Alise's whistling was a bit more strained than she liked. Well, it was only natural. After all, she was rather out of breath, as well as feeling a lot of burning sensations from all the wounds she had. That and she was helping Kushinada by lending her a shoulder. The local woman downed another potion down her throat before throwing the vial over her shoulder. She flexed her right fist a bit, the knuckle duster long gone, broken into pieces from before. With a satisfied nod, she tried to separate herself from Alise, but the captain kept a firm hand on her. She frowned deeply before letting out a deep sigh.
"I told you…I am fine…"
Alise smirked playfully, twirling with her rapier at the air.
"Hey, we bled for each other. No need for the tough girl act here, hehe." She winked at Kushinada. "Gotta recover as much energy as we can, and I recover faster than you, so no biggie."
Footsteps approached. The exasperation and teasing expression alike were swiftly replaced with looks of focus, their bodies tensing up, ready for combat. Yet they immediately relaxed when they saw who was coming around the corners. As in all of them except one direction, as they reached a weird multi cross section. Alise immediately scanned for her people, only for her to frown deep and deeper.
Among her girls, Lyra seemed the worst off. She didn't want to say it was natural but…Well, if nothing else, the girl seemed to have a stiff shoulder as she carefully rolled it, most likely having been dislocated just recently. A limb was present, as she poured another healing potion over the wide gash, as well as spit to the side with a grimace.
Ryuu was next on her list of concerns. She winced at the mouth mask being gone, revealing a gash spreading across her lips, going from chin to her left cheek. She held her right arm carefully, as if trying to let a broken bone heal up as much as possible. Meanwhile Arash had the least amount of injuries…but the fact he was injured at all was worrying. The amount of stab wounds he had, however 'shallow' they might have been was not a sight she was used to. Quickly, she checked over the others.
Penthesilea was covered in scarlet fluids, so it made it hard to judge if she was injured at all or just was particularly gory with her victims. Ryoma seemed fine as well, fussing over his wife, trying to pry her hand away from covering her right eye. Fei slowly breathed in and out, blood slowly flowing from his mouth as he readjusted his mangled fingers. Shiki on the other hand twitched a bit, almost scratching at the bandages she applied to her throat.
Could be better, could be worse, overall. Alise nodded before smiling wryly.
"You gals okay?"
"Think I lost a tooth…" Lyra muttered after poking around with her finger in her mouth. Then she spat out another load of blood to the side, shaking her head in annoyance. "Ugh, at least it's not visible. Though if I do the tongue with Finn he might notice…"
Alise chuckled when Ryuu shuddered, only to frown at her hissing in pain. The elf rubbed her sides after letting go of her arm, slowly moving it.
"Don't gross me out, it shoves my ribs around too much."
"Is your arm okay?" Arash asked with worry in his voice. Ryuu shook her head, letting out a sigh.
"It didn't break. Just feels like torn ligaments at worst."
"I'm impressed none of you died yet. Or got crippled," Penthesilea stated, crossing her arms and not even bothering to clean herself of the red paintjob she had.
"Not all of us may be level seven but that doesn't mean we are useless," Kushina stated, finally stepping away from Alise to point at the Asura with a fierce glare. Said amazon smirked, nodding in approval.
"For that, you have my respect, if only a little." She hummed thoughtfully. "How many are left?"
As one, they all turned to Lyra. The blind girl noticed the attention and rolled her non existent eyes before putting her right knuckle against her hip, the other hand twirling as she shook her head.
"Good question, next question. Place is massive, but from what I can tell…" She smacked her lips for but a moment before nodding slowly. "Not even reaching double digits."
A shudder went down their spines, even Penthesilea's. Not because of the amount of corpses they created, no, none of them were so faint of heart that this would worry them. No, it was the fact that they killed hundreds most likely…and yet…
"And yet, they never ceased advancing upon us. Never did despair seize their hearts." The Asura growled as she cracked her neck. "They have a card left in their sleeve."
"Obviously, considering Kaguya isn't with us." Ryuu looked down at the one pathway neither of them went through, pressing her lips together despite the pain of her own wound. "Question is, what is that card?"
"Did any of you notice this energy leaving their bodies?" Ryoma muttered, rubbing his chin in thought. They all nodded, remembering that too. In the midst of battle, it took a while for them to actually notice, but once they did…after 'killing' one of them, a purple, mist like substance floated away. It was the reason they all managed to meet up like this.
The energies were converging. Not to mention…they all stared at the ground in front of them. Stained with blood, leaving a trail.
"Yeah, tried to ignore that red flag buuuut…" Alise clapped her hands together before running a hand through her hair. "We should hurry before whatever they are doing is done."
Nobody objected, falling into an improvised formation before rushing forward. Alise could only pray that Kaguya could hold out for long enough.
Long enough for them to arrive before she had to do something she couldn't take back anymore.
/
People called Kaguya a genius, but right this instance, she felt that such a title should be fully reserved for this little sister of hers. Yes, Kaguya was on the backfoot due to her own hypocrisy. Going back on her own words, her own lessons, that she quite literally beat into Haruhime. She was fighting without a fang barred, the equivalent of fighting with but her palms, slapping away like a child. Yet despite all those facts…Nana was a genius. For how else could she have become so much stronger, so much more agile, so much more focused, by just taking some pills of her own creation?
""Flash!""
Quick draw against quick draw. Kaguya felt her arm bounce away, as if she just hit a Monster Rex, as if she hit a block of adamantite. If only she twisted her hips properly. If she put in all her weight into her strike. If she utilized her bloodlust to fuel her actions. Alas…
Kaguya was too weak, in spirit and in heart. Such weakness would not go unpunished.
"Rising Moon!"
"Guh!"
"Falling Moon!"
A slash that rose to the heavens, pushing Kaguya away who barely blocked in time. A strike with gravity behind it, smashing down on her, pushing her to her knees once more. Nana's feet landed gracefully on the ground, before she was about to rush forward. But suddenly, her form crumbled. She stumbled almost to the ground, catching herself barely as she held her side for some reason, hissing with her face twisted in utter agony.
Moments like these were the only time Kaguya managed to catch some breathing room, to fight back, as pitiful as it was. Taking a deep breath, she shot forward, stabbing rapidly, a sideways rain rushing at Nana. The girl's eyes widened before she swiftly twirled her own sword, switching directions sometimes as she jumped back over and over while Kaguya held her own breath, pushing on. Their expressions were strained, as they performed this cat and mouse chase, one stabbing, one parrying. The color of their skin began to change. In the end, Kaguya knew that she was going to run out of breath at this point…so she risked it all.
Nana narrowed her eyes, swiftly sheathing her sword as Kaguya had to take a deep breath, her assault stopping for but an instance.
"Art of the Draw! Five Lights!"
It was the most sloppy Five Lights she had ever executed. The many strikes almost simultaneously, for she was no Kojiro, came at Nana from all sides, like a cage closing in. And yet, the little sister remained calm, shifting her stance…with her right foot forward, the same side her sword was at.
"Ultimate Art of the Draw."
Before Kaguya could comprehend, before Kaguya could realize why this stance looked so familiar, yet so strange, Nana moved. One moment, she stood there, motionlessly.
"Ascent of the Moon Princess."
The next, she disappeared before reappearing behind Kaguya, her katana in a reverse grip, her hand high in the sky. Kaguya felt her body forcefully shift, as if something heavy rammed into her. It was then that she saw them.
The fragments of her own prosthetic, with her blade flying away with them. As her fake arm broke…something broke within Kaguya. It was a miracle that she remained standing, her eyes turning blank as she stared at the results of her inability. Nana exhaled, sweat running down her skin, her arm shaking. Her clothes had several cuts, with small bleeding seeping through. A moment too late, if Kaguya was just a bit more precise…she would not have gotten through so easily. Yet she did.
And wasn't that enough for her to grind her teeth together, the thought she lived by mercy alone?
"This is what it means to learn techniques. For the weak to overcome the strong," Nana declared, slowly circling around her frozen statue of a sister. She snarled as she saw Kaguya's empty look. Grasping her hilt with both hands, Nana pointed the tip at Kaguya with tears slowly forming. "I'm disappointed it has to end this way, sister!"
"One arm, one sword, one draw…" Kaguya muttered under her breath, so quietly that not even Nana heard it.
"Ultimate Art of the Thrust!"
Nana, unheeding of her mouth movements, rushed forward, her sword like the horn of a dashing minotaur.
"Eight Moon Phases!"
Eight vitals, eight goals, eight spots to hit with her thrusts, spread all across the body. Yet even at the impending death coming at her, Kaguya didn't move. Except for her hand grasping her sheathed sword, her left side facing forward with that very same sheath.
Nana's eyes widened when she saw that. Wait…when did Kaguya sheathe her weapon to begin with? And wasn't that form-
"Rising Star."
Indeed. Something broke in Kaguya. But it was not her will to fight. No, to be more accurate…a chain was broken instead. Nana, at least her subconscious, barely managed to prevent her entire body to be cleaved in half by ramming her feet into the ground. It did not stop the slicing of her entire front body, the blood flying up in the sky as Kaguya held the very same form Nana did…with just one arm. Nana coughed up in agony, leaping backwards as she held her bleeding gash. Immediately, she thought that Kaguya activated a skill, Manslayer perhaps. But no…there was not a hint of bloodlust. Instead, all that was there was intense focus, focus that was out of this world. And in her heart, Nana realized…that Kaguya had not activated a skill.
Something broke in Kaguya. Or more accurately…a mental switch was flipped, as her body was returned to a state in the past. A state that was her in her most pitiful…But as one would say.
At the bottom, there was no way left but up. It was then that a light finally returned in Kaguya's eyes. She chuckled, pressing the hilt of her blade against her forehead.
"You've grown strong, Nana."
The little sister stiffened up, trying to suppress the growing warmth in her chest. Kaguya let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm really sorry…You didn't deserve to fight me like this…this wreck. But I still can't bring myself to do it. No matter what…I still love you." Kaguya clicked her tongue as she cracked her neck, the loving air around her changing to one of pride. "But know this, brat."
She raised her katana, pointing straight at Nana with a snarl.
"You talk like…I have no idea what weakness is…! Do you have any idea how often I lost in Orario?! Do you have any idea how long it took to learn how to fight with a singular arm?!"
The time when Gojouno Kaguya was left with a single arm…was the time when she was at her most skilled. It was no Skill of the Falna. No Magic or Blessing. It could be comparable with a mental switch being flipped, returning her to the mindset that dedicated body, mind and soul to techniques in order to compensate for her lacking abilities. Each agonizing day, trying to deal with the shift of balance. One arm, ruining all. One arm, so many hours spent to make up for it. To turn herself from an invalid to a warrior once more. If there was anything she had pride in, it was this.
"You…" Nana muttered, still trying to process what just happened. Seeing her gaze, Kaguya grinned smugly, her eyes half lidded as she tilted her head back ever so slightly.
"Surprising, isn't it? To think that the ultimate technique of our family is so similar with what I came up with. Guess they aren't that special after all." Closing her eyes, Kaguya nodded once. "Nevertheless…I have to thank you."
"What do you mean?" Nana asked, having recovered enough from her own pain to grasp her blade with both of her hands once more.
"I'm thanking you for sharing these pointers." Kaguya raised her arm next to her head. Then, for a moment, she let go of her blade and pressed her fingers against the bottom of the hilt. Nana moved before she could even widen her eyes as Kaguya showed her teeth like a hungry predator.
"Heron Strike."
It was a technique meant for two hands, yet it was performed with a single arm. As it cut across her cheek, before Nana leapt away as Kaguya grasped the handle and cut downwards, the little sister couldn't help but giggle like a giddy girl once more.
Gojouno Kaguya truly was a genius.
As Nana slid over the ground, shooting up to her feet, the scenery around her, around them, changed. No longer were they in the dark depths of the ocean. In this shadow of a ritual site. Instead…Nana and Kaguya saw the same sight.
The warm sun shining down on them. The smell of fresh flowers tickling them. And two girls with sticks in their hands. In this moment…there was no clan. No Evilus. Just two sisters, smiling widely at each other, as they could play to their hearts' content.
"Don't count me out yet!" Little Nana shouted cheerfully, her stick stabbing forward like a spear as she extended herself as much as possible. Big Kagu-nee on the other hand threw her wooden tool up, spinning in the air. Yet before she could cut down, the smaller child parried it by pivoting on her right foot.
"Sloppy!"
"I'm working on it, you brat!"
"Work faster on it, or you will never catch up in time!"
"I have all the time in the world!"
It should've been jarring. At odds with their fantasies. Only one arm. Movements that would shame most martial masters. Yet both didn't care, for their minds were strong, to deny reality like that. They ignored the wounds that should've appeared as they slapped each other with their 'sticks'. They ignored the blood running out of Nana's mouth, as the drugs pushed her on and on. All that was there for them…was the moment.
With the little sister teaching her older sister. Arts of Draw. Arts of Thrust. Arts of Slashing. Arts of Movement. Even though they were separated for so long, even though Kaguya cut her training short, the roots remained the same. Thus, Kaguya picked up every technique that Nana performed with just one glance.
A low blow, aiming for the ankles, copied. A spin, shooting the hilt at the opponent, easily mimicked. Kicking the sword, not hard to do. Full body spin sideways in the air with a reverse grip, memorized for future usage.
Throughout it all, they couldn't stop smiling at each other. As if to make up for lost time, they put their all into this play of theirs, as if there would be no tomorrow for them. They kept refusing the flow of time, trying to stay in this moment, for it was fair beyond measure.
Alas…the truth would not be deniable forever. Eventually, reality pierced through their delusions. The dreamers awoke, in that final act. And in that moment…Kaguya failed once more.
Her blade wavered once more.
Despite everything... Gojouno Kaguya didn't want to kill her beloved sister. Even after all those years, all those years of telling herself there was nothing worth saving in the clan. She couldn't abandon the innocent memories of their childhood.
"Art of the Assault."
Kaguya's eyes widened in shock, her sword still shaking as Nana fell forward, letting gravity itself accelerated her. Her mind moved fast, trying to think of a way, before she decided to try and knock her own. She twisted her katana, aiming with her blunt side.
However, before she could even reposition her blade, to move it out of the way…
"Weeping Hare."
Nana, fully aware of those things, of her sister's plans, smiled. Smiled softly, as she kicked off the ground one last time, accelerated and tackled Kaguya, who couldn't react in time. Something hit her stomach. Steel tore through flesh. The disgusting noise of wetness plopping down on the ground, as blood quickly painted the ground. Kaguya's breath stilled, unable to process what just happened. Then, slowly, she looked down, staring at the back of her sister.
"...Nana... ?"
She stared down at the open palm pressed against her. She saw the blade that Nana dropped in mid dash. She heard the wet cough from her sister…and saw her own sword extend out of the back of Nana's back, quickly getting stained with more and more blood. She blinked, unable to comprehend what had happened…until the truth was no longer undeniable in her mind. Until the despair broke through her shock.
Knowing Kaguya wouldn't do it, Nana willingly plunged herself into the blades. And the worst part of it…Nana was smiling, however weak it was, as the warmth of her body was disappearing fast, too fast.
"Ka...nee... "
Kaguya desperately hugged her sister to her chest, fumbling with her hands. She didn't pull out her sword, instead tearing off her clothes to make something, anything, but there was just too much blood, too much flowing.
"I'm still here! Just... just stay awake!" She awkwardly tried to apply pressure to both sides, feeling the sticky fluids seeping through her fingers. She frantically looked around, only to see darkness around her. "Lion! Lion! ANYONE!"
"'sfine... You... are... free... urse..."
"Not like this, never like this!"
She was here to save Nana! Not to be the one to be saved! Even if the drugs made sure she would've only lived for a day more, even if the curse wrecked her body beyond belief…Kaguya didn't want to be the one to end it all! The light in Nana's eyes flickered. Yet, with one last push of her own will, she forced herself to remain alive. She grasped the collar of Kaguya with surprising strength, as she gasped for air.
"Don't... h-hunt...Ny...x... "
A warning. That…was the final message given to her sister, as the life left her eyes fully. Kaguya stammered, helpless shaking the corpse of Nana…before clutching her to her body, her voice cracking from the force of her scream, as she cried at the ceiling, her tears freely flowing. She didn't notice two mist like strains flowing into her, from Nana's body. She didn't notice the approaching footsteps.
She did however, at last, notice the clapping. She snapped her head to the side, choking and hyperventilating on her own tears, her own sorrow.
Just to see a bloodstained smile. The individual was missing an arm, they were obviously limping and even the side, the same side that Nana always touched, was visibly rotting away. Yet they showed no pain, instead just pure glee.
"Just in time! She truly softened you up for the ritual, wow!"
Emotions were easily transformed. Grief, despair, self hate…all transformed into pure and utter rage. It was surprising how she managed to gently put Nana down…before grabbing Nana's katana and leaping forward like a feral animal.
"You fucker!"