I'm one day short of my update goal, but I can't complain too much since this is still pretty quick! Before getting straight into the story, I just want to thank everyone who reviewed last chapter. I don't remember the last time I've gotten four reviews on one chapter; that's almost going back to the peak days of this archive! I know I haven't responded to any of the reviews yet, but because I want to get this next chapter up ASAP, I won't be responding until I'm done with chapter 19.
Enough chatter though. Please enjoy!
The sun was beating ceaselessly above, but Amu could feel goosebumps crawling across her skin. She gripped the globe in her hand tightly, ignoring the sweat that dared the handle to slip in her hand. She brandished it in front of her, daring anyone to approach her. The once bustling battle seemed to be frozen; all eyes were now fixed on her and her companion. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Luca's gaze fixed on a similar looking teenager. Amu turned to face her too, her eyes widening a fraction. Saira seemed to pay her no mind; her eyes were glued to Luca.
Arisa? Amu clenched her vacant fist tightly. No, stop. Arisa doesn't exist. Saira brainwashed you; she's evil. She's going to try and take over the world, and you need to be brave and stop her.
"Amu-Chan!" Amu snapped out of her trance, glancing up as three familiar charas floated over to her. A small smile formed on Amu's face.
"We've been so worried!" Su exclaimed, tears glistening in her eyes. "When Dia told us to leave, we didn't want to, but she told us it was for the best, so we found the guardians, and—"
"I'm okay, Su," Amu reassured her calmly.
"Did Luca hurt you?! Tsukasa said she'd keep you safe, but, you know…" Saira scowled.
"No, no, Luca saved me, in fact." Amu smiled at Miki. "I… I know it's been a while, but I'm back. I promise."
"Yay!" Ran cheered.
"It's good to have you girls back," Dia told them from inside of Amu. Amu glanced up at the rest of her friends. Kukai was grinning—though his smile waned slightly. Utau stood beside him, smiling up at Amu. Near Saira, Tadase's eyes were widened, a blush on his face. Ikuto was smiling genuinely, his eyes widened as well. When Amu's eyes met Nagihiko's, he gave her a confident smile. Amu turned to the figure standing beside him. Rima was staring at Amu, her stoic expression completely broken.
"Amu, I—"
"I know what you've done for me, Rima," Amu whispered. "I… I don't know how I can ever repay you." Rima smiled weakly.
"You…You've been my best friend for so many years," Rima explained. "You understood me first, before anyone else did. You're the one who's always been there for me, Amu; I was just returning the favor."
"I…" Amu could feel tears well in her eyes. "Thank you, Rima. For everything." She smiled. "And you too, Kairi," She said, turning to the transformed samurai. Kairi smiled. Amu closed her eyes for a moment, before turning around to face Seto and Deidre.
"We're going to stop Easter again," Amu announced, confidence leaking into her voice. Her heart began to beat faster. She took a deep breath. "I won't let them profit off the misery of others. I won't become their wish-granting slave; I am my own person, and I will stop them."
"Corny speeches? She really is back, isn't she?" Utau groaned, but Amu could see her friend smile warmly. Amu's face reddened slightly.
"Nice words, Hinamori Amu, but you are too late. You cannot stop us from succeeding," Deidre taunted. Amu frowned. "Besides, we don't really need your powers anymore; we have another source—"
"You know the risks of summoning the Embryo," Luca hissed.
"After all these years, you're still holding onto your stupid beliefs?" Saira rolled her eyes. "Luca, I'm doing this all for you!"
"No, you're trying to create some fantasy!" Luca cried.
"I'm going to restore our family."
"You can't resurrect Mom; no matter what wish-granting powers you and Easter possess, you don't know what risks you could be imposing by resurrection. That will change the natural order of things; you could destroy the world, Saira!"
"I'm saving the world," Saira spat. "You're naïve, Luca; you don't understand!"
"No, you don't understand! Don't you remember what you did to Ari?"
"What we did. You were apart of this once too. We're sisters Luca; we can do this together! We don't even need the Embryo if we work together." Luca closed her eyes.
"I suppose it's futile to reason with you. You're long gone, aren't you?"
"It's a shame it has to go this way, that you'll be fighting with the guardians." Saira turned to face Deidre. "Deidre, the Extractor. Turn it back on." Deidre nodded slowly, but as she stepped forward, a soccer ball flew in her direction.
"Not a chance," Kukai announced, stepping forward. Amu and Luca turned to face each other.
"We better fight now," Amu told her.
"There's one thing I have to do." Amu watched as the teenager walked forward, kneeling beside the final member of the guardians. Kairi turned to face her, his eyes widening.
"Luca-San, will she—" Luca closed her eyes, pressing her palms to the younger girl's chest. Light brown energy emitted from Luca's hands and touched the girl's body, prompting her to glow.
"Yaya!" Amu cried, walking beside Kairi. Yaya's limp body stopped glowing for a moment, and Luca's eyes returned to normal. Within a few seconds, Yaya started to cough, her eyes blinking rapidly.
"Wha…?" Yaya blinked again. "Where am I?" She wondered, her voice in a daze. She frowned. "Right, the big fight to save the world…"
"Are you okay?!" Amu exclaimed. Yaya looked up at her, her eyes widening.
"Amu-Chi?! What the heck?!" Yaya stood up suddenly.
"Yaya, be care—" Kairi was ignored however as Yaya stood, her eyes widening.
"Are you feeling okay, Yaya?" Amu wondered. Yaya nodded slowly, still watching Amu nervously. "Luca, what did you do?"
"I healed her. She should feel refreshed and fully recovered," Luca explained.
"Luca, did you say? You're the girl who was with Amu-Chi or something, right?" Luca opened her mouth to explain, but Yaya interjected again, "Ah, Yaya'll catch up later. We have a big fight, right? Let's save the world!" Yaya hugged Amu tightly briefly.
"Yaya, are you sure it is wise to immediately charge back into battle right after you've been hurt?" Kairi wondered. Yaya turned to face him. Her face turned bright red suddenly.
"Yaya's thriving! Yaya's all refreshed and ready to go—wait a minute, you're transformed!"
"Ah, yes, Musashi rehatched after—"
"Oh yeah! Yaya almost forgot!" Yaya interjected. "There was one more thing Yaya wanted to do right before she fell unconscious." Kairi gave her a perplexed look. Yaya skipped toward him suddenly and wrapped her arms around him, prompting his eyebrow to furrow. She kissed him suddenly, prompting Amu to audibly gasp and for Kairi's eyes to widen before he closed them. After a few seconds, Yaya separated, her face bright red.
"Alrighty Pepe, c'mon!" As Yaya transformed, Amu turned to face Saira. Luca and Saira were using their powers to hold her off, with Tadase and Nagihiko offering aid to the former. Ikuto and Yaya had joined Kukai and Utau with handling the remaining Easter employees. Kairi stood beside Amu, still slightly in a daze, facing the still immobilized Extractor. Amu turned to face Rima briefly, an eyebrow raised, before hearing the sound of machine clanking and the Extractor rising to its feet. She exchanged a look with Kairi before standing beside him, her globe clutched tightly.
The sounds of familiar shouts and accusations filled Rima's mind, prompting tears to dance down her cheeks.
"You can't spend my money like that!"
"Spend your money like that?! It's my money too, and I'm spending it on our daughter!"
"For what? Some dress? Rima has plenty of dresses; she doesn't need more. Spend the money on something useful, like textbooks?"
Every fight, every harsh word, filled Rima's mind at that moment as she desperately wished for the one thing she has wished since she was nine-years-old and the fights began:
I wish Mama and Papa could stop fighting, and we could be a happy family again.
Rima opened her eyes briefly, grimacing as she saw no shining egg.
"Damn it!" Rima hissed, clenching her fist in frustration. "Why isn't it working?!"
"Calm down Rima!" Kusu-Kusu reassured from inside. "It'll come!" Rima frowned.
"I've been wishing for the same thing I've wanted since I was a kid; I don't understand. Isn't my wish pure enough?" Rima watched, frowning as she saw the Extractor firing up again, with Amu and Kairi desperately trying to weaken it. "The stupid robot is going to summon it before me."
"Summon what?" Rima glanced up in alarm, her eyes widening as Saira eyed her suspiciously.
"Blaze Shot!" Nagihiko quickly shot a basketball in the direction of Saira, but she quickly deflected it back at him, hitting him directly in the stomach and causing him to fall over.
"Nagi!" Rima cried, watching as he winced in pain. He sat up suddenly, giving her a thumbs up.
"You aren't going to get in the way again, Rima." Saira extended her hand and prepared to shoot a green beam at her. Rima's eyes widened, realizing that the beam was coming too fast for her to dodge in time, and Tadase and Luca seemed preoccupied with an Easter employee.
Fortunately, a huge yellow diamond appeared in front of Rima, disintegrating the beam. Amu stood beside her.
"I think it's about time I save you for once." Rima smiled at her best friend.
"The Embryo is mine!" Saira prepared to shoot another beam.
"Saira, that's enough." Saira froze, trepidation in her eyes. Luca halted as well, glancing up behind her. Standing in the middle of the battlefield was none other than Tsukasa Amakawa. Contrary to his normal gleaming and warm countenance, his eyes looked pained and he seemed desperate. He looked over at Rima for a moment, nodding slowly. Rima backed up and closed her eyes, focusing once again on her own imperfect family.
Amu recognized the facial expression on Tsukasa's face. She had seen that on his nephew's face five years ago when he discovered she had been secretly housing Ikuto. Amu closed her eyes. Arisa had that same look, too, when Amu had mentioned Ami's name in the dream world. That look of betrayal and anguish…
She stole a look at Saira once more. The shock had melted to anger, her nose flared and her eyebrows creased. Contempt, that was what Amu saw. And for a brief moment, Amu's heart melted; she wanted to comfort the girl, soothe her.
Stop… Amu pleaded desperately. Arisa doesn't exist. I am stronger than this.
"It's been six years," Saira spat. Tsukasa bowed his head.
"I know. And I know that I am to blame for this." He looked over at Luca. She averted her gaze, but nodded slowly. "I am not here to seek for your forgiveness. I thought I was saving the world by pursuing the savior," He gestured to Amu, "but I see now that I am, instead, causing the demise of it. So, please, Saira, I beg of you: please terminate your plans. You do not understand the implications of your wish."
"Why on earth would I listen to you, Father? Now you find me? Now you want me? It's far too late."
"I did look for you girls," Tsukasa whispered softly. "I know I was too late, but… from henceforth, I can promise you both a good life. You don't need this."
"Don't need Mom? Is that what you're saying?!" Saira glared at him. "Mom loved us. Her return would ensure that Luca and I are cared for again; I can finally be happy!" Tears rolled down her cheeks. "You ruined my life, Father. Mother can make it whole again."
"Saira's right." Amu turned to face Luca in shock. "I can never forgive you for what you have done." Luca shook her head slowly. "But… Saira, he's right about one thing: Mom is gone."
"No…"
"I loved Mom too, but… but we need to let her rest." Out of the corner of Amu's eye, she could see Tadase glance at the ground, tears coming to his eyes. She was confused for a moment, until she remembered: his grandmother. She started to walk over, but it was Ikuto that went to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Your mother would not want her life to supersede that of the fate of the world," Tsukasa whispered soothingly.
"You don't know anything," Saira mumbled darkly, clenching her fists. "With the power from Easter, we can accomplish everything. We can change the world, for the better."
"For the better?!" Luca cried. "You could destroy the world! You could kill people; you could kill me." Saira frowned.
"You don't know that."
"You cannot guarantee there will not be casualties." Luca shook her head. "Listen to yourself, Saira! How could you live with yourself knowing that your plans could kill people?!"
"A few lives lost to a greater cause is meaningless." Saira turned to face Luca. "Do you not understand what we are capable of? We will be able to grant any wish; we will change the world."
"But at what cost?!"
"You are misguided, it seems." Seto stepped forward. "This goes further than your familial bond; the implications of eternal wish-granting are tremendous." Amu stole a glance at Deidre. She seemed to be toying with her tablet.
"Do not delude yourself, Sanjou Seto. All you desire is power, and that is what you are trying to achieve." Tsukasa shook his head. "This is not a selfless gesture; this is about ensuring that you profit extraordinarily." Tsukasa sighed. "I challenge you to consider this, Seto: you may have all of the fortunes in the world, but at what cost? To lose the people you love?" Kairi clenched his fists. "To lose all that you know? To lose…everything?"
"For someone who relies on the cosmos, I would not expect you to have such reliance on material affairs," Seto noted.
"He doesn't. He didn't care about his children." Suddenly, a green beam erupted from Saira's hands and shot Tsukasa directly in the chest.
"Uncle!" Tadase shouted, running to his side as Tsukasa hit the ground.
"What have you done?!" Luca screamed.
"He got what he deserved." Tsukasa was choking, and tears danced down Tadase's eyes as he comforted his uncle. "Besides, Luca, why do you care?" Amu walked over to Tsukasa, kneeling beside Tadase and Ikuto.
"I…" A sob escaped Tadase's throat.
"Do not fret, my nephew." Tsukasa smiled at him. "I will be okay."
"Tsukasa, you're…" Ikuto trailed off.
"Life is ephemeral, Ikuto. It is fleeting, a coursing river, impossible to swim against. But, I will be back." The elder man coughed.
"Father…" Luca knelt by his side. "I… I can heal you." Tsukasa reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. He shook his head slowly.
"It's too late for me. This is my time, in this world." He shook his head slowly, gazing into Luca's eyes. "Saira won't stop," He whispered weakly. "By killing me, she has entered a one-way path toward her quest of world destruction. Luca, you know what needs to be done. Make sure it happens." Luca nodded slowly. He looked up at Amu briefly, before turning to Tadase.
"Make sure Mashiro-San follows through…" Amu's eyes widened. "It could be…the only way…" Tsukasa's body suddenly went limp, hitting the ground with a quiet thud.
"Tsukasa!" Tadase shouted, tears rolling down his cheeks. "No… I can't lose you too. I can't… I…" Amu placed her hand on Tadase's shoulder as he sobbed, her hand gently massaging him.
Rima's eyes widened as she watched Tsukasa lay motionlessly on the ground. A sickening feeling filled her stomach; he couldn't really be gone.
"Rima, we need to focus," Kusu-Kusu whispered from inside her. Rima nodded slowly. If Saira could kill her own father, then she wouldn't stop at anything. Rima knew she needed to summon the Embryo now and fast.
"It's time, Saira," Deidre whispered, her voice shaky. "But…" A loud machine sounded suddenly, mechanics whirring. Rima watched as the Extractor rose to its feet, looking as daunting as ever. Kairi approached the machine, his blade brandished. Nagihiko stood beside him, prepared to fight as well. But to both of their surprise, the Extractor placed its hands together, as if entering a prayer. It began to glow black, as if being filled with X-Energy. Rima had seen a similar motion performed before, about a month ago. Her eyes widened.
"Amu, watch out!" Rima screamed.
Amu turned to face Rima, confused.
Amu-Chan? Amu turned desperately. No, Amu knew that voice; it should have been long gone. She clenched her fists, breathing heavily.
"You're not real…" Amu whispered.
Amu-Chan, it's me! Have you already forgotten? Never… Amu shook her head.
"No, no…"
"Amu-Chan!" Her three charas screamed. "What's going on?"
"Amu, fight back!" Dia shouted. "Focus on what Luca has been training you for, remember?" Amu closed her eyes.
"Breathe in… Breathe out…" Amu tried to steady her breaths, but they were shaky.
Amu, trust me? We can live our perfect world together, right?
"My name is Amu Hinamori," She whispered, her voice trembling. "I am sixteen-years-old. I was the Joker in the guardians. I have four charas, Ran, Miki, Su, and Dia. My—"
Amu, it's me, Arisa.
"Arisa?"
"No!" Ran screamed. She floated in front of Amu, but Amu's vision began to get hazy. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a wide smirk forming on Saira's face.
"There is no Arisa!" Su cried.
"Amu, please." Ikuto. Amu recognized that husky voice as he gripped her shoulders tightly. "We need you." Need… need…
Amu, we'll be happy together…
"Amu!" Ikuto cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. His eyes widened, seeing that her eyes were glazed over. "Listen to me. You were yourself now for a while. I know you're strong enough to maintain control. Whatever Luca did, please make sure it works. Amu—"
Forever.
"Forever," Amu echoed, prompting Ikuto's eyes to widen. Suddenly, she vanished from Ikuto's arms, prompting him to gasp as he caught thin air. Amu reappeared beside Saira, her gaze completely stoic.
"Welcome back, Amu," Saira told her. She turned to face Deidre and Seto. "Let's get to work.
Rima watched, horrified, as Amu seemed to be fully indoctrinated again. Her heart was pounding, and she willed herself not to start crying.
"We're going to lose…" Rima whispered softly. "They have Amu back despite Luca's interference; they…"
Rima shook her head. I need to summon the Embryo right now. It's now or never. Rima closed her eyes, thinking desperately of her parents fighting. The pain of being neglected for their fights, the feeling of lonely nights, her personal blame for everything because…
Rima's eyes widened. She understood now. It was never about just her parents' fighting; that wasn't her wish. It was the root of it, what began all of the fights. Because Rima knew she always blamed herself for everything for nine-years ever since she was kidnapped.
Rima started to tremble as she remembered the dark van that abducted her that day. She remembered the ropes the scary men tied around her as they tossed her into the trunk of the van. She remembered the darkness: seeing nothing and not knowing what was going to happen.
I wish I was never kidnapped.
Rima opened her eyes, and to her shock, a glowing white egg appeared in front of her.
Not gonna lie, I've already started some work on the next chapter, and I plan to write some more later today too. I don't want to say too much because I don't trust myself to not reveal stuff, but I will say that I have actually had a portion of it pre-written for over a year now, and while things in this story have definitely changed from my original ideas, I expect the events in the next chapter to reflect the ideas I've had since I came up with the idea for this story about 3.5 years ago (fun fact: I definitely remember coming up with the whole Saira idea from being inspired from a song I listened to while in a hotel visiting colleges during the spring break of my junior year. I am currently in the summer before my junior year of college. Time is weird and uncomfy).
Also something I want to note about this chapter: I know some people might be disappointed that I didn't do more emphasis on Amu's reunion with Tadase/Ikuto (depending on your ship). A lot of this story emphasizes the power of friendship, and moreover, Amu and Rima's friendship has been a central theme. I felt that their reunion was more meaningful within the context of everything that has happened in this story. Another point I wanted to clear up is who the main characters are in this story (i.e. who is listed as the four mains). I don't know who's noticed, but at some point, Ikuto was listed as a main, but I swapped that with Rima. I consider Rima to be the protagonist of this story, but I also do want to emphasize that this isn't really any character's story; unfortunately, I can't list nine main characters, so just pretend that there are nine listed. However, the four characters that I have chosen all have a reason for being chosen (arguably, perhaps I should swap one of them for Kairi but oh well), and even if they haven't been featured as a POV in a while, perhaps that just means that they will have more to do in later portions of this story ;).
But enough of that! Please drop a review! I'm going to most likely update within the week again! My profile has some tentative plans for my update schedule, so definitely stay tuned to that!