~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore

Dolphin Rider Koishi - The End

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FinnKaenbyou: The only easy part was the front door. Jozu shoulder-barged through the entrance, the door banging against the back hinges. The Sirens raced through the opening, Satori taking point as they emerged into the first hallway. ?Leviathan will be in the throne room,? the valkyrie said, her sword already primed. ?Keep close. These corridors are quite elaborate.? She lowered herself to the ground, deep enough that buoyancy was no longer an issue. She was faster running than she was swimming, and the rest of her allies soon followed suit. They matched Satori move-for-move, darting at breakneck speed through the palace?s hallways. ?I didn?t expect...all this exertion.? Sakuya began to trail behind, lacking in stamina compared to her allies. ?I think I need a minute to-? Before she could fall away, Youmu grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her along. ?No complaining, Miyo. The real fight hasn?t even started yet.? Sakuya frowned. ?No rest for the wicked, I suppose.? ?Damn right.? Jozu scouted the side corridors as she passed by them, searching for any sign of an ambush. ?Your boss might be dealing with most of the guards outside, but there are still gonna be plenty around here to-gyaah!? As she looked to her left a fishman leaped out from the other side, bringing a claw down towards her head. The blow never landed - Satori?s blade cut cleanly through the water, slicing the beast in two and forcing it to dissipate. ?You?re getting careless,? the valkyrie said. Jozu pouted. ?I can be fast or I can be thorough. I can?t be both.? ?And that?s why you need me around.? For a moment, Satori?s frown gave way to a private smile. ?Now, we?d better get going before the rest of his teammates find out-? ?Uh, about that...? Sango pointed down the corridor. ?They already did.? Jozu turned back to the hallway. Her blood froze over as she saw an entire legion of fishmen barging down towards them, shoving and bashing each other in an attempt to be the first to strike the Sirens down. ?Shit.? Jozu broke to the right, running in the direction her attacker had come from. ?Detour! Now!? The rest of the Sirens followed her lead, the fishmen trailing behind them every step of the way. In spite of their bickering, their aquatic nature made them faster in the water than the Sirens could hope for, and they slowly gained on their targets. ?Titanic!? Komachi hung at the rear of the pack, firing round after round into the oncoming horde. For every creature she shot down, another two appeared in its wake. She was doing just enough to keep them from being overrun. Jozu cursed. Yesterday she?d taken pride in how impenetrable this fortress was. Now she hated every ounce of it. ?Heads up, guys!? Nazrin yelled as her visor began to beep. ?Hostiles coming in down both those side corridors!? ?Roukanken!? Youmu drew her swords, pressing down on their hilts as the blades grew to impossible lengths. As she stepped out into the crossroads, both weapons swung through the air, cutting down everything that had dared to come close to her. Even then, the swipe only bought them enough time to make it past the corridors unharmed. ?Another squad, dead ahead!? the mouse yelled. ?There?s no room to get around them!? ?Well, that?s a no-brainer.? Mokou pulled ahead of the Sirens, flames licking at her fingers. ?We?ve gotta go through them!? The phoenix extended her golden wings as she descended on the enemy formation. She pushed past them without losing her momentum, scattering the horde with well placed punches and kicks. Jozu made sure to stomp on as many as possible as she ran past, just to make sure they didn?t get up again. ?Almost there, everyone,? the shark yelled. ?Just a few more turns, and-? As she twisted herself around a corner, she heard something click beneath her feet. On instinct alone, her neck jerked around to the ceiling. ?Oh goddammit.? The roof gave way, revealing a metal plate laced with spikes. The trap flew downward, set to crush the girls where they stood. ?Private Square!? Sakuya shouted. Jozu blinked. The next thing she remembered was being in another corridor, looking back on the trap that should have impaled her. Dozens of knifes littered the walls, taking out the fishmen that hadn?t been flattened by their own trap. ?You?re welcome,? the maid said, tipping her hat forward. Jozu didn?t have time to offer her thanks. Her heart was hanging in her throat as she burst out of the corridor into a larger hallway. On the other end of the hall a giant door loomed over her, almost three times as large as she was with a golden trim running along its edges. There was no sign of a handle, or even a hinge. ?This is it,? she gasped. ?Levi?s behind here.? She swam over to a handcrank beside the door, grabbing at it and tugging. ?Hhnnngh...dammit, this thing?s stiff. Sango, mind giving me some help?? ?Only if you need it.? Sango placed her hands over Jozu?s, the two youkai cranking in unison. The door began to shuffle to the side, slowly opening the way to the throne room. ?Uh, guys...? Nazrin stared at her visor, speckled with dozens of red dots. She never finished her warning, but the frantic visor-beeping got the message across. Koishi moved towards the handcrank, set to join in. ?Sango-san, let me-? ?Don?t!? Before she could grip it, Jozu snapped at her. ?There?s no crank on the other side, and if we let go the whole thing?s gonna slam shut.? The colour drained from Koishi?s face. ?You mean-? Jozu nodded. ?Yeah. You?re gonna have to leave us behind.? The room went painfully silent. Clattering feet and inhuman growls began to approach from every direction. Sango stared at Jozu in horror, her hands trembling as she gripped at the crank. ?I?m sorry, Sango,? the shark said. ?But Leviathan?s out of our league. This is all we can do to help.? ?But that?s insane!? Koishi said, arms waving about in exclamation. ?If we leave the two of you against that sort of army, then-? ?No.? Sango gulped down her fear, her expression unreadable as she pulled her head up. ?Don?t worry about us, Koishi-san. We?ll be fine.? Koishi shook her head. ?Sango-san, you can?t be-? ?I said go!? The dolphin yelled, with an anger that Jozu had never seen from her before. She recognised it too well - it was the anger she spared for a person that meant everything to her, when she had to step in for Satori?s sake. Koishi winced at Sango?s words. She took one look back into the hallway as the approaching crowds grew ever louder. When she turned back to Sango, her eyes were quivering. ?I swear...if you even THINK of dying, I?ll never forgive you!? Koishi practically pushed herself through the doorway, the rest of the Sirens following behind. Many of them shot glances at the two youkai, looks of fear or pity; only Satori seemed at peace, giving Jozu one final nod before vanishing into the throne room. As the last Siren passed through, Jozu?s strength reached her limits. She lost her grip on the crank, and immediately the doorway slid shut again. It slammed closed with a horrendous thump. ?Phew.? Jozu brushed her hands together. ?Man, that thing was heavy.? Sango didn?t answer. She still seemed unsettled, hands opening and closing as she looked out at the hallway. The first few fishmen were arriving now, approaching tentatively, puzzled as to where their bounty had escaped to. Jozu sighed. ?You two are an item, aren?t you?? Sango practically exploded. ?How did you- I mean, is this even the time for-? ?You mean a lot to her, right?? The shark lowered herself into a fighting stance. ?She?d really hate it if you died here.? The dolphin?s eyes lost focus as Jozu?s statement washed over her. Slowly, confidence began to return to her, her posture straightening as she matched Jozu?s stance. She was channeling the same passion that drove Jozu - the desire to survive not for her own sake, but for someone else?s. That power would carry her further than any selfish goal ever could. Good thing, too, Jozu thought. I could use some dependable backup. The room filled up with fishmen, all searching for Sirens that weren?t there. With their prey nowhere to be seen, they soon descended on the two leftovers, a hundred of them charging at once. ?Bet I can take out more of them than you,? Sango said. ?You?re on.? In unison, the two youkai hurled themselves into battle. ----- As the door slammed shut behind her, Koishi felt as if she had crossed a point of no return. There was no handle on the other side of the door, and the wood was thick enough to stop any outside noise from getting in. From where she was standing, Sango and Jozu may as well have been on the other side of the planet. She placed one hand on the door. Half of her wanted to draw her sword and rip it to shreds; the other half knew all that would do was make Sango?s efforts meaningless. She stared into the solid wood, as if it would somehow allow her to look through it. For the first time, the other Sirens allowed themselves to stop. They gathered in a semicircle around Koishi, too far to reach her, but close enough that she could feel their sentiments. Satori stepped forward, placing a hand on Koishi?s shoulder. No-one said so much as a word. At last Koishi exhaled, letting all her doubts and fear ooze out of her. There would be a time to fear for them, but not now. She still had one last duty to fulfill. She turned neatly on the spot and began slowly walking down the corridor, her fellow Sirens following on behind her. The throne room was ornate and elegant, silken rugs running across the floor and precious gems ingrained in the walls. Fish-shaped mosaics watched her from every side as she approached the room?s main attraction - a golden throne, at the top of a small staircase, crowned with a shimmering stone. Seven Teardrop-shaped indents were carved into the rock, and it hummed as the Sirens drew closer. Leviathan sat calmly in her chair, back straight as she looked down on her enemies. She wore a black dress that billowed freely in the water like an extra set of appendages. Even from here, she radiated an aura of immense power. ?So you?ve arrived.? Leviathan looked towards Koishi as she stroked her chin. ?I admit, seeing you here is something of a surprise. I was sure that blow should have killed you.? ?I?m tougher than you think.? Koishi drew a golden line in the water, her sword flashing into existence as she clutched at its hilt. ?We?re here to finish what you started, Leviathan.? ?Are you now?? The youkai smirked, leaning forward in her chair. ?Forgive me if I?m not that frightened. I?m older than all seven of you put together, and you think you can-? Before she could finish the sentence, Sakuya stepped forward and flung a card towards the throne. It burst into a dozen knives, each of them aimed at one of Leviathan?s vital spots. Leviathan?s face didn?t even falter - she waved her hand, and an arc of lightning burst out of her body. The knives flew off in random directions, none of them even coming close to their target. ?How rude.? Leviathan frowned. ?Didn?t your mother teach you not to interrupt?? ?Sorry.? Sakuya stuck her nose up. ?It?s just that my ears hurt whenever you open your mouth.? The youkai didn?t even respect that with an answer. ?And what about you, Satori? Yesterday you were my loyal subject, and today you?ve come to kill me in my own home. I had no clue you humans could be so quick to change their allegiance.? ?I still hold true to my beliefs, Leviathan.? Satori shook her head, stepping beside Koishi and brandishing her saber. ?But I?ve found out you?re not the woman I thought you were. If the youkai are to live in peace, maniacs like you need to be put in their place.? ?Me? A maniac?? Leviathan?s laugh brought the currents roaring around her. ?Oh, human, you couldn?t be more wrong. I?ve just been trying to end the war no youkai was brave enough to fight - the war to put you wretched humans in your place.? ?No-one?s fighting it because it isn?t worth fighting.? Mokou was the next to step forward, her hands curled into fists. ?We know why you?re mad, but vengeance isn?t gonna solve anything. All it?ll do is put other people through the same crap you?ve had to suffer.? ??Sides, no matter what your reasoning is, a crime?s a crime.? Komachi rested the barrel of the Titanic on her shoulder. ?All your talk of saving the youkai means nothing if you?re gonna kill people for it.? Leviathan?s humour quickly left her, replace with dry sarcasm. ?Surely this is a joke. You?re not actually trying to reason with me now, are you? After you?ve destroyed the Mindcoil, one of my finest creations, and torn my private army to shreds?? ?It?s never too late to make a change.? Youmu?s ghostly form moved alongside her, nodding in sync. ?If you know you?re in the wrong but you press on anyway, you may as well have given up.? ?And you owe it to the people that have died,? Nazrin added, the last of the Sirens to advance. ?All your allies and enemies - you owe it to them to put an end to this.? Koishi could feel her friends? conviction echoing in her mind. Deep down, she knew there was little hope of reaching Leviathan with their words - but they owed it to themselves to try. ?Please, Leviathan,? she said. ?Come with us peacefully. We don?t have to fight.? The youkai stared at Koishi in disbelief, the offer of peace the first thing to leave her lost for words. She slumped back onto her throne, sinking into thought for a few seconds. ?...You?re right,? she said quietly. ?We don?t have to fight.? Koishi?s eyes brightened. ?Then you?ll-? ?You?ve already given me everything I need.? Leviathan?s mouth curled into a twisted smile. She clicked her fingers, and a magic circle shone to life underneath the rug. Koishi felt unseen hands grabbing at her feet, pinning her against her will to the floor. ?What the-? Before she could finish, another hand burst out from the ground and snatched at her neck. Koishi leaned backwards, but the hand followed her movements precisely. Its cold, dead fingers ripped away her Teardrop, carrying it towards the throne in victory. Moments later, six more hands emerged from the circle to rob the other Sirens. Mokou and Youmu made to strike the spirits, only for their blows to pass through harmlessly. Within seconds, all seven Teardrops had been stolen from their owners. ?Master!? Nazrin cried out as she watched her Teardrop drift away, taking Shou along with it. Leviathan let out a wicked cackle, her voice echoing endlessly through the water. ?Many thanks, girls. I don?t know why I even bothered searching for the Teardrops - you?ve saved me the trouble by bringing them right here.? The seven stones hung above the throne, the hands that carried them fading into nothing. Leviathan casually rose from her seat, picking up the first Teardrop and slotting it into place. ?Oh, you are kiddin? me!? Komachi fired the Titanic straight at Leviathan?s chest - like Sakuya?s attempt, a bolt of lightning casually deflected it. The two Sirens did their best to stop the youkai, but nothing they did so much as fazed her. ?Impressive, aren?t they?? Leviathan drew out the entire process, savouring every moment the Sirens struggled in vain. ?So much power contained in seven tiny stones. But have you ever wondered why the Teardrops exist?? ?Why else?? Mokou grabbed at the rug, tearing away a scrap and trying to rub away the engravings underneath. ?So we could wipe the floor with scumbags like you!? Beside her Youmu was cutting up the carpet in a similar manner, with a nigh-identical lack of success. Nazrin was frozen to the spot, the absence of her master catching her entirely by surprise. Satori examined her surroundings, looking for anything she could use as a prop to pull herself away. ?You humans are so unimaginative.? Leviathan sighed, shaking her head as she twirled a Teardrop between her fingers. ?You think artifacts like this exist solely so you could play about as heroes? No, there?s a much more meaningful purpose to the Teardrops, one even your masters were hopelessly unaware of.? She clicked the fourth Teardrop into place, still bearing the weight of the barrage Sakuya and Komachi were forcing onto her. Koishi tried to dig her sword into the ground and pull herself up with it, only for her sword to become jammed for her trouble. The circle?s light was starting to fade, but it would still take far too long for it to die out completely. ?What are you talking about?? Satori?s eyes lit up with scorn. ?You told me the Teardrops would help the youkai win the war!? ?Oh, they will, Satori,? Leviathan said, slipping in the fifth Teardrop. ?You see, the Teardrops serve as a seal of sorts. On their own they?re already powerful, but with all seven combined they can tap into a dimension separate from ours.? ?And why the hell would anyone wanna do that?? Komachi asked, rapidly reloading her gun. ?Fiddling with other dimensions generally isn?t a good idea.? The youkai smirked. ?This dimension in particular has only a single resident. An old work of mine that I?ve been quite desperate to get back. The higher-ups locked it up just because it was too good at its job. Ridiculous, isn?t it?? Koishi felt a rock forming on the bottom of her stomach. Yukari?s words echoed in her head again, this time with clarity. Please, Koishi. I need the Sirens to finish what I couldn?t. She felt the pieces clicking into place. At the time she had thought Yukari was talking about the war, but the truth was something much simpler than that. Something much, much more dangerous. ?You mean...? her throat felt dry, barely able to get the words out. ?You mean the Ravager, don?t you?? The name alone struck a chord in the hearts of her allies; Mokou, Youmu and Komachi visibly tensed, and Sakuya and Nazrin went pale. Satori raised an eyebrow, the only person in the room unfamiliar with the term. ?I hate when you humans call it that,? Leviathan said. She made a deliberate point of forcing the sixth Teardrop in, practically stabbing it into place. ?Its name is 46. Always has been, always will be. I won?t demean my work with that slur of a name.? ?...You?re serious, aren?t you?? For once, Sakuya had nothing to offer in the way of quips, simply looking at Leviathan in awe. ?That creature nearly destroyed every living thing on earth, and you want to bring it back?? ?Yukari couldn?t handle its power.? She snarled out the name as if it had burned her mouth. ?She couldn?t commit to her decision. She told it to kill the humans, then stopped it before its work was done. But me?? She jabbed a thumb into her chest. ?I?m different. I won?t rest until the human race has been wiped from the face of the earth.? Slowly, dramatically, she picked the seventh Teardrop from its spot in front of her. She twirled around on the spot, ready to insert the final seal at any moment. ?And now, the moment of truth. I?ve waited centuries for this...? Koishi wanted to scream. She couldn?t let this happen, but she had no way of stopping it. She reached out as far as she could, yelling at the top of her lungs. ?It?s not worth it, Levi! It won?t bring your family back!? The room fell horribly silent. Leviathan lowered her hand, letting go of the Teardrop. As she turned back towards the Siren, her face had lost all expression. ?I thought I told you not to play psychoanalyst, human.? Koishi shook her head. ?What happened to you was horrible, but killing won?t do anything to put your parents? souls at peace.? Her whole body was trembling, but she did all she could to hide it. ?You?re making a terrible mistake, Leviathan. Please, for all of our sakes-? ?Shut up!? The youkai?s face warped into a look of fury, swinging a bolt of lightning in the Siren?s direction. Koishi barely jerked her head to the side to dodge the attack. She felt the hairs on her cheek begin to sizzle. ?You think you?re so much better than me, don?t you?? Now Leviathan was making no attempt to hide her anger, teeth clenched as she squeezed her hands into fists. ?You think that after I?ve put thousands of years of my life into bringing back my masterpiece, you can win me over with a few wise words? God, that?s just the sort of ego I hate in you humans!? She snatched up the Teardrop again. ?I?m going to enjoy watching 46 tear you apart, human. More than you can imagine.? Koishi?s composure crumbled, and as she reached out again she fell into full-fledged panic. ?Levi, no! I?m begging you, don?t do it!? Leviathan smiled cruelly. ?Beg all you like, human. I?m not listening.? With a grand flourish, she brought the final Teardrop up to the stone- Click. And put it in its proper place. ----- Waiting. All It could remember was waiting. The passage of time was relentless and untrackable. It may have been here for decades, centuries, even more. There was no way to tell. All It could do was wait. There were no walls, no ceiling. In the infinite distance, a thousand bloodshot eyes continued to peer at their prisoner. They screamed with new voices every time, the voices of Its countless victims. Perhaps this prison had been designed to bring about some sort of guilt. In that regard, the plan had failed entirely. It paid no mind to its surroundings. Once they had seemed new, fresh, even interesting to It. Yet even the most bizarre environments could grow routine given enough time. A weaker mind would have been broken by the ordeal, but the only weakness It struggled with was boredom. It had been created with a single purpose; to bring the kingdom of man to its knees. It had achieved that duty admirably until Its former masters had lost the will to follow through. Now It had been imprisoned for nothing more than doing Its job, in a jail that would have driven any other creature utterly insane. Fantasy had been Its escape. For eons It had imagined Its vengeance, envisioning the traitors being torn apart limb by limb. It had reveled in Its retribution, playing out every killing method It could come up with. Every possibility had been considered and serialised - It had even made a list of which ones It wanted to test first. But for what felt like forever those plans had only been a distant daydream, something It would focus on simply to pass the time. There was nothing else for It to do or think about. Just waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Until today. The shaking was like nothing It had witnessed before. The world itself was trembling, the eyes looking at each other in horror. The screams grew louder, thousands of them interlapping into a cacophonous dirge. A single crack formed in the purple horizon, splintering out gradually to encompass the entirety of the prison. The world It had been trapped in was dying. At first, It could only feel disbelief. How could this be? It had thought this prison was eternal; if It could not have defeated these bonds, who could have? But those thoughts soon gave way once It realised the scale of what was happening. It would be free. Free to complete Its duty. Free to do what It pleased. Free to kill however It saw fit. As the world shattered around It, all It could do was laugh. ----- The earth rumbled beneath the Sirens. Koishi jerked upwards as the magic circle dissipated, its energy spent. The stone containing the Teardrops began to tremble, shuffling through the seven colours of the rainbow in time with the gems. Debris fell from the ceiling, the whole room threatening to collapse under the sheer power of the spell. ?Congratulations, humans!? Leviathan seemed unaware of any of this, her arms outstretched in wonder as she watched the stone rise from the throne. ?You are the first to witness the rebirth of the greatest killing machine the world has ever known!? From within the stone came a bloodcurdling shriek, a million souls crying out at once. Koishi grabbed her ears, her heart set to explode in her chest. She watched on as the rock jerked about in the air, kicked around by an unseen force. As the screaming reached its peak, the stone ruptured. A black ooze seeped out from within, dripping down the surface and onto the floor. The voices died out, and the sealing stone started to crumble as its contents were spewed onto the rug. The ooze stirred, moving as a collective as it reshaped itself into a more concrete form. A sleek humanoid frame composed itself from the slime, ten feet tall and half as wide. Its body was encased in an insect-like carapace, two razor-sharp blades attached to its forearms. Every inch of its body was perfectly formed, designed for a single murderous purpose. But most frightening of all was its face. Four red lights served as its eyes, none of them showing any hint of emotion. Three rows of teeth ran along both of its jaws, perpetually locked in a crippled smile. There were no other features to distract Koishi?s gaze, making its twisted expression stand out even more. ?What is that thing?? Satori put a hand to her mouth, looking ready to vomit. ?Two words,? Komachi said, already priming the Titanic. ?Big trouble.? She fired off a shot into the creature?s chest. The Ravager made no attempt to stop the attack - in fact, it ignored the oncoming bullet entirely. The shot struck it clean, only to bounce off with a pathetic plink. ?That...? Youmu and her ghost half looked at each other in concern. ?That doesn?t bode well.? Even after the attack the creature made no attempt to approach the Sirens; it glowered at Komachi for a moment, but seemed to lose interest as it dismissed her as harmless. Its head twisted around its neck with a horrible crack, spinning a full circle as it took in its surroundings. ...Where am I? Koishi grabbed at her head, a voice echoing within her ears. No, not just any voice, her voice. The Sirens around her reacted similarly, the Ravager?s thoughts shoved straight into their brains. ?46...? Leviathan slowly stepped forward, arms held out as if she was set to embrace the creature. ?I've done it...I've done it!? The Ravager looked down on the youkai, its expression unchanging. Koishi wasn?t sure if it could change at all, or if the only reaction it could convey was that broken smirk. Neither possibility seemed very comforting. You. The Ravager?s eyes flickered. I remember you. You were the scientist. Leviathan?s eyes lit up. ?Oh, I don?t believe it! You still remember me after all this time.? She wrapped her arms around the creature?s waist, reaching up to get a proper grip. ?My dear little 46, you?re just like I remember you!? Koishi coiled backwards at the sight of their embrace. She couldn?t believe that anyone could treat something so cruel with such affection. The Ravager itself made no attempt to respond, standing motionless and staring into space. ?Don?t worry, dear, everything?s going to be fine.? Leviathan nuzzled her face against the creature?s stomach. ?I?ll bet you?ve been looking forward to this as much as I have, haven?t you?? Reluctantly, the Ravager nodded. ...Indeed. It?s been a long time since I had a chance to do my duty. ?Well, you won?t have to worry about that any more.? Leviathan was speaking affectionately now, like the Ravager was her own child. ?Together, the two of us will wipe out the rest of those filthy humans-? Her speech was interrupted by the Ravager thrusting its hand through her chest. ?Hhhk-?!? Leviathan?s eyes jumped open, the colour rapidly fading from her skin. Koishi could see the Ravager?s hand emerge from out of the youkai?s back, tearing through bone and muscle with ease. ?46...? As the initial shock dissipated, Leviathan grabbed at her creation?s arm, staring up at it in hysteria. ?Why...?? Her eyes rolled backwards, her body letting out one final breath before finally going limp in the water. The water around her turned an ominous shade of red. ?It...? Nazrin raised an incredulous finger, tail swishing wildly. ?It just...? Koishi lurched backwards, the moment locked into her mind. Her heartbeat rose to a fever pitch, ready to give out at any moment. Without thinking, she reached out to grab at Satori?s hand. ...Hm. Disappointing. The Ravager pulled its arm back, giving the Sirens a clear view of the hole it had left in Leviathan?s chest. These creatures are much more frail than I remember. It nudged the body aside, the youkai drifting off to a distant corner of the room. There was no question as to whether she was still alive. ?You...? Koishi grabbed at her neck, her whole body heavy with disgust. When she found her voice, she was screaming at the top of her lungs. ?How could you?! ? The Ravager twisted its neck around to face the Siren, its bulbous eyes burning into her. You puzzle me, human. What is so bewildering about a creature serving its purpose? ?But she wasn?t even going to hurt you! She was your master, wasn?t she? And you...? Koishi wanted to scream and cry all at once, looking towards the broken body of Leviathan. ?You murdered her!? The Ravager closed its eyes, casually wiping the blood off of its hand. Last time, I was thwarted because my former allies turned against me. I will not allow that mistake to happen again. ?What?s that supposed to mean?? Satori stomped forward, her anger a perfect facsimile of her sister?s. ?So you?re going to kill the youkai too, just in case they get in your way?? Precisely. The creature brought up one of its blades, its edge glinting in the dying light. I can trust nothing other than myself, and nowhere in my programming was I told to preserve youkai life. It is the only logical option. Koishi turned towards her sister, the same flames flickering in both their eyes. They couldn?t let this creature loose. ?You leave us no choice, then,? Satori said, pointing her saber at the beast. ?For the sake of the youkai - no, for the sake of everyone, we can?t let you leave.? Oh? The Ravager laughed, its voice echoing in the darkest recesses of Koishi?s head. You are aware I could kill all of you without any effort, aren?t you? ?He sort of has a point there,? Sakuya said, anxiously twirling a knife in one hand. ?We really aren?t equipped to fight this thing, and there?s no point in throwing our lives away.? ?But if we don?t fight it, who will?? Youmu was the first to berate her sister. ?We can?t run away and let this thing wreak havoc. This is what the Sirens were made for, Miyo.? The maid winced, then finally let out a long sigh. ?You?re all insane. I?d just like to get that out there.? She primed her knife, holding her deck in her other hand. ?But if you?re going down, I guess I?m going down with you.? ?Good answer.? Komachi pointed the Titanic right at the Ravager?s head. ?As for me - well, you just killed a woman right in front of me, so I kinda have to make sure you get what you deserve. No hard feelings or anything.? The Ravager tilted its head at the show of bravery. So you admit you?re likely to perish, and yet you still choose to face me? You humans truly are bizarre. ?There?s nothing bizarre about it,? Mokou said, raising her fists. ?We?re just doing our job, same as you. It?s just that our job is making sure that you can?t do yours.? Six of the seven Sirens had stepped forward. Only Nazrin hung behind, still seemingly in shock over Shou?s sudden disappearance. Steam hissed out of the pistons at her neck in time with her breathing. ?...You?re the reason all of this happened,? she whispered. ?Everything - the Sirens, the fire, master?s death - it was all to bring you back. I lost everything just so you could tear the planet apart.? The Cardinal Rods formed in her hands, and she held them in a rigid cross. ?I?ve had it with this goddamn war. You?re not taking anything else from me, you understand?? Koishi nodded along with Nazrin?s sentiment. Her words echoed the thoughts of her allies - this war had pushed all of them to their limits and beyond. Now they would either end it, or they would die trying. ?Ravager. 46. Whatever you call yourself.? Koishi moved forward to lead the Siren formation. ?We?re here to end what Yukari Yakumo started in the War of Cataclysm.? She brandished her blade, ready to charge at a moment?s notice. ?Prepare yourself!? The Ravager?s eyes stopped on the tip of Koishi?s sword, showing a faint glow of curiosity. Interesting. I suppose you?ll make a good warmup, if nothing else. It stomped one foot into the ground, and the earth trembled beneath its might. It opened its mouth, a guttural roar echoing through the water. Come then, humans! The voice screamed in Koishi?s head, as if her own subconscious was goading her on. Let?s see which of you will be the first to die! ----- Next Week's BGM: Calling That Detestable Name

FinnKaenbyou: Koishi charged into the fray, sword held high above her head. Before she could make it into range, she saw a red bullet fly past her shoulder. ?Eat this!? Mokou?s wings fluttered behind her as she broke ahead of her companions. She landed right at the Ravager?s feet, using her momentum to fuel a deadly uppercut at the beast?s chin. Well, well. The Ravager brought an arm up to block the incoming punch. It looks like we have a volunteer. The youkai quickly focused its attention on the phoenix, taking her on in a bare-knuckle fight. Both sides threw reckless hooks at the other, with Mokou swerving around everything thrown at her. Koishi had no choice but to hang back. The pair were moving around too much for her to join in - if she attacked, she was as likely to hit Mokou as she was to hit the enemy. Youmu and Satori faced a similar dilemma, stepping around the monster in case an opening appeared. Komachi took the odd shot at the creature?s head, but it weaved away without any visible effort. I can?t just sit back, Koishi thought. I?ve got to help her! ?Tides of Doubt!? Stretching an arm forward, Koishi willed her third eye open and caught the Ravager in its embrace. She let her thoughts pour into its mind, bogging the creature down to slow its movements. ...Eh? Koishi blinked. She could feel her thoughts digging into the Ravager?s subconscious, but they seemed to have no effect. Its reactions were as sharp as ever, still keeping up with Mokou?s break-neck pace. ?Satori, what?s going on?? Koishi stepped backwards, twirling the blade in her hand. ?My powers aren?t doing anything.? ?Me neither.? The valkyrie clenched her jaw. ?I?m trying to read its mind, but it?s thinking too fast for me to follow.? ?Too fast?? Satori?s brow furrowed. ?It?s not like a human brain - it?s too quick and efficient for that. It?s more like a computer, juggling millions of calculations in a matter of seconds. There?s no way we can keep up with it.? ?Thanks for the good news, Satori-san!? Mokou growled through clenched teeth, blocking a haymaker meant for her head. ?You?re giving me real great moral support here!? Koishi bit her lip. Mokou?s punches hit their target, but most of them seemed to have little effect. Occasionally the Ravager would stumble or falter, but Mokou had barely managed to make a dent in the creature?s armour. She?d tire herself out long before winning the fight at that rate. ?Nazrin-san!? Koishi yelled. ?See if you can figure out how to hurt this thing!? ?On it!? Nazrin nodded, her visor flashing green as it began its analysis. A progress bar began to slide along it at a gradual rate. All they needed now was to buy some time for her to finish her work, and- Fun, The Ravager said. But primitive. It sent in another jab for Mokou?s face. Like every one before, Mokou weaved forward to respond with her own counterattack. Before she could strike, the Ravager?s foot slammed into her knee. ?Ghaaah-!? Mokou lurched backwards, the low blow taking the fist-fighter entirely off guard. Her leg flopped about, bending in a manner human bones weren?t designed for. The setup. The Ravager raised an arm, aiming its blade for Mokou?s neck. And now, the execution- ?Stop right there!? Youmu rode to the rescue, her ghost half helping her to attack the Ravager from both sides. The creature was pulled away before it could finish the job, devoting one hand to each of Youmu?s forms. Mokou pulled herself away, desperately flailing through the water with her arms. Her leg still hung limp behind her, agony locked on her face. ?Mokou-san!? Koishi swam up to Mokou, carrying her to the rear of the group. ?Are you alright?? ?Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK!? Mokou grabbed at her shattered leg, only to promptly jerk her hands back with a grimace. ?Jesus, no-one told me we were fighting fucking Superman!? ?Not exactly a poet, is she?? Komachi bit her lip as she looked down at the phoenix. ?That leg looks pretty busted. I get the feeling she won?t be walking for a while.? Koishi gulped. One strike had been enough to put Mokou completely out of contention. They?d have to be careful if they wanted any chance of getting out of this alive. Luckily, caution was something Youmu knew her way around. She held the Ravager at bay with an airtight flurry of blows, her ghost half stopping it from retreating. The creature?s fighting style changed to match hers, its strikes much more quiet and subdued than when it was fighting Mokou. ?Can she take it?? Satori asked, still lingering near the battle, searching for a way in. ?Let?s not take the time to find out,? Sakuya answered. She broke into a dash, coming to a stop behind Youmu?s ghost half. Four cards hung between her fingers, and she threw them at the beast in a tightly-cut arc. With a flash they turned into a dozen knives, passing straight through the spirit and reaching their target. Nngh-! The Ravager tensed as the daggers struck it, but none of them were powerful enough to puncture its armour. It let out a small chuckle as it fended off both Youmu and her spectre. Not bad. I see you humans can think outside the box. ?So it?s working?? Sakuya smiled, drawing another hand of cards. ?Then you won?t mind if I do it again-? Unlike your companion here. The Ravager stomped a foot into the ground, causing the floor itself to quake. Koishi stumbled forward, grabbing at the rug for support, but Youmu got the worst of it - her stance was completely offset, leaving her wide open for an attack. Your style is graceful, but textbook. The creature swung. You bore me, human. Youmu haphazardly pulled her swords around to block the attack, but her blades were caught in an awkward angle. The Ravager?s slash caught one just below the hilt, slicing the steel clean off the handle. ?Ah-? Youmu stared at the broken sword in dismay. Her eyes popped open, torn between dismay and disgust. That hesitation was long enough for the Ravager to slash again - this time, aiming straight at the Siren?s neck. ?YOUMU!? Time crawled to a halt as Sakuya threw her arms out. She ran across the length of the hall, grabbing her sister by the waist and dragging her away. Koishi could only watch, the ticking of a clock echoing in her mind as Youmu was dragged out of the fray. With a click of Sakuya?s fingers, time resumed its normal course. She knelt down beside her sister, one arm around her shoulder. ?You alright?? Youmu still had her eyes locked on her shattered sword. Koishi could see the doubt lingering in her expression, the gradual slackening of her shoulders. She shook it off, dropping the broken blade and tightening her grip on the other one. ?I?m fine, Miyo,? she said. ?Thanks for the save.? ?No problem. Just try not to do it again-? Halfway through her sentence, Sakuya clutched at her chest and fell forward. ?Nnngaaah!? ?Sakuya-san!? Koishi grabbed Sakuya by the shoulders, pulling her upright. ?What just happened? Are you okay?? Sakuya?s face had turned completely white, her breaths short and ragged. ?Pushed myself past my limit.? She pulled open her pocket watch, revealing that it had gone a few seconds past midnight. ?Heart stopped for a while. Body isn?t taking it very well.? Youmu took her sister by the shoulders, their roles reversing in an instant. ?Miyo, you idiot! Stay with me!? Koishi clenched her teeth, her eyes falling on Sakuya and Mokou in quick succession. She jerked her head around to look at Nazrin. ?Please tell me you?ve got somewhere with that analysis.? ?Just a second...? Nazrin watched as the last shard of the progress bar filled up. ?Alright, my readings are saying that the carapace is the primary form of protection. It?s much more vulnerable under that, so if we can just pierce through-? A black bullet flew across the room, striking her in the face before she could finish. ?Kyaa!? The momentum sent her spiralling into the wall behind her in a cloud of dust. ?Nazrin-san!? Koishi quickly pulled the mouse out from the crater she?d left in her wake. Her visor had taken the brunt of the impact, but it had been shattered to pieces as a result. A single drop of blood ran down her forehead where a shard had lodged itself into her skin. That?s enough out of you. The Ravager?s arm was outstreched, a hole in its palm still seeping with smoke. This time your precious visor won?t save you. A second bullet fired from its hand, as quick and deadly as the first. Like the first, it was aimed squarely at Nazrin?s forehead. Moments from impact, the bullet curved away from its target, lodging itself in the wall beside her. ?Hey, wise guy!? Komachi pulled her hand back, priming the Titanic in a firm grip. ?I?ll have you know I?m the sharpshooter around these parts.? She fired another round at the Ravager?s chest, forcing the creature to dodge to the side. It fired back, and Komachi?s form flickered as she shifted a few feet to the side. By now she had attracted the creature?s full attention, pulling it away from the main group as she locked it in a high-speed gunfight. Koishi could barely keep up with their pace. Komachi was moving at impossible speeds, but in spite of that the Ravager was keeping up with her. Intervening would only cause her to get in the way. ?We need a plan,? Koishi said, turning back to the group. ?Komachi-san?s buying us time, but if we want to get through that armour we need a strategy.? ?Like what?? Mokou growled, still seething from the pain in her leg. ?And why didn?t you ask this before the thing broke my fucking kneecap?? ?She has a point,? Satori said, anxiously squeezing at the hilt of her blade. ?We?re already hurting pretty bad. If the Ravager catches Komachi-san, it?ll just be the two of us.? ?Then that?ll have to do.? Koishi nodded to herself. ?Satori, we?ve got to double-team it. I know it?s risky, but there?s no way either of us can take it alone.? ?What about...the knife?? Sakuya asked, still struggling to breathe. ?It?ll be strong enough to-? ?We can?t, Sakuya-san.? Koishi rubbed at her thigh, feeling Aptera hidden beneath her dress. ?If we use it, billions of people will-? ?And if we don?t, the Ravager kills every living thing on the planet.? Nazrin covered her face with one hand to stem the flow of blood. ?Whatever choice we make, it?s better than the alternative.? ?Then how are we meant to choose?? Koishi?s voice was stern, almost rock-solid. ?How are we meant to pick which race has to suffer?? That was enough to quell the argument. The other Sirens looked conflicted, but the dilemma clearly weighed just as heavily on their minds as it did on Koishi?s. There was no way they?d reach a consensus, no matter how much time Komachi bought them. ?You can start trying any time, y?know!? Komachi yelled, still working on making herself the focus of the Ravager?s attention. Occasionally one of her bullets would glance the creature, but its carapace remained unpierced. Hm. Seems like typical ordinance won?t do the job. The Ravager grabbed at its wrist, eying Komachi with frutstration. If you want to see my best, I?ll be happy to deliver. Komachi grimaced as the creature?s whole hand gave way, revealing a larger cannon hidden within its wrist. It took only a moment to charge up, a pale purple light the only sign of its activation. You call that a gun? The Ravager?s eyes shone red. THIS is a gun! Komachi was already dodging, but it didn?t matter. As the bullet struck the ground she had stood on, a massive explosion rocked the entire area. Even at her blazing speed Komachi couldn?t escape its blast radius, the fireball blowing her clean off her feet. She landed in a far corner of the room, steam still rising from her body, the Titanic falling from her hands and landing a dozen paces away. Hm. You should be a pile of dust by now. The Ravager shook its head as it clicked its hand back into place. I?ll finish you later. For now, I have other business to attend to. As it turned around, the Ravager faced Koishi with a manic glint in its eyes. That leaves you two. I felt you poking around in my mind earlier. It brought a hand up, stroking at its blade with a finger. Let?s see how well you fight without your cheap tricks. Koishi?s blood felt like ice. She?d never seen an opponent so lacking in humanity, so full to the brim with killing intent. There was no doubt that given half a chance it would bring the world to its knees. This was their one chance to stop it. Her hand fluttered over Aptera again. The temptation fluttered across her mind, a butterfly in an empty room. She would save everyone in one fell swoop. No. She shook the thought away. That?s not saving anyone. It?s just changing the world for the worse. She turned to Satori. The valkyrie looked toward her expectantly, as if waiting for a decision on the matter. Slowly, Koishi managed a nod, wielding her blade in both hands. ?This is it, Satori. Now or never.? ?Right.? Satori raised her saber, stepping to Koishi?s side. ?Let?s hope your faith isn?t misplaced.? The sisters pushed forward in unison. Even without speaking, their actions were perfectly in sync. Not only were they siblings, but they?d fought each other before as enemies. Koishi knew everything Satori would do, and Satori knew everything Koishi would do. They made up for each others? weaknesses, leaving the Ravager no room for a counterattack. Stab. Parry. Thrust. Koishi let herself fall into a trance, focusing on nothing but the battle. Thinking of the stakes would only unnerve her. Her senses felt razor sharp as she watched for cheap strikes like the one that had disabled Mokou. She had seen everything the Ravager had in its arsenal. Nothing could surprise her now. This is more like it. The Ravager?s manic smile grew brighter. When was the last time humans pushed me this far? Koishi ignored the thoughts lingering in her head. It was trying to distract her. She kept her mind on the fight, landing small hits to the Ravager?s side. Satori kept it busy on its other side, their blades passing by each other but never crossing. In a way their moves were as machine-like as their opponent?s. I?m getting there. Koishi felt her hopes rising. Just a little more- The Ravager moved abruptly, raising its arm upwards. It left itself entirely open to attack, as if to goad Koishi in. The Siren only had a few instants to think it over. This was just the opening she needed, and it might never come again. Taking the risk was the only option. She brought her blade back, focusing all her strength on her next strike. This is it. It all comes down to this-! She swung with more strength than she?d ever had in her life. Channeled within that blow was every ounce of will and effort that Koishi had. She screamed as the blade crashed into the Ravager?s chest, forcing the creature to coil backwards. As it fell away, she could see a line drawn along the carapace where she?d struck it. But there was no sign of a piercing. What?! That wasn?t enough to- The Ravager?s outstretched arm reached down, grabbing Koishi by the hair and tugging her in. The creature wrapped its other arm around her neck, spinning around to face Satori. The valkyrie froze mid-thrust, her sword stopping inches from Koishi?s eye. Don?t even think about it, human. The creature squeezed at Koishi?s neck with gargantuan force, slowly choking the life out of her. Surely you wouldn?t sacrifice your own ally, would you? Satori?s whole body quivered with fear. Koishi could see the conflict taking place behind her eyes, the cold ruthlessness clashing with her raw humanity. Gradually, her resolve began to drain away. No, Satori! Koishi shook her head, unable to speak with the Ravager throttling her. Do it! Don?t worry about me! The valkyrie continued to tremble, her eyes welling up with tears. ?D...Damn you...? She lowered her saber, cursing at herself as she gave in. Good girl. The Ravager let go of Koishi?s hair, extending its palm and firing another black bullet. It caught Satori square in the chest, and the valkyrie howled in pain before crumpling to her knees. Satori!! Koishi flailed about in the Ravager?s grip, both hands tugging at its arm. The Ring of Breath was no use to her if she couldn?t breathe at all. Her chest ached, her body demanding oxygen that would never come. It seems I?m done here. As Koishi?s world began to fade, all she could see clearly was the Ravager?s brilliant eyes. Fear not, humans; you are but the first of many. Know that I will not rest until the rivers run red with the blood of your kind! Its laugh was a venom that slowly killed Koishi?s mind. She saw the vague outlines of her allies in the distance, their cries muffled as her senses began to dull. Once the Ravager was done with her, it would kill the rest of the Sirens. Then Sango and Jozu. Then Nitori, Momiji and Ran. Then Gensouto. Japan. The world. I?m sorry, everyone... Her arm went limp, her hand resting just above her thigh. She could feel the shape of the metal hidden underneath, Aptera hanging just above the knee on her scar. Maybe if she?d been stronger, she?d have used the weapon as Yukari intended. But even with death staring her in the face, she couldn?t find it within herself to make that decision. Darkness fell over Koishi. Then, silence.

FinnKaenbyou: ?This is Aptera.? A memory drifted into Koishi?s head, her life flashing before her eyes. Yukari looked up at her with heavy eyes, motioning at the dagger on the table. ?I?ve spent centuries crafting it, and it?s my greatest work. It draws from the power of the masquerade itself, a power stronger than anything I ever had in my time. It should be strong enough to vanquish any enemy you come across.? There had been a hint of pride in her voice, Koishi recalled. She?d taken hundreds of years to craft a weapon that could correct her mistakes. And Koishi had squandered it. ...Wait. The memory played in her mind over and over. With every repetition, the idea forming in Koishi?s dying brain grew ever clearer. She fumbled around in the darkness, grabbing at the handle of the knife. As she felt it humming in her hand, she knew she had found her answer. The blade knew her intentions. It understood. And there was nothing to stop her. That?s it! Aptera?s blade began to shine, its light crossing through all the colours of the rainbow. With the last of her energy, she drew the dagger and stabbed it right into the Ravager?s torso. The roar that followed brought all of her senses back to life. NgraAAAAAAAAH! The Ravager stumbled backwards, clutching its wound as it let go of Koishi. A black ooze seeped out from where Aptera had pierced the carapace, faintly pulsing with magical light. It froze in horror, looking at the injury as if it had never bled before. ?Haa, haa...? Koishi took a moment to catch her breath, then reached down to help Satori to her feet. ?You alright?? ?Koishi, you...? Satori?s mouth hung open as she stood up. ?I thought you said we weren?t going to-? ?I did it, Satori.? Koishi?s chest puffed out as a second wind pumped through her. ?I found a way.? ?What?re you talking about?? Sakuya rose out of Youmu?s hands, still pale but strong enough to stand. "You can't produce that sort of power out of thin air." ?Remember what Yukari-san said?? Koishi answered. ?It channels the power of the masquerade. A worldwide enchantment that?s only become larger over time - how much power do you think there is in a spell like that?? Sakuya jerked her neck back in a rare display of shock. ?So...we?re fueling it with the masquerade itself?? Koishi nodded. ?It?s not very stable, but I?m pretty sure it?ll work. We just need to wear the Ravager down a little more, and-? ?Wait a minute.? Nazrin tugged the glass shard from her forehead, covering the wound with her palm. ?If you use the masquerade, doesn?t that mean the humans will remember magic?? Koishi nodded again, her expression unflinching. ?Isn?t that what we?re trying to avoid?? Mokou pulled herself upright with a flap of her wings. ?Kawashiro-sensei kept saying that we?d-.? ?She?s wrong.? Koishi stabbed her sword into the ground, Aptera still twinkling in her other hand. ?We?re better than that, Mokou-san. Maybe we made our mistakes once, but we?ve moved on since then-? ?And is that a risk you?re sure you wanna take?? Komachi stumbled across the room, the Ravager too obsessed with its injury to even notice her. ?I mean, if you?re wrong, we?d be doing just as much damage to the world as the Ravager would.? Koishi took a long, deep breath. She could feel her companions? eyes boring into her, searching for the conviction to go along with her claims. They wanted proof she had thought this through, that it wasn?t another whimsical show of naivety. Well, if they wanted conviction, Koishi was happy to deliver. ?Kawashiro-sensei thinks we?re evil by nature. That without some guiding hand to keep us in check, we?d rip ourselves apart and take everyone else down with us.? She looked across the crowd, eyes stopping on everyone in order. ?But how many of you really think that? How many people have we seen who?ve just been lost or misled? Are we really as cruel as she thinks we are?? The Sirens fell silent. Koishi could see the first hints of understanding rising to their faces - a nod here, a smile there. ?Maybe I?m being optimistic. Maybe we really will ruin everything if we get our magic back. But what are our other options?? She smacked her sword into the ground again to punctuate her point. ?Either the humans suffer, or the youkai suffer. But with the masquerade gone, both sides will be on even ground. It?ll be a chance to start again and build together as equals.? She held Aptera out to the other Sirens. ?But I can?t make that world alone. Please, just this once - I need all of you to believe in me.? Everyone?s eyes turned down to the knife. Koishi kept her face straight, but her insides felt like they were on fire. If she couldn?t convince her allies, who could she convince? ?...So you?re truly willing to stake the world on your beliefs?? Satori said, her voice careful and neutral. ?Even knowing that billions could die if your faith is unfounded?? Koishi looked up at her sister, meeting the valkyrie?s eyes. Slowly, powerfully, she nodded. Almost instantly, Satori?s expression melted into something more serene. ?You really are something, Koishi.? She shook her head, as if chastising herself, then placed her hand over Koishi?s. ?Well, if it means the youkai won?t have to hide anymore, I?ll gladly go along with it.? Koishi?s heart felt like it was floating in her chest. She opened her mouth to thank Satori, but she never got the chance. ?Count me in, too,? Mokou said, placing her hand on top of Satori?s. ?I always had a feeling the kappa was full of crap, anyway.? ?Make that three,? Sakuya said, adding her hand to the center. ?I know I?ll regret this later, but let?s just run with it.? ?Wherever Miyo goes, I?ll follow.? Youmu squeezed at her sister?s hand. ?You have my support, Koishi-san.? Komachi chuckled as she added her hand to the mix. ?Freedom and justice for humans and youkai...think it?s got a nice ring to it.? Nazrin was the last to offer her hand, looking up to the distance as she did. ?Master...this is what you?d want, right? Wherever you are, I hope this makes you proud.? Koishi felt like she was flying. She could feel the wills of her friends seeping through their hands and into Aptera. The dagger crackled, summoning up a magical force unlike anything she?d ever felt before. ?Everyone... thank you.? Her eyes misted up as she bobbed her head up and down. She couldn?t have asked for better allies. You... The voice in her head was quiet, almost trembling in Koishi?s head. She turned around to see the Ravager taking its first steps forward, finally pulling its eyes away from the injury. How DARE you!? Its voice split into two, one side murmuring in horror while the other fumed with rage. A human, of all things, is the first creature to harm me? How is this even possible?! Koishi raised her sword upwards, the Sirens fanning around her. ?Listen up, Ravager! As long as we?re here, you?re not going to lay a finger on our world! We?re going to finish what Yukari Yakumo started all those years ago, and wipe you from the face of the earth!? Yakumo? The creature spasmed, almost retching at the sound of the name. The human who mocked me is one of Yakumo?s lackeys? It screamed, terrifying and pitiable all at once. I will not stand for this disgrace! I?ll cut you to ribbons and bathe in your blood! The Ravager raced forward like a bull seeing red. It raised a bloodstained hand, its sword?s edge already primed for Koishi?s neck. ?This is it, everyone.? Koishi brought up her own blade, Aptera hanging ready in her off-hand. ?Get ready!? As the Ravager swung forward, Koishi parried the strike with ease. She spun around to the creature?s side, Aptera raised for another stab. The creature had to knock her away with an ungraceful side kick, treating the dagger as the largest threat. It?s not going to let me close, Koishi thought. We need to whittle it down first. She brought her hand forward, her third eye popping open. ?Tides of Doubt!? Again, the aura drifted over her opponent. This time, though, its subconscious had been drastically altered, murmurings of indignation keeping it from thinking straight. Leviathan had built her monster with one fatal flaw - she?d given it a personality, and now they?d hurt its pride it had given up on acting rational. That was a weakness Koishi could exploit. You won?t stand for this, she thought to herself, the words passing through into the Ravager?s mind. She humiliated you. You have to kill her now. Before, her suggestions were too weak to have an effect on the monster. Now they piled on top of the thoughts already there, tipping the Ravager into outright madness. You can?t run! Its voice was manic, almost delusional as it charged her again. I?ll chase you to the ends of the earth if I have to! Before it could reach its goal, Mokou flew in to block the Ravager?s path. ?Sorry, bud. Road?s closed.? The Ravager snarled, swatting at Mokou as if she were a fly. Out of my way, pest! Mokou bobbed and weaved through the air, dodging each attack with a flap of her wings. She made no attempt to fight back, but with each failed swing the Ravager?s frustration only grew. For a moment, Koishi wondered what the phoenix was planning. Her question was answered when she saw Komachi circling around the Ravager, priming the Titanic as she aimed for the chink in its armour. ?Mokou-san! Now!? The lawyer yelled, sending a bullet flying towards the monster?s weak point. The Ravager jerked its head about, and Koishi swore she heard it gasp. With precise reflexes, it leaped backwards to dodge out of the way of the bullet. At the same time, Mokou threw herself into the projectile?s path. ?Inferno Gauntlet!? The jewels on her glove shone brilliantly, and as the bullet flew towards her she deflected it with a well-timed punch. The bullet?s velocity doubled, and its new trajectory sent it right back at its intended target. This time it was too fast for the Ravager to dodge, a sphere of raw energy slamming into its exposed abdomen. NgrAAAAAAH! The Ravager howled, its armour splintering further under the impact. Beneath the jet black shell was a pulsing grey ooze, purple sigils floating about within. Droplets seeped out into the water, and the creature visibly shrank a few inches. That?s it! We can do this! Koishi continued her job of leading the Ravager away, making it focus solely on her. Even then it had enough awareness to avoid any straightforward attacks, forcing the other Sirens to show some creativity. In Sakuya?s case, that involved throwing a few more knives than usual. ?Killing Doll!? The maid threw her entire deck in one swing, hundreds of knives forming from them mid-flight. Mokou hung over the Ravager to keep it from escaping upwards, leaving it no choice but to take the barrage head-on. This alone would have been little trouble. Where the problem occured was in the ghost that emerged in the midst of the wall of knives, her sword shining with a pale blue light. ?Konpaku Secret Technique - Hakurouken!? With its attention focused on the knives, the Ravager didn?t notice Youmu?s ghost half until it was too late. The specter passed straight through, its blade digging into the Ravager?s side and drawing a bloody line across its waist. GYAAAAAH! With its focus shattered, the Ravager was left wide open for Sakuya?s entire arsenal. Only a few knives managed to strike the exposed ooze, but the others left dents and cracks across its battle-bruised carapace. More of the ooze poured out from its wounds, and it shrank a whole head in size. Koishi saw the creature?s legs buckle - only for an instant, but it was the first sign of weakness the Ravager had shown. This is impossible! The monster screamed, both to its enemies and to itself. No-one can defeat me! NO-ONE! For an instant, Koishi?s heart shrank with pity. What a pathetic creature, only able to find joy in killing. It was a tragic relic of a bygone age - one that she had to put away for good. ?Everyone, keep it up! We?re almost there!? Koishi kept herself in close combat with the Ravager, waiting for a chance to land the killing blow. Her whole body begged for rest, but she swallowed down the pain as far as it would go. You wretched human scum! The Ravager swung with both hands, smacking just above the hilt of Koishi?s sword. It flew out of her grip, lodging itself in the wall beside her. The creature raised its arm again, paying no mind to its defense as it brought down a blow that would break Koishi?s skull. ?Cardinal Rods!? Nazrin threw her weapons forward, spinning through the air like a shuriken. The projectile smacked into the Ravager?s wrist, causing its attack to break to the side. Koishi felt the blade tearing at the fabric of her dress, but it failed to strike anything vital. ?Satori-san!? The mouse yelled. ?You?re clear!? ?Got it!? The valkyrie rushed to her sister?s aid, Mjolnir?s edge crackling with lightning. Before the Ravager could pull its arm back, she lodged her sword right into the creature, burying it all the way up to the hilt. Her eyes were solemn as she drew a rune along the handle. ?Rest in peace.? Mjolnir?s lightning shot through the Ravager, burning it from the inside out. The creature screamed, swatting Satori away with its free hand. The valkyrie pulled back, but her sword remained buried within it. The armour crumbled away entirely, revealing a red jewel hidden within the monster?s chest. ?I?ve done all I can.? Satori pulled back, her only weapon out of her hands. ?It?s up to you now.? Koishi nodded, knowing exactly what she had to do. She pulled her sword from the wall, readying herself as the Ravager shambled towards her. tHiS...cAN?t...bE...HApPeNinG! The creature?s voice drifted in and out of focus, torn between hatred and horror. I...aM...iNVinCiBLe! It raised both arms, bringing them down on Koishi with a mighty blow. Koishi stepped backwards, letting the Ravager?s blades dig into the ground beneath her. This had better work! Without hesitation, Koishi stepped forward onto the Ravager?s outstretched arm. She ran along to its elbow, bringing herself to the height of its exposed heart. Then she leaped forward, letting momentum do the rest. ?Hyaaaaaaaah!? She dropped her sword mid-flight, wielding Aptera in both hands. The Ravager?s eyes darkened, realising its mistake an instant too late. The dagger plunged straight into the heart of the beast, piercing clean through the jewel that held it together. Aptera flashed every colour of the rainbow, the whole palace shaking under its raw power. Then came the pain. ?Hnnggk-!? Koishi?s body was on fire. Aptera?s magic was melting through her nerves, ripping her open from the inside. It was drawing power from a source it hadn?t been built for, and Aptera had no way of containing it. The excess power flowed into the closest vessel it could find - Koishi herself. ?Koishi!? Satori cried out to her, the raw energy too strong for her to approach. The other Sirens gathered around, powerless to do anything but watch. Even their voices were tiny compared to the roaring inside Koishi?s skull. nnOOoooOOO!! The Ravager?s body spasmed wildly, hands flailing to try and remove the knife from its chest. noT LIkE ThIS! i CaN?T dIE LikE tHIs!! The rest of the Ravager?s armour crumbled apart, leaving only the grey goo hidden within. The ooze?s form caved in on itself, amassing in the ruby heart, trying to fill the crack Aptera had made in the jewel. Koishi felt the dagger slide backwards as the Ravager tried to push it away. No! Koishi pushed back, putting all her remaining energy into keeping the dagger in place. You?re not coming back from this! Koishi?s whole body felt like it was made of stone. Aptera itself was starting to fall apart, and the power surging from it only intensified. Her muscles screamed, the raw force of the masquerade flaying her from head to toe. It would be all too easy to give up now, to drop the knife and leave the job undone. Koishi fought off the temptation, forcing herself to stay conscious. She was taking no chances with this. She watched as the Ravager?s last remnants began to quiver, the ruby?s cracks deepening as its push for freedom became truly desperate. The pain was impossible, immeasurable, unbearable. But she endured. This is our world! The thought echoed through her head, keeping her focus from faltering. And you?re not welcome here! For a moment, the world flashed white. Koishi heard the faint sound of the ruby cracking open. Then the light faded away, taking with it the Ravager?s dying screams. The room was silent. ...It?s gone. Koishi was barely conscious enough to comprehend her victory. We did it. Aptera turned into a fine dust in her hands, the weapon itself unable to withstand the force it had unleashed. The last trace of the Ravager was blown away by the currents, leaving no sign it had ever existed. ...I?m tired. With the enemy vanquished, Koishi?s exhaustion caught up with her at last. She flopped forwards in the water, her entire body hanging limp as her eyes slid shut. ?Koishi!? Satori?s voice pulled closer, and Koishi was vaguely aware of someone grabbing her shoulder. ?Wake up, dammit, wake up!? Koishi?s brain chugged along at glacial speed as her body began to shut down. What was Satori so upset about? They had won, hadn?t they? Surely she could afford to take a little nap now that they had finished the job. Yes, that was a good idea. She?d help herself to a nice, long sleep... ----- ?Koishi! Speak to me!? Satori shook Koishi by the shoulders to no response. The Siren?s eyes were hazed over, unresponsive to Satori?s pleas. ?No good. She?s out cold.? Satori made a quick check of Koishi?s pulse, watching the slow but constant movements of her chest. Her body was bruised and battered, but nothing life-threatening jumped out at Satori. The valkyrie let out a breath she didn?t realise she was holding in. Thank goodness. The last thing I need right now is for her to die on me. The other Sirens pulled around her, looking in on their fallen comrade. They glanced at Koishi for a few seconds, momentary concern giving way to sighs of relief. ?What the hell was that?? Komachi clicked her fingers in front of Koishi?s eyes to no avail. ?What sort of lousy knife hurts the person using it?? ?She did say it was unstable,? Youmu said, frowning. ?We?re probably lucky that she?s still breathing. The amount of energy that got pushed into her body must have been absurd.? ?And she still held on until the end?? Mokou managed a weak chuckle. ?Man, now I feel like a wuss for whining about a broken leg.? Satori nodded. She could barely imagine how much pain Koishi had put herself through. It was hard not to be inspired by determination like that. ?Coming through!? The door to the throne room flew open from the outside, a blast of wind almost knocking it off its hinges. Nitori was the first one to slip through, with Momiji and Ran close behind. ?The circle?s been taken care of,? Nitori said, still on edge as she looked around for a potential ambush. ?Where?s Leviathan?? Satori pursed her lips, looking to a far corner of the room. Leviathan?s body still hung in place, the water around her a murky shade of crimson. ?...I see.? Nitori stopped her scan, shaking her head as she looked in the corpse?s direction. ?A shame. She deserved a chance to repent for her crimes.? ?The fishmen are retreating,? Momiji said, poking her head out from the back. ?Sango-san and her shark friend are taking care of the stragglers right now. With their leader eliminated, they?re unlikely to be any sort of threat.? So Jozu was alright after all. Satori had been expecting as much, but it was still good to know. ?So...? Nazrin fidgeted with her rods, voice rising in anticipation. ?Does that mean we won?? Nitori smiled. ?That?s right, Nazrin-san. It?s all over.? She turned to the crowd of Sirens. ?What about you? What?s up with Koishi-san? Is she-? ?Unconscious,? Sakuya said, before Nitori could draw the wrong conclusion. ?We?re not quite sure why or for how long.? ?Let me take a look.? Ran swam over to the fallen Siren, placing a hand over her forehead for a few seconds. The fox?s palm shone with a golden light as she nodded to herself. ?Hmmm...? Ran sucked in a breath. ?She?s fine physically, but her magic circuit has been quite thoroughly abused.? ?Magic circuit?? Satori asked. ?It?s like a bloodstream for magical energy,? Nitori said. ?Every living thing has one, but obviously human circuits don?t see a lot of use.? ?And your friend?s circuit has been put through a lot of punishment,? Ran continued. ?It?s only capable of the most basic functionality right now, and the rest of her body has shut down to cope with it. She?s unlikely to regain consciousness until the circuit repairs itself.? ?So how long will that take?? Sakuya asked. Ran could only shrug in response. ?It?s difficult to tell. It?ll depend on the level of treatment she gets, but this level of damage will definitely take at least a year or two to fix.? Satori tensed. ?A year? Surely it can?t really be-? Ran sighed. ?I?m sorry, human. There?s nothing I can do.? The valkyrie felt tears forming in her eyes. She looked down at Koishi again, stroking her hair into place. Her sister looked like she was asleep, her eyes ready to snap open at any moment. It was bizarre to think that she would be trapped in that state for months on end. ?But still, I have to wonder.? Ran scratched at one of her fox ears. ?I?ve never seen a magic circuit this badly damaged. What did she do to herself to end up in this state?? As Satori opened her mouth to answer, she suddenly realised the gravity of Koishi?s actions. Aptera?s power had been enough to devastate Koishi?s body, but it had also changed the world at its very core. When they made it back to Gensouto, everything would have changed. ?That?s, uh...? Komachi rubbed at the small of her neck. ?That?s a long story. Anyone else wanna fill them in?? ?Count me out,? Sakuya said, taking a step backwards. ?I?m still busy trying to get my head around it myself.? The rest of the Sirens chimed in with similar shocked responses. The weight of what they had done was finally starting to dawn on them. Satori had to murmur the fact to herself under her breath before it really kicked in. The masquerade is gone. Humanity remembers. All at once, a thousand emotions welled up in her. Surprise that the world had changed so drastically in an instant. Curiosity over how the humans would react to this discovery. Fear that maybe Koishi?s optimism for the future had been misplaced. She felt paralysed, unable to move for the thoughts that weighed her down. No. She shook her indecision away, forcing herself to stay strong. This is the world we all fought for. Now it?s our job to look after it. ?I?ll explain on the way,? she said, stepping forward and raising a hand. ?But first of all, we should get out of here. We have wounded to attend to.? ?I second that motion,? Mokou said, pointing at her broken leg. ?Not to be a damper or anything, but this still really hurts.? Nitori?s eyes narrowed, but eventually she raised her hands in defeat. ?Fine. But why do I get the feeling I won?t like what you?re going to tell me?? ?Trust me,? Satori said, grinning slyly as she carried Koishi towards the exit. ?You won?t.? She went through the story from the beginning, explaining every detail in full. She made no attempt to sugar-coat the facts or dodge the blame. The Sirens had fundamentally changed how the world worked - before anything else, they had to claim responsibility for what they had done. After that - well, she wasn?t sure what came after that, but she would tackle it head-on. After all, that was what Koishi would have done in her place. ?...And that?s what happened,? she said in conclusion. Nitori?s expression was blank, as it had been for the entirety of the story. The colour had faded from her face. ?Let me make sure I get this straight,? the kappa said, mouth hanging agape. Then, in an instant, she let out a savage roar. ?You did WHAT?!? Satori rolled her eyes. This was going to be an interesting discussion...

Esifex: Y'know, I had a dream about a week ago that I was DRK Komachi, using her distance magic to lock targets in place/course-correct the trajectory of her bullets. ...I was shooting cans, so it was sad that I had to cheat like that.

FinnKaenbyou: ?Nnh...? Koishi stirred, slowly at first. Her body felt heavy and weak from lack of use. She rubbed at her eyes, waiting for the fog within her mind to clear. Where am I? There was an unpleasant hole residing in her memory. She remembered the battle, the Ravager, the knife - then nothing. The thoughts felt distant, even though she swore it had only been a few minutes since the fight. When her vision cleared, she found herself seated at a familiar table in the middle of nowhere. ?Good morning, Koishi-san.? Yukari Yakumo offered a round of applause, her clapping quiet but heartfelt. The youkai had made an effort to welcome in her guest, adding a tablecloth to her otherwise drab corner of the Boundary. ?It has been a while, hasn?t it?? Koishi blinked rapidly. ?Uh...has it?? She stuck her head with her palm, hoping the impact would knock a neuron or two to life. ?Sorry, my brain is feeling sort of fuzzy. I thought I was talking with you earlier today?? The youkai giggled, her laugh twenty years younger than the rest of her. ?Ah, right. I suppose that?s how it would have looked to you.? She reached forward, putting her hand on top of Koishi?s. ?I assume you?re rather lost right now.? Koishi nodded. She couldn?t have summarised her thoughts any more succinctly than that. ?Well, first of all, you...hmm, how do I put this?? Yukari?s face scrunched up. ?Should I ease you into it, or would you prefer brutal honesty?? ?The latter, please,? Koishi said. The sooner she had answers, the better. ?Oh, good. That?s much easier.? Yukari took a deep breath, her expression hardening. ?You?ve been in a coma for the last two years.? Koishi blinked. ?Ah.? ?Honestly, you?re quite lucky it?s only been that,? Yukari continued, trying to excavate some sort of silver lining. ?The amount of raw energy you took in should have been enough to kill you three times over. I can only attribute your survival to sheer force of will.? Koishi nodded along, but she still felt painfully numb. Two whole years of her life, gone in an instant. How much had changed while she was gone? What had happened to Satori, or the other Sirens? What about Sango, or Nitori, or - ?Wait.? Koishi?s mouth pulled open. ?The masquerade. Is it...gone?? Yukari slowly nodded, her smile fading to become something more solemn. ?I admit, I never considered using the masquerade itself to fuel Aptera. If nothing else, I have to compliment your creativity.? The smile came apart entirely, giving way to a deep frown. ?However, I?m not sure if you truly grasp the consequences of your decision. You gave the knowledge of magic back to humanity, a race that had nearly destroyed the world with it centuries before. Nitori warned you dozens of times about the danger, and yet you decided to ignore her advice entirely.? Yukari rose to her feet, her dress billowing about in an unseen wind. She let off an unimaginable aura of pressure, pinning Koishi to her seat. ?Explain yourself, Koishi-san. Why were you willing to risk the lives of every living thing on the planet? What gave you such undying confidence in the human race?? Koishi?s blood was flowing backwards. She understood now why Yukari had become the undisputed ruler of the youkai. It was hard simply to blink in her presence, let alone speak. She only managed one word, but it was the only word she needed. ?Change.? ?Change?? Koishi nodded, her neck feeling stiff and rusted. Her speech grew louder and stronger as she managed to find her momentum. ?You?re right, Yukari-san. Human history is an ugly sight. We?ve done a lot of things we?re going to regret as a species. We?ve inflicted unimaginable damage to our world, to the youkai, and even to our fellow humans.? She shook her head. ?But I don?t think those mistakes were out of cruel intentions. They were out of not knowing any better. And it?s only by making those mistakes that we can grow to become something more.? Koishi felt herself coming to life as she spoke, Yukari?s power over her diminishing as she tapped into an inner reservoir of confidence. ?We?re not perfect, Yakumo-san. But we?re doing our best. And I think we?ve learned enough now that the disasters from before won?t happen again.? She rose out of her chair, hanging in the air as she met Yukari?s eyes. ?That?s my answer. I hope it?s good enough for you.? Yukari was silent, taking another second to watch Koishi?s reactions. Koishi wondered what Yukari was looking for, what traits and thoughts the youkai meant to decipher from her eyes. Whatever she was searching for, she found it. ?I see.? Yukari smiled again, leaning backwards into her chair. ?You are an interesting human, Koishi-san. You are idealistic, but your thoughts have a thorough grounding in reality.? Koishi bowed forward. ?Thank you. I?ve been trying not to get carried away with optimism as much as I used to.? When she rose again, her expression was uncertain. ?Was I right?? Yukari?s lips twisted into a cryptic grin. ?Hard to say. Much has changed, but much has stayed the same. I suspect it?d be easiest for you to just see it yourself.? Koishi paused, unsure if the question on her mind was worth asking. ?And, well...when will that be, exactly?? Yukari tapped at her wrist. ?By my reckoning, it should be any second now.? ?What-? Before Koishi could finish the sentence, a wave of fatigue washed over her. She slumped backwards in her chair, eyes heaving shut as she crashed back into unconsciousness. ?It?s your world now, Koishi-san.? Yukari?s words were the last thing she heard. ?Take good care of it.? ----- White. Koishi?s eyes were assaulted by the colour the moment they opened. The faint smell of disinfectant hung in her nose, clinging to the back of her throat like a bitter aftertaste. It was not the best way to wake up, all things considered. Where am I? It took a few seconds for her senses to properly acclimate to their surroundings. The white mass deflated into pale grey walls, floors and ceilings, scrubbed sterile and featureless. A small window offered a paltry view of the city outside, and a box-like television was hidden away in the corner. The door hung slightly ajar, and she could hear the slow beeping of a heart monitor from another room. It wasn?t hard for Koishi to answer her question after that. She lifted an arm out from under the thick, baggy sheets of her bed. A plastic tube dug into the back of her elbow, sending a constant flow of nutrients into her body. Yakumo-san was right, Koishi thought. I was in a coma. Her first instinct was a demand for answers. There were a million questions to ask - what had happened to Satori? To the other Sirens? To the Pearl? She didn?t know where to start, but any answers were better than nothing. ?Hello?? She called out into the corridor, but no-one responded. Unsurprising - coma wards were hardly known for their activity. She would have walked around to find someone, but the IV tube in her arm shot down that idea decisively. She looked to her right. Wedged between her and the wall was a small counter, seated on which was a handheld remote. A vase of flowers loomed over it - freshly picked carnations, from the look and smell of them. She wondered if they were part of the hospital decoration or a gift from a visitor. It was probably the latter, now that she thought about it. Satori had gone through a similar regimen when their father died, visiting regularly to offer another bunch of flowers. Koishi smiled, running a finger along the petals before she snatched up the remote. The television was both ugly and barely functioning. Most of the channels were unintelligible walls of static, and the others had a habit of cutting out every second or two. Eventually she came across the only channel on the service with a half-decent reception. ?Good afternoon. I?m Hatate Himekaidou, and you?re watching the Kakashi Report.? Koishi narrowed her eyes. The newscaster seemed vaguely familiar, though she had risen in the ranks from the last time Koishi had seen her. She wore a respectable purple suit, and her vibrant energy had been exchanged for determined professionalism. ?On today?s headlines - fears for the Yen as national exports continue to decline; Prime Minister Miyahara retreats from the public eye after his recent affair scandals, and construction work begins on eight new stadiums as Japan prepares for the upcoming Olympics.? The newscaster read off a series of headlines that could have come from any paper in the last twenty years. Koishi scratched her head as she watched, sitting up in her bed for a better look. Had she made a mistake? Was the masquerade still around after all? ?But first, today?s top story.? Hatate fiddled with her papers. ?The Interspecies Study for Environmental Conservation has released reports claiming that a fully renewable energy source could be functional worldwide within fifteen years.? The camera panned out, revealing a second person sitting next to Himekaidou at the table. He had all the trademarks of the stereotypical television scientist - stick-like figure, thick glasses, and a suit that had seemingly been pulled through a bush. What was out of the ordinary, though, was that his hair was a dark shade of blue. ?With me now is Tsutomu Kisara, head researcher for ISEC.? Hatate spun around in her seat to face her guest. ?Kisara-san, could you explain your findings in a way our viewers would understand?? ?Certainly.? The researcher fiddled with his tie. There was an unquestionable confidence about him that reminded Koishi of a certain kappa. ?Our team of physicists and mages have designed a hybrid engine that should serve as a self-sustaining source of electricity. Prototypes are currently under construction, and should be ready for presentation within the next eighteen months.? He went on to drone about a variety of technologies and spells that Koishi wasn?t well-educated enough to understand in full. She managed to catch that it was half technology, half magic - the magical components kept the system renewable, while the mechanical components allowed it to run without a caster?s intervention. ?Interesting,? Hatate said, nodding with a well-trained look of interest. In truth she was probably just as lost as Koishi was. ?So what consequences would an engine like this have on the current energy crisis?? ?Consequences?? The kappa fiddled with his glasses, almost taking the question as an insult. ?It?s a solution, that?s what it is. We can scale the system up to fill a power plant or shrink it down for a watch battery. You name a situation where you?d need electricity, and our engine can-? Before he finished, the picture gave way to static again, refusing to come back on. Koishi growled at it, flicking through the other channels to see if they were any more use. After a few seconds, she determined that she was now totally televisionless. It didn?t really matter that much, though. She had seen everything she needed to. The world had changed to the point where a kappa could waltz onto national television and talk about magic to the general public. That could only be a sign things had changed for the better. Koishi?s legs wiggled about under the covers. Now she wanted to see the city for herself. She could barely imagine the changes Gensouto had undergone while she was asleep. If only there was some way to call for a nurse- ?...put the marker pen away, Rin.? Koishi froze. A voice carried through into her room from the hallway, along with several sets of footsteps. There was no way she could mistake who the voice belonged to. Satori! She opened her mouth to call out, but a thousand words came to her at once, canceling each other out. How had Satori changed? How was Koishi meant to say hello? She felt utterly lost for words, stunned in silence as the footsteps became louder. ?Aw, come on, Satori-sama!? Rin spoke up next, and Koishi could imagine her tails wrapping around each other in annoyance. ?It?s not like she?s going to notice, is it?? ?She has a point, Satori-sama.? Utsuho added her voice to the fray. ?I mean, she draws on my face all the time when I?m asleep. So why is Koishi-sama any different?? ?That?s...? Satori struggled for words, stumped by Utsuho?s very special brand of logic. ?Just put it away, please.? Rin growled. ?Fiiine.? The footsteps drew closer to Koishi?s room, until finally she made out her sister?s hand grabbing at the door handle. Satori didn?t even look forward as she pulled the door open, her attention focused on the pets following behind. Another bouquet of carnations hung in her other arm. ?Be on your best behaviour, you two,? she said. ?I?ll just be a few minutes while I switch up the-? When Satori looked into the room, the sentence died in her throat. ?K...Koishi?? The two sisters stared at each other with looks of awe. Satori had changed so much over two years - she?d gained six, maybe seven inches in height, and her pink hair now ran down to her shoulders. There was a pleasant weariness in her eyes that came from a job that demanded everything from her, but paid it back fully with fulfillment. ?Eh?? Rin poked her head through the doorway. ?Satori-sama, what?s up-? The cat?s ears stood on end. ?Holy mackerel, she?s awake!? Satori remained dumbstruck, backing away from Koishi as if she were a ghost.  A little part of her still seemed to be in denial over what she was seeing. Koishi drummed her brain for something clever to say, something memorable to put an end to Satori?s two years of waiting. ?Hi, sis.? In her defense, she?d just stepped out of a coma. She wasn?t exactly at her most verbose. ?Koishi...? Satori?s eyes welled up with tears. She dropped the flowers, forgetting them entirely as she wrapped her arms around her sister. ?You?re back...you?re really back!? She fell into choked sobs, burying her head in Koishi?s shoulder. Koishi made no effort to resist, returning the hug as she let Satori work through all her tears in one long outburst. She shed a few tears herself, though she did her best to make sure Satori didn?t notice. ?Heh. Good to see you too.? Rin and Utsuho piled into the room, struggling to find space between their reunited masters. Rin rubbed at her face with the hem of her dress, while Utsuho responded with a simple, honest smile. They placed their hands over each others? shoulders, neither one saying anything that could shatter the moment. It was a few minutes before Satori?s crying stopped. She pulled away, wiping at her eyes with her palm as she caught her breath. ?I-I?m sorry. I think I got a little carried away there.? ?Don?t worry about it.? Koishi sat up, feeling like she?d never need to sleep again. ?So, what have I missed? What happened to Gensouto while I was away?? Satori?s eyes widened for a moment. ?Ah. Right. You weren?t around when all the shuffling around happened.? She rested a hand on her chin. ?Hmm...how do I word this? There?s so much to explain. It's probably best if I start from the top.? She stepped backwards, pulling her arms out as far as they could go. ?Koishi, let me be the first to welcome you to the independent nation of Gensokyo.? ----- ?As you can probably imagine, things were quite hectic when we got home.? Satori chuckled lightly. It had probably been much more stressful at the time, but now she could look back on it with ease. ?Your boss yelled my ear off about how we?d deliberately kept her out of the loop.? ?Sounds like Kawashiro-sensei,? Koishi said. ?I guess she saw reason in the end?? ?She didn?t have much of a choice.? Satori shrugged. ?I mean, it wasn?t like the masquerade was coming back any time soon. She tried to play dumb for a few weeks, but there was really no going back from there.? ?It was awesome, though.? Rin broke into the conversation, ears twitching about on her head. ?I mean, I ran into a buncha old friends I hadn?t seen in ages. We?d all switch into youkai form walking down the street, then change back a few seconds later. Really, you shoulda seen the looks the humans pulled when we-? Satori looked back at Rin with a stern glare. The cat?s enthusiasm faded away, and she pulled back behind her master. ?Joking aside, Gensouto was more or less a focal point for the change to come,? Satori continued. ?There was a massive influx of youkai into the city after the masquerade vanished. Everyone was confused then, and apparently they?d decided Gensouto was the best place to go.? ?But why?? Koishi asked. ?I thought the whole Siren thing was meant to be a secret.? ?It was, but what wasn?t a secret was the footage all over the internet of our run-in at the zoo. When the youkai saw humans using magic before the masquerade went down, they figured this was the place to go for answers.? ?I remember when that happened,? Utsuho said, her wings closing around her. ?The streets were really full, and there were men with guns yelling at people.? Satori sighed. ?It was a difficult transition. Youkai were suddenly popping up in cities all over the world. The government had a hard enough time keeping the rest of Japan in check, but Gensouto was practically overrun with youkai. The government tried to impose a lockdown, but that only made matters worse.? Koishi gulped. From the sounds of things, she?d picked a good time to lose consciousness. ?So what happened?? ?Your boss took matters into her own hands,? Satori said. ?Kawashiro personally visited the Prime Minister himself, and she brought most of Gensouto?s politicians with her. They spent a few days discussing the matter, but the gist of her argument was that if keeping Gensouto in check was going to be such a hassle, it?d be easier for everyone if it just dealt with itself. ?A few months later, the Japanese government officially recognised Gensokyo as its own nation. The Pearl made a point of tending to the surge of youkai, setting up shelters and homes while working to integrate them into society. It?s been a rough road, but we?re getting to the point where a large chunk of the youkai population lives relatively comfortably.? ?I see,? Koishi said, nodding along. ?So how did the races get on? Was there any conflict, or...? ?Actually? Surprisingly well.? Satori shrugged. ?It wasn?t the best start, obviously, but when the lockdown happened the two races ended up finding common ground. Some of the youkai were pets as well, and their owners wanted to keep them around. Other humans felt guilty over the ordeal we?d put the youkai through and helped out of their own volition. That forced camaraderie carried over when the lockdown ended, and now humans and youkai are generally on good terms.? ?Though now some of the youkai don?t like each other much,? Rin added, one hand anxiously tapping at the side of the bed. ?Now that humans aren?t the big bad guys, all the little grudges are coming back. Cats and dogs, lions and tigers, things like that. It didn?t help that when they set up youkai residences they split them up by race. It?s nothing dangerous right now, but you get the odd fistfight after hours.? ?And there?s the scary lady who keeps putting posters up on our door,? Utsuho said. ?Toyosapopipi-something.? ?Toyosatomimi,? Satori corrected, before turning back to Koishi. ?A human rights activist, in her own words. She?s blamed the youkai for everything from taxes to terrorism. She isn?t a very popular figure, but she does have a small following behind her.? Koishi sucked in a breath. She?d expected teething problems, but they hadn?t been as vibrant in her head as they were in person. Satori saw through her sister?s concerns, reaching forward and placing a hand on top of Koishi?s. ?It?s alright, Koishi. The hard part is already over. All we have to do now is work through the aftermath.? ?Right.? Koishi tensed then relaxed, letting the stress ooze out of her. Maybe relations were still tentative, but overall the change had clearly been for the better. ?So what happened to the White Pearl?? she asked. ?Where?s Sango-san?? ?She?s out doing recon on the coast,? Satori answered with a frown. ?There?s a patrol of aquatic youkai traveling about to make sure no-one tries to impede on our waters. I have no idea when she?ll be off duty - sometimes she?s out at sea for weeks on end.? ?Oh.? Koishi frowned. It was good to hear that Sango had survived, but she really wanted to give the dolphin a nice long hug. Hopefully she?d have the time to hunt her down later. ?What about the others? The Sirens, Yakumo-san, everyone?? ?One step at a time, okay?? Satori ruffled lightly at her sister?s hair. ?Everyone?s fine, but I don?t want to dump any more on you now. You?ve already had to take in a lot of info today.? ?Yeah, seriously.? Rin rolled her eyes. ?If I got told all that stuff in one day, my brain would probably melt.? ?Unyu?? Utsuho gulped. ?Orin, does that really happen?? ?You mean you didn?t know?? Rin wore a catlike smile. ?Too much new info, and your brain starts leaking out your ears. Then you turn into a zombie who lies in front of the TV all day watching documentaries about how grass grows.? Utsuho looked ready to cry. ?T-That sounds terrible! Learning is scary!? Rin?s mischief earned her a quick tug on the ear. ?That?s enough out of you, Rin,? Satori said. ?You know Utsuho is enrolling at the local school in a few months, right?? ?Ow ow owww~!? Rin winced as her master pulled her along. ?But Satori-sama, she?ll be no fun to mess with once she knows stuff. I?ve gotta make the most of her now while she?s still a bird brain.? Satori glared at Rin for a few seconds before sighing in defeat. She let the cat go, turning her attention back to Koishi. ?Anyway, I?ll show you around the city once you?ve got a clean bill of health. For now, you should focus on getting better. I?m figuring two years as a vegetable hasn?t done your body much good.? Koishi nodded. Now that Satori mentioned it, she was feeling awfully tired. This was the first exertion she?d had in months, after all - it was only natural for it to leave her fatigued. ?Okay.? Koishi reached out and wrapped her arms around her sister. ?It?s good to see you again, sis.? Satori returned the gesture, wearing the warmest smile Koishi had ever seen from her. ?Reunited at last,? she murmured to herself. ?And we only had to change the world to do it.?

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