The airship hummed as it cut through the air, descending toward one of Akitsu's harbors. Inside, two girls waited in silence, sitting across from each other. Nu, clad in the white robes of Zero Squadron, kept a blank stare on Tsubaki, who flipped through a novella dramatizing the final battle of the Dark War. On occasion, she would glance up from the book to meet the cyclopean stare before returning to reading. Curiosity, mired with some semblance of sorrow welled up in her, however. She set her book aside and met Nu's gaze again. "Um, Nu? Is it alright if I talk to you a little?"

"Affirmative." With the exception of her lips, Nu did not move in the least.

"Alright. Um…" Tsubaki hesitated, afraid of offending the pale girl. "…Why did you say that you're not a person?"

"Nu is an artificial creation. Function: Anti-Sankishin Core Unit number 13. Captain Hazama requests that I do not refer to self as 'Nu'. I am a weapon. Nothing more." Every word that Nu spoke was hard and robotic, as though reinforcing her mechanical nature. "Request query termination."

"That's… Alright, I'll stop pressing you." Once again, Tsubaki found herself taken aback, unsure of what to say. If Nu did not want to talk about herself, Tsubaki was not about to force her. However, curiosity sparked up inside Tsubaki as she recalled something that Nu had said the previous afternoon. "Um…may I ask about your connection to Ragna the Bloodedge?"

"Ragna…?" Nu's robotic countenance faltered at the name, a light pink spreading on her pallid cheeks. "…Nu likes Ragna."

Tsubaki's heart skipped a beat as she blanched. For her ally to not just know Ragna, but actually like him… "My apologies, but I must ask how you know him."

It took Nu several long moments to find her voice. "...Nu doesn't know. I don't know what he looks like or anything, but...when Nu hears his name...I feel happy."

"…I see." Tsubaki pulled out a notepad and a pen to scrawl a few notes. "And yet…you have never met him?"

Nu shook her head. "…Nu doesn't know. Nu must have known Ragna before, but…it's like Nu's memories were erased…by Hazama…"

"Hmm…" Tsubaki scribbled another two sentences before she shot another glance up. "So…you say that Hazama not only insists on you ceasing to be Nu, but you think he erased your memories of Ragna?"

"…I don't know." Nu folded up on herself as her fingers clenched in her hair. "…Nu remembers almost nothing from before she woke up. But…Nu was alive before then. And Hazama was there. He…did something to Nu…"

Tsubaki's lip creased as she finished a last set of notes, stored her pad away, then shifted closer to Nu and rested a hand on her shoulder. She had no words for her partner; the whole situation made little sense to her. She considered that perhaps Nu was lying to her, but she dismissed the concept a second later. Nu looked over at what Tsubaki had written and scanned the contents. "…You're going to tell Colonel Relius about this, aren't you?"

With a sigh, Tsubaki nodded. "I'm sorry, Nu. But it's my assignment. I have to inform Colonel Relius about everything you just said. Especially your fond…feelings for Ragna."

"…Captain Hazama already knows, though." The memory of her first encounter with the dark man stabbed Nu's heart. "That's why…he told Nu she was nothing. Because Nu likes Ragna, but…"

"Still. I can't just ignore this. Any connection to Ragna must be…" She trailed off as a tear rolled down Nu's cheek. Tsubaki's heart melted and she pulled her hand back. "I won't report you continuing to refer to yourself as Nu, however."

Nu's head shot up. "…Tsubaki isn't gonna tell them that…?"

"I…disagree with Hazama's assessment that you're 'nothing'. Very strongly, in fact." Tsubaki sighed as her eyes dropped. "…If you want, I can attempt to have you transferred out of his command. His actions are clearly a violation of protocol."

Nu gaped at her. "You'd…do that for me…?"

"Of course. What Captain Hazama is doing is impermissible; nobody deserves such treatment. The sooner you are able to get away from him, the better." Stretching, Tsubaki glanced at Nu. "I will include the request with the submission of my mission report."

"…Thank you, Tsubaki…" After a moment, Nu shook away her shock and giggled. "You're really nice, Tsubaki. Nu likes you!"

With a brief chuckle of her own, Tsubaki returned a soft smile. "I…am glad that I can help, Nu. Well, we should be landing shortly. I'd suggest you get ready."

"So, like, what does Tsubaki do on patrol?" Nu walked alongside her new friend through what seemed to be a wealthy sector of Akitsu, judging by the pure white buildings stretching overhead. "Does she know where she's going? Are we gonna bring in some criminals and some junk?"

It took all of her tremendous willpower for Tsubaki not to giggle at Nu's exuberance. The moment they had landed, Nu took on some excited, chatty persona, an entire universe from her previous analytic demeanor. And truth be told, the change was welcome. It reminded her of Makoto. "That is certainly part of the aim, yes. Of course, our priority is finding and keeping tabs on Noel."

"Who is this Noel, anyways? What does he look like? Ooh, Nu bets he looks like a pirate! Does he, like, have an eye patch and scars and stuff? Is all he all like 'arr, matey'?" There seemed to be no end to the questions.

"First of all, Noel is a she." Tsubaki couldn't help but chuckle. However, her mirth was short-lived. "She…was my best friend for many years…"

"Oh…" The words struck Nu hard and she deflated. "Nu's sorry…"

"It's alright. I…have already come to terms with what I must do." Tsubaki sighed as her footsteps faltered "…Our other target, Jin Kisaragi, was another of my closest friends."

"Huh?" Nu stopped short, lone visible eye wide. "…Tsubaki has to kill her best friends? That's…like, so unfair for you…"

"…When I joined the Wings of Justice, I forfeited myself to the Librarium. What I desire is superseded by the Librarium's needs." With a vicious shake of her head, Tsubaki started her patrol again.

Nu, on the other hand, didn't move. "…Tsubaki shouldn't have to kill her friends. You're too nice for that kind of stuff."

Again, Tsubaki came to a stop. "…Noel is not my friend anymore, anyways. Thank you, Nu, but we should really get going."

Nu sighed and behind Tsubaki as she strode forward again. She wanted to know what had come between Tsubaki and her old friend, but… "Okay…Nu's sorry to hear it, Tsubaki. If Nu can do anything to-"

"What the hell?" A new voice cut across the roundabout, gruff and skeptical. The girls turned to its source, a white-haired man in a blood-red jacket, tailed by a hooded girl with cat ears. Tsubaki paled at the sight as she stumbled back. Ragna, however, fixated on Nu, a deep scowl cutting across his face. "…How are you still alive? You died! Twice!"

"Nu…died? Twice?" Nu shook her head and analyzed the strange man before her. "Analyzing...Azure Grimoire detected. Threat level is SS. No records match target."

"…That's Ragna the Bloodedge, Nu." Tsubaki ceased her retreat and summoned Izayoi. At once, her uniform changed and the plain beret transformed into a winged cap with a piercing blue eye. She straightened herself and glared at Ragna. "What business do you have with Nu?"

"Huh? Ah, shit, it's you." Ragna advanced, hand gripping his sword. "Listen, if you don't wanna get hurt, you might wanna get the hell outta here. This ain't gonna be pleasant for you, Yayoi. I'll deal with you afterward. Don't get in my way, and you won't get hurt."

"Hey, good guy!" The catlike girl behind Ragna scampered up to him, and glanced between the two girls with pointed teeth set in a wide grin. "Why are you being mean to red lady and flappy-flap? What have they done? Tao thinks we should all be friends, meow!"

Ragna rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Not happening. 'Red lady' wants Noel and Jin dead and…screw it, I ain't even dignifying that name you gave Nu. What the hell's going on with you?"

"Mew?" Before Ragna could stop her, Taokaka dashed over to Tsubaki. "But red lady looks so nice! Why would you wanna hurt lacking lady?"

"…I have no idea who you mean." Tsubaki raised Izayoi, not about to trust any allies of the Grim Reaper. "However, if you're in league with a man as evil as Ragna…"

"You're…Ragna?" Nu blinked at the white-haired man as dismay flooded her. Why did the mere thought of him bring such joy, when he was…? "You're a meanie."

"Huh?" Ragna blinked, dumbfounded. "Tch. Whatever. Not like you ever make any goddamn sense anyways."

His glare focused on Tsubaki, who paled. "And you. You're trying to kill Noel, aren't you?"

"…My orders are of no concern to a bastard like you." Her glare intensified as color seeped back into her cheeks. "You've ruined so much for me... I'm quite glad I get to be the one to end your reign of terror."

"Huh." Ragna raised his right fist and a deep purple miasma swirled to life around it. "Well, we gonna do this or what?"

Tsubaki readied her weapon and matched his glare. "Neither of us have much of a choice, all things considered. I will render judgment upon you for your sins"

"Tch. Self-righteous bitch... And at any rate, you're trying to kill Noel and Jin. No damn way am I letting you walk away." The wicked point of Blood-Scythe glinted as Ragna unsheathed it. "Tao. Let's go."

"Mew?" Taokaka cocked her head as an ear twitched. "I don't get it, good guy…"

"Just trust me, dammit! Hell's Fang!" Ragna hurtled forward to hurl a punch at Tsubaki, a trail of darkness left to burn behind him. The fist collided with Tsubaki's shield with enough force to drive her back an inch. As she brought her blade around, he took another swing that summoned an explosion of the Azure's power to throw her to the ground. "You ain't walking away from this, Yayoi."

"Lux Sanctus: Murakumo online. Engaging battle mode." Nu's robotic voice heralded the appearance of a great sword, at least ten feet long, which melded around her to create silver armor. The Cyclops eye glared at Ragna as she sent a pair of phantasmal swords at him. "Nu won't let you hurt Tsubaki. Get away from her."

"Tch…well, if you're gonna insist..." Ragna sidestepped the swords and charged toward Nu, fast in spite of his oversized hunk of metal. "Sorry, Nu, but get the hell outta my way!"

He threw a swift kick at Nu's chest; at the last second, she jetted back and hurled an octet of slender blades at him. They bit into his raised arm and he grunted as he tensed his legs to launch himself forward. A shout from behind was his only warning before Tsubaki raked his back with a rising slash. Snarling, he lurched forward and stumbled. Nu brought her blade-wings back but hesitated, all the opening that Ragna needed.

He shot up off the ground with a roar into a spinning slash that hurled her upwards. He twisted around for a kick with enough power to fracture a skull. The shadows that came with it burned into her as she crashed back to the ground. As he felt his wounds heal, Ragna turned upon landing and blocked the wing extending from Tsubaki's book. With a hiss, he stepped back as her sword came around for a slash, then snatched her wrist, drove a knee into her gut and tossed her away.

With no warning, gravity yanked on Ragna and tried to pin him to the ground. As he turned around, he just managed to block a wide slash from Nu's hovering blades. He growled. "Are you even trying? There's no way in hell that would have-"

"I've got you!" Tsubaki's shouted as her book slammed into and bound him with an energy matrix as she drew in energy. Her sword twisted and morphed into a long staff in which the light collected. With a swing, she sent the light at Ragna, which bowled him over and sent him skidding down the street. Nu winced as he bellowed in pain. Without delay, Tsubaki raced after him. Her sword segmented as she spun to bring it down on him.

"Don't touch good guy, meow!" A tan blur tackled Tsubaki, sending her bouncing down the road. Tsubaki rolled back and summoned her shield to block the rapid slashes from Taokaka that followed. The cat bounded into the air and dived down at Tsubaki, claws extended.

Meanwhile, Ragna hopped to his feet and charged at Nu with a chest-high kick that she sidestepped around. After the slightest hesitation, Nu summoned her eight slender blades to needle at Ragna. The delay in the attack was all he needed to slip around and grab her by the throat, sword at the ready. "You ain't giving me a choice. Thanks for saving me back there, but…"

Rather than impale her on Blood-Scythe, he tossed Nu into the air and launched after her, a spinning blow followed by a sharp burst of darkness that hurled her up against a wall. As she slid to the ground, he snarled. "Stay down while I deal with Yayoi."

As Taokaka descended upon her, Tsubaki retaliated with a rising slash that radiated blue energy. A claw raked her cheek, but the light kept the worst of the attack away. Tsubaki flipped around and crashed earthward, a blow that sent Taokaka skittering across the cobblestone. Tsubaki cast the Kaka a glance before turning back to Ragna, who charged at her. She snarled. "Aequum!"

Tsubaki shot forward, a blur coated by a red light as her shield, a whirling barrier, led her. The force, while not enough to throw Ragna back, staggered him. His wrist caught the slash at his gut, although Izayoi's razor edge ate through his glove and bit flesh. He dodged the angel's wing the book spat then hacked at her midsection with his blade, which Tsubaki caught with her own. Tsubaki growled and swept low for a kick; Ragna would have none of that. "Inferno Divider!"

The blade just missed cleaving her in half, but it did leave her helpless for a midair punch to the face and bicycle kick to the skull. A moment after Tsubaki crashed to the ground, Ragna landed and drew his sword back for a stab to her neck. In the blink of an eye, Nu dashed at him with spinning blades. He had just enough time to block the attack; each thin sword scraped on the flat of Blood-Scythe. He stepped back and growled as Tsubaki took the chance to roll away from him. "Grr…the hell's with you? You're hesitating. You don't actually wanna hurt me, do ya? Same really, so go the hell away already!"

"Cause of error unknown. Maintaining termination protocol." Nu launched a kick straight at Ragna's face, catching him with her metal boot and putting space between them. She shifted backwards and summoned a dimensional rift to spew a pair of swords while Tsubaki rose. Deciding that blocking the attack would just end in the Wing of Justice running him through from behind, Ragna dashed ahead, raising his sword to his side. It shifted around and became a scythe, which cut in a wide, Azure-fueled arc. Both girls blocked the strike, but the sheer force unbalanced them. Blood-Scythe snapped back into its normal form as he stepped forward and slashed at Tsubaki again.

Just as Tsubaki blocked, something else crashed into her. Strong claws raked through her uniform, gashed her side and sent her sprawling. As she tried to clamber back to her feet, a heavy paw smashed down from above and kept her on her stomach. Taokaka crouched on top of her with a grin. "Hey, come on, eye lady! It's no fun if you just lie there, meow! Come on, play with Tao!"

"Tao, help me with this chick!" Ragna weaved between a pair of blades and struck back; the blow glanced off of Nu's wrist-blades. On anticipation of her back step, he launched forward for a lunging punch, coated in darkness. The attack caught Nu by surprise, and a following wave of shadows planted her against a building. Ragna smirked. "Or maybe not."

"Get off me!" Tsubaki managed to throw the Kaka off of her and twisted around to her knee. Tsubaki's eyes widened as Ragna bore down on her. She had one choice. Granted, the cost would be heavy, possibly debilitating. But... "Restriction code 16 released. Izayoi, activate."

And in the blink of an eye, darkness swallowed the streets, a dome that covered half a mile and left all in its grasp blind.

Ragna's eyes widened as all of the light swarmed into Tsubaki's book and left him blind. A moment later, a flare of pain erupted in his stomach as Tsubaki drove her blade into him. He gurgled and dropped to his knees. "Shit...Tao, stop her..."

A single spark erupted into existence to light Tsubaki's way. Not even Taokaka's keen eyes could penetrate the all-consuming darkness. "Mew? What's going on? Tao can't see, good guy!"

Tsubaki shoved Ragna to the side and raced to Nu, even as her eyes ached with dull pain. The albino girl's head swiveled, a vain attempt to spot anything. "Tsubaki? What's going on? Nu's scared..."

Tsubaki seized the girl's wrist and gave her a pull to spur her along. "Just trust me. We're getting out of here."

Ragna crawled in the direction of her voice, snarling. "Like...hell...you bitch..."

Nu did not resist and took off with Tsubaki. Her armor reverted to the standard clothing of Zero Squadron. "What...what's going on, Tsubaki?"

"Put simply, I blinded everyone but myself over a wide radius. I'll explain later." Tsubaki winced; Izayoi's drain on her eyesight intensified, the ache becoming a burn. Left with no other option, she released the blinding dome. At once, light flooded back into Akitsu and she dropped to her knees, gasping. "We...need to keep moving...Ragna will probably be up shortly..."

She held a hand in front of her and blinked at the blurry digits. "...Are you alright, Nu?"

"Nu's fine." Nu crouched down beside Tsubaki, that lone eye staring at her with concern. "...Is Tsubaki...okay?"

"I'll live..." Tsubaki gasped as a surge shot through her eyes. "...We need to-"

"Hmm? What's this?" A familiar voice startled the girls. Hands in his pockets, Hazama sauntered up to them, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Oh, hello girls. Is it just me, or did you two just get your asses handed to you?"

"...We encountered Ragna the Bloodedge, sir." Tsubaki trailed off as she flinched. "...And a companion who wasn't exactly weak, either."

"What's this? You were actually stupid enough to fight Raggy?" Hazama snorted. "Well, then. At least your cute wittle feewings for him didn't get in the way…right, number thirteen?"

Nu stood up and looked down at the ground. "Nu's sorry..."

"Guess not. Hmm...I don't think sorry quite cuts it, you little doll." Without warning, Hazama's hand ripped out of his pocket, knife in its grip. He smirked as her eye widened with confusion. "I think it's about time you had an attitude adjustment, seeing as your pathetic feelings for Ragna are getting to be a real hindrance."