Once the paradox Phoenix came to be, it made a blood curdling screech that echoed across all the worlds. The sound was filled with despair and a faint sound of hope. Its paradoxical cry rang in natsumis head as endless tears fell from her eyes. After the paradox Phoenix ended its screech, natsumi regained freedom over her body. With her restored strength, natsumi aimed to punch Izuru only for him to effortlessly dodge.
"Do not waste your energy on me and focus on your goal" Izuru said.
"Fine, then let me speak to Hajime" natsumi demanded.
Without a word, Izuru accepted Hajimes heart and let him take back control. Hajime regained his body, yet he didn't seem to be in control of his emotions. As soon as he took control, tears ran down his cheeks when he saw the paradox Phoenix flying in the sky.
"Hajime, snap out of it" natsumi snapped.
"It's all my fault" Hajime said before falling to his knees," now she is..."
"I said snap out of it" natsumi said as she slapped him across the face," I get why you're depressed, but we don't have time for a pity party. Now get off your ass and help me".
"You're right" Hajime said while wiping away his tears," I just don't know what to do"
"We can start by heading to the castle" natsumi said," something tells me that's where Chiaki is"
"Okay" Hajime nodded.
...
Junko jumped up and down excitedly as the paradox Phoenix flew around the castle and perched itself on the castles highest tower.
"Oh, it's so beautiful" Junko said," I want to see it destroy stuff already"
"It seems, the Phoenix is almost completely transfused" Munakatas nobody said.
"What should we do about this little nobody?" Chisas nobodyasked as she coddled chiakis unconscious body.
"That reminds me" Junko smiled," I need to make sure she doesn't get in my way"
Junko kneeled down to chiaki before kissing her.
"Now that will put an end to that" Junko said as she licked her lips.
Following junkos action, she was struck by a familiar keyblade. Junko looked to see Hajime catch his keyblade.
"My, it seems you managed to escape your hopelessness" Junko said," how?"
"I had sense knocked into me" Hajime said.
"I see, you came here to rescue the princess I assume" Junko said," however you are clearly outmat-"
Before Junko could finish her sentence, a spear pierced through her chest. Following that, natsumi appeared next to Hajime.
"You sure are one yappy bitch" natsumi said.
"To think that i was slain by a blonde" Junko said," how despairing..."
With her final words, Junko faded into shadow. Natsumi moved to where Junko once stood and picked up her spear. The surrounding nobodies stared at them with hollow eyes.
"You're free now" natsumi said," now let Chiaki go"
"It doesn't work like that" Hajime said," we only defeated junkos nobody"
"Then where's the real one?" Natsumi asked.
"She fused her heart with nanamis in order to become the paradox phoenix" Hajime explained.
"Of course she did" natsumi said," fine, then give Chiaki back and we won't have a problem?"
"Do you seek to interfere?" Munakatas nobody asked.
"Listen, I don't have time to explain why I want worlds of peace" natsumi said," I'm only here to save chiaki".
"Go ahead then" chisas nobody said," but nothing will change"
Chisas nobody lifted chiakis unconscious body and placed her in natsumis arms. Within that moment, the paradox Phoenix started to exert a monotone aura. The aura expanded across the sky and past the horizons. With a screech the paradox Phoenix created a shower of shadow and light. When a single drop landed on natsumis arm, it stung like acid.
"Ahh, what the hell is this?" Natsumi asked.
"We need to take shelter" Hajime said before grabbing natsumi by the arm and running for the castle.
"We should go as well" Munakatas nobody advised.
...
Inside the castle, Hajime and Natsumi watched over Chiaki while the nobodies followed them in. For a while their was silence as the cursed rain fell. Finally, Munakatas nobody decided to break the silence.
"It seems we have been betrayed" Munakatas nobody spoke.
"We should have never believed her lies" chisas nobody said.
"What is this rain?" Natsumi asked.
"We don't know" chisas nobody said," it seems to be a shower of destruction"
"The paradox Phoenix was supposed to give hearts" Munakatas nobody said," not take them away"
"Perhaps it has to take in order to give" nagitos nobody said.
"Then we shall wait" Munakatas nobody said.
"How can you say that?!" Natsumi said," would you honestly sacrifice others just to achieve your goal?"
"Natsumi" Hajime spoke to her," we need to focus on Chiaki"
"Right, sorry" natsumi said," will she wake up?"
"I don't know" Hajime answered," something isn't right"
"Hey, tell us what's wrong!" Natsumi demanded.
"Why should we tell you?" Fuyuhikos nobody asked.
"Hold your tongue" Munakatas nobody commanded," why do you wish to know?"
"Because chiaki's our friend" natsumi said," now tell us what happened!"
"We will do no such thing" Munakatas nobody said.
"You bastard!" Natsumi shouted and almost lunged at him.
"Wait" chisas nobody said, "perhaps we should tell them. After all, this girl is different from Nanami"
"Very well" Munakatas nobody said," Junko placed a curse on her that forced her into eternal slumber"
"Does she need a true loves kiss or something?" Natsumi asked.
"We are unsure" Munakatas nobody said.
"You bastards!" Natsumi shouted," how could you let this happen? Wasn't she precious to all of you?"
"She was" Munakatas nobody said," until she abandoned us"
"She wouldn't be that treacherous" natsumi said.
"The reason she shattered her heart was to make sure it wouldn't be taken and misused by Junko" Hajime said.
"Were we lied to?" Munakatas nobody asked.
"No shit Sherlock" Natsumi said," Junko' the traitor here not Nanami"
"I see, we were all tricked by her promise of hearts" Munakatas nobody said," how pathetic must we be?"
"No, you all tried to fight against Junko" Hajime said," she just used dirty tactics to defeat you"
"I'm sorry" Munakatas nobody kneeled," all we wanted was our hearts and that desire blinded us"
"This is all our fault" chisas nobody said while each nobody kneeled in sorrow.
"No, Junko is to blame for this entire mess" Hajime said," that's why we need to stop her"
"You are right" Munakatas nobody said," we will do what we can."
"If I remember, the last heart fragment should be here in this castle" Hajime said," if we find it we may be able to wake up Chiaki"
"Last I recall, it was in junkos quarters" chisas nobody said.
"Then we'll check there" Hajime said.
"I'll stay with Chiaki" Natsumi said to which Hajime nodded.
"Half of you will follow me while the rest remain here" Munakatas nobody said.
"Yes, sir" all the nobodies said.
...
Hajime and Munakatas nobody rushed through the castle to junkos quarters. They busted open the door to see a glowing piece of light sitting on a cushion over the fire places Hajime was about to enter when Munakatas nobody held him back. Munakatas nobody turned to pekos nobody and tilted his head. Pekos nobody charged into the room and countered an attack from above. Mukuro dropped from the ceiling with dagger in hand, ready to fight. However, once she saw she was outmatched, she pulled out another dagger.
"Stand down" Munakatas nobody commanded.
Mukuro growled a bit before trying to take the heart fragment. Pekos nobody stopped and restrained her.
"Hajime, take the heart fragment and go" Munakatas nobody commanded.
"Yes sir" Hajime said before taking the cushion, holding the heart fragment, and running.
"Now, as for you" Munakatas nobody said as he turned to Mukuro,"surrender".
Mukuro refused as she managed to slip out of pekos hold. She ran as fast as she could to the nearest window and jumped out into the pouring rain of light and shadow.
"Is that bitch insane?" Fuyuhiko asked.
As Mukuro descended from the window, the rain dissolved through her form until only her heart remained. The heart ascended and joined a plethora of hearts that were all being absorbed by the paradox Phoenix. Munakatas nobody looked at the sight grimly.
"We must hurry" Munakatas nobody said.
...
Hajime ran down the stairs with the heart fragment in his possession. Natsumi looked at Hajime as he kneeled down to chiaki.
"So how do we do this?" Natsumi asked.
"Here, maybe if I can-" Hajime said as he tried to pick up the heart fragment only for it to burn him.
"Only those who have hearts full of hope, can hold nanamis heart fragments" chisas nobody explained.
"Here, let me try" Natsumi said before picking up the heart fragment.
"You are very determined" chisas nobody said while natsumi held the heart fragment.
"It's nothing" Natsumi said," now, wake up Chiaki"
Natsumi pushed the heart fragment in delicately. Without resistance, the heart fragment entered. A few minutes passed until Chiaki started to stir.
"Mmh..no.." Chiaki mumbled before opening her eyes.
"Chiaki?" Natsumi asked.
"Wh...what happened?" Chiaki asked.
"It's alright Chiaki, Hajime and I are right here" Natsumi explained.
"Why... I thought you abandoned me" Chiaki said.
"No" Natsumi said as she embraced Chiaki," I would never abandon you. I'm right here with you"
"She's right" Hajime said," we are both here for you now"
"The heart fragments are gone" Chiaki said," she took them from me"
"Don't worry" Natsumi said," we're going to get them back"
"Can you stand?" Hajime asked.
"I can...I think" Chiaki said until she noticed the nobodies," what are they doing here"
"They were tricked into following Junko" Hajime explained," but now they are on our side".
"I see" Chiaki said," what happened to Junko and all the heart fragments?"
"The Junko you saw was a nobody" Hajime explained," she stole the heart fragments and fused them with the real junkos heart to create this monster called the paradox Phoenix".
"On the bright side, I killed junkos nobody" Natsumi said.
"But how will we get the heart fragments back?" Chiaki asked.
"I don't know" Hajime admitted.
"There is one possibility" chisas nobody said," if she was able to get close to the paradox Phoenix then she might be able to reach out and free nanamis heart"
"How can we get close when that cursed rain is falling outside?" Hajime asked.
"I have an idea..I think" Chiaki said.
"What is it?" Natsumi asked.
"Heart synchronization" Chiaki said.
