Persephone/Band Story 1/Chapter 2

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**Enjoying Halcyon Days** is the second chapter of Persephone's Band Story.

## Synopsis

After meeting the Shirokage Five, Izayoi heads home with them.

## Transcript

[Izayoi's Home, Evening]

**Izayoi** : Thank you so so much for accompanying me home!

**Kanata** : As emissaries of light and shadow, we will make sure to take our honored guest to their destination safely, ding.

**Fumino** : Kanata, at least speak in a way Izayoi can understand.

**Kanata** : Fine.

**Kanata** : In short, this is our "Ninja Way".

**Kanata** : ding, ding.

**Izayoi** : S-So cool!

**Fumino** : ...That was cool?

**Izayoi** : It is!

**Yasumasa** : Alright, alright. It's getting late. Your parents are probably waiting for you inside. Go on.

**Izayoi** : Y-Yes. Bye, everyone! See you tomorrow!

**Ayane** : Bye bye, Izayoi.

**Sazane** : See you.

(Izayoi enters the house)

**Fumino** : Alright...

**Fumino** : Let's go, everyone.

**Kanata/Sazane/Ayane/Yasumasa** : Right.

(All five of them suddenly vanish into thin air)

[Rooftops, Yahata City]

(Fumino and the others are seen resting on a roof)

**Sazane** : Is this really the cleanest roof out there?

**Ayane** : The materials used for this roof is mediocre at best, but I can tell the owner of this house cleans this roof at least once or twice a week.

**Yasumasa** : How can you even tell from merely looking?

**Ayane** : I love architecture.

**Kanata** : It has been a lifelong dream for her to study buildings of ancient times and buildings of the future. So, I am not surprised when Ayane mentioned things like that. Don't you agree, Fummi?

**Fumino** : Yup, Ayane always has a knack for all that stuff.

**Fumino** : Hey, could you guys admire the sunset a bit? I want to enjoy while it lasts.

**Kanata** : You said it like you're watching your last sunset, which complies me to believe that Enma-sama is expecting you. Have you been going to another fortune teller without our permission, ding?

**Fumino** : No, I didn't! Just look at the pretty view, alright?

**Yasumasa** : It is pretty.

**Ayane** : It's so shiny, like that one time Yasu-neesan put make up on us.

**Sazane** : Hmph. It was awful.

**Kanata** : I wonder if a baby bird drops its poop on us while we're watching the sunset. That would be awkward.

**Everyone Else** : ...

**Kanata** : Ding.

**Sazane** : Just...be quiet for one day, Nata.

**Kanata** : Affirmative, ding.

**Yasumasa** : ...

**Fumino** : And there goes the sun.

**Ayane** : I suppose it is time, then.

**Kanata** : ...They're here.

(Suddenly, ten masked girls appear in the sorrounding rooftops)

**Masked Girl #1** : Heh, I did not expect the Shirokage Five to be relaxing here. You sure underestimate us by a lot, huh?

**Kanata** : One would ask, who are you all supposed to be?

**Masked Girl #1** : Oh, you'll get your answers alright...if you would come with us quietly.

**Yasumasa** : For small fries, you talk tough. Who are you wannabes supposed to be?

**Masked Girl #2** : T-The nerve! We're from the famed-

**Masked Girl #1** : Silence! Don't be fooled into exposing our identities!

**Sazane** : Huh, they may dress like meatshields. But, the middle one is not bad.

**Ayane** : Yeah, unlike that one, she seems to know how to hold her tongue.

**Fumino** : Alright...

**Fumino** : We're gonna do the usual and beat them down. Are all of you alright with that?

**Ayane** : Yes.

**Yasumasa** : We make it fast, like always.

**Sazane** : We'll send them flying.

**Kanata** : Enma-sama needs his tribute...\*ding\*.

**Masked Girl #1** : Y-You're taking us for fools?! Girls, forward!

(The masked girls reveals their weapons, and charges towards Fumino and the others)

**"Aogiri"/Yasumasa** : Here they come! Everyone! Let us march to battle!

**"Akagiri"(Sazane)/"Kurogiri"(Ayane)** : "Shirogiri", cover us!

**"Shirogiri"(Kanata)** : Got it. \*ding\*.

(One of the Masked Girls attacks Yasumasa with her weapon)

**Masked Girl #3** : You're finished!

**"Aogiri"** : ...Too slow!

(Yasumasa quickly draws her weapon and sends the masked girl flying along with her weapon)

**Masked Girl #3** : Waaagh!!

**Masked Girl #1** : ...A kusari-gama\*!

**"Aogiri"** : ...That all you got?

(Two masked girls approach from behind and prepares to strike Yasumasa)

**Masked Girls #4 & #5** : ...

**Masked Girl #4** : Ugh!

(Masked Girl #4 appears to be hit by something, and faints to the ground)

**"Aogiri"** : Hm?

**Masked Girl #5** : Ah.

(Yasumasa smacks the masked girl with the iron weight, effectively knocking her out)

**"Aogiri"** : Small fries. Thanks for the cover, "Shirogiri"!

**"Shirogiri"** : Powerful as always, "Aogiri".

(Two masked girls lands near "Shirogiri"'s location)

**Masked Girl #6** : Hey, you! We could have taken out that one had you not-

(Shirogiri runs up to them and hits one of them in the chin, causing one of them to bite her tongue and fainting)

**Masked Girl #7** : (What the-!? She's friggin' fast!)

**"Shirogiri"** : Your first mistake was talking instead of attacking me, and secondly...

(Shirogiri smacks the other girl with a larger bell)

**"Shirogiri"** : You're all so slow.

**"Kurogiri"** : Let's do this, Akagiri!

**"Akagiri"** : We're your opponents!

(Akagiri jumps to the left, while Kurogiri jumps to the right)

**Masked Girl #9** : Come get some!

**Masked Girl #10** : Guh...!

**"Akagiri"** : Time for your debut, Kare-giri\*\*!

**"Kurogiri"** : Ravage them, Tonbo-chaku!

**Masked Girl #9** : How lame. They're shouting out the names of their weapons.

**Masked Girl #10** : Let's ignore these two clowns, then rendezvous with the leader.

**"Akagiri"/"Kurogiri"** : Leader, do it now!

**Masked Girls #9 & #10** : H-Huh?

(Fumino appears from behind and strikes both of them at the same time)

**Masked Girls #9 & #10** : WAAAUUUUGHHHH!!

**Fumino "Crimson Blade" Shirokage** : A-Are they really ninjas? (They didn't even dodge)

**"Aogiri"** : So, all that remains...

**Masked Girl #1** : Kuh...

**Masked Girl #2** : UOOOOOOOHHHH!!!

(Masked Girl #2 attacks Fumino, but she hits one of her vital points, causing the girl to fall to the ground)

**Fumino** : ...Is this a joke?

**Masked Girl #1** : ...

(Masked Girl #1 tries to run, but...)

**???** : That is far enough.

(A ninja appears and restrains the escaping masked girl)

**Fumino** : ...?!

(At that moment, another ten ninjas makes an appearance)

**???** : ...Good work.

(One of the ninjas approach Fumino)

**Fumino** : What are you doing here...

**Fumino** : ..."Plaguespreader"?

**"Plaguespreader"** : ...

**Fumino** : ...Sensei?

**"Plaguespreader"** : Hmph.

**"Plaguespreader"** : My men will take care of this. Await the message from your grandfather.

**Fumino** : What will happen to them?

**"Plaguespreader"** : None of your business. I've said my piece. I will leave now.

**Fumino** : Wait! Who exactly are they?

("Plaguespreader" looks at Kurogiri, then he vanishes along with his men who took the fainted masked girls)

**"Kurogiri"** : ...

**Fumino** : ...Let's go.

(Just before they leave, a ninja from Plaguespreader's crew appears)

**Ninja** : Lady Fumino, a secret missive for you.

**Fumino** : ...He could have given it to me directly.

**Ninja** : Please, excuse me.

(The ninja vanishes)

**Fumino** : ...

(Fumino opens the missive)

**Fumino** : ...

**"Kurogiri"** : What does the missive say?

**Fumino** : Orders to return to the Vermillion Dojo.

**"Shirogiri"** : I see. Then we should be quick.

**"Aogiri"** : Wouldn't want people to see us, after all.

(Just then, the wind suddenly blows strongly)

**"Akagiri"** : Whoa! That was a-

**"Akagiri"** : Fumino! Behind you!

**Fumino** : Huh?

**???** : Ah, wonderful. I see how it is.

(A well-dressed young man is standing behind Fumino, with his hand on his chin)

**Fumino** : What?!

**"Shirogiri"** : Lord Enma welcomes you!

(Shirogiri slams a bell into the man's face, and the man closely dodges the attack)

**"Shirogiri"** : What the-?!

**Fumino** : ...

**Fumino** : (I can't sense him...)

**Fumino** : (How is that even possible?)

**Strange Man** : Whoooh! That was pretty fast! My face would be crushed if you hit it like that.

**"Kurogiri"** : Who are you?

**Strange Man** : Eh, sorry but...I'm not supposed to answer that.

**"Aogiri"** : No choice! We'll restrain you!

**Fumino** : Aogiri! Wait!

(Aogiri dashes at the man)

**Strange Man** : \*sigh\* Guess you leave me no choice...

(The man unsheathes a small dagger)

**"Aogiri"** : No worries, Fumino! I got th-

(The man breaks Aogiri's kusari-gama in two with his dagger)

**"Aogiri"** : ...!

**Strange Man** : Next...

**Strange Man** : I'll have your head.

**"Aogiri"** : ...!

**Fumino** : AOGIRI!!!

(Just then, Plaguespreader parries the dagger with his blade)

**Plaguespreader** : Have the others retreat!

**Strange Man** : Oh?

(Plaguespreader and his other ninjas threw a smoke bomb, while taking Fumino and the others to safety)

**Strange Man** : ...

**Strange Man** : \*yawn\* Is that it?

(The man sheathes his dagger)

**Strange Man** : Guess I'll go get some okonomiyaki.

[In one of the houses in Yahata City]

(Aogiri is still shocked, where she is unable to speak)

**Plaguespreader** : ...

**Fumino** : Are you injured, Aogiri?!

**"Aogiri"** : ...

**Plaguespreader** : She will be fine.

**Plaguespreader** : Kid. We need to talk.

**Fumino** : ...About what?

**Plaguespreader** : About that man you encountered.

[Road, Yahata City]

**Strange Man** : Mmmmmm! So good!

**Strange Man** : Boss, I want another one!

**Okonomiyaki Stall Vendor** : Oh? you've been here for three days in a row now, young man! You really like okonomiyaki, huh?

**Strange Man** : Mhm, tastiest stuff I've ever eaten!

(Just then, someone sits next to the man)

**Strange Man** : ...?

**Izayoi** : Good evening, Boss! One plate of okonomiyaki please!

## Trivia

\*Kusari-gama is a small sickle attached to a chain with a small iron weight attached to the other end. It is used by shinobis for combat purposes.

\*\* Kare-giri literally means "Curry Slayer".

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