E-mail: kipp_loong@yahoo.ca Homepage: www.geocities.com/kipp_loong/ <>= Thought ()=Author's opinion Disclaimers: Oh! My Goddess (Ah! My Goddess, Aa! Megami-sama, and whatever else they call it) is owned by Kosuke Fujishima and Kodansha. English translations are owned by Dark Horse Comics. The work that I am doing is in no way used for profit, nor am I taking credit for the characters. This is purely for entertainment. Kipp Long, Rantora Kenshin, Hiroshi Hamasaki, Makoto Kagirinai, Hikaru Saitoku and Hikari Amatsu _are_ my own creations and are not to be reproduced with out my permission. Death is a creation of humanity's fears, and isn't my own creation, but her personality and profile are, so they are not to be used with out my permission. The Japanese Specialized Self Defence Force: Supernatural Division does not actually exist and is a figment of this author's imagination (probably from watching one too many episodes of the X- Files), therefore making it my own creation. So without further ado, I present to you... [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ |nfinity Corps is Proud to Present An Oh! My Goddess! Fanficiton Deus Patronus: Episode 2 By: Jeffrey Chow [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ Merlin sat at his desk in his Japan base, gazing at the five figures in front of him. Although obscured in the shadows, the five each gave off a sense of confidence and power, but on top of that, each seemed concerned for something. "Do you understand the mission perimeters?" Merlin asked sternly, "Daecar is a serious threat, which is why I'm authorizing this, but if any of you screw up, heads will roll." "Yes Sir!" Five voices shouted. "Very well Espers, go, and make sure that disciple of mine doesn't get into too much trouble," Merlin muttered the last. "Impossible Sir!" the five replied, then ran out of the office, each laughing loudly. "Damn smart asses," Merlin muttered, then sighed to himself. "It takes a demon a minimum of four months to fully corrupt a good soldier, and that damn disciple of mine did it in four weeks," he continued, then grinned to himself, "Must have been the charming personality he picked up from me!" * * * Kipp stood in the middle of the temple's yard, wearing a pair of black sweat pants, and a white t-shirt. Around him were five wooden posts, each pounded a foot into the ground. The young man stared straight ahead, staring at none of the post, and yet, knowing where everything was in the yard. "What is he doing?" Belldandy asked, fascinated by Kipp's behaviour. "I think he's training," Keiichi replied, looking up from his homework. The two wear seated on the porch of the Temple, while doing their homework. Although it was autumn, the weather was quite warm, so Keiichi had decided to work outside a bit. Belldandy on the other hand had just finished the housework and was just relaxing beside her beloved. With a burst of movement, Kipp began his training. Combining one's magic with one's physical abilities usually enhances a person's limits. But the benefits were only as good as the person was. Kipp knew this, and although he usually fought with the combined two, he also knew that if he increased his physical limits, the magic would do more for him, and he needed every advantage he could get against Daecar. Even with the combined might of the Espers, Kipp knew that the up coming fight would be very taxing and would most likely result in a lot of damage, maybe even the death of one of his friends. Kipp thought to himself, In under a minute, the five post were broken, one even splintered, but Kipp wasn't done. Kipp immediately launched into several katas, running through them and then switching styles, moving faster and faster as he went. When he had gone through every one of his unarmed styles, Kipp pulled out his mana blade, courtesy of Skuld, and began going through those katas. "I think he might be pushing it a little too much," Belldandy said, concern evident in her voice. Kipp grimaced, remembering the last stand of Serenity. The sword katas were soon finished, leaving Kipp panting and sweating. The soldier glanced around the yard, looking for any large boulders he could pit himself against, but sadly, there were none. Sighing to himself, and adding a boulder to his mental 'to get' list, Kipp walked over to Keiichi and Belldandy. "So, Keiichi-sempai, how much would a month of rent cost?" Kipp asked, sitting down beside the two. "I don't know, you have to factor in food, and all the other stuff you use," Keiichi explained, before Kipp stopped him. "Could you two wait a second, I need to get something," Kipp said, rising and entering the temple. "I wonder what it is?" Keiichi wondered aloud. The couple sat in mutual silence, waiting for their friend to return, which didn't take very long. As he returned, Keiichi and Belldandy both noticed that he was currently on his, but who he was talking to they had no clue. "Uh-huh... wait a sec, I have how much? Define a lot..." Kipp whistled appreciatively, then paused as he stared at the cell phone. "A lot is several million in American, and I have 'a hell of a lot'?" The young man paused again as he digested the information, "I'm richer then most movie stars? Okay, then I have a question. HOW THE HELL DID I GET THAT MUCH MONEY?!?!?!?!" Keiichi and Belldandy, having finally made sense of the conversation stared at each other in shock. went through both of their minds. "You're kidding me... you're not? Oh boy, tell those bastards at HQ that they'd better start running... okay, bye," Kipp sighed, putting his cell phone away. Turning to the two started observers beside him, Kipp grinned sickly, "Did you know that JSSDF:SD agents get paid several million for every demon they kill? Did you also know that they pay us obscene amounts of money so that we'll be to do whatever we want in case we were to die the next day?" When the two shook their heads in a negative response, Kipp continue cheerfully, "Neither did I! And to think, I had trouble getting money to get here." "So, you have how much?" Keiichi asked weakly. "Give or take five hundred million in American dollars." Kipp replied conversationally, taking a seat on the porch. "Five hundred million?" Keiichi mumbled weakly. "Yeah," Kipp replied, staring forward. "Shouldn't you be happy?" Belldandy asked, glancing at Kipp's bleak look. "Oh, I'm happy about being rich, I'm just depressed at why it's there," Kipp replied grimly, "So we can experience some measure of happiness before we die." "Oh, that... well don't think of it as that type of money. You work for the JSSDF, hunting down creatures that could wipe out entire armies, which therefore makes it a very hard job. Added on top of that, you have to be the best of the best to do this job. From what I know of your culture, don't the better workers, and the ones who do the harder jobs, get rewarded with the highest pay for their work?" Belldandy asked, in full-fledged mothering mode. "Thanks Belldandy-sempai, I needed that," Kipp grinned, the seriousness leaving his eyes. "Now then, how much do I owe you Keiichi -sempai?" * * * In the garage of Kipp's ruined apartment building, two men stood, both staring at the sleek black bike before them. Behind them was a sleek red sports car. One stood 185cm in height, with a lean muscular build. He wore a pair of blue jeans, a plain loose black sweater, and a pair of white sneakers. Over his brown eyes he wore a pair of shades. His short brown hair was spike upward. He looked around 20 years old. The other was shorter, standing at 170cm, but as well built as the other. He wore a pair of beige khakis, a white t-shirt, and a pair of black military style boots. His black bangs hang down on either side of his face, accenting his deep brown eyes, while the rest was tied in a loose ponytail. Around his right wrist rested a silver watch. He appeared to be around 18 years of age. "No way am I touching that thing! Who knows what sort of safeties Tentetsu and the rest of those psychos put in this thing," the first muttered disgustedly. "Well, I'm sure not touching it, the last time I even looked at one of their inventions, I got zapped by it," the other retorted. "Look Rantora, I don't know how to ride it, you do," the first tried using logic. "Well, it we agreed to bring my Hummer, we wouldn't be in this mess Hiroshi," Rantora snorted. "Always with the bloody hummer, get it into your thick skull, even the bloody hummer isn't big enough for this thing to fit," Hiroshi growled back. "Boys, must everything be a pissing contest to you two?" a female voice asked from the shadows. "Oh, yippee, Makoto-chan's here, just what I need," Rantora muttered to himself. "Hey! Don't go dissing our pissing contests!" Hiroshi growled at Makoto. "Geez, you two are hopeless," Makoto sighed, stepping into the garage's lights. Makoto stood around 160cm in height, looking around 18 years old. She wore a tight white tank top, a pair of black pants, and a pair of black sneakers. She had left her long light brown hair along, the strands reaching her waist. Her red eyes sparkled with barely hidden amusement of her friends. "Hey, have you ever been subjugated to Tentetsu's test?" Rantora growled. When Makoto shook her head in the negative, Rantora shuddered and muttered enviously, "Lucky you." "Oh come on, he can't be that bad," Makoto prodded. "Oh, how we envy you. Being female has rendered you immune to Tentetsu's awful wrath," Hiroshi spoke, taking a dramatic pose, "Oh, but for good reason, for if your swe-oof." Hiroshi doubled over from the elbow blow Makoto gave him. "And he wonders why I won't go out with him," she muttered to herself, rubbing the bridge of her nose. Removing her elbow, Makoto walked up to the bike and pressed her thumb against the print scanner. "No! Don't do that!" Rantora cried, snatching Makoto's hand away form the bike. "Who knows what kind of defensive measures Kipp requested." Makoto sighed and rolled her eyes. "You do realize we're his friends, and he most likely gave us access. Besides, Tentetsu built this for us, so our prints are probably in its data base," Makoto explained exasperated. As if to prove her point, the bike roared to life, and a calm computerized voice spoke, "Hello agent Kagirinai, you have been authorized to use this vehicle by agent Long, have a good day." "See, told you so," Makoto said smugly at the two males. "Oh, and tell agent Kenshin and agent Hamasaki that if they even scratch the paint on me, agent Long will have their hides," the computerized voice spoke again. "What did I just say?" Rantora groaned, while Hiroshi tried to woo the unimpressed Makoto. "Your eyes are like sparkling stars..." Hiroshi trailed off when he noticed Makoto ignoring him. "Cruel," he whimpered to himself. "Baka," Makoto snorted. "Is it just me, or do we not fit the roles of mega cool monster slayers... besides me," Rantora smirked at the glare Hiroshi directed at him. "Stop with the damn pissing contest already and let's get going," Makoto growled, getting into Hiroshi's sports car. "There is a god!" Hiroshi cried to the heavens, rushing to the driver's seat. "Rantora-kun, you're driving the bike." "I detest you," Rantora growled, grabbing a helmet from the car's back seat, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do kiddies." Hiroshi just gave Rantora the finger in response. * * * Meanwhile, the two remaining members of the Espers were in Rantora's hummer, driving around Nekomi. Hikari sat in the passenger seat, her eyes partially glowing from the use of her ESP. She had on the typical girl's high school uniform, complete with the short skirt, and a red ribbon adorning her blonde hair. For shoes, she wore a pair of brown, soft leather, knee boots. In the drivers seat, a young man, about 20 years old sat. He was around 178cm with a wiry build. He wore a pair of black jeans and a white t-shirt under a dark blue blazer. His black hair was only slightly longer the then crew cut fashion, sticking upward. His hazel brown eyes seemed to absorb everything he saw. "Hmm, Hikaru, did your intelligence reports give us any leads on finding him?" Hikari asked the man beside her, giving up on her ESP. "Feh, that fool hung up before I could trace the call," Hikaru snorted, grinning despite his words. "Must he always be so secretive?" "Look who's talking," Hikari giggled, looking at the university they were driving past. "Isn't that NIT? Maybe we should see if he's there," she suggested to Hikaru. "Yeah right, that kid wouldn't stay an extra minute in school if his life depended on it," Hikaru muttered, glancing at the school. "Remember how set he was when Merlin suggested a tutor?" "Yeah, but he did want to go to university," Hikari pointed out. "True, but it's probably cause he wanted to meet people around his own age," Hikaru countered. "Just check the place out," Hikari snapped. "Okay, geez, someone needs some Midol," Hikaru muttered under his breath. Unfortunately for him, Hikari's telepathy picked up the words. Sufficed to say, Hikaru was in for a world of pain. * * * "Umm, Kipp, you might want to slow down on those turns," Keiichi said to his friend as the two prepared to take the new bikes for a trial run. "I'm going to make that bastard eat those words," Kipp seethed, shoving his helmet on. "Kipp, have you even been listening to me?" Keiichi asked, exasperated at Kipp's stubborn streak. "Beating Aoshima isn't that important." "Yes it is! I'm sick and tired of people like him. Damn people, acting like kings cause they have more money then us," Kipp growled. "If I have to humiliate him to prove my point, then so be it." "I think that's what you've been planning all along," Keiichi muttered, pitying Aoshima. "Quiet you," Kipp grinned evilly, revving the engine. "Sounds pretty good, let's see how she handles." With that, the two were off. Zipping down the course, the two pushed their respective machines to the limit, searching for any flaws in the designs. Kipp seemed to be beating Keiichi, but only because he was much more reckless, barely slowing enough to avoid walls in turns. The two rounded the last turn when disaster struck. The front wheel on Kipp's bike began to shred for no apparent reason, while Keiichi's bike swerved around the road, the steering toast. * * * "I just felt some magic!" Hikari exclaimed, pointing towards NIT. "I'm way ahead of you," Hikaru said, turning the hummer around. "If that's you Kipp, I'm going to kill you for making us worry," Hikari muttered, throwing her senses out, trying to locate her friend. * * * "Guys! Magic detected at five o'clock!" Rantora yelled into the helmet mike. The group was speeding down a road, just behind NIT when all three of them felt the unmistakable twinge of mana being used. Having sworn the oath to protect humanity and the gods, the two vehicles immediately changed direction to reach NIT as soon as possible. "If that's our fearless leader, I'm going to wring his neck," Makoto growled. "Um, Rantora, can we switch places?" Hiroshi whispered into the com unit, nervously glancing at Makoto's furious visage. "That time of month again, ne?" Rantora grinned evilly. "Pull over a let me drive! I'm going to hurt that baka!" Makoto growled at Hiroshi, brandishing her trusty shotgun for emphasis. "You're so dead my friend. It was nice knowing you," Hiroshi saluted Rantora while he obediently followed Makoto's commands. "Let's see you catch me first!" Rantora tainted, gunning the engine. * * * "What the Fuck?!" Kipp cried, fighting to maintain control of the vehicle. Then his mind finally registered the telltale signs of magic, "Daecar! I'll kill you!" Meanwhile, as Kipp fought to regain control of his cycle, Keiichi fought to maintain some semblance of steering. But even his best efforts were in vain as the bike relentlessly raced towards the wall. In desperation, Keiichi flung himself off of his vehicle, moments before it crashed into a wall. "What happened?" Keiichi asked weakly, watching as Kipp rode past, the tires gone. "Chikuso! I can't hold out much longer!" Kipp growled, fighting the vehicle's suicidal tendencies. But, like Keiichi, the bike refused to cooperate, forcing Kipp to bail as Keiichi had before him. Kipp managed to rise to his feet just as the bike flipped and crashed into the wall. "I'll kill you Daecar," Kipp growled, clenching his fists in anger. "Keiichi-sempai! Kipp-kun! Are you alright?" Sora asked as she and the rest of the MCC rushed out to meet the two drivers. "What happened out there?" "The steering just locked up, and the brakes didn't seem to work either," Keiichi said, removing his battered helmet. "My brakes weren't working either, and the tires just flew apart," Kipp stated, staring at the remains of two weeks of work. "Dat's strange, me and Ootaki looked over dam earlier," Tamiya muttered, scratching his head in confusion. "Then what happened?" Keiichi asked aloud. Kipp walked up to the bike and mentioned for Keiichi to follow. When he was sure no one could hear, Kipp whispered into Keiichi's ear his suspicions. "I felt magic when we were riding," Kipp whispered in a low voice. "Magic? So it could have been Mara," Keiichi whispered back, wishing that the goddesses hadn't been recalled to Heaven. "It also could have been Daecar," Kipp mused, then shook his head. "It probably was Daecar, from what you've told me, this doesn't seem like Mara's style." "You're right, it was too small. Hell, the bikes didn't even blow up," Keiichi murmured in agreement, then frowned, "But then why did he target me as well?" "Maybe he didn't know which of us was which," Kipp suggested. "Right, and how was he supposed to not know," Keiichi asked sarcastically. "What do you mean?" Kipp asked, confusion written all over his face. "Your name's on the back of your suit," Keiichi groaned, pointing to the back of the leather riding suit. "Oh, yeah, that," Kipp grinned sheepishly. "Well, maybe he just wants to kill everyone near me." "I just wish the goddesses hadn't been called back to Heaven so suddenly," Keiichi muttered. "And just before this too. Talk about suspicious." "I know what you mean," Kipp muttered, whispering a prayer to any divine creature that would listen. "I just hope you're wrong. Because if you're right, the implications are too great." "Well, let's hope you're right," Keiichi glanced at the waiting MCC members, then raised his voice. "Let's see if we can salvage anything." When everyone failed to move, Kipp joined Keiichi trying to motivate them... well more like attack their pride. "Look, we've only got a week until the race, which might I remind you Aoshima bet in. So, if you want to prove that he's wrong, and WE are the best, get your asses in high gear, and let's get a move on it!" Kipp exclaimed, throwing every low blow he could think of in. Sure enough, the thought of Aoshima showing them up was enough to make everyone scramble. Within minutes, every bit of the totalled vehicles was packed away, and the club was on its way back to the clubhouse/garage, just missing the five members of the Espers. * * * Hikari and Hikaru were the first to arrive, the two stepping out of the hummer, weapons in hand. Hikaru held a sniper rifle of sorts, where as Hikari held an oversized pistol. While Hikari scanned the area, Hikaru awaited the arrival of the remaining Espers. He didn't have to wait long. Rantora was the first to arrive, followed closely by an enraged Makoto driving Hiroshi's sports car. Of course, Makoto didn't run Rantora down, but she came awfully close. "Told you it was that time of month," Rantora muttered to Hiroshi. Makoto promptly smacked him. "But then again, I don't know if demon hybrids get periods," Rantora smirked at Makoto. Let's just say Rantora won't be feeling well for the next little while, and leave it at that. "We salute you, oh brave, valiant, stupid soldier," Hiroshi saluted the twitching remains of Rantora. "I hurt," Rantora groaned. "Morons," Hikaru muttered darkly, shaking his head at the two. "He deserved it," Makoto sniffed, turning her back to Rantora. "I wonder if she has a tail," Hiroshi muttered, watching Makoto's backside. "Why did I get pounded when we have a perfectly good pervert right here?" Rantora grumbled, jerking his thumb at Hiroshi. "I'm not a pervert! I'm just admiring one of the greatest beauties in the universe! How could I not gawk at the very vision of beauty?" Hiroshi retorted. "That would have sounded convincing... if you weren't drooling," Hikaru sweat dropped. "Men!" Makoto sniffed indignantly. "No, they're boys," Hikari corrected. "They don't have the balls to be men, unlike a certain someone," the two girls giggled at that one. "Hey! What does our fearless leader have that I don't?" Hiroshi growled. "Besides a motorcycle. Besides, he's even more clueless than us!" "Baka," Hikaru growled. "Where to start," Makoto sneered at Hiroshi. "Guys, before the two of you start another one of your lover's quarrels, I'd like to point out we're missing a leader," Hikari pointed out, as Rantora and Hikaru forced the two apart. "She/He started it!" the two chorused. "Children! Quiet!" Hikari screamed, glaring at the two cowering forms. "Get in that car and search the city!" The two immediately leapt to comply. "Hikaru, hunt around, learn all you can about the local gossip and see if you can find Kipp with it," Hikari rounded on the hapless shadow warrior. "What did I do?" Hikaru asked Rantora, before darting away from the steamed Hikari. "I guess I'll just take the bike..." Rantora began, before realizing that Makoto had taken it. "You, Rantora, are taking me around town," Hikari glared at the terrified expression Rantora wore. "We're going to see if I can detect Kipp anywhere." "Why me?" * * * As the Espers left the racetrack, two shadowed figures looked on from above. One-stepped into the light, revealing the figure of Mara, the other stayed hidden. "So, what's so important about the boy, besides that fact that he can use magic?" Mara asked curiously. "It is not your concern," the shadow replied bluntly. "We'll I just like knowing why someone's butting into my territory," Mara growled back, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Fine, but he is Mine," the figure growled, stepping into the light. "He is a thorn in my master's side, and he must be eliminated," Daecar growled, eyes flashing. "And you're master is..." Mara pried. "None of your concern," Daecar snapped. "All you need to do is stay out of this, it concerns you not." "Very well, the boy is yours, but only the boy. If you even harm one hair on Keiichi, the goddesses, Megumi, or any of their heads, you answer to me," Mara threatened, her eyes burning with flames. "I didn't know you cared," Daecar sneered, showing rows of sharp teeth. "I don't, but they are MY targets. I will deal with them, no one else," Mara snapped. "Is that clear?" "Very," Daecar gulped, shying away from Mara's gaze. "It's nice to see that some demons still have respect for their betters," Mara smiled seductively. "I might reward you later." And in a flash of sulphuric smoke, she was gone. "Stupid whore, when my master finishes with his plan, you and your blessed Demoness Grief Office will be my personal play things," Daecar spat, disappearing back into the shadows. "So we meet again Daecar," Merlin muttered amidst the shadows of the building opposite the demon's. "This time, humanity won't need an angel to defeat you." * * * "I want to change the world!" Kipp sang to himself, playing with his new Discman, and assorted CDs. "Ah, it's good to have some money for a change." "Could you stop goofing off, and help us?" Megumi asked sarcastically. Having only a week to build a cycle from scratch was straining the MCC member's patience and nerves. Having a member busy playing with a Discman while the rest work wasn't doing much good. "Oh, gomen, I forgot," Kipp grinned sheepishly, grabbing some tools. "I'll start working now." "Hmm, you're actually earning your keep now?" a voice asked from the door. "I know that voice!" Kipp exclaimed, turning around to face the voice's owner. "Of course you should, I've only worked with you for two years," Hikaru muttered sarcastically. "So, had fun finding me?" Kipp asked cheerfully. "Oh, of course, we all love our jobs as much as Hikari," Hikaru retorted. "You try having fun finding a needle in a haystack." "Kipp, less talk, more work," Megumi playfully slapped Kipp's head, while turning to address Hikaru. "Who are you?" "Saitoku Hikaru, at your service. The moron you have working for you has the pleasure of calling me a friend," Hikaru gesture absently at Kipp. "Great way to address your superior," Kipp growled, before Megumi smacked him again. "You work," she said sternly, pointing at the bike frame. Rounding at the smug face of Hikaru, Megumi grinned evilly, "Now then, how fast are you?" "He can out run a horse," Kipp muttered darkly. "I should know, I've seen him doing it enough. Running away that is." ` "Hey! I only did that once, and it was under orders too... your orders I recall!" Hikaru yelled, trying to strangle Kipp. "Cause I knew you were a chicken!" Kipp yelled back, wrapping his own arms around Hikaru's neck. And before Megumi could interfere, the two were slapping each other's backs, laughing at some sort of joke. Megumi stared at one then another in shock, before grabbing a conveniently hose and spraying the two down. "What was that for?!" Kipp spluttered, wiping his hair out of his face. "Kipp, I can see doing that, but you barely even know me lady!" Hikaru grumbled, removing his soaked blazer. "Hmph! I seem to recall telling you to start working," Megumi grinned at Kipp. "And you I recall asking how fast you were." "Man, if I knew you were a slave driver, I'd have stuck with the JSUumph!" Kipp began, before Hikaru slapped a hand over his mouth. "The... the "Japanese Self-Defence Classes," right Kipp," Hikaru smiled nervously. "No, he meant the "Japanese Specialized Self-Defence Force: Supernatural Division," Megumi said, looking very confused. "She. Knows?" Hikaru slowly turned to Kipp. "You are so dead." "She lives with spirits. Of course she knows!" Kipp snapped, patting himself one the back for the clever half-truth. "Spirits! Oh! I wanna see!" Hikaru begged with child like glee. "I've always wanted to talk to one... when they weren't haunting someone, or something like that." "Kuso, I forgot about you're damn obsession with ghosts," Kipp muttered. "Ano, I don't live with spirits. My brother lives with goddesses," Megumi pointed out, shooting Kipp a confuse look. "Goddesses?" the idea bounced around Hikaru's head for a bit, before he brightened again. "That lucky dog!" "Not that type of goddess!" Kipp snapped, glaring at the drool running from Hikaru's mouth. "Real goddesses, divine goddesses..." "And damn hot goddesses!" Hikaru quipped, remembering Merlin's description of Urd. *SMACK* *SMACK* "Hentais," Megumi muttered. "And damn proud of it!" Hikaru quipped, again, with mock pride. "Start running now, _if_ you want to live." Megumi growled. Hikaru was out of there in a flash. * * * "Geez, you didn't have to hit me that hard," Hikaru growled, glaring at Kipp. "Yes I did, you made me screw the gas injectors up," Kipp shot back. "Which ended up with me getting hell from the rest of the club." "So sue me. Tentetsu-san warned you, but noo, you just had to try your hand at being an engineer," Hikaru smirked. The two were sitting in a restaurant, coincidentally owned by the JSSDF (coincidental my ass!), waiting for the arrival of the remaining Espers. Kipp, having been kicked off the engineering section of the club, was quietly sulking over a cup of tea, trying desperately to ignore Hikaru's smug expression. "I told them not to let you anywhere near the tools, but did they listen? Obviously not," Hikaru grinned, enjoying Kipp's frustration. "And I told them not to let you within a hundred meters of me, or else you'd be missing a head. But did they listen? Of course not!" Kipp growled across the table at his companion. "But I'm right across from you, and I do believe I still have my head," Hikaru grinned mockingly. Kipp snarled in response. At that moment, Hikari and Rantora showed up, shaking their heads at Kipp's and Hikaru's childish behaviour. The two ordered drinks and sat down, before Hikari addressed Kipp. "For some strange reason, I thought you were smarter... and much more of a man," Hikari said lightly, taking a sip from her cola. Rantora and Hikaru both winced in sympathy at the low blow, while Kipp spluttered indignantly. "I thought you were my friend!" Kipp wailed. "Get over yourself," Hikari muttered. "But you're me best friend! And you're insulting me!" Kipp wailed. "Gods, sometimes I wish you were always serious," Hikari groaned. "Hmm, that's number... five hundred?" Rantora remarked to Hikaru. "Nope, number five hundred and twenty," Hikaru replied, consulting a notebook. "So, that means Hikari's complained about his pathetic nature five hundred and twenty times this year," Rantora whistled loudly. "Hey! I am not pathetic!" Kipp growled. "Ano? I thought you were asking about the times this month," Hikaru remarked with all seriousness. "I hate you two," Kipp groaned, face flat on the table. "We love you two!" the two chorused. "Dammit! I'm your leader, so I demand some respect!" Kipp growled at the two. "Good luck," Hiroshi grinned, strolling into the restaurant... hand in hand with Makoto. "Hmm, so they've finally gotten over their lover's quarrel," Hikaru mumbled, consulting his notebook. "Damn, I lost twenty bucks!" "Ha! I might lend you some of the fifty I just won... if you ask nicely," Rantora mocked. "You were saying how _I_ wasn't serious?" Kipp asked Hikari lightly. "Am I the only sane person here?" Hikari asked herself. "Well, if I were to wave the latest issue of Trigun in front of your face, you wouldn't be sane any longer," Makoto remarked off -handedly. "Vash-sama..." Hikari gushed, drool running down her chin. "Ano... is this a meeting, or are we still on leave?" Kipp asked glancing at the silliness around him. "Right," Hikari muttered, regaining her composure. "We're here to discuses business, and to eliminate a threat, as ordered by Merlin-sama." "Understood. What is our current status, and how much support do we have?" Kipp asked, going into full Captain mode. "We have our abilities and weapons, coupled with a warrant that gives us complete control of the local police force," Hikari answered, pulling out a laptop. "As to JSSDF support, we have none. I don't need to point out that we're ready to go at your command." "And the status of our enemy?" Kipp asked, turning to Hikaru. "At the current moment, 8th Class demon Daecar is hiding in a warehouse by the industrial district. He has under his command over twenty 12th class demons, as well as five 10th class demons," Hikaru answered, placing several documents on to the table. "Actually, Daecar has a 9th Class demon observer as well," Makoto filled in. "Intel just contacted us a while ago." "Hmm, what are the risks to civilian injuries?" Kipp asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Depends. If we attack during the morning, I estimate that the civilian casualties can reach over a thousand, and that isn't counting any hostages they might have. If we attack during dusk, the risks are even higher, with rush hour and all," Hiroshi supplied. "Our best bet is to attack past midnight, to insure less civilian activity in the area." "Agreed. Finally, does Daecar have any human contacts?" Kipp asked. "Two," Hikaru replied with disgust, throwing two more documents on to the table. "Both successful businessmen... both also linked to the yakuza." "Okay, here's what we'll do then," Kipp began pointing at a map. * * * "You'd think that being able to drive most known vehicles would make him a better mechanic," Keiichi sweat dropped, staring at the mess that once was a fuel injector... and what faintly resembled a striped down motorcycle. "It could have been worse," Megumi shrugged, shuddering at the mere thought. "How?" Keiichi deadpanned. "The gas tank could have been full," Megumi grinned. "You're right... just stop giving the universe ideas," Keiichi ordered solemnly, before changing the subject. "I wonder when the goddesses will get back." "Your guess is as good as mine," Megumi replied, fiddling with the bike. "What I wonder is who that guy with Kipp was... I think they worked together." "You mean the one who was fighting with Kipp over where the fuel injector went?" Keiichi asked, picking up bits of scrap. "Yeah, him. I wonder what he was doing here... you don't think it has anything to do with Daecar, do you?" Megumi asked uneasily, recalling the incident last week. "My bet is that he's one of the Espers sent here to eliminate Daecar," Keiichi replied grimly. "But they're all so young! Kipp's only 16, and I think Hikaru-san's only 19," Megumi exclaimed. "How can our government send people so young to their deaths?" "Because, they are the only ones with the power to fight the demons that invade our home," a voice came from the doorway. "Who are you?" Keiichi asked, reaching for a large wrench. "No need for that," the figure motioned towards the wrench, which instantly melted. "I am the one who trained the Espers, Kipp's sensei, mentor, and friend. I am Merlin, founder of the Supernatural Divisions across the globe," Merlin introduced himself, stepping out of the shadows. "And you would be Keiichi Morisato, beloved of the goddess Belldandy." "How-how do you know that?" Keiichi asked, blushing at the comment about Belldandy. "It's my job to know," Merlin replied ominously, examining the blackened remains of the bike. "Kipp did this didn't he. I recognize his touch." "Does he do this often?" Megumi asked, not expecting the answer that came. "More times then I, or anyone, care to remember. His mechanical aptitude is on par with, to take a reference from one of Hikari's mangas, Akane Tendo's cooking," Merlin deadpanned. Both Morisato siblings sweat dropped, recalling one of Skuld's many mangas. The infamous Akane Tendo, and her toxic sludge called cooking. "I told you not to let him near the stuff," Megumi whispered to Keiichi. "How was I supposed to know?" Keiichi muttered. "Could you perhaps tell me where Belldandy is? I have some matters to discuss with her," Merlin broke in. "What business?" Megumi asked suspiciously. "Generally, former heroes. Specifically, a prince named Hyperion." Merlin replied, frowning slightly. "You mean Kipp don't you?" Keiichi asked, perplexed. "No, I mean Hyperion. I need to know how strong Hyperion was, both mentally, physically, and spiritually," the arch mage replied. "Now, where is Belldandy?" "Heaven," Keiichi answered, smiling sadly. "She was just called back today." "How terribly odd," Merlin mused to himself. "And inconvenient." "We'll be sure to tell her you were looking for her," Megumi reassured. "What? Ah, yes, arigatou," Merlin smiled slightly. "Just don't tell Urd I'm in the area." "Why not?" Megumi asked, curious at Merlin's uncomfortable expression. "My liver isn't what it used to be." * * * Kipp dropped face first into the futon he used the temple, to tired to even remove his clothes. Groaning loudly, the young man rolled on to his back to stare at the ceiling. "They didn't have to hit me that hard," Kipp muttered to himself, rubbing his sore arms. "I mean, it was only practice, but noooo, those guys just had to take some sadistic pleasure in 'training' me! I don't recall being used as a punching bag training." "Yeah, but you're supposed to be the 'best,' or did you forget that little detail," Makoto grinned from the door. "Yeah, I am the best... or I'd like to think, but not even I can beat three guys who've trained with me for two years," Kipp replied. "I'm only a mere mortal human, remember?" "Don't go there," Makoto growled, red eyes flashing. "That was a complement," Kipp replied, hands making warding gestures. "Just don't go there," Makoto warned, red eyes watering. "I'm sorry, I'm just sensitive about that." "Hey, Makoto, you know me and the Espers don't care. You're one of us, our friend, and we don't care what you are. Hey, at least you don't have my problems," Kipp grinned as Makoto cheered slightly. "I mean you don't have to deal with demons that want to kill you for no reason, three sadistic guys, a life 'blessed' to live in interesting times, memories that belong to a past incarnation, and girls flocking all over you!" "You do realize you've never had an actual girlfriend," Makoto smiled, giving her friend an appreciative hug. "Well, now that I've cheered you up, why don't you spill on what you and Hiroshi have been up to," Kipp said as his eyes took on a conspirative gleam. "Sorry, that's reserved for girl talk, and you aren't a girl," Makoto replied primly. "Rats," Kipp muttered, falling back on to the futon. "And here I thought all women had something down there!" "Kipp..." Makoto growled. "That's my name," Kipp grinned to himself. "SHUT UP!" Makoto roared, grabbing the young man's pillow and beating him with it. "Stop that! I'm not a masochist!" Kipp giggled as Makoto's face rapidly went through several shades of red. "You're so dead," Makoto growled. "I love you too," Kipp smiled softly. "Wh-wh-what do you mean by that?" Makoto stuttered, blushing crimson. "Like a sister," Kipp cackled evilly. "DIE!!!" the enraged lady cried, flinging herself bodily on to the laughing young man. "Get a room!" Megumi called playfully, strolling into the room. "Isn't this a room?" Kipp asked innocently. "Ignore him, he's slow," Makoto whispered to Megumi. "I'm Kagirinai Makoto, one of the Espers." "Morisato Megumi," Megumi smiled at Makoto, before turning to address Kipp. "Why didn't you tell me you were having friends over, I would have baked a cake!" "I'm sorry mother, I'll remember next time," Kipp bowed his head in mock shame. "You two sure are familiar with each other, what with only having known each other for a week," Makoto commented, before grinning nastily. "You sure move fast Kipp!" "It's not like that!" Kipp spluttered, blushing beet red. "He's too young!" Megumi protested, also blushing bright red. "Geez, you guys are blushing redder then my eyes!" Makoto giggled, doubling over in laughter. "Redder then my eyes?" Megumi whispered, peering into Makoto's eyes. "Kami-sama! You're a demon!" Megumi screamed, back peddling out of the room. "Megumi! WAIT!" Kipp cried, grabbing Megumi's arm. "What are you doing!?" "She's demon!" Megumi hissed back, staring uneasily at Makoto. 1"What if she works for Mara?" "She isn't a full demon," Kipp murmured quietly. "I can't tell you how she came to be this way, but I can assure you that she would never help a demon like Mara." "Are you sure?" Megumi whispered, guilt grasping hold of her. "Yes I'm sure. I'm sure she isn't evil, and I'm sure she has feelings too." Kipp admonished. "Kagirinai-san, gomen ne," Megumi bowed to the saddened girl. "I shouldn't have been so harsh, and there is no excuse for the way I treated you." "It's alright, I'm used to it now," Makoto gave her a smile. "And it's not as if I wanted this power." "What do yomph!" Megumi's question was cut off by Kipp's hand over her mouth. "What did I just say about having feelings?" Kipp hissed into her ear. "Keep your hands to yourself Kipp," Makoto growled, smacking his hands away. "Don't mind him, he's just a little over protective of his friends." "So I've noticed," Megumi muttered, giving Kipp a pointed look. "Sue me! When I asked about that, she nearly bit my head off," Kipp complained, and was ignored by all. "My otou-san was a half-demon, half-human hybrid, while my okaa-san was human. Otou-san once told me that his okaa-san was attacked by a demon. The creature beat her, and then, when it was bored of hurting its victim, forced itself upon her," Makoto's expression darkened for a brief moment, before brightened, slightly at the next thought. "When she learned that she was pregnant, she wanted to kill herself, so that the darkness within her would never harm the world. But she couldn't kill her own child, even if its blood was tainted. Hence, Otou-san was born, but he appeared perfectly human... is you don't count the red slitted eyes and the really thick finger nails." "So that's why you have red eyes..." Megumi trailed off at the implications. "Let me finish! Otou-san was raised as any normal human, but many of his peers were scared of him, and so he became secluded to the world, refusing to become violent with the ones that tormented him, no matter how much his demon nature wanted. Then, one day he met an old man. The old man understood what was happening to my otou-san, and asked him to help the old man to fight the creatures that had wronged Otou-san's mother," Makoto smiled slightly at the similar offer she had received early in her life. "Otou-san readily agreed, and his powers have been used to help the JSSDF:SDs ever since. And now that he has reached the ripe old age of 300, his daughter, myself, has decided to take up the family business." "300!?" Megumi exclaimed, her mind boggling at the thought. "Most demons are immortal, since they are a physical manifestation of a dark soul. But the creature that attacked Makoto's ancestor wasn't powerful enough to achieve true immortality, gaining only the ability to live for a very long time," Kipp explained, his knowledge of the beings even greater then the one-quarter demoness. "So one hundred years to us is about twenty physical years to them." "So how old are you really Kagirinai-san?" Megumi inquired, trying to figure out Makoto's physical age. "I'm really 18, I didn't inherit the long life span, nor the claws of my father. Oh, and you can call me Makoto, Morisato-san" Makoto smiled. "Call me Megumi then," Megumi smiled back. "No claws my ass," Kipp muttered from the futon. "Maybe you're right, care to find out?" Makoto asked, brandishing her inch long nails. "Nah, I'll just ask Hiroshi, he takes enough punishment from you to know," Kipp smirked. "Megumi-san, do you mind if I kill him?" Makoto asked. "He was your friend first, you have first dibs," Megumi replied, smiling at Makoto. "I have a feeling I'm going to regret being born," Kipp groaned, picking himself up. "Definitely," Makoto smiled cutely. "So, when should I start?" "Here's an idea! After you catch me!" Kipp volunteered, and then darted out of the room, not waiting for a reply. "When lives are at stake, he's more serious then Merlin, but when the stakes aren't high, he's a freaking goof ball," Makoto lamented. "I just wish he'd stay somewhere in between." "I just think he's trying to make up for lost time," Megumi suggested, recalling the tale Kipp had told them only a week ago. "There is that, but at times I think he over compensates," Makoto admitted with a sigh. "True, so very true," Megumi agreed, nodding solemnly, then as one, the two girls started to giggle. Outside the room, Kipp winced, shaking his head ruefully. Kipp thought to himself. Sighing sadly, Kipp wandered down the hallway, searching for something to do, and finding Keiichi trying to repair the cycle Kipp had screwed up. Flushing in embarrassment, Kipp went to apologize. "Keiichi-sempai, gomen for braking the cycle, I didn't mean to," Kipp murmured, scratching the back of his head. "It just sort of happened." "Don't worry Kipp-kun, I'm sure I can fix it," Keiichi waved off the apology. "I'll help... no wait, that's a bad idea isn't it," Kipp laughed. "Yes that would be a bad idea," Keiichi agreed, laughing himself. "Seriously, do you need anything? A drink, something to eat, maybe Belldandy?" Kipp asked, grinning slightly. "Actually, I'd have to say yes to all three," Keiichi replied, returning to the mess once known as a motorcycle. "Well, I'll see what I can do about the first two... as to the third, you know any shrines dedicated to the Norns I could pray at?" Kipp asked, getting up. "Unfortunately, no, other wise I'd be there now, rather then working on this... how did you do this anyways?" Keiichi asked, staring at the thing. "Well, I'll go get you a sandwich and some tea, that sound okay? Great," Kipp replied, jogging out of the room, and dodging the question in a very clumsy manner. "Must be like me and swimming," Keiichi mused, before returning to his work. After giving Keiichi the sandwich and tea, Kipp proceeded back to his room, and found that it was indeed empty. Shaking his head ruefully, Kipp proceeded to flop on to his futon, before grabbing a textbook and studying. It wasn't long before the goddesses returned, having finished their business up in Asgard. The three trudged into the sitting room... well Urd and Skuld trudged, Belldandy was elegant as ever. Throwing his textbook down, Kipp wandered into the sitting room, both to welcome back the goddesses, and to introduce both Makoto, and the Esper's plans. What he found wasn't very pleasant. "Be gone demon, trouble this place no more!" Urd shouted, shooting a thunderbolt at Makoto. "Hey!" Makoto cried indignantly, pulling two handgrips from her pockets. The two grips instantly ignited into twin mana weapons. From the grips, a single bar of white mana extended both forward and back. The bar stretched from a few centimetres in front of her clenched fist, to several centimetres behind her elbow, making them two very deadly mana tonfa. "You wanna rumble?" she growled, twirling her weapons at the three goddess. "Why are you here?" Belldandy asked calmly, seemingly ignoring the hostility in the room. "I'm here because of a certain lad named Kipp Long," Makoto growled, red eyes fixed on Urd. "I won't let your kind hurt him again!" Skuld cried, rushing forward intent on dealing Makoto massive bodily harm. Skuld's hammer fell, just as Makoto's tonfa flashed forward. Both never reached there targets, but rather the person they were arguing over. Skuld's hammer slammed into Kipp's face, while Makoto's tonfa was blocked by Kipp's mana blade, which, having been fixed and enhanced by Skuld, was now a deep gold in colour. "Mufh ov ouy doup eat," Kipp's muffled voice called from behind the hammer. "Kipp!" both Skuld and Makoto cried, then glared at each other. "This is all your fault!" the two yelled at each other. "I said; BOTH OF YOU STOP IT!!" Kipp cried, removing his face from Skuld's hammer. "You two should be ashamed, threatening a guest like that," Belldandy admonished both Urd and Skuld. "But she's a demon!" Skuld cried, pointing at Makoto. "Something, I'm not exactly proud of!" Makoto growled back. "Yeah right," Urd snorted. "She's telling the truth," Kipp growled, standing in front of Makoto protectively. "And if you want to hurt my friend, you'll have to go through me." "How can you protect her if you swore to fight the darkness in this world?" Urd asked, lightning crackling around her clenched fist. "How can one who has fought at my side time and time again, against the darkness, be one who serves the darkness?" Kipp asked, gesturing at Makoto. "She's saved my life when she could have as easily left me to die." "But she has the taint!" Skuld cried, brandishing her hammer menacingly. "Only because my obaa-san was raped by one with the taint!" Makoto growled, red eyes flashing in anger. "Only because she couldn't bare to kill her own child, even if it was tainted. Only because Otou-san wanted to live, to fight the things his otou-san stood for." "A likely story, but how do we know it's true?" Urd asked, then silenced Kipp before he could say anything. "How do we know you didn't lie to Kipp? How do we know you didn't use an enchantment spell on him and you're 'allies'?" "I don't know how I can prove it!" Makoto protested, eyes tearing. "I thought you were different from my people. I prayed that I could be accepted for who I was, not what I was." "How can she prove that she's telling the truth?" Kipp asked quietly. "A Mind Scan," Urd replied bluntly. "Onee-san!" Belldandy exclaimed. "It's the only way we can be sure," Urd returned. "It won't work," Kipp shot back. "All of the Espers know how to block Mind Scans, they also know how to create false images in their own minds." "Then she'll just have to let down all her defences," Urd growled. "Either way, I won't let a demon hurt my imouto-chan again!" "Urd," Skuld whispered, staring at her sister in shock. "Look, I'm not exactly thrilled about getting my ass kicked again, and I'm even less thrilled about endangering Skuld, but I won't let you invade my friend's mind," Kipp growled. "It's alright Kipp, I don't mind," Makoto said quietly. "I don't have anything to hide from them, just as long as they don't screw around in there." "Makoto-chan! Are you sure?" Kipp asked, turning in surprise. "I don't have anything to hide, and if you want a better chance in beating Daecar, then I have to do this," Makoto replied in utter conviction. "I don't have anything to hide, and I'm not scared of you!" "Wait!" Belldandy cried. "Urd, Skuld, I need to talk to you two." The three goddesses moved away from the two Espers, all the while keeping an eye on them. When they were far enough not to be heard, and after Urd had cast an anti-listening spell, Belldandy began to talk. " I think I should be the one to do the Mind Scan," she suggested. "You're too impulsive Urd, and you don't have the proper experience or training Skuld." "But I'm the strongest of us! If she tried something, I'll be able to fight her off easily," Urd pointed out. "Like I said earlier, you're too impulsive. If you find even one bit of incriminating evidence, you would fry her brain, even if there was a reason for the actions she took," Belldandy pointed out. "Besides, I'm as concerned about Skuld as you are, and almost as adept as you with Mind Scans." "Fine Bell-chan, but if she tries something..." Urd left the last part hanging ominously. "Very well, then we're agreed," Belldandy nodded her head. Meanwhile, one the other side of the shield, Kipp and Makoto were having a similar discussion. "You're absolutely sure about this?" Kipp asked, glancing worriedly at the three goddesses. "If Urd finds anything, I wouldn't be surprised if she killed you." "I'm sure Kipp, don't worry about it," Makoto reassured, not really feeling reassured herself. "The hell I won't worry!" Kipp exclaimed, pacing back and forth. "The Espers have been part of my life for over six years now, that's a quarter of my life! The hell I won't fret if one of them's putting their head on the block!" "But I'm not! They're goddesses, they have to be fair, besides, what do I have to hide?" Makoto retorted, and wasn't very comforted by the pained look Kipp gave her. "You don't know Urd like I do... Hell! I don't even know Urd that well, but what I do know is that if you harm someone she cares about, you're dead," Kipp exclaimed. "If she thinks you'll harm someone she cares about, she'll do things to you I shudder to think about." "She can't be that bad!" Makoto protested, nervously eyeing the platinum haired goddess. "That's when she's sober, she's at least a hundred times worse drunk!" Kipp whimpered, remembering the one time he had agreed to a drinking contest. It was then that the goddess turned back to the two Espers. When Makoto glanced into Urd's eyes, she began believe the warnings Kipp had given her. Swallowing noisily, Makoto walked up to the goddesses and bowed. "I'm ready," she said, sweating nervously. "Then I shall begin," Belldandy replied, smiling kindly. "Don't worry Makoto-san, I won't hurt you." "H-hai, let's begin," Makoto smiled back nervously. "This won't hurt... unless you resist. I suggest you drop all of your defences now, I don't want to hurt you," Belldandy suggested, waiting patiently for Makoto to acknowledge the command. "You don't?" Makoto asked, surprise written all over her face. "But your sister was hurt by one of my kind." "Daecar isn't one of your kind. He is a pure demon, you are a honyou," Kipp broke in, giving Makoto a hard look. "Don't you ever think you're like that thing." "Kipp! You shouldn't talk to your friends like that!" Belldandy scolded. "It's alright Megami-sama, Kipp's just concerned that I might slip into one of those depressions that us Espers are famous for," Makoto replied, giving Kipp a kind smile. "You're almost as good as Hikari at the pep talk thing." "I should be, she's given 'em to me enough times already," Kipp muttered, leaning against a wall. "Famous depressions?" Keiichi asked raising an eyebrow, but left it at that. "Ready when you are Megami-sama," Makoto whispered, bowing her head. "You can call me Belldandy," Belldandy smiled again, before lightly touching Makoto's forehead. "I'll begin... now." And the two zoned out. "If she hurts Oneesama, I'll kill her," Skuld growled, while Kipp frowned. "Makoto doesn't have the mental powers to do that, only Hikari could stand a chance against one of you in a mind battle," Kipp muttered, frustration mounting. "Look, why don't the three of you calm down," Megumi blurted out. "We're all friends here right?" "You're right Megumi, but I just can't stop worrying about my friends, especially the Espers," Kipp sighed, plopping on to the ground. "I can't stand this suspense much longer." "Why don't I get us something to eat?" Keiichi offered. "I'm sure there are some leftovers in the fridge." "Eating does help take the mind off some matters," Megumi agreed, slightly wistfully. "But I'm too tense to do much right now." "Same here," Urd nodded. "But some sake might be good." "Or ice cream," Skuld chimed in. "Is there anything in there that could take my mind off of this?" Kipp finally asked, peeling his eyes away from Megumi and Belldandy. "If not, just give me some leftovers." "As you command my lord," Keiichi replied, giving everyone a mock bow. "Then hop to it servant!" Megumi called, grinning from ear to ear. * * * Makoto thought glancing around the vast expanse of nothingness. Belldandy's voice called into her mind. Makoto blinked, glancing around the void. Belldandy replied, appearing before her. Makoto jerked back in surprise, then realized that she was floating... sort of. The two women were standing on nothing, and yet they stood on something firm. All around them was nothing, and yet it felt as if they were surrounded by everything. Makoto asked, blinking in confusion. Belldandy asked, smiling reassuringly. Makoto smiled in realization. Makoto closed her 'eyes' for a moment, deep in concentration. Moments later the void began to 'dissolve.' All around them, the nothingness gave way to colours, feelings, thoughts, sensations, memories. The void gave way to the very essence of the being called Makoto Kagirinai. "It's beautiful," Makoto breathed, taking in herself. "Of course you are," Belldandy smiled, and began moving into the memories. "Hey! We're talking!" Makoto suddenly realized. "But we were thinking our words only a moment ago." "In this world, what you believe happens Makoto," Belldandy explained. "In the void, you thought you were alone, so you thought your words. Here, you see everyone you've known, and so you talk, like you did with them." "Now I remember why Hikari never bothered to elaborate on the matters of the mind," Makoto muttered. "It makes no sense what-so- ever." Belldandy giggled a bit, but continued on her way. At various intervals she would stop and glance into a memory, and feeling, a thought, and then continue onward. Makoto too stopped to look into her memories and such, always smiling at the events that had occurred. Eventually they reached a 'dead-end,' a wall of sorts. "I don't remember putting any defence up here, not even in my subconscious," Makoto frowned. "At least I don't think my subconscious did, but then it's my subconscious." "Don't worry Makoto, it isn't any defence you could put up," Belldandy reassured, examining the wall. "This is the final barrier of the human mind, one that preserves and protects your secrets, good or evil." "So, this is the centre of my being essentially," Makoto deduced. "Then leave me out here, I don't want to learn what I am like this." "I understand," Belldandy smiled, and disappeared behind the wall. And then everything went dark. * * * The group had just finished a light snack while waiting for Belldandy to finish, when a dark ball of energy appeared above them. The goddess were instantly on their feet, magic and technology at the ready. "Hello children, how are you all?" Daecar's voice said gleefully from the ball. "Daecar?!" Kipp cried, leaping to his feet, mana pistols drawn. "Tell me where you are so I can blow your' bloody ass into itsy bitsy little pieces!" "Why, I'm right where your intelligence told you I was... and I have a few friends here too," Daecar's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Why don't you talk to them?" There was a brief pause on the other side before normal transmission began again. What happened next surprised everyone in the room. * * * Makoto had become completely bored as Belldandy rifted through the deepest recesses of her mind, so she had decided to examine the various objects that floated around her. She almost gave up hope of finding something amusing when she came across a window showing something very disturbing "This is what my eyes are seeing right now!" she exclaimed, watching as events unfolded. * * * "M-my name's Daisuke. I-i'm 8 years old, a-and I-i-i-i don't wanna DIEEEEE!" a little boys voice cried, even as his image was projected within the ball. "Daisuke, don't worry, the police are on the way," Kipp said, concern written all over his face. "Have you ever heard of the Sailor Senshi?" "Uh-huh, I-i like S-sailor V-venus the most," Daisuke sobbed. "Well, then, I know Sailor Venus and I'm going to get her to save you right this moment," Kipp promised, pulling out his cell phone. "Don't you worry, she'll get rid of those nasty monsters!" "R-really?" Daisuke asked, hope appearing in his eyes. "Hmm, can't have that," Daecar's voice suddenly muttered. For a moment, Daisuke's image wavered, and then Daecar was behind him, grasping his neck. Everyone watched in horror as the demon clenched its massive fist, snapping the little boy's neck like a twig. "Can't have hope here, no sir!" Daecar rumbled, pleasure written all over its grotesque features. "YOU'RE DEAD DAECAR!!" Kipp scream in fury, guns wavering in anger. "YOU HEAR ME YOU PEICE OF SHIT!! I'LL GIVE YOU THE MOST PAINFUL DEATH ANYTHING HAS EVER DEVISED!! HELL WILL FEEL LIKE A VACATION COMPARED TO MY PLANS FOR YOU!!" "I welcome the pain, but I doubt you can give it to me," Daecar sneered contemptuously. "Better hurry, because for everyday that passes, I'll kill one of my eight friends." "Don't move a muscle Daecar, I'm going to rip you limb from damned limb, then I'm going to feed you to your minions," Kipp growled, malice enough to poison the world dripping from each word. "Just you wait Daecar, I'm coming to get you, and not even Lucifer can save your sorry ass." "Such exquisite pain!" Daecar grinned from ear to ear. "Come, so that I may feed off of your pain." And then the ball was gone. * * * "Damn you Daecar, damn you," Makoto cursed, tears coursing down her cheeks. "I swear, if Kipp doesn't hurt you enough, I will." "Now I understand why you don't want to be one of them, why you can't. You're too kind, too caring, too good, too human to be one of them," Belldandy said gently from behind her. "Let's leave this place, you have work to do." "Let's," Makoto growled through sobs. "I'll get you Daecar, I swear it." And the two disappeared, vengeance consuming one, and sorrow the other. * * * Kipp slowly put his guns away, head bowed, and his entire body trembling from barely suppressed rage. After several moments, tears began to drip from his chin, which were soon followed by muffled sobs. Both goddesses and the two humans bowed their own heads, and said a silent prayer to the young Daisuke. Urd swallowed her sobs, knowing that she may appear cold-hearted, but she knew the child was in a better place. Skuld let her tears fall openly, hating the fact that a child never had the chance to truly experience life and all of it's joys. Megumi too cried, for she had never thought such a creature existed like Daecar, heck Mara didn't ever go that far! And she was a 1st Class Demoness! Keiichi was like Kipp, fighting the urge to throttle something, anything! The feelings inside of him were just like the time he had lost one of his friend in a car accident. "Even if it take the rest of my life, I _will_ make you _Pay_," Kipp swore, punching the wall. "I'm with you Kipp," Makoto whispered from behind him. "I will make that bastard pay, and pay in spades he will." "Makoto? You saw that?" Kipp asked quietly, turning to his face. "I'm sorry about draggin you and the Espers here..." He began. "Shut up! I'm tired of you trying to be the hero. I know you want to protect everyone, figuring that if you die, nobody would care, but you're wrong! I care, Hikari cares, Hiroshi, Rantora, Hikaru, Merlin, and hundreds more!" Makoto cut in, anger and pain in her eyes. "How do you think the kids would feel, knowing their onii-chan's dead, gone forever. One of their only constants, and one of their best friends' never coming back, never to visit them again!" "But..." Kipp tried again. "No buts, the Espers are coming, and I won't let you take the easy way out," Makoto exclaimed, daring Kipp to contradict her. Kipp stared in shock for a moment, jaw hanging open, and eyes wide. Slowly, ever so slowly, Kipp closed his jaw and smiled softly, eyes alight with gratitude. "Alright then Commander Kagirinai, we have work to do," Kipp ordered, grinning slightly. "You go ahead, I have some things to tell my new friends," he ordered, gesturing at the goddesses and humans. "You promise?" Makoto asked, and smiled when Kipp nodded solemnly. "Yes Sir!" Kipp waited until Makoto had left before turning to the gang. He smiled at them, looking for all the world as if he was just going out with some friends. "I'll see you guys later okay?" Kipp said, waving goodbye. "Don't even dare Kipp," Megumi growled, grabbing his shirt. "We all know what you're going to do, and we're not going to let you run off to fight a losing battle." "Yeah, all you have to do is ask and we can help you kick some demonic ass!" Urd whooped, giving Kipp a playful wink. "After all, it's not fun just beating on Mara!" "I won't let creatures like that run loose," Belldandy said grimly. "I will fight if that creature truly does plan to kill those children." "Hey, maybe ramming a car into it might cause it some pain!" Keiichi said grinning slightly. "We all want to get at it for what it did, let us." Kipp smiled softly, shaking his head in rueful amusement. Raising his head, Kipp waved again. "Sorry guys, can't let you be hurt," Kipp said quietly. "Besides, this is my job." Before anyone could protest, Kipp dropped a smoke/sleep grenade, and was gone. Only the two humans were sleeping when the smoke cleared, but the goddesses were feeling slightly drowsy. "That sneaky little punk!" Urd grumbled, rubbing her head. "We've got to find him!" "Luckily, I planted a tracking bug on him!" Skuld grinned, pulling out one of her many do-dads. "Let's see." * * * "What's this?" Kipp muttered, staring at the top of the handle bars, where a odd little gizmo sat. "Maybe it's a bomb..." Shrugging to himself, Kipp flicked the offending doodad off the bike and sped the vehicle up. * * * "Shoot! It's broken!" Skuld wailed, flinging the tracker away. "This sucks!" "I guess we rely on the old fashion way," Urd smirked. "Magic." "Hmph, you two go ahead, I'll go cook up some weapons to use on that demon," Skuld smiled grimly. "I'll make sure they hurt, a lot." "Make me one too," Urd said, before turning to her pot of bubbling... stuff. "Now then, where are you Kipp?" * * * Kipp hopped of the Prototype, and rushed inside a plain looking two story house. Inside, the Espers sat, each checking and rechecking their weapons, and most weren't testing their technological orientated weapons. Dropping the duffel bag in his hands, Kipp grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Alright guys, we have exactly one hour before the strike," he said, vengeance filling his features. "I want you all ready to go fifteen minutes before!" With that said, Kipp opened his bag and removed the assorted Atlantian tech weapons. What surprised him though were the odd clips for his guns. There were only two, and both were 'empty.' Examining each closely, Kipp shrugged and loaded them up and took an experimental shot at a barrier set up at one end of the room. Nothing happened. "Odd," he mused to himself, before spying a white sheet of paper tucked into his bag. "What's this?" Pulling the note from the bag, Kipp opened it and began to read. "Ohhh, Kipp's already got admirers!!" Rantora grinned, watching Kipp read the letter. "Funny how he's always got a girl chasing after him!" "Indeed, I mean what could they want in the kid?" Hikaru mused, grinning to himself. "I would be jealous, but then I already have a girlfriend," Hiroshi said, looking at Makoto. It was a common joke among the guys, since Kipp almost always seemed to attract some girl wherever he went. Of course, this usually was only because he saved their lives, or the lives of their family/friends. Well, more like the Espers, led by Kipp, but it didn't really matter to most of the starry eyed ladies, who figured the leader was usually the coolest. "Actually, these are technical specs on my weapons," Kipp said absently. "Seems Skuld upgraded them, and clips draw off of mana I feed them." "So basically, you can fire until you tire yourself out?" Makoto asked. "Yeah, and they require very little mana for a shot of equal strength to our own shots," Kipp replied, distractedly. "Very intriguing." "Hold on a second you two," Hikari interjected. "Who's Skuld?" "One of the three goddesses you sent me to meet," Makoto answered. "She's the youngest, and the most technologically inclined," Kipp filled in. "She makes things from scratch that we would consider technological miracles." "And she just upgraded and fixed your weapons? For free?" Hikaru said incredously. "What's the catch?" "She wanted to study Atlantian technology, since she couldn't get her hands on any herself," Kipp explained, tucking away the note. "In other words, she's a young, female version of Tentetsu." Everyone in the room 'ahh'ed in immediate understanding, before returning to their work. "Let's try this baby out," Kipp said quietly, pointing the gun at the target. "All I have to do is focus my powers into the handle, and pull the trigger." Kipp squinted, focusing on the handle, and watched in fascination as mana seeped from his hands into the clip. Slowly, the clips began to radiate a blue light, signalling that mana capacity was at max. "Here we go!" Kipp grinned, pulling the trigger. From the nozzle, blue light gathered, pulling in additional mana as it prepared to let loose. In a split second, the blue energy flew forth, obliterating the target, and cutting a large hole into the steel wall behind it. Every single one of the Espers stared in shock, their jaws touching the ground. "I want one," Hiroshi breathed, awe struck at the power of a mere pistol. "You're not the only one," Rantora said, fingers twitching. "Say, Kipp, ol'buddy, ol'pal, won't you lend me one of your pistols?" "Get your own!" Kipp growled, cradling his guns. "Besides, you have that shotgun of yours!" "Yeah, but I want one in case my shotgun breaks!" Rantora replied, reaching for the weapons. "Will you stop that?" Kipp asked irritably. "You only have ten minutes left." "They'll be mine! This I swear!" Rantora declared... and was promptly clobbered. "Shut up and suit up," Hikari growled, loading up her gun. "Yes Ma'am!" everyone saluted, then rushed off to make final preparations. * * * "He's moving again," Urd said, staring into her pot of stuff. "And fast too, must be using his bike." "Alright, I'm ready!" Skuld grinned, hefting her mallet, a large tube like canon, and an Uzi like gun. "Anything for me?" Urd asked, eyeing the canon greedily. "Yep!" Skuld said cheerfully, handing Urd the canon. "This is the Demonic Pest Eliminator Mark III, DPE3 for short." "And what does it do?" Urd asked, eyeing the canon dubiously. "It does work right?" Skuld pouted angrily momentarily, before pridefully explaining the capabilities of her weapon. "The DPE3 fires a blast of "positive" energy, just enough to force most to retreat back to Hell, and injure anything that doesn't," Skuld stated proudly, grinning like a maniac. Urd grinned evilly, hefting her new toy. "Nice, and what do you have there Skuld?" she asked, indicating Skuld's uzi-esque weapon. "This doesn't have a name yet," Skuld explained, raising her weapon. "But it's based on the Atlantian weapons Kipp has. I was going to make it into something I didn't have to hold but I didn't have time." she said, disappointment written all over her features, which quickly turned to excitement. "This is going to be so cool!" "You two take care!" Belldandy called. "I would go with you, but somebody has to take care of Keiichi and Megumi. You two bring Kipp back, okay?" "No problem Oneesama, we'll bring him back!" Skuld smiled reassuringly. "Right after we kick Daecar's ass!" Urd chirped, jumping into the TV. "Definitely after we kick Daecar's ass!" Skuld agreed, hopping into a cup of tea. "Have fun you two!" Belldandy called, knowing full well the implications of _that_ statement. * * * The silver half moon hung almost delicately in the sky, its silver light illuminating a large, not quite abandoned warehouse. Inside the are house, its large interior housed dozens of demons, ranging from the lowly 16th Class demons, to the powerful 9th Class Demons. But what was even more intimidating was the large throne, made from bone and flesh, and the 8th Class that sat upon it. The intimidation obviously affected the two black suited males at the foot of the throne. "We are agreed then?" Daecar asked, addressing the two humans before him. "Y-yes, the Serpent Fangs of the Yakuza will assist its patrons when you call upon us," one replied shakily. "And you will give us the weapons," the other insisted boldly. "May I speak with my associate for a moment... privately, Daecar-sama?" the first asked humbly. "Do hurry, I might not be interested soon," Daecar replied boredly, waving a hand dismissively. The two suits moved aside, to what they felt was a safe distance away (it wasn't), before whispering angrily amounts themselves. "What the hell are you thinking Daisuke?!" the first growled. "They could wipe us out without even trying!" "Yeah, but they want our help, and we need everything we can get if we want to be at the top of Yakuza!" Daisuke argued. "You want to be at the top don't you Keitaro?" "But demanding something of Daecar-sama, in that tone of voice too!" Keitaro wrung his hands. "You could have us all killed!" "But think of the payoff!" Daisuke pointed out. "With those weapons Daecar promised, we could rule this city!" "Very well, I see your point," Keitaro sighed in defeat. "But don't do anything so rash again, he might fell like adding your corpse to his throne." he warned, glancing nervously at the throne. "Agreed," Daisuke shuddered involuntarily. Conference concluded, the two moved back to their former positions. Daecar glanced up from sharpening his claws, and smiled lazily at the two, it was a truly frightening smile. Daecar mentally smiled. "Have you made up your minds?" he asked the two yakuza thugs. "We have," Keitaro spoke up. "And...?" Daecar asked the two impatiently when neither cared to elaborate. "We have decided to..." Daisuke swallowed nervously before giving the final answer. "...accept your offer Daecar-sama. Daecar smiled broadly, displaying his sharp teeth. "Excellent." "If that is all, we will be leaving now," Daisuke said rather nervously. "Very well, the weapons shall be delivered soon," Daecar assured one last time, before turning his attention to other matters. "Be gone," he said, dismissing the two rudely. The two thugs beat a quick exit, neither wanting to spend another minute in the foul creature's presence. Outside, Keitaro pulled out a cigar and began to smoke, offering Daisuke one as well. "That was unpleasant to say the least," Keitaro sighed, taking a deep drag. "Definitely," Daisuke second, taking a puff from his cigar. "Lets get out of here." It was then they noticed the shadowed figured in front of them. There looked to be six figures and three vehicles. Arrayed in a semi -circle around the entrance to the warehousee, the figures almost seemed like they were just relaxing. The figure in the middle sat atop his sleek black motorcycle. Headphones adorned his head, and his black hair bounced as he nodded his head to the music. To his left was a sleek red sports car with two figures around it. One, the male one, sat inside of the vehicle, reading a novel illuminated by a flashlight. The female stood outside, leaning on the car's frame, doodling on a sketchpad. To the middle figures right sat a large black hummer. Sitting in front of the foreword tires, the male figure leaned against the tire and seemed to be writing something on a pad of paper. Within the vehicle, a female figure sat, a laptop open in front of her. On the roof of the hummer, another male lay, staring up at the stars. The two yakuza agents reached into their suit jackets, each reaching for a gun, but their hands never reached that far. Both screamed in agony as a bullet of mana slammed into the offending hands. Keitaro was the first to overcome his shock. "You're so dead kid!! Do you know who I am?" he raged, clutching his bleeding hand. "I'm Orochi Keitaro, leader or the Serpent Fangs!" The male in the middle raised his head, brown eyes a cold as ice. "Am I supposed to be impressed?" he asked coldly. "You punk!" Daisuke growled, pulling the gun out with his other hand. Instantly, all six of the Espers had guns out, aimed to Daisuke. Hikari with her really large _normal_ pistol, Hikaru and his Atlantian Tech sniper rifle, Makoto and her Atlantian Tech automatic rifle, Hiroshi and his Atlantian Elemental Canon Mk III, Rantora and his Atlantian Tech duel barrel shotgun, and Kipp with his twin goddess altered Atlantian Tech pistols. Daisuke gulped audibly and dropped the gun. "Good boy," Makoto growled from her position by Hiroshi's sports car. Keitaro started to edge back towards the warehouse while the Espers were occupied with Daisuke, but unfortunately for him, Kipp wasn't looking at Daisuke. In a flash, Kipp was off his bike and in front of the thug, one hand wrapped around Keitaro's neck. "Did you know that your patron Daecar-sama," Kipp spat out Daecar's name. "Kills little children?" When Keitaro nodded his head in affirmative, Kipp snarled savagely, hurling the yakuza man on to the street. "Then you, and your gang, are next." With that said, the rest of the Espers shoved Daisuke out on to the road beside his boss. The two yakuza thugs looked positively terrified for a moment, before both put on the "Tough Yakuza That's Going to Kill You" look. It had no effect. The two yakuza thugs decided that the night was a great time to run when every single one of the Espers began casting spells. Once the two were gone from sight, Kipp turned his attention back to the warehouse, and his pray within. "Alright, you all know the plan!" he cried, dropping his diskman. "Rantora, Hiroshi, Makoto, you're with me," the three nodded, and positioned themselves around the entrance. "Hikari, Hikaru, you two guard our backs in case they decide to get smart, also, Hikari try to alert us if you sense anything." Orders given, the leader of the Esper's raised his gun, and blew the door apart, and as one, the four Assault Espers charged in, weapons blazing. Outside, the Intelligence Espers scanned the streets, prepared to put a round of mana/telekinetic bullets through anything that moved. * * * Through the night sky, two goddess flew towards a demons lair, to stop what could be the end of their new friend Kipp. The young man had only been in their lives for a week, well in Skuld's case, two months, and already he had told them much of himself, had given his trust completely to them, and had fought on two occasions for the life of one of them. No matter how one looked at it, he had indeed made an impact in their lives, possibly changing for the better, or for the worse. But now, he fought not out of duty or honour, but to avenge the deaths of the countless children the demon Daecar had killed. In short, he fought now out of anger, and any fighter can tell you that anger makes you vulnerable. And if this vulnerability killed him, than the impact he created would be one of the worse kinds. "How much further Urd?" Skuld called urgently. "We have to hurry!" "You think I don't know that?" Urd snapped angrily. "I don't want to see him die either!" "Well than hurry!" Skuld retorted. And than they were stopped. "What the?" Urd muttered, pushing at the invisible wall before her. "What is this?" Skuld asked, prodding the unseen barrier. "Maybe a demon decided to intercept us," Skuld muttered, and was instantly on guard. "It's not demonic energy, but it does feel similar," Urd muttered. "Of course it should, my dear Urd," a voice came from behind them. Instantly, the two goddesses turned, weapons at ready. Before them floated a clocked figure, the hood obscuring its face in shadows. In its right hand it clutched a wooden staff with a large gem of some sort at the tip. "After all, you granted my wish," Merlin said, raising his hood. "Merlin!" Urd gasped, than growled. "Let us through, we have to go save that thick-headed soldier of yours." "You mean Kipp?" Merlin asked, amusement lighting his face. "Of course we mean Kipp!" Skuld exclaimed. "We have to save him from Daecar!" "I'm sorry, but this has to happen," Merlin said, genuinely saddened. "I too would love to help that baka of a student, but I have been forbidden." "But we haven't, now let me through or I'll break this damn shield of yours!" Urd growled, raising the DPE3. "I wish I could, but you can't help either," Merlin explained sadly. "By whose orders?" Urd asked. "Never mind! I'll blow my way out!" With that, the eldest goddess began shooting bolt after bolt of azure energy at the shield, but to no avail. frustration mounting, Urd began casting Lightening Bolts at the shield, again to no affect. Screaming in frustration, Urd fired a single Force Bolt... and nothing happened. "What. Are. You. DOING?!?!?" Urd screamed, rounding on the immortal mage. "Me? Nothing, but you might want to ask Him," Merlin smiled wanly, pointing upwards, towards the heavens. "You can't be serious!" Urd smirked. "Ummm, Urd," Skuld began, trying to catch Urd's attention. "Not now Skuld, I have to beat up an old friend," Urd grinned, advancing on Merlin. "URD!!!" Skuld yelled angrily. "Turn around now!!" "What is it?!" Urd roared, spinning around. Standing where the shield once stood was a very handsome man. He had deep blue eyes, and golden hair, which reached his shoulders. He wore shining gold plate-mail armour, and a crimson cape. Over his heart, the image of a blazing sun was engraved. On his face were the three blue markings of a god, his were perfect circles, the one on the forehead was the only one different. It too was a circle but with four triangles pointing out from the one on the forehead. But if the markings weren't enough, the being also had an aura of light. "Hello, Urd," he said, his voice rich and melodies. "Hello, Apollo," she replied hesitantly. "Hi, Uncle Apollo," Skuld said cheerfully. "Are you here to help us save Kipp?" "Skuld, be quiet," Urd shushed her youngest sibling. "No Skuld, I'm not here to help Hyperion," Apollo replied, eyes as cold as stone. "This has to happen. The boy has to experience this." "Apollo, I don't doubt your wisdom, but why?" Urd asked, lowering the DPE3. "I too wish to know," Merlin said, floating over beside Urd. "I would like to limit the pain that poor child must experience." "You are aware that the Chosen have Awakened, are you not?" Apollo asked, without waiting for an answer, he continued. "And he is one of the Chosen, yet he has not Awakened yet." "But he knows of his past!" Merlin argued. "He knows he was Hyperion, he knows of the fall of the Silver Millennium..." "But he doesn't know how to use his power," Apollo finished. "So you intend on forcing him to Awaken?" Urd asked hotly. "If it comes to that, yes," Apollo replied sadly. "Are you so arrogant that you must torture that boy, just so you can be represented in the fight against Hell?" Urd asked. "NO!" Apollo yelled, appalled. "If I could avoid this I would! But I can't." "What do you mean can't?" Skuld asked. "For that matter, what are you talking about?" "Skuld, I'll explain it later," Urd said rather tightly. "Skuld was it?" Merlin asked, floating up besides the young goddess. "I'll tell you, since I can't compete with those two." "You're Merlin right?" Skuld asked, eyeing the old man beside her. "Yes, I am," Merlin smiled at the girl. "Now than, what do you want to know?" "Well, what are those two talking about, and why does he want Kipp to 'Awaken' so badly?" Skuld asked, confusion evident in her voice. "You know Kipp is from the Silver Millennium, and one of the heroes of that time, correct?" when Skuld nodded, Merlin continued. "Well, when Kipp was reborn, his memories of that time were sealed away, to be returned when they were absolutely needed." "But they aren't needed!" Skuld said frustrated. "I'll explain that soon enough," Merlin soothed. "To Awaken is to return his memories, to awaken Hyperion from his slumber, and this can be done in two ways." Merlin explained. "The first, and safest way, is to have somebody blessed with the power of the Ginzuishou, or the Ginzuishou itself, from the Silver Millennium use thier abilities and unlock the memories. The second is to place the person in a situation of extreme stress," Merlin's eyes hardened. "But why can't a god just break the seal?" a puzzled Skuld asked. "Like the enchantments of a demon, the spell that sent Kipp forward also has a pass code of sorts," the old arch mage explained. "So Apollo wants to force Kipp to remember?!" Skuld cried in distress. "Urd!! You can't let Apollo do that!" "I know Skuld," Urd said from the corner of her mouth, eyes still fixed on Apollo. "And I have no intention of letting him either." "Urd, you don't understand!" Apollo pleaded. "I didn't decide this!" "Then who did?" Urd asked, raising the DPE3. "Kami-sama," Merlin answered, realization striking him. "Kami-sama ordered it to be so, because of Chaos." * * * Inside the warehouse, complete and total hell had broken loose. The Espers were almost guaranteed to hit something no matter which direction they shot. The demons on the other hand were completely disorganized, madly rushing the four SD agents, and getting riddled with mana almost as quickly. Never less, the demons were thinning, and the SD agents were running out of ammo and explosives. Outside, the two Info agents were picking off anything that decided to try and flank the Assault agents, and there were a lot of them. But unlike the Assault team, the Info team had both cover and a large hummer filled with ammo and explosives, so they were faring much better than their hot headed counterparts. And than things went from bad to worse for the Assault team. "Hello boy, come to play?" Daecar sneered, shrugging off everything the Espers inside had to throw at him. Grinning like the maniac that he was, Daecar rushed forward and slammed Rantora into a wall, pivoted, and kicked Hiroshi into another wall. "Dammit, this isn't working!" Makoto growled, ditching her useless rifle and pulling out her mana tonfa. "Come here and die bastard!!" "Hehehe, why do you attack me?" Daecar asked, dodging Makoto's strikes. "You're one of us, your blood screams to do as we do. Join us and let yourself be free!" he crowed. "Never!" Makoto screamed vehemently. "I'm not one of you!! And I never will be!" as she screamed, each strike she made slammed into Daecar's leathery hide, causing only minimal damage. "Very well, I gave you a chance to live, and you denied me," Daecar growled in mock sadness. "I guess I must destroy you now." "Not fucking likely!" Hiroshi growled from behind Daecar, a very large mana blade in each hand. "Yeah, you'll have to kill all of us first!" Rantora grinned, three mana claws ripping out of the gauntlets on each arm. "Because when one falls, another will be there to protect them," Kipp said, raising his mana blade, shield at ready. "Hehehehehe, than I'll kill you all now!!" Daecar grinned evilly. * * * "You think they're almost done?" Hikaru asked, glancing at the hoards of demons that covered the front entrance. "Well the demonic hoards are thinning, so it's safe to assume that they've almost finished," Hikari nodded, than frowned. "What is it?" Hikaru asked, noting Hikari's frown. "They're mad about something," Hikari muttered, straining her senses. "Well, maybe they just found that Daecar bastard," Hikaru suggested, tossing a grenade over the hummer's roof. "Nooo, I don't think that's it," Hikari shook her head, squinting slightly. "Makoto's the maddest, and if they found Daecar, than Kipp would be even worse." "Hmmm, true, but I still wonder what's going on in there," Hikaru muttered, shooting a lowly 12th class between the eyes. "I don't know..." Hikari stopped in mid-sentence as a human shaped indent appeared on the metal door. "What the fuck?!" Hikaru exclaimed, staring at the odd impact. And than the door burst open, throwing Hiroshi and Rantora out onto the street. Makoto soon followed, flying through a wall. Kipp flew through the ceiling and landed on the asphalt in front of the hummer. Hikari and Hikaru both winced as each of their comrades flew out of the warehouse. "That hurt," Rantora groaned, rising to his feet. "Think about me for a second will you?" Hiroshi groaned from beneath Rantora. "Oh shut up you two," Makoto growled. Kipp just groaned in agony. "This is fun!" Daecar grinned, stepping out on to the streets. "We should do this more often." "Oh shut up," Hikaru muttered, throwing a grenade in the demon's direction while Hikari dragged all of the Espers behind the hummer with her telekinesis. The grenade did hurt Daecar, but unfortunately, the Espers were entirely out of elemental grenades. But they weren't out of tricks yet. "Alright, this time you die," Kipp growled, circling Daecar, blade held low. "I'm not one of you, and I never will be!" Makoto yelled, tonfa at ready. "We'll stop you here and now, even if it means dieing ourselves," Rantora grimaced, but the determination in his eyes never left, even as he raised his claws. "Apart we are weak, together we'll kick your ass!" Hiroshi grinned ferally, joining his two swords at the hilt to create a vicious double bladed spear. "You are the shadow, and we the light," Hikaru growled, holding a mana kodachi in each hand. "And the shadow always cowers before the light." "Die!!" Hikari screamed, her blues eyes blazing with power. By now, all of the Espers, except Hikari, were circling Daecar in a star formation. Hikari stood behind them, her psychic powers active. The formation, without Hikari, was known as the Cage, to attack the target from five sides with five completely different fighting styles. It was a technique meant to overwhelm the target. "Hehehe, brave words for a bunch of lowly mortals," Daecar sneered with contempt. "But know this, Espers, you cannot Cage this demon!" Not even a flicker of surprise showed on their faces as the Espers as one struck. Daecar was hard pressed to defend against the five physical assaults and the one mental attack, but this was no ordinary 8th Class demon, and it fully intended to make them aware of that fact. "ROAR!" Daecar screamed, and everything within a five-metre radius of him was flung back twenty metres. "What the fuck?!" Rantora groaned. "Shit, he must have been augmented some how," Hikaru groused, clutching his right arm. "Your arm's broken Hikaru..." Hikari began, hand on his shoulder. "Don't bother, I can still fight," Hikaru said, wincing slightly. "Remind me to get padded armour next time we do something like this," Hiroshi grumbled. "Quit whining you damn pansy," Makoto growled, shaking off her headache. "Damn, there go three ribs, and I just got them healed too!" Kipp groaned, holding his shield over his chest. "Awww, did I hurt the whittle mortals?" Daecar said in a singsong tone. "I'll try to be more gentle next time." "Alright guys! All out!" Kipp ordered, hands glowing with arcane energy. "Attack!" From all around Daecar came six entirely different attacks, all non-physical, but all much more damaging. "ELEMENTAL STRIKE!" cried Kipp releasing the built up energy. "WILD TIGER!" Rantora screamed, punching forward and releasing a torrent of uncontrolled mana. "Shadow Storm," Hikaru whispered, and the shadows themselves rushed to do his bidding. "DARKSIDE!" Makoto howled, her eyes completely red, as she released the power of her heritage. "LIGHT ARROW!" Hiroshi yelled, as he threw a bolt of light that was much too large to be an arrow. "Pyrokenisis," Hikaru smirked as Daecar burst into flames. The five attacks struck home, causing a massive explosion, but none of the Espers let their guards down for even a moment to celebrate. And their precautions were well founded as the dust settled and Daecar still stood, relatively unscathed. The demon turned its black orbs on Hikari and frowned. "You hurt me," he said simply, and than his face contorted into a mask of pure rage. "YOU HURT ME!! DIE!!!!" And than Hikari screamed as he invaded her mind, attacking her very sense of being. But in order to do so, he had lost complete sense of the "Real" world, allowing the Espers to rush him. The physical pain hurt it, and it was forced to retreat from the psychic before he could any lasting harm, but he had managed to put her completely out of the fight. "DIE!!! ALL OF YOU DIE!!!" Daecar screamed, bodily hurling the Espers away. Its black eyes quickly analyzed the fighters arranged around him, and sought out the first that would fall. "You first," he grumbled, pointing at Hikaru. And then it moved, striking faster then any human could move. One hand dug into the boy's leg, causing blood to gush forth, the other dislocated Hikaru's left arm. Even as Hikaru scream in agony, the Espers were on Daecar again, slashing, hacking, clawing, and blasting the demon's leathery hide. "You're next," Daecar growled, throwing Hikaru into the side of the hummer, after slamming his head into the ground a few times, and grabbed Makoto. "You know, I've heard that half-breeds make excellent whores, they have the stamina of our kind, but the beauty of the weak humans," Daecar grinned darkly, one hand wrapped around the girl's chin. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!!!!" Hiroshi screamed, slamming into Daecar's side, his lance cutting chunks out of the demon's already battered flesh., even as Makoto slammed her tonfa into the demon's face. "FINE!! TAKE HER!!" Daecar raged, grabbing Hirohi's head and slammed it together with Makoto's repeatedly, completely ignoring Kipp and Rantora's attacks. He finally released the two when both had fallen into sweet oblivion from the injuries they had sustained. Slowly, Daecar turned to face the remaining Espers, and he smiled a truly terrifying smile. And either the two males ignored the look, or they were just plain stupid, because both continued to hack at Daecar's flesh. "Inny, minny, mineny, mo, catch a TIGER by the toe!" Daecar grinned, grabbing Rantora's leg. Even as Rantora flailed about, Kipp desperately tried to hack off Daecar's arm, but was backhanded into a wall. "Wait your turn!" Daecar growled at him. Nuisance gone for the time being, Daecar began to swing Rantora around, building up momentum, and than slammed him face first into the asphalt, lifted him, and slammed into the asphalt on the other side of the demon. This was repeated over and over again, into Rantora could was barely alive. Throwing his unconscious victim away, Daecar turned to the groggy Kipp and smiled a vicious smile. "And then, there was one," * * * Meanwhile, the gods, and one immortal arch mage, were watching as the battle unfolded before them. As each Esper fell, Merlin lost a little more of his restraint, with each of Daecar's attacks that connected, Urd grew even more agitated, as Daecar committed brutality after brutality, Skuld came closer and closer to tears. Apollo on the other hand had already snapped, and was uselessly cheering on the Espers and cursing the 'Foul, hell spawned, villainous, infidel, creature Daecar.' "Burn it!" he yelled, clutching his golden bow. "Die you blasphemous creature!" "Cut that out!" Urd snapped, staring into the view gate they had created. "It's getting really annoying." "To say the least," Merlin muttered under his breath. "Come on Kipp! Beat in his ass!" Skuld whispered to herself. "If only I could let loss my golden shafts!" Apollo bemoaned. "Yeah, and if only I could fire off the DPE3, or a Thunderbolt," Urd sighed, and then winced when Rantora hit the ground. "Kami-sama! Please let me help him!" Merlin called to the heavens. "Please! They've suffered more then any mortal should!" But his pleas went unheard as the wall of air refused to budge. And then inspiration hit Skuld. "He's still got that wish!" she realized, hope filling her. "Wish? What wish?" Urd asked, turning to Skuld. "Indeed, what wish?" Apollo asked, eyes still on the gate. "Kipp qualified for a wish, according to the Peorth," Skuld explained. "And since Peorth was busy with the virus that had hit Yggdrasil, she sent me to grant the wish." "Was that perhaps the day Daecar made himself known?" Apollo asked suspiciously. "Yeah, it was!" Skuld gasped. "Kami-sama! Are you saying..." "Yes, I'm afraid I am," Apollo whispered, turning back to the gate. "Hell as finally managed to break our codes. Hell has access to the Heaven section of Yggdrasil." "At the exact moment we gained access to theirs," Urd whispered. "And the exact same day the Doublet System was hacked," Skuld added fearfully. "May Destiny have mercy upon us all," Merlin whispered, turning away from the battle between the Esper's and Daecar. "It puts this entire battle into perspective doesn't it?" he murmured, gesturing at the gate. "He could still win," Skuld said at Merlin's side. "Yes, even if the War is about to start again, he can still be saved from Death," Apollo agreed, taking some comfort in the thought. "The wish could save him," Urd nodded, a small smile showing on her lips. "Better to save one life, then none at all." "And maybe, just maybe, this fight is like our own," Merlin whispered, turning back to watch the battle with renewed hope. * * * "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Daecar laughed, holding the battered body of the remaining conscious Esper in his grasp. "Finally! Lord Chaos' dreams are coming into fruitarian!" "Chaos?" Kipp managed to say through his broken jaw. "Oh no, I'm not going to tell you," Daecar shook his finger to accent the point. "You see, when you die, you're most likely going to end up in Heaven, and then you could ruin everything for my master," the demon explained." "So, I'm going to die now aren't I?" Kipp grinned despite the morbid thought. "Oh well, life was good, can't say I have that many regrets." Daecar frowned, he thought to himself angrily. Braking Kipp's remaining good arm, Daecar yelled through Kipp's agonized scream. "Why aren't you scared?! Don't you fear Death?!" "Yeah, I do," Kipp managed through clenched teeth. "But hey, at least when I die, I'll get to face you again!" grinning like the maniac that he was, Daecar slammed Kipp into the ground, then turned and stalked towards Hikari's prone form. "No, I won't kill you yet," Daecar said. "I'll kill your friends first!" "no... please, no," Kipp whispered, trying futily to stand. "please, leave them be." "No, I want to hear your anguished screams as I snap each of their necks," Daecar growled gleefully. "Watch as I end the distinguished careers of every single Esper! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Slowly, Daecar bent over to grab Hikari's head. Raising the blond girls head by her hair, Daecar turned back to Kipp and grinned. "How does it feel to be absolutely helpless?" Daecar asked. "Lets begin shall we?" Daecar asked, placing Hikari's body in front of him. "Here, I'll give you the best view." "i want to be stronger," Kipp sobbed quietly, closing his eyes. "i wish i had Hyperion's power." And the world vanished in a blaze of white. * * * Skuld's eyes suddenly turned white, as her head turned to the heavens, and then a light burst forth from the symbol upon her f0orehead. "Alright!" Urd cheered, catching Skuld in her arms. "But is Hyperion's power enough to defeat Daecar?" Merlin asked. "I don't know," Hyperion admitted. "It has been a long time since I last saw the boy fight," "He will win, I'm sure of it!" Skuld insisted, shaking her head to clear it.. "True, he does have the advantage of surprise," Merlin agreed. "And now the battle truly begins," Apollo sighed, returning his attention to the battlefield. * * * Kipp thought, staring at the scenery of white. All around him was white, making it virtually impossible to determine if there was anything around at all. The only thing that Kipp had been able to confirm was that he was in perfect condition, and that his clothing was in one piece. "What just happened?" he asked aloud, waiting for something to happen. "Umm, hello? Anybody there?" At first, there was only an echo, and then something responded ever so softly. As the echo reached him, Kipp frowned, straining his ears to make out the voice and the words. "Hello?" he called again, looking around for the person who had first responded. "hello..." came the reply, louder now. "Who's there?" Kipp asked, turning slowly, eyes flashing back and forth. "you..." the voice replied. "Me? Me what?" Kipp called, wishing that he had better psychic abilities. And then a shadow appeared at the horizon, growing in size, shape, definition, and texture as it came closer. Kipp stared for a long while, and then he grinned, laughing like a fool. "I'm dead! There's no other explanation!" he laughed, sitting down to steady himself. "I'm dead, an-and it's all over!" he laughed wildly, and then he began to sob. "I'm dead, and they'll be soon." "Not necessarily," Hyperion said, stopping in front of Kipp. The Atlantian prince was dressed in his typical combat gear, light plate mail over his chest, shoulder guards, thigh guards, gauntlets, and greaves, all golden in colour, yet stronger then almost every substance known to man. Over his shoulder guards was a cloak, black on the outside, green on the inner lining. Under all of his armour, the man wore a black tunic and black pants held up with a silver belt buckle. Over his heart, and on the belt buckle were the stylized infinite symbol, the one over his heart coloured green, while the one on the buckle was silver. At his waist, the Blade of Eternity was sheathed, the blade said to have been wielded by an archangel in the years of the War. A arrow shaped ruby served as the blade's pommel, and weapon if need be, while two arrow shaped sapphires were placed on opposite sides of the hand guard, and an emerald at where the blade connected with the hilt. From pommel to blade tip, the Blade of Eternity rivalled the size of a bastard sword. But the most distinguishing on the young prince was the royal marking on his brow, a green infinite symbol interposed on top of a blue circle. According to Kipp's memories, he was the only one of the Atlantian royal family to have one, mainly because it wasn't a symbol of the royal families, but that of an avatar. "What the hell do you mean by that?" Kipp growled, angrily grabbing Hyperion's cloak. "Who's going to save them?" "You," Hyperion replied simply. "Me? How am I supposed to do that when I'm dead?" Kipp spat, pushing Hyperion away. "Whatever gave you that idea?" Hyperion asked, genuinely amused. "Well, let me see, my body's perfectly fine, I'm in some place that's completely white, oh, and you're here," Kipp growled. "So?" Hyperion asked, raising an eyebrow. "You died, and the dead go to the afterlife," Kipp pointed out. "You and I are the same, but you're personality was locked away inside my head, and the only way I can possibly see you would be if I died, or if somebody released you, which I'm fairly certain nobody did." "Partially correct," Hyperion nodded. "But not entirely." "How so?" Kipp sneered. "Like they say, there is more then one way to skin a cat," Hyperion smiled kindly. "And stress is one way to unlock the seal, another is a wish." "And I wished to be as strong as you," Kipp breathed. "Exactly, and you know where my power comes from don't you," Hyperion unsheathed his sword. "You are the Knight of Eternity, avatar of the Archangel Eternity," Kipp said. "And in order for you to get my power, you too must become a Knight of Eternity," Hyperion held out his sword, hilt first. "But aren't you me?" Kipp asked, confused. "Partially," Hyperion sighed. "You see, the powers were given to me, and to me alone, but technically, you are me." "So what's the problem?" Kipp asked. "The powers were sealed away like our memories, to be unlock only when you have accepted the oath," Hyperion explained. "The very same oath I took when I received the powers." "So, what is this oath?" Kipp asked, reaching for the blade. "Swear, swear upon this blade, upon you soul, that you will always fight for the ideals Queen Serenity believed in. Use your powers not to create another Silver Millennium, but to create a future of your own," Hyperion recited. "Swear it now, and return to help your friends." "I swear it! Upon the Blade of Eternity, upon my immortal soul, I will fight to uphold the very principles and morals Queen Serenity believed in, to help those weaker then myself, to protect the innocent, and to use the Powers of Eternity to help create a better future, this do I swear!" Kipp whispered, his voice getting louder with each word. And then everything returned to normal. Daecar stood in front of him, holding Hikari by her hair, except now Kipp knew what he had to do. Closing his eyes, Kipp focused his mind, and sent a single mental command to the ruins of Atlantis, a command that hadn't been used in over 14 000 years. "What are you trying to do boy?" Daecar sneered, hearing the mental call. "Calling a long dead angel?" "no," Kipp whispered. "i'm calling for my legacy." "*Sigh* Dammit, the boy's snapped from the strain," Daecar growled in frustration. "There's no fun if he can't even understand what I'm going to do." And from the east came a bolt of green energy, raging like a mad dragon. Before Daecar could even react, the bolt slammed into his chest, throwing him away from Hikari, and back into the warehouse. As it floated in the air, the green orb of energy settled over Kipp's body. Smiling weakly, Kipp struggled to his feet and reached for the green energy, just as Daecar burst out of the warehouse. "SCREW IT!!" the demon hollered. "I'LL KILL YOU FIRST!!!!" Narrowing his eyes, Kipp reached up and grabbed the emerald Eternity symbol within the orb. Instantly, energy began to course across his body, energizing him in one of the most painful ways known to the Atlantian, the most painful, but the most effective. The energy ran over the length of his body, healing broken bones, knitting flesh, and rejuvenating the battle wary warrior. But the healing was not without cost as Kipp let loss an agonizing scream. Even as the energy held Kipp, it lashed out, attacking Daecar whenever the demon came too close for comfort. "What's this?!" the demon growled in impotent fury. "Come out and fight, or I'll kill your friends." Kipp slowly lifted his head, turning glowing brown-green eyes upon the demon. Tilting his head to the side, Kipp frowned listening to something only he could hear. Hyperion whispered in his head. Kipp asked, clutching the Eternity talisman in his hand. Hyperion explained. Kipp asked, eyeing Daecar warily. Hyperion supplied. Kipp frowned again. Hyperion laughed at that. Kipp grinned. Hyperion said, then 'nodded' when Kipp complied. Kipp slowly turned his eyes back to Daecar, and grinned. Raising the talisman above his head, Kipp stared upward, and shouted a single word to the heavens. "ETERNITY!" The talisman shattered in his grasp, the green shards forming a perfect halo above his head. As the halo fell, every part of Kipp's body that it passed altered, becoming more like the mental image of Hyperion. The halo reached the ground, but rather then settling on there, the shards flew up, and converged directly in front of the knight's chest, forming a perfect four-pointed crystal. From the crystal, metal emerged from the four points, forming the Blade of Eternity. Turning glowing eyes upon the blade, Eternity reached out and grasped the blade, then swung it in several complex, dazzling, and intimidating patterns. "Now the battle really begins," Hyperion said, finally turning back to Daecar. "Let's see how well you fare against my new powers." "Hahahaha, this is what I've been looking for!" Daecar grinned back. "A decent fight! Alright boy, let's rumble!" The two combatants charged, meeting with a clash of metal against bone. Both pressed forward, hoping to gain ground, yet the two were equal in strength. Jumping back, both eyed the other warily, claws and sword ready. "Impressive," Daecar said blandly. "Indeed," Hyperion replied, in a rather bored tone. A grin tugged at Daecar's lips before the demon rushed forward, letting loose a relentless barrage of slashes, pressing Eternity back, but in his arrogance, the demon overextended on one of its strikes. Without even thinking, Eternity exploited the opening without hesitation, slashing upward and giving the demon a rather nasty gash. "That hurt you little bitch," Daecar growled, one hand over the gaping wound. "Good," Hyperion sneered, rushing forward and delivering his own barrage of attacks. Slowly, but surely, Daecar began to lose ground, stepping slightly back with each of Hyperion's raging attacks. Glee, changed to amusement, to seriousness, and finally to rage for Daecar. Roaring in defiance, Daecar pushed back, renewing his own assault, and pushing Hyperion back, till the two were back at square one. "This is getting us nowhere," Daecar growled, panting slightly. "Then let's try something new," Hyperion panted, jumping back. "Magic it is!" Daecar agreed, his eyes crackling with power. Hyperion nodded, and raised his sword, with his right hand, so that the flat was facing Daecar. Fire began to twist and twine all along the blade as he placed the palm of his left hand over the side of the green jewel facing him. As soon as his palm made contact with the jewel, the entire length of the sword burst in to flames. "BLAZE DRAGON" and he pushed. From the green jewel, the fire rushed forward in a single long column, twisting and turning as if it were alive. As the last of the fire left the sword, the torrent of flames, almost twenty-five meters in length and five meters in width, 'moulded' itself into the very image of the great Asian dragons as it rushed towards Daecar. Roaring ferally at the sky, Daecar turned his dark eyes to the dragon and snarled as he raised his hands so that they were parallel to the ground. The demon winced as large blades burst forth from his wrist, forming wicked wrist blades. As the dragon closed in on him, Daecar crossed his blades, and struck forward, swinging his hands back as he went. "DARK WAVE" and twin slashes of black energy slammed into the dragon, creating a massive explosion. "Equal there too," Daecar growled. "Think again!" Hyperion cried, as the dragon burst from the explosion. Daecar dove to the side, but to no avail as the fire dragon seemed to have a life of its own as it turned and wrapped itself around Daecar, its head hovering several meters above his head. As Daecar tried futily to free himself, the dragon seemed to give the demon a serpentine grin, contracting itself tighter and tighter until the demon cried out in agony. Smiling widely, the dragon plunged its head down upon the helpless demon and exploded into a fury fireball. Hyperion smiled grimly, watching the fires burn, satisfied with his victory. But that smile soon turned to a frown when Daecar stumbled out of the flames, hurt, but still ticking. "Ouch, if I was any weaker, that might of actually killed me!" Daecar winced, dusting the sot off of himself. "Next strike will however," Hyperion sneered. "I think not," Daecar grinned evilly, raising a fist to his face. "STOP" a voice bellowed out from the night. "Master!" Daecar cried, falling to his knees. "Master?" Hyperion muttered, dread filling his soul. "THE MISSION HAS FAILED," the voice called. "Then I shall return," Daecar murmured, eyes flashing in suppressed anger. "Not if I can help it!" Hyperion cried, snapping out of his stupor to rush Daecar. And yet the demon paid the young knight no attention, for he had much bigger concerns in his mind. Scanning the battle field, Daecar noted his fallen minions, and smiled ever so slightly to himself. Just as Eternity was about to strike, Daecar jumped high, dodging the attack, and at the same time, getting a very clear view of the battleground. "Excellent, this will do nicely," He murmured to himself. "What are you talking about?" Hyperion asked, even as he prepared another spell, his eyes drilling into the demons back. "Nothing to concern yourself with boy, nothing to concern yourself with," Daecar muttered, raising an arm above his head. "Whatever the fuck you say," Hyperion growled, using his left hand to bury the blade of his sword into the ground, while the right hand wound up for a throw. As Daecar's hand started to sprout ghostly tentacles, Hyperion's hand started to glow blue with pent up magic. As if by an unspoken challenge, the two unleashed their spells at the same moment. "SOUL STEAL" Daecar roared, taking the souls of his minions into his own, and giving him a brief boost of power. "GRAND TSUNAMI" Infinity yelled, swing his hand over his head, and touching it to the ground. A massive tidal wave of water rolled over Hyperion, leaving him relatively dry, and surged forward, crushing everything in its path. But even as the water closed in on him, Daecar remained focused on his task, waiting for just the right moment to finish his spell. "Good bye Hyperion, may we meet again," Daecar grinned, disappearing just as the water crashed into where he had stood. "CHIKUSO!!!" Hyperion howled at the sky. * * * Every single one of the observers heaved a great sigh of relief as they watched the conclusion of the battle. But the relief was only a brief distraction from the greater concerns, like who was Daecar's master? How had Kipp known the abilities of the Knight of Eternity? And most worrisome, how had a demon learned a variant of the powerful spell Soul Reaver, known and used only by the Deaths? "This isn't good," Apollo thought aloud. "Of course it isn't!" Urd retorted. "This could very well lead to Ragnarok, or whatever you call it!" "Don't you think I know that?" Apollo snapped. "It's my duty as an Alpha class god to make sure things like this don't happen, and it just did!" "Both of you shut up!" Merlin snapped, pointing into the view gate. "We have to make sure they're alright first, then we can worry about the other things." "What do you two think you're doing anyways?" Skuld scolded. "This isn't the time or place to be talking about these things." "You are right," Apollo sighed. "I shall consult with Kami-sama after we've taken care of out champions." Merlin flinched at the mention of the word champion, but chose not to comment as he floated off towards the scene of the battle. * * * The Gods, and one immortal, arrived at the scene of the battle, to find that Hyperion had reverted into Kipp, who was busy setting the broken bones of his teammates. "Kipp!" Merlin called, dropping to the ground, and rushing to his disciple. "You did great my boy! Better then I expected of you under the situations." "Arigatou Merlin-sensei," Kipp wearily smiled. "But if you don't mind, could you help me heal them first?" "Of course, of course," Merlin nodded, as began casting a powerful healing spell on Hikari. Skuld winced as she looked at the blooded faces of all the Espers, bile rising in her throat as she remembered the sheer brutality that had befallen them. "Is this the price of victory?" Urd asked silently, watching the two busy mortals. "They knew the price when they came," Apollo said, standing slightly behind Urd. "They knew, and they were willing to pay the price." "But they're so young..." Skuld began. "And they are the only ones who have even a remote chance of winning," Apollo cut in. "The Senshi would have won if they were here, but they aren't, they have more important matters to attend to." "So you send children to do our work," Urd scowled. "Not I," Apollo answered resolutely. "Kami-sama." "And we accept our fate with open arms," Kipp cut in, looking up from his work. "We know, all of us know, and we salute you for it," Apollo replied. "We don't need your acceptance, or your backing," Kipp growled. "We need your power." "We can't give you that," Apollo returned, sadly. "Then leave us be," Kipp growled, turning his back to the gods. "Do you not think we would help if we could?" Apollo yelled. "Do you not think we would destroy these demons if we could?" "But you can't, it's as simple as that," Kipp snarled. "Not by choice, it is by Kami-sama's orders that we stand and watch," Apollo protested fiercely. "I hunger for the chance to destroy these vile creatures, but I am bound by my oaths." "Forget it god, forget it," Kipp sighed, waving off Apollo's protests. Hyperion whispered. Kipp replied with much disdain. Hyperion growled. Kipp's eyes widened at the revelation. and Hyperion was gone. Taking Hyperion's advice to heart, Kipp turned, and eyed the sun god warily, comparing the figure before him, to the image within his mind. Doubt disappeared, to be replaced with relief, and a little bit of shame, which was quickly replaced with child like joy. "Well, I'll be damned," Kipp whispered, smiling up at the god. "Hello Apollo, how are you?" "Hello Hyperion, it has been a while hasn't it?" Hyperion smiled down upon his former charge. But Kipp had already fainted, the emotion, physical, and mental strain having finally caught up with him. * * * This concludes Episode 2 of Deus Patronus, but this story is far from finished. Destiny unfolds, lives change, lives end, and lives begin anew, next time, on Deus Patronus, Episode 3: My Fate is my own. * * * Authors Blurb: Sorry that took so long people, I just lost my muse there, for a while.... that and I've been spending a lot of my time with the APC, fine, and the Mega Tokyo forums. This one was really annoying in the fact that I didn't know how to lead up to the end, really annoying that. Anyhoo, the next episode won't be out for a while, since I have a job now, but I promise you that I will finish the first season, that I assure you. Anyhoo, C&C will be greatly appreciated, as usual, and I'm still looking for some beta-readers. Email me if you care ^___^ Later.