A/N: So some of you have been wondering about the Guardians? Well, here you go.
I'm still sorting through the final chapters and so far... I have no idea what the hell I'm writing. I think I'll have to rewrite the last few chapters from scratch again. It's too... weird.
EDIT: I've added some borders to make it easier to differentiate the different parts of the fight.
Angel Beats!
What We Live For
Operation 54
SSS VS Guardians
"That's another one."
Katsuragi Rei commented as the tower shook violently while the group continued on upwards. Time was not on their side and so they had to continue onwards, leaving behind those who chose to stay behind to slowly down the program, facing off against the Division leaders by themselves. Rei could only pray that they were safe. Pray? Since when was he eligible to pray for anyone? He, being an abomination in the eyes of the religious. But he had no time for his determination to waver. He had to ensure that he ended the program once and for all.
"Worried about the rest?"
He turned and saw someone did not really expect to speak to him again suddenly following closely behind.
"Yamato."
Kusanagi Yamato was silent through most of the floors and Rei did not know whether the young leader of the SSS2 Army was still angry at him.
"I-it's not as if I am angry at you or anything."
Yamato added, her face turning rather red.
"Tsundere."
Rei could hear Kyou mutter. Yamato, however, did not hear it.
"You've been silent all this while."
Rei pointed out, making Yamato lower her head.
"I... I was confused."
She admitted. Rei knew that she had every right to be. After all, all the things they did together, all the conversations they shared... they were all lies.
"... I'm sorry."
Katsuragi blurted out.
"What are you sorry for?"
Yamato asked.
"... For everything."
"..."
Yamato bit her lip, slightly pained in her chest.
"... Don't say that."
"Huh?"
Rei turned and saw... tears?
"Don't say that you're 'sorry'... It would only make it seem like all this while... The time we spent together... the days we shared... that all of that... everything was a lie."
To Rei, that was exactly it. To him, it felt like he had betrayed them. Betrayed their feelings. Betrayed them all. But seeing Yamato... seeing her tears, there was a stab in his chest.
"Yamato... But I am-"
"It does not matter if you aren't human... or that you were created by someone."
Yamato cut him off. Her head still hung low as tears streaked down her cheeks. She did not want him to see her like this.
"The time we spent together... those requests we took together... Those... words you said to me... Those times were spent with Katsuragi of the Wolves... Those were not said by anyone other than Katsuragi of the SSS2... You are... who you are... Aren't you the same Katsuragi who helped me through my pain? ... Aren't you the same Katsuragi who pulled me out of despair?"
Rei did not know how to reply her. He was not sure about the answer himself. Was he really the same person as before? He did not know.
"No matter what you may be... no matter who you have become... you'll always be Katsuragi... the Katsuragi I know... The Katsuragi that I fell in-..."
Yamato stopped in mid-sentence. She had stopped herself for some reason. Rei did not know how to respond, until Kyou nudged him in the back.
"Sometimes... A girl just needs to hear the truth. Even if she knows she cannot obtain what her heart most desires."
"..."
Rei did not know if what Kyou said was correct but he guessed he had to say something, otherwise Yamato would have no closure for herself.
"Yamato... I cannot say that I am really the same person who fought by your side for the past year or two... I cannot say that I am the same person whom you had placed your trust on, for I myself am unsure of what I am... But there is one thing I am certain of, and that is I have never... nor will I ever betray you."
Yamato looked up in surprise at his words, her face bright red though her tears had made a mess of her face.
"Ka... tsuragi..."
"Doesn't his words remind you of somebody?"
Kyou asked her friend, Tomoyo, who merely sighed.
"The typical phrase of all male protagonist in games."
"Are you suggesting that 'that guy' was a protagonist in a game?"
"He might as well be."
Tomoyo muttered before she noticed something up ahead.
"... Looks like we've reached the next area."
Tomoyo said and indeed the group did reach the next area, however unlike the previous instances, this place had no large imposing door. Only a wide platform much like Taeno Yuki's hall of Pride. This was not a separate space like the previous halls of the Division leaders, but rather a 'floor'. At the far end of this platform were the stairs leading higher up and the group would have to cross the platform in order to progress further.
If not for the nineteen cloaked figures who stood between them and those stairs. Those nineteen figures who exuded a terrifying presence despite simply standing there. Everyone could not see who they were but somewhere in their minds they knew who they were. Those nineteen were the most dangerous people in the organisation. They were the reapers, they were death incarnate. Their lives were pointless before killing the enemy. They were berserker who would do anything to destroy those who stood in their way. The most powerful fighters of the SSS2, they live only by their creed, 'to kill them all'. They are-
"... The sixth Division... the Guardians."
As the group approached the nineteen cloaked figures, one of the cloaked figures stepped forward. Pulling the hood back, revealing Amatsu Len, the Guardian's second in command.
"So you have come, enemy of our leaders."
Len said, staring hard at Rei in particular. Another one of the cloaked figures stepped forward.
"We know why you have come."
Rei knew that voice. Pulling back the hood, Takamachi Yukari faced them with a smile.
"Yukari-sama!"
Testarossa almost went teary eyed at seeing the strong arm of the Guardians.
"Oh! If it isn't Testarossa! Good to see you're still alive and kicking!"
"Of course! If it meant seeing Yukari-sama once more I will survive through anything!"
"Ha ha ha! Very good! But back to the matter at hand."
Yukari turned to the Rei.
"Katsuragi Rei. Our leader, Kurogane Kou, is waiting for you beyond those stairs."
Yukari pointed to the stairs behind her.
"Takamachi!"
Len wanted to complain but Yukari raised her hand and silenced the second in command.
"It is what our leader wants, Amatsu. You know it yourself."
"..."
Len could not refute that and she stubbornly stepped to one side.
"Kurogane Kou... said that?"
Rei was confused by this. Why did she allow it? He was her hated enemy, why would she instruct her Guardians to let him go?
"... Let's go then."
Rei walked forward and sure enough, the nineteen Guardians simply stood there as he walked past. However, the same could not be said for the others as the nineteen Guardians closed the gap and stood between Rei and the rest of the group.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Kyou demanded.
"We will only let the one called Katsuragi Rei pass. The others will have to face us."
Yukari pulled out her giant cleaver of a sword and slammed it into the ground.
"We are the Guardians of the Sixth Division. We have our pride and our duty to our leader."
Rei wanted to help them but Yamato brought out her large cannon and slammed it in the ground, the same manner in which Yukari had done so.
"Katsuragi... you have to go on without us... We will handle this."
Rei wanted to argue back but he saw in Yamato a fire in her eyes. Those eyes that told him all he needed to know. He clenched his fist, angry at not being able to do anything more. It was true, what Yamato had said, and he must continue on his own.
"... I will see you soon."
Rei said, before turning around and heading towards the stairs. Yamato could only see Katsuragi walk off, knowing that this would probably be the last time she would see him. But it was fine like this. She had decided long ago that it was fine for things to be like this.
"... Are you sure about this?"
Amatsu Len asked Yamato.
"You love him, don't you? So why did you let him go?"
Yamato knew the answer, and no matter how much the truth hurts, she knew that it was for the best.
"... It is because I love him... that I can let him go. I cannot be blinded by my own selfishness to know that he's heart belongs to another... His place is not with me."
Yamato answered Len firmly. The second in command of the Guardians closed her eyes for a while.
"... You may be right. But we shall see whose answer is stronger. Yours... or mine."
[Boss Fight]
[SSS2 Sixth Division, Guardians]
[Vice Commander]
[Amatsu Len]
[Level: 150]
[Weapons: Crescent Blades of the Moon x2]
VERSUS
[SSS2 Army]
[Frontline Commander]
[Kusanagi Yamato]
[Level: 120]
[Weapons: Getsuga-Tenga]
"Oho? They're really going at it."
Yukari smirked, before turning to Testarossa Iris, who stood before her in silence.
"So what are you going to do now, Iris-chan?"
The 'ice queen' of the Intelligence division kept silent. She knew that it would come to this. She knew it when they first started to fight the Division leaders. She knew she had to face Takamachi Yukari. For the sake of all of those who trusted her. For the sake of all of the Intelligence Division members who were fighting outside the Tower. She had to win this... no matter what. But...
"Oi oi, Testarossa, don't tell me you've gotten cold feet already?"
Fujibayashi Kyou smirked as she stepped up next to Iris, taking out a large book and confronting Yukari.
"Fujibayashi..."
"You're not alone, Testarossa. In times of trouble, it is always better to have people by your side."
Iris wanted to say something sarcastic back to Kyou but she stopped herself. It wasn't the best of time to poke fun at Kyou, no matter how badly she wanted to.
"... Don't hold me back."
Iris merely stated, pulling out her twin swords.
"Since when did I ever?"
[Boss Fight]
[SSS2 Sixth Division, Guardians]
[Steel Arm]
[Takamachi Yukari]
[Level: 150]
[Weapons: Raging Heart]
VERSUS
[SSS2 Army]
[Overall Commander]
[Fujibayashi Kyou]
[Level: 110]
[Weapons: Books]
[SSS2 Army]
[Intelligence Officer]
[Testarossa Iris]
[Level: 110]
[Weapons: Twin shinobi katana]
"I honestly did not think we would have to fight."
The young boy smiled, pulling back his hood as he stepped forward. Sakagami Tomoyo did not need to see his face to know who it was she had to confront. After all, wasn't it always like that?
"... Kisaragi... Setsuna."
Tomoyo always had a feeling that she would end up fighting him. Among all of those she had trained, Kisaragi Setsuna was the one whom she shared a special connection to. The feeling was not romantic, but rather, a strange sense of... fate. Tomoyo never liked using that word. She had always believe in forging her own path and changing what she believed she could change. However it all came to naught as tragedy befall her... choices she made in life had cost her the life of her loved one. Kisaragi Setsuna strongly reminded her of the choices she had made in the past.
"I had always known that we will face one another sooner or later."
Tomoyo admitted, raising her fists.
"You're using those weapons."
Setsuna pointed out to the rail-gauntlets on Tomoyo's arms and Tomoyo smiled.
"It is certainly a good pair of weapons... and it will certainly carry me to my own... fate."
Those words which she despised. Those words which she could not stand. Setsuna smiled knowingly, pulling out his own weapon.
"Then come, senpai. Come and test your fate against mine."
[Boss Fight]
[SSS2 Sixth Division, Guardians]
[Ice Storm]
[Kisaragi Setsuna]
[Level: 150]
[Weapons: Yukianesea]
VERSUS
[SSS2 Army]
[Special Assault Officer]
[Sakagami Tomoyo]
[Level: 110]
[Weapons: Rail Gauntlets]
Not all who faced their opponents were on such good terms, however, as the two swordswomen faced against one another. They were similar, yet different.
"So my time has come."
Ryougi Mana muttered, drawing her sword against the one who stood before her. The Silent Blade, Sakamoto Shiki.
"... I do not know you... yet you are... familiar."
Shiki said, narrowing her eyes at the young Ryougi.
"I am Ryougi Mana... your daughter."
Mana said. All those in earshot stopped what they were doing and stared at the two swordswomen. What an extreme turn of events. Daughter?
"... I have no daughter."
Shiki stated flatly. Mana smiled at that answer.
"Of course not. I'm not 'your' daughter... Rather I am the daughter of who you 'could have been'."
"... I see. From a parallel World."
Shiki understood what this all means. In another 'World', she had a happy life. She had a family of her own. She had a child.
"... So... such an outcome was possible."
"Yes. In my World, you were the successor to the Ryougi clan. You were the strongest person I had ever known."
"... In my life... The Ryougi clan was destroyed... I was raised by a distant relative and took their name as my own... but I knew that my life would not be easy. With the fall of the Ryougi clan, the demons that came were unstoppable... No matter how many I cut down... more came to replace them... Perhaps.. if the Ryougi did not fall that day-"
"Under the Ryougi clan, you had suffered as well."
Mana said, cutting off Shiki.
"But in that life I lived... I had lived and I had loved... In that life, I had you."
Shiki looked straight at Mana. No one but Ryougi Mana could tell that Shiki was smiling. It was something that Mana grew up knowing about. She had constantly chased her mother, constantly wanting to face her mother head on. As such she knew her mother well. This Shiki may not be her mother, for her mother had a loving family, had gone through life with people to support her and stood tall, but this Shiki was indeed... Shiki.
"Why have you come here?"
Shiki asked.
"To defeat the 'strongest' person I have ever known. My mother in her prime."
Mana answered honestly. This Shiki is not the same Shiki whom Mana had known all her life. No, this Shiki was different. Facing hardships since young, this Shiki had fought more battles and faced death on all fronts. There was no better opponent for Mana. Shiki nodded in understanding and drew her blade.
"... Then come and face the 'strongest', 'daughter' of mine."
"I will show you what I have become, 'mother' of mine."
[Boss Fight]
[SSS2 Sixth Division, Guardians]
[Silent Blade]
[Sakamoto Shiki]
[Level: 150]
[Weapons: Kuji Kanesada (Rei) ]
VERSUS
[SSS2 Army]
[Assault Officer]
[Ryougi Mana]
[Level: 110]
[Weapons: Akasha no Tsurugi]
[SSS] VS [Sixth Division Guardians]
[Ooyama] VS [Asakura Shion]
[SSS Sniper] [Eagle Eye]
[Male] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Accuracy International AS50] [Anti Material Rifle Custom, 'Angelos']
.
.
.
[Fujimaki] VS [Kasumi]
[SSS Fighter] [Leaf Blade]
[Male] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Shirasaya Katana] [Quivers of Swords, 'Blade Forest']
.
.
.
[Saitou] VS [Takatsugi Shou]
[SSS Fisher] [White String]
[Male] [Male]
[110] [150]
[Fishing line] [Piano wires, 'Arachnid']
.
.
.
[Takamatsu] VS [Hanakawa Maho]
[SSS Flasher] [Lightning Cannon]
[Male] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Muscles] [Bladed Piston-driven Tonfas, 'Raiten']
.
.
.
[Yusa] VS [Minami Shino]
[SSS Operator] [SSS2 Sixth Division Guardians Strategist, Puppet Master]
[Female] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Earpiece] [Blades with strings]
.
.
.
[Shiina] VS [Yoh]
[SSS Ninja] [Black Hawk]
[Female] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Kodachi] [Bladed Bow, 'Hayabusa']
.
.
.
[Yui] VS [Ayase]
[SSS second lead Guitarist] [Unbreakable]
[Female] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Guitar] [Giant pad lock, 'Key]
.
.
.
[Naoi Ayato] VS [Okita Arata]
[SSS self-proclaim God] [Wordsworth]
[Male] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Hypnotism] [Kotodama (Power of Words) ]
.
.
.
[Saya] VS [Saotome Hajime]
[SSS2 Rebels, Rei's guard] [Saint's Will]
[Female] [Male]
[110] [150]
[Graveyard] [Bladed Shield, 'Jericho']
.
.
.
[Iwasawa Masami] VS [Todoroki Masaharu]
[SSS lead Guitarist] [SSS2 lead Guitarist]
[Female] [Male]
[110] [150]
[Guitar] [Gatling Guitar]
.
.
.
[Matsushita] VS [Shinozaki Ryoutaro]
[SSS 5-dan fighter] [Gauntlet]
[Male] [Male]
[110] [150]
[Fists] [Rocket Hammer]
.
.
.
[Hinata Hideki] VS [Ryouhei]
[SSS Co-founder] [Thunder]
[Male] [Male]
[110] [150]
[Baseball Bat] [Baseball Bat EX, 'Homerun']
.
.
.
[Hisako] VS [Kurogami Homura]
[SSS Guitarist] [Hell Storm]
[Female] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Guitar] [Bullets]
.
.
.
[Noda] VS [Yukimura Kyouko]
[SSS Fighter] [Odin]
[Male] [Female]
[110] [150]
[Halberd] [Spear Rifle, 'Gungnir']
.
.
.
[TK] VS [Shimazu Haruto]
[SSS breakdancer] [Orchestra]
[Male] [Male]
[110] [150]
[Twin pistols] [Cello Cannon, 'Canon in D']
He had known about it for something, but to see it first hand was something else altogether. Kamiya Yuzuru stood back and watched as his petite size girlfriend jumped straight into the group of Shadows that blocked their path and decimate them with one attack that seemed to have the impact of a bomb. Seriously, was there a reason why he had to come along in the first place? Kanade was way too strong!
"Yuzuru?"
He looked up and saw Kanade look at him with a slightly puzzled look. She must be wondering about why he was spacing out.
"It's nothing. Still, you're strong as ever, Kanade."
"..."
An instant change occurred and Kanade ended up squatting at one side, drawing circles in the floor with her finger. What Yuzuru did was hit a very vital spot. While Kanade was not usually phased by such a comment, she did get reincarnated and through her normal life, she became more sensitive to such things.
"Kanade? !"
After a moment of trying to calm the most powerful Angel around, Yuzuru and Kanade continued on.
"I was referring to your connection to the Program."
Yuzuru explained his previous sentence.
"It seems that my account has not been deleted."
Kanade answered as they continued down the spiralling stairs. Unlike the other group, Yuzuru and Kanade were heading down, below the depths of the tower. There was a strong reason behind the two of them heading down rather than up, and it was the fact that one of the machines to be used in shutting down the Program was located at the bottom. Still, Yuzuru had to wonder about the entire thing since they have yet to meet a single Angel, much less a Division leader.
"So that must mean that the Division leaders of the SSS2 are all upstairs."
Yuzuru concluded the obvious.
"Do you think they can manage?"
Kanade asked.
"They will face difficulties... but I believe they can win. As long as they don't split up or anything."
But that was exactly what had happened to the group above. However since they won, it did not matter anyway.
"Hmm? Looks like we have reached."
Yuzuru noted as they reached the bottom of the spiral stairs. Unlike the stairs that lead upward, which seem to float on air, the stairs that lead downwards seem to lead into a tunnel, and the end of the tunnel was a plan metal door.
"... Somehow I feel disappointed."
Yuzuru admitted, crossing his arms as he inspected the door. It was certainly not a door that was similar to the ones above, simply being just a metal door.
"Yuzuru?"
Kanade looked to him. Was she that eager to rush into battle?
"... Let's go."
Yuzuru walked ahead and pushed the door open, stepping into what seemed to be a large crater-like room. A giant machine seemed to tower in the centre, going from the floor straight up into the ceiling. That must be the machine to shut down. But as Yuzuru was thinking, Kanade seemed to sense something amiss as she suddenly raised her hands in a defensive position.
"Guard Skill: Hand Sonic."
Blades appeared on her arms and Kanade suddenly went in full aggressive stance.
"Kanade?"
Yuzuru wanted to ask what was wrong but before he could, he felt a sudden and intense pressure appear in the large room. A feeling so intense that Yuzuru did not know how to respond. He felt like his chest was being pressed. That was when Yuzuru realised that there was someone standing before the giant machine. A lone girl who simply stood there quietly. When did she appear? Why didn't he notice her before? But the most important question for Yuzuru was...
"... Kanade?"
The girl who stood before the machine was Kanade. Or at least she looked exactly like Kanade. But Kanade was next to him, so who is she?
"You seem surprised. How rare."
A new voice echoed throughout the room. Stepping out from behind the machine was-
"Otonashi."
Otonashi Yuzuru smiled to him.
"Yo."
"Explain. Now."
Kamiya Yuzuru demanded to his 'other' half, Otonashi Yuzuru. To anyone else, it was an odd scene to witness. Four people who look like one another are all facing off each other in some sort of duel that might inevitably lead to the death of one pair. Kamiya Yuzuru and Tachibana Kanade, facing off against Otonashi Yuzuru and a girl who looks exactly like Kanade, but wearing the uniform of the NPCs. Otonashi Yuzuru, the 'half' that stayed behind merely smiled as he stepped forward.
"No need to be so hasty. Besides, what's wrong with having more than one Kanade-chan?"
"There's nothing wrong with having more than one-"
Yuzuru immediately replied without missing a beat but stopped talking half-way as he felt a rather strong impulse of anger flaring from his girlfriend. Otonashi merely laughed at the strange sight.
"Ha ha! As expected of my 'half'. You can say such things without any hint of hesitation. Well, let me explain to you, did you really think that I would not have any feelings for Kanade once you left? I am 'Otonashi Yuzuru' as well, thus my feelings for Kanade will not disappear."
Otonashi explained as he walked around the still silent 'Kanade'.
"As I probed further into the Program, I discovered a strange 'black box' of sorts hidden the Program's database. It had seemed that the Program had kept a 'copy' of its users. Anyone who had access to the Program would have their entire being downloaded and copied and stored in the Program's database."
"And so you brought out another 'Kanade'."
"'Bringing out' is not such a correct term, as the data within the Program cannot imitate the real person. It is, essentially, mere data. What I did instead of use... 'Harmonics'."
"You did what? !"
'Harmonics' was a sub Program used by Kanade back during the days of the SSS to herself. However it was not as simple as 'cloning' as each individual 'clone' had their own personality, their own thoughts and shared the same power and abilities as Kanade herself. Through much hardship, the SSS managed to revert the Program and the clones had disappeared.
"Or so we had all thought. You see, like all computer programming, you cannot simply 'delete' something. A computer does not 'delete' anything, but merely 'marks' it for deletion until something else is brought up to take over its allocated space. But even so there will be fragments left behind. The same can be said for the 'Harmonics' Program. Although all of the 'clones' were supposedly absorbed back into Kanade, there was enough residual 'essence' to recreate another Kanade. Putting together with the database from the Program, I have essentially 'made' myself a 'Kanade'. Let me introduce you all... her name, is Amagami Futayo."
Amagami Futayo, one of the three NPCs that Otonashi had created, one of the two that went berserk. That is Amagami Futayo.
"Well then, shall we get down to it then?"
Ototnashi asked, straightening his tie.
"Get down to what?"
"To fighting. While I do not want the Apocalypse to start, I do have a slight attachment to Futayo. She is, after all, Kanade's replacement for me."
"You... you planned this from the beginning, didn't you?"
Otonashi smirked at that question.
"Who knows?"
[Boss Fight]
[Student Council President/ The Lost Half of Salvation]
[Otonashi Yuzuru]
[Level 500]
VERSUS
[Unifier of the SSS/ The Guiding Half of Hope]
[Kamiya Yuzuru]
[Level 150]
.
.
.
[Boss Fight]
[Remnants of a Lost Love]
[Amagami Futayo]
[Level 300]
VERSUS
[Reincarnated Angel]
[Tachibana Kanade]
[Level 300]
A/N: DUN DUN DUN... cliff hanger? I can almost hear of your curse swears at me again. The line up for the fights are basically what I think should be appropriate. For now, I will NOT be writing out the battles of the SSS and the Guardians in full. If anyone wants to know the outcomes, I'll put them up by the last chapter. For those who want to know the fight itself... well, tell me which one and I'll probably put it in the side stories. If I ever finish those anyway.