Transience
AUTHOR'S NOTES: That was quite a really confusing chappie, but everything would be cleared up in this one. Who are those pilots? What's Kadomony? What's this and what's that? Is Lei the heir of Oblivion...? Or rather...is Lei Oblivion himself...? As that coffee ad goes, one thing leads to another. And this most certainly does. Meet the newest member of the Kagekidan: MAO~~~!!! ^.^
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bey Blade, Sakura Taisen, Asato Tsuzuki + 12 original -Shikigami-, and Gensomaden Saiyuki (^^;; the personalities, I mean; they've got different names in here but same personalities) as they're all owned by their respective authors. I own the OC's and some terminologies, though; so NO SUING~~~!!!
Mao
Name: Kon, Mao
Country of Origin: China
Nationality: Chinese
Birthplace: Unknown, rumored to be the famed White Tiger Village
Age: 15
Height: 163 cm
Weight: 43 kg
Blood Type: AB
Birthday: June 17
Skills: Martial Arts, Chi Radiance (Kadomony)
PRN: 0020 - 005 - 000
EP: 202
APR: 100%
Test Results: 100%
COMMENTS:
Recommended for transfer to 35th Imperial Capital Defense Headquarters. Training for Elite Kagekidan Branch approved. For immediate action.
Signed,
Judy Mizuhara
Head Instructor
Imperial Capital Defense Satellite Headquarters
KYOUTO
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IMPERIAL CAPITAL DEFENSE HEADQUARTERS - DEPARTMENT OF PARA-PSYCHIC RESEARCH
SUBJECT: Kon, Mao
DATE: 08 -26-1915
EXAMINER: Dr. Masao Kinogu
Subject in question has a very unusual aether tolerance. Could perform Kadomony at will due to high aether synch. Excellent use of the Kyrieans Principle. Awaiting further instructions.
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There was tremendous applause as the curtains lifted prior to the gala performance, even as the theater goers were surprised and curious to see that the Emperor himself was there. Amidst the many whispered conversations, the Heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne was impassive, and the Imperial Guards were all put in place to ensure the Emperor's safety and privacy by means of their very tight security.
"..." The curtain to the box seat rustled, and an old man came forth, dressed as he was to the hilt in the manner of the strictest Imperial code of dress.
"Well...? Has the problem been addressed...?" another man inquired softly, seated as he was right behind the young Emperor. Only his silhouette was seen.
"Yes, Lord Barron. It had been as you wished."
"No, it had been as the Emperor had wished, you are forgetting yourself," the man admonished him quietly. "I am only expressing His Imperial Highness's wishes and not much else."
"Oh, excuse me, my lord...I have forgotten myself..."
"No matter. It is of no importance to me. I am just happy nothing 'extreme' happened that greatly endangered His Imperial Highness's safety...although those monstrous brutes of the Kagekidan almost ruined it for him. His enjoyment, I mean." The man sighed delicately. "I still do not see why those old balding fogies insist on keeping 'that' unit alive, as to what I have heard...they almost burned the entire Imperial Capital to the ground."
"Well...they had been around ever since the start of the bakufu..."
"As the Emperor's elite unit of bodyguards, yes, I have heard. It is just only now that they formalized themselves into a separate unit...and...if I am so permitted to say as such...internal conflict has driven the traditionalists from the liberalists and so the most loyal liberalists of the lot banded together and created what it is today. A farcical 'saving face', is that what you call it...? But in truth, they just want to have a go at their faded glory and had remained as stubborn as ever clinging to their own muddled pasts." The man held his hand out. "Elite guards in name only, while the Imperial Guards are the ACTUAL ones who are doing their dirty work. And those traditionalists are fighting over what little is it that remained of those 'puppet strings' of power. It's pathetic. They're even worse than a bunch of scraggly mutts fighting over those last remaining morsels of meat.
"M-my lord..."
"Excuse me, I have said too much." The man returned his attention back to the play, where Puck was now delivering his opening lines. "I really don't understand it. But those liberalists are enjoying those 'toys' and have the entire country in uproar. Everybody wants to get a piece of them, now they've seen what they can do. The Ministry of Defense's itching to take over it a few days from now...and you know what the sad part about it is? They're helped by one of them, a former 'soldier'."
"...as you say..."
"Things are going to get interesting from this point on. All the pieces are in place, and it needs some 'players' in order to make the 'game' start." The man turned his head slightly to one side. "Could you please be a dear and get His Imperial Highness and I some tea and wagashi...? I've quite a liking to your green tea...really invigorating."
The old man slightly bowed. He then left the box seat with the slightest rustle.
"Lord Barron..."
The man turned to look at the Emperor up front. The Heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne was looking at the stage very eagerly.
"Yes, Imperial Highness...?"
"I have never seen anything quite like it." The 10 year-old ruler was softly clapping his hands together in glee. "This would be the first time I shall see the one of the Bard's works translated into a musical play, and I like what I see."
"Yes. To see a theater group translating the Bard's works so beautifully surely brings tears to your eyes and mine. It is most unusual to see a Japanese group of performers acting out a Westerner's work with such grace and such eloquence. Translated into your own language, at that. It impresses me."
"Does it, Lord Barron...? Oh, how I wish I could go down there and congratulate them over and over again! But proper decorum dictates that I should remain as 'divine' as ever, and never allow myself such frivolities. And there are times I find myself wishing that it is not the case." The young Emperor sighed sadly. "Alas, this would be the only time I would be allowed outside the palace walls."
"Does His Imperial Highness wish to see more of Shakespeare's plays...?"
"Oh, I should like to. But Soueda-san wishes me to learn more of our culture, and less of the outside world. But...it's not that I do not want to learn more of our beautiful country...I wish to see more of outside, so I could understand your culture and appreciate its many intricacies. I am to rule Japan, if so, I want it by a very open-minded mind."
"Open-minded mind, Imperial Highness. It does sound so redundant, yes...?"
"Oh." The young Emperor blinked. "Yes. It should be...open-minded only."
"Yes. His Imperial Highness is very wise."
"Your language is unusual and so simple I find myself at a loss expressing myself fully in it. You have said so that our language is too intricate and too difficult to understand. But I see that you are coping with it quite gracefully...I have not heard any foreign dignitary who could talk our language with such eloquence and such grace such as you."
The man bowed slightly. "You do me too much honor by saying such, Imperial Highness. I am most overwhelmed."
"I am saying the truth." The young Emperor looked over at the stage, to which Puck was bounding across the stage in great leaps (OO;;). He smiled slightly. "It is pretty hard to believe that the actors on stage are almost as young as I am. And even harder to believe that they're part of the Imperial Guard Unit my father has talked so much about."
"Yes. The legendary Kagekidan."
The curtain slightly rustled again, to which the old man reappeared, bearing a tray of the ubiquitous chawan and the small teapot, and a small platter on which the delicately made wagashi, shaped into delicate chrysanthemum blossoms, were put.
"Ah, it is such a sin to eat these." The man nodded. "Well then. Shall we take a break, Your Imperial Highness...?"
There was much activity going on backstage as all the stage hands scuttled to and fro getting the sets and the costumes and the props all ready, and a flurry of activity as all the thespians read and reread their scripts, and made sure that their costumes were snug in the right places as to allow them easy movement.
Kai was quiet as he stood their memorizing his lines, going through them over and over again, as he waited for his cue. Lei stood right beside him, his bangs throwing his face into shadow, leaning back against the wall as far as his Faerie Queen gown would allow.
"It could have been worse. Don't let it get to you." Kai looked right in front of him. "It's not the first time something like 'that' happened."
"..." Lei bowed his head, his bangs still throwing his eyes into shadow. "I..."
"You should feel lucky. There is somebody who was unfortunate enough to come out of it scarred forever." Kai then looked up at the ceiling, his face in side profile, his red brown eyes thoughtful. "You should be thankful you're alive."
"Demo..." Lei still had his head bowed, his bangs still throwing his eyes into shadow. "Kai...I almost...killed them..."
"Dame." Kai looked at his script again. "Stop berating yourself. You'd only feel worse."
"I..."
"Quit blaming yourself. This is not the place for such matters."
Lei's hands clenched tightly about his own script. "I know, Kai...but I can't help it...what if I wasn't able to do 'that'...you could've all been surely..."
"I said stop it, didn't I, Kon...? No use blaming yourself silly over that, or anything or anyone else, for that matter. It has happened already." Kai looked at him from the corner of his eye. "It was a good thing Yuri was able to summon -Sigismund- or else those psychos could've blown the entire Kagekidan down around our ears. That, and the fact that you've turned into---"
***A huge scarlet, cream, gold, and sky blue mech with 6 thruster "wings" upon its back appeared before Branueil, a burst of its spectral purest white "feathers" swirling about it in a flurry, and Lei in its cockpit, his gold amber eyes glazed over and narrowed to slits, cold and unforgiving it was; the glare of death***
"---'him'."
There was scattered laughter coming from outside as Takao did his role with much aplomb and delivered his lines with as much wit and humor as he could possibly inject into it. He and Max were bickering about something. It was not soon after when Yuri joined the fray.
"..." Lei's slanted gold amber eyes were sadly expressive (^____^;;), as he leaned against the wall like so, his bangs falling so nicely over his face, his arched jet black brows drawn together in a pained gesture.
"Listen." Kai was still looking at him from the corner of his eye. "I may be the world's most evil 15 year-old, with a track record to prove it, but I can assure you one thing. No matter what should come out of this, I'm not the first one to jump ship on you. Nor the entire team. Remember that." Kai then put down his script on the table beside him as one of the stage hands gestured for him for his cue and Lei's. He looked over at Lei. "Ikuzo."
"K-Kai..." Lei's eyes became expressive. "I..."
"Nandemonai." Kai adjusted his costume. "Our subjects have need of us. Let us hasten before they decide to bring our entire kingdom down to ruin."
"..." Lei gave a small tired smile. "Hai."
Mao was watching from the sidelines, and she was as every bit worried about her older twin brother as with the rest of the troupe, but as the cruel saying says, the show must go on, no matter what happens, exploding -Sigils- and threats of world annihilation be damned. Her new teammates were all dead pale when they got back to the Kagekidan, and Lei was even worse. It was just his sheer willpower that was making him take the stage right now and which held himself together; the aether surge he just performed, which was a brilliant awakening of his Rave prowess, was brain melting, to say the least. The strain was just so much as to make your own brain fry in its juices. But there was no other available actor, and this was gala night. He would have to hold himself together at least until this show is over, before he would be promptly taken to the hospital ward.
There were footsteps, and soon Dr. Mizuhara appeared from the shadows of the hallway beyond. "Miss Kon...?"
"?" Mao blinked, then turned to face Dr. Mizuhara. She then offered a crisp salute. "Mao Kon, Cadet First Class!"
"At ease. There's no need for formality this night...fraught as it is with horrors unimaginable." Dr. Mizuhara looked over the stage beneath them, standing as they both were in the hallways above it. "They're coping quite nicely. Who wouldn't have thought we were all in danger of being blasted into orbit just a while ago...? Your timing could never had been more perfect. We were expecting you for not another 2 more days."
"The orders from the higher-ups never sounded more urgent. Besides, I had been very eagerly waiting for the chance for me to sail out of Hong Kong and surprise my brother. I haven't seen him for quite some time now."
"I see." Dr. Mizuhara nodded. "So how is General Ling...?"
"Still as sprightly as always. He wanted to come, but he had some business to attend to in the British Consulate. It was Mama who saw me off at the harbor...she came all the way from the White Tiger Village. She still disapproved of my 'wild' choice to journey out of our village to become a soldier, but...as you can see, ma'am, I'm standing here right in front of you." Mao nodded. "I may not be as talented as Lei is, but I could sure do a mean hula if you want me to."
Dr. Mizuhara laughed lightly. "We may have need of your hula skills yet. As you know, your brother's just right on that stage because of his will. He should be collapsing from aether stress any second now...but he's still standing. It would be a very long while for him to recuperate and regain his full strength. Daitenji-kacho has made sure everything is ready for Lei at the ward as soon as the gale is over."
"..." Mao then looked over at the stage, where she sees Lei seated among the many wildflowers of his Faerie kingdom, contemplating the lives of the mortals he sees to which he wants to make it even more interesting. "I could never be like him at all. He's so strong...just like Papa."
"Do you honestly believe that your own skills amount to nothing, Mao...? Your aether induction rate is very high, in comparison with the other members of the team." Dr. Mizuhara nodded. "That, and because you could perform Kadomony."
"I know, Mizuhara-hakase, but...there are times when I feel what I do isn't enough. They haven't realized their true potential yet...what if I turn out to be a hindrance and a burden to the Kagekidan...?" Mao sighed. "Sometimes, I really feel as if I did something really wrong and Mama was right all along."
"But what does your heart tell you, Mao...? It would be just blindness on your part if you totally refuse to believe that you are different from the other children in your village, both you and Lei. But it doesn't mean that if you're different, you'll cease to go on living normally. And feeling inferior to everybody else's own talents won't help you. You have your own strengths which are uniquely yours to command. It is for this reason why we created the Kagekidan...playing by everybody's strengths, covering each others' weaknesses...it's for working together that we would be able to face the challenges ahead without feeling left out in the rain. As you probably remember...we all thought the Imperial Capital Defense was shot, because of what happened with Asato Tsuzuki. We were all striving to prove ourselves in spite of the many labels and mudslinging we had to endure from the traditionalists...so we strove to move on, after that 'incident'...it was fortunate enough that we had the backing of Mr. Souichiro Hiwatari...and, here we are. It's not by doing what is enough...it is by doing so much more and exceed ourselves in order to bring about the best we've got. You made a right decision in doing so and following Lei here. Not all are given a chance to prove themselves, and you bravely went ahead and did it. I'm sure your father's going to be really proud of you."
"He was the broad-minded one. Mama was more bound traditionally, if you know what I mean, Mizuhara-hakase. She deems it OK for Lei to go out of the village to honor Papa's memory. But I also do so want to. Why would be hindered by my own gender and the circumstances of the culture I grew up in to stop pursuing a dream...? I wanted to help people, like Papa did, and I want to be strong as Lei." Mao's eyes became expressive. "Was it wrong to have chosen this instead...?"
"I'm a mother too, Mao, and I could understand your mother's feelings. There are times I wanted Max to stop being a soldier like my husband and I am...but that would be endangering his individuality. It was his decision to become a -Sigil- pilot, and as long as he takes good care of himself, I wouldn't need to worry. But I worry about him all the time. You can't take that away." Dr. Mizuhara nodded again. "Your mother's just worried for the both of you, having lost her husband and your father to the cause he was fighting for, and now, you 2 have taken it in honoring his memory. And the circumstances by the way you were brought up would make things more complicated. But I'm pretty sure she'd understand it all one day. You're one strong girl, Mao. I'm sure you're as strong as Lei in that way."
"How so, Mizuhara-hakase...?"
"You're both stubborn, strong-willed, and very dedicated. The Kagekidan would have no problems with you on board...in fact, they've gotten 10 times tougher." Dr. Mizuhara smiled at her warmly. "Have you brought all your things to your room...?"
"Yes, Mizuhara-hakase."
"Have you eaten...?"
"..." Mao blinked. "I just want to see how Lei would fare as Titania, then I'll head over to the dining room. What do you have for dinner...?"
"Fish rolls, clear soup and Chinese fried rice. Should I have the maids set it out for you...?"
"Oh, yes please." Mao smiled, her eyes closed happily. "Thanks, Mizuhara-hakase."
Dr. Mizuhara nodded again for the 3rd time then went off. Mao waited until Dr. Mizuhara went around the corner before she turned to look at where her twin was, having a rather animated discussion with his husband, Kai. Her eyes became expressive.
***That didn't hurt much, or did it...?***
Mao gave a happy little grin as she lay there on the hospital bed, her forehead swathed with bandages. She was a little girl of 11. It was just a few months after her father died, and here she was, under careful observation by one of the Imperial Capital Defense para-psyche experts.
Dr. Masao Kinogu was looking over her files that particular morning, and it was the last time Mao and the rest of the other original members of the ICDC saw him before he disappeared completely. She remembered him being very listless that particular day, then.
***...as I've expected. Fei's children have a very high indifference to pain, if I may say. Just like him.*** Dr. Kinogu closed the file folder with a snap. ***Well. How is the medication coming on...?***
***Very fine, Kinogu-hakase, I've managed to project those thingies, as you've requested. Although Galux had a pretty rough time today so she...kind of...got angry at me.***
***Kind of...? What did you mean by that, Mao...?***
***She particularly hated the patient residing in the next room, she was very listless and restless and pretty much everything else. She even tried getting out of synch with me once.***
***She did? That's quite unheard of. Or has she acted this way prior to meeting that patient in the other room...?***
Mao blinked. ***No. Come to think of it...this is the first time she acted this way. She must've felt something bad about him.***
***Him...? Did Galux tell you the patient's a 'he'...?***
***Yes. She absolutely hated him. Did he do something bad...?***
Dr. Kinogu became very quiet. ***Something like it.***
***I see. I think he tried to do something bad again, and...well, you can see what happened.*** Mao gave a sheepish grin. ***She was yowling like mad.***
***...*** Dr. Kinogu became very quiet again.
***Can I see my brother...?*** came Mao's soft voice.
***Lei...?*** Dr. Kinogu blinked. ***I'm not sure...he's going to have his tests again.***
***That's the 3rd time already. Why...did he do something bad as well...?***
***Not really. We're just trying to make sure about something.*** He then stood up and ruffled Mao's hair affectionately. ***Go to sleep now, Mao. I'll be seeing you tomorrow.***
Mao never really knew what kinds of tests they subjected her brother to, but it had been so horrible as to make their mother erupt into hysterical tears and threatened to bring down the curses of all their ancestors upon all of those responsible. She knew that it had been very important, and Lei's ascension to his "real self" just a while ago was a revelation to what she feared. There was something about Lei that was really different. He was always gentle and kind, and he was a very protective and very responsible son and loving older brother to her. But aside from this, Mao knew that Lei hid a very terrible power within him, a power that even the entire Imperial Capital Defense feared. A power they all wanted. She was worried what would come out of this.
Would she be that strong for Lei...?
The doors hissed open, and a cream-colored boot stepped out from within the darkness and walked down the dimly lighted hallway.
"Maa, why did we all leave in a hurry, Yusaku...? Just when things started to get REAL interesting, at THAT!" A young man followed suit, having red brown hair and golden eyes which were currently puzzled at the moment. "We had them right into our trap---"
"Would you just zip it for once, you stupid monkey, and THINK?! He almost had us all blown into smithereens a while ago and all you can say for yourself is that you missed out on having FUN," his companion retorted, his dark red hair glinting in the gloom, hitting the young man with a closed right fist. "Is eating and fighting all you can ever DO~~~?!"
"IIIiiiiii-TTTTTttttttAAAAAAaaaaaIIIIIiiiii~~~!!! What was that you perverted sex maniac, you're NOT qualified to call me MONKEY~~~!!!"
"U-R-U-S-E-N-D-A-Y-O."
His other companion was smiling benevolently as he followed the first person up front. His eyes were closed happily. He had dark brown hair parted to one side. "Maa, maa Yusaku, don't get your blood pressure on a rise, it won't do having a fit while we're reporting for the Nimrod..."
"Ch." The first person gave a small grimace, light glinting off his very light blond hair. "I really can't believe my damn luck, having to babysit those overgrown children..."
"But we can't blame them, they are rather a little bit on the juvenile department. Adam has entrusted them into our care."
"The question is, why ME of all PEOPLE?"
"Aaa, they are all high praises for the Sephardim's elite Captain of the Guard!"
"Usotsuki." The first person then exhibited several gargantuan twitches hearing the 2 other pilots still bickering like a bunch of 4 year-olds in the background, then turned to face them, his teeth jagged fangs. "URUSAI, OMAE GA KOROSENDAYO~~~!!!" he roared, firing 2 shots from his aether pistol point blank right in the very middle of the 2 opposing pilots, to which they became white as sheet.
"GUUUUUWAAAAAAHHHHHH~~~"
There was a sound of muffled laughter, to which all 4 pilots immediately stopped their antics and turned to see who it was.
"Still as hotheaded as ever, ne, Yusaku-kun...? Your roar was heard from here up to the middle of the Pacific." The speaker appeared, stepping into the dim light hanging over the hallway. "Although your vocabulary as of late has not yet expanded from the ubiquitous urusai all your other subordinates have been hearing from you since time immemorial."
"Shut up you vile, old hag, unless you also want to get killed," the first person spoke in a really dangerous voice. "I'm having a bad day as it is already, sticking me up with these stupid idiots for the entire duration of the mission."
"So. How WAS the mission...?"
"Everything went perfectly well until that brat came along," the one beside the young man spoke up, becoming calm as the first person's volatile temper simmered down. "Shit, she could do Kadomony..."
"Spare me the vulgarity, Fujimiya, and tell me exactly WHAT happened."
"We were all ready to get Lilith when the Kagekidan came out to meet us," the young man then said, blinking. "They were as pigheaded as always, but there they were. We almost had it going until another -Sigil- comes roaring forth, and one of them did a spontaneous Rave."
"No kidding...?"
"Un. It was more than Rave even...their -Eidolon Sniper- managed to summon forth a -Seal- and barely managed to contain the outburst. But wow...it was really AWESOME~~~!!! That guy's -Sigil- even changed."
"Hontou da?"
"Hai." The one beside the first person became suddenly serious. "It was more than what we have bargained for. Aside from that Kadomony and that evolution, everything was perfectly normal."
"And you didn't get the target."
"Those idiots were more than willing enough to put all their lives on the line for the -Limiter-, risking it all for the sake of their 'enemy'." The first person then went down the hallway. "We still have to speak to the Nimrod."
"..." The newcomer smiled knowingly. "Yusaku...?"
"Yes...?"
"When you do speak to the Nimrod, tell them you're ready to become a father." She gave a little wave as she went down the hallway the other way (^____^;; you get the idea). "Ja, na."
A gargantuan pulsating twitch appeared over the first person's head, along with a very ominous black aura above him. "Do you really want to go to hell that bad, you old hag...?" he growled through gritted his teeth.
His neighbor gave a light laugh. "Maa, maa..."
"Nee, Yusaku, are we going to face them all again...? It would be too bad if we don't pay them back in triplicate," the young man said, running to catch up with him. "And 'Lilith' is still with them, too. Adam wants her saved that bad, right...?"
"The hell I care, stupid monkey. But a pain in the ass order IS a pain in the ass order. We might or might not, if Adam should think it fit to do such. You know how he's even worse than a rabid dog having a root canal concerning matters about the -Limiter- if it doesn't happen according to plan." The first person then looked over his shoulder. "Shut up. We are here."
The 4 of them stopped before a huge pair of steel doors. The doors slid slowly open after a protesting hiss from a steam pressure valve. They then entered the room one by one, to which then then all stood right in the middle of the darkened room. A booming voice then rang out in the stillness.
"High Sephardim Yusaku Saionji."
A spotlight shone from above then enveloped the first person up front. The light glinted off his lightest blond hair parted to one side, his clear violet eyes slanted and serious. He was wearing a modified version of a German Imperial Army uniform (think that outfit Relena Peacecraft wore in Endless Waltz, complete with bemedalled sash), in all silver, and a pair of boots on his feet. He nodded slightly. "Ha."
"Throne Sephardim Setsuna Takizawa."
A secondary spotlight shone on the person beside him. The light glinted off his dark brown hair parted to one side, his forest green eyes glinting behind his glasses. He was wearing a similar uniform like that of the first person up front, except it was in all green, and a pair of boots on his feet. He gave a small nod. "Hai."
"Dominion Sephardim, Tatsuhiko Fujimiya. Power Sephardim, Daichi Maeda."
The 3rd and 4th spotlights shone on the 2 remaining people behind them, light glinting off their dark red hair and red brown eyes, and red brown hair and golden eyes, respectively. The taller one was wearing a similar uniform to the first 2 except that it was in all red, and the younger one was wearing his in yellow. They both had a pair of boots on their feet.
The taller one gave a rueful grin. "Yo." The younger one just blinked.
"You are hereby called before the Nimrod, as Adam has sent you." A light shone from somewhere beyond the 4 of them, lighting a group of cloaked figures seated on raised platforms before them dimly. They all had their cowls thrown over their faces. One of them leaned forward slightly. "What news have you of 'Lilith'?"
"The Kagekidan is not making things any easier. They are all dead set in protecting an enemy in their midst..."
"Is that so...? Well, you can't even protect the one you WERE supposed to protect." Another cloaked figure gave a nonchalant shrug in the shadows as he leaned against a pillar. He then turned to look over at them. "Surely, is this the work of the elite Sephardim I've been hearing so much about...?"
"..." Yusaku Saionji's slanted clear violet eyes narrowed dangerously. "You speak ill, for a trespasser. I don't care if you're one of the Magi or not. What brings you hither...? Have your 'dogs' brought you nothing but shame after losing the -Limiter- so now you come to us...?"
"I will let that slide. Yes, it would be so like you to cut through civil conversations like so, Yusaku Saionji. I heard you were in deep love with the -Limiter- before..." the newcomer said in a mocking voice, laughing lightly.
A deafening shot was heard, narrowly missing the newcomer by a hair. Yusaku looked over at him from behind the smoking barrel of his aether pistol. He glared. "The next bullet won't miss."
"Saionji!" one of the cloaked figures before them called out in a shocked whisper.
"If it weren't for my father's wishes, I wouldn't be wasting my breath on the spineless likes of you. And if Adam hadn't been so adamant in bringing the -Limiter- back for your own pathetic whims, I wouldn't be here." Yusaku casually held his aether pistol to one side. "If it weren't for US, you'd all be groveling on the ground by now, begging for mercy."
Setsuna Takizawa looked over at him with a surprised look on his face. "Yusaku..."
"If it weren't for the strength of your father's connections with them, you wouldn't be spouting ass remarks, you arrogant bastard." The newcomer gave another nonchalant shrug. "You could've gotten the -Limiter- that easily, but you held back. What're you waiting for, anyway...?"
"Waiting for the day when the entire idiot population goes down to zero." Yusaku looked over at the venerable cloaked figures in front of them, still and very silent they were. He still held his aether pistol casually to one side. "I've one thing to say to you, to why we still haven't gotten the -Limiter- back. 'He' awakens."
***The huge scarlet, cream, gold, and sky blue mech with 6 thruster "wings" upon its back appeared before Branueil, a burst of its spectral purest white "feathers" swirling about it in a flurry, as Yusaku could only gaze at it in shock. Lei's glazed over slanted gold amber eyes became even more slanted as he gave a smooth, evil grin, swiping at him with his blinding white double glaive Void Clef. Their battlefield exploded, scattering shards of broken earth about them in a fury.***
"'He'...?"
"The one you call eater of worlds. 'He' awakens." Yusaku looked over at the now shocked group of cloaked figures on the raised platforms before them. "Seems what you were expecting came a little too quickly. Isn't that nice...?"
"!!!" The newcomer was very shocked, indeed. "How...impossible...!!!"
"Never thought he'd reincarnate like Metatron now, right...? He's been waiting for the right time to catch us all unawares. I must say I am very impressed. He's done his work really well." Yusaku put his aether pistol inside his holster, then swept his cold, clear violet gaze over all of them. He blinked, then gave a small smile. "And you know what...? I feel sorry for you. Just looking at you...I feel pity for those countless idiots who serve under you, worshipping you like those cocky self-serving 'gods' people like to think who exist." He then turned and started walking away. "Ikuzo."
"H...hai!" Setsuna answered, going after him.
The 4 of them left the chamber, the doors hissing shut behind them. Daichi Maeda was very puzzled. "Ne, ne, ne, Yusaku, now they're going to be pissed off super bad. Why are they all afraid of that happening, anyway...? I mean, they ARE waiting for 'him' to awaken, right...?"
Tatsuhiko Fujimiya hit him with a closed right fist. "Stupid monkey, haven't you realized if 'he' awakened just a tad bit too early, we're talking about a major catastrophe to end all catastrophes in the making, here...?! They have been preparing for that day to come, yes, but not this QUICK! It's like sending a kid off to camp with nothing like a combat knife, string, and God knows what else~~~"
"IIIIiiiiiiiiIIIIiiii-TTTTttttttttTTTTTttttttAAAAAaaaAAAAaaaaaaIIIIIIIII~~~!!! What was that for, you LECHEROUS PLAYBOY~~~?!" SD Daichi yelled, his teeth jagged fangs.
"For being stupid, STUPID~~~!!!"
Another frightening black aura surrounded Yusaku, his bangs throwing his eyes into shadow. "URUSAI..."
"..." Setsuna was thoughtful. "Yusaku...did you think it best not to tell them about 'Lilith'...?"
"..." Yusaku was quiet.
***There was an unfurling of wings, a brilliant flash of light, and a huge burst of aether energy as a pillar of light surrounded the rampaging mechs on the battlefield, and as spectral purest white "feathers" flew about them in a flurry. Edelweiss appeared, seeming to enfold the Nirvana with its now seraphic wings, stopping him just enough for Wolfborg to summon the Seal into the air to finish his rampage. Lei's eyes returned to normal and he fainted inside his cockpit.***
"She was...protecting 'him'. Do you not think it unusual...?"
"How should I know...? It's not everyday we get to meet psychos like that, stopped by what seems to be the goodness inside his heart crying out for help to 'Lilith'. As much as Oblivion detested the world, and we detest him, only 'Lilith' could understand and soothe him." Yusaku's slanted clear violet eyes were serious. "As we were sworn in to protect the Imperial Family a long time ago...the Kaiser...especially the Grand Duchess..."
A subliminal shot of a beautiful young girl appeared, dressed in rich silken robes and jewels befitting her rank as a Princess (Grand Duchess = Princess). Her eyes were closed happily, as she stood there with a small smile on her face, the white doves all flitting about her.
"It would only make our work harder. Besides, it was what 'Lilith' chose for herself." Yusaku nodded, then looked up to the darkened ceiling. "And they don't have any right in choosing things for her own choosing, if you get what I mean. It is best left this way."
"As you say."
"~~~and you're not even worth it you STUPID monkey~~~"
"~~~what the HELL do you know you horny BASTARD~~~"
The gigantic harisen struck swiftly and deadly.
"URUSE, KONO BAKA SARU TO GEKIBURI~~~!!! When the HELL would you two LEARN to shut UP~~~~?!" SD Yusaku roared, hitting them again and again with his harisen which he summoned from subspace. "I've ENOUGH of your stupid ANTICS and that HAG insists on making me BABYSIT all of you and this is all you EVER do to REPAY me for saving your asses all those TIMES I have to put UP with you 2 IDIOTS~~~?! Do you want to go to HELL that BAD~~~?! Or do you want to go through it SEVERAL TIMES OVER~~~?!"
"GGGGGGGUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHH~~~"
"..." SD Setsuna gave a small smile. "Aa, heiwa desu ne..."
The only reply he got were a series of gunshots from a very furious Yusaku. And it was all he ever needed to know.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Another LONG chappie~~~!!! Now Team Axis shows up again, by means of that Magi. Do the other Magi know he's even in this deal with the Nimrod...? And...oh NO! Lei's Oblivion...?! Is he or isn't HE?! He and Kai make a rather lovely couple....**^~^** And yeah, I miss those Western travelers very badly. I really had to put them in.
Easy Japanese Ver. 3
Akai Shinpuuga = Red Holy-Wind-Fang (from last chappie)
Ittai! = Ouch!
Uruse = still another version of Urusai, shut up.
Aa, heiwa desu ne... = How peaceful. (OO;; how the heck does Hakkai ever think of the 3 of them arguing PEACEFUL?!)
Harisen = Genjo Sanzo's almighty folded paper fan.
Gekiburi = cockroach
Hontou da? = Is it true?
*blah-blah*-hakase = *some surname*-doctor, so Dr. *some surname*
Yo. = Hey.
Usotsuki. = Liar.
Urusai, omae ga korosendayo~~~!!! = Shut up, or I'll KILL you~~~!!!
Ikuzo. = Let's go.
Nandemonai. = It's nothing.
Uruse, kono baka saru to gekiburi~~~!!! = Shut up, you stupid monkey and cockroach~~~!!!
Ja, na. = See you.
Urusendayo. = still another version of shut up. (gee, Genjo Sanzo certainly LOVES his colloquialisms...^___^;;)
And...
Yusaku Saionji = Genjo Sanzo
Setsuna Takizawa = Cho Hakkai
Tatsuhiko Fujimiya = Sha Gojyo
Daichi Maeda = Son Goku
Kadomony = ^____^;; not really Japanese, but...Adam Kadmon is the primordial man in Hebrew lore - the perfect prototype, and the first man of
the Kabbalah, symbolized by the holy sephiroth. (taken from Guardian Angels, a Xenogears site) In this ficcie, it is the ability to
use your aether at will in order to project a manifestation of your aether Element, as in the case with Mao (Galux = Raging Earth).
***Erratum = Fimbrethil means "slender-beech". Sorry about that one....^____^;;