REMNANTS – Right now.
"Fun?" That is what Koyomi heard, isn't it? Fun. Something about that seemed to spell out disaster. No matter how much dust she removed from these shelves, their reflection couldn't give her a bright look on the future. "Fun…" Koyomi trailed off, puffing up one of her cheeks with a look of discontent. On that note, as she traced back into her work, Rinko was making herself at home.
"That's what I said!" Rinko could turn a dim room into the center of their solar system without expending a lot of energy. That is, if you kept on her good side. Otherwise, it's like having to watch helplessly as ice gathered from the ground and bound itself to your neck. "Were you listening at all?" The detective sighed, pouring herself some of the tea that Koyomi had fixed earlier this morning. There was still a bit left, Haruto hadn't had much before leaving. Which wasn't out of the blue, he said he was meeting someone later before leaving town. With him gone, she did have worries about the state of town, but he assured her – as he always did, that he wouldn't let someone fall into despair. Besides, there were others who knew of their situation and were more than happy to help. What made Koyomi happy was seeing Haruto get some more time off; their threats were multiplying, and she thought she had seen the worst of it with Phoenix. Even with three wizards, it was becoming harder to control, but she had hope, as he did, in their efforts.
Still, that didn't mean she couldn't worry. In fact, because their hopes were riding on so much, it actually worried her more. Taking it easier might spare her a few more gray hairs, however.
"No, I heard you." Koyomi shook her head. Now, she was sweeping the floors. How did a shop that few frequented attract so much grime? "It's a generous offer – really generous, but um…"
"But what?" Rinko asked, suddenly finding a set of eyes glancing over her shoulder. She was standing proudly, sipping on her tea. The unexpected appearance made Koyomi jump with a squeal, dropping her broom. "Come on, let's hear the excuses."
"It's cold outside." Koyomi said.
"It's cold everyday." Rinko replied.
"I have to work." Koyomi muttered.
"With what customers?" Rinko asked.
"I don't know what to wear." Koyomi nervously grinned.
"Then we can hit the first beat-up clothes shop we see." Rinko said, finishing her tea. "I'm a detective, you know. Lies can't work on me." Putting the act to rest, Koyomi let out a defeated sigh, leaning up against the broom. Instead of meeting the Toriisaka PD's star pupil for her shiny smile you could never seem to say no to, no matter how ridiculous the request, she simply stared into the palm of her hands that clutched tightly to the tickets.
From what Koyomi knew of her life, everything she had was handed to her in exchange for a little bit of elbow grease. A place to rest her head where her neck didn't creak between each odd hour, an assortment of fitted clothes tailored to her fine interests, and enough to eat so that she never had to panic over the thought of dipping into savings so that she didn't starve. Truth be told, she couldn't grasp the labor of real work, and with her pale estimations, a sinking feeling in her heart seemed to follow.
"Okay." Koyomi answered reluctantly. Saying it once aloud to get the message across, once more in her head to cement the idea. The store was spotless, wasn't it? Besides, if you stay cooped up in a house forever, it would be pretty bad for your health; even those who dread the smallest of crowds have to step outside eventually. This was also a gift, right? Rinko wouldn't be offering if there were terms for repayment, and moreover, Rinko was a friend.
"We're not going anywhere fancy, Koyomi-chan!" The detective hollered, as giddy as can be, prancing around once the other woman was out of sight. "Anything will do!"
Oh, this was going to be amazing! One day without any phantoms, magical messes, messy magicians, hungry wizards, hopping around pits of despair - it was going to be the perfect day off, which is exactly what Rinko needed, given how she's been working two jobs practically! After all, you don't get paid for working in a department you aren't assigned to, and especially when her transfer request to Section Zero was denied, Rinko was just about ready to blow these bellowing fumes into something fun!
Anything will do, huh? In the tiny room that she owned, a ginormous dresser sat on the wall adjacent to the window where her bed was. Daring to open the silver-knobbed doors, you would find an array of clothes as deep as the ocean! Certainly, one had to wonder where such clothes came from – Wajima himself was unsure. As he put it, 'One day, a week after the two of you arrived on my doorstep, a box showed up, and there it was!' No return address, nothing.
The mystery sometimes left Koyomi feeling as if these weren't hers – like she was a doll being fitted for another's set, but they were well kept and had no holes. As a matter of fact, they fit nicely too, and she did take a liking to them. Something about fluffy collars, regal patterned skirts of beige and cream, and buttons, yes, tons of buttons, made the gloomiest of days a bit happier whenever she peered inside, and so to whomever they once belonged to, Koyomi was proud to wear them.
Although, part of her desired other things. Pieces of her own identity that she had been trying to forge in the form of discounted vintage wear. "Mm…" Koyomi muttered, mulling it over. The spotlight was glaring down right on her, the glow of the afternoon sun piercing through pale skies and reflecting off of small mirrors that had been built into the auburn walls of this dresser. She couldn't wait in this room forever. Hiding wasn't much in her nature, but neither was this whole 'having fun' thing.
Still, this one here could keep some of the sun out of her eyes while keeping the light. 'Perfect.'
After what must've been a bit over thirty minutes, Koyomi returned, with a newfound grace in her steps, as they fluttered down the stairs. As she entered the lobby, she caught the sharp-faced detective turning her precious, studded tea-kettle into a toy, having turned it upside down to try and scrape out what she wished to remain from the depths of the endless, empty hole. All she could gather was leaves, and such a gift wasn't received by Rinko, for when Koyomi caught her, she simply scattered the plotted saucers back to their original positions and pretended like it hadn't occurred.
"Y.. You know," Rinko chuckled nervously, glancing away from Koyomi, years of regret for keeping her hair short, building up in a mere moment, for it may have done a great job of hiding such shame. "I have wondered… Um, you have never been to a wrestling match, have you?"
"Oolong with purple yam." Koyomi answered, seeming a bit more gleeful as she grabbed her satchel off the counter. Can't go anywhere without this thing, especially in the earlier days when she used to fill it with an assortment of rings for Haruto. Although, that used to cause mishaps when speeding along the roads. More than a few times, Koyomi and Haruto had to swerve back, narrowly avoiding cars, and lamenting to dozens of passengers with poorly placed apologies. Somehow, as that memory slipped from the leather strap and into her fingers, it was like she relieved every instance in a fraction through a faint gust of wind, and there she found her smile.
"Huh?" Rinko asked, looking back towards her friend. "Oh, that hat. When did you get that?" Resting over her chestnut locks, a crimson beret that just barely blanketed the corners of her head sat, nestled like a bird's nest in the midst of an emerald orchard.
"A long time ago." Koyomi answered with a soft hush. "It worried me that it didn't fit." Running her hands along the velvet seams, there was an unbridled warmth sewn in the ridges that soothed the girl's spirit. Many things in this store needed to be dusted off, but no matter how far back in her closet that this was stuffed, all it yearned for was a bit of attention to become anew.
"It's marvelous." Rinko added, her glee reshaping itself towards a reserved, but joyous smile. Without further adieu, it was time to get off her butt and get out there! "Say, Koyomi-chan, do you think we can make it before the next bus arrives?" Although she proposed the question, Rinko didn't ask for permission regarding the answer. Just before Koyomi was able to speak up, the detective swooped her by the hand, and like a hawk seeking out a mouse, dived right in and curved an unknown path where clouds were exchanged for compact, bustling streets.
"Wait, the doors!" Koyomi said, doing her best to fight back against the woman's insistence. Her weak constitution didn't make for much of a match, even when she held on tightly to the brass handles. Making a clutch with the best of her strength, she fumbled around in her pockets for the generously lent key copy.
"No more excuses, Koyomi-chan!" Rinko said in a shrill voice. No matter how hard she tugged, the girl simply swayed like a hammock in the midst of a tornado. Any more, and she might end up twisting her around on her back, but would that stop Koyomi? "You don't make this easy! G-Geez, are you allergic to the outdoors?! This isn't what I signed up for!"
"M-me neither!" Koyomi said, edging the key into the hole. With one, great big twist, she just barely happened to turn the lock. Once that ordeal was through, she let go, Rinko and her both plummeting to the floor; the key remaining sturdy, resting like a baby inside its hourglass shaped crib.
People were not within the interests of Koyomi. While Rinko had no problem barrelling through the crowds, the detective's hand practically seared into hers, she on the other 'hand' would have rather stayed in bed if it meant to avoid such a mess. It's not that Koyomi feared what lurked beyond the four corners of the lobby in Wajima's humble abode, it was rather that she wasn't used to 'hanging out' with others – whatever that really entailed. Whenever she did go out for leisure, it was with Haruto. Neither of them were from Toriisaka, as far as she seemed to know, actually, but he understood the town like it was the back of his hand, and where she might get caught up in terrifying alleyways she thought led to an intersection, or hopping on the wrong train and ending up in Osaka. Haruto and his heart were like a guiding wind, but Rinko? Rinko was… like a typhoon, and she admittedly found it difficult to trust someone like that.
Then again, it might be speaking more to unfaced biases than it did fear. This wasn't to say that she disliked Rinko, Shunpei, or Nitoh. Despite how often either of them barged in uninvited, asked about snacks that she hadn't prepared, or in the case of Shunpei, unveiling a night bag to crash on their couch without prior warning (and he's done this a fair few times, might she add. Was there constant flooding in his apartment or something? Come to think of it, what did Shunpei do when he wasn't running errands with Haruto or escorting Gates?). Their presences lightened the mood, and no day was ever boring with them, but there was a lot to deal with as of late, and more so, these experiences out on the town were for a group – she's just never spent a day with any of them alone!
It was all so uncertain. The things that seemed to mildly frustrate her now felt like threats. Walkways like a sea of stars closing in on you, people who uninvitedly take their seat right next to your shadow when there are tons of other openings with elbows brushing against yours – every little thought feeling like it's being spied on, so you can't completely enjoy the ride – oh, and the sheer levels of tension while waiting for a light to change colour.
Familiar streets were uncharted territory, and Koyomi could only hold on to the comfort in fair certainty of their destination: wrestling.
"Oh, are you all bundled up?" Rinko asked, ushering them to their seats towards the back of the bus. Wait, when did they get on the bus?!
"It's no worries." Koyomi whispered.
"Really?" Rinko asked, dipping right into her personal space. "Because you sure look pale."
"It's the air." Koyomi lied. "I'm not cold."
"Here, take this." Rinko said, handing her a styrofoam cup. Right, it was just before they crossed the street, she had stopped at a kiosk for something to drink. "Nothing better than a pippin' hot cup of coffee to keep you warm, right? Plus, it's good for the sinuses!"
"I'm not sure that's true." Koyomi said, considering the cup. It could melt a glacier if you stripped it of its sleeve and left it to sit. "How can you drink this? Didn't you have tea earlier?"
"Yeah, but… Oh, okay. You caught me." She laughed with a toothy smile. "Some nights are rough. I'm a detective, you know?"
"You said it again." Koyomi replied, lightly shaking the cup. "Um, are you sure you don't want this? It's yours."
"Drink up, drink up! I promise, it really does help." Rinko clasped her hands together, pleading. Well, one sip of coffee couldn't hurt, right? Tea was lighter on the tongue, but perhaps Rinko was right; if she got any paler, she might collapse into a bed of snow, and maybe someone would mistake her for such and shovel her away.
The bitter aroma was like a lake seeping out from a forbidden fall. Yet, in the midst of the darkened sweetener, there was a certain creaminess that kissed the back of her tongue and made her yearn for more. Rinko chuckled, watching the light of discovery shimmer in her eyes. "Have I opened a new world for you, Koyomi-chan?"
"Where do they get this flavour?" Koyomi asked, entranced by such a contradiction.
"BeanzBeanzBeanz." The detective replied, resting her back against the plastic seat. Pretty damn proud, Rinko was right now, feeling like she's finally managed to put a smile on the moody hermit. "One time, I got pretty curious. At first, they wouldn't tell me, but no secret is safe from me forever. I am a detective, you know."
"You said it again." Koyomi replied, staring blankly.
"Said what?" Rinko asked, pursing her lips. "Their selection is so unique, way better than the counter stuff you find in other places, but so expensive, too…" Turning to the window, the ace detective huffed out a longing sigh. "One day, I'll taste Blue Mountain."
"Their online market has more than that, they carry tea leaves, and recipes too!" Koyomi said, a sudden burst of enthusiasm enveloping her spirit. "Today, that tea you were scooping out was on their website. I'm a premium customer, actually." This time, it was Koyomi who laughed.
"Really?! Do antiques really pay more than solving mysteries?"
"No, it's Wajima-san who keeps the subscription." Koyomi said, shaking her head. She was going to ask if she were allowed to drink more coffee, but before she could muster up the words, Rinko gave her permission with a nodding gesture. "For Haruto and I, he wanted our stay to be the best it could be. Having a place to sleep or eat wasn't enough, he insisted on it. 'Any wish you have is mine to grant.'"
"That's so generous of him." Rinko uttered.
"The strangest thing is, I never asked for it. One day, he approached me, saying that he noticed I'd been brewing tea, and that he figured it would help me explore it further. I'm still not sure how he figured it out, but sometimes I wonder if I do enough to repay him for that kindness."
"You and Haruto do so much by protecting people. Speaking of Haruto…" Rinko trailed off, nudging her. "Hm?"
"Huh?" Koyomi looked puzzled.
"Oh, don't be like Shunpei." Rinko stared, seeing that she still wasn't getting it. "Come on, you don't have to hide it. Actually, everyone knows."
"Everyone?!" Koyomi dropped the cup of coffee, the hot juice making a puddle on the bus's interior floor. "H-has he… Haruto didn't tell…"
"Isn't it obvious?" Rinko asked, now she was confused. "Tell me, tell me. How are things?"
"Wonderful," Koyomi admitted, and it was like a flurry of butterflies started to flap their wings throughout her body, she could feel them taking flight, wandering around her. Gold, that was the colour of their wings, and spotted with their colours: red, and white. Complimentary in their composition, and tender like the crust of a cherry pie when their lips pressed against their skin. "Yes, wonderful. That's the word, isn't it?" These past few weeks with Haruto have been nothing but amazing, and their bond was closer than ever. Even under the coldest winds, he was her spark that lit a fire in her heart. And she… she was the light in the darkness that surrounded his elusive past. That was Haruto and Koyomi, the stars that dared to cross over each other and shine together.
Then, she happened to faint a glance down at her gloved hand, and then it settled in again. Those butterflies were replaced with an anchor, and she felt the weight of the ocean upon her. This thing, this little crack… It was the one thing that stood in the way of these endless, happy days.
'With hope, these days can last forever.' Koyomi thought, seeking to convince herself. 'With my hope it will.'
"Say, Rinko." Koyomi said, glancing her way and with peace, even if just for now. "Wrestling matches aren't messy, are they?"
Oh, boy, it was messy, and Koyomi loved it! Stepping out of the mini colosseum, Koyomi emerged, and with her beret resting in her satchel. Atop of her head, and being slurped on at this very moment, was a yellow hardhat that had two cans of soda strapped onto the sides. Emerging from the tops was a clear tube that hung at her side and allowed the girl to sip on some purple soda. It was convenient to have such a device strapped to her head, because these cold hands were preoccupied at the moment. In her left, a tri-shaped sign coloured green to represent the side she was betting on; it was attached to a tiny plastic tube that she could wave around and howl with. In her other hand, a huge bucket of popcorn, which had been nicknamed 'The Bottomless Buffet.' Initially, Koyomi wasn't going to buy it, but with a fizzy drink one tends to be in the mood for snacks, and even if she wasn't some sort of alien being who dined only on sugary sweets, Koyomi had desires like any other person.
Rinko, walking next to her, reached inside and snagged a pile of her own to shove right down her mouth. Despite the match being over it was still warm – that's the power of melted butter for you! Such a delight. "Hey, hey. Koyomi-chan, don't drink so much!" The detective laughed. "With how much caffeine we've drank today, you won't be able to sleep with all that sugar!"
"Are you kidding?" Koyomi scoffed, practically skipping down the street; her regal skirt swaying amidst the frigid wind. "There's no way I can sleep, regardless. Watching those two battle it out in the ring. When Smashing Cloud took Pain King over his shoulder and tossed him into the ropes like it was nothing, I…" Now, it was her turn to laugh. Something was bubbling in her stomach. Like a volcano ready to blow at any moment. "Is this the same thrill Haruto feels fighting phantoms?"
"So," Rinko pursed her lips, glancing out into the gray November sky. She spoke with a boastful, but innocent voice. "Have you changed your mind about staying indoors?"
"The day isn't over yet." Koyomi said, sipping from her hat. Wanting not to admit her defeat so hastily, she kept her proper, yet snooty demeanor. It seems she might've misjudged these circumstances, and in some way, she was delighted to be wrong. When it's the whole gang, chaos is overabundant and blitzes through the streets like a tornado – she can never catch her breath, and with Haruto, he takes every bit of it away when they're alone, but with Rinko? Well, perhaps 'fun' isn't such a word to fear.
Rinko would never admit it, but she felt like she was on fire. In the good way, that is. Deep inside her underworld, somewhere, a vestige of her was cheering with arms soaring through the air like a child waking up one fine, cold morning to see that school had been cancelled. 'Way to go, Rinko!' is what she muttered to herself.
Unfortunately, the fun couldn't last forever. Just as they headed outwards from the wide alleyway where the red brick building with the underground arena stood, people swarmed out onto the main street with terror! Screams could be heard from a mile away, tons of citizens shoving past one another in hopes that their efforts would make for a great escape to salvage their lives. The once cheery, bustling commercial district where dozens of people mixed and matched paths each day was now a fading town of life. The grand mall, which centered the district in its bright, cream coloured hexagonal shape, and was notorious for being one of two of Toriisaka's only malls (the only one with a grand waterfall at the west entrance of its double deckered set of glass doors), stood as if it were a monument to a civilization that had fled many moons ago. In mere moments the heart of Toriisaka had disappeared.
"What's going on?!" Rinko asked, struggling to keep her balance as stragglers shoved straight through, caring not who they left to pick up the pieces of themselves as unbridled malice ascended from the deepest regions of the abyss. In an instant, Koyomi dropped to one knee, grasping her head with a wince.
"Nngh!" She cried, prompting Rinko to quickly aid her side.
"Koyomi-chan?!" Then, her friend raised a hand, stretching outwards towards a crossroad where the threat emerged. An intersection had become an arena. Cars in the streets were piled up in columns of three. They were packed tightly together, barricading several exits, so that those who were not so fortunate to skip out town were locked in. Those without luck piled themselves together in a corner, fearing for what was to come as their opponent closed in, strolling with rhythmic stomps that followed an eerie tune. A voice that split through the winds, and worked its melody like a cascade of crackling ice, the shrill whispers like a set of hands sticking their fingers between the small spots in one's spine.
The being in question, who dared disrupt the peace, was indeed a phantom. A formidable build, stretching just above the average man and with limbs as thin as twigs, but with the length of a spider's deadly thread. A furry, ebony coat of hair covered the being from head to toe, its backside splitting from a fork in the shape of a V, and fluttering around its waist like it had a mind of its own. The inside was fleshy, and with hundreds of eyes against the pink inner layer; you could never hide from this monster, so long as you were still breathing. Its chest was puffed like a penguin. As white as the clouded sky, and with a mane that twirled, and curled like a sea of spirals. Claws that complimented the previously mentioned features stood out like gloves that cut off a suited sleeve, pleasantly in one hand did he twirl a diamond encrusted ivory staff. Their face was like a ghost, lacking a visage, save for a shimmering spyglass that erected itself from the middle of its forehead. Trading in sturdy horns for a shiny, rising hat that only barely covered their wide dome, it was a being whose essence was wrapped in being marvelous.
The most identifiable feature on this creature was an aging, red mist that covered their neck like a fuming patch of steam carrying upwards from a chimney stack, and flowing with elegance to mask a carnal desire.
"A fine batch of gifts before me." The Phantom cackled. "Let's take a look and see, what blessings shall you bring?"
"Another phantom already?!" Rinko shouted, reaching into her blazer. Unveiling a firearm, she cracked open the barrel and counted with reluctance. "We have to stop them–"
"Hold on!" Koyomi pulled the detective back just as she decided to dart off on her own. "That won't help. You don't have magic!"
"What else can we do right now? I can't stand around and do nothing." Rinko argued back, breaking from her grasp. Gifting one last look to the scene, she had made up her mind before turning towards Koyomi, who pleaded to think this through. "It's my duty." Without another word to argue with, Rinko charged ahead.
"Please!" One man shouted. A father, doing his best to shield his family from the horrors that lie ahead of them. "We'll do anything, just let us go!"
"Anything?" The Phantom asked, amused by the proposal. "Fall into despair, and birth me a new power!"
"D-despair?!" The father answered, unsure what it meant, but he knew it was no act of mercy.
"You have lovely children." The Phantom said, admiring the man's tenacity. "Who do you love more, your son…" Raising their weapon, the man instinctively threw himself over the young child. "Or could it be your daughter?" Trembling with fear, the father dared not to move, for he now understood what the creature's request was.
"Who… Who are you?!" The man shouted. "By what right do you make me choose?!"
"Lupin, at your service." Bending a knee, the monster dipped forward and bowed. "Now, before you fall into despair, let's take a look at you…"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The Phantom stumbled, drawn out of their daydreams. Slowly lifting his head, he pivoted, spotting an unsightly interference. Smoke fizzled back into the air, escaping the iron lung and breathed new hope into the captives of this monster.
"Perhaps, I got carried away." Lupin smirked. "Shooting stars and their miracles are hard to catch, but it's just as hard to keep unwanted desires out."
Legs wiggling like jelly, Rinko stood with a valiant expression. No matter how impossible it may be, she would stand opposed to the forces of evil. Magic wasn't hers to harness, and she had not the strength of a Kamen Rider, but that didn't matter! So much as one person stands in the way of darkness, then it can never overshadow the light – that's what this year has taught her.
"S-stand down." Rinko ordered. No one here to bail her out. The fate of others was hers to change, and she took on that responsibility with an unwavering heart, no matter how much her courage at this moment was faltering. "By the law, stand down right now and let these people go!"
"Earn their freedom." Lupin said.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
It didn't matter. These bullets weren't the right material. With nothing left to do and death knocking on her door, Rinko swatted at the monster. To no avail, it didn't make a dent on them. Try as she might to dodge his effortless attacks, Rinko had the draw of luck and missed a few, but as soon as Lupin put his back into it, he effortlessly took the detective down. Now, he was standing over her, twiddling about with boredom. Was victory always this simple?
"Go…" Rinko commanded towards the family, mustering up what strength she had. In what could be her final moments, she urged – no, demanded that these people make the most of this opportunity and escape. "Get out of here!" The Phantom, finding some semblance of respect in her dying wishes, allowed them to scurry off. Besides, what was a little more chasing when you were going to have all the power you could ever want in this world? The fate of the ant changes not whether you are a mouse, or a giant making their next great step.
"That ring. It's quite the treasure." Lupin said, leaning in to inspect it further. "Did someone bestow this unto you, or have you denied your true form?" Raising the cane over her chest, he readied to deliver the killing blow. "Worry not, I'll make good use of it!" Submitting to the endless darkness, Rinko braced this unsightly end, her only hope being that the others would have understood.
Then, Lupin struck his cane down.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Suddenly, the phantom went flying! Cast out into his own cage, Rinko could feel her heart stuttering as she took another breath. Was she alive? When she opened her eyes, a sight she never thought to have occurred was unfolding right before her. Another monster had entered. A surprise challenger, a secret best kept from even the producers of this match. The guardian that wasn't her millionth choice.
"Overselling yourself so soon?" A snake has slithered onto the field. "The only use you have is filling empty space in a cemetery." Said Medusa. "Return to the dirt, worm."
"MEDUSA?!" Three of them said, each as puzzled as the other.
"Have you reconsidered my offer?" Lupin asked, dusting himself off. For such a haughty adversary, dignity was a defining trait that she appeared to be lacking.
"Offer?" Medusa asked, twirling her scepter. "That's strange, I can't seem to recall you being allowed to say such things."
"Unlike you, I tend to dream." While Lupin and Medusa exchanged in a battle of words, Rinko sought out a chance to retreat. Crawling as desperately as she could, she failed in escaping the web of despair; tendrils emerging out of the air and coiling around her legs, holding the detective upside down.
"Rinko!" Koyomi cried, unsure what to do.
"What exactly was your plan?" Medusa asked, crossing her arms. She carried her prisoner through the air, circling Lupin. "Search for Gates, create Phantoms, and then destroy them? Allow me to remind you," Medusa shook Rinko in front of Lupin, dangling his prize right in front of him. "When you were reborn, you signed a contract in exchange for your life. The orders of Wiseman are absolute, and you must obey. If you were so forgetful, then it might have been better to keep you locked up." Now, she was inches away, continuing to air out her grievances with a pompous tone. "Otherwise, that means you've been disobedient."
"What, and that means you're here to stop me?"
"No." Medusa said. "It means I'm here to kill you."
Without another word, they exchanged in battle! Flinging Rinko down the road, Medusa summoned her silver scepter out of thin air, driving it upwards from the bottom as if it were a great blade. The blunt edge of her weapon clashed into the cane that had swung from the skies to crush her. Sparks flew between them, lighting up the battlefield as both monsters glared down at the other with murderous intent.
Then, the tables started to shift. An overwhelming sense of pressure started to make Meduca retrace her steps. Lupin was glowing, a blue aura enveloping their body. This power was familiar, but it couldn't be?
"Expecting victory? Think again." This was the power of Minotauros! The snakes resting from Medusa's head lowered themselves and wrapped themselves around the staff in an attempt to help, but it was in vain. Such strength would knock her down if she didn't try something else! Rolling off to the side, she avoided his charge and struck him in the back of the legs with a swift blow. However, that didn't deter Lupin. Not one bit, actually. Spinning her scepter in huge, mighty motions, a violet cyclone started to form outward from the magenta gem that rested in the center of silver edges at the tip of the weapon.
This would keep him back, and the skies he cherished would become his worst enemy. However, he's grown accustomed to a new love for the ground. A tangerine aura now cased over his skin, and in a flash he disappeared underground! No, this couldn't be… Gnome's power?!
Hopping around in cartwheeling motions, Medusa narrowly evaded each attack – one motion needing the aid of her staff to rebalance the landing. When he reemerged, having burst through the ground at least five times now in a matter of seconds, he couldn't contain his excitement.
"Regretting my offer?" Lupin asked, twirling his cane around. "This is your last chance." Medusa remained silent, approaching him with a strengthened will. Now, a golden aura enveloped him. She recognized this one, Cait Sith. Slithering across the gaps between them, Medusa readied herself this time. Horns sprouted from his shoulders, and his arms transformed into sparkling, deadly blades! Slice and dice, he swiped at Medusa, swooping in like an owl that was on the verge of taking his prey, a rat that understood not in futility!
Swerving her staff, Medusa parried each and every swipe. The flurried exchange of blows kept the bystanders on their toes, unsure of who to root for. Crossing their blades over the other, Lupin made for an overhead smash. Medusa, with pristine focus, saw through the attack, and countered by raising one of her own! They collided, with Medusa stepping forward and circling behind Lupin, releasing herself from his grasps.
Pivoting, they clashed once more, now returned to his normal form with that particular cane. Silence fell between them both. It was a test of pure conviction now. Then, in a bold move, he stepped on her toes, knocking the Phantom off balance! Taking the broadside of the cane, he smashed it into her neck, and then curled it around so that her throat was caught in his loop.
"Is this Wiseman's best?" Lupin spoke with a strong, cold voice. He whispered into her ears from behind. "Such a disappointment, if only Phoenix was around – at least I can destroy him more than once." Looping the cane back around her neck, the cuffing part stayed lodged at the back of her skull. Then, he smashed Medusa into the ground.
"Insolent…" Medusa started, but Lupin silenced her, ushering her to wait her turn with the smoothened ends of the wooden stick glowing white.
"Medusa. Sister of the Gorgons, the mortal in the myth. You bear her name, but not the resolve needed to harness her power. No, you don't deserve such a gift." Covering one hand over the other, he held the handle firmly. "Allow me to alleviate you of this burden."
Then, it was gone. The cane impaled Medusa, and stripped her of everything that mattered. "As a token of appreciation for being so resilient, I bring you the best gift I can offer." A lilac bubble manifested itself, floating next to him, and shimmering greatly with a haunting, dark light that crackled like wild lightning. "Life, knowing that the purpose of yours is no longer in your grasp, and shall never be again. Live with this defeat, Medusa. The memory is all that you can keep."
A victim of her own arrogance, and now diminished to nothing more than the reflection of a dead person, Medusa, wearing the skin of her Gate, lay vanquished as the thief vanished. No more a beast, and no longer human, she took the next breath in her new life as something else. Something, that by all means in her eyes, was neither, and therefore, something lesser.
The question is: What was she now?
AUTHOR'S NOTE (10/15/24):
Okay, okay. So, this chapter came out a lot earlier than I expected. Woohoo, me! Initially, I wasn't sure about my feelings towards this chapter, but upon closer inspection, I'm pretty happy with it. Things started to fall right into place when I started writing Medusa, I really like writing characters like her. As you might have guessed it, yes, both the Inamori twins are featured in this story! Poor Misa, no longer a phantom. At least, one without a power. I tend to wonder, if Yuugo/Phoenix could reach into his own past, then what does Medusa honestly think about her own? It's something that I wanted to explore in other stories, and this is the one that seems the most fitting.
Honestly, a lot of stuff with the Inamori twins was really fascinating, but it's a bit of a shame we didn't see a lot of it, so I'm using this chance to give them the flowers they both deserve, and especially to Erina Nakayama who was in my eyes, the best actor in the show. So, yes, without delving into too much, Medusa is now powerless, and she's got to team up with our duo to take down a phantom that loves to steal powers. On that note, I am aware that Ogre has a similar power, but this phantom, Lupin, is based off Arsene Lupin, the gentleman thief - you know, as a fictional character, phantoms are probably based on heroes too, or at least that's what I like to imagine, much like a Persona is!
Usually when I write, I listen to YouTube or watch TV out of the corner of my eye. I haven't found a show lately that has captivated me as I write. A lot of shows I used to watch have been removed off of streaming platforms, ugh. I'm trying to get back into reading as well, especially manga, because a few years ago, I used to read so much (I love me some obscure manga which will probably never get complete fan translations), but college has really slowed that down. I do enough reading as is, but hey, we're almost through! Reading fanfiction is something I want to get back into as well. I'll admit, I don't actually read fanfiction a lot like I used to, and I dream of getting into those long-fics that everyone gushes about, but I tend to end up putting such readings off for whatever reason. That has to change, because I'm changing. Here's to us, and here's to Wizard especially for keeping me sane and introducing me to this wonderful franchise.
Festival of Fate & Root of Power as stories are dedicated to all those who worked on Wizard, and most importantly to the brilliant cast of actors that have made me experience joy on levels I never thought I could have. Thank you, to them, and thank all of you, my dear readers.