Chrono X Angel, Book 7: Trial By Fire

Trial By Fire

ChronoXAngel
Book 7: Trial By Fire
By: Reiko Ayanami

(Special thanks to my entomologist buddy Atlas Moonshine)

Another winter has passed in Fumizaki, and time continues its path ever forward. It is now May, and Usoko can feel that the energy building inside her is reaching its boiling point. She is quickly running out of both time and options. Meanwhile, even as that threat builds, another great danger is looming just on the horizon. One whose seeds were planted only the winter before...

December 15th

"Tch, hated that place anyway," grumbled Kanata Ishimura angrily to herself as she kicked a rock into the trees on her way home, "Suspension just 'cause I gave that Ayame a piece of my mind? Whatever. It's not like she's the first person to ever have a dad die, what's the big deal..."

The "big deal" Kanata referred to was an incident earlier in the day where Emiko Ayame had announced to her class that she was taking the next few months off of school, so as to be with her family in mourning. Her father had recently been assassinated, and Emiko's presence was needed to keep stability in the Blue Oni Court. Of course she couldn't say this much to her classmates, only saying that he had passed suddenly and that she needed to "help with the family business". Kanata, in her infinite wisdom, made a somewhat cruel comment in regards to the situation and was promptly sent to the dean's office. Even her usual cohorts had looked on her with undisguised disgust as she left the room. Of course, rather than actually visit the dean's office, Kanata opted to simply skip school and go for a walkabout in the woods nearby.

"Stupid Emiko... Stupid Usocow..."

She found a large fallen branch in her path and picked it up, studying it for a moment. Seemingly satisfied, she took the branch and slammed it with all her strength into a nearby tree, pretending it was Ayame's head. It helped a little, but not much. Satisfied for the moment, Kanata lay down on the ground and closed her eyes.

"I wish I was strong enough to actually beat that blue-haired gorilla up" she groaned in annoyance, "I'd give anything to take her down a peg or two... Who does she think she is anyway, stupid Emiko... always protecting that pink psycho, like even why?"

"You dislike Usoko then?" a new voice whispered in her ear. Kanata practically jumped out of her skin in surprise. There had been no indication anyone else was out here, no signs or sounds, but now as she looked above her, there stood a girl no more than 8 or 9.

"I hate her too," the girl continued, "Her and all her friends. What if I told you I could give you a power that could make her and Emiko fall to their knees before you?"

As a concept, the idea certainly sounded appealing to Kanata but... why was she actually listening to this child? And how did she know those two anyhow?

"Get lost kid," growled Kanata with a glare in the child's direction, "I'm not having a good day, so get moving before I kick your ass."

"Oh I very much doubt you could," grinned the girl darkly, her reddish eyes narrowing, "No more than you could kick Tachibana's ass. You do know what she is, yes?"

"Yeah, a freakin' lesbo," replied Kanata, rolling her eyes, "Kid you got five seconds, and then I'm coming after you. Better start running. One. Two. Thr-"
Before Kanata could continue counting, an unseen force plucked her from the ground and sent her hurtling towards a tree. Striking with an impact so forceful it shook the birds from the treetops, Kanata slumped to the ground in a barely-living pile of skin and shattered bones.
"Wh-what... the hell... was... that..." was the only thought in her mind, all others had fled.