❀✿

Hᴀʀᴜᴋᴀ

Innately, Hibiki left, but not without handing out orders.

I was to look after Daichi, despite every mechanism in me urging to regroup with Tomoe. If he was injured, or worse, dead, I was sure it would hinder the mission. That's what I told myself. It was easier then confessing I was feeling anything but artificial distress.

Anzen Rozu... was an incongruous city. It was designed like a maze, according to my GPS, with too many varying aspect to positively know where you were going. Not to mention the colliding auras. You had magic, next to an office building, next to a series of mid-to-late 19th century bar. Absolutely nothing matched, and it glitched my systems to stare at any signs of witchcraft for too long. 69.5 square miles of randomly sorted areas... that was my definition it all.

They did not need a Caretaker anyway. They wanted to survive on their own, and we would be parting ways if what they spoke of was true, so there was no need to look after them. Nonetheless, I stood in front of a fountain, which was part hologram, part stone. Water containing heavy chlorine spewed from a statue of a common flower at the very top. Coins littered the sides, and I sat on the exterior.

I watched Daichi skip from stall to stall, asking merchants and vagabonds if they have seen a girl who looked identical to him. Socializing was a bit difficult for me, so if I followed him everywhere, I may have seemed out of place.

The plaza was bustling with energy, with tourists and peddlers on every side, crates and barrels littering the stone-embedded ground, and carts with fruit, bones, cloths, and other goods all around. They were even selling hardware.

I took one glance at Daichi, who was the center of attention around a group of minstrels. He was describing his sister to them, with a variety of gestures to explain what she looked like. They were visibly confused, so I predicted that he'd be in the same spot if I were to look around a smidge.

I got up from my seat on the fountain's side, and drifted towards a blue-themed trailer in the back. There was a table set in front of it, and a makeshift canopy over the goods. Wires, gears, memory cards, and even a limb, with the wires of it's original owner still attached, all sprawled out on a neat blanket. A dealer put his hands on the table, and I peered up.

Full-faced theater mask, with grayed eyes narrowed at me through the masquerade. I could hear the ticks of machinery behind their facade, like clockwork. They were a different model, perhaps someone who had gone rogue long before I had ever existed.

"Good afternoon, Miss! Anything yer' looking for in particular?"

I was being assessed, and I could feel it. "No," I stated.

A subtle tick echoed through the air, much too quiet for organic ears to pick up. "I've noticed you're a little devoid there. How about some personality chips?" He bent down, rising with a box of various installments. I scanned each vigorously.

My systems responded:

Out Of Date

I looked at the stranger and shook my head. "All of these components are old."

"What do you mean? These are the latest on the Factory's Market." Their mechanical voice held an inch of panic, and a centimeter of curiosity. "Unless you're willing to take it from straight from the source, or one of the recently developed models, though I hear they're only assassins and spies. Evarthil's loaded with gadgets. There's a trolley to the sou--"

"I don't want to hear any of it." I spat, trying my best to mock the threatening glare that Hibiki always gave."

"Suit yourself."

I turned the other way, and walked towards Daichi, who was staring into the fountain water. I heard laughter a bit away, the successful sales pitch of a merchant.

He turned to me, with a weak smile. "Just as I'd expected, she was spotted heading into a bakery."

"I thought she liked flowers,"

His smile broadened. "I bet there were cakes decorated with a splendor of flowers."

"Lead the way, then." I said, taking in the market place and recording my surroundings before we left. The gadgetry dealer, the minstrels, wanderers, the merchants, and hologram fountain, in the center of an out-of-place city. I closed my eyes, making sure to save the memory thrice, just in case.

We made our way down a decorated road, with long windows, swirling balconies of glass, and other pleasantries that I could imagine Tomoe marveling or complaining over.  It was easy being connected to the world's media, for I could research the styles and oddities of such places, which would appear on my retina. Daichi's face was an ample piece of evidence as well, since he held an astonished look the entire time, with his leather-bound notebook in hand.
Additionally, there were no automobiles, so we walked in the center of the street, passing onlookers who stared at us, and who we stared back at.

Before we finally came upon the bakery aforementioned, an unusual circumstance took place. I would not blame you if you did not believe what I'm about to recount...

Out of an alleyway to our left, just two meters in front of us, Kotone leapt out onto the street in a blur of violet.

She wore a tyrian purple gown, of both foreign and magic origin, with a hoop skirt and a visible corset, as if she had been attending a gala. I almost did not recognize her, if it wasn't for her blonde hair tied up in a ponytail as we had seen her before. Sora tried to give me the same hairstyle once.

Kotone did not look towards us, but there was a festive smirk on her face, as she ran forward into another alley with subtle laughter, clutching the fabric of her skirt.

"Wait for me!" She exclaimed. Her light blue eyes were wide, eager.

"KOTONE!" Daichi exclaimed, and a dozen strangers turned our way, prying eyes desperate to see what conundrum had occurred. I knew this all too well, it was how news spread. He pushed through a group of civilians, stopping in front of the alley.

"W-what? Where did she go?" He demanded, and I could hear the wavering fret in his tone.

I reluctantly followed him, and placed a hand on his shoulder, staring down into the backstreet. "Perhaps it was not your sister. Let us try not to stir up the crowd."

Daichi turned back to me. "I swear it was her."

The recordings did not lie. It was definitely Kotone, but I did not affirm this until later.

"Don't worry," I began, carefully using conjunctions to sound more sympathetic. "I'm certain we can ask Hibiki about this circumstance. Let's continue."

As the day grew older, so did Daichi's patience, but that's not the only thing that grew. Crowd size lengthened, and it became difficult to identify tourists from locals. It was still hard to identify those doused in magic. I watched shops, restaurants, and all sorts of businesses open, with people carrying chairs, tables, etc. outside, and even some calling for us to check out their goods, all on dainty streets.

The bakery was soon in our sights, and we arrived at an ideal time. We saw Kotone again, exiting through a sliding glass door, which she seemed to stare at intently.

Daichi bolted forwards and hugged her, and she dropped a brown bag of... groceries?

"I was worried sick! Kotone, what happened? Why were you in a dress?"

Her lips curved upwards, "What do you mean? I'm always in a dress." and she gestured towards her clothes. Same servant's attire before, grey dress and wide apron over the skirt, with a black sweater over it, as I had captured in footage earlier that day.

I was staring at her, and as soon as she caught my gaze, she flinched, and quickly picked up a brown paper bag. "I'm sorry I darted off. I was anxious for some time alone, and the city was too breathtaking to let it slip by."

Analysis = NO LIE DETECTED

"It's alright," I replied. This did not mean I would lower my guard. When she had donned violet, she was also shrouded in magic. This could have a dozen explanations, I had decided.

Daichi snatched the bag, rose it to his height, and stuck his head inside. "You bought donuts?"

"Well, I've never had them before!" She crossed her arms, constantly smiling. "Besides, did you see that door? It opened on it's own."

Listening to those two communicate made me realize the concept of matriarchal relationships. They were Sora's age, yes, but they were like two fawns, innocently trotting by. I knew the idea of naivety well, for I was a predator, ever lurking for commands to have feast. It was easy enough to understand someone who might want to look after them. Maybe they did need a caretaker.

While they were distracted, I scanned the area. To our advantage, I could faintly detect Sora. After being by my companions so long, I had analyzed biological data as much as possible, so such things were possible. Hibiki was another case, though. Every time I tried to scan him, he disappeared on my senses. He knew.

"Haruka, would you like to try one?" She was holding a powdered donut, bag leaning against her on the stone-embedded floor. Daichi was halfway through one already.

Their flattering kindness failed to strike my programming, but I had already known it was important to take such things as significant. It was humane, Tomoe told me.

Daichi chuckled. "Are you even able to eat?"

I must have had an odd look on my face, because Kotone promptly slapped the back of his head. "You can't say things like that to people, it's rude!"

I shook my head, and attempted a smile. "Thank you, but he is correct to ask. I'm not able to eat digestible foods."

Kotone had stars in her eyes, and she pressed a finger on her cheek in thought, clutching the bag tightly now. "What about liquids? Have you tried alcohol?"

I was compelled to raise an eyebrow, another excuse for emotions that my software has given me. "Is it natural for humans of your age to even consider such vile things?"

She giggled, and Daichi rolled his eyes, licking sugar off his fingers. "Tomoe does it. He smells like if a drunkard rolled in autumn leaves."

I blinked, for the first time in minutes, and I didn't even need to consider it. She was right. "That doesn't mean you should follow his lead."

Daichi gave an exaggerated sigh, and a trio of strangers chattered past us.

"Did you hear that the Prince from Tekonn actually came to visit?" began one.

"He's still around too! I hear he was fooling with the Councillor," said the second.

"No way!" babbled the third.

Daichi had already reached for another donut, glazed pink, and Kotone was describing something about roses to him, but I was involved within myself. Something inside me felt frayed and raw, and I couldn't place where it had come from. At least Tomoe was safe.

Then, I made a risky move. I paced after the three bystanders, tugging on the sleeve of one. They seemed human enough, until I saw horns like branches protruding from the temples.

"I don't mean to bother you, but do you know where he is?" I inquired.

They goggled at me. "What?"

I gripped the fabric of their attire with one hand, and the blades in my wrists extended against my command. "Where is Tomoe?"

"He's in t-the city's Center!" They stammered, before prying my hands away and continuing on with their acquaintances, walking faster.

I muttered a thank-you under my breath.

It was only seconds until I could feel my insides trembling, but my hands were still. I turned back to Kotone and Daichi. They both averted my gaze, and Daichi was licking his fingers again. Kotone threw the last crumbs of her donuts to the side, and a pigeon quickly neared.

I finally learned what determination Daichi held to find Kotone, but that wouldn't sway me. We moved onward, towards Sora.

I reasoned, for the longest time, that I would do anything to keep the mission afloat. And that day in the streets was my evidence.

...

I would end my account here, but Daichi had showed me a drawing as we walked. It would register as indecent to keep such things to myself.