Micchi Versus the New World - Chapter 141

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Chapter 141

Chika came straight to us. I met her fist with Sacchan. The earth-shattering force rippled past me and blew open the throne doors. She whirled around with a roundhouse kick to Yui, who ducked and returned an upward lightning strike with her nunchuck. Chika reared back to avoid it, then headbutted Yui away.

I swung for Chika's head, but she caught Sacchan and clenched hard. Her hand froze over, consuming the entire bat down to my hands in ice. I couldn't let go. She flashed a smirk and drove her other fist into my gut.

The lights went out for a second. Next thing I knew, I was staring up at the cracking ceiling. My chest and stomach was tight with pain. Chika appeared overhead. I rolled away, and her foot dropped like a guillotine where my head was moments ago.

"Yui…" I croaked, pointing Sacchan in the direction of her limp body.

Healing magic flowed across the floor towards her until Chika picked me up by my neck. She wrenched Sacchan from my hands and tossed it over her shoulders.

"You're just so weak," Chika whispered slowly into my ear so I could hear her voice dripping with disappointment. "Is this really all you can muster, Micchi? How can you protect anyone the way you are now? You used to have a fire in you that burned like the sun. Now? Like a frozen moon. There's a reason the strong survive. Those people you care so much about down there, I'm going to take my time turning this playground into a battleground for them. Just like at Motonari. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

I grabbed her wrist and met her gaze with a grin "Yeah. That sounds like fun alright… but this life ain't for all of us. We gotta accept that so the ones not cut out for it don't get hurt. And… you're wrong about one thing … I ain't weak. The people I care about don't make me weak. I'm stronger for it."

Chika clicked her tongue. She slammed me into the floor and wailed into me with her fists. Each hit was like a wrecking ball from Anya's enhancing powers. Chunks from the ceiling crashed down around us. They hurt so fucking bad, I must be blacking before every impact.

My mind wandered to our past, back when Yui and I were still brats. What did they call this? Life flashing before your eyes? I saw Chika comforting Yui, who was crying after falling and bruising her knee. I tasted the savory shrimp cup ramen Chika stole from the store to feed me. I felt the warmth of her hugs, shielding me and Yui from the cold.

At some point, Chika had stopped. Her knuckles were wet with blood pouring from my face. Maybe, just maybe, I saw her hesitate.

"What are you smiling about?" Chika asked.

Was I smiling? Shit. It was hard to tell because my cheeks were swollen. All I felt was a biting pain all over myself.

"I guess… I'm just happy," I said honestly.

"There's nothing happy about losing. You're losing it." Chika clenched her fist, filling it with magic like one of Kaoru's explosive kicks.

"Not because I'm losing… because I… finally got a chance to fight you, Anego…"

Chika's fist stopped centimeters away from my face. The magical energy gathered to a small point on her knuckles sputtered out.

"Calling me anego when I'm beating the snot out of you. Maybe I really did knock some screws loose," Chika said softly.

For a moment, the entire chamber was silent. We looked each other in the eyes and saw our own reflections.

Then I slugged Chika across the face. She rolled across the throne, coming to a stop against a fallen piece of rubble. After getting to my feet, I spat out a loogie of blood and cracked my neck.

I wiped the blood off my chin. "The screws… started coming loose when my old man beat the ever living crap outta me. Bruised ribs were just another Tuesday. Try having your head used as an astray. I knew to raise my fists since I was still in diapers. What did that do? He beat me even more. I had no choice. The moment I let them down, it was over. You're the one who tightened those screws back. Set me straight. Now we're returning the favor— Get the fuck up, Yui!"

The lightning bolt appeared behind Chika faster than she could react. Yui kicked her so hard, she went flying into my stiff-arm.

"Anego!" Yui tossed Sacchan to me.

"I can take the pain because it makes me stronger!" As soon as I grabbed it, Yui joined me with her charged up nunchuck.

Together, we brought both of them down on Chika. She crossed her arms to block our swing. A massive discharge of lightning and fire cratered the ground beneath her. Everything shuddered, and the sound of cracking stones intensified.

The walls and ceiling all came crashing down. Sunlight beamed down on us. A frigid breeze reminded me of the day Chika had left.

"Did that… do it?" Yui asked.

An arm popped out from the debris. We backed away as Chika crawled out like she was emerging from the pits of hell. Her clothes were ruined and her hat was missing. Disheveled hair covered her face but couldn't hide the blood dripping from her nose.

"Still standing after that? God fucking damn." I nearly keeled over until Yui put my arm around her shoulders.

"You two… need to get a grip if you think I'm going down so easily." Chika stood tall and proud as she walked towards us.

Yui and I threw ourselves into battle again, but Chika was somehow sharper and more agile. She ducked my swing and buried a fist into my stomach. I went down, but my vomit came up. Yui fared better, avoiding Chika's attacks with her speed. However, the longer that continued, the slower Yui became. Her legs were giving out, then she made a misstep.

Chika predicted where Yui would appear and snatched her in mid-attack. She pummeled her into the already fissuring ground.

"When we fought together for fun, I was always holding back. You were kids after all. You're older now. Old enough to understand the consequences. Watch closely, Micchi. You can't protect the weak forever." Chika lifted her foot over Yui's knee.

"No, stop!" I cried. "You know more than anyone… don't you fucking do that to Yui… I swear to fucking god, I'll rip your throat out!"

She scoffed. "Then do it."

Just when I thought Chika was about to break Yui's legs, something else cracked instead.

"Chika… You leave… Yui the fuck alone…" Anya was awake. Her right arm had broken out of the restraints. Pushing against the magic thorns, she grabbed the primordial lifecrystal and shoved it back into her chest.

The Dragon of Tohoku flew from the cloud of dust and tackled Chika away before she could stomp on Yui's leg.

"Anya!" I shouted.

Anya glanced over her shoulder with a big dumb grin. "Promised you guys, didn't I? I'll always be there to protect you! Get Yui. I got a bone to pick with Chika."

I hurried over to Yui, and she was thankfully fine. Just a little winded from being slammed into the ground.

"Ugh… I'm seeing stars, but it isn't nighttime yet…" Yui groaned.

The fight between Anya and Chika was a slugfest. Anya's punches roared like dragons, and Chika withstood all of it.

"Now that you're awake, are you going to tell them? Or am I?" Chika broke away and asked.

Yui and I traded glances.

"Tell us what?" Yui asked.

"Chika…" Anya lowered her fists and backed up to us. "Wants Micchi to kill her."

"What?" I choked out.

She continued, "This whole fight, bringing you here, pissing you off… It's a bait to get you to deal her the killing blow. All because she's a little shit who hasn't stopped pitying herself for something that wasn't her fault."

When we turned to Chika, she didn't even try to refute it. Anya wasn't lying. Chika was dead serious. Everything? Sending us to this world and starting a war just to get me to off her?

"There's only one way this ends, Micchi. I won't stop. You either beat me for good, or I turn this world and everyone you care about upside down," Chika warned.

"As if we're going to let you." Anya cracked her knuckles.

"Chika… " Yui's face contorted with anguish.

Clenching my fists, I pushed them both aside to face Chika.

"Micchi, wait—" Anya tried to grab me, but I brushed her hand away.

"Chika wants, so I'll finish it." I handed Sacchan to her, then raised both fists. "We're doing it the old fashion way."

"Oh? Do you have it in you, Micchi? To end my life in order to protect others?" Chika asked tauntingly.

I breathed deep through my nose and spat on the floor. "Shut the fuck up and put your fists up."

We met each other halfway. Our jackets and hair fluttered wildly from the strong winds. Despite all the commotion going on, I was suddenly at peace. The sound of my heartbeat was all I heard.

Chika dealt the first punch. I weaved out of it and threw my own. It connected with her cheek. Dazed, but not beaten, she planted her feet down firmly to stay standing. A left hook caught me in the stomach and knocked the wind from my lungs.

I saw the right straight coming. A punch with enough power to cause earthquakes. Instead of dodging, I dug my heels into the ground and rammed my forehead into it. I blacked out for a second.

"Micchi!" Yui and Anya shouted to me.

Their voices brought me back to consciousness. Both Chika and I recoiled from that hit, making this my only chance.

"Fuck you, Chika!" I balled up a fist with the pain and emotions, of the unchecked rage I buried deep inside me, the memories I held dear of the big sister in front of me, and put them all behind the fiery punch. It connected with Chika's face, driving her into a pile of rubble.

My legs gave out. I fell to my knees, gasping to fill my lungs again. Yui and Anya rushed to me and helped me up.

"I think you got your point across," Anya joked.

"Bring me to her," I said.

We walked there slowly, but every little movement wreaked havoc all over me. A weight lifted from my shoulders, standing over Chika. She sat upright against a slab from the fallen ceiling and didn't so much as try to get back on her feet.

"It's your win," Chika managed to say. "I don't have an ounce of strength left in me to stand up…"

Tears welled up at the corners of my eyes, seeing her like this. Yui was tearing up, too.  After all, Chika had always been the one on her feet. I couldn't recall a time she lost a fight. No one could.

I fell as soon as I left Yui and Anya's arms. Bracing against the pain, I crawled up to Chika and sat next to her.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" I asked her.

"I… wanted to see you two grow up strong, and you did." Chika smiled.

Yui, unable to hold back her own emotions, threw herself into Chika and cried.

"I missed you so much… Why did you have to leave us?" Yui wailed.

"Why, I wonder?" Chika stroked the back of Yui's head weakly. "Having you two by my side, it's slipping my mind. I almost forgot what home feels like since I've been away for so long. Maybe I'm getting old."

"Chika, they deserve to know," Anya said.

We looked up at the person we called our big sister.

"Yui, Micchi… I'm dying. The primordial lifecrystal keeping me alive will deplete soon," Chika confessed.

My heart sank. If I hadn't known pain before, I knew now.

"Wait, but what about the other lifecrystals?" I asked desperately.

Chika shook her head. "Like the lifecrystal I first took from Sacchan and put it in me, they won't work. The one I came to this world with was special, took it from some cocky god."

Which explained why the gods like Lyria and Fade were weak.

"I don't have much time. Can you do me one last favor? Bring me over," Chika said, casting a look towards the throne.

The three of us hesitated. That this could have been a trap crossed our minds, but Chika was practically half-conscious.

"I'll carry her," Anya said and let Chika lean on her on our way up.

"No," Chika said. "Not that one. The smaller seats. You have to extract the primordial lifecrystal from me before it dries up. If you want to go back to Japan, you're going to need all of them… including the ones from your weapons."

"If we take the lifecrystal from you now, aren't you going to…?" Yui choked up and couldn't finish her sentence.

"I will with or without it, Yui. I'm sorry." She avoided looking her in the eyes during the apology. "It's better this way. I caused a lot of harm, and I need to make up for that."

However, Yui stopped Chika from sitting down by embracing her from behind and squeezed. Almost like trying to keep her from leaving again. When she let go, Chika turned around and found the strength to bear hug her. They cried together for what felt like hours before finally letting go.

Both Kaoru and Ririko had fallen unconscious. Their lifecrystals floated listlessly in front of them. Anya brought Chika to a seat next to them. The magical bindings wrapped around her wrist and ankles the moment she sat down.

"Shouldn't there be one more seat?" I asked, noting that there were only two which left an odd one out.

"The only two seats left are for Anya and Yui. There was never a real primordial lifecrystal in you, Micchi," Chika said.

I stood there dumbfounded.

"Your strength," she continued and pointed to her chest, "has always been right here, and that hard head of yours. Maybe that's why every fight you faced, every bond you formed made you stronger. Stronger than all of us. Even me. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I was shocked. The lifecrystals' powers can't grow stronger, only weaker over time. Heh… you were the hero all along."

"Damn it… I don't need your cliche lines right now." I put Sacchan in Chika's hands, and she gazed upon it tenderly like an old friend.

As Yui and Anya willingly sat down on their seats, I went to pick up the discarded bokken. One tap at each of their feet created a magic circle that drew the primordial lifecrystal from their bodies, including the weapons on their laps. This time, Anya wasn't in pain. Neither were Yui or Chika.

Ten bright primordial crystals shown like the rainbow together. The tethers connecting them to each person and weapon snapped, and the crystals merged together into a single large one on the empty throne seat.

Lyria and Fade suddenly appeared to my sides.

"So this is where our power has gone?" Lyria muttered spitefully.

"How the fuck did you two escape the Celestial Bell?" I asked.

"A ripple of incredible holy energies resonated with the bell and set us free," Fade explained. "Worry not, neither of us intend to take back our powers. We would prefer not to get on your bad side… That being said, the brightest stars burn out the fastest. We can stabilize it. Whatever you intend to do with it, do it soon."

The two of them channeled their magic into the large primordial lifecrystal, shooting a beacon of light into the sky. As quickly as it formed, the column of light dimmed into a controlled glow.

"There. That should do it! See, we gods aren't so useless." Fade turned his nose proudly towards the sky.

"Hmph." Lyria spun around and vanished.

Their forms evaporated into smoke and retreated back into the Celestial Bell.

The magical bindings on everyone snapped, freeing them from their restraints. Kaoru and Ririko fell forward, but they came to consciousness soon after.

"Is that… what our crystals turned into? I don't feel any different," Anya said, staring down at her hands.

"This is it, isn't it?" Ririko asked in front of the crystal. "I'm not one for goodbyes. Never wanted to be here to begin with. I will say you got my respect for keeping your promise, Micchi."

"Later, Ririko. It's been real." I nodded to her.

Ririko looked each of us in the eyes, wiped a tear away with her arm, and touched the crystal. It flashed brightly. When it dimmed enough for us to see again, she was nowhere to be seen.

The rest of us walked up to Chika. Her face was pale. Her breaths were hoarse. But she was smiling. Yui was full on crying, bawling her eyes out at Chika's knees. She ran her fingers through Yui's hair. Once, twice… then her hand fell away, hanging limp to the side.

"Anego, you earned yourself some rest. Thanks for being there for us. We'll never forget it," I whispered as tears ran down my cheeks.

"See ya, Chika." Anya chewed on her lower lip.

Looking away, I noticed Kaoru checking out the crystal.

"There's still some power left in there," Kaoru said.

"You thinking about using it?" I asked.

"I considered it." Kaoru thought for a moment, and then shook her head. "But it won't change anything for me going back. I have people here now."

"Yeah, me too…"

Going back?

Anya had pulled Yui away to console her. I picked up Chika's unmoving body from the chair and placed her down in front of the giant primordial lifecrystal. Everyone watched as I lifted Chika's hand up to the shining surface. After a flash of light, her body disappeared. The crystal had dimmed completely and gone inert, falling down to occupy the empty throne.

"What did you do?" Anya asked.

"Not sure. It just felt right to do." I got up and grabbed Sacchan. "Let's go. We got people waiting for us down there, don't we?"

On the way out, I took one more look inside the throne room.

"Be seeing you, Chika." I grinned.

***

"One more time!" Anya said.

"You loser, just suck it up and admit you're bad at the game!" Eri teased.

"Hahh? Call me a loser again!" Anya reached across the desk to grab Eri by the collar.

I snapped awake like something smacked me across the face. My cheek stung. Like something had thrown the hardest punch of their life at me. Anya and Eri were bickering over a game of old maid. Something about this scene seemed… familiar.

Both of them stopped fighting and looked at me.

"Chika, you good?" Anya asked.

"You doze off or something? Gotta get more sleep or those wrinkles set in early like Anya," Eri warned jokingly.

"You…!"

While they started bickering again, a weird sense of longing welled up in my chest. A rush of memories I wasn't sure were mine filled my mind. They left me on the verge of tears, but most of all, I wanted to laugh. I bit back the urge.

"I can't believe that little brat," I muttered.

"Damn it, Anya… let go! Look, I think something really is wrong with Chika!" Eri said while trying to peel Anya's fingers off her collar.

I took a few deep breaths and gazed out the window. A baseball game was going on across the block.

"It's nothing," I assured them. "Hey, let's quit playing Old Maid. You guys wanna check out the baseball game over there?"

Anya and Eri swapped awkward glances.

"Sure, but Chika… You sure you're feeling alright?" Anya asked.

"Yeah. Just feeling like doing something different this time around," I said, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.