Chapter Text
I’m going to die.
We’re not going to capture the Black Samurai…
I’ll never get to avenge Issachar-
Flynn’s vision went black. He could still hear the giggle of the demons above him, his fellows distressed shouts… But he couldn’t see- Couldn’t move. He could feel the pavement beneath his palms if he focused enough, and the warm, wet dripping of… Something, falling down his neck.
This time I’m going to tell Charon I’m done.
I’m done.
The giggling stopped, replaced by shouting.
“I won’t let you!”
“Behold, my demons!”
“Flynn!”
A gentle hand pulled him off the street, but still roughly enough to make the injury leaking down his neck scream in agony. That pain was the only thing convincing him he was still alive as his mouth was forced open and something was shoved in. Something hard and bitter dissolved on his tongue, and he felt his eyes clench shut from the awful taste of it as his tongue withered in his mouth.
There was screaming, and then quiet. "That's what you get for attacking my friend!" Walter shouted.
“We need to go back to Mikado. That horde decimated our supplies, and our armor clearly isn’t up to snuff after… That.” Isabeau said. He heard the sound of footsteps and her voice came closer. “I’m also worried about Flynn… We gave him a Revival Bead, but he still hasn’t opened his eyes yet. Head and neck injuries are severe, even for the strongest warriors…”
A hand pressed against his chest and soothing energy worked its way through his body. The blood on the back of his neck dried, and a groan of relief escaped his lips. He opened his eyes and saw two faces staring down at him, and Walter’s demons encircling them.
“Are you alright? Will you be able to stand?” Jonathan asked.
“Don’t rush sitting or standing up unless you’re sure you won’t fall again. You took quite a few severe hits from that horde… I almost thought we were going to be too late.” Isabeau said. “Your Virtue was the only one left standing by the time we arrived, defending you and the others.”
“I’ll… I’ll have to thank him later.” Flynn said, forcing himself into a sitting position, and taking Isabeau’s hand as she pulled him to his feet. The world spun for a moment, but in a second Walter was at his side, holding up most of his weight.
“It’s a good thing we opened that Terminal earlier. A night’s rest will do you some good after that.”
The other two samurai nodded their agreement, and Flynn tried to keep his eyes off the large bloodstain on Jonathan’s pants. Walter took the lead as they descended back into Shibuya’s underground district, with Jonathan bringing up the rear as Isabeau stood at his side. The shift in positioning felt odd, and he was sure that the members of the Ashura-kai watching them had noticed it too. One of them broke off from the others to try and say… Something, but whatever look Walter gave them was enough to send him scrambling back to his safety in numbers as they entered the terminal.
All of them breathed a sigh of relief once they arrived back in Mikado.
“It’s still light out, maybe something to drink would help you sleep off that injury!” Walter suggested.
“The last thing you need after hitting your head is something to drink. And the din in the tavern would hurt your head. A bath in the hot springs to wash off the blood and relax would be best for you.” Isabeau said.
“I personally am going to change and say my prayers at the monastery. Our samurai garb is normally fine for doing so… But…” Jonathan’s voice trailed off as he looked down at the stain.
They said their goodbyes for the evening, and Walter headed towards the tavern while the three others headed for the barracks. Flynn debated simply going to bed that moment, feeling the pressure in his head intensify. The invasive light from the sunset shining directly into his eyes kept him from being able to rest, so he made his way out to the baths.
He found himself lying in the hot spring, feeling his thoughts slow to a crawl as the day’s pain and aches were washed away. He let out a soft sigh, closed his eyes, and felt his thoughts slow to a crawl.
Please Flynn… Please revive me…
“You’ll drown if you keep that up.”
His eyes shot open, and he sat up abruptly, sending waves of pain echoing down his neck. “Commander, I apo-”
“You’re not the first person to doze off after a hard day of work. But I would suggest that you dress yourself and retire for the night.”
“Yes sir. Thank you for waking me up, sir.” He said, pulling a towel around himself as he exited the bath. Still relaxed from the hot spring and woozy from the battle, he sank into sleep as soon as he reached his room.
Jonathan was the one who woke him the next morning. “How are you feeling?”
Stiff… Uncomfortable… Like my body isn’t quite my own… “I’m fine. …You look pensive.”
“While I was at the monastery last night, Hugo asked for me to come fetch you. He had something he wanted to discuss. I told him you were injured and needed to rest, but he said it was urgent. I was barely able to convince him to let you have the rest of the night.”
Flynn rubbed at his temples. “Did he at least tell you what he wants?”
“Nothing outside of it not being related to the special request he gave you. …I wasn’t aware you took a special request for the abbot. You must be quite faithful for him to ask you personally for such a favor. It’s quite commendable.”
…If I tell him that request was to get wine for the alcoholic running our country, his worldview will be shattered. “Thank you, Jonathan. I’ll be going now. We’ll all meet up at K’s once I’m done with my meeting with the abbot.”
“I’ll inform Walter and Isabeau once they wake.”
Jonathan gave him a polite nod before vanishing out the door. A few moments later, Flynn dressed himself and made his way to the monastery. Abbot Hugo was standing in the entryway, with a few other samurai and some of the monks milling about. He stood at the fringes of the conversation, keeping an ear out as he slipped a Life Stone under his tongue to try and ease the pounding in his head and neck.
“Oh, Flynn. How long have you been standing there?”
“No more than a few minutes. I didn’t wish to interrupt your conversation, Abbot. I heard from Jonathan you wished to speak with me?”
“It’s about your group’s incursions into Tokyo. At the beginning of your travels to capture the Black Samurai, you were bringing large amounts of mystic relics into Mikado every time you returned, but that slowed to a trickle. They’re very important to King Ahazuya and the Kingdom of Mikado, so I was wondering if there was a reason.”
“With all due respect-” Which is very little. “-our mission in Tokyo is to capture the Black Samurai. I was under the impression that requests for relics were a side objective, not the main one. And we’ve brought back many already. Many of the lights in this monastery were made with relics we secured from Tokyo.”
“That’s correct, but the more relics that are brought back, the better it is for our Kingdom. I know we’re both very invested in our Kingdom continuing to process… And yet I’ve heard from Burroughs that you’ve been delaying your missions and taking on requests from the Unclean Ones.”
A few of the samurai lifted up their heads and turned towards the prentice and the abbot. “If it is within my power to assist them, and doesn’t distract from our main objective, I fail to see any issue with providing help where necessary.”
“It is against the teachings of God to associate with them any more than can be avoided. I understand that you’re very young, and may not have had the most… Thorough, religious upbringing, but as a Samurai and a Luxuror, you’re expected to know these things.”
Something in the pit of his stomach started to boil. Flynn couldn’t tell if it was the abbot’s leering, condescending smile, the slights toward his group or his work, but it was all he could do to crush the feeling to stop himself from lunging at the man. “Abbot, I apologize if it slipped your mind, but the people of Tokyo made those mystic relics to begin with.”
“Yes, but they’ll be put to much better use here than there. I expect you will start looking for more soon, to make up for those that you left behind? For the good of the Kingdom, of course.”
Flynn gaped at him for a moment. “I’m sorry, abbot… Could you repeat yourself? I’m not quite sure I heard you correctly.”
“Find more relics to make up for those that weren’t brought to Mikado. It’s a simple enough request.”
“You… You think it’s that simple?” He balled his fists at his sides, clenching and releasing them in time with his breathing to cool the boiling sensation in his blood. “If it’s truly so ‘simple’ then why don’t you go collect them yourself?”
“I couldn’t go down there! With all the demons down there, I’d be killed easily. But it’s the duty of the samurai to fight demons, is it not?”
“To protect the people. Not for the sake of some mystic relics.”
“Those relics are critical to Mikado’s future. It will help protect the people.” Before he could reply, the man gave him that condescending smirk that made Flynn want to wrap his hands around the man’s neck. “Well, that was all I wanted to let you know.” He reached up and patted Flynn’s cheek. “You’d best be on your way.”
“...Understood, Abbot Hugo.” He said, clenching his jaw as he forced himself to stay silent. He turned away and headed out of the monastery, scowling as he considered the audacity of the request.
How much more can they expect from us? Flynn thought, leaning up against the wall as his thoughts raced. We needed money then- Our armor was simply not sufficient to deal with the threats in Ikebukuro…
None of the samurai in there have been going to Tokyo. If they had, they’d understand how ridiculous such a statement was… Was it really such a terrible decision after all? If it’s for the Kingdom’s progress-
He felt his breathing slowly start to return to normal, and he pushed himself off the wall and started walking towards the tavern when a scream split the air. Hand on his sword he was over at the source of the noise in an instant… Where a Luxuror woman was yelling at two Casualries.
“We’re truly sorry, Madam- The rains have been quite harsh, we didn’t mean to splash-”
The trio was staring at him now. His sword was half-drawn, and he froze before slamming it back into its sheath. “What- What seems to be the problem here?” Flynn asked, trying to keep conflicting panic and irritation out of his voice.
“These Casualries splashed mud on my dress- I’m from the-”
“There’s no way we can pay that much-”
“Please, sir-”
The three of them were all arguing in circles. The cacophony of their voices blended together and made his head ache. “I demand that you have them arrested!”
“That’s absurd!”
“Don’t you have any real problems to worry about?” Flynn said, rubbing the still-aching spot on his neck. “If this is the worst thing that ever happens to you, you’ve had a damned charmed life. If you’ll excuse me, these gentlemen and I have jobs to do. Be on your way, sirs.”
The woman gaped at him, as did the two men. Flynn’s eyes narrowed, and that was enough to send the two of them on their way. The woman continued screeching, having seemingly recovered from her shock.
“I can tell you must have come from the Casualries. No Luxuror would have-”
He turned his back to her and walked away. Jonathan, Isabeau, and Walter were standing just outside, looking equally alarmed.
“We’re getting some odd looks.” Isabeau said. Flynn looked around, and he could see most of the samurai in the bar staring after his fellows, and most eyes on the street had followed him.
“What happened?” he asked.
“We heard that awful scream, and ran out to investigate. No one else in the bar seemed particularly concerned, and having come out here ourselves, it seems they were right.” Walter said.
“I heard that shrieking and assumed someone had been hurt.” Flynn said.
“We did as well.” Jonathan said.
“Hey, are you all just gonna stand there?” K said, calling out to them.
“Oh, our apologies.” Jonathan said, as they scattered away from the door, ending up beside the bar.
“What is it that you said to make that shrew yell like that?” Walter asked.
“I concur… She sounded like she was being attacked by a demon.” Isabeau said.
“Some Casualries splashed mud on her dress while moving supplies.” Flynn said. “She was demanding their arrest, or that they compensate her.”
The trio balked. “She was causing that much of a stir… Over a dress?” Jonathan said.
“I know Luxurors are sheltered from the realities of the world, but demanding arrests for a bit of mud sounds beyond the pale.” Walter said.
“With demons about and people starving, it seems like quite the petty thing to cause a stir over… Although, knowledge of demons is mostly kept to the samurai and the monastery.” Isabeau said. “I can’t say I have much sympathy.”
“There was something you said to her before the yelling got worse… What was that?” Jonathan asked.
“I…” Flynn flushed. “I may have asked her if she had any real problems to worry about, and told her that if this is the worst thing that happens to her, she’s had a ‘damned charmed’ life.”
Walter guffawed, and Isabeau put a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles. Jonathan’s eyes widened in shock, but he still looked amused. “Flynn, that’s… That’s no way to speak to a lady.”
“A lady wouldn’t have been shrieking like a banshee in the middle of the plaza.” Walter said. “So he’s in the clear here in my books.”
“Your books on etiquette need some editing, but I’m not inclined to disagree.” Isabeau shook her head “Anyway, how are your head and neck injuries?” She asked, walking behind him and lifting up his ponytail. “The scars seem to have faded, but you were hit quite badly…”
“My neck and head ache, but it’s nothing I can’t endure.” Flynn said. “Capturing the Black Samurai takes precedence over everything else.”
“Agreed. The threat that she poses to Mikado cannot be ignored. If you’re well enough to fight, we should continue on to Ikebukuro.” Jonathan said.
“Heading out so soon? You guys never stick around much.” K said, looking over the quartet with his one good eye. “It’s a fine thing to be dedicated to your work, but you can only work yourself to the bone for so long before you end up like me.” He said, lifting up the hook on his arm to punctuate his point.
“We’ll have plenty of time for lighter work once the Black Samurai is no longer a threat to the people of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado.” Flynn said, and the other three voiced their agreement as they gathered their things and prepared to leave.
“...Come again.” K said, watching as the four of them filed out of the bar.