Chapter 12: Carnival Festivities
A week had passed since the incident between Sister Margaret and Sasori, without a word being said about it. #109 learned to take it on the chin, accounting that her opinion meant nothing to him. However, Sasori's argument with Sister Margaret had began to give him a reputation of being outspoken on subjects, which also did not concern him in the slightest. He didn't care what anyone thought of him other than Amelia and perhaps Uzume, afterall being friendly toward her made it an easier time for his ashikabi.
It was only a few hours away from the Carnival of the second years beginning oncemore to decide who was top ranked in West Genetics. The Paladin knew Sister Margaret would slot him into the fray somehow but was not totally sure on how straight forward it would be.
After what Margaret said to #109, he became more quiet and solemn round others. It hadn't gone unnoticed, but Amelia decided not to say anything in worry it would upset him further. Even when it came to group conversations that involved the only two ashikabi at the school, Amelia and Minato when their own Sekirei were around he was not as talkative as he used to be.
Amelia was with her two Sekirei sitting down for lunch before the Carnival began. Minato came in to join them along with Musubi and Tsukiumi, his original powerhouses.
"So what is this 'Carnival'? Sahashi decided to break the silence with a question that only Amelia could really answer.
"It is a tournament to see who is ranked #1 in the school year that is competing. It's second year this time round." Her explanation was simple, but Musubi's ears perked up at a chance to try out her fighting prowess.
"Can we fight in it too?" #88 squealed. It was typical of the busty Sekirei to express such an excitement for fighting, yet for the wrong reasons.
"Is it safe, Amelia-san?"
She paused at contemplating from Minato's question. To be honest, she wasn't totally sure. "I think so. I've never heard of any Pandora dying from the Carnival. They should get medical treatment straight after the fight."
Her answer made him feel better about it, while he tried to stop Musubi from being so giddy. "When does it start?" Uzume asked.
"In about half an hour, I think the second year Pandora are getting ready as we speak." From what knowledge she had, Amelia was impressing herself on how much she had learned from being here not all that long.
She glanced at her first Sekirei, Sas was quietly drinking, not contributing to the conversation. He seemed disinterested in it mostly. Perking up at when it would begin was the only noticable reaction to it.
Suddenly an announcement popped up; "Can Sekirei's numbered #9 and #109 report to the Carnival Preparation Chambers. I repeat, Sekirei's #9 and #109 to the Carnival Preparation Chambers."
Sasori let off a big sigh, one that Amelia knew the answer to. "What are you wanting to do?" The question aimed at Sasori led him to give off a strange answer, one that Amelia had not expected.
He got up, looked toward everyone watching him. Everyone knew he was #109 and expected a reaction of sorts. He smirked confidently to his Ashikabi, "Win."
Plus I have a feeling I can rope Tsukiumi into helping me... or each other out. - Sasori, #109
15 minutes later...
Sasori and Tsukiumi were standing in the chambers with second year Pandoras. They noticed that not all the second years were there, too few were attending out of the whole year. But Tsukiumi didn't care for such trivials and Sasori was too preoccupied with this 'Carnival' business to give a damn.
Instructor Yumi Kim was instructing the second years of the rules in the Carnival. She went through the process, which to Sasori and Tsukiumi sounded like a less harsh Sekirei Plan.
"This Carnival as many of you know is a tournament to decide the ranks of your academic year through fighting prowess. Naturally #1 will be decided by the winner. It will be a simple deathmatch, anything goes. Any questions?"
Ranked #1 currently in the year, Ganessa Roland put her hand up. "Yes, Ganessa?"
"Why are 'they' here?" she asked, pointing at the two outsider Sekirei who were in the outer corner of the group.
"They are here to make sure you don't do anything stupid in this exercise." came the reply. It made sense to her at the time but before it began she needed a word with the odd ones out.
"All of you prepare for your battle. The Sekirei remain here." The crowd of second years slowly dispursed leaving the Sekirei with Yumi Kim.
"Was that even true what you just told them?" #9 piped up before the instructor could get a word out.
"Ish." a smile appearing with the answer. "You two are in this game too, since we want to figure out how they can or will handle your combat abilities. If you can try and stop them from hurting each other too much... but only IF you can. While our regenerative treatment will work on them, we don't have a lot of beds here at West Genetics."
"Let's get it on then." #109 was becoming bored. Something he rarely became. Even when he was alone he had something to wonder on, to think about, to figure out. Recently he had been having strange dreams, of which he neglected to say anything to Amelia or Uzume about.
It wasn't as if it were normal dreams either.
F-F-F-F-F-F-F (Dream)
The same dream kept replaying itself in his mind when he tried to sleep. He was standing alone in a white canvas. All that was there was the floor where he could hear his footsteps.
All of a sudden a voice comes out of nowhere; "Sasori" it says. It never shows itself. The voice itself was calm but sinister, deep in nature but not evil. After a minute of trying to find the voice or shouting for it to appear, it leaves him with the words; "Become who you were born to be."
It confuses him slightly and following this he wakes up, sweating and breathing heavily. It bugged Sasori more than what Sister Margaret had said to him in the past.
F – F – F – F – F – F (End Dream)
"Fine. It starts in five minutes so take your positions in the simulation center."
The two Sekirei obliged and went on their way. During the two minute walk, Tsukiumi broke the silence. "So, do you feel alright with this?"
"Heh, a chance to show these bastards what we can do? Of course."
Tsukiumi knew his interaction with Margaret upset him, but he acted like a different person in the group. Acted like he didn't care that much anymore, had no thought to his actions or others except his Ashikabi's and possibly Uzume's.
"Look, although this is a deathmatch, let's watch each others backs in this." he followed up his reply. "We're the two outsiders and they might tag team us, not that we couldn't handle two or three of them... but still."
"You're right. They might play dirty and not what we're used to. Alright, you're on with that, Sas."
This was, strangely, the first time Tsukiumi had called Sasori by his pen-name. He went a sudden shade of red, but put it aside with an embarrased, "T-thanks Tsukiumi."
They walked out onto the simulation center as it grew into a rubbled old city from the ground. It started to lightly drizzle with fake rain onto them both. The two looked at each other and nodded whilst jumping away from each other to the left and right.
Sasori and Tsukiumi had observer tactics in battle, they kept an eye on their opponents as to not get jumped, but this strategy had another advantage. They had never experienced a carnival before, so needed vital information on how it played out. Did others actively hunt or did they come together and duke it out?
It helped that the simulation center was huge in size, and easily bigger than an average school building. It had three to four story buildings simulated which gave the Sekirei the advantage, being the only ones who could high jump up to them easily.
Sasori watched on as Pandora after Pandora fought each other, with one eventual outcome. Then, came Satellizer El. Bridgette. She walked into the middle with a few of the other Pandora watching her carefully.
They must be analyzing her as the top priority here... I wonder why. - Sasori
Progressively Satellizer cut through the Pandora opposing her with great skill and showmanship, an air of professionalism and seriousness about her actions. Sasori ticked her as one of the ones who needed to be taken down to win.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Adjacently in the canteen:-
"Why is he just standing there on the roof? Isn't he wanting to fight?" Amelia asked, presumably to the group collectively whilst watching the screen.
This time Matsu was with the majority of the group rather than in her 'Computer Cave', as Uzume called it. "Sasori's smart. I think he'll probably be getting a first hand preview of what certain Pandora can do. Afterall, Pandora would probably find it difficult to jump onto buildings those size, where Sekirei would find them no problem at all."
"Well, that's certainly one aspect of looking at it. I did wonder if it was for strategy or something. But it made me question it slightly, that was all." Evans replied.
"Do you trust him?" Minato asked.
"Yes. I do. Why?"
"Then believe in him, that he will do his best for you and for himself." he smiled.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Back in the Simulation Center:-
Satellizer El Bridgette was done mopping the floor with the Pandoras that were blatantly no match for her. A few aching bodies on the floor with blood flow around them. Sasori jumped down in front of her, using his left fist to hit the ground to make the impact of his drop a little less.
She turned to face the newcomer, her eyes widened as she saw the face rise up from looking at the ground. She hesitated somewhat before launching her attack. "Double Accel!"
Her high end move kicking in, she quickly moved in behind Sasori. But ended up meeting the heel of his left boot in her attack, whilst he spun around to collide with her. The blonde Pandora took a step back.
How did he predict my movement!? - Sattelizer El Bridgette.
Her Nova Blood was readied in front of her in an aggressive stance, holding it side on with two hands toward the Sekirei. #109 readied Ares' Judgement, and stoof with his warhammer behind him, ready for a strike.
The two clashed blade and hammer for several consecutive minutes, meeting with their weapons and creating pulses of air from the power of their aggressive movements. Colliding in mid-air, they collided weapons oncemore, except Satellizer took advantage and used a fist to strike #109's chin, sending him reeling back into a two-story building.
She landed on the floor and watched the hole created in the building. A solid gold light radiated from the hole. With one fell swoop, a roar and by the speed of an accel, Sasori roared through the hole, wings ignited oncemore and launched himself at Satellizer, his hammer already in a striking pose.
El Bridgette, was unprepared for the sudden attack, not expecting a fully recovered Sasori to leave the building without a scratch. She was hit hard by #109's warhammer to her gut and flew backwards scraping the ground along with her in the process.
Sasori seemed to allow Satellizer El Bridgette to her feet again, not doing anything aggressive until she was standing again. She began to shout at him, but he held up his hand, palm first at her, as if to say "Stop talking".
"SOLAR SHOT!" A blast came from his palm at the Pandora, a beam of light that skipped past her as she easily dodged it. She noticed that he hadn't had the calm expression he usually had when battling someone. Satellizer had previously watched videos of him facing Mably and in the simulation center enough to know what face he made. She knew he would come into this Carnival at some point and wanted to be prepared.
They both looked at each other, tense and unsure of how to act. So far they were on par with each other. "I'll give you credit, you're good to keep up with me." #109 gestured.
Her stare hardened back at him; "I won't lose."
END OF CHAPTER 12
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