Purgatory Strider

by Shiden Kanzaki

  Then, all at once, Rentaro asked a barrage of questions. Were they free? The answer, excitedly given between the two: Yes. Enju was suddenly released from the Promoter matching process, Tina just as suddenly released from jail, and the police even gave them a ride there.

  Another question sprang to his mind. “Speaking of which, guys, we’re pretty much right by the Monoliths. Are you guys okay being here, with the Gastrea Virus and all?”

  “Oh,” Enju replied quizzically. Then her eyebrows shot up, both hands to her mouth as her ponytails seemed to visibly droop.

  “Ngh, I—I don’t feel too good… I think I’m gonna throw up.”

  “I’m not too hot myself.”

  “Stupid.”

  Rentaro grinned wryly to himself as he tousled their hair. They had even forgotten about that for his sake.

  “Come on,” he said, giving both a shove on the back. “Let’s get home. ’Cause, seriously, if you hang out here much longer, you’ll—”

  He lost his train of thought when he saw what was ahead of him. It was an August bride in white. The veil was gone, revealing a head of long, straight, black hair that waved in the wind.

  “Kisara…”

  She didn’t try to meet his gaze. Instead she just stood there, eyes focused on a point somewhere to his right.

  “Open up.”

  “Huh?”

  “Open up your arms.”

  “Oh.”

  Rentaro did so. Kisara, still focused on the ground, fell into them, embracing his chest. Her gloved hands wrapped themselves behind his back. It unnerved him slightly.

  “Wh-whoa, Kisara—”

  “You’re so stupid.”

  He couldn’t gauge her expression, given that her face was buried in his torso. She rubbed her nose against it as she shook her head. A slight, ever-so-slight, shudder crossed over from her body to his.

  “So, um…?” he asked.

  “Yes?”

  “Is it all over now?”

  Rentaro felt the girl nodding in his arms. He looked up at the starless night sky and sighed.

  “Oh.”

  Kisara was there. Enju and Tina were released. The crimes he stood accused of had all been dismissed by Kisara, apparently.

  But what about her and Hitsuma? Why was she in a wedding dress? Rentaro thought for a moment, then wisely decided those questions could wait.

  They stayed in that position for a while—it was hard to say how long—until Rentaro grabbed her hands and suggested they return home.

  The Monoliths were right in front of them as they held each other’s hands. He had been gone for so long that they were both eager to make up for lost time.

  Thus the four crossed the imaginary finish line together, walking back to Tokyo Area as a group of free people.

  The police officers watched blankly from their cars. After the wild goose chase Rentaro sent them on, there he was—a successful escapee, a civsec who just restored his good name right in front of them. Nobody would be getting police commendations for this case.

  Rentaro found Tadashima’s face among the watchers. He had a sling on—reportedly he had suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Something about his face was even more formal and solemn than usual. He gave Rentaro a silent salute.

  “Clear the way, people! The savior of Tokyo Area’s coming through!”

  A quiet frenzy erupted among the officers, infecting them one by one until all saluted the civsec team. Every face held a sincere look of reverence.

  Suddenly, Rentaro heard the sound of a music box playing—it was from the pocket watch in Kisara’s hand. There was something oddly familiar about it, but he couldn’t remember the tune’s name.

  Despite the lack of ticker tape and cheering, it was the best welcome-home parade he could have asked for.

  Thus, with the smell of summer still in the chilly wind, the police-escorted official ceremony for the reopening of the Tendo Civil Security Agency came to a close.

  BLACK BULLET 6

  Epilougue

  SOULS UNITED, SOULS DIVIDED

  Rentaro turned the handle on the faucet, filling the wooden bucket with water. He was surprised at how cold the droplets splashing out of the bucket were.

  He turned his head ninety degrees upward. The sun was at its highest point in the sky. A passing airplane roared above, engines drawing a straight line across the blue.

  The cemetery he stood in was located fairly close to the Outer Districts. It was surrounded by forested land, making for a loud chorus of cicadas that was less than restful. It sounded like the forest itself was yelling at them, in fact.

  Holding the heavy bucket in one hand, he walked along the vast area of graves, divided into neat squares like a go board. Before long, he was by one of the small plots, three women behind him. They must have sensed the solemnity of the situation, for not only Tina and Kisara, but even Enju, whose energy was the defining feature of her personality, was refraining from bouncing off the walls for the time being.

  The representatives of the Tendo Civil Security Agency stood before a set of gravestones, filled the water basins on them, and added bunches of flowers—bellflowers and other purple-colored varieties chief among them.

  Each one took a ladle to the water, splashed it over the stones, and prayed.

  “Sorry we’re late in coming,” Rentaro said, eyes fixed on the two stones in front of him. “Suibara… Hotaru.”

  Not much more needed to be said. This was the end of what was already turning out to be a fairly long conclusion.

  The news was still covering Rentaro’s story. In the end, an investigation exposed some thirty members of the police department, including the commissioner, involved in the conspiracy to frame Rentaro for Kihachi Suibara’s murder. The cops were still poking around the wasps’ nest, so to speak, looking into each co-conspirator’s history to see what else they could charge them with.

  Nearly all faced disciplinary measures. Most had court dates. What happened after that was for a judge to decide.

  And, of course, the news didn’t speak a word about the experimentation on Varanium-resistant Gastrea Rentaro had discovered. Nor anything about the Five Wings Syndicate attempting to cultivate them.

  Losing Yuga and Hitsuma was a setback for Five Wings, no doubt about that, but it was far from a permanent resolution. They had already cleared the lab of any research data before Rentaro showed up, and besides, most of the conspirators they arrested were pretty low-ranking members of the force or affiliated groups. Hitsuma and his father would have known the juicy details—and both were dead, killed under mysterious circumstances. Rentaro had nothing left to pursue.

  Not long after, Rentaro had paid a visit to Tamaki, Yuzuki, and Asaka at the hospital where they were recuperating. It had been something of a shock when he opened the door to their room and found Asaka and Tamaki kowtowing to him on the floor in apology. Both had broken bones, he had heard, and yet there was Asaka providing a textbook example of groveling as it was practiced in the courts of ancient China. Tamaki, on the other hand, had put his ass far too high in the air, presenting another suggestion entirely.

  “We are deeply regretful that we let ourselves fall for the malicious designs of that evil force.”

  “A man never makes excuses. Come on, Rentaro. Just shut up and punch me in the face!”

  Yuzuki, meanwhile, rested her body against one of the room’s walls, seething. “Didn’t I tell you?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you that police officer was acting funny? I mean, like…really?”

  This was how Rentaro had found himself in one of the most awkward moments of the year so far without so much as opening his mouth. He had to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

  As he laughed, he’d nervously rubbed the surface of his cybernetic left eye. He hadn’t seen the “terminal horizon” since his battle against Yuga—not much need to accelerate past 2000x in daily life—but his competency with a sniper rifle did improve noticeably afterward.

&nb
sp; If anything had really changed with him, it was in the attitude he brought to his job. He now felt a certain responsibility for the deaths he had caused, directly or not. He was ready to deal with that. But that was about it.

  “We should offer this, too…”

  Kisara gingerly placed her pocket watch on the space between the two graves. The sentence YOU ARE ALWAYS IN MY HEART had been stamped under the cover. Suibara probably hadn’t meant it when he had that stamped on, but now it felt like proof that he expected to die at any moment. It made Kisara’s heart tighten a little, thinking about it.

  Suibara and Hotaru risked their lives to keep Tokyo Area safe. And keep it safe they did. If it wasn’t for their courageous deeds, crushing the Five Wings Syndicate’s ambitions would have been impossible.

  Rentaro lightly shook his head, clearing his mind.

  “Let’s go home.”

  Kisara grumbled about the fairly paltry reparations the police were willing to offer for this miscarriage of justice. Enju sprang around, attempting to burn off some energy she had built up waiting around at the IISO facility. Tina, for her part, must not have had a fun time in jail—she clammed up whenever she was asked about it, eyebrows pinned down on her face.

  It was so hot, Rentaro asked Enju to buy something at a nearby vending machine, which he rarely did. Enju, always ready to annoy Rentaro one way or another, came back with a piping-hot cup of coffee. He pulled the tab and attempted a mouthful. It was hot enough to burn his tongue. From the pit of his stomach, he cursed his life.

  When they arrived back at the Tendo Civil Security office—now running extended hours for summer break—Kisara arched an eyebrow. “Hey, is that car…?” she murmured, as she pointed at a well-polished black limousine parked in front of the Happy Building.

  Whoever was inside must have noticed Rentaro, because the back door flew open, revealing a young woman who almost threw herself at him.

  “Satomi!”

  The Seitenshi was in a blindingly pure white dress. She was also wearing white heels—not exactly running gear. One heel slipped, causing her to lose her balance. Rentaro ran up and caught her just before she hit the pavement.

  “Jeez, Lady—”

  Rentaro’s complaint was cut off when he noticed the Seitenshi’s moistened eyes. They took him aback enough that he abandoned his feigned offense entirely.

  “Thank you so much, Satomi. It looked like you were out of the office, so I waited here in my vehicle.”

  Rentaro scratched his head distractedly, averting his eyes. “No, that’s…that’s fine, but what brings you here in such a hurry?”

  “Ah, yes,” the Seitenshi said, bringing her hands together in front of her chest and taking something out of her purse. “I am here today so I can give this back to you.”

  “Give back…?” Rentaro said as he accepted it. He took a glance, only to find his ID photo peeking from the window of a leather card-carrying case. There was no mistaking his civsec license. He had forgotten about the Seitenshi stripping it from him at the palace, however long ago.

  The gesture was so moving that he froze, license clutched in hand. Funny how he’d never thought about it much when he first got it, but now that it was back in his pocket, it made his chest feel warm and intensely grateful. He tried to say something then stopped, realizing he was about to lie. Instead, he closed his eyes and exhaled out his nose. It was almost enough to make him forget about the Seitenshi—but, noticing her smiling right at him, he panicked a bit and turned to her.

  “You, you could’ve just mailed it to me,” he stammered. “Like, did you leave the palace just for something like this?”

  “No… Not, not just for that, no…” The Seitenshi was stammering herself. She grasped at her skirt with both hands. “When I heard you had died at the Plaza Hotel, I was in such a state of shock, I couldn’t carry out my political duties. I didn’t even have an appetite. So when I heard you were alive, I…”

  The Seitenshi’s lips were pursed tightly, as if trying to hold something back. Then, with her smooth, velvety gloves, she held Rentaro’s hands tightly, drawing them toward her.

  “I’m so happy you made it, Satomi.”

  Having such radiant beauty in front of him rendered Rentaro helpless. He let her do as she wished, marveling at how attractive she was up close.

  They looked at each other for a long moment—then turned away in unison, blushing. She hid her cheeks with both hands, as if trying to mask the redness.

  “I’m sorry… Staring at a man up close like this…this is so improper of me…”

  The icy stares of the women behind her made the ruler of Tokyo Area break out in a cold sweat.

  “Ex-cuse me!” Kisara said, coming between the two and giving the Seitenshi an admonishing look. “Um, L-Lady Seitenshi… I’m not sure you have seen him like this before, so I wanted to give a word of warning: There is nothing cool about Satomi at all. He’s unintelligent, he’s a useless bum, his feet smell, and his face is so ugly that just looking at him drains the energy right out of you.”

  The Seitenshi rubbed a cheek with her right hand as she gave Kisara an odd look. “Have you and Satomi been seeing each other, President Tendo?”

  “We have not!”

  “Then why do you have such a frantic look on your face?”

  “I am not frantic at all!” Kisara turned toward Rentaro, as if about to bite him in the neck. “Satomi? One moment, please?”

  Why’s she targeting me?

  “So were you just playing around with me, Big Brother?!” Tina wailed.

  “Yes! And me, too?!” Enju snapped.

  Tina was in a state of abject sadness. Enju was more on the angrier side of the spectrum.

  Just as Rentaro was ready to lift his hands in the air and beg for divine intervention, a friendly male voice rang out:

  “Oh-ho! The Lady Seitenshi is with you all, too?”

  It was a late-middle-aged man with a folded fan, a hakama formal skirt, and hair like a pineapple. “Yo!” he said, a greeting well out of character with his traditional garb.

  “Mr. Shigaki!” Rentaro shouted, overjoyed at this lifeline thrown to him.

  Senichi Shigaki grinned, exposing his white teeth as he guffawed. “I was just thinking that I was overdue for a visit…but oh, my, even Lady Seitenshi has joined the company, has she?”

  The Seitenshi gave a well-mannered bow. “Good afternoon to you, Mr. Shigaki. I trust your Varanium mines are faring well?”

  “Ha! More or less, I suppose.”

  “I find it hard to believe that a man who was once Kikunojo’s butler has such a talent for business!”

  “Ahh, I guess you could say I found my calling late in life, eh? Ha-ha!”

  “And I understand you are aiming for electoral office?”

  “Oh, you make it sound like such a lofty thing, my Lady! Please, you embarrass me!”

  After pleasantries, Shigaki turned to Rentaro and Kisara, flashing them a somewhat distressed smile.

  “Kisara,” he began, “I…I suppose I owe you an apology, don’t I? I’m here because I wanted to do it in person, you see.”

  Rentaro realized Shigaki was talking about his role in arranging Kisara’s would-be marriage.

  “I made the arrangements because I thought it would be the best thing for the both of you, but I had no idea young Hitsuma and his father were both caught up in criminal activity. And now look what happened to the young man… Truly, I am sorry.”

  Kisara gave an open-minded smile at the grown man profusely apologizing to her. “Not at all,” she said. “None of us were hurt, in the end. So don’t worry about it, Mr. Shigaki.”

  “Na-ha-ha! Ah, I thought you might say that.”

  Rentaro felt a tug at his shirt. Peering down, he found Enju and Tina, concern on their faces as they looked up at him.

  “Rentaro, who’s that guy?”

  “Oh, right, you haven’t met him before… Mr. Shigaki?” He motioned to the man, then introduced the
trio to one another.

  “This is Senichi Shigaki, girls. He’s the manager of Tendo Civil Security Agency on paper, and he’s also my and Kisara’s more-or-less legal guardian.”

  “Wow! That fancy an old guy, huh?”

  “Well! Nice to meet the both of you, then.” Shigaki crossed his arms, greeting them with a stern frown at first, then dropping the front and giving them both a friendly pat or two on the head.

  “Ah-ha-ha! Would you look at the two cuties we’ve got here, then? And you know that Shiba girl, too—don’t you, Rentaro? Juggling five girls at once! Why, I don’t think I managed even that many when I was your age, boy!”

  Shigaki elbowed Rentaro in the stomach, just in case his point hadn’t come across clearly enough. But before Rentaro could yelp Sir, no, I—, the elbow knocked the coffee out of his hands. It went flying through the air, the still-hot liquid arcing dangerously toward the sleeve of Shigaki’s jacket—

  By the time Rentaro thought Oh crap, it was already too late.

  “Yeowch!”

  Shigaki went to a knee, lifting up his sleeve in an attempt to dodge. Rentaro rushed to him, social shame overcoming him as Shigaki took out a handkerchief and lowered his sleeve again. The old man’s eyes were aimed squarely at Rentaro’s coffee cup. “What on earth, my boy? It’s hot as blazes out here, and you’re going around with hot coffee in your hand? What’s that all about, hmm? Is that what’s popular with the young folks these days?”

  “I, um, you aren’t burned or anything, sir?”

  “Mm?” Shigaki nonchalantly replied. “Ahh, this’ll be fine.”

  “Let’s go up to the office,” Tina suggested. “We’ve got some cold water up there.”

  Shigaki gave it a moment’s thought, then agreed to stop by long enough to use the sink. This is sure turning into a weird day, Rentaro thought as he accompanied his legal guardian up the stairs and inside.

  Enju, watching from behind as Tina and Rentaro escorted Shigaki, was nailed to the ground in surprise. She crossed her arms, wondering what all that was about.