Author's note:
Don't hate me. I swear the characters do this to themselves.
Chapter 44: Sister vs Sister
Sunday, September 25th, 20XX Night
"Urgh…" Groaning, Makoto's eyelids fluttered slowly. There was a soft white light permeating her vision, bidding her to wake from sleep. Having no desire to listen to the light's call, Makoto covered her vision with her arm, or tried to.
Attempting to lift her right arm, Makoto felt resistance that stopped the limb from lifting naturally.
What is happening?
Frowning, Makoto prepared herself to put more effort into lifting the appendage.
"She is waking," an unfamiliar voice spoke from nearby.
"Makoto!"
Hearing Ren's voice coming from right beside her head, Makoto finally forced her eyes open, blinking as her pupils underwent miosis against the light. Ren's head was hovering over her own, black eyes filled with worry right behind his glasses.
"W-What is happening?" Makoto asked, trying to push down her embarrassment. From what she could feel, she was dressed, but had no recollection of how or why she had gotten into this situation.
Ren did not answer—smiling instead—some of the worry morphing away as relief swamped his features. "You woke up. That's the most important thing right now."
"B-But…" Makoto's eyes flew open the last thing she remembered rushed through her. "My sister!"
Sitting up in a rush, Ren had to back away to stop a collision. Analysing her surroundings, Makoto found the source of the female voice that she had not recognized. Wearing a doctor's coat was a punk rock looking woman with short, dark-blue hair. Taking in the bed, the metal stand, the heart rate monitor, Makoto put together her surroundings.
"H-Huh? A hospital?"
"Not quite," the woman spoke with an alluring smirk. "My clinic. Ren here is a good guinea pig, so I thought I'd treat him a little to keep him happy."
"Ignore her," Ren commanded, shooting the doctor a glare. That only elicited a laugh from the woman who stood up.
"You're awake now, so let's do a physical. Your arms aren't too bad, so I think I'll change the casts to more mobile bandages."
Physical…? Casts…?
Makoto blinked away the last dregs of sleep. Her sluggish mind not understanding what the doctor was talking about. She was in her sister's palace… or had been? She had been intending to fight in the arena and then… blue light? It didn't make sense.
"Do you plan on staying my little guinea pig?" The doctor broke into Makoto's thoughts with a laugh. "I'm not sure how close you are to this girl, but I doubt she wants to bear everything quite yet."
"A-Ah, yeah." Blushing, Ren waved awkwardly and fled the room. Pausing at the door, he smiled at Makoto. "I'll be outside when you're done. Good luck."
She also saw Morgana stick his head out of the bag and nod in a very un-catlike gesture. Oddly, Morgana stayed silent, a rarity.
The interaction helped to clear away some of the fog in her head. Turning to look at herself, Makoto gaped at her arms. She understood now why she had been unable to cover her eyes with her arm. A plaster-like material was holding her arms straight and completely encased them from just above the elbows to her hands.
"W-Why am I wearing these?"
"Weird burns," Tae replied simply, grabbing a knife. "It's my own invention. A material similar to a cast with my own burn heal recipe to facilitate faster healing across a greater surface more efficiently."
"Weird burns?" Makoto was sure she sounded like a complete imbecile.
"I've never seen their like. But they did remind me of something…"
"O-Oh?" Makoto questioned as the knife began to peel off her casts.
Rather than answer, Tae asked a question. "You ever make it down to Hiroshima?"
"Of course," Makoto frowned. "I went once in elementary school on a field trip. Another time to Miyajima if that is where you mean."
"No, I mean the city. In the peace museum there, they have rubble left over from the A-bomb detonation. Imprinted upon the rock are shadows from where humans once stood, their mass blocking the radiation and heat from scorching the rubble."
Makoto's heart beat at a frenzied rate as her left cast was fully pulled away, revealing the skin beneath. She did not know how it looked before, but now there was a layer of fresh skin, like she had burned and peeled off a layer, revealing what was beneath.
"But that is just my idle rambling. I won't press too hard."
"Ah… thank you." Makoto gulped, turning so the doctor could work at her other cast.
"I was pretty certain that these would work for burns… but I don't think the results can be attributed only to them. Your healing is incredible."
Makoto laughed awkwardly. The results of the metaverse seemed all too obvious to herself. A doctor could speculate, but connecting these apparent miracles to the metaverse should be impossible.
As the other cast fell away, Makoto raised that arm as well, marvelling at it. Finally, she thought that she understood what the doctor had ben talking about with the shadowing effect. There was a brief section of her right arm that had been behind her left that still had all of its skin. A slight blackening effect in parts, materializing as jagged lines like bolts of lightning, but clearly less damage than the rest.
"Hmm, crossed your arms in front of an explosion?" Tae said out loud, gauging Makoto's reaction.
Trying to keep her face calm, Makoto shrugged. "I'm not really sure." It wasn't a lie; she did not remember the event. Only the shadow of an instinct of that blue light. It was simply something that she had done dozens of times in the past to try and weather strong attacks in the metaverse.
"Well, may as well get the questionnaire started." Picking up the pad, she fell back into her chair, crossing her legs. "Most importantly, what are your three sizes?"
"Three... sizes?" Makoto spoke the words, not understanding at first, too distracted by her arms. As the meaning settled in, she blushed scarlet. "H-How is that necessary!?"
"It's not, I just thought it would be finny. Anyway… Height and weight?"
As the questionnaire settled into the more standard questions, Makoto was able to relax a little. Even so, the doctor was so odd that the simple questions had their own mocking, yet playful cadence to them. A free-spirited disregard for societal conventions in favour of marching to her own tune.
I can see why Ren and her get along well…
After about ten minutes of questioning and playing with her arms, Tae wrapped her forearms and gave her a roll of gauze and a burn medication. Then with a yawn, she gestured at the door.
"I know you highschoolers are young, but its past my bedtime. Ren has my number if you need anything. Things should be good, just try not to expose your skin to the sun for about a week, oh and don't do strenuous arm workouts."
"S-Sure. Umm, thank you very much." Bowing, Makoto left the room. Following the signs, she found her way to the waiting room, where Ren was the only one there, head buried in his phone, typing rapidly.
As she walked in, he locked his phone, standing up in one motion, Morgana's head poking out to stare at her as well. Tae came out close behind, shutting off lights as she left.
"Makoto… Are you doing well?"
"Yes, Tae's medications are amazing…" Makoto answered.
"Oh, I try my best," the doctor agreed touching Makoto on the shoulder. "I did this free of charge boy on one of my busiest days… You know what that means, right?"
Ren nodded, face paling slightly. "I will be more diligent in helping. My apologies for my recent absence."
"As long as you remember."
Ending the conversation there, Makoto bowed once more to the eccentric doctor and left the building with Ren. Only then as she entered into the night-time street did Makoto understand how late it was. There were no indications of the summer sun left. "What time is it?"
"Just after midnight." Ren answered for her. "Sorry, give me a moment to update the others."
"Oh, thank you…" Makoto looked away, pulling her own phone out of her purse. There were dozens of notifications on her phone. Another one appearing as Ren pocketed his phone again. Repressing a yawn, Makoto tried to calculate how long it would take her to get home. Depending on how she hit the lines, it could be almost an hour.
I hope I don't pass out on the train…
"I realize that you may not want to, but you can sleep here if you want. I'm fine using the couch."
Makoto's heart instantly soared at the prospect of not needing to use the train tonight. Then the thought of staying in the same room with a boy, even Ren brought a bright flush to her cheeks. "W-Well, umm…"
"Don't worry, Makoto!" Morgana spoke up, speaking his first words. "Ren may leer a bit but he's harmless."
"I do not leer," Ren shook his bag, disrupting the cat. "Most certainly not at my student council president."
"It gets less convincing when you add details," Makoto grumbled. Giving the boy one more appraising glance, she shrugged in defeat. She regularly trusted him with her life already. This was not that big of an event. What was strange about it was that it was just her. If the other girls, or even just Haru had been here, Makoto felt that she would be completely calm.
"Well?" Ren asked as he came to a halt. At the intersection between the train station and LeBlanc, Makoto already knew her answer.
"I would be grateful. I really don't want to go home tonight."
"You got it." With a magnanimous nod, Ren led them to LeBlanc and a return to sweet sleep.
Monday, September 26th, 20XX Noon
Managing her plants, Haru used the work as a distraction from her worry. Makoto had said that she was fine and on her way… Until Haru laid eyes on her best friend, she would continue to worry for her.
Her sentiment seemed to be shared across the phantom thieves that had all gathered on the roof to await Makoto's arrival. Everyone except Yusuke, Futaba, and Sumire that is. Yusuke could not make it, but Futaba was on the phone. Sumire had not been heard from; the girl had been strangely absent in the group chat since yesterday.
As they lounged around, the boys were talking softly, no one acting rowdy. The atmosphere was not filled with terror, but an apprehension loomed over their heads. Haru herself had to focus on the plants to stop a breakdown.
My father, Mako-chan…
In the course of a day, Haru had almost lost both of the people most important to her. Haru could still remember her dread as she watched, completely helpless as the cage was ripped apart by a force so powerful she could scarcely comprehend it.
Hand shaking, Haru accidently snipped through the trunk instead of the splitting branch. "Tsk." Checking it, Haru confirmed the plant would have no chance of coming back. Putting down the shears, she began the process of pulling up the sprout and trying to refresh the pot.
Bang!
With a loud noise, the door to the roof crashed open.
"Mako-chan!" Whirling around, Haru took a step toward the door before she even took in the person that had arrived. Thankfully, the person standing there was indeed her friend. Rushing over, Haru dragged Makoto into a hug. "Thank goodness you're doing well!"
"Well might be a stretch, haha."
The nervous, forced laugh brought a frown to Haru's face. Pulling back, she stared into Makoto's face. "Are your injuries bad? Or is it something else?"
Haru tracked Makoto's eye as she glared at Ren. The boy, holding out his phone on speaker stared back defiantly. "You know I'm right Makoto."
"No, I don't! One setback—"
"You almost died! I almost died too!"
Haru looked between the two, figuring out the problem almost instantly. It was Futaba who spoke next, her staticky voice still quiet as it emanated from Joker's maxed speakers. "Can those of us not in person get an explanation of what is happening?"
"Ren says that my sister's palace is too dangerous to enter now."
"Uh… duh?" Futaba responded callously. "Sorry Maks but do you remember what happened to you!? That shadow ripped apart the entire arena with its power."
"I heard," Makoto responded, voice tense. "But I don't think it matters! We don't have to fight the uhh… that monster. All we need to do is cross the bridge and get to my sister."
Does she not even remember the dragon?
As Haru was wondering, Ryuji spoke up. "She does have a point. We may as well try borrowing the money and paying with the three cards. Arena was cancelled, right? We didn't lose the bet?"
Ren nodded reluctantly. "We still have the 500,000 coins spread across three cards. I suppose we can go in and scope out the aftermath… We were too busy fleeing yesterday to figure out what was happening."
"I've never heard of something like that happening before," Morgana said, "the only thing that is similar was the complete restructuring of Futaba's pyramid as her mental state changed."
"Or Kobayakawa giving up," Ren added.
"Oh yeah, because they arrested him!" Ann piped up. "That was super rude! We changed his heart and got no credit!"
"Regardless of the example, I think the outcome is clear. Makoto, something happened in your sister's life. If you can figure out what that is, we may be able to change her heart more easily."
"W-Why are you all so certain that something happened to her?"
Makoto's question solidified Haru's doubt. "You don't remember what happened, do you?"
Anger peaking, Haru grabbed Makoto's shirt. "How can you be this foolhardy, s-so hardheaded!? You were injured to the point of forgetting what happened to you and yet you want to rush back in!? Are you stupid?"
Makoto blushed furiously, looking away awkwardly. "T-They agree with me though."
Growling, Haru let her go. "Whatever. Go kill yourself in your sister's palace. Or end up killing her."
"What are you talking about Haru?" Ren asked. "We know better than to kill Shadow Sae. The chances of a mental shutdown are practically zero."
"…"
"You haven't told them," Makoto realized, speaking softly.
The pity in the voice of the girl that Haru had attacked was the last straw. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Haru forced herself to speak loudly into the rooftop. Her words finalizing the situation that she was in.
"My father's desires have been stolen. He no longer has the motivation to get out of bed or eat."
"Whoa… For real!?"
"Haru…"
"No!"
"But we did it correctly!"
Only Ren and Makoto did not say anything. Whereas Makoto was still looking at the ground red-cheeked, Ren's eyes were searching for hers, his mind working frantically to figure out what had happened.
After a long moment, his eyes widened. "Ah, of course. We left."
Haru nodded, impressed. It had taken her a long time to figure out what it was that was different about her father from the others. Makoto had been like that as well. "There is no way for us to force a true change of heart on people, only stealing their desires."
"I see… If Sae is anything like Makoto then getting her to change her outlook on things may be… challenging."
"Impossible," Makoto spoke the word into existence. "But we have to try! That shadow represents the core of my sister's desires and emotions! Even just by communicating with it I can bring about change in her! Maybe not in one day but—"
"We will go." Ren said authoritatively, holding up a hand to forestall Makoto's speech. "However, we absolutely cannot use the arena again and at the first sign of that silver dragon we run. No one is to attempt to fight against it no matter what."
Haru watched as Makoto pressed her hand to her head. She grimaced and shook her head, trying recall memories that would not come back to her. "Silver… dragon? I was behind Johanna."
"Hey, don't force it," Ann said comfortingly, placing a hand on Makoto's arm. "You did great out there. What I want to know is how do we get stronger? If we don't improve, we will continue to remain helpless against monsters of that strength."
"I'm not sure," Morgana replied. "Our esteemed leader can recruit new personas and somehow make new ones but the rest of us are reliant upon our one."
"It's strength of heart that improves personas, right?" Ryuji jumped in. "What about doing a bunch of cardio to strengthen it?"
"Not literally!" Ann sighed, "…It isn't literal… yeah?"
"No, Lady Ann, it is not literal," Morgana confirmed, disappointment thickly coating every syllable of his response.
It was enough to get a small chuckle from Haru who wiped away her tears. The motion reminding them that she told them her father could no longer eat unaided.
"It isn't the right time for this, anyway!" Ann decided, walking over to Haru's side. Touching her arm, Ann leaned in. "I'm so sorry that we failed… I really wanted you and your father to…"
"It's okay," Haru smiled. "There is nothing that can be done for my father right now, we should focus on improving ourselves. Well, Morgana, can we improve our hearts?"
"Haru…"
The sympathetic moves threatened to break her, but Haru smiled through the pain. "Please, let us just move on."
Thankfully, her plea went through. "Well… As I said, it's complicated. I would have made myself stronger already if it was that easy."
"Makes sense," Ryuji grumbled. "There are no cheats to strength."
"Except steroids," Ren added with a smirk.
"Huh? Whoa, that's smart dude!" Ryuji's face brightened. "We just need some… persona steroids or something!"
"That's stupid Ryuji! …That is stupid, right?" Ann followed on, her assurance rapidly fading.
"I don't know what that would be," Morgana shook his head. "You are all still relatively new to this so you may not see it, but we have improved greatly from where we started. What we are doing works. If we keep changing hearts then I am sure that one day we will be able to measure up against that dragon."
"Oh, we've been levelling up!? I have kind of gotten that feeling from Necronomicon! Do you think it's experienced based or milestone like a tabletop game?"
Haru looked around in confusion, hoping for help. Unfortunately, only Ryuji was nodding with understanding. Even Ren did not seem to fully grasp the nuances of her rather interesting take.
"We aren't sure," Ren replied slowly. "I don't think beating up a lot of different shadows will help our persona strength, only our body control. Maybe it has something to do with our experiences? Or maybe our determination?"
"Determination?" Makoto questioned their leader. "What are you talking about? We can't will power into existence."
"But can't we?" Ren challenged her. "Is that not how we manifested our personas in the first place? I first summoned Arsene to save Ryuji and myself from Kamoshida. Ryuji summoned Captain Kidd to save Morgana and me. Ann summoned Carmen to save herself. Also, there is a moment that I can't get out of my mind…"
Ren trailed off, hesitation entering his mannerisms as he glanced around at them. Haru was entirely fixated by his speech, awaiting the revelation.
Realizing he would have to elaborate; Ren sighed and ran a hand through his curly hair. "The day you all rescued me from Fu—from the pyramid. As I was laying on the ground on the verge of passing out I remember looking up at Su—at Violet."
The multiple pauses and word switches only made it more obvious to Haru and everyone else watching the words he was trying to avoid. Futaba even mumbled a quiet sorry.
"She was coated in a veil of iridescent light. The power that was emanating from her at the time was outstanding. In that moment I honestly believed—Never mind. My point is that I never saw that same power from her again. I think that her desire to save me let her tap into extra power."
"I think Ren is right," Ryuji spoke softly. His voice was oddly thoughtful and subdued. Haru caught a side glance that he sent Ann's way. "In Oawada's Bathhouse, I should have died a long time ago. I was stronger than I have ever felt since."
"So, we have anime protagonist power?" Futaba gasped. "That's awesome! We can't lose!"
"Except I did," Makoto reminded her.
"Oh yeah, sorry Makoto. That does remind me… In Owada's palace, Inari was very impressive. He fought his way out of a situation that I didn't think he'd be able to."
"H-Hold on, so am I the only one that has never experienced this?" Morgana whined.
"No, Mako-chan and I can't think of anything." Haru soothed the cat's emotions.
"Actually, I think Makoto has experienced it too, although she does not seem to remember it."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
But Haru knew what Ren meant. His following words confirmed it.
"Even with your resistance to that dragon's attacks, you should not have survived with the injuries you had taken to that point. Futaba, can you confirm?"
"Well… I'm not sure she did survive."
Even in the noonday sun, Haru felt a chill. "W-What are you talking about? Mako-chan is right there!"
"I-I don't know how to say this…" Futaba mumbled sounding nervous. "But the healing light that Mona used on her… wasn't it different than usual?"
Haru glanced at Mona who seemed to be considering it, perhaps he hadn't realized it himself.
"I don't know what to tell you, but Makoto had zero health remaining! I don't know what it means, but it is was what Necronomicon was telling me."
The strange revelation had completely derailed the conversation. Makoto had an odd expression on her face as she stared at Futaba's phone. "So my cognitive self that entered the metaverse… was dying?"
"Either way," Ren coughed, "you still escaped with fewer injuries than you should have."
Good job, Haru mentally thanked Ren for trying to move the conversation on from where it had gotten hung up. Stepping forward, Haru squeezed Makoto's arm, flashing her a smile.
Makoto smiled back faintly but it quickly slipped away as her eyes stared at nothing.
"Lunch is ending soon. We should call the meeting here."
"Yes," Ren nodded. "We will send messages about meeting up later."
With that, Haru was free to lead Makoto down the stairs and back to class. A lot of problems were confronting them at the moment and Haru could not focus on them. Even as she tried to help her friend, her mind was fixated upon her father, sitting on a couch at home, staring at nothing, wanting nothing.
Monday, September 26th, 20XX Evening
"Ah, that was a good practice! I think I managed to actually match your spirals in that intense part." Kasumi greeted her sister as she left the showers, changed into a comfy tracksuit.
"Huh? Ah, yeah… You were great."
Again, that melancholy… Kasumi frowned. Smacking her sister on the back, she flashed a smile. "So, what's your plan for asking Ren out now that you've completed your objective?"
Sumire avoided her gaze as they exited unto the street. "A-About that… I've realized that I haven't done enough, umm, so… I won't be."
I thought so… Kasumi did not reply instantly. Taking a moment to think about her potential response, she decided to continue with the direct approach, she was no good at fooling around and interpreting metaphors and subtle hints.
"Do you not like him anymore?"
"Huh?"
"It's the easiest answer, isn't it?" Kasumi gave her sister a side stare. "You were pining for him until he asked you out. Then you said not until you beat me. Now that you've done that you've moved the goalposts even further away. I can't help but think that even if you beat me next month at prefecturals, you'll find some new way of putting it off."
"…You don't understand," Sumire whispered. "I don't deserve him. I can't stand beside him as an equal like you can…"
Rubbing her temple, Kasumi suppressed her irritation. This conversation felt like a repeat of the one they had about a week ago. It seemed so much longer than that. "Sumire… why are you so scared? Is it… my fault?"
"…I have no idea," Sumire mumbled. "I tried to talk to him and he… he basically ignored me. I don't know what to do."
"Hmm… You've never considered this from his perspective, have you?" Kasumi talked, thinking as the words were still coming out. "He chose to ask you out, and then rather than declining or accepting, you postponed your decision until you accomplished a nebulous task. He can neither move on nor look forward to dating you later."
"I did at least think of that," Sumire pouted. "I decided to give myself until the end of this season. If I can't do it by then… I will quit."
Kasumi felt chilled. The remaining heat from the workout, shower, and even evening sun could do nothing against the breath of winter's air stiffening the hair on the back of her neck. The darkening clouds heralding rain seemed to thicken visibly. "W-What are you talking about? Quit? Gymnastics?"
Sumire nodded. "You'll be moving unto the pro circuit at that point. If I can't join you… what's the point in continuing? So I can end up like the bitter women you whooped yesterday?"
"You would actually quit despite being a better fundamental dancer than me? Are you insane?" Kasumi's words were dripping with vitriol. Fear gripped her heart, sending it into a frenzied rhythm that she could hear in her head. "Don't think I'm going to throw a tournament just to stroke your ego. I don't plan on losing even a single routine to you ever again."
"And you think I would be happy with you screwing up intentionally?" Sumire snapped back, her face still grumpy.
"Tsk, well I'm not the one giving up because… because I don't even understand! Everything went right for you! You got the friends. You got the boy. You got the looks. You got the grace." Letting out a harsh laugh, Kasumi unleashed all of her disgruntled feelings into the conversation. "You even surpassed me in academics for god's sake! But no, beating me with your best apparatus isn't enough for you. You have to surpass me in everything I have a modicum of talent in before you'll be satisfied!"
"…"
Drip.
"Ah…" Kasumi already regretted her outburst. She knew that it wasn't as simple as she made it seem. That was no consolation from the tear-shaped knives that stabbed into her heart with each crystalline drop that fell from her sister's cheeks.
"If that's all true… why do I still feel so inferior? After you congratulated me… I thought I was done. I really did think that I'd managed to escape… and with one guarded look and statement of fact he sent me tumbling back in."
Kasumi was suddenly pulled to a stop by Sumire. Her sister's hands rough on her upper arms as she was spun to face her. Sumire's rubellite eyes shone with refracted light from her teary eyes behind those ridiculous glasses, gorgeous crimson hair falling in waves around her.
"I can feel the truth in your words! I know that I should be happy. I'm so sorry I'm your sister."
"W-What?" The words were the most painful that Kasumi had ever heard in her life. Her body's shock responses kicked in immediately, losing feeling in her limbs, her vision defocussing. Sumire could have stabbed her and Kasumi would not have felt a thing.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…" Sumire repeated the words again and again, the litany washing unnoticed over Kasumi who stood like a statue on the sidewalk, unsure if she would ever recover.
Eventually, Sumire slunk away, head down despondent. Staring up at the dark sky, the first drop of water struck Kasumi's cheeks. In moments, the sky had opened fully, and water and tear mixed together equally with no evidence of the latter.
Unable to think, unable to pursue her sister, Kasumi began walking once more. Now alone, Kasumi stumbled slowly along the street. She was not the only one who had been caught without an umbrella. She, however, did not react to the downpour the way the others did. A small crowd had already huddled in a conbini, those unable to wait were buying umbrellas and heading out once more.
She wishes she was an only child… The thought stuck in her mind like a burr that she could not dislodge. It sat lodged in the injury that Kasumi had suffered when she learned that her help had been holding Sumire back.
Walking in a daze, Kasumi was suddenly stopped by a hand grabbing her back. Even lost to the depths of despair she whirled around, teeth bared. "Don't touch me!"
"Ah, s-sorry miss, but the light is red…"
A red light, the pouring rain… Ignoring the man, Kasumi turned around and was hit by an instant wave of deva vu. It was the same intersection. The memories of that day budding like it was just yesterday. Sumire stopping just before the road, the wave of water from the car passing by.
"I wonder if she would be happier if I had died that day…" Mumbling to herself, Kasumi saw the incoming truck. The driver barely glancing at the crowd as he obeyed the traffic laws, crossing through under the guidance of his blue light.
Kasumi's right leg twitched, her foot lifting slightly off the ground to carry through with her delusions. Anything for my sister. Anything for…
Foot half-raised, the truck passed by, catching a growing puddle of water that drenched her fully. Almost laughing at the situational irony, Kasumi wiped her face and stalked away. "I cannot."
A stubborn pride that burned in her core refused to let things end like this. Her old determination that had powered her through the tribulations of the last six months was still fueling her. The embers not quite out and refusing to relent against the rain.
"I'll be more use to you alive than dead… I swear."
Monday, September 26th, 20XX Night
"Why move against Nijima in this fashion?" Akechi muttered, fingers impatiently updating and revising notes. The swirls of upper politics aside, Shido was directly interfering with Akechi's own plans of getting rid of the phantom thieves for the man.
The response had been swift and unremorseful: I don't care, deal with them.
Sighing, Akechi closed the laptop with a snap and stood up. Taking one glace at the microwave clock, he shook his head. It was nearly half past nine. On the kitchen counter he pressed a button on the one shiny appliance in the entire place and fresh coffee rich in caffeine began to drip out. He would not get to go to school tomorrow either. Slowly but surely his veneer of perfection was being torn away with all of these slight slip-ups and requirements that he had to fulfill.
Knock, knock!
Head jerking up, Akechi's movement had pulled the mug from its spot collecting the flowing liquid of concentration and wakefulness. Angrily shoving it back, he shook off the few drops that had splashed onto his hand and stalked over to the door.
Without even considering checking the peephole, Akechi flung it open with a growl. "What is…"
The final word died on his lips. On his doorstep, staring up at him was the incarnation of beauty and pitifulness. Typically warm clothes were plastered wet and clinging to her skin, with matted hair pressed down around her head. Her rich brown eyes were open and pleading, an air of vulnerability surrounding her.
"Can I… come in?"
Akechi had been standing staring for so long that his actions were jerky and illogical. Waving a hand to enter, his feet did not move.
"Umm…"
Akechi practically fled back into his apartment. The logical part of his mind already flailing himself for the moment of weakness. "Foolish…"
Caffeine. I need to wake-up!
Striding back over to the mug, Akechi took a long draught from it. The scalding liquid that was freshly poured burning his tongue and mouth as it went down. Coughing from the experience, Akechi placed it down on the counter as he hacked the pain away.
"I see this is a bad time… Should I leave?"
Looking back up at her, Akechi remembered her shaking limbs, her clammy looking hands. "Here." Grabbing the mug, he thrust it into her hands, closing the door behind her. Even as he did so she continued to stand there, not moving a single muscle except her eyes that tracked him.
"Why do you just stand there?"
"I'm soaked. Thank you for the drink though…"
"Right… So, why are you here?"
"…I have nowhere else to go."
What? Forcing a smile, Akechi began making a second cup of coffee. His brain felt like it stalled when he looked at her in this condition. "I imagine your parents would disagree with that."
"Ahaha. I suppose so. It is so like us teenagers to forget about the people that spent so much effort raising us, pretending to be independent…"
"Hmm, well some us are independent of our parents," Akechi smirked derisively, the expression not visible to Kasumi anyway.
"Sorry, you're an orphan right? I'm probably pathetic in your eyes."
"Quite the opposite," Akechi replied automatically. The honest words shocked him. It was a struggle to not add some grandstanding comment unto the end to retract the statement.
"Hmm, well that's something…"
Taking a sip of his new cup of coffee, Akechi forced down the racing emotions and words and instead called upon the hardened logic and cruelty that he had learned through long years of poverty. "So what is your plan if you are don't want to drag water in. Shower and wear my clothes or leave your clothes at the entrance?"
"I suppose… the shower."
Something major happened to her… Akechi could not help the frown. Her vulnerability would make her easier to manipulate but if she broke, she would be of no help to him.
Grabbing a towel, Akechi found a hoodie he did not wear and a pair of his school sweatpants. "Here, he handed the garments over. Give me your wet clothes when you finish taking them off and I'll run the dryer.."
"Ah… sure." Kasumi agreed without a hint of a blush. Walking to the shower she started talking off her jacket before even getting there.
"And don't take too long, I pay for the hot water!" Akechi snapped, the strange situation draining his already low mental energy. Taking another gulp of coffee, Akechi rubbed his eyes to get rid of the exhaustion.
As he did, the door opened, and clothes were flung out. There wasn't a single dry thread in it. From top to bottom, Kasuim's clothes were inundated with water. Throwing them in the antique dryer, Akechi had his weekly worry about whether this would be the time that the damnable device did not start. Thankfully, after a grumbling start, the motor kicked into action, tumbling the water free.
"I should start working again…"
Glancing back at his laptop, Akechi drank his coffee and decided he would after getting another cup. Finishing it and making another one, he continued to stand around staring at his laptop while drinking. His thoughts were strangely empty. The usual intellect that he approached situations with failing to manifest.
As he stood around drinking a third cup, the door opened. "Sorry about this… I guess this is my second time barging in on you like this. Umm, is it late?"
"Late…?" Akechi repeated dumbly. "What does your phone say?" Akechi found his and confirmed that it was now past ten.
"Ahaha… Mine got totally destroyed by the water. My parents are going to be so mad. It's brand new…"
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Akechi tsked. Rounding the table in a flurry, Akechi swiped the device from her hand and returned to the table. Laying it out on paper towel, Akechi touched the screen, searching for life. Finding none, he set about taking off the case, tsking at the water inside and drying it out.
"Ohh… Thank you." Picking up her coffee cup, Kasumi finished the last little bit. Setting it back down she frowned briefly in disappointment before retreating to the couch. Pulling her legs up, she huddled in on herself. Wearing Akechi's too large hoodie with the hood pulled up, she looked incredibly small and fragile.
He had an odd desire to protect the girl. Foolish! One does not protect a wild viper, one sets it upon his enemies.
Finishing with the phone, Akechi left it to dry and grabbed her cup. "You want more I assume?"
"No thank you. I need to get up early to make it to school tomorrow. I don't even have my school uniform on me…"
"And yet I can confidently assume that without another cup and a long talk, you will sleep even less tonight."
Kasumi gave him a half-hearted glare. "I would say you're a perceptive one but based on my state of dress when I arrived, I'm not sure how much credit I can give you."
"Fair enough," Akechi acceded, approaching with new cups for the both of them. Taking a seat beside her, Akechi allowed the silence to continue for a moment more before forcing a conversation.
To his surprise, Kasumi was the one that spoke up. "How is it that an asshole like you is the only one that actually cares about me?"
Akechi laughed awkwardly. "I'm sure that isn't true."
"…I suppose. Ren does actually care. My sister is simply a full-time job."
Ren again. Akechi narrowed in eyes in anger. "Be careful of him."
"Careful? Of Ren? Nah, He can't do anything to me that my sister hasn't already."
Looking over at her, Akechi caught the flash of genuine pain—no, agony, that was contained in her eyes. "What happened?"
"She told me that she wishes she was an only child… When did I make her life so difficult? I-I understood a little when she claimed that my help was hurting… but this… I-I…"
"Are you… sure that's what she said?"
"Her exact words were, 'I'm sorry I am your sister'. What other meaning could there be?"
Akechi immediately saw one other obvious one. Between the two, Kasumi had chosen the one that made sense to her. Without having been there, Akechi could only trust Kasumi's read of the situation. An ability that was often failable when her sister was in play. On the other hand, the way the sister's had been slowly drifting apart, he supposed the blow-up was destined to happen eventually.
"She was upset to be beaten as badly as she was by you, I assume?"
"That does make sense… I thought she was ecstatic to have beaten me at the ribbon… and then… this. Everything has gone so wrong…"
Reaching out, Akechi put a hand on her shoulder. "We haven't."
Blushing, Kasumi pulled away from the contact. "What kind of cringy line is that? Seriously."
"I suppose I need to be more forceful with you…" Turning to face her back, Akechi wrapped his arms fully around her, pulling her against him. Ignoring the 'eep' and the struggling, her whispered into her ear. "Do you really hate this?"
"I-I'm just a little confused is all… I thought you were the one that didn't want me."
"Hmm, well perhaps now I have changed my mind. You do remember what you offered for my help, correct?"
"Anything," Kasumi answered hoarsely.
"Do you go back on your word now?" Akechi asked, voice teasing.
Whether it was his tone of voice or simply the content matter, Kasumi pulled away, whirling to face Akechi. "I need to know first. Are you using me as a tool or… or is this a proposition?"
"Why not both?" Underneath the teasing words, Akechi's mind was reeling with confusion. Why is she not throwing herself at me? Why does she not beg for my comfort? Akechi had not planned this conversation, or for Kasumi to push her away in this manner, but it should have been enough. She was pushed away from everyone else.
"It cannot be both." Kasumi answered flatly, a touch of anger coloring her voice. "Which is it?"
"Which would you prefer?" Akechi raised an eyebrow.
"…I would prefer you do not demand this of me. If you force me… I will grow to hate you."
The direct words were more jarring than a bucket of cold water. Shifting over on the couch to reopen space for her, Akechi waved vaguely. "You can sit back down. I won't do anything."
Doing as he asked, Kasumi pulled her legs up under herself again, looking incredibly small. "I made you mad at me, didn't I?"
"I would never be mad at you for speaking the truth. I merely sought to distract you from your problems."
"I-Is that right? Ahaha, thank you… but if something does happen between us, I don't want it to be because of pity or sorrow."
Tsk. The conversation wasn't a total failure, but the wound to his pride was still present. Lashing out, Akechi spoke words that he had not pre-meditated, nor was he certain of the consequences. "It would have been a pleasant distraction for you from the things that I have been learning."
"Hmm?" Kasumi turned her eyes to him, wary. "Things? About what?"
"You may not want to hear it at this present moment."
Putting her cup down with a sharp click, Kasumi whirled on him. "I am hurting yes. I am lost, yes. But don't pull this shit on me! Don't hide things from me!"
Akechi stroked her cheek, shocked to find them dry. Or maybe she just had no tears remaining in her body. "How can you ask me to hurt you further? To turn the only place you feel safe into memories of pain?"
Kasumi swallowed, some of the pain going from her eyes. Bowing her head, she spoke softly. "Then hold me as you say it. Let your warmth offset the pain."
Nodding slowly, Akechi took her into his arms, her head resting against his chest. She's mine. She's finally all mine.
"Your heart is racing…" Kasumi muttered, "it must be bad."
"I will say it straight out. Your sister is being manipulated by Ren… a member of the phantom thieves."
Kasumi jerked in his arms. Only his grip stopping her from jumping up. When the thrashing settled down, she buried her face even deeper into his chest. "If you are lying to me… I will kill you."
The threat sent a shiver through his body. "I would not dare. Do not worry, I will help you rescue her from them. I will get you your sister back."
"…Thank you." Mumbling the final words into his chest, Akechi almost missed them. "If Akechi is telling the truth… then you will die, Ren."
The malice in Kasumi's threat made Akechi feel a little bad for Ren. His counterpart had no idea what was coming. Ren would learn soon enough who had chosen the better sister.
Tuesday, September 27th, 20XX Morning
"D-Do I look alright?"
The maid looked shocked to have been addressed by Haru. The middle-aged woman looked her in the eye for one moment before looking at the floor subserviently.
"My Lady looks radiant in her clothes. Please excuse me for speaking."
Is this how they all act?
The interaction only served to intimidate Haru. She had no doubt that the woman would have said the exact same thing if Haru had been butt-naked and about to completely embarrass herself. Having the thought, she ran a hand over her body, she pulled the pencil shirt and suit top straight.
Taking a deep breath, Haru strode up to the opulent doors and knocked loudly. The muted voices inside going silent. A moment later, one of them was heaved open, a butler in a three-piece suit bowing as he determined her identity.
"The lady Haru is here."
Getting introduced by a polite bow and gesture of the arm, Haru strode into the room and became the center of attention for the dozen or so men arrayed around the oval table. There was only one seat open, the one at the head of the table.
The placard placed there, carved from engraved marble had only one word, CEO. As if walking through a dream, Haru circled the table. Arriving between the two most powerful men at the company, Haru gave them each one polite nod before assuming her father's chair—her chair.
"Well, well, this is a bold move. You said that you would be arriving today to talk to us, but to assume your father's place. I trust you know what this means, yes?"
"Yes, you have all talked to my father for the last time. He has undergone a transformation somewhere between a change of heart and a mental shutdown. As his beneficiary I have legally taken possession of his assets today, that includes all of his shares in this company, Okumura foods."
"That makes you the owner of the company," the vice-president said carefully with narrowed eyes, "but not necessarily CEO."
"I am until I say otherwise, is what you mean, correct?"
Haru's smile appeared to unnerve the man who averted his eyes. The interaction drew a smattering of chuckles that quickly died back into nervous silence.
"That is… correct, ma'am."
"Good, now then, let's get to work gentlemen, we have a lot to fix to avoid going under."
This time it was a man Haru did not recognize who coughed. "Excuse me, ma'am. While I recognize your right to that chair… I must ask whether your time would not be better spent in high school. Do you have even the faintest idea about what we do and what our responsibilities are? Appoint an interim CEO and in a dozen years when you have the experience you can assume your position again. If not, it will be you who tanks the company."
"You are partially right, Mr….?"
"Takamatsu."
"Mr. Takamatsu, have you looked at the company's approval rate? Have any of you considered the long-term impact of low company scores and exploitative conditions? The short-term benefits have bolstered your greed for more while you build the tower from the foundation! This is what we will be changing. And it is a goal that I need no formal education to ensure you all execute."
"…The CEO is correct," the vice-president sighed heavily, removing his glasses and placing them on the table. "Kunikazu's policies were blinding us as he smooth-talked us with profits. It is as she says. You all know this deep down as well."
Placing a hand on the table, the vice-president stood up, taking a hard look around the table at the men assembled. Slowly, he met everyone's gaze.
"I worked too damn hard to get this company to the place it is today. I refuse to let it end like this, as a failed tool for Kunikazu's deluded ambitions."
Haru did not like to hear her father talked about that way, but he was not wrong. Sharing a nod of mutual objectives, Haru rose and stood beside him. "If you do not believe in me or the new direction that this company will be taking, this is your time to exit."
"Well said," the vice-president rumbled. "You have one minute to make your decision; w have a lot to discuss."
Two men shared a glance, nodded at each other, and left the room without a word. Haru did not recognize either of them. Takamatsu, despite his earlier grumbling stayed seated, glaring at the men who left.
"That seems to be everyone," the vice-president laughed, reseating himself. "What do you wish to discuss first, President?"
"Working conditions!" Haru declared. Taking a seat, she began to regal the men who sat in their lofty offices about the struggles of the common man.
Tuesday, September 27th, 20XX After school
Shuffling in place, Makoto tried to hide her nerves. She was certain that she was failing from the looks that kept being thrown her way. As the workday was ending, many businessmen and women were starting to exit the corporate towers and head home.
Even from the courthouse figures were exiting at a normal time. Something that her sister always seems to fail to do. While watching the exiting people was a small distraction from her worry, it could not drown out Ren's conversation with Yusuke and Morgana.
"Do you have a plan is the dragon returns?"
"Same as last time, run." Ren grumbled. "I'll try to bait it into using the powerful physical attack it tried to kill me with. Thankfully I have a persona that negates those attacks."
"What about the nuclear attacks? It becomes a guessing game. On one side, you live a little a longer, on the other you die. Not a great gamble."
"The idea is that we will never face it." Morgana spoke up. "It had to have been a cognitive abnormality. Going straight to the core of the casino should present no opportunities for it to arise again."
"We still do not know the source. While waiting for Haru to arrive we should have Makoto call—"
"No." Ren cut Yusuke off. "I understand your concerns. You do not have to enter with us. We have decided it is worth the attempt and so we are going."
"I did not… never mind, I understand. If this had happened in Madarame's palace I would have risked it. Forgive my foolishness."
The exchange only served to make Makoto feel worse. Holding her stomach with one arm, she tried to wait patiently. It was a challenge to not look out of place in school uniforms among hordes of people in suits. Thankfully, the area was popular enough with school trips that their presence was not completely uncalled for. That faint deception made them blend in better than street clothes would have.
Moments later, Haru finally arrived, panting. "Sorry for the delay, it took me a long time to get out of… well, to get out."
"Does it have something to do with this?"
Makoto turned surprised to Futaba who had been sulking in the corner looking uncomfortable. Makoto had thought it was because she was the only one without a school outfit. Her tone of voice suggested that her assumptions had been wrong.
Haru glanced at the phone thrust in her face and nodded. "I was going to mention it once we finished today."
"What is this?" Ren asked.
Joining the forming circle, Makoto's eyes flicked between her friend and Futaba.
Haru, straightening her back, turned to face Makoto and smiled. "Okumra foods has released a statement about the mental shutdown of the previous CEO, my father. We claim that it was the actions of the phantom thieves that caused this based on the calling card found in his office."
"We…?" Makoto asked nervously. There was something in Haru's bearing that was new, she suddenly seemed so much older and more mature than Makoto herself.
"This is why I wanted to wait until after, it will just distract you from today. Let's focus on Sae and—"
"What have you done?" Makoto whispered hoarsely. "Haru… what…?"
"I am the new CEO of Okumura foods. It is unlikely that I will be finishing the school semester with you."
"Eh…" Makoto's mind froze.
"This is why I wanted to wait with the information. Come on, Mako-chan, we have a sister to confront."
Haru walked past her, clapping Makoto on the shoulder. Slowly turning her head, Makoto called out. "You… You won't have time for the thieves either… will you."
"…We can figure that out after."
"Haru!" Taking a step toward her friend, Makoto found herself stalled by a strong hand on her wrist. Whirling on the person, Makoto found herself staring up into Ren's eyes. Behind the glasses, she was almost destroyed by the sympathy and understanding that was held there.
Is this how you feel? Makoto wondered, looking up into his face. Drawing strength from her tormented leader, Makoto eventually nodded in understanding. "My apologies for my outburst. Let's get going into the palace."
"Ahh, uhh, sorry," Futaba added on awkwardly pocketing her phone. "I shouldn't have brought it up."
"Please don't trouble yourself," Haru smiled magnanimously. "Please, let us head out."
Doing just that without another word, Makoto led them back into the casino. The entire atmosphere was completely different now. The bright lights were muted, and the eternal hubbub of the customers was muted.
"This place has changed greatly," Yusule muttered, "and not for the better it feels."
Makoto silently agreed with the sentiment and led them into the casino. Finding the elevator, she allowed Joker to swipe them up to the super VIP floor. Even here, there was no one except the guard behind the desk. The shadow that ran the store had lost his distinctive professional mannerisms. Instead, it leaned heavily on one elbow. It gave the impression of either being incredibly bored or having given up.
"Hey bro, what's cooking in here?"
"You people…" It answered Skull's callous comment. Lifting its head slightly to shake it, the shadow sighed and returned to its previous position. "Thanks for the patronage… I guess."
Sharing a confused look, Queen led them up the left half of the winding outer staircase to the upper balcony. With a last look down on the last floor, she turned her gaze instead to the final area of the casino. Separated apart from the rest by a set of massive golden stairs and a suspended bridge was her sister's core.
"Oh, we forgot to grab the money," Queen realized and tried to turn around.
"Hold on," Joker spoke, stopping her with a brief touch. "Let's check it out first."
"We don't have the money!" Queen protested but followed nonetheless. Joker was correct that checking would not lose them a lot of time, but it was still pointless. Their deal with her sister was for one million, not half that.
Stapled to the payment device was a sheet of paper with words written across it in bold red ink: Due to the owner's loos of value, trips across are now discounted by 50%, 90%, 99%!
"W-What is this?" Queen let out a strangled croak.
"It seems your sister is feeling pretty cheap nowadays," Skull chortled. The sound quickly turned to a pained moan which Queen silently thanked Panther for.
"Ha, well this makes the plan so much easier!" Mona laughed. "I guess the arena disaster turned into a blessing after all!"
"Let us go," Joker said swiping his card. Unlike last time, the 10,000 coins were subtracted, and the mechanism began to move. Looking across the gap, Queen waited anxiously for any sign of her sister. There was none.
Busy staring at the far side, she saw none of the bridge's manoeuvring or eventual settling into position.
"Come on," Noir prodded her.
As the others were waiting, Queen ascended the new staircase first. Crossing the empty space between the main casino and the new section, Queen felt like she was changing worlds. There had apparently been something similar in Madarame's dungeon that she had not gotten to witness. Below was an area based on a real casino's layout. Ahead was the impossible that belonged solely to one person… until now.
Reaching the top, Queen found a large set of double doors standing open. Striding through them, she blinked at the strange sight. A giant dome of a room with a massive indent in the middle. Alternating red and black holes with numbers were spread along the sides of the bowl. Each one large enough for a person to crouch in.
On the far side, looking almost shoved into one of the holes was her sister. Legs spread apart, only the front of flowing dress prevented her from exposing far more than she should. With a bottle of vodka in her right hand, she stared up at an amorphous shape hovering above them.
"You are… early."
Jerking at the slurred words, Queen took a moment to convince herself that the sounds had actually come from her sister. They were followed by a loud hiccough.
"S-Sister?" Queen yelled at her. "W-What the hell is this? We did not agree on these terms!"
"Terms…?" the shadow answered back, not seeming to grasp her meaning. "There are no terms… no contracts… Only the fact that you are early."
"Early? No we aren't!" Maybe it was because she had been waiting for this moment for what felt like ages, but Queen hated hearing that she was early of all things.
"Yes, you are. Look, my treasure, it has no corporeal form. You can't steal it, thieves. So, why have you come? Just to laugh?"
Holding out a hand to stop the rest of them, Queen descended the perilous game by herself. Reaching the bottom, she could look around with aa new perspective. It did nothing to ease the pain in her breast. "I always held you in the highest regard sister… Even after finding out you had a palace and your views on justice. I didn't think anything would change that…"
"Oh, but finding me drinking did? Shut up, you always were insufferable. Honestly, do you still think your heroes are good people? Your refusal to grow up and face reality always annoyed me…"
Queen recoiled under the verbal barraged but did not flee. She was failing to associate this drunk prostitute-looking thing with her dignified sister. Having no other ideas, Queen rushed her. "I don't know what's wrong with you, but a punch should help!"
"Ehh?" Sae gave her an evil eye, taking another long draught from the bottle.
You'll regret that! As she lunged forward with force, her sister's form seemed to blur. Striking only open air, Queen had only a moment of confusion before she felt her body flying through the air.
A moment later, she crashed hard against the colorful tile. Moaning from the impact, Queen looked up dizzily. She understood perfectly what had happened. It was a sensation she had experienced countless times.
"Your aikido is as flawless as ever… You didn't even spill a drop." Queen laughed with a hint of self-deprecating humour. She hadn't held back and yet was easily overpowered by her sister drinking a bottle of alcohol.
Letting out a peal of high laughter, Sae turned a demonic smile upon her, her yellow shadow eyes seeming to possess a luminescence of their own. "Ah, I had thought there was nothing awaiting me but death but perhaps… yes, this is a fine distraction. Come sister, if you land a blow, perhaps I'll give you a pat on the head."
"Shut up," Makoto growled, pulling herself to her feet. Her phantom thief mask was gone, but Johanna did not appear. Makoto wanted to fight her sister as herself. Having the thought, her outfit shimmered and changed into a proper gi, the black belt weighing heavy at her waist.
Sae jerked back as if the first blow had been struck. The bottle slipping between her fingers and shattering against the floor. "Ha, well well… come sister. Let's do this fair and square."
"Fair and square…" Repeating the words, Makoto could not assume a standard Aikido stance. Instead, she used her hard won improvised style of fists that she fought shadows with.
"Have you abandoned the way of harmony? What happened to peace and using your opponent's strength against them? Does my own sister now propagate violence?"
"Ahh." Makoto nodded. "I can't do that anymore. From now on I settle things directly."
"You'll never defeat me like that," Sae shook her head, taking the chance to throw her hat to the ground. "Lawyers are the ultimate practitioners of aikido. We have no need to do anything. Only wait for the opposition to give us the correct information to take them down. Their own movements, words, and actions become their undoing."
"Is that what happened to you!?" Makoto asked, lunging. Once again, her fist was dodged. Standing and ready for the grab, Makoto dodged away from it. Her sister had frozen slightly at the comment.
"Yes. I moved first and got countered. I bet it all and lost."
"You really are… AN IDIOT!" Roaring at her sister, Makoto flailed with both fists. Right then left then right she drove Sae back. The wild flailing arms were incompatible with a peaceful, throwing oriented fighting style.
"You dare, girl!?"
Once again, as Makoto's barrage continued, Sae vanished. Feeling herself being grabbed at the wait and thrown, she brought her fist straight down, striking flesh. The attack doing nothing to prevent the sharp pain in her head as she sprawled across the tiles.
"Mako-chan!"
"Hold on, I'll heal you!"
Without even understanding, Makoto threw up a hand to stop the helpful voices of her friends. "No! This is my fight. She is… my sister." Rising roughly to her feet, Makoto was rewarded with the sight of Sae rubbing her left shoulder with a frustrated frown.
"That was dirty."
"There were no rules," Makoto reminded her sister. "I only told you that I was going to knock some sense into you."
"Actually, you never did mention that."
"I'm sure I implied it."
"You always had the problem of never being direct with your words. I could never figure out what you really wanted."
Makoto smiled at the exchange. It was just like their early days as sisters. Back when they were a family of three. Those days will never return… Makoto felt the threat of tears. So many families had been ruined. Haru's the most recent one.
Maybe we can create a world without suffering with this power…
It was a tempting thought, but now was not the time. Makoto had one person that she planned on starting with.
"Seriously though," Sae grumbled. "Why are you here? Just to kill me?"
Makoto shook her head. "No, we are going to change your heart."
"But my treasure is still…"
"I don't care about your treasure! It's the diary, right? Dad's? Do you remember that night after we heard the news? You put me to bed, but I couldn't sleep."
"Stop…"
"So, I got up in the middle of the night and walked into the kitchen where you were—"
"SHUT UP!"
"…You were the one that asked what I was doing here."
"I changed my mind; I'm going to beat you to a pulp."
Makoto met Sae halfway. Forearm met forearm as they locked. Dodging out of her sister's grapple, Makoto responded with a punch that Sae dodged nimbly. Exchanging another tense flurry, Makoto backed off at the same time as Sae.
We're the same… Standing of a height within a hairsbreadth of each other, Makoto could look straight into her sister's eyes. They even had extremely similar builds. Makoto had never really seen herself as an equal to her sister due to the age difference between them. This last exchange however was enough to convince her.
"I've caught up to you. You can't beat me to a pulp."
"Shut up!" Sae growled, jumping into another exchange.
Deflecting the grab, Makoto fell back away and struck forward with her leg hitting her sister's shin. Getting a grunt of pain, Makoto capitalized on it by throwing out a wild uppercut. Her fist connected loosely with her sister's chin who struck out with her own kick at Makoto's side.
Staggering, Makoto fell to one knee as her sister fell on her backside. "Do you believe me now?" Makoto groaned, holding her side and slowly standing back up. Waiting in her ready posture, Sae only glared daggers with those piercing yellow orbs.
"You forget that I am still master of this casino. Prepare yourself sister…"
As the hairs on the back on her neck began to stand up, Makoto brought her phantom suit back, mask and all. Letting out a heavy breath, Queen watched her sister warily as her power increased rapidly, the liquor-filled motions burning away. Spreading her arms, a black coat wrapped around her body, surrounding her like a second skin. In moments her seductive body was covered by a full suit of armour.
Standing before Queen was the other side of power. If the seductress stood for negotiations and the power of connections then the being before her now was the incarnation of physical might. With a chainsaw coated in an aura of black power growing from her right hand, this form of Sae was a terrifying monster.
Staggering a step backward, Queen struggled to compose her emotions.
This? This is my sister!?
"GRAGHH!" It was the demonic roar of a monster.
"No… What the hell are you!? Come back Sae!"
"I… am… right here!"
Following on the heels of her roar, Shadow Sae lunged, the chainsaw coming down with deadly purpose.
"MAKO-CHAN!"
Aided by the horrified screams of her friends, Queen caught the attack on her brass knuckles. Overwhelmed by the force of the blow, she was sent spiralling backwards, tumbling once before regaining her footing.
"Now die."
In time with her sister's ominous declaration, Sae pointed her left arm at Queen, a cannon-like device growing out of the end. Getting flashbacks of a barely remembered fight, Queen crossed her arms as the shell approached her with a roar of force.
Closing her eyes against the smoke, Queen had a distant thought. Something's wrong. I didn't feel the impact. Where did—
"AHH!" Screaming in pain, Queen fell backwards to the ground as her body caught up to what her mind had instinctively known. The back of her arms that were wrapped in bandages in the real world had been blasted open. The fraying thief outfit was darkening as burgeoning blood began to flow from the ruined flesh.
"Hu hu hu," Sae laughed darkly, stalking forward. Waving the chainsaw with expectation, she also pointed the grenade launcher of a gun upwards, the flesh undulating in mimicry of mechanical motion.
She needs to reload… The thought was little comfort amid the pain in her arms. Opening and closing her hands, the flexing of the tendons sent blood squirting out even faster. Without using her arms to support her, Queen stumbled back to her feet, raising her arms.
"Come, Zorro!"
"Dance Carmen!"
Queen wanted to yell at them, but if she opened her clenched teeth right now it would be to moan and scream in pain. As their double healing light washed over her, the pain resided, and the blood stopped flowing. Even with the damage that she had taken so far being patched up, Queen could feel from her arms that not everything was healed.
"Enough of that," Sae roared, firing a shell at her friends. "Interfere again and I will call Fafnir here to kill all of us."
Queen doubted the threat was real, but it did not matter. It was what she wanted. "Do as she says!"
"We will." Joker responded. "Don't lose."
"I have no intention of doing so…" Despite her tough words, Queen was incredibly nervous. Her sister's new form had a raw power that she could not compete with.
Forcing her legs forward, Queen attacked as her sister was still trying to reload the massive gun. She could not take direct hits from either of Sae's weapons.
With her gun reloading, Sae took a warding swipe with her chainsaw sword. Predicting the attack, Queen was able to dodge it perfectly, leaping forward with her fist. With a sharp crack, she landed a direct hit on the black mask.
"Your hits are weak!"
Grunting, Queen fell back away from her sister's sudden burst of attacks with her sword. As soon as she did, Queen realized her mistake. The gap between them could be exploited by the gun.
Reacting instantly from the thousands of fights she'd been in up to this point, Queen unholstered her own gun and fired off a few shots at Sae who hid her face behind her gun.
"Johanna!" Ripping off her mask, Queen sought to capitalize fully on the slight chance that she'd been given. The ball of brilliant blue energy caught Sae right in the chest as she lowered her gun.
While it got a stumble, it was far from the effect that she had been hoping for.
"Ahaha!" Sae laughed as she fired off her gun.
Diving to the side, Queen felt the explosion of the shell wash over her, ruining her tumble. Skidding roughly across the uneven floor, she slowly pulled herself up while her sister reloaded again.
I can't let that happen again…
Despite knowing that, Queen could not force herself into attacking with another rush. Instead, she began talking. "Do you remember, sis? When I couldn't sleep and entered the kitchen?"
"I told you to shut up!" Roaring, Sae rushed this her blade. The rough vertical swing was easy to dodge.
"You were sitting at the table, bent over a book I was too small to see."
"SHUT UP!"
Stepping forward, Queen grabbed her sister's forearm under the blade, stopping her from attacking. Sae was so powerful that it took both of Queen's hands to even contain her briefly.
"Tears were streaming from your face, a hand clamped across your mouth to stop yourself from waking me."
"DIE DIE DIE!"
With hysterical strength, the gun melted from Sae's left hand which grabbed Queen's face. She could feel her mask cracking under the power. Even moaning from the pain, Queen spat out the words.
"Seeing me you wiped your eyes quickly and smiled. It was so fake but showed so much strength…"
"ENOUGH!"
Queen lost her sense of direction as she was heaved through the air by Sae's hand. The strain on her neck causing a sharp pain to course through her. Unable to find the ground, she crashed heavily into it the breath getting expunged from her lungs.
Pushing herself up onto her elbows, Queen knew that she had lost the fight. There was no way that she could take on this monster by herself. From where she lay though, the treasure was visible. The shining ball from before had changed. Now, there was a distinct outline that Queen had grown familiar with. Drawing strength from a place she could not begin to understand, Queen stood up once more, reaching for the light.
As her hand touched it, the memories of that day poured through her. The confusion as to why her father would not be coming home. How that confusion eventually turned to a bottomless sorrow as she found her sister crying and the implications began to settle on her young mind.
Getting to read the diary that her father had left behind. It wasn't just Sae's treasure and motivation; it was hers as well.
As her hand contacted the treasure there was a noticeable change, the light distorting and fading as a solid object began to form in her hands.
"NO!" The voice that screamed this time was not the metallic distortion of her sister's armored form but her normal voice. The self-control of the lawyer had disappeared behind pure panic. "You can't take that from me! It's all I have left."
"Huh?" Dizzied and barely comprehending the situation, Queen found her vision filled with her sister's shadow, the armour slogging off of her with every step as she ran toward her. Reaching Queen, Sae grabbed unto the police notebook with both hands, trying to tug it from Queen's grip.
Instinctively gripping it tighter, Queen tussled with her sister for a few moments over the book. In short order however, her strength had given out and Queen fell to the ground, pulling Sae down with her.
On the verge of passing out from the pain, Makoto whispered the end of the story to her sister. "Do you remember what I said when you came to tell me off? After you rustled my hair and said that a girl needs a good sleep to do well in school?"
"Makoto…"
"I told you that even if dad had stopped coming home… I always would."
"Makoto…" As her consciousness began to fade from the accumulated damage, her had left the hard floor and was supported on a soft arm as her whole body was enveloped in a warm embrace.
Ah… I'm passing out in this palace again. Oops.
As her vision faded, there was no disappointment at failing to win the fight straight out. Only the contentment of being held in her sister's arms once again. Just like that day so many years ago.