Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 39

Chapter 39: God of Storms
January 9, 2032
Suginami. The westernmost of Tokyo's special wards. Something of a hub for the Japanese animation industry, with a number of studios headquartered here.
The presence of many a poster featuring a certain silver-and-red hero hinted at another claim to fame for the ward: it was here that the very first episode of the original 'Ultraman' television series was screened, a day before its first public broadcast.
And much as in that iconic series, destruction and mayhem were now rampant in Suginami and all its neighboring wards.
Battle-hungry Wolfpack thugs paraded through the streets in search of a battle. With most of the fighting concentrated in the more central wards, they marched to the east.
Some stayed behind. Some, like Masayoshi Kawagami. Hands on his cane, shady cloak fluttering, he stared down his wayward sister, Kirumi. The nerves were apparent on her.
"Dear sister. How have you been? Has Uri been well?" the menacing CEO asked.
"Don't pass my son's name across your mouth, asshole." Tan stepped in front of Kirumi.
"Ahh, the oaf. Looking at you up close, I have to wonder how inebriated my sister was that night. Or how deplorable Kagerō Minakata was by comparison."
"Enough with pretending to be pleasant!" Kirumi stepped in front. "Tell me now! Is it true? Did you really murder Ichiban?!"
"'Murder' is too strong of a term." Genji stepped out from the shadows, adjusting his glasses. "Handing an insurrectionist his due punishment is much more apt."
"How could you?! What are you hoping to gain from any of this?! Ichiban is dead, and so is Heiwa! How many of us have to line your path before you're satisfied?!"
"Sister, sister." Masayoshi closed his eyes. "I've told you all millions of times. There is nothing we should not sacrifice in order to preserve our family's dynasty. Our destiny--our birthright--is to rule. I would gladly lay waste to all we've built, if what would come from it was far greater."
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Your siblings are dead! How does that not bother you?!" Tan demanded.
"I doubt a commoner from an unremarkable background could understand the concept of a profound legacy, so let me explain--" Genji responded.
"Nah, let *me* explain, cuz I'm tired of you elitist pricks talking down about my family."
"Wait, Tan..." Kirumi tried to calm him.
"Let me say my piece. I guess compared to pampered jerks like you, my family doesn't look all that impressive. So let me inform you of the Kubo and Hanazaki clans' proud history. My mother's family has been perfecting the art of flower arranging since the days of Lady Kanehime, the Oda Clan's personal gardener. And my dad's family have been successful market owners since the days of Lady Umeko--Kyoto's finest onna-musha. I won't pretend that we had the same kind of privilege you all did, but I won't sit here and listen to you belittle where I came from after the shit you've just admitted to."
"Pfeh." Masayoshi scoffed. "How interesting. You talk as if you are confident of winning. However, from where I stand your allies are in a rather precarious spot. And no...trite family history can change the dire here and now."
Over on the south side, Zhenlong loomed over Shūjo and Hiyoko. Even while standing a good distance away, his towering size was obvious.
"The boat captain. Looking rather well for a maimed man. On top of having one more hand than when I left you." the dragon lord proclaimed.
"Call it a gift from your side of things. I asked for something I could punch you with, and I got it." Shūjo replied.
"Hah. Many men have tried, using the finest armaments known to man. And here you stand with naught but your bare fists. I respect your bravery. Just what would be expected from an underworld lord."
"You're making too much of me there. These days, I'm just a normal businessman. One that doesn't like leaving debts unsettled."
"Good. Exactly what I want to hear. I want all of your rage. A good battle is nothing without--hm?"
Zhenlong tried lifting up his sword, but it and his arm remained in place.
"You're forgetting who else is here." Hiyoko's eyes glowed.
"I did not forget. I simply..."
With a brief struggle, Zhenlong's sword arm pointed upward. "...care little."
Neither Hiyoko nor Shūjo could believe it. "What...?! I nearly doubled the gravitational force...how..." she questioned.
"You seem to be under the impression that I am an opponent akin to any you've faced. To the dragon tribes, I am a GOD." Crimson energy sparked around Zhenlong. "And to the Immortal Dragon King, a feeble trick such as this is *nothing*."
He swung his sword down, launching a red wave of energy towards the couple, leading to an explosion of debris.
In Shinjuku, Noir listened in. "Hark! Mayhaps the wyvern lord hath already begun his rampage! Such an impatient fellow, that one."
"He ain't the only one. You gonna actually try attacking me, or you gonna spend all day hitting me with those sole...uh, sully...you wanna help me out here, tabby cat?" Ibuki asked.
"Soliloquys." Tabby replied.
"Yeah, that. So you wanna go, scrawny?"
"I shan't turn down such a bold challenge as that, milady!" Noir landed in front of Ibuki, and put up his fists. "Now come! If it is fisticuffs you desire, I shall gladly oblige--"
Ibuki promptly punched him hard in the face. He grabbed it.
"ARGH! WHAT WAS THAT?! AT LEAST ANNOUNCE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FIRST! YOU BROKE MY NOSE, YOU BLOODY COW!" he yelled.
"Well then don't leave yourself wide open, dumbass! You can't swing you arms around and complain when I punch you, genius!" Ibuki retorted.
"And is it just me, or did the Shakespeare act just completely vanish for a moment there?" Tabby questioned.
Perhaps realizing they were onto him, Noir quickly backtracked. "Erm...oh wench! Oh brute of woman! Thou darest?! I shall bring mine full fury down upon thee for such...ohhh, you bitch, it's bleeding!"
Ibuki shrugged. "Really drew the short straw here, tabbers."
"I'm not entirely sure if this is an act, or if he really is this incompetent..." Tabby responded.
Noir had a realization. He saw that his blood had gotten on Ibuki's hand. His flustered anger quickly turned. His mouth curled into a wry smile. "Alas, I grin."
He turned transparent briefly, before vanishing. "Hn?" Ibuki uttered.
"What...? Where did he go?" Tabby questioned.
"....."
"Well with any luck, he's retreated. He couldn't have gone far. Should we go looking for him?"
"...aha."
"Ibuki...?"
"You needn't fret over such a matter, o maiden." 
"...!"
Ibuki turned around, her voice distorted and combined with Noir's. "For the fairest and most nefarious of Lord Johnathan's pantheon stands right before thine eyes! O, arrogant lady of the night, so rash in thy assault! Mine power works naught on those without our plane's magics...save for those exposed to mine blood!"
Tabby stepped back.
"Now, you vermin. We shall see what thine countenance looks like with a few arrows to decorate it! Ahahahahahahaha!"
In Shibuya, there was no such laughter. Only an ominous air of silence broken up only by the ticking of a pocket watch. Staring at it for a few seconds, Robert closed it, and returned it to his pockets. "The hour is close at hand. Until the one we seek arrives."
"We'll not allow her a single second to cast any curses upon her arrival. What shall we do in the meantime, Brother Harold?" Horace asked.
The hooded sage stared off at the two girls standing before them.
"I see. A distraction. Let us deal with them." Robert vanished, then quickly reappeared before Kat and Natalia.
"Bah, that was so fast!" the latter exclaimed.
"Your lack of fear tells me that you don't know who we are. You stand before the Brotherhood of Loki, the true heirs to our world's magical knowledge. Judging by your outfits, I would assume you are what they call...cosplayers?" Robert asked.
"Says the guy who looks like he just stepped out of a Critical Role stream!" Kat responded. "You hearing this nutball, Natty?"
"Wouldn't be the first crazy person in a hood we've run into." Natalia replied.
"'Natty', eh?" Robert looked closer at the two. "I thought I felt a surge of irritation at the sight of you both. You remind me of the Arch-Witch and her obnoxious guardian."
"Figured you would know Emmy. So, what's the grudge, slim? She hand you your ass and walk away?" Kat asked.
"Oh, she bested me, alright. But only after I'd done what many consider impossible. I breached her ice-cold heart."
"Bleeh. That's a creepy way of saying she dumped you." Natalia responded.
Kat looked over Robert's shoulder at the contingent of mages. She whistled at them. "Yo, any of you groupies feel like doing anything but standing around like you're waiting for a band to start playing?" She looked over at Harold. "You got anything to add, chuckles?"
"Mind your tone! You speak to his lordship, Harold Dystergaard, strongest of all mages!" Horace shouted back.
"Wasn't talking to you, Jared Leto."
"Wait...didn't Emily say that her mom was killed by an old mage named Harold?" Natalia asked.
"Yeah, she did. So that's the big bad, himself."
"It's weird...he's wearing robes, but his frame doesn't look like an old man's."
"Yeah, I thought the same thing. Almost looks like a--"
"If I may interrupt?" Robert appeared suddenly behind the girls.
"Bah! When did you--?!" Natalia jumped.
"Though you may not be the ones I loathe so much, you will be a welcome distraction, nonetheless. Nobody knows when the wolf's whimsy will allow them here, so I am afraid there is no more time for idle chatter."
He took out his pocket watch, and opened it, as odd green lights began to emerge from it. "Now...there is no time at all."
---
Shinji looked at the numerous video feeds. "I was expecting a big army...but nothing like this. Just how big of a force can one crime boss have?"
He enlarged the screen showing the large coffin-like device. "And there's our ace in the hole, locked away with no means of escape. With our *other* ace locked on the other side of the multiverse."
He took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes. "We're really in it deep now, aren't we? Is there seriously no way for us to win now?"
"I don't believe that's true." Carrie replied. "So long as we live, there is hope, no matter how dire things have become. Though it would be foolish to say that I have no concern. There must be something we can do..."
Shinji had a realization. "Maybe there is."
He typed away. "Bingo. That barrier is an electronic generation instead of a magic one. And its source is...right there. Tokyo Tower."
"Can we shut it down?"
"I can try to...dammit. Our signal isn't strong enough from down here. We'd have to actually go inside to shut it down. Meaning we'd...have to leave and somehow get through the streets filled with murderous thugs."
"Hmmm." Carrie looked at her own feed. "Okay. I've found a route that's not so densely packed with enemies. If we stay hidden, we could...no, I couldn't do that. I don't want to put you in any more danger."
"Kinda threw that out the window when I decided to stay here. Us normal people should have some kind of say in what happens to our city, right? If it means we have a shot at winning, I'll take the risk."
"If you're absolutely certain. I'll protect you to the absolute best of my abilities. Although..." Carrie looked at the video feed. "I wonder if there's any more we can do for Professor Kubo."
"Looking at our options, getting the magic patrol here needs to be the priority. Kubo's gonna have to hold on in there for a bit longer. Knowing her, she might just find a way out of there on her own."
Shinji packed up his laptop. "Alright...time to be reckless."
The two exited the basement, climbing up to the storefront. "There shouldn't be too many enemies around thanks to...oh, geez." Shinji uttered.
Visible outside the store windows was much more than signs of battle on the streets and walls. Kawagami mercenaries and Wolfpack soldiers alike were spread out everywhere, not moving. One was visibly slumped against the door.
Only one Wolfpack member remained, and was backing away from something. "Th-think I'm scared of you?! The Wolfpack don't fear nobo--"
A crimson sword flew at and impaled him in the head, and he fell down. A figure coated in shadow walked above him, and pulled out the sword. Her eyes glowing red, she stared at Carrie and Shinji. The latter flinched.
The shadowed girl turned her head, then leapt away without a word.
Shinji let out a breath. "I saw my childhood flashing for a second there. Let's get out of here."
Carrie opened the door, and the soldier slumped against it fell inside. An open stab wound was visible on his chest.
"God...!" Shinji covered his mouth. "You sure your friend's gonna be fine after this?"
Carrie closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'd struggle to imagine any of us being completely fine after this. Let's hurry, Sensei."
They stepped over the body, Shinji apologizing as he did so, and headed into the increasingly chaotic city.
---
Inside the containment unit, Rin sat on the ground. Though she'd quickly realized that trying to force her way out would be pointless, her knuckles were nonetheless bloodied by the attempts she did make.
It wasn't that she didn't have faith in her allies, far from it. And it wasn't as though they were completely reliant on her strength alone.
To be held powerless, unable to help as this merciless enemy ravaged everything she'd ever known, was what truly ate at her. And it would only be a matter of time before the composure she was displaying would start to crack.
There was nothing else to do. All that was left was a long, cold wait.
---
2016
Karakura Department of Corrections.
"What in the world were you thinking?!" Hana demanded from behind a glass panel.
"I'm sorry, Ma." Tan uttered, sitting on the other side of the glass, garbed in a prison jumpsuit.
"Holding a store up at knifepoint? Are you ACTUALLY kidding me?! After *everything*, that's your idea of getting rich quick?"
"Ma, I--"
"I don't want to hear it! You're so unbelievably lucky I found a lawyer willing to work for free, because otherwise we'd be in an even deeper hole than we already are! Did the thought ever cross your mind that things could go south and you could do to someone what that reckless boy did to your father? Well, did it?"
"I'm sorry Ma, I just couldn't take seeing you struggling anymore, and I...wasn't thinking."
Hana put a hand to her face. "Kaito must be stirring in his grave. We raised you better than this. Now Tohru and Ringo have to hear that their brother is a felon. How are we supposed to deal with that on top of everything else? And what if one of them gets the same sort of thoughtless idea in their head?"
"They won't do that. Toh might have attitude issues, but he's smarter than that. And Rinnie's too much of a good girl. They won't try anything dumb like I would."
"One can only hope. Now I suppose I have to make sure of that on my own for the next three-to-ten years. I just want to know one thing. Were you planning on spending any of that money on yourself? For say, singing lessons?"
"Since when do I need singing lessons?! But, no. It was all gonna go to paying the bills. That was the plan, anyway. I know it's not what you or Dad would've wanted, but I thought if I could at least put it to good use..."
Hana sighed. "You can be such a fool sometimes. And other times it feels like I'm talking to your father. I truly hope this doesn't become a repeated problem. Then I'll know you're lying to me."
"I won't do this ever again, Ma, I swear. No more being boneheaded, honest."
"For your sake, I hope you're right." Hana got up to leave. "Here's hoping your brother hasn't been harassing your sister in my absence. For the record, I don't believe you were trying to be selfish. But you have to be better than that. As a brother and as a man. Lest we keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. The best thing that can come from this is that it's a teachable moment. I never want to see you behind a set of iron bars ever again."
---
My mom's words hung in my head for a long time. Those three years in prison kept me away when I was needed the most. Toh dying, Rinnie almost doing the same...it keeps me awake, wondering if there was anything I could've done.
The more time's gone by, the more useless I've felt. Rinnie was off doing all these crazy things, and I couldn't do a damn thing to help out. I wished for power, and I got it, but it still wasn't enough. I've had to accept that I'll probably never be anywhere near her level. My sister is...incredible. I was crazy to think a habitual screwup like me could ever be useful to her.
But...there's no time for a pity party. Now there's more for me to protect. I'm gonna do what I should've done fifteen years ago.
Be a better brother. Be a better *man*.
Nothing for it now.
---
In the present, Tan stood guarding Kirumi.
Before them, Masayoshi struck his cane onto the ground. "This meaningless debating has exercised my patience. The punishment for tainting our bloodline is the same as willfully turning your back on our clan. Honor can only be restored through the spilling of blood."
"Then you'd best spill your own, because the greatest dishonor is what you've wrought! Don't you feel anything?!" Kirumi fired back.
"It's no use, Kirumi. Whatever humanity he might've had probably got pushed out by the wolf man. Him and four-eyes have made their bed." Tan replied.
"Disrespectful to the last. I fear for that boy having such a defiant genealogy." Genji responded.
"That will be a problem for after this. Come. Let us dispose of this mess together." Masayoshi bid.
"I am, as ever, your sword and shield, brother."
Genji's eyes suddenly took on a yellow hue, with a serpentine appearance. He seemingly unraveled into shadow particles, that proceeded to envelop Masayoshi.
What resulted from this fusion was a bulky suit of red-and-black, medieval-style armor, a large black axe in one hand and a sizeable shield in the other, the latter of which bore the Kawagami Steel logo.
"We are the invincible arms of our most ancient of dynasties! All those who stand in our way, shall be crushed beneath our heel! PERISH!" The two spoke in unison.
They brought the axe down, cracking the ground and causing energy waves to surge from the openings. Tan pushed Kirumi out of the way.
"You alright?" he asked.
"I'm alright...look out!" she responded.
Masayoshi appeared behind Tan, beginning to swing the axe. "Off with your head!"
As the axe was swung, it struck against something with a clanging sound. "...hnh?"
On either side of Tan, were a pair of ethereal red structures resembling combs. 
"Please, we have to create some distance!" Kirumi grabbed Tan and pulled him along as they ran.
"You can run as far as you wish. There is no corner of this land where we won't pursue you to. Your head will be ours, dear sister!" the armored lord boomed.
The duo took one step, before shots rang out, hitting the ground in front of them.
"Well, partner, that ain't no way to talk to yer family unless yer fightin' over Thanksgiving dinner. And I don't see no gravy anywhere." Jugo, revolvers smoking, stood atop an adjacent building.
"An officer of 'the law'. Have you come to arrest us?"
"Well, lessee...menacing, destruction of public property, a whole saloon's worth of war crimes...figure I could lock ya up on any one of those. But nah. I'm here for some good ol' fashioned police brutality."
"We will have to reconsider any future funding for the Naruki Police Department, once this city is seized."
"I'm sure we won't be missin' your 'generous' donations." Jugo pointed his weapons.
Tan and Kirumi, meanwhile, had escaped to a nearby alley. "I'm sorry for fleeing like that...we need a plan. My power isn't meant for direct combat..." she said.
"Well if you hadn't thought quick back there, my head would be rolling on the ground right now. But you're right. This isn't gonna be easy to pull off. But we can't stay here for too long. I don't know how long Jugo can hold them off by himself. Tan replied.
"I'm so sorry...I want to stand up to them. But with how my power is, I don't know how it can be done. It truly feels like I'm fighting against my family's entire history. This might truly be beyond my current abilities..."
Tan pondered his response. "(OK...time for a patented Rinnie 'Say Something Cool' moment.)" 
He put a hand on her shoulder. "...I have no idea what I'm doing." he responded.
"Huh?"
"(That came out SO wrong!)" "W-what I meant is, I'm not exactly what you'd call seasoned at this fighting stuff. It's always been Rinnie and her pals doing the dirty work. I had to put in triple overtime with my training just to feel like I could make it out of this alive. Cuz I'm tired of being on the sidelines while my kid sister's out risking her neck every time so spooky nasty crawls out trying to take over the world. Now's when I have to stand up and be a man. Especially now with so much more to fight for. It's the same thing for you, isn't it? We can't leave our kid alone with those psychos still in the picture. Kubo kids losing their parents young shouldn't become a family trait."
"Ah...you sounded so unsure, then so seamlessly confident. Is that what you would call a 'family trait'?"
"Must be. Rinnie's got it perfected at this point, though. But I mean what I said. If there was ever a time for me to make up for a lifetime of falling short, it's now. Let's kick your brothers' butts and get my sister out of that whachamacallit."
"Yes...too true. If I must be the one to pull my family out of the feudal age, then I'll do it. Whatever that hulking mass of armor is...they aren't my brothers anymore. If the Kawagami Dynasty dies today, then I'll ensure something better takes its place. No more fear."
Behind them, the building that Jugo had been standing on started to crumble to the ground.
"We're running short on time. Got any ideas?" Tan asked.
"I think I have one. A way for me to stand alongside you, so to speak. And Tan?"
"Uh-huh?"
"I love you. I don't regret the decisions I made that night in the bar. They changed the path my life was taking. And I couldn't be more grateful."
"The feeling's mutual, Kirumi. I love you, too. I'm glad my son's mom is as brave as you are."
"Thank you. Now, without further delay...Kushinada, if you would..."
At the site of the battle, the building was now nothing but rubble. Jugo got to his knees, his rancher's hat missing and himself scraped up. "Damn...I'm gonna miss that hat."
"Discarded headwear is the least of your worries." the Kawagami gestalt responded.
"Y'know, ya sure like messin' things up for a company that does a lotta buildin'. So what's the plan? Knock down as much of Tokyo as ya can so you'll get to build it back up and look like heroes for it?"
"Quite astute, for a country bumpkin. We'll rebuild this dire landscape in our image."
"Rebuild on a pile of corpses, ya mean?"
"As if the clueless public will ever know. Especially when all of those corpses will belong to your obnoxious lot. Enough prattle."
The armored lord swung his axe, and numerous snakelike beams of black energy extended out from its blade. It went through where Jugo had been kneeling, crashing into the rubble, causing it to fly everywhere, damaging nearby structures.
When the smoke cleared, Jugo had vanished.
"Hm? Not a trace left? Our power is absolute, indeed." 
"Nah, I wouldn't say that. You're just slow as shit." Tan's voice called out.
The armored lord turned to the side. Tan had pulled Jugo out of the way.
"The oaf. Managed to grow a spine in those brief few minutes? Where is our dear sister? Cowering in fear, miles away?"
"Not even close. I've got her right here." Tan gestured. His hair had been tied back, and in it was a glowing comb.
"Yer lady friend is in a...comb." Jugo uttered.
"It's a nifty trick she learned to do. Now she's got a front row seat for me wasting you creeps."
"A thoroughly useless trick, if I've ever witnessed one. Now she's infinitely easier to crush, and completely powerless. We would be laughing if it weren't so pitiful." the gestalt replied.
"You so sure about that, chum? Guess you'll have to find out for yourselves. But ah, one last thing before we tango. I should probably thank that Max kid for giving me a power boost once upon a time. But I was way overdue to have something born out of my own strength. So, with apologies to the Black Rider, it's time to raise the curtain on my *real* other self."
Tan put a palm to his face. "Hooooo..."
The wind started to pick up. Storm clouds began to gather. His eyes turned yellow. He reached for his side, and pulled out a glowing blue blade. "The divine sword Aramasa! And, without further ado...the one and only..."
Next to him, an ephemeral, green-skinned man with a wild beard and black hair appeared sporting a tattered black-and-green kimono, wielding a katana in one hand, and a bottle of sake at his waist.
"Susano-o, King of the Storm! No applause, please." Tan responded.
"What is this madness...?" the fused pair uttered.
"I've been keeping this guy bottled up for way too long. Now it's time for him to run wild. Alright, brothers of the year...let's dance!"
Tan lunged towards the armored gestalt, wind gathering around his blade. He and his Persona struck against the shield.
"What is this strength...?! Every ounce of data we'd collected insisted that your power was feeble in comparison to the others...so why...?!"
The shield began to crack. With one further burst of strength, Tan thrust the katana into it, shattering it to pieces and sending the armored foe flying. He crashed into a nearby building. As he attempted to get up, a bolt of electricity struck him, shocking him and sending him completely through the building.
"(What in the sam hell...)" Jugo thought. "(When did this goofball with his ear-splittin' tunes get this strong? Guess he is the Boss' bro, after all.)"
The gestalt lay prone on the ground as Tan appeared over him. 
"Not in any place to monologue now, are ya?" Tan asked.
"...worm."
Before Tan had any chance to react, a shadow emerged from the armor, taking the form of a snake, which pierced through his chest.
"Gk...!"
"The hell's that idiot doing, leavin' himself that open?!" Jugo observed.
The armored lord propelled himself back onto his feet, seemingly floating while doing so. "We will give you kudos for actually managing to lay a finger on us. But no more than that. At this very moment, our serpent is making its way through your entire body. It will consume everything it comes across. Your heart? Your nerves? That pea-sized object you call a brain? We will consume it all until there is nothing left. Now our dear sister can sit back on her perch and watch as you writhe in agony. Let this be a lesson to--"
The arm that the snake had emerged from was swiftly cut off. It landed motionless onto the ground.
"--any...one...?"
"Yeah, yeah, 'let this be a lesson to anyone who crosses the amazing, spectacular, sparkling and glistening Kawagami Dynasty!' That about sum it up?" Tan remained standing, unfazed by having just been impaled.
"That...that's impossible...you shouldn't have the strength left to speak, let alone stand as if nothing happened! The serpent should be..."
The area where Tan had been pierced had been closed up. 
"My old man had a saying, 'There's two things you should always have on your shoulders if you want to make it in life: a good head, and a strong woman.' Jury's out on the first one, but I've got the box checked on the second. And she ain't just an accessory."
Within his body, the remnants of the shadow serpent were ensnared and squeezed into nothing by what looked to be white, glowing rice grain.
"As long as I've got Kirumi with me, nothing you do is gonna matter. My wounds'll be fixed right up, and any kinda poison is gonna be pushed out. Guess you're not so 'absolute', are ya?"
The gestalt stood in place, eerily silent.
"What's the matter, guys? Can't stand the idea that you're having a tough time beating an 'oaf'?"
"(Stay cautious, Tan. Masayoshi would only ever get like this when he was incredibly angry. This feels like trouble.)" Kirumi's voice echoed in Tan's mind.
"....." The gestalt stayed quiet for a moment. "Are you proud of yourself? Has thoroughly embarrassing us given you a boost of confidence? Don't kid yourself." His energy flared up. "A thousand years of history stands to annihilate any who attempt to halt it!" His eyes began glowing. "To us, siblings! It is time to rend the flesh from this ingrate's bones!"
Over by the edge of town, the smoldering heap of armored vehicles lay. The one that had led the charge suddenly lit up, its headlights resembling eyes. It turned to shadow particles, floating away.
On the south side of Naruki, Fukushū was overseeing his rapidly sinking ship, as the sounds of battle raged on close by. "Hurry up before we're all eating seaweed! That giant lunatic certainly isn't helping matters at all..."
Something caught his attention. "...heh. Just couldn't manage it yourselves, could you? I have to do *everything*." He, too, dissolved.
"Wha--what happened to the captain?!" one sailor mending the hole in the ship questioned.
On a building in the center of Tokyo, Johnny overlooked the fighting. Behind him, shadow particles floated away.
"Hunh. That time already, eh? Least I don't gotta lug that thing around now."
Back in Suginami, the shadows were seeping into the armored lord, as they began to transform into a large, bubbling mass of darkness. After a few moments, an elongated, serpentine form burst out from the mass, possessing three sets of piercing red eyes. It flicked its tongue out, as four additional heads burst out alongside it. The rest of its long body soon formed, as it slapped its tail onto the ground.
"It would appear that death yet eludes me." Heikō's voice, distorted, bellowed from one of the snake heads.
"I'll take getting to eat this meddling idiot over being collateral damage for that draconic madman!" Fukushū's voice emerged from another.
"(Heikō and Fukushū, too? What kind of monstrosity...)" Kirumi uttered.
"Hold on...why are there five of them? Your sisters aren't anywhere near here." Tan pondered.
"What you see now is the true essence of the power gifted to us by the wolf man. We, our clan, are legion! This power allows me to wield all those possessing both my blood and that of the wolf man as if they were suits of armor, or further appendages! And it matters not whether they are living beings...or rotting corpses!" Masayoshi exclaimed.
The statement made it sink in for Kirumi. "(No...! Then that means that the last head is...)"
"You must realize it by now. Yes, the traitorous fool who abandoned any right to call himself a man of Kawagami is the last to join us. Now he can serve us in death. He has lost any choice in the matter." Genji bellowed.
"You rotten...can't even let the man you murdered rest in peace?! What kinda sickness are you all suffering from?!" Tan questioned.
"Enough talking, simpleton! We'll exterminate you both, here and now! Try regenerating from THIS!" Masayoshi opened his maw, as the other heads did the same. Crimson energy gathered in their mouths.
"Shit...!" Tan quickly moved out of the way, as intense beams of energy shot out at him, traveling until they ran across and obliterated a building.
The heads looked around. "Scurry and run, little rat! We'll be splitting you into tiny portions soon enough!" Fukushū exclaimed.
Shots rang out, catching the beast's attention. Then, a whistle.
"And I thought snakes were built ugly in Reno." Jugo held his guns, as several shadowy men dressed in cowboy attire stood behind him holding their own.
The giant serpent turned around to face him.
"Yeah, that's right, ya big ugly, let's have some fun. Haven't rangled a snake in a country minute." 
Jugo fired and hit one of the heads. It reeled for a moment, before shaking it off. The beast began its pursuit.
Tan watched this from behind another building. 
"(Your officer friend has nothing if not fortitude.)" Kirumi commented.
"Yeah, old Jugo's got guts of iron. Kinda have to to be a cop, huh?" Tan replied.
"(What do we do now? With that many eyes, it'll be difficult to catch them by surprise. Our strength may not be enough here.)"
"Then we just take it one head at a time. In fact, I think I might have an idea. If fists won't do the trick...hmmm..."
"(Then...perhaps words?)"
"Exactly what I was thinking. When in doubt, take a page out of Rinnie's playbook. There has to be some part of your little brother that's in there, right? I mean, your sister just got burned to ashes, but here she is, still talking. Your brother might not be in control right now, but if we can just reach out and try to get through to him...convince him to turn on the others for just a moment...it might give us the opening we need. It's insanely risky, but..."
"(In that case...)"
The comb glowed, and disappeared as Kirumi reappeared, opening her eyes. "I'll try to speak to Ichiban. If he is still in there. I need you to give me time."
"That's what I'm here for. Now let's do this before they make poor Jugo into a meal."
Jugo had led the serpent further westward, near the outskirts of the town, with the mammoth snake knocking over signs and electrical poles as it moved. Three of its heads fired beams from their mouths. Jugo dodged out of the way, but his spectral assistants were destroyed. 
"All of your options are gone, piggie." Fukushū stated.
"Not even close." Numerous shadowy arms appeared behind Jugo, wielding an assortment of firearms. They began charging. "Desperado!"
The weapons all fired, striking the serpent all across its heads and body. The heads reeled back, before returning their sights towards Jugo. The beast was leaking dark energy from where it had been struck.
"We'll have more than your badge for this." Genji flicked his tongue.
"Heh. Worth a shot." Jugo uttered.
"It will be your *last* shot." Heikō responded.
As they opened their mouths once more, a bolt of lightning crashed across their backs. "Ngh...you again?" Masayoshi turned his head, the others following suit.
"Yeah. Me again, you big ugly." Tan stood atop an adjacent building, eyes meeting with the snake's.
Kirumi came out from behind him. "Ichiban! Please, tell me there's still part of you in there! You have to help us!"
"You're wasting your breath, traitor." Fukushū responded.
"The little brother you're crying out for is dead. As dead as he was the moment I drove my hand through his heart. What little remains is only there to ensure he follows my will to the letter." Masayoshi added.
"How dreadfully ironic...he is more obedient in death than he was in life. If it had been the opposite, he might still have his own cognitive functions." Heikō mused.
"No...I refuse to believe it! Even if his body and mind are gone...if he just has a part of his soul left..." Kirumi said.
"Enough of this drivel! We'll send you to him if you miss him so much!" Fukushū swung his head down.
Kirumi braced for a hit, but Tan parried it away. Masayoshi fired a beam from his mouth, causing the building to crumble. With Kirumi nowhere in sight, four of the heads turned their attention to Tan, who had leapt to the next building.
"Alright, you bastards. Come and get some!" he exclaimed.
On the ground, a glowing comb sat. It quickly turned back into Kirumi, who was still visibly hurt. "Ngh...have to..."
The last head of the serpent bent down, coming face-to-face with her. It flicked its tongue.
"Ichi..."
It snapped its jaws.
"Please, Ichi...I know there's still a part of you in there. You sacrificed yourself so our brother wouldn't have control. You have to be fighting this! I'm sorry I wasn't there for you in the end...and I'm sorry to ask this of you when you've gone through so much pain...we need you to fight for just a little longer."
It flicked its tongue again.
"You'll always be my little brother, Ichi. The memories I have of us and Heiwa comforting each other will be with me forever. I'm sorry they've made a mockery of your sacrifice. But if you do kill me here...I won't blame you."
Kirumi hesitantly reached out, placing a hand on the serpent's snout.
"I love you, Ichi. I promise to tell Uri how brave his uncle was in his last moments if you really are listening. And if not...then the last words I utter in this life should be that I adore you. And I'm sorry."
A silence fell below. Above, Tan struggled against the four controlling heads. They alternated firing beams and taking swipes at him. For as long as he dodged and parried, eventually he slipped, and one of the beams struck him, knocking him to the edge of the building. As he tried to get up, Masayoshi's head came down towards him, opening his maw up wide.
"I will silence you this time, oaf!"
As he began to close his jaw...
...the head controlled by Icbiban swung back and clamped his own jaw around his.
"AAAARGH!"
"What the...?!" Tan uttered.
"Graaah, idiot! What are you doing?!" Genji demanded.
"Rebellious even from the grave! What a pain!" Heikō exclaimed.
The other heads took swipes at Ichiban, trying to dislodge him.
"Idiot! If you'd just kept your mouth shut and done what you were told--" Fukushū uttered.
Nobody standing knew how to respond to what was happening. Tan got to his feet.
Ichiban's head made eye contact. "Hyōtan Kubo..."
Tan was stunned. "She really did it..."
"Do it now..."
"Huh?"
"I can't maintain control for much longer...please...do it now...don't let me live on as a mindless monster...don't let them win..."
Tan gulped. "Okay. And thank you. I'm glad I can tell my son that at least one of his uncles was a good man."
He held his sword up, gathering as much storm energy as he possibly could into it.
"No...NOOOOO!" Masayoshi boomed.
Kirumi looked up.
"Kiki...thank you..." Ichiban uttered.
"...!" she gasped.
As more energy gathered in the sword, a tornado formed from the hilt up into the sky. Tan began his swing.
"AME-NO-MURAKUMO! HYAAAA!"
He swung the blade, and an explosion of electrical energy was emitted as he slashed at the snake.
As the smoke cleared out, the serpent remained still. Then, the diagonal slash mark going down its necks became increasingly visible. One by one, the five heads fell to the ground. The rest of its body dissolved away.
"I'll be damned..." Jugo looked on, awestruck.
Tan leapt down from the building. "Are you okay?" Kirumi ran to embrace him.
"Oh yeah, not even a scratch! I feel better than ever." Tan responded, laughing off his visual injuries. "How about you?"
"Physically I'm fine, but..."
She looked to the severed heads. All of them dissolved away, leaving the Kawagami siblings prone on the ground in their original bodies.
"Urgh...never should've listened to that wolf maniac...should've just stuck to...building boats...urgh..." Fukushū disappeared into shadow particles.
"Unh...to suffer death not once, but twice in one day...how utterly...ludicrous..." Heikō did the same.
"Ghh...I'll not shame our name more than...I already have...all I have done is to...preserve our dynasty...I regret nothing, and yet...I..." Genji collapsed, and disappeared.
That left Masayoshi, slumped against a dented signpost. He opened his eyes, staring at his sister. "Hnh...do you expect me to grovel? Express regret for...my own actions? I will never apologize for fighting to preserve our lineage...yes...haha...our lineage of...utter, humiliating failure..."
"So, you finally admit it." Kirumi responded. "Our bloodline is filled with treacherous minor lords and failed conquerors. All that our clan has done up to this point has ended in catastrophe. And now, here you sit. Half of our siblings dead, and you not far behind. Was any of this worth it? Sacrificing us all for a chance at false glory? Of being the king of a kingdom you yourself ruined? You could have changed history's perception of us as failures, and instead you've only added another chapter to that long, sad tale. Don't you feel any shame?"
"The only shame I feel...is that my defeat had to come at the hands of...one who ran from us. But as the loser...I am destined to be remembered as the utter failure who shamed his entire bloodline. The task of reversing that shame...now falls to you. Kawagami Steel likely dies with me...so I can only leave you with its ashes...heh...what a legacy to leave...'look on my works, ye mighty, and--'"
Masayoshi dissolved away.
"....." Kirumi was silent. She looked up, and saw Ichiban on the ground. "Ichi...!"
"Wait, Kirumi!" Tan cautioned.
Ichiban's body was already in the process of dissolving.
"Whatever strength he had left must've been used up fighting back. I'd wager there's nothing else left. I'm sorry."
"...no, it's alright. I already said my goodbye. I would just be twisting the dagger further into my heart. Now I'm only left with memories and a pile of ash. I'm afraid I just...don't have any more words." Kirumi replied.
Ichiban disappeared.
Tan noticed Kirumi struggling to keep herself composed. She was shaking. "I'm sorry. I should save my tears for when it's over, and yet..."
"I get it. I do. And you shouldn't hold it in. Seen it myself that it only makes it worse. C'mere."
Kirumi leaned into Tan. The tears began.
Jugo stood by, giving them a moment. When he saw that Kirumi was wiping away her tears, he approached. "Folks. I know this can't be an easy time. But..."
"Yeah, I know. There's still a war going on. And Rinnie's still in trouble. I'm sorry, Kirumi, but..." Tan said.
"No, I understand. Our responsibility is to the ones that are still here. Let's go find our leader." Kirumi wiped her eyes.
"She ain't far, but I saw a bunch of those goons runnin' that way. It's gonna be a nasty time. Y'all prepped for it?" Jugo asked.
"Dude, this is my sister. Hell yeah I'm prepped." Tan affirmed.
"That's what I like to hear. Right this way, folks..."
The trio headed out. Kirumi turned back to look at where they'd been fighting. "I know that if we make it past today...our future can be glorious. Brothers...sister...this is goodbye. But it isn't the end for us. I'll make sure of it."
She turned back and left.
---
Atop his perch, Johnny looked downward. "Oh me, oh my, Yoshi. Got a little cocky there, eh? Was hoping we'd have a little more fun together. Ah well. Point to the do-gooders. Enjoy it, pals."
He smirked his menacing smirk. "Party's just getting started."