Les Jeux Mystèrieux: The Mysterious Games
Janna: Holy GOD, are things getting weird.
Max: Last episode, we returned to Mt. Taikyoku to get everybody healed up.
Chris: In the process, Anne gained the ability to use telepathy...sort of.
Jeff: So then Taiitsu-kun sent us to Konan...for the third time.
Katherine: Thankfully, she helped us convince the Suzaku Warriors that we didn't want to harm them...
Luna: But then Anne made her third wish, to wake Berit up! She almost died, but she managed to keep from being consumed by Byakko.
Anne: When Berit woke up, something weird happened...she seemed to change, and then started to make a wish! What's going on?
(There is silence for a moment)
Anne: Umm...where's Nick?
Jeff: Dunno. Somewhere in a straightjacket.
Episode 31: Mayonaka no chinmoku (The Silence of Midnight)
(Berit looks at her hands, and then smiles. Her purple aura deepens for a moment, and then she speaks)
Berit: Soon, you shall understand...everything. KAI...JIN!!!!
(Beneath Berit, a large blue circle appears, and azure light shoots up around Berit's body. The Suzaku Warriors gasp)
Tamahome: (horrified) Berit!!! What are you doing???
(But Berit is already in the thrall of the wish, and she falls backwards onto the waiting throne)
Kokie: What the hell is going on??? What did she just wish for?
Chiriko (the youngest Suzaku Warrior): It is very illogical...and quite perplexing. That purple aura around her has never appeared before, if I am not mistaken...
Nuriko: (almost speechless) I've never seen it before...
Karasuki: Hey, are you guys going to allow this??? Just let Berit wish again, possibly sending her into another coma???
(The eyes of the Suzaku Warriors widen, but Anne steps forwards)
Anne: No, she won't. It's impossible that that would happen; my third wish was to protect Berit's mind from Suzaku's consumption.
Hotohori: (concealing his worry) Well, that is truly a godsend...literally. But, what could she be wishing for right now?
Amefuri: Hey, you guys wouldn't happen to know what Berit wished for the first time, would you?
Mitsukake: (strangely emotionless) Considering she was in her coma since the summoning ceremony, we do not know. It is a question we were going to ask her when she woke up.
Tatara: You don't have any idea??? You didn't talk to her before the ceremony or anything?
Chichiri: (sincerely) She didn't tell us anything, really!
Tokaki: Then, do you have any idea at all??
(The Suzaku Warriors exchange glances, and then all seven of them shake their heads)
Subaru: Well, that makes it easier if they all don't know, I guess...
(Anne is about to open her mouth, when the palpable mood of the room changes. Whereas before it was simply antagonistic, now the air around the group seems tinted with some darker emotion)
(As the Byakko and Suzaku Warriors wonder what's happening, Anne gasps. In the center of the throne room, between the Byakko and Suzaku Warriors, the same purple glow that surrounded Berit is tingeing the air)
Anne: What...is that?
(The purple glow deepens, and the mist begins to reform itself into a humanoid shape. It becomes more and more feminine, until the mist could be mistaken for a tall woman...made out of glowing purple air)
(Nobody speaks, afraid of both the consequences of speaking and interrupting whatever is happening. Suddenly, there is a bright red flash and an enormous expense of chi, so large that it sends the Byakko Warriors into the air, throwing all of them against the wall. Both Anne and the Suzaku Warriors appear to be unfazed, much to their surprise)
Anne: Oh, no! What happened???
(Anne is about to turn to her friends, when she realizes that the purple mist is now glowing red. Against her better judgment, she looks back at the figure. The red glare is so intense that Anne has to shade her eyes, but through her fingers she can see that the figure is slowly becoming more and more opaque as the red light fades away)
(In a few moments, the red light has receded enough for Anne to see the figure. Unconsciously, Anne's mouth drops in surprise)
(The figure is a woman, as evinced by the form of the purple mist, but the woman herself is what surprises Anne. Rather than staying in the purple form, the figure has solidified to something decidedly human, with its back to Anne)
(The woman is tall, with a regal manner. She has hair the color of the blackest ink, which is swept over her head to fall straight down her back. Her back is mostly uncovered, but that appears to be simply a consequence of her clothing; she is wearing a long purple dress that extends to the floor, pooling around what Anne assumes to be her feet. Her dress does not cover her arms entirely; it stops at the shoulders and resumes at the elbows, flaring out along the arms to expose hands with long fingers)
(The strangest thing about the woman, to Anne, are the ribbons that seem to be entwined around her. Floating gently in the air around the woman's arms are two brilliant silk ribbons, that spiral around her each arm and end above her head, countering the lack of complete arm cover. They look as if they were held up by some force, but Anne cannot guess what that force is)
(Anne holds her breath as the woman slowly turns around, as if in awe of her very body. When Anne can finally see her face, she exhales with a quick breath. The woman is clearly of Asian descent, with the angular eyes and vaguely triangular face. The dress in the front covers up only a slightly larger amount of skin than on her back; it covers her breasts in delicately embroidered purple cloth, but her stomach is open for the world to see. What surprises Anne the most is the woman's eyes; they are forceful and passionate, not to mention a deep shade of yellow. Oddly, the yellow only sets off her dress rather than making the woman look demonic)
(The woman stares, wide-eyed, at her hands, and then tentatively touches her waist. When she feels the solidity of her body, she grins, and then bursts into manic laughter. Anne stares in confusion as the woman does something very strange; she opens her mouth and begins to sing)
(The notes that flow out of her mouth are the most beautiful that Anne has ever seen, tumbling and mixing together in complex melodies and even harmonies with itself. The song sounds a bit familiar to Anne, and she tries to remember where she has heard it before)
(The memories come back in a flash; it is the same song from her dreams; the same song that she heard when she first met Berit, the same song she heard when the Byakko Warriors began to fight. Her eyes widen as the dots begin to connect)
Anne: That...song...
(The woman stops singing, and turns to Anne slowly. Anne instinctively takes a step back at the ferocity of the woman's stare. When the woman speaks, her voice is as beautiful as the song she sang)
Woman: (emotionlessly) You recognize it, don't you? Or have you forgotten?
Anne: No...it's the song I've been hearing in my dreams.
(The woman smirks at some joke whose humor is lost on Anne)
Anne: (trying to keep her voice from wavering in fear) Who are you?
(The woman closes her eyes with a smile of amusement)
Woman: (in a slightly archaic tone of voice) You haven't understood yet, have you? Has Taiitsu-kun not explained the entire story to you yet?
(Anne looks at her in confusion. Abruptly, the woman starts laughing with undisguised mirth. Behind Anne, the Byakko Warriors begin to get up)
Anne: What's so funny? Why are you laughing? And why haven't you answered my questions?
Woman: (ceasing her laughter gradually and opening her eyes) I simply find ignorant people amusing, that is all. I find it amazing that you have not even an inkling of the current situation, nor an inkling of my identity.
Tatara: (raising himself to a standing position) Well, of course she doesn't know who you are! None of us have ever met you!
(The woman begins to laugh even harder, causing tears to spring to her eyes)
Kokie: I don't know who you are, but I know I don't like you laughing at Anne and Tatara! Tell me who you are, or I'll blast you into oblivion!
(The woman stops laughing, and raises one eyebrow at Kokie)
Woman: (seriously) I'd be careful if I were you, Kokie, lest I take you up on that threat of yours and teach you a far worse lesson than the soldiers of Kutou did.
(Kokie's eyes widen in surprised fear, and her lower lip unconsciously trembles)
Tokaki: Hey!!! That was a low blow! Take it back!
(The woman turns towards Tokaki, who is slowly advancing)
Woman: This coming from the boy who got beaten into the ground by an old man?
(Tokaki's eyes narrow)
Tokaki: How do you know about that? Furthermore, how did you know Kokie's name?
Woman: Fools, you still don't understand. I've seen every element of your pitiful journey, from the very instant that you entered this world.
Amefuri: What are you talking about?
Woman: (patronizingly) That's not a very good question, so I'll ask a better one; what is the root reason that you eight were brought to this world? Do you know?
(Anne stares in disbelief at the woman. That question is almost identical to the one asked by the Other Anne in her nightmare. But none of the Byakko Warriors answer, as they do not know. The woman smiles in victory)
Woman: You don't know the answer, do you? Well, I'll help you; the advantage you can take from this knowledge won't be enough. Did you ever wonder why Kutou attacked Sailo in the first place? Or perhaps why Kutou went to war again mere years from their previous war?
Toroki: Because the emperor ordered it? We don't know!
Woman: I'd appreciate it if you'd curb your tongue, Toroki. Anyway, as I was saying, the reason is central to why you are here. Did you ever wonder, Anne, in your journey to find your friends, why you didn't have any serious encounters with the armies of Kutou? Why you managed to find your Warriors with basically a minimum of effort? Without facing any serious adversary the entire way?
Anne: (coldly) Get to the point.
Woman: (continuing) Did you ever wonder why when you finally reached Kutou, why you didn't get massacred? Why you managed to escape with Kokie mostly unharmed? Or, an even better question; when the sea serpent attacked you on your boating excursion, why did you survive?
(Anne simply stares, suffering from a lack of answers)
Woman: You don't know. It's obvious that you haven't put together the pieces of the puzzle; you haven't asked the right questions, or demanded the answers you needed. The simple truth of the matter is that you have been manipulated the entire time, from even before you entered this world!
(Anne's face tightens for a moment, and then she brushes off her shock)
Anne: Really? You ask all these questions, but you haven't answered them or given any supporting evidence! Why don't you back up your claims?
(The woman raises one eyebrow)
Woman: Oh, so you're calling my bluff, are you? It's too bad that I'm not bluffing. I'll enlighten you, and then you'll see.
(The woman smiles and suddenly begins to sing. As before, the song is beautiful, but it is different this time. The purple glow around the woman intensifies, and then a purple globe of energy appears around her, quickly spreading outward. Anne and her Warriors watch in confusion as the globe pushes outwards, passing right through the walls of the throne room. The Suzaku Warriors, as well, are baffled, but Chichiri seems to recognize what the woman is doing)
Chichiri: A sphere of privacy...very interesting.
Woman: (without turning away from Anne) Somebody understands magic, I see. But, as I was saying. You have been manipulated to enter the book; more specifically, Kutou's war against Sailo prompted Taiitsu-kun to summon you into the book. Once there, you needed to go find your Warriors, which was yet another manipulation. And then you summoned Byakko without knowing why you did it; simply for Sailo's sake, you might say. But that wasn't the reason; if you had remained in this world after making your first wish to Byakko, your story would have been much shorter.
Woman: But not that much different; the events you are watching right now are overdue, and would have happened before had you tarried in this world. I would have taken over your body, and used your omniscient power to grant my wish.
(Anne still cannot reply or riposte, so the woman continues to talk)
Woman: You see, the emperor of Kutou was not acting in the best of interests of either his country or his own person when he declared war on Sailo. He was acting out my best interests; I needed that wish.
Toroki: So...that's why Kutou declared war on Sailo; so that Sailo's Priestess would appear. But how did you get the Emperor to do that?
Woman: You're beginning to understand. Did you see Berit a moment ago? That purple aura around her was my spirit. The Emperor of Kutou, now an old, dead man, was also under my control; his will was weak, far weaker than Berit's chi. Taking control was a simple matter, and exercising my will was simpler. And, that's when you eight came in.
Amefuri: To thwart your evil plans at every step!
Woman: (with a smile) Hardly. Besides, seeing as you know neither my plans nor my identity, the adjective "evil" is ill-applied. As I said before, I in fact thwarted plans to thwart your efforts. But you did thwart my plans in one aspect; you did something I never expected. After making your wishes, Anne, you left before I had an opportunity to fulfill my wish.
Subaru: (suddenly understanding) No...no way! Then you had Kutou go to war against Konan just to bring another Priestess to this world???
(The woman simply nods in agreement, with a bit of respect as well)
Subaru: But...that means...that you caused the death of hundreds of people just to get your wish!
(The woman shrugs)
Woman: I stopped caring years ago. After all, what would you do to grant your deepest wish?
Tatara: That's...despicable...what kind of wish would make you go to those lengths???
Woman: Very simple. Revenge. And the periods of amusement certainly didn't detract from my good moods.
Anne: (finally summoning up the courage to speak) ...amusement? What do you mean?
Woman: Well, surely you've noticed that certain people have been acting...out of character, if you will. Your sister over there is one example. Another...oh, yes. Remember that little spat revolving around the Suzaku Warriors?
(Anne's eyes widen as more pieces fall into place)
Anne: Then...that singing I heard...was you! You were the one who turned Berit against us, and caused...caused...
Woman: If you knew how amusing it was to watch, you'd have done the same thing that I did. Now, as I was saying-
Tokaki: (cutting off the woman) Shut up!!! I won't listen to this anymore!!! I'm going to kill you, for all the things you've done!!!!
(The woman appraises him with a cool gaze as Tokaki screams in rage, charging at her. As he moves within striking distance, the woman opens her mouth and sings one pure, clear note. Tokaki's eyes widen as something invisible hits him in the stomach, and he is sent flying back into the wall with a loud crunch)
Subaru: Tokaki!!! Oh, god...
Woman: (in a voice filled with steel) I'd advise against antagonistic actions, if I were you. You obviously have no idea who you're dealing with.
Kokie: The chances are against us guessing correctly; why don't you just be a good villain and tell us?
Woman: Be careful, Kokie; that smart mouth will get you into trouble. But I will continue, and I will get to my identity presently. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. After watching you all blunder around aimlessly, Berit finally summoned Suzaku. She at least stayed in this world, but she wasn't strong enough to handle Suzaku's consumption of her body and mind. That was most unfortunate; I was at a loss for a while until you so kindly wished her back to life.
Woman: I'm really very grateful, Anne. Without you, I surely would not have been able to make my wish a reality. It's really a shame that I can't let you live after this.
(Anne stares at the woman, dumbfounded)
Anne: Will you at least tell us who you are before you kill us???
(The woman thinks for a moment)
Woman: Actually, I changed my mind. I'd rather watch you die uninformed than enlight-
(Suddenly, the woman raises her head upwards, eyes widened in confused surprise)
Woman: Who...
(There is a flash of black light, and, to the side of the Byakko Warriors, five dark figures slowly phase into existence)
(Anne stares at them in confusion, but as their bodies solidify and she recognizes them, she almost screams)
Anne: No!!! Not now...my god, when will it end?!?!
(The five figures are none other than the five members of the cult)
Kokie: Oh, shit. Just who we need!
Tasuki: Who the hell are these people???
(But the cult members do not answer them, or even seem to notice either the Suzaku or Byakko Warriors. They are staring in ecstatic horror at the woman, and she stares back at them with an amused expression on her face)
Woman: Of course. You five would be able to pass my barrier, wouldn't you?
(As one, the five cultists drop to the floor, prostrate. At this, the woman simply rolls her eyes while the Byakko Warriors stare in confusion)
Tatara: Um...am I missing something here?
Nuriko: Why are they bowing???
Woman: Idiots, get up.
(At this, Mei stiffens and raises her head a fraction)
Mei: But...lord! How is it that you have regained your body?
Woman: Although this is very funny to watch, you are sadly mistaken. I am, nor have I ever been, your lord.
(Mei raises her head fully, eyes bugged out)
Mei: But...then...you are not Senri-E????
(The woman grins evily, and Anne visibly starts)
Anne: Senri-e??? Is that your name???
Senri-E: (with a shrug) I have been called that. I suppose it's as good a name as any.
Anne: But...Taiitsu-kun...
(Senri-E ignores Anne, looking back to Mei and her fellow cultists, who all seem confused)
Senri-E: Is there a problem?
Liao: My pardons...but if you are Senri-E...and not our Savior...then who are you?
Senri-E: Idiots, I'm the person you falsely worshipped for years!
(At this, all five cultists look as if they've been slapped. The rest of the spectators are simply confused)
Ren: W...what?
Senri-E: (rather nonchalantly) Really, I was wondering how long it would take you to understand. It was very nice of you to worship me; it only helped me. But unfortunately, you have all been mistaken this entire time.
Liang: Hey! Then if you aren't...who is?
Senri-E: That's something you'll never find out, nor do you need to know.
(Ren, Jun, Liang and Liao stand up from their deep bows. Mei seems frozen to the floor, clearly in the throes of a serious crisis of faith)
Jun: You mean...you've intentionally let us worship...an imposter???
Senri-E: (fakely pensive) Seems that way, doesn't it?
Anne: Listen! All of you! Senri-E did the same thing to us!
(At Anne's cry, the cultists seem to look at her with new eyes. Senri-E looks back and forth between them, as an alliance between the two groups was clearly not something she expected)
(Meanwhile, Subaru kneels next to Tokaki, propped up against the wall)
Subaru: Tokaki, can you get us out of here?
Tokaki: It's no use...I can't break through that barrier of hers...
(Senri-E stares at the cultists for a moment, and then she breaks into a smile)
Senri-E: Fine. You've impeded my plans for the last time, not to mention incurred my annoyance. So now I'll finally get rid of you all.
(The cultists stare at her in confusion as she opens her mouth. Senri-E sings one single note, that seems to be composed of five separate notes at once in harmony. This time, however, the note is not beautiful at all, but clashing and dissonant. It even seems to be of a strange pitch, that makes it sound more like a vibration than a sound. Anne covers her ears to keep out the noise as she closes her eyes tightly, but Senri-E simply increases the intensity of the sound, effortlessly holding the harmony)
(The Byakko and Suzaku Warriors all try to block out the sound, but it seems to simply be a painful tone, nothing more. However, something very strange is happening to the five cultists. Each of them seems to be in intense pain; while each holds their ears, something stranger is happening to their bodies)
(Anne hesitantly opens her eyes, to see a truly bizarre sight. It appears as if the bodies of the cultists are vibrating, and not a regular vibrating. It is as if each molecule of their bodies is struggling to get away from all of the others)
(Senri-E increases the intensity a slight amount, and then something horrifying happens. As if the vibrations suddenly became too much, the bodies of the five cultists suddenly explode into a shower of blood. Anne closes her eyes desperately, not wanting to believe what she is seeing. There are loud splashing noises, and Anne hesitantly opens her eyes)
(The sight is even worse than she could have imagined. Where, just a moment ago, the cultists stood, is a huge pool of blood, skin and other body parts. Anne's eyes widen, and her stomach clenches up, releasing her breakfast onto the floor as she falls forwards. The Byakko and Suzaku Warriors are struck dumb as Senri-E simply turns around casually, brushing off her hands)
Senri-E: Now that that's done, we can continue our talk unmolested.
(Nobody speaks for a moment, as Anne kneels on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, her blonde hair obscuring her face. The young Suzaku Warrior, Chiriko, is crying into Hotohori's robes. Tasuki, Nuriko, Tamahome and Hotohori stand dumbfounded as silent tears roll down the faces of Chichiri and Mitsukake. Subaru stares at the bloodbath, not even bothering to control the sobs. Tokaki, Toroki, Karasuki, Amefuri and Kokie all stare at Senri-E in disbelief, while Tatara hesitantly kneels next to Anne)
Tatara: Anne...Anne? Are you all right??
Anne: (through sobs) I...can't...take it anymore...
Toroki: My god...what did you do to them???
Senri-E: Surely you've heard of resonance? The vibration of an object at its natural frequency? It's a simple idea, really; just find out the natural frequency of an object...say, a person, for example, and produce a sound at that frequency...and vibration is the result. Regrettably, human bodies are ill-equipped to deal with such resonance...
Subaru: You're a beast! How can you do that to somebody, much less people who've obviously worshipped you for years as a god???
(Senri-E simply ignores her, and glances idly at Anne, who is weeping on the floor and thwarting Tatara's attempts to calm her)
Senri-E: Well, it's finally happened. How amusing, that I would kill two birds with one stone.
Karasuki: Two birds...what do you mean??? You've certainly killed five, but where do you get two??
Senri-E: You mistake my intent. The first, and lesser, bird was those five idiots. The more important bird is your beloved Priestess here.
Amefuri: What are you talking about??? Anne's not dead!!!
Senri-E: Poor young fools...soon, you'll see what I mean. Now, where was I in my explanation before we were interrupted? Oh, yes; I was going to eliminate you. Pity, that. You won't get to see your Priestess lose what little sanity she still has.
Kokie: (stepping forwards) Hey, I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not going to stand by and get "eliminated", you hear? You might be able to blow up those weak guys with that little "resonance" trick of yours, but I can do the same thing the easy way. And I'm not going to just stand by while you spout some crazy nonsense!
Senri-E: Really? And what exactly do you plan to do about my "spouting"? You're not strong enough by far to even hurt me; I've seen all your powers, and I know your weaknesses better than you do yourself.
(Kokie glares defiantly, and Toroki steps up next to her, followed by Amefuri and Karasuki. Tokaki tries to get up, but Subaru stops him)
Nuriko: Exactly! We're not going to let you get away with manipulating all of us, especially Berit!
Tasuki: Hell no! We're gonna kick yer ass so hard you'll taste it all the way inta tomorrow!
(Senri-E turns to towards the Suzaku Warriors with an amused expression as Nuriko, Tasuki, Tamahome, Hotohori and Chichiri all strike martial stances. Tatara looks up in surprise at the sudden solidarity between the two groups of Warriors)
Senri-E: Brave words...all right, I guess I'll play along. It'll be amusing to kill all of you...
-
Katherine: Wow...never saw that coming.
Nick: I did!
Chris: Ahhh!!! Where did you come from???
Nick: Well...I was in the place with white walls...and then they tried to give me some pills...but I didn't want to, so I left!
Luna: Jeez...just when we thought we were rid of him...
Max: At least he's not singing like Senri-E...
Nick: Hey! Great idea!!!
Jeff: Noooo...end the horror...please...
Janna: Maybe in the next episode... "Mienai kizuna".
Anne: "Invisible bonds"...sounds like more happiness to come.
AN: Yes! I've been waiting for 30 episodes to write this chapter!!! This story is finally falling together, piece by piece. I can't wait...I'm quivering in anticipation. Well, not really. But you know what I mean. I gotta start writing in overdrive if I'm gonna make my deadline...we'll see about that, as usual...