The storm had swallowed Arubi Island whole.
Sheets of rain hammered the tiled roof of the old Ryokan, the sound joining the ceaseless roar of ocean waves slamming into jagged rocks along the shoreline. The lanterns hanging outside swayed violently in the wind, creaking and clattering, their dim flames struggling against the darkness.
Inside, Kurumi Tokisaki stood near the shōji doors, a flint-eyed silhouette framed by the shifting shadows of candlelight. Tohka wiped her soaked blade with a strip of cloth, her gaze fixed on the steaming springs outside — the only serene thing left in the world tonight. Mukuro leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, her expression unreadable as the thunder rattled the foundations.
They had escaped Salem's castle only hours ago, running through labyrinthine corridors and night-black forests until the warm glow of the Ryokan came into view. But the brief respite here felt like an illusion. An animal presence pressed on the edges of their senses, a stalking weight in the dark.
Kurumi was the first to speak. "It's here." She spoke softly, but enough for Tohka and Mukuro to hear.
Tohka's grip tightened on Sandalphon. She was silent, and kept her ears open for any sounds from the outside, the heavy rain and strong winds made it hard to hear anything.
Outside, through the flickering light spilling from the Ryokan, something moved — low to the ground, scanning, pulling the storm's smell in through unseen nostrils. The Hound's silhouette was barely visible against the sheets of rain, a mass of shifting black that seemed to warp the air around it. Its eyes gleamed red for a fraction of a second before the darkness swallowed The Hound once more.
The three spirits stayed close together, listening and watching. The air seemed to have gone cold within the Ryokan, Kurumi could've sworn she heard the pattering of The Hound's feet, the clawed nails tapping against the outside. Its shadow appeared on the back wall of the Ryokan behind them. The Hound was standing on its hind legs, it sniffed the air. Its blackened fur was damp and wet from the rain. Snarling, it leaned closer to the wall, Tohka turned her head, she covered her mouth to swallow a gasp. She saw its shadow, standing tall.
Kurumi and Mukuro stayed silent, they saw the way Tohka was looking, eyes wide, her hand over her mouth. This told them that they weren't alone, The Hound stood there, outside, right behind the three spirits. Snarling once more, it spoke. "Get....The Girl.....Get....The Spirit...."
Mukuro for the first time, felt fear. The Grimm, it had spoken. Its spoken words were still clearly recognizable, even if it had a hard time speaking fully. Obviously it was here for Kurumi, but Mukuro wasn't going to let this....this thing, take her back to Salem.
"We have to fight it....head on...we can't leave here. It'll only hunt us back to Tengu City." Tohka spoke softly, her hand lowered. "If more Grimm show up....we'll have to do what we can to fend them off."
"This island is infested with them....just like Tengu City" Kurumi muttered. "But we might have no choice, but to play our cards, and dance with the devil."
Muruko nodded lightly, she swallowed a dry lump that had formed in her throat. "Very well, we shall face this creature head on then...."
~~~
Far across the churning waters in Tengu City, the situation was no calmer. Grimm skittered through flooded streets, their silhouettes cutting through the dim orange glow of emergency lights. In an abandoned alley, Natsumi — still in the form of a ferret — darted from shadow to shadow, a bundle of MRE packets strapped awkwardly to her small body with cords scavenged from the AST base. She knew she couldn't use her Angel, Haniel. She didn't want to give her position away, not only that, but her broom was turned into a blade, she needed it rather than having it in its broom form. Still, she needed to hurry.
The rain poured down hard, Natsumi's fur was damp and wet, she smelt like a wet dog. But it didn't bother her, she needs to act fast and quick. Sticking to the shadows, her small body maneuvered through tight spaces and stayed out of sight. She could only pray that Shido and the others had managed to leave their current location to move towards the school.
That is indeed what they had done, after Reine had gotten a hold of Shido, via comlink , the group had moved through the streets at a slow steady pace. Both Origami and Mana had the lead, their AST and DEM gear and weapons ready to take out any Grimm. Once they had reached Raizen High, Shido had allowed Marigold, Yoshino and Yoshinon to go down first. Origami and Mana stayed sharp on their feet. Their weapons drawn, aiming out at the distance, Once Kotori, Yuzuru and Kaguya had gotten down next. Miku followed, then Nia.
"Come on you two." Shido whispered, motioning the two to back up. "Natsumi should be here any minute, but we can't stall any longer out here."
Origami was the first to back up slowly, Mana followed soon after. Then they saw something small moving through the debris towards them. Shido brought his hand up to Mana and Origami, lowering their weapons. "It isn't a Grimm."
Sure enough, it was Natsumi. Once she had gotten closer, she morphed and returned back into her normal form. "Sorry about that, I had to take precaution and turned myself into a ferret."
Shido chuckled softly under his breath at the smart thinking Natsumi had done, once Origami and Mana had gotten down. Shido and Natsumi were the last two to go down. Closing the hatch over head, Shido made sure it was shut tight.
Once everyone was inside, the gentle hum of machinery filled the quiet space, Reine was trying her best to contact anyone else who might've survived this Grimm Apocalypse, but the storm was making it hard for any communications to go out any further. Marigold, helped Natsumi unpack the MRE rations from her bag. She seemed worried, worried about her mother. Worried about Tohka and Mukuro.
Taking notice of the worried look on her face, Natsumi spoke. "You know, I had to turn myself into a ferret to avoid being detected...maybe I could....show you what I looked like as a ferret? I'll let you hold me."
Marigold glanced at Natsumi with wide eyes that seemed to sparkle with childlike joy, which made sense given she was still a child. "R-really?"
Natsumi nodded lightly, she was wanting Marigold to keep her mind off of the bad things that could or may happen. But she didn't want to foreshadow anything. "Yeah, I promise." She locked her pinkie finger with Marigold's.
~~~
Back at Arubi Island, the three spirits stayed close together. Kurumi was still a bit weakened but her powers were still holding onto a thin string. She needed to consume someone's time to replenish her own. "If we can manage to beat The Hound, here and now. I might be able to steal whatever time it has left, the replenish my own."
Tohka nodded. "I don't see a problem with that, we have to regroup with Shido and the others. To come up with a strategy plan. Not only to save the world, but to make sure Salem is gone for good."
"Easier said than done, have you forgotten she is immortal...we cannot slay someone who is immortal.." Mukuro spoke in a robotic like tone.
"Dammit, then we'll have no choice but to wait for Scarlet. If and when she will arrive." Tohka muttered. "Still, we have to try."
"Trying will only get us killed." Kurumi spoke. "But I have faith that Scarlet will not forget about us, she is doing all she can."
Tohka was silent, her eyes glaring at The Hound's shadow. "Even if I have to hand the wheel over to Tenka. I will."
"We may need her...." Mukuro spoke. "But we can try beating this thing as we are. Before you give Tenka control."
Kurumi pulled her musket and flintlock pistol out of her shadow. "Tenka will be our last resort."
Lightning flashed as the Hound's shadow vanished, it was gone...no, it wasn't gone. It stalked around the hotel, Kurumi could hear it, she could hear its breathing. And then, the Shoji doors busted inward from their left. The Hound had barged its way in through the hot springs and through the rooms. Its left claw raised up over its head.
Tohka was the first of the three girls to move first. She brought Sandalphon up to block The Hound's attack. It was claws against blade. Tohka put all her weight into her legs as she planted herself down hard. "Go!" She barked.
Kurumi knew they needed more space to fight, she nodded as her and Mukuro made a running dash towards the front. The Hound snarled, it brought its right arm to Tohka's side, slashing at her side, sending her flying. Tohka yelled in pain, she gritted her teeth. She used Sandalphon to stop herself, stabbing the blade of her sword into the floor.
"Dammit all." Tohka grunted as she coughed up blood, she held her side as she removed her hand, looking down seeing blood on her hand. She yanked Sandalphon out of the ground, ready to swing her blade forward. But The Hound was quicker, it lunged towards Tohka. Tohka's eyes widened, she braced herself for impact. The Hound clashed with Tohka once more, pushing her back. It's hot breath blew against Tohka's face. It snarled, but Mukuro intervened, using her Angel Michael, using her key blade. Mukuro used Lataib, opening a hole up behind Tohka and pulled her in, the tip of her key blade slid through the hole, touching The Hound on the forehead.
Mukuro then used, Segva, freezing the Hound's movements for a brief moment. Then Kurumi fired Zafkiel's seventh bullet Zayin at the Hound. Freezing time around it completely.
Tohka appeared out of the hole next to Mukuro, she glanced ahead into the hotel. Kurumi aimed her flintlock pistol at the back of Tohka's head. Cocking the hammer back. "Dalet." She fired a bullet at Tohka, rewinding time on Tohka as the bloody wound on her side healed.
"Thanks." Tohka spoke softly. "What do we do now?"
"Now, we try and kill it...." Kurumi spoke with a stern tone in her voice.