~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore
Dolphin Rider Koishi - The End
FinnKaenbyou:
So Futatsuiwa is dead?
The voice in the waves was as implacable as ever. Satori had often wondered what sort of person a voice like that could belong to: she envisioned a giant of a woman, swathed in a billowing robe, the pinnacle of power and authority. Perhaps her master stayed in hiding because her actual form couldn?t possibly match the image her voice produced.
?Yes, ma?am,? the Siren answered, floating a few inches off the floor of the throne room. ?They found her body a few hours after the fighting stopped. A single stab wound in the chest.?
The silence that followed was careful, almost deliberate. That is...unfortunate. Futatsuiwa was a rogue agent, but ultimately our interests were shared. She deserved a better death than this.
Satori nodded along in agreement. She didn?t know much about Futatsuiwa or her history, only that she was a former ally of the Claw who?d fallen astray. They had kept tabs on the tanuki ever since, which was how Satori had arrived on the scene of the breakout so rapidly.
Your performance was adequate, the voice continued. Our operation would have been a success had the Pearl not arrived so soon. Even then, it?s unlikely they?ll resume activity until their media frenzy has died down.
Satori hesitated. Another question flashed across her mind - one she wanted to ask, but knew she shouldn?t. Ultimately, her curiosity got the better of her.
?Ma?am, permission to speak??
Satori could almost hear the tides rumbling around her. Go on.
?Well, if the White Pearl is in hiding, then Koishi will be holed up in-?
No. The waters swirled violently in Satori?s ears, stopping her before she could finish. You will not engage your sister unless absolutely necessary.
Indignation pulsed through Satori?s veins. ?But this is our best chance! She?ll be alone, without the other Sirens to defend her-?
Silence!
The room roared, her master?s voice echoing from every direction. All the courage flushed out of Satori?s body, leaving her in stunned silence.
Did you stop to consider our enemy may have considered that option as well? There could well be an ambush waiting for you if you act so rashly.
Satori clenched her teeth, bowing her head in shame. ?Apologies, ma?am. I didn?t think that far ahead.?
Of course not. Now the voice was snide, almost chastising. Besides, I haven?t forgotten your earlier fears about fighting your sister. I don?t intend to give you another chance to give in to that weakness. Do you understand?
The Siren tensed for a few moments, every muscle coiled like a spring, until at last she went limp in the water. ?...Yes, ma?am.?
Good. Now return to your quarters and await instructions.
The swirling of the currents weakened, subsiding into nothing. Satori hung in place, staring at the ceiling as she tried to pull her thoughts together. She wished her boss had a face solely so she could daydream about punching it.
Eventually she began to swim lazily towards the exit, paying little attention to her surroundings, mumbling to herself as she drifted into the doorway. She only came to a stop when her head bumped into somebody?s stomach.
?Hey, eyes forward down there.? Jozu looked down on Satori, her face upside-down from where the Siren was. ?Other fish are using these corridors too, y?know.?
Satori gasped, quickly righting herself in the water. ?Ah, sorry, Jozu. I was just thinking about-?
?I know. I heard the whole thing.? Jozu put a hand on Satori?s shoulder and pulled her close. ?You want a little venting session? Promise I won?t tell.?
The Siren felt her face flash red. Her head felt comfortable against Jozu?s chest - more comfortable than it had any right to be. She hadn?t imagined Jozu to be the emotional type.
She smiled. Maybe sharks weren?t all ravenous hunters after all.
?I think I?d like that,? she said.
?Good to hear.? Jozu started to carry Satori back to her room, never moving beyond a leisurely pace. ?Well, then, Dr. Manou?s in the house. Let it all out.?
It took a few seconds for Satori to start. The words all clogged up her throat, making it hard to breathe. When at last she started to speak, it all ended up flowing out at once.
?I know she?s right, Jozu. It?s a dumb idea for me to go after Koishi myself. But...I still worry about her, even though she?s my enemy now. She?s just a girl, for crying out loud. She shouldn?t be out here risking her life like this.?
Jozu kept silent, patiently listening and nodding to everything Satori said. There was no questioning, no judgement, just a vehicle for Satori to let out all the thoughts that had been weighing her down.
?They?ve got her thinking she?s some kind of saviour,? Satori muttered. ?Like she?s a hero, protecting the world from monsters like us. The longer she spends wrapped up in this nonsense, the better the chance she gets herself hurt. I don?t care how dangerous it is, I want to get her out of this mess before it?s too late.?
It was only when the ranting came to an end that Jozu spoke up. ?Sounds pretty rough. Mind if I ask you something, though??
Satori looked up at the shark. ?Sure. What is it??
?What got you so sold on the Black Claw, anyway??
The question came entirely out of left field, striking Satori dumb. Jozu took the opening to clarify the question.
?I already told you I?m neutral here. I just wanna get some blood on my knuckles. But you must be really convinced by the Claw?s beliefs if you won?t even let your sister change your mind. What gives??
The Siren bit her lip. She hadn?t thought about that for a while. It wasn?t a story she wanted to linger on for too long. Still, Jozu had done so much to look after her in her time here. It was only fair to give her an answer.
?I told you my father was a vet, didn?t I?? she started.
?Yeah, you mentioned it once or twice.?
?Did I ever mention that he brought me in for training to take up the practice??
Jozu sucked in a breath, as if she?d already figured out where this story was going. ?Yeah, this is the first I?ve heard of that.?
Satori nodded. ?I don?t talk about it much. It was only for a couple of weeks before he...well, before he died. I insisted on it - he inspired me, and I wanted to learn how to be like him.?
She looked down at the floor, pressing her head closer against the shark. ?At that time, I didn?t really understand what my father did. I knew he helped look after animals, but I never realised what sort of help they needed. What sort of suffering they could be subjected to.
?I only found out then that my father specialised in treating animals who had been abused. He had to deal with some of the most brutal things - pets who?d been fed broken glass, or left to starve in empty houses, or beaten by drunken owners. He worked with the worst of the worst, and that was my chance to see all of it for myself.?
The memories flashed in front of her eyes again, thoughts she kept safely under lock and key. Letting them resurface was as inspiring as it was frightening.
?I was still only a girl. I couldn?t understand why people would be so cruel to their pets. My father didn?t have an answer either; he said that all that mattered is that we helped the animals recover. I think the question got to him, though - he acted strong in front of Koishi and I, but I know he was hurting on the inside. It probably contributed a lot to...well, his death.?
Satori took Jozu?s hand and squeezed. ?My father spent his life treating the symptoms, but not the disease. For every animal he managed to save, there were two more that died on the operating table. He couldn?t do anything to stop these creatures from being hurt - and with the masquerade in full force, the youkai couldn?t even protect themselves.?
She took a deep breath, feeling determination overwrite her earlier chagrin. ?But I can, Jozu. I can save all the youkai who?ve had to suffer in silence. I can achieve something my father never could. And the Black Claw is the only way I can do that.?
Jozu?s eyes widened. It was difficult to read the expression on her face - surprise? Awe? Confusion? Maybe it was a combination of all three. It soon gave way to a small, subdued smile.
?Damn, you sound like some sort of fairytale hero when you put it like that.?
?I?ll take that as a compliment,? Satori said. ?Still, there isn?t much I can do unless the higher-ups give the order, is there??
Jozu paused, hanging in spot in the water for a moment. A rare chill crossed over her expression, and she squeezed at Satori?s hand in return.
?Look, Satori. I just wanna let you know that whatever happens, I?ve got your back.?
?Oh?? Satori tilted her head. ?That?s good to hear, but I?d figured that was part of the job description. You are meant to be my guardian, after all.?
?I don?t mean in a fight.? Jozu scratched at the back of her head. ?I mean, well, if you ever need to talk or something...actually, y?know what? Never mind. This is sounding icky and sentimental.?
The Siren raised an eyebrow. Jozu?s thoughts were flickering and flailing about in her head, an indecipherable mish-mash of emotions. It was unusual to see the shark so offset, but within seconds she was back to normal.
The rest of the journey took place in an awkward silence. Jozu looked away, seemingly distracted by some distant thought as they arrived at Satori?s room.
?Here?s my stop,? the Siren said, pulling away from Jozu and floating in the doorway. ?Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Want some sparring to make up for it??
?Uh, actually...? Jozu looked down the corridor, eyes clouded over. ?Maybe another time. I?ve got somewhere to be.?
Satori furrowed her brow. ?Since when do you have other arrangements??
?Since about two minutes ago.? The shark looked back, giving Satori a cheeky wink. ?Can?t go into specifics for now. Just gimme some time, alright??
There was something almost pleading in Jozu?s eyes, quietly asking for Satori?s permission. The Siren could hardly refuse after all Jozu had done for her today, could she?
?Sure,? she said. ?Just don?t get yourself killed.?
?Can?t make any promises,? Jozu answered, saluting as she spun about in the water. ?Later, then!?
Within seconds, the shark was a blip in Satori?s vision, and soon she wasn?t even that. The Siren wondered what sort of scheme was forming in Jozu?s mind. She could only hope it wasn?t something too dangerous.
Well, may as well get in some practice, Satori thought to herself as she stepped into the airlock. I need to work on my thrusts...
-----
Sango had never been a fan of meetings.
She didn?t mind them on paper. There was nothing wrong with getting together to discuss strategies or prepare battle plans. The problem was that wasn?t just any meeting - it was a meeting being run by Nitori Kawashiro, and that was a whole different story.
Today the kappa had hastily turned her math class into a conference room, shoving half a dozen desks together and doing her best to clean off the graffiti. Today?s lesson had been half-wiped from the blackboard, numbers and variables left hanging without context. Calling it haphazard may have been too polite - not that Sango would ever say that to her boss?s face.
Ran, on the other hand, had no such inhibitions.
?Is this what you call a briefing room?? The fox youkai shuffled about in her seat, staring at a piece of chewing gum stuck to her desk. ?I thought you had a laboratory hidden around here somewhere.?
?Yeah, but there aren?t any seats in there.? Nitori spun about in the teacher?s chair, legs crossed as she leaned forward. ?Didn?t want to make you all stand, y?see.?
Ran growled. Nitori was the perfect antithesis to the fox?s immaculate stature, a picture of everything a good student wasn?t supposed to do. If Sango had acted half as casually as the kappa was, she?d be reprimanded in an instant.
?Don?t worry,? the dolphin said, stretching a hand across the makeshift table. ?You get used to her.?
?I?m not sure if I want to,? the fox answered, one hand tapping anxiously at the bottom of her desk. ?So who are we waiting on??
?Just one operative,? Nitori answered. ?Should be here any mo-?
As if in response, the door to the classroom slid open. Momiji Inubashiri stomped through, pulling off her wig as she closed the door behind her.
?Sorry I?m late,? she murmured. ?Aya had another one of her detours.?
No-one responded to the wolf. Instead, everyone present had their attention locked entirely on her face - more specifically, the still-fresh cut that had been drawn along her cheek.
?Momiji, you alright?? Nitori asked.
?Oh, this?? The wolf put a hand over the wound, and her expression softened. ?Let?s just say I didn?t give one of our companions the respect she deserved.?
Sango raised an eyebrow. That had sounded almost like humility. What the hell had she missed while she?d been in hiding?
?And you must be Lady Yakumo.? Momiji turned to Ran, bowing as far down as her back would allow. ?It?s a great honour to be in your presence, madam. I?ve studied your works on the art of warfare extensively.?
Ran brushed off the compliment with a wry smile. ?No need for the formality, white wolf. I haven?t been a ruler for a long time now.?
?I...I see.? Momiji visibly hesitated, Ran?s sudden coolness disrupting her train of thought. She managed a rough nod before sinking into the seat beside the fox.
Sango gave the wolf a little wave. She didn?t get a response. She?s just as friendly as I remember, she thought to herself.
?Alright, the gang?s all here.? Nitori pulled a pair of glasses from her pocket, slipping them on to look slightly more like an authority. Her slack shoulders and casual dress did nothing to aid that image. ?So, first thing?s first. Anything to report??
Momiji nodded. ?I?ve had a few of my agents prowling the city on basic reconnaissance. The stories about the zoo incident are still going strong. Every time the rumour looks set to die, someone steps in with a new theory or piece of evidence that sets the whole thing alight again.?
?That can?t be an accident,? Ran said, steepling her fingers. ?Should we assume the Claw is responsible??
Momiji shrugged. ?Wouldn?t surprise me. They?ve got everything to gain from it, after all. But it might just be humans being curious about it. I mean, Aya won?t go for five minutes without throwing one of her conspiracy theories at me.?
?Conspiracy theories?? Sango asked, her voice laden with morbid curiosity.
?I dunno how, but she finds a way to link everything to the government.? Momiji rolled her eyes. ?Right now she thinks it?s a distraction so people will forget about some new anti-terrorist law getting passed.?
Sango?s mouth slackened. ?...Huh. Forget I asked.?
?Either way,? Nitori said, ?we?re probably going to have to act fast. The bigger this story gets, the harder it?ll be for us to make a move. I suggest we stage one grand assault on the Black Claw?s base of operations. Once they?re out of the picture, we can focus on damage control regarding the publicity.?
?A good idea, but one with a glaring flaw.? Ran folded her arms and sighed. ?Where exactly is this fortress you want us to siege??
?What a coincidence, Ran.? Nitori smirked. ?Figuring that out happens to be the next item of interest for today?s meeting.?
The fox?s ears stood on end as she shot a glare at the kappa. She wasn?t taking well to Nitori?s ?playful? idea of authority. Sango shimmied backwards in her chair as a precaution.
?So! As it happens, I?ve got a little map of the city with me.? Nitori withdrew a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. Unfolding it, the map turned out to be almost the size of the table, marking the geography of Gensouto in impressive detail. ?I?ve marked in red the areas we?ve already searched through. Any thoughts??
Sango gave the map a quick lookover. It wasn?t difficult to find the most prominent feature of their surroundings, assuming you weren?t colourblind.
?Uh, boss, this thing is pretty much all red.?
?Precisely.? Nitori planted a finger in the center of the map. ?We?ve hunted through every nook and cranny of this city, and we haven?t found a damn thing.?
Momiji frowned. ?So we?re out of ideas, then??
?Not quite.? Nitori?s finger began to drift along the map, out from the center, onto the coast - and beyond. ?We?ve still got this whole area to check out.?
Ran slowly nodded in contemplation. ?The ocean...of course. We?re dealing with an oarfish youkai, so it?s a natural base of operations for her.?
?You mean we could have had our base out at sea without risking discovery any time someone scribbled on the blackboard?? Momiji?s jaw hung open. ?Why the hell didn?t we think of that??
?I figured you wouldn?t want to get your fur wet.? Nitori stuck her tongue out, giving the wolf a playful wink. ?Jokes aside, though, it?s pretty obvious that the Black Claw?s hideaway is somewhere on the seabed. Unfortunately, that?s still not very useful to us - I mean, there?s a lot of seabed out there. We need to find some way of cutting that down. Any suggestions??
There was silence for a few moments as everyone present pondered the question. The first person to speak was Ran, with a voice that offered little in the way of confidence.
?It?s probably safe to assume that Leviathan?s using some form of illusion magic to conceal her fortress. I could probably dispel it a spell of my own, but an enchantment that powerful would be very short-ranged.?
?Any chance you could rapid fire it?? Nitori asked.
?In my prime, maybe.? Ran hung her head, her expression solemn. ?But I?m awfully rusty nowadays. I don?t think I?d have it in me to do it more than once or twice a day.?
?So we?d need to know where we?re going...in order to figure out where to go.? Momiji?s tail swished about impatiently. ?So that?s Plan A out of the window. Anyone got a Plan B they want to share with us??
Nitori put a finger to her lips, looking down at the map as if trying to decipher some unseen code. ?Sango-san, what about you? Do you have any ideas??
Sango pouted. ?Dunno what you?re expecting from me, boss.? She craned her neck around, looking out the window towards the setting sun. ?I?m just a dolphin who punches thi-?
Her heart skipped a beat, the words dying on her lips. Something flickered in the shadows of a nearby alleyway, immediately grabbing her attention.
Staring up at her was the unmistakeable form of Jozu Manou.
?Yo, Sango-san.? Nitori walked around the table, waving a hand in front of Sango?s face. ?You still with us??
Sango didn?t respond. She watched Jozu vanish back into the alleyway - not to flee, but to hide. Sango already knew the shark would be waiting for her.
?Helloooo. Earth to Sango, please come in...?
It would be easy to tell everyone that there was a Black Claw agent literally on their doorstep. But Jozu was more than an enemy - she was a rival, and in a twisted way she was almost a friend. She?d helped out Sango once before, during the Saigyouji incident. Maybe she could help them with this problem, too.
?Sorry, just remembered something.? Sango raced to her feet, stumbling past Nitori on her way to the door. ?Gotta go. Lemme know if you come up with anything!?
She could feel her allies? stares following her as she slipped out into the hallway. She did her best to ignore them, focusing on the task at hand.
?Shouldn?t we stop her?? Ran asked. Sango heard her rise to her feet and held her breath.
?Let her be. She?s more of a hands-on operative, anyway.? Momiji?s voice was neutral, leaving Sango unsure if it was a compliment or an insult. ?Now, how hard would it be to pick up some depth charges? Surely an illusion can?t work its way around that.?
Sango never heard the rest of the discussion. She had other, more pressing matters to attend to.
A hands-on operative? she thought to herself. Momiji, you have no idea how right you are.
-----
Sango took one last look behind her as she emerged from the school entrance. There was still no sign of anyone tailing her; the higher-ups were probably too busy planning to wonder where she had gone. She wasn?t sure whether or not to be proud of that.
?Jozu, you there?? she whispered in the direction of the alleyway. There was no answer. She was sure she?d seen the shark hide in here, but it was too dark to make anything out. After a few seconds without a reply she tip-toed into the backstreet, blindly feeling around the walls as she walked.
OK, this was a bad idea. Sango brought one hand in front of her, channeling a basic light charm. If she?s not here, I?m just gonna go home and take a bath.
After a few seconds of focus, a small shining sphere emerged in Sango?s palm. It illuminated the alleyway around her, giving her a chance to see it in all its wretched glory.
It also revealed Jozu, standing no more than a few inches away from her.
?Boo.?
?Phweee?!?? Sango jumped backwards, almost falling into another puddle. The ball of light hung in the air, unperturbed. ?What the hell was that for? Jeez, I just about had a heart attack...?
Jozu smirked, leaning against the wall. She was just as covered in dirt as Sango, but she didn?t seem to care.
?You?ve got no clue how lucky you are,? the shark said. ?I could have killed you a dozen times over while you were fumbling about in the dark.?
?Then why didn?t you?? Sango said, trying and failing to clean off her sleeves. ?And on that note, how did you even find me??
Jozu placed a finger on the tip of her nose. ?You?ve got a very distinct smell, Sango. It wasn?t hard to follow your trail. And as for your other question...? Her eyes glinted with feral eagerness. ?I promised you a fair fight, didn?t I??
Just the sound of those words was enough to make Sango forget about the state of her outfit. This was a fight she?d been waiting on for a long time. Now they didn?t have any interruptions to worry about, they could slug it out until one of them had nothing left to give.
?So where are we doing this?? Sango asked. ?No offense, but it?s a bit cramped in here.?
?No worries,? Jozu said. ?I already figured that out.?
The shark leaned forward, putting a hand on Sango?s shoulder and whispering in her ear.
?The Claw descends on Sango Tororetsu.?
Sango?s whole body tingled. The world took on a dull blue tinge, and she began to float upwards as if she was underwater.
A magic duel, huh? The dolphin smiled. She hadn?t seen one of these since Mokou?s awakening. She took a moment to pull away, stretching her legs as she continued to ascend towards the sky. The sunset was gone - in fact the sun itself was nowhere to be seen, the whole world illuminated by a single ambient light.
?Man, that?s better.? Jozu performed a slow, graceful backflip as she rose above the skyline of Gensouto. ?Sometimes I really get sick of that whole ?walking? thing the humans love so much.?
?You get used to it. Besides, my fins really needed the break.?
Sango took a moment to warm up, stretching her limbs and taking a few practice swings. The worst thing she could do now was come into this fight unprepared. Jozu did likewise, making sure every muscle in her body was primed for battle.
?So how?s the Koishi girl holding up?? Jozu asked.
?Eh?? Sango flinched. That wasn?t a question she?d been expecting. ?Uh...fine, I guess? Kinda bored now that she?s stuck in the house all day, but she?s fine.?
?That makes two of ?em, then.? Jozu rolled her neck around, her bones making distinctive cracking sounds. ?Satori just got grounded by the boss. Too much of a liability, or something.?
?Oh.? Sango pouted. ?That?s a shame.?
?I know, right? Satori?s a damn good girl. She deserves better than that.? Jozu stretched her arms one last time, then reached for her belt. ?Anyway, this isn?t about them. Should we skip the pleasantries??
?Go ahead.? Sango smiled, lowering herself into the stance of Flowing Tide. ?We both know I?d beat you senseless if you don?t get your fix.?
?Heh. Looks like someone?s feeling cocky.? Jozu pulled a vial of blood from her belt, two fingers grabbing at the cork. ?Let?s hope you live long enough to regret it.?
In one smooth motion, she pulled the cork and brought the vial to her nose, letting its contents seep into her system. Her whole body bucked forwards, her eyes fading to black as her muscles grew in size and power. She let her mouth hang open, giving Sango another chance to see her razor-sharp teeth.
?Saa...Saaan...gooo...?
With her last shred of coherence, Jozu reached out to the dolphin with a hand. For a second, Sango swore she saw a smile flicker onto her opponent?s face.
Then Jozu charged, and she had much bigger problems to worry about.
?SangoooooOOO-!?
-----
Next Week's BGM: Control Crisis
elenchus:
--- Quote ---?I dunno how, but she finds a way to link everything to the government.? Momiji rolled her eyes. ?Right now she thinks it?s a distraction so people will forget about some new anti-terrorist law getting passed.?
--- End quote ---
Chekhov's gun detected.
FinnKaenbyou:
So a funny thing happened to me earlier this week...
-----
The first blow was a claw aimed straight at Sango?s eye. She brought up an arm to block it, the impact hard enough to make her bones shake. Jozu?s arm jerked backwards, too quick for Sango to capitalise on the opening.
The shark brought down a furious barrage that rocked Sango from head to toe. Sango dodged what she could, blocking anything she couldn?t swerve away from. Even parrying the blows was painful - Jozu?s strikes were so powerful that one stray punch could easily end the whole fight.
I?ve got to slow her down!
Sango weaved around the wild swings, scoring counter-punches where she could. She dotted Jozu?s body with jabs and hooks, hoping that the shark was still conscious enough to have some concept of fatigue.
To her dismay the shark barely registered any of Sango?s attacks, seemingly unaware she was injured at all. She continued her brutal offense, punishing Sango any time she tried to make a move.
For a brief moment, Sango regretted not being born a shark.
OK. Punches don?t work.
The dolphin?s brain kicked into overdrive, chugging out a battle plan as she tried to fight off her assailant. Every block sent a new wave of pain charging through her system, disrupting her focus.
Pressure points? She ducked under a blow meant for her head. No. Her body?s pain receptors are disabled. A kick slammed into her leg, and she swore she heard something shatter. And I already tried targeting her nervous system.
Years of training flashed before her eyes. What was there left to try? Was there anything in her arsenal that could possibly faze this kind of opponent?
?Graaaaaaaaah!?
Jozu roared, swooping down to sink her teeth into Sango?s shoulder. Sango caught it in both hands, needing all her strength to hold the shark?s head in place. That only served to leave her body open, and Jozu sent a fist pounding into her stomach.
?Guhuuu-!?
Sango felt the wind being knocked out of her lungs. Her fingers dug deeper into Jozu?s cheeks on instinct.
Eh?
Beneath Jozu?s skin, Sango could feel the faint pulsing of energy. The channels here were still functioning, but there wasn?t enough power in them for her to manipulate.
That left her one option.
My guts are really gonna hate me for this-!
Sango strengthened her grip on Jozu?s head, her fingers pressing further into the pressure points. Her heart pounded in her ears, her strength flowing through her in time with her pulse. Slowly she felt it seeping into her opponent, slowly and gradually working its way through her body.
?Graaah-?!?
Jozu made no attempt to move Sango?s fingers. She simply made the most of the opening, sending punch after punch straight into Sango?s stomach. With her hands locked in place, the dolphin couldn?t even try to defend herself.
?Aaah, haaah-...?
Sango felt like her internal organs had been reduced to paste, but she forced herself to endure. This was the only chance to do any sort of damage, even if she?d have to hurt like hell for it.
C?mon, c?mon, c?mon!
Her power was beginning to trickle through Jozu?s body, but her own stamina was running low. A few more good punches and Jozu would put a hole in her stomach. There was no way she?d finish before then.
To hell with it. Sango took one deep breath, listening to her heart reach a fever pitch. All or nothing!
She closed her eyes, listening to the flow of power through her. She mustered every ounce of energy she had left, willing it to rise up her body and through her arms.
Then, all at once, she sent her power pulsing into Jozu.
?Grraaaauuu?!?
Jozu howled, the sheer burst of energy charging through her body at once. Sango could almost hear the crackling of lightning through Jozu?s bones, overpowering her from the inside out. On sheer instinct, the shark sent another wave of blows charging into Sango?s stomach.
Just...a little...more...!
Sango?s body felt like it was made of lead. She focused the last of her energy on maintaining her grip, trying to finish Jozu before the shark could finish her.
?Graauu...uuu...?
Jozu?s punches finally started to weaken, the power from the pressure points too much for her to handle. Her eyes began to fade, the pure-black giving way to the usual white as her pupils rolled upwards.
One more punch would do it. And Sango had just enough power left in her.
?And...and...? Sango heard her arm creak as she pulled it backwards. ?And STAY DOWN!?
The strike caught Jozu square in the cheek, shutting her down like an off switch. The shark managed a tiny yelp before she went limp, drifting aimlessly in the water.
?Aaah, haah...?
The moment Sango saw her opponent was incapacitated, she took the opportunity to collapse entirely. She was relatively sure she?d broken something, but everything hurt so much she couldn?t be sure what. For a few minutes, she simply laid in place and gave herself a chance to recover.
?...I did it.? Staring up at the sky, she muttered absently to herself. ?I won.?
If she had any strength left in her, she would have taken the chance to cheer in victory. As she was, she had to settle for a contented sigh.
?...Mmmh...?
A few minutes later, the fallen shark began to stir. Any sign of the bloodlust had disappeared from her eyes, and she groaned every time she tried to move an inch.
?...Cheater.? She managed to tilt her neck around to look at Sango. ?Screwing with my head like that is totally not fair.?
?Don?t remember any rules saying I couldn?t,? Sango said, winking as her chest heaved. ?Besides, the alternative was letting you eat me alive. No offense, but that really didn?t sound very appealing.?
Jozu pouted, looking away and folding her arms. ?Why does everyone assume I?m gonna eat them? Seriously, you people are so racist sometimes...?
Sango drifted lazily through the water, reaching out and patting Jozu on the head. ?C?mon, don?t be so bitter. It was a good fight, wasn?t it??
The shark?s stubbornness began to crumble, until finally she managed to nod. ?...Yeah. You were pretty impressive, I admit.?
For a few seconds they simply floated there, comfortable in each others? presence. That was how long it took for Sango?s common sense to kick in.
?Oh, right.? She scratched at her head, pulling her arm away from Jozu. ?I should probably take you in for questioning now. Since you?re a member of the Black Claw and all.?
?Yeah, but you should have probably told your bosses that you were following me.? The shark grinned, showing Sango another flash of those brilliant teeth. ?Besides, there?s no way my awesome plan will work out if you arrest me here.?
?Phwee?? Sango tilted her head. ?Awesome plan??
The shark let out a deep breath. ?Trust me, you?re gonna want in on this. It?s about...well, the Komeijis.? She pulled herself upright, her expression growing stern again. ?But before I let you in on it, you?ve got to promise you won?t rat me out to the White Pearl. I?m already putting my ass on the line just telling you this, so please tell me I can trust you on this one.?
Sango?s stomach caved in, and it wasn?t just from the beating. Meeting a Black Claw agent was bad enough - conspiring with one would qualify as treason. If the boss ever found out about this, she?d probably have her remains scattered across the seven seas as a warning.
But at the same time, she could see a glimmer of something in Jozu?s eyes. It was concern - powerful, genuine, definite concern. She never seen an emotion so deep from the shark before. In that moment, she knew exactly where Jozu?s loyalties stood.
What the hell, Sango thought. In for a quarter, or however it is those humans put it.
?Alright.? She placed a hand on her chest and bowed her head. ?You have my word, Jozu.?
?Excellent.? Jozu?s melancholy expression quickly shifted back into happiness. She swam over to Sango, whispering in her ear like a student sharing a dirty secret. ?Alright, my accomplice, here?s what we?re gonna do...?
-----
?Aw, come on! That is totally not fair!?
The voice on the other end of the line was so loud that Koishi expected the phone to erupt in her hand. She moved it a few inches away from her ear.
?Calm down, Cirno-san. Deep breaths.?
?I don?t wanna be calm!? Cirno yelled. ?Why didn?t you tell me about the whole magical thingy? It?s awesome!?
Koishi sighed, falling backwards onto her bed. Youmu had warned her there was a chance Cirno?s memories could relapse after seeing footage of the zoo incident. She?d called up the Ex-Fairy as a precaution, a chance to let Cirno get some sort of explanation.
The phone call had quickly turned into an interrogation.
?So do you have a secret base?? Cirno asked, so giddy she was on the verge of flying. ?Or a mascot? It?s Sango-san, right? I knew she showed up at a really weird time!?
Koishi?s brain was on fire. She couldn?t keep up with the barrage of questions - and she suspected it was a bad idea to answer to begin with. Even if Cirno could keep things under wraps, she had no way of knowing who was listening in.
?Look, Cirno-san...? The Siren rubbed at her temples. ?I?m sorry I haven?t been in school lately. It?s a long story, but basically we can?t let the whole ?magic? thing get too far into the public eye.?
?Eh? Why not??
?Because-? Koishi hesitated. Nitori would have said humans couldn?t be trusted with that power, but she wasn?t so convinced. She sighed. ?Just because. You?re going to have to trust me on this one, Cirno-san.?
?Laaame.? Cirno?s groan was accompanied by the scrawling of a pencil. She must have been studying when Koishi had called. ?Well...you and Mokou-san did save my life, so I?ll let this one slide. But I?d better get a full explanation next time you?re in school, got it??
?Sure, of course. I?ll tell you everything once all the media stuff dies down.?
?Damn right you will.? Cirno giggled. ?My best friend, the magical girl. That?s awesome.?
?You?re welcome,? Koishi said with a smile. ?But let?s keep it our little secret for now.?
?Sure thing. Later.?
Koishi hung up the phone and buried her face in a pillow. That was the first time she?d made contact with the outside world for days now. Even with her pets to keep her company, the solitude was starting to get to her. She only had so many DVDs to distract herself with, and there was no sign of when the media frenzy would end.
She wanted to sleep, but she didn?t feel tired at all. For fifteen minutes, she did everything in her power to slow the constant flow of thoughts running through her mind. She would have been there for longer if she hadn?t been distracted by the footsteps.
?Koishi-san!?
Sango threw open the door to Koishi?s room, so hard the door almost snapped off its hinges. The Siren rolled about in her bed to face her guest.
?Sango-san, you could have knocked-huh??
She stopped mid-sentence when she saw the state Sango was in. The dolphin?s clothes were caked with dirt and muck, her hair frayed in every direction. Her sleeves were pulled up, revealing dark-blue bruises dotted along her arms.
?Sango-san, what happened to you?? Koishi jumped off the bed, forgetting her earlier fatigue. ?You got caught up in a fight, didn?t you??
?That?s not important right now.? Sango gasped for breath, leaning on the doorway for support. ?We?ve gotta go. Tonight. You and me, to the beach.?
Koishi raised an eyebrow. ?Sango-san, I know you?re probably homesick too, but-?
?It?s your sister,? Sango blurted. ?You?ll see her.?
Koishi felt the cogs in her brain lock in place. ?Satori? What?re you talking about??
?I made a deal with Jozu,? the dolphin continued. ?She?s bringing Satori out to the beach on the edge of town. We?re meant to meet them at midnight tonight.?
?Jozu?? The initial wave of hope flowing through Koishi began to die down. ?You mean the shark girl from the Black Claw??
?Yeah, but we can trust her. She?s only given us one condition - we aren?t allowed to let the White Pearl know about it.?
?Sango-san, this woman tried to kill you,? Koishi said, with a pout. ?Several times.?
?And that?s why I believe her,? Sango said, folding her arms adamantly. ?We haven?t been able to say a lot to her, but you learn a lot about people in a fight. And from what I can tell, Jozu is more loyal to your sister than she?ll ever be to the Claw.?
Koishi?s chest felt numb. This all reeked of a setup - after Iku had tricked her, she?d been on her guard for anything else the Claw tried to throw her way. But she?d never seen Sango so convinced about something before - and if Satori was involved, she was willing to take a risk or two.
?...Okay.? Koishi took a deep gulp, swallowing down her fears as she steeled herself. ?So we meet Satori on the beach. Then what??
?What else?? Sango grinned. ?You two have your own fight to finish, right??
-----
98...99...100.
Satori sheathed her sword, wiping the sweat from her brow. With nothing to distract herself, most of her spare time was devoted to self-improvement. Her stance could always use a little work, no matter how much practice she put in.
She had been uncomfortable at first. They hadn?t given her anything to pass the time with - no books, no music, nothing. She?d spend days lying around the room, bored out of her skull.
When she?d agreed to help the Claw, that had all changed. Now whenever she had nothing else to do, she trained whatever aspect of her form she was most concerned about. Today, that happened to be her thrusts - they were too slow, leaving far too much room for a counter attack.
I?d better take a break, though. Satori took a seat in the corner. My arm feels awfully stiff.
She opened and closed her fist to get the blood flowing. Looking through the glass wall, she had just enough light to make out her immediate surroundings. Dark grey weeds bobbed about with the currents, and a stream of bubbles rose in the distance - but there was no sign of life to be found.
Satori sighed. She did her best not to let the loneliness get to her. This was how the youkai felt, after all - lost and alone, with their old world stolen from under their feet. The best way to understand their plight was to experience it.
Still, she couldn?t shake the feeling that this wasn?t where she belonged. She should have been out on the field, bringing about a revolution; not locked up in some holding cell on the bottom of the sea. There was no good reason to hold her back - she?d already fought Koishi once before, and nothing had happened. What was her master thinking?
She was so caught up in her pondering she barely noticed the mass of thoughts forming behind her.
?Satori??
Jozu?s voice shocked Satori back to consciousness. She turned around to see the shark stepping out of the airlock, wetsuit torn and scuffed in half a dozen different places. In spite of her injuries, she wore the proud grin of a victor.
?I?m back. Kept myself alive, just like you asked.?
?How thoughtful.? Satori smiled. Jozu?s company was her only reprieve from utter solitude. Still, the shark had never been the sort to keep secrets - well, there was one secret, but Satori had decided not to press that for now. ?So, I take it your plan worked??
Jozu saluted. ?Phase one was a complete success. Now comes step two.?
?Which is??
?Breaking you out of here.?
Satori was too stunned to answer for a few seconds. When she did find her voice, it was monosyllabic. ?What??
?Made a deal with the Porpoise Princess,? Jozu said, a sly grin sliding onto her face. ?She?s bringing your sister out for a secret rendezvous on the beach. Midnight tonight.?
Satori?s jaw hung open. ?How on earth did you get the master agree to that??
?I didn?t.? Jozu winked. ?It?s our little secret. Honestly, if the boss finds out, she?s probably gonna make a jacket out of my skin. So keep it to yourself for now.?
Satori felt faint, leaning against the wall for support. She hadn?t imagined Jozu to be the rule-breaking sort, and definitely not to this extent. If the leader of the Claw was as harsh as she thought, Jozu?s estimate for her punishment might not have been far off.
?You?re an idiot,? Satori said, caught between surprise and disappointment. ?Why would you take that kind of risk??
?Why?? Jozu frowned, folding her arms. ?I figured that was obvious. You wanted to settle the score with Koishi, didn?t you? So I pulled some strings to make sure that?d happen.?
?But our master said-?
?Screw her!? Jozu snapped, spitting out the words like they were poison.
Satori gasped. Jozu had never been this angry at her, not even when they?d first met. The shark?s face was locked in a brutal scowl, and she looked more ready to tear Satori apart than look after her. The Siren was beginning to understand how she could be such a dangerous opponent.
?It?s a stupid order, Satori. We both know that. So why are you so willing to just go along with it??
?Because I have to,? Satori countered, a hand jumping to her neck. ?You can?t throw a tantrum because of one order you don?t agree with-?
?Goddammit, stop trying to argue and just thank me already!?
The room was soundproof, but Jozu?s scream bounced across the walls and reached Satori from every direction. The rest of her objection crumbled beneath the sheer volume of the shark?s voice.
?Look at you, for crying out loud. You?d probably obey the boss if she told you to slit your own goddamn throat.? Jozu?s eyes blazed with a passion Satori didn?t know existed. ?Where?s your backbone? Are you just gonna blindly follow orders, or are you gonna draw the line before it?s too late??
Her raw audacity left Satori paralysed, unable to offer any sort of counterpoint. Had she really become so subservient? Was she nothing more than a pawn in someone else?s game? She didn?t want to believe it, but now she thought about it she fit the description all too cleanly.
?Maybe we can explain it afterward. Hell, if you beat your sister and talk her into working with us, you might even get a commendation.? Jozu let out another sigh, the anger wheezing out of her body. Now she looked almost solemn as she reached out, offering a hand to the fallen Siren. ?But right now, it doesn?t matter what the boss wants. This is about you. Are you with me??
Satori wasn?t sure how to feel anymore. Half a dozen emotions wrestled around inside her. She wanted to be disgusted by Jozu betraying the Claw, but all she could find deep down was gratitude. She wanted to be firm and authoritative, but more than that she wanted Koishi out of this war once and for all. She knew giving in to this temptation was childish - but in truth, she wanted to be a child more than anything right now.
The internal conflict lasted only a few seconds, but it left Satori exhausted. Wearily she looked up at Jozu, and for a moment she swore she saw something glimmer in the shark?s eyes.
?...Alright.? She grabbed at Jozu?s hand and pulled herself up. ?But if we get caught, this was definitely your idea.?
?Understood, ma?am.? Jozu smirked, ruffling at Satori?s hair before pushing her towards the doorway. ?Anywho, we?d better start moving. We haven?t got long until the guards change shifts, and that?s our only way out.?
Satori wasn?t really listening. Most of her attention was devoted to introspection. Here she was, about to break out from the institute she?d promised to aid for the rest of her life. She was breaking every oath and promise she had ever made to the Claw.
And yet she felt no shame or guilt for what she was doing. With every step she took she felt more confident with her decision, more certain that this was a stand she had to take.
?...Thanks, Jozu.? She placed her head on Jozu?s shoulder as the airlock began to flood. ?I needed that.?
?No worries,? Jozu said. She grinned as the room filled with water, and their path to freedom slid open. ?Now stick close, understand??
-----
Koishi had never taken the time to just watch the sea.
She could see the waves bouncing to and fro, from the coast all the way to the distant horizon. The sounds of the city had faded to nothing, leaving only the relentless rush of the tides. Water skipped along her feet, then dipped backward in an unrelenting cycle.
?It?s beautiful,? she said, to no-one in particular.
?Not really.? Sango shuffled a little closer to the Siren. ?I mean, it?s a nice view, but there?s a lot better out there.?
?Like what?? Koishi asked.
?Oh, I could be here all night with that.? Sango spread her arms out as far as they could go. ?Coral reefs in a million colours. Trenches so dark and deep you?re the only living thing for miles. Living, breathing volcanoes buried on the bottom of the sea.?
?...Huh. That is a lot more impressive, actually.? Koishi drew a line in the sand with her heel. ?I guess I have some exploring to do when all of this is over.?
?Sure thing.? Sango gave the Siren a pat on the head. ?Just make sure to invite your favourite tour guide. I?ll show you all the best spots.?
Koishi smiled, leaning slightly into Sango?s hand. She wasn?t sure how much the dolphin meant what she was saying - after all, when all of this was over, the White Pearl was planning to vanish without a trace. Still, if nothing else, she appreciated the sentiment behind it.
?This was where I found you, isn?t it?? she asked. ?Out here on the beach, before all of this began.?
?Sure was.? Sango looked off into the distance, eyes cloudy from nostalgia. ?Seems so long ago now. Never figured things would turn out like this, though. Don?t think anyone did.?
Koishi nodded. She had already transformed, her sword lying flat on the sand by her side. Though she did her best to hide it, she could hear her heart racing in both fear and anticipation.
?...One question, though.? Sango frowned. ?What are you gonna do if you lose??
Koishi didn?t even stop to consider it. She rose to her feet as she saw something moving under the surface.
?Don?t worry,? she said, picking her sword from the ground. ?I won?t.?
In the distance, a clock tower chimed twelve.
Two figures emerged from the water, walking out of the ocean and onto the beach. Satori took the lead, droplets running down the length of her saber. Jozu was a safe distance behind, making it clear that she would play no part in what was to come.
?Guess that?s my cue.? Sango stood up, then moved away to clear space for the two Sirens. ?Good luck, Koishi-san.?
Koishi nodded. With any luck, she wouldn?t need it. She began walking forward, matching her sister?s pace. When they came to a halt, they were only inches apart.
?Koishi.? Satori?s hand tightened around the hilt of her blade, her eyes as full of conviction as her sister?s. ?Should I even try to reason with you any more??
Koishi shook her head. ?We passed that point a long time ago, Satori. There?s only one way we can settle this.?
?That?s what I thought you?d say.? Satori took a long step backwards, bringing her blade forward and assuming her battle stance. ?Promise me, Koishi. Promise you?ll never fight again if I win here.?
Koishi hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath. Then she matched her sister?s movements, stepping backwards and brandishing her own sword. ?Alright, Satori. I promise.?
The valkyrie smiled for the briefest of moments. Though she looked at ease, Koishi could almost feel the adrenaline pumping through her sister?s veins. Neither of them would hold anything back.
?Good luck,? Satori said.
?Yeah. Same to you.?
There was no triumphant exchange, no dramatic soliloquy. Just a few small words between two sisters that fate had pitted against each other.
Without so much as a fanfare, their battle began.
-----
Next Week's BGM: Meaning Of Birth
Esifex:
Bum bum BUMMMMM
..Heaven or hell, lets rock? :o
Yaersulf:
Epic battle of ultimate destiny, two of them even! Hype get!