Author's Note:

This chapter was procrastinated way too long. I apologize, guys. I have the plot already written down for the next chapter, so it should be a breeze to post later on. Should only take a few days, or at least that's what I am hoping. I hope you guys like it!

"DIVE INTO YOUR BODY!" –TK

Much love! -Parahdoks

Chapter 14: My Way or the Highway

17:00 (5:00 PM) – A long trail, Mile 5 out of 70.

The large engine roared loudly, powering the strong, but slow tractor-looking vehicle at a whopping six miles per hour. Everyone sat in the back along the steel rails. The vehicle was sort of small, but had a large bed behind it. It had four, large tractor wheels and two exhaust pipes coming from the front of the engine. Chaa sat in the driver's seat, separated from everyone else, who sat in the back, all scrunched together, all pulled on a trailer hitch that was connected by the back of the heavy hauling vehicle. The spacing was fairly small, but they made it work, even though the comfort was at a bare minimum. Otonashi allowed Angel to sit in front of him between his feet, and her resting her back on his body. His arms held around her stomach, keeping her secure and comfortable. Yui and Hinata did the same, allowing some space to be made for everyone else. The ride for the most part did not have much talking. The uncomfortable seating only piled onto the uncomfortable silences.

Otonashi: "This thing definitely looks like one of those farming vehicle things I saw in a documentary"

Noda: "Please tell me he's going to upgrade this piece of crap…"

Kiero: "We've rarely used this for transportation like this. I apologize on behalf of Chaa and myself. This was only really meant for transportation within The Guild. We never expected to use it on a seventy mile journey, but rest assured, it is extremely durable and will last for hundreds upon hundreds of miles on one tank. In fact, we've only had to refill it four times since we've had it!"

Yuri: "Well, this thing's moving at about ten kilometers per hour… We should be at our site in about eleven more hours"

Everyone gives a disgruntled and frustrating groan.

Yuri: "Oh, shut up! We're lucky we have transportation. Be thankful we don't have to walk…" (To herself) "Quite frankly, I don't think my poor feet could take that pain either…"

Yusa: "Maybe if there weren't this many people here, it would be going a little faster"

Yuri: "No, we are not kicking anyone off of the tractor, Yusa…"

Yusa: "I said nothing…"

Yuri raises an eyebrow at Yusa. Naoi, who sat directly to Yusa's left looked at her with an odd stare, wondering why she'd state such a ludicrous proposal.

Naoi: "Why would you… Never mind"

Yusa: "It was a joke, Ayato"

Yusa caught herself, knowing she had accidentally said his first name. She smacks her mouth shut with both of her hands.

Yusa: (Correcting herself) "Oh, sorry, Naoi"

Naoi's mind is taken slightly on a joyride from her small mistake. He says nothing, at a loss for words, not realizing that Yusa actually saw him as a friend. Everyone else looked at her in an awkward, putting her in an odd disposition.

Yuri: "Yusa, are you alright?"

Yusa: (Regaining her monotonous manner; thinking of a legitimate and obvious excuse) "It is nothing. I'm just tired… I just read a bunch of our files, so all our names are stuck in my head…"

Naoi: (Almost not buying into her story) "…Right"

Hinata: "So, Yuzuru, you're finally going to get the chance to put those war skills to the test, aren't you?"

Otonashi: "I suppose, but honestly I'd rather have your abilities than my own. I don't like the idea of being a fighter…"

Angel: "We tried to figure out the problem, but we ended up going in circles with the testing. It wouldn't work for you. We can't figure out why"

Takeyama: "Even I don't understand it, and I'm Christ"

Yuri: "If only there was a way to get the actual copy of the program…"

Artemus: "Well it's like you said, this world's boundaries are pretty minimal. Have you ever considered attempting to create a rift between that world and this one?"

Everyone's eyebrows are raised at the notion, completely taken by surprise.

Takeyama: "That's science fiction at its greatest! It would be impossible to do so. If both worlds are anything like I think, they're completely different universes"

Noda: "Wait just a damn minute! Then if we're in completely separate universes, how the hell are we on Earth still?! We might as well be within some Siamese version of the living world!"

Everyone looks at Noda, who crosses his arms over his tall halberd. Silence kicks in quickly, and the sound of the tractor motor seems to overcome the chatter. No one speaks, completely surprised at what Noda had just said.

Yui: "Whoa… Moron has some interesting words today. I almost feel stupid now"

Noda eyes her angrily, but is mostly unaffected by her half-insulting statement.

Tsukaro: "That is correct. We are still technically on Earth. At least, I'm 90 percent sure. Many of the geographical features are the same and even the architectural structures"

Takeyama: "The worlds of the living and dead may be interlaced with one another, however purgatory and heaven may be completely separate from this one. And even if there were a way to travel between both worlds, we would have no idea how to create the coding necessary to transfer matter from one dimension into another. Essentially that is exactly what we are talking about here"

Artemus: "You seem very sure of this"

Takeyama: "I've already thought of such scenarios. I've already tried thinking of ways to attempt transferring a life from this world into the world of the living"

Artemus: "And what was your conclusion?"

Takeyama: "If we successfully found a way to transport a human from this world, the world of the dead, into the mortal world, there would be many different things that could happen. For instance, if we had the ability right now to open up a dimensional rift into the world of the living, I can foresee hundreds of different outcomes. One in particular being the sudden displacement of matter from an object or person that managed to step foot into that world. It could possible unravel the very fabric of reality and create rips within that world. The spirit world would eventually swallow the world of the living. And if you want to toss religion as a factor, technically this world is here to house lost souls, right? Well, the properties of the world of the living and the world of the dead are most certainly not the same. If someone from the world of the living were to be killed, he or she would probably just die. Their soul would probably end up in a void where a world should be, since this world consumed the world of the living. Or depending on how dimensions could be created, a human that dies here for the first time could end up creating another dimension outside of this one… A world for the dead beyond the world for the dead…"

The silence once again conquers the confused mass of people. Irie is slightly uncomfortable.

Irie: "This is creeping me out…"

Artemus: "This is making me wonder if you've actually experimented with inter-dimensional travel"

Takeyama: "As fun as that sounds, I don't think it would be the wisest thing to do…"

Yuri: "Wait a minute, Artemus, aren't you capable of doing something like that?"

Artemus: "Not necessarily… Though I can technically "leave" this dimension… I don't leave. This world has layers. I'm able to put myself within a layer, a void more or less, and use it to my advantage. The problem with that is, I can't tell where I reappear. The distance is the same amount travelled for how ever many paces I happen to take"

Yuri: "So you're not actually traveling in and out of dimensions…"

Artemus: "I suppose if you want to think of them as pockets within this dimension, then sure!"

Takeyama: "Like I said, traveling between worlds is pretty near impossible"

Artemus: "But you do admit that it IS possible?"

Takeyama: "I mean, I guess, but unless you can figure it out, then your guess is as good as mine"

Artemus gives an elongated sigh and looks up to the sky, his back slouching against the steel rail of the bed of the tractor.

Artemus: "But if we ever can figure it out… I'd love to see my parents…" (Thinking for a moment, becoming slightly depressed) "I-… I wonder what they're up to now. I wonder if they're still alive"

Tsukaro: "As depressing as the topic may seem, and at the risk of bringing up bad memories, how did you pass away originally, Kanade?"

Kanade brushes the hair from the front of her shoulders and allows it to drape behind her and over Otonashi's chest. She gives a light smile and begins to speak without any regret or shame.

Angel: (Monotonous, yet lively) "It's okay, Kaishine. It was a long time ago"

Yui: "Come to think of it… You never really explained to us what happened… I'm pretty interested as well"

Angel gives a light smile, looking up and remembering the moments leading up to her death.

Angel: "It was a heart problem. When I got older, I began to develop heart problems. I was forced to undergo some treatment. I managed to live for a little while longer with the transplant..."

Angel closes her eyes, smiles, and interlocks her hand with Otonashi's. She turns her head slightly and rubs the back of her head against his chest as well. He smiles humbly and kisses the top of her head. Artemus raises his eyebrow, catching onto her drift.

Angel: "I still don't know how to thank him enough for allowing me to live longer"

Artemus: "So I take it your beloved has a play in this"

Angel looks up, directing her attention to Otonashi, smiling and giggling quietly.

Artemus: "So you both had a close relationship when you were alive?"

Angel: "No. But it happened to be that his heart was the one that was transplanted into my body when he died"

Tsukaro: (Surprised and impressed) "Wow! What an amazing twist of fate!"

Artemus: "So last night… When you were explaining you memories, I suppose you expressing your gratitude to Otonashi had to do with him literally giving you his heart?"

Angel nods her head once

Artemus: (Smiling) "I suppose it is a small world. So many coincidences we've ran into so far. Good and bad"

Irie: "Good and bad?"

Artemus: "Indeed"

Irie: "Like what?"

Artemus: (Sighs, trying to remember all events) "Well, you have Tachibana's and Otonashi's ordeal, Tachibana's and Kaishine's similar identities, Kaishine being within that purgatory in a past life, Yuri apparently meeting that Programmer guy… And I guess my small past run-ins with Mesome"

Yuri: "Oh yeah… You and her used to work together, didn't you?"

Artemus: "Yes, we did. How do you know?"

Yuri is suddenly taken by surprise. She realizes she has said too much.

Artemus: (Smiling) "It's fine. We know you've all made a presence within our network"

Takeyama: "So that's why it seemed kind of easy…"

Artemus: "Allies spread information when possible. There are no secrets we hold against you guys"

Yuri: (Fidgeting with her fingers nervously, looking down in guilt) "Yeah… We probably should have just asked you guys instead… Sorry"

Tsukaro: "It's okay. For one, what's done is done, and two, we did it on purpose so you guys could see we mean no harm"

Takeyama: "I guessed that would be the case"

A pause silences them. Artemus looks around, trying to take in some of the scenery. He looks ahead at the driver, Chaa.

Artemus: "So the driver… Chaa is it? What's his story if you don't mind me asking?"

Yuri: "Chaa is the leader of The Guild"

Tsukaro: "The Guild?"

Yuri: "Yup! It's a giant group of workers who specialize in building weapons and equipment for us. They're extremely skilled craftsmen. It's a shame we don't have nearly as many as we did in the other afterlife, but still, they're all still perfect to me. Chaa is their leader"

Artemus: "So they've been with you guys since before your time here I presume?"

Yuri: "Yes. He handles everything within The Guild since it's such a large division of the Afterlife Battle Front. And I have no idea how anything works with them. He handles the recruiting as well"

Tsukaro: "Where are they located if you don't mind us asking?"

Yuri: (Smiling) "That's kind of information that most of us don't even know. Me, Yusa, and Hinata are the only ones who know for sure, but they have many different locations, one of which is below our holding cells at headquarters. They don't ever use that place though"

Artemus: "Wow… It's quite interesting, you know? Your team I mean. The Afterlife Battle Front… For such a small group, you guys have an interesting and powerful structure"

Yuri: "I guess, but we don't have abilities like you guys have"

Artemus: "Oh? What about Otonashi, Angel, Hinata, and Naoi?"

Naoi: "My hypnotism developed just as yours did: over time, except mine has been with me since before my time here"

Angel: "And as we have stated before, Hinata, Yuzuru, and my abilities are made with the help of a computer program"

There is a long and silent pause from everyone. Yuri looks around, noticing tired eyes form throughout the crowd.

Yuri: "Well, we have a long journey ahead of us. It would be best to get some shuteye while we travel"

Noda: "I can't wait to kick some serious ass!"

Yui: "Well, you got a long ways to go, moron"

Noda ignores her 'moron' comment as usual.

Hinata: (Looking up at the setting sun) "Man, seventy miles? That such a long ways away… I'm surprised everyone agreed to such long distance of travel"

Yuri: "Don't worry. When we get there, Chaa said he and Kiero will work on revamping this thing. Until then, which is going to be about maybe ten hours from now, we will be hitting the road slow"

Fujimaki: "You know, we might as well be walking the entire distance"

Yuri: (Chuckles) "Be my guest… More room here"

Long silences hush the entire cart. Everyone begins to slowly slip consciousness after just a few more hours of travel. The trip would indeed be long, and then followed by hours of setting up a camp along the mountains, within the forest. Though everyone's attitude before embarking seemed more negative about the mission, the liveliness seemed to spark back up, however the fright was also present.

4:00 AM, that following morning; somewhere alongside a forest area.

As they come close to their destination, everyone begins to awaken from their uncomfortable slumbers.

Naoi begins to awaken, his back against the metal railings of the trailer. He looks down to his left and realizes Yusa was deep in slumber, resting her head on his shoulder and her arms draped over her legs and partially his. Quickly coming to his senses, his cheeks suddenly burn bright red and he flinches.

The tractor begins to slow to a close halt, followed by a rough turbulence of the parking brake engaging, tossing everyone's momentum forward. Groans are heard in the back. Chaa rubs the back of his head, smiling in innocence. The engine is quiet, trying to cool down from the long journey.

Chaa: "Hehe… My bad, sorry about that"

Iwasawa: (Rubbing out the back of her neck where she felt a sore) "Ouch… Are we here yet?"

Chaa: "We're about maybe two miles from our destination. We can't take this thing into the woods. For one, it's too large to fit between the trees. And two, it's way too noisy to be within such close proximity of the enemy. The enemy fortress is maybe about five miles directly west of us"

Yuri: "Alright, let's grab all out stuff and move. We got our rest, let's kick it into gear!"

Everyone replies with a nod, quickly putting on their backpacks and grabbing all their gear and rushing off of the bed of the large tractor. Chaa takes a key from a small, metal chain around his neck and walks over to the side of the tractor where a large compartment was locked.

Chaa: "You guys are going to need new weapons, too… I have everything you asked for Yuri, right here…"

Chaa sticks the key into the lock of the compartment and twists it. He opens it, revealing a massive rack full of brand new guns, ranging from rifles, pistols, machineguns, and a rocket launcher. Everyone lets out a loud and impressed 'whoa'.

Iwasawa: "Holy crap… That's umm… Quite a nice collection"

Chaa: "Thanks. I take my work very seriously. I only ask that you all take care of them"

Irie: "It's only a shame we don't even know how to use them"

Chaa: (Sarcastic) "Oh, that's nice, Yurippe. Way to teach your people how to shoot…"

Yuri: "Sorry, everyone was needed for this mission. I can't risk not having the extra bodies. I kind of planned it on short notice, ya know, and you told me if we were going to go through with it, that we needed to act quickly! So here we are"

Chaa gives an elongated sigh. Putting his frustration behind him, he grabs a clipboard from inside of the compartment. He begins to read off the entire order Yuri made.

Chaa: "Let's see… I have a large number of pistols… M92 Berretta's. Seven of them… Each with one magazine of fifteen rounds…"

Yuri: "Oh, those go to the people who don't normally shoot. Iwasawa, Irie, Sekine, Hisako, Yusa, Yui, and Takeyama…"

Chaa goes and hands each of them a pistol with a magazine inside of the weapon.

Chaa: "Please don't shoot anything yet… Keep your stinking fingers off of the trigger until you need it"

Hisako: "Hmm… How charming"

Chaa is annoyed by Hisako's attitude and shoves his face about a foot in front of hers, bending over to her level"

Chaa: "Look, you… We didn't come all this way for an accident to occur, exposing us… I'm being serious"

Hisako: "Geez, calm down, I didn't meaning it like that!"

Chaa returns to normal and continues to read on the order Yuri made for her people, handing out weapons of all shapes and sizes out to the members of Class SSS. Members begin locking and loading weapons, trading them, and tinkering with them. As the crowd clears slightly, Chaa notices two unfamiliar faces. Artemus and Tsukaro…

Chaa: "Who the hell are you guys?"

Yuri: "They're with us. Our allies… I told you we'd be bringing two other people with us to help"

Artemus: (Extending out a hand to Chaa) "I'm Wren Artemus. It is a pleasure to actually meet you, Chaa"

Chaa looks down at Artemus' hand and grabs it, shaking it casually.

Chaa: "Right. If Yuri trusts you, then I got no reason to dis you guys. Just don't go off exposing us"

Yuri: "It's alright, Chaa. They're valuable members to the Battle Front to me. They may be Scarlet Twenty at heart, but I consider them one of us"

Both Artemus and Tsukaro smile at Yuri's kind words. Chaa looks down at Artemus' left and sees a short girl with a striking, but opposing resemblance to Angel.

Chaa: (To Tsukaro) "And who is this?"

Tsukaro: "I am Tsukaro. Kaishine Tsukaro. It is a pleasure meeting and working with you, Chaa"

Chaa gives a light smile. He looks and notices they are devoid of weapons. He rubs his chin, and raises and eyebrow.

Chaa: "Aw damn… We have no more weapons to hand out. You guys are pretty empty-handed, too"

Tsukaro smiles, closing her eyes happily and giggling.

Tsukaro: "We appreciate your concern, but it's alright, really! We do have weapons actually"

Chaa: (Scratching his head, again raising an eyebrow, confused) "Uh… Where, if you don't mind me asking?"

Tsukaro: (Putting her index finger on her chin, looking up) "Hmm… Now that I think of it, I don't think we've ever shown them what we're armed with, Wren…"

Artemus: "Oh, you're just a big show off, Kai!"

Tsukaro: (Quickly objecting to his comment) "I am not!"

Noda: "Weapons?" (Laughing heartily) "Can they best my beloved Halberd?"

Ooyama: "I am quite curious, too! Do show us, please?"

Tsukaro glances at Artemus, giving a slightly angry look. Artemus chuckles and pats her shoulder.

Artemus: "Go on, Kai…"

Tsukaro smiles, finally getting the chance to show off her weapon of choice.

She puts her hands out ahead of her and closes her eyes. Her demeanor drops into a serious and entranced one. Suddenly, a dark and eerie aura begins to fill the air around the entire group. Some members are intimidated and back up one step. Suddenly, dark electricity begins to emit at her fingertips. Artemus crosses his arms and watches with seemingly minimal interest.

Artemus: (To himself) "Is all this conjuration really necessary, Kai?"

Tsukaro's conjuration is interrupted by a sudden outburst by herself.

Tsukaro: "Hey! This is completely necessary!"

Artemus: (Surprised) "What?! You heard that?!"

Tsukaro smiles and suddenly a fast-spinning object begins to appear in front of her just past her fingertips. Her eyes open and the spinning object slows down. She suddenly shoves her hand forward and grabs it, immediately putting the propeller-like motion to a complete stop, revealing a long, black staff with a long, curved, sharp, and insidious, steel blade at the end of it. The scythe was quite large, about half times taller than Tsukaro herself.

All eyes are widened at the weapon. A drop of sweat forms on Noda's left temple, slightly threatened at the large size of her scythe. Fujimaki laughs and directs his attention to Noda's halberd, which at the moment began to look like complete trash compared to Tsukaro's massive weapon.

Fujimaki: "I sense a disturbance in Noda's confidence"

Noda: (Yelling) "Hey, shut up! Just because she has a bigger weapon than me, doesn't mean she can dish out the damages!"

Artemus: "I've seen you once in action, Noda, and you're quite impressive"

Everyone is shocked to hear a compliment directed towards Noda. Noda is immediately shrouded in arrogance at the comment.

Noda: (Laughing, once again, heartily) "Thank you, kind sir! Like I said! Kicking ass is what I do best!"

Shiina: "But can you match up to the force of one-hundred men?"

Noda sneers at Shiina's comment-intended question. He gets close to her and bends down to her height, slightly mocking her.

Noda: "Well then, I suppose you think you can match my skill?"

Shiina: (Crossing her arms and looking dead in Noda's eyes) "I should be asking you. It is you who should be worried of your safety in a match between you and I"

Yuri gets in-between Noda and Shiina, pushing them apart from their bickering.

Yuri: "Alright, alright! Enough, both of you!"

The two continue bickering as Yuri breaks them together. Artemus walks closer to Tsukaro and begins to whisper to her.

Artemus: (Whispering to Tsukaro) "I need to ask you of a favor…"

Tsukaro: (Whispering back) "What is it?"

Artemus: "I know you're still learning how to control it… But try not to use Night Shroud. We don't know how they would react if they saw it. And you and I both know you have minimal control over it"

Tsukaro: (Nodding) "Yeah, I got it…"

Yuri begins to turn red, steam emitting (figuratively) from her head.

Yuri: (Growling) "Knock it off!"

Shiina recollects all of her pride and humility, backing away from Noda.

Shiina: (Walking away) "This is so stupid…"

Yuri: "We need to go ahead and set up camp in the woods"

Chaa: "You remember where to go?"

Yuri: "I have a copy of the map and a compass. You're going to stay here?"

Chaa: "We need to put some camouflage onto this thing" (Points at the tractor and trailer) "Kiero and I will follow along, so go on ahead. We'll only be a few"

Yuri nods her head and continues forward. Everyone puts their backpacks and their gear on.

Yuri: "Everyone, follow me. This way"

Yuri begins to walk along the wood line, through the long grass that covered the area between the woods and the pasture. One step closer to building the weapon needed to dominate Sinister.