Writer's Note: Well, since it's Labor Day, I've had the time on my hands to write two chapters. So have fun. XD
Timeless Echolocation: Yep, I'm going to be doing a chapter on the OVA. Bathing hijinks will ensue.
CapoExecutor: That, my friend, is the whole point of Chigusa being a Flame Haze. Smile even when you're shoving a knife down someone's gullet. Yuji always strikes me more as a spellcaster rather than a fighter. And as for the Sabrac from the Shana-tan specials: "That's my .45 magnum!"
JohnPeacekeeper: Yep, I've been busy with all of that. I've been trying my best to have Sabrac and Kantaro treat eachother like rivals who harbor a ton of respect for eachother. Have fun reading. And no, Merihim and Wilhelmina aren't Shana's parents here. Just... read on and find out. :3
The Light Hidden in the Shadow: Well, you'll find out what Sabrac's Denizen name is soon enough. And no, Merihim's not going to be taking Sabrac's place. I think Mathilde will do better. *Evil laugh* And yes, Tiamat's vessel has been changed. I'm not going to tell you what it's been changed to, however. You'll just have to read to find out. XD Aye, the time between Shana's creation into a Flame Haze and Shana/Yuji's meeting has always been a topic of curiosity for me too. And no, Wilhelmina/Merihim are not Shana's parents here. :P
"Well, she looked quite happy with the results."
The Writer of Questionable Stories snorted as he flipped over another page in the section he was currently engrossed in correcting.
"That's just because now she's not going to lose to Supreme Throne. Honestly, those girls... I feel sorry for that poor bastard. He's not going to get any breaks no matter how you slice it."
"Speaking of breaks... here comes another continuity split."
There was the sound of a palm smacking a forehead.
"God-DAMN-it."
SHAKUGAN NO YUJI?
Chapter 2015: The Day When the Flame Died
The crimson shades of a Seal flashed over the city. Even as time stopped, there came a powerful explosion. "Drifting Eye" Vine giggled maniacally as he stretched out a hand. With an almost disparaging gesture, a pair of gigantic, devilish-looking motorbikes suddenly appeared at the Denizen's side. Nodding up at their chromed bulk in satisfaction, Vine crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby tree as he spoke to Chigusa.
"So, 'Specialist of Everything'... how do you like my little beauties? Heeheehee! Have a taste of my trademark special, 'Hell's Angels'!"
Even as their eldritch two-stroke engines roared to life, however, Chigusa simply smiled and reached out with an arm of her own as she leaped to the side. Immediately, a single, graceful ribbon of paper suddenly shot forth from the sleeve of her dress, snaking through the spokes of Vine's summoned motorcycles. Wrapping itself around the post of a nearby traffic signal, the ribbon tore the metal pole out of its concrete foundation and yanked downwards. Chigusa quickly reached back with her arm, causing the ribbon to retract with the signalpost in tow. The results, needless to say, weren't pretty.
CRASH!
Both of Vine's "Hell's Angels" were sent sprawling into the asphalt in a crumpled wreck of metal chrome and sputtering pistons. The Drifting Eye could only stare in dumbfounded bewilderment as Chigusa wasted no time in recovering her groceries and dashing out of sight in a gliding sprint. Vine didn't stay shocked for long. Quickly recovering his composure, the Denizen flew into a shrieking rage as he pointed after the rapidly departing female Flame Haze and wildy gesticulated to the two wrecked motorbikes.
"Well, don't just LIE there like a pair of impound lot rejects! GET HER!"
"Ugh!"
Yuji tumbled to his feet as Sabrac's terrible attack continued to rage down the length of floating ground upon which the Palace of Heaven's Road sat. The young boy had just barely sidestepped the powerful beam, and yet it seemed as if Sabrac was simply too maddened with awakened rage to halt his violent fit.
"DAMN YOU, KANTARO...!! CHIGUSA IS MINE! MINE! YOU HEAR ME...?!!"
Sabrac jumped into the air, a fist upraised to attack as he lunged towards Yuji.
BOOM!
Yuji grunted with the force of exertion as he jumped out of the way again. The near-miss from Sabrac's blow made impact with a nearby pillar, reducing it to rubble. Yuji shook his head in stunned disbelief as he watched Sabrac slowly turn around, a maddened expression of intermingled rage, jealousy, and despair clearly visible in his glowing eyes.
"Sabrac!? What the heck's gotten into you!?"
Yuji's godfather didn't answer. At least, not with any spoken words. Instead, his only reply was another outstretched hand. Once again, multicolored fire began to gather and nestle in the palm of his hand. Yuji could only stare at Sabrac helplessly.
"You... you can't be serious..."
Sabrac let loose another blast. It shot forwards towards Yuji... and then continued on past him... to nail another figure that had been sneaking up behind Yuji.
"Thousand Ordinances", the Denizen Orgon, roared in agonizing pain and collapsed to the floor as Sabrac strode forwards. His voice was still laced with maddened rage.
"Stay out of this, interloper! This fight is between Kantaro and myself!"
Yuji blinked in dismayed confusion as he looked down at the Denizen's crumpled figure.
Denizens, here!? How did he...!?
Any further thought had to be suspended, however, as Sabrac suddenly lunged again towards Yuji...
"KANTARO...!!"
SLAP!
...and then Sabrac stopped dead in his tracks as Chigusa suddenly appeared from a nearby doorway and gave him a forceful slap to the face. Eyes wide, Sabrac turned and looked at Chigusa; his eyes slowly refocusing as if he'd just awakened from a bad dream. Yuji's mother had a decidedly annoyed expression on her face as she spoke.
"...Get a hold of yourself, Sabrac. You've been living in the past again. Wake up. Look around you and see what you've caused."
Sabrac slowly reached up with a trembling hand towards the spot on his face where Chigusa had slapped him.
"Chigusa... I..."
Abruptly, the vexed look on Chigusa's face cleared and reverted towards her characteristically cheerful smile.
"Good morning, Sabrac."
Yuji, realizing that the immediate danger had lessened somewhat, wasted no time in quickly walking up to join them.
"Mom!"
Chigusa turned.
"Ah... it seems that you're safe... although it also seems as if you've been getting yourself into some mischief as well."
The tone in her voice took on a slightly chiding note.
"...That microwave was brand-new, you know."
"Er... I'm sorry."
Chigusa's smile grew wider as she gave her son a hug.
"Well, nothing can be done about that. In any event, it seems that our time's finally run out. It seems that the Denizens of the Crimson Realm have finally found us."
Yuji's voice grew slightly worried.
"So... what do we do now?"
Chigusa smiled.
"...The one thing we've been preparing you for all this time up until now."
The boy's eyes grew wide.
"You mean...!?"
His mother slowly nodded, a vaguely sad look appearing in her eyes as she did so.
"That's right... It's finally time."
Chigusa then turned to Sabrac as she gestured to Orgon's limp form with a small nod.
"Sabrac, could you please keep an eye on this fellow until we return? It is absolutely essential that the establishment of the contract remains undisturbed until its completion."
Yuji's godfather slowly nodded as he turned away.
"I understand. Be safe, Chigusa."
"I will. And... Sabrac?"
Sabrac turned to look back at Yuji's mother.
"Yes?"
"...I'm sorry."
Sabrac chuckled softly as he turned away once more.
"Does it really matter now? I seem to recall that you had your mind all made up a lifetime ago. So why are you apologizing for it now?"
"...Because it seems that you just can't let it go. Even now."
Sabrac's voice turned soft, almost inaudible.
"That's my problem, Chigusa. Not yours. It was never yours. It was never your fault to begin with."
Sabrac never turned around to see whether Chigusa had heard him. He already knew that the two of them had already left before he'd even uttered that last sentence. He then heard groaning coming from nearby.
Orgon was beginning to stir. Even as the Denizen regained consciousness, however, he found himself staring up at a very angry-looking Sabrac standing over him.
"...Ouch."
"Now, now, stand still..."
Chigusa busied herself with bandanging some of Yuji's scrapes and injuries. As she attended to her son's wounds, however, the young boy standing in front of her spoke.
"...Mom?"
"Hmm?"
"Did Dad and Sabrac really fight over you?"
Chigusa said nothing for a long moment. Yuji pressed a bit more.
"Mom? Did they?"
"...They did. A long, long time ago. Back when both of them were young, hot-blooded men. Very much in love, very little in common sense. A Flame Haze and a Denizen, both of them fighting over a human woman."
"But... aren't you a Flame Haze yourself?"
Chigusa chuckled softly.
"Just as perceptive as your father. I see nothing gets by you. Yes, but this happened before I ever became a Flame Haze."
"...What caused you to become one? Why did you-"
Chigusa shushed her son with a finger to his lips.
"Don't worry yourself over that. You'll see enough sorrow and suffering to sate your curiosity in time. And you'll see plenty of that once the contract is established."
Yuji slowly nodded as Chigusa finished the last of the bandaging and got to her feet. Alastor's flame, sitting inside its massive altar, spoke quietly.
"...I trust that we are ready to start?"
Chigusa nodded.
"We are. Let us-"
Before she could continue any further, however, she was suddenly interrupted by a massive explosion that brought down the heavy doors blocking the entryway. Standing in the shattered frame of the portal was a helmeted, bodysuited figure.
Drifting Eye Vine.
At the same instant that he entered the room, his eyes noticed the huge flame sitting inside the bowl of the central altar.
"So that's what's been going on here.... The Flame of Heaven! Curse you, 'Specialist of Everything'! To think that you were attempting to revive the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter! I won't let you! EVER!"
Chigusa only smiled as she turned in the Denizen's direction.
"Alastor..."
"Hmm?"
"It seems that we have an uninvited guest here. Please continue with the ceremony as I attend to our visitor."
"I understand. Please be careful."
Chigusa's smile turned slightly cold as she nodded.
"Always."
She then turned to her son.
"Yuji..."
"Yes, mom?"
Chigusa was silent for a long moment, but then shook her head as she suddenly reached out and grabbed Vine with a length of whipping ribbon, hurling him out the door as she leaped after him.
"Never mind. I'll talk to you after the ceremony. Now hurry. Don't keep Alastor waiting."
Yuji nodded and turned to the altar as the battle outside began.
Vine staggered to his feet, angrily huffing through his helmet as he glared up at the Specialist of Everything.
"Curse you... Curse you, Specialist of Everything! How dare you interfere! I won't... I WON'T LET YOU REVIVE THE FLAME OF HEAVEN...!"
Chigusa's smile turned downright chilly as she reached for the ribbon that was neatly tied around her hair.
"...My... you're being rather rude. It seems that I'll have to ask you to leave."
Even as she untied the ribbon, Tiamat's voice echoed into the wind.
"Combat mode. Full power."
Chigusa's hair, unbound by the ribbon, transfigured into a curtain of purest white, streaked with lines of crimson. The ribbon snaked down her neck and transfigured into a tiny amulet, upon which dangled the figure of a strange mask.
Vine wildly giggled in an unhinged fashion.
"...I see... so you've finally decided to show yourself, Specialist of Everything. It's too bad that I'll have to spoil all that beauty. Hell's Angels!"
Three more of Vine's gigantic motorbikes suddenly burst forth from the ground, their two-stroke engines roaring a wild battlecry as they charged towards Chigusa. The Specialist of Everything, in response, simply adjusted her footing slightly and stretched out an arm.
In immediate reaction, a portion of Chigusa's hair transformed into several white ribbons and darted forwards, dancing through the air as they snaked into the spokes of Vine's monstrous roadhogs. Quickly wrapping themselves around the wheels and hubs, the intermingling ribbons fouled up the motorbikes' traction, sending them tumbling to the side. Vine took a step back in chagrined dismay.
"Grgh!"
Chigusa smiled as another portion of her hair transformed into a series of ribbons, which then wrapped and molded around themselves into the shape of a huge broadsword.
"...Your move."
"Urgh!"
Orgon tumbled to the grass as Sabrac launched another brutal kick into his midsection. The Denizen scrabbled at the dirt, trying to regain his footing as he shot Sabrac an accusing glare.
"You...! How can you do this!? Colluding with our greatest enemy, the Flame Haze! And the Flame of Heaven at that! Don't you realize what will happen if you revive the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter!?"
Sabrac, in response, kicked Orgon again as he spoke.
"...To be honest? I don't care. I'm just doing this because I owed someone a favor. That's all. I couldn't care less if the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter returns to walk this world once more."
Orgon spat a curse.
"Damn you! Damn all of you! I... I won't die here! My destiny... my dreams! I won't let you be the one to end them all!"
Sabrac simply walked up and crushed one of Orgon's disembodied hands with a callous grinding of the heel.
"What do I care for your petty dreams or desires? Just die."
In desperation, Orgon reached into the depths of his cloak and pulled out a strange-looking key.
"If I... if I must disappear, then... I'll make all of you disappear with me! You traitorous scum, that infuriating woman, and that cursed boy! I'll make sure that the Flame of Heaven never again walks this world!"
Sabrac's eyes widened as he recognized the object which Orgon had in his hand.
"You... you fool! If you use that here...!!"
Sabrac dashed forwards in an attempt to grab it out of Orgon's grasp, but to no avail. The key flashed once, then split into a multitude of crimson sparks which quickly consumed the unfortunate Orgon. Thousand Ordinances screamed as the Unrestricted Method which sprang forth from the object became his undoing.
"GAAAAAAH...!!"
Having devoured the hapless Denizen in a web of crackling fire, the Unrestricted Method then turned its attention to the ground beneath... the floating ground upon which the Palace of Heaven's Road sat.
"...Are you prepared? We must hurry. Time is of the essence."
As if to affirm Alastor's statement, the grounds and the Palace itself suddenly began to violently shake.
"It appears that an Unrestricted Method has been cast. I can already feel the Palace of Heaven's Road begin to break apart."
Yuji stepped forwards, then suddenly stopped.
"One moment. There is something that I must ask of you first."
"What is it? Our time grows short."
"How did my dad meet his end? How did he die?"
Alastor was silent for a long moment before he finally spoke.
"...Tenpa Jousai."
"And what is this Tenpa Jousai?"
"A final technique, one that opens up my full manifestation into this world, and thus allows all of my power as Flame of Heaven to be utilized to the fullest. Unfortunately, it also consumes the Flame Haze in the process as I manifest. Your father, Kantaro, used this technique to protect his loved ones to the bitter end."
Yuji said nothing for a while. When he finally spoke, however, there was a touch of newfound resolve within his voice.
"I see. To be honest, for a long time, I'd resented my dad for leaving my mom and me all alone. In connection, I'd also resented you. I'd held this petty little grudge inside me for awhile. But... thank you for telling me, Alastor. I'm fine now."
"So... are you ready."
Yuji nodded.
"I'm ready."
"Then let us begin. I, Alastor, the Flame of Heaven, hereby select you, Yuji, as the instrument of my will on this world."
"I, Yuji, accept this charge. As your Flame Haze, I swear to uphold the balance between the two worlds... and to protect those of this world from the Denizens of the Crimson Realm."
"As for my manifestation of the Cocytus, how do you wish for me to appear?"
"...A keychain, to remind me of the keys which I must always seek to open the doors to knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge of this world, which I lack, and the wisdom to act as a Flame Haze must, which I require."
"Step forth, Yuji."
Without any hesitation, the young man stepped into the bowl of the central altar, and into the fiery manifestation of the Flame of Heaven. Even as he stepped into the flames, Alastor spoke once more.
"As of this moment, you are no longer Yuji... but the Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter."
With those words, a small, glowing amulet dangling at the end of a keychain materialized at his waist.
SHHHNK!
The papery broadsword formed of ribbons sliced through another one of Vine's twisted motorcycles, sending it crashing to the ground in two pieces. Vine cursed as he stretched out his arm again.
"Grrgh! I will NOT be thwarted here! Take this! 'Highway 66'!"
This time, instead of a motorcycle, a huge trailer rig suddenly materialized in mid-air, all of its horns blowing as it thudded onto the grass and began speeding towards Chigusa at an out-of-control pace. The Specialist of Everything quickly jumped backwards as she reformed her hair back into ribbons and used them to propel herself higher into the air.
"...My, you're trampling the grass. You really should have better regard for people's homes."
As she spoke, a cluster of ribbons reformed themselves into a gigantic arbalest, with a huge, loaded paper-bolt at the ready. Still up in the air, Chigusa immediately loosed the projectile into the rig's engine block, causing the huge cargo-hauler to explode violently. Even as the female Flame Haze landed lightly on the ground, however, the entirety of the Palace of Heaven's Road began to violently shake and rock.
Vine looked about in bewildered surprise, then cursed as he realized the situation.
"That fool! Damn you, Orgon! Couldn't bear to have someone else taking the credit, could you!?"
Suddenly, a huge gout of crimson flame erupted from the ground. Vine barely managed to dodge at the last second as a familiar, youthful figure emerged from the rising flames. Chigusa smiled as she recognized the silhouette that stood amidst the embers.
"My little Yu-chan... all grown up. But I can't really call you Yuji anymore, can I?"
The Crimson-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter strode forwards, his hair, eyes and hands aflame with intense heat as he stepped into the battle. Drifting Eye Vine stepped backwards in fearful dismay as he too recognized the figure that now stood in view.
"N-no... NO... NO!!! DAMN YOU, TOOL OF DESTRUCTION...!!"
And then, without warning, the entirety of floating ground upon which the Palace of Heaven's Road rested suddenly broke apart, sending the rocks and crumbling wreckage of the once-beautiful structure falling to the city streets below.
"...You just had to end it there, didn't you?"
The Writer of Questionable Stories grumbled as he flipped another page and began to madly scribble.
"Quiet! They're getting another chapter! Don't bother me!"
"Psh... Excuses, excuses."
To Be Continued...?