Author's Notes:
This is basically a revision/reboot of the old DW: Night Baron Case Files: Corpse Party story which I canceled. I thought to expand upon the story in ways that I could not really do with the old story and hence, I thought to start again for this new year of 2024. I give credit to those who have reviewed/critiqued the old story and it helped me a bunch.
If there are any grammatical errors, please point them out, because that would be helpful.
This is the main story of a saga that I would like to refer to as the Corpse Party Saga. It consists of this story and a prequel story called DW: Night Baron Case Files: Cemetery0.
As this is a Corpse Party type of story, everything about it is fair game. That means that when it comes to material, I'm using the trilogy of games (Corpse Party [2008]: Blood Covered and its extra chapters, Corpse Party: Book of Shadows, and Corpse Party: Blood Drive) and most of everything Corpse Party-related such as Corpse Party: Sweet Sachiko's Hysteric Birthday Bash and others. This would of course mean that there would be a lot of Corpse Party characters in this story. For Corpse Party fans, spot them if you can.
For ToAru readers like ShadowBloodedge9396, KHVSFF, ADdude, MagicalGeek, Jamman265, and others, this story would also be the beginning of a revision of the ToAru side of my stories, starting with the old Corpse Party, DW: A Certain Gang of Rail Girls, and DW: A Certain Magical Index.
Author's Personal Messages:
ShadowBloodedge9396:
Regarding questions, well, just to note that just like in the old story, ToAru, Higurashi, and Final Fantasy VII characters would still be here and play a role as they are all part of Touma's past. If you have more questions, you can PM me about them.
Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 1
Insert Song: Start
A Decaying World - Corpse Party: Blood Drive Music Extended
Here's a mystery worth pondering.
When it came to one's life in general which relates to adventures in time and space, travelling in quite possibly one of, if not the most advanced space-time ship in all of existence, there is bound to be all sorts of hijinks that could not fit the norm. Space-time seemed like the final frontier, the epitome of our desire to explore the vast unknown that lay beyond our comfortable borders. It is a natural thing to have a latent curiosity for wonders and mysteries that have yet to be explained or none at all as it is within the nature of human beings to inquire a priori.
But not everything is all fun and games.
Right now, the space-time ship - TARDIS - had shut down so suddenly. Well, more like made a hard stop. And the occupants...
"...Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."
...were currently down for the count.
They were all lying on the floor. Their heads felt like spinning as if they had just experienced a crash landing of a lifetime. And indeed they did, but not for the first nor last time.
"...What the hell?"
Kyon, a young man with brown hair and brown eyes, spoke with a mixture of annoyance, irritation, and feeling the vertigo that made the entire larger-than-life corridor look even more complicated as he tried to balance himself. Kyon was a high school student, somewhere in his third year for estimation, attending a high school called North High. His clothing consisted of a blue WWII trenchcoat, a black shirt, blue pants, and white-blue shoes.
His actual real name isn't really Kyon. The name was a nickname that sort of stuck. His actual name is described to be quite regal and noble by nature. Currently, his occupation mainly consists of being a guardian of sorts (and boyfriend) to a seemingly all-powerful reality warper of his native reality. A high school girl by the name of Haruhi Suzumiya, a girl who is incredibly eccentric and desires to find out the existence of aliens, espers, time travelers, sliders, and other kinds of unnatural phenomenon.
His adventures with her can be described as a "long story", and it is something that one Conan Edogawa, formerly Shinichi Kudo, also known as the caped crusader and heroic inspirational figure, Night Baron, could attest.
Who is Conan Edogawa? Who is Shinichi Kudo? Who is Night Baron?
A very "long story" as well.
As Shinichi Kudo, he is a second-year high school student, private detective, and consultant attending Teitan High School which is located in the Beika Ward. As Conan Edogawa, he is a second-grade elementary school student, and secretly a private detective, attending Teitan Elementary School, also located in Beika Ward. He comes from another universe, not native to Kyon's.
He is a young man with dark brown hair and clear blue eyes. He wears a blue blazer with a single button, a modified red bowtie, and accentuated with a navy blue detective-style trenchcoat. He wore a pair of grey shorts, followed by white socks and modified red-white trainers.
But of course, he is known by another identity, known commonly as Night Baron. A caped crusader wearing a dark blue magician outfit who fights crime, corruption, and the darkness that plagues his native reality and a few others.
Conan's eyes would turn to another young man who was present. The man, coming from another native reality, had already recently graduated middle school and would eventually become a high school student at some point. So he has about one relative month of vacation, and considering the concept of time travel, that period could at least be extended for him. His black hair was a little spiky, making him feel like some kind of shounen protagonist. He wore a black jacket with an attached white hood, having an inward purple interior, black pants, and white-orange Nike sports shoes.
His name is Touma Kamijou.
He has a special kind of ability called Imagine Breaker which is found in his right hand. It allows him to negate various types of supernatural powers and abilities, no matter what point of origin.
"Hey, Souta, you okay?" Touma was heading toward another person and helping him out.
"...Ah, I'm fine."
The one who responded was a young man called Souta Mizushino, a young man who is also from yet another native reality. He had straight brown hair that reached down the neck, and amber-brown eyes worn over by a pair of glasses. He wears a red-collared shirt, a black formal suit and pants, and black shoes. He was a second-year high school student currently attending Metropolitan Kissui High School.
"Doctor, what just happened?"
Another young man spoke, somewhere nearby the main console of the ship. His tone was one of concern and was troubled at the current predicament. He was a young man from yet another native reality, with black hair and violet eyes, with a handsome face. He was a first-year high school student attending the prestigious Ashford Academy. He was wearing a set of casual clothing consisting of a red jacket with a black shirt underneath and grey trousers, with brown shoes.
His name is Lelouch Lamperouge. To people who knew his true identity, he was known as Lelouch vi Britannia, the exiled Eleventh Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, a nation born from the defeated remnants of the British Empire and was his native Earth's dominant military superpower that ruled over one-third of the world and one of the large Empire-unions that control Earth initially in the early 21st Century, and the nation that he swore to fight against for the sake of freeing his world from the throes of unjustified tyranny and making the world a much better place.
It was a work in progress at least now that Britannia's hold in the nation of Japan, the country that Lelouch currently calls home, is free and independent once more from its tyranny.
Conan, and everyone else who were standing up, would walk towards the main console room of the ship.
The main console, found in the centre of the room, appeared to be a mix of built-in controls and spare parts. The time rotor was connected to the ceiling, and contained an intricate internal mechanism, with a blue light inside that rose while the ship was in flight. On one panel of the console, there was a biscuit dispenser and coffee maker. There were scanners attached to the console via arms that could rotate around the console and had several buttons included. The console was currently producing a whole lot of yellow electrical sparks that flew a little here and there.
There were lights seen throughout the room, provided by the roundels seen on every wall, which were currently dimming due to the forced stop of the ship. The interior was vast, of a curved shape, with roundels and multiple walkways dominating the area and its default color was pure white. There were multiple levels, accessed by ramps, and many doors leading deeper into the ship.
This was the main console room of the space-time ship known as the TARDIS.
Conan and the others were walking towards a tall foreign man who was looking at the monitors of the console. The man, the myth, the legend. His face looked Scottish, with finely boned hands and face, and large dark brown eyes that can stare deep into one's soul. He had thick brown hair with sideburns, though with a slight copper tinge. He wore a navy blue trenchcoat over a white button-up shirt, with a grey knitted tie, a brown and turquoise checkered-tartan waistcoat with lapels along with a pair of matching trousers, and papyrus colored Converse shoes.
A Lord of Time from the homeworld of Gallifrey.
The Doctor.
"...Something's not right here."
His expression was grim. The monitors were detecting a lot of unusual patterns. Gallifreyan symbols were seen, decoding the interdimensional wavelengths and frequencies of the TARDIS's current location. The TARDIS was forcibly dislodged from the Time Vortex, a dimensional plane that allows almost unfettered access to other times, other places, and others beyond. A ripple cause-effect phenomenon was detected from the probability scanners. The center point was the Earth of Conan Edogawa, termed DCMK Earth-Prime.
Odd. But at the same time, a chilling sensation arose from within the Doctor. He could not shake the feeling away. It almost felt like he was near the presence of an anathema to his nature. Familiar but alien. Exponentially growing yet enclosed in this confined set of interdimensional spaces.
He stood silent. His grim expression never wavered. His eyes narrowed.
"...Doctor?" Souta asks, noticing the Doctor being silent for a while. "What's wrong?"
The Doctor glances at Souta. His expression was one of deep thought and concern from his hearts. Then he looked at Conan who was sporting a serious expression.
"...I think we've made a landing. Well, crash landing to be precise, just without the crash but more of a full stop," the Doctor answered.
Under Conan's request, the Doctor had been doing a little investigation. Conan was currently dealing with a specific case that involved a lot of missing people who had been snatched away to parts unknown. Nobody knew why. And it wasn't just the fact that these people were missing. It was as if they never existed. No more than a blank slate. Even the obtained pictures acted strange, with the faces being all black, and almost no one seemed to see the bodies of, from their perspective, an empty picture. Their entire existence was erased from the timeline.
"...Looks like we've just found the place where everybody, including Shinichi's missing friends, that had all gone missing and forgotten, had ended up probably."
"Really?" Conan sported a look of concern on his face.
"Look at that monitor over there," the Doctor indicated one of the monitors to Conan and the others. "Right now, it's telling us that we've all ended up in a pocket dimension that is loosely connected with Shinichi's dimension. I say loosely because it seems a little unstable. Apparently from what the EMF readings would scan, there appeared to be traces of an unknown type of negative energy, and it's quite massive in size and scale and appears to be growing slowly over...over the past forty-two years...no...sixty years...no...twenty years...time's all jumbled up, like it was floating and disconnected. An inconsistent pattern that seems to stretch for countless and precise points in time."
And one of the monitors would clear up, revealing the presence of an old school building. Based on the current surroundings, it looked a bit... abandoned. As if no one had used it in a while. And then, the entire atmosphere felt dark, with not a hint of moonlight, only grey clouds covering the skies. The entire area had cracked pavements and dark corridors that led to places unknown. Everything seems to paint a picture of a place that looked haunted.
"...Guys," Touma narrowed his eyes a little, feeling a little troubled. "...Something doesn't...feel right..."
"I can sense it too," Souta muttered, narrowing his eyes that were sparking with magenta colors.
Everyone in the room looked serious. Conan would begin to take something from his pocket. It was a picture of a school building. The same one that was seen on the monitor.
"Remind me again, Kudo," Kyon looks at Conan with a serious expression. "This is that same elementary school that we've all talked about before coming here, right?"
"Ah," Conan nodded. "I'm sure of it. The building from the monitor and the photo are the same, in length, width, and height, and the tone of the photo matches the one shown on the monitor."
Everyone would sigh as they continued to face the monitor screen.
"...I'm gonna say it, it's obviously a trap," Kyon pointed out.
"At this point, I doubt that we should be surprised that it is a trap," Souta spoke with exasperation.
"And what exactly do we do at this point as part of daily routine, everyone?" the Doctor suggested with a smile.
The four teenagers and one child look towards the Doctor, giving smiles of their own as they look back at each other.
"Spring the trap," they all said.
"Well, to hell with it then, on three," Kyon smiled.
They would all begin to raise their right hands and form a circular pattern around each other. The Doctor was just watching with a smile on his face, crossing his arms.
"One," Kyon said with a smile.
"Two," Souta said with a smile.
"Three," Lelouch said with a smile.
"Team TARDIS," Touma said with a smile.
"Retreat hell!" the four other companions exclaimed.
"Two-five," Conan said with a smile.
In Conan's native reality, there was a place once known as Heavenly Host Elementary School.
To the townspeople of Tenjin, it was a source of pride as no elementary school had stood within its borders before its construction in the year 1952. Primary school students had previously been commuting to neighboring towns for class, and consequently, the school became the most desirable school to go to in that area. Eventually, it would reform into what would eventually become known as Kisaragi Academy by November 18th, 1975.
It was a mystery.
Somehow, upon discovery, the TARDIS landed in a strange realm where a perfect if not abandoned replica of the past.
The TARDIS doors would open slightly. Kyon was the first one to step out of the box, taking point on the front. There were two special revolvers that he was carrying from both sides of his hands, removing them from the holsters of his brown belt. The revolvers resemble a stylized Colt Paterson.
Now, normally speaking, the Doctor does not favor weapons, particularly guns. He cares little for such things. On a practical level, for the most part, guns are admittedly quite useless on most of his enemies. When one is immune to bullets, lasers, and other projectiles with even a hint of trajectory or direction, the subject is moot. Kyon is one of the exceptions to this rule, based on his sacred duty in keeping with a Gunslinger.
Kyon was looking around the place, and seeing that the coast was clear, with the only concerning thought being the fog that was covering most of the area, he would walk further and gesture his other fellow companions and the Doctor to follow.
Among them, Conan and Touma were silent.
No, more than silent.
For Conan, something was troubling him. A thought that relates to three high school students, a paranormal novelist, and a cameraman. He had been looking for them for weeks, with no sign or clue. He exhausted every available means, and noticed the strange effect that had happened across the world. Time was acting strange. It was becoming inconsistent. People don't seem to agree on a common date, month, or year. Some would say it was the new year of January 1st. Others would say it was the middle of August.
Something did not feel right. His world did not feel right. Left with few options, he contacted the Doctor for advice and the rest seems history.
Conan would use his glasses and the readings he's getting felt strange. Most of his surroundings could not be verified. Everything was static.
For Touma, something else was stirring within him. A sort of good-bad combination. A kind of déjà vu-like experience. Inwardly, he was alarmed. He felt the strange presence and tangling of timelines. He felt twitching. The hidden miasma in the air smelt like blood. He senses darkness. He senses death around every corner. And he could feel his mind being a little... static ...as if something in his mind was urging him to remember something, like a difficult radio signal. His heart was beating in sync with the lurking thought that was present in his mind.
A whisper: You have been here before.
He has been here before. This type of feeling was present the moment he stepped out of this place.
Whispers of evil, of blood, of chaos, and of death.
A pat on the shoulder was felt by both Touma and Conan. Turning around, they saw the Doctor, making a nod, indicating to them that he sensed the same presence in the air.
"...Yes, something definitely does not feel right about this place, and it was more obvious the moment I stepped out of the TARDIS."
The Doctor would bring something out of his pocket. A sonic screwdriver. It had wide area dispersal petals and a resonator cage. The handle was made out of coral. It had frequency and intensity dials. There was a cage around the central sonic cluster. There was also a bullet-shaped primary source emitter. A bright blue buzz emitted, indicating the Doctor was using it, scanning the entire area for readings.
"Whatever this place is...it feels like somebody took a bunch of dimensions, mixed them like a cup of soup, and made them all stick together like pieces of origami. There's all of these top and bottom layers. There's a whole bunch of side dimensions. And it feels like its spreading...expanding..."
"Kinda like Dormammu's Dark Dimension in a way," Kyon muttered, narrowing his eyes towards his surroundings.
"Sort of, but..." the Doctor grimaced a little. "It feels more like a multidimensional nexus, an unnatural one, bridging grey and black types of worlds together. We've seen plenty of the nexus types before, but this is... wrong... Boys, I think it's for the best that, no matter what happens, we stay together, and try not to separate."
"Wasn't really planning on separating, Doctor," Souta spoke grimly as he glanced at the fog. "I sensed something. It's familiar, but it isn't. I don't really know how to describe it, but it feel... pure evil."
"...We should probably try to head inside this building for now, since it feels like it will rain soon, judging by the clouds," Lelouch pointed towards the dilapidated entrance, the only place of entry, broken doors with little shards of glass. "...Even though heading inside may not be the most prudent."
"Well, aren't we all about terrible ideas at this point?" Kyon asks, making a deadpan look.
"True," Lelouch looked amused before putting his hands into his pockets. "And since the TARDIS is currently undergoing self-repairs and is not fitting enough for take-off, I supposed that I would take the lead from here, since it was my idea to begin with."
Lelouch would begin to walk towards the school. Kyon rolled his eyes and muttered.
"Of course, you would always like to take the lead and show off, your Majesty."
"If the king doesn't move, then his subjects won't follow," Lelouch explained with a humorous smile.
"I'm not your subject, Lelouch," Kyon said in annoyance. "I'm already dealing with one annoying boss back in my world, thank you very much."
Souta would just shake his head and walk forward as well. The Doctor would look at Touma and Conan, asking.
"Are you both alright?"
"...Yeah, I'm fine, Doctor," Touma muttered softly.
"Same here...it's just that," Conan sported a hesitant expression.
"I know that you're worried about your friends. We'll find them, Conan," the Doctor would use the name 'Conan" instead of 'Shinichi' since they were outside of the TARDIS and it wouldn't be out of place to suspect that there may be someone watching them.
"...Friends," Touma muttered softly, making both the Doctor and Conan pay attention to him, concerned. "Doctor, Conan-kun... This may just be me but... The moment I saw the picture of the school, and looking at the building right now, it... it feels like I've been here before..."
"You have?" Conan asks, taking note of this revelation. "Where?"
"That's the thing... I can't remember..." Touma shakes his head. "Maybe it's just my imagination tricking me or..."
"I wouldn't be so jumpy to conclude that, Touma, because when it comes to your current life, not everything is so very simple," the Doctor narrowed his eyes a little out of concern, with a reminding tone.
"...You know," Touma smiled a little, trying to break the tension. "...I kinda wish Ms. Donna was here."
"Hmm, so do I, that woman would definitely know how to lighten up the mood," the Doctor spoke with a sparkle in his eyes. "I left Donna with Misaki, Ayu, and Seria for a bit back in Academy City before we came to Conan-kun's universe. She's definitely going to ring it on me for not including her this time in our little road trip."
"Heh, I guess we're all at fault for that one, since well, we were kind of in a hurry," Touma said with a knowing smile.
"I guess the fault is somewhat mine too because I was the one who called all of you," Conan shrugged his shoulders and smiled contritely.
"Well, when you put it that way, we'll all start to apologize to Donna for leaving her behind," the Doctor smiled a little.
All three of them laughed a bit, making the atmosphere feel a little better.
"Oi, you three!" Kyon called out to the three. "Let's go already!"
"Right, be right there!" Touma spoke as he, feeling a bit better, headed towards Kyon who was waiting at the entrance.
The Doctor and Conan would look at each other. They both nodded.
The Doctor and his five companions all walked inside the haunted doors. The entrance and hallways were littered with faded papers and articles. They were all silent. An air of misfortune rises upon the air. All of them have sonic screwdrivers, using it as flashlights to lighten up the darkened corridors.
They look around as they pass through the hallways. Dark, cold, abandoned. For Touma, it stung him, almost like he felt that these very halls were rebuking him. Their feet felt the ruined floorboards, some of which were in danger of collapsing. They look from every direction, seeing abandoned rooms, many of which were once places where classes used to be held.
"Hm?" Souta would notice something from his feet. "Guys, look at this."
"Hmm," Conan narrowed his eyes a little. "Student shoes. Probably ones worn around here once upon a time."
And they kept walking. Along the way, they smelled...
...Something foul.
"...Ugh. Why does this hallway smell like manure?" Kyon, sporting a grimaced and disgusted expression, looks around the place. "I better not be stepping on anything around here."
And they kept walking. Until...
"...!"
They stumbled upon something. It was a body, lying on the wall. Using their screwdrivers, they would see a body that decayed. The remains were skeletal. But it was not just the body. It was the clothes. The colors of the blazer and other clothing looked faded, but everybody recognized some of the colors. Conan, sporting a look of horror and concern, would make use of his glasses and perform a scan of the body.
What he found shook him.
Teitan Elementary School.
Conan Edogawa
Age: 7
"I don't believe it... That's... me... Or, well, a "me" I guess. Judging by my glasses, he seems to have come from an alternative possibility," Conan narrowed his eyes.
The others were looking at Conan and the body. The Doctor would make use of his screwdriver to analyze the body.
"...He suffered a heavy trauma on the head. Somebody must have hit him too hard," the Doctor spoke grimly.
"Non-stop, continuous assault to the head which punctured through the corner, indicating that the culprit who did this was too violent and unstable. The weapon that the culprit used was probably a hammer due to the circular fracture holes. And I'm detecting a kind of dark energy trace from the body. Origin is unverifiable," Conan, with a grim undecipherable tone.
"Okay, aside from the fact that this is creeping me out, what are the odds that someone left a dead body of an alternate self here as a warning on purpose?" Kyon asks with a hint of sarcasm, covering up his troubles as he glances sharply for any sign of a potential trap.
"That feels too coincidental, and yet likely, meaning whoever is here knows who we are and where we are," Lelouch narrowed his eyes, looking for any sign of a potential trap.
"Everyone, we should keep moving, I managed to at least track some kind of signal when I scanned the dead body. I've recently created a mental thought map with my screwdriver while we were walking for the past few minutes. You should be able to access this map with your screwdrivers just as I sent it," the Doctor told them.
And just as the Doctor said, there was a map. It looked like something that can be found in a video game. It indicated several hallways and walkways. It indicated rooms and other places. Limited data, but nevertheless useful.
"Why does this feel like something I see in a horror video game?" Kyon made a deadpan expression.
"Well, if we're going to step into the horror genre, one must do it with style," the Doctor would say, never losing his serious expression.
They kept walking, but now they knew what to expect a little. Dead bodies. Based on the thought map that they see from their screwdriver connection, there were indicators of a few dead bodies. Screens picture some, many of them were skeletal remains, identified as students from all levels.
"...There's a lot of dead bodies around here," Conan muttered softly, silently outraged at the lack of respect that these bodies were given. Not a proper burial. Just left to rot with the flies. "...Question is, where's the culprit?"
But the culprit has yet to show its face. All they saw were dead bodies. Touma felt like twitching the more they continued to walk through this place. The more time they spent walking, the more he felt like he was being reproached. He felt like he'd been here before. He just knew within his gut.
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
Corpse Party: Blood Covered OST - Chapter 5's Main Building Theme 2 (Extended)
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"...?!"
They heard the sound of a scream coming from somewhere nearby. Or was it nearby? The question itself relates to the fact that it was quite near to where they were standing and yet they don't see anyone there. From what they could tell, the scream was female. The Doctor and the companions would take a look at their screwdrivers, scanning the frequencies of the screaming voice. It indicated to them that the scream was not anywhere to be found exactly here.
"Wherever that scream was, it's coming from right here, and yet it's not," the Doctor muttered.
"Separate dimensions, one place," Conan stated grimly.
"And normally we can't interact with the dimension of whoever is screaming on the other side. Unless," Lelouch would smile a little.
"We reverse the polarity," all of the companions stated with a little excitement, while the Doctor smiled a bit, letting his companions do their best.
Synchronizing their sonic screwdrivers by pointing them all together, it would allow for them to create an artificial space shift. A crack sound occurred and the occupants would find themselves in another place entirely, despite being in the same location. How so? The obvious factor was the brand-new dead rotten bodies that littered on the floor, as well as the ruined floorboards, which weren't there originally.
"We've synced with the location, now we track down that voice," Conan spoke with a serious tone.
Using their screwdrivers, they would begin to find at least two specific points that were on the move. With haste, they dashed forward. They would jump across the damaged wooden floors in an accurate manner of care as they would sprint toward the source of the scream.
"Kyaaahhhhhhhhh! Staaaaay awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!"
"I see them!"
Kyon was the first to find the two specific points. Two young girls wearing school uniforms were cornered by something, their backs against the wall. The body looked decayed, with little to no hair. Scratches and bite marks were seen all around him. He was wearing a worn-off high school uniform, grey in color. His attitude and demeanor were replaced by a pure sense of malevolence and madness. Miasma was leaking from within him. Clicking his teeth, Kyon fired point blank, perfectly aiming at the head and shooting down the crazed decayed creature.
The body would become limp upon being shot through the head, scaring the two girls, yelping a little in surprise.
Kyon, the Doctor, and the rest of the companions would not hesitate to move forward in order to check up on the two girls.
"It's alright, it's alright, no one's going to hurt you," the Doctor, raising his hands a little, gestured for the two girls to calm down.
After a few moments of breathing, they calm down a little.
"...Th-Thank goodness, there are other people..."
The one who spoke was a young woman with long blue hair and hazel blue eyes. She was wearing a prussian blue skirt, white socks, and brown shoes. She was protectively embracing the other girl, who looked a little younger, somewhere near middle school.
"...H-Huh?"
The one who spoke, the other girl, had light blue eyes and medium short brown hair, with a visible hue of purple. On her head was a simple pink headband. She was wearing a purple smock with a white collar and a small pink bow attached, white knee-high socks and white uwabaki slippers with yellow stripes near the soles. She looked she was in shock.
Conan, after using his glasses to analyze the decayed body that Kyon shot, would trace where the other girl was looking at, and noticed Touma who was somewhere behind, having stopped a few meters away. Conan noted Touma's eyebrows were scrunched, with his face feeling a little twitchy.
"...Touma-san," the other girl spoke, surprising everyone, most especially Touma.
"...What?"
Touma could not help but mutter. But...
K̵͖͘s̶̼͇̈́̃ŝ̴̝s̷͔̥͝͝s̷͕͓̀s̸̤͓͗̏s̴̖̈́ş̷̂̉s̴̮̼͌s̸̥̲͝s̵̠͙̏̀s̷͎̔s̶̠̎̋ͅs̵̨̓s̵͙̑̕š̵̺s̴̪͊̆ś̶͚h̴͓̉̈́͜ḣ̸̪h̶̳̗̾͠h̵̞̟̀̕h̶͕̜́h̷͈̪́h̵͕̣̉͋ĥ̶̬h̴̥̍ḧ̷͙ẖ̸̈́h̴͇̎h̴̰̆͗h̵̨͌̐͜h̸̤̕h̸͇̒͛h̴͚̋̑h̷͚͊ẖ̸̐h̸͍͐h̵̹̉͠h̴̼̗͠h̷͖̫͛̾h̵͉̻͋ḧ̷͔́̃h̷͚̘͋̾
Touma instinctively puts his right hand to his head. Static seems to cover his entire vision. A faint memory would erupt from within his mind. Touma would try to shake his head a little, but he felt numb.
"Touma-san!" Souta, being the nearest, would walk towards him. "What's wrong?" He asked while putting a hand to the left shoulder.
K̵͖͘s̶̼͇̈́̃ŝ̴̝s̷͔̥͝͝s̷͕͓̀s̸̤͓͗̏s̴̖̈́ş̷̂̉s̴̮̼͌s̸̥̲͝s̵̠͙̏̀s̷͎̔s̶̠̎̋ͅs̵̨̓s̵͙̑̕š̵̺s̴̪͊̆ś̶͚h̴͓̉̈́͜ḣ̸̪h̶̳̗̾͠h̵̞̟̀̕h̶͕̜́h̷͈̪́h̵͕̣̉͋ĥ̶̬h̴̥̍ḧ̷͙ẖ̸̈́h̴͇̎h̴̰̆͗h̵̨͌̐͜h̸̤̕h̸͇̒͛h̴͚̋̑h̷͚͊ẖ̸̐h̸͍͐h̵̹̉͠h̴̼̗͠h̷͖̫͛̾h̵͉̻͋ḧ̷͔́̃h̷͚̘͋̾
Touma could still hear Souta's voice, but there was an irritating static that seemed to cover his mind. This type of static was a little familiar to Touma. Whenever something related to him was near his vicinity, related to a foggy time, a time of tribulation, a time of years that never were for him, it felt like this.
"Touma-san!"
The other girl...
No...
He knows who this girl is. He knows who she is. But how?
K̵͖͘s̶̼͇̈́̃ŝ̴̝s̷͔̥͝͝s̷͕͓̀s̸̤͓͗̏s̴̖̈́ş̷̂̉s̴̮̼͌s̸̥̲͝s̵̠͙̏̀s̷͎̔s̶̠̎̋ͅs̵̨̓s̵͙̑̕š̵̺s̴̪͊̆ś̶͚h̴͓̉̈́͜ḣ̸̪h̶̳̗̾͠h̵̞̟̀̕h̶͕̜́h̷͈̪́h̵͕̣̉͋ĥ̶̬h̴̥̍ḧ̷͙ẖ̸̈́h̴͇̎h̴̰̆͗h̵̨͌̐͜h̸̤̕h̸͇̒͛h̴͚̋̑h̷͚͊ẖ̸̐h̸͍͐h̵̹̉͠h̴̼̗͠h̷͖̫͛̾h̵͉̻͋ḧ̷͔́̃h̷͚̘͋̾
The other girl, Yuka Mochida, would immediately removed herself from the first girl's hold, dashing immediately towards him. And he felt a soft impact. Arms stretched for an embrace. Tears lightly rain down on her face.
A past. Unknown. Forgotten. Remembered.
"...Yu...Yuka?"
Touma muttered as he instinctively embraced the young one who was crying a little. Crying out of relief. Crying because of what she had experienced. On this hellish plane where anyone can die.
.̵͍͒͛.̷̙̇.̷̨͙̚T̷͚̋h̵̻͖̚͝e̷̒͛͜ ̵͔̈d̶͎̆e̶̗̹̓̌á̵͚d̴̤̍ ̶͇͊̄w̷̳͙̐̂ḯ̵̻̑l̶̻͗̍l̴͔̯̈́ ̴̹̫͠s̵̗͒͒ȗ̵̦f̴̱̳̅f̴̩͉͂̈́e̷͚̘̓̓r̶͔͑ ̷̖̈́f̵͎̂o̶͇̿r̶͎̆ ̷̨͈̏́à̸̭̮͠l̸͚̜̕l̸͇͐̿ ̴͙̥̄̿ę̸̉̓ṱ̷̈́̊ë̷̳́̂r̷̺̞̀̆n̷̐̆͜i̶͖̎t̸͔͉̂͗y̵̳͂̅.̷͎̂͘
A malevolent whisper crept in. It was threatening to break through. But...
"("You do not belong here! Be gone!")"
The solemn and authoritative voice of a Dragon stirred from within him. Where did that come from? Within his own soul. Through his right hand which serves as a seal that hides a lurking predator. It felt the shuddering malevolence that was trying to encroach on its territory and decided to take action. The fog cleared, allowing Touma to have a little clarity.
Everyone was looking at Touma and Yuka with curious and surprised expressions. The Doctor looked serious a little, followed by Conan and Lelouch.
"Touma, do you know this girl?" Lelouch asks, sporting a concerned expression.
"...Somehow...yes..." Touma muttered as he was looking at Yuka, whose face would be raised, revealing her tears. Her eyes were one of recognition. She was not faking it. She recognized who Touma was.
But how...?
"But how do you know who I was, Yuka?" Touma carefully asks.
Some of his memories were coming back a little. It relates to Yuka Mochida. Along with a couple of other people that Touma now knew and was starting to remember a little.
"...I...I don't know," Yuka did not know, shaking her head a little. "But...But the moment I saw you, I just...knew you... It's like... It's like seeing a dream... It's umm... confusing... I can't explain it..."
"...I don't think you have to," Touma spoke reassuringly, putting his right hand to her hair and patting it a little. "I get it. More than you think."
The Doctor in the meantime was walking towards Conan. Conan spoke grimly.
"Ne, Doctor, is this..."
"Yes," the Doctor answered grimly. "It has to be. I recognized that look in his eyes. It's the same eyes that he had when he met Othinus again."
"...Well, that isn't good," Kyon muttered, pinching his eyes out a little after returning one of the revolvers to the holster. "If we're dealing with that now, then this situation is a lot worse than we thought."
"Umm," the first girl who seemed all but forgotten spoke with a cautious, concerned tone.
"Oh!" the Doctor noticed her, sporting an apologetic smile. "My apologies for being rude, I'm the Doctor, and these five are my Lost Boys. What's your name?"
"...Umm, A-A-Akaboji Kok-Kokuhaku," the first girl introduced herself.
Conan blinked a little, scrunching his eyebrows in concentration. "Wait, Akaboji? As in the Akaboji Dojo?"
"Y-Yes," Kokuhaku confirmed, surprised for a bit.
"Hmm, that's interesting," Conan smiled a little. "Now that I actually heard your name, I knew that I recognized you from somewhere, Akaboji-san. You and many others had once competed in the World Kendo Championship if I'm not mistaken."
"H-Hai, that is correct," Kokuhaku nodded.
"Tell me, ever met a guy named Hattori Heiji?"
"Y-Yes," Kokuhaku nodded a little excitedly, having seemingly forgotten what had just happened a few moments ago.
Conan's attention was bought as he couldn't help but smirk mentally in amusement while also thinking about a certain Osakan detective and his fanbase. Not that he can judge of course because, even in his current state, there was his own kind of fanbase. He and his fellow companions could not help but smile a little, knowingly.
Kokuhaku continued. "Hattori Heiji-kun is an accomplished swordsman in his own right. He's won the Championship more than a few consecutive times since he was only in middle school. Since then, aside from being known as the Great Detective of the West, he is known as the Samurai of Osaka. I wanted to do my best to live up to such an example which is why I trained as hard as I could to try to catch up to him."
"Now that is quite admirable, Akaboji-san," Lelouch smiled but hid his amused mental smirk.
"You got that recorded, right," Kyon whispered to Conan, crouching down a little.
"Hmhm," Conan nodded while indicating his bowtie. At the same time, he was using his glasses to scan the corpse for any trace. What he found was a little concerning.
A type of negative energy was detected from his scanners which could not be identified properly. What is known however is that it was essentially heightening negative traits and emotions to a very absurd degree, making the potential victim do things that they normally wouldn't do.
K̵͖͘s̶̼͇̈́̃ŝ̴̝s̷͔̥͝͝s̷͕͓̀s̸̤͓͗̏s̴̖̈́ş̷̂̉s̴̮̼͌s̸̥̲͝s̵̠͙̏̀s̷͎̔s̶̠̎̋ͅs̵̨̓s̵͙̑̕š̵̺s̴̪͊̆ś̶͚h̴͓̉̈́͜ḣ̸̪h̶̳̗̾͠h̵̞̟̀̕h̶͕̜́h̷͈̪́h̵͕̣̉͋ĥ̶̬h̴̥̍ḧ̷͙ẖ̸̈́h̴͇̎h̴̰̆͗h̵̨͌̐͜h̸̤̕h̸͇̒͛h̴͚̋̑h̷͚͊ẖ̸̐h̸͍͐h̵̹̉͠h̴̼̗͠h̷͖̫͛̾h̵͉̻͋ḧ̷͔́̃h̷͚̘͋̾
A static effect would echo from the hallway. And...
"Oof!"
"Kyah!"
Everyone was a little surprised by the sudden appearance of two young women who bumped into the Doctor, making them crash to the floor.
"The hell?" Kyon was a little surprised.
"I-I-Ita-ta-ta..."
A young woman was raising her head a little. She had long brown hair, stylized into two curls on both sides of her head, just beneath her ears, along with a blue barrette seen on the left side of her head. Her eyes were light brown in color. She was wearing a high school uniform consisting of a tan colored sailor outfit, with a blue collar, light blue cuffs, yellow ribbon held by a blue brooch, blue pleated skirt, black knee-high socks and white uwabaki slippers with blue stripes near the soles.
She, along with one other woman, were surprised when they looked at the Doctor.
"...Well, don't mind me, everyone, just lying down on this floorboard for no reason at all..." the Doctor made an exasperated and twitching expression.
"So-Sorry!" both girls would get up in due haste.
Souta and Lelouch, who were nearby, would help the Doctor to stand up.
"...Ah!"
Both young women would look at a widened eyed Touma and Yuka who were staring at them.
"Yuka-chan!" they both exclaimed.
"Naomi-san! Seiko-san!" Yuka exclaimed.
The aforementioned Seiko Shinohara and Naomi Nakashima would immediately embrace a dashing Yuka, glad that the latter is alright.
Naomi was a young woman with short, brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a high school uniform consisting of a tan-colored sailor outfit with a blue-collar, light blue cuffs, yellow ribbon held by a brooch, blue skirt, black knee-high socks, and white uwabaki slippers with blue stripes near the soles.
Meanwhile, Touma was twitching a little, his head feeling dizzy as he raised his right hand to his forehead.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" Naomi would ask, checking Yuka to see if she had any scratches or other potential places where she was hurt.
"Umm," Yuka shakes her head a little in the negative. "I'm fine, Akaboji-san was the one who helped me through this place." She indicated to the long black-haired woman who was nearby.
"Umm, it's a pleasure to meet you," Kokuhaku introduced herself with grace and bowed her head a little. "My name is Akaboji Kokuhaku, heir to the Akaboji Dojo."
"Eh? U-Umm, likewise," Naomi bows her head a little. "My name is Nakashima Naomi."
"...And I'm Shinohara Seiko. Umm," Seiko would scrunch her eyebrows a little towards Touma who was looking at her with concern. "...Kamijou-san? Is that...Is that...you...?"
"Wait, another one?" Kyon raised an eyebrow.
"Make that two, if what the other girl's face is anything to go by," Conan indicated Naomi's expression turning to one of shock, as if she recognized Touma.
"Okay, that makes three people that Touma-san seemed to know during that time," Souta sported a serious expression.
"Everyone," the Doctor brought everyone's attention. "I think it's probably for the best that we head back to the TARDIS. As things stand, the more we stay here, the more likely we may encounter something else that we may not possibly be prepared for."
"The Doctor is right, while we walk back to the TARDIS, we can continue our conversation mid-way," Lelouch stated.
"TARDIS?" the girls would ask.
"It's a safe zone, and that's all we can tell for the moment," Conan responded.
And so, everyone would quietly begin to walk forward, turning left. While Lelouch and Souta were near the Doctor, taking the lead, Kyon, Touma, and Conan were in the back of the party, discussing with the four girls.
"So, does anyone of you girls want to explain how you all ended up here?" Kyon could not help but bring out, wanting some kind of explanation why these four were here in some abandoned but haunted school. It was pretty much confirmed to be haunted because of the dead bodies and the decaying individual that he shot earlier.
The four girls who were with them were glancing at each other. Seiko in turn would speak up.
"...Umm, well, I can't say much for Akaboji-san, but we, well, me, Naomi, Yuka-chan, and a few other people that we know did this charm."
Seiko was glancing unsurely at Touma when she mentioned "a few other people" that she, Naomi, and Yuka knew, because similar to Touma, they were receiving a few memories that they swore never really happened to them technically, and yet, it felt like it did.
"The Sachiko Ever After Charm," Conan grimly spoke the name, gaining everybody's attention. "Is that right?"
Touma would twitch a little upon hearing the name 'Sachiko'. That name felt off to him. He did not know why. It was familiar, but he does not know why.
"Y-Yes. It was something that our class representative decided because-" Naomi said, looking troubled.
"Suzumoto-san was transferring," Touma muttered, narrowing his eyes towards the hallway as he walked. He caught the attention of Naomi, Seiko, and Yuka who looked surprised.
"Y-Yes," Seiko muttered.
"The charm, I would guess, was found on the internet, more specifically the blog of a well-known occult investigator, Saenoki Naho," Conan explained, getting the full attention of the four. "As to what the blog stated, there is a ritual centered around a local folk legend in the city of Tenjin, relating to a ritual that is intended to commune with a mysterious spirit called Sachiko, a young elementary school student who disappeared more than thirty-five to forty years prior. Even though she died within its grounds, it is said that her spirit still wanders the Earth, but she has been given powers to grant wishes and ease worries to others. The description of the charm would allow those who recite it to be bound together as true friends for eternity. However, if the ritual is not performed exactly as specified, it would anger the spirit of Sachiko. Tell me, you four, is this accurate?"
"Y-Yes," Seiko muttered before eventually getting her bearings together. She had a couple of questions in her mind and it relates to Conan. "But wait, hold on, who exactly are you anyway?"
"Edogawa Conan, detective," Conan responded seriously, surprising the four.
"Wait, what?!" Kokuhaku made a shocked expression. "Edogawa Conan?! Aren't you what the newspapers and tabloids called the KID Killer?!"
"You can say that," Conan confirmed.
"KID Killer?!" Naomi raised an eyebrow. "As in, the child who is pretty well known for going up against Kaitou KID and keeping him from stealing stuff?"
"("Well, that's one summarized way of putting it.")" Conan thought dryly, recalling all of the heists that he and the infamous phantom thief had encountered each other in a battle of wits. Though the reasons behind the heists have multiple layers of hidden meanings, most of which aren't even known to the public eye.
"Yes, the same one," Conan confirmed. "Though in any case, regarding the ritual you all did, I and most of my friends here, except for Touma-san and the Doctor, once attempted it."
"Wait, you have?" Seiko raised an eyebrow. "Is that how you all ended up here?"
"No," Touma shakes his head. "Actually, the ritual surprisingly didn't work. Conan-kun took the lead and performed all of the procedures correctly, but it still didn't do anything."
"Then... how did you all ended up here...?" Seiko asks.
"We'll get to that part later, first things first, how did you, Nakashima-san, and Mochida-san know who Touma-san is?" Conan inquired.
"...Umm," the aforementioned three were troubled at the question, as if they could not provide a clear answer.
"...Honestly, I don't know myself..." Naomi shakes her head. "I just... I just knew that we met this person before... But I can't remember where exactly..."
"Same for me," Seiko answered. "When I try to remember, it always seems to... it's like..."
And Seiko became rather silent. She stopped walking. Her expression, from one of confusion, was slowly changing into one of horror. One of her hands was placed to her chest while the other was placed to her forehead. Her breathing appeared labored. Her eyes widened. Everyone noticed it.
"Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha-What is this?! I don't understand! I don't understand! I don't understand! I don't understand! I don't understand! I don't understand!" Seiko could not help but repeat and exclaim.
"Seiko!" Naomi tries to get Seiko's attention by shaking her shoulders.
T̷̏ͅh̶̝͌̾ͅó̸̼͙͘͘s̴̥̈̂̀ȩ̸̟͆͂̋͜ ̶̧̩̤̔̈́w̵͈͑͋ȟ̵͉̠̐͐o̷͙̰̣͝ ̷̠͌̄ḥ̷͍̏ạ̶͌̇̓v̸̙̳̹͑͝e̶̜̠̿̀͌ ̴̧̖̀d̴͙̮͆i̵̺̜͔̿͌̑e̶̼̭̾͠d̵̝̠́̽ ̷̛͕̦͍̄͒o̷͕͔̿̒n̵͕̞̮͋͘c̶͓̣̞̈́̀̈ẽ̶͎̯͙͋͝ ̶̜̟̑a̸̼̽ȓ̴̡͉̣͝è̸̡̼̣̍ ̴͇̬̜͘f̵̜͊͜á̵̩͇̩̾̕t̴̩̍͊̎ë̴̥̬̖́d̵̡̰͉̃̌͝ ̸̖̓ț̷̨͉̋o̸̰͍͖͐ ̷̪̀͛d̵̛͉̭̍̓ḭ̵̟͆̔e̸̳̬͛ ̴̡̑̂̈́f̵̟͒ǫ̸̀͒͠ŗ̸̲̝̓̽ȅ̵̼̱̳͛v̵̱͎̓̈́͠e̶͓̕r̷̤̗͕̋.̸̧̢̖̃̀
"('What the hell?!")" Touma muttered in his thoughts, hearing this strange ominous detail within his mind.
"("What was that?!")" Conan muttered in his thoughts. hearing this strange ominous detail within his mind.
Both Touma and Conan looked at each other. With a glance, they understood each other. They both heard and thought of the same thing.
"Look! Something's coming out of her!" Lelouch pointed out.
And it was some kind of dark blackish aura that emanated from within Seiko. It surprised everyone, and concerned Naomi and Yuka who tried to call out to Seiko who seemed lost in her own world. With quick thinking, Touma would raise his right hand - Imagine Breaker - and would begin to touch Seiko's shoulder.
...A shattering glass effect echoed throughout the hallways.
"Haaaah!"
A long breath came out from Seiko. It felt like she just got out of her self-contained nightmare. She glances around, seeing the people who are looking at her in worry. She could not say anything. Her expression was anxious and dreadful. She felt like she saw something. No, not just one, a few memories that relate to a rope. She felt like her neck was being hanged. She felt like she was dying. And she felt that pain forever.
"Umph!"
Seiko felt sick. Touma and Naomi were doing their best to support her, glancing at each other in worry. Conan was looking at this situation with a concerned expression.
"("What was that just now?")"
Conan thought gravely as he began to analyze the same dark energy frequencies that he detected from his alternate self's dead body and the zombified decayed individual that Kyon shot with his holy revolver.
"...Grk!"
Conan would notice Touma grit his teeth, raising his right hand towards his mind. Everyone else would notice it as well.
"Touma-san!" Naomi muttered.
"Touma!" the Doctor, sporting an expression of worry, would head towards him and put a hand on his shoulder.
Touma, on the other hand, was experiencing an intensely vivid and slightly painful deja vu. There was a word, as twistedly rhythmic as a nursery song, a name that continues like an unnatural echo.
S̷̡͕̮͍̓̄̓a̴̯̯͓̮̅c̴̗̜̣̎h̷͓̣́̓̇͠ȋ̶̛͇̫͓̗k̶̦̏o̶̦̪̰͇͝͝.̶̘͓̺̥̎̋ ̵̧̜̰̬̓͘Ś̶̙̋̽͒ą̵̨̹̖͒̏͝͝ć̶͚̠ḩ̸̖̣̬̂̔̌́i̴̤̇k̵̻͌o̴̝͎̍̍͐̂.̴̾ͅ ̷̛̺͈̝̐̄̒S̵̮̑a̸͚̲̥͛c̴̡̛̯͉͜͠͝h̶͇͙͆ȉ̷̛̦͓͂͝k̴̟̪̀̏ő̷̥͙̓͠.̶͇̽̓ ̸̡͓̄̂̓͂S̴̹̥̳̅̓̆͌a̸͇̫̪͂͊c̵̰͙͎͂ḥ̴̏̎ĭ̷̜̯̓ǩ̵̬̰o̷̢̯͠ͅ.̵̨̺̉ͅ ̵͙͉̖̐̊̉̊S̴̢̗͐̒͋̐a̷͔̻͌̎̿ć̷͓͐͂̌h̵͉͆̋̅̽ị̴̟̅͛͝k̶̟̫̇̍̿ỏ̶̡̥͉̅̓͘.̸͎̫̄̌̽͠ ̵̧̡͖͑͛̐͠Ś̷̱͇͓̫a̸̧̧̗͍̎̅c̶̟͕̽͒͗ȟ̴̜̚i̵͇̮̮̹͊̍k̶͖̐̅̓ơ̶̱̈́͋͝.̴̟̗̫̈́͜ ̷̩͆Ş̶̤̪̝̄͒̿́a̴̪̜̹̾c̶̜̙̈͛̈́h̴̜̱̭̊̀͌͒i̴̞̺̺̭̿̾͌͑k̸̲̀̍̆ö̶̘̲̦́̽̍̈.̶̮̫̺̄ ̵̘́́Ş̸̙̞͇̋͗̾̑a̶̺̱̽̽̚c̸͎͉̓͜͝h̶̥͔͓̓̉̋ͅi̶̧̛͎͓̅́̍͜k̸̠̱̍ȏ̴̜̞͈̄͝.̷̡̡̛͌̊ ̸͙̪̳̒͝S̴̗̟̃͑͐̕a̴̹̺̅̂͠c̵̲͎̻̱̉ḣ̸̢̦̩̥̋̾̉ỉ̷͉̏k̶̦̹̭̖̒o̶̬͋.̷̣͚͍̍̈ ̸̘̰̺͈̌̽̌S̷̘̲̍̉̎̎ǎ̷̼̱̽͜c̸̣͖͖̭̈́h̵̭̯̙̿̐͐ị̷̗̊̔͜k̴̖̩̮̥͊ö̸̞́͊͐ͅ.̶͓͋͗͠ ̵̱̯͛̊S̶͇̲͖̾̈̇̀ḁ̸̡̪̺̐̃c̵̥̠̑̓̕h̸̖͝i̸̮͇͕͝k̸̝̟͛̂͠o̶̭̟̝̦͋́̓.̷̮͔̮͋̀͜ ̵̡̭͖̖͝Ș̶͔̯͌͠ȁ̶̙͚̔͋̑ċ̶͉̞͘ͅh̵͕̎í̸͐̎͋͜k̴̳̫̫͍̄̀͆̌ő̶̬̞͉̭̏̑.̴̱̈́̄ ̶͇͕͙͂́̽S̷͕͓̠̆̓̅a̵͚͛c̴͈͈̈́h̷̛͈̘̘̽i̸̛͙̲̐k̴̻̆́̕͝o̷̰̭͛.̶̢͔̘̜̑̆͐͝ ̷̡͔̌̿͜Ş̶̬͋a̸̠̓̈́c̵̠̚ḧ̷͉́̽̀͘ḭ̸̩̤̀̚k̷͎̊̄ȯ̶̢͕̖͕̈́̏̇.̶̤͋̊̀̎͜ ̵͍͔̊̕S̷͈͉̳̰̕͝â̸͍̩͛c̷̡͖͓̗͊̓h̶̝̣͈̜̽̏ȋ̴͙͚̤̼̇̀̀k̷̨̮͋͜͝͠͠ọ̵̺̲̦̿̑.̷̙̳̞̈́ ̶̜̫̻͐Ś̴͖̭̑̕͝a̸̢͛̚c̶͖̗͊̚h̶̩̽̀ȉ̴̢͍k̶̛̯̼̽͌o̶̩̠̍.̷̤͇̜́ ̵̠͕̙̳̒̈̎S̸̰̠̍͆̎a̸̡̩̣͂̾c̶̡̩̻̙͑̿h̷̼͙͖̒̇̉̑ͅi̶̤̫̐ͅk̷̋͋͜o̶͉͙̲̦͒͊.̶̰͓͎́ ̸̖̚S̶̭̟̫̄ạ̵̫̇͒̀̆ç̶̉h̷͚͇͓͘į̴̺́͋k̴͇̦̞̊o̶̝̜̍.̸̮͙̼͗̏̆ ̶̨͇̬͆̓̇̾ͅȘ̷̱̭̩́́a̴̝̓̔c̵̗̥̙̖̍̿͠h̶̹̥̥́͛̿͘ȋ̷͉̥ķ̵͘ͅỏ̴͓͉͎͒̅̏.̸̮̕ ̶̝͓̓̏̔͛S̸̡̯͉̩͠a̶̙̞͑̚c̵͈̭̾h̷̻̙̰̄͊ị̸̡̯̬̿k̷̛̤̲͋̀͊õ̷̤̙͎͍͛̚͠.̴̪̔̿͝ ̶͚͎̅͑̾͜S̸̡̝̖͆a̷̟̺̗̔͛ĉ̴̙̞͙̄̂h̵̡̻̗̓͗̌͘î̴̼͙̦k̸̞̜̇̈́̄̚o̵̙̼͖̎̑.̴̢̡̲̦̃͗͊̚ ̸̛̖̈́̎S̶̻̘̚á̷̭͔͙̘̍̏̾c̵̡̧̲̥͋ẖ̸͍̋͊̚i̶͍̬̖̎̐̔̊͜k̷̗̳̈́͂ȍ̸̘͗̄̕.̷̨̣̣͗ ̶̢͈̩̲̑̋S̸̛̰̖̟͊̀ă̸̹̄͛c̶͍̱̈́̇̾̿ͅh̴̤͗̊̓͋ȋ̴̤͖̀̍k̶̥̜̠͋́o̷̦͒̌͛͜.̸͍̲̱͈̆̓̾̃ ̴̨̖͂͝Ş̷̙̭̽ä̴͎̬̼ç̵̬̤͛̉h̷̹̟̹͛̔i̵̪͚͙͕͂̈́̕k̶̘̲̭̺͊́͘͠o̵͍͖͛̊̏͠.̴̬́̽͌ ̶̝͚̙̩͊͑̀S̸͇͚̐̀̾͂a̸̙͋̐c̵̘̳̋̊̈́͋͜h̷̯̻̦͌͜͠i̸̢̤͑͜k̵̩̬̮̍͊o̷̝̘̬͛̃̌̔.̷̘̣͍̉́͑ ̴̝͌͊̎̔S̴͔̽á̷̠̎ć̸̝̦̄̆ȟ̸͔̗̬ȉ̸̗̙̥̙̋́̎k̴̥͎͉͛͗ǒ̶̡́͗.̴̡̯͕̅͌ ̴̡͈͝S̸͕̋͌͑̚a̷͎͊̽̒̾c̸̘͔̟̄͠͝h̵̗͈̆̍͘i̴̤͎͛̔k̷̠͈̈́̃̎͝ơ̷̡̝͖̯̋̏̊.̵̘̲͓̦͂̆ ̶̗͕̹̄͑S̵͊̍̓̽ͅḁ̸̋̎͜c̸̛̞̱̐̀ẖ̶̢͒į̴̛̥͕̪̊́̚k̵̜̖̹̇̋̏̅ỏ̷̗̳̪̗̔.̸̧̲̱̏ ̸̳͈̙͖̂̃͘S̶͉̈́ȧ̶̧̫̲̉͋͝ç̴̨̧̖̓͒͂̚h̷̝͇̜̑͐̌i̷̮͉͋̀͛͝k̴̮͙̊͊̽͠o̴̜̟̍̂̓͠.̸̢͖̥͐͠ ̶̧̲͔̋S̷̞̎̈à̸̢̩̒̾̕c̶͓͌͌̊ͅh̵͉̓͂̊ȋ̸̤̩͖̱́k̷̰̱̮̎̒̋o̸̘̳̝̰͛.̴̣̩̥̼̓̏̊̕ ̴̧̾̎S̸̟̭͓̬͠á̴̛̞̅c̴͈̄͊h̴̳̐̂̈́͜͝i̷̠͎͂̿͗̿ͅk̵͔̗̊̉̚̚ȯ̵̖͖̬͎.̵̨͔̝̈́ ̶̪͙́͑S̶̛̥̭͛ä̶̘͖̀̇ͅc̶̩̾̑͗́ḩ̶̭̲͋̀͂͘i̴̬͇̐k̸̤̩̬̒͒̀͜͝o̶̠̯͙͈̎.̴̞̥̹́̿ ̸͙̤͕̲͒͘S̵͓̯̐͝a̵̠̗̩̿̄͜c̸͇̦͐h̷̪͙̙̎ͅȉ̶͍̈́ķ̷̭̝͛o̵̼̞̟͆͌̑̊͜.̶̳̽́ ̵̹̿͂̃S̵̭̈͝a̸̧̻̾̿c̸̛̪̬̭͓̆͒̋h̵͍͖͔͇̒ǐ̸͎̤͖̾̑k̵̛͓̳̱̣̀̀́ơ̸͎̺̳̜͋.̶̣̼͙̺̎̓̔ ̷̠̥̰͌S̴̱͔̼̀̒a̶̭̹̋̍̆̽c̸̥̙̤̰̐́̆͛h̶͍̣̀ì̸̮̤k̷̢̗̞̄͝ͅő̷͔̮͚̏̌.̶̻͓̻͊̌̓͜͝ ̶̪́S̴̝̰̜̈͝a̶̗͂c̶͚̄̎h̷͈͑̀͋i̷̦̻̠͆̽k̴̘̘̔̂̓̃ò̶̧̃̒.̶̤͊̐͆ ̵̦͚̘̠̒̋S̵̝̗̯̪̈́̓̐͝a̶͔̮̳̳͆c̴̥̖͆̾̔̋ḩ̴̨̯͕͗ȋ̴͕̬͋k̴̢̼͂̇̀̋ȏ̷̲̱͊̊͝ͅ.̵̨̘̝̓̌̚͝ ̵͎̰̉́̒͜͝S̶̝̈̏̅ä̵̹̻͓͎́̔c̸͓͝h̶̭͍̟̑̈́̈į̵̢̲͖̑̒k̶̮̯̔͊͝ó̷̳̈́̒͛.̴̭̾͌͛ ̵̮̓̇̆ͅS̷̥̝͓̒̅̔̇a̶̢̦̜͕̾͋c̵̙̃h̴̬̯͕̻͂̀̌i̷͉̥̫̊́͘̚k̸͚̗̉o̵̝̯̣̍̓͂.̴͍͍̟͖̓ ̵̯̟͍̞̾͝S̸̰̙̈͜a̴̫̝̾̿͂c̶̰͙̬̔̾̓ḥ̵͋į̸͛k̵͇̱̖͑͜o̵̯̺̫̿́̈́.̴̛̰̾͑͘ ̶̦̞̬̂S̴̝̆̇́a̴͈̹͈͚̚c̸̡̀̕̕h̵͈̣̆͘ị̷̲̐̎̈͑ǩ̴̠̤ȏ̶̡͈̭̤̍͑.̵͕͇̏ ̵̖͔̜̀̚S̸̗̫̎a̸̼̙͚̽c̸̹̝͒̊͘ȟ̵̯͖̑̓̏i̶͔͒̕ͅḳ̵̻̹͋̇̉͂o̶̳̗͛͒̏.̴̫̖͆̋̚ ̶͖͉̖̦̀̌S̸̢͉̜̋̆̔a̶̖͍̬̍̓ͅċ̷̨͈̙̓ḩ̶̛̭̪̦͛̅i̵̻̺͋̔̂k̶̳̝͉͖͐͘o̴͔̫̽.̶̖͍̞́̾͘͜ ̷̱͂̽̓̓Ṣ̸̡̫̈ǎ̵̢͈̮̂͊ĉ̴̘̳̮̲̀ḫ̵̦̻͊͆ǐ̸͓̮̘͚̋ķ̵̳͉̍͋ͅŏ̴̢̟̝̎̀͊.̷͙̑̈́ ̷̛̤̫̳̏̽͝Ṡ̷͕̟͖̔a̵͇̠͇͇̓̐c̷̛̹̋͊̀ͅh̷̘̒̽̿ï̵͓͙̓͒̇͜k̶̮̺͉̻̊́͘̚ò̷̜̳̝̂.̶͚͊́̎ ̶̛̖͉̜͑̈́S̷̹͓̅ą̷̛̼͍̈́̋c̴̛͓h̶̢̧̩̔̈́̄i̸̙̖̊̈́k̶͕̺͍͉̿͋̄ő̶̯͑͝.̴̗͘ ̷̡̲̫̐͊̆͜S̸̡̱̦̗͒̂̚ä̷̺̯͉̲͗͝ć̷̣͍́͆̚h̶̨̜̚̕ị̴̰̩̐́k̷̛̮͍͈͜o̴̱͂͑.̵͎̼͙̬̕͝ ̸̞̈́S̴̨̏̿̍͝a̷̧̹̭̔c̸̝̙͕̈̈́̚h̸͇̩̒̒̽ǐ̴͖̆͠k̵̨͔͙̞͂̌̔o̸̧̧̱̾.̸̲̆͊̾̾ ̶̖͖̘̬̑̇Š̶͖͎͍a̷̞̱̦̓̄͛ͅc̵͇̃̾̀h̶̥̗̒i̷̛̳̬̔̀̈́k̷͚̩̯̏̀͋o̸̹͙͙͌͒͋̄.̴̧͎͊ ̵̛̺͔͖̔Ș̶̺̓ạ̶̡͍̗́c̷̦̰̙̃́͊h̸̨̾i̴̳͌͒́̉k̶̤̭̿ő̶͎̈.̴̯͚̺̒̆͗͜ ̴̨̼̆͝S̴̜̗̍̑̒̌ḁ̵͇̔̈̑c̸̨̃̐ḧ̷̘̖̳́i̶͈͗̈́́̆k̶̗͑͂͘ò̶̱̳̓͝͝.̴̝̯̓̇ ̸̤̌Ŝ̶̹͇̝̠a̵̻̤̓͜c̶̣̑h̵̨͋͝i̶̪̎̇͑ḱ̷͖͔̖̜̈́o̶̩̼̮̯̐̾̇.̵͉͉͍̜̍̊̉ ̶̡͎̾͝S̷̩̏͑a̵̫͝c̸̛̜͖̆̌̽͜h̴̤̰̔i̷͕̿̈́͝k̶̮͈̪̅o̵̮̐̓.̴̯̘͈̍̀ ̶͖̆̌́͑S̸̺̤̀â̵̢͉̦͍̐c̶̢̍̌̊̀h̴̞͊̈́i̷̛̗̳͑̊k̸̡̮̽͗ọ̴́̈́͌.̴̲͗̓̀̀ ̷͕̌̍̚S̴̪̼̩̋̅̕ä̵̛͖̠̟̠́̂c̶͈͒̈́h̴̜̪̼̗͒i̵̫̯̯͍͒͝k̵̝̩̽o̶̡̘͌̇͊.̵̯͂̂͠ ̸̜͎̹̺͂̑S̸͍͔̘̤̉a̷̛͓c̶͚͂̌h̶̤̹̹̏̇̄͘i̶̳̟̲͠k̴̮̓̉ơ̷̗͚.̷̭͆ ̵͔̻͙͋̎Ś̵̬́ȁ̶͖͔c̶͖͒͒́͠h̶̙̺̮̺͊́ḭ̴̞̙͔̔̅k̵̤̞̦̾͊̑͝ö̵̻̭̫̾͗̂.̴̡̖̏͗͘͝ ̵͓͆̄͘͝Ṡ̵̫͝a̵̛͓͔c̴͈̋ͅh̴͍̦͔͂̓͘ͅi̵̼̜͕̍̎̀k̴̗̔͐o̶̭̲̬̗̒͌͐͘.̶͎̣͍̣̋̓͌ ̶̖͓͚̰̚S̵̛̼̬͓͈̍̒a̷̝̲̦̓c̸̗̘̝͋h̶͙̪̎̎i̴̛̮̙͂̏͝k̸̝͆̊͌̀o̶̢̬͙͈̒.̵̯̙̃̿́͠ ̸̜̠̏͆̓̚S̸̨̛̫̱̔͝ȧ̷͇̫̓͝͝c̸̞̯͗͂h̴͉͍̑̄̚i̷̛̤̐̚k̸̳̬̳͎̇͠õ̴̢̪̬.̴̣̤̯̂̑̀ ̵̪̩̣̪͊́̕S̶̳̟̞̈́̀̓́a̷̪̋̈̿c̷̫͚͎̖͆͑ḩ̴͎͈͈̏̄i̷̮̩̪͔̿͒̿̍ḱ̶̢̟̗̲ò̴̲̣̏͐͝.̷̋̒̄͜ ̸͖̟̍͜S̸̠̏͋a̸̛͙͖̓̓͠c̵̣͚͝h̴̰̘̪̆͂̈́̈i̷̡̻̬͆̍̄k̶̭͍̈̆̇̅͜o̵̧̨̲͉͒͝.̶͙̜̫̈̑̽̃ ̴̮̹̼̏̎̎S̴̡̤͂̆̀̀a̶̹͙̝͋́̈̓c̷̰͌͐͂ḥ̷͚͗̿͜ĭ̵͓̃k̸̡̨̇̃o̴̖̙͐̇̓̊͜.̷̫̗̌ ̸̹̥̱̀̊̅̉S̵̡̯̼̿̒ͅa̵̙̐̆̆c̶͍̆h̶̼̦̽i̷̡̜̊͗̑͘k̴̼͎͔̈̀̕ő̷̟̝̜̆̚.̷̲͍̘̉ ̸̤͙̋̈́̓̐S̷̳̣̖̝̏́a̴̳͓̜͒͂͊̏c̷̹̓͆̽͜͝ͅḧ̵̨̢́͒i̷̠͍͎͛̈̍̈́k̸̟̉̊͌̎o̷̗͉̾̔̚̕.̶̣̘̲̑̎͂ ̷̛̗̼̫̈́̚Ș̴͗a̸̬̍̊c̷̨̻͇͑͛̕͜h̴͖͚̖̦̽̾͊ï̴̛̘̹̥̿͘k̷̡̩͗̂ͅo̷̧̳͋͌̋̓.̸̲͙̝̀ ̷̛̱̿S̶̛̤͂à̸̡̯͓̊͜͝c̵͓̿ḥ̷̅ȉ̴̪̦̆k̷̳̐́͋ö̷͕̥̻.̵̰̺͗ ̶͓̮͓̀͛́̀S̴̰͗͂͝ǎ̵͎̮͇̉̌ć̵̥̪̙͍̆́͌ḩ̴̞̓̃̿ͅĭ̷̼̥̱́ͅk̷͔̙͍̓̎͐́o̶̹͒̏͊.̴̄̋͐̃ͅ ̸̞͐́S̷̪̮̘͗̀̕ͅă̶̦̺̍̽c̷͙̙̕h̵͕͚̒i̴̝̤̅̑̆͝ḳ̷̤͔̂̒̎͘o̵̲̝̘̺͐̓̈́͝.̶̘͉̓̉̅ ̷̜͗̕S̵̖̉á̵̱̠̇̊ͅc̴̹̒͌h̶̩͎̤̉͑ì̸͈̙͙̠k̸̨̘̱̤̇̌͠ő̷̡̻̥̟.̸͇̰̠̆̌ ̸̳̂̐͠S̵͕̥̘̆̍ä̷̦̖̮̻́̒̍͝c̴̣͎̗̖̓̄̄̾h̸̲͇̘̋i̴̱̥͌͆k̸̨̮̅o̵͈͋.̸͚͉̩̰͋̇̈́ ̸͈̞̬̀Ṡ̷̺̥̖̗́ặ̶͖̣̓͛̏c̸̞͇͛̇̕h̶̛͈̘̯̖̀̐͊ȉ̸͇̀̈́͠k̴̻̙̅ơ̷̺͓̇.̵̡͚̣̹̈͑̐̇ ̷̡̼͔͋Š̷̠̔͂͘ā̸͕̙c̸͇̮͔͚̑h̶̙̤̲̘̾́í̷͔̱͆̈́̀ḳ̷̢̘̈́̂́͝ȏ̶̡̳͙́͝.̷̼̅̒̏͠ ̶̼͉̖̟̓͒́͗S̵͍̻̪̐̀a̸̪͆̚c̵̪̥̾̀̒̒ḩ̸͌͠͝i̶̧̖͚͖͛k̶̜͍̆̈́̕o̴̻͋͠͠.̶̫̀ ̴̗͆̓̇̎S̶͚͍̤̄̍a̴͚̭̩̓͆c̴̛͖͍̮̒̄h̶̹̰̗̾̽̚i̴̢̲̞̕ķ̸̥̋̒ō̸̮͍̦̦͋͂.̴̡̝̐̾͠͠ ̵̫͖̲̈́Ș̸̇͝ā̷̜̗͕c̸̗͛̍͌̂h̵̘̺͖̝͗͆̔ḯ̷͚̘̅͝ḵ̴̺͐̿̈́̋o̷̤̔͗̽̉.̵͕̪̿́̈́͠ ̶̧͈̖͍̉Ş̷̛̻͉̪̽͐̄ǎ̷̛̜͓̀̀c̴͚̼̀͝ĥ̵̘̩͕̣í̷̠̯̖̋ḱ̴̨̡́͝ơ̵̧͔̑͗.̶̖̼̝͕̈́͝ ̸̢̙͖̆̎S̴̟̟̳̪̿̇̏͘ă̵̝̕c̷̜̲͎̙̐ḥ̶̦̹̌̅i̶̤͍̳̓̾̀͝k̵͓͍̭̳͆̆̚ō̵̦.̴̠̙̞̎̅͠ ̷̞̗͇̪̀S̶̜̠̰̓̀á̶͚͇̊́͝c̶̰͌͗͝h̶͔̮̩̆͐͒͛ͅí̶̫̺̟̅͐͘k̵̨̺̼̉̐͝o̴̺̳̤̿̾.̷̩̖̍͊̌͜͜ ̷̥͕̔̓S̶̨̪̣̬̅à̵͕͈̍͘c̴̼̫̰͚̈ĥ̶̻͔̓̄̍ī̵͉̯̤͉̿k̶̺͔̞̪͛̈́̒͗õ̷̝̻̻̱͋.̶̞̰͈͒ ̴̝̆̏̉S̵͖͖̓̐̈́̓a̶̮̔͛c̶̛͎̭h̵̢̜́į̵̔ḵ̷͖̎̾̍ơ̷̺͒́͝.̸̭̍̀͒ ̷͎̜̘̂S̴̲̲̊͜ą̷̻͙̀̈́͝c̴͉̼̩̜͋̌͝ḩ̵̟̣͎̋́̿̓ȋ̴̗̅k̸̥̍͛̊̊o̶̩̭̲̮̎̀̂.̶̡̺͒̋ ̷̢̺̟̮̈́̈́̑̀S̷͔̅̈͊͋å̵̧͔͗c̴̰̫͔̄͊͝͠h̶͇͎̎́̚i̸̢̞̯͗̆̈́k̵̰̞̒̿o̷̦̫͌.̸͕̫̱̥̅̉͗ ̴̃͜͝͝S̸͖̣͉̑͌͊̕ă̷͔̝̰̏̏c̸̮̞̮̝̊̆͠h̵̨̹̯͛̓́͜ì̴̦͚̫͑͂̕ķ̶̘̳̃o̸̢͙͕̯͛͊͝.̵̡͇͆ ̸͇͓͖͒S̷̹̮͒̈́̚ả̵͍̯c̷̖̝͈̑ḣ̸̡̓͊i̸͙̅͜k̸̭̊̏͝ô̵̤.̷͓̈́̀̚ ̵͖͉̾͘S̶̞̯̭̥̿̂̏̚a̷̖̭̼̾̈͗c̸̨̳͙̗͐̌ḧ̵͚̍ì̵̙̪k̴̻̼̠̮̈͠o̷̖̓̄̃͘.̸̙̬̜́̅̀͋ ̴̪̏̊̋̽S̶̬̒̒̓͝a̷͎̒̓c̴̩̐͘h̸͍̠̟͋̓̚i̷̗͋̒k̶͕̓̎̆o̷͍͍̩̫͛.̵̟̦̝̅̏ ̴̟̹̔̃͝S̶̢̜̼̓́̕a̵̝̜͉̝̒̚c̴̢͔͉̘̐͐̃͛ḩ̶̜̙̯͆ḯ̴̟͔̑ḱ̷̛̗̏o̴̼̪̹̊͠.̵͓̗̙̼͗͋̌ ̸͖͓̩͖̓̓S̸̛̯͇̰̞̿̄̚a̵̲̺̮̤͒́͋c̴̥̝̼̗͒̋̚h̷͇̞̘͑̎ĭ̷̲̭̝̝͗k̸͔͓͆o̶͇̦̾̏.̷͉̤́̀͘ ̶͎̼̌̿͜ͅS̸͓̫̠̎̽ą̴̧̘̜̿̈̓̒c̸͖̳͋h̵͚̣̔̃̎̾ͅͅi̸͇̎k̷͙̩͚͝ǫ̴̛̱͒.̶͍́ ̸̗̥͈̎̅S̸̼̞̮͖͑̈́̿â̸̛̭̞̼͎͝c̷̡͗͝h̸̨̺̝̘͐̈͌̕i̴̯̫̗̊̓͑͝k̸̥̱̎o̶̡̟̭͙͛͑͂.̸̖̍͜ ̵͙͛̒͜S̴̘̳̦̃̍̈a̶͇͎͝c̶̺͇̩̳͑̄h̶̡͙̖̜̀̄̕i̶͇̅͑k̶̞̟͈͝o̵̮͋͐͜.̶̢̲͂̊͛̎ ̴̠̓S̶͚̀ä̷̼̮͈̼́́c̵̯̲̉ͅh̵̛͎̮i̶̻͍̺͂̑͠k̴̠͌ó̷̖͖̍.̸̬̠̯̑͂ ̸͇̍͑̀S̵̭͍͂̈́͒̚á̶̢͇͕̗c̸͕͋͒͛̒h̷̜̓̍i̶̩͉̽͊͘k̶̼͛̍ọ̵͕̭͈́̾͊͝.̸̣͎̎ ̵̼̬̃̌͛͘S̷͕͖̆ä̷͎͓̭̝́̕c̶̯̓̈́͛̍h̴̡̺̚ͅì̶̧́̆͜k̵͕͚̜͂͘͠ȯ̴̻͊͗̕.̷͔̭̰̈́
"Shi-Shinozaki..."
Touma could not help but mutter. His thoughts were jumbled and aggravating. His heart was torn in shreds of despair and tears. A failure. A failure to save someone. A haunted young girl. A girl dyed in red. Dead bodies came and go upon her wake of terror.
From his mind's eye, he could see an entire world plunging into shadow and darkness. Dead spirits and monsters litter the earth. Humans die in droves. Towns and cities fell. An accursed sight. A bitter taste and foresight into the future of an unknown universe.
"...Sa...Sac...Sachi...ko..."
The name. Sachiko Shinozaki. The name was very familiar to him. But why? Why? Because it was a name from long ago, in a time of testing, a time of tribulation, a time when he - Touma Kamijou - spent millenniums walking an infinite and endless hell. There were many things he did not recall at the time. Some were blank. And it was deliberate. The memories were blank as they either related to what he was before, or what he was to be after, or the people that he would meet once again.
The pain was excruciating. The static was getting worse. It was almost as if he was recalling something he shouldn't have. It was like his own sense of time seemed twisted as if two variations of his life were being played out in full like a cinema but realistic and felt throughout his five senses. He couldn't hear anything else. No, not even when his fellow companions would try to ask him what was the matter with him. He couldn't hear them but he could still see them. And he could see the Doctor, seeing that strange grim understanding expression on his face, almost as if he immediately figured out what was wrong with him.
There was...
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Light and Shadows - Corpse Party: Blood Drive Music Extended
"...Onii-chan."
"...!"
After that, the static cleared. He heard a voice. A bittersweet voice. A voice that he never thought he'd hear again. But it was not just him, everyone else heard the voice. They all turned forward back. And they beheld a petite figure dyed in red.
Yuka, Naomi, and Seiko felt instinctively terrified at the sight of her, as if they immediately recognized her from somewhere, but they know not where. It was by instinct, as if... from some kind of past life... Kokuhaku was also terrified, though more on seeing something that looked like something that was from a horror movie about a vengeful ghost.
As for the Doctor and his companions except for Touma, they only narrowed their eyes and maintained caution, showing no hint of fear whatsoever. The Doctor was walking a little forward, positioning himself to protect everybody else. But he did not speak. He could tell that something special was taking place and decided to hold his tongue for now.
She had long black hair and bangs, some of which covered her face. She wears a tattered red dress and not much else. Her skin was sickly grey, having lost its color from long ago, along with a few scars of painful rope burns around her neck. Sandals were seen around her feet... that was also floating a little above the floor.
What was most concerning however was her smile.
"...Hello once again, Kamijou Touma-oniichan."
The girl dyed in red addresses only one particular person in the room. Everyone glances towards him. Touma Kamijou. And he was staring at the girl with a wide-eyed expression. He recognized her. From so long ago...
"...Sachi..." Touma muttered. A tone of sorrow. A tone of regret. A tone of worry. A tone of fear, but not for himself, but for what was currently happening. A tone that relates to so many memories that came from before. A past life when he and a particularly energetic young girl would smile at him. A tone that expressed a particular nickname. Only he was allowed to call her that.
"It's been a very long time... I haven't seen you in... centuries I think... I could not say accurately... Time is but a fleeting thought in this place..." the girl dyed in red spoke with a smile that never changed. But Touma, as well as his fellow companions, knew that underneath the smile was not a happy one. Touma knew the context of how and why, at least in part. Some memories were becoming a little more clear. Others were still foggy. "How long...?" She asked.
Touma twitched a little. He could not say. He could not speak. The way she asked expresses melancholy, accompanied by the bitterness of trying to defy fate, as if trying to fight it was worthless.
"...Hm? Quite interesting," the girl dyed in red's smile turned to one of amusement, looking directly at Seiko Shinohara, who was shuddering in dread. Her mouth was wide open as she remembered... ...how she... died.
"A little unexpected that you somehow broke out of my little trap this time. Perhaps it was because of onii-chan's and his friends' presence... and of course... it wouldn't be complete without a teacher..." The girl dyed in red would look at the Doctor when she mentioned the word 'teacher'. The Doctor of course would notice, as undecipherable thoughts filled his mind.
"...Anyway, onii-chan," the girl dyed in red looked back at Touma again, with a seemingly happy and innocent smile. "I'm glad that you're back, because I want to play a lttle game with you, just like the old days."
"("A game?")" Conan thought, paying attention.
"Here is the game. If you still have some memories of our time together, you would know Set A, which would be these troublesome nine from Kisaragi Academy. Aside from them..." the girl dyed in red would giggle a little. "...Well, I' would refer to Set B, Set C, Set D, Set E, and Set F. Each of them represent the past and the future of onii-chan's life, and also the life of one other friend of my onii-chan."
The girl dyed in red glances at Conan when referring to the "other friend of my onii-chan", which Conan notices, troubling him inwardly but maintaining his blank poker face.
"You see, now that you're here, onii-chan, I believe that it is about time we celebrate once again. I'm the birthday girl of course," the girl dyed in red would smile innocently, but it was far from innocent. She twists and dances as if she were an excited innocent child.
"The sets mark other people, right?" Conan spoke up, narrowing his eyes.
"B-I-N-G-O!" the girl dyed in red pointed her finger at Conan with a joyful smile. "As expected of the Great Detective. Yes, the following sets mark the people you would all need to find."
"Don't tell me..." Touma muttered, getting his bearings together, his expression being one of worry. "...Sachiko, you're dragging innocent people into this place once again."
"Again?" Kyon could not help but ask.
"Hmmmm," the girl dyed in red could not help but giggle like a child. But the giggle terrifies Yuka, Naomi, and Seiko who would recognize her somehow. "You realized that? Well, there is that little trick on the internet that I pulled."
"I knew it," Conan muttered, narrowing his eyes. "I always knew something was off with that ritual when I saw it on Saenoki-san's blog. That wasn't there before, and yet from what I find, it's been there for the past few months. Inconsistent... Just like the timeline itself is inconsistent back in my world..."
"That's right," the girl dyed in red. "I had to do a little bit of tweaking, move little things here and there, and you get the one ritual that some people would be gullible enough to try. The power of friendship. Isn't that sweet? Hmmmm..."
The girl dyed in red was giggling a little in amusement, making everyone cautious, and some even terrified of her.
W̷̞͈̾̽̇h̸̢̜̔͆̓́a̶̘̗̘͋̿t̸͈͖̺̒̂͌ ̵̣̙̝̿̊̅h̷͔͛̊a̵̼̋̈́̂v̶̢̱̪͚̏̎̀̃ë̴͈̟́ ̶̞̙̼̣̓̏y̵̭̹͝ő̶̦̥̫ǔ̵̧͙͂ ̶̨̛͉̪̱̉̿̓b̶̥́̔͝ę̸̠̓c̵̩̼̬̲̒͆͌͠ò̵̖̹͙m̴̥̖̔͝e̵͕̩̳̊?̷̢̝̥̃
Touma was silent. A wave of sadness and defeat enveloped him. A shivering thought slithered down his spine.
I̵̭̯̥͆̓̅͑ ̸̤̫̩̽̓̎̚a̵͖͈̳͍͊̀̔m̶̮̖͌ ̵̟͎͓̺̀͝w̷̯̍̀h̵̦̘͕̲̾̔̌͠ả̶̧̠̻̼ẗ̴̛̫́̐ ̵̞͂̀y̷̺̬͚̤͠ó̵̻̫̑̽́ư̶̯͌̿͘ ̸̢̠̿̊m̴͎̞̙͝a̵̰̳̘̍͜d̶̪͍̠̟̏̎ě̴̛̌̆ͅ ̶̝̝̬͐̑̾m̵͕̑̀͜e̷̬̅.̴̱̬̼̥͌͊͂͠ ̴̺͍̣̆̏̎̋
Memories of long ago. Of a hidden test of character that continued to haunt him to this very day. It all began when he was but eleven years of age. Since then, he lived, and died, and lived, and died, over and over. An endless cycle of karma, hitsuzen, and misfortune. He met people, saw places, saved worlds, saw people die, and many more. But he does not remember all of this. The girl dyed in red was one of many.
"The following sets mark the people you would all need to find. After all, it would not be fun if the others aren't aware of how the festivities are to play out. Hmmmm. I am so looking forward to an invigorating party... Oh, I know, I'd call it my one and only Corpse Party!"
The girl dyed in red - Sachiko Shinozaki - would raise her hands in festive joy.
"My special birthday, extended to more than just one day. Everyone that onii-chan knows, everyone that the great detective knows, all are invited, and I am so looking forward to when heads or tails start to roll!"
The Doctor and his companions could not help but pay attention to those words. Heads or tails? It could mean anything. But they knew it was nothing good.
W̴̜͍̪̻̃h̶͚̘̦͉̒ý̵̻͙͋̋̄̕?̵̝̼̝̟̱̆̽ ̴̝̓̽̆̓̑W̶̥̿̐h̶̡̠̭̬͎̓̓̋y̵̙͗̏̔́ ̴̳̩͎̓͆n̸͖͍̫͆̀̌ọ̷̪̤̩͂̇͛̔̚͜w̷̲̗̙͛̾?̶̗̰̬̚ ̶̧̡͇̥̉̓͒W̷̦̬̹͓̭̍̇͠h̶̥̱͇̿̎̊̕ỷ̸̧̛̖͓̈̊̿ ̴̮̱̲͈̠̈́c̸͙͎̮̘̦͊͐̇ȍ̸̻̣̮͠m̶̺͖̀͝e̵͙͕͉̋͆ ̷͖̼͑͝͠b̵̳̄̔̚a̵̬̍͆c̸̪͗̂̍̈́͘k̴̛̺͂͘ ̸͉̜̻̞̀͑͝n̸̹͉͉͉̩̑̏ö̷̡̢̠̫́̋͛̕ͅw̵̹̝͆̌̃?̷̧͚̪̲̏ ̶̞̔W̴̜̝̝̠̣̎̀̅h̶̯̝́́y̶͎͔̬͉̓̓̐́ ̵̯͈̘͚́͊̄̇d̵͓̄͝͠ͅï̴̝̽̍̈̆d̴̝̝̮͑̓ ̵̄͋̇͜͠y̷̨̪̦͍̳͆̎̽ö̸͕̭̜̞̅̓u̵̠̺̭͇̓̅͊̈́̄ ̴̱̖̭́͒̈l̷̢̻̪̞͜͝͠e̸̱͗̽å̵̺̻͕͎̏̎̚v̴̧̌͂̑̕e̷̻̜̘̟͊̄̒̽ ̵̙͚̘͙̾̄̀̇͝m̶̭͍̥̟̆̀̐͘ͅe̷͕̪͌͒ ̴̘͖͉͈̪̀̃͑͌ạ̷̇̕l̶̡͕͓̙͗͛̈́̋ȯ̶̭̘̪͒̐n̴̢̝̹͖̊̉̚͠é̵̱͉̀̈́̓̌,̶͍̗̝͈͓́̀̑͛̎ ̴͇͉̯͎̒͘͘ͅo̸̡͍͊͒ṋ̷͗i̴̳͗į̷͖̖̼̀̾͛́͆-̴̹̙͆̂̇̾͝c̸͖̠͈͊̃̂͋́h̸̼͖͚̼̝͗̽̐͒̚a̵̲̝͛̂n̸̮͊̐̌́̆?̷͇̈́͜ ̶̧̫̏͂W̸̨̛̭̽̃́͘͜ͅh̵̡̨͇̟̺̔̀̆͝ỳ̸̺̞͓͖̓͋̓̕?̵͖̣͙̇̽̎̀͒!̶̫̙͚̇
"...!"
A whisper of desperation was heard within his mind. Touma Kamijou felt guilt and sorrow. He felt helpless. He felt the urge to try to reach out for this girl dyed in red. To make her see the light again. To set her free. To keep his promise. Yes, a promise that he would set her free. But from what he could see, the girl was still trapped in this accursed darkness.
"Ne, onii-chan," Sachiko would look at Touma with a meaningful smile. "I wonder, can your right hand destroy death itself this time? When you could not even save me Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha."
A cackling laugh began to fill the air that was devoid of the living. She laughed, and laughed, and laughed, and laughed, and laughed as if she was a demon who had gotten the contract to the priceless soul of a saint.
A shudder was felt within Touma's soul. Narrowing eyes were seen in the expressions of the Doctor and from his companions. The three girls of Kisaragi High and Kokuhaku were terrified at the shivering chaotic delight. Seiko felt like she could not breathe properly upon hearing the sound of cruelty, of a laughter that hinges on death.
A little rumble was felt throughout the entire hallway. The floorboards, already old and worn out, felt like they were in danger of cracking. It would scare the girls, make the Doctor and his companions narrow their eyes, and Touma looking concerned.
And then, Sachiko's laughter would slowly subside, changing into lighter but creepier giggles. And her entire appearance begins to slowly vanish into thin air, leaving everyone. Her visage distorted and the sound of her voice suddenly changes to a sweet symphony at first before turning into a loud heavy shriek, almost as if it was the rumbling sound of a demon of thunder and lightning. Another change happens. The color red from her dress spread out and engulf her entire body like a ballroom dress. Her figure disappears like an illusion, crumbling into red petals that swirl around before vanishing along with her.
Before disappearing, her childish but meaningful smile was directed at one Touma Kamijou, her dearly beloved onii-chan...
"̵̟̲̭̐̈́̀W̴̞̔̓.̷͛ͅ ̴̙̾ȅ̸̮͕̺̋.̴̖͈̾͋͊ ̷̥͋l̴̻̉̇.̵͇̟̉̚ ̷̮̮̓͐c̴̛̞͋.̵̱̰̊ ̵͙̰̞̑͌̉o̸̺͈̓.̶͔͊ ̸̯̹͊m̸̛͖̝͈̔̆.̷̪̝̈́̂̑ ̷͎̝͒͝e̵̎ͅ.̴̢͍̉ ̴̍͜b̴̪̙̽͊͝ͅ.̷̻̱̒͘ậ̶̒.̴̱̭̪̈́̉̈c̷̭̘̦̊.̷̧̪́̇k̶̩̺̉ͅ.̷͍͑ ̶̩̖̓̃t̸͓̰̮̀.̸͖͈̒̆ ̵̘̽ͅö̷̡͉̆͑͜.̷̺͕͙̊̈ ̸̢͖̅H̸͍̞͋͝͠.̸̦͚͝ ̸͉̰̑e̷̡͘.̶̫̝͍̇̓ ̴͈͙̜̒͛ä̶̪́.̸͍̟̣̈́̇͋ ̶̢̪̀͆͘ṿ̷͙̈́̚̕.̴̧̜̞̋̄̊ ̷̪̙͗̀e̷̞͔̖̐͆.̸̨̼̠̄͆̔ ̴̨͈͇̾͊͑n̷̝̝̼̑.̶̥͚̪̎ ̸̙͉̝̚l̴͔̫̬̿̊.̷̦͇͈̃ ̶̧̻̑͊́y̸̲̬̎͑.̵̫͔̈́͑ ̵͔̹̣̑̎͒Ḧ̷̳͐̇.̷͙̌̽ ̵͔͍̳̀͆o̶̘̭͐̓̓.̴̨̲̼̅̋ ̶̩͔̥̌s̸̡͈͖͒̅͝.̸̠͗̏͐ ̷̖̚t̶̩̫̏.̴̛͚͌͑,̷͉̗͒͒ ̶͉̮̯̾͋K̶͚̀.̶̛̫͓̪͆͝ ̶̼̥̈́ȁ̸̟͙.̷̢̹̂ ̷̨̺̦͗̀m̵̯͈̂̔̚.̷͍͂ ̸̙͉̏̿͜i̵̛̠̘͖̚.̴̙͍̹́ ̸̧̌͘j̶̘̄̍͑.̶̗̎͗ ̵̥͎͂͊̕o̵̱̦̿.̵̻̤̖͘ ̵͍̻̌ͅṵ̷̍͋̇ͅ.̵͖̼͐̊̌ ̶̩͖͛Ţ̸̛̭̰͆͘.̶͉́̃̈́ͅ ̸̩͋o̴̪͝.̶̜̓̑̿ͅ ̷̾͒ͅu̸̢͉͊̎͝.̵̠̋̅͗ ̶̙͌͋͛m̸̮͈̿̽.̴̨͈͐͆ ̴̨͈̲̐̏̀a̵̝̙͛̈̎.̴̛͎͎̇́ ̸̪̹̉M̸͈̾̚.̷̧̻̽̃͝y̴͎̜̋́.̶̤͒ ̷͈̄́̈o̴̢̞͝.̷̻̃n̴̨̙̈́̚.̶̟̒̃̇ï̸̭̫̺̇͝.̷̟̺̃̓i̸̤͉͊.̸͔͋c̸̗̈͛̌.̸̭̿̀h̵̗̦̲͌̕.̸̼͊͝ͅa̴͍̻͋.̴̰̯̮͆͂̍n̵͓̟̈͑̓.̷̛̑̃ͅ ̸͙͚̹́L̶̰̯̀̈́.̸̧́̈e̶̥͈̫̎.̶̡͑̿ť̵̛̠̳̙͒.̵̢̻͕͑s̷̹̉̅͝.̷͕́͐̈ͅ ̷̜͕̍̈́̋g̵̰̖̭̈́͊̊.̸̲̖̎e̴̟̒͝.̴͙͑ť̶̟̠͙.̶̜͕͠ ̷̻̘̤̉t̸̢̧͓͝.̷̗̹̖͌́h̷̨͐̽͠.̸̨͚͕̄͌̚î̵̇̇ͅ.̴̹͖͗̂̅s̵͙̭͎͒̓.̶͇̯̜̽̂͝ ̴͎̙̃̈́p̷̨̩̈́̏̅.̶̫͋̇̐ā̸͙̿.̸͕̾̍͘r̸̗̓͒.̷͈̯͒t̵͒͜.̶͈͎͆ỳ̶̝̌.̵͓̀̚ ̴̯́s̸̨̅͗͝.̵͕͌͋̄t̵͖͎͆̽.̷̤̓å̸͓̉͝.̸̢̟̻̅͋̚r̷͓̮̫̔̿.̸̡͓̩̎̑̃t̸̟͊.̸͔̩̓͌ę̶̪́.̷̝̺͛͝d̶͖̱͋.̶͙͓̹͆,̵̥̗͌̈́̀ ̷̫̥̋̐͌͜s̷̮̯͚̐̚.̷͍̤̒͜͝h̸̩͂.̴̹͙̋̑̌a̸̡̼͐͘͘.̴̥̫̀̏l̴̩̓̏.̵͍́l̸̮͉̇.̴̨̖̌̍ ̸̺̾w̵̨̭̌.̴̪̉̓͝è̵̩̗.̴̢͖̤̏̈?̸̨̭̩̄"̸͇̼̒͠ͅ
Static fills Touma's mind. Eventually, it clears to reveal the following words to him.
"W. e. l. c. o. m. e. b.a.c.k. t. o. H. e. a. v. e. n. l. y. H. o. s. t., K. a. m. i. j. o. u. T. o. u. m. a. M.y. o.n.i.i.c.h.a.n. L.e.t.s. g.e.t. t.h.i.s. p.a.r.t.y. s.t.a.r.t.e.d., s.h.a.l.l. w.e.?"
And the girl dyed in red - Sachiko Shinozaki - vanished without a trace, leaving Touma, the Doctor, and everyone else to ponder what had just happened.
"...Haah...Haah...Haaaaaahh!"
"Seiko! What's happening?! Seiko!"
"Seiko-san!"
Naomi and Yuka were trying to get Seiko to calm down. Touma would instinctively touch Seiko's shoulder with Imagine Breaker, with the shattering glass sound echoing through the haunted halls.
"Seiko-san, calm down! Breathe! Slowly!" Touma exclaims, getting Seiko back to her senses, and helping her to breathe in and out slowly and carefully.
"...Okay, recap, what the hell just happened?" Kyon asks, even though he already knows the answer.
"Unfortunately, based on my intuition," Lelouch muttered with narrowed eyes, showing concern as it landed on both Touma and Conan. "We may be dealing with yet another situation from Touma's past."
Lelouch and the rest of the companions knew what it meant. The test. Something of a unique event that happened to one Touma Kamijou. An infinite hell. An endless hell. It gave a sense of mystery to the man known as Touma Kamijou. He looks like a teenager. But he is very quite far from being one. Some events of the past were something of an enigma for Touma. There were some he just could not remember. But unfortunately, some of them were things that he should never have forgotten.
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
Corpse Party: Book of Shadows ~ Deciding Fate D (Extended)
"Onii-chan..."
"...!"
Everyone would notice yet another sound. A familiar one, but at the same, it was not. They turn back to the very same spot where they last saw the girl dyed in red. They turn to find...
...Sachiko?!
No, that was not quite right. She looks like Sachiko, but her appearance looks a little different. She had a clean white dress that complimented her healthy white skin. She looked as pure and holy as an angel, a far cry from the girl dyed in red. She looked to be in her 20s, with a beautiful face and eyes that were kind and caring, unlike the bitter, sorrowful, and tortured eyes of the girl dyed in red.
"...Well, this is unexpected," the Doctor muttered, aiming his screwdriver at the girl dyed in white. What he found was a different kind of mystical energy, something completely different from before.
Yuka, Naomi, and Seiko felt oddly calm, and were no longer terrified. They did not know why. Perhaps it was because of the appearance of this girl? No, far more than just that. Something told them that this was not the same Sachiko Shinozaki that they knew. This was a completely different person.
The girl dyed in white - Sachiko Shinozaki - would walk towards her beloved onii-chan slowly and showed him a crumbling, tearful smile.
"...Sa...Sachi," Touma looked bewildered, wondering as to how could this be. His instincts were telling him the same line of thought. This truly was Sachiko Shinzoaki, the one he knew from the deepest tribulation of his past. "...But how?"
Sachiko Shinozaki—The White.
Born on July 19, 1946.
She was the White Queen to her malevolent but misfortunate counterpart.
Sachiko Shinozaki—The Red.
The White Queen was the counterpart to the Red Queen.
An apt comparison for them both would be drawn from the famous story of Alice in Wonderland, written by the late Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll.
Where to start?
White Sachiko, the good counterpart, the Sachiko Shinozaki from a much better timeline, the representation of the white queen chess piece, lived a long and full life. But there was one black spot that she could remember.
The day when her beloved onii-chan left. The young boy who inspired her to live. The young boy who had seemingly disappeared without a trace. The young boy whom she knew to be Touya Otohime, who's real name was Touma Kamijou. Her family of three were devastated as one of their own disappeared. It left a major hole that never fully healed.
She remembered trying to find him, in every way she could. But no matter what she does, it all ends to naught. The young boy, Touya Otohime, was someone who did not exist in her world, the world that would decades later give rise to the caped crusader and superhero, Night Baron. As magic and science advanced, as the supernatural and beyond interacted more with the normal plane of reality, unprecedented and unheard of in her childhood lifetime, she would eventually learn something of a mystery.
Why could she not find him?
Because it was not yet time. Nor may be the time to come. She searched, taking counsel from private investigators and experts in the field, and noticed the common pattern.
Her beloved onii-chan was a traveller from another world, a traveller in time. There were pictures that she kept hidden for safety. There were pictures of her onii-chan, and along with them, at times there were a few individuals, fellow travellers in time. And at times, accompanying them was someone called the Doctor, a mysterious legendary figure that affected her world in many ways, witnessing many turns of its history.
And thus came the complications. As her onii-chan was a traveller in time, she could not know where to search for him without tampering with the history of her world. Her onii-chan had been present before in the deepest past of her nation and may have influenced it sometimes. Hence, she could not meet him, for fear of tampering and corrupting the timeline, the very meeting that she had with him long ago when she was a very young girl.
And so, she could not... she dared not... she had to let her big brother go... she had to...
Naturally, she needed to find a way to conceal herself from the world. She knew too much information. She could not let this information out. It would endanger the hopes and dreams of the future. She concealed herself from the rest of the world and spent the rest of her elderly years in Beika Ward, having moved away from Tenjin. Beika Ward. The location where many important things are to happen and take place. The place where a legacy would be born. The second person who would eventually take the mantle of Night Baron.
Being in a place of significance, she simply observed quietly from the shadows. At times, with her own eyes, she would see a very young Touma Kamijou and a very young Shinichi Kudo conversing with one another, playing simple games, and other trivialities. And she cried. Softly. Secretly. She cried in the corner, with no one else needing to see her, ensuring that she remained unseen. She could not meet up with him, not as she was now. She could not. It would tarnish the very meeting that she had with him as a child.
It was quite more than enough that she would see him one more time, even if from afar. She whispered to her long passed-away parents that she finally found him, but now she would quietly disappear, away from her beloved onii-chan who she knew had so much to do.
By the time she would lay on her death bed, comfortable and content, she peacefully passed away without any warning. It wasn't cancer or anything. It was just... natural... As if it were just a breeze upon the wind that blew and then it is no more. Death comes to most of all eventually. It is likened to a thief in the night. Just as Sachiko had long accepted that she shouldn't meet up with her beloved onii-chan, so she long accepted that she cannot meet with her beloved onii-chan. She died alone, sometime in her fifty-ninth age, on July 19th, 2005. All with no one important knowing her passing.
That was the way of things.
"...!"
Except... she did not die...
She was instead, both body and soul, transported to somewhere else. With her body and soul renewed, she now has the appearance of a young woman in her 20s. How was this possible? Perhaps it was about the principle of adaptation? An afterlife could have such rules after all.
But this was not the afterlife...
It was a world cut off from the main reality, an impossible future of her world, one where she saw terrible things. Things like the skies clapping with crimson thunder and the once bluish heavens with fluffy white clouds were replaced by colors of red. She saw spirits roaming free, an unnatural omen of death spreading through the air. She saw deceased corpses eating deceased corpses. She sees the once mighty modern towers of civilization fall. If there were any survivors here, there were none as far as she can be made aware of. And the more she saw, the more she realized that she was in some way responsible.
Or rather, it was the work of none other than a malicious time remnant from a timeline that never was. It was none other than the work of her malevolent counterpart.
The moment White Sachiko came to this impossible future by chance upon the moment of her passing from the normal part of reality, she started regaining certain memories of this Red Sachiko... and she was horrified and sobbed greatly, looking at both of her hands. She felt the raw pain, the sheer unadulterated madness, the grief of never truly belonging, the eternal loneliness of someone who had lived for so long and repeated her birthday party with nothing new to add.
A Corpse Party...
That was the main problem that had been thrust upon White Sachiko. As time goes by, she regains specific memories from her red counterpart. All of them, from every timeline, from every alternative dimension, from every parallel choice. She saw the dead, she saw the dark magicks that threatened reality, she saw the Pillars of the Six Demons arise from their slumber as reality was torn and the boundaries between life and death were now shattered beyond repair.
At this point, she could not help but cry as she saw the horrible atrocities and the experiential endless painful loops that her red counterpart had made to this and every other world. Dark and potential futures. Accursed are these as the damned thrived and walked upon the earth. A horrible blasphemy against goodness and benevolence. All of this, her red counterpart had caused.
The troubling fact remains that this red counterpart was her. Or rather, what she should have become. But her beloved big brother refused to let that happen. She was spared from the cycle of fate that bound her to Nirvana. The cycle was broken in one part, but not in whole. There was still much that needed to be done before Heavenly Host would cease to be and everything would turn back to the way things were supposed to be.
She was in Hell. A Hell on Earth. She could not leave this plane, not without help at least. But who can help her in this plane of reality?
"Oh dear /return...This doesn't look good at all /return..."
As if the gods were answering her subtle prayers, there was the presence of an unnatural being that managed to penetrate through this prison, this dark future that she was stuck in and could not move an inch.
She turns from her back to look and sees... a young girl, about fourteen, with a school summer uniform that looked disheveled and bloody, short brown hair, and unrefined military goggles on her forehead that had a few stains of blood. But there was something strange about her that White Sachiko could detect.
She wasn't human.
She felt more as if she was an entity from beyond the borders. Sachiko can tell as much due to her natural spiritual affinity to sense things that are out of the norm.
She looks at the girl walking towards her, somewhere on the right and near the edge of the ruined building that they were both standing on, and raises her right hand with narrowed eyes, observing the smoky distances.
"No /return. The fact remains that this world is threatening even the network /return. This world feels like one penetrating computer virus that is spreading its influence across several systems, including my own /return. The Code Red is rather clever of a hacker /return, wiggling her way straight into another similar network from my own /return. But /backspace, I managed to at least hijack one of the other network's clone sisters and use it for my body /return. Although, I would think that this decomposed body is something that I am not fond of even remembering," the girl muttered softly as if lost in deep thought, with concerned and narrowed eyes.
"...Who...Who are you?" Sachiko asked the girl in front of her with a polite tone, knowing by instinct that this person in front of her could be trusted and was a somewhat benevolent force that appeared to her to be likened to a hivemind of individuals, all bright and full of lifeforce, an oddity.
The girl turned around and smiled sadly. "Who am I /escape? A good question /return. I... I suppose that you could say that I'm an old friend of Kamijou Touma /return, although he doesn't recognize me as he is now /return..."
"What do you mean?" Sachiko asked, with a rushing tone of heightened attention upon hearing the name of her beloved onii-chan.
"Perhaps I can simply just show you /return. May I /escape?" the girl asked for permission, raising her hands.
Sachiko, after thinking deeply about the matter, decided to allow the girl permission and raised her own hands towards the outstretched hands. The moment they connected, however...
"...!"
Is something that made Sachiko feel various mixtures of emotions ranging from curiosity, surprise, joy, awe, anger, dismay, and other positive and negative traits that all centered upon one single topic.
Touma Kamijou.
She was seeing his life, the original life that he was supposed to lead, the life that never had him meeting her. She felt depressed and cried inwardly as she realized ultimately what she was seeing. It was the pure timeline, the timeline riddled without any interference, memories of things that used to be. And the girl that was standing in front of her...
She was the Will of the Whole Misaka Network.
She had seen this timeline because this was her native timeline before the change.
This was Sachiko Shinozaki's beloved onii-chan's original universe.
A universe that consisted of a predetermined history. Unchanging, unyielding, unparalleled. A universe divided into magic and science. A main event started due to the meeting of a certain nun with forbidden books. Through that meeting, her beloved onii-chan would eventually stumble upon another deeper side of his world that would end in the loss of his memory. But that was not to be the end, for it would send him on a path of interference in conflicts that would prove decisive relating to the fate of the world. Magic and science. Only he stood on the edge of the precipice.
Neither good luck nor bad luck favored her beloved onii-chan. He had nothing at all, hence the very idea of misfortune. At a young age, he was unjustly hated by nearly everyone around him. Then he had to move far away from his parents, into the heart of a city of science that was built just for him. Some adventures and stories go unrecorded upon this time. In one of them, there was a time when he became acquainted with a certain beauty senpai and a certain rejected girl, and after, became acquainted with a certain blonde with starry eyes. But alas, that turns to misfortune for both. He failed to save one, and he lost his memory of the other.
As times passed, sometime after meeting a certain nun with forbidden books, he would encounter a case of an esper that is a thorn to vampires. Then, he would meet with a short brown-haired girl who is dealing with a crisis, a genocide of clones made and bred from her DNA, that of a powerful esper, whose entire network came to life from the first sign of a clone's life. Other adventures followed, which led to a third world war that ended in a few days. And then, yet another crisis, for a powerful God of Magic from the old Norse myths arose and took her position once again. She ended the world not a moment too soon and forced her beloved onii-chan to live through hell after hell before he eventually managed to break through to her, reversing the world's destruction, but then, the world was ungrateful, unaware of their savior. Her beloved onii-chan had to defend the very woman who brought him suffering, and somehow by a miracle, he succeeded and became her understander.
And then, there came the other Gods of Magic, higher beings who would be proposing the idea for her beloved onii-chan to be a 'Scorer' for the rest of the world. But he rejected it. Then came another clash for beloved onii-chan to face. An opposite of him. One who amassed his own faction and gained a powerful right hand to send the Gods of Magic away. Then came the undeniable conflict that overlayed everything/ The great conflict between the Founder of Thelema and of Capital City of Science and of the Great Demon of Enochian Lore.
Yet, there were other battles. More of them. Starting with conflicts ranging from the city of science's dark side and powerful magicians transcending over everyone else. More conflicts. Just more. When does it stop? Where does it end? And upon these conflicts, there ranged several outcomes and stories.
They were too many.
Her beloved onii-chan's timeline. The timeline that should have been his.
But it all changed when something happened. A disruption came. A cataclysmic cycle of war began to engulf and turn history into something else. Nothing was truly the same anymore.
And born from the ashes of the conflict, there arose a very different Touma Kamijou, and it was this one that became her beloved onii-chan. His future is no longer written in stone. Anything can happen to him now. And yet, he alone remained as the fixed person in his own world.
At that moment, Sachiko... cried...
Because she knew that this would have been her beloved big brother's fate had not other circumstances happened...
This was supposed to be his life... This was his destiny...
But... she didn't want it...
She didn't want to live in a world where she wouldn't have met her beloved onii-chan. Otherwise, she would have ended up just like her red counterpart, sad and alone, nothing but a malevolent spirit that desired the destruction of everything around her...until what? Until everyone is dead? No, she refused to become this person, to become like her red counterpart.
As there were tears, there was also comfort as Will, the girl who is showing her all of these memories of long ago from the girl's perspective, was wiping her tears with a sad, empathetic smile on her face.
"I came here seeking for your help /return," Will answered. "You are the only one with the power that I need to break down Code Red's illusions /return. Will you help me /escape?
Sachiko didn't hesitate. In her tears, there was resolve. Perhaps the memories of her beloved onii-chan's original life had helped her? Perhaps it was the memories of her other self coming down upon her and is now her own? Whatever the case, this was for her big brother. She knew that her red counterpart wouldn't leave her beloved onii-chan alone. Her beloved onii-chan's family and friends, including the women who had fallen or smitten with him, both past and future, were all in danger.
And she could not let this stand any longer.
"Yes, I accept," she said with resolved steel and full of tears.
And from that resolve was born a plan. A plan against the darkness that needs to finally be put to rest once and for all.
Insert Song: End
OP Song:
Theme of the Week #8 - Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Main Theme