(edited)Chapter 6 Enter the Ribbons
Author's note- it was a small edit due to a reviewer reminding of the character known as Platinum which I promptly completely forgot about.
(With Ragna and Compa)
Ragna cursed under his breath as he watched IF and Neptune fight the bitch who had stabbed him in the chest. Compa looked determined using her healing power on Ragna, though in the end, she could tell it wasn't doing much saying. "It's not really working like your body is rejecting it or something." Ragna could figure as much, his body was used to handling wounds like this on its own. That's when Compa thought of something, her eyes aiming at the Azure. " those red orbs they helped you heal right?" Ragna blinked before gaining a dark look telling her.
"No." Compa could tell Ragna was lying it came out of anything he hit with those darkness infused attacks from his right arm. She swallowed out of nervousness saying to Ragna clasping a hand on his shoulder.
"Please you're really hurt and..and I want to help you." the sad eyes aimed at him want to turn his head in shame, what was wrong with him? why was he being affected by this now? Those questions whipped around in his mind before she said " the others need you to fight with them, I can only really heal them aren't you worried they could get hurt?" that made him sigh closing his eyes while listening to the sounds of the battle a mere few feet from him.
There was taunts, silent hisses of pain, and the familiar sound of clashing blades it reminded him all too well of things he'd rather forget. "Goddamnit they need me, what am I doing here on the ground?" Ragna thought angry at himself he'd been acting stupid, and now he had to go hurt someone who'd been trying to help him this whole time. Raising his right arm he let Compa go to take it and he told her his eyes holding a lost look."Sorry..." he wanted to say more but couldn't bring himself to do continue as he felt Compa's hand wrap in his and she smiled even as the dark aura trailed onto her own arm.
"Hmm it feels weird and, it stings a little," Compa told Ragna before after the amount of smoke coming off of his wounds dwindled until it stopped completely Ragna let her go. Compa stumbled a bit as Ragna raised himself up and looked at her asking.
"You alright?" she looked at him motioning that he should move on ahead without her so she could catch her breath. Ragna nodded before heading straight at the white-haired bitch silently running at her, leaping into a lunging spin kick.
(Neptunia Battle theme)
"Ragna?" Neptune's voice came out with a large amount of surprise while IF more or less hissed it out not wanting him to get injured any further. The man's darkness covered foot slammed against the white-haired woman's blade holding him in the air as he growled out at the woman.
"So who are you and where do you get off stabbing me in the chest." the woman stayed silent with an intense glare which served to hide the shock flying through her mind as she thought.
"Impossible, how could this man still be standing? Between my stab and the monster's attacks he should be still critically injured or even dying how is he standing." The woman then sighed before saying with her own scowl all the while attempting to push Ragna back. "You don't have the obligation to know that!" she was just barely capable to push Ragna off of her weapon, though as he landed she dived in for another stab.
Right as it seemed the blade would plant itself back into Ragna's chest cavity he shifted to the side dodging the stab while grabbing the weapon's blade with his right arm. He told the girl "Hm shit like that doesn't work twice!" he delivered a strong uppercut that sent her flying upwards and Ragna stood up quickly delivering a strong kick to her back sending the woman crashing into the rock wall. (music pause)
"Ragna what are you doing? I told you to stay back didn't I." Ragna sighed shaking his head before looking at Neptune, his gaze moved to the Azure before saying.
"Sorry for all the reckless shit I've been doing, some things brought back bad memories, it's nothing to worry about it I'm over it now. " Ragna then looked at Compa who finally caught up while catching her second wind and looked at the white-haired woman who was giving them trouble telling them." Let's skip the whole work as a team speech and shit we've got a job to turn in." that made Neptune sigh before remarking
"It seems at least your attitude has returned." IF gave a wry look asking him.
"Does this mean I get to learn some stuff about you without having to prove you wrong?" Ragna scoffed at that hoisting blood scythe over his shoulder and responded with a slight chuckle in his voice.
"Answer that yourself squirt." that made a tick mark appear above IF's head as she called him a bastard under her breath. Ragna watched the sword he had left on the ground disappear and materialize in the hand of the white-haired woman who only scowled at them. Ragna told the woman "Look, lady, I don't know why you're so determined to off yourself by picking a fight with us but get the hell outta here or else." there was a sense of finality in his voice, it sent chills down the woman's back.
(Unpause Music/Hyperdimension HDD theme)
Ragna adjusted his collar as the woman leaped at him at high speeds before catching the sword with the Azure, tightly gripping the weapon before pulling her in. In seconds her face was covered by his hand as he slammed the back of her head into ground dragging her to his side before tossing the white-haired woman behind himself. "Damn." the woman muttered going to recover only to be assaulted by a mass of fiery explosions with IF yelling out.
"Demon Flames!" the multiple power fire blasts knocked the woman around continuously after they stopped though she once again tried to stabilize herself in the air as Neptune came at her, the woman was just barely able to block the attack though due to her injuries she couldn't even begin to push against the attack. Finally, with a final determined yell, Neptune broke the woman's guard calling out the name of her big attack.
"It's time for Neptune Break!" deep purple energy poured out around Neptune's body as she did a quick slice through the woman, leaving her falling backward in the air as Neptune turned in seconds to deliver a second strike before delivering rapid attacks taking the opponent high into the air. Neptune landed after what seemed to be a final diving strike though she flipped the sword in her hand as it looked like the woman would hit the ground, she flew backward at the white-haired woman doing a rising slash saying "I think it's time..!" Neptune did two more aerial attacks before diving towards the ground once more, this time as a huge amount of energy built up around her. Neptune finished her sentence as she slammed the woman a huge beam of purple and lilac colored energy shooting up into the sky. "For the big finish!"
(Music end)
As Ragna uncovered his eyes after nearly being blinded by Neptune's flashy move, he felt something strongly holding him down to see a face down IF who had been blown off of her feet from the force of the attack and had taken a death grip to the reaper's jacket as to not be knocked off the cliff. " are you and Iffy alright?" Compa called out as she ran over to the reaper who shrugged he was doing pretty well but, the squirt could have been knocked unconscious. Right as he went to criticize the girl, IF had hopped up, her face slightly red at the fact she had about become a kite. She quickly denied any form of injury by saying.
"I'm fine completely fine now let's go see about Nep." Ragna nodded in agreement, with Compa following behind slightly worried that Neptune may have injured herself only to find a still transformed Neptune looking at the white-haired woman's face with a cold stare, though her tone was light.
"So now will you tell me what you know about me." Ragna figured the woman knew something and it pissed him off with how she responded. Like a certain spoiled brat that he really wished he could have gutted at some point the woman hissed out.
"No..No No NO! I ..I won't accept this! Not at all!" She then bolted off making Ragna's eyes steel and his hand flicked upwards as he went to roar out Carnage Scissors Neptune told him.
"There's no need to strike her in the back Ragna..." in a flash, Neptune turned back to normal "let's go after her on foot like a team." Ragna rolled his eyes as the group went to give chase. (Minutes later)
IF growled looking at Neptune saying to the energetic girl "Neptune I get you may have blown all your stamina fighting against that woman, but I don't see why you need Ragna to carry you!?" Neptune gave a wry grin while hugging Ragna's neck, making the reaper growl in displeasure at the spoiled girl especially as she told IF.
"Aww Iffy are you jealous that Rags is giving me a piggyback ride, I bet he'd give you one if just asked." IF's face turned red at that before denying the idea that she was getting jealous because the red-coated man, who had been throwing himself in harm's way was giving her annoying friend a piggyback ride.
"No way am I jealous.." she then tried to think of something logical to explain her interest and covered with "I mean Ragna already has to carry his sword, and with your diet, I doubt you're a light carry." that made Neptune stick her tongue out while Compa laughed lightly and Ragna made the comment.
"Geez what are you highschoolers and get off of my back!" he was able to get the pink haired girl removed from him, and to be honest he hadn't noticed she was there until IF had mentioned that Neptune was catching a ride. "Either she doesn't weigh much or I've gotten that used to hauling way too much weight on my back." That's when the group caught sight of someone pretty far ahead and Neptune bolted at her with IF quickly giving chase, Compa following behind her and Ragna just sighing while scratching his head before running after them.
Neptune dashed into the back of the girl who was just seemingly wandering on the path saying "gotcha!" the girl who Neptune wrapped her arms around made a frightened noise. "gotta catch 'em all!" Ragna and the other two girls had caught up as the girl Neptune had captured..if you even could call it that stammered an also stuttered out a bunch of why's and what's. Before Neptune could continue the joke of an interrogation, Ragna pulled Neptune off the girl by her collar and told her.
"You tackled into someone completely different than who we were looking for you moron." Neptune blinked realizing that her red-coated cohort wasn't lying so in response she told him comically.
"Gee willickers Ragman your right." Ragna simply dropped her onto the ground thinking she was trying to insult him as Compa smiled slightly unnerved at how easily Ragna let Neptune's head hit the ground. The girl still in a state of slight shock loudly with her words coming out quickly "Wh..why are you here?" Neptune picked herself up rubbing her head first telling Ragna.
"Rags are ya trying to give me a concussion that hurt man." Ragna rolled his eyes keeping himself from making a comment as Neptune told the girl with ribbons. "Um...were looking for a girl. Did you see anyone come by?" Ragna didn't like this and stepping next to IF as Neptune continued chatting with her he asked.
"Tch this can't be a coincidence right?" IF nodded this was very convenient to run into someone completely off guard and replied to Ragna.
"I have to agree with you there, but there's nothing that doesn't say that it is either." Ragna nodded before trying to think of something before remembering the woman before looked similar to Neptune when she transformed and hell they even had the same symbol in their eyes. Instead of bringing it up though Ragna kept it to himself if it did turn out the girl in front of them was that white-haired woman, well he'd hope she'll have turned a new leaf by then. Ragna then thought "Tch, either way, I'm sure I'm going to get another pain in the ass to deal with." Neptune then turned to her friends pulling the black haired girl over saying.
"Guys sooo this is Noire.." the now named Noire looked at the group in front of her and, showed some form of nervousness as her eyes aimed at Ragna who simply regarded her with a nod before saying.
"Great Neptune, you just have to bring a new reason for me to have a headache don't you?" Nep simply smiled at Ragna as Noire gained a slightly irked look at the man telling him.
"Hold it we only just met like why are you saying I'm going to be a headache?" Ragna scoffed he had a pretty good reason really and replied to Noire with a sigh.
"Tch the last person who wore ribbons in her hair that I knew was a brat," that made Noire gain a tick mark above her head while Ragna continued " a sadistic runt, " another tick mark appeared on Noire's head as Ragna finished "and an absolute pain in my ass with how much she enjoyed insulting me," Noire growled out.
"I am nothing like that don't compare me to someone you knew just because I'm wearing ribbons in my hair." Ragna looked at her with a serious look that surprised her.
"Prove me wrong then." it was a direct challenge to her that made Neptune and Compa surprised while IF had an idea of what Ragna was doing. In IF's mind, she thought.
"I get it if she's the woman from before then, between getting insulted so much and suddenly being challenged by him she would attack him. " there was a moment of silence before Noire narrowed her eyes she didn't like this guy's tone with her at all, but she needed to wait to attack Neptune and her friends so she responded.
"Of course I will, and make you regret ever challenging me to anything!" Ragna chuckled serious one wasn't she, he had been expecting a sword being swung at him though. "What's so funny?" Noire questioned noticing Ragna's light chuckle he had done pretty well at hiding. Ragna told her while relaxing himself.
"Tch well at least you seem to take things more seriously than that..." he was about to say something along the lines of stupid three-souled brat, but instead went with "than she did." Compa finally realized something pointing at Ragna and saying.
"Hold it, Mr. Ragna, you-you're comparing her to someone from your past right?" Ragna blinked at the girl with a dead-pan stare he nodded slowly as IF blinked before telling Ragna.
"Didn't you say we wouldn't be hearing anything about your past?" Ragna rolled his eyes these girls were a hand-full but, thought slightly guilty.
"Geez, these two are acting way to shocked at a simple comparison.." Ragna then responded to them.
"If your going continue acting like this I might just stop but, either way comparing Ribbons over there to an annoying runt I knew in the past isn't too big of a hint for you." Noire then was getting pretty annoyed at the man saying.
"it's not even a comparison you don't even know how I act, like besides that did you call me ribbons?" Ragna nodded and Neptune gave a sly smile laughing out.
"Aww Noire you and, Raggy are getting along he's even given you your first pet name now your not friendless!" it was a mocking cheer that made Noire turn to Neptune about to deny the idea that she didn't have any friends. Compa looked at IF and giggled saying.
"It looks like we have a new addition to the group." IF gave a small smile though she was more than suspicious of this Noire person IF turned to look at Ragna who was simply overlooking Neptune's antics waiting for his cue to separate the two girls. Finally responding to Compa.
"Yeah, I guess we do.." So with Noire now in tow and Ragna seeming to have returned to normal headed back to Chian's cafe.
-reviews-
Blitznuetral69 - sorry for not having it happen but, I hope I'm at least making an entertaining read for you
RedBurningDragon- I hope you're enjoying the fic and thank you for reminding me about kid IF just makes me want to upload this stuff quicker to get to the third game.
Kamecolin- Ragna should but, it's not like he's too accustomed to it don't worry a shift will occur later on.
black sun 123-Nice to see you again and thanks for the support. Sorry about the vote but, I'm happy you're enjoying the story.
ArmantusCumPinnae- Thank you for the comment and the support along with the opinion about my idea of having an upload schedule. I would like to address though that chapters are probably 3,000 to 2,500 words long sorry to disappoint there but, between being a senior and helping around my house it's difficult to focus on longer chapters while releasing them in a resonable time frame. I hope you can understand.
