A figure appeared in the fields as the wind blew her hair south. She looked on silently at the scenery. One that was different from the world she was used to, one she even called home. She looked around waiting for someone to meet her sooner rather than later. She was clearly on a time limit by her demeanor.
A blonde man floated downwards from the sky, he watched the figure before approaching . "Hey... sorry for being late again."
"It's not a big deal." She sneezed into her sleeves before continuing. "Our plan will move into action soon."
Atsui looked at his nails and clenched his fists. "Of course, do you think we could find the demon in that world as well? If so then we would be accommodated for our work immensely."
"He's not in it. I've searched around and asked. I have a theory about him however." Satsujin pulled out a piece of paper, showing it to Atsui. "Ever thought of the idea of space travel?"
Atsui cocked his eyebrow at the idea of the theory then read the piece of paper. "Space huh? I always worried about other things but you think he's in space or something now?"
"My mother has been doing some research with me. When he disappeared fifteen years ago it was by an unknown being. Which really means one of two things happened. He was either taken somewhere in space or he was taken to an alternate world entirely. For what? We don't know. We suspect it has something to do with the weapon he carries and the large amount of energy his vessel has."
Atsui thought about space itself before replying to her answer. "That's intriguing... the commander would be proud of our progress with this for sure. If we can somehow find out what happened to him then we would surely get promoted."
"I'm only working for myself. You need to focus on getting rid of some of Onigawara and Sakurada. Their branches will be too much for our generation. You need to eliminate them so it's fair game. From there they'll destroy each other, and that's that. We can move for Lucifer with no interference."
He cocked his eyebrow towards Satsujin once again. "Obviously, I always had a plan for that anyways. There's too much Chaos in the world with them involved, no true unity."
"I would agree. So I have a proposal then. I think it will suit us both well in the wrong run."
Atsui smiled at the thought of a proposal. "What's your proposal then Satsujin? I'm quite interested in this bargain you're raising."
"Right now I'm currently monitoring the Yoshiwara school as their overseer for a set of games. The Satsujin you see now is a doppleganger. One that is nothing like the ones of the past. This is a part of my ability Atsui. The ability to make any number of doppelgangers that I want. I say we massacre them from the inside. From there, we can move on the date of the exams with the two other squadrons. Sound like a deal?"
Atsui smiled with excitement at the idea of entering the mortal world once again. "Of course. I'll bring a disguise and change my look if you'd like. Maybe I can meet the other half there as well. The one that didn't ascend."
"I think that works. The cities mostly revolve around two sets of ideas. Enjoying your youth and moving on from adolescence afterwards. Therefore, there's a large amount of events that circle around the youth. Teenagers and Young adults to be exact. If we can infiltrate through the school and through our own criminal group I think we'll succeed. So i'm coming to you with an offer." Satsu held her hands out looking toward Atsui. "I, and another come to you with an offer." She reached into her shirt and slowly slipped out a necklace she was wearing. She tugged it down and showed it toward him. A silver Octopus, the price of the product shining off of the fields sun and sky. She reached into her pocket, revealing another.
"Join Teisei. Together, we can finally assert dominance and take back this world. I can't believe Takayama would let the spirit world become so weak. Is that what God does? He makes us weaker than others because that's the way it simply is? I don't believe that. I believe that i'm destined for more. We believe there is more to life and together we will destroy these worlds and build something anew. A world where we can do as we desire. What all creatures should be. A correction of nature. All of us should do as our nature tells us."
She revealed the pendant to him. A sign that was completely new. One that represented his desire for correction and balance, one in the same to the one she wore. A balance of liquid, of the ocean.
Atsui smiled and laughed at the proposal, this is simply what he's been waiting for, a rogue angel some would say as he had completely lost his ideals with the spirit world. The true definition of the Biblical Lucifer. He took the small necklace. "Of course! I would love to join your voyage! We could become the pioneers of a new era!"
Satsu smiled. "That also means we're going to have to do some searching for members."
Atsui nodded to Satsujin, confirming his allegiance. "Trust me it won't be hard, our people have been wanting this for ages. We will finally reign supreme..."
"Very well. I'll continue to search for members. You get back to me on the massacre when you're ready." She turned moving her hair out of her face, blowing with the wind as she dissapeared. Almost fading from existence.
Atsui turned towards the fields, his plan had been set into motion. His true plan would now begin and now nothing would stop the motion of balance and order.
A young girl would turn and peak around the corner. She looked toward him, her cheeks becoming red as she smiled. "A-Atsui! I wasn't listening! I just wanted to find you."
She hid back behind the tree, hoping he didn't see her for long.
Atsui looked at the tree that she had hid behind, he floated over to it and put his back on the other side of the tree. "Heiwa, I'm surprised you're out here." He thought for a second before a grin appeared across his face. "What did you hear Heiwa? You can tell me. I won't be mad."
"I heard some things. Some worrisome things...but I trust that you'll do the right thing Atsui. I know you..You always end up making the right decision."
He laughed and smiled. "No Heiwa, it's just diplomacy. My strength is needed to change the way that things are organized. It's a normal part of history itself. Many have come and gone that have changed the world and now we will be the ones that must enforce this next change. If you want to join us I would love that, you could join our voyage Heiwa."
He turned the corner of the tree to look her in the eyes. His manipulative tactics of the snake had ever so brightly shined in this moment, as he had a genuine smile on his face.
"..I-I...." She cowered in fear at him. "This isn't the Atsui that I grew with. You would never hurt Onigawara. This is our home!....I don't know if I can do that."
He shook his head in denial to Heiwa. "No, Heiwa, I'm saving Onigawara, I'm saving the spirit world as we know it. We won't hurt anyone unless it's in self defense. You know I've always wanted to bring peace to this world and the next... and I want you to join me." He stuck his right hand out. "Please Heiwa. You are the only one I want for support right now. The only one I need right now. I want our voyage to start now, the one we always dreamed of. One of peace and happiness for all that exist. In life and death. Think about the history we share! Think about the love that we have shared…you are my best friend Heiwa. You are the only woman that can accomplish this with me."
"Atsui...I-" She looked down from embarrassment. She failed to sway him in the right direction, something that bothered her deeply. "W-Why?! Why must you kill us? Why must I be the one to do it with you?! They've raised us. Treated us with kindness...I...I Don't..."
Atsui didn't let her embarrassment sway him, his resolve was utmost. "Heiwa. I'm not going to hurt anyone. They are letting our world die a slow death. Don't you want a golden age of peace and love or one of chaos and an unending turn of decline. We must act. Do you want our lives to be ruined? To be thrown into the shadow as two sides wage war for dominance or would you rather we bring in a age of peace for our people?" He put his hand under her chin, lifting it up so his eyes could meet hers. "Please Heiwa. I won't do anything against your wishes. However. I will always do what's right for our people..What's right for our world."
Heiwa was red as she nodded. She could no longer resist. It was as if anything she had heard between Satsujin and Atsui was thrown out the window as soon as their eyes met. What a poor naive girl. "Y-Yes Atsui! I'll join you! I do wish for that world I just..." She looked at him before looking away moving his hand. "I'll join you.."
He bared the same smile he wore for years, the innocence that was overcasting the deep desire for change. He questioned her as he brought his hand down, not trying to ruin the moment. "What's wrong Heiwa? Your face is all red. I hope I'm not embarrassing you or." His eyes, an orange hue that were quite different from any other spirit or beings, shined as he stared at Heiwa. "I just want to make us happy."
"I'm...I don't know. I want to think about this.This is a big step.You're going against Takayama. She's our leader. She is our mother."
Atsui had internally been hurt by this comment. His thoughts of Takayama had changed over the years. His belief in her had faded with the growth of his trust in balance. "I have no mother Heiwa. I spawned from nothing. I am nothing. I want to be somebody and I want you to be by our side when we bring balance and justice to this and the next world, you can think on it if you want... but I'll always be here even if you say no, okay?"
Heiwa had paused for a moment. Yes it was true that she could not resist his eyes. However, Heiwa was not a stupid woman. Impressionable? Yes. Naive? Not so much. "You liar. You're going to kill me if I don't join! You're going to force us to fight! Isn't there anything I can do to stop you from doing this?!. You're nothing? That isn't true!. You're my friend. Isn't that true?! Is our friendship truly just a mirage to you? Everything we have been through?! Was it an act to go against us? For what? Balance? Balance doesn't exist! The world naturally exists in an unbalanced state and that's what makes it balanced..that's what makes it fair. You'll be there for my death if I say no. You'll lead me to kill what I've known my entire life if I go with you. It's death or destroy my life. I know you better than anyone else."
Atsui shook his head to her answer, he had tears forming in his eyes at the sudden thought of Heiwa thinking he would kill her hurt him, or did it? He stared at her as he had become upset at her words. "No Heiwa. Nobody is going to kill you. I'm not forcing you into this. I don't want to kill anyone. I told you it's diplomacy. There is always a safe solution but you don't understand. You never have. There hasn't been balance since we've been here for a reason. The other worlds have destroyed balance between the sages and demons and humanity became supreme. It caused a stir for our world and now we are weak and struggling. It will only be twomonths before we'll be at war with each other and I only wish for better. I wish for true peace."
"We have to try to fix things politically. There has to be a way to keep people safe. I-I don't want to see you cry. Please protect our home. Do not destroy it out of anger or fear. Nurture it so it can be as great as it once was."
Atsui had turned his head away as the tears fell from his eyes. "That's what we're doing Heiwa. I have taken every option I can before I jumped the gun. You know I have the power to stop any killing. I need you to help me with that."
"I-I..."
Satsujin had appeared out of thin air. She chopped the back of Heiwa's head as she was taken off guard. She hit her knees and fell as she stood over her unconscious body. She reached into her shirt pocket, revealing a pistol.
She took the safety off and aimed it at her. "Sorry Atsui. She is a liability. I can't let her know our plans. She has to go before we leave."
Atsui wiped his tears quickly and looked down at Heiwa, he looked back to Satsujin, a face of content had reached from his eyes ro his lips. "No. She'll do anything for me. Easily at that." He pointed at his eyes. "It's something to do with these. She's interested in them. She can't stand to look at them but something draws her to them, to me. She's reliable and will follow me into the pits of hell."
Satsu cocked the gun and put it back in her pocket. "I see. How long will that last? We all grow the courage to walk forward eventually. What of that?"
Atsui looked down at Heiwa once again. "Don't worry about it, as long as I keep my charm on her she'll always be here. It's not hard and we have a deep history together. She already said yes to joining she just wants to think about it. We'll just convince her what we're doing is just and righteous."
"Very well then." Satsu let her be. "I suspect you'll take care of this then. Tell her she was attacked by an enemy but you saved her."
Atsui nodded to Satsujin. "Of course. It'll help our cause as well. We could frame it as if she was attacked by a member of the Onigawara council. Though I would need you to do something for me as well."
"What might that be? What did you need?"
Atsui pointed to his left leg with a grin. "I need you to shoot me there. Make it look like there was a fight."
Satsu reached into her pocket once more and aimed for Atsui's leg. "Well then..continue with the rest as planned. I suspect you can get yourself out of this situation." She shot him in the leg, at least three times. The bullets piercing and clawing away at Atsui's leg, clearly not a normal pistol that a robber or a criminal would use in the mortal world. Something modified.
Atsui winced as the bullet traveled through his leg, he knelt down out of pain from the bullet itself, wincing but not yelling as this was apart of the plan. "Ngh!...I-I got it..."
Satsu once more equipped her pistol and walked away, this time leaving them to work out what had just happened.