Freezing: Limit-Less
AN: I am going to apologize ahead of time. Honestly, I am quite new to Freezing and have only the 2 seasons of the anime to work from, none of the in print story lines. This will be a story of my own making with those episodes as my only basis. Hopefully, it is not ground that has already been covered by other authors. Thanks for reading, and I hope you can find things to like. As I am working without a beta reader, please feel free to leave a review with any comments or critiques. This is a work of fan fiction. I have no ownership or claim to any characters involving Freezing.
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Chapter 1
It was happening today! Everything up until now had gone like clockwork. Kazuya Aoi, her best friend and partner, arrived at her door exactly on time this morning. Reaching the academy cafeteria, their picnic basket was stocked and waiting. She had even received a conspiratorial wink and nod from the attendants behind the counter as they handed it over, causing her to blush profusely. For you see, Satellizer had placed something extra special in the basket before dropping it off the day before. They'd made it to the train in plenty of time and found a pair of seats right away. When she'd invited him to accompany her off campus, he had admitted to only leaving West Genetics Academy once since his transfer. During the short ride, she enthusiastically played tour guide for Kazuya, pointing out places of interest they should visit on future trips.
Reaching the park, Satellizer drew in a deep breath, luxuriating in the sweet aroma of its many flowers and trees. She knew exactly where they were going and set a brisk pace across the greensward. Even the weather was cooperating. Above, she could see miles and miles of the bluest sky. Marred only by the occasional cotton candy cloud drifting lazily to the horizon. A gentle breeze played tag with the leaves on the trees, whispering back and forth of happy couples come and gone. She spied their destination and was overjoyed to see it empty. Yes, her plan was going perfectly.
"It's right over here, Kazuya!" The young woman sprinted the final steps to their goal. Twirling with glee made her waist length blonde hair fan out in a golden curtain, only stopping when she spied her friend gawking. One hand held the large basket as her other smoothed the skirt of a peach colored sundress she'd purchased new for today. The sleek styling clung to her buxom figure while falling a modest length to near her ankles. With a smile on her lips and twinkling blue eyes, Satellizer El Bridget uncharacteristically teased her companion, "Come on slowpoke. By the time you get here, lunch will have gone cold." She feigned a pout at his look of alarm.
Hustling to join her on the low rise, Kazuya fought with the blanket he carried. It was trying its best to slither from his grasp with every hurried step. Subtly, she studied him as he struggled. At 15, he was two years her junior. His frame was thin, physically still more boy than man. Such details didn't matter to her. Experience had revealed his unshakable loyalty, great inner strength and kind, compassionate nature. More and more, she'd caught herself picturing his dark eyes, innocent face and shock of tousled black hair in vivid daydreams. Huffing as he jogged closer, "I'm sorry, Satella ma'am. I didn't realize you had brought hot food for our picnic." And, she'd also found his strict upbringing made him, at times, needlessly polite. He reached her side and gratefully unfurled his recalcitrant load.
Exasperated, Satellizer sighed. "Kazuya, are you ever going to stop calling me ma'am? Look around at this beautiful park, away from academy grounds. And look at us, two close friends not in any kind of uniform enjoying a day off." She gestured at his tan slacks and white polo shirt for emphasis. "I have an idea. Why don't you imagine we're on a date." Urk! Satellizer couldn't believe she'd just uttered the 'D' word out loud. However, she was sure the shock on Kazuya's face would be a mirror of her own. Facing away, she felt a burning desire to focus solely on slipping off her sandals, heart thumping madly. She then folded to her knees on the blanket and set the basket in front of her.
"I'll try, Satella...mmm..." Kazuya fumbled with the laces on his trainers. "So, you say this is your favorite spot to come to when you leave the campus?" Finally shoeless, he sat down across from her.
She was grateful for the change of subject. Not yet ready to meet his eyes, Satellizer gazed around the smallish clearing. A warmth and serenity settled over her at the familiar sight of lush green grass and half circle of flowering trees at her back. "Yes, it is, Kazuya. I love it here. Actually, it reminds me of a place in England my mother would take me to...before...before she...died." Chin on her chest, she studied her hands and whispered, "You're the first person I've brought here."
"I'm sorry. What was that?" Kazuya leaned forward.
"You're the first person I've brought here.", forcing the words past a lump in her throat.
Still unable to make out what Satellizer had said, Kazuya slid even closer. "Say again?"
Frustrated, Satellizer thrust her head up and blurted out, "You're the first person I've brought here!"
Suddenly finding themselves face to face, mere inches apart, color rose to their cheeks at her quite personal revelation. The next 30 seconds found the young pair looking everywhere but at each other. Thankfully, Kazuya broke the uncomfortable silence before it went on too long. "Satella, I think our food is getting cold."
"Right." Satellizer straightened. "Our food." Out of habit, she pushed her glasses higher up the bridge of her nose before pulling the basket closer. Kazuya looked on with interest as she swung open the lid. Smiling, the young lady proudly proclaimed, "Lunch is served." Lunch turned out to be a huge pile of burgers emblazoned with the familiar BQ on their wrappers.
"You brought your favorite I see." Kazuya rocked back with a grin.
The time had come. Fidgeting, she twirled the small crucifix dangling from her mother's favorite necklace with jittery fingers. "That's not all I have." There was no backing out now. Hesitantly, Satellizer pulled out the burgers one at a time to reveal a rectangular object wrapped carefully in navy and burgundy striped paper. Glinting in the noonday sun, metallic gold marker spelled out 'Kazuya' in Satella's own graceful, cursive script. She lifted it from the basket and held it out to her partner. "For you. I hope you like it."
Surprised, he accepted the offering with great care. There was an electric moment of contact between their fingers before he drew it from her grasp. She watched him examine the gift, turning it this way and that. Then, Kazuya placed it on the blanket and proceeded to delicately wiggle loose one of the pieces of tape, careful not to tear the paper. "Thank you very much, Satella. I wonder what it could be?" Soon, he had a corner freed up and repeated the process with the next bit of tape.
After an eternity of anticipation, Satellizer could swear the butterflies in her belly had grown to the size of condors. Nervous energy had her swaying side to side until it was simply too much. "Oh good God!" She reached across and tore the paper wide open. Quickly followed with a repentant, "Sorry."
Her abrupt 'assistance' in opening his present left Kazuya wide-eyed. Although, it wasn't long before he was chuckling, growing quickly into full on laughter. The color rising to Satellizer's cheeks did little to dampen his amusement.
Flushed with embarrassment, her insides twisted as she fumbled for words to excuse the rude behavior. "I'm very...umm...I mean...wrong...I DIDN'T mean...," sucking in a breath, "Kazuya it was very wrong of me to rip open your present I don't know what came over me can you ever forgive me and please stop laughing." As the words gushed forth, Satellizer bowed her head in shame.
"Well, that could've gone better," Ganessa Roland, a fellow Pandora, said around a mouthful of hamburger. "It's pretty obvious you're gonna need help seducing boys."
"What!" Satellizer's head whipped to the right and found Ganessa sitting cross legged on the blanket while munching on a burger. The red-headed girl stopped chewing and favored her with a saccharin smile.
"You gotta know your target, honey. That Kazuya is kinda uptight, all polite and proper. Tearing into his present like that, pretty big faux pas if you ask me."
"I must agree with Miss Roland. That was quite disrespectful." Rana chimed in.
Satellizer's mind whirled in confusion, "I don't understand. What's happening?" Slowly, new details swam into focus. Gone was the clear sky and warm breezes. Gray and overcast, a solid wall of clouds glowered down upon them. A chill wind tugged at her clothing, slithering down her spine and leaving her shivering. Once green grass had turned brown while brittle leaves fell from dying trees. Finally, Kazuya was nowhere to be seen. He'd been replaced by fellow classmates and rivals from West Genetics.
"I can tell you what's happening. Your uncouth behavior made Kazuya leave the school." Hiiragi, a first year student and friend of Kazuya, offered helpfully, tearing the wrapper off another of the sandwiches. "Mmm, Burger Queen."
Her single, long braid of silky black hair flew back and forth as Rana shook her head emphatically, swallowing a big bite of hamburger. "Oh no, that is not why Kazuya left. He became tired of her constantly interfering in our budding relationship. He is my man of destiny as ordained by Kun'Lun and misfortune befalls those who get in the way." She pointed accusingly in Satellizer's direction before wiping some ketchup from the corner of her mouth.
"If you ask me, I think he just got tired of waiting for Miss Untouchable Queen here to get with the program and commence with some touching," Ganessa opined. "He is a teenage boy after all. They can only take so much. It's hormones." She glanced at her partner, Arthur, who nodded vigorously.
"No, that's not true! Kazuya had to go. They sent orders...Chevalier did...some kind of temporary assignment. He didn't want to leave me behind. I know it." Satellizer protested, tears clouding her eyes.
Ganessa giggled, "A likely story. He probably called his really important grandfather and had him pull some strings to get the hell away from you." Digging through the basket, "What? Nothing to drink? Hmm, some advice for next time, tell em to hold the onions."
Trembling from anger and despair, Satellizer struggled to her feet. "He wouldn't do that to me. To us. He's coming back, you'll see. Kazuya loves me and I love him. He is my one and only. My partner."
"What do you know of love, Satellizer?" A pale figure drew near.
Recoiling in horror, Satellizer whispered, "Miss Chiffon?" She shrank from their dead comrade's rheumy, sightless stare, but could not escape the accusation in those hoarse, breathy words.
"I gave my life for you, my sisters and comrades. That is sacrifice. That is love. It had been my most fervent wish that all of you make the best use of that second chance. And what did you do, Satellizer? Make endless plans, thinking about what you would say and do. Always holding back with an excuse that you weren't quite ready. Until the day it was too late." Chiffon's bitterness fouled the very air in Satellizer's lungs, leaving her panting and weak.
"I went to his room...I did...was going to tell him...was ready..." Gasping, fighting to spit out each syllable, she sobbed with the memory of that fateful day. "Kazuya...packing...He looked so sad...I saw...read the orders...Told him I was pr..pr..proud of him...special assignment, great opportunity."
Eyes squeezed tightly shut, she couldn't purge the memory of the look on his face as she spewed those glib and empty words. "Oh god...I even shook his hand...his hand...Then turned and left...After...I remember running...fleeing the hurt in his gaze."
Satellizer staggered backward as a blast of wind crashed against her. Blinking, she beheld a new scene. Gone were her schoolmates and any evidence of a picnic. Evil, black clouds huddled just overhead, rumbling with barely contained violence. Once green and gentle, the grass had turned stiff, miniature spear-points slicing into her bare feet.
Blood froze in her veins when she heard, "Don't worry Satella. You'll always have me."
"Louis?" Knees trembling and heart threatening to leap from her chest, Satellizer frantically searched the forbidding, skeletal forest that crowded closer with every passing second. A flash of movement there, flicker of color here, something lived among the deep shadows between the trees. Finally, a splash of blonde hair peeked around the bole of a tree.
Terrified, a shriek ripped free of her paralyzed throat. Satellizer bolted from the tiny clearing, crashing through the trees. Bony branches tore at her skin and dress as roots rose up to block her mad dash. Skidding through a break in the trees, she flung herself headlong into...Chains! A web of chains stretched from tree to tree, blocking her escape. Spinning to retreat, Satellizer yelped when manacles sprang out and snapped shut, biting into the skin of her wrists and ankles. Jangling, the chains slithered and tightened. She was lifted from the ground, trapped, arms and legs spread in a cold, unyielding grip.
A chuckle echoed through the trees. "There you are, you naughty girl. Why would you run from your loving brother?"
"Stay away from me, damn you!" Satellizer fought, straining until her muscles threatened to tear themselves apart. "I beat you, Louis. You don't own me anymore."
There was an odd sibilance in the oily voice that slid over her skin. "You? Beat me? I beg to differ. Until that boy came along and shoved some steel up your spine dear sister, I was your Master. Oh, and look, he's no longer in the picture. The dream you hold closest to your heart has come true, Satella. It's just you and I once again."
A half-formed whimper rattled and died in Satellizer's throat when Louis finally emerged from the shadows. Stepped? Skittered would be most apt. From his bloated torso, too many arms splayed wide. They were overly long, painfully thin, and possessed a surplus of knobby joints. Worst of all was the face. Lank blonde hair perched above bulging eyes. Two long, curved fangs hung down, tearing ragged holes in his lower lip. A mixture of red blood and greenish ichor plopped wetly to the forest floor with his every breath.
Mesmerized, she swayed lifelessly, caught in his unblinking gaze. Those huge, glinting orbs grew until she could see nothing else. "Satella" Spittle sprayed like hot needles across her cheek and neck. "Where to begin. So much time to make up for." A multitude of hands reached for her. Paper dry skin covering twig thin fingers scraped roughly over her body. Hooked nails shredded cloth and drew blood with equal ease. The old sensations returned, worms wriggling under her skin in the wake of each caress.
With a supreme effort, she jammed her eyes shut, breaking his spell. Satellizer began to wail, terrified beyond all reason. The pitiable sounds she made grew louder and louder until they became her entire world. She knew only screaming and darkness. Whump! The impact drove air from her lungs as her eyes jerked open in shock.
Moonlight splashed over the carpet in bars of silver. Half on, half off the bed, she recognized the familiar decorations of her dorm room. Thrashing, Satellizer found her arms and legs entangled in her blankets. Stigmata flared and fed strength. Shrriiiipp! Tumbling to the floor, she pushed herself up to her knees. Panting, she pulled at the cloying remains of shredded blanket and nightgown, stuck to Satellizer's hot, damp skin.
She breathed deeply past the raw ache in her throat, forcing order to an out of control heart. Examining the ruined blankets and sleepwear scattered around her, Satellizer grunted dispassionately and forced herself upright. "No more sleep for me."
With leaden footsteps, she trudged to the bathroom. Her eyes lingered for a few seconds on a small, dark box. It sat atop her dresser, huddled under a growing coat of dust. The stabbing pain to her heart was still as fresh as ever, though. Flicking on the light, Satellizer made a beeline for the shower and turned on the tap, hot as she could take. Steam clouded the room as her skin turned pink from the scalding water. It hadn't succeeded yet, but one day, she'd burn every last memory of Louis from her body.
Unbidden, tears rolled down her cheeks. When did I get so weak? This isn't who I am. I'm strong, the strongest there is because I have to be. Memories of the other Satellizer, before he came, flooded her mind's eye. Only this time, it showed fear on the faces of everyone around her. Always when she walked, empty space imprisoned and separated her from the other students. Even tonight, were she anyone else, her screaming would have brought someone to her door, looking to comfort a distraught classmate.
The armor was gone. Kazuya had stripped it from her piece by piece. Hell, she'd even helped him do it. The truth was, Satellizer never wanted to be that version of herself ever again. Only now, without him, she wasn't sure what came next. Why hadn't anyone warned her about the dangers of falling in love.
"Hraagh!" Satellizer slammed her fist into the wall. This pain she could understand. Pulling back her hand, she sucked on her torn knuckles, watching blood and water run down the cracked tile.
She sighed and turned off the water. Without any real plan, Satellizer simply sank to the floor and huddled there, knees drawn tightly to her chest, abused skin prickly and aching.
"Kazuya..."