~3 days later- Inside Mamoru's Apartment~
The apartment was cramped but warm—each surface cluttered with makeshift maps, magical residue, and fast-food containers. The single light overhead buzzed intermittently, casting jittery shadows across the gathered resistance. Hikaru, wearing a simple long-sleeve shirt with Durandal leaning against the wall behind him, stood by the large bay window as the rest of his unlikely army filtered in.
Esmeralda had claimed the stool near the kitchen counter, flipping lazily through her grimoire while sipping mate. Jarod and Levi, brothers in arms and attitude, leaned against opposite corners of the room, silently trading glances. Joker lounged like a predator on the recliner, legs sprawled, eyes half-lidded. Kurai paced, her boots thudding softly on the wooden floor with each pass. Suimin lay sprawled on the couch, snoring faintly, one slipper hanging off his foot.
The silence lingered longer than it should have.
Mamoru stood quietly in the corner, watching through Hikaru's eyes. The two souls within one vessel had grown more synchronized over the past weeks. Mamoru's thoughts were steady—curious, anxious, determined—and Hikaru drew strength from that trust.
Hikaru finally turned, his voice slicing through the quiet hum.
"Okay, guys. We're finally ready to make our move against Heaven."
The weight of those words settled like a blanket of iron.
Kurai's eyes snapped to him, blazing with fury. "They'll pay. All of them. For what they did to us. To Uriel. To me."
Suimin stirred, scratching his stomach. "They also broke my entire streaming setup. Still haven't gotten reimbursed, by the way."
Levi scoffed. "Didn't they also, like, kill your mom?"
Suimin shrugged. "Well yeah, I guess they did that too. But the monitor, man. It had RGB lighting."
Jarod snorted, earning a glare from Suimin.
Esmeralda closed her grimoire with a snap. "I hate to ask the obvious question, but how exactly do we plan to get into Heaven? I mean, it's not like there's a front desk and elevator combo."
Kurai rolled her eyes. "Speak for yourself. Getting back up there's easy for me."
Jarod stepped forward, his arms crossed. "It shouldn't be. Michael and the archangels are still there, and they aren't exactly sending out invitations."
Joker stretched with an exaggerated yawn. "Mortals are so boring. Just rush in. Slash, burn, repeat. Why all the theatrics?"
Hikaru raised a hand. "Everyone, calm down. We're not storming a castle—we're trying to dismantle the foundation of Heaven itself. One mistake and we're all dead. Or worse."
He moved to the center table and unfurled a large parchment map across it. The hand-drawn layout showed the gates of Heaven, elevation markers, troop positions, and crimson annotations for potential strike points.
"I took the liberty of drawing up a plan. Pay attention."
Everyone leaned in, even Suimin, who sat up slowly, one eye open.
"First, Esmeralda will summon spirits—lesser ones, enough to trigger their automatic defense protocols. Heaven won't see them as a real threat and will respond with standard soldiers. They'll assume it's another front-line distraction."
Esmeralda nodded. "I can summon a dozen low-level wraiths. They won't do much, but they'll look threatening enough."
"While that's happening," Hikaru continued, "Suimin and Joker enter. With Suimin's teleportation and Joker's soul-weaving, you'll dismantle the guard detail and slip into the heart of the city."
Suimin grunted. "And then I get to nap after."
Joker gave a grin that bordered on murderous. "I'll harvest some fresh toys."
"Once you're detected," Hikaru continued, ignoring the comments, "they'll raise the alarm. You teleport out, leaving Heaven scrambling to find two ghosts."
Jarod squinted. "And while they're distracted, you and Kurai march in?"
Kurai smirked. "No one guards the throne if they're chasing shadows."
"Exactly," Hikaru said. "We infiltrate the throne room. If we kill Father, the command chain collapses."
Silence fell.
Jarod rubbed his chin. "Can you actually kill him? The Creator? That's a bit above your paygrade."
Levi added, "You're strong, Hikaru. But you're talking about ending a primordial being."
Esmeralda glanced up. "Even my blood magic can't touch divinity at that level. I'm with them. I have doubts."
Kurai's scythe flared with energy. "Are you seriously doubting my brother?! I should slaughter you all for your heresy!"
Joker tilted her head, intrigued. "Oh, please do. I'd love to see how you handle three enemies at once."
Hikaru raised his voice. "Enough!"
The room froze.
"I understand the fear. I understand the doubt. But my time on Earth has given me something more valuable than power: insight."
Jarod raised an eyebrow. "What kind of insight?"
Levi asked, "A secret weapon?"
Hikaru smiled faintly. "Something like that. You'll see. Just have faith."
Esmeralda giggled. "I believe in you, Mamoru!"
Hikaru blinked. "You mean me. Hikaru."
She winked. "Yeah. But he can hear me, right?"
Hikaru nodded slowly. "He says thank you. And he believes in you too."
Joker rolled her eyes. "This friendship speech is killing me. I'm leaving before someone starts crying."
Kurai followed suit. "Seconded. I'm out."
---
~Outside – Dimly Lit Alley Below the Apartment~
The night air bit with the taste of iron and distant smoke. Kurai's boots echoed on the pavement. The orange hue of a passing car briefly illuminated the alley before plunging it back into darkness.
Kurai slammed Joker against the cold brick, one forearm pressed to her throat.
"Don't think I don't know what you're up to."
Joker smiled, unfazed. "Oh, Ku-chan. You wound me."
Kurai's voice cracked. "Don't fucking call me that. Only my brother calls me that."
"Ooooh, such passion." Joker leaned forward, her grin wicked. She casually squeezed her chest with both hands. "Is this anger… or jealousy?"
Kurai gagged. "You're disgusting."
Joker's expression darkened. Her voice dropped an octave. "Don't worry. I wouldn't hurt your brother."
She leaned in close enough for Kurai to smell the lavender in her hair.
"We have big plans for him."
Kurai's pupils shrank. "We...?"
Joker blew her a kiss, then disappeared into the fog.
Kurai stood there, fists clenched, heart pounding.
"We…" she whispered.
She looked up toward the stars.
And wondered what—or who—was coming next.