Three Day Storm
#14: Eyes Opened
X X X
The Roc seemed to be on its last legs, staying on the ground and showing an obvious difficulty in getting back up. Ban grinned to himself, amused at the Belt Line's failure to give him a proper challenge. He was getting cocky and he knew it - any minute now, something three times as strong would ambush him from behind, coming to the Roc's aid.
Ah, let it happen, Ban decided. With everything that was happening, he was in the mood for exercise.
Gathering himself, Ban bounded forwards to make his next attack, eyes intent on his target. At the last second something to the side moved - it was enough for Ban to change his trajectory in a split-second. Fully prepared to attack this new target and get back to the Roc, only years of self-discipline helped him brake when he saw his new opponent.
"Kazuki," Ban spat, a little unnerved by the man's appearance - but moreso that he hadn't felt the approach. What else was the VR hiding from him?
"Ban. You cannot finish this fight."
"Tch. I didn't ask for your opinion. I'm going to beat the crap out of that bird," Ban said, turning back to the Roc. Interestingly, it hadn't gone anywhere. He must have hurt it more than he thought. "Stand aside, Kazuki."
With the speed and the agility that Kazuki was known for, thread lashed out, catching both of Ban's arms.
Ban pulled against it with a growl but didn't try to escape - not yet, anyway. "Back off, pretty boy. This isn't your fight."
With a neat jump, the Threadmaster had landed next to Ban, a hand sliding into one of the thief's pockets. "But you are an ally, Ban, and for that reason -" his hand slid out again, the little snake charm in his fingers. "I will protect you against yourself."
X X X
"When was Ban here?"
The question came with a glance to Juubei, whose attention was clearly not on Shido at that moment, but on Kazuki. Looking over as well, Shido frowned at the sight - he really did not like having his fights interfered with, ever. If he could not defeat an enemy on his own, how could he protect Madoka?
As Kazuki snared the Basilisk in a net, Juubei turned back to Shido. Straightening, Shido held up Ban's glasses and repeated his question. "When was Ban here?"
Juubei seemed to ignore it, reaching out. Taken aback, Shido didn't think to move until Juubei had his hand on the charm that he'd nicked from the door.
"Ban has always been here," Juubei said. With a sharp tug the string snapped, allowing for the charm to be thrown to the ground. In that same motion Juubei flicked a needle out and speared it to the ground, causing the tooth to shatter.
Shido felt his skin tingle, his senses coming back to life in a way that made him realise they'd been dulled. Watching the shards came to rest on the dirt, he chose to hide those feelings with a sceptical snort. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked Juubei, absently toying with the glasses.
"Look," the man said, nodding back towards Kazuki and the Basilisk.
Except it wasn't a Basilisk - it was Ban. A pissed off - really pissed off Ban.
Shido looked to the glasses in his hands with a scowl. "Damnit. I should have known."
"Perhaps," Juubei said, still focused on the distant pair. "But it is easy to be deceived when the world seems to be in its place."
"Oi, Monkey-boy!"
Shido's attention snapped to Ban. Kazuki seemed to have released him and now the pair was making their way back. His eyes narrowed with the temptation to stomp on Ban's glasses. "What?"
"You fight like shit," Ban said, as they got closer.
Shido growled, turning defensive. "For an enemy, so do you."
"Oh yeah? -" Ban broke off, a thief's hand out to swipe his glasses back. Shido didn't stop him, watching with that same scowl. Ban held them up against the VR sun, tilting them to get a good look at the damage. "Not even a house-trained monkey can keep itself from ruining things," he said with a sigh, pocketing the glasses. If he felt vulnerable without his trademark defense, nothing was said of it.
"I didn't do it!" Shido said, bristling at the accusation.
"I heard you step on them," Juubei put in unhelpfully.
Shido huffed at this, surrendering the match. He watched Ban fold the glasses up and slip them into his pocket, then shot a glance at Kazuki. "Timed things well, didn't you," he said, a little more venomously than necessary. He was still sore about having the fight taken from him and although a part of him knew it was for the greater good, the fact that the Beltline had managed to trick him so effectively only compounded the injury his pride had suffered.
Kazuki took it in his stride, now at Juubei's side. He deflected Shido's look by nodding towards his blind companion. "It was Juubei's timing," he said, "He was not affected by the Beltline's trick like we were."
"The charms that you, Ban and Kazuki took were cursed," Juubei added, "I am not sure how, but it was they which allowed you to be tricked."
"So when we took them as a reminder of reality, they lured us in and we fought each other," Ban said with one of his sceptical snorts, "Clever."
"I'm glad you think so," Shido said, "So how do we get out of here? Juubei?"
"I do not think I would be of much help," Juubei said, "I am aware that what you see is not real, but the way out is not apparent to me."
"Heh. Fortunate that you aren't in charge," Ban said, turning away from the group to eye off the surroundings. He needed Shido's mimicry to determine the limitations of the room they were in, but wasn't about to say it.
"And you are?" Shido challenged, immediately rising to the bait. In the background, Kazuki's irritated sigh was decidedly unsubtle.
"Nope," Ban said breezily, "Monkeys aren't the type to take orders anyway, you know."
"You say that like snakes are any better," Shido said, body tense with the premature inclination to fight. "You'd be up shit creek if we weren't here."
"Is that so?" Ban asked, looking back over his shoulder to the Beastmaster. After a moment, he smirked. "You don't even know the way out of here."
Shido snorted with contempt, bringing his hands together. "We'll see about that. Beast Mimicry - Bat of the night!"
Ban didn't hide his grin but held back any further taunts - he had subtly gotten his way and was entirely satisfied with that. He waited as Shido, armed with the radar-like hearing of a bat, probed the extent of the room with his eyes shut.
"This way," Shido said, eyes still shut as he began to walk. Ban passed a doubtful look to a weary-faced Kazuki, but complied and fell into a dawdling pace behind his ally. If they were lead over a cliff face he was going to have a bone to pick with Monkey-boy, then the Beltline, Makubex, and that damn mudhead for getting himself into trouble in the first place.
X X X
Standing tall and powerful in the center of this peculiar room, the Emperor wasn't sure how much time had passed. He was aware of the fact that his former host – the little Ren – had passed out at his feet after confusing the enemy for her grandfather, body ravaged by the toll of having the Emperor force a separation. The short man, whose power he still did not understand, stood not too far away – in fact, he was far too close.
A snap of electricity lashed out with this thought, and struck the ground between them as a warning. The Emperor's cold expression – a face eerily like Ginji's, even devoid of his true host – did not wan, even as the man smirked at him in response.
"This is your domain, now."
It did not escape the Emperor's notice that the man moved no closer. He shook his head at the welcome, loathing the idea. "I am here until Ginji is ready to receive me once more," he said, adamant that this would happen.
"Is that so?" the little man's smirk transformed into a sneer that turned his face evil. "You are keen to assume that Ginji laments your separation."
"It is not a matter of emotions," the Emperor dismissed, "I will not be here forever, for Ginji will not be without me forever."
"His allies travel to the Beltline at this moment." A wave of the hand triggered a hologram, and after the glare faded, Ban and his allies became visible. They were approaching the elevator that the Emperor knew would bring them here, and his fingers flexed in anticipation. He was aware of the fact that this so-called God was watching him with an inherently malicious look. "Do you remember what I told you, Emperor? Your data does not exist in Lower Town. Ginji will have to come here to find you, and he is far too weak to do that. The pursuit of his allies will be in vain."
The Emperor snarled, and a fresh bolt of electrical current struck the hologram. It caused the image to waver, but did no other damage. "I do not like this arrangement," he said.
"I am sure you don't," came the easy reply. "But it seems you have little choice in the matter, my friend."
"I do if I destroy you," the Emperor said, levelling a glare at his enemy.
"An ill choice to make, Emperor. Babylon City is the home of the Gods and a dangerous place. You would do well to stay, for here you can become more than the Lightning Emperor of the Limitless Fortress."
"You think I can become a God."
"No. I can make you a God."
X X X
To be continued.