�Just what I said. She caused the fire, I don�t know why!� Lian explained.
�Well, then that just gives me all the more reason to arrest her the minute she gets down here. By the way, what�s keeping her?�
�I made a wall of ice to block her fire, to buy everyone some time to get out of here! And you have to leave her alone for the time being. I have to find out why she is doing this! She�s one of my best friends! I know she has a reason!� Lian cried.
�What reason could she possibly have for endangering people�s lives?� the chief demanded.
�I don�t know, but I know she has a reason! I don�t want ANYONE to touch her until I find out what�s wrong!� the Sui Megami yelled.
People all around backed away to not get in the way of the enraged Hinote Megami. Lian stayed put until Jin jumped down and chased her off to the left.
***
Avari thought about what she had seen while in the building. Jin was not herself. Her glowing red eyes, her evil smile. She almost looked like a demon.
What�s wrong, Ellette? Why are you acting this way? She thought as Zoe ran up next to her.
I�m asking the same questions. Zoe kythed back.
Do you think she�s doing this because she�s angry with me? Avari sounded worried.
No! Don�t even go there! No amount of anger could push our Jin to do something like this! Zoe yelled. By the way, where are we headed?
I don�t know. Somewhere where people won�t get in the way.
Get real, Avari. This is New York! I don�t think there is such a place here.
Zoe and Avari found themselves right back at Central Park. �Why did we end up back here?� Zoe wondered aloud.
�I don�t know, but we�ve got to get away from all these people.� Avari suggested. They took of to the right, into the forested area.
Lian ran through, following her friends� energies. She turned to see that Jin was gaining on her. Lian picked up the pace, and ran faster.
***
�Haven�t we gone far enough? I haven�t seen anyone for the last five minutes. Besides, we can�t use all of our energy now. We�ve got to save it in case Jin gives us a problem.� Zoe explained.
Avari nodded as they slowed to a stop. They immediately jumped into two trees, and waited for the last two Megami to show up. Soon, Lian darted into the clearing, and looked around for the remaining two Megami. Not finding them, she turned around.
Jin was standing right behind her. When Lian turned around, Jin was right in her face. �Jin! It�s me! Michi! What are you doing? Why are you doing this? Don�t you know me?�
For a moment, Jin�s eyes softened. Lian relaxed a bit when the warmth in her eyes came back. She was about to continue talking when suddenly, Jin�s hand flashed out and gripped Lian by the neck. She lifted her up a bit until Lian was standing on her toes. Jin jerked Lian close.
�I remember you, Sui Megami. I was given orders to kill you and your Megami buddies.� She said. Her voice sounded strange. The accent was almost absent.
Jin. What�s wrong with you? Lian thought to her.
Why, nothing�s wrong, Sui, except that I�m about to wring your neck! Jin proceeded to do so. She lifted Lian higher, so that her feet were off the ground. Her grip tightened. Lian made no sound, which worried the other two.
Avari couldn�t stand it anymore, with a fierce cry, she attacked Jin. She landed on the ground and tackled Jin, ridding her hand of Lian�s neck. Lian dropped to the ground, gasping for breath. Zoe jumped down, and grabbed Lian. She jumped back into the tree and looked Lian over.
�You ok?� she asked, worried.
�A little out of breath, but fine. We need to be worrying about Jin. What�s is wrong with her?� Lian asked between her slowing breaths.
�I don�t know. It�s really scaring me. We�ve got to make some kind of connection to her or we�re dead! With her power and our unwillingness to hurt her, we�re dead.� Zoe said solemnly.
�We�ll find a way to get through to her. I know we will.� Lian answered comfortingly, regaining her composure.
Jin stood still, smiling evilly at the Sui Megami. Lian didn�t get a chance to move before Zoe charged at Jin. She drew back her fist, then shoved it forward at her head. Jin waited until the last second to catch the punch. She pulled Zoe close. "Oops. Too slow!" She rammed Zoe�s fist back into her own face, sending her flying.
Lian stood her ground as Jin walked closer. Jin looked ready to punch, but instead, swept Lian�s feet out from under her. Lian landed on her back as Jin dropped onto her stomach, imbedding her knee into Lian�s stomach. Lian yelped as Jin drew back her fist. She was about to thrust it forward, when Avari gripped her hand and held it back. Jin turned her head and looked at Avari, an insane glint in her eye.
In a flash of red, Avari was sent flying. Jin turned her attention back to Lian. Lian�s anger was rising. The Sui Megami symbol glowed dimly on her forehead. She grabbed Jin�s leg, and shoved her off. Jin recovered from the initial shock and got up to face the Sui Megami. Jin�s senses caught something behind her. Avari was slowly moving toward her. Jin pointed an open hand toward her as some horrifyingly familiar words escaped her lips.
"Hinotama no Jin! Enjou!" A red ball of energy formed in front of her hand. She released it on Avari with a fierce battle cry. "Fireball of Virtue! Destroy!"
Avari crossed her arms in front of her face as a shield of wind formed in front of her. The wind blocked her attack briefly until it broke through with a scream from Avari. Jin then turned her open hand on Lian. Lian�s eyes widened. The most powerful Megami was releasing a full attack on the weakest Megami. What�s wrong with this picture? Lian crossed her arms in front of her as a water shield formed in front of her.
The last part of Jin�s attack became clear as Lian felt the force of Jin�s blow. "Destroy!!" Lian held it off for a couple seconds before it sent her flying. Jin was beside her in an instant. Lian opened her eyes halfway to look at her. Jin put her hand to Lian�s chest. Lian�s eyes widened in fear. She looked up at Jin. She hated seeing her like this. She was trying to fight whatever had a hold of her mind, but it wasn�t working.
"Jin! Stop! You know me! It�s Michi! We get together all the time! We�ve been friends since you came here from England! It�s me! Don�t do it! Please! ELLETTE!!!"
Lian�s last scream seemed to break a barrier. Jin�s eyes softened once more. The pressure of her hand against her chest softened a bit. Lian smiled weakly. "Jin?" However, the softness didn�t last long as the evil look returned. She shouted the last word of her attack once more.
"DESTROY!!!" a red light filled everything. The only things heard were Lian�s screams of pain and Jin�s odd laughter.
Zoe sat up after the red light faded. She looked around. Jin was still on her feet, glaring down at the unconscious Lian. Avari was sitting up, glaring at Jin�s back. Jin turned to Zoe. The Denkou Megami stood up as quickly as she could. Jin pointed an open hand at her. Zoe gasped. She wasn�t that much stronger than Lian. She held out her hand to Jin. She began powering for an attack as well.
"Hinotama no Jin! Enjou!"
"Shiden Shuu Rai!"
"Destroy!"
"Strike!"
The two attacks clashed in midair. Jin�s slowly but surely overpowered Zoe�s attack. Eventually, Zoe�s attack and Jin�s were send slamming into her. Zoe flew back and hit a tree. She dropped to the ground and lay there, conscious, but unable to get up. Avari saw Jin heading for Zoe, ready to do to her what she did to Lian. Avari stood up and called to her.
"Jin!" Jin turned. "It�s my turn now! Come and get me!" Jin smiled that evil smile and headed toward her.
Avari and Jin began a fistfight rather than a power fight. Avari managed to match Jin block for block, punch for punch. Eventually, Jin got a hit to Avari�s stomach. Avari skidded back as Jin followed, slowly to attack once more. Avari began thinking.
Think! Carrie! Think! Whatever is causing Jin to go bonkers like this is obviously enhancing her power. There�s no way she could�ve beaten even Lian like that. Not to mention being able to fight all of us without breaking a sweat!! So, whatever it is must be a stimulating type thing, so it has to be on her head. Avari stared at the advancing Jin. A small blinking red light on the side of her head caught her eye. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was something attached to her head; hooked onto her ear.
That must be it! Unless Ellette�s got a hearing problem she didn�t tell us about, that�s it! Avari pointed a finger at Jin and send a quick burst of air against her head. The device came loose, but didn't detach. The Kaze Megami growled quietly, then took action as an idea formed in her head. Avari jumped to her feet and raced at Jin. She chambered for a punch, and thrust her fist at Jin's face.Jin smiled a smug smile, ready to turn her head to the side to avoid it. Sure enough, Jin turned her head to the side, but instead of punching, Avari opened her hand and grabbed the device. A quick jerk dislodged it from Jin's head. Avari threw it down. Jin let out a yelp of pain. The odd device clattered to the ground as Jin turned to attack Avari. Suddenly, Jin's eyes lost the unnatural light, and she stopped in her tracks.
"Well...ummm." Avari hesitated.
"Well what?"
"It�s kind of a long story."
"Tell me!!"
Avari sighed. "Alright.
***
Jin stared straight ahead, as Avari looked Zoe over. Lian was now lying near Jin already looked over. Avari helped Zoe to her feet and walked her over where she promptly plopped back down.
"Don�t feel bad, Jin. It wasn�t your fault. The machine was the thing that made you attack us." Zoe consoled.
"I still can�t believe I did that to you guys. I�m sooo sorry." Jin said, tears welling in her eyes.
Avari put a hand on her shoulder. "It�s forgotten. And I'm sorry I blew up at you earlier. I shouldn't have."
"It's forgotten." Jin repeated."What about the guys that did this? Spite and Aku?"
"Who? Who�s Aku?" Zoe wondered.
"He�s a scientist that made that stupid thing." She pointed to the machine.
"You would probably know that better than the rest of us." Avari answered.
Jin�s eyes suddenly lit up. "I think I have an idea." Avari shrank back when Jin regained the evil smile from before. She stood, walked over to the device and crushed it beneath her heel.