Page 317 of Mercy Written in Blood

Haruki released Renji.

"Take me instead," he said.

Renji turned. The man looked amused.

"You are not Takahara."

"No. But the Archive requires human consent."

The room went still. Renji stared at him. Haruki continued.

"You cannot force Renji to open anything. You need a human he trusts."

The man's gaze sharpened. Haruki had found the flaw. Not in the trap. In the Archive.

"If you take him without me," Haruki said, "you have blood and no access."

"You think we need you specifically."

"No."

Haruki looked towards Renji.

"But he won't open it with anyone else."

That was not true. Perhaps. Renji did not know. The man watched them. Calculating.

Haruki stepped forward.

"Let the hostages go. Take us both."

"No," Renji said.

Haruki did not look back. The man smiled.

"Now you sound like him."

"Haruki."

"Be quiet."

The command struck with enough force that Renji obeyed. Not from submission. From shock.

Haruki advanced another step. The man behind the hostages raised his weapon.

"Stop."

Haruki stopped. His hands remained visible. No weapon. No armour obvious beneath the wet coat.

One of the Ishida men shifted behind Renji. The man with the detonator saw it. His thumb moved.

Everything happened at once.

The lights failed. Darkness swallowed the depot. A shot cracked from the southern side. Ken shouted. The canisters released with a sound like breath drawn through teeth. Renji smelled silver.

Haruki moved. Not backwards. Towards the fence. Gunfire split the dark. Renji saw the first muzzle flash. Haruki struck the man nearest the gate, caught his wrist and drove him into the metal. The detonator fell. Ryota kicked it beneath the fence.

A second Unveiled member fired. The bullet struck Haruki high in the side. His body jerked. He did not fall. He turned and pushed the weapon away as it fired again. The second shot entered lower. Abdomen.