A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for being a bad author. Though, like people generally, I had to deal with the unfairness of life and—if I'm being completely honest—a hint of laziness.
Anyways, I'll be posting the next chapter around next week, so stay tuned. I also edited a lot grammatic issues with the other chapters, but everything else, i.e. the content and plot, are still the same (besides the fact that Guinevere's actually horrible at holding her liquor).
Here is the last part of this special chapter! Hope you all enjoy it!
…And thanks for understanding ;D
"You still have that with you?!" Subaru stated in disbelief.
In response Kanato aimed it above Shuu's head. It glinted sadistically, eager to be used.
"Kanato—" Guinevere was interrupted with a screaming bang.
The bullet tore mercilessly through the jumper's sleeve, the sleeve that kept Ayato from plummeting down headfirst.
Moments of "Almost there" (part 3)
Ayato tumbled towards the ground in series of cries. Subaru cursed loudly and tightened his grip on Ayato, his knee colliding with the ground under the increasing weight.
Laito blinked, his hands handing awkwardly in the air where the last knot was supposed to be.
The chandelier, which was tipped over by Ayato's weight, resprung the opposite direction with such force that it broke away from the cracked ceiling. It hurled across the room before crashing against the wall, sending rainstorms of diamond glass fragments and flames flying dangerously.
The blue strings snapped.
One of the fragments scraped smoothly along the floor. It finally halted just as it touched Shuu's spotless footwear, to which the blond-haired male fixed it with a schooled gaze. He turned his head upon hearing Guinevere's voice and looked at her from between his arms.
"Really, Shuu, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself," she lightly huffed. "But thank you."
Shuu smirked and petted her head, but didn't budge from his shielding position. Laito, who was beside the two, glanced at Guinevere. Realising that she was unharmed, he closed his eyes and released a sigh.
Laito then looked at the mess in front of him. "Aw, I almost undid that knot~ Kanato, you should have gotten that gun out sooner before I untied anything." A small groan escaped him. "Such a waste."
"Teddy and I forgot that it was in my bag," Kanato said. His next statement almost came out as a hiss. "And if you're protesting, get your own gun next time."
Subaru folded his arms. "Can you both stop fighting? The alarm's already annoying the hell out of me, I don't need you two to get on my damn nerves."
"Do you have the gem?" Shuu asked.
"Yes, I have it right—" Guinevere looked at her empty hand. "Where—"
Evil laughter clashed with the deafening sound of the alarm. Everyone turned towards Ayato, who was standing in an odd pose and was holding the gem up like it was a sports trophy.
"I got it now! Finally!" he cackled victoriously. "Now you're all worthless!"
The others stared.
"…Oh, it seems like the pill has stopped taking effect," Laito slowly said.
Subaru punched his arm. "No, you idiot, though I can understand where you're coming from."
Kanato giggled, cuddling his stuffed toy. "Yeah. Ayato's always an idiot."
Footsteps were then heard, almost completely drowned by the alarms.
"Ayato, dear—" Guinevere extended her hand in panic. "—You need to give me the gem."
Ayato shook his head. He suddenly sprinted, only to be tackled by Subaru. Yet his will to cling onto the gem was strong.
Exasperated, Subaru pushed his weight on him, pinning his wrists above his head. However, because most of his strength was applied to keep Ayato's hands from flinging everywhere and slapping everything, it was pretty much impossible for him to obtain the gem.
Ayato then grunted when Laito smiled down at him. As if on cue, Subaru rolled off Ayato while still maintaining his iron grip. Immediately, Ayato began to spring upwards.
However, without wasting the opportunity, Laito pressed his foot onto Ayato's stomach, restraining him once more.
Guinevere's eyes widened. "Now, now, do not kill him—"
"My goodness, what is this mess?" Reiji said, stepping forward out of thin air to stand beside her.
Shuu sighed. "He drank a Dumb pill."
"What?" said Kanato. "But he's already dumb."
"Well, he didn't know that it was a Dumb pill when he drank it. He was also too idiotic to find it suspicious." Laito's attention remained on the struggling Ayato as he spoke.
Reiji crossed his arms. "I suppose that's normal. Why didn't you stop him, then?"
Subaru looked up. "We tried, but he was equally as persistent."
"Well, it can't be helped." Reiji then stared at Laito and Subaru, who was keeping a violent Ayato pinned to the ground. "So, are we going to idle around? With the alarm going off, it will only be a matter of time before more guards arrive."
"More?" Guinevere echoed. "Did you run into some of them on the way here?"
"They were in the way, so I had them dealt," said Reiji. "since I had incredibly little time to waste when I heard the alarm. Fortunately, it made it easier to locate you all …But of course, I didn't anticipate seeing this upon my arrival."
Shuu yawned. "Tell Laito and Subaru to hurry up. Those bothersome guards are coming."
"Do you hear that too, Teddy?" Kanato said. "It sounds like they'll be a lot of weapons for us to collect."
"Freeze!" one of the armed guards said. They were blocking the doorway, guns pointing directly at the brothers and Guinevere.
"No!" Ayato immediately retorted.
Subaru looked up boredly, his grip on Ayato's wrists still firm. Laito pressed more weight onto Ayato's stomach, causing Ayato to grunt. He then casually turned around and waved at the guards.
"I said freeze!"
Guinevere sighed. "Laito, just do as they say. They are going to weaken due to fear and stress soon. See their hairs growing white and the wrinkles on their unsatisfied faces?"
"You there, stop talking unless you want a bullet through your head!"
Guinevere raised a brow. Laito and Subaru suddenly disappeared, and she watched as the guard's eyes widened.
The screams behind him forced the guard to turn around. Horror-stricken, he backed away as Laito dropped one of his bloody colleagues to the floor. His eyes then trailed the splatters of blood towards the far side of the room. He fell backwards, mustering a gasp upon seeing a bunch of his colleagues piled against the cracked wall. He flinched when Subaru threw another colleague with bloody hands, causing the corpse to collide with the others.
It made a sickening smack. The guard paled. He managed to get on his feet and raise his gun after a few fumbles with his sweaty, shaking hands.
He aimed for Subaru's chest and shot. Subaru turned his body, successfully avoiding the bullet. He then placed his clean hand in his pocket, his glare causing the guard to wither in fear as he stumbled back.
"Boo," Ayato said lowly beside the guard's ear.
The guard shrieked and spun around, pulling the trigger. The bang rang through his ears as the bullet nipped an unflinching Kanato's hair.
"Damare," said Kanato, cocking his handgun. "Maggots like you should stay silent." He shot swiftly, his bullets soaring past either side of the guard to hit the remaining colleagues behind him.
Ribbons of blood spurted from their heads. They slammed onto the ground and didn't move.
Kanato aimed a gun at the guard when he halted. Glowering over his shoulders Kanato said, "Ayato, do you want to be—"
Ayato poked his tongue out before vanishing from the trembling guard.
At the unexpected sight in front of him, Kanato began laughing repulsively as he lowered his gun. Behind him, Reiji looked equally as disgusted.
"Oh my~" Guinevere stated before Shuu quickly covered her eyes, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Subaru blanched and awkwardly looked away while Laito recoiled a little at the…unholiness of it all.
Reiji stepped in front of Guinevere. His pointed glare was fixed on the guard's face and the guard's face only.
"What appalling manners," he said.
Meanwhile, a smiling Guinevere was trying to peel Shuu's hands off. They only tightened, stubbornly remaining as they covered her eyes.
"Not yet," Shuu hissed.
Guinevere laughed.
The guard managed a perplexed look. He inhaled sharply when his eyes landed on Ayato who appeared out of nowhere, standing beside Reiji. With one hand hooked on his hip, Ayato waved with his other hand. Smirking, he pointed towards the guard's legs.
The guard followed his gesture. Blood immediately rushed to his cheeks. A strangled sound escaped his mouth, before it closed and reopened again.
His pants had fallen down to his ankle, his glory exposed to the world.
The guard screeched. He frantically pulled up his pants as Guinevere let out another laugh.
"Dear me. He found out, has he?" she said.
Shuu sighed. "Glad you find this amusing."
The sound of gunfire was heard. The guard's cries stopped.
Shuu slowly uncovered Guinevere's eyes. Reiji did not move from his protective stance, only simply turning his head to glance at her.
"Don't move," he warned. "The sight in front of me is revolting."
Laito walked up to her, a hand over his face. "It'll be a big mistake to doubt his words, Guinee dear. I have never been so scarred throughout my immortal life."
"Yeah," Subaru agreed, appearing at Reiji's other side. "My eyes are even watering, what the fuck?!"
"It's that bad." Kanato's repugnant expression morphed into a gentler one. "Teddy, I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"Thank you Shuu," said Guinevere softly.
Shuu stared at her for a moment before he returned her smile, lightly pinching her cheek. Something then shattered, causing everyone to freeze.
Eyes turned towards Ayato who stood in front of a pile of broken glass and colourful liquid, his hands outstretched and grabbing on air. He looked at them.
"What?" he said. "I wanted to drink the liquid."
Groans escaped the room. Laito threw his head back and laughed.
Guinevere gave Ayato a heavy look. "So, are you going to bend down and lick every drop of it?"
"That's not a bad ide—"
"Ayato! It was our only source back!"
Ayato failed to respond. The others were also silent as they witness the rareness of Guinevere's frustration.
"I don't care if you've drunken whatever stupid pill," she continued, tone higher with urgency. "Any moron would know that by destroying the gem—without knowledge of what it can do—we cannot go home!"
Suddenly, the colourful liquid began running across the room at an unnatural pace, forming a sparkly ring around her and the brothers. It then started to glow brighter and brighter, before they all were swallowed by its light.
When the light dimmed, they were back in their familiar, lavishing lounge room.
Ayato's knees then gave out, and he would have collided with the floor had Subaru not caught him.
The other spun around. Reiji walked up and began examining him.
"Is he dead?" Kanato said.
He was answered with Ayato's snores.
"Well, that was overall pretty interesting…." Laito trailed off when he saw Guinevere squinting at the far side of the room, behind one of the sofas closest to the fireplace.
Kanato tilted his head. "Guinevere?"
The brothers, excluding Ayato, watched as Guinevere quite hastily made her way towards the back of the sofa. Upon seeing what was there, she flinched, the colour draining from her face.
She quickly turned away, holding out a hand in a vain attempt to unsee the sight.
"Hmm? What is it?" said Laito. "It's rare to see you this flustered."
"No, no, no." Guinevere walked forward, a hand on Laito's chest as she pushed him away from that direction.
Laito cocked a brow. He then smirked and grabbed her wrists, eyes flashing. Shuu, Subaru and Kanato looked at her with curious gazes.
Guinevere closed her eyes.
Reiji stood up, his brows furrowed. "What could possibly—"
"Why is that undressed guard with us?"
Time went still upon hearing her words.
"What?" was Kanato's flat reply.
It seemed, at that very moment, that he was voicing everyone's thoughts in the room.