I hope you all enjoyed the setup for Chapter 1! Now is the real chaos haha.
Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.
Chapter 2.
The first sense to come back to her is touch. Claudine can feel herself laying on something that prickles her body with softness just before the scent of grass fills her lungs.
After another breath, she can also taste the scent of flowers on the roof of her mouth. Then, the sounds of peaceful birdsong reach her on a gentle breeze.
When she's finally able to open her eyes, she finds herself lying in the grass of what she initially assumes to be a quaint garden. The rose bushes have been trimmed to perfection and sport dozens upon dozens of white roses. Some of the bushes had been sculpted into the shapes of swans.
As Claudine pushes herself up, she finds herself in her school uniform, not the revue costume, with no weapon in sight. She makes sense of the sound of trickling water and turns her head. A large white porcelain fountain of a swan sits beside her. The bird has its wings spread wide in an elegant pose, and clear blue water is arching from its beak into a pristine pool below.
When she recalls exactly what had transpired in order to bring her to such a place, Claudine has to close her eyes for a moment to get her bearings.
"So then… this is inside Tendo Maya's mind…?"
She isn't entirely sure what she'd been expecting… But now that she's taking in the scenery here, she believes nothing would suit Maya better.
For, at first glance, these gardens are grandly beautiful, which is the first thing anyone would notice about them, just as it is the first thing most people notice about Tendo Maya herself.
But upon closer inspection, the garden is much more than it seems.
Getting to her feet now, Claudine turns around slowly and finds herself at the center of at least a dozen pathways, all of which are lined by rose bushes. They all wind and veer off in different directions, some curling into dead ends, others looping around on themselves, others intercepting several more…
And the realization trickles over her from head to toe, as if she'd placed beneath the flow of the fountain.
"A maze…"
She'd said it herself once, that Tendo Maya's very existence was like a maze to her. Either Claudine had been painfully accurate with that thought… or Maya herself had enjoyed the idea, enough to craft her own mentality to take such a shape.
Either way, just looking at the area around herself now has her feeling equal parts amazed, mesmerized, and frustrated.
"Oui," she mumbles. "This is Tendo Maya's mind, all right…"
And just like in dealing with Maya herself, Claudine doesn't even know where to begin.
Before she takes even one step in any direction, she thinks back to what the giraffe had said earlier, to what she knows about the situation.
Maya is trapped here somewhere within her own mind… The giraffe said I needed to find her essence… what makes her a Stage Girl and who she is… So if I find that, will she be free and wake up…?
There are no surefire answers, and no one else here for her to speak with. So Claudine can only follow her instincts and do what she believes will bring all of this to a safe and peaceful end.
Readying herself, she takes in one more breath before choosing the direction that feels best to her and stepping onto that path.
As she leaves behind the sound of trickling water, Claudine follows the walls of the current passageway, lined with lush white roses. She almost reaches out to touch one but thinks better of it, so she opts to just breathe in their scent instead.
The first path winds and circles around for several minutes. As she passes by other openings in the maze, she glances down each of them, deciding which direction feels best before changing course. She runs into a few dead ends where the rose bushes block her way and send her back.
If only I could mark where I've already been like Hansel and Gretel…
But she has nothing in her skirt pockets, and she doesn't want to risk plucking petals off the roses. So she simply relies on her gut and continues onward.
The moment she feels something shifting in the atmosphere, Claudine tenses and slows to a stop.
In front of her now, the path opens up slightly, but the scene beyond it is a blur to her eyes. She can't make sense of it. But when she turns to try and go back, she finds her instincts telling her to proceed forward. Claudine draws in another deep breath, trying to ignore the nervous thumping of her heart.
I've got to find her and get her out of here…
Resolved, she closes her eyes and takes a step forward into the warped space ahead of her.
Even before she opens her eyes again, she can tell the garden around her has disappeared. Instead, very familiar sounds reach her ears. The sounds of fighting.
With a gasp, Claudine's eyes fly open as she finds herself back at that underground stage. She's dressed in her revue clothes once more, but the stage isn't like how she'd just left it. Rather, it is in its regular state, with no platforms or staircases, but merely the flat stage.
And on that stage is a sea of Korosu and one single girl.
Maya shouts and hollers out battle cry after battle cry as she runs through the throes of Korosu, killing dozens with every swing or jab of her rapier.
Claudine is stunned to see her moving like this. Last she'd known, Maya was unconscious and weak.
"What is going on-?"
Claudine is at the Exit doors, with an aisle in front of her and her sword in-hand. She watches Maya fight the Korosu for a moment, slaying them with ease, all while wearing a grin on her face. And even though they keep coming, and even though Maya keeps fighting, she never gets tired or slows down for a second. She yowls as she leaps forward at another bunch, clearly enjoying herself. She moves with all the power and grace and feral fury Tendo Maya has always possessed - or perhaps even more so.
Baffled, Claudine takes a step forward and calls out for her.
"Maya-?"
But the moment she moves, the whole theater seems to shift. The fighting onstage comes to an abrupt halt as Maya freezes. The Korosu hiss and scramble back.
Maya turns her head slowly, strands of hair strewn wildly across her face as her eyes meet Claudine's from across the room.
"Finally…" Maya sighs the word. But it isn't the relief of being rescued in her eyes. Instead, it's something hungry, eager.
Before Claudine can even fathom what's happening, Maya jumps from the stage and charges down the aisle straight at her, uttering a shout, rapier poised and ready to strike. Claudine fumbles in shock as she lifts her sword at the last second, just in time to block the hit. Maya rams into her with enough force to send her back several steps toward the exit.
"Finally!" Maya shouts again, still grinning. "You've come at last… my one true worthy opponent. The one who can keep up with me and match my skills… I've been waiting for you, Saijou Claudine."
And there's just something about it that isn't right. The way Maya says her name is all wrong. It doesn't make Claudine's heart flutter, but rather it makes it sink. The tone of her voice, the look in her eyes…
This isn't Maya. Well, not all of her, at least.
Claudine pieces it together in a split second. If this is a part of Maya's mind - a maze, no less - of course she wouldn't find the Essence right away. Rather, there must be dozens of 'Mayas' here, one to represent each trait of her personality.
And judging by what Claudine had seen from this one killing countless Korosu in only seconds, and felt of her sheer strength just now from the hit…
This could be nothing but Maya's Ferocity.
Just a second later, Maya lunges at her again, forcing Claudine to side-step. Grabbing onto one of the audience seats, she propels herself and jumps onto Maya's other side.
"Well," she huffs. "This is annoying."
The Ferocity rounds on her with an eager grin and readies her weapon.
"After so long of fighting these pests… finally I have a real challenge!"
She rushes her, and Claudine parries with all her might, and even then Maya still overpowers her and sends her back. Behind Claudine, the Korosu on the stage start to jump down and advance on her. She clicks her tongue as she faces the Ferocity, who has now put herself between Claudine and the exit.
The giraffe just said I needed to find her Essence. I shouldn't have to fight or help or satisfy whatever other 'Mayas' I run into. So if I can just get out-
The Ferocity comes at her again with more relentless blows. Claudine blocks them all but can never get a chance to counter. Maya cackles.
"That's it! A worthy opponent! If I can defeat you I will become even stronger!"
Claudine staggers back, painfully aware of just how close the Korosu are to reaching her from behind.
But then, a thought comes to her. She acts on the instinct and tries it out.
"Maya!" Claudine throws her sword up to block the next blow, and then shouts out her name with a gasp, looking off to one side.
Maya's Ferocity stops, surprised by the sudden outcry. She turns her face in the direction Claudine had looked in.
Claudine smirks.
In that moment when her opponent is distracted, Claudine slips away and around her, and dashes for the exit.
Behind her, she hears Maya shout in outrage.
"What-?!"
"Hah!" Claudine laughs. "Maybe you're ferocious. But you aren't very smart!"
And with this, she leaps out through the exit, and lands back on the other side in the rose garden maze. The din of chaotic battle fades away into the peaceful chirping of birdsong.
It seems her hunch was correct. Whatever personalities of Maya there were, they seemed to be primarily that thing. Meaning, Maya's ferocious side would mainly know how to fight, not how to think. It's a vital piece of information for her if she's going to make her way out of this.
The biggest issue is that she isn't sure what the Essence will look like. Claudine likely won't know if she's encountered the Essence, or just another of Maya's personalities until she'd already engaged with them or observed them for a while.
"So it's a gamble…" she murmurs. "Of course. I never expected this to be easy, considering it's Tendo Maya, but still…"
She doesn't know how time works here as opposed to the real world. She could have been here for minutes or for hours. The others could be on their last legs already. She needs to find Maya's Essence as quickly as possible.
"I can't afford to waste time with whatever other ones I find…"
Strutting forward down the path, Claudine walks only a few minutes before she senses the next warp in the dimension.
"Odds are that it's the Essence are low," she says. "But there's always a chance…"
With this, she steps inside.
When she blinks again, she finds herself in another familiar place, though one much less troubling than the previous.
This time she is in Maya's bedroom. Although, it doesn't look quite the same. The lights have been dimmed, candles have been lit on the desk and night stand, and white rose petals litter the bed.
Claudine finds herself in her nightgown when she steps in through the door. Cautiously, she calls out.
"Maya…?"
"Ah, Saijou-san."
Claudine's heart leaps halfway up her throat as she finds Maya standing right there next to her, also dressed ready for bed. The way this one says her name is a bit more like what Claudine is used to.
But she can tell right away this is not the Essence. The personality of this 'Maya' is made clear by the mischievous glint in her eyes, and the seductive curve of her smile.
"Saijou-san…" Maya drawls again, snaking an arm around her waist. "I've been waiting for you for so long…"
"Eh-?" Claudine swallows as Maya pulls her flush up against her chest, bringing their faces dangerously close. "H-Hold on just a- kya!"
Maya sweeps her off her feet and carries her to the bed, dropping Claudine onto her back. Claudine shrieks softly in the back of her throat, a sound that comes out as only a wheeze as Maya climbs on top of her. She smirks, and her hair falls down over her shoulders as she places her knee in between Claudine's, pinning her down by her wrists.
"My…" Maya purrs. "You are even more beautiful when you are in such disarray, Ma Claudine~"
In spite of her efforts to remain objective, Claudine's heart sways at the pet name and the look in those silver eyes. Maya's Lust leans over her and pushes her down a bit more, tucking into her neck to leave a heated kiss. Claudine gasps, trying to ignore the sensations flaring in her stomach.
"No… I don't have time for this right now…" As much as she wants to, she can't-
"My, my, Saijou-san~" Maya sinks her teeth in gently on Claudine's neck, settling her weight more firmly on top of her. She kisses up to her ear and breathes heavily there. "Your heart is racing~"
That's an understatement at this point. Claudine frantically tries to detach herself from the swirling emotions heating up in her chest and forces herself to remember what she had learned. As Maya's hands roam her chest and hips, Claudine thinks past the comfortable haziness in her head to find a way out of this.
"M-Maya…" she whines. She can't really think clearly about something to say to outsmart this Maya like she had the last one. So Claudine trusts her heart - and Maya's - and takes in a shuddering breath.
"I'm scared…"
And in spite of the fact that this is quite literally the embodiment of Maya's Lust, in spite of the raging heat inside of her and the hunger in her eyes, Maya stops. She sits back and releases Claudine, then helps her sit up.
"My... My apologies. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
And it had been a gamble, all right. If Claudine hadn't known Maya as well as she did, she might've thought this Lust would have kept going no matter what Claudine said or did or wanted.
But she knows Maya, and she knows she would never want to pressure her. For even Maya's Lust to have let her go without a second's hesitation makes Claudine's heart swell ten times over. She loops her arms around Maya's neck and kisses her cheek chastely.
"Thank you."
Maya gives her a soft hug and then lets her go.
Claudine hurries to the door and rushes out, back into the maze of roses.
As she comes back to wearing her uniform, Claudine places a hand over her heart. Though it had certainly been racing at the start of that encounter, now it swells with affection for Maya.
I need to get her back. It isn't an option.
Claudine starts to run until she encounters the next warp.
This time as she walks through, she is dressed in a formal skirt and blazer.
She finds herself at the threshold of a house. Before her is the living room, which consists of a large desk, a hearth, a small white couch, and not much more.
Immediately she feels stifled. Everything here speaks of work and efficiency. Not even the couch can be considered a space of comfort, as even one speck of dirt or dust on its white cushions would mean ridicule.
A slow, sad melody is playing from a piano at the far corner of the room. Claudine follows the source of the sound and finds a young girl sitting there all alone. She's sitting up straight, and her fingers are moving swiftly and correctly.
But as Claudine cautiously tip-toes closer, she doesn't see even a shadow of a smile on the young Maya's face. Her eyes are bleak, resolved to keep playing until her parents are satisfied she's the best. In which case, she'll never stop playing.
Maya's Loneliness strikes Claudine without even touching her, but the pressure in her chest is so crushing and heavy it brings Claudine to her knees with a sob. This Maya doesn't notice her, but simply continues playing.
Claudine can't breathe here. She can't fathom how such a young child had survived it for as long as she must have when Claudine is already on the verge of lightheadedness.
As she staggers to her feet, all she can do is wrap her arms around the little girl's shoulders in a soft hug that seeps right through her. Claudine chokes.
"Wait for me. I'll find you one day. I promise."
And with this, she turns and hurries away back into the maze.
The garden takes her to the next warped space, and when Claudine enters she finds herself at an unfamiliar school. The girls around her in the hallway are all younger than she is, about middle-school aged.
Right away she spots Maya, surrounded by a hoard of other girls who are all laughing and pointing. Maya's face is all red, and there are tears in her eyes, but she never speaks up to defend herself. Her Humiliation prevents her from talking.
The girls throw gum and garbage at her, then a pair of sneakers filled with tacks. Maya just covers her face and shrinks away, but the cycle continues without end.
Claudine can't interfere here, because like the previous image, this younger Maya hadn't known her yet. She can only watch, sickened, before turning away back to the maze.
When she next returns to traversing the pathways of the garden, Claudine feels tears stinging in her eyes.
"Don't worry," she whispers, wiping her sleeve across her face. "Just a little longer. I'll find you soon, Maya."
At the very least, the next dimension she steps into is a kinder one. Claudine walks into a colorful cafe, overflowing with sweets and treats, and most of all, baumkuchen.
Maya is seated at one of the tables with an endless supply of food being placed in front of her by the waitresses. She is absolutely glowing as she takes bite after bite from the foods in front of her.
Claudine finally breathes again and manages to smile.
Maya looks up at her and beams like the sun.
"Saijou-san! Would you perhaps care to join me? There is plenty to share. It's all very delicious!"
Claudine waves her hand dismissively.
"That's all right. You've earned it all, Tendo Maya."
Maya's Happiness simply grins and takes another bite. Claudine rolls her eyes playfully and retreats.
"Leave it to that woman to have an endless supply of sweets and never gain a pound."
At the next dimension, Claudine steps through between two trees in a green forest. A few yards away from her, Maya is kneeling in the grass, murmuring softly.
"There, there, little one. It's all right."
Claudine steps closer to look.
Cupped in the hands of Maya's Gentleness is a baby bird that had fallen from its nest, trembling with fear. Maya soothes it, stroking its head and feathers with all the care in the world. She sings to it softly and cradles it as she stands up slowly to return it to its nest.
And as desperately as Claudine might want to interact with this part of her, she has to refrain, and steps back between the trees to return to the maze.
And the next dimension she enters is also a forest. Only, unlike the one before, it isn't green. Instead, it's black, full of screeching crickets instead of chirping birds.
In the dead of night, Claudine finds Maya huddled up on the ground beneath a tree. She's shaking and crying, holding her hands hard over her ears and muttering to herself.
"They're not real… they aren't real… there's no such thing as-"
She cuts off with a terrified scream when a branch snaps somewhere nearby. Maya sobs hysterically, so loudly and in a way so unlike her that it's startling.
Claudine simply can't bear to leave this one alone without doing something. Slowly, carefully, she makes her way toward Maya's Fear. When Claudine reaches her she calls out gently.
"Hey…"
But of course Fear will always be frightened. Maya jolts and scrambles away, looking up at her with wide, tearful eyes.
"S-Saijou-san… you scared me…"
Claudine's heart suffers a pang from that. She crouches down to Maya's level. She can assume reaching out to touch her will only spook her further, so Claudine keeps to herself.
"I'm sorry. But you know… even if ghosts were real, they can only scare you. But they can't actually hurt you."
Maya's Fear sniffles and sobs, but when she makes sense of the words, she blinks slowly and wipes her eyes.
Claudine can't do much else for her. Perhaps Fear will always be afraid. But if she could make her fright even a little less harmful, it could mean a world of difference.
Claudine retreats to the maze once again.
She stumbles upon several more of Maya's personality traits.
She finds her Pride, standing on Seishou's stage and playing every single role in Starlight all at once.
She finds her Passiveness, standing at the back of the room while other girls sing and dance onstage instead.
She finds her Suffering, having fallen off the stage and out of the spotlight, moaning in agony at her broken bones when no one comes to help her.
She finds her Lethargy, curled up in bed and refusing to move and inch.
But she also finds her Perseverance, running endless laps around the school with a fire in her eyes.
And her Carefreeness, dancing around in the middle of the park without concern for who might see her.
And she finds her Affection, who is being swarmed by adoptable cats and dogs in a local shelter. But of course the moment she spots Claudine, Maya's Affection rushes to give her a hug so warm and snug that Claudine lingers for just a moment as Maya peppers her face with kisses. Claudine gently directs that Maya's attention back to the animals before slipping away, feeling giddy.
After that bit of a recharge, Maya's Jealousy effectively exhausts her. The moment Claudine walks into the dance studio in the vision, Maya rounds on her with a petty huff.
"Well there she is… our lead for the play…" It's clear she is jealous of Claudine's success. But then, the moment a classmate comes over to speak with Claudine, Maya's jealousy takes a turn in a different direction as she pushes herself between Claudine and the other girl.
"Don't get so close to Saijou-san!" Maya's Jealousy then throws her arms around Claudine and clings to her tightly. Claudine gets Maya to release her by blurting out the first thing that comes to her mind.
"Sorry," she says. "I'm engaged."
Maya yelps and jumps away in shock, giving Claudine just enough time to hurry out the door and back into the maze.
By now she's entered so many different dimensions of Maya's mind that she's started to become dizzy. But every personality she's encountered so far has shown clear characteristics of a particular trait. None so far have been Maya's Essence.
Again, her distress about the passage of time surfaces. It feels like it's been hours for her, and if that's the case, her friends are probably about to be overwhelmed by the Korosu soon.
But this maze… Tendo Maya has hundreds of emotions and personalities… It could take forever to find her Essence…
Claudine feels the beginnings of panic gripping the inside of her chest. She gets distracted enough to end up at a dead end, and it takes her a full minute of wasted time to run back to the main path and try another way.
"Calm down…" she coaches herself. "I won't help anyone if I'm going around blindly…"
But that is essentially what she's doing, with nothing but instinct to guide her. And so far that hasn't helped her reach Maya's Essence.
Frustrated, Claudine rounds another hedge and finds herself at the next warped space. Steeling herself, she takes another moment to get her bearings before stepping through.
She can never be sure what kind of scene she'll walk in on. So far she's seen so many extremes, from fear and blood to giggles and candy.
This time, when Claudine opens her eyes, she is grateful to see a kinder scene.
She is adorned in a cream-colored ballgown, accented with orange highlights around the trim, and ruffled sleeves. Her hair has even more of a bounce to its curls than usual, and an orange rose has been tucked in beneath her headband. Black gloves run up her elbows, and a gem necklace dangles at her collar.
Claudine walks into a wide ballroom, decorated with streamers and flowers, and with a lively waltz playing in the background. As she takes in her appearance, she hears a voice that is absolutely bursting with adoration.
"Oh, Saijou-san…"
She turns to find Maya wearing a beautiful, shimmering white and silver dress, with shoes and gloves and a silver tiara full of diamonds to match. Her hair is luscious and flowing, her eyes glisten with sparkles, and her smile puts the heavens to shame.
Claudine doesn't need any more explanation to know which 'Maya' this is, because she tells her with her eyes and voice alone.
Maya's Love approaches her like a maiden might approach a unicorn, awestruck and entirely smitten in the purest disbelief. Tears rush to Maya's eyes as she covers her mouth.
"Saijou Claudine… you are absolutely beautiful…"
And it isn't playful or teasing. It's entirely genuine. Maya is feeling this love with all her being.
And in spite of her time limit and her daunting task, Claudine simply can't leave her. It would break her soul in two.
So she goes to Maya, just for one dance.
Maya laughs joyously, hugging her and kissing her, twirling her around and moving as lightly as if they were on clouds. Claudine kisses her back twice for every one Maya gives her, until their dance slows to a halt so they may simply get lost in each other.
Claudine knows this Maya could continues kissing her forever like this, holding her and caressing her hair, cupping her cheek, warming her heart. But she can't let herself get lost here, or else neither of them will ever wake again.
So with one last kiss to Maya's lips, Claudine leaves her with an affectionate murmur.
"Distance makes the heart grow fonder."
And with this, she parts from her and hurries out the doors, while Maya's Love professes her feelings after her.
"I shall wait forever, Claudine!"
As Claudine steps back out into the garden in her uniform, she chuckles as she fixes her hair.
"Idiot. I won't make you wait that long."
At least, she hopes not. If she can ever get out of here…
She continues on through the maze of white roses, following the twists and turns. She runs as much as she can until she grows too tired and has to walk.
"I need to get her out of here… And I need to get myself out, too…"
She can understand now why Maya had been trapped here for an entire day, and now probably longer than that. It was certainly easy to lose her way, even if it was Maya's own mind.
Claudine treks on, until the strong scent of the roses begins to make her vision swirl, so she can't tell if she's looking at another warped space or not. Regardless, she steps forward.
When she next opens her eyes… all that lies before her is a wide, open prairie.
The grass is the same shade of green she'd woken up on, and the same shade that has been consistent throughout the maze.
Cautiously, Claudine turns around. And sure enough, two walls of the rose bushes stand behind her, signifying that she'd successfully left the maze behind and found her way out. She almost can't believe it.
"But… now what…?"
There is nothing but grass and sky before her and all around her as far as she can see. The sky is partly cloudy, not too sunny, not too dark. The temperature is average, not too hot nor too cold. There is no breeze, nor are there birds in the sky or rabbits on the plain.
Somehow, it's not how she'd envisioned finding her way out.
Then, a soft drone of a voice sounds from behind her.
"So you made it out."
Claudine turns back to the maze. Sitting nestled against the corner of one hedge is a very familiar girl.
This Tendo Maya is dressed completely in white; a white gown, white shoes, and even the ribbon in her hair is colorless. The darkness of her brown hair is the only thing that contrasts any of it. When she looks up at Claudine, her eyes are neutral and void of emotion of any kind, as is her expression and her body language and her tone.
Claudine had met enough 'Mayas' today to immediately feel the difference from this one. She takes a few steps toward her until she's near enough, then pauses.
"You… You're the Essence."
The girl shrugs.
"Sit down if you'd like."
Claudine swallows, then slowly drops to her knees beside her.
"Finally," she sighs. "I've been looking all over for you, you know. Just when I thought you couldn't possibly get any more infuriating, you throw something as crazy as this at me!"
But the Essence doesn't meet her spunk as Maya would. She simply shrugs again and lifts her head to continue staring out across the grassland.
"I commend you for finding me. But it won't be necessary."
Claudine blinks.
"What won't be necessary? I've already found you, you know. What? Are you just going to kick me out as if I didn't succeed?"
'Maya' blinks, but doesn't look at her.
"I'm not sure."
"That's quite the vague response," Claudine notes. "Do you know who I am?"
'Maya' replies.
"You are Saijou Claudine."
"At least you know that much." Claudine pulls her knees into her chest and leans back against the hedge as the Essence is doing. "Have you always been here? Like this?"
'Maya' just blinks again.
"I'm not certain what 'always' can be defined as. For as long as I have been aware of myself, I have been here. Whether that has been a few moments or a few decades, I cannot be certain."
"No straight answers, huh?" Claudine mumbles to herself, then she speaks a bit louder to address her. "Well then, would you mind coming with me? Or letting me out of here? I'm not really sure what's supposed to happen next."
'Maya' blinks.
"I'm not sure, either."
Claudine feels a twinge of frustration in her chest. A hint of desperation drips into her voice.
"Please. You need to let Maya wake up. She's in danger, as are the rest of our friends."
'Maya' shrugs again.
"She does not need to be woken up. 'Maya'… I am perfectly fine as I am."
Claudine had tried begging her, but it hadn't worked. Perhaps a more lively emotion will get the Essence to react.
"Like hell you are!" she shouts. "You're sitting unconscious on a throne surrounded by Korosu! What about that is 'fine'?!"
But even in spite of Claudine's projected anger, Maya's Essence remains unfazed.
"No matter what is happening to 'Maya'… I am here. I am perfectly fine. Nothing needs to change. Nothing needs to be done."
Claudine has interacted with her enough to confirm her theory by now. The Essence is entirely neutral and void of any emotion whatsoever. She is a like a husk of a body with no soul. She exists, but she isn't alive. If Claudine were to reach out and touch her, she can presume she would feel no warmth from her, no heartbeat, no breath.
She waits a moment longer, counting the pained beats of her own heart, but she gets nothing more by way of response from the Essence. Claudine calls out to her again.
"This isn't right. Maya… you need to wake up. Or else your radiance will be stolen away completely. Don't you get it? The Korosu will kill you."
The Essence looks on blankly.
"I went to fight them alone and I couldn't win. They won. They broke my spirit. I tried to run and they dragged me back. So I hid inside myself. And it's safe here. It's quiet. Nothing hurts. I don't need anything else. I don't need to go back. I don't need to wake up anymore."
Claudine can't bear it any longer. She jumps to her feet, hands balled into fists at her skirt as she stands in front of the Essence to force her to look at her.
"Maybe that's what you want," she growls. "But your life isn't just yours anymore, Tendo Maya. We need you, too! I need you! So wake up!"
Suddenly, a glow envelops Claudine, and the next thing she knows she is in her revue costume with her sword in-hand. The Essence makes no reaction at all.
She really is just an empty shell…
Claudine freezes.
'Empty.'
That meant she just needed to be filled once again. And she thinks she can guess what needs to claim that empty space.
Claudine turns away from the Essence and faces the maze once more. She steps back and raises her sword high. Then, with a shout, she slashes it down across the hedges that create the exit.
The bushes and white roses split, and petals flutter to the ground. All at once, the entire convoluted yet beautiful image of the maze begins to shift and warp.
And then they all come bursting out.
Every single one of Maya's personalities she had encountered - and even ones she hadn't.
They are all wearing the same revue outfit, all wielding the same rapier.
And they are all coming toward Claudine.
Claudine leaps back, drawing them away from the Essence, unsure of if they can or will try to harm her.
Of course, the first of the 'Mayas' to meet with Claudine is her Ferocity, the one who had been hellbent on fighting her.
"Yes!" she shouts. "This is the fight I wanted!"
She is joined quickly by Maya's Pride and her Ambition, her Skill and her Power.
With so many highly-skilled and efficient opponents upon her at once, Claudine doesn't have the luxury to think of ways to outsmart them. She can only fight like hell.
So she does, for Maya, and for all of her friends putting themselves at stake right now. Claudine fights as hard as she can against Maya's strongest and most bloodthirsty traits.
While her Pride and Ambition fight honorably, her Ferocity is not against playing dirty and attacking Claudine from behind or when she is down. Her Skill is incredibly fast, and her Power incredibly strong. And behind them are ranks and ranks of other 'Mayas' yet to come.
Claudine struggles to even catch her breath as she fights the current wave of them, twisting and slashing and doing all she can to protect her own jacket. She feels the rapiers drawing blood within seconds, and wounds appear all over her body. And all the while they goad and taunt her.
"You'll never be able to beat me, Saijou Claudine!"
"I will always shine brighter than anyone! Soaring ever higher!"
"You could never possibly hope to match my skills."
"You'll never win! I won't let you-!"
Claudine has to push aside her own conflicting emotions about these parts of Tendo Maya as she faces them. These are merely pieces of the Maya she wants to get back, but 'Tendo Maya' is so much more than just these things alone.
Claudine fights back through sheer willpower. In the split second when Maya's Ferocity is lunging at her throat, Claudine bowls herself into two of the others to dodge, suffering a blow to her side in the process. But as she ducks away, she is able to slip her sword underneath the Ferocity's jacket and cut it.
There's a shriek of outrage, and then a flash of bright white light.
Instantly, the defeated personality swirls and vanishes into the light, which then flies directly into the blank doll sitting alone. The Essence actually picks up her head and shakes it, and Claudine doesn't miss a slight snarl in her lips. The first expression she's ever shown.
This is her answer.
Claudine struggles against the others coming at her, pushing and kicking and doing all she can to defend her jacket. If she loses here, it's over.
She'd beaten Maya's Ferocity by being even more ferocious, by hitting the others and letting herself get injured.
That just meant she had to be even more ambitious than Maya's Ambition, more skillful than her Skill, more powerful than her Power.
No problem.
So she faces the Ambition with the goal to win, and she does. When she cuts the jacket, the personality flies back into the Essence, who then is able to make another expression, one of determination.
Claudine next out-maneuvers Maya's Skill and defeats her, and then overpowers her Power through sheer adrenaline. And after beating those four, it isn't hard to be more prideful than Maya's Pride. Claudine soon wins against her too, and sends the fifth personality back to the Essence, who has started to regain some color to her pale, lifeless face.
Though Claudine is now bloody and breathless, the toughest of her opponents had charged at her first. The rest were many, but their main purpose was not to fight.
The next 'Maya' that comes her way is Jealousy, who puts up just a bit of a fight.
"No fair!" she protests. "I want to fight Saijou-san as well, and have her make such an interesting expression."
Claudine rolls her eyes.
"Didn't I already tell you I'm spoken for?"
As the Jealousy gapes, Claudine cuts her button.
Next comes Maya's Fury, who should have been among some of the first to challenge Claudine, stomping and huffing like a bull. But she is so blinded by her rage that her movements are clumsy, and Claudine ends up cutting her button before very long.
As the next light returns to the Essence, Claudine stumbles back and stiffens to feel one arm wrap tightly around her waist and another across her chest.
"My~" Maya's Lust purrs hopefully. "Saijou-san, might you be ready to lie with me now?"
Claudine turns around in her arms and smiles.
"Perhaps a bit later."
She cuts her jacket, and moves on to the next one.
But from there, it isn't much of a fight anymore.
Maya's Gentleness drops her rapier and approaches Claudine with concern in her eyes, reaching out to touch Claudine's bloodied cheek and then a wound on her side. The touch is so soft that Claudine actually breathes out a sigh.
"I'm sorry," she murmurs, raising her sword.
"So am I," the Gentleness replies. "We never meant to hurt you."
"I know."
Claudine cuts her jacket as gingerly as possible.
Next, Maya's Love appears before her with tears in her eyes. She too, drops her rapier.
"I won't," she says. "I won't fight you. You're already hurt so badly, Ma Claudine…"
"Please," Claudine smiles, wiping the blood from her lips. "This is nothing."
Maya's Love embraces her and then kisses her. Claudine hugs her back for a heartbeat before easing away and cutting her jacket.
"Merci…"
When the Love returns to the Essence, the shell of a girl finally manages to get to her feet, where she stays.
Claudine turns next to Maya's Happiness, who smiles and also drops her sword as she awaits Claudine's win. When the Happiness is returned to the Essence, a smile curls at her lips.
Claudine takes care with the remaining 'Mayas'.
Her Suffering drops to her knees before Claudine has even come close. Claudine cuts her jacket swiftly so she won't have to be in pain any longer.
Maya's Humiliation stays back, but when Claudine approaches her she doesn't run. She simply stands there and bows her head in shame. Claudine pats her shoulder.
"You did your best."
With this, she returns her to the Essence as well.
Maya's Fear then turns and flees, running as fast as she can in her terror. Claudine has no choice but to chase after her, because she can't let her escape too far away from the Essence. She feels awful doing it, but in only seconds the Fear collapses in tears and can't get up. Claudine slows her pace and puts down her sword, then reaches out to embrace her.
"You were very brave."
Claudine uses her hands to pull the button from the thread, severing it in the most non-threatening way possible. The Fear returns to the Essence, who shivers upon receiving her.
When Claudine next stands, only a few 'Mayas' remain. She liberates them all one by one, from Maya's stumbling Lethargy to her giggling Humor, her timid Uncertainty, and her airy Carefreeness.
And finally, Claudine limps her way over to the final 'Maya,' who though looks like a high-schooler now, had been just a child when Claudine had last seen her.
Maya's Loneliness shies away at first, but then she looks up with something else in her eyes. Something more beautiful.
"You…" she whispers. "You really came back…"
In that instant, Maya's Loneliness turns into Hope. Claudine's heart trembles and floods with warmth.
"I'm sorry it took so long. But you have us now." She pulls her into a hug, and Hope squeezes her tightly.
When Claudine lets her go, the Hope uses her own rapier to cut her jacket, and she willingly returns to the Essence.
And at last, the vacant prairie has regained color and life, as has Maya's Essence. Rather, now that all of her fragments have been returned to her and she is whole again, she is no longer simply the Essence. She is-
"Tendo Maya…"
Claudine breathes her name in the utmost relief when she finally sees her again. Her white dress has filled with every color, her eyes are swimming with so many emotions, and her lips curve into the most heartfelt smile.
Claudine knows her now. This is her Maya.
But before she can go to her, a dizzying sensation smashes into her. She drops her sword into the bloodstained grass and starts to fall.
"Claudine-"
Maya catches her, firmly and securely, dropping to her knees much more gently with Claudine in her arms.
Claudine's body jolts with the pain of her injuries, so much so that she can't even fully bask in her relief at having returned Maya to herself.
But then, all at once, she feels her wounds beginning to heal.
Maya, having rightfully retained her presence of self, takes control over the maze of her mind and mends everything to her will. Claudine's injuries vanish in seconds, and the blood fades away.
Claudine draws in a shuddering breath and eases herself back just enough to meet her eyes again.
"Thank goodness…"
Maya smiles and pulls her close.
"Saijou-san-"
But before Maya can say any more, the world around them begins to glow softly. Claudine slouches against her shoulder and hears Maya chuckle above her.
"I suppose it's time to wake up."
. . .
The world that had sucked Claudine into it in blackness returns her to her proper world in light.
This time it's the sounds that come to her first, the sounds of a continuous battle that hasn't slowed for a second since she'd left it.
As she struggles with herself and remembering how to open her eyes, she listens to pinpoint all of their voices: Karen, Hikari, Mahiru, Futaba, Kaoruko, Nana, Junna… She can hear each of them giving a shout or a huff or a call here and there as the Korosu continue hissing and screeching as they perish.
They're all still here. They're all still fighting. All of them.
But…
When she remembers Maya's situation, Claudine's heart jolts with unease. She gasps, forcing her eyes open in the blinding light of the spotlight raining down on her.
She can feel herself in the exact position she'd lost consciousness in, sitting against Maya in the throne with her arms around her and a soft ache at the front of her forehead. In the brief moment of confusion, she tries to speak her name, but no sound comes just yet.
It's then when she feels it, the soft, sturdy beat of a pulse against her own. In the next instant, a pair of arms curls around her back and gives her a squeeze. Claudine finally finds her voice.
"Maya-!"
She pushes herself back so quickly she would've fallen off if not for Maya's embrace on her.
All at once, Claudine finds herself looking into those silver eyes, wide awake. And they aren't dull and lifeless and void like they had once been somewhere in her mind.
Now, Maya's eyes are shining with life, and determination, and so many other things, things Claudine had found within her and helped return to her.
With shaking hands, Claudine brings her fingers up to Maya's cheeks and holds the sides of her face, breathing a bit brokenly against her lips.
"Maya…" She chokes out her name, her voice so thick with emotion she can't stop the sting of tears from rising up in her eyes. "Are you…?" She touches her face gently, tentatively, wanting to be sure.
Maya responds by lifting her hand to cover one of Claudine's, and pulls her in by the small of her back with the other to kiss her. When they part, Maya rests her hand on Claudine's cheek in turn.
"You really did come for me…" She chuckles to herself, then speaks more resolutely. "Yes. I am here, Claudine. And I have you to thank for it."
Claudine finally lets out the first sob and sinks in against her. Maya holds her tightly, giving her a grateful hug to convey her unspeakable appreciation.
It's at that point when their friends begin crying out joyfully.
"Tendo-san!"
"Kuro-chan!"
"They're back!"
The sounds of their voices have Claudine getting ahold of herself. There's still a battle to fight.
Pushing herself back, she sniffles once as Maya thumbs her tears away gently. Claudine gives a small laugh.
"It's about time you came back, Tendo Maya. You kept us waiting."
Maya dips her head.
"My apologies. I've returned."
Both feeling each others intent and seeing it in their eyes, Claudine moves herself off of her lap. Maya keeps her steady as they both stand, though of the two of them it's Maya who hasn't stood for longer, so Claudine ends up needing to support her until she can find her balance.
"Are you all right?" she asks, glancing to either side, where their friends are still fending off Korosu. "Can you fight?"
Maya smiles eagerly, slipping her fingers beneath the tiara on her head to let it drop to the floor.
"I would love nothing more."
From what Claudine can tell, there aren't many Korosu left. Their friends had done wonderfully in taking turns killing them so none of the girls were horribly exhausted even after all this time.
As everyone glances to the throne to see that Claudine and Maya are both all right, they step back to allow the remaining waves of Korosu up the staircases. Claudine and Maya take up their weapons, then turn to finish this fight with their friends.
Maya moves and fights as though she's been rejuvenated by magic, running out to slay the Korosu before they can bother her companions. Claudine keeps to her side, also moving rather lightly on her feet in spite of all that had transpired.
All around them, their friends dance and switch off together as they battle.
Claudine watches Maya from the corner of her eye, recognizing that ferocity and strength and skill. But they are all balanced out equally by a controlled righteousness, a protective desire to defend those she loves most dearly.
Tendo Maya is back. Really and truly.
And of course, that means her annoying side as well.
"Well now, Saijou-san," Maya calls to her as she jabs through two Korosu at once. "Are you going to strike me down as you did to all the others?"
Claudine groans as she cuts two Korosu of her own.
"Shut up! Of course I won't! I just got you back!" She twirls around to slash through another Korosu. "Speaking of which, how the hell are you still able to move like that? After you spent the whole night fighting by yourself. Mechante va! Why didn't you call for one of us? You know I would have come with you!"
As Claudine chides her, she kicks another Korosu off over the edge of the platform and sends it falling all the way down to its death at the bottom of the stage.
"You know, it's fine to keep aiming higher. But if you climb too high you'll go past the point of no return!" She rounds on a Korosu that had charged at Maya's blind side and strikes it down. Claudine watches Maya throw out her arm and grabs it, giving Maya a hard pull and then tossing her in the opposite direction to meet another cluster of monsters.
"You want to go higher so that I'll keep looking up at you and following you… But if you keep putting distance between us… if you go so high that I'm not able to see you anymore, then I'll lose sight of you completely. And I don't know about you, but I don't want that!"
They're down to the final few Korosu now, and judging by Maya's silence, Claudine can ascertain that she's listening to her words. As such, Claudine runs up to stand at her side as a pair of monsters leap. Maya runs one through while Claudine takes care of the other. In the brief pause, they glance sideways at one another. Claudine finishes what she wants to say.
"It's fine to go higher, Maya. But look back every now and then and make sure I'm still there. Even if I'm a bit further back, I want you to look at me, too."
And then, all at once, the battle is over. The final black mist of the defeated Korosu drifts up and vanishes beneath the spotlights.
Maya turns to face Claudine properly. She holds her gaze seriously for a moment, and then dips herself down into a bow.
"Saijou Claudine… I will ensure that I never go so high that I will lose sight of you, nor you me. You have my word."
By now, all of their friends have started to circle around them and giggle at the sight of Maya's lavish gesture.
"A-All right!" Claudine yelps. "So long as you understand. Lift your head, you infuriating woman!"
Maya does as much and meets Claudine's eyes with another smile. Claudine huffs, but eventually reflects it.
"It's good to have you back, Tendo Maya."
"And I'm very glad to be back, Saijou Claudine."
Behind them, the throne that had held Maya captive topples into pieces. And slowly, the staircases around them begin to crumble as the platform they're all standing on starts to sink back down to the stage.
The nine Stage Girls come in together for a group hug, putting Maya and Claudine at the center of the affection.
"Welcome back, Maya-chan!"
"Good job, Kuro-chan!"
"You got her back safe and sound."
"Thank goodness you're both all right!"
When the platform finally comes to a stop level with the stage, the girls ease apart. They leave their weapons on the stage, and then slowly begin filing off.
They make their way down one of the aisles, and Claudine is satisfied that the giraffe doesn't utter a word from overhead to ruin their moment, though he does dip his head.
Claudine has Maya go first as they finally reach the elevator, knowing she will appreciate the feeling of being safe to board it this time.
The nine of them shuffle on, and ultimately come together for another hug as they're brought back up to the surface world.
A/N: 0mn had said this idea was based off the line Claudine had said to Maya in the manga, how Maya's existence was like a maze to Claudine. That's why I mentioned perhaps Maya liked that idea and so she deliberately constructed her mentality into that shape.
I had a lot of fun coming up with what the maze should look like and which personality traits of Maya's that Claudine would run into, and how she'd interact with each of them!
Small epilogue, too!
Please review!