Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, but with finals around the corner it's been pretty hectic. I tell ya, being a Media Arts student is pretty time-consuming.
But I digress. Here's the latest chapter of SAVE ME! With even more M-Rated content so WATCH OUT!
Also, this chapter will tackle on the history of the Black Beast. Yes, I put the Black Beast here. But only mentioning it.
And if there are any inaccurate details about the Six Heroes and the Black Beast and Ars Magus, all I have to say is..."AU"? XD
And keep in mind that the next chapter will be the last one for this volume, and it will tackle more on Tsubaki's past this time. So look forward to it!
Disclaimer: I do not own BlazBlue or Arc System Works. Only this story, which is borrowing them.
ENJOY!
-CHAPTER FOUR-
The next day…
"Ragna!" Tsubaki called out.
The man turned around just as he was about to enter Rachel's office. "Oh, Tsu. What's up?"
"I need help."
"Help? With what?"
She walked up to him, a serious look in her eyes. "I need you to tell me everything about Yuuki Terumi."
He frowned and crossed his arms. "Why the sudden interest in that asshole?"
"He killed Noel's parents and traumatized her. I wanna bring him to justice."
Sighing, he shrugged. "Tsubaki, we've been trying to catch that guy for God knows how long. He's pulled off a lot of shit over the years and yet he covers his tracks too damn well."
"Did something happen to you too?"
He looked down glumly. "Not to me… Saya."
Her eyes widened. "Saya?"
He cursed under his breath and scratched his head furiously. "This isn't the best time and place to talk about it. Can we continue this somewhere more private, please?"
"Like where?"
"…My place."
"Oh, okay."
"Actually…it's best that you see Saya for yourself. Maybe when she sees you, she'll have a change in mood."
"I see. Alright then. Your place after school."
"Mhm. Go on to class. Who knows what they're doing to Noel this time."
She gasped. "Oh, you're right! Thanks Ragna!"
And with that, she ran off. With a shake of his head, he turned back to the door and knocked. After a few seconds of silence, he heard Rachel's voice.
"Yes?"
"It's me."
"Oh, come in!"
He then opened the door and stepped in. He spotted Rachel signing a huge stack of papers. She read through and signed them with incredible speed, scaring him just a tad bit.
This rabbit's a little too hardworking, he thought to himself.
"What is it, Ragna?" she asked, never looking away from her paperwork.
"Have you heard about what happened in the mall yesterday?"
"I have. Though the details are sketchy. The media nowadays is quite unreliable."
He closed the door and walked up to her desk. He leaned forward, hands resting on the edge of the desk. He breathed in and spoke.
"Those men…worked for Terumi."
And with that, her hand stopped writing. Slowly, she looked up at him. The expression she wore was quite rare.
Pure anger.
"Terumi?" she whispered.
He nodded. "That's right. He's back."
She leaned back on her chair. "He has been idle for two years. It is quite odd that he would appear all of a sudden."
"Yeah well, I interrogated one of his men. He mentioned something about "the Sword"."
Her eyes widened a bit. "The Sword?"
"Yeah, whatever the hell that means." He examined her expression and crossed his arms. "You know something about it?"
She nodded. "Indeed I do."
"Think you can tell me what it is?"
"It has appeared several times in alchemy books. I have browsed through quite a few, and they all contain information about it.
"Though, the details of it are quite vague. All it says is that the Sword is the harbinger of death."
He narrowed his eyes. "It's just like that guy said."
"Where is he now?"
"…Dead."
Sighing, she rubbed her temples. "A pity. I would have loved to have asked him myself."
"It doesn't matter. So, anything else about the Sword?"
"Yes well… It says that it is not literally a "sword". It comes in a completely different form."
"Which is…?"
She shook her head. "That is the thing. There was never any information about what it truly is."
"Shit…"
"…Were Tsubaki and Noel at the mall that time?"
"Yeah. Noel was pretty shook up."
"Any normal person would be."
"That's not really the case. According to Tsu, once the men started talking about Terumi she completely broke into a panic."
"Of course she would. Given what had happened to her parents."
He growled. "That asshole… How good would it feel to tear him limb from limb?"
"He has eluded us for quite some time now. The police cannot or do not want to do anything about it. They have been terrified of him ever since his murder spree."
"Tch! Damn cowards."
"How is Miss Vermillion now?"
He jabbed his thumb at the door. "She's back in class."
"So soon? I would have expected her to take a day off after what happened."
"It was her decision. The kid has gotten stronger ever since Tsubaki came into the picture."
She smiled. "Indeed she has."
He pushed himself away from the desk. "Anyway, I'm going to bring Tsubaki over to my place later."
"Oh? Why, if I may ask?"
"…To meet Saya. She needs to know what happened."
She nodded. "I see… Well then, be sure to stop by my office before doing so. I would like to join you two."
"Why?"
"I too am a witness of what had transpired that night. I need to be there."
"What about your paperwork?" he asked, gesturing to said papers.
"They can wait another time. This matter is of utmost importance."
With a nod, he turned. "Alright. We'll come pick you up before we leave."
"Please do."
He walked up to the door and put a hand on the knob. He paused, turning his head to the side.
"I hope…Saya would at least react when she sees Tsubaki."
"We can only hope, Ragna."
And with that, he left. Rachel, alone now, let herself drown in her thoughts.
Yuuki Terumi… So he has finally reappeared. It has been exactly four years since the incident. But what is his goal now that he has returned?
The Sword...
She felt her head ache as she pondered deeper. "I should visit Miss Kokonoe tomorrow. Perhaps she can help make sense of this all…"
Nodding to herself, she picked her pen back up and resumed her paperwork. She hated this part of the job. There were times she would wish this all away.
Tough luck.
After school…
"Really, Tsubaki, I'm fine," Noel said with a small smile.
"Are you sure, Noel?" the redhead asked.
"I know how to get to the apartment on my own."
"But…" She turned to look at the waiting duo by the gate.
Ragna was leaning on the metal bars while Rachel was checking her watch. A limo stood by in front of the gate, door held open for the passengers to enter. Tsubaki could not help but feel a bit worried for her friend.
She felt Noel grab her hand. "I appreciate your concern, but I don't think I can come with you. This seems personal, so perhaps I should stay out of it."
Sighing, she patted her head. "Okay. Just be careful."
The girl stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I'll be waiting for you at home."
Aaaaaaaaand tomato.
"Y-y-y-y-y-yes! Please wait for me!"
With a final smile she went past the gate and bowed to the two teachers before going on her merry way. Tsubaki, face still red, touched the cheek Noel kissed. She let herself smile as she walked over to the gate.
She and Noel had constantly exchanged kisses on the head and cheek. But for some reason, the redhead just couldn't get used to her initiating the intimate gesture. It was usually her who would just pull her in and shower her with loving care.
And to think the blonde hasn't figured it all out yet…
Still, she couldn't help but be happy with how close they were. They share even the smallest of secrets with each other; during emotional moments they would hold each other so tight it would hurt; and when a real time for comfort would arise, Tsubaki would wipe her tears away and plant tender kisses on her forehead and cheek.
The intimacy was greatly welcomed by the girl, and she would return the gestures in kind. Her touches were always so soft. And her eyes whenever she would look at her…
They sparkled with joy, admiration, and so much love. It almost seems like she would think of her the same way Tsubaki did for her. That would be wonderful if it was true.
But the teacher didn't want to get her hopes up for nothing. What they had together was so special; it would be hard to describe it as mere friendship, though they are not quite at the level of being an actual couple.
But Tsubaki longed for her. For all of her.
She was so close, yet so far away. She wanted nothing more than to just take her in her arms and confess her love for her. The pent up feelings for her, the overwhelming desire, everything.
She loved her so much it hurt. Never before had she felt this way. Not even with Jin…
Jin… Yes, she had belonged to him once upon a time. It was a teenage love.
And that meant it was fated to fall apart.
There were no hard feelings really. They pretty much ended in good terms. And without many words, they parted.
Seeing him again after all these years brought joy to her. Not that she still had any lingering feelings for him, but it was good to see an old friend. And he really was one.
…To her at least.
But now…someone else had captured her heart. One that plagued her thoughts everyday. And it didn't even help that she lived under the same roof.
She hadn't realized that she was already by the gate. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that Ragna had to grab her before she hit the car door. She came back to reality and immediately felt herself flush.
"S-sorry!" she apologized.
Rachel giggled. "Dear Yayoi, just what are you thinking of?"
The silverhead laughed. "Come on, Tsu! Get your mind out of the gutter."
"Shut up…" she mumbled.
She quickly slid into the limo, the snickering duo following suit. Rachel's royal butler, Valkenhyne, closed the door and quickly entered the driver's seat.
"Where to, M'lady?" he asked.
"Ragna's apartment, please?"
He scrunched his nose in disgust. "Begging your pardon, madam, but I still find it highly unsanitary to bring you to that mongrel's abode."
"Oh, shut your face old man!" Ragna yelled. "My place ain't that filthy!"
"I fear that M'lady will be infected with disease and parasites if she were to enter your "home". You had best choose another location other than that derelict of an apartment of yours."
"Why you—!"
"Enough!" Rachel intervened. "Valkenhyne, you need not worry about bringing me to his home. I have visited him countless of times in the past to tutor him, and no harm had befallen upon me."
"M'lady, if I may—"
"You may not. Now please, we're on a tight schedule."
Sighing, he nodded and gripped the wheel. "As you wish, M'lady."
"Thank you." As the limo took off, she turned to Ragna. "And you, Ragna, should learn to control your temper."
"He was insulting my home!" he retorted. "It's only natural I'd get pissed!"
"Please tone down your voice. I am right beside you."
Grunting, he looked down. "Sorry."
"That's better. Anyway, I am not mad at you. You need not look so glum."
"Mhm…"
Sensing the tension building up, Tsubaki decided to speak. "How far is your apartment, Ragna?"
"It's just a twenty-minute commute away from campus. I tend to walk, though. Saves up on cash since I need it to…"
She furrowed her brows. "To…?"
"…to support myself and my sister."
"O-oh… I see."
The blonde frowned. "You only walk? That explains the scent of sweat you always bring in."
He shrugged. "Beats having to spend the money I make at school."
She closed her eyes and sighed. "You should tell me these things sooner. I could easily give you a raise."
"What?"
"Your services to the school, albeit a little rugged, are still quite admirable. Your potential and knowledge to teach your subjects to the students gives you the right for a raise. Not to mention that you almost always inflict proper discipline on those troublesome children.
"Aside from that, I care for your sister's well-being. This will also be for her benefit. If you were to give her a comfortable lifestyle then I would not mind adding a bit more to your paycheck."
He stared at her in astonishment. In his eyes there was a hint of doubt, yet desperation for hope that she was not just pulling his leg. This woman had given him such a hard time over the years, yet there are times when she would really help him when he needed it.
Whether he asked for it or not.
Tsubaki couldn't help but smile. She really had suspicions about Rachel's feelings for Ragna, but this actually confirms it. The blonde doesn't show it very well, but she was clingy of the man.
She would do anything to ensure his well-being, just as much as his sister.
Clearing his throat, he scratched his blushing cheek. "I-if that's not too much trouble, I guess I can agree to it and shit…"
With a nod of satisfaction, she leaned back on the seat. "Then it's settled. You have a raise in your paycheck, effective tomorrow."
"Thank you…"
"Just put that money to good use."
"Deal."
After that, the rest of the trip fell into comfortable silence. The only sound that was emitted was from the car's engine and the outside noise. Other than that, the rest was quiet.
Tsubaki looked back and forth between Ragna and Rachel. Her two friends from high school seriously have grown in so many ways. She could barely recognize them when she saw them the first time.
Ragna may still be hard-headed, but he had learned a sense of independence upon taking care of his sister for all these years. And the experience of teaching had been added to that. She honestly would not have guessed that he would choose this type of career.
Perhaps he wanted the same thing as her. To bring justice to Kagutsuchi.
I'm proud of you, Ragna, she thought.
Rachel is has the same "gothic Lolita" fashion she was oh-so fond of. She and Ragna still bickered a lot, but the blonde was at least more honest and more caring than before. Usually she would try to make up an excuse whenever she helped him in the past.
She still does that to this day, but not as much. She was actually comfortable with admitting that she wanted to help improve his living conditions for both him and his sister. She cared for both of them obviously.
She may not admit it, but she does show it. I do hope things look up for them soon. It would be nice for them to get together.
And she too wished that she would be able to share that happiness if she were to start anything serious with Noel.
Wait…no. Things really were serious between them. They both had frequent emotional moments when it came to Noel. And Noel has opened up to her A LOT more last night. That was a real jump in their friendship.
Friendship… It felt so wrong to call it that. What they had really was beyond mere friendship, yet not quite at the level of a lover's relationship.
She mentally smacked herself. She was just going in circles. She really should do something about losing track of the previous topic and move forward.
After a little while, the limo pulled over to a small apartment. Valkenhyne stepped on the breaks and turned the engine off.
"We have arrived, madam," he announced.
"Very good," she replied.
"Hey Ragna, could you go on ahead please?" Tsubaki asked, earning curious looks from both her friends. "I need to talk to Rachel alone."
"Uh, why can't I be here?" he questioned.
"It's…uh…personal girl stuff."
"Oh! Uh, alright then. Just don't take too long."
He opened the door and quickly got out. The redhead smiled in appreciation then turned back to the skeptical blonde. She was patiently awaiting her to speak up.
Tsubaki leaned forward, smile never leaving her face. "You really do care about him, don't you Rachel?"
She furrowed her brows. "I beg your pardon?"
"Ragna. You care a lot about him, don't you? Giving him a raise and all…"
"I care about his sister, not him."
The teacher rolled her eyes. "I know you care about Saya. But you deny that you really want to make sure even he's alright. Come on Rachel, stop trying to fool yourself."
She opened her mouth to retort, yet no words came out. She had to admit, the woman was very perceptive. The many times she had helped Ragna pretty much helped give away her feelings, especially with her actions earlier.
Besides…she really needs to start being more honest.
Sighing, she put her hands together. "It would not work out between us."
"What makes you say that?"
"We quarrel a lot; we say hurtful things to each other; not to mention the man hates me."
"Pfft! No he does not!'
"He said so himself when you came to my office on the first day. Remember?"
"And you actually thought he meant that?"
She looked down, a look of doubt evident on her face. "Fine, say that he does not hate me. But that does not change the fact that he may not feel the same way."
"You'll never know unless you try."
She looked back up at her. "Try what?"
Shrugging, the woman sat beside her. "Try to confess to him."
The blonde merely stared at her as if she had said the most absurd thing in her entire life. A number of thoughts flashed through her mind. Whether it would be about Tsubaki being one of the biggest idiots she has ever met, or perhaps the woman's idea didn't seem as bad as it sounds.
Still, it would prove risky to take that leap. "Tsubaki…that is crazy."
"Why's it crazy?" she asked.
"I have no experience in these types of things. Surely things would go badly if I were to try."
"I know that. I don't expect you to confess to him right away. Not when you have no idea what to do.
"Which is why I will help you!"
"…Pardon?"
"I'll help you confess to Ragna!"
"…Again, pardon?"
She furrowed her brows. "What? You don't trust me?"
"Honestly, no."
Her jaw dropped. "What?! Why?!"
"Tsubaki, can you ever help me when you can't even help yourself?"
"Uh…what?"
"How can you ever help me with Ragna if you haven't even confessed to Miss Vermillion?"
She laughed for a good ten seconds before wearing a somber look. "Because I'm too afraid."
Well, at least she's honest.
"But that's nothing to worry about!" the redhead assured. "I'll deal with it in time. But I can still help you with Ragna. Come on, what do you say?"
With a long sigh, she gave her a curt nod. "Very well. I leave myself in your care. Though this is a tad bit unbecoming of me to stoop down to a student once more."
"Don't worry, Rach. You'll be winning his heart in no time."
"I certainly hope I don't regret this, Yayoi."
With a warm smile, she responded. "You won't."
Clearing her throat, Rachel flipped her hair. "Shall we go?"
"Ya know, Rabbit…I really don't appreciate you treating me like a fucking donkey," Ragna grumbled.
"This place has no elevator," she replied. "Did you honestly expect me to climb so many stairs?"
Yes, indeed Ragna is once again carrying the oujo-sama in his arms. He was a strong man, who wields a big-ass sword. This shouldn't be too hard for him.
He still didn't appreciate the fact that he HAD to carry her all the time.
Tsubaki followed behind, apparently amused. "Come on, man up Ragna. Not like she's even that heavy."
"I am as light as a feather, thank you very much," Rachel said curtly.
"Yeah, but your dress adds a bit more weight," the silverhead retorted.
SMACK!
"OW! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!"
"Silence, fool. You are giving me a headache."
"Damn you bunny-leech, I swear I'm gonna drop you if you keep this up," he growled.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Wanna bet?"
"A-anyway!" Tsubaki intervened. "Ragna, which floor did you say your room was?"
Grumbling, he replied. "Sixth."
"Yikes. And you go up and down these stairs everyday?"
"I don't mind, really."
"…Does Saya mind?"
He shook his head. "Nope. She hardly gives a shit about anything."
She frowned. "Is that so?"
That said, they had reached the sixth floor. With a breath of relief, Ragna set Rachel down in a not-so-gentle manner. This elicited a "hmph!" from the young principal.
They walked along the corridor in silence, searching for the silverhead's room. They had passed through at least seven doors until he finally stopped in front of Room 608.
"This is it," he mumbled as he slid his key in the keyhole. Upon opening the door, he stepped aside for the two women to enter first. Once they were both in, he followed suit and locked the door.
Tsubaki took in the sight of his room. It was a small space, with barely any furniture save for the couch and drawer that held a small TV on top. A little beyond it was a kitchen sink next to a stove and refrigerator.
The redhead immediately assumed majority of what was in there was booze.
"Saya!" he called out. "I'm home! And I brought guests!"
No response.
"Saya, come on out! I'll be cooking dinner for you and our guests!"
That then earned him a click on the door to the left. Tsubaki had wondered why she hadn't noticed that other door in the first place. And she was right beside it.
The door opened slowly, building up a bit of suspense. Little by little, Tsubaki could make out a feminine figure come into view. As the door was fully open, she walked out.
At that moment, Tsubaki's eyes widened. "Saya…?"
The girl, Saya, looked upon her with blank, red eyes. She had very long violet hair that reached down to her calves, bangs covering half of her face, and very pale skin. She stood approximately 5'4 and was quite slender, a huge leap from when Tsubaki had last seen her years ago.
Oh God, she thought to herself. What happened to her beautiful blonde hair?
She wore a loose black t-shirt that went down to her thighs, and grey sweats. Right now she looked like a shut-in. A far cry from how she was like as a child.
Saya was always so outgoing and adventurous, despite her condition. Her body was weak and would fall ill if she were to overexert herself. But that never stopped her from doing what she wanted.
She was a strong girl. No one could hold her back. Not even her body.
Looking at her now tore Tsubaki's heart in two. The once sweet, playful little girl she was so fond of years ago now resembles a zombie. Pale, skinny, and almost dead.
Ragna walked up to her. "Saya, didn't you wear that shirt yesterday?"
The girl looked up at him, eyes still void of any emotion. But again, she said nothing.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Whatever. Anyway, we got company. Say hello."
She looked over to Rachel, who walked up to her with a look of concern. "Saya dear, you look quite slim. Have you been eating?"
Her only response was a shake of her head. This caused the blonde to sigh.
"Saya, you musn't skip meals. Your brother saves up for all the food you need. If you do not eat then he would just gobble it all up."
"I put them in the fridge, damn you," he growled.
"Anyway, someone is here to see you." She stepped aside to let Tsubaki come up to them. "You remember Tsubaki Yayoi, do you not?"
The redhead's eyes met hers. She was speechless. Absolutely speechless.
This girl does not have the same mischievous twinkle in her eyes nor the playful smile on her lips. The girl before her is nothing but a shell. A shell of a girl that was once full of life.
No, she had to have hope. Hope that the old Saya was still in there. She just had to try and see for herself if she could bring it out again, even if just a little bit.
Swallowing up her grief, she smiled down at the girl. "Hey, Saya. It's me, Tsubaki. You know, Tsubaki Yayoi?"
She merely stared at her, void of any expression of sort. The redhead tried again.
"I was your brothers' classmate. I would come over to see you with Rachel when we were free. We—uh, I mean I used to play with you. You'd beg me to take you to the park every Sunday with your big brothers.
"I would buy you ice cream from Kaka Town when you felt hot. Me and your brothers brought you to Magi Land on your ninth birthday. Me and Litchi dressed you up for that wonderful play of Sound of Music you starred in.
She brought a hand to her chest, tears threatening to leak out. "Saya…don't you remember me?"
Again, the same expressionless look. Not even a blink. Not a word.
She reached her hand out. "Saya…please try to—"
SLAP!
The sound echoed around the room. The three adults were baffled. It all happened so fast.
Tsubaki had reached her hand out to her…only to have it slapped away. And the look on the girl's face broke the redhead's heart.
Saya looked upon her with a harsh glare. Her red eyes bore such intense hate and spite, it stabbed through the woman like a sword. And the girl narrowing her eyes at her felt like that same sword had twisted, finally breaking her resolve.
"S-Saya…" Tsubaki choked out.
With a snarl, the girl turned and quickly went back into her room, slamming the door. The three just stood there, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. Ragna and Rachel looked over to Tsubaki, who's back was turned as she stared at the door.
"Tsu?" Ragna called out quietly. "Hey, you okay?"
"Tsubaki, dear?" Rachel joined in.
"…Ragna…" the redhead whispered out.
"Yeah?"
"Tell me…what did that bastard do to her…?"
Her whole body was shaking, and her hands were clenched into fists. She let out soft, sporadic sobs.
Rachel stepped forward. "Tsubaki, please calm do—"
The woman never got a chance to finish as Tsubaki swiftly turned to them. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Within her eyes there was sadness, grief…and anger.
"TELL ME!"
It took them a few minutes to assuage the redhead's anger. It was not an easy task, but they managed to do it. They had expected her to be upset.
But this exceeded far beyond their expectations.
And yet, they cannot blame her. Rachel was fond of Saya, but Tsubaki had really treasured the little girl. She treated her like the little sister she never had.
Everytime she saw her, Tsubaki would always say she envied Ragna and Jin for having such a sweet girl as their sister. The innocence and kindness Saya harbored drew people to her. Such a child had brought happiness to those who knew her.
Everyone loved her. Her smile. Her light.
But that light is gone now. And how it burned out, Tsubaki didn't know. And she is aching to find out.
"Want a drink?" Ragna asked her. "Soda?"
"Beer," was Tsubaki's immediate response.
He furrowed his brows. "Uh, you sure?"
"…Yes."
Sighing, he opened up his fridge and took out two bottles. "Fine. Rachel, you want anything?"
She shook her head. "None for me thank you."
And with that, he shut the fridge and handed a bottle to the redhead, sitting beside Rachel on the couch as Tsubaki sat on the chair in front of them. After opening the bottle, she took one swig of her drink and hissed.
"Don't drink it too fast, Tsu."
"I'm fine." Gripping the bottle hard, she looked up at him with bloodshot eyes. "Ragna…tell me everything."
"You're not gonna like it."
Grunting, he opened his beer and took a quick gulp, despite what he had said earlier. Though he needed it for this. It would not come out easily.
Drawing out a breath, he leaned forward. "It was four years ago…"
September 21, 2025…
Kagutsuchi High had hosted a reunion party tonight. Everyone was there, with the exception of Tsubaki. The auditorium was packed with alumni of the school.
Ragna isn't enjoying in the slightest. He really didn't want to come here. He hated his classmates, and it appears none of them had changed.
He was currently engaged in a conversation with a pompous fat man who was stuffing himself with a plate of caviar. Yuck.
"My father has chosen me as the new successor for his company," the man said, food spitting out onto Ragna's face. "I am glad he realizes who is suitable for the position."
The spiky-haired man wiped the food off his face and glared at him. "And how do you know you will do a good job? Not that I care or anything."
"Ugh! How rude!" He spat at him again. "I have full confidence in my skills!"
"Do you even have any idea how to run a company?" he asked, again wiping his face.
"Of course! I am a McKinley!"
Making his surname his reason, he thought. This guy's really pathetic.
"Anyway, I am going to make our company even more successful! I will surpass my father!"
"Again, not that I care. Alright, I have to get going. I need to find my sister."
"Ah, you mean Miss Saya? She is a cute one. Perhaps I will make her my bride someday."
He glared at him. "Like hell you will."
Without another word he left him, ignoring his comebacks. He pushed through the crowd and searched for the younger Kisaragi.
"Saya?!" he called out. "Where are ya?!"
"Big bro?"
He turned around and sighed in relief. In front of him was a small girl, with pale skin and blonde hair, just like his, and green eyes. She had a slim figure, and stood as tall as Ragna's chest.
She was wearing a light blue dress and silver heels. Around her neck was a black chocker with a red heart in the middle. Lastly, her wrist fashioned a silver bracelet.
"Thank God. Don't wander off on your own like that."
"I'm sorry," she said. "But the crowd kinda pushed me away to the other side while you were talking to that man."
"Oh. Then I should be the one apologizing. I shoulda watched you more carefully."
She smiled sweetly at him. "It's okay, big bro. I know that you are always looking after me."
Saya was not an alumnus of this school. She is merely a middle school student, a year before becoming a graduating student.
The reason for her being here is because Ragna had asked her to accompany him since he really didn't want to be alone here with such arrogant and obnoxious jerks. Being the loving little sister that she is, she agreed to come along. And he was thankful for that.
"Anyway, thanks for coming with me. I can't stand these assholes."
She giggled. "I will follow you anywhere, big bro."
He smiled. "Same here."
"Really?"
"To hell if I must."
She blushed with a grin and took his hand. "Big bro's such a romantic."
We're both siblings, though, he thought.
"Anyway, you hungry?" She nodded. "Alright. Let's get something to eat."
"Yay!"
They both went to the buffet table. It had a wide spread of fancy dishes. There was even sushi here.
A ton of it. Yum.
"What do you want, Saya?" he asked.
"Tuna! Tuna! I want the tuna!"
He laughed. "You really love tuna, huh?"
"It's healthy and delicious!"
Another laugh. I have a feeling she would make a good dietician someday.
"Help yourself. There's still a lot here, so you don't have to hold back."
She let out a delighted giggle and got a plate, filling it with slices of raw tuna without hesitation. This made him smile even more. She was the only person capable of bringing out a true smile out of him.
She was his happiness. And he would never let anything happen to her.
"Ragna?"
He turned around to find Rachel, dressed in a black spaghetti dress and gold heels. Her hair was down, which was rare. But while her usual pigtails made her look more like a child, she looks more mature with her hair down.
"What do you want, Rabbit?" he asked, irritation dwelling in his voice.
"How rude. I am merely greeting an old friend. We haven't seen each other in far too long, so I wanted to say hello to you."
"We keep seeing each other every twice a week! And most of the time…no…all the time you treat me with disrespect."
"Your words wound me, Ragna."
"Ha! You aren't capable of feeling."
"At least I'm not an idiot like you."
He pointed an angry finger at her. "Ya see that?! That's what I'm talking about! You have no respect for me, whatsoever—"
"Miss Rachel!" Saya greeted happily, her mouth filled with tuna.
The blonde goth kneeled down to her level with a smile. "Why, hello child. How are you?"
She made a toothy smile, making the chewed up tuna visible. "I'm great!"
"Oh dear, you shouldn't talk with your mouth full. It is unlady-like."
She gulped down her food and giggled. "Heehee! Yes, Miss Rachel!"
The older girl patted her head. "There, that's a good girl. Be sure not to let Ragna's influence rub off on you."
"Hey!" the said man yelled. "I resent that!"
"Oh, hush now you ape. It's because of you that my dear sweet Saya lacks manners."
"Who are you calling an ape, you damn vampire!"
"You should not swear in front of her. I don't want her to learn such vulgar words."
"Oh, please. She's heard worse."
She looked down at the girl. "Do you imitate what he says, Saya?"
The younger Kisaragi shook her head. "No, Miss Rachel! Ragna made me promise not to say those words until I am older!"
"He should have told you to never say that ever." She then looked up at him. "Please be a better role model for her, Ragna. She is such a sweet girl and I do not want her to become corrupt."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "You calling me "corrupt"?"
"No. Just an idiot."
"Why you little…!"
"Big bro, please don't fight with Miss Rachel," Saya pleaded. "Lovers should not fight."
"L-l-l-l-lovers?!" he stuttered.
Rachel smiled. "She is right, Ragna. We shouldn't start a lovers-quarrel. Our relationship would deteriorate at this rate."
"I am not your lover, Rabbit!"
"Oh? Then why are you blushing?"
He furrowed his brows and touched his cheek. They were quite warm. He looked away angrily.
"S-s-s-shut up! I'm not blushing!"
"Your actions contradict your words. Please be more honest with others and yourself."
"Get off my case, bunny-leech!"
"She's right, big bro," Saya began. "You should just admit your feelings to her."
"Not you too!"
"It's not that hard to see. You are always talking about her."
"I'm always complaining about her!"
"Which is the same as "talking about her"."
The blonde smiled smugly. "The child agrees with me."
He groaned inwardly. My little sister's being a smart-mouth.
"Whatever. Believe me or not, I don't care. Come on, Saya. Finish your food. We're leaving."
She frowned. "Aww! Already?"
"It's nine o' clock. You're supposed to sleep at ten."
"But—"
"Did you even remember to take your medicine today?"
She shook her head. "I don't know where my meds are."
"Really?"
"I tried asking big brother Jin to help me find them, but he just ignored me."
"That jerk…" he growled and sighed. "Come on. We can't afford to have you collapsing again."
"Is Saya still sick?" Rachel asked with concern. "Surely she should have been cured by now. It's already been five years."
"It's her immune system that's been acting up. Apparently her body's come to the point where it won't be able to fend off any illnesses on its own."
"Are you still seeing Doctor Sergei?"
He shook his head. "No. That bastard charges a lot for his meds. We're seeing Litchi."
"Ah, Fey Ling."
"Yeah. She's more considerate towards us. Sure she still charges us for the medicine, but if we don't have money at the moment then she lets me earn a bit more so I can pay later."
"That woman has always cared about her patients."
He chuckled and ruffled his sister's hair. "Most especially Saya."
Saya giggled and squirmed under his hold. "Big bro! Stop!"
"But I guess you are right to decide to take her home now," Rachel said. "I am worried about her health as well."
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm not sure how much more meds we have in stock."
"I will give you some money for her medicine every now and then. It would be a pity to see the girl suffer."
He looked at her with questioning eyes. "Really? You're just gonna give us money?"
"Yes."
"…What's the catch?"
She rolled her eyes. "No catch. Don't get me wrong, Ragna. I am not doing this for you. I am doing it for Saya."
"Miss Rachel," Saya began, catching both their attentions. "You don't have to give us money for my sake."
She smiled and placed a hand on the girl's cheek. "Saya, I am doing this because I don't want to see you hurt. You are quite sick. And I want to help you get better."
"But—"
"Your brother cannot keep buying them for you since he has other things to pay for. Like food, clothes, and shelter. He takes care of you, so he works hard to give you what you need."
"Rachel…" Ragna whispered.
"That is one of the few things that make him a little bit useful."
A vein throbbed on his head. "Just when I was about to thank you…"
Saya grinned and hugged her. "Thank you, Miss Rachel."
Rachel smiled and stroked the girl's hair. "Anything for you, my dear."
Ragna stared at the two of them. For some reason, something felt natural with the interaction between the two. Almost as if…
…Rachel's the mother Saya never had.
Something stirred inside him that made him frown for a second. He clutched his chest before shrugging.
"Anyway, we have to go," he said. "Saya, say goodbye to Rachel."
She pulled away and waved as she wore a toothy grin. "Bye, Miss Rachel!"
"Oh, at least let me give you two a lift home," the blonde said. "It's dangerous at this time of night."
He laughed half-heartedly. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm more than capable of protecting my sister."
"If anything happens to her, Ragna, I will have your head."
He gave her the finger before leading Saya through the crowd. But just as they were about to reach the door, the lights went off.
Panic ensued. He held onto her tight.
"It's fine, it could just be a shortage," he reassured.
"Big br—aah!"
At that moment, he felt her hand slip from his. "Saya?!"
"Big bro!" she cried out to him in the darkness.
"Saya, where are you?!" he yelled out.
"Help me!"
"Saya!"
He then felt himself be pinned to the ground face-first. He grunted and tried to get up. It was useless.
Strong hands were holding him down.
"Gah! Who's there?! Lemme go!"
"Oh, we can't do that now, Ragna," a sinister voice chuckled.
"Wha—?!"
Suddenly, the lights went back on. He looked up to see two men in hooded cloaks holding him down. He looked around and saw a lot more of them restraining the crowd.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"The debut…" the same sinister voice began. "…of our little community!"
He turned to gaze at the stage. He saw a man with long green hair, pale skin, and yellow eyes staring right back at him. He wore a cloak similar to the others, but it had red lines that ran along the sides.
Ragna's eyes widened. "Who—?!"
"Ohohoho, Rags! Don'tcha remember me? Your ol' buddy Yuuki Terumi?!"
"T-Terumi…?"
Yuuki Terumi. Another alumnus from Kagutsuchi. The current leader of the occult group known as the "Novus Orbis Librarium".
Also known as the NOL.
They are a religious group extremely obsessed with studying the dark arts of "ars magus". They have been in league with several dark covenants all over the world, and their main base is in Japan.
The NOL also has its own "god" to worship. It is well-known as the mythical "Black Beast".
Laughing, Terumi stepped down hard on Ragna's head. "Like my new look? I just happened to pass by the James' two years back and decided to pay them a visit."
"W-what?!" Ragna growled. "James-senpai?!"
"And Samantha, too! My GOD she was delicious!"
"You…what have you done?!"
"Killed James, raped THEN killed Samantha, and merged with awkward little Kazuma." He leaned in closer. "Don'tcha remember this face, Rags?"
He peered up at the menacing serpent eyes that burned through him then took in his features. It was indeed the same face as the Kazuma-senpai he knew back then. But behind those eyes were filled with malice and sadistic desire, it actually rattled him.
"You…YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"
"By the way, hope you don't mind we borrow your little sister for our little event tonight." He walked over to the stage. "We got something special planned for her."
And with that, a spotlight hit the stage. There was Saya, kicking her legs around as one of the cult members held her hands behind her back. Ragna's eyes widened.
"Saya!"
"Big bro!" she cried out. "Help me!"
The cult members had divided the crowd into two groups. Each group was handled by eight members, all armed with assault rifles. They aimed their guns at them to ensure that they don't try to escape.
Ragna struggled to knock his restrainer off, but he was in too awkward of a position to do so. He looked around the room for Rachel. She was nowhere to be found.
"Shit, where's that damn Rabbit when you need her…"
Terumi stood beside the follower that held her. "People of Kagutsuchi! Welcome…to the NOL'S DEBUT!
The crowd was getting rowdy. "We of the NOL are dedicated on worshiping our ever-so-powerful god, the Black Beast. And we would like to ask you all to make a donation to our god. He would be so ever appreciative of your contribution to his reign.
"What kind of donation, you ask? Well…" He grinned darkly at them. "…how about your life?"
That's when the crowed started to panic again. They all tried to push their way out to the exit, but immediately stopped as the cult members fired warning shots. Terumi took pleasure in their fear, and decided to spice things up.
"But before that, how about we put on a little show for all of you?" He put his hand on top of Saya's head. "This little girl is quite sickly, as you all know, and is showing no signs of recovery whatsoever.
"Our god has unlimited power, and he is willing to cure this poor soul from her illness!"
"RAGNA!" she cried out.
That one cry gave Ragna the much needed strength to break out of the cult member's hold and make a dash towards the stage. The other members were about to shoot him, but Terumi motioned them to hold their fire. The man had something up his sleeve.
Ragna was closing in on the man, hands clenched into fists. Terumi just stood there, wearing a smug, taunting look on his face. When the older sibling was merely three feet away he threw a punch on the cult leader's way.
His fist did not connect.
The man easily side-stepped the punch and kicked him on the side. As Ragna staggered, Terumi quickly threw a chain at him out of nowhere. A serpent's head on the tip of the chain grabbed hold of the arm that he used for the punch and pulled him in.
With a glint and a flash of metal, pain shot throughout Ragna's arm. He screamed as he clutched his shoulder and fell to the ground. He saw splatters of red and his eyes widened.
Saya screamed bloody murder as she stared down at her wounded brother.
He looked up at Terumi, who held his chain up tauntingly. In between the serpent's jaws, a severed arm dangled limply. Blood dripped down to the floor, making a puddle of blood.
Realization instantly hit him as he looked down at where his arm was supposed to be. It was gone. Cut clean off from his shoulder and armpit.
And it was now in the hands of the maniacally laughing man.
"That was a nice try, Rags!" Terumi cackled. "Though, you're too slow."
He threw the arm over to the audience, scaring them out of their wits. Ragna squirmed on the floor as even more pain seeped into the wounded area. He could barely hear the cries of his sister as he clutched his shoulder tighter. It did little to lessen the pain.
"Now, where was I before I was rudely interrupted?" He looked over to Saya, her face now soaked with tears. "Ah right!"
He gripped the chest area of her dress and pulled it off before anyone can blink. She screamed and squeezed her legs together to hide her underdeveloped sex. It was futile; her entire being was bare for the room to see.
Ragna saw this and began to crawl his way towards them. "Get…away from her…you fucking…bastard!"
Not paying any mind to the man's pained yells, he dug into his pocket and fished out what seems to be a black pebble. He held it up high.
"I will now let you all witness the power of our god! Watch as this girl is cured from her accursed illness!" He grabbed her hair and leaned in close. "Look into my eyes, my dear…"
She gasped as she did. Upon looking into those serpentine eyes, she felt herself drift off.
In a matter of seconds she was in a trance. Grinning, he ran his wet, slimy tongue up her cheek then leaned into her ear.
"Let's give them a show, shall we?"
He pressed the black pebble onto her navel and let it linger there. Soon, a bright violet light emitted around the stone and he let go. The pebble stayed put. The light grew until it filled the entire stage.
It blinded the crowd and caused them to tear their gazes away. Ragna, who was only a few feet away from them, stopped to bring his remaining arm over his eyes, the pain being forgotten. Terumi remained unfazed, and only laughed loudly.
He and the follower backed away as Saya was lifted into the air. The pebble shrank, and soon black veins spread from her bellybutton to all around her torso. They covered her entire front, and stopped right under her jaw.
"SAYA!" he cried out.
"WITNESS THE POWER…OF GOD!" Terumi yelled at the top of his lungs.
She threw her head back and screamed. Her eyes glowed with bright, intense red light and a dark shadow of violet covered her beautiful blonde locks. A loud boom shook the entire ballroom.
Her whole body arched backwards, and a loud roar echoed throughout the building. A red mist filled the air right above her, and it soon formed a shadow of a menacing creature. It's fangs bare, and eyes narrowed, it let out another roar, mightier than the last.
Just as fast as it had appeared, it soon got sucked into Saya. It kept roaring until there was no trace of the mist left. And in the area of her torso where the beast was sucked in, a symbol spread around her navel.
The symbol made out to what seemed to be a dagger surrounded by swords that formed the structure of wings. It glowed and hummed as the mark was complete.
The light slowly dissipated, and she was gently let back down to the cold hard floor. Ragna, recovering from the temporary blindness, had quickly crawled over to his sister's side. The pain in his shoulder is forgotten, and he looked over Saya to see if she was hurt.
"Saya," he whispered as he shook her. "Saya!"
There was no response from the girl. Worry welled up inside of him as he pressed his ear against her chest. He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard a normal heartbeat.
He gently picked her head up with his remaining hand and let her rest on his chest. "Saya…"
"Worry not, Ragna," Terumi said from behind. "I merely gave her a bit of a boost in her system"
He angrily turned his head to the psycho. "You fucking bastard… What did you do to her?!"
"I just said it, Rags. Get your ears cleaned."
"I'll fucking kill you!"
He laughed madly. "Ho, really?! I'd like to see you try your hand it that! Gasp! I'm sorry… Did that hit a sore spot?"
Smacking his leg, he cackled louder. He was clearly enjoying this. Sick sadistic humor.
The madman wiped an invisible tear from his eye and turned to the crowd. "Well folks, are you not amazed by the power of our beloved Black Beast? He will now live on within this young girl and forever be bound to her life! She cannot, will not, die!
He clasped his hands together. "Now that you've enjoyed the show, how about we wrap this up? We'll be taking your "donations" now…"
And with a snap of his fingers, all the cult members cocked their guns and aimed them at the people. Terumi raised his hand, signaling them to hold their fire. He grinned down at the wounded man holding his sister tight.
"Don't you worry, Rags," he said, voice dripping with mirth. "I'll let you and your sister live. I've got big plans for you in the future."
Ragna glared up at him. "W-what…?!"
"Well…your sister, anyway. I'm only letting you live as well since your obsessive little brother won't give a rat's ass about little Saya, and only you can truly take care of her. And I can't take her with me because of some…ahem…complications.
"So I leave her with you for now. But know that I will be back for her. Sooner than you think…"
With one more fit of laughter, he brought his hand down and soon the whole ballroom was filled with gunshots and screams. Ragna brought his head down to rest on his sister's, shutting his eyes as he blocked out the sight of the massacre of his former classmates. He cursed himself for being so powerless.
For the four years of being in the same school with them, he was never really fond of these students. But it was still painful to see people whom he had known for so long to die right before his eyes. Besides…
…there were some people here who actually gave a damn about him.
Dammit, Ragna thought. This can't be real… Why the fuck is this happening?!
He held onto his sister tighter, listening to the screams dying down. Rachel…where the hell are you…?
After a few more minutes, the gunfire had stopped. He kept his eyes shut, not daring to look upon the pile of corpses that were his classmates. He had to focus on other things.
Like how he was going to get him and his sister out of here.
Terumi let out a long whistle as he stepped off the stage. "Nice~! Very nice indeed~ Good job, boys!"
"THANK YOU, LORD TERUMI!" they all saluted.
He then turned to Ragna. "Well, I've done what I came here to do. It's time I high-tail outta here before the clowns show up."
The man knew very well those "clowns" were the police. "I'll hunt you down and kill you…"
With a smirk, he walked away. "Good luck."
In no time at all, the members had followed their leader out of the building. Silence hung in the air, as well as the stench of death. Ragna could feel his consciousness fading as he continued to lose more blood.
He was quite surprised that he had managed to stay alive for this long, let alone awake. But the events of the past hour have really worn him down, and the blood loss only added to the effect, if not delayed.
He tried desperately to cling onto his sister's still body, hoping that he could at least stay awake long enough to get help. Not for him, but for Saya. If anyone were to make it out of here it should be her.
"Saya…hang on…" he grunted as struggled to get up. "I'll try to…get help…"
But as he lifted his foot, he fell back down as his body became quite numb. His head fell onto the pool of blood from his wound. His face was smeared with the red liquid, and all he could see at the moment was crimson.
He struggled to move his eyes over to Saya. She was still. Very still.
But thank God she's alive…
He let out a breath before he slowly shut his eyes. Strength left him, and soon blackness was all he could see. But in the distance he could hear a commotion.
Two voices. Very vague. They were getting louder and clearer though.
"Miss Rachel, you musn't rush back in…!" one of the voices said.
"Valkenhyne, stop it!" the other voice yelled. "You took me away from here as my fellow classmates were mercilessly killed! I have to find at least Ragna and Saya!"
He had recognized that voice. R…Rachel…?
A gasp, then a flurry of footsteps that stopped right in front of him. With the slightest sense of touch left in him, he felt his head being lifted. He cracked an eye open ever so slightly, yet he made out the face in front of him.
"Ragna!" she nearly cried out. "Dear lord, you're bleeding badly!"
"Ra…chel…" he managed to whisper. "Take…Saya…out of…"
After that, he felt nothing.
"I thought I died that night," Ragna said lowly. "I wanted at least Saya to get out of there. But when I came to, I was on a hospital bed."
Rachel played with her hair. "I had taken him and Saya to the local hospital not far from the vicinity. But prior to that, just when the lights went out, Valkenhyne had quickly and silently escorted me out of the room. And just to be clear, I did not ask him to do so."
"Jackass didn't even consider trying to save more people…"
Tsubaki merely sat there, massaging her temples and taking everything she heard in. Yuuki Terumi… He has done way more than just fulfill assassination requests for his clients.
He led a cult. One which worshipped a terrifying creature that was long forgotten in history. The Black Beast.
This monster had first appeared some centuries ago when alchemy and studies of magic were still fresh. An experiment that had gone completely wrong gave birth to a mist that poisoned the air and sucked the souls of anyone breathing it. They had called this "seithr".
As more souls were gathered, it grew and took a more solid form. A beast that would swallow up entire cities. A Black Beast.
With each passing day, without relenting, it devoured everything in its path. It seemed that mankind had no hope left. That is until one day, for some apparent reason, the Black Beast went dormant.
No one knows what caused it, but it gave man a chance to prepare themselves if it were to reawaken. That was when six powerful warriors stepped forth and taught mankind Ars Magus. They have claimed it to be the only way to destroy the Black Beast.
Then, one year later, the beast rose again. This time, the warriors had teamed up with mankind and fought the beast with their newly-learned Ars Magus. It proved effective, and eventually the beast had fallen.
The humans celebrated their victory, and honored the warriors' name by dubbing them throughout history as "The Six Heroes". Many lives were lost, including one of the heroes, but because of that the world was now free from fear of the Black Beast.
And so, mankind had rebuilt their world. It had thrived over the centuries, and the world is what we know today, with the practice of magic and such. And so, it had found its place in education.
And it is to be used only in BlazBlue tournaments, or in self-defense.
As Tsubaki ended recalling the history of the Black Beast in her head, she looked up at the two after a swig of her own beer. A frown adorned her face. It was obvious that this situation was far more dire than she had anticipated.
"So Terumi is leading a cult that pretty much not only worships the Black Beast, but also posses its power?" she asked.
Rachel nodded. "That is correct. How or where they were able to achieve the Black Beast's power, we do not know."
She cursed mentally. "This is bad."
"That's the understatement of the year," Ragna grumbled.
"And you don't know what he needs Saya for?"
"Not a clue. Which is why we've been keeping a close eye on her since then."
"So her attitude…"
"That pebble had done something to her. Terumi mentioned something about "their god is within her". I do hope it's not what I think it is…"
"That…she may be harboring the—"
"Yes," Rachel interrupted. "We can only hope that isn't the case."
"I see." She looked over to Ragna's arm. "So how did you get your arm back?"
"This is a robotic arm, made especially by Kokonoe. Remember her?"
"I do."
"Yeah well, this arm is special. She had installed something called the "Azure Grimoir". It allows me to such the life force out of living beings, with total control of course, and has proven to be quite effective in fights. I never use it in BlazBlue tournaments though. Too risky."
"Indeed it is."
The blonde leaned forward and looked at Tsubaki straight in the eye. "Tsubaki, now that you know of the situation you must be aware of what to do."
"Which is…?"
"If Terumi were to find Noel, he will reattempt his assassination. You MUST stay by her side at all times."
She scoffed. "When have I never? Don't worry, Rach. She's safe with me."
"Terumi is powerful, remember that. You cannot possibly take him on alone, so the moment you see him take Noel and run. You could not hope to defeat him."
She nodded curtly. "Understood."
Ragna clenched his artificial arm. "The bastard's not getting away this time. The next time I see him…I'm taking him down…"
"We all will, Ragna. Together."
"Now, Tsubaki, it is best that we head off. Noel is waiting for you at your place, and it is best not to keep her waiting."
"You're right." She finished her beer and stood up with her. "Thanks Ragna for having us over. Though I wish this was a more cheerful visit."
He waved a hand. "No prob. In fact, if you could, try to visit a bit more. Saya never goes to school, so she's always here. Perhaps when you visit, you can try to bring her back to us."
"I'll try, Ragna. I'll try."
To be continued...