As we sat there, waiting for our food, a sudden, inexplicable tension filled the air. It was subtle at first, like the prickling sensation of being watched. Ayami's relaxed demeanor shifted in an instant—her golden eyes narrowing, her posture tightening. Even in human form, her alertness was almost animalistic.
I barely had time to ask, "What's wron—?"
Before I could finish, Ayami lunged at me, knocking me off my chair with enough force to send us both sprawling onto the floor.
BANG!
A bullet whizzed past where I'd been sitting moments ago, slamming into the wall behind us. The instant it made contact, it detonated with a thunderous explosion, sending shards of debris flying like shrapnel.
Screams erupted around us as chaos descended upon the food court. Chairs toppled, trays clattered to the floor, and panicked people scrambled for the exits. Smoke and dust clouded the air, transforming the once-busy space into a scene of sheer mayhem.
"Ayami!" I coughed, struggling to catch my breath amid the dust. "What the hell was that?!"
"Stay down!" she barked, her tone sharper and more commanding than I'd ever heard. Grabbing my arm, she dragged me behind an overturned table, her movements swift and precise. Her eyes darted around, scanning for threats. "Someone's targeting us. They're not playing games."
My heart pounded as I peeked over the edge of the table. Through the smoke, I caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure in the distance—a silhouette holding something metallic and glinting faintly under the fluorescent lights. Another gunshot rang out, the sound sharp and chilling.
"Dammit!" Ayami hissed, her grip tightening on my wrist. "We didn't even get to eat! Hikaru, move. Now!"
Without waiting for my response, she hauled me to my feet, pulling me low as we weaved through the panicking crowd. The cacophony of footsteps, screams, and overturned furniture was deafening, but it provided just enough of a distraction to obscure us from the attacker's line of sight.
"Who the hell is after you this time?!" I shouted, my voice barely cutting through the noise as we sprinted toward the nearest exit.
"I've got a few ideas, but now's not the time for questions!" Ayami snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Just focus on getting out of here!"
We burst through the emergency exit, Ayami slamming the door shut behind us. The frigid night air hit us like a slap, and for a fleeting moment, I thought we were safe.
But as we caught our breath in the dimly lit alley, a figure stepped out of the shadows to block our path. Dressed in a sleek black suit, their face obscured by a reflective mask, they stood with unsettling stillness. In their hand was a strange weapon that crackled with a faint, ominous energy, casting eerie blue sparks in the dark.
Ayami immediately shoved me behind her, her stance shifting as she prepared for a fight. Her voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone. "Stay back, Hikaru," she said without looking at me, her gaze locked on the figure ahead. "This one's mine."
The figure raised the crackling weapon without hesitation, aiming directly at us. Another shot rang out, a bolt of electric-blue energy streaking through the alley. It missed us by a hair, slamming into a parked car and exploding in a shower of sparks, sending metal fragments flying.
I ducked behind a dumpster, heart pounding, as Ayami growled low in her throat. "This one's ruthless," she muttered, her golden eyes locked on the attacker.
The figure took another shot, this time at a group of panicked bystanders fleeing the scene. The energy bolt struck the pavement near them, sending chunks of concrete flying. The crowd screamed and scattered further.
"She doesn't even care who she hits!" I yelled, feeling a surge of anger.
Ayami's gaze darkened. "I won't let her hurt anyone else."
Without another word, her form shimmered, the air around her distorting as she began to change. Her limbs elongated, her body becoming sleek and muscular, and in a heartbeat, she had transformed into a powerful cheetah. Her golden fur gleamed under the faint streetlights, her sharp eyes fixed on the attacker.
"Stay here," she growled, her voice low and guttural, a mix of human and feline.
Before I could protest, she lunged forward, a blur of speed that was almost impossible to follow. The figure turned, raising their weapon again, but Ayami was too fast. Her cheetah form darted left, then right, weaving unpredictably as she closed the distance.
The woman fired several more shots, each one missing by inches. Sparks flew as the bolts struck walls and the ground, but Ayami didn't slow down. With a final burst of speed, she leapt into the air, claws extended.
The figure reacted quickly, dropping her weapon and pulling a sleek blade from her side. She raised it just in time to block Ayami's attack, the sound of metal meeting claws echoing through the alley. Ayami hissed, her powerful jaws snapping dangerously close to the woman's masked face.
"Persistent little beast," the woman muttered, her voice cold and calm, tinged with amusement. She shoved Ayami back, her strength surprising for someone of her slender build.
Ayami landed gracefully, her body low to the ground as she circled the woman, growling softly. "Who sent you?" she demanded, her voice sharper now, fully feline.
The woman chuckled, her blade glinting in the light. "Does it matter? You won't live long enough to find out."
With that, she lunged at Ayami, her movements swift and precise. Ayami dodged effortlessly, her cheetah reflexes allowing her to twist and counter with a swipe of her claws. The alley rang with the sounds of their battle, claws and steel clashing in a deadly dance.
I watched from behind the dumpster, my fists clenched. I wanted to help, but this fight was far beyond anything I could handle. All I could do was hope Ayami's speed and skill would give her the edge she needed.
As Ayami fought fiercely against the masked attacker, the voice echoed in my mind again, stronger this time, like it was coming from every corner of my thoughts.
Swipe bodies with me, kid. You can't just sit here while she risks her life.
I clenched my fists, my heart racing as I watched Ayami narrowly dodge another swing of the blade. Her cheetah form was fast, but the masked woman was relentless, pressing her with sharp, calculated strikes. Ayami's claws managed to graze her opponent, but it was clear she was being pushed to her limits.
This voice... I thought, recognizing it instantly. It's you... the one who taught me about the mirror world. Mirror-Man.
Yes, it's me, the voice replied smoothly, almost impatiently. Now, let me take control of your body. I'll handle this.
My mind reeled, the chaotic scene in front of me clashing with the strange offer in my head. Why do you want to use my body? I asked, my voice trembling in my thoughts.
Ayami is important to you, right? the Mirror-Man said, his tone firm but almost mocking. You just gonna sit here and let her die?
The word "die" hit me like a punch to the gut. My gaze snapped back to Ayami, who was now struggling against the masked figure. Her movements were slowing, her golden eyes still sharp but tired. I swallowed hard, the weight of the situation sinking in.
"I... I don't know," I whispered aloud, torn between fear and the desire to help her.
You're still so naive, Mirror-Man said, his voice dripping with disdain. But listen to me. If you don't act now, she won't make it. Let me take over. Close your eyes, and I'll do what needs to be done.
"Close my eyes?" I repeated, my voice shaking. The sound of Ayami's growls and the clash of claws against steel rang out in the background. She was giving everything she had, but the masked woman wasn't letting up.
Yes. Trust me, kid. Just close your eyes, and I'll take care of everything.
For a moment, I hesitated. The thought of surrendering my body to someone else, even temporarily, was terrifying. But then I looked at Ayami again—her fierce determination, the way she fought to protect me despite the danger. I couldn't let her fight alone.
Taking a deep breath, I whispered, "Alright... do it." Then I closed my eyes, letting go of my hesitation.
The last thing I felt was a strange warmth spreading through my body, like stepping into sunlight, before everything went dark.
The snowy alley was painted in chaos, debris scattered from earlier blasts. Ayami, in her cheetah form, was swift but visibly weary. The masked woman, relentless and calculating, took aim with her strange weapon. She fired a precise shot aimed directly at Ayami's head.
The impact was devastating. Ayami collapsed to the ground with a lifeless thud, her golden fur stained with soot. The cheetah form lay motionless, her body sprawled in the snow. A cruel smile crept across the masked woman's face as she approached, her boots crunching against the frozen ground. She raised her foot, planting it firmly on Ayami's body in a display of triumph.
"Well, that's the end of you," she muttered, her voice filled with satisfaction.
But then, something strange happened. Ayami's body began to dissolve, turning into black and golden ash that swirled into the air like smoke caught in the wind. The woman stepped back, startled, her moment of victory slipping away as the ash vanished into nothingness.
"What—?!" she began, her voice faltering.
From the shadows, Hikaru's voice echoed, calm yet filled with an unnerving authority. "You didn't kill her."
The woman spun around, her weapon at the ready. Hikaru emerged from the darkness, his expression serene yet sharp, his presence commanding. He walked toward her with slow, deliberate steps, the snow crunching beneath his boots.
"What you saw was nothing more than an illusion," Hikaru continued, his tone almost mocking. "A hypnotic trick. Ayami isn't dead. She's alive and well… in the real world."
To Be Continue.