Chapter 2: Us Against the World
The Otherworld, meanwhile…
"Hurry, Tsuyo-sa! We don't know how much longer we have before it's too late!"
The short girl looked up at the sword smith from where she stood panting in exhaustion, wounds from a recent battle still fresh on her body. Sighing in frustration, Tsuyo-sa Irino took a deep breath before running to catch up to Kurai. The sword smith had departed from Windbloom the instant he discerned the location of Hisana and Shinzo. He was already aware that the latter had undergone an unnatural transformation, and that because of this his time to prevent the creation of the child who would destroy the multiverse had been drastically shortened. Kurai had initially planned on heading out alone, so as not to drag any more innocents into an already blood soaked affair, but Tsuyo-sa had pleaded to accompany him so as to ensure the wellbeing of her older half-sister, who was more likely than not with the other pair of siblings. Knowing that the short girl had no ulterior motive, and thoroughly convinced once subjected to the cutest puppy dog eyes he had ever seen, Kurai gave in and allowed her to come. She had certainly proven useful during their battle with the last of Marluxia's lower class guardians, Tabuu, when her skills had combined with his to quickly end what would have otherwise been a very difficult battle.
"I get it already. But what will you do when we find her?" Tsuyo-sa asked after catching up to him.
The sword smith had already shared with her the prophecy he was trying to prevent, so that she would be prepared to act when the time came. Despite what the feelings of those involved may be, Kurai knew that allowing Shinzo to impregnate her younger sister and father a child would be the undoing of all life. He had even had the displeasure of seeing it for himself. It was a fate he could not let come to pass, not after all the people of the multiverse had endured. Still, he hoped that he could resolve matters as peacefully as possible. With this thought in mind, he turned to face the much smaller girl following close behind him.
"It won't be easy, but hopefully I will be able to convince Shinzo to let go of her feelings. The safety of the multiverse is important, but I don't there to be any more needless bloodshed if I can avoid it."
"I'm afraid it's far too late to be worrying about something like that." a feminine voice called out.
Both Kurai and Tsuyo-sa turned in the direction of the newcomer, weapons drawn and fists raised. Sitting atop the remains of an old building was none other than the infamous Felicity Ira, smirking deviously down at the pair whilst twirling a knife on one end of her scarf.
"Who the hell are you? And what do you mean 'it's too late'?" demanded the sword smith.
"You know exactly what I mean. Honestly, I can't believe it worked out the way it did. But now that it's happened, I can't help but feel happy for the poor girl. Looks like the fruit of her labors, not to mention other things, has finally come into being."
Amidst the mad vampiress' rambling, Kurai's eyes began to widen in fearful realization.
"No…no it can't be…we still had time!"
Felicity's smirk grew into a grin of grim satisfaction.
"Please, you knew what she was capable of. You should have known from the start that there was no stopping her. Now that twisted little prophecy of yours will come true."
"Kurai…is she saying what I think she's saying?" Tsuyo-sa asked fearfully, now realizing for herself what the vampiress meant.
"You bet your sweet little ass I am! Shinzo has made her deepest desire come true, now she and Hisana are together as lovers! More or less, anyway. Unfortunately, not everybody is as happy about this turnout as I am. Then again, not everybody likes seeing a certain gun toting asshole get decapitated and turned into dust."
"Wait a minute, Alucard is dead?! But, how can that be?" Kurai demanded, growing more anxious by the second.
In response, Felicity flipped him the bird and wagged it back and forth.
"Sorry pal, but your shocked expressions only entertain me for so long. If you want to find out anything else, then I suggest you go and find the new couple yourselves."
"Why you insufferable little-"
Before the sword smith could finish his angry insult, an enormous pillar of amber colored light rose in the distance, shooting towards the heavens. It was immediately followed by a terrible series of anguished cries, which turned more and more beast like with each cry. Felicity seemed genuinely surprised at the sudden explosion, but decided to pay it no heed as she stood up.
"Well, I suppose that's my que. See ya later, dumbass!"
And as suddenly as she appeared, the mad vampiress was gone. Kurai remained frozen where he stood, still stunned at the whirlwind of bad news that had just been flung his way. While he tried to come to terms with the information, Tsuyo-sa kept her gaze locked on the pillar of light in the distance.
"Evelyn…" she whispered with dread.
It was enough to break the sword smith from his daze.
"What?"
The short girl turned toward him, crimson eyes full of concern.
"That voice just now, the one that was screaming, that was Evelyn nee-chan! Something terrible must have happened to her!"
"Tsuyo-sa, I understand your concern for your half-sister, but we can't afford any more delays. If what that mad woman was talking about is true, then we must ensure that the critical step involving the creation of the child of destruction has yet to pass, and prevent it from happening. As soon as that is cleared up, then we may devote our focus to Evelyn. Alright?"
The short girl paused in uncertainty, unsure of which was the best path to take. However, another round of pain filled cries from the source of the light made the choice for her.
"I can't. I have to help her, I can't just let her suffer."
"Please, consider this more. There is a good chance that Shinzo will react violently to seeing me, and we will be forced to fight. However, I cannot defeat her, not alone. I need your help, Tsuyo-sa."
The short girl glared at Kurai and shook her head.
"Figure it out yourself! I'm not abandoning Evelyn, she doesn't deserve to be put through any more pain!"
The sword smith was about to protest further, but Tsuyo-sa was already running toward the pillar of light. Sighing regretfully, he reached out with his senses to refresh his course, then continued his search for the forbidden lovers.
Shortly…
After some time, the pillar of light vanished from view, along with the monstrous cries of whatever had caused it. Despite this, Tsuyo-sa continued her advance toward its origin. Eventually she came across a strange and intimidating sight. Sitting at what appeared to be the origin of the light was an enormous structure of intertwining white crystalline stalagmites that stretched for nearly half a mile in every direction. In the center of the structure rose a series of interconnected pathways and ramparts, all leading toward a large building from which a final central stairway rose up to a small platform far above the rest of the structure. The gargantuan stalagmites that formed the outer portions of the structure almost looked as though they were arranged to be that way, and Tsuyo-sa couldn't help but see the place as some sort of fortress. Though she wished otherwise, somehow she knew this was where she would most likely find her half-sister. Taking a deep breath, she stepped toward the large crevice that most likely was the entrance.
"You won't find her there."
The short girl stopped dead in her tracks. Though it sounded a bit lower, she recognized the voice. Tsuyo-sa turned around expecting to see Evelyn, but instead found herself staring at someone who seemed to be an odd look alike of her half-sister. In place of lavender hair, theirs was black. Where amber eyes once shown, ringed sapphire orbs glowed brightly. Additionally, two sets of upward arcing horns adorned the top of her head, a feature which the short girl definitely did not remember her half-sister possessing, and nor did she recall them having a long skeletal tail trailing from the back of their waist. Aside from the differences in color and added features, the look alike almost felt…younger, than the Evelyn she remembered.
"Evelyn…nee-chan?" Tsuyo-sa said.
The look alike smiled sadly and shook her head.
"Close, but not quite, Tsuyo-sa."
"What do you mean by that?"
"In a way, I am Evelyn, but I am also not. My name is Didymo, I am the counterpart to your sibling, her other self."
The short girl was confused by this for a moment, then remembered that both of her parents were of the same race as the woman before her, and nodded in understanding of who and what she was speaking to. It certainly explained her resemblance to Evelyn.
"I understand. But what did you mean by what you said before? Isn't this where that explosion came from? Isn't this where something happened to Evelyn nee-chan?"
Didymo paused, then her gaze became downcast and her smile faded. The short girl took the counterpart's silence as confirmation.
"What happened here? What happened to Evelyn?"
Slowly, Didymo turned her gaze back to Tsuyo-sa.
"Evelyn…she lost herself. All of the pain and torment she's endured throughout her life has finally become too much for her to bear. Her most recent suffering was what drove her over the edge, and she declared that she now intended to burn all that stands before her to ash. I tried to stop her, but her hatred at my defiance caused her to tear me out of her soul, to become separate from her. The explosion you saw was the result of our forced division. I don't know where she is now, most likely miles away from here. Far enough that I can't sense her presence within this vicinity."
The short girl's eyes filled with sympathy and sadness for her sibling. She knew Evelyn had been subject to years of discrimination and hatred, and had lamented her inability to help ease her suffering. However, her half-sister had told her the last time they met that she was no longer burdened by the hurtful words of the past, and that she had a chance to obtain a future in which she would be as happy as she could ever hope to be. But what could have caused Evelyn to snap so suddenly, and so violently?
"Please…tell me what caused her to do such a thing."
Again, Didymo paused as she went into thought.
"It was a number of things, but there were two large factors that contributed to her actions. One of them was the knowledge that our father, the woman formally known as Fury, had not loved our mother during her conception, and when our father returned to life, she had brought along a new lover in place of our mother."
"That's terrible! How could Fury do such a thing?"
"I do not blame our father for her actions. The circumstances regarding our conception were out of her position at the time, and she has always shown us nothing but love and affection. Our father may not have loved our mother, but she did love Evelyn."
"I…I see…" the short girl felt a pang of guilt for her quick accusation. "Where is your father now?"
"In the remains of an old church not far from here, mourning with her lover. Both of them blame themselves for what has happened."
Tsuyo-sa nodded.
"But what was the second thing that drove Evelyn nee-chan to do this?"
"The second…was Shinzo's refusal to accept her feelings. She was cast aside before she could have a chance to confess her love."
The short girl stiffened at hearing the name. Slowly, her hands began to ball into fists, and her teeth began to grind.
"Shinzo…as in the same Shinzo who is in love with her younger sister Hisana?"
Didymo's eyes widened a bit in recognition.
"Yes, the very same. But how did you-"
"I see…so she really is as awful as Kurai said. No, she's even worse!" Tsuyo-sa glared down at her feet, teeth bared and shaking in rising anger. "How dare she do this to Evelyn! How dare she cast her aside! That bitch…now I'll really make her pay!"
The short girl turned around and started back in the direction Kurai had last headed in.
"Tsuyo-sa, wait. Where are you going?"
She paused for a moment, and partially turned to look at the counterpart.
"Didymo, you seem like an honest person, and if you really are nee-chan's other self then I will trust what you say. Therefore, I ask that you trust in me as well. Go to your father, and wait there for me. I'll be back to take all of you somewhere safe as soon I'm done."
"Done? With what?"
In response, Tsuyo-sa turned around and resumed walking.
"Teaching someone what happens when you mess with people I care about."
Elsewhere…
Shinzo panted in exhaustion as she and Hisana passed what seemed like the hundredth hillside over the course of the past few hours. While no longer fully concerned with the inter dimensional tournament for the multiverse's freedom, she was beginning to wonder why there had yet to be an announcement from the man in charge regarding the current number of guardians he had left. She had felt a significantly powerful presence vanish from the world not too long ago, so she assumed that there were no more guardians here. But if that was the case, then where was the exit portal? Despite the odd sense of homeliness she felt from the Otherworld, Shinzo knew that if she and her lover remained here that there was almost no chance that their child would survive once it was born, if they could even last that long themselves. Also, the immense outburst of power followed by a series of beastly cries some time earlier left her concerned about how her former best friend would react at seeing them together. Shinzo could easily tell that Evelyn had been the one crying, and felt regretful for how she had treated the tan demoness on her way to confess her true feelings. Whatever it was Evelyn had been trying to tell her, she would most likely never hear now that she had hurt her friend. She probably hates me now, but I can't apologize to her just yet. Right now I have to get Hisana somewhere where we will be safe for a while. With no real place to go, for the time being the forbidden pair had been wondering across the endless wastelands, searching for a new place to settle down for the rest of the day, and hopefully find the younger sister more clothing than the oversized coat she was wearing. Hisana had remained mostly quiet for much of their journey so far, still uncertain of what to make of her newfound feelings for her older sister. The lack of conversation made Shinzo feel a familiar pang of guilt for her actions, but the fact alone that the vampiress was here walking beside her instead of leaving allowed her to suppress it.
"Nee-chan." Hisana said when they stopped in what seemed to be a graveyard to recover their strength.
The demoness looked over from where she sat on a large cross shaped headstone to her lover.
"What is it, dear sister?"
"I've been thinking about this as we've walked, how are we going to tell everyone about this when we get back? What should we say to them?"
Shinzo paused for a moment, then sighed. She had been anticipating this question for some time.
"I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to go back to Karakura Town just yet, or Windbloom for that matter. I know the people there are kind, but we can't be sure of whether or not they're aware of the prophecy regarding me and my child."
"There you go again with that prophecy. Just what the hell is it, anyway?"
The demoness hesitated, but decided that she would have to tell her eventually, so she may as well do it now.
"You have a right to know, since it involves you too. I don't know all of the details, but basically you and I are to conceive a child, a girl from what I've been told, and that this child will possess the power to eradicate all life in the multiverse. The child is referred to as Ryunoko, the child of destruction."
At seeing the terror in Hisana's eyes as she looked to her stomach, Shinzo quickly added,
"But that is not the fate I desire. What I want is for you and I to be together, as lovers, and to live peacefully side by side for the rest of our lives. I will not allow our daughter to suffer such a cruel future, for no child should be forced to endure pain that was not of their own fault. I promise that I will protect you, and that no harm shall befall our daughter."
The vampiress became silent as she took in the information. The knowledge that the infant growing within her was cursed to be an instrument of destruction had initially been an ill received shock, as she began to feel even more regretful for her actions. But the determination and devotion with which her older sister spoke had given her hope that perhaps she could find happiness in this forbidden romance, that her sudden immoral feelings had not been a mistake. Still uncertain, but now able to forgive Shinzo a bit more, Hisana's lips spread into a small smile.
"Nee-chan, sometimes I just don't know what to think of you."
"Maybe you don't, but I do." a new voice said.
The forbidden pair turned to see a tall man wearing a black cloak, silver gauntlets and greaves, a large silver zweihander slung across his waist, with black hair and blue eyes walk towards them from another part of the graveyard. Though his appearance had changed slightly, Shinzo immediately recognized the man as Kurai Shosetsuka. Gritting her teeth in rage, she drew a pair of her swords and placed herself between the sword smith and Hisana.
"You!" she growled as she glared daggers at him.
"We finally meet on the same plane of existence, Shinzo Koutari."
"Nee-chan, who is this guy?" Hisana asked, preparing to draw her own weapon if need be.
"His name is Kurai Shosetsuka."
"Shosetsuka? Then wouldn't that make him the sword smith mom told us about?"
"He's also the one who first learned of the prophecy of the child of destruction. He's the one that's been spreading that damned story to every superpowered nutcase in the multiverse! He wants to stop it from happening!"
"Actually, it was Alucard who spread the word." Kurai interjected. "It is true that I wish to prevent the prophecy, but unlike my late associate I want to resolve it in a more peaceful manner. Enough blood has been shed already, so please answer me so that we need not clash swords once again."
Shinzo looked as though she was about to protest, so the sword smith continued before she could speak.
"Right now we are at the most important stage in the prophecy, the creation of the child of destruction. I have been informed that the two of you are now lovers, and so I must ask you: have you become intimate with one another, and is Hisana Takanashi pregnant?"
The demoness narrowed her eyes and tightened her grip on her swords.
"If I say yes, then what will you do?"
"What I have always done: ensure the safety of the multiverse…" his eyes became dark and regretful as he raised his fists in preparation. "…no matter the cost."
Hisana's eyes widened in realization at this.
"Don't tell me…you're not seriously planning on…?"
Kurai nodded.
"Though it pains me to destroy a life before it has a chance to see the light of day, the child of destruction must not be allowed to fulfill her destiny."
"No…no you can't! It's my baby, I can't just let you kill her! I won't let you kill her!"
Without a second thought, the vampiress drew her zanpakutou.
"Soar, Tenshi no Shirayuki!"
As a pure white naginata with angelic designs along its blade appeared in Hisana's hands, the sword smith narrowed his eyes slightly in frustration.
"I know what I ask is cruel, but what you are doing is madness. Why are you defending a child conceived through forced incest?"
"I'll tell you why…" another new voice answered.
The three watched as a short girl wearing an orange hoodie and red skirt with shoulder length chestnut brown hair and crimson eyes stomped toward them with a pair of gargantuan spiked gauntlets as big as her body held out at her sides. She glared at the forbidden pair with all the hatred in her being.
"Because she's no better than her sister, a heartless bitch who cares nothing for the feelings of others!"
"Tsuyo-sa? What are you doing here?" Hisana asked, confused at the abnormally venomous tone of the short girl.
"I came to make sure Evelyn was alright. But what I found instead was only her other self, who told me what you did to her! You monsters, you had no right to hurt Evelyn like that! Even if you escape my wrath, I swear that as soon as I return to Windbloom I will tell everyone about what you have done, so that you will have nowhere to hide!"
"I don't understand…what's happening?!"
Before anyone could continue speaking, a powerful tremor shook the ground beneath them.
"Wha-what the?!" Shinzo exclaimed.
Another tremor followed, then another, almost as if they were the results of some massive being's footsteps.
"Burn…" a voice that was both beastly and feminine called.
All four fighters froze where they stood, immediately recognizing the voice. Tsuyo-sa began to shake with fear and disbelief as a large mass of amber colored flame began to approach them.
"Evelyn…nee…chan…?"
"Burn…burn everything…all will suffer…all will suffer as I have! I will burn everything to ashes!"
Now visible, where once a kind and loyal woman may have stood, rose a terrifying feminine humanoid creature with two long and skeletal tails, waist length lavender hair, a face whose upper half was hidden by the skull of a ram with flaming blue tears strolling endlessly from its eye sockets, a hole where its heart should have been, bone like armor covering its lower arms and bosom, and a long and torn white skirt serving as its lower garments, surrounded by an overwhelming aura of amber flame. Agony glared at the group of four in front of her, increasing the hatred and rage that fueled her flames. It seemed to increase even more when she concentrated her gaze on Shinzo.
"You who destroyed my heart and crushed my dreams…your death will be first!"
Without waiting for anyone to speak, she raised her hands and began to form a pair of hellfire spheres. Shinzo glanced rapidly at the three surrounding her and her lover. The demoness knew that despite her skills, there was no way she and Hisana could emerge victorious in this situation. Just as Agony threw her fireballs, a pair of figures who seemed identical to the forbidden lovers appeared at their side and stopped the blasts, sending the three attackers staggering back as the fire wildly dispersed.
"Not so fast, everyone. We can't let you ruin such beautiful romance before it's had a chance to grow." said one figure, a pale woman with ebony hair and red eyes dressed in sinister black armor who held a pair of ornate greatswords.
"We've worked hard for them to get this far, it would be a shame to ruin it now." said the other, a younger woman with white hair and violet eyes and angelic wings dressed in white armor and robes who held a large halberd and shield.
Shinzo stared in shock at the first figure, recognizing the woman whose face was identical to her own.
"Gaia?! What are you doing here? And who's this?"
Gaia Knight smirked at her counterpart.
"Valkyrie and I have been watching you, Shinzo. I'm so glad you finally got your wish, you deserve to enjoy it. So we thought we'd do you a favor and make sure you have a chance to live your lives." she answered.
"You'd better take advantage of our kindness while you can, we won't be able to hold them back for long." added Valkyrie, who opened what appeared to be a small portal in front of the forbidden pair.
The demoness stared at the other selves in surprise, then nodded in understanding as she pulled her lover close.
"Thank you…both of you."
With that, she and Hisana leapt through the portal, just as the entire area was engulfed in another more powerful blast of amber hellfire. When the two emerged, they found themselves in a vast frozen wasteland. They began to fear that they had ended up someplace inhospitable, when they caught sight of a small fortified town a few dozen yards away. Seeing no place else to go, the pair collected themselves as best they could and walked into the town, which from the locals they learned was called Sanctuary. After finding a place to sleep for the night, as well as some new clothes, they lay on a shared bed, gazing up at the roof of their small room. Only a few minutes before, a multiverse wide announcement had been made by a man calling himself White Steel Wrath, who claimed to have overthrown Marluxia and revealed the secret of the dark sphere from which the overseer had observed his tournament. What everyone had been fighting for, and would now continue to fight for, was the center of all creation. The Core of the multiverse. While others began to plot their acquisition of the absolute power, the forbidden lovers embraced one another.
"It's going to be harder now, isn't it?" Hisana asked, voice full of fear.
Shinzo nodded against her shoulder.
"We're going to have to keep a low profile for a while, we can't be certain of who is and isn't an enemy anymore."
"Everyone will know about us now…they're going to try to take away our daughter…"
"I know, but I won't let them. I promise I will look after you. We can only trust each other from now on…
It's just you and me against the universe."
A/N: Sorry for the long delay. That's what I get for trying to balance three stories at once. Lol as always please continue to read and don't forget to review! Till next time! Dark Novelist out.