The room was quite and dark, the only sounds being of the heavy rain from outside and the occasional crash of lightning and booms of thunder. Ryu and Bronya were seated on the floor, pressed against the door. Bronya was seated directly in front of him, a bit closer than usual. They both clasped onto something tightly in their hands which was the headpiece that was left behind by Seele. They both clutched onto it tightly, staying within each other's arms to help comfort each other.

Neither had said anything to each other, but there really wasn't any need to. Just the deathly silence spoke enough. Bronya, who head was still buried into Ryu's chest, slowly looked up at him, seeing the shadow over his now dull golden eyes. Slowly, his eyes glanced down to her, watching as she had slowly sat up on her knees so they were completely leveled. Once again, no words was exchanged between them. Bronya's hands trailed upwards and lightly cupped Ryu's cheeks before the closed their eyes and just leaned their foreheads against each other. It was another act of comfort, but had a deeper meaning as well.

The somber silence however was interrupted from the sound of the doorknob turning, but Ryu applied pressure to the door, keeping it shut. Both had already figured out who was on the other side of it... It definitely wasn't Seele... much to their disappointment.. but rather it was...

Ryu: "Matushka..."

Bronya: "...Matushka... Seele's gone missing again..." The blonde woman on the other side of the door could hear just the tones of depression and hopelessness in their voice, which pained her heart. She bit her lip before answering.

Cocolia: "Ryu? Bronya? Good. I need to tell you both about the X-10 Test-"

Ryu: "Seele took it in my place... didn't she...?" Cocolia slightly clenched her fists before relaxing.

Cocolia: "Listen, we tried breaching the Sub-Atomic barrier. And then she's gone. Her physical integrity collapsed in an instant. We could not find her. We failed." At this point, Bronya yelled out.

Bronya: "NYET! Seele's still alive! I know it... WE know she's alive!"

Cocolia: "Even if Seele's alive, she would be in a Quantum State. It is far beyond our reach. We must accept this... we won't see her again." There was a brief silence, with the young girl lowering her head. Then, Ryu opened his mouth...

Ryu: "It's all my fault..." Bronya looked back at him.

Bronya: "Nyet, Ryu! Don't say-"

Ryu: "She took the test in my place... and now she's gone because of that... It's all my fault..."

He muttered as in his mind flashed two specific memories. The first one was of a pink-haired young woman with fox ears on the top of her head. She was lying against a wall, a blade lying next to her. Her eyes were closed and a sad smile was on her face, with multiple wounds filled with blood all over her body. The next was also of a pink-haired woman, however, she had no form of animal ears. Rather she had elf ears and was lying down on someone's lap, a happy smile on her face as she was covered in blood and with icicles embedded in her with a broken bow next to her. But the most noticeable thing was that next to her was large sword with blood staining its blade and a large wound where the blood seeped out of.

Ryu: "She's gone because of me... Seele's gone because of me.. What kind of.. monster am I...?

Bronya: "Stop talking like that!!" She immediately latched to him, burying her head into the crook of his neck. "Stop... It's not your fault Ryu... It's not.. You couldn't predict that this would happen.. none of us could have... Seele... she doesn't want to see you like this, especially when we see her again... so please..."

She looked directly into his eyes, with a bit of desperation. She just couldn't bear to hear someone she cared so deeply about blame themselves. She was angry that about Seele too, but the last thing she wanted was to hear him try to take all responsibility for it.

From outside of the room, Cocolia heard the conversation that had transpired, not saying a single word. She listened carefully, hearing a very faint but muffled noise coming from the two of them, followed by a brief moment of silence. After that, Ryu called out to her.

Ryu: "Matushka.. you said Seele entered Quantum State, right...?" He asked, with a slight breath as in the room, both he and Bronya's faces had a small red hue on their cheeks.

Cocolia: "Y-Yes..."

Ryu: "Then... if we take the X-10 Experiment, we'll enter that State too right? We'll be able to see her right?" He asked, with a small gasp of surprise coming from Bronya while Cocolia clenched her fists.

Cocolia: "Listen to me! Seele has a higher Honkai Resistance to BOTH you and Bronya, but she still failed. I'm ending X-10!"

Bronya: "What about Seele? Are we just going to leave her alone in that place..?" Cocolia began to sweat as she instantly knew what they wanted to do.

Cocolia: "X-10 is OVER! I refuse to lose any more children to this stupid pipe dream! Think, the two of you, think! Why did Seele take the test? She-"

Ryu: "We KNOW she did it for us!" A small gasp escaped Cocolia as she never expect him to raise his voice at her. Soon, the door creaked opened, revealing both Ryu and Bronya. Ryu had an arm wrapped around the shorter girl's waist as she leaned against him, one hand resting against his chest. "But... we don't care about this experiment anymore. All we care about Seele."

Cocolia's eyes widened in both shock and horror as Bronya rose her knife and aimed it at Ryu's neck, while he had his claw active and aimed right at Bronya's, their eyes showing no hesitation to do the deed.

Bronya: "You'll definitely lose both of us if you don't let us take the test. Think and choose your next words very carefully, Matushka." Just as lightning flashed into the room, the thunder boomed loudly, with the atmosphere getting more and more tense.

Cocolia: "Bronya... Ryu..."

Ryu: "What will it be, Cocolia?"

Bronya: "Yes or no?"

Cocolia found herself in a nearly impossible situation to escape. If she tried to move them apart, they'd be too quick to slice each other's necks, and it would take too long for any reinforcements to restrain them. She bit her lip and took a deep breath before reluctantly nodding.

Cocolia: "...Fine."

>>Azure Waters Arc Finale<<
>Chapter 6: Our Final Promise<

Lake Baikal...
X-10 Labs Backup Facility...

After managing to convince Cocolia, she brought both Bronya and Ryu to a backup facility for the X-10 Experiment, this time located underneath Lake Baikal, which was the same area the two found Seele when she was kidnapped. The room was smaller than the official X-10 Labs, but still had a decent amount of staff. This time there were two test tubes with two Liquid Metal Spheres floating before them.

Scientist 1: "Lowering subjects into the testing tanks."

Scientist 2: "The girl's leg fracture has not fully healed. Her wound may be infected by the Honkai if the test exceeds 310 seconds. Testing may be halted at that time or the infection may become permanent. It might even kill her."

Cocolia: "Hear that Bronya? I'll end the test after 5 minutes. Same for you Ryu. Even though you're not injured, I'm not taking any chances. 5 Minutes and the test is over for BOTH of you. You both must survive."

Bronya: "Da, Matushka."

Ryu: "Understood."

They both replied rather dryly with blank stares as they were lowered into their respective testing tubes, wearing suits that hugged their bodies and with multiple cables attacked to their backs.

Cocolia: "Begin delivery of the Honkai Solution. Initiate the X-10 test."

Sea of Quanta...

Ryu found himself opening his eyes, revealing him to be in some form of white space with a reflective floor. He was a bit confused as he looked around, but could only come up with one conclusion.

Ryu: "This is the Quantum State..."

He muttered before noticing someone appearing next to him; Bronya. When the two locked eyes, they heard a bit of sniffling, as if someone was crying. When they looked forwards, their eyes widened as they spotted the girl with the dark blue hair, her back turned to them.

Ryu: "Seele..." She gasped, her sobbing stopping briefly as she slowly turned around, her oceanic eyes filled with tears slowly widening in surprise.

Seele: "Ryu... Bronya..." Before she could say anything, Bronya dashed towards her, enveloping her into a tight hug.

Bronya: "I'm never going to lose you again, Seele!" The blue-eyed girl was surprise to say the least, not only because that she was witnessing Bronya crying, but that she was here... and Ryu was here too. She slightly glanced at the male, who's eyes had a bit of tears in the corner of his eyes before he walked towards them.

Seele: "Why are you two here..?" Did they make you take the test? You both have to leave, or you'll disappear from that world as well."

Bronya: "We don't care about the test or that world. You're the only one that matters the most to us, Seele."

Ryu: "That's right.." The two girls looked towards him as he fell to his knees like the two had, before he reached his hand out to Seele, gently caressing her cheek. "This world can be damned for all I care... It doesn't matter to me anymore... I was the reason you ended up here in the first place... What kind of person would I be to let you suffer here all by yourself..?"

Seele could hear it in their voices, the desperation and loss of hope. They didn't care anymore. She couldn't help but begin crying as she slowly held Ryu's hand that was on her cheek. It felt warm.. she missed this kind of warmth.. She couldn't help but hug them both tightly.

"WARNING: Honkai Infection Detected."

Scientist 1: "The 5 minute time limit has ran out! The Honkai is spreading through Subject Bronya's legs. Additional infection sites detected near her brain!" They shouted over the loud blaring alarms in a panicked state.

Cocolia: "What are you waiting for!? Stop the test, NOW!"

Scientist 2: "We failed to sever the neural links! The subjects are fighting us! They refuse to let us stop the test!"

Scientist 1: "The infection is getting worse! We must do something to avert permanent brain damage to Subject Bronya!" It was at this moment the true plan of Bronya and Ryu settled in...

Cocolia: "You both planned this from the start, didn't you...? You never intended to return to this world..."

It was true. Neither of them intended to return. All they wanted was to remain in that space with Seele, until the end of time, and nothing was going to stop them... This was it, their final wish... and goodbye to the world.

.........................

.........................

.........................

"I've read in a book about a beautiful flower that grew in the furthest ends of the Far East talking 1000 years to bloom and 1000 years to wilt. The flower was cursed. Never shall she see the leaf her dearest sister and brother."

Bronya: "We'll be together for all of eternity, Seele."

Ryu: "Yeah... We're not leaving you again.. You won't have to be lonely without us anymore.." However, Seele's smile vanished upon hearing that and she pulled away from the two of them, while shaking her head.

Seele: "But you can't stay here. You both must return. If you two say, you will disappear as well."

Ryu: "Wha-"

Bronya: "NYET! I'm not leaving you again!" She immediately latched onto her out of desperation with tears rolling down her eyes. "I don't want to wake up again only to realize that you're gone! NYET! I don't want to experience that sense of fear and pain again!!!"

Seele: "Calm down, Bronya!" In an instant, the blue-haired girl pushed her back, causing Bronya to fall onto her knees with a look of surprise. Ryu, who hadn't said anything, looked surprise as he watched Seele fall onto her knees and clasp one of Bronya's hands.

Seele: "I've been waiting along in this world for what seemed like an eternity. But part of me knows that both you and Ryu will find me again. If trouble finds me... if people try to hurt me... you two are always there to save me. You two are the bravest and most powerful people I've known my entire life. You are my only source of hope! But now you're trying to give up and run away! That's not the Bronya I know! And that's definitely NOT the Ryu I know! I don't want to see either of you like this!!"

At the end of her little speech, Bronya was just speechless. She never had thought of that... Seele wanted this... she wanted to be saved.. but Bronya herself was being too selfish.. Seele looked between the two, reaching over and tightly clasping one of Ryu's hands as well before she stared directly at him.

Seele: "You said you wanted to me Seele and Bronya's Knight right?? Then why are you running too, Ryu!? This is so NOT like you!! You're supposed to stay strong no matter what and take care of us in the darkest situations! Not lose all hope and blame yourself for everything! You aren't the Ryu that Bronya and I love!!!"

Ryu felt some form of wave wash right over him as his eyes widened. All his life of living with Seele and Bronya, he promised to always be by their side and protect them no matter the costs. And that's exactly what Seele wanted... but, she didn't want him to lose everything just for her. She wanted to be rescued by him.. she wanted him to be that Knight to whisk her back from her imprisonment and into the real world, with Bronya by his side.

He slowly looked at Bronya, who shared a glance with him. The two were thinking the same before they nodded and locked their pinkies with Seele's and with each others.

Ryu: "Heh... You matured so quickly, Seele.. But, you're right." He smiled at her with slight tears in his eyes. Bronya had the same expression.

Bronya: "Let's make a promise... to all three of us. Bronya and Ryu will look for a way to take you away from here. No matter how slim the chances might be... We will never give up. Right?" She glanced at Ryu who nodded.

Ryu: "Yeah.. No matter what, we'll whisk you back into the other world.. We'll become the same trio we've always had been... I'll make sure both of my princesses are safe and sound. I'll... WE'LL do whatever it takes to bring you back."

Bronya: "Because we're best friends forever. All of us."

Seele: *smiles brightly* "And I know you two can do it. I'll wait for the two of you here for as long as it takes."

Their happy moment however was interrupted. Bronya's eyes widened as red Honkai corruption veins appeared on her cheek. She fell backwards, her eyes losing a bit of light within them as Ryu caught her in his arms.

Seele: "Bronya??"

Bronya: "I...... The Bronya can't feel sad anymore..." Ryu's eyes widened before he closed his eyes and bit his lip.

Ryu: "The Honkai energy... It's infecting your brain and making you lose your emotions... We can't stay for much longer.."

Seele: "He's right. It's time for you to leave this place, Bronya. You too Ryu. You both have to go before it's too late. Before you go..." She reached into her pockets, pulling out two objects. One was a glowing blue shard while the other was a glowing amber shard.

Ryu: "What are...?"

Seele: "I found these in a chest of this place. The blue one has the power to REBUILD while the amber one has the power to COMMAND." She explained before turning to Bronya. "Lift up Bronya for me, Ryu."

The male didn't question it and lifted up Bronya's body towards Seele, who proceeded to slowly push the glowing blue shard into the drill-pigtailed girl's chest, where a glowing blue light was present for a brief moment. Then without warning, Seele leaned in and pressed her lips against Bronya's taking both her and Ryu by surprise. She held the kiss for a good few seconds before slowly breaking it and smiling brightly.

Bronya: "Seele...?"

She only smiled at her before looking at Ryu, she wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him in as she pushed the amber shard into his chest, causing his chest to periodically glow that color. But then his eyes widened as Seele wrapped both arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, just like she did with Bronya. And like that one, it lasted for a good few seconds before she slowly ended it.

Ryu: "Seele..."

"O, a cherubim thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile, infused with a fortitude form heaven, when I have deck'd the Sea with drops full salt under my burthen groan'd, which raised in me..."

She slowly backed away from them, a bright smile on her face as the Quantum Space around them seemed to be cracking, like glass.

Seele: "I gave you both my first kisses, Bronya! Ryu! You'll both have to kiss me back when you return to take me home! And... make sure you two love each other always! I want to see you two together when you come for me!"

Ryu blushed a bit at her statement while Bronya, even though her emotions were being affected by the Honkai Infection, couldn't help a faint blush form on her cheeks, both from Seele's kiss and what she said to them. Then, everything including Seele began to be engulfed in a golden light...

Seele: "Remember our promise, Ryu! Bronya! We'll reunite in the real world!!"

......

Ryu: *slowly smiles* "You can count on it, Seele... I won't forget. We won't. Right?"

Bronya: "Da. The Bronya and Ryu shall remember their promise with Seele."

She replied, her tone now becoming monotonous from the infection to her brain. But with that, Bronya and Ryu found themselves waking back up in the real world, with Seele now stuck within the Sea of Quanta. Cocolia and the Scientists' eyes widened in shock as a loud roar was heard, shaking the lab and two large figures materialized around the two children.

Cocolia: "What the hell is that..?"

Around Bronya was a large floating mecha with a canon for a left arm, while its right arm wrapped around its master, as if protecting her. As for Ryu, a massive beast that was radiating Honkai Energy wrapped itself around him protectively. It was... an Eastern-style Dragon with a large white main and glowing blue eyes.

"An undergoing stomach, to bear up... against what should ensue. Approach my Ariel, come. All hail, great master! Grave sir, hail!"

........................

........................

........................

The girl named Bronya lost many things in the summer of 2013. Due to the injury in her leg, a Honkai Infection spread throughout her body, limiting her range of movement with her legs. Only with the help of advanced prosthetics, can she retain her original locomotion. The infection got deeper into her, damaging her brain which resulted in her unable to feel most emotions... But the girl named Seele was what she missed the most, and the pain of sorrow still ails her to this date. But she did receive a gift from Seele, which ended up being the large mechanical familiar she called "Project 19c Bunny".

As for Ryu, his losses weren't as severe as Bronya's, but there was one thing that he suffered greatly. The lost of Seele, triggered a lot of emotional memories for him, which he didn't even know existed. They were of multiple people he somehow had memory of, dying right in front of him. Loosing Seele triggered a state where, Ryu became afraid to get close to anyone anymore... The only person he could be close with, was Bronya because they promised each other to never leave each other's side and save Seele together. Bronya suffered many physical damage and a bit of emotional Damage, while Ryu suffered all emotional damage and damage to his self-esteem. But along with Bronya, he also received a gift from Seele. His nickname was the "Onyx Dragon of the Abyss" due to him always being seen with some form of Wingless Honkai Dragon. In truth, that was just an effect from his attacks. Now, that title had become literal as Seele gifted Ryu with a Dragon companion which was a Honkai beast itself and he named it, "Nakith", after an Egyptian Goddess of the Underworld.

After all of this, Ryu, Bronya and Cocolia made many attempts to recover Seele, but to no avail. They then set their eyes on another girl with a Stigmata of her own.

Raiden Mei

Her stigmata first unleashed its potentials when she turned 8. Her father then sealed her powers away. In February 2014, Cocolia triggered an artificial Honkai Eruption outbreak in Chiba Academy located in the city of Nagazora to reawaken Mei's dormant stigma. Bronya and Ryu were then deployed to subdue and recover Mei... However, even Cocolia didn't include two silver-haired girls in her schemes.

Their names were Kiana Kaslana and Raiden Ame.

And this Honkai Outbreak... bound the fates of these five teenagers together...

>>End of Azure Water's Arc<<

_______________________

Next Arc: "St. Freya Arc"