Hello! This is the 50th chapter! Man, can't believe I would reach this far! I had expected this fanfic would take a lot of chapters to tell its story, especially since this is a longfic, but I've never thought there would come this day when I'll publish a 50th chapter! I'm happy and proud as a writer, even though I don't see myself on the same level as professional writers or even other fanfic writers.
Before we get started, I would like to say something about the previous beginning notes in the previous chapter, involving Linkin Park's revival. I just wanted to say... I'm VERY sorry! I shouldn't put my feet in the mouth because I didn't done my research before! Turns out, the allegations regarding the new singer, Emily Armstrong, have been debunked and they've been made thanks to the internet hate mob and Linkin Park's "fans" jumping a gun over unsubstantiated or unproven evidence, helped that she herself refuted an allegation that she supported a vile person and that she has no idea they were that repulsive until she saw the evidence. Learning that fact eased my worries... and made me regret heavily for almost reacting on my emotions without thinking logically. Just why? Why, oh whyyyy did I write my opinion piece back in the previous chapter? Ugh, I suppose I'm no better than the majority of the internet or "fans" if I almost jumped a gun.
Okay, now that I cleared up my misunderstanding and reaffirmed my stance, regarding Emily becoming Linkin Park's new main vocal, all I can say is... WOOOOOOOOO! I fell in love with her singing already after hearing the band's newest songs! The newest songs even became my instant favorites! She may not be Chester, but that doesn't mean she's replacing him entirely. All she's doing is breathing new life to the band and doing it in her own way. I believe this is what Chester would've wanted. If you're not convinced, please take a listen to their new songs. Your socks will be blown off, whether you're a former fan or not.
And because of all that I said above, Linkin Park's name will be retained for Shino's Stand. Again, I heavily regret considering it in the first place without seeing the bigger picture over what's happening with the band. Let's hope Mike Shinoda don't deal with NFTs again, especially when I heard the market for it crashed and burned, or at least not as widespread as it was in its heyday. Maybe I can forgive him.
Oh, and you know what's amusing? Emily's first name is almost similar (in terms of pronunciation) to Emi Lea Essence! Who as you know, is in love with Shino whose Stand is called Linkin Park! Since I established them to become a couple after they were introduced, talk about a happy coincidence!
Ahem. I said too much. Time for us to get into the chapter proper!
Back in the real world, in the same forest clearing…
"…73…79…83… Uhh, what comes after 83? 97…? Right, 97. 101, 103, 107, 109, 113… Uhh, 117…? Wait, no! Wrong again!"
Kotaro chastised himself for what seemed like an umpteenth time. Grinding his teeth, he starts over counting the prime numbers, his frustration and impatience already at their limit. "From the top, again! 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17…! 19… 23… 29…"
His voice trailed off near the end, his lips flapping momentarily before he wondered if he should continue to pass the time counting prime numbers to make his waiting slightly bearable just even a little. Ten seconds would pass before Kotaro threw his hands up in the air and yelled aggravatingly, then putting those same hands onto his hair to begin scratching it, making his hair frazzled. "Those zombies reeking with a foul smell and musty decay…! How long will they make us wait, huh!? In fact, why do I even bother myself waiting for them if they're taking soooo looooooong!?"
Kotaro fumed, muttering something undecipherable under his breath as a product of his impatience, before turning to Romero, Hatrzler and Lynn, in contrast to the irritable human, sitting with their eyes trained forward and tolerant in their posture. He was reminded of why he insists on continuing waiting for the disappeared zombies to show despite his better judgment, so he chose to still wait regardless of his emptied patience.
Thirty-one minutes had passed after Franchouchou, Rianima, Emi's family, and… Xero vanished, leaving him and Romero behind in the clearing (initially until Lynn and Hartzler popped out of nowhere). He has no idea where those zombies got taken into no thanks to Linkin Park, but one thing he knows for sure is they must be having a fight to the death somewhere else. Where that place is, he has a feeling it's not taking place here in Saga. It's only his gut feeling but based on what little he knows about Linkin Park's rift ability he learned from Bucciarati and Mamezuku, the empty space inside the rift could've taken place in a different reality, or dimension. He ain't an expert in how space works within the time-space continuum, but he knew a lot of media who tackled the concept of it so that he had some understanding and could take a guess.
Kotaro Tatsumi's guessing may have some merit when Emi's two pets suddenly appear out of thin air and landed on the ground very roughly. Someone, most likely Xero, have thrown them out of the site of fighting in a manner similar to Ian abusive owner mistreating their pets. Just a thought of it brings a very bitter taste to his mouth. Anyway afterwards, he next caught sight of tiny bits of two rifts from where they came out of, meaning the above theory and his speculation do have some merit. Speaking of the cat and the owl, they were crying out of protest and possibly worry as they scrambled around, apparently trying to find a way back to the zombies still dealing with their enemy. Only through calming them down (in his own, boisterous way) and Romero's barking did the two stop and before he knew it, he had three zombie animals to look after as he waited for their return.
After sitting his butt on the grass for a long while however, Kotaro's patience had worn thin. Part of him is worried for Franchouchou and Rianima's well-being, including Emi and her daughters who were caught in the crossfire willingly, hoping Xero isn't giving them a hard time, but true to his attitude, he's more irritated they haven't appeared many minutes later. Nonetheless, he kept his impatience sealed barely tight, signified by his furrowing eyebrows and twitching mouth.
"Grrrrrrr…! They're sure taking their time fighting against Xero! When will those rotting zombies, and Emi's family, show UP!? Or, or! Finish!? My legs been itching these past thirty minutes and counting!" Kotaro complained, before throwing his arms up. "Gah! I should've waited back in the van if I knew this is how long I'll sitting my butt on the ground! Would've spared my pants from getting itchy!" He proceeded to scratch his pants with a look of discomfort, serving to maintain the lid on his impatience.
He's so engrossed in vainly soothing his itchy legs that he didn't notice Romero, Hartzler and Lynn all perking up, their heads, eyes and ears standing upright in attention. They stood up from their resting spot and marched forward to the center of the clearing, and it wasn't until Romero barked that Kotaro eventually noticed.
"Arf! Arf! Arf!"
Turning to the three, Kotaro had a quizzical look on him and asked, "Huh? What's wrong, you three?" He decided to stand up, believing he had enough sitting still for one night. Before he could move, he heard a sound mixed with something being ripped open and glass shattering nearby. He quickly covers his ears.
ガッシャン!
"Yeoooowww! Urgh, what's that sound?!" He winced.
He's not the only one inconvenienced by the painful noise as the three undead animals backed away in protest, with Lynn being affected the most since she stepped far away and turned her face sideways with a screech. Romero and Hartzler never backed far and instead, focused their eyes to a floating crack up in the air above them.
"CHUMIMI~IIIIN!"
A chirping, shrill cry was heard next, soon followed by a crooked and sharp opening appearing from the same seams getting torn apart. Kotaro yelled out in surprise while the three jerked up in attention after they saw Tusk within the rift it created by its bare hands, which the producer naturally couldn't see aside the rift.
"A rift in space!? Wait, don't tell me Xero is gonna COME OUT!" Kotaro exclaimed, apprehension filling his head. "Romero! Hartzler! Get back! You'll not like facing him!" He urged the cat and dog, but they didn't listen. Because they, especially Lynn and Hartzler, knew who would come out from the rift after recognizing Tusk.
Their thoughts are vindicated when Lily, Junko, Ai, Narancia, Avdol, and Kakyoin come out in a frantic manner and fall on the ground awkwardly, having not expected the rift to be hovering two inches high from the ground. These zombies soon cleared out of the way as Bucciarati, Mamezuku, Sakura, Saki, Yugiri, and Tae followed, the former two foreseeing the small height difference so they carefully but hurriedly guided the girls. Bucciarati and Emi came out next, then Goldia, Enjel, Lisette, Fleta, Egliette, and Harpae, and lastly, Johnny and Gyro got out of the rift with a mighty shout, narrowly escaping the imploded otherworldly dimension in time accompanied by Tusk, who proceeds to close the rift shut afterwards.
With its job done and power up depleted, Tusk reverts back to its first form and floats back to its user. It looked up to Johnny with its beady eyes, seemingly waiting for his reaction. "Good job, Tusk. You really saved us in time." He thanked Tusk, nodding.
"Chumimi~iiiin…" Tusk cried out affectionately before disappearing. Johnny breathed out a sigh of relief, glad his quick plan is successful. He turned to the group, seeing some of them getting up, catching their breath after their near-death experience, someone like Yugiri, Avdol, and Harpae consoling them, or helping Junko, Lily, Kakyoin, Fleta and Enjel up.
Doing a head count first, Johnny asks, "Hey, are you guys alright? Nobody was left behind, right?" He asked them anyway just to be sure and to quell the little fear in his chest under the belief he might have made a mistake."
After doing a head count of the group too, Saki flashes a thumbs up to his direction. "Everyone is safe and accounted for, Johnny! No one was missing!" She confirmed.
Once more, Johnny sighed out of relief. "Phew, that's good to hear. We're all back in the real world, away from that outlandish place."
Gyro shares his sentiments, patting his back with a smile. "It's all thanks to you that we managed to escape and are still alive! Well, as far as being an undead goes! Nyo ho!" He exclaimed.
"Don't forget you helped out too." He reminded his best friend.
After every zombie is allowed to relax just a little and rise up on their feet, Franchouchou and Rianima soon notice Kotaro staring at all of them with a slack jaw, having not really expected they would be the ones to come out from the rift created by Johnny. Romero, Hartzler and Lynn, on the other hand, are ecstatic to see them again after being forcefully separated, with the latter two instantly running after Emi and her daughters, who have noticed them first after regathering their bearings and checking if they're alright.
"Meow!"
"Hooo hooohoooooo! Hoooooo! Hooohooooo!"
The die Heilige maidens became delighted hearing their animal cries again, with Fleta, Enjel and even Lisette smiling in relief. Opening her arms wide as a gesture for them to fly into her arms, Goldia says, "Hartzler! Lynn! Thank goodness you two are okay!"
The two took the hint and soon jumped into her arms. Goldia embraced their pets with a hearty laugh, with Fleta and Enjel joining in while Lisette and Harpae simply smiled after scooting close.
Emi also moved closer to regard her loyal pets with a smile. Along with her reinvigorating strength, this causes an immense weight of worry to be lifted off her shoulder. "It is good to see you again, Hartzler. Lynn," remarked Emi, drawing their eyes to her next. "You two are not hurt so badly, we hope? We were worried Xero may have done some damage to you when he threw you two out."
"Meow."
"Hoohoohooo. Hoooo. Hooohoooo."
"Ah, that is good to hear you two are only inconvenienced," sighed Emi. "For that matter, I believe you are worried for us, too. For that, we are sorry."
Hartzler and Lynn let out a chorus of meows and hoots, apparently telling them that it's alright, or that she doesn't need to apologize. Given their owners are nodding understandably and looking relieved, it appears to be the case. This is proven by Emi hugging the cat and owl next tenderly and nuzzling her face on their delicate faces.
Franchouchou and Rianima watch the found family's reunion with a smile or grin. They are not close to their pets like they would to Romero, but they do empathize with them. Besides, they noticed Romero jumping around or having zoomies by swerving past their feet, barking repeatedly to have them notice him.
"Arf, arf! Arf, arf! Arf, arf!"
"Aaaarrrrrr!" Tae imitated delightfully, whether she understood Romero or not.
"We are glad to see you, little Romero," greeted Yugiri before picking the poodle up and letting him cuddle her and lick her face very happily. She giggled at the ticklish feeling, saying, "Please relax, for we are all here now, safe and sound."
"Arf!" Romero barked in response.
The twelve zombies either giggled or chuckled at the affectionate display, with Ai, Lily, Kakyoin, Avdol, and Gyro thinking of holding the poodle next. Though as much as they want to, they know it's only a matter of time before a certain someone goes into his usual rant after they're not apparently noticing him. Which is deliberate on part for Sakura, Saki, Narancia and Johnny.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHEEEEM!"
Yup. There it is.
Their smiles vanished unsurprisingly as they turned to the irate Kotaro crossing his arms and giving them all a stink eye behind his sunglasses, in contrast to Romero panting happily with his tongue out while obediently sitting by the group's feet after becoming exhausted. Emi's family stayed by the sidelines, though that didn't forbid them from giving him a disapproving look.
"About time you tardy, slowpoke zombies SHOW UP! You've kept us waiting for your return up toooooo…!" Voice trailing off, he unrolled his right wrist cuffs to check his watch first, before covering it again and continued ranting, "…THIRTY-ONE MINUTES AND FIFTY-FIVE SECONDS! And yes, I did count them! If my words hasn't gone into your long-decaying brains yet, well allow me to repeat: DO YOU FOURTEEN UNCARING REANIMATED CORPSES HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG ROMERO AND I BEEN SITTING IN THIS STUFFY CLEARING AFTER GETTING UNCEREMONIOUSLY DUMPED ASIDE FOR LIKE…! SEVEN MONTHS! HUH? HUUUUH!?"
Everyone knew better than to be roused up by his temper tantrum and simply sent a glare or two at Kotaro. As much as they want to deny or hide it however, they are very much glad to see the man in shades again. "Never thought I'm saying this but… It's nice to see you again. We actually miss your loud, irritating voice, that's for sure." Ai remarked.
Kotaro indignantly stared at them down for a moment before he recomposed himself and cleared his throat. "…WELL! Now that all of you are here… Care to tell me how the fight with Xero went? Have you seven undead Stand Users defeated him at last!? I ain't seeing him around here."
His question made everyone wince, irritated and, for Franchouchou and the die Heilige sisters, scared. Though Saki, Yugiri, Emi and Harpae didn't show it and tried comforting their groupmates, they didn't stop their bodies from shivering.
"Oh, and alsoooo… What on earth happened to you all except Sakura-chan and Kakyoin-kun? Are those… dried up blood on your clothes and yourselves?" He added, acting like he only noticed their raggedy or unkempt appearances. "Wait, don't tell me… Did Xero get his hands on you twelve!?" He made this accurate statement when he thought about it.
Kakyoin sighed before he answered Kotaro's question. "He did, Tatsumi-san. They were unlucky to be attacked by him, and unfortunately, we haven't defeated him yet. We were forced to escape the collapsing Castle of Glass he himself orchestrated, vanishing in the interim afterwards."
"Castle of whatnow?" Kotaro parroted.
"The bizarre location Xero pulled us into, like you may have seen, Kotaro-san," explained Sakura. Her Stand is nowhere in sight, indicating she might have recalled it back to her mind, which felt weird as it's the first time she did it. "It's connected to Linkin Park, and get this; as long as Xero is in there, his 「weakness」 that he can only manipulate 「reality」 with his imagination through pre-existing matter in his vicinity was nullified." She turned to her groupmates and bodyguards and asked, "Is that how his Stand usually works, guys?"
"More or less." Mamezuku confirmed.
"If that's not enough trouble for us, the ichor that's sustaining Shino's dead body? Xero is able to use it as a tool for offensive and defensive purposes, mainly by sprouting many tentacled appendages to slice, stab, or smack us, and…" Bucciarati closed his eyes out of shame when remembering he's the first zombie to get infected by Xero, leading to a short outbreak. "…「infecting」 twelve of us to become subservient under him. That is how we look all so ragged."
That remark about getting infected caught Kotaro's attention. "Huh? The ichor? Infecting you zombies? Twelve of you if I ain't hearing you wrong!?" Concern and horror are soon written onto his face after considering the implications briefly. He couldn't make light of that even by his standards, now realizing why the twelve affected zombies look worse than he thought and wonder if he's imagining it. "Wait a minute! Y-You're saying Xero… got a drop on YOU TWELVE, and…! Turned you into bloodthirsty monsters, like how zombies are typically depicted!?"
"It already sounds obvious, but yeah… We ain't had a 「good time」 becoming a ghoul, just so you know Shades," solemnly stated Saki, her head lowered. "We're gonna have nightmares for weeks."
"Oooohhh… I think I had a clear picture on how that part of your fight against Xero went," Kotaro held up one hand to stop them from saying more. Whatever irritability he had saved up to rant more onto them, it's gone and replaced with a look of sympathy and revulsion. Makes him want to almost apologize for running his mouth without considering what they've gone through, but he still has a question. "What I ain't sure of yet is how you all got freed from his control? Unless…" He slowly glanced at Emi.
"It's all thanks to mother's 「Bring Me to Life」 for the most part!" Goldia answered. "But Sakura helped a great deal, too! If not for her awakening and using her Stand, we would all be done for!"
Kotaro jerked up when hearing Sakura's name and the word "Stand" being brought up in the same sentence. He correctly guessed Emi is the one who freed the twelve zombies based on a small deduction, but Sakura helped too? Through a Stand!? "Huh?! Are my ears hearing things!? You said Sakura… 「used」 her Stand? As in… she had finally 「awakened」 her own Stand?!" He exclaimed, turning his shocked eyes over at Sakura.
Most of the zombies also turned to Sakura, particularly those who didn't witness her Stand in action, only to see her Stand is not in sight. Sakura also realized, then remembering seeing her bodyguards returning their Stands back, she tried sensing it, and fortunately, she felt it stored inside her mind. Oh, I must have recalled my Stand. When did that happen?
She next saw Kakyoin, Emi, and Goldia's sisters smiling in her direction. No words are said, but she guesses they're urging her to reveal her Stand. She gets nervous and lets out a chuckle, a little embarrassed of being given a spotlight.
"Yes, Kotaro-san. I didn't think I would get my own Stand but… if you want to see it, well here it is." Sakura held her left arm as a whitish pink aura coated her body, and proceeded to summon it. In a small burst of pink petals, the corporeal entity bearing likeness to its user flew out making a loop in the air before orienting itself fully to the spellbound audience. Kotaro's jaw is slacked open again, unable to conceal his audible, overdrawn gasp at the sight of her long-awakened Stand, hovering faithfully hovering by its user's side like a guardian angel, The others, though having seen her Stand for the first time before escaping, are stunned again, taking their time studying or admiring its appearance.
Regardless of whether they were caught off-guard though, they are amazed, delighted, impressed, and proud that Sakura manifested her Stand. Who would have thought this day would come, and it happens during the middle of an intense fight to the death? Avdol, Narancia, Gyro, Saki, Ai, Junko, and Lily have their eyes and mouth agape out of wonder while Bucciarati, Johnny, Mamezuku, Yugiri, and even Tae looked pleased and glad. And once again, Kotaro didn't dare make light of the stunning sight of Number One's Stand.
Even though Sakura grows shyer as many pairs of eyes seem to be looking at her for longer than she thought, she is exuberant. For the second time this night, she felt blessed that for all the misfortune she'd endured up until her death, all her efforts to escape the mounting darkness trying its damnedest to pull her in and her wavering belief over her potential had led to this moment. She felt it within her very soul as she stared at her Stand to its eyes again, which it mimicked. Her lips twitched until they curved upwards, feeling protected and blessed when its gaze fell on her. Like an angel looking down on her so serenely.
This is all so surreal… I have a Stand, like my bodyguards do. What does this mean, then? Am I equal to them? A one-of-a-kind person?
Whatever thoughts she has over this bizarre phenomenon, Sakura had never felt so alive. For some reason, sensing her Stand's presence hovering beside her loyally almost makes her want to pretend that she's not a zombie. That she's a human wanting to live the best life she may have. It's all dripping with irony, she knows, but she's not complaining. In fact, an inspiration struck her just as she wondered what name her Stand would be called.
Closing her eyes, Sakura mutters, "Alive… Sensation…"
Her Stand tilted her head down, as if inching closer so it could hear clearly what its user said. "Doyansu?"
"…「Alive Sensation」. That will be your name from now on." Saying it audibly this time, Sakura opens her eyes, a look of conviction settling on her face. Then she faces everyone to repeat what she had called her Stand. "Did you guys get that? My Stand is called 「Alive Sensation」. I hope you guys remember it."
The group processed Sakura's chosen name for her Stand before memorizing it. "Alive Sensation… Alive Sensation…" Junko muttered repeatedly.
"Hmm, Alive Sensation eh?" Saki rubbed her chin with eyes closed. Before she knows it, she starts taking a liking to the name, mumbling it under her breath whilst nodding. "Wow, that's not a bad name, Sakura. The more I say it, the more I like how it suits you. Well, that settles it! All of us accept the name of your Stand! Cherish it, will ya Sakura? We're all happy for you!"
The rest of the group murmured or hummed like a puddle traveling outward, shooting a smile or a nod of agreement to Sakura, telling her that they concur with her choice of name. Even Kotaro had to concede it is a fine name, not that he'll say it out loud.
Sakura smiled next, appreciating them for liking the name she'll start calling her Stand. "Thanks, all of you. Guess there's some luck within me to have been friends or acquainted with you guys. I'm still worried that my misfortune may affect you, but… You're not intending to sway from always sticking by my side, right?"
"We won't. We have your word, so don't worry." Bucciarati reassured her.
The smile on Sakura's face widened more. She's feeling so blessed to have friends who will always be with her through thick and thin. As much as she liked indulging more in the pleasant feeling, there is something else she must do, because she and everyone else are not out of danger yet.
In fact, she can't help but have the feeling that she and Alive Sensation are needed to bring an end to this prolonged quarrel between them and Xero.
"…Alive Sensation!"
The ethereal being turned to its master immediately upon being called. "Doyansu?" It uttered again, this time in an autotuned, questioning tone. Bearing a determined look, Sakura extends her right arm sideward and exclaims this.
"Stop Xero from attacking and force him to make his presence known!"
キィィーン
"Aargh!?"
!?
Every zombie and one human, especially those who are close to Sakura, stepped back away quickly out of shock and fright when Xero suddenly appeared in between the group, screaming in discomfort. With the way he's poised to thrust his sharp nails onto Sakura's back and the fact no one, not even Emi's supernatural sense, realized he was sneaking toward her until now, he was actually with them the entire time!
"What the!? XERO?! How did he-!?" Ai exclaimed in shock.
"The hell! He's standing nearby the entire time!? How come we didn't notice!?" Narancia shouted.
"And how did Sakura figure out he was gonna attack her!?" Avdol asked an important question. A thought came to his head as he looked at Kotaro, also flinching away in shock over Xero's sudden appearance, and his frightening look. "Wait a minute, when Sakura showed her Stand to us again, it was the first time Kotaro saw it. But normally, he wouldn't be able to see it, unless…"
Gasping, Kakyoin has only one thought that makes sense, and may have probably tipped Sakura off to propel her in action. "Unless Xero turns off the filter allowing ordinary people like Tatsumi-san to see Stands! As Narancia said, he must be nearby to keep it activated!"
His assertion caused a lot of gasping and shrieking over the realization Xero had sneaked up so close within the group and would have slay Sakura were it not for her quick thinking. Rianima felt ashamed or cursed themselves for momentarily forgetting their main objective.
Compared to their shocked expressions, Sakura, contrary to her usual behavior, remains composed as she moves her body around until she's facing the paralyzed ghoul. "So, you followed after us when we escaped from the collapsing Castle of Glass? I thought you escaped earlier and were hiding from a tree or bush, waiting for the right time to ambush me. We never thought you turned invisible however, meaning you were standing close to us since then."
The look Xero is giving to Sakura is one of pure malice, the amount of hatred written on his face similar to how he acted around Emi. It freaked Sakura out a little, yet she remained steadfast. This influenced Alive Sensation to face Xero fully, then another surprise happened: its mouthless part of its face splits open similar to how a pair of mechanical doors open and the Stand itself uttered a different word through its square-shaped, mic-like maw.
"WHOOOSH!"
ビュゥゥッ!
A gust of wind blew Xero away with the speed of a typhoon, before he collided against a tree with enough force to nearly uproot it. "AAAAAARGHHHH!" He screamed, convulsing due to the jolts of pain coming from his back. He then lay limped against the bark, groaning.
Once again, everyone is stunned after witnessing Sakura compel Xero only with her words to stop him, this time through Alive Sensation saying an onomatopoeia. So if the Stand itself uttered any onomatopoeia to an opponent, it will cause a fitting effect to happen? Sakura is wondering that as she gawks at her Stand, particularly its mic-like mouth. The splitted, metal flaps slid back to cover the mouth, rendering its pretty face mouthless again.
It happened again… So is my Stand capable of saying an onomatopoeia, too? And once saying it, the kind of sound matching the onomatopoeia will come into effect? Sakura thought to keep her abilities in mind.
Watching nearby, Emi nodded in approval over Sakura's quick action. "I see you have expeditiously grasped how your power works, Sakura. Your 「voice」… They are empowered thanks to your 「Alive Sensation」. If I could take a guess, anything you want to say towards your opponent, 「anything」 at all, will happen based on what you said. Just telling someone to stop will cause them to 「stop」 and…" She recalled Xero, uncharacteristically releasing them back in Castle of Glass. Her eyes widened briefly upon realizing that was likely the first time Alive Sensation was used. "When you pleaded with Xero to let all of us go."
Sakura looked at her quizzically over the last part. "Huh, did I say that? Ah! You're right! I did say that and Xero somehow obliged… Ahh! Could that be the first time my Stand ability has been activated!?" She gasped in shock.
"Yes… Yes, that could be it! I was puzzled as to why Xero willingly released us when he has no reason to, but now learning how your Alive Sensation works, it made sense," chimed in Kakyoin, walking forward and standing by their side while keeping his eyes peeled at Xero picking himself up uncomfortably, using the bark of the tree as support. "Oh! Even back when we were on an excursion in Mt. Tenzan, you told a pack of boar to not swallow your head whole! I think… that must be the very first time you used your pre-awakened Stand ability!" He gasped once he remembered Sakura's almost humiliating accident. This sentiment is shared among Franchouchou and Rianima who are listening and they, too, gasped or widened their eyes.
"Huh? I don't remember any of that happening to me." Sakura expressed confusion.
"Of course you wouldn't thanks to your second amnesia." Kakyoin added. Sakura glanced at him with a raised eyebrow before she set the thought aside. As much she wants to know now, it's not the right time.
ドドドドドドドド
Sakura, Kakyoin, and every single person in this clearing gaze back at the battered and panting ghoul seemingly trying to maintain his posture, shaking due to either exhaustion or pain, or more possibly, seething anger. This is supported when he raised his shaded face and casted his glare onto them, particularly the aforementioned three. Trickles of blood flowed out from the top of his head to paint his face while closer inspection may reveal his right arm is hanging limply. Along with his slouching form, it all adds more to his macabre look, and dishevelment.
"Aaaaaaarrrgh…! Sakura… Mina…motooooo…!"
The redhead felt a chill run down her spine when listening to her name being called with so much venom and seething malice. She shook in fright after noticing a murderous glare sent her way, to which she hoped it's just her imagination fooling her because she doesn't like the way his glare is seemingly focused on her the most, when in truth, that's exactly what he's doing.
Kakyoin instinctively summoned Hierophant Green in response. "So with Sakura gaining her Stand, what now?" He couldn't help but ask this out of being unsure.
"Eliminating Xero is still our top priority. We may have an easier time subduing him because I weakened the ichor in him," reminded Emi. "And since we are back in reality, Linkin Park's power boost is negated. Nevertheless, we must not let our guard down."
"…So I take it we will continue fighting against Xero, right?" Bucciarati asked her. At the moment, Rianima, Hartzler and Lynn are shielding Franchouchou, the die Heilige maidens, and Kotaro after the latter ordered them to get behind the six zombie guys, and they remain there until Avdol, Narancia, Johnny, Gyro and Mamezuku got the leader's orders. "As you said, you weakened Xero with your Bring Me to Life enough in hopes he wouldn't give us a hard time again. If I recall on how you would eliminate Xero, destroying its 「heart」 must be done to finally kill its very 「essence」. If you don't mind Emi, we must assist you. There's still the matter of 「Linkin Park」 and its troublesome ability."
"…" Emi didn't reply. She continued looking at Xero, never breaking eye contact as spirit-like wisps appear and hover around her. Kakyoin raised a brow over her apparent no response, noticing the observant look in her eyes.
"Umm, may I have a word?"
It's Sakura who spoke up, drawing everyone's attention sans Xero and Emi to her. The majority couldn't see her unsure expression brimming with anxiousness and dread, whereas Kakyoin did.
"What is it, Sakura?" He compelled her to speak.
Taking a deep breath first and being mindful of Alive Sensation floating behind her obediently, Sakura says her piece. "Is there 「something」 I can do now that I have a Stand? Though I've yet to decide if I'll try to be an idol singer like the girls and boys suggested, and the bodyguards are very suited to this kind of job… it feels like I have to take my part in the fight and defeat Xero."
"Well, it's as you said! You're an idol first and foremost, so leave all the grunt work to Rianima! Don't be stupid thinking you can take on a monster like Xero just because you've gained a Stand!" Kotaro instantly replied, cupping his mouth and shouting to do so.
"Shades has a point," agreed Narancia. "We're all grateful to you and Alive Sensation for stopping Xero in time from deepening the infection on us, so I think this is as far as you can go. Leave the fighting to us and stay with your bandmates and Emi's daughters. You'll feel safer with them, and may spare you from watching the body of your friend dying by our hands."
Sakura is feeling more doubtful even though she knew she might be still out of their league. "Yeah, you're right. Try as I might to deny it, I've come to accept the monstrous ghoul being controlled by a parasitic creature being desecrated just to try and destroy Saga is not Shino. That the friend I knew many years back is… is…" She couldn't finish it as she looked at the battered body still lying against the tree with tears in her eyes.
To think Shino is gone from this world shortly after reuniting with him… It's not fair… Everything about this fight is not fair!
"Dispel those thoughts Sakura, because it is not true." Emi suddenly spoke up after a minute of being silent, drawing Sakura's attention to her immediately.
"H-Huh? What are you…?"
"Contrary to what we may have seen and what Linkin Park told us… Shino is still 「alive」. He is not of conscious mind thanks to the ichor's negative influence overriding his soul, but I can confirm… that Shino has 「not perished」, at all.
Sakura turned to her in shock. "What? WHAAAAAT!?"
It's not only Sakura who's surprised, as all eyes are on Emi after she made that declaration, including Xero. Then almost in an instant, a rainbow aura surrounded him before shouting. "LINKIN PARK!"
Everyone heard Linkin Park appearing and Xero's furious, yet possibly fearful howl, who extended his left arm forward pointing at Emi. He next shouts, "SILENCE HER! PERMANE-!"
"NO! Don't do anything bad to Emi, and to us Xero! And DON'T MOVE!"
キュィッン
With Sakura's timely command, Xero is unable to 'silence' Emi with Linkin Park, itself forced to return back to its false user as quickly as it appeared. "UAAAAAAAARGH! NOOOOO!" He screamed in anger, sensing his body paralyzing as per Sakura's words. Before he knew it, he's stuck sitting against the tree on his back, and is unable to do anything but watch. At this point, his contempt for Sakura has doubled. Damn you… Sakuraaaaaa! ! !"
Seeing Xero is not gonna attack any time soon, Sakura glanced back at Emi and asked, "Emi-san, if you please, can you tell us what's happening to Shino?"
Recovering from her mild surprise, Emi clears her throat and replies, "Shino is still alive, forced into coma thanks to Xero."
Sakura didn't shout in shock this time, instead gasping after processing her words for a few seconds. She gaped at Emi for another few seconds before, her chest starting to be filled with hope, mutters, "Shino… is alive? As in… he's not dead?"
"I am not lying. I found out Shino has not died at all. If I had known he was dead, I would not sense his departed soul in his controlled body." Emi clarified, putting a small smile for Sakura's comfort.
Everyone who is listening or eavesdropping nearby has become eager to make her explain, which Lily got to do first, asking, "What do you mean Shino is still alive, Emi-san?"
Emi kept her eyes focused on Xero, being on alert for even any subtle kind of movements from him. "When I possessed Shino's body to weaken Xero, I finally found out and realized why Xero 「did not die」 from getting burned by my and Avdol's Stands, as well as why I detected a bit of negativity within your once-infected bodies." She reminded the twelve.
"What did you find, then?" Ai questioned.
"…Shino's negative thoughts and emotions, suppressed and left to fester for many years until its breaking point, has fully leaked out to fuel the lingering tainted blood within his corpse, turning him into a zombie controlled by Xero. It is also the same emotions that are sustaining Xero's lifeforce and its tenacious hold on Shino," responded Emi. "That's what I detected."
"Shino's… 「negative emotions」?" Sakura parroted with a pensive look. So too everyone thought over Emi's statement, sparing a look at the seething Xero.
"I think… I can vouch for her. As she said, we were feeling a bit too… cynical during our short, yet horrible time as ghouls," supported Johnny, showing an uneasy look shared by the other eleven. "It didn't belong to us, but somehow, we were, like… intoxicated by the strong emotions so we couldn't resist the infection, until Emi freed us."
"Yeah, I remembered feeling both elated and in agony when I was a ghoul," stated Saki. "Don't know if that makes sense when I say it as they're contradictory but… my gut tells me that's how it went down."
"Lily doesn't want to be reminded! The experience was so traumatizing!" Lily cried out.
"Yes… what Johnny and Saki said fits what Shino has been experiencing. All of you are lucky however, for what he himself is enduring is a gross simplification of your horrid time as ghouls." Emi replied with a solemn nod.
"Gross… simplification?" Mamezuku repeated.
"All the negativity coursing through Shino's veins… As I said before, he suppressed it for many years until it eventually leaked, possibly giving birth to Xero. I initially sensed it when I attempted to look into his eyes, only to be beset by so much of it blanketing his soul that I failed initially. It took me assuming a pure, ghostly form that I could endure the incoming negativity better, and even then, I could not reach out to Shino yet, not until you were released out of Xero's control," she closed her eyes, tears threatening to trickle out as she continued remembering. "As for what Shino has been feeling all this time… they are anger, hate, fear, guilt, despair, and most of all… 「anguish」. Even from this position, my supernatural senses are able to detect those emotions swirling inside him, like an ocean being disturbed from a raging storm. Contained for so many years on the verge of bursting out until Xero came and provoked Shino."
Even the ones who are or remain unsympathetic to Shino or Xero's plight or weren't given context like Kotaro can't help but wince over listening to Emi's listing of what they're feeling. Those negative emotions had done serious damage and effect, and imagining it taking over them is not an experience they'd like to know. Not when Franchouchou and Rianima were infected once.
"During my brief possession of their body, I mitigated their negativity from both their body and soul, forcing them to loosen their control over the ghouls so I could cure them," she continued, her voice getting slightly emotional. "Even with my Stand's great resistance however, I felt like… drowning under the unrelenting cold, dark sea of ichor and getting swept along if not for my will to survive. As short as my time possessing their shared souls, however, it allowed me to glimpse how much damage Shino's fostering 「hatred」 and 「anguish」 did to his wrecked… self…" She started hiccuping as her crying intensified, yet she tried keeping herself together.
"While Xero maintains its control, so long the same emotions are left to fester by Shino…" Kakyoin continued on her behalf, to which she nodded again.
"Soooo, how will what you said help us?" Johnny questioned, speaking for his groupmates looking at Emi quizzically. "Just so you know, we still need to kill Xero. You're not telling us to walk back on our objective once more?
"…Actually, yes. I implore you all to refrain from killing Xero." Emi answered after wiping her eyes. Their confused and surprised reactions are expected.
"What!?" Junko shouted in disbelief.
"Please hear me out first! Xero must be stopped, no mistaking that!" She quickly appended, keeping her backs turned to them still. "But directly harming their shared body, or Linkin Park, will not kill it as we hoped it would. Shino's negative feelings will keep the ichor alive and well while we would vainly exhaust ourselves to the point we will be easy pickings for Xero."
"Well!? What do you think we should do!?" Gyro irritatingly asked.
"One, pull the 「heart」 out of Shino's body or attack it," she stated, pointing to the beating heart within Xero's chest hole. "As you have already surmised, it is its 「core essence」. Housing the will of the vile, parasitic ichor. Hopefully that way, we will effectively kill Xero and subsequently free Shino. And two, and possibly the most important part, is to 「lower」 the amount of 「negativity」 restraining Shino's soul as I have done earlier."
"Lower the negativity…?" Lisette repeated. "You think that would work?"
"And how would you 'lower' it?" Egliette skeptically asked.
Hitodama lights and pale blue, fiery aura manifested around Emi in response to their questions. She faced the large group with a determined expression and said, "I am the ichor's biggest weakness. The perfect antinomy to the negative vile ichor because my Stand energy possesses positive energy stemming from all kinds of 「life」. This does not mean I necessarily feel positive emotions, but my constitution is just similar enough. And since I am able to cast out my body aside to take on my 「pure」, Stand-like ghostly form, I can match up against Xero's might!"
"If you're sure you can achieve your desired goal at last, then please, let me help you."
It's Kakyoin who said that, still has Hierophant Green brought out. "I'll have Hierophant Green forcefully control his body so you can easily possess him. If that's not viable, then targeting his heart should finally wound the nigh-invulnerable ghoul. Whatever method I use, all I want to say is… Let me assist you."
Emi glanced sideways with a grin. "No need to say that, for I am expecting your help. Thank you, regardless."
"Heh, think nothing of it." Kakyoin nodded.
Listening to every word she says, Sakura becomes more pensive as she absorbs what Emi said into her mind. So Shino is being suppressed greatly by Xero, forbidding him from taking control so long his negative emotions remain stuck within his very soul. Just imagining him suffering from feeling so much hatred and despair, and being under the threat of having his own self taking over makes her emotional at the thought of Shino being destroyed from the inside even years after his death. She feared that even if he died for real, Xero would not let him rest.
Shino is alive, but comatose. Despite that, there's a chance he might be aware of what's going on, forced to watch while Xero has its way using his body. It sounds terrifying, having your body act without your control. Maybe… Maybe, if I reach Shino… Call out to him using 「Alive Sensation」, then… Yes, yes! I think I can do that! If he can hear my pleading voice, there's a chance he'll wake up and, and…!
As her chest is filled with hope… A hope for a better outcome not only for her, her groupmates, bodyguards, Kotaro, and Emi's family, but also for Shino…
"Before you two can deal with Xero, may I please make a move first? I want to try something, see if I can reach out to Shino through 「Alive Sensation」."
Sakura Minamoto, with Alive Sensation following her, steps forward towards Xero, passing by Kakyoin and Emi with a look of determination. "Sakura?" Kakyoin muttered, his and Emi's eyes following her in confusion. Everyone else also watches the calm zombie girl marching straight to Xero with nothing but a calm and confident demeanor trailing behind her. No sooner did they realize what she's doing that they protested out of worry and fear for her life.
"HEY! What do you think you're going, you stupid zombie!" Kotaro shouted. "Hey, I'm talking to you! I know you can hear me! Stop! I said STOP!"
"Shades' right! Stop striding up to Xero or else he'll kill ya!" Saki called out with anxious eyes.
"Sakura, please stop!" Junko insisted, wanting to come after her, but the thought of being near Xero puts a damper on that.
"Sakura, noooo!" Goldia similarly exclaimed. Fleta, Harpae, Lisette and Enjel shared her expression and thoughts, wondering what had gotten into Sakura's head to foolishly walk up to Xero.
"Rraaaaa! Gheeee! Bwaaaa!" Tae ran after Sakura on four legs with the intent of chomping onto her leg and dragging her back to safety. Kakyoin, Avdol, Bucciarati, Mamezuku, Emi, Lynn and Romero joined Number Zero via sending their Stands to put a halt to her movements after seeing she's not listening.
"Everyone, STOP!"
The female zombies and Kotaro's outcries and Rianima's rescue attempt were ceased by Sakura's stern but simple command. At the same time she said it, she finally stopped walking after she's five meters away Xero. Said enemy had been watching her relaxed stride accompanied by Alive Sensation the entire time and he didn't like the amount of fortitude she showed because this isn't like her. Like a cornered prey, he snarled at her and extruded ichor tendrils from his back as a ploy to scare and deter her.
"Stay… back…" Xero warned in a quiet tone. "Heed your friends' warnings if you care for your own safety."
"…I refuse."
Everyone and even Xero looked on in wide-eyed shock at Sakura's bold reply. She continued standing where she is without an ounce of hesitation or fear, aiming her resolute glare at Xero. He's not liking how she's staring at him and still acting unfazed even if he pointed the appendages' tips close to her face as further warning. Thinking that's not enough, he brought out Linkin Park and fired a punch straight to her face quickly to finally freak her out. But not even that could waver her confident exterior.
Becoming desperate and a little scared, Xero speaks up again. "Stay back. I'm warning you! I say STAY BAAAACK!"
"…As I said, I refuse."
"Wh… W-What?" Shino muttered in disbelief, so stricken of it the appendages and Linkin Park vanished inside him. "…Why?"
"Why, you ask?"
With a lot of poise and grace in her and Alive Sensation's posture, Sakura inexplicably makes a pose together while her eyes are closed. Then she opens them and answers, "Because Kakyoin, Emi-san, and I… are here… Here to save you." Her determined expression softened a little when she said those words, a look of sympathy directed at the tired man pleading and fearing for death to come to him. "I'm not sure if you can hear me but… I just want you to know that, alright?
Before everyone realizes it, their concern, fear, and panic for Sakura's apparent foolish act are washed away upon hearing, or maybe sensing, her resolve accompanying her words. Franchouchou, Rianima, Kotaro, and Emi's family are all in awe at her display of courage right onto Xero's face, and her steadfast hope that she might be able to reawaken Shino.
"…Senpai… I-I'm sorry but… It's too late. Far too late for me… to be saved. Whether by your hands, or Emi's."
"No, don't say that."
Sakura gently scolded Shino after recovering shortly from being taken aback out of relief that the person she wants to talk to is the one definitely speaking this time. The stern expression she's showing him displays hints of benignness too so she can comfort him, and hopefully don't alarm Xero.
"Like I said earlier, everything will be alright, because I'm here to save you at last," she repeated empathetically. "Please don't think you are alone any more. I just want to talk with you. To assure you that-"
"Don't." Shino interrupted. "Don't give me hope. I've long been tired of it. I've already accepted that no matter what I do… nothing good will come my way, and that I am 「fated」 to ruin, like what's happening now."
"…I can relate. Like you, I've been given with hope so many times that I have come to accept that I will always be struck with misfortune, wherever I go," she replied earnestly. "But not until my… friends decide to help alleviate my suffering because they'll be by my side from now on. If not for them, I wouldn't come to a decision to accomplish my 「dream」 anyway, and left to rot as a corpse I am."
She looked behind for a moment to show them her smile of appreciation, letting them know she's grateful for their words of encouragement half an hour ago. On that end, Franchouchou, Rianima, the die Heilige maidens and Emi either smiled or nodded, all glad they got to rouse her up from her cynicism. The only one who didn't share them is Kotaro, if only because he's confused. That said, he does understand.
Glancing back to Shino, Sakura continues, "And like what they've done to me, I'll do the same to you. All I want you to do is listen, and… feel free to talk with me. Deny it as you like, I know for sure you want to be saved. To be free from Xero's harmful influence on you. So Shino… will you please lend your ears? For your… friend?"
She extends an open hand to Shino after kneeling to his height, her empathetic smile unfailingly displayed on her face the entire time. She means it when she says she wants to save him, so she could only hope he accepts it.
"Sakura… You…" Emi called out to Number One in an emotional tone.
"Can she do it? Will her 「Alive Sensation」 be effective enough to reach out to Shino through her own voice?" Kakyoin wondered. His eyes caught the sight of Shino raising a hand and slowly reaching it towards Sakura's open hand, indicating she must have gone to him…
"TAMAAAA! ! ! !"
"Aaaah!"
Almost like she's expecting it, Sakura swiftly crawled back to evade Linkin Park's punch, missing her just barely and instead propelled a small cloud of dust to form around it.
"Sakura!" Kakyoin and Emi cried out in worry, running by her side immediately. They start helping her up, who's shaking after avoiding having her head crushed like a melon, only for a lowly growl to snap their attention back to Shino.
"Why won't you understand…? That this is what I deserve… I can't be saved, because I'm a bad guy."
Briskly standing up after regaining half of their strength, Xero raises his face to regard the three with hateful, menacing, and tearful eyes showing their headstrong determination to accomplish any of their goals: whether death by their hands or Saga is perished.
"Sh… Shino?" Sakura squeaked. "Shino, hold on! P-Please stay-"
"NO."
All of a sudden, Xero jumped up high and began flying away, catching everyone in surprise. "Hey! He's escaping!" Gyro exclaimed.
"Not on my watch! HIEROPHANT GREEN!"
The long-distance Stand was able to catch Xero's heel mid-flight with its uncoiled tendrils. "Alright! I caught him! I'll try to-!" For the second time however, Kakyoin couldn't finish his words when he found himself getting pulled up. His eyes go wide as he immediately realizes Xero is not stopping, and he only succeeded in hitching a ride. "Whoa! WHOOOOOOA! ! !" He screamed.
"AHHH! KAKYOIN!"
Running up to him fast, Sakura grabbed his dangling legs and attempted to pull him back with all her strength. Unfortunately, she didn't get the chance when she, too, got hoisted up. Before she knows it, she and Kakyoin are a few feet away from the ground and counting, as the escaping Xero flies higher and farther away. "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Sakura screamed next.
"Sakura! Kakyoin!" Practically everyone yelled out in worry and shock, all of them unable to stop them due to Xero acting hastily. However, one person is undeterred as they made a running start before jumping up to the highest point they can.
"Bring Me to Life!"
Then Emi's body turned transparent and began flying in pursuit of Xero, perplexing the group over what's her intention now.
"Emi?" Bucciarati and Avdol called out.
"Mom!? What are you…?" Goldia tried asking her.
"I must pursue after the two and Xero! Please, leave him all to me!" Emi told the bewildered group, urgency in her voice.
"Let us join you! We need more manpower to-" Narancia began.
"My apologies, but I must decline!" She turned down, puzzling them. "I cannot allow you all to be infected once more, for my spare energy will not be enough to cure you again, and it may compromise me since I need it to take on Xero! Please take a rest and let me take care of him once and for all! I must go now!"
With an explanation hastily given, Emi took off at high speeds, becoming a dot up in the sky. The group stares up at the night sky for a few seconds with their minds full of concern for Kakyoin, Sakura and Emi.
"Guess we should do like she suggested. Aaagh, I'm feeling beat, actually." Saki lied down, heaving out a deep sigh. Her bandmates and bodyguards have no complaints, so they sit on the ground or relaxed, all content and relieved to be out of a fight.
"Well, while you tired zombies let yourselves relax, can any of you tell me what happened while you were all in this Castle of Glass? And what went down between you and Xero?" Kotaro requested with crossed arms. At long last, he thought, he'll learn the finer details of the fight he didn't got to attend. "Hartzler and Lynn may have witnessed it, but unfortunately I can't understand them."
"Only because you're not under our mother's control." Fleta put out this snide comment.
"Well excuuuuuuuse me for not being dead like youuuuuu, little miss shortcake!" He retorted.
"Hah! Just so you know, strawberry cake is my favorite! Your insult won't work on me!" She drew her tongue out.
"At least my fashion sense is better than your garish, pink dress!"
"What!? You dare mock my princess outfit!?"
Before they could butt heads, Bucciarati, Yugiri, Ai, Harpae, and Goldia got in between them to break the incoming fight and scolded them (Yugiri even slapping Kotaro). The resting zombies simply watched the quarrel in silence amusement
Sakura, Kakyoin. And Emi too. Please return to us safely. Junko hoped, looking up to the night sky once more, which is starting to clear up to allow the full moon to be shown.
"WAAAAAHHH! W-We're so… so HIGH UUUUUP! !"
Flying through the night sky dimly lit by the full moon, Sakura clinged onto Kakyoin more tightly after letting her curiosity win and took a glance below. She immediately regretted looking down, closing her eyes with a shriek as her mounting fear for heights increases. Internally, she's wondering why she thought of grabbing onto his legs if they're gonna end up above the Karatsu skyline several feet high up.
"Calm down! Please try to calm down! Panic will only cause you to lose your grip on me and fall to your doom!" Kakyoin, maintaining a veiled sense of calm, placated Sakura. Hierophant Green is also clinging to him, if only so it can maintain its coiled grip on Xero and keep it latched to their ankle.
"W-Will we even die when we're already zombies?" She questioned.
"Probably not, but we shouldn't take that chance! You might go 'splat!' on the pavement!" He replied.
"Eeek! Alright, alright! I'll try not to fall!"
As the clinging duo (and Hierophant Green) are pulled along by the irate Xero, trailing behind them is Emi, zooming at fast speeds to catch up to them. Her priorities right now is to have Kakyoin and Sakura fly alongside her to prevent them from falling. With that problem taken care of, dealing with Xero should be doable.
"Kakyoiiiiiin! Sakuraaaaaaaaa! Hang onnnnnnnnnn! I shall reach up to you as fast as I can!" Emi yelled out, cupping her mouth so they could hear her better. She sees the two looking behind them and noticing her, indicating she succeeded on that.
"Emi-san!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Phew, she followed after us. Not surprised as we need her help to give us a chance fighting against Xero while defending ourselves from their attack," sighed Kakyoin. "Alright! We'll keep clinging on Xero until you've got close to us so we can safely let go!"
"I'm sorry, but you must let go of me sooner than later. Please allow me to put a hole to that thought!"
Both zombies shut their mouths up too late, having almost forgotten Xero is near. They turned back to the flying ghoul and saw four appendages as long as Hierophant Green's single tendril wriggling from his back. Their breaths hitched, realizing what he'll do next.
"Eep!" Sakura squeaked.
"Crap!" Kakyoin swore, scolding himself for running his mouth.
Sneering at them, Xero declares, "I would have Linkin Park cut this tendril coiling around my ankle and let you two fall until your bodies go flat on the pavement. But Hierophant Green hovers beside you two, in position to shoot out another tendril to prevent yourselves from falling…" Like he said, Hierophant Green's body is on the verge of splitting apart should Kakyoin lose his grip. He furrowed his brows with clenched teeth that Xero figured out, adding more to the ghoul's sneering. "I won't have any of that, so I think an ichor attack shall be my best way to get rid of you two. And also, you two will finally receive your first dosage of the ichor!"
Sakura gulped in fright over that statement, learning he's not over in making them ghouls yet. I was hoping he would forget that already!
"So then! Here's an ichor for you two! Become one as XEROOOOOOO!"
ダァァァー
The sharp tips propelled towards Sakura and Kakyoin, causing the former to get scared and the latter to grit their teeth out of panic. An Emerald Splash should take care of those tentacles, but…! He gave his Stand still holding him up with both hands a glance, seeing it is preoccupied with keeping him and Sakura airborne. In other words, he has no way to attack, and he couldn't risk uncoiling more of Hierophant Green lest they lose airborne support. Agh! No good! We're gonna get stabbed like pincushions!
However, someone soon disproves his worry, and it's not Emi.
"D-Don't puncture us with those ichor! And, and…! Stop flying anymore, pleaaaaaaaase!"
キィィーン
Sakura's panicked pleading came true once more, as the appendages stopped just two inches away from stabbing their faces. And as usual, Xero gnarled in increasing anger and vexation after he got affected by Alive Sensation again. He glared intensely at the redhead.
"Ngaaaaargh! Not again! Must you always interfere, Sakuraaaaaaa?!"
Despite being scared, Sakura matched Xero's glare with her own, refusing to waive under his sight. "Anything to STOP YOU!" She replied back.
"Uhh, does that include stopping him mid-flight? While we're so high up?" Kakyoin said nervously. "I heard you told Xero to stop flying, so we stopped."
"Eh, did I… blurt that out?" Sakura blinked thrice before she looked down and saw they did stop in mid-air. And like something out of a wacky cartoon, gravity chose to respond to her panicked query by pulling Xero downwards, followed by Sakura and Kakyoin when they were tugged along thanks to the coiled tendril. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" She screamed her lungs out, flailing her arms.
Stopping momentarily in the same spot where they began falling, Emi looked down to the plunging three with eyes and mouth agape, before she deactivated her flight ability and let herself fall first. She builds up momentum as a result before she reactivated her ability and increased her speed with one hand extended out.
Back to the three, Sakura continues panicking, holding her head as she chastises herself for forcing Xero to stop flying. "HAAAAAAAARRRGH! Why did I say that!? Why on earth did I SAY THAT!?"
"S-Sakura! Stay calm! Just keep holding onto me, alright!?" Kakyoin similarly exclaimed, ordering Hierophant Green to let go of Xero's ankle because it's pointless when they're falling so fast.
"How could I stay calm when we're falling so RAPIDLY?!" She countered with her voice cracking at the end, facing him.
"DOYANSU!? DOYANSUUUUU!?" Alive Sensation yelled out, imitating its master's panicking.
"I don't know how we would survive landing on the pavement, so we have to fly! We must somehow FLY!" She desperately pleaded. She has no idea her wish will become true, especially with Alive Sensation manifested out of her.
キィィンッ
Sure enough, Kakyoin and Sakura's descent started slowing down, not so abruptly as to induce whiplash. Before they realize it, they're hovering in the air without signs of them falling. Suffice to say, the two are very much surprised.
Blinking rapidly to understand what's happening, Sakura whipped her head around with widened eyes and mouth. "Huh? Huh, huh, HUUUUUUH? We… stopped falling?"
"We… We did," uncertainly replied by Kakyoin, also bewildered. "But, how though?"
Sakura had the same thought, until she glanced at her Stand and remembered what she said. "Wait, it's because of Alive Sensation! I… I did say we must fly somehow sooo…"
Kakyoin looked at her in surprise. "You… You're not telling me Alive Sensation is 「capable」 of granting us flight just by saying some 「magic words」?"
"Ummmm… yeah?"
Considering the implications first, Kakyoin hung his mouth open. If that is true, does that mean anything Sakura wants to do to someone, or to herself, can be accomplished through her and 「Alive Sensation」's voice!? There's no way her Stand is that powerful! She must have some kind of 「weakness」 in order to compensate for it!
Kakyoin would have asked more out of disbelief, and fascinated, of what Sakura can do and what her limit is, but Emi's arrival puts them aside.
Regarding the two quizzically, Emi asks, "You two are floating? How did you achieve flight?"
"Errr, through 「Alive Sensation」?" Sakura answered.
"Your Stand? You mean… you said that you two must fly and this is the result?" Sakura nodded to her puzzled question. Like Kakyoin, Emi is floored. "That, I… How implausible."
"Yeeeeah, even I'm finding it hard to believe… but let's put that aside for now! We must go after Xero!" Sakura reminded her and Kakyoin. Last I know, he continued falling and should be on the… ground… right now…" Her voice trailed off when she guessed what may have happened to Xero. "Uh oh."
"Ah! We must go after him! I have detected his current location, which is on… Niji-no-Matsubara!" Emi pointed down to the rectangular, pitch-black forest grove north of the illuminated buildings. Sakura and Kakyoin follow where her finger is pointing and are either curious or a little surprised.
"Niji-no-Matsubara… the same location where you had your unwanted fight with Shino six years ago…" Kakyoin commented. "If he presumably fell there, talk about coincidence."
"Come on you two! Grab my hands so I can transfer bits of my Stand and grant you limited flight!" Emi declared next.
Touching down safely in the pine tree forest, the three managed to find Xero's current location quickly afterwards. They're standing around a big splat of blood painting the ground grisly, splotches of it reaching far out. This seemed to be enough for them to picture how Xero eventually made a landing, which is not pretty. Concern is written on their faces, and it's increased because the ghoul is not in sight. Despite that thought, the three know for sure he's nearby, having chosen to hide out of sight, possibly concocting an ambush.
"Let's put our backs together!" Kakyoin proposed. "That way, we can cover the ground in every direction so we wouldn't be blindsided by Xero's ambush!"
Sakura and Emi did what he told them, putting their backs onto their own and then began surveying the area. Before they do that, Emi incinerated the blood and all traces of it, "to ensure this splatter of ichor do not attack us." Sakura gulped at the thought of Xero possibly capable of controlling any spilled ichor, making her feel queasy.
The trio continued observing the surroundings, circling around in unison to provide a different view for each of them and so they might see something odd that the other two missed. Given Emi's supernatural senses, Kakyoin creating a web of tendrils using pine trees as supports and Sakura having Alive Sensation on standby, they believe they have covered the area well enough to ensure they really won't get caught flat-footed. A minute and a half would pass before the air before them started speaking.
"So you three are not planning to leave us alone, huh? Fine. Have it your way…"
!
The air rippled for a second before the slouching ghoul appeared from the ripple, four appendages still wriggling around from his back. Sakura, Kakyoin and Emi immediately faced him and stood in alert, shooting him a glare or nervous look.
"Xero!" Kakyoin called out.
"You showed up without ambushing us? Was this setup you likely created a ruse or did you abandon it in favor of facing us?" Emi accused.
"…All I did after crashing hard against a tree and onto the ground was reposition our bent arms, shoulders, and one leg to their original position and heal any fractured bones. By the time we were healed, you three showed up, giving me no time to escape," replied Xero, his clenched teeth frothing with ichor in the corners. "If I had the time, we would retreat to the Castle of Glass, which should have been restored after we made it implode. But Shino…! Nnngh!"
They perked up when hearing that name, and this is followed by their voice changing after they clutched their head in agony briefly, before they looked at them again, to which they noticed the eyes turned gray.
"…P-P-Please… Please kill me… I can't… hold myself… back anymore…" He begged, wrapping his arms around himself with an agonized face. He slides his feet backwards inch by inch, grunting with each movement as he continues, "I don't care anymore if Emi kills me… I just… want to die…"
"No! You will not!" Sakura shouted back. "I will not see my friend die with my own eyes! I swear on that!"
"STOP! Just stop thinking of saving us!" Shino's voice overlapped with Xero's own at the last second, the shift in tone making their voice boomed loudly. "This is what we deserve! We're the bad guys who are fated to bring destruction upon Saga! Whether our ultimate fate is to be stopped by HER… or succeed… That is what was written for USSSSS! ! !"
Wincing from their harsh and self-deprecatory words, Sakura turned to Kakyoin and Emi, silently asking them for help. Thankfully, they already heeded her plea.
ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
"Are you willing to go with your method, Sakura? Will your 「voice」, amplified by 「Alive Sensation」, snap Shino out of Xero's control in hopes he will be freed?" Emi asked, her mind and heart on the same page as Sakura's. The redhead nods determinedly.
"Yes. Maybe this is what Shino sorely 「wanted」. He wants to… talk with someone. Someone who can at least hear him out," she replied solemnly. "Using violence on him is not the 「right move」 we must take, because it might 「escalate」 his grief, despair, and hatred and retain Xero's hold on his body and soul. Although it's a reckless move on my part, I chose to participate anyway because… I might be the 「right person」 to save Shino from his depths of loathing."
Emi goes silent for three seconds before she smiles. "Very well. Please do your best. The fate of Saga hangs in balance right this very moment." She returned her eyes forward, her expression becoming impassive and stern. Sakura does the same, her pinkish white aura flaring up a little.
"…You may continue thinking that you must be punished so you could make amends with your past mistakes as you like. There's no harm in atoning yourself anyway," started Kakyoin, giving them a look of both sympathy and determination. "But dying by our hands? Is that what you want? What does your heart really yearn for?"
"YES. WE DO!"
"…I didn't permit you to speak, Xero." He coldly revealed.
"Wh-what…?"
Pointing a finger dramatically, Kakyoin continues, "I want to hear Shino's answer, not you. His actual, unbiased answer, one that isn't born from your negative influence!"
"Grrrrr… You're wrong. This is our real answer. Shino and I… we're both sides of the same coin. All his bleak thoughts and pessimistic view of the world, I absorbed them for six years to feed my hunger. However, I wouldn't expect that feeding on his emotions gave me a feeling akin to the consciousness of living beings, and before I realized it, I gained my sentience. Then I sympathized with him over how unfair his mere existence is… How could one survive in a cruel world where everything is dedicated to making his life hell? All he wanted was to live. But fate kept denying his true want, until he finally decided to accept his role. Our role is to destroy Saga, partially to fulfill what the Curse wants, but also! Revenge for the prefecture that was saddled with the Curse that forced him to his undesired role from birth!"
"Can't you see? Shino needs me, and I need him! Like a couple of lovers, we are destined to be with each other forever! While our shared Stand did plenty of help and considered part of us, the only existence that matters to Shino is ME! Not Sakura! Not Kakyoin! Not you, Emi! ONLY-"
"WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT YOUR MOUTH, XEROOOOOOO!"
キィィン
"AAAARGH!"
Sakura's words struck hard and true after getting irritated and revolted by Xero's ranting justifying why he must continue manipulating Shino, forcing the ghoul to clutch their head in pain.
Stepping forward, Sakura leveled her glare more to the contused parasitic ghoul. For once, not an ounce of fear is displayed in her person, to the point she's willing to stand three meters before them. Kakyoin and Emi saw her going near him, and while worried, chose to let her be for now after sensing the determination she's exhibiting in her gait.
"I have had enough of you manipulating Shino without concern for his well-being. It's about time I end this," started Sakura in an angered tone. "Xero! I demand you to-"
"TAMA!"
A quick punch from Linkin Park stopped Sakura from completing her words, who was pulled away quickly by Alive Sensation, thus missing the punch. Seeing what may have happened to her, Kakyoin and Emi instantly stood beside her.
"Darn it! I was close to telling Shino to pull the heart out!" Sakura lamented, still not showing fear impressively.
"I don't think it will be that easy even with Emi weakening Xero," replied Kakyoin. Removing the web he constructed back to Hierophant Green, he says, "He's showing signs of waking up, but it won't be enough. Not without our help."
Snapping out of forced stupor, Xero generates four more appendages and two arm blades before giving out a sinister scream against the three, his uncannily wide mouth opening wide to an unnerving level. Linkin Park levitates behind him in a slouched form, its head raised up displaying its hollowed-out eyes and shadowed face having the same malicious intent as its false user.
"Well then. Perhaps this is it. This shall be the end of this drawn out conflict brought forth by both Shino and Xero," declared Emi, feeling Bring Me to Life boiling within her. "The Blessing of Saga… grant us your mercy… Lead us to our assured victory!"
Bolstered by her vow, Sakura and Kakyoin prepare themselves for what seems to be the final part of this fight. "Ready, Sakura? This will be your first time fighting on the frontlines."
Taking a deep breath, Sakura nodded firmly before saying, "I admit. I'm scared and anxious. But in spite of that, my body is… pulsing with courage, even though we don't have a pulse. One that will help us defeat Xero once and for all, and hopefully save Shino too!"
"Yeah… Because, this is our SAGA! The land, and our home, we swore to save!"
"URYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Xero and Linkin Park charged onto the courageous trio, who stood their ground with faces full of resolve. The resolve that will carry them not only to their victory, but alss, Sakura eventually taking all the lead with the help of her voice-commanding Stand, Alive Sensation.
To be continued
And finished!
Whew! We're now at the long stretch of the final battle, and this story, everyone! As shown near the end, Kakyoin, Emi and Sakura come face to face with the outraged Xero to not only finally defeat the alien-like foe after all it had done, but also to rescue Shino from the ichor's hold to him, and maybe avert his prophesied fate. By consequence, the next chapter will be the very last chapter featuring the final battle, of which Sakura will have all the spotlight as I stated previously, being the key person along with Emi to save Shino! There are only two chapters left and an epilogue, so when the day comes that the epilogue is published will mark the end of the story after three years.
In fact, five days ago marked the three years Living Things has been written! Sure makes me proud I've dedicated my free time writing the story out of love and passion for JoJo, Zombie Land Saga, and Pocket Mirror! I daresay, I've never regret it!
However, the next chapter will have to wait for a while, because I'm putting this fanfic on hiatus so I can focus my efforts on updating and repolishing ALL chapters. This is to make each events of every chapters feel connected or make sense, add more scenes that I thought or wished should've been included in the first place, like Shino's backstories shown as flashbacks (that I couldn't get to adding them because of how I'm busy writing new chapters until this one), change some scenes, and try to remove superfluous words written just to pad out a chapter length and decrease the number of words in total.
I'm sorry for announcing the hiatus right when the last chapters are just around the corner, but please understand. Going back and rereading the previous chapters instill in me a sense of slight cringe and exasperation when I spot a misspelled word or the grammar is not up to my standards. Once I'm done updating all chapters, maybe you can go back to the beginning and reread the updated fanfic from the top. But that depends on you, since the overall story won't be changed. Nothing too drastic.
Alright, that should've be everything I must say. I'm gonna sign off now, folks! Until the hiatus is lifted, have a pleasant day or night! Please stay safe and healthy! Till we meet again!
