Episode 41 Back to the Building Blocks

Ryuu crumples up the letter as he finishes reading it. “Tch, piece of crap…” he mutters.

“What’s wrong?” Ivy asks, looking over Ryuu’s shoulder at the crumpled letter in his hand.

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong,” Ryuu growls irritably, “this letter says the Triplicate’s not here. It’s already been released and is rampaging around somewhere else in Ludibrium.”

Kunai gasps in surprise. “So, wait…there’s no Triplicate out here?”

Ryuu lets the letter fall to the ground, watching as it bounces around slightly on the cold ground from the impact of landing. Ryuu spits down disgustedly at the letter. “We came all the way out here for nothing.”

Arai glances perplexedly around. “Hm…interesting…now why would someone go around releasing this Triplicate and letting it run wild in Ludibrium? It can’t be the Myougun…they’d not want it slain, would they?”

“More importantly…” Shuriken mutters in a low voice, “is who released it. Remember, only someone who possesses the Phoneme in them can act as the key to release the Triplicate.”

Ryuu and Kunai both gasp simultaneously in surprise, their eyes widening as they turn to stare at Shuriken. Arai smiles interestedly. “Hm…yes, that is a good point,” Arai murmurs.

“So wait…are you saying that…either the First or Third Phoneme came out here and opened up the seal guarding this Triplicate and released it?” Kunai asks.

“That’s exactly what it seems like,” Shuriken replies.

“More importantly,” Arai adds, “is why would they do such a thing?”

“Beats me,” Ryuu replies. “Personally I don’t really care who or why this was done. Because at any rate we’ve now gotta go out and hunt down this Triplicate and kill it, before anyone else gets attacked.”

“Hm…this is turning into quite the predicament,” Arai says. “Well, then I suppose we should get going!”

Ryuu suddenly growls out loud in frustration and kicks the Green Snail still hanging around on the floor forcefully, sending it flying into the air. It lands several feet away with a soft squishing noise.

“Ryuu, you big meanie poophead!” Ivy cries out loud.

A teenager with wavy brown hair wearing a Dark Chaos robe sighs lazily as he raises a dart, and fires, pinning a bull’s eye target several feet away. He sighs again, obviously bored. He then reaches down and wraps a Black Bandana around his head, and picks up a Kage staff, leaning on it laxly.

The teenager glances to his side as a tall, darker-haired man stands up, raising a Black Arund and takes aim, firing four arrows in quick succession straight through the bull’s eye.

The two of them stand in a brightly lit alleyway in a castle town. Above them the sun is shining brightly in a cloudless sky. However, a particularly red glow seems to hover in the sky, though it is only afternoon.

“Heh,” the brown-haired teenager mutters, “Not bad, Arayu. Then again, I’ve hardly ever seen you miss a moving target, much less a little piece of paper.”

Arayu lowers his Black Arund, staring down at the surplus of arrows clenched tight in his hand. A brief mental picture of Ryuu flashes through his mind suddenly. He then grits his teeth angrily, clenching his fists even tighter, snapping the arrows.

“Whoa, calm down, Arayu,” the brown-haired teen murmurs. “What’re you getting so upset about?”

“Shut up,” Arayu mutters.

“Tch,” the teen replies, shaking his head with a mocking smile on his face.

“I said shut up Zack!” Arayu snaps. He steps forward, aiming a strong punch at Zack.

Zack steps aside, sighing loudly again and raising his Kage. He creates a fluorescent white bow and arrow, pointing it directly into Arayu’s face. “Heh…” he mutters under his breath, as Arayu freezes, his fist inches from Zack’s face.

Arayu lowers his fist angrily. “Damn you, Zack…”

“I have to admit, it is incredibly boring to sit here in the castle and wait while the others are out doing work for old Kimura…” Zack replies in a slightly sleepy tone. “Too bad it’s the boss’s orders.”

“Tch, who does he think he is,” Arayu mutters angrily, “Ordering two former traitors to do all the dirty work while he makes us wait out here.”

“Ah well, it can’t be helped,” Zack sighs, stretching his arms lazily. “But once the Phoneme’s group gets here, it’ll definitely get a lot more interesting for us.”

“Heh,” Arayu mutters, narrowing his eyes. “I am in agreement. I’d like to snap the spine of that damn red-haired freak Ryuu…”

“With what, your arrows?” Zack sneers.

“It’s asses like you that make people think bowmen are weak!” Arayu growls, slamming his clenched fist right into the center of Zack’s stomach.

Zack reaches for his stomach instantly and groans in pain. “Oww! Damn you, you stupid—!”

“Put a sock in it,” Arayu replies. “I’m tired of hearing you complain. If it’s not boredom, it’s sleepiness, if it’s not sleepiness, it’s pain. Geez…it never ends with you.”

Arayu shakes his head, growling softly to himself. “Ugh, at any rate, let’s hope that Lord Kimura’s plan does succeed, and that the Phoneme’s group does head over here. It’d be my chance to get revenge on that Ryuu…”

“Heh,” Zack replies with a slight smirk, “Personally I rather take on that ice mage. I wouldn’t mind having a taste of some of those cookies he carries around.”

“And if it isn’t pain, it’s food…” Arayu sighs.

Ryuu growls angrily, his hands on his hips as the group approaches the entrance to Ludibrium again. They briefly stand under the welcome gate, staring at each other for a while.

“Well…now that we’re back in town, where to, Ryuu?” Kunai asks, glancing up Ryuu.

“I don’t know…” Ryuu growls under his breath, “Since the Triplicate was released at Clocktower, we’re back at square one. We don’t know where to look. It could be anywhere…”

“We should consider every possible location,” Arai mutters, scratching his chin. “Perhaps even Omega Sector. After all, it’s not too hard for the Triplicate to travel down there since it’s so near.”

“You’re right,” Ryuu replies, “It could be in Omega Sector as well. Damn…this is certainly making things way more complicated than they need to be.”

“Well, where to then?” Kunai asks.

Ryuu scratches his chin thoughtfully for a moment, thinking critically. He snaps his fingers suddenly. “I think we should go on ahead and head to Eos Tower. We’ve already explored most of the inner depths of Ludibrium on our way to Clocktower first time around. If we don’t find it in Eos Tower, then we can assume it’s in Omega Sector.”

“Well! It’s settled then! We head to Eos Tower in search of the last Triplicate! What an interesting new adventure for the Arai and co. Cookie’s Party!” Arai cheers.

“Arai and co. Cookie’s Party…?” Kunai mutters lamely.

As Ryuu and Arai lead the way, Shuriken follows slowly behind, while Kunai and Ivy bring up the rear, following Arai and Ryuu towards the infinitely tall tower of Eos.

“Ludibrium’s been turned into a wasteland…” Ivy mutters as she stares around at the crumbled buildings of Ludibrium. Many buildings have been battered down to rubble, or otherwise wiped clean off the ground.

“It’s going to take a long time of rebuilding for these people who live here,” Kunai replies. “But they’ll do it. Not just because of a necessity, but because these people believe in their cause, and they won’t let anything stop it.”

“That’s pretty inspirational,” Ivy mutters.

“Yeah, well…” Kunai mutters in a low voice, “If you love something, then you’re willing to go as far as humanly possible for it. And these people love Ludibrium…so they’ll keep rebuilding no matter what.”

Kunai turns away as he finishes talking, though his hand automatically reaches forward, groping for Ivy’s. He quickly notices and restrains himself, shaking his head slightly, a pained expression on his face.

“What’s wrong?” Ivy asks.

“Nothing…” Kunai mutters. He shakes his head. “No…nothing’s wrong.”

The footsteps of Ryuu, Arai, and Shuriken suddenly stop in front of them. Kunai and Ivy both turn suddenly to see what is wrong.

Kunai stares at Ryuu’s back, which is arched slightly, pointed upwards, his right arm raised up to his eyes to shield himself from the sun.

Ryuu stares up at the top of Eos Tower, along with Arai and Shuriken. Kunai follows Ryuu’s gaze up to the top of the tower, while Ivy gasps out loud next to him.

At the top of the tower stands a figure shrouded in a raggedy gray cloak. The hood is drawn low, revealing a woman with long, purple hair, and a pair of bright red eyes. She stares down at them, a faint smile on her lips. “Long time no see, Ryuu dearest…”

Next Time: Episode 42 Finally! Who is Ayame?

Kunai: No way…that’s…!

Ryuu: The one and only…

Arai: So then it really has been her.

Ryuu: Heh. It’s not her anymore. It’s only another enemy.

Kunai: Next time…get ready for a fiery battle!

Episode 42 Finally! Who is Ayame?