Absolute Duo:Volume 6 Prologue

Prologue

“I'm waiting ––– until you take a pathetic decision, and arrive at the 《Final Extreme》, until that moment”

The incarnation of one's own «Soul» ––– «Blaze», for Tooru who had it severed, the words from that youth covered in darkness didn't reach him.

Losing his consciousness, Tooru collapsed.

His figure sprawled on the ground, wasn't reflected on the eyes of the youth who had cut him ––– Narukami Sakaki.

Of course, there was not even a slight change in his feelings.

But in change, the one whose feelings were shaken, was who stood there only watching their fight, that silver colored girl.

Julie, who knew the reasons of their fight, had been restraining her impulse to go help Tooru.

This was Tooru's fight, she had no right to interfere.

Their awful difference in power was obvious to Julie, even tough she had not even crossed swords with him.

Even so, the reason she had not stopped them was, because they could not be stopped.

Being an «Avenger» herself, if she would be in the same situation as Tooru ––– if she had her father's enemy in front of her, no matter what difference in strength, she would never choose not to fight.

No matter how hopeless the situation was, the boy called Kokonoe Tooru would definitely find a way, and emerge victorious, so she thought.

But–––

Her thoughts didn't reach.

The result was set.

No miracle happened.

“Too...ru...”

While the girl whispered the boys name, the sliced «Blaze» ––– the «Shield» lost it's form, and changing to «Flames»(TN: “Flames” here uses the same kanji as “Blaze”) it vanished.

“Too––––––ru!!”

Together with a bitter cry, Julie ran.

Standing between the fallen Tooru and the dark boy, she extended her hands.

“The result is decided. I won't let you do anything more to Tooru”

With a shaking voice, the Silver girl glared at Sakaki.

That boy with the dark empty eyes silently looked at Julie –––

And started walking forward.

Seeing that, Julie's body shook.

“I won't allow–––”

You to come any closer –––, Julie could not finish to say it.

Because Sakaki's figure disappeared from her view.

“You don't have to worry, Julie Sigtuna”

“–––!!”

Hearing that voice from behind, Julie turned around.

On the other side of the fallen Tooru, the dark youth was standing facing away.

Julie was shocked from that youth's movements she wasn't able to see at all.

And also, Sakaki knew and said Julie's name, but the silver girl did not notice.

“My affairs are done. So I do not feel like crossing swords with you”

Those words also meant that he was not trying to take Tooru's life.

But even so, there was no way Julie's wariness could disappear.

The dark youth smiled silently, and walked away.

For Sakaki he was proving his words with acts, but to Julie, him looking defenseless was enough to suddenly calm her wariness.

“The «Power» of «Bonds», hmm...”

Mumbling, Sakaki turned and looked back–––

And faced Tooru.

“I will show you sometime, in the case that time comes, that is”

Finished talking, the dark youth turned away from the two once again, and walked away.

“Gh...h...”

Hearing Tooru's groaning voice, Julie reactioned again.

“Tooru...!!”

Kneeling at the side of Tooru, she saw the state of his wounds–––the silver girl gasped strongly.

Just like his groaning voice before, Tooru was alive.

For now.

But, the wound is deep.

His sliced arm is obvious, and the wounds covering his body were also grave.

Blood flowing from his cuts, and his voice crumbling away.

Even now, his life together with his blood could be seen flowing away.

(First-aid...!!)

Getting controlled by her uneasiness, Julie stretched her hand towards the bag with the first-aid kit.

After applying the first-aid, she had to take Tooru to a medic center as soon as possible.

If not–––

Tooru's life will be lost for eternity.

And also, Julie will see someone die in front of like with her father.

On the back of the girl, an unpleasant chill ran down.

It was beacause she realized something she was better without knnowing.

“Ah...”

The hand that was about to open the bag, Julie noticed it's fingers were trembling.

If I don't hurry–––

Her mind was filled with that thought, but her body wouldn't move like her thoughts.

Even opening the bag was beyond her capabilities.

Finally, it obeyed.

Somehow she retrieved the first-aid kit and–––

(This... how should I...?)

Even though she should have learned on her classed how to apply it, she could not remember a single thing.

Because of what her trauma brought back, she now was only a powerless existence.

“Ah, ah, ah... ”

Her mind was completely blank, and Julie didn't know what she should do.

If I don't save Tooru–––

But how should she save him was unknown to her.

During that, his life continued spilling from his cuts.

“No, way...”

Her voice trembling, Julie tried pressing Tooru's hand to it's diagonally sliced arm.

Obviously, the blood continued oozing out non-stop.

But, the Julie now could not do anything else.

“He, help...”

With a shaken voice, Julie asked for help.

“Someone, help... Someone please help Tooru...!”

The dojo where Tooru once lived–––

At the remains of that place, a heart-wrenching cry resonated.

While the evening sun bathed the world red, seeing Sakaki approach from the side of the remains of the dojo, Ougi thought.

(Well well. To think he would go to the «Judges» place. I guess he should go hide himself, right...)

While scratching his head with his thick finger, Ougi sighed completely clueless.

Two years ago–––

Sakaki had disappeared inside the flames, the report ended there.

Ougi had used all sort of connections trying to follow the youths whereabouts, but the reports where less than useful.

But even that was something that needed the «Tempest Judges» involvement to be useful.

After all, gathering intel was the speciality of the guys in the army uniform.

(… even so, he looks quite similar)

While looking at Sakaki, Ougi remembered.

Once, back when he was still enrolled at the single-handed-sword dojo, how many times he changed blows with him, his opponent with who he enhanced his skills together–––Sakaki's father, and the woman who became his partner.

“Finished your business, right. Soleil (Narukami Sakaki)”

The one who spoke to the dark youth, was a young man who served Ougi, the organizer of «Rein».

But the truth was that that young man was now bringing Ougi to Narukami Sakaki.

Thinking that there should be some kind of reason, Ougi had followed without trying to understand.

“Without problems. And also, I'm really sorry to take up your time, Clovis”

“Non non, doing something for you is my pleasure. And while we were waiting I was able to deepen my knowledge of him, so you really made me pass some valuable time”

Holding the second name of «Tempest Judges», this young man–––Clovis, turned his head sideways a little and, looked at that dark skinned big guy standing at his side.

But, Ougi didn't respond anything, only his eyes fixed on something.

The dark youth, his black katana, its blade now tinted red.

“...What did he do”

To Ougi's question, Sakaki smiled and said.

“I only sliced Tooru”

“–––!!”

The expected answer–––

But even so Ougi had to gasp–––

“Shi...!!”

Cursing, he ran towards the remains of the dojo.