[h2]Ando Asami, Closer to the Origin?[/h2]

"It's only a little ways from here," replied Asami, following Hiroko to the door. Yes, it wasn't far at all. That meant there wasn't much time for any intervention. It was pretty late, so that meant there weren't as many people out... in fact, as they left Sayuri's shop(with Sayuri very pointedly not looking at them as they bid farewell) she was already closing up shop. Some people lingered, but they were likely going to be the last people who left. Soon enough, the light from the ramen shop vanished around a corner. It was dark. The only source of light was a few streetlights... Damn, had she really waited that long? Well... she'd be back soon. She could bid Hiroko farewell, and prepare for the night. Asami wanted to incapacitate rather then kill, if she could help it. But... those in participating in the White Night knew what they were getting into. Strategically, she wanted to knock out the weaker magi first, unless she found an opportunity to take down the most powerful ones. The last thing she wanted was an ambush from one of the more powerful participants.

But she was still confident.

The streets were so empty, though... Asami glanced back at Hiroko. "We're not too far now. The inn I'm staying at is just a little further."

She gave the other girl a smile. She was nice, really. Asami didn't want her to get caught up in the magical world, especially not the White Night. Something so violent. Something some people might kill to keep secret. Even if they didn't kill... Some were rather unscrupulous about how they removed memories. Ruthless magi may not take the time to ensure the subject is unharmed... those were the kind of people Asami couldn't stand.

There was only one person she hated more.

"Thanks again fo-"

Asami paused for a moment. There was... [i]damn it[/i]!

There was really no time at all. Her hand lashed out, catching Hiroko in the chest to shove her back as fast as she could. There wasn't any time to try and get her away.

"Get down!"

Swinging her arm up, Asami felt the mana flow through her body, coursing through her. Her body was a conduit, as she had always been told. It conducted mana harvested from the Origin, the inherent mana supply in the body of all those born with use of it. That fuel for magic that inhabited the body of any magi or onymouji. It condensed in her palm. The spell she was casting only had one function.

"[i]Panzerschild![/i]" she cried. Instantly, a circle of red mana spread from her palm, segments rotating as it sprang out, large enough to shield her entire body. The glow pierced the dark night, and illuminated the swarm of black orbs swirling through the air towards her. They crashed against the barrier, beating down on it. An ache spread up her arm as her shield spell was bombarded, but she held fast. The black orbs scattered across her barrier, rolling across the surface and crashing harmlessly to the concrete and asphalt and sputtered into nothing. At least the bombardment ended, and Asami let her shield collapse, the barrier dissipating into red sparks.

There was no way Hiroko wouldn't see that. But there was nothing else she could do. Damn it, why did anyone else have to get involved?!

"That hair... there's only one person you could be, isn't there?" a voice carried out across the street. From the shadows, there emerged a girl. [url=http://safebooru.org//images/1507/90130e442b7d5fd2499e2c9905f99963c730e2ac.jpg?1579566]Her hair was a medium shade of brown, her eyes orange, and she was dressed in a rather prestigious school uniform[/url]. "Ando Asami-san."

The girl's eyes traveled from Asami, to Hiroko. "Eh? Who's that? ... Oh, I see. That's pretty foolish, isn't it? Letting someone completely unaware of this ritual follow you around?"

She sighed. "Don't worry. When I clean her brain out, she won't remember any of this. ... Or you, for that matter."

Asami clenched her fists. There was only one person this could be, after that spell. Asami was certain those were curses.

"We'll see about that," she began, her eyes narrowing.

"Matsuoka Rei."