Kill Sector: Tokyo

Legion kept its distance, cautious of Landmine. Its blade's wide arcs pushed Miyuki back, narrowly dodging silver flashes. Scattering marbles, Legion countered, blasting them off the rooftop with a gust from its blade.

Out of marbles, Miyuki cursed inwardly. Without a target for Landmine, he was powerless, face paling.

Akagami smirked. "Done? You can surrender."

Legion surged, its shadow closing in. Miyuki scrambled across the rooftop, pursued relentlessly.

"It's over," Kamikaze spat. Naraku snorted. Everyone thought the fight was decided.

Except Miyuki.

He leaped sideways. Legion intercepted, slashing diagonally. A meter apart, its saber rose.

The concrete beneath exploded with a dry roar.

Legion vanished in flames, the rooftop collapsing in black smoke.

Silence. Akagami grinned, realizing Miyuki's earlier stumble had planted the trap.

"Back then, huh? Nice, Landmine!"

Miyuki nodded, panting. Landmine's five-minute window had barely sufficed. He glared at Akagami.

"Good enough?"

"Perfect!" Akagami's aggression faded to casual. Shiro hugged Miyuki's arm. "Amazing, Yuki!"

Miyuki flinched, smiling faintly at her grin.

"The rooftop holes…"

Akagami laughed, patting his back. "Happens all the time. Be proud!"

"I don't like killing. Even ghosts…"

"Fair," Akagami said, shouting, "Done, boss. Now what?"

No one was there, but a camera and speaker crackled. "Good. Amamiya Miyuki, come down."

Miyuki glanced at Akagami, who shrugged. "Boss looks scary, maybe acts it, but won't kill you. Probably."

Shiro tugged him, "Let's go!" dragging him off.

Kamikaze muttered, "Weird kid." He'd expected surrender, but Miyuki's tenacity surprised him.

Olivier asked, "Will Rokudou take him?"

Naraku replied, "He'll try. Whether it works is another question."

"Poor thing," Olivier said.

"Same anywhere in Tokyo. He's a ghost," Naraku dismissed.

The rooftop smoked. Adding Miyuki meant trouble.

Miyuki followed Shiro to a first-floor room. She nodded encouragingly.

He knocked, entering. A gaunt man in his late thirties stood by the window—Shinonome Rokudou, agency head. His scarred face and black suit gave a grim air. A cane and metal prosthetic hand confirmed his menace.

"Don't blame Akagami. I ordered the test."

"Why?" Miyuki asked.

"To recruit you. Talent rules Prison City."

Why him? Rokudou answered, "We're a detective agency, stopping ghost crimes, killing dangerous ones."

Miyuki froze. "Isn't that police work?"

"Ghosts aren't human, beyond the law."

Miyuki recalled Hakarusa's explanation: ghosts, unjudged by human laws, were confined to Prison City.

"Join us. Your answer?"

"I don't want to kill," Miyuki said.

Rokudou's eyes narrowed. "Surprising, for Ouroboros' number two."

Miyuki's heart lurched. How did he know about his past with the violent ghost group?

"Why do you know?"

"It was big then," Rokudou said. "You were deep in a brutal group."

"They weren't sane! I had nowhere else," Miyuki snapped.

"Yet second-in-command. Ever killed a ghost?"

Miyuki trembled, memories of flames and blood surfacing.

Rokudou softened slightly. "Our work's harsh. Think it over. Trial period, paid. You might not need money, though."

He slid a charred envelope across— Miyuki's lost cash card and bankbook, intact.

"How…?"

"You've got secrets," Rokudou said. "No one survives alone, ghost or human. Consider it."

Miyuki felt drained. As he turned, Rokudou added, "Ghosts escape law, not sins. How will you atone, hiding?"

No response. He fled.

Shiro popped out. "Done?"

"Yeah. Tired. Resting upstairs," Miyuki said, forcing a smile.

"You okay, Yuki?" Shiro asked, ears twitching.

"I'm fine," he nodded, parting ways. Climbing the stairs, Ouroboros memories haunted him.