After getting the call from Shiki-kun and picking up a change of clothes for his school uniform, I went down to the basement of the house to go make an additional call from a special phone that I hoped I wouldn't have to use for a while, but it seems like It's an emergency.
Shiki-kun is too stubborn, he wouldn't ask for help unless he recognizes that there is an enemy formidable enough to make him think twice.
Right now that child must be heading straight for danger, it would be a problem if he left it too long on his own account. He could be stupid.
Even worse if he has someone he wants to protect... the [Princess of the True Ancestors] is lucky to have met Shiki-kun. He may have "killed" her, but he deeply repented of it and is atoning for her sin.
Shiki-kun would be willing to throw her life out of her if it is for her right now.
So, so that that child does not make a mistake, I decide to call the phone number that he had in my mind.
I put the phone close to my ear and wait for the person I am trying to contact to answer the call.
A few seconds later...
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[?]: Ryougi. This is your first time using this line, Touko. You must be in serious trouble again, right?
- - -
Her voice is dry and without much emotion.
She worked for me for a while, before she met Shiki-kun and recognized him as another apprentice.
Shiki-kun knows her too, so I have no problem asking her for a favor on her behalf.
The person on the phone is Shiki Ryougi, Shiki-kun's instructor within the [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] practice field that they both have in common and someone with whom Shiki-kun gets along very well. I refer to her as Shiki-chan, to differentiate one from the other.
─You know, Shiki-kun a few moments ago she called me to tell me that she needs support. He was asking me if you were willing to help.
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[Shiki]: I owe Tohno-san great favors, it would be an offense for me not to return the favor. Give me the address.
- - -
─Hey, hey. Not so fast sprinter, I need you to come to Souya City, first of all. Then we can go help him, okay?
- - -
[Shiki]: I'll be there in thirty minutes or less... Should I bring Mikiya?
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─What? No, Mikiya would be of no use to us. Only you.
- - -
[Shiki]: Okay, see ya.
- - -
She is the one who hangs up the call.
I'm relieved that she agrees to support us. She is a potential battle force that we could not waste as many as we can muster for this.
Inside the basement there are many things from my little sister, but over time I have also filled this with some of my own. What I do now is look for the dirtiest trick I have in my possession.
I am a [Puppeteer], someone who is capable of creating [Puppets] that can recreate the human body, the apex of my technique became possible, but it is limited to perfection as long as it is only "my" body.
I have a lot of [Bodies] scattered around and it's been a long time since I last changed bodies.
If I die, I can change my body. It's almost like what Michael Roa Valdamjong does with his resurrections, which earned me a [Sealing Designation] from the [Witchcraft Association] at the time.
I have created an interesting number of artifacts, such as the [Mystic Eyes Killers] that Shiki-kun and I have. That if by now you have not understood what you know, I will explain it again, they are a pair of glasses with which all kinds of [Mystic Eyes] can be blocked.
The acquisition of [Mystic Eyes] happens when there is some sort of mutation in the [Magic Circuits] located in the area around one's eyes. So the [Mystic Eyes Killers] are commonly made into glasses because [Mystic Eyes] are a power derived from the oculus. They are able to block more unique ones like [Death Perception], allowing the user (in all case, Shiki-kun) to live a normal life without affecting himself and those around him with the ability of his eyes.
Apart from that, they have also been shown to work in reverse, that is, whoever uses them is able to nullify the effects of the [Mystic Eyes] with which they have eye contact.
I was first surprised to learn that Shiki-kun had a pair of the [Mystic Eyes Killers], which by the way, I should mention, that Aoko had stolen them from me.
Either way, it's not like my [Mystic Eyes] are all the weapons I have at my disposal.
I take my [Sealed Box], an old thing that I haven't used for years. I haven't used it since Aoko and Shiki-kun got involved in the battle to revoke my [Sealing Designation]. I suppose this will bring back some memories for Shiki-kun, since he was within inches of death the last time I used it.
I climb the stairs back to the first floor of the house, and leaning against the wall, my younger sister, Aoko, is waiting for me with my old jacket in her hands. It is an orange colored jacket that she was wearing in the time that Shiki-chan was working for me.
Aoko looks at me expectantly, as if she expects me to say something right now.
That? I'm going to leave it here. By the way, I'll let Ciel know, I don't know how it benefits Shiki-kun if I let her know, but I suppose it must be something related to [Vampires].
I take the orange jacket from my younger sister and as I had been used to, I twirl it in the air, to put it on my shoulders and put my arms in the jacket. I tap the left pocket of the jacket and confirm that there is a box that I left inside it a long time ago.
It sure has turned out to be a damn shit, but hopefully those cigarettes will still taste the same.
─Nee-san...
─My answer is no. I'm not taking my little sister to a dangerous battlefield where we need two [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] users.
─But, Shiki...!
─Aoko. ─. I mention my little sister's name as I remove my own glasses.
I put the glasses in my right pocket and with a serious expression, which completely shows my decision not to give in.
Above all... maybe because I feel a bit happy and jealous at the same time.
Shiki-kun has been fascinated by Aoko for so many years and she is unable to realize those feelings. I know that Shiki-kun is a child, by many years younger than me, but after all the experiences that we have gone through a lot, I realized that I want to see a smile on the brat's face.
Yesterday morning, he was crying as he told me everything that happened and the reason why he spent a whole night away from home. He showed me the most fragile side of him, so I had to put my pride aside and lend him a shoulder to cry on.
It hurt me to see him cry, after all, Shiki-kun is someone who has brought happiness to both me and my little sister. I'm the type of person who tends to cut ties, but I think that when it comes to Shiki-kun, just like with Shiki-chan, I couldn't cut our relationship.
For that very reason.
It's that I tend to monopolize Shiki-kun for me.
I like him to be happy, but it's not like there are romantic feelings behind it.
Rather, it is because ever since I met him, I have had a tendency to compete against Aoko to have him as my pupil. Although he prefers Aoko, I know that he has always paid attention to all the teachings I have given him.
That is why I want him to be happy.
Like a teacher who sees her student get over it, that's the kind of happiness I feel being with Shiki-kun.
And I repeat, that is why.
─You always have all the admiration of Shiki-kun. In most of all things, he asks for your help, am I wrong about that?
Aoko takes a step back feeling the hostility that I am emanating right now.
Oh, wow. She may be a little upset right now.
But if that's what I need to get my sister out of the way, I'm willing to do it.
Hearing my words, Aoko silently nods her head. Accepting with resignation what I just told you.
Good thing she understands.
─I am no longer upset that you stole the [Aozaki Family's Crest] from me. But I will get too upset and let you know what is inside this box if this time you try to steal from me being under the focus of Shiki-kun's admiration.
─Shiki...! He... admires me more...
─That may be true, but he asked me for help. He needs the help of someone without so many points in which he excels, if you were, you would only be a hindrance. So if this is it, I leave, Shiki-kun is waiting for me.
With the [Sealed Box] in my right hand, he destined me to leave the house. I went to put on my boots, and while I was opening the door, Aoko grabs my wrist to force me to stop my actions.
I glance at Aoko. Whose expression I cannot know exactly, because her bangs cover her face.
But I guess she's upset, she's using a lot of force in her grip right now. Something unbecoming of Aoko.
─Nee-san.
─What do you want now?
A brief moment of silence.
In between that moment, it was like a transition, since at some point, Aoko was grabbing me by the collar of her jacket. Putting me under threat.
She was about to slap him away from her, but...
─I leave Shiki in your care, if something happens to him, I swear that I will never forgive you!
While little silver lines that I can call tears come down from her eyes, Aoko lets go.
I can know with that that she has resigned to accept my conditions and she is going to stay without doing anything.
However, her words cause me something of grace.
I fix my jacket, and before leaving the house... with a smile on my face, I say to my sister:
─What are you talking about, Aoko? Shiki-kun is more in my care than yours. Don't even try to compare my relationship with him, like yours. Of the two of us, I'm the one who loves Shiki-kun the most. Moron.
─Nee-... san...?! You better give me an explanation when you get back, silly!
Annoying my little sister, I guess it's a good way to boost my morale. Before fulfilling the heavy itinerary that I have right now.