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Chapter 15: Secret Techniques

Yukino's three serpents writhed in continuous patterns across the sky, one serpentine and the other two piscean. (A/N: I think that MIGHT be a word) Although Ophiuchus' bulk far outweighed that of the two fish, the fish were lighter and more maneuverable. Nezbitt, although light on his feet, was having trouble keeping up. Ophiuchus simply swallowed all the chemical bombs Nezbitt was tossing at Pisces, remaining unharmed due to his serpentine resistance to toxins. Nezbitt, not exactly an athletic man, was starting to tire. Pisces was starting to land some blows, and the tide of battle was shifting. Yukino didn't really have the luxury of watching, as all of her magic energy was straining to keep open the gates of both a gold celestial key and the 13th key. But she could tell by the lack of "hooheehiheehooheehooha's" and the rhythmic thumping of the ground that Pisces' attacks were having the desired effect. She was going to win. She had to.

Unfortunately, Yukino was only able to look up once she noticed Pisces' magic disappear. Yukino gasped and raised her head to behold a grisly sight. Pisces's body drifted, partially melted and emaciated, in the shadows of the beach. All the toxic chemicals in the water were starting to turn their skin purple. Yukino cried out in surprise and frantically called a forced gate closure on her beloved spirit fish. Only then did her mind clear up enough to notice the threat that had removed them.

They were enormous, and they were unnatural. They were explosive, and yet contained. They were by far the most terrifying sight Yukino had ever had the displeasure of beholding.

They were huge masses of chemicals that were barely in the shape of hounds, each standing about thirty feet tall. They seemed to be composed of infinite recurring explosive reactions contained inside a magical membrane. The surface of said membrane rippled and roiled, constantly changing colors and shifting from solid to liquid to gas. The air around them was a soupy orange haze, crackled with toxins and smelled like sulfur.

And there were thirty of them.

"Hooheehiheehooheehooha! Behold my terrifying canine creations! This is technically banned by Bartolomaeus' third conjecture regarding Hippocredo's fourth theorem of magical science, but so is most of the stuff I do anyway! Hooheehiheehooheehooha! Laws cannot contain my science!" Nezbitt's lab coat had been flung open by the sheer amount of magic power he was exuding, exposing a withered and sickly-looking chest. It was full of holes where he'd likely injected himself with unfathomable substances. Nezbitt's dirty, fraying blond hair fluttered in his face and covered his eyes, but his wild, maniacal grin was on display for all to see.

Yukino's knees buckled from the smell alone. She could see through hazy vision the creatures converging on Ophiuchus. Even his tough black scales were starting to soften from the unnatural onslaught.

Is this… the best I can do?

Just then, Kagura's scream cut through the air like a hail of arrows. It was loud and primal enough to turn heads, create small waves in the water, and flinch the enormous hounds. It also was enough to jolt Yukino back to her senses and clear her head.

That's right. Kagura needs me. Everyone else needs me. I'm going to prove myself to them, and then we can all go home already.

A steady voice chimed in Yukino's head. You still have that forbidden magic, you know.

No! Yukino thought back. Libra, if I die while doing it, you'll cease to exist!

You won't, Libra answered back matter-of-factly. You underestimate its power.

Yukino was quiet for a while. She had inhaled too many chemicals to be thinking straight.

Okay, Libra. Let's save our friends!

Yukino took the golden Key of the Scales from her pocket and jammed the point into her arm.

Yukino's body became instantly enveloped in an ever-brightening golden light. Her eyes glazed over, and in a low voice she began chanting:

"The stars fall down to earth, and the earth rises up to heaven. New beings shall be forged out of a union of light and darkness, and from their seam, a new world is born."

After Yukino's golden aura faded, she looked noticeably different. Her hair was slightly longer, and a darkish-brown color. From her ears hung impossibly long chains of jewels. One of her eyes was an orb of silver, the other gold. She wore a long, flowing robe with a slit revealing both of her legs, and sat upon a golden throne that hovered just above the ground. She was regal, majestic, and beautifully powerful.

Nezbitt, adjusting his eyes to the spectacle, cackled in delight. "Ooh, girlie, how did you know what I liked? Hooheehiheehooheehooha!"

The figure on the throne shot Nezbitt a look, a terrifying, memorable, world-ending look that paralyzed him in fear. In that instant, Nezbitt knew that he truly was powerless, incapable of even comprehending his own insignificance. In a booming, magnanimous, but still feminine voice, she declared, "Bite your pathetic tongue, mortal, for you stand before the queen of the Celestial World, Cassiopeia."

Nezbitt and his hounds did nothing, nor would they ever again. Cassiopeia's majestic presence had paralyzed even his brain.

Cassiopeia yawned. "Well, that was disappointing. The girl summoned me for an enemy who can't even move in my presence."

In a huge burst of golden light, Cassiopeia was gone. Yukino tumbled to the ground, unconscious.

Blood wasn't the only thing pouring from Kagura's wound. There was anger, loss, despair, loneliness and pain. One could say she was half-literally spilling her guts. (A/N: I'm sorry for that imagery, but it was too clever for me leave out! D: )

Of course, she noticed none of this. What little blood wasn't gushing out her stomach was surging in her head. Pulsing pictures pounded in waves, hammering against the inside of her skull like they were trying to break out. She couldn't really make sense of what she was seeing, but she could make out common themes. Fire. Blood. The stench of death. A man's face, traced by a single tear from beneath an eye patch. The sound of someone familiar screaming.

Wait… I'm screaming.

I'm alive. What's happening again?

Kagura's eyes cracked open, her lashes encrusted with sea salt. She was lying on her side in water about three inches deep. Everything around her was a blur, but she could tell that she felt awful. Although her torso was periodically causing her to whimper in pain, it seemed that the wound seemed to have… closed up somehow. Probably the work of the enchantment work the Magic Council medical team had done.

Kagura's eyes refocused. All she could really see was her own hand, directly in front of her face. Her gaze narrowed around a few threads wrapped around her index finger. They were purple.

Wait. Her hair. She felt the back of her neck. It was mostly bare, save for a few uneven locks that remained.

She heard a sound from above. "Ohoho, it seems you've still got some fight left in you, miss! Hiyah! How pitiful! A true warrior should know when they're beaten! Hiyah!"

Oh, right. He had been the one who did this to her… But why? What was she supposed to be doing now?

There was a pause in Zao's antics. "What's that? Ohoho, understood! In the name of Honor, I will make sure to clean up quickly and proceed to your location! Hiyah!"

The voice now seemed to be directed at Kagura again. "Looks like your black-haired fellow is causing quite a stink over at the main tourist area. But never fear! Zao, the Honorable samurai, will be there to stop him! Hiyah! So if you'll excuse me, that is why I must kill you now!"

Black hair… who is-

Rogue.

Kagura became overwhelmed with a sense of longing. Rogue would know why it hurt so much. He would know how to stop the pain.

She had to go to him. Only this fool was in her way. She knew what she had to do.

She saw her sword come into her vision. "I shall give you the chance to commit hara-kiri," came Zao's voice.

She grabbed Archenemy and staggered to her feet. Slowly, she pulled the sword out of its sheathe, and then pointed it, glaring, at Zao.

The samurai scoffed. "Deplorable."

Kagura paid him no mind and braced her left hand for what she was abut to to.

She grabbed the tip of Archenemy's blade as tight as she could and pulled.

The blade's razor-sharp edge was hungry for any blood, even hers. Red flowed out of her palm, down the blade, and dripped off the handle. Still Kagura clenched it ever tighter.

There was a loud crack and a sinister sizzle. Archenemy's second sheathe came away from the handle, its binding seal dispelled. Kagura raised Archenemy's true form and, once again, pointed it at Zao.

"Archenemy, I mark for revenge this man, who cut away the precious hair Rogue loved so much."

Zao threw back his head and snorted furiously. "Is that your idea of a power-up? You had your sword inside two sheaths? And the sword looks exactly the same as before, just a little smaller! What's even the point of that?" Suddenly he stiffened. "I'm serious now. I'm not even going to say hiyah. Do you know why I'm known as the strongest samurai the world over?" He held out his ancient, ornate sword and pointed at the jade that comprised the handle. "It's because I'm the only one who's ever slain a dragon!"

The cocky sneer on Zao's face was contrasted by Kagura's determined stare.

"Not impressed yet? Well, the dragon I sealed in this sword was named Zirconis, one of the mightiest dragons anyone ever laid eyes on!" He grunted, and the sword started to release its magic power. A pale green aura surrounded Zao in the shape of a dragon. The power rolling off him in waves was indeed that of a dragon as well- ancient and indomitable.

"Hahahaha! Honor values strength above all else, and I will prove to him that I am fit to stand by his side, for I am-"

In the space of two seconds, Kagura had sliced through his draconic aura, split his sword in half down the middle of the blade, and cut off Zao's head.

"You are the only truly pitiful thing in this world," said Kagura coldly, "Because only you have ever deserved Archenemy's unrestrained vengeance."

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