Chrono X Angel, Book 7: Trial By Fire

Chapter 2

Several days later after school, Usoko decided to walk home rather than fly. It was a nice day, and she wanted to take in the fresh spring air before summer came along and made things broiling. The Pinkette had to admit as she walked through downtown Fumizaki, the past few months without Kanata's irritating presence at school had been like a gift from god. Something that was for the best, honestly. She had enough stress to deal with these days as it was, what with being so close to her own explosive demise. The energy inside of her had reached critical mass, and Usoko knew she had maybe a month more to live if she could not seal one of her powers away. As it was now, she could not even risk flash-transforming into her Seraphim form without risking a premature explosion. She had to build up the energy slowly, so as to not go critical. Fortunately she had not needed the form as of late, and her usual method of firing energy beams into the sky seemed to be working for the most part. Despite this, Usoko could not help but feel... uneasy about Kanata. She had disappeared without warning, just vanishing in the woods one day last December. They only ever found her bloody wallet, and Usoko had a feeling that might be all they would ever find, given the Oni serial killer lurking about. However, it had not just been Kanata who had been reported missing. Amanda Jenkins, an upperclassman who had recently graduated from Tsukiyomi, had also vanished about a week after Kanata. Apparently she and Emiko had not gotten along, similar to Usoko's own relationship with Kanata, and a dark part of her wondered if there was someone looking out for her in a twisted sort of way... but she dispelled the thought with a shake of her head.

"Wonder what I should cook tonight..." she said, thinking aloud and contemplating several potential dishes in her mind, when a massive explosion ripped through the air behind her. Usoko whipped around to see a cloud of dust and debris raining down from Ayanami Industries, and immediately she flipped the mental switch into combat mode. Ducking into a nearby alley, Usoko swapped over to her magical girl form, turned invisible, and soared off towards the scene.

A few minutes prior, inside the maximum security cells of GARDNA HQ...

Every day was the same as any other here. The same off-green stone walls. The same filtered florescent light meant to mimic actual sunlight. The piped-in sounds of wind and leaves rustling. Elni Schumacker had heard it all and then some. She had called the, admittedly spacious, Cell-898 her home for the past nearly 20 years now. There was nothing about this place that could surprise her anymore. All of the permanent residence cells were intended to prevent the occupants from losing their minds from the isolation, designed according to exact specifications in accordance with the needs of the individual's species. As Elni was a Nekomata, the grass field cell was designed to keep her senses occupied. That and the bimonthly book she could request from the library. She hated this place, but would never let on that she did. She loved it whenever Lydia, or especially Cessily on rare occasions, would come down here for whatever reason. Tormenting her daughters was the only bit of joy Elni could squeeze out of life. She might be approaching 50 now, but there was still plenty of life left in this old cat.
Today, however... something felt different. While her senses for such things had atrophied a fair bit from disuse over time, Elni's feline 7th sense could detect something dark making it's approach. Closer... and closer still... no then it was gone? But...
A subtle shift in the air, and Elni immediately knew she was not alone. Glancing down, a small Inari had seemingly manifested within her cell.

"Do you want out?" The child asked.

"Could be," replied Elni carefully, not letting any of her surprise show, "What could you possibly want from lil ol' me?"

The foxgirl smiled darkly.
"You hate GARDNA don't you? That's all the reason I need to let you go. I free you, you help me defeat them."

Elni let out a sharp laugh.