Kagura Hearts
Chapter 32 ~ Stand Ready
Sora told everyone what he dreamed, hoping the revelation of Toki's hidden agenda could result in one of his friends suggesting an idea…
However, Hibari trembled in horror while Yagyu grabbed Sora by the throat and asked, "YOU HAVE A HORRIBLE SENSE OF HUMOR, ASSHOLE! YOU THINK TALKING ABOUT WITCHES EATING OUR FRIENDS' EYES IS FUNNY?!" Sora then answered, "Trust me, Yagyu, this is no joke! I saw the enemy, despite her face being hidden, chowing on Hbari's eyes like-...Look, she's not safe…I don't know Toki, I don't know why she was dreaming of the worlds being destroyed…I'm…I'm sorry…I'm frightened…I…"
Hibari however hugged Sora close, knowing that HE'S as terrified as she was…
Homura then said, "This Toki bitch…she had ALL THAT in her head…meaning there's a reason for each. I can guess she has something planned…or something against Hibari. The rest is cut and dry, she plans on total manslaughter the instant she's back from-...wait…aiming for the Halo on your head…yet she holds dominion over forces beyond the Darkness, INCLUDING the Four Fiends…is she…a Summoned Spirit too?"
Ikaruga then suggested, "Maybe she's an evil spirit that was sealed away by Hibari's ancestors?" Mirai then said, "What's with the ghost business? She could just be a member of a rival clan." Haruka then said, "Perhaps these questions can be better answered in the very source. I can send a few Puppet Drones over to check on her family's village." Yagyu however said, "You don't know where her family lives." Haruka then answered, "She's a member of the Kagan Clan, meaning her home is somewhere near the Hanadome Ruins. I know these things, even YOUR things, even if you zipped the lip and burned all traces of the meager things you'd try to hide."
Sora then said, "I guess Haruka can gather information. But please, don't let ANYONE catch you-." Haruka pats Sora on the head and says, "Anything for my darling Hibari…STILL, you'll owe me for this, cutie. 'How' will be my little secret." As Sora began to worry, Asuka said to him, "We'll protect Hibari, still, that doesn't mean Toki won't be aiming for you. So I'll remain-." Sora shook his head and said, "Hibari is YOUR friend, as much as she is Yagyu's and the rest of your class. I trust you guys to protect her…while I'll ask for the help of Gessen in the meantime."
"GESSEN?! YUMI'S GROUP?! Aren't they putting you on trial or something?!" Katsuragi asked. Sora answered, "They're purists, sure, but they are on the same side as Asuka, and only need to see if I'm trustworthy, and all I need to worry about now is the Trial of Heart…where I'll be fighting their commander." Homura then said, "Yumi. That girl is focused, she won't go down as easily as the others, ESPECIALLY in a fight."
"THAT'S why we need their help." Sora said.
Ikaruga then said, "Well then…I suppose with us on bodyguard duty for Hibari 24/7, you'll be…with Gessen." Sora then explained, "Hey, I was contracted to Asuka, I'm a Hanzo Academy student. I just need to talk to Yumi and her faction, convince them to help us against Toki and the Four Fiends. We could use the additional Turtle Power."
"...what?" Katsu asked
"NINJA Power! I said Ninja Power! (chuckle) Not 'Turtle' Power, come on, that…would be…(ahem)...SO weird…" A fluttered Sora said. Yagyu then commented, "-Not really. Turtles are cute and cool-."
Asuka then interrupted, "ANYWAY! We now have a clearer goal in sight. The students of Hanzo Academy will be on watch for Hibari while Sora…assuming he wins the Trial of the Heart, will have the aid of Gessen." Homura however said, "Well, since Harluka's going to look into what Toki is, I suppose the rest of us will just keep a look out for Heartless and the Fiends…and maybe the other conspirators who work with Toki."
Sora looked at Homura and asked, "W-wait, conspirators? So it's not just the monsters…we have ninjas to worry about?" Homura patted Sora on the shoulder and said, "Relax bud, this is just a rumor on my end, I can tell you more later, but for now, concentrate on tomorrow…Yumi's not a patient princess."
"YES SHE IS!" Yozakura said after crashing into the Houseboat from the back door!
Later that night, Asuka and Yomi were just finishing setting their bunk beds in the ceiling (to Sora's ignorance) while making room for Yozakura, who was somewhat still annoyed about not sharing the bed with her 'husband' again.
Asuka then asked, "Should we tell Sora we technically still sleep in the same room as him?" Yomi winked as she said, "What our boy doesn't know won't hurt him." Asuka and Yomi giggled adorably while Yozakura sighed and lied down next to Asuka.
Asuka then said, "...Yozakura…I was wondering, how about you try to be less forceful with Sora tomorrow? He really enjoyed talking to you until you were…well…until Yumi ordered you to pretend to be his wife." Yomi then pointed out, "Your attitude towards us could be a little nicer while you're at it." Yozakura then answered, "I suppose I could be a little nicer to him…he was…yeah, he was a wonderful person while taking the trials, not a single bit of disapproval came out his mouth…until the Trial of Strength was about forcing the opponent off a building with their strongest move." Yomi then said, "Honestly, you deserved to be pushed off the way you kept forcing yourself into his life. I mean, you're cute, but you're definitely no wife-material with the way you follow orders rather than respect the poor guy. He didn't WANT to hurt you, and if we're being honest, tolerating your forced stay the other night was Endurance itself in a nutshell."
Yozakura looked at Asuka…who nodded at what Yomi said, clearly agreeing with her…
Yozakura sighed and said, "...I didn't know how to be a wife anyway…all I knew was…how to be a sister…" Asuka patted Yo on the shoulder and said, "Well…I say the pathway to his heart is starting off as the best you: when you were a responsible but very supportive sister figure. He'll adore that part of you, I know we all did when we became friends a while ago." Yozakura smiled in relief and asked, "You really think so?" Yomi nodded, "Wouldn't hurt…especially if you talk less like a pushy wife…and more like…well, a friend. According to Asuka here, he treasures his friends." Yo chuckled and said, "...he did compare me to a 'Donald'...yeah, sure. I'll give it a shot to-."
Just then, the girls heard a door slide open…
Exiting from a hidden hatch above Sora's bed, Asuka, Yomi, and Yozakura noticed the lack of Sora…
Yo then asked, "You think he heard us?!" Yomi shook her head and said, "No…he was waiting. For some reason, he found it necessary to leave…ESPECIALLY without the Lucky Charm! Master must have forgotten it!" Asuka then suggested, "He must have been rushed, something made him leave in a hurry…not wanting to wake a soul…"
Yozakura then said, "...the Trial of Heart. He wants to complete it alone!" As the girls worried, Asuka said, "Let's head out then, we won't know who will strike Sora when he's alone. First was a gross squid man, now I can't be sure WHAT will strike next…"
Asuka then rushed out to the night with Yomi and Yo following while Kraken watched from afar near a boat dock.
Kraken then snickered, "The sea will flood the entire city before their favorite pest can meddle any further. But I must act quickly, otherwise fail Lady Toki once more, and face her wrath…(ahem) (deep-breath) TSUNAMIMANUSTSUNAMIMANUST-." Kraken then started to release a dark aura while casting a dark spell, one that made the seabed suddenly quiver…
Elsewhere, Sora arrived where he last saw Yumi and the other Gessen Girls…
Sora then called out, "ENOUGH WAITING AROUND, YUMI! WE'RE ENDING THESE STUPID TRIALS TONIGHT! SHOW YOURSELF AND LET'S GET YOUR LAST TRIAL OVER WITH!"
"Yeesh, someone's impatient."
Shiki suddenly appeared behind Sora wearing a purple bat-themed set of pajamas while her hair was wrapped in a towel, another towel was resting on her shoulders, and a toothbrush was sticking out of her mouth.
Sora then asked, "...Sh-Shiki?! That IS you, right? You look…kinda different." Shiki then explained, "What, haven't you ever prepared for bed before? Teeth and hair don't exactly look fabulous, 24/7. You gotta commit to the beauty, dude. I'm not just a rockin' body with a cute face, I-...am still wearing my stuff?! Well, THIS is awkward." Sora then asked, "Look, you were nice enough to come over here, I don't want to demand perfection, I appreciate a member of Gessen at least appearing here, so I'm OK with you being here."
"Ya sure? I'm a master of teleportation, magic, illusions, YOU NAME IT, I'm literally a ninja witch here-." Shiki explained. Sora however explained, "It's just that…your black bikini is…distracting, and this look is the closest thing to 'normal' that I can think of, especially with the time." Shiki smiled and said, "You are so cute when you're afraid of sexy girls. But, speaking of the time, how was your nap?" Sora answered, "I encountered 2 figures representing my greatest failures…then Toki hopped into my dream and turned it into a nightmare."
Shiki then asked, "Toki?! The ancient 12th Century Witch? SHE popped into your nightmare?!" Sora nodded, "Yeah, she…makes it a priority to steal my Halo. According to Marilith, Toki needs my Halo to return from the dead somehow, but in my nightmare, I saw more than my fair share of her intentions. She plans to destroy all the worlds she can find…that and, she was eating eyes…flowery eyes."
Shiki gave Sora her towels and toothbrush and flung her hair over into a rather beautiful style while her breasts bounced and accidentally popped a button off. A sexier-looking Shiki became annoyed and said, "YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT! GOT ME?!" Sora nodded in fear while Shiki said, "For the time being, I'll accept this, you passed my Trial, especially considering how you didn't flinch in the face of evil. Still, this insanity may be a bit much for me. I'll inform Yumi before we can get the last trial underway!"
Shiki took back her things from Sora while saying, "WAIT HERE, 'Handsome'!" And instantly, she disappeared…
Sora tried fixing himself up before Yumi could arrive, and as he did, Asuka arrived with Yomi and Yozakura, hiding themselves from Sora's sight…
Summoning his Keyblade, Sora stood with the blade's end touching the ground while he rested his wrists and hands on the bottom of the Keyblade…
Shiki then appeared with Yomi, dressed in a red bathrobe, making Sora blush at the unique fashion choice Yumi had on her. Shiki then said, "Believe it or not, Sora. Our leader has been waiting in anticipation herself…oddly enough in these robes." Yumi then said, "You have completed the Trials of Speed, Endurance-...wait…now that I think about it…Endurance was done TWICE!"
Sora chuckled, "OH YEAH, first by the masked girl and then by Shiki…kinda feel a little dumb after repeating the same test." Yumi then said, "...then I suppose…with Speed, Endurance, and Strength completed…we will Test your Skills-!"
"YUMI JUST SKIP TO THE END ALREADY!" said Yozakura.
Sora was somewhat startled by the presence of Yo, who continued, "Mistakes were made, and yet this boy has proven cooperative and true…He has shown his mastery of Skill and Strength already during a home invasion against the Four Fiends! And if he can stare into the horror that is Toki, I'd say he has endured ENOUGH from Gessen Academy…Sora has earned the right to take on the Trial of Heart, where he MUST prove the strength of his heart's resolve in a duel…against our leader, and the greatest Ninja in Gessen Girls' Academy…that's YOU, Yumi."
Yozakura's argument was strong and to the point, as Sora smiled and nodded at Yo, who blushed and said, "...I-I said that for you because-...well, because Sora, you have earned more than Gessen's respect…to me, you've mastered enough."
Sora nodded at Yo, and said to Yumi, "My heart belongs back in the living world, one my friends can reach. I will keep fighting until I have earned the right to return, until I can see Kairi and my loved ones again! And despite your feelings towards me, I won't run away, I'm here to take the last Trial…and face you…because that's what my heart wants! I want to go home, and help them against whatever awaits us next! Name your battlefield, and we'll fight there, Yumi!"
Yumi looked around and said, "...since you've earned Yozakura's respect, I'd say the perfect place for us to fight is at the Plaza before Hanzo National Academy, where the Peach Tree resides! By now, it should be covered with enough snow to fit the theme of my challenge. Do you accept it?" Sora nodded, "I accept. I'll see you at Hanzo then!"
Suddenly, as Sora was about to leave, Yozakura gave him Kairi's Charm!
"This is the Heart Trial…fight with all your Heart. THAT includes this."
End of Chapter 32