The North PacificBoard

As Aozora exited the room, she heard a thud behind her. The Overlady turned back to see Sagiri on the ground, right in front of her. For a moment, she panicked- but when she saw breathing, she let out a faint sigh of relief. Aozora examined her daughter’s body. How many times, long ago, had she broken it, bent it to her will? How many times had she been able to appreciate its warmth, the first flickers of familial compassion she’d ever felt? Was this her fault? No...not entirely. Yes, she had hurt her daughter. But she’d done her best to keep Sagiri sheltered from this...perversion. Gikochinai had been allowed nowhere near her for just that purpose. And even though she’d torn that flesh apart...she’d also imbued her daughter with the gift of tenshification. But I didn’t do that for her, not at first. I did that so she would be powerful, enough to fulfil my aims. To make her obey me. She has no choice, now, but to do as I command should I push the matter. Right?

She didn’t answer herself. Perhaps Jingoist magic interfered with her own. There was no way to tell. Sagiri...what happened to you? Why do you hide things from me? Are you afraid? Do you think I’ll torment you out of spite? Or do you fear the chance of punishment? Is this an uncontrollable urge for you, to satisfy that lust, as it is for Densetsu Hachi? Aozora knew why she’d feel that way. It was in the genetics. She remembered that day, so early on, when Naosu had come to inform her of it...

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Kyoki Chudoku
Nishishima
Chuo District
Aozora Chiyumi’s Personal Palace
Media Room
Shortly after Sagiri’s arrival

The Supreme Overlady of All Reality sat upon a bloodsoaked lounge. The screen’s light flooded her eyes, the vague contours of colour forming images that made her want to shed tears and, at the same time, smash the table in front of her like a shattered test subject. It was a video she’d had Gikochinai prepare for her. Some of it was security footage. A snippet was of the accursed video she’d once so hated- but in this moment of desperation, she clung to it. It was all she had left. The only closure she’d ever be able to attain, if what she’d been told was true.

There she was, upon a screen filled with static. Her love. Her dearest. Her dearest death had snatched away from her. If death could die, she’d kill it. If it could feel pain, she’d force its mind into the Abyss and revel in its screams as it bowed to her will. But death was no longer her ally. It was intangible. Ethereal. A ghost she could not touch, let alone stab a hundred thousand times and leave to bleed in a torture cell like the rest of the filth of this world she’d disposed of. A ghost...that was all she had left. A fleeting, digital ghost, an echo of those times spent together. Right now there was a snowball fight. Snow...even seeing the snow reminded Aozora of her. Even looking upon the colour of the clouds that lingered overcast above reminded her of her. No outlet was enough to keep that grief from piercing her soul like a knife. All she could do was stare at times lost, and imagine what could have been. And every time, all it did was make her shudder. Was this an endless nightmare, from which there was no escape?

“Supreme Overlady of All Reality,” came a gentle voice, “we’d like to talk with you for a moment. If you wish to accept, of course.” It was the deceptive tone of Kiku. How Aozora envied her. She remembered why she’d so deemed the woman, naming her after a chrysanthemum- a flower of great beauty that happened to contain poison. Kiku felt nothing. Her every word was chosen for a purpose. It was a comfort to hear her voice, but a false one. Any compassion she had was the result of tenshification, nothing more. But Aozora still turned to face her. Waiting next to the pink-haired Densetsu was Naosu, surgical mask present as ever.

Aozora turned off the television and stood to face them. “That depends,” she said, voice without care, “on what you want.” In truth, this was a disruption. If they pushed her much further, she’d lash out. She didn’t want to hurt her own followers. Only Kurushimi enjoyed that, and she wasn’t one of the Densetsu who had come before her now.

“Thank you very much. I really do appreciate it,” said Kiku. “Naosu and I have a few concerns about your newest long-term project.” The girl? What about her?

“Kiku is correct,” said Naosu, clearing her throat. “While I understand your desire for the punishment of test subjects, and your belief that Sagiri may be an opportunity to assume control of Necerierra, I do not believe you understand the fatality risk of your current efforts.” She paused for a second. In some, this would be a sign of fear or hesitation. But for this perfectionist, Aozora knew it was just a deliberate wait, so that the Overlady could interrupt if she didn’t want to hear this. Her followers were both loyal and sensible.

“Just tell me what you’re worried about.”

“I do not believe she will survive if we continue this level of physical stress.” Naosu took a step closer. “Last time, four Densetsu were involved. Myself. Densetsu Ni. Densetsu Roku. And Densetsu Kyu. As instructed, I performed a live autopsy. The damage done was at the very limit of my abilities to repair. Any error, and I would have been unable to correct the damage, and she would have perished. Furthermore, Densetsu Kyu and Densestu Ni also came close to lethal damage. I cannot continue this treatment without a high risk of her death.”

“And that death would be grave misfortune,” said Kiku. “Your ambitions would be damaged. I understand you’re sad, Aozora, and you need a way to deal with that grief. But she is far from your only test subject to hurt, to kill, isn’t she? She is a useful tool. To stay that way, she needs to stay alive. A dead heir is useless to you.”

Aozora reflected. It was quite...extensive. But she did survive. I wanted to see how well she’d handle it. And she handled it well enough. Perhaps...ah. Ahhh. I know what must be done. I’ll bolster her strength and ensure her loyalty to me...if she can survive that ordeal, perhaps she has a chance of surviving tenshification…

“I’ll keep that in mind. By the way, Naosu. Did you find out anything else useful?”

“I did. Genetic screening has revealed a massive number of abnormalities. These are likely due to the irradiated nature of her environment. One is of particular interest. Activation of the gene is linked, based upon a limited sample space, with increased attraction levels. It was a major component of Project Yokubō prior to the cancellation of that biological weapon’s development. If this is indeed the case, there is a high chance that around adolescence, Sagiri will begin to exhibit unusually high hormonal activity-“

“Then that’s a problem for the future. I’m sure tenshification is enough to overcome it. Works for Gikochinai, doesn’t it?” She’d heard enough by now. She didn’t have time for this. She didn’t have time to worry about a few genes here and there right now. All that mattered was seeing her ambition through, and to do that, she needed her outlet back. If this interruption went on for much longer...

“To an extent. But you do not hesitate to provide her defilers.”

“They deserve it. In any case, thank you. I’ll think about it. Both of you. Please leave me, now. I have matters to attend to. Dismissed.” Her tone made it clear that there would be no argument, and thankfully, both Densetsu knew as much. The moment they turned around, Aozora turned the screen back on, staring at the woman who had taught her compassion...and why learning compassion was the worst mistake of her life...

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If only I’d rectified it back then. Now...her urge might be insatiable. I… she froze. In a sense, I am the same. Sadism. My sadism...it compels me to inflict suffering on others. Even now, after so long, it can get the best of me…perhaps that is it. Perhaps she just lacks the ability to control it, even now. And if she cannot keep it restrained...I need to find a way to force it to submit, to get those feelings back under control. I am a tyrant, after all. Keeping things under control is my job-

She fell to the ground, pummeled by a charging object. Her combat reflexes kicked in, but she hesitated just long enough to glimpse Sagiri against her, arms wrapped around her, warmth pressing against her. Were those...tears, leaving puddles on her cloak? Was her daughter crying? As Aozora processed this, embracing Sagiri as tightly as the girl embraced her, she saw two figures approaching. She glanced at them. One of them was Tanya. The other was...somebody? She vaguely recalled...something, but it was nothing definite. Perhaps she was just too caught up in it all, projecting things where they didn’t exist. “Good day Aozora-san,” said Tanya, with rather more timidity that usual, “I see you have...something to discuss with my sister. I...I will be on my way, good day.” She bowed as she left, leaving Aozora mildly confused. Was she normally like this? Aozora couldn’t help but see her as she had been back when she’d first returned to life, so arrogant and confident and infuriating. And now, she bowed? Perplexing. But this wasn’t the time for that. Tanya wasn’t her focus, anyway. She was here for her Sagiri.

“Mother…” said Sagiri, still crying, struggling to be coherent, “I don't…” more sobbing between tears, “I don't want to get hurt anymore. Please don't hurt me don't hurt me...I don't want to feel pain anymore. I don't want to get my organ removed and then pierced in front of me...I don't want to be burned to charcoal from the inside out...I don't want to get myself drown Mother......" Sagiri...I...I don’t want to hurt you...I… " I don't want to get drown on my own lung into the oblivion...I don't want to be whipped...It really hurts...and Mother I DON'T WANT TO BE SLASHED IN HALF AGAIN..." Spoken in desperate terror, those words hurt Aozora more than any weapon could. This was how her daughter felt about her? Dread? Panic? Mortified, desperate pleading not to go through the pain again? Even to her own daughter, Aozora was nothing more than a tormentor? "Mother...I promise to be a good daughter...I am a tenshi right? I will be always loyal to you Mother...I would even let myself away from Necerierra...But Mother...Please don't hurt me...I can't take it anymore…” My Sagiri...I...I never meant...I… ”I don’t want to feel pain and suffering mother…”

Once soaked in blood, Aozora was now drenched in the tears of her daughter. Each wound she’d given the girl was repaid with the realisation of just how much pain she’d inflicted upon the person she cared about most. She’d justified it so often, saying Sagiri needed to suffer to retain her strength, to lead with courage and survive the harshness of the world...this was not strength that she had fostered. This was a broken child, clinging to whatever meaningless happiness she could find to escape the endless memories of agony and torment that Aozora had inflicted upon her. This was the result of her cruelty- and she couldn’t bear to see it. She too was now on the verge of tears. But she held them back. She was not here to cry about her errors. She was here to rescue her daughter from this depravity.

“Sagiri…” she said, keeping her voice as gentle as she could manage, “I did not come here to hurt you. That’s the last thing from my mind. It really is. I’m here to help you, that’s all. I only want what’s best for you. It...it is unbearable to see you hurt, my Sagiri. It hurts me...to even think of it. I know, I’ve done terrible things to you...and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for that. But even so...I can’t let that sorrow prevent me from saving you now. Sagiri, you have achieved so much. You rule a nation. But I know...it feels empty, sometimes. Trust me. I know…”

She kept her grip on her daughter with one hand, but released one arm. This was no escape or attack, however. Instead, she placed it against her daughter’s hair, gently moving her hand through the silver strands. It was almost a childish gesture, but she hoped it would be at least something of a reassurance. “I know how it feels to have...urges. Mine are different to yours. You crave...you’re like Densetsu Hachi. You cannot contain your love. Your lust. My problem is the opposite. My sadism...perhaps you suffer that, too. The desire to make another suffer so you feel delight. It’s something I’ve long struggled with. But Sagiri...it can be controlled. And I know yours can be, too. All that desire...it may seem overwhelming. But you do not need to give into it. I…”

She paused for a moment. How should she proceed? She wasn’t going to hurt her daughter. That would do nothing but torture both of them. No, that wasn’t going to work. She needed something that would be enough to keep Sagiri away from these issues, and not just while she was around. But she did not want to risk a direct command. What if it didn’t work? What if it was just another form of sadistic control? There had be a less dangerous way. If there wasn’t, if it was the only path, she’d take it. For her sake. For her daughter’s sake. But if she could think of something else…

“Listen to me, Sagiri. I really do only want to help you. I’ve grown worried about you. And I see now that I was right to be. I came here concerned over politics. That’s not important right now. Only you are. I want you to do something for me, my Sagiri. All I want is something simple. Before I can help you, I need to know you as you are now. No secrets. No half-truths. No self-delusions. Just the truth.” She stood up, still embracing her daughter. It was a warmth she’d longed for, she realised. If only she could have it in different circumstances. “I want you to explain to me exactly why things have become as they have, how you feel, what drives you to do these things. I need to know the nature of the problem before I can try to fix it. I am not here to harm you, Sagiri,” she said again, hoping that she was right, “only to help. But that means I must make a choice here and now. And my choice is this. No matter how many tears each of us sheds, I will be honest. I will be harsh. I will be these things because it is the only way to fix this, to make things better for us both. When I first met you, I spent too long making you suffer. When I came to love you, I spent too much time afraid that I would make you suffer. I softened. I become lenient. But in time, I became too lenient. This is my chance to rectify that. To do what a proper mother should. To care without bowing, to do what must be done, even if it hurts me inside. So, my Sagiri...let’s fix this. Shall we? For the good of both of us…let’s fix this...”

Sagiri keeps crying and crying...Nothing really matters for her anymore, Her life will be over anyway...Her mother will be so angry that they will go back to torture her into oblivion. She can feel it, Aozora's hand is removed from locking Sagiri's body...here it goes... she fully expects a world of hurt she so deserve, but instead Aozora...caresses Sagiri. "Mother..." Aozora goes on to explain, how...how torture is the last thing on her mind, and apologizing about her past action. But that torture is too make me strong right? I am strong and powerful, Sagiri thought to herself. “Listen to me, Sagiri, I need to know you as you are now. No secrets. No half-truths. No self-delusions. Just the truth." Sagiri looks and reflects this statement,No Secrets, but I...I have a lot of embarrassing ones. Aozora keeps going on...telling that she will not be lenient but will nevertheless help Sagiri like a mother should...mother should...like a mother should...

Sagiri may or may not just know the problem of this endeavour. That something needed to fill her void she called heart. "Mother....with everything I have done...I...I need more time to...to tell you everything I do, and everything I have...For tonight, please Mother, accompany me to sleep." Sagiri just realized she might word it bad..., "No not in that way Mother, I need your embrace for a while." Both Sagiri and her mother gets up from the floor that is puddled with tears and whatever fluid Sagiri was on. They quickly go back to Sagiri's room, The PC is still open and the browser gives an inappropriate content. She doesn't care about it for now. Sagiri doesn't want this tragedy to happen again...Mother seeing Sagiri at her utmost vulnerability...The Empress realize that she needs to reform herself, how hard it may be. They quickly snuggled into the bad together, Sagiri lays on it, while Aozora is by her side, giving Sagiri the most wholesome embrace...An Embrace that has happened to a long time.

8 years ago

Sagiri was walking to the dining room. She was back from her annual training of withstanding torture from Naosu, she doesn't look affected at that time. Compared to when she was 6 yeas old, the torture is much...much more painful today, but with her successful Tenshification, she becomes completely loyal to her Supreme Overlady Aozora Chiyumi, for her, pain is just meaningless compared to her infinite mercy of letting her live, everything she said and order must be for the good of the universe.

When she enters the dining room, she seen Her Overlady, Aozora, is sitting and dining on the far side of the table. She waits patiently outside, she must not bother Aozora with her petty squabbles, after all, Aozora is the one taking her in to Kyoki Chudoku, and later Sagiri found out about how dastardly Sagiri's "mother" is, sleeping with multiple men, and giving no care about her children's well being. Here, everything Aozora has done is for the good of Sagiri, been given power and resilience, all of this to empower the nation of Kyoki Chudoku...her life, her empty life will be for Kyoki Chudoku. "Ahh My Sagiri, Please...take a seat, have a dinner with me." "With Pleasure My Lady" It is strange...Why would an Overlady unusually called someone as insignificant as Sagiri to come have a dinner with her...and the way she calls Sagiri, My Sagiri. I should have no doubts about My OverLady, she is right that I am hers...to be used as life shield and sword of her...to die knowing I protect overladyy... Sagiri looks at the dinner given to Sagiri, A Soup of Venison, and from slurping the broth, it tasted good, despite that doesn't matter anyway, her tastebud is not something to enjoy, she can't help but to protest, "A Thousand Apologies My Lady, but I can't have this dinner, Kyoki Chudoku is very utilitarian and I am as a loyal servant doesn't deserve this meal, I am already fine with a boiled potato for my everyday nutrition." Aozora orders her to eat the food though, Sagiri gladly do it...anything for her overlady...

After the delicious but ultimately meaningless dinner, Sagiri waits there, waiting for Aozora's order to go back to her dinner to get her energy back for tomorrow's training. Instead, Aozora asks her a question, "Sagiri, what is the purpose of your existence?" It is an easy question, "My whole live is to protect and serve you, My Lady Aozora. My Power is given by you and therefore I will use it to protect you from any rising threat and giving my whole life for~" "No." Aozora suddenly responds. "N-No?" Sagiri shakingly responds back, "Bu-But my lady, isn't that the purpose of my existence is to be as a loyal disposable soldier? That I will rule Necerierra under your beautiful order and~" "That is your objective, Sagiri...Your purpose is..." Sagiri looks at the Supreme Overlady again? Why is she so...bewildered? Did she say something wrong? Sagiri thoughts.

Aozora stands up from her seat, walking towards Sagiri, "Stand here Sagiri" She points to an area beside the chair Sagiri is sitting. Will I get a new punishment and torture? This is my fault for objecting against The Supreme~ her train of thought is cut off, by Aozora herself, going right to Sagiri, and kneeling, making them of the same height, their eyes locking...And without any warning...Aozora hugs Sagiri...really...really tight. "My Lady, if this is a new torture method you give to me, it is not working, I have no pain sensed from my body right now." Sagiri's logical explanation is met with something even more...illogical, "My Sagiri...Your objective is to protect the nation of Kyoki Chudoku, but the purpose of your existence is...to be happy, Sagiri." Happy? What does she mean? Her emotion is not important for~"I cared about you, My Sagiri...my torture methods of you...is to make you happy on and not being hurt for your impending reign. I haven't got anyone I care about, but you Sagiri, don't deserve to live to be my empty loyalist Tenshi, don't deserve to be practically an orphan, and Lastly don't deserve to be this emotionless..." Sagiri doesn't respond yet..."My Sagiri, you are my daughter. A someone I care about..." At that moment...Sagiri's cold heart gets a little bit of warmth, from a psychopath to an emotionless being...her heart reveals something she wants the most...happiness...Sagiri doesn't just love Aozora from her undying Tenshi loyalty unlike other Densetsu, but she love Aozora...for giving her compassion her heart so wanted needs...Sagiri little bit scaredly attempt to hug Aozora back slowly, fully expected this is a farce and a secret test that would result on Sagiri being tortured to oblivion..."Mother..."...

Now

Sagiri remembers the smile she makes when Aozora proclaims her to be the mother. A tear almost dropped from Sagiri's eye but she ultimately managed to contain it...If I can contain my tear, I should be able to contain my lust... Sagiri looks back at her mother, she sleeps so soundly. "She must be tired from worrying about me." Aozora puts her belongings she brought to her side of the bed, along with her purple scythe...Sagiri also feels tired today...from the whole crying and pleasuring she did on the stream. "Goodnight Mother." She kisses Aozora's cheek before turning off the light...

Tomorrow will be a hard day