For a moment, she wasn't sure what the being before her actually was. In the span of a single second, her thoughts alternated between an angel, a demon, an alien, and a ghost. The woman's pale, two-toned, otherworldly skin was unlike any she had ever seen in her life. Her hair seemed to be a creature of its own; sharp yet silky smooth, extending all the way to the ground, yet it did not drag behind her as she walked. Her outfit was akin to a low-cut dress, yet it seemed to hold itself up through impossible forces. Beautiful beyond comparison, her appearance was a mere front for her true nature.
Whatever she was, Hibiki could tell that this person was not human. It could only be something more, beyond the understanding of mortal man, taking on a shape that made sense to the dwellers of the Earth. Its true form was, perhaps, incomprehensible.
But the moment the being, the woman, uttered her name, everything fell into place. The moment Hibiki heard it, she understood immediately. Every single bit of fear, anxiety, and melancholy that had filled her to the brim since the beginning of the incident were driven out.
And in their place, the smoldering fire of anger that had forever dwindled in her heart showed signs of life.
She rose to her feet, her eyes narrowed at the intruder. "So you're... Shem-Ha? The Custodian?"
The lights in the bathroom flickered momentarily. As the darkness came and went, the woman remained unmoving, meeting Hibiki's gaze with an even, unreadable expression.
"Indeed, I am. The beginning and end of humanity, the origin of words; that is who I am. You'd do well to remember that from now on, god-slayer."
She spoke haughtily, not at all fazed by Hibiki's distrustful glare. She barely stood a head taller than the human, yet Hibiki could not help but feel inadequate before her.
But she was unperturbed, for there was something else far more important than being awed by the being before her.
"So you're the one that..." Hibiki said, unsure as to where to begin. But then, all other thoughts fled her mind as she focused on one particular question she had to ask. "...what did you do to Miku?"
Shem-Ha, despite herself, was surprised, and she showed so by raising a single eyebrow. "Intriguing. However, predictable. In the end, your interest lies in that vessel alone, does it not?"
"That's—!" Hibiki tried to say in protest, but bit down on that thought. "Of course I'd be interested! I want to know what you did to her! Why did you do that?! Why did you steal her body?!"
The hollow, red-ringed eyes narrowed in response. "Steal? What impertinence. I have done nothing of the sort."
"Then explain yourself!"
"I merely granted that girl's wish."
The immediate response caught Hibiki off-guard. "...what?"
As she remained attached to the wall, she kept the Custodian in her vision at all times. The lights flickered, and suddenly, Shem-Ha was nowhere to be seen. Yet, her voice echoed in Hibiki's head, and in her mind's eye, she could see her stare boring into her.
"I am one who has been sealed for millennia, my existence kept a secret from the children of Man. That girl was the first who had the right to make contact with me, and when she did, I made her an offer."
"An offer?" Hibiki repeated, not liking where she was heading with this. "And where did you go? Where are you? Why can I still hear you when you aren't here?"
"An impatient one, you are. I shall provide you with all the answers you seek. After all, the two of us are bound to each other now," Shem-Ha said with a mysterious tone. Hibiki blinked, and suddenly, she reappeared, walking towards the center of the bathroom from the corner of her eye. "For one who claims to know that girl best, you truly are blind and deaf to all circumstances, even your own. An infuriating existence that perpetuates the misunderstanding."
Hibiki didn't understand the vague and cryptic manner with which Shem-Ha spoke. Before she could ask her to clarify what she meant, the Custodian continued.
"That girl had a wish, and I proclaimed I shall grant it for her. In exchange, she'd give me her body, for I do not have a physical form with which to interact with the world. That was the offer I had made, and she acquiesced to it."
Hibiki was at a loss for words. She genuinely could not wrap her head around what Shem-ha was saying. "But why? Why would she do that?! You must've tricked her somehow!"
"Your insolence knows no bounds," Shem-Ha's voice said. In the blink of an eye, she had once again vanished from Hibiki's sight, and her deep voice echoed in her head once more. "I have done no such thing. But it is to be expected from one as yourself, who rushes head on without a care in the world. You, who only looks forward, whose eyes only see the road ahead, yet not the pebbles underfoot. You could not even see the secret feelings she held."
"You're wrong!" Hibiki yelled to empty space. Her eyes darted to and fro, attempting to find the Custodian. "We share everything with each other! There's no way there'd be something she wouldn't tell me!"
"It was precisely because she had feelings she could not convey, that she accepted me even for an instant."
Shem-Ha reappeared, floating above the ground before her with her legs crossed, as if she was sitting on an invisible throne.
"What?" Hibiki murmured in shock. "Miku... Miku did that? But...but—!"
"How ironic. Had you been more perceptive, you would have noticed her cries beyond your pursuit for justice," the Custodian said, crossing her arms. "However, I do not blame you, nor her. Even though you two had the Curse purged from your bodies, you're still bound by its influence. It's precisely because of that that I chose to manifest."
Hibiki blinked again. Shem-Ha vanished once more.
"And that is what I said to her. With a physical body, I would be able to act against this dreadful curse and liberate humanity so such tragic circumstances never come to pass again," she continued. As she spoke, Hibiki noticed the rising anger in her voice, even when it was in her head. "However, it had been a set-up. The vessel was outfitted with that nefarious device, and I had not enough time to integrate myself within it to counter its influence. That treacherous despot shackled me when I was too feeble to resist."
Hibiki cringed from the elevated tone, the fury the Custodian was feeling seeping through to her. "B-but then how are you here?"
She blinked again, and Shem-Ha reappeared, this time upside down with her feet on the ceiling. The bizarre sight was enhanced by the fact that her hair, despite its length, was unaffected by the pull of gravity, as if she had changed the very meaning of that ancient force with just her presence.
But as Hibiki would discover with her next explanation, the truth to that matter was far different from what she had expected.
"Before his domination was completed, I had split off a fragment of myself containing my consciousness. I sought a new vessel, one that I could manipulate into liberating my original," Shem-Ha said. Her expression then changed into an amused smile. "My surprise was immeasurable. To think the other suitable vessel would be you, the one with the closest connection to the first."
Hibiki's eyes widened. "What...what are you saying?!"
She blinked again, and when her eyes opened, she took a startled step back as Shem-Ha seemingly teleported right in front of her. With her height, she breached her personal space, her red-ringed stare locking Hibiki in place.
"You are already aware of the answer," she said. "I am not a ghost, nor a hallucination of your mind. No, I am inside you. The fragment that I had split off from my main body rooted itself within you, and the form you see before you is a projection you see through your own eyes. In summation, you are my vessel now as well. Your senses are now my own."
Hibiki was speechless. Shocked beyond belief at the revelation, she couldn't even articulate what she wanted to say before Shem-Ha beat her to the punch. She blinked again, and the Custodian vanished once more.
"I can decide whether to appear before you, or to remain a voice in the back of your mind. And yes, the visions of myself that you saw were all real; it was a symptom of my integration process within you. Now that it is complete, I can speak to you directly. Fret not, none other than you is aware of my presence. They will never know I walk among them."
Shem-Ha phased into existence again in the center of the room, but now spoke with a wistful tone.
"However, it seems that is all I can do. I am now a mere fragment of a fragment, a mere one millionth of my original power. At my current state, I cannot take possession of your body to use as my own."
Shaking off her extended stupor, Hibiki pushed herself off the wall and approached the Custodian. Shem-Ha looked at her with a bored gaze, already knowing what the girl would ask.
"Then what do you plan to do?"
She huffed. "To think one such as I would be reduced to such a state," she said with a quick shake of her head. She looked back to Hibiki and said her piece. "I shall make you an offer as well."
Hibiki was naturally suspicious, and narrowed her eyes. "Are you going to try to take my body too?"
"Exasperation. It truly seems you do not listen," Shem-Ha said with another shake of her head. She then extended her hand forward, as if beckoning Hibiki towards her. "We both share the same desire; to reclaim the vessel that had been stolen from us. You too wish to depose that wretched tyrant, do you not? Then the only path forward is our collaboration."
Hibiki was honestly surprised, and loosened her guard as her eyes widened. "You want... to work together?"
"Indeed. I will assist your endeavors, and you shall assist mine. Simple, is it not?"
It was really that simple, Hibiki understood. However, she wasn't so dumb as to not notice what Shem-Ha's objective was. The Custodian saw it coming from a mile away.
"It is simple, but I'm not that stupid. How do I know you won't trick me?" Hibiki said defiantly. "Miku trusted you, and you turned that trust on her. I'm not going to let you do as you want. I'll save her on my own if I have to."
Her anger was palpable in the air. Despite herself, Shem-Ha was surprised by her resistance. She had expected her to relent much more easily, but it seems she was headstrong even in such a situation.
"Unbelievable. To think you could stand before me like so," the Custodian said. "But you are a fool. Do you truly believe you will succeed so easily?"
"I'll pull something off, just like I always have. No matter what stands in my way, I'll break through it with my fist," Hibiki said confidently, making a show of force by raising her hand and clenching said fist.
"Such reckless bravery can truly only be called foolishness. Even your god-slaying power will not be enough to turn the tide on your enemy. My power is mighty, and yours is not. You are but a mere human, and that vessel houses divine power beyond what you have seen thus far. That despot is also powerful; he alone wields the strength of a thousand men, the likes of which only heroes of yore have ever reached. Do you truly believe that your miracles can overcome such overwhelming odds?"
Hibiki clenched her teeth, deflated somewhat by Shem-Ha's cold, hard logic. However, she refused to yield her position. "But even so, I'll do it. I have to do it. Miku is waiting for me, and I have no intention of letting her down!"
Shem-Ha fell silent for a brief moment before reappearing right next to Hibiki, who took a step back in surprise at the sudden move. "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."
The strange saying caught Hibiki by surprise. Now knowing she was actively listening, Shem-Ha turned her head to look at her. "A mortal from over two thousand years ago said those words. For a mere human, he was quite ingenious. If you strike while knowing nothing, you will only bring ruin upon yourself and your companions. If you truly wish to emerge victorious, you must heed my words, lest both our wishes become akin to nighttime stars. Fleeting and unreachable."
"What are you saying?"
Shem-Ha huffed again. "In short, you will never defeat that man by your lonesome. No matter how far you attempt to reach, you will fall short of your goal due to your ignorance. You have no grasp on what the divine power is truly capable of; therefore, you require my assistance. Out of all the compatriots that you have gathered, none of them possess the knowledge to foresee the extent to which he will use it. Refuse me, and you will be annihilated. Answer: is your self-righteous pride worth sacrificing your objective for?"
Hibiki bit her lip, looking away from the Custodian. In response, Shem-Ha walked into her view from inside the wall to her right, not allowing her to turn away. She raised her head again, meeting the red-ringed stare once more.
"You do not have a choice. Unless you wish the world to fall into his hands, you will relent."
Hibiki clenched her fists tight, holding back her frustration. She briefly closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and exhaled as she slowly calmed her irritation down.
"Fine, but on one condition," she started, and Shem-Ha stared at her plainly. "You give Miku back. I'm not going to just stand aside and let you take her body again. You're going to give it back to her, and we'll find something else for you; I don't mind even if you stay with me, as long as you don't touch Miku anymore."
She said it with as much assertiveness as she could muster. Even though she was a human, she no longer held any fear towards the Custodian. All she wanted was one thing, and she refused to relent on that regard.
"Utter vexation. Very well, when the day comes that we reclaim the vessel, I shall do with it as necessary."
"Then we have a deal," Hibiki said. She would've normally shaken her hand, but the Custodian's ethereal nature made it somewhat difficult. "So... what now?"
"Return to your slumber," Shem-Ha answered. "You are meeting those three monstrosities anon, do you not? I am curious to see how you handle those who've wronged you so deeply."
"How exactly am I supposed to sleep now?" Hibiki asked, deciding to ignore the latter statement from her.
Shem-Ha said nothing in response. Hibiki, for a brief moment, wondered exactly what she meant before extreme exhaustion suddenly overwhelmed her. In an instant, she went from wide awake, her mind too frazzled to calm down, to so tired she felt as though she could fall asleep on the spot. She wobbled towards the wall, struggling to keep her eyes open.
"W-wha..." she breathed out. "Did..."
"I have tinkered with your hypothalamus, the section of your brain that controls your sleep cycle. I cannot and will not have you acting selfishly now that we're collaborating. I may not be capable of possessing your body, but I do have enough power to tamper with your brain; be aware of that from now on, god-slayer."
Hibiki would've answered if she hadn't felt like merely talking would take the last bits of her energy.
"Now return to your abode. In the meantime, I shall ponder our course of action."
Dragging her legs forward, Hibiki left the bathroom in a daze. Her vision blurred from fatigue, and every step she took back to her room felt herculean in effort. Her steps echoed in the steel halls, and the presence of Shem-Ha in the back of her mind felt like a constant throb she couldn't quite get rid of. Like an itchy spot she just couldn't reach that both bothered her and didn't
Was that what Shem-Ha meant by pondering? She had so, so many questions for the Custodian, but didn't have the energy to verbalize them.
The trek back to her room felt like an eternity. As the door opened and she fell on her bed, it didn't take long for her eyes to shut and her mind to be taken into Morpheus's embrace.
And all the while, Shem-Ha remained wide awake, thinking mysterious thoughts known only to herself.
-!-
The moon's glow illuminated the starless night sky. Awakening within a memory she did not have, she stood by as a spectator to a spectacle she had never witnessed. The location was a far off desert, with deep ravines surrounded by enormous cliffs dotting the landscape in all directions. From her vantage point, floating above the land, it almost looked as if it was the place of a great battle that had scarred the Earth in its aftermath.
However, she soon discovered that it was not the case.
It was not that a great battle had occurred in the past.
It was being joined right before her eyes.
Two streaks of light, one emerald and the other a vibrant violet clashed mightily in the skies of this desolate wasteland. Each of their blows sent a shower of sparks into the night, and the sheer force behind their melee carved wide gouges into the cliff sides. They crumbled, crashing down like skyscrapers in an earthquake, yet the two combatants remained focused on each other, hellbent on overcoming their opposition.
The emerald light swung down, and the violet light rapidly moved aside just as an enormous crescent shockwave erupted from the edge of its blade. The spectator watched in awe as it sliced a mountain in half, and the two bisected sides shook and were pulverized.
The emerald light landed upon one of the cliffs, and the violet light followed suit, settling down on the other side not too far away.
"It didn't have to be this way, ****!" The emerald light spoke with a deep tone that the spectator identified as male.
The spectator looked in puzzlement. The man spoke, yet the final part of his sentence went unspoken. Or rather, it was as if the spectator was forbidden from hearing whatever it is he had said.
As if to reinforce that point, the violet light answered in return. Yet, whatever it said went unheard by the spectator, who could only hear a heavily distorted and mangled voice that left none of its words recognizable.
Whatever it was the violet light said, it incurred anger within its opponent. The battle aura from the emerald light intensified, and all at once it charged at its foe, clashing mightily once again. The cliff sides shook and crumbled once more from the inhuman power being casually tossed about.
The spectator was witnessing a battle unlike any they had ever seen or experienced. Power beyond mortal comprehension, that easily rent the earth and cleaved the skies, was wielded by two beings who aimed to take down their enemy.
Yet, for some reason, what the spectator felt from gazing upon their feud was not fear, or excitement, or unshackled excitement. No, the only thing that they felt was sorrow, as if their heart echoed the emerald light's words.
It didn't have to be this way, that's what the spectator believed. Why are these two beings, wielding so much power with which they could do so much good, are using it against one another? What had led them to this regrettable result that could leave only one standing?
All that would remain for the victor would be solitude, for all those like them had already long left the world for their own interests.
There was no other path remaining for the two of them. From their vantage point high above the land, the spectator observed two foes, who remained eternally locked in battle within a world that no longer existed.
-!-
Hibiki's eyes groggily opened, and she turned over on her side as she slowly regained her focus. As the room was within the very heart of the submarine, it had no windows to the outside from which natural light could bleed through and force her awake. Even though she had slept, she still felt tired, as if her mind was heavier than it normally should've been.
As she found herself drifting off again, a shadow approached her from the corner of the room. In the dark, she could not identify it, and it momentarily left her paralyzed from shock.
"Awaken now, god-slayer," the deep voice said. As Hibiki tried to open her mouth to protest, the grogginess in her mind vanished as fast as it had come. All at once the tiredness fled her, and she found herself wide awake, promptly raising herself to a sitting position.
"Wha... what did you do?" she asked, immediately recognizing the owner of the voice as Shem-Ha. That confirmed to her that the previous night wasn't a dream. Shem-Ha was very real and was inside her own head.
Just the thought of that sent her for a whirl. She had very briefly experienced that with Saint-Germain the first time she had activated Amalgam, but that was a one-time thing that had vanished as quickly as it came.
For a moment, she wondered what it'd have been like had the alchemist been the one to reside in her head. Then she realized that the very fact that her thoughts wandered this way showed just how bad things had gotten.
Since when did her brain become a lounge for the deceased?
"Curious. You truly dwell on such inane topics," the Custodian said. "I have merely done the same as previously. Tinkering with your brain's functions is child's play for one such as I. I will not have you dawdle about uselessly. Now rise."
Hibiki let out an annoyed grunt as she pushed off her blanket. "Please don't make a habit of that," she said to her eccentric companion. "I don't even know what we're supposed to be doing."
"Then meet with your commander so you will know," Shem-Ha said, putting a hand on her hip. Hibiki let out a huff and rose to her feet, during which the Custodian vanished from her vision once again. "Intriguing. You are quite unlike yourself."
"How do you know that?" Hibiki asked, then quickly realized that was a pointless thing to say. Shem-Ha had free access to all of her memories, as if they were a free library she could sift through without any interruption.
"So you finally learn," was her response. "You truly had depended upon my vessel so deeply. You are unable to find your own foundation. To so quickly fall to such depths is unbecoming of you, god-slayer."
"Her name is Miku," Hibiki said angrily as she dressed herself in her uniform. "She's not anybody's vessel. Miku is Miku and she's going to stay Miku no matter what you say. I also have a name you know."
"Those names are irrelevant. Since when have you been under the delusion that I had any intention of fraternizing with you lot?"
Shem-Ha's utter refusal to lighten up bothered Hibiki to no end. She'd have usually pursued the matter further, but her mind simply wasn't up to the task at the current time. She wanted to settle down and get her bearings on everything first.
As the Custodian fell silent once more, bringing back some serenity to her head, Hibiki headed towards the bridge with a heavy heart.
-!-
The tinkering of machinery in the lab broke the usual, monotonous silence that enveloped it. Working earnestly as always, Elfnein went through the motions of the Symphogear maintenance. Normally she'd sit in silence with her own thoughts to accompany her, but recent events have added a new element that she had truly come to appreciate.
"You've really come a long way with this, haven't you?" Carol asked her in her mind. With her eyes still focused on the Ig-Alima pendant before her, Elfnein answered to the best of her ability.
"It's all thanks to everyone here. I learned a lot about the world because of them."
She said it as sincerely as she could while preoccupied with her work. Momentarily raising her head, she extended her hand towards her alchemy book that was splayed open on the stand before her. She had been using it as a guide for a while, as the knowledge within it was considered lost to the ages.
However, Carol's voice echoed in her head again.
"I'd be careful with that compound," she said, and Elfnein tilted her head in confusion. Carol sighed. "You've been pretty reckless with it, but those isotopes are dangerously reactive when they come into contact. Give them time to settle before you add them together; the relic metal isn't so fragile as to break from a short pause."
"Ah, but the book says—"
"The book has a lot of mistakes in it. Believe me, I know," Carol continued, letting out a tired puff. As Elfnein shyed softly at the brief admonishment, her soul partner questioned her deeply. "So how long are you going to pretend that this is your fault?"
At that, Elfnein stopped working. She looked at her tools sadly, putting them down on the table. "But if I hadn't been led into that trap, then Miku-san wouldn't have—"
"As noble as that is, that's not something you could've done anything about. The vampire specifically targeted you, and the girl was simply there at the wrong time."
"Still, I should've seen it coming the moment we knew it was the divine power they were aiming for. If I had only told everyone what I knew, then we would've had better contingency plans in place to protect her," the homunculus protested.
If there was one thing Carol never liked about her creation, it was that she was always so quick to look inward than outwards when it comes to bad people doing bad things. Shifting the blame onto herself may motivate her to do better, but doing better wasn't what they needed right now.
They needed solutions, ones that'd help them resolve this incident as quickly as possible.
"Perhaps, but then it's possible it'd have happened regardless. And besides, this was what was needed to draw me out," Carol said with a tinge of amusement. She had settled in the back of Elfnein's mind for a while, and had been satisfied with sitting things out, but Millaarc's use of her Mystic Eye forced her to act for the sake of her partner's safety.
She also knew that such contingencies would've meant nothing in the end. Despite being nothing more than a reconstituted bunch of memories, her genius had not faltered even slightly. She had already envisioned all the possible manners by which this incident could've gone, and they all led to the same result.
Shem-Ha's resurrection was inevitable. Whether or not it happened now or later was irrelevant. The biggest question right now was of a different sort:
How well equipped are they to deal with it?
"This at least gives us a chance to study the vampire's Mystic Eye," she continued. "It's been a while since I've had the luxury of dealing with those. If we study it thoroughly, we might be able to find a fix for Kazanari Tsubasa."
"But what about Miku-san? How are we going to save her?" Elfnein inquired.
"We have both the god-slayer and my alchemy on our side. I've already long finished analyzing the concept of humanity. Should the opportunity arise, I'll be able to classify any other impurities as divine and purge them on the spot. That should at least rid us of the biggest problem."
"And what about the Direct Feedback System?"
At that, Carol fell silent as she considered her answer. It shocked her that the biggest obstacle in all of this wasn't the various supernatural powers their opponents wielded, but rather, the man made contraption that embodied a great risk.
"The damn thing is a problem, that's no secret. Because we don't have another Shenshoujing on hand, we'll have to do this the hard way and disable it from the outside. That means infiltrating Kazanari Fudou's base, which unfortunately will prove to be an arduous task. We don't know what he's already done with the divine power aside from establishing that barrier, but even the god-slaying fist is most likely not enough to get us through this. We have to plan this out smartly or we'll be annihilated."
Elfnein sighed listlessly. "What are we supposed to do..."
"For now, we bide our time. Until then, keep your wits about; dangers lurk at the darkest corners," Carol said. As ominous and dark as usual from her, which didn't help lift Elfnein's spirits.
However, she then grumbled inwardly, and despite not being able to see her partner, Elfnein imagined that her brows furrowed in thought.
"What's wrong?" she asked her.
After a moment of deliberation, Carol answered carefully. "Something seemed odd about Tachibana Hibiki to me. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, so make sure to keep an eye on her henceforth."
"What do you mean?"
"A dark shadow hangs around her. There's something about her that is unlike the usual."
A dark shadow... what could she mean by that? Elfnein hadn't personally noticed anything different about Hibiki. Her sadness at Miku being taken was understandable, and it was something they were all experiencing together with her.
Was there something more to it she didn't notice? If Carol said so, then it was worth checking out. She briefly glanced at the Gungnir pendant resting by its comrades.
Hmm... maybe she'll check that one out next. Can't be too careful.
As Carol continued grumbling to herself, Elfnein resumed her work, dedicated to the cause.
And hoped that the meeting with Noble Red would go well.
-!-
Yatsuhiro was not one to lose his cool so easily. He was not one to falter under pressure either; the nature of his work made it critically important to remain cool and calculating at all times. From top government officials to yakuza bosses, he had dealt with all manner of figureheads, from the corrupt to the violent to the sexually abusive. No matter what sort of shady business he had to pull, he had come through every time for the sake of the nation and his family.
He found a calling in it, one that differed from his younger brother. Of course, the Kazanari clan had many children, as Fudou had sired many over the years. He was merely the eighth son, which was a position none would want to have in a family as traditional as their own. Genjuro was an outlier who had rejected the call of politics and went into the secret service, eventually becoming the commander of Section 2, now SONG. The position was previously held by Fudou himself, but the incident resulting in Yukine Chris going missing and Ichaival being lost forced him to resign.
Of course, not that resigning ever meant anything to that old man. His connections in the government and the underworld ran deep, and there was nary a man in those circles who did not know the name Kazanari. A clan nearly as ancient as the country itself, the eternal defenders who maintained the peace and unity of Japan as a whole.
And now, those age-old bonds, as well as Fudou's act of treason came back to bite his sons.
"Mr. Yatsuhiro, surely you understand our position in all of this," the UK Minister of Security said. "This is a disaster of an unprecedented scale. I thought this whole deal with this divine power was done and dealt with, yet you tell us now that your father got hold of it?! Mr. Fudou has always been a menace, actively hindering our diplomatic processes with Japan! How do you intend to fix this?!"
Yatsuhiro, despite all of his experience, found himself at a loss. He keenly remembered his discussion with his father after the Bavarian Illuminati were dealt with; he had shown interest in the divine power from that very moment.
He should have seen this coming, and yet it still caught him by surprise.
"Clearly, this reveals the true color of the famous Kazanari clan. I'm honestly shocked it took them this long to backstab us," the Chinese President sneered.
"This is preposterous! Am you implying this is something that is in Japan's interest?!" Yatsuhiro protested loudly. He had dreaded this conference with various world officials, especially since he had been in active correspondence with all of them. Not many seated members of the UN knew the full extent of what took place, and some of them didn't even know this incident was happening in the first place.
He had to keep a lid on as much information as possible. Still, his former allies now harshly pointed fingers, throwing baseless accusations around to vent their anger.
It's not like he didn't know they had designs on the divine power as well. They wouldn't be leaders if they didn't.
Strangely enough, it was the American President who remained somewhat calm throughout the discussion. Yatsuhiro hadn't expected that of the man, considering what he had pulled last time. "So what do you plan to do, Mr. Yatsuhiro? You of course understand that we require answers in order to plan our next move. Mr. Fudou is not one to simply lay low without scheming something."
He tried his best to give a concrete answer. "We are currently strengthening our force that will directly engage with Fudou in order to deprive him of the divine power and arrest him. To that end, we have apprehended his former associates with the hopes they will cooperate with us and provide us with the relevant information."
"And how do you know that their information will be reliable?"
"Because they're the ones who had directly helped him get hold of it in the first place," he clarified, which shushed some of the more rowdy of the conference members. Quite a few chose to remain silent, opting to let the conversation lead itself and act accordingly. "You already have the data on their identities. The three of them used to be unrelated, but were eventually turned into experiments by the Illuminati and deemed failures to be discarded. Due to their alchemical knowledge, they're bound to know the means to defeat Fudou and his ilk."
To even suggest Tsubasa was any part of that ilk made his skin crawl. However, he deliberately left that out of the report; both for her sake and his own.
"We can't work with such empty promises, Herr Yatsuhiro," the German Chancellor said sternly. "It pains me to say this, but it seems Germany will pull out of this alliance for the foreseeable future."
It took everything in Yatsuhiro's power not to scream at the woman for her declaration. "You'd leave Japan to deal with an international incident alone?! You know what happened last time!"
"It is precisely because of that," she said. "We have our own problems to deal with, Herr Yatsuhiro. This incident is due to your own carelessness."
Once again, it took all he had in him not to slam his hand on the table. They choose now of all times to be outrageous and unreasonable?! Purely by their silence, he already knew that the other members shared her sentiments.
He knew how this politicking went. They try to save their own hides by abandoning others and pretending it was their fault. And what's more, this incident alone could tarnish his standing in the international community.
Not because of anything he said, but because of what he is: a son of Kazanari.
In the span of two days, his name went from evoking trust and professionality to being an outcast. They didn't even need to say that outright.
"You're making a grave mistake," he said ominously.
"I'm sure you'll be able to handle it," the French representative said smugly. "You've already dealt with it the first time, have you not? Just do so again. For a country as proud as yours, I"m sure you'll do all it takes to make things right."
'This son of a—'
Of all people, the American President came to his rescue. "I believe we've reached a decision, then. We shall let Japan handle this crisis; with that in mind, I believe this meeting is to be adjourned."
"Then godspeed to you, Mr. Yatsuhiro," the UK representative said. "Don't disappoint us."
And just like that, he left the call. The other leaders and representatives followed his lead, and Yatsuhiro watched as one by one, their faces vanished from his display. At the end of the process, only he and the American President remained.
The two lapsed into silence, and Yatsuhiro rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. Seeing his reaction, the president spoke up.
"You've truly found yourself in a bind, Mr. Yatsuhiro," he said, and then sighed. "If only it was that easy to pull off as they claim."
The Kazanari member couldn't help but retort. "Mr. President, need I remind you—"
"I did what I had to do," the president cut him off. "But, then was then, and now is now. Unlike those buffoons, I'll be keeping a close watch on the ongoings. Don't hesitate to give me a call if things prove too difficult."
'I wouldn't immediately trust the Americans to help without recompense,' Yatsuhiro thought to himself. "I'll keep it in mind. I'll keep the council updated as the situation develops."
"You do so," the president said with a nod. Narrowing his eyes, he then spoke with a stern tone. "No matter what, we cannot allow the gods to steal away our future. Ours is a world built by man for man. Not any one person can control it; if that father of yours believes he will meet no resistance, the United States of America would be more than happy to remind him of humanity's tenacity."
As grandiose and arrogant as always. Yatsuhiro subtly rolled his eyes and responded. "I'll keep that in mind."
The president nodded. "Then, until next time, Mr. Yatsuhiro."
And with that, he too left the call. Silence descended upon his work office once more as he remained alone. He let out an exhausted sigh and leaned back in his chair, and the seat creaked as it bent back. He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose again, feeling an annoying headache coming on.
To think negotiations have broken down so quickly. He had expected this out of politicians, but not this blatantly. They were usually more subtle with their selfishness, usually covering it up as coincidental or just a matter of bad luck. The UN members were, in some form, obligated to help their allied members in times of crisis, but recently their support had been negligible.
In short, this wasn't the first time they outright refused to help. This time they just admitted it instead of trying to play him with their words.
But reaching that conclusion wouldn't help him in any manner. What he needed right now was a trump card, something that would turn the tide on the table to his side.
Something, or someone, who can rally them to his cause.
What or who could possibly fit that mould?
He thought to himself, going through a mental list of all the people he knew. They were many, and so he started from the top, going from his more distant acquaintances to some of his closest associates.
It took him quite a while. The clock ticked monotonously in the background, giving rhythm to his brainstorming. He tapped on his table with each repetition, giving each face a second of deliberation before he moved on.
Naturally, the members of SONG were a part of that count. As he went through the list of staff, he finally reached the main force.
And as his mind fell upon a particular person, he paused. His eyes widened slightly as he pondered more deeply, putting all the pieces together.
"I see..." he mumbled to himself. "This could work..."
-!-
As the evening rolled around, the members of SONG made the necessary preparations to welcome their new collaborators. The port where HQ resided came to life, changing from a seldom used parking lot into a base fast on its feet. Personnel went to and fro, readying themselves for their arrival.
It was a necessary procedure after all. Noble Red were wanted criminals, guilty of causing massive amounts of death, and now for assisting a traitor. And as beings possessing supernatural powers, it was only logical that the human members would do all they can to safeguard their comrades.
Some would say it was overkill to mobilize the entirety of HQ's staff like this. However, Genjuro saw this as an inevitability. Tensions ran high as he and the Adaptors stood by the pier in a line along with dozens of bodyguards, all ready with guns in their holsters.
Of course, that was a mere front. They all knew that Noble Red wouldn't be killed by measly firearms, but Genjuro needed to make the impression. He needed Noble Red to know they meant business, and that they weren't about to be let loose so easily. Criminals are criminals no matter what their role is, he recited, and they needed to be reminded of that.
SONG held all the cards, and they had to learn when to fold. Of course, he knew that the girls didn't see things the same way as he did, but that was a different matter entirely.
Sometimes, he had to be the tough military general. That's how he was in the actual military, in the Secret Service, and during his early days as Section 2's commander. Some would say he doesn't fit the part, and he'd be inclined to agree.
Speaking of the girls, he worried for them most of all. He'd been so busy the entire day that he wasn't quite sure what they had been up to while they waited. After he had briefed them on the time when Noble Red would arrive, they had simply dispersed, gone to do their own thing in uncharacteristic silence.
Now was the first time he was seeing them after the morning meeting, and upon looking at them, he didn't quite like what he saw. They seemed pensive, ruminating to themselves about things they didn't share with him.
But of the five, Maria was the one who worried him the most. Usually a level headed person, all he could see on her now was restlessness. Her arms were crossed below her chest, and she was tapping her finger on her arm repeatedly. She stepped with her foot on the ground as well, clearly demonstrating her irritation. What's more, he could feel the anger rolling off of her frame, exacerbated by the occasional grinding of teeth he could distantly hear.
He'll need to keep an eye on her, that he was sure of.
"So, what's the plan now, old man?" Chris asked as she looked at him. Frankly, standing around doing nothing didn't sit well with her, especially considering who was being brought over.
Unfortunately, he didn't give her the answer she expected. "We wait. We're all on standby here, and you five are no different. As the ones who have personally faced Noble Red before, you'll know how they act and how they fight."
"You say that like you need us here for protection," she said with an eyebrow raised. "Aren't you enough?"
"Don't forget the Alca-Noise are always a problem."
"Yeah, but I doubt they'll have any right now," she argued back. Well, not like she had any real say in the matter. If that's what the old man said, then that's what'll be.
Putting a pause to the conversation, she took a moment to also survey her teammates. She had already noticed Maria's restlessness, so that didn't surprise her, nor did the uncharacteristic seriousness Kirika showed on her face. Shirabe was the same as ever, quiet and thoughtful.
Naturally, the one who stood out the most to her was Hibiki, who looked to be lost in thought. The strangest thing was how her eyes seemed to follow something in the air, yet when Chris tried to follow her gaze, she saw nothing in particular. At times, it almost seemed like she wanted to speak, but held herself back and just kept her silence.
Chris watched her like a hawk, ready to pounce at any moment. She was determined to not leave Hibiki alone anymore than necessary.
Hibiki, however, was ignorant of the worries plaguing her friends at the moment. Her attention was split between focusing on waiting and the ghostly Custodian floating in the air, surveying the area.
"A fascinating prospect. Former enemies joining forces against a greater enemy; a common strategy, yet effective. However, would they truly lend you their assistance so readily?" Shem-Ha mused in her head.
"They said they'll help, so we'll accept it," Hibiki said in return, this time thinking her answer rather than verbalizing it. It hadn't taken her long to realize that speaking aloud to a person nobody else could see would earn her a fair amount of confused stares and quite a few worried ones. As such, the solution was simple; just think what she wanted to say instead. With Shem-Ha able to read her thoughts, it was simple enough.
The Custodian, at the time, was shocked that she had come up with that on her own. Hibiki didn't appreciate being treated like an idiot.
"Foolish optimism. They will have their own demands for this exchange. You're a fool if you believe they choose to help out of the goodness of their hearts."
Hibiki chose not to entertain her any further. Normally she'd shrug it off, but something about Shem-Ha's tone felt extremely condescending, which left a bad taste in her mouth. The two of them fell silent, focusing on the caravan approaching in the distance.
The harbor's gate opened, and an entourage of security vehicles entered first. In the middle, a large armored truck followed, and behind it another line of wards was on their tail.
To Hibiki, it almost looked like the security detail of an important person, like some company head or a president. However, she knew it wasn't the case now. It didn't take her long to understand that the armored truck contained their three new accomplices.
Before she could even begin thinking about it, Shem-Ha vocalized her thoughts first. "Hoh, so you think such measures are excessive?"
Hibiki grimaced. "Of course they are. That's no way to treat people who're going to help us."
"Astonishment. To think that such reckless behavior has not betrayed you yet," Shem-Ha said, her tone mocking and her voice grating. Hibiki clenched her left fist tightly in irritation, but said nothing in return. The Custodian, for her part, didn't seem content with just watching; she had to comment on everything that caught her eye.
As the harbor's gate closed, the armored truck maneuvered to present its backside to the port. Genjuro walked forward, and the Adaptors followed after him, stopping short in front of the steel double doors. As the guards took point in a wide circle around the truck, Genjuro signalled them to open. A pair of the guards approached, unlocking the various mechanisms used to keep the doors shut, and pulled them apart to reveal the inside.
"We welcome you to SONG, Noble Red."
"You've set up quite a welcome party, I see," Vanessa said derisively as she walked forward. Naturally, her hands were bound with reinforced handcuffs, as were Millaarc's and Elsa's. Of course, Genjuro and the guards knew they were a mere front; the handcuffs were ultimately useless and wouldn't actually stop them if they tried to escape. They were there as a message, nothing more.
A ramp extended down from the truck and to the ground, creating a passage for the three to descend. Vanessa went first with the other two following after her, with one of the guards keeping his hands on Elsa's suitcase for safekeeping. They knew that it was her primary weapon, so depriving her of it would cripple Noble Red's power.
As Millaarc exited the vehicle, Genjuro immediately noticed the bloodlust rolling off of Maria. Glancing to the other Adaptors, he saw that they had felt it as well. Her eyes narrowed as she glared daggers at the vampire, who met her murderous gaze with a determined one of her own.
In the back of Hibiki's mind, Shem-Ha pondered to herself aloud. She didn't say anything as the trio put their feet on the ground, and merely studied them carefully, hovering around each of them inconspicuously. Hibiki wasn't quite sure what she was doing, but she didn't bother asking.
"Now then, please follow me," Genjuro announced. He towered over Vanessa by quite a bit, but the cyborg didn't seem at all intimidated by his stature. She met his gaze confidently, and nodded in acknowledgment. "Adaptors, take point."
"Yes, sir."
Knowing what they had to do, the five Adaptors did as they were told, taking position behind Noble Red as they walked towards the submarine. Genjuro stood at the front, with his back to them, so it was the Adaptors' job to respond quickly should any of the three attempt something. An entourage of guards followed after them, providing reinforcements in case it was necessary.
As the last one in the line of the Adaptors, Hibiki still felt that this was completely overkill. There were other ways they could take them in that didn't involve an entire battalion of armed escorts, Genjuro, and the five of them.
"Do you truly comprehend so little?"
Shem-Ha's piercing question made her groan again. Chris looked back to her briefly in worry, but said nothing.
As the group approached the back of the submarine, steam escaped the hatch as the ramp leading into the hangar slowly descended. This was the usual way they transported their prisoners, making sure to create a straight path to the brig. As soon as the ramp touched the ground, Genjuro began walking again.
And so Noble Red were led to the onboard jail, with the entire trek remaining completely silent save for a cough from Kirika halfway. The entire time, Shem-Ha hung about, floating slowly through the air or leaning back against one of the walls.
"Allow me to apologize for this needless show; it's part of a procedure I'm sure you're all already aware of," Genjuro said as they walked, keeping his head forward.
Vanessa let out a huff, causing her giant hair decoration to cling against the ground. "How kind of you. Now then, I don't suppose you could remove these handcuffs."
"Not quite yet, unfortunately," he said with a shake of his head. "Part of the procedure after all."
All of this was pointless protocol, and everyone knew it. However, it was this protocol that determined just how much Noble Red could be trusted. If they went along with SONG's demands, only then would they be able to retain a measure of their freedom, and by extension, the blood they needed to survive.
That was the sword of Damocles that SONG held over the trio; Souji had also brought along his entire stash of the blood, making sure Noble Red couldn't get it anywhere else save in SONG. He hadn't personally joined the caravan as he had other things to attend to, but he trusted Genjuro well enough to handle things professionally.
Soon enough, the group reached the brig. Genjuro led the trio into the cell, which had been prepared for them ahead of time with all the necessary facilities. As they were beckoned to stand inside the space of the cell, Genjuro dismissed the guards. As the guard taking Elsa's suitcase turned to leave, the girl spoke up.
"Please at least let me keep it here," she asked. As the guard stopped in his tracks, he looked to Genjuro for further orders. The commander nodded, and the guard turned, bringing the suitcase over to her. She immediately grabbed the handle with her handcuffed hands, letting out a relieved sigh. With that he finally left, and the door sealed shut behind him. Only Genjuro, the Adaptors, and Noble Red remained in the brig, allowing them to speak privately.
"So? I suppose now is the interrogation time, yes?" Vanessa said.
"It is," Genjuro confirmed. However, as soon as he was about to continue speaking, his communicator alerted him to an incoming call. "Excuse me."
He checked the display, and his eyes narrowed. He raised his head to look at the gathered group and nodded apologetically. "I'm afraid I must take this call. Girls, please keep an eye on them. I'll be right back."
At that, he left, and the door shut behind him. Suddenly, the Adaptors found themselves alone with their enemies, and the tension in the air was palpable. The two groups, who have just days before had battled to the death, now stood face to face as prospective allies.
Naturally, it didn't sit well with all of them. Shirabe and Kirika tried to keep an open mind, but Chris had a harder time in doing so, watching the trio with a distrustful gaze. Maria in particular had been deathly quiet the entire time, leaning against the wall and brooding to herself as she continued to glare hatefully in the trio's direction.
"So..." Chris began, putting a hand on her hip. "I guess this is happening now."
Elsa nodded calmly. "Yes, it is. It is a strange situation, and obviously not the most optimal solution we could've reached, but I believe it's necessary for the benefit of us all."
"You speak wisely, Elsa-chan," Vanessa said.
"So? What's the catch here? I doubt you'd help us out of the goodness of your heart," Chris retorted, causing Elsa to pout annoyedly.
"Isn't it obvious," Millaarc spoke up, cutting into their musing. "We want to become human again. That's why we helped that old bastard, and that's why we're helping you now. We help you get rid of him, and you'll use the divine power for us first. If you don't do that, there's no deal."
Despite herself, Hibiki was shocked. She had heard Vanessa speak that desire during their confrontations, but didn't expect them to put so much faith in them to hold their end of the bargain.
It was then Shem-Ha spoke again, leaning against the inner wall of the cell right by the trio. "An incredulous prospect. You'd be right to think so," she said, looking towards her host. "After all, their faith in your group is entirely misplaced."
"Wait, what?" Hibiki thought in confusion.
"This is what happens when Man dabbles in things they do not understand," the Custodian explained. "Divine power is capable of many things, such as altering the lay of the land, modifying the climate, and even creating life. However, there is one thing that it cannot do..."
She glanced back to the trio, who were utterly unaware of her existence.
"It cannot turn back time."
Hibiki's breath stopped. "You can't mean...!"
None of the others were aware of the ominous revelation. Hibiki was once again too preoccupied speaking with Shem-Ha to realize what was happening with Maria, who stood right next to her. The idol pushed off of the wall she had been leaning against, and strode slowly forward.
"...So everything you did... Everything that happened... Tsubasa... It was all because of that?"
The tone with which she presented her question didn't sit right with any of them. However, Millaarc utterly dismissed it, and replied nonchalantly. "Yeah, it was. Got a problem with that?"
The following silence was excruciating. Maria's head tilted down, her hair falling upon her face and hiding her eyes. The other Adaptors watched her worryingly, only vaguely sure of where she was going with her question.
They did not, however, expect what happened next.
Kirika tried to speak up, to ask her elder what she meant. As soon as the very first word left her lips, Maria made her move.
None of them could've seen it coming. To them, Maria was always a dependable, older sister figure who would listen to their worries, and at times, be a shoulder to lean on. While not infallible, she was kind, understanding, and warm when the situation required for it.
She, of all people, was expected to know what doomed wishes were like.
But even she had her limits. Like a can that had been consistently shaken, her anger had grown all the deeper since the beginning of the incident, held in check by a sense of looming purpose.
Yet it was as if Millaarc had cast a second spell, this time on her. However, it was not one of domination, but rather, the cause of a reaction that not even she could've expected. Upon seeing the vampire's face, and upon hearing what her wish entailed, caused a torrent of emotions and memories in Maria's mind to rush to the forefront.
The can had reached its limit. The dam, which had been battered repeatedly without any maintenance, burst. Everything that had gathered underneath the surface exploded outwards all at once.
In the blink of an eye, Maria charged at Millaarc with all her strength. The vampire didn't even have the time to be surprised before she was tackled to the floor, letting out a surprised yelp as her back hit the ground. Maria immediately straddled her, locking her in place.
Before anyone including Millaarc could respond to the sudden action, Maria's fist flew forward and smashed into the vampire's face with all the strength she could muster.
(Play: Ever-Present Feeling - Fate/Grand Order OST)
The sound of her fist striking Millaarc was akin to a gunshot, causing all those watching to flinch instinctively. Yet, Maria did not even register her surprise, her vision filled with the wretched visage of the vampire she hated so much.
The blow stunned Millaarc, who looked dumbfoundedly at her assailant. Taking advantage of her surprise, Maria threw forward a second punch that forced the vampire's head to the side.
"ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DIED—!"
She had no intention of stopping. Rearing back her fist again, she delivered another blow.
"EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO TSUBASA—!"
Her blood boiled in her veins. Her heart thumped in her ears. She threw another punch, causing blood to fly out of Millaarc's mouth.
"ALL OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR FUCKING SELFISH DESIRE?!"
Another punch.
And another.
And another.
Her knuckles stung and bled as she continued her furious assault. Her anger flared higher and higher with each blow she delivered, and she struck harder and harder with every repetition.
"STOP!"
Someone screamed at her, but she didn't even register their voice. As she tried to deliver another blow, her arm was momentarily stopped by a pair of small, cuffed hands. Seeing nothing but her enemy, she yanked hard, and her elbow hit something that caused her arm to be released.
"Kya—!"
There was a soft thud, and all at once the expression on Millaarc's face changed from a dazed confusion to immediate anger.
"You bitch! How dare you do that to Elsa!"
For a moment, Maria forgot who that Elsa was. It didn't matter, however, as the vampire finally found it in herself to retaliate, bringing up her cuffed hands to claw and scratch at Maria's arms, chest, and face.
Even so, the idol kept up her assault. She cared about nothing other than the enemy before her, even as one of her slashes came dangerously close to gouging out her eye. Blood dripped down her eyelid, forcing her injured eye closed.
Even so, she continued.
"YOU WERE SO DESPERATE TO RETURN FROM BEING MONSTERS! AND YET, YOU TURNED YOUR HEARTS MONSTROUS IN THE PROCESS!"
"Maria, stop!" "Oi! Cut it out!"
Far more familiar voices joined the chaos. She didn't even realize who they belonged to, and only continued to brawl with the vampire. She could feel how the bones in her hands creaked and cracked, giving way under the toughness of Millaarc's skull.
Even so, she continued.
This time, three pairs of uncuffed arms tried to hold her arms back. Yet, just like before, she refused to relent. The adrenaline is her veins pumped powerfully, enhancing her maddened strength further. The interlopers completely failed to hold her back, and instead, the back of her hand struck something once again.
"Ugh...!"
"Shirabe!"
"AND YOU DARE SAY YOU WANT TO BECOME HUMAN AGAIN?!"
Their scuffle continued, with nobody able to stop either of the two. They bled and bruised, intent on injuring their opponent as much as possible. Any thought of cooperation, assistance, or empathy were tossed out the window, and all that remained were two sides hellbent on eliminating the other.
For Maria, it was a matter of principle-no, it was a matter of revenge. In her mind's eye, she could see all the thousands of people who had died; crushed by debris, each other, and the Noise. She could hear the vampire's cackle in her ears, and she grinded her teeth to the point of breaking.
But most of all, she could see Tsubasa's grief-stricken expression, her face caked with the blood of the little girl who had admired her so much. Her anguished sense of failure, compounded by the sorrowful tears she shed afterwards.
Her blank, kaleidoscopic eyes as she stood beside Kazanari Fudou, who crackled savagely at his victory.
Each and every one of these sights made her hatred burn brighter. In the heat of the moment, Millaarc attempted to use her Stained Glance once again. Her eyes once more shone with rainbow colors, but before their effect could activate, Maria slammed her fist straight into her nose, throwing off her focus.
"YOU DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE YOUR WISH GRANTED! YOU WILL NEVER BECOME HUMANS AGAIN!"
She reached for her belt, withdrawing her SONG communicator from its pouch. Its antenna extended, and she flipped it over in her grip.
Millaarc gasped as Maria brought her arm down, intent on stabbing those demonic eyes out of existence. Just before she could finish her swing, a pair of beefy arms wrapped around her shoulders, locking her in place. With a strong heave, she was lifted off the vampire and the ground, and her legs flailed wildly as she resisted.
"Maria-kun, cease this at once!"
"LET GO OF ME!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "THEY'RE THE ONES WHO LET THEIR DESPERATION TURN THEM INTO DEMONS! I'LL NEVER ACCEPT THESE MONSTERS, AND I'LL MAKE SURE THEY PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES EVEN IF IT COSTS ME MY LIFE!"
As Genjuro dragged her away from the trio, Vanessa and Elsa rushed to their comrade's side. They helped Millaarc to her feet, but she immediately tried to trudge forward and resume her feud. Before she could do so, they grabbed her arms, stopping her in her tracks.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO TALK, BITCH?!" Millaarc screamed, fighting against her friends' grips.
"Millaarc-chan!"
Angrily, Maria kicked forward. Her shoe flew off her foot and nailed Millaarc square in the face, enraging the vampire further. She renewed her struggle, determined to choke the life out of Maria herself.
"YOU'RE SO FULL OF SHIT! YOU DID THE EXACT SAME THING YOURSELF! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO HELD THE ENTIRE WORLD HOSTAGE FOR YOUR DAMN SELFISHNESS! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SICCED THE NOISE ON INNOCENTS AND LET A MADMAN NEARLY TAKE OVER THE WORLD!"
Maria bit back. "AT LEAST MY INTENTIONS WERE ACTUALLY NOBLE, UNLIKE YOURS! I DID IT TO SAVE THE WORLD!"
"THAT'S BULLSHIT AND YOU KNOW IT! INTENTIONS DON'T MEAN A FUCKING THING! PEOPLE STILL DIED AND IT WAS COMPLETELY YOUR FAULT!"
That shut the idol up, and she bit her lip and glared hatefully at her enemy. With Maria's turn over, it was now Millaarc's time to unload everything.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW OF DESPERATION?!" she screamed, her emotions flaring so high tears started to gather around her eyes. "WE WERE EXPERIMENTED ON LIKE LAB RATS AND TOSSED AWAY AS FAILURES! THEY STOLE OUR HUMANITY FROM US AND MADE EVERY DAY A LIVING HELL, FORCING US TO STRUGGLE DAY BY DAY JUST TO LIVE!"
She didn't even notice she had stopped struggling. Her anger was quickly replaced by overwhelming grief and despair, and tears started pouring down her face.
"YOU THINK WE WANTED TO DO ANY OF THIS?! YOU THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE WISHED FOR?! OF COURSE IT FUCKING WASN'T! WE WERE FORCED ON THE RUN, BRANDED AS CRIMINALS, WHEN ALL WE WANTED WAS TO BE LEFT ALONE!"
Even Maria settled down somewhat as she started to begrudgingly listen. Millaarc's voice cracked as her vocal chords gave way.
"That bastard offered us a chance nobody else gave us! He gave us a glimmer of hope we never had! We did everything he asked of us and more, but he betrayed us anyway! He stepped on the single wish we had in our hearts even after we had already sold our souls completely! And in the end, we had nothing left, barely even our lives!"
It was all extremely overwhelming. Utter silence descended on the jail as Millaarc's desperate words hung in the air. Genjuro, having felt that Maria's struggles had calmed down, cautiously released her, making sure she wasn't about to lunge at the vampire again.
She didn't.
"At least you were given a real chance! At least someone listened to you and supported you after everything you've done! But us? We never got that chance! There hasn't been a single day since that concert that I didn't see that little girl's face in my mind! I haven't slept even once, because the one time I did I was tormented by nightmares! I already know the only place I deserve to go is hell, but is it so fucking wrong to want to have a quiet, normal life with the only family I have left?!"
"What a fool," Shem-Ha said dismissively. "She is—"
Her words fell on deaf ears, however. Rather than entertain her arrogance further, Hibiki ignored the Custodian in her head and ran forward, her legs instinctively taking her towards the trio. As she approached, Millaarc briefly tensed.
"What the hell do you wan—"
Only for Hibiki to take her hand in her own.
"There's nothing wrong about that!"
"Hibiki-san?!"
"What do you think you're doing?"
Hibiki ignored everyone's shock, keeping her focus on the vampire. Millaarc's tearful shouts brought back the dark memories she had of the two years after that tragic concert.
"I know exactly what it feels like when nobody gives you a chance! I was in the same place after the concert two years ago!"
Noble Red as a whole stopped and listened, taken aback by her bold admittance and sudden understanding. Hibiki continued unhindered, letting every she could out to make them see.
"I didn't do anything wrong, yet I was called a criminal and murderer by others just for surviving, just for wanting to live! I wasn't able to leave the house, and even that became a prison when my dad became violent!"
Digging up those old memories caused her to choke up, but she forced it down. She had to tell them everything, no matter what.
"Nobody gave me a chance except Miku! She was the only one who ever believed in me and pushed me to keep myself up every day, no matter how bad it got. If I didn't have her, I'm not sure how I would've ended up!"
She dreaded that thought greatly. What really would've happened had Miku not been there to bring her from the brink?
"That's why I understand what it feels like not to have a chance, but even more importantly, I know exactly what it feels like to be given one! Just one tiny chance to make things better, and that's what I did!"
That warm hand that had saved her was taken from her by the three people in front of her. She had every right, every reason, and every justification to be furious and to hate them. To curse their names and to wish upon them a terrible fate.
Yet, she didn't.
"That's why I, no, we will give you that chance!" she grandiosely proclaimed. Noble Red were shocked, unable to find any words to say in response. Hibiki's fellow Adaptors were equally puzzled by her upfront promise, similarly astonished yet familiar with how aggressively she tried to make sure everyone got along.
Of course, one of them didn't quite feel the same at the moment, having just finished a bloody altercation.
"Hibiki-san!" Maria yelled at her in disbelief, her eyes widening with a look of betrayal on her face. "You'd forgive them for what they did?!"
"This has nothing to do with forgiveness!" she yelled back. She turned her head back to the trio. "I know you made a lot of mistakes, but I know now that it wasn't entirely your fault. I know that if you could've chosen differently, you would have!"
Millaarc hesitantly gazed down to her hand, which Hibiki was holding. She could see how the girl's hand was shaking, and as she looked into her eyes, she could see exactly the reason why: she too was torn. But despite that, she was making them this offer.
"Now is the time to make that choice! Please, help us! Please help us fix this! I don't know if we'll be able to make you human again, but even so, we'll try! I promise, we won't turn on you like he did!"
She clutched Millaarc's hand tightly with both of hers, and brought their conjoined hold up to her forehead. She closed her eyes as the tears began falling.
"Please... help us get Tsubasa-san and Miku back. That's... that's all we want. That's the only wish we have right now. So please... please..."
Just thinking of Miku tore her apart from the inside, to the point that her sorrow had silenced Shem-Ha completely.
She felt someone put a hand on her shoulder, slowly dragging her back away from the trio. Her hold on Millaarc's hand loosened, and she looked back briefly to see Chris gaze at her sadly.
Taking the lead, Vanesssa stepped forward, standing as confidently as she could. "Since we've already agreed to help you, we will. We'll be holding you to that promise, even if you've once been associated with that man too," she said, letting out a tired sigh. "I suppose we were all tricked by him."
In response, Genjuro stepped forward as well. He gently pushed Maria towards Ogawa, and spoke sternly. "Take her to her room and make sure she stays there. I'll have words with her later. Also, call a doctor to check on them both."
The ninja nodded, and he led Maria by the arm out of the jail. The idol gazed one last time towards Noble Red and then to Hibiki before she was led out, the door sliding shut behind her. Kirika and Shirabe looked at the door with a conflicted expression, even as Shirabe nursed her wounded cheek.
Genjuro turned back to the trio and continued. "I apologize for my subordinate's outburst. I should've seen it coming and did nothing to prevent it, and I'll make sure she'll face disciplinary actions for hurting you and jeopardizing our missions," he said with a short bow.
Vanessa was unsure of how to respond, falling back on the usual formality. "It's fine; this was probably inevitable anyway."
Genjuro nodded and sighed. "We were indeed all tricked by him, and that's why I believe we should cooperate. Naturally, I'll give you time to think this over again; I request you give me your answer tomorrow as soon as possible."
"We will," Vanessa said in return. She momentarily looked back to her companions, seeing Elsa lead Millaarc to sit down on one of the beds in the cell. "I believe it's best we adjourn for the night."
"I agree," he said. "In a show of good faith, I'll keep the bars unlocked, but unfortunately I cannot allow you to wander around just yet, so the door will remain closed. Once you give me your answer tomorrow, we can go from there. If you need anything, make sure to say so; I'll have my people keep an eye on you."
"Thank you."
With that, Genjuro turned towards the door. "Then let us leave now. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
The Adaptors nodded slowly. One by one, the members of SONG left the brig, each of them throwing one last glance at the trio in the cell. Hibiki's was the only one whose gaze they met in return.
And so, the door closed behind them. With a click and a beep, it was locked shut, leaving the trio to think silently to themselves. Vanessa went to sit by Millaarc's other side, whispering soothing words in her ear.
-!-
As soon as Hibiki entered her room, she disregarded everything and went straight to her bed, falling on her back. She brought her arm up over her eyes, her heart finally having calmed down from the tumultuous meeting with Noble Red.
She released a tired breath, appreciating the peace and quiet the solitude in her room brought her.
However, it wasn't meant to be; she wasn't alone after all. The Custodian in the back of her head spoke up regardless of her personal feelings, taking the chance to dig at her once again.
"Unbelievable. How much of an imbecile can you possibly be?"
It took everything she had in her to stop herself from asking Shem-Ha to be quiet, even though the Custodian could read her mind. She groaned and lifted herself to sitting position. She gazed towards Shem-Ha, who stood in front of her with her arms crossed.
"I have already told you that their wish is impossible, yet you promise them it still? Have you understood nothing?"
"It's not about what's possible or isn't," Hibiki responded. "It's about doing what's right."
"What's right?" Shem-Ha repeated incredulously. "You fool, justice is meaningless here."
"This has nothing to do with justice. I couldn't just sit back and see them beg for help again and again."
Shem-Ha raised an eyebrow. "Help? Is that how you perceived the vampire's tirade? Seeking help?"
"What else could it be?" Hibiki asked, meeting her accusatory gaze evenly. "All they've ever wanted was to be helped, yet nobody did that for them. The only reason they turned out as they did was because of that. If anyone had ever offered them a sincere hand, none of this would've happened."
"So you shift the responsibility to those you do not even know? To those you cannot control?"
Hibiki shifted uncomfortably, grasping at her arm. "Maybe. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. I'm not really sure myself. What I am sure of is that their past doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that they help us make things right, just like with you."
The Custodian fell silent for a moment. "Overwhelmed by irritation," she murmured, running a hand through her hair. "This is the exact reason why the Curse of Balal must be purged. The lack of understanding is the reason behind their suffering, as it was the reason behind yours. But even so, your audacious altruism will one day be your undoing."
Hibiki stared at her with wide eyes. "What?"
"One day, you will learn that many of those you offer your hand to will not be satisfied with grasping it. They will only be satisfied with amputating it completely so no other will be able to grasp it."
Hibiki leaned forward on the edge of the bed, bringing her hands together. She clutched them tightly and spoke defiantly.
"But even so, I will believe that when people are given the chance to do right, they'll do so."
"Then you are a fool heading straight to your own demise."
Those last words were tinged with an emotion Hibiki couldn't quite place, but it felt like something between anger and sorrow. She hadn't expected that from Shem-Ha, even if what she said was used to insult her directly.
She didn't care if she was being a fool. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
Deep in her heart, Hibiki found it impossible to truly forgive Noble Red for what they had done. Yet, she knew that they were needed in order to save Miku. Just for that, she was willing to turn the other cheek and cooperate with them.
Shem-Ha was giving her too much credit. This was her own selfish desire.
A desire she swore she would accomplish.
By any means necessary.
