Whispers of Saturn

Chapter 25: Fallen Angels

''I swear if that Siren bitch put something inside me, I'll gut her like a fucking fish...''

Takao sighed. ''You're fine, Maya. Vestal herself checked you to be sure; Purifier didn't do something to you.''

''Nothing but heal me.'' Maya criticised, eyeing up her hand. ''What if Vestal couldn't detect it? You know the Sirens; always playing tricks to fill their 'quotas' and 'plans'. I don't trust her as far as I can throw her.''

Yuudachi bounced up to her, grinning brightly. ''But you can throw her really far, Maya-senpai!''

''Hm... now that you mention it, I haven't tried.'' Maya hummed contemplatively. ''Perhaps that's something to see to, once we're done with this...''

Takao rubbed her brow, already exasperated. ''That's... you know what, go ask her once we're done.''

''Sure.''

''Wait, I didn't mean that literally-!''

Too late. Maya was already rushing ahead of the group, stifling a chuckle until she was out of Takao's earshot. Winding her sister up never got old.

Yuudachi quickly caught up with her, grinning. Maya merely shot the loyal Destroyer a slight smirk and fixed her gaze ahead, riding the amusement as she kept running – distracting herself from the grim reality ahead of her. She wasn't the type to be joking and laughing in times of crisis, but Yuudachi had unknowingly taught her the value of enjoying life even when it looked bleak. Namely by entertaining her during her entire, albeit brief hospital stay.

Their group was one of the smaller ones, no thanks to the fact Shigure, Yamashiro and Yukikaze were still out of commission. Stable thanks to Purifier, but in no state for combat – hell, Shigure was warned if she dared fire her guns she'd likely blow herself in half, since the trauma to her midsection was so severe. Now their group consisted only of Yuudachi, Takao, and Maya herself. There just wasn't enough manpower to bulk up their group any more.

Movement ahead caught Maya's attention, immediately sending her on guard as her instincts flared. Her shoes skidded across the dirt as she twisted, summoning her rigging in a flash and taking aim at the forest, Atago's last appearance all too fresh in her mind.

''Who's there!?'' Maya barked out, hearing Takao slow down behind her, drawing her sword while Yuudachi took up a defensive position, growling and flexing her fingers.

For a moment, silence. Then the bushes in front of them rustled... and from out behind a tree walked a familiar figure. Maya's eyes went wide and her grip on her katana loosened, shock permeating every inch of her existence – as she laid eyes on her long-dead sister.

''C-Choukai...?''

The black-haired woman didn't reply, expressionless as she brushed past the shrubbery around her legs. She looked just like she always had, her visage soft even when not adorned with emotion and her grip on her blade tenuous, as if she was hesitant to hold it at all. Not from a lack of resolve, but a reluctance to even harm another being, be it human or otherwise. She was really Choukai.

''How...? Why are...?'' Maya's honestly froze – before she gave her head a violent shake, raising her guard. ''Who are you?! You dare wear the face of my sister?!'''

Her shout helped snap Takao out of it – the swordswoman also raising her guard, realising that the chance to the woman being a fake was all too real, especially with Atago's Gift still being unknown to them.

''...do you really not believe it could be me?'' Choukai asked in a gentle monotone, tilting her head slightly.

Maya gripped her blade tighter. ''You're dead.''

''Roon and Atago brought me back.'' Choukai countered in the same soft monotone, inflexion unchanging.

''...how?'' Takao spoke up, voice tight.

Choukai took a step closer, her hauntingly familiar rigging manifesting around her.

''When death and delusions collide... an impossible memory arrives.''

Then in a heartbeat Choukai was moving, breaking into a lightning-quick run. Maya had barely a second to react, grunting in surprise as their katanas collided with unexpected force – a powerful gust of wind blowing past them. Their swords rattled against each other, the two of them warring in a contest of strength, but they were evenly matched. Until Choukai tilted her rigging inwards, aiming at her opponent.

Maya spat a curse and broke the deadlock, breaking away just in time to avoid the point-blank cannon blast – but the shockwave made her stumble for a dangerous second. Choukai was on her in an instant, thrusting her blade for a second blow. It never reached its target; metal clanging against metal as Takao intervened, deflecting the blow with a quick parry.

''My sister would never attack her own.'' Takao coldly intoned, eyes hard.

Choukai stared back even as fleeting sparks flew past her cheeks, expressionless. Without a word she skipped back half a dozen steps, not taking her eyes off her two sisters as she ran her hand down the length of the blade. Then with surprising speed she flipped the blade around into a reverse-grip and charged, her black hair whipping in the wind as she closed the distance.

Until Yuudachi leapt in front of Maya. ''Eat this!''

Cannons boomed, and Choukai narrowly dodged to the side; surprise showing on her face as she skipped off to the edge of the miniature clearing, staring at the dog-girl in surprise. The emotion lasted for only a few moments before something else flickered through her eyes, before that too was gone in an instant – replaced by the unnatural expressionlessness that masked Choukai's true thoughts.

Takao took the initiative, expression hard as she lunged; releasing a sharp shout as she swung, her blade cleaving through shallow shrubbery with ease and crashing against Choukai's own blade, the explosive ring of metal echoing through the forest. Undeterred Takao pressed the attack, pushing herself close to Choukai, forcing her sister back a step lest she fall.

''...wide open...''

Takao's eyes widened – and she leaned back just in time to avoid the scabbard that went for her stomach. Just like she trained Atago to.

Her surprise lasted too long. With silent relentlessness Choukai chased the advantage, flipping her katana back into its traditional grip and bringing it down with force – slamming her blade against Takao's so hard it made the elder sister gasp, her sword-arm jolting from the impact. Choukai masterfully twirled her fingers, twisting her scabbard around into a forward grip; before thrusting it out, and plunging it into Takao's gut.

''Gh- Nn!'' Takao grit her teeth, the edge of Choukai's sword just barely hovering above her forehead; her katana rattling furiously against her sister's as they warred for dominance.

Movement behind made Choukai pause – immediately disengaging and whirling around, locking blades with Maya. Takao took her shot and lunged with a yell, but Choukai responded by raising her scabbard; blocking her two-handed strike. For a brief moment the three were locked into place, teeth gritted as they tried to overpower the other.

''Gao~!''

Then Yuudachi lunged from behind, and blasted Choukai right in the back.

''Nn-!'' Pain flashed across Choukai's emotionless visage and she immediately jerked her shoulders hard, forcing Maya and Takao back for a brief half-second – and allowing Choukai to leap away, landing in a low crouch a dozen feet away.

Maya shifted around to face her formerly-deceased sister, gold eyes narrowed. She raised her blade but didn't take the initiative, her eyes critically scanning for any weaknesses or telltales in Choukai's frame. However she had to begrudgingly admit that if she was a fake, she was a damn good one. She had the same posture, wielded her scabbard and sword in the same fashion, and even led with her torso bent forwards rather than either of her arms – allowing for her to strike with either hand, unlike herself or Takao who instinctively led with their right.

Choukai was skilled, and undoubtedly more skilled than her at swordsmanship – but Takao might be better than her, considering the amount of time that had passed since her 'death' and Takao's natural affinity for the blade. Choukai may've been the first of the four sisters summoned and thus held the most experience, but she was in a one-versus-three. Logic dictated that they had the advantage.

Instinct dictated that Choukai had more than just her swordsmanship under her belt, however.

'Tch..,' Maya squeezed the grip of her blade. 'Guess I'll have to use 'that' then...!'

Lightning crackled to life around Maya, golden sparks arcing along her legs. Like a thunderbolt Maya kicked off the dirt with explosive force, covering the distance between them in a single second. Choukai wisely didn't try to block; nimbly tilting away from the lightning-infused swing. Maya kept up the attack, her katana crackling through the air as she swung viciously – the air around her blade hissing from the speed.

Choukai silently evaded each lethal swing without so much as a scratch, leaning back to avoid the blade that swept for her stomach – only to suddenly retaliate before Maya even finished her swing, tilting her torso forth; and thrusting her katana out. Maya tried to evade but she was in no position to; a sharp gasp fleeing her lips as the blade cut a deep gash over her shoulder, drawing blood.

''Mn...!'' The white-haired cruiser skipped back; but Choukai went on the attack, throwing her sword into her left hand and her scabbard into her right.

The sudden angle change took Maya off-guard, tilting her blade a second too slow to block – causing Choukai's katana to spark off the flat edge, and cut a gash across her cheek just below her widening eye. With haste Maya triggered her Gift, summoning a wrathful bolt of lightning across her sword and swinging it blindly; unleashing a chaotic blast of blinding thunder.

Using the blinding blast to her advantage Maya leapt back, gladly taking the chance to catch her breath. A quick glance down at her sword revealed parts of it beginning to melt; small bits, but the more she conducted her Gift through it the more it would wear down. Even if her Gift was part of her, the sheer intensity of it seemed too much for her sword to take. Nothing that Vestal couldn't fix, but it was still a danger in battle.

Losing her sword when her swordsmanship was her greatest skill would be a major handicap.

''Hm...'' A low hum stilled Maya, her gaze snapping up – meeting Choukai's emotionless gaze. ''You've gotten stronger. Somewhat.''

Maya twitched. ''Am I supposed to be thankful for the praise?''

For the briefest of seconds Choukai's lips twitched up. ''You always used to be.''

Wind whistled, and Takao cut into the conversation – appearing behind Choukai with a burst of speed, swinging for her back. With a flawless twist Choukai deflected the blow and stabbed Takao in the gut with her scabbard, stunning her long enough for Choukai to deal a swift but blood-splattering swing down her sister's torso; the wet splat of blood hitting the grass fluttering through the air.

''It's rude to interrupt, Takao-chan.'' Choukai said with only slight inflexion, something approaching a smile quirking at her lips.

''G-Grk...'' Takao grit her teeth, stumbling – but not falling. ''To end a battle with the least bloodshed... that's what you always told me to do.''

Choukai's faint smile faded. ''Ah. I suppose I did, didn't I?''

A twist of her wrist – and Choukai's blade was racing for Takao's throat. The eldest sister tipped her head back in time to avoid it, promptly retaliating with a heavy overhead swing; her blade colliding against Choukai's scabbard with enough strength to knock it from the once-dead woman's hand.

Choukai didn't blink, fully intending to capitalise on her sister's weakness – when her instincts flared and she tilted aside, dodging the sword aimed for her kidney. She twisted, sweeping her blade in low and forcing Maya to jump over it; putting herself in her cannon's sights. The white-haired cruiser didn't even have the chance to curse before a resounding boom pierced the air, and two golden shells impacted dead-centre; engulfing Maya in an eruption of smoke and light.

''M-Maya-senpai!''

Choukai turned, laying her eyes on the anxious Yuudachi; her visage worried as Maya landed in front of her with a ragged cough, burns marring her exposed stomach. Sensing her gaze Yuudachi looked up at the once-deceased cruiser, uncertainty marring her visage as she visibly warred between attacking her or protecting Maya.

The desire to protect won, and with a fierce snarl Yuudachi stood in front of her downed comrade, her rigging cannons firing with a loud blast. Choukai cut the shells in half with a single precise swing, unheeding of the shells that erupted behind her back, doing little more than ruffling her hair. Takao tried to take advantage of her blind spot but Choukai merely twisted, evading the slash going for her spine and retaliated with a thrust; drawing blood as the blade cut Takao under her ribs.

Takao grit her teeth, pushing past the pain and forcing Choukai back with a second swing lest she lose an arm. Their blades met in a blinding flurry of blows; sparks flying between their blurring swords as their blades met multiple times a second, far outclassing any feat a human swordsman could perform. They were evenly matched for several long seconds, countless clashes resounding between them. Takao repeatedly tried to take her sister off-guard with an Iaido strike, jamming her blade into its sheath and drawing it with explosive force, but each powerful blow only stalled her sister for a brief instant, too small a gap to exploit.

''You're slowing down.'' Choukai noted tonelessly. ''You're too reliant on your quick-draw. Using it on me...''

Takao starting drawing her blade from its sheath once more – until Choukai laid her free hand over Takao's, keeping the blade in its sheath.

''...just leaves you wide open.''

Takao's eyes widened – and in an instant Choukai's blade cleaved a deep, bone-tearing slash straight down from shoulder to waist.

''G-Gah-!'' Takao let out a strangled cry, blood splattering the grass in a wide line.

''You've grown a lot.'' Choukai continued in the same monotone, expression unchanging even as Takao stumbled back, gasping in air. ''But when Atago brought me back, she gave me the power to exist; the power to finish my final desire. Without a Gift of your own, you can't match me.''

Takao stumbled and fell to her knees, wheezing as she put pressure on her wound, stalling the blood flow as best she could while Choukai kept speaking. ''I'm sorry it had to come to this. But, this is my one chance to be selfish. Please forgive me for that.''

''Now-''

Choukai twisted, holding her katana over her shoulder – and blocking the blade swinging for her neck, glancing back.

Smouldering gold eyes met tame honey.

''-it's your turn.'' Choukai finished in a soft whisper.

Maya glared back wrathfully, breaking the deadlock with a thunderous shout – preluding the bolt of lightning that was let loose from her blade. Choukai tilted aside but wasn't able to dodge it fully, wincing as it burned her right arm as the bolt passed her and hit a tree; blowing it in two. Maya was quick to pounce on her momentary weakness, cutting a moderate gash across Choukai's stomach with a horizontal swing, drawing blood.

Choukai leapt back before the blade could cut deep; her cannons firing with a deafening blast. Maya evaded the incoming shells and landed running, closing the distance before her sister could fire another shot and locking blades. Steel rattled but Maya was just buying time, daring to glance out the corner of her eye at Yuudachi; relief flooding her when she saw the loyal Destroyer help patch up Takao's wound as best she could.

''Don't get distracted.''

Maya's eyes widened – and a scabbard stabbed itself into her stomach. She gasped, her grip loosening on her sword for a split-second; long enough that Choukai could give it a hard swat with the back of hand and knock it loose, her fingertips just-barely grazing the handle. On instinct Maya reached out, trying to grab her sword before it fell, but that was exactly what Choukai wanted.

''Nn-!'' Pain blossomed through her collarbone as Choukai's blade struck true, cleaving a deep gash down her front.

The white-haired cruiser grasped her sword and retaliated, but her swing fell short of striking Choukai. A brief lull fell, lasting no longer than three seconds; but for experienced warriors like them that was enough time to regain their footings, levelling their blades at one another. In lieu of keeping her hand free Choukai held her blade with both hands, forcing Maya to do the same lest she be at a disadvantage.

A second; an inhalation of breath. Then an exhale, muscles uncoiling as they lunged in perfect unison – steeling ringing clear through the forest as their blades met with explosive force, splintering the ground beneath them as all the force was directed up and down. Their deadlock lasted only a moment before they broke apart, Choukai swinging down while Maya swung up, sending sparks airborne as their katanas clashed.

'...now!' Maya's eyes sharpened – and she tapped into her Gift.

Choukai detected the danger a moment too late, lightning running up Maya's blade and connecting to hers – immediately electrifying Choukai as it ran up into her hands. The shock briefly paralysed her muscles, giving Maya the time to break the deadlock and aim for the throat.

The tip drew blood – and then Choukai dissolved.

'What?!'

Choukai's frame dissipated into a fine, multi-coloured mist; whipping back only a few feet before reforming back into her solid frame, her expression tight and a trickle of blood running down her throat.

''I may not have a Gift of my own.'' Choukai said softly, gripping her blade with recuperated muscles. ''But... borrowing some of Atago's, isn't impossible.''

''And what's that supposed to mean?'' Maya aggressively asked, hiding how uneasy the narrow escape made her.

Choukai stared at her for a long moment, tilting her head. ''...do you know what Atago's Gift is?''

''She never told me.''

''Illusions. Or rather, delusions.'' Choukai informed slowly, sweeping her blade aside. ''It was her delusion for me to live again. Her delusion for I-56 to be brought back as her loyal little servant. While Roon was the one who brought our souls back into the world, it was Atago who restored our bodies.''

Maya's expression tightened as Choukai began to circle her, forcing her to twist with her. ''So Roon can bring people back from the dead now, huh? Is that it?''

''I'm not quite sure.'' Choukai sounded genuinely curious about that, emotion beginning to colour her tone. ''But that's irrelevant to your question. By siphoning some of Atago's power when she brought me back, I can use it to briefly undo my existence, if only for a moment. I don't think it quite qualifies as a 'Gift', since it isn't mine... but it works well enough for me, don't you think?''

''...Hmph.'' Maya raised her blade. ''It'll just make you more of a pain to beat. That's all there is to it.''

Choukai's lips curved up. ''...yes, keep that look in your eyes. Don't look away from me for a moment. Don't hesitate for a second. Because if you do-''

Mist whispered, and in a single heartbeat – Choukai was behind her.

''-you'll die.''

Maya reacted instantly, whirling and deflecting the blade that went for her kidney. Steel rung out as Choukai's katana bounced away, giving Maya time to lunge in with a thrust – but Choukai pushed the blade aside with the back of her hand, unheeding of the slight cut she earned for her efforts. The blade whistled over her shoulder and the once-deceased woman flipped her blade into a reverse-grip, swinging it up like a dagger.

Steel drew blood and Maya grit her teeth, a cut opening on her cheek. Ignoring the brief but sharp pain Maya skipped back a dozen steps, snatching up her discarded sheath and throwing it the second she could; forcing Choukai to deflect it lest she lose an eye. Maya was there not a moment later, coming in low and swinging up with both hands – narrowly cleaving her sister in half had Choukai not leaned back just in time, eyes widening.

Maya's lips curled back into a fierce grin. ''...wide open!''

Lightning crackled – and with a downward swing Maya unleashed it, a thunderclap preluding the blinding eruption of golden lightning that cracked through the air. The golden lightning arced like a scythe, cutting a swathe through the forest and felling a dozen trees, the thunderous bolt leaving the wood glowing a soft red.

And off to the side stood Choukai, blinking owlishly and with her entire right arm singed black from fingertip to shoulder.

''...not bad...'' Choukai slowly began to smile back, flexing her fingers.

Once more she transformed back into multi-coloured mist, shifting back across the clearing before reforming – allowing Choukai to pluck up her discarded sheath too. Unbothered by her burned fingers the swordswoman flipped her sheath into a reverse-grip, smile tightening when her muscles gave a twinge of pain. Despite that it failed to stop her from bending her knees; and kick off the ground.

Maya met her halfway, their weapons colliding with tremendous force. Choukai immediately plunged her scabbard out but Maya was expecting it, deflecting it with the back of her hand and thrusting her fist out, aimed for Choukai's gut. The blow nearly reached her but Choukai tilted aside at the last moment, letting the fist brush past her side harmlessly.

''Tch...!'' Maya broke the deadlock before Choukai could lash out with her scabbard again.

The lull of battle didn't last a second before their blades once more met in a flurry of blows, each swing more powerful than the last as they tried to overpower the other; alternating angles or even switching hands altogether, both utilising their ambidexterity to its full extent. Lightning thundered out only to make Choukai melt into mist, scabbard swings were deflected with the back of a hand; the two were evenly matched for nearly a full minute, their lightning-quick blows too fast for either to take their eyes off each other for even a moment.

The stalemate was finally broken as Maya stepped back; and the uneven root beneath her boot made her slip. It was a minor thing; a shifting of weight onto her right foot. But it was enough for Choukai to hammer her blade against Maya's, loosening her grip and leaving her unable to react in time to the following thrust – the blade cutting a gash across her neck. Blood spurted from the wound and Maya instinctively reached up, clamping her hand over her jugular before too much blood could escape.

Just as Choukai hoped.

''Gh- Nn!''

The cruiser's foot landed a solid kick to Maya's stomach, sending the white-haired woman falling to the ground with a stilted grunt. Maya tried to stumble back to her feet but Choukai stomped on her knee, keeping her pinned to the ground – the waning sunlight gleaming off her raised katana.

Wind whistled. Steel flashed.

Then Yuudachi leapt in front of her, Takao's katana clumsily held in her hand.

Maya's eyes widened, blood splattering across her cheek. Takao's katana flew from Yuudachi's finger, spinning through the air before impaling itself into a tree.

''Ah...'' Yuudachi twitched once – before collapsing, something between a gasp and whimper fleeing her parted lips.

Maya caught her before she fell, eyes wide as she hastily laid her beloved kouhai down; gold eyes roaming over the deep cut down Yuudachi's front. Blood was quick to bubble from the gash, staining Yuudachi's skin a sticky red, only worsened when Yuudachi instinctively wheezed in air, opening her wounds further.

''Why...?''

Maya truly wasn't sure if she was directing the question at Yuudachi or Choukai, but Yuudachi was the one to answer her – cracking her red eyes open and grinning painfully. ''H-Heh... I always.. wanted to protect Maya-senpai... like she did for me... it hurts, more than I thought... ha...''

The white-haired cruiser swallowed, eyes flickering over the wound. It was deep, but not lethally so, if she could just get her back to Vestal then-!

''...I'm sorry.''

Maya raised her katana, her arm jolting as Choukai's katana rattled against it – the awkward angle nearly knocking the blade from Maya's hand, had it not been for her ironclad grip.

''Why?'' This time she knew who the question was directed at.

''...Atago just died.'' Choukai's words gave Maya pause. ''The power keeping me sustained here will run out soon.''

''So you attacked me.''

Choukai replied by drawing her blade back, levelling it at her crouching sister. Maya rose slowly, not looking away from Yuudachi's tightly-smiling visage.

''...I didn't meant to hit her. If I knew, I would've stopped.'' Choukai said in a familiar tone, one that almost sounded regretful. ''She's a good girl. You've made good friends.''

''Why are you doing this?'' Maya intoned. ''All of this. You always rebelled at the idea of even sparring with our real swords – if you're truly my sister... why are you trying to kill us?''

Choukai smiled sadly, assuming a defensive stance. ''...to make sure you didn't stop. That my death didn't stop you from growing; stop you from maturing into the warrior you are today. Animaus commands that I serve Atago; Atago commands that I stop anyone but Bismarck from reaching her. I'm obeying what they say... and achieving my own selfish desire at the same time. And I couldn't be prouder of you two.''

''...hmph...'' Maya turned – her eyes glowing a bright gold, electricity dancing across her skin. ''You have a weird way of showing pride.''

''Is that so? Maybe... even I've changed a bit then.'' Choukai said, bracing her heels against the ground. ''I always hated fighting... but hearing your blade ring against mine...''

The tips of Choukai's hair began to dissipate, fading into colourless particles. ''...it reminds me of happier times.''

Maya gripped her sword. Choukai tensed her shoulders. The air stilled for a single second; muscles coiling tight – before like a spring Maya lunged, crackling thunderbolts screeching along her katana as she brought it down in a heavy overhead swing. Choukai lunged to meet her, their blades whistling through the air; until with a destructive eruption of light they collided, casting out a powerful shockwave that rippled through the nearby forest.

The blinding flash of gold light crackled, fizzling out after only a short second, leaving a thick cloud of dust that was swiftly blown away by the high wind. Maya glared into the smoke as it faded, meeting Choukai's own honey-gold eyes.

The smoke fluttered away, revealing the hilt of Choukai's sword – the blade completely obliterated from the hilt upwards, nothing but a sharp stub left.

''...even if it was just for a moment...'' Choukai breathed softly. ''...I understand, how far you've come.''

''...you never intended to kill me, did you?'' Maya asked bitterly.

Choukai smiled – a genuine, real smile. ''So you saw through me after all... no, I couldn't cut down my own sister. Making you bleed because of me is hard enough, but to see you dead... I can't imagine such a thing. Not even Atago can make me do it.''

Maya said nothing, her gaze shifting from Choukai's eyes down to her chest – watching everything below her sister's bust fade into colourless particles, dissipating from the world. It was a strange thing to see; to watch someone literally melt out of existence, yet remain hovering where they were as if their legs still existed.

''...any last words?'' Maya felt the need to ask, something in her heart surging forth – instinctively making her eyes flicker up.

''...Mm.'' Choukai reached out with her remaining arm, her fingertips already beginning to disintegrate – and cupped Maya's cheek. ''I don't blame you.''

Maya was quiet, a weight easing off her heart even as Choukai's arm disintegrated, the invisible dissolution climbing up her neck; before with a final, blindingly bright smile – Choukai's existence faded from the world, not even her broken sword remaining

''...thank you...'' Maya whispered to the air, sucking in a long, long breath; letting it out with the lingering ache in her heart.

She was about to turn and assist Yuudachi before she bled out – when the whispering rustle of bushes gave her pause, instinctively raising her guard. To her bewilderment she found three Destroyers awkwardly shambling through the bushes, all of them unharmed and followed by a moderately-wounded Hood, iron scattered across parts of her skin and seemingly patching it together.

It was the woman behind Hood that caught Maya's attention the most, however. Bismarck.

''W-Wait!'' Cygnet frantically waved her arms as Maya raised her cannons. ''We're friendly! Friendly!''

''And her?'' Maya intoned sharply, meeting Bismarck's tired eyes.

''No longer our enemy. I assure you of that.'' Hood chimed in with a kind smile, but there was a veiled sharpness to her eyes; all too willing to jump to Bismarck's defence in a heartbeat.

Maya kept her cannons raised for only a moment more before wisely lowering them. ''Do you have any medical supplies we could use?''

''I-I have some...'' Comet tentatively said, fumbling with a blue purse she carried. ''W-We were on our way to V-Vestal, so I have plenty left...''

''Please attend to them.'' Maya asked curtly, not taking her eyes off Bismarck – speaking directly to the Battleship. ''You just came from Atago's location, didn't you.''

It wasn't a question. ''We did.''

...

''...I see.'' Maya broke the stare-off. ''Please stabilise my teammates then. I'll be back shortly.''

Nobody protested, and Maya quickly departed the ruined battlefield – her fast walk evolving into a run as she cut through the forest.

She sped up further, amplifying herself with lightning until she was near-blurring, side-stepping trees and leaping over roots as she went. Anything that slowed her down only did so for a moment, the ground beginning to incline beneath her feet and the shrubbery thinning.

She was forced to slow down as the ground began cracked and rippled, the signs of a battle becoming all too obvious. That was only proved infinitely more obvious as she reached an open clearing, a fallen tree briefly drawing her eye; before her attention fell upon the bisected body not far past it.

''Atago...'' Maya's expression twisted; becoming torn.

On one hand, she felt relieved. Atago had not only become a threat, but was also no longer the kind and sisterly woman she once was. She was no longer 'Atago', but a woman wearing Atago's face. Someone manipulated by a god to serve its whims. Yet at the same time she couldn't help but feel somewhat bitter – both at losing another of her sisters to death, and for not being the one to do it herself.

Slowly Maya approached, kneeling down next to Atago's torso. The blood had begun to coagulate now and rigor mortis was starting to set in; she was absolutely, one-hundred percent dead by now. No chance of any trick or illusion; she was gone. And yet...

'...hm?' Maya's brows furrowed, sliding her gaze past Atago's face... and at her rigging. 'Her rigging... is still here?'

When a Ship-Girl died, their rigging disintegrated minutes after their death. There was no real conclusion as to why it happened; only hypothesises. Some theorised it was symbolic, that as their life left them so too did their power. Others saw it as a natural reaction, that since they couldn't 'sink' on land, their riggings still acted as if they were sinking and being crushed by the pressure. There was still a lot unknown about it, even after Akashi's long investigation into the matter.

However, one matter was clear. When you died, your rigging went with you.

And yet, Atago's hadn't disintegrated.

As if something was keeping her in this world.

Maya swallowed. She hesitated for only a moment before snatching up Atago's katana, and made a break for the others.

'The main force needs to know about this...!'

X-x-X

''Hah... haah...! Hah- Nn!''

With a strained gasp Graf Spee fell, catching herself on her hands and panting – wheezing in air. The red veins across her skin pulsated and she gritted her teeth, enduring the pain; but there was nothing she could do. She couldn't run any further; she needed a minute to breathe.

Normally running wouldn't be hard; she may be a Heavy Cruiser, but she liked to think she was quite nimble, especially after her many spars with Ajax. However enduring the agony of pulsating fire across her skin greatly sapped her stamina, making even moving a task; which in hindsight seemed counterproductive to Wahr'rot's desire for war.

Then again, she didn't think the deity was the smartest of the three.

''Mn...'' Graf Spee grimaced, pushing herself up as the veins gave another twinge. ''I-''

''It hurts, doesn't it?'' A voice rung out from behind.

Graf Spee stiffened, eyes widening as she immediately spun, summoning her rigging in a flash. Standing in the shadow of a tree, with a little smile on her lips and something unnamable in her eyes – was Ajax.

''Why...?'' Graf Spee lowered her guns, but didn't de-summon her rigging.

Ajax hummed softly, daintily walking out from behind the tree. The sadist didn't say a peep, the crunching of grass underfoot sounding so much louder in the silence, not even the wind howling. Graf Spee only grew tenser and tenser as Ajax drew closer, step by step – until she was standing right in front of her.

''To see you.'' Ajax answered the ambivalent question, reaching out and gently grasping her chin.

Graf Spee swallowed, shivering as Ajax slid her fingers along her jaw, leaning in close. ''...are you still allied with Roon?''

Ajax's sliding fingers paused. ''...if I am?''

The Ironblood cruiser swallowed and gently grasped Ajax's soft hand – before pulling it off her cheek. Ajax flinched, hurt crossing her visage; the emotion so raw and visceral from such a close distance that it made Graf Spee hesitate. The pained emotion fled quickly, replaced by a sudden half-laugh and familiar smug expression; but the slight tilt of her eyebrows betrayed how much the simple action stung.

''I guess I deserve that. At least you didn't decide to slap me.'' Ajax remarked playfully, stepping back. ''To answer your question... who knows? Maybe I've decided being a bad guy isn't for me, and I've turned a new leaf~?''

''Then you'd abandon Roon and help us?''

Ajax paused, her gesturing hands falling. ''Well... no. I'm still connected to Animaus; if I try to betray the thing, then it'll probably just make me snap my own neck or something.''

Graf Spee took a step back also. ''Then... we're enemies.''

Ajax tilted her head, expression becoming bitter. ''Yeah... I suppose we are.''

A stilted silence reigned. Neither wanted to fight; there was no tension, no animosity. Both wanted nothing more than to convince the other to abandon their cause and run away with them, but both also refused to give up their goals. Even as distant cannon shots went off neither said a thing, hesitation thick in the air.

Then slowly, Graf Spee raised her guns. ''If you won't surrender... then, I'll just have to make you.''

''...heh.'' Ajax's lips curved into a small, bitter smile. ''I never thought... I'd see the day when you pointed your guns at me again, Gräfin.''

''Neither did I.''

The Light Cruiser hummed gently, her rigging appearing around her in a flash. ''You know, I was looking for you the other day; when Akagi was busying spatting with Enterprise...''

Graf Spee shifted her stance, aiming her guns. ''...why?''

Ajax lips parted – then she paused. Slowly she shook her head, a small smile crossing her lips. ''...no, I suppose it doesn't matter.''

Before Graf Spee could speak Ajax raised her guns – and fired. The loud blast snapped Graf Spee out of it and she immediately leapt back, grunting as one shell landed right at her feet and blew a rush of heat upwards, narrowly avoiding burning her leg. Her feet had barely touched the ground when Ajax lunged, her footfalls thudding against the forest floor as she closed the distance swiftly, her right hand reaching out.

Graf Spee waited until the last moment before batting Ajax's hand aside, throwing a punch back. It was clumsy and telegraphed, allowing the Royal cruiser to easily side-step it – kicking out with her left leg. Graf Spee gritted her teeth at the blow, her shin nearly giving out underneath her but she held out. Instead she tapped into her own Gift, feeling her muscles grow heavy as she swung a right hook a second time.

Ajax twisted away but wasn't able to fully dodge it – her dark pink eyes going wide as it stuck her shoulder with unexpected strength. ''Nn?!''

The Ironblood girl hopped back, wasting no time in firing her guns again – engulfing Ajax in a plume of smoke and light. Not believing that was enough to put Ajax down she skipped back further, reloading her guns as fast as she could; sweat forming on her forehead as she kept her eyes peeled for even a wisp of movement.

A flicker to her left. She raised her left cannon just in time to block the foot that came in a downward axe-kick, the compressed strength behind it enough to send the shark-toothed rigging smashing into the dirt. Ajax landed atop it in a crouch, a slight smirk on her lips as she gazed down at the Ironblood girl, her eyes glowing a soft red as she too tapped into her Gift.

''Interesting~'' Ajax crooned – immediately kicking off the rigging when Graf Spee fired her other cannon, the golden shells missing and striking the tree behind Ajax's last location.

Grimacing Graf Spee summoned the rest of her rigging; large metallic gauntlets engulfing her hands, her fingers becoming metal talons. Against Ajax, who relied more on speed, the extra weight would be a detriment – but she wasn't as skilled as Ajax in hand-to-hand, and considering the Light Cruiser's Gift, allowing skin contact was a dangerous risk. If this was to become a battle of speed versus strength... she would have to make do.

Ajax rushed her from the right this time, coming in low. Graf Spee spun to face her, raising her right gauntlet and blocking the strike aimed for her face; the sheer strength compacted into the blow making her arm jolt painfully. She swung with her other gauntlet but Ajax was already leaping over it, smirking down at her as she flipped mid-air – and fired straight down.

''N-Nn!'' A gasp ripped itself from Spee's lips as shrapnel and heat assaulted her legs and stomach; a wince quick to twist her visage.

Footsteps, to her left. She didn't turn this time; instead rising her left turret and firing. As she predicted Ajax simply leapt over it – and Graf Spee reacted, throwing a fist. For a split-second she saw Ajax's surprised visage before she was punched straight in the face; immediately inverting the cruiser's momentum and sending her crashing back into a tree with a wheeze.

''G-God...'' Ajax coughed harshly, cupping her bloody nose. ''You, you hit like a truck... no...''

Dark pink eyes examined her closely, gaining an old, dangerously analytical gleam to them. ''...you have a Gift too, don't you?''

''Mm.'' Graf Spee didn't hesitate to answer, keeping her guard up but not firing. ''I don't have an interesting name for it... so I just went with [Density Manipulation].''

''Density Manipulation, huh...?'' Ajax murmured lowly, gripping her nose – before with a loud, painful-sounding twist, she popped her nose back into place. ''I feel like you're just copying my Gift, if you call it that.''

Graf Spee smiled faintly. ''Maybe I am.''

''Hmph. Naughty.'' Ajax gained a wicked glint to her gaze – before she raised her hand, revealing the blood on it. ''And next time – don't give your enemy so much time to plan.''

Without missing a beat Ajax swung – unleashing droplets of blood that rapidly hardened into crystalline red spears. They crashed harmlessly into Graf Spee's gauntlet but said gauntlet blocked her view of Ajax, giving the sadistic woman more than enough time to lunge in close – ducking under the oversized gauntlet.

Graf Spee's eyes widened and she back-tracked a step, but they were too close. Ajax's right fist buried itself deep into her gut, pushing her organs up into her chest and forcing a wheeze from the Ironblood cruiser's throat. She was knocked back a few feet and stumbled, gasping, when Ajax came rushing in for a second blow. Graf Spee reacted immediately, triggering her Gift – and densifying herself.

Ajax's fist reached her stomach – and to the sadistic woman, it felt like she punched a brick wall. ''FUCK!''

Graf Spee winced, but she knew better than to let Ajax stay so close – immediately swinging for Ajax's head. The sadist side-stepped the blow, clutching at her right hand with gritted teeth. She skipped back a dozen feet and fired her guns, forcing Graf Spee to block them with her gauntlet; the metal denting in several places as the cruiser-class shells ripped segments apart.

''S-So that's what you meant... by density...'' Ajax gritted out.

The Ironblood girl merely tilted her head in acknowledgement. A Gift awoken during a spar with Z46; allowing her to either make herself more dense to increase her strength and durability, or make herself less dense to gain greater mobility at the cost of defence. A versatile Gift; and one that could prove fatal if she wasn't careful.

Even if her skin became as dense as iron, it wouldn't matter if Ajax just solidified her blood.

Flexing her gauntlet-clad fingers Graf Spee raised her hand, her blue eyes sharpening as she beckoned Ajax with a finger. A challenging smirk crossed Ajax's visage and she bent her knees – kicking off the ground hard enough to create a small shockwave. Graf Spee swung but Ajax merely leapt over her oversized gauntlet, one hand balancing her as she flipped and twisted mid-air.

Graf Spee's cannons blasted to life, four shells shrieking up at the sadist – but Ajax merely pirouetted out of the way, landing inside her guard, so close their bodies nearly touched. Then with a quick jab Ajax upper-cutted her chin, jerking her head back even with her Gift reinforcing her body; leaving her unprepared for the leg that stomped on her foot, heel twisting painfully.

''N-Nn...!'' Graf Spee winced as an elbow dug into her stomach, before Ajax grabbed her shoulder – and threw her over her shoulder.

The Ironblood cruiser was airborne for only a moment before Ajax's own cannons fired, several shells hitting their mark and causing a chain of eruptions to engulf Graf Spee; her gritted teeth stifling her gasp. She landed hard on her shoulder and rolled back to her feet, stumbling up to her knees – and was taken off-guard by the foot that swung out, upper-cutting her chin; and in turn putting her in the path of a downwards elbow strike, slamming her head down into the dirt.

''You may feel tougher...'' Ajax murmured, raising her foot high. ''But you're slow.''

With a sharp whistle of wind Ajax brought her foot down in a powerful axe-kick – narrowly avoiding smashing Graf Spee's head as she rolled aside, coughing. Graf Spee stumbled back up and immediately blocked the lethally-precise haymaker that went for her stomach, a grimace marring her visage as Ajax relentlessly wailed on her gauntlet; gradually chipping away at the metal with the sheer ferocity of her blows.

Not willing to give Ajax an opening Graf Spee took the initiative, suddenly twisting and firing her guns. Her shells blanketed the area in front of her, kicking up dirt and smoke for a brief few moments until it dissipated... revealing Ajax, with a crystalline red shield in front of her, the shield cracked in multiple places.

'Dammit.' Graf Spee grimaced, raising her gauntlets in preparation.

Ajax shot her a tight smile, her shield shattering into countless fragments. The glass-like pieces hadn't even hit the ground before Ajax blew through them, skidding under the the gauntlet that swiped for her head and swiftly twisting mid-slide, elbow jutting out. Graf Spee acted immediately, densifying herself and catching Ajax's incoming elbow; stopping her attack dead. However she was startled when Ajax kept moving with her momentum, lunging up and tackling her.

Graf Spee hit the ground back-first and grunted, panic gripping her when both her arms were promptly pinned to the dirt. She tried to fire but she needed another few seconds to reload, her wide blue eyes meeting the grimly-amused pink ones of Ajax – the sadist leaning down until their noses touched.

''I see...'' Ajax purred softly, squeezing her arms. ''Your Gift doesn't work... if you're distracted~''

Graf Spee's eyes widened – and she wheezed as a knee buried itself in her stomach, the air leaving her lungs. Blindly she finished loading the shells and fired her cannons, but Ajax had already leapt off her; giggling as she flipped out of the way of the shells. The Ironblood girl hastily rolled over and stumbled to her feet, coughing raggedly as she sucked in lungfuls of air again, her chest burning from the sudden exhalation.

'Mn... why...?' Graf Spee rubbed her stomach, wincing at the dull ache. 'She had me pinned... she could've used her Gift then... so why...?'

'Why is she holding back?'

She didn't know; and she had no more time to ponder it, as Ajax came rushing at her once more. Graf Spee reacted immediately – de-summoning her oversized gauntlets and ducking under the punch swung for her forehead, lashing out with her leg. Ajax was unprepared for the sudden counter-attack, grunting as her legs were kicked out from under her and sending her to the forest floor; giving Graf Spee more than enough time to leap away, and fire all barrels.

The deafening blast rushed through the forest, a cacophony of explosions blasting the area in front of her. The smoke lingered for only a moment before Ajax lunged out of it, her right arm bleeding and threads of crimson slowly knitting the wound shut. With a single fluid motion Ajax slid her free hand down her bleeding arm, gathering blood across her fingertips and throwing it out.

''Gh...'' Graf Spee winced as razor-sharp blood needles shot past her; cutting her guarding arms.

Ajax crossed the distance in moments, digging her heels in as she transitioned into a powerful right hook. Graf Spee countered by raising her left rigging turret, letting the semi-sentient beast tank the blow and retaliate – snapping at Ajax's arm like a dog, its metal fangs drawing more blood. Despite the pain the wound only amplified Ajax's power; the blood on her arm gathering into one spot, and shooting out like a large spear.

A terrible screech pierced the air as the solidified blood-spear pierced her rigging, extracting a sharp gasp from Graf Spee as metal gave way; the sudden assault making the semi-sentient turret writhe in silent agony. Immediately she retreated, hopping on the back-foot and putting some distance between them, reloading as fast as her turrets could – and activating her Gift, making herself lighter.

''My turn...!'' Graf Spee whispered, her back hitting a tree – and allowing her to put her boot on it, and kick off it.

As light as a feather she dashed, covering the distance with speed rivalling a Destroyer. Ajax was totally unprepared for the sudden speed boost; her eyes bulging as Graf Spee buried her fist deep into the sadist's stomach with enough force to lift her feet off the ground and sending her crashing back-first into a tree

''Hah-!'' Ajax's wheeze was cut short as she fell onto her ass, wincing. ''Fast...''

Graf Spee didn't wait to hear the rest, rushing in and with fist cocked back – only for Ajax to catch the flying fist, stopping it dead.

''...but weak.''

Ajax stood abruptly; and her other hand went for Graf Spee's throat. The Heavy Cruiser tried to lean away but couldn't rip her fist free, allowing Ajax to roughly grab her throat – and slam her into the dirt. Not a heartbeat later both their cannons fired in perfect synchrony, all eight shells hitting each other dead-on and engulfing the area in a raging plume of heat and smoke, the blast wave felling several trees around them.

The hand around Graf Spee's throat loosened and she acted immediately, switching her Gift and densifying herself – immediately lunging up through the thick smoker that crept into her burning lungs. She blindly clawed and grasped, feeling Ajax's shoulder and immediately finding her cheek, sucker-punching the Light Cruiser so hard she heard bone crack; Ajax's pained cry only making her inhale more caustic smoke.

Ajax stumbled off her and Graf Spee chased the advantage, ramming herself head-first into the sadist. They fell out of the smoke and hit grass wheezing, blood quickly sticking to Graf Spee's hands as she grabbed Ajax's arms and pinned her down – making sure to straddle her waist lest she get kneed in the gut a second time.

Wide blue met lidded pink.

''...hah...'' Ajax let out a weak, wispy laugh – her broken jaw audibly cracking itself back together. ''You've... got a real mean right hook...''

Graf Spee smiled weakly, too busy panting to do anything else. The sound of their breathing rung in the sudden silence, unable to take their eyes off one another.

''Why...?''

''Why what?'' Ajax's brows furrowed.

''...you could've ended it several times now...'' Graf Spee iterated, gripping Ajax's arms tighter. ''You could've killed me twice over... you had the chance to knock me out three times... so why, why didn't you?''

''...Hmph.'' Ajax cracked a roguish smile. ''How could I?''

Graf Spee opened her mouth to speak – only to freeze as a burst of raw, overpowering killing intent flooded the forest.

Ajax's eyes went wide. ''MOVE!''

Graf Spee didn't need to; the sadist overpowering her in her moment of weakness and pushing her aside – and taking the raging blast of black-red energy head-on.

BOOM!

''Ajax!'' The Ironblood girl cried out, eyes wide with panic.

The faint white smoke blew apart as Ajax swung an arm, sending a streak of blood to coat the grass next to her. Her jaw was tensed, stifling the pained sounds that threatened to escape – her whole left arm nothing but a bloody stump, her left side equally as bloody and ruined. However despite the severity of the damage crimson threads rapidly began to close the wound shut, knitting flesh together with desperate speed.

Ajax's eyes were not on her wounds however – but on the woman standing at the other end of the clearing, the shadow of the canopy fading to mask the intimidating aura surrounding her like a deathly shroud.

''You...'' Ajax seethed, glaring angrily.

Dorsetshire glared back with dark eyes brimming with hate, brown hair falling over her murderous visage.

''You won't escape me this time, Ajax.''

[END]


A/N: Ajax is in for a hell of a fight now~

And thus with this chapter Maya's character arc has finally ended; though what could the mystery with Atago's rigging mean, I wonder~? Yuudachi gets extra treats for being a loyal doggo though~

See you all next time in Chapter 26: Lucifer's Dance~

And I have a small excerpt this time too:

Drip... Drop...

''Why...?''

Drip... Drop...

''Why won't you leave me alone...?!'' San Diego trembled, distraught tears running down her cheeks.

''Why?'' Sandy smiled back at her. ''Because you don't want me to.''