Fuka: the Final Chapter (Nao)

[Corwin]

<--->

Nao's preparations go smoothly, except for an eerie moment as she contemplates finding her sister a boyfriend and feels a deep chill within her. Finding a suitable outfit is easy enough, and several leeks can be found in the fridge, though none as particularly large. Shizuru is absent, but a text message informs Nao that she would make it directly to the event due to a bit of last minute Fuka business.

The doorbell rings, again and again. Mikoto must be there.

"It's open!" Nao planned ahead! This way, Mikoto won't leap onto her instantly and almost break her neck.

The door opens, feet tap against the floor, and air behind her is displaced, all sure signs of Mikoto leaping at Nao's unguarded back.

"Good afternoon~! I beat you home for once!" declares Nao, stepping foward and allowing Mikoto to fly past her, onto the bed.

Mikoto's flailing foot tags Nao, causing the redhead to tumble onto the bed along with her in a large heap. Some small part of Nao's mind notes that she didn't hear the door close after Mikoto.

It's a very small part that tends to go unheard until it's too late. Far too late. "You're always so rough! Please, be more gentle," complains Nao as she futiley attempts to extricate herself from this entanglement.

The sound of a shutter alerts Nao to the presence of other people.

This was a planned attack, Nao suddenly realises. Perfectly executed because her guard was down in her own plot. There will be a reckoning for this.

Looking past Mikoto is difficult but not impossible. Natsuki leans against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest and looking extra sour. The hesitant looks she keeps on sending at Mikoto reveal the cause of her attitude to Nao easily enough.

Further into the bedroom are two of Nao's friends, the president of the journalism club she herself belongs to as well as the older girl's roommate. It sometimes amuses Nao that she's friends with more of Natsuki's classmates than her older sister is herself.

Chie Harada lowers her cell, smirking. "I sense a scoop!" she announces. By her side, Aoi Senoh giggles.

It takes a vast shove to send Mikoto flying off the bed, and Nao redeems a little of her lost elegance by flipping to her feet (the mattress is extra bouncy to allow this!)

"A true journalist has no need to engineer their stories," she replies, loftily. "Ah, you are such a terrible example, president. But, the day will come when I suceed you soon enough."

"Ah, an attack against my pride!" Chie exclaims exaggeratedly. "Tell me, fair Mikoto, were your actions on this day engineered by yours truly?"

From her place on the floor, Mikoto blinks slowly at the older girl.

"Did we tell you to molest Nao-chan?" Aoi translates, and Mikoto shakes her head firmly. "No! Mikoto likes it!"

Natsuki palms her face. "Let's just go."

Nao scrutinizes her sister's clothing- this could be a chance!

Ragged jeans, and a t-shirt peeking out from beneath a hoodie. Natsuki is dressed as casually as Nao had ever seen her in public.

Fountain. Where's that fountain again? Is it near that ice-cream place? If things are lined up just so, Mikoto will once again become the cannonball of fate.

There are none near the dorm, although Nao is certain there are at least two on the way to their regular karaoke place, one a short distance from a family restaurant. And there are always the fast food or ice-cream stands, as Mikoto would be easy to provoke into begging to eat something. Having her food accidentally smear over Natsuki's clothes would also have the added benefit of seeing her sister frantically fend off a hungry Mikoto trying to lick it clean.

Ah, of course. There was an easier way after all.

"It is time," declares Nao, as she exits her dorm, dressed in every way Natsuki is not: looking cute (and just a little bit dangerous) is the goal, and a denim skirt goes a long way in both directions.

"Let's go! Nee-chan, I'll race you to the bus~"

"Pass."

Mikoto picks up the challenge, however, racing the redhead there. That she does it and manages to keep up while running backwards is a feat in and of itself.

Chie, Aoi and Natsuki follow at a far more sedate pace.

"Spoilsport," complains Nao, poking out her tounge before turning to dash after Mikoto. Nao is proud of her body! One day she'll win for sure (in, perhaps, a million years.)

Mikoto must like Nao's body as well, because she tackles her as soon as they are at the bus station, rubbing her face against Nao. A groan of disgust sounds from behind, even as another picture appears to have been taken.

It is tempting to tell Mikoto that Natsuki is jealous, but it's just not the time for that yet, so she settles for putting the smaller girl into a headlock- might as well use what advantages she's got!

Come to think of it, though, have they taken Mikoto to kareoke before? There's just something about all this that doesn't quite fit, like something's missing.

There have been attempts to take Mikoto to karaoke, and she was somehow kept in check. It must have involved cosplay, however, because Nao recalls herself and Natsuki being forced into an outfit they wouldn't normally wear, the latter even under threat of pain. And it had to have involved drinking, because Nao is fuzzy on the details.

Drinking would do it.

"Aoi-chan, do you like the skirt?" asks Nao, twirling on the spot once she releases Mikoto. "I got it cheap, you know, from that new shop in the mall near that accessory place you like so much... aha, Yuki's, that's it. The guy there lets you bargain if you wink at him, he's such a sap."

"Oh, really? Maybe we should visit afterwards and see about a group discount." Aoi blows off a kiss, posing. "Too exaggerated, you think?"

Chie takes a picture of Aoi. Natsuki's disgust does not even seem feigned, now.

"Guys can't tell. They're simple like that."

The bus arrives, the wait for it too long, as always. Nao has enough music on her phone to make it bearable, however, and Chie entertains the girls by showing them a few of the candid shots she took earlier that day. One of them is of a very smug-looking Shizuru, which makes Natsuki pale.

They are deposited near the mall. Although a closer station exists, Nao reasons that they don't want to arrive too early. Natsuki, being the only dissenting voice, is easily overruled, which leads to her storming off ahead of the rest of them once they arrive.

"Oi, Nee-chan, wait up!" stutters Nao, scrambling after her sister in a hurry. "Come on, what's the big rush?"

Natsuki looks like she's about to snarl, but the look in her eyes softens at the last moment, and she turns her head away with a huff. "I've been feeling off all day. Weird. Like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, you know?"

"Huh? You, too?" asks Nao, cocking her head.

Natsuki jerks to look at her. "You think it's Shizuru's doing? She might be placing a curse on us as we speak!"

"She would have no need for such trivial magic," mutters Nao. "No, it's just weird. Like someone's missing, and someone shouldn't be here. It's been bugging me all day, like a bad dream or something."

Natsuki throws a distrustful glare at Mikoto, who remains blissfully unaware.

"Anyway, it's probably nothing," admits Nao. "Just, like, relax or something. Even if you get there first, what're you going to do, sing on your own?"

"I don't like duets, so don't even think about it," Natsuki warns Nao.

Nao just throws up her hands. "What do you like, anyway?"

Natsuki stumbles. "Excuse me?"

"Seriously, what is it? I can't remember the last time you were actually happy about getting to do something fun," replies Nao, pouting. "Look, you can even drag me along to something, free of charge! I won't even complain, even if I think it's stupid."

Natsuki shifts uncomfortably. She scowls, but the expression doesn't hold. "This isn't fun," she tells Nao. "Karaoke and all that nonsense, or shopping, or...." She colors slightly. "Riding your bike down a mountain road, pushing it to the limit? That's fun."

"Ah, strictly a solo act, though," replies Nao, glancing at the roof. "I like stuff people can do together."

Natsuki's discomfort increases. "I could take you with me," she offers, almost grudgingly.

"Wanna go tonight?" asks Nao, perpetually eager to do anything with her sister. If Natsuki knew that, she'd have a powerful weapon to use against her... though, Nee-chan doesn't see things that way. Never has.

Natsuki shrugs. "Ah, sure. If it's not too late once we're done." She seems to view the karaoke outing as a chore.

Once at the karaoke club, the group is shown to a room already reserved in their name. Shizuru is inside, looking expectant. Her face falls ever so slightly; Nao doubts anyone else had managed to even catch the change of expression, but the way Natsuki shivers by her side suggests otherwise.

Nao pales instantly. "I forgot," she hisses, under her breath. "I can't believe I forgot."

Natsuki is either furious or terrified; knowing her, possibly both at the same time.

"I came a bit ahead of time," Shizuru speaks, sounding as pleasant as ever. "The room had to be readied just right." It doesn't look any different to Nao, but she had learned that with Shizuru, appearances can be deceiving.

The two emotions do seem to go hand in hand. Why does Nao know that so well?

She pulls the door shut once the group has fully entered the room, cutting off any hope of escape before she grabs Natsuki's hand. "So! That duet, let's get started~"

"Wha-- no!" Natsuki protests, struggling. "No duets!"

"I'm sorry," whispers Nao so only Natsuki can hear. "But if I don't do this, I won't be able to sleep at night. Any protests will be met with Mikoto."

The look of betrayal Natsuki throws her has just the right amount of fear in it that Nao wonders whether she would be able to sleep at night anyway.

A strange, insistent thought that Shizuru would kill her and thus Nao would be unable to worry over not sleeping at night to begin with refuses to go away, despite feeling so strange and out of place.

Kill her. Anyone who attacks Nao must die, without equivocation-

These thoughts aren't natural, Nao suddenly realises. This edgy feeling that's been pestering her all day, there's something truly alien at work, here that isn't within her experience. She falters slightly as she drags Natsuki to the changing curtain, trying to pinpoint the source.

Natsuki's resistents falters as Mikoto makes a dash for the food Shizuru had pre-ordered, passing dangerously close to the bluette. It is just the edge Nao needs to pull the older girl along.

Get yourself together, Nao tells herself, dragging Natsuki out of view in order to change her outfit- by force!

"How could you?" Natsuki hisses. "Your own--"

"Do you need any help?" Shizuru asks, her shadow visible through the curtain.

"We're fine! Just fine!" replies Nao, before starting to whisper. "Listen, I made a stupid deal, and now you have to sacrifice yourself to make it better," replies Nao, clasping her hands. "Forgive your younger sister's foolish ways."

"Are you sure?" Shizuru asks, and the curtain wavers, as if someone were slowly parting it. Natsuki shies away with an eep, and Nao thinks she hears Shizuru laugh softly to herself.

"Am I ever unsure, sempai?"

"No, but sometimes you act coy." Nao can practically see Shizuru smile with her mind's eye. "It is so cute. Just like Natsuki~"

"Ah, you must be lying, for we have absolutely nothing in common besides our name."

"Oh, that can't be true," Shizuru murmurs. "After all, I would be crushed to learn that only one of you liked spending time with me."

"Shizuru, that's not fair," replies Nao, sounding slightly disgruntled.

"Just one more thing you two have in common~" Shizuru says, the tone of her voice an uplifted one. Nao can't tell, without seeing the older girl's face, whether she's being serious. "Even if you weren't siblings, you would be a lot alike, deep down. I know that just as I know that my Natsuki better get dressed in two minutes or I'm coming in to help her~"

Shizuru's words strike a chord with Nao. It feels like she had expressed a similar sentiment before, and even though Nao can't recall any such occasion, she can't help but get slightly emotional.

Nao can't let Natsuki see her face when she's feeling so- lonely. That's not an emotion that makes any sense in this context. She's Yuuki Nao, and most people can't help but greet her with a smile, so why-

"Your Natsuki? Nee-chan definately belongs to me, you know," replies Nao, faux-hotly.

"We'll have to duel over her, fufufu~"

Shizuru's footsteps retreat. Natsuki is blushing, Nao realizes.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" the bluette asks in irritation. "There's no way that woman is going to be helping me in any way that requires dangerous touching."

"Even if she breaches the curtain, I will do my best to keep Chie at bay," replies Nao, fishing the outfit from the bag and handing it to Natsuki.

Natsuki eyes it dubiously. "It... doesn't look too bad," she admits, looking the green, grey and black outfit over critically. "Not too racy. It's not seethrough, is it?"

"No," replies Nao, studiously ignoring the problem of the leek. "It's weirdly formal for you, though. I mean, it has a tie."

Natsuki's efforts to find fault with the clothing double. "It's cosplay, isn't it," she mutters, almost too quietly for Nao to overhear.

"Ninety seconds!" Chie calls over. That seems to take care of Natsuki's remaining reservations, as she begins to strip hurriedly.

"The worst is yet to come," admits Nao, checking her watch and getting changed into a matching outfit, herself.

Natsuki looks miserable, and her angry looks at Nao lack their usual fire. The room gets livelier as Nao and Natsuki change, although the voices are too muffled to hear clearly.

Nao doesn't have the hair to properly emulate the girl, but Natsuki has it! Well, in terms of length, anyway. But one minute won't be enough. No, there's only one thing for it. "It might be best if you close your eyes."

Natsuki pauses in the middle of putting on her pantyhose. The cry of "Thirty seconds!" is all that it takes for her to comply without protest.

All that must be done once Natsuki is done dressing is to shove the leek into her hand, and then push her outside. It might be that Nao can never be forgiven for this (which means everything will be back to normal in about a week.)

There is a sudden hush, just like the quiet before the storm. Nao's hunch is proven to be spot on as laughter erupts from those gathered. "Ah, Natsuki," she hears Shizuru speak. "You were in such a hurry to sing that you didn't even put on your shoes?"

Aoi glances past the opened curtain. "Coming, Nao-chan?"

"Of course! I'm fully prepared," boasts Nao, stepping outside and allowing herself to being enjoying the afternoon. It won't kill Natsuki (unless she drives the two of them off a cliff this evening as revenge. That would be a very Natsuki thing to do.)

Natsuki is squirming as Shizuru toys with her hair. The student council president doesn't seem satisfied with merely making it two ponytails, appearing deadset on braiding it.

"Why don't you choose your song while we get you ready?" Shizuru asks sweetly.

"What the hell do you mean 'choose'?!" Natsuki exclaims.

From her position, Nao can see the selection. Every song on it is Levan Polka. She's fairly certain the karaoke machine is not supposed to work that way.

Leave it to Shizuru to ruin an otherwise perfectly good outing, reflects Nao. If she sets the terms like this, though, she gets to fit the bill. There will be a certain level of justice, here.

"Look on the bright side. At least it's not in english?"

"I don't even know what language it is!" Natsuki exclaims.

"Oh, don't worry about that," Shizuru tells her happily. "Those are just made up words."

While Natsuki sputters, Nao is left to take stock of the room. Some of Natsuki's classmates are there; Nao doesn't really know them well enough to address them by their first names, but Chie and Aoi certainly don't have that problem, chatting with them. Another new arrival is Sugiura Midori. She also seems drunk, although Nao can't spot anything stronger than orange juice among the selection of refreshments.

Nao walks over to operate the machine and rapidly sets it to begin. "Come on, Nee-chan! Sing like it's the last thing you'll ever do. Nobody's better than the one who goes first~"

Natsuki looks utterly lost as she stumbles through the foreign-sounding nonsensical words, panicking whenever Shizuru smiles suggestively at her. She misses a full third of her cues, it seems, but the way she waves the leek she seems to have forgotten about whenever she gets flustered gets Natsuki a standing ovation when the song is over.

Nao claps as well, sipping at a light drink herself and freely partaking of the refreshments. "I could never have told the difference between that and the real thing," she sombrely intones when Natsuki finally falls off the stage.

That remark causes Natsuki to stumble, as the fall turns quite literal. Shizuru is there to catch her, and the width of her smile seems proportional to the blush Natsuki's cheeks are sporting.

"I think we can take the special Natsuki mode off, now," Shizuru tells Chie, who nods and picks up the phone. The karaoke machine is rebooted remotely, soon coming up in its normal state.

"As compensation for this travesty, Shizuru must now sing something by... Aqua," calls Nao, taking a drink of whatever Midori-chan has been having (is she really a teacher?)

It tastes bitter. Midori gives Nao the thumbs-up sign.

"Ah, of course!" Shizuru responds. "Natsuki and I would be delighted to sing a duet by Aqua. How about--" She drags Natsuki back on stage, the younger girl's momentary shock working against her. "--Barbie Girl?"

An expression of horror comes on Natsuki's face as the perky music starts blaring from the speakers. Shizuru grabs another microphone.

"Oh, no you don't!" complains Nao, rushing onto the stage herself. "Natsuki is far too refined for a song like that, don't you think?" she adds, snatching the microphone away. "I'll be your Ken~"

Shizuru makes a point of looking Nao over. The lyrics come up, and she starts singing, giving the redhead a smile. She maintains her hold on Natsuki's arm, however, trapping the other girl on the stage with the two of them.

Shizuru's voice is perhaps too quiet for such a song, but her accent makes the words exotic, and she pronounces them clearly. She's also not afraid of acting up a bit, unlike her public, usually reserved self. Natsuki ends up being used as a prop, as Shizuru literally dances around her or alternately drapes herself over the bluette, never failing to induce a heavy blush.

It takes every ounce of self-control Nao has to not burst out giggling every time she has to deliver a line in a deep, husky voice, but she bravely perseveres. Shizuru? Reserved? Only to people who don't know her; in private, she's a demon in every possible way.

The song ends, Natsuki finally allowed to leave the stage as Midori takes over the microphone. Shizuru hangs around her, but it feels different than the previous clingy state. That accounts for why Natsuki seems comfortable around the older girl now, Nao muses.

The door opens, a pizza delivered to the karaoke box, and Nao hears a familiar voice outside. She can't put her finger on it.

Nao had better check it out. Someone she could drag into the party with them, perhaps? They're obviously going to be here all night, so even if they don't knock off work for an hour or something...

The girl who had just delivered their food is walking away. Her hair is short, the color of orange, and Nao notices with no small amount of jealousy that despite being practically the same age the other girl has to be several sizes larger than her.

"Uh, excuse me!" Nao calls, reaching out to tap the girl on the shoulder.

"Yes?" she asks. "Do you need anything else?" There is no sign of recognition on the girl's face, and Nao can't blame her. She had never seen her before in her life.

The troubling part is that for a moment, she saw another girl's face overlayed over the karaoke club employee's.

"...where's the bathroom?" asks Nao, suddenly feeling dizzy. Had she really had that much?

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

[11:02] After washing her face in the bathroom, Nao returns to the karaoke box to find Shizuru singing a duet with Natsuki. "You're the one that I want," to be more specific, which the handy monitor on the wall identifies as being part of the Grease soundtrack. Her older sister seems flushed; Nao suspects alcohol is involved.
[11:02] In fact, most of the room's occupants appear to be hammered. Midori is practically glowing with pride in their midst, gesturing wildly with her glass of orange juice as she tells the others an engaging tale from her youth.
[11:07] Natsuki willingly started to drink in this environment- no, with Midori and Shizuru in the same room, there was likely nothing willing about it. "I see we have yet to get Shizuru off the stage," she remarks rather dryly to Chie upon entering.
[11:09] "Hey, hey, did you know Midori-chan was to lots of archaelogical digs?" Aoi asks excitedly, leaning over Chie. The latter looks amused. "All over the world, too!"
[11:13] "Really? Did she dig up anything cool? And she totally needs to sing something in some foreign language, then," replies Nao, putting a hand on Midori's shoulder. "Riiiiiight?"
[11:15] The duet ends, and Nao's voice rings clearly across the room. "It would be very entertaining," Shizuru agrees, and others join to call Midori to the stage. Natsuki looks strangely troubled to be out of the spotlight, however. She also still happens to be holding the leek.
[11:16] Nao can't help but burst out laughing at the sight of her sister looking so... disconsolate! She puts a hand on Chie to steady herself, giggling like a maniac. 'Where's the anger, Nee-chan? Did your mask finally drop?' she thinks, though she doesn't dare say it out loud (not that she could if she tried.)
[11:20] Spotting Nao, Natsuki makes a beeline towards her. "We've had enough for one night, right?" she asks, back to her old self. If not for her reddened cheeks, Nao might think she imagined the entire affair. "Let's get bac--"
[11:20] The rest of her words are lost as Midori finally chooses her song and starts singing loudly offkey. The song's name sounds Scandinavian to Nao, but for the life of her, she can't identify it or the language.
[11:22] "Don't you mean... you've had enough- okay, okay!" stammers Nao. "But you were totally really good. I mean it!"
[11:23] The words get the expected response, as Natsuki flushes scarlet, embarrassment settling in. "Hmph!"
[11:26] Nao blows a kiss at Shizuru and waves goodbye to anyone who might be looking at her (though with Midori taking centre stage, she expects to make a clean escape, just this once.) "I'm sure there's money in this, somehow," she relates once they've cleared the door.
[11:29] Shizuru and Chie are the only one to notice, the latter snapping off a shot with her cell. Shizuru is smiling in a way that seems genuine, and waves goodbye to Nao discreetly.
[11:29] "Maybe," Natsuki mutters quietly to herself as she and Nao make good on their escape. She clears her throat. "Maybe this was fun as well. Just a bit."
[11:33] "Just a bit?" asks Nao, giving her sister a playful punch on the shoulder. "Don't hold back, now."
[11:34] Whatever Natsuki was about to say changes along with her expression, as she becomes aware of the large leek clutched in her hand, and she smacks Nao's head with it. "But why does that woman have to tease me all the time? So annoying!"
[11:36] "Hmm. Shall I ask her? Do you really want to know the answer?" asks Nao, affecting a mysterious tone. "Only one who lives with her could possibly discover the truth~"
[11:38] Natsuki smacks her with the leek again, which breaks at the stalk. She tosses the remains in disgust on the ground, wiping her hand over her skirt. She doesn't say anything, however, which Nao had learned to interpret as tacit approval on her sister's side.
[11:41] "Say, Natsuki. Do we know anyone called Mai?" asks Nao, rubbing her head as if in pain (which it is not, of course.)
[11:43] Natsuki looks confused, and a bit embarrassed. "I don't really remember someone like that from my class," she returns. Someone as unsociable as her sister wouldn't really know people outside it, Nao knows.
[11:46] Nao looks perplexed. "Huh. Never mind, then," she replies, letting her arm drop. "Oh, you can keep the skirt. It doesn't fit me anyway," she adds, returning to smirking.
[11:48] A scowl appears on Natsuki's face, only deepening when a few passerbys whistle appreciatively as she walks past them with Nao.
[11:58] Taking a drive, fun as the idea sounds, ends up being vetoed when Natsuki stumbles as they reach the bus stop. She grows quieter and quieter during the trip back to the dorms, eventually falling asleep with her head on Nao's shoulder. Natsuki looks the most unguarded Nao had seen her sister in a while.
[12:00] "Nee-chan, have you no tolerance at all?" mumbles Nao, lugging her sister back towards her respective dorm. Of course Nao knew the reason both she and Shizuru tease Natsuki mercilessly- she never ever seems to have fun around them when you leave her alone. She's a reactive person, Nao's sister is. Or maybe that's a lie, because no matter what, she's hilarious to watch.
[12:03] "No, Shizuru, I can drink if I want to!" Natsuki protests slurrily. "I'm thirsty, so leave me alone!"
[12:05] "But if you drink, you'll make trouble for Nao-chan~" mutters Nao. Did her sister put on weight? Well, she won't want to hear that. Girls are very, very similar in some regards.
[12:06] Natsuki giggles, the sound almost causing Nao to drop her sister. She can't, for the life of her, remember the last time she heard it from Natsuki.
[12:12] It can't be just alcohol that's causing that, can it? Nao struggles to keep her sister from toppling against the ground, shaking her head. The key. She'll need Natsuki's key to get her inside her room, if her dorm partner isn't there.
[12:20] Natsuki lives alone, something that was made possible due to Shizuru's intervention. It was also one of the few times where she outright pulled rank over Suzushiro Haruka rather than manipulate her, a fact few would know. As Shizuru's roommate, however, Nao became somewhat of a confidant for the woman.
[12:23] A dangerous move. Pull enough stunts like that and Suzushiro might actually put enough evidence together to make life uncomfortable. As Shizuru said, the trick is to save brute force for special occasions, otherwise you'll find yourself running out of it. Still, it's unusual. How long has Shizuru been Natsuki's friend, now?
[12:28] Since the first year of junior high. As Natsuki started highschool. Or was it last year, while Natsuki and Nao still both attended junior high? The different memories are as conflicting as they all feel true in some way, but the latter eventually takes over.
[12:31] Truth is what lies before you, though. Nao tells herself that rather harshly, cursing her hyperactive imagination. Making up people she's never met, feeling unusually moody- she sours as she drags Natsuki to her door and starts fishing through her sister's possessions for the key.
[12:34] In no time, Natsuki is tucked away into bed. She regains clarity briefly, just enough to thank Nao in that grumbling, reluctant manner she has.
[12:34] When Nao returns to her own dorm on foot, she runs into Shizuru. The older girl is holding her key, and seems startled to see Nao approaching.
[12:35] "I will accept no complaints," intones Nao, making the sign of the cross. "All the conditions were met."
[12:37] "Aside from the initial disappointment, I was very satisfied with the results," Shizuru tells her, sounding honest enough, although one could never completely tell with Shizuru. The door opens, and she gestures inside, allowing Nao to enter first.
[12:43] Nao saunters inside, sticking her hands in her pockets. "It's good to be disappointed once in a while. Keeps your feet on the ground."
[12:44] The door slams shut behind Nao, making her jump. The room is dark.
[12:45] "What the hell, Shizuru? If you want revenge, can't you at least wait until morning?" mutters Nao, reaching for the lightswitch.
[12:49] Shizuru flips it before Nao could backtrack to do it. She looks apologetic. "A little accident, nothing more," she assures the redhead, before a smile comes onto her face. "Although I am reminded of your advice. It is important to keep on your toes, isn't it?"
[12:50] "I say that, but it shouldn't apply in my own home," replies Nao, sulkily.
[12:52] Shizuru laughs. "It really was an accident. I'm not perfect like some like to portray me, you know!" She takes off her shoes, using the corridor wall for support.
[12:52] "Yet you'll cheerfully let them rub lotion on your back, no?"
[12:54] "Fufufu~"
[12:56] Nao kicks off her own shoes and heads into the kitchen to brew up some tea, knowing Shizuru will definately want some. "Nee-chan was hilarious on the way back. Did you know she talks in her sleep- on second thoughts, don't answer that."
[12:59] "If you're jealous, I will always let you go first," Shizuru tells Nao with a smile, following her into the kitchen. "But I might have to discard you for a different model if Natsuki shows interest~"
[12:59] Nao doesn't think anyone but her would notice the way Shizuru perked up at the mention of Natsuki talking in her sleep.
[13:01] "You'd use me for such physical acts? You're so lewd, senpai. And here I thought we had a relationship based on our *thoughts* and *feelings*," replies Nao, switching on the kettle.
[13:03] Shizuru occupies a seat by the table, looking expectantly at the tea set laid out on the shelf by Nao's right. "It is a shame I missed out on a hilarious Natsuki. Did you happen to take a picture?"
[13:04] "It is a memory only I am allowed to keep~"
[13:05] "Meanie."
[13:06] "Surely today's quota was filled by Chie? The journalism club may have never seen a bigger scoop," replies Nao, soon returning with two steaming cups. "Alas, we only have time to publish so many stories..."
[13:08] "It's alright. I will take the ones that don't get used off your club president's hands," Shizuru promises with another smile. She raises the teacup to her face, inhaling the steam. "It is a shame we don't have time for a proper ceremony. They are so calming."
[13:10] "I'll take your word on it. The traditional stuff is too slow for me," replies Nao, sipping from her own cup.
[13:11] "It allows you to appreciate the moment, and to think," Shizuru voices, being unusually open with Nao.
[13:13] "I'm not very suited to that contemplation," admits Nao, setting down her cup. "I'm afraid I might get used to it, you see, and then how could I hope to keep up with Mikoto?"
[13:14] "Tranquilizer darts?" Shizuru offers with a wink.
[13:16] "They'd bounce off her iron skin," replies Nao, chuckling. "It's not right for someone to be that fast. We should enter her into the olympic qualifiers or something."
[13:18] "She would never qualify," Shizuru says sadly. "We tried last year, but for all of Suzushiro-san's efforts the Olympic committee would not believe that Mikoto was of age to participate."
[13:20] "I'll talk to them next time. I'll be her manager," insists Nao. "Yes, it's a profession that requires fitness, deviousness, and aggression, and I have such wonderful role-models to learn from."
[13:21] Shizuru preens exaggeratedly.
[13:24] The small-talk continues for a short while, but eventually, when Nao's tea is finished, she leans back in her chair. "Have things been alright, lately?" she asks, suddenly. "I've got this feeling like something's happened, like.. something I missed."
[13:32] "I don't know," Shizuru says slowly, seeming to take the query seriously. "I can't think of anything out of place, but I could listen?"
[13:33] "I keep- I don't know," replies Nao, slowly. "You and Natsuki met last year, right?"
[13:35] Shizuru nods, seeming bewildered at the topic change. And unless Nao is mistaken, there is the hint of a blush. "Why would you bring that up all of a sudden?"
[13:37] "I wasn't sure. I had a feeling you two knew each other much longer than that," replies Nao, leaning back. "I was going to ask why you didn't room with Natsuki in the first place..."
[13:41] Shizuru remains silent for a while. "There were several reasons," she finally says. "I very much wanted to be beside you. It seems silly to me, now, but I had a very strong sense that it had to happen. Yes, strange," she muses. "I did not even know you two were related until later."
[13:41] Shizuru shakes her head. "Be it as it may, I don't think it would be right for me to stay with Natsuki, the way things are. That a part of me very much wants to is just another reason why it should not come to pass."
[13:43] "You're talking like she's a guy," replies Nao, putting her hands behind her head.
[13:44] "Oh, Natsuki is very much a girl."
[13:44] "Sometimes, I forget. I don't think a brother would've been much different... maybe 'he' would get embarrassed less. Who knows? Not me!"
[13:45] Shizuru makes a face. "You are far too cruel, sometimes. I'll be sure to inform Natsuki that you would rather she were a boy as retribution."
[13:47] "I'll tell her myself. Five hundred yen to our club per photo."
[13:47] Shizuru's smile is devious and captivating at the same time. "Deal."
[13:49] Nao stands up and starts to stretch. "My work never ends..." she relates, heading to the bathroom to have a quick shower before going to bed.
[13:52] Already tired from the day's events as she is, the tea only serves to lull Nao into a lethargy the shower manages to ward off only temorarily, the effect fading as soon as her head hits the pillow.
[13:52] But while Nao's body remains firmly asleep, her mind realizes that it is still very much awake, and has access to all her senses on top of that. So when a lavender-haired girl materializes in the center of the room, floating naked before Nao's eyes, the redhead manages to perceive her.
[13:53] "What is this? What the-" snaps Nao, her head suddenly full of a chaotic mess she can't explain. "Chairman?!"
[13:55] Even as she voices her thoughts, Nao realizes that her mouth wouldn't cooperate. Nevertheless, the girl seems to understand her just fine, somehow. "The dream is the medium," she tells Nao. "It is where the barriers are weakest. The only time I can reach you." Nao can hear her perfectly; though white noise is present, the girl's words cut through it.
[13:57] Nao's mind communicates confusion, but a burst of raw desperation accompanies it, foreign to her and more real than anything she can recall.
[13:59] "Time is being bent to that woman's will, and that works against you," Mashiro Kazahana is saying. "This is the only cycle I can intrude on, before you drift beyond my reach."
[14:01] Panic. Raw panic. Nao will be killed, she suddenly realises, and she can't articulate why.
[14:02] "What is going on?" she manages. "Quickly!"
[14:02] "You have to reject this world," is her answer.
[14:04] "What's wrong with it?" asks Nao, before she suddenly feels envious. Incredibly envious of someone.
[14:04] "It's fake. Isn't it too perfect?" Mashiro asks her. "It doesn't suit you."
[14:07] "If it's perfect, doesn't it suit me?" asks Nao, strangely irritated. "If the alternative is worse, I'd be an idiot to take it. And what the hell do you mean by fake?!"
[14:09] "You should hate that woman!" Mashiro tells Nao, gesturing at the soundly-sleeping Shizuru, as she lays illuminated by moonlight. "You don't have a family, and that's because she took it all away from you! How can you stand it?"
[14:11] "I have Nee-chan!" shouts Nao, clinging to that, because her instinct is telling her everything the apparition says is true. Even though it can't be.
[14:15] "You have to save the world!" Mashiro exclaims. "You can't do that while clinging to an illusion! It's all a fantasy, a pleasant one, but a fantasy all the same! Don't pick it over reality, harsh though it may be!"
[14:17] "Save the world? What nonsense is this?" sputters Nao. "From what? And I have to give up my life? This isn't fair! This isn't..."
[14:20] Mashiro looks sad, or as sad as a floating, semi-transparent specter could appear. "None of this is fair, Nao. But you might be my last chance. Searrs is gaining, and it is only time before Arika arrives, and then there would be no more hope. Please save my Earth!"
[14:22] Nothing's fair, but Nao is used to life not being fair. She isn't used to crying, either. It doesn't befit her. She doesn't have more words for Mashiro at this time, merely a sense of disappointment and longing.
[14:23] Nao can move again, she realizes. Mashiro fades away slightly. Over at the other bed, Shizuru shifts, running a hand across her eyes sluggishly.
[14:25] Nao pulls herself out of bed, letting her blankets scatter across the floor. She stares at Shizuru's form for a few moments before standing up completely, casting a dim shadow across the moonlight.
[14:25] "I've watched over it for so long, trying desperately to maintain the peace," Mashiro speaks, her voice fainter now. "I don't want things to end this way!"
[14:25] Shizuru opens her eyes, looking blurrily at Nao. "Is something wrong?" she asks in that adorable Kyoto accent of hers.
[14:27] "Is... something wrong?" asks Nao, advancing on the woman with a dull look in her eyes. "Can you tell me?"
[14:30] Shizuru seems worried. "Are you alright, Nao? Do you need me to call Miss Sagisawa?"
[14:30] "You need to wake up!" Mashiro calls over to Nao. "Really, truly wake up! Reject this world!"
[14:33] Nao closes her and puts her hands on her head, an expression of pain crossing her features. Her teeth bite down so hard on her lip that it might start to bleed- "Why are you alive? Why am I so sad when I stare at you? Why do I hate and like you?!" she cries, pushing Shizuru down on the bed by her shoulders. "Is it me who's wrong? Or is it the world?!"
[14:40] Shizuru's hand reaches out to touch Nao's cheek, caressing it. "I'm glad," she says, something about her sounding different to Nao. "And I'm sorry I can't be with you anymore."
[14:43] "I would've liked it," Nao replies, her palms slackening. "I could've lived here forever. Is it so wrong to want to be liked?"
[14:47] Nao's palms brush against Shizuru, and they come back wet. The feeling is sticky, uncomfortable. Ominous. "Of course not," Shizuru says. She sounds weak.
[14:48] Nao stares at her hand. Her hand. It's covered in something.
[14:52] Shizuru is bleeding from a wound in her chest. Her nightgown is covered in her blood. Even to Nao's untrained eyes, the wound looks fatal. "You're going to save the world, now?" Shizuru asks, struggling to raise her head.
[14:54] "Yeah. Looks like it," replies Nao, her voice cracking. "I can save the world. Just not the bits of it I really want to keep." Nao's arms dangle uselessly at her sides. "I'm going. Even if this is just a dream, I hope, somehow, we can meet again. Nee-ch- no, Natsuki, too."
[14:55] She can't bear to watch it anymore. Nao closes her eyes and breathes.
[15:00] "I believe in you," Shizuru says, gasping for breath. "That is how much ability you have." Nao feels another's lips touch her own briefly, and she awakens.
[15:00] She stands in a church, and a familiar presence lurks by her side. Arach, her Child, her mind recalls as memories flood it. Sister Yukariko is standing by the altar, the woman's demonic Child a menacing presence behind her, but of more immediate concern are the bow in her hands and the airborne arrows, each headed for a student with a weapon. Nao herself warrants two of them.
[15:08] Nao has no choice. Kicking herself off the stony floor, she pulls herself away from the arrow's trajectory; her strings fly madly in front of her to deflect the shot towards Yuki, whilst a hideous screech echoes from Arach, a torrent of webbing lashing to protect the other students!
[15:12] An arrow lodges itself in Nao's shoulder. Arach protects the others just as surely as Nao's strings save Yuki's life, and the monster behind Sister Yukariko shifts angrily, splitting midway like some demonic butterfly. The students present shake their heads, Yuki being the first to recover, and her weapon rises towards the nun, who notches another arrow in turn.
[15:16] Nao's entire body snaps back, and one of her arms swings about like a pendulum, ignitied with a terrible pain, the likes of which Nao has never felt before. It wakes her up. "Arach, charge!" she snarls, strings poised to deflect further arrows until she's certain Yukariko won't have a chance to aim!
[15:27] Arach rushes forward. Yukariko's Child leaps over the nun, its movement unnatural and disturbing to look at. It slams into Arach, trying to contain the monstrous spider within itself like a massive horse-shaped iron maiden.
[15:27] Yukariko's arrow, once loosened, splits into five, all targetting Nao. Off to the side, Yuki shakes her head before pressing the hilt of the automatic weapon to her shoulder, aiming.
[15:29] Nao moves. She slinks in the direction opposite Yuki with ridiculous speed, her strings only bothering to cover the arrows on one side; she'll be well clear of the others. 
[15:30] Yuki is going to shoot. Yukariko is either going to get hit- or not be there. When she recovers, Nao's strings seem to stretch towards Yukariko's own position- but instead lash farther back and to the side, the best place to avoid Yuki's line of fire.
[15:40] That leaves two arrows Nao absolutely cannot clear, and her strings flash, redirecting them at the nearby benches. Arach's front legs bend, impaling themselves into the sides of the nun's Child. Their strength isn't enough to do more than hold it off, and a terrible snapping sound echoed through the church. "Finish the heretic, Vlas!" Yukariko cries out, face distorted by anger.
[15:40] Yuki fires, and the nun's head snaps back, its side grazed. The other two shots in the burst find better purchase, and a spreading red spots appears on Yukariko's stomach.
[15:42] "I'll finish you!" screams Nao, far, far beyond compromise; her strings stream towards her throat, even as Nao herselves closes in to finish this up close.
[15:47] Vlas presses harder, and Arach's front legs are crushed, as metal spikes drive into the spider's sides. It is as if one of the spikes was driven into Nao's heart, making her stumble.
[15:47] Yuki lines up the gun to fire again, while Yukariki glares at her angrily, aiming her bow.
[15:47] Thick vines erupt through the ground of the church, wasting no time to wrap themselves around Sister Yukariko.
[15:49] "I have to kill her! Before she kills-" screams Nao, blindly lunging forward to murder the nun before it's too late!
[15:52] The vines tighten suddenly, curling impossibly close much like the coils of a python. A strangled scream that gets cut off before it even had a chance to sound. A wet, squelching sound.
[15:52] Vlas begins to glow green.
[15:53] "Begone, my child," stutters Nao, dropping to her knees and clutching her ruined shoulder, her face contorted with rage, fear, and pain.
[15:57] Her arm below it refuses to move. Poison, some part of her psyche whispers, it has to be a paralytic agent. Arach disappears, and the shared pain lessens. Instead of the spike, it is now merely a mailed fist clenching her heart. Breathing is made difficult, though not impossible.
[15:57] Explosions sounds all over the church, fires springing up. The timing is too close for it to be anything but a deadman's switch.
[15:57] She had a what?!
[15:58] "Run away," Nao stammers, not sure she can make it right now. But she tries anyway, because to stay is, clearly, to die. The door isn't that far.
[16:04] Yuki starts moving in the opposite direction, but a fresh explosion throws the girl off her feet. A torrent of flame gushes through the now-ruined side room where some of the Committee members entered to handle the broadcasting equipment, and the girl slams a fist at the ground. "Out!" she screams, pointing towards the entrance.
[16:05] Nobody needed to tell Nao twice, that's for sure.
[16:07] Nao must have been taking her time, because a pair of girls grab hold of her arms just under the shoulders, helping the redhead drag herself outside. The pain is excruciating.
[16:09] Physical pain blanks out other things. All Nao can focus on is stumbling forward however she can.
[16:11] The church collapses, sending a cloud of dust in every direction. It's hot; the fire is not simply for show. Others have also made it out of the building in time, but Nao can't concentrate on taking stock. Gunfire, she distinctly hears gunfire.
[16:14] Nao can't think straight. She can't fight, either. Someone is guiding her somewhere, and that's all she can rely on right now. It doesn't seem like she'll be able to stop Arika like this. It's a pity, really.
[16:18] Yuki's face comes into focus. She looks like she's crying, though Nao can't really see a reason for her to. "Can you move?" Yuki asks.
[16:19] "I... can walk. A-and that's about it," grunts Nao, leaning heavily on her supporter.
[16:21] "There's shots from the direction of the auditorium," Yuki is saying, as Nao is helped to her feet. "They could be executing the hostages. I have to go there. Do you understand?" Why is she being asked that? The question confuses Nao.
[16:22] "T-that's stupid, why would they start doing that now," replies Nao, truly confused.
[16:23] "Nothing makes sense anymore." Yuki grinds her teeth. "That-- that dream, this--" She shakes her head resolutely. "Stay together or split up. I need you to choose now."
[16:27] "You'll die without-" begins Nao, before a sudden attack of dizziness assails her. "I'm useless, just go," she manages.
[16:31] Yuki nods curtly. "Don't die. Mika, Sayuri, get her to the caves. We'll catch up." Yuki's face disappears. The sound of running feet. Nao is guided -- carried? Everything beyond the immediate appears off, out of focus. And then, Nao blacks out.

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

[17:09] Gunfire coming from outside the auditorium interrupts Haruka's speech, although it may account for the gathered students not leaving the premises, terrified though they might be.
[17:12] Hell. Time for the Shizuru-suit to haul Haruka around again. To the students, if they're up to listening: "Stay here. Take care of the wounded as best as you can. I'll stop the soldiers." She can only hope *someone* in here is capable of taking charge as she marches out the back way (where she came in). She'll circle around the building hopefully without alerting whoever's shooting now.
[17:14] Orihime's movements are slow, degraded from the Child's previous performance. Exiting the building through the hole she had made in its wall, Haruka has her Child circle over to the main entrance. Someone in fatigues with an automatic weapon is running towards the auditorium. Others are following behind.
[17:15] How many others? Haruka isn't about to let these kids fall into the hands of soldiers *again*.
[17:17] It's hard to see even without the distorting effect of Orihime's protective envelop. She estimates perhaps half a dozen.
[17:18] She's already killed anywhere from twenty to thirty. Surely she can take a few more. "Orihime? Stop them. Any means necessary."
[17:21] The only way Orihime had been able to do that is by using its tendrils to toss fragments of metal, wood and stone at opponents beyond its reach. The frontliner expires without even knowing what killed her, but the others are too far, and scatter. The trees in the distance lining the path to the auditorium might not serve as a suitable shield from Orihime's attacks, but Haruka loses sight of them.
[17:24] Argh. Decisions, decisions. Might they come after her if she just leaves? Maybe, but she doesn't want to risk them heading into the auditorium and doing...more of whatever the hell it was that they were doing. Time to wade into the treeline and see if they're still there. Worst case scenario, she can herd them away.
[17:26] As Orihime follows, Haruka can see the fatigue-clad troops fall back, trying to stay out of range, but not outright fleeing.
[17:28] Well, that's a start. "Orihime, kill anyone who gets within throwing range. Otherwise, we'll try and push them away from the auditorium."
[17:31] There is another fatality before Haruka's opponents learn of Orihime's maximum effective range. They don't try to charge her, and if she didn't know any better, seem to actually be drawing her away from the auditorium.
[17:32] May as well follow them for now. It keeps the other kids safe and it's not like Haruka has any other ideas about where to go. Let's see what kind of trap this is!
[17:34] Nao awakens to find someone shaking her shoulder roughly. It's not the damaged one, her mind notes with relief.
[17:35] Nao gurgles a little and opens her eyes, twisting her head to see her attacker!
[17:38] It's one of the Executive Committee girls, she can tell that much. She never really bothered to learn their names. "We need your help," she whispers upon noticing that she has Nao's attention. "There's a monster that we can't stop. If it gets in, everyone will die!"
[17:38] As her senses slowly return, Nao realizes that she is in some kind of cave. Many students, male and female alike, are huddling there under blankets.
[17:39] "I can't use my Child," grimaces Nao, dazedly pushing herself to her feet and glancing at her shoulder.
[17:40] "We'll help!" the girl promises, looking distraught. "And you still have your... your wires, right? This is our last stand! We have nowhere to retreat! Please!"
[17:41] "I- I'll go. I'll go. I promised, after all," replies Nao, putting her good hand on the girl's shoulder. "I need.. morphine. Or PCP."
[17:42] "I-- we don't--" Shaking her head, the girl produces a syringe. "It's a painkiller. We don't know which kind. The soldiers had it."
[17:43] "Do it," insists Nao, staggering to her feet and preparing for the injection.
[17:46] "It's past the last defensive perimeter, Sayuri!" someone yells. The girl by Nao's side shivers, and uncaps the syringe, plunging it into Nao's healthy arm. There is pain, but then a sense of detachment comes over Nao. Thinking becomes easier, as if her pain were wrapped up in cotton. Sayuri supports her, helping Nao to the exit from the cave.
[17:47] "I'm fine. I can move, now," replies Nao, shrugging off the girl after a moment and allowing her ebony claws to materialize on her good arm and approaching the exit. "Back off. Guns won't help against this thing, whatever it is," she adds.
[17:50] "We know!" she cries in frustration. "But what else can we do? We have a responsibility to protect everyone! It's what Suzushiro-san would do if she were here! We can't disappoint her expectations!"
[17:50] As Nao makes her way to the opening outside, she spots a pair of Executive Committee members with handguns, a boy and a girl. She hadn't bothered learning their names, either. They nod at her grimly, and gesture ahead. Light shines on a glorious bronze statue gliding slowly towards them, as if it were death itself. Nao's eyes water.
[17:53] Nao does well to stand upright at the sight, barely able to hold her lone claw up in the defence. "You're kidding. Right?" she asks, in a pained voice. "That isn't really you, is it?"
[17:54] Haruka stops in her tracks. "...Nao? Is that you?"
[17:55] "I can't believe it," replies Nao, taking a step forward, her arms still raised. "You were lying all this time?"
[17:57] Haruka banishes enough of Orihime so that her she can see a little better and her voice doesn't come out muffled. "Huh? What are you talking about? I've been wondering where the hell you were, Nao! Miyu broke loose and Yukino left and--argh, what the hell are you talking about?"
[17:59] The boy to Nao's left takes aim at Haruka's exposed head, gritting his teeth. He seems to be struggling not to cry, and losing the battle.
[17:59] "Don't fuck with me, Suzushiro!" snarls Nao, crouching. "You think you can just kill everyone, waltz in here and pretend to be a clueless idiot? Huh?"
[17:59] "I thought Kikukawa might do something like this, but never you!"
[18:00] "I've been killing soldiers! They had a group of students in the auditorium! They were all naked for some reason! I don't know *what* they were doing, but tell me why I'm the bad guy for trying to stop them."
[18:01] "Killing soldiers? Take a look at the soldiers you've been killing!" shrieks Nao. "Then tell me who has been saved and who has died, Haruka! Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now!"
[18:01] There is a gunshot. The bullet glances off Orihime's chest.
[18:02] "Dammit!" the boy curses, wiping at his eyes with the sleeve of his ill-fitting fatigues.
[18:04] "Put that gun down! This is the executive committee talking!" Haruka insists. She silently tells Orihime to be ready to block bullets if the boy moves again. "Look, I came here to help! I don't have ANY idea what you're talking about, Nao, so slow down and tell me what's going on!"
[18:05] "The execution committee, is it? Mispronouncing words again?"
[18:06] More guns fire at Haruka's words, but Orihime's tendrils slice through them effortlessly.
[18:06] "You've been killing students from Fuka! I won't let you touch another one. Take one step closer and we'll see if your Child is stronger than my claws."
[18:07] Haruka manages to not flinch at the bullets. "Nao, this is crazy! Go to the auditorium and see! There are dead soldiers everywhere. They shot Orihime so much that she has trouble moving now, see?"
[18:08] Orihime's shape looks different to Nao, somehow, though she can't see the specifics due to the glare of the sun.
[18:09] "Did you see their faces?" Strings coil from Nao's hand, wisping around the younger girl. "Well, did you?"
[18:11] "I was too busy trying not to get killed! Nao, I'm not the villain here. We've worked together before, right? Would me killing students make any sense at all?"
[18:12] "Nothing makes sense anymore, Suzushiro," replies Nao, curling her fist. "I'm going to count to five. Then I'm coming for you. One."
[18:12] The guns held by the students finally run out of ammo, one after the other, and a hush settles over the area as smoke trails from their barrels. They're horrified, frozen in their places. No one changes clips; perhaps they have run out.
[18:13] "Two."
[18:14] "Nao! This is STUPID. We came here for Miyu and we're wasting time." She turns back to look at the way she came from.
[18:14] Nothing of note is within Haruka's field of vision.
[18:14] "Three."
[18:16] Silently, to Orihime: hit her if she comes close, but don't kill her. Watch out for the claws. To Nao: "I'm not going anywhere, and we're not going to fight! The Hime should be working together! Are you okay with killing someone who refuses to fight back?""
[18:17] That seems to get through to Nao. A little. "True. It isn't me you've attacked," she rasps. "There should be no reason for me to care. Don't you understand, yet? Fuka students stole uniforms from the soldiers. You never even checked your targets. You didn't wait to be attacked before attacking. *So why should I?*"
[18:19] "Whoa, wait, slow down! Students? So...why were students guarding other students in the auditorium? And *those* people shot at me first!"
[18:21] Every word out of Haruka's mouth seems to inspire Nao to greater levels of barely-contained fury. "Kikukawa, are you watching?" she asks, dazedly. "This is your most important person. A murderer who doesn't even know what she's done. You said people didn't need to stay dead. Is that the excuse?"
[18:23] A flower blooms in the air between Haruka and Nao. Unlike those Nao had seen Yukino use before, this one ends with a mirror. Its surface glows, and an image of Yukino is projected above it as a three-dimensional hologram. "The dead people can come back to life, if that is your question, Nao," the image says.
[18:24] "Like Haruka."
[18:24] "Dammit, Nao, this is easy to sort out! We go back to the auditorium. There are a lot of kids inside it still that need help. They're naked and scared and the soldiers shot some of before I could stop them. Let's go, alright? Bring your guns if you need to, I know what happ--Yukino?!"
[18:24] "Like Haruka-chan," Yukino confirms.
[18:24] She seems to be ignoring Haruka.
[18:24] "Yukino, where are you?!" Haruka demands.
[18:24] "So you know someone has tried this before."
[18:25] "That is correct. My hypothesis has been largely proven right."
[18:25] "But do you realise that the process may have been flawed?"
[18:25] "HEY. Stop ignoring me, you two. I'm still here!"
[18:26] "That sounds likely. However, our second chance is unique. With the power of two rather than one, it would be possible to overcome Fate." The last word is capitalized, Nao can tell. Yukino deigns to glance at Haruka, then. "In a matter of fashion, Haruka-chan."
[18:27] "What exactly has to happen?"
[18:28] "We have to win together, and take hold of the system of reincarnation. By creating our ideal world, everything unsatisfactory will be undone by our collective will."
[18:28] "So we have to defeat the Obisidan Lord as well as the other Hime."
[18:29] Yukino is silent as she contemplates her answer. "That is not strictly correct. Eleven Hime must be defeated for the doorway to open. Defeating the Obsidian Lord is not strictly mandated if we manage to take him by surprise."
[18:33] "I understand. This will work. But I predict one of us is going to have to trust the other more than anyone should need to ask." Nao narrows her eyes. "With the way things are set up, I think that's the case. For now we need to defeat Arika. Any luck finding Mai?"
[18:35] "I care not for Kuga or Fujino. You feel the same for Haruka-chan. As long as we don't interfere in those areas, and cooperate on our common goals, I see no conflict," Yukino states. "I did discover Tokiha-san's location. She is together with Minagi Mikoto, Okuzaki Akira and Kanzaki Reito."
[18:36] "Tell me where to go."
[18:36] "US," Haruka corrects.
[18:37] "You're leaving?" Sayuri asks, speaking for the first time. Her voice trembles.
[18:41] "I have no choice," replies Nao, shaking her head. "What is happening on this island has put the entire world at stake. I can't stay here and protect you. But at this point, I doubt anyone is going to come after you." She glances at Haruka and snorts. "Friend or foe alike."
[18:42] Her voice picks up. "Give me more of those painkillers. I'll need them."
[18:44] "We can't come along," the boy speaks, sounding ashamed. He clenches his fist. "Someone has to help the others. Many of the students are wounded--" His face distorts with rage. Sayuri collects five more syringes, boundling them for Nao with a torn piece of a blanket.
[18:44] "I can do better than tell you," Yukino tells Nao. "I can show you."
[18:46] "Show US," Haruka corrects. Her management instincts kick in and she attempts to order the other students: "Check the auditorium. There ar emore there."
[18:46] Nao ties them to her belt. "Do the best you can," she says to the boy. "It'll all be over within twenty-four hours. One way or the other- Haruka, do you not understand? You aren't giving orders anymore! You have no right to say anything! Just shut up, for once in your life, and do as I say!"
[18:47] "There's no one left back but the dead and dying!" the unnamed girl next to Nao yells angrily.
[18:48] Haruka scowls, still not acknowledging that she did anything wrong. "Let's just get going, Nao. We've wasted enough time bickering."
[18:50] "Lead the way, Kikukawa. The First District woman was right after all," she says, shuddering. "Convinced of our own righteousness, we cut a bloody swathe through all we see. I can see why I lost my memories this time around."
[18:51] An image of a clearing replaces Yukino's image. Her voice still emanates from the mirror. "They're hiding out in the forests two kilometers to the east. It's not a straight line, but you'll find it." Other images replace the first one, going through a sequence. Each contains a recognizable landmark. "Don't forget our regroup condition. I'll assist however I can."
[18:51] The flower becomes motes of light, fading away.
[18:52] Nao wordlessly stalks off the follow the path, not even looking at Haruka as she passes by.
[18:53] Orihime's tendrils react as Nao's claws are within striking distance, moving restlessly, but don't attack.
[18:54] Haruka follows along as best she can--or, rather, Orihime drags her along. Haruka silently tells her Child to just ignore now, coming to realize on some level that whatever punishment the other girl might choose to hand out is probably deserved.
[18:59] From a hill overlooking the Academy campus, Nao can see smoke trailing from where the church used to be. The absense of the bell tower feels strange to her. Curiously, Mashiro's mansion also seems to be going up in flames.
[19:03] "The fires won't go out until all the Hime are done..." murmurs Nao, striding ahead.
[19:04] "Do we have a plan here?" Haruka asks as she starts down the hill.
[19:06] "We're meeting the others. Mai will kill Arika's child. Then the real contest begins."
[19:06] Nao and Haruka are almost all the way to their destination, as indicated by Yukino, when a bright beam of sunlight impacts somewhere on campus. The beam begins to move, fire and smoke rising into the air.
[19:09] Nao can't stare at it without going blind. She only remains aware of it at the edges of her senses. One step, two steps, eventually she'll reach the others. Did Yukino tell them the plan as well? If Nao was Yukino, she'd make sure everyone knew- it's easy when you can do it remotely.
[19:10] "That looks like our cue to hurry," Haruka says. "Or would be, if we could. Orihime can't get around very well now."
[19:12] Instead of picking up the pace, this declaration seems to cause Nao to slow down. Her left arm dangles uselessly by her side, and the shoulder is bandaged heavily; she seems badly wounded and exceptionally tired, but still inexorably presses on. "I need to save my strength," she mutters.
[19:12] The first thing Nao becomes aware of when she reaches the clearing is that Mai is indeed there, as Yukino told her. The second thing is a curved dagger pressed to her throat. "How did you find us?" Akira hisses, holding it close enough to draw blood if Nao were to move.
[19:12] Mikoto growls at Haruka, gripping her sword tightly.
[19:13] "Spider sense. Let's wait on killing each other until Arika is dealt with," replies Nao, closing her eyes. "Or just do it now and finish it. I'm tired, so it's win-win."
[19:15] Haruka sighs. "Look, we're not much of a threat to you two by this point. Save us for distractions. That's best for everybody. I think."
[19:15] Mai places a hand on Mikoto's shoulder. "Nao's right. We shouldn't fight," she says quietly.
[19:16] The dagger leaves Nao's throat, and Akira's presence fades away a moment later.
[19:18] "Mai, you're the only one who can save us. That is what I believe," states Nao, collapsing to her knees. "Kagutsuchi might be the only thing that can blow up Apollo. Please, please, please do it."
[19:20] "Apollo?" Mai asks cautiously. "What's that?"
[19:20] Akira reappears by Mai's other side, dagger in hand. Nao and Haruka are not intimately familiar with such weapons, but it looks like one used by a Hime. Reito is standing off behind the three silently.
[19:21] "Arika's child. A satellite. In space. It blasted the island-" Nao coughs, placing one hand on the ground. "Arika- can come back to life when killed. She has- spare bodies. But they only work as long as she's a Hime. If you kill her Child, she can't threaten the island. She can't threaten us. We win."
[19:21] "The thing that's about to destroy Fuka," Haruka states flatly. "It's like a satellite. None of us can reach it."
[19:23] "But if I move, if I call for Kagutsuchi--" Mai's voice breaks, and she glances back at Reito helplessly. "Searrs will destroy Fuka! I-- and space? I can't go there! I don't-- it's ridiculous, isn't it?" She looks at Akira for support; the ninja averts her eyes.
[19:25] "Searrs will destroy Fuka anyway. They just need time for that monster to get into position, and then they'll blast the whole island."
[19:25] "Did they tell you that? Or is that conjecture?" asks Nao, helplessly. "They'll destroy Fuka anyway. Or at least us."
[19:27] "It is quite true, I'm afraid," Reito speaks, approaching Mai and patting her shoulder. "I managed to escape as First District troops were seizing control of the Academy, and I heard that boy commanding them. Nagi, I think his name was. Blue hair, kind of spiky? If Kagutsuchi were to appear, the Searrs orders are to eliminate all of Fuka systematically."
[19:27] Mai looks despondent, wringing her hands.
[19:28] "Searrs is already doing that! And I've met Nagi--nothing he says can be trusted to be completely true."
[19:29] "Then why wasn't the island levelled already?" Reito asks calmly, looking down at Haruka.
[19:29] "We must think of the bigger picture, here."
[19:30] Akira's fist tightens around her dagger.
[19:30] "As I said, their satellite isn't in position yet. It will fire as soon as they can actually hit Fuka. And the longer we stand here arguing, the more likely that is to happen!"
[19:31] "I'm not sure it's the satellite that isn't ready," replies Nao, frowning. "What if it's the one who fires it who isn't here yet?"
[19:31] "Either way, I don't know what else to do. Did Nagi say anything else?"
[19:33] "I'm afraid not," Reito responds, although his apologetic tone rings false to Nao and Haruka's ears. "I'm not privy to their decision-making, after all."
[19:33] "Then do you have *anything* helpful to say, or should we just all curl up and die? Because I'm not hearing anything helpful from you at all."
[19:35] "I'll do it," Mai states, her chin raising. Akira grabs at her wrist, and a meaningful look passes between the two. "I'll return. Don't worry," Mai promises, her voice gentle. She looks like she's about to cry.
[19:36] "The rest of us can't do a thing," mutters Nao, pulling herself up against a tree and staring at her hands. "This festival is so rigged."
[19:37] "Thanks, Mai," Haruka says with relief. "You're doing the right thing."
[19:37] Akira makes her way to Nao's side, examining her shoulder. She winces.
[19:37] Rings of fire surround Mai's limbs, as she floats a foot above ground.
[19:37] "How bad is it? My arm won't move. I think it's poison."
[19:38] "Poison?" Haruka repeats unhelpfully. "What happened?"
[19:38] "Yukariko shot me."
[19:39] Haruka frowns. "I was afraid she'd be a problem. What happened to her?"
[19:39] "She's dead."
[19:40] Haruka just nods at this. There probably wasn't any way around it. "Okay."
[19:40] "It's really not."
[19:41] "Was there anything else you could've done to prevent it?"
[19:41] "KAGUTSUCHI!"
[19:41] A ring of hot air rushes outwards from Mai's body, as a larger image of it overlays it. A dragon emerges, a sword stuck through its jaws. Once again, Nao stares into the face of death. With a leap, Mai moves to stand on its head.
[19:42] "I could've killed her last week and spared myself some pain?" Nao laughs, bitterly. "Good luck, Mai! If I could, I'd go with you. I always wanted to go into space."
[19:43] Haruka just stares at the dragon, not reacting otherwise. Hey, she's seen it before, and there it is again. Her capacity to be inspired with awe is presently quite low, given the circumstances.
[19:43] The dragon blasts off horizontally, Nao and Haruka soon losing sight of it. Whatever response Mai might have had is lost in the noise.
[19:43] "It looks bad, but not fatal," Akira says in a businesslike tone, examining the wound. "I don't have an antidote, but I think you'll be fine within a day."
[19:45] "A day. Right now, that's a long time," replies Nao, staring at Kagutsuchi. "Maybe we should move. I don't think anywhere is safe right now."
[19:45] "Move where, Nao?I don't knwo if we can do anything but wait and see."
[19:46] "I could do something about the arm's functionality," Akira states bluntly. "You'll be able to move it. And feel it, which is the drawback. Another is a high chance of permanent damage to the limb once the technique wears off."
[19:46] "Ah, so it holds off fucking me up just long enough to be of use to you?" asks Nao, tiredly. "I'm a Hime. Would that help at all?"
[19:49] "That's why it's a chance and not a certainty."
[19:49] "How long does it last?"
[19:51] "Two days, perhaps. No more." Akira shrugs. "It may not even work. Up to you."
[19:53] "Can you apply it in an instant, or does it take time?"
[19:54] "I have all the ingredients with me. They just need to be mixed together and applied. Five minutes, give or take." Akira glances at Haruka. "Are you wounded as well? You don't look too well."
[19:56] "Not that I know of. But I don't think I've ever been more tired in my life," she admits. "I can't really move right now without Orihime."
[19:56] Akira looks dubious, but returns her attention to Nao, whose shoulder is now being professionally bandaged.

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

The constant bursts of light from the direction of campus don't let Haruka and Nao forget that a battle of some sort is in progress. Mikoto seems to pay attention to it, her head moving back and forth, as if she were able to see it.

Akira checks over her field dressing, nodding to herself in satisfaction. "This will hold," she tells Nao. "Try not to move the limb much when you get the feeling back, though, or you might damage it when the bone doesn't heal properly."

There is a sound much like an explosion, and a column of fire begins rising to the sky on an almost vertical approach, trailing massive columns of smoke. It is coming from the direction Kagutsuchi flew off to.

Haruka peers at the explosion off in the distance. "Let's hope that wasn't Mai spontaneously combursting."

"If it's in a sling, that'd be best," replies Nao, staying propped up against a tree for the moment. "If we stick together, then I won't need my full strength, so I'll pass on your special treatment for now. I can still fight, just..."

She shakes her head. "Speaking of. Who's killing each other at the campus?"

"Don't worry about that," Yukino's voice says, making Akira jump and look around. Wherever it is emanating, the ninja girl can't seem to spot it. Mikoto tenses up, but doesn't react beyond that.

The column of fire has almost penetrated the clouds. It looks much like a rocket taking off, Haruka thinks, though details of any kind are impossible to make out.

"Don't worry about people killing each other?" Haruka says incredulously, in response to Yukino.

"I'm worried. I'm worried one of them will live and decide to come after us next. What's the deal, Kikukawa?"

Nao's arm is in a sling, the shoulder bandaged. It looks like it would hold through a fight. Haruka, on the other hand, seems worse. Her skin is pale beyond the point of unhealthy, and something just feels alien about her to Nao, the more she spends in close quarters with her.

"The First District were brutal as they sought out results, but they miscalculated." Off to the side, Reito seems to perk up at that. "They had an ace after all, bu-- It comes!" Yukino's voice raises suddenly near the end, and there's an audible click, much like with a hastily-disconnected phone line.

A sickly green lance strikes out from beyond the sky. It lashes at the fire, and then repeats the process again and again. The beam disperses the clouds-- no, it does more than that. The sky itself tears. Something emerges from that rift, held aloft on iridescent wings.

Haruka shades her eyes against the sun and the glare from this far-off battle in the sky. "GOOO MAI!" she shouts on recognizing that dragon, though even this kind of exertion takes a fair bit of effort at this point.

"And here it is. Either it kills Mai, or she beats through it." Nao slams a fist into the ground, and then stares up at the sky. "Haruka, calm down. You look like you're dead for real, not just in theory."

"How can I be calm at a time like this? This is a life or death struggle between good and evil! You know, Fuka and everybody else. And Mai's about to smash that thing that shot down our satellite. GO MAI!"

Nao doesn't have any words for that.

A fourth blast. A fifth. The column of fire stalls, before something drops out of it back down, trailing smoke. Its trail is slightly different, which saves it from being lanced by the sixth blast, which only grazes it.

Akira gasps.

The glowing figure begins its descent, the skies righting themselves in its passing.

"Was it Kagutsuchi they were waiting for, then? Our best weapon, huh." She pulls up her knees. "I wonder if things would've been different if I'd got to Miyu..."

Haruka can only strain her eyes watching and hope that someone with less compromised vision fills in the blanks for her.

The figure descends, its wings beautiful to behold. They seem to shine with an inner light, inviting and warm.

Akira shakes her head. "It wasn't supposed to be like this," she says.

"Don't worry. We were outmatched from the start," comments Nao, suddenly seeming to regain her usual tone. She withdraws another painkiller and stabs it into her bicep, before shakily standing up. "We're up against god and fate. I don't care if we lose, as long as we make that bitch feel worse than I am now. I guess it's too late for that medicine, huh?"

"You're right," Haruka says. "None of this should've happened. Kids shouldn't have to live in fear with soldiers watching over them. But it did happen and we can only try to make the best of it." She watches the figure descend, deciding with a surge of optimism that this is a good start.

Nao's question snaps Akira out of her state. She eyes the skies, before shaking her head briefly. "Not unless Mikoto can buy us time, and that time will be better-spent fighting together. We can't afford to take a chance and end up being defeated in detail."

The figure floats down, seeming to have no trouble finding the clearing occupied by the group. It is feminine, the body incased fully in armor. The face plates retreat soundlessly, and Arika's face stares down at the group of Hime and Reito from a height of twenty feet.

"You didn't run," Arika speaks, sounding surprised. Her voice is as tinny as Nao and Haruka had heard it back on the boat they used to approach Fuka. "You must have been anticipating this as much as I was!"

Haruka's heart drops. That's not who she was expecting to see come down from that firefight.

"Oh, I would never run from a chance to play with you," replies Nao. "Besides, I'm confident that this time, you won't be getting back up again." She licks the edge of her claw, slightly. "Does it hurt? Coming back to life?"

Arika's face clouds. "I endured it so that we could meet again."

Mikoto growls, tensing up, but before she could lunge at Arika, Reito places a hand on her shoulder, stilling the girl. "You don't really think you killed Mai, do you?" he asks calmly.

"Oh, hello there!" Arika greets Reito, as if only seeing him just then. "I'm supposed to kill you next. Can you please wait your turn?"

"What makes you think we're going to take turns?" Haruka growls. To the others: "If we kill her, she might come back. Just lop off all her limbs and she'll be harmless."

Akira throws Haruka a wary look.

"An excellent plan, Suzushiro. I'm afraid it will be superseded by practicality, however," replies Nao, glancing at Reito for a moment before twisting back to Arika.

"You just don't get it, do you? You're just being used, and sooner or later, you'll be thrown away. Aren't you here to purge away what shouldn't be in this world? Someone who died and came back to life is probably the most unnatural thing there is."

That seems to give Arika pause. "I'm different," she states, shaking her head emphatically. "Daddy said so!"

Haruka rolls her eyes. "Everyone's daddy says that. You're not special. All I see is an omnicidal maniac."

"Different? From who? Alyssa-chan?" asks Nao, raising an eyebrow. "You're someone who'll be thrown away when a better model comes along. Just like an old doll nobody wants anymore."

"I'm not like that failed Valkyrie!" Arika protests. Her wings flutter, and a sword hilt pops out of a previously-hidden section of her thigh armor. "Daddy made sure I could adapt!"

"Can you adapt to being a quadrophenic?" Haruka asks. To everyone else: "If we have to fight her, we work together. Killing her just makes more work in the end."

"Which number are you? A hundred and something? Over a hundred other Valkyries have been praised by your father. And then tossed out."

Nao narrows her eyes. "To a man like that, feelings are nothing but toys to be played with. How can you be comfortable serving someone like that?"

"Two hundred and forty-nine," Arika responds, as if reciting a fact. "Even though we haven't met since I was two hundred and forty three, let's keep on being great friends, Nao!"

She grasps the hilt of the weapon, pulling it entirely out of its sheath. The compartment retreats seemlessly, while Arika observes the short sword.

And then, she moves. It's only a flick of her wrist, but that causes the sword to separate with an odd clanking sound, becoming a metal whip which she sends at Haruka's head!

Haruka commands Orihime to dodge and protect herself as best as she's able. She knows she's not in good fighting form at the moment. At the very least, she can keep Arika busy while someone else takes her down.

Orihime flows across the clearing to cleanly avoid the strike with several feet to spare. It also doges the follow up, as Arika causes the serrated metal whip to change directions mid-attack. Haruka experiences a mildly uncomfortable burning sensations in her arms, the first sensation she's had after the pain went away, taking with it all feeling.

Nao's strings lash out towards- the whip, tearings it further down to earth! "So you've died five more times since I killed you? I haven't even died once, so I guess you can't really be too good at this Hime thing, can you? Should I ask your dad for a job?"

"So much for #two-forty-nine," Haruka taunts. "Maybe the next Arika will be able to catch me!" She might be burning out here, but damned if she isn't going to do her best to give her friends a fighting chance.

It becomes a test of strength, and one Arika is slowly but surely winning. While Nao was able to use the armored girl's surprise to pull her ten more feet towards the ground, the distance is being increased once more.

"I'm coming closer to perfection every time, while you're stale and old!" Arika protests, scowling at Nao.

"Gennai!" Akira yells from behind Nao, forming a seal with her hands as her dagger floats before her. An massive Child with a frog motif materializes in the forest just past the clearing, tearing apart trees, and she backflips to land on its head.

"I'm fifteen. You're two hundred and fourty nine. Who is old, again?" snarls Nao, snaking one of her strings further up the sword, towards Arika's wrist.

"Orihime," Haruka commands her Child while watching Nao tangle with Arika, "shred one of the trees for spears if you have a chance. Otherwise, keep dodging."

"Just throw an entire tree!" snarls Nao. "Knock her out the sky!"

"Or do that," Haruka adds, though she doubts Orihime can manage that by this point.

Orihime executes Haruka's commands, moving towards the edge of the clearing. Its speed slows yet more, and Haruka's legs begin to feel the same tolerable but unpleasant heat. Its tendrils ensnare a young tree, and the Child strips it of the branches before tossing it at the floating Searrs girl.

Arika aims her free hand at the tree, not even looking in its direction, and her hand disappears, replaced by a large barrel that fires a beam of emerald light. The tree is decimated, and Orihime is forced to dodge again.

A cloud of grey gas is released from behind Nao, and Arika dives below it, ending up a mere three feet above the forest floor.

"Hell," Haruka grunts. "Use smaller objects. Things she can't shoot down. Tear something up for stakes, or use rocks."

Can't summon Arach. Can't use her other hand. As long as Nao keeps disrupting the movement of that Shizuru-like sword, Mikoto might get a chance to strike! Now is the time!

Orihime leaps clear of a second laser beam, Haruka's legs tingling from the strain of the jump. The Child dances out of the way of another attack, and ensnares a pair of larger trees. It turns in a circle, building up centrifugal force, and then tosses the objects at Arika. One falls to the beam, but another impacts against Arika's left knee with a crunching sound.

A side glance at Mikoto reveals that the girl's eyes are blank. Something is glowing beneath her shirt, and Nao gets a bad feeling about that ominous purple light.

"Alright, Orihime! Keep going while she's wounded! Bring her down!" She doesn't seem to notice Mikoto at this moment.

"Mikoto!" screams Nao, uncertain if her voice alone can snap the girl out of it. Dammit, there's no time! Abandoning her control over the sword, most of the strings leap towards Arika's leg in an attempt to yank it out from under her!

"Nao!" Mikoto exclaims, but Reito's hand on her shoulder keeps her rooted to her spot.

"Now, now," Reito speaks. "The Hime are dancing so beautifully before us, Mikoto. We shouldn't intervene." A similar purple glow is coming from him as well.

Nao's strings wrap around Arika's ankle. There is a terrible rending sound as the armor gives ground to them, but in the end, it holds, even if the leg beneath it must be crushed beyond recovery. Arika's eyes mist up, a teary smile coming on her lips. "You're fighting seriously again, Nao...."

The chainlink sword lashes out at Nao's throat, but an enormous mace impacts against it with a metallic clang, forcing the weapon off course. On a second look, it is a spiked ball, a wire connecting it to Gennai, Akira's Child. The wire begins retracting, the process painfully slow.

Alright, two out of four limbs pinned! "Orihime, go for Arika's free arm! Trap it, cut it off, I don't care, just make sure she can't use it to fight back any more!"

"You bastard!" snarls Nao, unable to look away from Arika. "Mikoto, we promised!" The strings dance away from Arika's ruined leg, this time yanking her gunarm out of place! Nao starts to run- it doesn't matter where, it's harder to hit a moving target, even with that kind of ridiculous weapon-!

Fire! It becomes Haruka's world, searing her consciousness. She is Orihime, and Orihime is Haruka. That is the way it is, and the way it had always been. The bronze Child seems to embrace the blonde, burning away her imperfections as it merges with its master at the most basic level.

Transformed, Haruka finds herself in control over her body as it is mid-leap towards Arika. Her arm twitches, and information comes unbidden to Haruka. It seems to sing out to her, requesting, begging, demanding to become a blade to smite their enemy!

"Brother!" Mikoto protests, turning to look at Reito as her eyes clear. "I made a promise with Nao!"

"Is it stronger than your promise to Mai?" Reito asks. "Stronger than your devotion to me?"

Mikoto lowers her eyes.

The beam of green energy fires wildly, jolted by Nao's strings. Nao dodges the attacks easily, noting that none target Gennai as Arika seems focused on her.

Haruka is quick to agree with her new form's desires. Arm-sword, go! Cut down Arika! Haruka (if she still is Haruka) isn't asking questions right now. She has what she needs to strike down the enemies of Fuka and that's all that matters as long as her comrades are in danger.

"Who's side are you on, Kanzaki? You want us all to get killed?" growls Nao, breaking eye contact with Arika to stare at the man.

Arika moves in time. Just before Haruka's transformed arm would have separated her hand from her body, she positions it impossibly fast, and fires. Haruka's arm is destroyed beyond any recovery, and the pain is flavored with fire. Her leap takes her past Arika, and as she lands, Haruka already finds her arm regenerating. It is a matter of moments before she'll have functionality in the limb again.

The look in Reito's eyes is menacing. "Me? Killed?" He manages to exude a sense of casual arrogance, and his words drip with disbelief. "By a fake Searrs Hime?"

Haruka stumbles to the ground, barely on her feet, prepared to scream in pain at the loss of her arm, but--it's back suddenly. What. Well, never one to second-guess anything that helps her out, she quickly decides to worry about that later. If she has armor much like Arika's maybe she can have a gun-arm too? She focuses on her good arm and tries to will some manner of firearm into existence.

Her lone claw wrenched out of place by the sudden firing, Nao grits her teeth and forces herself to concentrate. Her most trusted ally is of no help- typical, she thinks with some detachment- and instead of attempting to tie Arika down in a single limb, she instead attempts to restrict movement across her entire body, cords whipping around both arms and her torso!

Haruka's arm bubbles like hot chocolate, sending hungry tendrils to a distance of several meters. No sophisticated weapons form, however.

As Nao's wires wrap all around Arika's body, her wings begin to glow. "Why won't you bring out your Child to play, Nao?" she calls out to her, sounding disappointed. "I don't want this to end so soon."

"I got a better toy," replies Nao, suddenly smirking and glancing behind Arika. "She's just arrived. Miyu! Fairytale!"

Well, that's a start. She circles around Arika and leaps at her from behind. Let's clip those wings! Or at least tangle them up to stop whatever Arika has planned.

Arika whirls around, the sudden force sending Nao tumbling as she can't possibly match it.

She ends up facing Haruka as the bronze-covered blonde leaps at her, and the wings now emit such glow that Nao's eyes hurt beyond what she had ever experienced, nearing their limit.

Haruka suddenly remembers her mace and decides that it would be really convenient for it to materialize right now and smack Arika for a home run. Given Haruka's forward momentum, all she really needs is to have the weapon in front of her as she barrels into Arika.

Nao stumbles back, shielding her eyes from the blow. Her strings wisp into the sections of armour ruined by her earlier attacks, attempting to shred anything left of Arika from the inside out!

Nao's strings attempt to gouge out what they can through the tears in Arika's leg armor.

Haruka's mace caves in Arika's chest just as the wings release a bright wave of energy several meters in width. Haruka feels herself erode, bit by bit, layer by layer.

Arika screams in agony.

"Jigoku Gama!"

Gennai's spiked ball smashes into Arika's unguarded back.

Nao actually closes her eyes for a few seconds, hoping not to become even more blind this time around.

This seems like a really good time to roll AWAY from Arika. Assuming Haruka presently has enough control over her momentum to do that. Assuming she's not about to be totally disintegrated. If Arika's not dead after a collision like that, she'll be close to it when she lands.

What is left of Haruka crashes heavily on the ground in two parts. Unlike the previous time, the recovery process doesn't seem to be kicking in overtly, although the fact that Haruka is still alive and self-aware surely means something.

The light is gone, and in its absence, the sun feels dimmer than ever.

Arika glides down on wings that no longer glow. As soon as her feet make contact with the ground, there is a grinding sound, and one of them collapses under her weight, leaving the Searrs Valkyrie unsteady on her remaining foot.

What it means is that Haruka is presently in horrible pain. Hopefully she's coherent enough to recognize which bits of herself are no longer attached to her body. In any event, it looks like it's someone else's turn to take on Arika right now.

"Akira, now!" When she sees this, Nao's strings aim to put Arika off her feet, and the girl herself pounces from side to side to draw level with her fake friend, intent on putting her claw to work finishing the job on the rest of her limbs.

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

Arika's gun arm levels on Nao, energy gathering at the tip.

Nao doesn't stop. She's fast and unpredictable in her hops, and her strings are close enough to switch limbs, it's nothing to disrupt and evade the oncoming blast!

The red strings connect Arika and Nao, and a tug on them diverts the greenish beam into the sky.

Arika's sword comes to meet Nao's claws, blocking the strike on her.

Haruka focuses her efforts on reassembling herself. Hey, it's not like she can get much else done when she's in two pieces. Frankly, it's pretty amazing to her that she's not dead right now, but she can puzzle that mystery out later.

Nao's claws grasp the sword and start to try and tug it out her hand. The redhead isn't as well-armed as her foe, but she does have another pair of weapons- when she unbalances the smaller girl, her foot whips out to kick her over!

Nao's kick lands in Arika's knee, and the Searrs girl crumbles to the ground, taking Nao down with her, the redhead landing on top.

A spotlight shines on the clearing, its brightness enough to make Nao's life agonizing. She hears a whistling sound, while Haruka can see its source -- a kunai thrown at Arika's shadow.

"Now, Nao!" Akira calls out. "Take her out!"

Nao's claws curl into a blunt fist, and smash into Arika's face with all the strength the girl can muster.

Nao is rewarded with something wet splattering against her fist.

She can't see, she can't see and brightness equates to fear. Grabbing the body by the neck, she leaps away, seeking out cover, any kind of cover.

The body refuses to yield, Nao's arms tingling as she strains them to the limit--

The bright light disappears, replaced by the soft glow of green fireflies. An entire column of them rises up.

Haruka begins regenerating slowly.

A burst of noise catches the Hime off guard. Yukino's voice follows it loudly. "If she's dead, send out a flare." It sounds as if she's using the PA system.

If she's talking about Arika, Nao can tell that soon enough once her eyes start working again.

It takes some time. Nao can see well enough. Haruka has regained the use of her arms, and is no longer a misshapen lump, although the lower extremities of her body still don't listen to her.

Reito is clapping. "Bravo!"

Well, Haruka's not going anywhere or fighting anyone until her whole body is in working order again. It would just be futile. She's well enough to glare at Reito, though.

Once her eyes clear, Nao starts trying to take stock of her current situation. After surveying the scene, however, her eyes settle on Reito with unmistakable hostility.

Arika's face is a mess, and her neck is turned at a bad angle. Her current incarnation is a mere transparent, green outline right now, as more and more motes of green light leave her body and rise up to the sky.

Reito looks amused.

"Oh crap," Haruka croaks. "We weren't supposed to kill her, Nao. We don't have much time to do what we need to do before she comes back."

"You're right. I hit her too hard," replies Nao, not sounding terribly sorry. "Well, Kanzaki. Which side are you on?"

"On my own, of course," he responds. "Was there ever any doubt?"

"I don't like the way you speak. Mikoto, this guy is sick. You can tell, because he's enjoying this." Rising to her feet, she stares past him at the younger girl. "You'd really break a promise for him?"

Mikoto can't meet Nao's eyes.

Haruka props herself up on her elbows. "Mikoto! He's laughing while other people die! This isn't someone who cares about you. What's going on?"

"Just because he's your brother? Can't you see he's using you?" shouts Nao, her voice rising. "How long have you two been at this school together? He must've known much earlier!"

"Nao, I--"

The purple glow centered on Mikoto's chest intensifies, and she clams up.

Akira remains silent, Nao and Haruka can see, but while she makes no threatening moves, neither has Gennai been banished.

"What the hell are you doing to her, you bastard?!" growls Nao, wanting to surge forward and kill the boy with every fibre of her body. But Mikoto's right there, and- even if she had the will to fight, could she hope to win? She knows nothing about the girl's ability, and what's more, her body isn't up to scratch.

Nao's not the only one with physical impediments to fighting by this point. Can Haruka even stand up yet?

"Isn't it a sister's job to serve her loving brother?" Reito asks with a smirk, as Mikoto remains silent.

Haruka has the distinct feeling that her spine had yet to heal.

"'Loving brother?' Maybe when she gets one, sure! Mikoto, HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU. And what else is family really about?"

"Shouldn't you focus on not dying?" Reito asks Haruka, looking down at her as if she were a bug.

"I get it. I see. Sometimes, people make contradictory promises," agrees Nao, sounding concilatory. "So, Mikoto. If you promised Mai not to fight, that's fine. You keep that promise. Or you fight together with me. You can pick that one, too." She narrows her eyes. "With me or not at all. Don't you dare break both for this guy."

Haruka can only scowl back at Reito. It's not like there's a good comeback for an accurate observation, and she's obviously not up to kicking his ass yet.

If it were possible for Mikoto to look more shamed, she would be.

"My, my," a very familiar voice says. Mashiro Kazahana makes an entrance, her ever-present maid pushing her wheelchair. The terrain is rough, but it doesn't seem to be an issue for Fumi, who makes the job seem effortless. "Fighting amongst ourselves is bad, isn't it?"

Finally, someone who agrees with Haruka! But wait a minute: "Aren't you dead?"

"No more than you, Suzushiro-san," Mashiro responds patiently.

Haruka's not sure that this is reassuring.

"Wonderful. Another person with no sense of setting."

Nao glances back at Akira. "Yukino wanted a flare. Arika's dead for the time being. If you've got one, use it."

Guardedly, she creeps back towards Haruka so that the two of them might present a united front. "I don't have anything to say to anyone else. If you want something, spit it out. If you don't, we're busy."

A flare is sent into the sky moments later, as Akira apparently decides to continue cooperating with Nao.

"I wish I didn't have to come out in person, but Searrs didn't really leave me much choice, did they?" Mashiro asks Nao. "And we have the Obsidian Prince misbehaving, on top of everything. Someone is clearly needed to mediate."

"So what's in it for me?"

"Obsidian Prince? That's HIM?"

Mashiro loses a tiny bit of her composure as she gives Haruka an incredulous look, but she quickly schools her features into a pleasant smile. "Well, it certainly is not Minagi-san."

Haruka is flabbergasted. "He was in the student council the whole time. I can't believe--Reito, you traitor! I am going to rip you to pieces as soon as I can get up and walk!"

"Good luck with that," Reito says with fake sincerity, sounding bored.

"Don't do it, Haruka," warns Nao, glancing past him. "We don't know what Mikoto will do, and I can't back you up." She snorts. "As far as I'm concerned, none of you are trustworthy in the slightest. Give me one reason to listen to you."

Given that Haruka presently lacks the ability to move her legs, she's not likely to actually follow through. But she'd dearly like to.

"I helped you," Mashiro points out. "With what little I could. I pulled you out of that flytrap you walked into."

Fumi continues to push Mashiro's wheelchair into the clearing, the battle damage in her path not impeding the maid in the slightest.

"I was wondering if you were the same one," murmurs Nao. "Fine."

She looks expectant.

Haruka doesn't have the slightest clue what Nao and Mashiro are talking about and can only look from one to the other in confusion. She doesn't look terribly patient about this whole standoff thing.

Reito and Akira seem content to let things play out, while Mikoto twitches every once in a while, as the purple glow pulsates, originating from below her shirt.

"So you survived," Yukino's voice comments, this time from her preferred method of communication. "And Arika Searrs didn't."

"She's dead. For now. Disappointed?"

"Hardly," Yukino responds, as Mashiro looks on with interest. "Fill me in. Who around you is an enemy?"

"Reito," Haruka says. "And only Reito, as far as I can tell."

"I have a strong dislike for Kanzaki," Nao agrees. "He's controlling Minagi. It is a problem. Luckily, however, you're just in time for negotiations. Sooner or later, someone will put something on the table." She frowns. "It isn't going to be me, I think."

"Hmph. Can you handle Mikoto? Even true talent can be overwhelmed with numbers."

"We can't wait forever. Arika will come back evidently. And we're not in shape to start another battle. At least, I'M not. If anyone has a way to reach Mikoto without a fight, I want to hear it."

"I can make sure she won't return," Yukino states. "But it's either that or assist you now. Killing Searrs is not worth it for me if I lose my partner," Yukino states matter-of-factly, as if she were discussing the student council itinerary and not plans for murder.

"Deal with Arika," replies Nao, instantly.

"Keep Arika out of here," Haruka decides quickly. "Stopping her last time was hard enough."

"You wish is my command," Yukiko says sardonically.

"And how do you intend to do that?" Reito asks, appearing mildly curious.

"You have a very nice lair," Yukino responds, sounding smug. "Would be a shame if someone squatted there, wouldn't it? Hypothetically speaking."

Reito's face distorts in anger.

Haruka shivers a little at Yukino's tone. That's NOT the girl she used to know. She always thought Yukino needed to get some backbone, but this is a little creepy. Still, at least she's cooperating. "What's up, Reito?" she chimes in. "Something not going as planned?"

Nao clenches her fist. With a face like that, this could turn bad at any time... and it'd come down to who Mashiro decides to help. That should settle it, but there is still some unease.

"The problem with taking hostages," Yukino continues, gloating, "is that emotional little octopus heads would still execute orders perfectly even if, say, the one issuing them happened to change."

Reito clenches his fists.

"Isn't that right?" Yukino asks, and it doesn't sound like she's talking to anyone in the clearing. "Now go and destroy the Searrs sattelite for me, or else it's all over for your dear Oniichan, you whiny brat!"

Akira looks unsettled.

Fumi stops pushing Mashiro's wheelchair; they now form an almost perfect triangle with Haruka and Nao, and Reito and Mikoto.

Haruka has absolutely no idea what Yukino's talking about, but breaking the stalemate isn't her move to make while she's still recouperating.

Something rises into the air, back from the direction of campus. It leaves behind a column of smoke as it climbs higher and higher.

"I don't know what she's doing," Haruka mutters to Nao, "but let's just be glad she's on our side."

"Indeed. Give up Mikoto, Reito," states Nao, crossing her arms. "On your life."

Reito laughs incredulously. "My life?" he repeats, disbelieving. "You're going to take it, then? You and what army?"

"An army? Since when did they do anyone any good around here?" queries Nao, raising an eyebrow.

"True enough," Reito agrees. He stretches out exaggeratedly. "So that's how it's going to be?"

"On the contrary," Mashiro interjects. "It doesn't have to be that way."

The column of smoke is now going all the way to the clouds and beyond, already beginning to disperse near the ground.

"So you say," replies Nao. "And yet, I find myself struggling to imagine an alternative that has this man alive and me satisfied."

Haruka shades her eyes against the sun, watching the column of smoke. Does everyone but us have rocket Children? she wonders.

There is no outwards sign of it, but Haruka realizes that her spine has finally regenerated. She can't move at top efficiency just yet, but she is back in the game.

Maybe she doesn't need to let everyone else know that just yet. She'll focus on rebuilding herself for as long as she can before circumstances force her into action again.

Mashiro gestures at Reito, and Fumi nods. The pink-haired woman steps past Mashiro's wheelchair, and reaches forward, a scytche coming into being.

"Even you are betraying me?" Reito asks, his voice suddenly ugly with hate.

Mashiro inclines her head. "So it seems."

"You speak as though people wouldn't want to."

Mashiro covers her mouth with her hand, giggling.

"Mikoto," Reito speaks, gritting his teeth. "Cut off her tongue." He points at Nao.

Crap. Well, time to stand up and put on as good a show as she can in her present state. Haruka climbs to her feet, making it look as natural and casual as she possibly can. Sure, she's totally ready to fight if she has to! She'd rather not, of course, but she can, really! "Mikoto, it sounds like your brother only came to you when he needed you. Do you want to become a murderer for a man like that?

"Mikoto, I-" Nao's cocky demeanour vanishes in an instant. "I don't want to fight you. Do you really want to fight me?"

Mikoto shakes her head, looking sad.

"Useless!" Reito spits, backhanding the small girl. She flies several feet, crashing on the ground heavily. "No matter," he mutters. "There is still Mai."

"You think I'll let you get to her?" demands Nao, stepping forward. "Pathetic. You really are powerless on your own, aren't you?"

"What the hell kind of brother are you?" Haruka bellows at Reito. "And you're supposed to be a 'Prince?' Don't make me laugh! Mikoto, if you can get up, we're with you."

"I'm tired of this farce!" yells Nao, flicking her wrist and sending five red lines coiling towards the arrogant 'prince'!

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

The strings impact against a barrier that appears before Reito. Fumi takes this as her sign to strike, and Reito materializes am ornamental black sword, blocking her scythe with it.

"Pathetic," he says, as Fumi leaps back. Gesturing at the gathered Hime, Reito invites them to attack him in earnest!

Haruka decides to hang back and observe for the moment, taking as much time as possible to regenerate before dedicating herself to combat. "Yukino," she mutters, "if you can hear me, anything you might observe about what he can do would be helpful."

Is it a shield that can be beaten down? If so, Nao will discover this eventually, and her strings rear up to descend upon his protective field from all points, as if it were a sphere she can constrict.

No response comes from Yukino, though that in itself may not mean much. Devoting herself fully to regeneration, Haruka feels her recovery process speed up. Luckily for her, Reito seems content to defend himself rather than come after the Hime himself.

Reito's shield protects him from the strings coming from the front, while his sword deflects the others with a prowess that transcends human ability. He steps back, as Fumi's scythe embeds itself in the ground where he had just been standing, and kicks at the pink-haired Hime. She flies through the clearing, turning in mid-air so that she would impact against a tree with her feet and not her back, leaping back into the action.

A hail of ninja stars announces Akira's entry, but Reito deals with them all with his shield alone, looking at the girl mockingly. "Did you really think you would be allowed to win? Someone like you, stand besides my Mai? I think not!"

Nao stands side-on to Reito, obscuring her broken hand from view. She lashes out again and and again until her strings seem to form a red wave that bashes continuously against his defences.

Gritting her teeth, she tries to summon her claws on her other hand.

Uneven green claws of energy appear on that hand, as Nao's poisoned arm awakens! Even a momentary loss of her focus, Nao realizes, would make her lose what control she has over the limb!

Rather than defend against Nao's strings, Reito redirects them towards Fumi, forcing her to abort her attack.

Haruka tests her legs, stomping the ground to make sure everything's back in working order. It looks like this is going to take everyone's efforts to bring Reito down, so she doesn't have much more time to waste on healing.

Nao winces, struggling to concentrate on her own. She leaps back a few paces, putting slightly more distance between her and Reito. "Haruka, I'm relying on you," she mutters, before all ten strings whisk out, some plunging under the ground, only to re-emerge directly below Reito! Red and green mingle in a sickening array of tiny, scything lights.

Haruka's legs hold her weight. She feels reasonably confident about engaging in battle, but she hasn't recovered fully yet. Losing even a limb, like she had in an earlier attack on Arika, might well be fatal in this state as it would tax her regenerative abilities past their limits.

The red splashes harmlessly against Reito's shield, while the green tendrils controlled by Nao's awakened arm punch through it almost casually. Reito's eyes widen for a brief instant, and he leaps back, impossibly fast. Even a Hime's eyes find it difficult to follow his motions.

The green strings rampage in Reito's wake, shredding Akira's thrown daggers.

Nao clutches her shoulder with her good arm, her solid claws vanishing as she winces in pain- breathing heavily, and feigning more discomfort than she feels (which is saying something), she lets up on her attack for the moment, assuming others will pick up her slack. Fumi's weapon seems strong enough to punch through the shield- not to mention the sheer weight of Haruka's awful weapon.

Well, it's good to know that the shield isn't impenetrable, at least. Haruka considers engaging Reito directly, but it seems unwise when her allies are busy pelting him with projectiles. Plus, there's that sword he's got zipping around. With Nao falling back, though...Haruka summons her mace and steps forward to test Reito's defenses. She goes for an exploratory attack more than an all-out assault.

Reito sees it fit to block the mace on his sword, allowing the weapon to slide down to the guard, before twisting his sword aside and punching at Haruka.

More thrown weapons, kunai this time, impact harmlessly against his shield, and Akira curses.

Haruka's covered in malleable armor, right? She shifts to one side to avoid Reito's fist directly impacting her and commands the bronze field surrounding her to reach out and grab him by the arm!

Reito's strike creates a hole in Haruka's body, one that it quickly becomes apparent was caused by her as she flows and reforms around it, securing the arm with one of her own. He gives her a look of annoyance, and pushes back at the mace with overwhelming strength, before bringing his sword to bear on Haruka's bronze limb!

Fumi speeds up, to a point where she seems to be flashing from spot to spot. She is circling around Reito.

Nao plunges her green hand into the earth, and sends all five strings- can they be called strings, with this one?- snaking through the ground, leaving rumbling dirt in their passing. There's no pretense of using them to grapple- instead spears of verdant energy shoot forth to impale the dark swordsman, one at a time so not to overwhelm her arm or accidentally stab her allies.

Haruka releases Reito in order to dart back and evade the sword's strike! She readies herself for another attack, making a show of gripping her mace with both hands, while commanding one of her morphable legs to snake out and trip Reito up while he's focused on defending himself from the more obvious attack./

Reito does not intend to pursue Haruka, apparently more concerned with the green spears striking at him. His sword knocks the first four, but Haruka's malleable leg snakes out to entrap his, and the last spear pierces through both.

The agony is similar to what Haruka experienced with Arika's final attack, as cells cease to be upon coming in contact with the sickly green energy.

Haruka convulses in pain, but does everything she can to keep ahold of Reito (assuming Nao's attack didn't completely vaporize the pseudopod, that is), as he's more vulnerable to her allies' attacks if he can't move freely. If Haruka has to take a hit in order to bring him down, so be it. Reito must fall!

"Fumi, attack!" calls Nao, withdrawing the spike that's hitting Haruka, apparently not quite so confident in the bronze woman's ability to withstand the damage. He could deflect the red strings- but in pain as he is, perhaps a single, awesome attack might break him!

Even without those words, Fumi has already committed herself to the attack! Her scythe slices through spear and flesh alike, sinking deep within Reito's side! He grabs onto it, and lashes out with his sword, causing the maid to somersault to safety, leaving her weapon behind.

"Nuisances, all of you," Reito calls, tearing the scythe out of his body and turning on Haruka, both weapons in hand. "Are you that eager to die at my hand?"

Through the tear in his clothing, a purple gem could be seen, pulsing with a purple light, much like a heartbeat.

Mikoto, where's Mikoto?!

Mikoto hasn't risen from the spot Reito had backhanded her to. That same purple light is coming from her as well. She looks pale.

"Akira, smoke!" yells Nao, crouching and ready to rush to the girl's side.

Haruka disengages, sensing that Nao has something in mind. She'd love to nab that gem and destroy it, but dual-wielding Reito is a little too intimidating for her to just dive in headlong. "I'm willing to pay whatever cost is necessary to keep Fuka safe!" she announces to Reito, gripping her mace and adopting a defensive posture to buy time for whatever Nao has in mind.

Smoke bombs impact against Reito's shield, except this time, it works against him. A nearly-perfect sphere appears where Reito was, vision of what is inside entirely obscured!

Fumi retreats to Mashiro's side.

Haruka backs up by several steps, allowing herself space to react in case Reito should burst out of the cloud at her.

Nao dances to Mikoto's prone body. Her green claws are ready to deflect any blow, though perhaps at the cost of her plan. Her red claws soon stop being claws at all, as she attempts to reach through the girl's shirt and yank off the amulet she wears.

Haruka retreats, able to see the cloud of smoke around Reito collapse on itself suddenly, as Reito emerges from it, lunging for Mikoto and Nao.

The amulet, for that is what Nao's hand closes around, feels uncomfortable in her hand, as if it were a living, alien thing. She finds herself unable to merely yank it off Mikoto.

If she can't pick up the amulet, then- she can attack Reito and retreat with Mikoto in tow! Her arm throbs, and she struggles to maintain control of the five lashes that put themselves between her and him. They extend strangely, growing longer as Nao retreats, but not accelerating forward at great pace.

Maybe if she just has time to slice it open without harming the girl-!

Crap! Haruka darts after Reito with her mace held ready. Maybe she can strike him in the back as he's distracted, but her intention is mostly to force him to redirect his attention so that Nao can do whatever it is she's trying to do.

Reito bats away the red strings contemptuosly with the borrowed scythe, before interposing his sword between his back and Haruka's mace. He pivots on his good leg, and launches a solid kick into Haruka's ribs that lifts her off the ground, while Nao gets away from his immediate attack range.

"Mashiro! Can I destroy this thing?" she yells, wondering if she could even if she wanted to. Her green claws definately could manage it, she suspects, but... could she avoid hurting Mikoto? She doesn't know.

Ow, ow, OW. Haruka staggers back wheezing, hopefully buying a little time should Reito follow up on that kick. She definitely needs to get that scythe away from Reito if possible--they're effectively down one Hime while Fumi doesn't have her own weapon.

If Haruka's composition were any different, her insides would be powder now.

"I can do it," Mashiro's reply carries over, as Reito looks panicked for the first time. "No, that's--"

His eyes widen in shock. "Was that your plan?!" Reito exclaims, and as both pendants glow brighter still, calls out, "Appear, Miroku!"

Haruka has a bad feeling about this.

An earthquake is the advent of what is to come, as the ground splits in two. An enormous mace rises from the deep chasm.

Haruka suddenly feels terribly inadequate.

Nao has a worse feeling about this. There's a distance between her and Mashiro. She has to make it, and take Mikoto with her.

Her problem suddenly seems insurmountable. Not for the first time over the past couple of days, she thinks about how much easier this would be if she was the one with Kagutsuchi.

A hand reaches after the mace, something pulling itself with visible effort, as if clawing out of the depth of hell itself!

Whatever Nao's planning to do, now's the time to do it, before this monstrosity makes it completely out of the ground. Haruka staggers over to Mashiro--if it's important to get her and Mikoto in the same place, she can carry Mashiro to Nao if necessary.

If she's going to act, she realises, she has to act now. In all the movies, the big things are slow, right? Nao is fast! Was fast.

Subtle tricks fly from her mind, and she attempts to turn this into a contest of speed by rushing almost directly towards the wheelchair-bound girl, leaping over any obstacles along the way!

A monster climbs up, easily dwarfing Reito with its bulk. It floats, its body covered with nasty spikes. Two massive hands extend from the deformed body to grip a mace as large as Haruka herself, and Miroku doesn't waste time slamming it against the bronze-covered blonde. Through it all, the Child glows an eerie dark red.

Despite losing her balance at Miroku's appearance, Nao continues on her path towards Mashiro, whose wheelchair is guarded zealously by a weaponless Fumi.

"Crush them all, Miroku!" Reito commands, a sense of urgency in his voice. "Stop the witch at once!"

Haruka focuses all of her effort on raw agility now--she even banishes her mace to keep it from slowing her down, as there's no way she can fight this monster head-on anyhow. Assuming she's not instantly crushed by Miroku's opening assault, maybe she can dodge long enough for Mashiro to do whatever it is she needs to do.

Why call it a festival when it's so plainly a war, Nao wonders. Where are the stalls? The games? The free food?

She doesn't have time to think about that. Instead she concentrates on not tripping over as she practically flies towards Mashiro.

Bright light from Jennai's direction seems to stop the monster in its tracks, even as a lone curved dagger follows its path, embedding itself in Miroku's shadow. "All I can get is a few seconds!" Akira calls over from atop the enormous frog Child, holding her arms together as she forms a seal.

"You fools!" Reito cries out, even as Miroku struggles to complete its strike. Cursing, he begins to run towards Mashiro himself. "Do you know what you're doing?!"

Nao reaches the wheelchair-bound girl. Fumi moves ahead past the redhead to block Reito, quite likely with her own body.

"You can take your platitudes to the grave!" snarls Nao, dropping to her knees and holding Mikoto up for Mashiro, as if in offering.

"No," Haruka shouts, "but feel free to explain why anything that upsets you isn't in our best interest!" With Miroku pinned, she takes the opportunity to try and intercept Reito. With her and Fumi in the way, maybe they can hold him off long enough. She summons her mace again, intending to take the brunt of the attack--she's armed, after, all, and Fumi isn't.

Mashiro leans over to embrace the unresisting Mikoto almost gently, wrapping her arms around the girl.

Haruka's mace blocks the scythe, while Reito's sword plunges into her stomach. Yet, despite what should be an agonizing wound, there is no pain.

Akira cries out, "Jigoku Gama!" just as Miroku breaks through its entrapment, Gennai's attack sending its mace off course, as a new crater is born.

"You'll doom us all!" Reito rages.

"You're going to kill us all anyway. Taking you with us is a bargain!" Haruka growls right into Reito's face. She wraps Reito's sword arm in the bronze material at her midsection to keep it immobilized, pulling him in close so that he can't maneuver or even have the space to swing that scythe effectively.

Unease settles in Nao's mind, but she can't back out now, or she'll be crushed. She banishes her worried thoughts. She wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for Mashiro.

But she wishes she could ask Shizuru, just to make sure she isn't wrong.

"You imbecile! I should have crushed you from the start!" Reito hisses at Haruka, beyond angry.

"Brother," Mikoto whispers quietly, barely audible to Nao.

Mashiro rubs Mikoto's back soothingly, before moving to meet her hands behind Mikoto's head as she holds the other girl close. "Brother," she repeats after her, looking past Nao and Fumi at the deadlocked Reito. "It has been a while since I called you that, hasn't it?"

Mashiro's grip tightens suddenly, blades springing out of her hands and sinking into Mikoto's unguarded neck. Mikoto gasps.

Haruka isn't in a position to see what's happening with Mashiro. She's more than glad to see Reito flipping out, though. "This is what you get for understimulating the Suzushiros!"

With a feat of strength surpassing even his previous efforts, Reito tears himself out of Haruka's grasp, shoving her aside roughly and moving towards Mashiro again. He only makes it several steps, however, stopping as he catches sight of Mikoto.

Reito is treated to watching one of his prior enemies coming to agree with him, as Nao's face twists in shock and hurt.

Mashiro isn't the only one with blades for hands, and Nao demonstrates that nor is she the only one who can sink them into the necks of others.

Nao's claws tear the wheelchair to ribbons, but the lavender-haired girl is no longer occupying it when she strikes. A glance finds her several feet away, casually leaning against a tree.

"My, my," she tells Nao. "What a thank you, and after I brought down the Obsidian Lord. Truly, no good deed goes unpunished."

Blood pools around Mikoto.

Haruka takes a moment to regain her footing, and the next thing she knows, Mikoto lies bleeding and Mashiro is...standing up on her own? "What the--you little faker!"

Mashiro giggles at Haruka's outburst. "Please call it a strategic deception if you must."

Nao clutches her arm, and it seems to pulse. The green claws expand and contract in a strange rhythm, and she utters a wordless scream, shoving past Reito and striking at Mashiro with power beyond anything she's used before.

Mashiro's smile is wiped out by Nao's attacks, and a shield of fire interposes itself before them. In its center, a very familiar sign is swirling furiously, the same one Nao had always assosiated with Mai.

"Now, this wasn't called for," Mashiro says, gritting her teeth. The shield begins to give way to Nao's unrelenting onslaught.

Haruka is still trying to process what the hell just happened. She wanders over to Mikoto. Is the girl dead? Is this having any noticeable effect on Reito?

"ARACH!" screeches Nao, beyond anything resembling rational thought and having only one desire- to obliterate the enemy in front of her. More power surges through her arm- she barely notices the presence of the shield, only that Mashiro remains standing.

Mikoto seems to still cling to life, though she isn't breathing, and her time must be limited barring a miracle.

Arach is summoned, and some part of Nao notices that it is easily Gennai's size, now. Its front legs reform before Nao's eyes, and it slams them at and through the shield.

Bracelets of fire appear on Mashiro's hands and feet, and she tumbles through the air to escape Arach and Nao's attacks. "We're leaving, Fumi!" she calls over to her maid while suspended upside-down at the apex of her leap.

It's hard to even distinguish the green light emitting from Nao's hand as a claw, now. For all the world, it is as if she's firing a continuous, powerful beam at her opponent, as opposed to the nails of the past minute.

What's Reito doing through all this? Haruka's still rather dumbfounded by Mashiro and Nao's actions, but the Prince should still bear watching. Especially with that monster at his beck and call.

Mashiro scowls, and avoids the beam, swooping down suddenly. Fumi gives a forlorn look at her scythe, still held by Reito, but catches Mashiro's hand when the fire-user passes next to her. Mashiro changes directions rapidly at that, flying straight up towards the sun, continuing her evasive maneuvers.

Reito seems to be in shock. His hands are lowered, still clutching to his weapons, and he is shaking his head slowly. Miroku stands still by his side.

Akira appears next to Haruka, looking down at Mikoto gravely.

Mikoto's body shudders, going still.

Nao can't fly. But with Arach's help, she can manage the next best thing.

Mashiro's actions and Reito's clear emotional disarray don't make the Prince suddenly not be an enemy. Haruka remains wary of the man, but she's not about to attack him with Nao and Fumi heading elsewhere. She kneels down next to Mikoto, checking on her (and checking for that gem, because even at a time like this she has practical concerns).

Nao meets Arach in mid-air, as the Child lunges after Mashiro. Her hand blasts crackling green lightning everywhere, but even though she forces her eyes past what they can safely handle, she can't see a sign of Mashiro and Fumi, or tell if any of her strikes were accurate.

Reito drops to his knees, his weapons cluttering to the ground as he clutches at his chest. Miroku is outlined in green.

The purple gems on both Reito and Mikoto still glow ominously, even though the latter is now dead.

Nao eventually drops back to the ground, clutching her wrist as if in sudden pain. The green lightning sparkles and flickers; with Mashiro out of sight, some rational part still left within her takes over, and she squeezes her arm as if to stem the flow.

Haruka reaches for Mikoto's gem. Can it be removed easily now?

Nao's arm twists wildly. The green energy is reduced to four inch-long claws, but those refuse to disappear, twitching of their own accord.

"Destroy it!" Reito gasps, noticing Haruka's actions. "Save me!"

Haruka had every intention of destroying it, but she changes her mind after this outburst. "Why would I want to do anything that helps you?" she sneers.

Reito pitches forward, clawing at the ground ineffectually. He seems to be in a great deal of pain, but when he opens his mouth to scream, no sound comes out.

"Do it, Haruka!" snarls Nao. "He'll help us kill that bitch!"

Haruka doesn't move. "And then who'll kill him? He's still our enemy, Nao, and we could barely stop him with all of us together." She takes Mikoto's gem, if it's possible to remove it now.

Miroku becomes green sparkles, fading away. Reito soon follows, leaving his amulet behind.

Both of them grow cold, no longer filled with light.

Nao freezes, locked in sudden indecision. It's all she can do to watch as the man and his monster vanish from sight.

She drops to her knees, placing her hands on the ground. Her still-fiery claw slips through the earth, causing her to drop the rest of the way. She starts to shudder, whimpering.

Akira kneels by Mikoto, and gently closes the girl's eyes.

Haruka watches Nao for a moment, letting the other girl cry herself out. She's kind of at a loss as to what to do right now. She'd pretty much assumed doing away with the Prince would shut down the Festival altogether, but she doesn't have any way of verifying that this is true right now. She peers at the sky. Any sign that Apollo was shut down?

Nao can't see straight. She pounds her fist against the ground, choking back stuttering wails only for a few moments.

Haruka's content to wait and let Nao work out her rage right now (at a safe distance, just in case). Truth be told, she has her own internal crises to work through in light of all the people she's helped kill recently, but that's not the kind of thing she expresses out in the open.

It takes quite some time for Nao's wails to stop, and it doesn't seem as though the girl is quite done yet. After a few minutes, she huddles in a crouch next to Mikoto, staring at the dead girl, with eyes that seem to be looking somewhere far different.

"Nao?" Haruka asks carefully (unusually so, for her). If the redhead's going to be catatonic for a while, she'll turn to Akira instead.

"Suzushiro..." murmurs Nao. "What do we do now?"

"Well," she starts tonelessly, "if the satellite doesn't kill us today, we find Mashiro, ask her what the hell just happened, and...I guess after that it depends on her response." She glances at the late Minagi. "Burying Mikoto might be what we do right now," she adds, this seeming like a reassuringly -human- activity.

"She's... why did I trust her?" murmurs Nao, staring at her glowing fist. "Ah. I forgot. I can't trust anyone unless I know why..."

Her gaze rotates, and squints at Akira, as if seeing her for the first time.

Haruka checks herself for permanent injuries (remembering for the first time that she had a sword plunge right through her) and pauses a moment to regenerate the wound in her foot. Then she makes a more utilitarian use of her malleable form and goes to work on the ground with a shovel arm.

"And you? When did you plan to betray us?" asks Nao, coldly.

"Well, it occludes to me that I didn't really make any plans," Haruka says, still digging.

"Not you."

Akira startles. "What do you mean?"

"You know as much about the festival as much as we do. You even hid your gender! You must've seen all this coming from the very beginning," growls Nao. "Is it coincidence that you happen to be bestest friends with the most important person of the most powerful Hime? Really?"

Haruka pauses in her digging. "Slow down, Nao. We've lost enough people already. This isn't the time to turn against the few of us that are left. And--" Something seems to occur to her for the first time. "Wait a minute, Akira's a girl?"

"That was my father's call!" Akira protests. "See this coming?!" She laughs hysterically. "I don't even know what's going on anymore. Mai-- Takumi--"

Nao stares blanky at Akira for a moment, before shaking her head. "Maybe I should've just played to win from the start," she mutters. Her claws elongate and carve out a suitable section of dirt for a grave in a flash. "Mikoto..."

Haruka leaves things to Nao, if she can do it that much faster. She seems to have known Mikoto better anyway. "I thought getting rid of the Prince would stop the Festival. If it didn't...well, the only person we can reach who might have an answer is Mashiro. She did run the school, after all. I say we go after her when we're done here."

Nao can't seem to bring herself to put Mikoto in the grave, which might have something to do with the way anything her left hand touches will be vaporised instantly.

"The Prince? No, he's not necessary for the festival, but he drives it onwards," she replies, staring at the sky, herself.

Haruka nods. "Someone, somewhere, must have an answer. We'll find them and beat it out of them. We didn't start this disaster and we shouldn't have to pay for it." She kneels down by Mikoto, picking her up and preparing to place her in the grave. She looks around. "Does anyone want to say something?"

"I had a lot of things I wanted to say to her," replies Nao, quietly. "They'll have to wait."

Another nod, and Haruka sets the girl in the grave, stepping back to let Nao finish up. She doesn't have anything more to say herself.

"Did you take the amulet?" murmurs Nao. "I'd like to keep it."

Haruka hands it over, not having any real use for it or knowledge of what it does. "Reito's is still on the ground somewhere."

"He vanished," replies Nao, pushing in dirt from the edges of the grave onto Mikoto's still form. "That's the fate of people whom the Hime associate with. Death." Once she's done, she stands up.

"I've mourned enough. Kikukawa, are you there?"

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

No answer comes as Nao waits.

A scythe and an obsidian sword lay on the ground, forgotten, next to a dull amulet like the one Nao is holding.

Nao picks up the opposing amulet, as well, before reaching down to grasp the sword. "They didn't vanish," she comments, rather needlessly. "What do you make of this, Akira-kun?" The honorific sounds sarcastic when she says it.

Haruka walks over to the scythe and prods it with her foot, experimentally. Well hey, if they have to fight Fumi, at least the maid won't have her weapon.

The scythe is easily pushed back; though its weight is considerable, Haruka finds, it is nothing before her strength.

"Reito-san did something," Akira responds, rather than snap back at Nao. "That must be it." Her dagger disappears with a sparkle. "I never had my weapon taken from me. I didn't even think it could be."

Haruka picks up the scythe and takes a couple swings through the air (away from the other two Hime, of course!)

It weighs more than her mace. The wind sings as Haruka puts the scythe to work.

"Reito doesn't matter now," Haruka cuts in. "I thought it'd all be over when we killed the big bad Prince, but it looks like we're not done yet. If anyone knows what'll happen now, it's Mashiro."

"Ditto, obviously," replies Nao, wishing she had somewhere to put the sword. "We're probably better off with our natural weapons, so to speak." She squints on the horizon. "I'm surprised. It doesn't seem as though the ships have fired on us yet..."

At that, Nao snorts. "Mashiro. What do you think she's going to try and do now? Kill us all! I think she's the winner of the last festival... no, I'm sure of it."

"That would mean she's immortal," Akira says quietly. "And the most ruthless of all Hime."

"Maybe so," Haruka says in response to the first statement, "but there's something to making sure Fumi doesn't get THIS weapon back." A nod, to both girls. "I'd be glad to test HOW immortal she is. But we need to find her first."

"Yeah, it may surprise you, but I'm not keen to do that right this instant. She uses the same weapons as Mai. I'm not fighting that. No way." Nao shudders, before her face pales. "Mai..."

"Do you... think she's alive?" Akira asks hesitantly. "Reito-san seemed very certain...."

"Wouldn't you be able to tell instantly if something happened?"

"If she is, I have to wonder what happened to her. ...Yukino sent someone else after that satellite, which she wouldn't need to do if Mai had done the job."

"After all, you and Mai ostensibly have something in common," she adds. "Let's go and check it out. I don't mind saying that an alliance is in all our best interests for now."

Haruka just nods. That's always been her opinion anyways.

Akira appears very guarded at Nao's words. To the side of the clearing, Gennai shifts.

"Are you implying anything?" the ninja asks, eyes narrowing.

Haruka rolls her eyes. "Enough with implications and hints and aberrations. If anyone knows anything, they should put all their cards on the table. This isn't time to play games."

"So you were just playing before?"

Akira looks like she wants to take those words back.

"That was to you two," Haruka corrects. "I've SAID everything I know."

Nao grits her teeth, and turns to stare at Akira. "Yeah. This festival? You and I both know the deal there. I don't plan on attacking anyone before they make the first move, but don't expect me not to watch my back. Especially around a ninja. You'd be stupid not to think the same thing about me."

She frowns. "I'm not trusting just anyone anymore. But no matter what your goal is, you're better served working with me for now. It's that simple."

"I don't trust you either," Akira responds, though she's looking at both Haruka and Nao as she says that. "But you're not my enemy."

Gennai disappears.

A sigh. "That'll have to be good enough for now, I guess. And we seem to agree on the need to find Mashiro, so that's our next move. If Yukino won't respond...any ideas on where our steamed headmistress wnet?"

Akira frowns. "I don't recall agreeing to that."

"No, and I'd rather find Mai first. Fight fire with fire. That's the proper way to do things." Nao shrugs, and points the way with her sword. "And if we run into any soldiers along the way, I have a few words I'd like to have with them, too. Any better ideas?"

"Then suggest something other than standing here and staring at us suspiciously!" Haruka responds to Akira. She doesn't seem to object to Nao's plan, though.

Akira merely nods. "Yes. That's what we have to do. If Mai is alright-- she might be hurt. We have to find and help her!"

"Alright. Arach!" Nao leaps to the head of her monstrosity and points the way. "Let's go!"

Akira's presence disappears from Haruka and Nao's senses, as she melts away into the shadows.

Haruka will have to hitch a ride on Arach if she can't keep up, but for now...let's see what kind of speed her new body can put out!

Arach travels towards the coast, trampling over trees. Compared to its bulk, Haruka is tiny, but she is barely able to keep up, following along the cleared path. Her limbs don't get tired even as she pushes them past their previous limits.

Along the way, Nao strains her ears for any loud noises coming from elsewhere on the island.

The crackling of large-scale fires. Distant screams. Sporadic gunfire. Fuka Academy campus seems the most afflicted, though there's gunfire audible from the direction of town as well.

Arach's course takes Nao and Haruka away from either.

Haruka hates to leave all these (potential) innocents behind and in danger, but Mashiro needs to be stopped, and if finding Mai will help accomplish that then that's top priority. (Couldn't Mai have crashlanded somewhere more convenient, though? Really.)

Nao curses silently. "Akira! You keep looking for Mai. I'm going to deal with the forces at the school. Rendezvous there," she shouts, wheeling her monstrosity around and stampeding back towards the campus.

"One hour," drifts back to Nao.

Haruka decides to accompany Akira for now. Her last attempt at helping people didn't work out too well, and she doesn't look any more normal now than she did then.

"Wait, where're you going?" complains Nao, pausing. "Can you, um, change your apperance? Look less like Suzushiro Haruka, more like someone else? At least ditch the bronze?"

"Um, I'm not sure I can. It's kind of...me, at this point." Haruka concentrates, trying to experiment with her form and she if she can shape it to look like someone else (or at least not be a walking eyesore).

Doing so would require for the liquid metal to cover Haruka's face, she instinctively realizes, the only part of her original self still remaining unaltered.

Ew. Well...it's all for the greater good, right? Trying to suppress the notion that she's being suffocated, Haruka wills the metal to cover her totally and reshape her into someone anonymous (though charismatic and attractive, of course!)

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

Haruka sheds the last remnants of her humanity! Her mind fractures, recomibining almost immediately afterwards, and she finds herself cured of the desire to breathe or eat. Even her gender remains but a sentimental throwback to Haruka's old self.

An attractive, generously endowed female with a pigtail appears before Nao's eyes. She's made of shining bronze which hurts Nao's eyes when she looks at it directly.

Nao can't look directly at Haruka, recoiling from the woman. "The coat of paint remains a problem," she mutters, deciding to focus on where she's going instead.

"Yeah, well, the next time you die and get rebuilt, let's see what color you turn out." Haruka marches after Nao. "Weird" wouldn't be quite enough to describe how she presently feels.

"At least you won't have trouble getting dressed in the morning," mutters Nao, shaking her still-glowing hand.

"Well, you know what? We'll count how many people run in terror from each one of us when we get to town. If you scare off more of them, you win!"

"You really like the sucker bets, don't you?"

The edge of the forest lies ahead! Smoke rises towards the skies. From atop Arach, Nao can see it coming from where the church used to be, as well as Mashiro's mansion, which is hardly new. What is recent is the collapsed building of the library.

"The library's been destroyed," mutters Nao. "Why would someone destroy the library?"

"Well. I think we know what happened at Mashiro's. Let's head for the library and find out."

"You never told me what happened there, you know," mutters Nao, nonetheless agreeing with Haruka's plan and directing Arach to charge in that direction.

Nao spots people run away from Arach. No one shoots at it.

What sort of people?

Nao can't tell from the distance. Adult-sized, perhaps.

Haruka follows along. "There was a box. I opened it. Then Nagi showed up and things got messy." Okay, so that's the abridged version.

"Nagi. Nagi. I wonder if he's out of a job, now that Reito is dead?" Nao is happy to have Arach continue to close the distance to the school as-is, keeping an eye out in the courtyard for either of those armoured cars she was told were around.

No armored cars in sight-- wait. There are two smoldering wrecks. They look as if something impossibly sharp and hot cut through them angrily.

"I hope so," Haruka replies, savoring the image of Nagi waiting in line for unemployment checks.

Arika's work? Someone elses? Whoever they are, they might still be around. "Keep an eye out! If you see any soldiers, give me a yell. I'll tie them up," she promises, continuing to her destination.

What used to be a two-story building housing the Fuka Academy library has been reduced to rubble. It looks as if someone collapsed the foundation of the building.

Nao and Haruka can't find any obvious signs as to how this might have happened.

"No scorch marks... no fires..." mutters Nao, hopping off Arach and staring at the wreckage. "Someone bashed it down from the inside, perhaps?"

"Looks like a demobilization team tore the place down," Haruka says, picking through the wreckage. "Maybe," she replies, "but who?"

The wreckage doesn't feel warm to the touch for Haruka.

"Who'd destroy it?" asks Nao. "There must have been something here, but..." She shakes her head.

"Let's check out the main building," decides Nao, heading over to the doors. "The PA system in the executive office was still working, and with Arika gone, we might be able to use something else.. unless it's all fried completely, like the phones."

Haruka accompanies Nao to the main building, looking mournfully at the ruins of HER POOR FUKA ACADEMY as she walks through the mess that used to be the campus.

The halls are silent as Haruka and Nao steps inside the main building. The floor is littered with shell casings; someone certainly discharged a lot of weaponry indoors. From appearances, it was a running battle.

As the two Hime come towards the staircase, they spot blood on the steps. Another stain is further up.

"Well, something happened here, that's for sure," Haruka says, automatically taking the stairs to find out just what it was with no thought for any potential danger!

Nao doesn't need to worry about danger, as long as Haruka is there to take the bullets for her! She says as much as she follows the blonde, giggling to herself.

"I'm glad to know you depreciate my help," she responds, with a touch of sarcasm.

"Appreciate, Haruka-chan~"

"Thanks, Yukino," she says in the same tone.

The trail leads two flights of stairs up. If Haruka and Nao didn't know any better, they would think that someone were scaling the stairs at a run, jumping across several at once. The amount of blood pooling at each stop, however, is considerable.

Finally getting to the third floor, the two continue to follow the trail. Haruka realizes that it leads to the student council room.

Indignation! Someone's bleeding all over the floor in HER Executive Committee's headquarters? Unthinkable! Haruka charges ahead to find out who this inconsiderate wounded person is!

Nao can't seem to stop her inexplicable good mood fading away despite the scene, but it's unclear exactly why she's in it. Nonetheless, she trails after Haruka, glancing down the corridors in either direction before following.

The corridors are empty. It doesn't look like a gun battle took place on this floor.

Haruka flings the door open! A spiky-haired boy is sitting in the president's chair, currently turned away from the door.

Nagi doesn't react to Haruka's presence.

"Nagi!" Haruka crows. "What do you have to say for yourself now that all your plans have been abolished, huh?" She marches around to face the boy.

Nao leans against the doorframe, unwilling to take part in mocking Nagi just yet. It's not that she doesn't want to, though.

Haruka faces Nagi. His left side is torn up, as if a chainsaw cut through his body. His arm on that side is missing entirely.

His eyes open tiredly, and focus on Haruka. "Well, that's a new look on you," he rasps.

"Ditto."

"Bite me."

"Who did you piss off badly enough for that?" questions Nao, holding the katana over her shoulder.

"Miyu, right?"

"Ah." He groans, swiveling in his chair to face Nao, while ignoring Haruka rather blatantly. "Nao Hime. A sight for sore eyes."

"I know I missed you," deadpans Nao, grimacing at his injury despite herself. "What happened to the robot?"

"It was going well-enough, but then the little girl just up and left." Nagi looks upset. "I think it's not right to just run off in the middle of a fight. There is a code and everything."

"Sure, the same code that lets you stand by and laugh while schoolgirls fight each other to the death. I have to say, Nagi, it's nice to see you finally getting your own hands dirty."

Nagi lurches in his chair, bleeding over Haruka in the process.

Fortunately (?), Haruka no longer has to worry about actually washing her clothes clean!

"Keh. Searrs must have recalled her," mutters Nao, glancing at Haruka. "The moralizing is nice, Haruka, but let's save it for the afterparty. Nagi, I need information. What do you need?"

Aside from her field of vision tinted red, there is hardly a problem.

"You're... going to help me?" He cracks a pained smile.

Haruka wipes it off. Actually, given the malleability of her new body, couldn't she just...expel it, or something?

Haruka's form shimmers, and what used to be the head melts down to the floor, as a new head grows out of the center mass. When Haruka had reformed, the bloody parts of her body have become her feet.

"If you want medical attention, I don't know how," replies Nao, dryly. "Unless a mercy shot would make you stronger, like Haruka here. Every time she dies, she powers up."

"...Whoa. That was weird."

"If you're serious--" Nagi grimaces. "--just protecting me for a while should do, until the boss shows up."

"The boss?"

"Yeah. Lord, Obsidian, The."

Nao promptly flings a deadly gaze at Haruka, before returning her look to Nagi. "Uh-huh. How long do you think he'll be?"

"Hey--what?!" Haruka is obviously annoyed, but stops talking.

"No idea." Nagi attempts to shrug and grits his teeth as his face twists in an expression of pain. Some more of his blood splatters around. "He likes Mai for some reason. Told him you would be the one, but he didn't listen. But I like you."

"Uh-huh. Well, let's start at the top. You know the obituary you gave me for Mashiro? She wasn't around when I went to follow it up. What was up with her?"

Haruka remains silent, but it's really, really hard to not go "Lucky you, Nao, Nagi likes you!" She has to settle for thinking it and maybe saying it later.

"First District meeting," Nagi responds. "Mashiro-chan isn't back yet? Are you sure?"

"I've been away, too," replies Nao. "Why did you tip me off on her?"

The answer that comes is simple. "I like you. Don't like her."

"Do you know what Searrs are trying to accomplish here?" comes the second question, as Nao lets the earlier topic drop.

"Searrs...." Nagi seems to struggle, looking angry. "Impudent fools!"

He slumps back in the chair.

"Impudent or not, as far as I know, they still have destroyers surrounding the island," replies

Nao, clenching her fist.

"Fools," Nagi repeats weakly. "The Obsidian Lord will strike them down."

"Why do you serve the Obsidian Lord?"

"Can't help it."

"Why's that?"

"That's how the festival works." This time, Nagi stops himself well before he tries to shrug. "Do you have someone important, Nao Hime?" he asks suddenly. "Someone you would cry over?"

"Yeah, but she died."

The statement is short and casual, as if Nao isn't bothered in the slightest.

"Shame, that."

"I was pretty upset," agrees Nao. "I still have things to do, though, so I'll be using Arach a bit longer."

"Those tears... he would accept them. I know he would."

"After I win the festival, what do I do?"

Haruka rolls her eyes. When can they stop coddling this brat and and tell him how his master is dead and is life is a total failure?

"Rule with the Obsidian Lord, by his side. I think I'll... like you more...."

Nagi's speech is becoming slurred. He looks worse than he did when Haruka and Nao reached the student council chambers, if at all possible.

A distant roaring is coming from outside, barely perceptible.

"He's dead."

Nao doesn't get an answer.

Nao is silent for a moment.

"Mashiro killed him, and my person. I'm off to get revenge. Goodbye, Nagi," she replies, almost needlessly, before turning to the window and sticking out her head, staring at the sky.

The sky is burning. Angry trails of burgundy criss-cross it, trailing copious amounts of smoke.

Nao squints after the trailing smoke, trying to identify a source.

Merely looking at the display fills Nao and Haruka with a sense of urgency!

Does Nagi have anything important with him? Phone, access card or something? It's worth looking.

Then she stops looking! "Oi, Haruka, we're leaving!" she yells. "The caves aren't far, get ready to run!"

Haruka runs!

Nao and Haruka leap out of the window! A three-story drop is nothing for a Hime, and Nao summons Arach to cushion the fall. The spider-Child leaps away as soon as its passengers are on its back, Nao directing it to the cave she had awakened in.

The sky is an unnatural black, red lines crossing it like pulsating veins. The roaring is joined with a sharp, piercing sound that hurts Nao and Haruka's ears.

That is when the first strike takes place. The area just before the main building is entirely annihilated, as something rockets from the sky to detonate agains the ground! The building shakes, but remains standing. It takes a second strike, this time directly at its roof, to tax its structural integrity past the limits.

All around them, it is as if burning pieces of the sky are crashing.

"Run, Arach!" cries Nao, staring at the sky, staring at what lies beyond the parts that crack and fall. Is this the work of the star? Or was Smith's warning meant to prevent this? There's no time for regrets, though...

Haruka can only hang onto Arach for dear life right now. What good are her crazy morphing powers when the sky is falling?

Arach reaches the cave entrance amid the chaos. There are no students on the lookout, this time around.

Not surprising. They've probably all gone below. And that sounds like a good idea to Nao, as well. If Arach is too big to fit, she dismisses him, and begins to run on foot!

Arach is thus dismissed, as Nao dives inside the cave!

Haruka follows...though if anyone's still in here, they probably won't be glad to see her again.

As Nao and Haruka make their way inside, the cave shakes around them. That one certainly felt like a direct hit above.

Aside from what amounts to pebbles raining down on their heads, the two Hime are alright. They can also hear the panicked cries of what have to be the hiding students further in.

With the light Haruka sheds, Nao should have no problem navigating the darkened cave to wear the students are. Indeed, though, she does wonder if she needs even that.

Haruka doesn't have low-light vision! Again, she'll have to trail after Nao in the assumption that the redhead knows where she's going. And, of course, she'll be glad that she thought to change her appearance beforehand (though the bronze is still a dead giveaway).

Using the light from her hand, Nao guides the duo onwards!

Students. Lots and lots of students. They huddle in groups, sharing blankets between them.

Nao's appearance, heralded by her glowing claw, causes much startlement.

Haruka, illuminated by that flickering light, turns it into panic!

Haruka decides (much to her dismay) that she should probably wait in the passageway to forestall mass hysteria amongst her fellow students.

Nao puts her hand up in what must be a futile attempt to quell the panic, but she shortly accompanies it with her voice. "Everyone, listen to me! You're all going to be fine," she shouts, not used to speaking to large groups at once.

This really should be Haruka's job. Sigh. Things'll never be the same again.

Whether it is Nao's attempts at diplomacy, the immediate cause for the panic leaving, or no one willing to argue with a girl whose hand is for all intents and purposes on fire, the crowd quietens.

Haruka waits just out of sight while Nao calms everyone down, reflecting sullenly that, even if she is somehow able to return to her normal body, there likely won't be any place for her at Fuka when all of this is over.

Nao lowers her hand, but when her immediate goal is achieved, she's not too certain of how to proceed (not to mention what to do with Haruka.)

"Orihime is under my control," she states, firmly. "She won't be hurting anyone anymore, and I need her strength in the future. Who's in charge?"

"I... I think it would be me," a familiar voice says, as a boy rises to his feet, stepping towards Nao.

"Everyone kind of listens to me because the ninja do, Nao-san," Takumi says, smiling hesitantly.

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

Haruka can't help but die a little inside at this announcement, but realizes it's necessary for people to not run away from her screaming.

"Ah. You made it alright. I was worried," replies Nao, unable to smile back. "For many reasons... um. What's the situation?"

"We're just... waiting. For Oneechan." Takumi sounds uncertain. "For you. For someone to help us all get away."

"We need to wait for the.. that.. that rain to stop," replies Nao, dismally. "Akira was looking for Mai the last time I saw her, and I'm sure they're both alright. Until then, I don't think there's much I can do. This is probably the safest place for the time being..."

"Her," Takumi repeats pensively, so quietly only someone with particularly sharp ears might pick up on it.

"Yes, it should be very safe. There is... something almost conforting about these catacombs, don't you think?"

If anything, being in the underground cave network makes Nao's skin itch.

Haruka doesn't find anything comforting about being underground given how her last spelunking expedition turned out, but hey, this isn't about her comfort.

"I prefer the forest," mutters Nao, guessing that it's probably going to be gone if she ever gets to go to land again.

"Anyway. Hopefully we won't be stuck here so long that we need to worry about food or anything. Um. Apart from the obvious, has anything weird happened?"

The look Takumi gives Nao tells her what he thinks about such a question, but he shakes his head. "Weird, was it? Nothing weirder than glowing claws, walking statues and death from the skies."

Nao nods slightly to Takumi's words. "Well. When it stops, I'll go outside and make sure it's safe to come out. Then we'll see about getting you all off this bloody island and making sure nobody comes back. Maybe we can kill some time exploring these caves or something."

Or not, she thinks immediately afterwards, uncomfortable at the notion. She starts heading back to Haruka at that.

Takumi accompanies her, she notices, and she spots movement out of the corner of her eye.

"To explore them we would need to cut through the walls, and while it seems like either of you could do that, we might destabilize the cave we're in too much. This sounds like a bad time for attempts like these."

Nao squints at the moment, assuming it's one of the ninja wandering after the boy.

"Then I guess we just sit around for a while," she responds. "I'm not that worried about missing out on getting stones stuck in my shoes."

"Brilliant plan," Haruka mumbles to herself.

Nao can't see anything when she tries to follow the movements directly, which only confirms her suspicions.

Nao drops on her behind and lies on her back, twisting her head to stare at Haruka.

"Sorry," she states, and it doesn't sound sarcastic, but who knows, with Nao?

Haruka sits down as well. Not that she really has to to be comfortable because, hey, she's liquid metal, but doing something human is comforting right now. "Normally I'd get everyone together and make a pep talk at a time like this," she says, sounds more wistful about the notion than anything else.

"Normally I'd sit in a corner and get guys to give me drinks," remarks Nao. "I think. I got some of my memories back... so I almost can say I know myself again."

She snorts. "You know, I've been wondering. Why did you care about Fuka so much, anyway? Shizuru mentioned you, you know."

Haruka looks at Nao. "What'd she say?" This seems to take precedence over answering Nao's question.

"It was when she was telling me about being a Hime," replies Nao, sighing. "She was wondering what you would've done, given the choice."

"Well...mess everything up, transparently."

"I think that trait in particular is ingrained within all Hime," mutters Nao, pulling up her knees.

"I really wish she hadn't died. She.. knew what was going on to start, but I could only trust her posthumously. I keep thinking, you know, that maybe if I'd become a Hime sooner, I could've stopped Arika, but I was scared."

"Well, she should've told more people what was going on," Haruka says, automatically taking the opportunity to question Shizuru's judgement as always, though her spirit's not really in it by this point.

"Yeah. I think she regretted not doing that," murmurs Nao.

"Hey, Haruka, who's important to you?"

"Huh? Well, I guess it'd be my dad. He built the family company and still runs it himself, so I like to think I've learned a lot about leadership from him. Right now, I'm not so sure."

"Ah, I see. That's good," replies Nao, unable to keep herself from smirking. "You're not allowed to like me. I forbid it."

Haruka turns and fashions a curious gaze on Nao. "What, are you worried that I'll get myself killed and take you with me?"

"It's been gnawing at me. I kind of want to be hated right now, so please let me know if you think I'm a nice person."

"I've seen worse," Haruka says. "A lot worse. Like Nagi, that slimy little--" She seems to remember that Nagi's actually dead now, and moves on. "Well, I can't really help you on that whole hating thing. You've been perfectly nice and conscious since I've been working with you."

"I don't think I hate you," Takumi interjects, himself having chosen to stand off to the side thus far.

"It's fine if you're not a Hime," replies Nao. "That's just how it is." She frowns. "Doesn't matter. I can make you hate me for real anytime, so save us both some grief and think really hard about someone else for an hour or so. If I have to die, I want it to be fucking impressive, not this fading away."

"You think so?" Haruka says, curious now. "How would you do it? Make me hate you, I mean."

"If I told you, you'd hate me on the spot, and that would be so very inconvenient."

This at least provokes a smirk, which is more humor than Haruka's shown in a while. "Well, you don't need to worry about me getting too attached anyway. Friends are one thing, family's another."

"I'm not the only one who would be relieved to hear that, I think," muses Nao, trying to shake the fire off her hand for the umpteenth time, leaving ethereal sparkles in her wake.

"Hm?" Haruka mumbles obliviously.

"Oh, nothing. Takumi, do we have any water?"

"We have a bit," the boy responds. "Would you like some?"

Haruka, no doubt, isn't thirsty at all. Hey, does liquid metal need to drink?

"Yeah, thanks. Oh, do those ninja have any of those smoke bombs? You know the ones, like in anime and movies and stuff. I could really use them."

Nao seems to be half-joking, rolling her eyes. "Ninja. That's still the weirdest thing, believe me."

"THAT'S the weirdest thing? Are you sure about that?" Haruka raises one hand and morphs into a variety of blunt and stabby implements by way of demonstration.

"Well, yeah," replies Nao, flippantly. "Magical powers and shadowy corporations are one thing, but ninja? Black masks, shuriken? Doesn't it just seem so delightfully surreal?"

Takumi glares. "What she said. It?" He shakes his head. "I'll see if I can find some for you." He retreats further into the cave.

Haruka doesn't really know what that word means, and just shrugs.

The water Nao gets is a bit stale and warm, but certainly drinkable. She also becomes the proud owner of a genuine ninja smoke bomb.

Takumi doesn't linger around the Hime much after delivering those to her, citing the need to help the other students.

The impacts outside cease.

Nao gives it a minute. Then another. Then another five, before standing up. "Let's go."

"Yeah," Haruka says, following suit, "maybe the people outside have all killed each other."

The ground outside is cratered. Smoke rises from the rubble, obscuring view. The campus looks much differently to Haruka and Nao, what little of it remains standing.

Nao is, strangely, more interested in the sky than in the school itself.

The sky is black. Thick clouds of smoke blanket it.

"The ships probably got destroyed," murmurs Nao. "Along with the town."

"Well," Haruka says tonelessly, "so much for Fuka."

"We still have some things we can do," replies Nao, after a long moment. "I was planning to meet with the others at the school. I guess they might not come..."

Peering about, she tries to gauge how widespread the destruction is.

"No," Haruka agrees, "it's hard to meet at the school when it's not there anymore. But we may as well see if anyone's still alive out here."

The flickering of Nao's fiery claw causes shadows to dance all around the two Hime. As they explore their surroundings, Nao and Haruka discover that no building was left untouched on campus. The library in particular was hardest hit; they can spot no less than a dozen impact craters, most of them rather direct hits. The way they burn reminds Nao of the fires consuming their vessel after it was attacked en route to Fuka.

"I might have been mistaken. These look like missile strikes," mutters Nao. "Damn, the ships must still be out there!"

"Well, don't ask me to look for them," Haruka says, master of the obvious as always. "If they used the ships to bomb the island, maybe that means they lost that satellite."

"Maybe. It looks like they focused their attention on the library," replies Nao, still working on it but getting closer to Haruka's level. "Even after it was already knocked down. Either they didn't know, or they really, really hated books."

"Or there was something important there," Haruka says, picking her way over to where the library used to be.

"Yeah, well, it's a smoking crater now," mutters Nao, using her claw to clear away some debris. "You can't, like, ooze down there and see if there's something underneath?"

"Um." On reflection, Haruka probably can. But it's going to feel really, really weird. "I can, as long as you don't defer to me as ooze ever again."

"It sounded nicer than 'slime'..."

"Keep working on that, okay? I'll go see what I can find." If possible, Haruka will now exploit her malleable body to slip down through the piles of debris and see what, if anything, may have been hidden beneath the library.

It is quite disconcerting, even for Nao, to see Haruka's features suddenly lose their definition and melt away, as the bronze-colored woman becomes a puddle that sinks through the cracks in the burning rubble.

Perception in her liquid state is unlike anything Haruka had experienced before, but her mind has no trouble cataloguing the information. What used to be a fairly solid collapsed building before had been shaken up by the Searrs weapons, and she can, with some difficulty, get past the obstacles.

The floor of the library is cracked, and nothing makes it more obvious than the large clock, proudly remaining in what used to be the center of the library.

Alright then, back up to Nao!

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

Haruka returns, reforming into a faceless, vaguely humanoid form before Nao's eyes.

"Anything down there?" questions Nao, still unsettled by Haruka's bland features.

"Something's down there, below the floor. We'll have to dig to it."

"Alright. This claw disintegrates stuff, I think. We'll see if it makes a decent shovel," decides Nao, heading over to the rubble to start clearing a path underneath it.

Haruka obligingly gets out of the way and watches Nao go to work.

The rubble parts before Nao's fiery claw, as the redhead carves deep into it again and again. Even as she succeeds in clearing it up, Nao realizes that this would be quite a chore. It might take half an hour at present speed just to get to the ground floor.

Nao decides to speed it up! "Arach, clear some of this away," she orders, taking bigger and bigger sweeps to open up the ground!

The spider Child is not as enormous when Nao summons it this time, but it brushes the debries aside in record time!

Upon reaching the surface, Arach tries to dig further, its front limbs slamming against the clock--

And the clock does not yield. Instead, Arach makes a keening whine, retracting its legs.

Nao glances at the clock. "Alright, I'll make the hole big enough to fit, and we'll go down and check it out. Good job, Arach," she adds, patting the monster on the leg, before she frowns. "I liked it when you were bigger, though," she murmurs. "I guess digging isn't very exciting."

"Hey, at least you didn't morph with your Child," Haruka says. "That would look even scarier than I do right now."

Nao shudders. "I do prefer two legs to eight," she admits, dismissing Arach and crouching near the crack, intent on pulling the floor of the library apart.

"Look, uh, maybe I could...be a drill, or something?"

"Yeah, that might be nice. What about a spaceship? Can you be that?"

"...Probably. As long as you don't want me to fly anywhere."

Nao and Haruka dig their way down! The ground soon changes from cracked cinder to the same type of stone that makes the cave network underneath the school.

A little bit more effort, and they are finally through. Nao is the first to descend into what seems to be a tunnel. As she makes way for Haruka, she notices that faint, flickering light is coming from further down it. Straining her ears, she also hears... crying? That's certainly what it sounds like, many voices mixing into each other.

Nao heads towards the light, but for her own part, she stays in the shadows until she can see what's behind. Perhaps the rest of the students managed to hide themselves here- she'll soon find out.

"Lead the way," Haruka says tiredly. "Everyone's scared of me."

"I'm not."

"Well, maybe a little," mumbles Nao, at that.

The light is coming from a set of large flatscreen monitors mounted on the walls near the center of the cave the tunnel leads to. As Nao's eyes adjust to the lighting, she realizes that this must be where the grade schoolers were being kept.

Yukino is seated on a rather comfortable-looking chair below the monitors, observing them.

"I never did thank you, so I'm glad I can do so in person," remarks Nao, revealing herself and walking towards Yukino. She glances from side to side, wondering if there's an immediate reason the children are crying.

"Yukino? Yukino!" Haruka runs over to her friend's side. "We've been wondering what happened to you since you went silent during the fight. Is everything okay?" Okay being a rather relative term in present circumstances, of course.

Nao snorts.

Yukino recoils at the sight of a faceless, bronze Haruka and Nao with her eerily-glowing claw!

"Watcha watching?" enquires Nao, enjoying Yukino's reaction and turning her attention to the screens across the cave.

Oops! "No, Yukino, it's me! Haruka!" She turns away for a moment to spare Yukino the sight of her freakish shapeshifting and goes back to her real face. "It's alright, see?"

The gathered kids cry ever harder as Nao and Haruka appear, which might explain the reason for their terror.

Yukino looks faint, and Haruka's words don't seem to be helping.

Haruka grimaces and retreats back to the tunnel. It pains her to hide every time they have to talk to other students, but if that's what it takes for Yukino and the others to calm down...

Haruka notices that as she retreats from sight, the crying does not seem to lessen. As she listens, a reoccuring theme of being killed by demons seems to be the source of the children's worries.

Most of the screens ahead show static. A few still work, and present images of Fuka. The Academy is ruined, the forest is burning, the city is--

What used to be the mall collapses before Nao's eyes, no doubt due to direct hit from a shell.

Reminders of what's going on do wonders to kill Nao's jaunty demeanour, but she knows she'll rebound soon enough.

The children will be reassured if Nao arranges for the remaining members of the executive committee to show up, so she filters out their crying for now. "Let me know when you've got it together. Anytime is good," she mutters, for Kikukawa's benefit, and spends a moment glancing aroudn the caves to see if there's anything apart from the kids and the screens.

"Are you here to betray me?" Yukino asks. Her skin is unnaturally white, but her voice is surprisingly steady.

Haruka listens from the tunnel, since by this point she's skeptical of her presence accomplishing anything at all. Yukino doesn't sound like she's in good headspace anyway, though.

"You're far too useful to throw away," responds Nao. "And that would upset Haruka-chan ever so much. I'm here to keep our agreement. Two can win, at least. Maybe even three. Who knows?"

"It's impossible with three," Yukino responds, shaking her head. "Maintaining the balance would prove too difficult."

"Details. Now."

"Or what?"

That's it, Haruka's just going to join in whether she freaks people out or not. "Come on, Yukino, we don't have time to mess around. Hime need to work together. Share whatever you know, alright?"

Yukino sighs, rubbing her forehead. "Work together. Alright, Haruka-chan. Let's work together." She sounds defeated.

"Okay. Thanks, Yukino. Now, the Prince is dead. We need to find Mashiro to find out if they's any way to stop this without all of us killing each other. Because I'm NOT going to let that happen. Anything you could tell us that we don't already know, or if you know where Mashiro is--just anything would be very much depreciated right now."

"Never mind that," interjects Nao. "Tell me how your plan works. Believe you me, I want it to work."

"The Prince... is dead?" Yukino does not seem to comprehend.

"Are you sure?"

Nao narrows her eyes. "He was Kanzaki Reito. Or, more appropriate, Minagi Reito. Mikoto's brother. She died. And then he died. And I was very sad."

Nao taps the katana she carries against the ground. "This was his. Now it's mine."

Yukino chokes.

Haruka kneels by her friend's side, resting a hand on her shoulder. Hopefully this does more to calm her down than it does frighten her. "Mashiro did it. She killed Mikoto to get at Reito."

"But... we can't remake the world without the Obsidian Lord," Yukino says haltingly. "How would it work without someone to focus the power?"

"The Obsidian Lord may not be necessary. I learned this from Ishigami before we left," clarifies Nao. "It's possible for someone to substitute in his place, or so he thought."

Yukino leans back in her chair, appearing deep in thought. "We would need a symbol of his power." She eyes the katana speculatively. "That was his sword, you said? Perhaps it would hold just enough to fool the star."

"The katana. I have some bangles, as well," remarks Nao. "It's necessary for us to focus the power, correct? So the other Hime must be defeated for this to work. Of course, Mashiro and those battleships remain our obvious obstacles. That rain just now, is the sattelite out of commission?"

Yukino smirks as the subject switches to the sattelite. "You bet it is. Munakata was good for something, at least. But I'd say Searrs weren't expecting for a few little surprises in between the fragments."

"About that...what was it that you sent after the satellite, Yukino?"

"Shiho Munakata. Red-haired octopus girl. Part-time shrine maiden or something. Had a crush on some guy." Nao frowns. "She hated me for some reason. I got tired of that."

"Wasn't she just so whiny and annoying?" Yukino agrees, smiling. It is a touch eerie. "But even nasty girls like her have their use in the end."

Haruka processes this silently, then: "Okay." Everyone on the island would be dead if the satellite hadn't been stopped, so she can't really questioning the methods used to stop it.

"I think I took out half the fleet before those idiots realized, but I was already prepared," Yukino brags. "It shouldn't be too hard to dispose of them now. The question is, really, what you two are doing here instead of fighting Searrs like good little girl scouts."

Wow. When Yukino turn into such a pompous windbag? "Point us in the right direction, Yukino," Haruka says sternly, not liking Yukino's attitude at all, "and we will. You're the one with eyes everywhere, remember?"

"Not anymore. Sorry. Someone kept on destroying them so I'm pretty much out."

"Then I guess you'd better come with us," remarks Nao. "Half the fleet, right? Take one boat. Use it to fire at the others. You can do that."

"...Oh. Sorry." There's not much else she can say to that!

"Half the fleet before they noticed something was up." Yukino looks incredibly smug. "But noticing the problem doesn't really take care of it, does it?"

"The blockade's gone entirely?" questions Nao, snorting. "Then what's left to fight?"

"A few stragglers. Those idiots tried to take me with them, but all they took out was some of the monitors." Yukino shrugs. "I think the First District forces -- those that survived, anyway -- felt emboldened and struck back. I've been wondering who would win for the past twenty minutes or so."

"We want the First Distrct to win. And then we want to subordinate the First District," remarks Nao. "Their local forces, anyway. They have some rather troublesome devices, or so I've been told, and they've studied the obsidian lord- and his mechanics."

"Sounds agreeable," Yukino muses. "I suppose you'd want me to come along in person?"

"You'd be safer here if you can do everything without going outside and putting yourself in danger."

"But I'd be safer if you were next to me at all times."

"Well, if that's how you want it," Yukino says to Haruka, ignoring Nao. "I wouldn't dream of disobeying you, Haruka-chan."

Nao looks pointedly disgusted. "Haven't you ever heard of keeping your friends close, Suzushiro?"

"I will be sure to protect the children from harm while I'm here," Yukino adds, smiling at Nao.

Haruka doesn't seem to know what Nao's getting at. "What's the problem? She can do the job without getting shot at here, right? How is this not better?"

"She can do the job without getting shot if you hug her whilst we go out," simpers Nao. "Then everyone is happy, no?"

"Except for the gang of grade-schoolers here, sure."

Yukino looks smug again at Haruka's response.

"How did you put up with this?" asks Nao, glaring at Yukino.

Yukino shrugs. "We're childhood friends. In any case, I simply must insist on you making it back for the meeting time we'll establish now. I can't keep on tracking you with that abominable arm." She glances at Nao's burning claw. "That leaves us in the hands of punctuality."

"Put up with what?" Haruka says obliviously.

"This arm, for your information, is quite possibly the only thing in this room that can stand up to Kagutsuchi," retorts Nao. "Call it nicer things."

Yukino looks surprised. "So you've chosen tha-- never mind." She smiles. "In light of that, I think I will. Still, back to our business, should three hours be sufficient time for you to handle your loose ends and return here?"

Haruka shrugs. "That depends on how close they are."

"On where they are," corrects Nao. "We can't just swim around and hope to run into a ship. Where are the respective forces positioned?"

Yukino gestures, before pausing herself midway. "Can you turn it off?"

"I can go away. Tell Haruka."

"I see."

"Oh, one thing," adds Nao, glancing at Yukino before she departs. "What's the favourable end result, when it's all said?"

Yukino considers her answer. "We'll have to make fresh plans. But if what you said is true, then... then three people might be able to win after all, and make the new world."

"I don't have any big dreams for some new world, just some little things. What about you?"

"Just what we previously discussed." Yukino glances at Haruka, before returning her eyes to Nao. "I could've had the rest even without super powers."

"I couldn't. I guess you could call me lucky, then."

Nao shrugs, and heads out. "Haruka, I'll be up top."

Haruka nods and awaits Yukino's briefing, wondering to herself when her awkward little friend became such a schemer.

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

While Nao moves out of sight, retreating far enough that her claw doesn't bother Diana, Yukino projects a map of the island and its surroundings for Haruka's benefit. A legend next to it shows the disposition of First District and Searrs forces.

There appear to be five Searrs cruisers which survived. Four of them are concentrated together on the far side of the island, a close distance to the city. The remaining vessel appears trapped before the island and the mainland, and a heavy contingent of First District forces is concentrated from both sides. As Haruka watches, the icon representing the ship blinks and fades away piteously.

Yukino snorts. She gestures, and the First District troops are illuminated briefly to point out their locations. None are near the school, though the town has several groups. There also appear to be areas of the map which are tattered, for lack of a better description. Nothing is shown on those parts.

Haruka frowns. "What's up with the blank areas, Yukino?"

"No reception from those, too much interference," Yukino says, not looking too bothered by that fact.

"Alright. I'll take it under consideration when formaldehyding a battle plan." She dutifully memorizes the location of the various enemy forces shown, at least.

"It is unfortunate," Yukino says, her sincerity cast in doubt, "but I would not be able to remain in contact with you after you leave. Try not to die to these weaklings, Haruka-chan."

Haruka snorts. "It'll take more than a few battleships to stop me. Alright, thanks Yukino." She prepares to leave, unless Yukino has more to say.

Yukino takes out a handkerchief and waves to Haruka with it, smiling.

Haruka nods and exits, reuniting with Nao and sharing with her the location of the various hostile forces on the island.

"So what do you think we should do?" muses Nao, upon receiving the information. "Crush the boats first, or the troops on the ground, as it were?"

"The troops are small fry. If we try to take them on first, the boats can still bombard us from out on the water. And enough of the town's been wrecked already. I'd love to shut them down if we have any way of doing it."

"We do, in the form of you."

"Well. I can do a lot now, but I'm not sure I can turn into a guided missile, Nao."

"No, but you can swim, and by the looks of things-" Nao raps her fingers against Haruka's forehead- "You don't have much to fear from conventional armaments, unlike me."

Haruka shrugs. "I guess you're right. What will you be doing this whole time? Cheering me on?"

"Dealing with the First District troops. I can drop you off at the ocean, at least." Nao pauses, and frowns as she starts heading for the surface again. "It's most convenient for us if they wipe each other out, really. I figure that you can commandeer any of those ships once you're on board with some simple threats. 'specially if you make an example of one first."

Haruka nods and follows along. She's well past the point of being able to say things like "I want to avoid killing people if possible," after all.

"Arach," calls Nao, once the top is reached, before she turns to Haruka again. "Look, I suspect Mashrio could be working with the First District guys. I'm going to try and pump them for as much information as possible, since they're still in the game.

"But with Arika's satellite down, I don't think the same can be said for Searrs. Since we can't be sure, make sure to interrogate them first. I think I've got things mostly sorted out, but, well, unexpected variables- shit, and watch out for Miyu."

Another nod. "Sure," Haruka says, "I'll try and get as much information out of them as I can before they open fire on me."

"You could... you know. Tell them to surrender," offers Nao, dubiously. "Even I'd consider doing that if you asked."

"I'll TRY, yes. I just don't expect it to work any better than it did with the last batch."

"Live in hope?" offers Nao, jumping to Arach's head.

"Oh, and when you're there, use their comms stuff to get in touch with your dad. The people on the island need to... not be on the island. See if he can arrange that," calls Nao from her perch. "Let's give Akira ten minutes to show up, and take off after that if she doesn't. Wouldn't surprise me, really."

Another nod. Haruka seems quite resigned to the ensuing violence.

"This is horrible," Akira's voice drifts to Nao and Haruka, moments before the ninja appears standing on Arach's body, far enough from either Hime so as to not invade their personal space. "You survived, at least."

"We're hard to kill," replies Nao. "No luck with Mai?"

"There was no body."

"And we couldn't see the sky," admits Nao, shrugging. "Anyway. What do you say to cleaning up the remnants of both Searrs and the First District?"

"The sooner they're gone," Akira responds, clenching her fists, "the quicker I can get back to my search."

"Suits me. I'm dropping Haruka off at the ocean, and she should handle the boats themselves. We'll go to the town and coerce the rest off the island."

She pauses. "While you're at it, teach me your vanishing trick," she adds, sounding rather jealous.

"Family secret," Akira responds curtly. She pretends to think briefly. "I do have a cousin...."

"Nice family," complains Nao, before shrugging. "Anyway. Haruka, we're heading to town! You can run to shore on your own, right? You WILL be alright by yourself? Kill them or force them to switch sides or do whatever you want, as long as they're no longer a threat."

Haruka nods, mumbles, "Infirmative," and sets off on her own at the fastest pace she can manage. The sooner she gets this whole ordeal done with, the better for everyone involved.

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

Arach's bulk cuts a wide path through the rubble, sweeping what is left of the forest aside as the Child heads directly towards the town.

"I don't suppose we have a particular plan?" Akira asks. "Unless this is it? Psychological warfare designed to force the First District men here to surrender?"

"Psychological warfare is involved," replies Nao, bringing Arach to a halt. "But they used to serve the Obsidian Lord. Perhaps they still will. But as you can see, right now, the only person who might fit any of the criteria for that would be... me."

"Not a chance," Akira mutters, after a rather obvious glance at Nao's chest.

"Think about it. What does the First District want?" challenges Nao. "The chance to shape the world, right? But the Obsidian Lord is dead. They need his tools to have a prayer, and they need people who have a connection to this... festival. Their leaders might be inclined to negotiate."

She shrugs. "Alternatively, we could simply kill all of them."

"Fuka must be cut off from the rest of the world right now," Akira muses, peering ahead into the distance. "You might be right about the leaders, if they easily believed us that the Obsidian Lord was gone. But these troops? I'll settle for running them all into the sea."

"It would be the height of irony if they refused to believe the truth," mutters Nao.

"He is supposed to be immortal." Akira shifts in discomfort. "It's not that easy to believe he could be killed. I know I can't. I keep on waiting for Kanzaki to return, as if nothing happened."

"If he was immortal, he wouldn't have begged to be saved," replies Nao, her face hardening. "If he was immortal, then Mikoto really did die for nothing. If he was immortal, then all Mashiro bought was a fleeting advantage, and I'll- I'll- I'll sort these people out first," she growls, the claw on her arm flickering and growing with every word. "Arach can take some prisoners. We'll just herd the rest of them to the sea. Anyone who tries to fight will get what's coming to them. You'd have to be an idiot to try and take on a Child with normal weapons."

"Or a fanatic," Akira adds quietly. "There are a lot of them serving the First District."

The town is in sight, Arach making good time on its journey. What little of it remains standing is consumed by fires. The streets, what of them could be seen through the thick smoke, are empty.

"This must be Searrs' work," murmurs Nao, crouched on top of Arach and using protusions on its body for cover. "Nobody could cover up all this for more than a day or two. Both organisations will be as good as done for..." She laughs, bitterly. "I wonder what the world would say if it knew about the festival."

"You'd be surprised how much they can cover up," Akira responds, searching for movement within the smoke. "We'll try a patrol through the rubble, or I could cover your back from the shadows, if you'd like."

"I wonder how they'll cover up me summoning this thing in Tokyo and giving a press conference," replies Nao, savagely. "Let's just patrol. We want to be seen and heard, after all."

Akira doesn't look particularly happy with Nao's choice, but doesn't object, likewise taking cover using Arach's body as extra protection.

The two Hime are going through their second street when they are interrupted by gunfire! Bullets bounce off Arach's protrusion, ricochetting wildly, in what had been a pincer attack.

Protected like this, the bullets will do no good against Nao. "Crush them, Arach! Drive them off our island!" she snarls, strafing one side of the flank with sickly, green spikes of fire!

The building used to direct fire at Nao disappears as she lances her energy whips through its foundation! Meanwhile, Arach pounces to the other side, working in tandem with its mistress to quite literally crush the rest of their enemies!

A small object arcs through the air, landing on the Child's back. A grenade, Nao realizes a moment afterwards, unable to hurt Arach on its own but damaging to its passengers.

Akira slides over to it, kicking the grenade back where it came from. "It looks like we got the fanatics after all!" she calls over to Nao.

The whips coil back into Nao's palm, which still roils with deadly energy. "We'll see how long they stay fanatical," she snarls. "Surrender or be destroyed!" she calls, as Arach begins sidestepping towards the next set of enemies- with eight legs, the creature doesn't even need to turn around to mobilize!

The next attack doesn't take long to arrive; A trio of grenades, all launched in a curve towards Arach's passengers. They are coming from the same direction as before, showing Nao and Akira that returning the previous attack didn't take out all the First District men entrenched there.

"Akira. Can you take them out hand-to-hand?" grunts Nao, as tendrils whip out to disintegrate the offending weapons!

Tossing a smoke bomb at her feet, Akira disappears. Sniper fire comes from above, using what was once a five-story apartment building's roof. This time, it is only luck and the sudden smokescreen that protect Nao from being shot!

"Up!" Arach bounds from the ground, allowing Nao to propel herself from her Child towards the offending roof! With blinding speed she darts about, with blade and claw in hand to cut apart any gunman who might dare try to draw a bead on her!

Only a single sniper is there, the first soldier Nao had seen in the town thus far. Its rifle is too unwieldly to draw on her, so he resorts for his service pistol, grasping for it!

A scream sounds, getting cut off with a gurgle somewhere below.

Nao slashes her sword across the man's neck, not giving him a chance to try for a shot!

Dark red sigils on the sword come aglow as Nao uses it to separate the man's head from his body!

Nao steps on the man's weapons- wastes of metal all!- and jumps off the roof. Constant movement, she has to keep moving or she will certainly be shot- if there is anyone left to shoot at her.

There is a squeal of metal, protesting the treatment it is subjected to, but Nao is already in the air. She isn't being shot as she makes landfall; all the attacks seem to be concentrated on Arach thus far, as rockets impact against its bulk in sequence.

And both Nao and Arach rush towards the rockets, with the girl pouncing from broken wall to shadowed window; the monster takes a more direct route, further obscuring her movement.

They can't hurt Arach, she thinks, he's invincible. Only one kind of person even has a real shot at her, and these. People. Aren't. Them.

Arach's body is rocked by the explosions, but the Child only seems to draw strength from the attacks as it smashes through the buildings still standing on that street. As they begin to lose the cover available to them, soldiers begin to flee out into the open where Nao can finally see them, and she is ready to take advantage of that.

The ones who aren't fleeing towards the ocean will be the first to die. Remorse and regret take a back-seat to adredaline and anger; in the flickering, smoky haze, brandishing a glowing sword and a flaming fist, Nao's visage is one of a vengeful demon. She doesn't waste time playing with her prey, but bounds towards them like a hound, alternating between blade and claw!

Some of the soldiers seem to die before even reaching Nao, stopping suddenly and then collapsing, much like puppets with their strings cut off. None are eager to get into melee with Nao, not even the minority that tries to hold the line and fight, but normal humans can't keep an open range from a Hime.

Before long, the majority of the First District forces in the area have fled in the direction of the ruined bridge to the mainland, and they are the only soldiers remaining alive.

Nao shakes the blood off her sword and clenches her fist, as if she'd just won another game of soccer. The soldiers surely won't be coming back, and she turns to reunite with Akira, her face a mask.

The blood on the sword fades away, leaving the blade spotless. The marks upon it fade, resembling eyelids succumbing to the lure of slumber.

Akira appears, her face covered by a very real mask which only leaves her eyes visible.

"They've all fled to the sea," Nao reports. "What's left of them." Curiously, she peers at Akira. "Why didn't you summon your Child?"

Akira shifts under the scrutiny. "What will it be, the blunt answer or a false one?"

Nao snorts. "It's a sad day when something this monstrous could be seen as a vulnerabilty. Suit yourself," she remarks. "Assuming Haruka doesn't run into any trouble- and short of Miyu or another Hime, I can't possibly imagine what is out there that could trouble her- we're done." Cursing she turns to survey the town. "Dammit. I meant to take one alive..."

Nao is momentarily blinded by a series of flashes coming from what must be the ocean. The mountain, which in the way, helps alleviate the pain but not eliminate it entirely as Nao's world dissolves into agony!

Nao makes a high-pitched yelp, clasping her elbow over her eyes and stumbling back a step!

She can hear cursing, and then Nao finds herself dragged elsewhere, her back hitting against something solid -- a brick wall, judging by the texture. "Call off your Child," Akira whispers harshly.

"Vanish," blurts out Nao, trying not to flail. "That flash, it was- Haruka- the ships, they can't have-"

"They can't have," Akira repeats firmly. The pain recedes somewhat, enough for Nao to concentrate, though seeing remains impossible. "We're still here, and if it were that, we wouldn't be."

Nao grits her teeth. "Then what could it have been?" she whispers, propping herself up against the wall. "More magic, or whatever- I need a minute."

There is more shuffling, and Nao feels someone sitting down next to her, close enough for them to touch shoulders. "You got that sword to respond," Akira notes.

"When you kill people with it, it lights up," replies Nao, slightly hysterical. "People just started dying from being near me. My own powers are nothing compared to the ones I've taken from others..."

"Can you hold it together until we find Mai?"

"Of course. This just makes things easier for me," spits out Nao, her voice becoming firm again. "More likely, though, don't you think Mai will find us, if anything? She can fly. She could be anywhere. She can see better."

"A figure of speech," Akira returns. "We can undo this if we find her."

"How?" asks Nao, trying to rub her eyes without burning or poking them out.

"Watch that thing!" Akira yelps, shoving at Nao's elbow.

"I *can't*," replies Nao, flatly, and letting her arm drop.

A pregnant silence serves as the prelude to Akira's next words. "It's Mai," the ninja says quietly. "She can remake the world. She has that power."

Mai. She's the key to it all, and Nao- Nao is the catalyst? Is that what Shizuru said?

"What needs to be done to allow that to happen?" she murmurs. "This world, itself, is a do-over, but something went wrong..."

"I've pieced a few things together," Akira tells her quietly. "I think you're right about this world. Nao, something must have gone terribly wrong, so wrong that the only choice was to try for another chance at setting things right. I'd stake my life on the belief that Mai had everything to do with giving us that second chance. It just... didn't work out so well. There must not have been enough time to sort everything out, or we would all have our memories of that world and know which pitfalls to avoid. Even if we don't manage it perfectly this time, either, at least it would keep us in the game, until one day we'll find a way out without destroying everything dear to us."

"Mashiro is a pitfall. I'll be sure to kill her first next time around," mutters Nao. "I believe you're telling the truth. Did the man from Searrs approach you, as well?"

Akira tenses up. "No, Nao. I'm... loosely assosiated with the First District. Or I was." She makes no attempts to get away, and her chosen proximity to Nao takes on a different meaning.

"But you must have split off from them when they invaded..." murmurs Nao.

"I couldn't execute those orders, even if they came from my father," Akira says. "Taking those important to us hostage... I couldn't allow for that. I wouldn't have done it even if they weren't aiming to control Mai through Takumi."

Uncomfortable silence hangs in the air between the two Hime, before she confides in Nao, "I have nightmares of him dying. You killed him. You killed Gennai."

"I'm sorry," replies Nao, not knowing quite what else to say.

"I knew he was supposed to be dead. Not that I'd killed Gennai, not that I'd killed him... Mai was angry at me." She chokes. "I had two visions. There was a cliff. I was falling, and seeing Shizuru at the top. The other vision is.. fire."

"So you had memory flashes, too." Akira shifts, appearing to nod. "Right," she adds. "It would make sense. I guess you know why I didn't summon Gennai, now. You didn't look the most stable of people, back there."

"I.. work myself up," murmurs Nao. "The stronger their emotions, the stronger the Hime..."

"The stronger the Child," Akira completes the sentence. "And the stronger the Hime Star's power. That's something Mai told me. It's a double-edged weapon at best, because we're bound to it, but until now, we didn't have a chance to direct it. But with you taking the Obsidian Lord's place... it might be possible."

"Do you know of the Crystal Star?" asks Nao, and her tone seems softer, more pleasant.

"No. My father might. I only knew what was relevant to my mission, which wasn't much. Attending Fuka and reporting on anything unusual. Not revealing my powers or gender. Being on standby, effectively."

"I interrogated Ishigami- was he your contact? He mentioned that the Obsidian Lord used a sort of interface to focus his powers- the Crystal Star was it.

"I think it's somewhere on Fuka. But he also said that the First District was studying the technology itself. It's probably important to find it, or something like it." She sighs. "I still think those people hold the solutions to our problems."

"No," Akira responds. "We have our autonomy. I've never even seen true First District men until the invasion. But you're right about that -- it's very likely that such things would be in Fuka. All the fragments of memory I have have to do with Fuka in some way."

"If we can find Mai, find the Crystal Star, figure out how to use it, and avoid killing each other, we can fix things." Nao snorts. "Not asking much, are we? Do you think it's worth raiding their HQ on the mainland?"

"I think it's worth checking the conditions on the mainland. If we make it obvious we're digging in and making this our base, they just might break out the real-- you know. Nuclear weapons, or worse, and we'll be sitting ducks."

"Suzushiro is the person to go to, there. Her father, I mean," murmurs Nao. "He can probably get the survivors from the school out, too.. that is, if Haruka was successful at dealing with the ships. Given that flash, I'm not so sure."

"There was more than one, for what it's worth," Akira comments. "Though none since that volley."

The ninja shifts again, and as Nao follows her instinctively, she begins to discern a blurry shape.

"Can you see, now?" Akira asks, and the shape contorts itself. She's likely waving her arm slowly at Nao, but guesswork is the most the redhead has at her disposal.

"A little. Not enough," responds Nao. "Akira, this reset... do you know whether or not Hime must be defeated for it to occur?"

"Before, I thought so. With Mai... there are no two Hime remaining whose goals are that much in sync. It would have been the best solution. But now, I just don't know. There are so many question marks... we might well be heralding our own destruction by fighting amongst ourselves while there is a very real enemy for us to be united against, without reservations."

"I thought as much- no, Mashiro must know everything! She even has Mai's powers, does she not?" Nao curses. "She didn't summon Kagutsuchi, at least, but I got this claw from Arika- what if she's done something to Mai already? She did only appear after Tokiha got shot down..."

"If Mai were dead, Takumi would follow," Akira says with more than a bit of force. "And I know that hasn't happened. I can feel it. So I know Mai must be alive. She must still be a Hime."

"Right. Should we bother searching the town, or head back to the school?"

"Do you have a better way of making sure Mai isn't somewhere around here? Knocked out, maybe, but still in one piece?"

"It's possible that Kikukawa could find her, but if you think I'm unstable..."

Nao shakes her head. "We have absolutely no idea where Mai is. She was in the forest- now she's not, she could be anywhere. I don't know how to begin."

"Alright." The blurry shape seems to be nodding. "We'll wait to see if you get better, well enough to travel on your own. Then, if we still have time before we need to meet up with Suzushiro, we'll look through what we can here."

"It's clearing up a little. Give it another ten minutes. I guess the coast is too far for us to get to if she needs help..."

"We'll be the ones who'll need help if she's still fighting against whatever caused those flashes."

Nao shrugs to herself. "You might be right. I just- if I can see it, I know I can take it on. I don't fear tanks or men or even other Hime, now, but things like jets, cruisers, artillery..."

"Brings back memories, doesn't it? The jets and the cruisers?"

Nao pauses. "No. Did this happen before?"

"Searrs attacked Fuka. You know, before. I remember fighting them off alongside you."

Nao grimaces. "I'm surprised to hear I helped."

"We were both coerced, if that helps."

"Figures. I only really remembered who I used to be today," Nao explains. "It's still hard to think of that person as someone I used to be, instead of someone I just.. know about. But right now, that's such a little problem."

Akira can only nod. "One day," she says. "One day, it would be the full extent of the problems we have before us."

"I just hope that day isn't far."

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

[17:34] Haruka makes landfall, regaining her true form. She proceeds to the prearranged meeting spot unopposed. The island is quiet, now, the only sounds being that of crackling fire. She is the first to arrive, having to wait a bit until Akira and Nao join her there, the latter being helped along.
[17:34] Nao's eyes, while better after having been given the time to rest, are still agitated enough that she can't discern much detail in the blurry shapes she perceives.
[17:36] Haruka's eyes widen in surprise (an archaicly human reaction, considering her present state). "Nao? What happened?"
[17:38] "Bright lights don't agree with me."
[17:39] "Well, maybe it'll be some consultation that the enemy's down three out of four battleships. The fourth one chickened out and I didn't have time to chase it before meeting you.
[17:41] "Yeah. The First District guys ran off after we went through enough of them," murmurs Nao. "It didn't look like there were many survivors from the town itself. We looked around a bit..." Nao looks rather pained, and she glances briefly at Akira. "Akira thinks she has a method to set things right."
[17:43] "If you think about it, there is no reason it won't work," Akira speaks, as the spotlight is turned to her. "Knowing something can be done gets you most of the way towards accomplishing it, and we have very good reason to believe that a reset was already applied. Therefore, we just have to do it to get it right."
[17:43] Haruka nods. "Okay, I'm listening." Hearing of the wholesale slaughter in town makes her want to head back out to the sea and trash that last ship, even if they weren't directly responsible for the carnage.
[17:45] "There... really isn't much to add," Akira says, frowning. "We clearly can't do it on our own, right now. Therefore, we need allies or information, preferably both."
[17:46] "Allies? Who else is left by this point?"
[17:47] "I can think of at least three," replies Nao, curtly. "Go see if Yukino can put you in contact with your dad, for one."
[17:48] "Right. What'll you guys be doing in the meantime?"
[17:53] "Akira probably wants to go see her boyfriend," replies Nao, flippantly. "I'll go and check on them, and then come back and check on you. See if your dad can get people off this island, and then see what he's found out or what he can find out about the First District." Nao shrugs. "Research centers of theirs, their HQ, those kind of places need investigation. Hell, what the rest of the world looks like in general would be nice. I have no idea how this will be covered up."
[17:54] "It won't be, if I have anything to say about it. Alright, I'll check in with Yukino. Where do I find you two afterwards?"
[17:55] "In the other cave. But, Suzushiro, I will surely be the one doing the finding."
[17:55] "What makes you say that?"
[17:55] "Intuition."
[17:56] Akira reddens. "It's not that!" she protests. "Takumi just happens to be where one of our safehouses is, and they would have all the means of communications and accessing information we could possibly want."
[17:57] "Noooo, he, uh, came with us."
[17:58] "He what?"
[17:58] "He can tell you all about why he decided he wanted to when you go see him."
[17:59] "We're going now!" Akira declares, grabbing Nao by the non-glowing arm. "Where to?"
[17:59] Haruka just shrugs, the romantic affairs of others generally being something beyond her ken (though, as Executive Committee representative, she'll surely have to see that Akira and Takumi get separated once this is all over. Boys and girls cohabiting on campus? Unthinkable!)
[18:01] "Oh, sure, not your boyfriend. Look, you can tell me. I'm *very* familiar with this sort of thing," replies Nao, starting to lug Akira towards the hiding spot. "You know, is it an acknowledgment thing? Because I bet you clean up pretty good- hey, have you ever actually worn a skirt?"
[18:02] Haruka heads for Yukino's cave, leaving the other two for now.
[18:02] The way she person-shaped blur is twitching she must be terribly embarrassed. "Not everything is about skirts!"
[18:03] "I, Yuuki Nao, will *help you shop*, you poor deluded fool."

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

[18:05] Leading Akira towards the cave is difficult, particularly due to a distinct lack of landmarks to go by. Once she gives up and just issues directions to the ninja, however, Nao and Akira arrive at the opening.
[18:05] The redhead can't see a thing, though Akira sighs in relief. "We're here."
[18:06] "You know this place?" queries Nao, sighing and letting Akira lead her on. "It's straight inside. The high school students who survived are, too."
[18:09] "I can see Tetsu," Akira responds. "Everyone inside has to be safe." Soon, Nao can see it for herself. Her appearance doesn't cause the same level of panic as before, she notes in a corner of her mind, but her attention is drawn to someone who runs up to them and grabs Akira in a hug, sweeping her off her feet.
[18:09] "Let go of me, idiot!" the ninja complains loudly, sounding mortified.
[18:11] "Stronger than he looks," mumbles Nao, giving the tottering couple a wide berth. It's dark here, she notes, and perhaps a better shot at her vision clearing up is before her.
[18:12] It certainly isn't as painful, though she doesn't see an immediate improvement in her perception. A slap on the back of his head gets Takumi -- who else could be allowed to do this to Akira and live -- to let go, as the ninja tries to gather the shreds of her dignity. "Why the hell are you here?!" she exclaims.
[18:16] A good question, reflects Nao, attempting to address the crowd before her. "While these two sort their home life out, everyone, I have good news! The paramilitaries on the island have been forcibly ejected, clearing the way! We should be able to arrange transport off this place, so if we can all hold out for a while longer..."
[18:18] "We should be," a male voice sounds above the others. Nao recognizes it, though she can't put a name to the boy who followed Yuki without reservations. "It's been quiet here for a while, and if the cave held up through Armageddon an hour or two won't be a problem."
[18:22] "Great. You'll probably be happy to know we've also found most of the juniors, too," adds Nao. "They're in another cave. I'm gonna have to ask you all to stay put, since there still might be... things... out there."
[18:23] "That is great news," he says, though he sounds more worried than anything. "Nao, you said... most?"
[18:25] Nao is quiet for a long moment, and her face twists, as she clearly has trouble responding. "I.. didn't count," she replies. "I wish I could tell you I knew everyone survived. But that would be lying."
[18:26] "Are they alone?" he asks, taking a step forward. "It's not much, but they could use someone to watch over them."
[18:27] "No. No! That's unacceptable!" Akira snaps off to the side, the first to break from her whispering routine with Takumi.
[18:30] "They're protected. If I need you, I'll pick you up," replies Nao, looking curiously at Akira, but shaking her head.
[18:34] "But I'm already involved, aren't I?" Takumi argues, placing a hand on Akira's shoulder. "I can't just sit somewhere safe while you're putting your life on the line for me."
[18:34] "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Akira sputters.
[18:37] "You can't do anything," notes Nao, approaching and speaking with a low voice. "It's a bother if you're around while we get into trouble. For one thing, you'd make an excellent hostage."
[18:37] "Which I can become if I'm somewhere that's supposed to be safe, can't I?" Takumi argues hotly. "And is there a safe place left?"
[18:38] "For another thing, shrapnel."
[18:41] "She's right, Takumi!" Akira says forcefully. "Even Nao was hurt by the things we fight, see? And if she had to protect you from danger, she could've died. Would that make you feel better?"
[18:41] "Not just me, either," murmurs Nao.
[18:43] "I'm dying," Takumi blurts out suddenly, lowering his eyes. "So it's okay. You won't have to protect me. Is it so wrong to want to spend my last moments with the people I love?"
[18:43] Akira's mouth opens in shock.
[18:46] Nao's face contorts with rage. "You're dying? You're going to die?" she hisses, sudden fury overtaking her. "You have no right to die!"
[18:48] "I can't help it!" he snaps back, looking angry all of a sudden. "It's my heart. Oneechan was giving it her best, trying to save up enough money for an operation...." He deflates. "Oneechan. I can't die without seeing her again. Please let me stay with you."
[18:50] "Money? You think money is a problem?" chokes Nao. "We can rob a bank. Or Suzushiro could foot the bill. Or whatever, you dying is.. it's bullshit! Hime fighting for someone who'll die anyway, that's- that's unfair on the rest!" Biting her lip, she turns away, regretting her words.
[18:53] Takumi has nothing to say. Perhaps he is caught off guard. The charged silence remains, until Akira stomps off towards the mouth of the cave.
[18:55] Nao's fist shivers and crackles as she clenches it. "Please think of why others are fighting for you before you say things like that," she mutters, before raising her voice. "Nobody leaves until someone comes to get you!" she calls, before turning and heading outside as well.
[18:57] "Hope," Akira says when Nao reaches her, staring off at the black skies. "That's why a Hime fight, what makes her try her best." The ninja sounds melancholic.
[18:59] "Is that so," murmurs Nao, rubbing her eyes and flexing her fiery arm.
[19:03] "It is," Akira affirms. "That... was a shock. But... but we just need to know about the pitfalls. If we do, we can avoid them. That's all."
[19:06] "If a reset is possible, then... we just need to keep our memories intact," notes Nao, her voie starting to get croaky. "I'll go see how Haruka is doing."

<--->

[Corwin]

<--->

[19:19] "So all the communication channels to the United States have been cut off, I take it?" Nao and Akira hear Yukino say as they approach the cavern where Nao and Haruka had previously found her.
[19:20] "Sounds like it," Haruka says.
[19:21] "Not the United States," Hiro responds, his voice echoing. "You misunderstood me, Haruka. The entire continent."
[19:22] "But the rest of the world is fine?" calls Nao, as she approaches.
[19:23] "As far as we can te--"
[19:23] White noise replaces Hiro's voice abruptly, and Yukino looks cross.
[19:23] Haruka frowns. "Hrm. Lost the connection, Yukino?"
[19:24] "Yes. How mysterious."
[19:24] Haruka frowns more! "I dislike mysterious things. I don't understand them."
[19:25] Nao stops at that point. "Hmm. Shorter range than I thought. I can hear from back here, do carry on," notes Nao, stepping back a few meters."
[19:25] The connection doesn't resume. "We were done, anyway," Yukino admits with a small sigh.
[19:26] "Any revelations afoot?"
[19:28] "Probably nothing you couldn't guess. Mass hysteria, world ending, all that stuff. Suzushiro people are on the way to get the civilians off the island, but that's about it."
[19:29] "The sky of the mainland has veins going through it," Yukino adds helpfully.
[19:31] "For all the good that'll do if the world grinds itself to pieces," murmurs Nao, her moodiness tilting back towards depression. "Kinda makes our little foibles seem small, huh..."
[19:32] "I wouldn't stop even if I could," Akira says simply to that. "The world has to be set right. This changes nothing."
[19:32] Yukino suddenly looks alert.
[19:32] "Akira's right. What we have to do is still the same."
[19:33] "Naturally. So. How to do that. Who knows? Mashiro. First District. Locked away within our own faulty minds."
[19:35] "The big question," Yukino states, settling back comfortably onto her makeshift throne, "is whether Mashiro is yet another face of the First District. If they are not on the same side, then tackling either of them is quite possible."
[19:36] "We need to confront Mashiro anyway. I'd assume she's still on the island--why run if she wants to win the contest?--so finding her is our best option. Unless any of you know where to find a First District informant we can lean on."
[19:37] "Do we?" Akira asks suddenly. "Is going through Mashiro even necessary?"
[19:38] "I don't know where anyone useful is, myself."
[19:39] "This world appears to be a good result for her," notes Nao. "I don't think she'd sit idly by and let us try something like this. Killing her, though... I'd enjoy it." Nao pauses. "If we can find any of their facilities, finding someone to talk wouldn't be an issue."
[19:40] "Like I said before, if we get to one of our safe houses, we'll have access to all the information we might need." Akira looks at Nao beyond what might be otherwise polite, before continuing, "I'm certain of it. This is my suggestion."
[19:41] "How close is the nearest one of these hideouts?"
[19:41] "Except one thing, I'll bet," notes Nao. "I don't know what you've got there, but do you have anything that'll locate Mai?"
[19:43] Rather than respond, Akira raises her eyes towards Yukino.
[19:43] "The same one we visited briefly, Haruka-chan," Yukino comments. "I doubt they would have gone farther than absolutely necessary while fleeing Fuka with faulty equipment."
[19:44] "Hmm?"
[19:44] "You were there, too."
[19:47] "Oh. Right. So. Fastest way there? Giant frog?"
[19:49] "Quite possibly," Yukino agrees.
[19:49] "What about Mai?" Akira interrupts. "You know well what I meant! You have all those mirrors to search the island with, so--"
[19:49] "Ah, that's right," Yukino says. "I had them. But your information is outdated. They were too fragile to survive this series of battles."
[19:52] "What about the PA system?"
[19:52] Nao pauses. "It's probably not intact anymore, is it..."
[19:53] "No, that's actually a good idea," Yukino says, pursing her lips. Akira seems hopeful. "Yes, it might take a bit of work, but I could manage that."
[19:53] "It can work even when the buildings are all flattened?"
[19:54] "The infrastructure probably wasn't completely wiped out, and the PA things work off a different system to the rest of the island." Nao shrugs. "With the military and ships gone, it's fine to coordinate a meeting publically."
[19:54] "Obviously, the controls for it that existed in those buildings are no longer there. But this is where the core of the system is, after all," Yukino responds evenly, patting the arm of her chair.
[19:55] "Give it a try. We need to get everyone together for evacuation anyway."
[19:55] She nods at Nao's words. "Yes, that was my concern as well with using an active system. But all the players who matter would know about Mai's situation, already, and that I have taken control of the system."
[19:55] "What else can this place do?" asks Nao, gazing at all the monitors.
[19:55] Nao notices that more of the monitors have gone out, but not enough to truly impede coverage of the island.
[19:56] "I can't activate it the way it is," Yukino tells Haruka, ignoring Nao's question.
[19:57] Haruka looks frustrated. "Then why mention it? Okay, what can we do from here?"
[19:58] "All good things are worth waiting for."
[19:58] "Just as long as we don't have to wait 'til after the apocrypha."
[19:59] "I don't know. Do we have a schedule on it?"
[20:02] "I have had it with this," snaps Nao, her temper flaring. "The straight answers, Kikukawa. We need them, if for no other reason that you might accidentally die stupidly, leaving us without that information and possibly crippling efforts that would, by the by, bring you back to life."
[20:03] Yukino laughs at the outburst. "I'll repeat myself, then. The PA system cannot work right now. It can be made to work, because it's core is here by all indications. I don't know how long it would take me to fix it. I don't know how long we really have, either. But I'm reasonably confident I'll manage in time. Was that all, or did I say more that needs repeating?"
[20:06] "Alright, you two, that's enough! Look, Yukino? Do whatever you can to get the PA up and running as quickly as possible. I don't care if it's a hack job, it doesn't need to be in use for long."
[20:08] "That would be a mistake," Yukino states. "It's in a delicate enough state right now. I don't want to risk ruining it in case this single use wouldn't be enough."
[20:08] Haruka sighs. "Alright, alright, you're the expert, not me."
[20:10] Yukino sighs herself. "Look. I fried enough of it using it before, all because we thought using it just the once would be enough. If I force it now on the same assumption, even I won't be able to recover it afterwards."
[20:11] "How long would it take you to fix?"
[20:11] "Hours, and it would go faster if someone was around to help. But it can't be you, and you know why."
[20:13] Haruka looks at the other two. "That's probably me."
[20:15] Yukino wilts ever so slightly. "As long as you follow orders it should be fine," she mutters. "Alright. The Suzushiro Group should bring emergency supplies, and I should be able to get in touch with you if you go for that hideout of yours." She glances at Akira and Nao. "Best of luck, then, to us all?"
[20:15] "Fine, just... Is there anywhere worth investigating left on Fuka Island itself? I think there are.. relics or systems of some kind, connected to the Hime and the Hime Star. Like that place in the mountain. I can't exactly help Akira use communications gear, either..."
[20:17] "Maybe," Yukino says thoughtfully, standing up. "Come with me. Since I can't just display things for you, I'll have to show it to you the old-fashioned way." She begins heading out of the cavern. "Watch the kids until I get back, won't you, Haruka-chan?"

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