Here is the 29th chapter, everyone! Let's not waste time and let's get to reading!
June 12, 2024 update: Added the last Pocket Mirror character near the tail end of this chapter and changed the accompanying scene a little. Also adjusted some paragraphs.
"Dammit… How did I end up in this?"
Johnny grumbled quietly to himself as he leaned against a tree, nails ready to be fired and Tusk ACT2 floating at his side.
Peeking cautiously behind the tree, Johnny looked around and saw no one in his vicinity. He took this chance to run to another tree, arriving at an advantageous position for him to shoot out his nails against his two unwilling and controlled opponents.
Panting from the effort exerted as he was still getting used to walk or run around normally again and the blood lost not only from his waist wound, but also, from his left arm after Anubis shot him when he's forced out of Slow Dancer earlier, Johnny never let up his attention to the trees and his surroundings because he knows Anubis must be hiding behind a tree, possibly far or nearby, and using Yugiri and Mamezuku to do sneak attacks that is made effective because he's controlling two persons. He got many close calls with meeting a blade to his chin and many ropes almost holding him in one spot and let Emperor do the killing when he's defenseless. Aggravating this is that they are taking their sweet time being out his sight so when Johnny thought he's clear to move, they will ambush him.
Fortunately, Johnny understood quickly of Anubis' tactics, so if he wants to stay hidden until his next move, then he will do the same. This strategy almost worked out thanks to Tusk ACT3 teleporting Johnny to another location after he saw either Yugiri or Mamezuku (but mostly Yugiri since she's holding Anubis, making her the 'main' vessel) and attack them when they are not looking. However, Anubis learned his trick after seeing him do it, meaning it won't work again to sword Stand. This blunder cost him the use of his right arm and hand when Mamezuku squeezed them tightly before shooting. The scream that came out from his mouth was held in before he acted rapidly and escaped their grasps.
Johnny has experience fighting against two enemy Stand users in a single fight. It's all a part of him growing out of his shell in the course of the Steel Ball Run race, turning him into a better person. Tusk evolving to three different forms serves as a metaphor for his journey to achieve happiness by regaining his legs. As such, theoretically, he shouldn't be having trouble fighting against two opponents after learning their strengths and weaknesses. But because the opponents he's fighting are his companions, that made him reluctant to attack them directly when if it was a different opponent, he has no qualms killing them to live past the battle.
This frustrates him. He believes he should have won earlier when he had the advantage and defeated Anubis. But because his possessed friends are fighting him, he felt trapped.
Tch! Do not think that. Your main enemy is ｢Anubis｣. If I want to truly defeat him, I must shatter the sword he's bound to. That way, Yugiri and Mamezuku will be freed from his control, as well as Ai and Lily too. He thought I was cornered and has learned almost all of my moves that will make it hard for me to counter against him. But he's mistaken. If he thinks he can kill me so easily and get away with possessing my friends, he's dead wrong.
Moving to another tree after seeing the coast is clear, Johnny continues looking out for any signs of their movements, whether listening to their subtle footsteps or having a glimpse to the two in split-second. Determined to put an end to another Stand's terror and free four zombies, Johnny awaits the chance to appear, the nails on his left hand brimming with the Spin, ready to be shot.
ドドドドドドドド
His breath still and teeth gnashing slightly in anticipation, Johnny waited for many seconds, hoping he didn't miss any signs Anubis is on the move.
"…"
After five seconds, he continued.
"…"
After ten, he's still waiting.
"…"
After twenty seconds, Johnny is slowly getting irritated, but confused.
Why is Anubis taking so long? He should have made a move around here and I would saw Yugiri and Mamezuku right now, Johnny thought worriedly. Could they be in a different area? No, that's not possible. They are targeting me, so they should be finding me after they saw me from somewhere.
After thirty seconds, he's getting suspicious, and even more worried.
This… This is not right. Something does not feel right. If they have made a move, then where could they be…?
Unbeknownst to him, his question was answered by Anubis…
…through Yugiri falling towards him after she and Mamezuku perched on the trees to gain a high ground.
Sword held up high, Yugiri had a sinister smile as she shouted, alerting Johnny too late. "USHYAAAAAA!"
"Huh?! Wha- SHIT!"
Anubis was only a mere inch slashing Johnny's head off and he wouldn't be able to dodge the attack in time when an unexpected assistance came in the nick of time.
"AEROSMITH!"
ドガガガガ
?!
Changing targets, Yugiri parried the propeller away, not wanting to hold off against it because the blade was damaged.
"Nnngh Damn you!" Yugiri cursed, angered Narancia, who have entered the scene via posing* interrupting and stopping Anubis from taking Johnny's life.
As for Johnny, he aimed his finger at the sword and exclaimed, "Got you! TUSK!"
"Not so fast!"
Johnny did not get his target because Mamezuku redirected his hand towards Narancia instead as the spinning nail fired.
Li'l Bomber saw this, so he got out of the way shouting, "Whoa! Hey! Watch where you're shooting Johnny!"
"It's not my fault! Anubis made Rai do it!" defended Johnny, glaring at his sneering smile as he tried getting his rope off his hand.
Since he wasn't with him when Mamezuku got possessed, Narancia got confused. "Huh? What… What are you talking about?" But he soon realizes why Peel Planter is attacking Johnny. "W-Wait, don't tell me…"
"No time for small talk! Yugiri is coming at you at full speed!" shouted Johnny as Yugiri ran towards Narancia, swinging the gleaming sword at him. "USHYAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Crap!"
Narancia ducked the sword just as Aerosmith was flying back to him. Yugiri instantly turned around after missing him and swung the sword at him again. "Don't think about dodging again! I learned how you dodged it!"
"Oh yeah? How about this?"
Narancia jumped in the air, avoiding the second swing. When he did, Anubis sees Aerosmith is already close to him. "Wha-!? Sneaky bastard!"
Anubis parried the plane again. Narancia is not done with him yet, so he flied Aerosmith back to Yugiri at high speed, hoping to keep him occupied until Johnny got Rai off him. If he did, he would distract him next.
Yugiri smirked at the plane coming towards her as she said, "Hmph! Thought your trick will work for me for the third time? Tut tut. I'll just slice one wing off!"
In one motion, Yugiri sliced off Aerosmith's left wing. Since any damage done on Stand reflects to its user, blood flows out of his left arm, which is now throbbing in pain.
"AAAAGGGGHHHH! M-MY ARRRMMMMM!" screamed Narancia, tumbling back in pain. It feels like his left arm was sliced off for real, which thankfully did not happen but that doesn't make it pleasant for him. Aerosmith also crashed on the ground, imitating its user writhing in pain on the ground.
"NARANCIA!" shouted Johnny.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! A bad decision, wouldn't you say?" taunted Anubis as Yugiri loomed over Narancia.
"Bastard! Get away from him!" warned Johnny, deciding to kick Mamezuku in the crotch to untangle his rope off his hands before he shoots out five bullets toward Anubis. Yugiri saw it coming, so she dodged them, parrying one bullet, or so she thinks until she saw a hole had formed where the nail bullet landed on. It lasted for eight seconds but it harmed the blade a little, much to Anubis' displeasure.
"Hey! Cut that off, would ya!? This is an expensive blade my deceased master made! I don't want it to be even more damaged or rusted again, even almost beyond repair!" Anubis chooses to tell him off for damaging the sword.
"Should have said that earlier, not that I care!" retorted Johnny, waiting for one nail to be grown fully.
"Grrr…! Then I'll pump your body with as much lead as Rai can! SHOOT HIM!"
Mamezuku grinned, though it appears to be strained because he's still recovering from getting kicked in the crotch. "No need… to tell me… what to do!"
メギャン
Recovering from the pain still lingering in his groin, Mamezuku manifests Emperor in his hand before extending it to reach point-blank range. He then shoots at Johnny, who dodges every bullet as he runs to Narancia.
"Heads up!" What he said after controlling the bullets' trajectory in a U-turn, aiming back at Johnny who had reached Narancia.
"Dammit!" he ducked, shielding Narancia. The bullets passed by them harmlessly, landing on the trees or branches.
Still grinning, Mamezuku changed his legs to a spiral form before he crouched down, giving the springs pressure to send him jumping and flying to the two. Yugiri wouldn't be standing aside while he did it, so with Anubis in her hands, she charged with a sadistic smile.
"Keh keh keh keh! You two are cornered! Let us see if you can dodge our attacks!" Anubis mocked the two, who are glaring at him into two of his possessed beings separately. "IT'S TIME FOR YOU TWO TO DIEEEEE! USHYAAAAAAAAA!"
Seeing how persistent Anubis is, Johnny has had enough. If he's willing to fight directly, then he shall do the same. But he will harm Yugiri and Rai to do so. He knows he will regret hurting his friends, but Anubis forced him by putting himself in this position.
Yugiri, Mamezuku… Sorry for what I'm about to do.
Steeling his nerves and feelings, Johnny decides to call out Slow Dancer to have the appaloosa tackle the two, and hopefully, disarm Anubis and Emperor out of their hands.
However, someone else has the same line of thought, and fittingly so, for he shows up in their time of need.
"ORA!"
Yelled out Gyro as he chucked his steel balls against the two with all his might, the force knocking the wind off their lungs and halting the momentum they built up, making them fall to the ground.
As Johnny and Narancia looked on in surprise, Gyro pulled Valkyrie's reins, making him break across the ground before stopping just short of trampling them. It didn't take long for them to register Gyro's timely arrival.
Standing up quick, Johnny is glad to see Gyro come back, exclaiming, "Gyro! About time you showed up! Narancia and I really need your help after Anubis become so persistent to fight!"
Gyro smiled at him, golden teeth and all. "Well we're here now. Sorry that we took long to get here."
"We?" repeated Narancia, clutching his left arm as he rises (Gyro noticed it and made a mental note to stitch his wound soon). "You're talking about Ai and Lily, right? Why aren't you looking at them? They're still possessed, remember?"
"Not anymore," stated Gyro, turning his eyes off them to look at a different spot. "They're ready to assist us to the best of their abilities."
"Assist us?" Johnny wondered what he was saying. That is, until someone shouted.
"Wha!? HEY! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!"
Johnny and Narancia turn their heads to see Ai and Lily holding Yugiri's arm down as she was sprawled on the ground, with the steel ball spinning on her torso that anesthetizes her. Her body became lethargic and almost numb, but Anubis is putting up a fight resisting the effects.
As Yugiri struggled, Lily, having an angry look directed to Anubis for controlling Yugiri and fighting her guardians with a chance of her getting hurt by them, shouts, "We got her pinned down! Please do your magic!"
"Understood."
The one who said it came from the floating pale woman making her appearance by materializing into existence before 'Yugiri's' eyes. Her own pose has her standing on one leg, specifically her left, with her right hand raised over her left shoulder and her fingers facing up and the other hand hovering near her right thigh or red skirt seemingly clutching it after her right leg was raised ever so slightly from her left leg. She's looking down at 'Yugiri' with a vacant but determined gaze and her lips were spread a little apart.**
ドーン
Seeing someone new entered the battle made Johnny, Narancia, and even Anubis confused. They wonder who she is and where did she come from, having literally appeared out of thin air.
Looking at the newcomer suspiciously, Johnny asks, "Huh? Who's that woman?"
Getting off Valkyrie, Gyro quickly assures him and Narancia that the woman is their ally. "Relax you two. I get why you two are suspicious, which I did too when I first met her earlier, but she's on our side. I mean, she did snap Ai and Lily out of Anubis' control!"
"Huh? Really?" replied Narancia.
"W-What!? This woman, she… she severed my control over these two zombies!?" Anubis exclaimed in disbelief, looking at the woman looming over Yugiri. Her eyes widen in realization over what she's here for. "W-Wait, does this mean…! She's… going to…!"
"That's right," defiantly stated by Ai, holding down Yugiri's arm that was holding Anubis with all her might. "We have her to thank for freeing us, and now, she's going to the same to you and end your reign of terror before you can leave outside this forest!"
"Yeah! You're gonna regret messing with Yugirin, Ai-san, me, and most of all, our bodyguards!" added Lily.
"G-Grrr! You shouldn't be focusing on me only! Mamezuku!" Yugiri called out to Peel Planter, the steel ball forcing him to lie on his back swatted away by him so he rises up on a crouching pose. "Get these girls off of me!"
The woman, after setting her hands and right left down, looked behind. "Oh?"
Gyro blinked twice, wondering what has gotten to Mamezuku. "Huh? What… What is Yugiri- Er, I mean. Anubis talking about?"
Burrowing his brows in anger, Johnny answered him. "You weren't present Gyro, but Anubis managed to possess Mamezuku when he tied Yugiri on a tree with his Stand and held her hand still so I can chip away bits of Anubis. My guess is that he must have touched the sword's hilt, allowing Anubis to get a hold of his mind."
"What? Shit, this Anubis must be strong if he's able to properly control two people and influence two others even a little," he responded.
"Hey! Mamezuku is about to shoot them using that gun!" Narancia pointed to him, watching him raise the gun and aim it at the three. "We must hold him down!"
Overhearing him, Mamezuku pointed Emperor in their direction and quickly fired. He acted instantly that they didn't have time to evade the bullets, so they grunted in pain when the bullets struck their body. "AGH!"
"Stay down, you three. I'm gonna splatter these girls' brains on the ground or against the tree," Mamezuku threatened, his tone becoming menacing as if Anubis is speaking out his frustration that his targets are still up and standing. This reflected on Yugiri, who makes further attempt to push Ai and Lily off her arms as she exclaims, "Then stop stalling! Shoot these girls dead!"
"I think not."
The pale woman rebutted before, in one swift movement, she stood up close to Mamezuku and swatted Emperor out of his hands with such strength that he clutched it with gnashing teeth. "Ugh! Y-You-!"
グイッ
The woman didn't let him respond when she grabbed his cheek and pulled him close to her face. Suddenly stricken with fear, Rai couldn't do anything but stare into her purple eyes that had odd white pupils piercing his brown ones. Her eyes had also become sharp and focused as 'Mamezuku' struggled to move his body which became paralyzed for some reason.
"U-Ungh!"
Before everyone's eyes, the woman performs a strange act that she did to Ai and Lily in order to free them from Anubis' control.
…
…
…
"Look into my eyes."
…
…
…
ダグォォン!
In their view, the woman stared at Mamezuku after cupping his cheeks and pull him so close to her face that it looks like they were going to kiss. But for 'Mamezuku', he can feel his mind being manipulated by some force, possibly the woman, and before he can properly process it, he snaps back to reality as a shattering sound is heard by him.
"…Ah!"
Suddenly feeling like he woke up, the first things he's seeing and noticed are a pale-skinned woman he doesn't know holding his face close to hers, his body standing up when he thought he had unraveled his whole body to restrain 'Yugiri' against a tree, and him feeling tired, all of which are naturally odd to him after 'waking up' with his eyes open.
Probably for the first time in his life, both before and after his death, Rai doesn't know what to say as he absorbs the bizarre situation he found himself in. Feeling his subtle discomfort, the woman backed away from him, removing her delicate hands off his face before she says, "The process is successful again. Your soul is freed and not controlled by the enemy anymore."
"…What?" He let out in confusion and curiosity over the pale woman. "What… What are you saying?"
"So you forgotten it too, huh?" He heard Gyro say, making him turn to him and see Johnny and Narancia looking injured and sitting on the ground. Nail Jockey decides to fill him in briefly over what happened so he doesn't get confused anymore. "To keep it short, you got controlled by Anubis and forced to fight against Johnny and Narancia, giving them a hard time."
"Controlled? By Anubis?" Thankfully, it didn't take him long to remember how he got possessed by Anubis. "Ah! That's right! I must have touched the hilt after I restrain Yugiri's wrist and kept it still… *sighs* Never thought I would fall victim to his ability when I least expect it."
"Don't fret over it anymore Mamezuku. Right now, we must get Anubis off Yugiri without touching it and finally destroy it," Johnny moves towards the still struggling Anubis with Narancia, Gyro and Valkyrie, having grown two nails and is about to regain a third nail after ten seconds.
"Right! And with the Emperor gun in our custody, there's no way Anubis can come out of this after we have him surrounded!" Narancia confidently said, still clutching his arm even when it was stitched up by Gyro.
"Then hurry up! Finish the enemy off, you guys!" Ai pleaded, coming out more like a command.
Recognizing that the fight was not going well in his end, Anubis finally had enough. He decides to let himself loose and indiscriminately attacks everyone.
"NnnnNGGGGAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!"
Gaining a boost of strength over learning how hard Ai and Lily were holding Yugiri down and from brewing anger, Yugiri pushed the two off of her before quickly standing up. Without saying anything that could waste his valuable time, Anubis rushed past the group in the direction of the Emperor.
"Shit! He's going to grab the Emperor!" Gyro futilely warned.
ドドドドドドドド
To their dismay, Anubis picked up the Emperor, so now Yugiri is holding a gun and a sword in each hands again. Having the weapons in her hands, Yugiri glared at all boys and girls who either don't know when to quit or had suddenly joined the fray. "THE JACKAL HAS BEEN LET LOOSE! TIME TO SEND ALL OF YOU REELING IN PAAAAIIIIIIN!"
The next scene could only be described as utter chaos. Motivated by his anger and desperation in turning the fight that is being weighed heavily against Anubis back to him, the bounded Stand has Yugiri wildly swinging the sword around in any way she wants, making her dance and spin on her feet, while rapidly shooting many bullets using Emperor. With the combination of the sword's deadly accuracy, speed, and cutting power and Emperor's controllable bullets and overwhelming number, everyone scrambled around as they struggle to evade Anubis' desperate attacks. In the midst of chaos, Ai and Lily hid behind a tree after being led there by Gyro and Narancia. This leaves the two, Johnny and Mamezuku attempting to stop her from wildly attacking, only to be met with slashes and bullets to their bodies that they can't avoid because she was moving so fast, as well as aggravate their existing injuries with impunity. The woman didn't back out too, joining the four in stopping Anubis' wild dance but she is forced to protect them when they got injured through flying and grabbing them, much to everyone's surprise. Impressively, she doesn't seem to get injured because she vanishes in between protecting the four, but even she cannot hope to endure the overwhelming barrage of slashes and bullets. She stayed uninjured though.
After a minute and a half, the group was eventually forced to back away to nurse their wounds after too many attacks dealt with against them. Hell, even Slow Dancer and Valkyrie are not safe, making Johnny and Gyro regret bringing them out even though they cannot die again as zombies.
"Gyro-san!" cried out Lily as she kneeled next to Gyro and Valkyrie while trying not to wince at the added injuries and blood that stained his clothes, arms and legs.
"I-I'll… I'll live! This is…nothing!" he claimed, breathing heavily to endure the pain.
Watching them huddle up together while doing their best to tend their injuries and comfort them, the pale woman noticed one of them is missing. "Wait, the owner of this white horse… Have you seen him?"
"Huh? Wait, where did Johnny go!?" exclaimed Narancia, not minding his new wounds on his chest and right shoulder as he looked around in search of Johnny.
"He… He wasn't with us the whole time?!" Ai yelled out in disbelief, who is covering her left ear because it got shot, causing it to bleed profusely.
"Of course he wasn't…" Anubis' voice shocked the group. "'cause I got him RIGHT HERE!"
ドズゥ
"Gahaagh!"
! !?
The unmistakable sound of a flesh being stabbed is heard behind the woman. They turn to where it came from and were met with shock, fear and disbelief after they saw 'Yugiri' successfully stabbing Johnny against the tree. He coughed out blood as pain dominated his entire body due to the newly formed wound on his stomach.
Grinning madly at landing a fatal blow on just one opponent, Anubis is riddled with joy, exclaiming through Yugiri, "YES! I did it! I WON! He's going to be DEAD! I, the god Anubis, have finally stabbed him!"
ドーン
"U-Ugh…! F-Fuck… *cough*" Johnny swore, coughing out blood again.
"JOHNNY! Hold on, we're-!" Everyone rushed to the two with Gyro calling out his name out of worry and fear over his close friend's life.
ガッシィィン
Yugiri pointed Emperor to Johnny's forehead, stopping everyone from going further and earning a hitched gasp from him. "Hrk!"
"Take one more step and I'll blow his brains out!" Anubis warned everyone.
Narancia is angry he resorted to doing this dirty trick. "What!? Why you… AEROSM-
"Same goes if you try intervening with your Stands! Or doing anything to stop me!" added Anubis.
"Stop guys! I would drop dead for sure once he shot my head!" Johnny told them, his eyes staring cross-eyed at the Emperor's barrel.
"B-But Johnny-san! You got stabbed in the stomach!" Ai said, wanting to avert her eyes from the blade digging deep within his stomach. "Y-You'll bleed to death if this didn't stop!"
"Keh keh keh keh keh!" cackled Anubis. The Stand fully materializes from Yugiri, revealing himself to everyone the Stand who is controlling the former courtesan. He chooses to speak up instead of through Yugiri as his next statements show, "That's exactly will happen if you prefer a slow and painful death, which I don't have to remind you all that it's an agonizing experience! If you don't want that, then I'll make it quick… by disemboweling you in one thrust!"
"W-With… one t-thrust…" stammered Johnny, touching the blade as if he has to stop it from going deeper.
"YESSSS! YOU'RE DOOMED! I'LL SLICE OPEN YOUR BOWELS… THEN I SHALL DO THE SAME TO YOUR FRIENDS, PERHAPS INCLUDING THIS WOMAN!"
Hearing their cries made Johnny angrier at Anubis, glaring at the Stand behind Yugiri's eye. "Bastard… Leave Gyro, Yugiri and the others alone," He warned.
"AS IF I'LL LISTEN TO YOUR PITIFUL REQUEST! WHETHER SHOT DEAD OR DISEMBOWELED, YOUR ZOMBIE COMPANIONS WILL NOT WALK THE LIVING AND WILL SOON BE JOINING YOU TO THE AFTERLIFE! CREATURES LIKE YOU HAVE NO PLACE IN HERE AFTER ALL, AND AS THE GOD OF THE DEAD, I SHALL SEE TO IT THE REST OF THE ZOMBIES REVIVED BY YOUR MANAGER MUST SUFFER THE SAME FATE!"
Resisting the urge to grapple Yugiri's hands and making it hard for himself to contain his emotions, Mamezuku says, "My… Our companions will come down on you hard when they hear we got killed. Their retaliation will be swift and without mercy. Are you willing to take that risk?"
"Hmph! Was that supposed to be a question?! Or is it a threat? OF COURSE I WILL! Why, as much as I have to kill this woman when I'm done killing you all, she has the skills in wielding a sword. She must have wielded one back then, so I think I shall let her live and hone our skills to become the world's GREATEST SWORDSWOMAN!"
Fearing Yugiri is forever enslaved by him, Lily calls out her name desperately. "Yugirin! YUGIRIN! Please snap out of his control! I'm begging you!"
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Yugiri shouted, before slowly pushing the sword into Johnny's stomach, causing him to grunt in extreme pain. "IT'S TIME TO DISSECT HIM AND SEE THE ORGANS COME OUT! THERE'S NO WAY YOU WILL GET OUT OF THIS AFTER I HAVE LEARNED EVERY MOVE MOST OF YOU HAVE! KYA HA HA HA HA HA!"
"Are… Are you sure you… learned our every move?"
"...Huh?"
Anubis looked directly at him when he seemingly taunted him. This is more apparent when he noticed his smirk plastered on his face, a sight unwitting to his impending death.
Defiantly glaring at Anubis, Johnny coughs out more blood before he can speak. "You… You keep on… boasting about… how we won't surprise you again… after you watched our… our moves… Tell me. Did you truly saw every ability we have, including the… newcomer?"
"Hm? Are you referring to me?" The woman forgot her fear briefly to confirm he's talking about her.
"Y-Yes…"
Seeing he's right, Anubis snorted arrogantly, replying back to him, "Well, you got a point there. I haven't saw all the woman's moves before I caused enough confusion so I get to stab you while everyone's disoriented… BUT SO WHAT OF IT!? I know every move you and your friends have! There's no way, and I mean, no way any of you can counter me! YOU HAVE LOST, SO ADMIT DEFEAT!"
"…"
"…"
"…
"「I disagree」."
"Hah? What did you say?"
"I won't repeat again… because…"
Dark flames suddenly flickered inside his eyes as Johnny never let up his glare against Anubis. In this moment, his "dark determination" activated as he reveals, "…YOU HAVE LOST!"
ドバァッ!
Before everyone's stunned eyes, Johnny shot himself in the stomach.
On the same spot Anubis is stabbing on where it formed into a black hole after landing that sucks Johnny in it.
Including the embedded sword.
"Wh-Wh-What!?" Anubis shouted in surprise and panic, sweating bullets and with hands raised in near panic. "The… The sword…! It's…! It's getting sucked in, and…! And-"
Sounds of metal being shredded make him realize in fear why Johnny shot a nail to his stomach and created a vortex hole. "AH, NO! IT'S… IT'S-!"
"It's going to get 「cut up inside」?" Johnny finished with a smirk. "Yes. That is exactly what's happening to you when the blade got sucked in."
ボキボキボキ
Holding the blade in place, Johnny stayed in that position as the blade gets chip away into little bits of pieces inside the spinning vortex. As a result, this inflicts a high amount of pain to Anubis, whose confident bravado breaks into panic after seeing the sword crumble as it slowly enters the hole thanks to Johnny. "A-AAAAHHHH, NOOOOO! NOT AGAIN! I-I'M BREAKING APART! S-STOP PULLING ME IN THE HOLE! I DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK IN YOUR BELLY ANYMORE! PLEASE! I'M BEGGING YOOOOOUUUUUU!"
"Huuuuh? What did you say?" Johnny put his hand on his right ear again. "I can't hear you over the sound of your impending defeat."
Remembering the zombie he possessed, which is starting to get out of his control as he starts losing his grip over her mind due to the sword breaking, Anubis begged her to pull him out, shouting, "H-HEY! DON'T JUST STAND THERE HOLDING ME! PULL ME OUT! YOU MUST PULL ME OOOOOUUUUUUT!"
Mustering all his energy, Anubis has Yugiri pull the sword, attempting to resist the hole's gravitational pull that threatens to suck all the blade in and crumble it to nothing. It appears to be working, so Anubis has to hope she's able to pull out what's left of the sword…
…until Mamezuku whipped both Yugiri's hand, making her drop the sword and Emperor, the latter falling into the hole and waiting to be dissolve away.
"AH!" Anubis cried out in pain, feeling himself lose his hold over Yugiri.
"There! I transformed both my arms into whips and lashed her hands!" he explained immediately, rushing to catch Yugiri when she stumbles backwards. "Now, enjoy getting eaten by Johnny's ability! That will be the last thing you'll ever feel!"
With no one to pull him out of the hole, Anubis could only scream in pain as the rest of the sword and Emperor fully got inside the hole, finally slicing him up until there was nothing left of the objects, as well as the Stand himself.
"GYAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHhhhhhh….!"
ンババーン
A booming sound was heard as Anubis is killed and the hole disappears, which it expelled part of his bleeding waist back to his body. With the enemy finally defeated, everyone let out a sigh of relief because the fight was finally over. This coincided with their skins shattering back to their zombie forms, though it's not noticeable to Johnny, Gyro, Narancia and Rai because they have makeup on.
At least their injuries and wounds are gone.
As for Johnny, he let out a sigh of relief that it's all over, standing up while using the tree as support, grunting in pain that was lingering in his body. His clothes may have been stained with blood, but his wounds disappeared, so he's fine.
He looked a bit tired, though.
Gyro smiled at him, thankful to see him survive. "Johnny! Thank Lady Luck you are okay! I thought you would bleed out from your stomach wound after you made a hole on your body that your spinning nail made! Never thought you managed to hold on long enough until we turned back to zombies!""
Sensing his worry from his words, Johnny smiled in return, replying, "Heh, you're right. I was willing to take the risk of dying as long as the enemy is killed. I'm glad I managed to kill it while not dying."
"Well, as much we're happy you pulled through, let's not forget Yugiri!" After spreading his arms to let Aerosmith land and disappear into him, Narancia pointed to the recovering courtesan being held by Mamezuku. Ai and Lily are crouching on her side while the pale woman stands away to give them breathing room. "She had been Anubis' vessel the whole time. Who knows if she's okay?"
"Right! Come on you two! Let's go check up on her!"
As they approached, Yugiri, with her eyes closed, shook her head lightly with her hand on her forehead because of a great headache she's having.
"Ooooohhhh… My head…" she mumbled uncomfortably. Blinking slowly, Yugiri sees black pine trees sitting before her, and discern the presence of someone holding her from behind.
Seeing she had opened her eyes, Lily enters her vision with a concerned expression and exclaims, "Yugirin! Are you… Are you okay?"
"Mmm? Lily-han?" Yugiri stared into her eyes, wondering why she is displaying so much worry to her.
Hearing her voice is not imbued with Anubis' harsh and sneering tone anymore, Lily cried out in happiness before diving into her for a hug. "Yugiriiiiiiiin! Thank goodness you're okaaaaaaay!"
"L-Lily-han! What's… What's gotten into you?" Confused over the kid's overbearing emotions and where she is, Yugiri noticed Ai looking at her with a concerned smile, Mamezuku holding her up from behind, and Johnny, Narancia and Gyro joining with the three to look at her with relief and worry.
Seeing she's acting like herself again, Johnny crouched down to her level and says, "Lily's been worried ever since Anubis took control of you, and after she and Ai were freed from his mild possession thanks to the standing woman over there."
"Huh?" Visibly confused, Yugiri turn to where Johnny is pointing and sees the pale woman staring at her with a blank look. Upon seeing her attire, she was surprised, but intrigued, over her clothing that looks like it came from another country and her choice of colors. She then looked at everyone, hopelessly befuddled over what had happened when she was out. "Um, I don't want to sound rude, but can any of you please tell me what had happened? My… My memories are hazy."
Ascertaining she must have forgotten during being under Anubis' control, Ai lets out a tired chuckle as she says, "Well, it's not a long story but…"
One explanation later…
"Oh no! What… What have I done!?"
This is what the courtesan said after hearing the entire story. About how she, Ai and Lily got here, the name of the forest, her getting lured by Anubis to hold the sword, which allowed him to possess her as well as Ai and Lily to an extent, Johnny, Gyro, Mamezuku and Narancia coming here in order to kill two enemy Stands and rescue them, having to fight Yugiri, Ai, Lily and later Mamezuku after Anubis possessed them before they snapped out of his control, and lastly her after Johnny tricked the enemy into stabbing him so he has Tusk ACT3 created a hole to sucked Anubis and Emperor in, demolishing them and killing the former in the process.
After hearing she was fighting against them, albeit unwittingly, Yugiri gasped in horror, before lowering her eyes out of shame over having almost killed them, especially Johnny, whom she sees him as her father figure along with Gyro. To think Anubis would do her dirty by trying to kill them through her, even though she had no control over herself when he possessed her.
Yugiri knows Anubis was the main opponent, so he should be blamed for the hard fight everyone has gone through, not her. But in spite of this, she believed it was her fault because she was lured by Anubis and was forced to attack and almost kill her friends unwillingly. She got her hands dirty getting to use Anubis for his nefarious intention.
Looking down to her hands that could have been splattered with their blood if Johnny didn't killed Anubis, Yugiri gave everyone a look of regret before saying, "I'm… I'm truly sorry everyone."
"Huh? What are you apologizing for?" asked Ai.
"For… almost killing all of you…" she answered in a sad tone.
"Hey, you did not have control over yourself during the fight!" Gyro tried reasoning her with this fact. "And it's Anubis who you should blame, not yourself!"
"But…! I did do all those actions!" Yugiri is unconvinced. "It doesn't matter if Anubis controlled me. He forced me to hurt you all, and… And I didn't try stop him from controlling me and do all the disgraceful actions!" Her regret is seriously impacting her mood as she tried not to make eye contact with everyone. "I'm unsure if all of you will ever forgive me, but I want you to know is… I'm very, very sorry!"
She bowed down, much to everyone's surprise, sadness and concern. While they know for sure Anubis is the culprit, they didn't dare deny her words that she personally attacked them with almost no remorse. They had only realized how this was eating her from the inside after hearing her regret, not expecting it would be this great.
They don't like seeing her like this, so they must cheer her up. But someone else beat them before they had a chance to reassure her.
"Please do not think this is all your fault, miss."
"Huh?"
Yugiri straightens herself up after hearing a female voice. Having only become aware of the pale woman's presence, she looks at her, her crimson blood eyes staring at her soft purple ones.
With Yugiri and the others looking at her, with Johnny, Ai and Mamezuku being wary of her, the pale woman begins speaking, "You may have a point t'was your error that provoked the fight in the first place. Without intending it, you struck and hurt your dear friends, and almost ended this blonde man's life, of which I believe you must be close to him."
"Like a father, I should say," Yugiri quickly added so she doesn't get the wrong idea.
"What she said." Johnny supported.
"Well regardless of your relationship with these four men and two young ladies, you hurt them and almost killed one thanks to the Stand bounded to a sword," the woman continued. "…Judging from your grief and insistence that this fight is your own fault, I believe we should not renounce them. It is respectable that you are admitting it instead of abjuring your sins, so you can learn from it and vow to never let it happen again."
"However!" she suddenly exclaimed, moving close to Yugiri, perhaps a little too close to her. "Do not blame yourself entirely for this whole mess. You may have provoked a fight with your friends involuntarily, but the one who you should blame on is the ｢mastermind｣ who have gathered many enemy Stands that threaten your lives!"
! !
Her compelling statements to rouse Yugiri from her regret made them understand that this woman not only knew about the enemy Stands existing in Saga, but also, Franchouchou, Rianima and possibly Kotaro himself. They didn't get to ask her about her suspicious knowledge about them as she continued speaking.
"I do not know what their goal is yet, nor their location so I can stop him from endangering your lives further, but the ｢mastermind｣ is the one who provoked this fight! Do not forget that! You may blame yourself for attacking your dear friends, but never forget the one who sent enemy Stands to attack you and your friends back home, for their sins are greater than yours. Do you understand?"
After thinking about her words that aim to make her reassure that she's not to blame for the entire fight happening, Yugiri feel like her back has been lifted, recognizing the woman is right. She has chosen to take the blame for endangering everyone's lives, but she's doing it for atonement.
"I…" she began. "I think I… really needed to hear those words. I feel relief flowing inside me after reasoning with your words. Because of that, you have my thanks."
Yugiri bowed to her in gratitude with a smile, and not as deep as her bow earlier. That smile still remains on her after she straightened up. The pale woman understood she managed to get through her, so she says this with the same blank face and calm tone, "You are welcome."
Lily is glad and relieved Yugiri won't burden herself with her (inadvertent) actions against them. She bounced on her feet as she says to Yugiri, "Don't worry Yugirin! We won't hold you against your mistakes! We already forgave you, right guys?"
"Yeah!" Everyone shouted in agreement, except for Mamezuku who simply nodded.
Giggling with a smile, Yugiri puts her hand near her chin with her fingers lightly touching her mouth, grateful for her friends' mercy. "I appreciate your kindness, everyone."
Watching them talking with each other to alleviate any tension left caused by the fight made the woman reach her hand and take one step forward. She was contemplating if she wanted to join their conversation. From their behaviors and gestures alone, these seven zombies are quite close who wants to spend their time being with each other and have a friendly chit-chat, discussing pretty much anything that could intrigue some of them, and opening up for more talking.
A wistful look appears on her face. She looked up to the sky as the wind blew past her, making her hair and clothes sway. "Such friendship between zombies… Nay. T'was true you were all reviv'd as zombies, and have come from different times and professions…"
They turn to look at her after hearing her say her thoughts out loud, as she looked directly at them and finishes her soliloquy. "…but it is clear to me, that those qualities do not dictate what this world expects you to do. You were given a second chance in life, and so far, I believe… your undead lives will not be brought down your wish to ｢live｣. T'is invig'rating."
The woman smiled at them, a small but pleasant smile over her seeming joy watching them act like they aren't dead…
…
…
…
"…Gyro, care to explain who this woman is already?"
Johnny speaks up what everyone wants to ask over who this strange, pale-skinned woman is. She stayed with them during the last leg of the fight, so they are naturally curious about her. There are so many questions they want to ask her, like how she undone Anubis' tough hold to Ai, Lily and Mamezuku and her motive in appearing to them out of the blue. Of course, they wanted to know her name and where did she come from.
Gyro rubs his head with a chuckle, stating, "Yeah, the thing is… Me, Ai and Lily didn't get to ask her name because we rushed into the fight after she snapped the two back to normal. We are as puzzled and suspicious of her like you four are currently."
"Well, who is she then? Is she a Stand User?" asked impatiently Narancia with arms folded.
To everyone's surprise, the woman answers his questions, believing it's about time they know her name. "If you want to know, young boy, my name is ｢Emi Lea Essence｣. And like you correctly guessed, I am a ｢Stand User｣ like you four."
!?
The group are looking at the newly dubbed Emi in curiosity, wariness, and surprise, mostly from the four guys after hearing she has a Stand. They never expected another Stand User to be living here in Saga. Other than the main enemy and Sakura, they thought only Rianima are the only Stand Users to be living in Saga, so to hear another Stand User existing along with them is an eye-opener.
Also, it had just occurred to them that she knew they were zombies, and possibly their identities. Did she find out thanks to Gyro, overheard Anubis' exclamations about them being zombies, or has she known all along, given she's a Stand User who might be curious of them after she likely found out Rianima have Stands?
Wishing to know more about her, Johnny decides to interrogate her. "Guess we have much to learn about you. Forgive us if we find you suspicious, but we want to ask you questions. You wouldn't mind, I hope?"
Unfortunately, Emi shakes her head, telling him she declines. She gives out a reason, "I am very sorry, but I cannot answer your burning questions at this time. I told you all that I am a Stand User and my name, so please commit it to memory until then. I shall take my leave."
"Huh? Already?" Yugiri exclaimed.
"I am aware it is abrupt, but I must really go. I need to rest, or else I would… cease to exist," Emi looked down, as if regretting she will soon leave when she wanted to talk with them more. "But this is not the last time we will see each other. This is only a temporary goodbye for now."
"Can't you hold it off until we are satisfied with our-" Narancia tried telling her to stop, but her decision was made.
"So, until we meet again. Farewell."
ドロンッ
Eimi disappeared in thin air, leaving them wide-eyed over her method of departure.
After a moment of silence, Narancia remarks, "Huh. I think disappearing in thin air like she did just now definitely tells us she's a ｢Stand User｣."
"A suspicious Stand User." Yugiri added.
Looking at where Emi was standing with narrowed eyes, Mamezuku rubs his chin in thought as he says, "Whoever this Emi is, she's an intriguing character. Her manner of speech, appearance, intentions and her as-of-yet unknown Stand ability that undid Anubis' control over me, Ai and Lily… Basically, everything about her is a mystery."
"Well, whatever her motive to appear with us, I cannot help but feel a bad vibe from this Emi," Johnny said bluntly. "She may be harmless for now, but she must be taking advantage of our desperation to win the fight so she earns our trust. She could be plotting something."
"But I don't think she's a bad person!" Lily chimed in, walking near him with a pleading look. "She seems creepy, mysterious and possibly unemotional, but I think she's kind and empathetic, not a bad person!"
"I'm still wary at her since she showed up suddenly," Ai didn't doubt her suspicions to her after she was freed from hypnosis. "But because she helped us at the last minute, I believe she means no harm."
"Are you certain she has no bad intentions?" Mamezuku expressed his doubts, having never let his eyes off her position from the moment she appeared.
"Believe us when we said she is nice." Gyro vouched for her, being the third person to stand beside her.
After they stare at the three for a few seconds and seeing they're firm in their belief that Emi seems to be a nice woman, they decide to set the subject aside. With the fight over, they are itching to go home, so they must get moving to where Kotaro is situated.
With Johnny and Gyro taking the lead, the seven zombies walk through the pine forest, happy and glad the current danger is over for now.
"Arrrggh! Goddammit shit, I lost AGAIN!"
Saki didn't care how frustrated and angry she was for the past hour as her grip on the controller tightened, threatening to break it with how strong she was clutching it and from her boiling anger.
Seeing she was getting angrier with each race he has won does not deter Kakyoin from shooting her a smug smile as he rests his cheek on his clenched fist, of which his elbow is sitting on the table. "I believe that makes it… nine times you've lost to me, Saki. Do you think it's about time you give up? It is clear that you won't be able to beat me in this game."
"Screw you! I'm getting better with each race we did!" exclaimed Saki with gritted teeth. "Given enough races, I might be able to achieve victory for just once after I kick your ass out of the track!"
"I wouldn't want to put more fuel to your anger Saki, but… you should pick a different vehicle," Avdol intruded to give her a piece of advice that should have been obvious to her, but she didn't heed it due to her stubbornness. "For the past nine races, you always chose that particular vehicle. Kakyoin chooses a different car after every three races, so you should have done that too if you want an edge in the race."
"Hell no," she declined as Kakyoin chose to start the tenth race after seeing she's not gonna yield until after enough losses. She repositioned the controller in her hands to select the same car once more as she says, "Until I finally won just one race against Kakyoin, this bad boy will be my racer for this match and beyond. And I'm sure that I have learned every trick and secret about this specific car and Kakyoin's own! Everyone, witness this race as I'm gonna put tire marks around his car as I cross the finish line and achieve my hard-earned victory!"
Laughing at her enthusiasm, Kakyoin selects the same stage they were duking out on for the past ten races, having this to say to her, "Oh, I'm interested. Let us see what you got then, Saki. Don't hold anything back, you hear me?"
"You bet I ain't holding back! Now come on!"
Watching the rivalry between two skilled gamers that have a noticeable gap in skills and strategy, the zombies chuckle at their display of competitiveness, all of which came mostly from Saki that became apparent the more losses she accumulated.
"If I have known video games would become mainstream after I witnessed the birth of it back in my time, maybe I should have tried playing at least Pac-Man or Donkey Kong," Junko mumbled, sitting on a couch next to Tae who, as has become a habit or common occurrence in the household, is nibbling on her head. Such an act would elicit panic from Junko, but at this point, she has gotten used to it. Or probably gave up trying to get her off her head.
To pass the time and calm their nerves as they wait for their friends' return, Kakyoin and Saki decided to play a game on the current game console Kotaro happened to buy with his own spare money. The game he bought is the latest game in the F-Mega series, and it didn't take long for Kakyoin to choose that game to play, stating being an expert in it, which surprised everyone because he doesn't seem to be the kind of guy who liked video games. Sakura remarked that he looks like an honor student type, which he doesn't deny because he did act like it.
Also, Avdol learned that during their adventure in Egypt, Kakyoin, Jotaro and Joseph fought against D'arby's younger brother Telence through video games, of which Kakyoin lost despite his expert skills. Jotaro and Joseph managed to win the next game through their cooperation before giving Telence his just desserts. Their 'fight' happened at the same time Avdol, Iggy and Polnareff fought against Vanilla Ice, which the former two died. The Egyptian is a bit miffed Kakyoin spent their fight playing games while he and Iggy died a terrible death, though Cherry Boy at least apologized even though it's not his fault.
"Have you played with those games before, Junko-chan?" asks Sakura, standing up from her seat to get Tae off her even though Junko was not bothered surprisingly.
"Yes, but only few times, I think," she tapped her chin in thought. "I have so much work to do, remember?"
"Ah, right. That left you having no free time, huh?"
"Well, I tried making the best out of it when I got some free time on my hands." She smiled wistfully.
"What about you, mister Bucciarati?" It's Avdol's turn to ask someone, which is Bucciarati. "Have you played games before?"
Compared to them, Zipper Man is on the only zombie who isn't sitting either on a couch or floor and choose to stand up next to the couch. For the past half hour, he was observing Kakyoin and Saki's match on the TV. Since he was so focused on the game, he remained quiet to everyone. That said, he's not at all lost to his thoughts as he raises his head and turns to Avdol after hearing his question to him.
"Hm? Played some games?" He already has an answer for this. "No, I haven't played games during my spare time because they are not my cup of tea and... I haven't got the time to play with them because of my work. Forgive me for my relative unfamiliarity with the gaming industry. Back when I was in Passione, all I ever thought of is my gangster lifestyle, so I didn't get to learn anything about video games."
"It's alright, Bucciarati-san," Kakyoin assured him, his eyes glued to the screen as he played expertly. "If there is time, may I introduce you and Narancia to some video games Kotaro happen to own?"
"…I see no point in being invested in games but… I wouldn't mind." Bruno replied with a smile.
"Ha ha! Glad to hear it Bucci!" Saki exclaimed. "Given enough time, you will become qualified to compete with either me or Kakyoin, and let me tell you… I'm gonna beat your ass to the- What, AGAIN!? Are you for real!?" she shouted in dismay upon witnessing her car get damaged and severely kicked her to the 5th place.
"Keep your eyes on the road and me, Saki. You wouldn't know what will happen that will knock your place further below me," Kakyoin smugly stated after dealing big damage to Saki's vehicle, pushing it out of the tracks and making her waste time.
"Nnngrgrgrgrrpphmmmph!" Number Two couldn't say any comeback to his statement, but could only grumble in steaming anger, getting more irritated by his pompous words. Everyone sighed and chuckled at more display of their gaming rivalry, wondering when they're gonna stop.
Three and a half minutes later, the victor of the tenth race goes to… Kakyoin. Naturally, Saki couldn't be any more displeased and frustrated about it. "Not again… I'm sure I am gonna win this time around…" she lamented, suddenly finding herself unable to express her anger over her eleventh loss in a row.
"Hey, you did good, Saki. You managed to send my car hurling across the track and slow me, granting you a lead ahead, even for a minute," Kakyoin decides to try comfort her by reminding her of her decent play. "Because of your luck, I was wondering if I'm going to lose this time around."
Knowing he made a good point considering how serious she was about winning that she played decently enough to knock Kakyoin's car almost off-course, Saki lets a small smile appear on her face. "You're right. Guess I'm improving. Maybe if we go another round of racing, I will be catching up to your level, Kakyoin."
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha! You never know when to give up, huh? Very well. Until you finally scored one victory, we will race for as long as we can take."
"That's what I like to hear!"
Before anyone could comment on their insistence of continuing playing or they are starting another race, a door swung open and Kotaro entered the living room with as much grandeur as he could muster. "Aaaaaaah~ Home, sweet home!"
Seeing he has returned, everyone get off their feet as Kotaro walk away from the door, letting the rest of Franchouchou and Rianima in.
"Kotaro-san, everyone, you're back! And…" A gasp escapes from her mouth when she saw Ai, Lily and Yugiri, looking a bit tired but pleasant nonetheless. "Ai-chan! Lily-chan! Yugiri-san!"
Pretty much everyone swamped around the aforementioned three zombies, all of them relieved and happy to see the three alive and well (putting aside that they are zombies). This reunion and pertinent questions about their well-being last for many seconds before Kotaro breaks up the assembly.
"Aaaaaaaalriiiiiight everyone! I know you seven zombies are happy to see half of your respective teams have returned safe and sound, but give them space, okay?" he's quick to inform the ones who stayed home that they are still recovering from their ordeal. "The injuries they got from the fight may be gone, but their mental injuries and fatigue remain in their stinking brains. As such, please give them space until they're equally fine. I hope you understand that, right?"
"Yes! We hear you loud and clear!" Sakura nodded, which the others did too.
"Good! Now then, if y'all excuse me, I have some work to do. In the meantime, I'll let all of you rest to nurse your wounds, both physical and mental. Be glad this day is your day off, all of you!" he said his piece as he left the room.
Once he's gone, Saki snorted to the door, having been a little irked at the condescending way he delivered his statement. "Would it kill ya to turn off your conceitedness for once Shades?"
"I'm afraid he won't." Avdol sighed, sharing her disdain to his behavior but to a lesser extent. "At least he choose to prioritize our well-beings instead of you girls marching straight to practice once they returned."
Wondering what went down between Johnny's group and Anubis as they rescue Ai, Yugiri and Lily, everyone asks how the rescue and fight went. They are happy to tell them, especially since they wanted to tell them about the mysterious woman who entered the last part of the fight.
After Johnny's group finished telling how the Anubis fight went, the ones who were not with them stand back to process the order of events amidst the turmoil of a fight.
"Whoa… Big sis got possessed by Anubis and was forced to fight Johnny and the others along with a gun Stand?" Saki said, looking wide-eyed from what they told her. "That's… That's so badass!"
"Saki!" Everyone chided her for the inappropriate word used to describe a life and death situation, especially when they learned Yugiri was feeling remorseful for almost ending their lives.
"Don't get the wrong idea, guys!" she raised her hand in defense, scooting a little from Yugiri since it looks like she's going to slap her. "I get it. It's not fun having to fight a friend after they got possessed by a Stand and forcing you guys to attack sis in an attempt to free her. But that doesn't mean that sis wielding a sword and gun to slash wildly and rain hell upon you guys sounds cool and stylish! If it's any situation, you would see where I'm saying about it, right?"
Everyone was not convinced, believing she shouldn't have said it in an inappropriate time. Before anyone can admonish her more, Yugiri speaks up after thinking about what she said. "Stylish, you say Saki-han?"
"Yugirin?" Lily turned to her in concern and curiosity, including the others.
Removing her hand from her chin to look at her palm that was used to wield Anubis, Yugiri seems to have a longing look on her face as she vaguely remembers swinging Anubis around with as much skill, speed and strength she can muster, with or without the Stand's aid. She closes and opens her hand two times, before she says, "To be honest, if it wasn't for the fact Anubis is in that foreign sword, I would gladly grab it and use it as my weapon of choice for any fights that come in our path. Of course, I am fine with not owning any weapon because we have seen Rianima's capabilities, but if there comes a day when I would possibly gain a Stand…"
Inhaling her kiseru before blowing out the smoke, Yugiri stared at her companions with a serene smile. "…then I would be glad to have that chance to be on equal footing with Johnny-han, Gyro-han, and even Sakura-han."
Everyone is stunned from her words regarding how much she enjoyed getting to be in a fight and the bold possibility that she might gain a Stand like Rianima. It shouldn't feel much like her dignified self, and yet, they can't help but see that it wouldn't be out of place for her.
For Sakura, hearing her name mentioned reminds her that, sooner or later, getting to awake to her own Stand is imminent. For these past 7 months, she can feel herself getting close to form her own Stand the more she regained her memories. This also means that her potential of being a Stand User is tied to her amnesia, which she is slowly recovering from. With everyone's support, mostly from Kakyoin, Ai, and even Kotaro (in his own way) and performing in events and concerts, she will not stop until she fully awakened to her Stand.
Saki didn't expect Yugiri would take her words in stride and spun it in positive way. Because of that, she smiled widely. "Hehe. That's what I like to hear!"
"Don't worry, Saki-han. I have no hard feelings against you." What she said to Number Two. Seeing she's not offended, everyone let out sighs of relief, though some of them like Avdol, Johnny, Ai, and Lily gave Saki a look of disapproval still.
"Speaking of Stands," Bucciarati speaks up to get their attention to him and back on track. "I want to discuss about the woman that helped you seven during the last part of the fight. When Gyro said that she was wearing a hood in a white and red clothing, I… realized something."
"Huh? What you realized, Bucciarati-san?" Ai asked.
"Do you all remember the magazine detailing Franchouchou's unexpected success during Saga Rock?" He reminded. Except for Saki, Junko, Tae, Narancia, Johnny and Gyro, they know what magazine he's referring.
"The Sagazine, I believe it's called, right?" clarified Mamezuku.
"Yes, that's the name," nodded Bucciarati. "There is one article about a sighting of a ghost woman said to be roaming Niji no Matsubara in any time of the day or night. When Gyro told us what she looked like and her black eyes having white pupils, it occurred to me that the hooded woman who helped you seven, which I believe her full name is Emi Lea Essence, have similar appearance to the purported ghost woman mentioned in the article."
Seeing the logic behind the connection he made between the pale-skinned woman and the ghost woman mentioned in the article caused Narancia, Johnny, Gyro, Mamezuku, Ai, Yugiri and Lily to flinch in surprise and realization that they have actually met the ghost woman of Niji no Matsubara.
"What? Are you saying… that we had met the forest's ghost woman?" Narancia asked, sharing his thought with the six that was with him in the black pine forest.
"You're joking with us, right?" replied Gyro, the one who first met Emi and finding it hard to believe he met her not understanding she's the forest's ghost. "You're… not serious that Emi could be…?'
"The ghost woman?" Mamezuku added. "Since you said she showed up to you, Ai and Lily out of nowhere and her appearance matching with what the article said being not a coincidence, it is possible that ｢Emi｣ is the ｢ghost woman｣ of the Niji no Matsubara."
!
Franchouchou and Rianima couldn't believe their ears after Mamezuku likely confirmed that Emi is the ghost woman and a Stand User. Remembering Emi's first meeting with Johnny's group and her mentioning about the enemy Stands out for their lives means that it is possible Emi must be aware of what's happening in Saga Prefecture behind the scenes. She also knows the seven zombies who are in Niji no Matsubara today are not humans even with the perfect disguise. Along with her cryptic words and possible involvement to their fight against the perpetratorlurking somewhere in or around Saga, they wonder what her part is in the grand scheme of Kotaro's goal of saving Saga. Does she have an ulterior motive beyond her assistance to Johnny's group in defeating Anubis? Most likely.
On the other hand, Emi seems to be hunting against the mastermind too. If she has a hidden agenda in meeting seven zombies to help them, it stands to reason that they are fighting against the same enemy who wants to riddle Saga with as much trouble and danger as possible through taking their second lives. If they meet her again in the future, no doubt she will make an alliance with them if she has the same goal as Kotaro's.
Whatever they thought of Emi during and after Franchouchou and Rianima's first meeting with her, the skeptical members are regarding her with suspicion. When they meet her the second time, they would squeeze out answers out of her to confirm if there is a possibility she wants to eliminate them too.
"Oooookay… Guess we have another mystery on our hands," Saki stated as she scratched her head due to all the info she heard that has become too much for her admittedly slow brain. "Who's this Emi woman and what does she want with us that warranted her to meet with you seven… I don't think we will get our answers so soon, sooooo… can we drop the matter for now?"
Bucciarati agreed. "Yes. Let's set it aside. Right now, we earned ourselves a rest that signor Tatsumi approved."
Saki smiled at his response. She then turned to Kakyoin with one finger pointed to him as she says, "Hey! Don't forget that we're still racing! I will beat you and won't stop until I'm in first place and crossed the finish line! Is that clear?"
Eager to see her finally beat him, Kakyoin did not back down, responding with a smile, "How can I decline more challenges between us, Saki? You're on."
"That's what I want to hear!"
The two gamers return to the table to grab the controller and start another racing match that will see if Saki has what it takes to finally beat him even once.
"…What are they doing?" Johnny asked, noticing two strange contraptions in their hands that has four eight face buttons, four bumpers, two circular sticks and the bigger contraption on the table.
"Oh, they are playing a competitive video game, of which Kakyoin and Saki won and lost many times." Avdol answered.
"Video…game?" Gyro repeated, hearing it the first time.
"You would probably understand if you watch their match," Sakura simply said to them, pulling them near the two so they become spectators of their match. "Don't worry. All of us will try explain what they are doing to the best of our knowledge."
"Hmm, this 'video game' sounds interesting." Yugiri didn't wait to join in with everyone as they all surround Saki and Kakyoin playing an intense game of racing on the television.
Whatever the outcome of their match, Franchouchou and Rianima really enjoyed the moment of peace and warm fellowship between each other. For the rest of the day, Sakura sits next to Kakyoin, Avdol and Narancia cheered Saki on, Bucciarati comforted Ai along with Junko, Johnny, Gyro, Yugiri and Lily enjoy the cars speeding along the perilous track on the screen and Tae latching on Mamezuku's back to affectionately bite his neck, which he didn't mind as he does like the affection from the zombie.
It did attract looks from their friends though, with Gyro wanting to pester him about it only for Johnny to stop him.
After lots of cheering, encouragement, and support from the spectators and lots of taunting and remarks regarding their performance, Saki managed to earn ten wins against Kakyoin… after losing twenty-five times.
Although she is feeling bad on having to lie that she's running low on Stand energy to avoid revealing more than she wants, Emi is feeling vigorous after she properly met some of the zombies under the sunglass-wearing man's management.
Walking through and between the trees, she is glad that the first step in gaining Franchouchou and Rianima's trust went smoothly. The goal has been on her mind ever since she encountered three of them in the darkened hallway in Ureshino seven months ago. She was investigating the rumors about the purported 'ghost' of Ureshino hotel, which she found out to be an enemy Stand. This was confirmation to her that Saga is being threatened by enemy Stands and a group of bodyguards for an idol group were taking the fight to themselves with their own Stands.
She wants to investigate them so she can discern who is the mastermind behind the twelve enemy Stands hiding in the shadows, but she felt back then that she mustn't give herself away that will make them think that she's an enemy Stand too. So she resorted to sending two of her pets to keep an eye on them whilst passing them off as just wandering animals so they wouldn't suspect them.
So far, she's unable to learn the identity of the main enemy, but at least she's able to track their progress and see how far they have come in being idols for Franchouchou and strong bodyguards for Rianima. Her face doesn't show it clearly, but she's happy to hear or witness the camaraderie between the zombies despite their differing professions. This makes her want to meet them face-to-face and form an alliance, which she half-succeeded.
Half-succeeded because she didn't request them for her cooperation with them.
Well it is a good start, as humans may like to say… Emi thought. When ｢he｣ finally show themselves to Franchouchou and Rianima, I will be with them. They may find me suspicious already, but that will not discourage me from protecting Saga, like I have done many times against… her.
She stopped walking for a moment. Unheeding to the passing breeze, she looked up in the sky. Even on her impassive face, there is a hint of tiredness when she mentioned her enemy hailing in the same era as she was 'created' in this world. Of which she is loath to say that she is her relative.
"I wonder…" started Emi. "When, in all unlikelihood, she is eliminated for good, what place I have in this world? Do I… continue… to exist…? Even if I am fundamentally ｢different｣ to humans?"
She looked down at her open right hand. A small flicker of flame manifested on her palms, a blue, almost pale fire that floats on her hand harmlessly. The flame is reflected on her eyes, making it appear that it is manifesting in her eyes, akin to dark determination.
Before she can mumble about her existence while staring at the flickering flame impassively, a high-pitched, almost shrilly, voice interrupts her stupor.
"Mother?"
"Hm?"
Emi turned to her left to see a young teenager tugging her left sleeve, looking at her with a concerned expression from her shadowed eyes.
Reaching past Emi's waist, the girl looking at her has violet eyes, very long, wavy and disheveled blonde hair adorned by a flowered, lace ribbon on the left side of her head and very pale skin wearing a long-sleeved white blouse with high, ruffled dark purple collars and small, dark purple belts with gold buckles and a lavender rose pin attached to the collar, brown buckled corset, white skirt with dark purple fabrics and bigger, numerous belts sewn and attached into the waistband, two of which are buckled together while other two are left undone, dark purple tights and black ballet-slipper shoes with two more rose pins on top of each shoe laced up to her mid-calf.
Her attire appears fuller, with her frills being more prominent compared to Emi's body-hugging clothes including her A-shaped red skirt and white petticoat.
Emi's eyes softened in recognition of this girl. Snuffing the blue flame on her right hand, she faced her fully, slightly tilting her head down due to their height differences, before she says, "Oh, Lisette. Did I made you wait long for me to return to you?"
Lisette shakes her head, swinging her long hair as she did so. "No, you didn't. I… wanted to find where you went after we noticed something is happening here in the forest. You quickly told me to stay in one spot until you returned back."
"Ah yes, I said that to you," nodded Emi. "I believe I said it in an abrupt way and left briskly without hearing your response…" Worried she might have worried, she asks, "Did I… act rude to you, Lisette?"
Lisette shakes her head again, assuring her that she didn't. "Ah, no, you didn't. I understand why you leave. Please don't worry."
"Oh, I see. Glad to hear you understood," she lets out a sigh of relief. Earlier, Emi and Lisette are taking a walk through the forest simply to enjoy the scent of nature touching their noses as their eyes are filled with black pine trees erected on the soil. This has been their common bonding time ever since Emi adopted her and her "sisters" after she revived them. Mostly, they are doing this with their two pets, but they are not always available since they like to go somewhere in Saga, though they didn't mind.
They didn't walk very long however when they sensed something is happening in this pine forest they call home. Believing danger is afoot, Emi told Lisette to stay put before she went to the area where the seven specific presences she sensed were. To her surprise, she just so happens to encounter a long-haired man wearing a hat, short-haired girl and a little girl, the latter two of which are possessed by what she correctly guessed to be the work of an enemy Stand.
It didn't take long for her to meet with the others fighting against a woman in kimono and a man wearing a curious hat, which she snapped the latter out of Anubis' possession like she did to the two girls. Once the fight is over, she exchange some words to the seven zombies, who viewed her suspiciously, even if the long-haired man and little girl may argue that she is nice. Remembering her daughter waiting for her, she came up with a lie to the seven before taking her leave by disappearing. Since they witnessed her ability in action through undoing the possession, she sees no point in hiding it to them and letting them know that she's a Stand User.
Too bad half of the group are not present. It would have been nice to meet the others and their manager, and properly introduce myself to the rest of the group… most of all ｢Kakyoin｣.
"…Mother?" She heard the girl say. "Can you… tell me what happened after you told me to stay and left?"
Emi was considering declining her because this problem is something she must deal with by herself. But after noticing her curious eyes boring to her face, she didn't have it in her to turn her down. And besides… she was already aware of what's happening in Saga beneath the concrete exterior.
Smiling lightly to her, Emi nodded, saying, "Very well. I believe you and your 'sisters' must know my progress in my efforts to bring out the ｢mastermind｣… and hopefully, find my ｢lover｣…"
Lisette smiles. "Okay, I'm ready to listen, mother."
And with that, Emi and Lisette continue their stroll in the Niji-no-Matsubara forest unimpeded.
To be continued
Onomatopoeia:
グイッ (Gui) - Hand grabbing someone's face or cheeks
ガッシィィン (Gasshiiin) - Gun pointing at a body part
ボキボキボキ (Bokibokiboki) - Tusk ACT3's spatial wormhole cutting an object(s)
ンババーン (Nbabaaan) - Anubis defeated via explosion
ドロンッ (Doron) - Someone vanishing without a trace
* Golden Wind Blu-ray Volume 3 cover, except he's standing on his toes.
** Randy Mordanova French Revue de Modes #20 Editorial, March 2012
Finished!
After being forced to be Anubis' vessels for the entire fight, Johnny, Gyro, Mamezuku and Narancia finally defeat the Stand, thus freeing Yugiri from his control after he's destroyed in Tusk ACT3's spatial wormhole. Unlike his defeat back in Part 3 where he managed to survive by just being a cleaved blade, Anubis and the sword it was bounded into were completely teared apart inside the hole until there is nothing left for them (and Emperor since it got sucked in as well). As such, Anubis is wiped out from the world for good. Surely nobody will miss him.
We got more of the woman introduced in the previous chapter, making her entrance through a pose like most JoJo characters do before assisting the zombies with her as-of-yet unknown Stand ability. This time, I've given her a name, which is Emi Lea Essence. I'm glad that my OC's name had been revealed after she went unnamed in two chapters.
Also, you had noticed another character that was with Emi in the closing moments of this chapter. Before you think that she's another OC, she's not. She's from an indie game that I've been wanting to play for a while, but found myself unable to because I have too many games to play/want to play, anime to watch, chores to do, chapters to write, and my procrastination and ever-present hesitation. I thought of including her in this fanfic because I adore the game she came from, and wondered to myself, "Would it be fun and interesting to have her be included in the story and interact with the JoJo and Zombie Land Saga characters and the fanfic's events, even if it's minor?" Well, after thinking about it, I ultimately included her.
Now that the last enemy Stands have been defeated, the main antagonist of Living Things will be revealed in the coming chapters. You knew how the final battles in JoJo go when they finally encountered the main villains of each part, how intense, heart-pumping and thrilling the final battles were, and how the villain's Stands tend to be overpowered and have control over time and space. I am proud to say that the main antagonist will follow the same theme, specifically about their also overpowered Stand. While I remain silent over who the main antagonist is and their motive for targeting Franchouchou and Rianima, I can at least say that this antagonist will be different compared to the likes of DIO, Kira, and Diavolo, perhaps more compared to villains with sympathetic motives like Pucci and Valentine. You will see once we're in the final fight.
Of course, I didn't forget Sakura's potential of gaining her Stand. As stated above in the tail end of chapter, the more she recovers her memories, she is one step closer to gaining her Stand. It's still in the concept stage at this point, but I can already imagine her Stand's appearance and ability, which, mild spoiler, she will be a key player in the final battle. I can confidently say that it will fit her dreams and personality to a T, and have already named her Stand. I'm not gonna reveal now, though.
Alright! Time for me to close out the second act of Living Things and prepare myself for the long third act that will have the most number of original chapters and will cover the last three episodes of Zombie Land Saga's first season! I hope to see you all in the next chapter!
Stay safe out there and have a good day/night!