On a road cutting above the deadly seithr wastes below, two girls walked side by side, each clad in similar white uniforms. As they passed under what may have been a pine tree's branches before the seithr in the air took it into its thrall and twisted the vegetation, Nu turned and grinned at Tsubaki. An hour of walking without much conversation had left her quite bored. "So, um, Tsubaki. Like, what kind of stuff do you like?"

"H-huh?" The sudden question snapped Tsubaki's focus on the mission, and in its wake came momentary confusion. "Oh, um…well, I guess mostly reading and such. Fantasy type stuff and Six Heroes stories. And singing, as well."

"Um, Tsubaki?" Nu cocked her head, eye quizzical. "Nu keeps hearing about these Six Heroes people, but…"

"You…don't know them?" Tsubaki smiled at her, excitement sparking in her. "Well, then. When we get back from this mission, we can watch some of the stuff I have. To…um, get you caught up on who they are, of course."

"Okies!"

"Oh, and..." At this point, Tsubaki was unable to hide the joy building in her. "The man we are looking for is one of them. Hakumen, their leader."

"Oh! Awesome!" Nu giggled to herself, her gait transforming into a skip. "Nu can't wait to meet him! Does Tsubaki know him?"

"Kind of. We…met once, fairly recently. And he seemed…familiar with me." Smile broadening, Tsubaki turned to Nu. "How about you? What do you like, Nu?"

"Ragna." After a moment, Nu sighed and looked down, body slumping as she remembered her previous encounter with him. "…But Ragna doesn't like Nu."

"Mm…sorry for bringing that up, then." Biting her lower lip, Tsubaki reached out to squeeze Nu's shoulder and try to burn away the misery descending on her friend. As she looked back ahead, she slowed. A fork in the road awaited them. "Um, hold on a minute. I need to check the map quickly."

"Oh, okay."

Nu followed along in silence as Tsubaki led her to a fallen log and took a seat. Once seated, Tsubaki pulled out the files given to her by Kokonoe and rifled through them until she found the map of the Kazamotsu area. "Hmm…it looks like we should take the north road here. Although I have to wonder what Sir Hakumen's doing out here near Kazamotsu."

Nu giggled, covering her mouth in a half-hearted attempt to hide it. "Sir Hakumen?"

Tsubaki kept her face straight as she nodded. "Yes. I believe it to be appropriate, given his stature."

More giggling ensued. "Sounds like you've got a crush, Tsubaki!"

"I do not." Nonetheless, in the face of such sudden mirth, Tsubaki couldn't help but grin back. "I just…admire him for what he and the rest of the Six Heroes have done. Um…" Tsubaki glanced around before focusing on a knapsack at Nu's hip. "Would you like to stop here for lunch?"

"Oh! Sure." Snickering, Nu's teasing smile widened. "Did Tsubaki bring enough for Sir Hakumen, hmm?"

Tsubaki just rolled her eyes.

In a field not far from Kazamotsu, Hakumen kneeled in solemnity. His hand brushed over his armor, feeling the joints where the white shield met. Under his shoulder, the razor of split metal greeted his fingers. With a grunt, he pulled the offending shrapnel and cast it aside, to rest among other discarded brethren. Nothing so potentially impeding could be allowed to mar the Susano'o Unit.

Footsteps behind him alerted him to a presence, and he wheeled around, hand on Ookami's hilt. And froze up when he saw who it was. "Tsubaki…"

"Sir Hakumen." Suppressing her grin the best she could, Tsubaki gave him a nod and stepped closer to him, Nu trailing along at her side. "It's been a while."

"Like, hi!" Nu grinned wide and waved. "Nu's Nu!"

Hakumen stared at the Murakumo Unit, the same one from so long ago. And he wondered just what twisted force of fate had drawn Tsubaki to the girl who had slayed her so brutally in another lifetime. "…Why are you with such a demon?"

"H-huh?" Nu cocked her head, confused. "Tsubaki isn't a demon… Tsubaki, I thought you said he liked you."

"I…don't think he's referring to me." Uneasy, Tsubaki drifted in front of Nu, a no doubt vain attempt to shield her lest the hero attack. "What do you mean by that, Sir Hakumen?"

"Do you realize what manner of abomination that girl is?" Because there was no way Tsubaki could know what happened an entire world ago. "Or what manner of threat she possesses? You would do well to avoid contact with her."

A shake of her head, and Tsubaki's glare remained resolute. "Yes, I know what Nu is. However, rest assured that she is no threat to anyone but our enemies. Kokonoe of Sector Seven has removed Terumi's programming of her."

"…So you have met the grimalkin, and you know of Hazama. Very well. Tell me, Tsubaki Yayoi. Whose side do you stand on? The Librarium, or those who stand against the monster known as Yuuki Terumi?"

"Both." It was all Tsubaki could do to not step back from Hakumen; 'intimidating' didn't do him justice. "I aim to cast Terumi to justice, and in doing so, free the Librarium of his shackles."

"Hmph. Very well." His eyeless gaze turned to Nu, who shriveled back. "However…"

"I will not stand down in regards to Nu."

"Nor will I. That girl has committed atrocities which you should hope to remain oblivious to. I cannot allow you to endanger yourself by traveling with such a demon."

"Nu's not evil!" Nu glared at him, stepping out from behind Tsubaki. "Stop saying such mean things about Nu…"

"Your act will not fool me, abomination." And to the girls' horror, Hakumen drew Ookami. "You bring naught but destruction. A weapon of the devil himself…I cannot allow you to exist. I am the white void. I am the cold steel. I am the just sword. With blade in hand shall I reap the sins of this world and cleanse them in the fires of destruction! I am Hakumen! The end has come!"

"…My apologies, Sir Hakumen." Although seeing the man she had admired since childhood turn so violent toward her friend crushed Tsubaki and left her with a knotted stomach, now was not the time for despair. Not with Nu's life on the line. She summoned Izayoi, blossoming over her Zero Squadron uniform to replace it with the weapon's white regalia. She held the vermillion blade idly at her side and summoned her shield up to her other arm. "But if you aim to harm Nu, then you will have to fight me as well."

Hakumen visibly recoiled at her words, but caught his composure an instant later.

"Lux Sanctus: Murakumo, online." Voice robotic, Nu summoned her own skin-tight armor and massive blade, which splintered into forearm and leg plates and a set of eight hovering blades. "Analyzing target…target threat level is SS. Initiating termination protocol."

"…I have one more question, Tsubaki." Even as Hakumen shifted into a low stance, blade extended far behind him. "Why have you sought me out in the first place?"

Tsubaki scowled, hands clammy. Her mind struggled to wrap itself around the truth; that this was the Hakumen. The one who had led the Six Heroes to victory over the Black Beast, the one she had grown up wishing to emulate. And he had given her no choice but to fight him, for the sake of Nu. "An agreement with Kokonoe. In return for her helping Nu, she asked me to bring you back to her lab."

"…I will not return to the grimalkin. Come, Tsubaki. Show me your conviction…your justice. And you as well, abomination." And with that, he shot forward, a dashing jab with his hilt aimed at Nu. The girl jetted backwards in the blink of an eye, and Tsubaki dashed in for a nervous slash of her sword. With the flat of Ookami, Hakumen batted her away and cut through a pair of flying swords Nu had launched at him. The swords shattered and blossomed into great voids. "Weak. If you do not come at me with your full strength, Tsubaki, you shall not prevail."

"Attack: ineffective. Adjusting stratagem." Nu crouched down and sent a spinning blade along the ground, eating through the seithr-poisoned soil at Hakumen. The white-clad warrior jumped back, and a pair of swords struck him from behind. "Terminating."

"Grk…" Clutching her side, Tsubaki stepped back and crouched down. The pages of her book fluttered as light gathered around her, absorbing into Izayoi. Still unable to believe this was really happening, she watched as Hakumen leapt at Nu, dodging her set of swords and, to her horror, cleaving at her with a massive cut. Her hovering blades just barely managed to come up in time to deflect Ookami. "Nu! Aequum!"

She launched forward with a shield charge, wreathed in the light she had just drawn to herself. The attack struck Hakumen and buckled him. Tsubaki turned and prepared for a slash, her short dagger shifting into a full claymore. The blade came around and sent Hakumen bouncing away. "Sir Hakumen. Please…"

"I will not stand down. Not even for you. Empty Sky Form…" Hakumen lifted his blade to the sky, its steel shimmering in the sunlight. Inwardly, he sighed, hoping Tsubaki could forgive him for this. Although with how attached she seemed to the girl, he doubted it. Maybe he shouldn't… No. He could not stray from his path. "Summer's Ad-"

The moment of hesitation cost him as a pair of blades stalled his attack, the blinding white light gathered around his sword dissipating into thin air. And another, albeit weaker, shield bash from Tsubaki followed. He raised a forearm and caught her follow-up, a wing extending from her book, on a shield of light. The impact stunned her, allowing him to a moment to retaliate. And against all logic of combat, he simply shoved her off to the side and hopped toward Nu. The Murakumo Unit dashed several paces back in response. "Target damage: negligible. Current stratagem inefficient. Assuming Luna Forma."

A halo of purple light crested her head and she sent two more blades up at an angle, anticipating Hakumen's second attempt at coming down from above. These swords, thinner and faster, struck like bullets, far more forceful than her previous ones. As Hakumen toppled to the ground, more blades followed, peppering him and keeping him airborne long enough for Nu to deliver a charging attack, punctured by a spinning blow from her myriad of blades. She perked up as Tsubaki finished building up light in her weapon. "All yours, Tsubaki!"

"Right." Tsubaki cursed under her breath. Yes, this man was a hero to her…but she had to put that aside, if just for now. Nu's life depended on it, so there was no excuse not to. She leapt up to intercept Hakumen's descent and lashed out with cut from Izayoi. With a grunt, he turned and caught it on Ookami. Tsubaki snarled; no, she was not going to let this opportunity pass. As they fell, she struck again, but this time the seithr in the air twisted to her beck and she dashed through the air at an angle, her blocked attack dragging Hakumen up with her.

They descended again, but Tsubaki spun around and delivered a heavy blow with Izayoi, in the form of a mace. The hefty weapon crushed Hakumen's side and launched him down. Before he could hope to recover, Tsubaki dove after him, winged by her book and topped by the sharpened crest of her hat. The light she had built flowed into Hakumen and sent him skidding back along the ground. Another shield charge took her past him, and she turned and brought her sword down as he tried to rise. "Sir Hakumen, this is—"

"Winter's Riposte." Again wrested with the vain hope of forgiveness, Hakumen caught the attack on a massive red shield of ethereal light and lunged forward. The hilt of Ookami buried itself deep in Tsubaki's gut and she doubled over, eyes wide. "…My apologies, Tsubaki."

"Haku…men…" With that, Tsubaki dropped to the ground, paralyzed by pain.

"Tsubaki!" Nu launched a set of blades at Hakumen, pushing him back. "Target damage: minimal. Minimal…"

"Hmph. Forfeit to your fate, abomination." Hakumen dashed forward again, slipping by more blades. Finally in range again, he drew his sword back and lunged forward. Ookami's tip caught Nu's frantic back dash and doubled her over. "Begone, demon! Tsubaki!" And a spinning slash came from above, Ookami eating into her should and bouncing her off the ground. "Hotaru!"

"Re-oriented. Calamity Sword." Before the spin kick could strike her, Nu summoned the full might of Murakumo, a massive sword that cleaved down and smashed Hakumen to the ground. "Terminating." The sword rose back up and swung down on his prone body, driving him further into the soil.

For several seconds, she stared down at him, analyzing. Had she won…? And without warning, he rolled back and onto his feet, sword held upright before him. "This battle ends now. Empty Sky True Form: Light of Judgment!"

He glowed as power surged through the Susano'o Unit, the very earth seeming to tremble in the wake of his might. A light glow lit him as he raised his sword overhead. "Begone!"

And far too quick for Nu to dodge, he slashed straight downward, sending a massive wave of energy her way. The blades of light cut deep into Nu, dropping her to her knees as they dragged her backwards. "Damage…severe…I…"

"Hmph. So it ends." Hakumen lifted the blade again, the same attack building up. "I hope you can—"

"Releasing all restrictions!" The sudden shout made Hakumen look back, just as Tsubaki launched forward with another charge. As Hakumen stumbled, Tsubaki's momentum took her into a rising slash with Izayoi, almost the size of her entire body, that sent him into the air. She took after him and sent him back down with another dive bomb. "I won't let you hurt her anymore."

"Tsubaki, you fool." Hakumen rose to his feet and growled. For her to utilize Izayoi in such a way… "Have you any idea what the toll of your weapon is?"

"Of course I do. And it's one I'll gladly pay to protect Nu." Tsubaki crouched, preparing to attack once more. She had very little time in this form, she knew. If she couldn't end this now, she doubted she would get another chance. "You asked me to show you my justice. This is it. To cast evil to its fate…and to protect those I hold dear to me."

Her book launched an orb of light, and she dashed straight through it. The ball collected around her, adding to the force of the attack by magnitudes. Even as Hakumen caught the charge on another crimson shield, the light of her attack collected around him, paralyzing him. He turned and tried to deliver a kick to Tsubaki's gut. However, she rose through the air, slashing skyward and summoning a spear of light to ascend with her. The strike dragged Hakumen with it, where Tsubaki struck with her book and summoned forth another orb. A dive followed, and once more, her attack was amplified by the ball she had released. Even after Hakumen bounced off the ground, the aura kept him in place off the ground while Tsubaki drew Izayoi back, building up the last vestiges of her weapon's power around it. "Decus!"

The sword came around, enlarging before it slashed Hakumen and sent him flying. Watching from the ground, Nu created a wormhole before her. "Destruction."

Hundreds of small knives flew out at Hakumen, peppering him and knocking him back until they pinned him to a tree. Once the attack ended, he dropped to the ground on his knees. And, a moment later, drew himself back to his feet. "…You would put yourself at such a risk for her, Tsubaki?"

…It couldn't be. Even after all of that…? Unable to remain on her feet any longer from the ache in her stomach, Tsubaki dropped to her knees but nodded. "I will not stand down for anyone in this matter. Not even you, Sir Hakumen."

"…Very well." And to Tsubaki's amazement, Hakumen sheathed Ookami. "I will never trust such a creation. However…I will trust your judgment, Tsubaki Yayoi. Pray that it is accurate, for her sake."

"S…sir Hakumen?"

"I shall speak with the grimalkin, as per your wish. However, I refuse to work alongside such a woman." Hakumen turned and strode away. "Farewell, Tsubaki."

"…Sir Hakumen…" But he did not turn back, and Tsubaki sighed, looking down. Now, however, was not the time to contemplate him. She turned to Nu, lying face down in a slow-building pool of blood. With a gasp, she raced over to her friend. "Nu! Are you…?"

"Damage to unit is severe…but Nu will live…" Nu did not resist as Tsubaki flipped her onto her back—not that she could think of doing so anyways in her state. "…Why is Hakumen so mean…?"

"I…I don't know. I'm so sorry, Nu." Tears burned Tsubaki's eyes as she laid her hands on Nu's sliced stomach and muttered something beneath her breath. Her hands glowed with the healing Ars and the myriad miniature gashes in Nu's skin inched closed.

"Mm…it's okay, Tsubaki." Nu closed her eyes, letting Tsubaki just work in peace. After a couple minutes, she sighed. "…Why does everyone hate Nu?"

"I…everyone's wrong about you, Nu. And I don't know why everyone thinks such things about you." Finished with her healing, Tsubaki scooped up Nu and trudged away from the sanguine pool. She didn't get far before the pain of her bruised gut dropped her to her knees, but at least Nu was no longer soaking in her own blood. "Here…let's just rest for a while, okay? If…if you need anything from me…"

"Okay. Thanks, Tsubaki." And to Tsubaki's surprise, Nu crawled closer to lay her head in Tsubaki's lap. Before Tsubaki could remark on it, Nu said, "It's…because of what the old Nu did, isn't it?"

"Hm?" On second thought, maybe it would just be best to let Nu stay like that. On instinct more than anything, Tsubaki's hand came down to run through Nu's hair.

"Ragna and Hakumen both said…things. That made it sound like I did horrible things before, but Nu doesn't remember any of it. The old Nu…must have been horrible." She snuggled against the light petting of Tsubaki's hand. "Nu is not going to be that old Nu. I am going to prove to everyone I'm…I'm not like she was. Then maybe I'll stop causing trouble for Tsubaki."

"Huh?" Tsubaki shook her head. "No, you're not causing trouble…"

"It was Nu's fault that Tsubaki had to fight Hakumen. And that Ragna attacked Tsubaki. And that Hazama…"

"No, please. I…don't blame you for any of that. Really." With a smile, Tsubaki resumed petting her friend, trying to comfort her. "You're a good person, Nu. And one day, people will stop assuming you're not. I promise."

"Mm…" Eyes closed, Nu smiled. "…Can Nu stay like this for a bit? It's comfy."

Tsubaki chuckled. "I suppose. When you're ready, we'll start heading back, okay?"

"Okay." Nu looked up at her. "Um…does Tsubaki remember any of the Six Heroes stories?"

"A…few." More like about a half dozen memorized, and countless others well enough to recite. "Why?"

"Nu wants to know what Hakumen's really supposed to be like. Could Tsubaki tell Nu a story about him?"