"Come to think of it, isn't this street way too quiet?"
As she walked down the street, Kyoko Sakura noticed how most of the shops were closing early.
"Hey, just the usual, please," she said as she reached a familiar fruit stand, buying her usual bag of apples.
"Oh, it's you! Just in time; I was about to close up shop soon," the shopkeeper greeted her warmly as he picked out the fruit she wanted. He recognized the girl, a recent arrival to the area. She was a bit of a loner but loved apples and often wandered around the shopping district.
"Did something happen?" Kyoko asked, handing over the local currency she had gotten from Sola. She absentmindedly chewed on the end of a straw she had in her mouth.
"Haven't you seen the news or the church's announcements? They found a young foreign woman dead the other day—shot several times," the shopkeeper explained while bagging her apples.
"People are saying the killer is still hiding somewhere in Fuyuki City, so everyone's been nervous lately. The church even said to stay indoors, especially in quiet areas like this. It's why we're all closing up earlier than usual."
Handing Kyoko her bag of apples, the shopkeeper kindly added, "You'd better be careful, too. Don't be wandering around too late."
"Got it, thanks, old man," Kyoko replied, biting into one of the apples as she nodded in appreciation. Leaving the store, she continued down the street, munching on the fruit.
"A world without witches… It's not bad, I guess."
She chewed her apple, watching kids being walked home by their parents. A part of her felt envious. In her world, ordinary people were constantly in danger because of witches, and magical girls existed to protect them. Defeating witches was their duty.
But one day, Kyoko learned the harsh truth: magical girls were doomed to become the very witches they fought. The more they used their magic, the closer they came to falling into despair and transforming. No one knew when their soul would be fully consumed by darkness.
She'd even seen it happen firsthand. Her comrade, Sayaka Miki, had succumbed to that fate, turning from a magical girl into a witch.
Kyoko couldn't accept that kind of ending. She was determined to save Sayaka, even if it seemed impossible.
"I'll save you. I swear it," Kyoko whispered as she tightly gripped her Soul Gem. If the Dragon Balls were real, then they should have the power to turn Sayaka back from a witch into a human. That was why Kyoko had come here.
Although things were tougher than she expected, the world of the Dragon Ball War was filled with even stronger enemies than the witches she was used to.
"Ah, nothing ever comes easy, does it?" she muttered, thinking back to the powerful opponents she had seen. She had underestimated the Dragon Ball War and the summoned "heroes."
"Well, one step at a time," she said to herself, thinking of Jounouchi's optimistic attitude. "Like Jounouchi said, we'll figure it out somehow."
---
"Lancer is just walking around the shopping district?"
Tokiomi Tohsaka, after calling Kotomine Kirei back, received information from his familiars that Lancer was wandering about without any effort to conceal herself.
It wasn't hard to locate a Servant who wasn't actively hiding, but Tokiomi found Lancer's behavior puzzling. Normally, a Servant who lost their Master would quickly seek out a new contract, or risk disappearing due to lack of mana.
"Does she have the Independent Action skill?"
"No, Master. Even if she did, that wouldn't explain why she's so relaxed, casually eating an apple while taking a stroll," Kirei pointed out. Lancer's behavior was far too calm for someone in imminent danger of vanishing.
"We still haven't found Caster, but Lancer could be useful. Though it's best to observe a little longer, this is certainly an opportunity," Tokiomi mused, glancing at Kirei and his father. He was tempted to act sooner rather than later.
For him, the sooner he could carry out his plan, the sooner he could uncover Berserker's Master and take control of the situation.
'Assassin, you can proceed.'
As Tokiomi and the others turned their attention to Kirei, he signaled Kenshin to begin the operation.
'Could this really be so easy?'
Kirei couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Lancer's carefree attitude seemed suspicious. Though the plan was to frame her, he couldn't help but worry that something unexpected might happen.
---
Whoosh!
Kenshin's figure darted through alleyways and rooftops, moving swiftly along an unseen path. Modern buildings were even better for hiding in than the old architecture of his time. After a few quick jumps, he located his target.
"Hmph!"
Emerging from the shadows of an empty street, Kenshin dashed forward, unsheathing his katana in an instant.
"!?"
Sensing the swift approach, Kyoko quickly summoned her spear and combat attire, dropping the bag of apples she had been carrying.
Clang!
The clash of spear and sword sent sparks flying as red and black blurs passed each other.
"You bastard!!"
Kenshin's eyes narrowed as his sword was halted mere inches from Kyoko's neck. Not only had she deflected part of his attack with her spear, but she had also used her magical chains to trap his sword, stopping it in its tracks.
"Trying to sneak up on me? Die!"
Unfazed by the sudden ambush, Kyoko showed no mercy. Surging with magic, she unleashed an explosive force that pushed Kenshin back. Then, with a swift motion, she thrust her spear toward him.
Smack!
Kenshin parried the spear with his katana, but before he could counter, another attack followed.
Clack!
The tip of Kyoko's spear twisted, shifting its shape mid-combat to stab at him again from a new angle.
"!?"
Caught off guard by the weapon's transformation, Kenshin was forced to leap back.
Rip!
Even so, his left shoulder was grazed, leaving a shallow cut and tearing his clothes. A moment slower, and Kyoko's spear would have pierced him.
'A spear that can transform and extend…' Kenshin thought, taking in his opponent's unique weapon for the first time.
---
hmm, im not good with sound effect, my worst enemy, and name too.