Persona - Fracture

Change of Plans

April, 8 BP – Before Peace

Dominic was frozen in place. He couldn't rush down there to help his old friend from being sliced in half. His spear seemed too heavy to lift and his mind was spiraling with conflict. He could only watch.

Hisuke's blade came down like a guillotine.

!!

-only to be deflected away by an incoming blood-red sword. Hisuke took a step back in surprise and averted his gaze to the newcomers. He had almost gotten that bounty hunter if not for that sword.

"Looks like ya guys need help, mind if I do it?" The leader of Yasaka's strike force, Shun Huang, smirked, crossbow at the ready. Hisuke cursed; he had forgotten that the strike force was returning from the border. Dominic, while still frozen, was able to ask a question on his mind.

"What are you doing here, Shun!? Run!" Shun was a junior and had just enrolled into the strike force four months ago. He still needed the capability and experience to handle an opponent of Hisuke's caliber.

"W-We've just returned from the border, Senior Dominic. We've heard blue thunder coming from this area, s-so we decided to investigate." Dominic heard a meek voice speak out from beside Shun.

"You're... 'Finn'?" 'Finn', if that was even his real name, was a short, 14-year old boy with bluish eyes, golden hair and a drill-shaped pigtail near his left ear. Dominic thought it looked weird. He must be the one who had thrown that sword, judging from his pose.

Finn wore a blue hoodie over a blue sleeveless shirt, dark blue shorts, and blue shoes. His expression screamed 'I am scared, but i must fight', and his hands were slightly shaking.

"Y-yes, Senior Dominic. H-however, it's not the time for g-greetings..." Finn directed his stare at Hisuke, who was staring at all of them with a predatory look, despite not holding his sword.

Dominic sighed in relief. Yasaka's two-man strike force, short-handed it may be, was a blessing and maybe, just maybe, they could force Hisuke to retreat and hopefully avoid a fight. It was just a hope, but he could try.

"The fight is not over. I can still exterminate you all." ...which was promptly dashed. Hisuke dashed over and picked up his sword. He was about to pluck Finn's sword, but the blood-red sword glowed slightly and materialized in the golden-haired boy's hand.

"Let's see ya try!" Shun's crossbow immediately launched multiple arrows, each of them infused with ice. Like Rufus's bullets, Hisuke spun his sword and deflected all of them. Shun growled. Ranged attacks were a no-no. Melee it is.

"Senior Dominic! Please let us handle this! Retreat back and inform Boss!" Shun's crossbow latched into his right arm and transformed into some kind of gauntlet-shield combo. From the gauntlet came a blue, luminescent saber.

"But I-" Dominic's reply was cut off by Finn, who was preparing to assist Shun in fighting Hisuke.

"P-please, Senior Dominic. Your friend needs y-your help." Finn pointed a finger at the thankfully unconscious Rufus. The scar was halfway closed, but that was all Dominic could see from this distance.

After a long moment, Dominic sighed and reluctantly carried Rufus fireman-style, careful not to aggravate his wounds. He hoped it would be for the best. Two kids against an even younger child soldier were not good odds.

"...Please, come back alive." With that words, Dominic rushed away to inform Yasaka of the black-haired murderer. There was no need to go to Viritalia City as he had met the bounty holder personally.

"Don't try to-" Hisuke attempted to run after Dominic, but found himself blocking Finn's sword instead. Despite Finn's timid nature, his strength is... surprisingly strong. The black-haired child found himself straining under the weight of the blood-red sword.