A/N: This chapter is one I would like to dedicate to my good friend, Getsu-Chan, who introduced me to Jujutsu Kaisen recently. One might say that this has nothing to do with the chapter at hand, but I'll be honest and say that this chapter might not have been finished if not for the major dose of inspiration that show gave me. Thank you for the stellar recommendation girl! (But never forget that you will pay for the pain the series put me through.) Alright, enough rambling out of me about unrelated content. Let's begin the "wrapping this mess up" chapters. Many thanks to you all for reading. Best wishes and God bless you all.
Disclaimer: If I were to write one of these right now it would be...a bit longer than normal. It would also spoil a pretty big surprise. Besides, you guys know this is just a Fanfiction. A way too long, insane Fanfiction.
Warnings: I wouldn't even know where to start. Long chapter alert I guess. Over 7,000 words.
Chapter 127
No Clear Destination Part 1
Letting go of the past is never easy.
"I'm sorry for everything. The things I said…"
"Rini…"
"And for what I did. I didn't mean to…"
"You don't need to apologize for anything. You weren't yourself."
"I know, but…"
The sentence hangs in the frigid air, yet Serena Tsukino understands.
Lamenting the loss of brighter times, though a natural process, can become a permanent snare.
Simply put, dwelling on what was or what can no longer be suspends people in time, preventing progress toward the future.
But grasping this concept does not mean it is a simple matter to apply it.
Yes, Serena knows this all too well.
"Your anger isn't a sin," she whispers after a moment, offering a soft smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "E.E.'s magic just made you lash out. That's all."
Rini doesn't utter a word in reply, and the future queen can't help but grimace as the awkward silence stretches between them.
Their final conversation shouldn't feel like this.
But there's nothing that can be done about it, for the two wielders of moon magic have already agreed to walk the separate paths diverging from this point.
Her daughter won't return to the past ever again.
It's for the best. Serena knows this separation is the necessary and right thing, but...
"I'm sorry, Rini."
The younger teen shakes her head. "You did what had to be done. I'll do the same back home."
A chilly breeze passes between them in the short silence that follows.
"I would…expect nothing less," Serena murmurs eventually, trying and failing to fight back tears when she extends her arms outward.
Rini wastes no time in accepting what would be their final embrace. With quiet sobs, both soldiers promise to fight their hardest amidst the fiery trials ahead.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too," the future queen whispers, planting a soft kiss on her future daughter's forehead. "And I'm going to miss you. So much."
The princess buries her face against her mother's shoulder.
"Take care of your sister. Make sure she knows how precious she is to me."
Rini pulls away then, extracting herself from Serena's arms with great hesitation.
"I will. I promise."
Serena nods once and keeps still so she won't reach out to hug her daughter again.
Further delay will just make the pain worse. At least, that's what she keeps saying to herself.
Behind her, the rest of the Sailor Senshi, excluding Rei Hino and Minako Aino, watch the scene with tears in their eyes too.
They're all aware of the Geass Chain and the immediate effect it has on them all, but the true nature of this Geass remains a mystery to them all.
"So long everyone! See you in the future!"
The jubilant yet tearful farewell is met with solemn smiles, waves, and positive affirmations.
Serena keeps smiling, but she knows her actions have completely derailed the peaceful future they're still fighting to claim. Given everything that's happened since the start of this tumultuous journey, the battle for hope will be more challenging than ever.
Frankly, the meatball-headed warrior isn't feeling particularly optimistic about their chances.
Even so...
"Stay strong," she whispers so only her daughter hears the words. "Maintain the peace I've ruined."
Rini gasps at this, her eyes widening like saucers before understanding transforms her expression into one of quiet determination.
"Don't worry," the girl answers with a chuckle. "I'll protect the future. You just focus on the present, mama."
Serena grins, ignoring the streams of water sliding down her cheeks.
"That's my girl. Go get em'!"
After giving a silent thumbs up, Chibiusa Tsukino, First Princess of Crystal Tokyo, chants the spell to take her home. A beam of light from the sky encases her body, blinding everyone present for several seconds.
When the light finally subsides, they look toward the spot where the sixteen-year-old princess once stood with a mixture of sadness and hope.
Serena lowers her gaze toward the snow beneath her feet.
"She's gone…"
After a few minutes have passed, Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna slowly depart from the courtyard, willing themselves to finish the last of their preparations to leave the Kaiba Fugi Estate.
Hotaru starts to follow after them, but pauses when a sudden, familiar sensation overwhelms her.
Swallowing the sudden lump of dread in her throat, the young senshi's dark eyes settle on their future queen as the wind tousles the ends of her golden hair.
And there, lingering around Serena's shaking frame, is a faint aura of death.
In essence, the Geass Chain is an involuntary technique that binds souls influenced by chaos to the living world even if the bodies housing those souls perish. Though similar to an Immortal Code, its power to bring back the dead continuously is not derived from C's world where the limitless energy of the collective unconscious flows. Instead, the energy necessary to establish the chain and multiply its effects from person to person is always drawn from the one who initiated the ritual.
Ordinarily, the energy output needed to sustain more than three links in the chain would be unsustainable in the long-term, especially if the connecting points are created in rapid succession.
A human controlling the Geass Chain at that capacity would die within weeks.
However, Sailor Moon is the keeper of the Silver Crystal. Its energy extends the reach of the Geass Chain well beyond its natural limit and simultaneously protects her from the more debilitating drawbacks the power normally holds.
But that does not mean symptoms can't arise.
Eventually, maintaining the chain will take a physical toll; moreover, the rate of the Geass Chain's expansion set the ideal conditions for Sailor Moon's Geass to gain sentience.
The aura Hotaru sees is the first sign of things to come, but she can't bring herself to mention the dark omen, especially since she assumes it is only a confirmation of their queen's future death.
So, after sucking in a deep breath, she hurries to catch up with the older women venturing into the mansion.
Ami and Lita remain for a few minutes more, wanting to provide support.
Serena grits her teeth at the sound of their feet lightly shifting along the snow.
"I'm…okay," she says eventually, without turning to face them. "Just…give me a few minutes by myself."
Lita starts a rebuttal, but Ami extends her arm out in front of her, halting the words. Then, with a slow shake of her head, she motions for them both to go back inside to finish packing up their things. Though reluctant to comply, the thunder senshi falls in step behind Ami when she pivots to leave.
The keeper of the Silver Crystal listens to their retreating steps until the sound of crunching snow fades. Finally alone, she sighs and raises her head toward the gray sky while the last glimmer of her daughter's magic disappears.
"I can get through this," she chants quietly to herself, closing her eyes to let the last of her tears roll down her cheeks. "I have to get through this."
Letting go of the past is never easy.
Lamenting the loss of brighter times, though a natural process, can become a permanent snare.
Serena feels as if she's suspended in time, unable to look back and too afraid to move forward.
She can't see a point to it anymore.
January 5th, 2018
1:39am
"Serena?"
Lelouch's quiet voice rips through my thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"Are you alright?" he asks. "You haven't said much since we..."
"Are we there yet?"
"No, Mr. A.A., we have not yet..."
"That's the tenth time you've asked him that in the last five minutes," Rolo snaps, cutting off the dialogue of the guard assigned to watch them. "Give it a rest already! What are you? Five!?"
"I'm closer to five hundred in age..."
"But not in maturity, clearly."
Forcing out a sigh, I lean back against the cushions of the leather seats. Lelouch shifts as well, groaning lowly as the bickering between the cannibal and assassin continues with the guard trying and failing to play peacemaker with his patient interjections.
When the noise dies down a little, I finally respond with the classic "I'm fine" line, but the former terrorist scoffs at my answer, not buying my lie for a second, which is frustrating but not surprising.
This guy has always been way too perceptive for comfort.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really," I answer, forcing myself to smile even though Lelouch can't see my expression right now. None of us can see anything with these stupid blindfolds on, and the darkness combined with the generally quiet atmosphere has forced me to reflect on a number of unpleasant things, namely the final goodbye between me and my future daughter, which happened to be the same day Lelouch surprised me with the bombshell of him regaining his memories along with the information that Rei was gunned down by Mina because she had ordered it.
Needless to say, the last few days have been rough on me. Truth be told, Rini wanted to stay for another few weeks to help us through yet another unstable transition, and, tempted as I was to allow it, this time I forced myself to deny her request. Things are only going to escalate in this war, especially now that Lelouch is basically himself again.
Working together with A.A., and now this Kitsune character, is an unexpected twist that would have proven too dangerous for Rini down the line had she not already departed. She's a capable fighter, but I knew delaying her return to the future any longer would have done more harm than good.
Kousagi, the daughter I'll never meet, is only a baby.
She needs her sister more than I need my daughter…
And Darien…that future version of him must be beside himself with grief…
...
Or maybe he isn't, seeing as how the present version of him hasn't contacted me since before all this started. I'm beginning to think he either got kidnapped...again...or that he just doesn't care about me anymore for reasons he's failed to share.
Whether it be letters, text messages, calls, or e-mails...nothing gets through to him. His absence from my life tore me apart when Galaxia was running amuck through our lives, stealing Star Seeds and what not. I didn't even know he was one of her victims until long after the fact.
Even so, when the dust settled, it didn't take him long to negotiate re-enrollment in that university in Dallas. He picked up where he left off in his studies within weeks of his return. And, as much as I had wanted to stop him from leaving me again, something inside halted any attempt to express those feelings.
Now I wish I'd said something. His support would be a godsend right now, especially while dealing with this Geass Chain mess.
Reviving Rei wasn't supposed to be this complicated. Bringing my friends back from the brink of death has never been this big of an issue before.
"And I'm tired. I'm just tired of the constant twists and turns these battles bring."
The blindfold shrouding out my sight doesn't help in my waning efforts to think positively. I can feel my anxiety climb with every second that passes, even while A.A. and Rolo throw ridiculous insults at each other…
"I grow weary in dealing with you, runt."
"You're the one that keeps talking."
My chest feels heavy, remembering the petty, play arguing Rei and I always engaged in.
Those carefree days with everyone…are far behind me.
"Nothing will ever be the same again. Not ever…"
...
I keep wondering about Mina too. I wish I could tell her how sorry I am.
...
There are so many things I wish I could change, but…
…
How am I supposed to fix this? How am I supposed to fix anything?
"That's just it. There is no way to fix it. Why keep fighting at all? I already ruined everyone's future."
"Guard, can we at least get something to eat?"
"I don't think they keep raw limbs in the fridge of a limo…"
"No one asked for your input, swine!"
"My name is Rolo!"
"Your name will be 'My Next Meal' if you don't hush!"
"Again, you're the one who keeps talking!"
I bite down on my lip, hoping the pinch of pain will distract me from the weight crushing my heart.
"I'm going to die anyway, right? Why not…"
A low sigh sounds from next to me.
"Serena..."
I nearly flinch when Lelouch's fingertips brush the back of my hand.
"It's going to be okay," he murmurs reassuringly. "Worrying won't help. You need to relax."
Is my despair really that palpable.
"I am relaxed, Lelouch…"
"Don't lie," he cuts in quietly, applying a bit more pressure against my hand. "You're trembling."
I'm only trembling because I don't want to cry.
"Rei and the others are fine," he says confidently, leaving me with no room to question the validity of his statement. He has a weird cosmic link to Rei now, so if he's saying she's okay, then it's probably true.
Of course, how my friends are doing hadn't been on my mind just then. Maybe Lelouch isn't all that perceptive after all…
"And…whatever else you're worrying about…"
Ugh. Spoke too soon.
"That will be fine too," he murmurs, squeezing my hand gently. "Trust me."
I nod my head, then quickly remember that he can't see me and mutter, "I'll try."
Seemingly satisfied, Lelouch lets go.
The loss of contact makes my heart race, and suddenly I'm grateful for the blindfolds. Without them, the blush on my face would be obvious to everyone.
Yeah, the last few days have been rough for other reasons aside from working with former enemies. When Lelouch first contacted me, I made the decision to go to Kururugi Shrine on my own.
Given that A.A. was around, it probably wasn't the wisest decision I could have made, but I didn't want anyone else involved at the time.
For once, I wanted to handle something on my own.
But when Lelouch's health started spiraling, I…
…
"Don't even think about it! He's Rei's boyfriend and you have Darien."
Except I don't have Darien. He's missing in action...again.
"Regardless of that minor detail, we are not stealing Rei's boyfriend from her."
It wouldn't be the first time.
"Hush!"
Mental instability aside, there are too many other issues to deal with to even think about romance. Not only are we currently being led blind towards another evil lair, but there are no substantial updates about Rei, Ami, or Lita even though Kitsune said she would be monitoring the situation personally. Yeah, sure. As if! I don't trust anyone calling themselves Fox Demon Demon. I mean really, that's just stupid!
Lelouch really is my only link to that whole situation at Kururugi Shrine, and even he can't give me a play by play of what's happening. Rei and the others might not be dead…again…,but they could still be hurt or on the verge of some other peril the ex-terrorist can't sense.
And while I wasn't thinking about any of this earlier…now I'm fighting off a whole new wave of anxiety.
"So much for Lelouch's encouragement."
"Are we there yet!?"
"Oh my gosh, A.A.!" I roar, curling my hands into fists atop my lap. "Shut up!"
Rolo immediately starts laughing, but the cannibal is unamused.
"You gonna make me, meatball brain!"
"Oh, that's sooooo original!"
"You tell him, Serena!"
"You're just as bad right now, Rolo," I growl, pointing my finger in the direction of his voice. "Stop arguing with him! He's insane. He's doing this just to rile us all up and it's working!"
"Ah, the meatball head may actually have a real brain in her skull…"
"A.A., I will murder you…"
"Oh my, the princess is becoming quite insane herself, isn't she?"
Lelouch groans loudly, eliminating the insult I wanted to throw at the annoying cannibal when he yells, "Enough! Stop with the inane bickering...all of you!"
There's silence for a beat.
"Yes sir," Rolo and A.A. answer at once.
"And you, Serena?"
I just cross my arms in front of my chest and pout.
"Serena...?"
"Fine," I tell him irritably, once again remembering that he can't see the defiant puppy dog pout that would have forced him to back off. "I'll behave."
"Good," he says, dragging out the word through clenched teeth. "I'm going to try to sleep for a bit. I suggest the rest of you do the same."
With a hum of assent, the car grows quiet, forcing me to confront my inner demons once more...
…
Until A.A. inevitably moans…
"Are we there yet?"
"Are you not there yet, Cecile!"
Cecile Croomy, piloting a gold-plated Lancelot prototype made to test the mechanics that would form the current day version, hesitates to answer as she arrives on the tattered battlefield near the Kururugi Shrine, which, from her vantage point, is swiftly burning to the ground.
And though her mission is to collect the remains of the Lancelot, she's far more concerned about its pilot, so without answering Lloyd's question, she types out her current coordinates to the recovery team that would arrive within the next minute with orders to salvage what's left of the dismantled machine. From what she could see briefly through her side monitor, the damage was severe enough that her boss was sure to have a full-blown meltdown, but, with any luck, the remaining usable parts could be repurposed towards a new iteration of the 7th generation frame already under construction thanks to her foresight into Suzaku's propensity for recklessness.
She makes a mental note to use stronger steel in the newest Lancelot model…
"You aren't answering me…"
Cecile moans lowly.
"I arrived at the signal's coordinates…"
"Annnnnnnnd?"
She pauses and inhales slowly to brace herself.
"The damage is…extensive."
Lloyd is silent for a long moment.
"And the boy? Where is he? I need him alive…so that I can kill him."
"He isn't here," Cecile answers, maneuvering her knightmare toward the burning shrine roughly a mile away. "But I have a hunch of where he went."
"Good," Lloyd murmurs, sounding unhinged. "Do hurry back with him…for he will be maimed for this."
Cecile shakes her head once he cuts off the connection. She knows the scientist's threats are just mad ravings and nothing more. Despite his apathy toward people in general, she knows Lloyd cares about Suzaku...somewhat. After all, he is the only person capable of piloting what he calls "his greatest achievement in life."
"I just hope he isn't hurt too badly," she whispers to herself, flipping a few switches above her head while weaving through the ashen forests leading to the massive hill the shrine once stood upon.
A minute later, she emerges onto the street then grinds her knightmare's land spinners to a halt.
"Oh no…"
With rapid movements, she inputs another set of commands to open her hatch while calling for a medical unit, then, after equipping herself with a handgun, she carefully engages the knightmare's pulley system to descend to the ground.
Up ahead, Suzaku Kururugi lay, completely unconscious. Just beyond him, an impressive ice wall stands, blocking the path toward the stairway that would lead to the shrine.
Cecile barely notices the ice as she bolts toward the knight.
"Suzaku," she calls gently, glancing around her for any signs of activity while placing her gun on the ground near him. Once certain she's alone, she checks for a pulse to confirm he's alive, then examines him for any major injuries. From what she's able to see, beyond some first degree burns and a tattered pilot suit, he hadn't sustained anything life-threatening, which was a good sign. His breathing is a little raspy though, an indication of potential internal damage.
"What on Earth happened," she wonders to herself, taking another look at the gigantic ice wall slowly melting away.
"Ugh…"
Cecile immediately refocuses on Suzaku as he winces.
"Hey, can you hear me?" she asks, carefully grasping his shoulders as she moves to lift his head into a more elevated position. "Are you alright?"
He winces again when she moves him, but the pain in his expression fades once his head is resting against her lap.
"C-Cecile…?"
"Yes, it's me."
Suzaku doesn't open his eyes, but he nods once. "W-what…h-happened? W-Where's…Princess Euphemia?"
Concern flashes in Cecile's pale-blue eyes, and without wasting a second she lifts his head up from her lap by a few inches.
There's a faint trace of his blood along her thigh.
"Not good…"
With great reluctance, the blue-haired woman gently presses her fingertips against the back of Suzaku's skull. His response is an immediate howl of pain.
"I thought so," she murmurs, carefully lowering his head back down against her lap. It's the best cushion available for now until a medical team arrives. "What's the last thing you remember, Suzaku?"
"I… I don't know," he answers back shakily, his eyes beginning to flutter open. "I think…E-Euphie…was shot? She's…"
Cecile is quick to tighten her grip on him once she sees the realization overtake his features.
"You hit your head on the pavement," she whispers, trying to calm him when he starts to hyperventilate. "You're bleeding a little. You probably have a concussion…"
She stops speaking as he attempts to push himself off the ground, his breathing uneven and harsh.
"Suzaku…"
A nearby shuffling in the trees causes the blue-haired woman to pause.
"Hold still," she commands, quickly snatching up the gun she placed on the concrete near her once he's supporting his own weight. "An enemy might have spotted us."
Suzaku blinks rapidly, still trying to make sense of the memories flooding through his mind as Cecile rises to her feet. Standing in front of the injured knight, she positions the gun in the direction of the sound, making sure to keep a steady hold on the weapon.
Silence envelops them for several minutes as the engineer examines their surrounds, waiting for any indication of danger. In that silence, Suzaku peers at the ice wall, his mind sharpening as the temporary amnesia fades.
Eventually, Cecile lowers the weapon, but her gaze remains fixed on the cluster of trees near them for another minute before she allows herself to regard the knight again.
"How are you feeling now?"
"More…like myself," he says blearily, touching the back of his skull to confirm whether he was still bleeding, which he was…but not by much. Hardly any blood rubbed off on his fingertips.
Even so…
"Did the Sailor Scouts…escape?"
"Yeah," Suzaku replies, still staring at the ice wall. "I think they did."
Just then, from above, Cecile and Suzaku both hear an emergency helicopter swooping toward them.
And close by, hidden from sight, a man presses a button his earpiece.
"Lady Kitsune, I have confirmed Kururugi's survival. A medical unit from the Government Bureau is retrieving him now."
"Good. And what of the remaining scouts?"
"72 collected them a few minutes ago, but all three of them are heavily injured."
"Understood, I will have Lady Romanov attend to them the instant they arrive on base. You've done well, Servant 41."
"My pleasure."
Placing her fox mask over her eyes and nose, Kitsune Yokai ends the communication with her servant on the field and presses the button above her head.
"Servant 9, are we there yet?"
"Indeed, milady," he answers. "We are going through the main gate now."
With a feral grin, the Alternate of Jupiter ties up her white hair into a high ponytail.
"Excellent! Now the real game can begin."
Some say that all paths lead toward the same destination.
However, this saying couldn't be farther from the truth.
As the guardian of time, I, Sailor Pluto, have seen the wheels of fate twist throughout countless worlds and universes. At no point was I ever permitted to intervene. My task was to watch and prevent the forces of chaos from passing through.
Granting Rini her ability to traverse time was a simple order that contradicted my main mission, but I did not dispute it. How could I? It was Neo Queen Serenity who asked, after all. Benevolent and kind, any request she made was a pleasure to grant regardless of the potential risks. Furthermore, back then it was necessary to send the child to the past to protect her from the grip of Prince Diamond's forces.
And after that…I was forced to permanently leave my post at the gates to help combat the Sovereign of Silence Hotaru was possessed by.
Unfortunately, leaving the gates has dismantled many of my abilities. I can no longer see all the avenues of time as I once did.
However, I am aware that the current timeline is full of ruptures, making it unstable.
The existence of Geass Alternates was fated…
But Sailor Moon's fate has changed dramatically in an extremely short period of time.
The Geass Chain in tandem with the Silver Crystal's power…could set the stage for a full collapse.
Though no longer appointed at the gates of time, I am still bound by an ever-present set of guidelines. Breaking them would also lead to a full collapse.
The best I can do is provide hints to the other Sailor Senshi and play my role as best I can.
After all, I am not a planetary warrior in the true sense.
I am a vessel of time itself, so I do not require the energy of the Silver Crystal or the Geass Chain to maintain immortality in this body.
But…
…
I would gladly sacrifice it to prevent the tragedies ahead.
Several hours later
5:22am
"I need coffee."
Opening my eyes this morning was more of a struggle than I'm used to. My entire body is sore thanks to "His Highness's" handiwork last night, which I wouldn't ordinarily mind, but combined with a faint headache and what I'm certain is a pulled muscle in my lower back, I'm not feeling my best right now.
"What was he trying to do? Kill me?"
Probably. That would not have surprised me.
And to make matters worse…I have spent the last hour watching this golden-haired nightmare of a man sleep…without any plot in mind to murder him.
The reason? Well, unfortunately he supplied me with another nugget of information I simply can't resist digging further into, and I'm beginning to think he withheld said information for as long as he did just to keep me entangled in his web of treachery.
The only problem is that following up on his claim could lead to my death.
So, in order to deal with that prospect, I need the following:
1) Coffee.
2) A plan, and a good one at that.
But I can't stop looking at this man's stupid face.
It's frustrating how someone as vexing as he is can look this angelic in his sleep. With the type of energy he has, I wasn't certain if Gilgamesh even needed to sleep like us regular humans, but here he is, out like a light with a serene expression that's undeniably charming.
"Coffee. You're going insane without it."
With a huff, I drag myself out of bed while tightening the sash of my robe in the vain hope that keeping myself covered will somehow keep the idea of sex off the "King's" mind for a few hours. Then, keeping my steps as quiet as possible, I pad my way over to the coffee maker and begin the process of preparing the fancy 5-Star Hotel branded brew that tasted about as standard as a regular Folgers coffee.
"False advertising," I moan irritably to myself, far too aware of the sleeping man on the other end of the room. Even so, coffee is coffee, so I down my first cup then quickly pour another.
The next few minutes pass peacefully as I make myself comfortable on the sofa and withdraw my laptop from my overnight bag. There are a few e-mails I need to look over, and then…
"You got to be kidding me."
The most recent e-mail is from Earl Lloyd Asplund, a.k.a. the mad scientist that works most closely with Kururugi. Apparently, that idiot lost track of the Sailor Scouts in an emergency operation I wasn't aware of because I was here with the king of perverts.
That's just… a splendid start to the day.
Shaking my head, I respond to the most pressing e-mails then write out several important notes in my personal data log concerning the new developments on this increasingly convoluted case while checking to see if Gilgamesh is still sleeping or if he's pretending just to spy on me.
"This coffee is doing next to nothing to improve my mood," I think after reaching the bottom of my second cup. "And a third one will make me too jittery."
Giving up on coffee for the time being, I grab my toiletry bag and silently march into the bathroom.
"Maybe I should just give up on this one and return to Britannia."
The fleeting thought is one I've never considered for any case I've handled before, and it's a harsh slap to my pride that I am considering this option now, but this journey within Area 11 has proven to be a tumultuous pit of madness that even I'm having trouble stomaching at this point, for reasons that are difficult to pin down.
And, for the first time in my life, I don't really want to think.
So, for two straight minutes, I don't. With my toothbrush in hand, I stand there and run the bristles over my teeth and tongue in a monotonous rhythm, and once I'm done with that, I splash my face with icy, cold water to try and cool the heat building along my skin.
Aspects of the previous evening come back in flashes when I stop to stare at myself in the mirror. My hair is frizzy and my lips are bruised from too much kissing.
Most irritating of all…there is the tiniest hint of red along the right side of my neck.
"How juvenile."
"Feeling weary, Concubine?"
A low groan falls out of my mouth.
"Did I not even lock the door? How many blunders am I going to make around this man?"
Gilgamesh strides closer to me, the wicked grin on his face reflected in the mirror I can't seem to look away from.
"I'm fine."
In the mirror, I watch him wrap his arms around my waist.
"You fared better than I expected," he muses quietly, a glint of mischief in his crimson gaze. "But you seem quite troubled for one who has received such great blessings."
All I can do is sigh in response.
"I will agree that you are a master at your chosen craft, Your Majesty."
His responding chuckle reverberates through me in a manner so instantly tantalizing that I don't resist when he tightens his hold.
"That flattering tongue of yours has granted you many advantages, hasn't it?"
"You could say that," I tell him distractedly, still waiting for him to extract himself from me, but he surprises me by carefully turning me away from the mirror to face him, and without thinking much of it, I look up into his eyes again, wanting to throw out a retort about personal space or just a general request to leave the bathroom so I can shower, but…
There's a flash of something I see in my mind's eye in that moment.
It happens too fast for me to intellectually discern anything, yet my heart tightens in my chest. Gilgamesh's transforms into something unreadable in the same instant.
"Hmm?"
He leans closer, peering through me in a manner that's alluring and frustrating all at once. Does he have some other supernatural ability that allows him to look upon one's soul?
If so, I wonder what he sees in the depths of mine.
Truth be told, I'm more of an empty husk than a person. Always have been. That isn't to say I don't possess a human heart at all, just that it's…incomplete.
Then again…I did cry recently.
I feel like I might…
Without warning, the man calling himself "King of Heroes" lifts me up by my hips and sets me down on the countertop so that our gazes are level with each other. It's obvious now that he's searching for answers in my eyes, answers I can't give.
"What did you see?"
"I don't know," I tell him honestly, embarrassed when I feel a trickle of water seep out of my right eye and down my cheek. "I hate not knowing things."
"And yet you contemplate giving up this case of yours," he murmurs, cupping my face in his hands while another low chuckle slips from his lips. "Humanity is full of beautiful contradictions."
I don't bother asking how he knew what I was thinking earlier. It hardly matters anyway.
Consideration aside, my pursuit of the truth isn't something I can abandon. Not only have I come too far on this particular case, there are new mysteries pressing in along the edges of my consciousness.
"There's far more to discover about you than I anticipated, Your Highness."
"And you may yet uncover all the secrets that you wish," he whispers, weaving his fingertips through my hair so delicately that it draws an exhale from my lips. "You need only submit to me, and me alone."
He's playing dirty now.
Empty or not…this is the type of entertainment I live for. So what if I'm a little overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of everything that's unfolded here in Area 11?
My entanglement with this man is the ultimate playground.
I have never solved a case for the cause of justice nor have I fought to protect others.
The truth is that I'm avoiding the mystery I need solved the most...
...
My own heart and how it functions...I can't grasp it.
...
So all I can do to combat such an agony is to unveil all the truths this beautiful world holds.
"Have you made your decision?"
With a smirk lifting the corners of my mouth, I lean closer to the "King" until our lips are almost touching.
"You have my undying loyalty…so long as my list of conditions are met."
He grins wickedly, pulling back by a fraction while tightening his hold on my hair. "Brazen woman. Ordinarily, such a statement would earn you a swift beheading, but I am willing to pardon this infraction since you have pleased your King so greatly."
"I appreciate your mercy…and your protection moving forward."
"As you should, Concubine," he replies, closing what little gap there is between us. "Fortune smiles upon you this day…but I wonder how long it will last."
How long indeed?
Meanwhile
Tohsaka Mansion, Fuyuki Providence of Area 11
5:45am
A lone man stands within the basement of the Tohsaka Manor, flipping through pages of an ancient text by candlelight. The young girl he is temporarily charged to protect is asleep in her room and will stay asleep for the next few hours given her propensity to never wake up before noon unless there are classes to attend, and there weren't any right now thanks to the school's annual winter break.
Such a trait would normally annoy someone as methodical as D.D. tended to be, but in this instance the girl's bad habits were extremely beneficial to his quest.
"I know it's here somewhere," he muses silently, tossing the current tome in his hand to the table behind him for future study. He scans the shelf above him, reaching for another book that appears as ancient as the last one.
He's been searching this room for the journal entrusted to the Tohsaka family a century ago.
Truth be told, the immortal known as the Grim Reaper forgets how many of Ophelia's journals are scattered across the world. It could be five? Seven? Ten?
Doesn't matter. What's important is to find the one journal here.
Unfortunately, the basement is a cluttered mess that only a Tohsaka can properly navigate, and asking the girl to help him parse through her late father's books isn't an option.
He searches for another hour, yawning the whole time. D.D., as an Alternate, doesn't need sleep daily as humans do, but at this point he's been awake for over two weeks working to re-organize the portions of the Order that had been under E.E.'s command. Thankfully, all of their non-combative officers had escaped to Shibuya unscathed, but with the loss of leadership comes the inevitable power vacuum.
The greedier officers are currently fighting to claim the top positions left behind.
When he wasn't watching over Rin, he was busy establishing a new hierarchy and searching for new recruits with high combat skills. After all, if he is to complete the objectives left behind by his beloved, a more capable team is essential.
Of course establishing such a group is easier said than done, and time is not on his side.
In fact, as if to echo this sentiment, D.D.'s phone vibrates just as he sets aside yet another book to study later. He sighs lowly, yawns again as he examines the caller ID, and presses his thumb against the green icon on his screen to accept the call.
"Yes?"
…
D.D., having raised the phone to his ear, listens carefully to the voice on the other end of the line.
…
"Are you absolutely certain of this?"
…
As the seconds tick on, D.D.'s charcoal-colored eyes narrow in disdain.
"That changes things then," he mutters darkly. "Inform Director V.V. immedi-"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Gritting his teeth, the immortal listens to the death cry of a trusted subordinate beneath the explosion of six shots from a handgun.
"They made their move first. This is bad…"
D.D. starts to hang up but stops when he hears someone chuckling lowly. A series of muffled noises screech out through the phone until…
"Ah! D.D.? It's you isn't it?"
The immortal doesn't answer.
"Hey, man. I'm sorry I had to kill your buddy just now, but he had to be punished for nearly spoiling this plan I've been working on for years."
"He told me what you did…"
"Yeah, figured that much, Einstein," the man on the other end interrupts. "Actually, I take back the Einstein comment. That's an insult to the guy, though I guess he wouldn't care seeing that he's been in the ground for what…a century?"
"Don't change the subject…"
"I'm not," the man coos, giggling again. "Just reminding you that everyone dies. One of these days you'll kick the bucket too. All it takes is for someone to take your immortal code from you, and, unlike your poor, darling E.E., you only have the one, right?"
D.D. checks the time on his phone, deciding then and there to emerge from the basement so he can start cooking Rin's breakfast.
"But even if you had multiple codes, you could still end up dead with a little swipe of that Millennium Sword…"
"Get to the point."
"Oh yes, well…" the man pauses. "I suppose the point is that I want you to keep what you just learned to yourself. My wife has spies everywhere, as you already know, and it would take next to nothing to eliminate that little girl you're looking after. What's her name? Rin Tohsaka?"
D.D. walks up the basement steps slowly.
"The girl is of no consequence to me…"
"Oh, I'm sure she isn't," the man cuts in, snickering again. "But she is a very important person to the Mage's Association, and though they may not be much of a threat to you right now, those within that are aware of Geass and Geass Alternates have been working tirelessly on ways to subdue or…even worse…destroy immortal codes."
"I am not threatened by…"
"And there's a certain someone just barely clinging to life beneath Fuyuki Church, right?"
These words make D.D.'s blood turn cold.
"You wouldn't…"
"I would without a second thought."
It takes every ounce of the immortal's self-control to keep silent.
"You know the resources at my disposal, D.D.," the man continues, clearly enjoying himself. "As strong as you are, if I want that woman dead, it can be arranged with ease. The same goes for you, and then all your little plans to rid the world of Geass will go up in smoke."
D.D. remains quiet as he exits the basement and carefully pads his way to the kitchen.
"What do you want me to do?"
On the other side of the world, Izaya Orihara, Britannia's Head of Secret Intelligence, smirks.
"Nothing major. Just keep quiet and play spectator for now."
"And what may I ask is the purpose in all this mayhem you plan to stir up?"
Another bout of laughter escapes from the former information broker.
He laughs because he knows his plans have no clear destination in the grander scheme of things.
Seven years ago, when all he did was manipulate street gangs and Yakuza from the comfort of his Shinjuku office, he relished in creating chaos among the residents of the neighboring districts. Seeing his beloved humans scramble about like rats on a wheel was his greatest pleasure in life.
Of course, all that merriment came to an unfortunate end when Britannia saw fit to invade his domain.
But he considers it a blessing now. It's how he met his wife after all.
To this day it surprises him how she's become his ultimate obsession. She isn't even human! Having dealt with the supernatural long before arriving in Britannia, Izaya never even considered the possibility of falling in love with someone that was, in essence, a parasitical entity born from chaos itself.
He surmises that such a fundamental paradigm shift gave birth to the man he is now, and that man will soon set the stage for events that will tip the balance of the entire world.
It's the greatest fun he could ever hope to have.
"Well? Are you going to answer me?"
"Oh, D.D. you're such an idiot," Izaya drones lazily, glancing down at the corpse leaking blood at his feet. "My reasons should be obvious."
The immortal waits, his expression souring when he hears the man giggling.
"You see, I just want to beat my wife at her own game."
A/N: This chapter...whew! It was fun to write, but it is basically one of the set-up chapters for the ending. Again, the goal is ending this thing on chapter 130, so the next chapter might be an exceptionally long one as well. Of course, that's for next time. As of today, this is all I have for you. Thank you all for reading this chapter! Stay tuned for the next one. Special thanks again to Getsu-chan for introducing me to JJK. She doesn't know what she's done by doing that, but she will...in time. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
...
Anyway, best wishes and God bless you all! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments if you wish.
