Aoi Chapter 9

Blending into the crowds of teenagers busily texting on their phones and adults holding the hands of their kids as they crossed the intersections, the girl managed to pass beneath the noses of the Special Duty Corps officers and began heading towards the mountains. However, as soon as she took a sigh of relief upon reaching a deserted neighborhood in the suburbs, the girl immediately knew that she had been followed and cornered by the Special Duty Corps officers, who drew their swords and surrounded her in a circle of dark blue uniforms.

"I thought you said that you wanted to raze Tokyo on the way out, but why the change of mind?" Munakata smirked as he emerged from the circle to face the girl. She maintained a composed expression, but glanced around for an opening to escape. There was none.

"It's none of my concern, is it? And besides, don't you guys have anything better to do than to chase a Strain fox around Tokyo?" The girl smiled before reaching for her sword and wincing with pain. "I won't be coming back, so you don't need to worry about any danger to your city."

"Oh, you should maybe reconsider trying to leave. You still need to work with us on the damage that you caused to Scepter 4's premises, Strain." Munakata drew his sword with a cold, calm smile on his face. At that moment, the girl spotted Fushimi in the ring of officers, his steady blue eyes never leaving hers. She closed her eyes and and allowed the colorful stream of light to flood into her consciousness, feeling the raw destructiveness of the power inside of her.

"Stand down, Blue King. If we negotiate, you need to stop threatening my master. If not, I can and will destroy this city. Tokyo means nothing to me, but I'm sure it means everything to you." The girl came closer and closer to Munakata until the tip of his sword was touching the palm of her hand. "With a single drop of blood, I can raze everything in Tokyo. There's enough power to take care of all of this if you do not cooperate."

As his officers shifted uneasily, Munakata knew that he had to stand down for the safety of his clan and Tokyo itself. With a sigh of satisfaction, he realized that the Slates' vessel was indeed a powerful force to be reckoned with. Sheathing his sword, Munakata bowed in apology and answered, "Scepter 4 would be honored to negotiate with you on your stated terms."

"Very well. I ask that my master be accepted into Scepter 4 to complete her training and ask that your Clan forgive her for the damage caused to your premises. She did not willingly do so out of a sheer whim, but out of self-defense." The girl bowed in apology to Munakata as she replied solemnly. He nodded in acceptance and unsheathed his sword to begin the acceptance ceremony.

"Do you promise to uphold the values of Scepter 4 and work to protect the city of Tokyo at all costs?" Munakata asked the girl.

"Yes, I do. I promise to uphold the values of Scepter 4 and work to protect Tokyo at all costs," the girl answered, feeling the tap of Munakata's sword on her shoulder and the flow of Blue Aura into her body.

"Then, I officially pronounce you as a member of Scepter 4, receiving the Blue Aura that marks our Clan. May you protect Scepter 4 and Tokyo with strong, clear compassion and loyalty."