Spring Upon the Solstice

XIV - Let the 77th Begin

{ Jhiro Fukiyama }

Long story short, our punishment never came. I don't quite understand it myself, either. But once the Leviathan saw us, she decided that she wasn't going to have us flayed alive, or whatever.

Instead, they dragged us onto the battlefield, handed us the weapons we left behind in the locker room, and told us to beat Jizusuke and Kanzaki into the ground. I had maybe all of five seconds to stow my glasses in their case before the door sealed behind us. Now trapped in the arena, our only way out was through them.

"Take down Jizusuke first," I whisper to Anamire, while we await the countdown.

Whatever technology HERALD has access to, this application of it stands far above anything else I've seen, Akuma or otherwise. As I guessed, the gridlike pattern of the arena served a purpose, separating along the seams to allow sections of the floor to rise and sink freely. Towers of cubes emerged in clusters to blot out the skyline, mimicking a sprawling urban cityscape, while other areas formed short tunnels underneath overpasses.

"What about the other guy?"

"Well, they're both close-quarters, but Jizusuke has more range, and I doubt he knows how to use those things." I sweep my eyes over them one more time to confirm that all they have are a pair of nunchaku and a nightstick baton. If the fight turns desperate I'll bring out my knife, but I'd rather hide that trump card for later. Right now, a shield and a pole will have to suffice.

"You think it'll work?"

"I don't want to beat them up too badly. And I'd rather conserve our strength for the battle ahead."

"You mean the second round?"

"Yeah."

A horn sounds from somewhere above us, though I can't tell from where. I'm guessing that it's the signal to start. Serves me right for not thinking ahead of time.

And so the Games begin. There could at least be a caster, or some Peacekeepers, or something, though.

Jizusuke and Kanzaki charge before I can even blink, as if they've been waiting for the horn ever since we stepped foot into the arena. Immediately, that puts me on the defensive, and I backpedal into a run, hoping that Anamire will know to do the same. I haven't considered how effective she might be in a fight. I don't even know how fast of a runner she is.

"Anamire, split up and bring them back to the center!" I shout across. "Try to divide them!"

She nods, and breaks off down a side alley between two particularly large towers, while I continue straight ahead. A thought occurs to me that I should've traded the bamboo pole for my shield, but I have more things to worry about, as the footsteps behind me smack louder against the road.

Okay, okay. Is it Jizusuke, or is it Kanzaki?

I count off to three, and sneak a glance over my shoulder as I round a corner.

Fuck.

Of all things, Kanzaki has to be the one chasing me, and although compared to Jizusuke's strength, he's probably a cakewalk, it means two things. For one, he's faster. Two, that pits Anamire up against the tougher opponent. While she has a weapon, she doesn't have any fighting experience that I can attest to. I've run the gauntlet through Higashiyama multiple times, which counts for something.

Something's coming...right!

All my thoughts halt to a stop, and I let my instincts take over, raising the shield to collide violently with an object flying at me from the alleyway on my right. The next thing I know, I'm sprawled out on the floor, nursing the bruises on my side as a familiar caramel-haired guy stares me down. With that block, I avoided the blow that would've connected with my skull.