Chapter 14: So Izayoi and Fate Go Head to Head?
"I must hurry! Where could she be?!"
The voice of a familiar shopkeeper rang throughout the streets as she ran through them. The shopkeeper of the [Thousand Eyes] Eastern Seventh Gate Branch, the one dubbed by Makie as Miss Blue, trotted through the crowds, trying to find the presence of a familiar silver haired girl she recently befriended.
Her eyes scanned the large branches as she searched for the girl. "I have to tell her about this soon..." She stated as she ducked under a wayward root. "Her body... That shell she has. She needs to know her limits." Her search stopped as a tremor rattled the earth. Stones shook as the jumped from their place on the ground.
"What's going on?" She questioned as the crowds began to freak out over the bizarre earthquake. "And why do I feel those problem children are behind it?"
RETURNOFLOSTSOULS
The librarian scrambled around, catching book after book and placing them in their specific sections. The battle was impressive. Izayoi managed to push the one declaring herself as Fate away from the girl. Makie knew she couldn't follow and so began fixing the small crater made by the boy.
Said crater was in a bookshelf and many books flew off of it due to his speed that created a jet stream where the books followed him before it vanished.
"Stupid Izayoi," she muttered as a stray knife flew over her head and collided into a wall nearby. "And stupid Fate too. Why do they have to have this here?!"
From the corner of her eye, she could see Izayoi leap backwards from several knives that Fate used to get around the area faster. A thrust was deflected into a book costing the woman a point early in the game. Fate frowned before vanishing to the top of a bookshelf. Grabbing the knife, she recharged it for another use before jumping backwards off the shelf allowing Izayoi to crash into it.
"And there goes another one..." Makie felt like she was dying inside. Every time she seen a book get hurt it was like a needle to her being a bookshelf and all its books scattered on the ground was enough to cause the woman to feel ten thousand blades piercing her body!
Izayoi jumped out of the wreckage of the book shelf, a history book opened on top of his head. Grabbing the tome, he threw it towards Fate at a high speed. Not fast enough to destroy the book but fast enough to force his opponent to destroy it. He knew he was going to get into trouble for it later but he would worry about it later.
Knives missed the books and struck the wall behind Izayoi allowing fate to vanish to them. From there, she threw a sweep kick towards his legs causing the male to jump to another shelf.
Even though this was a battle for Makie's life, even though this was a battle that would have his very life on the line, he felt anything but terror. He didn't feel anxiety; he didn't feel anything other than outright joy.
A large smirk was plastered on his face, showing the happiness the boy felt inside. This woman was pushing him, forcing him to go past the limits.
They each stood even at 350 points.
Leaping off his shelf, Izayoi dived towards Fate his foot out ready to knock her away. Fate quickly threw her hands up to block the blow before vanishing causing her opponent to land in an odd position. From her new vantage point behind her foe, she quickly performed another sweeping kick to knock him off balance. As the strike connected, Fate followed through with her knives only just cutting the side of Izayoi's face.
Blood dripped down the boy's face causing him to smirk as he kicked her in the stomach from his prone position on the ground. His smile grew as he watched her bounce off the ground, her body flailing around which each jump.
The silver haired woman stood up, slightly fazed by the assault. Clutching her stomach the woman glared harshly at the blonde haired boy.
She took a large hit. She could see it, she lost 100 points. And with the cut she gave him, he lost only fifty.
Fate: 200
Izayoi: 350
"You're not half bad, way better than most, but you're subpar compared to another I fought three months ago." Izayoi's voiced echo through the library, being loud enough that even the child placing books back could hear him. As he spoke his eyes fell onto the woman's body. His eye widened at the sight of a familiar silver pocket watch.
The mentioning of another person who was better than Fate caused the librarian to look at the blonde haired boy in interest.
Fate narrowed her eyes.
"Are you referring to the [Avatar of the Weser River]?"
"Oh?" Izayoi was impressed. So she really was the personification of Fate. For her to know that, besides the word by mouth of the [Grim Grimoire Hamelin], she would have to have the omnipresence of a Fate. Though, he was still uncertain. Mythology told of different Fates.
The Three Norns of Norse Mythology.
The Moirai of Greek Mythology.
The Parcae of Roman Mythology.
The Sudice of Slavic mythology.
Or...was it possible she was the supreme Fate, the one gods not dare go against?
No...If she was it wouldn't be possible. That type of being is easily Level 1 or 2, and if she wanted to come here, she couldn't. Not unless she sealed away her power like Shiroyasha.
Then again, she mentioned a mistress...
"Let us prepare for the second round." Fate said as she grasped her own watch. Purple eyes widened in surprise. How did she have Makie's gift? That thought echoed in his mind as he looked for her. It wasn't the same however. The pocket watch he saw, he thought it was just a decoration, an accessory, but she had one but different. Makie's was of a brilliant gold compared to Fate's silver.
"[Gamma]." With that she vanished.
Cold sweat formed on Izayoi's back. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as his eyes widened. The air was now cold. He could barely move.
This…he only felt like this once before…
Like he was about to die…
Izayoi spun around as he looked for signs of his foe's approach.
A blow to the stomach was delivered. Izayoi hunched over grabbing his gut as an elbow drilled into his back. His eyes looked upon Fate who quickly vanished once again.
-Dammit, she knew I would attack…Plan B then…
"Heh, a stronger version of Makie's Gift. So how did you get it?"
Izayoi: 300
Fate: 200
"Hmph. The one your friend bears is merely a prototype. This [Lunar Dial] is the true Gift of the timespace continuum." As she spoke, she raised the silver timepiece, showing off the beauty of the Gift. A silver pocket watch, the cover embodied with what looked like two people holding swords. Izayoi recognized the symbol; it was the same as the [Thousand Eyes] emblem, and yet only the two women and swords were on it. Though, there was a snake circling them, and the hands that held the swords seemed to unite to hold an orb.
Makie narrowed her eyes. Taking out her golden watch she looked at the cover. Just like with the silver watch, the gold one held the two goddesses Alpha and Omega, but until the silver watch, nothing circled them, and instead of swords they each cradled a small orb with an hourglass inside.
-I don't get it…Prototype?
"I can see that. So if that's the [Lunar Dial] then there must have been a..."
"Don't finish that joke!" Fate warned as she interrupted her foe. "The amount of times I've heard that joke..." She shivered as she seemed to remember the amount of times it was said to her.
"So if it's a stronger version of Makie's then you must know someone to have a similar yet apparent stronger version of it."
"Perhaps. Though that will be enough of that," The woman placed the watch into her right breast pocket.
-Clever. She knew I was fishing...
Izayoi narrowed his eyes.
"So you're not going to use your Gift from Chronos?" Eyes went straight to the boy as he smirked at the woman's shocked expression. "Got it in one."
"How did you guess that?" Makie asked confused by how he figured it out.
"Oh right, we never told you. That watch of yours was made by Chronos, a higher up we never met. A prototype according to Shiroyasha. So if yours is a prototype, then that means Chronos made a complete copy or at least an upgraded version. And for Fate to have one..."
"She must have known him at some point." Makie finished.
"Depends on the definition of know. Do you mean as an acquaintance, or as a master?" A smirk laced across Izayoi's face, his arms crossed as Fate retained a stoic expression...to the best of her ability.
He could see her flinches, her failed attempt at gnawing at her lips.
"You gave yourself away Moirai. Might as well reveal your name."
The response he got was the girl vanishing. Izayoi knew where she would attack. Spinning around, he performed a hurricane kick.
BAM!
The woman flew against a shelf sending the contents to the ground. A groan escaped her as she glared at the male.
"So you figured out I'm a Moirai." She muttered as blood fell from her mouth.
"Well Chronos is the Greek personification of time. Your Gift gave you away and you did say you were a Fate. Now which one are you, Clotho, Lachesis or Atropos?"
Fate chuckled as she pulled out a bronze Gift card. "Allow me to reintroduce myself." As the card vanished, Fate stood up from the destroyed bookshelf, her hands grasping a set of bronze knives connected by a crimson rope.
"I am Lachesis, the middle child of the Moirai and the most loyal to my master and mistress. And I measure that your threads will now be cut." With that she tossed one of the daggers towards Izayoi, the rope extending as it went.
The approaching blade was avoided by a quick step to the side but that turned out to be the wrong move. With a simple tug, Fate redirected her Gift. The knife sliced into Izayoi's side as it was caught by its master, the rope decreasing in length as it went.
"A rope dart that can change its length." Makie muttered from her hiding spot. "Izayoi can negate Gifts so he should be fine but... Is she holding back?"
Izayoi grimaced. He certainty wasn't expecting that. Makie was right, he can negate gifts, but only if he himself comes into contact with them. Otherwise, the way she can change the trajectory of that knife, along with her watch, he couldn't stop him if she kept his distance.
Izayoi: 260
Fate: 200
He had no doubts of his victory, but it being an easy win was another story.
"Oh well, this makes it more interesting!"
-So you really are bored with a lot of things. I wonder what would happen if you got bored of those you cared for?
Fate's train of thought came to a close as she jumped over the wreckage of the bookshelf as Izayoi came close to her, not allowing the woman to use her weapon to its full potential.
RETURNOFLOSTSOULS
Yō smiled brightly as she, Asuka and Calico walked down main streets. Her grin was contagious to the people as they smiled back at her. Asuka sent her a knowing look, amused by her friend's expression.
-Is that what it's like to defeat a rival? Perhaps I should think of getting one myself.
"Well aren't you all grins today Kasukabe." Asuka smiled, more than happy for Yō's sudden change in character.
"Yes. I finally defeated Ayesha, and I think I understand Makie more."
"The rivalry thing correct?" Yō nodded simply. Calico Cat let out a happy nose which Asuka could only assume was the old feline congratulating Yō on her success.
"I'm still not sure about it..." Asuka smiled sadly. "If you ask me he sees her more like a sibling than anything else. With the way he let her lay on his lap like that, I wanted to pet her." Asuka cooed as he recalled the sleeping face of the homunculus laying on Izayoi's lap.
"It's too bad though that Pest asked us to leave." Yō reminded.
"But it was worth it. Seeing her panicked expression!"
"The Black Plague kicked her in the head, it was bound to happen." Yō snickered.
"Serves the new girl right." Calico Cat muttered. "I'm the only one who should get pats." Yō began to ruffles his fur to stop him from complaining. "That's the spot, ojou-sama."
"Is he ok?" Asuka asked as she watched his face change from annoyance to adoration.
"He's just being slightly jealous of what you said. Don't worry." Yō assured her as she continued to ruffle his fur.
"Then should we go find the bookworms?"
"Bookworms?" Yō asked before it finally clicked in her mind. "Yes, we should."
"Now the question is...How to get to the library?" Asuka joked causing the other two to chuckle in amusement.
"Help me... Please." A voice called out from a nearby ally causing the two to freeze.
"Does this sound oddly familiar?" Yō asked.
"...Far too familiar..." Asuka trembled.
The two girls knew who spoke that voice. It was a voice that both feared.
But more than that...it was a voice of the one they wanted revenge against.
The two girls turned around.
~growl~
Only to see Dodo lying on the ground, face first.
Her stomach growled with an unbearable roar.
"You again Dodo?" Asuka muttered causing the young girl to raise her head. The girl had a small frown on her face which doubled as she spotted her enemies.
"Ah it's you two again." She groaned before her stomach rumbled again.
"Meow!" Calico Cat growled annoyed at being ignored.
"And a third." The little girl added before her stomach grumbled again. "Where's Mocky when you need him?" She complained
"Mocky?" Asuka was perplexed. She could bet that Mocky was a member of [Jabberwocky] and yet she couldn't figure out who exactly he was besides that small bit of information.
"Yeah, Mocky. Mocky is Mocky like I'm Dodo and your annoying." A perplexed frown appeared on her face as she tried to think about something. "He said to wait here and if someone comes I can do what I want...Wanna play?"
"No thank you." Yō answered. "What do you mean he said to wait here?"
"He was getting lunch. Lollipops aren't lunch food... That's a lie, it has to be. And they are fun to stick in eyes. Wanna see!?"
"Of course not!" Asuka exclaimed in absolute horror and annoyance.
"Awww..." Dodo groaned. "You are so not fun..."
"How many screws does she have loose?" Calico whispered to his friend causing her to hide a chuckle.
"Oh Dodo, you have friends." A male voice called out from behind the problem girls. Turning around, they saw an older man dressed from head to toe in green robes. In his hands was a small paper bag. Reaching inside it, he pulled out a small pastry causing Dodo to run to him. "Here you go."
"Thanks Mocky!" She cheered as she began to tear into the treat with ravenous hunger. "'Ey n't iends. Hey mean'ughpmf" she said with her mouth full of food.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." The man chided before turning to the girls. "So you're the [No Names] correct?"
An arrogant smirk spread across the lady in red's features. Her white gloved hand found its home on her waist as she stood tall, radiating confidence and arrogance.
"That is correct. And you're Mocky?"
"Mock Turtle is not my name but a title. Same with Dodo here," The cloaked man gestured to the child munching on her pastry in pure bliss.
"Nom Nom Nom." Was all that the smaller girl said as grinned with food stuck to her face.
"Ojou-sama, this one smells like... Disinfectant and... Seafood?" Calico commented, his nose scrunched up in distaste.
"Are you really a doctor?" Yō asked on behalf of her cat.
"That I am, that was my duty before everything." Mock Turtle admitted causing the girls to frown.
"Isn't there an oath as a doctor you aren't allowed to harm someone? And with that said what are you two doing here?" Asuka asked bluntly.
"That oath has no use for a monster like me." The man stated as he patted the top of Dodo's head. The girl's couldn't tell but they imagined a frown on his face, as if he was ashamed of something.
-But why call himself a monster?
That was the shared thought between Asuka and Yō as they looked upon the cloaked man. What could have happened to him to consider himself a monster?
"As for why we are here." Mock turtle's baritone snapped the two young ladies out of their thoughts as they jumped slightly. "We are here to watch the games commence."
"Yeah so go away!" Dodo declared as she glared at the other two.
"No they can stay if they wish, Dodo."
"But Mocky..." She whined as she looked at her friend's shoulder. The man sighed before giving her another pastry. "Alright they can stay." She grumbled as she began to nibble on her sweet.
"No it's fine. We were busy in the first place." Yō admitted. There was something about the doctor that she didn't like. Her instincts were telling her that there was something off about him, as if he was extremely dangerous like the little girl next to him.
"I see." He nodded, knowing that would have happened. "Then how about a game? A small quick game to pass the time."
Immediately both girls were on their guards. They knew what a simple game was here in Little Garden. Asuka drew out her [Gift Card], keeping it at her side to ready herself.
Yō placed Calico on the ground, pressuring him to run to safety.
"Dodo, the scroll please." The little girl nodded as she placed a black scroll into Mock Turtle's waiting hands. The girl's froze as they looked upon the dark piece of parchment, knowing that something horrible was about to happen.
"She's a demon lord?" Asuka whispered to Yō who merely shrugged in response, startled by what had happened. Calico hissed in annoyance before spotting several more falling from the sky.
"Ojou-sama, we have a problem!"
"W-what is it?"
BOOM
"Uwaa!" Asuka screeched as tremors vibrated throughout the town. Dodo and Mock turtle looked around, trying to find the source of the earthquake. Screams and curious gasps exit the mouths of the citizens of the giant tree town.
"What did you do?" Asuka scowled as she glared at the members of [Jabberwocky] who looked as confused as they did.
"Mocky, did you do something?" Dodo asked. The older man shook his head, not sure where the quake originated from.
"No, it's not one of ours..."
-Unless... No they would have told us if they had another plan... wouldn't they?
"What in the world was that!?" Asuka exclaimed, looking at the two enemies.
"This is not on our accord." The cloaked man declared as Dodo ran around.
"Is it underground Mocky?"
"It appears so. More than likely the library."
"Library?" Yō blinked before she realized what that could mean. "Izayoi and Makie..."
"Of course they would be there." Asuka sighed before rubbing her temples. "Now we just need to get to them."
"Don't worry about it." The man in green stated. "We've thought ahead."
"We didn't know if anyone would be in that boring place so we sent the notes there anyway!" Dodo chimed in as she rocked back and forth, a large smile on her face. "That way there is no hiding place for them!"
"Notes?! What did you do?!" Pulling her wine red [Gift Card] out, the rich girl summoned the Cross shaped sword into her right hand.
"You know notes! Those black pieces of paper I'm not allowed to touch because... Why am I not allowed to touch them Mocky?" The young girl asked as she looked up at her friend.
"Because you and those [Geass Scrolls] together are bad news for everyone." He admitted before patting her on the head. "Besides, they aren't that fun anyway."
"Ok, they look boring anyway."
"Black-"
"[Geass Scrolls]?!" The shock emanated in Yō and Asuka's voices matched.
The cloaked figure raised his hand, his middle finger pressed into his thumb.
snap!
Another tremor wracked the city, and yet this one was much bigger than the first. SO much so that it was like the entire city was crying. A loud wailing echoed through the streets and across the community.
Yō fell to her knees, clutching her head, covering her ears. She looked up, squinting as her eyes fell onto the perpetrator of the scream.
"The tree?!"
"Hehe yup! It was mean before Mocky did something, now it's his." Dodo giggled as she enjoyed the screams of the plant. "And it sounds so happy to! Listen to it! It's enjoying itself now!"
Mock Turtle shook his head in exasperation at his little friend's words, unsure of what to say to her and the others.
-Dodo... You poor thing.
"Regardless of the tree's pain or not, our new game is about to begin."
"You can't do this! The Water Tree is the life force of this city! If you harm it-"
"I have no intention on destroying or killing it." Mock Turtle answered the startled animal lover. Said girl could only give the figure a confused expression.
RETURNOFLOSTSOULS
This was it. The moment of truth.
Makie and the bookshelf.
The final round.
It was a long, hard battle. The empty wooden furniture and thousands of books left on the floor. Makie had struggled hard to categorize each book by genre, then categorize them by numeral code and then alphabetically. But sure enough, she managed to do so.
Round two consisted of giving each shelf a specific number and genre of book. She managed to do so spectacularly. Her years of being a book lover and working as the librarian for the junior high school were not in vain.
Now came the final part, placing each book in its specific, destined position. It was a battle that took seconds upon seconds to do. And now was the final place, a small crevice in between two books on the fourth shelf, just at eye level for the girl.
Slowly she lifted the leather bind tome.
Sweat beaded down her face.
Inch by inch, the book made its way into the crevice.
The familiar sound echoed through her mind. Now for the push.
A soft, screech echoed through the hallway.
The book...was in place...
"...I. am. awesome!" The girl turned on her heel. Victory praised her by signing the chorus of alleluia. The girl walked away, proud of her accomplishment.
BOOM!
She halted in her tracks. Dust kicked up behind her.
Slowly, her head turned, her body shivering in fear at the thought of what had just occurred. Where the bookcase once stood was now a pile of shattered wood with a certain blond sitting in the middle of the wreckage. Makie's eyes turned wide as water threatened to spill out of her orbs. With a sudden lurch, she fell to the floor in silence.
"Why...WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING!?" She screamed in sadness. "I'm so sorry, library. I failed you!"
Izayoi stood up from the wreckage, not showing any sign of fatigue or injury, despite the small blood stain collecting at his right side. Instead, he merely dusted off his clothing. He wasn't fazed by the attack. However, his eyes furrowed at the information displayed in midair.
Izayoi: 130
Fate: 190
The young man clicked his tongue. The woman managed to hit him with a 50 point move, and yet due to the destruction of his landing, he must have ruined several rare books as his points were lower than hers.
-Well, someone will be annoyed.
He mused to himself before he grabbed a piece of wood and charged forward. Tossing the plank like a spear, it rocketed towards Fate ready to piece her body. Her knives rope extended as she tossed it, deflecting the plank from striking her. As the knife turned from the strike, Izayoi snatched it and yanked the woman towards him.
As Fate's balance was dismantled, she quickly returned the rope allowing her to speed towards the surprised male and head butt him in the stomach.
Grunting, the male combined both his hands together, ready to slam down on her back as hard as he could. Fate realized this and was pulled back. The second knife had found its way into a bookshelf and helped to pull her back towards it, barely avoiding Izayoi's strike. Izayoi landed on an opposing bookshelf.
A grin no longer encased his face; in fact it was replaced with a glare from the problem child.
"You're not half bad."
"Well, it is fate's will that I'm strong." Lachesis shrugged, not caring if she sounded arrogant or not. "Though I believe it's time we finish this." The crimson rope extended once again, this time becoming as long as she was tall. With a simple flick of her wrist, she tossed the blade towards Izayoi who simply dodged the weapon.
Izayoi prepared himself for the strike.
Beneath the two contenders of the game Makie was running around, trying to carry large piles of books. Sadly there were just too many and she fell on her face. Naturally she showed no sell perseverance and only focused on the books, gathering them once more.
It was at that time, the ground around them quaked.
"What?" Lachesis questioned as she stopped her assault. Izayoi blinked before he backed away as well. If his opponent didn't know what was going on then it was unlikely she caused it. A sudden gasp caused him to turn around. What he saw however caused him to freeze.
Attached to Makie's chest was a blue flame that burned gently, unable to harm the girl as she lightly poked it. "A will o' wisp?" She questioned though her friend shook his head.
"I don't think that's right." He said before he felt something burning his chest. Looking down, he spotted a similar flame emerging from his body. "Do you have one?" He asked of Fate who pointed at her own flame.
"What's going on?" She questioned, "Did you do this?"
"If it's not us and not you, then it can't be a part of our game." Izayoi declared.
Lachesis furrowed her brow. Just why was this occurring now? Did it have to do with the anomalies she spotted?
-More than likely it's them…But how is this interfering with an already established Gift Game?
Izayoi was in a similar thought, wondering if it was a Gift Game, or of something else.
But it couldn't be. Once one game starts it couldn't stop unless there was a winner or if the match was cancelled.
"Izayoi!"
The blond looked down at the white hair girl. His eyes widened as he looked at the object she was holding.
It was a black goatskin scroll.
A Black [Geass Roll].
The boy jumped from the top of the shelf and landed next to her.
GIFT GAME: CAUCUS RACE
Game Masters: Dodo the Hell Raven and Mock Turtle
List of Participants: All living things within [Underwood] Territory
Details
-The Participants will wear a Will-o-Wisp on their chest during the race.
-The wisp is to remain till the end of the race.
-If extinguished the participant is therefore punished and is to be drowned.
-You have until you are fully dry to win the race.
-No Gifts affiliated with fire or heat is to be used to accelerate drying.
Punishment:
-Should the Wisp vanish, the participant is to drown.
Participant Defeat Conditions: The Will-o-Wisp inscribed on the participant's chest is removed.
Participant Winning Conditions:
-Complete the race
-Kill the Game Masters
-Kill all other participants
Host Defeat Conditions:
-Killed by participants
Host Wining Conditions:
-All participants are eliminated
Oath: Participating Community in the Gift game, swear upon your glory and flag to respect the above stated content.
[Jabberwocky] Seal
"Great another one..." He groaned as he looked over the dark parchment. "Looks like our game is cancelled Fate." He waved the black scroll towards his opponent.
The woman frowned before snatching it out of his hands. "Impossible," she stated. "There are no Demon Lords nearby so how?" She questioned to herself.
"[Jabberwocky]…"
Fate narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"
"Must not be as omnipresent as you think."
"What did you-"
"They are a new community with a [Demon Lord] as their leader."
"?! So, you're saying the demon lord is here then!?"
"Yep, and more than likely…" The male's eyes drifted to the girl behind him. Already she was biting her thumb and trying to make sense of the game.
"Lost Makie?"
"So…if I heard right…normal [Gift Games] can't be cancelled…but if a [Demon Lord] does one it can be?!" The seer declared, trying to make heads and tails as to the secret of why they could do it.
"That's right. Demon Lords possess an ability called [Authority of the Host Master], meaning they can rein you into a game and you don't get a choice."
"That's rubbish!" Makie stated. "How is that fair?"
"That's the point. It's not meant to be fair. However they can't do it all the time. Keeps everyone on their toes and makes it more fun." Izayoi grinned enforce frowning. "But now of all times. What are they thinking?"
"They aren't." The two turned to Fate, who appeared to be deep in thought. "Mock Turtle and Dodo... The two are idiots. By causing all eyes to turn to them, it gives everyone a chance to take them out. Speaking of which, you two are off the hook for now."
"What?" Makie asked confused by what the older woman meant.
"Dodo and Mock Turtle, the two also came back to life by breaking the rules." She stated with a frown. "Also caused me to miss several dates... Bitch." She whispered underneath her breath.
"Wait…" Izayoi turned to her. "THEY were brought back to life?"
"Oh, you didn't know?"
The information was new to him, and yet he felt as if it was something he had known.
-The seven dead, Makie brought back to life…
The shock was well hidden from his face, though the fact he was silent for a prolonged period of time was something that bothered the white haired girl. This usually meant that he was in deep thought, and she only seen that happened once.
If he was thinking and being silent, that meant he was serious.
"W-what do we do now then?"
"Isn't it obvious monkey?" Sakamaki Izayoi slammed his fist into his hand. "We do as we made ourselves out; hunt down the demon lord!"
"You make it sound so easy!" Makie retorted.
"Because it is easy."
"MAYBE FOR YOU!"
"They are mine." Eyes turned to Fate as she began to make her way out of the library. "It is my job as the one who measures fate to deal with those who break the cycle of life and death. Kobayashi, for now you get a brief reprieve. As soon as my job is done," she turned back to look Make dead in the eye.
"Your rule breaking will end." And with those words to haunt the seer, the Fate known as Lachesis vanished from sight.
Makie turned to her friend and frowned. "I really don't like her."
"Can't blame you. She didn't even take me seriously…"
"What? Wait she was holding back!?"
"Yeah…" Izayoi nodded. Cold sweat still ran down his back. As cool as it was to fight fate, he knew she was purposely withholding her power. The moment she activated the gift, he honestly felt he would die.
-Can't start feeling like that…
"Right we need to get to the top." Izayoi grabbed Makie's arm and pulled her along. The girl looked back.
The damage done was immense. Catastrophic was an understatement. All her hard work, completely and effortlessly destroyed.
"...is this...some kind of cruel joke..." Tear welled up at her eyes.
"Uh... Makie?" Izayoi asked as the girl quickly wiped away her oncoming tears. "We can clean it up later. We have to go now though."
"O-ok."
-I'm so sorry, my sweets. I'll make sure your next home is better. I promise.
RETURNOFLOSTSOULS
"Izayoi! Kasukabe-san! Asuka-san! Makie-san!" Black Rabbit called out as she ran through the town looking for her runaway children. Part of her was getting sick and tired for having to stop them from causing mischief. It was starting to take its toll on the poor rabbit.
"Black Rabbit?" A voice whispered causing the bluenettes to jump. Behind her was a certain shopkeeper, her eyebrow raised in confusion.
"Ahh, shopkeeper-san! How are you?"
The shopkeeper panted, trying to recover her breath. Black Rabbit's eyes scanned the woman in question. Why was her face flushed? And the bags under her eyes, she must not have a decent night sleep.
"Is there something wrong?"
"It's...the girl...Makie."
"What about Makie-san?" Black Rabbit asked her ears on end.
The shopkeeper's panting decreased. She was calming down finally. Her ten meter run took a lot out of her, but it was worth it now that she would have a lead on the girl.
"Makie-san, where is she?"
"I don't know," Black Rabbit shook her head.
"Damn..." Miss Blue groaned as she rubbed her nose. "I need to find her now. Shiroyasha-sama learned something about her body's makeup."
"It's not something bad is it?" The rabbit asked worried for her young friend.
"It's hard to explain. I need to find Makie so I can get it over with."
"But it's not bad right?" Black Rabbit tried again causing the woman to sigh.
"Like I said, it's hard to explain."
"You just don't want to tell me!"
"[Aristocrat of Little Garden], you will learn once I find her. I doubt she will be forcing a smile much longer…"
That statement filled the moon rabbit with curiosity. Forcing a smile?
"What do you mean by that?" Before the shopkeeper could deflect the question once again, a rumbling caused the two to stop their conversation. The smell of salt filled the air as a torrent of water burst though the town. Thinking quickly, Black Rabbit grabbed her friend and leapt on to one of the nearby roots.
"What?"
"This is not normal." The shopkeeper muttered before flames burst on the two females chests. "What now?"
RETURNOFLOSTSOULS
Asuka glared at the two before turning her eyes to the flames attached to herself, Yō and Calico Cat. The way they moved was almost hypnotic to the young lady, but she knew not to look at it for too long. As long as her foes were in sight, her focus had to be on them.
"Ooo!" Dodo cooed like an innocent child. Asuka found it ironic the child could even do so. Or perhaps it fitted the sadomasochist girl?
"Is this part of the game Mocky?!"
"Yes." The cloaked male muttered softly, and rather solemnly. "You and I are the game leaders. I will begin the race..." Raising his right hand...
The water tree groaned menacingly. The pain it felt was profound, enough to cause another tremor.
Asuka managed to retain her footing. Though not for long as the girl was grabbed and flew through the air. Turning around in shock the rich girl's widened blue eyes could only stare at Yō.
"Why did you do that for?!"
"Water is coming. A lot of it!"
Asuka's head snapped down to see the torrent of water slamming though the town, all those unfortunate enough to be stuck on the ground were swept away by the current. "Why?" She asked as the streets slowly flooded.
"Because we are monsters." Eyes turned to Mock Turtle, Dodo carrying him as her wings were unleashed. "That salt water knows no friend or foe, any caught in its path will be drowned, no matter what. Is that not what monsters do? Cause nothing but destruction?"
"Grr...you have a point..." Yō growled. "But, you also have the choice of choosing to be a monster or not. Just because you are born one doesn't make you one!"
"Should you be saying that [Genome Tree]? You who could become a chimera any day now?"
Yō's eyes widened. How did he know about her gift?!
"Hey Mocky, what do I do?" Dodo looked down, seeming to have a bored expression plastered on her face.
"Take me to the highest point in the town. Then you can play with these two. You did say you missed playing with them right?" Dodo's eyes widened with sparkles as she flew off with her friend.
"Wait right there!" She called out. "Don't leave ok!? We need to play and play and play until it all stops!"
The hell Raven took off, vanishing as the water drew closer to the two girls. Yō flew higher to avoid the incoming wave. Asuka kept her eyes on the waves. Luckily the first wave barely covered people's upper legs. However, she knew this was just the beginning. They had to keep their flames dried. Glancing at the black goatskin parchment in her hands, Asuka looked at the words, trying to find a clue as to this game.
"I...just don't get this!"
"We need to find Jin, Black Rabbit or Izayoi!" Yō declared.
"Jin should still be at the meeting while the others..." Asuka just shrugged not knowing where they would be. "We have find Jin then. He and the others might not know what's going on."
"Right." Yō nodded as she sped towards the large tree, hoping to find her friend before Dodo came back for them.
What do you mean a little?
RETURNOFLOSTSOULS
Jin could only gasp as the Great Tree quaked around them. The VIP room shook with ferocity, startling the young master along with Leticia. The vampire girl ran outside. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the vast amount of water pouring into the city.
"What in Little Garden is happening?!" Leticia shouted in utter shock. She couldn't make heads or tails as to why the gift was activating the way it was.
A sudden knock on the door caused e two to turn before it was slammed open, an alarmed Mandora stood there with a look of surprise and fear in his face. "We are leaving now! Something's gone wrong with the water tree!" He shouted causing the two to bolt towards him.
"Do you know what's going on?" Jin asked, slightly frightened by the turn of events. The older male shook his head as he led the two away from the disaster zone.
"We don't know. Someone sabotaged the tree is what I'm thinking or it's an inside job. Sala-san," his face turned slightly as he spoke her name, "Is investigating as we speak."
"Alright we'll head into the town and find out-" At that moment a gasp exit the mouth of the commander of the military police. Jin blinked. Why would he wear such a shocked expression?
Then he saw it.
A purple flame on his chest.
"What is this?" Mandora asked, surprised by the glowing flame in his chest.
"A will-o-Wisp?" Leticia muttered before shaking her head. "Can't be. They only guide souls not appear on chests."
"Maybe it's trying to lead Mandora's out of his chest." Jin's suggestion was met with a harsh gaze and a small chuckle from the vampire. However, their tones changed as another burned on Jin and Leticia's chests.
"Us as well…"
"This must be part of a Gift Game…" Leticia whispered. Her eyes fell from Jin to the ground below. Kneeling she picked up a black goatskin paper.
Her eyes glared heavily at the black [Geass Roll] in her hands.
"Another Demon Lord game?!" Mandra shouted in both annoyance and fear.
Jin and Leticia both felt he same way as they read through the details written on the parchment.
"No…this has a punishment if the wisp is dissolved?!" Leticia shouted.
"There doesn't even seem to be any downsides for the host!" Jin followed up.
"If there is wrongdoing within the game then the [Aristocrat of the Little Garden] should be able to call for the [Trial Jurisdiction]." Mandora explained.
Jin turned to the outside. He saw several of the black rolls on the ground, several still floating about, and others on the roofs of buildings.
"We need to find her now!"
RETURNTOLOSTSOULS
Black Rabbit and the Shopkeeper both picked up a scroll that was nearby them laying on the roots. Both their eyes narrowed at the contents. Black Rabbit, being the Judge Master herself, felt sick once she realized a punishment would be in effect for those whose wisps were extinguished.
Though that wasn't what affected her the most.
The rabbit could hear the screams of the people, she had to find a way to stop this game, even for a little bit!
"If this is a race there must be a clear stated way or something to signal the start and finish!" Red eyes glanced all over. Even with the view of the city she had, she couldn't find it. The rabbit jumped onto another root, granting her more of a field of vision.
And yet nothing.
"No...but this means…" A sense of dread came over the [Aristocrat of Little Garden]. "This game…it might just be unwinnable by design!"
"Then activate your jurisdiction!" The shopkeeper shouted, horrified by the looks of despair as those nearby were washed away by the onslaught of water.
"R-right!" Black Rabbit nodded feverously before she calmed her thoughts. She needed to be calm to hear the decision of the Little Garden Central Network.
It pained her, having to ignore the cries of the people, but she had to do it. Just for those few seconds she needed to do so.
-There is no confirmed start or finish for this race.
-The game involves a punishment without substantial compensation.
Those were two of the main points she picked up when observing the scroll if she could get the right to do so...
RETURNOFLOSTSOULS
Dodo and Mock Turtle flew through the air, the latter being carried by the former. The little bird girl hummed a familiar tune as her red eyes looked left and right, searching for a place to land the cloaked figure in her arms.
"Are you excited to play with them?" The figure looked up at the purple haired girl.
"Yep yep! I get to play with my favorite playmates! I really like the black haired one, she bleeds soooo easily! And the brown one is hard to break but she is fun to do so anyway!"
"I see." The man shook his head, unsure if what to say to the bizarre girl. Her obsession with pain was something he would never be able to understand, no matter how hard he tried. From the corner of his eye, he noticed something heading towards them.
"Dodo, to the left!" He ordered.
The girl obeyed and quickly swerved allowing the object to pass by them. The thing landed on a nearby roof and quickly faced the pair, a frown on their face.
"So you're the two messing around here." Izayoi stated as he looked at the pair. "Another loli making trouble with an old guy. This place never changes." He shook his head, mirth seen in his eyes.
"And here comes the troublesome one..." Mock Turtle muttered as Dodo landed on the roots of the tree. The girl perched herself on the other side of the doctor, tilting her head.
"So…Dodo right?" Izayoi asking, pointing his forefinger at the winged girl.
"Yep, yep!"
"I have a bone to pick with you. And you are?"
"Dr. Mock Turtle at you service." The man in green said with a light bow.
"So want to explain what this is all about or should we just get started?" Izayoi asked as he rotated his neck lightly.
"For someone acclaimed to be the strategist of the [No Names] you are rather thick to details."
"I just figured you would want to apologize before we get down to business."
"Apologize? Why are we apologizing Mocky?" Dodo looked up. Mock Turtle said nothing as he raised his hand once more.
"Nothing. We are about to deliver death unto this problematic child."
"Oh... Ok I got it!" Flames burst into existence on Dodo's arms, bolts of electricity joining the fire within seconds. "Time for the pain that you've missed!" Outstretching her arm, the girl launched a ball of energy towards the blonde who leaped over it before twisting himself around to avoid bullets of salt water sent by the doctor.
"Two against one? Well that's definitely fairer then what I was expecting." Izayoi taunted.
Izayoi pushed his legs into the roof, using it as a trampoline to propel himself towards the bird and shrouded figure. The roof collapsed under the pressure he placed on it within seconds. Raising his fist, the boy was ready to bring it down onto the perpetrators of the game.
Dodo broke out into a large grin. Would she feel pain, would she feel that excitement, would blood pour out and screams lace the air?!
BOOM!
Izayoi fell flat on his face, his head impacting the root as Dodo fell onto her butt.
Mock Turtle looked up. He was the only one to see what caused the change in the two competitors.
Thunder reverberated in the area, lighting traveling through the city from a source. However, realizing that most of it stayed around the Great Water Tree was more than enough needed to know the source of the lightning.
"The [Trail Jurisdiction] has been approved! All participants please cease the game until further notice. All representatives of the [Gift Game] [Caucus Race] are summoned to a negotiation table. I repeat!"
"That was quicker than I thought..." Mock Turtle spoke, not surprised by the turn of events.
"That's cheating! Isn't it? She can't do that can she?" Dodo asked.
"She can it is her right as a judge." Mock Turtle explained. "I had thought we would have more time however."
"Guess your plan failed faster than you expected," The blond commented as he picked himself up.
"Indeed. We will see you and Alice at the meeting table. Come along Dodo," Before Izayoi could inquire the figure anymore; the bird girl wrapped her arms around his waist and took off, swiftly vanishing behind the large roots.
All the boy could do was narrow his eyes at his words.
"Just who exactly are you, Mock Turtle?" Izayoi asked himself before jumping away front he scene, his mind racing towards the meeting, curious on what could occur and what the turtle was expecting.
His ears picked up the sound of heavy breathing. Looking behind him, he noticed the time user on the ground on all fours, panting desperately for air.
"Oh. You caught up pretty quick."
Makie raised her head, still wheezing as she tried to find words.
"You...Jerk...Leaving...Me..."
Shoving his hands into his pocket he jumped from the branch he was previously on to hers.
"You saw who was here right?"
"Dodo...Doctor..."
"You remember them?"
"Dodo...sadomasochist to the eleventh degree..." Makie slowly stood up, her words no longer staggered by breaths. Her lungs filled with the air she desperately neglected in order to catch up to Izayoi. If she didn't have Gamma she knew she would have lost him. "Mock Turtle, he was a doctor, the medic. I don't know much after that."
"Funny how you can't seem to recall much but the basics."
"..."
Her silence caused a slight tug at his heart. It was his normal, playful tone, and yet the delivery of it was rude. Even so it was a truth he couldn't ignore. Nor could Makie. Her right hand trended through her hair, the white strands being gripped in a pale hand.
"Sorry Makie," he apologized. "Not sure what I was thinking there."
-If you were thinking at all.
-If I was thinking at all…
Unknown to the other, there thoughts were the same. Makie knew he didn't mean to sound rude but it was still there. A sort of shadow hanging over them. Shaking her head, Makie knew she had to change the conversation before the silence stayed around for too long.
"Okay so, I know I heard Black Rabbit, what was that all about?"
"Right I never told you. She possesses a skill called [Judge Master] because she bears the title [Aristocrat of Little Garden], she's a servant of the creator of Little Garden and thus her race of Moon Rabbits is entitled to a few more privileges than other races."
"So she can judge the games?"
"Mostly she sees if they are fair or not. Her ears can communicate with the Garden and through that she judges the game on fairness and other factors."
"So what happens if someone cheats when she is judging?"
"She explodes." Izayoi shrugged
"What!? Seriously!?"
"I haven't seen it happen, but I'm going by her word." Izayoi shrugged. Makie was baffled. Who would set a moon rabbit to explode if someone cheated?! What was obtained in that!?
What would happen if she did explode?
The mental image made Makie cringe in disgust.
-The Last thing I need to see is bunny guts...
"Ugh...okay so now"
?!
Makie's words were cut short. Within seconds of her words the male had picked her up and into his arms as before. A bright pink blush covered pale cheeks.
"What are you doiaaaAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Her sentence turned to a scream as she found herself and the blonde jumping from a large height. Makie gripped onto the male with all her strength.
Izayoi's feet slammed into the ground, causing a small crater to form before he took off running against the water. A wake created from his acceleration followed, almost making it seem he was running on the water.
She could hear the blonde chuckling against her, something that made her stomach hurl.
"What's wrong Makie! This isn't the first time we fell from that height!"
"Any NORMAL person would have had their neck snap!"
"We're not normal!"
"YOU aren't!"
"What's with the Tsun act lately? You falling for me?"
"...If I said yes will you shut up for five minutes?"
"Aww, I knew you cared." With his free hand, the male put it over his heart. "But I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there's someone else."
"... Shut up, idiot."
"Look I'm sorry, Makie. It's not you, it's me."
"I said shut up you idiot!"
Izayoi's heartfelt laugh echoed in victory as Makie was left to grit her teeth in shame. Holding her grip on him she yelled.
"So where are we going?"
"The main conference room. No doubt everyone will be gathering there!"
"By that you mean?"
"The leaders of each group, important members like us and finally [Jabberwocky]."
"You important? That's a first... But should I be there?" Makie asked. As much as she would have liked to see how the politics part of the world worked, [Jabberwocky] would be in the same room as her. There was a chance that they had planned for this to kidnap her... Again.
"Just sit near Sala and me. After all, I have to protect the girl who likes me."
"IZAYOI!"
END OF CHAPTER 14
Teach Me Izayoi-Kun!: Episode 10: Volume 5 GIFT GAMES
Chibi-Makie sighed heavily. Why would she sigh so sadly? There was nothing wrong with the library. There was nothing wrong with herself personally. Nope, her problem was what her other counterpart said in the story. She could only continue to watch the reel in melancholy. The last few minutes of the chapter played on a continuous loop.
"Whatcha doing, Makie?" Chibi-Izayoi asked as he walked up behind her. "Oh it's this part."
"I would blame you for winding me up but you know what? I'm not in the mood to yell at you."
"That's kinda sad really. Who knew you fell for me-"
Chibi-Makie's hands slammed on the small table in front of her.
"Let's just get going with the lesson..."
"...Wow...you that upset with what you said?"
"Just... Can we get this done with, please?"
"Alright... Ojou-sama and Kasukabe-san, you're up." Izayoi declared as the two walked through the library doors.
Chibi Asuka and Chibi Yō walked up to Chibi Makie. A heavy sigh escaped the white haired Chibi as she lightly waved at them.
"Hi Asuka, Yō."
"...Is something wrong with her?" Chibi Asuka asked.
"She's upset due to the latest chapter." Chibi-Izayoi stated. "Guess it's starting to get to her."
"Will she be ok?" Chibi-Yō asked.
"Yeah, just give her a little room. She'll be fine."
"Uh..." Chibi Asuka tried to find the words but couldn't. Shaking her head she turned back to Chibi Makie, crossing her arms.
"Alright, then today's lesson will deal with the Gift Games of Volume 5." Chibi Yō added.
"Yay..." A small cheer erupted from the female, causing the two chibi girls to look at her in worry.
"Okay, what is wrong?"
"I just... Look sorry. Let's go and get this done ok?" The two girls looked at their younger member unsure if this was the right path to go. But to get her mind off of her canon self this was the best plan.
"Alright, well first off," Chibi-Yō began. "Is the Hunting Game in [Underwood]. To win the game, all one has to do is hunt Peryton, ones with horns are worth more points. The winner is calculated by the weight of the game."
"By Peryton you mean like Gryphon?"
"Just less uglier and easier to take down."
"Sounds lovely..." Chibi Makie sighed.
"The next game is-"
"Rider of Hippocampus right? Where Asuka was nearly stripped?"
"How do you know about that!?" A blush that could rival her dress decorated Chibi Asuka's face.
"I read the light novels, and Izayoi was disappointed when he told me about it. He seemed like he wanted to see you naked."
"That uncouth, unrefined jerk!"
"Izayoi would see those as compliments." Chibi Yō sadly admitted.
"He did introduce himself as a Hedonistic, crude and vicious if I recall..." Chibi Makie added.
"Yeah, he sucks at times, but by naked you mean….?"
"Faceless or FeiSi LeiSi. Basically, she tried to strip the competition so they would fall off. She's rather odd." Chibi-Yō stated.
"...Those poor girls...Dammit how has there NOT been a revolt against that loli demon huh!?"
"She's too powerful." Chibi-Yō shrugged. "And we think she has blackmail on everyone."
"Wouldn't surprise us in the least if she does." Chibi-Asuka said, agreeing with her friend.
"So should we reveal more about the Gift Game or..." Chibi Makie lengthened her words, waiting for her two lecturers to answer.
"Let's stop right there. If the readers get interested, they can read the Light Novels." Chibi Asuka declared.
"True. I mean it would keep spoilers at a minimum... God thing the story doesn't use too many spoilers right?"
"Right." Chibi-Yō nodded. "So question time?" Withy hat said, the doors were flung open as a small dump truck drove through the library. At the wheel was a smiling Chibi-Black Rabbit, amused by the amount of questions flooding the back of the truck. In the dumping bed of the vehicle, Chibi-Izayoi sat, relaxing with all of the letters as if he was in a spa.
"It seems threatening to cancel works to get viewers." The blonde said from his place in the truck.
"Holy freakin crap!" Chibi Makie practically vibrated with both amazement and astonishment.
"What Makie said but not as vulgar," Chibi Asuka gasped.
"This is going to be a while huh?" Chibi Yō sighed.
"Yep, though it was rude of us though. Wasn't it?" Chibi-Black Rabbit mused to herself.
"It's fine, if they thought we were being serious they can blame the co-writer. More fun that way." The blonde stated as he reached for the first question. From Bads25, why does Makie like picking on Black Rabbit."
"Yeah, why do you pick on Black Rabbit!?" Said rabbit yelled at the silver haired girl.
"Because... Why not?" Chibi-Makie shrugged. "I mean rabbits are cute but if we don't mess with them they will take over!" At everyone's raised eyebrows, she blushed slightly. "I read it in a book once."
"That was me playing a prank, Makie." The male admitted. "Come on, they did not build the Great Wall of China to keep rabbits out."
"... You suck Izayoi"
"Moving onto Zalfuse now." Chibi Izayoi shook off her reply easily. "Okay so another question for our youngest heroine. Do you fear loud noises or the sound of lightning, thunder?...Yeah what's up with that?"
"I...don't know. I just started fearing them ever since i got myself back." Chibi Makie crossed her arms. "I...can't really explain it any other way at the moment. I just don't know..."
"...Something tells me this is a plot point..."
The blonde shook his head, he had to get the show on the road. "Ok, Kuro Usagi..."
"Been awhile since Black Rabbit was called that!" She called out. "The main writer changed it to keep it in English... Or something."
"Yes, well. How often do you plan for our deaths/revenge?
"Umm... Occasionally?" The rabbit admitted. "It depends how annoying they are being."
"...which is most of the time..." Chibi-Makie glances over at the children, who for some strange reason, each had halos over their heads. "Ironically the Flugel halo looks right on all of you..."
"Well we got that question out so..." Chibi Izayoi took the halo and threw it like a Frisbee.
…
BOOM!
"...Whoops. Put some power into that-"
"THE WALL!" The chibi rabbit's hair rapidly changed to pink as she ran to the wall.
"...Okay seriously? Really Izayoi?"
"Besides making Kurousagi regret trying to prank any of you, if she actually succeeded would you be shocked, impressed, or improve your opinion of her?" The boy read off the question from the card and turned to the girls.
"Ladies first."
"She is still our toy but...I suppose some respect for her efforts," Chibi Asuka flipped her hair.
"I second that...but it will never happen." Chibi Yō added.
"That's what I was thinking, so pretty useless question there." Chibi Izayoi threw the card over his shoulder before pulling out another from the large white pile of flash cards.
"Makie, do you care that, I saw your underwear?" Said girl blinked before sighing.
"I do care and then I don't. He's not allowed to see that. But if I said anything...Mr. Hedonist over there would start up again."
"It's true I would. Now as for her underwear," the boy began before he was strangled by his rival.
"Shut up, Idiot! No one needs to know!"
"S-strawberry!" Chibi-Izayoi choked out as Chibi-Makie grasp on his neck increased.
"So Makie didn't care he saw it and yet she did care is that about right?" Chibi Asuka asked Chibi Yō, the animal lover merely nodding in affirmation.
"It's a part of being a Tsundere. You really like it but you make the others think you don't."
"So dramatic and confusing." Chibi Asuka crossed her arms in thought. "Well, I believe that is all of Zalfuse's questions." The girl replied. As she did, Chibi Yō flew up to the pile and began shuffling through the cards. Pulling out several, while ignoring the fact Chibi Makie was now being held down by Chibi Izayoi, she flew back down and cleared her throat.
"These are from a new reviewer called KatKurious."
"Oh, it's always nice to have a new reader. Thank you Kat for reading a story staring us." Chibi Asuka bowed.
"All the questions are for everyone in the room. The first is: If you have one wish, for anything, what would it be?...hmm…" Chibi Yō was now in deep thought.
"…That is a tough one…I'm perfectly content with how things are…" Chibi Asuka replied.
"Possibly the same for me. Black Rabbit?"
"Black Rabbit's wish would be for more respect from everyone." The rabbit declared.
"Not going to happen."
"It will! Just wait!" She shouted before smacking the girls with her fan.
PAK!
"My wish would be for Izayoi to stop being annoying!" Chibi-Makie shouted from Chibi-Izayoi's armpit. "It stinks in here!"
"I don't have a wish either." The blonde admitted as he continued to torture his rival.
"Very well then. Kasukabe?"
"The next question is, what do you plan to do after defeating all the demon lords?"
"…The reviewer does understand this is a fanfiction right?"
"Yes but…what do we plan on doing? It is such a long term goal...I never really thought about it…"
"Let's skip that question." Chibi Asuka advised as Chibi Yō nodded.
"If you could change one thing about yourself/ your past what would it be?" Chibi Yō read off before looking up. "I suppose…one thing I would like to change…well...I would like to get stronger, and help out the community more."
"I have to agree with Kasukabe. Although…if it were possible…I would have liked to have siblings…" Chibi Asuka smiled, her cheeks tinted pink at the small wish she admitted. "I would only change my weak self at this moment though."
The animal lover nodded before looking up. Now Chibi Makie was sitting on Izayoi, holding him in a choke grab.
"Makie? Izayoi, what would you-"
"NOTHING!" Both admitted at the same time.
"Really?"
"Yep!" Chibi-Makie stated. "What's done is done. I don't really want to change... I mean maybe bring my dad here but that's about it."
"And that's not really changing her so it doesn't count." The chibi blonde stated. "And skip Black Rabbit."
"What? Why?" Said rabbit asked.
"Because you would change us to be more polite to you." The kids declared as one causing the rabbit to pout.
"Just because it's the truth..." The rabbit muttered to herself before she grabbed the next question. "JNaegi is next. Formerly known as JFai."
"Changed his name again huh?"
"He has been doing that waaay too many times." Chibi Makie groaned.
"It's his choice! Respect it!" Chibi Black Rabbit lectured as she took the cards.
"Whatever." Chibi Izayoi groaned as he took a look at the card. "Okay to all the Problem Children. Are you ever worried that your Gift can exceed the maximum capacity of your body and cause unforetold damage? Well dude, so long as I got this body, I'm good."
However, the two chibi girls were frozen, one because of the fear of her gift, and another because it was going to happen. The white haired chibi slid down the cards and landed on the ground. Chibi Makie took the card from Chibi Izayoi and read it.
"…There are some forums I can take you to JN…" Chibi Makie glared. "This has happened."
"Um... The question said Asuka-san and Kasukabe-san were excluded." Chibi-Black Rabbit muttered to herself. "Ok next is for me... Can Moon Rabbits procreate with other kinds to keep our linage? ...EH!? What kind of questions is that!?"
"You have to answer it, Black Rabbit." Izayoi taunted.
"Um... Err... I can't answer it at this time! I'm sorry! Ad don't send perverted stuff again!... Please?"
"When did you get back?" Chibi Makie turned to the rabbit, who simply appeared out of nowhere to the girl.
"I have been here the entire time!" The rabbit whined.
"You have?"
"I HAVE!"
"Ojou-sama, this isn't a question but a thank you notice."
"Is it?" The chibi rich girl walked over and looked at the card. "Ah, well then I suppose you are welcomed."
"Next for Yō." Chibi-Izayoi declared. "Do you have a love interest outside of the [No Names] and if so would you start a little family and leave us?"
"I do not have a love interest." The cat lover stated. "And possibly. It depends on a lot of things."
"Then would you call yourself a kuudere"
"Kuudere? Hard to say. Sorry."
"It is hard to say. You don't hide your feelings and you are not cold, just...you really don't express yourself much now that I think about it." Chibi Izayoi muttered.
Chibi Makie shook her head and took out another card from the pile. "Kay, last question from JNaegi. Ah hey wait we need a certain vampire."
"A question for Leticia?" The chibi's in the room spoke at the same time.
"I'll get her." The Chibi-male said as he ducked behind a bookcase. The back of one of the shelves burst open as a horrible looking hand puppet version of Leticia appeared.
"What is that?" Chibi-Makie asked, horrified by the puppet.
"I'm Leticia." Chibi-Izayoi said putting on a horrendous voice. "You have a question for me?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Izayoi...Get the real one..." There was a force inside of Chibi Makie's voice, a force strong enough, wise enough, powerful enough...to get Chibi Izayoi to sigh and head off screen. When he came back in, he had the REAL Chibi Leticia, the girl holding a broom as he was carried to the library.
"You are no fun today."
"Is there something you need me for masters?"
"Yeah we need Yō to answer a question. Izayoi was going to cheat and answer it for you." Chibi-Asuka replied
"I see, what's the question?"
"How do you feel about vampires losing respect from today's work?"
"It's embarrassing." Chibi-Leticia sighed. "We used to be famed monsters. The top predators of the night and now... We are just love interests for badly written characters."
"There's a part two." Chibi-Makie said, as she re-read the sheet. "If someone were t write a story of you meeting another vampire would you get along with them?"
"Depends...which other vampire?" Chibi Leticia asked.
"One known as Evangeline from Negima and UQ Holder." Chibi Makie answered, for some reason having a Negima! manga volume in her hands.
"Hmm...I believe that vampire...would be a bit difficult to talk to...Though I can see where she gets her attitude from. I would say we would get along smashingly."
"Ok... Leticia you can leave now. I think Pest is going to burn something again." The vampire sighed at Chibi-Izayoi words as she left to check on the kitchen. "Now, Shadowplayer360. Of course we weren't going to quit this. We were just threatening viewers to get more questions. Now, if we could swap bodies with any other character? Black Rabbit."
"What!?" Said rabbit shouted as the others looked at him oddly.
"Well, think about it. I could make a mess of her reputation that way."
"Ooo that's a good one…" Chibi Makie whistled in approval.
"Makie…" The rabbit cried a stream of tears.
"Myself?" Chibi Makie knew Chibi Black Rabbit didn't mean to say it as her asking the question, but the girl took the rabbit's whine as such. "It would be…Saurian Demon King!"
"Kohryu? Why him?" This intrigued Chibi Izayoi.
"So I can be the one dishing out the curb stomp battles on you for once."
And said intrigue vanished.
"That and I would so love to meet Sun Wukong!~"
"Moving on…" Chibi Izayoi turned to Chibi Asuka.
"Hmm…I would say Faceless."
"Dare I ask why?" Chibi Makie spoke in a deadpan manner.
"Revenge. I'll strip her naked and force her reputation down the drain."
"So far it seems just ruining reputations…Yō?" The white haired, crimson eyed Chibi turned to the brown haired, brown eyed gift user.
"…"
"…Yō? Little Garden to Yō?"
"…I'm curious…"
"About what?"
"Could I trade bodies with Calico Cat?"
Chibi Yō managed to do the one thing no one else managed to do…leave everyone speechless.
"…Why do that?" Chibi Makie narrowed her eyes.
"Just to see something about fleas."
"I don't wanna know." Chibi Makie loudly proclaimed.
"Ok... Black Rabbit!" Chibi-Izayoi pointed to the rabbit who just pointed back at him. "Me?"
"Of course! If you're going to mess with me then I'll do it back to you."
"And just HOW would you ruin my reputation? I'm already a walking example of a hedonist!"
"..." Chibi Black Rabbit turned to Chibi Makie, who was now digging through the flash cards. Feeling a pair of eyes on her she turned around, noticing the rabbit's red eyes boring straight into hers.
"W-what?"
"Best way to humiliate him?!"
"...The only thing I HAVEN'T done to humiliate him and succeeding is dressing him up in a female maid uniform and making him a servant for the day."
"NOT. Happening."
"Well there we go!" The rabbit declared happily. "And that's how I'll beat Izayoi!"
"You do realize that if you are in my body, I'll be in yours right?" Chibi-Izayoi said pointing out the flaw in her plan.
"Not necessarily. You might just be a passenger in your body while I get payback!"
"The same rules apply to you still."
"No they don't because I am going to make you regret ever crossing me!"
"She has gone mad...congrats Izayoi, you now have a psycho bunny to deal with." Chibi Makie gave Chibi Izayoi the thumbs up.
"Not know Makie. Anything else?"
"Yeah one last question for you. Do you think there is some kind of requirement to increase the power of your Gift and if so what do you think it is?"
"None. My gift is always active. But...if I want to use that technique I have to concentrate a lot, more so than what I usually do to keep my strength in check."
"Oh right your Aurora Pillar!" Chibi Makie gasped. "I recall you using that during the battle with the dragon and...that pervert..."
"Yeah...we better keep you away from him if he ever shows up..."
"If he does that is... Alright, Black Rabbit, take the truck back." Chibi-Izayoi ordered. The girl nodded and jumped back into the truck. With a dark grin, she accelerated and slammed into the wall and the Chibi group.
"End it now!" She shouted at the heavens as she escaped [No Name] territory with her prey. "I don't want this to end badly for me, so end it please!"
Sadly, her efforts were in vain. Chibi Makie had activated her watch. Now everyone was inside the truck thanks to Delta: Teleportation.
Chibi Black Rabbit's hair and ears reverted to blue. She knew it. She was in deep trouble.
Then she remembered. They were in a dump truck. Pulling a lever, the truck dropped its load consisting of several chibis onto the ground. As the group hit the ground, they hit the wheels of the truck causing them to become stuck in the ground due to some insane omake logic.
"...We're done for huh?" Chibi Makie sighed in regret.
"Nope!" Chibi Izayoi, in a fit of excitement, ripped himself from the ground. A large grin encased his face as red eyes shined.
"I-I-Izayoi?!" Chibi Asuka asked in fear of the male's appearance.
"Ahehehehe...TIME TO FLY RABBIT!" With a swift kick, the boy sent the dumpster truck flying into the sky.
"...That was anti climatic.."
"Indeed..." Chibi Asuka nodded to Chibi Yō.
"...Yeah I think we are done for the day...Oh and readers!" Chibi Makie began. "We are not ending the segments! So keep those questions a coming!"
END SEGMENT
Chapter 14 is up and running! Lots of questions this time around, like WOW! O_O The trick was effective though! XD
Anyway, we are getting into another gift game, let's see who gets the reference, and I have laid out hints within the chapter as to future events and questions that will be answered.
Now as about the battle between Fate and Izayoi before you guys send in the opinions. Fate was holding back her power purposely. Technically she could defeat Izayoi and kill Makie and thus end her mission, but political issues prevent her from destroying the library, and she doesn't want to invoke the anger of [Draco Grief] alliance, especially not now.
However, she DID underestimate Izayoi, thus forcing her to use the watch. She will be making appearances throughout the story because of her mission.
I will say this. Fate is VERY POWERFUL, easily ranked 1-2. However, due to how this world works I am trying to keep her power at least 5 digits. I am testing the waters as it is.
Well I think that is everything. I thank my partner, Shadow Ninja Koopa, once again for helping me with this story! Without his knowledge of Alice in Wonderland and amazing dialogue skills I doubt I would have gotten this far! Well peeps read and reviews because reviews are the life blood of this fic and without them IT DIES!