Les Jeux Mystèrieux: The Mysterious Games
Nick: Last episode, Senri-E appeared to all!
Chris: I thought you died.
Luna: (ignoring Chris) She revealed a whole bunch of tantalizing tidbits...
Janna: A brief selection: "I've been manipulating you for my own amusement/fun/needs the entire time you've been in this world."
Max: Altogether, a really nice woman.
Jeff: Then the cult showed up...but Senri-E made them explode.
Anne: And now it looks like we're finally going to fight her...is this the end?
Katherine: Not if I have anything to say about it!!!
Episode 32: Mienai kizuna (Invisible bonds)
(Senri-E draws herself up to her full height, managing to look even more imposing. On either side of her, two lines of Celestial Warriors stand, determined to stop her mysterious plans, but also reluctant to make the first move. Even the pool of blood on the floor does not reach her feet, as if wary of her possible wrath)
Senri-E: Brave words...all right, I guess I'll play along. It'll be amusing to kill you...
Hotohori: I am sure you would enjoy that immensely...regrettably, we cannot allow you that pleasure.
Senri-E: None of you understand, do you? You can't leave this room, and you can't hurt me. This only leads to one conclusion; none of you are ever leaving this room alive.
Amefuri: And you expect that you can take all of us down without getting hurt yourself????
(Senri-E's only response is to idly look at the large red stain on the walls and floor, with a remote, unfeeling glance)
Karasuki: If you think we're falling for that, you've got another thing coming!
(Kokie raises her hand about her head, summoning her chi with the somatic gestures. Senri-E smiles as Kokie's eyes flare into light, but the woman does not react at all)
Tasuki: REKKKKKKAA.......
(Senri-E's eyes widen slightly, and she opens her mouth to sing one clear tone. Above her head, the air begins to ripple slightly, radiating outwards from a point slightly above her head)
(Tasuki finishes the incantation as Senri-E holds the note. There is a loud concussion, and the ripple rebounds upon itself, sending a wave of energy downwards. At the same instant, a wall of fire rushes at Senri-E's unprotected back, consuming her entire body in flames)
Tokaki: (incapacitated against the wall) Damn...did that do it?!?
(Suddenly, there is a flash of dark purple light, and the fire abruptly disintegrates, once again making Senri-E's body visible. She appears exactly as she was moments before, save the slight purple glow that suffuses her body)
Senri-E: I told you, I know every single one of your powers. There is no way you can hope to hurt me.
(Toroki nods, suddenly, drawing his katana in one fluid motion. At the other side of the room, Hotohori draws his sword as well. At the same instant, the two men jump towards Senri-E)
(Senri-E's eyes narrow as her two adversaries enter striking distance. With a relaxed posture, Senri-E raises both her arms upwards as she breathes out, and her ribbons seem to elongate, taking on form and solidifying as Senri-E begins to sing)
(Toroki slashes at Senri-E's exposed stomach, seeing an obvious opening. As he does that, Hotohori stabs towards Senri-E's equally exposed back)
(The surprise on their faces is evident as both their swords are expertly parried by two solid ribbons. Senri-E's song has become a deep, moving battle anthem, and her ribbons seem energized by it, pulsating with purple energy and hovering at the ready, anticipating the next move)
(Toroki shakes off his surprise and slashes at Senri-E's head with renewed vigor. As the ribbon shoots up to block his blade, Toroki subtly angles his point downwards, slipping past the ribbon to stab at Senri-E's chest)
(Hotohori does not recover as quickly, and strikes a defensive stance as the ribbon pushes past his blade. He desperately moves his sword to the side, trying to parry, but the ribbon arcs outwards, avoiding his blade and piercing into the right side of his chest)
(Senri-E's other ribbon wraps quickly around Toroki's katana as Hotohori screams in pain. Toroki looks up in slight surprise, and in that moment of distraction the ribbon wrenches the sword out of Toroki's grasp, sending it flying towards the wall with a metallic clang)
Nuriko: Hotohori!!!
(The ribbon pulls out of Hotohori's chest, sending him to the ground, and Senri-E's song ceases. He is bleeding profusely from the wound, which, although narrow, appears to have pierced a lung. Toroki stares at his sword in surprise, and hence the slap from Senri-E's ribbon catches him unawares, sending him flying to the ground)
Senri-E: That wasn't a good idea, now was it? Really, you've got to do better than that.
(Chichiri runs to Hotohori's side, followed by Mitsukake. Senri-E turns towards them, slowly, as the two men start to drag Hotohori's body away from Senri-E. Toroki tries to get up, but his leg appears to not be working)
Senri-E: It's no use; he'll die anyways. The attempt is futile.
(The ball of white energy takes Senri-E by surprise, and the following white explosion even goes so far as to jar her from her standing position. Amefuri stands behind her, hands outstretched, as Senri-E regains her balance, swiftly pivoting to face Amefuri)
Senri-E: Commendable; you attacked at a moment when I was off-balance. Unfortunately, that ball barely tickled. Let me show you how it's truly done.
(Senri-E begins to sing again, and her ribbons straighten with tension. Amefuri's eyes widen, but before anything can happen, Tatara stands up)
Tatara: No; Amefuri can't fight your ribbons. I'm the one you want.
(Senri-E stops singing for a moment to chuckle)
Senri-E: What is this, the compassionate friend playing the noble hero? Maybe you should tend to your Priestess instead of playing the fool!
(Senri-E motions to Anne, who is still weeping wretchedly on the floor)
Tatara: Please. Let's dispense with the banter and get on with it.
Senri-E: Fine. However, I will drop one pearl of wisdom: playing against type, as you are now, has its consequences!
(Senri-E launches back into her battle song, changing the pitch to a higher register. Tatara clenches his right fist, and his Celestial Symbol appears above his scar. Senri-E motions forwards with her arm, and the ribbons dart towards Tatara)
(Tatara holds out his hands, sending several strands of thorny vines flying to meet the ribbons. Senri-E's eyes narrow, and her song grows more staccato, as the ribbons dodge past the many thorns towards their goal)
(The vines suddenly contract, ensnaring Senri-E's ribbons with loud ripping sounds. The ribbons stop, caught by the many barbs. Senri-E glares as the music reaches a crescendo, struggling to free the ribbons from the barbs. Tatara grits his teeth as the vines begin to twine around the ribbons)
(Senri-E injects a sforzando into her singing as the ribbons push outwards, pushing the thorns out of her ribbons. Tatara only grins as two more vines fly out of his hands, completely bypassing the struggle between vines and ribbons to aim for Senri-E's head. As Tatara smiles in triumph, Senri-E's eyes widen)
(Senri-E holds the sforzando in an extremely high note, and the ribbons suddenly slice through the vines, cutting through each one as if it were paper. The ribbons sever the vines threatening her head before she can come to any harm, and the many shoots of green fall harmlessly to the floor)
(Tatara gapes as the ribbons fly back towards him, their edges glinting in the indoor light. Tatara whips his vines upwards, struggling to deflect the ribbons, but they simply cut through his efforts)
(As the ribbons are about to impale Tatara as they did Hotohori, a white shield appears before him, and the ribbons hit it with two loud thunks. Tatara turns, surprised, to see Amefuri standing behind him, swirling orb in hand)
Amefuri: (to Senri-E) Come on! You can do better than that!
(Senri-E's song ceases, and the ribbons return to the air around her body)
Senri-E: I tire of this play. I have more important things to do than spend idle time around you. Let's end this.
(Senri-E opens her mouth, clearing her throat. The fourteen Warriors tense, as a chilling feeling runs down each and every one of their spines)
Subaru: Oh, god...she's doing that resonating thing!!! Tokaki, can you get us out of here???
Tokaki: The sphere...it's blocking me...
Chichiri: (telepathically to all the Warriors) [Listen, all of you! I can teleport us out of here if we can just break Senri-E's concentration! That's the weakness of a Privacy Sphere; the user has to maintain concentration to keep it up!]
Amefuri: [He's good...to maintain contact with all of us at once...]
Chichiri: [There's no time! We have to distr-]
(Chichiri's telepathy cuts off as Senri-E begins to sing. Her purple aura flares up to epic proportions, and the song that comes out of her mouth sounds like a symphony, somehow merging sixteen different tones at once)
(Anne's eyes widen as she feels a very strange sensation; her body feels like it's slightly buzzing. As her crying slows, the buzzing increases in intensity)
(Senri-E's song grows more complex, the parts merging and weaving in and out of each other. Tatara thinks idly about how the music would be beautiful in any other situation, but his thoughts soon give way to pain)
Subaru: It feels...like my body is being ripped apart!!! We...have to get out of here!
(Senri-E smiles triumphantly as she increases the volume, eliciting gasps from the Suzaku and Byakko Warriors. Anne simply passes out. By now, the feeling has morphed from a buzz to the feeling currently held by the fourteen Warriors: that every one of the molecules in their bodies are trying to move away from the others, in all different directions all at once)
(But suddenly, a new tone sounds in the throne room, high and shrill, clashing with the symphonic melody. Senri-E turns around in surprise, and the singing falters for a moment; behind her, the young Suzaku Warrior, Chiriko, holds a small green leaf to his lips, where he is playing a few high notes)
Chichiri: [This is it; she's distracted! Chiriko's got her attention for a moment; now's the time to act!]
(Senri-E stares at the young boy, furious; the pain of her song is rapidly lessening as Chiriko's efforts spoil the resonating effect)
Karasuki: [There's nothing we can do! None of our powers can affect her!]
Tasuki: [Then try something else, ya dumbasses! We don't have any options over here either!]
(The Byakko Warriors stare at Senri-E, at a loss for options. Senri-E raises her hand, poising her ribbons to strike down Chiriko. The Suzaku Warriors watch in horror as no answer comes to them or to their newfound allies. Suddenly, Amefuri stares at the orb in her hands as a memory of Taiitsu-kun returns to her)
Taiitsu-kun: (in Amefuri's memories) The forces inside the globe are quite powerful. In truth, I do not know exactly what those forces are. So don't break it.
Amefuri: It's worth a shot...we don't have any better ideas right now... [OK, monk! I'm gonna try a last-ditch attempt, so be ready!]
(Amefuri breaks the mental connection, to the confusion of her friends. She takes one quick look at the swirling orb in her hands, and then throws it with all her might at Senri-E's backside)
(The effect is far better than anything imaginable. The orb does not hit Senri-E's back, but rather shatters on the purple shield that suddenly appears. The explosion is deafening, but the following lightshow is even better)
(The orb's explosion sends hundreds of multicolored beams of light cascading over Senri-E's shields, blinding the Byakko and Suzaku Warriors. Senri-E's eyes widen as her shields break with a loud cracking sound, and the lights overwhelm her in a perverted fireworks display. She screams in pain, ending the song, as the Privacy Sphere disappears)
Chichiri: [OK, we're out of here!!!]
(The fourteen conscious bodies in the room feel tuggings at their entire bodies, and then a sudden red flash blinds their senses before fading to a perfect black)
(Taiitsu-kun keeps her eyes closed as she feels Chichiri's chi transporting something to Mt. Taikyoku. As the sixteen bodies phase into her throne room, she does not open her eyes, able to sense their identities by their chi)
Chichiri: (catching his breath) Taiitsu-kun, we have a bad situation on our hands! I don't know how much you saw...
(Taiitsu-kun slowly opens her eyes, to gauge the status of the group. When she sees the number of wounded, she sighs in relief but says nothing)
Tokaki: (sitting on the floor) Hey, listen, Taiitsu-kun...I don't want you to get mad at me again...but...if you could explain what's going on to us, that would be great.
(Taiitsu-kun says nothing)
Kokie: Hey! You know something about what's going on, don't you??? Why aren't you explaining? And why didn't you tell us about Senri-E before this?
(Taiitsu-kun exhales slowly, then finally opens her mouth)
Taiitsu-kun: (slowly and deliberately weighing each word) I have made a mistake. As of now, I do not know if it is a fatal mistake. What I do know is that I have erred.
Nuriko: And that mistake would be...?
Taiitsu-kun: This mistake does not pertain to you Suzaku Stars, nor to your Priestess...however, you may still listen.
Amefuri: Then get on with the explaining!
Taiitsu-kun: (to the Byakko Warriors) I did not want to involve any of you...least of all your Priestess. This problem, I believed, was not something that any of you had a part in. But I was wrong; you all were intrinsically connected to this problem.
Toroki: You're not explaining anything.
Taiitsu-kun: That was why I did not explain anything relating to...her. My thought was that if I could keep you eight uninvolved, you would ultimately benefit from it. Unfortunately, I was gravely wrong. That course of action was the worst thing that I could have done, and now we must face the consequences of my actions.
Tatara: Fine, we get it. Now tell us about Senri-E.
(Taiitsu-kun shakes her head, much to the surprise of the two groups)
Taiitsu-kun: The story must wait until Anne and Berit can hear it; they are not in any condition to listen right now. Some of you are injured as well; the Nyan-Nyans can tend to all of you.
Tamahome: Will Berit be all right?
Taiitsu-kun: I was able to watch until she put up the Privacy Sphere...as far as I can tell, it's simply her body reacting again to Suzaku.
Mitsukake: Will she have that reaction again???
Taiitsu-kun: I do not know. It would depend on what Anne wished for...and how much trauma the possession inflicted.
(Taiitsu-kun snaps her fingers, prompting the appearance of several Nyan-Nyans)
Nyan-Nyans: (cutely as usual) HIII!!!!!!
(Much to the Nyan-Nyans' dismay, not even Tatara reacts to their adorable charms. When they see the wounded members of the two groups, their faces grow slightly more serious)
Nyan-Nyan 1: Fix?
Nyan-Nyan 2: Heal?
(Taiitsu-kun nods, and the Nyan-Nyans jump to each person in need of help, disappearing with their respective charge in tow)
Taiitsu-kun: Until the Priestesses awaken, you all are free to relax in your rooms.
Nuriko: But, what about Senri-E? Won't she be back?
Taiitsu-kun: Even she would not try to come here; she knows better. Now, if you will excuse me, I have important things to take care of.
Amefuri: Hey, I'm not taking that as an answer! We need information about Senri-E that you know!
Taiitsu-kun: I cannot tell you the story of Senri-E without telling the story of the First Priestess; and that must wait until the two Priestesses have awakened.
Kokie: The First Priestess??? Cut the crap and tell us about Senri-E!
(Taiitsu-kun sighs, but simply does not reply, gesturing towards the door. Kokie's eyes widen, but Tatara touches her arm and leaves the room)
(Kokie exhales out of her nose, hard, but follows the rest of the Warriors as they leave the room. When Taiitsu-kun is once again alone, she closes her eyes)
Taiitsu-kun: What have I done...and what horrors will you inflict upon these children?
(Subaru, Kokie and Amefuri try to relax, but are clearly worried. Their room, like most of Mt. Taikyoku's rooms, has no walls, but has instead five beds, a door and an improbable window. Two of those beds are currently occupied; Berit and Anne lie in them, unmoving)
(At present, the room is silent; each of the Byakko Warriors has found a way to occupy themselves. Subaru sits on her bed, idly examining the hourglass chain around her neck. Amefuri stares out the window restlessly while Kokie paces back and forth)
Amefuri: (to Kokie, idly) Will you stop that? It's unsettling to have somebody pacing back and forth, back and forth, back and forth...
Kokie: (beginning a tirade) That's unsettling??? I'll tell you what's unsettling! I'm unsettled because we're in this world for the second time! I'm unsettled because this wacko woman who sings and wears ribbons is trying to kill us! I'm unsettled because Taiitsu-kun knows about Senri-E but won't tell us! I'm unsettled because Anne fainted again! I'm unsettled because Berit's still going mental despite Anne saving her life! Personally, the fact that there's a window that looks outside while there is only infinite whiteness behind it is the most unsettling right now!!!
(Amefuri rolls her eyes, and resumes her watching out the window. Subaru simply continues to examine the hourglass)
Subaru: This is really quite strange...no matter how much I shake this hourglass, the rate at which the sand pours never changes. And the sand has almost reached the bottom too...
Kokie: (still pacing) Don't you have something better to do than watch that sand??? I'm getting really restless just waiting around here for nothing!
Amefuri: (sardonically) Restless? You?
Kokie: I don't see any entertainment coming from you right now.
Subaru: (idly) I'm not in the business of entertaining you.
(Kokie is about to retort, but she stops as Berit moves under the covers of her bed. Kokie stares at the bed in alarm as Berit slowly stirs from her sleep. Amefuri turns her head quickly and Subaru looks up from her rapt examination of the hourglass)
(Berit slowly opens her eyes, apparently still fighting the battle of awakening. After a brief struggle, she blinks away the last threads of sleep and examines the "room")
Berit: (still a bit groggy) Wha...where am I...
(Berit's eyes open fully, and she sits up in bed, fully upright and awake. A quick look around confirms her fears)
Berit: What is going on???? Why are you all here???
Subaru: Berit, calm down. You fainted after-
Berit: (sounding like a cornered animal) When will the lies end? What did you all do to me? Where are my Warriors? What have you done with them?
Amefuri: Jeez, Berit! When will you get some sense in your head? Didn't you listen to Taiitsu-kun at all??
Berit: Taiitsu-kun? What about Taiitsu-kun?
Subaru: Amefuri, she wasn't awake when Taiitsu-kun made her speech. Berit, we're in Mt. Taikyoku, and we don't want to hurt you.
Berit: Don't give me that!!! If you didn't want to hurt me, why am I in bed right now?
Kokie: You don't remember anything??? Right after Anne made her third wish WHICH SAVED YOUR LIFE, you were possessed by Senri-E. Any of this ringing any bells?
(Berit stares at Kokie, bewildered. Berit takes a better look around the room, seeing the lack of walls, and then Anne's sleeping body. Berit's eyes widen at this sight, but she looks back at Kokie and appears to gain control of her emotions)
Berit: (coldly) You aren't making sense at all. Why don't you tell me the truth?
Subaru: We are telling you the truth!!!!
Berit: What a great excuse. I'm sure you can do better than that.
(Kokie exhales loudly in pure, unadulterated rancor, and stalks over to Berit's bedside, the rage in her eyes unconcealed)
Kokie: (teeth clenched together, clearly ) I am going to say this once, and only once. My patience with you is at an end; before, I kept my emotions on a tight leash because you were Anne's sister. But now, I have reached the end of my rope. The time for you to apologize passed days ago, but I will give you one more chance. I...will not let you hurt Anne any longer.
(Berit does not even blink an eye. When she does not reply, Kokie only gets more angry. A moment later, Berit's eyes widen in comprehension)
Berit: (blithely) Oh, I'm sorry! Was that supposed to be scary? My most heartfe-
(The slap resounds through the room, echoing despite the lack of walls. Berit falls off the bed from the force of the blow, hitting the ground with a muffled thud. Kokie stands above her, arm still extended across her body. Amefuri and Subaru stare at the two girls in astonishment)
Anne: K...k...kokie?
(Three pairs of eyes turn to the other bed, where Anne sits up, awake and looking dazed. Berit stands up, as gracefully as she can while holding her cheek)
Berit: (enraged) How...how...HOW DARE YOU??? How dare you raise your hand to me like that?!?!?
Kokie: (energized by the slap) How dare I??? It's enough that you've lied all this time, but to act like that??? I should throttle you right now!
Berit: You wouldn't dare!!!
Kokie: I already did!!!
(Kokie moves to lunge at Berit, but Subaru jumps between them just in time)
Subaru: STOP IT!!!!!!!!!! Look at you two!!! Don't either of you have any shame???
Berit: Wha...she slapped me!!!
Kokie: (to Subaru) You're kidding me!!!
Subaru: Look at the effect this is having on Anne!!!!!
(Kokie and Berit stare at Anne for the first time. Anne sits in bed, shaking and whimpering. Kokie's eyes widen, and her anger disappates)
Kokie: Anne...
(Berit, however, is still angry)
Berit: I knew it! I knew it! You're all in this together! Now Anne is acting like some mental case just to get me off guard so Katherine can kill me!!! The lies!!! They never end!!!
(Subaru breathes in and out, trying to calm herself. Kokie only stares at Anne in fright, while Amefuri fumbles in her pocket)
Subaru: (almost pushed too far) I. Will not. Raise. A hand. To. You. Berit. I should. But I will not. Because. We are in front. Of Anne.
Berit: Aw, shut it!
(Subaru grabs Berit's arm, suddenly, holding her with an unbreakable grip)
Subaru: We are going to see Taiitsu-kun. And she will explain everything to you. I will spare your life until you listen to her; after that, I make no guarantees.
(Berit's eyes narrow)
Berit: You're "sparing my life"? Oh, that's rich! What are you going to do, heal me to death???
(Subaru's eyes widen in anger, and her chest flares into light. Amefuri's eyes widen, and she jumps for Subaru's arm, severing the connection between Subaru and Berit)
Amefuri: (hissing) You idiot! You little idiot! Subaru could kill you without a thought! Her powers are over time, not healing, you fool!
(Berit's eyes widen slightly, but before she can reply, the door bursts open. Tatara, Tokaki, Tasuki, Nuriko and Tamahome run through the open door, each stopping when they see the scene before them)
Tatara: Anne?
Tasuki: What the hell is going on here???
Berit: (wrenching her arm out of Amefuri's grasp) Finally! These girls tried to attack me—
Kokie: (cutting her off) She's doing it again!!! She won't believe that we have anything on our minds other than killing her!!!
Berit: (pointing to Kokie) She hit me!!!
Kokie: Yeah, well, you deserved it, you little—
Nuriko: WILL YOU TWO STOP IT???
(Nuriko stomps over to the two fighting girls, stepping between them)
Nuriko: Can somebody tell me what really happened here? Please?
Amefuri: (as matter-of-factly as she can manage) Berit woke up, did her mental thing, then Kokie slapped her to try to make her see reason. Then Anne woke up, clearly in bad shape, Berit only got worse, Subaru threatened to kill her but I stopped her, and then you guys came in. Capish?
(The boys just stare at the girls, unbelieving)
Subaru: (breathing shallowly) We. Are. Taking. Her. To. Taiitsu-kun.
Berit: Exactly! She'll protect me from you killers!
Tamahome: Um...Berit...
Berit: Shouldn't we be going already? Or are you going to let these savages kill me?
(Kokie bristles at the word "savages", and Tokaki grabs her before she can jump at Berit. Anne watches with a frightened expression on her face)
Tatara: Anne, what's wrong with you?
(Anne does not reply, simply turns towards Tatara and whimpers. Tatara's eyes widen)
Tatara: (frightened himself) Something's wrong with Anne...did Berit do something to her???
Berit: Of course not! She's probably just finally stepped off the deep end.
Tasuki: Look, we gotta ask Taiitsu-kun stuff anyways...she can treat yer Priestess too.
Subaru: (beginning to mellow out) All right...Anne, come on. We're going to see Taiitsu-kun.
(Subaru pulls Anne out of bed gingerly. Surprisingly, Anne is fully clothed, although she seems anything but normal. On her first step out of bed, she crumples to the ground. Subaru grabs her, but it is clear that she is unstable in several respects)
Subaru: Jeez...I can't support her. Tatara, you want to take her?
Tatara: No problem...
(Berit smirks as Tatara throws Anne's arm around his neck, and hoists her to her feet as if she were a blasted drunkard. Nevertheless, the group moves into the hallway)
Amefuri: Here, I'll get the others to meet us in Taiitsu-kun's meeting room, all right?
Subaru: Didn't you call them too?
Tokaki: She only called me, and I was rooming with Tasuki, Tamahome, Nuriko and Tatara.
(Subaru nods in understanding as Amefuri reaches for the pearl in her pocket. Nuriko looks to his side, at Tatara, who looks a bit tired from helping Anne down the hallway)
Nuriko: Hey...you want me to carry her?
Tatara: (not breathing hard at all) No, I'm fine...just worried is all.
(Before the group can reach Taiitsu-kun's audience room, the rest of the Warriors run around the corner ahead. Berit smiles when she sees Hotohori, Chichiri, Mitsukake and Chiriko, but her scowl returns as Toroki and Karasuki follow them. At the sight of the nearly comatose Anne, the rest of the Warriors' eyes widen in alarm. Tokaki holds up his hand)
Tokaki: Don't worry, Berit didn't do anything to her.
Berit: Excuse me???
(Despite Berit's annoyance, the other Warriors visibly relax at Tokaki's comment. Anne simply drools a bit, much to Tatara's confusion and fear)
Toroki: What's wrong with her then? If Berit didn't...
Kokie: We don't know. It's unsettling.
(Amefuri and Subaru roll their eyes at the word "unsettling", but the two groups of Warriors eye Anne worriedly. Only Berit does not)
Berit: Can we hurry up here? I believe that we have a conversation with Taiitsu-kun to attend, if I'm not mistaken.
Tamahome: (cautiously) Berit, what's wrong with you? Aren't you worried about your sister at all?
(Berit looks at Anne quickly, averting her eyes in seconds. She turns to Tamahome with eyes of steel)
Berit: (calmly) She is not my sister. My sister would not do the things that she has.
(Tamahome's eyes widen, but Berit is already walking down the hallway. Tatara looks at Anne, worried that Berit's comment would have an effect on her, but Anne does not appear to be able to hear, much less lucid in any sense of the word)
Chichiri: Berit, wait!
(But Berit continues to walk down the hallway, disappearing around the hallway)
Kokie: (gritting her teeth) I'm going to kill her. I swear, I am going to personally kill her.
Chiriko: I believe the most prudent course of action would be to follow Berit and allow Taiitsu-kun to handle this issue.
(Reluctantly, Tatara begins to walk, with Anne on his shoulder. The rest of the Suzaku and Byakko Warriors hesitantly follow him, turning the corner)
(Ahead, Berit stands before the doorway to Taiitsu-kun's audience room. The group slowly approaches)
Berit: Come on, we don't have all day here! Let's get a move on!
(Berit pushes open the door before Tatara and Anne, now bringing up the group's rear, reach the door. She strides purposefully through the door, pushing it open without stopping)
(Taiitsu-kun sits on her throne, patiently waiting. Berit continues to walk forwards, regally, stopping ten feet from Taiitsu-kun. Behind her, the rest of the throng pushes through the door, settling out into a crowded clump behind her)
Taiitsu-kun: I've been waiting for you. I trust you are feeling better?
Berit: I should say not! I've been brutally violated!
(Taiitsu-kun raises one eyebrow)
Taiitsu-kun: Really. Do tell.
Kokie: (before Berit can interrupt) She deserved it!
Berit: Why, you little...
Taiitsu-kun: STOP IT!
(At Taiitsu-kun's scream, Kokie and Berit stop talking, instantly)
Taiitsu-kun: First, explain to me what happened.
Amefuri: (repeating her explanation) Berit woke up, did her mental thing, and then Kokie slapped her. Then-
Taiitsu-kun: (cutting off Amefuri) Wait. Go back. Berit's "mental thing". What is that?
Karasuki: Ever since Anne first met Berit in this world, she's been crazy!!! Like, insane! It's because of her that we-
Taiitsu-kun: (cutting off Karasuki) "Insane"? You have to be able to do better than that. Anne, can you explain it?
(The entire group looks at Anne, who appears to be catatonic on Tatara's shoulder)
Tatara: Um...that's not gonna work this time.
(Taiitsu-kun's eyes narrow as she surveys Anne's current state)
Taiitsu-kun: What is wrong with her?
Subaru: We don't know...she's been like this since she woke up.
Taiitsu-kun: She appears to have suffered a mental shock...I'm surprised the Nyan-Nyans didn't notice that.
Nuriko: You're being awfully nonchalant about that. A mental shock sounds pretty serious to me.
Taiitsu-kun: We have more important things to worry about; I cannot deal with her right now, and I will not try. (turning her attention elsewhere) Now, Berit. Explain to me what the Byakko Warriors are talking about.
Berit: It's simple! They've been trying to kill me the entire time they've been in this world, and they're making excuses to shift the blame to me!
Taiitsu-kun: (slowly) What was the first antagonistic action the Byakko Warriors or Anne committed against you?
Berit: What are you talking about??? They tried to kill me! How much more antagonistic can you get???
Taiitsu-kun: (as if asking a young child) How did they try to kill you, Berit?
(Berit opens her mouth, but no words come out. She tries again, but once again she has nothing to say. Berit's eyes widen, but she is at a loss for words)
Berit: I...they...
Taiitsu-kun: Surely you haven't forgotten what must have been a very memorable occasion for you?
(Berit's mouth opens and closes a few times, rather like a fish)
Taiitsu-kun: Well. I've certainly seen enough. It's too bad that I didn't investigate this before; I could have saved all of you a lot of trouble.
Toroki: What does that mean?
Taiitsu-kun: (ignoring Toroki) Berit, come here.
(Berit, now trembling, cautiously walks towards Taiitsu-kun. When she comes within arm's length of the old woman, Taiitsu-kun touches Berit's forehead with one fingertip. Berit's eyes widen, but suddenly close as Taiitsu-kun probes her mind for something. After closing her eyes for a second, Taiitsu-kun sighs)
Taiitsu-kun: Just as I thought. If nothing else, it's gone now.
Hotohori: What's gone??? Explain what's going on!
Taiitsu-kun: What really convinced me was that Berit couldn't give an explanation. Somehow, something in her mind was altered a small bit, to make her blindly antagonistic without motive.
(Berit's eyes open quickly, and she pulls away from Taiitsu-kun. Slowly, she turns around. When she sees Anne, she gasps)
Berit: Anne!
(The group stares at Berit in confusion as she abruptly breaks into a run. Before Berit can reach Anne, Kokie and Tokaki step in front of her)
Kokie: What are you doing???
Berit: (staring at Kokie and Tokaki in confusion) Don't you see her? What's wrong with her???
(Tokaki stares at Berit incredulously, and then looks at Taiitsu-kun)
Tokaki: (forcefully) What the hell is going on here?
Taiitsu-kun: I broke the spell upon her. At present, she does not remember anything she has done. Those memories will return shortly.
Tamahome: A spell??? Who put a spell on Berit???
(Taiitsu-kun opens her mouth, but as she begins to speak, the air in front of her begins to stir, strangely. Berit's eyes widen as she hears the distant strains of a familiar song)
Berit: That song...what song is that?
(In small flashes, Berit begins to remember. An encounter in a small room, with that song. A throne room, with that song in the background. That same throne room, and a horrible feeling of INVASION-)
(Taiitsu-kun stares at the purple mist before her, where a vaguely human shape appears to be coalescing. She closes her eyes, quickly moving her hands in rapid succession through a series of hand positions)
(A single sung note shatters Taiitsu-kun's concentration as Senri-E's body steps out of the purple mist to stand to the side of the throne. Berit turns around, confused, as the Celestial Warriors stare in horror. Senri-E appears exactly the same as she did earlier in the day; Amefuri's orb does not appear to have had any effect)
Taiitsu-kun: You! How did you get in here?
Senri-E: Oh, how droll. I know how long it's been, but surely you haven't forgotten my powers?
(Senri-E reaches over to pat Taiitsu-kun on the cheek, but Taiitsu-kun slaps her hand away)
Senri-E: (in mock pain) You wound me! And here when I was so glad to see you after all these long years. I've been waiting so long...Himiko...
Taiitsu-kun: (angrily) Don't call me that.
Senri-E: Why, Himiko, my dear, how dare I do what? Call you by your real name?
Taiitsu-kun: How can you come here...after what you've done...and call me that?
Senri-E: Well, what would you prefer I call you? That strange name given to you by-
Taiitsu-kun: This isn't about what you choose to call me, and you know it. (closing her eyes) Why did you do it?
Senri-E: Do what? Leave that pitiful existence you forced upon me?
Taiitsu-kun: You forced it upon yourself! Nobody is to blame but you!
(Senri-E closes her eyes, turning towards the assembled Warriors and the Priestesses. When she opens them again, her eyes have assumed a glare)
Senri-E: (in a steel-filled voice) And as for all of you...we have an appointment to keep. I don't easily forgive those who annoy me. And all of you have certainly annoyed me...
-
Max: Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
Janna: And just when we were about to thwart disaster!
Chris: Didn't this episode end the exact same way the last one did?
Katherine: This time, we're really dead.
Luna: And what the heck is going on between Senri-E and Taiitsu-kun?
Jeff: What's up with Berit?
Anne: WHY DO I HAVE A HANGOVER???
Nick: Stay tuned for these questions, and more: the next episode is called "Mugen no kage", or "Infinite shadows".
AN: Yeah, this chapter took FOREVER. It actually didn't take that long to write, but my life has been ultra-busy of late. With luck, the next episode should be done by the end of this long weekend. What a bonus; two episodes in one weekend! I'm quivering with anticipation.