CP0's Hideout
Chase Young Apparated in the underground office. With him was a certain sky-haired boy. "Well… look who decided to join us." Slade smirked.
"Poor boy was in quite a rage as he returned home." Chase replied. "Must've gotten in a disagreement. And he requested to join us directly."
"Do you think that wise?" Sephiroth asked.
"Hm?" Nagisa just noticed the One-Winged Angel. "Wait… you were that guy from English's castle."
"English's… castle?"
"Yeah… Sephiroth, right?"
"You two have met?" Akame asked.
"I don't remember ever meeting him. And yet… I get the strange impression that I have."
"Haha, maybe you and I share a gift!" Deadpool said perkily.
"For now, I think we can trust Nagisa to comply with us." Chase whipped Nagisa with his dark tongue for good measure. "Have you anything to report?"
"Yes… Cheren possesses a trident. A long time ago, it ruined Skaios' right eye."
"The trident…" Slade whispered.
"And that trident requires the gems of four Sacred Swords. Supposedly, the KND have three of them… but the Four Seasons is theoretically in the Termina Dimension."
"That'll certainly take us out of our way." Shadow figured.
"It might not… if Cheren decides to gather the gems himself."
"Are you saying Cheren also wishes the gods' destruction?" Lucci asked.
"That trident is specially made for the Newborn, right? Deep down, I feel he wants what I want. Or at least, he wants to make the trident complete, in case they ever need it."
"I suppose we'll have to count on that."
"As for me… I don't want to get involved with destroying the Firstborn or the other gods. It's only the Newborn I'm concerned for. But I want to ask… is there a particular reason you want to destroy them all?"
"To punish them for their sins." Shadow answered. "For the dangerous relics they created, for their biases in Chosen Ones and wrong choice in benders… and personal reasons for some of us."
"I don't really get it, but… are you sure the Newborn shouldn't be eliminated early? If you kill the other gods, they'll be the only ones left. They could take over. So, I have to wonder… if this is what they wanted?"
"…" The assassins were silent. They were doing this based on their own desires. They never considered the idea that these ideas were put in their heads… but they couldn't argue it either. Sephiroth, however… silently commended Nagisa's intuition. "In that case… we'd better get that trident." Chase said. "Come. We have a room for you. And we're gonna keep you under wraps just in case. Wait there until we have an assignment."
Nagisa obediently followed Chase. "His feelings… only stem from Chase's power." Akame said after they left.
"The Bad-Bad Fruit turns people against friends and makes them side with their enemies." Slade recapped. "It can also heighten one's negative feelings. As you'd expect, it's weak to lightbending… but it can also be weakened when the target's morals come into question. The effects also wear off after a day unless reset."
"So, Nagisa is half-brainwashed and half-conscious." Sephiroth construed. "It almost feels too convenient. Couldn't you just strike more operatives with that power?"
"Like I said, it depends on the target's morality and their own personal desires. It also depends on the 'resonance' between them and the user. In this case, Nagisa is trained in our techniques, and deep down, he desires the Newborn's destruction. Now, Nagisa is against killing, but I wonder if spirit beings are exempt from that?"
"But what use will he have if he'll only target the Newborn? We'll need the trident for that. The KND is sure to be suspicious of him by now, so he has no chance of stealing from them."
"We'll find use for him, yet." Shadow replied. "For now, we need to check on the situation. Fie already told me that her mission ended in failure. Wade?"
Deadpool pulled off his mask, exposing his disfigured skin. On his forehead was an X-shaped scar. Deadpool closed his eyes and honed his Fourth Wall Observation. In his vision, a screen of text was splayed, so he scrolled and skimmed down. "Well, Maki succeeded. Killua was captured, so it's only a matter of time before he blows Nagisa's cover. Maki and Fie made it back to their hideout, and our secret agent made it back, too. And Kalluto… he's in a 'little' bit of trouble. And—oh…that's weird."
"What?"
"Jirachi was… assassinated. But I can't really tell who did it. Maki's boyfriend ambushed him, but he escaped to Mushroom. But someone got the jump on him."
"But, who? And how?"
"That's all the voice in my head wants me to see."
"Let's be thankful that's one less Firstborn to deal with." Slade replied. "Now… it's time we rest. We pursue our next targets… in a few hours."
"In the meantime," Chase returned, "I'd better drop off our secret agent at her next appointment."
GKND
"I know we ain't one to talk," Vweeb said, piloting his Kateenian-sized ship, "but it's hard to believe CP0 would employ such young assassins." He studied Kalluto in the rearview mirror, tied to a chair in a tight, chi-blocked string with a gag. "I guess kids really are the best, huh? Heh heh!"
"Mmmmmmgh!"
"And I hate to break it to you, but Arianna broke my ray gun, so you're gonna be stuck like that for a couple days. Unless Jerome or Neb decide to enlarge you, but I think you're more manageable like that for now. We can lock you in a teapot if you want!"
"MMMMMGH!"
"Okay, okay! We'll go with a classic jar."
After landing in the hangar, Vweeb hoisted Kalluto's chair overhead and carried him outside. On the way, he passed by a chubby, Mobian pig in tech armor. "Hey, Vweeb! Is that a toy?"
"Hey, Pigbert! Nope, just a prisoner. Just bringin' him to prison."
"Oh, you want me to do it? I'm kinda bored."
"Sure, if ya want. Just be careful, he's a rascally one. And make sure you find a jar for him first, for extra security. I'll go report to Nebs."
"Oh, she and her brother kinda left just a bit ago. I'm sure they'll be back soon."
"In that case, I'mma go get some grub!"
Pigbert pigged up—I mean, picked up Kalluto and carried him up the stairs to find a supply closet. On the way, the bored pig saw the loose string end on the back of Kal's chair. He pinched the string and whistled casually as he swung the chair for passive entertainment. He did this as he found the closet and opened. "Jars…jars… any-"
The string slipped out of his hand, the chair crashing on the floor with enough force to loosen the strings. "Oops."
He bent down to pick him up, but Kalluto Shaved out of the strings and Moon Walked onto the arm. With a few more Shaves, Kalluto made it to Pigbert's right eye. "Spider Bite!" Kalluto sank his tiny teeth, penetrating the eyelid.
"WHEEEE! WHEEEE! MY EYE!" Pigbert grabbed Kalluto, but he refused to be tugged out, only causing the pain to heighten. "GET OUT, GET OUT, GET-" In shaking frantically, Pigbert slammed into the closet's shelves, causing its materials to bury him. He had smacked face-first into the shelf and was knocked out. Kalluto had swiftly leapt off before the impact, landing on the floor.
"Hey, what was that sound?!" Some operatives came from around the corner. Kalluto was already rushing the other way.
He Shaved up the next passage, going unnoticed by the passing operatives. His tiny frame was merely a dark blur at his speed, so the ops would barely notice him in their peripheral vision. "Huff…huff.." Kalluto hid behind a potted plant for a break. His stamina hadn't fully recovered, and even if it were, he would have a hard time fighting at this size. True, he had benefits in evasion, but against the wrong operatives, he was severely outmatched in strength. "In fact, maybe I should just keep my chi concealed in case any of them know Observation. But if I don't use Shave, one of them will eventually spot me. I suppose the Haki users could assume I'm a bug…ugh." Kalluto was glad no one heard that. "So humiliating. Then again… this is their stronghold, so I wonder if Jirachi would be here? Or any other Firstborn? Or-"
"Mmm-MMMMMM, love me a good swig of Slurm!" a peppy voice said from around the corner Kalluto just came from. He gasped: she had bright violet hair , a yellow shirt with a winking black cat, and purple pants. "They just don't serve drinks like this on Earth!"
Her hefty gray sneakers left a more discernible rumble in the floor compared to other ops, probably because of the vigor behind them. Kalluto remembered her very well: she was the MCP from Aincrad. She was… Miko Kubota. The only reason he knew her name was because of…
Kalluto shook the thought of that girl out of his mind. He instead focused on Miko. She was essentially a god of Cyberspace… though her power could be limited in the Mortal World. Regardless, Kalluto followed her. His Shaves barely keeping up with the quick-paced gamer.
"Hey, Miko, come back!" Kal looked back, seeing a girl with roller-blades zooming after her. "Hard to move with all these peeps in the way!"
Knowing this would be a better way to keep up, Kal jumped and was able to grab the rim of Jenny Strongarm's left shoe. The momentum was intense, but nothing Kalluto wasn't trained for.
Jenny chased Miko to the Hologram Chamber. Their Sector Q teammates were there, along with Carol Masterson, not that Kalluto knew any of them. And knowing them was probably irrelevant in this circumstance. However, Kalluto was particularly drawn to a whitish robot with rabbit-like ears, a gear head, wide dress-like body, and ovular red eyes. He could feel a particular energy from this robot.
"Ready, girls?" asked Eddy Flores, a scrawny boy with messy brown hair tech glasses. "I've got the next level all set up!"
"UH-HUH!" The girls happily jumped into the VR training room.
"That last one was intense." said Kazuma Ikezawa, their new teammate. "Not as bad as Aincrad, but Hinobi's tech is no joke."
"It's not Hinobi, anymore!" Carol argued. "It's Masterson Games! Isn't it amazing?" They looked as Miko and Jenny fought through a level resembling Miracle City. "With Magearna," she acknowledged the robot, "we can download full missions from the Moonbase Simulator onto our computers! If we take just a few more steps further, design consoles and controllers and stuff, we've got ourselves a full-fledged game series!"
"We already got one with the simulator itself." Quill Ramsey replied. "I remember Cheren saying God Deoxys was in Moonbase's computer all along, so that explains why they could make it in the first place. But seriously, just build a bunch of VR chambers everywhere, upload the simulator data, and boom, all arcade attractions are obsolete."
"Well, these simulations are lacking all the flavor a game series truly needs." Eddy reasoned. "We'd make additional changes like collectibles or other game modes, not to mention spinoffs like racing games, open-worlders, fighters…"
"Besides, I wasn't really thinking VR." Carol said. "Too dangerous. We'd take these simulations and put them onto nice, family friendly consoles. With Magearna's—I mean, Boly's power, the designing process will be a breeze! If you wanna stick around."
"A super mega gameverse about the Kids Next Door?" Boly asked. "That sounds super duper pippety poppety!"
"I wouldn't just want to rely on a Newborn's power to design a game." Eddy reasoned. "We'd need the right team of developers for it."
Kalluto gasped. He was hiding behind E. Carmine's boot, his aura low. "Would you remake the 'stories,' too?" Carmine asked. "I just feel like some people will be embarrassed to have their… 'character development' depicted."
"We'd have to clear that with them." Carol said. "But I'd like to think, in a few years, they'll be more comfortable with their 'embarrassing' moments. I really want to try and bring out the best in all of our friends, capture the story that made us so great!"
"HEY, BOLY!" Miko called. "Giant green monster, 12 o'clock! Let's bust out the supercharge!"
"Acknowledged!" Hooked to the VR chamber, Boly sent a surge of power to Miko's gauntlet. She unleashed a devastating beam of digital energy, destroying El Mal Verde and causing the chamber to fizzle out of commission.
"CRUD! I think I overdid it again!"
"Hah, you did great, Miko!" Eddy grinned. "Come out and we'll fry up the next one!"
Miko and Jenny exited the chamber. "Quill, you and I are next, right?" Carmine asked, pumping her fist. "Let's give this level our best!"
"Hey! Earthlings!" An Irken operative rushed over. With their attention drawn to him, Kalluto ran toward Miko. "We've been sent to warn all of you! Earth is suffering a cataclysm!"
"Cataclysm?!"
"Three of the gods were destroyed! There's hurricanes, earthquakes, and windstorms, oh my! Just thought you ought to know! Back to my warning!" The Irken scampered off.
"Oh, no!" Carmine gasped. "Guys, maybe we should check it out!"
"You're right." Miko agreed, concerned for her family's safety. "Let's go!"
"And there you were sayin' it isn't our problem." Kazuma said to Quill as they all raced out.
"Shut up, Kazzy!"
Miko remained unaware of the passenger she was taking with her. So, she was connected to that Newborn… She's a Guardian. And these Newborn can't be killed like the Firstborn. But, she's connected to it. Maybe the Newborn needs its Guardian to use its power. I wonder… if I should kill her…
Upstairs; God Containment
Miyuki hadn't made any progress searching Verglora's further past. The same glimpses of memory kept replaying. "Hey, Miyuki." Someone banged on the window. She faced up, finding three of her teammates: MaKayla and George King, and Lola Stork. "Have you been hearing the news?"
"The gods are being wiped out. Verglora told me."
"How did they know?"
"We have a sixth sense about these things." Verglora moaned. "I don't actually know WHICH gods died, but none that I care about."
"That figures." George rolled his eyes. "Anyway, someone wants to see you. That's why we're here."
"Who?"
"What up, Miyuks?" a boy's voice asked from above. Miyuki craned, startled by a snow-haired boy in a blue sweater, floating on a cane.
"Jack Frost? Um…is this about Suki?"
"I actually came to Suki first, but… she's not in the mood to see you. I've made some mistakes in my existence, too, but I'm honestly not sure what point you were trying to make."
"I've got no excuses. Everything that's been happening has made me upset and impatient. If I'm supposed to be a Newborn Guardian, I wanna just get it over with, and I took my anger out on innocent people. Were you just here to hear that?"
"I was sent by Polaris. He personally wanted to see you and that friend of yours. I needed these guys to get you out of here, of course."
Miyuki wasn't expecting that bit of news. The God of Snow wants an audience with them? Then again, it made sense. "What does he want?"
"To test the strength of your bond. And, honestly, I don't expect it to be very strong."
"So, he wants to fight us? Well, I was in need of some exercise. It might even be the boost I need."
"What does that mean?" George asked.
"I've been trying to review Verglora's past. Their past before they were 'created' by Majora. And I can almost see the identity of the being behind them."
"The being… behind them?" MaKayla repeated.
"It might even be the Ninth Newborn. Maybe if I get in a battle that strengthens our bond, I can unlock the full memory. It would help everyone if we knew what we were dealing with… don't you think?"
"Oh, you wanna help NOW?" snapped George.
"I'm still loyal to the KND, and I'm not planning to hurt anyone, anymore. All I want is to get past all this as soon as possible."
"I believe you, but it's not like we're planning to get over this." Kayla replied. "Either way, we'll take you to Polaris. We may need to reserve this chamber to protect the other Firstborn, anyway."
Negaverse; Nega-Sector MG
Wendy Marvell and Romeo Conbolt, meanwhile, had gone on a special venture of their own. From their treehouse, Wendy used magic to turn her mirror into a portal, leading them through. "Hi, Ednew! I mean, Ydnew! Sorry if we're intruding." Wendy blushed.
Another blue-haired girl looked up from her nail-filing. She was almost indistinct from Wendy as her twin, except for blue eyes and different clothes. "Hey, Wend. What brings you two here?"
"It's sort of complicated." Romeo replied, scratching his head. "I'll start with this…" He pulled out a yellow and orange Spirit Ball and popped it open.
Victini appeared in a flash of light, bearing the same colors with V-shaped ears. "(Never fear, for I am here!)"
Romeo explained that Victini was the Victory Newborn and he had become his Guardian. "Our friend, Index mentioned something she learned about this place a while ago. She said there was a tower built to honor Victini and test whoever wanted to receive Victini's Blessing."
"(And a tower built just for me is something I HAD to see!)" Victini cheered; though only Romeo could understand him.
"Hmm…I think I know what you're talking about. Sector ZR is more familiar with it, so I can take you to them. But just so you know, it might be a long journey."
"We'll take a chance on that." Romeo replied. "It could help us understand what our purpose is."
"Alright. Let's hit the sky."
The tower in question was known as the Day Tower, built on Planet Solaria, as they would learn from Sector ZR's Atawid. There was a certain test that firebenders tried to undertake atop the tower: a test to bask in the intense heat of Sacred Flames. Those too weak—or especially nonbenders—would perish. But even if a bender survives, if they are unworthy, they would burn up from the inside within the coming days. "So, I conjecture the test is only meant to be passed by someone special." Atawid said. "And I guess the Guardian of the acclaimed spirit makes sense."
"Not that I feel very special." Romeo sighed.
"(You're such a downer, Romeo!)"
"It sounds kind of dangerous." Wendy replied.
"It is. I lost my friend to that test. She wasn't even a firebender, we were just… stupid."
"I'm… sorry."
"But if you're set on going, you'll need my help to clear the tower. Well… it's not a tower, anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see if we go."
"I'll take a chance with it. If anything, it'll make us stronger, for whatever comes next."
"I won't be held liable if you meet an unfortunate death."
"Oh, dear." Wendy moped.
The ride to Solaria was an average one, but they were awed by the marvel of the yellow planet with bits of blue sea. The region they flew to was close to a coast with an intersecting canyon. According to Atawid, the canyon was just made recently. But even more questionable was what the Day Tower had become. "Uh…what?" said Romeo.
It was a Puzzle Prism. An enormous, orange cube, the inside of which was a complex labyrinth. "I designed it myself." Atawid said. "And I still know the way through. I think it's best if only you and Victini come."
"Why did you make this?!"
"My mind is a complex place that you shouldn't attempt to understand. Same applies with this maze. Just follow my lead and you'll be happy."
"Okay. Be back in a bit, Wendy."
"Be careful in there."
Quahog; Kubota House
When Sector Q returned to their hometown, there were a few fallen trees and damaged property done by the weather. "I'll call you guys later." Miko said, jumping out of the ship soon after landing. "See ya!"
"Yeah, we'll check on ours, too!" Jenny called. "Hope it goes well!"
The worst Miko found was a garbage can lodged into her dad's car and ripped roof shingles. She grabbed her house key and unlocked the front door. "Miko!" Her mother, Mayumi expressed in delight. She had black hair with a pink shirt and white pants.
"Mom!" Miko jumped her with a hug of relief. "I was up in space! Is everyone okay?"
"It's okay if you don't count Geoffrey spilling coffee on his new tux." answered her father, Hugh, with sand-blonde hair up in a do, a green sleeveless sweater, and brown pants. "I'm glad you made it home, kiddo, we were worried about you!"
"And you're just in time for dinner."
"Hah, great!" Miko kicked off her shoes, laying them sloppily beside the family's. "All that training got me starved!"
Kalluto climbed out of the left shoe, dizzy from the sudden action. It wasn't the proudest place to hide on such short notice, but at least Miko's thick sock made it tolerable. As he watched the giant-sized family proceed to the dining room, Miko was jumped by a girl in a white karate robe and black hair in a ponytail. "Sis! You're back!"
"I am!" Miko squeezed her back. "What happened down here, Lexi?!"
"It was crazy! The lights kept flickering, the roof was tearing off, I thought we were gonna die!"
"Haha, but ya didn't!"
"Yeah!"
The sight of her and the sound of her voice threw Kalluto into emotional whiplash. Lexi Kubota… She was 12 years old, Kalluto remembered. Currently one year older than himself. And despite their ages, Lexi was far more inexperienced. They had met by chance in the virtual world, Aincrad. She was a naïve, clingy girl who insisted on traveling with Kalluto. He could never understand why. The gap in their levels was far too wide. Not just that, but they were from different worlds… different upbringings… different-
"I'm glad that's over with though." Another tall woman came down the stairs. She had brown, puffy wide hair, a long red dress, and a pink jacket. She was Nica, their 17-year sister. "The Internet went down right when I was in the middle of an important text!"
"Alright, but none of that during dinner, okay?" Hugh requested, leading them all into the dining room.
Kalluto trailed after the giants. If Lexi was any indication, this family was lacking in any Haki or super keen senses, so Kalluto could use whatever skills he had so long as he stayed out of sight. The whole family was gathered at the table. The elder brother, Geoffrey, was chubby with ginger hair, and the 5-year brother, Lee, had a white shirt with a bumblebee, black hair with a swept bang, and a missing tooth.
"Hey, when we get out of here, you wanna come over to my place sometime? You can have dinner with my family. If you wanted a break from your family… or something."
Lexi's words replayed in his mind. So, this was the acclaimed family dinner. This was… a normal family dinner. A relaxing room… talking in bright spirits… eating good food… Grumbllllllle. His tummy was rumbling at the very sight of them. All that food was really big… and tasty-looking. Just one bite… would fill his tiny frame right up.
"Haha, you shoulda seen them, Sis!" Lee laughed with the voice of a bratty kid. "Nica and Jeff were crying! They were big babies!"
"I wasn't the one hiding under my bed!" Nica shouted.
"I spent hours ironing that shirt just right!" Geoffrey argued.
These siblings were clueless, Kalluto thought. Though they argued, he felt no tension between them. He felt no sinister auras or toxic feelings. And yet… they looked so similar in his head. When he looked at Lee, he turned into Alluka. His older sister was the most childish in their family. He remembered when they were little, Alluka running playfully in her yellow shirt and green pants. Though she was a year older, she was already weaker than Kalluto. "Kal, give me a piggyback ride!" she would sometimes demand, jumping on his smaller back.
But she was the only tolerable sibling. When Kal looked at Nica, she turned into his eldest brother, Illumi. Illumi pinned many of his needles around Kalluto's body, heightening his pain receptors so that Kal could grow more tolerant. Not to mention, Illumi had that super creepy tone. He sure wasn't feeling any of that with Nica, a typical, social media-obsessed teen girl. And Geoffrey seemed just like Milluki, chubby with a closed-off expression.
"Milluki! Hey! Let me outta here!" Kalluto cried, stuck in a glass prison with scorpions and snakes at every corner.
"Mom and Dad said no." Milluki said, focused on his computer. "Now, don't bother me."
Kalluto wondered if Geoffrey would try to help his siblings if they were stuck in such a position. What about the parents? Hugh was very thin compared to his own dad. Why, his dad could snap Hugh like a twig. No, Kalluto himself, in this small state, could make short work of Hugh. He's never seen a grown man look so unreliable in a fight. It was already clear that Hugh never put his kids through the same training. Not like when Kalluto was suspended up with trains, hanging like a puny punching bag for his father's fists. This was to build Kalluto's durability, darkening his tiny body with bruises.
The mother, Mayumi, seemed a bit tougher, but otherwise felt like she could never handle a serious fight. She certainly didn't seem the type to raise her knife or electrocute her kids for the sake of training. Compared to his cyborg-headed mother, Mayumi was as plain and average as they came.
"Yeah, but I wasn't afraid." Lexi boasted. "I was ready to take what that storm had to give!"
"That's my sis!" Miko ruffled her hair.
Kalluto sure didn't get that impression from Aincrad. When they were wandering the ghostly forest and Lexi held his arm like a scared little child. Perhaps Lexi DID feel that Kalluto was a stronger person that she thought she'd be safe if she stayed with him. Pitiful weakling, he thought. Well, maybe not totally. She had some karate under her belt. Very amateur karate, but at least she tried. She wasn't totally incompetent. But the sight of this family proved she was far behind him. Smiling, talking, eating, and hostility kept to the bare minimum.
Wait, why was Kalluto fixated on any of this?! He didn't care to compare their families, he had a mission. That Miko… Inside, she was a dangerous god. Her violet hair was a stark contrast to any of her family. She wasn't one of them, no matter how much she talked up a storm, her voice filled with expression, and the strong bond resonating between her and Lexi. "Ugh…" Instead of watching this pointless chatter, Kalluto left to get a layout of the house. They must each have rooms, so he had to determine which one was Miko's.
"Mom, I'm dooooone!" he could hear Lee's voice sing. "Can I go play?"
"Alright, honey."
"Yay! C'mon, Cloud!" Lee jumped onto the back of their huge, white Great Dane, resting on the brown patch on his back. The dog ruffed happily before trotting out of the room like a horse. "Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha—huh?" Lee's laughter subsided when Cloud halted in the living room. The dog was sniffing something on the floor. "What is it, boy?"
Kalluto froze up. It seemed the Kubotas had their own beast patrolling the grounds. Its enormous nose huffed and puffed heavily over the tiny intruder. "BARK! BARK!"
"Back! Get away!" Kalluto waved his fan. "Go!" The dog opened its mouth to bite. "Iron Body!"
Cloud's teeth broke against the iron-hard assassin. The dog whimpered and ran away. "Phew…" Kal sighed, disabling his defense. "AH!" An enormous hand, though proportionately small and kidlike, flattened him.
"Whoa! A weird bug!" Kalluto was squeezed in tiny fingers and raised up. He found himself under the gaze of Lee, held uncomfortably close to his big nose, and the smell of noodles wafting through the toothless center of his beaming mouth. "Hahaha! My sisses are gonna freak out!"
While the child's hand utterly dwarfed Kal in size, it wasn't a grip that could hold him. Still, he had to get out of his sights or else his whole mission was jeopardized. So, Kal repeated what he did before: he sank his teeth into Lee's hand and used the Spider Bite. "AAAAHH!" Lee released him, so the tiny assassin made his run for it. "Wah hah hah haaaaah!"
"Lee!" Mayumi and Hugh ran in. "What happened?!"
"Sniff, I-I-I got bit by a buuuuuug!"
"Whoa, that looks bad." Hugh said as blood seeped out of the small wound. "I don't know any bug that bites like that. We better find it."
"There there, Lee let's get some medicine." Mayumi picked her son up and carried him away.
Hugh began his search for the elusive bug, but through use of Shaves, Kalluto was already farther than the father anticipated. But at least the family should be less wary if they thought it was only a bug to be concerned about.
Kalluto Moon Walked upstairs and studied the rooms. He recognized Lee's room by the smaller bed and dinosaur toys. He continued up the hall… and was spotted by a cat named Aerith. Aerith pounced the tiny prey, but Kal easily evaded and retreated underneath a closed door. This room had two beds… with several videogames, tech, a TV, a "Dance Dance" pad, and a guitar. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out this was Miko's room.
But what about the other bed? It had some karate posters over it and merch. …So, they shared a room, too.
After a while, Miko and Lexi returned to the room. Kal retreated under the dark of Miko's bed. "So, the gods are being killed by assassins?"
"That's what the ops are saying." Miko replied, beginning to undress and change into pajamas. "We might even have to fight them soon. But you shouldn't have to."
"Yeah…" Lexi was still in CND training. "Um, Miko… you remember that boy I told you about? The assassin?"
"From Aincrad? Yeah, he was… Kallo or something? Do you think he's involved in this?"
"Kalluto. I don't know, but remember when I said we got in a fight? Well… the thing is… after you went all… sparkly, and… got possessed by the MCP… Kalluto wanted to kill you."
"…Oh." Miko shirked. A lot of people tried to do that back in Aincrad.
"So, now… I'm starting to wonder if he'll try to again. I never gave him my address… at least, I think. I'm just…"
"I'll be fine, Sis." Miko put a hand to her shoulder. Her pajamas consisted of a yellow sweater, green pants, and white socks with pink stripes. Her hair was in a bun. "I don't know how the assassins are pulling this off, but we'll find some way to beat them. And we'll survive!"
"Okay…" Lexi gave a weak smile.
"Wanna play some Dance before we hit the sack?"
"Heh, okay."
Kalluto would have to wait until their session of fun concluded. Their bodies flowed with vigor, and Lexi's karate experience aided her in the game. …Even so, Kalluto saw the hesitation in her motions and the weakness on her face. He wondered what was really going through her mind. Was it just worry for her big sister? Or was she still feeling… the betrayal when Kal rose his hand at her. Why should he care about that? She knew what he was… She should've known… and if she wasn't prepared to be betrayed by an assassin, that's her own fault.
Eventually, the lights went out and the girls settled on their beds. Kalluto waited until he heard snoring from two sources. With that, the tiny assassin Moon Walked up onto Miko's bed. "SNOOOOORE…shooooo…SNOOOORE…shooooo…"
She looked as clueless in bed as she did awake, her mouth wide with each inhale. There was nothing to stop him. Now was his chance to kill her. He could slit her throat with Tempest Kick. He could crawl into her ear and destroy her brain. Just don't hold back and kill…
"Nyuh~" Kal gasped and whipped around. Lexi made a slight mumble before rolling over. She was blissful… knowing her big sister was with her, alive and healthy. Imagine the horror when she wakes up to find Miko dead. …Imagine…
"AAAAAAAAHHH!" All her happiness shattered in an instant, darkness drowning her. "NO! MIKOOOOO!" And Kalluto found that horrid expression drawn to him, fuming with indescribable rage and betrayal. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?! YOU WERE MY FRIEND, I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, I FUCKING HATE YOU!!"
Why was such a thought plaguing him? He was an assassin… he couldn't bother with feelings, let alone other peoples'. Certainly not some inexperienced girl who… offered him dinner… who was fairly pleasant company… and nice to him. Kalluto looked to her slumbering form. She was sort of… cute like that. Warm and happy… able to dream pleasant dreams… If Kalluto killed Miko, all those good dreams would end. And… somehow… for some reason… Kalluto couldn't bear to see that happen.
The boy returned to the floor and hid under Lexi's bed. Tired and hungry, he lay down and drifted to sleep. Above him, Lexi's snores resounded. She was peaceful… she was dreaming… she was happy… and so was he.
GKND
"AAAAAHHHH!" A thunderstorm of pink lightning charged through the base, stomping down to the prison wing. "YOU!!" Nebula disabled the barrier to Kaito's cell and grabbed him by the neck. "Who killed JIRACHI?!"
"W-What?! Ow, take it easy!"
"Don't play dumb! Someone killed Jirachi! He was killed on Mushroom! You know something about this!"
"I-I-I don't know! I tried to catch him 'cause my girlfriend asked me to, I dunno who could've…could…ulp…" Kaito's cheeks puffed. "BLECH!"
He puked blood away from Nebula, the leader releasing in disgust and guilt. "W-What the…"
"It's PINK!" Jerome yelled.
"Huff…don't worry about that. Just a little… sick is all. Don't worry about it. You oughta be more worried… when my girlfriend finds out I'm here. She and the guys… will tear you up."
"What kind of sickness is it?"
"Something I got from a meteor… don't worry, it ain't contagious."
"Sister, I think we should send for Haruka."
"Alright…" Nebula stepped out, still wrought with anger as she closed the cell. "But you still aren't going anywhere. This is still… It's your fault that this happened!" The fast, forceful clacking of her shoes rang throughout the wing, Jerome following her in worry.
"Maybe he went down-" But she nearly stepped on Vweeb as he was nearing the stairs. "Oh, hey, Nebs!"
"Vweeb? Do you have business down here?"
"Who, me, no! Certainly not looking for a shrunken escaped convict!"
"WHAT?!?"
"Haha, it's fine! Um, there aren't any Firstborn in the base, are there?"
"THERE'S A SHRUNK CP0 AGENT LOOSE IN HERE?!"
"YIPE! I-It's just an apprentice, he isn't that tough! Look, I already got other guys looking for him!"
"Jerome, look for any Firstborn or Guardians still in the base, tell them to leave immediately!"
"Affirmative!"
Moonbase
There were several people that could make the gym rumble so intensely. But as far as Francis Drilovsky remembered, the only heavy hitting operative available was Maddy Murphy, and let's just say that jumbo-sized punching bag wouldn't be sleeping well tonight. It did Francis good to see that his strongest officer still had fire in her fists, but he couldn't feel any good tidings within her. The Head of Decommissioning—or the Moonbase Guard as they'd been renamed—approached Maddy carefully. "Hey, Mads! You sure you don't wanna try the simulator? It might pose more of a challenge?"
Maddy dispelled her Haki and stretched her arms. "VR doesn't help calm the nerves. This is quieter."
"Right…" Quieter. "Look, Lucci ran away, didn't he? He knows you would've beaten him, with or without your Fury. No girl that could tank K. Rool for that long is bound to lose again."
"His running away is the problem." Maddy said, strolling outside. "They all got away, and they finished their objective. I'm just not useful, anymore." On their way to the vending machine, they passed by a string of Pikmin, led by Rupert and Mujika. "And it doesn't help that my chi paths are messed up now." Hearing this sparked a reaction from the tinies.
"You're more useful than I am."
"Come on, you've taken down a good chunk of baddies, Francis." Maddy inserted a coin and waited for the beverage to roll out. "Even have some good Haki now."
"Maybe, but I always felt behind. I have to stay and manage Moonbase most of the time, I never get any exciting battles… and it's not that I mind, it's just… well, it's hard to imagine you feeling so down. You've always been someone we rely on, and you still are. Even if you don't beat the enemy or they get away, you're still getting better without noticing it. Like when you developed that Paper Haki! That was pretty neat! So, I really wouldn't want you to give up."
"Heh heh." She sported a smile and grabbed the Orange Soda. "That helps a little… but it still feels like-"
"HEYA!" Rupert sprouted back to normal.
"YAH!" The soda spewed at Maddy's face upon puncturing the can. "R-Rupert?! I thought you were a bunch of Moon Ants!"
"There are Moon Ants up here?" Mujika asked. "I wonder what they taste like?"
"?" Maddy acknowledged the tiny, bone-colored, lilac-haired girl on Rupert's shoulder. "And you're that…um, what were you called again?"
"Mujika. Miss, we couldn't help but overhear you say something about your chi paths."
"What I meant is, I fought a really powerful foe a while back. I had to overexert my Haki and now I can't really use too much without my muscles hurting."
"I think I can help!" Synthia flew to Maddy's face.
"Oh, it's you! How?"
"Because I can modify chi paths. Maybe we could see what's wrong with them and try to fix them up."
"Really?"
"We were exploring other peoples' bodies earlier!" Rupert said. "We even got a look at their inner chi paths! This would be our first time having to 'fix' some, but it's worth a try!"
("You were exploring bodies…") Francis mumbled, a bit weirded out by that phrase.
"We just think it would be nice to help." Mujika said. "If it's alright with you, Miss."
"What do you say, Mads?"
Maddy tapped her chin for a moment. She was just about to say that, because of her condition, it felt like her training had been set back. If this worked, it would be a good way to catch back up. "Sure! What do I need to do?"
"Can you pump your muscle?" Synthia asked. Maddy did so as the spirit landed on it. "Yeah… this feels like a good nexus point for your Haki. Rupert, Muj, we can get in from here!"
"Here we go!" Rupert set Mujika on the arm as she ran up to Synthia. He put his hand over them both, and they were zapped into Synthia's light. They were so small that even Maddy couldn't sense them.
"So… do I just stand here the whole time?"
"You can move, Miss!" Synthia said. "It may help if you channel a bit of Haki. Just be careful!"
"Good. In that case, here comes the soda." She resumed drinking her beverage.
Kubota House
"Yaaaaaawwwn…"
"Morning, Lexi! You sleep well?"
It was great when that was the first voice she heard in the morning. "Morning, Sis. Yep! What time is it?"
"We mighta slept in a little bit." Miko was already dressed in her casual clothes. "That's what late gaming does ya! I'm getting with the gang. You got training today?"
"Yep." Lexi got up. "Better eat before then."
"I'll see you downstairs!" Miko hopped out of the room like a spry bunny.
Lexi laughed at her enthusiasm and went to change to her karate robe. But after she did, "What the…?" a little piece of note paper fluttered around her. It directed Lexi toward the nightstand, where a small black figure appeared to wave at her. "…" Approaching the desk cautiously, Lexi wasn't mentally prepared to find him there.
"Hi."
"YEEK!" Lexi stumbled back with a start. "What…what are…" After giving herself time to process his presence… she stepped directly over him. "What are you doing here…"
Kalluto could already feel the fear in her voice, her eyes quivering. He must admit, she was being more calm than he expected, but was rightfully wary, knowing what he was. "I'll explain how I got here in a second. But first… I need re-evaluate my answer to your previous question."
"M-My… question?"
"…" Lexi could almost make out his half-closed peach eyes. There was a dimness in them… but it didn't stem from hatred or soullessness. It stemmed from earnest sorrow and a longing for forgiveness. "If someone paid me… to assassinate you… or to assassinate your family… I…I would say 'no.'"
"…" Lexi remembered asking such a question. It was an awkward conversation… and Kalluto didn't give a definitive answer. But, of all things she expected to hear after waking up… "Why did you come here?"
"I followed… your sister here. I-I thought… my masters… w-wanted me… to kill her…" Lexi's heart vibrated with fear at the very notion. Just how long… had he been in the house? "But, I…I…I…" Kalluto was trembling in a way even Lexi wouldn't expect. "I couldn't do it. For some reason… I…I knew you would hate me… and I…I couldn't…I couldn't stand that. I…I couldn't see you upset. I'm a… disgrace as an assassin. I'm pathetic… I'm weak… I gave in to my own emotions. I should just take my own life… but first, I want to ask… why am I like this?"
". . ." Lexi fixed her glare on him. The boy that wanted to take his sister's life… even after they had become such good friends. She raised her hand above him, and Kalluto prepared to accept his punishment. The hand fell and… grabbed him. Lexi's fingers were firm, but gentle. He resented her brother for holding him for his amusement… but somehow, being held by Lexi warmed his insides. His soul was only being further penetrated as she brought him to her eyes. And, with her other hand, she patted him. "Because you're a good person."
"…" Kalluto didn't understand these feelings… but her words… he was glad to hear them.
"Thank you… Kalluto. But I… have to punish you."
His heart tensed up, and darkness shrouded her face as he was lowered down. Beneath her thanks, she knew she couldn't let an assassin leave here alive. That's what he configured. Lexi's other fingers descended as the palm holding him opened. "You're a boy who snuck into a girls' room. And for that, I sentence you… to a button mashing."
And her giant fingers began to tap him. Her force was gentle enough not to crush him, but the repetitive compression against the thick fingers greatly irritated him. "H-h-h-h-hey! What are you… I'm not a button! Stop it! Stop it!"
"Taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap…"
"Lexi! I'm warning you! Urgh, this is just like my sister! Hey—no—URGH!" He could always use his Rokushiki to escape, but that thought just wouldn't register.
"Say you're sorry. Only then will you escape the fate of all buttons."
"Okay! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"You have to match my speed."
"Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry…"
"Pfft, ha ha ha ha…" Lexi stopped and raised him back to her eyes. "Looks like I've defeated you, Kalluto. We're even now~"
"Mmm…" This wasn't a proper fight, the boy thought. But… he didn't mind this loss. His face matched the colors of the flowers on his kimono, flaring emotions he never knew he had.
And more would arise as Lexi hugged him to her nose. "Thanks, Kalluto. I'm sorry if I ever doubted you."
"…" Kalluto put his arms around the nose and hugged. "You were right to be worried. I…I'm a dangerous person."
"Not to me, you aren't."
Never in his life did he ever think he'd want this. Some naïve, weak, inexperienced girl… never did he think he'd want to see her happy. Never did he want to be held so warmly. It was so humiliating… but it was the nicest thing he'd ever felt. Grumblllllle.
"Did you just vibrate?"
"Oh. I'm… hungry." Kalluto answered.
"Khh…heheh…kehehehehehehehe." Lexi clearly remembered that discussion, about his skinny frame and his limited diet. "I figured. You were so starved, you shrank."
"An alien did this to me."
"Sure it did, buddy. I'll get you some food, but I don't want the fam to see you, yet. I'm going to Arctic Base in a little bit, and… they might want to question you."
"That's fine. To be honest, I don't think I can follow my masters' ambition, anymore."
Japan
"AFFECTION! AFFECTION! Taking pride from fear!" Don Quixote Sugar had been invited to sing at a pop concert, performing a cover alongside an idol named Rise Kujikawa. Their notes filled the stands with color, but their performance wasn't complete without the iconic Meloetta. The Song Spirit shaped her hair like Rise's pigtails, but with a touch of red. "Past will tell you when to make yourself a hero~"
Fireworks went off with terrific booms that drowned out all other sounds. "Your affection… Your affection… Your affection…" Meloetta's eyes grew dull. "Past will tell you when—AAAAAAAHH!"
Sugar's scream destroyed the flow of the song. There was just no way to continue after seeing the Firstborn on her front, a pool of rainbowy blood forming. "MELOETTA!" Sugar rolled her over: she looked into her companion's dying eyes once more before she combusted into an explosion of sound. That which sounded like horrid screeching ripped the air, the audience kneeling in agony. "NOOOOOOOO!"
The horned, armored figure retreated from their position behind the stands, rifle in hand. "Hah." They scoffed in their distorted voice. "Those noisy brats didn't suspect a-"
"HEEEEY, STRANGER!"
"HUH?!" A dark-haired ghost girl in a black kimono emerged from the ground, the stranger falling back in fear. "An ambush?!"
Karin became human and wrestled the figure to the ground. "Guys, I've got the suspect!"
"We're on our way!" Jinta responded, running with Kodama and Megumi. "Looks like the direction was spot on, Ururu!"
Ururu had been on the stage the entire time, tiny, hiding under "Meloetta's" non-existent nose and waiting for the potential impact. The screeching sound disabled itself as Ururu flew up to Sugar's distraught face. "I hope that wasn't too loud, Ururu."
"I'm just fine, Sugar-chan. Your acting was marvelous!"
"I gotta keep it up. Can you check on the real one?"
"You bet!" Ururu flew off. The singer remained on her knees, continuing to "cry" while Rise looked on in earnest horror.