Yoko and Rei walked together through town.
The atmosphere was lighter than usual, filled with casual laughter and an unfamiliar sense of ease.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a vending machine and a nearby public restroom.
"Oh look!" Yoko pointed. "A vending machine. Want anything?"
"Yeah," Rei said, glancing across the street. "Actually, I saw a bag I wanted from the shop around the corner. Grab me a drink? I'll go get the bag. Wait for me here."
"Okay, sounds good."
Yoko watched her disappear around the corner, then turned to make her selection.
By the time Rei returned, she was holding a small, unusually ornate bag.
"Did you get it?" Yoko asked.
Rei held it up. "Yep! Do you like it?"
Yoko blinked. "That's a… strange-looking bag. But here's your drink."
"Thanks!" Rei took it, but suddenly gasped. "Oh no, I spilled it on myself!"
Yoko moved to help. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Can you hold this bag while I go clean up?"
"Yeah, sure."
Rei disappeared into the bathroom.
Moments later, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed from around the corner.
Three guys rounded it fast, eyes locked on the bag in Yoko's arms.
"There it is!" one shouted.
"The bag!"
"Let's get her!"
Yoko stepped back, narrowing her eyes. "Who are you?"
"Doesn't matter. Hand over the bag, or else."
She scoffed. "If you want this bag, come and take it."
They rushed her.
Seconds later, they lay unconscious on the pavement—encased in jagged ice.
Rei stepped out. "What happened!?"
Yoko waved it off. "Nothing. Just some weaklings trying to rob me."
"They're after my bag?"
"Yeah… weird. They were specifically targeting it."
Rei looked away. "That is strange. Anyway, let's go—I want to show you something."
—
They cut down an alleyway, eventually arriving at a suspicious-looking building.
Yoko frowned. "Where are we?"
"It's a surprise," Rei said with a sly smile.
"This place looks… sketchy."
"Relax." Rei flashed her a grin. "You trust me, right?"
Yoko hesitated. "Yeah… of course."
A dark laugh echoed from deeper in the room.
A man stepped out.
"Isn't it funny," he said, "how easily people trust?"
Yoko moved in front of Rei. "Who's that?"
Rei's voice dropped. "Just… come on…"
"Who are you?" Yoko demanded. "And what's so funny?"
The man grinned. "Don't look at her—she can't save you. Come out, boys."
Several figures appeared from the shadows.
Yoko scoffed. "You think a few losers can stop me?"
The man chuckled. "How confident you are."
She raised her hand.
Nothing happened.
"What—why can't I activate my powers?"
"You still don't get it," he said. "You're in my domain now. I control everything in it. I can turn off your abilities."
Yoko narrowed her eyes. "You think I need powers to beat you?"
She charged—
—and was immediately struck down.
"I forgot to mention," the man said casually, "I can enhance the powers of my allies too."
He stepped forward himself, punched her in the stomach, then the face.
She collapsed.
"You're probably wondering why," he said, kneeling beside her.
Yoko coughed. "I don't even know you."
"But I know you," he said. "I want to hear you scream."
He kicked her.
Again.
And again.
"Stop!" Rei stepped forward. "You got what you wanted. Now give it back."
The man turned to her. "There goes that stupid trust again."
"What?"
"You really thought I'd give it back? You're not going anywhere. Get her!"
His men jumped Rei, pinning her to the floor.
"W-What are you doing!?" Rei screamed.
The man sneered. "I hate her. But I still don't like you."
Yoko groaned. "Why… do you hate me?"
"You're a Fuji, aren't you? That disgusting family who pretends to be pure—angels in name only. Just as vile as demons."
"My family is built of angels."
"Oh really? Even that devil of a mother of yours?"
Yoko flinched. "My… mother is good."
"Let me tell you a story."
His voice turned bitter.
"Ten years ago, I was with my best friend. We were climbing a construction site. Stupid, I know. He slipped. Was hanging on for dear life. I called for help. Your mother came."
Yoko's eyes widened.
"She reached for him… then stopped. Saw we were demon children. You know what she said? 'This world has enough of you people.' Then she let him go."
Yoko shook her head. "No… no she didn't."
"She did. And then she looked me in the eye and said, 'Be lucky I don't have time to deal with you.'"
Yoko gritted her teeth. "You're lying."
"I can't kill your mother. But I can kill her precious daughter."
Yoko spat blood. "I won't let that happen."
"You don't have a choice."
He raised his hand—
A cold wind blows through the broken shutters.
Glass shattered.
A figure flew through the window.
Kousuke.
"What do we have here?" he asked, landing smoothly.
"Koshi!" Rei gasped.
"Kousuke!" Yoko cried.
The man—Taiga—stepped back in shock. "Kousuke? What are you doing here!?"
"You have my partner," Kousuke said, stepping forward.
"Get out of here," Yoko warned. "There's too many of them. And his power—"
"Koshi's not as weak as you think," Rei interrupted.
Kousuke cracked his knuckles. "You have two options. One—give me Yoko, and you can keep Rei. I won't hurt anyone."
Taiga laughed. "What a kind offer. And the second?"
"I kick your ass and take them both."
"You may have had the upper hand back when we were kids," Taiga growled. "But I've grown. And you're outnumbered."
"So… you've chosen option two."
Kousuke grinned. "Could've saved yourself the embarrassment."
"Bring me his head!" Taiga shouted.
His men charged.
Seconds later, they were airborne.
They landed hard—unconscious—across the floor.
Kousuke didn't break a sweat.
Yoko stared, breathless. "…Wow."
"Look at that," Kousuke said, brushing dust from his sleeves. "Now it's just you and me."
"I'm going to kill you!" Taiga screamed.
He charged with a flurry of punches.
Kousuke dodged them lazily, then struck—once, twice, three times—
Taiga tumbled across the room.
"You're still the same weak little brat."
He turned to the girls.
"Let's go."
Taiga growled, struggling to his feet. "This isn't over!"
He charged—
Kousuke turned and glared.
A cold, murderous glare.
Taiga froze mid-step.
Then collapsed.
Kousuke stepped over him. "If you ever come after her again… I'll kill you."
He picked up the ornate bag, handed it back to Rei, and led them out into the street.
—
The three walked together.
Kousuke and Rei side-by-side, Yoko trailing behind in silence.
"You jerk," Rei muttered. "You were really going to leave me?"
"You might be the devil—and annoying—but I'd never leave you."
"I knew it. It's because you love me."
Kousuke sighed. "I know cruelty's in your nature, but that was low. Dragging Yoko into this."
"I know…" Rei said softly. "But he took this. It belonged to my mother. It's all I have left of her. And I knew you'd never let anything happen to her."
"Then why not just come to me?"
"I didn't think you'd help. So I used her instead."
Kousuke slowed, falling back beside Yoko.
"You come to gloat?" she asked, still angry.
"I came to make sure you were alright."
"Careful. People might mistake you for a hero."
"Oh no. I just didn't want to lose my partner. I'd really hate to start doing work."
Yoko glanced at him. "What about Rei? You weren't that mad."
"Me and Rei have history. As kids, she always dragged me into her messes. Like today. She knew I'd come."
"So you do care about her."
"I said we have a special relationship."
"You think she'll pull something like this again?"
"No. You'll be fine."
"And how do you know?"
"She's not a bad person. Just… drawn to bad situations."
Yoko hesitated.
"…Okay. I guess I'll forgive her. But I won't trust her."
Kousuke nodded. "Hey, Yoko."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sure it's not true. I'm sure your mother does love you."
Yoko stared at the ground.
"…No. She doesn't."