Dlbn: Hello, everyone! I'm back with another chapter!
Nbld: The writing bug came back full force for a few days, so we've been making the best of it.
Dlbn: Which is why this chapter is so frigging long.
Nbld: Review Corner! Thank you Promocat and The DarkCat for reviewing! Candy for you both!
Promocat: That's something Ritsuka would do. Put himself in the line of fire to protect others.
The DarkCat: And another one coming up! Seems to be no end in sight for these guys. Who knows what kind of craziness they've caused in the past? Since Ritsuka's father stepped down after Merciless and everything was changed, it's safe to assume Merciless was the last, even if they weren't the first. Kaji's father has the uncanny ability to charm people, sort of like Seimei.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and OCs. Everything canon to Loveless belongs to Yun Kouga. I make NO money off writing this.
Dedication: Dedicated to my new job and my new doctor who figured out what might be the real cause for my jaw pain. Waiting for test results.
000
Ritsuka didn't like skipping school, and he didn't like dragging people to skip school with him, but in this case, it was justified. With Akito and her father, Zero, Sanji and her parents, Hostile, Taika, and Mako in tow, Ritsuka held a rather unconventional meeting in Soubi's too small apartment. Zero shared the couch with Akito and her father, Taika and Mako brought in the kitchen chairs for themselves and Sanji and her parents, Hostile sat on the floor between the couch and chairs, and Ritsuka leaned on the doorway to the kitchen with Soubi right behind him.
"I hope there's a point in all this, Aoyagi." Hostile was the first to speak. "We're missing work, and most of you should be in class right now."
"What's more important?" Ritsuka wondered. "Learning how to graph equations and mixing chemicals, or taking down the people out to destroy our world?"
He'd let Akito, her father, Taika, and Mako in on everything that was happening when they first arrived at Soubi's apartment. Sanji and her parents, and Hostile, were the last to appear. He'd summoned them later on purpose.
"What do you have…?" Mako began slowly, not sure if she had a place to speak or not. "You know who was behind sensei's murder, right…?"
"And Victorious." Akito chimed in quickly, looking away when anyone looked in her direction.
Ritsuka nodded. "Regretfully, its Kaji's father calling the shots."
"I still can't believe he killed his own son…what kind of…" Taika's fist clenched against his knee as he visibly bit his tongue to prevent himself from speaking.
"Monster does that?" Hostile finished for him. "My ex, apparently. Scumbag…"
Her Fighter squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Our personal feelings aside, I need to get justice for both Kaji and Victorious…and Merciless."
Sanji's mother sat up straight at that. "What are you talking about?" She wondered.
"Merciless was falsely executed years ago, you know this. The revelation forced my father into a shameful retirement consisting of his memories being wiped. The entirety of the Executioners was broken down and rewritten to prevent such an incident from occurring again." Ritsuka informed. "Merciless was accused of orchestrating attacks against the Academy. It was discovered long after that they were innocent and executed on false information. We have reason to believe that there was a Merciless behind the attacks, but not the legitimate Unit."
"You're referring to that Unit that can disguise themselves as other Units, yes?" Sanji's father wondered.
Ritsuka nodded. "Yes. We believe that they disguised themselves as Merciless and caused the attacks under the direction of Kaji's father as a test run for the plot he is unfurling now."
Kaya seemed to relax a little at that. "And this same Unit…you think they killed the others?"
"Kaji was drugged before his murder. The murder weapon was likely a spell; it left no trace. Kaji's father isn't capable of producing spells. In fact, the idea itself terrifies him."
"Which is why he ran off. Saw Kaji use a spell once." Hostile snorted. "Weak…"
"Victorious was murdered in the same manner. Kaji received a visitor before he disappeared. We believe it was his father, attempting to earn his trust. How he lured him away or was able to drug him, we're not certain." Ritsuka shook his head. "After he died and Akito and her father went into hiding, a member of this false Unit appeared, pretending to be Akito and giving me intentionally false information."
"Or what they believed to be true information." Yoji added. "Who knows what stupidity Kaji's father put into their heads."
Ritsuka nodded. "In pretending to be Akito, they didn't cause any damage, but fled before we could return with Sweepers." He informed. "Kaji's father made mention of this Unit once more at the meeting. He knows of their existence and their ability for a reason. To let us know that there was someone out there capable of pretending to be other Units to cause trouble. I thought the point was to cast doubt in the Executioners and Septimal Moon, but that may not be the case. It's more likely his way of saying he could destroy anyone that was at that meeting using this fake Unit. He may not be aware that the Executioners are not operating because of this other Unit making themselves known to us. We haven't been active in quite some time. It's been a while since they first appeared. We can use that to our advantage."
"So why are we here?" Sanji wondered.
"All of you are connected to this case in one way or another." Ritsuka informed. "Sanji, your parents…"
"Tactless." Her mother corrected.
"Tactless, you were summoned by Kaji's father. Sanji was with you at the meeting and was mentioned in the information folder they sent you to prove they've been watching you." Ritsuka continued. "Akito, it was your Fighter that was murdered. Hostile, you are Kaji's parents. Taika, Mako, you were his students. Zero and I are self-explanatory. We need all hands-on deck here, but summoning Septimal Moon and the Executioners to Tokyo is just asking for trouble."
"You're planning something." Hostile smirked. "I want in."
"As do I." Her husband nodded.
"I want revenge for my cousin…" Kaya paused. "But I don't want my daughter involved…"
"I'll do anything to help sensei." Mako nodded, smiling widely. "Taika?"
"Yeah, I'm in! He was a pretty cool teacher. Shame he's being used like this." Taika added.
"Kaji…didn't deserve what happened…" Akito paused. "And these people hurt Victorious…they hurt Merciless, and who knows who else!" She flushed and looked at her father. "I want to help."
"I'm in if you are, sweetheart." Her father kissed her temple.
"You know we're with you one hundred, Aoyagi." Yoji gave him a sarcastic thumbs up, earning a slap from Natsuo for it.
"Sow hat's the plan?" Hostile wondered.
"Here's what we need to do…"
000
It took too long for Sunday to come around. The plan would have worked at any point, but it was the only time the kids could get together without skipping school and the adults didn't have to go to work. Nightfall as beginning to crawl over Tokyo Central Park, where the group resided. Zero and Loveless stood across from one another, battling as obviously as they could, making sure to broadcast their signatures as far and as strong as they could. If they wanted to attract attention, they'd do it however was necessary. Sanji, Taika, and Mako were in the clearing in the woods, huddled together and shaking as if the battle was frightening them. Taika and Mako had their signatures disguised so not even the strongest Fighter would be able to sense them. Sanji's only advantage was that she was a civilian. Hostile and Tactless stood in the shadows, lying in wait. Akito and her father stood just outside the battlefield, on Loveless' side. The battle was almost over, but no one out of the ordinary had come out of the woodwork yet. With a final spell from Soubi, a restriction placed itself over Zero's eyes, ending the battle. The battle system shut off, but the four power signatures were still powerful enough to be felt back in Kyoto. If Seimei and his crew were privy to the fight, he hoped they'd know enough to stay away. The restrictions fell from both parties as Yoji gasped for breath and grabbed at his throat. Ritsuka could almost hear him mentally screaming at Soubi for being an asshole. Natsuo hunched down with him, making sure his partner was okay.
"You won." He conceded defeat softly. "Just let us be…we've done nothing against Septimal Moon…"
"Our records state otherwise, Zero." Ritsuka informed with a false scowl. "By order of Septimal Moon and the Executioners, you are to be eliminated."
Natsuo looked up from Yoji and fixed Ritsuka with a glare that could kill, though Ritsuka knew it was false and Natsuo was internally screaming with laughter.
"Who have we harmed?" Natsuo wondered. "You at least have to tell us that…tell us why we're being hunted down like dogs."
"For starters, those three civilians." Ritsuka pointed in the direction the others were hiding in. "As a Unit trained by the Academy, you better than to start trouble with civilians."
"But they…"
"I don't much care for what they did. This isn't the first incident."
"We have no idea what you're talking about!" Yoji shouted, suddenly finding his voice again. "We haven't done anything against anyone!"
"That's what they all say." Ritsuka sighed, snapping his fingers. "Soubi, you know what to do."
"Hai." Soubi nodded, walking over to the two teens.
With them hunched on the ground, he loomed over them like a crow over roadkill.
"Please, Loveless, we haven't done anything! There has to be an explanation! Please, show mercy…" Natsuo begged.
"There is no room for mercy when you involve civilians in these matters." Ritsuka scowled. "Soubi, end it."
Soubi held up his hand, prepared to cast a spell, but before he could, one shot out of nowhere and pushed him back.
Ritsuka's eyebrows shot up. "Soubi!" he called out.
Soubi dug his heel into the ground and stopped himself from being forced back. "I'm alright!" he called out.
"What the…?" Natsuo turned.
In the slight haze from the streetlamps that were just starting to glow, Ritsuka could make out the sight of two figures stalking towards them. When they got closer and their features were more visible, he recognized them as the false Unit. He tried not to show surprise or fear as he held his chin up.
"Who are you?" He wondered. "You dare get in our way?"
"Executioner." The male held out his hand, speaking in monotone. "At long last, we meet."
"My Sacrifice asked you a question." Soubi barked. "You'd do best to answer it."
"We are none of your concern." The girl spoke, her voice as monotonous as the male at her side. "Septimal Moon strikes again…destroying the innocent…"
"Innocent is a matter of perspective, my dear." Ritsuka informed. "These two have been charged with harming civilians using word spell, something you must know is forbidden in our world."
"Yes…yet they proclaim their innocence, and you have yet to let them speak." The boy waved his hand over Yoji and Natsuo.
"Executioner word is law." Ritsuka responded. "There is no time nor place for lies here. Stay out of matters that do not concern you."
"Don't concern us?" The girl blinked. "You and your kind are going to expose our world. Those civilians are still around, watching, waiting…what's to stop them from going to the police…? They've seen your face…"
"Their memories will be wiped."
"Using word spell against civilians…going against your own rules." The male cocked his head to the side. "I guess that's what the Executioners excel at, no…? Isn't there enough blood on your hands…?"
Ritsuka snorted. "I've grown used to the scent of freshly spilled iron." He argued. "If you wish to get involved, you can be executed as well."
The girl helped Yoji and Natsuo stand.
"With no proof of anything being done wrong by us? With no execution order…?" The boy blinked. "What do you think our people will think when they discover you've been executing innocents left and right…?"
The chuckle coming from the girl sounded dark and twisted compared to her monotonous voice, almost robotic and demonic in its cackle. The hair on the back of Ritsuka's neck stood on edge and his ears flattened.
"You're in the wrong position, Loveless." She taunted. "If you execute us for nothing, our allies will expose your fraud to our world. To the entire world…"
"Eliminate us for getting in the way to save innocent souls and expose everything or let the four of us go and keep your secrets to yourselves." The boy cackled just as evilly as the girl had, making even Yoji and Natsuo look uncomfortable. "You have your choice. I just hope you can live with whatever you can choose…"
"It's already been decided." Ritsuka informed. "You will cease resisting Execution…pardon, I have yet to get your name…"
"We are Copycat." The boy informed. "If you want to execute us, know that we won't be going down without a fight."
"I anticipated that." Ritsuka informed. "I declare this a battle of word spell."
Soubi joined him.
"We accept!" The girl agreed, moving away from Zero.
The battle area activated and Ritsuka felt a strange pulse in the air. It had to be Copycat's power signature. It had a beat, yet it didn't at the same time. It was melancholic, yet melodious.
"This is the power of Copycat…" He whispered to Soubi along their bond. "Be careful, Soubi. We don't know what they're capable of in battle."
"Or who they're capable of being." He whispered back. "We don't know if that ability exists only outside the realms of battle."
"Affirmative."
"Shards of ice, rain down upon the enemy and encase them in a frozen embrace!" There was a hint of emotion in the boy's voice as he called out a spell.
"He's the Fighter." Ritsuka informed.
"Flames surround us and melt the shards of ice attacking my being. Reduce damage to zero." Soubi called back as shards of ice started shooting for them. Flames licked up from the ground at his feet and melted the shards into little puddles that were slowly evaporating in the battle area.
Copycat scowled. "We are Copycat." The girl stated their name again. "We can take the form of whom we please, as we please. You will fear our power…!"
Their bodies glowed lightly as if that had been a spell of her own. Ritsuka blinked in confusion. He thought he and Seimei were the only Sacrifices capable of using Word Spell. Was that part of Copycat's ability? They could be any Unit…did that mean they could be either member of the Unit as well?
"Vines, wrap my enemy and cease their struggles in movement." Soubi called out.
"Flames, ignite the vines!" The girl's voice morphed into one Ritsuka knew well. "Destroy them before they can reach us! We cannot be touched by nature! Damage is reduced to zero!"
"Ah, so they've decided to mock us, I see." Soubi informed. "Strange…I wonder what other Units you're hiding in your reserves. Winds, knock my enemy out of range so their spells can no longer reach us."
"Wind has no effect on us!" The boy called. "Winds form! Create a swirling tornado and take our enemies out of my sights!"
Soubi kissed Ritsuka quickly for a quick power up, then turned as viciously as the winds to face Copycat.
"Your tornado doesn't scare me." He informed. "Ground, rise! Send the swirling winds to the heavens!"
The ground rumbled and roared as the area under the slowly moving tornado lifted high in the air. The tornado dissipated as it reached the top of the battle area and pierced it. The ground quickly leveled out, sending a shockwave that almost knocked the Units off their feet and out of their hiding spots. Luckily, no one stumbled outside of the unsuspecting Zero.
"Hey, watch it! We're on your side, Copycat! Don't give them ammunition!" Yoji complained.
"Silence." The girl ordered. "Clouds cover the moon. Give me a Moonless night…!"
"They're copying Moonless." Soubi stated. "Using a moonless night to empower themselves."
"You have no idea what power you're toying with." The male copycat taunted. "Neither did Victorious, Kaji…they all fell to our fury…!"
"So, you admit to the deaths of Kaji and Victorious!" Ritsuka glared, feeling the power building up from his gut and traveling down to his hands. "Murderers!"
"We are no different than you are, Loveless…! Our hands are tainted in blood to bring treacherous Septimal Moon to its knees!" The girl cackled again. "You will suffer as you have made others suffer! Itchiru, unleash your full power! Eliminate the Executioner!"
"The moonless night grants us untold ability!" Itchiru called. "Stars! Your brilliant light is bright and painful as it pierces our enemies' skin!"
"Winds, blow away the clouds granting power to Copycat!" Soubi called desperately. "The light of your stars might pierce the darkness you encased us in, but they are no match for the might of the moon! Darkness blind my enemy from seeing me so that their attacks may misdirect! Damage to Loveless is reduced to zero! Damage to Copycat is a thousand!"
"Moon, lend me your glow!"
"The moon will not assist those who disrespect and betray her." Soubi informed. "As long as you are Moonless, it can only harm you!"
Light pierced through the darkness and stabbed into the wrists of Copycat. The girl cried out.
"Shift!" She ordered.
"Our attacks leave no room for counter attacks or reflections." Itchiru spoke. "You will not be able to escape nor defeat our attacks. We continue without mercy…!"
"You're copying Merciless…" Ritsuka gaped. "A Unit we executed…"
"Ah, Merciless…so much fun they were…begging for mercy of the Executioners. Begging to be able to tell their stories before they died." The girl giggled. "No one was going to believe them…the poor fools. Their deaths were the catalyst…"
"Catalyst for what?" Ritsuka wondered.
"Wouldn't you like to know, Executioner!" Itchiru laughed loudly. "Streetlight, explode! Rain shards of glass down upon our enemies! Restriction level seven, damage is ten thousand!"
"You know nothing of our power." Soubi argued as the streetlight crackled towards explosion. "Trees lend me your branches! Form a canopy over our heads to lessen the blows! Damage is reduced by half! Clouds create a layer of fluffy peace above the treetops! Damage is reduced by then half again! Moon, lend me your light! Send your luminous companions to protect my clouds! Damage is reduced by half once more! Damage is 1250!"
The streetlight exploded with a loud crack and shards rained down, slowing through each layer Soubi created with spells. Ritsuka covered his head and let the shards scrape his arms. Only about a dozen or so hit either of the pair, causing minimal damage as restriction chains wrapped around their wrists.
Copycat looked at one another in surprise, as if they hadn't expected Soubi to be able to counter their spells that well.
"You know what to do." The girl stated.
Itchiru nodded. "I do." He agreed. "Merciless, your power has failed me! I call on the power of Victorious! We will leave this battle the victors! Defeat is not known to us, the word not even in our dictionaries!"
"Here we go again." Soubi shook his head. "Don't you two learn? Unstoppable teams stand no chance against me."
"Silence! Night birds, descend! Peck at our enemies like the liter on the ground! Damage is irrefutable!"
"Seeds, reign down from the tree tops! Distract the birds coming after me so that I may destroy them!"
Darkness in the shape of birds began descending on Loveless, but then suddenly stopped mid descent and turned. Swirls of colors like little seeds were falling from the trees over Copycat.
"Damage is reversed onto Copycat! Damage is three thousand!"
The birds dove quickly.
"Counter! Reflect! Refract!" Itchiru called out every spell he could to try and stop the birds, but they ignored his words and began pecking the 'seeds' off the other Unit.
"Cats! Take away these annoying pests! Protect myself and my master!" A chain wrapped around either of Copycat's neck as darkness shaped like cats pounced onto the birds, knocking them to the ground.
"My spells are completely controlled." Itchiru stated, his power signature shifting once again to something Ritsuka didn't recognize. "Words in the form of fog, blind my enemy so they cannot see the danger! Words as knives, pierce the fogs and my opponent's defenses and grant me my victory!"
"Swords, cross and clash. Protect my master and I from the knives of Copycat!"
Darkness like knives flew at the dark swirling around Ritsuka and Soubi. In the haze, two large swords formed from bright yellow light. When the knives hit them, there was the cling of metal on metal and the swords glowed brighter, destroying the knives in one foul swoop. The silence that took over was almost deafening. Copycat were first to recover from the sound.
"Itchiru, I'm growing tired of this stupidity!" The Sacrifice complained. "You're not going to lose; not on my watch. Get off your ass and fight properly!"
"This is properly!" Itchiru rolled his eyes at his master. "It's not my fault they actually know what they're doing!"
"Well, you copy their asses and figure out what the hell you're doing before I lose my patience!"
Ritsuka and Soubi looked at one another in confusion. Were they really pausing their battle to fight each other? Were they copying someone? Or was this just another tactic? Even Zero were staring at the other Unit, mouthing what the hell are you doing as if they were talking to Copycat, though they were really talking to Ritsuka and Soubi.
"Um, excuse me?" Ritsuka asked after a moment. "Are you two quite through? This is a battle for your lives…not a power struggle between you two."
Copycat turned to glare at him. The boy opened his mouth but was cut off by Soubi before he could cast a spell.
"I've had enough of this." Soubi stated. "I've grown weary of your games and general stupidity. I'm ending this battle."
"Thank you." Ritsuka laughed, a humorless, dry sound. "I'm not used to battles of this caliber going so long. I'm starting to get sleepy."
He faked a yawn and pat his mouth as if trying to keep it in.
"Don't mock us!" Itchiru ordered, stomping his foot on the ground like a child. "Metal bars! Encase Loveless in your never-wavering hold! Don't let them escape my clutches!"
A rounded metal structure fell around the Unit, making Ritsuka burst into laughter.
"All its missing is a rubber duck, and we've got Fearless!" He laughed. "You're using playground equipment? Soubi, please, end these amateurs. This is too desperate, and that's saying something…"
Soubi chuckled, trying not to delve into full blown laughter and lose his composure as the perfect Fighter.
"As you wish." He responded instead. "Clouds forming the veil above me. Allow rain to descend from your fluffy protection. The rain combines with the light of the stars to form acidic rain to eat through the metal cage surrounding me. The spell is reversed and Loveless are freed."
Glowing green rain droplets fell from above, melting through the metal bars and making a loud sizzling sound. Now free from the barrier encasing them, Soubi was free to unleash another spell. Soubi waved his hand back at Ritsuka, signaling that they should use their secret weapon to end the battle.
Ritsuka touched the tips of Soubi's outstretched fingers with his own. To the other Unit, it looked like they were reaching for one another for comfort or power, but it was a signal that they understood what the other wanted. Using their bond was easy since Copycat couldn't hear it, but Ritsuka preferred the visuals to screw with other people's minds. From the look Copycat was sharing, it looked like it was working and tricking them into thinking the duo was concerned.
"The bond between Copycat is thin like piano wire, breakable like string. Your fighting and arguing with one another is a sign of your weakness, of the bonds of Fighter and Sacrifice being tested and strained." Ritsuka observed. "Opponents that don't trust one another are my favorite to fight, because they're so easy to take down. You take our need for one another's presence and reassurance as weakness, but you fail to see the strength hidden within. This will be your downfall."
"You're one to talk about improper bonding!" The girl snarled. "Your Fighter isn't even yours!"
Their bond tugged in their chests at that as both Ritsuka and Soubi were affected by the Sacrifice's words. Neither of them showed it outwardly, and Ritsuka smirked instead of winced.
"That may be true, but my Fighter does not argue with me as yours does with you. There is no insubordination because we are partner, not master and servant. So many of you Units fail to see that. Your Fighter isn't your property, but an extension of yourself." Ritsuka snorted. "Such an odd, old concept, a Fighter belonging to a Sacrifice. You belong to one another. And once you realize that, the confines of name and fate mean nothing." He took Soubi's hand in his. "Your bond is weak, as are you. Your bond is easily broken. Shatter!"
The bond between Copycat shimmered and danced as if protesting being tugged on. The girl reached for it closer to her end.
"What…what's going on…?" She wondered, seemingly desperate, despite her usual monotony.
"Our bond…you…you're a Sacrifice!" Itchiru scrambled to try and hold onto the ends where the bond was growing faint to try and hold it together. "You shouldn't…you can't use spells!"
"I believe I just did." Ritsuka laughed loudly.
"Repair!" Itchiru called. "Mend! Sew! Weld!"
"Itchiru…what's happening?" The girl tried to help.
The battle zone around them fell and disappeared. The heaviness in the air was gone, as was the melody coming from Copycat's now destroyed bond. Ritsuka and Soubi watched with mild disinterest as the duo tried to put back their fraying bond, which was slowly falling apart like sparkles of dust to the ground. Yoji and Natsuo appeared impressed by the action and stood slowly. Now that Copycat was useless, there was no point in keeping up their charade.
"It's pointless to try and recover a bond that has been destroyed." Ritsuka informed Copycat, the false edge from his voice fading away as he dropped his Executioner persona. "You're gripping at straws…"
The two ignored him, desperately searching the ground for the particles that were one their bond.
"Oi, don't you listen when you're being spoken to?" Yoji leaned down to Itchiru's ear. "It's over. You lost. Your bond has been broken by Loveless…"
He swatted Yoji away as he tried to grip onto the last remaining threads of his bond, coming from his chest and slowly disappearing. The girl gripped at her chest where her heart was as if she was having chest pain, the look on her face one of mourning for their bond. She slowly stood.
"You tricked us…" She muttered. "How…how can you side with the Executioners…!"
"You're a fool." Natsuo informed. "Our name is Zero."
"We are Executioners." The twins spoke as one.
The girl paled. "You…you…!"
Itchiru stood quickly and swung, missing Yoji by inches as he tripped over his own feet.
"Oh, come on! Don't get physical, now!" Natsuo complained, grabbing the tripping male by the arm he'd swung with. "You're just making things worse for yourselves. Stop that." He threw Itchiru forward, so he fell onto his hands and knees.
Before the Fighter could get up, Yoji stepped on his back and forced him back to the ground.
"We were mercenaries before we became Executioners, so don't think I'm going to go easy on you. My name is Zero, not Merciless. Clearly…"
The girl lunged at him. "Get off him!" She ordered.
Natsuo grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back, holding her in place and swinging the other arm around like a cop would. She struggled against him, but his grip didn't falter.
"Would you two stop it?" Ritsuka wondered. "I get it, you're mad at us for tricking you, for beating you. But there's no point in being so pathetic."
Itchiru tried to stand, but Yoji applied further pressure and stopped him from doing so. He grunted in defeat, laying on the ground with his arms splayed out to the sides like he was being crucified.
"A little dramatic, isn't it?" Yoji rolled his eyes, hands on his hips as he leaned down a little to whisper something that only he and Itchiru could hear.
The Fighter shuddered under the influence of the Sacrifice's words. The girl hung her head, tears streaming down her face.
"You're going to execute us, aren't you…?"
"Not until we get some answers." Ritsuka walked over to her, using his left hand to hold her chin up so she was forced to look him in the eye. She looked away the moment her dark orbs met his violet ones. "You said Merciless was a catalyst. A catalyst for what?"
She looked back at him, glaring. She didn't say a word, making a show of pressing her lips tightly together to say she wouldn't talk.
"Talk, Copycat." He ordered, growling at her as the hairs on his tail stood on edge.
He was so close to getting answers and this brat just decided to pull an elementary school student move on him? His pride wasn't going to let her get away with disrespecting him. His loyalty and promises to the others involved in the case, in the show, wasn't going to let her get away with denying his friends, his world and his sensei, justice.
"Soubi, make her speak. I'm growing tired of the silent treatment." Ritsuka ordered.
"Hai." Soubi leaned closer to her and smirked. "Words flow like rivers from the mouth of my silent enemy. Fill the night with her confessions."
The girl squeezed her lips tighter, shaking her head and making mph noises as she tried to fight against the spell. The boy didn't bother trying to counter it. Either he couldn't, or he'd given up; unlike his feisty partner. Ritsuka sighed and put his chin in his hand as he waited for Soubi's spell to overtake the Sacrifice and force her to tell him what he wanted to know. This wasn't an interrogation tactic he liked, nor was he proud to admit that he used it on occasion, but he really didn't have much of a choice at this point. She clearly wasn't going to talk, and it looked like Itchiru wasn't either.
"The catalyst…for revolution…" The words tumbled through the girl's clenched teeth, but she didn't make any effort to stop them this time, other than to grit her teeth harder.
"Revolution?" Ritsuka cocked an eyebrow. "What revolution are you talking about?"
"The system…works against those within it…only works for the higher ups…unfair." She shook her head as she tried to stop the words from coming. "He said if we helped…he'd free us from their tyranny…"
"Whose…?"
When she looked up at him, her eyes were hard and dark, her mind obviously taken over by spell. "Septimal Moon."
Ritsuka almost shook at the sound of his organization. So, they were trying to take down Septimal Moon after all. Perhaps the Executioners were the catalyst for that as well?
"The first…Units joined us…because of Merciless' wrongful death…once they found out what we could do…who we were…they realized any one of them could become a target if allowed." Her resistance seemed to slow to nothing as the words continued to spill from her lips. "We didn't believe it ourselves…he said he could prove it to us if we could use our powers to frame another Unit…Merciless was a simple choice. They'd humiliated us in battle enough…" She chuckled darkly. "Once they were Executed, we knew…we knew it was only a matter of time before Septimal Moon and their beloved Executioners would find reason to eliminate anyone…anyone who found out the truth about ourselves and Merciless…Aoyagi Aidien retiring and the entirety of the system changing was unplanned." She paused. "But we still knew, we still feared the day they'd turn our own people against one another. The power Septimal Moon contains is too strong…it will corrupt. Absolute power…corrupts absolutely…but he promised us absolution. He promised us shelter and safety and freedom. All we had to do was join him, help him…"
"Why is he doing this?" Ritsuka wondered, though he already knew the answer and simply wanted them to say it for Hostile's sake.
She shrugged one shoulder. "I can't really be sure…he's scared…he's never outright said it, but when we're in private and he speaks of Septimal Moon…he's obviously frightened. He's a civilian; you shouldn't be all that surprised. They're all frighteningly fearful creatures. It's almost pathetic, in all honesty. We're so much better than they are, yet we have to lie in wait, lie in hiding. We can't operate outside the parameters set before us by your organization!" She seemed to darken at that. "It's unfair. We should be allowed to roam free. He realizes that. As a civilian, he realizes that we could destroy him with a snap of the fingers." She snapped her fingers to prove it. "So, he tries to keep us in control, tries to run us the way Septimal Moon runs us. You live free, you claim you are free, yet you do not live free. Do what I say, follow my orders. If you do, when the world you hail from is exposed, you will be safe. You will be my soldiers, safe from the civilians, sheltered from Septimal Moon." A pause as she caught her breath, wasted with such a long, hate-filled rant. "He provides us shelter and security in exchange for carrying out his will and pulling his revolution forward. He needs someone on the inside that not only knows enough to do some real damage but can be absolutely controlled on the short leash he provides us. Revolution…great Kings have been taken down from the inside. Caesar was betrayed by his friends and Rome fell…Septimal Moon will fall in the same manner. They know nothing of what is lying in the shadows, waiting to expose them for the frauds, the villains they really are…!"
"Why Kaji?" Ritsuka wondered. "Why did he pick Tamed as his target?"
"Easy meat." She chuckled. "Imagine the poor sensei's surprise when his long-lost father shows up out of the blue and wants back into his life. When the old man felt remorse for leaving behind his son, foolish for fearing the power he should have embraced." A pause. "It wasn't hard to worm his way into the Fighter's life. There's a part of everyone that longs for acceptance by their parents, their life-givers. Sure, he had a step-father, but what is the love and guardianship of a step-father over the love and blood bonds of a father? The next phase is complete. He is building his army, using his son's untimely demise for a basis of his plan, of recruiting others to join him as we have."
"And why Victorious?"
"Got a little too close to the truth. We tried to bring them in with us, as well, but they refused to listen after Kaji was brought up. The girl…" She laughed loudly. "The girl was so pathetic! The look on her face! And the Sacrifice! His response…his response of absolute fear and rejection? Oh, it was quite the show, watching him realize his master had fallen for someone else! Amusing!"
These people were just as bad as his brother, finding people's feelings and emotions amusing and reveling in their despair when their worlds came crashing down around them. He never thought he'd find someone as bad as Seimei, minus Nisei, and the fact that he had wasn't comforting in the slightest.
"How much did they know?"
"Mostly assumptions, honestly." The boy muttered. "The girl and Kaji were a thing of sorts, I suppose. He…he'd told her about his father running off because he was afraid of his powers. It didn't sit right with her that he was coming back into his son's life offering comfort and comradery. She had a feeling he was connected. We caught her attempting to spy on us. She's not aware, but we sensed her. Father knew…he ordered us to take out the Unit before they got too close and exposed everything to you…"
"Father? You refer to this madman as father?"
"It's fitting, isn't it?" The girl giggled. "The father who used his own son's demise to further his agenda? The father of a revolution!"
No one spoke for a few minutes. Ritsuka took that as a sign that the girl had spilled everything and therefore the spell was going to wear off. He stood, straightening his back as he folded his hands behind him and stared down at the pathetic duo on the floor.
"You poor fools." He shook his head sadly. "Septimal Moon and the Executioners have made a lot of mistakes in the past. Mistakes they have since rectified and fortified defenses so those mistakes will never repeat. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it, after all." He sighed. "Copycat, you stand accused of the murders of Yukawa Kaji of Tamed and Hirotaka Nishi and Asako Haika of Victorious. By the rules of Septimal Moon and the Executioners, the very world you are a part of yet rebel against so strongly, you are to stand to trial and face Execution."
"There will be no trial…" The boy realized sadly. "No matter what, you're just going to kill us. Eye for an eye…so just get on with it…don't bother with the spiel…"
"Itchiru!" The girl turned viciously and glared at him, any sign of spell controlling her having vanished from her eyes as Ritsuka spoke. "Are you insane? You're just begging for death!"
"We may as well be!" He forced Yoji's foot off him and turned to her. "Our bond has been broken. We're not a Unit anymore! We're Itchiru and Irachi! The same people we were before we found out what we were! There's no point in living if…"
"Itchiru…" She reached out to him, but he shrugged her hand away. "Don't be like this…there is life after destruction of a bond…there has to be…! Don't give up so easily! Don't let them win!"
"They've already won! You've told everything you know, and they're going to use that to go after him and stop our Revolution! Don't you see what you've done?"
"What I've done?" She all but screeched.
"A spell forced you, I know." He shook his head. "But in the end, the truth came out of your mouth…"
"I didn't hear you protesting!"
"What good would that have done?"
"You also told him some stuff, too! It's not all on me!"
"Are you two siblings?" Ritsuka cocked an eyebrow. "You bicker more than my brother and I."
They both glared.
"We are, for your information." Itchiru huffed. "Not that it's your business, but every other cat is out of the bag, so why not that one, too!"
Ritsuka rolled his eyes. "Don't cop an attitude with me. You're the murderers here. I'm the one trying to find justice for the people whose lives you've ruined."
"Why…?" The girl asked. "Why do you care so much about how everyone else was affected?"
"Because this is my world you're messing with. I haven't been a part of it very long, but long enough to have pride in who I am, in what I am and what I can do." Ritsuka held his chin high. "And I'll be damned if I let a couple of turncoats like you destroy the lives of everyone this world has brought to me just because you're a little angry that you can't just do whatever you want. You have sided with a madman, one who very well may turn on you once he gets us exposed and gets what he wants. He promises you safety and security if our worlds are to merge, but what's to say he gives it to you? Sure, you may be protected for a little while, but if it suits him, he'll just throw you under the bus, too." He chuckled. "After all, he had his own son, his flesh and blood, murdered to further his cause. Why in the world would he give a damn about either of you?"
Neither of them seemed to have an answer for that, finally falling silent. It was like all the fight and fire in them had fallen to ash in an instant. Maybe his words had an impact, or maybe they were just coming to realize their fates were sealed. He didn't really care, but a least he didn't need to listen to any more deluded ramblings or poorly timed arguments. He was about to tell the others to come out when Sanji, Taika, and Mako appeared from in the trees. The three had their arms linked, the former two allowing their battle signatures to show as they joined the three Units in the clearing. Hostile and her Fighter, and Akito and her father followed suit and exposed themselves as Units and as being present for the entire thing. Hostile clicked a button on the recorder she held in her hand. She seemed to be trembling, but whether it was from fear or anger wasn't obvious. There was a look in her eyes, a vengeful glint to them that seemed to be satisfied. Sanji's parents came out of hiding as well and joined their daughter and her seemingly new friends as Sanji and Mako giggled about something together. Copycat looked around, realizing they were surrounded by at least a part of a Unit. The boy's shoulders slumped even further, if that were possible, in defeat.
"Open and shut case if I say so myself, Aoyagi." Hostile told him, tossing the neko the recorder in her hand. "I mean, we have all the proper evidence we need."
"And enough witnesses to build an army." Akito added.
She and Hostile both giggled like schoolgirls as if they were finally starting to get along now that they'd united against their true enemy.
"I don't think we'll have any issue calling this and open and shut case. I think we've made the Executioner's job very easy for her, if I do say so, myself." Ritsuka smirked, slumping his shoulders and letting his true self show over the persona he'd been showing Copycat for the entirety of their encounter.
"Yeah, hopefully she won't be too mad about us going behind her back and doing this like we did. Never know; it's hard to tell with her." Yoji rolled his eyes, making Natsuo laugh at sarcasm.
Sanji's mother pulled two pairs of handcuffs from behind her back. "Who'd like to do the honors?" She wondered.
Ritsuka held out his hand and took them, handing them off to Hostile. "I think you should do the honors. For Kaji."
She nodded, looking like she was ready to break down and cry. She took the cuffs and the satisfying clinking of metal briefly filled the air with a sense of finality as she shackled the harmful Unit.
"Kaji is my son." She informed them. "You ended the life of a great man. And for what? So, his worthless, spineless father could have his revolution against something he's too fearful to even try and understand? He ran out on Kaji and I when he was three years old, because he saw his son use a spell and became afraid. Like a coward, he abandoned his only son…only to come back and use his son's kindness and warm heart against him…to stab him in the back and use his death to further his own selfish, misguided goals?" She chuckled darkly. "Regardless of what the Executioner decides, I hope you two rot in hell for what you did to my son and his friends. None of them deserved such a horrific end." She spat at their feet as she joined her Fighter-husband, burying her face into his shoulder to hide whatever emotions were dancing across her face and betraying her true nature.
"His words are sharper than either of their claws." Natsuo pointed out. "You know what we have to do to Fighters in these cases."
"I won't fight you." Itchiru argued. "You don't need to…"
"Be quiet." Natsuo ordered, nudging him with his toe.
He pulled a metal mouth guard out of his pocket and offered it to Sanji's mother. "They killed your cousins out of pettiness. Want to shut him up?"
She gently took it but shook her head and offered it to Akito. "Your Fighter was…he didn't deserve what he got…would you like to…?"
Akito looked up at her father, unsure if she should or not. He offered her a gentle smile and a nod. She smiled back and took the item.
"Thank you." She walked up to Copycat and knelt at the boy's side. "I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not. You killed my Fighter…Kaji was a good man, a great sensei. He…he could have done great things…we could have done great things…but then you had to go and…" She choked on her own words as tears began to fall. "I'd say it's nothing personal, but it is. I have to agree with Hostile…I hope you both rot in hell…" She quickly pushed the guard over his mouth like she was afraid that if she didn't do it quick, she'd lose her courage to do so. Her hands trembled as she went to assemble the rest of the device.
Natsuo knelt with her and pushed the chin piece over Itchiru's chin. He then pulled the straps around the back of his head and clasped them together before pulling the ear pieces up and clamping them around the Fighter's ears.
"Too tight?" He wondered.
Itchiru just stared at him.
"Ah, right. You can't answer me anyway."
"Uck oo." Itchiru responded.
"Eh, it's not fool proof, but he's not going to cast any proper spells if he can't even tell me to…"
"Alright, Natsuo, we get it." Ritsuka snapped his fingers.
Hideki and a couple more sweepers came out of the woodwork, so to speak, and bowed gently to him.
"Yes?" Hideki wondered.
"Copycat are to be put on trial by the Executioner. Please, escort the duo back to Gora."
Hideki bowed again. "Affirmative, Executioner." He responded. "We will get them there as quickly as we can."
Two of the Sweepers moved to pull the two of them up.
"Hey, we can get up ourselves!" Irachi argued. "Don't you touch me…!"
Ritsuka slapped his forehead. Even defeated, she was a mouthy little tart.
"Natsuo…if you would…?"
He nodded, pulling another guard out and securing it around her the best he could with her struggling. She glared at him with seething eyes as he nodded and laughed.
"Take um away, boys!" He ordered.
The Sweepers grabbed both, though Irachi thrashed against their grip. One of them muttered a sleep spell and the fidgeting girl fell asleep in their grip. They all but dragged her to the car, tips of her shoes leaving behind marks that Ritsuka would have to scuff away before they left. Last thing he needed was police coming onto them and starting a commotion where there was none. Luckily for him, Hideki did that part himself as he followed behind the Sweepers.
"Hideki." Ritsuka addressed him.
The Sweeper stopped in his tracks and stared at him. "Hai?" He wondered.
"Their bond is severed. Any spell you use against one will have to be doubled or include both of their names in your spell. Itchiru and Irachi."
Hideki nodded. "Sure thing, Ritsuka." He replied. "Well done, Executioner. I hope Gomon-sama doesn't rip you a new one for this."
He shrugged. "I did what I had to." He laughed, intertwining his fingers with Soubi's. "We all did. If she wants to complain, she may as well just kiss my ass."
Zero and Soubi laughed as Hideki rolled his eyes, smiling.
"We'll be seeing you. I hope you will be there for the trial?"
"Of course. My territory."
"And we're witnesses!" Mako informed, squeezing Sanji's arm. "All of us are. You can bet we'll be there!"
"I'll submit written testimony…my parents won't let me go out to Gora…civilians. What are you going to do?" Taika shrugged one shoulder.
Hideki nodded. "Well done. All of you." He turned and followed the others as they loaded Copycat into a limo that pulled up and drove away together.
"I think we're done here." Ritsuka yawned. "Well done, everyone."
"What happens now?" Akito wrapped her arms around herself. "We're going to get justice for Victorious…for Nishi and Haika, for Kaji and Merciless…but…what if he uses Copycat's disappearance to out us all?"
"If he exposes us, we'll be ready for him. For now, we should get some rest. Most of us have school in the morning…"