Author's Note: Apologies for the very long (a month) delay. The time was used mainly for finishing up projects and homework assignments. Only to add to my stress, my teachers have made the finals the last week of school. Now that finals are over, I can be able to write more and quicker. Hope you enjoy this one.
Izayoi landed hard on her feet. The force of the impact was almost too much to hold. Nevertheless, she stayed strong. I refuse to allow him to see any signs of weakness. Holding her long blade out, she summoned a green-shrouded flying dagger to Hakumen's way. The hero did not dodge it in fact, he thrusted his long sword, shattered the flying blade. Izayoi lifted her long blade, enhancing the color to green. Both challengers clashed their blades once more, a loud, unpleasant ring sounded in the air.
Izayoi, however, was able to move quicker, striking upward at the open target Hakumen left amiss of his strikes. Deciding to follow the airborne warrior, she jumped up, using her garments to slicing through. As he flew higher, growing more defenseless, he could not block the sudden rap of pain after seeing his opponent vanish for a mere second. Izayoi teleported higher, only to deliver a swift, rush down strike. She landed on the ground, watching Hakumen follow right behind, tumbling as he fell. He cursed himself mentally for foolishly leaving an opening.
In less than a few seconds, Hakumen rolled away, creating distance. When standing on his feet once more, he said, "Not bad, Tsubaki Yayoi."
Izayoi said nothing response, breathing hard. She advanced to collide again, hoping to rush down more attacks.
"Empty Sky Form…" With that, Hakumen summoned a large, red circular frame in front of him. In just perfect timing, his attacker had swiped.
Time seemed to stand still for Izayoi. With effort, she tried to make any movements, either to try to avoid getting hit or another attack, but to no avail. She could not move any of her limbs, making her vulnerable to any upcoming strikes.
"…Winter's Repost." Her hero dashed through with unbelievable speed, slicing her bodysuit and flesh with his blade. Using his extra momentum, he added a small attack of the hilt of his weapon in her gut.
"Guh. Ugh…" The woman grunted as she fell to her knees, clutching her deep wound. As to expect from one of the Six Heroes. Closing her eyes, she held a big wince on her face for a few seconds. At last, she stood up, panting. Concentrating on gathering as much light and energy in her sword, Izayoi started her flowing movements of the armament.
Taking note on what his opponent was doing, Hakumen Accumulated energy in Ookami, holding it high. "Empty Sky Form…" He paused his incarnation to gather the last bit of power. When it was done, he slammed his blade down. A projectile wave was launched. "Summer's Advance!"
"Hah!" Izayoi cried out to brace herself and to call forth a high-speed., thrusting attack of light. Both attacks landed a direct hit on the other, disintegrating the woman's attack upon contact. However, Hakumen's wave of energy ceased it's movements. As she looked at what had just transpired, she sighed in relief that she is not hurt badly. As she panted and sweated, Izayoi held her sword up strong, preparing to-
"Halt!"
"Huh?" Confused, Izayoi lowered her sword and looked at her hero.
"Enough." Hakumen lowered Ookami, a gesture to cease their quarrel. As soon as it was sheathed behind him, he spoke, words heeding conviction. "We each have had enough. There is no point wasting more time on this."
"Hakumen, sir…" Trailing off, Izayoi found it hard to say a word. Instead, she nodded and dematerialized her armament, and looked upon him with brave eyes.
Taking her actions as a sign to continue, Hakumen continued. "You have improved, Tsubaki Yayoi. I know you are capable to find the truth, hidden in the underbelly of facades and lies."
"Sir Hakumen, thank you. Uh…unfortunately, I… uh… don't know where to go. Or what to do." She looked away as she blushed at the embarrassment she was putting herself in. "Oh, excuse me."
With his past face, he might have gently smiled at her formality. "Go to the Library and fight. Join the fight and help rebel against this destructive conflict. There is nothing more I need to tell you now." Hakumen turned around and began to walk away. "Do not be afraid to open your eyes."
Izayoi watched until he was out of sight. Do not be afraid to open your eyes. She let his words repeat and repeat themselves in her head. Preparing to launch, she took a quick look at the dark blanket shrouding the sky. She took a deep breath and flew up, never looking back at the forest.
Izayoi landed gently on her feet from her flight. She looked at the dozens of graves scattered on the ground. Shivering at the sight, she nonetheless walked closer. She eyed a specific one, the lid was partly off, revealing some of what might lie inside.
With the amount of curiosity Pandora once held, Izayoi placed her hand on the lid, fingers on top and thumb underneath it. Recalling her Academy lessons from long ago, she remembered that the woman Pandora had released all evil of humanity, leaving only Hope. Shaking off the silly myth, as no object of hope could lie inside a coffin-and so she at last mustered the courage to remove the lid.
At first, she had thought her mind played tricks on her vision. Facing reality, Izayoi gasped loudly at the sight. She threw both hands over her mouth in astonishment and fear. Looking at the face, there was no mistaking it. With caution, she slowly backed away from the coffin.
"Tsubaki…?"
An all too familiar voice was heard from behind. It matched the once alive face in the coffin. Izayoi did not need to look behind herself. "Noel…"
"Yes, it's me, Tsubaki."
Izayoi turned around to look at the girl behind her. She held back a gasp at the sight. Noel, in some armor of some sort, stared back. Her hair was down, no longer in a beret like the previous time they met. Lights, thigh-high toeless socks, and blue nail polished on her hands and feet. Just above her eyes lays a strange headgear, defined with two horns on both sides.
Izayoi did not know whether to draw her weapon or simply talk. After a few moments, she ruled out the former, for now. "Um, what are you doing here?"
"Miss Rachel told me everything. About my… um past lives and fate." Mu was relieved that her former friend did not attack. With her own desire, she did not want to apply the "former" title in front of friend. "I… wanted to see with my own eyes."
"I see." Izayoi closed her eyes, waiting if Mu had anything else to say.
"Tsubaki, I'm sorry."
"What? Why are you apologizing?" Some things just don't change, do they? The red-haired woman opened her eyes in confusion.
"I… took away… everything from you, like how you said. I took your place at Jin's side."
Izayoi looked at the girl. The girl who took her rightful position at Jin's side. The girl who… Why? Why didn't she feel hatred, sorrow, jealousy? Looking down, she sighed. "Do not worry about it Noel. That was in the past."
No. She can't simply forgive me, like that. "But I… Why are you not angry with me, Tsubaki?"
"Yes, Noel. You have taken my so-called rightful place by Jin's side. However…" Izayoi glanced down at regret. "I should be the one apologizing."
"I don't-"
"I should be the one apologizing," She repeated. "I… I let my emotions, my jealousy, take control. I let Captain Hazama convince me that without you, everything would be better. I don't… I don't know how you could ever begin to forgive me." She looked down in shame with herself.
Mu just stood there in deep thought.
Taking her silence as a sign to continue, Izayoi finally looked up into the green eyes of the girl in front of her. "Why aren't you mad with me? I deserve it."
Mu finally spoke. "No, Tsubaki. I could never stay mad, let alone hold a grudge or hatred of some sort, towards you. You're my best friend."
Izayoi was touched by how Mu, with Noel's passion, how she still seemed to care. An idea came to her. "Is… is it alright if we have a little spar?"
"Spar with you?"
"Yes. I believe this could be the way to start over. Leave everything from the past behind. We would resolve our conflicts here, right now."
After a moment of contemplation, without a word, Mu's coverings transformed into the protection of the Murakumo Units. Her silver and blue armor revealed slightly more of her body. Eight long swords circled around her.
"Tsubaki, lets fight seriously." With those words, her Nox Nyctores lowered behind her.
"Noel." It was Izayoi's turn to call out her armament. Her giant, covered sword rained down behind her. She extended her arms. In the blink of an eye, the sword vanished while at the same time, two metal plates appeared, meant to protect her legs. One second later, her hands gripped the long, bronze handle of her purple-shrouded blade. "Fight me with everything."
Deciding to start the fight, Izayoi summoned a flying blade directly at Mu. Jumping at the right moment, Mu was able to save herself from a stabbed gut.
"Hah!"
With that, a high speed arrow of immense power showed out from about two feet in front of her, precisely where her opponent stood. Acting alone on gut reaction, Izayoi disappeared in a whirlwind, avoiding the hit. She materialized back in her spot when the gold impact faded away.
Mu was ready for her next choice of attack. Putting in all of her concentration, her eight swords arched back, one after another, almost like a whip bracing itself to be let go. Izayoi gripped tightly on her sealed weapon with her left hand and twisted her body, her back facing Mu. Each fighters held there positions for a few seconds. Each body flashed and they released their hold on their power. They both slashed downward, the sound of metal clashing echoed.
Ragna panted as he trudged up the small hill, looking over the branch. He looked upward at the sky. Shit. It's getting darker. He had been searching for the last half hour, nonstop. To say he was exhausted was an understatement. A pair of unsynchronized flashes and clanging of metal sounds caught his attention. He knew only a few weapons ever made those glimmers and noises. One of them's the Izayoi. Heh. Guess luck is finally on my side now. Without second thought of precaution, he made his way to the underground opening.
In the air, Izayoi sent Mu down with a downward strike after a series of rapid hits. Mu landed hard on the ground with a thud. Her opponent landed, softer on the ground, and held a determined glare.
Mu rolled out of the way and bent down. Smiling internally with the number of airborne guns she had arranged in the air, she called out.
"Divine Light of Punishment!"
A laser of blue light bounced off the oldest stein and continued its path, crossing the other three and finally toward Izayoi. She held out both arms, throwing out a green defense ars with the last of her ability. Upon contact, the laser of light and the ars dissipated.
Now was her chance. Mu rushed down at great speed toward her challenger. She slashed with all eight blades once again, landing directly on Izayoi's cheek.
Izayoi cried out in pain as she was thrown back with great force into the stone wall. She placed her hand on her cheek. Blood flowed from her facial mar, but she was not ready to back down. With trouble, she stood up, supporting herself on the wall. After taking a deep breath, she lunged towards Mu-
In the flash, her vision went completely black, as dark as a moonless winter sky. Everything in her surroundings disappeared in the black. She halted, wondering if her weapon had betrayed her, finally blinding her. No… She could see her body, her skin, the detail of her outfit. However, everything around had vanished.
"Where…? What is this?" She looked around helplessly. Slowly, she started to understand what had happened. "Ah. This place, the darkness inside of me..."
Looking around, Izayoi finally spots something. A couple familiar faces, in fact.
"Hakumen…?" Her favorite Six Hero's back faced her. His right arm held his sword, either sheathing or preparing to battle. His words echoed in her head. Do not be afraid to open your eyes. How he had helped in many ways… Almost like he knew me from somewhere.
She realized that it was only an illusion. They could not hear nor reply to her.
"Makoto…" One of her best friends. Izayoi's vision of Makoto displayed an enthusiastic girl, pumping up her left fist. After gaining her trust and friendship in the Academy, they were almost inseparable. A silly, fun, and whimsical squirrel beastkin she was- and still is. It took more time and effort to befriend her, I remember. I'll never forget how devoted she is when it came to Noel and myself.
"Noel…" Next to Makoto's image stood her best friend. The shy, self-conscious girl she had gotten along with almost immediately at their first meeting. She had proven herself always loyal and used to try to help whenever necessary. Not long ago, we were just fighting. She really has changed.
The next face came shortly after the girls' drifted away. "Jin…"
Her first real friend. They were always so close back in their childhood days. She had and always will love him as a brother. He had always tried to be there for her, and she would try returning the favor.
"All this time," Izayoi looked down and closed her eyes, ashamed with herself. "I have continued to deny the truth… the darkness in my heart."
"Don't turn your back, Tsubaki." A familiar voice was heard from the distance. Jin sounded almost apologetically. "Don't… become… like me."
"Hopefully you'll be able to open your eyes to what the Library is truly doing." Izayoi gasped at the realization of the next and final, gruff voice. It was no thought. Those were some of the first few words he had sincerely said to her. How much Ragna had changed my life, after all- and for the better. She blushed.
Slowly opening her eyes, she took a brief moment to scan her location. "I can see it clearly. Even in this pitch, black darkness. Why hadn't I realized it?" Silent tears budded at the corner of her eyelids.
"I… love everyone." Without warning, the world of light seeped back.
Her environment of the underground where she had fought became more clearer. She felt a strange, light weight on her head. The sight of her eye cap, now white, greeted her. Tsubaki looked down at her attire, her exposing body armor gone. Instead she saw her white Zero Squadron uniform back on. Her Izayoi was once again a dagger with her book shield.
She looked around, hoping she could spot Noel, but saw nothing. She must've left… or had been teleported. Tsubaki felt a small pang of sadness. She turned around, and immediately stopped in her tracks with a gasp as she gazed at the silhouette at the entrance.
Ragna offered a gentle smile at the girl. He could feel his cheeks burn the longer he looked. He waited for her to make a sound, a movement, a sign. He did not think he could hold his cool for so much longer, nervousness entering his body.
Looking at the smile, all Tsubaki could do was stare back, cheeks flushed. After taking a moment to blink, to figure out that it was not an illusion, she dropped both her sword and shield and dashed towards Ragna. She wasted no time to wrap her arms tightly around his back. With tears of happiness flowing at their will down her cheeks, she pressed her face in Ragna's chest, along with a smile on her face.
In the second he felt her arms around him, Ragna enveloped Tsubaki in his strong hold. He felt his black shirt dampening slightly from her tears, but didn't give a damn. Smiling, he nuzzled his head against hers, nose pressed on her soft hair.
After taking a moment to gather his wits and find his voice, he said, "H-Hey there, Tsubaki. It's… uh, good to see you." Ragna mentally berated himself for the lackluster greeting he made to the beautiful woman he was holding.
"R-Ragna…" Tsubaki looked up at the man holding her, displaying a bright smile. She had so many words she wanted to say to him. However, no words came out. All she could hope to do was to remain in his securing arms forever.
Ragna frowned at the long cut blemishing her left cheek. He raised his right arm and placed it just over the incision. After muttering an ars healing spell, Tsubaki felt her facial wound heal. It had even begun to disappear.
Satisfied, Ragna smirked. "Better." But he did not want to remove his hand yet.
Tsubaki giggled, feeling the last of her tears drying, and placed her own hand on his face, mirroring his gesture. Lost in thought she hadn't realized that she had been moving in closer. As her lips inched closer to his, she paused, waiting for him to retreat. But no, he did not. She lifted her other hand on top of his shoulder and closed her eyes. "Ragna…"
Time seemed to cease at the moment their lips met. The energy they both felt. It was like two live wires connecting, sending a shower of sparks down everything. Ragna returned the kiss almost eagerly, eyes closing with delight. Nothing else existed, as far as he was concerned. It was him, Tsubaki, and nothing else.
Feeling Ragna return her affections took a heavy weight off of Tsubaki's shoulders. She returned it once, before ending their moment in heaven rather too quickly. They both opened their eyes, staring at their wonder before them. Finally, Ragna caught his tongue and smirked again. "Wow… That's seriously…" The criminal took a moment to close his eyes again and lean down, touching her forehead with his. "You're amazing, Tsubaki."
"Mm." Tsubaki tilted her head up to brush her lips on his cheek. Soon after, she nuzzled her nose on the same spot. "So are you."
Ragna retreated his head back to look in her captivating blue eyes. As he spoke, his words possessed no sharp edge. "Listen." Subconsciously, he lowered both of his arms to her sides, rubbing her. "From now on, you're not gonna be alone. I'm gonna be here for you no matter what."
"Ragna." Tsubaki lowered her head to the crook of his neck. Burying her face in his chest, she could hear the reverberating beats of his heart. "You have always been there for me, even when we were supposed to be enemies. I will forever be grateful for you. I promise to always be with you, never leave you."
"Heh. It's a deal."
She looked up at his eyes, hopeful. "How would like to seal the promise?"
Ragna already knew his answer. He moved one his hands to prod her chin, gently tilting her head his way. At the contact of their second kiss, he ran his other hand through her silky, red hair. Returning the affection, Tsubaki closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She moaned in felicity when she felt her hat drop and his dancing fingers in her hair. Once again, they disappeared into their own world.
"Oh my. Moving fast now, aren't we?" A female voice sounded from behind the couple only a couple feet away. Ragna and Tsubaki stopped in utter surprise and turned around to look at the source.
Keeping Tsubaki in a one-arm embrace, Ragna snarled. "Rachel, what the hell are you doing here?"
"I assure you that my arriving here while you were too busy locking lips with Miss Yayoi was pure coincidence. While I am here, though, I will say that I am rather pleased with you, Ragna."
"Miss Rachel…" Afraid and shocked at Rachel's appearance, Tsubaki shifted a little closer to Ragna. She closed her eyes and lowered her head.
"Miss Yayoi. A pleasure to see you once again."
"Anyways, what the hell did you come here for, Rabbit? We were kinda in the middle of something, here."
The vampire retorted, "As much as I would have love to let you continue on, I believe that the pace is too fast. There are more in a relationship than merely just the physical side." Rachel paused to watch Ragna turn his head away to hide the blush of embarrassment. "I would also like to add that it is rather very late for you children to be up."
At once, a portal ripped the time and space fabric behind Rachel. "Here. This portal will lead straight to my mansion. A nice bed awaits you two. Do be thankful. I am only offering this… reward and a light congratulations."
Tsubaki brightened up at the word bed. "Thank you very much, Miss Rachel."
Ragna chuckled a little. "Heh. Guess you being nice for once isn't all too scary. Let's go, Tsubaki."
"One thing." Rachel looked back at the pair. "You two will sleep in separate rooms for the time being."
"Huh?"
"I do not trust that you two are ready to take this little relationship further. Am I clear?"
Ragna groaned. He knew he couldn't argue. That result would lead to a sore back with twigs and dirt all over him. "Fine."
Tsubaki bowed her head, slightly disappointed. "Yes, Miss Rachel."
"Good. Have a restful night."
Author's Note: So there we go. The next chapter hopefully won't take as long to write as this one.