Keisuke was Out to Stay

Thump, thump, thump.

When we arrived on the ground by the ball imprisoning Daichi’s sister. The form of the association’s acting president was wailing on it with his monstrous fist. Over and over in the same place, a small crack began to appear on the surface of the relic.

As we landed, Captain Kawakami dispersed his cloud dragon. He had impressive essence reserves but he was wearing it down fast. The clouds that circled the association building crept lower and lower, slowly dispersing allowing the monsters on them to safely land back onto Tokyo’s roads and sidewalks.

Daichi had made it back down to the lower clouds. He would throw a marble at a dancing monster and then have it switch places with the President.

“Daichi! Why didn’t you just give me the flower!”

The marble went off creating a mass of tangling woody vines. President Sukimoto ripped them off and lunged for the researcher. Who promptly switched places with a slice of cake a monster was enjoying. He taunted the president now covered in cake from above, in the arms of the cake-less monster.

“Isn’t it obvious. You’re a greedy little creep, with a pension for violence!”

The president lunged for the ball again, essence clumping again as he summoned a sword made of fire. Swinging down on the crack he had made.

“Naught boy.”

Daichi switched the president's location again, this time with one of the decorative plants at the entrance of the Magic and Monster’s association. It made a thud as it rolled off of his sister's prison.

“And Naughty boys get put down.”

The marble he had thrown in the direction causing an explosion of plasmatic energy. The president dived out of the way, the tips of his wings and the back of his beastly leg scalded by the burst. Daichi transported himself closer, walking towards the creature with a handful of marbles in his hand.

“My sister had absolutely nothing to do with this. You brought in a person with no crime except being related to me. You made her an innocent victim, and some plaything for your messed up desires. You made me wish we weren't related! You made her some sick twisted part of a story she should’ve never been a character in!! I’ll end you today and leave this world a better place.”

He poised to throw. I was reaching from the bottom, scraping everything I could together.

“PETRIFY!”

Daichi froze, the marbles cupped in his balled up fist, but one fell out and cracked on the ground. An explosion of hot wet air smelling of steamed buns, broke my chant. Daichi was sent flying away from the entrance and away from the president. His limp body flying through the air.

Ms. Hiyori rode by and caught him in her arms, Baby rearing up on her hind legs. The poor man who was scalded and burned; passed out.

The president made his way to his feet and began limping towards the ball. Asaka was also clumping essence, releasing it to envelope the president in as much friction as she could muster. He was still slowly moving his way towards the ball, her essence not enough to stop his rampage.

 Meika was out of essence; I was barely keeping awake not be able to even feel my reserves. The Okame doubles were dancing around, the tune turning auspicious and Suspenseful. I looked to Captain Kawakami, surely he could do something. He wasn’t looking at Daichi, or Sukimoto. 

His gaze was turned upwards.

 As he watched his old friend, gently step down a staircase of the last of his clouds. Low rank monsters following behind him, Oddball the dodo leading the way. Kei reached up and tossed away his mask.

Essence was clumping around Keisuke at an alarming rate. His eyes were glowing with prismatic tones, swirling like little galaxies. His hair standing on ends.

“He’s reaching the summit.”

Chihiro whispered it, having flashbacks of his own encounter of being on the brink of an arch mage. The tough man impressed but scared for his friend.

The president was the only other person who had reach the summit in Japan, slowly turned to look at Kei.

“NO!”

The essence got thicker, it was light and dreamy. It was if the air was filled with endless possibilities.

“Captain Kawakami?”

“Yes Rei?”

We both kept our eyes on my brother.

“Has anyone become an arch mage without getting essence reflux first.”

He turned to look at me his face was not comforting in the least. He shrugged.

“I don’t know, Rei. I’m sorry.”

Kei continued down the steps made of clouds, the essence now pooling and almost tangible as if it clumped slow and dense.

Kei began to chant. The President began to scream and struggle against Asaka’s spell with jealous fervor.

“The air of a starless night, the dreams of child,”

Okame’s song grew quieter until it was just two flutes, the music flitting like fire flies on a summer evening.

“The hopes of an adult, thrust into the wild,”

The sun was now fully in the sky as the mid-morning rays framed him.

“a cold winter breeze, and the feeling of smiles,”

He took the last step onto the ground, Odd ball nuzzled against him as he walked past.

“ a treat I could ask for, a foolhardy respite,”

Ms. Hiyori held Daichi up, chanting a healing spell to save the man from his burns.

“Everything and anything be gone, i just need one try tonight,”

Captain Kawakami, took a step forward, but then stopped.

“So wish I may, wish I might,”

I leaned against Meika, she reach down to hold my hand.

“Have the wish, I wish tonight,”

The president screamed, trying once more to get to the ball where the image of his partner was suspended in shackles.

“Place it, in the most simplest of dishes,”

As Kei completed the chant for his fifth and final Epiphany. The essence made it’s way into him, turning him bright and lifted him lightly off the ground. The two Okames now coming up from behind; one on either side, completed their song with a soft low note. The monsters of the festival now flying or strolling away, calmly back to their place in the world. The funeral of Hyottoko now at an end. The copy of Okame bowed, the duet partner fading away.

Kei declared the name of his finale chant.

“SNOWCONE OF WISHES”

The essence clumped and coagulated into his hands, and an ethereal snow cone looking like it was made of pure magical essence appeared in Kei’s hands. His head lifted, a calm measured gaze rested upon Sukimoto Tomoki.

“I’m really sorry about this, I need some time to think.”

He grabbed the spoon and took a large helping and ate it with such delight. The snow cone disappearing out of his hand as he swallowed.

“hah”

Asaka gasped as her chant was overcome by a more powerful chant.

“Kei! What have you done!”

The president yelled with rage, as from the ground up he began to grow stiff.

The president slowly turned to stone in front of the Association, his beastly form now completely still in front of the doors he once walked through everyday.

Kei, fell to his knees. Smiling right at me.

“Well, I won’t be doing that anytime soon.”

He joined his friend Daichi in the land of the unconscious. Okame catching him with her lap.

We all crowded around him, the mass of hunters and civilians making a circle as well. The air was still, all the commotions of the morning festivities finally at an end. There was much to do but we all stood still for a moment. People finally seeing what i always saw.

Getting a good look at the first Arch Mage of Japan.

Kawashima Keisuke was outside to stay.