This is probably one of the best chapters I've written so far. This is the turning point of the war! Enjoy and read on!
cure
Ryo continued his watch over Jessica. Luckily, no one came to his location so he wasn't in any danger. Jessica...she looked terrible. In fact, she was getting worse. Ryo's eyes widened in fear as he watched the crystals advance even faster. No! No! No! This can't be happening! This disease was going to kill her real soon. Ryo quickly contacted the only person he knew that was still here.
"Tsugumi!"
"Ryo-chan!? What's going on?" Tsugumi frantically asked as she tried to maintain everything under control.
"Jessica. The virus is infecting her faster!"
No. This meant that the Virus was starting to spread. It won't be long till it affected the rest of Japan. Tsugumi already had her hands full with disabling Endlaves, screwing up Pallbearer's system, and being the main line of communication. She quickly relayed this information to Shibungi.
"This is a Code Red." Shibungi ordered, "Argo: advance your forces now. Take Pallbearer down as quickly as you can and capture their leader. Tsugumi: disable that machine. That's your first priority. Yahiro: begin evacuating Tokyo. Daryl, Ayase, Shu: take down that machine!"
"Yes sir!" They all chorused back.
Yahiro quickly alerted all his officers to start evacuating citizens. They must get outside whatever range this hexagonal field was going to spread. Tsugumi quickly abandoned all her tasks and worked on hacking into the machine's mainframe. Daryl, once he received the order, knew what he must do.
"We have to kill Inori." Daryl said to Ayase and Shu.
"That's not going to do anything. She's just a vessel. Killing her will only release the Virus onto the world."
"You nearly killed yourself last time. What did you do?"
"I...I don't know. I felt myself absorbed into the Virus and I had the Void Genome at the time. I just knew how to get rid of it. But it took Inori's life to do it."
"Well, whatever you did. You have to do it now." Daryl prepared to fly up to the top of the mountain. "I'll get up there and I will try to stall for as long as I can. If you don't figure things out, I will."
"Daryl!" Ayase yelled. "Don't be stupid and try to kill yourself."
"I can't promise that. It's either our lives or the world."
"I won't forgive you for hurting Tsugumi!"
Daryl snapped back. He had it with her. "What do you want me to do!? There are lives at stake! So what if I throw my life away? If that runt and everyone else survives, then that's all that matters, right? If she can live to see another day, become a teacher like she wanted, start a family and be happy, isn't that what matters? Because that's what matters to me!"
"D-Daryl…" Ayase was stunned. She had never witnessed Daryl being so open about his feelings. So that's why he fought so hard in this war. Tsugumi's happiness was on the line. And anyone who could make her happy was on the line as well.
"We have to move out. Ayase, get rid as many of Pallbearer Endlaves as possible. Now that Tsugumi isn't disabling them, we can't have them attacking us."
Ayase stubbornly nodded and Beine headed back to the giant battleground. "Don't get yourself killed Daryl! And Shu, do your best and please don't get killed too! I want both of you boys alive!"
"Shu, figure out what you're going to do about Inori." Daryl stared up at the core of this Virus, a bright purple light emitting from a volcano slowly being covered in crystals. That place may be his burial ground soon. "I'm going to go up."
"Daryl. Stop." Suddenly, a man who kept his silence suddenly spoke loud enough to halt Daryl in his tracks. Shu removed Jessica's glasses and let it disappear, revealing his now reddish eyes. "I can see now."
"W-What?" He must be joking. There's no scientific explanation for his eyesight coming back.
"I can see your Steiner. It hasn't changed the last time I saw it." Shu hesitantly said. "I don't know how my vision came back. But it means that the Apocalypse Virus is resurfacing. It won't be long till it starts affecting everyone in the vicinity of Japan. And if the Apocalypse Virus comes, then...the Void Genome in my body will come back as well… I can feel it now...the power coursing through me."
"Shu...you're going to sacrifice yourself again…" Daryl gritted his teeth.
"No. I'm just like you. I want to save a person important to me. I failed her before...I don't want her to suffer any more. I hear her voice every day...singing to me. I owe her my life."
"You don't have to die Shu!"
"Daryl...thank you for worrying about me. But this is something I must do." Shu clenched his Void Genome Emulator. It was now a useless machine. He saw the symbol forming on his other hand. "Daryl, you and I are very similar. We both had second chances given to us. We both turned ourselves around. But here's the difference, you have someone waiting for you to return. And you are not fated to bear the responsibilities of everyone's lives...You are not the king who wears this guilty crown."
"Shu!" It was pointless. Shu flew past him and made way to the top of the mountain.
Daryl turned to follow him and he could only make it so far, but a barrier prevented him from going any further. Daryl tried and tried again to break through the barrier, even shooting at it. But it was useless...only Shu was permitted to enter. This was Inori's doing. For the first time in his life, Daryl felt helpless and at a loss of what to do. So he had no choice, but let Shu do whatever he pleases.
"Whatever you do...pick the right choice." Daryl turned back and started slaughtering Endlaves.
Shu flew on forward to the top of the mountain. Before this mission, he only knew of himself as the key for saving the world from the Virus. He didn't know why, but he knew his responsibilities even if it costed him his life. Now that Inori was involved, things have changed. He was now fighting to save her. She now needed him more than anything else.
Shu slowly landed on top of the large volcano. He could see the origin of the light right in the center of the area however it was surrounded by purple crystals. The crystals kept growing more outward, unlikely to stop any time glanced at his hand with the Void Genome symbol emblazoned on it now. With this, he should be able to control the Virus a little. Shu slowly held his hand out and he watched a few of the crystals shatter, revealing an unconscious Inori.
"Inori!" Shu released the crystals that encased her and caught her falling body.
The girl barely managed to open her eyes. "Sh-Shu…" She weakly stammered out. "What…? How…?"
"It's okay, Inori. You're safe now."
"Shu…" Inori slowly reached out and caressed his cheek. He was the same as her. He had the same power as her. She could feel it. But her eyes widened in fear once she saw the images that came with Shu. People dying as crystals encased their bodies. People slowly suffering as crystals grew on their bodies. And people fighting each other. Endlaves killing her sisters. Her sisters killing people. She caused all this. "No… No… No!" Her hands gripped her head as fear overtook her body. "I did all this. Everyone is suffering because of me. I'm-I'm a monster!"
"No Inori." Shu hugged her. "You're not a monster. You're not a weapon. You're not a tool. You're a woman."
"But-But all this…" Inori stammered. "It's because of me."
"Inori…" His gaze softened as he held up her soft face. "It's okay. It's not your fault. Do you know what you told me once?"
"Shu. I'm not that Inori. I don't remember...I'm sorry…" They keep calling her Inori, but she didn't recognize that Inori. Her name was Inori. But she wasn't their Inori.
"I know that. You're not Inori Yuzuriha, but you are her as well." Shu said. "Don't worry Inori. Even if everyone calls you a liar, even if you hate yourself, I'll be on your side. I'm so glad I can finally say that to you."
"Shu…" Inori blushed. Around him...she felt so calm. She felt happy.
"Inori. Do you know what you always did to calm me down?"
"No."
"You were a famous singer for Egoist. Your voice was so beautiful. Your singing was the first thing I noticed when I met you. And your songs were calming; you could always give release to my tense soul." Shu took a deep breath. "Do you want to hear yourself?"
Inori hesitantly nodded her head. Around him, she was safe. She no longer felt fear. So she slowly opened her small pink lips and sung out a song that resonated with her since her birth. There were two songs. One filled with uncertainty and the other with happiness. This was the happier song.
Mou anata kara aisareru koto mo
Hitsuyou to sareru koto mo nai
Soshite watashi wa koushite hitoribocchi de
The purple field above them, a grid that would envelope the skies and spread the Virus, suddenly halted in its path. It quivered and slowly retreated backwards. Inori's singing created a blue and green circular field that surrounded her and Shu. It slowly grew around them, fully empowered by her voice. She created a disaster that nearly destroyed the world. Now she was going to heal it.
Anata wa itsumo sou yatte watashi wo
The crystals encasing Jessica slowly began breaking off. As each crystal broke, Jessica's body lifted up in the air as if she was being healed by Inori's voice. Her lifeless, tense, scared face now filled with relaxation.
She was going to be alive! Ryo watched in amazement. The gun he once held so tightly now slipped out of his hands. "Jessica…" She was saved...by a miracle.
He could hear her miracle. Inori's miracle.
Okorasete saigo ni nakasunda
Tsugumi wasn't getting anywhere with her hacking! That's why Pallbearer had so little security around their own database! They concentrated all their firewalls on the machine's code! She relentlessly threw her codes into separate vortexes, attacking these firewalls in different locations. Nothing was working!
Suddenly, a notification appeared on her screens. The energy fields around Mt. Fuji were going insane! Did Shu do something?
Then, through her headset, she heard some interference. It clashed with the Shibungi's harsh voice giving orders, but the voice was soothing. She recognized this voice. Can it be?
"Inoreen?"
Dakedo ato ni natte
Gomen ne tte iu sono kao
They were close. They've already broken into Pallbearer's stronghold. GHQ soldiers were defeating all Pallbearer's soldiers. They just needed to capture the leader! Argo fought diligently as he slashed soldier after soldier.
"Men! We're almost there! Just a little bit more!" Argo stopped once he heard her voice. He grew used to her soft melodies as she sung almost every night during her time in Funeral Parlor. She had a beautiful voice that always lulled every member to a peaceful sleep.
But Argo always felt empowered with her songs. She was the strength for Gai. She was the strength of Funeral Parlor.
"Move out!"
Suki datta
That voice. She recognized this voice. "Inori!?" Ayase gasped once her famous voice struck her ears. Ayase smirked as she fought even harder, destroying three Endlaves in one go. Inori wanted her to beat these guys and win! And she will win!
Daryl noticed Beine going even harder. He could also hear Inori's voice. He heard this song a long time ago. He was fighting against Funeral Parlor at the time and Inori sung this exact song. He could tell everyone was now willed to fight harder, empowered by her voice. Daryl smirked as he drew out double blades of Steiner. He might as well go hard too!
Steiner flew forward, aiming for the moving command central of Pallbearer. Although well fortified, it was no match for his Steiner! He'll rip them apart so GHQ can advance through!
"Let's end this once and for all!"
Hanasanai de
Gyutto sou omoikkiri
Once Daryl caused command central to explode, it freed up all the firewalls that trapped Tsugumi. Once he destroyed the computers, there was nothing to hold the walls up. She cheered as she starting throwing her colorful spheres around.
"Hehe! There's an opening!"
"Black Swan! Disable all their security! We're smoking out their leader!"
"Aye!" Tsugumi did that in seconds. Now she concentrated all her energy into disabling that machine!
"All their security is down! Move forward!" Argo commanded his men.
They stormed the last wall of defense, a giant steel door laced with explosives once it opened. Now that Tsugumi disabled their security, there was no fear left in these soldiers. GHQ soldiers stormed the door and pointed their guns at every Pallbearer terrorist they saw.
"Hands up! Surrender!"
They were outnumbered.
Argo sought their leader and placed his gun right at his temple. He smirked as victory fell into his hands. "It's over."
Anata no ude no naka ni itai
Futari de odeko wo awase nagara
Twelve watched the fighting cease from afar. She slowly watched as GHQ soldiers surrounded her. They got her up to her feet, brought her arms behind her back, and cuffed her. She knew she was going to be captured.
But still…
Twelve gazed up to the top of the mountain and simply listened to her elder sister's voice. She knew, for some reason, she was going to be alright.
"Inori...thank you…"
Nemuru no
Arisa had no choice. She released the control that kept Inori in check and surrendered with her hands up. She grit her teeth in frustration. And Inori's voice still haunts her to this day.
She lost again…
Mou nidoto wa aenai tte koto wo shitteta no?
"It seems GHQ forces finally defeated Pallbearer." Daryl observed from the skies. "Ayase. What's the status of the enemy's Endlaves?"
"I already destroyed every last one of them." Ayase reported back. In the wake of her path lied the crumbling metal remains of the enemy Endlaves. She glanced back at the destroyed headquarters and noticed most of the pilots of the Endlaves bailed out. They were kneeling with their heads down and their hands cuffed behind their backs. "It looks like everyone's accounted for."
"Alright!" Daryl finally shot a smile at her; a genuine smile for someone he can now call his comrade. "Good work, Ayase!"
"You too, Kill 'Em All Daryl!"
Hanasanai de
Gyutto anata ga suki
"And...now!" Tsugumi slammed her final code, disguised as a cat, into the final vortex. This should definitely shut that machine down! "Haha! Nothing can stop the best hacker of Japan, Black Swan!"
Mou ichido datte waratte kurenai no
Anata no nukumori ga kiechau mae ni
Her singing...it calmed down the panic of every civilian of Tokyo. Yahiro recognized her voice after hearing her sing at concerts and at their school festival. Those were good memories in a sea of darkness.
He suddenly received the order to halt evacuation. He had gotten word that they..they won! Yahiro glanced up to the top of Mt. Fuji where he could see a high concentration of power.
"Whatever you did Shu...it worked…" Yahiro sighed in relief, finally released from the stress of war. "Thank you Shu. Thank you Inori."
Dakishimete~
And that's it! I was going to continue this chapter, but I think the events happening next should get its own chapter. This was the climax of the entire war! I really enjoyed writing this with Inori's song playing in my head. Inori has the best singing voice in anime! This song is called "Departures", which should be a good hint for what's going to happen next. I tried my best to include everyone in this final battle. I almost forgot Twelve and Yahiro! But I managed to squeeze them into a few verses.
Read and review please!