Seitenshi and Fuse Midori(mature)
***
The sterile, white hospital room was silent save for the soft, rhythmic whirr-click of the machine beside the bed. Tendo Kisara lay propped against the pillows, her usual fiery presence subdued. A needle was taped securely into the pale skin of her forearm, a thin tube connecting her to the hemodialysis machine that was quietly filtering her blood.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper, a weak, self-deprecating smile gracing her lips. "I got a little too carried away… and ended up showing you my most unsightly, pathetic side."
In her relentless pursuit of evidence to bring down the Tendo Family, she had pushed herself to the brink, skipping her crucial treatments in a foolish belief in her own endurance. She never imagined she would collapse, exposing this deeply vulnerable part of herself to him, of all people.
"It's nothing."
Yotsuba Mahiro sat nonchalantly in a chair beside the bed, a small knife in his hand meticulously peeling an apple. The peel fell away in a single, continuous spiral. He cut a small slice and, under Kisara's weary gaze, popped it into his own mouth.
"This is a walk in the park compared to the first time we met. Fainting from hunger in a back alley… now that was a sight. It was my first time seeing someone actually starve themselves into a coma."
"…" Kisara turned her head away, a faint blush coloring her pallid cheeks. This baka… bringing up something like that now.
"That looks like it hurts," he commented casually, gesturing with the knife towards the IV line.
"I'm used to it…" she replied, her voice flat.
"Let's see… it's diabetic nephropathy, right? End-stage renal failure. Haven't you ever considered a transplant? Or even regenerative therapy?" Mahiro asked, cutting another slice of apple and savoring the crisp, juicy sound. It was a strange paradox of this post-apocalyptic world; while society crumbled, medical science, spurred on by the mysteries of the Gastrea, had leaped forward to astonishing heights. A simple kidney issue should be nothing for a top-tier specialist like Sumire Muroto.
"I'll pass."
Kisara shook her head slowly. With visible effort, she pushed herself up, her slender frame leaning heavily against the headboard. Her gaze grew distant, focused on some invisible point in the sterile air. Slowly, she raised a hand, curling her fingers into a loose, trembling fist, as if trying to grasp the very specter of her hatred.
"This pain… is mine alone to bear." Her voice gained a sliver of its old steel. "I have sworn to dedicate this life to one purpose: erasing every last trace of the Tendo name from this world. If I allow this pain to fade… I might forget my vengeance. So, no. I refuse any cure."
Her reasoning wasn't hard to fathom. She was Tendo Kisara, the girl who had witnessed her parents murdered for trying to expose the family's corruption. This physical agony was her penance and her fuel, a constant, brutal reminder etched directly into her flesh and spirit. It was a twisted version of "enduring hardship to accomplish a great task."
But the fundamental problem remained—
"It's one thing to play the martyr, President, but do you really think this broken body of yours is any match for the entire Tendo Family? With just this?" With a flick of his wrist, the stack of documents she had presented so triumphantly at the office landed on the bed beside her. "Even with Kazumitsu Tendo's name plastered all over it, the Tendo Family's influence in the Tokyo Area is absolute. They'll just trot out a scapegoat, just like they did during the Hiruko Kagetane incident. Worst case scenario, they'll declare Kazumitsu a rogue actor and cut him loose to save the whole rotten tree."
Kisara stared down at the damning file in silence. Mahiro cut another piece of apple, the snick of the blade unnaturally loud in the quiet room.
"Frankly, President Kisara, you'd have a better chance recuperating fully, then challenging the family head to a duel with that sword you've honed for years. Sometimes, crashing the front gate is far more effective than trying to outmaneuver them in their own corrupt courts."
"I know that."
Kisara suddenly looked up, a faint, sorrowful smile touching her lips. It was a look of profound weariness. "Thank you, Mahiro-kun. But I'm not quite the fool you take me for. This evidence…" she tapped the documents, "…was never meant to destroy the whole family. It was only ever meant to be a lever against Kazumitsu Tendo himself. A threat to force an opening… an opportunity to kill him."
"And then what?" Mahiro's tone was calm, his lips curling into a faint, almost sarcastic smile. "If I'm not mistaken, your true target is the patriarch himself, that old fox Kikunojo Tendo, right? Do you genuinely believe, in your current state, you could even lay a finger on him?"
It would be a miracle. Even at her peak, Kisara's chances against the family head were slim. In her current, dialysis-dependent state, it was a guaranteed suicide.
"If you actually confront them and your body gives out mid-fight like it did today, no one will be there to save you. You'll die, and your revenge will die with you."
At his words, Kisara's head drooped. Her fine, silver bangs shadowed her face, but he could see the tense line of her jaw, the way her teeth worried her lower lip. She knew! She knew better than anyone what Yotsuba Mahiro was saying was the unvarnished truth! Her body was a wreck. To be brutally honest, she was practically half-crippled. If she pushed herself to her absolute limit in a fight, her body would likely only withstand a handful of moves—four, maybe five at most. After that, it would be over.
But what other choice did she have?
This life now… it was too comfortable. It was the peaceful, ordinary life she had once secretly yearned for, and its very comfort was a sedative, slowly leaching the poison of her hatred from her veins. If she lost this physical pain, this constant, sharp reminder, she was terrified that one day she would wake up and the fire of her vengeance would have burned out to cold ash. And if that happened… what reason would she have left to live?
As these thoughts churned within her, a storm of conflict and hesitation raged in her eyes, a vulnerability she could no longer hide.
Mahiro sensed the shift in her emotions, the fragile crack in her resolve. He rose to his feet in one smooth motion.
"Since you're so hell-bent on your revenge, President Kisara," he began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone as he took a step closer to the bed. "How about you listen to a little proposal of mine?"
"?"
Hearing his words, Kisara's head snapped up, only to find that Mahiro had already closed the distance without a sound. He was now standing directly before her, leaning in.
The space between them had vanished. She could feel the faint, warm whisper of his breath against her skin, see the individual specks of light in his impossibly dark irises. It was so intimate that she could almost count her own reflection in his pupils. Those deep, abyssal eyes were like event horizons, threatening to pull her in and crush her very soul.
Under normal circumstances, her face would have flushed a brilliant, stammering scarlet. Having a man—especially this man—so deep within her personal space, close enough to be surrounded by his hot, distinctly masculine scent, would have sent her into a tsundere meltdown. But this time, a strange calm settled over her. A dark, compelling impulse guided her, and she found herself nodding slowly, her own resolve hardening in the face of his intensity.
"What… is your suggestion?" she whispered, the words leaving her lips almost of their own volition.
Deep down, a small, rational part of her knew she was being seduced. Not by him, but by the promise he represented—a conduit for the all-consuming hatred that had become her reason for living. And she was willing to be seduced. If it meant vengeance against the Tendo Family, she would pay any price. Even if the currency was her own body, her very soul!
"Very good. That's the answer I wanted to hear." For the first time in a while, he used that phrase again, the smile gracing his lips devoid of warmth and full of a knowing, almost predatory malice.
He leaned in even closer. The young girl, certain of his intentions, instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, her body tensing for the anticipated contact.
But it never came.
Instead, she felt his breath, warm and deliberate, beside her ear as he whispered his promise. "If you trust me, then focus all your efforts on healing this body of yours. In return, I promise you… I will utterly annihilate the Tendo Family within six months."
"R-really…?!"
Kisara's eyes flew open, wide with disbelief. It wasn't that she doubted his capability. The Tendo Family, for all its power, was surely no match for the monster that was Scorpio. She had seen his impossible feats firsthand—neutralizing Tina's sniper round, his overwhelming victory against the IP Rank 98 Promoter. His power was like magic, and his physical skills were at the pinnacle of what a human could achieve.
(Sounds better than the long-winded Zodiac Scorpio)
No, what she doubted was his motive. He held no personal grudge against the Tendo Family… so why?
"It's true," Mahiro affirmed, his voice flat and certain. Then, just as suddenly as he had approached, he straightened up and returned to his chair, the oppressive intimacy replaced by a casual distance. "Of course, if you don't believe me, that's fine. I can give you time to think it over. But if you take too long, don't blame me for leaving you behind on this ark of revenge."
The six-month timeframe wasn't for his own preparations, but for the Cursed Children. He needed that time to accelerate his plans, to gather every last Initator scattered throughout the Tokyo Area under the protective banner of Arcadia. The Seitenshi's benevolent policies had allowed many to survive in the shadows, and he intended to bring them all into the light.
"Alright, that's all I have to say. I'll take my leave now. Remember to call me once you've made your decision." With a final, cryptic look, he turned and left the room, Tina falling into step silently behind him.
And just like that, Tendo Kisara was alone once more in the stark white silence of the hospital room, the only sounds the rhythmic whirr-click of the dialysis machine and the frantic, hopeful, and terrifying pounding of her own heart.
After leaving the hospital, Mahiro made his way back to the Thirty-Ninth District, the territory now known as Arcadia, with Tina quietly in tow. He had planned to gather a few suitable gifts before paying a formal visit to the Seitenshi at the Holy Residence.
However, as soon as he passed through the main gates of Arcadia, he was met with a completely unexpected sight.
A sleek, impossibly long black limousine was parked discreetly by the roadside. And there, amidst a small crowd of curious Cursed Children, was a young girl holding a delicate lace parasol. She was dressed in an ornate, pure white gown that resembled nothing less than a wedding dress, her features possessing an ethereal, outstanding beauty as she smiled gently down at the children playing around her.
In the entire Tokyo Area, only one person would dress in such a manner.
The Seitenshi.
But how had she found this place? And why had she come here personally? As his mind raced, the Seitenshi noticed his arrival. She offered a final, gentle word to the children before gliding towards him, her movements graceful and serene.
"It's been a long time, Mahiro-kun," she greeted, her tone as polite and measured as ever. Then, without any further pleasantries, she went straight to the heart of the matter. "The reason for my unannounced visit is that I have a matter of great importance I wish to discuss with you."
...
A heavy silence had fallen over the small coffee shop within Arcadia.
"P-Please… enjoy your coffee," a young Initator, dressed in a slightly-too-large maid uniform, stammered as she tremblingly set the porcelain cups on the table. She offered a quick, flustered bow before scurrying back towards the kitchen, where a cluster of her sisters were peeking out, their excited whispers and giggles barely contained. They weren't looking at the ruler of all Tokyo, but at him, their chatter filled with a palpable, giddy energy.
The Seitenshi, seated primly across from him, first offered a grateful nod in the direction of the fleeing maid. Then, with her hands clad in pristine white silk gloves, she carefully picked up her cup and took a small, delicate sip. Her eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise.
"This coffee… is truly delicious."
"Isn't it?" Mahiro rested his chin on his hand, a note of unmistakable pride in his voice as he gazed out the window at the slightly dilapidated street now dotted with newly renovated buildings. "This café, and every other shop on this street, was built from the ground up by these children themselves."
"By themselves?" The Seitenshi's surprise was evident. "Mahiro-kun, you did not assist them?"
"I don't possess that particular talent," Mahiro chuckled, the sound mingling with the rustle of wind-blown leaves outside. "This is all their own doing. Every bit of it."
Led by the ever-resourceful Kaya, the Cursed Children had pooled their unique talents and worked in perfect sync. The whole endeavor was meant to give them a purpose, a stake in the world they were building. They had even gone a step further, establishing their own internal economy with a special paper currency that circulated only within Arcadia's borders.
But when it came to that particular detail, Mahiro could only feel a profound sense of helplessness, mixed with a deep, personal embarrassment. Because the design they had settled on was a brazen imitation of the Japanese Yen, with one very specific, very egotistical modification: the portrait of the esteemed politician had been unceremoniously swapped out for his own face.
It felt like a form of public execution, his own image staring back at him from every transaction. This, too, had been Kaya's brilliant—and utterly shameless—idea. Her logic was infallible: with his intimidating visage on the bills, no one would ever dare to counterfeit them. After all, in the hearts of these children, he was something akin to a guardian deity.
What an absolutely outrageous reason… he thought, a silent sweatdrop forming at his temple.
"It feels… like its own little nation," the Seitenshi mused softly, her gaze also drifting out the window to watch the Initiators bustling about their daily lives. A warm, genuine smile graced her lips as she sighed.
Hearing this, Mahiro paused for a moment before letting a teasing grin spread across his face. "Then, I hope you won't hold it against me, Your Highness the Seitenshi. For building a separate country for Cursed Children right here in your territory. Sounds almost like treason, doesn't it?"
"No, I would never blame you for such a thing." Her immediate, serene answer made him look at the young ruler with renewed surprise. "Rather, I am profoundly grateful to you, Mahiro-kun. You have provided a true safe haven for these children who had nowhere else to call home. You have given them a future."
"So, you admit it then?" he pressed, his tone light but his words pointed. "You admit that the Tokyo Area you rule is fundamentally unsafe for them?"
"..."
The Seitenshi's gentle smile froze on her face, choked off mid-breath. For a fleeting second, she looked like a scolded child, her cheeks puffing out almost imperceptibly with a hint of pouty displeasure. But the expression vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by the heavy weight of reality. She fell into a somber silence. Her gloved hands, resting in her lap, clenched tightly into the fabric of her pristine white gown.
After a long moment, she slowly released her grip, letting out a soft, resigned sigh. She had to concede to the painful truth. "You… are right, Mahiro-kun. Under my own incompetent rule, the Tokyo Area is riddled with darkness in its deepest corners. And even I… with all my authority, find myself powerless to cleanse it all."
Hearing her frank admission, Mahiro turned to fully face her, studying her beautifully tragic features. "So, you failed in what we discussed last time? The investigation into the Kagemitsu father and son?"
"Yes," she nodded, her reply simple and heavy with defeat.
Since their last meeting, she had launched a thorough, clandestine investigation and uncovered a web of disturbing irregularities. There were countless cases of feigned compliance, underreproduction of Varanium, and a trail of corruption that seemed to lead directly to Shishio Senichi and the mine he controlled. And looming behind it all was the formidable shadow of Kikunojo Tendo himself. Yet, for all her efforts, she had failed to grasp a single piece of unassailable, concrete evidence. Without it, her hands were tied.
Seeing her so dejected, Mahiro waved a dismissive hand. "It's fine, I more or less expected this outcome. The old foxes of the Tendo Family have been playing this game for decades. Don't look so disheartened, Your Highness."
He decided a change of subject was in order. "Let's talk about something else. Who is this timid little kitten you've brought with you?"
He was right; their table wasn't a party of three. Besides Tina, who stood quietly by his side, and the Seitenshi, there was a fourth occupant. Sitting beside the ruler was a small, nervous girl wearing a hat that strikingly resembled a witch's pointed brim. Her snow-white hair was tied into a single side ponytail with a purple ribbon, and her entire demeanor was so timid she seemed to be trying to vanish into her seat, the wide brim of her hat obscuring her face entirely.
When he mentioned her, the Seitenshi seemed to remember her presence, offering a soft apology before gently placing a reassuring hand on the girl's back. "It's alright, Midori-chan. You can introduce yourself."
"A-Ah…!"
As if startled by a sudden noise, the young girl jolted, nearly leaping from her chair. Realizing her overreaction, she flushed a deep scarlet and bowed so deeply her forehead nearly touched the tabletop.
"S-sorry! M-m-my name is Fuse Midori! I-I-I'm a Cat-type Initiator, and I-I'm skilled in scent tracking and divination!"
(Different from canon, don't bash me)
The Seitenshi added gently for her, "I encountered her on my way here. She expressed a desire to come to Arcadia, so I offered her a ride."
"Is that so?" Mahiro said, a note of pleasant surprise in his voice. He stood up and crouched down in front of the trembling girl, bringing himself to her eye level. With a gentle touch, he pressed down on the brim of her hat, forcing her to look up slightly. "Hello there, Midori-chan. I am Yotsuba Mahiro. I apologize for startling you."
"N-no, it's… it's fine… It's my f-fault for being so nervous…" Midori stammered, trying to bury her face even further into her chest and under the sanctuary of her hat.
Just as I remember, Mahiro thought, this girl is still as skittish as a real kitten. His impression of Fuse Midori was as distinct as that of Kayo. She possessed a feline Gastrea factor, which not only granted her physical traits but seemingly influenced her personality as well. She was incredibly fast, her speed second only to Enju Aihara's, and she could extend and retract sharp claws from her fingertips. And under that charming pointed hat, he knew, was a pair of adorable, twitching cat ears.
However, this also meant her Gastrea virus corrosion rate was dangerously high.
"45.32%, huh…" Mahiro frowned slightly. His trained eyes, sharpened by years of experience and analysis, could almost perceive the telltale signs, allowing him to accurately gauge her condition. Even within Arcadia, no other child had a corrosion rate as high as Midori's, Enju included. Fortunately, the improved inhibitors provided by Sumire Muroto were highly effective. He felt a surge of relief that Midori had come here voluntarily with the Seitenshi. It saved him the trouble of figuring out how to "persuade" the timid cat-girl to come with him.
As he pondered this, Midori's large, amber eyes peeked out from under her hat once more, cautiously observing him. The moment their eyes met, she instantly retreated again, like a startled feline.
She really is unbearably cute.
After observing her for a moment longer, he gave her a reassuring smile and stood up, motioning subtly to Tina. It was her turn. Tina understood immediately. She rose from her seat, walked over to stand directly before the Seitenshi, clasped her hands tightly in front of her skirt, and bowed into a perfect, deep, formal apology.
"Greetings, Seitenshi-sama of the Tokyo Area. I am Tina Sprout, formerly IP Rank 98, codenamed [Black Wind]. I was the sniper commissioned to assassinate you. I am deeply, deeply sorry for my past actions. I accept any punishment you see fit to bestow upon me. I only beg for your forgiveness."
The Seitenshi was utterly stunned by this sudden confession, her hand flying to her mouth in a gasp. Her wide, disbelieving eyes darted between the proffering Tina and the calmly observing Mahiro. She was completely immersed in a sea of deep shock and utter astonishment, rendered speechless by the revelation.