"So what do you say?" The Lady of Osaka extends her hand to Valeriya. "Are you in or are you out?"
"Hmmm…" Valeriya pretends to think before breaking into a wide grin and shaking The Lady of Osaka's hand. "Just under one condition."
"And what would that be?"
"You said you could bring someone back, right?" Valeriya tries her best to smile. "I want two people brought back instead of just one."
"Oh-ho?" The Lady of Osaka raises her eyebrows. "A bold request, one that I'm not keen on keeping."
"Those are my terms. Take it or leave it."
"It's a little circular for you to bring back people you killed, isn't it?"
"What? I'm not allowed to have regrets?"
"You… I like you. It's a deal. But just know this one thing."
"Yeah?"
"You can't erase your mistakes."
"Hmph. We'll see about that."
The Lady of Osaka places her hand on Valeriya's chest. The world instantaneously goes dark and her voice grows distant.
"..." Valeriya stares at the empty page in front of her. She holds the brush in her hand tightly as she places the bristles on the paper at a forty-five degree angle and draws a horizontal line. The line wavers slightly.
What are you doing? There's a feeling like something's passing through her skull. The Lady of Osaka did warn her about this feeling, so she isn't particularly fazed.
"Calligraphy. A proper swordsman should try to understand other professions. Aim to master yourself before mastering your blade. Someone singularly devoted to the art of killing is no different from the sword they wield."
She clicks her tongue and draws another line underneath the first one. Again, placing it on the paper at a forty-five degree angle before dragging it across the page. The line still wavers slightly.
She tries again. And again. And again.
"Tch." Valeriya draws her shortsword and slashes the paper in two. "There. A horizontal line."
Hah! I like your style. You've got a short temper, like me!
"I have bigger issues than just my temper." Valeriya sits back down in her apartment living room's only chair. It's amazing how even after nearly fifteen years of being empty, no one's taken up residence in it.
That's not entirely wrong. I've seen your memories. You've certainly done some questionable things in your time.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fucked up, what's new?" She bites her lip.
And what of your parents?
"What of them?" She snaps.
Do you truly not regret anything?
"Hmmm…" Valeriya strokes her chin, almost comically. "Nope. They got what they deserved."
And what of your sister?
"I have no sister. Only a pitiful fool who shares my blood. I've done my part as her older sister and freed her from that cage she's kept herself in. What she does now is up to her and her alone."
I see…
"Ah, there it is. I can tell you're disappointed. No point in hiding it. But guess what? You're stuck with me and I'm stuck with you so you better get used to it, jackass."
…
"Whatever, it's not like I care what you think."
If we survive, that is.
"What? Don't tell me you don't believe in us as a team?"
The warrior courts death with every duel they fight. Never once must they think of themselves as above death.
"I… suppose you're right… But I can't die just yet, there's still something I have to do."
"Oh?"
"I don't regret murdering those pigs… but I'm… how do you say this? Worried about my little sister–"
The doorbell rings for maybe the first time ever since she rented this place twenty or so odd years ago. She stands on instinct, eyes sharpened, ready for anyone to come breaking down the door. But no such thing happens. The doorbell rings again. Slowly, she creeps towards the door.
Valeriya opens the door. Or rather, someone who looks like Valeriya. Iko's gotten used to the significantly more mature look her soul had in the spirit realm. Her age lines are gone, her skin is brighter, she fits into her clothes better, she's youthful again. Iko can't look at her. It's not a lack of will, simply that she promised she'd kill her if she ever saw her again.
"Iko…" She seems surprised, maybe even a little confused to see her again.
"Valeriya." Jet doesn't correct her this time. On some level, she feels like she's lost that right.
"Do you… want to come in?"
"Sure." Valeriya opens the door wide to let Iko in. "I have some convenience store food if you want some."
"Where did you get the money for that?"
"I stole it."
"Figures." Still, Iko picks up a rice ball and begins munching on it. "Listen, there's something I need to talk to you about."
"Yeah?"
"You met with The Lady of Osaka too, didn't you?"
"Yeah." Jet looks at the black markings covering both of her arms. "Did you?"
"Yeah." Iko touches the tattoo-like mark on her forehead.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"So–"
"Waaaait!" Third party enters the apartment. The girl in the red coat. Daisuko, if Iko remembers her name properly. She holds out her hands to her side, an open palm for each sister. "No fighting!"
"We weren't–!" Valeriya and Iko both say in sync.
"I don't wanna hear it! Everyone in the car, now!"
Both Iko and Valeriya look at each other warily before stepping out of the apartment, a wide distance between the two the whole time.
"I see…" The Lady of Tokyo reviews the notes Kirika took down before tossing it down at Kirika's feet. "Fascinating. So you've wasted my time once again."
"I'm prepared to take full responsibility." Kirika does her best to stand up straight. She does a significantly better job than the other I-C's standing behind her who are literally falling apart at the seams, their auto-repair functions struggling to stitch them back together.
"No need. Your competence falls within expected parameters."
A dour chord tolls from within Kirika's heart.
"Regardless, I have prepared contingencies in case of your failure."
"Y-you can't mean–!" Kirika steps backwards and covers her mouth, a mixture of wonder, awe, and blessedness washing over her.
She snaps her fingers and three girls emerge from the shadows. They move in perfect lockstep as they form a column off to the side. Their eyes glower a somber red. "I've exhausted a reasonable amount of resources to assemble these three. Consider them your research assistants. They will be suitable pawns.."
"M-ma'am!" Tears come to Kirika's eyes. She makes no effort to hold them back. "Your generosity knows no limits and your grace is boundless. Thank you… Thank you!"
"I'm vesting you with significant power." The Lady of Tokyo's eyes hide behind her glasses and yet, Kirika feels her looking down on her. "Feel free to play."
"Play?"
"Play is the most ancient, most instinctual form of research. It is how we discovered the world around us in our infancy. To play is to research without bias."
"I see…" Kirika says, not really getting it.
"Pray you exceed my expectations."