Edit 4/1/15: Second new scene here.

Ragna strode through the halls of the Librarium branch, the energy pulsing through him spurring his brisk pace. He gripped Blood-Scythe in his left hand, dragging it along the ground and carving a trail in the tile. Behind him, Tsubaki struggled to keep up. She stayed to his left, fearful of what could happen should she venture too near his grimoire. Yet, despite the terror such a weapon instilled, the fact Ragna had such a thing comforted her; nothing could hope to stand in his way. The mere thought that anything could be more powerful was ludicrous.

Without warning, Ragna came to a halt and turned to Tsubaki, eyes soft. "Hey. I know that I said I'd try to unforge Noel or whatever, but… well, you know there's a good chance I can't do that. I just gotta know, if worst comes to worst, would you be able to kill her?"

"Worst coming to worst meaning we can't save her and you are somehow incapacitated? I..." She stopped beside him, eyes closed as she sighed. Her clenched hands quivered. The mere idea wounded her, but if that's what was required… "I… believe I could. I have a question."

"Shoot."

"When Terumi said he has a 'life-link' with Noel, did he mean he can't be killed unless she is?"

"Pretty much, yeah. Life-links can be broken, though." He growled, fighting an urge to slam his sword against the ground in frustration. "Of course, I don't know how. If we're lucky, undoing the forging will break the life-link, but… well, I have pretty shit luck, in case you haven't noticed."

"Yes, I have. So, if we can't break the life-link like that, then the only practical way to kill Terumi is…"

"To also kill Noel. God freaking damn it, I hate that bastard." He took a few breaths to calm himself. "So, there's a damn good chance we're gonna have to kill her even after saving her. Um… sorry it might come to this."

"I understand. As much as I hate to say it… if Noel must be sacrificed to stop Terumi, then so be it." Tears burned her eyes. Gentle as falling snow, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "We really should keep moving; Rachel said she doubts she could fight Noel for too long."

"Right. We're still a ways from the top of the branch. Rachel's damn strong, though. She ain't about to lose so quickly." Despite his confidence in Rachel, Ragna's own words did not reassure himself in the slightest. Kusanagi was supposed to be indestructible, the perfect weapon; sorcery couldn't stand up to the power of the Azure for long. Just gotta trust the fact that Rachel could kick my ass. And she has Platinum with her… is that actually supposed to make me feel better? He stormed ahead again and threw open a pair of doors to expose a massive room. The hell's the point of this… wait, is that…?

Tsubaki raced past him towards a figure waiting in the center of the chamber. "Noel! Are you…well, you?"

Mu-12 regarded her with blank, blue eyes; they told Tsubaki all she needed to know. "New targets detected. Sealed Weapon Izayoi detected. Target threat level is A. Second target identified as the Azure Grimoire."

Ragna stepped next to Tsubaki, scowling at the girl before him. "You idiot, wake the hell up!"

Tsubaki nudged him, silencing him with her elbow. "Noel. I know you're in there; you can't be gone. I don't know if you can hear me, but we're going to free you."

"…Free...?"

Tsubaki nodded. "Yes. You're not Kusanagi; you're not a god-killing machine. You're Noel Vermillion, and I am going to see to it that you are restored!"

"I am a doll. I am nothing. I exist only to return this world to nothing."

Ragna, growling to himself, clenched his forehead. "Are you even listening to yourself? You're not nothing, you idiot."

"Unable to identify target's emotional wavelengths. Pattern is unknown… unknown."

"You said you wanted to talk to me, remember? On our way out of the branch." To Tsubaki's surprise, Ragna smiled. "Well, let's talk. You, Tsubaki and me."

"Unidentifiable source of energy located within the target."

"But before we do, we're gonna have to do something about that armor!" Ragna raised Blood-Scythe, smile twisting into a feral grimace. As if on cue, Tsubaki readied her weapon as well. Ragna charged, sword over his head. "Bring it on, you idiot!"

Mu stood still in the face of his attack, laser turrets forming around her. "Engaging battle mode. Beginning termination."

Around Makoto, the crystals of her frozen prison thawed. Shivering, she stepped back and blocked Jin's slash with a tonfa. "Stop it with the cold thingy! Yah!"

She struck, a straight punch with enough force to move a truck. Yukianesa's sheath blocked it, but her follow-up jab got him in the face. As she tried to move in for an uppercut, he extended a leg into her stomach; she just managed to twist around so his katana gashed open her shoulder instead of her neck. A sheet of ice, shaped like a sword, formed out of nowhere to try and impale her; she spun, ducked under it and swept out Jin's legs to down him.

Yukianesa exuded a chilling aura, a burst that would have frozen Makoto. She jumped it and dropped to the ground with her tail below her. A mistake; Jin took to his knees and grinned. "Gale."

Yukianesa slashed through Makoto's meager defense and hurled her against a wall. As she slid down, an airborne board of ice crushed her, cracking her ribs. His perch shattering upon impact, Jin slashed, missing her head but biting into her shoulder again. Before he'd landed, Makoto placed an uppercut into his gut to keep him airborne. Grinding her teeth through her daze, she struck again, another punch that lifted him higher. She leapt after him, fist drawn back. "I can't let you do this, Jin! Particle Flare!"

Her punch slammed him to the floor. As she landed, Jin created a mass of ice crystals in front of him in an attempt to freeze her again. She stepped away; a mistake. Another board of ice formed beneath him and he flew forward to crash into her again. After landing on her back, she sat up, wincing. Okay, I'm so not gonna win this one. She parried another cut with a tonfa and threw an uppercut at his face. The blow bloodied his nose, but didn't stop him from slashing faster and faster, creating a blizzard of steel in front of him. Though she received only minor nicks and scratches, she decided she was just about at her limit. "Hey, Jin! Remember what a shell game is? Try and find the real me!"

Jin blinked as two more images of Makoto appeared and flipped through the air while the one on the ground charged ahead. He smirked and slashed at the airborne apparitions; both vanished as Yukianesa passed through them. So she never left the ground. Another hack ran through the final one's neck. He wore a sick grin as he waited for her head to slip off… it disappeared. He snarled, looking around the hallway. No squirrel tails were in sight. "…She ran?"

He raced down the hall, the only possible way she could have gone. As he turned a corner, pain stalled him. A blue and yellow orb of energy floated in midair, blocking all attempts at pursuit through the corridor. He scowled and slashed at it to no effect. "Whoever she is, she is going to die."

Hakumen snarled down at his eternal nemesis. Here Terumi lay; unmoving, defeated and helpless. Soon, his evil would pass from this world. All would be avenged. "Trinity. Nine. This debt is soon to be paid."

Footsteps snapped Hakumen from his thoughts. A tall man, masked and clad in theater attire with a purple cape over his shoulders, approached, hand on his chin. "Oh my. I cannot say I expected to find you here, Hakumen. Your soul… how I wish I had the time to examine you."

With a snap of his finger, a robotic doll appeared behind him, razor claws on her hands. "Unfortunately, I have business with the man at your feet."

"Relius Clover." Body shaking from his battle with Mu-12, Hakumen pulled Ookami out of Hazama's bodied and readied the blade. "Come. I shall put an end to you as well."

Ragna swore as he slammed against a pillar, having failed to anticipate a great sword ripping out of nowhere to interrupt his rush. Growling, he rose up from his knees, clutching one of the three gashes across his chest. Well, I can see how Rachel lost so damn fast. He winced as Tsubaki, trying to approach Mu, was clipped on her shoulder by a laser. Her gasp of pain drew him back into action; he roared and flung himself forward. Although his rocket punch had no chance of reaching Mu, it brought him close enough to block a laser aimed at Tsubaki's back. She nodded her thanks and advanced with an upward slash. Far too fast for such an attack, Mu's swords stopped the blade and a kick to Tsubaki's head followed.

Before the swords of Murakumo could rip her to shreds, Ragna was there to protect Tsubaki with Blood-Scythe once more. With a grunt, he lifted off the ground, an aerial uppercut with a sword. A ball of energy tracked him, electrocuted him and threw him back to the ground. Tsubaki attacked with a wing sprouting from her book and a pair of slashes, but didn't even faze Mu; at least not enough to prevent her from summoning a brilliant blue sword from the ground to stab Ragna. He just managed to roll out of the way. Upon confirmation that he was not impaled, he ran ahead to shield Tsubaki, even though there didn't seem to be an active threat at the moment.

Lasers fired again, all dodged or blocked, and Tsubaki tried for a stout slash. It pierced whatever minimal protection Mu's armor provided and she continued with her attack. Her sword extended and segmented as another turret formed in the air. When Tsubaki went to bring her blade down upon Mu, Ragna extended his arm to block the laser, and Tsubaki collided face-first with the flat edge of Blood-Scythe. Shaking off her pain, she glared at him. "I appreciate your attempts to protect me, but I can't fight with you hovering around me like that."

"That laser would've killed you. I ain't letting that shi-"

Taking advantage of the lull in their attacks, Mu slashed with her swords, throwing Ragna back once more. Snarling, Tsubaki tried to slash with the chain sword again. A blue crystal formed by her swords around Mu. Once Izayoi came in contact with it, energy coursed through; it was as though Tsubaki had grabbed a power line. With a cry, she too found herself flung back. Ragna tried to catch her before she hit the ground. Instead she bowled him over and slammed him back against the floor. Wincing, he managed to give her a smile. "Smooth, huh?"

She could do no more than writhe in his arms, stunned by pain. Blood-Scythe covered her line of vision, stopping another beam. As he lifted her and placed her on the ground beside him, Ragna said, "Just stay here, alright? Join me whenever you're up for it."

"You would leave her unattended, then?" Haggard and ragged, Rachel appeared from thin air and dropped to a knee, her breathing heavy. However, her wounds weren't enough to keep her from needling away at Ragna. "Miss Yayoi, if this fool can't be bothered to protect you at your weakest, I advise you leave him."

Ragna's relief at seeing her died impossibly fast. "Oh, go to hell, bunny-leech. You sure did a bang-up job of dealing with Noel, by the way."

Rachel stepped away from a laser aimed at her as Ragna blocked one descending upon Tsubaki. "Hmph. I did say I was no match for a being such as Kusanagi. No doubt you missed such a fact because you were too busy fantasizing about Miss Yayoi, you lecherous beast."

"I am capable of listening to your bullshit when Tsubaki's around, thank you." He stood up and glared at the motionless Murakumo Unit as more lasers formed. "So, gonna help me with Noel or what?"

"Do I look as though I am in any condition to fight? I shall remain here and watch over Miss Yayoi."

Tsubaki groaned as she tried to rise. It proved too painful to even sit up. "I'll be fine, Ragna. I'll join you when I can."

"Alright. If anything happens to her, Rabbit, Valkenhayn's gonna be out of a job, if you catch my drift." Ragna approached Mu, blocking all the beams of light that came his way. Without a word, he jumped at her, his sword cleaving at her head. Her weapons rose to parry and a laser burned through his side. In spite of the pain, he smirked. "Take this, you idiot!"

In utter defiance of gravity, Ragna rose through the air. Blood-Scythe's wide blade caught Mu and dragged her up as well. He gave her a vicious punch to the head before spinning around, a kick obscured by a veil of darkness. The hole in his side closed up a bit as the Azure did its work. They landed at about the same time; Ragna moved first. With a roar, he charged forward with a massive hack that knocked Mu off balance before striking with a burst of shadow. Even more of his wounds healing, he winced as Mu bounced away. Crap, I hope I didn't overdo it.

Mu rose, no visible wounds marring what shown through her revealing armor. "Damage moderate. Systems at 60%. Resuming termination."

Space tore itself apart and a great sword stabbed at Ragna. His reflexes weren't quite fast enough for him to dodge, and the blade hammered his left shoulder. He bit down a yelp; he was certain it had been dislocated by the force. Taking his sword in his other hand, he sneered, "Lucky shot, bitch."

He lunged ahead and brought down Blood-Scythe, cloaked in darkness, over her head. She dashed back to dodge and returned in kind, a great swing of her blades that was caught by Blood-Scythe. Ragna stepped to the side and launched a sword-led uppercut once more. Mu blocked it and he found himself falling straight towards a blinding sword extending from the ground. He stuck his own weapon out below him; it protected him from the celestial blade and allowed him to slide off to the side. Safe, but only for a moment. Mu dashed straight up to him and formed an energy field before her.

He grunted as the light surrounded him, a paralyzing matrix that left him helpless before the godslayer. Phantasmal swords sprouted all around him. All he could do was hope they were less potent than steel weapons. As he heard a despaired cry from Tsubaki, the swords moved as one, stabbing from all directions. For a moment, he was caught in blinding agony. When it ended, he fell to his knees, panting as he watched his blood drip to the floor. Mu gazed at him with unblinking eyes. "Target incapacitated. Life signs are positive. Preparing for termination."

"It… it ain't over yet…" Ragna glared up at her, consciousness fading. He had one shot; if it missed, Tsubaki would be left to deal with her. God damn, did I ever screw this up. After rising, he let the Azure carry him forward, throwing a punch at Mu's face while his hand morphed into a monstrosity once more. She hovered back and summoned her crystal to encase her body. Ragna ground his teeth. Only chance… His body fighting against his actions, he lunged at the crystal with his great claw. He grabbed it, crushed it and closed his hand around Mu.

The Azure's power flowed, devastating Mu as it drained her vitality. Once it had run its course, Ragna tossed her back, heaving as his wounds healed. Not fully, but enough to for him to remain standing. He glared down at Mu, who was still trying to process what had just happened. "Damage severe. Systems at critical levels. I… am enraged… anger anger anger…"

She hovered back into the air, her expression not having changed in the slightest. All Ragna could do was stare, panting, as her floating weapons formed and spewed forth deadly energy. He blocked what came after him, but noted with alarm that many flew beyond. "Hey, Tsubaki! You all right back there?"

"We're doing fine." Tsubaki had found the strength to rise to her knees and block what beams came at her with her shield.

Behind her, Rachel stepped around the few that were sent her way. "Ragna, you fool. You had the chance the pluck her soul out a moment ago. Why have you chosen to…?"

"I ain't killing her unless I know it's the only way, dammit!" Ragna huffed as a beam seared through his hakama and grazed his leg.

"Then you will doom us all with your sentimentality."

Mu didn't seem to show any regard for where she fired. "The world… hates… me. I… I am not human. I'm a doll. A doll. A doll… hatred. I will end this world. End, end, end!"

"Will you shut the hell up already?" Ragna took a step forward, blocking the continuous barrage flung at him. "Who cares if you're not human? I ain't much different; God only knows whose soul this actually is. But you know what? I really couldn't care less; in my mind, I'm a person. A human being. Invert Idea Engine connection!"

Rachel stared in slack-jawed shock. "What? What on earth do you think you are doing, Ragna?"

"Ending this. Sorry, Noel, but this is gonna hurt a lot. For both of us." After blocking another series of lasers, Ragna ran straight at her. He jumped, his left arm extended for her face; a laser pierced just below his heart. His hand found her head and his grimoire glowed. "Wake up, dumbass!"

He felt a surge through his arm; it unleashed itself into the armor protecting Noel's forehead. They both fell to the ground, not moving. Tsubaki bolted over to them, in spite of Rachel's warning. She came to a halt at Ragna's side, gasping when she saw his left arm. Or rather, the empty jacket sleeve where it used to be.

A howl echoed through the domed chamber and a great wolf tore into a dark figure. Seemingly unfazed by Valkenhayn's vicious attempt at mauling, Phantom summoned a fireball and hurled it at Jubei. Snarling, he jumped the blaze. As he approached, a magic sign flashed before Phantom. Images flooded Jubei's head, an assault on his mind that would have broken a normal person. But not someone like Jubei; not against someone who both knew what was coming and was strong enough in mind to fight it. After a brief pause, both kodachi held to his right, he vanished and reappeared a split second later behind Phantom. She crumpled over from his light-speed slash and warped to the other end of the room, spewing fire once more.

"What do ya think, Valk?" Jubei slashed away a fireball, scowling. He hated having to fight what had once been Nine, but…

"I believe you are correct; this is most certainly Konoe." Valkenhayn thrust himself into the air to kick with both legs, feet shape-shifted into wolf claws to slash into Phantom. The strike may as well have been a breeze blowing across her, if her lack of reaction was any indication. While Jubei raced towards them, Valkenhayn sidestepped a pillar of flame rising from beneath him and transformed into a great canine once more. He leapt up at her; his claws clamped around what would be shoulders had she been human and he buried his fangs into her neck. A winding blaze spread out from around her, throwing him off. Jubei's swords couldn't block the stream of flames, the Phlegethon come to rush over him. His fur alight, he continued his charge. As Valkenhayn, human once more, threw an overhead kick into the abyss that served as Phantom's face, she vanished. With a sigh, he turned to Jubei, who had come to a stop to search for his foe. "My apologies, Master Jubei, but it seems that my attacks have no effect on her."

"Nah, they do. Ain't as much as Musashi, but that's to be expected." He winced; in addition to the fire burning his tail, that last attack had heated the very ground to blistering levels. Not something he couldn't stand, though. After a quick scan around the room, sighting no trace of Phantom, he glanced up to see her figure hovering above him. He jumped away, and a chilling jet of air bolted to the floor, freezing the ground where he had just been standing solid. More magic seals flashed, and once again he found himself under mental duress. If Valkenhayn's pained expression was any indication, the illusions affected him as well. This ain't good. It's like she ain't even feeling her wounds from our last fight no more. With a growl, he jumped into the air, blindingly fast. One blade passed through her on the way up, the other dragged her back to the ground. "Sorry Konoe, but I ain't gonna let ya be Terumi's weapon."

After shifting his grip on one sword, he blocked a point-blank fireball to the face and stabbed with the other kodachi. Phantom drifted back, the blade leaving her chest, and prepared to vanish again. Valkenhayn, in some half-man half-wolf form, ravaged her with claw and fang. Once the assault ended, Phantom, looking just as she did at the start of the battle, disappeared. After several seconds of looking around, Valkenhayn concluded that she had left for good and collapsed to his knees, heaving. Body aching, clothes and face singed, he turned to look at Jubei. "It would seem time is catching up to me at last."

"I reckon ya still got a ways to go yet, ya crusty geezer." Jubei frowned at where Phantom had been last. With a shake of his head, he limped over to Valkenhayn. "What do ya say we get down to the gate?"

"Of course." Valkenhayn grabbed Jubei's shoulder and they disappeared.

Noel's first sight since being thrown into the Cauldron was a decidedly odd one. Ragna, caught in Tsubaki's arms, head lolled against hers, wincing. Tsubaki, on the verge of tears, stroking his head. It took Noel a moment to realize that Ragna was missing an arm. Memories of her time as Mu, vague as shapes in a fog, came to her. She recalled him gripping her forehead, summoning up the power of the Azure, and sacrificing his left arm to restore her. Her first question was why Ragna the Bloodedge, of all people, would go so far for her. However, that idea was pushed away as Tsubaki's hand ran across his face. Confusion overwhelmed all else in Noel's mind. "Tsubaki… you and Ragna… huh?"

Ragna groaned and gave her a pained grimace. "Please, not so loud…"

"I… I was just…" Noel shook off her bewilderment; something like that really wasn't too important at the moment. "But… why did you go so far for me? Why?"

"…I just said not so loud, you idiot."

"But your arm! Your arm…"

"Is gone. Oh well, I still got another one. I'll live..."

"That's not the problem! Idiot!" Tears burst forth from Noel. "IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT!"

"…You're calling me that again…?" He groaned as Rachel stepped into his vision. "Ah hell… not you..."

Rachel ignored his words. "What on Earth were you thinking? To counter-current the tempering in such a way was to almost certainly invite death. You soft-hearted idiot… idiot, idiot, idiot."

"Okay, okay, I get it. Sheesh." Sighing, Ragna twisted to look into Tsubaki's eyes. "You gonna join in, too?"

"It does sound like you did do something… stupid." Tsubaki smiled. "But it saved Noel, so I'm glad you did overall."

Seeing Noel doubled over in tears, Tsubaki extended a hand and pulled her friend over to her. Resting her hand on Noel's bare shoulder, she said, "It's all right, Noel. We won… right, Rachel?"

Rachel sighed, closing her eyes. "…I suppose this could count as a victory; with Kusanagi's tempering reversed, Terumi has lost a key weapon. However, damage to the Master Unit is grievous. A bittersweet victory, to be sure."

"I-I'm s-sorry!" Making Ragna and Tsubaki jump with her outburst, Noel covered her face with both hands. "I… tried to stop Hazama, b-but he was too strong, and now this Master Unit thing's…"

"Really, Noel, it's fine." Tsubaki drifted away from Ragna just long enough to give Noel a quick comforting hug around the shoulders before returning to his side. "I don't doubt you did what you could; you always do. Terumi's just too strong for… well, most of us to fight one on one."

"And, hey, we're all alive, right? That's always a plus." Ragna drew himself closer to Tsubaki, the only comfort he had for the stabbing pain in his shoulder. Remembering the life-link Noel and Terumi shared, he frowned. "Well, I say we get back down to the gate and see if the masked freak's killed Terumi yet."

Before anyone could say anything, a tailed figure ran into the chamber, huffing. Makoto made a beeline for Tsubaki and dropped to her knees, out of breath. "Oh… hey, Tsubaki. Is Noel still… some kind of… god killer…?"

"I-I'm fine." Her tears drying, Noel smiled for the first time since waking. "I-it's good to see you, Makoto."

"Yeah… you too. Oh, by the way…"

She couldn't alert them to the fact that there was a problem before Jin strode in the same way she had come, his face frosted over with contempt. He advanced towards them, silencing Makoto. Unfortunate. Smiling, Tsubaki stood up and walked towards him. "Jin! Um, thanks for the help at the branch."

"Get out of my way." Jin's words stunned her. "I'm here for my brother."

With a sigh, Ragna forced himself to his knees and grabbed Blood-Scythe once more. Damn it, I really hope I don't have to actually fight in this condition. "You know, your obsession with me is really damn creepy. What is it this time? Come to 'kill me again' or what the hell ever?"

"Of course, brother." He cackled, paying no further attention to Tsubaki. "It's the reason I exist. To end your suffering and free your spirit! Come, brother, let's have fun."

"Stop this!" Tsubaki drew her sword, but held it limp at her side. "Please, Jin, listen to me. There's no reason to do this. If you truly seek to end his 'suffering', you will just let me handle it. Will you not stand down?"

He didn't answer her, didn't even acknowledge her. His eyes lit with hunger for blood, wide and crazed. He walked right by her, hand reaching for Yukianesa. She turned around and grabbed his shoulder.

The back of his hilt struck her face and dropped her to the ground. Jin turned his eyes towards her fallen figure and snorted. I don't have time for more obstacles. When he turned back, he had just enough time to raise his sheath and block a massive swing of Blood-Scythe. "You! You son of a bitch!"

"Brother!" Jin fell back under the assault. Ragna, fueled by anger and the Azure, hacked away with his remaining arm as though mindless; fury had taken him too thoroughly to even consider doing anything else. Finally, Jin found a hole in the attack and slashed across Ragna's chest. As Ragna crumpled to the ground, Jin laughed, insane and triumphant. "Yes! Come on, brother, give me more! This will be our last meeting; give me everything!"

"Go to hell!" Ragna rose and tried to slash again; Jin kicked out his legs. "I ain't gonna let you touch Tsubaki again!"

"That woman is precious to you?" Jin smirked, his red-eyed gaze drifting to where Tsubaki watched. "Perhaps I should kill her when I'm done with you, then."

"What?" Tsubaki felt grief strike her through at his words. "You… you don't even remember me?"

"That's what I was trying to say!" Makoto, splayed out on the floor, clutched her chest. Yeah, that ice car thingy definitely broke my ribs. "Terumi's, like, brainwashed him or something! He doesn't remember me, you, Noel… I don't think he remembers anyone except for Ragna!"

"…Is this true, Jin?" Tears leaking out now, Tsubaki headed towards him. "You don't remember me at all?"

Jin frowned, noting that Ragna was back on his feet. "Should I?"

"I see…" Tsubaki hung her head. "Noel. I hate to ask this right now, but can you fight? I'm still wounded from my battle, and Ragna or Rachel fighting is absolutely out of the question."

Ragna growled, tried to protest and realized that Tsubaki was, in all likelihood, right. He kept his grip on Blood-Scythe, though; the moment Tsubaki looked to be in any sort of danger, he was entering the fray. Behind them, Noel shook her head. "I'm sorry, Tsubaki, but I… uh, don't have my weapons. Hazama…"

"I understand, Noel." Tsubaki looked Jin in the eye. "Jin, you were like a brother to me. You are my oldest friend, and I believed that nothing could ever come between us. Terumi seems to have proven me wrong. If this is how it is to end, then…"

She raised her shield and steadied her grip on her sword, flames sparking in her eyes. "Prepare yourself, Jin!"

Jin chuckled as she charged towards him. "Well, it's a bother, but I suppose I can kill you before Ragna. Die!"

Their swords clashed together, and Tsubaki dodged to the side as he kicked. She had sparred with him many times at the academy, becoming intimate with his techniques and tendencies, and he with hers. They knew each other's style inside and out; Jin had usually proven the superior swordsman, however. Gritting her teeth, she made her shield extend a wing to strike him in the face, much to his surprise. She was injured, her movements stiff, and her foe was more skilled than she. Still, she would not back down.

Ice billowed around them; Tsubaki had never been on the receiving end of Yukianesa's frostbite, and she was not about to let that change now. She stepped away from him and closed the distance after the attack ended with a shield-led charge. His hack glanced off her sword and a dance of clashing blades began. They circled around, striking and parrying, neither able to wound the other. The melee wormed its way towards where Makoto and Noel watched with wide eyes. Yukianesa and Izayoi locked together, providing Tsubaki a moment to think.

Her face blank as slate, she thought to herself that Jin had usually landed a blow by this point. He knew all the nuances of her style; there was no reason his performance here should be so subpar… no, wait. He doesn't remember me; how could he know how I fight? She scanned his body. It was bruised; his movements were even less fluid than hers. In spite of fighting her oldest friend, she smirked, savage, into the insanity emblazoned across his face. "You're not beating me this time, Jin. I shall return you to your senses."

"Shut up." He swung his katana at her neck. Her sword blocked it as the book around her left arm dropped to the ground and opened. An angelic wing slashed his lower leg and provided Tsubaki with enough time to bash him in the face with her sword's hilt. With momentum on her side, she pressed him, his psychosis giving way to uncertainty. Who is this woman? How the hell is she…?

Tsubaki ducked another slash at her neck and this time extended a wing right into his face. After summoning light to surround her sword, she cut at his chest. It bashed his defense out of his grip and ripped apart his ornate uniform. A pink blast of lightning struck him and he collapsed onto his back. Tsubaki glanced over at Rachel. "What? I was merely ending this nonsense; we do not have the time for another prolonged battle. Retrieve him; I shall see to it that Jubei works on undoing the brainwashing."

Tsubaki nodded, silent. As Jin lay clutching his chest, she went to stand over him. The gash, though ugly, did not look fatal; exactly as she had hoped. After kicking Yukianesa away from him, she knelt at his side. "I'm sorry, Jin. Really. We're going to help you; we'll be right here for you."

Noel appeared over Tsubaki's shoulder, her approach ginger. Jin gasped when he saw her. "That… that face…"

"Huh?" Noel cowered behind Tsubaki; the mere sight of her face had always seemed to send Jin over the edge. "W-what about my face, Major?"

"…Why do I know it? Where did it…" Groaning, Jin clutched his forehead, panting with pain. "Why… what's happened to me? Why can't I remember… anything…? Who are you?"

Though she trembled, Noel dropped to her knees beside him. Even if his unpredictability had her on edge… "I'm Noel. I-I was your secretary when you were with the Librarium. Um… we didn't really get along, but… if you want my help…"

"…Yes." His eyes opened; red had turned green once more, settling Tsubaki's unease. "I need…"

"Well, now, we can't have this happening, can we? I kinda need that one." A sudden voice startled all present as Hazama, figure unmarred despite his prior fight, appeared. "So, Miss Garbage, what's it like? Dating the Black Beast and all?"

"…What are you talking about?" Tsubaki rose and backed away from him. Noel followed her. "What do you mean by the Black Beast?"

"Uh, I thought you were supposed to be a history nerd. Are you really such a dumbass that you don't know what the Black Beast is? Here, just sit down and let Uncle Terry tell you a little story. Once upon a-"

"I know what the Black Beast was," Tsubaki hissed. "What does it have to do with Ragna and I?"

"What, did no one tell you?" Hazama smirked at all present. "Well, as much as I'd love to pin the blame on Rags, I really can't. Right, shitty vampire?"

"That is not something he should know." Rachel glared at him; he couldn't seriously be doing this. Not now. "The calamity that may occur should he be privy to such knowledge is not one even you desire."

"Oh, I suppose you're right. I really shouldn't be telling Miss Garbage that the man she wuvs so much could easily become another Black Beast and thus destroy the entire world, probably killing her first." Hazama's grin widened at the stunned expressions of Ragna and Tsubaki. "Oops."

"I'm… I'm what? I'm the Black Beast?" Ragna growled and gripped Blood-Scythe tighter. "Okay, so if I lose control of my grimoire, it consumes me and turns me into the Black Beast. Is that it? Because I've already faced enough bullshit in my life to not be one god damn bit surprised if that was the case." Beside him, Tsubaki dropped to her knees, head hung and face concealed by her hair.

"Oh, very good, Rags! Putting that mush between your ears to use for once... I'm impressed!"

Hazama sauntered towards Tsubaki. Across the room, Rachel's eyes sparked as she rose up from her knees. "Terumi. How could you possibly know such things?"

"Simple. I saw every. Single. Possibility of the continuum shift. A good number ended with Raggy Killfest 2200." As Hazama drew closer to Tsubaki, Noel reached out to pull her friend away from him. "Oh, and a little news flash for you; I just took away Takamagahara's power!"

"What?" Rachel's face paled, something Ragna had not thought possible. "Then the continuum shift is…"

"Yep. Over. I won, and you're out of continues. Too bad."

"If you have destroyed Takamagahara, then how do you remain attached to this world?"

"Why, that's all thanks to Rags, of course. Come on, everyone. A round of applause for him!" Hazama clapped, loving the anger directed at him. Even Jin, lying half-awake on the ground, damned him with a glare. Tsubaki alone did not focus on him. "Aww, is something wrong, Miss Garbage? You can talk to me about it…"

"Leave her alone." Ragna stood up, clutching his sword. He stomped over to Tsubaki's side and pointed Blood-Scythe at Hazama. As he did so, Tsubaki finally looked up… and all Ragna saw in her eyes was fear. His determination faded at the sight and he lowered both his weapon and head.

Hazama's cackles came once more, high and cold. "Oh, this is great! That worked just as well as I hoped! Well, maybe not; I was hoping she'd try to kill you. I mean, that's what should be done with the future Beast, right? Go on, become a hero!"

Her breathing heavy, Tsubaki rose, sword in hand. The flames of rage burning in her eyes made Ragna back away in fear of what was to come. God damn it, this isn't happening. Not her… Her glare intensified, and he readied himself for the worst. "Don't do this, dammit…"

No sound came as Tsubaki charged, slashing. Hazama's eyes widened as he blocked the strike with his knives. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What the hell? I thought you were going to play hero and slay the monster here! Maybe I misjudged you…"

Rage spurred her on. Her strikes were blind, erratic, but fury powered her, keeping Hazama off balance. "The only monster I see here is you, Terumi!"

"I'm honored you consider me worse than what almost destroyed the world. Really." He made a slashing motion with an arm; what looked like a green and black sword stabbed her gut and dropped her to her knees. Her shield was up in an instant. "But you're really starting to annoy me with your righteous bullshit. So…"

A bolt of lightning struck him and kept him from trying to rip out Tsubaki's throat. Ragna and Noel raced over to kneel beside Tsubaki. She turned to look at Ragna, eyes still fearful. In response, he dropped Blood-Scythe and grabbed her shoulder to comfort her, expecting her to recoil away from him. The fright did not go away, but she did lean closer. Shaking off the burst of electricity, Hazama smirked. "And despite your oh-so-righteous words, you're still scared of him. Tell me, Raggy… how does rejection feel?"

No one answered him; all he received were further glares. Well, I think I've taken that as far as I can. "Oh, Noel? I mean, I guess I should call you that again."

Noel rose and backed away from him. "I will not listen to your orders anymore!"

"Aww, I got dumped. Now I know how Ragna feels. Well, anyways, I really don't have any use for you anymore. So…"

"You bastard…" Jin, acting in spite of his wounds, forced himself to his knees. "What the hell are you doing…?"

"What's the matter? I was just having a little fun. You know, like you try to do with Ragna." Green runes formed around him and Hazama laughed. "You've all been total pains in my ass. So… I think I'll kill you all at once! Well, except for Jin. Like I said… need him."

Ragna growled as he stood. "You god damn bastard…"

With no regard for Ragna, Hazama dove straight for Noel, cackling as he lunged for her throat with a knife. Before he reached her, something slammed into him. Electricity covered his body, but it didn't burn into him. Snarling, he turned to glare at where the bolt had come from. Tager stood in a doorway, which was cracked from his attempts to fit through the all-too-small portal. "Not on my watch, Terumi."

"Ooh, the Red Devil! Awesome! More people to kill!"

"Hazama, that's enough." A tall man entered the door opposite of Tager, his face covered by a mask. Relius stepped towards Hazama, and a second figure followed him. Litchi Faye-Ling. Relius spoke, his tone slow and ponderous. "The odds of this battle are not in our favor."

"Ah, piss off, Relius. I got this."

"At any rate, it's time to go. The Imperator Librarius has arrived."

At his words, Phantom appeared in a blur of darkness. Next to her, a violet ring formed in the air and a hovering figure dropped out of it. Long purple hair matched the Imperator's robes. Eyes as red as Rachel's opened; they stared forward with no regard for anyone present. "Begone, Terumi."

The circle of runes around Hazama faded. "All right, fine. I suppose I did go a little crazy there."

"There's no way…" Staring at the Imperator's face, Ragna rose, dumbfounded. "Saya… Saya, what the hell?"

"Litchi…" Tager advanced, ground quaking with each step. "Why are you with Relius?"

Litchi stared at the ground as she followed Relius to Saya's side. "I'm sorry, Tager. But if Kokonoe won't help him… I'll work with someone who can. If you see Linhua… please tell her I'm sorry."

The chatter ceased when Saya spoke. "Takamagahara sits in the palm of my hand. All phenomena once random are sequential. Ruin has been brought to the Master Unit and history is now forever the past. The world will once again be as it should. A world of death. We depart, Relius. Rachel Alucard. Your efforts are for naught."

If Saya thought her words would have any effect on Rachel, she was wrong. "Are you quite certain? With the loss of Takamagahara, I would not assume one's victory. The future is now rather unpredictable."

Saya remained motionless for a moment before turning her gaze to Noel. "Your existence irks me, Cauldron."

Noel recoiled, moving closer to Ragna. "Eh?"

Hazama chuckled. "Well, as fascinatingly pathetic as Noel is, I've got places to be. I'll just be taking this."

Snarling, Jin struggled as Hazama grabbed his neck. Hazama watched as Ragna roared and ran at him, sword in hand. "Toodles."

Blood-Scythe swung a second too late; Hazama vanished, taking Jin with him. Saya, Relius, Litchi and Phantom disappeared a second later, leaving Ragna with no one to direct his anger at. So he loosed it everywhere, punching the ground. "Damn! Damn damn damn!"

He turned, deciding on an outlet for his rage. Rachel. "You! What the hell just happened? Why didn't you…"

Hands gripped his shoulders, and he turned to see Tsubaki. The sight of her teary eyes, confused and even fuller of terror than before, struck his anger dead. He wasn't about to make it worse for her. As Tsubaki's soothing grip slid into an embrace from behind, he said, "We'll talk later, rabbit."

"A wise decision." Rachel glanced over at Tager. "Mr. Red Devil, would you be so kind as to take Noel and the beastkin to Litchi's clinic? Or, should I say, Linhua's clinic."

Linhua's clinic? He reached over to scoop up the unusually silent Makoto before looking at Noel. "Noel Vermillion, please follow me."

Shaking in fear of the behemoth, Noel nodded. "R-right."

As they left, three figures entered. Jubei, Valkenhayn and Hakumen, all wounded. The white-clad warrior walked up to Ragna and Tsubaki. "He escaped, due to his partner."

Ragna rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we noticed."

Valkenhayn bowed his head towards Rachel. "My apologies, madam. Jubei and I were unable to terminate the phantom of Nine."

Jubei looked around the room, eye focusing on Ragna and Tsubaki. "What in tarnation happened here, anyway?"

"Ragna succeeded in reversing Kusanagi's tempering. However…" Rachel looked at the ground. "In the grand scheme of things, this is a defeat. Takamagahara has been put out of commission, and Ragna knows what he is, and that his sister is the Imperator. We must keep an eye on him."

She looked up. "Jubei, I realize you are not on friendly terms with your daughter. Nevertheless, you must convince Kokonoe to aid us. Have her come to Kagutsuchi. And now, let us leave this horrid place."

A/N: Yay for total shots in the dark in regards to Jubei's fighting style. Well, only one chapter left. It will be up in less than a week; hopefully I can produce a decent enough ending.