The next morning, Mia had asked to see Matoi in private, and Marisa&Samuel had taken the elevator outside.
"I need to talk to you about something." said Mia, sitting across from Matoi. "About the neighborhood destroyed."
"…yes." murmured Matoi. "What is it?"
"It…" Mia sighed. "It - bothers me that - I feel as if you're not… allowing any input from me, on this. The - speaking on national news, and - visiting the families was understandable, but - I - you never asked me once what I thought I should do."
Matoi sat up, breath heavy in her chest. "Because I'm our squadron leader. It's what I told Daishi, as well - you're a member of my squadron, and -"
" - you're not understanding this." sighed Mia, clenching her prior anger back - " - it's that you never asked me once, and you then -"
" - because you were just injured -"
" - I wasn't talking about -"
- Matoi held her hand up. "Because you were just injured. I thought it would be best to give you time to rest, and ensure you were able to practice what they would ask you beforehand -"
" - by telling me not to mention Aimee?"
Matoi paused. "… Japan -"
" - I don't give a shit what Japan thinks, she's my fucking -"
" - we were invited -"
" - why don't you - f-fucking ask me how I felt about it? H-Having to fucking - s-say that on television -"
" - you and I both know how straight people view -"
" - I saw my own f-fucking Revenant try to kill me - and all you f-fucking did was care about what to tell Daishi -"
" - I was arguing with him! When I was speaking with him - he was ready to ask all four of us to leave the country -"
" - do you know how f-fucking terrifying it is when it happens?! The first time it happened?! The second time?! You'll never fucking know what it's like to have your own fucking Revenant trying to kill you - Wedding won't ever start - fucking trying to tear your eyes out -"
" - I chose you because I know you can - f-fucking handle -"
" - I was terrified I was going to fucking die to my own fucking Revenant -"
" - yes, but -"
" - Marisa and Samuel both - both were there to comfort me - and all I got out of you was a fucking 'go on a news station and lie about being straight' - do you know how much that hurts after -"
" - I lived here when I was a teenager. Do you think I didn't have to ever fucking deal with -" - Matoi's lips pinched shut.
"No. No - say it. Go on."
"I'm not going to. There's no point to arguing about this -"
" - then I will. You haven't changed a fucking bit since Lanacca. You still don't care about anyone but your-"
- and her stomach punched her as she saw Matoi's tears form.
"L-Leave - n-now." Matoi's face clenched. "Leave -"
" - I'm - n-not leaving." said Mia. "I - I shouldn't have - s-said that." She got up, and her eyes dripped as she sat next to Matoi. "… I-I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have said that."
Matoi's eyes went away, breath shaking. "…n-no. Y-You - n-no."
"You… you have changed - since then." nodded Mia, hand on her shoulder. "You - you have. I shouldn't have said that."
Matoi's eyes closed and nodded. "…n-no. I-I have." They opened. "… I'm sorry. The - I…" Her gaze met Mia's. "… You remember. When we trained for that month - the first time Worldwide went out of control."
"…I do." murmured Mia. "… you - think this is your fault."
"I - wanted to have this over with - as soon as possible, so I could - so I could shove it out of my mind. T-That I didn't train you well enough, and that -" - she sighed - " - I can't believe I'm fucking caring what they think. What other people think about - my leadership."
"…I know what they're saying about me." murmured Mia. "It's - not your fault. I'm - I'm sorry that I said those things."
"…no. You were right." muttered Matoi. "You were being honest with me. Even if you can't admit it." She smirked. "Just like Aimee was, as well. When she spoke with me. The night I left our room."
"I - suppose." offered Mia. "But - I should have - phrased it better."
"There's no editing a conversation." said Matoi. "… I apologize for - telling you not to mention her, as well."
"It… surprised me, admittedly."
"It should have. It was a moment of weakness." Her head shook. "I spoke with Daishi, earlier - and Junpei. There's no Ueno student that doesn't believe you."
"I…" Mia nodded. "It - doesn't matter who believes me. I know what occurred."
"Precisely." Matoi smirked. "I thought you still might like to know."
"It does help." laughed Mia. "But - er. When we return, I - should train something - much, much more stressful. Maybe sleep deprivation."
"Of course." nodded Matoi, wiping her eyes. "We will."
"There may be a level beyond blue." chimed Mia, and Matoi laughed.
"We'll see."
Mia stood, and Matoi with her.
"…thank you." Mia smiled. "I - feel much better, now. I - hope you're feeling better, too."
"Much better." smiled Matoi. "We won't let the trash bother us."
"We won't." laughed Mia.
The two set out to a waiting Marisa&Samuel.
"All good?" chimed Marisa, and the other two smiled and nodded.
"She was asking me what the press thought of her." said Matoi as they started walking out, and Marisa winced.
"…oh. Um, yeah. Don't - don't let that bother you, Mia-Mia."
"I won't." laughed Mia-Mia. "Still, it - it'll be good to be in America again - and allowed to fight."
"Allowed to kill." laughed Matoi. "Remember the last Revenant we fought before we left -"
" - oh man," laughed Marisa - " - the guy Mia froze him solid?"
"And I kicked him." laughed Samuel. "I still swear he must've slid for three, four miles down that road -"
" - Marisa had to chase him the entire way." laughed Mia. "But - yes. Allowed to fight again."
"And not needing a translator to order fast-food." nodded Samuel. "… speaking of."
Matoi's eyes rolled. "At least have something you can only have in Japan."
"What've they got?" said Samuel, and Marisa's head shook.
"I dunno if I wanna go by her recommending stuff." she grinned, and the four laughed as Matoi checked her phone.
"… there's a beef bowl restaurant - a few minutes away." She turned, and the eternally helpless followed.
"What's that?" said Samuel.
"They serve beef with rice, eggs, soy sauce - toppings like that -"
" - and you're just now telling me about this paradise?" laughed Samuel.
"We never did ask." chimed Mia.
A few minutes later, the four came inside a small casual restaurant, twenty chairs against the counter, menu projected behind. They got in line as Matoi translated.
"They have… yakiniku is - barbeque. Toppings - egg mayonaisse, chilis, spinach."
"Is that teriyaki? #3?" said Mia, and Matoi glanced back nodding. "I'll have that, then. Beef, no toppings."
"What's the fried stuff - on the left? #5?" said Marisa.
"Shrimp."
"Cool. Uh - that, then."
"The big one - everything. #8." said Samuel.
"And every topping?" laughed Matoi.
"A boar's gotta eat."
Matoi placed their orders, and the four sat down, fortunately no teary faces as they ate. After they finished, they went outside and passed by one familiar bookstore.
"… Should we go in?" said Mia.
"If you're alright with it." grinned Matoi.
"Of course." laughed Mia, and the four went inside, searching for the tabloids. Matoi scooped one up, and their gaze pinched at the cover.
"…two Mias?" said Samuel. "Why're there two?"
"…one minute." murmured Matoi, flipping through to the article; and started laughing. "How could they possibly -" - she laughed again - " - no, no - I need to finish this - before I can translate -"
" - what - what is it?" laughed Mia, silently grateful it wasn't negative -
" - it's - we need to buy this one." laughed Matoi. The president went to the counter, still laughing as she paid, and the others weren't privy until they were outside.
"I've never seen you like this." grinned Marisa, and Matoi's head shook.
"The - the article -" she laughed - " - it - actually believes her, too, but - it's saying that there are two Mias. One was the one who came with us to Japan - and she died in the Solar Beam -"
- the others started laughing -
" - they - what?" said Mia -
" - and so -" - Matoi showed them the pictures, difference between Mia's prior candid shots and her television appearance circled. "They think you've been replaced by a body double - and that we're not letting you fight because we - because we won't say your Revenant was actually destroyed -"
" - my - my fucking god -" laughed Marisa -
" - but it'll be announced once we leave Japan."
"You know, they might - lemme see those photos." laughed Samuel, examining them like a curator. "We might need to - ask Aimee - she'd be able to tell if you're the original, right -"
" - as if." laughed Mia, scarabs crawling out of her hair. "See? Worldwide is here, safe and sound."
Marisa grinned - "I bet Aimee'd be real happy if there were two Mias -"
- and the original Mia's cheeks filled as the three cackled -
- and Matoi's phone vibrated, saving her as the president took it.
"(Yes? … Yes - we'll come back immediately. Twenty minutes, at most.)" Matoi hung up and started running, the three helpless following her back the way to Ueno.
"What's, what's going on?" said Marisa -
" - Daishi only said it was an emergency, and to return to Ueno as soon as we could -" - Matoi groaned, streets filled with people ahead, lampposts at regular intervals - " - Marisa - go ahead."
"Buckle up." she chimed, and the four met for a group hug. A strand of Boudoir tethered them to her, and as she aimed her palm up -
- a rope erupted from her glove and yanked them to a lamppost, three clutching desperately as the fashionista swung and swung, civilians eyeing the spectacle from below -
- and ten minutes of bumpy riding later, the four landed at Ueno's gates, three groaning with clutched heads.
"…g-god." winced Mia. "That's - still - uncomfortable."
For a second, she thought about Worldwide's barf-bag. The four went through the gate, and Daishi was already at the red tower's front doors.
"(What happened?)" said Matoi as they came up.
"(In - in private, please.)" he nodded, and the five went up to the tenth floor. They hadn't kneeled before he spoke. "(I've just received word - I called you as soon as it came in. A - politician's daughter has been kidnapped.)"
"(Who?)" said Matoi, and Daishi kneeled across.
"(Representative Goro Kurosawa. Apparently, they're - the kidnappers -)" - he sighed - "( - they're demanding ransom, by midnight tonight. Currently, the House is discussing it - the news hasn't broken yet.)"
"(Understood.)" nodded Matoi, and relayed it to the others.
"…shit." winced Marisa, summing their thoughts. "What should we do?"
"They're currently discussing that." said Matoi. "(I assume you want us on standby, then.)"
"(Yes - that would be best.)" nodded Daishi. "(They're, admittedly - not certain yet whether a Revenant is involved. These are very - preliminary details.)"
"(Of course.)"
"I assume I'm still not allowed to fight." muttered Mia, and Matoi nodded.
"Unfortunately. They're not certain if a Revenant is involved yet."
"Makes sense." nodded Samuel. "Can't know until -"
" - wait." said Mia - " - I… wait. I just - I just realized something."
"What is it?" said Matoi, turning to her.
"Isn't… Isn't it odd? The time we were attacked - at the news station? When we spoke with the families?"
"And that dick who yelled at you." sighed Marisa. "He -"
" - no, that's - that's just it. We weren't attacked until he had started yelling at me. I had said - on the interview, the night before - I had said that I lose control of Worldwide when stressed."
"…you think - sorry. Go on." nodded Samuel, and Mia continued.
"… I ran in to more Revenants on the way back to Ueno. Rin and Yamato saved me from multiple hosts. There were protestors at Ueno. Why would they be at Ueno -"
" - oh shit." sputtered Marisa. "Wait, that's - yeah. Why would they be protesting at the gate and not like, where you were -"
" - unless they're working together. I - when I went out for a walk, there were - three men tried to provoke me, until - Akira showed up -"
" - wait - what?" said Samuel, and Matoi waved down Daishi's curiosity.
"I - don't mention Akira." winced Mia, having told Marisa&Matoi of the man before. "To - him. Akira - transported the three back to their homes, and spoke with me on - something unrelated."
"I won't." muttered Matoi. "Can you tell us after, then?"
Mia nodded. "I will, but - it almost seems… coordinated, doesn't it? That - someone is trying to provoke me. In to losing control of Worldwide again."
"… and they'll demand you be the one to give the ransom." muttered Matoi. "Alone."
"… there's no possible way for the government to win that." muttered Mia. "Either they'll be blasted for allowing me on important business - or this man's daughter will die."
Daishi's phone vibrated, and he stood up to take it. "(Apologies.)"
"(I'll translate, after.)" nodded Matoi, and he went out of the room.
"…that's what it'll be, then." murmured Mia. "That - seems to logically connect."
"…seems to." said Samuel. "Still. Don't know anything about how it's like here, but - thinking of why someone would want to do that. Whether it's something against you, or just something convenient - to get the government looking bad."
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
"Yeah." nodded Marisa. "Uh, we're the only ones who knew Worldwide could go out of control, right? Like, before."
Mia nodded, and Marisa continued.
"So - like, it could be… Yeah. Like they're trying to provoke you. Now that they know."
"… Rin and Yamato need to guard you." muttered Matoi. "Whoever's behind this wants you to fight again."
Mia nodded. She held her burning blue sword out. "I still have control over Worldwide, but -"
" - I know." smirked Matoi. "Still. If you aren't forced, it would be best not to fight."
She saw the question in Matoi's eyes and smiled. Her sword disappeared. "I agree."
Daishi came back in and kneeled. "(Apologies. They've reached a - preliminary agreement, though it may change. Were you four speaking on something?)"
"(Did they ask Mia to deliver the ransom?)"
His head shook. "(They did not. They asked for myself and you.)"
"(...odd. Continue.)"
"(At midnight, tonight - though they won't be giving us the location until an hour before. I've already notified other Ueno students to be cautious near Tokyo. Prime Minister Hito and Representative Kurosawa have agreed to pay for the ransom, mutually, as a show of good faith - and the police will investigate when there is more time.)"
"(… also odd.)" murmured Matoi. "(Was that all for now, then? There's something we were discussing that you should know.)"
"(Yes - for now.)" he nodded, and readied to listen. "(Go ahead.)"
"(Er - one moment.)" laughed Matoi, seeing the three tense beside. "Elite Four -"
" - you know, aren't you referring to yourself in the third person with that?" laughed Samuel, and Matoi paused.
"…hm." Her head shook. "Elite Three -"
- the Elite Three laughed, but kept quiet as Matoi continued.
"They want a midnight meeting. Daishi and I were asked to deliver the ransom, paid by Prime Minister Hito and Representative Kurosawa. I'll be telling Daishi of our theory - I'll say that Mia ran away from those three men."
"Time to think." murmured Marisa, and the three whispered among themselves as Matoi&Daishi spoke.
Eventually she told him something in Japanese, and he replied likewise, staying silent for a few minutes as he kneeled straight.
"(… certainly a possibility.)" he muttered. "(That these protestors - the men - that these are related.)"
"(They might not be, of course - but the possibility is worth mentioning.)"
He nodded. "(I agree. There's certainly been some groups before - gangsters like that. They might wish to…)" He frowned. "(… motivation. Motivation, motivation. A nationalist group - but they wish to provoke her.)"
"(… What are Kurosawa's political leanings?)"
"(He's part of a center-right party. Conservative - but not like those protestors.)"
"(I heard them.)" sighed Matoi. "(Still - it would be worth mentioning to police - and Rin and Yamato.)"
"(I agree.)" nodded Daishi. "(They're currently responding to a disturbance, a few hours away - but I'll call them back with the others. For now - they'll guard Mia - and we shall set out at midnight.)"
"(Agreed.)"
◆◆◆
At midnight, the two arrived at a shipyard full of shipping containers, Junpei having been allowed to evacuate the area. The two walked careful until they got to one hall of containers, masked man already midway with Kurosawa's daughter.
"(Money first. Don't get close.)" he said, setting the unconscious cargo against the container beside. Matoi glanced to Daishi, and the wide president set the briefcase midway.
"(And her.)" said Daishi.
The man nodded as he took the briefcase, walking back to the woman, and in the next instant -
- he pulled a knife out; and a whirl of steel cleaved her neck in half, already starting his rushing away -
" - Wedding!" shouted Matoi; an explosive barrage flew forward -
- but a dozen red orbs burst out of the man's back, capturing the missiles as he ran along another shipping container, right hand sweeping across -
- and a floating orb appeared in its place; new entrance found, he veered right and in to another hall, Matoi and Daishi chasing behind as the missile-orbs popped, explosions starting -
" - Wedding!"
- but a swifter barrage flew to contain their exploding rivals, shipping container reappearing as they rushed up -
"( - I shouldn't use Wedding's missiles.)" said Matoi, and Daishi nodded.
"(My acid can be neutralized - it's the safer option.)"
Matoi nodded, and as a puff of green gas hit the container -
- the entirety of it corroded away; the two rushed in to its former spot, vaulting up to another container beside, eyes searching for their foe around, and in the next instant -
- the container popped; a cloud of yellow burst outward as the two fell -
- but a swift shockwave blasted the foul vapors away, two running up to another container, vaulting up for another vantage point -
- and nodding as they stood safe at the top, eyes truly searching now.
"(He might have gone in to the water.)" said Daishi, gesturing to the backside of the dock. "(If it can contain air -")
"( - he might also be in one of the containers -there's plenty to hide in.)" said Matoi, and Daishi nodded. Permission for property damage given, she started her explosive assault, hundreds and hundreds of micromissiles erupting outward -
- and splitting dozens and dozens of shipping containers in half, still hundreds more left and stacked high around -
"( - brace yourself.)" groaned Matoi, two megamissiles bursting out of Wedding's shoulders and hitting the dock behind -
- and splitting the entire shipyard in half as if an earthquake had struck it, back half falling instantly in to the water -
- and the two laughed as they heard a shriek ahead&right; glancing over, they saw the man rushing out of one container, running and veering down another hall in the direction of the city. With no time to waste, the two rushed in pursuit from their perch, leaping over every popped container, gas and projectiles within useless against their dual counters.
Ahead, their foe reached the road, rushing along a line of buildings, street corner up ahead; the two leaped down and out of the shipyard, two hundred feet away but starting to gain speed -
"( - I'll flank.)" muttered Daishi, peeling right and away; Matoi nodded as she kept her run going as the man turned the corner ahead.
She took a wide berth as she turned -
- and saw her foe out of range ahead, no briefcase in hand as he ran. Ripping her sword out, she threw it forward -
- the man's hands swept back, readying to turn it orb as it flew close -
- and in to a hundred pieces exploded her sword; he shrieked as he turned, a dozen shards entering his chest -
- and eighty-eight orbs swallowed the rest, careful missile having been implanted in her hilt, man forced to slow as he backed away, one wall beside -
- a section of the wall opened up; and out of the corroded aperture stepped Daishi, purple gas following a second later -
- but the next scene was instant. The man pulled his knife out -
- and slit his own throat in half, leaving two groaning as he fell rigid, orbs disappearing.
"(For - shit's sake.)" sighed Daishi, relevantly. "(There's no way they ever intended to accept the ransom.)"
"(Agreed.)" muttered Matoi, coming up. "(Someone took the money, as well - it's not with him.)"
"(The police have something prepared if they try to spend it - or dispose of it, fortunately.)" muttered Daishi. "(As for… Kurosawa's daughter. I'll - need to meet with him, personally - to… relay this.)"
"(Do you want help?)"
"(…admittedly - I've never had to do this before.)"
Matoi nodded. "(I have some experience with it - with parents of Urasaria students.)"
Daishi nodded. "(That - admittedly, would be helpful, then. Thank you, Rain-On-A-Wedding.)"
"(I told you - you can call me Matoi.)"
The two smiled; but not too much.
◆◆◆
Fourteen ate together the next morning, Japanese pairs murmuring while the four ate. Mia's eyes rose every time she heard her name.
"They're talking about the provocation theory." murmured Matoi, and Junpei nodded.
"(Come on. Rude talking about her when she's right here.)"
Yamato nodded. "Sorry. Was thinking of - what you said, and, Kurosawa's daughter."
"It's alright." nodded Mia. "I - was thinking of something else, the other day - as well."
"What is it?" said Matoi.
"The three men who accosted me. You said - the protestors are nationalists?"
Matoi nodded as Junpei put his ear out, faint shouting from a truck's loudspeakers in the distance.
He laughed. "Not as loud as the Communists -"
- the door opened, and in stepped the man with a glowing red arm holding a newspaper - "( - Daishi - I, I thought it would be - you should see this, sir.)"
"(More bad news?)" he frowned, taking it with a nod.
"No news is good news." muttered Junpei. "Can't be good news."
"…that's - not what that expression means." chimed Marisa. "It means that - like, you can assume no news is - no news means good news."
"…wait, it does?" said Samuel -
- and Daishi sighed, holding his hand out. "(I have to leave and try to correct this. As much good as it'll do.)"
"(What happened?)" said Rin.
"(Some of the press is reporting, on 'anonymous sources' - that the ransom was not paid, explaining the death of Kurosawa's daughter -)"
"( - god.)" groaned Matoi, relevantly. "(We can never catch a break with this.)"
"Fucking masu-komi." muttered Yamato, relevantly.
"(About right.)" said Daishi with a sigh. "(Apologies - I need to see what -)"
- twelve tablets vibrated -
" - oh shit." sputtered Junpei, taking his up; the twelve shot up, the four awkwardly following -
"( - what is it?)" said Matoi -
"( - the rest - sit, for now - )" - said Daishi - "( - Matoi, can you and the others set out with me?)"
"(Of course.)" she nodded, waving Mia down; the helpless foreigner kneeled.
"(Junpei, evacuate the area - and the rest of you, be cautious.)"
"(Yes, Daishi.)" nodded Junpei. "(I'll meet with you after.)"
And he was gone, leaving four running out of the room.
Mia gestured vaguely. "Was there, er…"
Yamato stifled a laugh, showing her his tablet, a message in Japanese on it. She took her phone out, camera machine translating for her.
"A… smoke on the water?" she said, and Rin laughed.
"The ransom. It was to do…" She held her hand over her glass of water, and mimed dropping something in to it; Yamato mimed his hands like an explosion.
"I - oh." laughed Mia. "The ransom was dropped in the ocean - and there was smoke in it."
Yamato paused. "Yes."
And out of Ueno, Daishi was privy to the same bumpy ride.
"(I - might be sick when we land -)" - he winced, grip desperate on his phone, Junpei on the other end -
"( - you - get used to it -)" - winced Matoi, four swinging along buildings -
" - just hope I don't miss one!" chimed Marisa, and two pained laughs.
"( - she - yes, Junpei - continue - in English.)" winced Daishi, setting his phone on speaker, swift pouch of Boudoir forming for it.
"There's - four people I'm passing right through - dumbasses are just running down the road - they know they're fucked!" laughed Junpei -
" - still - fifteen minutes away -" - groaned Matoi - " - can you keep track of them?"
"- I can try!" laughed Junpei - " - coming out to - Zushi Beach, now -"
"( - I'm - going to vomit if we don't land -)"
" - Marisa, land." laughed Matoi, and Daishi aimed his mouth away as the four dropped two hundred feet down, three hitting the ground running, one still clutching and wincing -
"( - I - will catch up with you.)" he groaned, and the three laughed as they set out.
Back at Ueno, three remained, the others having been peeled away by new disturbances.
"No, no." said Yamato. "Fucking is sex, but also -"
- the three shrieked as Junpei appeared, arms fucking severed clear off -
" - does - can Marisa heal limbs?" he groaned -
" - I - yes - yes -" panted Mia - " - find - can you find Marisa -"
- and he was gone.
Ten seconds later, Marisa shrieked as he appeared in front of the four -
" - heal - heal!" he winced, and Marisa nodded, stopping quick and setting slow with Boudoir.
"I - I got you."
"(He'll be alright - we need to hurry.)" said Matoi, and the three set out, Marisa shouting behind; "I'll catch up with you!"
" - g-good." winced Junpei, slumping against a nearby wall, Boudoir stemming the bleeding. Marisa set to work on weaving new arms. "… n-now. I-I'm not gonna say it was because Tyrant got slower, but…"
"I - got you." winced Marisa, and Junpei laughed.
Back at Ueno a minute later, Mia read Marisa's message for the others. "Junpei is alright - er, will be - alright."
Yamato nodded. His phone vibrated, and he took it quick. "( - ah, shit. Rin, stay here.)"
"(What are you -)"
- the tornado-necked man ran out.
"… I'm - not even going to ask." muttered Mia, hearing gusts of wind outside.
Yamato launched himself to the roof, checking the location.
'(Junpei can't track. Too risky. About… forty kilometers away, and… eh. I can adjust.)'
He shook his head, holding his hands out behind.
◆◆◆
Four men ran down one road, oceanfront hundreds of feet behind, buildings and parked cars at regular intervals.
"(God - you're an imbecile.)" muttered the rightmost man, holes disappearing from his face as they ran -
"( - we'll scatter at the next -)"
"( - no, you're going to protect -)"
"(- what - who the hell is that?)" panted one of the men, looking up; the other three scattered -
- just in time to avoid the tornado-necked projectile landing, and the two hit the ground fighting. In a literal whirlwind of blows they revolved down the avenue, gusts of wind erupting outward, and as Yamato's grip shot to his face -
- a gust of wind blasted his head three hundred feet away, torso falling rigid below -
"( - goodbye!)" he laughed, turning to the three two hundred feet away -
'( - shit, I hope that was one of them - ah, there's Katuhisa. No worries.)'
"( - imbecile!)" shouted Katuhisa, him and the other man huddling behind the third; Yamato kept his eyes sharp, and in the next instant -
- the hollow point of one bullet entered his left arm -
- and he didn't feel with aghast left arm, suddenly numbing, and as another three shot towards them -
- the next scene was instant. Taifū's winds blew ahead, yanking the oxygen from the air -
- and a shield of ice formed; and in to the sudden shield went the bullets, Yamato laughing as it shattered; hand sweeping forward, another gust blew the shards forward -
- but the sharpshooter cracked every last, Katuhisa&the second man starting their rush away, veering right along the corner and disappearing behind -
"( - no no!)" shouted Yamato, starting his rush up the road and veering right along the building. New bullets shot towards him -
- but a swift gust of wind blasted a hole in the building beside; and in to the sudden entrance he swept, rushing through office cubicles as he sought his new exit ahead -
- but heard with aghast ears the building starting to shudder, hollow point of a dozen bullets entering the wall -
"( - here we go.)" he winced, relevantly, tornado-neck readying as the roof caved in -
- and a swift gust of wind blasted every bit of rubble away -
- but a bizarre scene met his stare as he glanced back to the road, Katuhisa and the other man fleeing back in the beach's direction, primary foe still left with aim square on him -
- three new bullets entered his chest, veins starting to go numb as he staggered back -
- four familiar figures rushed out of the corner behind, and as the man turned -
- a puff of black gas hit his nostrils -
- and a dozen tendrils of mutated flesh burst out of his head, blood and pus spewing as he fell rigid.
"Wait -" - sputtered Marisa - " - we're allowed to -"
" - there's no time to be nonlethal here." said Matoi, relevantly. The four started their rush up to the tornado-necked man; Yamato gestured to the beach behind, two men still fleeing -
"( - injured -)" winced Yamato, standing with hands behind - "( - but - Typhoon can bring me back -)"
"( - go.)" nodded Daishi, and the tornado-necked man fled as the four rushed ahead, coming up to the beachfront line -
- and seeing Katuhisa&the man leap in to the water, starting instantly to rumble; and as the four halted three hundred feet away -
- the earth and entire ocean shook, waves starting to burst out of the water.
["In The Choice Between Good And Evil" - Bayonetta works well.]
" - run!" shouted Matoi, whip in her voice repeated in Japanese as the four ran back, entire beach starting to get swallowed in to the ocean, step starting to slow from the enormous whirlpool forming -
" - behind - tsunami!" shouted Marisa; they glanced back -
- and saw something enormous burst out of the water, titanic wave starting its ascent and shrouding it for three hundred feet above; and as it started to crash forward -
- the next scene was instant. A hundred micromissiles flew above; at Matoi's side, Marisa gripped the three tight, strands yanking them up to one missile -
- and again and yet again, the four were yanked constantly back, desperate flight and strands keeping pace ahead of the tsunami, swinging for hundred and hundreds of feet up&away, constant volley erupting -
" - there!" shouted Matoi, pointing to one skyscraper right; no option left, a new volley brought them to the roof -
- to at last land at the top, and as they turned -
- they saw the tsunami crash in to the middle; foundation lost and starting instantly to buckle -
" - back one more!" shouted Marisa; a new volley of missiles flew behind, and a new strand yanked them away -
- to at last land on another skyscraper, tsunami flooding the ground below, still safe as they finally turned -
" - hoo boy." muttered Samuel, relevantly.
- to see their foe on the horizon, metallic beast hundreds of feet wide, black with two oval legs, two oval arms and green slits. The four were only mid-level with it, as it started its stomp forward.
"Really could use another Solar Beam." muttered Samuel, and Marisa winced.
"Too soon."
"(Really could use another Solar Beam.)" muttered Daishi; Matoi's laugh burst involuntarily, bilingual benefit for the white wedding -
- and ahead still stomped the beast, far less amused than they. Its arms swept overhead, green slits starting to rumble and hundreds of waves crashing in its stomp; and in the next instant -
- a hundred jets of water burst out of its slits, enormous projectiles combining to one, shooting with the speed of a missile towards them; the four swept underneath just in time for the jet to enter the skyscraper behind -
- and tearing it in half in an instant, Matoi glancing back just in time to see the collapse, four grateful for Junpei's wide evacuation then - but they had no time to rest. Another set of jets erupted ahead, and as the water cutters sought their torsos -
- the next scene was instant. A puff of green gas hit the floor below, corroding through the roof; and in to the sudden burrow fell the four, watercutters catching only air as they fell for dozens of floors down, new puffs of Kiseru dissolving new burrows -
- but new water cutters split the walls ahead, new jets seeking their torsos and following their descent -
" - Outcast!"
- ghastly hands yanked the rubble to the jets, clogging and shielding them as they fell, Marisa's strands around them now -
" - Marisa - again!" shouted Matoi as they still fell, missiles erupting and veering right -
- and repeating the same strand&missile jig again, assured bumpy flight as they came to the right wall of the skyscraper -
" - Kiseru!"
- and a final puff of Kiseru's gas freed them out to the city, keeping their flight going right. Ahead, the beast's arms turned to them, and one jet of water erupted outward -
- and split Marisa's torso in two; a horrific shriek erupted from her as her grip unclenched, Boudoir forced to repair her under threat of death -
- and forced to disconnect the strands, final flick throwing the three cargo in separate directions -
" - s-s-sorry!" gagged Marisa -
- and down the four fell for hundred and hundreds of feet, ocean that had been city a minute ago below. Head-first descent, Matoi's lips opened to shout -
- and clenched shut a second later, swift micromissiles flying to plug her nostrils as she hit the water, starting to fall at a hundred feet a second -
' - Kekkonshiki.'
- and the shockwaves of her missiles slowed her descent, preventing pressured death as she came to the bottom slower, barely seeing the skyscraper of the beast's legs a thousand feet ahead.
'They'll each have figured something out. Focus.' she thought; but she had no time to rest.
Another dozen jets pierced through the water ahead -
- but she stayed still, slowly descending to the bottom, knowing the beast couldn't see her then, and as another jet burst ahead -
- a wave started in the depths, sudden current starting to blow her away -
- but the next scene was instant. A dozen missiles flew ahead and down, digging a pole in to the ground, Wedding's lasers welding it tight -
- and she grunted, clinging tight as the immense current thrashed, dozens of cars and rubble passing by her. Breath starting to run out, she swept to the seafloor below -
- a dozen missiles blew a hole in the road, shockwaves swifter than water and blasting the liquid away; unaffected by her Revenant's aftershock, she dipped her head down to the pocket of air -
- and breathed a full gulp again, water rushing to fill the pocket as she swam forward.
'It's trying to track me.'
A single missile flew right and burst open -
- and a jet followed it a second later, beast's legs barely turning as she kept her swim going, seven hundred feet separating the two. No option left, it started to stomp forward again, right leg filling up the entire avenue she was in -
- she swept down again, Wedding's lasers helping her breath -
- and stifling a groan as the bubbles blew up to the surface, beast suddenly halting as she saw one arm ready -
- and swept clear down, enormous arm the size of a skyscraper seeking to crush her -
- but the next scene was instant.
A hundred missiles flew above and spun in the water, explosives and shockwaves keeping the explosive barrage going as its arm entered the water, whirlpool that was her own forming; swept in to the current, she spun and spun, feeling the arm twitching at the midsection and unable to break free. Only a dozen feet separated her now, and as she passed by it again -
- a stab of her blade pierced through its arm; and up she climbed -
- to at last rise to the surface again, beast leaning with one arm caught in the whirlpool fading below, Matoi standing at the tip of it now. With no time to waste, she started her rush up -
- a jet of water shot for her -
- and she swept with the speed of light away&down -
- and the jet carved a clear hole through its own unnatural metal, leaving a laughing Matoi as she swept up again. No option left and whirlpool gone, the beast's arm started to yank back up; blade digging in for support, she grunted and dug her boots in, riding for the entire way up -
- but a flick of its arm threw her with the strength of a thousand away, blade still in hand as she flew for hundreds and hundreds of feet away -
- its other arm turned towards her, green slits rumbling as it readied to fire; missiles readying to help her dodge, she saw its arm rise -
- but suddenly swept back down to the water, eight jets of water hitting something floating below&left -
- and a set of shockwaves blasted her to the roof of another skyscraper, grunting and skidding as she landed backfirst. She rushed to the ledge as she recovered, eyes careful on her foe -
- and on the familiar rainbow speck below, raft with the other three on it to the left of the beast, buildings all collapsed around.
" - shit." winced Marisa, Boudoir's strands yanking them behind another three-floor building for cover - " - don't - have much left, here -"
- they heard the rumbling begin behind the building -
" - go back!" shouted Samuel, voice whipping like Matoi's; trust in the boar, Boudoir's strands yanked them back out of cover -
- and the jet hit Outcast's armor torso-on -
- and its host grunted, thrashed, but still stood by the end, few wounds but for chipped obsidian. Marisa yanked them back behind cover, excess strands healing the boar as he winced.
"Can - take a few more hits to delay it."
Daishi dove overboard, leaving two sighing at the inability to communicate, building still for cover.
A puff of Kiseru filled Daishi's nostrils, no worry for being tracked as he swam down the avenue, keeping close to the ground and hoping for his target.
'(There's been tsunamis that bring in deep-sea fish - they might be able to handle the pressure, but…)'
He turned one corner -
- and stifled a laugh to find dead targets floating on the surface ahead, enormous oarfish having been brought in by the blast. Kiseru giving him new breath, he gripped one and came up to the surface -
- only two hundred feet ahead of the beast, new water cutters erupting outward -
- then suddenly stopping as it caught sight below. The liquid projectiles shot towards him -
- a puff of black gas tripled the oarfish's size -
- and he sighed relief as it absorbed every last drop of water, enormous pressure building up within -
- and exploding in a dozen chunks of fish gore once its task was finished.
Unbeknownst to the three, Matoi made her steady trek underneath the beast's legs, breath punching her chest as she held for as long as she could -
- and stifling relief as it started stomping forward, still seemingly oblivious of her. She saw new jets of water hit vague figures in the distance, and as she leaped out of the water behind it -
- the next scene was instant. Her missiles flew up and ahead; gripping one, she leaped on her own explosive volley, projectiles shooting with the speed of explosives ahead and above, rushing swiftly and leaping upon every missile in turn -
- and meeting at last head-level with it, footwork perfect as she leaped forward; its right arm only a hundred feet ahead, she took a final leap to its tip -
- and landed square on the beast's flattened arm; and up the creature's weapon she ran, lasers and missiles behind, sword splitting the starving beast wide open as she rushed -
- and with a final leap to the midsection -
- she fell with the speed of sound down, missiles&blade&lasers splitting the entire beast in half as she fell, ten-ton halves falling down beside, hundreds of feet separating her and the water below, slicing and slicing down, Wedding's lasers continually rewelding her cracked blade, jets of water cut mid-volley as their master was split open -
- and she landed feet-first in the water, shockwaves blasting her back to the surface -
- where two still-beating hearts floated.