Editing BlazBlue:Phase Shift 1 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 3===

The park should have been bustling with kid's voices. It had fallen ominously silent.

The laughter, creaking noises of playground equipment, and jarring crying voices disappeared aas if they had been illusions. The surrounding scenery grew dull. The atmosphere was like that of a deserted ruin.

Standing within the midst of it were Kazuma and Terumi.

And the three figures who had appeared all of a sudden.

Their silhouettes and postures very much resembled the person Kazuma encountered a few days ago.

Triangular ears protruding from their heads, their swaying long and narrow tails, their bodies completely wrapped in their black garb. They wore hoods, pulled low over their brows, as well as strange black masks as if to conceal their faces.

It was bizarre. But thanks to that, it was easy to guess that they had some relation to the beastkin Tomonori from a few days ago.

It was just as easy to guess who their target was.

"Wh-Who on earth are you!?"

Kazuma's throat stiffened as he let out the question. He took a step back as his voice faltered.

Ishana was protected by the Mages' Guild's barrier, so it should have been the safest city in the world. Nevertheless, it had now suffered two attacks in such a short period. Kazuma couldn't understand how it was possible.

On the other hand, Terumi displayed a nonchalantly put his hands into the pockets of his trousers as if he understood the situation.

"How rare. Aren't they half-beastkin?"

"Ha... Half-beastkin?"

"Beastkins are like incomplete brutes that aren't human or animal. But a brute that fails to fall into the category of human or beastkin is called a half-beastkin."

Now that he mentioned it, they were certainly taller than Tomonori. However, they were too short to be adult humans, and their strange postures gave too odd a feeling.

The unfamiliar odd feeling turned to fear.

Kazuma forced his stiff legs to retreat, but found his progress halted as his back hit something.

He thought it was the trunk of one of the trees surrounding the park, but he was wrong. There was nothing there. There was space between the trees, but it was as if there was an invisible wall that prevented Kazuma from retreating.

"That's as far as you'll get. You can't escape. I said there's an ars here, right?"

Terumi laughed at Kazuma's shocked expression, as if he were a foolish child.

"The cat bastard from before used that ars too, back then. Didn't you realise?" 

"Ah... That's why back then..."

There wasn't anyone else on the street.

While pressing his body close to the invisible wall, Kazuma trembled at the new revelation.

He didn't know the name of the executed ars, but it seemed to be a small scale barrier. Perhaps last time Nine appeared after breaking the barrier.

In other words, as long as the ars wasn't canceled by the half-beastkins, or destroyed by Kazuma,, it was impossible to escape. But under the circumstances, Kazuma simply couldn't cancel the ars.

As if enjoying this desperate situation, Terumi put an arm around Kazuma's shoulders while grinning.

"Looks like they're involved with the beastkin from the other day... So, these guys are dangerous; whatcha gonna do, Kazuma Kuvaru-kun?"

"Wh-What can I do?"

As Kazuma got flustered and bewildered, the half-beastkins, simultaneously leaped.

They shortened the distance instantaneously while their dull silver blades cut the air.

"Hiee...!"

Kazuma desperately lowered his body and ran. The blade of the half-beastkin slashing at the spot Kazuma had stood just a moment before.

The unhesitating attack made Kazuma quickly turn pale.

He was reminded of the other day's attack. Tomonori had also tried to kill Kazuma without any hesitation. Moreover, there were three opponents this time.

One after another, the half-beastkins attacked with their respective weapons. One wielding a sword; the next throwing daggers; while the third wore large claws on both hands.

The half-beastkin wielding the sword leaped and swung downward at Kazuma. Daggers were thrown, aiming for Kazuma's darting feet. As if waiting for Kazuma to escape the other attacks, the third assailant rushed in to attack with its claws. It looked random, but it was a well coordinated strike.

Kazuma rolled away, desperately trying to dodge their onslaught.

As soon as he turned away, he heard a blade fly past his ear. The noise gave him goose bumps.

"Hii... Uwaah... Hah... Hah..."

Standing with his back against a trunk as if locking his body to it, Kazuma's disordered breath made his shoulders heave furiously.

Why is this happening? The question kept repeating itself in his head.

"Ooh, ooh. That's a surprisingly skillful dodge."

Terumi's voice resounded from unexpectedly nearby.

Kazuma turned his near tearful face. Terumi was sitting on a nearby bench as though it was his afternoon off, leisurely crossing his legs.

Kazuma pleaded to Terumi with a desperate look while hugging his school bag.

"D-Don't just watch! Help me!"

"Eeh? Me? What a bother."

"How can you say it's a bother...!"

While keeping his attention focused on the half-beatkins' movements, Kazuma implored Terumi.

But Terumi leisurely dangled his feet while carelessly resting his chin in his hand, watching Kazuma.

"In the first place, even if I don't give you a hand, you can avoid these guys' attacks. Don't you want all the attention? Just play along."

"T-That's..."

After Terumi spoke, Kazuma suddenly had a doubt.

When the beastkin who called himself Tomonori attacked, his slashes always grazed Kazuma's skin, making him fear the reaper with every strike. Still, how could it not result in his death back then? There was no explanation outside of good luck or a miracle.

But now he felt a little... or a lot of, given the situation, self-composure.

These guys were slow. Much slower than Tomonori.

"...It seems so."

It wasn't easy, but he could avoid their attacks if he watched carefully. It gave the cornered Kazuma hope. But he immediately realized it didn't change the situation in the slightest.

"But no matter how well I dodge, it's pointless if I can't fight back, isn't it?"

"Aah, right. Sooner or later you'll get tired and may be killed by a slash."

"I-I don't want to die...!"

As Kazuma yelled miserably, the half-beastkins attacked in tandem again. Their killing intent surely held some tenacity.

The slashes of sword and claws came from his left and right side. As he dodged through the gap in the centre, daggers pierced the ground as if obstructing his escape.

"Wh... Uwaah!" 

Kazuma fell over, startled by the sudden obstacle. As a sword swung toward him, Kazuma rolled over to escape, not caring how dirty his uniform was getting.

When he dragged his tired body to its feet, he found himself near the bench where Terumi was sitting.

"I beg of you... Please do something!"

"Hmm, what should I do~? If you're such a blockhead that you can't get the Azure, then you're of no use to me. Besides, look, fighting isn't my forte."

"You said the opposite a while ago!"

A little while ago, he said that he wasn't much of a thinker.

Terumi chose to tease the frightened Kazuma, as if he had no care in the world about what happened to the boy.

"I said that?"

"You did say it! Whatever, it doesn't matter... Hii!"

His sentence was cut short by the sound of steel cutting the air.

As he screamed and squatted to avoid the attack, three throwing daggers grazed Kazuma's hair and embedded themselves in the bench.

They lodged themselves in the wood right next to Terumi.

If Kazuma's reactions had been any slower, his body might be pinned to the bench right now. It was a terrifying thought.

"Hihhihi. I'm joking, I'm joking. Well, it seems I ''would'' be a little troubled if you were to die."

Like it wasn't worth the effort, Terumi got up from his seat. His legs having given out from below him, Kazuma looked up at the standing figure of Terumi.
"So... Kazuma Kuvaru-kun."

Terumi casually pulled one of the daggers from the bench. He then tossed it over his head and skillfully caught it while looking at Kazuma from under his hood.

"It's not interesting to just help you. I have a condition."

"Wh... What is it?"

"Promise that you'll get the Azure."

His low tone made his voice seem as if it were creeping towards Kazuma.

Catching a glint in Terumi's eye, Kazuma couldn't help but stop breathing.

It wasn't just his breath. Everything felt still for a moment. In the midst of the pause, only Terumi's existence seemed to have meaning.

It felt like staring at a snake. Penetrated by that cold stare, a chill shot down Kazuma's spine. In comparison to Terumi's eyes, his assailants' weapons appeared like toys.

"I-I promise. I mean it. That's why..."

Averting his eyes from the glint directed at him, Kazuma squeezed out his answer. If he didn't answer, he had the feeling that something terrible might happen.

Terumi pulled another knife and grinned.

A fearless and eerie smile.

The cold reptilian gaze shifted from Kazuma towards the black clothed assailants.

"Don't forget those words."

No sooner did he speak than Terumi moved.

He walked between his opponents, and spun the daggers in his hands, as if playing with them.

The black clothed people must have changed their target as they pointed their blades from Kazuma to Terumi. Each of them assumed a fighting stance and approached in cautiously.

The half-beastkin who carried sword went around behind Terumi, and then swung the sharp blade, aiming for his neck.

But at the same time, Terumi turned around and brushed the blade away with his arm.  A dull slash could be heard, immediately a black figure leaped right beside Kazuma.

The bench where Terumi had been sitting until a while ago smashed with a loud ringing sound.

"Hiiii!?"

"Ooh. My bad, my bad. Careful, Kazuma-chan."

Instead of pausing, Terumi waved his hand with dagger still in hand.

Currently unable to stand up, Kazuma moved his feeble neck vertically.

"Ye-Yes..."

The answer was the best he could do.

In the meantime, Terumi twisted his body and kicked the one with the claws into the air. Then he jumped and slashed at the chest of the one wielding daggers.

"C'mon c'mon c'mon! Just like this? Hyahhaha! You small fries have to make it more interesting than this! Man, this is boring!"

The bodies that crumpled at his feet were like lumps of shadow. He kicked them like a ball before stomping on them.

[[Image:BB_PS1_131.jpg|thumb]]

Even though it was three against one, Terumi's strength had overwhelmed them.

Without even changing his demeanour or stance, he had managed to counterattack and defeat his unwitting combatants, as if merely giving a light display of his skill.

"Kuh... Move out! Report to Tomonori-sama...!"

As the one who seemed to be the leader raised his voice, the half-beastkins began to pull back. They jumped away before disappearing from the public park.

The vicinity once again regained the tranquility of dusk.

Terumi tossed away the daggers like they were toys he had lost interest with. Then he walked up to the still sitting Kazuma, stretching out his foot and poked him with the leather shoe's tip.

"How long will you keep sitting, Kazuma-chan~. Are your hips giving out?"

"Y... You're really strong, Terumi-san."

Raising his eyes at Terumi who was looking down on him from above, Kazuma spoke with a weak voice that surprised even himself. Terumi's shoulders were shaking as he burst into laughter.

"Strong? You said I'm strong? That's so obvious. Well, you'll eventually get it back though."

"Me? What is it that I'm getting back?"

"Khukuku. Like I said, you'll understand soon enough."

Terumi grabbed Kazuma's arm while laughing and pulled him. He slapped the shoulder of the petrified Kazuma who was still holding his bag tight and made a crescent moon shape with his lips.

"Don't forget the promise."

"Promise..."

"Hey hey, that's not good. Are you pretty much still only half awake?"

The arrogant voice reverberated on Kazuma's willpower.

The grip tightened around Kazuma's arm that was hugging his bag. Forceful, like it was crushing his arm.

"...It's fine. I'm not forgetting about it."

Fooling the Ten Sages' eyes and entering the Cathedral. He had to obtain it.

The Azure that is.

For that purpose, Kazuma was willing to do anything.

Kazuma didn't realize it, but he thought about it as his last resort.






Afterwards, Kazuma and Terumi separated in front of the dormitory.

Terumi stood still in front of the dormitory for a while. Before long, he abruptly looked up over his shoulder.

There was a three story building stood near the dormitory. A figure was standing on the rooftop. The height was short; the long tails were the defining feature,  its silhouette emerging, basked in the setting sun.

It was Tomonori.

Standing on the rooftop, Tomonori stared at the dormitory with eyes that were searching for a prey. Until just now, he must have been focusing on the vanishing figure of Kazuma.

He might be waiting for the chance to kill him. Or else, he might be making sure of something.

Either way, it was only an eyesore for Terumi.

Tomonori moved slightly. His large eyes moved for a bit, staring at Terumi who was standing in front of the dormitory.

The distance where they were glaring at each other was somewhat far. But disregarding such a thing, Terumi and Tomonori were aware of each other's existence and their obvious hostility.

But this time, the distance was not to be shortened. Tomonori turned his heel; and like an olden spy from a faraway island country that was currently in ruin, he became a shadow and disappeared in an instant.

The cat's presence had completely disappeared, yet Terumi glared upward at the uninhabited rooftop.

"...Tch."

He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Whatever. It had already begun anyway.

The wheel of fate is turning. It can't be stopped anymore even if they struggle.