Rijuku Park

Karin pressed her open hand against the surface of the wall. She was standing in the exact spot Haruka had been three months ago, when he protected the portal to Cray that had opened here. She could barely register what it felt like.

She did nothing, except to stare blankly at it, memories of the past flowing through her mind. She had come here because of the message she had hoped had been passed along to Yukino. She had come here in hopes that Yukino would too. She had intended to meet Yukino, in the place where she had saved Yukino's life once before... And ask for the favor to be returned. If anyone could have helped fully break the Reapers' hold on her, it would be Yukino.

But now things were different. Sovereign held a tight clutch on Karin's life now, and he had no intention of letting go. Not even Yukino had been capable of defeating Sovereign before, and it was unlikely that fact would have changed.

So here Karin waited for her old leader's return, at the place where they had first formed their bond. Here, at the place where Karin had once saved Yukino's life, Sovereign would now have her end it.

A long time ago, a supersoldier named Yugure Espoir met with her beloved on a snowy battlefield after exerting extreme amounts of power against the Clown. As a result, her facial scar tore open, and in the battle between lovers, crimson of the queen stained the white flakes of yesterday. She would have died from blood loss in the cold, if it wasn't for someone who was now in a similar situation. One who could never break free from a spell if the favor were not to be returned. Yes... Exculpate, who has left behind the despair of Yugure, entered Rijuku Park. It was just the reminiscent destiny that attracted her to this place - it was an impulse created by heightened senses of enlightenment to detect the presence of scum. Also known as Reapers. Yes... it was Sovereign. She felt Sovereign close by.

And she didn't like it.

"Karin", Exculpate called out to the girl simply staring into space.

"Yukino..."

Karin continued to stare at the wall where Cray's portal had once existed, in the spot where Haruka had once stood. And now things had come full circle, with Yukino standing behind her, where she had stood before when she confronted Haruka three months ago. Just as Karin had done back then, Yukino had returned to this place filled with memories to repeat history, to save a friend.

"You got my message, that I was- I was waiting for you. And you came- I... Thank you."

She put her hand against the wall, tracing a finger around its surface, the edges of where the portal had once been. "And now, here..." Her hand stopped, and she pulled away from the wall.

"The reason I asked you to come here..."

She turned to face Yukino, and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Please..."

Tears fell. Karin's eyes were yellow and black, like those of a Deletor's. A Reaper's eyes.

"Save me."

"Exculpate." Sovereign's voice welcomed the Chosen Sword, glaring at her enlightened red eyes with Karin's yellow and black. The monster's filled with arrogant supremacy, the woman's filled with unyielding hate. He had her friend, and it filled him with a bit of delight Harbinger would laugh about. Yukino continued to step forward, Seekers, Revengers, and Ezel all at the ready to face against one of the Twin Towers of the End. But first...

"... Karin, how did you get over there?" Yukino started calmly with her yearning to learn more of why this is happening. Karin was loyal, so how did Harbinger get to her?

Karin wiped the tears from her eyes. "How...? It was Overlord, it was always Overlord..." She turned back to the wall and put her hands up against it. "He was gone, deleted. The pillar that kept me strong, the driving force that kept me going was pulled out from under me..." She pressed her face against the wall, leaning into it. She passed her hands over the smooth surface, as if caressing it, eyes shut. "I couldn't continue without him. Which was when... That other man showed up. The other person who uses Overlord, he came to me, and told me that Harbinger could bring him back..." Her hands stopped, before pulling in close, wrapping her arms around herself. "So I went to her, the woman called Harbinger, and she did just that. That's how the Overlord you saw me with came to be... And how I fell into her grasp."

Turning back to Yukino, she stretched a hand out towards her. The faint, ghostly vision of Sovereign's form faded in behind Karin, glaring down at the Chosen Sword with his cold, menacing eyes. "I thought I could resist them, keep out of their control long enough, until... until I could see you again, like this, and break free with you. But..." She gestured to the Reaper lord that stood behind her, eyes still locked onto Yukino. "...They caught me. They took him away again, and now He has taken Overlord's place."

Hey eyes turned to the darkening sky. Her tone, that had been full of sadness, changed. The mood in the air shifted with it, turning tense. Karin wasn't crying anymore. "And now, nothing. The hole where Overlord was torn away... I don't feel it anymore, nothing, it's all empty. There's nothing left within me. Everything I felt, my hope, my freedom, my desire to help you... Gone. Erased. Deleted."

Her gaze fell back to Yukino for a third time. Her eyes were still yellow, black pupils staring into Yukino's own, but instead of being full of pain and sorrow, they were empty, hollow.

"Which means, as a drone of the Reapers... I have to fight you. I have to kill you. I'm sorry. At this point, I can't go back..."

The translucent tables that were signature of all Link Joker materialized before the two, and a deck faded into existence on Karin's end.

"...I'm asking you, as a friend. Just... Put an end to me."

Exculpate heeded Karin's words carefully, hearing of how this all had to do with Overlord being deleted. Naturally, she couldn't blame the girl for going out to restore her Kagero. The entire Seeker faction was dedicated to preventing Blaster Blade from being kidnapped by Photon and Garnet Star in the past. ... Still, Yukino couldn't sit well with the fact that Karin had gone to the Reapers first for this, or at least, gave into a drone's temptation before coming to her. Seeing Sovereign's phantasmal form only served to infuriate her, as a tormenting vision that he had her friend, and that they both failed to save two of the most prominent figures of Cray entirely. The timeline is still distorted because of Blaster Blade's vanishing, and Dragonic Overlord was either gone or simply in the hands of Reapers. How hilarious, the arrogant God sneered. In the end, it was as Karin said. That hole is deleted, and all that's left is the void he thrust into her.

"Let me make this clear", Exculpate opened after listening to the Reaper Drone that is her friend. "First, one of two things will happen after I get Overlord back to you by any means possible. Either I will break apart your dependence on that pillar, or I will break away said pillar from the Reapers, in order to have him tell you to come back where you belong. I'm not putting an end to your life, I'm putting an end to these eldritch abominations toying with your heart." The Chosen Sword spoke forwardly, the Deletor specialists Belk and Tarna rising up, and Seekers being slammed down onto the conjured fight table.

"I'm telling you as a friend, it's time for me to return the favor."

"Yukino... I'm... glad you haven't given up on me."

With no words left, the battle for Karin's freedom began. Yukino, with all the forces of the Seekers at her back. As for Karin's side... The Deletors made themselves known. Having manifested as Karin's new deck, the Deletors swarmed to her and Sovereign, lining up for the battle. Even the Reaper Legion, who had yet to show themselves in battle appeared at Karin's side. And at the top of them all... Sovereign himself stood tall, his presence overwhelming all in the battle.

The two exchanged blows quickly, but upon Karin's ride to Grade 3, Sovereign himself took to the field. Even against the strength of the King of Knights, Alfred, Sovereign's strength remained unmatched. Alfred, and his Legion Mate Ahmes, were deleted. Sovereign's power, forcing a discard to re-ride and the very gravity of his existence preventing the miracle restoration of Chronojet's boon from functioning, pushed Yukino to the edge within moments.

Even when Yukino attempted to block Sovereign's second deletion by refusing to give Karin the Counterblast to do so with... Legion stepped up and took Sovereign's place, Deleting the vanguard once more, and measuring up to Sovereign's power as the pair assaulted Yukino. The sixth damage fell. Yukino had failed to save Karin from Sovereign's clutches.

The table vanished. Karin's deck faded from existence. Her gaze fell to the ground beneath her, and she shut her eyes. She had wanted to try and protect Yukino, even from her pitiful position. She wanted to resist Sovereign's control, to give Yukino a fighting chance... But Sovereign would have none of it, taking to the field as fast as possible to ensure victory. Karin shut her eyes, falling back against the wall. It wasn't just Yukino who had failed this time. Karin, too, had failed.

...

Karin's eyes shot open upon a warmth welling up inside her- an actual feeling of her own. She was no longer looking out at the scene of the park, where Yukino stood defeated under Sovereign's assault... But she was instead staring right at her own heart. The piece of Sovereign's power, the plate of Void that had latched onto her was clearly visible. But next to it...

...A small, almost invisible flame. It was tiny, barely able to keep itself going, but it was there inside her. The plate wiggled and shook, brushing against the ember repeatedly, as if to try and snuff it out... But the ember persisted and continued to burn. Karin had no idea what to make of it... Except that she was still herself. She had succumbed almost completely to Sovereign's will... But at the very least, her mind remained intact, if only barely. A glimmer of hope that, for now... seemed to resist being erased.

Karin's mind slipped back into reality, back into the park. She stood herself up and began walking forward. She passed next to Yukino, giving her a quiet farewell. "I still... Have faith in you." She couldn't bring herself to say "Goodbye".

She walked away from the park, and from Yukino, into the city.

"H̕͏̧ó̡͢͠w̴͠҉́ ́͢į̸̵͝n͏̕͜͢͞t̶̨̧̧̛e̸̴r̸̨e͟s͏t̷̴i̧͟͞n͘͟g̕͘͟͡͡.̷͘͡ ̶͘É̴̢n̕͘͡ĺ̡̛͜͝i̶̷̕g̕͢͡h̴̕ţ̢͞e̴͞͞n͟m̕͡è͝n̛͢͟t̢̢͢͝ ̕͏ḩ̶a̢̡͝s̵̀͘͘͟ ̢̀͘͜͢t́͟a̧̕u̸͟͏͢ģ̷͝͝h̡̧͏̧͘t̕͡ ̨͏y̷̸̡͠o̵͠͠ù̧͜͝ ̧̧̛͜f͏͘҉é̷͘a̶͝r̀͠.̢͜͡ ͞͏F̷̨͏͠͏a̷̧r̵̛͝ ̀̀͜l̨͠e̶̷s͟͞ś͝͏ ̸̕d̴̕͡͠e̶f̛̀͠͠i̛͢͠a̷͘͠n̴̡̛͜͝t̡͡.̕͢͞͠.̀͡͞.̶̨͜ ̢͘a̵͜͠r̡̡e͏̴̴̴̨ ̷̢y̕o̧͘͝͞u̸̸̵͜͡ ̵͘͘͏̀s͏̧́͘ú̴͝b̷̵̀͘m̸̷̨͟i͘͏̧̛҉ţ̵̛͠t̕̕͟͏ì̀͜͟͡n͝҉̨g̡̡ ̵̢ţ̵̛̛o̶͞͞҉ ̨̛̀̀u͏҉҉͏s̷̴?̵̨"

Sovereign's voice taunted the Chosen Sword as Seekers and Deletor clashed yet again. Karin's will was completely dominated by the Reaper, having Yukino face him instead of her. Yes... Karin was only a "face". A face to torment humanity, and it was working by the woman's visible cringing during the battle. Yukino was not going to waste words, as Karin already knew full-well her resolve. However, the Deletor was also correct. ... The Reapers and Chronos taught Yukino fear - to not blindly assume she could swiftly and soundly eradicate evil. That thought process is how Harbinger trapped them all, then destroyed Gotem City without a scratch. Harbinger was cunning, Sovereign was absolute.

The perfect duo.

Yukino struggled heavily as every last Seeker rearguard was ready to fight, but Triggers were nowhere in sight. They were terrified of the supercolossal aura that rejected even Gear Chronicle's gift. Thing Saver, that selfish Guardian Dragon stood without Legion, and attempted to not have Sovereign delete them again. Unfortunately, the Juxtapose Deletor: Legion was having no part of it. Even locking Ahmes to rub salt in the wound.

Yukino took her final damage without stalling things out, unbelieving in luck. If she lost, it was because of a lack of skill. ... That is why, she wasn't skilled enough to protect her Avatar from the Daunting Deletor, and her heart nearly stopped several times. Exculpate is the transcendence of Blaster Blade, a Blaster of Light that was to change the world, appearing on top of a Grade Three. Due to the nature of its existence... they both shared pain. They would both share death if it ever came to it.

Wincing in pain, she looked up at Karin with an undying glare. It was insurance for Karin, but blistering fury toward the Reaper. A hunter of Void - she could see the hint of Sovereign's plate, but could not see the tiny flame. She did not respond to Karin's farewell, but instead, saw a chance.

An invisible bullet of light - part of Exculpate's sword flew to Karin as she was turning. It slipped inside and attempted to strike at the plate of Void, but instead, was absorbed by the fire.

Yukino thought it missed, and her subordinate was gone.

"... Grrr..." The Chosen Sword snarled.

"SOOOOOVEREEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!"

A roar shook the heavens, full of misery and rage. Light will return to this world, and Void will be obliterated. That was a declaration to the Daunting Deletor that stole away her friend, and the Docking Deletor who wants to plunge everything into nothing.

Exculpate's jetpack was equipped, and she zoomed off into the sky with her deck.

Having forgotten the rest of his drunken plans Okuri had little else in mind to do other than return to the slums. He eventually came to the park long after the confrontation between Hikari and Sovereign had taken place. Moving through he was unaware there even had been such a heated battle here earlier in the day. His fur was still damp from the little fall into the lake earlier. He wanted a nap now that he thought of it. The park seemed nice enough for that. Finding a nearby tree he took to sitting on the grass beneath it. And naturally though he was comfortable his mind wanted to think about things. But what? What was there possibly left to think about? He'd had so much time to think surely it would just let him rest now. But instead it wandered to thoughts of his friends. Bashiro, Jessie, Carlos, the others at the party. He was going through what he liked about them and how they stood out from other humans he had met. He smiled to himself as he curled up some beneath the tree and tried to slowly let sleep set in. But it was going to be a while.

Haruka had tied up his hair and exited the Espoir Manor, swiftly entering a new scenery. He was originally going to visit his favorite bench and contemplate a little bit of life, but what he ended up finding was a sleeping dog. A really, really big sleeping dog.

He knelt down to Okuri, who was taking a rest under the large tree. Well, no use really waking him up... if he was just napping... Well, he didn't seem deep in sleep or anything.

"Hey... Okuri. You awake pal?" Haruka gently shook the resting beast, with a smile. Maybe he could keep his little promise about the tale he needed to tell from awhile ago. The tournament sucked a lot of time away from that.

After a while something stirred Okuri from resting. Someone was shaking him a bit and talking to him. All at once he yawned stretched and sat up to see who was addressing him. It looked like Haruka. Or was it Sera? Given he hadn't hardly interacted with Sera like he had Haruka had he to imagine Sera wouldn't try waking him up just to talk. Probably safe to say it was Haruka though he was doing something different with his hair today.

"Haruka? What are you doing here?" he took to some extended sniffing of the area. Something was missing. "What happened, I could have sworn you'd have been mating with Hikari after you left the party earlier. Certainly smelled like it was going that direction anyway" he said rather bluntly. He refrained from giving any explanation as to how he could deduce those sorts of things from smells. Humans were so strange. They'd give off signals all day they wanted to mate then not do it. They got so indecisive about the strangest things.

Haruka left his mouth agape at the comment said. So... that's your first comment on waking up? He just sat there, squinting his eyes at him.

Really dude?

"N-No, there was business she had to take care of so I just ended up taking a rest. Got up, showered, here I am. Was going for a stroll and then I caught you taking a nap out here."

He moved from his knelt position to sitting cross-legged, somewhat interested in what Okuri had been doing out here in the first place. Generally he was seen at the Resistance base but it seemed other things were happening at the moment, if he wasn't there.

"Tired? I was meaning to talk to you about that thing... if you had time, I mean." He netted his hands behind his head like a pillow, laying back onto the grass now with Okuri. Never could stay still, could he?

Haruka seemed a little more than shocked at Okuri's initial inquiries. Was mating not to be talked about among humans? He'd forgotten in all honesty. It was a natural part of life so it seemed natural to him to talk about it but perhaps he was projecting his views onto humans. He perked up some as Haruka took a spot next to him on the grass wishing to talk more about what he'd promised to at the tournament. Talking with the Aqua Force and all that.

"Our fight took us well into the morning and I'd yet to sleep since the party, but it doesn't always come fast to me." he said commenting on his attempt at resting. Haruka then asked if he had time to listen to him. "I'd like that a lot. I was just with Darren over at the lake. He confirmed what I'd been thinking for some time now. That the Vanguard units are really living beings. They have their own planet and we can actually communicate with them. I was hoping maybe you knew more about how I might get to talking with Great Nature as Darren's methods were less than advisable for repetition." he said as he relaxed back into a lying down position to listen to Haruka.

Haruka looked over to his companion on his right, then back up to the tree branches now overhead, and through the scarce holes that the leaves left in between themselves, the sky lays stitched to the horizons of heaven and earth.

"It did take awhile, didn't it. Sorry for waking you up then, that was probably really inconsiderate of me. I hope you sleep well soon then... But for now, let me at least fulfill my promise."

He nodded, focusing on the pastels in the sky rather than on the surrounding environment. It was like he was painting a picture with his memories.

"I had gotten back to my home. You know, not the Resistance place, but the one I supposedly grew up when I was younger. I went down to the basement area where I usually stayed and rested, so forth, so on and right as I was going to bed..."

Haruka flooded into flashback, speaking out the memories as they happened.

------------------------------

"Council is requested. You're our representative since... you're the only one who can physically use us right now. Being a Vanguard of new units means you're required to pay attention. Of course since you can't actually go to the meeting because.... you're human, Thavas will stay here and relay information to you from Cray that I tell him. Okay?"

Haruka sat on the edge of the bed, already feeling groggy. Now he had to stay up for a 10-12 hour Aqua Force meeting on Cray. The entire night consisted of him nearly passing out and then being awoken by the jittery and awkward recruit that is still technically a rookie in the Aqua Force, despite his accomplishments within the force. Thavas was drinking a can of salty seawater while Haruka downed cups of coffee listening to Thavas every speak every three or so minutes about new policies and orders that don't affect Haruka in the slightest considering his position.

It was really a dreadful night.

Only twenty minutes left, Haruka was already under the covers and passing out when Thavas yipped for joy, hopping off the bed in his spiritual form, Lambros was probably displeased at the council meeting. Apparently, Thavas and Lambros were in the line for promotion if they kept working hard, and were steadily climbing up the ladder as a powerful pairing.

Haruka smiled, passing out for the evening. Awakening, Thavas and Lambros still in the spiritual forms were sleeping soundly on the concrete floor of the Toshiki basement. They must have been exhausted from sitting there listening to Tetra-Burst, Maelstrom and Miltiades talk the whole time.
------------------------------

Haruka came back to his senses, realizing he had basically explained the story to Okuri for the most part. But that was only one day, where was he the other part of the downtime?

"The day after that, Uncle Toshiki took me a few miles out of the city to visit an open cemetery in the countryside. It was his brother, my father, and my mother's graves. It was an honoring trip, and also a little thing he planned for me when I got old enough to visit without horrible flashbacks of the incident. But because of time shenanigans, these people... might not even be blood relatives. You know? I mean, they are but... they aren't the flesh and blood I remember."

Haruka thought a bit, remembering Okuri's wish, to speak to his units.

"It came to me differently. The first unit I ever heard speak to me was Dragonic Overlord, believe it or not. Restanding Vanguards was sort of my thing, y'know? When I felt too weak, he came to me during my desperate times when I needed power. And so he was there. But a few months ago, his tie to me was broken... probably because of more time shenanigans. Long story short, a new unit came to me for a very brief amount of time. The Last Card."

The icy atmosphere that Haruka gave off when he spoke about serious topics would normally emit here. But it didn't. It was warm and calm. The icy spread did not show up....

It exploded outward, causing several meters in every direction to literally form frost from the tips of grass and the wood on benches slicked over with light frost.

"Revonn. The guide that told me I would eventually meet Lambros and Thavas. I would have to... carve a path, for the last resort. Must have had something to do with them."

Haruka rolled over, facing Okuri.

"Speaking with your units comes from a bond formed with them. Not everybody chooses to accept the bond the same way, and it can honestly take time. Overlord took a few weeks before he recognized who I was and gave his power to me. The only reason Revonn or the Aqua Force paid me any mind was because of a lapse in time and..."

He nodded.

"I'm sure your units will come finding you too. Some take this as a game but once you realize there is life behind it, Vanguard takes on a whole new meaning. You know?"

Okuri sat by peacefully listening to Haruka talk. It was relaxing and engaging at the same time. Almost like he could see the things his friend described as they were explained. Stories of Lambros and Thavas, and even Overlord and others. They really were alive. He hadn't just imagined them. They were trying to reach him.

"It's an amazing tale Haruka." he said turning to face the man as he did the same. "I'd hardly believe it if I hadn't already seen my units outside of a battle. That day I was injured at the shrine they came to me in a sort of dream. But not just them, Chronojet did too. That's why I joined the tournament in the first place and was a little disappointed to have not gotten farther. Turns out that didn't matter much given what happened." he said beginning to tell his own story in return. He hadn't really described this to anyone yet had he?

"I've lived so long now Haruka that at times I just... well I was ready to go. I was so hurt, I'd kept Jessie safe. It all seemed right. But Chronojet came to me saying he wanted me to keep going and be happy for once. I didn't want to believe him. I wanted to feel alone and ready to pass but then they showed up. Great Nature that is. Almost like they were all telling me I wasn't alone. I've wanted to talk with them ever since but if they're talking I can't seem to understand them yet." he continued as he sort of instinctively pulled out the deck and shifted through some of the cards. He stopped on Sleepy Tapir. "Chronojet healed me and when I awoke this one was at my side."

Okuri finished showing the card and put the deck away, or rather the sash did. With a bit of a sigh Okuri relaxed again. "I felt determined to carry on living but it still doesn't get any easier. I've outlived many a mate and child and there's no end to my life in sight. I think I want to talk to Great Nature just so I'll always have someone around but even then I don't imagine Vanguard units are immortal." he said getting progressively more somber.

"I'm tired of living but can't go dying on anyone." he said laughing a bit to himself. "But you don't want to hear about all that. You're fighting for your happy life with a mate you can grow old with. I should be teaching you how to make a woman happy not rambling about my sorrows." he finished shifting around some.

He listened to Okuri speak of his dream with his first meeting of units and even Chronojet himself. The way the world began to spin on its head for him must have been a whole new experience. Or not. Okuri complained a bit about how he lived this endless life. He wished he could befriend the units of Cray, but then they themselves are not immortal, and neither are his current friends or past mates, and that made him dread the passing of time as everyone grew old and passed, but he himself would not.

Haruka nodded, listening quietly. The last comment made him chuckle, then he shook his head dismissing the joke. He pried at the heart.

"It hurts the living to lose their closest, as it hurts the dying to pass on without fulfilling those last moments in life. I think in the end the pain and suffering that comes from meeting and loving and cherishing, then losing and suffering and going through tremendous pain... it's just natural. You're going to face that cycle a lot more times than any other human I suppose."

He looked over to Okuri, then back to the leaves on the branches above.

"The past makes you want to die of depression, the future kills you out of anxiety, so by elimination the present is likely the happiest time."

Haruka closed his eyes, the quiet calm of the park taking over. If his words sounded morbid, that wasn't at all his intention. He was meaning to convey that perhaps taking the approach of simply existing in the present and taking it for all its worth is all one can really do if they wish to be happy.

"How eloquent. I've tried to tell myself similar things for decades and it works for a time. Then I get to thinking. Always thinking. My mind begs for more to think about when there's nothing. Even when I've thought of everything once or twice it just keeps going. Always active yet accomplishing little. Decades have felt like weeks and vice versa." Okuri began. He appreciated Haruka's attempt to understand and help.

"Thinking on it despite teasing you about it I ought to look into finding a new mate. It's always helped to have someone at my side to love and talk to. You're lucky to have a woman like Hikari, don't ever take her for granted. It's a precious bond you two are forming. One I can't escape even centuries after losing some of them." he said as he rested his head down on his crossed front legs. The memories of past lovers always brought a mixture of happiness and grief. A smile occupied Okuri's face but his eyes were watering up. Not quite tears just a sign that the people in his past still meant something to him today.

"You know I think you're right. Today's been a good day, my own restless mind aside. So were you on your way to the base? I'm not sure of much of anything that's gone on there today. I might have gone back to nap earlier but here seemed like a nicer spot." he said as his mind decided to let the memories and associated thoughts rest again.

Haruka still felt tinges of guilt knowing he would never be able to understand the kind of unending agony Okuri may be facing, or faces on a regular basis in his position, but he wanted to believe that he could help in some way, even if in reality he had no idea.

He nodded at Okuri's comment. A decade feeling like a week must be absolutely mind-blowing on the spectrum for Haruka's mind to understand. A decade is an achievements worth of time for him, but to Okuri? Just another speck of time passing through.

"I won't ever take her for granted. Not again."

Haruka tried his best to stray from getting somber when memories of the incident with Hana and Yukino disappearing to Cray came dripping through the cracks of the cemented wall Haruka had built to escape that sort of past.

"Thank you. Today was relaxing to say the least. As for the base, I was actually quite literally just strolling to my favorite bench to do what I did here. Think about life. Maybe catch some zzz's. Nothing particularly important."

He shrugged, his back and shoulder's running against the soft blades of grass.

"I'm sure eventually time will learn to move slow again. Then everything will okay."

Mostly words to close out that conversation, Haruka wanted to leave Okuri with any form of security he possibly could, full-well knowing that it wouldn't make the difference. Maybe just a quirk Haruka had developed, but he wanted everything to be okay for everyone, not just himself anymore.

Haruka reminded Okuri of many things he found fascinating about humans. Despite his inability to really grasp Okuri's experience Haruka was once again trying to help comfort him, to help him feel better. Whatever it was humans wanted to at least try to understand. And if that wasn't possible they still sought a way to help. Some of them anyway. The less self-centered ones at the least. There were times Okuri hardly understood what he was going through what hope did any human have of relating to it? But that lack of understanding didn't seem like it would get in the way of his friends trying to help him. For a moment Okuri thought he caught sight of one of the members of Great Nature again. More friends standing by to reaffirm the thought it would seem.

"I wonder how exactly it is I want time to move. I feel as though there have been times I've wanted it to accelerate its march to a blinding speed and yet others I've wished it would slow to a crawl or even stop entirely. Perhaps something to take up with Chronojet next I see him." he said with a bit of a laugh. He had no idea when next he would see the dragon if ever. Especially given the circumstances of his appearance and departure at the tournament. Okuri was soon occupied with another large yawn.

"Thank you for stopping to talk with me Haruka. It means a lot that you should consider me a friend or worry about me. Feel free to stay as long as you like but do excuse me if I stop responding." he said as he shifted some more into what felt like a comfortable napping position. His mind was relaxed now, sleep would probably come quickly to him. Best to make the most of the opportunity.

After losing sight of Aoi a bit ago Aedan had gone to the hotel he'd be staying at for while he was here to sleep everything off, though... During the night he kept having the same nightmare over and over... There was a girl at his feet, someone who he recognized but didn't know from where... Another girl over the body of the other... Blood stained his hand, a blade in his hand. It flashed forward to another scene, up on stage, another person dead on her back on stage, he standing over the body as well... One more flash, and he was standing over a man this time, his face clouded. He was... thanking him for killing him?... Before disappearing, Aedan sitting up in a cold sweat.

Afterwards he'd tried talking to Ezel about it, but the Lion refused to answer, even going so far as dismissing it as nothing more than a bad dream. And maybe it was, but why was it bothering the Irish kid so bad?... Sitting down on a bench by himself, he sipped quietly at the coffee he'd brought with him, staring off into space.

Mirai wandered around the city. Flying around mindlessly. Her travels ended her up at the park. It was... beautiful. Where she stood, by the lake, she was able to remember how this beautiful place became a horrendous scene filled with chaos and destruction. All she wants is to save this world from the dangers she had once faced. The Seed isn't sure if the disruption of time and with her existence have altered the future and therefore her future no longer exists. Even if that is 99.9% true, there is that .1% that her future can still repeat itself. But which said is truly able to save the world? Can Harbinger save the world by simply deleting everything from existence or can the Resistance do it by ridding of the Reaper threat?

She looked up at the sky as she saw a few birds flying around, free from any kind of restraint, having no care in the world. Mirai closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. What can she do?

"-uri wake up..." a voice called to a slowly stirring Okuri. Upon awakening Okuri saw Researcher Fox in front of him only for the unit to disappear with a smile not long after. Before he could question what was going on he took note of the reality bangle at the base of his tail going nuts. There were Reapers attacking. Reapers plural, that didn't sound good. There was a location given and they needed to be on their way.

Okuri turned to his friend Haruka who was still nearby and began nudging him in case he had fallen asleep as well. Shame such a relaxing day had to come to this. "Wake up Haruka. Reapers are attacking, we need to go!" he said as he moved him. The resistance would need everyone possible in order to fend off multiple attacks.

Rather than asleep, he was in a very heavy daydream, mostly thinking of what to do with his free time after the Reapers stop trying to kill them every few minutes. He jolted up almost immediately, not realizing that Lambros and Thavas had been trying to tell Haruka something similar but they couldn't reach their commander through his awful daze.

"H-Huh? What? A-Alright let's go!"

He stood up, dusting off the back of his jacket and looking to his units who were already trying to lead the way there. Looks as if the battle being taken to them wasn't exactly a clean one either....

It was more than one.

Haruka was sweating before he even started his sprint down the road. Haruka had taken up free-running in his free time at the Espoir estate in order to keep up with other counterparts like Karin who has infinite endurance and Yukino who can now quite literally jetpack her way to places. Haruka needed a mode of transportation too.

In this case, railings, walls, buildings, cars, and the occasional human body assuming they're in the way and he can't divert the momentum elsewhere.

Aedan, having gotten to the fight late... Lamented his tardiness, and inability to help anyone... He failed the entire Resistance by being late. He didn't even get to help fight he just... Failed. That was it. And the end, the gruesome end that lead to everyone retreating... Yukino being erased before his very eyes. Flashes of blood soaked hands, death plagued his mind... Why was he seeing these things? The ringing in his ears... his head... It became to much, and he nearly collapsed, falling against a tree and holding his head. "Make it stop..." he groaned, curling up into a little ball, shutting his eyes.

Cold wind blew, Aoi shivering and rubbing her arms while traversing. The world was literally encased in ice in her eyes, and she just wanted it all to melt down. She wanted the sun's rays to thaw everyone out, so they could live again. Of both timelines. The second one Aoi didn't understand... She isn't Cyan. Cyan is probably frozen too. She's not Cyan, she's not Cyan, she's not Cyan. Aoi noticed Aedan in the distance - this was the park, but it looked freezing and slippery. Carefully approaching the Irish Champion, she huffed a cold breath of air.

"Aedan?" She called out to with no cute nickname this time. Rushing over after seeing him in pain, she quickly equipped a gumball. "Aedan!" The prodigy yelled, offering the candy as she approached. "Are you okay?!"