Tales of the Epitaph 18

[Hayate]

Tales of the Epitaph

Chapter 18: The Scythe of Tears

~ Abandoned City of Tartarga, Kingdom of Lumina Cloth ~

~ Dorinday, Althena-Lunae 38, AC2038 ~

*looking ahead, Nanao and Mitsuru watch as the Daybreak touches down several yards outside the city square*

Nanao: …Hehehe…

*an automated bridge extends from the starboard side of the Daybreak’s deck down to the ground; Kazuto and company -- Ciel included -- use this bridge to enter the dilapidated city*

Shiro: *whistles* Well, this place has certainly seen better days, hasn’t it? Wonder why dear Nanao’s chosen this ramshackle island for our showdown…

Ciel: I don’t care if that anchovy of an assassin chose the deep end of the Crimson Sea! I’m gettin’ Lucia back if I have to pry her from that sea hag’s cold fingers! And after what they did to me old crew…!

Shiro: Whoa now. Rein it in there, “Captain Tantrum”. It’ll all work out.

Kazuto: You sure are calm about this, Shiro. Nanao can put up quite a fight.

Shiro: Oh, I know. After the Isle of Kings, I know exactly what she’s capable of. …But…that’s one of the reasons I can be so calm. Perhaps the only reason.

Kazuto: …

*as the party enters the city square, they confront Nanao and Mitsuru*

Nanao: …

Shiro: Hmm? What’s the matter, Nanao? You don’t seem too happy to see me. I came just like you asked, didn’t I?

Nanao: …

Ren: Where’s Lucia!?

Nanao: …Mitsuru…

*stepping a short distance to the side, Mitsuru reveals Lucia, seen bound and gagged a few feet to Mitsuru’s rear*

Lucia: *muffled yells*

Ciel: Lucia!

Kaori: Good… She’s unharmed…

*the party begins to approach, but they’re stopped when Nanao draws her dual swords*

Nanao: …Not so fast. The girl may be fine, but there’s still that…other matter.

Shiro: *sigh* There’s no way around it, is there…?

*walking forward, Shiro draws his dual swords as well; Mitsuru waves her hand and conjures a magic that generates a transparent blue dome that seals off Shiro and Nanao from everyone else*

Mitsuru: “Battle fence” successfully generated.

*then, reaching behind her, Mitsuru draws her mighty scythe, signaling the rest of the party to draw their weapons as well*

Saber: It seems Atrum Neux has no intention of letting us leave here without a fight.

Mitsuru: …Hmph!

*shooting up into the air, Mitsuru plunges down onto the party from above; the party scatters about the city square, but Saber takes Mitsuru’s assault head-on with her broadsword, unaware of Mitsuru’s strength; as Mitsuru brings her scythe down upon Saber’s sword, Saber is almost immediately forced to her knees*

Saber: Nngh…! (N-No way…!)

Ren/Kaori: Rue Kruz!

*Ren and Kaori double-team Mitsuru with a flash of water that shoves her away from Saber*

Kazuto: Careful! Mitsuru may be small, but she’s a powerhouse in her own respect!

Saber: *sigh* Understood…!

*as the party occupies itself with Nanao and Mitsuru, Ciel rushes over to assist Lucia*

Ciel: I’ll have ya outta this in a jiffy, lass!

Lucia: Ciel! I knew you’d come save me!

Ciel: This never should’ve happened… I’m so sorry…

Lucia: No, don’t be. I never doubted for a second that you’d come to my rescue. You’re my knight in pirate’s clothing, Ciel.

Ciel: *blush* Hehehe. Oh, come now. That’s laying it on a little thick.

*meanwhile, inside the blue barrier…*

Nanao: Hmm… Looks like they’ve started outside. *raises dual swords* Guess that’s my cue!

*dashing forward, Nanao meets Shiro in close combat, swinging her dual swords at him swiftly and skillfully; Shiro struggles to defend himself with his own weapons*

Shiro: Is such a thing as pride important enough…to resort to abduction!?

Nanao: “Complete the job you’re given by any means necessary!” That’s the life of a mercenary! The life I’ve chosen! But what’s even more important than completing the job…is completing it with pride! That’s the one thing I refuse to give up! Pride is what separates me from the other bloodthirsty dimwits in this profession!

Shiro: …

*in that moment, Shiro is reminded of his and Nanao’s first face-off earlier that year; the setting was a small wooded area near LeGable Castle, and rain was falling heavily*

Nanao: *panting*

Shiro: …Enough. You can barely stand.

Nanao: No! I’m not…giving up! I will defeat you, “Neon Blade”!

Shiro: …Even now, that accursed name shadows me… *puts dual swords away and turns around*

Nanao: Huh? H-Hey, wait! What are you doing!?

Shiro: This battle is over. I’m not gonna fight a woman who can barely hold a blade in her hand.

*Shiro begins to walk away; Nanao, unwilling to let the battle end, grasps her blade and dashes madly towards Shiro with the intention of impaling him from behind*

Nanao: HYAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

*Shiro, sensing Nanao’s approach, takes one of his dual swords into hand, spins around just as Nanao comes within range and swings his arm up, knocking Nanao’s blade out of her hand*

Nanao: *gasp*

*with his blade still drawn, Shiro points the tip at Nanao’s neck, forcing her to drop her guard*

Nanao: …

*Shiro pulls his arm back as if preparing to finish Nanao off; Nanao clenches her eyes shut in fear, but is surprised to learn that Shiro doesn’t deal the final blow; instead, he drapes her in a large robe to shield her from the rain*

Nanao: H-Huh…?

Shiro: You’ll catch your death out here in the freezing rain, y’know.

*left there, Nanao watches as Shiro walks away; she pulls the robe tightly around her and grits her teeth in anger*

Nanao: Grrrr… “Neon Blade”…

Shiro: …

Nanao: I could care less if I died here today… As long as I reclaim what’s been stolen from me!

*with that, Nanao shoots forward to attack again; meanwhile, outside the barrier…*

Kazuto: Kyaaaaaaah!!!

*Kazuto dashes forward towards Mitsuru, swinging his blade several times at her; almost effortlessly, Mitsuru dodges all of Kazuto’s attacks*

Kazuto: (C’mon, Ren…! Hurry up…!)

Ren/Kaori: Ani Zot!

*as Kazuto drives Mitsuru back inch by inch, Mitsuru fails to notice a small black hole open up beneath her, locking her right foot in place*

Mitsuru: *gasp*

Kazuto: Gotcha!

*then, with a swift upward slash, Kazuto grazes the edge of Mitsuru’s scythe and cuts into her shoulder*

Mitsuru: Agh!

*Mitsuru falls back onto the ground from the unexpected strike*

Mitsuru: Nngh… *gasp*

*looking up, Mitsuru notices Saber plummeting down at her with her broadsword; Mitsuru rolls out of the way just in time to avoid Saber’s sword thrust; she shortly returns to her feet and brandishes her scythe again*

Mitsuru: *panting*

*just then, the vision of the red-haired man covered in blood enters Mitsuru’s mind again*

Mitsuru: *cringes* T-That vision again…! That…face…! Aah! *clenches head in pain* Not again…!!!

Kaori: W-What the…!? Is she okay!?

Kazuto: …It’s just like what happened at Hy Brasail… *approaches Mitsuru cautiously* Calm down. Let us help you.

Mitsuru: !!!

*grasping her scythe, Mitsuru swings it furiously at Kazuto, who’s forced to back away*

Mitsuru: STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!

Kazuto: … *gulp*

Saber: Be careful, Sir Kazuto! She’s irrational!

Kazuto: She needs help!

Mitsuru: Argh…!

*more visions of the red-haired man appear in Mitsuru’s mind; soon, the vision was given a voice*

: …Mi…M-Mitsuru… W-Why…?

Mitsuru: No…! Make it stop…! Who are you…!? How do you know my name…!?

Kazuto: Mitsuru!?

Mitsuru: STOP IT!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

*spinning around, Mitsuru breaks into a sprint further into the city*

Kazuto: Wait! …Quick, after her!

*Kazuto, Ren, Saber, and Kaori give chase after Mitsuru, who leads the group into a sort-of graveyard*

Ren: Mitsuru, wait!

Mitsuru: Go away! Stay away from-- Aah!

*unable to watch where she planted her feet, Mitsuru trips over a gravestone and stumbles in the dirt*

Mitsuru: Ugh…

*picking her head up, Mitsuru’s eyes come to rest upon a gravestone right in front of her*

Mitsuru: *reading* “Ma…tsu…” …Matsu…? …Aah! *clenches head in pain* N-Not again…!

*in that moment, a complete memory forms in Mitsuru’s mind; Mitsuru herself was standing outside a Tartarga household; her left hand was wrapped around the neck of the red-haired man in her visions, and her right hand held a serrated knife*

Matsu: N-No! Mitsuru, stop! What are you--!? *gasp*

*blood begins to trickle from the sides of Matsu’s mouth as Mitsuru thrusts the knife into his chest*

Matsu: …Mi…M-Mitsuru… W-Why…?

*as Matsu collapses onto the ground, Mitsuru looks down at him, her blank eyes stained with the color purple*

Mitsuru: …

Mitsuru: …Matsu… My…brother Matsu… *gasp*

*just then, Mitsuru would take her hands and dig into the dirt with her nails; Kazuto and company shortly catch up with her*

Kazuto: Mitsuru?

Saber: What are you doing?

*ignoring those standing around her, Mitsuru just continues to dig until she uncovers…

All: …!!!

*…a glass orb emitting a weak purple glow*

Kaori: It’s one of those weird purple glowing orbs! Like at the Tree of Lios in Dol Dona!

Ren: How’d you know this was buried here, Mitsuru?

Mitsuru: …Because I was gonna give it to my brother as a birthday present…before I…killed him.

All: !!!

Mitsuru: It’s all there… I remember everything now… I murdered my brother… My only family in the world…because of this thing…

*the soil-covered orb begins to glow brighter, attempting to take Mitsuru under its control again*

Mitsuru: *clenches head in pain* N-No…! Not again…!

Kaori: Mitsuru!

Mitsuru: *gasp* No! P-Please! Not Nanao! Anything but that!

Kazuto: That’s enough!!!

*jumping in, Kazuto drives his blade into the soil, cracking the purple orb into several fragments and cutting off its control over Mitsuru*

Ren: …Kazu…

Kazuto: No more. No more suffering. No more torment. I’ve seen enough of it.

*once again, Mitsuru’s eyes rest upon the gravestone of her brother*

Mitsuru: …Matsu… *sobs*

*with her memories finally returned to her, Mitsuru breaks down in tears; in the city square, Mitsuru’s instability causes the barrier magic to break down, releasing Shiro and Nanao from the battle fence*

Shiro: …Hmm? Is it over already?

Nanao: …Something feels wrong… *looks around* …Where’s Mitsuru!? Mitsuru! *takes off in direction of the graveyard*

Shino: H-Hey!

*before long, Shiro and Nanao would join the rest of the party near Matsu’s grave*

Nanao: Mitzi! What’s the matter!?

*as Mitsuru turns her head, Nanao is surprised to see her eyes stained by tears*

Mitsuru: …Nanao… *sobs* Nanao!

*jumping to her feet, Mitsuru runs into Nanao’s arms, burying her face in Nanao’s chest and letting the tears fall freely*

Mitsuru: *sobbing hysterically*

Nanao: …Mitsuru…

*a short time later, the party, along with Nanao and Mitsuru, makes its way back towards the Daybreak; Nanao is seen giving a piggyback ride to Mitsuru, who had cried herself to sleep*

Mitsuru: *moans sleepily*

Kaori: Hehe. She’s kinda cute when she’s sleeping.

Nanao: …

Shiro: So…what now, Nanao? Will you honor Mitsuru’s wish?

Nanao: You mean to quit Atrum Neux? Hmph. If only it were that easy. Beatrice would have her head on a pike, along with mine.

Shiro: But you’ve done a pretty good job of protecting her up until now. I could tell. Ever since the Isle of Kings. If Mitsuru did indeed murder her brother -- her own flesh and blood -- you’re the closest thing to family that she has left. You would renounce that for the sake of a mercenary boss?

Nanao: … *looks back at Mitsuru*

Mitsuru: …Na…nao…

Nanao: …I would do anything to protect Mitzi.

Shiro: And there it is.

Nanao: Huh? There what is?

Shiro: Your pride. I never took your pride from you, Nanao. You’ve had it all along. The fact that you put Mitsuru’s needs before your own is proof of that.

Nanao: …

Shiro: The life of a mercenary isn’t the only choice available to you, Nanao. You don’t have to accept a life that someone’s given you. You can make your own. Start anew.

Nanao: …Heh. You’re just saying all that to get out of finishing our fight, aren’t you?

Shiro: Does it show?

Nanao: *stops walking* You and I will finish this someday, “Neon Blade”. Not for the sake of pride…but because I don’t like losing.

Shiro: Hehehe. I look forward to that day, Nanao.

*after Kazuto and company board the Daybreak, Nanao watches as it takes off towards Mac Anu*

Nanao: …Start anew, huh…? *smile* …Heh. Maybe.

~ The Daybreak, above the Azure Sea ~

*on the Daybreak’s bridge, Lucia is seen sleeping soundly in a nearby seat*

Saber: Heh. After a day like today, it’s no wonder she’s exhausted.

Ciel: Aye. …Set a course for Dun Loireag, Mr. Vyce. Let’s return the fair lass home.

Vyce: Aye-aye, Captain.

Kaori: *giggles* I thought it was so dashing the way Ciel reacted to Lucia’s kidnapping. *imitating Ciel* “There’s gonna be hell to pay if those Atrum Neux bastards harm one hair on fair Lucia’s head!” Hee-hee!

Ciel: *blush* T-That didn’t mean anything!

Ren: And don’t forget Lucia herself. *imitating Lucia* “Oh, Ciel! My hero!”

Ciel: S-See here! I’m a respected Lumina Cloth sea captain! I’m not gonna stand here and be ridiculed by you lot o’ guppies!

All: Hahahaha!

Ciel: *crosses arms* Hmph!

*just then, Kazuto and Shiro enter from the deck*

Shiro: …Hey, guys. There’s something we need to talk about.

Kaori: Hmm? What about, Shiro?

Kazuto: *takes out Sakuya’s letter* …I received this letter from Sakuya a few days ago. I finally got around to reading it.

Ren: A letter? From Sakuya? What does it say?

Shiro: …She wants to meet Kazuto at the top of the Dragonbein Mountains so that they can – to quote the letter Sakuya wrote -- “finish what they started”.

Kaori: …Oh, no…

Saber: …Old grudges die hard, it seems. What will you do, Sir Kazu?

Kazuto: What do you think? We’re gonna drop Lucia off at Dun Loireag, then I’m heading to the Dragonbein Mountains.

Ren: Y-You aren’t seriously thinking about fighting Sakuya, are you!? She’s your twin sister!

Kazuto: What choice do I have!? I’ve tried reasoning with her, confronting her -- nothing seems to get through! She’s never gonna stop despising me! …So…if a fight is the only way to get through to her, so be it. I’m not running away anymore.

Shiro: …Kazu…

All: …

Ciel: …Full speed ahead, Mr. Vyce.

Vyce: …Aye-aye.

*in the few hours that followed, the Daybreak touches down outside of Dun Loireag, and Lucia is safely returned home; since the sun was starting to set, the party spends the night at the inn to rest up for the following day*

~ Briona Gwydion the Dragonbein Range, Kingdom of Lumina Cloth ~

~ Lilithday, Althena-Lunae 39, AC2038 ~

*at the top of the mountain, Sakuya sits at the end of a ruined bridge with her legs crossed and her eyes closed; her blade lay on the ground before her*

Sakuya: …

*as the Daybreak flies overhead and casts a shadow over her, Sakuya opens her eyes and looks up as the airship lands on the opposite side of the bridge; the automated deck bridge extends from the side of the ship, allowing Kazuto and company to disembark; Sakuya grabs her blade, rises to her feet, and looks ahead towards Kazuto standing across from her*

Sakuya: … *looks at the Daybreak* …Nice toy.

Kazuto: I don’t want to fight you, Sakuya. All the pain and loss you’d suffered through, I never wanted to cause it.

Sakuya: Yeah!? Tell that to my mother! Both of them! …You can try and change my mind all you want, but you’re too late… *slowly draws blade* …Seven months too late.

Ren: Enough, Sakuya! This isn’t how Lady Risa would’ve wanted it! Why won’t you listen to reason!? A brother and sister shouldn’t have to be forced to fight to the death!

Sakuya: I’ve had more than half a year to think this through, Ren. No matter how hard I tried to convince myself that this wasn’t the answer, it was all that made sense to me. The prophecy… My mother’s death… My other mother’s death… He was the center of it all. I’ve spent that whole time hating him, resenting him. It was the one thing driving me forward, giving me purpose. And now… *raises blade* …Now I can fulfill that purpose once and for all.

Ren: …No, Sakuya…

Kazuto: … *closes eyes* …So your mind is made up. I understand. Far be it from me to refute another human being’s reason for living. If this is the only road left to us, then… *slowly draws blade*

*standing across from each other, Kazuto and Sakuya prepare themselves for battle; as the mountaintop winds blow, their hair sways wildly*

Kazuto: …

Sakuya: …

*then, as her grip on her blade tightens, Sakuya shoots forward, signaling Kazuto to make his move as well*

Kazuto/Sakuya: KYAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

*their blades come into contact with each other, making a loud clang*

~ Capital of LeGable, Kingdom of Mac Anu ~

*meanwhile, in LeGable Castle’s prison area, Sakaki could be seen sitting in a prison cell with his head hanging low; a prison guard walks by and slides a tray of food through an opening under the cell bars*

Prison Guard: Dinnertime! Eat up, ya lowlife!

*looking at the tray of food, Sakaki sneers, picking the tray up and throwing it to the side, letting the repulsive-looking prison food drip down the cell walls*

Sakaki: Tch! Putrid excuse for edibles! Just a month ago, I was at the top of the Mac Anu food chain! Now I’m stuck in this place with all the other bottom-rung degenerates that fill it with their foul stench! …So… *smirk* …perhaps it’s time that changed. …Yes, I’d say I’ve drawn this charade on for long enough.

*reaching into his robes, Sakaki then pulls out a small hand-sized orb -- the same type of mind control orb that affected Sumomo, Mitsuru, and the Piscosapiens; as Sakaki holds the orb out before him, it glows bright purple*

Sakaki: Now, my pet… It is time!!!

*at that moment, an explosion shakes the foundation of the castle, sending everyone in the prison area into an uproar*

Guard 1: W-What’s going on!? Is it a jailbreak--!? GAH!!!

Guard 2: O-Oh, no! The “Adept Rogue”, he’s-- AGH!!!

*then, through the dust and smoke emerges Kaeion, under the influence of Sakaki’s orb; his blank eyes shone with the same shade of purple as the others*

Kaeion: …

Sakaki: As they say, even the best laid plans could do with a backup. Hehehe… Hahahaha!!!

TO BE CONTINUED…