Sorry for the long wait, everyone! Here's the new chapter! Please enjoy!
BGM: Setting Off (Stardust Crusaders OST)
"IT'S KAKYOIN!"
Kakyoin anticipated the kind of reunion he shall receive after making his entrance slash comeback to his friends. Sure enough, they quickly delivered.
Crowding him, Franchouchou and Rianima cheered and laughed out of delight and relief over seeing their friend has returned, safe and sound. "Hahahaha! Kakyoin! You have returned!" Avdol exclaimed with a joyous laugh, being happy to see him the most owing to their established friendship, "We are so glad to see you!"
"Yeah! You really surprised us!" Gyro laughed, slinging his arm around the teenager with a gold-toothed smile, "Can't believe you're back sooner than we thought!"
"We missed you being with us, Kakyoin-san!" Junko exclaimed, trying not to cry even if she's sniffling out of relief, "We were so worried and hoping you make it out of your coma safely! Thankfully, you proved that by showing up!"
Yugiri giggled at Junko's remark before addressing him next, "Welcome back, Kakyoin-han. I believe our joyous reaction is all you need to see how we missed you. Now that you're back to us, please don't try to let yourself killed again, okay?"
Not minding Tae affectionately nibbling the top of his head from behind, Kakyoin rubs his head with a half-hearted chuckle. "…Well I can't promise you, but I'll try," Kakyoin swore hopefully, "I don't want to make you all worried out of your minds again. That will be the last thing I want to see from you guys."
"Hah! You better not do that again or else you'll regret it!" Narancia's harsher reply belies the mirth of seeing his same-aged friend in the flesh again and concern, punching his arm lightly.
"Yeah, what Li'l Bomber said!" Kotaro interjected, marching up to Kakyoin with a seemingly irritated expression, "Do you have any idea how long I took to revive you and your group, 'specially the girls!? Bringing all of you back to life isn't so cheap and easy, y'know! There's a high chance even my awesome method of raising you from the dead the second time won't work! You get all that!? Huh, Kakyoin!?"
Kakyoin rolled his eyes, having expected Kotaro would resume being obnoxious to him even if he was imperiled. As such, he didn't take his rude remarks personally, compared to nearly every zombie who glared at Kotaro, with Narancia, Gyro, Saki and Lily appearing intent on beating him on the importance of sensitivity and manners.
"In all seriousness though…" The producer has more to say, his voice becoming calm, "Don't die again, alright? I mean it when I said there's a chance you won't be revived for the third time. Well, sure I haven't tested it yet buuuut…"
Slightly taken aback by him expressing small concern, Kakyoin grins, sparing Kotaro from some biting remarks in response. The others also relaxed their glaring, seeing the necromancer slash producer is being sincere. "As I said, I can't promise you but I'll try," Kotaro then smiled after a moment of staring.
Though Bucciarati, Johnny, Mamezuku, Ai, and Yugiri didn't surround him and gave him a hug, even advising them not to hug him too hard out of concern for his health, they shared a smile to his direction to express their relief. The teenager saw their smiles, so he returned with his own with a nod, assuring them without words hat he'll be okay.
As this heartwarming reunion continues, it has dawned on Kakyoin that the one person he wanted to see the most, and might have been awaiting for his return the most, is not near him. Said person is standing on the sidelines, watching the reunion with curious eyes. She wasn't hard to spot, given she's the only zombie among them to don a makeup aside Ai and Bucciarati for some reason.
Beaming in delight when seeing her, Kakyoin excused himself from the group before walking up to Sakura, curious as to why she hasn't greeted him with open arms, fully expecting her to do that when seeing him return. "Hey, Sakura…" He greeted her first with an uneasy smile and a wave, unaware of everyone's look of concern who knew the girl's dilemma, "Sorry for being absent for about two days. I'm sure you were… worried for me the most, right? Well here I am. There's no need for you to worry about me any longer."
He went silent, anticipating Sakura's response…
…
…
…
BGM abruptly stops
"Ummm, have we… met?"
Kakyoin was caught off guard of Sakura's unexpected response. Blinking twice, he lets out a "Huh?" to her.
Sakura remained bewildered to this tall and slender man who seemed too comfortable talking to her, making her wary to this stranger. "Do I know you? Are you with those guys?" She pointed at Rianima.
Becoming confused of her odd behavior, Kakyoin cannot help but nod to her question. "Err, yeah… I mean, you do know I'm part of Bucciarati-san's team, right? And… you already know me, Sakura. So what's with that look of dubiety you're giving me?"
"It's because I don't know you," insistently repeated Sakura.
Kakyoin was slow on the uptake at first if only because he's more confused, until he realizes Sakura was being serious given her incredulous expression was unchanged. "W-What? You mean you… forgot about me? Of who I am?" He sounded crestfallen, in disbelief over her words.
"Forget you? You're saying that we must have got along."
"That's because it is! So how can you-"
"It's because she 「regained」 her memories but forgot her current ones."
"Eh?"
Hearing Ai speaking, Kakyoin turned around to face her and everyone else, all of whom are giving him a look of sympathy over his failed attempt to make Sakura remember him due to him being unaware of what happened to the central and compassionate member of Franchouchou. Seeing she has his attention, Ai proceeds to tell him what became of Sakura, "Kakyoin-san, you will not like what I'm going to say but… Sakura, she… she 「regained」 her past memories up to before her death when she got hit by a truck headfirst… at the cost of losing her memories after her death."
"…Regained? You mean… her amnesia was cured?" Kakyoin replied hopefully, not registering the second half of the statement.
"We would have deemed it as something positive," said Ai before sighing, "But like I said, in exchange, her 「post-mortem」 memories were lost as well, meaning she doesn't know all of us and what we did for over eight months. That means she forgotten you too, Kakyoin-san," Kakyoin was baffled again, trying to make sense of her explanation. Then he connected the dots as his eyes goes wide.
"Hold on… Are you telling me that because she got hit by a truck headfirst, she have… a second dose of amnesia!?"
"…You could say that," shrugged Ai.
"Not only that," Saki speaks up next with arms folded, giving Sakura a worried look, "She made a concerning decision to quit Franchouchou because she believes she 「doesn't have what it takes」. Or basically, she went full-on depression mode based on Johnny's observation of the change in her behavior."
"D-Depression?" Kakyoin nearly choked up on that word, instantly turning back to Sakura in surprise. He went silent for a moment before his shocked expression changed to one full of empathy and worry. This is the first time he heard his close friend was afflicted with a case of depression. The normally cheerful girl with a compassionate streak who looks at the best in others bearing such a condition related to her past memories is a combination he never thought may have come from her even as her close friend.
Naturally, Kakyoin is upset to learn it happening to her. He may not know the full extent and story yet, but he wouldn't stand a friend of his suffering from that condition. "Sakura… you…"
"In case all of you stinking corpses may forgotten, Xero is still here!" However, Kotaro interrupts him, making him unable to finish his words again, "And though you may have already noticed them, looks like Emi, her two pets and five girls that are with her are facing him as we speak!"
Everyone was reminded of what they were here for until Kakyoin's return distracted them. "Ah, that's right!" Lily exclaimed, having actually forgotten. She moves behind Yugiri as Franchouchou and Rianima faced their main enemy seemingly distracted by Emi and her groupmates, "That scary meanie… he needs to be stopped before he attacks them!"
"Guess we delayed this long enough…" Bucciarati steps forward with Sticky Fingers hovering beside him, "Franchouchou and Kotaro! Stay behind us! We will kill Xero and end this conflict once and for all!"
"No! Don't kill him, guys!"
Kakyoin shouted those words again, raising his hands up as if he's desperate to stop them from getting in action. The zombies, Kotaro and Romero turned to him as if he has gone crazy, something he's in favor of because he has more to add, "Please don't go using your Stands to attack Shino! Emi-san is talking with him to put a stop to his attempt to end his life by having us doing the killing!"
"…What? Why are you telling us this Kakyoin?" Rai questioned him.
Standing his ground, Kakyoin offers this reply, "It's because Emi-san told me about who Shino actually is and her theory as to why he wants to be killed. I know my words alone may not sway all of you yet, but please trust me," he gives them a pleading look, urging them to practice self-restraint for now, "Emi-san wants to make up with what she did to him six years ago and… *deep breath* wants to be together with him again. Someone who didn't deserve to be killed after everything that may have happened to him…"
As Kakyoin continues to reason them and make them refrain from attacking their enemy at all, Sakura stands beside him, looking at her friend in concern while idly listening to him. Little does he and everyone knows… she's in agreement with Kakyoin deciding to spare Shino.
Emi felt immense relief at the sight of Kakyoin rejoining with his friends, who immediately surrounded and showered him with affection over his safe return.
A smile made its way to her face, unable to contain her mirth over the heartwarming scene she's watching. She couldn't imagine any other scenario that would happen after returning Kakyoin to his friends and making really sure he's in stable condition before he can be let go. Their little celebration on reuniting with a friend or loved one was so much that they ignored her and everyone else that were not with them. She didn't mind them solely focused on welcoming Kakyoin back aboard after missing him for about two days though. She'd understand the sentiment even if it has yet to happen to her.
"Meow? Meow, meow, meow…" Hartzler uttered beside her feet, his four paws flat on the ground as he watched them while sitting.
Emi glanced down to the tabby cat, replying, "Kakyoin will be fine. So long as he does not put himself, specifically his soul, in mortal danger again, he shall not have any problems that require our presence. He must exercise more care to himself and to others if he does not want to make them worry again."
"…Meow," Hartzler stretched his body after affirming his owner's reply. He and Emi continued watching them, which has Kakyoin talking to Kotaro, then to Sakura. They would have notice something odd about Sakura based on Kakyoin's conversation with her alone and acted upon them, but Lynn's hooting reminded them of what they are here for.
"Hooohooohooooo! Hoooooo! Hooooohooooo!"
"…Of course I have not forgotten Shino Lynn, and…" Emi's neutral expression returned, replying to the horned owl standing on the top of her head before she goes wide-eyed, "Wait, you said Goldia and her sisters are… already talking to him?"
"Hoooo hooohooooo! Hoooo! Hoohooooo!" Lynn confirmed a little desperately, her unmoving eyes facing the opposite direction.
"Oh dear! I got distracted!" Almost forgetting her daughters, Emi spun around hurriedly, praying they weren't harmed by Shino even if she knows he isn't capable of attacking someone without reason. Much to her relief, he actually didn't attack them, the most he did being moving his eyes on each girls in surprise, having not expected them to appear with Emi.
"Ah, good… Nothing bad happened… hopefully long enough so I can finally convince him to quit his ill-fated plan," stated Emi, glad to see the girls are fine. She walks up to them so she can carry out her intention to save her beloved from his undesirable fate.
Of all people he didn't expect to be meeting with, the aristocratic-looking man was not prepared to see five girls of varying heights and appearances, got near him immediately when they noticed him right after they saw Kakyoin was reunited with his friends safely. So unprepared he was that when he noticed them walking to him, he let out a silent gasp and tried getting away until his back is against a tree.
Noticing his apparent anxiousness compelling him to move away, Goldia gestured them to stop before clearing her throat, "H-Hello, mister Shino. Please don't be nervous," she began, putting forth a pleasant smile. "I apologize if meeting us all was too sudden, but we are… excited to finally meet our mother's lover she occasionally brought up during our conversations, even if you went unnamed because she doesn't remember you until two days ago."
"Oh, uhhh…" Getting over his initial shock by breathing deeply, Shino gets his back off the tree but still feeling nervous and cautious of these Victorian-era girls, "It's… nice to meet you all too," after returning her greeting, he scanned his eyes at them, looking left and right seemingly out of curiosity before he says, "You called Emi your mother… Does that mean…?"
Goldia confirmed his guess by nodding. "Yes. We are adopted, by we deem Emi as our mother due to her caring for us after we came back to life as zombies."
"Adopted? Ah, I-I see," muttered Shino, heaving out a sigh of relief when hearing they were adopted while turning his eyes sideways with a little blush.
Goldia giggled at his odd reaction before she puts her free hand to her chest and introduces herself, "As for who we are, I'm Goldia die Heilige! And these four are my sisters! Fleta, Harpae, Lisette, and Enjel!" She pointed each of them, who either waved at him or nodded.
"Don't forget Egliette!" Fleta reprimanded, lifting the doll's arms to spread them wide, giving Shino a full view of the doll, who stared at him expressionlessly.
"Ah, that's right! Egliette too!" After correcting herself, Goldia puts her hands behind her and gives Shino a pleasant smile again, "A-And you don't need to introduce yourself to us! We already know your name from mother!"
"…Of course she did," remarked Shino, actually having thought of introducing back until he heard her. He then went silent, and so does Goldia too. Both of them began to feel awkward as the silence continued, which is noticed by the girls. They would have said something in Goldia's place but Emi thankfully got near them, accompanied by Hartzler and Lynn. Guessing she can keep the conversation carry along, the girls moved sideways to give her space, thereby flanking her on both sides. The only girl who didn't is Goldia, who remained close to Shino and is now accompanied by Emi, Lynn and Hartzler.
"Mother…" Goldia addressed her with a grin.
"Did you five introduced yourselves to Shino?" Emi asked them, believing introduction is the first thing or most important aspect of conversation one would do when meeting with strangers.
"Goldia was the one who did the introductions," clarified Harpae.
"Hm, I see," she replied before looking at Shino straight to his eyes. His anxious or unsure expression remained as his gray eyes meet her purple irises, knowing full well the reason why Emi is here tonight. As for the pale-skinned woman, she maintained a neutral face but feelings of concern, sympathy and hope are hidden behind that expression. "Shino…" She began, planning to get to the main topic of their important first.
"How did you find me?" Shino questioned her, stopping herself from spilling the words she want to say, "I only imparted the location Sakura-san and I are in to Tatsumi-san so he informs Rianima, and Franchouchou optionally. I was sure we were the only ones back in the Kagamiyama Observatory… unless…"
His eyes fell on both Lynn standing atop Emi's head and Hartzler being held by Lisette because she liked the feeling of his fur in her hands and his tail moving left and right. He narrowed his eyes, believing the answer is right before him. "Were Hartzler and Lynn present in the observatory before I teleported here with Sakura-san?"
Emi didn't made him wait for her answer, "Yes. I instructed them to scour the Saga Prefecture in search of you. It was only luck that they found you. When they saw you confronting both Sakura and Kotaro before disappearing, they made their way back home to inform me of your location. That is how we found out where you are and have taken Sakura to, including Kakyoin."
Hearing how his cover was blown to Emi and her group made Shino sigh, almost exasperatedly so. I can already see what she would do next. I don't want her ruining my plan again, not when I'm this close to… to losing myself to the… my 「true self」…
"Linkin Park," he called out as he held out his hand at them, his face becoming stern again.
Emi's family become alarmed upon seeing his Stand being summoned. Instinctively, Emi beckoned her daughters to move back as Hartzler jumped out of Lisette's grip, standing to the woman's left while Lynn occupies her right side after jumping off her head. In response to Linkin Park's appearance, they prepared their own Stands to be safe. They doubt Shino wouldn't attack them, but they're not blind to his grim determination of getting himself killed to the point he wants no more interruptions or interceptions to his plan.
As they follow Emi stepping away out of Shino's reach, Goldia, Fleta, and Enjel peeked around to observe the Stand and its user coated in a wild, rainbow-colored aura. This is the first time they're seeing Shino's Stand and possibly in action, provided he's not intending to attack them. They hope he will not and can have some restraint.
"That's… Linkin Park…" Enjel uttered, her eyes full of awe and fear.
"Have he brought out his Stand?" Harpae asked, being the only girl who didn't due to her blindness.
"He did," Egliette chimed in, "Even if we assume he doesn't like what he'll do, I fear he shall get rid of us because we interrupted the purported fight between him and Kakyoin's group."
"He's not… gonna kill us, right?" Fleta said worryingly.
"No! I hope he doesn't!" Goldia insisted, becoming self-conscious of her pocket mirror held within her hand, "We already told her we are Emi's daughters! Since he likely doesn't want us involved, I believe he will not hurt us! Our brief interaction with him could attest that!"
"Even still, as you said, we weren't suppose to be here" Lisette added, snipping her golden shears as she narrowed her eyes at Shino, "If he make a move by attacking us, he'll regret it."
Seeing he intimidated them through Linkin Park's presence, Shino's outreached hand remained in front of him as he next says, "I shall remove you all from this clearing. I'm sorry Emi, but I won't allow you to stop me."
"Shino! I implore you to lis-"
"Enough," he shouted, his voice echoing to cut off Emi's words and intimidate her pets and daughters more to great effect, "Time to send you all away from here. Linki-"
"HIEROPHANT GREEN!"
ジュビシィ
"Hnnngh! W-What!?"
Shino grunted uncomfortably against the tight pressure suddenly binding his body. His outreached arm was forced back to its starting position in accordance to his arms and legs being restrained so tight he cannot move his body. The weird thing about this was there is nothing restricting him physically, like a rope. He was initially confused until he remembered the name being shouted and Linkin Park floating beside him. He strained his head to his right to see, as he suspected, Linkin Park covered in white and green tendrils of Hierophant Green. Its arms and legs were individually tied up while its whole body was coiled almost entirely by the rest of the tendrils. "H-Hierophant… Green…!?"
Unlike his late reaction, everyone has witnessed Hierophant Green sending many tendrils to Linkin Park, successfully capturing it before tightening its hold, causing the effect to transfer to its user. Seeing it happening before their eyes, Emi's family looked back to see Kakyoin, in his usual pose, coolly staring at the restrained Shino and Linkin Park while surrounded by a green aura. Hierophant Green was present, hovering behind its master with its lower half unraveled.
"Kakyoin?" Emi called him out, perplexed.
"Sorry I have to do this," apologized Kakyoin, sending a remorseful look at her briefly, "I suspected he would try to remove you eight out of here, so I have Hierophant Green stop him in advance. It's a good thing he brought Linkin Park out since I can prevent him from using his ability, allowing me to bind him."
"Kakyoin, y-you…!" Gritting his teeth in frustration and fear, Shino grunted again, exerting force and control to Linkin Park to resist against the tendrils' hold on them. A slight dull headache pounded on both sides of his head when Linkin Park proved to be able to move its arms and legs even slightly, giving him confidence in ripping the tendrils apart through its sheer strength.
However, someone guessed what they're doing so they didn't hesitate to act accordingly.
"DOGGY STYLE!"
ビシィ
"Nnngh! ! N-Not… you too…!"
Shino felt a second dose of pressure restraining his body after Mamezuku constrained Linkin Park using both his entire uncoiled arms to cover its entire body and shackled it, forcing its arms and legs back to its initial position again. With the combined strength of both rope Stands, Linkin Park and its Stand master are nearly paralyzed, much to their chagrin.
Again, everyone has witnessed Mamezuku sprinting toward Linkin Park, noticing his arms unraveling by themselves while Doggy Style manifested behind its user when the plant appraiser captured them. Kakyoin was surprised for the unexpected assistance. "Mamezuku-san?"
"Don't thank me yet," replied Rai, "Do that when he's finally put down for good. If that happens, there'll be no need for a prolonged battle that could put any of us at risk of injuring or worse, dying."
"Hey, allow me to prevent that!" That was Johnny marching to the paralyzed Shino, his left hand raised brimming with Spin energy and Tusk ACT3 following behind, "One shot to his head and he's done for! I'm sure you're fine having me be the one to kill him, right Bucciarati?"
"…If it means keeping him from toying us with his power, then do it!" Bruno gave the okay.
Before Johnny could finish Shino off, Kakyoin walked up to him and grabbed his left wrist quickly, exclaiming, "No! Put your hands down Johnny-san! And Bucciarati-san!" He turned to his leader, seeing he didn't abide to his request yet, "I told you not to kill him! I insist, please!"
Bruno turned to him with a questioning look, "Kakyoin? I don't understand… What on earth are you saying?" He replied, speaking not only for himself, but also to his underlings, Franchouchou and Kotaro.
"If you didn't heard me, I'll tell this again…" Taking a deep breath in the short interim, Kakyoin repeats the same statement for the fourth time, "Don't kill Shino!"
"…Huh?" Every single zombie expressed confusion and surprise after they comprehended Kakyoin's request.
"What's this? Are you turning your backs on your goal and your teammates, Kakyoin-kun!?" Kotaro insinuated, unable to believe the words spewing out of his mouth, "We didn't come this far only to give up! Don't tell us you have a change of heart over Xero or something!?"
Kakyoin tried not to wince from the glares sent his way, mostly from Saki, Ai, Yugiri, Lily, Tae, Narancia, Johnny and Mamezuku, having expected their reactions. However, he stood his ground by employing his own glare, "I know what I'm requesting to you all sounds ridiculous after everything Shino did to us, including nearly killing me, but believe it or not… killing him 「won't」 stop him from destroying Saga. Or at least, the 「blood」 that is keeping him alive past his death!" He put out this reasoning.
Naturally, they grow more puzzled over his ludicrous reason. So much so that some of them are growing impatient and worried Kakyoin could be inadvertently stalling them until Shino somehow breaks free from his and Mamezuku's restraints.
"Hey, I don't know why you suddenly thought of sparing that bastard, but we're passing on your request, Kakyoin!" stated Saki, speaking for her groupmates and their bodyguards.
Even though he did expect that response, Kakyoin grimaced, seeing convincing them won't be easy, "Look guys, if I could further explain my reason-"
"I'm sorry Kakyoin, but Saki is right," Bucciarati shook his head, his decision already made, "Xero must die. He cannot be allowed to walk free after endangering us."
"B-But…!"
"Johnny! Do it!"
Hearing his leader loud and clear, Johnny shakes off Kakyoin before aiming his nails at Shino, "Okay! I'm shooting his head now! TUSK!" Just as he was about to fire a single spinning bullet at the defenseless Shino, who could do nothing but watch his inevitable demise…
…someone screams in desperation as they scampered away from Franchouchou.
"NOOOOO! DON'T KILL HIM! ! ! !"
That someone is Sakura Minamoto putting herself in front of Shino. Before everyone's astounded and baffled eyes, she spread her arms defensively, shielding the gothic man as she defiantly glared at Johnny.
Emi gazes curiously to Sakura, somewhat relieved she's actually defending Shino, but mostly worried, "Miss Sakura?"
"Hey, what's gotten into you?" Mamezuku chided her, feeling a single sweat slide down his face over her perceived stupid and inexplicable attempt in shielding Rianima's enemy, "Get away from him Sakura! You have no idea how dangerous Xero is!"
"Don't call him THAT," Sakura swiftly glared at his direction, "His name is not Xero!"
"Huh?!" Rai flinched at the intense glare she's giving him.
"S… Sakura?" Kakyoin muttered, wondering why she is so worked up.
She next gives Johnny a dirty look, causing him also to flinch, if only because he didn't expect she's capable of that deed. "And you! I don't know why you are aiming your hands like a gun, but you better put that down! I don't want you to kill Shino!"
Though Johnny is a little perturbed of her, he refused to lower his hands and says, "And we don't want you to be his next victim! Get away from him!"
"Not until you lower your hands first!"
"Sakura!" Ai yelled out, wondering what the heck is that girl is doing. Her behavior is freaking her out, "Don't be reckless! You're not asking him to kill you, right!? Please listen to Johnny-san!"
"What she said!" Kotaro shouted next, becoming aghast at Sakura's display of recklessness, "Get back here you dumbass zombie!"
"Then tell the bodyguards to back down!" Sakura ordered, "Shino, he… he doesn't deserve to be killed!"
Hm? Did Sakura called him Shino? Kakyoin thought, his widened eyes gazing at her. The same thoughts were echoed to Emi and Goldia, leading the two to look at her curiously.
Sakura has more to say against their intentions, only to hear Shino speak, "Sakura, it's… it's okay."
"Huh?" She spun around to see him looking down despondently, yet solemnly before raising his head to look straight into her eyes.
"Please return to your companions," he calmly told her, his eyes shimmering, "And… And leave my fate to your bodyguards… I know I deserve to be put down."
"W-W-What…?" She said it barely as a whisper over her disbelief to his nonsensical words, "Why are you saying that?!"
"Just go!" he shouted, his frustration reaching its peak due to her stubbornness, "I don't want you defending me! I'm not worthy of your care for all the 「sins」 I did! I-"
ドォクゥン ドォクゥン
"Huh?"
Shino stops abruptly when a heartbeat-like sound is heard. He's not the only one who heard it as Sakura heard it too and was a little surprised. "Was… Was that a sound of a heartbeat? I think I… heard it from you, Shino."
…
…
!
Ah! ! Oh no! It's… It's 「coming」! I can 「feel」it-!
"H-Hrrrk!"
His dreadful thoughts are interrupted when a dull sensation erupts within his chest, "Gggkk! A-Aaaghh!"
"S-Shino? Shino, what's wrong!?" Sakura became alarmed upon seeing her reunited friend grimacing uncomfortably. She hold both his shoulders in hopes of helping him, unaware of the incoming pain Shino had become too acquainted with.
"Nnnngh…! Agh! AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH! ! ! ! ! ! !"
"WAAAAAAH!?"
Sakura recoiled in shock when her reunited friend lets out a blood-curdling scream, facing skyward as extreme pain coursed through his whole body. His scream did not go unnoticed by everyone, turning their eyes to Shino undergoing an intense amount of agony that bewildered them all.
Gawking at the stubborn man, Kakyoin glanced to Emi and her family, who are all equally shocked with Goldia, Harpae and Emi herself covering their mouths with their hands. "E-Emi-san!? What's… What's going on with him!?" He let out a gasp when he guessed the reason, becoming a little nervous, "Wait, don't tell me… Is it…"
"…the 「ichor」…" Emi said, sharing his worry with anxious eyes.
"Y-You mean…?!" Goldia exclaimed, gasping.
ドォクゥン ドォクゥン
After his screaming display, Shino begin twitching and groaning unnervingly as his head and hands jerked around accompanied by his bones and/or muscles popping or even cracking, his face half-frozen in an agonized expression. Concurrently, Linkin Park struggled against Hierophant Green and Doggy Style's hold on the Stand again, except it proceeds to exert even greater strength or force to break free from its bindings. This is felt by Kakyoin and Mamezuku.
"H-Hey! What's happening…?!" Rai questioned, finding himself struggling to keep the Stand still. Two seconds later, he starts feeling pain in his arms, making him and Kakyoin realize Linkin Park is freeing himself from the tendrils and wires little by little, to the point one can see Hierophant Green's tendrils snapping one by one, "Hnngh! Linkin Park…! It's going to break free from us!"
"AAAAAARRRRRRGGGHHH! ! ! ! !" Shino screamed again, the veins in his neck and hands bulging against his skin, specifically near both his eyes, neck and hands, much to Sakura's increasing discomfort and panic as she screamed. "AHHHHHH!
"Sakura! Get away from him! Now!" Saki told her, "That goes for Rai too!"
"Huh? B-But-!" She tried protesting but Mamezuku, fearing Linkin Park could snap his arms apart from its sheer strength alone, decides to prioritize their safety and pulled the wires back to its original form before pulling Sakura away as he dashed back to his allies, "H-H-Hey!"
"Don't complain! I fear he's becoming dangerous!" Rai said.
With Rai bailing, Shino felt less constrained but that doesn't mean it's good for him because his convulsing body and disturbing squelching sounds became more pronounced. He struggled to maintain his posture against it while Linkin Park was able to snap some tendrils at increasing speed.
After pulling her pets and daughters to Franchouchou and Rianima, Emi moves near Kakyoin and exclaims, "Please keep him still! I must calm him down using Bring Me to Life! I must not let the 「ichor」 take over him!"
"Do what you must! I'll continue holding him down!"
Giving him small thanks, Emi ran up to Shino, who is jerking more frequently and agonizingly, while Kakyoin sends out more tendrils toward Linkin Park, who was about to break free when more arrived to tie him up again.
Franchouchou, Rianima and Kotaro saw Emi going near Shino, making them confused and worried for her. "Hey, what's that Emi girl doing!? She's gonna get killed!"
"She will not!" Goldia corrected him, making everyone sans Kakyoin turn to her and her sisters, "Mother is going to calm him down with her Stand!"
"Really? How can you be so sure?" Lily asked.
"Please have faith in her," she maintained, shooting an empathetic look to Shino, "I know she can save mister Shino. I'm sure she will," a lot of them have doubts of her success, but seeing something like this could be up her alley, they wisely let Emi do her thing.
Speaking of Emi, she took slow steps toward Shino when she's near him, her hands raised up in a placating manner. Noticing the swollen veins in his neck, around his eyes, and hands, the pale woman's eyes shoot a look of pity to him, only making her feeling worse due to him continuing to be in agony as he jerked his head, hands and his feet swiftly and uncomfortably.
"Guugh…! A-Aaargh! ! Uraaaaaagh! ! ! !"
Steeling her features, Emi grabs his shoulders, hoping that a familiar person touching him would soothe his pain even a little. "Shino!"
"E…E-Emi…" Through his grunting or groaning, he muttered her name, finding himself staring into her eyes while his own were soaked in tears.
"It will be alright…" She assured, not resisting having her anguish over Shino's woeful state show through her expression. Two tears flowed out from the corner of her eyes as she says, "The 「heart」! The source of the 「foul blood」 keeping you its 「prisoner」! Please let me burn it! I promise you… I shall retain your soul under my watch with 「Bring Me to Life」!"
"E-E-E… Emi, I-I…!" He managed to let out those words as his vision begins blacking out.
Retracting her hands, Emi made them turn pale blue and transparent with the intention of diving her hands into his chest, phasing through his ribs without obstruction, "We do not have time! I shall remove the heart out of you and-"
"NOOOOOO! ! ! !"
"Eh!?"
Emi stopped pushing her hands to his chest and reeled away in shocked over the inhuman growl Shino let out, his head looking up simultaneously. No sooner after he screamed, Linkin Park finally wrested itself out of Hierophant Green's hold on it, snapping all the tendrils with its arms while also screaming, "URAAAAAAAAAAAA! ! !"
"Gnnngh!" Kakyoin gritted his teeth in pain, feeling like his hands were close to being ruptured apart. No blood was spilt thankfully but that's only a small comfort to him.
"AHHHH!" Ai, Junko, and Lily shouted in horror and fear that Shino broke free. The rest shared their reactions too, with Rianima, Hartzler and Lynn instinctively getting into defensive stances.
With nothing constraining Linkin Park that could paralyze him, Shino is now free to move his arms and legs as he stumbled forward. Even still, he's not yet free from the intense agony as he continued groaning. "Uuuurrrgh…"
"S-Shino!" Emi became alarmed and more worried.
"GET AWAY!"
"A-AAAAAH!"
An invisible force pushed Emi away from Shino. She screamed along until she crashed into Bucciarati and Avdol, sending the three of them to the ground.
"Mother!" Goldia and her sisters called out in concern and surprise. Hartzler and Lynn were by her side as quickly as they could.
"I-I am alright!" Emi assured them, apologizing to the two men she slammed them both to the ground but they told her to think nothing of it. They quickly stand up as she exclaims, "B-But Shino…!"
"Yeah? I think he stopped shaking violently!" Gyro said, snapping everyone's attention back to the slouching man covering his face with one hand, "But I'm sure that's not good news for us! Bet he's gonna resume what he's about to do to us!"
The large group didn't like that so in response, Rianima charged towards Shino, intending to prevent him from retaliating as they bring their Stands out.
"G-Guys, wait!" Kakyoin called out, being the only zombie who didn't have the intention of attacking Shino.
"W-What are they're going to do to him!? !" Sakura similarly exclaimed in panic. No one answered her because it was obvious to them what will happen next.
Getting close to Shino, the zombie Stand Users didn't wait before bringing their attacks against the near-defenseless enemy.
"MAGICIAN'S RED!" "STICKY FINGERS!" "AEROSMITH!" "TUSK!" "OOOOOOOOOO! ! !" "DOGGY STYLE!" Just as their attacks are about to strike Shino relentlessly…
"TAMA!"
ドッバァァァァァ
…they halt their assault in shock when, in a display of unprecedented or act from the enemy, Linkin Park sinks its right fist into Shino's chest, drawing blood and bits of fractured rib bones out from his self-inflicted wound, coating his outfit and the ground with his blood. "GHHHKKKK! !"
?! ?
"W-Wha…? WHAT THE HEEEEEELL!? !?" Narancia screamed in shock.
"Xero…! He… He had Linkin Park…!" Rai uttered in disbelief, pointing his other hand at his Stand.
"Is he trying to kill himself!?" Johnny speculated, unsure of what to make of this.
"Ugh… Mmmmgh…"
Paying no heed to their astonished banter, Shino can feel his heart being held by Linkin Park. It's a weird feeling having his inner organ being touched through his Stand, letting him feel how soft his "heart" is and its slight beating. He knows the next sensation he will feel, so he braced himself with eyes closed.
"Linkin Park… Do it…"
ギュゥゥゥゥ
"Ggggrk!"
Shino would have fell to the ground if Linkin Park weren't holding him in place when it squeezed the "heart" tight enough to prevent blood being pumped through his body. He clenched his teeth as the chest pain grows slowly intense, the shine in his eyes becoming dull and tempting him to actually lie on the ground to abate the pain a little.
T-That's it… Stop the blood from flowing, Linkin Park… I don't care if I die as a result… as long as 「it」 doesn't take over my body! And my 「soul」!
As the two continued in that odd posture, Rianima steadied their own when seeing he's not gonna retaliate soon considering Linkin Park attacked its own user. Their Stands and abilities weren't disabled yet however just to be safe and they didn't step back either.
"…What on earth is he doing? Why did he let his Stand punch his chest?" Avdol asked.
As they ruminate over this gruesome and odd sight, Gyro noticed something about the position of Linkin Park's fist, "…Hmm? That's odd. Linkin Park's fist… It has dug into where its user's heart is located," he realized after observing the hand's position.
"Where his heart is? You mean… Linkin Park is… grabbing his heart?" Bucciarati guessed, "…For what reason?"
Before they can speculate more, everyone quickly gathered behind the group to see why they stopped and what became of Shino, with Sakura, Kakyoin, Emi and her daughters pushing through them.
"Let us through! Let us through!" Sakura urged, managing to get in the front only to gasp when she saw a grisly sight, "Huh? AAAHHH!"
"Oh my goodness!" Goldia covered her mouth in shock and gasped, which Lisette and Enjel copied. Fleta screamed as she hugged Emi and covered her and Egliette's eyes while Harpae could only imagine how bad the display is if she's hearing her sisters' screams. It was almost a miracle she is blind.
"What? Why did he…!?" Kakyoin started, wishing he could turn his eyes away but he can't for some reason. Behind them, Ai, Junko, Yugiri, Lily and Kotaro have their mouths agape over what they're seeing while Saki and even Tae look in silent shock.
"Shino!?" Emi's strong reaction was somewhat expected, shared by her pets even if theirs were limited by virtue of being animals.
Ignoring the stunned eyes of his audience, Shino continued squeezing his heart, enduring the pain with clenched teeth. This unwelcome feeling remained for up to five seconds until one can see the swollen veins underneath his neck, hands and temples slowly recede, going unseen under his skin. Feeling the blood vessels not bulging agonizingly against his skin anymore, Shino released a trembling sigh as Linkin Park pulls back its arm out of his chest. As it did, the chest wound were healed and restored, manifesting as sparkles of glass particles reflecting rainbow lights coalescing around them until they returned to its original states. The same can't be said for the torn hole, blood-stained coat, cravat, and shirt.
"Haaah… Haaah… Haaah…" Releasing slow and steady breaths, Shino remained in that position to regather his bearings before sliding down against a tree until he's sitting on the ground with one knee propped up to have his left arm resting on it while his other leg was sprawled. He didn't look up, keeping his eyes low and unseen by his watching crowd. Even after his shocking act, Linkin Park is still hovering beside him, also looking down to his master in an apparent display of concern.
As for the group who watched the whole deed, they slowly get over their shock and be more confused. "…I'm all out of guesses here," Saki summed up everyone's feelings for Shino in an irritated tone, her arms crossed with a scrutinizing face.
"Man, does he ever think to stop perplexing us more?" Narancia complained, itching to shoot Linkin Park and ensure his trip to kingdom come is final.
"So he's not killing himself then?" Avdol pointed out, "If so, why did he let Linkin Park punched his chest? Was that… for a show?"
Emi quirks her brows when she guessed the reason why, "I think…! He wanted to stop the 「source」 of the impure blood from taking over his mind!"
"Huh? Stop the source?" Yugiri repeated as she and everyone turned to her for clarification.
"The 「heart」 that is giving him life as a zombie through supplying him with the impure blood, or as I called it, the 「ichor」," further explained Emi, "If you were still wondering on what became to Shino two days ago back in the Tenzan Mountain, when he nearly killed Sakura and Kakyoin, the ichor possessed his entire body and Linkin Park, giving it freedom to act upon its desire to create upheaval, or it would have if Shino did not came to his senses in time. I do not know yet how long he was relying on the ichor to resume living as zombie, but I do not intend to find that out when the ichor must be eliminated if all of us do not want to be killed by the it's wrath!"
Everyone who is not part of Emi's family or named Kakyoin was surprised to learn Shino's "heart" is actually more than just an active organ. For Franchouchou and Rianima, this info was made effective for them because they know their organs stopped working after they died unless they were provoked like Lily's heart and their stomachs when they were eating.
"I don't want to freak us more than we need to, but…" Johnny interjected so he can ask Emi, "You're not telling us that, for a lack of better word… this 「ichor」 could be the reason why Shino is acting like this?"
Emi looked at Johnny's eyes for a moment before nodding, "It must be," shouts of surprise and alarm came out of everyone's mouths but they stop because she has more to say, "That said, this is the first time I am handling someone infected by the ichor that could be… 「alive」 or at least 「aware」 of what its surroundings, separate from its 「host」. Such occurrence should not be possible in any victim I encountered in the past, and yet Shino…" She closed her eyes mournfully, "My beloved just had to be the first person to be marred by it, even right before his death! All thanks to Ira!"
"Ira?" Bucciarati parroted, his curiosity of the name shared by his comrades and acquaintances.
"Emi-san's aunt and her main enemy," Kakyoin grimly answered so they would have a general idea of who she is, "A vile woman who not only made Goldia-chan here and her sisters' lives hell because of her machinations, but nearly kidnapped me to become slave to her, leaving me traumatized when I was still young…" He pointed to the five girls yet unfamiliar to them.
They turn to him next with the same look of curiosity they have, made apparent by the implications, "Huh? You were only a kid when this Ira almost kidnapped you?" Junko inquired.
Kakyoin would have told them now's not the right time, but Sakura stepping forward to Shino and kneeling before him served as an alternative to draw his and everyone's eyes on the two, having only realized Sakura was uncharacteristically silent and Shino could be listening.
"Sakura, what do you think you're doing?" Kotaro questioned her, equal parts annoyed and worried. She ignored him, her entire attention being talking with her troubled and injured kohai friend over the topic of what the eerie-looking woman said regarding him.
"Shino? Hey, Shino!"
Knowing what she will ask, Shino raised his face up tiredly, "S-Sakura…"
Involuntarily gasping on seeing him in that state while also noticing he looks so pale and haggard, not unlike her fellow zombies, Sakura swallows her anxiety before she asks, "Shino, y-you… you're not… a zombie, right? A-And about this ichor that woman said that is keeping you alive past your death as a malicious heart… All of those were… were not true… right? T-That you… d-died?"
Unfortunately for Sakura, the remorseful look he's giving her tells her everything she didn't want to know, right before he confirms it with a dire nod. "Emi is telling the truth about my condition… Everything she said, including me being a zombie, are not lies."
!
"It… It can't be…"
Sakura is still troubled about her being a zombie due to her belief her sheer misfortune contributed to her death and unwanted revival, but learning her once-forgotten friend she made during high school, who she had just reunited minutes ago, has died and came back as a zombie felt like a stab in the heart. She wanted to believe that is a lie. That her former kohai she befriended out of goodness of her heart even at her lowest point turned up as a walking corpse thanks to a "heart" forcing him to live past his death.
Now learning what is going with Shino, Sakura let her tears flow, not caring if her makeup gets ruined. Distraught, she touched his cheek with her left palm, feeling his skin being warm. In spite of this, his sunken eyes similar to her fellow zombies erased any desperate doubt in her mind that her friend sitting before her is really an undead. "You're… You're lying… Please tell me you're wrong… Please tell me you're wrong!" She shook his shoulders, trying to be hopeful on their behalf.
"No, senpai. It is the truth," Shino grabbed her wrist and pushed them away, "Deny it all you want, there's no mistaking what I become and the reason behind my condition. I'm sorry you have to hear it after we just reunited many minutes ago."
"N-No… No…" It pains him to see Sakura so distraught. He had forgotten that he didn't want her to learn what happened to him due to being overwhelmed of his need to make peace with what few connections he has in the living world.
Sighing, Shino rises up slowly, holding against a tree to support his trembling body still suffering from pain. Seeing him having trouble in standing up prompted Sakura to follow, intending to help him. "Don't," Shino guessed her intentions with a frown and stops her by holding out his palm, "Please stay with your friends. It's about time I… end this."
"End it? Wait! Y-You mean…!"
"Yes… I do not want you to be in their way…"
Striding past Sakura, Shino stands in attention in front of his audience, who all backed away slightly in response to seeing him move. Franchouchou gets behind Rianima for protection, trusting them on shielding the girls from potential attacks. The only ones who didn't are Emi's family, who tried pleading him to stop his next and absolute action only to be brushed off when he walked past them.
"Shino!" "Mister Shino!" Emi and Goldia called out.
ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
Observing the solemn acceptance Shino is showing to them, emphasized by Linkin Park staying close to him instead of outright attacking, Bucciarati, Avdol and Rai believe that after many false starts and interruptions, they are going to fight him now. Without any words from them, they brace themselves for the long-due battle as they glare at Shino, their own Stands coming out for a third time. Johnny, Narancia and Gyro soon followed, putting on battle stances.
Wiping the blood off his mouth, Shino says, "I shan't say more, Rianima. Do your worst."
His statement is all the confirmation they are granted permission to finally kill him. "…Alright. Hope you're prepared, Xero!" Bruno shared few words back to him, all of them prepared to move in for the killing blow much to Sakura, Emi and Goldia's horror over seeing Shino about to be killed and helpless to overturn their choice…
"No! Guys, stop! Don't kill him! Please listen to me!
…but the same person who spoke those same words once again halt their advances.
The zombie girls and guys turned to Kakyoin holding his left hand forward somewhat desperately, pleading them to stop. They have only realized he's the only Stand User who haven't made a move against Shino, with Hierophant Green isn't present around him.
At this moment, time seems to slip by them quick, so naturally Rianima and Franchouchou are getting exasperated and impatient Kakyoin is still prioritizing stopping them from attacking Shino over it. They wonder what's gotten into him that led him to change his mind on killing him but they are not having it.
"Enough Kakyoin!" Bucciarati scolded, keeping his eyes focused on Shino, "We will not tolerate more of your inaction and forcing us to stop!"
"We're very sorry Kakyoin, but we cannot let him live if what Emi-san said is true!" Rai added, building up Spin energy in his balled-up hands, "You can decline all you want, but we won't!"
Wincing again from their refusal, Kakyoin maintained his stance, exclaiming, "I insist! Killing Shino will not actually get rid of him because of the ichor circulating inside him! In fact…! We would be making a 「big」 mistake if we actually kill him!"
"Huh?"
Everyone, including Shino, turned to him after hearing that reason. Seeing he got their attention, Kakyoin quickly realizes that this could be his and Emi's chance to reveal the wider scope of Shino's plan, intending to prove his reason, "Listen! While I was cared for by Emi-san, she explained to me everything about her history in protecting Saga involving fighting against her aunt many times, her Stand that actually put Goldia and her sisters to the current era, and her necromancy magic involving using her blood for her malicious ends, of which Shino himself was a victim of! Thanks to her speculating on Shino's motive and the scope behind it due to the above reasons, I see to it that I must impart what we had realized not only to all of you, but especially to Shino!"
As everyone processes his words, Emi interjected, continuing where Kakyoin left off, "The 「ichor」… The befouled blood born from Ira's… It is a must for me to eradicate it out of him. It cannot be allowed to exist either through him or out in the open because it carries traces of Ira's powers that can eradicate any living beings! Because of this, Kakyoin and I want us all of you to rethink on killing Shino, for it will not stop the ichor from acting according to Ira's will!"
"It's for our own and Shino's good! To make him abandon his ill-fated plan!" Kakyoin remarked, "Which is why we want to tell him of the 「mistake」 he's about to make!"
"…You wish to talk to him?" Yugiri asked, trying to make sense of their words in intrigue.
"Yes. We need to," he nodded, donning a determined and solemn look at Shino. He folded his arms, stating, "Will you, Shino?"
…
…
"…Tch, fine."
Everyone is surprised to hear him agree with Kakyoin's desperate request. Even Kakyoin himself was also surprised, albeit a little as he and Emi are relieved they managed to get through him in hopes of stopping his pointless conflict with Franchouchou and Rianima.
Rubbing his chest before exhaling, Shino gestured Kakyoin and Emi to come close, saying, "If you two claim that my death would not actually stop Saga from getting destroyed, then please let me hear it."
Kakyoin beamed in relief while Emi released a sigh she's holding the whole time, "Alright. Thank you for agreeing to hear us," he expressed his gratitude, coolly walking toward him with Emi. Off by her side, her family choose to step back towards Franchouchou and Rianima while Sakura, hoping to find out what they want to clarify with him, followed.
Seeing the two got Shino's attention to made him back down, Bucciarati reluctantly ordered his group, the girls and Kotaro to relax for now. Some of them shared his reluctance but nonetheless obliged. They are curious and worried for them if they can change Shino's mind about killing himself through Rianima. Emi has shown to have already determined his plan whom she imparted to Kakyoin, given his sudden idea of sparing Shino. Perhaps through these two, they could listen closely and find out.
In spite of that, Bucciarati, Avdol, Junko and Yugiri cannot help but have a bad feeling regarding the outcome after.
ドドドドドドドド
Silence filled the clearing as the assembled party watch nervously and intently at the three, with Franchouchou and Emi's family praying for the Emi and Kakyoin's safety while Rianima and Kotaro keep an eye on Shino/Xero for any sign he's making a move. The Stand Users will retaliate soon in return if he inevitably comes to blow.
"Emi, Kakyoin… Care to elaborate about what you two said?" Shino asked.
Adopting a calm head, Kakyoin didn't make him wait as he starts speaking first, "About your plan to save Saga similar to Tatsumi-san making the zombie girls become popular idols by getting yourself killed. Specifically by having Linkin Park be targeted so its injuries will be transferred back to you."
That got his full attention. "You need a refresher for that before I let you two proceed?" Kakyoin shakes his head no. "Oh, I see. Then please continue."
After not breaking eye contact for three seconds, Emi proceeds to clarify more after Kakyoin gave her the go ahead, "Your self-imposed fatal plan Shino… Again, you must stop yourself from ending your life because it would not go the way you hoped by having your death preventing the ichor from annihilating Saga."
So that's their angle. They believe his death would be meaningless and pointless if he can't stop himselffrom razing Saga to the ground. He would have put out a counter response, but a pang of dread in his chest stopped him. Even still, he cannot help going wide-eyed, if only briefly, before replying, "I see you two have figured out the whole background behind my plan… Hmm, I'm not sure if I… want to hear it straight from your mouths but I must remind you two on how my plan goes… As long as Linkin Park was struck by a fatal attack by a different Stand, my life will end in turn," he confidently answered, "With both my soul and Linkin Park gone, the ichor won't destroy Saga, which is the sole reason why I decided to do this. Even if I would be branded as their enemy and end up with me dead, I accepted those consequences many months ago. I'd say I do deserve it."
"I see. Your words are exactly what we theorized on why you enacted your plan to have one of us kill you," summarized Kakyoin. He closes his eyes for a moment, shaking his head before opening them again and adds his opinion, "It's… not a bad plan actually. From the start, you didn't intend to kill my group and the girls in spite of your ability giving you ample opportunity to kill us right on the spot, given the sheer potential of your restraining yourself and not planning to kill us may had allowed us to live past our first fight against you."
"Yes. I was being careful not to let my imagination override my power. Whether you still see me as an enemy or not, I don't care. What I care is that my death shall spare Saga from not only Linkin Park's wrath, but also the tainted blood coursing through my veins called an ichor. Your worries after my intentional death will be protecting Franchouchou and supporting them and Saga."
Hearing him laid out his reason and hopes for the rising stars of Saga Prefecture he would not be around to see, Kakyoin and Emi did understand those reasons well. However, they're about to rip those reason apart if it means making him understand and abandon his scheme before it's too late.
Emi and Kakyoin looked at each other for a moment to convey their planned responses before they return back to him. "…Shino, I am sorry to topple your shaky hope on freeing yourself from the 「curses」' hold on you…" Emi will regret what she will say next, but knows it is necessary, "but your death… will not stop the 「ichor」 from destroying Saga."
This is it. They're about to put forth the one big flaw compromising his scheme, so Emi did not let up the beginning momentum and spells it out to him, and the others listening on the sidelines, "I repeat… Your death won't stop 「you」 from destroying Saga. Not one bit."
"W-What?" Shino turned to her, unable to believe what she's saying, "How can you be so sure?" He demanded.
"The 「ichor」," Kakyoin pointed at his chest, "The blood that is keeping you alive as a zombie with a working cardiovascular system… Emi-san believes that the ichor masquerading as your hearthas a 「mind」 of its own, which has possessed you by force twice. Or is it a lot of times actually? Either way, as to why your death won't stop it from going berserk… Getting yourself killed through your Stand receiving a fatal attack so your own soul will finally pass on to the afterlife, six years after your supposed death."
"W-Well yes! That's… That's what I-I'm hoping for!" Shino is not liking where Kakyoin is going as he clutched his necklace dreadfully.
"…Yes, you'll get exactly what you wanted," continued Kakyoin, "You will die a second time and your 「soul」 is free to move on… but what about your 「body」?"
"M-My… b-b-body?" His grip tighten, his face displaying signs of panic.
"Shino," Kakyoin puts his right hand on his left shoulder, giving him a sympathetic look to prepare himself for a reveal that he will not take it well, "You believed that getting killed by us will stop you and Linkin Park from attacking Saga under the fear of losing control of yourself to the ichor. However, I'm sorry to say, but your plan… it has already 「failed」 before it even possibly began."
"F-Failed…!?" Shino started shaking in fear.
"The ichor… it made you an undead possibly many months prior, six years after your death. We are not sure how you felt upon awakening from your six-year coma but I have no doubt your undead status made you feel alienated with society," stated next Emi, "Maybe even shortly after awakening, it caused you uncompromising pain by possessing you many times before we ourselves witnessed it twice. And from what Kakyoin and I understand based on how long you were carrying it in you, we believe it has a tight hold on your body, to the point that it is not wrong for me to assume that the ichor has become part of your 「body」."
"U-Uh…" Shino is unable to formulate a reply, the dreadful feeling becoming intense.
"If you die, your 「soul」 will finally leave your shell and depart to the afterlife as said by Kakyoin, thus freeing you from the ichor's hold… but you will leave behind a possibly sentient blood that is free to possess your corpse fully, continuing on as a zombie… except it has no inhibitions or morality. By that assumption, I believe the ichor will start attacking that have even a small sign of life around it, of which they are everywhere. Saga would be at the ichor's mercy and kill anything that has life, including zombies, fulfilling Ira's ambition to exterminate all life."
"…" Shino goes wide eyed.
"The only one who can stop it is Emi-san herself. Bring Me to Life's flames are the only ones that can burn away the ichor or Ira's tainted blood in general. This means that potentially, she will personally be the one to burn your body in the end, which she doesn't want it to happen and probably the reason why you tried so hard not to involve her in your conflict against us, right?"
"…" He remained silent.
"Well, to put all what we said concisely…" With a dramatic flair and turn, Kakyoin pointed intently at Shino similar to Jotaro, believing it is something he could do, "Your attempt to save Saga by getting yourself killed was not feasible at all because the ichor will still possess your soulless body, causing a potential eradication of life that Emi-san could only stop. There… that's our reasoning why we want to save your lifeand stop you from throwing it away, Shino."
After they're done telling him, Kakyoin and Emi move back to their companions, who all listened to them attentively and were left surprised over the information they delivered to the stunned gothic man. Goldia and her sisters have also listened even though they already have the general idea of their conversation while Sakura, despite being lost in the sea of new and confusing info, was not left out of the surprise also.
Once they're close, it didn't take long for the uninformed members to start asking them, with Narancia starting first, "…Hey, Kakyoin. What you and Emi said to him just now… It felt like a lot just to establish his motive. We sorta understand because she was taking care of you and seemed an expert of the topic of blood, but still, that's a lot of info you told him to challenge the success of his plan."
Arms still crossed, Kakyoin, after sparing a glance to Emi who nodded approvingly, nods. "Yes, it's thanks to Emi-san for telling me the wider picture of his scheme as I said before. She, and to a lesser extent her daughters, are intimately well informed of the ichor that infected Shino. Emi-san has also told me what he was like before he died and resurrected. It's thanks to her that my view of him changed. He's not the irredeemably bastard like I thought…" He sent a look of pity to him staring into the void, standing still, when he said that part, "Oh, and speaking of Shino, his real name isn't Xero. That's only an alias he likely used to ensure his total secrecy, possibly to Emi-san."
"What Kakyoin-san said!" Sakura suddenly interjected, getting their attention with her shouting presence, "His full name is Shino Wakefield! Please get that through your heads so you stop calling him a zero!" She semi-chided them after hearing them call him Xero many times.
Everyone looked at her quizzically after hearing her recite a full name she seemed to know, "Huh? Wait, Sakura. How come you know his full name?" Ai asked. "You… seem to really know him well by the way, given you act around him like he was your former friend. So can you tell us why, too?" She added, hoping she and her friends get to hear the truth straight from her mouth.
"It's because he's my friend from high school! My kohai, actually!"
…
…
…
"W-W-Wait WHAAAAAT!? !? !"
Everybody is in an uproar, letting out shouts of surprise mostly from Saki, Ai, Lily, Kotaro, Kakyoin, Narancia and Gyro. Emi gasped silently and stared at her in shock, being the most shocked among them including Goldia, Fleta, and Lisette. Sakura Minamoto, designated Number One of Franchouchou who has remembered everything about her past at the cost of her memories as an undead, filling her with depression over her sheer misfortune in life leading to her death…
…knew Shino?
So many questions were raised instantly, to the point the extroverted members proceed to barrage Sakura with their questions only for the cool-headed zombies to calm them down. This took nearly ten seconds until they recomposed themselves, though still bewildered and curious.
"Y-You're… You're not… messing with us, right?!" Gyro exclaimed with a hilarious bewildered expression, head whipping back and forth between Shino and Sakura, "That guy is your friend from high school!? From when you were alive!?"
Sakura nodded a little exasperatedly, "Yes. It's been ten years since I've last saw him, so I was very surprised and ecstatic to have recognized him after he 'kidnapped' me. This is why I pleaded you guys not to kill him because I don't want someone I personally knew after so many years dying in the same night I met him again," she sighed, somewhat relieved she's finally able to put out this info to everyone.
Some of them are doubting her statement because of just how surprising it is, as well as the apparent lack of veracity. Junko is the one remarking over this belief, "Are you sure you're not misremembering him, Sakura-san? We know your memories came back to you but-"
"No! I do remember him!" She insisted loudly, clamming Junko up, "He may have grown so much, but I couldn't forget his face if I ever wanted to!"
Getting over his surprise quickly, Kotaro rubs his chin as he glanced at unresponsive Shino before falling back to Sakura. "Hmm, I see! It makes sense now why he always chose you out of six during fan meetups! I thought it's because he's a big fan of you!"
"Well he told me that before all of you arrived," supported Sakura, "That was when I recognized him."
"Related to that, because you have amnesia, you didn't know who he was before when he came up to you many months ago," added Avdol, "I think he was hoping you didn't recognize him due to the true nature of his plan. That goes the same way from the opposite side, too."
"Ohhhh! So we would be none the wiser when he dies!" Ai exclaimed with a nod, "But unfortunately for him, Sakura got her memories back even if she make things complicated for us girls regarding the Arpino concert, therefore making her another person who actually knew Shino is, after Emi-san!"
"Correct," Emi nodded, relieved like Sakura is that the rest was finally informed even if it surprised her, "With Sakura telling us she was friends with Shino and learning that bringing death upon me will not end the conflict, we are hoping that unexpected fact will make you six feel less inclined to kill him."
"That was our intention since we set foot here, yeah," admitted Kakyoin.
Hearing the word again reminds Sakura of Shino, perking up in response, "Ah, right! You said that the 'heart' giving him life as a zombie is bad not only to him, but to us!" She looked at Emi, becoming worried and hopeful for Shino. She gave her a pleading look, saying, "I think you already know what I'm hoping for you to do but… please, don't let him die! Bring him back to his senses! It pains me to see him putting himself down, like he 「always」 do when we were in high school!"
At that, Emi musters a smile to her direction, "Do not fret Sakura. That is why I am here tonight. It also pains me to see my beloved continue to be in suffering." Partly because of me…
"Beloved?" Sakura repeated, a little surprised, "You mean, you're Shino's… lover?" She guessed elatedly.
"Yes," she nodded with a smile, not at all embarrassed to be confirming it, "Now then, let us not waste time. I must erase the ichor inside of you, Shino," she called him by his true name, "There is no need for you to have Kakyoin's group kill you to spare Saga Prefecture from your and the ichor's wrath anymore."
Now learning a little bit of Shino and the compelling reason to not kill him thanks to Sakura, Kakyoin and Emi, every zombie and one human turn to Shino to see if Franchouchou and Rianima's main enemy they've been in conflict with ever since Kotaro's insane project started via his twelve enemy Stands attacking them can be redeemed without the need of a fight or death. Some of them like Ai, Lily, Narancia and Johnny are still doubtful of him, or regard him with contempt in the case of Saki, Tae, Bucciarati and Rai due to him starting this strife in the first place all because he wanted the zombie Stand Users to kill him. They are opposed to him getting off so easy. Nevertheless, knowing Sakura was actually friends with him, it didn't sit right with them if Shino were to die right after they reunited shortly after. A lot about him were shrouded in mystery, so perhaps they could learn more of him to better understand his motivations and his past.
However, when their eyes fell upon Shino, it had occurred to them that the whole time, he was looking straight ahead in the cold air while standing still, his gray eyes not falling on any of the boys or girls. His face was blank and he's unresponsive to almost everything around him.
ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
"…"
Seeing Shino continue being unresponsive unsettles them, even the cool-headed members. Getting concerned over his numb-like state, Sakura, Emi and Kakyoin marched straight to him.
"…"
"Shino? Hey, Shino! What's wrong? You were being quiet for the past minutes," Sakura called out, believing she's the one who can snap him out of his stupor.
"…" Shino continued staring into the air.
"Shino… Sakura is talking to you. Please respond to her," stated Emi, looking straight into his eyes.
"…" He kept quiet.
Brows furrowing, Kakyoin felt the tiny hairs on the back of his neck rise up out of dread, especially when he remembers what he told him about his doomed plan. He does not like how he's near catatonic, but he must bring him out of it if they want to move forward.
"Shino, hey-" He began, hand raising up to touch his shoulder…
"…Why am I not surprised?"
"Uh!?"
Kakyoin retracted his hand instantly when Shino suddenly spoke, which he barely heard it as a whisper. He, Emi and Sakura step back in surprise after seeing him be silent. Upon realizing he opened his mouth, they quickly snap out before Emi replies, "S-Shino!"
"I didn't want to think about it, but I knew… I knew too well no matter what I did, there is always something that would go unfavorably against me, one way or another," he continued monotonously, never settling his eyes on any of the three, "Getting myself killed isn't actually enough to stop my 「pre-ordained role」 I didn't want in the first place."
Sakura gets increasingly worried, leading her to try talking to him, "H-Hey, please stop thinking that anymore! Everything will be okay, Shino! Let us-!"
"Hehehe… Hahahaha…"
"E-Eh? Shino?"
If they didn't backed away first when he suddenly opened his mouth, they are feeling like doing it now when Shino laughed quietly to himself with head lowered.
"Hahahahahahahahahahaha… AHAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ! ! ! !"
His laughter explodes at high volume and pitch, throwing his left hand onto his face as he arched his back with his other hand over his stomach. If one dared to look at him becoming raving mad, they can see a wide smile on his face before he lurched down and took slow erratic steps around.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why the hell is he laughing!?" Johnny asked, becoming freaked out along with his group, Franchouchou and Emi's daughters.
"We're not sure! But!" Yugiri is struggling to remain calm over his mad laughing, holding Lily tight, "I believe he's 「not」 enjoying himself in spite of his laughing!"
"Is he… losing himself?!" Bucciarati said, becoming tense.
"W-What should we do?! I'm not liking this!" Junko asked, wanting to avert her eyes but unable to.
After laughing madly for a minute straight, Shino barely steadies himself, calming himself down but his laughter hasn't left him yet. His face became the look of a lunatic or someone who lost the will to live after so many misfortunes whittled their sense of confidence bit by bit. He's even crying as he continued laughing, "Hahahahaha, w-why…? Why am I laughing?" He exclaimed, catching his breath briefly with a broken smile, "Have I… gotten underestimated myself being too comfortable or expectant of tragedy afflicting me no matter what I do? I-I mean, when things seem to look up for me, all of it will came tumbling down spectacularly at the last minute!
"…Actually, why am I asking myself that?," Shino felt his laughter dying in his throat, but his smile and tearful eyes remain, "I already accepted my own 「misfortune」… Ever since my Stand first awakened, my life began leading me down the 「fate」 I tried so hard to break away, pushing me to misery. Heh, how wrong I was that me being a zombie and having no place in this reality in spite of me existing meant I was freed from my accursed 「fate」."
Everyone is not liking what they're hearing from him, especially for Kakyoin, Sakura and Emi. "Shino! SHINO!" Sakura shouted desperately to him. Thankfully, now that he's calming down, she managed to reach him and made him turn to her with a lopsided smile and frantic eyes dripping with tears.
"Y-Yes, senpai?"
Feeling a shiver run down her spine when he answered in a quiet tone, Sakura wants to erase his expression out of him, "Don't say more, please! Just calm down! It's… It's going to be okay! You'll be okay!"
"This isn't like you, Shino!" Kakyoin believed, "You know that better than any of us!"
"Shino… the ichor inside of you. You must be going crazy because of it, right?" Sakura guessed, "We need it to get that 「thing」 out of you!"
ドォクゥン ドォクゥン
"Uuurgh! !"
Shino clutched his chest again when the familiar pain flared up so intensely he nearly lost his footing, skidding his feet across the ground apart. Instantly losing his manic behavior, he steadied his posture with a distressed expression as the chest pain continued. "A-A-Argh… My… My heart…!" He shouted alarmingly.
"Your heart?" Sakura repeated concerningly.
ドォクゥン ドォクゥン
"Oaaaaagh! ! !"
The chest pain flared up again, the intensity becoming too much for him to maintain his footing when he kneeled on the ground. He would've fall face first if he didn't hold out his right hand to the ground.
Sakura, Kakyoin and Emi couldn't ignore the sight of Shino experiencing a cardiac arrest anymore, so they quickly make haste toward him while everyone else watched in worry and fear. "Shino! !" Sakura cried out in worry, not liking him being in so much pain. However, Shino stopped them from attending to him by extending his left hand that was clutched to his chest, confounding them.
"N-No. Don't… Don't go… n-near me… G-Gggghk!"
"What? What are you saying!?" Kakyoin exclaimed, not liking his pitiful request that means the opposite of what one should do in this situation, "We want to help you! Don't act like you're in control Shino!"
"Yes, this is for your own good! I prithee you, my beloved!" Emi insisted, showing signs of Bring Me to Life activating through pale blue flames hovering around her, "I am sensing the ichor is arrogating your body! I must put a stop to it! So I implore you! Let me pull your 'heart' out and cleanse your body with Bring Me to Life! I know that deep inside, you wanted to be rescued… to be free from the ichor's hold to your body, and to be by my side like we did six years ago…"
ドォクゥン ドォクゥン
"Hhhrrrrk!" He clutched his chest again, keeping his head lowered and his face obscured.
"Enough is enough, Shino!" Sakura grew frustrated at his stubbornness, her voice wavering in her fear for his rapidly declining health, "Please listen to me! Let Emi-san heal you to let you have a chance of starting over!"
…
…
…
"No."
"Huh?"
They are taken aback by his simple yet effective answer. Still keeping his head down, he adds, "It's… It's already too late. I can't… start over… after going too far…"
"Too… far?" Sakura repeated.
"The ichor inside me… I fear it… 「cannot」 be extinguished by your Stand… Emi."
"What?" Said woman was puzzled of this regretful claim. She doesn't believe him because she had experience in dealing with the ichor over the past hundred years. She shakes her head, responding, "But Shino, I must do it. I cannot let it-"
"Don't. Don't give me hope," insisted Shino remorsefully, cutting her off, "I'm really sorry but… It's… too late for my soul to be saved…" He put one foot on the ground for support as he rises up shakily. Still grabbing his chest, he stands before the three and the large party behind them while slumped, his face obscured still…
"Far too late."
…until he said that, raising his head up so he can take a gander again to his senpai and beloved.
"…Ahhhh! ! !"
Sakura, Kakyoin and Emi recoiled in shock at the sight of crimson blood trickling out from his eyes and mouth, hanging under his jaw until it drops to the ground. The eerie part of this is Shino himself not being fazed by the fluid flowing out unnaturally. They attempted to draw attention to the blood flowing out of him but Shino spoke first, this time with a… serene smile on his face.
"My fate will be exactly what is written for me. There is no stopping it. Regardless of my feelings for it however, I'm… Nrrrgh… glad to have met you… Sakura, and… *coughs heavily* Emi. A-And… I'm sorry for… nearly killing you Kakyoin, and for endangering all of you… thanks to my selfish scheme…" He turned to Franchouchou, Rianima and Kotaro so they see he's referring to them when he said that part. Enduring the growing chest pain as blood trickled out more, he put on last a big smile directed not only at the trio, but to their friends assembled behind them. "I know I actually don't deserve it but… I hope you forgive me."
ガシャァァァン
! !
Everybody sans Shino flinched in surprise when Linkin Park, with its back turned on Shino and only realizing it was manifesting out of him after noticing its aura, punched the "air" with such strength that it shattered. If that's not surprising enough, the shattered "air" traveled outward from its starting point quick, encompassing around in a circular pattern. The "edges" reached onto everyone's feet so fast they nearly fell on the ground in alarm and panic, believing they are gonna fall down. However, it didn't happen fortunately, as they are still standing somehow.
Eventually, the "edges" reached its end point behind them, merging and then vanishing. Franchouchou, Rianima and Emi's family stared to the air where the "edges" vanished, having watched the mystifying phenomenon travel across both the air and ground after Linkin Park punched an invisible object hard. Remembering the Stand, they all turn back to see it hovering in front of its dazed user and in the middle of an action since it's holding its right hand forward towards them.
"GUNIGUNI!"
フワー
No soon after hearing Linkin Park's distinct cry, all zombies vanished out of their sights, leaving the two alone in the darkness teeming with little particles dancing around the air.
Seeing they were transferred away from him, Shino remained smiling as Linkin Park dissipated back to him.
ドォクゥン ドォクゥン ドォクゥン ドォクゥン
His chest pain flared up at its most intense, his "heart" throbbing loudly…
ズバアッ! !
…until his chest bursts open.
Shino has an anguished expression frozen in his face as the chest burst made him stumble backwards. No grunting or a scream were heard from him, especially with his mouth being full of blood filling up pass his throat. He took two steps backward next while undergoing shock before his footing gave up on him, falling on his knees first and then on his back.
Blood spilled out from his chest wound, further staining his body and clothes as it flowed out, creating a puddle underneath him. His limbs were spread out, unmoving while his eyes and mouth are opened wide, his gray eyes lifelessly dull.
With his chest rupturing open gruesomely, it's an instant death for Shino as he laid down on the pool of his own blood. No one else were around to see his corpse…
…
…
…
…
…
…
BGM: diavolo (Golden Wind OST Vol. 3: Finale)
"Mmmmmpphhhh..." A rumbling groan escaped from the corpse's mouth, its lips twitching before closing shut. Its eyes blink next, the dull lifelessness not leaving them in spite of the impossible sight of a corpse somehow exhibiting signs of being alive after suffering from a grisly death.
ドドドドドドドド
If one has doubts that he's still alive and is only clinging to it as much as he can, they are in for a frightening surprise when his fingers twitched, making a slight motion of clenching his hands before his bloodied corpse rises up steadily. The puddle of blood and blood over his body stained by his chest wound squelched from his slow movements up until he's sitting up, slumped on the invisible ground.
"Unnnngggghhhh…" His head was lowered again, obscuring his face if one looks at him from the front as he groaned again, "his" voice becoming audible enough that it can be discerned to be a deep tone or pitch. This was pronounced thanks to what "he" says next. "We hesitated enough. Our plan… our fate… it cannot be overwritten. Forgive me for killing you and have me take over our body. The time of reckoning… it was long overdue. You have tested my patience."
After uttering those curt words, "Shino" raised his head again, the trickling blood on his face becoming more frequent due to more of it flowing out from the top of "his" head. If there is something changed on "his" pale and blood-soaked face, it's his gray eyes changed to crimson color. The inexplicable change of color means something is wrong with "Shino"…
"However, I'm glad that you came around in accepting your role as dictated by Saga's curse. Hehehehehe. As such, a different name must be picked up, for we are Shino no more. Starting right now, we..."
ドォクゥン ドォクゥン… ドォクゥン ドォクゥン…
The exposed heart in his chest wound pulsates, pushing out more blood…
"Aaaaaaare…"
Then he puts on a creepy smile, showing "his" teeth as more blood gushed out over his face, indicating that "Shino" is not being himself. If "his" crimson eyes didn't tipped one off initially…
…then the chosen name would.
...XERO.
The clearing suddenly became quiet after most of the visitors were gone. It was full of people initially but they vanish without a trace thanks to Franchouchou and Rianima's supposed false enemy doing… something with his Stand. He's not quite sure what really happened after he watched every zombie in his vicinity disappear via being shattered, or at least it appeared that way. If it's like shattering into many pieces however, it doesn't seemed like it so confusingly.
Whether he try to guess what became of the twenty zombies plus two animals or not, one thing for sure is this.
"…Well! That's rude of him! He left me and Romero alone here!" Kotaro complained, annoyed, relieved and worried all at once that he was spared, his arms folded as he taps his foot. Romero barked in agreement. "Arf!"
To be continued
Finished!
Man, making this chapter sure felt too long. It took me almost a week and few days after to complete it! Makes me relieved I'm able to get this out after the last update more than a month ago.
I want to say something about this chapter, but I'm not feeling like up to it due to my exhaustion from completing the two-part prelude to the final battle. That being said, I believe this chapter's events may have made you eager to know what the heck is happening. I assure most of the mysteries will be slowly unraveled in the next chapters. We are approaching the climax of the story, after all.
Well, time for me to sign off. See you next chapter everyone, and have a good day or night!
