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Soldiers jumped from everywhere, surrounding them. Not only they were disadvantaged in number, but some indoors action wasn't really their forte.
Sengo moved, shielding the Moon with his body.
« What are you doing?» came from behind.
« What does it look to you?»
Mikazuki scoffed at that. Answering a question with another question, that sure looked familiar.
«I can fend for myself, move-» he didn't even had the time to finish his line that some HRA Captains launched forward. It happened too fast, his eyes were open but his mind didn't register what he saw. One moment Muramasa was in front of him, parrying a lethal blow, a second after steel clashing on steel. Steel breaking into pieces; Sengo's body dissolving into nothingness.
His mind went blank.
How was it possible? It wasn't the first clash they had against the HRA, how could this time be any different?!
He moved his gaze to the ground, witnessing the inevitable outcome: soulless metal laying on the floor, pieces scattered everywhere.
He wasn't a spring warrior, he shouldn't be affected by this. On the contrary, as a mockery, something within himself broke. Pain, anger, hatred, all newfound emotions surged forward, numbing him. He felt as if he were inside a bubble, detatched from the reality he was witnessing.
He steadied himself and adjusted the grip on his physical self. Rage and grief clouded his vision, his arms moving in a half-moon motion, lifting the sword in an attacking stance. He lowered it in front of his face, as if marking who he was and who he was about to become. Power he didn't know he possessed materialized a projection of moon slices, cutting through enemies once, twice. Bodies hit the floor, blood painted the dead of night.
It wasn't enough.
Three, four, five.
Walls trembled; a blue and gold phantom haunted the whole mansion.
Six, seven, eight.
The roof collapsed.
Nine, ten, eleven.
Silence.
Twelve, thirteen, fourteen. Inhuman screams painting the stillness of the night.
A small group of tantos were looking above them, noses up to the sky. The Era was slowly crushing down under each new strike. Every blow was moon-shaped, until one was bigger than all others, the explosion following up engulfed something that didn't have the shape of a body anymore. It was terrifingly mesmerizing.
«We can't stay here! Mikazuki has gone berserk, he's tearing down this space!» Imanotsurugi covered his ears in fear, hoping to erase the noise outside. It was futile, he knew the only way to do it completely was face the Moon. He wondered what could have possibly elicited such a violent reaction.
Yagen, Aizen and Sada-chan followed the little Sanjou inside the building, rushing to the upper floor.
He knew Mikazuki could be fierce, but he was usually able to keep his cool. Maybe he got injured? Hard to believe. Something must've happened, maybe between him and the demon blade? He was no fool, he knew what they were. And he also knew the demon's temperament.
Making conjectures was of no use, they needed to reach him before they all ended up trapped, or dead.
Last staircase led them in front of the sanguine Moon, a tapestry of blood and debris splattered around him in a heretic halo.
Imanotsurugi took in the sight, forcing himself to breathe among all that blood. At first glance, Mikazuki didn't seem injured. His clothes were torn and falling off on his right side, revealing the shoulder band. His aethereal aura lost, covered as he was in reddish guts. Ironically, he looked more human in that moment than he could ever be.
«Mikazuki» he forced his voice out «this mayhem needs to stop now».
The Moon looked at him as if he didn't understand a single word. Recognising an ally, a friend, he lowered the sword.
Yagen interrupted them:«We need to go back asap, the mission is no more. Where's Muramasa?»
Mikazuki was at loss for words, his mind still clouded from grief. The killing spree was but a momentarily distraction from the sad reality. Where's Muramasa?
He put away the sword and went back in the direction he came from with all tantos in tow. Took some twists and turns until they finally reached where it all began. Mikazuki dropped on the floor, gathering all the steel he could find.
No words were needed, it was crystal clear what happened and the cause of his unusual behaviour.
Sada-chan put a hand on the Moon's shoulder, gripping it tightly, letting him know they felt his pain and understood his reasons.
«Let's go home»
The Moon nodded, clutching to his chest what was left of Sengo Muramasa.