Chapter IV: Uncontrollable
ISYANA: The Old Gate
Relius Clover had never been one for letting his emotions get the better of him, but there had always been exceptions. Excitement when he saw an experiment run through perfectly, annoyance every time he had the displeasure to deal with a certain snake, and such like those.
This time he felt loathing, a powerful and burning hatred towards the Grim Reaper. He had encountered and fought said Reaper before in several phases of the Continuum Shift, and whenever their paths crossed his victory had been assured. That was not to say that Ragna the Bloodedge couldn't put up a decent fight, but the Takamagahara system had always kept his powers in constant check. So how could he have been powerful enough to defeat me in under five minutes? Relius pondered while using healing ars magus to close his wounds and stop the bleeding. I may need a different outfit now.
"Huh, now this was something I wasn't expecting to find," came a mocking voice. And here's that annoyed feeling, Relius thought to himself.
"Hazama…" Relius noted. "I thought you were tasked with watching of Kusanagi? Abandoning you post is-"
"Treason, yeah, yeah, I know," the mint-haired captain interrupted as he cracked his signature grin. "I just seemed to notice you needed Phantom to, Oh what's the term? BAIL YOUR ASS I think, sound about right?" Hazama tried very weakly to stifle his own laughter. "Oh man! I never thought Rags was that kind of dark; I mean almost beating you to death with your robotic wife? And your reaction! Talk about priceless."More laughter followed causing Relius to narrow his eyes in hatred.
"You truly are disgusting. Have you not noticed the changes that your Phenomenon Intervention is causing for us!? Allowing Ragna the Bloodedge even the smallest leeway with Takamagahara's limiters was literally the stupidest thing you could have done!"
"Aw, and I was just trying to have fun. Party pooper…" Relius had endured Hazama's idiocy for long enough. Despite his injuries being fresh, he was going to shut that obnoxious mouth of his. Before that happened though, Hazama continued, "Well, that's what I'd like to say, but I honestly don't know what you're talking about."
"What are you saying?" Relius demanded.
"What I'm saying, is that I never caused any interventions in this phase. I haven't even attempted to. Whatever's giving ol' Raggy the freedom from his limiters; it sure as hell isn't me."
"Unless…" Relius pondered for a moment. "This is merely a theory, but what if something appeared in this phase to give the Grim Reaper a substantial boost to his power?"
"Can't be," Hazama replied readily.
"You sound awfully sure about that."
"Well, I've seen all of Raggy's possibilities. Every. Single. One. He's never gained a power boost, especially not one that could put him in your league."
"I was only caught off guard. Be sure to remember that," Relius assured before asking another question on his mind. "You say that you've seen every possibility, did any of them include him and a squirrel beastkin in a partnership?"
"What, you mean the annoying little officer of mine? Please, are you pulling ideas out of your already kicked ass?" When Relius didn't respond immediately, but remained silent Hazama was caught off guard. "Wait… so then that's happening? Oh… oh shit."
Relius nodded. "Indeed, they seem to be assisting one another to find the 12th prime field device. When I attempted to kill off the beastkin, it seemed that Ragna experienced a power surge brought on only by his rage. That then allowed him to beat me."
"Really," Hazama said with a glint in his evil yellow eyes. "Maybe I can find a way to make this work for us."
"Don't get cocky. I may have underestimated him, but the fact remains that he can still be a threat to us."
"Or," Terumi said, his eyes gleaming. "He could be just the tool I need. Anyways, I'm gonna head back now. Lil' Raggy's gonna have to deal with some 'brother love' and then I'm up. Give my condolences to the missus, would you?" Hazama let out a string of laughter as he left.
That snake, Relius thought before summoning Ignis to repair her.
-BlazBlue-
"You can't be serious…" Makoto groaned at her newfound partner.
"I don't what the big deal is. It's. A. Door!"
"Yeah, one of the most important doors in Kagutsuchi, which probably has hundreds of NOL guards on the other side, not to mention any protection ars magus they put on it. And you just want to go through! I can't believe you."
The two were at the top of Kagutsuchi, just outside the NOL branch's main entrance. It had taken them a while to get there and the sun was already starting to set in the distance. Makoto closed her eyes and sighed. How had Ragna survived if his outlook on attack was so basic? "Look Ragna-" her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a soft creak and saw Ragna who had opened the door into the branch with just a simple push.
"Doors open, are you coming or what?" he asked casually before walking into the branch.
"…I hate you."
The inside of the branch was just as Ragna had remembered it: deserted. Where the hell is everybody? Even if there was an attack before me, there should be some bodies left over at least. Terumi… what the hell are you doing? Ragna stopped moving forward suddenly, causing Makoto to bump into his back. "We're not alone."
"Oh, I wondered how long it would take you to figure out. Killing you both without you knowing just won't do at all," came a voice drenched in insanity and bloodlust. A man with a slim figure and blonde hair emerged from the shadows.
"Major Kisaragi!" Makoto exclaimed. She had heard the reports about Jin deserting along with Noel, but hadn't expected the Major to still be in Kagutsuchi. Jin turned to face her.
"Stay out of this," he commanded eyes wide in anticipation. "This is between him and me."
"Dude, chill out; you're scaring the living shit out of her." Ragna's insult may have been casual, but Makoto could already see the rage in his eyes.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! You think that it matters to me!? Oh, how deluded. You should know by now, the only thing that matters to me is killing you, BROTHER!"
"Wait, Jin Kisaragi, the hero of Ikaruga, and one of the most influential people in the NOL, IS YOUR BROTHER!?"
"Yeah, that's right. This twits my little brother. Although it's not really him you're seeing right now, is it Yukianesa?"
"What?" Now it was Jin's turn to be surprised.
"Admit it damn you! All you've done is become a slave to that stupid sword! You've relied on its power for too long and now you're its damn slave! Wake the hell up!"
"Brother you really…" Jin was unable to respond for a moment before a small chuckle escaped his lips which then grew into a hysterical laugh."YOU REALLY ARE AN IDIOT! It's never been the sword; it's always been me who's wanted to kill you! And now I finally get the chan-"
Jin was cut off when Makoto slammed her fist into his face, sending him flying ten feet back.
"I had to step in, that was getting WAY too freaky." She turned to Ragna. "I'll handle Jin, you grab Noel."
"What are you-!?"
"Don't argue with me, I can handle myself! Isn't it about time you let someone help in your battles? Plus, I thought you wanted to kick Terumi's ass yourself."
Damn, she's right, Ragna thought. "Fine, but you better not go dying on me. I still need my partner." Ragna ran for the stairs to the top of the building.
"You're beginning to be a nuisance," Jin said coldly. "I think it's high time I cut you down. Then I'll end my brother's life."
Makoto got into a battle ready stance with her tonfas. "Go ahead and try you psycho!"
"Need I remind you that you never won against me back at the academy? I wiped the floor with you there in seconds."
"What do you think this is payback for!?" Makoto yelled grinning while she and Jin rushed at one another.
15 followers…What the hell am I doing right!? Sorry to leave that last scene as a cliff hanger. I was originally just going to have this chapter be about Relius and Hazama, but I felt like you guys deserved more after the long wait. I have to admit, Hazama can be really fun to write for. Anyways, rate and review. Ciao.
Arc Systems own BlazBlue; I do not.