As Izanami disappeared into the thick smoke, her figure fading like a wraith into the shadows, the chaos of the confrontation at the hotel continued to reverberate through the halls. Rakshesha's voice echoed with desperation and anger as she ordered Risa's special forces men to search every corner for the elusive Queenswoman, but the Matriach halted the search as she had different plans for Izanami.
Meanwhile, across the city, an entirely different scene transitioned.
I stepped out of the taxi and walked towards my home, the familiarity of the surroundings offering a brief respite from a particular event.
Inside, the atmosphere was starkly different from the chaos that happened in the hotel. The house was quiet, but the tranquility was shattered by the sound of television blaring from the living room.
As I walked down the hallway, I could hear the urgent tones of a news anchor delivering a breaking story. I quickened my pace, my curiosity piqued.
Entering the living room, I found my father, Shinjo, seated on the couch. His eyes glued to the screen and an empty bottle of liquor beside him.
"Dad, what's going on? Why are you drinking again?" I asked, concerned for my father's relapse.
Shinjo turned to look at me, his face pale and tense.
"I...don't...no." My father couldn't answer coherently. Caught and stressed out, he suddenly threw the empty bottle to the wall, shattering it into pieces.
But my attention diverged by the sound of the television and shifted my gaze into it, ignoring my father's fault.
The screen displayed a chaotic scene outside a hotel in Ginza, with police and emergency personnel swarming the area. The headline at the bottom read: "BREAKING NEWS: Violent Confrontation at Muji Hotel Ginza - Multiple Casualties Reported."
The anchor's voice was urgent, filling in the details.
"Ealier today, a violent and bloody confrontation broke out at the Muji Hotel Ginza, involving what authorities are describing as highly trained mercenaries. Witnesses reported seeing two unknown women fighting off a group of armed men before the scene erupted into chaos. Police are urging citizens to avoid the area as investigations continue."
My mind raced with questions as I watched the footage.
Unfortunately, for Ray, he remained naive to the full scope of the events. He didn't know that his Queenswomen comrades were part in this chaos and had fought a brutal battle, nor did he realize that Hera and Valkyrie had killed a multitude of elite mercenaries. The betrayal of Rakshesha, who had turned againts her vow and fiercely fought Izanami, was also unknown to him.
Most shockingly, Ray had no idea that his own mother had arrived in Tokyo, nor that she was the powerful, enigmatic, and mysterious Matriach.
"Ray, do you know anything about this? It seems so fucking serious." My father remarked, trying to evade the confrontation about his relapse.
I didn't respond nor look at my father.
Ever since my return, my father couldn't give me anything but disappointment. My heart stung every time I looked at him with such admiration and affection but in exchange, all he did was to brew disappointment and resentment. Father of the year, indeed.
Having had enough of my father being impudent and insufferable, I turned around and walked away without looking back at my father's face.
As I kept walking towards my room, my father called for me.
"Ray." He called for my attention.
I stopped in my tracks, awaiting for what he had to say to me.
"There's something I need to tell you." My father said, his voice mixed with sadness and anxiousness and his gaze fixed on the floor.
I turned around and crossed my arms, impatiently waiting for his words.
"Your..." He paused. Intensely hesitating, his forehead was sweating, his hands clenched into fists.
"Dad?" I asked impatiently, my voice tinged with annoyance. But I couldn't help but to feel concern for my father as I rarely saw him this tense.
He finally looked up, his eyes met mine. There was a sadness and anxiousness too in his gaze.
He didn't utter anymore but there was a weary and somber smile crept on his face.
"Nothing, son." He uttered, his voice teary and his somber smile never unwavering.
Dissatisfied by his words, I exasperated a loud and deep sigh.
"But always remember that I love you, Ray." He proclaimed, his smile became warm and gentle.
My father then hurriedly left the living room, leaving me alone to process the situation.
Meanwhile, there was a voice in the television, steady and professional.
"I'm here to report live at the Muji Hotel Ginza. We're receiving reports of a violent confrontation at the hotel. Witnesses claimed that the scene was bloody and chaotic, where many unknown armed and armored men have been found dead."
I shifted my attention to the television once again and the screen transitioned to show a young woman, the hotel's receptionist, standing in front of the camera, her face pale and eyes wide with shock and fear.
The reporter held a microphone to her.
"What was like being there?" The reporter asked the receptionist.
"It was terrifying." The receptionist answered, her voice trembling.
"There were these four tall, foreign women. I observed two of them carefully, they...they fought off all those unknown men. I heard gunshots, saw blood...I thought I was going to die." The receptionist continued, her voice shaking to the extent.
"Do you know who those women were? Have you seen them before?" The reporter pressed further.
The receptionist hesitated, her eyes darting nervously.
"I...I didn't get a good look at them, but one of them...I think she was called Ms. Meadows. She was fierce, determined, deadly. They moved like they knew exactly what they were doing. Ms. Meadows had a handgun and a knife and the other woman...a sword. It was like something out of a movie." The receptionist nervously but truthfully answered.
"It is remarkable that you were able to witness this intense confrontation without coming to harm. How did you manage to observe Ms. Meadows and the other woman amidst the chaos?" The reporter, intrigued by the receptionist's account, pressed furthermore.
The receptionist nodded, her eyes reflecting the memory of the chaotic and bloody scene.
"I was in a nearby room, tending and filling daily necessities, when the commotion started. There was a small hole in the wall, just enough for me to peek through without being seen. That's when I saw them, Ms. Meadows and the other woman with a sword, fighting and killing those unknown men. The scene was so...disgustingly bloody." The receptionist revealed, the memory still fresh on her mind.
"They...they moved like a superhero. Their movements were fast, precise, and coordinated, as if they were dancing with those men. They were like....warriors, taking down those men with skill and determination." The receptionist continued.
The reporter leaned in, curious of something.
"You mentioned Ms. Meadows by name. How did you know her? The report asked, with his curiosity peaked.
"She booked a reservation in one of our deluxe suite. She was blonde, tall, had Nordic beauty, sophisticated and had commanding figure." The receptionist answered truthfully once again.
As I kept watching the interview, only three names filled my mind and three faces that kept flashing like a lightning.
Hera, Valkyrie, and Rakshesha.
"What the hell are they doing here in Japan? And who was the fourth women?" My mind spoke, yearning for answers.