**Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY RIGHTS TO BLAZBLUE OR IT'S CHARACTERS**
Bullet: So this Ragna guy is some bad guy? Author: Ha, nah Riven he's a good guy.
Bullet: Riven? Author: Uh. . . never mind.
Curious Encounters
Chapter Twelve: My Allies Can Kill
A loud klaxon screeched through out the sterile Sector Seven laboratory as Ragna and Rachel filed into it through the portal. "What the Hell is that stupid god damn sound?" Ragna shouted to Rachel though it was muted by the intense noise. This is ridiculous, she can't even hear me from only a few feet away! Damn it, this is stupid. This has never happened to me before when I was here.
Rachel mouthed something to him as she moved forward into a deeper section of the laboratory and Ragna jogged after her. Taokaka crouched several meters ahead of where they had come in with her paws clamped to her ears and a frown gleaming from underneath her hood. Ragna sprinted to her, wrapped his arms around her and cupped his hands around her paws and ears to help her quiet the infernal alarm. Tao shivered at Ragna's touch and her eyes glided over to his, appreciation touched them as the alarm died off in a final echoing howl. "That," Rachel called as she turned to see Ragna and Tao together and her eyebrow furrowed, "is highly unnecessary. Perhaps our hosts are more paranoid then we previously speculated."
"Paranoid is right," admitted a young feminine voice that flowed with a soft resentment as Kokonoe came out from behind a bubbling tank of water which held a being within, "I did say I would send Lambda to come find you. You're idiot of a girlfriend tripped my sensors and sparked the alarm." Kokonoe's eyebrow twitched as she sauntered over to them, bell jingling the with each hip shaking step. "Tager, stand down."
Ragna's eyes shot around to find the Red Devil of Sector Seven a meter behind him with his arms raises as if to strike the couple. "Yes professor." Tager bowed his head and walked past them with a neutral expression etched onto his face, but Ragna glared at him the whole time until he pulled to Kokonoe's side.
Tao shivered once as her paws started pulling away from her ears but to Ragna's surprise, and extreme enjoyment on a barely conscious level, she wrapped her paws around his hands and pulled him closer to her. "Thanks Ragna," Tao mewed softly as she pulled him into hugging her from behind, "Tao didn't mean to get Ragna into trouble." Ragna blinked at the apology and a warm genuine smile, something he had rarely felt before being with her, blossomed onto his face.
"It's alright Tao, you don't need to apologize." Ragna soothed as he squeezed her tighter to him, "It would have happened either way so don't worry." Tao leaned into him and rubbed the side of her hood into his cheek as a soft purring sound vibrated into his chest and head. Rachel and Kokonoe both sighed and gave each other a slightly annoyed glance as Tao and Ragna cuddled together. Tager cleared his throat for their attention. "Yeah yeah, I know. . ." Assholes, Ragna thought sourly, Just give me another few moments of this before you remind me of where I am.
"Good," Kokonoe said calmly as she slid a new silvervine lollipop out of her white lab coat, "I sent Lambda out to find you a few hours ago but if you came here on your own she will just grab the other girl and we'll be ready to start." Kokonoe announced as she peeled off the wrapper from the blue treat and slid it into her mouth provocatively, or at least Ragna's subconscious told him it was provocative. Shut up, not now.
"Actually. . ." Ragna said hesitantly but Rachel took a step forward and rose her hand to silence the man.
"That will not be possible, miss Noel Vermilion has been taken by our enemy. Terumi now has her, thus our hand has been forced." Rachel revealed in a controlled almost apologetic tone. Kokonoe practically spit out her sucker and she hissed a furious slur as she readjusted the treat to it's natural position.
"That Friggin' Son of a BITCH! Damn that bastard, how the hell did he throw in a preemptive strike on my plans. This crap is ridiculous!" The pink haired scientist fumed as Ragna untangled himself from Tao and helped her to her feet.
"He has elicited the assistance of a master tactician from within your Librarium. I believe his name is Relius Clover." Rachel explained as she dropped Nago onto the ground and the cat transformed into a plush chair without an utterance of a command from his master. As she sat and rose one leg over her other she gazed to Ragna and Tao, "He is most likely the culprit."
"Relius is a monster," Kokonoe barked, her face contorted in a sneer, "figures that bastard would throw on Terumi's side. Those two together are a serious problem to contend with. Damn it," the scientist cursed as she looked to Ragna and hooked a thumb in his direction, "I was counting on that idiot to collect everyone and bring them here so we could take those manipulative sons of bitches down but I guess we are already screwed."
"Well screw you!" Ragna shouted indignantly as he stepped away from Tao and headed towards Kokonoe to get in her face. "It's not my fault that you took too long to send Nu! I already told Noel her part in your plan and she was looking for Nu when she got caught, I don't have time to deal with this shit!"
"Ragna stop being a moron. We know we don't have time to argue but rushing in like maniac won't do anything but get you killed." Kokonoe explained as she sharpened her yellow eyes and glared back at the enraged Bloodedge. "Ragna, stop letting your emotions and quick temper force you into idiotic situations. Just calm down for a second while I come up with a new plan," she pleaded as she turned her back on him and walked over to a black rolling stool, "I really get tired of all this crap."
"Do not concern yourself with the planning Ragna, Kokonoe and I shall devise a strategy for the rescue of miss Noel." Rachel soothed as she switched her legs and locked eyes with the now seated Kokonoe. "Relax and calm yourself, if you can, and we will enlighten you as to our stratagem once it is complete." Ragna nose twitched as he struggled not to give her a disgusted sneer but he said nothing as he turned his back on them and started to for Tao's side. "Good boy."
"Screw you rabbit."
Tao stared up at the tank of green bubbling water with her large red eyes as the soft murmur of intellectual discussion continued between the two other women in the room. Her head tilted slightly as she inspected the man drifting in the middle of the tank of liquid. She took a step closer and put both of her paws against the glass between and the man while she wondered who he was. He was tall, had dark skin like her but his skin had a series of intricate dark brown tattoos going along his well shaped abs, shoulders and arms and on top of that his hair looked funny to her, it was long and looked almost blue or maybe teal in the light of the tank. She was sure Ragna would have said he looked weird too but he had fallen asleep in her arms several minutes ago and she softly set him down as her curiosity baited her to venture though the laboratory. "Don't touch it." Tager warned in a firm precise tone and Tao nearly skittered away.
"Oh, it's just Big Guy. Sorry Big Guy, Tao just thought it was odd how this Tattoo guy was floating in water. Why is he here?" Tao asked in a sweet innocent tone which drew a raised eyebrow from the colossal red skinned man.
"He is Azrael. An abomination of a man who feels nothing for anyone, not even himself. All he wants is to fight and beat people to death with his bare hands." Tager explained grimly but the pace of his words never faltered. "He revels battling and he fought himself to near death. Needless to say he is a mad man who still hold favor with the high ups of Sector Seven thus I was sent to collect him and here he is now."
"Tao doesn't like how Tattoo Guy sounds. Sorry Big Guy." Tao mewed weakly as her ears sagged and a frown gleamed from beneath her hood.
"Tao? Where are you?" Ragna sleepily called and Tao looked back at the unconscious Azrael, her ears perked up at the sound of her mate's soft voice. With a small shiver of fear Tao tore her eyes from the man and rushed to Ragna's side. Ragna head was lifted as he used his elbows to raise his upper body off the floor and a small grin spread across his face as he got a good look at her tan lean legs, red exposed panties, long gracefully falling platinum hair and beautiful full red eyes.
"Sorry Ragna, Tao just got curious about those bubbling things." Tao admitted while dropping down to her knees.
"Ah. . . No, it's fine. You and your curiosity. . ." Ragna joked as he slid his hand into her hood and brushed the side of her face. Tao leaned into the caress with a soft purr and her eyes melded from their red depths into a vibrant green. "It'll lead you all over the place if ya let it." Ragna's voice sweetly slipped into her ears but she could tell that there was a soft hint of tiredness in the words that didn't come from physical fatigue.
"Is Ragna feeling alright?" Tao asked drawing a paw up to cup his hand in fond yearning and concern. "Ragna sounds a little down," Tao's ears slid down slightly as her eyes softened then faded back to red, "Anything Tao can do to help?"
Ragna's lightly amused smirk relaxed into a gloomy but almost neutral frown, "I- no Tao, I'm fine. Just damn ready to be through with this shit." Ragna's hand swiveled around and his fingers intertwined with her fingers, well the best he could, and he inhaled a short focus gathering breath. "I have been after Terumi for a long time and I feel this might be our best shot. It feels like it is almost over. . ." Ragna exhaled a hot breath and an embarrassed smirk returned to his face just as a deep blush painted his cheeks and face. "Tao, after this is done. . . You wanna find a place? Like together."
Head tilted to the side, Tao body shifted around until she was sitting next to him. "What do you mean? Tao knows Ragna and Tao are already together, but Tao is not sure what Ragna means." She wasn't oblivious, at least she didn't think so but then again her attention span was about as good as- "Tao is hungry."
Ragna blinked at her a few times until his cheeks returned to their normal pale tint and he laughed heartily at the sudden change of topics. "Okay Tao, we'll get something in a second." Ragna closed his eyes and shook his head a mix of annoyed and amused but Tao head returned to tilting as she realized she had said the wrong thing. If only Tao could remember what Ragna was talking about. Tao mentally whined, Tao is hungry and Ragna was asking Tao to. . .
"Did Tao say something wrong?" the kaka woman asked, her voice coming off confused and slightly distressed. Ragna ceased pulling himself up from the ground and rocked back into a seated position.
Eyebrows tensing in an unknown emotion, Ragna silently sighed out a breath and smiled for his mate. "No, we can talk about it after we eat, it was just. . . I just, I don't know. I'm not good with this. . . well, THIS." What was this again? Tao pondered as Ragna smile twitched and returned to normal.
"AH! Tao remembers now!" She shouted and the soft rise and fall of conversation several meters away stopped abruptly causing Ragna to winced as he realized they'd broken the strategists' concentration. "Ragna asked Tao if Tao wants to find a 'place' with him. What does Ragna mean by place?"
Though Tao had lowered her voice Ragna glanced at the two woman standing apart from the couple and found them both glaring at his beloved from their chairs. "Yeah," Ragna conceded as his gaze returned to Tao, "I meant a place you and I could live together. Ya know, like a house or some kinda home?"
"Why not just go around like we were before? Tao loves Ragna and Tao will follow Ragna where Ragna will go." Tao purred as she scooted around to be sitting shoulder to shoulder with him and her head fell onto the crook of his neck. "Why does Ragna want a house?"
"Well," Ragna admitted, a new softer blush forming on his face, "I had never actually thought about what would happen after I got my revenge. These past few days have got me thinking about a future. Not something I am use to thinking about really. I want to be with you for a long time Tao and I want to have a place. A place of our own, where there's no one to bother us." Ragna's deep rumbling voice vibrated into Tao and she held back an excited purring moan. Tao knows what he means hehe. "It would be nice to be alone, just the two of us. At least for a little while. . ."
As in until Tao has k-
"I do believe we are in agreement." Rachel concluded, speaking more loudly than usual as she rose from her throne and Nago quickly returned to his parasol form. "Ragna, Taokaka, it is time we proceed into the lair of those venomous villains. If my instincts are correct Valkenhayn would have located Terumi's stronghold by now, we must move if we are to succeed."
Ragna and Tao rose together in a slow measured motion before either woman could reach them. "It won't be easy but that bastard won't know what hit him." Kokonoe interjected as she bit into her candy with a solid unnerving crunch and her hands clamped onto her hips. "Pretty much this is how it will work out. Tager will go into the compound with you and I will keep in touch with you through him. Once I get a schematic of the place he'll secure an exit route while you go in there, break that whiny Noel girl out and you'll bring her back here. Rachel will be with you to teleport you out if you get hurt but that doesn't mean you can still charge in like an idiot with no fear. These assholes are dangerous and they won't stand for your crap."
Ragna hefted his sword and scoffed at the pink-haired scientist, "Not as dangerous as I am. I don't plan on backing down if they show up."
"Ragna don't be a complete idiot, this is a search and rescue mission. Stealth is the biggest part, fighting should be a last resort. . . But then again, knowing you," Kokonoe hummed as she turned her back on the red coated man, "that's a tall order."
"You bitch!" Ragna spat and Tao put her paws on his chest to calm him but she too held a growing anger in her eyes. Tail lady is making my Ragna angry, Tao wants to hit her too but Tao knows that would make Ragna upset again. . . Sorry Ragna, T. . . Tao is sooooo hungry! HUNGR-
"Kokonoe, now is not the time to antagonize such a foolish man," Rachel quipped and Ragna nose twisted at her own snide remark, "Suffice it to say we require the use of subtlety. Ragna you will be behind me and your Betrothed shall take up the rear."
Tao frowned toothily as she kneaded her paws into Ragna's chest, "Tao is hungry! Can't we get food before we go?"
Before Ragna could answer Rachel snidely called out, "No, we must depart now."
Ragna glared at the vampiress but he answered Tao in a soft voice laced with an old understanding tone, "Once we finish this I promise I will get you something great. I'll cook it myself. Promise."
"Good! Tao can't wait!" Tao cheered and Rachel closed her eyes with a soft exhale. Without saying another word Rachel opened a portal and the three went through without pause.
Tager readjusted his glasses as he trudged after them but stopped a few meters from the portal. "Are you sure we should stay out of this one?" Tager asked in his firm bass voice.
"Call it plausibly deniability," Kokonoe noted shortly as she eyed the portal with a frown and the bell on her belt jingled as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, "I don't think this plan will work out like we hope so it's good to cover our asses. Besides, if they end up really needing our help I can transfer Lambda to your position to rush in and finish off Terumi. Killing two birds with one stone so to speak."
"And if they die before we get to them?" Tager added with a deeper frown.
"They won't. Just get out there already and wait for instructions."
"Yes Ma'am. . ."
Valkenhayn rested his hand of the shoulder of a short brunette as Rachel, Ragna and Tao materialized through the portal. Valkenhayn released her shoulder and he turned to greet his master, "Madame, I have tracked the fiends location. I am sorry it took me so long to arrive, I did run into unexpected company." With a gentle wave of his hand, he stepped back to reveal a fiery eyed Makoto.
"Good work Valkenhayn, you're timing was perfect as always and you acquired another asset. I am pleased." Rachel cooed as she bowed her head ever so slightly to the beast-kin woman.
"Thank you Madame." Valkenhayn muttered as Makoto passed him and headed straight for Ragna.
"How did Noelle get in this situation! We gotta do something about this and fast!" the squirrel girl growled, her fists clinching her tonfas with a white knuckled strength.
Ragna gritted his teeth as he bowed his head in failure, "God Damn it, I know that." Ragna felt a soft paw touch his cheek and his teeth eased their pressure as his eyes slid to Tao's gently glowing red eyes. "I know. We have a plan but it requires quick light feet. . . But if things go bad, you and I get to be the muscle."
A grimace formed on Rachel's lips though she said nothing, Makoto on the other hand grinned a savage warrior's smile as she nodded to him and turned back to Valkenhayn. "Hell yeah, I'm going to break every bone in Captain Hazuma's face if he's hurt my Noelle!"
Ragna scoffed an amused grunt, he wanted to laugh but he was trying to remain angry. He needed his rage and his fury to accomplish his revenge. He would play along with the plan but deep down he bubbled with sinister excitement. He was going to murder Terumi. . . And his death, his last moments if life in this world would be excruciating, every second until Ragna slashed his body to pieces. . . Vengeance. . . Will be mine.
Valkenhayn fled to his master's side as Ragna began pulling his thoughts back to the task at hand and the servant continued informing his lady on the situation, "It would seem they have fortified their stronghold within these sewers." To that Ragna's eyes shoot up and he finally noticed where he was. The sewers of Kagutsuchi? This place is a shit-hole, why the Hell would they hold up here?! "I cannot say for sure where within they reside but I was able to track them this far."
Tager's voice echoed of the dank walls of the lower leveled buildings and Makoto jumped as if startled by his presence, "Though I am sure this is a trap, this is good news for us. I will not have to relay as much information back to Professor Kokonoe, the sewers have been charted before; however, securing an exit may prove problematic."
"When did he get here?!" Makoto hissed but no one answered as he pulled up to the group.
"Let's just get going. I don't feel like standing in the muck of the sewers for long and Noel needs our help." Ragna grunted gaining a nod from Rachel as she pulled past everyone and started for the seithr saturated catacombs.
"Miss Nanaya you will precede Miss Taokaka, understood?" Rachel whispered in her soft courtly monotone.
"Roger. . ."
With his hand on his sword, Ragna also found himself clutching his weapon with a white knuckled pressure as he entered the fowl stench of the sewers. Only two things went through his mind as he descended into darkness.
Don't worry Noel we're coming. . . Terumi, just you wait. . .
AN: Hello everyone, pardon the delay. I feel kinda bad that I made everyone wait so long for this new chapter, I was sorta bitching and moaning about how I wasn't getting any reviews or follows or PMs after I released two chapters back to back. I apologize for that but that wasn't the only reason it took so long to get this chapter out. I have finals like any other college student and I was working at the college at the same time so I was seriously side tracked.
Man only two chapters left?! I'm actually looking forward to writing them too.
Gotta give a shout out to alllllll the people who read my stuff. 5k views?! God Damn, that is really impressive! Either you guys like my writing or Tao x Ragna stories are picking up speed, or perhaps Blazblue is just getting more and more popular. Either way, I am extremely pleased and grateful to have that many views. Person shout out to EthanMuller35! If it wasn't for him I might not have started writing this chapter when I did! Also wanna say thanks and give credit to Mr War, he's the one who put in the original request for these chain of stories.
Hey! PM me if ya wanna talk about the story or have any requests. Don't have to Review, though it is appreciated, I won't go AWOL again if I don't get any.
THINK YOU CAN WRITE IT BETTER?! Good, I love good Tao x Ragna stories and I know the community would love to see your works. Take it from a guy who did this story on a whim, it is a lot of fun and people really appreciate it. (Ragna x Tsubaki is good too but that's just me. . . xD lol)
Brothers, Sisters, Lend me your. . . Never mind.
Keep Reading and Writing those good stories and Stay Classy.
