A bright beam of light pierced Hakumen's armor, stopping him mid-slash. He grunted; if Mu-12's lasers were capable of penetrating the Susano'o Unit so easily, he shuddered to think what they would do to human flesh. With a snarl, he spun around and extended Ookami for wide slash at Hazama. He ducked underneath the blade, snickering. "Well, I gotta say, it's a real knee-slapper to see you so helpless, Haku! Just like the end of your past life, right? Kyahahaha, I just wish I could have seen Kusanagi beat your ass earlier!"
"Die!" Hakumen raised his sword straight into the air and slashed to send a squall of energy at Mu. She sidestepped it and produced several more laser turrets. Hakumen dodged two shots before something sank into his armored neck. Knives cut into his back as lasers burned his chest. With a shudder, he sank to his knees while Hazama cackled. "Wow, how sad! It's almost like you spent the better part of a century gathering rust, Haku! Oh, wait, that's actually pretty close to what happened."
"Do not think you've won yet, Terumi." Hakumen spun on his knees and slid out a foot to kick Hazama's legs out from under him. Ookami followed, a rising slash that cut deep into Hazama. A massive celestial claw ripping into him halted whatever follow-up he had in mind.
When he regained his bearings, he found himself lying prone next to a wall. He struggled back to his feet as Hazama's taunts flew. "Why don't you just give up and admit that you're a failure? Seriously, what's the point of trying when all you ever do is make everything worse? Well, worse for you. I find it pretty entertaining, myself."
"Hopeless though it may be, I refuse to back down. As long as evil such as you exists, I will stand unflinching in the face of darkness until my last breath." He readied Ookami. "Come, Terumi! This ends now!"
"Then allow us to end this." The fabric of space ripped apart and several figures emerged. Rachel didn't seem to notice as Tsubaki, shaking from the dimensional flux, leaned on Ragna's shoulder. A moment later, Valkenhayn and Jubei arrived in the same manner. The vampire glared at Hazama. "Your time has not yet come, Mr. Hero. Leave this place and recuperate; we shall deal with Terumi and Kusanagi."
"I refuse to stand by and…"
Ragna rolled his eyes. "You can barely stand, you idiot. Seriously, we'll deal with this shit. Just get the hell outta here; you'd only get in the way."
Tsubaki glanced at the white-clad warrior. "Please, Sir Hakumen. Get to safety. Like Ragna said, you're in no condition to fight."
"...I will not stand down." Not even for you, Tsubaki. Still, Hakumen lowered his sword. "However, I will not interfere unless I must."
"Good 'nough for me." Jubei drew Musashi and growled. "Terumi… I don't rightly 'preciate ya runnin' my pupil through."
"My apologies. Next time I'm about to kill Rags, I'll make sure to consider your thoughts before ripping his liver out and laughing my ass off." Hazama glanced around at those gathered before him. "I gotta say, six-on-two—oh, wait, that pile of rust in the corner doesn't count—five-on-two... Well, that doesn't sound very fair, now does it?"
Ragna rolled his eyes. "Didn't stop you and Noel from double-teaming Hakumen there. Somehow, I don't think you're gonna get some kind of chivalrous deal from us."
"Chivalrous deal? Oh, no, that wasn't my aim at all. And really, five-on-two isn't exactly accurate, either." He smirked as a dark figure appeared behind Jubei and Valkenhayn. All three vanished in a sphere of darkness. "Well, shitty vampire. Problem?"
"Do you honestly believe to have caught me by surprise? I planned for the phantom of Nine's presence; her taking Jubei and Valkenhayn is actually rather ideal. I will be relieving you of your doll now." Rachel vanished into darkness. A few seconds later, so did Mu.
In spite of his surprise, Hazama smirked at Ragna. "Gotta say, this is perfect. I'd love to rip your stomach out again. And First Lieutenant Garbage's too, of course; too bad Jin and the little doggy interrupted us last time. But hey, big damn heroes happen, you know?"
"Shut the hell up, Terumi." Ragna readied Blood-Scythe, his Azure Grimoire dormant. "It ain't gonna go the same way this time."
"Heheheh... you really think that? What's changed since then? Besides you two sucking face, that is. Oh, and you got your sword back! Awesome! Too bad it ain't gonna do shit for you. Restriction 666 released, dimensional interference field deployed, BlazBlue activate, blah, blah, blah."
The circle of runes bloomed and Hazama's eyes widened underneath his hat. "Ready to die, lovebirds?"
"Preparing to transfer." Kokonoe sat in her lab, eyes on a set of buttons before her. Her fingers flew across the keys, inputting various commands. "Alright, Lambda. Recite your orders, will ya?"
A girl in black standing behind Kokonoe said in robotic monotone, "Primary objective: incapacitate Prime Field Device Number 12. Secondary objective: terminate Yuuki Terumi."
"Yeah, yeah, you got it. Transfer's ready." Turning around, Kokonoe's eternal glare softened. "Hey, Lambda. You'd better get back in one piece, alright?"
"Affirmative."
"Good. Let me know what's happening after the spacial transfer. And... click!" She pounded a button and space warped around Lambda, sucking her into a wormhole. Kokonoe glanced around the otherwise empty lab, biting her lip in impatience...
Lambda's voice crackled in. "Spacial transfer complete. Location: Novus Orbis Librarium, Kagutsuchi branch. Eye of the Azure detected. Azure Grimoire detected. Second Azure Grimoire detected. Nox Nyctor-"
"Wait, hold the hell up." Kokonoe pursed her lips. "How close are the two grimoires?"
"Approximating distance... less than five meters."
"So Ragna's fighting Terumi... hmm..."
"...Ragna?"
"Never mind, just go destroy Terumi."
"...Primary objective is to incap-"
"Screw that, this is the best chance we'll get! Get on it!"
"Affirmative. Termination of Yuuki Terumi moved to top priority."
Lambda fell silent, and Kokonoe allowed herself a smirk. Alright, you son of a bitch. I just wish I could see the look on your face when you die. She grabbed a nearby radio. "Hey, Tager. You and Makoto ready?"
On the other end, Tager sighed. "Makoto... ran ahead into the branch."
"What."
"Her exact words were 'screw her orders, I'm saving Noel'."
"What."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't stop her, Kokonoe."
"God damn it..." As she buried her face in a palm, she dialed for Makoto. A fruitless gesture, she knew; ditzy though the beastkin was, she wouldn't be stupid enough to...
"Hello?"
"Hello." Kokonoe's palm clenched her forehead. "May I ask why you're going AWOL on me with your damn radio on?"
"I'm not going AWOL, I'm just going after Noel a bit early."
"I haven't even given you orders yet, Private Nanaya! What the hell do you-?"
"I'm sorry, Kokonoe, but for all your genius, you're pretty easy to read. You were sending me and Tager after Noel, right?"
"...Well, yes, but..."
"Okay then. I don't see any problems here."
"...Whatever. Do whatever the hell you want, you damn squirrel. I'll let this one slide."
She shut the radio off to seethe. Tager interrupted her thoughts. "Kokonoe? What should I do?"
"Eh. Go after her. Try and secure Kusanagi. I might be able to undo the forging." She rolled her eyes, growling with annoyance. "And I swear I'm gonna remove the part of Makoto's brain that makes her so goddamn impulsive when she gets back. Don't you dare warn her, either."
In an otherwise empty room, Jin sat in silence, meditation. Yukianesa rested in his hand, calling for him to spill blood, a nigh impossible to resist siren song. But there was something more, something that was not his weapon... something even more sinister than the Nox. He hissed in pain and clutched his forehead. "What's… what's happening to me?"
"Tell me, Rags, how does it feel to be so helpless? I mean, you rely so much on that imitation; you have no idea what to do without it, right? Is it terrifying? Humbling? Of course, since you think of yourself as such a badass, you won't give me a truthful answer. Oh well." Hazama smirked at Ragna's feral growl.
Tsubaki patted his shoulder. "Don't listen to him, Ragna. He's just trying to get you to stop thinking clearly."
"Yeah, I know." Ragna lowered his sword, glaring right back at Hazama. "So I can't use the Azure. Big goddamn deal; it ain't reliable anyways. In fact, you're an idiot if you think you really control it. The Azure ain't anyone's."
"What the hell are you talking about? I created the Azure Grimoire, you idiot! Of course it's mine!" Hazama laughed as he launched two chains, one at Ragna, the other at Tsubaki. Both missed high as his targets ducked, and he pulled them back. "Listen, it's really cute that you two think you can beat me. Love will triumph over all and all that crap, right? But really. One of you can't use his precious little grimoire, and the other is a piece of trash that can't actually hurt me. It's really obvious how this will end. Almost makes it boring."
"I am still here, fiend."
Hakumen stepped forward, an action that left Hazama rolling his eyes. "Aww, how cute. You get hurtled through time and locked in the Boundary for ninety years, and you still have feelings for her."
His grin widened. "So, why don't you tell Miss Garbage here who you really are... 'Mr. Hero'. And maybe, just how bad you failed her."
"Enough!" After a wide, slow-arcing slash at Hazama, Hakumen lunged forward to ram him with a shoulder.
Hazama jumped back, chortling. "Ha! Tell me, Haku; don't those two just make a lovely-"
"Hell's Fang!" A dashing punch pounded Hazama's head. Ragna sneered as his enemy bounced back. "Do you ever shut up?"
"Not really." Hazama jumped to his feet, a chain flying out to catch Ragna's ankle. The criminal sidestepped it and jumped ahead. As he ducked a flying hack, Hazama said, "So, the little doggy wants to play some more. How about some fetch? I'll throw your girlfriend's carcass out into the streets and we'll see how long-"
"Die!" Blood-Scythe caught Hazama's chest and threw him back again. Ragna charged ahead, glad to have the weight of his sword in his hand again. Sure, he would miss the speed its absence gave him, but that paled in comparison to the damage he could now inflict. Tsubaki stood back, not about to try rushing down Hazama; not after the last time she had done so. A laugh sounded, accompanied by a chain flying through the air. Tsubaki ducked it, preparing to slash at him when he followed. He never came. Instead, Hazama turned and kicked Ragna in the chest. With a roar, Ragna lunged towards him, missing with a stab. Without even looking, Hazama launched another chain of Ouroboros behind him and zip-linned over to Tsubaki. Knives proved faster than her sword, and she found herself with slash marks on her Zero Squadron uniform that cut through to her flesh.
With a laugh, Hazama launched a chain skyward, leaving before Tsubaki could take a swipe at him. He landed behind Hakumen and delivered a flipping kick as the white-clad warrior turned around. "Oh, man, this is sad. Are you guys even trying?"
Son of a bitch, he's fast. Without a word, Ragna raced over to Tsubaki's side. He had to stay close to her; if Hazama continued with his fake-outs, it would be best if both were close enough to respond. And more importantly, he wasn't about to let Tsubaki get hurt; the shallow cuts across her chest were painful enough to see. As Hazama managed to launch a chain their way while dodging Hakumen's cuts, Ragna nudged Tsubaki. "Stay close, alright?"
Nodding, Tsubaki blocked Ouroboros with her sword. Unfortunately, Hazama didn't seem cocky enough to bring himself straight to them. "Of course, Ragna. We can't just sit back and let him poke away at us like this, though. Not with that field around him. We have to get rid of it somehow."
"That field's the Azure's power; we ain't gonna get rid of that. We just gotta see if we get a chance to attack. I'm pretty sure Blood-Scythe can pierce whatever stopped you from hurting him."
Beside the gate, Hazama scoffed. "Ooh, nice plan. I'm sure a lot of thought went into to that one. It should be fun to see Rags chop your pretty little head off by mistake, Miss Garbage!"
Ouroboros darted between them, and Hazama passed by, nicking both with his knives. He didn't expect both to charge before he'd even landed. Tsubaki's slash tossed Hazama straight into the air, right into a violent aerial blow from Ragna. Izayoi flashed with light and cut Hazama, sending him against the wall, the perfect place for Ragna's diving slash. With a snarl, Ragna prepared Blood-Scythe for a massive hack.
Okay, might wanna consider not getting hit by this one. Hazama rolled to the side, dodged the wall-cracking cleave, and tossed Ouroboros Hakumen's way. Hakumen took the dart head-on and, when Hazama drew close enough, grabbed his neck and slammed him against the ground. Not having enough time to dodge the following uppercut slash, Hazama yelped as Ookami pierced him. Ragna and Tsubaki both barreled towards him as he managed to backstep another cut from Hakumen. God damn it, will you people piss off already?
Hazama performed another spinning kick to give himself some breathing room; it didn't connect, but at least managed to dissuade the advance. Ragna and Hakumen, unfazed, sliced at him, but Ouroboros took him to the ceiling, and left Ragna to come inches away from being chopped in half by Ookami. "Hey! Watch where you're swinging that thing, you idiot!"
"Hmph. Stay out of my way, or I'll cut you down, Dark One."
They glared up at where Hazama had affixed himself high above. The madman gave them a cheeky wave. "Hey! Betcha can't reach me up here! Oh, and it's such a relief you are still so nice to your allies, Haku!"
"A man such as Ragna is no ally of mine."
At Hakumen's words, Hazama cackled and hung upside-down on his chain. "Let me guess; you're pissed that he stole Miss Garbage from you. Is that it?"
As Hakumen growled, Ragna gave Tsubaki another nudge with his elbow. "Hey, how do you know this masked idiot, anyways?"
"I don't. Remember, I wanted to meet Jubei partially so I could say I met at least one of the Six Heroes." She shook her head and glared up at Hazama. "Well? Are you going to come down here and fight us or what?"
"Why should I?" Hazama shrugged. "I mean, this is a pretty pointless fight. You came to stop Kusanagi, and I really have no reason to stop her from killing you all. Oh, wait, here's a reason; I'm really bored right now."
"And here's our reason; you are going to pay for what you did to Noel."
"Yeah, I figured it was... wait a minute." Hazama dropped to the floor, grimacing. "Did you just call her Noel? I mean, seriously?"
"Yes."
"Noel's gone, you little idiot! Forever! She has been completely erased from her little shell! It's Kusanagi now. Or Mu-12, according to my pals in Engineering. Either of them work. Just not… 'Noel'. Yeesh, the thought of such a weak girl makes me wanna puke."
It was Ragna's turn to calm Tsubaki, who shook with anger, with a hand on her shoulder. "Come on now. Remember the last time you charged this bastard blindly?"
"I do!" Hazama beamed. "She went flying through the air like a little rag doll made of trash! And then I maimed her face with Ouroboros. It was hilarious."
"I'm gonna rip your goddamn head off!"
Ragna bolted forward, Blood-Scythe ready for a cut. The wild swing missed by a mile and Hazama carved into his side with a knife. "You're kinda, ah, stupid, aren't you? I mean, we knew that already, but..."
He jumped Tsubaki's charge and gouged her back with Ouroboros as she passed. The chain dragged him after her and he sent her to the ground with an overhead kick to the skull. After turning to smirk at Ragna, he just managed to duck Blood-Scythe. Hakumen was right behind Ragna; he shoved the criminal to the side and stabbed at Hazama. He rolled away from that as well, making a point to stomp on Tsubaki as he did so. In an instant, Ragna forgot his ire with Hakumen and roared, swinging his sword in yet another wild, vain hack. "Pull that shit again and I'll-"
"You know, you bark way too much for a harmless puppy." Hazama leapt back, grinning while Tsubaki rose with a moan. "Eternal Coils of the Dragon Serpent!"
Energy glowed below Ragna and rendered him unable to move. Hazama lashed with a chain, grabbed onto Ragna and pulled him in before either he or Tsubaki could react. Tsubaki gaped as Ragna flew towards the madman, knowing what was about to happen. No, this can't be...
Just before Hazama's swirling blades could rip Ragna into pieces, a dark figure dashed between them, its speed too much for anyone to follow. The whirlwind of steel sliced her apart instead; blood and blonde hair fell to ground. Growling to himself, Hazama struck the final blow, piercing her heart as he grew livid. God damn it, are you kidding me? Where do these stupid heroes keep coming from? "Die, you godforsaken puppet!"
Both Ragna and his savior were thrown onto their backs. Lambda lay next to him, her visor shattered. With a sorrowful smile, she reached out to grab his right hand. "...Ragna..."
"...Nu?"
"Ragna…" She tried to slide closer to him; her body was too damaged to do so. In spite of the pain, the darkness that clouded her mind, Nu's smile widened. "Ragna! It's been a long time…for so long, Nu was all by herself… out in the Boundary. I kept… dreaming…"
Her voice trailed off as Tsubaki knelt beside them, her worried eyes on Nu. To Ragna's surprise, Tsubaki took hold of Nu's other hand. Nu glanced up at her, her breathing bordering on nonexistent, and continued. "I kept dreaming about you, Ragna. That's why… Nu wasn't lonely…"
Her skin seemed to glow. All Ragna could do was watch as she dissolved where she lay, fading into nothingness. She choked out her last words. "Nu will... forever be by your side...Ragna..."
And Nu was gone, Ragna and Tsubaki holding empty air where her hands had been. He stared at his hand, mind trying to catch up to what had just transpired. He had hated her; she was a Murakumo Unit, after all, and their previous encounter had been...rather disturbing, to say the least. After that display, after her death, however... I'm sorry, Nu. Tears stung his eyes.
Not far away from where Ragna crouched, Hazama gave a loud, forced yawn. "Oh, I'm sorry. Is this little soap opera over yet? I'd really like to get back to killing you, if you don't mind."
"Go. To. Hell." As stabs of sadness gave way to the fires of anger, Ragna rose to snarl at Hazama. Inside his head, he heard someone squawk at him about something called the 'Idea Engine'. He tuned out Kokonoe as he advanced, energy on the verge of erupting from his grimoire. He didn't even glance over his shoulder as he said, "Hey. Masked freak. Make sure that son of a bitch doesn't so much as touch Tsubaki. I'm ending this."
"...I will protect her, but not on your behalf, Dark One."
Hakumen stepped towards Tsubaki, who did not appear content to simply watch. "Um, Ragna? Just what do you think you're doing exactly?"
"Look, if you try to fight after what I'm what about to do, you'll just get hurt. Which is the last thing I want. So just stay outta this, alright?" Ragna raised his right hand before him. "Restriction 666 released."
Hazama chuckled. "Oh come on! We've already been through this! The moment you activate that thing, I'll just shut it off."
"Dimensional interference field deployed."
"Are you braindead or what? Trying the same thing over and over again... isn't that the old definition of insanity?"
"Now engaging the Idea Engine!"
"...What."
"BlazBlue, activate!" His grimoire exploded with energy, a demonic wing of darkness covering his right side like a mantle for the briefest of moments. He smirked as Hazama's grin faded into a look of terror. Can't lock me out of it, can you? "Time to die, you degenerate son of a bitch!"
"Hey, bunny lady! Why does Luna have to fight with you?"
At the very top of the Kagutsuchi NOL branch, Rachel turned her attention away from Mu long enough to glare at Platinum. "Because I cannot handle a being such as Kusanagi on my own, and I daresay you are more competent in battle than that sweaty beast from Ikaruga. You are every bit as detestable as him, however."
"Hey! What's with the attitude? Luna hasn't even done anything yet!" Clutching her staff, Platinum turned to glare at the Murakumo Unit before her. "You look weak, by the way."
"I assure you, I am capable of far more than you in combat."
"Yeah? Prove it!"
"Location determined. Analyzing targets." Mu's robotic monotone broke the argument. "Nox Nyctores Arma Reboure: Muchourin detected. Target threat level is S. Unknown source of power detected. Target threat level is undetermined; regarding as threat level SS. Overriding all limiters. Engaging battle mode."
Platinum smirked. "Wow. She's as boring as she is flat."
Rachel's hand clenched, and she breathed deep. "...I am contemplating immolating you. Please silence yourself at once."
"Beginning termination of targets." A pair of turrets sprouted from nowhere, and lasers scorched the air, burning into the concrete.
With a battle cry, Platinum tried to run her down. "Ha! Take this, nitwit!"
Her staff became a hammer, and she tried to pound Mu over the head. Instead, the swords floating behind Mu lashed out, slicing Platinum and almost throwing her off the branch entirely. Rachel shook her head. "Such impulsiveness is utterly futile against such a foe. I demand that you allow your other persona to take over."
"...Like hell..." Luna's defiance died as Sena took over. "Ouch... sorry about Luna."
"Endeavor to rein in her attitude in the future, if you will." Rachel summoned a monstrous blast of pink lightning to strike Mu from above; more bolts followed in a straight line, one after the other. Unfazed by the sorcery, Mu dashed Rachel's way, forming more floating laser turrets around her. Wind fought against her advance and brought her to a virtual standstill. The tempest had no effect on the laser beams, but Rachel still sidestepped them with ease. Platinum saw a chance and pointed the staff at Mu. A trio of missiles with cat ears followed. With Rachel's wind trailing them, they reached Mu before she could defend herself and blew her back.
The wind stalled for a moment as more lightning was conjured. Like a cocoon, a crystalline field projected by her swords enveloped Mu and protected her from the electric blasts. It faded before Platinum's arcing bombs crashed to the grounded and torched her. The wind picked up once more and slammed her into the obsolete Cauldron, where she dropped to her knees. She took a moment to analyze all that had just happened. "Damage minimal. Resuming termination of targets."
"Seriously?" Apparently, Luna had taken control again. Snarling, she stumbled towards Mu; Rachel had to wonder if she even acknowledged her wounds from her last reckless charge. "We kick your ass, and it's just 'minimal damage'? Godmodder!"
What on earth does that mean? "I advise you to refrain from melee attacks." Rachel took a moment to stall a flurry of laser bolts with Gii, continuing to swirl winds Mu's way. "Unless you wish to end up with further deformities."
"Who are you calling deformed? Ugly vampire... and Luna has a hammer right now!"
As she sent an arm of her miniature hurricane toward Platinum to slap her back away from Mu, Rachel extended a hand. Beside her, Nago transformed into a cannon and launched several pink objects around the Murakumo Unit. "Fascinating. I was wondering what manner of weapon you were currently wielding. I can rest in peace now."
"I think she meant we need to get close, actually." Sena's voice.
"That is not advised."
Winds swept her into the air and Rachel concentrated. Massive, branch-shaking bursts of lightning crashed around the rods she had placed. The power was enough to obliterate a normal person; Mu shrugged off the surge and resumed her approach, spreading out more laser turrets. "Damage minimal. Resuming termination of targets."
"Gah, you piss Luna off!" With wind at her back, Platinum charged forward again. Once she was close enough, she morphed her staff into something large and heart-shaped. She rode atop it and smashed into Mu; both of them skidded back against the Cauldron. Platinum rose first and smashed her hammer down on Mu's head. "Ha! Take that, you bitch! Try and pass this off as minim-"
"Terminating." An incandescent blade rose up from the ground and ran Platinum straight through the chest. The phantasmal sword vanished, and Platinum collapsed, gasping. After rising, Mu cast a blank look at the wounded girl. "Target incapacitated. Life signs are positive. Preparing for termination."
"I think not." The storm created distance between Mu and the fallen girl and Rachel glided down to Platinum. "I shall transport you to a hospital; your part here is done."
"No... I can... still..." Platinum hacked as she tried in vain to stand. "...I can't leave... Master Jubei is..."
"Jubei will understand. Should you continue this battle, you will surely perish. Farewell, child. The fool you are seeking has already headed to the 6th Hierarchical City, Yabiko. Head there upon recovery."
The wheezing girl vanished and lightning followed; Mu was staggered, but unharmed. Rachel glared at her. "I do not take kindly to the impaling of my comrades, intolerable though they may be. Prepare yourself."
Wind blew against her back and propelled Rachel forward, the umbrella-shaped Nago before her. She stabbed against Mu's swords and conjured lightning. The bolt had no effect upon her or her familiars. Unfortunately, it didn't have much on Mu, either. The swords cut at the vampire, who was already in motion, aided by her wind. She spun up against Mu and spikes extended from her dress to gash the Murakumo Unit. Lightning struck again as the wind pulled Rachel into the air once more. "Tempest Dahlia."
Space bent as she summoned a great myriad of objects, all flying at great speed due to the wind. As a cow plastered the most fearsome weapon the world had ever known against the ground—how did livestock get caught in my summoning sorcery?—Rachel prepared the same bit of magic once more. "George XIII. If you will."
A frog appeared, and wind blew it into Mu's face for it to expel a high-voltage shock of electricity. More pink objects came from Nago, and formed rods upon landing. This time, the hellblast of lightning dropped Mu to her knees. Rachel's expression did not change. "I doubt I shall emerge victorious, but this is certainly progress. With any luck, Ragna will not be left with the unenviable task of slaying Miss Yayoi's friend."
"Damage... moderate. Systems at 74%. Switching stratagem. Resuming termination of target." Mu summoned up two more laser turrets next to her. After sidestepping the bolts, Rachel frowned... and felt two more burn her from behind. Making a note to chastise Nago for failing to shield her, she summoned more lightning, somewhat annoyed by the monotony of her attacks.
A single beam from Mu entered a turret before redirecting itself towards the next. Not about to wait for whatever was to come, Rachel glided forward once more. She blocked a yellow claw ripping from nowhere that halted her advance with a burst of wind, blowing it aside. Floating beside her head, Gii's mouth opened to comical levels. "Princess! Behind you!"
She glanced back; the laser that had chained its way through the turrets fired upon her. It pierced through Nago, who covered her like a cloak, and burned into Rachel's back... just in time for Mu to deliver a massive slice with her blades that lifted Rachel and threw her to where two turrets waited. They exploded and dropped her to the ground in a scorched heap. Gii gaped at his fallen mistress before turning to Mu. "You... you!"
With an angry, if somewhat squeaky, battle cry, Gii hurtled through the air and headbutted Mu in the chest. Repeatedly, but to no effect. Mu didn't even acknowledge him; a single laser blasted him to where Rachel lay. Mu approached the defeated trio. "Target incapacitated. Life signs positive. Preparing for termination."
"No... I cannot perish today." Her strength fading, Rachel called upon her sorcery once more. A moment later, she, Nago and Gii were gone, safe at their mansion.
Mu's unblinking eyes regarded the spot her targets had just vanished from before she turned around. "Azure Grimoire detected. Tracking."
What the hell is this? I can't shut it down! Hazama stepped away from Ragna, eyes wide with terror at the sight. "...The hell...?"
"What did I tell you, Terumi? The Azure doesn't belong to anyone, not even the madman who made it! You don't stand a god damn chance against me now!"
"Big talk from someone who's spent the last week getting his ass kicked." Hazama tossed Ouroboros, the spearhead aimed at Ragna's heart. After jumping to the side, Ragna reached out and grabbed the chain. Dark energy burned through his glove... this is nothing. With a roar, he pulled on it, jerking it away from Hazama and throwing it behind him. He charged, a rushing punch empowered by the Azure.
A spinning kick to the face sent Ragna skyward. Wincing, he glared through the pain to see Ouroboros flying after him. He let it bite into his shoulder and smirked as Hazama followed "Inferno Divider!"
Ragna rose through the air, Blood-Scythe's darkness-enveloped edge pulling Hazama along. The energy of the Azure burning through him, he sent Hazama down to the ground with a vicious kick. The Azure sucked away at Hazama's very life as the blow struck, and Ragna felt his wounds heal a bit. Upon landing, he blocked Hazama's knives and responded with a wide cut. He tried to charge, but Hazama flipped around, a kick that knocked Ragna back. As he completed the flip, Hazama snarled. Where'd First Lieutenant Garbage get to…?
His answer came before he hit the ground. Izayoi slashed at him from behind, a stout cut wrapped in light that tossed him forward, right into Ragna's rising slash. With a roar, Ragna finished the attack with another bicycle kick. The floor cracked where Hazama crashed onto his back. As Ragna landed, he glanced over at Tsubaki. "The hell are you doing? I got this! Stay back!"
"Do you really expect me to just sit back after the last time you fought him?" Tsubaki jumped a set of knives tossed at her feet and slashed, her sword segmenting and striking like a whip. "I'm not about to risk losing you again."
"Gah… alright. Just... keep away from me, alright? Don't want my Grimoire to drain you or anything."
Ragna growled as Hazama, having blocked Tsubaki's attack, struck her gut with his knee. All composure lost, the snarling madman stabbed at her neck; Izayoi's shield stopped it. "You know, you two are really starting to piss. Me. Off. So here's an idea; why don't you just die already?"
"No." Tsubaki charged forward, led by her shield. It hit home, and a circle of light held Hazama captive, helpless as Tsubaki raised her weapon. "Why don't you die instead?"
Hazama braced himself as she hurled a great ball of light at him. It had been agonizing when she had unleashed the attack upon him the first time, days before. It was pure hell this time, chewing away at him like acid. As it ended, another wave of energy slashed him and hurled him against a wall. Hakumen. God damn it, I really need to...
Ragna stood in front of him, sword drawn back. Hazama couldn't block the violent slash that crushed him against the wall. Ragna's hand clamped around his throat lifted Hazama off his feet. Ragna spoke in short bursts, each word punctuated with a blow from Blood-Scythe. "This is for Tsubaki. For Noel. For Nu. For every! God! Damn! Person! You've! Ever! Screwed! With! You! God! DAMN! BASTARD!"
Hazama dropped to the ground a bloody heap, his body shattered by the blows. Ragna glowered down at him. The body shook with what Ragna took to be violent coughs; he flipped Hazama around to find him laughing. "Yes... this is it! This is what I've been looking for... come on, Ragna the..."
He broke into a fit of coughs, blood seeping from his mouth. "Let's go, Ragna the Bloodedge! Give me more! Entertain me, mutt!"
"Oh, I'll entertain you, all right... I'll devour you with the darkness you created!"
Ragna grabbed Hazama, his right hand an inhuman claw with foot-long digits. Dark and massive, with great claws where the fingers should have been, it crushed Hazama as the power of the Azure sucked away his life. Hazama braced himself, knowing the agony that had yet to come. You know, maybe I should have actually shut up for a bit...
The worst of the attack came, and his scream echoed through the halls of the Kagutsuchi NOL branch.
Makoto peered around a random corner. Maybe, she thought, it hadn't been such a good idea to run off before actually receiving her orders. Maybe Kokonoe would have been able to at least point her in the direction of Noel. Maybe. "Oh well, too late now."
She headed down the corridor, frowning as she passed several doors. She didn't even recognize this part of the branch; she hoped she was nearing the gate at the bottom. With perfect stealth, she tiptoed through the hall. She had no idea why she was being so silent in an empty building, but... Wait, did I just hear something?
Another sound came from around the corner she'd just turned; an anguished gasp. Makoto turned around, frowning. Is someone tailing me? I didn't even bother checking... She raced back around to where she'd come from. She blinked at who awaited her. "Jin? Is that you?"
"Huh?" Clutching his forehead, panting, Jin regarded her with cold, yet disconcerted eyes. "Where... where am I?"
"The Kagutsuchi Librarium branch." She smiled. Okay, good, at least it's a friend. "Come on, we gotta go. Noel's in trouble. I mean, I know you don't like her very much, but..."
"Noel?" He slid down to his knees, Yukianesa still in his grasp. "Who's that?"
"Uh, what? Don't joke with me, I'm really not in the mood." She approached him and extended a hand. "I mean, unless you're completely wasted, in which case I'd probably be better off leaving you here..."
Without warning, Yukianesa slid out of its sheath and slashed at her face; she just managed to get a hand up in time. Some metal concealed by her black sleeve blocked the katana. He glared up at her, eyes burning with... she almost wanted to think it was fright. Fright, and something else; bloodlust, burning out of control like wildfire. "Who the hell are you?"
"What do you mean, 'who are you'? It's me! Makoto! We went to the military academy together! I'm Tsubaki's friend... you remember Tsubaki, right?"
"Tsubaki?" His eyes widened; red bled into his irises to swallow their green hue. "I've never heard that name in my life."
"Terumi... Terumi's done this to you, hasn't he?" After stepping away from another slash, Makoto flung off her Intelligence uniform to reveal scant orange clothing and a pair of wrist-strapped tonfas beneath. "I'm sorry, Jin, but I'm gonna have to beat some sense into you."
Jin, irises a bright red now, grinned and giggled with madness. "Mere obstacles like you won't stand in my way! DIE!"
Ragna glared down at Hazama's broken, bleeding body. He kicked it once, making sure his foe was dead...a cough sounded from it and Hazama smirked up at him. "Heh... what are you waiting for? Aren't you gonna finish me? Or are you just chicken?"
He didn't answer with words. Instead, he raised Blood-Scythe and drove it into Hazama's neck, attempting to make good on his promise to rip his head off. The blade did not pierce through, and Ragna came to a conclusion on why Terumi was so unafraid. "You've got a life-link with someone, don't you? Tch. That's gonna make killing you a real bitch. Lay here and bleed; I'm gonna go un-forge your little sword."
He felt a hand rest on his shoulder and turned to see Tsubaki at his side. She glanced down once at Hazama before giving a Ragna a soft smile. "Nice work."
"Not good enough. You alright?"
"Much better than last time, thanks."
They both looked down as Hazama coughed. "Heh... how sweet. You... think you've won..."
"We have." Hakumen's clawed foot stomped down Hazama's head, and he drove Ookami into Hazama's chest. "I shall see to it that you do not leave this spot, Terumi."
"Good. We'll go and take care of Noel." Succumbing to a sense of triumphal joy, Ragna grabbed Tsubaki around the waist and drew her in. "Ready to-?"
"What?" Hakumen's grip on Ookami tightened; Ragna could feel waves of malevolence flowing from him. "Tsubaki, you and him?"
Fearful of Hakumen's wrath, she drew closer to Ragna. "...Yes? Terumi was kind of taunting us about it the entire battle there."
"I do not believe a single word that Terumi utters."
Ragna rolled his eyes and gripped Blood-Scythe. "What the hell's your problem with us? Seriously, you get so god damn weird when it comes to Tsubaki."
Hakumen stayed silent for a while, gripping his sword tighter and tighter. Hazama allowed himself a smirk. Ooh, this could be good. Then, with a sigh, Hakumen turned his head back towards Hazama. "...There is no problem. Your relationship is none of my concern. However, if you ever harm her, I will not rest until I have cut you down."
"Oh, good one, Haku! Staying noble for the lady, eh?" Hazama grinned up at him, although inside he was... disappointed, to say the least. "But... well, it really should concern you, right? Hey, Miss Garbage, I got an offer for you."
Arm leaving Ragna, Tsubaki walked over to him, glaring. At least he can't move anything except for his mouth. I should be fine. "I will not listen to your lies, Terumi."
"Lies? Let me tell you something; if there's anything that I hate more than bitchy vampires and useless garbage, it's lies." His snakelike smile faded for a moment as he coughed. "Give me a minute, and you and Ragna... well, you'll know everything Rachel couldn't be assed to tell you. Like how Haku here knows you, who the Imperator is... or what Ragna really is. Hey, I may even throw in a bonus and tell you how your life was supposed to go. You won't be in such a hurry to, ah, deforge Kusanagi once you know the truth. Speaking of her, here's a freebie; that life-link I have is with her."
"Yeah, and I'm calling bullshit on the rest of it." Ragna stepped over to him and kicked his ribs. "You're not actually thinking about talking to this bastard, are you, Tsubaki?"
She chewed her bottom lip in thought. "You say you hate lies more than anything, so I'd assume everything you say is the truth. So tell me; what would you gain from telling Ragna and I all of that?"
"Ah... like you said, I won't lie. I just wanna see you go back to hating him, and I'm pretty sure what I know would go a long way for that. And hey, if I can get Rags pissed enough to kill that shitty vampire for me, that's a pretty nice bonus. So, what do you say, Miss Garbage?"
"Offering the truth to cause strife... what do you think I'll say?" With a vicious grunt, she kicked Hazama in the head, smacking it against the wall. Without any further regard for him, she turned and stormed away. "Come on, Ragna."
"Right." Ragna glared down at Hazama one last time before following Tsubaki. "Make sure this asshole doesn't leave."
Hakumen pressed on Ookami to drive it deeper. His leg trembled; the damage he'd sustained was worse than he'd thought. "Of course."
As she swept towards the elevator, Tsubaki paused and looked over at Hakumen. "Oh, Sir Hakumen? It was an honor to fight at your side."
"No, Tsubaki. The honor was mine." After hearing the elevator begin its ascent, Hakumen pulled Ookami out of the Hazama's chest and ran it through his mouth. "I will not allow your words to taint my thinking. Your time has come; once the devil's tool is slain, I will cut you down myself."
Hazama chuckled in response, but couldn't answer. No matter. Go ahead, Rags. Deal with Kusanagi.
Because you have no idea just what will happen when you do.
A/N: Yeah, so this isn't exactly 'incredibly long'. That's because this and the next chapter were originally supposed to be one chapter, but I decided against sticking a 15000 word brick in the middle of the story. That, and it's been more than two weeks since the last update. I hope to have chapter 8 by the end of the month.
