Great Watch Cipher V3--Chapter 2

This is the second chapter of Great Watch Cipher as we continued what happened and please stay tuned in for what comes up next. Thank you and enjoy! --KatDon 

Chapter 2: We've All Gone Mad Here 

Tamamo Mae was having visions in her brain of some crazy stuff: Madness. It was madness, insanity. Cassandra and Gigi were on a small boat where they made a grisly discovery. There was people, all in various states of dismemberment. Most of the people were torn apart; one torso floated without limbs near two collided ships. The women on the other hand, seemed to have died from blunt trauma in the crash. And Cass saw a man beating his wife. He hits her again, harder this time. Her head rocks back; her eyes roll wildly. A wet gagging sound slides out of her leaking red mouth. She spits two molars onto the carpet. "YOU MONSTER!!!!!" He shouted. He is sobbing now, his shoulders heaving raggedly between punches. The living room walls echo the dull meat market sounds of fist against flesh. She looks him dead in the eye and spits out an incisor, another molar, a canine. "Where is he? Where is my son?" This time the blow knocks her sprawling to the floor. She spits out two more incisors and a half-digested index finger. And then this thing that looks like his wife just stares up at him and smiles with a mouthful of impossibly sharp teeth. They found him murdered. Cass let go as she begin to feel increasingly troubled. She managed to calm herself down as she and Gigi had to dig deeper. Then, Cass had a vision as she learned that they were once human: The three subjects were males, 22, 23, and 29. The subjects also swore to secrecy. The chemical was successfully administered to all three subjects. Within the first hour, all three of them started screaming in agony. After sedation, each subject had his left arm cut open with a scalpel and his right arm shot by a weapon. When the scalpel penetrated one of the subjects’s skin, it reacted with a dark amorphous solid substance filling the cut almost as fast as the skin was opened up. It sealed so fast that the scalpel was stuck in his arm. The injury caused by the blade was sealed by the dark amorphous blood within three seconds. After 84 hours, all three of the subjects started to act unusual. Instead of using the entertainment around them, they sat in their beds and groaned, as if they were sad or ashamed. After 110 hours, One of the subjects passed out. Blood tests could not be run because the blood was solid and amorphous. The only thing that was determined was the poison in their blood, which was at 5, was far more acidic than usual. The subjects were escorted to the test room. The three subjects looked far different from the beginning. The skin had turned to a shade of grey, and their skin looked noticeably thicker. 
Their eye colors have changed to pure black, and they were bloodshot. The experiment will continue as planned, but the chemical must be remodeled before repeating the experiment. Before opening fire on the subjects; the subjects showed inhuman strength. They immediately pounced on their attackers and used their teeth as a most effective weapon. Six armed men lost consciousness as their attackers touched their teeth to their skin. One’s arm was devoured by the subjects. The vision faded and there was another one: When he walked in, the guy was more terrified than he had ever been in his life. Security strapped him into the long box-shaped metal frame. He was encased in what looked like a hollow cage without the extra bars in the middle, and two flat iron bars met in in the center of his body. Attached to their undersides were many small, sharp, iron spikes, suspended above his chest. A guard nodded at her and without warning, she pressed a button which suddenly lowered the two iron bars, plunging the spikes into the middle of his chest and abdomen. He screamed and clenched his fists as blood began oozing out, then turned his head to look at me. Okiku raised her eyebrows. “I’ll only start when you’re ready. Remember, the longer you wait, the more it’ll hurt,” She reminded him. He breathed heavily, then turned his head back around to look at his bleeding body. Then he winced and looked away again. Soon, he wouldn't be like this anymore! The next day, There was a woman who was dragged into the room, screaming and begging. She shouted that she didn’t do it, and that she was innocent, but Okiku was taking none of it. She signaled at security to strap her into the confinements. She didn’t bother to warn her. Slowly, Okiku took out a syringe and a small jar full of bluish-yellow liquid. She closed the box then unscrewed the jar lid, sucking out a syringe-full of its contents. "No, please, don’t do this to me-" Okiku walked closer, showing her that she was uninterested. She continued to sob and pant. “I wasn’t the one,” she whispered as she shook her head frantically. “I know who killed her, it wasn’t me! Don’t do it!” As the fluid entered her skin, her neck started to turn slightly blue, and her veins swelled up. She gasped in agony. Then Okiku ran over to the laptop and started the timer. According to the measurements, she should be dead in around three days. Before they had to turn her body into the body of a monster!

"It's burning," A little boy said, cupping some of the water in the palm of his hand. "Of course it is son," His father chuckled. "You know the sun is beating down." Then, the boy exclaimed: "The water feels funny, daddy!" and flung the offending liquid onto the sand. The father came over and knelt down, leaving my paperback on the beach chair. "Daddy! The water, something is wrong!" The father could see tears forming in his son's eyes. "It's okay, son." The father said, as he took his little hand and felt the wetness of the ocean water on my fingers. It was warm, and tingled. The tingling increased and the warmth turned to a heat. The boy began to cry. And then, from down the beach, the father heard a scream. "OH MY GOD!!!" The father exclaimed. The man stood and squinted through the bright sun reflecting off the sand. The scream was joined by others from all around me and he could feel the terror of everyone on the beach becoming one rising wave of panic. He saw a young girl run in with the surf, screaming, her skin melting over her bikini. A portly man in a swimsuit ran in the water and fell. When his arms came up they were bone to the elbow, with great flaps of dissolving skin hanging like cloth. A young man pulled his tiny daughter in by the arms, dragging behind her the stumps that had been her legs. The father watched them come in, running, thrashing, falling, all of their skin melting from their horrified faces and revealing the white bone beneath. The little boy was crying. From high above, the sun beat down on the beautiful white sand of the beach. Now it was covered of blood and bones. And people were brought into a van as they were never seen again. The boy and his father were the only ones left as they went home. The van that took all those people had something that said 'EMERGENCY' on it but in the light, there was something underneath that said, 'EXPERIMENTS ONLY'. Cassandra, Kintaro, Tsuna, Sarutobi, Kirgakure, and the other recruits arrived at the Gobbstopper Competition and found that it was in an indoor stadium dome. "So, this is the arena of the Gobbstopper Competition. Hmm, cool." Cass said. They stepped inside where the announcer by the name of Tonya, the one in charge, greeted them and got to meet Cassandra: "Congratulations; you made it. How about getting rid of the opponents above you, and aim for the top? And defeat the Harpy Queen?" Tonya asked. Cassandra was amazed, she accepted. Later while in her bunk room of the stadium dome; she laid there as she waited and try to make herself comfortable whrn hrt cell rang and she answered it. "Cassandra, your first fight is arranged. Are you ready?" Tonya asked. 

Cassandra nodded, "On my way." She said. And the fight begins as they clash with one another. Arsene's friends appeared from behind. Then, Cass prepared herself as she waited for the enemies to come before she gave them a sucker punch. Kintaro and the allies were in disbelief turned to shock, they were amazed by this. Cass noticed they were staring and made a joke, "OK, OK, I look pretty so what?" Her allies were really shocked by this before laughing themselves silly by this shocking amazement. Just then, Kintaro's smile faded as he saw a banshee creeping p behind Cass. "LOOK OUT!" He cried. Too late, her heart got gouged again--Again! This time like before; Cass rise, her eyes were hollow and black with red pupils. She had blood coming from the whole in her chest. Her appearance was different: There were short ram horns, her hair became red like mahogany, her clothes matched her hair and her face was pinkish white. She was rising as some sort of undead being who was slaughtering the banshees in order to get her heart back. And she fought viciously. Kintaro and the others watched with amazement, they were shocked by this. They couldn't believe that someone like her would do such things. Once Cassandra steadied herself; she looked around and horrified of the battle of defeated opponents, alive but unconscious. "Wow...What happened here?" asked Cass. Kintaro and the others were in disbelief as Tsuna was about to say, "Um...well....." but Kintaro elbowed him as he said, "Nothing! It was nothing!" Cass looked at them funny, "OK....I think. Heh, so was I good out there or what?" He said. "You rock!" said Kintaro with enthusiasm. Stunt; Cass begin to smile, "Oh, thanks." She said. "No, really! You should've seen yourself fighting them viciously!" Tsuna exclaimed. Cass almost laughed, "What? I didn't pulverized them." She said. "Yeah, you did! Remember when you're heart was ripped out? You came back to life and took them on....Violently!" Sarutobi explained. Cass shook her head, "Uh huh, sure." She said. "Don't believe me? Look at the Moneta!" exclaimed Kintaro. So, Cass did as she smirked but then, she saw was herself but it could't be. Her wound in her chest where her heart used tobe and all that rage...That unbelievably rage inside of a girl. "You mean, that was me?" gasped Cassandra. 

"Sure as hell. Who else would it be?" Kintaro replied. Cass placed the Moneta down and pulled Kintaro in a link of arms as they were pulled close to her, "Now be honest with me boys....Do I really look that bad?" Cassandra asked. The two boys didn't know what to say, "Uh....." They said. Then, Tsuna said, ".....No." Cass looked at him with disbelief, Kintaro's palm hits his head and exclaimed: "IDIOT, YOU HESITATED!" Tsuna turned back, "NO, I DIDN'T!!!" He shouted. Cass pushed the two apart as she said, "GUYS!!! Enough, come on! Really?" Arsene raised his head and laughed, "Not bad....For a girl." He said. Cass panted, smiling back. "Thanks. I. don't. I don't know my own strength." She said while gasping for breath. Arsene struggles to get up and walks off. After he got up; Arsene left but said to her, "No matter what happens, fight to the top and never stop, OK?" Cass nodded and Arsene walked out. Cassandra panted, she leaned against the wall as Mongfind appeared before her, "Congrats, Cass. You did it." She said. Then, she pulls out a chair: "Have a seat, I think you're going to love this." said Tonya. Cassandra was curious to know but she did as she was told. Suddenly, a slot machine appeared. "What is this?" She asked. "This is a slot machine that tells you who is your next opponent. They call it the Who's Your Next Opponent? Show " Tonya explained. So Cass sat and looked at the slot machine to see who her second opponent was. Ophelia and Usodori were watching, once again, Macabre Tortelli. In this episode; Heather Matthew hated zombie media, she hates when they jump scare her as she cowers in fear. One day while at the arcade; her boyfriend, Jared, helps her overcome her fears by a new first person arcade shooter game called Fear the Zombies. During the whole time; Heather screamed when each zombie jump scare her to heck! The story of the game was interesting: A scientist was experimenting on strange looking fishes he kept in luminous waters in their tanks and he was getting quite bored of it. That's when his life changed one day when he discovers a raven haired, pale faced beauty stark-naked and skinny dipping in the water when she accidentally hits her head and drowns. The scientist revives her back to life somehow with methods of raising the dead but then, this Snow White beauty was now a zombie as she comes to life and to pounce the scientist. To this day, the scientist was never heard from again. Years later; a couple of teens discover the abandoned place where the scientist used to reside which is now abandoned. Little did they know, they were faced to face with the zombies. 

One bite, one scratch, one simple transfer of bodily fluids would be enough to turn them. They found out too late that they had underestimated the virus. The infected zombies were thought as to be mindless animals intent tearing into skin and muscles. The infected had a mind though. One mind. The mind of the virus, and it's far more intelligent than anyone could have ever anticipated. It controls them. All of them. Oinari comforted her, "I won't, neither of us will." He said to her over and over again. But then he turned to his allies and said, "Konohana, Panji, could you give us a minute?" Konohana nodded, she lead Panji out, who looked back with pity in his eyes for Tamamo Mae. Once they left the room; Oinari turned to her and said, "Are you good? Are you beautiful?" Tamamo Mae looked at him, "What are you talking about?" asked the vixen. "Could beauty be related to anything better than goodness? Or what you done as you want me to kill you?" suggested Oinari. Tamamo Mae grinned bitterly, "Heh, sure, since beauty’s power can more easily change a good girl into a whore than the power of goodness can change a beautiful girl into a pure maiden. This used to be a great puzzle, but now I’ve solved it." But her smile fades as she openly admits, "I did love you once." Oinari nodded, "You certainly made me believe you did." He agreed. 

How did this all happened? Let's go back to the beginning, shall we? 

Earlier before....

Oinari and Konohana were searching for Tamamo Mae as they came across a young boy name Panji Ranka and his mother, Kirana. Panji was this 13 year old boy who admired Great Watch and Silver Branch as he insisted on going with these two, much to his mother dismay. Meanwhile; Tamamo Mae is packing a suitcase into a car, applying a wig and leaving the premises. Following this, she was trashing a house, arriving at a motel, purchasing food from a supermarket, whilst in disguise and sitting in a diner. Tamamo Mae is wandering amongst the desert. She removes her wig and proceeds to wander alone in the desert. Later, Tamamo Mae is dancing in the streets, she looked around her of the glittering new nightlife, where it has this magic, fizzing white energy. And she could hear an Eurodance song that had a minimalist club sound to it. "I love this person with all my heart, and yet it’s turning me vengeful." She thought to herself. Unknown to her, on the rooftop; Oinari, Konohana, and Panji observe her from above. In Tamamo Mae's visions; Okiku chose the macho looking guy who had tried to attack her to go first. When he walked in, the guy was more terrified than he had ever been in his life. Security strapped him into the long box-shaped metal frame. He was encased in what looked like a hollow cage without the extra bars in the middle, and two flat iron bars met in in the center of his body. Attached to their undersides were many small, sharp, iron spikes, suspended above his chest. A guard nodded at her and without warning, she pressed a button which suddenly lowered the two iron bars, plunging the spikes into the middle of his chest and abdomen. He screamed and clenched his fists as blood began oozing out, then turned his head to look at me. Okiku raised her eyebrows. “I’ll only start when you’re ready. Remember, the longer you wait, the more it’ll hurt,” She reminded him. He breathed heavily, then turned his head back around to look at his bleeding body. Then he winced and looked away again. Soon, he wouldn't be like this anymore! The next day, There was a woman who was dragged into the room, screaming and begging. She shouted that she didn’t do it, and that she was innocent, but Okiku was taking none of it. She signaled at security to strap her into the confinements. She didn’t bother to warn her. Slowly, Okiku took out a syringe and a small jar full of bluish-yellow liquid. She closed the box then unscrewed the jar lid, sucking out a syringe-full of its contents. "No, please, don’t do this to me-" Okiku walked closer, showing her that she was uninterested. She continued to sob and pant. “I wasn’t the one,” she whispered as she shook her head frantically. “I know who killed her, it wasn’t me! Don’t do it!” As the fluid entered her skin, her neck started to turn slightly blue, and her veins swelled up. She gasped in agony. Then Okiku ran over to the laptop and started the timer. According to the measurements, she should be dead in around three days. Before they had to turn her body into the body of a monster!

Cassandra, Kintaro, Tsuna, Sarutobi, Kirgakure, and the other recruits arrived at the Gobbstopper Competition and found that it was in an indoor stadium dome. "So, this is the arena of the Gobbstopper Competition. Hmm, cool." Cass said. They stepped inside where the announcer by the name of Tonya, the one in charge, greeted them and got to meet Cassandra: "Congratulations; you made it. How about getting rid of the opponents above you, and aim for the top? And defeat the Harpy Queen?" Tonya asked. Cassandra was amazed, she accepted. Later while in her bunk room of the stadium dome; she laid there as she waited and try to make herself comfortable whrn hrt cell rang and she answered it. "Cassandra, your first fight is arranged. Are you ready?" Tonya asked. Cassandra nodded, "On my way." She said. After she hung up; Cass head over as her phone beeeped and there was a name in big letters with a computer voice, "ARSENE." and the opponent's  voice appears, "Hit me with your best shot!" Cassandra arrived in the arena and looked at Arsene. "So, you ready?" She asked. "Bring it, girlie." And the fight begins as they clash with one another. Arsene's friends appeared from behind. Then, Cass prepared herself as she waited for the enemies to come before she gave them a sucker punch. Kintaro and the allies were in disbelief turned to shock, they were amazed by this. Cass noticed they were staring and made a joke, "OK, OK, I look pretty so what?" Her allies were really shocked by this before laughing themselves silly by this shocking amazement. Just then, Kintaro's smile faded as he saw a banshee creeping p behind Cass. "LOOK OUT!" He cried. Too late, her heart got gouged again--Again! This time like before; Cass rise, her eyes were hollow and black with red pupils. She had blood coming from the whole in her chest. Her appearance was different: There were short ram horns, her hair became red like mahogany, her clothes matched her hair and her face was pinkish white. She was rising as some sort of undead being who was slaughtering the banshees in order to get her heart back. And she fought viciously. Kintaro and the others watched with amazement, they were shocked by this. They couldn't believe that someone like her would do such things.

Once Cassandra steadied herself; she looked around and horrified of the battle of defeated opponents, alive but unconscious. "Wow...What happened here?" asked Cass. Kintaro and the others were in disbelief as Tsuna was about to say, "Um...well....." but Kintaro elbowed him as he said, "Nothing! It was nothing!" Cass looked at them funny, "OK....I think. Heh, so was I good out there or what?" He said. "You rock!" said Kintaro with enthusiasm. Stunt; Cass begin to smile, "Oh, thanks." She said. "No, really! You should've seen yourself fighting them viciously!" Tsuna exclaimed. Cass almost laughed, "What? I didn't pulverized them." She said. "Yeah, you did! Remember when you're heart was ripped out? You came back to life and took them on....Violently!" Sarutobi explained. Cass shook her head, "Uh huh, sure." She said. "Don't believe me? Look at the Moneta!" exclaimed Kintaro. So, Aynia did as she smirked but then, she saw was herself but it could't be. Her wound in her chest where her heart used tobe and all that rage...That unbelievably rage inside of a girl. "You mean, that was me?" gasped Cassandra. "Sure as hell. Who else would it be?" Kintaro replied. Cass placed the Moneta down and pulled Kintaro in a link of arms as they were pulled close to her, "Now be honest with me boys....Do I really look that bad?" Cassandra asked. The two boys didn't know what to say, "Uh....." They said. Then, Tsuna said, ".....No." Cass looked at him with disbelief, Kintaro's palm hits his head and exclaimed: "IDIOT, YOU HESITATED!" Tsuna turned back, "NO, I DIDN'T!!!" He shouted. Cass pushed the two apart as she said, "GUYS!!! Enough, come on! Really?" For the time being; Ophelia and Usodori were watching, once again, Macabre Tortelli. In this episode; Heather Matthew hated zombie media, she hates when they jump scare her as she cowers in fear. One day while at the arcade; her boyfriend, Jared, helps her overcome her fears by a new first person arcade shooter game called Fear the Zombies. During the whole time; Heather screamed when each zombie jump scare her to heck! The story of the game was interesting: A scientist was experimenting on strange looking fishes he kept in luminous waters in their tanks and he was getting quite bored of it. That's when his life changed one day when he discovers a raven haired, pale faced beauty stark-naked and skinny dipping in the water when she accidentally hits her head and drowns. The scientist revives her back to life somehow with methods of raising the dead but then, this Snow White beauty was now a zombie as she comes to life and to pounce the scientist. To this day, the scientist was never heard from again. Years later; a couple of teens discover the abandoned place where the scientist used to reside which is now abandoned. Little did they know, they were faced to face with the zombies. One bite, one scratch, one simple transfer of bodily fluids would be enough to turn them. They found out too late that they had underestimated the virus. The infected zombies were thought as to be mindless animals intent tearing into skin and muscles. The infected had a mind though. One mind. The mind of the virus, and it's far more intelligent than anyone could have ever anticipated. It controls them. All of them. 

Tamamo Mae was having visions in her brain of some crazy stuff: Madness. It was madness, insanity. Cassandra and Gigi were on a small boat where they made a grisly discovery. There was people, all in various states of dismemberment. Most of the people were torn apart; one torso floated without limbs near two collided ships. The women on the other hand, seemed to have died from blunt trauma in the crash. And Cass saw a man beating his wife. He hits her again, harder this time. Her head rocks back; her eyes roll wildly. A wet gagging sound slides out of her leaking red mouth. She spits two molars onto the carpet. "YOU MONSTER!!!!!" He shouted. He is sobbing now, his shoulders heaving raggedly between punches. The living room walls echo the dull meat market sounds of fist against flesh. She looks him dead in the eye and spits out an incisor, another molar, a canine. "Where is he? Where is my son?" This time the blow knocks her sprawling to the floor. She spits out two more incisors and a half-digested index finger. And then this thing that looks like his wife just stares up at him and smiles with a mouthful of impossibly sharp teeth. They found him murdered. Cass let go as she begin to feel increasingly troubled. She managed to calm herself down as she and Gigi had to dig deeper. Then, Cass had a vision as she learned that they were once human: The three subjects were males, 22, 23, and 29. The subjects also swore to secrecy. The chemical was successfully administered to all three subjects. Within the first hour, all three of them started screaming in agony. After sedation, each subject had his left arm cut open with a scalpel and his right arm shot by a weapon. When the scalpel penetrated one of the subjects’s skin, it reacted with a dark amorphous solid substance filling the cut almost as fast as the skin was opened up. It sealed so fast that the scalpel was stuck in his arm. The injury caused by the blade was sealed by the dark amorphous blood within three seconds. After 84 hours, all three of the subjects started to act unusual. Instead of using the entertainment around them, they sat in their beds and groaned, as if they were sad or ashamed. After 110 hours, One of the subjects passed out. Blood tests could not be run because the blood was solid and amorphous. The only thing that was determined was the poison in their blood, which was at 5, was far more acidic than usual. The subjects were escorted to the test room. The three subjects looked far different from the beginning. The skin had turned to a shade of grey, and their skin looked noticeably thicker. 

Their eye colors have changed to pure black, and they were bloodshot. The experiment will continue as planned, but the chemical must be remodeled before repeating the experiment. Before opening fire on the subjects; the subjects showed inhuman strength. They immediately pounced on their attackers and used their teeth as a most effective weapon. Six armed men lost consciousness as their attackers touched their teeth to their skin. One’s arm was devoured by the subjects. The vision faded and there was another one: When he walked in, the guy was more terrified than he had ever been in his life. Security strapped him into the long box-shaped metal frame. He was encased in what looked like a hollow cage without the extra bars in the middle, and two flat iron bars met in in the center of his body. Attached to their undersides were many small, sharp, iron spikes, suspended above his chest. A guard nodded at her and without warning, she pressed a button which suddenly lowered the two iron bars, plunging the spikes into the middle of his chest and abdomen. He screamed and clenched his fists as blood began oozing out, then turned his head to look at me. Okiku raised her eyebrows. “I’ll only start when you’re ready. Remember, the longer you wait, the more it’ll hurt,” She reminded him. He breathed heavily, then turned his head back around to look at his bleeding body. Then he winced and looked away again. Soon, he wouldn't be like this anymore! The next day, There was a woman who was dragged into the room, screaming and begging. She shouted that she didn’t do it, and that she was innocent, but Okiku was taking none of it. She signaled at security to strap her into the confinements. She didn’t bother to warn her. Slowly, Okiku took out a syringe and a small jar full of bluish-yellow liquid. She closed the box then unscrewed the jar lid, sucking out a syringe-full of its contents. "No, please, don’t do this to me-" Okiku walked closer, showing her that she was uninterested. She continued to sob and pant. “I wasn’t the one,” she whispered as she shook her head frantically. “I know who killed her, it wasn’t me! Don’t do it!” As the fluid entered her skin, her neck started to turn slightly blue, and her veins swelled up. She gasped in agony. Then Okiku ran over to the laptop and started the timer. According to the measurements, she should be dead in around three days. Before they had to turn her body into the body of a monster!

"It's burning," A little boy said, cupping some of the water in the palm of his hand. "Of course it is son," His father chuckled. "You know the sun is beating down." Then, the boy exclaimed: "The water feels funny, daddy!" and flung the offending liquid onto the sand. The father came over and knelt down, leaving my paperback on the beach chair. "Daddy! The water, something is wrong!" The father could see tears forming in his son's eyes. "It's okay, son." The father said, as he took his little hand and felt the wetness of the ocean water on my fingers. It was warm, and tingled. The tingling increased and the warmth turned to a heat. The boy began to cry. And then, from down the beach, the father heard a scream. "OH MY GOD!!!" The father exclaimed. The man stood and squinted through the bright sun reflecting off the sand. The scream was joined by others from all around me and he could feel the terror of everyone on the beach becoming one rising wave of panic. He saw a young girl run in with the surf, screaming, her skin melting over her bikini. A portly man in a swimsuit ran in the water and fell. When his arms came up they were bone to the elbow, with great flaps of dissolving skin hanging like cloth. A young man pulled his tiny daughter in by the arms, dragging behind her the stumps that had been her legs. The father watched them come in, running, thrashing, falling, all of their skin melting from their horrified faces and revealing the white bone beneath. The little boy was crying. From high above, the sun beat down on the beautiful white sand of the beach. Now it was covered of blood and bones. And people were brought into a van as they were never seen again. The boy and his father were the only ones left as they went home. The van that took all those people had something that said 'EMERGENCY' on it but in the light, there was something underneath that said, 'EXPERIMENTS ONLY'. Cassandra, Kintaro, Tsuna, Sarutobi, Kirgakure, and the other recruits arrived at the Gobbstopper Competition and found that it was in an indoor stadium dome. "So, this is the arena of the Gobbstopper Competition. Hmm, cool." Cass said. They stepped inside where the announcer by the name of Tonya, the one in charge, greeted them and got to meet Cassandra: "Congratulations; you made it. How about getting rid of the opponents above you, and aim for the top? And defeat the Harpy Queen?" Tonya asked. Cassandra was amazed, she accepted. Later while in her bunk room of the stadium dome; she laid there as she waited and try to make herself comfortable when her cell rang and she answered it. "Cassandra, your first fight is arranged. Are you ready?" Tonya asked. Cassandra nodded, "On my way." She said. After she hung up; Cass head over as her phone beeeped and there was a name in big letters with a computer voice, "ARSENE." and the opponent's  voice appears, "Hit me with your best shot!" Cassandra arrived in the arena and looked at Arsene. "So, you ready?" She asked. "Bring it, girlie." And the fight begins as they clash with one another. Arsene's friends appeared from behind. Then, Cass prepared herself as she waited for the enemies to come before she gave them a sucker punch. Kintaro and the allies were in disbelief turned to shock, they were amazed by this. Cass noticed they were staring and made a joke, "OK, OK, I look pretty so what?" Her allies were really shocked by this before laughing themselves silly by this shocking amazement. 

Once Cassandra steadied herself; she looked around and horrified of the battle of defeated opponents, alive but unconscious. "Wow...What happened here?" asked Cass. Kintaro and the others were in disbelief as Tsuna was about to say, "Um...well....." but Kintaro elbowed him as he said, "Nothing! It was nothing!" Cass looked at them funny, "OK....I think. Heh, so was I good out there or what?" He said. "You rock!" said Kintaro with enthusiasm. Stunt; Cass begin to smile, "Oh, thanks." She said. "No, really! You should've seen yourself fighting them viciously!" Tsuna exclaimed. Cass almost laughed, "What? I didn't pulverized them." She said. "Yeah, you did! Remember when you're heart was ripped out? You came back to life and took them on....Violently!" Sarutobi explained. Cass shook her head, "Uh huh, sure." She said. "Don't believe me? Look at the Moneta!" exclaimed Gavin. So, Cass did as she smirked but then, she saw was herself but it could't be. Her wound in her chest where her heart used tobe and all that rage...That unbelievably rage inside of a girl. "You mean, that was me?" gasped Cassandra. "Sure as hell. Who else would it be?" Kintaro replied. Cass placed the Moneta down and pulled Kintaro in a link of arms as they were pulled close to her, "Now be honest with me boys....Do I really look that bad?" Cassandra asked. The two boys didn't know what to say, "Uh....." They said. Then, Tsuna said, ".....No." Cass looked at him with disbelief, Kintaro's palm hits his head and exclaimed: "IDIOT, YOU HESITATED!" Tsuna turned back, "NO, I DIDN'T!!!" He shouted. Cass pushed the two apart as she said, "GUYS!!! Enough, come on! Really?" Arsene raised his head and laughed, "Not bad....For a girl." He said. Cass panted, smiling back. "Thanks. I. don't. I don't know my own strength." She said while gasping for breath. Arsene struggles to get up and walks off. After he got up; Arsene left but said to her, "No matter what happens, fight to the top and never stop, OK?" Cass nodded and Arsene walked out. Cassandra panted, she leaned against the wall as Mongfind appeared before her, "Congrats, Cass. You did it." She said. Then, she pulls out a chair: "Have a seat, I think you're going to love this." said Tonya. Cassandra was curious to know but she did as she was told. Suddenly, a slot machine appeared. "What is this?" She asked. "This is a slot machine that tells you who is your next opponent. They call it the Who's Your Next Opponent? Show " Tonya explained. So Cass sat and looked at the slot machine to see who her second opponent was.

Meanwhile, Ophelia was at a casino and had to use the bathroom for a moment. As she was walking back; someone called out: "Hey there, beautiful! Would you like to experience magic?" It was a man in a black, bowler hat and a purple buttoned shirt and indigo pants. He looked very attractive, winking at her. Ophelia shook her head, smiling. "Nah, that's OK. Thanks though." She said. The man in a bowler hat was persisted. "I'll do it for free. Promise." He called out. Ophelia seemed intrigued so she decided to give it a try so she sat by and watched as the mystery man revealed the tarot cards for Ophelia's future: The first one was The High Priestess. "On this journey, you will have the power to see and feel the perspective view of others." said the mystery man. The second tarot was Temperance, "You will make people feel secured." The mystery man continued. The third card was Strength, "No matter what happens, never give up on what's important." The mystery man said. The fourth and last card was The Star. "One day, you will shine bright in the wondrous sky." finished the mystery man, handing her a blue rose. Ophelia gasped with delight, blue roses were her favorite flowers. Those who were watching this applauded with delight. "How did you do that?" Ophelia asked, playfully. "My pretty, it's magic." The mystery man replied, leaned over and kissed her cheek. Blushing, Ophelia said thank you and went away. Cassandra got up and was about to leave when she was hit with a bottle, she was OK but unconscious. Later, Cass woke up to hear voices: "She awake yet?!" A voice said, almost loud. "Calm down, geez!" The second voice rebuked. "Stop fighting, you guys, she'll wake up scared." A third voice replied. "She'll already be scared, stupid!" The first said. "Hey, what did I tell you about saying bad words to others?" The third scolded. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll keep quiet." remarked the first voice. "I can't believe you talked us into this." A fourth voice moaned. "I still can't believe I wanted to do this." complained the first. "How did you get her in here anyway?" asked the second. "My own way." The first voice remarked, the tone in his voice sounds like he was smiling. "Hey, I know you. You hit me in the head with that bottle." Cass said, pointing over to the crimson-red haired guy. The other guy with dark hair looked at this friend, "What?" He said. The crimson-red haired guy grinned nervously, "Heh, works every time?" He said. But then jumps up in front of Cass, who flinched. "But hey, she looks cute, so what's your name doll?" He said. "Doll?" The second guy snapped. The dark haired guy rolled his eyes, "Ah, the word of the day for when you see a cute girl." He said. Cass looked around shy, "My name is Cassandra." She said. The red head grinned and nodded with approval, "Straight forward cool." He said, "Jail friggin' bait. Jack friggin' pot, baby!" A few moments later; Cass got to know the gang as their names are Arsene, Esclabor, Brunor, and Danilo.

Once the visions ended; Tamamo Mae rushes over to find Onibaba. Back with Oinari, Konohana, and Panji; they were still looking for her. However, they need to know why she left and used the Moneta. What they discovered shocked them: Tamamo Mae was sweating bombs while finishing her training as she went to get water from the soda machine but has no coins to buy any. "No change?" A voice called out. Tamamo Mae turned around and saw a young man standing there with a bandage around his right arm and around his torso. Tamamo Mae approached him, "Hi, um you OK?" She asked. "I guess, you can say that." The young man said. His hand went into his pocket, "Here." He said, handing it to her of many coins. Tamamo Mae blushed, "No. I couldn't--" She started to say, but the young man insisted, "Please, take it." Tamamo Mae had no choice and accepted it greatly from him. "I'm Sigmund Magus, by the way." said the kind young man. "TM." Tamamo Mae said. "TM?" Sigmund asked, confused. "Short for Tamamo Mae." explained Tamamo Mae. "You're as pretty as swan." Sigmund remarked. He leaves as Tamamo Mae watched him go. Things got very complicated as Tamamo Mae learns that she is being offered a job with Onibaba, who claims to be overjoyed. Tamamo Mae is repulsed and shock, her mother is stunt and believes Onibaba is manipulating Tamamo Mae and will put the blame on TM's mother. Tamamo Mae refuse this offer of Onibaba but it gets worse when she becomes nasty to her. Tamamo Mae was mad and she went off to get away from the awful messages she sent! That night, Tamamo Mae comes across a house and saw that it belong to Sigmund, whom she knocks on the door. "Can I come in?" asked Tamamo Mae. "I'm not sure." Sigmund replied sadly. Tamamo Mae sighed, "Okay. I'm an idiot." She admitted. "How are you an idiot?" Sigmund asked. Tamamo Mae begins to cry, "My mom--She has problems and she suffers so much!" She turns away so Sigmund doesn't see her cry so much! Sigmund looked at her, "Are you OK?" He asked. "It's hard for me, you know. Sorry, I'm being too personal but I have no one....Well, I'm being exaggerating. I have friends but no one close!" Tamamo Mae explained in between sobs. Sigmund looked at her thoughtfully before he had an idea. "What if you stay the night? The whole night?" asked Sigmund. Tamamo Mae looked at him, "Really? Oh, I don't...want to be a bother."  She said stammering. "It isn't." Sigmund said. He leads her in as Tamamo Mae saw that his house had a window of a nice view of the beach. "Oh, Sigmund....It's beautiful!" breathed Tamamo Mae. "I know, I knew you would like staying here for the night." Sigmund said. Music was playing some sort of high lonesome whistling and cold vocals set to harpsichord and strings, the singer's voice is vocals piped into a modulates and distorts them of an electric sound. Tamamo Mae begin to sway a little, "Nice music, what is it?" She asked. "Caramel Dash." Sigmund answered. Tamamo Mae nodded, "Nice, I never heard of this band." She remarked. "It looks like you have an interest in music." Sigmund said. "I do, I like music this way." Tamamo Mae admitted.

It was quiet between them so Tamamo Mae sighs. "What is it?" Sigmund asked. "I just wish..." Tamamo Mae started to say, but shakes her head. "What?" Sigmund asked, wanting to kow. Tamamo Mae blushed, "I wish I could be beautiful... for you." She admitted. "TM...." Sigmund was taking aback by this, Tamamo Mae looked shaemful. "Don't tell me that I am, you don't need to lie to me...."She claimed. Sigmund placed his hands on her shoulders, "No, I'm not lying... it's looking at things another way." He explained. Tamamo Mae smiled, "We're going to be together, always." She said. Then, the two of them snuggled next to each other as Tamamo Mae flushed at how close she was to him. She sighed with content, "What is it now?" asked Sigmund. Tamamo Mae shifted a little, "It's just...For the very first time in forever, I've missed out on a lot on how it feels to be..." She said, then she smiles and said softly while her eyes close, "....pleasant." In the morning; The sound of birds woke her up, Tamamo Mae's eyes fluttered open and she looked to see a beautiful scenery. There was relaxing acoustic guitar music playing that blended with the sunrays shining down on the blue waters of the beach. "Oh, wow. How amazing." Tamamo Mae whispered. "Good morning." Sigmund said. Tamamo Mae gasped and saw him standing there. She straightened up and said, "Oh, good morning!" She stuttered. "Heh, you like it?" Sigmund asked, looking at the scenario with her. Tamamo Mae grinned at him, "Yes, it's amazing. I wish I could live somewhere down here." She said. Out of curiousity, Tamamo Mae asked: "What time is it?" "Around eight." answered Sigmund. Tamamo Mae's eyes widened with horror, "WHAT?! Oh crap, I have to go!" She collected her things. Sigmund offered to take her back but Tamamo Mae refused, saying: "It's complicated!" Sigmund told her that he wants to see her again soon and Tamamo Mae accepts. When she came to see him, Tamamo Mae finds out that Sigmund went missing and the only thing was his blood that she found at his house on the floor. Tamamo Mae was devastated by all this and falls into a depression. Tamamo Mae trembled as tears welled in her eyes while thinking about her beloved people. "Mother. Oinari. Konohana. Sigmund...." Anguished by the thought of her beloved friend; Tamamo Mae breaks down as her powers levitated in the air while shouting out, "SIGMUND!!!!" Then, everything fell down. 

However during this time, Tamamo Mae was getting back her life in Great Watch but she is ambushed by the bully name Sumiyoshi who always beat her up and nobody knew. Tamamo Mae staggered up to her feet as she cried and cried until she couldn't stop. "Why does he hate me so much?" She thought. Just then, way off in the distance; someone was crying out to her: "TM!" It was Sigmund, alive and all right, "Sigmund, what are you doing here?" Soren asked. Just before Sigmund is about to say but he's killed on the spot! "Sigmund! NOOOOO!!!!!" Tamamo Mae exclaimed in horror. She passed out after seeing so much blood and then she woke up to find that her lips were sewn shut, scars on her chest and wounds all over her body. Tamamo Mae looked around and saw she was strapped on a cold autopsy table. She felt so vulnerable, she tried to talk but her stitched mouth was so tight that the only thing that came out was two-thirds of  muffled moaning in protest. "Dear girl, do not fret...You will get your revenge soon enough." said a voice. Something was happening to her....like an intensity of burning rage inside of her. She managed to get information on Sumiyoshi and she learns that he was sent by Onibaba as TM will get her revenge against her tormentor and she decided to use her new power. Sumiyoshi tried to punch back but the raging figure was faster and deflect his attacks. "WHO ARE YOU?" demanded Sumiyoshi The figure leans over and whispered, "I am the vixen you will meet before you die and every enemy's worse nightmare....You bastard." Sumiyoshi was terrified, "Tamamo Mae?" He gasped. "No longer the innocent self." said Tamamo Mae as she exposed herself in the light, "There's only one vixen and she's invincible!" And she killed Sumiyoshi in his rage. Later, Tamamo Mae entered a place and went up the stairs however she came across a room with a window with sunrays glowing down her. "I knew I find you here." A voice said. Tamamo Mae turned around, "Suseri!" She gasped. Suseri looked at her with a dark look, "I can explain!" Tamamo Mae protested. "Don't even, I already know what happened!" Suseri said. Tamamo Mae looked surprised at her friend. Suseri rubbed the temples of her forehead and she let out a deep sighed before glaring at Tamamo Mae. 

"TM, Pull yourself together! Don't mess this up! Are you happy now? Tell me, are you happy now? Do you have any idea what you have done to yourself?" countered Suseri. Tamamo Mae turned back to her angrily, "Oh I am, happy! I can't pull myself together because you mess me up so much!!!!! You're making a fool of yourself, you irritating, self-centered girl!" She argued. "You talk even more waste, I do not know exactly why. However, I hope you're glad." wrangled Suseri. "Talking to you any longer is useless now." quarreled Tamamo Mae. They both turned away however Suseri turned around and spoke to her more nicely as she said, "TM? Listen to me carefully. You can meet them again, as if would have been nothing. What have you longed for, you can have." Tamamo Mae nodded, "I know. But I can’t go back....No. I won’t go back--Never again." She said. Tamamo Mae clutched her hands into fists as she said, "Something's wrong, I don’t feel the same about something morally. Here I'm through with Onibaba’s ways. She wants her help in strengthening her control over her so called sanctuary and I won’t do it. It's time to release your fears, I won't think about what other people might say, I don’t want to be ashamed of my talent. I'll let my feelings out, and let the inner part of me shine. Even move ahead from past troubles, and leave my old life behind. I'm going to attempt to use my magical powers to fly!" As she said this; Tamamo Mae begins to levitate. Suseri calls out after her, "What are you doing?! Stop it! That's what started all this in the first place...Where are your wings? Maybe you're not as powerful as you think you are!" But she noticed that the objects in the room begin to levitate on their own and gasped. "Oh my!" She breathed. Tamamo Mae laughed with joy, "I told you, Suseri... I did it, I tell ya!" Suseri looked at her with concern and said, "I think you're losing your mind, you are deluding yourself into--" but Tamamo Mae whirled around quickly as Suseri jumped back and heard her talk, "I was always scared that I would hurt someone, and that fear controlled me. But now, I wasn’t scared of hurting others when I was so far away from them. I never really had anyone who has loved me, I've always been shunned. Of course my mother loved me but Onibaba, Tamiya and Osode Iemon who both should have loved me, but did not. I think I’d rather believe in the idea rather than repressing myself or shut others out for the sake of love. I feel like the fears never bothered me so much because I'm free right now." She begins to levitate again and nodded before landing on her feet, she opened the window as she was ready to spring out, "Let's go! Get on!" She called. Suseri was surprised to hear this, "What?" She asked. Tamamo Mae looked at her, "Suseri....Come with me, Imagine what we could accomplish anything ... Together. Let’s go down the rabbit hole--Just you and me! I can take you on an adventure, the world you don’t know exists is more beautiful than you can imagine! No authority, no masters holding leashes, free to live as we chose and the only real limitations are those you impose upon yourself. And you can leave Tiger Braves behind, we will be unbreakable like elastic, titanium, no even better--Bulletproof!" ranted Tamamo Mae with excitement. 

Suseri considered this idea, "Yes, it's sounds wonderful." She remarked. Tamamo Mae bounced up and down, "Yeah, it's so exciting!" The two girls begin to dance around happily and stopped as Tamamo Mae whirled to the opened window and looked out but she glanced back at Suseri with a pleading tone, "So....You coming or what?" asked Tamamo Mae. Suseri was nervous as Tamamo Mae knew what she was about to say and bowed her head in sadness. Suseri noticed, "Oh TM, you're trembling... here, put this around you..." She said, taking off her maroon jacket and draped it around Tamamo Mae, she was shocked by this. "Oh Suseri....you know I can't keep this...." She protested. Suseri smiled waterly, "Well then, you'll have to because it's yours." She replied. Then she bowed her head and said, "Don’t have any regrets, all right?" Tamamo Mae nod, "I won't. This is right, isn’t it? Even though we don’t know the things that lie ahead never have regrets because this is the path you've chosen." She said. Suseri smiled at her, "I hope you'll never grieve And have no regrets later on. I wish you all the luck in the world and a friendship holds." She said. Tamamo Mae was touched by this, "You know, I heard that you can't choose your marks but you can pick your friends. You're my best friend, you're the only friend I've ever had." said Tamamo Mae. Suseri nodded, "And I've had so many friends... but you were the only one that mattered." The two girls embraced each other but Suseri gasped and says, "Oh no! I hear footsteps, hurry you need to get away!" Realizing this; Tamamo Mae said: "Oh, right!" She ran to the window and leaped out before flying away! Suseri smiled and watched her go as the others emerged from the hiding spot. "You got that?" She asked. Sarutobi nodded, "Every word." He said, holding the recorder. "Motivation--It's a beautiful thing, isn't it?" remarked Yatagaratsu. As Tamamo Mae flew, he came across Onibaba and the Iemons who were with the monsters and Tamamo Mae lets out a cry as she shouted: "You want me? Here I am! It's me you want, TAKE ME!!!" She then stood up in the air as she called out to whoever it listening, "Here me! Want to know where I am at? I'm staying at my castle, alone and free, uncontrolled by anyone but me. I finally gotten over her fears and is starting over new, and staying where she is, never going back to the past. Even if Suseri decides to stay behind and if I'm now on my own; in return for my choice, I get the freedom I valued. To those who can’t accept me, tell them what I choose and what I've achieved. I'm flying, tell them I did what they thought was impossible for me. By letting go of my fear, I believe that I can start a new life, free from worry and filled with happiness — like the bright and beautiful dawn starting a new day, which is what she compares letting go of fear to!" She called out. Then, turns menacingly as she said, "You can take everything from me or say what you want about me, treat me like I’m weak and fragile, like glass that can be broken or paper that is easily torn. I will rise above the pain and fear! I will stand tall and powerful like a skyscraper. Try and make me weak and break my spirit, wiping off the bad and growing from it!" Filled with emotions; Suseri shouted out, "I hope you're satisfied now!" Onibaba turned to the guards and instructed them with orders, "Just look at the witch, what are you waiting for? Catch her, kill her!" 

Tamamo Mae begins to laugh with excitement, "You can't stop me now! You can't get in my way!" She shouted. Onibaba screamed, "Catch the witch, let’s kill her!" But nobody could as Tamamo Mae laughed at Onibaba, who raged like mad! Once the Moneta ended; Oinari, Konohana, and Panji continued to look for her. Meanwhile; Tamamo Mae confronted Onibaba and demanded to know what's going on. Okiku proudly explains on being part of the Wendigos and tells her niece about the monsters: The monsters were craving for flesh and blood, but the scary part was coming up. The monsters were mindless animals intent tearing into people's skin and muscles. But nobody knew that the monsters had a mind though. One mind. The mind of the beast, and it's far more intelligent. It controls them. All of them. Like the mind is like a legion of demons, like the hive intelligence. "Why are you doing this? What kind of achievement is this she's trying to do?" demanded Tamamo Mae. Okiku turned to her omniously, "You mean you don't know?" She said. Okiku pulled out a fairytale book. She flipped through the pages and showed Tamamo Mae of the story of Snow White. "According to the tale, the stepmother wishes to be the fairest of them all, not Snow White. She was so jealous and wanted all the beauty for herself." Onibaba explained. Tamamo Mae was terrified as she realized all this dread will make Onibaba to be more beautiful than before. Beira wanted to look beautiful forever as she feared of getting older and older so the only way to do all this was to sacrifice a lot of innocent people. The beach, all those people, the incident with the ship, all the people's bodies were torn apart which were found in the water. This was all too ridiculous. "How much lives are you taking? I won't let you get away with this, Aunt Okiku!" Tamamo Mae vowed. Okiku turned to her and said, "Oh, you will. After I do....THIS!!!!" Okiku said, pushing her own niece out the window and Tamamo Mae fell as she thought that she would die. Before she blacked out; she remembers hearing: "Tamamo Mae, where are… Tamamo Mae? Is that you? Oh god!"  Later; Tamamo Mae slowly opened her eyes as she looked around and there she saw Oinari, Konohana, and the young boy Panji. She smiled sadly as she said in a soft tone, "Hello Oinari...Konohana...." But she couldn't help look around and asked, "Where am I?" "You're at Great Watch HQ. Look, you need to tell us what happened out there." Oinari said. Tamamo Mae turned away sobbing, "Kill me." She gasped out. "What?" Oinari questioned, shocked by this as well as the other two. Tamamo Mae turned back with tears streaming down her face, "Kill me before I kill someone else." She begged. Konohana was upset by this, "Don't you dare say that." She said. "Please...Oinari..." Tamamo Mae said. Oinari clenched his fist, squeezed his eyes shut as he rasped back: "Stop it." Then, Tamamo Mae screamed, "Kill me!" Her telekinesis almost caused a ruckus as Oinari stopped her by restraining her and Tamamo Mae snapped out of it as her powers ceased. 


Oinari comforted her, "I won't, neither of us will." He said to her over and over again. But then he turned to his allies and said, "Konohana, Panji, could you give us a minute?" Konohana nodded, she lead Panji out, who looked back with pity in his eyes for Tamamo Mae. Once they left the room; Oinari turned to her and said, "Are you good? Are you beautiful?" Tamamo Mae looked at him, "What are you talking about?" asked the vixen. "Could beauty be related to anything better than goodness? Or what you done as you want me to kill you?" suggested Oinari. Tamamo Mae grinned bitterly, "Heh, sure, since beauty’s power can more easily change a good girl into a whore than the power of goodness can change a beautiful girl into a pure maiden. This used to be a great puzzle, but now I’ve solved it." But her smile fades as she openly admits, "I did love you once." Oinari nodded, "You certainly made me believe you did." He agreed. "I just disappointed by your actions in the relationship, and though you love me, but I can’t help but be upset by the lack of involvement." Tamamo Mae nodded, "I know, I'm sorry." She said. Oinari didn't stop there, he continued to talk: "And that one guy you were with...How he made you feel and you were so upset how you lost him like you lost the loves of your life." "Yeah...Tragic." Tamamo Mae muttered. "And you said my name, Konohana's name, and your mother's but you screamed that guy's name."  Oinari said while sitting at the edge of the hospital bed. Tamamo Mae smiled sheepishly, "Oinari, you're making me blush." She said. "I realized this was a bad decision. I regret of leaving you, I was upset with you, but I feel I overreacted by that. I now wants to move on and forget about the breakup, but can’t let go of what has happened. I want more and more so I don't feel sad. I don't want materialistic goods, I want something from the heart. I want love." They looked like they were about to kiss but Oinari turned away, "I can't.....I have a girlfriend...." He said. Tamamo Mae nodded, "Right, I'm sorry." She said. "It's fine." Oinari said, but Tamamo Mae didn't think it was OK: "And also about Sigmund....He--I---" She stuttered out. Oinari didn't mind, "No, it's all right. I was....." Before he could finished, someone stormed in and it was none other than Okiku, who held a gun at Tamamo Mae as she said: "This time, I will kill you!" Tamamo Mae gasped however Oinari and Konohana stopped hwe as Tamamo Mae used her powers to wield the gun away from even firing. Panji was scared as Tamamo Mae wrapped her arms around him and said, "Don't worry, kid. It's OK." Okiku was restrained and arrested for attempt to murder her.