Chapter 15

“So, think you’re ready?” Haruko gave Ayane a grin of encouragement as she walked.  She was the one in her human shell this time, carrying Sayuri and Ayane with her in the human girl’s first trip outside the house in her ninja body.  According to Haruko, the headband streaming Ayane’s mind into the blank body would work anywhere there was internet access, which wasn’t a problem in the city.  It did, however, preclude her from going underground to meet the other masterless AI that lived there.

“Definitely.” Ayane replied.  Sayuri had noticed a slight shift in her cousin’s attitude after they’d made their first trip away from her for a day, either from being left alone or something else that had happened while they were out.  She seemed somehow both less sour and more envious towards them: she frowned at them less, but took glances at them much more often.  Sayuri wasn’t sure of the cause, but she suspected it was a sign Ayane was being a little more honest with herself.  She put those thoughts aside for now, though: the arena beckoned, and both of them had new bodies to learn how to use properly.

“Went in for a new look?” the same Harmony Grace from their first visit asked as the two registered, or reregistered in Sayuri’s case.  The nun-styled Shinki looked Sayuri’s new body up and down.  “Looks good on you.”

“Ehe, thanks...” Sayuri blushed just a little, while the Grace’s attention went to Ayane.

“Oh, and this is one of ASRA’s new models.  Very nice~”  The ninja felt a bit of quiet thrill at the examination and the Grace’s flirty expression that resulted, though she kept it from showing on her face.  Like her cousins, Ayane had been registered as belonging to her human self.  Like Haruko, she went straight for the lifetime pass for the arena, something that prompted Sayuri to sigh and do the same.  Ayane managed not to wince at the inhuman sensation of having a passcode uploaded into her: it was something Haruko had assured her should be safe, but it felt weird nonetheless.

“Enjoy your stay.” the Harmony Grace said as she finished signing them in, allowing Ayane and Sayuri to start looking for an unpaired table.  Most of the side tables were occupied today, though there were still plenty enough people in the large central holosseum to make joining in as their first-ever battle in their new forms a daunting prospect.

Suddenly there was a familiar-sounding wail of despair, loud enough to be heard from across the arena and grabbing the attention of all three girls even as the arena regulars ignored it.  The source was the same prettyboy Sayuri and Haruko had faced on their first day, his Stylet and Eukrante face-down on the table.  Across from them was a familiar-looking Fubuki with a katana in her hand, in the midst of dismissing the blade while she turned to look at her master.

“Thank you for the match, sir.” Keiko said with a polite smile and bow of her head.  Daigo didn’t respond, still somehow flabbergasted at his defeat.  Shizuka hopped onto her master’s waiting shoulder before bowing to her opponents as well.

“Until next time.”

Sora and Kaze’s only response was a set of harmonized groans.  As the ninja and her master stepped away from the table, Keiko noticed the two AI girls watching them from across the room.

“Master?” Shizuka asked as she noticed Keiko’s gaze.  Keiko turned her head to look at her Shinki.

“I believe we have more challengers.  Do you think you can handle it?”

Shizuka closed her eyes for a moment to run a diagnostic.  “My battery’s at 85%, master.  There should be no problem.”

The human girl nodded and approached Sayuri and Ayane.  “Are you two looking for opponents?”

“Oh, yes.” Sayuri said, looking a bit surprised they’d been spotted from such a distance.  The other girl looked as though she recognized Keiko, something she found curious, as she’d never seen the ninja before.  “Do you have a partner, or...?”

Shizuka examined both girls and shook her head.  “I’m comfortable fighting you both, if that’s acceptable.”

“If you’re sure.” Ayane replied.  The girls made their way to the closest open table, with Sayuri and Ayane taking their places across from Shizuka on the table.

“Session, go!”  It took Ayane just a moment longer to say, while Sayuri and Shizuka said it in perfect harmony.  More curious yet, Keiko thought.

A stream of cherry blossoms passed in front of their eyes, and it was suddenly night.  The full moon shone brightly in the sky above, casting the only major source of light upon the old-style village the trio arrived in.  Shizuka was visible standing at the far end of the main road, but flickered out of sight the moment the battle started.

“Eh?”  Several long seconds passed in silence as Sayuri and Ayane looked around, reflexively moving back-to-back to watch each other’s blind spots.  There was a glint from the shadows on their right before a kunai flung itself from the darkness.  Ayane barely reacted in time to knock it aside with one of her gauntlet blades, sending the kunai flipping end over end to bury itself in one of the wooden walls behind her.

“There!”

Sayuri twisted the pair around to fire her rifle at the source of the thrown blade, unleashing several hot pink blasts that did nothing but tear a cart to shreds.  Again quiet filled the streets.  Sayuri’s new sensitive rabbit ears picked up a faint sound, though, coming from...

“Above!”  The pair rolled away from one another just as the second blade, a thrown scythe, came down upon where they’d once had their heads.  Ayane looked up and saw Shizuka’s raven wings spread wide as she hovered far above them.  She was already readying another kunai.

The two were forced to split up as Shizuka rained blades on them both from above, each one driving them further apart from one another.  Ayane bounded up to the rooftops and drew her own kunai from their holsters while Shizuka was focused on Sayuri, throwing them one after another at the flying Fubuki.  Shizuka had to take a moment to deflect the thrown attacks, giving Sayuri just enough time to switch her armor to its motorcycle configuration and race away from Shizuka’s reach.

“Running away won’t help.” Shizuka murmured.  She refocused on Ayane, who had leapt up in an attempt to reach her but found she couldn’t jump high enough to reach the airborne raven even with the aid of the thrusters at her waist.  Ayane scooped up a few of Shizuka’s own thrown blades off the ground as she landed and started throwing them back at their owner.  Her throwing technique was still sloppy compared to Shizuka’s own, and the Fubuki had no trouble catching and stowing each weapon in turn.

Suddenly she was forced to swerve aside as one of Sayuri’s beams cut through the night from all the way across the arena.  The Estoril had driven up to high ground and was perched on top of her motorcycle, bracing her rifle with both hands.  The shot’s extreme range was impressive, thought Shizuka, more impressive still when she realized that it had cost her a few feathers.  Sayuri took more shots, aiming high in an effort to force Shizuka down towards the ground.

The Fubuki dove to take cover among the buildings, gliding towards Sayuri’s position.  Ayane leapt into her path, her gauntlets clashing against Shizuka’s katana, while Sayuri started up her motorcycle again to change positions.  Ayane was aggressive in her swings and stabs, attempting to gain the advantage, but Shizuka was the much more skillful swordsman, easily fending off Ayane’s two blades with her one.  Within just a few seconds Ayane had left an opening big enough for Shizuka to drive a knee into her abs.  The unprepared ninja doubled over, allowing Shizuka to follow with a roundhouse that sent Ayane crashing into one of the houses lining the street.

Shizuka drew her sword back, intending to finish Ayane off, but was interrupted by another of Sayuri’s sniper rounds as the Estoril raced towards her from further down the road.  The Fubuki took to the air and threw a shuriken, aiming not at Sayuri but at the road ahead of her.  The shuriken landed just in time that Sayuri’s front tire ran straight into it, sending the motorcycle flipping end over end.  Sayuri let go and flung herself away from the bike just before it could crash, though she was still left flat on her back, wincing at the damage reports.

Ayane dragged herself out of the rubble as Shizuka flew up higher, preparing to bombard them once more.  “Damn it, I can’t reach.  You okay, Sayuri?”

“I’m fine.” Sayuri grunted, even as she looked up at the ascending raven.  She looked down at her own feet after a moment.  “Want to try something crazy?”


“Wouldn’t be here otherwise!” Ayane replied.  Sayuri hiked her legs up and bent them as if preparing to jump.

“Kick off me, then!”

Ayane did so, the two girls pressing their feet together.  Both kicked at once, sending Ayane rocketing into the air at a speed that surprised even Shizuka.  Ayane flew up into the air above her, a hand going to her tanto as her back was illuminated by the full moon.  The thrill that raced through the human girl was exquisite.  Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she could move like this, fight like this, in a body she enjoyed more and more every time she used it.  She fired her thrusters to speed her fall as she descended upon the Fubuki below her.  She swung-

And Shizuka twisted to point a leg upward, catching the blade between her talons.

“Daring.” the older ninja declared with an impressed note in her voice.  She twisted her body and wrenched Ayane’s sword from her hand, leaving her in freefall.  Shizuka passed the tanto to her hand, readying it opposite her own katana.  “Let me show you how that move should be done.”

She flapped her wings, both swords held outwards at her sides, and Ayane could barely register the speed with which Shizuka struck her down.

“Ayane!” Sayuri cried from the ground, having hauled herself to her feet and salvaged the blade attachment from her damaged rifle.  Shizuka landed just ahead of the Estoril and tossed Ayane’s tanto aside.  Ayane crashed to the ground a moment later, leaving just the two AI girls.  Sayuri readied her sword in both hands, prepared to make a last stand as Shizuka charged.

It was over in a flash.

“You both need more training.” Shizuka quietly declared, her eyes closed as Sayuri slumped over behind her.  It was only after she opened them that she noticed Sayuri’s sword had nicked her armor, something that prompted the Fubuki to give a more satisfied smile as the holosseum unraveled.

“Are you alright?” Sayuri asked as she got to her feet.  Ayane just stayed on her back for a few moments, looking up at the ceiling.

“That was...holy shit~”

Sayuri had never seen her cousin smile so brightly before.  The sight of it was enough to make her smile as well, even as she helped Ayane up.  Both bowed to Shizuka, a bit shakily, and the Fubuki returned the act in kind.

“There is a team-based tournament, beginning this coming week.” Shizuka said after a moment’s pause.  “You would both make fine participants.”

“A tournament, huh?”  Sayuri looked for Haruko, who’d apparently already heard about the tournament given she was eagerly chatting with the organizers.

“What about you?” Ayane asked.  Shizuka shook her head.

“We have yet to find a suitable team.” Keiko chimed in from her position at the tableside.  “Perhaps we’re simply waiting for one that proves appropriately interesting.”  Ayane noticed a glint in the human girl’s eye as she said this, her gaze roaming over both her and Sayuri.

“Well, best of luck.” Sayuri replied, giving Keiko and Shizuka an appreciative smile.  “It was nice to battle with you.”

Shizuka nodded.  “The same to you.”

Soon enough the girls left to rejoin Haruko, leaving Keiko and Shizuka alone.

“That girl...” Keiko quietly mused.

“Master?”

“Shizuka, I have a task for you after we return home.  There’s something I’d like you to investigate...”