Blazblue: Cognative Dissonance
Chapter 2: Miscalculated meetings.
The sun shone brightly in the clear sky making it really warm down here on the ground. It was becoming so stuffy in my coat that I had to take it off and wrap it around my waist. I looked behind me and noticed that Bullet wasn't having any of my troubles…considering her attire. I still didn't get how she wouldn't be embarrassed walking around showing that much skin. Looking around I saw that despite the entire "disappearance of sethir" issue there wasn't much change in the environment. Although I would have preferred to walk in silence something urged me to talk to Bullet:
"Hey Bullet?" I decided to break the merry silence.
"What is it?" She looked at me with a quizzical face.
"Despite lurking about in Ikaruga for so long you still weren't able to find Kokonoe?" I was asking questions that came to my mind without thinking.
"…I did find her…but…" Bullet had a spaced out look in her eyes.
"but…?"
"We ran into Relius Clover and before anything could be done and we got separated as she said that "she had to return to her lab as soon as possible."" Bullet mimicked Kokonoes typical tone which made me chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Bullet took my light amusement as an attempt at being hostile.
"Hey hey. Calm down, I just thought that you imitated Kokonoe pretty well." I raised my hands up in defense.
"Hmph." Bullet lowered her fists and kept on walking.
"By the way you said "we". Who did you mean?" I asked wondering about who Bullet was travelling with.
"That ninja, Bang Shishigami. He was…a decent companion. Though we parted ways right after that incident with Relius." Bullet explained not breaking her stride. The village was in sight by now.
"That damn loud geezer? Well I don't see how he could be a decent companion…" I scratched my head and kept walking.
"Anyway. What about you, you've changed a lot since the last time I met you and considering the stories I've heard I was expecting you to be more like the Mad Dog Azrael…personality wise that is." Bullet asked.
"…let's just say i've been re-evaluating my life these past few weeks." I replied as I remembered everything that happened.
"Hmm, well that does not change the fact that you're a wanted criminal, no matter how much you change on the inside." Bullet pointed out.
"That's true, and it's a real pain in the ass." I sighed.
"But nonetheless…you don't seem to be a person who would own the title of "Grim Reaper"." Bullet tried her hand at being nice.
"Hmph, that's a title I got for my past deeds. And to be honest, I deserve it. Not that I care." I replied.
"So what sort of answers are you looking for?" Bullet tried to change the subject.
"As I already said, it's regarding this goddamn arm of mine. I used to think of this as an amazing power…but now I see that it's truly a terrifying evil, one that a person shouldn't own." I answered as I looked at my hand and clenched it.
"You managed to shut off all the sethir flow in the world didn't you?" Bullet questioned me further.
"Yeah…though some people still retain the ability to use their armagus. Hell knows how all the cities function now."
"Hmm…we'll see once we get there. One more question."
"What is it?" I was starting to get annoyed.
"What will you do if you find that the answer is worse than you expected?"
"Huh?"
"If you find out that that arm of yours is impossible to get rid of or something…or that you have to die or something like that, what will you do?"
I recalled that story Rachel told us about…death huh…what a joke: "I…I don't know." I answered honestly.
"Huh? You mean you haven't thought about it?" She looked at me as if I was an idiot.
"No I-" I was cut off by the view of a giant person standing in front of us. The reddish skin hue, the huge bulking muscles, the red and white vest that that thing wore…it was none other than the "Red Devil Tager".
"Ragna the Bloodedge. I have orders from Kokonoe to bring you back to base."Tager said in his usual deep and no-nonsense tone.
"Sorry "Red Devil", I'm not interested in becoming an experiment like you." I answered in a cold tone.
"If possible I'd like to avoid conflict so just come peacefully and I won't be forced to hurt you."
"I would also like to avoid a fight if possible so If you'd just let me pass I won't be forced to disassemble you into nuts and bolts "Red Devil"." I took out my sword, the blood scythe, and got ready for a battle.
"Hmph…seems like you will be a tough target." Tager readied himself for a battle.
"Bullet, get out of here. Go towards the city and I'll meet you there." I said to her quietly so that Tager couldn't listen in.
"Hell no! I'm going to get some answers from Kokonoe's lap dog." Bullet also readied herself for a fight.
"Just listen to me you freaking idiot, you'll get your damn answers from that mad scientist herself, just wait a little longer." I pleaded with her.
"…tch. Fine. But if I don't get my answers soon, I'm turning on you and handing you over to the NOL." Bullet said as she stood up straight and turned around.
"Just go!" I shouted as I turned around to face Tager.
"I have no orders to chase that mercenary…but I'll have to report this information to Kokonoe." Tager mumbled to himself.
"Hey "Red Devil", let's rock." I said as I dashed towards him.
Being the giant brick wall that he is Tager simply took that attack and retaliated with impressive force. Had Ragna not dodged the swing he was certain he'd need to have extensive surgery to fix the damage. Ragna jumped up in the air and swung his blade at Tager, easily connecting but to no avail: "Still as hard a rock huh?"Ragna said as he increased the distance between them. Tager used a short burst of fuel to quickly close the distance and deliver a powerful kick to Ragna, who blocked it with his sword. The impact made Ragna slide back a few centimeters. Ragna took this chance to kick Tager in the stomach, and followed it up with an upwards slash which caused the giant Tager to fly upwards into that air slightly. Ragna then delivered a very powerful punch into Tager's face which made Tager smack into the ground, making a small crater. But Tager quickly got up as if nothing happened:
"Still in one piece huh?" I panted…"This isn't good. I'd have to use a lot of energy I don't have to get this guy out of my way." I thought to myself.
Tager slowly walked up to Ragna and sent out a right hook which Ragna easily blocked. Tager then followed it up with a left jab which Ragna ducked under but the kick which Tager used hit Ragna in the chest made him fly up in the air slightly. Tager proceeded to finish the attack with a left swing which made Ragna fly through a multitude of trees, breaking them and toppling them entirely:
"Give it up Ragna the bloodedge, I don't want to fight a battle with a weakened man." Tager said as he corrected his glasses.
"Heh…" I coughed up a little blood: "Who the hell are you calling a weakened man "Red Devil". Dead Spike!" I sent out a wave of energy along the ground in the shape of one of the heads of the black beast.
The attack hit Tager dead on and sent him flying backwards as well. I decided to use this chance to run away, towards the city. When Tager recovered he noticed that Ragna was no longer there:
"Kokonoe, do you read me?" Tager opened up his intercom.
"What is it?" Kokonoe asked in her non-caring way.
"Ragna the Bloodedge has escaped. He is headed towards the city. What are your orders?" Tager asked.
"Towards the city huh…Follow him, we'll capture him from two ends." Kokonoe said as she held her chin between her finger and thumb.
"All right." Tager understood the order and opened up his armagus scanner. He saw two dots in the nearby vicinity, which confused him slightly. He decided to follow the one which was closer by since that was most likely Ragna.
Meanwhile in the vicinity a large yet rather thin man, wearing a white vest and grey coat along with slim jeans was spectating the match from behind a tree. He brushed one of his hairs aside and said to himself:
"Ragna the Bloodedge and the Red Devil Tager huh…I see. This will certainly be much more interesting." He laughed lightly as he started to head towards the city as well…
Me and Makoto were wandering around town, the 6th hierarchical city of Yabiko, and were looking for a nice place to get something to eat:
"Hey Noel, what do you think about eating here. Just look at all those buns, and those cakes, and those cupcakes, and…" Makoto went on and on listing all the various forms of food within the café as her eyes glistened from want.
"Uhh…ok Makoto." I answered as if I had much of choice.
Both of the girls sat down and Noel let out a rather deep sigh:
"What's wrong Noel?" Makoto asked concerned.
"Huh? It's nothing…" I replied as I looked at nothing in particular.
"Noel, I've known you long enough to understand when you're troubled by something. And judging by the way you've been acting all day I can guess that you are VERY troubled by something." Makoto accented the "very" part.
"I'm just thinking about the things I said to Miss Rachel. I said I would save him but…I don't know how." I let out a deep sigh.
"Jeez Noel, you have to stop thinking about that. First we have to find him before you can even think about saving him. But before all of that…let's eat!" Makoto called over one of the waiters.
The waiter arrived and handed both me and Makoto the menu. Makoto quickly opened it and began to read it carefully. I also opened my menu and looked at the pastry section. Though nothing really interested me I decided to get the lasagna and when I looked at the drinks she decided to get myself some apple juice. Makoto on the other hand was still trying to decide what's best:
"That cheesecake looks good…but so does that carrot cake. Oh oh this one has chestnuts on it…ohh I like chestnuts." Her hyperactive mumbling wouldn't stop for another few minutes before she decided on what she'd get. When the waiter came over both of us placed our orders and then began the wait:
"So Noel, are you and Tsubaki on the same page again?" Makoto asked.
"Well…I'm not sure. She still believes Ragna is a pure evil…so I don't know how she'll react once she meets him." I answered with a hint of sadness.
"Aww come on Noellers, cheer up. It's almost like you're two girls fighting over your crush or something." Makoto said humorously.
"W-w-what?! N-no you got it all wrong Makoto. We're not in love with Ragna or anything." My face turned bright red as she justified herself.
"Yeah yeah whatever. Anyway we have the whole day free, anything else you wanna do?" Makoto asked as she looked around.
"Ummm…" I was about to decide on something when she noticed someone running into an alleyway with around a dozen people after him. Realizing that that couldn't be good I got up and ran towards the same alleyway:
"H-Hey Noel!" Makoto shouted to me as I ran past her.
I quickly reached the alleyway and leaned against the wall, I didn't want to act without assessing the situation first. I saw a young man with long blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of Aladdin pants backed up against a wall and surrounded by eleven people"
"Hey you there…what the hell do you think you're playing at?!" Said one of the men surrounding him.
"Hey hey let's calm down and talk this over all right guys." Said the man backed against the wall.
"Listen to me you piece of shit we know it's you who put our boss in prison, and we're going to get revenge for him you understand?!" Said another man.
"Woah woah laying on the guilt trip here. I'm gonna start to cry soon you know." The blonde guy said with a grin.
"I've had enough of you!" One of the men lunged forward with the intent to hit him. I was about to act when I saw that the man that was being attacked easily brushed off the attack and retaliated with impressive force. The rest of the thugs decided to attack him in a big group and I stepped out to stop the assault only to see all of the thugs being thrown back and the man standing with a large staff:
"Jeez…people in this town just don't listen. I really meant it when I said I was gonna cry." Said the man: "Huh, are you one of them as well?" He asked as he looked at me.
"Huh? Me? N-no not at all. I saw you being chased in here and I decided that you were in trouble so I came to help." I justified herself quickly.
"Hmm…wait a second…oh you, I know you you're Noel Vermillion right?" The man said with a wide smile as he came up and bowed before Noel.
"Eh? H-how do you know my name." I was a bit afraid now.
"Kagura never shuts up about you, it's almost like you're the only thing important to him in this world." The man said scratching his head.
"K-Kagura? You know ?" I was a bit surprised that this man knew .
"Oh right I forgot. The name's Miki Tawaguchi. And Kagura's one of my best friends, I know him since childhood." Miki said with a smile.
"O-oh well that was unexpected."
"He never mentioned me?" Miki asked with a hopeful expression.
"Ummm…not that I remember." I was unable to keep up with this persons pace of speech.
"…" Miki hung his head down and let out a deep sigh: "That damn Kagura leaves out the coolest people from his conversations…"
"Oh! I'm sorry I almost forgot I ordered something to eat. I have to go. Bye Mr. Miki." I waved and ran off.
"H-Hold on a second, let me escort you at least. That's the least I can do"
"Oh there's no need, it's just around the corner." I pointed at the café."
"Either way, you're eating alone?"
"I have Makoto with me. Oh if you're coming then I'll have to introduce you to her as well." I said with a smile.
"Makoto Nanaya?"Miki asked.
"Oh so you also know her?"
"…How can I forget…She once sent Kagura flying halfway across the city. It was a rather funny sight." Miki made a nervous laugh.
"M-Makoto did that?! B-but Makoto is kind and caring…"
"Then you haven't seen her angry…"
Me and Miki approached Makoto who was already busy eating:
"Hurf Nufel (Hey Noel)." Makoto swallowed her food: "Since you weren't here for a while I had to finish your food as well." She gave a guilty smile. Makoto then noticed Miki standing behind me and she instantly got up: "MIKI!" Makoto jumped onto Miki hugging him.
"H-hey Makoto, long time no see." Miki patted Makoto on the head.
"Where have you been?"
"Well…that's a rather long story. You know where I can find Kagura?" Miki asked.
"Oh sure we can go there right now. Come on Noel." Makoto ran off with Miki while Noel stood there not sure as to what to do:
"Ummm…Makoto you forgot to pay." I shouted to Makoto who was already gone…
Meanwhile elsewhere in Ikaruga. In the ruins of the 8th hierarchical city of wadatsumi:
"Hmm…I do wonder where I can find my dear Carl. He simply deserves the spotlight. I have heard rumors that he is around a bad crowd…can't have Carl hang around those kinds of people." I mumbled to myself as he walked through the ruins of the castle.
There wasn't much change since the last time he was here. Apart from a few more holes in the floor which were caused by Bang when he attempted to fight Jin here, the scenery of destruction still looked the same:
"What a vile view…time hasn't healed this place as people said it would." Said a voice from far away.
"Oh and who might you be?" I turned around and looked at one of the crumbled buildings. A strange small but well-built man came out from behind the building.
"My name isn't important. All that I know is that I heard you mention someone called Carl. I presume that is Carl Clover?" The man slowly approached me.
"And what sort of relation do you have with my dear Carl?" I asked with a light smile.
"It's not what sort of relation I have with him, it's what sort of relation I have with his father Relius Clover." The man said as he stood directly in front of me.
"Oh now I can't help you with the dear. I'm afraid that I don't know much about poor Carl's father…" I said as I made a sad puppy face.
"Something tells me you're lying." The man said as he clenched his fists and stared me in the eyes with strange ferocity.
"Ohh…dear. Well I'll tell you what, if you can impress me with your dance I might just tell you something about my dear Carl." I got into a battle stance and prepared to "dance".
"Very well pretty boy, just don't cry to me once I break that face of yours." The man also got into a battle stance.
"Before we begin the performance I would like to ask you your name, it is important for the dancers to know each other." I smiled mischievously.
"…My name is Naga Akashi. What is yours pretty boy?" He asked as he took off the bandages on his arms revealing scales.
"My name is Amane Nishiki. Very well, let us begin this performance." I said as I started to dance…
"So Kokonoe, to what do I owe the pleasure." I said as Kokonoe waltzed into his room.
"I have some good news Kagura." Kokonoe said as she stuck a candy into her mouth.
"Well that's a change. Usually you're the harbinger of bad news." I laughed lightly.
"I've found Ragna. He's heading towards the city." Kokonoe handed a tracking device to Kagura: "I need you and Noel to go and get him. Stupid idiot does not even know what he's getting into." Kokonoe made a scowl.
"All right all right. I get it. Where is Noel right now?" I asked as I put the device into one of his pockets.
"I called her and told her to come here. She should be here any minute now." Kokonoe looked at the clock hanging above my chair.
As if on cue Noel rushes into the office and stops abruptly to bow in front of me. Makoto and Miki failed to notice the abrupt halt that Noel came to and smacked right into her sending all three of them flying into the center of the room:
"M-Makoto…you're heavy…" Noel said from under the pile.
"Blame it on this lump of muscle here…idiot's brain is made of it as well." Makoto said groaning.
"You were the one who failed to notice that Noel stopped running idiot…Hey Kagura, how ya been?" Miki cracked a smile and waved at me.
"Well I certainly wasn't expecting you here Miki…would you uhh…mind getting off the two ladies?" I pointed underneath him.
"Huh..oh right." Miki rolled off Makoto who was underneath him.
Makoto and Noel both quickly stood up and brushed themselves off:
"Miss Kokonoe you said you wanted to see me." Noel said shyly.
"Yeah, I found Ragna and I need you and Kagura to intercept him." Kokonoe said quickly.
"R-Ragna?" Noel smiled at the news.
"Yes now go quickly…we don't have much time." Kokonoe said as she was practically kicking Noel out of the office.
"Hold on a second. Let's take Miki with us." I suggested to Noel.
"Do whatever you want Kagura, just make sure that he's here as soon as possible." Kokonoe said with her usual annoyed tone.
"Fine fine, let's go guys. It's time to catch a beast." I said as I headed out of the office…
Meanwhile behind the wall there was someone listening in on the conversation:
"Ragna the bloodedge…now I've got you." Tsubaki mumbles to herself as she heads up to her room…
A.N. Chapter 2, and the story will be written from the eyes of different characters,in some cases it might be Noel or Makoto or Kokonoe, etc etc. Hope you enjoy.