I could tell, his opinion about the Special Fire Force, the Empire and the religion won't change the proto-nationalists; they won't abandon their identity just because the Emperor truly thinks he'd done them a huge favor by giving his support. The rest of the Fire Force Companies will remain what they are to my new captain—trash. Trash is trash, but I've yet to see what Company 7 will be like once Asakusa has been rebuilt and their pride restored. This will also be my only opportunity to explore the proto-nationalist origins in me my father is always so proud about, despite us living in the Empire.” She gazed down at the burnt down environment, her expression sullen. “If they ever become anything like the other Companies, I'll leave.”

Vulcan was silent as he stood back, keeping a firm hand on one thigh. Niobe let him muse in peace, lost into the maze that were her own thoughts. She had to nurse them all, organize them so she could finally get to the point of all this, because this was another turning-point in her life that she'd never expected. Her as a Fire Soldier? After all the trouble she'd gone through and the stubborness she'd had to show to avoid being enrolled. It was so surreal that Niobe still couldn't believe it. Yet here she was now, about to enter a new world. Niobe will be moving to Asakusa once she was ready to say goodbye to Shinjuku, her apartment and all the good memories she'd forged there with Karim, her friends from TEIT and Hajiki, and will start over.

This was reality. Her new reality.

It had to sink in, as times were changing for Niobe. She was going through a transition she had no fucking idea as to how to handle it once Company 7 was officially established in the district of Asakusa. There were already many questions with no answer—was she going to fit in? Were they going to accept her just like that? Asakusa would be absolutely nothing like Shinjuku, where the police would take care of street violence and arrest criminals, and the gangs in the proto-nationalist town certainly were no joke. Niobe may have received an insane training from the Raijin of Asakusa, who was also her father, but they'd consider as the newbie who was just innocently strolling by (that was exactly what she'd been doing just two days ago). She still had no idea if they'll actually welcome her and trust her right off the bat, just because she'd helped them out when the Great Fire nearly swallowed their precious town.

I'll have to earn their trust, Niobe accepted as she sighed softly, closing her eyes. She had to try on her own and become a part of both Company 7 and Asakusa.

“Even though I might have more in common with the proto-nationalists, I don't know and don't trust them, so I can't exactly tell you to be careful with these guys,” Vulcan finally sighed. Grasping her oversized T-Shirt, he forcibly pulled Niobe up to have her a little bit more safely seated and didn't let go of said pajamas, even when she was glaring daggers at him for disturbing her. “After Giovanni's betrayal and the Infernalization of Pops and Grandpa, there's no way for me to actually tell if they'll be genuine or bastards towards you. You're the one joining this new Fire Force Company, not me. They'll be a stark contrast from the thugs in Shinjuku.”

“From what Dad told me, thugs practically rule Asakusa and only the strongest that can fight and protect the people could stand up, so yeah,” Niobe chuckled uneasily, darting her mismatched arrowed-eyes to the side. “Their street life must be seriously rough, they're no joke. I have yet to get a taste of it.”

Vulcan snorted, his expression half-mocking, half-serious. “Right, I forgot that your dad was a thug too before he miraculously bought some common sense, earned himself a degree in medicine and became a doctor and a father to the best sister ever. So there's hope for the idiots of Asakusa.”

Niobe had to disguise her laughter into a cough, as Vulcan was beginning to chuckle in silence. The rascal, he did it on purpose! Her shoulders shook with silent mirth and laughter and she almost fell from the railing, her stomach starting to hurt as she kept laughing in silence. Had the genius engineer not casually grabbed her back to pull her up again, she'd certainly have fallen to her death.

“Perhaps, perhaps,” she wheezed, shaking her head. “He was probably an exception and... evolved. It was a tough childhood with a proto-nationalist father, but I believe I turned out alright.”

“Yeah, he raised you good and did his best. He's also done good by taking me in after Pops and Grandpa's death.” He smiled wistfully, his gaze now holding a faraway look. “Can't believe he was so patient towards me after all the tantrums and my attempts at trying to run away...”

The atmosphere suddenly shifted the second Vulcan pronounced these words, jolting Niobe out of her mirth, because they pricked her heart and brought back painful, yet worthwhile memories. Her expression softened considerably, her smile dropped and she didn't hesitate to coax the teenager closer to encase him in her arms. Vulcan practically melt against her with a forlorn sigh, buried his face into her shoulder with his eyes closed and wrapped his own arms around her body. Niobe threaded her long fingers into his short, red hair in a tender stroke and nuzzled his head with her right cheek.

If she could count all the times she'd hugged Vulcan, from childhood to now. It never got old, as Niobe loved him as the brother she'd wished she had; ever since they met years ago when they were children, the two of them had seemed attached to the hip after it was revealed they were both gifted in building things. Their friendship had started there, despite the small age gap between them. He was just so sweet, so alive and bright for his age—as precocious as he was, Niobe had known he'd become someone sought after for his talent and skills. When she'd revealed her Ignition Ability to him, she just loved the way his big, green eyes lit up in excitement and elation. Her own smile had never been this big.

But the horrible day during which Vulcan's father and grandfather both lost their lives to the flames of Infernalization, the young boy became a wreck. It had been so sudden and unexpected that even Kirishima Ashura had looked stunned to hell when he heard about the engineers of the Joseph family he'd known for some time. And Vulcan, poor young and bright Vulcan, tasted the painful realization of this world far too early in his life. He'd shut down, had become withdrawn and wouldn't talk. Niobe remembered the burning rage, the screams and the feral behavior of her friend after her father took him in, as they were imprinted in her mind forever. His harsh words thrown at her had stung, but she'd tried her best not to give in and straight up beat his ass for rejecting her. It had hurt. A lot.

“Let him come to you,” her father had reminded her, wiping her tears after an umptieth argument with an enraged, grieving Vulcan. “You can't force someone who is grieving their loved ones to just talk about their feelings and open their hearts again. They have to come on their own. Let him come to you, daughter.”

Though Niobe had wanted to just hug the young Joseph, she'd headed her father's warning and advice. So she'd waited. Since her father had been drilling his discipline into his daughter, she ought to put them to practice with people and Vulcan had been her first. Long, dreadful weeks later, the boy had stunned her by sneaking into her bed and crying into her arms, begging the girl not to reject him, to forgive him. She did, of course. Niobe had no idea what he'd been going through and couldn't even pretend to understand, but she just couldn't let him drown. Beside Hajiki, Vulcan Joseph was also her childhood friend.

“Thanks for never giving up on me, big sis,” the engineer murmured in her ear. “Thanks for being my anchor for so long.”

Smiling softly, Niobe kissed his forehead.

“Remind me to visit their tombstone, yeah? I do need to tell them as well.”

“Anytime. It's been a while since your last visit...”

[…]

The following days passed with an odd sense of dullness with a tinge of sadness—curtsey of Ren's dramatic antics over Niobe's recruitment in the Force, as he still hasn't accepted that things were about to change drastically. Even Baccarat was quite moody, scowling more than Karim and being more bad-tempered than the Fire Soldier—and that was actually hard to beat! Even Wone Wone Nyine could be put to shame with her brooding. Though Niobe had tried to get her to talk, she'd just say that she'd get over it and find ways to accept this new predicament.

“Maybe you had it coming?” Bo tried with a hesitant smile, her arms wrapped around Niobe's shoulders. “It might be a good thing, you know: TEIT sustained some serious damage and has shut down until further notice, so no working on our projects anytime soon and classes are suspended. And... we also lost lives there.”

She'd heard of it. The social network of TEIT was flooded with posts of their students, varying from pictures of burnt down areas to heartbreaking pictures of the students that had lost their lives in the inferno. Some of them were in Niobe's year group, which had made her feel empty and horrible for a good part of an entire afternoon. Not only had their institute been seriously touched by the Great Fire, but the mere possibility of losing so many of innocent and young people hadn't eluded her; it would have been wishful and foolish thinking to actually pray to be spared of any casualties, especially after the disaster last year, but Niobe knew it still would have been useless. Scrolling down her feed and looking at the pictures of the smiling students had made her shed more tears, more than necessary.

Goddammit, their resident bio-tech super-genius was among the victims!

The dean of their university had published a post that demanded all students to comment so she could get a headcount of those who'd survived. Although it may not have been the best time to do it, as parents and friends were still in the first stages of mourning and weren't scared to call out the dean for being callous and insensitive, the students had obeyed. In total, a mere hundred of them were still breathing. After the headcount, Niobe had no idea how and if TEIT was going to get back up from this. Parents might decide to pull their children out of school and it would be legit. The shock and grief couldn't suppress the sheer terror people were now feeling following the aftermath.

“My parents and brothers want me home until further notice,” Nyx sighed as he piled Niobe's physics books in a box, forlorn and subdued. “Can't blame them, that was a close one for all of us. Just how overwhelmed are the Fire Soldiers at the moment?”

Niobe lifted her head from the box she was filing to look at the TV with a tired frown. A female journalist was babbling something about the state of the Empire, standing in the usually bustling Shibuya as the camera recorded everything.

“They're almost drowning in paperwork,” she sighed. “Hajiki—who forgot to visit yesterday, of course—told me that the 5th and the 3rd are actively working on the scenes where the mass outbreaks of Infernals were reported, as the scientist teams are more needed for the time being. I don't know if they can find anything to actually explain how there could have been so many Infernals popping out of the blue, but they can try. That said, that doesn't mean that the others are slacking off: Karim is complaining about the paperwork and can't get a break.”

“Can't get a break or... can't come here and help with your move?” Baccarat drawled as she strolled outside with another box of Niobe's belongings.

“Both!” the Third Gen shouted at her.

“Well, he can suck it up!” she shouted back.

She turned back to her task at hand, her features creased. Just like everything else, the move would mark the beginning of a new journey through the unknown; she'd be leaving two years worth of countless memories and good things behind to start a new life in a town she knew nothing about. Niobe was sure in for a surprise and a wild ride, because Asakusa was the place where all the rowdies came to live. Though there was the neighborhood watch to take care of its people, the student was worried about the local gangs and the proto-nationalists who might not accept her at all.

That, as Benimaru had reminded her before she left Asakusa, was reality as well.

From being a simple tourist to actually become one of their own, Niobe mused as she took her box and went downstairs to load it in the truck Ren had rented. Was she ready? No, not entirely. She was a bit freaked out and it was very much valid—she was still an Empire girl to her future captain, so she had to prove herself to him as his sniper and engineer. Hence why she'd started drawing blueprints to build another generator for Asakusa for all the proto-nationalists to benefit from it, as she'd seen that the one they had was not only old and ready to give out, but had actually died for real during the Great Fire. The generator she'd build would cover the whole district of Asakusa and should be powered up by fuel—like fire, for example. Niobe will make it work.

“So, quick question,” Ren trailed off as they got back upstairs. “Are you and Karim broken up for good ooooor are you actually trying to make it last until he takes his vows?”

Huh? Niobe had to make sure she wouldn't trip on her own feet when walking back inside her apartment, because the question threw her off. She sent Ren an incredulous stare, who lifted his hands innocently.

“How is that any of your business, playboy?” she blurted out, stunned. “Do I ask you if any of your fangirls want to have an orgy with you?”

Nyx grimaced in disgust. “Eww, don't fuck up my last afternoon in here with useless lecherous discussions,” he scoffed, strolling past Niobe with a box in his arms.

“Well, you're allowed to do that anytime and until I've managed to seduce you,” Ren chuckled in amusement,  zooming past her to go grab another box in her room. “Which should be easy task now, right? You're a single lady who needs to mingle again and I'm here to help with that.”

Niobe's left eye twitched as she forced herself not to snap at this idiot, who was two jokes away from getting shot with one of her arrows. Clicking her tongue, she hurried to grab Atlas' charger slot to occupy her hands before she got to use her Ignition Ability on the smiling playboy. She didn't want to have this conversation with him, as the man didn't know anything about her relationship with Karim. Nevertheless, this idiot still raised a good point she had discussed with her ex over the phone last night.

What the hell were they right now, if not a couple? One would think that after such passionate embrace following the devastating events of the Great Fire, they'd get back together once more to never break up again, but... somehow, Niobe knew this wasn't happening. Not when Karim was about to take his vows as a Lieutenant Priest and reinforce his faith in the Holy Sol religion. It should be any day now, along with Rekka and Huo Yan.

They had had a beautiful, healthy relationship, but there was no way both would be able to keep their feelings and couple under wraps if they kept going. A secret relationship when everyone in Company 1 knew who she was due to her frequent visits was out of the question—Rekka would rat him out and she didn't trust that damn starry-eyed bastard. It would be so dishonest and selfish of Karim, when Niobe knew he wanted nothing more than devote his faith to good use and be honest. Though her feelings for the punk were still quite strong, she couldn't do that to him. He'd never forgive me if I ever pulled something like this, she thought with a forlorn frown on her lovely face. She couldn't do that to him.

After loading Atlas' charger slot on the passenger seat of the truck, Niobe slowly got back upstairs with a downcast expression that only meant one thing: 'Leave me the fuck alone, I need my head space and my zone'. That was a face she'd made for herself, one that her friends understood very well—they'd seen it when she'd broken up with Karim, so it was best to leave her alone for the time being.

Niobe slumped on a nearby chair with a heavy sigh, suddenly feeling mentally exhausted over everything. It just couldn't get any worse; between her sudden induction in the newest Fire Force Company to the painful realization that her relationship to Karim had finally come to an end, that was a lot of change. That would be hard to accept all of this, but she'll have to. She might have no choice.

“Guys, let's take five,” Niobe called in a sad voice. “Let's just... yeah?”

She didn't have to look up to notice the sympathetic looks her friends were sending her. Groaning, Niobe hid her face from view in her crossed arms, choosing to mope around for a bit.

[…]

It wasn't until Hajiki arrived did she finally lighten up a little. Just seeing his sheepish expression, his street clothes and his smile upon entering her apartment was enough for Niobe to crack a smile and jump in his arms in the same second—she'd literally flown from her chair to land in his awaiting arms, hugging her very first and best of friends. Hajiki returned the embrace just as hard, utterly relieved to see that she was fine and in one piece.

“And here I believed that I could be faster to convince you to finally join me in the 2nd so our duo could be complete,” he complained in a groan, loading another box in the truck.

Niobe smiled as she took a step back to gaze up at him. “The gunslinger and the sniper, huh?” she mused in a soft voice. “Yeah, that would have been nice. Better than having to become a nun in Karim's elite Company.”

“Ouch. Right, you two broke up a little while ago,” Hajiki said in a wince, his expression apologetic as he turned back towards her. “Are you okay?”

“Hmm... I don't know,” she admitted truthfully, strolling to bump shoulders with him. He draped an arm around her shoulders and she wrapped hers around his waist. “To be honest, I'm still trying to juggle and accept everything that has happened so far—my break-up with him, the Great Fire that nearly swallowed us all and this induction in the Special Fire Force. That's a lot to process. Don't get me started about TEIT.”

“Hm. What a mess...”

Niobe's expression fell as she heaved a big sigh, her head on Hajiki's shoulder. “I... I thought I had my life fully figured out before all this bullshit: if I wasn't going to use my pyrokinesis and join the Fire Force, I'd just use my skills as an engineer and live. This was the path I had chosen, even if I was damn good with my powers, and it was fine by me. There were enough Fire Soldiers as it is, why would they need another to burn her life away for others who might not even be grateful for our efforts?” She clicked her tongue in irritation, her elegant brows furrowed. “I'm not even cut out for this crap.”

“And what if you actually are?” Hajiki countered.

“Then I'd have gone against my father's wishes and joined you in the 2nd, Hajiki. I really would have loved to be by your side as your trusted sniper, but the fact that you still bow to the emperor makes me sick. And let's not forget that hoax of a religion, as this is the biggest load of lies I've ever heard.” Niobe sighed, closing her eyes. “I just don't see myself saying 'Látom' each time I've purified an Infernal when I don't even believe in the Sun God. It would be hypocritical of me.” Again.

Hajiki chuckled, bringing her flush to him. She opened big, mismatched eyes to look up at him and blinked in confusion at his slight smile and sad brown eyes.

“Look, it doesn't matter if you don't believe in the Holy Sol or not—honestly, who gives a shit about religious beliefs?” he said as he brought his forehead against Niobe's, getting in her personal space. “I don't. I can't remember the last time I said 'Látom' to the last victim who turned Infernal, all I can believe is that I did some good in relieving the person from the pain. If one small gunslinger like me can make the slightest change in this godforsaken country by purifying Infernals, then that's fine. You can do some good too, Niobe. As a sniper.”

She frowned lightly. “Hajiki, I—”

“I'm not asking to go and win the war against Infernalization for the Special Fire Force, I'm asking you to believe that you can make a difference where you can. Even one is fine, it's still something. You didn't ask for this and I know that, I can't forget it, but this is where you are from now on; your bubble has been burst forever and there's nothing you can do about it. Don't try to create it again. You're a Fire Soldier, Kirishima.” He kissed her forehead. “This is reality, Curls. Time to get used to it, because you'll have to accept it sooner or later.”

She opened her mouth once again to counter with an argument, but closed it after nothing came to mind. For the first time, Hajiki had shut her up and Niobe had no valid argument. He had her cornered and he knew it, judging by the knowing look he was sending her. Gritting her teeth, she averted her eyes with a frustrated expression towards the end of the street.

Just like the fact that she couldn't do anything to reverse Konro's condition, Niobe now also had to accept that her bubble had been burst forever and she could no longer ignore the new calling in Asakusa. The conversation she had with Benimaru over the phone three days ago about the state of the town had unknowingly cemented a strange desire to put her two cents and help however she could with the repairs. While there hadn't been any irritation in her captain's voice, the firm tone he'd used when telling her to come with her stuff as soon as possible made it sound like that he really needed her there. Hajiki is right, Niobe realized with a start and blinking mismatched eyes, I kinda do want to make a difference somewhere.

Only where she could. Where was Asakusa, the town that could have been her hometown had her father chosen to get back there when—she shook her head, threading a distressed hand in her curls.

“Think I still got time before having to head back,” Hajiki mused, taking a look at the time on his watch.

Niobe flicked his forehead with a click of her tongue. “Day off, remember?” she reminded him with a small frown. “How could you forget that? I'm gonna hog your attention and time until I'm fully settled in Asakusa, Gunslinger.”

“Damn, you missed me a lot, didn't you Hawk-Eye?” Hajiki said, bringing her back in his arms.

“More than you think, Gunslinger.”

[…]

Once the last box was loaded and the truck ready to leave, Niobe took one last good look at her empty apartment. Now that most of her stuff was gone, it seemed... bigger. Sadder. There had been so many precious memories in this place, with her friends from TEIT, Hajiki, Vulcan and Yū... and Karim. Oh, all the things that happened inside these walls shall never be forgotten. The sleepovers, the parties, the birthday sex with her sexy ex-boyfrind—Niobe would have to start over from now on. She sighed, blinking back some tears, and finally closed the door behind her with an air of finality. It hurt. Quite a lot.

She turned towards her landlord, who accepted the keys with a kind, yet sad smile. The student returned the smile with a nod, then went downstairs all the while holding her helmet. Her friends were already waiting in front of the moving truck, sporting encouraging smiles. Hajiki was leaning against his own motorcycle and nodded to her, confidence shining in his brown eyes. Niobe stopped in front of them, inhaled, then exhaled. A small smile graced her full lips afterward.

“'Kay, let's roll, yeah?” she asked, flicking one curl on her shoulder before putting her helmet on.

“Yeah!” they all chorused.

One last longing look towards her building and Niobe wrenched herself from the view to straddle her motorcycle. As she started the engine, she took a moment to appreciate the familiar purring of her beloved vehicle, nodded at Hajiki and Ren before taking off and leading the way towards Asakusa. The Gunslinger was right behind, with the truck following suit. As she sped through Shinjuku, she wondered if Benimaru and Konro had been able to get any sleep or get to the point that what happened days ago would forever be imprinted in their minds and lives. Especially Benimaru. The guilt might remain, but they still had to move forward. They had to move on.

This is reality too, Niobe thought.

[…]

Tokyo, Asakusa

Niobe had no idea how, but the twins were the first ones to notice her arrival at the gates of Asakusa—at the gates—and charged at her with beaming faces.

“You're back!” Hinata and Hikage exclaimed as they both jumped on her, latching onto her neck.

“Whoa!” Niobe swayed on her feet a little, but managed to regain her balance on her toes. “Easy, girls! Were you lurking around just to see if I was going to arrive?”

“Of course!” they both chorused with wide smiles. “Waka told us to wait for you at the gates and tell him once you got here.”

Niobe frowned lightly, putting her helmet down. “Waka” meant 'young master', which would be fitting for a lord, a prince or a king. And since Asakusa had just been inducted into the Special Fire Force as its newest Company, then 'Waka' could only be one person.

“Who's Waka?” Baccarat asked curiously, getting closer to the trio.

Huffing, Niobe sent her brooding friend a compassionate smile with a sweatdrop. “My guess? Benimaru himself. The townspeople have been told that their district has been turned into a jurisdiction and their Hikeshi brigade has become the Special Fire Force Company 7, so they've accepted their leader.” She tickled the girls into getting off her, looking down at the twins once they'd landed safely on the ground. “And where is Benimaru right now?”

Hinata and Hikage motioned towards the inside of the town. “He's helping everyone with the rebuilding at the moment,” Hikage said.

“But he said he'd see you at the guardhouse,” Hinata added. She smiled happily, jumping up and down in tandem with her sister. “Are these weirdos your Imperial friends?”

Hikage pointed at Nyx with her covered finger. “This one looks so stupid with his chin tattoo!”

Ren sputtered at the twins with wide eyes, scandalized, while all the others gaped incredulously at the smiling girls. Niobe had to turn her head the other way and cover her mouth to avoid her laughter from bursting out. They just couldn't be polite even once towards others, could they?

Hajiki sent her a flat look, unimpressed. “They're adorable, alright,” he drawled. “Did you conveniently forget to tell us how rude they could be?”

“Please complain to Benimaru, he's their teacher unaware of his bad influence,” she said, grinning apologetically before moving to the truck. “Cute, but outrageously rude, cha-ma-llow.”

“And your new captain is even worse? Damn it, Niobe, what the hell have you gotten yourself into?” Ren lamented as he swooped in behind the sniper and hugged the girl tightly. “You really couldn't have accepted Captain Hague's offer? At least you would have been closer to Shinjuku!”

Niobe huffed in slight irritation. Lifting her arms, she slid out of his unwanted embrace to a crouching position before making two cartwheels to circle the playboy and end up behind him, her back to his. Then she promptly kicked him in the ass with a satisfied smile. He lost his balance with a squeak and gracelessly crashed against the truck, slowly sliding down. Hinata and Hikage giggled in amusement, entertained.

Hajiki clicked his tongue, moving to drag Ren away from the truck. “Okay, enough with this nonsense and let's start emptying the truck with the boxes,” he ordered. “Each grabs one and follows Niobe all the way to the guardhouse and to her room. We're gonna be here for a while.”

“Yes, sir!” Bo exclaimed, saluting him with a bright smile.

“Get up, unlucky playboy!” Baccarat groaned as she slapped Ren in the back of his head. “And you might at least receive a hug for helping our archer move in.”

When Ren's green crinkled and his sullen expression shifted to a more hopeful one, almost everyone sighed at his sudden burst of energy and decided that it was best to keep it going while it lasted.

After Atlas activated himself to help out too, Niobe took her first box and led each one of her friends through the town, with Hinata and Hikage in tow babbling their ears off with various questions. Bo indulged them happily while Baccarat sometimes intervened with questions of her own, inquiring about everything in Asakusa. Their group garnered some attention from citizens that were helping rebuild the town, especially from the Hikeshi soldiers; the gazes were wary and cautious at first, but when some Hikeshi recognized Niobe among them, their faces lit up with relieved smiles.

“Taka no Me, you came back!”

“Thanks again for helping us back then!”

“Your eyes are a gift, Taka no Me!”

“Welcome to the Seventh!”

Upon hearing the praise and thanks, Niobe groaned low into her throat and attempted to hide her gaze and blush with her hair. Why were they reminding her of her so-called exploits in here? Why? She didn't want these accolades and this praise. And—how the hell did they call her?

“That's actually the nickname I gave you years ago, only in its Japanese translation,” Hajiki chuckled, smiling teasingly at her. “It suits you. Guess you're stuck with it.”

“Very accurate too,” Nyx agreed smoothly.

Hinata snickered, her golden eyes crinkling. “Waka said it would be best to give you a nickname that matches with your pyrokinesis, so here you go,” she said.

“You better love it, Niobe,” Hikage laughed happily. “Because we'll call you Taka no Me from now on.”

“And we're not taking any complaints!” they finished together.

“Hmm, I see,” Niobe grumbled sarcastically as they neared the guardhouse. “While I'll try to get used to this new name, how about you tell me about Konro? How has he been?”

Speaking of the devil, the man himself appeared as he pushed aside the royal blue curtains to get out. Since it was her first time seeing the Hikeshi after weeks, Niobe had to suck in a breath as her eyes took him in. As he was wearing a brand new uniform—the pants he was wearing had the blue stripes she'd seen many times on Karim—that must have been sent from the Empire, Konro had his shoulders covered in bandages, all the way down to his hands. Though he was also covered up, Niobe couldn't help but notice the fatigue in his dark eyes, the long scar that marred his features and the shadows surrounding his sockets.

Even the mightiest could still fall.

However, all signs of fatigue seemed to vanish the second he caught sight of her and his smile lit up his whole face. “Well, look who has finally shown up once again to settle,” he chuckled, coming closer to ruffle her curls.

“Konro, you're okay!” Niobe exclaimed in relief, her mouth opening into a wide smile. Then it fell and she frowned. “Should you be out of bed? You better not strain yourself.”

“It's been weeks, Niobe, I've had plenty of rest,” he countered, snatching her box from her hands. “So long as I don't overexert myself, I can actually manage menial tasks. Your father said so.”

Still, Niobe wouldn't give up and scowled at him. “No cheating, then—that's my stuff!” she said before turning tail and jogging back towards the truck, Hinata and Hikage running behind her.

Many perplexed and amused gazes trailed after them, Konro only snorting and shaking his head before he headed back inside the guardhouse.

“All of you, follow me,” he motioned to Niobe's friends. “Let's put her stuff into her room and lab before she comes back to heckle me into induced coma.”

Baccarat perked up. “She'll have her own lab? You managed to arrange an entire room big enough for her future creations? Cool.”

“Beni said that she needed 'a room at least as big as her afro' to contain all of her.”

As they followed the Hikeshi through the guardhouse, all four friends shared disbelieving looks. Did her new captain really say that about her hair? That man wanted to get mauled.

She's going to impale him, was all they thought with a sweatdrop.

[…]

“You have too many books, Taka no Me!” Hikage complained.

Niobe snorted, taking the physics book the little girl was handing her. “I kind of need them for my studies?” she chuckled, a brow raised at Hikage's pout. “I should introduce you to the world of physics and maths, just to annoy the hell out of Benimaru.”

“He'll probably burn your books to ashes if you do that,” Konro remarked as he shuffled into the room, another box in his hands. “These two runts are already too much of a handful for us, we don't need them to become nerds.”

Hinata and Hikage rounded up on the large Hikeshi, their pouting more prominent. “Call us runts again and we'll smooch you, Konro!” they chorused together, their cheeks puffed up.

Niobe, Nyx and Ren all turned to stare at the twins, shocked to hell that both would actually talk this way to the lieutenant of their Fire Force Company. While Konro merely rolled his eyes and looked unfazed, the three friends looked at each other in complete disbelief. Well, Niobe wasn't that much surprised anymore, but still—these two had some serious balls. She had to shake her head to turn back towards her bookshelves, her eyes wide.

“Oh, man,” Ren muttered to Nyx, a sweatdrop on his right temple. “These two are too extreme, much more than my own sisters.”

Nyx nodded, his expression now annoyed. “They're lucky Bo has run out before she could even hear that,” he muttered back before speaking louder. “I think you're in for a wild ride with this lot, Niobe. And if their captain is even worse...”

“And I'm not going to apologize for it.”

Snorting silently, Niobe had to hide her smile behind her hand as she heard Ren sputtering in shock while the girls greeted their leader with a cheerful “Ah, Waka!”. Such unapologetic tone was sure to give one hell of a first impression to her Imperial friends. Standing up on her legs, she finally turned towards her new captain with a crooked smile and saluted him the right way—legs joined, hands tied behind her back and her head slightly bowed.

“Cha-ma-llow, Benimaru!” Niobe chirped.

He nodded at her, his Tic-Tac-Toe eyes surveying her form. “That catchphrase of yours is seriously weird... but anyway, glad to see that you didn't back out before you could even see that lab of yours, Taka no Me,” Benimaru drawled.

Mismatched arrowed-eyes gleamed in excitement and she smiled wide. “Is it ready? Is it?” she asked, practically bouncing on her feet.

“Yeah, and you better thank me for clearing one room to contain an ego the size of that afro of yours.”

Niobe's face became blank and she blinked up at him. Twice. Benimaru smirked in challenge.

The next second, Nyx, Ren and Konro had to restrain her from shooting an arrow through his smug skull, while the Hikeshi merely stood there, smirking at her and his eyes crinkling in light amusement. Hinata and Hikage were cheering in the background as well, clearly dying to see some excitement.

[…]

“I'm not talking to you,” Niobe grumbled a few minutes later as she padded behind Konro, cradling a box.

“Heh. That was a funny reaction you had,” Benimaru snickered right behind her. “I should try this more often just to see how you're going to react.”

“I'm not talking to you,” she repeated stubbornly. But she turned back towards him, glaring at her new captain with glowing mismatched eyes. “And be careful with my stuff, will you? I'll never forgive you if you mess it up before I get to fully move in.”

“I thought you weren't talking to me?” Benimaru teased, leaning down to tower over her. “Already going back on your word, Taka no Me?”

Her scowl deepened. “Cha-ma-llow, just how much more annoying can you get? Konro, how do you put up with him?” she asked, hurrying behind the larger Hikeshi. “You need to smack him beside the head a little more often, he's getting on my last nerves.”

“You think I don't do that? Even I get tired of smacking his head because he's too stubborn to actually stop,” Konro countered. “Gotta have to get used to him. Look, there you go.”

He slid open two shōji doors, revealing a wide space. Niobe's eyes gleamed as she took in what would be her new lab; while it wasn't as big as the one she had at TEIT, it would do just fine. There was even a metallic table, big enough to hold a lot of material and certainly sturdy to support the weight. More than fine. All she needed to do was set up her stuff, finish the blueprints for the new generator and start hunting for the material. Putting her box down, she spread her arms wide.

“This is perfect, guys!” she exclaimed, her smile big as she took two steps forward. Stars in her eyes, she just looked around. “Just perfect! Now I can actually start thinking about deadly traps to prevent Fire Soldiers from other Companies! Maybe I should get started on the giant spider robot to—”

Someone whacked her beside the head hard enough to keel over forward.

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, damn it!” she exclaimed, crouching down to cradle her head with wide eyes. “The hell was that for, Tic-Tac-Toe?!”

Benimaru snickered again. “That wasn't me,” he retorted, mirth lacing his tone.

She swiveled on her heels to stare up at Konro in muted disbelief, whose dark eyes reflected a slight puzzlement as he held up his fist.

“Why?” she demanded. “Did my dad put you up to this?!”

“Of course he did,” the older Hikeshi confirmed. “And I can definitely see why now. That mind of yours can be seriously lethal when you get carried away in ideas for your inventions, so he actually gave me a list of solutions to counter each crazy thought you're spouting. Very useful.”

“And you actually kept that list?!” She jumped to her feet, glaring up at her lieutenant. “Why?”

Konro lifted a brow at her. “I never thought I'd need it, since it sounded like a joke your father would make, but I'm more shocked to find out that he was serious.” He frowned at her, looking stern. “He told me about the many spider robots you'd built and what you did with them. Especially to those Fire Soldiers.”

Benimaru's crimson eyes crinkled in curiosity. “What? What did you do to those Imperial lapdogs?” he asked. He mirrored her smirk as she nursed her sore head. “Tell me and I might actually consider letting you build a small spider robot.”

“Waka, don't encourage her!” Konro warned.

“Careful, Captain Shinmon,” Baccarat snickered as she swooped in behind them, a box in her arms. “That story with the Fire Soldiers is infamous among all Companies and some of them are still bitter about it.” Her gaze settled on Niobe. “Yo, chief! Where is it going?”

“Just put it on the side, I'll take care of it myself,” Niobe instructed, before focusing on Benimaru with crinkling eyes. “So what happened was...”

[…]

He smiled, Niobe thought as she set up and bustled around her new lab. And he even snickered many times while listening to her story, his crimson eyes crinkling. She didn't know Shinmon Benimaru as well as the people of Asakusa or Konro himself, but the sight of the young man smiling and snickering at the details of her story had stunned her. The smile, though it was very small, had been there and it had been as if the sun had shone on them all. Bo had looked awestruck and there may have been hearts in her eyes—Niobe couldn't blame her, her captain was a gorgeous man. The ladies in his town loved him.

After the Great Hell that hit Asakusa and nearly destroyed it, Benimaru could use a serious breather. So it was actually to see him smiling, even if it was short-lived. Niobe had no idea he could smile like this, because it reminded her of Karim. Both had a cold demeanour she was familiar with, but it was a protective front for Benimaru; he'd gotten so used to never sharing his feelings about the most hurtful things in his life that he must have issues with opening up to people.

Konro, though he'd tried his best not to burst out laughing along with her friends and look severe, told her that their captain had secretly missed her. Yeah right, was what she said when setting up her computer.

“He might not show his inner feelings often but he did,” the Hikeshi had assured her with a hand on top of her afro. “He did miss you. You can talk to him if you don't believe me, Niobe, because I don't think he'll let you go for a while.”

Maybe I should have called more often to annoy him, Niobe thought with crinkling eyes, taping up the periodic table to the wall. Or she could have just visited to help a little with repairs, either way could have worked just to check up on the stubborn man. Though they'd have been busy with repairs, Benimaru could have probably appreciated a good break (certainly not the ride she owed him, that's for sure). Yup. He would have.

Once the huge poster was all taped up, Niobe smiled widely, then executed two perfect somersaults to land on the metallic table on a handstand. She propped herself up on her index and middle finger and crossed her stretched legs at the ankles, then looked up at her work with shining eyes. Her new lab in Asakusa now looked like her own back at TEIT—a bit of blue and green, a rug underneath the table, her stuff and tools, a window to enjoy the scenery outside. Niobe was good to go.

“You better not snap your neck, Taka no Me,” a deep voice drawled. “or I'd be seriously disappointed to not get what I want from you.”

Niobe snorted, glancing at the doors to see Benimaru standing at the entrance. “I'm a certified circus freak, I'll have you know,” she retorted. “Meaning that I'm an expert contortionist. There's no way I'll break my body apart so soon in my life.”

“If you say so. Here, that's your new uniform,” he said as he walked in to dump her clothes on the table. “Everyone else has theirs, so we've saved this one for you. Since you're the only woman in our Company, a seamstress can alter it so it can... hug your figure. Her words, not mine.”

Slowly but gracefully lowering her legs so she could sit on the table, Niobe gave Benimaru a knowing look as the Hikeshi stared unabashedly and pointedly at her chest. Even with a size Large hoodie, her breasts still pushed against the fabric—not like she could do anything about it, it just grew. Blame the growth spurt. Clearing her throat, Niobe regained her captain's attention and was glad his jaded Tic-Tac-Toe eyes focused on her face once again.

“That smile of yours is beautiful to witness, you know,” she said casually.

If he was expecting some kind of compliment from her, Benimaru certainly couldn't hide his surprise as he stared at her, blinking twice. Niobe crossed her legs with a soft smile.

“And also very nice to look at, if you want my honest opinion,” she added, taking her uniform to inspect the clothes. “Thanks for the uniform, but I'd rather it stays that way so it can be comfortable while I'm—”

“I'm glad you're here,” Benimaru cut her off.

The words were spoken so low that she almost didn't catch them. Taken aback, the sniper looked up to find her captain bypassing the table to stand right in front of her. When he hooked her with his eyes, Niobe found herself unable to look away and his expression even shut her up; there was so much he was showing at the moment that she couldn't speak. Benimaru looked... vulnerable. The gloom and sadness were warring in his unique Tic-Tac-Toe eyes, reflecting his inner torment.

Niobe dropped her uniform, swallowing the lump in her throat. Benimaru shook his head.

“Don't,” he almost growled aggressively at her. “Just... don't.”

“Okay,” Niobe murmured, nodding slowly.

His gaze slid from her face down towards her right shoulder and remained there. Faster than she'd thought, he caught her forearm to pull her off the table and flush to him.

She caught herself by planting her palms on his chest, eyes wide. “Huh? Wait, what are you—”

Benimaru clicked his tongue, annoyed. Niobe surprisingly shut up, looking up at him just as he was looking down at her. His gaze was intense, almost burning right through her, and rooted her in place. You better not go anywhere, was what his eyes were conveying. One of his arms snaked round her waist to prevent her from moving away, tightening just a little when she tried squirming and contorting. Although everything in her wanted to push him away, due to her lingering feelings for Karim, Niobe didn't have the amount of strength needed to carry out her will. And something in his action seemed... familiar.

His free hand reached up to pull down the zip of her hoodie, allowing her clothed chest to breathe, and bared her right shoulder by pulling down both the hoodie and the straps of her black tank top and bra. That was when the memories came back to Niobe, whose features fell and body relaxed. Is he... Just as she thought, Benimaru lowered his mouth to her collarbone and bit into it. In a gentle way for the time being.

There was nothing sexual in this biting at all, considering how emotional he'd been when he did it first, but it still made Niobe jolt against him. She gasped softly, but didn't move. On the contrary, she slid one hand up to cup the nape of his neck with a solemn expression. With a sound in his throat, Benimaru slowly brought them down to their knees, forcing Niobe to straddle his legs and sit on him while he settled for a cross-legged position on the rug. The position might be compromising to everyone else who will intrude, but she just... couldn't care at the moment.

“I'm here,” Niobe murmured in his ear, carding her fingers into his smooth hair. “And I'm staying. Ya hear? I'm here to stay, Benimaru.”

He tightened both arms around her waist and his fingers dug into her sides almost painfully. He bit even more into her collarbone. Niobe hissed a little, grasped his shoulder in slight retaliation, but never pushed him away and even melted against him. They both needed this.

Outside the lab, Konro nodded to himself with a relieved and silent sigh before stalking off with the grace of a cat.

[…]

Bonus:

“Niobe, why are you so overdressed? This hoodie is covering up the female body of my wildest fantasies, it's a crime and you should take it off!” Ren whined, sulking in the living-room of the guardhouse. “And where's my hug?”

Nyx shook his head at him, unimpressed. “Man, you're lucky Karim isn't here to hear your complains,” he drawled. “And he and Niobe broke up, because you would be in the gutter and beaten to a pulp. Don't you ever give up?”

“Ever heard of the saying 'Never give up on your fantasies'?” Ren replied.

“Since you probably just made that up, sadly I didn't,” Nyx snickered.

Benimaru glanced at Niobe, who was sitting next to Konro and talking to—annoying—the large Hikeshi, along with Bo and the twins. The moment they'd shared in her lab flashed in his mind once again, vivid and so tender. Intimate even, because only them knew the meaning of the bite on her collarbone.

I should have blackmailed her to ride me there, he thought idly, biting into a daifuku before scowling.

“It's too sweet,” he groaned.

“What is?” Ren perked up.

Chapter Three: Downtime

Tokyo Empire, Shinjuku.

The second his captain told him that they were all done for the rest of the day, Karim Flam didn't even hesitate: he immediately took off in the direction of Niobe's home, ignoring both Rekka and Huo Yan as they called his name. He was in such hurry that he didn't take time to take a shower and freshen up, because he knew Niobe would allow him to use her bathroom—along with whatever they'll do once they were alone. Karim may have recently broken up with his girlfriend for reasons she'd never accept and understand, the radio silence following his several phone calls and voice mails had scared the hell out of him; he'd heard from her friends at TEIT, which had set his mind at ease to know that they were mostly alright, but the dread and horror had quickly crawled back when they'd revealed that Niobe had gone to visit Asakusa.

Of all the times she could have gone there before... damn it. The place had been hit hard.

There hadn't been any report yet about the proto-nationalist town, but some Fire Soldiers at Company 4 had said that it was seriously bad. So much had been lost, so many civilians had fallen victims to the flames of Infernalization and had been killed. And what's more, it seemed that the emperor had finally taken it upon himself to induct the Hikeshi Fire brigade into the Special Fire Force. Karim didn't know if it would do them some good to have such defiant proto-nationalists in their ranks, as they did nothing but spit on the Holy Sol and refused to embrace the authority of the Tokyo Empire, but he'd heard things about two particular pyrokinetics who would put the entire Special Fire Force to shame.

Knowing that Niobe had been out there in Asakusa while the rough town had been seriously damaged by the Great Hell—as everyone now called this disaster—put him on edge. He was restless and the only way for the Second Generation to calm down would be to have Niobe in his arms, kissing her senseless and making her scream his name and her love for him while pounding into her core until she was sore. Fuck their recent break-up, Karim was going to spend the night in her bed to remind himself why he fell in love with this genius with a white fireball of an afro for hair.

And this disaster just had to drop on all of us this day, Karim thought with an anguished, worried sick expression as he kept running through the horrendous streets. Niobe had just texted him to say that she'd be coming back to her apartment today—which would be certainly crawling with her friends if she'd also checked in with them—and hole up in there, so he was going to do just that as well. Hole up in her apartment with her, reassure her (and himself) as much as he could. Amongst other things, because Karim would soon have to go back to Company 1, help out as much as he could and write reports.

Finally arriving at Niobe's apartment block, the Fire Soldier halted when he saw a familiar black motorbike with green flames parked at its usual spot, chained and secure. The model was a Suzuki 1300 GSX-R Hayabusa—one that yakuzas would love to have and could afford. He knew that motorbike and would recognize it anywhere, as he and Niobe had taken their sweet time choosing the designs. Karim approached the beauty and touched the engine. He sucked in a breath at how warm it was, hope burning in his chest.

“Please Sol, tell me she's okay,” he murmured frantically before rushing inside.

Ignoring the elevator, Karim practically flew the stairs to the fourth floor and stumbled at her door, breathless. The noise he made while climbing up must have bothered the inhabitants, for some opened their doors to poke their heads out and see what the hell was going on outside. When they noticed the blue stripes on his fireproof coat, panic and sheer terror spread on their faces, which immediately prompted Karim to raise his hands in a placating gesture and put on his best reassuring expression.

“Don't panic and fall into panicking, I'm just here to see someone,” he declared, as serenely as he could.

Another door opened.

“Cha-ma-llow.”

Karim had never turned so fast in his life. All the fear, dread and tension that had been building up all day suddenly deflated inside of him upon locking eyes with Niobe, whose gaze gradually softened. She wore a sleeveless white tank top with black shorts, seemingly having changed after coming home to relax. Forgetting that they had an audience, the Fire Soldier met his woman half-way to her door and engulfed her body in his arms to hug her tight. Karim nuzzled his face into her neck, inhaling her perfume, and relished in the fact that she returned his embrace just as hard. Flush against him, he felt like he could protect her from everything, even if she was more than capable because of her combat skills and Ignition Ability.

When was the last time he'd been able to hold Niobe so intimately? Feeling all of her after surviving this hellish inferno last night made Karim realize how much he missed his ex-girlfriend, even though their break-up had been bad. Both had been wrecked, but it didn't seem to matter now. What matters now is now and nothing else, the Second Generation thought as he slowly backed her up inside her apartment and kicked the door close behind him.

Pressing his forehead against hers, Karim cupped her cheek and held Niobe's gaze, where he knew all kinds of emotions would soon be visible the second she'll break down. The way she was clinging to his coat, it should be any minute now. And honestly, even he needed a serious breather. Even so, Karim just couldn't take it anymore and allowed his feelings to do the talking for him—his mouth crashed on hers and he kissed this woman brutally, conveying all of these emotions raging inside. Though a kiss wasn't words, the Fire Soldier hoped it was more than enough.

I thought I'd never see you again.

With a deep moan, Niobe kissed him back hungrily while trying to get rid of his coat, which he obliged happily with a groan of pleasure. As soon as the coat hit the floor, Karim scooped her up by the back of her knees and she automatically wrapped her long legs around his waist. Both moaned in bliss when she rolled her hips in a slow, steady rhythm that provoked pleasant shivers down their spines and millions of sparks through their nerves. They separated a few seconds later and gazed at each other, panting and breathless. Relief, joy and anguish were reflected in their eyes, mixed in with those lingering feelings that refused to fade. The love Karim saw in his ex-girlfriend's beautiful, mismatched eyes was enough to make him snap.

Without even looking, Karim moved them both towards her bedroom, easily weaving his way through Niobe's furniture—he knew this apartment like the back of his hand, because of all the precious memories he'd forged there with her. Throwing Niobe on her bed, he quickly crawled to find his way between her long, toned legs and possessed her full lips once again, spurned by her heated look. The feeling of her large breasts flattening against his hard chest had never felt so good, so much that he was urging his circus freak to remove her shirt. Hands groped and caressed, mouths kissed, teeth bit and tongues licked. Once Niobe's front was bare to his hungry eyes, Karim grabbed one full breast to fondle the mound with rough, sensual gestures.

Niobe mewled in pleasure in his ear, shivering as his sinful tongue and mouth created yet another love bite on her throat. He smelled peach in her curls, meaning that she'd washed her afro in Asakusa. He wasn't going to complain, though it wasn't her usual scent. Still, it made him sigh in bliss as he released her reddened skin to start on another love bite. He tortured the hardening nipple with a few teasing flicks of his index, circled the aureolae before going back to fondling the breast. Slowly, Karim kissed and licked his way down to Niobe's chest, his mouth worshipping her warm skin and delicious body, until his mouth captured her left nipple. She arched her back with a soft moan as he sucked on the erect bud, his hands stroking her legs.

“You're okay,” she murmured, sounding utterly relieved. She weaved her long, delicate fingers through his flattened mohawk tenderly. “Karim, you're okay...”

You scared the shit out of me.

Releasing the nipple with a wet pop, he kissed his way back to her lips, trailing his hands down to her hips to hold her in position. Hovering over her, he drank in the lovely sight his ex-girlfriend was offering at the moment; face flushed and dazed mismatched eyes, now glowing out of pleasure. He felt his lips curl up into a smile when he saw the arrows pointing up. Loud and clear, love, Karim thought as he sat back on his knees to haul his T-Shirt over his head. When he threw it behind him, his eyes were blazing with unabashed lust as they roamed over her. They zeroed in on the bruise she had on her right collarbone, which he hadn't noticed at first, but quickly focused back on the woman (he'd ask later, because it looked painful) he still cared about.

“Goddamn, Niobe, I...,” Karim rasped, his throat constricting. He gritted his teeth and hung his head, his hair concealing his anguished eyes. “You didn't call me back last night...”

He didn't care if his voice was rough and about to crack, he knew she had to understand how much stress she'd made him go through by not taking his calls—a whole night not hearing from Niobe? Not even once? Karim had been so stressed and scared that he'd snapped at Rekka more than usual, which had shocked Huo Yan and some of their troops. Captain Burns had already guessed that he'd been fearing for his ex's safety and location, so he'd said nothing and had kept on leading them. Even so, the sympathetic look he'd sent Karim hadn't been left unnoticed.

Warm, soft hands cupped his cheeks, coaxing him to look down at the woman he still cherished, but the Fire Soldier refused to do so. But his hands tightened painfully on Niobe's hips, his fingers digging into her skin like claws. She hissed a little, jolting, but Karim didn't budge or relent.

“Karim,” Niobe called softly. “I'm here, I'm alive...”

His eyes shot opened and he sent her a furious glare. She recoiled at the harshness of his look, taken aback, but he followed her movement until he was hovering over her once again. The anger was burning through his veins again, hot and waiting to be released, but it was his fear that was mostly dominant. And Niobe had to understand how she had him terrified for her safety and well-being. Karim took her lips in a brutal kiss, delving his tongue into her mouth to overwhelm her. The moans and whimpers she had a hard time stifling sounded so musical in his ears. After a while of rough kissing, he released her mouth slowly and admired his handiwork—flushed and dazed, breathless and hungry for him. Good.

“Then let me show you exactly what you made me go through until now,” Karim growled fiercely at her, his eyes glowing. “You have no idea of the hell I've lived.”

He swiftly got rid of her shorts and nearly ripped her panties when removing them, as he was such in a hurry to be inside her. After throwing the clothes behind him, Karim took care of his trousers and boxers without breaking eye contact. Understanding finally dawned on her and Niobe fell back on her pillow, spreading her legs for him while peering through her lashes. She bit her lower lip with an anguished expression, nodding to herself as if admitting that she royally screwed up—because she did. Bare as she was at the moment, she looked magnificent in Karim's eyes.

Did she have the slightest idea of all the terrible things he'd imagined just because he couldn't get a hold of her when these unnatural fires were ravaging all of Tokyo last night? Words won't be enough to express his inner turmoil, only drilling his aching cock into her pussy would give him the release he was looking for.

Unable to take it anymore, Karim took hold of his turgid, long length and rubbed the head against the lower lips, relishing in Niobe's soft sighs of pleasure and whimpers. They were merely about to start and she was already wet for him, ready to be filled. She lifted her hips slowly with a deep hum as he entered her, with the Second Generation moaning at the familiar sensation. It felt so good that he couldn't help the way he slammed inside with a rough snap of his hips, causing Niobe to jolt with a cry. Even he couldn't restrain the growl of satisfaction that rumbled in his throat as she took all of him—his cock being bigger had always been the best fact to shut Rekka up. Karim would have loved to stop now and revel in the marvelous sensation of her vaginal walls constricting lovingly around him, but he had other plans. Taking hold of Niobe's hips, the Fire Soldier gritted his teeth as he gathered his strength to last as long as he intended to for this reunion.

With a feral growl, Karim swung his hips with abandon and elation. His cock plunged in and out, drilling hard into Niobe's g-point each time he slammed back in. She gasped loudly in pleasure and writhed beneath him, eyes wide and glowing with lust. He engulfed her in his arms to feel her flush against his body, her generous breasts flat against his muscles, and pinned her body against the mattress as he favored the missionary position for now. Her long legs wrapped themselves around his waist, thus bringing him closer, and her arms hugged him around his strong back with her hands gripping him for support. They found their rhythm very easily, their hips grinding and crashing lewdly and in unison.

Grunting in pleasure, Karim approached his mouth to her ear. “Do you know how fucking worried I was? Do you?” he punctuated his question by a rough thrust, causing Niobe to mewl and buck her hips. He hissed when her nails dug into the skin of his back. “Fuck, you feel so good...”

He pressed his forehead against hers, drinking in the erotic sight of his flushed ex-girlfriend. Licking her lips sinfully, Karim groaned into her mouth when she bit his lower lip teasingly and stroked his arms slowly. Even now, Niobe was attempting to soothe his anger while she was aware it was useless—either he had to yell out his irritation or coax her to bed with him (surprisingly enough, cuddling with her had always relaxed him). Usually it worked wonders. But not today. Not now.

Karim slowed down just a little, but never softened his thrusts. He rolled his hips hard, ground them hard and lewdly against Niobe's while holding onto her hip. He was bruising her, as much as she was scratching his back and leaving angry red streaks on his skin. The other hand slid up her arm until it caught hers and laced their fingers in a tight grip, pinning their linked hands above their heads. Soft moans, pants and hungry groans echoed in the bedroom, musical in his ears and sounding like a beautiful symphony. Just like back then when they were still a couple, the sex had always been incredible and mind-blowing. But it had never been this desperate, because Karim had to feel Niobe this time. He had to feel her life.

Sitting up after a while, he pulled her to straddle him to thrust deep into her core with renewed vigor. His strong arms engulfed her so she couldn't escape him, while her hands tried to hold onto his shoulders for support and her legs tightened round his waist. Niobe was a beautiful mess, crying out in pleasure and jolting each time Karim rammed into her sweet spot. The Fire Soldier sucked on another love bite on her throat, biting the soft skin to mark her once again, then planted multiple kisses down that throat towards her chest before he latched onto a nipple.

“K-Karim...,” Niobe wailed in bliss, her fingers pulling at his scalp.

Growling in approval when she rolled her hips to meet his, Karim gave her nipple one last suck before licking, kissing and biting his way back to her throat.

“I missed you, Niobe,” he groaned against her skin, thrusting deep into her with a growl. “C'mon baby, don't make me worried, understood?!”

She sobbed in pleasure, her other fingers scoring down his back. “Y-yes!” was all she could cry out.

“Good.”

Slamming her back against the mattress, he pinned her body once again beneath his and secured his spot between her long legs. Then he was gone, pounding as fast and as hard as he could into her. Niobe held onto him for dear life, legs wrapped around his waist and hands clawing on his back, and could only cry out in pleasure and bliss as Karim wrecked her insides. Each time she mewled his name, the Fire Soldier would ram his cock harder with vicious growls and moans, his teeth and mouth leaving new love bites on her shoulder, chest and throat. Niobe fit him like a glove, moved against him so well in unison as they'd always done before their break-up when having sex, and Karim loved it. He always had, always will.

When they both reached their climax, he slammed back into her to the hilt and exploded in her womb with a savage growl that he muffled in her neck. His vision went white, blinding him instantly. Niobe moaned his name deeply as she milked him good, arching beautifully beneath him. Both exes went still for a moment, riding the waves of their violent orgasm, then relaxed with satisfied sighs. Blissful silence took place in the bedroom, which smelled of sex and sweat, and it was comfortable enough. For the time being, as the both of them needed to talk. Not now, Karim thought as he slowly pulled out and rolled on his side of the bed, bringing Niobe flush against him and spooning her tightly. He wrapped one arm around her head, his fingers threading through her soft, luscious curls, while their legs automatically tangled. She hummed with an exhausted smile, nuzzling his chest with a sigh.

“Sorry, Karim,” Niobe murmured against his skin, her hand stroking the muscles of his back. “I really am.”

Karim's features softened considerably as he picked up the regret in her tone. Sighing, he kissed her forehead long and tenderly while stroking her cheek.

“You're okay,” he echoed her own words. “That's what matters most. But don't do that ever again.”

When she started shaking in his arms, Karim wasn't surprised at all. Not at all. So he held Niobe tight in a heartfelt hug, nestling her soft body against him. Her breakdowns were rare, but when they usually happened, it was serious. And something awful clearly happened in Asakusa for her to cry.

[…]

Once they both showered, dressed in more comfortable clothes (she still had some belonging to him, to his surprise) and he got to listen to everything after soothing Niobe, Karim had to lean back against the couch and stare back at his ex, stunned.

“So you're telling me that, after I've tried countless of reasons to get you to join any Special Fire Force Company because you could put both your talents as an engineer and your skills as a Third Gen to good use, you just accepted to join the newest Company of thugs from Asakusa and those are the same thugs who refuse to follow the rules of the Tokyo Empire, acknowledge our emperor and embrace the Holy Sol? The proto-nationalist thugs who will most certainly keep disrespecting and despising the Empire?” he resumed in a steady voice. “Did I get everything right, Niobe?”

Once she came back to the living-room, she handed him a fresh can of Moca Cola, holding her mug of hot chocolate with a bag of tiny marshmallows. Karim took it but didn't open it, still staring up.

“You forgot the part where one of these proto-nationalists saved my life by sacrificing his own health and ability to fight and contracting tephrosis,” she chastised, sitting next to him. She tucked her long legs to the side. “You should be thankful towards Konro as well... but yes, you got everything right.”

“Damn it,” Karim swore under his breath, his expression softening. “You're alright?”

Niobe inhaled deeply, then exhaled loudly and tiredly. Her expression turned sorrowful and her eyes grew sad as she poured some marshmallows in her steaming mug of chocolate.

“I'd like to say yes because I survived, but... that would be one of my greatest lies, wouldn't it?” she said softly. “Since I don't like pretending, I'll just come clean to you: no, I'm not alright. My mind is a complete mess after this blazing inferno. Even though I did my best to help with the purifying, I just can't shake off the feeling of having failed—because I did, Karim.”

Karim frowned at her, sliding his arm around her shoulders to bring her closer to him. She didn't resist and nuzzled into his side like a cat, looking more sullen than the day they broke up. And seeing this expression on Niobe's face put him on edge. Worse, it disturbed him.

“Weren't you overheated?” he asked carefully. When she nodded, he scowled. “If so, then he's made his choice: maybe he took you out of the fight to save you from this undeserved fate because he recognized your worth? If anyone I know who's worth saving, it's you. And he survived, didn't he? Don't beat yourself up over this, he might see this defiance as spitting on his sacrifice.”

“But—”

Seizing her chin, the Fire Soldier forced the student to face him. Bright, mismatched arrowed-eyes widened in surprise as he bore his narrowed gaze. Seeing how red-brimmed and puffy they were broke his heart, but Karim had to get through Niobe and her guilt-ridden spirit. Now that he had her attention, he needed to be careful with his words or she'd start crying again.

“Accept it or beat it, Niobe,” he said callously. “It's not because you weren't strong enough to take on the thing that gave him his tephrosis, but because that Konro guy chose while knowing the consequences of going through the limits of his pyrokinesis. Clearly, he knew the price and made his bed. Accept the acceptance, as you can't undo it.” His thumbs reached out to wipe the first tears that streamed down her cheeks. “Knowing you, you must have told the same thing to his protégé and here you are, being a hypocrite because you can't rid yourself of the guilt. Face it, doll: there's no come undone in this world, even though I have faith that we can still enjoy the good things while moving forward. Just... accept it. That's all you can do as a Fire Soldier.”

Or not. Sometimes being blunt to the point worked with her. She gritted her teeth at his blunt words, flinching. Before she could recoil from his touch, Karim pressed his forehead against hers in a gentle way.

“That's all. It's done. Learn about learning how we Fire Soldiers deal with failures and you'll learn how to move forward as well. I know it's different from failing an exam, but still: there's hope for maturity and growth, especially when you're of us.” His gaze softened. “My only concern is your choice of a Fire Force Company, as you had your fair pick between all those that were interested in you. Why the 7th?”

Niobe leaned forward to brush her lips against his in one of her feathery kisses that always left him wanting for more. Controlling himself around her had always been a challenge, especially in public places.

“Because I was there,” she said softly, her eyes sad. “Because so much happened in just one night and... yeah, I was there. It was Asakusa or nothing else.”

“Still don't get it, though,” Karim sighed before taking her lips.

The kiss was much slower and more tender this time, their lips moving tenderly in unison. It was one of those kisses they'd shared on their first date four years ago, when Karim had finally mustered the balls to ask Niobe out. Rekka lost too much money on betting that he wouldn't even get anywhere with Ashura Kirishima's precious daughter, and even Karim couldn't believe his own ears when Niobe confessed that she was also interested in him. Who'd have thought that a science nerd like her could kiss so well until he wanted to ravage her and render her addicted to him? He still had good wet dreams about their first time together, his memories very vivid (and no, he wasn't sharing anything with Rekka. Hell no!).

Then he kissed her tears, using his sinful tongue to collect the salty droplets. It was a rather intimate gesture between the two, as he only used his tongue for more sinful things on her body, but it was even more tender when she was crying. Sighing, Niobe allowed him this little liberty until she pushed him away a little with a frown and a grumble when he nipped at her nose—but Karim saw the feline smile before she took a sip of her hot drink. He relented with a small grin and a snort, drinking from his can.

A rather peaceful silence took place between them, free of the awkwardness that would creep in later on after reflecting on their intercourse. That was fine with Karim, as he had some thinking to do—especially about her induction. Fire Soldier Niobe Kirishima. Yeah, now he had to get used to it and remind himself that his ex-girlfriend had just been enrolled in the most likely Fire Force Company that will most certainly suit her best. And though it would be the most unusual yet, it set his mind at ease to know that she'd finally put her talents and skills to a much better use. The words tasted rather sweet on his tongue and would have tasted even more sweet if she'd chosen another Company. But then, Karim had to remember some annoying things.

He and Niobe weren't an item anymore. Since he, Rekka and Huo Yan were next in line to be promoted Lieutenant Priests, they'd have to take their vows and stand by them until they decided to step down from their positions. His faith was true and solid, but Karim loved Niobe way too much to give up on her—they'd been together for four beautiful years and to say that the student hadn't wormed her way deep in his heart was a pitiful understatement. She'd freaked out when he told her of his plans to become a priest, understandably so, but Karim stood by it. Breaking up with Niobe had been hard and painful, and the fact that they'd just made love after this disaster that ravaged the Tokyo Empire was more than revealing.

Were they over? Probably, but the lingering feelings were a colossal bitch to move on from. Were they just taking a break? No, there were no breaks with them; it was either going their separate ways or working things out. Hence the break-up that put him in one hell of a foul mood for about three weeks, which even persuaded Rekka not to tease him with his bullshit.

“What are we doing, Karim?” Niobe finally asked after a while.

The Fire Soldier glanced at her lazily. “You're asking me? You're the one who broke up with me, Niobe,” he reminded her coolly.

She turned towards him, giving him her best poker face—a blank face with her mismatched arrowed-eyes staring at him as if he'd grown stupid overnight. His brow twitched in a familiar, irritated way.

“And you're the one who jumped my bones, aren't you?” she shot back smoothly. “Unless my mind is messing with me and feeding me some crazy memories that never existed in the first place, you're the one who made love to me and...”

His gaze sharpened in interest. Niobe visibly faltered, blushing to the roots of her beautiful curls, and gritted her teeth in evident frustration before closing her eyes and turning away from him. She bit her lower lip, sitting cross-legged. No fucking way, Karim thought as he abruptly sat up to stare at his ex-girlfriend in muted disbelief. She'd never been one to shy away from her feelings, being quite outspoken (when she wanted to be), so the fact that she was now shying away from him only meant that...

“You don't hate me like you claimed, do you?” he breathed out. “You lied.”

“Yes, she did,” Atlas confirmed from his slot against the wall, where he was charging his battery.

Instead of answering, she drank the remnants of her hot chocolate and swiftly stood up to flee to the kitchen. But that was alright—it was as good as an answer to him. Spurned, Karim followed Niobe where he'd trap her. And probably get her off again. At this point, the Fire Soldier just couldn't let this slide. The second she deposited her empty cup in the sink, he grabbed her hips, turned her around and pressed himself against her to prevent any escape. The small gasp that she let out turned into a soft sigh as his muscled chest pushed against her full breasts, and even Karim couldn't restrain his groan when their hips were pulled flush together intimately. The cute blush adorning her cheeks made him want to ravage her right now, so much that he didn't care if her friends were on their way to her apartment. He couldn't help the way their lips brushed as he tilted her head to meet his gaze, his fingers closing on the soft curls. Karim almost kissed Niobe senseless when she let her hands run up his arms, feeling all the muscles and warm skin, until her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck. Because he didn't want to have her standing on her toes, he hoisted her up on the counter and stepped between her legs, hands grabbing her thighs.

He particularly appreciated how the delicate fingers traced his tattoos reverently—because he remembered that she loved doing that whenever she saw them. Sol, it still felt so good to feel all of her after all that happened between them. This downtime with Niobe was proving to be insightful.

“It just... freaked me out when you said that you wanted to rise to the position of Lieutenant Priest,” she confessed with a defeated expression. “It still does. I may understand your urge to help resolve the mystery of Human Combustion by joining the Special Fire Force, but it's that devotion to this religion I just don't get and can't even wrap my mind around. The servants of the Holy Sol, this unwavering faith to a Sun God—all of this sounds like rubbish to me. Pure. Utter. Illiterate. Rubbish.”

Karim pushed his forehead against hers, his gaze softening. “You know how important this duty is to me, don't you?” he asked on her lips, stroking her bare legs. “How it actually helps me sleep better at night after a shift of purifying souls? It's similar to you sticking with the values your father instilled in you since birth, although they don't preach to gods. Yeah, I believe in the Holy Sol and will devote my faith to him. So what? Does that change me?”

“... I guess not,” she huffed, frowning. “Otherwise I'd have shot you already with my arrows. But still, Karim...”

“Hm?”

“It definitely felt like I lost you to that Sun God.”

Ah, there it was. Niobe's real reason for freaking out on him and the cause of their break-up. Karim grimaced as he mentally kicked himself for not realizing it sooner, as it could have allowed him to explain himself and defuse the situation before it escalated to the regrettable separation that put them both at odds with everything. Inhaling, Niobe faced him with fierce eyes and a slight snarl. She even recoiled a little from him, which he immediately hated.

“I thought that if I broke up with you first, it would help me see where I might have messed up in our relationship for you to just... surrender your whole being to a so-called divinity. I tried, tried and tried. I failed. Call me selfish all you want, but the eventuality of having to give up what we had so you could focus on this duty of yours never sat well with me.” She shook her head vehemently. “I don't understand, Karim! Why you? Why not someone else? Why... why you?”

“Why not me?” he shot back hotly, crossing his arms against his chest with an irritated look. “Huh? Why not me? Because I believe that I can do it! My faith in this religion keeps me sane, Niobe! Rekka and Huo Yan even supported my decision by deciding to step up with me, why can't you do the same? Why can't you just accept that part of me?”

Her mismatched arrowed-eyes glowed, lighting up all the anger she was trying really hard to control, and Karim was certain that his were also glowing. The irritation that was building up in his gut was bubbling, begging to be released, and he wanted to take it out. They'd argued over the years as all couples did, over mindless and stupid things that always ended up with either one of them apologizing to the other and making peace, but this time? The Fire Soldier wasn't looking forward to the result of this argument, as this was the worst nuisance ever.

But they needed it. They needed to sort out their break-up for good.

Niobe jabbed her finger at his chest, scowling. “Because I chose to ignore it!” she hissed. “There I said it! I chose to ignore that offending side as I convinced myself it would be easier than just accept it, and accepting that insane faith of yours scared the hell out of me and challenged everything I stand for! So I opted for the easiest way to go around the process and skip it: ignorance and pretending you never bowed to the Holy Sol and would never go down that path because this religion is almost akin to brainwhashing!” She paused for a second, mulling it over, then jabbed her finger at his chest multiple times more angrily. “No, wait—it is brainwhashing! It's the greatest brainwashing I've ever seen in my life and my boyfriend, the little rebel I still love, chose to believe in some ludicrous deity his zealots companions have yet to prove its existence and he even tried to get me to join a Fire Force Company that will bow to the relic who serves as the regent of the Tokyo Empire, knowing full well that I'd never tent my hands or go anywhere near a cathedral where you pray to that Sun God of yours! Cowardly as it was, I still believed it was easier for me than just accepting! So go ahead, Karim. Call me a coward!” She sniffed and proudly raised her chin to him. Her beautiful eyes were defiant despite how vulnerable she now looked. “I know I am, I probably deserve it and at least I admit it!”

After Niobe was finally done opening her heart, she was breathing hard and trying to hold it together while Karim was left stunned at her outburst, eyes wide in both disbelief and realization. He'd even taken a step back to mull it over to the best of his ability and, even now, he could no longer ignore the trials his ex-girlfriend had gone through to actually find a way to accept that he was a devout follower of Sol and would certainly remain so for the rest of his life.

She had really tried to accept his faith in the religion, had tried hard during their relationship but had never found a way. The fact that Niobe had still wanted to make it work, despite her obvious disdain of his faith, absolutely meant the world to Karim. The pain she'd put herself through must have been immense for her to explode at him like this—meaning that his genius was both one strong woman and a coward for choosing the easiest way for her to bypass acceptance. Or just a coward who loved him too much to let him go that easily, even though they both knew they would have had to break up. Priests took their vows seriously and Karim, as much as he loved Niobe Kirishima with all he had, would have to break her heart and separate himself from her. Their first break-up had been bad... and if they decided to give it another go before he took his vows, he'd never get the position and never get to fulfill his duty. Because he wouldn't be able to let her go.

Still, that didn't mean Karim was going to let all this slide. All the pain Niobe put herself through just to make their relationship work... finally, she was being honest. Finally, they could sort this out. Encasing her in his arms and hugging her almost painfully, the Fire Soldier crashed his mouth on hers for a brutal kiss. He groaned in pleasure and approval when she instantly returned it with as much ardour, clinging to him with both her arms and legs wrapped around his hips. In this kiss, they poured everything—their love for each other, their anger, their frustration, their sadness, everything. As vulnerable as they were at the moment, they needed this so badly. Slowly, the kiss grew softer and more tender, until they finally separated with a blissful sigh and Karim pressed his forehead against Niobe's, relishing in her warm touch.

“Better?” he panted to her lips.

She hummed, struggling to regain her breath as well. “Mmmh... yeah,” she murmured softly. “Thank you for listening.”

“No, thank you for finally opening yourself to me, Niobe,” he countered, kissing her lips multiple times while cupping her cheeks. Then he heaved her in his arms, hoisting her against him by her ass. “That was a lot for you. For both of us. Let's take a nap, I'm fucking tired and I want to feel you.”

“You're not leaving this apartment, Karim.”

Fine by him, because he had no intention of leaving this place. He chuckled in amusement, kissing her curls affectionately. Yawning, Niobe hugged him and nuzzled her face into his neck while he strolled back to the bedroom with his precious cargo in tow. His lips trailed her neck, found her pulse point and pressed a tender kiss there. She jolted and shivered, giddy pleasure coursing her veins. Her throat was her weak spot, one that Karim had discovered during sex, and he also pressed kisses there when he wanted to apologize and thank her for something. He loved doing that.

“Thanks for admitting that you were a coward, love,” he murmured against her skin.

Niobe hummed and said nothing, but by the way she hugged him, Karim knew she was smiling lovingly and in relief. And that thought made him grin in return as he lay her down, crawled between her thighs and rested his head on her voluptuous chest with a satisfied sigh, which almost turned into a moan when her expert fingers threaded through his flattened mohawk to massage his scalp.

“Látom, baby.”

[…]

Somewhere in the background, the doorbell was ringing with insistance and sounded like it wasn't going to stop anytime soon. The sound rudely roused Karim from his deep slumber, and the Fire Soldier raised his head to glare hatefully at the wall. He'd been sleeping peacefully like a rock, Niobe all wrapped around him with her face nuzzling his chest, and some bastard was ringing his damn ears off. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he noticed that it was close to seven in the evening. He groaned in annoyance. Who the hell could be bothering them at this hour, even though it was rather late? Better yet, who the was out in the streets after this disaster? All the stores were either closed or destroyed.

A glance down at his ex showed that the student was still sleeping soundly, unbothered by the constant ringing. She was peaceful and breathing evenly. It really was a wonder how she could sleep this deep and not be disturbed by such annoying, shrill sound like a goddamn doorbell. He'd love to sleep like her sometimes, especially when after putting his first Infernal to rest as a Second Class Fire Soldier. Karim scowled at Niobe as he gently disentangled himself from her, then put his trousers on.

“This better be good,” he grumbled unhappily before stalking towards the door.

“Karim, it would be wise to put a shirt on before greeting guests,” Atlas pointed out from his spot on the couch, his head turned to watch him go.

Karim's expression grew extremely irritated. “I seriously couldn't give a damn about putting a damn shirt on right now, Atlas,” he snipped, unlocking and wrenching the door open to glare murderously at the intruders. “What the hell? Be quieter with the quieting before I make you!”

Six pairs of eyes stared at him in complete confusion and blinked twice. Irked to the max, Karim stared them down one after the other and managed to identify them after a few seconds of calming down: the first one he recognized was the famous Vulcan Joseph with his burgundy red hair, vibrant green eyes and tattoos, as the young teenager was a crazy talented engineer all the Special Fire Force Companies and even Haijima tried to recruit. The second was the young boy with dark hair braided into a low ponytail and a cross-shaped bandage in the middle of his forehead, who blinked large, dark blue eyes at him (Yū, was his name. I think, Karim thought). Though they'd already met each other a few times, Vulcan didn't seem to have gotten past his disdain for the Fire Soldiers of the Fire Force, as his features narrowed in a harsh glare.

Then, the other four intruders were relatively easy to recognize: Baccarat with her dark hair and dark blue streaks partially hidden under her usual black beanie, Ren with his fancy strawberry blonde hair and his ever crinkling green eyes, Bo with her long curly brown hair, big blue eyes and fancy clothes, and finally, Nyx with his black and white clothes and the infamous panda hood, darker complexion, long black hair cut into a half-mohawk and tied neatly into a man bun and the intricate symbols tattooed directly under his mouth towards his chin. A moko kaue, he'd called it when Karim had asked.

Only Niobe Kirishima could become friends with such diverse people who not only were mismatched, but also fit very well together in a strange dynamic.

“Err... hi, Karim!” Bo greeted him with a cheerful, yet perplexed smile and a wave of her hand. “What an unexpected surprise to encounter you here! Did you come to see Niobe?”

Nyx, ever the 'smooth talker' of their group, bumped in with his mildly interested stare and his brow raised in questioning. “Because I specifically remember her freaking out, dumping you after confessing that you wanted to become a Lieutenant Priest and doing her best to avoid your ass so she could move on,” he drawled, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. “Were we mistaken? Otherwise, you wouldn't be greeting her guests showing off your goods and your bed hair.”

Fuck that... Karim's scowl deepened. Damn it, Nyx just had to remind him of his ordeal with Niobe because of his prying! This was particularly one of the main reasons he'd never liked this guy when she first introduced him. He was on the same 'He pisses me the hell off' level as Rekka (and he was wearing his pants, goddamn!).

“You're right, we did break up and we're still broken up at the moment, so what happened prior to your arrival was just in the heat of the moment,” the Fire Soldier groused irritably.

“We pretty much had that covered at the very least, Captain Obvious,” Baccarat deadpanned, crossing her arms with a smirk. “So, you gonna let us come in so we can see our best friend or what?”

Before Karim could step aside to do just that, Vulcan rudely elbowed him and went inside, grumbling about him being a 'useless bastard' or something like that.

“Ah, Vulcan!” Yū exclaimed, holding his hands in a placating gesture. “We didn't come here to start a fight, remember?”

“Hey!” Karim growled at him, catching his arm. He barely flinched when the engineer whirled back to glare at him and merely glared back. “Watch it, kid. Just because Niobe views you as her little brother doesn't mean that you can disrespect me just because I'm a Fire Soldier and her ex. So calm down with the attitude before I calù you down by tearing you a new one.”

Vulcan nearly snarled at him. “Yeah? I'd like to see that,” he challenged boldly.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Ren pushed past the two with a frustrated sigh and wrapped his arms around their shoulders with a forceful, hopeful smile and crinkling green eyes that would make Bo proud. “Look boys, we came here to spend some exaggerated time with our resident Robotics genius because she happened to have been at the maybe-wrong place at the maybe-wrong time, not watch you two getting into a brawl inside her apartment. Right, Niobe?” he laughed over his shoulder.

There was a soft yawn behind Karim as the newest Fire Soldier stumbled in their direction. “With how loud you already are at the moment, I'd say we're gonna have some wild evening and night,” she said drowsily.

Karim glanced at her over his shoulder with a very irritated expression, noted her wild curls sticking out even more from everywhere in that sizeable afro, the dark blue-ish ends contrasting with the whiteness of her hair, her sleepy mismatched arrowed-eyes, her slight pout and the dishevelled state she was in—since she was wearing an oversized green T-Shirt with the periodic table of elements that showed one shoulder and all the love bites he left behind, it just served to confirm what they'd done just hours ago. She certainly isn't helping with our case, Karim thought as he shrugged off Ren's arm with a groan, going back inside to lounge in the couch.

“Niobe, you're okay!” Yū exclaimed happily.

After he toed his shoes off, he barreled into her, wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into her stomach. She nearly fell back with a startled expression, her eyes going wide.

“Woah, easy there, little fella!” Vulcan chuckled, coming to steady the duo. “That little one is still half-knocked out from her past enjoyment.”

Ren laughed, eyes crinkling. “I'll be damned, she's still as fine as a pin-up and she's breathing!” His arms enveloped both Yū and Niobe and he hugged them tight. “Now that you're okay, do I get to finally see you in your underwear pretty soon as a reward for not dying out on me and feeding all of my fantasies?”

“Easy with that easy-going language, you easy-goer!” Karim snipped at him from the couch, his sleepy eyes glaring at the ladiesman of the group. “I'm still here and my aim has become much better.”

Oh, he ought to throw this ladies lover chunks of ice just because he felt like it. Through their relationship, he and Niobe had trained a lot together; learning of their respective Ignition Abilities, some hand-to-hand combat (that ended up rolling in the dirt and kissing, sometimes) and amongst other things. The most interesting lessons were the shooting sessions, as his ex's sight was exceptional. Karim's aim had gotten very good and he wouldn't hesitate to launch his empty can of Moca Cola at Ren's head.

Ren blanched, going still with his grin frozen on his handsome face. Nyx and Baccarat snickered as they entered the apartment, the latter closing the door behind her. Bo, ever the enthusiastic one, jumped on the hugging trio to glomp Niobe with a cheerful laugh and nuzzle her curls with a wide smile. Since the Third Gen hadn't predicted her exuberant friend's action, she, Vulcan, Yū, Ren and Bo fell over on the ground in an impressive heap of limbs. Karim watched this with an unimpressed expression, huffing, while Nyx was smirking widely, crouching next to Niobe's head.

“Still breathing down there, Shaka Brah?” he teased.

All he received was a middle finger. Nyx guffawed and shook his head.

“Sorry-not-sorry to disturb your alone time together, but our common archer friend seriously scared the hell out of us, so we're gonna crash here for the night,” Baccarat bluntly announced to Karim, leaning against the couch next to the Fire Soldier with a smirk. “You don't mind the intrusion, do you?”

“Does it sound like I have a choice?” Karim said flatly.

Baccarat snorted. “No.”

“Whatever, I sleep in the bed with Niobe.” Karim smirked back. “You can't argue with that one, punk.”

“Ugh. Be silent if you want to—”

Bo chose that moment to chime in and interrupt Baccarat's crass retort.

“BACCARAT!” she admonished in a loud voice, making everyone cringe at the volume of her lungs. “We've got children with us!”

“Do I really have to remind you that I'm sixteen and soon-to-be seventeen?” Vulcan chided. “I'm not that innocent!”

Bo turned her scandalized eyes at him. “VULCAN JOSEPH!” she nearly shrieked, making all of them cringe again.

“Agh! Sorry, Yū!”

“A-ah, it's nothing, master...”

“You should be more considerate of Niobe's neighbors, as some are trying to have a nice evening after the very much recent disaster,” Atlas piped in helplessly, lifting his big paw in the air as if to lecture all of them.

At the teddy bear robot being the ultimate—and most certainly only—voice of reason in this apartment, all finally sobered up and picked themselves up, now bustling around to start their evening more quietly. The second Niobe said that she'll start making dinner, the Fire Soldier immediately got up and joined her in the kitchen to lend a hand without second thought.

Damn. Karim actually forgot how exhausting his ex-girlfriend's friends really could be when they all missed each other; it wasn't that different than him missing Huo Yan and Rekka when the three best friends weren't hanging out. It would be like trying to reign in a hyperactive dog (a.k.a Rekka Hoshimiya) everytime they'd do something to relax on their days off, because the starry-eyed idiot refused to be leashed. Just like Niobe's friends, Karim Flam, Huo Yan Li and Rekka Hoshimiya worked in a strange dynamic despite their very opposite personalities and fit well together.

Sighing, the Fire Soldier still allowed himself a little smirk. To think that he also fit in his ex-girlfriend's group was kinda cool, even though they were all very much aware of their recent break-up. What a rowdy bunch they all made. Even if Vulcan was still somewhat hostile towards him, Karim would like to think that he still considered him a 'comrade'.

“I hope you're not upset we're intruding, Karim?” Bo asked him, concern etched on her face and voice. “It's just that... well...”

He just nodded serenely at her, grabbing the handle of the fridge.

“We all were, Bo,” he said, sending Niobe a knowing look. “We all were.”

[…]

Dinner was a somber affair, as everyone was trying to laugh and smile—keyword being 'trying', as Karim could see just how wrecked they all were. The smiles were forced and fake, the eyes far from crinkling. Even Ren had turned off his charm button, choosing to eat Niobe's food in silence and only piping in whenever the subject would spark his interest. Bo wasn't even her cheerful self, which was a bit unsettling. Nyx was always subdued and less talkative than the others, content in watching and throwing some of his remarks, but he was so quiet and withdrawn this time that it was actually draining. And Baccarat?

That's some moody expression she got there, Karim thought as he swallowed his last bite of onigiri. She could brood even harder than him. Awesome. Really.

Though none of them had suffered any loss in their families, as the Special Fire Force had come to their aid in time, the shock hadn't really subsided. Facades were up, smiles were raised—all this charade just to hide the trauma and terror the disaster had spread. You were all scared, even you, baby, Karim thought as he tightened his arm round Niobe's waist and tucked his chin on her shoulder. He pressed a tender kiss on her collarbone when she leaned back against him, eyes closed and absent-mindedly munching on inarizushi. She intertwined their fingers together and squeezed them, relishing in his presence.

After a while of pretending, the facades finally fell. And it was relieving. Yeah.

No pretending anymore.

[…]

After dessert, Niobe told them everything. And the reactions were quite Karim expected.

“You're joining the Special Fire Force? You? You're not joking, are you?” Nyx exclaimed in disbelief—so uncharacteristic of him. “Our Third Gen archer is finally being swept away by a Company...”

“The Hikeshi Fire brigade of Asakusa has been inducted into the Fire Force and they actually accepted?” Bo wondered, stunned. “This is unreal. The aftermath must have been horrible if the proud proto-nationalists decided to put their pride aside to join forces with the Tokyo Empire...”

“Wow. My respect for them has seriously gone up for realizing that they can't keep doing things on their own, even though they despise the Empire and refuse to embrace the Holy Sol,” Baccarat mused, crossing her arms against her chest. “They recognized their limits. Huh. Good, I think...? But I doubt Asakusa will abandon their old traditionalist values to accept the authority of the Empire and the religion.”

“You're going to join these thugs? Niobe, have more respect for yourself and keep being a free spirit!” Ren wailed dramatically, clutching at Niobe's hand. “You don't even have a valid reason to join the Special Fire Force at all, they can't take you away from us as if they had any right to!”

As for Vulcan, the engineer was quiet with his thoughts, but his face clearly showed his brewing anger and disgust. Karim understood him, though he couldn't really relate. He clearly disapproved of the idea, as he'd been approached too many times by many of his colleagues because of his outstanding skills, so now having to get used to the thought of his big sister as a Fire Soldier was certainly unsettling to him.

His stormy eyes found Niobe's. “Are you okay with this?” he asked her, his voice curt. “You've been rebuffing the Special Fire Force since last year and you're joining the only Company that won't bow to the Tokyo Empire and hates Haijima. How do you know the other Companies won't try to sway you?”

“Because of their captain,” Niobe simply said, shifting on Karim's lap to cross her legs and wrap an arm around his neck. “Because he's the one who chose to recruit me before Sōichirō Hague of the 4th could even think of offering right off the bat, as I was there to lend a hand when the Fire Force failed them. Just like they failed us last year at TEIT,” she sighed tiredly, rubbing at her eyes. “Believe me, he's the only one who's fiercely opposed to joining forces with the Empire as he's aware this is nothing but an opportunity to exploit them. You weren't there to witness how livid Shinmon Benimaru was at having to accept the fact that he's now a Fire Soldier.”

There was a small moment of silence during which everyone tried to digest the news, as this was so unexpected and ludicrous at the same time. Because it was: all the pyrokinetics who joined the Special Fire Force had their reasons and ambition to do so, they had a drive to make a change in this world—the mystery of Spontaneous Human Combustion had to be solved once and for all. All Fire Soldiers stood up for something and they believed in their ambitions.

But Niobe Kirishima? Their Niobe Kirishima becoming a Fire Soldier with no drive to put her skills as a pyrokinetic and her talents as an engineer to a use? That was a joke and, had she really been joking, they'd have all laughed until their stomachs hurt. But the time for jokes had long passed. They all had yet to believe this was actually happening. She really was going to join the Special Fire Force, as a Fire Soldier and an engineer. “But we haven't graduated yet,” Bo had supplied helplessly in a plaintive tone.

It wasn't that Niobe didn't care that people were dying because of the terrible phenomenon, she just thought that there already enough pyrokinetics striving to protect them and uncover the truth behind Spontaneous Human Combustion. Why would they need yet another one to bolster their cause? As selfish as it sounded, Niobe refused to take part in the fight because she wanted to live by her rules, for herself, and not burn away for others. Fire Soldiers were heroes and that was fine. She refused to become one, that was fine too.

But since everything happened for a reason, it looked like her old routine of creating robots, hacking into any challenging system at hand and just living her simple life had come to an end last night. Karim will have to get used to it, Niobe will have to—everyone in this apartment will now have to remember that their Niobe Kirishima was now going to lead a very different life from now on.

“What about Hajiki?” Vulcan pressed. “Does he know that you've been recruited?”

Niobe nodded. “He does. He said he'd be visiting when he can, as the 2nd is absolutely swarmed with paperwork. Which reminds me,” she mused as she looked down at Karim, who raised his brow at her. “Don't you have paperwork to do as well, Frost?”

“Captain Burns gave us the rest of the day off, so we'll continue tomorrow,” he said, relishing when she nuzzled comfortably against him. “We'll work to the bone until we've finally uncovered the reason for such massive outbreak of Infernals all over Tokyo. That... that wasn't natural.”

The ashen tone in Karim's voice prompted everyone to sober up all at once, their eyes losing their hue as they shut up. The smell of burning flesh, the flames ravaging everything in sight, Infernals rampaging right and left while Fire Soldiers struggled to put them to rest and also take care of the fires, the civilians screaming for help—that night had been a nightmare for just about everyone and they hadn't gotten out of it unscathed. All the lives that had been lost weighed on Karim's mind, as the souls he and his peers hadn't been able to save had burnt away for far too long.

Hence his ambition to rise to the position of Lieutenant Priest. If he managed to make Niobe understand and accept this side of him, then maybe they'd be able to part ways more peacefully this time. Karim will still ask her one last request before letting go her to focus on his duty and fully devote himself to the Sun God—as a man who had lingering feelings for his ex, he thought he deserved a clean break-up to wipe the slate clean. So did Niobe.

“All Fire Soldiers will need to work together,” Bo murmured, taking her cup of hot cocoa.

Ren cleared his throat, his green eyes uncertain. “You're now a Fire Soldier too, Niobe,” he reminded her begrudgingly. “Does that mean you'll have be moving to Asakusa and living there?”

She hummed sympathetically, nodding. Sighing, Ren threw his hands up with a frustrated expression. Nyx huffed silently with a curl on his lip, clearly thrown off. Bo looked really sad and her lower lip was quivering, loved up in her seat next to a brooding Baccarat. Little Yū wasn't sure what to say, so he settled for a reassuring grin sent to Niobe. Vulcan huffed and crossed his muscled, tattooed arms against his chest, choosing to sulk and brood.

It will definitely take them a while to get used to the idea, Karim thought, running his thumb on Niobe's bare thigh. When something metallic and smooth patted his head kindly, he turned to the side to gaze at Atlas, whose black robotic eyes were looking at him.

“I'm not leaving Niobe's side after the two of you finally sort out your break-up for good, if you're worried about the after,” the robot said. Then he cocked his head to the side, blinking. “You're about to take your vows, Karim. There won't be a next time for you two.”

How straightforward. Though he was a robot, Karim appreciated the fact that Niobe coded an algorithm that made Atlas sound more... human. Not only did he call her out on her bullshit when she needed to, but he also spoke the truth and made sure that she remained alright. And hearing from Atlas that their break-up was to be and should remain final sparked a cold feeling of resignation in him. Judging from the way Niobe shifted on his lap and sighed, he knew she agreed. Just like Karim did.

“Yeah, I know.”

Sighing as well, Karim closed his eyes and turned away. Sol forbid if he ever allowed his ex-girlfriend's robot see the tears welling up. He wasn't ready to let her go. Not yet.

Chapter Two: It’s still called living

Author's Note 1: Niobe's hairstyle is taken from a character named Amber Lee Thompson in a Disney comic book called “Real Life”. Amber's got a massive, magnificent and fiery afro that reminds me of a giant fireball. And it's orange. Orange! It's beautiful. So Niobe's got the same.

As soon as Niobe was in view, Hinata and Hikage beamed at her with their brightest smile and ran at top speed in her direction. Though the student was still in a daze and terribly shaken by all the events that happened in the last hours, seeing the twins actually managed to raise her spirits and she couldn't help but return the smile. She carefully knelt on the ground, opened her arms wide and caught both girls as they barreled into her and wound their arms tightly around her. Niobe hugged them with a weak laugh, managing to not fall over on her back as she was still exhausted. She swayed a little, but balanced herself rather well.

“Look who's smiling again,” Niobe crooned, her eyes softening as the twins nuzzled her happily. “You two were very brave last night. Did you get scared?”

“What are you talking about, White Monkey?” the twins chorused in unison. “We don't get scared!”

“They were, but just a little. Enough to wake me up and have me playing with them,” a familiar robotic voice chimed in. “It was a hassle, but also a delight on its own.”

Hinata and Hikage both huffed, pulling away from Niobe's arms, and pouted adorably as they avoided her small knowing smile. Behind them, her best friend sauntered in their direction to put his purple bear paw that was too big for his size on Hinata's head to pet it kindly. The little friend Niobe had given the twins last night was the project she'd presented when the selection for her formation had begun—he was a robot with the appearance of a bear cub, always on its hind legs. He had the twins' height, which made him quite tall. His skin was separated into Niobe's most favorite colors (bright purple for the right, dark blue for the left) and so soft at the touch that he seemed to have actual fur on him. He had an exoskeleton made of titanium the student had used from her institute, which she'd also modified along with its skin to make him mostly fireproof. Mostly.

Not only was he her first project, but he was her pride and joy—the companion geniuses in Robotics would love to have for many reasons, but hers were so personal that she couldn't see herself abandoning him. Because of his immeasurable support, she gave her best friend a name fitting for him.

Getting up with a sigh, Niobe blew on her long curl. “Thanks for keeping an eye on the girls and entertaining them, Atlas,” she said gratefully, nodding at her companion. “With all that was happening and occurred since last night, we all need a breather.”

“Are you alright, Niobe?” Atlas inquired, ignoring her thanks as he looked her straight in the eyes. “You look off.”

“Yes, cha-ma-llow,” Niobe lied with a frown. “Why do you ask?”

Atlas slowly blinked his black robotic eyes at her. “Because your smile is as fake as your hatred for your ex-boyfriend,” he deadpanned.

Niobe bit her lower lip guiltily and turned away abruptly with a huff. Why the hell was her best friend always so damn observant? And so sassy? And so not that robotic and actually more human? Maybe because she'd coded his programming to be not just be a friend to her, but also someone who would call her out on her bullshit and be as blunt as possible. Thus being the reason Atlas was born and created.

Nonetheless, he was right—she wasn't okay. After Asakusa, all those people that had turned and that she had to kill, the near-death experience she'd narrowly escaped from, the sacrifice of a crazy strong Hikeshi soldier whose honor and noble action was too much to handle and her sudden recruitment into the least expected Fire Force Company, Niobe Kirishima needed more than just a breather. Inhaling more than necessary to prevent herself from shouting to the heavens, the sniper slowly knelt with her head bowed, closed her watery eyes and bit her lip harder. She shook her head wildly, garnering the twins' attention as they crowded her and tried to get her to talk.

No, she couldn't lie to herself more than she could lie to Atlas. Yesterday had been a fine day and still, it went to shit so suddenly and violently that she had yet to believe that it happened at all. All that fire, those screams from the terrified townspeople who were running for their lives, that intense panic she'd done her worst to shut down and swallow behind another of her masks, that so-called confidence with which she'd answered Benimaru's proposal—hell, that wasn't her at all!

“Niobe?” Hinata—or Hikage—inquired worryingly as both girls suddenly hugged her. “Niobe, talk to us!”

No, let me break, she thought in anguish as fat tears streaked down her cheeks and fell on the ground. Let me have this, this was too much for me...

“—the shock of the aftermath now settling in. Finally, Niobe can cry—”

Yeah, she could now. Forget her pride and image, what she'd just lived last night was a fucking wake-up call that this world was and would still be a godforsaken place because of that phenomenon. Until someone figured out why it was happening and killing people mercilessly. The Special Fire Force may have been created in order to fight this and find the key to this mystery, but even they weren't able to give back what has been stolen from the living. This was reality. Though one would think there was always tomorrow, that it was another day and there might be smiles for families of the victims of Spontaneous Human Combustion, Niobe thought and sometimes believed it was utter bullshit. And for someone who had fire powers such as hers, who refused to be useful in the Fire Force because there was no valid reason to join the organization (according to Niobe), it was a colossal bitch when reality came back crashing down on her. How the hell could Fire Soldiers fight this, have a breakdown and still get back up?

“Hinata, Hikage, go. I'll deal with her.”

Niobe sniffed and wiped at her eyes angrily. Why are you here? Just let me be. Go take of the fallen and leave me here, she thought as the twins fervently argued with Benimaru, until he actually growled at them to scram to the guardhouse, and they scampered away with a whimper. Had she been in a better state of mind, the student would have kicked him in the balls twice, but she didn't even react when the Hikeshi knelt behind her. Not even when he put a hand on her back, clutched at her T-Shirt to forcibly pull her into a sitting position. However, Niobe literally froze with wide eyes when Benimaru draped himself over her smaller body, his arms fully encasing her to bring her flush against him and even restrain her own movements, and tucked his chin on her right shoulder.

While the gesture was nice and comforting, it didn't come from one of her human friends or ex-boyfriend, but from a stranger whom she knew absolutely nothing about and had threatened to break her neck just yesterday. It made Niobe panic. And in panic, you try your best to wrestle your way out. So she did just that, attempting to shrug him by contorting her way out of his arms, but Benimaru tightened his hold on her. She clenched her teeth, unable to stop her crying, and turned away from him. Atlas didn't move from his spot near them, just watched on.

“So the strongest can break down too,” he mused softly—as softly as a robot teddy bear could do. “Let him have this, Niobe.”

“Go away, Hikeshi!” Niobe growled savagely, struggling in Benimaru's hold.

“Shut up,” Benimaru growled back just as hotly, his hands and arms tightening even more.

“Niobe. Let him have this,” Atlas repeated. “He can't hide them. Not with someone who understands.”

His voice was soothing, as always whenever she was suffering a breakdown, but it didn't seem to reach her this time—the disgust, anger directed at herself and this awful sentiment of being nothing but a murderer for using her pyrokinesis to shoot down these people were too overwhelming for Niobe, who wanted nothing more than go back to her life as a university student who created robots. Why the hell had she stayed in Asakusa? Worse, why had she offered to lend a hand? All she did was kill these people and their death must have been so painful, despite the torture of the flames.

All of a sudden, she felt something wet fall on the skin of her shoulder and she froze in shock, her breathing harried. Then it happened twice, thrice, and soon there were too many for the student to count. Low gasps rumbled in her ears, the body clinging to hers started shaking uncontrollably as silent sobs racked him, gaining in intensity. Niobe couldn't even balk and just kept crying while her mismatched eyes were wide, dull and empty. The boy behind her didn't seem to care about anything else and was crying along with her, just as wrecked by the awful events piling up, and was breaking down too.

“I couldn't do a damn thing... he forbade me and now he's got tephrosis...,” Benimaru sobbed, tucking his face into the crook of her neck. “I couldn't do a damn thing, it's all my fault...”

Niobe gulped loudly and painfully. Her grip on his forearm tightened and she shook her head, her stomach turning. She was feeling so nauseous with herself, almost dizzy that she had no idea how she could still be sitting down here and not emptying her stomach in the river right in front of them. Just listening to Benimaru lose his shit to her—an outsider who had no right in interfering—was actually breaking her apart. His sense of guilt was eating him up, threatening to swallow him whole.

“Because you would have done the exact same thing and he wouldn't have been able to bear it,” Niobe murmured, looking up at the bright sky. “Doesn't he know you better than anyone else? Don't you think he would have been the one to feel absolutely guilty over allowing you to fight and get tephrosis when it was clear that he valued your life over his?”

“He should have trusted me! I could have helped, I-I would have—”

“Withered away of tephrosis because he doesn't deserve this? And you do?” Niobe snarled, raising her trembling hands to stare at them. Devastation coated her lovely features. “If anyone deserves going up in ashes, I believe it can only be me. Look what I did: shooting down your people with my arrows when I should have never done that, giving them such a disrespectful death because this night had turned into hell and you couldn't have been enough to put them all to rest. What the hell does that make me? I'm so sorry for doing this, when all I wanted was to not get involved because I thought you'd refuse the help of an outsider and just run to help my father or friends.” She sobbed silently for a few seconds, grinding her teeth. “But I came, helped... and murdered your people. How can you thank and praise me for this? How can you even stand looking at me? I should be banned from coming back to Asakusa.”

Benimaru didn't seem to have an answer for that and merely tightened his hold on Niobe's arms and body even more, to the point that it was painful and her limbs were slowly growing numb. However, she had to bite on her lower lip to muffle her yelp of surprise when his teeth latched onto her shoulder and bit into the smooth skin—probably hard enough to make her bleed. But when she heard the muffled yell Benimaru released, all insults and complaints were strangled by the raw emotion in his voice; there was so much pain, anger, sadness and guilt being expressed that it shut Niobe up, trembling against him. And at this moment, she finally understood Atlas' words when she processed them in her mind.

“He can't hide them. Not with someone who understands.”

She gasped and attempted to gulp down her anguish, unable to fully relax while the Hikeshi was still screaming his emotions and biting into her shoulder. It might now make more sense as to why he was refusing to let go—she'd been there with him, she'd seen Konro and had felt so helpless as well. The guilt felt like a gaping wound that wouldn't heal for a long time, as the man had also taken her out alongside his protégé to spare her tephrosis. Konro didn't know her at all, yet took her out of the fight to protect her. The fact that she was an outsider hadn't seemed to matter anymore and didn't seem to matter much now. Niobe wanted to ask them why, because she didn't deserve that. And Benimaru had recruited her as one of his Fire Soldiers—why the hell had she said yes?

That couldn't be pity because he didn't seem the type to feel any for an outsider.

After what seemed hours, Benimaru slumped against Niobe and she had to brace herself on her hands and knees to avoid falling flat on the ground again. Goddamn, he's heavy, she thought with a surprised expression, as she'd never thought that someone almost as small as she was could be packing so much. His jaws relaxed on her shoulder, letting go of the tender skin, and his limbs loosened around her. The Hikeshi was still breathing harshly in her neck and trembling, but the tears had finally stopped. Niobe counted until ten before she looked over her shoulder, her blurry eyes finding Benimaru's mop of dark hair nuzzling the side of her head.

“Let's go,” she declared softly. “Konro needs his leader. He needs you.”

He inhaled and exhaled tiredly, lifting his face from her neck. He wiped at his eyes almost angrily, but the stained marks on his cheeks and his red-brimmed gaze will certainly give away that he'd broken down. Moving off of her, Benimaru plopped unceremoniously on his ass with an exhausted groan and propped an arm on his raised knee with a sullen expression. Niobe silently raised herself on her knees, gauging him while he got his bearings straight, because he needed to get his shit together.

When he finally opened his eyes and turned towards her, his gaze was automatically glued to the angry red bite on her shoulder. Benimaru frowned and gritted his teeth. He hadn't been kind, this will remain there for days. He'll need to apologize for that.

“And we need to talk,” he said hoarsely. “After you reassure your family and friends that you're okay, because this is going to take long. We need to sort out this damn mess together if we're to become the Special Fire Force Company 7.”

“Right, I need to check with them all,” Niobe mumbled with a grimace. “Asakusa can't have been the only area that has been hit by such massive outbreak of Infernals...” She turned towards her best friend, her eyes apprehensive. “Atlas? Has anyone called?”

The robot approached her with the backpack in his large paws. “Yes. Many people have called and left you messages, demanding an answer as soon as possible,” he announced, handing his creator her smartphone. “You currently have ninety-seven messages and ninety missed calls, most of them from your father, Bo, Nyx, Ren, Baccarat, Vulcan, Hajiki... and Karim.” Atlas looked at her pointedly. “And they'll keep calling until you give them an answer.”

“What is it, your personal assistant?” Benimaru wondered, glancing at the robot with a slightly puzzled look. “It's very precise with numbers... and it seems human too. The hell?”

Niobe didn't grace him with an answer, as she swiftly got back up and patted her pants with a thoughtful expression that matched the turmoil inside her head. She'd expected her father and friends to call like crazy, as they'd all known that she'd wanted to wander Asakusa, but Karim? That certainly was a surprise, considering how bad their break-up had been following his confession to rise to the position of Lieutenant at Company 1 and become a priest. Nonetheless, Niobe wasn't much concerned about him right now and how bad-tempered he'd be if he were to catch her, but more about her father.

She didn't even have to ask Atlas about his whereabouts, since she already knew where he was—on his way to Asakusa to throttle his precious daughter for worrying him sick. Oh, the earful she was about to get for not only using her pyrokinesis against Infernals but also getting noticed again to be recruited into a Fire Force Company.

“Cha-ma-llow... there's more trouble heading my way,” Niobe muttered bitterly.

Benimaru raised a curious brow in her direction. “Why is that?” he inquired nonchalantly. “Thought you getting identified by the Special Fire Force was trouble enough?”

“Yes, plenty, but the most annoying will be more personal and—”

The smooth hissing sound of Atlas turning his head and blinking his eyes wasn't enough to get her attention, but the familiar, intimidating pressure of someone close to her and Niobe froze with a petrified, terrified expression on her lovely face. The strangled gasp that rose from her throat and the terrified, wide eyes got Benimaru's attention, but his gaze was instantly directed at the man standing behind the sniper. He did a double-take at the sudden appearance that he hadn't been able to sense coming and stared up at the newcomer's face in confusion. When the hell had he got there?

Atlas thought it helpful to greet the man. “Hello, master Ashura,” he said with respect, waving at the tall man.

“Atlas,” the familiar baritone greeted back.

Yeah, it was definitely him. And he was pissed. There was no mistaking this.

Niobe had long started trembling before she even got to notice that her hands were shaking like leaves, as the sheer fear she was feeling from her father's presence was overwhelming all of her senses. It revived all these memories of intense, harsh training that had been drilled into her ever since she was a child. The martial arts, the lessons of pyrokinesis to master her powers, the Superfire—all Niobe had to learn was to survive for reasons she had yet to know. Her knees hit the ground as her legs gave out and she let out another strangled gasp, blinking fast and tucking her fisted hands into her sides. What the hell is he doing here? I didn't tell him when I was going to visit Asakusa, Niobe thought frantically.

“We need to talk, Niobe,” Ashura Kirishima declared with his deep, chilling voice. “But first, I need to examine my former pupil's wounds.” He turned towards Benimaru. “May you lead the way, young man? And no, that was not a request.”

[…]

Very few things managed to shake off Shinmon Benimaru and another one had just been added on the list the second he'd realized his mentor had contracted tephrosis to save his life. The feelings of failure, guilt and shame were raw and still raging in his being when this man suddenly showed up, grabbed the frightened Niobe by the waist to hoist her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing, and promptly looked at him pointedly. Benimaru would have gladly told him to fuck off, as this clearly was a time of crisis, but he found himself tongue-tied in front of this older man; such imperious stare with those dark blue eyes of his reminded him of Konro during his childhood, teenage years and even now.

This was too familiar to ignore. So he silently got up, not without a defiant snarl sent in the man's direction, and headed back towards the guardhouse. Since the building had been one of the few to have remained untouched by the fires, Benimaru and Niobe had taken him to his room so he could rest until a doctor arrived to have a good look at the fallen Hikeshi. And suffice to say, the young man hadn't expected this.

“I take it you're the sniper girl's father?” he asked nonchalantly, side-eyeing him.

“'Sniper girl'... now that is amusing, because that is how the last reports of the Special Fire Force dubbed you, Niobe,” Ashura drawled, ignoring Benimaru as if he hadn't spoken. “Back when you forced yourself to use your pyrokinesis to deal with the Infernals at your institute. Did you get noticed again, baby girl?”

Niobe stiffened and made a strangled sound, preferring to be silent. However, that was as good as a positive response, causing Ashura's expression to sour considerably. Benimaru's curiosity was peaked, despite the twitching of his brow and the beginning of a snarl. What the hell was Niobe's father talking about? Was it the thing she'd refused to talk about last night? If so, then he needed to dig up and learn more about this.

They reached the guardhouse pretty quickly, encountering many Hikeshi soldiers who didn't bother concealing their distaste and disdain upon seeing another outsider in their turf. Benimaru couldn't blame them; the expensive black suit and shoes, the snow white hair elegantly slicked back and the insolent, imperious aura he exuded was legitimately insulting to the people of Asakusa. He almost looked like someone from those shady Haijima Industries. Scoffing in derision, the genius fighter pushed the royal blue curtains aside to come in.

“Shoes off, outsider,” he reminded, his tone acidic as he toed his boots off. “Just to make sure.”

Ashura didn't acknowledge him, setting his daughter on the ground. Gone was the terror on her face, now she looked off and just as drained as Benimaru was of everything at the moment: her exhausted mismatched arrowed-eyes gazed up at her father, as if waiting for another round of biting, hurtful remarks that—wait a damn minute, did that guy say 'former pupil'?

Benimaru rounded up on Niobe's father, his Tic-Tac-Toe eyes now blazing and distrustful. “Who the hell are you and how do you know Konro?” he demanded hotly, scowling murderously.

“Hikeshi, please mind your tone, tongue and everything with my father?” Niobe warned dully as she jumped between him and the imposing man. Her outstretched arms prevented him from going up to Kirishima Ashura's face at the last second and she gave him a dull glare. “He's not here as an enemy, at all. He's a concerned father—I believe—and former sensei.”

Benimaru stiffly cocked his head to the side and looked down at the sniper with a disconcerted expression and narrowed eyes. Now what the hell was she spouting?

“Excuse me?” he asked flatly.

“That's right,” Ashura confirmed, nodding as he toed his fancy shoes off. “As years went by following my departure from Asakusa and my wedding to my wife, I took to raising my family and left our hometown to my only and most trusted pupil. I am not surprised you know so little about me, Benimaru, as I asked Konro not to talk too much about me but perpetuate some of my teachings. You were far too young and too much of a hell-riser to follow my discipline, so I had someone else teaching you the iaido martial arts.”

The ghost of a smile curled his lips upward and his dark blue eyes crinkled a little, surprising Niobe as she stared at her father in awe because it was such a rare sight to behold. Even his usually jaded and hard eyes had just softened at the mention of Konro, but were now hooded with dread. Despite still being distrustful, all the heat cooled off in Benimaru's being as he gaped in utter disbelief.

Now that he was a little clear in the head, the name Kirishima Ashura did sound familiar to him and it rang a bell; memories of sitting down with Konro for tea in the late afternoon flashed through and one retained his attention. The older Hikeshi was reminiscing his training days with his sensei—whom Benimaru had never met—and told the young troublemaker how he shaped him, taught him his morals and made him who he was today. There was so much respect and reverence in his voice that Benimaru had hounded Konro to tell him who was this sensei of his, so much that the Hikeshi had relented.

“You... you're the Raijin?” Benimaru stammered, his eyes wide. “That's the nickname Konro used to call you sometimes when not naming you directly.”

Kirishima Ashura nodded at him with a softer expression, before slightly bowing to the young Hikeshi at the waist with so much grace that Niobe felt jealous. “That is one of the many nicknames I have earned through most of my life in Asakusa, though this one is my favorite. But I am most honored to finally meet the new generation of Hikeshi, whom I have followed for so long.” He straightened back and grabbed a sizeable black bag from the side, gazing down at Benimaru with his imperious, yet jaded expression back on. “We will continue this discussion later, as I need to see to Konro. I am a doctor. And you need to get cleaned up, daughter. We'll speak of your latest shenanigans once my former pupil's condition is stable.”

“Yes, father,” Niobe sighed deeply, slumping.

So he was in the presence of a living legend. Benimaru could scarcely believe it—Kirishima Ashura practically made the Hikeshi Fire brigade in Asakusa into what it was until the Tokyo Empire recognized its power to induct it into the Special Fire Force. He may not have heard much about the Raijin, but some stories from the old geezers—especially the old bat who made daifuku—were enough to leave him awestruck and wanting to hear more, but Konro would then shake his head no and remain tight-lipped about his sensei. Who is a doctor, Benimaru thought as he led the legend towards the fallen Hikeshi's room. Even if there wasn't any cure to the damn tephrosis, maybe he could reduce Konro's intense pain.

Just the mere idea could probably lighten his guilt as well...

When they reached the room, Benimaru and Niobe had to suck in a breath. The terrifying sight of Konro's hunched form on his fūton was enough to make them avert their eyes, unable to stand it. Just noticing the carbonizing, blackened spots displayed on his shoulders got both pyrokinetics to feel the guilt of not having been stronger overwhelming them like a crippling wave. And then, there was the expression on the Hikeshi's face, which showed how much he was suffering from the tephrosis. He may be grinding his jaws to keep himself from making any sound, but even he couldn't fight the intense pain of the burning. Konro looked so frail at this moment that it was actually shocking, but also a cruel reminder that even the strongest could fall to something like this.

Could Benimaru have withstood the pain and crippling sensation of weakness, had he not been taken out by his mentor to fight that Demon Infernal?

He didn't realize that he was trembling again and fisting his hands so hard that his nails had probably broken the tender skin of his palms until a delicate hand grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it lightly. His gaze snapped up and met Niobe's hesitant, yet pained eyes. With difficulty, she nodded slowly as her keen eyes fluttered towards Konro. Trust him, they seemed to be conveying.

“S-Sensei?” a rough voice murmured, laced with pain and disbelief.

Ashura nodded, padding silently into the room. “It's been a long time, Konro,” he drawled.

He glanced over his shoulder to gaze down at the two young pyrokinetics, who immediately perked up at the imperious pressure his look released.

“Get cleaned up,” was all he said before he pulled the shōji screen door shut.

Both Benimaru and Niobe remained on their spots for long seconds, silent, until they looked at each other and noted all the dirt on their skin and messed up clothes. They stared at one another for another minute.

Then the Hikeshi finally broke the silence. “I'm not waiting for you to take an absurd long time to wash that giant white fireball you call an afro if you go first,” he said flatly.

Niobe's face remained blank as she pointed her index at him. Right between the eyes. The index of her right hand. “Then let's take a bath together. I hope you don't shy away.”

She mimicked the action of firing a gun. Benimaru's eye twitched.

[…]

Shinmon Benimaru. Never. Shied away. Not when girls from Asakusa were bold enough to ask him out (though he was never interested in the romance but more in the sex part) and express their feelings of admiration, not when he was getting recognized for his gifted abilities, his rare hybridity as a compound pyrokinetic and his genius, and certainly not when he wanted a partner that he desired to devour for the night. So it stood to reason that he shouldn't shy away from a—sexy—girl with a sizeable—voluminous and luscious—afro of white long curls with dark blue-ish ends that must reach past her shoulders and down her back if relaxed, freaky—weird—mismatched arrowed-eyes who was about to bathe with him for no other purpose than just getting cleaned up.

His eyes spied her tattoos as she had her back to him. “So your father is from Asakusa and is also Konro's former teacher. Heh, didn't see that one coming... did you know yourself?” he asked curiously.

He'd noticed the first kanji on the nape of her neck yesterday—“Hope”, it read. The next one was “Change”, followed by “Life”, “Wisdom”, “Strength”, “Friendship” and “Love”. The tattoos were medium-sized, stopping mid-back and there was room for other kanji. Nothing spectacular unlike the irezumi he'd have gotten, but Benimaru found that it suited that circus freak.

“Yes and no. He only told me a few things from his life: that he was born here, that he became a Hikeshi to purify his fellow townspeople that turned Infernal, but that's about it,” Niobe mused with a hum, her hands expertly rummaging through the throng of curls to wash that afro. “I had never heard of him having Sagamiya Konro as an apprentice, until now. Even so, the little things he'd tell me were enough to make me want to visit his hometown.”

She paused in her washing. Benimaru did the same, turning back with his face shadowed under his bangs and his expression turning sullen. Though the sun had long risen, the memories of last night were still too vivid and would most certainly remain a constant plague in their minds.

“I only wished it had been under better circumstances. Who could have predicted there would be such massive outbreak of Infernals in just one night? I... I can't imagine how he must be really feeling underneath that mask he's created for himself when he drove to Asakusa. He does that.” She clicked her tongue. “He always does that.”

“Hiding what he really feels?” Benimaru clarified dully, now washing his own hair.

There was a gentle splash of water behind him. “That's his thing, sharing what's troubling him would be akin to lung collapsing and the hardened warrior and genius doctor in him would be seen as weak if he ever allowed one single emotion to cripple him. I believe he's been like this most of his life, though he still managed to remain a father and raise me. I'd like to think he did his best. He's... jaded. That I can tell,” Niobe murmured sadly.

“That I can relate to now,” Benimaru growled, feeling a snarl coming. His eyes flashed in restrained anger as his hands fell from his hair. “This night was hell, putting all of us Hikeshi to the limit and eventually taking so much from us. And here I thought we could handle it by ourselves, like we always did for years because we viewed the Tokyo Empire as a whole organization of skilled liars out there just to brainwash the population with their so-called 'Sun God'.” He snorted loudly and stiffly cocked his head to the side, a derisive smirk on his handsome face. “Look at us now: Asakusa is half-destroyed by this unnatural fire, many of our people had fallen victims to Infernalization, Konro's got tephrosis and the cherry on top, the Hikeshi Fire brigade has been inducted into the goddamn Special Fire Force! And I'm supposed to take on the position of captain without putting my foot down, obey the Empire's rules and bow my head after swearing an oath to the 'Sun God'? Bullshit!”

Benimaru's breathing was ragged as he paused in his angry tirade and he leaned on the edge with his head bowed, more spent than enraged. His emotions were still so raw and in turmoil about everything that just happened—that disastrous night, Konro's tephrosis, the Hikeshi becoming Imperial lapdogs despite their intense dislike of the Tokyo Empire, the feelings of sheer guilt and failure that refused to fade—and he felt like he was just getting started about expressing his rage and torment. Talking to Niobe was surprisingly easy, though they still didn't know each other; the words flowed out, expressing his emotions perfectly, and Benimaru simply found it astounding.

Just like yesterday before that blazing inferno, when he told her the awful tragedy about Hinata and Hikage's parents. He couldn't explain himself why he told her one of the most painful secrets of Asakusa (and its regrets), but seeing the mischievous twins so loved up with Niobe—an Imperial nerd with a medium-sized teddy bear robot as a best friend and that seemed to be human—was just so...nice.

“Can you see me as a captain? Me? That's the greatest joke I've ever heard in a freaking long time,” Benimaru mumbled. “I'm not made for this crap, leadership isn't my thing. Konro is better fit for the role and always knows what to in any kind of situation, which is why we all look up to him. I... I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do now to get everyone to trust me like they do him, because our beacon of hope has just gone up in flames and—”

He whirled around and caught Niobe's hand before it made impact with the back of his head. They struggled for a few tense seconds, glaring at each other, until the student relaxed with a frown on her lovely face. Her giant fireball of an afro was dripping wet with shampoo, her luscious and bouncy curls somehow smoothed down to her shoulders and past and some covering her narrowed mismatched arrowed-eyes. Still, Benimaru didn't let go of her wrist and stared her down with his glowing eyes.

“Is the pity party over?” Niobe asked sarcastically. She didn't wait for an answer and huffed, blowing a long white curl out of her keen sight to glare up at him. “Good, because I can't let you disrespect Konro's self-sacrifice anymore and hear all this from the man he saved.”

Crimson Tic-Tac-Toe eyes widened in shock before narrowing in rising anger. “What?” Benimaru barked, grabbing hold of Niobe's other wrist when she tried to whack him. “You better watch that fucking mouth of yours, Kirishima!”

“Then don't spit in the face of your idol when he might have made the right choice by saving you!” she hissed calmly, her eyes flashing. “Can't you see? Konro must have seen something very special in you when you were younger and that may not just be because you're a hybrid, but entirely something else. You two must have known each other for a long time, so there has to be something he's seeing in Shinmon Benimaru that can turn him into someone fit to be a leader. Someone the people of Asakusa will be able to rely on.”

Confused, Benimaru gave her a look and cocked his head to the side with his brows furrowed. Niobe took a breath to calm her nerves, then looked back up at him.

“I don't know Sagamiya Konro as much as you do—no, scratch that: I don't know him at all. But I believe he managed to become who and what he is to all of you by adapting himself to all kinds of situations that befell Asakusa during the time you Hikeshi followed him as your leader. He may be a natural at leadership for all I know, but all leaders still need to learn how to properly lead as mistakes and failures are part of the learning process. Sagamiya Konro wasn't born overnight, as you saw—his sensei was there to shape him into who he is, despite that he has fallen to tephrosis.” She nodded to him. “You will adapt yourself and learn, Hikeshi. Your guide is still alive and shall remain so, as long as my father is there to over watch the progression of his condition.”

Niobe leaned into him before he could stop her and got so close that Benimaru felt all of her curves flatten teasingly against him—the softness of those large, squishy and luscious mounds, those slender and toned hips sliding up to his were enough to stir up his darkest lusts, provoking millions of pleasant tingles of desire traveling his nerves to his groin. Nevertheless, Benimaru was amazed at his self-control to not force this woman to straddle him and fuck her while sitting down, because his rage at being called out was overwhelming any desire he might be feeling at the moment.

Even so, he couldn't deny that Kirishima Niobe had a body he'd like to fuck until exhaustion.

“You don't have to follow the rules—hell, why should you? You haven't bowed and I don't see any reason why you should start bowing your head to the Tokyo Empire just because they're supporting you.” She tilted her head, her expression growing more serene despite their closeness. “If you're going to be my captain and that I'm to become your sniper, how about you rebuild your pride?”

“How am I gonna do that?” Benimaru asked in a hoarse voice.

Niobe's eyes flickered towards the shōji door of the bathroom. “Learn from your failure. Learn to accept that you'd reached your limits. Accept Konro's self-sacrifice to allow your path to keep going. Learn to look forward. Leaders are both born and made, which is you why you shouldn't trouble yourself about something that has yet to be achieved. You'll be alright, Hikeshi—he still lives and breathes! Otherwise, I'd be seriously pissed off to have to manage college, working a part-time job and being a Fire Soldier in your Company. So shape up. And no, that was not a request,” she growled at him with her eyes boring into his.

Niobe approached her face and stopped inches away from him, her eyes bright and challenging.

“Asakusa can rise again. Or die with its pride blown away to pieces. The ball is in your court, Hikeshi,” she murmured. “Your choice.”

Benimaru had half a mind to break her neck at this moment, because she was both infuriating and—he couldn't believe he was admitting it—right about...everything. About Konro, about Asakusa and especially about how he could probably accept the present. It happened and, unless someone had secretly invented time travel, there was no way of undoing his mentor's sacrifice to ensure his survival and health. That and the fact that the old relic who proclaimed himself emperor had now inducted the Hikeshi Fire brigade into the damn Special Fire Force to exploit them. That was a lot to swallow... but he just had to accept everything, move on and rebuild.

Sounded easier said than done. The guilt was still burning in his gut, eating at him. It needed to be soothed, though he wasn't sure that time and persuasion from his soon-to-be lieutenant and soldiers were going to do any good in reducing the pain.

Benimaru closed his eyes with a pinched expression, groaning a little in frustration. “I don't like this,” he finally said. “I don't like the situation we're cornered in and I bet those lapdogs from the other Fire Force Companies are rejoicing about our induction...” He opened his eyes to stare Niobe down, who had leaned back to give him space—though he was still holding her wrists hostage. “But there's nothing to prevent me from telling them to fuck off, does it? I don't have to change, become suddenly submissive and obedient like a good dog, do I?”

Niobe raised a challenging, snow white brow at him with her eyes crinkling. “I take it that Shinmon Benimaru remains Shinmon Benimaru, which means that he'll do whatever the hell he wants with the newly appointed 7th?”

“It's going to be my brigade, right? So, my brigade, my rules. My way,” he growled the last part, his eyes glowing. “The emperor, his Empire and the other Fire brigades can go fuck themselves sideways to oblivion or whatever eternal place of torment those ridiculous zealots believe in for all I care, there's no way in hell I'll let them boss us around as if they'd done us a huge favor. We're not swearing any loyalty to those bastards or the Sun God.”

Niobe nodded, wiggling her hands. “Nice. Care to release me now? I'm not going to whack you, I love my hands far too much, cha-ma-llow.”

Just to annoy the hell out of the sniper, he smirked mockingly at her. “No,” he denied.

She looked positively stunned for five seconds, staring up silently at him through damp snow white and dark blue-ish curls, before she blinked and cocked her head to the side in confusion. “What?” she asked slowly.

“You heard me right the first time. Besides,” he added as he tugged her right back. He nearly growled at the feeling of those soft puppies flattening against his chest and wrapped an arm round her waist, the other hand grabbed a fistful of curls to trap her in this position. “I do like what I'm seeing and feeling. Don't you, Niobe?”

He expected her to blush furiously, be embarrassed and even try to escape his arms, or even take advantage of the situation to steal him a kiss—that would definitely turn him on and that could be a good release for everything. Not only did Benimaru need it badly, now or later, but he was certain that Niobe also sought an escape from these recent events. Sex might not be the best option for both of them, but he didn't know who could be up for a good spar and he was still emotionally drained. All the Hikeshi were also picking themselves up, just as mentally exhausted as he and Konro were, so they were out of the question.

And Niobe had such an inviting body. It needed to be both revered and fucked thoroughly. Slow and sensual, rough and urgent. Benimaru was feeling the latter with this woman.

She slowly slid her deadly hands up his chest towards his shoulders, touching the muscles and feeling him as well, and slipped her arms around his neck before standing on her toes to bring herself to the same height as him. Benimaru accommodated her easily by scooping her up by her thighs, sitting back on his side of the bath with the sniper in his arms and straddling his lap. Niobe held onto his shoulders, her elegant brows furrowed together as she sighed softly against his lips. Much better, Benimaru thought as he slid one hand to grab her hip while the other slid up her back, enjoying the small shivers his action provoked, until it cupped the nape of her neck. She closed her eyes and arched against him beautifully, very much like a cat. He hissed when her bare crotch teased his, his hand tightening on her hip.

“Mmmh... someone knows what he's doing,” Niobe purred in a low voice. “The last time I had sex seems so far away after all this...”

“Do you need it now?” Benimaru groaned against her throat as he pulled her flush to him. He ran his lips down towards her left shoulder, savoring her skin with his tongue. “Or later? Don't be a chicken, Niobe. This is all your fault for pressing your body flush to mine. I'm still a man.”

He licked her clear skin, taking his sweet time to reach her ear while she sighed in bliss and relaxed in his arms. Desire pooled in his belly, flaring up each time Niobe would brush her lips against his teasingly, and it was taking everything in Benimaru not to tug her and make her yield. He didn't want this to be one-sided, she had to want it too. By the way she was threading her long, delicate fingers through his hair, she was seriously interested. He flicked the shell of her ear with his tongue a few times, provoking a deep hum that reverberated through him like an echo.

Benimaru was buzzing. Literally buzzing; his body felt like it was going through some unnatural heat because it was flush to Niobe's and her skin felt much hotter at the moment. The water of the bath wasn't boiling yet, but his powers must be tempering it to some high temperature that it was already smoking. Soon, there wouldn't be any water left. Nonetheless, he felt good. He wanted to grind his hips, to let Niobe feel him even more and his rising erection. When he felt like she was about to get up from her seat, he blocked her by grabbing her hips and pulling her back down rather roughly. The action caused them to tense, growl and sigh.

“Tell me,” Benimaru practically growled at her, his eyes glowing with restrained lust.

“Now isn't a good time, Hikeshi,” she murmured in his ear. “Though your invitation is very tempting and I'm only two wits away from saying yes, I'd rather be in a clearer state of mind and not develop regrets over 'taking advantage of the situation'. Which I believe is highly inappropriate.”

She leaned back just a little to gaze down at him and he was struck by the different emotions he saw in those mismatched arrowed-eyes—sadness, shame, a bit of anger, regret and the lust he'd wanted to see. Niobe looked... beaten. This was a far cry from the infuriating woman, sniper and nerd who'd just given him a speech to get him out of his phase, which Benimaru didn't like at all. Though he seriously wanted her on his cock, the Hikeshi thought it wouldn't sit right with him if she wasn't focused with him.

“Not only is it not a good time at the moment, but I'm still trying to move on from a bad break-up and sex is certainly the last thing I'd use to have a good release,” she explained with a soft sigh. “Still processing. And even if you're a gorgeous man with probably the most unique eyes I've ever seen, I can't bring myself to touch someone else for the time being. Not now. Too soon. Yeah?”

“You could have just said no, I'd have gotten the hint,” Benimaru said, releasing her hips. He looked up at her, his gaze impenetrable. “But thanks for explaining.”

Niobe opened her mouth, probably to curse him because of how her eyes had flashed in annoyance, but thought better and settled for a grateful nod before standing up from his lap to shuffle back to her side of the bath. But Benimaru still found a way to remind them of another problem.

“You got me horny,” he said flatly.

“Cha-ma-llow,” Niobe hummed peacefully, rinsing her curls.

“Get outta here, I need to take care of this damn erection.”

“No, I still need to wash my body.”

Benimaru clicked his tongue. “Then get on my cock next and ride me. Up and at 'em and not taking any complaints right now!”

“You want an arrow through your crotch? That'd be a shame if you didn't have that wholesome package once I've successfully moved on.”

What an infuriating woman. Sexy, but infuriating.

[…]

When she was done moisturizing her curls, all of her curls, Niobe combed the part with careful strokes to loosen them and cover a part of her forehead. She did the part on the right side of her head, combing through her curls with the utmost care and caution with her brush and fingers. Her signature hairstyle was rather stylish—part curly, part wavy—and sometimes covering an eye when she wasn't sniping an Infernal (and that was pretty much all the time). She smoothed down the longer curls that fell on her shoulders, her eyes drawn to her phone situated on her knees.

So many messages, voicemails and missed phone calls, mostly from... everyone. From Vulcan to her boss and coworkers at the cafe she worked as a waitress. She'd almost answered Karim first, because she could feel the concern and dread in his words, but decided to once she was out of Asakusa and back in Shinjuku. He'd give her an earful and she'd just listen quietly until he was out of breath, then will probably allow him to stay because he wouldn't leave even if she told him to. Because of his presence, they might even have sex.

So her engineer childhood friend had been the first to hear from her.

“Are you okay, Vulcan?” Niobe asked, concern dripping from her voice. “And Yuu? Hope none of you has been hurt, that the strays are alright as well...”

Vulcan groaned a little on his end. “We're good, Niobe, there were no Infernals stumbling into the junkyard or whatever, so we're alright. A bit shaken and distraught with what happened, but uninjured. But what about you? Why didn't you contact me back sooner? We were worried sick!”

The student had to gulp down the feeling of guilt that seized her heart, because she'd been expecting it and she was now about to feel the full force of her friends' worry, anger and concern. They'd known that she was visiting Asakusa yesterday, so they must also be aware that the proud proto-nationalist town had nearly been burnt down to the ground. Once Niobe got to her apartment back in Shinjuku, she had a feeling that they'd be waiting for her over there. Even staying at her door.

Sighing out of pure fatigue, she hung her head with an empty expression to comb through the curls on top of her head.

“... I'm in Asakusa,” Niobe revealed to her red-haired genius engineer in a quiet voice. “I was there yesterday. So many things happened. I... was there last night.”

Vulcan was quiet on the other end for a good moment, stunned.

“Shit... you okay, big sis?! Tell me you're uninjured, just tell me at least that you didn't overuse your pyrokinesis!” he shouted, alarmed and worried.

'Overuse your pyrokinesis'. Niobe's bright eyes lost their hue as she was reminded of the blackened spots on Konro's shoulders, the permanent slap of reality to her face. She also remembered the sounds of pain he was trying so hard to contain when she helped Benimaru get the fallen Hikeshi to his room, echoing loudly in her mind as she tried hard to block them out because they were so persistent in intensifying her guilt and shame.

Closing her eyes, Niobe shook her head. “I'm fine, Vul. Someone stopped me before I could even think of firing again.” At the most heartless price. “But you and I both know I am not 'fine', as this was a nightmare—hell, if you want me to be graphic. I don't even know how I can even still be thinking right now...”

“Worse than what happened last year, huh...?”

“You have no idea, Vul. You have no idea...”

Even if she tried her best to ignore it, her hands were shaking.

[…]

After leaving one last voicemail to Ren and Karim, Niobe shuffled out of the room she'd been given for the time being with a deep sigh. She wasn't surprised to see Benimaru leaning on the opposite wall with his arms crossed, clad in a fresh Hikeshi outfit and his eyes closed, as she'd sensed him in the vicinity. They were to join her father and Konro to discuss the very recent events, as expected, but even she could feel his inner torment. Her face fell as she met his gaze, just as blank as she thought it'd be.

“You good?” he inquired, standing on his feet.

Niobe nodded. “Are you?” she challenged softly.

Benimaru didn't answer back, just stared at her with a gloomy expression. She nodded with a sound in her throat, accepting his look as good enough. Not like I was expecting a smile from him, she thought with an empty expression as she followed the newly appointed captain through the guardhouse, crossing paths with some regular Hikeshi. All sent her surprised glances, silently wondering what she was doing in their quarters, but Benimaru merely ignored them and kept walking ahead.

“That's the girl from yesterday afternoon, right?”

“Beni said that she was the sniper who helped us from above ground.”

“Wait, for real? Damn, she's good! Her eyes are exceptional!”

“Gotta have to thank her, that was a thousand times more than the damn Special Fire Force who showed up after the fight and Konro got tephrosis...”

There was so much anger and shame in those last words that Niobe had to conceal her scowl under her lashes and hide the way her jaws clenched. She'd never dreamed of joining the Special Fire Force because she had no drive in using her Ignition Ability to erase Infernals and find out the truth about Spontaneous Human Combustion, and though she'd like to believe that Fire Soldiers were probably doing some good by purifying those that turned, even she couldn't help the spark of fury that spread through her body. No matter how much of a proud proto-nationalist the people of Asakusa were and their dislike of the organization linked to the Tokyo Empire, they'd still needed help as the Hikeshi hadn't been enough. Konro and Benimaru hadn't been enough, Niobe hadn't been enough and there had been so many victims...

After she got back to Shinjuku, she suspected that she'd have a long conversation with Karim about whether she should join the Special Fire Force to serve 'a greater purpose'. She knew her ex-boyfriend well.

When she and Benimaru entered Konro's room, the older Hikeshi was lying down underneath his covers and looked quite serene (though he was still wincing a little from the pain). The area around his eyes had become slightly paler in contrast to his skin, almost sickly. Niobe couldn't see the upper body, but she knew her father had wrapped him up with bandages after working on his injuries. Turning her head to the side, the student noticed her father sitting seiza style at Konro's left side, straight and silent. His eyes were closed but his face... showed so much that Niobe nearly gaped at him, wide-eyed.

Such regret and anger. Kirishima Ashura hadn't shown these two emotions in a long time, not since she was a young child, and that was ground-breaking. Gulping down all of her questions, Niobe sauntered to sit on his right and bowed her head in respect. Because she didn't want to trouble the serenity of this room, despite the obvious pain both Konro and Ashura were swimming in, she remained silent.

Unable to take it anymore, Benimaru spoke first. “What now?”

His voice sounded so subdued and sullen that it shook her to hear him. Even the hue in his Tic-Tac-Toe eyes had faded a little. It was as if most of his fire had gone out and there were now embers. Niobe couldn't help the pang of pain constricting her heart. That wasn't going to go away so soon.

Ashura exhaled and opened his eyes. “You have no choice but to move forward, considering the underlying fact that the Tokyo Empire has recognized the Hikeshi Fire brigade's power,” he said somberly. “Even I couldn't believe it when Konro told me that the damn emperor chose this crucial moment to induct you, especially after they failed to show up in time...”

His brows furrowed and he clenched his teeth. Konro remained silent and serene while Benimaru's expression was blank and Niobe slowly looked up.

“The cheek of that bony zealot to take advantage of the town's state and its weakened pride to finally force you to join the Special Fire Force, just to exploit you... would have never put it past these righteous bastards to find a twisted way to coerce the people of Asakusa into embracing that laughable religion and Sun God.”

“Looks like they succeeded,” Konro interjected in a dejected tone, his voice ragged. “Furthermore, Hague Sōichirō presented us with an offer that will be hard to decline because of all the chaos that ravaged Asakusa.  They knew how to bait us.”

“What's your answer then, Hikeshi?” Niobe inquired in a soft voice, looking over at Benimaru and Konro with solemn eyes. “Are you going to accept the Empire's 'generous' offer?”

Benimaru met her gaze sharply.

“What the hell else do you want us to do?” he nearly barked, his anger rising again. “We may have your father right here to treat Konro's tephrosis, but what about tomorrow? The day after tomorrow? And after? Haijima Industries possess treatments for his condition and they sure won't send us supplies if we refuse to be affiliated with the Special Fire Force, so we're backed into a corner! There's no choice...”

His eyes flashed in barely restrained fury and disgust, and he stiffly hung his head to hide his gaze from everyone. His hands tightened painfully on the fabric of his pants.

“We don't have a choice but to join them. It's like Konro said: we could have prevented a lot of damage and saved much more lives if we had the resources of an official Company. That's hard to admit, but we've lost too much because we weren't equipped like the other brigades are. We weren't prepared for something like this,” he conceded bitterly. “and we paid a heavy price for it. Like hell it will happen again.”

“So... the Hikeshi Fire brigade of Asakusa becomes Company 7 of the Special Fire Force,” Niobe commented, her voice monotone.

She felt her father flinch beside her, which was telling enough of his brewing fury. She saw Benimaru's enraged snarl and Konro's resigned expression—though they loathed the idea of becoming Imperial lapdogs and having to bow to the emperor like the others, Niobe knew they'd accept. Like Benimaru had just reiterated, they had no choice at all; since the Hikeshi lacked the proper resources of an actual Company like the other six, they'd dealt with so much damage that the flames had nearly triumphed and swallowed Asakusa in a sea of fire. Benimaru and Konro may have their soldiers during the disaster, but even they had been so close to death that it was nothing short of a miracle that they managed to survive (especially her father's disciple).

And what's more, the Church of the Sun might even see the induction of the Hikeshi Fire brigade as the perfect opportunity to force the people of Asakusa to embrace the Holy Sol. They must view the proto-nationalists as 'heretics' who needed discipline for holding onto their old traditional Japanese values, so  indoctrinating these 'heretics' would be their greatest achievement. Niobe could imagine Raffles III cackling in triumph, his old eyes raving over the proud people of Asakusa as they prayed to the Sun God. Crazy bastard must even dream of it at night, she thought with a look of disdain.

“Alright, enough of this,” Ashura declared, his tone firm and imperious. He turned towards Niobe, his dark blue eyes appraising her. “What of you, daughter? Konro told me of your involvement with the Hikeshi to purify all the Infernals, praising your skills and deadly accurracy when using your arrows, and that your help has been much appreciated.”

Niobe perked up and she raised her nervous gaze to look at Ashura. “Father, I—”

His hand suddenly stroking her curls in a rare, tender gesture stopped her short from coming up with embarrassing excuses, and she could only stare up at her father's kind, yet pleased expression. She almost sputtered when he visibly smiled down.

“Thank you, Little Fluff, for making a decision and protecting what should have been your hometown,” he reassured.

Niobe gaped at him, utterly shocked to beyond disbelief.

“You... do you mean it, Father?” she asked earnestly, blinking twice at him.

“I don't remember stuttering, Niobe, so you heard right. You made the right decision to help, despite you being an 'outsider' in a proto-nationalist town. There was nothing wrong in your actions: you put them to rest, as the situation was already grave. Good job, baby girl.”

The pride was so obvious in his voice that the student couldn't help the satisfying blush on her face and the way her full lips quivered. Though she was still torn over what she did to all those people that turned, hearing the praise from her father both made her feel happy and sad at the same time—Asakusa used to be his town and it had been destroyed, his Hikeshi Fire brigade inducted into the Special Fire Force and there was nothing he could do. But Kirishima Ashura was still proud of his daughter for having stood up and not fled like she could have?

Damn.

“But what worries me the most is the Fire Force reiterating their offers,” Ashura continued, his face hardening again. “You've refused the first times they knocked at your door to convince you to join one of their Companies following the incident at your institute last year, they won't take no for an answer this time around, as you were there last night in Asakusa.”

Konro shifted in his fūton to look up at Niobe in wonder. “I thought that something was wrong the second you remained silent after Hague Sōichirō spoke about offering a position in a Fire Force Company, which has been gnawing on my mind...until Sensei told me about what happened at your college. And what you did. I'm sorry you had to go through this, this must have been horrible.”

“Thank you...and yes, it was,” Niobe admitted, her eyes losing their hue once again as she averted them to look down at the tatami. “Last night was nothing more than a reminder of what happened at my institute: it was awful, but not as destructive as it had been yesterday.”

“What the hell happened?” Benimaru demanded, his eyes burning through her.

Since she saw no harm in telling her future captain, Niobe thus told him everything. About the unnatural breakout of Infernals at the prestigious Tokyo Empire Institute of Technology (that all students dubbed 'TEIT') where she studied, how all these students she'd known had suddenly burst into fire while they were having lunch in the cafeteria, how they also contaminated others who'd gone frozen in place because of fear, how Niobe had to step in because it seemed that she was the only Third Gen at TEIT to act, how she used her powers to put the poor souls to rest after overcoming her shock. Benimaru listened without interruption, his eyes never straying from hers. His expression had changed from time to time, shifting from horror to something akin to sympathy.

“Just like this morning, the Special Fire Force had showed up too late and after the fight was over. However, being told that the Infernals were put to rest long before their arrival intrigued them, so they asked some of the students that survived the ordeal who achieved such feat.” Niobe frowned in distaste. “Eventually, they identified me as the Third Gen with 'exceptional sniping skills', describing how I used my arrows to deal with the Infernals. I think some even recorded me.”

“Seriously?” Benimaru scoffed in disgust, while Konro scowled.

Niobe met his gaze solemnly. “I told you, didn't I? I believe I really was the only pyrokinetic at TEIT, automatically making me the only one who could put the victims to rest. Since all the other students had no idea that I was a Third Gen until that incident, and a damned good one at that, they all proclaimed me as the hero they never knew they possessed in the first place. Cha-ma-llow, that was too much... but what was the icing on the cake was the captain of Company 1 and my ex-boyfriend approaching me with an offer to join their ranks as a Fire Soldier. They really tried hard to convince me.”

“Company 1... if I'm not mistaken, this Fire Force Company is run by the Church of the Sun and worships the Sun God, right?” Konro mused. Upon seeing Ashura's sneer, he grimaced. “And they tried to recruit Kirishima Ashura's precious daughter as a Fire Soldier... knowing you, Sensei, I doubt their headquarters would have withstood your rage if they'd managed to snag Niobe.”

“I was beyond furious that they'd be so bold into trying to coax her into one of their goddamn Sun God worshipping Companies that I really would have attacked them,” Ashura muttered, crossing his arms against his powerful chest. “Going toe-to-toe with the captain of Company 1 would have been... entertaining. I heard quite a lot about Burns Leonard, as people in Shinjuku never shut up about his skills, so I wouldn't mind getting into a fight with him.”

Niobe put a comforting hand on her father's back, patting it. “Please don't use a Raigo on their headquarters? Or better yet, on the Holy See? I can actually see you doing that, Father.”

His smirk was definitely false. “Of course, baby girl,” he conceded.

Konro snorted, an amused smirk on his face. Benimaru's corners of his lips twitched upward, but nothing else. His expression was gloomy at best. Still, that was a start. Niobe will have to talk to him and lower his defenses, even though she thought he might refuse her help. Shinmon Benimaru won't be easy. If she truly was to found Company 7 alongside him, she'd rather have someone she could easily read, have nice conversations with (without getting carried away in her inventions) and share laughs when the opportunity rises. He'll need to... open up and let her in.

“I recruited Niobe to join Company 7,” Benimaru suddenly revealed.

Ashura's sharp gaze zeroed on him, his face losing all traces of amusement.

“Did you now?” he asked in a drawl.

“Should have I asked before that old bespectacled coot could entertain the idea of coming to your home and corrupt your mind?” the young Hikeshi boldly said with such straightforwardness that Niobe was momentarily taken aback. “Listen, you're obviously against the idea of your daughter joining a Fire Force Company that bows to the Tokyo Empire and prays to their Sun God, then she belongs to ours. I don't see her bowing to the emperor or becoming a cleric.”

Definitely not after how they'd been about to have sex in the bath. At the word “nun”, Niobe twitched violently and grimaced in disgust. It wasn't that she despised nuns in general, she just couldn't understand how people could blindly surrender their bodies to a deity and give up on so many freedoms. Her being a scientist could explain why she categorically refused to believe in that Sun God and the Holy Sol religion. This unbelievable faith had been one of the many reasons Niobe and Karim had broken up, despite their feelings for each other; just the thought of seeing him in cleric robes was enough to sicken her.

Scientists weren't made for some made-up bullshit without scientifically proven facts.

“Who else was interested in Niobe?” Konro inquired curiously.

Ashura cocked his head to the side. “The 1st, the 2nd because of her excellent sniping skills that could be paired up with Hajiki's Ignition Ability—the boy has a very unique power, which Niobe is seriously fond of. They could have become a most formidable duo together, as he's also one of her childhood best friends. I approve of Hajiki, though it's a shame he's joined the 2nd as it's a militaristic Company. A gunslinger and a sniper would prove difficult to defeat.”

His dark blue eyes then flashed. Sparks crackled all around his body and danced from his head to his crossed arms, prompting Niobe to shy away from her father before she got electrocuted. Benimaru frowned.

“Then we also have the 3rd, mostly because my daughter is gifted with engineering and that shady captain has noticed her as well.” His voice grew gradually colder. “Haijima Industries seeks talent in the brightest minds, sometimes approaching their future employees directly at their university. Dr. Giovanni took a genuine interest in Niobe because she developed a natural skill at building weapons and robots just like the Joseph family... and also because she and Vulcan became good friends during their childhood.”

Ashura groaned as he rubbed his eyes.

“Vulcan is renowned for his otherwordly skills as an engineer and he's quickly become the best one there is, earning himself quite the reputation. Every Fire Force Company has tried to recruit him, only to be harshly rejected. Even Haijima got the middle finger from the hot-head, which reminds us all of a hell-riser right here,” he added with a slight smirk, his eyes finding Benimaru.

Even Niobe couldn't help the fond, sad smile. “You'd like him, Hikeshi,” she added, her voice growing soft. “I'm pretty sure Vul would fit really well with all of you rowdy proto-nationalists, since he despises the Special Fire Force and Haijima Industries.” With good reasons, she thought as a pang of pain pricked her heart.

“Yeah, I'd say he's got potential to blend and fit in the 7th, judging by his contempt and dislike of these organizations,” Konro mused. “Though I do wonder why he's harboring such hatred towards them...”

“I'll tell you later, after a little trip back to Shinjuku to visit all of my friends,” the student muttered.

Ashura and Niobe's expressions had darkened a little upon remembering what horror befell the Joseph family and how Vulcan had been distraught by this. The rage and sadness that had overwhelmed the genius had scared the shit out of Niobe, who developed a strong surge of protectiveness over the younger boy. People turned Infernal almost every day, but Vulcan's father and grandfather both turning at the same time was just too suspicious—especially after Giovanni's betrayal. The bastard had to be involved in their deaths, thus spilling blood and fueling Vulcan's hatred towards Haijima and also the Special Fire Force.

“As you know, the 4th is indeed attempting to recruit Niobe and has been unsuccessful so far, but I wouldn't put it past that old coot from sending rookies at her doorstep. The 5th hasn't expressed any interest and the 6th is mainly composed of Fire Soldiers specialised in health care, as it's a hospital directly affiliated to the Church, so Niobe doesn't have to worry about Huang Kayoko trying to play word games.” Ashura's expression lightened a little as he turned towards his daughter. “So that leaves the District of Asakusa for you, baby girl. Though it's a rough town where only the strongest idiots can run and fight, the townspeople still care about each other. If you're to join the Special Fire Force as a Fire Soldier, I can only see you in Company 7.”

“She already said yes before you arrived,” Benimaru interjected. “I doubt she's the type to go back on her word after sealing a deal.”

Niobe blew on a curl and crossed her arms under her cleavage with a serene expression. “Already doubting my integrity, Hikeshi?” she teased. “That hurts.”

Benimaru narrowed his eyes at her. “Gotta have to prove yourself a lot more, Imperial girl,” he snapped at her. “Your trial will begin once Asakusa has been rebuilt.”

Was he still pissed at her for not riding him raw in the bath? Niobe would have gladly helped, if not for those lingering feelings for the sexy and redundant Second Generation who still had her heart. She'll have to apologize a bit more, then.

“Can I be your engineer too?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

Benimaru blinked in surprise, not expecting this suggestion. “Seriously?”

Niobe nodded. “Building robots isn't the only thing I'm an expert at, I can also handle maintenance of generators and eveything else: since you don't benefit from the Amaterasu like the other areas of the Tokyo Empire, I might as well make sure that the non-pyrokinetics of Asakusa don't suffer from the cold once winter comes.” Her keen mismatched arrowed-eyes found Konro and crinkled. “That includes you too, Hikeshi. I'll need to complete a full scan of you to get a better understanding of your body heat temperature. The tephrosis must have damaged your powers, thus weakening you to the point of actually feeling the cold.”

She turned towards Ashura. “Is that right, Father?”

“Yes,” he confirmed with a nod. Then he smiled down at her. “Why couldn't you have become a doctor, baby girl? You have the brains.”

“One: patients sometimes refuse to follow the doctor's orders, even when it's essential for a full recovery. Two: they even have the nerve to come back and complain that they're still sick. If that isn't an incentive to murder the stupid patient,” Niobe huffed, annoyance dripping from her tone and written on her lovely face. Konro and Ashura couldn't suppress amused chuckles, even Benimaru appeared to smirk a little. “Robots with a programming I've coded don't complain and obey. Only when their algorithms allow them to have human traits. In any case, just remember that you also got an engineer when you'll need one, yeah?” she assured to Benimaru and Konro.

Slowly rising to a sitting position with Ashura's help, Konro then looked at Niobe with such a penetrating gaze that the student could only stare back. The pressure she felt from him was reminiscent of her father, from whom he'd learnt so much. He was silent for a few seconds, gauging her, before he held up his bandaged palm towards her.

“Swear it,” the Hikeshi tasked her in a deep voice. “Swear that you'll become a full-fledged member of the Special Fire Force Company 7, that you'll protect this town alongside Shinmon Benimaru and that your allegiance will always belong to this Company and your captain.”

Niobe didn't hesitate this time. She slapped her palm in Konro's and squeezed his hand.

“I swear it!”

[…]

“You're joining us? For real?” Hinata exclaimed excitedly, winding her arms around Niobe's neck on the left.

“You're ours, Niobe?” Hikage relished happily, wrapping her arms around the sniper on the right.

Since she couldn't resist the twins with their cute smiles and huge golden eyes, Niobe could only chuckle and  hold them in her arms as they both hugged her tight.

“That's right, I'm your sniper and engineer,” she confirmed with a crooked smile and crinkling eyes. “While I'm still a full-time college student, that won't stop me from trying to do my best in Asakusa. Now that reminds me...” She turned towards Benimaru, who was leaning against the opposite wall of the room she was assigned to. “Will I have to move into the guardhouse as well? I got my own place back in Shinjuku, but...”

Then she grimaced, remembering what her father told her about the horrendous state of the city. Assuming that her apartment block hadn't been damaged by the great fire, Niobe would probably have to give up her small, but cozy place where she'd forged unforgettable memories with Karim and her group of friends from TEIT. After moving out of her father's mansion to be closer to her institute, she'd never entertained the idea of selling it to move in with a bunch of proto-nationalist Hikeshi—her new colleagues as a Fire Soldier.

Sounds so weird, she thought as she mused about her new position.

Benimaru nodded, gazing at her lazily. “It would be better for you to have your own room in the guardhouse, as we've always done so ever since before I even joined their ranks,” he said. “Now that we're about to become an official Fire Force Company, all members of the 7th will have to stay and live together. And I did say all members—that means you'll have to give up your place to come live in Asakusa.”

“Will I also have my own lab, like at my institute?” Niobe wondered honestly and innocently.

“So you can blow us up?” he teased flatly.

How straightforward. But she nearly laughed.

“I'm majoring in Robotics, not in Chemistry, cha-ma-llow. Though it wouldn't be hard for me to build an EMP or an amplifier... I'll just need the parts.” Her eyes crinkled dangerously, looking like two dark blue and bright violet orbs with arrowed-pupils pointing up, and a wide smile spread on her face. “Then I'll be able to create drones to—”

The rest of her sentence was cut short as Hikage stuffed a warm cinnamon roll into her mouth with a smile, effectively shutting her up. Niobe blinked, bit into the pastry, then moaned as she welcomed the heavenly taste. Cinnamon rolls were her favorite pastries and these tasted absolutely fabulous, better than those baked at the cafe she worked at. Benimaru snorted, strolling into the room.

“Already coming up with plans for whatever dark purpose? You're dangerous, Kirishima. But hey, we'll see about that lab of yours if you need a room for your inventions.”

The sniper didn't answer as she ate her pastry, mobbed by the girls as they sat around her. But she nodded gratefully at him, her eyes crinkling.

So this is the new member of my brigade, Benimaru thought as he seized her up and down once again. He still didn't know anything about the sniper who helped them all out that night, but she intrigued him (not just because she'd refused to ride him in the bath). She'd been raised out of their district by the legendary Raijin of Asakusa, who'd left the town in Konro's care, and everyone in the 7th will take her for what she looked like—an outsider. Of course. Even her clothes didn't match the conservative clothing of the traditional Japan before the Tokyo Empire was created. Still, that outsider helped them more than the Special Fire Force and Benimaru would be damned if the 7th lost her to another Company.

His jaws clenched almost painfully and he averted his eyes. The 7th... he was already referring to the Hikeshi Fire brigade as an official Company of the damn Special Fire Force, all this because he had no choice but to take Konro's place as the captain now that his mentor couldn't fight anymore. Benimaru sighed as he closed his eyes to think for a moment.

If what Hague Sōichirō said was the truth, then they'd get plenty of resources and support to rebuild Asakusa and restore it to its glorious day. No way in hell was the influence of the Tokyo Empire going to change their turf, their town would always remain proto-nationalist and will die as a conservative town that held onto their old values. As long as he, Konro, the Hikeshi Fire brigade and all the townspeople breathed, Asakusa will never yield and embrace that joke of a Sun God. Company 7 will do whatever the hell they wanted—if he was to be the captain, then he won't fall in line like a good dog. His Company, his town, his way.

Even so, that didn't mean Benimaru was ready to step up as captain.

“You survived, Hikeshi,” Niobe said softly.

Tic-Tac-Toe eyes opened to find the white-haired pyrokinetic standing in front of him, her eyes warm and solemn. He was relieved to notice the lack of pity in those exceptional eyes of hers, which he appreciated but would die before admitting such thing.

“Yeah, we did,” Benimaru muttered. “At the cost of too much.”

“Even so, you survived, will nurse your wounds and rise again. Like the phoenix, Asakusa will rise back to its former glory as the only town that will never bow to the Tokyo Empire and pray to a god that's bullshit. I... believe there's a lesson to learn from this.”

Benimaru cocked his head to the side, gazing down at the curvaceous woman. “What's that?”

Smiling softly, Niobe raised her right hand towards his face and he automatically caught it in his right hand with a light frown (as if to say 'This again?') before she could form the gun with her delicate fingers. Still, she didn't try with the other and simply looked at her captain with the most solemn face.

“That sometimes, our own strength isn't enough? That we aren't enough? This disaster was a punishing blow to your pride, reminding you that even the strongest could be overthrown and overwhelmed. You can pick yourself up again, regain your pride and still stand defiant, but after accepting all this; it won't be an easy task, as you now have to move forward with too many changes in your life, but you'll make it. If you learn to accept.” Niobe blinked. “It's still called living. Right, captain?”

Benimaru stared at her for a long moment, silent.

“... Beni,” he finally said.

“Hm?”

Crimson eyes stared her down. “Call me Benimaru or Beni. Not captain... not yet.”

That would be his first command towards his sniper and engineer. She gazed up at him with her tired, but sharp eyes for a few seconds. To his relief, she nodded.

“Benimaru, then.”

“Thank you.”

[…]

Bonus end:

“You owe me a ride, Niobe,” Benimaru reminded her in a growl. “No chance in hell are you forgetting that or getting away that easily.”

Niobe chortled happily.

“Cha-ma-llow!”

Chapter One: So Much Fire

Tokyo, Asakusa, Solar Year 196

As she stopped in front of the monument, Niobe took the time to admire the Kaminarimon with wide and crinkling mismatched eyes. The statues weren't just beautiful, but imperial and breath-taking—maybe it was the fact that it was called the “Gate of Lightning” and it had two statues of the Shinto gods Fujin and Raijin that made it so unique? Or maybe was it the giant chōchinhanging at the center of the monument? Despite the merging of many populations after the Tokyo Empire was built in Japan, Asakusa remained strictly proto-nationalist and its citizens outwardly refused to let go of their traditions to embrace diversity to adopt a ridiculous religion. Not even the damn Holy Sol could get to them, Niobe thought with a small, derisive smile as she easily rearranged her snow white afro into a bun.

She'd wanted to come to this place on her own ever since her father had spoken fondly about it, mainly because it had remained true to its traditions and values and was still ignoring the 'calling' of the Sun God. And also because the food was rumoured to be excellent (she might even learn something new). So here she was, into the resilient town that has never bowed to the Church and likely never will. The young student was so excited that she was almost bouncing on her feet, attracting some amused glances from the residents. She sure stood out in this crowd—snow white curly hair that turned dark blue-ish on its ends and was arranged in a sizeable afro reaching her shoulders, army green utility pants, white T-Shirt, white sneakers and light green jacket. The black fingerless gloves and the backpack completed her outfit, which was in total opposite with the traditional kimonos worn in the proto-nationalist Asakusa.

When she was done arranging her curls into her signature bun, the girl allowed one single curl to bounce on her right shoulder and traced it with two fingers. Then she took a huge breath, exhaled, and smiled wide. The white arrows she had as pupils pointed down while her mismatched eyes—dark blue for the right, bright violet for the left—glowed. Her fingers itched on the strap of her backpack.

“Asakusa, here I come,” Niobe sang as she sauntered inside the famed town.

The student knew she was in unknown territory, though her dear father had told her about this place, so she ought to be careful. Niobe knew next to nothing about Asakusa, except for what he'd told her and pictures of his old friends, so she didn't know what expect from its citizens. Suffice to say, it was very lively in the late afternoon; she strolled slowly, admiring each shop and drinking into all details. So many goods and restaurants to visit and try, so much freedom of speech from everyone—so much everything. It was so contrasting with Shinjuku, which was heavily influenced by the Empire and the Church, because the citizens kept their identity and weren't scared to stand up for their own values and beliefs. The religion of the Holy Sol might be the Tokyo Empire's new beacon of 'hope and light', Asakusa would stand firm.

Niobe admired that trait from the proto-nationalists. Idly, she raised a hand to stroke the nape of her neck, where she'd tattooed the kanji symbol of 'Hope'. She stopped for a moment, her eyes closed. The reason she'd decided to have this tattooed was a reminder of her resolutions, taken the day she'd celebrated her twentieth birthday with friends. The tattoo was quite recent and still itched a little, and Niobe loved it. Simple as it was, it held so much meaning for her—hope for a new age where the fears and days of Infernalization would come to an end, hope for her father to find beauty in life once again, hope for everything. As idealistic as it sounded, Niobe still wanted to believe. The Holy Sol might be the greatest hoax of all history, but as long as people drew breath, they had to live.

Her eyes now flashing in determination, Niobe stopped at a takoyaki shop and waited patiently in line. Well, as 'patiently' as she could—she was practically bouncing on her feet again, sticking her head over the shoulders of the man in front of her to peek on the cooks. It was taking everything in her not to use the man's shoulders to prop herself up on him (why did he have to be so tall?). Unfortunately, her father's teachings firmly reminded the student that she ought not to rush into anything, analyze, listen and wait, which prompted her to inhale and wait. She did so with a resting face, until it was her turn.

“Thank you, I've been meaning to try these for a long while,” Niobe said gratefully to the vendor, her smile bright and her eyes crinkling. “Is there a shop selling daifuku? I'd like some as well.”

“Five shops to your right, you can't miss it,” the cook told her cheerfully. “Enjoy your meal, white lady!”

I shall, she purred in her mind before strolling away to search for a seat somewhere she can enjoy her takoyaki. Niobe avoided people very easily, with graceful and precise steps that would remind you of an agile acrobat from the circus—which she could have been, had there been a circus in Tokyo with the animals to provide entertainment—or a very skilled ballerina. Graceful twirls on her toes when running children were about to collide with her, amazing flexibility with her legs that allowed her to confound some annoying men with lecherous eyes and smirks as she ate her takoyaki. Since her fingers were too busy picking up these delicious balls, Niobe couldn't use them to scare them off. Though deadly and terrifyingly effective on the field, her Ignition Ability and eyes would be useless on the ground with so many people surrounding her.

When the daifuku shop was in view, Niobe gobbled her last takoyaki and tossed her empty package and napkins on a nearby bin before strolling towards the shop. However, her view was blocked with three guys sliding right in front of her before she could even utter a hello to the old lady. Mismatched eyes slowly looked up and fixed their gaze on the three men, who were also looking her up and down—ogling, because this behavior reminded Niobe of some guys from the university. While she found them attractive, they had nothing on her ex-boyfriend.

“Haven't seen someone like you around these parts, otherwise I'd remember this mass of white hair,” the man in front of her drawled, most certainly the leader. He cocked his head and sent her a charming smirk. “and that gorgeous face and body. Is this your first time in Asakusa, pretty missy?”

Judging by the similar dark blue pants, white shirts with short sleeves and protective chest plates the three of them were wearing, they were most certainly pyrokinetics and part of the Hikeshi Fire brigade she'd heard about from her father. Niobe frowned just a little and crossed her arms under her cleavage (what a stupid idea to wear a white T-shirt with a V-neckline that gave way to her large breasts...).

“If it is, will you allow me to buy my daifuku?” she asked boldly with a small smile.

“We can buy you a lot more than just sweets, how about you come have a drink with us?” the guy offered, his palm raised towards her. “My treat.”

“Tempting, but not in the afternoon when I still need to be in shape to go back home,” Niobe chuckled, staring between two of the guys at the daifuku shop. Then she blinked as an idea popped in her mind, and she smiled at the three guys. “But since you've noticed that I'm a stranger, how about you give me a tour of Asakusa instead of saké?”

Smirking, the Hikeshi hovered over her with his hands on his hips. “Does that mean the gorgeous white missy is allowing us to indulge her?” he asked in a deep voice.

Surely they were not implying something deeper. Niobe lost her smile and looked away with a very disappointed expression. “Chaaaaaa!I can't even ask for a simple tour of the only town that hasn't been brainwashed by the Church and the Tokyo Empire without innuendos? Should have stayed on campus to work on my project instead of getting proposed to get sexed.”

Niobe turned away from the Hikeshi soldiers, scowling as the three men gaped in disbelief behind her and sputtered. She'd just come to Asakusa to visit this town and eat the local food, not have sex with strangers—though she was now single and free to flirt with any man interested. So not only wasn't she going to get her daifuku peacefully, but she hadn't thought that her project could have been very helpful in getting rid of these guys (project being mini and big-sized 'killer' spider robots. Fireproof spider robots!)? Damn!

“Asakusa is disappointing,” Niobe huffed, sauntering away and waving a hand in the air. “So long!”

“W-wait, I was kidding!” the Hikeshi stammered quickly as he jogged behind her. “Look, let me buy you a whole bag of daifuku!”

“So you can still get laid? A whole bag of either daifuku or sushi won't be enough to convince me to keep visiting as you've turned me off.”

She spun on her toes when one of the Hikeshi tried to grab her arm, then gave him a roundhouse kick in his back and spun a little on one foot gracefully like a ballerina. Like the skilled acrobat and contortionist she became. The soldier went crashing to the ground with a painful grunt while Niobe faced the other two Hikeshi with an annoyed scowl. Her kicking one member of the local Fire Brigade got the attention of the citizens, who started whispering excitedly among each other and stopped to watch what appeared to be the beginning of a fight.

The student huffed, staying on her toes. “I just wanted to eat your food, you know!” she exclaimed, her eyes bright. “And I've changed my mind: I. Want. My. Dai-fu-ku!”

Niobe attacked. Performing a one-handed cartwheel, she jumped high over their heads to do a handstand on the shoulder of one Hikeshi and bent the lower half of her body to slam her foot hard on the remaining soldier's cranium. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he swayed on his feet, mumbling uncoherently before he crumbled to the floor unconscious. Not wasting time, Niobe used the Hikeshi she was holding on as a makeshift trampoline to jump higher and used the facade of a wall to bounce back the facade of the daifuku shop, then climbed on the rooftop like a spider. The student performed another cartwheel, then another handstand on her index with a smile, her legs spread apart.

“I won't wait for applause, but I'm sure you loved this,” Niobe laughed. She bent her legs forward to crouch, grabbing onto the edge once she was in crouching position to peer down at the glowering Hikeshi soldiers and the gaping citizens. She sent them a sweet, charming smile. “Why the sneer? You started this, all I wanted was daifuku.”

“And all we wanted was a drink with you, but you crossed the line by attacking one of our own!” the Hikeshi she'd kicked earlier exclaimed angrily at her, his eyes flashing. “Gorgeous and sexy lady or not, you're gonna pay for that, outsider!”

Niobe paused, blinked... then giggled with a nod, her eyes crinkling with mirth.

“Fair enough, I'll take what I deserve,” she laughed again, flipping the long curl on the side of her head. “I'll make you dance with me.”

Holding onto the edge of the rooftop, Niobe did a short handstand before jumping down to join the Hikeshi soldiers. A circle had formed around them, with the citizens now cheering up for an exciting fight—which was an enlightening proof that Asakusa was one lively town with more entertainment than Shinjuku. People over there would have already called for the police to handle such fights, cutting the excitement short. Niobe put her backpack on the floor with a smile, elated to finally be able to show off her skills with the talented pyrokinetics of this district. Though she might not need to go all out, as they may not be the strongest in the Hikeshi Fire brigade, she still wanted to be cautious; her father's teachings during her training were drilled into her to make sure that she wouldn't get cocky.

“Lesson one: always make sure to sense everything around you, not just your life but the lives of your opponents. Be hyper aware of everything.”

Always remember lesson one, as it became the most important. Since her Ignition Ability would only create more problems because of the crowd and the small space, Niobe would just have to rely on the use of her long legs, agility, speed, acrobatic skills and hyper-awareness. Chi-blocking was out of the question as it required the use of her hands and she devoted them to creation and her Ignition Ability. Taking a breath, the student faced the two Hikeshi and adopted a fighting stance—legs slightly spread, but hands in her pockets. This particular stance confused a lot of their audience and especially her opponents.

“Aren't you gonna need your hands?” the leader inquired as he adopted a fighting stance as well. “What kind of fighting style do you use?”

“Be light on your feet. Make your enemies dance if you don't feel like fighting, this will just ridicule them even more. Be the leaf in the wind.” Niobe shook her head at the two Hikeshi, her mismatched eyes crinkling.

“Ask me all the questions you want only if you manage to beat me,” she declared, cocking her head to the side with a smile. “It wouldn't be fair otherwise.”

The leader of the group scoffed in derision, attacking first. Mismatched eyes zeroed in on him, analyzing his movements. For a second, it seemed that time had slowed down and Niobe was able to figure out how he was going to strike. A high kick from above, then a blow from his right elbow, a roundhouse kick, her mind chanted to her. When everything went back to normal, her body moved fluidly: Niobe side-stepped to the right and dipped to a crouch at the same time, avoiding both the high kick and the blow from his elbow. Then she raised a leg from backwards to slam the foot into the Hikeshi's face, used the momentum to turn her body on a 180° spin and slammed the soldier on his back hard on the ground. The impact wasn't strong enough to kill him but just enough to knock him unconscious, as the cobblestone nearly gave out under his body.

When she sensed the second Hikeshi behind her, Niobe spun again on her toes to end up behind him and very close to his back. Back-to-back, she prevented him from turning around and facing her by anticipating his movements and mirroring them on the move; if he tried to turn slightly on the right, she'd turn slightly on the left. Like a mirror in movement. He tried spinning around very quickly, but Niobe was just as fast and remained behind his back, smiling at everyone. Just as intended, she wasn't really fighting the Hikeshi but merely using their movements and strength to her advantage. She remained graceful and light on her feet, like the leaf in the wind, while the Hikeshi clearly grew frustrated with her antics. As the show went on, some citizens even started cheering for her—especially the children.

“Go on, White Lady!”

“Kick their asses to the next moon!”

Huh?Niobe hummed, surprised. “Whoa, what the hell did that even mean? Got an idea?” she asked the Hikeshi. She performed a somersault and finally used one hand to do a handstand on his shoulder, looking down at him with a smile. Her body remained straight, perfectly balanced as the soldier seemed to struggle on his feet. “Hello, got an idea? I'm not really up to date with the slang and catchphrases used in Asakusa, being the outsider that I am.”

The Hikeshi grunted, remaining still on his spot. “I-It means what it means,” he croaked.

“Ooooooooh, I get it!” the student laughed.

(No, she did not get it at all).

“Get off me!”

“Why? So you can try to wreck me? I like it up here.”

“The hell is going on here? What's all this commotion about?”

Whoever had just spoken had an effect on the crowd and people stepped aside with much respect. Such authority in this deep voice got Niobe's attention and she glanced at the newcomer on the side; her keen eyes stared at a tall man with dark blue eyes, long dark hair tied in a low ponytail. Such strong features. The man looked to be in his thirties, but was elegantly built and was handsome (yeah, no use refusing to see what she saw). He was wearing the same uniform the Hikeshi soldiers wore but what made him stand out was his aura—this man was powerful, whoever the hell he was. He reminded Niobe of her father. Must be the leader of the Hikeshi Fire brigade, she thought idly. Next to him was a young man of her age, with one of the most unique pair of eyes she'd ever seen: he must have no problem hating the nickname 'Tic-Tac-Toe', since his pupils consisted of a circle and a cross. He had such a sullen face that it had to be his resting bitch face. But she also sensed power in his aura, meaning that he mustn't be a joke either.

“K-Konro,” the Hikeshi stammered, suddenly losing all of his fire.

“Hello to you, sir!” Niobe greeted with a wave of her free hand. “Might you be the leader of the Hikeshi brigade?”

The tall soldier nodded. “That's right,” he answered politely. “And who might you be to be giving my soldiers a hell of a time?”

Niobe easily spun on the soldier's shoulder, then bent backward to find a seat on both shoulders so she could talk to Konro. He swayed a little because of her weight, almost falling over, but managed to regain his balance. She tightened her legs around her 'chair' just enough to remain glued to him, despite his hands attempting to shrug her off, and waved at the two new Hikeshi with a smile. The young mang with the crimson Tic-Tac-Toe eyes narrowed his gaze at her and stiffly cocked his head to the side in confusion.

“Just a regular university student who was dying to visit Asakusa on her free time to try the local food, especially the daifuku, but was unfortunately prevented from doing so by three of your men!” she growled, pinching both cheeks of the soldier she was sitting on and pulling at the skin. “I may be an outsider to your townspeople but that surely doesn't mean I'll let myself be knocked over. Chaaaaaa, and you better not disrespect my afro!”

“I newer shaid that!” the Hikeshi complained, swaying dangerously on his feet again. “And that'sh an afro?”

She smiled toothily. “Ah, it's my pride and joy beside my creations. Can't let it go to waste or I'd be at a hairstylist for far too long and a student doesn't need to ruin herself on her hair.”

“Alright, let me get this straight: you came here to eat our food and you got accosted when about to buy sweets, they probably got bolder in their offer and you got annoyed, so you beat the crap out of them when all they probably wanted was a drink with you?” Konro mused, a brow raised in slight exasperation.

“That's a logical reaction and I'd say it was warranted,” she reasoned.

“That's a lame excuse,” the man next to Konro drawled lazily.

“The most logical reaction ever.”

“Again, that's a lame excuse.”

“You know what's more stupid than lame? Have you seen your eyes, Tic-Tac-Toe?”

His brow twitched and he took three steps forward, ignoring Konro's warning and arm to push him back. At his movement, the citizens stepped back even more so and excited, yet concerned whispers echoed around them. Niobe balanced herself very easily on her 'chair' and just readjusted him with a movement of her body whenever he was about to fall over. She leaned over to rest her heavy chest on top of his head, crossed her arms round his neck and hummed pleasantly as the young man stopped a mere feet away from the other Hikeshi. This one quivered a little bit, but the student kept her hold onto him.

Mismatched arrow eyes bore into crimson Tic-Tac-Toe eyes. Both gazes were glowing bright, reflecting the annoyance and mirth of these two. The tension was clear and thick in the air between the two, despite Niobe still smiling sweetly. Who was going to swing at the other first? Him or her? She kinda wanted to see if he was faster and what kind of Ignition Ability he had that made him so fearsome, because he exuded respect.

A moment passed between the two. Then he surprised her.

“Daifuku?” he offered.

Niobe blinked, leaned back and searched his face for any foul play—because there would be hell to pay if there was—but was rewarded by the young man patiently waiting for an answer, never straying his gaze from her. Chuckling, she nodded eagerly.

“Yes, please!”

[…]

Niobe eagerly bit into her first daifuku, her eyes closed to enjoy the heavenly taste of the sweet, and moaned. Just how good was it? The old woman was such a great cook! Two twin girls were doing exactly the same thing with an equally elated face, sitting on each side of her. The girls, whose names were Hinata and Hikage, had been in the crowd when she'd fought the Hikeshi soldiers and had immediately latched themselves on her when she'd finally got away with Konro and his protégé.

“We like you!” the twins had squealed happily.

Niobe had smiled down at them, her eyes crinkling. “Wanna share daifuku with me?” she had proposed to them, lifting the bag of sweets.

Of course they'd accepted—such bright golden eyes and adorable faces could bring anyone to their knees. So once they'd bought the daifuku, they'd pulled her to a quiet block in Asakusa to enjoy the sweets and had therefore started asking lots of questions. Hinata and Hikage were just so eager to learn more about the outsider that they almost fought together to have their question answered first. Though this was very interesting to witness, Niobe had had to step in before any pyrokinesis was used when all she wanted to do was eat some delicious daifuku.

She hadn't expected Konro and Shinmon Benimaru, his protégé, to tag along with them. Both sat on each side of Hinata and Hikage, also snacking—some sushi for Benimaru, because he disliked sweets. Niobe found it odd and almost shrieked at him. Who the hell hated sweets? He wasn't normal.

“What fighting style do you use?” Benimaru asked curiously. “I've only seen you use your legs and feet, never your hands.”

Niobe opened her eyes to look at him, then swallowed her mouthful before answering. “It's a mix of several martial arts that only requires the use of your legs and feet,” she said, crossing one long leg over the other. “You may have either heard about them or forgotten about it: capoeira, savate, taekwondo and cha quan. Mix it with contortion and acrobatic skills I've gained from my training with my father, who was adamant on teaching me his fighting style so I'd know how to defend myself. That makes me one circus freak, but I loveit. And if I don't use my hands for blows, it's because those hands are too precious for me.”

Konro, Benimaru and the twins looked at her in confusion. Niobe raised her hands with a wistful, proud smile.

“I use them to both create robots, as I'm majoring in robotics, and use my Ignition Ability—nothing else. Just the slight scrath or cut on my fingers would be a great shame. For example, take a guitarist, pianist or even a cook having to use their hands to do what they're good at: mess up their hands and how else would they be able to do what they love? They'd be utterly crushed and would probably lose their spirit, as they value their hands so much. It's their... life.” She closed her hands into fists, looking up towards the sky. “So are mine. I'd be completely useless without them. After all...”

Niobe raised her right hand in front of her and pointed her index, her eyes glowing. Bright green flames erupted around it and danced to form a big bow made of fire. Hinata and Hikage gasped and both crowded her, their golden eyes shining in awe. The student smiled a bit more as she wrapped her free arm around Hikage.

“... a sniper needs her eyes and hands to strike down from above.”

“I see,” Konro smiled. “That should explain partly why my Hikeshi soldiers said you only used your legs and feet to defeat them, that they couldn't even get a hold of you because you were too elusive. Quite impressive. And I must say that I've never encountered pyrokinetics producing and wielding green flames, you're a rarity in this world. Your heat signature must be something else.” He gave her an appreciative nod. “Be proud of your power, but don't get too cocky.”

“Your flames are green? That's so cool!” the twins crooned, lifting their covered arms and waving their long sleeves around.

Niobe smiled, but it didn't reach her ears and her eyes dulled just a little. “My pride and joy...”

She allowed the flames to die out and went back to eating the sweets, listening to Hinata and Hikage's incessant babbling. Unbeknowst to her, Tic-Tac-Toe eyes were now staring with a bit more interest, though Benimaru remained silent and observing. This was an Imperial girl, whom he firmly believed didn't belong here at all—for all he knew, she might have lied about a lot of things about herself; where her beliefs lie and allegiance lie, facts about her life so that she may gain their trust. She truly stood out in Asakusa because of her snow white hair and curls, fashion style and everything in general, yet something in Niobe was attractive (not just her beauty and body). Benimaru had no idea what, though.

Maybe fighting with her would help.

“I got a question,” Niobe suddenly asked.

Benimaru blinked, looking away in his usual resting bitch face. “What's that?” he probed.

“I may have never seen you in action when taking care of the people who turn Infernal in your turf, but word does spread around in Tokyo: Asakusa possesses very powerful fighters that are more than able to protect their own without having to rely on the Special Fire Force. I'm sure you two are very strong, most certainly the most powerful of your Hikeshi Fire brigade, but aren't you concerned that the Tokyo Empire will finally try to incorporate you all as its seventh Company?” Niobe frowned, her eyes growing serene. “Just to exploit you? Because I can see those bastards pull some move like that.”

Benimaru and Konro shared a sharp glance, silent. The student continued, her voice now a bit dull. So dull that the twins looked up at her in concern.

“Let's twist it this way: should something major happen, a catastrophe so big and deadly that it might disintegrate Tokyo and turn so many of your people into Infernals, and that you actually manage to survive this hell in your city, then the Empire would see your survival as an opportunity to coax you into the Special Fire Force and use your strength for themselves. Because they need strong soldiers to fight alongside them,” she scoffed in derision, her arms wrapping around Hinata as the young girl hopped onto her lap. “In fact, they might even see this as an other opportunity to get you to embrace the damn Holy Sol and that ridiculous religion. You're proto-nationalists, thus the Sun God is most certainly the biggest hoax you've ever heard, but admit it—they would love to succeed in converting you. Because you still hold onto the traditional values of the old Japan, and I admire that trait about Asakusa. It would be so infuriating for you to become Imperial lapdogs, having to serve the Empire when you didn't ask for anything.”

That... was a valid point. Well-thought indeed, because the Tokyo Empire was now a community of diverse people brought together under one religion to lead them all and give them a light to follow. The proto-nationalist Japan was practically extinct at this point, with the goddamn Sun God being in everyone's mouth, and all the traditional values had been forgotten. Konro looked far in the distance as he mulled over Niobe's words, while Benimaru glared and snarled with his head turned away. The silence stretched over between them, only occasionally broken by the townspeople greeting the two Hikeshi.

Just as she mentioned earlier, Niobe was nothing more than an outsider and an Imperial girl, so she shouldn't even be disturbing them with her opinions and thoughts, as they could care less about her. Konro and Benimaru could tell her to fuck off, eat the rest of her daifuku and chase her out of Asakusa, but she liked the fact that her words gave them room to think. Because the idea of the Tokyo Empire preying on the Hikeshi soldiers to exploit them was not only sickening, but very possible. She could practically see one of the captains of the Special Fire Force approaching Konro and Benimaru to announce them the 'exciting' news, which would raise their ire. Becoming Imperial lapdogs would mean following an old relic preaching about the damn Sun God, being forced to forsake old beliefs that made you who you are, and embracing some insane religion. Should something like this happen to her, Niobe's father would have her building an EMP to bomb the Holy See before seeing her in one of those fireproof coats.

“They can go to hell for all I care, we've got nothing to do with the likes of them!” Benimaru spat hotly. “I'd rather carbonise and get tephrosis than see myself paying respect to the Tokyo Empire!”

Niobe turned her keen eyes in his direction, expression carefully blank. “And even if they press the issue?” she questioned. “You'd tell the Emperor to screw himself?”

“Why not? That's an idea.”

“Mind your language, you two,” Konro scolded them coldly, yet in a much calmer tone. Then he made a sound in the back of his throat. “While I do share Beni's feelings and opinion about the Tokyo Empire, you still make a valid point. As far as I can tell, Asakusa remains the only part of Tokyo that hasn't embraced the Sun God and this nonsensical religion and likely never will. There's a certain... appeal to find in succeeding in converting us, but there's none in joining forces with the Tokyo Empire.” He scowled, looking back at her with fierce eyes. “Asakusa and its people are more than enough. We are more than enough. We don't need those zealous worshippers and their preaching about a god that means nothing to us. As long as I'm able and here, I'd never allow them to change our town and people.”

Niobe was going to hate herself for her next argument.

“And if they have resources you don't have at the moment and would probably need?” she tried once more. “I get that you can provide for yourselves without the support of the Empire and Haijima Industries, but...” She hesitated. “...should one of you get tephrosis and you don't possess the vital treatment to take care of your injured, how would you deal with it? They might actually count on what you don't possess, as they know you wouldn't be able to refuse such 'generous' offer with the right resources.”

She grabbed another daifuku, fully aware of Benimaru's hateful glare on her. The strength of such gaze made Niobe pause for a long second before she decided to face the irate Hikeshi head on, boring her emotionless eyes in his. She could tell he was barely keeping his anger in check and failing to remain calm.

“Tell me how this, in case of a deadly catastrophe occurring, isn't going to bait you?” she challenged.

“Tell me why I shouldn't break your neck right now, Imperial girl?” Benimaru countered, his eyes glowing.

“Beni!” Konro exclaimed in warning.

Her eyes widened, not out of fear, but of morbid fascination. “Because I want to live?” Niobe responded rhetorically and sarcastically. She anticipated his hand trying to grab her collar and nimbly hopped onto the bench, Hinata still nestled securely in her arms, and jumped away to land gracefully out of his reach. She released the little girl, her keen eyes still set on Benimaru. “Please don't, I'm not here to fight but to visit Asakusa. If I'm still allowed to?”

To prove her point, Niobe raised both hands in a placating gesture. She truly didn't want to fight either of them, as the student was pretty sure she'd go back home with bruises and some cracked ribs, and there was no way she'd be able to hide a wince or two when going to her lab on campus tomorrow. Clicking his tongue in irritation, Benimaru grabbed her backpack and threw it rudely at her. Niobe didn't complain, though she scowled a little, and put the daifuku in her mouth.

Hinata and Hikage looked crestfallen. “Are you leaving?” they both asked in unison, their tone sad.

“Yes,” Benimaru hissed angrily.

“Noooooope, it's too soon,” she countered smoothly, putting her backpack. “Way too soon. I haven't seen anything yet and I like to bring back souvenirs. Coming, girls?” She smiled toothily at them. “How about you make me visit your turf?”

Relieved smiles emerged on the girls' faces and both cheered loudly. Hinata snatched the bag of daifuku and evaded Benimaru's attempts at restraining her, then the two sisters ran after Niobe. Hikage jumped on the student's back to latch her arms round her neck, climb on and sit on her shoulders, with her twin walking by her side. The two Hikeshi stared after them in silence, though the youngest looked like he was about to explode like a volcano. Konro, for his part, looked quite thoughtful. After all, that outsider did make a lot of valid points he needed to carefully consider.

He could only hope that she'd been wrong about his Hikeshi Fire brigade being inducted in the Special Fire Force—that would be Asakusa's greatest humiliation yet.

[…]

Well, that was a terrifying glare, Niobe thought with a troubled gaze and a shudder as she went to lounge under a Sakura tree, Hinata and Hikage flanking her by using her body as a pillow. She'd never fully experienced real hatred before, as she wasn't one to start unnecessary fights unless poked the right way, but the Hikeshi's emotion had been strong enough to shake her to the core. Not doubt that Benimaru had been disturbed by what she'd said and must have wanted to make her eat her words by punching her lights out: the people of Asakusa really were proud of their old traditional values and cherished them, thus having their beliefs trampled by the influence of the Tokyo Empire would raise their ire and fuel more contempt towards them to another new level.

What she told them was provocative enough, so Niobe hoped that she didn't make any enemies in this town—the fight with the lecherous Hikeshi soldiers had garnered her way too much attention than she expected, and the townspeople would now recognize her a mile down the road. Even before entering Asakusa, and no doubt that the soldiers she'd defeated would share the info that a circus freak outsider with snow white hair in an afro of curls might deal a number on them all if poked the right way. Some of them had actually stared her down as she walked around with Hinata and Hikage by her side, their judgemental gazes and whispers following the trio. At the very least, none was trying to insert innuendos again and that was a win.

Niobe inhaled, then exhaled softly as she looked down. To her surprise, the twins had fallen asleep not too long ago and had nestled comfortably on her sides, snoring a little bit. A little nap wouldn't hurt, as they've been walking for quite some time, and they were still growing girls. The student couldn't hide her fond smile and her eyes softened. Just how cute were Hinata and Hikage? Cute as they were now, they'd grow to become young gorgeous women one day. And their Ignition Ability suited them both—the fox was one creature of mischief, known as a trickster well-versed in shape-shifting to confound people. The twins were actually as mischievous as a fox and must give hell to everyone in Asakusa. How comforting to see that kids could still have fun despite their world being a fucking messed up place in shambles.

Just when she was about to close her eyes and relax, Niobe sensed someone coming her way and she glanced at the person intruding with the intention to whisper-shriek at them to not wake up the two hellions nestling her sides, but the words failed her when she recognized those Tic-Tac-Toe eyes. Her twitching eyes went wide in quiet disbelief and a silent gasp escaped her throat as she tensed up, frozen. Benimaru narrowed his eyes at her, motioning her to be quiet, and approached them. His steps were light and nearly silent, showing how skilled and precise he must be (and that must be the understatement of the century).

Niobe had to peer up at him when he stopped close, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his happi coat. “I'll go on a limb and guess that you're here to skewer me alive while I'm too sleepy, toss my mangled body out of Asakusa for the maggots to feed on it, right?” she hazarded in a low voice.

The corner of his lips twitched ever so slightly that the student thought she'd dreamed it, as his expression remained cool and unimpressed.

“That's a very good idea, remind me to execute you for humiliating the members of the Hikeshi brigade,” Benimaru drawled, his voice just as low. He took a seat on her right, a bit higher near her head, and leaned back against the Sakura tree. “On the other hand, it's been a pretty tame day and I was bored out of my mind, so you entertained me quite well.”

So he wasn't going to beat her to a pulp for pissing him off earlier? Good. Niobe relaxed with a relieved sigh, looking up at the beautiful pink petals. “Happy to provide a show, even though I was merely trying to avoid getting too much attention and your fellow Hikeshi weren't going to give up. What, they'd never seen someone with white hair before?”

“Have you seen your hair color under the sun? And your mismatched eyes? You stand out like a rare creature that must be captured by some obsessed collector,” Benimaru countered. “No one in Asakusa gets attention like you did earlier.”

Niobe's mouth opened in quiet disbelief once again. That... that rude man... he was actually comparing her to some rare creature—maybe the Yeti—whose existence had never been proven in the past. She leaned her head back to stare up at him in silent horror and Benimaru looked down at her lazily.

“Apologize,” she hissed at him.

“Keep dreaming,” he deadpanned.

“You're digging your grave, Tic-Tac-Toe. White hair isn't that uncommon these days and I'll have you know that I love my afro. Not as much as being a circus freak but still—it's an achievement to have grown it to this extent. So have some respect for the afro.”

This time, she heard it and saw it: Benimaru snorted and his lips definitely twitched upward, about to curl into a smile.

“It's hair, outsider girl,” he deadpanned again. “Cut it as much as you want, it'll grow back. I'd say that having so much curls is a pain in the ass to take care of, can't imagine how messy it can get once you get out of bed.”

Niobe smiled toothily at him. “You wanna know?” she asked, half-serious.

“No, I'll pass.”

Niobe huffed silently and repositioned her head correctly under her jacket, eyes closed. This time, there was a somewhat comfortable silence that slowly managed to make her relax; the intense animosity that had surrounded Benimaru had faded a little bit, though he still seemed wary of her because she still wasn't from Asakusa. It was a start. Maybe seeing Hinata and Hikage snuggling against her without any worry made him reconsider her? Whatever it was, the student was grateful for it. The late afternoon had been very nice, despite the small argument with the Hikeshi right here, and the evening rolling by should be sweet.

“What you said earlier... I hope it never happens to Asakusa.”

Frowning, Niobe opened her eyes. “Hm?” she mused.

“Our Hikeshi Fire brigade being inducted in the Special Fire Force,” Benimaru clarified for her. “It should never happen to us. Not only do we take care of our own Infernals without the help of those Imperial lapdogs, but why the hell would we serve the damn Emperor? He has no authority over us and I certainly don't recognize the reign of that old geezer.” He clicked his tongue in irritation. “But you know what pisses me off the most? The fact that you might actually be right: should something major happen, we'd be in serious trouble.”

“You're proud of who you are and you're not ashamed to show it, that's a very admirable trait. But also vulnerable,” Niobe said, her voice becoming dull. “If the Tokyo Empire manages to get the strongest pyrokinetics of Asakusa to become Fire Soldiers, they'll be gloating for sure. Chaaaaaaa!”

The Hikeshi Fire brigade being inducted in the Special Fire Force reminded her of how her ex-boyfriend attempted to convince her to put her flames under the service of one Company, especially after an astonishing bunch of students from her university had turned Infernals. What made matters worse was that she'd discussed with them sometimes, had laughed with them, even though they weren't her best friends. The shock of seeing so many students turning had instilled so much fear into her peers that they'd mostly been too scared to even move a muscle, as the previously human students were either roaring or moaning in pain, consumed by the unnatural flames. The event happened last year, but was still so vivid in her mind that it kept replaying as if it occurred yesterday. As far as she could tell, there wasn't anyone who had the balls to put an end to the poor souls, so Niobe had unfortunately stepped in—thus revealing her Ignition Ability for the first time and how skilled she was at using it. Some arrows, that she'd curved on the side to hit many targets at once and destroy the core, had been enough to finish off the students.

Though the witnesses had been in utter shock, they'd still been able to tell that Niobe was the one who'd put the Infernals to rest with her Ignition Ability when the Special Fire Force arrived at the scene (a bit too late, even though it took her some time to garner her nerves, stop shaking and get out of her phase to finally act). Her ex-boyfriend had been the first Fire Soldier to approach her, extremely worried that she might have been hurt when he'd heard that the group of Infernals had popped up in her university. He'd also made his point clear that he wanted Niobe to be accepted in a Company, where she'd put her powers to the service of the Empire. Even though she'd be putting Infernals to rest, she'd also fight against Spontaneous Human Combustion. That would be helping.

Never had she expressed such strong desire to shoot him to hell.

Benimaru looked down at her, thoughtful. “Are you speaking from experience?” he asked curiously.

Niobe hummed sadly, her expression growing dull as she watched the darkening sky. “Yeah,” she murmured, her voice tightening with emotion. “I...maybe I'll tell you another day, if I'm still allowed to come back to Asakusa. Maybe. For now, we don't know each other and I don't feel like reviving this.”

The Hikeshi was silent for a few solid five seconds before he answered. “Fine. You owe me.”

“Stop lying,” she hissed, her eyes flashing.

“Heh. Make me,” he shot back with an irritating smirk.

The student sent him an aggravated look, which he waved off as he lounged against the tree. The nerve of that man-child!

Nevertheless, Niobe released another sigh of relief, before sitting up with the twins sprawled on her lap. She prevented their heads from slipping by putting her hands on top of them, which prompted both girls to tighten their arms around her long legs with sleepy moans. Her keen eyes were locked on the dark sky above, clear from any stars and moon. Strange as it may be, she'd always preferred such clear sky instead of one with visible stars, because she loved to lose herself into it. Sometimes it was the moon, sometimes it was the Koi fish in their pond at her father's house. It... helped clear her mind whenever she'd remember that horrible ordeal at her university. And her father's disillusionmnent.

Such trials shouldn't be plaguing people. Yet here they all were, trying to live despite the horrors caused by this inhuman death.

“Tic-Tac-Toe?” she called out.

A grumble answered her. “You forgot my name or what?” he drawled, annoyed.

“Are you going to help with Hinata and Hikage?” she asked with a small smile, looking down at the sleeping twins on her lap. “They're exhausted and need to sleep in a proper bed. Who would have expected these two foxes to be this strong? You guys definitely are something else in Asakusa, which can put the Fire Force Companies to shame very easily.”

Benimaru snorted, giving her a look. “Who the hell do you take us for, idiot? There's a reason we've never relied on the Special Fire Force whenever an Infernal had appeared in Asakusa. And... no, I'm not helping with Hinata and Hikage: they're yours since they like you.”

Niobe turned slowly to send him a scandalized look, to which he smirked victoriously. Even his eyes were crinkling in amusement. A tick mark appeared on her temple as she glared.

“What if they get hungry? What if I get hungry and they refuse to wake up?” she reasoned. “You're really going to let these two foxes mob me all they want because I can't just shake them off?”

“That's right,” Benimaru nodded.

“Aren't you an evil brat, Tic-Tac-Toe,” Niobe grumbled as she sank back down and allowed the twins to snuggle her even more by using her generous chest as a pillow. She tried to pout, but couldn't find it in her heart as she glanced down at the sisters. “Hmm...”

She stared in wonder, trying to interpret their sudden actions. Hinata and Hikage's faces were peaceful and there was a small smile Niobe couldn't miss at all: they both looked so content and serene that the student couldn't find it in herself to wake them up, even if she was getting hungry. The twins looked so innocent and fragile at this instant that it brought back some undesired memories of her childhood that she'd wanted to forget—especially about her father, who'd grown more overprotective of his daughter after an atrocious event that occurred in her younger years and the Infernal chaos at her university. Her three-years-old self hiding and cowering behind her father... a woman's sobbing... some people probably wearing white...

Mismatched eyes closed abruptly for a full minute, erasing the images, then opened once she felt she was calmer once again. Niobe had no idea if Hinata and Hikage had lived something horrific very early on in their life, as they seemed alright and undamaged, but where were their parents? It was already late in the evening, surely they wouldn't let their dear princesses out running around Asakusa this long?

“They turned Infernal,” Benimaru chimed in quietly.

Niobe leaned her head back to look up at him upside down. His eyes had lost their amusement and were now gazing down at the twins with a sullen, gloomy expression. Her throat constricted painfully at his words and she gulped silently.

“The parents?” she asked shyly, though she knew the answer.

He nodded, his expression downcast. “Happened so suddenly in the dead of the night eight years ago. They were good people who used to have problems getting children, so when the mother finally got pregnant, carried her pregnancy to full term and gave birth to Hinata and Hikage, we were all overjoyed for them. We celebrated until we couldn't stand anymore, as it was pure happiness during such dark times.” He marked a small, pregnant pause, before continuing. “The parents turned Infernal the same night after the celebration, leaving us dumbfounded, but also crushed. Hinata and Hikage were only babies who knew absolutely nothing of this world. No mother to cuddle and love, no father to lean on and learn from—nothing. Everything was taken from them at birth. After we put their parents to rest, Konro took them in.”

Benimaru closed his eyes in acceptance.

“Asakusa didn't and won't ever forget them.”

Niobe gulped again, her eyes wide in horror and expression frozen in utter shock. She couldn't even speak, only grab the twins' back in a protective gesture as a cold feeling washed over her like a maverick. Hell, Hinata and Hikage had lost everything even before they could understand they had something to begin with in this godforsaken world? Shit. She released a shaky breath, unable to speak for the time being. This was so cruel she had no words to express her sympathy for the twins, even though they didn't seem affected by their parents' death. Infernalization and death just took and took, making no difference—everyone could and would fall.

“Seems like you've given them a life, as they still laugh and smile,” Niobe said serenely. “You must love them very much.”

“Everyone does, even though they're little hellions and rascals. We'd destroy anyone who would think of harming them when they don't deserve it. They've suffered and lost enough.”

The student smiled. “That's nice,” she sighed.

The fond and protective tone in his voice convinced Niobe that Benimaru wasn't joking around, they would probably mess up any idiot who would wreck Asakusa and its people, especially the children. Though Hinata and Hikage had an Ignition Ability and were probably efficient in using it well, they still were little girls and had to be protected at all cost. The sisters had a long life ahead of them, especially with the Hikeshi Fire brigade there to make sure they didn't stray from their old values.

All of a sudden, an explosion shook the ground from where they were lounging, surprising both young adults into a sitting position. Their eyes zeroed in on the huge pillar of fire that erupted in a located part of Asakusa, but to their utmost shock, another one surged in another part of the town. Then another. Then another. Then another. Then another. Soon, there were too many to actually count them. Cries and screams erupted loudly, along with bells tolls that rang through Niobe's soul, jolting Hinata and Hikage awake on her lap.

“What the hell?” Niobe gasped, jumping to her feet with the twins now grabbing her legs from behind.

“Get Hinata and Hikage somewhere safe, we have to get all the townspeople out of here!” Benimaru barked at her urgently.

Their eyes met once, allowing Niobe to see the concern and dread Benimaru couldn't actually hide this time around—Asakusa, his precious hometown, was under attack and it was more than serious. There would be casualties, a lot of them, and this would break their spirit. And the Tokyo Empire... if it really was a catastrophe, they'd finally get to induct the Hikeshi into the Special Fire Force.

Stealing her nerves, Niobe dropped to snatch her jacket and backpack, put them on, and grabbed Hinata and Hikage to heave them in her arms, with the twins immediately latching on her with so much force that it was painful. She didn't complain though, for a single look at their faces showed the sheer fear and concern they were both feeling at the moment.

She met the Hikeshi's gaze once more, fiery. “Allow me to lend a hand after getting them to the Sumida river,” she requested. “I can be of assistance above ground and my sight is ten thousand times better than all of you combined. I'd be able to spot Infernals quickly and easily.”

He stared at her hard, searching for any foul play, but then nodded.

“If you can be useful, who am I to say no to help?” Benimaru exclaimed strongly. “Get your ass back there, okay?”

“Chaaaaaaa!My arrows are yours to use!” Niobe barked back.

They both parted ways, with him running towards his town to put the Infernals to rest and Niobe dashing at top speed towards the Sumida river. Hinata and Hikage clung to her as she ran, their faces tucked into her neck. Soft and comforting words were murmured in their ears to distract them from the screams of their people and the spreading panic and horror, even though they sounded quite hollow; she had no idea what the hell was going on in Asakusa right now, but the priority was to get everyone who didn't have fire powers and couldn't fight to a more secure place. Niobe gritted her teeth, avoiding rocks and some people with agility. More explosions were shaking the ground as she neared the river, meaning more Infernals for the Hikeshi Fire brigade.

This night would be deadly.

Skidding to a halt as she reached the river, Niobe took the time to breathe and kneeled to put the twins on the ground. The tears she noticed in their golden eyes nearly broke her heart, as their lips were also quivering and they looked on the verge of crying their hearts out. Opening her arms wide, Niobe mustered the best comforting face she could and exhaled.

“Come here, girls,” she coaxed softly.

Hinata and Hikage literally tackled her, their arms wrapped so tightly around her that she almost lost her breath. She hugged them against her when she felt them trembling in her hold, which made Niobe wish she'd spent more time with children of her age to remember how to be a child and comfort one with words. Though she wanted to reassure the girls, the words didn't seem to come out that easy. Damn her father... but maybe... maybe he could do what she couldn't on her own.

Tentatively, Niobe pressed two kisses on each forehead and looked into their eyes with a small smile.

“Okay, here's what we're going to do,” she said, taking off her backpack to hand it to them. “watch my belongings for me while I'm helping your Hikeshi. If you're scared, search for something purple and blue in my backpack and say: 'I'm scared.' Yeah?”

“Uhh... okay?” Hinata hesitated, taking the backpack from the student.

“What's in there?” Hikage inquired timidly, still clinging to her.

Niobe smiled tenderly at the twins. “My best friend and creation,” she announced proudly. “He'll keep you company and calm you down.” She stood up with a hum, turning her head towards the red chaos that was Asakusa. “I need to go and help, since I swore in front of the scariest Hikeshi. Make sure to stay by the river until all the fires have been put out, then I'll come back for you. Yeah?”

She looked back towards Hinata and Hikage, who still looked scared out of their minds, but the tears had dried and there was a hint of hope in their golden eyes. Both gulped, then nodded firmly at the same time with more brave expressions.

“Chaaaaaa!” they chorused.

Niobe chuckled, nodding. “Exactly, girls. Be well.”

She went back to Asakusa, running fast. More Infernals were appearing left and right, columns of fire erupting in different parts of the town. It was already hell and it had just started, as the night would be long if it kept going that way. Niobe took another breath as she performed acrobatic stunts to climb up on the nearest building and get on the rooftop, her keen eyes surveying the ground on all sides while she rushed towards the highest spot—that watchtower or that pagoda will be perfect—where she could see all of Asakusa. Hikeshi soldiers were guiding the panicked townspeople towards safety, shouting orders and instructions, others were taking care of the fires burning down. Good, they're not pissing their own pants, Niobe thought as she used a pole to swing herself up one of the lower roofs of the high pagoda she'd spotted earlier. The Hikeshi were excellent soldiers who managed to remain level-headed.

Niobe climbed higher on the pagoda, her movements fluid, swift and graceful, until she finally reached the rooftop and even climbed up on the pole. Once she was up, she balanced herself on one foot on the top of the pole, the student raised her gaze and finally got to see. Asakusa. Asakusa on fire. Asakusa burning. Asakusa crying for help. It was a blazing inferno she'd thought she'd never witness, worse than the chaos that had erupted in her university last year.

Mismatched arrowed-eyes moved around quickly in their sockets, zeroed in on the Infernals immediately acquired as targets with their superior sight, and locked them. More than a dozen were roaming around, their guttural moans and roars echoing all over the burning town in their decaying bodies. Niobe spun slowly on her pole to survey the other side of Asakusa, immediately spotting other Infernals and burning buildings this way too, and an anguished expression took over her lovely features. So many townspeople that turned would require a lot of pyrokinetics to use their powers to put them to rest, and if more Infernals appeared out of the blue, they'd have to keep this up all night—meaning, they might reach their limits and start overheating. Niobe desperately wanted to believe they wouldn't have to overexert themselves, but all these people suddenly turning Infernal... this wasn't natural.

“At any rate...,” she growled.

She raised her right hand to point down, her mismatched eyes glowing bright and the arrowed-pupils pointing up. Green flames swirled around to form a big bow made of fiery fire and she used her left hand to form the first arrow by pulling it back slowly. Determination shined in her gaze and features.

“... Asakusa shall survive.”

Niobe fired, her arrow slicing through the air at blinding speed and shooting right through the first Infernal that was wobbling its way towards a Hikeshi ready to finish it off the local style. The shot even made a small crater in the ground, along with a sizeable hole into the dying civilian's chest. Its flames died out around its falling and decaying body, then it evaporated in ashes. Though she had no idea who it used to be, the student still bowed her head in silent respect for a few seconds for the departed soul she'd just killed. Then raised her head once again, her excellent eyes locking onto the next Infernal, and readied her second arrow on it.

“As long as there's dread and fear, there's still room for courage. And hope. If you can be scared, then you're more than likely to feel courage and master your fears.”

“FIGHT AND SURVIVE!” Niobe shouted at the top of her voice.

She fired. And fired. And fired.

[…]

After she fired another arrow that pierced through yet another Infernal and obliterated it, Niobe gasped in pain and nearly collapsed on her feet, her bow disappearing as she braced herself on her knees. She struggled to regain her composure, sweat dribbling all over her body and causing her clothes to cling to her. Through shooting down Infernals and helping the Hikeshi soldiers, she'd changed positions to run to another spot where she could fully see her targets, as snipers needed to be on the move after the second shot. She'd run and jumped around Asakusa like a circus freak to snipe with the best precision she could muster, but it was becoming clear that she'd just about reached her limit.

How many had she killed? How many Infernals? Niobe had long lost count, but she knew there had been too many people that had turned tonight. And that had been too many people to put to rest in a disrespectful way that wasn't the local one. If she survived this hell, she'd apologize to Benimaru and Konro for all the victims that had fallen to her arrows.

Her lungs felt too hot as she was seriously struggling to breathe, her limbs numb and uncooperative. Niobe felt so light-headed that she could barely see straight, so she closed her eyes to concentrate. This sensation of being overheated was all too familiar, as she'd experienced it many times during training sessions with her demanding father—if being a beast in your domain meant overworking yourself to beyond exhaustion, then so be it. But Niobe still remained human and humans had limits. It felt like dying while still fighting to keep living at the same time, which made the sensation ten thousand times worse.

“Chaa... I can't go on anymore,” she rasped. “Any more shots and my arms and fingers will break...”

Indeed, she felt much more pain in her hands and arms, as this was where her Ignition Ability worked the most. Her ki path was located there, so it stood to reason that the pain would be much more intense down there; the nerves were irked and touched, her hands were trembling so uncontrollably that she couldn't even stop the motion if she wanted to. Niobe groaned, swaying dangerously on her feet, and she eventually started to slip from the rooftop she'd perched herself on. She couldn't stop her fall to the ground, even if she tried to hang onto the edge, and crashed on her feet before collapsing on her legs with a groan.

Fortunately, the ground hadn't been that far, but that still hurt like a bitch in her current state. So Niobe just sat there, wheezing painfully and her arms and hands trembling like leaves. Her keen eyes could only stare at the devastation of Asakusa and take in the ruined environment, since she'd exhausted herself. This was a complete disaster, and though Niobe didn't belong in Asakusa, she couldn't help but feel absolutely devastated and shocked by so much fire.

All that fire...so, so much fire...

“Sniper girl, you okay?” a familiar voice called out right behind her, just as painful.

Niobe turned, her eyes wide. Though her sight was still blurry, she managed to make out two Hikeshi soldiers stumbling towards her. The crimson Tic-Tac-Toe eyes and the bulky, taller form confirmed their identities and she let out a cough, blinking rapidly to clear her sight. Just how relieved was she to see that they had survived and were still fighting?

“I'm still alive,” she rasped, her voice guttural and exhausted when the two reached her. “Spent...burned out...my fingers and arms are too numb to move... I'm done...”

Benimaru collapsed on his knees right behind her with a painful grunt and crashed into her back, sending the two of them on the ground. Niobe didn't have the strength to push herself back up or kick the Hikeshi away, so she just lay there like a useless sack.

“Beni! Niobe!” Konro exclaimed in worry, kneeling beside them.

Wheezing painfully, Benimaru just managed to heave himself a little higher on her back, but that was it. He was just as spent and burned out as she was, unable to move, which was probably the worst in their situation—with the strongest Hikeshi being overheated, the blazing inferno that was Asakusa would swallow everything. The student grimaced in pain as Benimaru struggled to move off her, his breath hot on her shoulder blade.

“I can't breathe,” Benimaru heaved, his hands clutching her arms. “No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get any oxygen in...”

“You two are at your pyrokinetic limit, you can't go on like this,” Konro declared. He put a hand on Niobe's shoulder, squeezing it. “I can't thank you enough for your support, you have no idea how much your arrows and astounding precision have tremendously helped us in purifying our dead. Stay here, the both of you.” The Hikeshi stood up with difficulty, but still managed to. “I'll be back.”

Such words of praise would have made her proud to have been of any help, but Niobe could scarcely be grateful when the town was still burning down to a crisp and there had been so many victims. Her head lolled out as she raised her mismatched eyes to look up at Konro, scandalized.

Benimaru agreed.

“Not a chance, dumbass,” he growled as savagely as he could, his eyes glaring at his mentor. “No chance in hell are you going anywhere, we both know you're in the same boat as us...”

Niobe nodded with a slight snarl, propping herself on her elbows. “You're overheated too, don't be foolish,” she reminded harshly. “Where the hell is the damn Special Fire Force? Haven't they shown up yet?”

“Told you we can't rely on those goddamn Imperial lapdogs and thisis all the proof you needed,” Benimaru spat hatefully on top of her.

Niobe gasped, her eyes wide in utter disbelief. None had come to help the proto-nationalists? Not even the Company closest to Asakusa? How the hell could they just ignore the unnatural appearance of so many Infernals... or were they also just as swarmed that they couldn't send anyone? Such mass outbreak of Spontaneous Human Combustion in this district couldn't have gone unnoticed, so it had to be something else. In either case, this was absolutely disastrous; if other areas in Tokyo were on fire as well, then Fire Force Companies would be unable to respond to Asakusa's calls for outside help.

Damn it. She and the Hikeshi were on their own.

Clearing her throat, Niobe allowed Benimaru to lift her up by her waist as he finally mustered enough strength to sit up. She thanked him with a nod and managed to tuck her legs underneath, her gaze staring up at Konro. “Even so, we can't strain ourselves to control the fires, we're done,” she groaned, feeling guilty for saying that. “We may still be breathing, but this is our limit...”

Konro was about to argue when there was a sudden roar, red flames surging from an alleyway in such fashion that all three looked up in surprise and shock. When the fire died out, they could hear a deep guttural breathing that had Niobe's hair at the back of her head rising up. The sound was so ominous and animalistic that it made her twitch in apprehension, her instincts alerting her of an imminent danger. She almost readied her trembling hands to form the bow and arrow, but froze in shock at the sight of a horned head peeking out of the intersection.

“What the fuck?” Niobe murmured in a shaky voice.

For a second, she thought that her eyes must have some serious damage due to her exertion, but those were real horns on that... that thing's head. Whatever it was, it absolutely didn't look human at all; that wide grin on its face made her twitch violently as Benimaru tensed behind her. What the hell was that thing? An Infernal? A new kind that had never been repertoried before? She'd never seen that Infernal before and all she could do was stare at it like a dumb idiot as it walked out of the alleyway. It was so tall, so big and bulky...

“What is that thing?” Konro gasped in horror.

Niobe sputtered, at a complete loss while a hand grasped her shoulder painfully. She couldn't even tell when she and Benimaru rose to their wobbly feet, as she was focused on the demonic thing in front of them. What on earth, the student thought with wide eyes.

“A demon!” Benimaru exclaimed in utter shock.

The 'Demon Infernal' threw its head back and roared, jolting Niobe a little bit more awake. She yelped and bumped into Benimaru, the latter steadying her against him by her hips, but she didn't even notice. The student couldn't help but let her keen eyes roam over the creature, noting and analyzing whatever she could; its skin looked so resistant and solid, like scales. It looked tough, maybe too tough. Could her arrows pierce its skin and finish it off like most Infernals? That thing didn't look like the others and seemed much more different. More dangerous and deadly.

“Damn it,” she heard Konro swear.

That is, before he brutally shoved her and Benimaru into a wooden wall. Eyes widening in pure shock, Niobe gasped loudly as she turned towards the Hikeshi leader, unable to stop her flight. No, don't tell me he's going to...

“What are you doing?!” Benimaru shouted in utter disbelief, his eyes wide in fear. “KONRO!”

“HIKESHI!” Niobe screamed at the same time.

Both were unfortunately knocked out by the debris, with Niobe crashing on top of Benimaru.

“... it's too soon for both of you...” was all the student heard before her consciousness faded.

[…]

Mismatched eyes brutally opened and their owner jolted in a sitting position, but was held back by strong hands on her hips. Niobe hastily looked down at who the hell was touching her, about to use her hands, when another pair of stronger hands imprisoned her at the wrists.

Crimson Tic-Tac-Toe eyes bore into hers. She froze, blinked and gasped as recognition passed through her very slowly. Shinmon Benimaru. That was the man she fought alongside.

“You good now?” he asked in a guttural voice.

Niobe relaxed with a tired sigh and nodded.

“Yeah,” she responded in a low voice. “Sorry.”

“Don't sweat it. You were just as bone tired as I was.”

He slowly released her, shifting into a sitting position between the debris while Niobe gingerly looked up (she didn't even seem to notice that she was straddling him and neither did he). There was sunlight peeking through the cracks of the building they'd crashed into. Sunlight that—wait.

Sunlight? The student suddenly looked back down at Benimaru at the same time he'd brought his head back to also look at her, their eyes wide. Oh, no, she thought as terror coiled in her belly. Dread began filling her and she hastily scrambled to get off his lap, almost tumbling, and offered a hand that he gratefully took to help him stand up. Both pyrokinetics stumbled out of the destroyed building they'd slept in, nearly falling over again, but both managed to help each other out by hanging onto one another.

Morning was there, taunting them with his bright rays of sunlight to remind them of the tragedy that had befallen Asakusa. The lively Asakusa that was ravaged by a great fire was now a disastrous sight, with smoke billowing in the air. It took Niobe's breath away as she took in the great damages that were done to this beautiful district, eyes wide. So much had been lost. Yet...it looked like they'd won against the fires and the damn Infernals at the cost of so much.

“KONRO!” Benimaru yelled out in despair.

Such fear in his voice made her quake in her sneakers, which would add to her own emotional turmoil. Benimaru was scared shitless that something had happened to his mentor and she felthis emotions at the moment—though they had nothing in common and were still strangers to each other. Niobe used her sight, which was now clear enough, to look around the ruined town and found a figure sitting against a burned down building, a bit far from their position. She instantly recognized the Hikeshi by his figure and destroyed outfit, who looked downright exhausted, but something else made her gasp in horror, which got Benimaru's attention.

“Do you see him?” he asked urgently.

She pointed a trembling finger in Konro's direction, her features contorted in horror. “Over there, near that huge crater,” she said. “He's alive...

There was a 'but' that he immediately caught. What he saw on her face made his blood freeze in dread. He didn't like it one bit. Readjusting his grip on Niobe, Benimaru led her towards his fallen comrade. Both exhausted pyrokinetics walked painfully slow, still very much weak from the horrible fight they'd gotten into. There was so much black smoke erupting from that crater, as if something big had exploded there. It was a rather frightening sight. Whoever had done this was crazy strong.

There was a tired, small smile on Konro's face and he was slumped, most certainly unable to move around for the time being. He looked pale and spent, but what drew Niobe's horrified gaze was the blackened spots dispatched over the skin of his shoulders, going up his neck. Never mind that long scar on his nose.He was still fuming from the inside, she could tell. When the older man looked up and smiled in relief, she almost broke down at the concealed pain and couldn't help the way she covered her mouth and stared wide-eyed at his injuries.

The Demon Infernal had pushed Konro to the edge of all Third Gens.

Letting go of her, Benimaru crumbled to his knees in front of his mentor. “You okay?” he asked in concern. “Did you get the Infernal?”

“Beni, Niobe,” Konro groaned. “Yeah, just barely...”

Benimaru gasped as he finally saw what had horrified the sniper—the blackened spots on the broad shoulders of his leader, taunting and telling of what happened after he and the outsider got knocked out. Konro had fought this monster despite being overheated, knowing full well what was going to happen to him. The young Hikeshi started feeling nauseous at the perspective of having failed.

“You fought so hard you carbonised,” Benimaru breathed. Then he gulped down the lump in his throat, painfully so. He couldn't suppress the guilty groan that rose from his throat and the way he ground his teeth together to keep himself from screaming. Or how his shoulders shook lightly. “Why, Konro...? If you had let me fight with you, then you wouldn't have to push yourself so far to defeat that thing. Why didn't you trust me to help you fight?”

Because you're still so young, Niobe wanted to scream, but found her throat too constricted to even speak. She may not know them, but she could recognize one's loyalty when needed: if Konro had chosen to take a fall for Benimaru, that must be because he must have seen a great future in him. He must be very special to him, but also to Asakusa. Losing him so young could have been a devastating blow.

Despite his obvious and intensepain, the older man was still smiling at the two.

“Oh, come on, Beni,” Konro chuckled weakly. “I took you out of the fight 'cause we can't afford to lose you. Same goes for you, Niobe, even if you're not from Asakusa,” he said, his eyes finding Niobe's wide-eyed and horrified gaze. “What you did last night meant more than what the Fire Force could have done, had they come to our help. Your sniping skills are most extraordinary. You have my respect for protecting our home, although it's not yours. Thank you.”

Benimaru's eyes widened in now apparent realization.

“You idiot!” he snapped. “The only reason we're all still here is because of you. You're the one that Asakusa needs. With you hurt like this, who the hell is going to—”

His distress seemed to spark ire in Konro's being, whose arm shot out to grab Benimaru's collar to pull him abruptly forward, and the older man brutally pushed his forehead against his. This sudden movement prompted Niobe to take two steps backwards, as the moment looked too important for her to be here to witness, but her eyes wouldn't obey even though she willed them to turn away. The fiery rage and determination in Konro's eyes was almost crushing.

“That'll be your duty now, Benimaru,” he ground out, his tone final.

The younger Hikeshi gasped, shock obvious and evident in the sound he just made. Niobe closed her eyes and lightly bowed her head to Konro, addressing her thanks with the most humbling demeanor she could muster as the power transfer occurred right in front of her between the two pyrokinetics. This man, this stranger whom she'd met just yesterday before this hell, had just thanked her for protecting his hometown while no one had asked her to. He wasn't even punishing her for killing so many of his people, as she wasn't from Asakusa and had disrespected their way of sending people off after turning Infernal by shooting them down like a cold-hearted sniper.

This was too much for Niobe, who slowly slid to her knees behind Benimaru and stared at the ground with a dull gaze. She wasn't deserving of such praise and thanks, she should turn them down, get up and get the hell out of here. But as hard as she wanted to move, her limbs outright refused to obey. As much as she tried to think of her father, friends and ex-boyfriend who must be worried sick to not have heard of her all night, Niobe just couldn't fucking move. Goddamn it, her phone must be full of messages and missed calls by now!

A strong voice echoed not too far from their position, snapping her out of her phase, and she raised her head in the direction of that voice. Her eyes twitched in barely restrained anger when her keen eyes noticed the blue stripes of the famed fireproof coats.

“The Special Fire Force,” Benimaru noted as he looked in their direction too.

Konro snorted disdainfully. “'Course they show up afterthe fight,” he said in derision.

“Damn it,” Niobe finally grumbled, blinking slowly.

“There may still be Infernals around!”

“Those structures could collapse any minute!”

“Keep your distance!”

Through the thin smoke, Niobe managed to make out the number of said Fire Force Company that had finally come to help—number 4, led by SōichirōHague, a non-powered firefighter that rose through the ranks to become who he was now. Speaking of the devil, the man himself was approaching them in calm steps. The fireproof coat and the cross-shaped talisman seemed to taunt them as they stood out in the burned out Asakusa. The student suppressed a scowl as she unconsciously moved closer towards Benimaru and Konro, her eyes watching the Fire Soldier like a hawk. When the elderly man reached them, he faced all three of them with a blank expression on his scarred face—where the hell did those three scars come from? They looked recent.

“Hello, I am SōichirōHague, captain of the Special Fire Force Company 4,” he introduced himself lightly. “You're Konro, yes? I'm told that you're a local leader.”

Konro didn't even bother to address him, merely gazed up at him.

“By order of the emperor, your Hikeshi Fire brigade is hereby inducted into the Special Fire Force as Company 7,” he announced.

The words fell on both Benimaru, Konro and even Niobe like a bomb, who gasped and gawked at the elderly man. Such bombshell news churned her stomach, as she stared up dumbly at the Fire Soldier. So the Tokyo Empire had really been looking forward to some disastrous event to finally get a hold of the Hikeshi Fire brigade of Asakusa to induct them into the Special Fire Force and exploit them. Just how disgusting and selfish could that old relic be to disregard the feelings of the proto-nationalists of this town and just do as he pleased?

Benimaru was the first to react. “Screw you!” he exclaimed hotly with a scowl. “You're just afraid of what we're capable of!”

“Beni, calm down for a sec,” Konro admonished, lifting a placating hand. Then he looked away, his expression guarded. “You want us to join you guys? Well, I'd like to hear what we'd stand to gain from it.”

“You'd remain an autonomous Company, but gain the Empire's support. In addition to new funding, you'd receive equipment, supplies and skilled soldiers.” His expression never changed as he gazed down at the two Hikeshi. “I don't believe you'll find any reason to decline this offer.”

Indeed, there wasn't any. Just as Niobe had said yesterday, this hell had nearly destroyed Asakusa and had taken too many lives, had nearly defeated all the Hikeshi soldiers who'd risen to protect their hometown and on top of it, one of their mightiest pyrokinetics had gotten tephrosis by getting rid of an Infernal that took all he had even though he'd long reached overheating. This was too much for them all. So were there any reason for Konro and Benimaru to decline, despite their admirable pride?

The older Hikeshi seemed to have read her mind, as his response was practically a yes. “Sorry, I can't give you an answer immediately,” he said, his face grave and somber. “I need time to consider.”

In the corner of her eye, Niobe saw Benimaru gritting his teeth in barely restrained anger. He knew what this meant and he hated it—he loathed it. The Fire Soldier remained silent for a few seconds, before suddenly acknowledging Niobe and assessing her.

“And here's the excellent sniper who's declined our several offers to join the Special Fire Force despite her evident skills,” he mused in morbid wonder. “I'll have you know that the offers still and will probably stand until we have a favorable answer.”

Niobe remained defiantly silent, refusing to catch Benimaru and Konro's inquiring stares. Captain Hague stared back at her for a total of five seconds before swiftly turning away, surprisingly agile for someone his age.

“It would be quite reassuring to have brave soldiers like you on the Force,” he declared, walking away from them all. “I await your favorable response.”

The smoke billowed around him and cloaked his figure, until he visibly vanished from sight. Niobe sat back and released a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding back since the arrival of the Fire Soldier. Meanwhile, Benimaru whirled back towards his leader with a snarl and heated eyes. No doubt that he was beyond furious.

“You want to become an Imperial lapdog?” he yelled, irate.

Konro wasn't fazed by his fury. “If we had the resources of an official Company, we probably could have prevented a lot of damage and saved a lot of lives,” he reasoned. “If the Empire wants to exploit us, fine. We can just exploit them right back.”

Niobe gulped at the steely resignation in his voice, showing that he'd already made his choice even though it certainly disgusted him to have to put his pride aside. Truly prideful people, she thought in awe as she slowly stood to her feet with a silent groan. Her father had been right—they were really admirable. And her respect for them had gone up, despite the fact that they now had to bow to the damn emperor and the Tokyo Empire. Benimaru was internally seething, but even he understood what Konro meant; the district of Asakusa may have its fighters and protectors, they hadn't been an official Fire Force, so the Empire didn't seem to have cared much for them. Until now. Now, they were acknowledged as a real Company because of their might and that was probably the most incredible feat to accomplish. Benimaru and Konro would make a name for themselves even without having been either in the Tokyo Army or the Fire Fighter agency, as word had already spread around about their strength among the previously six Fire Force Companies.

And what's more, Captain Hague had identified Niobe as the Third Generation who'd refused offers to join a Company when presented these 'golden opportunities' since last year. A report will be certainly be written to mention her name and presence at the scene, and other Fire Soldiers would show up at her father's doorstep—or hers, since they must know where she lived—to convince her to join the Force. How could you convince a Third Generation who had no motivation and reason to join an organization led by zealous servants of a ridiculous religion and put her powers at the service of a 'Sun God'?

Her father was going to scream.

A strong hand caught her forearm and squeezed it. Hard. Niobe slowlylooked up and blinked upon seeing Benimaru's blank stare, which still seemed to convey all of his emotions. Rage, sadness, guilt, humiliation—you name it. The announcement from Captain Hague had just about finished off their wounded pride, so it almost looked like they had nothing else to lose at the moment. His stare rooted the student on the spot and she stared back with wide eyes, awaiting his words.

“I don't know you at all,” he declared. “but here's what I know: Konro's right, you helping us out last night despite not being from Asakusa means more than what those dogs from the Empire could have ever done for us. You have his respect... and mine. Asakusa owes you a lot, Niobe.”

He closed his eyes with a snarl, seemingly bracing himself for what he was about to say, then opened them again to gaze at her.

“Looks like what you said became a reality: we've become an official Fire Force Company, due to the emperor taking advantage on what happened to finally induct us. We can't do shit about it... but here's what I can actually do, if your predicament is as grave as we think it is because of what that old geezer revealed. Let me finish,” he growled when she opened her mouth to object and she clamed up with an intimidated nod. Benimaru continued. “They want you too, right? Well, let me fuck them up by recruiting you right now.”

He leaned in to slam his forehead against hers, surprising Niobe as she yelped in pain, but she quickly shut up and gawked at him. His eyes, so fiery and unique, trapped her there and burned into her mismatched, arrowed-eyes.

“What do you think, outsider? Wanna become my sniper?”

Her mouth dropped open and all she could do was stare at Benimaru dumbfounded. Utterly dumbfounded and in shock. She was sure she was a perfect interpretation of a pufferfish at the moment, because this proposition was so sudden and unexpected that she didn't know what to say. Even her brain had seemingly turned off. Niobe blinked at him once, twice, three times.

The proud Hikeshi, who despised outsiders from the Empire and would probably incinerate them all on sight just for stepping into his turf, had just invited her to become part of the foundation of Company 7 and one of his soldiers. Her, an outsider he knew nothing about. Color her stunned, because she certainly was.

And that reaction got Benimaru to scowl at her.

“Take your time responding, we have all day,” he groaned.

“Beni, give her a minute to fully process everything,” Konro admonished again. “You just blew her mind, and mine all along. We didn't expect that.”

“Whatever.”

Niobe shook her head, eyes closed for a few seconds, then inhaled and exhaled. Her eyes opened again and bore into Benimaru's with a steely resolve she'd never felt before. Because something in him just... drew her in. Slowly, the student lifted the arm he was still holding onto to present her open palm.

“Niobe. Kirishima Niobe,” she finally introduced herself, putting her surname first. “Looks like I have no choice, yeah?”

Despite the situation, Benimaru's lips quirked slightly upward as he slid his hand up her arm to put his own palm into hers and squeeze her hand.

“Shinmon Benimaru,” he said. “And no, I'm not taking any complaints and you have no choice. I'm not taking a no for an answer.”

“Then you have a sniper.”

They both squeezed hands, forging their deal.