Chapter 31 Part 1: Heathens
Now that the first three clowns had been defeated the air battle had ended. Gathered together in the sky was Death the Kid, Maka and Kim. Tsugumi could see Agents parachuting down to the moon's surface and setting up the landing zone. "We should help prepare for the Airship to land. Kim can you escort it?" Death the Kid said. Kim nodded and flew away on Jacqueline. "Let's go defend the landing zone Maka."
"Right behind you Kid," Maka said. Tsugumi flew after Death the Kid on his skateboard down to the landing zones perimeter. The agents on the ground were already fighting off more clowns. They were fighting enemies coming in all kinds of shapes and sizes. The two meister landed where the heaviest fighting was going on. Death the Kid returned his skateboard to his ring as Tsugumi withdrew her wings.
"What hideous creatures. I will not let any of you interfere with the Airship!" Death the Kid said. He charged to the front of the perimeter line and began firing Liz and Patty without pause. The barrage tore through several clowns. As the clowns charged at him together Maka jumped over Death the Kid and sliced through them.
"Don't get too excited Kid." Maka said. She looked back at Death the Kid with a small frown. "Leave the close quarters to me." He gave Maka a sheepish smile as she swatted away another clown without looking.
With the Addition of Death the Kid and Maka the pressure lessened for the defenders. Tsugumi could hear the Airship lowering to the ground behind them. Black*Star's distinct battle cry sounded over the rest of the reinforcements. Unfortunately, Tsugumi didn't think he'd be able to meet up with them any time soon. The battlefield was too loud and it seemed there was at least one clown messing with perceptions floating around for him to find them easily. Or at least Tsugumi figured there must be, she doubted the moon smelt of buttered popcorn naturally. "The Airship has landed, go on the offensive!" Death the Kid said. He looked over his shoulder at the other Agents who roared in agreement and charged passed them. "Maka, let's advance."
"Not yet," Maka said. She turned to glare at a nearby outcropping. "We've got company." Death the Kid followed Maka's gaze. Tsugumi spotted a figure looking down at them, its soul's wavelength familiar despite being twisted by madness.
"Justin." Tsugumi said. She gathered her courage as Maka and Death the Kid ran to intercept Justin. They couldn't let the traitorous Death Scythe attack the regular forces. They'd be ripped to shreds by the ex-Death Scythe in an instant.
"So one of the pigs' keepers decided to show himself?" Justin said. He was looking down at them from the outcropping arms held out wide. The left side of his face was on fire and stretched into a grin. The other side of his face was staring down at them without expression. "You even brought your favourite swine. Are you going to show me what tricks you've taught them?"
"Why don't you come down and find out? You're nothing but a disgrace!" Maka said. She shook one of her fists at Justin. Tsugumi wished she wouldn't taunt him. Justin had been able to make himself a Death Scythe at a young age, he wasn't a pushover.
Justin leapt down from the outcropping. Maka and Death the Kid tensed and slipped into their fighting stances. "I'll slaughter you heathens like the pigs you are." Justin said. His torso morphed into a guillotine as he ran towards Maka. "You have defied god's wishes for the last time." Maka swerved out of the way of the guillotine and slammed Tsugumi's axe into Justin's arm. He parried, arm transformed into a blade. But the force of Maka's swing flung him sideways, straight into Death the Kid's bullets.
"You won't win Justin. Not you or your new master." Death the Kid said. He continued to pelt Justin with bullets. Justin failed to protect his entire body, the bullets leaving small holes in his torso. Patty let out a whoop as Justin stumbled back.
"You defile with every step... Slaughtering Gun!" Justin said. A silver arc of energy flew out of Justin's hand and flew towards Maka and Death the Kid. Death the Kid threw himself to the ground, the attack passing over him. Maka jumped over the attack, her body twisting in the air as she soared towards Justin. "Slaughtering Gun!" Justin aimed at Maka, his hand glowing.
"Get away from my students!" Aunty said. She slammed both of her feet into Justin's back. His hand jerked away from Maka's direction as he was knocked off his feet. He rolled across the ground back onto his feet. Maka and Aunty landed on the ground, keeping their eyes on Justin. "Are you alright?"
"I'm a-ok!" Maka said. Even though Tsugumi knew Maka could have dodged, she was glad for Aunty's help. Death the Kid came to stand beside the two of them, eyeing Justin with distaste. "He's not going to make this easy for us. But we need to hurry! The clowns we already defeated will regenerate soon."
Maka and Aunty charged at Justin together. Maka parried the guillotine blades on Justin's arms with Tsugumi as Aunty flanked him. Aunty linked her hands together and slammed them into his head. Justin fell forward at the force of the blow. "Even without a weapon... This attack is heavy." Justin said, in a rasping voice as he struggled to recover his footing. Aunty kneed Justin in the gut. His breath was knocked out of him as Maka brought Tsugumi's scythe around slicing into his leg. "Slaughtering Gun Radiant!" Aunty and Maka threw themselves to the ground and rolled away from Justin. A widely dispersed silver arc passed over their heads as Maka and Aunty got back to their feet.
Justin swung the guillotines on his arms at them, forcing them back. They two retreated as Death the Kid gave them cover fire. "Even if he's a poor example from an educational standpoint, I can't deny the power of a Death Scythe." Aunty said. She wiped away the sweat dripping down her face with a sleeve.
"You can't just charge in against Justin. We need a plan." Death the Kid said. Aunty grinned as she turned to look at him.
"Young Master there is a time for finesse but this isn't it. We need to press forward with our strength like a gorilla. It's the source of my power." Aunty said. Tsugumi looked between the two feeling both sides had validity. Justin was an powerful opponent who would punish them for recklessness. But he was also an experienced opponent who needed to be overwhelmed with sheer power.
"I'd still rather we had a plan though." Maka said. Across from them Justin was watching them without blinking. "Justin was able to make himself a Death Scythe with his skill and power alone."
"We cannot give up here." Aunty said. She took off her backpack and wrapped her arms around it. "I will get in close, cover me." Tsugumi felt a shiver run down her spine as she looked at Aunty's determined face. While Death the Kid and Maka agreed to support her she had to wonder... Why did Aunty have such an intense look in her eyes?
"Death Cannon!" Death the Kid said. Liz and Patty transformed into cannons on each arm. Two balls of energy were lobbed from their barrels at Justin. Maka charged at Justin, Aunty a few steps behind her. Justin fired another ranged guillotine at them as they charged. Maka blocked the attack with Tsugumi. Aunty slid underneath the attack and ran to Justin.
"Remember you can do it if you try girls!" Aunty said. She was looking back at them as she ran at Justin. "I'm glad I got to teach you!" Realising what Aunty must be about to do Tsugumi's soul cried out in horror. "Behold the true gorilla tackle! Eat all our bombs!"
"Aunty stop, it's not worth-!" Tsugumi said. She was interrupted by Aunty's backpack exploding, engulfing them both. As Maka and Death the Kid looked on eyes wide as the explosion began to fade away.
"And DWMA said I'm suicidal..." A woman said. Maka whirled around, mouth opening to scold them for badmouthing Aunty. "Going hard and fast is one thing, but that was a suicide bombing or I'm blind as fuck." The woman was looking down at Aunty. She was still whole, if singed, while being held by her jacket by the woman. Maka's mouth snapped closed, her glare softening when she saw Aunty had been saved.
"I know suicide is in the name but I don't think that's fair." Spirit said. He was standing beside her, holding his forehead. "The circumstances here are different... Probably."
"Aunty thank goodness you're alive." Maka said. She knelt down beside Aunty. "Never do that again!" Maka punched Aunty in the arm. Aunty rubbed the back of her head and apologised to her pupil. But Tsugumi was more shocked to realise she knew Aunty's saviour.
"Kuroko?" Tsugumi said. She wasn't sure what she found more unbelievable. That Aunty was still alive or that the former inmate was here. But it was definitely Kuroko she was seeing, decked out in the Hoshi Dojo's uniform bold as brass. "What are you doing here?"
"Community service," Kuroko said. She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "This bastard kept calling me saying he had an important mission he needed a meister for. He could have asked anyone, but I guess the lure of my magnificent breasts was too much to resist." Maka's head snapped over to her father, already glaring. Spirit spluttered and waved his hands.
"It's not like that at all! You're the one who begged me to let you come!" Spirit said. Kuroko raised an eyebrow at Spirit, face otherwise blank. Tsugumi got the feeling Kuroko was having him on. This reeked the same way as when Black*Star was messing around. She hadn't known Kuroko's sense of humour had survived everything she'd gone through, but somehow it didn't surprise her.
"Get real. How was I supposed to know there was a super-secret mission being planned? And I'm offended that you deny my magnificent breasts. Didn't your daughter tell you how wonderful they feel?" Kuroko said. Spirit and Maka's both turned red. Tsugumi knew now Kuroko had to be teasing. The Hoshi Dojo always knew when DWMA was doing something. It also explained why Maka had dodged questions about the soft thing she'd landed on at the prison.
"Now is not the time to chat! Justin is still-" Death the Kid said. As he was looked over his shoulder at them his eyes widened. "Behind you!" Justin appeared behind Kuroko. The flames on his face burning more than ever as he glared at the back of her head.
Kuroko turned to look at Justin over her shoulder. He grinned as he transformed into a guillotine, ready to cut her in half. "Soul Menace," Kuroko said. Her sparking hand slammed into Justin's nose and exploded. The shockwaves flung Justin away mere moments before his guillotine struck. He careened through the air, creating a crater when he landed. "Coming in from behind without consent is just so rude."
Maka and Death the Kid moved to stand beside Kuroko. Spirit held out his hand to stop them from passing him by. "Leave this to us. As the highest ranking Death Scythe I should be the one to deal with Justin."
"You can't intend to fight him alone! We can help." Death the Kid said. Maka nodded in agreement. Kuroko laughed, Tsugumi couldn't help but notice it made her breasts jiggle now that she'd pointed them out. Black*Star's breasts in Eibon's book had apparently been genetics at work. The world was truly unfair.
"You could go a few rounds with us, but then your mooks would all die." Kuroko said. Death the Kid and Maka flinched. Tsugumi knew both could sense the clowns reviving. The regular agents needed help, which they couldn't give if everyone focused on beating Justin.
"We all need to do what we can. Don't worry, we will stop Justin." Spirit said. He gave Death the Kid a pat on the shoulder. "Have a little faith in us." Though he was frowning Death the Kid nodded and began to run back to the main group. Kuroko let go of Aunty's jacket and gave her a kick to get her to follow. Maka began to do the same as Spirit transformed for Kuroko but paused looking back at them.
"Kuroko does know how to use a scythe right?" Maka said. Kuroko grinned at Maka resting Spirit's pole on her shoulder.
"Of course I do. The pointy end goes in the other guy. I just keep pounding him right?" Kuroko said. Maka snorted and shook her head. As Maka ran after Death the Kid Tsugumi sighed. Even if Kuroko did nothing but swing Spirit around like a lunatic they should be fine. Spirit had the best control and attack power of any Death Scythe. Though for the future's sake she hoped Black*Star never became as fond of perverted jokes as Kuroko.