Chapter 48
"Blake?!" Weiss shouted, growing more and more alarmed. She could still not see her teammate through the cloud of ash that had once been the shadow but she already knew something was wrong.
As the ash evaporated away it revealed a horrifying scene. Myrtenaster had lanced straight through the shadow, out the other side and into Blake. With bulging eyes and an expression of terror, Blake stared down at the blade buried in her chest. The pair stood there in shock as the red stain on the front of Blake's shirt grew. Finally Weiss withdrew the blade, its tip soaked in blood. Blake wobbled for a moment before he legs gave out. Weiss dropped Myrtenaster and darted forward, catching Blake as she fell. Weiss knelt, propping Blake up on her legs. Blake moved her mouth as if to speak but produced no sound.
"Blake, I'm so sorry." Weiss cried. "Come on, you'll be alright." She pressed her hands hard against the wound, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. "Please be alright." Weiss implored as blood oozed through her fingers. The bleeding slowed along with Blake's breathing. It was a bad sign. Blake reached up toward Weiss' face but her hand suddenly dropped. Her eyes glazed over and her breathing ceased. "No…" Weiss sobbed, hugging Blake's body tightly to her.
"I guess the shadow was right." Thanatos taunted. "You're every bit your father's daughter. What better way to prove it than to kill a Faunus who considered you a friend?"
"Shut up!" Weiss screamed. "It was an accident! You saw it."
"I saw you murder your friend in cold blood." Thanatos said.
"No, it wasn't like that." Weiss protested. "I would never hurt her."
"And yet here we are." Thanatos countered. "She's dead, a wound made by your blade in her chest."
"I didn't mean to." Weiss wept.
"Prove it." Thanatos said. "There's only one way to atone for this. There's only one way to prove that this is an accident, that she really was your friend, that you're different than your father. Fall on your sword. Mix your blood with hers. Then who could deny your regret?"
With tears streaming down her face Weiss looked back, hoping the others would be rushing to her side. The ramp to them had not formed. They remained trapped by the invisible barrier that surrounded the arena. She could see them shouting, screaming and crying, banging on the invisible wall. "Blake…" Weiss trailed off. She looked to the ground at her side. Myrtenaster lie there, soaked in BLake's blood. It was not fit for the purpose. She lay Blake flat on the ground as gently as possible, running her hand over Blake's face to close her eyes. She could not bear to look into them any longer. She got up and walked over to where Gambol Shroud had come to rest. Weiss took it in hand and carried it back to Blake's body. Standing over the corpse she held the sword to her throat.
"Do it." Thanatos encouraged. "Atone for your sins! For your family's sins!"
Weiss stood for several seconds, unable to do the deed. A voice in the back of her mind told her to stop even as Thanatos egged her on. Surely she deserved death for what she had done. No, that was not right. Surely she was to blame. No, that could not be. She slowly lowered the blade to her side before letting it drop to the floor. "I won't do it." She declared.
"Then you're a coward and a murderer." Thanatos said. "Only suicide can cleanse your soul."
"You killed Blake you monster!" Weiss screamed. "If it wasn't for you none of us would be here! Blake would be alive! The others would be alive! You're the coward! You won't even face us yourself. Get down here now so I can kill you." In her fury she picked up Myrtenaster and began launching blasts of fire at Thanatos. It was futile, the attacks broke on the invisible barrier long before reaching their target. She summoned glyphs, firing everything she had but it was no use. Physically and mentally exhausted, she fell to her knees and cried.
Thanatos, having looked rather smug before, now shifted to a look of contemplation. "No matter, I will have your soul soon enough." He said. Blake's body lifted off the ground. Weiss reached out to it but it was too far away. She fell to all-fours and continued sobbing. The body floated to where the other corpses rested and settled down beside them. A white sheet appeared and floated down to cover it.
The ramp from the arena floor finally appeared allowing Ruby and Yang to rush to Weiss' side. They knelt on either side of her, each grabbing an arm. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Weiss cried. "I didn't mean to. I...I'm sorry."
"It was an accident." Yang said shedding tears of her own. "It's not your fault."
"Weiss, don't hurt yourself, please." Ruby bawled. "I can't lose another friend."
"This is a touching show of support and all, but do it outside the arena." Thanatos said. "That blood will be hell to clean up if it dries."
Ruby and Yang shot rage-filled looks at Thanatos before helping Weiss to her feet. "Can you walk?" Yang asked.
"Please get off of me." Weiss sniffled.
"First promise you won't hurt yourself." Ruby demanded.
"I promise." Weiss said. "Now let go."
Ruby and Yang exchanged glances and Yang released Weiss. She picked up the still bloody Myrtenaster before Ruby let go. With her head down Weiss, her combat skirt soaked with blood, stomped out of the arena, took the first seat she came to and covered her face with her hands. Ruby and Yang sat on either side of her and they all cried together. Team J_PR gathered around but there was little they could do but shed their own tears. There seemed to be nothing to say that had not already been said. Things had been going so well only for the tragedies to pile on, one after the other. There seemed no end in sight, no light at the end of the tunnel, just a rapidly growing collection of corpses and increasingly distraught friends left behind.
Yu stood some distance away from RW_Y and J_PR, a hardened expression on his face. Whatever he was feeling, he was doing an excellent job of hiding it. "I wish I knew what to say." He sighed. "I always know what to say."
"Maybe the best thing to say is nothing at all." Naoto suggested. "I don't think they would care what you said unless it was that they were getting their friend back."
"We know what happens when people long for happy lies." Yu said. The desire for self-deception belied Inaba's shadow incident. Yu noticed Rise standing behind him. She was trembling. "What is it?" He asked as he turned around.
Rise embraced him, burying her face in his chest. "I'm next." She said. "I'm next to die."
"Don't say that." Yu said. "You'll be fine. I know you can do this."
"I was supposed to have Yosuke with me but now I'm fighting alone." Rise said, her voice wavering. "There's no way."
"Come on, if you go in believing that you won't have a chance." Yu said. "You're much stronger than you think. You have to believe that."
"I just wanted to say goodbye." Rise wept. "I love you."
"Rise please." Yu said. "You can do this. You'll make it, I know you will."
Rise backed away from Yu then hugged Naoto. "You're my best friend." She said. "You're the person I can trust with anything. Thank you."
"Rise, don't say it." Naoto implored, her eyes filling with tears.
"Goodbye." Rise said. She backed away. "I'm so glad I got to meet both of you. I never could have become who I am today without you."
"You also wouldn't be about to die without them." Thanatos said. "Rise Kujikawa, your time has come."
"Try not to miss me too much." Rise said. She dragged her arm across her face to wipe away her tears then picked up her weapon and descended the ramp to the arena floor. She did her best to retain her composure as she waited for her opponent.
"I understand that on Earth recycling is very important." Thanatos said. "I think you'll appreciate my efforts."
Rather than the usual swirling mass of shadow goo, a single glob rose from the arena floor and immediately resolved into a copy of Yu. It had some troubling features. A gash on its face and a wound in its gut continuously oozed black liquid that was quickly reabsorbed. "It's the shadow that killed Yosuke." Rise groaned.
"How very observant!" Thanatos said. "I hoped you would notice."
"One by one, I'll get you all." The shadow hissed. "Until I get my chance to kill the man himself. Then I'll become the real Yu Narukami. With each kill I get stronger, just like you do."
"Even if you kill me you'll never be strong enough to kill Yu." Rise said. "He'll destroy you."
"Giving up already?" The shadow asked. "I was hoping for a fight but I wouldn't mind it if you made things easier. Now please, if you'd kneel here, I'll make your end quick and painless."
"I won't just lay down and die." Rise said. "You won't take me before I make you suffer."
"Have it your way." The shadow shrugged. "I'll be happy to torture you to death while your friends watch." The shadow stretched out its hand and lightning flew from its fingertips. Rise was already dodging. She pointed her spear at the ground and fired, launching her into the air and out of the lightning's path. In midair she converted her weapon into its laser form. As soon as she landed Rise aimed and fired the laser into the shadow's face. It covered its eyes with its hand as the powerful beam blinded it. With the shadow unable to see, Rise charged, converting her weapon back into a spear as she ran. She spun around and slammed the spear point into the shadow's stomach, firing as she did. The shadow was thrown off its feet and rolled across the floor.
Rise took a few steps toward the downed shadow but pulled up well short just before it unleashed a blast of electricity that surrounded it. It got to its feet as Rise waited just out of range of the charge. The shadow ran at her and she ducked under a horizontal slash of its blade. It immediately swung the blade overhead and brought it straight down at her but she got her own weapon up to block with time to spare. Pushing forward Rise kicked the shadow in the groin. It just laughed. She tried to back up and out of range of its incoming punch but was not fast enough. The blow landed on the side of her head, spun her around and left her dazed.
The shadow reached back with its free hand then thrust it forward charged with electricity. The charged palm strike hit Rise in the lower back and sent her flying across the arena. She landed on her side and skidded into the retaining wall. The shadow did not bother pressing the attack. "You can't win." The shadow said. "It's not too late to give up. Make it easier on both of us."
Propping herself up against the wall, Rise stood. She converted her weapon into its laser form and took aim. The shadow covered its eyes with its free arm, lifted its sword high and charged. Rise was not targeting its eyes this time. She focused on its blade, aiming for and hitting a spot near the hilt, keeping it focused as the shadow closed in. Just before the shadow got to her she quickly converted her weapon back to a spear. The shadow unleashed a mighty downward swing of its sword. The blade, having been melted by the laser, flew off as soon as it began its attack. Swiping forward with no blade and therefore hitting nothing, the shadow stumbled off balance, almost falling over forward. Rise had already planted the butt of her spear against her foot as the shadow's face conveniently moved into place just in front of the tip.
Rise fired, sending the shadow tumbling upward in a high arc. She raced forward to where it would land and planted her spear again. Just before it hit the ground she fired. The spear rapidly extended and struck the shadow in the chest, launching it into the wall Rise had so recently hit. The impact was sufficient to shatter the stone and left the shadow motionless on the floor. Rise charged in to finish it off but realized it was not even stunned. She tried to stop, sliding across the stone floor. Abandoning its now useless weapon, the shadow stretched both hands out toward her, unleashing a spectacular blast of electricity. Rise was unable to dodge. She writhed as the current surged through her. When the shadow finally relented Rise crumpled to the ground.
The shadow walked toward her casually. "You see, I told you." The shadow said, a cocky smile on its face. "You should have just given up. Now you're going to suffer." Rise lay motionless as the shadow approached. "I think I'll start with your hands…" The shadow kicked one of Rise's arms away so that it lay extended, flat on the ground. It raised its foot and stomped on her fingers. Rise did not react. "Oh, did I knock you out? Such a shame. I wanted you to feel it. I guess there's no point in prolonging this." The shadow raised its foot over Rise's head.
Rise's eyes snapped open and she rolled out of the way as the shadow stomped down. It stumbled forward as Rise leapt to her feet and stabbed her spear at its chest. It smacked the weapon away hard enough to spin Rise around then wrapped her in a bear hug from behind. Rise struggled to maneuver her spear to attack but the shadow got its hands on the weapon too, forcing it into position aimed at Rise. Rise struggled to push the weapon away as the shadow forced her harder onto the spear point, using its arms to hold it in place while using its weight to force her down. Rise's aura was about to fail and she knew it. Once that happened, she knew she would not be strong enough to keep herself off the point.
Rise looked up to the others watching in horror and picked out Yu. "I'm sorry." She said, staring at him. "Goodbye." She reached down to her weapon's trigger. "I'm taking you with me!" She screamed at the shadow. She pulled the trigger and the spear extended passing completely through both Rise and the shadow before suddenly snapping back to its original position. The shadow released her and stumbled away, black liquid now oozing from gaping wounds in its torso. Rise fell limply to the ground beside her weapon. The shadow looked up at Thanatos. Thanatos nodded and the shadow melted back into the ground.
The ramp formed allowing Yu and Naoto to rush into the arena. Yu knelt at Rise's side, doing his best to prop her up in as comfortable a position as possible. Naoto stood nearby, having great difficulty looking at her wounded friend. "Rise…" Yu said, his voice trembling.
"I didn't kill it, did I?" Rise groaned.
"I don't care." Yu said, tears dripping down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, for dragging you into this, for not being as good a friend as I could have, for everything." He felt guilty for not realizing just how strongly Rise had felt about him. He felt guilty for not being able to protect her.
"Don't be sorry." Rise said. "You didn't drag me anywhere. Even though it ends like this, I would do it all over again. And you were a great friend, the best. I know you and Naoto are going to be really happy together."
"I don't think I'll ever be happy." Yu wept. "Not after this."
"No, you have to be happy." Rise insisted. "I never want you to think of me and feel sad. That goes for you too Naoto."
"But...I…" Naoto sobbed. She felt guilty too. It was Naoto that had kept Rise and Yu apart, unintentionally of course, but still. Rise thought of Naoto as her best friend and Naoto shared that opinion, but she had not noticed Rise's feelings. Now it was too late. "I'm sorry."
"No buts, no apologies." Rise said. "I just want you two to be happy." She grabbed Yu's hand. "Promise me." She demanded. She reached out to Naoto with her other hand. Naoto knelt at her side and held it. "Both of you promise you'll be happy."
"I promise." Yu choked through his tears.
"I...I promise." Naoto stammered.
"We'll all meet again, someday." Rise said, her voice reduced to a barely audible whisper. "I know we will. So until then, goodbye." Rise exhaled heavily and her grip on her friends' hands loosened. She did not inhale.
Sobbing hysterically Naoto got up and ran out of the arena. Even after all the things she had seen, all the things she had done, it was too much for her. Yu stayed with the body for a moment. He kissed her forehead then laid her flat on her back, folding her hands over the fatal wound. He waited there as the body levitated away to where the others lay. A white sheet appeared above it and gently floated down to cover it.
Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wiped his tears on his sleeve before standing and facing Thanatos. "You'll pay." He said.
"Is that a threat?" Thanatos asked.
"It's a promise." Yu said flatly.
"You should never make a promise you can't keep." Thanatos taunted. "Now then, your time will come. Until then, depart the arena."
"And your time will come." Yu said. "Enjoy your gloating while you can."
Yu walked up the ramp and out of the arena. He found Naoto crying uncontrollably, flanked by Pyrrha and Aigis, both of whom were trying without success to calm her down. "It should have been me." Naoto cried. "I'm a terrible person. I hurt her so much and I couldn't even see it. I'm a damn detective and I couldn't see that my friend was in pain."
Yu grabbed the side of Naoto's head and pressed his forehead to hers. "We promised Rise we would be happy." He said in a soothing voice. "We have to at least try. If we keep beating ourselves up, that's never happen. We all make mistakes and the sad fact is that we usually end up hurting the ones we care about most. We just have to do our best."
"What if my best isn't enough?" Naoto sobbed.
"I've been asking myself the same thing." Yu admitted as he began to cry once again. "Whether it is or not, it's all we've got to give. I don't know how, I don't know when, but I'm going to make this right, by her, by Yosuke, by all the others. But the only way I can do that is with your help. I need you with me. I need you to believe in yourself. I need you to believe in me. Can you do that?"
"I can try." Naoto choked.
"That's all I can ask." Yu said. "That's all anyone can ask."
