TBK - Chime 11

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Chime 11 – Sanguinary Altruism
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"What a beautiful scenery…"

Yutsu casually took a few steps away from the trapdoor and surveyed the surroundings with her finger loosely hooked around her pistol's trigger. Viridian eyes twinkled with mirth when she realized the location their pursuers have chosen to stop the train. They were surrounded by patches of woods northeast of Ahkalin, which meant they were far enough from Eani Station that any reinforcements would not be able to intrude any time soon.

"…especially if crimson rain were to fall, hmm?"

Her lips quirked into a sinister grin at the prospect of staining the rich green of nearby foliage with vermillion splotches. What a wonderful, ironic picture she'd paint by dousing nature with sheer violence and terror so close to that pristine town?

Her blood boiled with thrill as she clicked her heel on the iron roof of the train, her body relaxed with the sleek grace of a waiting predator. Idiots, every single one of those Flies was an utter fool. Rather than an intricate network of alleyways of a cityscape, this was the type of terrain that Yutsu thrived in. She will leave enough red behind to make sure that any potential hunters would not dare to challenge her and threaten her important people at her own game.

Her vicious smirk faded a little though, as her antennae tingled from sensing the anxiety pulsating off Sakura. That girl really needed to control her emotions, especially in a situation that demanded absolute calmness. It was fortunate that only predators of the blunette's caliber could pick up the Foxroach's unintentional distress signals, otherwise more powerful Insects could track her with their antennae.

Yutsu's expression was coldly blank now. She must exterminate these pursuing bounty hunters as soon as possible, before they could relay their coordinates back to much stronger foes. Insects usually moved in groups after all, no matter how lonesome one appeared to be.

The blunette was an exception, for she was so used to being an independent traveler. Therefore, she had been in a state of unrest since the battle at Torden, not because of fear or uncertainty but because of the proximity with other people, even Rui and Sakura. While the string of events frustrated her on a personal level, she really cared little for the fate of the rebels.

It was her inner demon, the one that lusted for tremendous bloodshed. She was not used to experiencing such turmoil in central Riphaeus, especially in places close to Kaltrea because her mind had already labeled them as fairly peaceful areas. But now, because of the fierce battles in the decimated city, she desired more than just sniping from a distance.

She wanted to relish the sensation of sinking her blades through flesh and bones, just like old times.

However, she did not want to expose this side of her to the two Vulpines more than she had already done.

Her long ears shifted slightly while her posture remained completely unperturbed even though she felt several scopes trained on her. She was infamous for her unpredictable and unexpected speed, as well as her aptitude in close combat, especially against a group of enemies. The Flies would not dare to shoot and risk revealing their hiding spots just yet. They will need to test her first and somehow discover an opening.

She licked her lips languidly. The enemy bounty hunters were good, she admitted.

"So, we meet at last, Cobalt Cobra!"

But they weren't good enough.

Her lips quirked imperceptibly when a Fly jumped onto the roof with a confident smirk, his webbed wings folding casually as if to taunt her half-Insect lineage. He was pretty tall for his Species, and he seemed to be armed with more than a dozen of firearms. His demeanor oozed malicious intent and his sneer expressed no mercy, showing that he was a formidable killer by trade.

However, Yutsu's ravenous emerald eyes only reflected one thing, an imprudent sacrifice.

A toy had just offered himself to the vicious game she will commence. Her tongue dragged across her upper lip once again, savoring the phantom sweetness of blood she will spill.

The Fly was bemused by her aloof silence. "So what's this, a bounty hunter running with the rebels? That's not like the Cobalt Cobra."

Yutsu entertained the thought of shooting his legs off, complete with macabre details of his demise for acting like he knew her. Her antennae, however, were still searching the perimeter because she could feel the enemies slowly converging around the train. She would humor him for the mean time.

Shifting her weight to her other leg, she scoffed derisively. "Who are you again? Fanboy A or B?"

His hand twitched just inches away from the pistol on his belt. "The name's Justin you bitch! I'm the Shadow Dragon's closest-"

"Pfff please, Dieter's close to no one but us Top Tiers," Yutsu resisted the urge to roll her eyes and spoke as coolly as she could, which infuriated the Fly even further. "Heck, I bet I know more about him than you do, fail fanboy."

"Shut up! After I bring him your head, he'll have to acknowledge my power!"

The blunette threw back her head and laughed breathlessly. Dieter Hendrich had quite the fan club alright. These little Flies all coveted the acknowledgement of the most powerful bounty hunter in Kazan, especially because he was their kin. Once they had some sort of connection to the Shadow Dragon, they would get better job opportunities and a broader range of clients around the world. While the sentiment was understandable, their behavior was getting more and more ridiculous each year. Tension cackled in the air due to her burst of amusement, yet none of them dared to strike in spite of their indignant fury. She knew they wanted to storm the train to attack the people onboard, but they also wanted to see what her first move would be.

She narrowed her eyes haughtily. "Is that why you brought fifteen of your buddies to overwhelm poor ol' me?" She smirked when he flinched visibly at her correct estimation of their number. She only knew their vague whereabouts, but by pretending she knew of their exact locations, they will reveal themselves in due time.

"Well, you might want to tell Fangirl A on that tree over there to aim a little higher if she wants to kill me in one shot, and Fanboy F behind that bush to breathe a little quieter if he wants to conceal his presence."

The strain in the air grew heavier again, followed by a collective shift in the hidden foes in the surroundings. Yutsu felt Justin sent a warning signal to them not to act just yet. Her smirk widened at their juvenile play.

They were merely newbies. Perhaps he had been in the guild for just as long as she had, not that she ever recalled a little fry like him. Perhaps they were all experienced bounty hunters of many years. Either way, they were severely underestimating her just because they had the advantage in number.

Yutsu couldn't help but giggle, careless that her action antagonized her enemies even more. They thought they were invincible hunters. They believed they were efficient killers.

But they knew nothing about slaughtering.

She licked her lips again in savage delight.

Nothing.

Her antennae angled a little and finally pinpointed the location of a specific Fly she had been searching since the beginning. This enemy was staying put in the conductor's cart, and was probably the one responsible for stopping the train.

Perfect, she did not need to play along with this little charade anymore. However, before she could execute her plan of humiliating Justin, his next words flipped a detrimental switch in her psyche.

"Don't act so high and mighty, fucking bitch. I'll take your head as a trophy and deliver those rebels' heads to Tyradum."

Amusement evaporated. Viridian eyes smoldered with bitter flames as a terrible rage coursed through her veins. It wasn't the first time Dieter's admirers tried to kill her for obtaining her high rank at a young age, but it was the first time her haters were ever connected to the Empire. Yutsu never cared what the other bounty hunters do, but as per the guild master's decree they were never supposed to work for the military. While she never found out Alcester's reason, she agreed with it wholeheartedly and before today, members of the organization also abided his rule.

To outsiders, bounty hunters and hired mercenaries might seem the same type of people since both killed for money indiscriminately. But the difference in employers was what distinguished them for the blunette.

She absolutely fucking loathed mercenaries. The scar on her left chest ached with the chaotic emotions storming in her mind as her breathing became quick and shallow.

"Remembering your old injuries now, bitch? You always display those scars like you're invincible or something. This time we'll bring an end to you - "

He gurgled in shock when the flutter of a cloak was all he heard before his throat refused to work anymore. Yutsu was already behind him with right her arm around his neck, her pistol holstered and her switchblade unsheathed. The weapon was already buried in his neck but at an angle that none of his buddies would see. They would only think he was captured like a flesh shield even though he was already bleeding profusely, and that would ensure a few more moments of pleasant chat time with the unfortunate fool.

She whispered coldly against his rapidly soaking collar. "You think petty little bugs like you can leave scars on me?" She shifted a little when she felt a scope pointing at her temple, so his quivering body now blocked the sniper's view. "One was carved on me when I had no means to fight back… if I see that fucker again he will get his skin flayed for everything he did-" she breathed raggedly and tried to contain the terrible fury that screamed for blood to saturate her vision. "The other one… heh, that bitch was practically a demon."

The scar above her left hip prickled sharply at remembering the unnatural agony piercing through her nerves when the strange blade had sliced into her skin. A small smile stretched on her lips as a strange euphoria washed over her sizzling wrath. She could vividly recall the pleasurable joy from coming out of that brutal battle as the victor.

The more she felt she had lost something to bloodshed, the more she believed she gained as well. It was a peculiar phenomenon she had yet to discern an explanation for. Nonetheless, she relished in repeating this path to discovery.

"How long have you been a bounty hunter?"

"Fi..ve…," Justin croaked desperately, adrenaline and horror biding him to answer because it was the only way he might prolong his life. "Li..ke…you…"

"Ah, but I've been slaughtering little shits like you for much longer than that," she whispered almost gently against his neck and licked off a stream of blood. Perhaps she was more alike to Rui's metaphor for bounty hunters than she thought. Smiling, she decided she would ask her lover's opinion after she crushed these sacrifices.

Which nickname would suit her best, the guild's codename of Cobalt Cobra, or the moniker of blood-loving vampire?

"Either way…why don't I show you how they left those scars on me, hmm?"

Viridian eyes flashed in savage pleasure as she dragged the slick blade from his throat down to his chest. Her other hand swiftly unsheathed the butterfly sword and while gouged his abdomen, splattering hot gore over the metal roof.

With her lips quirking, she swung the drenched cadaver in front of her to block several shots and immediately hopped off the train, leaving a trail of bullet holes that drilled through her cloak. She disregarded the sting on her cheek and only twittered at the taste of blood trickling down her lips. The thrill of danger pumped adrenaline through her veins as she dashed towards the trees where the snipers were frantically trying to get a good aim.

She shot across the crunchy grass, leaped over the stout bushes and swerved between the sturdy trunks while bullets blasted here and there. Her figure easily blended with the shades casted by the canopy and before her hidden foes could fire another round, she melted into the shadow behind them. The leaves rustled frantically, showing that they were trying to change their tactics in order to combat her ambushes from the dark.

But it was too late for them.

"The hunters were the preys all along~" Yutsu hummed gleefully as her butterfly sword sliced between a fangirl's outstretched palm and down to the length of her arm. However, there was no consequent scream of pain because the twin blade already severed the cranium off its delicate neck.

Before the round object landed on the forest floor with a dull thud, the blunette already kicked the corpse towards the branch diagonal to her perch. The Fly yelped as his buddy's still bleeding body collided soundly into him, but the hoarse sound became muted when Yutsu's boot kicked against his throat, crushing his windpipe instantly. Using the momentum from the jump and the boost from the lifeless pedestal, she reached the hiding spot of the last enemy in this area and merrily engaged the trembling Insect in a knife fight.

"D-Demon!"

"Nope, I'm just a blue Bunny~"

The crisscrossed swords blocked the dagger while she kicked the Fly's ankle as soon as she landed on the branch. The resulting crunch caused the enemy to stumble and lose the grip on his only defense against the starving blunette.

Blood showered upon the darkening grass and covered the severed head in slick crimson as another cadaver joined its two companions on the ground. A crazed smile stretched across her lips as she admired her painting so far.

A thunderous buckshot resounded from the direction of the train, which made Yutsu twitter in vicious mirth. Her inner demon was not satiated but fortunately, she had more supplies waiting to be bled into color.

Four down, eleven to go.

Used to running through the woods for great distances, she was not at all out of breath when she was close enough to see the now open door to the cargo cart they boarded. A quick sensory scan told her that the rest of the Flies were still hiding in the perimeter, biding their time.

The sole enemy stupid enough to stand so visibly in her line of eyesight was clutching his arm in agony. Rui was already reloading while Sakura was on her way to the front of the train, probably to restart the engine. Yutsu was confident that the golden Fox, even in her condition, could take on the injured bounty hunter. Judging by the length of the train, the bolted iron doors between each cart, and the black-haired girl's fastest speed, the blunette calculated that she should have enough time to eliminate the others before helping the little rebel leader.

She whirled around and backed into the cloaks of darkness within the forest as the Flies began to fire. She flicked her swords to rid them of slick gore before sheathing them. Her senses stretched to pinpoint their exact location as she exchanged fire, disregarding the small rips on her cloak and insignificant scratches on her shoulders. Based on how the enemies returned fire, she deduced that the majority of her shots found their marks, either at critical points or superficial places.  

Tensing, she cursed quietly when she caught a glint of metal somewhere in the shades. What was the fangirl thinking, bringing a rocket launcher in this terrain? Was she that desperate that she would incinerate the whole forest and sacrifice her buddies just to get the Bunnyroach?

Dieter's favorite weapon was his gigantic cannon that resembled a dragon, and from the size of this fangirl's imitation, perhaps her firepower could rival his. Yutsu snarled in irritation as she tried to buy time by weaving between the branches high above the ground. She could care less about the fate of the other Flies, as they were all on her slaughter list anyway, but she did not want a forest fire to catch the attention of Tyradum soldiers just yet. She'd prefer her vermillion masterpiece to settle for some time before the authorities could arrive and really appreciate her work.

When she was high enough, near the top of the tree, she slung her rifle from her shoulder and took aim without the scope, having pinpointed the cannon's location already. A minor explosion was all she needed to know that her aim was true, so she immediately leaped down from her perch and used her gravity-enhanced fall to land on top of the disorientated Fly. The hidden daggers in her boots punctured the enemy's lungs with a sickening squelch. Swiftly, she hopped off the body and swung around the trunk to shoot another foe between the eyes.

At that same moment, she tilted her head to the side in order to avoid a knife thrust, but the desperate tackle caught her body enough that she stumbled against the trunk, grunting at the impact of her back against her rifle. Without wasting a moment, she ducked and dove to avoid several bullets, which drilled through the wood at the exact spot her head was. The Fly, who had charged at her, tried the tactic again, intent on using his bigger bulk to overwhelm her.

However, Yutsu excelled in fighting enemies more massive than this unlucky bounty hunter. Soon, he was littered with stab marks and bullet holes as she twirled around him, using his body as flesh shield for the hidden snipers around her.

The precarious dance continued until Yutsu's shots buried deeply in their throats and hearts. Two bloody Flies dropped from their high perches and broke many bones in the process, not that it mattered anymore.

Four down, seven to go.

She swiftly reloaded her pistols, noting that she was on her last magazines. She scanned the surroundings and frowned when she discovered the remaining ones were all heading towards the train.

A flash of familiar blaze alarmed her enough that she hastened her pace, heedless of the prickles from scratches all over her limbs.

The Fly whom Rui was fighting against was already dead, his head blown apart by a buckshot. She was now trying to hold her ground against a new opponent, whose firearms were merely molten globs on the grass where embers were slowly spreading and consuming the vegetation.

The golden-haired woman was panting raggedly as she tried to avoid the Fly's chained sickle and recover her shotgun, which was knocked out of her reach. Snarling, she clenched her fist and a bright flare burst into life and covered her hand menacingly. Needless to say, the enemy was stunned at the strange display as well as the nine tails slowly materializing and fanning out from behind the Fox.

Normally, Yutsu would have stared in wonder for Rui's flames had always mesmerized her. However the sight of her lover's usually invisible tails was enough to bring her back to focus.

The Fox was in no condition to utilize such a taxing ability because the illusions casted over the numerous appendages were forced to break when she concentrated on forming those fireballs.

While the Fly was still trying to wrap his mind around this phenomenal display, Yutsu killed him with a direct shot to the back of his head and watched coldly as he slumped to the side. She kicked the chained scythe out of his hand and clasped it on her belt before turning towards Rui.

She carefully glanced all over the gasping Fox, who was leaning against the wall after she retrieved her shotgun. Viridian eyes then widened at the sight of dark crimson blossoming on her side.

"They went after the Kit," Rui rasped as sweat trickled down her pale skin.

With her emotions cautiously shielded, Yutsu nodded curtly and dashed off to pursue the remaining five Flies, including the one in the conductor's cart. As much as she wanted her lover to rest, she also knew that the golden-haired woman would head towards the front too once she caught her breath.

The blunette leaped onto the roof and easily caught the four figures running toward the front. She could not afford to snipe the Insects in open air because it was too risky, so she sprinted after them the fastest she could, and fired several rounds to distract them. Expectedly, they returned fire over their shoulder without pausing.

She did her best to suppress her instincts and purposefully let a few bullets graze her arms and legs, hissing as they left blood trails all over her skin. Much to her relief, the Flies thought she had weakened and thus turned around to attack her instead. While four against one was not a problem for the blunette, she was also aware that they were still far enough to return to their original chase. She must lure them closer before she could counter.

She cringed involuntarily when a bullet brushed across the old scar on her left hip, almost causing her to stumble in a fatal mistake.

Her pained grimace, at least, worked in her favor because the Flies increased their speed in glee, thinking they could finally kill her.

Not today, not here, little fuckers…

She bit her lips and tried to maintain her balance as she allowed a thrown knife to cut across her thigh. Blood was seeping into her gloves and scarf, trickling down her arms and legs in gruesome patterns.

You will pay for covering me in my own paint…

Once she judged an opponent was close enough, she suddenly dove in a forward roll and kicked up high, breaking his neck instantly and knocking his limp body into the other three. Yutsu took this moment to regain her bearing and assess her injuries, relieved that adrenaline should numb the stings for now and that they would not hinder her movements too much.

Before either party could make the next move, a loud rumble indicated that the engine had roared back to life. The train shook with strain, but it slowly began to move and pick up in speed.

Yutsu smiled in pride. Sakura must have persevered and actually defeated the Fly guarding the conductor's room.

Cold viridian eyes then narrowed at the remaining four, who had untangled themselves. The two sides immediately resumed their exchanges of fire as they tried to maintain balance on the moving locomotive. Avoiding critical hits took most of her concentration, so the Flies were able to regain a comfortable distance from the stab-happy blunette.

The hollow clicks indicated that she was out of ammunition, which forced her to holster the pistol and quickly devise a strategy. Another bullet grazed across her brow as she swerved to the side in haste. Even as blood trickled over her eyelid and stained her vision, she whipped out a different handgun that was also devoid of ammunition. However, the enemy dodged automatically, not knowing she had not means to fire anymore, and hopped to the spot she wanted him to be.

With a nifty spin and roundhouse kick, the stunned opponent was knocked off the train, unable to use his webbed wings to hover.

Yutsu winced mockingly when the Fly crashed into the gravel of the rail path as a gory pulp, for the velocity of the train ensured his gruesome demise.

Empty clicks echoed like the last chorus for this grand performance. The blunette felt her lips stretch into a manic smirk at the panic etched into their expressions. With her butterfly swords unsheathed, she easily deflected the knives and pistols hurled at her out of desperation. Using all her strength, she leaped over their heads and threw a few switchblades as she soared through the rushing winds.

Grunts of pain were all she needed to spring into the next series of assaults. The injured Flies tried to catch her off guard, grabbing at her cloak and attempting to throw her off balance. Yet, instead of resisting their pulls, she used the momentum to fall backwards and slammed her head right on the unsuspecting foe's jaw. She elbowed hard and swung around his body so she was behind him. Instantly, the sword was buried to the hilt in his spine as she shoved his gurgling body forward like a battering ram.

However, the moment she knocked another Fly and the corpse off the train, loops of steel wire restrained her left arm and hauled her to the side. Cursing, she threw a dagger at the lone opponent while she hacked at the wires. He barely dodged and flung more steel wires around her arm before she could free herself. Furious at this persistent style of attack, she cut off the restraint and slashed at the whip-like attacks while he tried to capture her again, seemingly equipped with endless rolls of wire.

Suddenly, the train lurched and caused the two combatants to stumble in painful thuds. Unfortunately, Yutsu also slid across the roof and rolled off the edge. She instinctively held up her hand before a new wire looped around her neck as if she were a collared cattle. The knot tightened excruciatingly and bit into her palm, which was the only thing stopping the cord from strangling her.

Now dangling precariously, she blinked at the rail tracks and stones speeding past beneath her. Blood dripped down from her torn flesh and formed beads of rich crimson hue before dropping into the background, forgotten. With her eyebrow raised, she morbidly wondered what kind of squash she'd make if she were to fall. Would it resemble the Flies' or something even squelchier?

Hmm, quite a predicament I'm in. Lilith would never let me live this down if she finds out about my trouble countering steel wires.

She quickly pushed the thought of the infuriating Mosquito out of her mind and assessed her situation. She couldn't just use her sword to saw herself free because she would not be able to react fast enough to get a good hold on the train. She must get rid of her confines somehow, with her unbounded arm ready support her weight the instant she was free. The only reason her opponent hadn't just dropped her and let her smash into bloody pieces because he needed her body to be recognizable. The said Fly then peered over the edge, his face scrunched up as he tried to figure out what to do with her.

There was only one viable option left. Smiling, Yutsu glanced at the signal tower ahead of them. Considering how wild her battles had been all her life, this little stunt should not be too outrageous, yes?

With her eyes narrowed in determination, she threw the blade part of the chained scythe to hook it around the tower. She was grateful that she took the weapon from the dead opponent on a whim earlier on. Immediately, she hurled the rest of the chains like a loop at his arm and chucked the lead ball end of the weapon at the tower again before it was out of her reach.

Before the Fly could figure out what just happened, the sheer velocity snapped his arm clean off at the elbow. He toppled back with an agonized shriek and let go of the steel wire.  Ignoring the slightly nauseating sensation of free fall, she punctured her sword into the side of the cart with a deafening screech. Wincing, she gripped the steel wire and tenderly pulled the annoying thing off her person. She tested her grip on her blade, thankful that the cargo carts closer to the front did not have thick walls.

"You fucking bitch!" Enraged and blinded with pain, the Fly approached the edge again with staggering steps.

After gauging his position, she used the impaled sword as pivot and swung up to kick him in the face. The hidden blade in the heel lashed out upon contact, piercing through his cheekbone into his brain. Grimacing, she twisted to the side and casually stomped the corpse off her weapon.

With her ears bent from exhaustion, she flopped down on the roof for a moment as she disinterestedly watched the body landed with a muffled plop, soon out of her sight.

A ringing silence settled around her, bringing the chaotic cacophony to an end.

"Al fine…" She whispered gently to the puddle of blood in front of her, where the Fly's severed arm must have landed before it rolled off the train.

Yutsu was appeased, filled with serenity in spite of the utter carnage she caused. Wind brushed through her blood-splattered hair as her tattered cloak fluttered around her with an odd pitch of solitude. Crimson was her color and this was where she thrived best.

Surrounded by marks of death, she felt so alive.  

Smiling contently, she assessed her various injuries and sighed because they were more than she had calculated. However, she would be fine with a few days' rest for most of the little wounds. The gashes on her right palm were pesky to be certain, but she wasn't ambidextrous for no reason. Her future challenger would be gravely mistaken if they thought she could be taken down by such measly injuries. She stood up with a slight falter until her steps regained its usual prance. Sakura should probably be back to Rui's side by now. The blunette flicked her antennae and concentrated on the location of the black-haired girl.

The bounty hunter cringed in alarm when she sensed a beacon-like distress. All the Flies should be dead already, and she would have detected any non-insects with hostile intents long before she even boarded the train.

So what could be causing Sakura such turmoil?

"It seems to be del segno…"

Yutsu tightened her grip on her butterfly swords and dashed towards the rear of the train.

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As soon as the trapdoor closed and allowed darkness to submerge the occupants, Sakura began to tremble with terror as her antennae tingled painfully. While she never understood the signals she detected, she instinctively knew that danger had trapped them. The ominous clicks of Yutsu's heels on the rooftop sent jolts of trepidation down her heart as her whiskers frizzled in dread.  

Her hands felt clammy inside the metal claws, but she pasted a fearsome scowl in attempts to summon her courage. Even though the scale of this battle could not compare to the one in Torden, she felt overwhelmingly isolated from the rest of the world.

There were no fellow rebels around her. This was solely between the pursuers and Rui and Yutsu. She had no one but herself to depend on if she wanted to protect her little family.

"Kit, the doors between the carts are bolted shut from the inside, so it's unlikely they would intrude from those entrances," Rui spoke calmly, her stance never wavering as she trained her shotgun on the sliding door to their compartment. "Therefore, they will come in from here."

The black-haired girl gulped fearfully and stared at the wall of iron as if expecting enemies to burst from behind it. Her muscles coiled anxiously at the thought of facing killers hired specifically to take their lives. Her guardian was right; she could not possibly hope to defeat a real predator with her pitiful metal claws.

Suddenly, rounds of gunshot echoed right above them, causing Sakura to squeak in fright.

"When I give you the signal, get to the front and restart the engine," the golden Fox growled hoarsely, her maroon eyes practically burning holes at the door. The younger Vulpine flattened her ears but she nodded obediently as she watched the piece of iron slowly being pulled to the side.

"Now!" Snarling, Rui fired the instant a silhouette stepped into the shades. The deafening crack and strangled holler of agony were soon overwhelmed by even more gunshots slicing through the air. She retreated into the safety of the shadows, barely avoiding a bullet that drilled through the spot her feet was a moment prior.

Sakura pulled at the bolted doors with all the power her small body could muster, and finally yanked it open by the time the golden-haired woman fired again. She forced her mind to believe in her guardian's strength as she darted into the next compartment without looking back.

Cart after cart and door after door, she scuttled along the narrow path and climbed over the various cargo. Whimpering, she ignored the skin-crawling screams, the explosive gunshots and the wraith-like footsteps trailing after her. As terrified as she was, she knew she must achieve her sole goal of restarting the engine. The dank smell wafting through each compartment and the powdery feeling of soot scattered on the floor reminded her of the train raid over a month ago.

However, she was no longer that same naïve girl from the botched operation.

Gritting her teeth, she prepared herself to encounter scuffles against the staff members stationed at the head of the locomotive. However, her skin chilled with revulsion when she came upon a passenger cart littered with corpses. The poor workers were all slaughtered like cattle, their throats slit and blood splattered everywhere.

Sakura's stomach lurched with nausea as she tried to stare straight ahead, willing images of vividly torn flesh to disappear. She skipped over maroon puddles and breathed through her mouth, unable to bear the pungent odor of blood anymore. Who could have done this?

Growling, she grabbed the handle to the conductor's room and yanked it open with her body hidden on the side. As she expected, a warning shot landed at the entrance, much quicker than she calculated. She tucked her tail around her form protectively, wondering how she could engage the enemy in close combat because it was her only chance at winning. She glanced at the bag of coals opposite of her and decided to brave her chances.

She dove across as low as she could and yowled when a bullet grazed her shoulder.

"A kid-?"

Without giving her opponent time to ponder, she pushed the sack over and slapped the surface, fanning hazes of soot into the room. The moment her adversary began to cough, she slipped inside and kept close to the walls, ready to spring up if needed.

The poor conductor was slumped beneath the window, blood still pouring out of the bullet hole at his temple. The Fly was standing beside the control panels, hacking fervently to clear his lungs of the unexpected particles drifting in the air.

So this was the bounty hunter responsible for the deaths of the workers aboard the train. That was the one difference between Yutsu and the Fly, for in spite of her bloodthirsty tendency, the blunette had never killed any uninvolved civilians.

"Those with weapons gave up their right to peace the moment they armed themselves. However, those who targeted noncombatants are the most despicable scums in existence."

Sakura never forgot the Bunnyroach's frigid tone when she uttered those words years ago in answer to the younger girl's question about her profession.

This Fly murdered the staff members just because they were in his way. The buzzing rebel leader clenched her fists and lowered her stance until her body was almost parallel to the floor. She will not forgive him.

"Damn…cough…pest…ack…" As soon as he pulled the trigger, the Foxroach pounced with a vicious snarl.

While the man was much stronger due to his physical bulk, she fully utilized her size and agility to her advantage. She repeatedly whacked her soot-covered tail against his face whenever she found an opening, forcing him into unstoppable coughing fits. She swiped and kicked like a wild beast, knowing the more she struck the more likely she would inflict damage upon her opponent. For the first time ever, she was fighting with the intention to kill, not disarm. She will be the only one to remain standing!

Enraged by her incessant attacks, the Fly struck back blindly, using his pistol like a hammer since he knew it was futile to try to shoot when he could neither aim nor see. Sakura's scratch and duck tactic was broken when the firearm struck the side of her temple, causing her to stagger from the explosion of pain.

Choking still, he grabbed the scruff of her shirt and flung her against the wall, stunning her. The scab reopened and trickled blood down her face as she tried to stand up. The tang of iron seeping onto her tongue jolted her senses awake, helping her to overcome the darkness creeping at the edges of her vision. Groaning, she dragged herself upright by grabbing the ledge of the window.

Garnet eyes narrowed in cool satisfaction at the sight of long cuts and rips all over the Fly's body. Having inhaled lungful of soot, he gasped croakily and staggered towards the door for the fresh air beyond.

Yowling ferociously, Sakura rammed into his back and dug her claws into his calves. He tumbled down on the floor, his fallen pistol quickly knocked away by a swipe of her tail.

The Insect must have struck his jaw hard, for he seemed to be disorientated as he rolled over and fumbled for balance. Sakura hopped back and tensed, feeling the solemn weight of her dagger tucked in her belt. It was her chance to go in for the kill. She mustn't waste this opportunity!

Yet, why couldn't she move?

While she was locked in indecisiveness, a roaring gunshot silenced the enemy permanently. Sakura whirled around with wide eyes to see Rui hobbling towards her. The golden Fox was drenched with sweat, her tail limp with fatigue and she was favoring her side.

The younger Vulpine tried not to stare at the maroon covering her guardian's hand and instead looked up to meet a pair of tired but resolute eyes.

"He's…not for you… to kill," Rui rasped firmly, "Witnessing death and causing it… are completely different."

Nodding, Sakura ignored the brain matter smeared across the floor and hurriedly opened the windows so her guardian may approach the controls. There was an unreadable flicker in those crimson eyes as she stepped over the corpse. The Foxroach wanted to ponder upon that look as well as her words, but she did not have time at the moment. Swallowing, she was immensely relieved she did not have to take a person's life, at least not today.

Rui leaned against the control panels as she examined the various levers and buttons. The train rumbled awake as the engines churned loudly into action. Wheels began to spin and pull the carts along the tracks in an accelerating speed. The golden tail half-heartedly patted the Foxroach's head, earning a small smile and a quiet sigh.

They did it. The train was finally moving again.

"I-I'm going to go to the back to see if there are anyone still alive on the train," Sakura muttered hastily and left the conductor's room without waiting for Rui's reply. The older Vulpine did not call after her, but she could feel the woman's weary gaze on her torn clothes.

The black-haired girl made the suggestion not only because she wanted to be useful, but also because her antennae were still tingling in warning. Knowing the golden Fox was already at her limit, Sakura decided to check up on Yutsu by herself.

After passing through a few carts, adrenaline faded away and calm rationality took hold of her once more. She irritably wiped at her brow to clear the dried blood the best she could. Though bruised and scratched, she felt okay enough to assist her companions in whatever task that might come up.

Though saddened that she did not find any more civilians aboard, she was also relieved she did not come upon any corpses either. This nightmare was over, for now at least.

With her ears perked in renewed confidence, she walked past the cart they had occupied and hoped the ones at the back held useable supplies. Those she had inspected only carried items like furniture, construction components and raw materials such as coal and planks of wood. There had to be compartments that contained weapons, right?

After several more carts of steel beams and chunks of lumber, she pulled open the next door with a grunt, surprised at how tightly sealed the entrance was.

She was not prepared for the sight that awaited her.

A haggard Wolf was chained to the wall like a criminal, his wrists cuffed and tattered clothing covered with filth. However, instead of a small insignia marking a felon, a serial number was tattooed on his exposed neck.

What was he then? Why was he treated like this?

"M-mister! Are you okay?"

The huddled Canine did not even flick his drooped ears or his tail to acknowledge her presence, let alone answer her. No matter how much Sakura tried to talk to the gnarled man, he remained silent and continued to stare vacantly into space.

It was as if he had no will of his own.

Even when the train lurched suddenly and sent her sprawling, he gave no reaction. The unnatural situation sent goosebumps over her skin, but she bravely approached the Wolf and gently touched his hand.

It felt cool but warm enough. The man was alive, yet why was he acting like he wasn't?

While she swished her tail back and forth in contemplation, the unpleasant signals to her antennae finally stopped. Breathing in relief, she knew that Yutsu must have eliminated their enemies. Her instinct told her that the blunette was somewhere close to the front, perhaps exhausted but safe.

After giving the confined Wolf one sad look, Sakura headed towards the next cart in apprehension. She recoiled in sorrow when she discovered another Wolf in a similar state, also chained to the wall. Aghast and confused, she darted cart after cart only to find more Canines in such condition.

She slumped dejectedly in front of a young Wolf, who looked close to her age yet his eyes were dulled in torment.

"Hey…w-why won't they talk to me?"

"Because they can't," a familiar voice spoke up behind her.

"Y-Yutsu!"

In spite of the blood and rips all over her, the blunette appeared to be relatively fine. She glanced over the distraught girl before turning to appraise the unmoving Canine.

"So, some merchant in Middleport's been sneaking slaves into the capital," she spoke detachedly, her blank viridian eyes lingering on the tattoo etched onto the boy's neck.

"Slaves?" Sakura yelped in horror, unable to believe what she was hearing and seeing. She knew of their existence of course, but based on the books she's read, she thought the law had already forbidden slavery.

"Yes, slavery is illegal," the blunette said lightly, "but most just turn a blind eye. Tyradum is more powerful than you can ever imagine, Sa-chan. The rest of the world is filled with nothing but vermin meant to be brought under its absolute control. An Empire that vast requires cheap labor for optimal gain, and that's when slaves come into the equation."

"H-How could they do that-?" The black-haired girl tried to wrap the concept in her head as she gazed at the Wolf, whose defeated posture indicated that he was probably not even aware of their presence.

"He must've been taken from Fenrisyr," Yutsu's antennae flicked indifferently, "most likely meant to be sent to Ladar Clearing, to work on the new barracks. Well, he could've been bound for the Coal Mines of northeast Tyradum. Hmm, I believe there's a new port at Cape-"

"S-stop," Sakura shuddered and hugged herself, "please don't speak of them like t-they're cargo…" She breathed raggedly as fury began to blaze in her small body. "We must do something! This isn't right!"

"Sa-chan," the blunette's expression was cold but her voice was gentle, "these Wolves have been broken for a long time already. There's nothing we can do for them. Even if we unchain them, they would not run."

"What! How can you just say that! There's no way we can just pretend we didn't see them-"

"Think of the big picture," the softness was gone from Yutsu's tone, replaced by grim austerity, "They are not sentenced to death. It will take time, but you must focus on the present. What is your ultimate goal, Sakura? Have you forgotten it already?"

"Of course not! I want to free the world!" Indignant, the Foxroach hissed at the bounty hunter only to shrink under her relentless stare.

"And how do you plan to accomplish that, if you can't even weigh your options and set your priorities, hmm?"

Sakura looked away and curled her tail around her legs for comfort. Yutsu was right, of course. She was being naïve again. Hadn't her experience in Torden already taught her that she could not win everything? She must concentrate on building up an army powerful enough to liberate the slaves in the future. As she was right now, she could barely protect herself let alone help these beaten Canines.

Gritting her teeth, she ignored the sting in her eyes and whispered at the chained Wolf. "I-I promise I'll free you one day…"

To her surprise, the boy actually flicked his ear and croaked. "Thank you…" He moved his lips but only quiet wheezes came out. Joyous that he finally spoke up, she hurried to his side so he would not have to strain his voice.

"Seeing you…reminds me of a time long forgotten. It's vague, but I'm certain I must've been free once. The lady is right though, it's too late for us. We can't defy our masters, it's ingrained in us."

Sakura's antennae wilted at the despair oozing from his malnourished form. However his next words made her eyes glimmer in hope, which in turn brought a ghost of a smile on his face.

"There's someone on the very last cart, a recent captive because she's not broken like us. I heard she's supposed to be sent to the capital after this Ladar place… she's supposed to be some sort of exhibition…because of her rare breed…"

The expectant gaze in his eyes was all Sakura needed to understand his message. He wanted her to prevent that atrocious fate from befalling that girl.

She nodded at him reassuringly before sprinting towards the last cart. Unlike the other ones, there was no one chained to the wall. In fact, the compartment was completely empty except for a decorated wooden spear and a wooden crate that must have slid into a corner during the turbulent ride.

Frantic, she dashed towards the container and was relieved to see a small airhole on the lid. Memories of huddling in a barrel flashed in her mind, hastening her speed as she used her claws to pry apart the planks and nails.

Once the opening was wide enough, she wrenched with all her might and fell backwards rather painfully. Throwing aside the broken lid, she leaned over the crate and found a petite girl curled up into a ball, unconscious with labored breathing. Sakura's ears drooped automatically in compassion while she gently lifted the limp stranger out of her confinement.

After she placed her as comfortably as she could on the floor, she examined her form to check her state. Other than the light bruises and tiny nicks that must have formed from when the box slid around the compartment, the slave appeared to be uninjured.

Now that the initial worry faded away, Sakura curiously glanced at the young girl's peculiar, almost tribal-like dress adorned with beads and fur. Her long blonde hair was tied in two low ponytails and there were two black and white feathers pinned beside left ear. She also wore a patterned mask that covered only the upper right side of her face, as if it were a special eyepatch. Her small and round ears, which had tiny golden loop earrings, were unusual as well. What was she?

Sakura gingerly felt her forehead and flinched at the alarming heat. The blonde was burning up!  

"She's Kermode Bear…"

Yutsu's usually detached tone was laced with wonder as she gazed upon the unconscious girl. Even Rui, who was supported by the blunette, had a surprised expression in spite of her haggard state.

"A Bear?" Sakura turned her attention back to the blonde she rescued, filled with an inexplicable attachment for someone she just met for the first time. Was it because the Bear appeared so young and fragile? Was it because she had broken the slave out of her confinement?

As the Foxroach gently cradled the stranger in her arms, she knew what she must do.

"We can't bring her with us," Rui growled sternly as if she read Sakura's thoughts.

Scowling, the black-haired girl protectively held the Bear closer and met the adults' disapproving eyes without flinching. Before she could retort though, the blonde stirred and whimpered deliriously. Her visible eye fluttered weakly, revealing her sky-blue iris as she tried to focus on the figure holding her.

She gasped in fright when she noticed the blood staining all of their clothes, and then began to quiver under Rui and Yutsu's aloof stares.

Sakura flattened her ears and tried to appear as friendly as possible. "It's okay, we're not going to hurt you," she even swished her tail for effect, wincing when a small cloud of soot drifted from the movement. For the first time ever, she wished the appendage to be as impeccably clean as the golden Fox's.

Fortunately, the Bear relaxed a little and gazed at the white-tipped fluffy tail in fascination. The beautiful shade of blue then trailed up and squinted at the two antennae on top of the Foxroach's head. Noticing her interest, Sakura made them twitch and earned a quiet giggle from the blonde.

Encouraged, she continued softly, "I'm Sakura Kurama, what's your name?"

Coughing faintly, the stranger smiled.

"Nita Blackhawk."