At the heart of the city stands a building. Around it, like steps of a staircase, are skyscrapers. All of them, every one, are dwarfed by the beacon of light. Two blades, alone in the dark, stand on the edge. Cutting a path towards the center is a matter of months. Patient, steady work. It resembles the crafting of a blade more than wielding one. A methodical task, requiring steady hands.[break][break]
"Yer tellin' me the Wolf-Beast went all the way up there?" A dog says with awe, gripping a blade with his fangs. He doesn't even have the imagination to fathom the world from that high up.[break]
"Sounds fun! Let's get up--" Childish ambition is cut short by the sound of something shambling close by. Whistling, the dog orders his blade forward. Kusanagi flies through the air, piercing the neck of the stranger. Emerging from the back of its skull, it returns to its master's side.[break][break]
"That was close. If one of those guys makes a peep, feels like we're gonna have the whole place comin' down on us, Senpai." Kusanagi shakes off the blood, floating at its master's side. "What's the plan?"

"Yeah." His response to the younger man's question is coated in bashfulness. He's come to understand how wrong the names he remembers are. The embarrassment is just another growing pain.[break][break]
"Dav Barcode. The one with the black armor and dead eyes." As unflattering as his description of Zev Harcourt is, the dog's tone implies respect. He knows strength, and that one is stronger than the other beasts, and not because of any armor or blessings.[break][break]
"Wonder what we'll find here." Words spoken as he steps into the church. Whatever symbols of worship lay within are foreign to him and lost upon him. What matters to him are the shambling creatures, all facing forward, looking up at the alter. They groan prayers that are head by killers instead of gods.[break][break]
"Wanna take 'em out, or sneak by, Senpai?"

His only response is a nod. Darkness is an assassin's friend, and the dog drapes himself in the stuff. His Senpai, even cursed, is glorious. He makes short work of whatever has the poor fortune of being in his path. While he basks in the kill, the human's hunting hound creeps through the quiet corners of the chapel.[break][break]
Floating just beneath his scarf is the Kartana. They have been training together for close to a year now. They know one another, know the signals and all the choreographed routines that led to optimal outcomes. Ahead, just before the stairs, is a dead thing. Black crystals cover much of its body, but the dog spies a weakness. A small, sharp whistle sends the paper blade out. The tiny thing flies into the body like a missile, piercing the flesh.[break][break]
It dwells in the throat, silencing any gurgles there, choking the thing on its own blood before destroying the brain. Flying out, Kusanagi returns to its master, already advancing to the stairs. Amber eyes float to the frost blade.[break][break]
"I hate that sword, Senpai. Your other one's better."[break][break]
Words whispered as he ascends the stairs.

"It just...doesn't suit ya. That's all." Which is no proper reason to hate something. Hate is a seed that takes root and corrodes the soul, planted there by ruinous intent. His bright eyes focus on the implicit task, to find something, anything. This place was useful, once. A meaningful place, where meaningful things happened.[break][break]
Kartana float up to the murals of their once great leaders. They chitter and tell a story among themselves, a story for no one but them. Even if the human and his hunting hound find no joy here, these strange Pokemon find a reason to laugh. A quick shh from their leader sets them back to silently floating.[break][break]
"When you use your Doublade...the look in your eyes is so pretty. Focused. Really cool. Like a samurai, doing what he's gotta do for his Daimyo." Language and its intricacies do not come easy to him, but he tries. "The ice...you look scary when you use it."[break][break]
While the dog bares his soul, he finds something. It looks odd, like some great tool used by these aliens for war. A black ball sits atop a great brass spiral.[break][break]
"...the hell's this?" His hand squeezes the ball. A loud sound pierces the silence.[break][break]
The horn drops, a dog draws his sword.[break][break]
"Shit! They're gonna be coming now!"

There is no need for the dog to swing his blade, yet he swings it all the same. When a fallen creature gets too close, they meet his blade, whether the one in his hand or the paper moon swarm surrounding the hound. He follows the beautiful admin, a mote of light in the darkest places of the world. Without question, he follows.[break][break]
"There's so many of 'em." Useless words, huffed out through busy lungs. Enthusiasm returns when he sees the right blade in the man's hand.[break][break]
Above them is a building so tall that the dog cannot comprehend the top. Creatures such as he are not meant for such heights. Dogs run along the ground, heads low, sniffing scents left along the ground. It takes a man's mind to even comprehend the sky.[break][break]
With the power of a hateful god, the dog is pushed towards humanity. He soars, like no dog before him ever has. An exhilarating rush of air presses from under him, presses him up. Higher, higher, higher he flies.[break][break]
"Wooooooooooooo!" He spreads his arms, forgets his fear, cheers like a little boy having the time of his life. His blade finds purchase against glass. They break through.[break][break]
They are safe.[break][break]
"Senpai, that was fuckin' awesome!"[break][break]

ThkX2BiC