As Samuel L. Jackson would say…
Hold on to your butts!
Kingdom Hearts © Disney and Square Enix!
My OCs © to me!
Other OCs © to their respective owners!
Chapter 25: Chrysanthemum
"I've never felt so relaxed in all my life!" Kairi stretched as she sat with Lucky and Stella.
"How did you afford a full spa package!? I want one!"
"The owner gave it to me."
"No fair!" Stella angrily downed a soda "Think she'll give us discounts for being military?"
Lucky shrugged. "She might." She handed Kairi a soda. "Well, I'm just happy you're feeling better. I know you're going through some tough stuff, but we are all here for you."
"Thanks Lucky."
Kairi smiled, her heart warming with the words from her friend.
Stella grinned. "That's right! We're all besties now! Um, at least I think we are…"
"Yeah," Kairi giggled, "I'd say we're besties by this point."
"BESTIES!"
ATTENTION ALL SOLDIERS.
WE HAVE A CODE YELLOW.
CODE YELLOW.
GO TO YOUR STATIONS.
"Oh crap!" Lucky and Stella leapt up.
"What's code yellow?"
"Emergency! Only to be used if there's an attack or city-wide emergency!" Lucky grabbed her uniform. "Go get changed! Hurry!"
Kairi leapt up, running into her room. She threw on the lights, startling a napping Chirithy. "Kairi!?"
"Can't talk! Emergency!"
"At this hour!?"
"City-wide emergencies don't work on typical work hours." She buttoned up her coat and threw on her hat. "You coming?"
The dream eater sighed. "Sure. I'll stay with Stella." He jumped into Kairi's arms as the girl hurried out of her room and down the hall. "Stella!"
"Yeah."
"Take Chirithy!" She tossed the dream eater over and broke into a run. "Yozora, where are we meeting?"
"Meet in the medical ward. I'm getting discharged now."
"Alright."
The base, despite the late hours, seemed more alive than ever. People scurried about like agitated ants.
The loudspeakers beeped before Aiko's voice rang throughout base.
"THE YAKUZA HAVE DEEMED THE LLE A THREAT TO THE CITY AND HAVE DECLARED WAR ON THEM. WE ARE GOING TO CONTAIN AND STOP THE VIOLENCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. GET TO YOUR STATIONS AND CHECK IN WITH YOUR SUPERIORS."
The Yakuza? They were fighting the LLE?
The girl skidded into the medical ward just as Cat ran past her.
"Cat?"
"Gotta go! I'm leading the field medical team."
The girl watched her go before hurrying inside. Yozora stood with Aegis, ready to go. "Where's Magia?"
"He hasn't returned from his family matter. Looks like he'll either be late or miss out."
Yozora activated his comlink. "General, my squad checking in. We're one short for this mission."
"We'll make do." Aiko's voice crackled in Kairi's ear. "We have two teams. One is containing the violence, and the other is going after the LLE directly. This is our chance to hit them. Stella's drones still show them in that old parking garage. You three will be heading up the team there."
"Got it."
"Meet your divisions one block west of the parking garage. Go."
"You heard her." Yozora's eyes glinted. "Let's go."
The three ran down to the main floor. Hercshal stood outside with the same military vehicle Kairi saw on her first day. He did not speak as he walked around to the driver's seat, waiting until all three sat inside to close the door.
Kairi's heart thudded.
She'd been in minor skirmishes with a few people, but this was something else. This was taking on… everything. They were to fight the whole of the LLE forces in the parking garage.
Her hands clenched, knuckles turning white.
"Kairi." She jumped as a hand rested on her shoulder. "Take a deep breath. You're no good if you panic." Aegis spoke, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it.
Yozora looked at her, his face serious, but his eyes soft. "This is your first big mission. I'd be concerned if you weren't nervous. You'll be in command of a small group of soldiers, so you have to be strong for them. Get all those nerves out here, because when you step out of this vehicle, you are a ranking officer to those men."
An officer?
She was in charge.
If she messed up, she could get people ki-
"I know what you're thinking." Yozora looked her dead in the eyes. "They know the risks too. Your job is not to keep them safe but to get the job done. They know to keep out of sight and to fight from cover. Remind them of that, and they should be fine. But you can't show your fear to them."
"How?"
Aegis leaned back. "Accept the fact that you're afraid. And do the job anyway. If you accept the fear, it's easier to deal with. Your body wants to go into 'fight, flight, or freeze'. You can't let it. Accept the fact that you're scared and walk it off. Think about what you have to do and block out all other thoughts."
"Two minutes, you three." Hercshal called back.
"Better hurry."
Kairi closed her eyes. She was terrified, but she couldn't run. She had to do this. It was her responsibility.
The mission.
The mission.
Secure the parking garage.
Secure the parking garage.
That's all.
Focus on that.
Only that.
The vehicle door opened.
Yozora stepped out. Then Aegis.
Then… Kairi.
She took a deep breath and stepped out. A group of soldiers stood before the three of them, their faces stern. But she could see fear in their eyes, and she took great care to hide her own.
"Soldiers." Yozora barked. "We're infiltrating the LLE's current hiding place. Aegis will take Company A and create a barrier. Seal off all exits. No one gets in or out but us. Kairi will take Company B and come in from the north. You are to come in the back, do not reveal your presence. Set up snipers around the north perimeter to catch any stragglers or take out anyone on watch. Company C, you're with me. When the other two teams are in position, we storm the place. Flush them out like rats. Understood!?"
"SIR! YES SIR!"
A stealth mission.
Kairi could do that.
"Kairi, take your company over there and go." Yozora nodded to her. "Good luck."
"You too."
Focus on the mission.
Only on the mission.
She walked further down the street, a company of soldiers following. "You heard him. Snipers, when we get to the north side, you set up on my mark. You'll have five minutes.
"Kairi. When your team is in position inform us."
"On it."
She jogged down the street, hearing the clomping of boots behind her.
They got to the north side quickly and quietly. She could see her company in the dim light of the street signs. "Snipers. Go."
Six people broke off from the main company, running into buildings or up fire escapes.
Five minutes.
"Sniper one, in position."
"Sniper two, in position."
"Sniper three, in position."
"Sniper four, in position."
"Sniper five, in position."
"Sniper six, in position."
"Good. Yozora, snipers are in position."
"Alright." He paused for a moment, probably ordering his own company. "Stella, come in. What's the word?"
Stella's voice crackled to life. "According to my drone cams there should be about a hundred and fifty to two hundred guys inside. There are deactivated Doomtrains, but those might wake up when engaged. Most are situation on the top few floors, but they could drop things on you so be careful. I'd take out the bottom floors stealthily."
"Understood. Kairi. Your company will secure the first two floors."
"G-got it."
"Are we ready? Aegis?"
"In position."
"Kairi?"
"I-in position."
This was it.
"Kairi's company," the soldiers with her stiffened as Yozora addressed them, "quietly clear the first two floors. On my mark."
…
…
…
…
"Now."
Kairi switched out her Keyblade and outfit to her Stealth Form as she slipped into the garage first. Boxes lay piled up around them, making for plenty of cover.
"That's weird…" Stella mused. "I should be able to see you guys entering on my cameras… but I don't."
"You don't!?" Kairi whispered.
"Hang on." Everyone froze for a few moments. Moments of dead, crippling silence. "THE FEED'S BEEN LOOPED! Someone hacked my drones!"
From over the comm, Kairi could dear a mechanical voice cackle. "Time to go boom boom!"
"Stella!? What's happening?"
"Someone hacked my computers and looped the feed! And they just fried my system! The drones are gone, and the info I had is probably wrong!"
"Yozora, what do we do?"
"Kairi, get out of there! Now!"
"Out! Out!" She whispered harshly.
Her company began to retreat.
Only then did Kairi notice the small black boxes on the support beams. The black boxes with a blinking red light.
And the blinking got faster.
Faster.
Faster.
"THIS PLACE IS RIGGED TO BLOW! GET OUT!"
Her company ran for the door. Kairi, the last one out, managed to step out the door as the bombs went off.
Heat seared into her back, sending her tumbling across the ground.
"KAIRI!?"
"KAIRI! KAIRI ANSWER ME!"
The girl gasped as the pain in her back subsided. One of her solders stood over her, casting a simple healing spell as another pulled her further back from the building.
She glanced back, seeing a green shield over the building. Aegis' work. Most likely protecting surrounding buildings from fire and debris.
"Commander," one of her company got on the comlink, "she's alright. Injured, but alright. Most of our company was able to pull back. She was the last one out the door and took the brunt of the explosion."
"Get back to our rendezvous point. Now!"
Kairi managed to stand up, stumbling back with her troops. She probably looked so weak to those under her.
As they reached the rendezvous point, Yozora and Aegis ran over to her. "I-I'm alright guys."
"What happened Stella!?"
"General! I-I… my system was hacked! They looped the feed! Is Kairi alright!? She went in the bulding!?"
Kairi activated her comlink. "I'm fine, Stella. The building was rigged to blow, but I was able to get out."
"Kairi! I'm so sorry! I nearly… you… you could've been killed!"
"Stella!" Yozora snapped. "She's alright. But you need to calm down. How did someone hack your stuff? Is the rest of the network safe?"
"Y-yes… my computer was on a different network. But, I did that to protect my stuff in case the military network got hacked. Mine is much more secure… or it should've been. I'm the best hacker in Japan, I should've… no one should've been able to get into my stuff! U-unless… the LLE had someone who did the impossible, like hack the giga's network…" She let out a frustrated scream. "I'm so STUPID! I should've realized they could get into my stuff!"
Aegis put a finger to his comlink. "You're not stupid. It slipped all our minds. Right now, can you check the military network and make sure it's secure?"
"Nothing is secure, b-but I'll try."
Aiko sighed. "Thank you, Stella. You did your best… Well, no- what?" Aiko's voice vanished as apparently someone was talking to her outside the comms. "Kairi, Aegis, Yozora! I need you at San'ya! The Yakuza's magic user has shown up! You three need to detain him. NOW!"
"Yes General!" Yozora sprinted for Hercshal's vehicle. "That's quite a drive! Let's go!"
Aegis threw Kairi's arm over his shoulder and helped her into the vehicle. "You gonna make it?"
"Yeah." She switched out her keychains to her Hippocratic Oath Keyblade and cast cure. "My back has been through worse(1)."
Yozora nodded. "You did good though. You saw the threat and acted. Good job."
"Thanks."
Aegis crossed his arms. "A magic user. This would be easier with Magia."
"Well, it can't be helped." Yozora looked at Kairi. "Any keyblades you think would help?"
"I haven't tried the one from Hercshal yet. I've got a few on hand. I'll keep this one, Fanciful Honor, and Golden Heart on hand."
"Alright."
The city flew by as they drove quickly. Kairi could see out the window that the city seemed deserted. Everyone must have fled inside once the fighting started.
"We're approaching the barricade to the area. I'll get us close."
"Thanks Hercshal." Yozora jumped up and stood by the door. "Ready?"
"Yeah."
Kairi attached Golden Heart to the end of her Keyblade. Now this, she could do. Felt like the Keyblade graveyard all over again.
Hercshal pulled to a stop, the three leaping out. "This way!" A street lit up, bursting with bright colors.
That was the place.
Kairi summoned her Keyblade, her clothes changing to the red of her Brawler form. "Kairi, think you can get in close?"
"Cover me, and I think I can."
They entered the street. Soldiers lay at their feet, unconscious but very much alive. This guy wasn't about to kill them.
In the middle of the street, holding two metal pipes, stood the man in the hoodie. "Go!" Yozora summoned a giga, sending it at the figure. Kairi ran behind it, hidden from view as the hooded man sent a wave of ice magic at it. A green shield appeared before Kairi as the giga vanished. She jumped on it, leaping into the air.
"Remember me!" She slammed the Keyblade down, the man jumping back as she cracked the pavement with her strike. She pulled the blade back up, swinging at him. The man blocked with the pipes, not using magic.
Kairi saw under his hood. The man wore a mask too, one that covered the bottom of his face.
She felt the Keyblade changing in her hands as it shifted to a warhammer.
Now, the man jumped back, casting fire magic to block her. Kairi jumped back, switching out the keychain to Fanciful Honor. She hadn't let it revert back to the base Keyblade the night before.
So, now in the black and blue of her Duelist Form, she held a pair of flintlock pistols.
"I'll keep him still." Aegis leapt over her, putting up a shield to prevent the figure's escape.
Kairi fired her pistols. Red bolts flew past her as Yozora shot too.
This…
This was teamwork.
This was her squad.
Yozora appeared beside her. "Need to work on your shooting."
"I'm not used to pistols. Sorry."
He glanced over at her and smirked.
Kairi looked up as a Thundza spell crackled toward them. "Look out!" She dropped a pistol, shoving her friend away.
The spell whizzed past her. She felt the energy crackle in the air around her. As she leapt away, a rock rose up from the ground(2), slamming into her midsection.
Kairi rolled across the pavement.
Tonight was not her night. First she was almost blown up.
Now this.
Kairi looked up to see the hooded figure running toward her. She pulled up the one pistols she still held, aiming it.
He jumped back as she pulled the trigger.
She felt Yozora grab her by the arm, hoisting her up. "You alright?"
"Yeah." She switched the Keyblade back to Hippocratic Oath. "This kind of fight, I'm used to. I can take it."
The figure leapt up onto the rooftops and began to run. Aegis took off down the street. "I'll cut him off!"
"On it!"
Yozora and Kairi, boosted by an Aero spell, jumped to the rooftops and followed.
Kairi wondered how tired she was and how much her adrenaline was doing for her right now.
But she kept running.
The figure turned around, launching spell after spell. Yozora and Kairi managed to dodge them.
"He's heading for the train depot! If he gets there, we'll lose him!"
No!
Kairi grit her teeth. This was her time. Her time to shine.
No more waiting.
No more relying on others.
This time, it was her.
She felt her Keyblade glow in her hands. And a spell come to mind.
"This spell could be dangerous." Warned Merlin. "It makes you move faster, but drains your energy faster too. Use it as a last resort."
A white magic spell…
"HASTE!"
Her body suddenly felt light. She felt her feet hit the pavement.
Faster.
And faster.
The distance between her and the figure closed. Her body glowing a soft yellow as she approached.
How long she could keep this up, she didn't know.
But she would.
She ran up, Keyblade poised to strike.
"I've got you now!"
The figure turned, his eyes wide with surprise.
His arm came up. "Fla-" His hand came up to stop the words, but the spell was cast.
A ball of bright flame blossomed to life in front of Kairi's face. She held up her Keyblade to block, but the searing heat burned her entire body, throwing her back across the rooftops.
She slammed down. Her body finally giving up. She felt… so weak.
Maybe Haste wasn't such a good idea.
The hooded figure didn't run.
He stumbled towards her, his hands shaking. "N-no… I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean..."
Wait.
That…
That voice.
Aegis appeared behind him. He grabbed the man's arms, shoving him to his knees. "Got you!"
"Kairi!" Yozora appeared at her side. He fished a tonic out of his pocket and helped her drink it. She felt a little energy return. Just enough to raise her Keyblade.
"Cure…"
The spell enveloped her as she sat up. She met the eyes of the hooded man. "I-it can't be you, can it? Please… don't let it be you."
"What do you mean?"
She weakly crawled over and pushed back the hood.
A head of spiked red hair appeared.
"M-M-Magia!?"
Magia sobbed as Kairi pulled down his face mask. "I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to cast Flare. I didn't! You surprised me. I acted without thinking… I-I'm so sorry…"
The three stood around him as the phrase 'I'm sorry' trickled from his lips, over and over.
Kairi sat outside the interrogation room with Yozora and Aegis. They stared at the screen that showed the room.
Magia, cuffed, sat across from a very, very angry Aiko.
"General I-"
"Don't! Don't speak. I'm this close to pummeling you within an inch of your life."
Has it been mentioned that she was ANGRY?
"I can't believe this." Yozora whispered.
Aegis nodded. "Me neither. I mean… he was…"
"He was our friend."
Kairi glanced up at Yozora. His hands shook at his sides. His eyes glinted red. Even his silver eye had a tint of red right now.
He was furious.
Aegis stared at the screen, his face dead still. The same look he'd given her as he almost killed her when she first arrived.
He looked ready to pound Magia into the ground.
Kairi held back her emotions. She…
She wanted to cry.
She wanted to scream.
"General," Magia spoke softly, "look, I'm sorry."
"Sorry!? I don't want an apology, especially after you got caught! I just want to know why!"
Magia bit his lip, looking down at the table. "You deserve an explanation…" He bent over, reaching back as far as the cuffs would let him. He pushed back his shirt collar, and they could all see some of the petals of his Chrysanthemum tattoo. "I've been in the Inagawa-kai family since I was little. My dad was a member. I wanted to help him, so I trained in magic to become the Inagawa-kai's magical enforcer. It sounded so cool when I was little. I wanted to protect Tokyo from the shadows like a superhero."
"A criminal superhero…"
"But then I was offered a place in the military. I thought I could still be some sort of hero there. So, my father let me join… on one condition."
"Don't tell me," Aiko snarled, "that you pass on information to the Inagawa-kais?"
"Only some information. I only told them about the activity of other Yakuza in the city! And then I told them some LLE information."
"Which helped them launch a city-wide war that got twenty civilians injured. We're lucky that we were able to stop the violence before things got worse!"
"That wasn't supposed to happen." Magia huffed. "Look, I tried to keep damage at the minimum. I didn't tell them about the main base because I knew the doomtrains might be there and that would make things worse."
Aiko clenched her fists. "Well guess what, we found that place empty, the cameras looped, and the building full of bombs! Kairi nearly got blown up! And then you had to try and personally blow her up too! I ought to ring your neck!"
"Kairi… I really didn't mean to hurt her. She surprised me."
"Surprised you? Really?"
Magia narrowed his eyes. "Yozora and Kairi were chasing me with Aegis going around to cut me off. I know the tactic because I came up with it. I knew I not only had a head start, but I could outrun the two behind him. If I'd made it to the train depot, I would've vanished. They knew it. I didn't think Kairi would catch up to me. I was banking on the fact they couldn't. So, yes, I was surprised when she was right behind me." He looked toward the camera. "Kairi, I'm so sorry."
On the other side of the camera, Kairi looked away. She didn't want to look at him.
"You admit to spying and divulging what is TOP SECRET information."
"Yes. And I know what will happen. Again, I'm sorry."
Aiko stood up. "Me too."
The door opened and two military police walked in. Yozora turned off the screen and leaned against the table. "What now?"
"I don't know…"
"How did your excursion to Toy Box go?"
Donald groaned. "We ended up tiny again, and do you know how hard it is to get a full-sized game and game system when you are tiny?"
"But we got it!" Goofy held up a box.
"Time to hook it up to the TV." Hayner grabbed the box and pulled out the game console. He grabbed the game too, looking at it. "Verum Rex… and wow, this dude does look like Riku."
Lea scratched the back of his head. "I can't believe that this Yozora guy Kairi knows in that worldline is in a game here."
"Ienzo had a theory on that. Maybe worldlines bleed together somewhat, so over there, there might be versions of some of us."
"That's so weird to think about."
Isa nodded. "Yeah, but in other news, we can probably make a portal to Kairi now. She'll have to open it on her end, but we can connect with her."
"Great!"
"Guys!" Hayner yelled. "This game looks awesome! Come check it out!"
As they gathered around the TV to watch, a black-coated man stood outside the mansion. "So, shall we play a game?"
Oh yes!
Yellow eyes appeared around him. Giggles echoing through the woods.
Let's play!
Let's play!
Guardians of light are so fun to play with!
So much light!
So much light to snuff out!
So, that happened.
And the emotional mess isn't done yet!
Footnotes:
(1) I shouldn't have to explain when this happened.
(2) This is the spell Stone.