"How many Chizurus does it take to change a lightbulb?"
Chapter 5 - The Council
Shadowcrest - Neo Tokyo - Earth-777
Chizuru and Ms. Puzzle walk to the entrance of the castle, they meet with a giant wood door
"Pu nepo!" - Exclaims Ms. Puzzle rising her hands as slowly the gate opens up
Entering both women see what appears to be a room with two pairs of stairs leading to a corridor with some doors
"So who are this other people who will help us?" - Chizuru
"..." - Ms. Puzzle looks back at Chizuru with a sly smile, she then breaths as both women keep walking throught the corridors of the castle
"*Sigh* Tell me, Chizuru. What did I just told you again?" - Ms. Puzzle
"That we weren't the only ones who Vermilion wants to kill." - Chizuru stares at the decoration in the corridors, truly it feel like a mysterious place
"Yes, so I want to ask you. Who do you suspect could help us that is also being targeted by Vermilion?" - Ms. Puzzle
"Chizuru?" - Ms. Puzzle turns around, she sees Chizuru stopped in front of a piece of forniture holding some strange objects, but there was two that called Kagura's attention
"This are your friends?" - Says Kagura looking at a group picture where the Ultra Fighters could be seen.
"More like business partners... Some of them probably will look familiar for you." - Ms. Puzzle
Chizuru stares at the picture where Ms. Puzzle appears alongside other heroes from Neo Tokyo, Firelord, Snakeman, Speed Wolf, Xana, Dragonlight, White Arrow, Kamui and Red Dove.
"And is this person your-" - Chizuru looks at the second picture on the forniture, she sees Ms. Puzzle and another woman who strangely looks similar to her despite being more taller than her
"My sister, Rose..." - Says Ms. Puzzle in a sad tone
"I'm sorry." - Chizuru
"No, is ok. Sometimes I have thought about quitting entirely... But then I remember the words of my sister, how she wouldn't give up if she was the one who had survived... And that in a way push me to not give up." - Ms. Puzzle
"But enough about the past, let's get going! I have some people who I want you to meet." - Ms. Puzzle
As both women arrive to two wooden doors where some noise could be heared of the other side of the door. Both Chizuru and Ms. Puzzle stand there
"So, tell me who is going to help us?" - Chizuru
"You!" - Ms. Puzzle puts her hands on the doorknob of the door
"What?" - Chizuru
"Why don't you take a look!" - Ms. Puzzle
Chizuru and Ms. Puzzle open the door, suddenly Chizuru is surprised by what she sees on the other side
"And then I told him... I'll seal that power! He thought I was joking and I ended up winning, what a fool!" - Says a woman very similar to Chizuru to a group of five women also similar to her
"Hahahahah!" - The five women resembling Chizuru also laugh
"(What is going on?)" - Chizuru is confused as she stares at the many strange women in this hall resembling her
"Ah, this drinks taste actually pretty good." - Says a strange woman resembling Chizuru of a exotic appearence
"Are this women my?" - Chizuru is baffled as she looks at the big number of people identical to her reunited here
"Chizuru, meet our counterparts! In the last two weeks, me and the Yata Trinity have been reaching out to all our counterparts from other earths." - Ms. Puzzle
"The Yata Trinity?" - Chizuru
"Yes, you will meet them soon. In the meantime, let me give you a tour of who will be helping us." - Ms. Puzzle
"Hello!" - Says a man of short black hair, slim appearence and dressed in an outfit similar to Chizuru
"He is Shisui Kagura from Earth-63!" - Ms. Puzzle
Chizuru shakens hands with Shisui
"You know, me and my brother Mark. We always wondered what it was to have a sister, now I have like a hundred sisters." - Says the young man in a happy tone
"Curious... When I was a child, I used to wonder what it would be to have a brother... Is a pleasure to meet you." - Chizuru
"Hmph! So you must be the new girl?" - Says Matriarch
"Chizuru, this is Chizuru Kagura from earth-44. The Matriarch of Kagura City from 2045." - Ms. Puzzle
"Is a pleasure to meet you." - Chizuru shakes the hand of the woman of a not so happy look
"I suppose is a pleasure to meet you." - Matriarch
"Ignore her moody personality, she is nuts. Literally had a entire city enslaved." - Ms. Puzzle whispers
"Really?" - Chizuru
"Here's Ms. Kagura from Earth-34, teacher from the central high school of Osaka. Sheriff Kagura from earth-22, the sheriff from Neo Geo town. Makirita Bugler from earth-96, she is the owner of a store that sells armors and battle gear in a medieval earth." - Says Ms. Puzzle introducing Chizuru to three women exactly like her, one dressed as a teacher with glasses, another dressed as a cowgirl and one dressed as if she came from the medieval times
"Are them also?" - Chizuru looks at a table where a strange small version of her is sitting with a woman who looks like a humanoid tigress, a woman identical to her with a chainsaw replacing her right hand and a woman who looks exactly like female actress Francoise Yip in a blue leather jacket with black pants talking between them
"Yes, these are the Chizurus from earths 54, 86, 21 and 30." - Ms. Puzzle
"Oh, those must be your pets!" - Chizuru and Ms. Puzzle keep walking, they see a sparrow, a cat of white and black fur with a small collar on her neck resembling the Yata mirror, a small mouse and lizard standing on one of the windows of the castle
"No, those are the Chizurus from earths 32, 23, 43 and 45." - Ms. Puzzle
"But they are animals!" - Chizuru
"Exactly!" - Ms. Puzzle
As Chizuru and Ms. Puzzle meet with other Kaguras in this big room, suddenly they are approached by a strange woman of a dark dress with wings and pale white skin
"So you're not going to present her to me?" - Ask the strange woman with the face of Chizuru crossing her arms catching up with them
"*Sigh*" - Ms. Puzzle is visibly annoyed
"(What happened to her?! She looks like a demon, her essence, her chi and appearence... She is a demon!)" - Chizuru is shocked staring at the strange woman of a beastly demonic appearence
"Ah.. Chizuru. This is Chizuru Kagura, the Succubus Queen from earth-69." - Ms. Puzzle rolls her eyes
"Hello there, darling. You must be the girl Ms. Puzzle have been talking about, You look pretty young and innocent." - Says the Succubus Queen approaching Chizuru
"Thanks... I guess." - Chizuru becomes nervous feeling a big amount of dark chi coming from this woman
The succubus queen raises her hand, wanting to shake Chizuru's hand.
"I don't think that could be a good idea." - Ms. Puzzle puts herself in front of Kagura. Avoiding her from shaken hands with the Succubus Queen
"Oh sorry, I remember. Ms. Puzzle is a party pooper. Still is good to have you here... Heheheh." - Says the Succubus Queen leaving with her drink
"Listen, the less you know about her the better. And whatever you do, just don't touch her!" - Ms. Puzzle
"..." - Chizuru opens her eyes widely looking at this woman
"So you meet that sick woman. She always tries to make any of us touch her... She is disgusting." - Says a woman identical to Chizuru sporting the appearence of a mercenary
"Hello there, Heidern. This is Chizuru Heidern from earth-31. Member of the Mercenary group know as the Ikari Warriors and the second adoptive daughter of their commander, Heidern." - Ms. Puzzle
"I see, so you must be a woman with some good survival skills. This must be weird for you." - Chizuru
"Not much, I have seen alot of strange things before, but I never thought I would meet other counterparts of myself." - Says Chizuru Heidern
Chizuru, Ms. Puzzle and Chizuru Heidern keep walking through the big room when suddenly..
"Boo!" - A strange woman sporting a green face and black hair, dressed in a black leather jacket, jeans, with a voluptuous body appears in front of Chizuru out of nowhere
"..." - Chizuru opens her eyes widely scared
"Hahahaha! I almost got you, but I see you felt my presence. You're tricky to scare, aren't you, tough gal?" - Says the strange green faced woman
Chizuru raises an eyebrow, she then looks back at Ms. Puzzle and Chizuru Heidern
"Ah, not this woman again." - Ms. Puzzle facepalms
"What's wrong, Witch? You're not happy to see me? It was you who brought me here in first place, remember? I was about to have this amazing date with a hunk, red haired musician when you appeared telling me about this Verminator something." - Says the strange woman of the green face
"First of all, is Ms. Puzzle! Second, it was the Yata Trinity who wanted you on the council. Believe me, if it wasn't for those powers of yours. We wouldn't have brought you here." - Ms. Puzzle
"Whatever you said, witchy poo. I just hope this gets over soon so I can return to my home. I have alot of better things that I could be doing instead of spending my night with a bunch of grumpy women like you or that maniac from earth-44!" - Says the green faced woman
"But enough about these two, what's new girl? Tell me more about you?" - Says the green faced woman surrounding Chizuru with her arms, for Chizuru's surprise. The crazy green faced woman is able to move her arms as if they were elastic
"I think this conversation is over." - Says Ms. Puzzle getting between the confused Kagura and the Green faced lady
"Chizuru, this is Chizuru Kagura from earth-68. She has really amazing powers that could help us to stop Vermilion." - Says Ms. Puzzle as the green faced lady looks at herself in a mirror smiling
"And the personality of a brat." - Whispers Ms. Puzzle
"I heared that but you're lucky I don't want to smash your pretty face, little witch." - Says the crazy green faced woman
"But why is her face green?" - Asks Chizuru curious, Ms. Puzzle just rises her arms not knowing either
"I could tell you why my face is green and so pretty as it is... But there's a small tiny little problem with that." - Says the green faced woman
"What is it?" - Chizuru
"If I told you, we would be sued. You don't want to get sued, right? That would be pretty bad. And I don't need more problems with the law apart from the ones I have already." - Says the woman of green face
"By the way, you can call me Chizu! The green faced beauty!" - Says Chizu wanting to shake hands with Chizuru
Chizuru stares at Chizu's hand, she sees her having a joy buzzer strapped to her hand
"..." - Chizuru stares at Chizu with two serious eyes
"Smart girl I see. I like you!" - Chizu
"Maybe you're not so boring after all! I'll tell you what. If I could replicate my powers and share my beauty with anyone, I would like to share it with you! Instead of that grumpy witch!" - Says Chizu showing her tongue to Ms. Puzzle
"Hmph!" - Ms. Puzzle just crosses her arms annoyed
"But I don't understand it, how can you be so calm at this moment, knowing every one of us is being chased by this creature who seens invincible!" - Chizuru
"I'm not scared of this Vermiwhatever thing! I left my insegurities in the past, I'm a woman reborn! Free like a bird and brave as a tiger! No one messes with this beauty! And frankly, only one of moi would be enough to defeat this guy!" - Says Chizu with a confident face
*Bang* - Chizuru Heidern pulls out a gun, she shots at Chizu
"..." - Chizu stares at the hole in her chest
"OUCH! Why you did that? I thought we were friends?!" - Chizu falls to her knees
"Sonofabitch! She really can't die!" - Says Chizuru Heidern pulling her gun back
"I may not be able to die, but I still have emotions and feelings you know!" - Says Chizu staring at her cartoony looking heart from the hole of the bullet in her chest
"This hurts but it doesn't hurts as much as when I got rejected by my beloved puddin." - Says Chizu pulling a sad face
"God, have mercy! What did I do to have this freak as my counterpart?" - Ms. Puzzle
"Ok, Chizuru. Go meet with the rest. I have some stuff to talk with this two. In a few minutes I'll be with you again." - Says Ms. Puzzle staying with Chizuru Heidern and Chizu
Chizuru goes to walk in the room alone, she suddenly is called by a voice identical to hers
"Hello!" - Chizuru turns aroung seeing a woman identical to her with a white streak on her hair greeting her, a strange woman whose head is a skull covered in flames, a young woman identical to her dressed as a schoolgirl and a strange woman of large fangs eating a apple with red eyes sitting together, unknown to her this were the Chizurus of earths Earth-25, 98, 12, and 11
"Hello, so you were brought by Ms. Puzzle too?" - Chizuru
"What do you think?" - Says the Vampire Kagura licking her lips
"Ignore her, she is just hungry. When she gets hungry she starts acting obnoxious." - Says the young teenager Chizuru
"But there's actually alot of food in these tables." - Chizuru points out at the banquets full of spicy food that were making her even lick her lips
"Oh she doesn't eat food. She only drinks blood." - Says the Chizuru of the white haired streak
"Ah, I see." - Chizuru smiles nervously
"So, it is true that you had two encounters with Vermilion?" - Says the Kagura with the skull in flames for head in a strange supernatural voice
"Yes, for what Ms. Puzzle said, he is responsable for the bad luck that I had for the last days. But perhaps he is the reason behind the bad luck I always had." - Chizuru stares at the flaming skull head Kagura
"So you also had those dreams?" - Ask the Chizuru of the white streak on her hair
"Yes, is hard to believe those dark and horrible scenarios actually happened. Feeling the pain of these other counterparts of us in their last moments... It was awful." - Chizuru
"I know, apart from raising many questions. It makes one wonder what happened to those earths after we died. I keep thinking about it but I'm not sure myself if I'm ready for that answer." - Says the Kagura of the white streak in the hair
"Yes." - Chizuru
"This maybe be inappropriate but could I ask what happened to you?" - Asks Kagura to the strange Kagura of the flaming skull head
"Oh this? Is a large story, when dad gave me the mirror of Yata to me instead of Maki to be the head of the clan, I ended up seeing the dead of her as a vision. I was desperated, I wanted to save her. I did something I shouldn't had done and then he appeared, he answered to my call, a strange blonde man appeared inside the garden of my house as the sunset was happening. He offered me to make a contract, if I gave him my soul. Nothing would happen to Maki, I was willing to do anything for my sister." - Says The Phantom Rider Kagura
"And you signed the contract?" - Asks Chizuru
"What do you think? Sadly, I was tricked. Maki wasn't killed by Goenitz like it happened to them." - Says the Phantom Rider looking at the other three Kaguras
"But instead, my dear sister died of cancer a few years later. When I was 20 years old, I summoned him again. I wanted to know why he had tricked me, he said that Maki wouldn't be killed by anyone's hand but that didn't included any diseases. With his cold smile, he said I now belonged to him and then it happened, he turned me into what you're looking at now." - Says The Phantom Rider
"Oh... I'm so sorry." - Says Chizuru putting her hand on the Phantom Rider's shoulder
"Is alright. You learn to live with your curse after all. Despite what he did to me, I have decide to only use this curse for good. But I had never meet anything like Vermilion before. A creature who is unable to be affected by my powers." - Says The Phantom Rider
"And what happened to you, how it was your reaction to arrive to this place?" - Chizuru turns around to see her counterpart of the white streak in the hair
"Well you see, this isn't my first time dealing with a problem that involves another earth." - Says the Kagura of the white streak
"The situation of my world has been pretty crazy recently, so when Ms. Puzzle contacted me. I didn't doubted in coming with her." - Says the Kagura of the White streak
"Interesting. I used to think this whole theory of other universes existing was something impossible but seeing this many counterparts of us reunited here. Is something impressive." - Chizuru admits
"And that white streak?" - Asks Chizuru curious
"Well, how do I say this? It was a gift." - Says Earth-25's Kagura
"A gift?" - Chizuru
"Yes, is a bit complicated.. It all started when I learned-" - Earth-25's Chizuru is interrupted when suddenly a couple of steps can be heared.
"Look! Is the Yata Trinity!" - Says Makirita Bugler as three shadows step out walking down the staircases of the big hall
"(The Yata Trinity?)" - Chizuru and the other Chizurus that were with her get up
Chizuru is surprised as she sees three women sporting really powerful chis being in front of the rest of the Kaguras. A young Chizuru with a confident smile sporting a business suit, a Chizuru with futuristic clothes of an unknown year and a older matured looking Chizuru sporting ceremonial robes looking like a queen. This were the chizurus of earths 50, 99 and 70
"So everyone is here?" - Asks the older Kagura
"... Yes, she is here." - Says the Kagura of the futuristic clothes looking at Chizuru in the back
"Good! Then we can start!" - Says the Kagura of the business suit
"Members of the Yata clan from different earths and realities. Let the first meeting of the Council of the Yata start!" - Say the Kagura of the futuristic clothes
To Be Continued...