Haruhi Suzumiya had won! She has reclaimed the arrow from Yamabuki Suou! But… her victory was all but short-lived.

Suddenly, she heard sounds of the rocks crumbling down. She gasped, "Huh?"

She saw a figure in black, marching slowly, without looking back. Haruhi cried, "WHAT?" She called, "YOU THERE! LOOK THIS WAY! WHO ARE YOU?"

The figure in black was walking, ignoring her pleas. Its neck has the marking of the arrow, the same spot as Yamabuki's neck. Who was this creature?

"HEY! I'M TALKING TO YOU!" Haruhi followed it and roared, "GET BACK HERE! I HAVE THE ARROW, WHILE YOU ARE NOW IN-!" The arrow was gone from her hands. She then gasped, seeing the arrow in the figure's hand, "Wha-? What the hell? That's… That's MY arrow! Wait… was that a fake?"

She raced after it and staggered, "Come back here! Who are you? And your neck! Explain that mark!" She trembled, as she held her hands, "W-w-what is this sensation? No… My hands… How did you manage to get the arrow to slip out of my hands, like that?"

She hollered, as he went downstairs, "I SAID HALT! DON'T IGNORE ME! REVEAL… your face…" she moaned, as she was tiring out, "Ungh… I'm not… done with you! This…" She groaned, "Why am I on my knees? This thing… It was on the same pillar that Ninja Chariot melted… Could this be… the arrow's… doin-?" Haruhi passed out and went unconscious.

June was below, as she cried, "Nanao! Hurry! We have to heal Koumo-!" She staggered, as she moaned, "My… my body… It's heavy…" She looked around and gasped, "Ah! EVERYONE!"

Kana, Nanao, Emily, & Okuma were passed out, as June groaned, losing her fatigue, "What is this… power? This feeling… Is this what… the others…" She collapsed, and the others fell unconscious by this figure's mysterious power. Who was this strange figure, and why has it grasped onto the real arrow?

Requiem (Part 2)
Episode 13, Chapter 2: Venerdì Pazzo!

Pets was inside the turtle, as she was coming to. Beth was also inside the turtle, sleeping. But suddenly rubbed her head. Beth asked, "Eh? How did I get back here? Huh? Pets?"

Pets asked, "Hm? Me? What's wrong?"

Beth asked, "You okay? Something happened, after we found Koumoto… Wait… Uh…" She looked around in confusion, saying in fear, "Uhhhhh… Okay… This is nuts…"

Pets asked, "What's wrong?" She unwrapped her bandages and said, "You can tell me… Sis…"

Beth gasped, "EHHHH? Sis?!"

Back in the Colosseum, everyone was still passed out, especially from all around Rome and the fishing village. The morning sun rose, as everyone was coming to. June woke up first, and then moaned, "Ouch… What happened?"

It started to rain. June kneeled up and moaned, rubbing her head, "Ungh… My head… Was I sleeping? Well, I can't believe I fell asleep."

Okuma woke up and said in a robotic voice, "Oh, my… Did I went to sleep, already? Sun's up. I wonder what time it is."

June said, "By the looks of it, yeah. We were out cold for a while. But I can't remember what happened… Huh?" She looked at her hands, as they were bleeding, "AGH! WHAT THE HELL?"

Okuma cried, "What's wrong?"

June cried, "SHIT! My hands are soaked in blood! This is bad! But how?"

Okuma asked, "Something hurt you while you were down? Was there an enemy nearby?" He went into a kneeled stance, and suddenly gasped, "Target locked! Location… uh… Hold on…" He looked around, "This does not compute!" He grabbed the turtle and called, "June Nevins! Get behind a pillar! I may not sense it, but the enemy is close! Patch yourself up, if you're injured!"

June asked, "Uhhhh… who? You mean me? How can you tell if June's injured? Do you see her? Where'd she go? JUNE! HURRY UP AND HIDE!"

She ducked with Okuma, as she responded, "Okuma, stay by me! I'll guard you well!"

Okuma was stunned, but then asked, "Uh… June Nevins… Permit me to ask, but…"

"Dammit, I can't see jack shit from here!" June cried, "Okuma, listen to me! You look around, too! Is June Nevins hurt?"

Okuma then said, as he was annoyed, "June Nevins, are you playing with me? Because if you are, it is not funny."

"Huh?"

"Why do you call me Tanukichi Okuma? Do you even-?" He gasped, as he felt down below, "Huh… HUH? EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?"

He was gripping his own crotch and cried, "WHA-? WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? WHY DO I HAVE A-?" he felt his chest and hollered, "MY BOOBS! THEY'RE GONE!" He cried out, "What's going on here? Why are my boobs gone? And what's that down below my lower area? When did I grow a-?" He looked down, "But… June Nevins! Why are your hands bleeding?"

June asked, "Uhhhh…"

Okuma yelled, "What's wrong? June Nevins, talk to me!"

June said, "Wait… But I'm not June. But the blood scared me shitless, too… only… I don't feel a thing. It must've been from the mold, earlier. June said she was gonna fix it, but it seems that she missed a couple cuts. Not to mention my shoulder is still cut a bit. But… It might be from the cut from there."

Okuma asked, "Mold? As in the-? No way…"

Emily moaned, as she got up, only she growled, "Ungh… What the hell? How did I fall asleep?"

Nanao got up, as well, as she rubbed her head, "Mmngh… My god… What happened? Do you know?" Okuma was shocked, as Nanao continued, "I feel weird… Did I sleep through it all? I feel… really weird…"

Nanao moaned, rubbing her face with her hands, as Okuma was shocked, "Uhhh… What is this?"

They stared at each other, as Emily was shocked. They both cried, "WHAT THE HELL?"

The boy and android pointed at each other, shrieking in fright.

Inside the turtle, Pets was looking at herself in the mirror, as Beth asked, "Wait… Is that you, June?"

June cried, "DUDE! We swapped faces! I switched bodies with June!"

Pets was right, June and Pets swapped with each other… and likewise the others. But why and how?

NOTE: For the remainder of this fic, or until the matter is resolved (And we hope it does), we shall go by "name/body", to avoid confusion.

Pets/June gasped, "Impossible! Our minds! Our minds switched! Could this have happened to me and June? To Okuma and Nanao? To Beth and Emily?"

Emily/Beth yelled, "WAIT, WHAT?" She looked at her body and shrieked, "Wha-? WHAT THE BLOODY HELL? I'M A TWERP! WHAT KIND OF MESSED-UP WITCH DOCTOR CRAP IS THIS? It's scientifically impossible to trade minds and bodies!"

Kana's body was lying on the ground, lifeless. Apparently, it hasn't moved, since she arrived. June/Pets and Emily/Beth arrived from the turtle, as Okuma/Nanao was sobbing, "No way… I have a pair of chesticles?! And my thingy… Where did it go?"

Nanao/Okuma said, "Uhhh… It's right here… Uh, whoever you are…" He rubbed his head and moaned, "This is too bizarre… You are in my android body, Tanukichi Okuma."

"Oh, my god… Am I-? Did we?" Okuma/Nanao sobbed, looking at the mirror. He sobbed, "WHY DO I HAVE A ROBOT BODY OF A WOMAN'S? WHAT A HORRIBLE CURSE THIS IS! I LOOK HIDEOUS!" She sniffed her armpits and gasped, "Ugh… What is that smell? I smell like hydraulic fluid!"

Nanao/Okuma cried, "Please, Tanukichi Okuma, calm down, before you blow a circuit! Uh, in my body! Uncanny…" He looked at his body, "This body… It's…" He sniffled himself, "My armpits stink?!" He barked at her, "Have you forgotten to add deodorant, last week? Answer me, Tanukichi Okuma!"

Okuma/Nanao said, "Oh, that's just plain rude-." He bawled and panicked, "OH, COME ON! JUST KILL ME NOW!"

Nanao/Okuma said, "I guess there's no going through with you. In any case, we have bigger things to worry about."

Emily/Beth said, "Kashima-san, you're right. This swapping bodies… It's not the work of Crimson War Goddess, The Boss's Stand. It has to be something else."

Pets/June yelled, "Son of a bitch! Was it another one of The Boss's weird lackies? How many does she even have?"

June/Pets responded, "I don't think so. The Boss had already made it to the Colosseum, herself. There's no sense in passing the baton to an underling." June thought, as her soul was in Pets' body, "Plus, Nanao and Pets kept talking about an attack. But is that all there is to it? Our souls have switched bodies, but none of us are actually hurt. So… That would mean-."

Beth/Emily called, "Hey, Sis! Whatever happens, I'm technically still younger than you. This changes nothing."

Emily/Beth roared, "YOU LITTLE MOPPET! GET OUT OF MY DAMNED BODY!"

Beth/Emily grinned, "How can I? However it may be, it looks like you finally got your wish of you getting the last word on me."

"THAT DOESN'T EVEN COUNT, ASSHOLE! TECHNICALLY, THAT'S MY BODY, BUT IT'S YOUR SMARMY ASS!"

"Yeah, whatever… At least I'm okay with it, since I can tell which is which…"

"You little shit… If we get out of this alive, I am NEVER speaking to YOU again!"

Okuma/Nanao looked at her hands and gasped, "WHAT? What kind of craftsmanship doesn't clean up after himself? Your fingers smell, and you have dirt in your skin? Of all the bodies, why did I switch with a robot that doesn't learn Basic Hygiene and Maintenance!"

Nanao/Okuma huffed, "Hey, I do care for myself, if Emily Maynard isn't around. That aside, you should have been a little nicer to me, because it hurts."

He was rubbing his crotch, as Okuma/Nanao yelled, "HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? GET YOUR HAND OUT OF THERE!"

Nanao/Okuma cried, "WHAAAAAAAAA! IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK! I WASN'T TRYING TO COP A FEEL, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE PROCESSING!" He blushed, "I mean… This is what it feels like to be a man, and to be human…"

Okuma/Nanao grabbed her and barked, "Lay off my downstairs, will you?"

Nanao/Okuma said, "Understood… but… these briefs are so itchy. Have you ever thought of changing your white briefs, every day?"

Okuma/Nanao was bawling, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! JUST DON'T ACT LIKE YOU'RE DOING THE NAUGHTY, DOWN THERE!"

"I WASN'T MASTURBATING, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE IMPLYING! THAT'S GROSS! Plus, my chest without a bra feels uncomfortable… This is how your man boobs are? I mean, I like your kind, but…"

Beth/Emily smirked, "Oh? How come I read all of your yaoi mangas, with all that beefcake action, that I found in your locker?"

Okuma/Nanao cried, "WHAT? YOU READ PORN?"

Emily/Beth silenced her other half and roared, "YOU LITTLE BASTARD! YOU WOULD SNEAK INTO MY DAMNED STUFF, HUH, YOU FUCKING TROLL?"

"Hey! I don't know everything about you! It just came out of the blue! And FYI, these boobs are too big for me! Am I not hitting puberty yet?"

"If you say one more word about my body or my private stuff, I WILL BURY YOU ALIVE!"

She strangled her, and barked, "I MEAN IT, YOU BRAT! IF YOU EVEN GO NEAR ANY OF MY SECRETS OR STUFF, I WILL KILL YOU! DO YOU HEAR ME? I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND! AND THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT OF YOU!"

Beth/Emily huffed, "Whatever…"

Emliy/Beth hugged June/Pets, and sobbed, "PETS!"

Beth/Emily grumbled, "That's not Pets, you idiot. I guess they only switched your soul, and not your brain."

Okuma/Nanao cried, "STOP THAT! If you go near my pants again, I will hurt you!"

Nanao/Okuma said, "Okay! Okay! I'm sorry! I didn't realize that your male body is sensitive and with urges."

Pets/June then saw Kana's body and asked, "Uh, guys? I know we switched souls and all, but… Why isn't Kana-bun up? So far, it's me and June, Emily and Beth, and Okuma and Nanao. If my first guess is correct, and we swapped with the closest guy, then… Where did Kana-bun swap souls with? And who? I've been watching her, this whole time. She hasn't so much as twitched. I'm worried about her. Is she injured?"

June/Pets called, "WAIT, PETS! Hold on!"

Nanao/Okuma said, "I'm sure this happened to her, too. Whoever's in there might not be friendly. So, we should tread carefully. YES or NO?"

June/Pets replied, "It depends on what happened, before we got here. Is there a way to even tell? We need to know who was closer to Koumoto, and swapped souls with her… and what happened to The Boss and the mystery person waiting for us, as well."

Nanao/Okuma called, "Beth Nevins, I need you for backup! Can you unleash Aero-Bunny?"

Beth/Emily smiled, "SCORE! I've always wanted to unleash a Stand from inside Emily's body!"

Emily/Beth cried, "WAIT! I don't even have a Stand!"

Beth/Emily shone in a reddish hue, and gasped, "Uh… Bad news, guys… I can't seem to unleash Aero-Bunny!"

Pets/June cried, "Galaxy Train's not coming out, too! Something's wrong! It's not working! My Stand… It won't come out!" She cried, "COME ON, GALAXY TRAIN! GET OUT OF HERE AND ASSIST US!" She paused and looked, "Uh… Guys… Who made that hole?"

They saw a hole in the pillar, and they saw Aero-Bunny emerge from the walls, flying around. Beth/Emily cheered, "AW, HELL YEAH! IT WENT SO FAST! I had no idea that this speed boost was all I needed, but this is SO HELLA GOOD!"

Nanao/Okuma fired from its wrists, shooting eight bullets. Eros 1 called, "Is it me, or is it the speed?"

Eros 2 called, "Who knows, dude? That's the same rush as you!"

It shot at a fence, nicking off eight railings. Nanao/Okuma smiled, "Happy to report that Octo-Eros has been sharper than ever before! I shot through eight metal railings, in one shot. And my aim is better. So, this is how a human body feels!"

June/Pets looked around and asked, "Uh, that's great and all, but… What kind of Stand swaps the souls of its victims?" She growled, "Whoever did this to us… They're up to something… So much as I hate to think about it, it could be the enemy."

Beth/Emily said, as she scanned, "I don't see anyone else. My range has gotten bigger, yet I am scanning only us in the Colosseum. Not to mention a bunch of randos are in the area, outside of us. And they're all out cold, too. I can't sense any of them. No, wait… Hold on. I see someone! There's a cop coming to!"

They viewed the people in Rome, as they too were suddenly affected by the mystery man. A policeman woke up, rubbing his eyes.

"Ahhh… What a nap…" The policeman sneered, "But luckily, that woman I handcuffed was pretty cute…" He made a sinister sneer, as the crook in the back seat was handcuffed, and was shocked, "HEY! WHAT IS THIS? What am I doing here?"

Even worse, the partner of the policeman was chirping to the window, as the bird was twitching. A dog was barking, likewise its master, who was on all-fours and barking like a dog. And then a woman was crying and throwing a tantrum, while a baby was trying to comfort her. He and her mother switched souls, as well. EVERYONE'S souls were swapped, closest to the other!

Beth/Emily said, "Shit, it's like a bad Lindsay Lohan movie! Everyone's been swapped!"

Nanao/Okuma said, "Uncanny. Everyone in Rome suffered the same fate as us!"

Pets/June remarked, "Yeah, and that's what it is. It's starting to serve a whole lot of chaos!"

Emliy/Beth said, "Bollocks! This is gonna be a bitch and a half, solving this."

June/Pets was kneeling to the ground, laying her hand down. She shone in a dark aura, as Emily/Beth asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm using the ground as a medium, to search for any lingering soul energy." June/Pets said, "So far, nothing. Dammit! Who could've swapped with Koumoto?"

Okuma/Nanao said to her, "Pets, or June, rather… If you're worried about the possibility of Kana switching with The Boss, then I think I should give you a piece of mind. That's not the case. I can't sense a trace of her soul inside Koumoto's body. If that's what happened, then I'd known for sure. But still, this is gonna sound strange, but I can't sense her presence anywhere, for that matter. It's like they disappeared, The Boss and Kana."

June/Pets said, "I sincerely doubt it. But that worries me. Until Kana wakes up, it's best we keep a close eye on her."

The turtle climbed up a rock pillar, and started to moan. June/Pets gasped, "What the-? Is that the turtle?"

The turtle climbed to the top and said, "It hurts… Without a doubt, Haruhi Suzumiya is yer foe!"

She gasped, as she heard a female voice. June/Pets asked, "It can talk? No… The turtle swapped souls with someone… but who?"

"This hurts…" The turtle moaned, "I beg ya ta listen. Tomomi-, no! You're June Nevins! Correct?"

June/Pets shone in a golden aura and roared, "DEVIL PRINCESS!" She attacked the turtle and snatched the key off its back. The turtle cried, "WAIT! I mean ya no harm! No tricks. I'm not the puppeteer who is controlling this turtle. The one ya are speaking ta is the turtle, itself!"

It revealed itself, "My name… is Yamabuki Suou! I was the one who asked ya ta come ta the Colosseum! But in my fight with Haruhi, The Boss, I was forced ta abandon my host body with this turtle!"

June/Pets gasped, "Ya-? Yamabuki?"

Nanao/Okuma said, "You're kidding me… Who is this Yamabuki Suou you speak of?"

Beth/Emily barked, "The hell's a Yamabuki?!"

Yamabuki said, "I do believe that we met before… If I heard of ya, Beth Nevins… Remember Kolkata, when I was fooled by the Stand User of Empress, while ya were able ta rescue and retrieve Rookie."

Beth/Emily gasped, "Wait… I think I remember… It was wrong for that bitch to seduce you, while Auntie Michelle was attacking that growth… So I intervened and aided her. I think I do remember you…"

Yamabuki said, "Good. I'm glad ya remembered, so long ago. But now's not the time to reminisce. Please! Let me explain. I acted this way, only because Haruhi afforded me no other choice. Right now, the events that you're experiencing is because of the arrow. The very arrow I was intended to give ya. I still hope ta convey this secret power, even as I desperately hung on ta fight fer my very soul."

June/Pets gasped, "Wait… You're saying that all of this happened, because of the arrow?"

Yamabuki said, "Ta put it more specifically, it was my Stand, Ninja Chariot. He took hold of it, and triggered the events that happened, like right now. My original host body lies lifeless upstairs. But by the grace of the arrow, my soul survived, when it latched on ta the turtle."

Beth/Emily leapt up, and looked around. She called out, "Yo, guys! Found a dead body! She's telling the truth! Yamabuki, is this your body?"

They found Yamabuki's deactivated and broken body, and Yamabuki said, "Yes. Haruhi did that ta me."

Emily/Beth said, "Let me see!" She looked and gasped, "No way! Wait a sec… That's a robot body! Whatever did it, somehow smashed it!"

Yamabuki said, "That's my… host body. My original body is under preservation, until my mission is done."

Emily/Beth called, "Wait… I recognize that tech! Hey, Beth! Give me my lab coat. My tools are inside, and maybe I can repair her body."

Beth/Emily said, as she took it off, "Right. It's starting to smell, anyways."

Emily/Beth snatched it and said, "So? I work twice as hard, doing science! And I advise that you keep this to yourself, brat! Kashima-san!"

Nanao/Okuma called, "Understood. But I must ask Yamabuki Suou one thing, first." He said to her, "If it's not any trouble, this Stand, Ninja Chariot, will it revert us back to our original bodies?"

Yamabuki replied, "Unfortunately, no. I'm not in a state of controlling it. In my current state, I cannot control or withdraw my Chariot, in any way. Yamabuki Suou is out of commission. At least, fer now. Without my Stand, I am nothing. Even now, it is loose, like an agitated cannon!"

Okuma/Nanao asked, "So, you're saying it's wandering around the Colosseum, wreaking havoc? How could you let that happen?"

June/Pets cried, "STOP! Please, just tell us what happened to The Boss! How did she find you? More importantly, how do we find her?"

Yamabuki said, "I don't know. One moment I saw her standing there, sexy and alluring as she is… and the next, she's cold and callous. And in a flash, she was gone. Focus, please! The arrow is not yer friend, nor it is yer enemy! What I'm about ta explain ta ya is the essence of Hope itself!"

She explained, "Let's begin… with the incident that seemed trivial, about months ago…"

Yamabuki was in her android body, after losing to Haruhi, a while back.

(Yamabuki): After somehow surviving my encounter with Haruhi, my body was shattered and destroyed… But the Speedwagon Foundation recovered my body, and put me back together. But… It wouldn't be long, before they confirmed that my time is short. After careful deliberation… the robot body ya see here is created as a host body for my soul. My original body was dying… and until someone fixes me completely, I may die.
Moments after I got my new body, I found refuge in a small village. It was there and then that the incident took place.

An arrow was behind the dresser, as Yamabuki was reaching it.

(Yamabuki): The arrow that I retrieved in Egypt had somehow got stuck behind the dresser. A mild displeasure, but annoying nonetheless. An able-bodied person would've reached fer it, easily. Sadly, with my android body, I couldn't… as it seemed a little more challenging. Of course, I had given up, if I had not used my Stand, to get it out. And so, I did…

Ninja Chariot grabbed the arrow, but the tip of the arrow pricked its hand, producing a radiant beam of light.

(Yamabuki): That's when it happened. The arrow cut onto Chariot's fingers, within an instant! It happened so fast. I knew that ta earn a Stand, ya must be chosen by the arrow, be ya human or otherwise. But… should the Stand be the recipient of the arrow…

Chariot was engulfed in a ball of light and exploded.

Yamabuki continued, "The full extent of the arrow was still a mystery ta me. But I'm beginning ta understand what was in the mind of the creator. We get ta witness the full power of a Stand or Spirit Caller! Much more lies hidden than one could ever imagine!"

Birds fell from the sky, and people in the village fell unconscious. Yamabuki saw everything and was shocked.

(Yamabuki): Suddenly, birds fell from the sky. Insects hid behind the leaves. And cattle collapsed ta the ground. Not only that, the farmers fell into a deep slumber. And while I, myself, was far from normal, the effects from Chariot did not affect me, whatsoever.

She turned around and saw a black figure that was once Chariot.

(Yamabuki): But Chariot endured much worse… Taken by a foreboding feeling, I seized the arrow from it, and revert it back to normal… before it lost itself.

She grabbed the arrow and snatched it away. The figure reverted back to Chariot. Everything went normal again.

(Yamabuki): Then, as if nothing happened, er'rything went back ta normal. Not long after, the most ominous realization came ta me. Whoever possesses enough power ta control the arrow, could, in turn, steer the minds of all living things!

Yamabuki said, "I, however, am too weak ta control it. So I have been lying in wait, in hopes of meeting ya guys. Brave warriors like yerselves, willing ta take on a force of evil like Haruhi Suzumiya! I wish ta assist ya, but that bitch outclassed me."

Beth/Emily said, "So, this mind-control stuff you're talking about… Is it the same as us? Like we didn't actually switch souls?!"

Yamabuki answered, "No… As I said earlier, it's the arrow's doing. But as I cannot control it, the extent of its power isn't something I can grab. Even so, its potential is undeniable. Ya must retrieve the arrow! Stop Chariot, before The Boss does! And take it back from him! To defeat Crimson War Goddess, ya must have no choice but ta harness this weapon's full potential!"

June/Pets said, "If we're gonna recapture the arrow, we'll have to destroy Ninja Chariot… And that's a given, since your original body's dead."

Yamabuki boasted, "It doesn't matter. My host body can easily control Chariot, in a snap. Once ya take the arrow from him, he'll inevitably finish his count of days, not unlike how, in essence, I already have. But before you all set off ta find him… I have one last piece of shocking information ta share… about The Boss."

They gasped, as she continued, "Ya there, Tanukichi Okuma… Correct?"

Okuma/Nanao nodded, "Uh, pay no mind to this host body, but… Yeah, it's me…"

Yamabuki said, "Yer father knows of The Boss, Haruhi Suzumiya. I had a feeling." She looked at Kana and said, "Kana Koumoto can sense yer soul… likewise The Boss's soul… which I have concluded, thanks ta this bizarre moment, before I was defeated." She sighed and bellowed out, "THE BOSS… IS TWO WOMEN!"

They all gasped, as Yamabuki explained, "Ya see, hours ago, one of them took on yer appearance and deceived Koumoto. Haruhi and this other girl, they are a formidable duo to be reckoned with."

Okuma/Nanao gasped, "What do you mean? She… She was me?"

Emily/Beth said, "Hey, good news, Yamabuki, your body is all fixed, and-."

June/Pets stated, "Never mind that! You should know what happened to Koumoto! Yamabuki said it! The Boss was using her, as Okuma, himself!"

Emily/Beth cried, "Now, wait a minute! The Boss confides in nobody! We don't even know her true face!"

Yamabuki said, "I'm really not sure if I get it, myself… but I know I saw her, that strange young girl. You, Emily Maynard, helped The Boss! That girl in the sexy catsuit! THAT WAS HER!"

Emily/Beth gasped in shock, "She… She what? You mean… It's my fault?"

"Had it not been for her, Haruhi would've never had gotten as close ta me as she did!"

June/Pets whispered, "You're kidding! How can she be two people?"

Emily/Beth was stunned, as she was shaken, "No… Kana… What have I done? I led The Boss to-."

Beth/Emily called, "SIS! GUYS! HEADS UP!" She analyzed the area and called, "Aero-Bunny got a signal, from nine o'clock! Only one signal!"

A woman was dashing to the entrance, as Beth/Emily cried, "I see her! She's heading this way! It's a woman! She's heading for the Eastern Entrance to the Colosseum!"

June/Pets did hand signals to the others, and they spread out. They waited, as Nanao/Okuma grabbed the turtle, Yamabuki. They hid, and then… They gasped, seeing a woman appear. It was Haruhi Suzumiya, and she was dashing in!

June/Pets gasped, "Is that-?"

Beth/Emily cried, "Who the hell is she?"

Okuma/Nanao called, "Wait! That's her! Is she-?"

Yamabuki barked, "Damn! It's The Boss!"

Okuma/Nanao shrieked, "NO WAY! THAT IS HER! I know that face! IT'S HARUHI!"

June/Pets called, "Sis, it's time. Get Aero-Bunny-."

Yamabuki cried, "JUNE, WAIT! TO THE LEFT! We're not alone, and that whore is in his range! But there's a figure in the dark!"

They looked through and gasped. It was Chariot, shrouded in black! Yamabuki yelled, "HE WAS THERE, ALL ALONG! My Stand has transformed ta its full final form! This is Chariot Requiem!"

Haruhi went after him, and swung her arm back. Emily/Beth cried, "DAMMIT, NO! She's… She's gonna get the arrow!"

June/Pets yelled, "Son of a-! Not good! If she wins, taking the arrow, it's all over! She'll have control of the arrow!" She unleashed her powers.

Yamabuki hollered, "NO! STAY YER HAND, FAM, BEFORE WE TRY ANYTHING!"

Haruhi roared, "FIEND! YOU WILL SUFFER!" She unleashed her Stand, "ALT R.C.!"

Haruhi unleashed her Stand… Alt R.C.?

Nanao/Okuma cried, "WAIT! That's not Crimson War Goddess! That's-!"

June/Pets cried, "Is that Alt R.C.?"

Pets/June cried, "Then… that means we found her! Ain't no doubt!"

POW!
Haruhi punched the arm off of Chariot Requiem, breaking it off, with a portal on its wound.

Pets/June cheered, "IT'S KANA-BUN!"

She was right. Kana's soul is inside Haruhi's body! Chariot fell, as Pets cried, "Oh, thank god! Kana-bun, you came right on time!"

Kana/Haruhi said to Pets, "And you are…?"

Pets/June smiled, "Kana-bun, it's me!"

Kana/Haruhi said, "Yes… I recognized that cadence. You're Pets. And you two?"

June/Pets said, "I'm June."

Okuma/Nanao added, "And I am Tanukichi."

Kana/Haruhi replied, "I see… So, we've swapped, haven't we?"

Yamabuki smiled, "Impressive. So, it appears ya have pieced er'rything together."

She saw the turtle and asked, "Who are you? Are you the girl we were supposed to meet?"

Yamabuki said, "That's right. I am Yamabuki Suou. I died in Haruhi's hands… but in an instant, after my Stand used the arrow, and my soul went to the turtle. However, this body that died was a host robot body, but that's explained fer later. The Stand in black you see is my former Stand, Ninja Chariot… only he is with the arrow's power, and has become Chariot Requiem. He is responsible for our displaced souls!"

Kana/Haruhi gasped, "Wha? Wait a sec… If my soul's in this body, then… My body… It's only natural that The Boss has-."

Nanao/Okuma replied, "No, there's no need to worry, Kana Koumoto. Your original body is lying there, lifeless and still… let alone it hasn't moved an inch."

"Oh… Then you're… the robot?"

Nanao/Okuma replied, "Affirmative. Though, I cannot function why and how I can swap with Tanukichi Okuma, but the matter is not of its utmost importance, right now. Eros 7 & 8 are already monitoring your body, making sure if it twitches or spazzes out. But she's out cold. Might be a while, before she gets up."

June/Pets cried "Kana! Requiem's back on his feet!" The Stand got up, and slowly headed off. "We've already learned what this arrow does… but if we can just grab it, everything will be back to normal!"

Kana/Haruhi grabbed the arrow, but a hand appeared, clutching onto her neck. It was Alt-R.C.'s own hand. She tried breaking free, but Alt-R.C. appeared and went after her. She cried, "What are you doing? ALT-R.C.?!"

Requiem turned around and went to the arrow. June/Pets roared, "QUICK! GET THE ARROW! REQUIEM'S GOING FOR IT!"

He ran to the arrow, and Nanao/Okuma fired with a pistol, shooting down Requiem. His hand was shot off. Kana/Haruhi gasped, "No… Something's not right! Miseria! Did he-?"

Nanao/Okuma fired again and said, "Not on my watch, Chariot Requiem!"

Suddenly, Eros 1 appeared, as it flew back to him, "YOU GOOD-FER-NOTHING ASSHOLE! DIE!"

Kana/Haruhi cried, "THE PILLAR NEXT TO YOU! KASHIMA, DUCK!"

Nanao/Okuma shrieked, "NO! EROS 1, DISPERSE!"

SWIPE!
"WONDER MAN!" Okuma/Nanao used his Stand, Wonder Man, to punch the bullet, but it went through her hand.

SPLATTER!
Even so, Wonder Man turned it into rubber, and exploded into goo. Eros 1, however, went after Nanao/Okuma's face. He cried, "DIE! DIE! DIE! I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU! GO DIE NOW!"

The rest of Octo-Eros grabbed Number 1, as Number 5 cried, "Number 1, calm down!" Nanao/Okuma cried, "HEY, STOP IT, EROS 1! What are you doing to me? It's me, Nanao Kashima!"

SOCK!
Eros 3 slugged him, and Eros 1 regained his senses, "Whoa… What happened?"

June/Pets gasped, "What just happened? Why did Kana and Nanao's powers suddenly attack each other?"

"It can't be!" Yamabuki cried, as Requiem grabbed his arm and the arrow, reattached the limb, and departed.

"Oh, you're kidding me!" Beth/Emily yelled, "That creep got away with the arrow, and yet he's slow as a turtle! Uh… no offense."

"If I were ta guess… it's a result of its frenetic state." Yamabuki replied, "Not even I have seen Chariot use such a horrifying power, before. But this such is clear, if response ta my subconscious will, it has become a defensive Stand! As long as he lives, he'll allow no one ta take the arrow."

"To turn Stands and Spirits to one another… Such is a cunning defensive protocol to prevent us from our goal, and it's challenging to defeat!" Kana/Haruhi moaned.

June/Pets said, "So, not only it can switch souls… it can pull tricks like that?"

Emily/Beth barked, "This is ridiculous! So, we cannot defeat him? This is bloody outrageous! Sure, your Stands and Spirits are supercharged, but if we grab the arrow now, Requiem will end up trying to kill us!"

Beth/Emily said, "Uh, news flash… I have a Spirit Caller, and you don't!"

Emily/Beth yelled, "I KNOW WHAT I SAID! If we won't get this arrow, soon, we'll be roasted alive! Beth, any signs of more abnormal activities?"

Beth/Emily scouted the area and said, "Not so much… A few people are still waking up… Slowly but surely."

Eros 5 called, "EMERGENCY! Number 7 and 8 found something wrong with Koumoto!"

Eros 7 said, "Whoever's inside, then she's taking control of her body!"

Eros 8 gasped, as Kana's body got up, "Oh, hell! Whoever is in there… they're coming to!"

Pets/June cried, "Oh, shit! Just what we didn't want!"

Kana/Haruhi called, "We can worry about the arrow, later. Right now, we have to stop my former body! Get into place, all of you, and don't take your eyes off her!"

Kana's body was on one knee, and Kana/Haruhi said, "Kashima, take the shot! Make sure it's disabled!"

Nanao/Okuma nodded, "Understood." He hesitated and asked, "Wait… I cannot! Permit me, Kana Koumoto, but isn't that your body?! YES or NO?"

June/Pets said, "There's no need. Devil Princess can heal up the bullet wounds, without effort. So, shoot. We just have to incapacitate her. That was your plan, right, Kana?"

Kana/Haruhi said, "That is correct."

Eros 8 called, "GUYS, SHE'S ON THE MOVE! TAKE HER DOWN NOW!"

BANG! BANG!
He shot at the knees of Kana, as she screamed in pain, and collapsed. Eros 8 said, "That should do it! No one's getting up at us, anytime soon!"

Pets/June walked around, as she and Beth/Emily were scouring the area. Pets/June replied, "No one's showing up on my radar."

Beth/Emily said, "Mine, too. Looks like we got her."

Pets/June smiled, "We did it…" She looked around, all alone, "I'm so happy. Once we get the arrow, it'll all be over. Kana-bun, I'm so happy… I finally understood what you said, when you wanted to say goodbye to me, after I left to Mars. When it's all over, I'm going back home. You said so, yourself… when you called my name."

All my life, I've been lonely… All I wanted was friends. It's because I didn't want to be by myself. I was terrified of not being liked. I got into fights with them, because I wasn't being honest! Everything I did was an act! It was annoying! I can admit that, now! Kana's voice called to Pets, not long ago, before Kana formed Alternativa. And I'm no longer scared of not being liked! Why, Pets? Why leave?! I'm never gonna see you again! We never got the chance to make up, and I never got to say goodbye! I'm sorry… but I want to say a proper thank you to you… and I wanted to say goodbye to you! We're still friends, right? Tell me! I feel so sad! So very sad… But even though I'm feeling sad, I like it here… And so… I will stay.

Pets/June remembered, as she smiled, "Kana… Yeah. I'm so happy you felt that way. But even now, I'm so happy that you stayed by my side, the minute I realized that I made a grave mistake. We're still friends… You said it yourself… You're lonely without friends. You have Hijiri… and June and the rest. And when I return home, to my family… maybe I can treat you and Hijiri to porcinis. After that…"

Pets' voice narrated, "After that, I want to apologize to Kana-bun, for what I said… and remain her friend, always and forever. And even Hijiri… She can call me a dumb bitch, all she wants. I don't care if she does. And even though Mossan is gone…" She sniffled. She looked up and whispered, "Kana-bun…"

HEY, PETS! I LOVE YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!

Kana's voice echoed into her heart, as she was in bliss.

Meanwhile, Okuma and Nanao were by the pillar. Nanao/Okuma responded, "Tanukichi Okuma, I need you for this."

"OH? Uh, sure."

"I have spare ammo in me. I am out of ammo, right now. Please. Give me the ammunition inside my left calf."

"Uhhhh…"

"Just press the button on my ankle, and my boot will open up a box full of bullets. I keep them packed safely, to maintain storage."

Okuma/Nanao gasped, as she opened her leg, "Whoa! You ain't kidding!"

Pets/June cried, "WAIT! TANUKICHI! Let me say this…" She nervously said, "No matter what… I'll protect you, until the end! That's a promise!"

Okuma/Nanao smiled, "Thank you, Pets…"

Kana/Haruhi called, "Kashima! Make sure to shoot at both her legs, just to be safe."

Nanao/Okuma said, "Sure. Tanukichi Okuma, a handful will suffice, but the moment I shoot down her legs, I'll need them all, that is until before we switch bodies again."

She gave him the bullets, and then…
ZIP!
…Okuma/Nanao stepped back, while Nanao/Okuma's hand was closed. He asked, "What are you doing?"

Nanao/Okuma said, "Yeah, I gave you your bullets."

"No, you didn't. You were just standing there, while I offered you-."

"But… I didn't!"

He looked down, as he panicked, "Wha-? What the-? WHAT DID YOU DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?" He screamed in horror.

Okuma/Nanao cried, "WAIT! I gave you your damn bullets! What's wrong with you?"

Nanao/Okuma yelled, "IT'S NOT THAT! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY YOU DROPPED?!"

He pointed down, as he screamed, "You dropped FOUR bullets on the ground! Why would you do that, you idiot?"

They all gasped, as Beth/Emily cried, "Don't tell me!"

June/Pets cried, "Time jumped, just now! We skipped a few seconds!"

Yamabuki said, "I know. Did anyone hear the bullets fall to the ground land?"

Kana/Haruhi cried, "It can't be! I was watching her closely! Not once did I catch her move, let alone invoke Crimson War Goddess! It makes absolutely NO SENSE! What other nefarious forces are we bothered with, this time?"

Emily/Beth said, "Hang on, lemme pick up your spare bullets for-."

Nanao/Okuma shrieked, "NO! As a robot, I can handle a little 4 action, even if it is bad luck, but as a human, borrowing from another… I CANNOT BEAR IT!"

Okuma/Nanao cried, "WHY IS THIS MY FAULT?"

Nanao/Okuma said, "Please, do me a favor, Tanukichi Okuma. Drop one more bullet, and NOW! If you do that, I will be at ease!"

Emily/Beth roared, "OH, STUFF IT, ROBOT! Why are you so panicked, after being human, and seeing a bad omen?!"

Okuma/Nanao gasped, "WAAAAAH?! OH, SHIT! WHAT HAVE I DONE? FOUR IS A BAD OMEN!"

"ARE YOU DEAF? I SAID DROP ONE MORE BULLET! I CANNOT HAVE THAT NUMBER NEAR ME, NOT IN THIS BODY!"

"Are you shitting me? I'm Japanese, and even so, the number 4 is bad luck to us! I just can't!"

"WHY? YOU DROPPED FOUR, SO DROP ANOTHER!"

June/Pets said, "How sure are we that it's Haruhi, inside Kana's body?" They all stopped, as she asked, "Hey, Okuma, didn't you say that you cannot sense her inside? When we woke up, you said that you couldn't sense her, anywhere. But what about now?"

Okuma/Nanao growled, as Yamabuki cried, "That can't be the case, fam! Ya swapped with Pets, while Maynard switched with Beth, and Okuma swapped with the android! It stands ta reason that Koumoto has swapped with Haruhi! With Requiem's power, they're the only pairin' that matters!"

June/Pets said, "Yeah, I get that, but none of that explains why time just jumped! That can only mean that whoever is in that body, it can't possibly be Haruhi… It's someone else!"

Kana/Haruhi said, "Pets, Beth, how is your perimeter? Do you detect any source?"

Nothing. Pets did not respond, neither was Beth. Beth was already far from the others. Kana gasped, "P-Pets?"

Suddenly, a pool of blood appeared from above her. Kana/Haruhi looked up.

Okuma/Nanao cried, "What the hell? Why couldn't I feel her soul, like I normally do?"

Beth/Emily rushed in, "OUT OF THE WAY! MOVE!" She was scared, as she growled, "DAMMIT, NO!"

Yamabuki cried, "It can't be! How on earth did she-?"

Kana/Haruhi gasped in horror, "But that's impossible… BETH! KASHIMA! SCAN THE AREA, RIGHT NOW! MAKE SURE THERE'S NO ONE AROUND!" She whispered, "No… Say it ain't so…"

June's body was severely impaled into a steel grating, as her body was dead.

"Wha-? JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNE!" Emily/Beth shrieked.

Kana/Haruhi yelled, "NO, WAIT! YOU FORGET! That's-!"

June/Pets whimpered, "Pets? No way!"

Beth/Emily shrieked, "PETS! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! KANA, GET HER DOWN, GODDAMN IT! HURRY!"

June/Pets yelled, "Sis, calm down! Let me handle this!"

The others restrained her, as Kana/Haruhi nodded, "Kashima, make sure to patrol the area! We have to stay focused! She may attack again! We have to find her, before she does, quick! June, this is your call now! GO, ALT-R.C.!"

She freed June's dead body, and June/Pets rushed over to the corpse. Beth/Emily yelled, "HEAL HER, SIS! QUICKLY!"

Emily/Beth called, "Kashima-san, get those damned bars out of June's body, and let June get Pets back!"

June/Pets healed her, as June's body was fixed and whole. But…

Okuma/Nanao looked on, as he thought, "The people around the Colosseum are waking up… But… Where is she? I can't sense her, anywhere! It's like she's gone! What else could've happened? How in the blue hell could she have vanished, like that?"

Kana/Haruhi said, "Crimson War Goddess's range is two to three meters, at most. There's no way my former body did that, while grounded. How did she attack Pets, as quick as possible, from way over there?"

June's body woke up, as Pets/June moaned lightly. Emily/Beth smiled, "Well, alright! You did it!"

Beth/Emily smiled, "Welcome back, Pets! You had me worried! I lost contact with you!"

"I'm sorry… Sis…" June/Pets whimpered, "But… … … It…" She was sniffling. June's body leaked tears from her eyes, "I… I was too late… Pets… is gone…"

They both spoke, "It's… empty… Pets' soul… I cannot find her… The physical wounds she has suffered are healed… but still, I was too late… Devil Princess didn't make it, in time… She was… She was already gone… Pets is… not here…"

Pets' body responded, as it was shaking, about to collapse, speaking in June's cadence, "This body… it's just an empty vessel. I can't find her. Her soul has left. There's nothing here! Try as I might, I can't bring her back! I wasn't fast enough! My soul could've just slipped back into both bodies! It could've saved her! My body can handle two souls without a problem, not even one. She's that empty…"

Pets gasped, and she collapsed. Pets' breathing stopped and died. June woke up, returning to her original body.

Emily/Beth screamed, "PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETS!"

Nanao/Okuma sobbed, "No… Tomomi Hetada…"

June said, "It was all so sudden. None of us couldn't have guessed."

Okuma/Nanao sobbed, as Kana/Haruhi growled. Kana, inside The Boss's body, knew that she lost… another friend. Tomomi Hetada, Kana's best friend, is dead.

[Tomomi Hetada a.k.a. "Pets" - Galaxy Train: DECEASED]

Beth/Emily was crying, as she looked at Pets' body. She then sniffled, "Why? Why did you have to die, just now? After we have been chummy, all of a sudden? Pets… Why? We… We were friends…" She sobbed, as she held her fists. She then hollered at the top of her lungs…
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Beth Nevins lost the one person she considered a friend, even after denouncing Kana Koumoto. Beth's tears, inside Emily's body, was pouring out, knowing that she lost a true friend and ally. It wasn't Switzerland, all over again, but it was damn sure close.

Meanwhile, in Napoli, Hijiri was walking alone, by herself. She suddenly stopped, as she saw a view of a small spark of flame, similar to Galaxy Train's. Hijiri whispered, "Pets…"

It was a spark of hope… which ignited the rest of their team to their final victory. However, was it all for naught?

Mossan's dead… Kana's a living corpse… and now, Pets is dead…
The NEW Gang increases by 1, but drops 1, as well. Will they be able to find and stop Chariot AND the body that has the soul of Haruhi Suzumiya?

To be continued…