The shattered moon with its halo was particularly visible tonight, illuminating the city of Tokyo as well as the figure of a silver-haired woman gazing at the satellite up in space from the balcony of her apartment.
The figure was barefoot, clads in a white button-up sleep shirt falling mid-thighs, bottomless aside from the panties hidden by the cloth, her bare legs exposed by the chill breeze, and yet she was not bothered by it, barely feeling it, only giving pleasant tickling on her ivory legs.
The woman has been unable to sleep, or rather didn't really feel the need to tonight. So, instead of lying in bed at the mercy of her thought, decided on taking a bit of fresh air while recentering them efficiently.
So here she was, relishing in the cool temperature, looking at the sky while nursing a cheap can of beer. Not that she was looking to get drunk in the middle of the night, but rather wanting a cold beverage, something with taste and that wasn't water.
Inevitably her thought goes back to what was keeping her awake, with it back to the events of this very morning. The conversation with the elderly man she sought all the way to its private island, asking for his thought and maybe advices on the current state of the world as well as its future.
Humanity's greatest ally is humanity. And on the contrary, its greatest foe was also humanity.
The amethyst-eyed woman was well aware of this conundrum; the world is as beautiful as it could be cruel, giving you as much as it could take.
She was intimately knowledgeable of this fact. She lost her parents at a too young age, her freedom as well as a good portion of her childhood while struggling to survive. She ultimately was saved, A woman extending a saving hand to her, and even if she had been coerced, her time with the turn-out millennial woman was a far better alternative compared to her previous situation in the hands of the unknown captors she had been saved from.
Her time with her new 'owner' was equally enjoyable that it has been hard. The main difference was the care provided to her, however twisted her relationship could be portrayed, the 'abuses' she had been subjected to was particularly tame compared to what she was used. A big mansion in a remote area, more than decent food with even homemade meals on a few occasions, a comfortable bed, nice clothes, and a lot of care. Everything she could have only dreamt of in the past.
In exchange for that, while having to sing was the toughest part, she certainly wasn't losing in this arrangement. It was required when she was presented with the relic that would help with her goal, keeping the rhythm to harness more power from it when training, and once again to awaken a complete relic necessary to both her and her savior's objective.
The plus would be that despite having to perform the exact same act that cost her her parents' life, she was allowed to do it freely, shouting whatever lyrics to vent her frustration to the world while generating great output of required energy.
This, what she would call her own little paradise lasted for around two years before everything changed, having her savior coming in an ecstatic mood after making a wondrous discovery. A discovery she had soon met in person in the form of a girl who happened to wield the same power she had been offered. That girl was the catalyst to the third major change in her life at the time, but for an even better life.
More downs than ups follow that first meet up, fight after fight after fight, the betrayal ultimately leading to reconsider her goal, the way to process, and do it the right way while redeeming herself as well.
She was then able to live a normal life, at least what she assumed was one, worrying about simple problems girls her age should, going to school, making friends, studying for exams or not, joining a club, getting and taking care of her kouhais. Well, mostly normal, she was still acting for the greater good on the side, protecting and securing from anything threatening her everyday life.
Looking back, she might have changed her originally hellish life following her parents' death, for a clearly more hectic one by being abandoned by her benefactor. Fighting Noise, Symphogear wielders, active Relics, Alca-Noise, Autoscorers, Alchemists, Monsters, Divine Weapon, and even a Goddess.
The woman releases a sigh, her body slumping more as she leans the side of her face on her arm above the railing, gazing away and beyond the city's lights as she gently swirls the remaining content of her can above the void below.
"I'm definitely not looking forward to this day… I don't want to do it, but I also certainly have to. Otherwise, the situation will do nothing but escalate higher and higher, before turning into something far worse," she babbles under her breath, then lets out a derisory laugh, straightening herself away from the railing and chugging down the remnant of her beverage. "Guess I'm back to the same mindset I was in when by her side."
She was, at that time. She firmly believed, and was led to, that to end and prevent any more conflict, dealing with those detaining the power was the way to go. That method surely seemed more effective than the ideal of saving the world with the power of song. Funny how things turned out to be afterward, using the very method she judged too idealistic.
That's what she was dreading to do now, her former self was led astray. Using this very idea only ended up sowing more seeds of discord with each of her 'successful' attempts, seeds of hatred that would grow into more conflicts, causing further pain and suffering.
And yet, she was now meant to do something even more drastic, on a greater scale, world-threatening scale, painting a mark on her back. Something she fully intends to do, accepting the consequences as well… Kind of.
That man partially agreed with her, and as much as a despicable being he turned himself to be regarding his own blood and family, as well as not caring for the world as long as Japan was safe… His heart was not entirely in the wrong place. How he yearned to protect it in his own, twisted way deserves some praise in her book.
US's attempt at nuking them regarding the matter of the Divine Weapon being able to threaten the world as a whole was fair evidence of that. The power was feared, reasonably, but the way to prevent it while disregarding human sacrifice was truly ruthless, who know what their leader was thinking when authorizing the launch of their nuke.
This idea would not even have crossed their mind if this power was already securely in Japan's hands. Having this power under their control would have an even greater effect of possessing the nuclear weapon, keeping each country in check from using it on each other, until now.
And while his plan had been ultimately foiled, the situation only got far worse to the point of bringing mankind to the brink of extinction.
Though, what he desired for Japan was now accessible to each great leader… with Japan in lead in some way.
Her face twitches in annoyance at the reminder of the events following their victory over the Goddess, the destruction of the tree corrupting the world as well as the lift of the Curse of Balal, giving back mankind his ability to understand each other anew… supposedly.
Ultimately, it was more bullshit than anything, nothing changed. She was not surprised though, after all, it's not like because the world was perfectly at peace and in harmony some millennials ago before the curse, that it would magically return to its original form, erasing any progress made with it.
The life she has lived until now could be a plain example of that. She started it in presence of her mother and father before having to continue it without them. If she was to miraculously have them back now, it wouldn't negate the knowledge and possibility of living without them.
So just because what was at the origin of the splitting of the world was no more, that mankind would fall back as if all the conflicts that emerged didn't occur would be nothing more than wishful thinking. Various creations, discoveries were made because of it, and while it might now be possible for humanity to unite more easily, it certainly was not an obligation... Not that it would happen, anyway.
"Peace is nothing more than temporary until something leading to a new conflict appears."
Her words could not be truer, her savior was followed by a fanatic doctor, then an Alchemist having a grudge to the world, then a full organization with its lead someone not even human and its own agenda. After that, another enemy with its own idea, being used left and right, and actively going against them led to their worst opponent, a goddess.
And yet, despite her demise, defeat, surrender or whatever the Custodian would call giving them the win, the world was heading in yet another direction from the aftermath.
Divine Power.
That accursed power coveted by Bavarian Illuminati, and then by that man. And now, that same power had been slowly polluting all around the world innocently after the destruction of the corruptible tree for a few months, it then decided to make its presence known once again. Only causing more trouble, obviously.
What could be worse than Divine Weapon and a Goddess? Random people having the same power bestowed to them randomly.
Scientific would call it evolution, believers on the other end would refer to it as 'blessing', with chosen one granted divine-like power.
It was all good at first, only one human displayed such feats, remaining hidden for a while until she made itself known... her apparition could easily be labeled a miracle, a champion seeming to be on the good side while still remaining obvious at how nothing could really stop her.
Unfortunately, that isolated case didn't remain long enough, lasting for the most part of around a year, or two depending on people. Then, it simply spread, another chosen made himself known to the public, and this one wasn't really on the good side. Then another one, and another, and another. This phenomenon was named 'awakening' with no real pattern, common reason could be found among the awakened.
Her gaze falls lazily on the empty can in her hand, shifting her wrist to inspect the different angles of the item before changing her hold, the bottom on her thumb, and the top under her other fingers.
Then, casually with a look of boredom, proceed to crush the can, flattening it once, shifting it new state between her two hands to further flatten the item into a perfect disk. Flipping each side once, she then crushes it once more, this time into a ball, the unusual rather sharp bumpy edge unable to hurt her as she molds it to her desired shape.
Once done, she rolls it between her fingers, balancing it on the tip of her index finger, still looking at it. The ball then begins to glow in a gentle red hue, the piece of trash slowly brimming with charged energy.
She aims at the nightly sky, preparing to shoot by flipping her thumb before stopping, rolling the ball back into the palm of her hand and watching the material melt away in nothingness, red lights scattering in the air.
She closes her eyes as she clenches her hand into a fist before relaxing and thinking. 'Experimenting in the middle of the night is ill-advised in the first place. I should save it for the training room.'
She was one as well obviously. Though she was on another level, whether it was because of being the 'real' second awakened or the special connection she nurtured with the first one remains a mystery to this day, and she was still unwilling to verify the various hypothesis she has, especially the most absurd and yet plausible one. She and her partner wouldn't even know what to do or react aside from blushing profusely if that one happens to be the truth.
Her thoughts were cut off when she felt a pair of arms circle her waist from behind followed by a chin on one of her shoulders. Despite wanting to chastise herself for not picking up on the person sneaking on her, she couldn't help but melt in the warm embrace provided by her partner.
"What's keeping you awake, Chris?" The soft call of her name gently nudges the silver-haired woman from the heavenly comfort of her roommate, no doubt in mind that she resorted to floating toward her for the minimal emission of noise, partially concealing her presence from her.
"I could return you the question, Hibiki," Yukine Chris replies, wanting to divert the subject away from herself.
"I just felt your absence in bed, also I asked first," Tachibana Hibiki retorts, tightening her embrace around the busty woman's waist, pressing herself further against her before giving a peck on one smooth cheek.
Chris felt herself melting further at the affection, years of exposure wore her out to the point of enjoying the sheer intimacy of these little moments between them. She was keenly aware of Hibiki's chest pressing against her back, and the knowledge sent butterflies fluttering inside her belly.
She sighs happily before relenting to her partner's question. "Nothing really, just wanted to take a bit of fresh air." She has yet to affirm her resolve regarding the upcoming matter and was unwilling to burden Hibiki with those thoughts alongside other things, especially since her partner would fight her on if she were to disclose her intention.
"Are you sure?" The tallest of the two insists, shamelessly stroking her cheek against the shorter ones for closeness.
Chris shudders at the increase in intimacy, her body heating up to the ministration of her kouhai. "R- really, nothing for you to worry about," she answers with a bit of stammer. She then manages to turn around in Hibiki's embrace, facing her as she cups her face in her hands. "Let's go back to bed."
Hibiki didn't fight Chris on this, lifting the silver-haired slightly off the floor and pulling themselves back inside their home, switching and manhandling her partner in a bridal carry, earning a small squeal from her partner as she slides the balcony's door shut with a foot before leading her bedmate back to their room. "If you are unable to sleep, I have an effective way to tire ourselves out."
Chris chuckles at the teasing tone of her roommate regarding her proposition. "If I indulge you, we will be at it until morning, then we will be late for our date." She finishes her sentence at the same time the two pass the door entrance of their bedroom, Hibiki gently laying her on the bed before crawling atop of her.
Hibiki's face came into Chris' field of vision, the two gazing into each other eyes, amethyst meeting amber. "You know we can always reschedule," the kouhai mutters softly to her senpai as she leans forward, kissing her bedmate's neck with butterfly kisses.
Chris instinctively tilts her head to the side, giving more room for Hibiki to work with before rolling the two of them around, inverting their position with her on top. She props herself up, sitting astride her lover's lap, gazing lustfully at her partner.
"Fine, since you were the one to invite me, I will allow you that," Chris relents, working the buttons of her shirt, exposing more of her fair skin as well as her generous feature, the growing exposure enough to feel Hibiki's organ harden against her womanhood through her panties and Hibiki's boyshorts.
Whether this power was a blessing or a curse, Chris was still uncertain which it would be. But what she was certain of, is that as long as she was by Hibiki's side, she will do everything for that her partner considered it as much a blessing as possible.