A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR! This is my first update after Christmas and New Year break. This is my first time writing something imaginary. So... I hope all of you enjoy this fic. Bye2... And don't forget to review. Thx.
"Kyaaa!"
"Hey, Maki-chan. It's been a while since I see you. Let me see... 3 years? No. 10 years more precisely and look at you. You didn't change at all. Still the same Maki I used to know. With that sharp look that will sent chill to your entire body from her small glances"
"What do you want from me?"
"Ayase. Do you know where she is?"
"You ask the wrong person. I didn't know her wher-"
"If you doesn't know about her location. Could you explain to me about this?"
In front Maki is a small mirror that showing up a recorded scene from yesterday event; where Eli is fighting furiously with two other woman while protecting Nozomi. Maki expression still look calm as before but deep inside she begin to worried because she knows if she answered wrongly it will be the end of her journey. But she doesn't have time for some 'ask and question' session with this sweet woman. She need to get out her quickly and warping out from this realm because she can feel an enormous energy surrounding this place and somehow it makes her sick. Her gaze fallen to Nico face; her face becoming paler from the wound she received it she knew she must act fast or she will losing Nico now and she definitely doesn't want that to happen. Maki then using every chance she have to escape from the 'Puppeteer' grip by throwing small blades towards her. It may be a desperate moves coming from her but she doesn't mind as long she can create a small gap between her and the 'Puppeteer'.
And her pray been fulfilled; one of her blade grazing Aya white cheek that make a small scratch from Maki blade. She caressing her own cheek carefully and can see a red liquid stain her white skin; she looking at Maki and out of sudden a tons of wooden hands that come from nowhere gripping Maki body very tightly. She begins to lose her consciousness as her breath begins thinner and thinner. 'Arghh... This is...really hurt...S-someone help me... Mama... Papa...N-Nico...chan...' Maki starting to hallucinating; in front of her she saw the face of people she really care and when she trying to reaching out her hand to them one by one each one of them disappear into thin air; Maki slump into the ground as tear begin to fall down from her eyes. And in the same time Maki body already losing her consciousness. Aya quite disappointed with Maki, she knew Maki can do better than that but she choose to keep her full power even thought her life in danger and what her really disappointed is she choose to protect Nico who bring misfortune to her. She then look at Nico body and examine her body carefully. 'It's already too late but... She can be useful if I make some changes in her body. I need to take her to the workroom now before she is starting to root. And I don't want that happen to my precious doll' She then take a glance at Maki body as she piercing the poor body with tons of spears that torn her body. Pool of blood begin to flowed from the poor body into Aya feet that makes her feet look dirtied and look disgusting.
"This is not fun at all... Ah, at least I got something from her. Bye, Maki-chan. Thanks for the present", said Aya as she leaving Maki body rot in the ground while taking Nico body with her. Before she can leave Aya becoming stiff as she can feels unexplained aura coming flowing through Maki body.
"Y...you...where...are you...going? Where not done yet!", yelled Maki violently.
"Ah. You're still alive. I thought this already over when I crushed your limb with my lovely doll. Guess I'm really lucky. Shall we-", before she can finish her word Maki already stand in front of her. With a swift move she then take Nico body from Aya hand and passed the older woman as she was nothing.
"Sorry. I don't have time to playing around with you. Nico-chan life is much important than this stupid battle. Bye"
"Ah... So you are going to leave me alone with this thing?"
"... Yeah. You were playing around with me with your little toy. So, I returned the favor by giving you my little gift", said Maki as she take Nico body and leaving Aya alone.
"… Mimo-chan. You hear that? She just leaves me alone with this disgusting thing. Isn't she rude? I even prepared everything for her and now she leave me alone with 'this'. Maybe, you could teach her some manner while we're waiting for our special quest", said Aya as she looking at grotesque huge creature that was formed from Maki's pool of blood.
"Hah. I understand. Just don't waste your energy too much on that thing. We still need your power to taking care that girl. Did you hear me, Ucchi?"
"Hm~ "
Maki then decide to stop her track. She put Nico body very carefully in the rusty bench near the apartment complex. She looking around the place until her gaze found a small fountain that not been operating for several years; Maki then walking toward the fountain and just using her small hand she makes a blow into this fountain that leaving it into a tiny pieces. Water begins to flowing through from this fountain drenching the surrounding with its purity. "Hana-" A burning sensation can be feel on Maki's back that makes her yelp in pain. She turns around and see wall of flames dance gracefully around a tall woman with a long light brown hair. She knows who is she from those piercing eyes that can make your body crumbling into ashes. "Suzuko…san…"
Suzuko have a zero interest with this red hair girl but because Eli doesn't showing even after they kidnapping Nozomi and makes her become bored from waiting her for too long so she decide to entertain herself by taking care the red hair girl. As a 'Time Keeper'; punctuality becomes one of her priority because one second late can affect a bigger event in the future and she already experiences this situation before. And she quite sure Maki know what is like considering she is being part of that accident. But she needs to do this because her existence can bring a great chaos in the near future.
Flame begins engulfing Suzuko body creating a whirlpool made of flame as it surrounding their master. The flame dance wildly around Suzuko body; leaving a trail of small flame as the flame keep on soaring from one side into other side. Maki know she doesn't match with the woman in front her but she can't spending her time to deal her especially when someone life is in danger. Without she realizing a hand appear in front her left eye and when its making contact with Maki face suddenly the flame begin to envelop Suzuko's hand that leaving a burning sensation in Maki face."ARGHHH!" Maki groan in pain as she can feel her own flesh begin ripping apart from the 'Time Keeper' cruel attack. The flame is getting bigger than before as Suzuko giving more pressure toward her hand; Maki knew her opponent not going to stop her attack until she turn into dust.
"I…I'll not… lose…to you!" Yelled Maki as she gripping Suzuko arm that been in engulfed in flame very tightly. Using her willpower she pushing away that fiery arm from her face and with this small opportunity she summoned a beast to attacked the 'Time Keeper' directly. Unfortunately, before that beast attacked can reach her a flame soaring around 'Time Keeper' body and swallow the beast with its massive flame that tearing apart this beast. Maki look dumbstruck. She never expected she was this weak but she can't give up yet because the only chance to save Nico is by contacting Hanayo, the witch, that she intend to call got disturbed by this tall women in front her. Then using all the strength she left; Maki summon up a billion of blade that appeared around the 'Time Keeper' that blasting through her body massively that makes the building around them begin to crumble apart from Maki devastating attack. Maki then walking away towards Nico; she can see a painful expression from Nico face and it makes her feeling hurt. When she wants to take Nico body from that rusty bench suddenly a strong blow hitting her hard and throw her body from Nico. She looks up only to find a certain tall woman with a long light brown hair standing gracefully with several scratches on her left arm.
"Ciiih. Just go away already!", yelled Maki as she attacked her with the same blood claw that tearing apart the 'Puppeteer' doll.
"Haah…haah…haah…haah…"
"You look miserably. Let me ease your pain"
"Wha-", Maki who looked surprised can't anticipate the 'Time Keeper' attack. As a massive flame came from behind Suzuko body and attacked Maki small body.
" Maki. Too be honest I don't want to fight you. But… your existence can make a great impact in current time line", said Suzuko calmly.
"What time line? There is no future in this realm…hah…hah…hah"
"….It may be true but we can try it"
"Try what? By enforcing those human to become like you. Or me. This realm…was not supposed to be exist. So, stop dragging innocent people into this realm", retort Maki after hearing Suzuko reasoning.
"Let me make this clear. We didn't ask anyone of you to find this place. But that Ayase, without taking concern on our behalf just open up a portal to this realm. She even brings you and her human friend to show the magnificent of this place. And when she feel bored….she just torn apart this place into nothingness. Even though we already warn her. The cause of her action" , said Suzuko
"That…", Maki can't say anything to her. As everything that came from Suzuko mouth is correct.
Suzuko didn't like to talk about the past. For her who been granted as 'Time Keeper' what will happen in the future is much important to the past. Because for her the past is more like a trial for them to grown up into a better individual. Every error that happens in the past; they will fixed it one by one until they can created a better future. Even though in this realm there is no such thing as future.
She decide to finish this battle because she already wasting too much time on Maki. And she also feels a little bit worry with Aya. She then goes towards Maki; whenever she walks a flame begin litting up on the ground leaving a trail of flame. She then stops in front of Maki. Watching at the poor girl. She then snap finger and out sudden pillars of fire coming out from each one of the flame that been left in the ground; each one of the pillar dancing gracefully in the sky that created a massive flame bird. Suzuko then looked into Maki eyes. She can feel strength behind those violet eyes, but she need to take care of her now before she can ruin everything they have done. Suzuko then raised her hand and pointed her hand towards Maki. The big flame big that been soaring around Suzuko body letting out a roar and leap into the sky that makes the sky turn into a bright orange; suddenly the sky was engulfed with a flame and tons of whirlpool made by flame coming through from the sky. Along with that massive flame big that looks vey dreadful.
Seeing the massive bird in front of her Maki now this will be her time to leaving this world. 'Hahaha… So…It's my time now? Nico-chan, I'm really sorry. I guess we must postponed our promise until we can meet once again…in the afterlife' Maki begin to losing hope as she know she just reached her own limit. She can only look at the enemy in front her and waiting for her last attack to finish her off. "Finish her off!" With that simple order that massive bird begin to leaping towards Maki who standing in front of Nico body. Even though she having a hard time to stand up on her own especially after she being fatally wounded by the 'Time Keeper' because behind her laying someone precious to her. "And I can't let her down no matter what!" Said Maki firmly as she bracing herself for the incoming attack.
As Maki wishing for the flame big came directly to her with those all those massive flames. The flames begin erupting from this bird body and covering up the entire area with the scorching hot and unpredictable pillar of flames. Somehow Maki didn't feel hurt at all even though she being attack by those massive flame. She then open her eyes and finally understand why she didn't feel any pain at all because in front of her a certain girl with a blonde hair standing in front of her. Who is standing so gracefully in front of her. Protecting her from Suzuko attack with her usual cocky smile that makes her wants to smack that face.
"Eli…", said Maki dryly.
"You looked messed up. Is everything okay when I'm not with you, Maki-chan?", Eli glance to Maki and begin her usual teasing.
"Hah...hah...hah... I'm fine but she... Really need to see a doctor or she will lose her life. Could you help me?", said Maki as she glance towards Nico.
"Guess so. If you do something with your precious subordinate"
"Sorry, Eli. I can't control Umi. You should know her reaction when you messing around with Kotori"
"It sounds like I'm doing something bad to her", said Eli pretend didn't know anything.
"It is", said both of them. A little bit irritated with the blonde attic.
"You can try, right?", asked Eli once again.
"Sure. Now… Distract her while I'm taking Nico to Hanayo place. Let's go!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Cih…"
Inside the abandon theater that located not too far away from the apartment complex where an intense fight is currently underway there is a figure that been sleeping peacefully in big stage. This figure was Nozomi that been taken to inside this realm unnoticely. She didn't aware that reason she being taken to this realm just for a tool to dragging Eli to her own death. Feeling pity being used as a tool the other woman who been watching after her begin caressing her. This small touch makes Nozomi wakes from her slumber.
"Uuh… W-where… am I…?", as she begin to look her surroundings. That somewhat unfamiliar to her.
"In other realm", suddenly a woman with shoulder length hair comes forward to Nozomi.
"Kyaaa! W-who are you? W-what d-do you want from me? H-hey! S-stay b-back!" , said Nozomi as she begin running away from her reach.
"… Here"
"W…Wha? T-thank you", Nozomi then take the hot chocolate in front her and sipping it carefully. She scanning surrounds her and saw a big hole behind this mysterious woman. 'Maybe I can used that hole to escape from this place'
"Don't ever trying"
"W-what?"
"You. Planning to escape. And I can't allow that to happen. Because that is my duty. If… if you still keep insist. I don't have a choice than to finish you off", said this mysterious woman calmly.
Understanding the situation she facing Nozomi can only nod accepting her fate. 'Again… Like last time. The different is…No one going to safe me now…' Emi than look at Nozomi facial expression carefully she noticing that Nozomi begin to losing her will to keep on alive after her plan is been discovered by her. Her eye doesn't as bright as before; it looks very dull that she can't understand what kind of emotion that she trying to show her beside emptiness. Emi than stand up from the ground and walking slowly towards the window frame. She then sitting on the edge of window and letting a wind breeze to play with her shoulder length hair.
"Don't give up yet. Someone is coming for you…" Hearing those reassuring words makes Nozomi tears begin to flowing down from her eyes; she know the mysterious woman in front her just giving some false hope to her but somehow deep inside her mind she know someone will come for her. Someone who always so cold and distant that makes everyone hates her but in inside she was kind and warm person. Someone who already impress her with her mysterious aura that makes her can't stop thinking about this cocky and mischief girl that like to messing around with other wellbeing. Even though she knew she never meant it.
"A…Ayase-san. She is the one that will come for me. Right?" Asked Nozomi to other woman in front her with her stern look. Emi look very surprised as she didn't expected the changes of her behavior when she said someone will come to save her and interestingly she even can make a guess her rescuer. "Yeah, it's her. Why don't we sit in here waiting for her to come for you? I'm quite sure you don't want to see her disappointed look. Coming so far only to find nothing. That will break her heart" As she walking past Nozomi and sit on one of dirty seat. Nozomi can only followed her and waiting for Eli to rescue her as she knows the person beside her is not an ordinary person like her and it makes her have a slim chance to survive is she trying something silly. "Eli…."