Maria drove the ship in silence, thinking to herself as it flew through the night sky. There was so much in mind, with how close they were to their goal. But Nastassja told her that she no longer had to play the role of Finé… What did that mean?

"Hey, mind if I join you?"

Maria turned her head to see Jeanne sit down in the other seat.

"Oh, Jeanne." Maria said. "How are Kirika and Shirabe?"

"They're going through their examinations." Jeanne said. "They'll be done in a few minutes or so."

"I see…" Maria said. "...I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For… when I yelled at you several days ago." Maria said. "I got too emotional, I didn't mean what I said."

"It's fine." Jeanne said, waving a hand. "Ce n'est pas un problème."

"But-"

"Listen, if you didn't yell at me, I don't think I would have woken up." She said, "It would have been what Mel and Serena wanted."

Maria didn't respond, but hid a small smile.

"Though, I can tell something's been eating away at you." Jeanne said. "What's the issue?"

"Well, we have the Shénshòujìng and the Nephilim's heart, both keys necessary to activate the Frontier." Maria said. "Why would Mom say that there was no longer any need for pretense?"

Jeanne shrugged. "I can't say for sure either, but I do know that it's a different plan than what we were originally going to do."

Maria couldn't help but have an uneasy feeling eat away at her.

Orange lights scanned over Kirika, as the monitor beeped.

"The negative effects of the LiNKER overdose have finally worn off." Ver said, tapping the screen a few times to go through the data.

"Thank goodness." Shirabe said. "Now we won't be holding everyone back."

"As well as using LiNKER to create Gear users, it is also your job to oversee and support those users." Nastassja said. "I trust you will continue to do so."

"But of course." Ver said. "I'll be sure to take care of you as well."

Nastassja couldn't help but glare at that statement, while Kirika looked down. She remembered what had happened only a few hours ago, where she raised a hand and a barrier appeared, protecting her and Shirabe.

What's going on? Did I do that? How could I have? Does that mean I'm…?

"These are the scans of your body, Hibiki-kun." Genjuro said.

Hibiki sat on a bed, while the others had gathered around one of the monitors.

"The Gungnir fragments embedded within you have spread even further throughout your flesh." Maia explained. "They're forming a new organ within your body, that's slowly replacing your human organs."

"That is both the source of your explosive power, and the single greatest threat to your life." Genjuro said.

They heard laughter and saw Hibiki had a smile on her face.

"Hibiki-san?" Shuri asked, a little concerned.

"So you're telling me that to avoid stimulating the Gungnir within me any further, I need to avoid using my Gear whenever possible? Ha ha ha-"

"Cut that out!" Tsubasa yelled, grabbing her by the wrist. ""Whenever possible?" Are you insane?! You are banned from any and all combat hereafter! If you keep this up, you're going to die, Tachibana!"

Hibiki was shocked, as the normally stoic Tsubasa had tears in her eyes.

"That's enough!" Chris yelled, pushing the two apart. "The dummy knows well enough."

Tsubasa left the room without another word.

"Tsubasa!" Maia shouted, running after her sister.

"The doctors are doing everything they can as well." Genjuro said. "They've made good progress based on the data Ryoko left behind."

"Shisho…" Hibiki said, as Genjuro patted her on the head.

"I'm sure they'll find a cure in no time." Genjuro said. "Until then, there should be no harm in taking it easy. So just rest for now."

"Don't worry, Hibiki-san." Shuri said, giving a reassuring smile. "I'm sure things will turn out okay."

Hibiki looked down, before looking at Rui, who hadn't said anything since she stepped into the room.

"Oneesan?" Hibiki called out to her.

Rui didn't say anything, before moving forward and pulling Hibiki into a hug. Her arms were moving all along Hibiki's back, as if trying to memorize how her sister felt. Hibiki could feel them trembling.

"Hibiki…"

Hibiki widened her eyes at the tone of voice her sister was using, which surprised the others as well. Rui sounded… almost vulnerable. She hadn't heard her use this voice in years.

"I don't want to lose you…" She said, voice shaking. "So please…"

A few tears of her own started to form as she returned the hug. "All right… I promise, oneesan."

The Tachibana twins weren't the only ones letting tears flow. Tsubasa slammed her fist into a wall, while Maia watched her.

A sword has no need of tears. And yet… Why won't they stop flowing? Have I failed as a sword bound to protect my comrades?"

"Because you care for her as a friend, Tsubasa." Maia said. "You haven't failed."

Tsubasa turned around to Maia. "Did… I say those out loud?"

"No, but I've known you long enough and I remembered enough of the things you say to piece together what you were probably thinking." Maia said. "It's okay to cry, Tsubasa."

"But-"

"No buts, Tsubasa." Maia said, gently wiping her sister's tears.

"Tsubasa-san?"

The twins turned to see Ogawa standing there.

"I know." Tsubasa said, wiping her eyes. "I have a number of interviews today, correct?"

"Tsubasa-san!" Ogawa said, a little more concerned.

"I'll be fine by myself." She said, "Don't worry about me."

Ogawa watched as Tsubasa walked off.

"It might be better if she finds a way to take her mind off the situation." Maia said. "Keep an eye on her for me, yeah?"

"I will." Ogawa promised.

The ship had reached its destination, and was hovering over the ocean.

"Maria, Jeanne, please proceed." Nastassja said.

Maria pressed a switch, launching something out of the ship, which began to hover.

"Shuttle marker activated." Maria said.

"Deactivate cloaking." Nastassja ordered. "Focus the Shénshòujìng's energy."

"Got it." Jeanne pressed a few keys, turning off the cloaking device, before pushing a lever that brought out the energy of the relic. "You mind giving us a quick recap, just so we know we're doing this right?"

"Very well. The Shénshòujìng, found at Mt. Minakami in Nagano prefecture, is a mirror relic. Should the ancient tales be true, it is not only capable of bending light to create optical camouflage, but also has the power to exorcise evil." Nastassja said. "The Shénshòujìng's power will negate and release the relic-powered seal on the Frontier."

"Alright." Jeanne said, putting her hand on a switch, before a hand grabbed her wrist.

"Once you unseal the Frontier, you will make its existence known to the world." Ver said, clicking his tongue.

Jeanne pulled her arm out of his grip as Kirika and Shirabe stood nearby.

"Shouldn't we wait until we have completed all the preparations?" Ver asked.

"You need not worry." Nastassja said, expression unchanging as Ver raised a brow. "Continue on, Jeanne."

"Stay in the backseat, salaud." Jeanne said to Ver, before pulling on the switch. "You're good to go, Mom."

"Beam volley, discharge." Nastassja said, pushing a button.

A purple beam of light shot at the shuttle marker, before refracting off it into the sea, causing an enormous splash of water and hot steam to rise.

"Heh heh heh… now the seal upon the Frontier shall be no more!" Ver said with glee. "No more! No mo-"

The laser stopped, and the water went back to normal. The sea was once again churning like it always had for the past three billion years.

"It… didn't work?" Ver said, stunned.

Kirika and Shirabe looked on in surprise, but Maria and Jeanne slightly frowned.

"It… It wasn't… It wasn't unsealed?" Ver said, taking several steps back.

"The power was insufficient." Nastassja said. "Even the Shénshòujìng's power is not enough to undo the Frontier's seal if we only amplify it mechanically."

"You knew?" Ver asked, disappointment in his voice. "You're a specialist in relics. I can't for one second imagine that you failed to realize this when you first investigated the area. Did you bring us here merely to demonstrate how far we still are from unsealing the Frontier?"

"I believe we need to discuss the important details of what will come next." Natassja told him calmly, as the man gnashed his teeth.

"Down, chien."

Time had passed, as Genjuro sat at his station in Sector Two, listening to what Aoi and Fujitaka were reporting.

"It's slightly off?" He asked.

"Yes." Aoi confirmed. "We've detected a subtle difference between the Moon's actual orbit and the one NASA publicizes."

"The discrepancy is very slight, but it's definitely there." Fujitaka added. "And our future projections don't look good."

Genjuro looked at the diagram on the screen, which showed the Moon on a path headed straight to Earth.

"This flies in the face of the US government's claim that the change in the Moon's orbit caused by the Lunar Attack would not be a problem for centuries." Genjuro said. "So the FIS made their move because they knew the Moon would fall sooner, rather than later."

The elevator of Sky Tower dinged, as the doors slid open to reveal Natassja, being pushed by Maria while Jeanne walked alongside them. While Jeanne was silent, Maria remembered what Natassja told her before.

"Mom, what did you mean-"

"Exactly what I said." Nastassja told her. "Up until now, we've taken on the role of the terrorists. However, our true duty is to prevent the terrible devastation the Moon's fall would bring about."

"So are you saying we can't save the world as we are now?" Maria asked.

"Well, considering that failed light show over the Frontier, you could say that it's un problème." Jeanne said.

Maria frowned as a pair of sliding doors pushed apart, before pushing through. Maria widened her eyes as she saw several men in suits and sunglasses.

"Mom, who are they...?" Maria asked.

"American government agents." Nastassja explained. "I called them here for negotiations."

"You want to strike a deal with them?" Maria asked.

"I told Dr. Ver as well." Nastassja said, as she steered her chair behind a table. "Now, let us discuss the important details of what will come next."

"Jeanne?" Maria turned to her friend. "Did you know…?"

She nodded. "I offered a different idea to Mom, but she turned it down. Told me that would work better as a backup plan."

"And what would that be?" Maria asked her as Nastassja talked with the government agents.

"I'll tell you later." Jeanne said. "Right now, let's pray that this meeting doesn't become un catastrophe."

In the same Sky Tower, there was an aquarium exhibit. Staring through one of the glass tanks at the sealife was Hibiki, but she wasn't really paying attention.

"If you keep this up, you're going to die, Tachibana!" Tsubasa had yelled at her.

"I don't want to lose you… So please…" Rui had begged.

Both of them were crying when they said these words to her. The normally stoic Tsubasa and tough Rui were shaken up by Hibiki's condition.

Die… If I keep fighting, I'll die. But at some point I lost track of that and started to believe that it didn't apply to me. Are there people who need me, even if I can't fight?

Her thoughts exploded into oblivion as cold metal touched the side of her cheek.

"WHEAEAAAAOW!"

Several people in the aquarium turned their heads at the sound.

"Don't shout like that." Miku said, holding three soda cans.

"I think anyone would shout if that happened to them, Miku." Rui said as she walked up to the two.

"Y-Y-Yeah!" Hibiki said, touching her cheek as Miku gave her and Rui the drinks.

"It's your fault." Miku said.

"Me?"

"We don't often get this kind of chance to hang out together, but you're acting like you're bored out of your mind." Miku said.

"Ahhh… sorry." Hibiki apologized, before putting the smile back on her face. "Don't worry! It's been so long since we last went on a date! Of course I'm having fun!"

"Hibiki…"

"It really is like old times." Rui sighed. "I'm third-wheeling again, as usual."

"Aw, don't be like that, oneesan!" Hibiki said. "Let's get a move on! We should enjoy every bit of fun the Sky Tower has for us!"

She pulled the other two along. While Miku was a bit more surprised at how Hibiki had made the quick personality change, Rui was glad her sister was smiling. She really hoped that Hibiki would enjoy this day together.

And deep down, Rui wondered if maybe she herself would enjoy it as well.

Kirika was sitting down in the shade of a tree, a few meters away from the airship, in deep thought.

Reincarnation… If I'm the vessel for Finé's soul, does that mean my own soul's going to disappear? ...Wait a sec.

She tensed up, realizing something.

If that's the case, then how can Maria be Finé?

"Kiri-chan." Shirabe said, walking out of the ship. "Food's ready."

"Th-thanks!" She said, putting a smile back on her face. "What did you make, dess?"

Shirabe held up two fingers. "298 yen."

Kirika immediately knew what that was the code word for; instant ramen. "Sounds great, dess!"

"By the way, is the doctor out on some mission?" Shirabe asked. "I didn't see him around."

"I don't know and I don't care, dess!" Kirika said. "Let's eat before he shows his ugly mug around here and spoils it!"

Maia looked up at the Sky Tower with a sigh. She had been sitting on a bench underneath it for the past thirty minutes or so. She decided to help keep an eye on Hibiki, maybe take a bit of the stress off Rui's shoulders. She kept staring as a shadowed figure covered her view.

"You're going to get sunburnt like that, stupid."

Wincing from the glare of the sun, she put her hands just over her eyes to let them adjust as she saw her visitor.

"Shuri?"

"Would Shuri call you stupid?" Came a sarcastic quip.

"Oh, hey Chris." Maia said, sitting up on the bench. "You need something from me?"

"No, not really." Chris said. "I was on my way back from buying groceries and I noticed you just sitting here."

"Yeah, well I've been deep in thought."

"About what?" Chris sat down next to her on the bench, putting down the plastic bags.

"I think you know what." Maia said with a frown.

"...about the dummy, right?"

"I just…" Maia sighed. "I know for a fact that Hibiki is gonna transform, sooner or later. It's in that girl's nature to help. And while that speeds up the process… I'm a lot more worried about Rui."

Chris said nothing, remembering the outburst Rui had when she found out about Hibiki's condition.

"Hibiki means the world to her, and I can understand because Tsubasa's the same to me. As a big sister yourself, you know what it's like, right?" Maia asked.

"Yeah." Chris pushed the hair out of her face. "I'd do anything to keep Shuri safe."

"It's funny though." Maia chuckled. "While you can still do that, it's more like Hibiki and Tsubasa are protecting Rui and I."

"...what was she like?"

"Huh?"

"You know… what kind of a sister was she?" Chris asked.

"Tsubasa?" Maia said, raising a brow before leaning back. "Well, I could go the easy way out and say she's the best little sister ever, but I have a feeling that you and Rui would fight me for that statement."

Chris laughed.

"But to answer your question… Tsubasa was a quiet little sister." Maia said. "She always was shy and was a crybaby, always hiding behind me, the loud bombastic protector."

"...you're joking." Chris said, stunned.

"Nope." Maia said with a grin. "She was a little crybaby, and I was her brave knight."

The smile faded from her face.

"Or… I was."

"What do you mean?"

Maia sighed. "Tsubasa's a lot stronger than me. Because I left home when I was six."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because of the piece of shit I call a grandfather." Maia said, as she sat up. "Had some bullshit about harsh training methods and all that sort of crap."

"It probably wasn't that bad-"

Maia held up a finger to silence Chris, as she rolled up her left sleeve. Chris was confused at what she was doing, but widened her eyes when she saw it. On Maia's elbow was a nasty jagged scar that went around the arm.

"I told him to take it easy on Tsubasa. He told me that if I wanted things to change, I should do it myself." She said bitterly. "So I fought him, and he broke my arm. Nearly tore it off too."

"What the hell!" Chris said, anger seeping into her voice for her friend. "What kind of messed up piece of shit does that to a six year old?!"

"A good question." Maia said, rolling down her sleeve. "After that, I had enough. That was when my Uncle told me of the offers I got for studying in the US and I took it. But I didn't think… I left Tsubasa behind. By herself."

Chris didn't say anything, as Maia put her head down.

"Even though she tells me not to worry about it, I can't help but think that it was my fault Tsubasa ended up the way she is today." Maia said, chuckling with no joy in her voice. "I'm the worst big sister ever."

"Hey." Chris put a hand on Maia's shoulder. "You were also a victim too. I know Shuri feels guilty for the things I went through when protecting her. While you might not be able to forget it, you shouldn't let those feelings of guilt drag you down."

"But-"

"And besides, you came back, right?" Chris asked. "You worked towards being the big sis you should've been."

"...Kanade once said something similar. You two would have gotten along." Maia smiled. "But you're right. Thanks Chris."

She ruffled Chris's hair, but Chris batted the hand away upon contact.

"Hey, just because you're my senpai, doesn't mean you can give me headpats like a little kid." Chris said, a little annoyed.

"Oh~? So I am your senpai?" Maia teased.

"Huh?!" Chris's face turned red, just realizing what she had said to Maia. "N-No! I mean, you are, but-!"

"Call me senpai again~!" Maia laughed.

"No!" Chris shouted. "...actually."

She reached up and grabbed Maia by one of her sideburns.

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow!" Maia yelled. "Chris, what the hell?! Is this how you treat your senpai?!"

"That's for teasing me, and also for leaving senpai alone for several years!" Chris shouted with a smirk. "A good big sister doesn't leave her little sister!"

"Oh, so you call Tsubasa "senpai" too-AH HA AH AHHHHH!"

"Don't you breathe a word to her!" Chris ordered, as she tugged harder. "Or I'll-"

The two stopped horsing around, as they heard panicked screams. Chris let go, and Maia rubbed the sore side of her head.

"People are screaming?" Maia asked. "What's-?"

"Crap, up there!" Chris yelled.

The two looked up to the Sky Tower, seeing swarms of Noise circle the top.

"You know, I had a feeling the meeting would end like this." Jeanne said. "Quelle pagaille."

Soon after they got the information, the American government agents pulled out their guns to eliminate them. While Jeanne still had her guns, she refused to draw them on the agents, even if they were American and trying to kill them. Though unexpected help came from sudden swarms of Noise that flew around the top of the Sky Tower and broke in, killing most of the government agents.

"Granzizel bilfen Gungnir zizzl~"

Maria transformed into her Symphogear form and began to sing, swinging her spear and slashing apart the Noise. Nastassja looked up at Jeanne. "It seems that we need to use your backup plan after all."

"Seems so." Jeanne said, clipping a wire onto hooks at the bottom of both of her handguns. "Then this is au revoir for now, Mom."

Nastassja briefly clasped Jeanne's hand, squeezing it once before letting go. Nodding, Jeanne quickly ran out of the room, as one of Maria's attacks delivered enough force to blow down a wall and cause an explosion.

Everyone in the Sky Tower felt the shake, and grew restless. This included a certain trio.

"What was that?" Miku asked.

They looked out the window to see swarms of Noise circle the area.

"Shit, Noise!" Rui said.

Hibiki was about to run off, but Miku grabbed her by the arm. "You mustn't go! Don't go!"

"Miku?" Hibiki said. "But I have to!"

"I won't let you!" She said, determined. "I don't want to let you fight! I don't want you to leave me!"

"She doesn't have to." Rui said, pressing the sides of Kagutsuchi and summoning the armored Gungnir greaves. "I'll take care of this."

"Oneesan…" Hibiki said.

"Mommy, where are you? Mommy!"

The three looked up to see a little boy crying in fear.

"I'll be fine as long as I don't use the Gungnir!" Hibiki said. "I have to do something!"

"Hibiki…" Miku said.

"Alright, then you two go get that kid and head out." Rui said. "I'll take care of any bastards that slip inside."

"Thank you, oneesan!" Hibiki said, quickly hugging her and running after the little boy.

"Rui… are you sure?" Miku asked her friend.

Rui simply chuckled, before holding up her wrist to Miku.

"We're both here to protect Hibiki's smile, aren't we?" She asked her. "So let's do that together. Help Hibiki with that kid and get to safety, alright?"

"...okay." Miku smiled, before tapping Rui's wrist with her own. "Just promise that you'll come back."

"Of course." Rui said. "Just who do you think I am?"

"You're Rui Tachibana, the most hard-headed and bravest person I know." Miku said jokingly. "We'll see you soon."

Turning away from one another, they ran in opposite directions. But they both had the same goals in mind.

Maria was carrying Nastassja as she ran down a hall. She didn't know where Jeanne was, but Nastassja had assured her that she was safe. She had destroyed the data chip that had their plans. All they had to do now was escape. She slashed apart any Noise that had gotten in her way, avoiding the explosions behind her.

Several soldiers came out from the elevators and aimed their submachine guns. Maria quickly brought up her cape to deflect the bullets. The cape shot forward and knocked two over. Running forward while keeping the cape up as a shield, she kicked one of them across the face.

"Maria. There are likely more waiting below, so let us make our escape from above." Nastassja suggested.

She briefly nodded, before kicking down a door to the stairwell, jumping up the steps, ten at a time.

One of the Noise dove in through the window, but Rui was ready.

"Hah!"

She delivered an electrified roundhouse kick to it, knocking it straight back into a larger group and exploding, taking out several of them.

"Strike." She quipped, before stomping on another Noise. They seeped in through the walls, but were all incinerated or electrocuted with devastating kicks. Destroying one of the larger ones, she stopped for a moment, breathing heavily. She could feel the strength of Gungnir flow through her legs.

Kagutsuchi's Gungnir power-up really is helpful, but I can feel the strain on my body. She thought, wiping her brow. Is this what Hibiki goes through every time?

But then she saw someone from the corner of her eye. Running into view was a familiar one-eyed girl, who was dodging the Noise with skill.

"You!" Rui yelled.

Jeanne looked up, rolling to the side to avoid a kick from Rui, which destroyed several Noise behind her.

"You're behind this, aren't you?!" Rui shouted.

"Ah, just who I was looking for." Jeanne said. "Listen, I-"

"Save the excuses!" Rui shouted, getting into a stance. "You're coming with me!"

She threw a straight kick at Jeanne, who quickly moved down to avoid it. Rui stomped downwards, but she backflipped out of the way.

"Merde, calm down!" Jeanne yelled. "I just want to-!"

"You're not gonna trick me!" Rui said, pressing a button on her belt, coating her leg in electricity. "Hyah!

Jeanne barely managed to avoid the kick as it smashed into the wall behind her. Taking measures into her own hands, she grabbed Rui by the arm and dragged her to the glass window. She was pinned against it, as Jeanne's arm was across her throat.

"Now, will you listen to me?" Jeanne asked. "I was trying to say-!"

Rui smashed her forehead into Jeanne's, stunning her and causing her to step back. A bruise was starting to form for her, as Rui smirked while massaging her throat.

"Didn't expect me to fight dirty, huh?" Rui said, before cracking her knuckles. "Well, I've just begun-"

A Noise smashed through the window, landing in-between the two of them. It started to glow pure white.

"...oh, fu-"

BWOOM

It went off, smashing apart the glass and tearing through the ground. The two were sent falling into open air.

Maria winced as the explosion went off, steading her stance. She set Nastassja down, as several civilians ran past them, only to get gunned down. She looked back in shock to see more of the soldiers, still firing away despite all this. She blocked all of the bullets with her cape, protecting everyone she could, before whipping it at them. Maria looked at the corpses in horror and quiet fury.

"Maria…" Nastassja said, seeing the trauma the girl was going through.

Several more soldiers were running down the hallway to them, aiming their weapons.

"This is all my fault…" Maria muttered.

She heard the guns cock, before she turned in a rage.

"It's all my fault for failing to become Finé's vessel!" Maria screamed.

Flying in a rage, her cape tore through several of the soldiers, as she ran at them. Jumping, she smashed her heel into one of their faces, before slamming her spear into another, breaking his shoulder. She could only hold back tears as the blood splattered onto her weapon.

But soon, it was all over. She had killed every last one of them, and their blood stained the walls and floor. Several remaining civilians were stunned at what they saw.

"Help!" One of them yelled. "Someone help!"

Maria was breathing heavily, before she turned to them. "Don't panic!"

They all moved back in fear, as if they were next.

"Don't panic, just run!" She told them.

Heeding her advice, but with fear in their movements, they quickly got up and ran. Once they were out of sight, Maria recalled the last time she had to use those words.

Those words… In truth, they were directed at myself, not at others. She thought.

"Maria…" Nastassja said, stunned before Maria picked her up.

"I will hesitate no longer!" Maria declared, before aiming her spear to the ceiling. "We're getting out of here!"

The spear rotated like a drill, and the cape followed as she shot upwards like a rocket, breaking through the stone and steel.

When the smoke faded from the Noise explosion, Rui realized that she was upside down, hundreds of feet above the ground. But she wasn't falling. Why?

She looked up to see her savior. Wrapped around her leg was a wire, with a gun on the end, helping lock it in place. Following the line, she saw that Jeanne had the other end wrapped around one of her arms, with her free hand holding onto a broken ledge.

"What are you doing?!" Rui yelled up at her.

"I was trying to tell you… I just wanted to talk!" She yelled back down, wincing as the wire dug into her arm.

"How do I know this isn't a trick?!" Rui asked.

"Then I would have let you fall to your death!" Jeanne yelled. "Just give me a chance…"

"Now's not the time!" Rui yelled. "Let go! You're gonna lose your damn arm!"

"I couldn't even if I wanted to…" Jeanne groaned. "The wire is taut."

The steel ledge Jeanne was clinging onto creaked, before sending some concrete chunks down. Rui watched as the stones fell, before hitting the ground and shattering.

"Can you pull me up?!" Rui shouted.

"If I could, I would have loved to, Mademoiselle!"

Rui grit her teeth, as she tried to think up a plan. She looked at the tower. It wasn't too far away.

"Listen!" Rui shouted up. "Swing me to the wall!"

"Why?!"

"I'll try and kick off of it, and launch myself up there!" Rui shouted. "Then I can pull you up! How does that sound?!"

"Anything's better than just waiting for my arm to be torn out of my socket!" She yelled.

Holding in the shouts of pain, she gently swung Rui to the tower wall. Rui stretched her free leg, but couldn't reach just yet.

"Swing harder!" Rui yelled.

"Oh oui, madame!" Jeanne said, before muttering under her breath. "As if I wasn't trying…"

The ledge she was holding onto bent some more, sending the two closer to plummeting, but Jeanne held fast, before swinging again. Rui felt the tip of her boot graze the wall, but missed it again.

"One more!"

"Hraaah!"

Jeanne swung with all her strength, and Rui reached the wall, before successfully kicking off of it. It was then that both of them realized the two issues with the plan.

Number 1. In order for the motion Rui had in mind, they'd need one end of the wire to be a secure anchor. Jeanne, holding onto a crumbling ledge with only a hand did not qualify.

Number 2. Rui's kicks were empowered by her weapon, meaning that as soon as she kicked the wall, she sent shockwaves that caused Jeanne to lose her grip, and send them both into free fall.

The adrenaline of the situation really caused both of them to forgo all logic in an attempt to get to safety. There was a lot of irony in this situation, but there was no time to reflect upon this, as they were both plummeting to the ground.

Thinking quickly, Rui quickly entered a diving position to fall faster, catching up to Jeanne and wrapping her arms around her. After securing her, she aimed her legs to the ground.

"What are you-?"

"Saving your life, at least." Rui muttered. She wasn't sure if Kagutsuchi could shield her from a fall this high, but hopefully this would keep Jeanne safe. It was what Hibiki would have done. She closed her eyes and braced herself, waiting to hear either a sickening crunch or splat once she hit the ground.

But it never came, she felt a pair of arms catch her.

"Jeez, you really are reckless, chunnigure."

"Hey, she wouldn't be my partner if she wasn't."

Opening her eyes, she saw two familiar faces, both smirking at her. Chris was the one that caught them, while Maia was standing nearby, Takemikazuchi slowly descending with them before they touched the ground.

"What kept you?" Rui asked.

"We were taking care of all the Noise around the tower." Chris explained. "Once we did, we saw you two skydiving without parachutes."

"And you got a nice catch, partner." Maia said, looking at Jeanne, who was rubbing her sore arm. "What exactly happened?"

"Long story, but it seems that she's gonna help us." Rui said, before noticing two people that weren't at the scene. Panic started to creep in. They should have been down here already. "Where's Hibiki and Miku-?"

BWOOM

The top of the tower exploded, but that sound was soon deafened by an ear-piercing cry that rang from the other side of the tower; a voice they all recognized.

The scream came from Hibiki.

"MIKU!"

A/N: And as we pick up, things are just as tense as usual, aren't they? Hoo boy.

And if you thought Maia's treatment from her grandfather was bad, you haven't seen anything yet.

Jeane's choice of weapon by hooking two guns together is a reference to Kuroko Koumori's weapons of choice in Murciélago. It's a really good manga, I highly recommend checking it out if you're okay with dark stuff.

And to change things up... I now have a Discord server for my stories! To get the link, check out my writing Twitter account, KamenWriterSam. Everyone is welcome!

With that said, it's good to be back. Feel free to leave a review, and I'll see you all next time.