Regression

As the tension in the room settled, Aiko's sharp gaze lingered on Mariko's lifeless body. Something felt… off.

It wasn't just the eerie stillness of the once-deadly assassin. It wasn't even the dark pool of blood beneath her.

It was the glint.

Something small. Something sharp.

Tucked halfway into Mariko's pocket, just barely catching the dim light.

Aiko's eyes narrowed. "Wait."

The others turned to her as she stepped forward, crouching beside Mariko's corpse. Carefully, she reached into the pocket and pulled out a blade.

It wasn't just any blade.

It was thin, curved—ornate. Almost ceremonial. The handle bore an intricate design: Kayd's insignia.

Aiko held it up, the crimson-stained steel catching everyone's attention.

Unknown furrowed his brows. "That doesn't look like a standard weapon."

Kasumi's expression darkened. "It isn't. That's an execution knife."

Rin, still masked as Shatterwraith, stepped closer. "Execution?"

Kasumi nodded. "It's used for finishing off traitors. Kayd's personal touch."

Kairi's eyes locked onto the blade, her expression unreadable. "So even in death, she carried his will."

A heavy silence followed.

Then, Aiko muttered, "Or maybe… she carried doubt."

That made everyone stop.

Kasumi raised an eyebrow. "What are you getting at?"

Aiko turned the blade over in her hand. "If Kayd gave her this, then he expected her to use it. Either on us… or herself."

Rin exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "So, what? She hesitated?"

Kairi finally spoke, her voice low. "Doesn't matter now." She turned away, her grip tightening into a fist. "We're not hesitating. Not anymore."

Aiko gave the blade one last glance before tucking it into her own belt.

"Then let's make sure Kayd never gets to use it again."

The air was thick with tension as Kairi and the others took the brief moment of silence to regroup. Mariko's body lay motionless in the background, her blood seeping into the dirt. The weight of what just transpired hung over them, but there was no time to dwell on it.

They had to move.

Aiko, still clutching the sharp object she retrieved from Mariko's pocket, inspected it closely. "This… it looks like a key," she muttered, turning it in her fingers.

Kasumi leaned in, frowning. "A key to what?"

Kairi wiped the blood from her mouth, eyes narrowing. "Kayd's mansion."

A tense silence settled between them before Unknown scoffed, rolling his shoulder. "If that's the case, we need to get moving before he realizes Mariko isn't answering his calls."

As they prepared to leave, a sudden, sharp noise cut through the air. Sirens.

Everyone froze.

From the far end of the alley, flashing red and blue lights painted the buildings in neon. The unmistakable black vehicles of the Kurokawa Metropolitan Bureau lined the streets, their presence an omen of incoming trouble.

Rin's masked gaze flicked toward Kairi. "They're here for the mess we made."

Kairi exhaled sharply, tightening her grip on her weapon. "No, they're here because they think they can control something that's already out of their hands."

The doors of one of the bureau's cars opened, and Ryuji Liang stepped out, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto the bloodstained figures before him.

Mikaela Yoon-Himura followed close behind, her expression unreadable.

"This is bad," Kasumi muttered, glancing toward Kairi for direction.

Unknown clicked his tongue. "Do we run or fight?"

Kairi's fingers twitched. The idea of wasting time on the cops when Kayd was still out there pissed her off. But fighting them now? It wasn't worth it.

She sighed, shaking her head. "Neither. We talk our way out."

Ryuji stepped forward, standing at a calculated distance. His voice was even but firm.

"Kairi Saigeru," he called out, the weight of her name heavy in the air. "Don't make this difficult."

Kairi smirked, wiping more blood from her lip. "Difficult? I thought you enjoyed a little challenge."

Ryuji's brow twitched. "This entire city is falling apart because of you."

Kairi took a step forward, not intimidated in the slightest. "No, it's falling apart because people like Kayd exist. Maybe if you cops actually did something, I wouldn't have to clean up your mess."

Mikaela tensed at the provocation, but Ryuji remained calm, his eyes unreadable.

"…You're walking on thin ice."

Kairi's grin widened. "Then let's see who falls first."

Before things could escalate further, Rin suddenly stepped closer, positioning herself in front of Kairi ever so slightly.

"We don't have time for this," Rin spoke up, her voice firm yet oddly neutral. "We're going after Kayd. If you want to stop us, you'll be getting in the way of something bigger than your jurisdiction."

Mikaela's brows furrowed, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Rin tilted her head, the shadows from her mask obscuring most of her expression.

"…Just a ghost."

Kairi smirked at that before turning her back to the officers. "We're leaving."

Kasumi hesitated before following suit, gripping Kairi's arm lightly as they began to move. Unknown and Aiko moved with them, staying close in case things took a turn.

Ryuji didn't move, watching them retreat with a calculating glare.

"…We'll see each other again soon, Kairi."

Kairi didn't stop walking.

"I'll be waiting."

With the Kurokawa Metropolitan Bureau at their backs, the group disappeared into the night—toward Kayd's mansion.