Chivalry of a Dark Knight [Batman x Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry]

CH4: Brought here to die (prt 1)

It had been a long day for Kurono Shinguuji but she was pleased that the hostage crisis at the mall was resolved with no casualties and that the perpetrators were taken into police custody. She was proud of Ikki and the others for handling the situation but she certainly never expected a costumed vigilante to be thrown into the mix; such a bizarre twist of events.

She had just gotten off the phone with the Superintendent-General who had thanked her for the assist and invited her for some drinks. She normally would've accepted but declined this time; her husband, Takumi, was currently away visiting family in Okinawa so she really wanted to get home to her son. Although Ayato didn't inherit her Blazer abilities, he was quite a capable and headstrong young boy but that didn't stop her from doting on him like how a mother would.

By the time she finished her remaining paperwork, it was already getting dark and was about lock up her office when suddenly her phone rang.

Kurono first thought it was Nene, Yuuri or another member of Hagun's staff but the caller ID was an unknown number. She guessed maybe it was someone from the police, probably wanting to corroborate Ikki's statements. But why? she already took care of the necessary formalities with the Superintendent.

"Hello?" she answered.

A hard raspy voice came from the other end.

"It's been a while, Shinguuji. Do you remember me?"

Kurono smirked, how could she forget. His name is Masaru Iwadare, a seasoned Mage-Knight who was part of Hagun's teaching staff last year, the time when Ikki first joined Hagun. The Kurogane family, hell-bent on halting Ikki's progress, bribed several staff members to fail him as well as make his life difficult and the most abusive of those teachers was Iwadare who was known to be particularly violent and unstable. During a training session, his violence against Ikki increased ten fold when Ikki managed to defeat him; Yuuri often recounted to her that it was a miracle that Ikki survived. Ikki's resolve to keep pushing forward won her admiration.

The first thing Kurono did after assuming her role as Director was dismiss those bribed staff members, particularly Iwadare. Needless to say, he didn't take being let go too well.

"Iwadare." she addressed as she casually lit herself a cigarette. "I was wondering when I'd hear from you. I take it that you're the one behind the e-mails. I don't care much for threats but if you have the balls to challenge me in person, I'll be happy to settle whatever insecurity issue you have."

It would seem that her little taunt did the job she intended as she could hear Iwadare's teeth grind and almost feel his anger radiate through the phone when he snapped at her.

"Don't talk to me about insecurity, you bitch! You not only took away my job but you made sure I couldn't find work elsewhere!"

"You nearly killed a student!"

"I was preserving the pecking order! If a runt doesn't know his place, what does that say for the rest of society!? Might makes right in this world!"

"Is that why you won't face me?" Kurono asked with a smug grin.

There was no immediate response from the other end and Kurono felt satisfaction from making him bite his tongue. She knew he was all bark and wouldn't have the guts to face her. He may have been strong in his own right but she was a class beyond his own.

Surprisingly, Iwadare chuckled before responding.

"Heh. I'm not stupid, Shinguuji. I know in a fair fight, you'd probably beat me. But I'm not looking to beat you, I want to destroy you just like how you destroyed my life!"