"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the other one will lift up [their] companion."- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

_______________________________

{Current Day}

[Roronora Lake]

*DRIP*

*DRIP*

*DRIPDRIP*

*BOOOOMMMM!!!!!*

With the nonstop SeiõrSnow always falling, even in the midst of the lightning storm, it also begins to downpour over the bloody lake, adding to the total volume to the hellish body of water.

The overwhelming rain drops hitting the lake is a perfect pairing to the sound that comes from the hot cuts of electricity through the air.

*BOOOOMMMM!!!!!*

As the last of the 105 giant Icemen is struck down and the "ice ashes" of the frozen diamond giant falls around the True Bloom Arena, Shelly and Katsu continue towards their goal floating over the stadium.

Even in the overpowering rain, Madame Fryer’s Seiõr coated flames are unfazed while she carries Shelly, who is holding on to the dangling Katsu.

Katsu with his Anjell Eye at 2nd Stage, now has his pure white SoulSeiõrShield active while Shelly has her golden pink SoulSeiõrShield in Mach 2.

Earlier, before tonight’s fiasco, Katsu had displayed one of his core abilities to the Communication Eye of Wisdom, by using Seiõr to telepathically speak with the other IceEye users and also Shelly while her SoulSeiõrShield was active.

Katsu is communicating with his adopted sister once again while they are finally reapproaching Berserk Saku.

Katsu(telepathy): *Well, you said you wanted a shower, haha!

Alright!

If that’s your plan, I’ll ride or die for ya, Shell!

Let’s do this!*

Shelly(telepathy): *We have to be careful!

I’m just afraid of what his complete capabilities are, Katsu.

As far as I know, that Anjell Eye already has over 10 abilities, but half of them like Big Sis Itsuka’s and Taylor’s are useless for these types of situations and as long as we keep our SoulSeiõrShields active he can’t transmit us to different locations or Cut & Paste us out of the fight.*

She looks down at the spare SunSword Katsu had brought to her after Berserk Saku had made her fumble one and took the recovered Roronora Officer’s while she snapped his arm.

Shelly(telepathy): *Now that it’s raining, the heat from the sword will just create steam and be an unnecessary distraction in the middle of a life or death fight.*

Katsu(telepathy): *Don’t worry, as long as we work together, we can do anything!

Remember one of my dad’s favorite sports quotes?

’Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships’.

Saku might have all the talents in the arsenal to win games, but you and I have the chemistry to get ’chips’ and rings, Shell!

Who knows what abilities Saku’s learned in secret, so don’t out rule anything and keep your head on a swivel.*

Shelly is blushing and smiling at her captain’s pep talk before their big fight.

Ruining her moment, a lightning bolt strikes about 10 yards away, right next to them.

It scares Katsu, but with her free hand badass, Mach 2 Shelly cuts the threatening thunder sound wave at it’s "birth", making the two of the mythical sword riders hear only the echoes and feel the heat of 8 suns briefly introduced to the atmosphere.

Each time lightning strikes, the resulting sound wave also visibly pushes the rain away for a second of silence. Then the relentless rainfall comes back to filling the newly formed lake at both full geometric and audio sound volume.

Katsu(telepathy): *Okay, Shell!

It’s finally time, you ready?!*

With her katana in her right hand, a Below Sanpaku azule stare, a smile, and a nod, the 100 overall rated fighter is locked in.

Shelly(telepathy): *I promise I won’t let you down, Katsu!*

She lets go of the passenger’s wrist, he drops down 10 feet and the very second he lands on top of the basketball stadium, behind the wet, sturdy wooden letters....

¡Flash!...

berserk Saku: *crying inha-*

*BOOOOMMMM!!!!!!!*

In the quick silence, before Shelly cuts the violent thunder, now that the tag team is closer, one of the egregious inhales from Berserk Saku’s angry sobbing can be heard until it gets muffled by the return of falling water drops that slam against the metal dome.

Madame Fryer catches Shelly from the air parry and then rides up to floating Berserk Saku.

On top of the arena, Katsu, with his shining white SoulSeiõrShield and matching aura being released from his independently moving 2nd Stage Anjell Eye, is standing alone in the rain but on high alert.

Katsu(thinking): *I hope she takes that hint seriously. Once she gets the upper hand, he usually debuts the fact that he knows that ability..."

His eye widen and his Anjell Eye locks on to focus on defending...

With only a few yards between her and the "target", Shelly watches as the after image of the unstable Yin Vessel, covered in his black flame like SoulSeiõrShield, disappears in a sheet of rain.

"On the opening kick off", her Valkyrie sense is already caught off guard by the trick play.

A down flying black flame covered fist hits her square on the cheek and knocks the rider off of her sentient sword.

Katsu: "Shelly!"

Even though she is immediately at a disadvantage, and in trouble, the Yang Vessel, her adopted brother, chuckles out loud, but it is shrouded by the sound of the surrounding monsoon on metal.

Katsu(thinking): *Hehe, she’s gunna win!

I wanted her to practice on those scrubs earlier, Shelly gradually learns how to win the longer she’s battling.

As long as he doesn’t use Ch-*

He is immediately cut off by the sounds of rushing water, as if a "whirlpool" were near by.

Katsu begins shaking in fear...

Katsu(thinking): *Wait...sh-she hasn’t started her comeback yet.

This isn’t...

The right...

Sequence...*

Tears form in his both of eyes as a gigantic wave of the surrounding blood lake is just about to swallow the entire True Bloom Arena and the heartbroken Yang Vessel but just before he disappears underneath the controlled liquid.

Katsu(whispers): "Saku...I fucking hate you...so... much."

The engulfing wave crashed down on him.

*COMPLETE "REDNESS"*

...

...

...

{2 Weeks Earlier}

[Sanpaku Cafeteria]

Saku is eating his sandwich and potatoe chip lunch with Friend underneath the table, picking his head up every time the crinkle of the bag is heard.

His Anjell Eye is at 2nd Stage with it’s respective Yin aura, and he is watching something with the Nigh-Omnipotence ability he absorbed from Don Laban.

Saku(to himself): "So that’s how Itsuka lost her mom and dad...

She looks just like her mom..."

He thinks about both the mother and daughter’s outstanding, hard earned abdominals and the growing young man blushes.

The sounds of the cafeteria doors open.

Both the human and dog turn their heads at the same time to see Charybdis strut in.

Char: "Ayoo, Saku! What, are you the only one that’s getting lunch?

No Tay?

Haha!

Hey there pup!"

The lighthearted, blue haired Gunner for Katsu’s Izanagi Division walks out of sight, into the serving room, and soon exits with a tray carrying a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.

He sits across from Saku and takes a bite of the undisputed and unarguable, best lunch combo.

Char(chewing): "Mmff-Uhh God! *swallows food* Bro, grilled cheese is definitely the undisputed, and unarguable best lunch combo."

Saku looks at the food then back up at the mid 20 year old, but comedically shrugs in agreement.

Saku: "Nah, you’re right."

The Izanami captain goes back to what he was looking at with his "all knowing" ability while Charybdis munches. He looks around at his eating area and realizes...

Char: "Ahh, damnit!

I forgot to get a drink."

Saku: "Here."

Char: "Hm?"

Saku thoughtfully slides his full cup of water towards one of the other loveable goobers of the group.

Charybdis smiles and activates his IceEye to it’s 2nd Stage, a bright happy yellow aura.

Just like every other instance, Saku hears the onomatopoetic sound of "unlocking" in his head and he watches as the water from his cup takes shapes and glides in front of the lazy Gunner’s face, and floats into his mouth.

He swallows the "sips" while the remaining liquid continues to stay airborne.

Char: "Can’t believe it’s been all this time, and I had forgotten to show you my ability.

Well honestly, since I first told you all in a kind of douchie way, I haven’t really been in a rush to bring it back up, hehe..."

Saku is completely surprised but he smiles at the reciprocating thoughtfulness towards the act he didn’t see as a big deal in the first place.

Saku(chuckles): "Hmph.

Thanks...

I’ll make sure to try and use this new ability in a more resourceful way than you currently are."

Char(flustered): "I can create some decent rideable tubes in the ocean too!

See! This is why I wanted to wait for the perfect time to display the awesomeness of my eye ability.

Damn it...

Thunder.

Stolen."