The girl in Darkness - Kousano

Chapter 3

Neither of them expected the fight to drag on so long.

Koyo's Golden Demon was a deadly attacker, but Yosano was good at dodging by a hair's width if nothing else. And if she could manage to heal herself in the time it took Koyo to attack again, they were back at the start.

Neither of them could fight forever, though.

Yosano couldn't dodge for eternity, and Koyo couldn't attack.

Yosano barrelled straight through the wall of slices that Golden Demon made, healing herself as soon as the would-be fatal attacks hit her. She slammed into Koyo, knocking the woman off balance and sending them both tumbling to the floor. Golden demon dissolved into the air.

Koyo gasped and looked up at Yosano, who had a firm grip on her shoulders. Her knees were on either side of Koyo's legs. The dark-haired girl had successfully pinned her down.

Koyo struggled against the deceptively strong woman. Yosano moved her hands from Koyo's shoulders to her wrists to keep her from moving.

Up close Yosano's face was stunning, even that terrifying smile. She had a beautiful black fringe of thick eyelashes around her bright, magenta eyes. Those magenta eyes gave Koyo a spark of recognition.

It took Koyo a while to get her mind back on track.

"Now that I have you cornered," Yosano said, "You'll tell me from whom you heard the Agency was here before I took my first reconnaissance."

Koyo blinked slowly. "The first... then why..."

Yosano, seeing Koyo's confusion, loosened her grip. That was a mistake. Koyo swiftly brought her knee up to Yosano's stomach, who let out a sharp gasp. Koyo unsheathed her sword and swiped at Yosano, cutting open her stomach.

It doesn't matter how familiar she is. I will carry out my job.

Yosano staggered backwards and healed herself. Koyo stood up slowly and flicked the blood off her blade sharply. Golden demon materialized behind her.

"From the looks of the situation, we were set up to meet," Koyo said. "Nonetheless, neither of us will refuse the bait of killing each other, even if it is part of somebody else's plan."

"And how will you do that?" Yosano posed, keeped her gaze fixed on the golden demon. "I can't defeat such a powerful ability user and, similarly, you can never defeat a foe who can heal as fast as you cut her."

The statement hung in the air, leaving a silence thick enough to still both the golden demon's sword and Yosano's cleaver. The two women stared at each other as if in a face off, testing to see who would waver first - or if either of them needed to waver. After all, if this fight was hopeless to the both of them, what would be the point of a continued battle?

"I only need to be lucky enough to land a blow that would kill you before you could heal yourself," Koyo pointed out.

"And I only need to be lucky enough to get in close enough to strike," Yosano contradicted. "Do you really want to stake your life in a battle of luck?"

"The first killing strike would also be determined on the differing basic skill of the two of us."

"With both of our abilities active, there's no way to know which one of us is fundamentally more skilled."

Koyo quieted for a moment, processing Yosano's words. "So you're suggesting the two of us surrender?"

"I'm suggesting that we call it a draw... for now. And consider the fact that our fight was most likely a setup."

Koyo tilted her head to gaze at this strange, yet familiar, woman. Her elegantly spoken words were such a sharp contrast to her brutal and crazed fighting. It was intriguing.

Koyo sheathed her sword and watched as Yosano lowered her weapon. Neither of them moved for a moment.

"Well, if we've called a temporary truce.." Koyo began.

"Yes?"

"How would you feel about getting a drink with me?"