The truth comes out

MARGAUX

"You're calling me a coward?" Nico spat but made no other move, his eyes briefly looking at the blade in my hand. I smirk and then in one fluid motion, plunge the blade on the wall beside him. It made a small crack, the sharp blade piercing a little through it.

All the while, I watched Nico's eyes widen and heard the woman who introduced herself as Astherielle scream a deafening no.

"I said, that choice is yours to make," satisfied that I had made my point, I pulled my blade back. Nico held my gaze.

I felt the tension rising around me as some of Kevin's crew had stopped short in dragging away the bodies of the Japanese Yakuza sprawled on the floors, tables, and almost everywhere around Rhythm.

"You gave us no choice, Rose. Are you even aware of that?" I was beginning to get a little pissed with this 'choice' game. However, I can't let my emotion get the best of me.

I took the time to calm myself first before turning to face Kevin.

"How many times do I have to repeat myself? The choice is yours to make, Kevin. Whether you choose to help me or not, Takahashi will most likely be onto you now," I said, pausing briefly to look at him in the eye.

"I came to you in the hopes to make a deal. I have never intended for this to happen. But either way, the damage has been done. Don't sell me the 'no choice' crap, Kevin. I never took away your agency. If I had, I wouldn't have told you anything."

"You're still refusing to tell us who you really are," I looked at Mary. She immediately shook her head. Trudging to come a little closer towards Kevin, I held his gaze steady, Astherielle was standing beside him. Her happy charade from earlier on was gone.

"I can't tell you my identity, Kevin," He raised a brow in my direction. I smirked, leaning to whisper in his ear.

"You're not ready to know that yet," Clapping Kevin by the shoulders, I stepped away from him, making my way towards Mary.

"If you have already made up your mind, come and find me," I said, waving one goodbye to everyone in the room.

"Finally," Mary remarked as we made our way towards the exit. Once again, stepping out onto the streets, I let out a tired sigh.

"Are you alright, Mary? Did you get hit anywhere?"

"I'm fine Margie. Those goons did not stand a chance even when it had only been the two of us," I chuckled.

"Right," I drawled. "We would have ended up having to remove our stilettos and running like crazy through the night,"

"Yep and hope for rain to come and save our sorry asses once again," we both burst out laughing.

"Isn't this so weird? We shouldn't be laughing but we are and I can't help it,"

"I know right?" Mary said in between her laughs. When we had almost reached the main street where several cars and noises could be heard, I stopped short, pulling Mary into a nearby alley. It was dark enough to conceal us both.

I placed a finger on my lips as she caught my gaze.

"Someone is following us," I said in hushed tones.

"I sensed it too," she answered in the same volume.

Pressing our bodies against the wall, I carefully extracted the blade from my right thigh.

It was faint but our stalker's footsteps came close and closer. Risking to take a look, I was about to peek when I was suddenly grabbed by my clothes and got thrown on the ground. Not letting my attacker add more damage, I instantly got up and found myself face to face with the Japanese lady that Mary had seen earlier.

She was crouched, her stance ready for fighting. From behind her, Mary surged forward. However, before she could land a powerful kick, Japanese lady was ready and was able to block her attack.

I watched her move smoothly like a cat, swift and accurate, countering Mary's attacks perfectly.

Finding the perfect opportunity to join in, I made my move, sheathing back my blade, fighting fists with fists too.

It was two against one. In an ordinary setting, I prefer to play fair. However, this was no time for a fair game. We need all the advantages we could find. Plus, I can't just watch while the two of them have all the fun.

The three of us danced, with me and Mary simultaneously blocking Japanese lady's attacks while making our own as well. It was a dance of fists and kicks and sounds of grunts and hai's.

I admit, it has been a long time since I had been challenged like this. The underground fight back at Rhythm was nothing. The fight from earlier was nothing too. But this, this lady was the kind of opponent I had been looking for.

Sweat broke out from my body, I felt energized. However, this can't go on forever. I need to do something to finish this intense battle, fast.

"Haiya!" Japanese lady belted out, knocking Mary off of her feet. Briefly, I saw a small hint of a smile on her face. It was a smile of victory.

Taking the opportunity while she was enjoying her 'victory', I grabbed my blade once again and surprised her from behind, putting the blade against her throat while my other hand was pulling at her hair.

I waited for Mary to get up before deciding to ask her some questions.

"Talk or you die," I said and heard her scoff in response.

"Anata wa bakadesu," she muttered.

"You are the idiot. You think I didn't understand that?" Japanese lady let out a dry laugh.

"Paul was right, you are not to be underestimated," at the mere mention of Paul, the traitor, it was my turn to scoff.

"Did he now? What else did he tell you about me?"

There was a moment of silence. I let the tip of the blade graze the skin on her neck.

She only chuckled, raising her hands in surrender.

"Let go of me and I can tell you more,"

"Nice try," I said, refusing to let go and instead tightened my grip on her hair.

"If I had wanted to kill you, you and your friend would have been dead already," she stated, pulling out a gun from the mini bag around her waist. She threw it on the ground, a few distances from Mary's feet.

"I could have pulled the trigger and killed you both," I was about to say why didn't she. However, I didn't want to sound so cliche. What she had said was already a cliche, I didn't want to add more.

I was not yet convinced, yet with Mary securing the gun and had checked if it was loaded, I was reassured. I let her go, allowing her to compose herself before she turned to face me.

She extended her right hand.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Margaux. I'm Hanabi Igarashi," I stared at her outstretched hand then back at her.

"And why should I care about who you are?" Faintly smiling, she withdrew her hand and held my gaze.

"Because you and I," she began. "We are on the same side."