A/N: In spite of what the chapter title may imply, this ain't the end.
XXXXXX
Endgame
Karasuba leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding below with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. She remained composed on her throne, taking in the increasing chaos that spiraled with a frenzied tempo. The corners of her lips turned slightly downward once the machine winded down to a stop, but her discontent evaporated as another shredder's light ignited directly opposite the exhausted one. Shifting in her seat, she assumed a regal pose reminiscent of the Jarls in Skyrim, her attention fixed on the monkey limping around Musubi's waist, bracing for the impending impact.
For a fleeting moment, Karasuba's gaze flickered toward Jigsaw, then returned to the spectacle before her. "I think it bears repeating that you really know how to provide entertainment for a lady. You should have brought popcorn for this one, John."
"This is not entertainment, Karasuba. This is business." John retorted, his voice tinged with annoyance.
"Call it what you want, I'm still wet." she sneered. As John grumbled in disgust, her eyelids widened briefly, captivated by an unexpected development. "Oh my, now Red's in on the action too. This just got a lot more interesting."
*CLICK/FLASH*
Minato's voice broke through the chaos in a shrill cry, his panic evident. "What are you doing, Beni?! I told you I'm not going to let go!"
"I'm not trying to pull you down, I'm shielding you!" Benitsubasa declared, her voice rising above the noise. She had clambered onto the platform alongside him, clutching onto his back with a tenacity that resembled the strongest adhesive. The shattered remnants of glass formed an otherworldly terrain beneath them. "And it's Benitsu!"
Her arms tightened around Minato, eliciting a yelp of discomfort as the jagged fragments dug deeper into his flesh, igniting a fresh wave of writhing and thrashing.
Her canines bared in the guttural scream she let out once the storm of glass tore into her back, then clenched in focused anger. To take it. To fucking take it. And then fucking fuck it to death and back!
"You don't need to–!"
"Oh shut up, you! RRAAAAAAAGHH!" she wailed. "For once stop it with the noble shit!"
*CLICK/FLASH*
A deafening cacophony of grinding metal and shattering bone reverberated through the chamber. Anguished cries mingled with an indomitable spirit, as the five bonded souls gnashed their teeth and endured the searing torment. Blood sprayed, splattering the glass roofing of the iron leech with a macabre display of sacrifice.
But even as the buzzsaws carved further into their flesh, they remained unyielding. They refused to bow to the merciless whims of their tormentor. With every fiber of their being, they defied the sadistic design, their unbroken spirits fueling their resilience.
"Do not falter! Endure!" Tsukiumi screamed. "We art not victims! We are warriors!"
In that crucible of torment, their collective screams merged into a triumphant roar that reverberated through the chamber. Their voices, raw with agony and defiance, soared above the discord, piercing through the darkness.
*CLICK/FLASH*
Musubi's body convulsed with raw emotion, her sobs shaking her fragile frame as she hung suspended in the protective hold of her Ashikabi. Her heart ached to reciprocate the embrace, to enfold him in her arms and shield him just as he had always shielded her. As she blinked away the tears blurring her vision, the ear-splitting roar of the glass grinder gradually faded into silence. Though she knew it was only a fleeting respite, she had to make the most of this stolen moment.
Her gaze turned to Benitsubasa, who landed on the ground with a wince, her lithe form marred by countless sharp fragments that adorned her back like cruel ornaments. She raised a trembling arm, reaching for a sizable shard nestled perilously close to her elbow. With a delicate yet determined motion, she managed to extract it, its liberation accompanied by a subtle squirm.
"I don't understand why you're here or why you're helping my Ashikabi, but... thank you," Musubi whispered through sniffles, her voice quivering with gratitude and vulnerability.
Benitsubasa hissed through gritted teeth as she extracted yet another piece of glass from her own shoulder, the pain etching lines of tension on her face. "A lot has happened, 88..." she muttered, her words laced with a begrudging acknowledgment. "I don't like you, but... you're welcome."
Once again, the sirens blared, their urgent call piercing the air. This time, two lights illuminated the projectile cannons at 10 and 6 o'clock, signaling a double threat.
"Two at once?!" Benitsubasa's voice pierced the tense atmosphere, her disbelief mingled with a touch of dread.
Minato's voice quivered with a mixture of desperation and resolve. "I'm sorry, Beni, but I can't shield her completely this time! I need your help!"
Incredulity crossed Benitsubasa's face, her features contorting with disbelief. "What?! You want me to... hug Boobsy?! Are you nuts?!"
"Benitsu, please!" Minato implored, his voice laced with a fervent plea. "I know you don't like her, but she would do the same for you... and so would I!"
Benitsubasa's eyes darted between Musubi and Minato, her disdain for the situation etched deep within her gaze. The pain from her wounds seemed forgotten, momentarily overshadowed by the unexpected request that hung in the air like an unspoken challenge. Trembling with nausea at the thought of being intimate with boobsy, her body caught between instinctive disdain and the realization that her assistance could mean the difference between life and death, she grappled with her decision.
Boobsy was a Sekirei and could take a beating, this she knew full well when she stomped her tits in on the bridge months ago. But Minato's unwavering faith in Musubi tugged at her conscience, a conscience she otherwise would not have had until this moment. Her fists balled, her countenance cringing as her moral compass overpowered her initial aversion, a feeling that she rarely experienced.
"GRRRRAAAAAGHH! FINE!" she growled, her voice laden with frustration and resignation. Leaping back to the platform, her stomach dropped and her skin crawled as she reluctantly put her arms around #88. "YOU'RE LUCKY I LIKE YOU SO MUCH, PIPSQUEAK!" Her sense of disgust intensified as her body pressed against Musubi's, the closeness amplifying the discomfort that surged within her. "YOU OWE ME BIG TIME FOR THIS!"
Musubi's gratitude swelled within her, mingled with a profound sadness that she couldn't protect the one who shielded her so fiercely.
In the midst of the chaos, a surge of determination coursed through Minato's veins. His voice, filled with unwavering resolve, cut through the cacophony of danger. "We can't let this break us! Stay strong, Beni, Musubi!"
Benitsubasa and Minato froze, their bodies tense as the first onslaught of glass fragments crashed against the whirring jaws, shattering the air with ferocity. The shards tore through their defenses mercilessly, striking with the force of a slavemaster's whip, relentless and unyielding. Each impact felt like a barrage of bullets, lashing and slashing, leaving their bodies marked and battered.
Amidst the chaos, a surge of determination surged through Minato's veins, overriding the cacophony of danger. His voice, filled with unwavering resolve, cut through the chaos, refusing to let them succumb. "We cannot let this break us! Stay strong, Beni, Musubi!" He knew that he had to remain steadfast, even as the adrenaline waned and his endurance dwindled. Deep down, he understood that his body would eventually give in to the relentless assault.
Benitsubasa's heart pounded painfully against her chest as she absorbed Minato's words of encouragement. Watching their intertwined forms enduring the onslaught together, a profound sense of admiration swelled within her.
Minato's voice broke through once again. "Hold on, both of you! We can do this!"
Benitsubasa met Minato's eyes, a mixture of respect and lingering disgust filling her own. With a resolute nod, she tightened her grip on Musubi, her arms forming a protective barrier against the hurricane of jagged shrapnel. Then, his hand brushed against hers, sending a jolt through her body. Her face flushed with a mixture of pain and embarrassment, but she shook off the agony, raising her head to witness blood seeping from Minato's mouth. Horror washed over her as she realized that he must be bleeding internally. He was starting to look pale.
Thankfully, the hailstorm began to slow, and the machines powered down, granting them a momentary respite. "Minato, you're bleeding," Benitsubasa said, her voice filled with concern.
Minato coughed, expelling a crimson phlegm. "Yes, I can taste it," he replied, his words tinged with resignation.
Then, their worst nightmares came true. The engines of all six cannons roared to life, their mechanical innards churning like the crankshaft of a locomotive. Minato closed his eyes, drew a deep breath through his nose, and exhaled slowly. "This is it," he murmured, bracing himself for the grand finale, his final stand. "I want you to know, Musubi... I love you so much."
"Don't talk like that, Minato," Musubi pleaded, desperation lacing her voice. "Don't say it as if this is the end for us."
As more glass bottles approached the edge of the conveyor, Minato tilted his head and gazed at Benitsubasa. "And I love you too," he confessed, his lips weakly curling into a smile. His words stunned her into silence.
With her eyes wide and her jaw unhinged, Benitsubasa's heart pounded frantically within her chest, rendering her speechless. As the bottles reached the precipice of the conveyor belt, Minato nestled himself deeper into the curves of Musubi's yet-to-be-touched flesh, preparing for the inevitable end. "Thank you for everything, Benitsu."
Then, a miracle happened.
All six conveyor lines ground to a halt, the engines of the twisted hexagon screeching to a stop. Minato's eyes flickered open, witnessing the synchronized blink of the beacon lights as they dimmed and deadened along with the sick devices they adorned. "What the-WHOA!"
The cuffs encircling Musubi's wrists broke apart, and the trio tumbled to the floor in a disheveled heap.
*CLICK/FLASH*
One after another, the five Sekirei emitted weary groans, their strength giving way as they sank to their knees, utterly drained. With trembling arms, they slid out of the slots that had held them captive, their bodies marked by the toll of their blood sacrifice.
The beaker was full, and some crimson droplets continued to trickle in, making it overflow much like the love they all shared for their Ashikabi.
Haihane, her head leaning against Kazehana's cheek, reached out with her maimed hand, observing the limp wound as it grotesquely dangled, a poignant reminder of their collective struggle. A breath escaped her lips, carrying with it a mix of exhaustion and relief. "We did it," she whispered, her voice laden with the weight of their triumph. "We won."
Tsukiumi, Matsu, and Homura, their bodies weary but spirits resilient, huddled close, forming a protective circle of unity. Tsukiumi gently placed her injured hand upon Haihane's knee, a gesture of shared solace, soon to be joined by Matsu's hand, and then Homura's. Each touch spoke volumes, conveying their unspoken understanding and support for one another.
Lastly, Kazehana, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, added her hand to the pile, completing the circle of camaraderie. Haihane, overcome with emotions, sniffed back tears, tenderly laying her crippled hand on the very top. With the worst of their night over, the flock let their bodies rest in the comfort of each other's company.
*CLICK/FLASH*
As the three test subjects struggled to get up onto their hands and knees, Minato's eyes darted around the room in utter confusion, his mind unable to comprehend what had just transpired. "It's... over?" he muttered, a mix of disbelief and relief tingling in his voice.
Benitsubasa, her gaze fixed on the scene before her, responded matter-of-factly, her tone rife with a hint of sarcasm. "Whatever your boob harem had to do, I think they did it." Her eyes followed Musubi as she tackled Minato to the ground, holding him tightly in a grip that elicited pained groans from him. Musubi, in her zealousness, quickly realized her mistake and gasped, her voice filled with remorse. "I'm so sorry, Minato!" she exclaimed, momentarily forgetting herself. "Here, let me help pluck the glass out of you."
"It's alright, Musubi. I'm just glad you're okay." Minato reassured her, his lips a crusty crimson.
Cautiously crawling forward, Benitsubasa meticulously cleared the path through the shattered glass littering the floor as she made her way closer to them. "Let me help too," she offered, her voice carrying a genuine concern for Minato's well-being.
"Congratulations," John interjected, his voice tinged with a mix of admiration and cynicism. "You are still alive. Some people are so ungrateful to be alive, but not you. Not anymore."
Wincing in pain as a shard of glass was gently extracted from his back by Musubi, Minato spoke through gritted teeth, his voice strained. "I played your game. I won. I saved them all. Now let us go."
Jigsaw, nodding his head in acknowledgment, praised Minato for his valiant efforts. However, the room was filled with an unsettling tension as Karasuba slowly rose from her throne, indicating that there was one last bit of unfinished business to attend to…
…
"I will require your assistance in putting my other tests together. Mainly in the sense of gathering subjects to rehabilitate as your credentials are suited best to that purpose. If you do, I promise you Yume. Not a flash of her return like was given at the bridge, but a full return of her personality for as long as she survives. You will have your dream a reality by the end of it all so long as you play by the rules and do as I say."
…
From within the folds of his robe, Jigsaw produced a remote control and pressed a button, causing Minato's collar to emit a beeping sound.
Panic seized Minato as he realized the implications. "What?!" he screamed, his voice laced with desperation. After everything he had been through, was he destined to die anyway?
"Karasuba and I struck a deal to ensure her cooperation, and I intend on keeping my word," John explained, his voice calm and calculated. "To prevent the collar from detonating, Yume must emerge from within Musubi and remain in control until the collar is safely removed. You have twenty seconds to comply. Make your choice."
The injustice of the situation fueled Benitsubasa's anger, and she couldn't contain her outburst any longer. "Oh, now that's just plain unfair!" she shouted, her voice dripping with indignation.
Resigned to the dire circumstances that surrounded her, Musubi released a heavy sigh, her crest's core trembling with a mixture of acceptance and trepidation. Slowly, yet inevitably, the number '08' began to materialize on her abdomen, its appearance serving as an ominous herald of the impending transformation.
Karasuba's expression contorted into a manic euphoria, her eyes shining with a mad intensity. "Yes... This is the moment I've yearned for!" Her voice quivered with a mixture of excitement and insanity, sending chills down the spines of those present.
In a blinding flash, Yume awakened from her slumber, her presence radiating with a commanding authority that demanded attention. Rising to her feet, her eyes snapped open, "If that's the path we must tread, so be it," she declared with unwavering resolve.
As mortal enemies locked their gazes in a confrontation resembling a primal battle, Benitsubasa couldn't contain her desperation any longer. "What about my Ashikabi?!" she pleaded, her voice teetering between frustration and desperation. "I played the game and won too, just like Minato did! Tell me where the key is!"
A twisted smile danced upon the lips of the Black Sekirei as she laughed, a chilling sound it was. "Heh heh heh, gladly," she sneered, unsheathing her nodachi with a languid motion. Pointing the blade menacingly at the ronin, she commanded, "LIFT YOUR SHIRT, BOY!"
Minato's eyes widened in sheer horror, his pupils dilating in fear. Time seemed to stretch as he struggled to comply, frantically pulling up what remained of his shredded shirt, exposing his vulnerable midsection.
…
Shaking the cobwebs and rubbing his bleeding arm, the ronin clawed his way over and grabbed the tape recorder. As he rose to his feet, a sharp pain originating from his midsection caused him to double over with his arms around his waist. He could have sworn someone stabbed him with a knife or worse which how much it hurt. For all he knew, whoever had taken him may have cut him open to rip out his kidneys and sell them on eBay.
He lifted his shirt, coming across a four-inch incision just below his belly button sewn shut by a thin black wire. "A scar...?"
…
"No…NO!" he shrieked, his voice laced with a mix of anger and disbelief.
"The key... it's inside you?!" Benitsubasa gasped, her voice filled with equal parts shock and dread.
Amidst the confusion and shock that reverberated among the trio below, Karasuba took a deliberate step back, fixing her gaze upon Mr. Mathis. With a single swift motion, she swung her weapon horizontally, cleaving through the beast's center with bone-chilling precision, severing one of its arms in the process.
John's eyes widened in sheer incredulity as he watched Karasuba forcefully propel the golem forward with a shove, witnessing the creature split in two midair and thud heavily onto the battlefield, a sickening sound that echoed far and wide.
"Karasuba, this isn't what we—" John began, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and reproach.
"Oh, shut up, John. This is my show now," Karasuba interjected coldly, her tone dripping with contempt and dominance.
The Black Sekirei took a calculated step forward before gracefully leaping down beside her lifeless prey. She snatched the severed arm and pried open the hand with a disturbing determination, retrieving a key that had been concealed within the fingers. Advancing slowly, she dangled the key before the horrified onlookers, taunting them mercilessly as the object gleamed in the light.
"The key that now rests in my possession is the sole means of safely removing that collar from the boy's neck," she chortled, relishing the fear and desperation that radiated from her captives.
"Karasuba, please, give it to us," Yume pleaded, her voice laced with a blend of desperation and forlorn hope. "Allow Minato to remove it, and I promise I won't leave. Please!"
A twisted grin formed on Karasuba's lips as she chuckled wickedly. "Oh Yume, where's the fun in that?" she mocked, savoring the power she held over her victims. "Now…" With a deliberate motion, she raised the key high above her head, stretching her arm to its limit.
"Karasuba, don't do it!" Yume yelled in a desperate plea. "Think about what you're doing! There's no going back from this!"
Tilting her head back, Karasuba opened her mouth wide, allowing her tongue to unfurl across her bottom lip in a macabre display. And then, to the shock and disbelief of everyone present, she let the key drop into her waiting maw, closing her mouth and audibly swallowing it whole. As she realigned her head, her gaze fixed on the horrified onlookers, a malevolent grin etched across her scarred visage. "Let the games begin..."